Socio-environmental Model Research Articles

Sustainability of Mediterranean irrigated agro-landscapes

In this work we show the feasibility of empirical testing of socio-environmental models with a relatively simple model of a traditional agro-ecosystem: the Huerta Murcia (Spain). This Mediterranean traditional irrigated land is based on adaptive strategies of irrigation and crop management and has important functions for the conservation of natural and cultural resources. During the last decades, this agro-landscape has been threatened by several factors linked to low profitability of agricultural production under present conditions, the emergence of new irrigated lands outside the river valleys and the land conversion to non-agricultural uses. A dynamic system model has been built to analyse all these processes. Results obtained for the 1932–1995 calibration period show that the model successfully tracks the observed data series for the available variables (area of traditional irrigated lands, number of landowners, population, average farm size and water pollution) and that the Huerta had lost more than 2000ha, explained by competition for land use and the decreasing profitability of farming due to the reduced farm size, the appearance of water deficit and the increasing water pollution. After model testing, including dimensional consistence tests, sensitive analysis and extreme condition tests, a set of policy scenarios (1995–2025) were explored. Land planning policies seem to be more effective than agricultural policies. Then, the observed actual behaviour (1995–2008) of Huerta Murcia was compared to results expected under the analysed scenarios results show an actual rate of loss of Huerta (1995–2008) higher than expected under the base trend (business as usual) scenario. This accelerated loss can be explained by the successive changes in the Municipal Urban Plan, leading to a notable increase in buildable area and to increasing expectations about population growth. When the actual scenario (1995–2008) is implemented by updating exogenous variables or forcing inputs and introducing the potential (virtual) population increase, as derived from the plans, the model is able to predict the whole set of 1995–2008 observed data series with no further calibration against data. This might be considered as a sort of model validation with an independent dataset, which constitutes a remarkable contribution in the area of socio-ecological modelling.

Distributed computation of large scale SWAT models on the Grid

The increasing interest in larger spatial and temporal scale models and high resolution input data processing comes at a price of higher computational demand. This price is evidently even higher when common modeling routines such as calibration and uncertainty analysis are involved. Likewise, methods and techniques for reducing computation time in large scale socio-environmental modeling software is growing. Recent advancements in distributed computing such as Grid infrastructure have provided further opportunity to this effort. In the interest of gaining computational efficiency, we developed generic tools and techniques for enabling the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model application to run on the EGEE (Enabling Grids for E-science projects in Europe) Grid. Various program components/scripts were written to split a large scale hydrological model of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), to submit the split models to the Grid, and to collect and merge results into single output format. A three-step procedure was applied to take advantage of the Grid. Firstly, a python script was run in order to split the SWAT model into several sub-models. Then, individual sub-models were submitted in parallel for execution on the Grid. Finally, the outputs of the sub-basins were collected and the reach routing process was performed with another script executing a modified SWAT program. We conducted experimental simulations with multiple temporal and spatial scale hydrological models on the Grid infrastructure. Results showed that, in spite of computing overheads, parallel computation of socio-environmental models on the Grid is beneficial for model applications especially with large spatial and temporal scales. In the end, we conclude by recommending methods for further reducing computational overheads while running large scale model applications on the Grid.

Discretionary-based disclosure: evidence from the Brazilian market

The primary objective of this paper is to identify the factors that explain Brazilian companies’ level of voluntary disclosure. Underpinning this work is the Discretionary-based Disclosure theory. The sample is composed of the top 100 largest non-financial companies listed in the Bolsa de Valores de São Paulo (Brazilian Securities, Commodities, and Futures exchange - BOVESPA). Information was gathered from Financial Statements for the years ending in 2006, 2007, and 2008, with the use of content analysis. A disclosure framework based on 27 studies from these years was created, with a total of 92 voluntary items divided into two dimensions: economic (43) and socio-environmental (49). Based on the existing literature, a total of 12 hypotheses were elaborated and tested using a panel data approach. Results evidence that: (a) Sector and Origin of Control are statistically significant in all three models tested: economic, socio-environmental, and total; (b) ‘Profitability’ is relevant in the economic model and in the total model; (c) Tobin’s Q is relevant in the socio-environmental model and in the total disclosure model; (d) Leverage and Auditing Firm are only relevant in the economic disclosure model; (e) Size, Governance, Stock Issuing, Growth Opportunities and Concentration of Control are not statistically significant in any of the three models.

Identifying Environmental Effects on Alcohol Use and Social-Norms: The Socio-environmental Context Model

Building from the social norms approach, the following study uses the theoretical and empirical literature to guide the development of a conceptual model that can be used in studying the effects of environment on alcohol use and social norms. This model, referred to as the socio-environmental context model, contains four dimensions that each play a unique role in the environment's influence on alcohol use and social norms. The following research demonstrates how applying this conceptual model can help attain a better understanding of the environmental effects on alcohol use and social norms that exist within a given environment.

DESEMPENHO MULTICRITERIAL NO SETOR BRASILEIRO DE DISTRIBUIÇÃO DE ENERGIA ELÉTRICA: UMA ANÁLISE APOIADA EM DEA PARA OS ANOS DE 2007 E 2008

p id="conteudo_artigo" Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar, por meio do uso da Análise Envoltória de Dados (DEA), o desempenho de empresas do setor brasileiro de distribuição de energia elétrica, tendo como base um conjunto de indicadores divididos em três dimensões/perspectivas: contábil-financeiro (modelo 01), operacional (modelo 02) e socioambiental (modelo 03). Todos os indicadores foram obtidos a partir da base de dados Séries, publicada pelo GESEL/NUCA/IE/UFRJ, para os anos de 2007 e 2008. Para análise foram utilizados modelos DEA-VRS, que foram implementados com o apoio do software SIAD, sendo considerados ajustes para valores negativos e restrições aos pesos. Os resultados mostram que as empresas que obtiveram melhores índices de eficiência nos três modelos foram: CPFL Mococa, Coelba, Elektro, CPFL Jaguari e Energipe. Já as que obtiveram os piores índices foram: Enersul, Celtins, Caiuá e EEB. Além disso, o teste de diferença de médias mostrou que não existe diferença entre os desempenhos médios dos grupos maiores e menores empresas e a análise de correlação mostrou que não existe correlação significativa entre desempenho e tamanho. Em outras palavras, pôde-se constatar que não é o tamanho, mas sim o desempenho superior, que confere competitividade às empresas.

The concept of positive health: a review and commentary on its application in oral health research

Although the concept of positive health has been around for more than 60 years, acceptable measures of this construct have yet to emerge. Potential explanations are that there is no consensus on how it is to be defined and its ambiguous status with respect to medical and socioenvironmental models of health. In this paper we review definitions of positive health, the origins of these definitions, the way the concept of positive outcomes has been used in research on the outcomes of oral and orofacial conditions and assess whether the concept of positive health has any merit in terms of applied oral health research. This literature reveals many competing and imprecise definitions, many of which are similar to other constructs, such as well-being. Most are lacking empirical referents or indicators. In examining the literature on oral health we found five distinct, although overlapping, ways in which the concept of positive health has been framed: (i) positive health as the absence of negative health states; (ii) positive health as positively worded items; (iii) the positive outcomes of oral health; (iv) positive oral health as a set of psychological and social attributes, and (v) the positive outcomes of chronic conditions such as oro- and craniofacial differences. Each of these ways can be challenged on conceptual or methodological grounds. For example, the states that comprise the upper end of the negative-positive health continuum have not been defined and health states and determinants of health are often confused. Moreover, the meaning of responses to health status questionnaires and the interpretation of accounts of the illness experience is often unclear. Nevertheless, the notion of positive health, irrespective of its merits and public policy implications, provides a context for methodological and theoretical debate that can only serve to enrich theory and practice with respect to measures of health and quality of life and therapeutic interventions at the individual and population.

Learning from differences between ordinary and expert theories of health and physical activity

Community participation underpins primary healthcare and a socioenvironmental model of health promotion. However, physical activity promotion has, until recently, been influenced by expert-driven theories based on quantitative research. This paper reports on a qualitative study in Adelaide, South Australia that asked ‘How do ordinary people theorize about health, physical activity and constraints on choices to increase physical activity? How do ordinary theories differ from expert theories? What are the implications of these differences for the promotion of physical activity?’ The sample of 121 in focus groups and field visits was drawn from existing networks and organizations with varying experiences of factors associated with lower levels of physical activity in that area. Results show how ordinary theories qualify or challenge expert theories, explore what is reasonable as well as rational and maintain (rather than reduce) complexity and uncertainty. They deal with unhelpful expert advice. They construct normal stories about chronic conditions. Ordinary theories build from expert theories to suggest new approaches to health promotion. The results suggest that we should consider expert theories as scaffolds, not prescriptions. This helps experts to improve the quality of their advice by developing new theories of health promotion and sorting through the complex links between physical activity, health and life in general. Why do this? Because experts’ consultations and campaigns have a ‘multiplier effect’ whereby time taken to work with ordinary theories will influence future ordinary theorizing, leading to new discourses showing the benefits of expert–community dialogue.

Thoughts on barriers and enablers for incorporating ordinary theorising into the community participation in health debate.

The primary health care approach (World Health Organisation 1978) nominates community participation as one of its underpinning principles. Similarly, a socio-environmental model of health promotion encourages people to participate in health development and foster collective action for health (Labonte 1992). People can only participate fully in decisions about research, services and programs that influence their health if their voices are heard and taken into account.

Urban violence and health—South Africa 1995

Many cities all over the world are the loci of various forms of violence. Violence is a complex phenomenon, its causes are multidimensional and its consequences have ramifications far beyond the immediate perpetrators and victims. The aim of this paper is to review various forms of urban violence and their health consequences, locating them in the wider South African context. Owing to the lack of centralised data, the information presented in this paper is based on the best available data derived from numerous sources. Using the socio-environmental model of health and disease as a framework, violence and its impact on health is discussed. The brief review of political violence, violent crimes, violence against women and domestic violence in South Africa, highlights the fact that SA is a particularly violent society. The data presented suggest a link between the social context of violence and its health consequences, dealing with the impact of urban violence in the form of physical trauma as well as emotional trauma associated with it. Consequently, adopting a comprehensive approach, that violence needs to be understood in the wider societal context and has to be dealt with in the broadest terms possible, as advocated by the “New Public Health” approach, a way forward to reduce levels of violence and cope with its health consequences is suggested. An emphasis is placed on the three levels of prevention and the vital collaboration between the judicial system, police, the health sector as well as the community.

Sociology and the ‘New Public Health’ in South Africa

Abstract The paper explores the dimensions of the ‘New Public Health’ in general and in the South African context in particular. Adopting a historical perspective, Sociology’s role in public health research and training is examined. It starts with an examination of changes that have occurred in society, health, and medicine linked to the need for a sociological understanding for health professionals. In this framework, the ‘socio-environmental model’ of health and disease, which is the outcome of the new understanding, is presented. The development of ‘public health’ and ‘primary health care’ with its links to sociology are discussed subsequently, drawing on international examples as well as focusing on its history in South Africa. Finally, the paper deals with the ‘New Public Health’ in South Africa and the potential role Sociology can play in its research, training, and practice.

Day In, Day Out with Alzheimer's: Stress in Caregiving Relationships.

Preface Acknowledgments 1. An Introduction to Dementia and Caregiving The World of Dementia Care Care as Control The Medicalization of Senility: A Historical Shift The Biomedical Model of Dementia A Socioenvironmental Model of Dementia Care Conclusion 2. Losing It: Stress and Distress in Alzheimer's Day Care Energy: Demanding Work Losing People: Losing Control We/They: Social Support The Caregiving Relationship The Price of Stress: Quality of Care Conclusion 3. Care and Control: Managing Stress by Medicalizing Deviance Assessing Level of Severity Infantilization: The Medical Model of Care Social Control Social Distance Staff Stress and Quality of Care in a Nonmedical Program Conclusion 4. Medicalization, Stress, and Care: Contrasts between Two Day Care Centers Medial and Nonmedical Programs: Structural Conditions The Medical Model of Caregiving Contrasts in Work-Related Stress Contrasts in Quality of Care Conclusion 5. The Physical World of Day Care: Environmental Stress and Control Environmental Stress: Four Facility Design Features Environmental Control and Medicalizing Deviance Facility Design and Staff Stress: A Case Study Conclusion 6. What Worked: Providing Quality Care with Minimal Staff Stress A Model Program at Valley Day Care Center Conclusion 7. What's Next: Research, Practice, and Policy Implications Research Implications Practice Implications Policy Implications Conclusion Appendix A: Research Methods and Researcher Role Appendix B: Tables Notes References Index

Social inequality and healthy public policy.

For decades, health education programmes have been based on the assumption that individual behaviours (for example smoking, drug use, eating patterns) are the major risk-factors in contemporary illness. This assumption often led to interventions that subtly "blamed the victim" for his or her ill-health. In recent years the broader social conceptualization of health and illness has directed many health educators' attention towards socio-economic and environmental factors which condition and constrain lifestyle choices, and which may be directly associated with increased disease risks. While it is becoming common for government health departments and agencies to acknowledge poverty, unemployment and other forms of social inequality as potent health hazards, programmes to ameliorate such conditions are rare. Since 1983, the Toronto health department has developed programmes based upon a socio-environmental model of disease which specifically targets social systems rather than individual behaviour for change. Elements of this approach include extensive media reports on the health implications of such issues as welfare benefits, poverty, unemployment and housing; health education programmes to stimulate a critical understanding of the causes and structure of social inequality; health advocacy initiatives to influence political and legislative reforms; and a community development orientation which involves the department in broad-based coalitions working towards healthy social change. Most recently, the department has become a resource to groups attempting to create employment and service community needs through cooperative forms of economic development. Several examples of the department's programmes in each of these areas are provided. To meet the challenge of the World Health Organization's Alma Ata Declaration, health educators must examine their own potential to act as social-change agents, and must become more sophisticated in the political analysis of their practice.

Child Abuse: A Socio-Environmental Perspective – Part 2

This article, the second in a series of two, builds on the practice implications of the socio-environmental model of child abuse. The identification in this model, of necessary and sufficient conditions for occurrence of child abuse, leads to the conclusion that effective prevention and management can only be brought about by approaches which create nurturing conditions for all families. Helping programs must be intimately involved in the community of the families they serve – not only by integrating formal and informal networks, but also by promoting community involvement in the definition of community standards of adequate parenting, and in long term support of vulnerable families.The present articles present some ideas as to how this can be achieved. Social support network theory gives some suggestions of the potential of social supports to provide a variety of resources and to counteract the social supports to provide a variety of resources and to counteract the social isolation identified by the socio-environmental model as an important necessary condition of child abuse. The article concludes by looking briefly at some practice approaches which attempt to maximize the availability and effectiveness of social support.

Child Abuse: — a socio-environmental perspective

In a series of two articles, the author presents a socio-environmental model which provides a framework for assessing the needs of abusing families. In the 2nd article (to be published in the Spring Issue) she looks at the application of the model in practice.