Turning around the poorest neighbourhoods: learning the lessons from twenty years of neighbourhood-based regeneration strategies in England

In the past two decades governments in Britain have launched a series of initiatives designed to reduce the disparities between areas of affluence and deprivation. These initiatives were funded by central government and were delivered through a series of partnership boards operating at the neighbourhood level in areas with high levels of deprivation. Drawing on similar approaches in the US War on Poverty, the engagement of residents in the planning and delivery of projects was a major priority. This chapter draws on the national evaluations of three of these programmes in England: the Single Regeneration Budget, the New Deal for Communities and the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinders. The chapter begins by identifying the common characteristics of these programmes, known as area-based initiatives because they targeted areas of concentrated deprivation with a population of about 10,000 people each. It then goes on to discuss the three national programmes and summarises the main findings in relation to how far key indicators changed for the better. The final section sets out the ways in which policy objectives changed in 2010 after the election of a coalition government. This produced a shift to what was called the ‘Big Society’ where the rhetoric favoured a transfer of power away from central government towards the local, neighbourhood, level. This approach favoured self-help and a call to volunteering rather than channelling resources to the areas in greatest need. The chapter closes by reviewing the relatively modest achievements of this centralist, big-state approach to distressed neighbourhoods of 1990–2010.

Local-authority led economic regeneration strategies in the aftermath of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease crisis of 2001

The Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak of 2001 in the UK was completely unprecedented in its scale and severity, with over four million animals culled and a cost to the Exchequer of over £4 billion. Local authorities were at the front line in dealing with the outbreak, in coordinating the cull of livestock, the disposal of carcasses as well as attempting to deal with its aftermath and, in particular, the impact on the wider rural economy. This article examines the impacts of this crisis on three local authorities, Devon, Herefordshire and Cumbria. It examines how far the crisis acted as a catalyst in developing strategies to deal with a future outbreak as well as new local initiatives to promote regeneration in the areas most adversely affected. It focuses on developments that can be directly attributed to the crisis and shows that FMD had a considerable impact on communications and 'joined-up' activity within local authorities and with local stakeholders. © 2006, LEPU, South Bank University.

Biological significance of dead biomass retention trait in Mediterranean Basin species: an analysis between different successional niches and regeneration strategies as functional groups

Standing dead biomass retention is considered one of the most relevant fuel structural traits to affect plant flammability. However, very little is known about the biological significance of this trait and its distribution between different functional groups. Our aim was to analyse how the proportion of dead biomass produced in Mediterranean species is related to the successional niche of species (early-, mid- and late-successional stages) and the regeneration strategy of species (seeders and resprouters). We evaluated biomass distribution by size classes and standing dead biomass retention in nine dominant species from the Mediterranean Basin in different development stages (5, 9, 14 and 26 years since the last fire). The results revealed significant differences in the standing dead biomass retention of species that presented a distinct successional niche or regeneration strategy. These differences were restricted to the oldest ages studied (>9 years). Tree and small tree resprouters, typical in late-successional stages, presented slight variations with age and a less marked trend to retain dead biomass, while seeder shrubs and dwarf shrubs, characteristic of early-successional stages, showed high dead biomass loads. Our results suggest that the species that tend to retain more dead branches are colonising species that may promote fire in early-successional stages.

The role, organisation and contribution of community enterprise to urban regeneration policy in the UK

This monograph investigates the organisation, constitution and delivery of community-based organisations which are normally called community enterprises in the UK. These are organisations which emerge from local communities at the neighbourhood level, work in partnership with the public and private sectors, and provide a range of services to meet social, economic and environmental needs. The main focus of the paper is to explore how these organisations contribute to local regeneration strategies, generate social capital and contribute towards the promotion of civil society in general. The main emphasis is on organisations in England and Wales but comparisons are made with the USA and other countries where relevant literature is available. The key questions to be answered relate to the organisation and management of these bodies; the extent to which they engage with and contribute to local regeneration strategies; and the impact they have particularly in acquiring and managing assets. The diversity of the sector, and the range, scale and level of benefits it can deliver is illustrated through five detailed case studies of community enterprises established at different times, in different geographical locations and with different objectives and funding regimes. But, whilst the UK political economy is moving towards less state intervention and more community self-help, the community development corporations in the USA provide an indication of the future direction community enterprises might take in the UK as part of a broad trend towards civic capacity building.

Population biology and regeneration of forbs and shrubs after fire in Brazilian Campos grasslands

Fire is an important factor in several ecosystems, affecting plant population biology. Campos grasslands are under constant influence of disturbance, mostly grazing and fire. However, few studies evaluated the effect of fire on plant population biology of grassland species. Therefore, we aim to analyze the effect of fire on the population biology of four species, from different functional groups and regeneration strategies: Chaptalia runcinata (forb, resprouter, absence of belowground organ), Vernonia flexuosa (forb, resprouter, presence of rhizophore), Eupatorium ligulaefolium (shrub, resprouter, presence of xylopodium) and Heterothalamus psiadioides (shrub, obligate seeder). Seven plots were established in different sites in southern Brazil: frequently burned (FB) and excluded from fire since 6 years (E). All plots were subjected to controlled burns during summer. Before experiments, populations were sampled. Further observations were carried out after 90 and after 360 days of fire experiments. In addition, we counted the number of seedlings and resprouters recruited after fire. Heat shock experiments were conducted with two species (H. psiadioides and V. flexuosa), as well as the study of the bud bank of the following species: E. ligulaefolium and V. flexuosa. The obligate seeder species had all individuals killed by fire and established only after 1 year. Resprouters, however, showed new stems immediately after fire. E. ligulaefolium and V. flexuosa showed only vegetative regeneration from belowground organs and more individuals in excluded sites 1 year after the fire. The bud bank of E. ligulaefolium tended to be larger in excluded sites, whilst V. flexuosa showed an opposite result. High temperatures did not enhance nor kill seeds from both studied species. Vegetative regeneration was the most important strategy for all studied species, except for H. psiadioides, the obligate seeder species. Fire thus, plays an important role on population structure and demography, being also important for plant recruitment.

Modeling of diesel particulate filter filtration and regeneration for transient driving schedules

Due to their high thermal efficiency, diesel engines have excellent fuel economy and have been widely used as a power source for many vehicles. Diesel engines emit less greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide) compared with gasoline engines. However, diesel engines emit large amounts of particulate matter (PM) which can imperil human health. The best way to reduce the particulate matter is by using the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) system which consists of a wall-flow monolith which can trap particulates, and the DPF can be periodically regenerated to remove the collected particulates. The estimation of the PM mass accumulated in the DPF and total pressure drop across the filter are very important in order to determine when to carry out the active regeneration for the DPF. In this project, by developing a filtration model and a pressure drop model, we can estimate the PM mass and the total pressure drop, then, these two models can be linked with a regeneration model which has been developed previously to predict when to regenerate the filter. There results of this project were: 1 Reproduce a filtration model and simulate the processes of filtration. By studying the deep bed filtration and cake filtration, stages and quantity of mass accumulated in the DPF can be estimated. It was found that the filtration efficiency increases faster during the deep-bed filtration than that during the cake filtration. A “unit collector” theory was used in our filtration model which can explain the mechanism of the filtration very well. 2 Perform a parametric study on the pressure drop model for changes in engine exhaust flow rate, deposit layer thickness, and inlet temperature. It was found that there are five primary variables impacting the pressure drop in the DPF which are temperature gradient along the channel, deposit layer thickness, deposit layer permeability, wall thickness, and wall permeability. 3 Link the filtration model and the pressure drop model with the regeneration model to determine the time to carry out the regeneration of the DPF. It was found that the regeneration should be initiated when the cake layer is at a certain thickness, since a cake layer with either too big or too small an amount of particulates will need more thermal energy to reach a higher regeneration efficiency. 4 Formulate diesel particulate trap regeneration strategies for real world driving conditions to find out the best desirable conditions for DPF regeneration. It was found that the regeneration should be initiated when the vehicle’s speed is high and during which there should not be any stops from the vehicle. Moreover, the regeneration duration is about 120 seconds and the inlet temperature for the regeneration is 710K.

Effects of scaffold architecture on cranial bone healing

Scaffolds for bone tissue engineering should be designed to optimize cell migration, enhance new bone formation and give mechanical support. In the present study, we used polycaprolactone-tricalciumphosphate (PCL/TCP) scaffolds with two different fibre lay down patterns which were coated with hydroxyapatite and gelatine as an approach for optimizing bone regeneration in a critical sized calvarial defect. After 12 weeks bone regeneration was quantified using microCT analysis, biomechanical testing and histological evaluation. Notably, the experimental groups containing coated scaffolds showed lower bone formation and lower biomechanical properties within the defect compared to the uncoated scaffolds. Surprisingly, the different lay down pattern of the fibres resulted in different bone formation and biomechanical properties; namely 0/60/120° scaffolds revealed lower bone formation and biomechanical properties compared to the 0/90° scaffolds in all the experimental groups. The different architecture of the scaffold fibres may have an effect on nutrition supply as well as the attachment of the newly formed matrix to the scaffold. Therefore, future bone regeneration strategies utilising scaffolds should consider scaffold architecture as an important factor during the scaffold optimisation stages in order to move closer to a clinical application.

神农架地区米心水青冈林和锐齿槲栎林的格局与过程

本文对神农架地区广泛分布的米心水青冈林和锐齿槲栎林的种群和群落学特征、干扰历史、更新策略、生物量、生产量及元素循环特征进行了研究。得到如下结论： 1 米心水青冈林是神农架地区山地垂直分布的地带性植被类型，主要群落学特征为：（1）建群种明显，该区域主要有2种类型，即米心水青冈林和米心水青冈、锐齿槲栎林;（2）群落结构简单，但物种组成丰富，在6600m~2样地中出现高等植物（不含苔藓植物）77科150属271种，组成种类以蔷薇科、百合科、忍冬科、虎耳草科、樟科、杜鹃花科和壳斗科为主;（3）群落乔木层（占重要值的12％）和灌木层（占盖度的15％）中含有一定比例的常绿树种;（4）群落生活型以高位芽植物（70.89%）占绝对优势，其次为地面芽植物（15.50%）和地下芽植物(12.92%)。 2 米心水青冈是多主干的树种，萌枝现象普遍，但萌枝数量不同地点差异较大。通过萌枝产生的枝群体平均密度为257 ± 99.3n•hm~(-2)。枝群体的年龄结构表现为“幼龄个体数目较多型”和“中国年龄阶段数目较多型”，并且有较多的枝群体表现出一致的年龄结构。从整个群落米心水青冈的年龄结构来看，表现出发展型种群的特点。枝群体的分布格局为随机分布。9丛米心水青冈完整的年轮分析结果表明，它们萌枝的时间不是边疆的，而与森林的受干扰有关。根据83个圆盘和生长锥芯资料，米心水青冈在萌枝后成长为乔木层或林冠层的过程中，径向生长表现为5种模式。这是丛株内竞争的结果。萌枝在米心水青冈林的维持和发展过程中，具有重要的生态学作用。 3 锐齿槲栎林是神农架地区山地垂地分布的地带性植被类型，主要群落学特征为：（1）建群种明显，该区域主要有2种类型，即锐齿槲栎林和锐齿槲栎、米心水青冈林;（2）群落乔木层和灌木层中含有一定比例的常绿树种，和暖温带的落叶栎林有较大差异;（3）群落物种组成丰富，不仅具有典型的温带科属，还有典型亚热带分布的科属，组成种类主要以蔷薇科、百合科、忍冬科、虎耳草科、山茱萸科、杜鹃花科、壳斗科和樟科;（4）生活型以高位芽植物（66.32%）占绝对优势，其次为地面芽（23.51%）和地下芽（9.47%）植物。 4 通过样地调查、树干解析及直径分析法，对米心水青冈林和锐齿槲栎林受压和释压历史及更新策略进行了研究。米心水青冈直径生长表现为5种模式。而锐齿槲栎只表现为2种模式。85.9 ± 6.9%的米心水青冈有过受压过程，平均受压2.1 ± 0.8次，平均受压时间为47 ± 24.1a，最长受压时间73a，平均释压次数为1.6 ± 0.7次，平均释压时间为23 ± 21.5a，而60.83%的锐齿槲栎都均有1次受压。平均受压时间为19 ± 14a，受压后没有表现出释压过程。结合高生长和径向生长，认为米心水青冈是耐阴树种，它的更新策略是在林下形成苗性萌枝，在有林窗形成时释压生长进入乔木层;而锐齿槲栎是不耐阴树种，它的更新策略是通过产生大量种子，当有大的林窗时，幼苗在林窗内生长逐步进入乔木层。 5 神农架地区102-130a成熟米心水青冈林的生物量在251.31-358.63T•hm~(-2)之间，平均为288.70 ± 48.30T•~(-2)，20-60a锐齿槲栎林群落生物量在134.85-301.20T•hm~(-2)，平均为231.60 ± 78.10T•hm~(-2)。虽然米心水青冈林和锐齿槲栎林灌木层草本层及藤本植物组成很丰富，但二种类型森林生物量的95％以上集中在乔木层。乔木层生物量主要集中在少数优势种中。在米心水青冈林生物量从大到小的序列中，前5种植物分别占乔木层总生物量58.67%-96.37%不等，同样锐齿槲栎林前5种植物占群落生物量的68.13%-95.26%。常绿植物占乔木层生物量的比例变化较大，米心水青冈林中占2.85-18.70%，锐齿槲栎林中一般常绿植物占0.8-9.98%，只有1个锐齿槲栎林样地常绿植物（主要是粉白杜鹃）占乔木层生物量的44.04%。米心水青冈林生物量根冠比为0.27 ± 0.05，锐齿槲栎林为0.21 ± 0.06。神农架地区米心水青冈林的生物量，在成熟的欧洲水青冈林及日本的水青冈林生物量范围之内，而锐齿槲栎林生物量远远大于我国温带落叶栎林的生物量。 6 神农架地区102-130a米心水青冈林生产量范围在1857-2786g•m~(-2)•a~(-1)，平均为2330 ± 397 g•m~(-2)•a~(-1)。20-60a锐齿槲栎林的生产量范围在1319-2521 g•m~(-2)•a~(-1)，平均为1930 ± 498 g•m~(-2)•a~(-1)。米心水青冈林和锐齿槲栎林乔木层生产量占群落总生产量的95％以上，乔木层各器官生产量大小顺序为叶> 树干> 枝和根，其中叶生产量占乔木层的一半以上，达53.87 ± 2.72%（米心水青冈林）和57.31 ± 6.23%（锐齿槲栎林）。在乔木层生产量从大到小的序列中，前5种植物平均占乔木层总生产量的81.03 ± 13.94%（米心水青冈林，范围在62.75%-92.66%）和84.23 ± 9.68%（锐齿槲栎林，范围在68.54-95.11%）。米心水青冈林和锐齿槲栎林群落地下部分生产量占总生产量的比例分别为11.29 ± 1.02%和9.22 ± 2.72。和我国其它地区地带性植被类型相比。米心水青冈林和锐齿槲栎生产量是较高的，和亚热带绿阔叶林生产量接近，但在器官分配上两者差异较大。 7 米心水青冈林和锐齿槲栎林土壤均呈酸性。其中锐齿槲栎林地土壤酸性更强。土壤元素特征表现为Al>C>K>Mg>Ca>N>S、P的特点，富铝化作用明显。8种元素在群落优势植物不同部位含量差异较大，N、P、K、Ca、Mg基本上是以叶片含量最高，树干或根中最低。仅从叶片来看，元素特征表现为C>Ca、N>K>Mg>S>P、Al。优势植物的C/N和C/P显著高于暖温带落叶阔叶林优势植物。8种元素在米心水青冈林和锐齿槲栎林中积累量分别为147.09 ± 25.60和116.00 ± 37.63 Mg hm~(-2)a~(-1)，其中97％以上积累在群落乔木层。两种森林类型各元素的积累量都表现为C>Ca, N> K> Mg> P> S> Al的特点。米心水青风林和锐齿槲栎林8种元素的年存留量分别为6263 ± 90.8和5946 ±246 kg hm~(-2)a~(-1),其中N、P、K、Ca、Mg 5种主要营养元素的存留量分别为179.7 ± 18.2和169.4 ± 23.5kg hm~(-2) a~(-1)。两种森林类型各元素的存留量都表现为C> N> Ca> K> Mg> S> P> Al。

Compósitos CNTs/biocerâmico para a estimulação elétrica óssea in situ

The present thesis aims to develop a biocompatible and electroconductor bone graft containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) that allows the in situ regeneration of bone cells by applying pulsed external electrical stimuli. The CNTs were produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) by a semi-continuous method with a yield of ~500 mg/day. The deposition parameters were optimised to obtain high pure CNTs ~99.96% with controlled morphologies, fundamental requisites for the biomedical application under study. The chemical functionalisation of CNTs was also optimised to maximise their processability and biocompatibility. The CNTs were functionalised by the Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 1,3-butadiene. The biological behaviour of the functionalised CNTs was evaluated in vitro with the osteoblastic cells line MG63 and in vivo, by subcutaneous implantation in rats. The materials did not induce an expressed inflammatory response, but the functionalised CNTs showed a superior in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility than the non-functionalised ones. Composites of ceramic matrix, of bioglass (Glass) and hydroxyapatite (HA), reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNT/Glass/HA) were processed by a wet approach. The incorporation of just 4.4 vol% of CNTs allowed the increase of 10 orders of magnitude of the electrical conductivity of the matrix. In vitro studies with MG63 cells show that the CNT/Glass/HA composites guarantee the adhesion and proliferation of bone cells, and stimulate their phenotype expression, namely the alkaline phosphate (ALP). The interactions between the composite materials and the culture medium (α-MEM), under an applied electrical external field, were studied by scanning vibrating electrode technique. An increase of the culture medium electrical conductivity and the electrical field confinement in the presence of the conductive samples submerged in the medium was demonstrated. The in vitro electrical stimulation of MG63 cells on the conductive composites promotes the increase of the cell metabolic activity and DNA content by 130% and 60%, relatively to the non-stimulated condition, after only 3 days of daily stimulation of 15 μA for 15 min. Moreover, the osteoblastic gene expression for Runx2, osteocalcin (OC) and ALP was enhanced by 80%, 50% and 25%, after 5 days of stimulation. Instead, for dielectric materials, the stimulus delivering was less efficient, giving an equal or lower cellular response than the non-stimulated condition. The proposed electroconductive bone grafts offer exciting possibilities in bone regeneration strategies by delivering in situ electrical stimulus to cells and consequent control of the new bone tissue formation rate. It is expected that conductive smart biomaterials might turn the selective bone electrotherapy of clinical relevance by decreasing the postoperative healing times.

Local strategic partnerships in England: the continuing search for collaborative advantage, leadership and strategy in urban governance

Local Strategic Partnerships are being established in England to provide an inclusive, collaborative and strategic focus to regeneration strategies at the local level. They are also required to rationalise the proliferation of local and micro-partnerships set up by a succession of funding initiatives over the last 25 years. This article explores their remit, resources and membership and discusses how this initiative relates to theoretical work on urban governance, community engagement and leadership. It concludes by debating whether urban policy in England is now entering a new and more advanced phase based on inter-organisational networks with a strategic purpose. But questions remain about whether the institutional capacity is sufficient to deliver strong local leadership, accountability and community engagement.

Kurczenie się miast w Europie Środkowo-Wschodniej

Przełom XX i XXI wieku jest okresem fundamentalnych przemian społeczno-gospodarczych i instytucjonalnych w Europie Środkowo-Wschodniej połączonych z przemianami demograficznymi. Przemiany te pociągają za sobą zmianę wielu paradygmatów w naukach przestrzenno-ekonomicznych i praktyce planistyczno-decyzyjnej. Stwierdzenie to odnosi się m.in. do procesu kurczenia się miast (urban shrinkage), tj. długookresowego spadku liczby ludności powiązanego z kryzysem lokalnej gospodarki i narastającymi problemami społecznymi. Proces ten, występujący wcześniej w niektórych miastach (najczęściej starych ośrodkach przemysłowych) Europy Zachodniej i Stanów Zjednoczonych, przybrał po 1990 r. szczególnie duże rozmiary w postkomunistycznych krajach Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej. Pojawiają się zatem nowe wyzwania, dotyczące z jednej strony potrzeby identyfikacji skali, tempa, form kurczenia się miast i ich przestrzennego zróżnicowania, z drugiej strony – rewizji dotychczasowych polityk miejskich, ukierunkowanych najczęściej na paradygmat wzrostu. Te przesłanki powodują, że kurczące się miasta stają się przedmiotem wielu dyskusji naukowych i praktycznych oraz międzynarodowych projektów badawczych. Niniejsza publikacja jest pokłosiem jednego z takich projektów o akronimie CIRES (Cities Regrowing Smaller. Fostering Knowledge on Regeneration Strategies in Shrinking Cities across Europe - Propagowanie wiedzy na temat strategii regeneracji w kurczących się miastach Europy), realizowanego w ramach Akcji COST, tj. Europejskiego Programu Współpracy w Dziedzinie Badań Naukowo-Technicznych. W projekcie tym, który zakończył się w 2013 r., uczestniczyli przedstawiciele wielu dyscyplin naukowych z 26 państw, w tym redaktor naukowy i autorzy kilku rozdziałów tej książki. Celem publikacji jest upowszechnienie wyników projektu CIRES w Polsce odniesionych przede wszystkim do regionu Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej. Książka ta jest dziełem, w którego przygotowaniu brało udział 30 autorów z kraju i zagranicy. Zespół autorów wyraża przekonanie, że publikacja ta stanie się głosem w dyskusji na temat jednego z ważnych procesów określających obecną sytuację wielu miast Polski, Europy i świata.

O fogo quebra a dormência e aumenta a germinação de espécies de cerrado?

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

O fogo quebra a dormência e aumenta a germinação de espécies de cerrado?

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)