Field Study Of Practices Research Articles

Shamans and “Dark Agencies”: War, Magical Parasitism, and Re-Enchanted Spirits in Siberia

Alleged practices of magical assault and vampirism are a recurrent feature of popular explanations of misfortune in Tuva, South Siberia. Based on a field study of healing practices in an “Association of Shamans”, this article analyses rituals of redressing curse afflictions in the context of Russian political domination. A central purpose of this discussion is to foreground the centrality of kinds of parasitical worship and occult threat to structures of political power in—and beyond—the territory of Tuva. Focusing on a “cursescape”, which develops from the combative practices of shamans, occult specialists, and office-holders, the article probes a repertoire of shamanic healing symbols. It is argued that healing efficacy is constructed in the process of engaging with hunting symbols and animal spirits, which appear in Indigenous Siberian cosmologies. The analysis shows that ideas of ritual risk underpin the process of symbolic resolution. Whereas shamanic practices provide refuge to spirits evicted from their natural landscapes, Tibetan Buddhism—the unifying religion of Tuva—offers an alternative path of healing the effects of the shamans’ propagation of spirits. The article highlights indigenous perceptions of a “cursed” landscape as a space where the agencies of “darkness” and their political sponsors are confronted with an emancipating religious modality emerging from local Buddhist rituals. The analysis displays the unsolved drama of itinerant spirits and shamanic ancestral souls, whose agency is revealed through successive—yet inauspicious—forms of reincarnation.

Applying of Object ID Stander on the Carpets Collection at the Museum of Islamic Art, Cairo

This research is the first archaeological study that applies standard of Object ID as a principle of museum collection management, that will be on Islamic carpets collection at the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo as a case study. This paper is a practical field study, which includes in its aspects field training, workshops, lectures, and automatic and manual examination of carpets as a case study, according to the organizational work and the principles available and followed by the museum.

Technology Focus: Formation Evaluation (August 2023)

Fractures, whether natural or hydraulic, serve as crucial pathways for fluid flow within rock formations. Because natural and hydraulic fractures are generated hundreds of meters underground, their parameters always seem to be a black box. Their influence on pressure propagation and well productivity, however, cannot be overstated. So how well are we doing in fracture evaluation and modeling? Fracture evaluation can be regarded as an inverse problem, wherein the structural characteristics of a system are deduced based on input and output signals. Our objective is to ascertain the distribution, orientation, connectivity, and properties of fractures through the mathematical and physical methods applied to field data. Generally, we can use fracture-evaluation techniques such as surface tilt fracture mapping, downhole tilt fracture mapping, microseismic fracture mapping, tracer testing, temperature logs, production logs, borehole image logs, downhole video, caliper logs, production analysis, and well testing. In parallel to fracture evaluation, fracture modeling assumes a computational approach to simulate fractures within subsurface reservoirs. We have various methodologies such as analytical, semianalytical, or numerical approaches to develop fracture models, including dual-porosity models, discrete fracture models, embedded discrete fracture models, and flow-net models. By means of fracture simulations, we can glean valuable insights pertaining to transient pressure behaviors, optimal production schemes, and estimation of ultimate recovery. Despite the significant progress made, a gap still exists between theoretical advancements and practical field application in fracture evaluation and modeling, because underground fractures are often more complex than initially expected and nonunique solutions for fracture evaluation are commonplace. Thus, fracture evaluation and modeling represent complex and interdisciplinary fields, requiring expertise in geology, reservoir engineering, geomechanics, simulation, and related disciplines. We also need continuous research endeavors and advancements in fracture evaluation and modeling techniques to augment our understanding of fracture behavior and reservoir performance in the oil and gas industry, as demonstrated in the selected papers and recommended additional reading. Recommended additional reading at OnePetro: www.onepetro.org. SPE 212296 A Simple Analytical Model for Oil Production From Partially Fractured Reservoirs To Estimate Size of Finite Fracture Networks by Sait I. Ozkaya, Consultant SPE 209624 A Flow-Net-Based Method for History Matching and Production Prediction of Shale or Tight Reservoirs With Fracturing Treatment by Hui Zhao, Yangtze University, et al. SPE 209293 A Hybrid Embedded Discrete Fracture Model and Dual-Porosity, Dual-Permeability Work Flow for Hierarchical Treatment of Fractures in Practical Field Studies by Mun-Hong Hui, Chevron, et al.

Impacts of Tillage Practices on Growth, Phosphorus Uptake, and Yield of Maize in Controlled and Field-Based Studies in Relation to Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

This study investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth, phosphorus (P) uptake, and yield of maize in the presence or absence of tillage. The two-year field experiment was conducted in Kanagawa, Japan. Firstly, we investigated whether the presence of indigenous AMF communities in the roots, as determined by amplicon sequencing analysis, contributed to maize growth in Experiment 1, a 2-year field-based study. The findings revealed that the maize (Zea mays L.) in rotary tillage had higher P uptake, growth at the six-leaves collar stage, and yield, compared to no tillage. The AMF communities colonizing maize roots were altered by the presence or absence of tillage; specifically, tillage increased the dominance of the Gigasporaceae, whereas no tillage increased the dominance of the Acaulosporaceae. Based on these findings, we confirmed whether the inoculation of similar AMF strains, as analyzed in the field study of tillage practices on maize roots, produces growth-promoting effects for maize growth in a controlled pot experiment consistent with the results of the field experiment. For experiment 2, Dentiscutata cerradensis TK-1, Cetraspora pellucida SZ-3 (Gigasporaceae), Acaulospora morrowiae AP-5, and A. longula F-1 (Acaulosporaceae) were inoculated as AMF inocula for a pot experiment. The results showed that aboveground biomass did not change with any inoculum compared to the control. The P concentration in maize was higher for D. cerradensis TK-1 and C. pellucida SZ-3 inoculation than for the control. However, inoculation with A. morrowiae AP-5 and A. longula F-1 did not change P concentrations from the control. This indicates that D. cerradensis TK-1 and C. pellucida SZ-3 are more effective in promoting P uptake in maize than in A morrowiae AP-5 and A. longula F-1. Based on field and pot experiments, our findings suggest that tillage practices lead to alterations in the AMF communities that colonize the roots, and this shift may also contribute to changes in P uptake and crop growth.

A Hybrid Embedded Discrete Fracture Model and Dual-Porosity, Dual-Permeability Workflow for Hierarchical Treatment of Fractures in Practical Field Studies

Summary Natural fracture systems comprise numerous small features and relatively few large ones. At field scale, it is impractical to treat all fractures explicitly. We represent the largest fractures using an embedded discrete fracture model (EDFM) and account for smaller ones using a dual-porosity, dual-permeability (DPDK) idealized representation of the fracture network. The hybrid EDFM + DPDK approach uses consistent discretization schemes and efficiently simulates realistic field cases. Further speedup can be obtained using aggregation-based upscaling. Capabilities to visualize and post-process simulation results facilitate understanding for effective management of fractured reservoirs. The proposed approach embeds large discrete fractures as EDFM within a DPDK grid (which contains both matrix and idealized fracture continua for smaller fractures) and captures all connections among the triple media. In contrast with existing EDFM formulations, we account for discrete fracture spacing within each matrix cell via a new matrix-fracture transfer term and use consistent assumptions for classical EDFM and DPDK calculations. In addition, the workflow enables coarse EDFM representations using flow-based cell-aggregation upscaling for computational efficiency. Using a synthetic case, we show that the proposed EDFM + DPDK approach provides a close match of simulation results from a reference model that represents all fractures explicitly, while providing runtime speedup. It is also more accurate than previous standard EDFM and DPDK models. We demonstrate that the matrix-fracture transfer function agrees with flow-based upscaling of high-resolution fracture models. Next, the automated workflow is applied to a waterflooding study for a giant carbonate reservoir, with an ensemble of stochastic fracture realizations. The overall workflow provides the computational efficiency needed for performance forecasts in practical field studies, and the 3D visualization allows for the derivation of insights into recovery mechanisms. Finally, we apply a finite-volume tracer-based flux post-processing scheme on simulation results to analyze production allocation and sweep for understanding expected waterflood performance.

Efficacy of Pythium oligandrum on improvement of lucerne yield, root development and disease score under field conditions.

Biological control of root diseases of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) has potential benefits for stand performance but this remains unsupported by evidence from practical field studies. In field experiments at three sites our objectives were to determine the effect of Pythium oligandrum, as spring, autumn and intensive regime treatments on (i) lucerne plant density and root traits development, and (ii) forage yield and forage traits. Lucerne stands were managed under two or three treatments: non-treated control and P. oligandrum applied at two intensities of application under four-cut utilization. Under relatively dry conditions (annual mean 10°C and <500mm precipitation) lucerne dry matter yield was significantly reduced by 6%, which could be related to mechanisms of inappropriate stimulation and disturbance of the balance between auxins and ethylene. Under annual precipitation of >500mm, positive impacts on stand height or fine root mass were observed for the autumn and intensive treatments where positive root response was visible only in alluvial soil. However, these changes did not result in higher yield and probably more applications per year will be needed for significant forage yield improvement. This study highlights the limits of field-scale biological control in which the potential of P. oligandrum for lucerne productivity improvement was realised only under a humid environment or deep alluvial soils, where higher root disease infestation may also be expected.

Solidary authority – conceptualising relations of care in statutory social work with vulnerable children and families

ABSTRACT This article investigates how statutory social workers use their authority in relation to children and families in Danish child welfare and protection services. It seeks to create knowledge about how it is possible to care in a statutory and governmental context that involves authority to intervene in the lives of children and families, and where recent trends towards individualisation of social problems and cost-effectiveness challenge social work ideals and practices of care and solidarity. By drawing on theories of care and analysing qualitative data from an ethnographic field study of professional practices in two municipal child and family departments, the article introduces the concept of solidary authority as a starting point for understanding relations of authority and care in social work. This concept inserts care practices in the context of the authority and power of the welfare state, and it captures how state authority depends on professional solidarity and care for the needs of citizens in disadvantaged positions in order to create welfare, well-being and social justice. Finally, the article concludes on the possibilities of care and solidary authority in a changing governmental context.

Coordinating knowledge work across technologies: Evidence from critical care practices

This paper examines how heterogeneous technologies impact the coordination of knowledge work in complex socio-technical settings. It is based on an in-depth field study of critical care practices characterized by intensive knowledge work and technological heterogeneity. We observe that heterogeneous technologies create workflow gaps within which health professionals adapt technology use to contingencies and local needs, prioritize interventions, and identify problems before they become detrimental to patient care. These adaptations provide opportunities for health professionals to continuously align work across heterogeneous technologies and to accomplish broader professional and ideological goals. Our analysis shows that health professionals use three coordination practices when working across heterogeneous technologies: controlling and enhancing information, reconstructing workflows, and circumventing requirements. We theorize how these practices address coordination needs associated with heterogeneous technologies and discuss implications for knowledge work. We provide a more complete understanding of coordination practices in complex, socio-technical settings which contributes to both knowledge work and coordination literatures.

Trends and Composition—A Sedimentological-Chemical-Mineralogical Approach to Constrain the Origin of Quaternary Deposits and Landforms—From a Review to a Manual

In this study, six basic Quaternary landform series (LFS) and their sedimentary deposits (LFS1 aeolian, LFS 2.1 to 2.2 mass wasting, LFS 3 cryogenic-glacial, LFS 4.1 to 4.6 fluvial, LFS 5.1 to 5.2 coastal-marine, LFS 6.1 to 6.3 lacustrine) are subdivided into subtypes and examined with regard to their sedimentological parameters and their mineralogical and chemical compositions. Emphasis is placed on the textural (related to transport and deposition), compositional (sediment load/weight, Eh and pH) and geodynamic maturity of the sedimentary deposits which are influenced by the parent lithology and bedrock tectonic and by the climate during the last 2 Ma. To constrain the development of the LFS and their sediments, composite trend-line diagrams are designed combining sedimentological (x-axis) and chemical/mineralogical dataset (y-axis): (1) sorting vs. heavy mineral content; (2) sphericity of grains vs. silica/carbonate contents; and (3) median vs. Ti/Fe ratios. In addition, the x-y plots showing the log SiO2/Al2O3 vs. log Na2O/K2O are amended by a dataset of the three most common clay minerals, i.e., kaolinite-, mica-, and smectite-group clay minerals. Such joint sedimentological-chemical-mineralogical investigations focused on the depositional environment of unconsolidated clastic sediments of Quaternary age can be used to describe the economic geology and environmental geology of mineral deposits in the pre-Quaternary sedimentary series according to the phrase: “The Present is the key to the Past”. Both trend diagrams and compositional x-y plots can contribute to constraining the development of the full transect of landform series from the fluvial incision and slope retreat to reef islands fringing the coastal zone towards the open sea as far as they are built up of clastic sedimentary deposits enriched in siliceous and/or carbonate minerals. Climate zonation and crustal maturity are the exogenous and endogenous “drivers”, as can be deduced from the compositional (mineralogy and chemistry) and physical (transport and deposition) variations observed in the Quaternary sediments. The current study bridges the gap between a review only based on literature and a hybrid manual generated by practical field studies devoted to applied geosciences in economic and environmental geology (“E &amp; E issue”).

Perception Level of Small Medium Enterprises Employees and Their Environmental Corporate Social Responsibility Practices

Purpose: The current study examines the perception level of environmental-oriented CSR practices among the employees of small-medium enterprises in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India. Approach/Methodology/Design: It is a cross-sectional field study of environment CSR practices among SMEs employees of Coimbatore district, the western part of Tamil Nadu, India. A multistage random sampling technique is adopted. Sixty-one firms were approached to study the employees’ perception of CSR and environmental impact on CSR. The sample included 369 participants out of the total population of 9027 employees. This study follows the research methodology based on the Eco-labeling principles, designed by the European Commission 2005 Descriptive analysis, Chi-square test, Bartlett sphericity statistical tests, and Structural Equation Modeling in AMOS version 23 were used.. Findings: The results indicate the significance of SMEs employees’ perception level according to their age, gender and experience. The results reveal that CSR practices towards environments are related to employee perception level. CSR practices play a very predominant role in changing the mindset of the employees working in small-medium enterprises. Practical Implications: This study also paves a way to diverse thoughts in the exploration of the multimodal dimensions of the internal aspects and external CSR practices. Originality/value: The analysis presents the main directions of pro-environmental initiatives undertaken by enterprises and the perception of employees to understand environmental CSR. The results also indicate the differences in the most frequent pro-environmental activities of enterprises operating in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India.

Optimizing Plastic Injection Process Using Whale Optimization Algorithm in Automotive Lighting Parts Manufacturing

In this study, using the whale optimization algorithm (WOA), one of the recent optimization algorithms inspired by nature, the plastic injection process parameters of an automotive sub-industry company were tried to be optimized. For this purpose, we tried to provide the maximum weight criterion for the “356 MCA Plastic Housing” (which is an automotive lighting part) produced by plastic injection method. The decrease in the weight of the product indicates that the material injected into the mold is missing and naturally indicates that there will be quality problems. In order to achieve this aim, the best factor levels were tried to be determined for the mold temperature (°C), injection speed (m/s), injection pressure (bar), holding time (s), and injection time (s), which are the controllable parameters of injection process. Factors and factor levels addressed using WOA have not been studied for this type of problem before and this is the novelty aspect of this research. Experiments performed to confirm the findings for optimum process parameters proved that the WOA method can be successfully applied to improve plastic injection process parameters. This study contains information for practicing researchers in terms of showing how the nature-inspired algorithm WOA can be applied in practical field studies.

Challenges and Opportunities in Collaborative Vulnerability Research Workflows

Recently, cyber reasoning systems demonstrated near-human performance characteristics when they autonomously identified, proved, and mitigated vulnerabilities in software during a competitive event. New research seeks to augment human vulnerability research teams with cyber reasoning system teammates in collaborative work environments. However, the literature lacks a concrete understanding of vulnerability research workflows and practices, limiting designers’, engineers’, and researchers’ ability to successfully integrate these artificially intelligent entities into teams. This paper contributes a general workflow model of the vulnerability research process, and identifies specific collaboration challenges and opportunities anchored in this model. Contributions were derived from a qualitative field study of work habits, behaviors, and practices of human vulnerability research teams. These contributions will inform future work in the vulnerability research domain by establishing an empirically-driven workflow model that can be adapted to specific organizational and functional constraints placed on individual and teams.

Ramification role Of Urban Sewage in Al-Shatrah subdistrict River Pollution

The practical field study was carried out at three point located along (Al-Shatrah river) (A. Park – B. Hospital – C. Al-Abbasiyah). in this district(Shatrah) Thi-Qar, its to invistigate the role of sewage water from the residential areas arround the river which divided the city into two sides, this river is branch from (Al-Garraf-Canal).This study analyzed some (physiocochemical and biological parameters )for the sewage water and recognized the potential pollution sources at selcted three station of study.the variance major analysis parameter ([pH]-[E.C]- [B.O.D]-[C.O.D]-[T.D.S]-[T.S.S]-[CL]-[SO 4 ]-[PO 4 ]-[NO 3 ]) moderated for samples from the field station was treated chemically during the time of study three months (June,July,Augest 2019), appeared varriance diffrentated in value rate among the three stations according to the pollution sources. The highly domistic wastwater from the houses,shops were the main influents factors affected water-quality. Our study can be usefully applied to help the local authortiy in order to prevent the pollution of most important life source for humans-plants-animals.

Analyse des Einflusses von passiven Exoskeletten für Überkopftätigkeiten auf die Haltezeiten von Werkzeugen, die lokale physiologische Beanspruchung und den Bewegungsraum der oberen Extremitäten

Analysis of the influence of passive exoskeletons for overhead activities on tool holding times, local physiological strain and the range of motion of the upper limbs Objectives: This paper presents three laboratory studies on the second stage of the Institute of Ergonomics (Institut für Arbeitswissenschaft, IAD) concept for the application of passive exoskeletons in practice. An analysis is conducted on objective and subjective outcomes in relation to changes in loading/strain, holding times and range of motion when using three selected exoskeletons for overhead activities. Methods: Surface electromyography (EMG) is used to determine physiological muscular strain. Relevant muscles in the arm-shoulder area and in the back are selected for this purpose on the basis of reference literature and preliminary studies. Subjective outcomes concerning the discomfort of the test subjects during overhead activities with and without exoskeleton are recorded by means of the Corlett-Bishop scale. The neutral-zero-method was used to determine the range of motion. Results: The IAD concept for the analysis and evaluation of physical stress and strain when using passive exoskeletons in overhead work in the laboratory and in practice is described. On the basis of the laboratory studies carried out, it was found that muscular strain is significantly reduced when using the analysed exoskeletons in the arm-shoulder system, but increases at the same time in the back. Similarly, holding times were shown to be longer depending on the holding position. The range of movement in the area of overhead work is not restricted by the exoskeleton. In the case of free movements, it could be shown that the arms were held above shoulder height to an increasing degree when using an exoskeleton. Conclusions: The three studies carried out provide information on changes in stress and strain, holding times and range of motion when using three passive exoskeletons for overhead activities. Implications are derived for the use of passive exoskeletons in practice. The aim should be to produce further findings from practical field studies with working persons as well as with adapted ergonomic analysis methods. Keywords: passive exoskeletons – overhead work – strain – holding time – range of motion – surface electromyography (EMG)

THE INFLUENCE OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL TRUST ON PARTICIPATION OF PEOPLE IN POLITICS IN JAHROM CITY, IRAN

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this study is to examine the implications of political and social trust for the political participation of people in Jahrom City, Iran. And also, this study tries to assess the effect of social media on people's trust, which can affect their political participation in the society of Iran.&#x0D; Methodology: The researcher-made questionnaire was used by experts to determine its validity. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was used to evaluate its reliability for all variables. Regression coefficient, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for data analysis and hypotheses testing. The sample size was calculated by the Cochran formula, and 383 individuals were selected by using simple random multi-stage cluster sampling.&#x0D; Main Findings: The regression results indicate that the generalized social and political trust could determine 9% and 11%, respectively of changes independent variable, which was the political participation of citizens in Jahrom City. The theoretical foundations of the research are based on the theories of Robert Putnam, Gabriel Mandel, Francis Fukuyama, Nicholas Luhmann, Jürgen Habermas, Martin Lipset, and Robert Dose.&#x0D; Applications of this study: The present study is an applied study in terms of purpose, a practical-field study in terms of data collection, a large-scale study in terms of scale, and a short-term cross-sectional study in terms of time. The statistical population of this research comprises the holders of voting rights, those aged 18 years or more living in Jahrom city.&#x0D; Novelty/Originality of this study: The contextual factors such as gender, marital status, income, job, and social class did not show a significant relationship with political participation, which may be due to the homogeneity of political behavior in cities due to the lack of individual characteristics and, consequently, the weakness of individualism in smaller social settings.

A Field Study of Arab Data Journalism Practices in the Digital Era

ABSTRACT This research paper presents an analysis of the state of data journalism practice in the Arab world through the use of the field theory approach. It is based on the analyzed results from a survey of Arab journalists conducted by the Arab Data Journalists Network (ADJN) in 2017. This paper discusses the factors affecting the practice and development of Arab data journalism. It sheds light on the potentials and challenges of practicing data journalism in the Arab world, especially in terms of required resources as well as the cultural, socioeconomic, and institutional context in the Arab journalism ecosystem. As an indication of a clear interest in this field, a significant amount of Arab journalists are interested in applying for data journalism training and fellowships. However, the business model of most Arab media organizations, which struggle from certain financial or political agendas, makes these organizations less interested in upgrading the quality of their content provided to their audience. Accordingly, they do not care about adopting new methods in presenting in-depth and data-driven content. This study concludes with a theoretical model regarding the state of data journalism in Arab countries and suggests several applicable ways to develop data journalism practices and education.

Life strategies and plans of young Muslims who receive religious education (Results from the field-study in the madrasah of the Republic of Tatarstan)

The paper offers an analysis of phenomenon of Islamic education. There is argued that the theoretical and historical analysis of this phenomenon prevails in comparison to the practical field studies. The author analyzed the present state of religious education in the Republic of Tatarstan as well as the problems, which arise in this context. It has been identified the role of religious education in the young Muslims formation. The author also traces the influences of madrasas on their students’ family values as well as employment prospects. The rich field material was collected from the 10 interviews given by the full-time students (shakirds) of 4th and 5th academic years. The answers received made clear the basic differences between the males and females in their view on the life values and career. Young females appear to be more family-centered and plan to use the religious education they have received to facilitate in the future the upbringing and education of children. They set family values above educational and professional goals. However, the life strategies of young males vary to a significant extent. Some have already clear plans to continue their religious education and see their future employment in various spheres of Islamic worship. On the contrary others still do not have clearly shaped plans for future and do not plan to continue religious education. The system of Muslim religious education has some disadvantages in comparison to the secular education. The goals of religious education are not always clearly set, there are no prospects for further education and career, which is often reflected in unwillingness of the students to stick to the professional career in religious sphere.

Review of Common Superstition-based Therapies in Qajar Era, Iran

In Arabic, every strange word that arose from a world other than human world, human science and experience is called superstition. (Seyyed ibn Tavous, p. 260) Some superstitious beliefs are specific to a community or a particular culture and some of these beliefs are specific to a particular gender or even a particular person. In Iran from ancient times to the Qajar era, especially before the Daroulfonon institute and a gradual transition from traditional to modern medicine, the role of superstition in the field of healthcare was applicable. Due to lack of educated physicians in community, lack of health care facilities and low-level health care system many of common people were resorting to magic and extravagant and non-scientific styles to cure illnesses. Methodology: This research is based on the fact that the target community of study is Iran's Qajar era, and practical field study is not possible; hence, it has fully utilized the library research method and attempted to use first hand resources from that era. This study aims to investigate the superstitions prevailing in the community for treatment of diseases in the Qajar period, to provide an underlying study for the new era researcher’s studying superstition therapy in present-day society, so there can be a comprehensive comparison between superstition in Present day and Qajar era.

الابعاد الاجتماعية والتکنولوجية وتأثيرها على تشکيل الفراغات العمرانية بالمدن (دراسة حالة الفراغات العمرانية بالإسکان الحکومي) The Social and Technological Dimensions and their Impact on the Formation of Urban Spaces in Cities (Case Study of Public Spaces in Public Housing)

يرجع تدهور حالة الفراغات العمرانية في مناطق الإسکان الحکومي الى الأسباب الرئيسية لتفشى الظواهر الاجتماعية السلبية بين السکان في مصر، فإن الزيادة في المساحات المفتوحة بمشاريع الإسکان الحکومي وتذبذبها في مناطق الإسکان بالمدن الجديدة والتي لا تتناسب بعضها مع المقياس الإنساني وتفقد فيها الروابط الاجتماعية بين السکان، مما زاد من تکاليف المباني السکنية وزيادة مصاريف صيانتها. وأدى عدم الاهتمام بتنسيق الفراغات إلى عدم وضوح حيازات الملکيات العامة وشبه العامة والملکيات الخاصة ونالت من خصوصية المناطق السکنية وحرمتها التي کانت تتميز بها، منها إن لکل تجمع سکنى مدخلا مقتصرا على قاطنيه. وأدى انعدام توفر نظام في مصر يحدد الاحتياجات الخاصة بالمجتمع من دراسات وأبحاث تعالج المشکلات العمرانية وترصدها ليتحقق التواصل الهادف بين المجتمع والهيئات البحثية والعلمية المعنية. ومع تزايد واقعة التعدي على الفراغات العمرانية بين المباني السکنية خاصة في مشروعات الإسکان الحکومي وتدهورها وسوء استخدامها بالإضافة لتکرار هذه الظاهرة التي تعد بمثابة عدوى إلى بعض المناطق السکنية بالمدن الجديدة وما يمثله ذلک من إهدار للموارد وتشويه بصري للعمران في تلک المدن بالإضافة إلى الابعاد الأخرى السلبية، ومع تجاهل المختصين من المخططين والمعماريين لتصميم الفراغات بأنواعها وأشکالها المختلفة، ازدادت مشاکل هذه الظاهرة وبدأ التفکير في أهمية وجود حلول لإحياء الفراغات العمرانية والبيئة المناسبة للإسکان الحکومي في مصر. والهدف من البحث هو دراسة وتحليل التغير في الابعاد الاجتماعية والتطورات التکنولوجية على تغيير شکل المدينة بصفة عامة وعلى تشکيل فراغاتها العمرانية -بوجه خاص – على مر العصور التاريخية المختلفة والوصول إلى الأهداف والأسس التي تتحکم في شکل الفراغ العمراني بالمدينة الحديثة وتطبيق ذلک على مناطق الاسکان الحکومي في المجتمعات الجديدة بمصر. The paper deals with the issue of appropriate design of open spaces in government housing projects in Egypt especially in new cities, some of which are disproportionate to the human scale having negative impacts on social function of the space and, Increasing the cost of housing and maintenance for the urban spaces. The mis-design of these spaces led to the lack of clarity of the boundaries of public, semi-public and private properties. The absence of practical urban and architecture field studies that targets the real users’ needs and the appropriate design requirement has lead to waste of resources and distortion of the urban block in these cities in addition to other negative effects. The research aims to identify and to study the dynamics of social factors and technological developments and the ability of utilizing them as tools for controlling the shape of the city and its spaces aiming to achieve more sustainable urban spaces in governmental housing projects.

Reply to comment on the paper by Davies et al. “Resolving MISS conceptions and misconceptions: A geological approach to sedimentary surface textures generated by microbial and abiotic processes” (Earth Science Reviews, 154 (2016), 210–246)

We thank Noffke (2017) for her comment and for providing an opportunity to clarify our classification of “sedimentary surface textures”. We accord great credit to Dr. Noffke and other dedicated researchers whose detailed work has brought microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS) to the widespread attention of geoscientists. However, we stand by our assertion that attributing structures observed in practical field and laboratory studies to processes of formation is much more problematic than Noffke (2017) indicates. Indeed, points in the Comment confirm the need for a classification system that categorises the degree of certainty attributed to a given interpretation. We stress that our paper was not designed as a critique of previous studies of MISS but rather was designed to encourage a reasonable assessment of uncertainty in assigning sedimentary surface textures to physical processes or to MISS.