Web-GIS oriented systems viability for municipal solid waste selective collection optimization in developed and transient economies.

Municipal solid waste management is a multidisciplinary activity that includes generation, source separation, storage, collection, transfer and transport, processing and recovery, and, last but not least, disposal. The optimization of waste collection, through source separation, is compulsory where a landfill based management must be overcome. In this paper, a few aspects related to the implementation of a Web-GIS based system are analyzed. This approach is critically analyzed referring to the experience of two Italian case studies and two additional extra-European case studies. The first case is one of the best examples of selective collection optimization in Italy. The obtained efficiency is very high: 80% of waste is source separated for recycling purposes. In the second reference case, the local administration is going to be faced with the optimization of waste collection through Web-GIS oriented technologies for the first time. The starting scenario is far from an optimized management of municipal solid waste. The last two case studies concern pilot experiences in China and Malaysia. Each step of the Web-GIS oriented strategy is comparatively discussed referring to typical scenarios of developed and transient economies. The main result is that transient economies are ready to move toward Web oriented tools for MSW management, but this opportunity is not yet well exploited in the sector.

The behavior of Italian family physicians regarding the health problems of women and, in particular, family planning (both contraception and NFP).

The hospital-centered trend that has dominated medical culture and the management of health care during this entire century has, in the last few years, undergone a reversal in Italy. Conditions in other countries suggest that similar changes have or will become increasingly common. The family physician today manages many of the functions previously handled by hospitals and specialists. In the field of reproductive health, family physicians are responsible not only for diagnosis and treatment, but also for prevention and education. The present study considers this new context with the objective of investigating the knowledge and behavior of Italian family physicians in the field of women's health, with particular regard to family planning (including natural family planning), through (1) a qualitative study (focus groups) of a small group of family physicians and (2) a questionnaire sent to 500 family physicians throughout Italy. The results of the focus group are summarized in the form of obstacles that the family physician finds in providing family planning services and proposals for change. The results indicate that because of their holistic approach, the family physician is an appropriate provider of family planning services although continued use of specialists' services, changes in logistics of the family physicians' practice, increased gender sensitivity, and additional training and information are necessary. The results of the questionnaire (121 responses, 24.2%) indicate that the Italian family physician currently lacks certain important information about family planning and would require logistical support to provide these services but is interested in acquiring information and is an appropriate family planning provider. An additional challenge for encouraging family practitioners to provide natural methods is that they favor a "medical" approach rather than a "behavioral" one in their treatment preferences for several other conditions.