Institution
Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Education•Port Elizabeth, South Africa•
About: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University is a education organization based out in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 2964 authors who have published 6941 publications receiving 97133 citations.
Papers published on a yearly basis
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Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation1, University of Queensland2, Museum für Naturkunde3, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg4, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University5, University of the Sunshine Coast6, Edith Cowan University7, Aberystwyth University8, Technical University of Denmark9, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill10, University of Western Australia11, Spanish National Research Council12, University of California, Santa Barbara13, University of British Columbia14, University of Plymouth15, University of Texas at Austin16, National Marine Fisheries Service17
TL;DR: This article synthesized all available studies of the consistency of marine ecological observations with expectations under climate change This yielded a meta-database of 1,735 marine biological responses for which either regional or global climate change was considered as a driver.
Abstract: Research that combines all available studies of biological responses to regional and global climate change shows that 81–83% of all observations were consistent with the expected impacts of climate change These findings were replicated across taxa and oceanic basins Past meta-analyses of the response of marine organisms to climate change have examined a limited range of locations1,2, taxonomic groups2,3,4 and/or biological responses5,6 This has precluded a robust overview of the effect of climate change in the global ocean Here, we synthesized all available studies of the consistency of marine ecological observations with expectations under climate change This yielded a meta-database of 1,735 marine biological responses for which either regional or global climate change was considered as a driver Included were instances of marine taxa responding as expected, in a manner inconsistent with expectations, and taxa demonstrating no response From this database, 81–83% of all observations for distribution, phenology, community composition, abundance, demography and calcification across taxa and ocean basins were consistent with the expected impacts of climate change Of the species responding to climate change, rates of distribution shifts were, on average, consistent with those required to track ocean surface temperature changes Conversely, we did not find a relationship between regional shifts in spring phenology and the seasonality of temperature Rates of observed shifts in species’ distributions and phenology are comparable to, or greater, than those for terrestrial systems
1,504 citations
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Daniel J. Klionsky1, Amal Kamal Abdel-Aziz2, Sara Abdelfatah3, Mahmoud Abdellatif4 +2980 more•Institutions (777)
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes.
Abstract: In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field.
1,129 citations
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Scottish Association for Marine Science1, Ulster University2, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University3, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill4, Aberystwyth University5, Edith Cowan University6, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation7, Technical University of Denmark8, University of Queensland9, Spanish National Research Council10, University of Western Australia11, University of California, Santa Barbara12, Museum für Naturkunde13, University of British Columbia14, University of Texas at Austin15, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration16
TL;DR: Two measures of thermal shifts from analyses of global temperatures over the past 50 years are used to describe the pace of climate change that species should track: the velocity ofClimate change (geographic shifts of isotherms over time) and the shift in seasonal timing of temperatures.
Abstract: Climate change challenges organisms to adapt or move to track changes in environments in space and time. We used two measures of thermal shifts from analyses of global temperatures over the past 50 years to describe the pace of climate change that species should track: the velocity of climate change (geographic shifts of isotherms over time) and the shift in seasonal timing of temperatures. Both measures are higher in the ocean than on land at some latitudes, despite slower ocean warming. These indices give a complex mosaic of predicted range shifts and phenology changes that deviate from simple poleward migration and earlier springs or later falls. They also emphasize potential conservation concerns, because areas of high marine biodiversity often have greater velocities of climate change and seasonal shifts.
1,101 citations
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TL;DR: A review of the literature on the various aspects of natural fibers and biocomposites with a particular reference to chemical modifications is presented in this article, where the importance of chemical modifications and the resultant enhancement in the properties of the composites have also been reviewed.
Abstract: A critical review of the literature on the various aspects of natural fibers and biocomposites with a particular reference to chemical modifications is presented in this paper. A notable disadvantage of natural fibers is their polarity which makes it incompatible with hydrophobic matrix. This incompatibility results in poor interfacial bonding between the fibers and the matrix. This in turn leads to impaired mechanical properties of the composites. This defect can be remedied by chemical modification of fibers so as to make it less hydrophilic. This paper reviews the latest trends in chemical modifications and characterizations of natural fibers. The structure and properties of natural fibers have been discussed. Common chemical modifications and their mechanisms have also been elaborated. The importance of chemical modifications and the resultant enhancement in the properties of the composites have also been reviewed. Recent investigations dealing with chemical modifications of natural fiber-reinforced composites have also been cited. POLYM. COMPOS., 29:187‐
1,048 citations
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TL;DR: The extent of the trait data compiled in TRY is evaluated and emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness are analyzed to conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements.
Abstract: Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives.
882 citations
Authors
Showing all 3035 results
Name | H-index | Papers | Citations |
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Richard M. Cowling | 96 | 392 | 30042 |
Karl Peltzer | 60 | 880 | 18515 |
Michalinos Zembylas | 58 | 365 | 11995 |
Fritz Geiser | 57 | 257 | 11225 |
Oluwole Daniel Makinde | 56 | 576 | 13757 |
Anthony Jide Afolayan | 55 | 455 | 12603 |
Janet Franklin | 53 | 232 | 13361 |
Hervé Fritz | 53 | 220 | 8347 |
Maarten J. de Wit | 52 | 146 | 9078 |
John A. Silander | 51 | 108 | 12175 |
Curtis W. Marean | 51 | 151 | 11137 |
Anton McLachlan | 49 | 156 | 10089 |
Naresh K. Malhotra | 49 | 161 | 25108 |
Suzanne J. Milton | 47 | 139 | 7809 |
Peter Mayer | 47 | 593 | 10612 |