Forest Transition and Its Dynamics in Subtropical Chongqing, China since 1990s

This research aims to advance our understanding towards forest transition, which is about the shift from net deforestation to net reforestation over a given area during certain period, through a case study of a western city in China from 1990 to 2015. Three main contributions are made to the theory and practice of forest land management. First, this research enriches forest transition theory with a meso-level exploration on forest land change in subtropic Chongqing, which echoes the “U” shape transition rules widely observed in the Euro-American context but was found a time lag of the turning point until 2000s. Second, it intentionally identifies the subtype of forests—the artificial plantation, which is considered influential on performance of forest’s carbon sequestration but not paid sufficient attention to. Third, it adds knowledge on forest transition pathway at an intra-urban scale through the identified significance degree of forest transition dynamics, which implies that economic development matters but is less important than topography in a mountainous city like Chongqing, and different dimensions of economy impact differently on forest transition.

New optimism will buoy Uganda-Tanzania energy sectors

Significance With a budget of USD3.5bn, the 1,400-kilometre pipeline project linking the western city of Hoima in Uganda to Tanzania’s Tanga port should bring significant economic benefits to both countries. However, questions remain over how the project will be funded, amid intense pressure on banks from activist groups over environmental concerns. Impacts The process of compensating landowners along the pipeline route is ongoing and is expected to proceed smoothly. The construction process will create employment opportunities for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labourers. The construction phase will also see an influx of expatriates into both countries.

An Experimental Study for the Improvement of the Stain Resistance for Exterior Wall Paints in a Western City in China

In recent years, with the rapid development of the building industry in western cities during the period of “Western Development” in China, the paints industry has developed rapidly and become more mature. In addition, waterborne inorganic exterior wall paints have been a great choice in the building industry because of their reduced volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and less toxicity and odor. However, the problem of stain resistance for exterior wall paints in western cities has not been solved, which has become a major obstacle to the application and promotion of exterior wall paints in western cities in China. Therefore, effective measures should eventually be carried out for improving the stain resistance of exterior wall paints in western cities in China. In this paper, an experimental study on improving stain resistance for exterior wall paints in a typical western city in China, Chongqing, is reported. In the three defined designs, the effects of the paint structure type, the pigment volume concentration (PVC), thickeners, cosolvents and wetting and dispersing agents on the stain resistance of exterior wall paints in a typical western city in China, Chongqing, were examined. The experimental results suggest that the stain resistance of silicone–acrylic paint was the most suitable among the three kinds of tested paints (silicone–acrylic paint, styrene–acrylic paint and pure acrylic paint). In addition, the PVC had a great influence on the stain resistance of the exterior wall paints. The compactness, water absorption and stain resistance of the paint’s film were the most suitable when the PVCs of the paints reached 45%. Furthermore, the tested wetting and dispersing agents made the same contributions to the paints’ stain resistance, as their decline rates for reflectivity were similar. The reflectivity of the film significantly decreased when the ratio of associating thickener to non-associating thickener reached 4:1, and also significantly declined when the content of propylene glycol reached 5%.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF POLITICAL AND MILITARY SPACE BETWEEN LUOYANG CITY IN HAN AND WEI DYNASTIES AND ROME IN IMPERIAL PERIOD

To study the political and military functions of ancient eastern and western city-states, the masterpieces should be ancient Luoyang city and ancient Roman city. This article takes Hanwei ancient city and ancient Roman city as examples, reviews the history, and briefly analyzes its political and military functions in ancient times. The Eastern and Western civilizations provide some suggestions for follow-up researchers.

Mediterranean Style Gated Communities around the World: Architecture, Globalization, and Transnational Elites

Mediterranean style houses, mansions, and villas are found in elite enclaves around the world. There is a large literature on gated communities. However, the ubiquity of this Mediterranean style as a global and cross–cultural phenomenon has been underexamined. Enclaves in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Middle East often look the same suggesting the global commodification of this aesthetic ideal. Examining the Toskana Vadisi, or Tuscan Valley gated community in Istanbul, Turkey, this article argues such spaces represent global cultural processes, as well the habitus of transnational elites in aspiring global cities. Also, by focusing on a non–Western city, I am able to analyze how aesthetic ideals are linked to city–building, in an increasingly competitive world, where cities seek world–class status by developing amenities for transnational elites.

What can Counselors do to Lessen the Trauma to the DACA Population Caused by the 2016 Election Cycle Rhetoric?

This case study focused on the impact to DACA participants in a mid-western city enrolled at an urban school setting in a region where 30% of all residing immigrants are unauthorized (Capps & Ruiz Soto, 2016). The investigation aimed to understand if the language used during the 2016 election cycle altered trauma-related behaviors in the DACA population. The data collected during the study suggested that students who identified with the DACA group exhibited trauma-related behaviors different from behaviors previously observed, and the new behaviors were a result of election cycle rhetoric. Implications for counselor training were significant.

Examining the Quasi-Public Spaces in Commercial Complexes

Commercial complexes are steadily expanding in size and function and plying roles as quasi-public spaces. This study investigated quasi-public spaces in contemporary commercial complexes by posting two questions: the physical features of quasi-public spaces in commercial complexes and how these characteristics promote sociability in commercial complexes? To answers these questions, a questionnaire survey was administered, and various observations were made in Intime City, Wanda Plaza and Western City Square, three prominent commercial complexes in Hangzhou City (Zhejiang Province, China), to enrich the analysis. Confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine the collected data. The results show that commercial complexes are also used as quasi-public spaces: they provide a more secure and well-maintained environment, playful conversations take place freely and democratically, promote socialization, and also increase consumption. In the existing literature, there is a dearth of theoretical and empirical studies on the emergence of quasi-public spaces.