Strengthen causal models for better conservation outcomes for human well-being.

Background: Understanding how the conservation of nature can lead to improvement in human conditions is a research area with significant growth and attention. Progress towards effective conservation requires understanding mechanisms for achieving impact within complex social-ecological systems. Causal models are useful tools for defining plausible pathways from conservation actions to impacts on nature and people.

Use of monitoring data to support conservation management and policy decisions in Micronesia.

Adaptive management implies a continuous knowledge-based decision-making process in conservation. Yet, the coupling of scientific monitoring and management frameworks remains rare in practice because formal and informal communication pathways are lacking. We examined 4 cases in Micronesia where conservation practitioners are using new knowledge in the form of monitoring data to advance marine conservation.

The impact of the 2004 tsunami on coastal Thai communities: assessing adaptive capacity.

The suddenness and scale of the 26 December 2004 tsunami and the challenges posed to affected communities highlighted the benefits of their members having a capacity to confront and adapt to the consequences of such a disaster. Research into adaptive capacity or resilience has been conducted almost exclusively with Western populations. This paper describes an exploratory study of the potential of a measure of collective efficacy developed for Western populations to predict the capacity of members of a collective society, Thai citizens affected by the 2004 tsunami, to confront effectively the recovery demands associated with this disaster.

The Krukenberg procedure in the bilateral amputee after electrical burn.

Nine Krukenberg procedures were performed in 5 bilateral amputee patients suffering severe electrical injuries of both hands and wrists. The surgical procedure yielded functioning pincers in 7 of 9 operations. The patients could perform their daily activities very well and showed pronounced improvement in their self-confidence, self-reliance, and quality of life.