This study focused on realizing Sustainable Development Goal(SDG)6 for inclusive clean water and sanitation;in particular Target 6.3,which aims to reduce untreated wastewater by 2030 while promoting circular wastewate...This study focused on realizing Sustainable Development Goal(SDG)6 for inclusive clean water and sanitation;in particular Target 6.3,which aims to reduce untreated wastewater by 2030 while promoting circular wastewater reuse and recycling globally.The main objective was to assess the adequacy and efficiency of communal septic tank systems in informal settlements while helping local planners and authorities in their decision-making regarding Target 6.3.Quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed with secondary data from previous researchers,and primary data were collected from field surveys,observations,and interviews with members of the local community.The research was delimited to two village administrative divisions known as Rukun Warga(Village Administrative Division,RW):RW 7 and RW 8 of Lebak Siliwangi Kampung in Coblong District,Bandung,West Java,Indonesia.The findings were also compared with situations in other informal settlements in Brazil,Bangladesh,and Nairobi.The results indicated the inadequacy of communal septic tanks in informal settlements due to factors such as substandard system design,limited support and communication between authorities and residents,and the gap between septic tank availability and capacity vis-a-vis demand.Other limiting factors included limited land availability and irregular geomorphology,the latter of which affected the siting and operation of septic tanks due a lack of room for upgrades or expansion in response to continuous population growth.These findings illustrate the need to complement communal septic systems with flexible centralized or decentralized systems to achieve Target 6.3 of SDG 6.展开更多
The conservation of plant biodiversity has become one of the most important objectives in the sustainable management of Guinean-Congolese ecosystems. However, in the south-east zone of Cameroon, there is a lack of rig...The conservation of plant biodiversity has become one of the most important objectives in the sustainable management of Guinean-Congolese ecosystems. However, in the south-east zone of Cameroon, there is a lack of rigor in the management of these forests, which can result in the loss of species of high conservation value. The study was carried out in communal forests in the south-east zone of Cameroon. Its aim was to carry out a floristic inventory and then compare the list of species with the IUCN catalog. Twenty-four plots, each with a surface area of 0.2 ha, were set up in the Gari-Gombo communal forest. All timbers with a DBH ≥ 5 cm were systematically counted. A total of 176 species, belonging to 144 genera and 45 families, were surveyed. Fabaceae (42.08%), Malvaceae (39%), Euphorbiaceae (24.64%), Moraceae (20.92%), Apocynaceae (18.64%), Cecropiaceae (16.60%), Ulmaceae (14.76%), Meliaceae (14.61%), Violaceae (14.08%), Combretaceae (12.67%), Theobroma cacao (21.17%), Baphia leptobotrys (18.06%), Rinorea sp. (14.09%), Musanga cecropioides (12.18%), Terminalia superba (10.32%), Neosloetiopsis kamerunensis (10.14%), Celtis zenkeri (8.29%) and Alstonia boonei (7.77%) were the most important taxa. Nearly 90% of the species in this forest are Guinean species, with a dominance of Guinean-Congolese species (66%). Fourteen (14) threatened species have been identified in the FCGG. This study, which highlights the rich biodiversity of communal forests, is important for guiding biodiversity conservation policies in ecosystems used for production.展开更多
Wastewater treatment is a problem with much acuity in the city of Maradi in general, and particularly in the Communal District I of Maradi. It is for this reason that the present study was conducted which deals with w...Wastewater treatment is a problem with much acuity in the city of Maradi in general, and particularly in the Communal District I of Maradi. It is for this reason that the present study was conducted which deals with wastewater sanitation. The main objective of this study conducted through a survey is to investigate in the domestic wastewater sanitation in the Communal District I of Maradi city. Specifically, the study aims to estimate the amount of wastewater produced by households and to analyze the sanitation system at household and at district levels. The wastewater management practices in this district were assessed through a descriptive cross sectional study in which a total of 129 households were selected by sample distribution technique in the district neighborhoods and studied using interviewer and administered questionnaires at communal and household levels. The results of the study showed that the amount of domestic wastewater generated is quite large, about 32.27 m3 per person per day, and this comes from several sources including showers, laundry, dishwashing and income generating activities. The results also revealed that the unhealthy state of the Communal District I of Maradi is related to the absence of a wastewater treatment system, the methods and practices used in its management, and the population is also largely responsible for this unhealthy state and not willing to participate to a sanitation project.展开更多
Similar to other areas of Pakistan, land resources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa(KP) is kept under various ownership regimes for socio-economic and ecological benefits. For the last three to four decades, communal lands and r...Similar to other areas of Pakistan, land resources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa(KP) is kept under various ownership regimes for socio-economic and ecological benefits. For the last three to four decades, communal lands and resources are subjected to high rate of degradation and deterioration, which is leading to multifarious socio-economical and ecological implications. This paper intends to look into factors that are responsible for the degradation of communal land and the adaptability of the management mechanisms developed by the local inhabitants to conserve these resources. Moreover, this study also explores the sustainability of these adopted strategies in present circumstances. Data regarding socio-economic parameters of the inhabitants and their interactions with communal lands were collected through questionnaire cum interview method. As long-term climatic data for the area do not exist therefore focus group discussions were conducted to document the changing trend in rainfall regimes and temperature variations for the last about four decades. Results indicate that communal lands are highly vulnerable to degradation due to biophysical and anthropogenic factors. Local inhabitants have developed suitable measures to control the situation, however, accelerated socioeconomic transformations in the area have weakened the role of local institutions and that led to further degradation of these resources. Nevertheless, a number of locally formulated rules have been revived and implemented and it is hoped that these threatened resources would be conserved.展开更多
Comparative performance analysis of four irrigation schemes within Cagayan River Basin was assessed using comparative performance indicators between the years 2008 and 2012. The objectives were to establish benchmarks...Comparative performance analysis of four irrigation schemes within Cagayan River Basin was assessed using comparative performance indicators between the years 2008 and 2012. The objectives were to establish benchmarks for both productivity and performance of irrigation schemes along the valley and to inquire whether small schemes function better than large schemes. The performance evaluation study of the systems composed of three general performance indicators, based on three domains-（1） system operation performance; （2） agricultural productivity and economics; （3） financial performance. Each indicator was assessed based on the prescribed descriptors used by the International Water Management Institute （IWMI） and Food and Agriculture Organization （FAO）. Analysis showed an overall system performance efficiency of 59%, 55%, 47% and 36% for Magat River Integrated Irrigation System （MARI1S）, Lucban, Garab and Divisoria Communal Irrigation Systems （CIS）, respectively. In terms of annual productivity performance, Lucban CIS dominates the three other systems with 0.35 kg/m3, which was classified as moderately performing system, while the rest were classified with low productivity index. Financial sustainability of the systems were extremely poor with cost recovery ratio of 0, 0.33, 0.41 and 0.49 for Divisoria, Garab, Lucban and MARIIS, respectively, which were exceptionally below the standard value of at least one. Also, analysis of the indicators revealed that on average, large schemes performed similarly to small-scale schemes, but small schemes were more variable, particularly in input-use efficiency. The benchmarking study will provide strategic information to policy makers of agricultural and irrigation agencies on the existing weaknesses of irrigation systems in the country and determine in a more quantifiable terms levels of potential improvement and intervention targets.展开更多
Discussions about justice in cross-cultural context give rise to assorted theories. In this paper, issues surrounding communalism as a theory of justice in African culture will be examined with a view to show that its...Discussions about justice in cross-cultural context give rise to assorted theories. In this paper, issues surrounding communalism as a theory of justice in African culture will be examined with a view to show that its principles of care and fellow feeling could be worked out to address the problem of alienation from society characterizing some members of the contemporary African society. Recognition of the social dynamics of human society and relationships is of essence to communalism. As a theory of justice and a world view, communalism describes the human being as ＂being with others＂ and what that should be. The expression, ＂I am because we are, and because we are, I am＂ is the driving force of the communalistic society. Such a society is characterized by care, love, belongingness, solidarity, and interconnectedness. The aim of this paper is to highlight the manifestations of the idea of justice in communalism using leadership or governance, consensus in decision making, moral rules, punishment for wrong doing, and the equitable distribution of resources. It also aims to show that the communalist idea of justice is integrationist in outlook being constitutive of political and socio-economic elements, which the individual enjoys in practical terms as opposed to the paper rights, which citizens in much of the contemporary societies enjoy. The paper notes that drastic changes have occurred in the socio-economic relations within African societies as a consequence of acculturation subsequent to European colonization and these have had far reaching consequences.展开更多
Gas emissions are produced by each economic entity individually—whether they are a large industrial enterprise, a boiler-house or a household (dwelling house). At that, in addition to visible chimneys, there are a lo...Gas emissions are produced by each economic entity individually—whether they are a large industrial enterprise, a boiler-house or a household (dwelling house). At that, in addition to visible chimneys, there are a lot of hidden (unrecorded) sources of emissions in form of ventilation branch pipes. Communal systems for removal and reprocessing of wastes of two types: liquid (municipal sewage lines) and solid (collection and removal of wastes) are operated in populated localities. For the third type of waste—gaseous—a similarly municipal structure does not exist. For the time being there is no possibility for full system control and neutralization of dust and gas wastes because there is no system in the physical form which would enable comprehensive receipt of exit gases from all the city sources for further processing thereof. It is for the first time when a principally new holistic approach to cleaning/treatment of all city dust and gas emissions (wastes) is proposed which consists in creation of a City Communal Aspiration System (Municipal Aspiration System) containing a city communal aspiration network (gas outlets) for receipt/transportation of exhaust (flue) gases and a plant for utilization of such wastes connected to such network. In other words, it is proposed to organize a “City without Chimneys”. The proposed solution permits to remove mass unsystematic and uncontrolled emissions of environmentally harmful gas wastes in cities, reduce climate risks and make the transition to a new level of organization of environmental planning and management and, therefore, eliminates or principally simplifies many ecological difficulties and restrictions in urban planning (inseparably related to ecology) in sanitary rules and standards.展开更多
This paper analyzes Park Saengkwang(1904-1985)’s artwork,created in the 1980s and influenced by Musok,Korean Shamanism.It explores Musok’s thematic significance in the development of his distinctive style and the in...This paper analyzes Park Saengkwang(1904-1985)’s artwork,created in the 1980s and influenced by Musok,Korean Shamanism.It explores Musok’s thematic significance in the development of his distinctive style and the inspiration behind his stylistic changes.Park’s ink paintings are done in bold and intense colors and create an intriguing,mysterious mood,inviting the viewers to the primordial visual experience and exposing its viewers to Korean Shamanism,which has endured the perception that fluctuated between positive and negative throughout Korean history.The practice became a fitting cultural emblem associated with the national identity during the 1970s and 1980s,and thus became a way for Park to explicitly articulate his cultural roots,creating a visual connotation of“Korean.”His art,portraying gut,Korean shamanistic communal rituals,could be conceived as a pictorial rendering of the idea of kibok,praying for good fortune,and served as a pujŏk,talisman paper,that possesses magical healing and protecting power.By striving to overcome the stylistic conflicts between Korean and Japanese,or traditional and Western,Park’s art accomplished the visual rhetoric of national aesthetic sensitivity that built on the communal thoughts and cultural experience of shamanism in the modern history of Korea.展开更多
Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the use of the postpartum intrauterine device in the maternity ward of the Ratoma communal medical center in Conakry. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional st...Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the use of the postpartum intrauterine device in the maternity ward of the Ratoma communal medical center in Conakry. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out between July 1<sup>st</sup> 2015 and June 30 2016, i.e. a duration of one year. Results: A total of 551 patients received advice on various contraceptive methods. Most of this advice was given in the post-partum period (40.2%) and during antenatal care (39.1%). Of the patients advised, 87 (15.8%) used the intrauterine device. The majority of users (93%) were married and uneducated (63.2%), and 39.1% were poor. The majority (56.3%) of intra-uterine devices were inserted in the immediate post-partum period. The majority of women had no adverse events either during the first six weeks (n = 57;65.5%) or at 3<sup>rd</sup> months (n = 75;86.2%) or 6<sup>th</sup> months (n = 76;87.4%) after IUD insertion. Most users remained complication-free throughout the follow-up period (n = 76;87.4% at 6<sup>th</sup> weeks and 3<sup>rd</sup> months, and n = 77;88.5% at 6<sup>th</sup> months). The continuation rate was 89.7% at 6 weeks and 3<sup>rd</sup> months, and 87.4% at 6<sup>th</sup> months after insertion. The majority of users (87.0%) were satisfied with the care they received. Conclusion: This study showed very few complications among intrauterine device users, and high continuation and satisfaction rates. The intrauterine device is a long-acting, effective, reversible and safe contraceptive that can be used by most women for birth spacing in Guinea, where women do not regularly visit health facilities.展开更多
In this paper power electronics used in PV power generation systems have been reviewed and modelled. PV systems need converters for maximum power point tracking, power conditioning, voltage step-up/down as necessary, ...In this paper power electronics used in PV power generation systems have been reviewed and modelled. PV systems need converters for maximum power point tracking, power conditioning, voltage step-up/down as necessary, and for storage charge-controlling. Inverters are needed for AC loads and for utility grid interfacing. The four basic DC-DC converters commonly used with PV systems have been reviewed and modelled. Different DC-AC inverter types and operational architectures have also been reviewed with the two-stage DC-AC inverter, with the point of common coupling (PCC) at the inverter input, suggested as the most cost-effective and efficient architecture for PV-based communal grids. This is because only one inverter is used for the entire system as opposed to an inverter for every module string, resulting in higher efficiencies, low cost, and low harmonic distortions when compared to systems with PCC at AC terminal. The aim of power conversion/inversion is to extract maximum power possible from the PV system and where necessary, to invert it at close to 100% as possible. Highlight: 1) DC-DC converters are necessary for power conditioning in PV systems;2) DC-AC inverters are necessary for AC loads and for utility grid interfacing;3) DC-AC inverters are also used to control the PV systems when grid connected;4) Best inverter configuration cost-effectively and efficiently allows easy system modifications.展开更多
An integral part of risk assessment for natural hazards, communal vulnerability assessment (CVA) is now receiving considerable attention, with the on-going International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). T...An integral part of risk assessment for natural hazards, communal vulnerability assessment (CVA) is now receiving considerable attention, with the on-going International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). This article expounds the definition of the CVA concept and its implication. In addition, it offers a brief discussion of the reasons why CVA has been neglected and its relationship with socio-economic and physical vulnerability assessment. The article also gives an explorative exposition of the methodology and application of communal vulnerability analysis in risk reduction.展开更多
In the countryside,where intensive rural development and rising property values have been observed since the late 1970s,the preservation and meaning of traditional dwellings have emerged as crucial considerations in s...In the countryside,where intensive rural development and rising property values have been observed since the late 1970s,the preservation and meaning of traditional dwellings have emerged as crucial considerations in shaping Hong Kong’s countryside conservation policy.The focus of this paper is on the conservation of temples,as we are drawn to these structures not only for their architectural merit but also for their role as public buildings within the countryside.Consequently,their cultural significance is heavily influenced by the stakeholders they are associated with,distinguishing them from other types of dwellings.This paper examines the coastal landscape of South Lantau,which includes several villages with distinct traditions that have undergone significant transformations since the 1960s.Located at the southwest edge of Hong Kong,Lantau Island had a rural lifestyle that was relatively undisturbed before WWII because of the difficulty in accessing the island.However,in response to the large people influx from China’s mainland after 1949,the Hong Kong government introduced the Lantau Development Plan in 1953,mainly to open up new sources of freshwater resources for Hong Kong Island.The construction of South Lantau Road in 1955 and Shek Pik Reservoir in 1957 gradually led to the decline of agricultural activities in South Lantau and the population exodus of local villagers,resulting in a rupture to regional traditions.In multilineage communities such as the villages on South Lantau,worship of a common deity provides a vital source of social bonding,particularly for an area long beset by typhoons,piracy and banditry.Local people pray for safety and prosperity through collective rituals and celebratory activities.Therefore,temples are not only religious establishments but also embody the sense of social solidarity among villagers on South Lantau.Through the case study of three rural villages on South Lantau,this paper examines how temples play an important role in the continuity of the communal network amid repercussions from the postwar disruption of traditional rural life.Significantly,this pilot study also draws attention to the functions of temples in their historical context.It emphasises the importance of recognising and re-evaluating these buildings for cultural enhancement as part of community engagement.This study provides valuable insights for future conservation efforts for religious buildings in the countryside.展开更多
The monograph is a revised version of the author's doctoral thesis completed at Leiden University in 2018.Published 4 years later by Brill,a prestigious international academic press in the Netherlands,as the newes...The monograph is a revised version of the author's doctoral thesis completed at Leiden University in 2018.Published 4 years later by Brill,a prestigious international academic press in the Netherlands,as the newest study discussing the Roman dinning culture,it particularly deserves the attention of the Chinese readers.展开更多
Vitality is a quality that makes a public space operational and attractive throughout the day in relation to ongoing activities. This parameter can be evaluated through measures such as collective people presence, mix...Vitality is a quality that makes a public space operational and attractive throughout the day in relation to ongoing activities. This parameter can be evaluated through measures such as collective people presence, mixed-use functions, diversity of activities, and other related supportive physical elements. The aim of this research is to evaluate women＇s communal life in terms of vitality measures within public spaces. The commercial setting of Isfahan’s traditional bazaar was selected as the study area. To enhance the credibility of the results, several data collection methods, for example, semi-structured individual interviews （n = 24）, semi-structured focused group interviews （five groups including 28 middle-aged women）, direct observation, snap photography, and unobtrusive behavioral observation of women in communal life within the selected study area, were employed. To analyze the collected data, qualitative content and descriptive analyses were used. Our results indicate that by increasing the vitality of a public space through its related measures, women＇s presence will grow, and through this growth, the quality of their communal life would be enhanced.展开更多
There are two critical,but opposite interpretations of Heidegger's understanding of being as a social ontology.One charges Heidegger with adhering to an anti-social"private irony,"while the other charges...There are two critical,but opposite interpretations of Heidegger's understanding of being as a social ontology.One charges Heidegger with adhering to an anti-social"private irony,"while the other charges him with promoting a"self-canceling"totality.The current essay replies to these two charges with a discussion of Heidegger's understanding of being as"communal being,"which is implicated both in the early Heidegger's concept of"being-in-the-world-with-others"and in the later Heidegger's keyword of Ereignis.It argues that Heidegger's understanding of being as communal being is neither identical with totalitizing publicness nor the same as voluntaristic egotism.According to Heidegger,both the publicness of das Mem and voluntaristic egotism are the real threats to humanity at present.Because of them,we human beings are in danger of being uprooted from the earth upon which we-as communal beings-have already and always dwelled and lived with others from the very beginning of human history.展开更多
As shown in the many disputes occurring in reforms to collective forest tenure, reforms aimed at clarifying property rights that follow the contract responsibility system for arable land are not wholly compatible with...As shown in the many disputes occurring in reforms to collective forest tenure, reforms aimed at clarifying property rights that follow the contract responsibility system for arable land are not wholly compatible with the informal system of property rights followed in village communities up to the present. This highlights the fact that the existing theory of collective property rights no longer provides a sufficient or effective interpretation of the property rights game in the practice of collective forest tenure. Further, the existing institutional arrangements for collective property rights are conducive neither to the resolution of disputes over forest tenure nor to the sustainable management and utilization of forest land. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a more inclusive analytical framework for rural property rights： village communal ownership. This highlights the village community as the main force in the practice of property fights and integrates the communal ownership values accumulated and inherited in the course of village transition. The introduction of a rational mechanism developed through the practice of village communal ownership may be able to further improve and encourage the reform of rural property fights in China, leading to the construction of a modem system of rural property rights involving clear title to the land.展开更多
Impacts of grid architectures on temporal diffusion of PV-based communal grids (community owned minigrids or microgrids) in a rural developing community are modelled and simulated using MATLAB/Simulink and a survey-in...Impacts of grid architectures on temporal diffusion of PV-based communal grids (community owned minigrids or microgrids) in a rural developing community are modelled and simulated using MATLAB/Simulink and a survey-informed agent-based model (ABM) developed in NetLogo. Results show that decentralised control architectures stimulate minigrid formations and connections by allowing easy expansions of the minigrids as each decentralised PV system within a minigrid is treated equally and determines its own real and reactive power, eliminating the need for communication links. This also reduces the cost of implementing such a system;fewer connections are realized with centralised controls as such systems require high speed communication links which make them both difficult to expand and expensive to implement. Results also show that multi-master operation modes lead to more communal grid connections compared to single-master operation modes because in the former, all distributed PV systems within a communal grid have the same rank and can act as masters or can be operated as combinations of master generators (VSIs) and PQ inverters, allowing for more design flexibility and easy connections from potential customers.展开更多
Many invasive species exploit anthropogenically disturbed habitats, but most of those taxa evolved long before humans. Presumably, then, an ability to use natural （non-anthropogenic） disturbances pre-adapted invader...Many invasive species exploit anthropogenically disturbed habitats, but most of those taxa evolved long before humans. Presumably, then, an ability to use natural （non-anthropogenic） disturbances pre-adapted invaders to a world later degraded by people. Studies on invasive species in naturally disturbed habitats thus can clarify the ancestral niche of invaders. In the Australian tropics, metallic starlings Aplonis metallica nest communally in emergent rainforest trees during the wet-season, and invasive cane toads Rhinella marina join other predators （mammals, birds, reptiles, and other anurans） to exploit the food resources beneath those trees. Compared to conspecifics found along nearby roads through the forest, cane toads beneath bird-nesting trees occur at higher densities, and are smaller in body size. The sex ratio is female-biased, and recapture records suggest that fe- males may be philopatric at these sites （whereas recaptures were rare for both sexes found along the roads）. Some toads were found under the same trees in successive wet-seasons. Spooling showed that distances moved per night were similar along the road versus under the trees, but toads under trees showed lower net displacements. Diets also differed （based upon scat analysis）, with tree toads feeding more on beetles and less on ants. These nutrient-rich hotspots are ex- ploited primarily by adult females and juvenile toads, whereas adult males congregate at breeding sites. By magnifying pre-existing intraspecific divergences in habitat use, bird rookeries may en- hance population viability of cane toads by enabling critical age and sex classes to exploit food- rich patches that are rarely used by adult males.展开更多
This study aimed at identifying the most preferred water quality tracking system (WQTS) for adoption and the determining factors for the same among the Langata sub County households in Nairobi city, Kenya. Perrenial m...This study aimed at identifying the most preferred water quality tracking system (WQTS) for adoption and the determining factors for the same among the Langata sub County households in Nairobi city, Kenya. Perrenial municipal water shortage in this neighborhood has forced the residents to depend on vended water supplication but whose quality is not possible to verify at the moment. Accordingly, a mobile phone quality tracing application running on blockchain technology platform was developed to fill the gap of provenance tracking. A non-market discrete choice experiments (DCEs) model was deployed in which four-option attribute bundles;with one being the “status quo” choice were presented to each of the 382 randomly sampled respondents from the five wards within the area. Results indicated that Option 2;the communally managed WQTS emerged as the most preferred choice at 53.9%. Secondly, the male factor was identified as the major determinant to this decision. In conclusion, the study proposes for the installation of this new WQTS which will trigger a 12% adjustment of the average household’s monthly water bill. In addition, this paper recommends for a city-wide assessment of residents’ willingness to pay (WTP) for this WQTS, which it deems as an improved response to water shortage problem. Finally, the study contributes to the application of DCEs model in technology adoption literature.展开更多
文摘This study focused on realizing Sustainable Development Goal(SDG)6 for inclusive clean water and sanitation;in particular Target 6.3,which aims to reduce untreated wastewater by 2030 while promoting circular wastewater reuse and recycling globally.The main objective was to assess the adequacy and efficiency of communal septic tank systems in informal settlements while helping local planners and authorities in their decision-making regarding Target 6.3.Quantitative and qualitative approaches were employed with secondary data from previous researchers,and primary data were collected from field surveys,observations,and interviews with members of the local community.The research was delimited to two village administrative divisions known as Rukun Warga(Village Administrative Division,RW):RW 7 and RW 8 of Lebak Siliwangi Kampung in Coblong District,Bandung,West Java,Indonesia.The findings were also compared with situations in other informal settlements in Brazil,Bangladesh,and Nairobi.The results indicated the inadequacy of communal septic tanks in informal settlements due to factors such as substandard system design,limited support and communication between authorities and residents,and the gap between septic tank availability and capacity vis-a-vis demand.Other limiting factors included limited land availability and irregular geomorphology,the latter of which affected the siting and operation of septic tanks due a lack of room for upgrades or expansion in response to continuous population growth.These findings illustrate the need to complement communal septic systems with flexible centralized or decentralized systems to achieve Target 6.3 of SDG 6.
文摘The conservation of plant biodiversity has become one of the most important objectives in the sustainable management of Guinean-Congolese ecosystems. However, in the south-east zone of Cameroon, there is a lack of rigor in the management of these forests, which can result in the loss of species of high conservation value. The study was carried out in communal forests in the south-east zone of Cameroon. Its aim was to carry out a floristic inventory and then compare the list of species with the IUCN catalog. Twenty-four plots, each with a surface area of 0.2 ha, were set up in the Gari-Gombo communal forest. All timbers with a DBH ≥ 5 cm were systematically counted. A total of 176 species, belonging to 144 genera and 45 families, were surveyed. Fabaceae (42.08%), Malvaceae (39%), Euphorbiaceae (24.64%), Moraceae (20.92%), Apocynaceae (18.64%), Cecropiaceae (16.60%), Ulmaceae (14.76%), Meliaceae (14.61%), Violaceae (14.08%), Combretaceae (12.67%), Theobroma cacao (21.17%), Baphia leptobotrys (18.06%), Rinorea sp. (14.09%), Musanga cecropioides (12.18%), Terminalia superba (10.32%), Neosloetiopsis kamerunensis (10.14%), Celtis zenkeri (8.29%) and Alstonia boonei (7.77%) were the most important taxa. Nearly 90% of the species in this forest are Guinean species, with a dominance of Guinean-Congolese species (66%). Fourteen (14) threatened species have been identified in the FCGG. This study, which highlights the rich biodiversity of communal forests, is important for guiding biodiversity conservation policies in ecosystems used for production.
文摘Wastewater treatment is a problem with much acuity in the city of Maradi in general, and particularly in the Communal District I of Maradi. It is for this reason that the present study was conducted which deals with wastewater sanitation. The main objective of this study conducted through a survey is to investigate in the domestic wastewater sanitation in the Communal District I of Maradi city. Specifically, the study aims to estimate the amount of wastewater produced by households and to analyze the sanitation system at household and at district levels. The wastewater management practices in this district were assessed through a descriptive cross sectional study in which a total of 129 households were selected by sample distribution technique in the district neighborhoods and studied using interviewer and administered questionnaires at communal and household levels. The results of the study showed that the amount of domestic wastewater generated is quite large, about 32.27 m3 per person per day, and this comes from several sources including showers, laundry, dishwashing and income generating activities. The results also revealed that the unhealthy state of the Communal District I of Maradi is related to the absence of a wastewater treatment system, the methods and practices used in its management, and the population is also largely responsible for this unhealthy state and not willing to participate to a sanitation project.
文摘Similar to other areas of Pakistan, land resources in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa(KP) is kept under various ownership regimes for socio-economic and ecological benefits. For the last three to four decades, communal lands and resources are subjected to high rate of degradation and deterioration, which is leading to multifarious socio-economical and ecological implications. This paper intends to look into factors that are responsible for the degradation of communal land and the adaptability of the management mechanisms developed by the local inhabitants to conserve these resources. Moreover, this study also explores the sustainability of these adopted strategies in present circumstances. Data regarding socio-economic parameters of the inhabitants and their interactions with communal lands were collected through questionnaire cum interview method. As long-term climatic data for the area do not exist therefore focus group discussions were conducted to document the changing trend in rainfall regimes and temperature variations for the last about four decades. Results indicate that communal lands are highly vulnerable to degradation due to biophysical and anthropogenic factors. Local inhabitants have developed suitable measures to control the situation, however, accelerated socioeconomic transformations in the area have weakened the role of local institutions and that led to further degradation of these resources. Nevertheless, a number of locally formulated rules have been revived and implemented and it is hoped that these threatened resources would be conserved.
文摘Comparative performance analysis of four irrigation schemes within Cagayan River Basin was assessed using comparative performance indicators between the years 2008 and 2012. The objectives were to establish benchmarks for both productivity and performance of irrigation schemes along the valley and to inquire whether small schemes function better than large schemes. The performance evaluation study of the systems composed of three general performance indicators, based on three domains-（1） system operation performance; （2） agricultural productivity and economics; （3） financial performance. Each indicator was assessed based on the prescribed descriptors used by the International Water Management Institute （IWMI） and Food and Agriculture Organization （FAO）. Analysis showed an overall system performance efficiency of 59%, 55%, 47% and 36% for Magat River Integrated Irrigation System （MARI1S）, Lucban, Garab and Divisoria Communal Irrigation Systems （CIS）, respectively. In terms of annual productivity performance, Lucban CIS dominates the three other systems with 0.35 kg/m3, which was classified as moderately performing system, while the rest were classified with low productivity index. Financial sustainability of the systems were extremely poor with cost recovery ratio of 0, 0.33, 0.41 and 0.49 for Divisoria, Garab, Lucban and MARIIS, respectively, which were exceptionally below the standard value of at least one. Also, analysis of the indicators revealed that on average, large schemes performed similarly to small-scale schemes, but small schemes were more variable, particularly in input-use efficiency. The benchmarking study will provide strategic information to policy makers of agricultural and irrigation agencies on the existing weaknesses of irrigation systems in the country and determine in a more quantifiable terms levels of potential improvement and intervention targets.
文摘Discussions about justice in cross-cultural context give rise to assorted theories. In this paper, issues surrounding communalism as a theory of justice in African culture will be examined with a view to show that its principles of care and fellow feeling could be worked out to address the problem of alienation from society characterizing some members of the contemporary African society. Recognition of the social dynamics of human society and relationships is of essence to communalism. As a theory of justice and a world view, communalism describes the human being as ＂being with others＂ and what that should be. The expression, ＂I am because we are, and because we are, I am＂ is the driving force of the communalistic society. Such a society is characterized by care, love, belongingness, solidarity, and interconnectedness. The aim of this paper is to highlight the manifestations of the idea of justice in communalism using leadership or governance, consensus in decision making, moral rules, punishment for wrong doing, and the equitable distribution of resources. It also aims to show that the communalist idea of justice is integrationist in outlook being constitutive of political and socio-economic elements, which the individual enjoys in practical terms as opposed to the paper rights, which citizens in much of the contemporary societies enjoy. The paper notes that drastic changes have occurred in the socio-economic relations within African societies as a consequence of acculturation subsequent to European colonization and these have had far reaching consequences.
文摘Gas emissions are produced by each economic entity individually—whether they are a large industrial enterprise, a boiler-house or a household (dwelling house). At that, in addition to visible chimneys, there are a lot of hidden (unrecorded) sources of emissions in form of ventilation branch pipes. Communal systems for removal and reprocessing of wastes of two types: liquid (municipal sewage lines) and solid (collection and removal of wastes) are operated in populated localities. For the third type of waste—gaseous—a similarly municipal structure does not exist. For the time being there is no possibility for full system control and neutralization of dust and gas wastes because there is no system in the physical form which would enable comprehensive receipt of exit gases from all the city sources for further processing thereof. It is for the first time when a principally new holistic approach to cleaning/treatment of all city dust and gas emissions (wastes) is proposed which consists in creation of a City Communal Aspiration System (Municipal Aspiration System) containing a city communal aspiration network (gas outlets) for receipt/transportation of exhaust (flue) gases and a plant for utilization of such wastes connected to such network. In other words, it is proposed to organize a “City without Chimneys”. The proposed solution permits to remove mass unsystematic and uncontrolled emissions of environmentally harmful gas wastes in cities, reduce climate risks and make the transition to a new level of organization of environmental planning and management and, therefore, eliminates or principally simplifies many ecological difficulties and restrictions in urban planning (inseparably related to ecology) in sanitary rules and standards.
文摘This paper analyzes Park Saengkwang(1904-1985)’s artwork,created in the 1980s and influenced by Musok,Korean Shamanism.It explores Musok’s thematic significance in the development of his distinctive style and the inspiration behind his stylistic changes.Park’s ink paintings are done in bold and intense colors and create an intriguing,mysterious mood,inviting the viewers to the primordial visual experience and exposing its viewers to Korean Shamanism,which has endured the perception that fluctuated between positive and negative throughout Korean history.The practice became a fitting cultural emblem associated with the national identity during the 1970s and 1980s,and thus became a way for Park to explicitly articulate his cultural roots,creating a visual connotation of“Korean.”His art,portraying gut,Korean shamanistic communal rituals,could be conceived as a pictorial rendering of the idea of kibok,praying for good fortune,and served as a pujŏk,talisman paper,that possesses magical healing and protecting power.By striving to overcome the stylistic conflicts between Korean and Japanese,or traditional and Western,Park’s art accomplished the visual rhetoric of national aesthetic sensitivity that built on the communal thoughts and cultural experience of shamanism in the modern history of Korea.
文摘Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the use of the postpartum intrauterine device in the maternity ward of the Ratoma communal medical center in Conakry. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out between July 1<sup>st</sup> 2015 and June 30 2016, i.e. a duration of one year. Results: A total of 551 patients received advice on various contraceptive methods. Most of this advice was given in the post-partum period (40.2%) and during antenatal care (39.1%). Of the patients advised, 87 (15.8%) used the intrauterine device. The majority of users (93%) were married and uneducated (63.2%), and 39.1% were poor. The majority (56.3%) of intra-uterine devices were inserted in the immediate post-partum period. The majority of women had no adverse events either during the first six weeks (n = 57;65.5%) or at 3<sup>rd</sup> months (n = 75;86.2%) or 6<sup>th</sup> months (n = 76;87.4%) after IUD insertion. Most users remained complication-free throughout the follow-up period (n = 76;87.4% at 6<sup>th</sup> weeks and 3<sup>rd</sup> months, and n = 77;88.5% at 6<sup>th</sup> months). The continuation rate was 89.7% at 6 weeks and 3<sup>rd</sup> months, and 87.4% at 6<sup>th</sup> months after insertion. The majority of users (87.0%) were satisfied with the care they received. Conclusion: This study showed very few complications among intrauterine device users, and high continuation and satisfaction rates. The intrauterine device is a long-acting, effective, reversible and safe contraceptive that can be used by most women for birth spacing in Guinea, where women do not regularly visit health facilities.
文摘In this paper power electronics used in PV power generation systems have been reviewed and modelled. PV systems need converters for maximum power point tracking, power conditioning, voltage step-up/down as necessary, and for storage charge-controlling. Inverters are needed for AC loads and for utility grid interfacing. The four basic DC-DC converters commonly used with PV systems have been reviewed and modelled. Different DC-AC inverter types and operational architectures have also been reviewed with the two-stage DC-AC inverter, with the point of common coupling (PCC) at the inverter input, suggested as the most cost-effective and efficient architecture for PV-based communal grids. This is because only one inverter is used for the entire system as opposed to an inverter for every module string, resulting in higher efficiencies, low cost, and low harmonic distortions when compared to systems with PCC at AC terminal. The aim of power conversion/inversion is to extract maximum power possible from the PV system and where necessary, to invert it at close to 100% as possible. Highlight: 1) DC-DC converters are necessary for power conditioning in PV systems;2) DC-AC inverters are necessary for AC loads and for utility grid interfacing;3) DC-AC inverters are also used to control the PV systems when grid connected;4) Best inverter configuration cost-effectively and efficiently allows easy system modifications.
文摘An integral part of risk assessment for natural hazards, communal vulnerability assessment (CVA) is now receiving considerable attention, with the on-going International Decade of Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). This article expounds the definition of the CVA concept and its implication. In addition, it offers a brief discussion of the reasons why CVA has been neglected and its relationship with socio-economic and physical vulnerability assessment. The article also gives an explorative exposition of the methodology and application of communal vulnerability analysis in risk reduction.
文摘In the countryside,where intensive rural development and rising property values have been observed since the late 1970s,the preservation and meaning of traditional dwellings have emerged as crucial considerations in shaping Hong Kong’s countryside conservation policy.The focus of this paper is on the conservation of temples,as we are drawn to these structures not only for their architectural merit but also for their role as public buildings within the countryside.Consequently,their cultural significance is heavily influenced by the stakeholders they are associated with,distinguishing them from other types of dwellings.This paper examines the coastal landscape of South Lantau,which includes several villages with distinct traditions that have undergone significant transformations since the 1960s.Located at the southwest edge of Hong Kong,Lantau Island had a rural lifestyle that was relatively undisturbed before WWII because of the difficulty in accessing the island.However,in response to the large people influx from China’s mainland after 1949,the Hong Kong government introduced the Lantau Development Plan in 1953,mainly to open up new sources of freshwater resources for Hong Kong Island.The construction of South Lantau Road in 1955 and Shek Pik Reservoir in 1957 gradually led to the decline of agricultural activities in South Lantau and the population exodus of local villagers,resulting in a rupture to regional traditions.In multilineage communities such as the villages on South Lantau,worship of a common deity provides a vital source of social bonding,particularly for an area long beset by typhoons,piracy and banditry.Local people pray for safety and prosperity through collective rituals and celebratory activities.Therefore,temples are not only religious establishments but also embody the sense of social solidarity among villagers on South Lantau.Through the case study of three rural villages on South Lantau,this paper examines how temples play an important role in the continuity of the communal network amid repercussions from the postwar disruption of traditional rural life.Significantly,this pilot study also draws attention to the functions of temples in their historical context.It emphasises the importance of recognising and re-evaluating these buildings for cultural enhancement as part of community engagement.This study provides valuable insights for future conservation efforts for religious buildings in the countryside.
文摘The monograph is a revised version of the author's doctoral thesis completed at Leiden University in 2018.Published 4 years later by Brill,a prestigious international academic press in the Netherlands,as the newest study discussing the Roman dinning culture,it particularly deserves the attention of the Chinese readers.
文摘Vitality is a quality that makes a public space operational and attractive throughout the day in relation to ongoing activities. This parameter can be evaluated through measures such as collective people presence, mixed-use functions, diversity of activities, and other related supportive physical elements. The aim of this research is to evaluate women＇s communal life in terms of vitality measures within public spaces. The commercial setting of Isfahan’s traditional bazaar was selected as the study area. To enhance the credibility of the results, several data collection methods, for example, semi-structured individual interviews （n = 24）, semi-structured focused group interviews （five groups including 28 middle-aged women）, direct observation, snap photography, and unobtrusive behavioral observation of women in communal life within the selected study area, were employed. To analyze the collected data, qualitative content and descriptive analyses were used. Our results indicate that by increasing the vitality of a public space through its related measures, women＇s presence will grow, and through this growth, the quality of their communal life would be enhanced.
基金This project is supported by the University of Macao(files no.SRG2019-00176 and CPG2020-00007).
文摘There are two critical,but opposite interpretations of Heidegger's understanding of being as a social ontology.One charges Heidegger with adhering to an anti-social"private irony,"while the other charges him with promoting a"self-canceling"totality.The current essay replies to these two charges with a discussion of Heidegger's understanding of being as"communal being,"which is implicated both in the early Heidegger's concept of"being-in-the-world-with-others"and in the later Heidegger's keyword of Ereignis.It argues that Heidegger's understanding of being as communal being is neither identical with totalitizing publicness nor the same as voluntaristic egotism.According to Heidegger,both the publicness of das Mem and voluntaristic egotism are the real threats to humanity at present.Because of them,we human beings are in danger of being uprooted from the earth upon which we-as communal beings-have already and always dwelled and lived with others from the very beginning of human history.
基金an interim achievement of the Humanities and Social Sciences Research Program of the Ministry of Education entitled"Research into the Forest Land Transfer Model and Performance Estimate for the New Collective Forest Tenure System Reform"(Licensed No.09YJA840027)a key project funded by the National Social Science Fund entitled"Research into China’s Collective Forest Tenure System Reform"(Licensed No.09&ZD045)
文摘As shown in the many disputes occurring in reforms to collective forest tenure, reforms aimed at clarifying property rights that follow the contract responsibility system for arable land are not wholly compatible with the informal system of property rights followed in village communities up to the present. This highlights the fact that the existing theory of collective property rights no longer provides a sufficient or effective interpretation of the property rights game in the practice of collective forest tenure. Further, the existing institutional arrangements for collective property rights are conducive neither to the resolution of disputes over forest tenure nor to the sustainable management and utilization of forest land. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a more inclusive analytical framework for rural property rights： village communal ownership. This highlights the village community as the main force in the practice of property fights and integrates the communal ownership values accumulated and inherited in the course of village transition. The introduction of a rational mechanism developed through the practice of village communal ownership may be able to further improve and encourage the reform of rural property fights in China, leading to the construction of a modem system of rural property rights involving clear title to the land.
文摘Impacts of grid architectures on temporal diffusion of PV-based communal grids (community owned minigrids or microgrids) in a rural developing community are modelled and simulated using MATLAB/Simulink and a survey-informed agent-based model (ABM) developed in NetLogo. Results show that decentralised control architectures stimulate minigrid formations and connections by allowing easy expansions of the minigrids as each decentralised PV system within a minigrid is treated equally and determines its own real and reactive power, eliminating the need for communication links. This also reduces the cost of implementing such a system;fewer connections are realized with centralised controls as such systems require high speed communication links which make them both difficult to expand and expensive to implement. Results also show that multi-master operation modes lead to more communal grid connections compared to single-master operation modes because in the former, all distributed PV systems within a communal grid have the same rank and can act as masters or can be operated as combinations of master generators (VSIs) and PQ inverters, allowing for more design flexibility and easy connections from potential customers.
文摘Many invasive species exploit anthropogenically disturbed habitats, but most of those taxa evolved long before humans. Presumably, then, an ability to use natural （non-anthropogenic） disturbances pre-adapted invaders to a world later degraded by people. Studies on invasive species in naturally disturbed habitats thus can clarify the ancestral niche of invaders. In the Australian tropics, metallic starlings Aplonis metallica nest communally in emergent rainforest trees during the wet-season, and invasive cane toads Rhinella marina join other predators （mammals, birds, reptiles, and other anurans） to exploit the food resources beneath those trees. Compared to conspecifics found along nearby roads through the forest, cane toads beneath bird-nesting trees occur at higher densities, and are smaller in body size. The sex ratio is female-biased, and recapture records suggest that fe- males may be philopatric at these sites （whereas recaptures were rare for both sexes found along the roads）. Some toads were found under the same trees in successive wet-seasons. Spooling showed that distances moved per night were similar along the road versus under the trees, but toads under trees showed lower net displacements. Diets also differed （based upon scat analysis）, with tree toads feeding more on beetles and less on ants. These nutrient-rich hotspots are ex- ploited primarily by adult females and juvenile toads, whereas adult males congregate at breeding sites. By magnifying pre-existing intraspecific divergences in habitat use, bird rookeries may en- hance population viability of cane toads by enabling critical age and sex classes to exploit food- rich patches that are rarely used by adult males.
文摘This study aimed at identifying the most preferred water quality tracking system (WQTS) for adoption and the determining factors for the same among the Langata sub County households in Nairobi city, Kenya. Perrenial municipal water shortage in this neighborhood has forced the residents to depend on vended water supplication but whose quality is not possible to verify at the moment. Accordingly, a mobile phone quality tracing application running on blockchain technology platform was developed to fill the gap of provenance tracking. A non-market discrete choice experiments (DCEs) model was deployed in which four-option attribute bundles;with one being the “status quo” choice were presented to each of the 382 randomly sampled respondents from the five wards within the area. Results indicated that Option 2;the communally managed WQTS emerged as the most preferred choice at 53.9%. Secondly, the male factor was identified as the major determinant to this decision. In conclusion, the study proposes for the installation of this new WQTS which will trigger a 12% adjustment of the average household’s monthly water bill. In addition, this paper recommends for a city-wide assessment of residents’ willingness to pay (WTP) for this WQTS, which it deems as an improved response to water shortage problem. Finally, the study contributes to the application of DCEs model in technology adoption literature.
