scholarly journals Hard paths, soft paths or no paths? Cross-cultural perceptions of water solutions

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 7809-7835 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Wutich ◽  
A. C. White ◽  
C. M. Roberts ◽  
D. D. White ◽  
K. L. Larson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Cultural Perceptions ◽  
Water Solutions ◽  
Development Status ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Us ◽  
Water Scarce

Abstract. In this study, we examine how development status and water scarcity shape people's perceptions of "hard path" and "soft path" water solutions. Based on ethnographic research conducted in four semi-rural/peri-urban sites (in Bolivia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the US), we use content analysis to conduct statistical and thematic comparisons of interview data. Our results indicate clear differences based on development status and, to a lesser extent, water scarcity. People in less developed sites were more likely to suggest hard path solutions, less likely to suggest soft path solutions, and more likely to see no path to solutions than people in more developed sites. Thematically, people in less developed sites envisioned solutions that involve small-scale water infrastructure and decentralized, community based solutions, while people in more developed sites envisioned solutions that involve large-scale infrastructure and centralized, regulatory water solutions. People in water-scarce sites were less likely to suggest soft path solutions and more likely to see no path to solutions (but no more likely to suggest hard path solutions) than people in water-rich sites. Thematically, people in water-rich sites seemed to perceive a wider array of unrealized potential soft path solutions than those in water-scarce sites. On balance, our findings are encouraging in that they indicate that people are receptive to soft path solutions in a range of sites, even those with limited financial or water resources. Our research points to the need for more studies that investigate the social feasibility of soft path water solutions, particularly in sites with significant financial and natural resource constraints.

scholarly journals Hard paths, soft paths or no paths? Cross-cultural perceptions of water solutions

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Wutich ◽  
A. C. White ◽  
D. D. White ◽  
K. L. Larson ◽  
A. Brewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Cultural Perceptions ◽  
Water Solutions ◽  
Development Status ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Us ◽  
Water Scarce

Abstract. In this study, we examine how development status and water scarcity shape people's perceptions of "hard path" and "soft path" water solutions. Based on ethnographic research conducted in four semi-rural/peri-urban sites (in Bolivia, Fiji, New Zealand, and the US), we use content analysis to conduct statistical and thematic comparisons of interview data. Our results indicate clear differences associated with development status and, to a lesser extent, water scarcity. People in the two less developed sites were more likely to suggest hard path solutions, less likely to suggest soft path solutions, and more likely to see no path to solutions than people in the more developed sites. Thematically, people in the two less developed sites envisioned solutions that involve small-scale water infrastructure and decentralized, community-based solutions, while people in the more developed sites envisioned solutions that involve large-scale infrastructure and centralized, regulatory water solutions. People in the two water-scarce sites were less likely to suggest soft path solutions and more likely to see no path to solutions (but no more likely to suggest hard path solutions) than people in the water-rich sites. Thematically, people in the two water-rich sites seemed to perceive a wider array of unrealized potential soft path solutions than those in the water-scarce sites. On balance, our findings are encouraging in that they indicate that people are receptive to soft path solutions in a range of sites, even those with limited financial or water resources. Our research points to the need for more studies that investigate the social feasibility of soft path water solutions, particularly in sites with significant financial and natural resource constraints.

Social Status Perception and Individual Social Capital: Evidence from the US

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Bucciol ◽  
Simona Cicognani ◽  
Luca Zarri
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Social Engagement ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Neighborhood Cohesion ◽  
Individual Social Capital ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Us ◽  
Objectively Measured ◽  
Negative Support

Abstract This paper provides evidence that individual social capital contributes to our understanding of where individuals locate themselves in the social ladder, also when their objective location within society (measured in terms of income, wealth, education and job) is considered. Using large-scale longitudinal data from the US Health and Retirement Study, we assess individual social capital by means of a multidimensional approach and consider (number, intensity and quality of) respondents’ friendships, prosocial behavior, social engagement and neighborhood cohesion. Our findings indicate that individual social capital plays a role in affecting subjective status, as self-perceived status correlates positively with neighborhood cohesion and negatively with negative support from friends, after controlling for objectively measured social status.

Burn Chamber Test of Ex Situ Thermal Impulse Sensors

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 515-524
Author(s):  
Benjamin R. Anderson ◽  
Natalie Gese ◽  
Ray Gunawidjaja ◽  
Hergen Eilers
Keyword(s):  
Research Laboratory ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Current Method ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Average Temperature ◽  
Current Test ◽  
Oxide Precursor ◽  
The Us ◽  
Lab Test

Recently, we reported on a novel ex situ thermal impulse sensing technique (based on lanthanide-doped oxide precursor nanoparticles) for use in structural fire forensics and demonstrated its functionality in small-scale lab-based tests. As a next step we have now performed a large-scale lab test at the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Fire Research Laboratory using a burn chamber with three sand burners. In this test we demonstrate our technique’s ability to determine the average temperature experienced by surfaces during the fire. While we successfully demonstrate our techniques accuracy, we also discover several previously unknown vulnerabilities. Namely, we find that: (1) our current method of embedding sensors in paint results in our sensor particles being difficult to recover (due to a large quantity of debris), (2) the current test panels have poor survivability, (3) debris from the fire tests interferes with excitation of dopant Dy ions (limiting our sensors’ functionality), and (4) dispersal in paint results in suppression of the (metastable)tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transition of ZrO2. To overcome these vulnerabilities we are evaluating new panel materials, paints, and lanthanide-dopants.

scholarly journals Impact of Japanese Post-Disaster Temporary Housing Areas’ (THAs) Design on Mental and Social Health

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (23) ◽  
pp. 4757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bris ◽  
Bendito
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Temporary Housing ◽  
Organization And Management ◽  
Kobe Earthquake ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
The Social ◽  
Post Disaster

The phenomenon named kodokushi, meaning death alone without the care or company of anyone inside temporary housing, appeared after the Kobe earthquake in Japan in 1995 with some 250 cases. This paper analyzes the evolution of Japanese temporary houses—to attempt to prevent the problem of kodokushi—from the point of view of management, how services and activities are organized, and design. We will use case studies as our methodological tool, analyzing the responses in 1995 Kobe (50,000 THs), 2004 Chūetsu (3000 THs), 2011 Tōhoku (50,000 THs), and 2016 Kumamoto (4000 THs). This article shows how the Japanese THAs follow a single design that has undergone very little variation in the last 25 years, a design which promotes the social isolation of their residents, making recovery—from the psychological perspective—and helping the most vulnerable members of society, more difficult. In small scale disasters (Chūetsu) applying organization and management measures was able to correct the problems caused by design and there were no cases of kodokushi: in large-scale disasters (Tōhoku), however, the difficulties to implement the same measures resulted in the reappearance of new cases at rates similar to Kobe’s. Our main conclusion is that the design of Japanese THAs must be reconsidered and changed to respond to the real needs of the most vulnerable groups.

Going…Going…Going…not yet gone! Enhancing Small-scale Festival Survival

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Tkaczynski ◽  
Sharyn Rundle-Thiele ◽  
Denni Arli ◽  
Chelsea Gill
Keyword(s):  
Service Quality ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Professional Staff ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Quality Performance ◽  
Repurchase Intentions ◽  
Behavioural Intentions

Festival service quality is a precursor to competitive advantage and survival, delivering a positive influence on attendee satisfaction and intentions to repatronise again in future. Evidence has been built in large-scale festival settings with mixed constructs and findings reported. Less is known about small-scale festivals, which operate within more limited human and financial resource constraints. This study aims to confirm the service quality, satisfaction and behavioural intention relationship for small-scale festivals. Five hundred and twenty-nine respondents attending four different small-scale festivals participated in an in-person or online self-administered survey. Structural equation modelling confirmed that service quality performance influences behavioural intentions directly and indirectly. Satisfaction and perceived professionalism directly influences behavioural intentions. Environment directly influences repurchase intentions but not when it is mediated by satisfaction. Focusing on delivery of service quality is essential for small-scale festival survival, given its influence on attendees’ satisfaction and behavioural intentions. Ensuring festivals are delivered in good environments featuring professional staff is the key to ensuring small-scale festival survival.

scholarly journals Quantifying Evolution of Short and Long-Range Correlations in Chinese Narrative Texts across 2000 Years

Complexity ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heng Chen ◽  
Haitao Liu
Keyword(s):  
Long Range ◽  
Word Length ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sentence Length ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Evolutionary Trend ◽  
Narrative Texts ◽  
Long Range Correlations ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
The Social

We investigate how short and long-range word length correlations evolve in Chinese narrative texts. The results show that, for short-range word length correlations, no significant linear evolutionary trend was found. But for long-range correlations, there are two opposite tendencies for two different regimes: the Hurst exponent of small-scale (box size n ranges from 10 to 100) word length correlations decreases over time, and the exponent of large-scale (box size n ranges from 101 to 1000) shows an increasing tendency. The increase of word length is corroborated as an essential regularity of word evolution in written Chinese. Further analyses show that a significant correlation coefficient is obtained between Hurst exponents from the small-scale correlations and mean word length across time. These indicate that word length correlation evolution possesses different self-adaptive mechanisms in terms of different scales of distances between words. We speculate that the increase of word length and sentence length in written Chinese may account for this phenomenon, in terms of both the social-cultural aspects and the self-adapting properties of language structures.

Introduction: Modernism beyond the Metropolis

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-28
Author(s):  
Geneva M. Gano
Keyword(s):  
Historical Background ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Scale Production ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Us ◽  
Raymond Williams ◽  
Art Colony ◽  
Urban Places

This introductory chapter offers a meditation on the spaces and places of modernist activity, positing that the metropolis is incidental, rather than essential, to the production of social and aesthetic modernism. In de-centring the metropolis, this chapter proposes that rural, peripheral spaces—those Raymond Williams memorably dismissed as ‘hinterlands’—should not only be recognized as essential to the development of modernist practices, but also may productively be recognized as part of a broad, modernist impulse toward ‘little’ and small-scale production in general. Working from Wallerstein’s conceptualisation of the networked, capitalist, modern world-system, this chapter makes the case for a more careful, site-specific examination of sub- or extra-urban places in which modernist practices emerged and coalesced and argues for seeing the modern little art colony as a representative modernist space. This chapter also offers a brief historical background to the development of the little art colony in the US, pointing to its nineteenth-century European antecedents as well as US-based utopian colonies (most notably that at Brook Farm), where the social practices associated with modernism fused with new and experimental arts-based practices.

Introduction

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive Holes
Keyword(s):  
Social Factors ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Early History ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Linguistic Change ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of ◽  
Arabic Dialects ◽  
Early Occurrence

This chapter outlines the scholarly background of the study of Arabic historical dialectology, and addresses the following issues: the early history of Arabic: myth and reality; the definition and exemplification of ‘Middle Arabic’ and ‘Mixed Arabic through history’; evidence for the early occurrence of certain Arabic dialectal features; examples of substrates and borrowing in Arabic dialects; the dialect geography of Arabic and its typology, especially the ‘sedentary’ and ‘bedouin’ divide; how and why dialects have undergone change, large-scale and small-scale, and the causative social factors; a classification of the typology of internal linguistic change in Arabic; causes of the social indexicalization of dialectal features of Arabic; examples of the pidginization and creolization of Arabic, and the reasons for the apparent rarity of this phenomenon.

scholarly journals Forestland Grabbing by the Foreigners in Hokkaido, Japan: Is It a Big Concern for Sustainable Forest Development?

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazi Islam ◽  
Kimihiko Hyakumura
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Foreign Companies ◽  
Land Grab ◽  
The Social ◽  
Large Scale Land ◽  
Hokkaido Island

A world-wide demand in large-scale land acquisition over the past decade has been discussed as a land grab for access to natural resources. Forestland grab is the dynamics of land use changes by the foreign or national entities that can enable forests and biodiversity transformations on a wider scale. In recent times, forestland grabbing performed by foreigners in the Hokkaido Island of Japan has been increasing and causing a lot of debate. Therefore, this study analyzed the social, economic, and ecological impacts of forestland grabbing by the foreigners in the Hokkaido Island of Japan, and also analyzed the land ownership rules and regulations of Japan that have an impact on the land-grabbing process. This study is formed by an analysis of public and forestry agency documents, grey and academic literatures, interview with questionnaire and practical observation in central Hokkaido, Japan. The study found out that the forestland grabs have been taking place on the Hokkaido Island using the existing Japanese policy and legal arrangements. However, some people and print media have disagreed with the treatment of forestlands as a commodity because the land and water resources are limited and also essential for the national sovereignty and local culture. On the other hand, the small-scale forestland grabbing and development activities by foreigners were totally in the grip of the local government and no significant forest and biodiversity losses have been identified so far. The study also revealed that the entry of foreign companies has augmented the local economy and tourism industries and also provided jobs for the local people. Therefore, the foreigners-based land grabs and investments have caused an immense debate, and the study would recommend the proper execution of conservation regulations at every level instead of blocking the entry of foreign entities through law.

scholarly journals Analysis of Economic Efficiency and Farm Size: A Case Study of Wheat Farmers in Nakuru District, Kenya

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Mburu ◽  
Chris Ackello-Ogutu ◽  
Richard Mulwa
Keyword(s):  
Economic Efficiency ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Wheat Production ◽  
The Social ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

The primary objective of this study is to examine the effect of farm size on economic efficiency among wheat producers and to suggest ways to improve wheat production in the country. Specifically, the study attempts to estimate the levels of technical, allocative, and economic efficiencies among the sampled 130 large and small scale wheat producers in Nakuru District. The social-economic factors that influence economic efficiency in wheat production have also been determined. Results indicate that the mean technical, allocative, and economic efficiency indices of small scale wheat farmers are 85%, 96%, and 84%, respectively. The corresponding figures for the large scale farmers are 91%, 94%, and 88%, respectively. The number of years of school a farmer has had in formal education, distance to extension advice, and the size of the farm have strong influence on the efficiency levels. The relatively high levels of technical efficiency among the small scale farmers defy the notion that wheat can only be efficiently produced by the large scale farmers.

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