Voices 21C: A collaborative choral enterprise

How can passion for choral music be turned into something that challenges the status quo? Over the course of four seasons, VOICES 21C has progressed from being a short-term, project choir to an established, high-level performing choral collaborative. Like many community music choral organizations, VOICES 21C is centered on social justice themes that are highly relevant in today‘s world. Unlike many choirs, VOICES 21C is concerned with the empowerment of singers; both individually and collectively. Social justice, in the context of VOICES 21C, is where the intersection of critical and historical thinking, sustained inquiry, concern for a more equitable social order and for ―the marginalized other‖ take on significance. The group‘s critical, contemporary approach to choral singing evokes for the listener a thoughtful and provocative politicized perspective regarding the fears, hopes, and desires that characterize humankind. This article will address the philosophical, artistic and organizational processes that have evolved as the members of VOICES 21C have purposefully moved toward creating a more inclusive and collaborative, social justice-oriented choral enterprise.Accepted manuscrip

A New Species of Extinct Oryzomyine Rodent From the Quaternary of Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles

An extinct new species of Oryzomyine rodent, known since 1936 from the cave of Grot van Hato on the island of Curaçao, is described from abundant new specimens collected from owl-pellet deposits at three localities on the island

Is Touch in Romantic Relationships Universally Beneficial for Psychological Well-Being? The Role of Attachment Avoidance.

Affectionate touch is crucial for well-being. However, attachment avoidance is associated with negative attitudes toward touch. We tested two preregistered hypotheses about how attachment avoidance influences the association between touch in romantic couples and psychological well-being. We examined whether greater attachment avoidance is associated with a reduced link between touch and well-being, and/or whether reduced touch mediates the relationship between attachment avoidance and lower well-being. Across three studies, including two dyadic ones, we measured retrospective self-reports (Studies 1 and 2), laboratory observations (Study 2), and daily experiences (Study 3) of touch. Touch and well-being were positively associated, and attachment avoidance was associated with lower well-being and less frequent touch. Touch was associated with greater well-being regardless of level of attachment avoidance, and less frequent touch mediated the negative association between attachment avoidance and well-being in most analyses. This underscores the importance of touch, even for those valuing distance and autonomy

Sexual Nostalgia as a Response to Unmet Sexual and Relational Needs: The Role of Attachment Avoidance

Romantic relationships help people meet needs for connection and emotional and sexual fulfillment. In the current research, we investigate an unexplored response to feeling sexually and relationally unfulfilled: reflecting on positive sexual experiences with past partners (or sexual nostalgia). Across three studies, people low in attachment avoidance (i.e., comfortable with closeness) who were (a) single or (b) sexually or relationally dissatisfied reported greater sexual nostalgia, whereas people high in attachment avoidance (i.e., value autonomy) did not calibrate their feelings of sexual nostalgia based on their current relationship status or satisfaction. Sexual fantasies about past partners (i.e., sexual nostalgia) were distinct from other types of sexual fantasies (Study 1) and the effects could not be attributed to general nostalgia (Study 2) or sexual desire (Study 3). Chronic sexual nostalgia detracted from satisfaction over time. The findings have implications for theories of nostalgia and attachment and for managing unfulfilled needs in relationships

Diversity and spatial heterogeneity of mangrove associated sponges of Curaçao and Aruba

Sponges are major epibionts of mangrove roots in the Caribbean. Mangrove sponge communities in the Caribbean mainly consist of species that are typical to this habitat and community compositions often differ from those found on coral reefs nearby. Heterogeneity in species distributions between locations and within locations between roots is often reported. This study quantifies the diversity and abundance of mangrove associated sponges in the inner bays of Curaçao and Aruba and correlates variability of regional sponge diversity with environmental variables measured along the surveyed sites. Tannin concentrations vary between mangrove roots, and were correlated to sponge cover as a possible cause for habitat heterogeneity on a smaller scale. A total of 22 species was observed. Heterogeneity in species richness and abundance was apparent, and several sponge species were restricted in their depth of occurrence. Statistical data reduction suggests that sponge diversity may be partly explained by the distance towards adjacent reefs and to the degree of eutrophication, in which the latter is comprised of rate of planktonic respiration, total carbon and turbidity. Tannin concentrations did not determine within locality species heterogeneity as a priori postulated, but were positively related to sponge cover for reasons not yet elucidated

A pedagogy of love

Accepted manuscrip

Kennisvraag haaien: wat is er bekend over haaien voor de voor Nederland relevante gebieden?

Op basis van expert-judgement van IMARES medewerkers en buitenlandse collega’s, wetenschappelijke artikelen, rapporten en het internet, is een grove verkenning uitgevoerd naar (i) wat er bekend is over haaienbestanden, vangsten, monitoring en visserij voor de gebieden die relevant zijn voor Nederland (ii) welke afspraken gemaakt zijn over de vangst van haaien door de verschillende RFMOs (Regional Fisheries Management Organisations) waar Nederland lid van is