scholarly journals Missing millions: undercounting urbanization in India

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle Onda ◽  
Parmanand Sinha ◽  
Andrea E. Gaughan ◽  
Forrest R. Stevens ◽  
Nikhil Kaza

AbstractThe measurement and characterization of urbanization crucially depends upon defining what counts as urban. The government of India estimates that only 31% of the population is urban. We show that this is an artifact of the definition of urbanity and an underestimate of the level of urbanization in India. We use a random forest-based model to create a high-resolution (~ 100 m) population grid from district-level data available from the Indian Census for 2001 and 2011, a novel application of such methods to create temporally consistent population grids. We then apply a community-detection clustering algorithm to construct urban agglomerations for the entire country. Compared with the 2011 official statistics, we estimate 12% more of urban population, but find fewer mid-size cities. We also identify urban agglomerations that span jurisdictional boundaries across large portions of Kerala and the Gangetic Plain.

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Bonnet ◽  
A Nikiéma ◽  
F A Roy ◽  
V Ridde

Abstract Introduction In 2014, the Government of Burkina Faso received technical and financial support from the World Bank to test the PBF project with various equity measures. Health equity measures included community based selection of worst-off and user fee exemption for them at the point of service. This selection was carried out in 8 health districts. More than 110,000 worst-off have been selected. Several analyses show that their use of care remains low. Our study aims to characterize the selection of the indigent by considering geographical determinants in order to better understand the weakness of access to care. Methods We have mapped the selection of the indigent based on the geolocation data collected with a GIS. We carried out spatial analyses to measure access to localities, health center and the main access roads. We have also integrated population data and geo-environmental characteristics. All these data were aggregated in 500 m cells to provide all variables on a single scale. A total of 9 variables were generated to characterize the spatial targeting’s worst-of. We combined two cluster analyses, i.e., k-means, and hierarchical clustering. Results We obtain a characterization of the selection into four classes. These classes highlight that the community-based selection of the worst-off is unequal in terms of distances to localities, health centres, and isolation. The results refine our knowledge of geographical accessibility to health centres by illustrating that distances to the health care centre are not the only geographical determinants to be considered. Conclusions This study is a contribution to the analysis of the characterization of the targeting of the worst-off. The results suggest that it is important to strengthen support for the most isolated worst-off for an access care. More broadly, this study shows that it is necessary to integrate the geographical dimension into the definition of targeting the worst-off. Key messages It is necessary to integrate the geographical dimension into the definition of targeting the worst-off. It is important to strengthen support for the most isolated worst-off for an access care.


Author(s):  
Claudia Yolanda Becerra Camargo

This article aims at being an invitation for the readers to reflect upon the way in which our voices as teachers are shaped. My own reflective process geared me towards the characterization of three key issues which –from my personal and professional experience- shape teacher voice. They are: the political relations of power, the curricular choices we make and their implications, and the government policies. Grounded on some Critical Pedagogy scholars, I define first, Critical pedagogy from my personal stand. Second, I present the definition of teacher voice, from different perspectives, including mine. Third, I describe and illustrate each of the three central features that may shape our voices as teachers and finally, I state some conclusions and pedagogical implications.


2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 407-424
Author(s):  
Jamaluddin Jamaluddin

Indonesian reformation era begins with the fall of President Suharto. Political transition and democratic transition impact in the religious life. Therefore, understandably, when the politic transition is not yet fully reflects the idealized conditions. In addition to the old paradigm that is still attached to the brain of policy makers, various policies to mirror the complexity of stuttering ruler to answer the challenges of religious life. This challenge cannot be separated from the hegemonic legacy of the past, including the politicization of SARA. Hegemony that took place during the New Order period, adversely affected the subsequent transition period. It seems among other things, with airings various conflicts nuances SARA previously muted, forced repressive. SARA issues arise as a result of the narrowing of the accommodation space of the nation state during the New Order regime. The New Order regime has reduced the definition of nation-states is only part of a group of people loyal to the government to deny the diversity of socio-cultural reality in it. To handle the inheritance, every regime in the reform era responds with a pattern and a different approach. It must be realized, that the post-reform era, Indonesia has had four changes of government. The leaders of every regime in the reform era have a different background and thus also have a vision that is different in treating the problem of racial intolerance, particularly against religious aspect. This treatment causes the accomplishment difference each different regimes of dealing with the diversity of race, religion and class that has become the hallmark of Indonesian society.


Author(s):  
Olga Mykhailоvna Ivanitskaya

The article is devoted to issues of ensuring transparency and ac- countability of authorities in the conditions of participatory democracy (democ- racy of participation). It is argued that the public should be guaranteed not only the right for access to information but also the prerequisites for expanding its par- ticipation in state governance. These prerequisites include: the adoption of clearly measurable macroeconomic and social goals and the provision of control of the processes of their compliance with the government by citizens of the country; ex- tension of the circle of subjects of legislative initiative due to realization of such rights by citizens and their groups; legislative definition of the forms of citizens’ participation in making publicly significant decisions, design of relevant orders and procedures, in particular participation in local referendum; outlining methods and procedures for taking into account social thought when making socially im- portant decisions. The need to disclose information about resources that are used by authorities to realize the goals is proved as well as key performance indicators that can be monitored by every citizen; the efforts made by governments of coun- tries to achieve these goals. It was noted that transparency in the conditions of representative democracy in its worst forms in a society where ignorance of the thought of society and its individual members is ignored does not in fact fulfill its main task — to establish an effective dialogue between the authorities and so- ciety. There is a distortion of the essence of transparency: instead of being heard, society is being asked to be informed — and passively accept the facts presented as due. In fact, transparency and accountability in this case are not instruments for the achievement of democracy in public administration, but by the form of a tacit agreement between the subjects of power and people, where the latter passes the participation of an “informed observer”.


Author(s):  
Asha Bajpai

The chapter commences with the change in the perspective and approach relating to children from welfare to rights approach. It then deals with the legal definition of child in India under various laws. It gives a brief overview of the present legal framework in India. It states briefly the various policies and plans, and programmes of the Government of India related to children. International law on the rights of the child is enumerated and a summary of the important judgments by Indian courts are also included. The chapter ends with pointing out the role of civil society organizations in dealing with the rights of the child and a mention of challenges ahead.


2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-185
Author(s):  
Sung Min Han ◽  
Mi Jeong Shin

AbstractIn this article, we argue that rising housing prices increase voter approval of incumbent governments because such a rise increases personal wealth, which leads to greater voter satisfaction. This effect is strongest under right-wing governments because those who benefit from rising prices—homeowners—are more likely to be right-leaning. Non-homeowners, who are more likely to vote for left-leaning parties, will view rising housing prices as a disadvantage and therefore feel the government does not serve them well, which will mitigate the advantage to left-wing governments. We find support for our arguments using both macro-level data (housing prices and government approval ratings in 16 industrialized countries between 1960 and 2017) and micro-level data (housing prices and individuals’ vote choices in the United Kingdom using the British Household Panel Survey). The findings imply that housing booms benefit incumbent governments generally and right-wing ones in particular.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huan Li ◽  
Siruo Zhang ◽  
Ruina Liu ◽  
Lu Yuan ◽  
Di Wu ◽  
...  

AbstractOnce the body dies, the indigenous microbes of the host begin to break down the body from the inside and play a key role thereafter. This study aimed to investigate the probable shift in the composition of the rectal microbiota at different time intervals up to 15 days after death and to explore bacterial taxa important for estimating the time since death. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes showed major shifts when checked at 11 different intervals and emerged at most of the postmortem intervals. At the species level, Enterococcus faecalis and Proteus mirabilis showed a downward and upward trend, respectively, after day 5 postmortem. The phylum-, family-, genus-, and species-taxon richness decreased initially and then increased considerably. The turning point occurred on day 9, when the genus, rather than the phylum, family, or species, provided the most information for estimating the time since death. We constructed a prediction model using genus-level data from high-throughput sequencing, and seven bacterial taxa, namely, Enterococcus, Proteus, Lactobacillus, unidentified Clostridiales, Vagococcus, unidentified Corynebacteriaceae, and unidentified Enterobacteriaceae, were included in this model. The abovementioned bacteria showed potential for estimating the shortest time since death.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2313
Author(s):  
Maria Luisa Beconcini ◽  
Pietro Croce ◽  
Paolo Formichi ◽  
Filippo Landi ◽  
Benedetta Puccini

The evaluation of the shear behavior of masonry walls is a first fundamental step for the assessment of existing masonry structures in seismic zones. However, due to the complexity of modelling experimental behavior and the wide variety of masonry types characterizing historical structures, the definition of masonry’s mechanical behavior is still a critical issue. Since the possibility to perform in situ tests is very limited and often conflicting with the needs of preservation, the characterization of shear masonry behavior is generally based on reference values of mechanical properties provided in modern structural codes for recurrent masonry categories. In the paper, a combined test procedure for the experimental characterization of masonry mechanical parameters and the assessment of the shear behavior of masonry walls is presented together with the experimental results obtained on three stone masonry walls. The procedure consists of a combination of three different in situ tests to be performed on the investigated wall. First, a single flat jack test is executed to derive the normal compressive stress acting on the wall. Then a double flat jack test is carried out to estimate the elastic modulus. Finally, the proposed shear test is performed to derive the capacity curve and to estimate the shear modulus and the shear strength. The first results obtained in the experimental campaign carried out by the authors confirm the capability of the proposed methodology to assess the masonry mechanical parameters, reducing the uncertainty affecting the definition of capacity curves of walls and consequently the evaluation of seismic vulnerability of the investigated buildings.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Narjes Firouzkouhi ◽  
Abbas Amini ◽  
Chun Cheng ◽  
Mehdi Soleymani ◽  
Bijan Davvaz

Inspired by fuzzy hyperalgebras and fuzzy polynomial function (term function), some homomorphism properties of fundamental relation on fuzzy hyperalgebras are conveyed. The obtained relations of fuzzy hyperalgebra are utilized for certain applications, i.e., biological phenomena and genetics along with some elucidatory examples presenting various aspects of fuzzy hyperalgebras. Then, by considering the definition of identities (weak and strong) as a class of fuzzy polynomial function, the smallest equivalence relation (fundamental relation) is obtained which is an important tool for fuzzy hyperalgebraic systems. Through the characterization of these equivalence relations of a fuzzy hyperalgebra, we assign the smallest equivalence relation α i 1 i 2 ∗ on a fuzzy hyperalgebra via identities where the factor hyperalgebra is a universal algebra. We extend and improve the identities on fuzzy hyperalgebras and characterize the smallest equivalence relation α J ∗ on the set of strong identities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 7585
Author(s):  
Yunmei Liu ◽  
Shuai Zhang ◽  
Min Chen ◽  
Yenchun Wu ◽  
Zhengxian Chen

Blockchain technology is the most cutting-edge technology in the field of financial technology, which has attracted extensive attention from governments, financial institutions and investors of various countries. Blockchain and finance, as an interdisciplinary, cross-technology and cross-field topic, has certain limitations in both theory and application. Based on the bibliometrics data of Web of Science, this paper conducts data mining on 759 papers related to blockchain technology in the financial field by means of co-word analysis, bi-clustering algorithm and strategic coordinate analysis, so as to explore hot topics in this field and predict the future development trend. The experimental results found ten research topics in the field of blockchain combined with finance, including blockchain crowdfunding, Fintech, encryption currency, consensus mechanism, the Internet of Things, digital financial, medical insurance, supply chain finance, intelligent contract and financial innovation. Among them, blockchain crowdfunding, Fintech, encryption currency and supply chain finance are the key research directions in this research field. Finally, this paper also analyzes the opportunities and risks of blockchain development in the financial field and puts forward targeted suggestions for the government and financial institutions.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document