Community based ecotourism as a panacea for protected areas: the use of common property theory in its analysis and development

Tourism is the worlds largest employer, accounting for 10% of jobs worldwide (WTO, 1999). There are over 30,000 protected areas around the world, covering about 10% of the land surface(IUCN, 2002). Protected area management is moving towards a more integrated form of management, which recognises the social and economic needs of the worlds finest areas and seeks to provide long term income streams and support social cohesion through active but sustainable use of resources. Ecotourism - 'responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well- being of local people' (The Ecotourism Society, 1991) - is often cited as a panacea for incorporating the principles of sustainable development in protected area management. However, few examples exist worldwide to substantiate this claim. In reality, ecotourism struggles to provide social and economic empowerment locally and fails to secure proper protection of the local and global environment. Current analysis of ecotourism provides a useful checklist of interconnected principles for more successful initiatives, but no overall framework of analysis or theory. This paper argues that applying common property theory to the application of ecotourism can help to establish more rigorous, multi-layered analysis that identifies the institutional demands of community based ecotourism (CBE). The paper draws on existing literature on ecotourism and several new case studies from developed and developing countries around the world. It focuses on the governance of CBE initiatives, particularly the interaction between local stakeholders and government and the role that third party non-governmental organisations can play in brokering appropriate institutional arrangements. The paper concludes by offering future research directions.

Obesity in London 1700-1850: the evidence

This study explores the potential of macroscopic osteoarchaeological techniques to reveal the presence of obesity in 282 skeletons drawn from 1700-1850 London. Obesity-related pathology (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and distal-interphalangeal, knee and hip osteoarthritis) and bone geometry (femoral cross-sectional measurements and 1st lumbar vertebral area) are compared in assemblages of high and low status, with the hypothesis that those of high status were more likely to have had an obesogenic lifestyle than their lower status counterparts. It explores the reasons for studying the osteoarchaeology of obesity in skeletons, briefly investigating the extent of obesity in this historical and geographical context and its link with status. The study provides a history of obesity during the period, looking at the language used to describe it, how the medical profession understood it, and how the obese were viewed by wider society. Thereafter follows a literature review of the osteology of obesity, including examination of the clinical and archaeological research on body mass indicators. The thesis then describes the methodology employed in the study, along with detailed study questions and hypotheses. The four sites from which the skeletons were selected are then discussed and the historical context of life and burial in London given. There is an extensive presentation and discussion of the study’s results, including methods used to calculate prevalence and diagnostic criteria. The study found that DISH and femoral cross-sectional measurements show promise as obesity indicators, producing results consistent with those of higher status having a greater prevalence of obesity, although osteoarthritis and 1st lumbar vertebral area failed to indicate that those of higher status had a higher prevalence of obesity. In conclusion, recommendations are made regarding the calculation of prevalence, diagnostic criteria for DISH, and the need for larger sample sizes supported by large multi-site databases

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationNA22598A1 is a unique carbamoylated cyclic guanidine with a diol skipped diamine dipeptide. It was shown to have antimetastatic activity against DLD-1 colon cancer cells with an IC50 of 0.32 µM, but the absolute stereochemistry has yet to be confirmed. Guadinomine B is also a carbamoylated cyclic guanidine with a diol skipped diamine dipeptide. It was shown to inhibit the T3SS virulence system of Gram-negative bacteria with an IC50 of 0.014 µM. We endeavored to synthesize NA22598A1 and determine if it was mischaracterized at isolation. In addition, we investigated a potential mechanism of action that could produce both of the phenotypes exhibited by NA22598A1 and guadinomine B

Mechanisms regulating PKA phosphorylation of the key cardiac proteins Troponin I and Hsp20

Reversible modification of protein function by PKA phosphorylation is critical to a variety of processes in the heart, including the modulation of cardiac output in response to stress, and the transduction of cardioprotective signals. As a result, PKA phosphorylation events must be tightly regulated. This regulation is achieved by compartmentalisation of cAMP/PKA signal transduction cascades, which is mediated by phosphodiesterase enzymes (PDEs) and A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs). PDEs provide the only means of hydroysing cAMP in cells, and in recent years, the use of genetically encoded FRET-based cAMP sensors has allowed direct visualisation of discrete cAMP microdomains created by subcellular tethering of PDEs in cardiac cells. The physical compartmentalisation of PKA by AKAPs ensures that only a small subpopulation of PKA is activated by these cAMP microdomains. Macromolecular complexes nucleated by AKAPs bring together cAMP effectors, signal terminating enzymes and other scaffold proteins, to facilitate PKA signaling events. The aim of this thesis was to investigate the signaling elements which participate in these complexes to modulate PKA phosphorylation of the myofilament protein troponin I and the small heat shock protein Hsp20 in the heart. Both of these proteins are phosphorylated by PKA at their N termini in response to β-adrenergic stimulation, resulting in increased cardiac output and enhanced cardioprotection. PKA phosphorylation of TnI mediates the fight or flight response, by reducing the Ca2+ sensitivity of the myofilament and altering the strength of contraction and rate of relaxation of the heart to increase cardiac output. In the first part of this thesis, I investigated the specific PDE isoforms which regulate cAMP/PKA signaling at the myofilament. A novel FRET-based cAMP sensor which is targeted to troponin I at the myofilament demonstrated that PDE4 is the main phosphodiesterase family which modulates cAMP levels in the subcellular compartment around troponin I. Biochemical studies identified a specific association between troponin I and the long phosphodiesterase isoform PDE4D9. The binding site for PDE4D9 on troponin I was mapped using peptide array technology to a region on the flexible C terminus of the myofilament protein, and the sequence information used to design a cell permeable peptide disruptor of this interaction. Disruption of the troponin I-PDE4D9 complex in cells using this peptide was sufficient to promote PKA phosphorylation of troponin I in the absence of other stimuli. This approach may be of benefit in the treatment of diseases such as heart failure, where PKA phosphorylation of myofilament proteins is known to be reduced. Control of post-translational modifications at the level of the myofilament by specific PDE isoform inhibitors represents a promising therapeutic avenue which has not yet been explored. In the second part of the thesis I investigated the signaling components which regulate PKA phosphorylation of Hsp20. Hsp20 is known to protect against ischaemic injury and cardiac hypertrophy, and its cardioprotective actions are enhanced by PKA phosphorylation on Ser16. Biochemical studies identified an interaction between Hsp20 and AKAP-Lbc in cardiac cells, and selective knockdown of AKAP-Lbc confirmed that this interaction is required for β-adrenergic-induced PKA phosphorylation of Hsp20 and the anti-apoptotic effects of Hsp20 in cardiac myocytes. FRET-based studies using a cAMP sensor targeted to Hsp20 demonstrated the role of PDE4 isoforms in modulating cAMP levels around Hsp20, and biochemical techniques identified PDE4D isoforms in the macromolecular complex formed by Hsp20 and AKAP-Lbc. The AKAP-Lbc/PKA/Hsp20/PDE4D complex appears to play a key role in cardioprotection via the modulation of Hsp20 Ser16 phosphorylation, and selective targeting of signaling elements that enhance this modification represents a new therapeutic avenue for the prevention and treatment of pathological cardiac remodelling and ischaemic injury

The Dichotomy Of Conservation – Managing Elk In The Wildland/Urban Interface Of Missoula, Montana

The Missoula Valley in western Montana is home to nearly 800 wintering elk (Cervus elaphus), including the North Hills, Evaro, Jumbo, O’Brien Creek and Miller Creek herds. With the City of Missoula as the hub, the Valley has experienced substantial human population growth over the last 30 yrs. This increased growth and subsequent development has consumed and fragmented wildlife habitat and placed additional recreational demands on adjacent public lands. Wildlife biologists with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks have worked cooperatively with local governments, federal agencies, land trusts, other non-governmental organizations, and the general public to conserve and protect important elk winter range and habitat connectivity within the wildland/urban interface of the Missoula Valley. From a biological perspective, we have been extremely successful in managing for the persistence of elk populations. However, protecting winter range adjacent to and fragmented by human development has additional management challenges and costs. Since 1980, the North Hills elk herd has grown an average of 11 percent per year, with a 48-percent growth rate occurring between 2000 and 2007. Without an effective harvest, this population is expected to double in less than seven years. To protect elk winter range and to continue to keep elk wild, wildlife biologists have needed to become more creative with their management and conservation strategies. This presentation discusses those strategies, as well as the dichotomy of conserving elk winter range and managing elk on human developed landscapes

What Tenants Want: UK occupiers’ requirements when renting commercial property and strategic implications for landlords

Businesses need property in order to generate turnover and profits. If real estate owners are to be able to provide properties and related services that are desirable, it is crucial that they understand tenants’ requirements and preferences. Changes in the way businesses operate might well lead to an overall reduction in space requirements in all sectors. Faced with reductions in demand, landlords will find themselves in an increasingly competitive marketplace for tenants. Of the array of strategies available to landlords, what strategies should they employ for maximum effect? This paper examines what United Kingdom tenants want from commercial property (retail, industrial and office). The first part provides an analysis of data from several hundred interviews with occupiers of commercial properties owned by some of the largest UK real estate investment companies. Results are presented for each of the asset classes separately. The second part compares the findings with previous research and discusses the strategic implications for landlords

The tenant as a customer: can good service improve real estate performance?

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) theory suggests that good customer service results in satisfied customers, who in turn are more likely to remain loyal and recommend the service provider to others. Proponents of good customer service for tenants claim that landlords should see a return on any investment in their customer service, in the form of enhanced real estate performance. This paper begins by reviewing research on customer service returns in other industries. Through consideration of the characteristics of real estate markets, the paper explains how factors such as (inter alia) lease terms, property market cycles, and property type, might determine the relationship between customer service and real estate performance. The paper concludes that further research is needed to isolate specific aspects of customer service that are most appreciated by customers. It suggests that the financial returns which accrue to landlords adopting a customer-focused approach might indeed be quantified, and suggests an appropriate method for such future research

It’s Not Just the What but the How

White House Task Force to Protect Students From Sexual Assault looked to Prevention Innovations Research Center to evaluate efficacy of strategies for prevention and response to sexual violence on campus

Campus Community Readiness to Engage Measure: Its Utility for Campus Violence Prevention Initiatives—Preliminary Psychometrics

The researchers present preliminary psychometric information on a recently developed measure—the Campus Community Readiness to Engage Measure (CCREM)—which was developed as a tool for campuses to determine their readiness to address sexual assault (SA) and relationship abuse (RA). Participants were 353 community leaders and administrators at 131 colleges and universities across New England. Factor analytic results demonstrated that the CCREM had three factors for both SA and RA: denial (the campus community is unwilling to acknowledge that SA and RA are issues for the community), initiation (the campus community is beginning to create efforts to address SA and RA and some community members are involved), and sustainability (the campus has high levels of engagement from community members and longstanding efforts to address SA and RA). Whereas there was fair to moderate agreement among raters within the same community on the sustainability and initiation subscales, there was poor to fair agreement among raters within the same community on the denial subscale. Although additional measurement development research is needed, preliminary data suggest that the CCREM may be useful to campus communities in helping to initiate prevention initiatives and implement services related to SA and RA