Search

Data dealing with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) levels in settled dust of Greater Cairo houses (GCH), Egypt, and their implication on human health risk are scarce. The goal of this study was to gain insights into the characterisations of PAHs in settled dust in GCH and their associated carcinogenic and mutagenic risks. ƩPAH concentrations were 3125 and 268 ng/g in settled dust in GCH and rural houses (RH), respectively. Heavier congeners (4–6 aromatic ring PAHs) represented 86.5% (GCH) and 92% (RH) of ƩPAHs. Houses on main streets are exposed to higher levels of PAHs than those on the side streets. The main sources of PAHs in GCH and RH were vehicular emissions (pyrogenic sources) and PAHs in GCH come from local emissions and in RH from the surrounding urban cities. Results showed that the carcinogenicity of PAHs associated with dust exceeds their mutagenicity. Based on Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) estimations, the order of cancer risk (CR) was as follows: urban houses (UH) > suburban houses (SUH) > RH. CR and ILCRs calculations suggest that children and adults exposed to settled dust-bound PAHs in GCH and RH have an increase in CR, as CR and ILCRs values exceeded accepted levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the typical tube-style house in the rural area of northern Zhejiang Province as a case, the dynamic simulation of building energy consumption is carried out by using Designbuilder software from three aspects: building noumenon, lighting and electrical equipment, and personnel use characteristics. Calculate the sensitivity coefficient of each parameter to building energy consumption so as to identify the main factors affecting building energy consumption after the renovation of tube house residential buildings into rural homestay. The results show that different parameters have great influence on the heating and cooling energy consumption in the tube-style rural homestay, and the indoor control temperature has the most significant influence on the building energy consumption. The lighting and electrical equipment have less influence. The order of the building noumenon factors is heat transfer coefficient of non-transparent envelope, air tightness, window to wall ratio, SHGC and heat transfer coefficient of transparent envelope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The housing stock of rural sub-Saharan Africa is changing rapidly. With millions of new homes required over the coming decades, there is an opportunity to protect residents by screening homes from malaria mosquitoes. This study, undertaken in the Upper River Region of The Gambia, explores local perceptions of what a good house should provide for its inhabitants and responses to living in a house that has been modified as part of a randomized control trial designed to assess whether improved housing provided additional protection against clinical malaria in children (the RooPfs trial). Methods: This descriptive, exploratory study was undertaken over 22 months using mixed-methods (informal conversations, observations, focus group discussions, photovoice, and a questionnaire survey) in a parallel convergent design. Analysis was conducted across the data sets using a framework approach. Following coding, the textual data were charted by a priori and emerging themes. These themes were compared with the quantitative survey results. The nature and range of views about housing and the RooPfs study modifications and the relationships among them were identified and described. Results: The data were derived from a total of 35 sets of observations and informal conversations in 10 villages, 12 discussions with the photovoice photographers, 26 focus group discussions (across 13 villages) and 391 completed questionnaires. The study participants described a 'good house' as one with a corrugate-metal roof, cement walls (preferably cement block, but mud block covered with cement plaster was also an acceptable and cheaper substitute) and well-fitting doors. These features align with local perceptions of a modern house that provides social status and protection from physical harms. The RooPfs modifications were largely appreciated, although poor workmanship caused concerns that houses had become insecure. However, the long-term trusting relationship with the implementing institution and the actions taken to rectify problems provided reassurance and enhanced acceptability. Conclusion: In developing housing to address population needs in Africa, attention should be paid to local perceptions of what is required to make a house secure for its inhabitants, as well as providing a healthy environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents the results of the theoretical-descriptive research of documentary type, whose objective was to make a diagnosis of housing in the municipality of Pacho - Cundinamarca (Colombia) and Tlatlaya - State of Mexico (Mexico), from the analysis of the results of the housing deficit in Colombia (DANE) and social backwardness in Mexico (INEGI), in addition to deepen concepts of housing, construction systems and sustainability in different documents consulted in databases such as Google Scholar, Scielo, Redalyc. The municipality of Pacho has approximately 8,856 homes of which 44.1% are in housing deficit and in the case of Tlatlaya there are approximately 8,561 inhabited homes, of which 62% are estimated to be in social backwardness; for these two municipalities there are similarities in the materials and construction systems of the housing within which predominates the floor in earth or cement, adobe or brick walls and roofs in sheet or asbestos-cement. From the analysis, it is possible to recognize the design and construction processes, seeking that the houses are decent, safe, sustainable and respond to the needs of the population, respecting the cultural and traditional aspects of each context, seeking an equitable development in the communities of the two countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loudon's 1825 Encyclopedia of Agriculture set out why and how 'comfortable' family cottages should be built for the farm labouring workforce. Over the next quarter-century, published 'prize essays' on cottage-design appeared alongside articles advocating 'high farming'. Low labourer wages and insecure farm tenancies handicapped investment in both, though a parliamentary inquiry showed improvement projects could enhance labourer employment. The 1834 'new' Poor Law – an 'administrative' law – restricted 'poor relief', but left many 'settlement' issues to continue as perceived obstacles to building cottages (the occupants might become a burden on the poor rates). This paper illustrates ideal contemporary cottage designs – relative to contrasting exposures of poor people's home lives. Landowners, patchily, promoted some cottage-building, but labouring families mostly remained poorly housed. Along with recent scholarship on families' work, income, possessions (often very few) and survival strategies, this work augments ideas of real housing conditions in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing precipitation variability has led to growing concerns about the risk of flood in many parts of the U.S. and worldwide. This study adopts a spatial regression analysis framework based on floodplain boundary discontinuities to control for unobserved spatial heterogeneities in flood risk assessment. The empirical strategy combines spatial matching with the regression discontinuity design. Using parcel-level data from Juniata County, Pennsylvania, we find an over six percent property value reduction due to additional one-standard-deviation flood exposure as defined by the percentage of property area inside the flood zone. Specifically, given that the study region's average single-family residential housing price is $114,684 (in 2015 USD), the estimated flood risk impact is $7056 (in 2015 USD, or 6.15%) for a one-standard-deviation increase in flood exposure. The estimate (for a rural housing market) is of a similar magnitude to several recent estimates from urban and suburban housing markets. This paper contributes to the literature as one of the first quantitative studies of flood risk impacts on rural housing markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Architectural Journal / Jian Zhu Xue Bao is the property of Architectural Journal Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lack of food for nestlings is a crucial factor influencing population size and dynamics in birds. It is one of the most cited reasons for recent House Sparrow Passer domesticus population declines in cities and rural settlements. However, a detailed comparative study of habitat use by parents delivering food to offspring in different environments is still missing. To obtain the most detailed information on fine‐scale foraging habitat selection, foraging‐range size, flight distance and foraging duration in typical Central European urban and rural environments, we conducted systematic observations of colour‐ringed focal individuals feeding their offspring. We found that urban House Sparrows had larger foraging‐range sizes and longer foraging distances than rural birds. Additionally, some preferred habitats, such as ruderal and woody vegetation, occurred less frequently in the urban area and consequently increased flight distance to key sources of invertebrate prey. In both environments, the most selected habitats – bin storage areas and poultry holdings – offered a stable and rich but probably lower quality 'fast food' source. Birds were willing to fly a longer distance to forage at bin storage areas, tall ruderal vegetation and poultry holdings. Our findings imply that natural food sources in the urban environment are scarce and scattered. Due to the improvement of socio‐economic status associated with better handling of waste products in both urban and rural environments, sprawl of highly urbanized areas and intensification of farming, important foraging habitats have thus decreased. We highlight the importance of maintaining suitable small‐ and medium‐scale farms in rural areas and suggest improvements in the management of green spaces in all types of human settlements that may support House Sparrow populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Jaén is one of the most important cities in the northern highlands of Peru due to its strategic location, commerce, and agricultural activities. Jaén has more than 185 thousand inhabitants, of which 48% live in rural areas, representing approximately 31 thousand rural housing. This research aims to determine the types of rural housing in Jaén, showing the possible variations and architectural manifestations due to the territorial and cultural characteristics. A field observation sheet has been used to study the rural dwellings of populated centres previously classified by altitudinal regions. The results show six architectural types of rural housing classified into two groups: “rural-residential housing” and “rural-agricultural housing”. These architectural types are generally located near water sources, within agricultural plots, and on hillsides. The architectural program is characterised by agricultural activity and family composition, which has grown over time. The most commonly used construction systems are “pirca” and “quincha”, using natural materials such as “ichu” and adobe. There is also evidence of cultural traditions rooted in the construction, such as “cambio de fuerzas”, “paracaico”, and “minga”. Therefore, the relevance of Jaén’s rural housing is its geographical reading of the territory through the architectural and cultural legacy of these buildings.

Since the reform and opening up, China has achieved great progress in industrialization and urbanization. However, due to the long-term implementation of the economic development model of "emphasizing cities over township" and the urban-rural dual system, the gap between urban and rural development is constantly increasing, and the problems of land resource allocation and contradiction between man and land in rural areas have gradually emerged. Rural homestead is the main place where farmers live, with unique land use characteristics. The information such as the structure and utilization status of houses on it can clearly reflect the local rural economic situation and homestead problems. Therefore, understanding the characteristics and differences of rural homestead housing is of great significance to understand and grasp the situation and problems of rural development and promote the implementation of rural revitalization strategy. Based on the rural cadastral survey data of Guangdong Province and combined with GIS spatial analysis method, this paper analyzes the characteristics of rural homestead housing. The results show that: (1) The rural housing in the study area is relatively low, mainly with one floor, supplemented by two and three floors, mainly brick and mixed structure, supplemented by concrete structure, and there is a certain correlation between the number of floors and the spatial distribution of the structure. Among them, the proportions of one storey house, brick structure and mixed structure house are 59.42%, 37.71% and 42.60% respectively. (2) There are obvious regional differences in the number of floors and structural spatial distribution of rural homestead housing in the study area. Low-rise, brick and mixed structure houses are mainly distributed in remote areas such as northern and western Guangdong, and high-rise and concrete structure houses are mostly concentrated in the Pearl River Delta. (3) The vacancy and idleness of rural homestead housing in the study area are common. The average vacancy rate and idle rate are 6.75% and 5.66% respectively, and the rate of one househould with multiple houses reaches 23.88%. The phenomenon of rural hollowing is obvious, and 50.87% of the villages in districts and counties are above the moderate hollowing, mainly distributed in the fringe area of the Pearl River Delta and Meizhou in northern Guangdong. At the same time, there is a certain phenomenon that the average household homestead area exceeds the standard. (4) The characteristics of rural housing utilization in Guangdong Province are affected by factors such as policies, economy, transportation, physical geographical condition and local customs. And the influencing factors in different regions are different, such as the special folk customs have a greater impact on rural housing in eastern Guangdong, and the economic situations and urban siphon have a greater impact on the characteristics of rural housing in the edge of the Pearl River Delta. There are obvious spatial differences in the utilization of rural homestead housing in Guangdong Province, and there are many idle homestead resources. There is great potential for the optimization and adjustment of rural construction land for rural revitalization.

Wind turbines are considered a great option for power generation in rural areas and isolated regions that have an abundance of wind. However, such generation can be increased by optimizing the blades. Through this resource, commercial farms and small communities can acquire more comfort and economy. Based on this situation, a study was conducted in which a numerical code based on the lifting line theory was used to investigate different airfoils and analyze the linearization of chord and twist angle distributions in a small horizontal axis wind turbine to determine the most suitable configuration for obtaining an annual energy production of 32.2 MWh/year in a packing house located in the rural area of Petrolina-PE (Brazil). From the results, the geometric configuration that presents the adequate energy demand with lower local efforts was obtained by using the Joukowsky 6.3% airfoil and linearizing the chord and twist angle with maximum values of 0.4 m and 7°, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to analyse and discuss policies and planning for rural housing, with a special focus on social sustainability. In this endeavour, we review research with such a focus and put this in dialogue with an analysis of the contemporary situation regarding rural housing challenges and policies in Sweden. Countrysides in Europe, including Sweden, are diverse and face different housing-related challenges. The literature illuminates spatial as well as socio-economic inequalities. Both a low demand for housing related to a shrinking labour market and out-migration and a high pressure on the housing market triggering restrictive or conditional measures to avoid speculative developments and rural gentrification affect social sustainability. Our case study on policy and planning measures that deal with rural housing in Sweden shows that there is a need to further investigate and understand the role of housing in rural areas for various groups and people with fewer resources, including further elaboration on the connection between mobilities and housing needs. A narrow focus upon housing provision that does not take into account access to services and communications as well as contemporary mobility flows of different groups challenges equality and well-being in rural areas. In Sweden, housing is primarily a municipal, local responsibility. However, exogenous forces or trends mean that housing issues play out at both the regional and national levels and put the municipalities in a difficult situation. • The effects of mobility are decisive for handling the rural housing issue. • The terms 'hot spots' and 'cold spots' make visible spatial and social inequalities. • Planning measures need to account for 'hot' as well as 'cold' rural areas. • Coordination and cooperation at regional and local level is crucial. • Both new constructions and vacancy chains contribute to a balanced housing market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a case study design, the study focuses on identifying the institutional configuration that determines land take by low-density residential areas. Methodologically, it combines geospatial approaches and new institutionalism to capture and understand residential development, taking into account the interests, constraints and agency of local planning authorities, developers and households. The geospatial analysis shows that land take in the case study regions is primarily the result of low-density residential areas. We find that the combination of rural housing ideals, municipal policy objectives, municipalities' disengagement from spatial development and private sector interests are the main drivers for this kind of residential development. As the interests and constraints apply to all case study regions, the identified institutional configuration has high power in explaining low-density residential development. Our study thus uncovers a close link between the interests and constraints of actors, which on the one hand explains the limited impact of existing and new planning instruments on reducing land take, and on the other hand fosters path dependency in the development of low-density residential areas. Although there is some potential for change, breaking path dependency requires significant behavioural change among local planning authorities, developers and households. • Applying new institutionalism as a conceptual framework for understanding development of low-density residential areas. • Measuring low-density housing at sub-municipal level through building-based spatial analysis. • Structuring the housing construction process, taking into account local planning authorities, developers and households. • Understanding actors' interests, constraints and agency through expert and household interviews. • Study covers five case study regions and a period of 10 years (2009–2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In global pattern reconstruction, ecological civilization construction and integrated urban–rural development in the new era as well as outlining a new framework for rural development and promoting efficient operation of the coordination mechanism for rural development are urgently required. This paper considers three northeastern provinces of China as an example, attempts to analyze the relationship between the subsystems of rural development, and examines the coupling coordination mechanism of population, land, and industry money in the four‐dimensional system. It explores the evolution path and defects of rural development in Northeast China under the background of transformation from a systematic perspective. We found that the coupling degree of "population‐land‐industry‐money" in rural Northeast China is high, while the coordination degree is low. The degree of spatial and temporal differentiation of the coupling coordination degree gradually increases, and the rural development of each province is highly unbalanced. The results also indicate that the main reasons for the low level of the coupling coordination degree are improved land development levels, a relative shortage of labor force, backward industrial development, and increasingly weak rural investment levels. Finally, this paper illustrates that the main solutions to rural revitalization are stimulating rural investment through policies and promoting the revival of agriculture, with financial support as the starting point, before establishing the linkage and mutual feed development of "population‐land‐industry‐money" in rural areas. The results will help countries, especially developing countries, to further consider methods toward achieving rural development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a significant material carrier of rural production and life, rural housing land transition (RHLT) is an important field of rural spatial governance, and the transition process of its utilization is closely related to rural development. Applying the "matter‐ownership‐organization" perspective to the governance of rural space, this study constructs an analytic framework of the interaction between RHLT and rural development. Taking the case of Tangjiajia Village, a tourist village in the suburbs of Nanjing, this study analyzes empirically the interaction mechanism between RHLT and rural development. On the basis of the findings, the challenges of rural spatial governance of suburban tourism are discussed, and the process of multiple‐subject participation in rural spatial governance is clarified. This elucidation of the interaction mechanism between RHLT and rural development in the suburbs of big cities will provide a point of reference for rural development in underdeveloped areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fatal residential fires, at least in Sweden, seem to consistently be clustered into six distinct clusters regardless of studied time period or sub-population; smoking – clothes, smoking – bed/sofa, technical, stove-related, deliberate (arson), and unknown. • Preventative efforts should focus on the clusters shown in this study in order to further reduce the number of fatal residential fires. • Almost a third of all fatal fires in Sweden have unknown causes and little information regarding the victims. Parallel to actively working with preventative measures aimed at the identified clusters, improvements must be made in terms of the accident analyses of fatal fires. Introduction: Despite a positive long-term trend in fire mortality rates, more knowledge is required concerning the causes and typologies of fatal residential fires in order to improve preventative efforts and further decrease fatality rates. A previous study suggested that fatal residential fires can be grouped into six categories, however, the analyses were performed on a limited dataset that is now more than a decade old. As such, there are some uncertainties regarding the current situation. Also, in the previous study, no subgroups were analyzed separately, despite fatal fires being renowned for being strongly age-dependent. Method: This study re-analyzes the typologies for fatal residential fires in Sweden using cluster analysis, based on data for a period of 20 years with a particular focus on older adults. Results: The results suggest that the original cluster analyses were relatively robust for both the total population and for the elderly population, thereby indicating that fatal fires seem to be consistently grouped into certain types. Conclusions: The results suggest that preventative efforts can be directed toward these types of events involving identified individuals. The results also suggest that the number of fatal residential fires with unknown causes has increased in relation to other fires during the 20-year study period. Practical Implications: Fatal residential fires with unknown causes are more often large night-time fires occurring in houses in rural locations. In order to prevent these, both prevention and reactive strategies need to be re-evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The work done in this paper provides the solutions for power access to rural and remote areas in developing nations. • The proposed affordable solution offers many advantages over the traditional central inverters. It provides more output power as compared to traditional central inverters under shading and dusting conditions. The results are validated through experimental investigation with regard to Indian weather conditions. • The proposed solution presents an optimal sizing strategy for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) for the low power rural household application. In literature, this kind of solution is yet not reported which makes this work novel. • This work presents the customized design of solar microinverter based PV System for different power provisioning levels for rural EWS houses. The proposed solution has an added advantage of addition of load in future without change in existing infrastructure. Reliable power supply is the key requirement for developing nations. Most of these nations are trying to modernize the rural lives by electrification in remote areas. Access to electricity is a bare requirement in future ages. This paper discusses the challenges faced by the utility companies in ensuring sustained electricity access to the new consumers followed by the various solutions. The techno – economic aspects of the proposed solution is validated by the experimental study. Based on the results, an optimal low-cost design is proposed in order for everyone to fulfil the minimum power needs. The paper presents an optimal size strategy for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) for the low power rural household application. The solar microinverter based PV System has been designed based on the daily load needs for one of the proposed layout plans of the (Gramin) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna adopted by Government of India. The proposed designs are also applicable for other developing nations. The proposed micro-inverter has been tested under different operating conditions and experimental validation proves its superiority over other inverter types, particularly for a low power application, as is the case for a typical low-income rural household. Economic considerations such as payback period has also been evaluated in this study. In addition, the proposed microinverter technology has also been tested in terms of power quality parameters under various operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Against the background of large-scale urbanisation and rural land expropriation, rural resettlement residential housing has been built to accommodate local rural residents in the peripheral areas of China. To explore the context-specific policy implications for improving neighbourhood satisfaction (NS) of residents in rural resettlement residential communities (RRRCs), this paper examines the determinants of NS, and their spatial effects, in rural resettlement residential neighbourhoods using Suqian, in Jiangsu Province, as a case study. This study contributes to the current literature in two ways: it constitutes the first attempt to examine NS among RRRCs; second, our spatial model helps to gain further understanding of horizontal and vertical spatial dependence effects. Our results indicate that income, gender, age, family structure, number of years living in a community, transport and architectural age all have significant effects on NS in RRRCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Almost 3 billion of the world's poorest people still rely on solid fuels, with a concomitant increase in indoor Particulate Matter (PM 2.5) concentration resulting in deaths from respiratory diseases. Increased prevalence of respiratory diseases among never smoking young individuals and fairly among women compared to men point towards a causal relationship between chronic smoke inhalation resulting from the burning of biomass fuels. Aim: To assess the quantitative exposure levels of PM 2.5 in a rural setting in South India and determine the association between PM 2.5, type of house, ventilation available and fuel used. Materials and Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted for 3 months from September 2020 to November 2020 in the rural field practice area of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The houses were classified into three types Kutcha (roof, walls, and floor made of poor-quality materials), semi pucca (two components made of good quality material and one component is of poor quality), and pucca (roof, walls, and floor made of good quality material) houses according to Census of India 1991. The air quality inside 127 houses was assessed by measuring PM2.5 levels for 24 hours in both kitchen and living rooms. The association between house characteristics, ventilation, type of fuel, and indoor air quality was Studied using student t-test and one-way Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA). Results: Among 323 included residents, 168 were males and 155 females with the mean age 36.99±13.24 years. The difference in average house area and living area between the three types of houses were statistically significant (p-value<0.001). The mean concentrations of PM2.5 were 290.07 µg/m3 and mean differences in PM2.5 levels in living room and kitchen of semi pucca (t=7.32, p-value<0.001) and pucca houses (t=5.47, p-value<0.001) were significant. The association between cross ventilation in kitchen (OR 3.24, p-value=0.042), artificial ventilation (OR 3.23, p=0.026), type of fuel (firewood OR 2.85, p-value=0.042) and PM2.5 levels is significant at 95% CI limits. Conclusion: Indoor air pollution is a silent killer responsible for several respiratory problems. Simple cost-effective measures could reduce indoor PM2.5 levels and thereby indoor air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hawlyat Al-Montada is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents the discussion on offering a seemingly light-hearted, nostalgic representation of England's rural communities in the 1840s. Topics include England transitioned from an agricultural-based economy to one based on industry and commerce; and illustrating the impacts of change and rural-to-urban migration in the writing.

In order to improve the effect of rural garden landscape design, this paper combines virtual simulation technology to design rural garden landscape and evaluates its design effect. Moreover, this paper proposes an optical modulation system for the application of virtual simulation in rural garden landscape design. In addition, before the target is modulated, this paper converts the two-dimensional image on the detector target surface into a one-dimensional stretched modulation image so that the beam emitted by each object point is stretched and flattened on the detector target surface. Finally, this paper explores the influence of lens spacing and field of view on the modulation image of the target surface and the characteristics of projected intensity attenuation after modulation and designs a modulation model that optimizes attenuation. The research results show that the garden landscape design based on virtual reality technology proposed in this paper has a good effect and is of great significance to the effect of rural garden landscape design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inside Beijing are hundreds of urban villages. Originally farming villages, now engulfed by urban expansion, they persist due to China's segregated urban-rural property system. Inhabitants are often still classed as peasants, despite being inside the city. Since most have had their agricultural land requisitioned for urban construction, they instead build multiple extensions to their houses to rent to rural migrants seeking cheap accommodation. In some cases, village populations have increased tenfold as migrants have flooded in, causing cramped conditions and overloading village infrastructure. Urban villages have in recent years emerged as key sites of ideological and political contestation. For local officials and planners envisioning gleaming world cities brimming with advanced technology and highly skilled workers, these are dirty and backward "urban cancers," enclaves of the "low-end population," and obstacles to their visions of the city as embodiment of global modernity. An opposing set of scholars and policy makers view these villages as essential to city life, channels for low-cost labor to service urban elites, and gateways to modernity for those formerly excluded. Within the urban villages, groups of migrant-activists defy the statist vision of the city. Through cultural performances and visual representations, they struggle to promote an urban modernity in which they are included as active participants. This article explores how Beijing's urban villages constitute a key site of ideological contestation over what the city should be, and whom urban life is for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, questionnaire surveys and field measurements were conducted at houses with elderly people in urban and rural areas across six regions of China. The prevalence of hypertension was approximately 40% in both urban and rural areas. The logistic analysis results indicated a greater prevalence of hypertension in the elderly of rural residences and a low indoor temperature-induced hypertension. According to the field measurement survey, the room temperature was stable at around 23 °C in the housing in northern urban areas equipped with district heating systems, and fluctuated from being equivalent to outdoor temperature to around 15 °C in the southern regions where air-conditioners were used. For housing in the northern rural areas where Chinese Kangs were used, the daily fluctuation in room temperature was significant, and room temperature was stable at a low level in the southern part without space heating. The room temperature and blood pressure were negatively correlated. Therefore, to maintain the health of the elderly in houses with low room temperatures in winter, it is necessary to improve the thermal environment by enhancing the thermal performance of the building and the heating equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited by the climate, economic level and energy-saving awareness of rural residents in the western China, rural houses are still in a stage of high energy consumption (EC) and low comfort. The passive design strategies should be given priority to provide an optimal design mode. The challenge is to find the best combination of design parameters. In this paper, rural single-storey detached houses are taken as the research objects. Three conflicted indicators are set as the objective function, namely building EC, thermal comfort and economy. The investigated design variables include building orientation, insulating layer thickness, window width & type, and indoor design temperature. A methodology of combining EnergyPlus and MOBO is used for multi-objective optimization, thus getting the Pareto solutions and using the weighted sum method to obtain the optimum parameter combinations. The proposed methodology for simulation-based multi-objective optimization is a useful tool to facilitate decision-making in building design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite two centuries of urbanisation worldwide, 45% of the world's people still live in rural areas. Driven by urban development, the form and structure of rural settlements have undergone drastic changes. Reasonable planning according to the scale of the land and spatial layout of rural settlements is particularly important for the development of rural areas. The continuous development of the economy means that the housing needs of farmers and the macro policy background will inevitably change. We create a relationship curve for the "policy-scale of rural settlements" in different periods according to the laws of Maslow's psychological demand theory and game theory and conduct an empirical study on Dingzhou City, China. The limited availability of remote sensing data means it is difficult to map the evolution patterns of rural settlements on medium and long time scales, and therefore, this paper explores and decrypts military satellite images, reveals the spatial evolution characteristics of rural settlements in Dingzhou, China from 1962 to 2020, and discusses the impact of policy factors on changes to rural settlements in different periods. The study found that from 1962 to 2020, the total area of rural settlements in Dingzhou showed a trend of continual increase, with a total increase of 8354.97 ha (73%). The average annual growth rates in 1962–1972, 1972–1990, 1990–2000, 2000–2010, and 2010–2020 were 0.29%, 1.17%, 1.81%, 1.26%, and 0.05%, respectively. The growth rate of rural settlements was relatively slow from 1962 to 1972. The policy was mainly because rural homesteads (land for building rural residences) were transformed from private ownership to "one homestead, two systems", and the expansion of rural settlements was inhibited. From 1972 to 1990, with the deepening of reform and opening up, there was a boom in building houses in rural areas, and the growth rate of rural settlements increased. From 1990 to 2000, although the state strengthened the management of rural settlement use, there was still an increasing trend in the area of rural settlements; from 2000 to 2020 the implementation of policies such as "one house for one household" and "connecting increase and decrease" meant that the growth rate of rural settlements slowed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A great abundance of rural houses lacking design guidance exists in the cold regions of China, often accompanied by huge energy loss. Particularly, a courtyard-style dwelling (CSD) has more complex and diverse building elements than a common house, rendering the design optimization extremely costly. Sensitivity analysis (SA) can screen the significant parameters of energy consumption for prediction and optimization. In this paper, (1) the design variables related to CSDs and their data details were extracted; (2) a ranking of parameters sensitive to energy demand was formulated; (3) an energy prediction model was trained and (4) dual-objective optimization was carried out. Using the survey data from 150 units in nine villages, 25 control variables were extracted for sequential global sensitivity analysis (GSA). Thus, the ranking of sensitivity parameters was formulated with the two-stage-and-three-sort GSA method. Furthermore, an energy prediction model was then trained with Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) and compared with the other four high-precision models. Based on the obtained prediction model, optimization was then carried out on energy and economic concerns. Consequently, a GSA-based workflow for CSD optimization was proposed to help architectural designers figure out the most efficient energy-saving parameter strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The authors estimate the value of public infrastructure using a panel of rural and urban counties in the United States from 1970 to 2012. Regression estimates imply public infrastructure increases employment more in urban counties, while improving property values more in rural ones; positive effects on income are similar. Spatial equilibrium modeling suggests public capital has similar quality-of-life and productivity benefits in urban and rural areas but does more to reduce costs of providing housing in urban ones. While public investments in rural and urban counties appear to pass conventional cost-benefit tests, dollar-per-dollar they are more valuable in urban counties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study integrates life-course theory and mobility research to explore livability factors that attract migrants in different age groups between rural and urban counties in the United States. Place livability is measured by economy, housing market, natural amenity, neighborhood, civic and social engagement, and health. Migrants are grouped into young, middle-aged, and older adults. Results of Structural Equation Modeling show that, as people age, the attractiveness of place shifts from a focus on the economy and housing market to the neighborhood and engagement. Rural communities, which rank the highest on engagement, attract working aged and older migrants. Natural amenities and lower housing costs also attract migrants moving to rural counties. This study suggests that the natural environment and social environment could make up for the lack of accessible physical design in rural communities. Affordable housing and an inclusive community are key to retaining and increasing the population in rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional rural housing in hot, humid regions of sub-Saharan Africa usually consists of single-level, poorly ventilated dwellings. Houses are mostly poorly screened against malaria mosquitoes and limited airflow discourages the use of bednets resulting in high indoor transmission. This study aims to determine whether living in a novel design house with elevated bedrooms and permeable screened walls reduces malaria, respiratory tract infections, and diarrhoea among children in rural Tanzania. Methods/study design: This is a household-randomized, controlled study in 60 villages in Mtwara, Tanzania. A total of 550 households are randomly selected, 110 of which are allocated a novel design house and 440 households continue to reside in traditional houses. A dynamic cohort of about 1650 children under 13 years will be enrolled and followed for 3 years, approximately 330 living in novel design houses and 1320 in traditional rural houses. The primary endpoint is the incidence of malaria; secondary endpoints are incidences of acute respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea diseases detected by passive and active surveillance. Exposure to malaria vectors will be assessed using light traps in all study houses. Structural, economic, and social science studies will assess the durability, cost-effectiveness, and acceptability of the new houses compared with traditional housing. Environmental data will be collected indoors and outdoors in study homes to assess the differences between house typologies. Discussion: This is the first randomized controlled trial to assess the protective efficacy of a new house design targeting malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings of this study could influence the future construction of homes in hot and humid zones of Africa. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.govNCT04529434. Registered on August 27, 2020 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural-vernacular house is shaped in line with the needs of the physical and socio-cultural environment and according to socio-economic factors; inevitably, it is undergoing an accelerated change. From this point of view, this study aims to focus on Cyprus, which is a quite interesting context, and targets to investigate the spatial change of rural-vernacular housing. Accordingly, it first aims to introduce basic housing typologies supported by unique spatial use. Following this, it primarily aims to introduce the basic housing and related space typologies supported by the original spatial use; to determine and discuss to what extent these typologies have changed; and how this change differs regarding to the peculiar characteristics of the basic types. Within the scope of this study, Büyükkonuk Village (Kom-i Kebir), which has sustained the characteristics of rural-vernacular architecture in Cyprus to the present, was chosen for field research. The houses here were built mainly by Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Today, they are used by Turkish Cypriots and Turks that emigrated from Turkey after 1974 who possess Turkish Cypriot citizenship. It is a known fact that, due to changing living conditions and the change in user profile, they are facing serious spatial and functional changes. Within the village dwelling texture, housing units that displayed identifiable changes were selected among the three most common types of Cypriot ruralvernacular residential architecture. In this context, the space syntax analysis method was used, in order to compare the original spatial organization of the 'units without halls' formed by closed spaces around courtyard, 'units with inner halls' and 'units with outer halls' formed by both closed spaces and semi-open spaces around courtyard, with their current changed states. The field study, which includes the determination of the space organization of the selected houses, was supported with observations on site and interviews with the users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Housing, while often thought of as an urban issue, is also fast-growing rural challenge. Differences in population density, construction costs, and the age of housing stock means that housing issues look different between urban centres and rural areas, and across different types of rural. A rural lens is required to better understand housing challenges and how they can be addressed. Like many parts of rural British Columbia, the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) is facing current and future housing challenges. This case study summarizes a collaborative applied research project conducted by the RDKB and Selkirk College that aimed to meet two objectives: 1. Identify successful local and regional approaches to rural market housing development, including mixed-use and mixed-income models. 2. Engage housing developers to pinpoint challenges and barriers to development of market housing. The goal of this case study is to summarize the findings of the project and communicate ideas and lessons learned that may benefit other rural jurisdictions. Based on an analysis of mixed-methods qualitative data, five overarching and interrelated themes emerged that are impacting rural housing needs: (a) aged housing stock, (b) homogenous supply of housing type, (c) limited or no rental vacancy, (d) nexus of control, and (e) limited data for rural communities consistently recurred as barriers to housing supply. These findings have the potential to inform both local and upper-level governments related to rural housing challenges. Funding Acknowledgement: This report was conducted as part of the Local Government Economic Development Research and Capacity Building program, a regional-scale economic development initiative. The project was funded by the Province of British Columbia's Rural Dividend Fund, with additional funds provided by the Columbia Basin Trust, Regional Districts of East Kootenay, Central Kootenay, Kootenay Boundary, and the Town of Golden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paradoxical situation of planning for growth while managing decline has long been a reality for politicians and planners in Nordic peripheries. In recent years, however, attempts to plan for demographic adaptation, smart shrinkage, and 'right-sizing' public services have become commonplace. While it has taken decades for this to become an accepted part of municipal planning, new opportunities are now arising in the Swedish North due to several unforeseen gigainvestments. These are expected to trigger rapid socio-economic growth along the urbanized coast and in a few select inland locations. Yet the likely effects on shrinking rural and sparsely populated municipalities geographically adjacent to these investment hotspots are much less understood. Previous research suggests that such investment projects might cause pressure for rural labour and housing markets but may also offer a range of positive spillover effects and development opportunities for rural areas. We draw on structural level narratives and interviews with key informants, including local and regional political stakeholders, to identify how the prospects of the giga-investments are viewed in places that are not directly affected, and what opportunities and threats are discussed. An overarching theme identified in the empirical material concerns the a-spatiality of discourses of growth, which we divide into two concrete dilemmas: infrastructure and mobility. Our findings show that, while the investments are seen as ringing in a new 'golden age' for the northern region, such a-spatial understandings of regional characteristics might stand in the way of acting fast and being able to make the most of the potential spillover effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural libraries serve the specific information need(s) of communities where they are domiciled. They are vital to the knowledge society, fundamental to the information access and distribution framework at the community level. Today, rural areas are almost void of crucial contemporary information-based technological infrastructure. Preservation of information resources is crucial to its sustainable utilization either for individualist or communal development. This study presents the status quo on preservation of information resources in public libraries in rural communities in southern Nigeria. The survey design was adopted; random sampling was used to draw 98 respondents, questionnaire was constructed to elicit responses with 91% returned rate. Results showed that information resources are in poor state of preservation due to deposition of particulate matter, dilapidation of library building, and mutilation. Dusting/cleaning of shelves/books and the engagement of humans to secure information resources were the most frequently used to preserve the information resources. Rural libraries lacked CCTV and no RFID installed to prevent theft. There are almost no visible digital preservation activities in place. The constraints to preservation include the obsolete nature of information resources, delay in government's response to plea on preservation requirements, no air conditioning, poor electricity and underfunding. Staff training on preservation, workable preservation policy, increase budgetary allocation, and community awareness of use of information resources may enhance preservation efforts. Rural libraries are merely fast fading store houses of information resources with its purpose almost been defeated. There is need for urgent attention from the public and concerned agencies. Useful recommendations were put forward accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the participation and dialogicity in the management of private and non-profit organizations with socio-educational objectives in rural areas. Particularly, it examines the Casa Familiar Rural (CFR) [Rural Family House] organisation management located in Cametá municipality, in Pará state. The CFR organisation covers in its principles the approach of participatory management involving every people who are part of it, in particular community people. The CFR follows the proposal of the Pedagogy of Alternation. Theoretically, the discussion is based on the field of social management. Methodologically, it is a qualitative study that gathered data from the documentary analysis, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups with the CFR’s members. The paper shows that participation and dialogue in CFR management occur from diverse typologies and forms. In the case of CFR of Cametá, it was found that dialogicity is linked to the active, passive, or interactive typologies of participation, which happen in different ways according to the actor’s category and the historical period we are speaking about. Throughout its history, the CFR Cametá covers all types of participation: conquered, voluntary or spontaneous, affective, instrumental, and for individual gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through recognition and mastery of the regional differences and influencing factors of China's rural housing rental rates, we can better understand changes in the functional attributes of homesteads and deepen the reform of "separating rural land ownership rights, contract rights, and management rights" of homesteads. Accordingly, this paper uses village residence data from the China Labor-force Dynamics Survey to measure the degree of regional differences in rural housing rental rates at the province level and empirically analyze the influencing factors with villages (residences) as measuring unit. The study yields four main findings. First, rural housing rental behavior exists to varying degrees in the vast majority of provinces nationwide. Second, according to the spatial distribution pattern, rural housing rental rates are generally high in the eastern coastal region and low in the central, western, and northeastern regions, mainly reflecting unique characteristics of the eastern region. Third, although the level of economic development is important, it is not the only factor explaining regional differences in rural housing rental rates. Fourth, rural housing rental rates are mainly influenced by a combination of three types of factors: physiographic, socioeconomic, and village governance factors. Among them, factors such as proximity to suburban areas, the proportion of non-local permanent residents, annual per capita income, and village infrastructure conditions have significant positive effects, whereas factors such as distance from administrative centers, reliance on funding from the higher-level authority of the village committee, and the degree of harmony between villages and cadres have significant negative effects. By interpreting the policy implications of these findings, we hope to provide a reference for localized, categorical reform of the homestead system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural urbanization under China's process of rapid urbanization entails significant rural transformation and is profoundly influencing sustainable development. However, little research has been undertaken on spatial patterns and socioeconomic activities. In this study, we defined urbanized rural areas as territories where the population size, economic output, and built-up land area are larger than in other rural and urban areas. Using large-scale and high-granularity spatial data, we delimited 255 urbanized rural areas from the 15,117 village-level administrative units in Fujian Province, China, in 2015. Analysis of the spatial patterns of the urbanized rural areas showed that spatial clustering, proximity to well-developed urban centers, and transportation accessibility influenced the development of the urbanized rural areas. Analysis of socioeconomic activities in the urbanized rural areas showed that the urbanized rural areas are rudimentary urban areas in terms of socioeconomic activities. Specifically, we found four representative socioeconomic activities in the urbanized rural areas: an urban-like housing model, diverse non-agricultural activities, transportation improvements, and sufficient health services. Based on our findings, we put forward several policy implications. This study can add valuable new knowledge for rural and urbanization studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Berliner Debatte Initial is the property of Berliner Debatte Initial e.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Rural Research is the property of Negah Institute for Social Research & Scientific Communication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Space & Form / Przestrzeń i FORMA is the property of West Pomeranian University of Technology, Department of Architecture & Urban Planning and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The weather in the high latitudes of China is cold in winter. The pollution caused by the burning of biomass fuels used in rural individual heating is a great threat to human health. This study finds that the amounts of CO2, CO, PM2.5, and PM10 in the bedroom exceed the standard and the temperature does not meet the standard based on indoor air measurements in rural residential buildings in Liaoning Province in winter. In this study, a mechanical ventilation method which uses flue gas to preheat fresh air is proposed, for the purpose of simultaneously improving the indoor air quality and the thermal environment of rural houses. The flue gas–fresh air heat exchange (FGFAHE) experiment shows that biomass combustion flue gas can increase the outdoor air temperature by 23.7 °C on average. The ventilation experiment shows that the method of mechanical ventilation combined with external window penetration can increase the dilution rate of indoor CO by more than 1 times. The simulation results of six different ventilation schemes show that the ventilation mode of the diagonal opposite side upper air supply and lower exhaust air (DOUSLE) has the best effect on indoor CO prevention and control, and the mode of median air supply is the most beneficial to the indoor thermal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have shown that the technology used to improve the living environment in rural areas often loses its effect in a few years, and farmers return to their familiar and habitual way of life. The failure to consider the basic needs of farmers is an important reason for these problems. Therefore, this study conducted qualitative and quantitative analyses on the factors that influence the demand on the human settlement environment through visits, field measurements, a questionnaire survey (which involved more than 20 households in 14 villages in seven provinces and cities in northern China), and the construction of a structural equation model based on demand. The survey included (amongst other factors) personal attributes, daily living, diet and environmental preferences, living customs and energy consumption, housing construction methods, and the surrounding environment. The results showed that, compared with mental happiness (0.084) and physical health (0.119), socioeconomic status (0.260) had a greater influence on the weight of the overall demand satisfaction among the various demand indicators. Farmers prioritized yard planning (0.135), toilets (0.126), and living rooms (0.095). They also gave importance to the indoor thermal environment (0.088), air quality (0.088), and food problems (0.087). The findings of this study provide a theoretical reference for the inception of technical approaches to improve human settlement environment centered on rural houses in North China, and the realization of sustainable development in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of CienciAmérica is the property of Revista Cienciamerica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)