Review of potential astronomical optical observatory sites in the Philippines

Abstract The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands with many geographical features such as mountain ranges, seas, and plains. The country has fairly developed cities that are now experiencing various kinds of pollution at different levels and intensities. Highly developed urban areas are brightly lit and are currently experiencing worsening light pollution. Despite this, the two biggest telescopes in the country are still installed in two observatories right in the country’s capital city where light pollution is at its worst. This paper aims to identify several locations away from light pollution in the islands of Luzon, the biggest island in the Philippines, and the island of Palawan, where optical astronomical observatories may be built. The locations are chosen by studying the comparative light pollution scales in the various locations. The topography of the place and meteorological data such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation are likewise studied and considered as factors. Included in these factors is the fact that both the islands of Luzon and Palawan experience several typhoons every year, while earthquakes occur anywhere in the archipelago. For this reason, the observatories to be built must be designed to withstand Category 5 typhoons and strong magnitude 7 to 8 earthquakes. The results of the study identify the places on the island of Palawan and in northern Luzon which are good dark sites for the establishment of optical astronomy observatories. These locations can be declared as protected and developed as dark-sky sites dedicated to the study of Astronomy.

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Country-level determinants of the severity of the first global wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: an ecological study

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042034 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. e042034

Author(s):

Tiberiu A Pana ◽

Sohinee Bhattacharya ◽

David T Gamble ◽

Zahra Pasdar ◽

Weronika A Szlachetka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mortality Rate ◽

Vaccination Coverage ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Ecological Study ◽

Environmental Parameters ◽

The Philippines ◽

International Travel ◽

Bcg Vaccination ◽

Country Level ◽

The Mean

ObjectiveWe aimed to identify the country-level determinants of the severity of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignEcological study of publicly available data. Countries reporting >25 COVID-19 related deaths until 8 June 2020 were included. The outcome was log mean mortality rate from COVID-19, an estimate of the country-level daily increase in reported deaths during the ascending phase of the epidemic curve. Potential determinants assessed were most recently published demographic parameters (population and population density, percentage population living in urban areas, population >65 years, average body mass index and smoking prevalence); economic parameters (gross domestic product per capita); environmental parameters (pollution levels and mean temperature (January–May); comorbidities (prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and cancer); health system parameters (WHO Health Index and hospital beds per 10 000 population); international arrivals; the stringency index, as a measure of country-level response to COVID-19; BCG vaccination coverage; UV radiation exposure; and testing capacity. Multivariable linear regression was used to analyse the data.Primary outcomeCountry-level mean mortality rate: the mean slope of the COVID-19 mortality curve during its ascending phase.ParticipantsThirty-seven countries were included: Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, the UK and the USA.ResultsOf all country-level determinants included in the multivariable model, total number of international arrivals (beta 0.033 (95% CI 0.012 to 0.054)) and BCG vaccination coverage (−0.018 (95% CI −0.034 to –0.002)), were significantly associated with the natural logarithm of the mean death rate.ConclusionsInternational travel was directly associated with the mortality slope and thus potentially the spread of COVID-19. Very early restrictions on international travel should be considered to control COVID-19 outbreaks and prevent related deaths.

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The City of Oslo in Jan Erik Vold’s Poems

Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Philologia ◽

10.24193/subbphilo.2021.1.16 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 66 (1) ◽

pp. 219-230

Author(s):

Raluca-Daniela Duinea

Keyword(s):

Cultural Identity ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Social Criticism ◽

Capital City ◽

Urban Landscapes ◽

Reading Technique ◽

Social Critical ◽

The 1960S ◽

The City ◽

Selection Of

"The City of Oslo in Jan Erik Vold’s Poems. The aim of this paper is to examine, from a cultural and social perspective, the Norwegian urban areas and everyday situations in Jan Erik Vold’s (b. 1939) poems. Our close-reading technique reveals important social aspects, different places and streets, located in the capital city of Norway, Oslo. These urban poems written by the contemporary Norwegian poet Jan Erik Vold contribute to the reconstruction of a new Norwegian cultural identity as it is reflected in a selection of poems taken from Mor Godhjertas glade versjon. Ja (Mother Goodhearted’s Happy Version. Yes, 1968), followed by the poet’s wanderings in the city of Oslo in En som het Abel Ek (One Named Abel Ek, 1988), and concluding with his bitter social criticism in Elg (Moose, 1989) and IKKE. Skillingstrykk fra nittitallet (Not: Broadsides from the Nineties, 1993). Vold’s urban poems emphasise the transition from nyenkle (new simple), friendly and descriptive poems which present closely the city of Oslo on foot, to short, political and social critical poems from the 90s. Thus, it is of great importance to traverse various urban ‘landscapes’ in different periods of time, beginning with the 1960s, followed by the 80s and the 90s. Keywords: Jan Erik Vold, urban poems, social criticism, Norwegian urban areas, the city of Oslo "

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Parasites of Zoonotic Interest Detected in Felis catus domesticus in Midwestern Brazil

Ensaios e Ciência C Biológicas Agrárias e da Saúde ◽

10.17921/1415-6938.2021v25n1p29-33 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 29-33

Author(s):

Stephanie Ballatore Holland Lins ◽

Maria Elizabeth Cavalheiros Dorval ◽

Elenir Rose Jardim Cury Pontes ◽

Ana Paula Antunes Nogueira ◽

Eduardo de Castro Ferreira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Well Being ◽

Capital City ◽

Mato Grosso ◽

Aelurostrongylus Abstrusus ◽

Parasitic Species ◽

Dipylidium Caninum ◽

Parasitic Zoonoses ◽

Potential Risks ◽

Mato Grosso Do Sul

Interactions between humans and animals can be considerably beneficial to human well-being, and the demand for domestic cats as pets has increased in recent years. Despite these benefits, however, cats may contribute to environmental dissemination of zoonotic pathogens, with potential risks to human health. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and diversity of feline parasites of zoonotic interest in Campo Grande, the capital city of Mato Grosso do Sul state, Midwestern Brazil, where studies on feline parasitic fauna remain scarce. Fecal samples from 210 male and female cats of varying ages, sheltered at the local Center for Zoonosis Control, were examined. Spontaneous and ether centrifugal sedimentation were used to detect the parasites, found in 149 animals (71.0%), 93 (62.4%) of which were infected with a single parasitic species and 56 (37.6%) with two or more species. Ten parasitic species were detected, where Ancylostoma sp. was the most frequent (65.2%), followed by Platynosomum concinnum (21.0%), Cystoisospora sp. (7.1%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (1.9%), Strongyloides sp. (1.9%), Dipylidium caninum (1.4%), Giardia sp. (1.0%), Toxocara sp. (1.0%), Physaloptera praeputialis (1.0%), and Sarcocystis sp. (0.5%). The results obtained are relevant to human and veterinary public health policies and demonstrate the cats’ role in the transmission chain of parasitic zoonoses, particularly in urban areas. The findings can also serve to raise awareness among veterinarians and cat owners on the importance of preventive interventions to ensure healthier cohabitation with pets by reducing human exposure to cat borne parasites in urban areas. Keywords: Zoonoses. Felines. Helminths. Protozoa. One Health. Resumo As interações entre humanos e animais podem ser consideravelmente benéficas para o bem-estar humano, e a demanda por gatos domésticos como animais de estimação aumentou nos últimos anos. Apesar desses benefícios, no entanto, os gatos podem contribuir para a disseminação ambiental de patógenos zoonóticos, com riscos potenciais para a saúde humana. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a prevalência e diversidade de parasitos de interesse zoonótico em felinos de Campo Grande, capital do estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, no Centro-Oeste do Brasil, onde estudos sobre a fauna parasitária felina permanecem escassos. Foram examinadas amostras fecais de 210 gatos machos e fêmeas de idades variadas, abrigados no Centro de Controle de Zoonoses local. Sedimentação espontânea e sedimentação por centrifugação em éter foram utilizadas para detectar os parasitos, encontrados em 149 animais (71,0%), 93 (62,4%) dos quais foram infectados com uma única espécie parasitária e 56 (37,6%) com duas ou mais espécies. Foram detectadas dez espécies parasitárias, sendo Ancylostoma sp. o mais frequente (65,2%), seguido por Platynosomum concinnum (21,0%), Cystoisospora sp. (7,1%), Aelurostrongylus abstrusus (1,9%), Strongyloides sp. (1,9%), Dipylidium caninum (1,4%), Giardia sp. (1,0%), Toxocara sp. (1,0%), Physaloptera praeputialis (1,0%) e Sarcocystis sp. (0,5%). Os resultados obtidos são relevantes para as políticas de saúde pública humana e veterinária e demonstram o papel dos gatos na cadeia de transmissão das zoonoses parasitárias, principalmente nas áreas urbanas. As descobertas também podem servir para conscientizar os veterinários e donos de gatos da importância de intervenções preventivas para garantir uma coabitação mais saudável com animais de estimação, reduzindo a exposição humana a parasitos transmitidos por gatos em áreas urbanas. Palavras-chave: Zoonoses. Felinos. Helmintos. Protozoários. Saúde Única.

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Experimental and artificial neural network approach for forecasting of traffic air pollution in urban areas: The case of Subotica

Thermal Science ◽

10.2298/tsci100507032v ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 14 (suppl.) ◽

pp. 79-87 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bogdana Vujic ◽

Srdjan Vukmirovic ◽

Goran Vujic ◽

Nebojsa Jovicic ◽

Gordana Jovicic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Meteorological Data ◽

Model Development ◽

Ambient Air ◽

Ann Model ◽

Statistical Parameters ◽

Neural Network Approach ◽

Starting Point ◽

Artificial Neural

In the recent years, artificial neural networks (ANNs) have been used to predict the concentrations of various gaseous pollutants in ambient air, mainly to forecast mean daily particle concentrations. The data on traffic air pollution, irrespective of whether they are obtained by measuring or modelling, represent an important starting point for planning effective measures to improve air quality in urban areas. The aim of this study was to develop a mathematical model for predicting daily concentrations of air pollution caused by the traffic in urban areas. For the model development, experimental data have been collected for 10 months, covering all four seasons. The data about hourly concentration levels of suspended particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 ?m (PM10) and meteorological data (temperature, air humidity, speed and direction of wind), measured at the measuring station in the town of Subotica from June 2008 to March 2009, served as the basis for developing an ANN-based model for forecasting mean daily concentrations of PM10. The quality of the ANN model was assessed on the basis of the statistical parameters, such as RMSE, MAE, MAPE, and r.

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ALS Curriculum Implementation for Juvenile Delinquents in Urban and Rural Areas in the Philippines: A Comparative Analysis

Middle Eastern Journal of Research in Education and Social Sciences ◽

10.47631/mejress.v1i1.3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Vandon Borela

Keyword(s):

Rural Areas ◽

Juvenile Delinquents ◽

Urban Areas ◽

The Philippines ◽

Learning System ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Alternative Learning ◽

Rural And Urban Areas ◽

Rural And Urban ◽

Urban And Rural Areas

Purpose: The aim of this research study is to evaluate the implementation of Alternative Learning System (ALS) curriculum offered to juvenile delinquents in urban and rural areas in the Philippines. The study also aims to determine whether the current education programs meet the needs of the juvenile delinquents with reference to Juvenile delinquency acts. The study is an attempt to highlight the aspects of Alternative Learning System (ALS) that should be developed. Approach/Methodology/Design: The study is qualitative and conducted in Marikina City and Rizal province, the Philippines. This study used exploratory study analysis. The respondents are the Alternative Learning System (ALS) teachers. For data collection, three semi-structured interviews were employed and the respondents’ answers were categorized using analytical coding to compare and analyze the implementation of the ALS curriculum for juvenile delinquents. Findings: The interpretation and analysis of the data collected shows that the ALS teachers from both the rural and urban areas have the same experiences on the implementation of the ALS program for juvenile delinquents in terms of curriculum, instruction and assessment. Furthermore, the teachers gave an emphasis that once the juvenile delinquents undergo the program, they are given a new hope and new direction in life to pursue their dreams. Lastly, the teachers from both areas have the same suggestions for the improvement of the implementation of the program, such as additional funds for the development of quality learning materials, increasing the number of learning centers, and designing various forms of assessment. Practical Implications: The study will contribute positively to the understanding of Alternative learning System. The significance of this study lies in the comparison of the alternative learning system curriculum and how it is implemented to the juvenile delinquents in urban and in rural areas. Originality/value: This study engages ALS teachers in assessing the ALS curriculum, reflecting actual experiences to meet the expectations and needs of the juvenile delinquents.

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Housing Resources and Needs in Light of Modern Urban Transformations: the Case of Poznan

Real Estate Management and Valuation ◽

10.1515/remav-2017-0014 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 72-78

Author(s):

Sławomir Palicki

Keyword(s):

Urban Sprawl ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Local Governments ◽

Real Estate Market ◽

Capital City ◽

Central Cities ◽

The Real Estate ◽

Suburban Areas ◽

Starting Point ◽

Urban Transformations

Abstract Polish cities have been at the stage of a dynamic suburban development for over a decade (which has led to the phenomenon of urban sprawl beyond any control). The population of big urban areas, together with their agglomerations is continuously increasing; however, migration tendencies towards suburban areas are strong as well. In such a situation, the question arises regarding the possibilities and the methods of suppressing the outflow of people to the neighboring communities, and once again, making the city an attractive place to live. The attempt to explain such an issue requires research into both the housing infrastructure and its inhabitants. Poznan has been severely affected by suburbanization. The diagnosis and assessment of Poznan housing resources and the preferences of its inhabitants are the starting point for taking further steps in making the housing conditions more attractive. The article shows the initial results of widespread research regarding housing in the capital city of the Wielkopolska Province (comprising over 2,500 households). A similar study for the entire agglomeration (Poznan County) is due to be completed soon. It will allow for a comparative analysis and formulating recommendations regarding the conditions and the direction of changes on the real estate market which would increase the attractiveness of central cities suffering from suburbanization. In a wider context, the publication might be seen as an analysis of one of the elements of modern urban changes, such as either market driven, or free and spontaneous processes of urban sprawl, and conscious actions taken by local governments (together with developers) regarding the integrated urban revitalization policy.

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Urban greenhouse gas emissions from the Berlin area: A case study using airborne CO2 and CH4 in situ observations in summer 2018

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-3363 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Theresa Klausner ◽

Mariano Mertens ◽

Heidi Huntrieser ◽

Michal Galkowski ◽

Gerrit Kuhlmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Ghg Emissions ◽

Capital City ◽

Detailed Knowledge ◽

Emission Flux ◽

Gas Emissions ◽

Mixing Ratios

Urban areas are recognised as a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). The total amount of urban GHG emissions, especially for CH4, however, is not well quantified. Here we report on airborne in situ measurements using a Picarro G1301-m analyser aboard the DLR Cessna Grand Caravan to study GHG emissions downwind of the German capital city Berlin. In total, five aircraft-based mass balance experiments were conducted in July 2018 within the Urban Climate Under Change [UC]2 project. The detection and isolation of the Berlin plume was often challenging because of comparatively small GHG signals above variable atmospheric background concentrations. However, on July 20th enhancements of up to 4 ppm CO2 and 21 ppb CH4 were observed over a horizontal extent of roughly 45 to 65 km downwind of Berlin. These enhanced mixing ratios are clearly distinguishable from the background and can partly be assigned to city emissions. The estimated CO2 emission flux of 1.39 &#177; 0.75 t s-1 is in agreement with current inventories, while the CH4 emission flux of 5.20 &#177; 1.61 kg s-1 is almost two times larger than the highest reported value in the inventories. We localized the source area with HYSPLIT trajectory calculations and the high resolution numerical model MECO(n) (down to ~1 km), and investigated the contribution from sewage-treatment plants and waste deposition to CH4, which are treated differently by the emission inventories. Our work highlights the importance of a) strong CH4 sources in the surroundings of Berlin and b) a detailed knowledge of GHG inflow mixing ratios to suitably estimate emission rates.

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STRUKTUR JALAN LAYANG PROVINSI DKI JAKARTA: SEBUAH KAJIAN EVALUASI KUALITAS VISUAL

Jurnal Infrastruktur ◽

10.35814/infrastruktur.v5i1.617 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 45-50

Author(s):

Ray March Syahadat ◽

Priambudi Trie Putra ◽

Tandri Patih ◽

Dimas Muhammad Thoifur ◽

Fitria Nurhasanah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Urban Communities ◽

Visual Quality ◽

Semantic Differential ◽

Capital City ◽

Infrastructure Development ◽

Scenic Beauty ◽

Landscape Plants ◽

Surrounding Environment ◽

Different Levels

Rapid urban development demands a lot of infrastructure development. The development aims to support the activities of urban communities. Many research has been done on the structure, but the assessment of the visual quality of these structures is still very rarely done, especially in Indonesia. Flyovers are one of the structures that are often present in cities to solve congestion problems. Jakarta as the capital city, has many of these structures. Unfortunately, unwittingly adding structures can affect the visual quality of the surrounding environment. There are many ways to beautify these structures such as by adding plants, giving ornaments in the form of reliefs, to painting with mural art. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the visual quality of flyover structures. The methods used in this article include scenic beauty estimation (SBE), semantic differential (SD), factor analysis, multidimensional scaling, and Kendall’s W. The results obtained are different levels of visual quality of flyover structures based on the appearance of complementary ornaments. Based on SBE analysis, the structure with reliefs that were not colored showed poor visual quality with an SBE value of -46,483. High visual quality based on SBE analysis, namely the structure with the softscape element in the form of landscape plants (89,777). The impression caused by the structure with softscape elements in the form of landscape plants is considered shadier and attractive.

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The Impact of Home Gardening amidst Climate Change

International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research ◽

10.11594/ijmaber.01.01.05 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

pp. 20-23

Author(s):

Froilan D. Mobo

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Community Gardens ◽

Sudden Change ◽

The Philippines ◽

Ozone Layer ◽

Home Gardening ◽

The Face ◽

The Impact ◽

The Town

Today’s climate is unpredictable there are so many natural calamities which took place in our country which is the Philippines, two weeks ago because of the sudden changes of the weather in the Province of Zambales, the Philippines a strong tornado hits the town of Castillejos, Zambales which some of the electrical wirings were severely damaged because of the sudden change of the climate. The researcher is thinking of implementing a home gardening to each Municipality in our Province. By doing this it can help lessen the pollution in the air and it will help heal our Ozone Layer faster. The empirical evidence for the benefits of gardening and the advocate of the development and testing of socio-ecological models of community resilience through the impact of community gardens, especially in urban areas is highly effective(Okvat & Zautra, 2011). As lessening the air pollution will have a greater impact on our Ozone Layer no to deplete but it will heal the would faster. The present study revealed that local experiences in the face of climate change adaptation have merits that need special consideration(Anik & Khan, 2012). Also, the Researcher will implement this project in the Municipality of Subic, Zambales.

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URBAN GROWTH AND WATER QUALITY IN THIMPHU, BHUTAN

Journal of Urban and Environmental Engineering ◽

10.4090/juee.2013.v7n1.082095 ◽

2013 ◽

pp. 82-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Nandu Giri ◽

O. P. Singh

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Urban Area ◽

Water Samples ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Rapid Development ◽

Oxygen Demand ◽

Capital City ◽

Quality Data ◽

Water Quality Data

Detailed study was undertaken in 2008 and 2009 on assessment of water quality of River Wang Chhu which flows through Thimphu urban area, the capital city of Bhutan. The water samples were examined at upstream of urban area, within the urban area and its downstream. The water samples were analyzed by studying the physico-chemical, biological and benthic macro-invertebrates. The water quality data obtained during present study are discussed in relation to land use/land cover changes(LULC) and various ongoing human activities at upstream, within the each activity areas and it’s downstream. Analyses of satellite imagery of 1990 and 2008 using GIS revealed that over a period of eighteen years the forest, scrub and agricultural areas have decreased whereas urban area and road network have increased considerably. The forest cover, agriculture area and scrub decreased from 43.3% to 42.57%, 6.88% to 5.33% and 42.55% to 29.42%, respectively. The LULC changes effect water quality in many ways. The water temperature, pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, nitrate, phosphate, chloride, total coliform, and biological oxygen demand were lower at upstream and higher in urban area. On the other hand dissolved oxygen was found higher at upstream and lower in urban area. The pollution sensitive benthic macro-invertebrates population were dominant at upstream sampling sites whereas pollution tolerant benthic macro-invertebrates were found abundant in urban area and its immediate downstream. The rapid development of urban infrastructure in Thimphu city may be posing serious threats to water regime in terms of its quality. Though the deterioration of water quality is restricted to a few localized areas, the trend is serious and needs proper attention of policy planners and decision makers. Proper treatment of effluents from urban areas is urgently needed to reduce water pollution in such affected areas to check further deterioration of water quality. This present study which is based on upstream, within urban area and downstream of Thimphu city can be considered as an eye opener.

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