Diagnosis and the management constituency of small-scale fisheries

Diagnosis and adaptive management can help improve the ability of small-scale fisheries (SSF) in the developing world to better cope with and adapt to both external drivers and internal sources of uncertainty. This paper presents a framework for diagnosis and adaptive management and discusses ways of implementing the first two phases of learning: diagnosis and mobilising an appropriate management constituency. The discussion addresses key issues and suggests suitable approaches and tools as well as numerous sources of further information. Diagnosis of a SSF defines the system to be managed, outlines the scope of the management problem in terms of threats and opportunities, and aims to construct realistic and desired future projections for the fishery. These steps can clarify objectives and lead to development of indicators necessary for adaptive management. Before management, however, it is important to mobilize a management constituency to enact change. Ways of identifying stakeholders and understanding both enabling and obstructive interactions and management structures are outlined. These preliminary learning phases for adaptive SSF management are expected to work best if legitimised by collaborative discussion among fishery stakeholders drawing on multiple knowledge systems and participatory approaches to assessment. (PDF contains 33 pages

Approaches and frameworks for management and research in small-scale fisheries in the developing world

Commonly adopted approaches to managing small-scale fisheries (SSFs) in developing countries do not ensure sustainability. Progress is impeded by a gap between innovative SSF research and slower-moving SSF management. The paper aims to bridge the gap by showing that the three primary bases of SSF management--ecosystem, stakeholders’ rights and resilience--are mutually consistent and complementary. It nominates the ecosystem approach as an appropriate starting point because it is established in national and international law and policy. Within this approach, the emerging resilience perspective and associated concepts of adaptive management and institutional learning can move management beyond traditional control and resource-use optimization, which largely ignore the different expectations of stakeholders; the complexity of ecosystem dynamics; and how ecological, social, political and economic subsystems are linked. Integrating a rights-based perspective helps balance the ecological bias of ecosystem-based and resilience approaches. The paper introduces three management implementation frameworks that can lend structure and order to research and management regardless of the management approach chosen. Finally, it outlines possible research approaches to overcome the heretofore limited capacity of fishery research to integrate across ecological, social and economic dimensions and so better serve the management objective of avoiding fishery failure by nurturing and preserving the ecological, social and institutional attributes that enable it to renew and reorganize itself. (PDF contains 29 pages

Approaches and frameworks for management and research in small-scale fisheries in the developing world

Commonly adopted approaches to managing small-scale fisheries (SSFs) in developing countries do not ensure sustainability. Progress is impeded by a gap between innovative SSF research and slower-moving SSF management. The paper aims to bridge the gap by showing that the three primary bases of SSF management--ecosystem, stakeholdersÆ rights and resilience--are mutually consistent and complementary. It nominates the ecosystem approach as an appropriate starting point because it is established in national and international law and policy. Within this approach, the emerging resilience perspective and associated concepts of adaptive management and institutional learning can move management beyond traditional control and resource-use optimization, which largely ignore the different expectations of stakeholders; the complexity of ecosystem dynamics; and how ecological, social, political and economic subsystems are linked. Integrating a rights-based perspective helps balance the ecological bias of ecosystem-based and resilience approaches. The paper introduces three management implementation frameworks that can lend structure and order to research and management regardless of the management approach chosen. Finally, it outlines possible research approaches to overcome the heretofore limited capacity of fishery research to integrate across ecological, social and economic dimensions and so better serve the management objective of avoiding fishery failure by nurturing and preserving the ecological, social and institutional attributes that enable it to renew and reorganize itself.Developing countries, Fishery management, Artisanal fishing, Research

Pulling the Group Together: The Role of the Social Identity Approach

First paragraph: How do coaches successfully pull a group together? This chapter focuses on the role and importance of creating and maintaining social identities for group functioning and performance. Research documenting the role and importance of social identities has increased considerably over recent years, with over 200 research articles published across a variety of psychological domains in 2012 alone (Haslam, 2014). Given the wealth of empirical studies available, we have chosen to focus on key research articles within our review of social identity literature to highlight the role and importance of social identities in coaching contexts. Ultimately, social identity researchers recognise that groups are dynamic and have the capacity to change individuals which means that groups and organisations are much more than an aggregation of their individual parts (Haslam, 2004). Therefore, the key to successfully pulling a group together from a social identity perspective lies in the understanding and promotion of a shared sense of social identity among group members. For a coach to understand their role in optimising group functioning and performance, the social identity approach to leadership (Haslam, Reicher, & Platow, 2011) contains four principles that can be implemented within coaching practice. This chapter will also explore each principle of social identity leadership for a coaching audience

A standardized comparison of peri-operative complications after minimally invasive esophagectomy: Ivor Lewis versus McKeown.

BACKGROUND: While our institutional approach to esophageal resection for cancer has traditionally favored a minimally invasive (MI) 3-hole, McKeown esophagectomy (MIE 3-hole) during the last five years several factors has determined a shift in our practice with an increasing number of minimally invasive Ivor Lewis (MIE IL) resections being performed. We compared peri-operative outcomes of the two procedures, hypothesizing that MIE IL would be less morbid in the peri-operative setting compared to MIE 3-hole. METHODS: Our institution\u27s IRB-approved esophageal database was queried to identify all patients who underwent totally MI esophagectomy (MIE IL vs. MIE 3-hole) from June 2011 to May 2016. Patient demographics, preoperative and peri-operative data, as well as post-operative complications were compared between the two groups. Post-operative complications were analyzed using the Clavien-Dindo classification system. RESULTS: There were 110 patients who underwent totally MI esophagectomy (MIE IL n = 49 [45%], MIE 3-hole n = 61 [55%]). The majority of patients were men (n = 91, 83%) with a median age of 62.5 (range 31-83). Preoperative risk stratifiers such as ECOG score, ASA, and Charlson Comorbidity Index were not significantly different between groups. Anastomotic leak rate was 2.0% in the MIE IL group compared to 6.6% in the MIE 3-hole group (p = 0.379). The rate of serious (Clavien-Dindo 3, 4, or 5) post-operative complications was significantly less in the MIE IL group (34.7 vs. 59.0%, p = 0.013). Serious pulmonary complications were not significantly different (16.3 vs. 26.2%, p = 0.251) between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, totally MIE IL showed significantly less severe peri-operative morbidity than MIE 3-hole, but similar rates of serious pulmonary complications and anastomotic leaks. These findings confirm the safety of minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomies for esophageal cancer when oncologically and clinically appropriate. Minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy remains a satisfactory and appropriate option when clinically indicated

Predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Can the addition of tomosynthesis improve the accuracy of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography? A comparison with breast MRI

OBJECTIVES: Image monitoring is essential to monitor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Whilst breast MRI is the gold-standard technique, evidence suggests contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is comparable. We investigate whether the addition of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) to CESM increases the accuracy of response prediction. METHODS: Women receiving NACT for breast cancer were included. Imaging with CESM+DBT and MRI was performed post-NACT. Imaging appearance was compared with pathological specimens. Accuracy for predicting pathological complete response (pCR) and concordance with size of residual disease was calculated. RESULTS: Sixteen cancers in 14 patients were included, 10 demonstrated pCR. Greatest accuracy for predicting pCR was with CESM enhancement (accuracy: 81.3%, sensitivity: 100%, specificity: 57.1%), followed by MRI (accuracy: 62.5%, sensitivity: 44.4%, specificity: 85.7%). Concordance with invasive tumour size was greater for CESM enhancement than MRI, concordance-coefficients 0.70 vs 0.66 respectively. MRI demonstrated greatest concordance with whole tumour size followed by CESM+microcalcification, concordance coefficients 0.86 vs 0.69. DBT did not improve accuracy for prediction of pCR or residual disease size. CESM+DBT underestimated size of residual disease, MRI overestimated but no significant differences were seen (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: CESM is similar to MRI for predicting residual disease post-NACT. Size of enhancement alone demonstrates best concordance with invasive disease. Inclusion of residual microcalcification improves concordance with ductal carcinoma in situ. The addition of DBT to CESM does not improve accuracy. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: The addition ofDBT to CESM does not improve NACT response prediction. CESM enhancement has greatest accuracy for residual invasive disease, CESM+calcification has greater accuracy for residual in situ disease.Peer reviewe

The Neon Abundance in the Ejecta of QU Vul From Late-Epoch IR Spectra

We present ground-based SpectroCam-10 mid-infrared, MMT optical, and Spitzer Space Telescope IRS mid-infrared spectra taken 7.62, 18.75, and 19.38 years respectively after the outburst of the old classical nova QU Vulpeculae (Nova Vul 1984 #2). The spectra of the ejecta are dominated by forbidden line emission from neon and oxygen. Our analysis shows that neon was, at the first and last epochs respectively, more than 76 and 168 times overabundant by number with respect to hydrogen compared to the solar value. These high lower limits to the neon abundance confirm that QU Vul involved a thermonuclear runaway on an ONeMg white dwarf and approach the yields predicted by models of the nucleosynthesis in such events.Comment: ApJ 2007 accepted, 18 pages, including 5 figures, 1 tabl

THE MEANING OF GROUPS: THE IMPORTANCE AND ROLE OF THE CONTENT OF SOCIAL IDENTITIES FOR COGNITION AND BEHAVIOUR Andrew L. Evans January 2014 A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement of Staffordshire University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy

ABSTRACT The main purpose of the current thesis was to explore the importance and role of social identity content. The current thesis began by exploring relationships between aspects of social identity content and outcome variables pertinent to a performance domain (see chapter two). Using a cross-sectional design, 151 rugby league athletes completed measures of social identity, social identity content, in-group cohesion, general self efficacy, general collective efficacy, subjective team performance, and preferred leadership style. Data indicated that social identity significantly and positively explained general self efficacy, general collective efficacy, and subjective team performance above and beyond in-group cohesion. Data also revealed that a content focused highly on results or lowly on friendships meant that higher levels of social identity were associated with higher levels of general self efficacy, general collective efficacy, subjective team performance, and a preference for autocratic leadership. Given the limitations of cross-sectional research and the lack of longitudinal research within social identity literature, chapter three focused on the relationships between aspects of social identity content and outcomes variables over time. Using a longitudinal design, 167 rugby league athletes competing across eight teams in one Division completed measures of social identity, social identity content, in-group cohesion, general self efficacy, general collective efficacy, and subjective team performance at the beginning, middle, and end of their nine- week season. League position was also tracked over the season as a marker of objective team performance. Multilevel modelling analyses found that between-person differences in social identity significantly and positively explained in-group cohesion and within-person changes in social identity significantly and positively explained general self efficacy and general collective efficacy. Generally, the between-person differences and within-person changes in identities focused on results or friendships failed to explain outcome variables. However, athletes changed the importance placed on friendships over time. Correlation analyses found viii that social identity and friendships identity content were positively associated with objective team performance over time. Given that athletes changed their social identity content over time, chapter four examined the effects of social identity content threat to provide an explanation for the equivocal social identity content findings. In an experimental design, 40 students were randomly assigned to a results content, threat condition (N = 20) or a support content, no threat condition (N = 20). In groups of five, participants watched five sporting clips and answered questions on each clip in turn. Participants were presented with bogus performance feedback after each trial which threatened results content only. At the end of trial five, participants completed measures of social identity, in-group prototypicality, out- group prototypicality, and social mobility. Objective performance was also measured for each trial. Data indicated that receiving relevant threat to an in-group identity focused on one specific content will harm in-group functioning. On the other hand, in-group functioning in the support, no threat condition was unaffected by the performance feedback presented. Therefore, chapter five investigated whether having an alternative, unthreatened component of social identity content available could have protected in-group functioning in chapter four. In an experimental design, 40 students were randomly assigned to a dual content, results threat condition (N = 20) or a dual content, support threat condition (N = 20). The protocol used in chapter four was replicated. However, participants indicated their willingness to support their group at the end of each trial. Group members received either false performance or supportive feedback depending on the aspect of social identity content threatened. Data revealed that in-group members were socially creative with their dual content. Behavioural outcomes aligned to the threatened component of social identity content were either poor or reduced over time. Trends in behavioural outcomes aligned to the unthreatened aspect of social identity content were less conclusive. Whilst in-group members in each condition reported similar levels of psychological outcomes, being socially creative with social identity ix content generally failed to explain outcome data. Overall, the findings of the current thesis suggest that creating and building social identities and social identity content (to some extent) are important for in-group functioning. Data imply that drawing on a threatened aspect of social identity content will have negative repercussions for in-group functioning. Finally, data suggest that having an alternative and unthreatened aspect of social identity content available can (in some instances) protect in-group functioning. Further implications for theory, applied practice, and future research are discussed throughout the thesis

Model colloidal fluid with competing interactions: bulk and interfacial properties

Using a simple mean field density functional theory (DFT), the authors investigate the structure and phase behavior of a model colloidal fluid composed of particles interacting via a pair potential which has a hard core of diameter, is attractive Yukawa at intermediate separations, and is repulsive Yukawa at large separations. The authors analyze the form of the asymptotic decay of the bulk fluid correlation functions, comparing results from DFT with those from the self-consistent Ornstein-Zernike approximation (SCOZA). In both theories the authors find rich crossover behavior, whereby the ultimate decay of correlation functions changes from monotonic to long wavelength damped oscillatory decay on crossing certain lines in the phase diagram or sometimes from oscillatory to oscillatory with a longer wavelength. For some choices of potential parameters the authors find, within the DFT, a λ line at which the fluid becomes unstable with respect to periodic density fluctuations. SCOZA fails to yield solutions for state points near such a λ line. The propensity towards clustering of particles, which is reflected by the presence of a long wavelength () slowly decaying oscillatory pair correlation function, and a structure factor that exhibits a very sharp maximum at small but nonzero wave numbers, is enhanced in states near the λ line. The authors present density profiles for the planar liquid-gas interface and for fluids adsorbed at a planar hard wall. The presence of a nearby λ transition gives rise to pronounced long wavelength oscillations in the one-body density profiles at both types of interface. © 2007 American Institute of Physics

Contrast-enhanced digital breast tomosythesis and breast MRI to monitor response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy : patient tolerance and preference

OBJECTIVE: Contrast-enhanced digital breast tomosynthesis (CE-DBT) is a novel imaging technique, combining contrast-enhanced spectral mammography and tomosynthesis. This may offer an alternative imaging technique to breast MRI for monitoring of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This paper addresses patient experience and preference regarding the two techniques. METHODS: Conducted as part of a prospective pilot study; patients were asked to complete questionnaires pertaining to their experience of CE-DBT and MRI following pre-treatment and end-of-treatment imaging. Questionnaires consisted of eight questions answered on a categorical scale, two using a visual analogue scale (VAS), and a question to indicate preference of imaging technique. Statistical analysis was performed with Wilcoxon signed rank test and McNemar test for related samples using SPSS v. 25. RESULTS: 18 patients were enrolled in the pilot study. Matched CE-DBT and MRI questionnaires were completed after 22 patient episodes. Patient preference was indicated after 31 patient episodes. Overall, on 77% of occasions patients preferred CE-DBT with no difference between pre-treatment and end-of-treatment imaging. Overall experience (p = 0.008), non-breast pain (p = 0.046), anxiety measured using VAS (p = 0.003), and feeling of being put at ease by staff (p = 0.023) was better for CE-DBT. However, more breast pain was experienced during CE-DBT when measured on both VAS (p = 0.011) and categorical scale (p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Our paper suggests that patients prefer CE-DBT to MRI, adding further evidence in favour of contrast-enhanced mammographic techniques. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Contrast mammographic techniques offer an alternative, more accessible imaging technique to breast MRI. Whilst other studies have addressed patient experience of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography, this is the first study to directly explore patient preference for CE-DBT over MRI in the setting of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, finding that overall, patients preferred CE-DBT despite the relatively long breast compression.Peer reviewe