64 research outputs found
\u3ci\u3e Implications of Bias in Conservation Research and Investment for Freshwater Species \u3c/i\u3e
Exploring South Africaâs southern frontier: A 20-year vision for polar research through the South African National Antarctic Programme
Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic islands and surrounding Southern Ocean are regarded as one of the planetâs last remaining wildernesses, âinsulated from threat by [their] remoteness and protection under the Antarctic Treaty Systemâ1 . Antarctica encompasses some of the coldest, windiest and driest habitats on earth. Within the Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic islands are found between the Sub-Antarctic Front to the north and the Polar Front to the south. Lying in a transition zone between warmer subtropical and cooler Antarctic waters, these islands are important sentinels from which to study climate change.2 A growing body of evidence3,4 now suggests that climatically driven changes in the latitudinal boundaries of these two fronts define the islandsâ short- and long-term atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns. Consequently, sub-Antarctic islands and their associated terrestrial and marine ecosystems offer ideal natural laboratories for studying ecosystem response to change.5 For example, a recent study6 indicates that the shift in the geographical position of the oceanic fronts has disrupted inshore marine ecosystems, with a possible impact on top predators. Importantly, biotic responses are variable as indicated by different population trends of these top predators.7,8 When studied collectively, these variations in speciesâ demographic patterns point to complex spatial and temporal changes within the broader sub-Antarctic ecosystem, and invite further examination of the interplay between extrinsic and intrinsic drivers
Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial
Background
Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy
The Public Playground Paradox: "Childâs Joy" or Heterotopia of Fear?
Literature depicts children of the Global North withdrawing from public space toâacceptable islandsâ. Driven by fears both of and for children, the publicplayground â one such island â provides clear-cut distinctions between childhoodand adulthood. Extending this argument, this paper takes the original approach oftheoretically framing the playground as a heterotopia of deviance, examining âfor the first time â three Greek public playground sites in relation to adjacentpublic space. Drawing on an ethnographic study in Athens, findings show fear tounderpin surveillance, control and playground boundary porosity. Normativeclassification as âchildrenâs spaceâ discourages adult engagement. However, in anovel and significant finding, a paradoxical phenomenon sees the playgroundâspresence simultaneously legitimizing playful behaviour in adjacent public spacefor children and adults. Extended playground play creates alternate orderings andnegotiates norms and hierarchies, suggesting significant wider potential toreconceptualise playground-urban design for an intergenerational public realm
Exploring South Africa's southern frontier : a 20-year vision for polar research through the South African National Antarctic Programme
Antarctica, the sub-Antarctic islands and surrounding Southern Ocean are regarded as one of the planetâs
last remaining wildernesses, âinsulated from threat by [their] remoteness and protection under the Antarctic
Treaty Systemâ. Antarctica encompasses some of the coldest, windiest and driest habitats on earth. Within
the Southern Ocean, sub-Antarctic islands are found between the Sub-Antarctic Front to the north and the
Polar Front to the south. Lying in a transition zone between warmer subtropical and cooler Antarctic waters,
these islands are important sentinels from which to study climate change. A growing body of evidence
now suggests that climatically driven changes in the latitudinal boundaries of these two fronts define the
islandsâ short- and long-term atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns. Consequently, sub-Antarctic
islands and their associated terrestrial and marine ecosystems offer ideal natural laboratories for studying
ecosystem response to change. For example, a recent study indicates that the shift in the geographical
position of the oceanic fronts has disrupted inshore marine ecosystems, with a possible impact on top
predators. Importantly, biotic responses are variable as indicated by different population trends of these top
predators. When studied collectively, these variations in speciesâ demographic patterns point to complex
spatial and temporal changes within the broader sub-Antarctic ecosystem, and invite further examination of
the interplay between extrinsic and intrinsic drivers.http://www.sajs.co.zaam2017GeneticsMammal Research InstituteZoology and Entomolog
The MOSDEF survey:AGN multi-wavelength identification, selection biases and host galaxy properties
We present results from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field (MOSDEF) survey on
the identification, selection biases, and host galaxy properties of 55 X-ray,
IR and optically-selected active galactic nuclei (AGN) at . We
obtain rest-frame optical spectra of galaxies and AGN and use the BPT diagram
to identify optical AGN. We examine the uniqueness and overlap of the AGN
identified at different wavelengths. There is a strong bias against identifying
AGN at any wavelength in low mass galaxies, and an additional bias against
identifying IR AGN in the most massive galaxies. AGN hosts span a wide range of
star formation rate (SFR), similar to inactive galaxies once stellar mass
selection effects are accounted for. However, we find (at
significance) that IR AGN are in less dusty galaxies with relatively higher SFR
and optical AGN in dusty galaxies with relatively lower SFR. X-ray AGN
selection does not display a bias with host galaxy SFR. These results are
consistent with those from larger studies at lower redshifts. Within
star-forming galaxies, once selection biases are accounted for, we find AGN in
galaxies with similar physical properties as inactive galaxies, with no
evidence for AGN activity in particular types of galaxies. This is consistent
with AGN being fueled stochastically in any star-forming host galaxy. We do not
detect a significant correlation between SFR and AGN luminosity for individual
AGN hosts, which may indicate the timescale difference between the growth of
galaxies and their supermassive black holes
Recent approaches in designing bioadhesive materials inspired by mussel adhesive protein
Marine mussels secret protein-based adhesives, which enable them to anchor to various surfaces in a saline, intertidal zone. Mussel foot proteins (Mfps) contain a large abundance of a unique, catecholic amino acid, Dopa, in their protein sequences. Catechol offers robust and durable adhe-sion to various substrate surfaces and contributes to the curing of the adhesive plaques. In this article, we review the unique features and the key functionalities of Mfps, catechol chemistry, and strategies for preparing catechol-functionalized poly- mers. Specifically, we reviewed recent findings on the contributions of various features of Mfps on interfacial binding, which include coacervate formation, surface drying properties, control of the oxidation state of catechol, among other features. We also summarized recent developments in designing advanced biomimetic materials including coacervate-forming adhesives, mechanically improved nano- and micro-composite adhesive hydrogels, as well as smart and self-healing materials. Finally, we review the applications of catechol-functionalized materials for the use as biomedical adhesives, therapeutic applications, and antifouling coatings
Ostreobium quekettii (Ostreobiaceae: Chlorophyceae) invading the barnacle Acasta sp. (Pendunculata: Acastinae), endozoic in the octocoral rumphella suffruticosa (Alcyonacea: Gorgoniidae) from Fiji, south pacific
he eukaryotic alga Ostreobium quekettii (Ostreobiaceae: Chlorophyceae) is reported from Fiji for the first time. It is found creeping over the calcareous plates of dead specimens of species of a barnacle genus Acasta (Pendunculata: Acastinae), which was endozoic in the gorgonian Rumphella suffruticosa. The barnacles are lodged in cavities in the coenenchyme of the gorgonian, mostly in the vicinity of colonial branching points. There is little external evidence of the location of the barnacles where the gorgonian tissue is thick, but where it is thin, prominent galls are visible. There is no evidence that the barnacle or algal association causes stress to the host, which was otherwise healthy in appearance. The presence of the algae would appear to be associated with the occurrence of the barnacles
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