Inland Towns Research Articles

Seaborne trade and the commercialisation of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Gaelic Ulster

This study considers the frequently stated claim that the economy of Gaelic-speaking lordships in Ulster during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries was predominately pastoral and uncommercialised, by drawing on a variety of sources not usually combined. It proposes that the increased European demand for fish and the growth of the fish industry across northern Europe played a crucial role in stimulating trade between the coastal areas of Ulster on the one hand, and Britain and continental Europe on the other. This led to the establishment of permanent markets and towns, which joined at least two new inland towns in the southern parts of the province, bringing about a commercial presence in most of the Ulster lordships before 1600. Gaelic Lords consolidated this development by building castles and friaries at these fixed trading places.

Seaborne trade and the commercialisation of fifteenth- and sixteenth-century Gaelic Ulster

This study considers the frequently stated claim that the economy of Gaelic-speaking lordships in Ulster during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries was predominately pastoral and uncommercialised, by drawing on a variety of sources not usually combined. It proposes that the increased European demand for fish and the growth of the fish industry across northern Europe played a crucial role in stimulating trade between the coastal areas of Ulster on the one hand, and Britain and continental Europe on the other. This led to the establishment of permanent markets and towns, which joined at least two new inland towns in the southern parts of the province, bringing about a commercial presence in most of the Ulster lordships before 1600. Gaelic lords consolidated this development by building castles and friaries at these fixed trading places.

An Assessment of an Urban Development-Flood-Impact Relationship in a Near Millionaire City of Cameroon (Bamenda)

Since the 1990s flood water hazards have recurrently created reason vexing moments on the Cameroonian urban folk of major and minor towns by inflicting fatality toll beating-off manned efforts to mitigate the ugliness unleashed. Flood catastrophe in frequency and toll in towns sited on more inland highland towns like Bamenda has given birth to dynamic survival strategies since impacts change in space and time. Northern Bamenda has emerged as haven for ravaging River Mezam with rising forms of flood havoc on humans and their investments. Primary and secondary data collected from related stakeholders (government and municipal officials concerned with abating the flood occurrence and managing its aftermath as well as individuals who consciously or not trigger the floods). The aim of this study was to relativize flood water bearing on urban population reactions in the wake of the rising calamity. Results reveal that flood trends are advancing yearly in the like of fatalities that systematically make nonsense of urban setup human endeavours to tame floods. This study considers that an urgent urban flood hazard perception revolution must be engaged for this unplanned urban front that is developing where the topography presents a funnelling effect to stream water and so obviously has no respect for the existing flood countering socio-economic and engineering adaptations. Such flood disrespect for urban humans call for man-centred innovative and comprehensive paradigms should there be any hope for less hazardous sustainable city growth in Cameroon.

An evaluation of the professional, social and demographic profile and quality of life of physicians working at the Prehospital Emergency Medical System (SAMU) in Brazil

OBJECTIVE:To describe the profile of physicians working at the Prehospital Emergency Medical System (SAMU) in Brazil and to evaluate their quality of life.METHODS:Both a semi-structured questionnaire with 57 questions and the SF-36 questionnaire were sent to research departments within SAMU in the Brazilian state capitals, the Federal District and inland towns in Brazil.RESULTS:Of a total of 902 physicians, including 644 (71.4%) males, 533 (59.1%) were between 30 and 45 years of age and 562 (62.4%) worked in a state capital. Regarding education level, 45.1% had graduated less than five years before and only 43% were specialists recognized by the Brazilian Medical Association. Regarding training, 95% did not report any specific training for their work at SAMU. The main weaknesses identified were psychiatric care and surgical emergencies in 57.2 and 42.9% of cases, respectively; traumatic pediatric emergencies, 48.9%; and medical emergencies, 42.9%. As for procedure-related skills, the physicians reported difficulties in pediatric advanced support (62.4%), airway surgical access (45.6%), pericardiocentesis (64.4%) and thoracentesis (29.9%). Difficulties in using an artificial ventilator (43.3%) and in transcutaneous pacing (42.2%) were also reported. Higher percentages of young physicians, aged 25-30 years (26.7 vs 19.0%; p<0.01), worked exclusively in prehospital care (18.0 vs 7.7%; p<0.001), with workloads >48 h per week (12.8 vs 8.6%; p<0.001), and were non-specialists with the shortest length of service (<1 year) at SAMU (30.1 vs 18.2%; p<0.001) who were hired without having to pass public service exams* (i.e., for a temporary job) (61.8 vs 46.2%; p<0.001). Regarding quality of life, the pain domain yielded the worst result among physicians at SAMU.CONCLUSIONS:The doctors in this sample were young and within a few years of graduation, and they had no specific training in prehospital emergencies. Deficiencies were mostly found in pediatrics and psychiatry, with specific deficiencies in the handling of essential equipment and in the skills necessary to adequately attend to prehospital emergencies. A disrespectful labor scenario was also found; the evaluation of quality of life showed a notable presence of pain on the SF-36 among physicians at SAMU and especially among doctors who had worked for a longer length of time at SAMU.

Becoming Urban: New Zealand towns in the 1850s

During the 1850s the first inland towns were founded at Greytown and Masterton. They signalled a new direction in Pākehā settlement, a movement from coastal edge port "cities" to secondary towns in the (North Island) interior. It was from these centres that colonisation proceeded apace. These new towns followed the pattern of New Zealand urbanism established in the 1840s: low-density development with houses and buildings scattered over a wide domain. Could they then really be called towns? Architecturally, the built environment of all towns might be best described as utilitarian and frontier-like. But the decade is notable for the first expressions of a grander, civic architecture, best shown in the construction of public buildings, some of which are examined here. Were these New Zealand's first urban buildings?

Changes in the Genetic Structure ofAedes aegypti(Diptera: Culicidae) Populations in Queensland, Australia, Across Two Seasons: Implications for Potential Mosquito Releases

Diseases transmitted by mosquitoes could be controlled if vector populations were replaced with strains that have reduced vector competency. Such a strategy is being developed for control of dengue virus which is transmitted by Aedes aegypti (L.) (Diptera: Culicidae). Mosquitoes artificially infected with the bacterium, Wolbachia pipientis Hertig, are being assessed as candidates for release at the adult stage with the aim of replacement of the wild population. Wolbachia can reduce the capacity of Ae. aegypti to transmit dengue virus and has potential to be driven through the natural population via a system of cytoplasmic incompatibility. Deployment of benign mosquito strains will be influenced by population size and structure of wild-type Ae. aegypti in proposed release areas, as well as rates of gene flow among populations in the wet and dry tropical seasons. Mosquitoes from northern Queensland were screened with genetic markers to find an optimal locality for release of a benign strain of Ae. aegypti. The inland towns of Chillagoe and Charters Towers and the coastal town of Ingham had mosquito populations that were partly genetically isolated from mosquitoes in other areas across both seasons. These locations may be suitable release sites if it is important for the released strain to be restricted during initial phases of implementation. Smaller genetic differences were also evident among other regions and were consistent over two seasons (wet and dry).

Lokale Kultur und die Neuerfindung der Hafenstadt

During the course of transformation of social and economic structures the typical port-city in the western, industrialized world underwent serious changes or deviations of its traditional development path. Nevertheless the changing patterns of local structures and the modernisation of the local institutional system reflect essential elements and expressions of a typical local culture. In this process the specific local culture of the port-city turns out to be a control mechanism as well as an efficient resource extrapolating the individual logic of the place. Consequently, the re-invention of the port-city does not only express a simple logic of adaptation to global dynamics. Instead, the re-invention of the port-city appears as an expression of a certain autonomy and “individuality” which reproduces common characteristics of the port-cities as well as their difference to the territorial, inland towns.

Status of the exotic Ring-necked Parakeet, Psittacula krameri, in Oman

The Ring-necked Parakeet, Psittacula krameri, an invasive bird species, first appeared in Oman in 1950 but apparently died out and was not seen again until 1965, when it was re-introduced, probably through the escape or release of captive birds. From then on the species has gradually spread to its present distributional range that includes the Musandam Peninsula, all of the northern Batinah coast, the capital area of Muscat, occasional inland towns, and the area around Salalah in southern Oman. Its introduction to Masirah Island appears to have failed to establish a breeding population. The number of sightings of parakeets in Oman has increased from one per year in the late 1960’s to over 65 per year in 2001–2002. Despite the sightings of a few large flocks, flock size has remained fairly small, increasing from a mean of 1–2 individuals in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s to a mean of 7–8 for most years between 1985 and 2002. To date, the parakeets have been observed in areas that are inhabited by humans and in areas of agricultural development. Thus, the spread of this species within Oman is strongly linked to human activities, probably due to the increased availability of food in such areas. This species has the potential to be a serious pest in Oman consuming cash crops, particularly dates and grains.

Why Foodies Thrive in the Country: Mapping the Influence and Significance of the Rural and Regional Chef

Why Foodies Thrive in the Country: Mapping the Influence and Significance of the Rural and Regional Chef

First Midwives in the Town of Bjelovar, Croatia 1756-1856

The first trained (certified) midwives came to the newly founded town of Bjelovar, a strong military centre of Vojna Krajina (Croatian province bordering Ottoman Empire), at the beginning of the 1750s, along with army physicians, surgeons, and pharmacists. Most were of German origin. The archival material investigated for the period 1756-1856 speaks of 23 certified midwives, of whom 14 were regimental and nine municipal. This period was characterised by high neonatal and maternal mortality rates and criminal abortions. Within the scope of the domiciliary midwifery model that included care for pregnant women, parturient women, neonates, and infants, midwives used to act as godmothers to newborns at risk, in periculo, or to healthy newborns. Although Bjelovar had professional midwifery service, the practice of unassisted childbirths continued in the town surroundings. Unlike other inland and coastal (Dalmatian) towns of the time, Bjelovar has had a continuous tradition of training midwives and maternal health care since the 1750s.

Oil Booms and Boosterism

This article examines the intersection of oil industry interests and the growth strategy of local elites in the wake of Ventura, California's oil boom of the 1920s. It amends urban growth machine and civic boosterism theory by showing why cosmopolitan capital may exert influence over parochial politics even if it does not have a direct interest in population increase. The study also finds that oil development sustained long-term quantitative growth for this coastal community, much as Roger M. Olien and Diana Davids Olien found in their study of five towns in the Permian basin of west Texas. Owing to the influence of outside companies, however, boosters failed to develop Ventura qualitatively as a tourist and recreational destination. Indeed, by the 1950s, Ventura more closely resembled inland California oil towns in terms of place than nearby Santa Barbara, which boosters had hoped to emulate.

2001 Regional Disability Estimates for New South Wales, Australia, Using Spatial Microsimulation

Estimating disability levels in older Australians and their demographic and socio-economic profiles is essential for identifying the need for aged care services and for the development and implementation of effective social policy on ageing. Small area estimates are produced from the spatial microsimulation model ‘CareMod’ which is based on the 1998 ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC; ABS (1999). Disability, Ageing and Carers: User Guide, Australia. Canberra: ABS), and up-rated to 2001. Estimates are generated by reweighting the SDAC confidentialised unit record file to create ‘synthetic’ datasets for each Statistical Local Area in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Disability levels and the need for aged care in NSW was determined across a range of age groups. The results show that there is significant variation across NSW in disability levels and the need for aged care services by older persons. With increasing age, the presence of severe or profound disability increases and, as a consequence, this subgroup of aged persons has a greater potential need for high level care. The coastal areas of NSW have a greater requirement of care provision with respect to overall numbers, as a consequence of the greater overall population. However, many inland towns have greater rates of disability amongst the elderly. The research findings will assist in the strategic planning and improved targeting of aged care services, especially in identifying areas of unmet need at the small area level.

Measles on the Edge: Coastal Heterogeneities and Infection Dynamics

Mathematical models can help elucidate the spatio-temporal dynamics of epidemics as well as the impact of control measures. The gravity model for directly transmitted diseases is currently one of the most parsimonious models for spatial epidemic spread. This model uses distance-weighted, population size-dependent coupling to estimate host movement and disease incidence in metapopulations. The model captures overall measles dynamics in terms of underlying human movement in pre-vaccination England and Wales (previously established). In spatial models, edges often present a special challenge. Therefore, to test the model's robustness, we analyzed gravity model incidence predictions for coastal cities in England and Wales. Results show that, although predictions are accurate for inland towns, they significantly underestimate coastal persistence. We examine incidence, outbreak seasonality, and public transportation records, to show that the model's inaccuracies stem from an underestimation of total contacts per individual along the coast. We rescue this predicted ‘edge effect’ by increasing coastal contacts to approximate the number of per capita inland contacts. These results illustrate the impact of ‘edge effects’ on epidemic metapopulations in general and illustrate directions for the refinement of spatiotemporal epidemic models.

How can we identify socio-regions in the rangelands of Australia?

The Australian rangelands are divided into regions for statistical reporting, cultural identification or administrative and bioregional management purposes. However, many of these divisions do not reflect the characteristics of inland towns. In this study we used the Urban Centre/Locality (UCL) structure (for settlements with at least 200 people) as the smallest unit of analysis to build preliminary socio-regions based on demographic (e.g. Median Age and percentage of Indigenous people in UCL), socio-economic (dependency ratio and unemployment rate) and a few environmental indicators (e.g. Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Rainfall variability). A key finding of the study is that there are strong differences among UCLs in the rangelands. A threshold of around 5000 people is apparent with some indicators across all UCLs around which variability changes. There is much greater variability in the indicators among UCLs with fewer than 5000 people than there is among UCLs with over 5000 people. This confirms the need to consider statistical units smaller than those commonly used such as Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) as these and other regionalisation techniques mask the detail within areas that contain socio-economically and culturally different settlements. The high variability of indicator values observed for UCLs with smaller populations suggests that they have more diverse research, policy and investment needs than larger urban centres. We used a non-traditional approach and grouped UCLs into socio-regions based on their social characteristics instead of their geographic location. This created clusters of similar UCLs rather than contiguous regions. Some of these socio-regions cross administrative and statistical borders. The regionalisation presented in this study is likely to be valuable when selecting case-study areas for research projects and, in the long-term, when developing policy and investment initiatives.

The quest for limestone in colonial New South Wales, 1788–1825

Abstract In the absence of people with scientific qualifications in the newly established colony of New South Wales, Australia, the search for essential commodities, such as limestone, became the task of a few educated laymen, which included military officers and surgeons. The first discovery of calcareous rocks was made in the colony's outpost at Norfolk Island, which was a boon to that settlement but of limited benefit to the larger establishment at Sydney. For many years the major supply of lime for building came from shells collected from beaches and Aboriginal middens. Attempts to cross the Blue Mountains, long unsuccessful, succeeded in 1813 and led to the discovery of significant deposits of limestone. They provided lime for the needs of inland towns but did not supply Sydney until after the introduction of improved quarrying methods, lime manufacture, and building of roads. The first geological observations in New South Wales were made by people with no formal knowledge of geology, who were motivated by the necessity to find basic materials essential to the success of their settlement. Their efforts provided a crude inventory of rock types, which was improved by contributions from occasional visitors with a scientific background.

Madresahs and Moravians. Muslim educational institutions in the Cape Colony, 1792 to 1910

The vigorous revival of Christian missionary activity after 1792 with the return of the Moravians and the arrival of the London Missionary Society had little effect on Cape Town Muslims. By 1793 the Dorp Street school (madrasah) was established. By then, many of the males slaves and the free black population in Cape Town were securely Muslim. The success of the Cape Town Muslim clerisy owed much to the schools the imams established in all the colonial ports and some inland towns during the nineteenth century. In academic discussions of the “first” or “oldest” school in the country only European schools are mentioned. There is no reason for this omission. The author reviews the rise of the Cape madrasahs.”

Effect of town microclimate on the Queensland fruit fly Bactrocera tryoni

Weekly data from the urban and rural environments of numerous Australian inland towns were used to assess the impact of urban environments on the potential growth rate of the Queensland fruit fly. The urban environments were warmer and more moist than adjacent rural environments, making rural landscapes less attractive for fruit fly. Further analysis of climatic data revealed an acute negative water balance during the summer season. Under this harsh environment, the health and greenness of urban backyards and parks is maintained with frequent use of urban irrigation. This study aims to quantify the impact of urban hydrology on environmental conditions for the population potential of Queensland fruit fly in south-eastern New South Wales. CLIMEX, a climate-driven simulation model, was used in this study. Results indicated that throughout the winter season, low temperatures kept the Queensland fruit fly under control, irrespective of any other factor, including favourable moisture conditions. During summer, moisture was the major limiting factor. Even partial irrigation reduced the limiting effects of the deficiency of rainfall often experienced during midsummer. Irrigation also resulted in a large increase in the duration of the favourable period for the potential growth of fruit fly and an almost complete removal of unfavourable periods. When irrigation water was applied at optimal or excessive levels, the duration of favourable conditions for the Queensland fruit fly extended beyond the summer season. For the Queensland fruit fly, towns appear to be oases compared with the surrounding rural desert. Queensland fruit fly is unlikely to travel freely between towns, minimising chances of reinvasion once a resident population has been eliminated.

Preference mapping of cracker type biscuits

The sensory profile and acceptability of nine commercial samples of cracker type biscuits were measured. The descriptors used by a trained sensory panel that best separated samples were: appearance: color, quantity, uniformity, distribution, size and breakage of hills, hole related descriptors and ease of brand reading; aroma and flavor: total intensity, sweet, salty, cheesy, margarine, flour and toasted; texture: rough and powdery surface, crispness, noise, hardness, oiliness and greasiness. A total of 360 regular cracker consumers (1/3 youths and 2/3 adults) from three different cities in Argentina measured appearance, texture, flavor and overall acceptance. On average, adults scored crackers higher in acceptability than youths; likewise consumers from the smaller inland towns scored higher than consumers from Buenos Aires, the largest city in Argentina. Average overall acceptance scores for the nine samples ranged from 62 to 76 on a 0–100 scale with a least significant difference (LSD) of 4. Seven, nine, nine and seven consumer clusters were found for appearance, texture, flavor and overall acceptance, respectively. For each attribute there was one cluster representing between 10 and 23% of consumers who scored all samples high. Extended preference mapping showed the sensory descriptors of crackers which drove the preference of some of the consumer clusters.

Point source inoculation of mesocyclops (Copepoda: Cyclopidae) gives widespread control of Ochlerotatus and Aedes (Diptera: Culicidae) immatures in service manholes and pits in north Queensland, Australia.

This study details the novel application of predacious copepods, genus Mesocyclops, for control of Ochlerotatus tremulus (Theobald) group and Aedes aegypti (L.) mosquito larvae in subterranean habitats in north Queensland, Australia. During June 1997, 50 Mesocyclops sp. 1 were inoculated into one service manhole in South Townsville. Wet season rainfall and flooding in both 1998 and 2000 was responsible for the dispersal of copepods via the underground pipe system to 29 of 35 manholes over an area of 1.33 km2. Significant reductions in Aedes and Ochlerotatus larvae ensued. In these habitats, Mesocyclops and Metacyclops were able to survive dry periods, when substrate moisture content ranged from 13.8 to 79.9%. At the semiarid inland towns of Hughenden and Richmond, cracking clay soil prevents drainage of water from shallow service pits where Oc. tremulus immatures numbered from 292-18,460 per pit. Introduction of Mesocyclops copepods into these sites during May 1999 resulted in 100% control of Oc. tremulus for 18 mo. One uninoculated pit subsequently became positive for Mesocyclops with resultant control of mosquito larvae.

Inequalities in the transition of ischaemic heart disease mortality in New South Wales, Australia, 1969–1994

This paper examines changes in ischaemic heart disease mortality in New South Wales between 1969 and 1994, with particular reference to the 1969–1973, 1979–1983, 1985–1989 and 1990–1994 periods. Using death certificate data and unit list mortality files, and considering occupational differentials among males, and marital status and regional and intra-metropolitan variations among males and females, the question whether changes in differentials in mortality from heart disease occurred during this mortality transition is asked. Mortality from ischaemic heart disease declined in all marital status and occupational status groups, and in all geographical areas, but it declined more slowly among never married and divorced males, among manual workers, and in lower income areas. Whereas ischaemic heart disease mortality was lower in most rural areas than in metropolitan Sydney at the beginning of the period, in the 1990s it was significantly more elevated in inland small towns and rural areas than in the metropolis. Differentials increased over time, more especially with males.