Barriers to Water Access in Rural Communities: Examining the Factors Influencing Water Source Choice

In Nigeria, the rural population comprises 49% of the total population and has been reported to bear the brunt of ongoing water access challenges. For communities to have access to clean and safe water, an adequate water source should be ensured. In dissevering the definition of water access, this research identifies that distance to a water source, time spent to collect water, water availability, and water quality are determinants of water source choice. A survey with 404 randomly selected respondents was conducted in three local government areas in Kogi state alongside interviews with key participants (n = 12). The data collected were analysed using a Chi-square test to determine any significant relationship between water source choice and the predictor variables (age, education, occupation, religion, ethnic group, household size, income, and distance). Furthermore, multinomial logistic regression was adopted to investigate the relationship and effect between these variables. Findings indicated that the predictor factors such as age, level of education, ethnic group, and participants’ occupation have a statistically significant relationship with using a particular water source. Finally, more insights for policymakers are provided to bridge the gap surrounding water access in developing countries while focusing on an adequate water source.

PEACE JOURNALISM TRANSMISSIONS IN CASE OF PAPUA STUDENTS BY “NU ONLINE”

This article aims to analyze how NU online frames a Papuan case from 19 to 20 August 2019. NU Online's coverage is analyzed for news content and its efforts to understand, interpret, and implement peace journalism to alleviate tensions and conflicts. The concept of peace journalism is important to study and implement comprehensively. It seeks to be objective in presenting information and not provocative to minimize the potential for subsequent conflict. Entman framing analysis is used as the research method because it can see the reality constructs done by media by examining the process for selection and highlighting a particular aspect. Therefore, the main data were taken from NU Online coverage related to a Papuan college student’s case. Through the content, the framing of NU Online editorial could be seen. Meanwhile, the conclusionof this research was that NU Online, as the official media of Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama had a coverage orientation that emphasized harmony and peace. Angle choice, title drafting, diction use, and source choice highlighted that NU Online focused on the aim to alleviate as well as support conflict solving.

Water Source Preferences and Water Quality Perceptions among Women in the Eastern Region, Ghana: A Grounded Theory Study

Residents in the Eastern Region, Ghana with access to improved water sources (e.g., boreholes and covered wells) often choose to collect water from unimproved sources (e.g., rivers and uncovered wells). To assess why, we conducted two field studies to coincide with Ghana’s rainy and dry seasons. During the rainy season, we conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews among a convenience sample of 26 women in four rural communities (including one woman in the dry season). We asked each participant about their attitudes and perceptions of water sources. During the dry season, we observed four women for ≤4 days each to provide context for water collection and water source choice. We used a grounded theory approach considering the multiple household water sources and uses approach to identify three themes informing water source choice: collection of and access to water, water quality perception, and the dynamic interaction of these. Women selected water sources based on multiple factors, including season, accessibility, religious/spiritual messaging, community messaging (e.g., health risks), and ease-of-use (e.g., physical burden). Gender and power dynamics created structural barriers that affected the use of unimproved water sources. A larger role for women in water management and supply decision-making could advance population health goals.

Governance Choice in Open Innovation

To increase the incentive for external sources to form interactive relationships, some firms selectively reveal their internally developed knowledge for free. However, ‘selective revealing' is in conflict with the firm's interest in control over IP and challenges the governance of knowledge flows in open innovation. Taking a behavioral perspective, this paper proposes a complementary role of ‘selective revealing' and ‘behavioral control' and its relationship with a firm's source choice. We draw upon a sample of 125 large firms in the United States and Europe to statistically support the proposed complementarity. Results suggest that in value chain-centric and competitor relationships, firms may opt for guided revealing. In contrast, firms primarily engaged with universities are unable to establish guided revealing as a governance mechanism.

Quantification of Emissions Generated from Domestic Burning Activities from Townships in Johannesburg

Domestic burning activities, specifically in informal settlements, contribute greatly to the air quality problems experienced by most developing urban centres. Low-income households that exist within townships in South Africa house a large portion of the South African population. These households burn vast quantities of coal, wood and other substances to provide for their energy needs. Pollutants emitted as a result of domestic burning are estimated to be one of the leading causes of respiratory illnesses in inhabitants of townships. To better understand the relationship that exists between domestic burning and the resultant pollutants, a method of quantifying these pollutants has been developed for a completely un-electrified settlement, near Johannesburg, using the quantities and type of fuel consumed. Seasonality, availability, price and cultural aspects all have a bearing on the fuel source choice and the quantity consumed. The most significant temporal observations identified for domestic burning are seasonal ones.

The Localization Method of Active Olfaction Robot and Experimental Study

An active olfaction implementation scheme based on zigzag search algorithm using a wheeled mobile robot and the experimental verification are put forward. Firstly, the hardware structure of the active olfaction robot is setup. Secondly, the Zigzag-based robot active olfaction dynamic system implementation procedure in the simulated environment is presented, including plume finding, plume tracking and odor source declaration, and simulation results validate the proposed search scheme. The entire system was used under steady wind condition to locate the ethanol odor source. Choice 15m as the start distance, and after 10 times locating, the error is less than 5% and the experimental results prove that the system recognition is accuracy.