abstract: Research suggests that a particularly important variable in determining success in public participation is the presence of a facilitator. Data from a study of 239 public participation case studies is analyzed using descriptive and statistical analysis to determine the impact on success of the participation efforts if a facilitator is present and whether or not internal versus external facilitators have a significant impact on success. The data suggest that facilitators have a positive impact on the success of public participation efforts and, in particular, that public participation efforts that use facilitators are more successful when the facilitator is a third-party intermediary (external) versus a member of the lead agency's staff (internal). / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Public Administration 2013

A nucleação é uma técnica de restauração florestal na qual se espera que o plantio agregado de mudas aumente o recrutamento e o estabelecimento de espécies, uma vez que o crescimento de algumas plantas pode fornecer melhores condições ambientais para as plantas vizinhas. Porém, o plantio agregado também pode intensificar a competição por nutrientes entre as plantas. Espera-se que o efeito facilitador do núcleo seja maior para espécies não pioneiras, que são mais sensíveis a altas irradiâncias e melhores competidoras por nutrientes. Para espécies pioneiras, tolerantes a altas irradiâncias e piores competidoras, os núcleos devem ser desfavoráveis. A adição de nutrientes pode minimizar a competição e tornar os núcleos mais favoráveis, principalmente às espécies pioneiras. Com o objetivo de avaliar respostas das mudas à nucleação e à adição de nutrientes, foram avaliados a eficiência fotossintética máxima (Fv/Fm) e o conteúdo de pigmentos fotossintéticos. Temperaturas foliares e do solo foram medidas para avaliar o potencial do núcleo em minimizar microclimas extremos. As mudas foram plantadas em parcelas, cada uma com uma combinação de tipo de plantio, em núcleo ou em linha, e tipo de adubo aplicado, com adubo químico (NPK), com terra vegetal ou sem adubação. Os núcleos foram compostos de 13 mudas de espécies diferentes, sendo 5 pioneiras e 8 não pioneiras. As mudas foram separadas entre si por distâncias de aproximadamente 30 cm. Nas linhas as mudas foram plantadas isoladas entre si por 2 m. Mudas plantadas no sistema de nucleação apresentaram melhores condições, com maior Fv/Fm e conteúdo de clorofilas a, b e total (a+b), indicando efeitos de facilitação do núcleo. Menores temperaturas foliares e do solo foram encontradas em núcleos. Tanto plantas de espécies pioneiras quanto não pioneiras apresentaram sinais de fotoinibição, com valores de Fv/Fm abaixo do considerado como livre de estresse, quando plantadas tanto em linhas quanto em núcleos. Os sinais de fotoinibição foram maiores para o grupo de não pioneiras, com menores valores Fv/Fm. Não pioneiras apresentaram menor razão de clorofila a/b, evidenciando seu investimento em absorver maior quantidade de luz. Entretanto, o efeito diferenciado dos núcleos para espécies pioneiras e não pioneiras não foi conclusivo, assim como os efeitos da adição de nutrientes. O presente estudo fornece evidências para o efeito de facilitação em núcleos, agregando mais uma informação aos efeitos benéficos da nucleação, fornecendo subsídios para a recomendação da utilização dessa técnica em restauração. Não foram encontrados indícios que o plantio em núcleos seja prejudicial para pioneiras ou não pioneiras, justificando, dessa forma, o plantio de núcleos mistos / Nucleation of seedlings is a technique for forest restoration in which is expected that the aggregated planting of seedlings increases the recruitment and establishment of species. This would occur because the growth of some species can provide better environmental conditions to neighboring plants. However, the aggregated planting can also intensify the competition for nutrients between plants. It is expected that the facilitating effects are greater for the non-pioneers species that are more sensitive to high light intensities and better competitors for nutrients. For pioneers that are tolerant to high irradiance and worst competitors, the nuclei must be unfavorable. The addition of nutrients can minimize the competition and then turn the nuclei more favorable, especially to the pioneer species. In order to evaluate the responses of seedlings to the nucleation and the addition of nutrients were measured the maximum photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) and the content of photosynthetic pigments. Foliar and soil temperatures were measured to assess the potential of nucleation to minimize extreme microclimates. The seedlings were planted in plots, each with a combination of type of planting in nucleus or line, and type of fertilizer applied, chemical fertilizer (NPK), topsoil or without fertilizer. The nuclei were composed of 13 seedlings of different species, 5 pioneers and 8 non-pioneer pioneers. The seedlings were separated from each other by distances of approximately 30 cm. Seedlings planted in lines were isolated from each other by 2 m. Seedlings planted in the nucleation system showed better conditions with greater Fv/Fm and chlorophyll a, b and total contents, indicating the facilitation effects of nucleation. Foliar and soil temperatures were lower in nuclei. Both pioneers and non-pioneers showed signals of photoinhibition, with values of Fv/Fm below of that considered as stress-free when were planted in both, lines or nuclei. Photoinhibition signals were higher for the group of non-pioneer with lower Fv/Fm values. Non-pioneers had lower ratio of chlorophyll a/b, evidencing their investment to absorb more light. However, the different effects of nuclei for pioneers and non-pioneer species were not conclusive, as well as the effects of the addition of nutrients. The present study provides evidence for the effect of facilitation in nuclei, adding more information to the beneficial effects of nucleation, providing aid for the recommendation of the use of this technique in projects of ecological restoration. No evidence that planting in nuclei is harmful to pioneer or non-pioneer were found, thus justifying the planting of mixed nuclei

O objetivo geral dessa tese foi compreender melhor o funcionamento das raízes finas (diâmetro <2 mm) de Eucalyptus. Mais especificamente, nosso trabalho teve como objetivo obter informações sobre as mudanças no padrão de absorção de nutriente pelas raízes finas em função da fertilização e profundidade do solo. Foi também, avaliar a dinâmica de crescimento das raízes finas em plantações mistas com uma espécie fixadora de nitrôgenio para testar a hípotese do gradiente de estresse. O capítulo 1 teve como objetivo estudar o efeito da fertilização mineral na especialização funcional das raízes finas de Eucalyptus grandis jovens em camadas profundas do solo (Itatinga-SP). Foram injetados macadores de NO3-15N, Rb+ (K+) e Sr2+ (Ca2+) simultaneamente em uma solução a 10, 50, 150 e 300 cm de profundidade. A determinação das concentrações foliares de Rb+, Sr2+ e a porcentagem de átomos de 15N permitiu estimar o potencial de absorção relativo (PAR) e o PAR específico, definido como PARE, obtido pela razão entre o PAR e a unidade de densidade do comprimento de raízes finas por camada de solo correspondente. O PAR de NO3-15N diminuiu rapidamente com a profundidade e os valores mais altos do PARE de NO3-15N foram encontrados a uma profundidade de 50 cm. O PARE de Rb+ e Sr2+ foi maior a 300 cm de profundidade em relação à camada superficial do solo, com um aumento do diâmetro da raiz e uma diminuição da densidade do tecido radicular com a profundidade. O PARE de Rb+ e Sr2+ a 300 cm de profundidade foi, em média, 88% maior para árvores fertilizadas quando comparado com as árvores não fertilizadas. Os resultados sugerem que a especialização funcional das raízes finas para a absorção de nutrientes é uma característica estável do eucalipto e que pode ser reforçada pela aplicação de fertilizantes. O capítulo 2 focou nos processos ecológicos entre Acacia mangium e Eucalyptus em um gradiente de estresse nutricional. Raízes finas foram amostradas aos 16 e 34 meses após o plantio em blocos casualisados com dois tratamentos: uma mistura com 50% de cada espécie (50A:50E) com e sem fertilização. Durante este período, dois tubos de minirhizotron, perto de eucalipto e acacia, em cada tratamento e bloco, foram utilizados para monitorar o crescimento e o tempo de vida das raízes finas. Aos 16 e 34 meses após o plantio, a DRF de Eucalyptus foi maior em relação à Acacia e maior em F+ do que em F- na camada superior do solo. Este resultado mostrou que, provavelmente, há uma maior competição das raízes de eucalipto nas raízes de acacia em F+ do que em F-. Na camada superficial, a DRF de Eucalyptus em F- foi maior aos 34 meses e perto de árvores de Acacia comparado aos eucaliptos, o que seria consistente com uma maior facilitação de N da Acacia para os Eucalyptus em ambiente com maior deficiência de N (hipótese de gradiente de estresse). A mesma concentração de N nas folhas de Eucalyptus em F + e F- também está de acordo com essa hipótese. A produção de raízes finas de eucalipto entre as duas datas de amostragem foi maior em F- que em F+ em paralelo ao aumento de DRF de eucaliptos perto das acacias. Não foi possível estimar o tempo de vida da raiz, pois não houve mortalidade radicular durante o período de estudo para ambas as espécies. Futuros estudos poderiam ser realizados para uma melhor compreensão dos mecanismos de captação de nutrientes pelas árvores visando um manejo mais sustentável das plantações florestais. / The main objective of this thesis was to better understand the functioning of Eucalyptus fine roots (diameter < 2 mm). More specifically, our work aimed at getting insights into the changes in fines roots nutrient uptake changes depending on soil depth and fertilization. Root growth dynamics was also evaluated in mixed plantations with a nitrogen fixing species to test the stress gradient hypothesis. The first chapter aimed at studying the effect of fertilization on the functional specialization of young Eucalyptus fine roots in deep soil layers (Itatinga-SP). We injected NO3-15N, Rb+ (K+) and Sr2+ (Ca2+) tracers simultaneously in a solution at 10, 50, 150 and 300 cm in depth. Determination of foliar Rb+, Sr2+ concentrations and 15N atom % made it possible to estimate the relative uptake potential (RUP), and the Specific RUP, defined as SRUP, per unit of fine root length density in the corresponding soil layer. The RUPs of NO3-15N decreased sharply with depth and the highest values of the SRUPs of NO3-15N were found at a depth of 50 cm. The SRUP of Rb+ and Sr2+ were higher at 300 cm in depth than in the topsoil with an increase in root diameter and a decrease in root tissue density with depth. The SRUP of Rb+ and Sr2+ at a depth of 300 cm was on average 88% higher for fertilized trees than for unfertilized trees. The results suggest that functional specialization of fine roots for nutrient uptake is a stable characteristic of Eucalyptus that can be enhanced by fertilization application. Chapter 2 focused on the ecological processes between Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus under a gradient of nutrient stress. Fine roots were sampled at 16 and 34 months after planting in a randomized block design with two treatments: a mixture with 50% of each species (50A:50E), with and without fertilization. For each treatment, soil samples were collected in 3 blocks at 0-15; 15-30; 30-50 and 50-100 cm at various distances of Eucalyptus and Acacia trees. During this period, two tubes of minirhizotron near eucalypt and Acacia trees in each treatment and block were used to monitoring fine roots growth and turnover. At 16 and 34 months after planting, fine root mass density (RMD) of Eucalyptus was 30% higher than of Acacia and higher in F+ than in F- in the top soil layer (0-15 cm). This result likely showed higher competition of eucalypt roots on Acacia roots in F+ than in F-. In the superficial layer, RMD of Eucalyptus in F- were higher at 34 months near Acacia trees than Eucalyptus trees, that would be consistent with greater N facilitation of Acacia on Eucalyptus in higher N-deficient environment (stress gradient hypothesis). The same N concentration in Eucalyptus leaves in both F+ and F- was also consistent with this hypothesis. Production of Eucalyptus fine roots between the two sampling dates was higher in F- than in F+ in parallel to the increase of RMD of Eucalyptus near Acacia trees. It was not possible to estimate root life span as no root mortality occurred during the study period for both species. Furthers studies should be conducted to better understand the mechanisms of tree nutrient uptake promoting a better sustainable management of forest plantations.

Syftet med den här kvalitativa studien var att undersöka, beskriva och analysera hur högstadieelever upplever att bedömning påverkar samarbete vid grupparbete. Studien har ett socialpsykologiskt perspektiv och för att kunna undersöka elevers upplevelser användes fokusgrupper. Deltagarna var högstadieelever (N=54) och datainsamlingen utfördes i 12 fokusgrupper på tre skolor i två städer. Resultatet illustrerar hur elevers upplevelse av att bli bedömda vid grupparbete kan leda till ett destruktivt samarbete med bedömningsstress och ojämställdhet men även till ett konstruktivt samarbete med gemenskapande och bedömningstillfredsställelse. Eleverna föredrog lärarbedömning framför kamratbedömning och ansåg att lärarbedömning hade störst påverkan på samarbetet vid grupparbete. I diskussionen problematiseras resultatet med hjälp av Social interdependence theory, begreppen social loafing, social facilitation samt genus. Studien bidrar till ökade kunskaper kring hur elever upplever att bedömning vid grupparbete kan leda till ett destruktivt samarbete som kan liknas vid ett samarbete i grupp men även till ett konstruktivt samarbete som kan ses som ett samarbete som grupp.

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Magister Artium (Human Ecology) - MA(HE) / Human Rights have been the focus of much debate in recent years. It is read about in biblical contexts and extensively written about and researched globally,nationally and locally. South Africa is especially recognised as a country trying to adhere to human rights recommendations since after experiencing years of “apartheid” and human rights violations. South Africa is proud to introduce a sixteen-year democracy and a constitution respected by the global society.As South Africa embarks on a period of transformation, women who were historically marginalised are encouraged through education to demand their right to know that their human rights be recognised. The adolescent female in her educational environment is socialized to recognise her basic human rights and, through education,she is able to embrace them and demand that they be upheld.The adolescent female learner within the South African context is the focus of this study as we explore her knowledge and experiences’ of human rights at school. The study also attempts to explore the schools role in providing adequate facilitation for the adolescent female learner to gain sufficient knowledge about her basic human rights.Both quantitative and qualitative research methodology were used in this study. A sample of 12 adolescent female learners was purposively selected. The study was conducted at a Secondary School in the Central Sub-district of Cape Town in the Western Cape. The questionnaire was standardized by testing the questions on learners and the Life Orientation educator of another school. A thematic analysis was used to analyse the audio taped data from the interviews.The key findings were that the adolescent female perceives human rights as being equal and being human amongst other humans but that their human rights are violated at school. It was also found that knowledge about human rights changed the attitudes and behaviour of the adolescent female learners in creating higher self confidence, the ability to stand up for themselves, have a positive self image and an understanding and appreciation for other cultures.The recommendations from this study includes: that the adolescent female learners need to internalize their basic human rights and then demand that these rights be upheld. The integration of human rights concepts within other learning areas or subjects in the school curriculum were additional recommendations.

Magister Legum - LLM

The ability to learn from catastrophe and the science of managing such events has plagued man for centuries. From its insurance origins, corporate risk management has developed into a fully fledged management function and is progressing into business areas that were originally considered unrelated. The evolution of risk management towards such a corporate approach recognises that risks are interrelated and that significant benefits may be achieved from evaluating and monitoring them on a company-wide basis. This study aims at providing the reader with information on the major risks facing the private healthcare administration organisation in South Africa as well as the suitable corporate risk management methodology that may be applied in effectively managing these threats and opportunities from an internal audit perspective. Pressing issues facing the private healthcare environment today include: • Dramatic increase in regulatory oversight within the private healthcare industry; • the need for more innovative actuarial and financial models to address countrywide epidemics such as HIV and AIDS; • increased prevalence of capitation contracts to ensure the financial stability of healthcare service providers; • increases in expected fraudulent activity; • increasing the scope of private healthcare to incorporate a larger share of the South African population; and • providing effective healthcare cover to members whilst facing significant medical inflation increases. The development and implementation of a consistent risk management methodology provides stakeholders with greater confidence that pressing issues, such as those listed above, are being optimally managed. This type of improved risk management consists of distinct phases. Key phases of the suggested methodology presented in this work are supported by results from an empirical study representing 27% of the registered medical schemes in South Africa. Based upon assessments of literature, current definitions for risk and corporate risk management are also presented. Also, the study will be approached from the perspective of the internal auditor, with suitable insights and suggestions made from this standpoint. The study concludes with the author’s evaluation of the current state of risk management for private healthcare administration organisations in South Africa and future predictions regarding this management field. / Thesis (DCom(Internal Auditing))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Auditing / unrestricted

This study investigates the relationship between peer group facilitation and the changes in self-concept, interpersonal relations and school interest of secondary students in an alternative school. To carry out the study, a peer group facilitation program was incorporated into the curriculum of an alternative high school.

The purpose of this study was to identify whether three achievement motivation variables (LGO, GNS, and AO) were positively related to work-family balance, and to investigate plausible interactions between these variables and work-family stressors on balance perceptions. Relationships of these variables to work-family conflict and facilitation outcomes were also analyzed in order to identify differential relationships. Data were collected from 428 individuals through a web-based survey. Results indicated that all three achievement motivation variables were clearly related favorably to work-family balance and facilitation, while only AO was negatively related to conflict. The relationships between schedule flexibility and all work-family outcomes were moderated by both LGO and GNS. The majority of proposed interactive effects between achievement motivation variables and work-family stressors on balance were not significant. However, several interactions were significant when conflict or facilitation served as the criterion measure. Overall, the results provide support for LGO, GNS, and AO as both direct and indirect contributors to work-family balance.