scholarly journals Mapping Food Production in Hyper-Arid and Arid Saharan Africa in the Holocene—A View from the Present

Quaternary ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Carla Lancelotti ◽  
Stefano Biagetti

The reconstruction of land use practices in hyper-arid Saharan Africa is often hampered by the accuracy of the available tools and by unconscious biases that see these areas as marginal and inhospitable. Considered that this has been for a long time the living space of pastoral mobile communities, new research is showing that agriculture might have been more important in these areas than previously thought. In this paper, after a review of present-day land use strategies in Saharan Africa, we show how ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological data can offer us a different point of view and help in better defining land use and food production strategies in this area. Ultimately, these insights can be integrated into the ongoing efforts to reconstruct past land use globally.

Author(s):  
Carla Lancelotti ◽  
Stefano Biagetti

The reconstruction of land use practices in hyper arid Saharan Africa is often hampered by the accuracy of the available tools and by unconscious biases that see these areas as marginal and inhospitable. Considered for a long time the living space of pastoral mobile communities, new research is showing of agriculture might have been more important in these areas than previously thought. In this paper, after a review of present-day land use strategies in Saharan Africa, we show how ethnographic and ethnoarchaeological data can offer us a different point of view and help in better defining land use and food production strategies in this area. Ultimately, these insights can be integrated into the ongoing effort of reconstructing past land use globally.


Soil Systems ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
John Walker Recha ◽  
Kennedy O. Olale ◽  
Andrew Sila ◽  
Gebermedihin Ambaw ◽  
Maren Radeny ◽  
...  

A novel total ensemble (TE) algorithm was developed and compared with random forest optimization (RFO), gradient boosted machines (GBM), partial least squares (PLS), Cubist and Bayesian additive regression tree (BART) algorithms to predict numerous soil health indicators in soils with diverse climate-smart land uses at different soil depths. The study investigated how land-use practices affect several soil health indicators. Good predictions using the ensemble method were obtained for total carbon (R2 = 0.87; RMSE = 0.39; RPIQ = 1.36 and RPD = 1.51), total nitrogen (R2 = 0.82; RMSE = 0.03; RPIQ = 2.00 and RPD = 1.60), and exchangeable bases, m3. Cu, m3. Fe, m3. B, m3. Mn, exchangeable Na, Ca (R2 > 0.70). The performances of algorithms were in order of TE > Cubist > BART > PLS > GBM > RFO. Soil properties differed significantly among land uses and between soil depths. In Kenya, however, soil pH was not significant, except at depths of 45–100 cm, while the Fe levels in Tanzanian grassland were significantly high at all depths. Ugandan agroforestry had a substantially high concentration of ExCa at 0–15 cm. The total ensemble method showed better predictions as compared to other algorithms. Climate-smart land-use practices to preserve soil quality can be adopted for sustainable food production systems.


2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikko Tuominen ◽  
Hannu Teisala ◽  
Janne Haapanen ◽  
Mikko Aromaa ◽  
Jyrki M. Mäkelä ◽  
...  

Abstract Superhydrophobic nanoparticle coating was created on the surface of board using liquid flame spray (LFS). The LFS coating was carried out continuously in ambient conditions without any additional hydrophobization steps. The contact angle of water (CAW) of ZrO2, Al2O3 and TiO2 coating was adjusted reversibly from >150° down to ~10−20° using different stimulation methods. From industrial point of view, the controlled surface wetting has been in focus for a long time because it defines the liquid-solid contact area, and furthermore can enhance the mechanical and chemical bonding on the interface between the liquid and the solid. The used stimulation methods included batch-type methods: artificial daylight illumination and heat treatment and roll-to-roll methods: corona, argon plasma, IR (infra red)- and UV (ultra violet)-treatments. On the contrary to batch-type methods, the adjustment and switching of wetting was done only in seconds or fraction of seconds using roll-to-roll stimulation methods. This is significant in the converting processes of board since they are usually continuous, high volume operations. In addition, the creation of microfluidic patterns on the surface of TiO2 coated board using simple photomasking and surface stimulation was demonstrated. This provides new advantages and possibilities, especially in the field of intelligent printing. Limited durability and poor repellency against low surface tension liquids are presently the main limitations of LFS coatings.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-37
Author(s):  
I. Naydenova

As a research area, interior design took shape in the 20s of the last century, despite the fact that the practice of decorating living spaces dates back many hundreds of years. However, the "self-sufficiency" of design and its connection with architecture to this day is the subject of scientific discussions of urban specialists, historians, art historians, and anthropologists. The article discusses the leading artistic styles and trends that prevailed in architecture and design from the point of view of their mutual influence on each other. Time frame of the research: from the middle of XIX century to the first half of XX century. As a result of the research of foreign experience in the formation of interior design, the main stages of the movement development and its relationship with architecture in two formations were identified: activities directly dependent on architectural decisions, activities that determine the entire design process to a large extent: from the functional zoning of the premises to the features of the placement of utilities in the building. Entering the information era in art as a whole is characterized by the rejection of slogans that clearly delineate stylistic boundaries and determine the role of a designer in creating the living space. The determining factor influencing the integrity of the building’s appearance in a modern view is the harmony of the facade and the internal content, which was made possible thanks to the equal interaction of the architect and designer, starting from the first half of the 20th century.


Author(s):  
Almaz F. Abdulvaliev

This article presents the conceptual foundations for the formation of a new research field “Judicial Geography”, including the prerequisites for its creation, academic, and theoretical development, both in Russia and abroad. The purpose of the study is to study the possibility of applying geographical methods and means in criminal law, criminal procedure, and in judicial activity in general via the academic direction “Judicial Geography”. The author describes in detail the main elements of judicial geography and its role and significance for such legal sciences, as criminal law, criminal procedure, criminalistics, and criminology among others. The employed research methods allow showing the main vectors of the development of judicial geography, taking into account the previous achievements of Russian and worldwide academics. The author indicates the role and place of judicial geography in the system of legal sciences. This study suggests a concept of using scientific geographical methods in the study of various legal phenomena of a criminal and criminal-procedural nature when considering the idea of building judicial bodies and judicial instances, taking into account geographical and climatic factors. In this regard, the author advises to introduce the special course “Judicial Geography”, which would allow law students to study the specifics of the activities of the judiciary and preliminary investigation authorities from a geographical point of view, as well as to use various geographical methods, including the mapping method, in educational and practical activities. The author concludes that forensic geography may become a new milestone for subsequent scientific research in geography and jurisprudence.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlin T. McManimon ◽  
◽  
David P. Gillikin ◽  
William B. Ouimet ◽  
Michael T. Hren ◽  
...  

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