Expanding narratives of governance constraints to improve coral reef conservation.

To understand and address the failures of reef governance, it is critical to understand the perceptions of diverse policy makers and practitioners about the challenges they face in achieving their goals. Examining the discourse of policy makers and practitioners can reveal the extent to which these perceptions capture the full spectrum of potential governance challenges, including those related to management, institutional structures and processes, the values and principles underpinning governance, and the social and environmental context. We conducted semistructured interviews with 110 policy makers and practitioners across multiple sectors, scales, and contexts in Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, Belize, and Honduras. We used thematic qualitative analysis informed by theories of interactive governance and governability to examine the challenges perceived by governance actors. Perceived governance challenges were broadly consistent across countries, but differed by sector (V = 0.819, F6,60 = 1.502, p = 0.01) and by level (community compared with national) (V = 0.194, F1,10 = 2.178, = 0.026). Management inputs and outputs, challenges relating to the socioeconomic context, issues of leadership and power, and stakeholder engagement were commonly cited challenges (>75%). Few respondents discussed challenges relating to the ecological context, governance processes, or the values and principles underpinning governance. We argue that examining perceptions can inform efforts to improve governance and assess the appropriateness of particular management tools under context-specific governance constraints. Furthermore, expanding the narratives of governance challenges to encompass the subtle values and images underpinning governance, and the scale of the challenges faced, can help identify a wider set of opportunities for change.

Expansión de las Narrativas de los Límites de la Gobernanza para Mejorar la Conservación de los Arrecifes de Coral Resumen Es muy importante entender las percepciones que tienen los practicantes y los formuladores de políticas sobre los retos que enfrentan para alcanzar sus objetivos para poder entender y abordar los fracasos en la gobernanza de los arrecifes. El análisis del discurso de los formuladores y los practicantes puede revelar la extensión a la que estas percepciones capturan el espectro completo de los retos potenciales para la gobernanza, incluidos aquellos relacionados con el manejo, las estructuras y los procesos institucionales, los valores y principios que apuntalan la gobernanza y el contexto social y ambiental. Realizamos entrevistas semiestructuradas a 110 formuladores y practicantes de múltiples sectores, escalas y contextos en Barbados, San Cristóbal y Nieves, Belice y Honduras. Usamos un análisis cualitativo temático informado por las teorías de la gobernanza interactiva y la gobernabilidad para examinar los retos percibidos por los actores de gobernanza. A grandes rasgos, los retos percibidos en la gobernanza fueron coherentes entre los países, pero difirieron por sector (V = 0.819, F6,60 = 1.502, p = 0.01) y por nivel (comunitario comparado con nacional) (V = 0.194, F1,10 = 2.178, = 0.026). Las aportaciones y producciones del manejo, los retos relacionados con el contexto socioeconómico, los temas de liderazgo y poder y la participación de los actores fueron los retos mencionados comúnmente (>75%). Pocos respondientes discutieron los retos relacionados con el contexto ecológico, los procesos de gobernanza o los valores y principios que apuntalan la gobernanza. Alegamos que el análisis de las percepciones puede guiar a los esfuerzos para mejorar la gobernanza y evaluar cuán apropiadas son las herramientas particulares de manejo bajo los límites de gobernanza específicos al contexto. Además, expandir las narrativas de los retos de gobernanza para englobar los valores e imágenes sutiles que apuntalan la gobernanza, y la escala del reto al que se enfrenta, puede ayudar a identificar un conjunto más amplio de oportunidades de cambio.

Prioritising well-being and resilience to 'build back better': insights from a Dominican small-scale fishing community.

Climate change is increasing the severity of extreme weather events, particularly hurricanes, presenting a significant challenge to Caribbean coastal communities. In the aftermath of a major disaster, government interventions typically prioritise infrastructure, assets, and the economy through rebuilding roads, reviving economic sectors, and providing financial compensation. This is driven by a focus on macro-level quantitative indicators rather than by local, multidimensional subjective and relational factors, closer to lived experiences and livelihoods. Using frameworks outlining social well-being and agency, this paper explores strategies used by a fisheries-dependent community in Dominica to recover from Hurricane Maria in 2017 and pursue well-being. The findings highlight the importance of multidimensional well-being, particularly relational and subjective dimensions, including existing social networks, and personal relationships critical for recovery after Maria. Furthermore, the paper demonstrates how recovery initiatives that concentrate solely on material well-being, such as employment, can undermine agency in the capacity of a community to recover and build resilience.

A systematic review of the impact of post-harvest aquatic food processing technology on gender equality and social justice.

Post-harvest practices and technologies are key to reducing global aquatic harvest loss. The lives of post-harvest fisheries workers, over half of them women, are deeply affected by these technologies, but their equity and equality outcomes are poorly understood. This systematic review synthesizes evidence of post-harvest aquatic food processing technology outcomes, showing that persistent inequalities in social structure and norms disadvantage women across a range of technologies, both traditional and improved, especially regarding control over resources. We found that improved technologies bring enhanced productivity and possibly income for workers, yet contracts are often precarious due to pre-existing social inequities. While power and control of resources is more unequal in factory settings, it is not necessarily equal in traditional contexts either, despite offering greater flexibility. More rigorous comparative research, including voices of diverse actors, is key to understanding the impacts of different technologies on gender equality and social justice and inform policymaking.

Proteomic analysis of the membrane palmitoylated protein-4 (MPP4)-associated protein complex in the retina.

Membrane palmitoylated protein-4 (MPP4) is a retina-specific scaffolding protein of the membrane-associated guanylate kinase family that has been implicated in organizing presynaptic protein complexes in the photoreceptor ribbon synapse. To isolate the components of this complex we applied a proteomic approach based on immunoaffinity chromatography with a monoclonal anti-MPP4 antibody followed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Among the identified molecules were previously reported proteins of the MPP4 scaffolding complex including adaptor proteins Veli3 and Psd95. Here we demonstrate a selective association between MPP4 and the Psd95-beta isoform that is mediated by interaction of their N-terminal L27 domains. In addition, we have identified recoverin and Hsc70 as novel associated proteins of the MPP4 multiprotein complex in the retina. This study demonstrates the utility of anti-MPP4 antibody precipitation for the elucidation of the MPP4-associated protein complex, which is essential in understanding its precise role in signal transmission at the photoreceptor synapse.

Repeated sequence motifs in the Helicobacter pylori P1408 promoter do not affect its transcription.

The ArsRS two-component system controls the pH-dependent transcription of several target genes involved in the acid resistance of Helicobacter pylori. In its phosphorylated form the response regulator ArsR activates transcription of the urease genes and it has been reported that ArsR approximately P binds to a 26 bp consensus motif which is present in the promoter regions of the ORFs hp1408, hp119 and hp1432 encoding proteins of unknown function. Here we show that the upstream region of ORF hp1408 exhibits considerable sequence variation in different isolates of H. pylori. By the construction of fusions of the P(1408) promoter from different H. pylori strains to the reporter gene gfp in the genetic background of H. pylori G27 we demonstrate that these sequence variations do not significantly affect acid-induced transcription. Furthermore, we show that a P(1408) core promoter comprising only the -10 promoter element and the 26 bp ArsR binding site overlapping the -35 region is sufficient for eliciting the normal acid response of ORF hp1408.

Art as behaviour--an ethological approach to visual and verbal art, music and architecture.

In recent years, the fine arts, architecture, music and literature have increasingly been examined from the vantage point of human ethology and evolutionary psychology. In 2011 the authors formed the research group 'Ethology of the Arts' concentrating on the evolution and biology of perception and behaviour. These novel approaches aim at a better understanding of the various facets represented by the arts by taking into focus possible phylogenetic adaptations, which have shaped the artistic capacities of our ancestors. Rather than culture specificity, which is stressed e.g. by cultural anthropology and numerous other disciplines, universal human tendencies to perceive, feel, think and behave are postulated. Artistic expressive behaviour is understood as an integral part of the human condition, whether expressed in ritual, visual, verbal or musical art. The Ethology of the Arts-group's research focuses on visual and verbal art, music and built environment/architecture and is designed to contribute to the incipient interdisciplinarity in the field of evolutionary art research.

[The gender debate from the pedagogic perspective]. / Die Geschlechterdebatte aus pädagogischer Perspektive.

The question of form and extent of biological and/or cultural influences on female and male behaviour and performance is marking a major focus in present scientific research. Accordingly, a broad spectrum of approaches in research and interpretations of results is available. The recent debate on sex and gender is offering two basic objectives for research in education science: First, the critical review of the data and results on sex specifics presented in respect to the articulation of educational aims, topics and methods. Second, the intensified research focus on the developmental consequences of gender and gender roles for boys and girls, women and men. The pedagogical focus is discussed regarding the following three objectives: 1. developmental conditions in early ontogeny, 2. the question of sex specific differences in cognitive abilities in respect to school performance of adolescents, and 3. teaching knowledge on "sex" and "gender" in schools.