Dwellings In Areas Research Articles

A STUDY ON THE UTILIZATION CONDITIONS OF OUTSIDE COMMON SPACE IN PUBLIC HOUSING IN TAIPEI CITY

This study clarified utilization pattern of outside common space by visit hearing investigation to 2,226 persons (988 families) with extracted 3 housing estates that have “outside common space of the connecting-core type” build in 1970s, 1980s, 1990s public housing estates in Taipei city. Analysis items are “utilization rate”, “utilization pattern”, “act contents”, “utilization time”, “utilization frequency”, and “utilization place”. We analyzed according to sex / age / dwelling area. The conclusions are as following:1. Utilization rate is very high and utilization pattern is various.2. As residents become old, utilization is more active.3. There is a utility graduation between the large core and some small cores.

How small can a dwelling be? A revision of Portuguese building regulations

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to study the minimum necessary net internal area of dwellings that should be established by Portuguese building regulations.Design/methodology/approachThe following tasks are carried out: selecting the furniture and equipment necessary for each dwelling; determining the size of furniture and equipment and its typical arrangement; conceiving models of functional spaces; determining the net area of functional spaces and dwellings; comparing results with statistics on housing construction in Portugal and with mandatory area standards used in Portugal and ten other European countries.FindingsThe paper finds that the net internal area presently set by Portuguese building regulations should be increased by 5 to 15 percent. The net internal area figure obtained by the study is similar to mandatory regulations established by some other European countries.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses on the net internal area of dwellings, although other space standards are also important to assuring the practicability of dwelling spaces; area standards were set on the basis of the current Portuguese situation and required adaptation when used in different social, cultural and economic contexts; area standards constitute a safety‐net against unacceptable dwellings rather than good practice guidelines.Practical implicationsThe results may be used to support a review of Portuguese building regulations and provide guidelines for the design of dwellings.Originality/valueA methodology to determine area standards is presented and applied. Up‐to‐date information on furniture size and arrangements is collected. The comparison enables an understanding of how the results compare in a European context.

Cognitive Function in Japanese Centenarians according to the Mini-Mental State Examination

Background/Aims: We examined the effect of aging on cognitive function at the limit of human life expectancy by characterizing state of cognition in centenarians without clinical cognitive impairment. Methods: Participants were 68 centenarians without cognitive impairment (Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) 0), 96 controls 60 to 74 years old, and 46 controls 75 to 89 years old. We visited the places where centenarians were living and administered the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) individually. Control subjects came to the assembly hall within their dwelling area, to be administered the MMSE. Results: Mean total scores of centenarians (22.3) were lower than for either 60–74 (27.2) or 75–89 (26.2). Comparison of scores in each of five cognitive domains measured by MMSE showed a significant age-group effect upon orientation, memory, and attention. Centenarians’ scores were lower than for younger groups in every domain except for the language and praxis, concentration, and for repetition. Conclusion: The centenarians’ scores in memory and orientation declined as in earlier studies of normal aging. Centenarians’ scores for attention and concentration differed from those in previous studies. The present result suggests that even primary memory is influenced by advanced age in centenarians, while ability to store information declines, ability to process is maintained.

Estimation of carbon dioxide emission reduction gained by management of housing stock: a case study on a suburban area of wooden dwellings in Toyonaka city, Osaka

Estimation of carbon dioxide emission reduction gained by management of housing stock: a case study on a suburban area of wooden dwellings in Toyonaka city, Osaka

東京都心下町地域における在宅高齢者の地域生活様態と外出行動に関する調査―千代田区神田地域のケーススタディー―

The main objects of this study are as follows:1) to grasp the elderly people's daily life activities in the downtown dwelling area of Tokyo;2) to investigate various conditions in the area i.e. public facilities, transport conditions, housing conditions etc. which might contribute elderly to live in their own home area;3) to know relationship between the elderly people's daily life activities and the surrounding conditions.Kanda area of Chiyoda ward of Tokyo is the area chosen for this study. Research was effectuated through questionnaire survey and interview investigation.

Integrated Geophysical Survey for Site Investigation at a New Dwelling Area, Egypt

An integrated geophysical survey was carried out in a new dwelling area at 15-May town, southeast Cairo, Egypt. The buildings in this area are intensively affected by dangerous cracks that cause structural instability. The survey aimed to image the shallow subsurface structures, including karstic features, and evaluate their extent, as they may cause rock instability and lead to cracking of the residential buildings. Resistivity profiling (2-D), using a dipole-dipole array and ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were carried out along seven parallel traverses extending about [Formula: see text] between the buildings blocks. Additional measurements using a Schlumbereger array and very low frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) methods were conducted. The acquired data were processed and interpreted integrally to elucidate the shallow structural setting of the site. Integrated interpretation led to the delineation of hazard zones rich with karstic features in the area. Most of these karstic features are associated with vertical and sub-vertical linear features such as faults, fracture zones, and geologic contacts. These features are the main reason of the rock instability that resulted in potentially dangerous cracking of residential buildings.

Population beliefs about the efficacy of injections in Pakistan's Sindh province

Reused syringes have been identified as a major risk factor for hepatitis B and C in Pakistan, a country facing a growing epidemic of these infections. We conducted this study to identify factors associated with receiving at least one injection during the past 3 months in an urban and a rural area in the Sindh province of Pakistan. A population-based cross-sectional study of individuals aged 3 months was conducted in 34 clusters in an urban and a rural setting. Information was obtained on the number of contacts with healthcare providers and the number of injections received during the past 3 months. Beliefs about the efficacy of injections were also tested. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with receiving at least one injection during the past 3 months. Of 1150 subjects who participated in the study, 848 (74%) reported having received at least one injection during the past 3 months. Seventy-one percent (815/1150) believed that injections act faster than oral drugs and relieve symptoms quickly. There was a lack of risk perception among the participants: 19% (222/1150) believed that injections involve less risk than do oral drugs. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that individuals who had visited unqualified practitioners (adjusted OR=6.1; 95% CI: 2.6-14.1) or general practitioners (adjusted OR=3.4; 95% CI: 1.9-6.0) were more likely to have received an injection. Belief that 'injections act faster and relieve symptoms quickly' had a multiplicative interaction with the area of dwelling: people in rural areas who held this belief were more likely to receive injections than people who did not hold this belief and were living in urban areas. In Pakistan, people's lack of awareness of risks associated with injections and their strong belief in the fast action of injections are driving injection overuse. These factors are supplemented by general practitioners' and unqualified providers' inclinations to prescribe more injections. Efforts must be made to include the unqualified practitioners in any interventions aimed to reduce injection overuse in Pakistan.

Waste Generation in the Riga City and Their Composition

Items on waste generation in the Riga city are analysed. Short presentation of the study methods is provided, and achieved results are presented. Three different dwelling areas have been investigated: multi-apartment houses with and without of waste shoots and private houses. Comparison of obtained results with similar ones have been got abroad is included. It is stated that average solid household waste generation in the Riga city is 199.2 kg / capita / year or 1.52 m3/ capita / year. Morphological composition of waste is analysed, and it is stated that following types of waste are dominating: putrescible waste, paper-cardboard, glass and plastics. Conclusion is done that generated waste amount strongly depends on value of the gross domestic product is done, i.e. increase of waste amount generated per capita maybe expected in the Riga city.

Модульные генераторы тепла для жилых и производственных помещений

Модульные генераторы тепла для жилых и производственных помещений

Social situation of expectant mothers and alexithymia 31 years later in their offspring: a prospective study.

We studied the association between alexithymia in adulthood and social situation of the child's family at the time of the child's birth. The study forms part of the prospective Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort Project. The original material consisted of all 12,058 live-born children in the provinces of Lapland and Oulu in Finland with an expected delivery date during 1966. The material represents 96% of all births in the region. In 1997 a 31-year follow-up study was made on part of the initial sample. The 20-item version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was given to 5983 participants of the field study. Of them, 85% returned the questionnaire properly completed. Factors indicative of the social situation of the child's family were already gathered during pregnancy and the time of birth from the mothers, thus eliminating recall bias. Alexithymia was more common in subjects from rural than urban dwelling areas. Unwanted children or subjects born into families with many children also exhibited an association with alexithymia in adulthood. Maternal social situation and environment predict alexithymia in the offspring.

Performance, site preferences, foraging and excretory behaviour in relation to feed allowance of growing pigs on pasture

Foraging behaviour and daily weight gain (DWG) were studied in outdoor pigs given 100 or 80% of the indoor recommended feed allowance. In total, there were four groups of pigs, two per treatment. Each group consisted of 11 growing pigs with an initial live weight (LW) of 50.3 kg. The pigs foraged on a clover/grass pasture for 6 weeks in the cropping season. Behaviour was recorded within three zones of the experimental area: newly allotted area, transfer area and dwelling area. Mean DWG was 811 and 686 g on the 100 and 80% levels, respectively. The feed conversion ratio did not differ between treatments. A higher frequency of rooting and a lower frequency of behaviours categorised as other activities were observed on the 80% level than on the 100% level. Grazing and rooting were more frequent on newly allotted areas compared with the transfer and dwelling areas, whereas passive behaviour and other activities were more frequent in the transfer area. Defecation and urination were most frequent in newly allotted areas, followed by the dwelling area. The results suggest that successive allocation of new land gives rise to a distinct foraging area, which also is frequently used for excretory behaviour. Reducing feed allowance by 20% increased the nutrient intake from the herbage by ∼5%.

First report of Aedes albopictus in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Three adult females of Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) were captured using a human bait in the surrounding dwelling area of the remaining rain forest in Itaguassu beach, island of São Francisco do Sul, northern coast of the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Les carrières du Bois des Lens (Gard)

The stone of the Bois des Lens is a white and fine-grained limestone extracted in opencast quarries, 25 km west of Nîmes. From 1974 to 1996, surveys, sondages and archaeological excavations allowed to identify and study about fifteen ancient quarries in this range of hills, mainly Roman. Their production was exported to Nîmes and various coastal-sites between Nice and Narbonne. Its exploitation started in about the 4th century BC and reached its climax during the Early Imperial period ; its use was restricted to ornemental architecture and sculpture. From the Late Imperial period on, the production seemed to be limited to a few sarcophagi then to domestic containers. In addition to a renewed approach of the theme's issue, this study has allowed to define a methodology for the survey and the excavation of quarries and above all, to set general directions for a chronological typology of quarrying techniques. The quarries were exploited in pits and serviced by huge hoisting cranes. Stone blocks weighing 0,5 to 6 metric ton were extracted by working teams of 7 to 10 specialists sent from the building site to fulfill specific orders. Their techniques, tools and productivity have been studied in detail. Every quarry site was equipped with a forge and a dwelling area. These specialists were foreign to the local population but exchanged products with them.

Housing Deprivation and Health: A Longitudinal Analysis

While there is a longitudinal literature that considers the impact of poor socio-economic circumstances upon health, the more specific impact of poor housing upon health is much less frequently studied longitudinally. This paper draws on the National Child Development Study to examine the impact upon health of poor housing through the life course. The analysis takes the novel approach of constructing a composite severity of ill health measure to act as the dependent variable. Poor housing is operationalised through a housing deprivation index calculated for each sweep of the NCDS. The index of multiple housing deprivation goes beyond traditional concerns with the quality and amenity of a dwelling to incorporate key subjective factors such as satisfaction with dwelling or residential area: these subjective factors play a particularly important role in the index. The key result is that, even when other relevant factors are allowed for, the NCDS data suggest that experience of both current and past poor housing is significantly associated with greater likelihood of ill health. Moreover, for those who are living in non-deprived housing conditions in adulthood, ill health is more likely among those who experienced housing deprivation in earlier life than among those who did not. Thus, history matters. The analysis also highlights the increasing inadequacy of conventional measures of housing deprivation.

Coastal development and human activities in NW Germany

Abstract The flat coastal region of NW Germany is constructed of siliciclastic and organic sediments which were deposited during the Holocene sea level rise. By 7500 bp the marine transgression had reached the present coastal area which is proved by brackish-marine sediments. Nearly coinciding with this there was an evident deceleration of the sea-level rise. A reconstruction of the coast-line for the last 2000 years on the basis of the sediment and settlement distribution shows that the coast remained more or less in the same position during this period of time. However this does not apply to certain regions. Thus, bays which existed around the time 0 ad , gradually became mainland. In other areas late Medieval and early Modern storm floods were responsible for great losses of mainland, such as the Jade Bay. These losses of mainland are especially noteworthy, because these area had been protected with dykes. Until the beginning of dyke building the settlers of the flat coastal region raised their dwelling areas artificially and built dwelling mounds (so-called Wurten) in order to be protected against flooding. By doing this men reacted to the influences of their environment, but by building dykes they started to shape their environment actively.

Le lymphome primitif des séreuses: Une forme rare de lymphome associé à l'herpesvirus 8 dans le sida

A Q fever outbreak with 331 reported cases in seven weeks occurred in a densely populated residential district in Jena (Germany) in 2005. Prompt identification of a stable infection source follow by an intense information policy, well defined and stable meteorological conditions and a large number of reported cases within one small community all allowed us to study promoting and protecting factors of Q fever. We conducted a cross-sectional study and investigated a part of the affected area for 100% sampling (in-home interviews).Out of 608 residents at home 460 (75.7%) participated in the study and 101 fulfilled our definition of an acute Q fever case.Our data revealed a critical zone for residency within 500 m of herds of gestating ewes in a typical urban dwelling area. We found an association between shift work and contracting Q fever. An association between outdoor activity and Q fever was only found after prolonged outdoor stays, on average more than 4 h/day. Only open windows facing the putative source were associated with increased risk of Q fever. Therefore fully open windows of more than 6 h/day is a significant parameter.

居住地域における公共生涯学習施設の機能分担と施設評価に関する研究 : 学校施設開放を含めた生涯学習空間計画のあり方

居住地域における公共生涯学習施設の機能分担と施設評価に関する研究 : 学校施設開放を含めた生涯学習空間計画のあり方

Substrate removal in long sewer lines

Wastewaters generated from large dwelling areas are collected and disposed of by means of long sewer trunk lines. The wastewater treatment potential of sewers is not a novel phenomenon, however, it has not been thoroughly investigated in the past. In this study, possible treatment efficiencies are estimated in the presence of sufficient oxygen. Suspended and attached growth kinetics are studied to explore the significance of aeration in sewer trunks. Although there are several existing models describing consumption mechanisms of soluble substrates and reaction rates, a new method is investigated in this paper for shortening the parameters used in biological rate equations. Soluble substrate consumptions of suspended growth microorganisms are taken into consideration by means of an experimental approach and they are estimated by using respiration rates. Relationships between respiration rate, substrate utilization rate and biodegradable organic matter concentrations are observed during the experimental program. An empirical relationship which provides the utilization rate in correspondence with diminishing substrate concentrations along a sewer line is developed based upon the experimental results. Expected treatment efficiencies are determined considering utilization rates of attached and suspended growth microorganisms.

Substrate removal in long sewer lines

Wastewaters generated from large dwelling areas are collected and disposed of by means of long sewer trunk lines. The wastewater treatment potential of sewers is not a novel phenomenon, however, it has not been thoroughly investigated in the past. In this study, possible treatment efficiencies are estimated in the presence of sufficient oxygen. Suspended and attached growth kinetics are studied to explore the significance of aeration in sewer trunks. Although there are several existing models describing consumption mechanisms of soluble substrates and reaction rates, a new method is investigated in this paper for shortening the parameters used in biological rate equations. Soluble substrate consumptions of suspended growth microorganisms are taken into consideration by means of an experimental approach and they are estimated by using respiration rates. Relationships between respiration rate, substrate utilization rate and biodegradable organic matter concentrations are observed during the experimental program. An empirical relationship which provides the utilization rate in correspondence with diminishing substrate concentrations along a sewer line is developed based upon the experimental results. Expected treatment efficiencies are determined considering utilization rates of attached and suspended growth microorganisms.

Raoul Naroll's Contribution to Archaeology

Raoul Naroll's 1962 American Antiquity article on the floor area of dwellings and its relation to population has had a profound impact on archaeology. Not only did it provide an objective mechanism to estimate population size and hence to evaluate demographic models of cultural evolution, it also helped to spark a wide variety of cross-cultural investigations of settlement form and its relation to social, political, and economic organization. In this article, the author offers an example of one such study focusing on the permeability of communities. Permeability is the extent to which dwellings are embedded in a community, measured by a graph-theoretical index. A holocultural analysis is used to demonstrate a strong, positive relationship between frequency of war and community permeability. The author discusses the utility of identifying this relationship for archaeological research, particularly for evaluating conflict-oriented models of cultural evolution.