Wine biotechnology in South Africa: towards a systems approach to wine science

The wine industry in South Africa is over three centuries old and over the last decade has reemerged as a significant competitor in world wine markets. The Institute for Wine Biotechnology (IWBT) was established in partnership with the Department of Viticulture and Oenology at Stellenbosch University to foster basic fundamental research in the wine sciences leading to applications in the broader wine and grapevine industries. This review focuses on the different research programmes of the Institute (grapevine, yeast and bacteria biotechnology programmes, and chemical-analytical research), commercialisation activities (SunBio) and new initiatives to integrate the various research disciplines. An important focus of future research is the Wine Science Research Niche Area programme, which connects the different research thrusts of the IWBT and of several research partners in viticulture, oenology, food science and chemistry. This 'Functional Wine-omics' programme uses a systems biology approach to wine-related organisms. The data generated within the programme will be integrated with other data sets from viticulture, oenology, analytical chemistry and the sensory sciences through chemometrics and other statistical tools. The aim of the programme is to model aspects of the wine making process, from the vineyard to the finished product.     

Biomass gasification in India — DNES activities

Gasification of biomass, which includes a series of interlinked thermochemical processes like pyrolysis and gasoline refining, offers a promising scope to meet energy needs both for stationary and mobile purposes. The present communication is aimed at discussing the gasification programme in India with particular reference to the following five main areas: R& D, pilot-testing and evaluation including prototype production, demonstrative application and evaluation of biomass gasification, training and manpower development, commercialisation and manufacture development. Emphasis is laid upon the need to integrate energy plantation on sub-standard soils with biomass gasification.     

The commercialisation of sensor technology in clinical chemistry: an outline of the potential difficulties

Despite the numerous examples in the research literature of the potential application of biosensors in clinical chemistry, very few have reached commercialisation. Many pitfalls await the potential manufacturer of bioprobes in clinical chemistry and key areas which require substantial development are: 1. reproducibility of sensor manufacture; 2. interaction of the sensor with appropriate hardware; 3. evaluation and customer perception. This paper discusses and illustrates these problems with examples taken from the recent introduction of ion-selective electrode analysers in regular clinical use. Many similar problems are envisaged for the commercialisation of biosensors and extensive collaboration is essential between researchers, manufacturers and users to overcome the difficulties.     

在医疗保健领域开发和使用生物标记物的政策性问题

描述了发展中的生物标记物所处的科学、产业、监管和医疗保健管理系统背景,指出了可能阻碍生物标记物研究、发现、发展、商业化及最终临床应用的一些障碍,聚焦了医疗保健中基于生物标记物的诊断方法和医学检验的应用,探索了生物标记物在改良药物开发中的应用。     

Synthetic biology: an emerging research field in China

Synthetic biology is considered as an emerging research field that will bring new opportunities to biotechnology. There is an expectation that synthetic biology will not only enhance knowledge in basic science, but will also have great potential for practical applications. Synthetic biology is still in an early developmental stage in China. We provide here a review of current Chinese research activities in synthetic biology and its different subfields, such as research on genetic circuits, minimal genomes, chemical synthetic biology, protocells and DNA synthesis, using literature reviews and personal communications with Chinese researchers. To meet the increasing demand for a sustainable development, research on genetic circuits to harness biomass is the most pursed research within Chinese researchers. The environmental concerns are driven force of research on the genetic circuits for bioremediation. The research on minimal genomes is carried on identifying the smallest number of genomes needed for engineering minimal cell factories and research on chemical synthetic biology is focused on artificial proteins and expanded genetic code. The research on protocells is more in combination with the research on molecular-scale motors. The research on DNA synthesis and its commercialisation are also reviewed. As for the perspective on potential future Chinese R&D activities, it will be discussed based on the research capacity and governmental policy.     

Lessons for collaborative research in a changing operating environment

This Comment records the details of an unusual multipartner ecological research programme studying Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone in the Sydney Basin‐Blue Mountains area of New South Wales. We draw lessons from the experience of designing and managing this multipartner ecological programme, which was based on a nontraditional funding source – that is an enforceable undertaking required of a coal mining company related to an occurrence at a mine site. The research programme encompassed geomorphology, ecohydrology and ecology of a number of sites. Given the currently constrained public‐good environmental research funding and pressures for both researchers and managers to find new, collaborative ways of funding and implementing research, lessons drawn from such innovative experiences may be of wider utility. In particular, lessons are drawn from the programme regarding the time required to design collaborative processes and the need for explicit programme management capacities.     

Muthi to medicine

The limited commercial opportunity for bioprospecting for isolated pure natural compounds or their derivatives from plants for novel pharmaceuticals is discussed. A broad overview of the key research inputs involved in the commercialisation of indigenous medicinal plants as botanical medicines is given to assist young researchers in contextualising research from an industry perspective, and to encourage university-industry collaboration. Compliance with the Biodiversity Act of 2004, and the regulations under this Act is stressed. The chain of research and development (R&D) activities is briefly described including ethnobotanical research, raw material supply, identification of active compounds, extract development, absorption studies, formulation development, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical safety and efficacy studies, and protection of intellectual property. Ultimately obtaining international marketing authorization for a novel botanical medicine is a lengthy and costly undertaking, with high risk of failure. Elements of botanical medicine R&D can be applied to functional foods, novel foods and personal care products, which can reach the market faster and with less risk than botanical medicines.     

The effectiveness of two smoking cessation programmes for use in general practice: a randomised clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate a structured, behavioural change, smoking cessation intervention designed for use within general practice. DESIGN--Randomised controlled clinical trial. SETTING--General practices in Newcastle, Australia. PATIENTS--311 Patients identified as smokers by a screening question were enrolled in the study. Of these, 101 were assigned to a structured behavioural change programme, 104 to a simple advice programme adapted from previous research, and 106 to a control group. No significant differences were found between groups for demographic and smoking related variables before the study. INTERVENTIONS--Patients in the simple advice group received a brief statement of advice from the general practitioner as well as three pamphlets; those in the structured intervention group were given strategies which included attitude and behavioural change programmes as well as techniques to aid compliance. The amount of smoking in all groups was assessed by self reports with validation by measurement of salivary cotinine concentrations. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE--Significant increase in cessation rates. CONCLUSIONS--Significant differences between controls and the structured behavioural change group were found at the one month follow up, but only for self reported abstinence. The simple advice programme did not produce any significant differences over the control group. General practitioner evaluation of the structured programme highlighted difficulties in relation to the duration of the intervention. Overall the structured programme in its present form did not appear to be an effective programme for use within general practice.     

Progress in the commercialisation of bionematicides

In the last few years, there have been numerous developments in the commercialisation of bionematicides. Here we briefly review the commercial status of four key active ingredients backed by large international companies and which are, or are likely to become widely available soon. We also identify research priorities. While scientists have intensively researched Pasteuria spp. and Purpureocillium lilacinus as potential nematicides, little research has been done on Bacillus firmus and Myrothecium verrucaria fermentation products. Conversely, a survey of the trade press suggests that these latter two agents, particularly B. firmus, are the most widely used. There is a clear need to further understand the ecology and mode of action of B. firmus when used as a bionematicide. Furthermore, while all active ingredients have proven efficacy in laboratory and/or small plot trials, there is a paucity of independent data showing product efficacy in target markets.     

Towards Developing an Initial Programme Theory: Programme Designers and Managers Assumptions on the Antiretroviral Treatment Adherence Club Programme in Primary Health Care Facilities in the Metropolitan Area of Western Cape Province,South Africa

BackgroundThe antiretroviral adherence club intervention was rolled out in primary health care facilities in the Western Cape province of South Africa to relieve clinic congestion, and improve retention in care, and treatment adherence in the face of growing patient loads. We adopted the realist evaluation approach to evaluate what aspects of antiretroviral club intervention works, for what sections of the patient population, and under which community and health systems contexts, to inform guidelines for scaling up of the intervention. In this article, we report on a step towards the development of a programme theory—the assumptions of programme designers and health service managers with regard to how and why the adherence club intervention is expected to achieve its goals and perceptions on how it has done so (or not).MethodsWe adopted an exploratory qualitative research design. We conducted a document review of 12 documents on the design and implementation of the adherence club intervention, and key informant interviews with 12 purposively selected programme designers and managers. Thematic content analysis was used to identify themes attributed to the programme actors, context, mechanisms, and outcomes. Using the context-mechanism-outcome configurational tool, we provided an explanatory focus of how the adherence club intervention is roll-out and works guided by the realist perspective.ResultsWe classified the assumptions of the adherence club designers and managers into the rollout, implementation, and utilisation of the adherence club programme, constructed around the providers, management/operational staff, and patients, respectively. Two rival theories were identified at the patient-perspective level. We used these perspectives to develop an initial programme theory of the adherence club intervention, which will be tested in a later phase.ConclusionThe perspectives of the programme designers and managers provided an important step towards developing an initial programme theory, which will guide our realist evaluation of the adherence club programme in South Africa.     

Research that influences policy and practice – characteristics of operational research to improve malaria control in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Background  

Much communicable disease control research has had little impact on local control programme policy and practice for want of an operational component. The operational research model – the systematic search for knowledge on interventions, tools or strategies that enhance programme effectiveness – is gaining recognition as an appropriate method for addressing perplexing questions within public health programmes.     

Capacity strengthening in malaria research: the Gates Malaria Partnership

The Gates Malaria Partnership (GMP) includes five African and four European partner institutions. Its research programme has five priority areas involving an extensive range of field-based studies. GMP research has contributed significantly to the development of new research consortia investigating strategies for improving means of malaria control, and has already had an impact on policy and practice. A substantial investment in innovative training activities in malaria has enhanced knowledge and practice of malaria control at all levels from policy making to local community involvement. Capacity development, notably through a PhD programme, has been an underlying feature of all aspects of the programme.     

Evaluation of the impact of a Herd Health and Production Management programme in organic dairy cattle farms: a process evaluation approach

Animal health planning activities are not always providing a satisfactory positive impact on herd health and welfare. Moreover, evaluating the impact of advisory programmes is complex due to multiple interacting elements that influence its outcome. Therefore, measuring solely health outcomes is not sufficient: the whole process of the implementation and use of such programmes should be evaluated. In order to evaluate the impact of an intervention with a Herd Health and Production Management (HHPM) programme a process evaluation framework was designed and used. The intervention involved 20 organic dairy cattle farmers and their advisors, in both France and Sweden. In both countries 20 organic dairy farms were selected as control herds. The evaluation of the HHPM programme was based on: (a) the compliance to the programme; (b) the programme’s functions influencing herd health management practices and stimulating dialogue between farmers and advisors; (c) its effectiveness in terms of improving herd health compared with control farms. Complete compliance to the programme was fulfilled by 21 out of 40 farmers–advisors. Results from a questionnaire showed that the programme functioned as intended (e.g. by allowing early identification of herd health problems), stimulated change in farmers’ herd health management practices and farmer–advisor dialogue. Even though the majority of the users perceived that the programme contributed to herd health improvements, no significant differences in health outcomes were found when compared with control farms 12 months after the start of the intervention. The programme allowed creating an environment promoting the exchange of information between farmers and advisors, necessary to define pertinent advice in a farm-specific situation. Future research should aim at improving methods for the evaluation of the effect of advisory programmes, by identifying early indicators for effective advice and developing methods to evaluate the quality of advisory situations without interfering with them.     

The success of BNF in soybean in Brazil

Approximately forty years after commercial cropping of soybean in Brazil began, the total area under this crop has reached over 13 M ha with a mean productivity of 2400 kg ha^–1. Soybean varieties introduced from the USA and varieties rescued from early introductions in Brazilian territory were part of the Brazilian soybean-breeding programme which spread the crop from high to low latitudes. Disease-resistance, pest-resistance, tolerance to low fertility soils, as well as production of plants with pods sufficiently high above the ground for efficient mechanical harvesting, were all aims of the programme. Although BNF was not explicitly considered as a trait for selection in the breeding/selection programme, maximisation of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) was favoured by conducting selection and breeding trials on soils low in N, in which the seeds were inoculated with efficient Bradyrhizobium inoculants but without N fertiliser application. Several efficient imported Bradyrhizobium strains were found to be unable to compete with native soil micro-flora and other previously-introduced Bradyrhizobium strains. Surprisingly, after being in the soil for many years one or two of these strains had become more competitive while maintaining their high BNF capacity. Today, these strains are included amongst the recommended Brazilian inoculants and have promoted significant improvements in grain yields. The breeding of soybeans in conditions that made grain yield highly dependent on BNF, and the continuous attention paid to the selection of Bradyrhizobium strains appropriate for the newly released varieties, have been the main contributors to today's high yields and their great benefit to the Brazilian economy. There seems to be no reason why this ongoing research programme should not serve as an appropriate model to improve BNF inputs to grain legumes in other countries of the world.     

Integrating population genetics and conservation biology in the era of genomics

As one of the final activities of the ESF-CONGEN Networking programme, a conference entitled ‘Integrating Population Genetics and Conservation Biology’ was held at Trondheim, Norway, from 23 to 26 May 2009. Conference speakers and poster presenters gave a display of the state-of-the-art developments in the field of conservation genetics. Over the five-year running period of the successful ESF-CONGEN Networking programme, much progress has been made in theoretical approaches, basic research on inbreeding depression and other genetic processes associated with habitat fragmentation and conservation issues, and with applying principles of conservation genetics in the conservation of many species. Future perspectives were also discussed in the conference, and it was concluded that conservation genetics is evolving into conservation genomics, while at the same time basic and applied research on threatened species and populations from a population genetic point of view continues to be emphasized.     

Addressing Health Inequalities in the Delivery of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Programme: Examining the Role of the School Nurse

Background

HPV immunisation of adolescent girls is expected to have a significant impact in the reduction of cervical cancer. UK The HPV immunisation programme is primarily delivered by school nurses. We examine the role of school nurses in delivering the HPV immunisation programme and their impact on minimising health inequalities in vaccine uptake.

Methods and Findings

A rapid evidence assessment (REA) and semi-structured interviews with health professionals were conducted and analysed using thematic analysis. 80 health professionals from across the UK are interviewed, primarily school nurses and HPV immunisation programme coordinators. The REA identified 2,795 articles and after analysis and hand searches, 34 relevant articles were identified and analysed. Interviews revealed that health inequalities in HPV vaccination uptake were mainly related to income and other social factors in contrast to published research which emphasises potential inequalities related to ethnicity and/or religion. Most school nurses interviewed understood local health inequalities and made particular efforts to target girls who did not attend or missed doses. Interviews also revealed maintaining accurate and consistent records influenced both school nurses'' understanding and efforts to target inequalities in HPV vaccination uptake.

Conclusions

Despite high uptake in the UK, some girls remain at risk of not being vaccinated with all three doses. School nurses played a key role in reducing health inequalities in the delivery of the HPV programme. Other studies identified religious beliefs and ethnicity as potentially influencing HPV vaccination uptake but interviews for this research found this appeared not to have occurred. Instead school nurses stated girls who were more likely to be missed were those not in education. Improving understanding of the delivery processes of immunisation programmes and this impact on health inequalities can help to inform solutions to increase uptake and address health inequalities in childhood and adolescent vaccination programmes.     

Donor Perspectives on Issues Associated with Donation of Genetic Samples and Information: An Australian Viewpoint

This paper provides a legal overview of key issues associated with donation of genetic samples and information from a donor perspective. In particular, it addresses the property status of samples as well as issues in respect of consent, privacy, commercialisation and benefit sharing. The paper highlights the need for appropriate protection and safeguards for individuals, but also, importantly, for understanding what donors actually think and want in terms of genetic research and the use of their samples and information. The paper seeks to emphasise the importance of transparency and accountability in the conduct of research in order to maximise donor participation and confidence and public trust in general.

Effectiveness and economic evaluation of a nurse delivered home exercise programme to prevent falls. 2: Controlled trial in multiple centres

ObjectivesTo assess the effectiveness of trained nurses based in general practices individually prescribing a home exercise programme to reduce falls and injuries in elderly people and to estimate the cost effectiveness of the programme.DesignControlled trial with one year''s follow up.Setting32 general practices in seven southern New Zealand centres.Participants450 women and men aged 80 years and older.Intervention330 participants received the exercise programme (exercise centres) and 120 received usual care (control centres); 87% (371 of 426) completed the trial.ResultsFalls were reduced by 30% in the exercise centres (incidence rate ratio 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.59 to 0.84). The programme was equally effective in men and women. The programme cost $NZ418 (£121) (at 1998 prices) per person to deliver for one year or $NZ1519 (£441) per fall prevented. Fewer participants had falls resulting in injuries, but there was no difference in the number who had serious injuries and no difference in hospital costs resulting from falls in exercise centres compared with control centres.ConclusionsAn individually tailored exercise programme, delivered by trained nurses from within general practices, was effective in reducing falls in three different centres. This strategy should be combined with other successful interventions to form part of home programmes to prevent falls in elderly people.

What is already known on this topic

One half of those aged 80 years and older will fall in any one year, often with serious health and social consequencesAn exercise programme delivered by a physiotherapist or trained district nurse was successful in reducing falls and moderate injuries in elderly people

What this study adds

An exercise programme to prevent falls in elderly people can be delivered safely and effectively by trained nurses in general practicesThe nurses obtained results that were consistent with the physiotherapist in the research setting and the district nurse in the accompanying paper     

Nucleotide polymorphisms related to altitude and physiological traits in contrasting provenances of Norway spruce (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea abies</Emphasis>)

Variation of sequences of six EST-derived markers was investigated in three Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) provenances originating from different altitudes growing at two contrasting trial plots in Slovakia (Veľky Lom 450 m a.s.l., Mútne-Zákamenné 1,250 m a.s.l.) within a spin-off experiment of the IUFRO 1964/68 Inventory Provenance Experiment with Norway spruce. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were identified and differences in allele frequencies at polymorphic sites were tested against altitude or associated with physiological and growth traits (chlorophyll a fluorescence, frost resistance, height, diameter, budburst phenology).