UP Research Matters

UP researchers have made yet another gain in the fight against rhino poaching. Their discovery that a rhino’s ‘third eyelid’ is the most reliable site to attach a pulse oximeter to monitor blood oxygen levels strengthens the animal’s response to immobilising drugs used during dehorning and relocation. “This new research improves our ability to ensure the well-being of rhinos in the field,” researcher Dr Thembeka Mtetwa says. Read more about this groundbreaking study: https://ow.ly/OgZW50SXs1o

📷Zirk Janssen Photography

CLEARING THE AIR: "Young children in Krugersdorp are breathing in uranium, arsenic and mercury fumes wafting over from abandoned legacy mines, while pollutants are seeping into the groundwater and nearby rivers, dams and lakes,” says UP’s Dr Alseno Mosai. Read more: https://ow.ly/q6jP50SvuuE

CLEARING THE AIR: "Young children in Krugersdorp are breathing in uranium, arsenic and mercury fumes wafting over from abandoned legacy mines, while pollutants are seeping into the groundwater and nearby rivers, dams and lakes,” says UP’s Dr Alseno Mosai. Read more: https://ow.ly/8CPb50Svctn

Techno-stress – the constant presence and change of information and communications technology in digitised workplaces – is a growing phenomenon that significantly affects the well-being of employees. Read more by UP experts: https://ow.ly/pyJt50Suusp

Prof Nasima Carrim's research has revealed the discriminatory effects of office gossip on black gay and le***an South Africans and the significant challenges faced by these individuals in South African workplaces. Learn more about what companies can do to foster inclusivity: https://ow.ly/ostJ50Slzg7

AWESOME WORK: UP surgeons have made history by fitting a young Rottweiler with an artificial foot, marking the first known successful intraosseous transcutaneous amputation prosthesis surgery in South Africa. “We have replaced the prosthesis twice in four months, but we’re designing a more robust one that would hopefully last longer,” said lead surgeon Dr Klaas-Jan van de Wetering. Find out more on page 26, Issue 8 of UP’s ‘RE.SEARCH’ magazine: https://indd.adobe.com/view/31e87922-ec23-492d-9417-a821b6bdb4f2

RESEARCH FOR REAL-WORLD IMPACT: In ‘RE.SEARCH’, our multimedia-rich magazine, you can read about just some of the monumental discoveries that UP researchers are making to shape the future and create a brighter, more equitable tomorrow. Go to www.up.ac.za/research-matters/magazine

The UP mole rat lab is home to about eight species, many of which are unique to South Africa and exclusively studied there. International researchers working on more common global species like the naked mole rat often look to UP for evolutionary comparisons and cross-species studies. Read more
https://ow.ly/pC4550S8z6h

READ ALL ABOUT IT! At UP, we’re in the business of doing research for real-world impact. Find out what we’re up to in our labs, libraries and out in the field in ‘RE.SEARCH’, our multimedia-rich magazine that details a cross-section of some of the research that we do at UP. From finding new energy sources to innovative animal surgery, we’re on a mission to make a difference. Visit www.up.ac.za/research-matters/magazine

Connect with us! RE.SEARCH Issue 8 is available now. It features all nine faculties and demonstrates how we make today matter by connecting the research we do to creating a brighter future us all. Read more: https://indd.adobe.com/view/31e87922-ec23-492d-9417-a821b6bdb4f2

SPIDER SENSE: UP researchers have weaved their magic once again, after discovering nine new trapdoor spider species in the Great Karoo, along with the Agricultural Research Council! “It’s important to know as much about the region’s biodiversity as possible, given the potential that shale gas fracking, mining, farming and general land-use changes could have on the environment,” said one researcher. Read more: https://ow.ly/SGzg50RcfRO

FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND FINDING: A decade-long study by researchers at the University of Pretoria and Canada’s McGill University and Université Laval has found that environmental toxins, notably DDT, could alter the s***m epigenome, thereby affecting the health of the next generation. “It’s long been accepted that the environment is critical to child health and the well-being of the mother,” said study co-author Dr Janice Bailey of Université Laval. “We forget that half of that genome and epigenome comes from the father. What that epigenome does in embryo development is critical for normal development.” The use of DDT has especially grave consequences for those living in malaria-endemic areas. “We still depend on the use of DDT, and should look at safer alternatives and be innovative in our approach to eliminate malaria,” UP’s Prof Tiaan de Jager added. Read more: https://ow.ly/9Jik50QAjIq

GETTING SA WORKING: South Africa needs entrepreneurs to create employment. That’s why a UP study involving learners, university students and working adults is underway to identify which entrepreneurial competencies are needed for specific groups to create South Africa’s future workforce. Read more on page 30, Issue 6 of UP’s ‘RE.SEARCH’ magazine: https://indd.adobe.com/view/9cb1660d-2fc4-41ed-8e42-2e43ec469ec0

BLOWN AWAY! UP researchers are training their focus on an understudied driver of climate change: wind. They’re using Marion Island, a remote and exceptionally windy sub-Antarctic region, on which to model fine-scale wind patterns. Read more on page 10, Issue 4 of UP’s ‘RE.SEARCH’ magazine: https://indd.adobe.com/view/4c5cf9c2-250b-46c8-ad2d-115922042c55

FROM FOOD WASTE TO FASHION: The clothing industry uses 70 million tons of oil a year to make synthetic dyes. UP researchers have found a sustainable solution by extracting natural dyes from onion skins. “The problems related to food waste are driving our research,” said UP consumer and food sciences researcher Letsiwe Mabuza. Read more on page 22, Issue 3 of UP’s ‘RE.SEARCH’ magazine: https://indd.adobe.com/view/076ef024-0484-4593-974b-b54b7ffd9195

SOLUTION SEEKERS: Up-to-the-minute innovation, groundbreaking discoveries and out-of-the-box thinking – that’s what you can expect to read about in ‘RE.SEARCH’, a multimedia-rich magazine that presents the findings of just some of the research that UP experts have undertaken as they seek to address both local and global challenges that society faces. Visit www.up.ac.za/research-matters/magazine

CULLING CANCER CELLS: A hormone that occurs naturally in humans presents a promising future for cancer treatment. UP researchers have found an oestrogen-like compound that attacks tumours while sparing healthy cells. “The first of these experiments have yielded exciting results, with primary tumours becoming significantly smaller and the number of distant metastasis dramatically decreased,” said Prof Joji Mercer of the Department of Physiology at UP. Read more on page 16, Issue 2 of UP’s ‘RE.SEARCH’ magazine: https://indd.adobe.com/view/a356c00d-9aa4-4a3c-a442-d0807193d149

DISHING UP INNOVATION: UP researchers have found that climate-smart ancient food sources like cowpeas could be the answer to better food security. “Indigenous crops are valuable sources of micronutrients,” said food sciences expert Prof Riëtte de K**k. “Through a simple process, we’ve enhanced the sensory aspects of the product, which will stimulate consumer demand.” Read more on page 18, Issue 1 of UP’s ‘RE.SEARCH’ magazine: https://indd.adobe.com/view/546b52a9-9c8c-401f-bec7-837445f4614a

READ ALL ABOUT IT! AT UP, we’re in the business of doing research for real-world impact. Find out what we’re up to in our labs, libraries and out in the community in ‘RE.SEARCH’, our multimedia-rich magazine that details a cross-section of just some of the research that we do at UP. From sustainable energy solutions to healthcare breakthroughs, we’re on a mission to make a difference. Visit www.up.ac.za/research-matters/

What does the discovery of underground hydrogen in Mpumalanga mean? Hydrogen is considered a fuel of the future due to it emitting zero emissions. This infographic explains the impact of this discovery as well as some interesting facts about hydrogen and the different forms of it: https://ow.ly/WVjP50Qhhcl

ENERGY OUTLOOK: UP scientists are leading a study of natural hydrogen gas – found in rocks in Mpumalanga – that has the potential to generate untapped renewable energy in the future. Read more: https://ow.ly/vFMb50QfuQN

SHAPING POLICY: An uptick in zoonotic disease bovine brucellosis has prompted UP researchers to rethink the national strategy for disease control. Their study has shown that evaluating the opinion of farmers and veterinary officials is vital to creating an effective disease-control policy. “Bottom-up approaches that involve stakeholder engagement yield more beneficial sustainable change,” says Dr Alfred Kgasi, who holds the Chair in Primary Animal Health Care at UP. Read more on page 20, Issue 7 of UP’s ‘RE.SEARCH’ magazine: https://indd.adobe.com/view/b59379a8-92e3-45cf-9279-d43f52e48303

Introducing a new research entity at UP: The World Organisation for Animal Health and Conservation Centre Onderstepoort, led by Professor Anita Michel. Click here for more: https://www.up.ac.za/woah-collaborating-centre

Our mission: pioneering research and comprehensive training in livestock and wildlife health. We combat global transboundary diseases and drive innovation. Join us in enhancing global capacity and make a significant impact in animal health and conservation. The Department of Research and Innovation (DRI) welcomes interested stakeholders to contact us via email ([email protected]) and we will facilitate collaboration with our researchers.

We have some exciting news to share! The University of Pretoria boasts a diverse and dynamic array of over 100 research institutes, centers, and units, and we have even more research opportunities coming up! 🔍 The Department of Research and Innovation (DRI) is on a mission to foster collaboration and engagement with our exceptional researchers. We extend a warm invitation to all interested stakeholders to reach out to us via email ([email protected]) for more information. 📩 Stay tuned for more exciting updates and opportunities as we introduce our research entities!

NEW RESEARCH: A collaboration between UP and Trinity College Dublin suggests the smalltooth sand tiger shark and the basking shark keep their body temperatures elevated above that of water temperature, much like their distant cousin, the great white shark. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d2rqsBBy

SHARKS WITH HOT BODIES: A collaboration between UP and Trinity College Dublin suggests the smalltooth sand tiger shark and the basking shark keep their body temperatures elevated above that of water temperature, much like their distant cousin, the great white shark. Read more: https://ow.ly/50I250Q7LGR

ANCIENT WATER SAVING: Water security is among the most significant global challenges for human subsistence and environmental health. UP archeologists have discovered how the ancient kingdom of Great Zimbabwe maintained a water supply during droughts: https://ow.ly/vYhA50Q1sgY

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ARCHAEOLOGIST: Explore this gallery to learn how archeologists mapped the dhaka pits of Great Zimbabwe to discover their smart climate control strategies: https://ow.ly/ePbh50PZP1n

GREAT ZIMBABWE: According to UP archeologists, more than three centuries ago, the community of Great Zimbabwe maintained a stable water supply in a region known for periodic droughts and which is presently water scarce. Read more: https://ow.ly/qSlv50PYw38