People Dwelling Research Articles

Do we want to know?

ABSTRACT The weak evidence base and profound consequences of gender-affirming interventions for youth call for a particularly sensitive and complex psychoanalytic exploration. However, prohibitions on knowing at the individual and social levels significantly constrain psychoanalytic work with trans-identified youth. Barriers to exploration and thinking that patients bring to treatment are reinforced and reified by the dominant socio-political trends that saturate the contexts in which young people dwell. These trends increasingly frame any attempt to deeply explore why a young person is seeking medical or surgical gender-affirming interventions as “off-limits” and a form of conversion therapy. Furthermore, politically driven clinicians who promote medical gender-affirming interventions misrepresent and attempt to discredit clinicians who explore the meaning and function of trans identification, or who express concern that transitioning may be a drastic solution to various forms of psychic pain. In doing so, they minimise the significance of the weak evidence base for these interventions and their serious, known risks. At the same time, they obscure or deny the psychic pain that is sometimes humming beneath the experience of gender dysphoria. The author asks: If there are significant uncertainties and risks of harm associated with medical interventions for young people, do we want to know?

Biocultural Conservation-based Narrative Text: An Effort to Enhance Conservation Literacy of the Local Community in the Sanctuary Area

This study is part of the Faculty of Languages and Arts’ second-year research project in partnership with International Animal Rescue (IAR). The major goal was to raise conservation awareness among the local people dwelling in the sanctuary region of Pematang Gadung Village, Ketapang Regency, West Borneo, to tackle environmental challenges such as illegal logging, poaching, and illegal mining. The research and development process were divided into three stages based on the Successive Approximation Model (SAM): preparation, iterative design, and iterative development. This work focuses primarily on the iterative design phase, expanding on the findings of the research completed in the first year when the local people perceived forest as commodities due to their lack of conservation literacy. Their biocultural conservation, on the other hand, was profoundly based on their indigenous, Muslim Malay ethnic beliefs and traditions. This study aims to construct a biocultural conservation-based narrative text as a first step toward generating conservation material that resonates with the community’s local wisdom using a biocultural approach.
 Keywords: conservation literacy, biocultural conservation approach, SAM, REB, local community of Pematang Gadung Village

Alces alces and Rangifer tarandus in the Pleistocene of Bulgaria (Artiodactyla: Cervidae)

An analysis of the past geographical and altitudinal distribution of bone remains of the elk (Alces alces) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in Bulgaria is given. The data from seven fossil localities (Early–Late Pleistocene) from four provinces in the country are presented. The fossil record in Bulgaria shows the wide distribution of both deer species in the plain and hilly landscapes in the Danubian Plain in northern Bulgaria. No record of the two species has been known from Bulgaria south of the Stara Planina Mts. The localities of both species are spread over 250–750 m a. s. l., but majority of the findings are located at 335–390 m a. s. l. of the open steppe habitats. All data originate from the prehistoric cave dwellings of the Paleolithic people.

Understanding knowledge, attitudes and practices on Ebola Virus Disease: a multi-site mixed methods survey on preparedness in Rwanda

BackgroundThe overall goal of this survey was to understand the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Rwanda.MethodsThis mixed-method cross-sectional survey was conducted in five selected districts of Rwanda. Quantitative data were collected from 1,010 participants using Kobo Collect Software and the analysis was performed using SPSS and Python software. Qualitative data were specifically collected from 98 participants through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and Focus Group Discussion (FGDs). Interview transcripts were imported into NVIVO 8 for coding and subsequent analysis.ResultsAs per our quantitative findings, we report that from the 1,010 respondents, 99.6% reported having previously heard of Ebola, 97.2% believed that vaccination is important in combatting the disease and 93.3% of individuals reported a willingness to receive vaccination should one become available. Around 54% of the respondents were correct in identifying that the disease is of a viral origin which originates from wild animals (42.1%). When asked if they believed that Rwanda is at risk of an EVD outbreak, 90% of the respondents believe that the country is at risk of an EVD outbreak, and the cofactors *gender* and *whether people dwell in Rubavu/Rusizi* were found to significantly impact their perception of threat. As per our qualitative findings, the respondents mentioned that both geographical proximity and relations with the Democratic Republic of Congo place Rwanda at risk of developing an internal outbreak. Although the respondents seemed to be aware of the Ebola prevention behaviours, it was noted that some of them will require significant time before reintegrating into the community an EVD survivor, as they will first need assurance that the patient has fully recovered. Therefore, the qualitative findings reinforce what we originally reported in the quantitative approach to this study.ConclusionOur results show that there was high EVD-related knowledge and awareness among the general population in Rwanda. However, for strong public health awareness, preparedness, and protection, a massive investment should always be made in education about EVD with a special focus on districts neighboring countries where the disease is consistently being reported.

Traditions and Myths of Kajang People in South Sulawesi

The research aimed to elaborate the myths following traditions in explicit connection with the Kajang indigenous people's dwellings and way of life. The existence of Kajang indigenous people was known for preserving their traditions with austerity. Clinging to their traditional belief system, Pasang ri Kajang was used to protect their sacred forest and natural environment. Some myths still seemed relevant and took part actively in their everyday lives. This was an empirical qualitative research, with the researcher directly visiting the location to experience the cultural situation and the people of Kajang. First-hand experience, photographing, hand sketching, interviews, and focus group discussions were employed to collect data. Analyzing the characteristics of the Kajang area from the maps, narrative analysis for the interview, focus group discussion, sketches, manual notes, photographs, and cross-analysis from literature studies resulted in the difference between inner and outer Kajang. It is found that eight practical conducts closely related to the myths are elaborated, such as oral communication, no electricity, no clay roof tile, no footwear, no colorful clothes, no decoration or modern material, orientation of buildings, and odd numbering and time calculation. Some limitations and suggestions are also presented.

An Investigation of Historic Structures of Nová Horka Castle in Studénka (CR)

Abstract The castle in Nová Horka used to be the cultural centre of the Moravian-Silesian Region; it used to be called “Little Vienna”. Despite the fact there is little known about the structural development of the residence. The building archaeology survey in 2021/2022 helped to discover facilities that enabled to increase the comfort of noble people dwelling. These were parts of a heating system, system of lighting and waste disposal, and location of the castle in the landscape as well. The aim of this article is to describe and interpret these facilities in the context of development of Central-European castles. Another aim is to propose a presentation of these facilities to visitors which raises the tourist attractiveness of the castle and its neighbourhood. An educational presentation of this cultural heritage might contribute to sustainable development of this region.

Fossil Record and Distribution of the Hazel Grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) (Linnaeus, 1758) (Phasianidae - Aves) in Bulgaria 549

An analysis of the past geographical, altitudinal and chrono-stratigraphical distribution of the Hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia) remains in Bulgaria is given, based on fossil and subfossil bone remains. Data of 8 Quaternary localities (Calabrian to Meghalayan (former Early Pleistocene to Late Holocene)) from Bulgaria are presented. The records prove the wide distribution of the species mainly in the lowland plain landscapes in North Bulgaria in contrast to modern distribution. The localities were spread at 75 to 580 m a.s.l. but the majority of them were located bellow 250 m a.s.l. Most data originate from the prehistoric cave dwellings of the Paleolithic people.

Assessment of Dyslipidemia, Lipid Ratios, and Atherogenic Indices as Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Prediabetic and Diabetic Subjects.

Background Uttarakhand is a small state in northern India that comprises mixed population with people dwelling in both hilly and plain areas. Globally, diabetes mellitus (DM) has already been considered to be a pandemic. Furthermore, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) significantly increase mortality and morbidity in patients suffering from DM. Additionally, dyslipidemia has been identified as an important marker in the development of atherosclerosis and ultimately CVD in patients of prediabetes and diabetes. Thus, the identification of subjects with dyslipidemia in prediabetes might be fruitful in lowering their progression to diabetes and ultimately in decreasing incidences of CVD. Hence, this study was undertaken to assess dyslipidemia via the calculation of atherogenic indices (AI) and lipid ratios in prediabetic and diabetic groups attending tertiary care hospital in Uttarakhand. Materials and Methods This study reviewed retrospective biochemical data of 500 study subjects from e-hospital software of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh. All study subjects were divided into three groups: 122 controls, 137 prediabetics, and 241 diabetics based on the American Diabetes Association criteria. Study subjects were evaluated for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profile, and AI (total cholesterol [TC]/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDLc], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDLc]/HDLc, TC-HDLc/HDLc, triglycerides [TG]/HDLc). Results Results showed that TC, TG, LDLc, and AI were significantly higher, and HDLc was significantly decreased in prediabetic and diabetic groups compared with controls. Furthermore, HbA1c showed significant positive correlation with lipid profile and AI except atherogenic coefficient (TC-HDL/HDL). Conclusion In conclusion, the current study showed the presence of dyslipidemia in both prediabetic and diabetic groups underlining their importance for screening at the prediabetic stage. Hence, we also recommend screening of the prediabetic group for dyslipidemia to arrest the development of early cardiovascular complications.

A case study on utilization and conservation of threatened plants in Sechu Tuan Nalla Wildlife Sanctuary, western Himalaya, India

During the course of surveys between 2016 and 2019 in the Sechu Tuan Nalla Wildlife Sanctuary, 37 species were reported of which, two critically endangered, 18 endangered, 13 vulnerable, four data deficient and one endemic to western Himalayas were recorded. All the species recorded are highly priced medicinal herbs. It also discussed the sustainable use and conservational approach adopted by the local people dwelling in the vicinity of the protected area for an endangered medicinal plant, Fritillaria cirrhosa D.Don.

Protection of plant varieties

A group of people dwelling within a common territorial boundary having common ancestors and mores, believing in common morals, distinct of other similar groups which existed even before the concept of nation states is viewed as Tribe. More often the tribes and tribal are discussed with an attitude of holier than thou approach of regulating deforestations, tribal rights, ownership of tribal lands and what not but the question always persist; are we honest to ourselves when we argue on these. The tribal rights include ownership over both the land and the cherished biodiversity. The statutory provisions are in place for the protection of extant varieties of plants; those existing in the nature, whose ownership lies with the indigenous people which includes their beneficial usages which come as something which may be termed as traditional wisdom. The rapid deforestation is not only endangering the flora, diminishing the genome treasure and even bringing an end to the tribal. In this research paper an attempt is made to critically appreciate the statutory provisions related to the protection of extant varieties of plants and to find out the measures which may be taken for achieving the legislative intent.

Effect of testing and social distancing measures on COVID-19 deaths in India: Role of pre-existing socio-economic factors.

We examine the effect of testing and social distancing measures on the severity of COVID19 across Indian states during the 68th day nationwide lockdown period. We also explore whether pre‐existing socio‐economic factors such as quality of health care and the ability to practice social distancing influences the effect of these policy measures across states. Using daily level data between April 1 and May 31 for 18 of the major states, we find that both testing and social distancing have a negative effect on COVID‐19 fatalities in India. Further, testing is more helpful in reducing CFR for states with lower per capita health expenditure and weaker medical infrastructure. This highlights how ramping up testing can aid states that have a weak health care system through the detection of infection, contact tracing and isolation. In contrast, social distancing measures are more effective in states that are less populous and have lesser people dwelling in single‐room houses. Our results confirm the role of pre‐existing institutional factors in shaping the effect of policy actions on health outcomes.

Rasa in Deudā: Emotive Expressions of the Folks in Western Nepal

In recent years, many authors have shed light on the hidden world of folklore particularly on folk songs seeking to re-envision the traditions and practices of the traditional society. The present research on a folk song of Far Western Nepal, i.e., deudā holds special promises for analyzing it in the light of rasa theory. The study reflects upon the theory of rasa, as propounded in Indian aesthetics, and attempts to make an assessment of it in relation to deudā song using qualitative method. The main intention of this study is to see how the song lets out the various common emotions (rasas) of the people dwelling in some parts of Far Western Nepal. It examines how different types or forms of rasa function in various deudā songs. Particular emphasis is placed on analyzing the songs in terms of nine rasas. The findings of this research showed that the deudā song is loaded with the feeling of the throbbing hearts of the people of the region with their emotions of pain, pathos, suffering, misery, hardships, compassion, mercy, romance, love, humor, heroism, fury or anger, disgust, wonder, horror and peace. The songs reflect the ethnic culture and tradition of the people and their experiences in the real sense.

HEAVY METALS AND POLLUTED WATER IMPACTS THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE DWELLING NEAR SOME SELECTED WATER BODIES OF HALDIA

An interview-based survey was conducted involving the inhabitants at the periphery of the four water bodies selected for our study at Haldia. Questions were asked to human subjects who were directly or indirectly dependent on the water sources of those stations. The people were interviewed using a questionnaire. The study revealed that 40% of the respondents had expressed a high degree of health impact and 80% of the respondents reported short duration morbidity. A few inhabitants displayed symptoms indicating the presence of trace heavy metals toxicity in one of the water bodies where lead and cadmium toxicity was found in one station. Lack of awareness and knowledge is leading to more polluted water exposure which depicts a gradual recession on the quality of human health.

A Pilot Site Approach for Built Heritage Diagnosis: The Preservation and Conservation of Egongot Ethnic Minority

In the Philippines, some ethnic minority-built heritages are frequently misunderstood, and most are not given adequate attention in assessing their cultural significance. Consequently, people often lack adequate knowledge in the proper conservation and preservation of remaining cultural treasures. This may further result in the degradation, if not the oblivion, of key Filipino cultural values. It is with the use of the Pilot site procedure that we approached the architectural practice of Heritage conservation as we diagnosed the traditional dwellings of Egongot people of Aurora province in giving light to their traditional architecture as a vital built heritage in the country. The pilot site approach made use of historical documentation and surveys as well as present architectural condition assessment through observation. The first phase of the pilot site is the historic data collection which provided the traditional construction process and the use of vernacular materials. The second phase which is the architectural assessment provided observational information of its current state after the intervention of conservation treatment. The last phase of the pilot site approach which is the diagnosis of conservation treatment, is the consequent analysis of both past and present. These two factors are utilized to formulate a comparative analysis of ‘how it used to be' and ‘how its current state is'. The results showed various manipulations of construction methods and integration of modern building materials that threaten both the identity and structural integrity of the built heritage. As a result, appropriate preservation and maintenance guidelines are formulated to better appreciate the heritage architecture's historic and cultural value.

Social acceptance toward constructing a combined heat and power plant near people's dwellings in South Korea

Both nuclear and coal-fired power plants and much of renewable energy are being or will be built in areas far away from the demand for electricity in South Korea. Since social conflicts over building power transmission facilities are growing, the government is trying to increase distributed energy sources including combined heat and power (CHP). This article gathered data on the social acceptance toward constructing a CHP plant near people's dwellings on a 9-point scale from a survey of 1000 people, and identified and investigated the factors affecting the social acceptance adopting an ordered probit model. 54.0% and 12.7% of all interviewees agreed with and opposed to the construction of a CHP plant near their dwellings, respectively, with the former being about 4.3 times more than the latter. The model secured statistical significance and various findings emerged from the results. For example, people who were living in the Seoul Metropolitan area, people with a small number of family members, old people, high-educated people, and high-income people were more receptive to the construction than others. Moreover, several implications derived during the survey were discussed from the perspective of enhancing the social acceptance.

How Can India Leverage Its Botanic Gardens for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Wild Food Plant Resources through the Implementation of a Global Strategy for Plant Conservation?

Wild food plants (WFPs) are consumed by the indigenous communities in various parts of the world for food, nutrition, and medicinal purposes. They are usually collected from the wild and sometimes grown in the vicinity of the forests and the dwellings of the indigenous people in a way such that they are not far from their natural habitats. WFPs are important for the food and nutritional requirements of the indigenous communities. The WFPs are seasonal and collected from the wild whenever they are available. Therefore, the food menu of the tribal co mmunities changes with the seasons. A number of studies have demonstrated various WFPs consumed by indigenous communities including India. The results show that an enormous diversity of WFPs is consumed by the indigenous people of India. However, a few studies also suggest that the consumption of WFPs among the indigenous communities is declining along with the dwindling of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge linked to the collection, processing, cooking, storage, and limited cultivation of WFPs. India can leverage the network of its botanic gardens for the conservation of its wild food plant resources, the traditional and indigenous knowledge linked to it, and its popularization among the citizens within the framework of Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC). This article provided an overview of the need to focus on WFPs, limitations of current studies, and role of botanic gardens in the conservation of wild food plants through the implementation of GSPC. This article further provided a framework for the role of botanic gardens in the popularization of WFPs, increasing the awareness about their importance, documentation, and preservation of the traditional knowledge linked to various aspects of WFPs within the GPSC framework.

Zones of Occult Instability: The Birth of the Novel in Africa

Zones of Occult Instability: The Birth of the Novel in Africa

Young adults’ re-imagining of postsecular spaces in Czechia

ABSTRACT The process of postsecularisation is present not only in Western Europe but also in post-communist countries. This paper focuses on the way young adults who do not have personal experiences with communist anti-religious ideology create their own religion in postsecular society and re-imagine (post)secular spaces through personal belief. The primary assumption is that young adults, living in the specific environment of the postsecular society of Czechia, have a unique relationship with religion and spirituality. For this research, we conducted focus groups with young adults in three religiously different Czech regions. The results point to a subjective turn within the perception of religion and spirituality, connected with the separation of subjective belief from institutionalized religion and the formation of a personal ‘religious hodgepodge’. All these attitudes are reflected in the formation of postsecular spaces in Czechia. The spaces of subjective belief were more diverse and creative in their imagination. We sum up that a subjective belief is formed by the space where people dwell, by their mobility, attempts at authenticity, relationship with other people, and self-reflection. The young adults in Czechia re-imagine the traditional sacred places through their own understanding of religion and spirituality within postsecular characteristics.

The persistence of ancient settlements and urban sustainability

We propose a dedicated research effort on the determinants of settlement persistence in the ancient world, with the potential to significantly advance the scientific understanding of urban sustainability today. Settlements (cities, towns, villages) are locations with two key attributes: They frame human interactions and activities in space, and they are where people dwell or live. Sustainability, in this case, focuses on the capacity of structures and functions of a settlement system (geography, demography, institutions) to provide for continuity of safe habitation. The 7,000-y-old experience of urbanism, as revealed by archaeology and history, includes many instances of settlements and settlement systems enduring, adapting to, or generating environmental, institutional, and technological changes. The field of urban sustainability lacks a firm scientific foundation for understanding the long durée, relying instead on narratives of collapse informed by limited case studies. We argue for the development of a new interdisciplinary research effort to establish scientific understanding of settlement and settlement system persistence. Such an effort would build upon the many fields that study human settlements to develop new theories and databases from the extensive documentation of ancient and premodern urban systems. A scientific foundation will generate novel insights to advance the field of urban sustainability.

The new normal or the forgotten normal: contesting COVID-19 impact on contemporary architecture and urbanism

PurposeThe term New Normal has become a buzzword to describe the anticipated changes in human life across the globe due to the impact of COVID-19. The paper's purpose is challenging the surrender for the notion of the “New Normal” and constructing a framework by which a call for understanding the practice of architecture, urbanism and city planning before the COVID-19 and contest its responsibility towards the city and the community.Design/methodology/approachMethodologically, literature review, analysis of emerging positions and interviews are the selected tools for conducting the research. The paper adopts a position perceiving COVID-19 has provided an opportunity for reflections and revisions about the way people dwell on Earth. The paper aims at analyzing the positive impacts of COVID-19 in sociological and urban perspective.FindingsConsequently, the main finding of the paper, calls for reviving the forgotten normal in the way places, neighborhoods and cities are designed and planned. Lessons learned from the lockdown time and the actions taken will be analyzed with special attention to Gulf States.Research limitations/implicationsIn months, New Normal developed as the most used expression since the spread of the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic marked the year 2020 with one of the biggest public health crises of all time, threatening to take away millions of lives. It is already initiating a massive economic crisis, triggering further negative consequences for human life, wellbeing and lifestyle. Numerous researchers illustrate that through history, humans faced the challenges of epidemics and pandemics and were able to use their will, capacities, resources and courage to resist and survive.Practical implicationsPandemics such as COVID-19 have caused a critical reassessment of urban spaces. This paper examines the city's relationship to concepts such as the individual, society, creativity, production and power to understand the causes and effects of urbanization. Cities, especially the globally significant ones – such as Wuhan, Milan, Madrid, Paris, London, New York, Los Angeles – are disproportionally affected. Thus, the pandemic is evolving into an urban crisis, forcing us to reconsider our deeply held beliefs about good city form and the purpose of planning.Social implicationsThe nature of the architectural, urban and planning theory and practice, is responsible for looking ahead, formulating visions and offering alternatives. Consequently, the methodological approach adopted in the paper is structured on three main pillars. First, observing, monitoring, and provide diagnosis (what we learned from isolation). Second, understanding the local, regional and global context as the COVID-19 crisis creates a ripple of change on all levels and requires both global and local understanding. Third, formulating visions and looking aheadOriginality/valueSuffering from epidemics and pandemics is new to our time and our contemporary experience but not new to the history of humankind. Revisiting the concepts of the New Normal vs. the Forgotten Normal and use the outcomes to construct an alternative framework for producing places in the post COVID-19 paradigm crystalize the value and originality of the paper.