This volume is the first of two volumes that address the most recent ten years (1997-2006) of focus group studies and research literature. Volume one provides coverage of the arts and humanities, social sciences, and the nonmedical sciences, and volume two concentrates on the medical and health sciences. These volumes cover the English-language academic literature (books, chapters in books, journal articles, and significant pamphlets) available in libraries via interlibrary loan and online. A variety of materials are included: instructional guides, handbooks, reference works, textbooks, and academic journal literature. In Focus Groups, Volume I, the following subject disciplines have been considered: in the arts and humanities_linguistics, music, religion, and sports and leisure studies; in the social sciences_anthropology, business, cartography, communication, demography, education, law, library science, political science, psychology, and sociology; and in the non-medical sciences_agriculture, biology, engineering, environmental sciences, and physics. The selected entries have a minimum of four pages, and include 29 books, 50 book chapters, 349 articles, and 10 pamphlets, for a total of 438 entries. An appendix includes the titles of the 245 journals cited, along with the appropriate entry numbers for each. Author and subject indexes provide access to the contents, with the subject index providing access to unique terms. The detailed contents pages are designed to enable the reader to quickly find appropriate entries through the use of extensive and detailed subheadings.
ABSTRACT: In this study, we constructed an integrated framework of a farming–breeding–bioenergy system to estimate the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventories of various farming and breeding processes in the northeast region of China from 2000 to 2021 based on life cycle assessment. Then, we compared the emission differences between the farming–breeding–bioenergy integrated system and the traditional farming–breeding system in different production segments. Finally, we assessed the environmental impact of the integrated system on agricultural GHG emissions. Results showed that the main sources of GHG emissions in Northeast China include enteric fermentation, fertilizer application, crop energy reduction, crop cultivation, and manure management. Emission hotspots also showed a trend of shifting from south to north and from east to west. In terms of environmental impact intensity, the largest increase in environmental impact intensity values among the farming and breeding systems was recorded in Heilongjiang Province (0.36) and Inner Mongolia (0.13), respectively. In terms of mitigation effects, the farming and breeding systems showed a considerable amount of residual straw and manure that can be fed into bioenergy systems, at 1 801.47 and 394.12 Mt, respectively. The farming–breeding–bioenergy integrated system demonstrated mitigating effects on agricultural GHG emissions.
Cíntia Cármen de Faria Melo, Danilo Silva Amaral, Renato de Mello Prado
et al.
Abstract Inadequate nitrogen (N) fertilization management in pastures is common and can lead to N deficiency or excess, resulting in physiological imbalances in forage grasses across different regions of the world. Silicon (Si) fertigation is a promising strategy to mitigate these issues due to its anti-stress properties. However, its effects on the morphogenic growth processes of grasses and their influence on forage nutritional value remain unclear. This study investigated the detrimental effects of low, adequate, and excessive N-urea supply on the morphogenesis, production, and chemical-bromatological composition of Zuri grass in two tropical soils (Ferralsol and Arenosol), with a focus on the mitigating role of nanosilica in these parameters. Low N levels inhibited leaf growth and tillering, whereas excessive N led to excessive increases in morphogenic activity, compromising leaf lifespan and dry matter (DM) production. Si fertigation balanced morphogenesis under both low and excessive N conditions, reducing dead material and lignin content in forage grown in Arenosol. Well-nourished plants exhibited higher DM production in both soils when supplemented with Si. Fertigation with silicon is beneficial for the morphogenesis of grass under low or high N, mitigating DM production losses under N excess, but not under N deficiency. Silicon can optimize forage production in adequately fertilized systems without compromising forage digestibility.
Benaissa Chaimae, Rossi Abdelhamid, Bouhmadi Belkacem
et al.
This study aims to investigate the physical, chemical, and bacteriological quality of water derived from both a well and a spring across three distinct periods (2008, 2012, and 2021) in both summer and winter. These sampling points are situated within the urbanized area of Al Hoceima and serve as crucial sources of drinking water for a substantial portion of the city's population due to their proximity to the city center. The water hardness values observed at these natural points ranged from 5.9 to 82 (°F), categorizing the water from these sources as very hard. Furthermore, the Piper diagram revealed chemical facies characterized by chlorinated sodium and calcium magnesium sulfate. The elevated concentrations of sodium and chloride were attributed to the proximity of the Mediterranean Sea shoreline. Analysis of bacteriological parameters in these waters uncovered notable contamination by fecal germs. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the water samples identified two primary groups, elucidated by two factors that collectively account for 79.37% of the variance. The first factor (50.11%) is linked to gypsum dissolution and marine intrusion, while the second factor (29.26%) is associated with external contributions such as anthropogenic pollution.
Samantha M. Samon, Michael Barton, Kim Anderson
et al.
Abstract Background As exposure assessment has shifted towards community-engaged research there has been an increasing trend towards reporting results to participants. Reports aim to increase environmental health literacy, but this can be challenging due to the many unknowns regarding chemical exposure and human health effects. This includes when reports encompass a wide-range of chemicals, limited reference or health standards exist for those chemicals, and/or incompatibility of data generated from exposure assessment tools with published reference values (e.g., comparing a wristband concentration to an oral reference dose). Methods Houston Hurricane Harvey Health (Houston-3H) participants wore silicone wristbands that were analyzed for 1,530 organic compounds at two time-points surrounding Hurricane Harvey. Three focus groups were conducted in separate neighborhoods in the Houston metropolitan area to evaluate response to prototype community and individual level report-backs. Participants (n = 31) evaluated prototype drafts using Likert scales and discussion prompts. Focus groups were audio-recorded, and transcripts were analyzed using a qualitative data analysis program for common themes, and quantitative data (ranking, Likert scales) were statistically analyzed. Results Four main themes emerged from analysis of the transcripts: (1) views on the report layout; (2) expression of concern over how chemicals might impact their individual or community health; (3) participants emotional response towards the researchers; and (4) participants ability to comprehend and evaluate environmental health information. Evaluation of the report and key concerns differed across the three focus groups. However, there was agreement amongst the focus groups about the desire to obtain personal exposure results despite the uncertainty of what the participant results meant. Conclusions The report-back of research results (RBRR) for community and individual level exposure assessment data should keep the following key principles in mind: materials should be accessible (language level, data visualization options, graph literacy), identify known information vs unknown (e.g., provide context for what exposure assessment data means, acknowledge lack of current health standards or guidelines), recognize and respect community knowledge and history, and set participant expectations for what they can expect from the report.
Oumayma Slimi, Santo Marsigliante, Vito Ciardo
et al.
The global prevalence of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity increases rapidly. Physical activity plays a major role in the prevention of obesity. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of adapted basketball sessions according to the empathic capacity of adolescent girls with overweight. Forty-two girls with overweight (age: 16.09 ± 0.85; years; height: 1.64 ± 0.67 m: weight: 73.02 ± 0.61 kg; BMI: 27.15 ± 1.37) volunteered to participate in the study and were randomly assigned to the experimental group (EG, n = 21) and control group (CG, n = 21). EG was submitted to a basketball intervention adapted to students with obesity while the CG performed classic basketball exercises for 7 weeks. Each week girls had 2 basketball teaching-learning sessions, lasting 50 min. The participants’ empathy was assessed before and after the intervention using the Favre CEC. The results showed that adaptation intervention was associated with a significant emotional contagion decrease (Δ% = 0.466) and splitting with emotions (Δ% = 0.375), and with an empathy increase (Δ% = 1.387), in EG compared to CG. No significant difference was assessed in the empathy CG, before and after the intervention. This study demonstrated that adapted physical education classes could be an effective strategy to improve empathetic skills and inclusion of overweight girls as well as a means to prevent obesity.
Zilberova Inna, Novoselova Irina, Petrov Konstantin
et al.
Housing and public utility services constitute one of the most important sectors of the national economy. Reforming and renewal of the housing and public utility services sector is unthinkable without technological modernization of the utility pipeline networks. At the same time, public utility infrastructure facilities in many cities and towns of Russia can be characterized by significant deterioration. Frequent accidents negatively affect the life support of populated areas, which urges the development of organizational and technological approaches to the reconstruction of municipal infrastructure facilities.
Sylvain Ambayi Bienu, Tolerant K. Lubalega, Damase P. Khasa
et al.
Tropical rainforests play an important role in the global Eco-climatic balance and its sustainable management is a major concern that has attracted the attention of researchers. The Luki biosphere reserve, while under a status of protected area, experiences anthropic pressures without spare. In order to control the activities of local populations and particularly to implement the principles of natural resources management enacted by the Man and Biosphere program of the United Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, a zoning plan has been implemented in the Luki biosphere reserve since 1979. The aim of this study was to evaluate the floristic composition, the diversity and structural parameters on floristic groupings of forest tree species in the Luki Biosphere Reserve (LBR) to evaluate whether the implemented zoning has an effect on plant diversity and population structure of forest trees species in the Luki Biosphere Reserve. Floristic data were collected on a set of 15 plots of 1 hectare (ha) each following the management zoning, in which tree species with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 10 cm were measured and identified. Floristic diversity analysis was carried out and the relationship between within plots species richness and physical and chemical properties of soil was established. In total, 6497 individual trees were inventoried belonging to a total of 218 species grouped in 41 families making an average tree density of 433 ± 13 individual per hectare. Two floristic groups emerged from the ordination of species and cluster analysis. Prioria balsamifera and Dialium pachyphyllum were among the most represented and characteristic tree species in the floristics groups. The families Sterculiaceae, Fabaceae, Ebenaceae, Olacaceae, Rubiaceae, Annonaceae, Myristicaceae, Meliaceae and Sapotaceae displayed high values of specific important index. Tree populations from the three zoning displayed an ''inverted J'' shape in an axil distribution of classes of diameters while the horizontal distribution of tree height displayed a bell structure. A significant difference exists in species richness among zones and floristic groupings. The floristics groupings were distributed following the soil texture. This work provides the basic elements for a sustainable management plan adapted with the current zoning plan in the Luki Biosphere Reserve.
Abstract Based on the PM2.5 concentration in the autumn and winter of 2015–2019, the characteristics of urban air pollution in the eastern monsoon region of China were discussed. The spatial distribution and interregional influence of fine particle pollution under different synoptic weather and topography in the eastern monsoon region of China were illustrated. According to synoptic systems, regional PM2.5 pollution episodes were classified into three categories, including Uniform Pressure field (UP, 60.00%), Pre-High Pressure (PreHP, 30.91%) and Inverted-Trough (IT, 9.09%). The K-Means algorithm combined with the HYSPLIT backward trajectory clustering analysis indicated four clusters under UP controlled, and under weak pressure field was responsible for the elevation of PM2.5 concentration, where the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei and its surrounding areas were the most polluted region. For PreHP, four clusters eased after cold front. For IT, three clusters were ascertained, and the severe PM2.5 pollution area was in the central and southern of the North China Plain. This study provided a scientific basis for the joint prevention of PM2.5 pollution based on topographic and meteorological characteristics in Eastern China.