Gender accommodative versus transformative approaches: a comparative assessment within a post-harvest fish loss reduction intervention

Technical and social constraints limit value chain actors from equitably engaging in and benefiting from capture fisheries in low-income settings. Extension and development programs often focus on the former, which reflects a technocratic orientation of the fisheries sector and uncertainty about effective ways for development programs to engage with gender and other social constraints. This study presents empirical insights that address these challenges to fisheries development. The study took place in fishing camps in the Barotse Floodplain, Zambia to compare two approaches addressing gender constraints within a broader post-harvest fish loss reduction intervention: an accommodative and a transformative approach. The former embodied a more common ‘practical needs’ set of strategies to ensure female participation, while the latter comprised a communication tool embedded in an action research process to build critical consciousness. Results indicate that the use of a transformative approach led to significant changes in gender equal attitudes and women’s empowerment outcomes compared to only using an accommodative approach. Development programs working in fisheries can apply the findings to engage effectively with gender constraints, especially using transformative approaches to help enable women and men to overcome the social and technical barriers that constrain their lives and livelihoods

Modification of Permeability Transition Pore Arginine(s) by Phenylglyoxal Derivatives in Isolated Mitochondria and Mammalian Cells. Structure-function relationship of arginine ligands

Methylglyoxal and synthetic glyoxal derivatives react covalently with arginine residue(s) on the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP). In this study, we have investigated how the binding of a panel of synthetic phenylglyoxal derivatives influences the opening and closing of the PTP. Using both isolated mitochondria and mammalian cells, we demonstrate that the resulting arginine-phenylglyoxal adduct can lead to either suppression or induction of permeability transition, depending on the net charge and hydrogen bonding capacity of the adduct. We report that phenylglyoxal derivatives that possess a net negative charge and/or are capable of forming hydrogen bonds induced permeability transition. Derivatives that were overall electroneutral and cannot form hydrogen bonds suppressed permeability transition. When mammalian cells were incubated with low concentrations of negatively charged phenylglyoxal derivatives, the addition of oligomycin caused a depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential. This depolarization was completely blocked by cyclosporin A, a PTP opening inhibitor, indicating that the depolarization was due to PTP opening. Collectively, these findings highlight that the target arginine(s) is functionally linked with the opening/ closing mechanism of the PTP and that the electric charge and hydrogen bonding of the resulting arginine adduct influences the conformation of the PTP. These results are consistent with a model where the target arginine plays a role as a voltage sensor

Modification of Permeability Transition Pore Arginine(s) by Phenylglyoxal Derivatives in Isolated Mitochondria and Mammalian Cells: Structure-Function Relationship of Arginine Ligands

Methylglyoxal and synthetic glyoxal derivatives react covalently with arginine residue(s) on the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP). In this study, we have investigated how the binding of a panel of synthetic phenylglyoxal derivatives influences the opening and closing of the PTP. Using both isolated mitochondria and mammalian cells, we demonstrate that the resulting arginine-phenylglyoxal adduct can lead to either suppression or induction of permeability transition, depending on the net charge and hydrogen bonding capacity of the adduct. We report that phenylglyoxal derivatives that possess a net negative charge and/or are capable of forming hydrogen bonds induced permeability transition. Derivatives that were overall electroneutral and cannot form hydrogen bonds suppressed permeability transition. When mammalian cells were incubated with low concentrations of negatively charged phenylglyoxal derivatives, the addition of oligomycin caused a depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential. This depolarization was completely blocked by cyclosporin A, a PTP opening inhibitor, indicating that the depolarization was due to PTP opening. Collectively, these findings highlight that the target arginine(s) is functionally linked with the opening/ closing mechanism of the PTP and that the electric charge and hydrogen bonding of the resulting arginine adduct influences the conformation of the PTP. These results are consistent with a model where the target arginine plays a role as a voltage sensor

Micro ring-disk electrode probes for scanning electrochemical microscopy

Abstract The construction and characterisation of ring-disk (RD) microelectrodes suitable for use in scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) is reported. Such RD electrodes are proposed as probes for novel generator-collector SECM experiments. In this case, the interaction of both the reactants and products with the substrate under investigation can be followed simultaneously from a single approach curve to the substrate. Examples of such approach curves to conducting and insulating substrates are given to demonstrate the potential of this new mode of SECM operation.

Development of an IV-curve tester with solar tracker capability and temperature measurement module for characterization of SIKAT solar panels

The study aims to characterize the SIKAT II solar panels and identify their actual performances under different types of conditions that is present in the car such as temperature, angle displacement, dirt and cell shadowing The group developed an IV Curve Tester module to measure different components of the cell such as current, voltage and temperature at different loading conditions. The group also developed an automated Solar Tracker that measures the illumination level, angle and azimuth of the sun. Visual Basic was used to control the data acquisition function of the modules in the computer. In line with the solar to the SIKAT II Solar Car, the group also improved the array wiring of the car by designing new diagrams and layouts as well as implementing the design using new, low-resistance wires

Rolling Circle Amplification-Templated DNA Nanotubes Show Increased Stability and Cell Penetration Ability

DNA nanotubes hold promise as scaffolds for protein organization, as templates of nanowires and photonic systems, and as drug delivery vehicles. We present a new DNA-economic strategy for the construction of DNA nanotubes with a backbone produced by rolling circle amplification (RCA), which results in increased stability and templated length. These nanotubes are more resistant to nuclease degradation, capable of entering human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells with significantly increased uptake over double-stranded DNA, and are amenable to encapsulation and release behavior. As such, they represent a potentially unique platform for the development of cell probes, drug delivery, and imaging tools

Silver particle nucleation and growth at liquid/liquid interfaces: a scanning electrochemical microscopy approach

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) has been used to induce and monitor the electrodeposition of silver particles at a liquid/liquid interface by the electron transfer reaction between aqueous Ag+ ions, generated by anodic dissolution of an Ag disk ultramicroelectrode (UME), and bis(pentamethylcyclopentadienyl) iron (decamethylferrocene, DMFc) in a 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) phase. A two-electrode system with an Ag UME as the SECM tip was used to investigate the factors affecting the deposition process, such as the tip-interface separation, potential applied to the tip, concentration of the reductant in the DCE phase, and the reaction driving force, which was controlled by the concentration ratio of a common ion (ClO4-) in the two phases. A theoretical model was developed and rate constants for Ag particle nucleation and growth at the water/DCE interface were obtained by thorough analysis of experimental current-time curves. It was found that Ag+ ion adsorption at the interface, coupled to particle nucleation and growth, best described the experimental data. The growth of Ag particles at the liquid/liquid interface was confirmed by independent microscopy measurements