The belly and the viscera of the capital city

2018 ◽  
pp. 23-42
Author(s):  
Gilles Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Human Body ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Proper Functioning ◽  
Inspection And Maintenance ◽  
Louis Xvi ◽  
The City ◽  
Vast Network

This chapter explores the catacombs and sewers of Paris: a maze of underground galleries that were essential to the proper functioning of the city above them. They create a vast network that resemble the vascular, respiratory and digestive systems of the human body. Unlike London, Paris was built with the very material taken from what later became the hole-ridden foundations of the city. To prevent Paris from collapsing, Louis XVI created an administration for the inspection and maintenance of the disused underground quarries of the city and its suburbs. At the same time, the Parisians increasingly complained and petitioned against the pestilential air exhaled by the city’s graveyards, as their grounds were as swollen as the belly of a corpse under the pressure of the gases of decomposition. This led to the closure of the graveyards and the relocation of the remains in the underground ossuary of Montsouris.

scholarly journals Enhancing Micronutrients Bioavailability through Fermentation of Plant-Based Foods: A Concise Review

Fermentation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Mrinal Samtiya ◽  
Rotimi E. Aluko ◽  
Anil Kumar Puniya ◽  
Tejpal Dhewa
Keyword(s):  
Human Body ◽  
Crucial Role ◽  
Trace Minerals ◽  
Processing Methods ◽  
Nutritional Factors ◽  
Nutrient Requirement ◽  
Plant Foods ◽  
Mineral Bioavailability ◽  
Proper Functioning ◽  
Concise Review

Plant-based foods are rich sources of vitamins and essential micronutrients. For the proper functioning of the human body and their crucial role, trace minerals (iron, zinc, magnesium, manganese, etc.) are required in appropriate amounts. Cereals and pulses are the chief sources of these trace minerals. Despite these minerals, adequate consumption of plant foods cannot fulfill the human body’s total nutrient requirement. Plant foods also contain ample amounts of anti-nutritional factors such as phytate, tannins, phenols, oxalates, etc. These factors can compromise the bioavailability of several essential micronutrients in plant foods. However, literature reports show that fermentation and related processing methods can improve nutrient and mineral bioavailability of plant foods. In this review, studies related to fermentation methods that can be used to improve micronutrient bioavailability in plant foods are discussed.

Accessing heat: Environmental stigma and ‘porous’ infrastructural configurations in Ulaanbaatar

Urban Studies ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 004209802110005
Author(s):  
Rebekah Plueckhahn
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Heat Generation ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Core Area ◽  
History Of ◽  
Burning Coal ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The City

This article explores the experience of living among diverse infrastructural configurations in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and forms of stigmatisation that arise as a result. In this capital city that experiences extremely cold winters, the provision of heat is a seasonal necessity. Following a history of socialist-era, centrally provided heating, Ulaanbaatar is now made up of a core area of apartments and other buildings undergoing increased expansion, surrounded by vast areas of fenced land plots ( ger districts) not connected to centrally provided heating. In these areas, residents have historically heated their homes through burning coal, a technique that has resulted in seasonal air pollution. Expanding out from Wacquant’s definition of territorial stigmatisation, this article discusses the links between heat generation, air pollution and environmental stigmatisation arising from residents’ association with or proximity to the effects of heat generation and/or infrastructural lack. This type of stigma complexifies the normative divide between the city’s two main built areas. Residents’ attempts to mitigate forms of building and infrastructural ‘quality’ or chanar (in Mongolian) form ways of negotiating their position as they seek different kinds of property. Here, not only are bodies vulnerable to forms of pollution (both air and otherwise), but also buildings and infrastructure are vulnerable to disrepair. Residents’ assessments of infrastructural and building quality move beyond any categorisation of them being a clear ‘resistance’ to deteriorating infrastructural conditions. Instead, an ethnographic lens that positions the viewpoint of the city through these residential experiences reveals a reconceptualisation of the city that challenges infrastructurally determined normative assumptions.

Studies in the Social and Economic History of Ostia

1938 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 152-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederick H. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Economic History ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Standard Of Living ◽  
Three Generations ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of ◽  
The City ◽  
Made In

The first of these Studies was concerned chiefly with the history of Ostia during the period when the city was still growing and its prosperity increasing. Even so, during the period already considered, the prosperity of Ostia, though real, was to this extent artificial, in that it depended upon factors over which the citizens themselves had no control. Ostia was the port of Rome, and nothing else, and in consequence any lowering of the standard of living in, or reduction of imports into the capital city must have had immediate and marked repercussions upon her prosperity. She even lacked to a great extent those reserves of wealth which in other cities might be drawn upon to tide over bad times. The typical citizen of Ostia came to the city in the hope of making his fortune there; but when he had made it, he usually preferred to retire to some more pleasant town, such as Tibur, Tusculum, Velitrae, or Rome itself, where he could enjoy his leisure. Few families seem to have remained in the city for more than two, or, at the most, three generations. Whilst therefore fortunes were made in Ostia, wealth was not accumulated there.

scholarly journals Remote Sensing-Based Analysis of Urban Landscape Change in the City of Bucharest, Romania

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2323
Author(s):  
Constantin Nistor ◽  
Marina Vîrghileanu ◽  
Irina Cârlan ◽  
Bogdan-Andrei Mihai ◽  
Liviu Toma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Policy Development ◽  
Urban Policy ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Landscape Heterogeneity ◽  
Real Estate Market ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Urban Structure ◽  
Change Analysis ◽  
Complex Structural ◽  
The City

The paper investigates the urban landscape changes for the last 50 years in Bucharest, the capital city of Romania. Bucharest shows a complex structural transformation driven by the socialist urban policy, followed by an intensive real-estate market development. Our analysis is based on a diachronic set of high-resolution satellite imagery: declassified CORONA KH-4B from 1968, SPOT-1 from 1989, and multisensor stacked layers from Sentinel-1 SAR together with Sentinel-2MSI from 2018. Three different datasets of land cover/use are extracted for the reference years. Each dataset reveals its own urban structure pattern. The first one illustrates a radiography of the city in the second part of the 20th century, where rural patterns meet the modern ones, while the second one reveals the frame of a city in a full process of transformation with multiple constructions sites, based on the socialist model. The third one presents an image of a cosmopolitan city during an expansion process, with a high degree of landscape heterogeneity. All the datasets are included in a built-up change analysis in order to map and assess the spatial transformations of the city pattern over 5 decades. In order to quantify and map the changes, the Built-up Change Index (BCI) is introduced. The results highlight a particular situation linked to the policy development visions for each decade, with major changes of about 50% for different built-up classes. The GIS analysis illustrates two major landscape transformations: from the old semirural structures with houses surrounded by gardens from 1968, to a compact pattern with large districts of blocks of flats in 1989, and a contemporary city defined by an uncontrolled urban sprawl process in 2018.

Gendered Experiences of Mobility

Transfers ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 79-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahnaz Huq-Hussain ◽  
Umme Habiba
Keyword(s):  
Middle Class ◽  
Travel Behavior ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Adverse Weather Conditions ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
The City ◽  
Detailed Picture

This article examines the travel behavior of middle-class women in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh and one of the world's largest and most densely populated cities. In particular, we focus on women's use of non-motorized rickshaws to understand the constraints on mobility for women in Dhaka. Primary research, in the form of an empirical study that surveyed women in six neighborhoods of Dhaka, underpins our findings. Our quantitative and qualitative data presents a detailed picture of women's mobility through the city. We argue that although over 75 percent of women surveyed chose the rickshaw as their main vehicle for travel, they did so within a complex framework of limited transport options. Women's mobility patterns have been further complicated by government action to decrease congestion by banning rickshaws from major roads in the city. Our article highlights the constraints on mobility that middle-class women in Dhaka face including inadequate services, poorly maintained roads, adverse weather conditions, safety and security issues, and the difficulty of confronting traditional views of women in public arenas.

The City of Oslo in Jan Erik Vold’s Poems

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 "

A VISUAL METAPHOR OF THE MEDIEVAL SOCIETY IN THE LATE 15th - EARLY 16th CENTURIES RUSSIAN “IN THEE REJOICETH” ICONS

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-122
Author(s):  
Ludmila Sukina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Capital City ◽  
Visual Metaphor ◽  
Ideal Model ◽  
Human Race ◽  
City Community ◽  
Russian State ◽  
Spiritual Authority ◽  
The City ◽  
The Ideal

The author examines the “In Thee rejoiceth” icons as visual sources that make it possible to reconstruct the ideal model of medieval society in the Moscow culture of the late 15th and early 16th centuries. This icon type, which includes the scenes of “Human race” collective praying to the Mother of God, is of Russian origin. Unlike other works of that time typologically close to it (“The Intercession”, “The Congregation of Our Lady”, “The Congregation of All Saints”, etc.), the “In Thee rejoiceth” icons demonstrate a historical connection to religious and socio-cultural facts of the Muscovy state. They clearly express the idea of Muscovy enjoying special patronage of the Mother of God, whose cult was actively developed in Moscow, the city that, as was believed at the Grand Dukes’ court, inherited the traditions and the spiritual authority of Constantinople. The depiction of the “Human race” in the “In Thee rejoiceth” icons can be viewed as a metaphorical image of the capital city community consisting of different groups of clergy and laity. This image corresponded to the ideas of the authorities and the population of the Russian state that existed under Ivan III and Vasili III.

Towards a More Resilient Delhi: Rapid Urbanization and Climate Change

2018 ◽  
Vol 05 (02n03) ◽  
pp. 1850014
Author(s):  
Jasdeep Singh
Keyword(s):  
Research Question ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Global South ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Sample Population ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Apparent Lack ◽  
The City ◽  
Resilience Assessment

The discourse on resilient cities encapsulates various analogies, which are further constructed through the work of researchers in creation of several resilience assessment methodologies and toolkits. Despite the presence of numerous resilience assessment tools, there is an apparent lack of participation of residents of the global south within the assessment and iterative transformation processes. The situation, hence, is not truly represented through application of these tools in certain socio-political climates such as of India. Consistent economic growth of India has resulted in rapid urbanization of major cities. But, this has not been supplemented with proper planning, resulting in imbalances in all spheres of city infrastructure. Delhi, capital city of India, has been one of the worst hit cities. The hot seasons have caused thousands of fatalities in the past few years. An attempt is made to review the application of current resilience tools in Delhi against the backdrop of the sustainable development goals. In an attempt to improve the approach of these existing tools, an initial iteration is conducted, hinging on qualitative data obtained through surveying a sample population of the city and accessible quantitative metric data. Possible intervention scenarios are further suggested in view of aforementioned stressors and resilience scores. Research question: Where are the current resilience tools found lacking in the case of the global south, specifically in Delhi? How can the applicability of these tools be improved without compromising the deliverables yet ensuring an all-inclusive approach? Key findings: (1) The city is found lacking in adequate infrastructure facilities to its residents especially within the ambits of basic water and sanitation provision and healthcare services. (2) The city is relatively unprepared to face unforeseen events, both at the administrative and the grassroots levels. The lack of knowledge transfer and cooperation are largely evident.

scholarly journals The conflict between attempts to green arid cities and urban livelihoods The case of Dodoma, Tanzania

2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aldo Lupala ◽  
John Lupala
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Local Context ◽  
City Development ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Master Plans ◽  
Contributory Factors ◽  
Urban Livelihoods ◽  
Planning Concepts ◽  
The City

One of the features that characterise the designated capital city of Dodoma is the limited green landscape element as a result of semiarid climatic conditions of the whole central region of Tanzania. Besides concerted efforts by the Dodoma urban authorities to develop greenery landscape within the city through the Capital City Development Programme, such efforts have fallen into conflict with people’s livelihood activities. In this paper, it is argued that the gap between identification of appropriate landscape features that are not consistent with people's lifestyles and the local conditions are the contributory factors to the observed conflicts between attempts to green the city and livelihoods of the residents. Borrowed planning concepts in the masterplans thatwere imposed on the contextof Dodoma do not reflectthe realityof thepeople's needs and priorities as regards their livelihoods. These concepts have to the greatest extent failed to integrate livelihood activities and greening initiatives. This paper underscores the need for developing locally based planning considerations that take cognisance of all stakeholders and the local context as a way towards harmonising greening initiatives while accommodating people's livelihood needs and activities.Key Words: greening initiatives, livelihood activities, semi-arid cities, urban planning, master plans, Dodoma, Tanzania. 

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