An Analysis Model for National Park Planning Support and Sustainable Development. The case of 'La Botija' Protected Area, Honduras.

Sustainable development is currently acknowledged as being a possible basis for solving complex problems, such as overpopulation, water scarcity, poverty, climate change, or loss of biodiversity. These problems occur in different natural and socioeconomic systems characterized by multiple elements and factors (Folke, C., et al., 2002; Pearce, D.,1988; Zaman, G. & Goshin, Z., 2010). Supporting those systems to improve their sustainability requires the development of specific strategies by policy makers, public officers and project managers. However, each territory area presents multiple factors and elements that policy makers and public officers should take into account for the sustainable development of the area. In fact the assessment of all those territory elements should refer to the evaluation of social, economic, cultural, and environmental interactions as well as to governance processes and the stakeholders and managers interests and opportunities (Olazabal, M. et al., 2007). The simultaneous consideration of these multiple territory elements is required to understand the essence of these complex systems and thus to make suitable decisions and choices. Therefore the implementation of specific actions and strategies should proceed regularly with the support of researches and technical investigations. In this regard the capacity of integrating all the aspects that sustainability has to take into account (economic, environmental, social, public participation, governance processes, etc.) with appropriate tools of spatial planning, improves the chances of developing and implementing efficient action plans from an integrate point of view. For all the above described reasons, GIS based multi-criteria analyses (MCA), integrated with participatory tools, are considered, among the literature, as proper and suitable analyses for the evaluation of the multiple territory elements (Graymore, M. et al., 2007; Greene, R., et al., 2011; Mohamed, A. et al., 2006). Furthermore, there is an often implicit assumption that the use of models integrating GIS systems, MCA and participatory approaches can provide decision support to planners and organizations and can assist them to define innovative strategies and actions. Lastly, in accordance with the literature, this approach can lead to a better and fairer governance, due to the understanding of needs, interests and desires of local stakeholders. (Alshuwaikhat, H. & Aina, Y. 2006; Gerrit J. & Ligtenberg, A. 2007; Jankowski, P., & Richard, L., 1994; Kamal A. & Rashed-Ali H., 2013; Malczewski J., 2006; McCall, M. K. & Minang P. A., 2005). The research case study is ‘La Botija’ protected area, located in the municipality of San Marcos de Colón, in the south-east part of Honduras, at the border with Nicaragua. In particular the investigated area is characterized by multiple complex social, environmental and economic problems (e.g. water pollution, lack of economic resources, lack of infrastructures, lack of cooperation and motivation of local residents, etc.). This thesis aims to develop an analysis model integrating spatial (GIS-based) multi-criteria analysis (MCA) methods with a specific strategic participatory planning process for analyzing the multiple elements and problems of the investigated area. In particular, the main objective of the proposed analysis model is to identify the priority intervention areas of ‘La Botija’ protected area, simultaneously analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data collected during a fieldwork of three months. The final goal of the thesis is to support decision making processes and to give advice to policy makers, public administrators and project managers. In fact, the proposed analysis model represents a decision support system (DSS) useful for the development of strategies and actions for sustainable development and improvement of the area. The analytical model could be used by public decision-makers and project managers to understand which areas need priority interventions. The analysis of the suitability maps provides information on the best intervention strategies for the sustainable development of the protected area and its rural communities. The model allows an analysis of the situation both at specific level, looking at rural communities, and at general level, investigating the whole protected area. The creation of suitability maps focusing on eighteen specific themes (e.g. water system, sewer system, school density, water treatments, etc.) permits to analyze both individually and collectively the multiple elements of the area. The specific participatory approach used in this research is defined as a ‘strategic planning process for transformative change’ and it was developed by DRIFT (The Dutch Research Institute for Transitions) of the Erasmus University of Rotterdam (The Netherlands) with the collaboration of the Monash Water for Liveability Institute of the Monash University of Melbourne (Australia). The applied methodology is based on Transition Management approach. Transition management is an alternative governance approach for sustainable development which seeks to support the transformative change of socio-political landscapes and socio-technical practices (Frantzeskaki, N. et. al, 2012; Loorbach, D., 2007; Rotmans, J., et al., 2001). The involvement of local residents through the use of a participatory approach represents a fundamental key of the thesis. The use of this specific participatory methodology aims to promote empowerment by supporting community members’ participation in decision making and actions. Local citizens are supported to make transformative change in their practices and to improve their awareness about environmental and social issues. In addition, the demands of local citizens could be analyzed and visualized by policy makers, public administrators and project managers to develop projects closer to needs, desires and interests of local residents. The methodological approach of this research can be organized in several steps. At a first phase (April-December 2013), the researcher learned about ‘Transition theory’ and ‘Transition management’ methods during an internship in the Dutch Research Institute for Transitions (DRIFT) of the Erasmus University of Rotterdam (The Netherlands). At a second stage the research focused on the literature review and the formulation of the research case study and research objectives (December 2013-January 2014). At a later stage the interview guidelines and the workshops framework were formulated (January 2014). From February to May 2014 the researcher conducted the fieldwork in ‘La Botija’ protected area. During this period qualitative and quantitative data were collected. Specifically the qualitative data collection was realized through the conduction of fifty-seven in-person semi-structured interviews, the participation in fourteen meetings and public events and the participatory observation of the rural life of thirteen rural communities of ‘La Botija’ protected area. In addition, the researcher organized and realized thirteen workshops with the local citizens of the protected area. These workshops aimed to collect qualitative data and, at the same time, to support the action and the transformative change of the local citizens towards a long-term vision of a sustainable future. Furthermore geographical data referring to the territory elements of the investigated area were elaborated with the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). In particular ESRI’s ArcGIS project was used to create suitability maps of specific territory elements (e.g. communities, rivers, streets, bus routes, schools, health centers, etc.). At a later stage both quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed. Regarding the qualitative data analysis, all the recorded and written information were reviewed and transcribed in Spanish. In total twelve Spanish reports of the investigated communities were developed and provided to each community. Subsequently the reports were traduced by the author from Spanish to English and analyzed. Additionally the quantitative date were examined. The integration of qualitative and quantitative data analysis produced the System Analysis including the problems analysis and the actors analysis. The last stage of the research regarded the construction of an analysis model (May-June 2014). The development of the analysis model can be divided in its turn into three different phases: (a) construction of a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) framework, (b) qualitative and quantitative data analysis through the model, (c) assessment phase with the definition of priorities areas. In the first phase, the hierarchical decision tree of multi-criteria analysis was defined and criteria and attributes were weighted through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). In the second stage the qualitative and quantitative data previously analyzed were inserted into the analysis model and suitability maps were created by using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). At the third stage the multi-criteria analysis (MCA) was elaborated by GIS with the aim to individualize the intervention priorities areas creating a final map. In particular during this phase suitability maps were transformed into preference maps by weighting them. Then the preference maps were combined, in order to visualize the priority intervention areas in a unique map. In conclusion, an analysis model has been developed integrating GIS-based multi-criteria analysis (MCA) and participatory methods. In particular, the creation of the conclusive map reveals that the south-east part of ‘La Botija’ protected area represents the priority intervention area. The maps show which are the major needs and lacks that require to be solved in each point of the investigated area. In this way the analysis model represents an useful and valuable tool that can be used by local policy makers and project managers for developing strategies supporting the sustainable planning and development of the area. The present thesis revealed that there are a number of research challenges that could be developed in the future. First of all suitability map using Ortho photos could be created to compare with the maps created from a topographic map. Secondly a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) or Digital Elevation Model (DEM) could be developed to analyze the altimetry of ‘La Botija’ protected area. The creation of a DTM is also fundamental for the calculation of the real distance travelled and time spent on the journey. Additionally the pairwise comparison of weights between criteria and attributes was elaborated directly by the author without the involvement of local stakeholders. For this reason in the future could be useful to organize a meeting to develop a pairwise comparison by the local actors, residents and stakeholders of the area. The present thesis includes six chapters in total and is organized as follows. Chapter one presents theoretical context of the research focusing on the use of specific spatial (GIS-based) multi-criteria analysis methods in developing countries within the academic literature. Additionally Chapter one introduces the research objectives and the research questions. The second Chapter describes the methodology approach. Chapter three defines the case study context. Chapter four consists in the in-depth qualitative and quantitative data analysis. Chapter five presents the analysis model. In this regard, firstly, the phases of creation of the model are illustrated. Secondly, the suitability maps created with the model are presented. Finally, the Multi-criteria analysis elaborated by the model are explained. Chapter six provides the conclusions of the thesis based on findings of the research and discussions of the results. This last chapter includes also some critical remarks on the research and related future research challenges

Exploring Networking of Third Sector Organizations: A Case Study Based on the Quartieri Spagnoli Neighbourhood in Naples (Italy)

In the last decades, European Third Sector Organizations have been increasingly affected by marketization and the reduction of public resources for social services, hence pushed to develop new strategies to accomplish their social mission while remaining economically efficient. The existing literature suggests that the activation of networking activities can be a strategy to overcome these problems. By using a partially mixed-methods approach, this study investigates factors that stimulate the TSOs’ networking and attitudes toward different types of informal and formal networks. Our results suggest that TSOs try to cope with contextual challenges by activating both formal and informal networks, depending on financial and structural opportunities, but also suggest that the rationalities moving TSOs are highly heterogeneous

Pushing Stoichiometries of Lithium-Rich Layered Oxides Beyond Their Limits

Lithium-rich layered oxides (LRLOs) are opening unexplored frontiers for high-capacity/high-voltage positive electrodes in Li-ion batteries (LIBs) to meet the challenges of green and safe transportation as well as cheap and sustainable stationary energy storage from renewable sources. LRLOs exploit the extra lithiation provided by the Li1.2TM0.8O2 stoichiometries (TM = a blend of transition metals with a moderate cobalt content) achievable by a layered structure to disclose specific capacities beyond 200-250 mA h g(-1) and working potentials in the 3.4-3.8 V range versus Li. Here, we demonstrate an innovative paradigm to extend the LRLO concept. We have balanced the substitution of cobalt in the transition-metal layer of the lattice with aluminum and lithium, pushing the composition of LRLO to unexplored stoichiometries, that is, Li-1.2(+x)(Mn,Ni,Co,AI)(0.8-x)O2-delta. The fine tuning of the composition of the metal blend results in an optimized layered material, that is, Li1.28Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.02Al0.03O2-delta, with outstanding electrochemical performance in full LIBs, improved environmental benignity, and reduced manufacturing costs compared to the state-of-the-art

Potential Impact of Microplastics and Additives on the Health Status of Loggerhead Turtles (Caretta caretta) Stranded Along the Central Adriatic Coast

AbstractLoggerhead sea turtle (C. caretta) is the official European bioindicator of marine litter in the Mediterranean Sea. In 2019, 8 sea turtles, out of 28 specimens loggerhead on the Adriatic coast of Molise, were subjected to necropsy. The intestinal contents were collected and the microplastics until 0.45 μm were extracted. Qualitative and quantitative assessments were performed by stereomicroscope observation and spectroscopic analyses (attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ATR-FTIR and Raman microspectroscopy, RMS). Moreover, the analytical quantification of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), para phthalic acid (PTA) and bisphenol A (BPA) in fat and liver tissues was performed by LC-MS/MS. Microparticles ranging from 0.45 μm to 1 mm were found in all turtles, for a total of 623, while plastic litter greater than 1 mm were found only in 4 specimens (ranging from 0.03 to 0.11 g). Nineteen different polymers and 10 pigments, including polyester (100% of animals), high-density polyethylene (50%) and polypropylene (50%) were identified. BPA, PTA and PET were detected in fat and liver tissues of all animals, while PC was found only in 50%. A major prevalence was registered in the abdominal fat tissue, although only PC compounds were significantly higher in abdominal tissue (p < 0.05), except for free PTA with liver tissue being the most contaminated (p < 0.05). Microplastics and additives surely impact the health status of turtles that showed gastrointestinal impairment and an important level of contamination in tissues. Graphical abstrac

Socio-Institutional Drivers of Groundwater Contamination Hazards: The Case of On-Site Sanitation in the Bwaise Informal Settlement, Kampala, Uganda

This is a research article which contributes to the development of a socio-institutional assessment framework based on a case study of contamination by on-site sanitation (OSS) in an informal settlement of Bwaise (Kampala, Uganda).Socio-institutional factors are poorly addressed in the risk assessment of groundwater contamination. This paper contributes to the development of a socio-institutional assessment framework based on a case study of contamination by on-site sanitation (OSS) in an informal settlement of Bwaise (Kampala, Uganda). We conducted a snapshot survey of the recent extent of groundwater contamination by OSS using microbial and hydro-chemical indicators. Through transition arenas and key informant interviews, we investigated the socio-institutional drivers of the contamination. Overall, 14 out of the 17 sampled groundwater sources tested positive for Escherichia coli during the wet season. Nitrate concentrations at four sources exceeded the World Health Organization guideline value (50 mg/L), attributed to OSS. Despite the high contamination, the community highly valued groundwater as an alternative to the intermittent municipal water supply. We deduced six drivers of groundwater contamination, including land-use management, user attributes, governance, infrastructure management, groundwater valuation, and the operating environment (“LUGIVE”). Qualitative indicators for each of the drivers were also construed, and their interlinkages presented in a causal loop diagram, representing a socio-institutional assessment framework. The framework can help policymakers and the community to analyze various socio-institutional control levers to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination by OSS in informal settlements

Are we even close? Five years marine litter ingestion monitoring in loggerhead turtles along Italian coast reveals how far we are from the Good Environmental Status

The loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta has been chosen as bioindicator to monitor the amount of litter ingested by marine animals within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Barcelona Regional Sea Convention. European Member States and Contracting Parties are committed to achieve the Good Environmental Status (GES), which is reached when the quantity of ingested litter does not adversely affect the health of the species concerned. Although the monitoring strategy has been outlined for more than a decade, to date no threshold values have been adopted to verify GES achievement. After five years of extensive monitoring along the Italian coasts, this study evaluates the suitability of five different GES scenarios and proposes a new threshold value (i.e., "there should be less than 33% of sea turtles having more than 0.05 g of ingested plastic in the GI") for its implementation in the European seas and the Mediterranean basin

NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy in macrophages is crucial to sustain erythropoiesis in mice

The Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 4 (NCOA4) promotes ferritin degradation and Ncoa4-ko mice in C57BL/6 background show microcytosis and mild anemia, aggravated by iron deficiency. To understand tissue specific contribution of NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy we explored the effect of Ncoa4 genetic ablation in the iron-rich strain Sv129/J. Increased body iron content protects mice from anemia and, in basal conditions, Sv129/J Ncoa4-ko mice show only microcytosis; nevertheless, when fed a low-iron diet they develop a more severe anemia compared to wild-type animals. Reciprocal bone marrow (BM) transplantation from wild-type donors into Ncoa4-ko and from Ncoa4-ko into wild-type mice revealed that microcytosis and susceptibility to iron deficiency anemia depend on BM-derived cells. Erythropoiesis reconstitution with RBC count and hemoglobin normalization occurred at the same rate in transplanted animals independently of the genotype. Importantly, NCOA4 loss did not affect terminal erythropoiesis in iron deficiency, both in total and specific BM Ncoa4-ko animals compared to controls. On the contrary, upon a low iron diet, spleen from wild-type animals with Ncoa4-ko BM displayed marked iron retention compared to (wild-type BM) controls, indicating defective macrophage iron release in the former. Thus, EPO administration failed to mobilize iron from stores in Ncoa4-ko animals. Furthermore, Ncoa4 inactivation in thalassemic mice did not worsen the hematological phenotype. Overall our data reveal a major role for NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy in macrophages to favor iron release for erythropoiesis, especially in iron deficiency

4-(3-Phenyl-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide, a Novel Carbonic Anhydrase and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Dual-Targeting Inhibitor with Potent Activity against Multidrug Resistant Cancer Cells

We synthesized new pyrrole and indole derivatives as human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) inhibitors with the potential to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The presence of both N1-(4-sulfonamidophenyl) and 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) substituents was essential for strong hCA inhibitors. The most potent hCA XII inhibitor 15 (Ki = 6.8 nM) suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its target genes MYC, Fgf20, and Sall4 and exhibited the typical markers of apoptosis, cleaved poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase, and cleaved caspase-3. Compound 15 showed strong inhibition of viability in a panel of cancer cells, including colorectal cancer and triple-negative breast cancer cells, was effective against the NCI/ADR-RES DOX-resistant cell line, and restored the sensitivity to doxorubicin (DOX) in HT29/DX and MDCK/P-gp cells. Compound 15 is a novel dual-targeting compound with activity against hCA and Wnt/β-catenin. It thus has a broad targeting spectrum and is an anticancer agent with specific potential in P-glycoprotein overexpressing cell lines

Psychological distress and suicidal ideation in Sicilian Medical Students: The SMS-ME project

Background Medical students are at high risk for mental disorders, and the COVID-19 pandemic might have exacerbated psychological distress. However, no data are available for the southern part of Italy. The SMS-ME (Sicilian Medical Students’ MEntal health) project aimed to estimate the prevalence of and predictors of depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal ideation in a sample of Sicilian medical students. Methods A web-based cross-sectional survey was carried out from September 2022 to December 2022. The study protocol investigated sociodemographic factors and clinical data including Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21), and a specific question addressing suicidal ideation frequency over the last six months. Multivariate regression models were assessed to examine the association between symptoms and relevant predictors and then regressed their residuals with suicidal thought frequency. Result We collected 1,866 records (age=22.5, SD=3.4; 65.2 % females). One out of four students presented highly severe depression (25 %) and referred to the presence of some suicidal ideation in the six months preceding the interview (26.1 %). DASS-21 scores, especially depression (F(5, 1,828)=58.8, p = 6.59–57), increasingly predicted the frequency of suicidal thoughts when above the sample's mean. Limitations The cross-sectional study design does not allow inferences on temporal relationships and the self-report strategy could be intrinsically biased by the person's feelings at the time of the interview. Conclusions High prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts were observed among Sicilian medical students. The DASS-21 was a good predictor for suicidal ideation that Universities could use as a simple tool to assess the need for psychological healthcare in this population