The implications of public participation in environmental management and development

Many global problems in society relate to issues ofenvironment and development. This research exploresdifferent connotations of environmental management anddevelopment. Development models for Third World countriesare found to be most effective when they promote theparticipation of people in the communities they serve.The thesis demonstrates that development is a processthrough which members of society develop themselves andtheir institutions to enhance their ability to mobilize andmanage resources to produce sustainable and distributedimprovements in their life. The thesis shows thatenvironmental impact assessment (EIA) is an environmentalmanagement instrument that allows people to participate inthe management of large development proposals. My researchdemonstrates that the integration of public participationfor environmental impact assessment makes the ETA processmore meaningful and satisfactory for those who are mostfrequently affected by infrastructures and commercialenhancement.The thesis reviews European legislation whichidentifies major projects such as nuclear and fossil fuelpower stations, coal mines, oil and gas projects, airports, tunnels, barrages, roads and manufacturing plants forcompulsory EIA. The thesis identifies then publicparticipation as a necessary requirement for theseassessments. My work shows that the existence of NGOs andother community groups may guarantee more realisticrepresentation than those circumstances where such groupsare discouraged, prohibited or ill formed because ofinadequate local leadership.My investigation indicates that grass-rootsparticipatory movements, in which people are encouraged totake the initiatives to manage the environment, developtheir expertise and capacity to survive in particularcircumstances are numerous.In order to investigate EIA in a country well on theway to industrialisation I examined the environmentalimpact assessment of development projects incorporatingpublic participation in Portugal. I found that publicparticipation in EIA in Portugal is weak because ofhistorical political constraints.Participation is integrated with environmentalmanagement and development in grass-roots sustainabledevelopment initiatives in Africa and Asia. I demonstratedthat local/regional resource management and development isoften promoted from the grass-roots by NGOs with diversehistories. Some relate to people in different communities who have come together with different degrees ofparticipation according to their individual, family,social, economic, political and environmental concerns.They challenge their situations by making responsibledecisions, planning, implementing and monitoring theirobjectives through processes of consultation, action andreflection. I further demonstrated that communityobjectives are achieved through involvement in each stageof the development process.If it is believed that human potentials are to bediscovered and developed, then meaningful participation canrealise this by people's active involvement at all level ofsociety in decision making. I demonstrated that NG0s,historically, have been effective in this task by removingobstacles and educating communities to participate.suggested it is through the promotion of participationthat EIA can exert its effectiveness

Respuesta de cafetales al sol y bajo semisombra a nitrógeno y su relación con la materia orgánica del suelo.

La materia orgánica del suelo (MO) puede llegar a ser una fuente importante de nitrógeno (N) para las plantas. Mediante el desarrollo de esta investigación se evaluó la respuesta de cafetales a plena exposición solar y bajo semisombra al suministro de N y su relación con la MO. Para ello se seleccionaron 20 plantaciones al sol y 12 con semisombra en 25 municipios de Colombia, contrastantes en su contenido de MO (desde 4 hasta 28%). Se evaluaron dos tratamientos, uno con N, P, K y Mg y el otro sin N, el cual se aplicó en dosis de 240 kg ha–1 año–1 como urea. En los cafetales al sol el efecto de la carencia de N sobre la producción se manifestó a partir del segundo año y se aumentó gradualmente, hasta alcanzar reducciones cercanas al 50% en el cuarto año; bajo semisombra se registró un comportamiento similar pero de menor magnitud. En ambos sistemas de producción, el comportamiento del rendimiento relativo en función del contenido de materia orgánica, se ajustó a un modelo cuadrático, con punto de inflexión en el 18% de la variable independiente. El suministro de N disminuyó el pH del suelo y aumentó las pérdidas de K+ en los dos sistemas; en los cafetales al sol se incrementaron los contenidos foliares de N, Mg y Mn por el efecto del N, mientras que las concentraciones de P, K, Cu y B disminuyeron. En las plantaciones desarrolladas bajo semisombra la fertilización nitrogenada sólo aumentó el contenido foliar del Mn y redujo el B

Lixiviación del potasio en suelos de la zona cafetera y su relación con la textura

To improve the efficiency in the use of fertilizers it is necessary to know those characteristics of the soil which have an effect on it. With the purpose of evaluating the effect of the texture of soil on the losses of potassium (K+) by leaching, soil samples at 25 cm deep were taken, using PVC tubes in four cartographical units of soil in the Coffee Zone of Colombia: San Simón (Eutropept, sandy loam), Montenegro (Fulvudands, sandy loam), Chinchiná (Melanudands, loam) and Doscientos (Dystropept, clay loam). Half of the samples from each unit of soil (seven) were superficially fertilized with 4 g of K in the form of KCl (60% of K2O) and the other half weren’t; subsequently, 360mL of distilled water was administered every four days for 25 times and the leached K+ was valued, as well as the Ca2+, Mg2+ and pH. The highest losses by leaching of K+ applied were registered in the Chinchiná unit, followed by Montenegro, San Simón and Doscientos. This response was mainly related to the mineralogy of the soils and the ECEC, before the texture. As a result of the administration of K, losses of Ca2+ and Mg2+ by leaching were increased during the first irrigations.Para mejorar la eficiencia en el uso de los fertilizantes es necesario conocer aquellas características del suelo que la afectan. Con el propósito de evaluar el efecto de la textura del suelo sobre las pérdidas de potasio (K+) por lixiviación, se colectaron muestras de suelo a 25 cm de profundidad mediante tubos de PVC en cuatro unidades cartográficas de suelo de la zona cafetera de Colombia: San Simón (Eutropept, franco arenosa), Montenegro (Fulvudands, franco arenosa), Chinchiná (Melanudands, franca) y Doscientos (Dystropept, franco arcillosa). La mitad de las muestras de cada unidad de suelo (siete) se fertilizó superficialmente con 4 g de K en forma de KCl (60% de K2O) y la otra mitad no; posteriormente se suministraron 360 mL de agua destilada cada cuatro días durante 25 oportunidades y se valoró el K+ lixiviado, además de Ca2+, Mg2+ y pH. Las mayores pérdidas por lixiviación de K+ aplicado se registraron para la unidad Chinchiná, seguido por Montenegro, San Simón y Doscientos, respuesta que se relacionó con la mineralogía de los suelos y la CICE, antes que la textura. En consecuencia de la aplicación de K, se incrementaron las pérdidas de Ca2+ y Mg2+ por lixiviación durante los primeros riegos

A multicenter randomized controlled trial protocol to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention on fertility knowledge, intention and behavior among Iranian new couples

Background: Recent evidence shows that men and women have inadequate fertility knowledge which may negatively affect their childbearing decisions in future. Given the fact that decision making for fertility needs accurate information, targeted educational interventions especially through media are needed to improve knowledge regarding the best age of fertility, factors affecting fertility potential and fertility options available for sub-fertile couples. Aim of the study is to evaluate whether a fertility educational program can be effective in increasing fertility knowledge, childbearing intention and the planned pregnancy rate among couples referring to premarital counselling centers. Methods: This study is a parallel randomised clinical trial with pre-test/post-test design. We will recruit 1240 marrying couples referring for compulsory premarital counselling in public health centers through stratified sampling in five metropolitan cities of Iran. The intervention group will receive both the typical premarital counselling training and a fertility knowledge package containing verbal and virtual educational package at five time episodes (one verbal session and four virtual sessions) within 4 weeks. The primary outcomes are fertility knowledge, childbearing intention and the first planned pregnancy rate (positive pregnancy test) and the secondary outcomes include contraception method use, miscarriage and unplanned pregnancy. Participants will respond to a self-administered demographic/reproductive characteristics questionnaire, the Cardiff Fertility Knowledge Scale (CFKS) and the childbearing intention questionnaire. Data will be collected through online questionnaires at baseline and 3, 12 and 18 months after the intervention. Data will be analyzed using Chi-square or Fisher-exact test for categorical variables, Independent sample t-test for normally distributed quantitative variables and Mann�Whitney U test for non-normally distributed quantitative variables. To compare the outcomes between the two groups over the time, repeated measures ANOVA will be used. We hypothesize that the positive impact of increasing the fertility knowledge is the reduced involuntarily childlessness. Discussion: The findings are proposed to inform government policies and public education strategies aiming at supporting childbearing among young couples who postpone their first pregnancy while they might not have any important social and economic obstacles. Trial registration: This study was approved by Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), Number: IRCT20201005048925N1, Date of registration: 2020-10-12. © 2020, The Author(s)

Determinants of nitrogen use efficiency in coffee crops. A review

World production of coffee (Coffea spp.) has increased in recent decades due to its growing demand. Nitrogen (N) is one of the most required nutrients by coffee crops and in many cases, the most yield-limiting; nevertheless, a high percentage of supplied N is lost, generating pollution, greenhouse gases, and economic losses. Given this scenario, it is a priority to adopt practices that increase nitrogen use efficiency related to the capacity of plants to absorb and use N to produce biomass. This article provides context about NUE and determining factors in coffee: plant, soil, climate, and management. On the plant side, despite advances in genetics and the results of genotype evaluation, it may be a decade or more before improved coffee varieties with high EUN become available or used in world coffee farming. Both the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil and the elements of the climate, mainly temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation, have an influence on coffee growth and many of the processes that intervene in the N cycle and NUE; however, some components of these two factors are not fully controllable. Management of the factors that determine NUE should focus on reducing N losses in the system, increasing its uptake and utilization by plants, and maintaining or increasing productivity

Exploration of Factors Promoting and Inhibiting Fast Food Consumption among Adolescents

Introduction: In recent years, fast food consumption has increased among adolescents and it has become a concern, a health threat, and a major health problem. There are few studies and evidences about factors promoting and inhibiting the consumption of fast food. This study aimed to identify factors promoting or inhibiting the consumption of fast food among adolescents. Method: This qualitative study was conducted in Tehran. Using purposive sampling method, a total of 42 adolescents were enrolled in the study. Data were collected using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Results: According to the findings of this study, all factors inhibiting the consumption of fast food were classified into three main themes: personal views, social and family inhibiting factors. And promoting factors include: personal views, social and family promoting factors. Conclusion: This study identified the factors promoting and inhibiting the consumption of fast food among adolescents. According to the results, the factors promoting fast food consumption were stronger than the inhibiting factors. In other words, there are many factors promoting adolescents to consume fast foods. The findings of this study can be a valuable groundwork for designing interventions for reducing the consumption of fast food; however, more research is needed to investigate and understand effective strategies to reduce fast food consumption in adolescents

Biodegradable Mg/HA/TiO2 Nanocomposites Coated with MgO and Si/MgO for Orthopedic Applications: A Study on the Corrosion, Surface Characterization, and Biocompatability

In the field of orthopedics, magnesium (Mg) and magnesium-based composites as biodegradable materials have attracted fundamental research. However, the medical applications of magnesium implants have been restricted owing to their poor corrosion resistance, especially in the physiological environment. To improve the corrosion resistance of Mg/HA/TiO2 nanocomposites, monolayer MgO and double-layer Si/MgO coatings were fabricated layer-by-layer on the surface of a nanocomposite using a powder metallurgy route. Then, coating thickness, surface morphology, and chemical composition were determined, and the corrosion behavior of the uncoated and coated samples was evaluated. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) micrographs show that an inner MgO layer with a porous microstructure and thickness of around 34 m is generated on the Mg/HA/TiO2 nanocomposite substrate, and that the outer Si layer thickness is obtained at around 23 m for the double-layered coated sample. Electrochemical corrosion tests and immersion corrosion tests were carried out on the uncoated and coated samples and the Si/MgO-coated nanocomposite showed significantly improved corrosion resistance compared with uncoated Mg/HA/TiO2 in simulated body fluid (SBF). Corrosion products comprising Mg(OH)(2), HA, Ca-3(PO4)(2), and amorphous CaP components were precipitated on the immersed samples. Improved cytocompatibility was observed with coating as the cell viability ranged from 73% in uncoated to 88% for Si/MgO-coated Mg/HA/TiO2 nanocomposite after nine days of incubation

Bio-corrosion behavior and mechanical characteristics of magnesium-titania-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites coated by magnesium-oxide flakes and silicon for use as resorbable bone fixation material

This study was aimed to improve of the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of Mg/15TiO2/5HA nanocomposite by silicon and magnesium oxide coatings prepared using a powder metallurgy method. The phase evolution, chemical composition, microstructure and mechanical properties of uncoated and coated samples were characterized. Electrochemical and immersion tests used to investigate the in vitro corrosion behavior of the fabricated samples. The adhesion strength of ~36 MPa for MgO and ~32 MPa for Si/MgO coatings to substrate was measured by adhesion test. Fabrication a homogenous double layer coating with uniform thicknesses consisting micro-sized particles of Si as outer layer and flake-like particles of MgO as the inner layer on the surface of Mg/15TiO2/5HA nanocomposite caused the corrosion resistance and ductility increased whereas the ultimate compressive stress decreased. However, after immersion in SBF solution, Si/MgO-coated sample indicates the best mechanical properties compared to those of the uncoated and MgO-coated samples. The increase of cell viability percentage of the normal human osteoblast (NHOst) cells indicates the improvement in biocompatibility of Mg/15TiO2/5HA nanocomposite by Si/MgO coating