Urban flooding,social equity,and “backyard” green infrastructure: An area for multidisciplinary practice

ABSTRACT

“Backyard” green infrastructure programs are an innovative way to manage urban stormwater, with many social and ecologic benefits. In many programs, however, residents with lower incomes are not reached, though they could benefit from participation, and though their participation could benefit the socioecological system. We examined awareness of and interest in backyard green infrastructure among lower- and moderate-income residents (N = 234). Awareness among our study population is low to moderate, but interest is moderate to high, with variability by some demographic and other characteristics. A spouse/partner, city agency, and/or neighbor may have influential roles in increasing participation in backyard green infrastructure.     

马克思、恩格斯的城乡融合思想及对我国小城镇发展的启示

马克思、恩格斯认为,城乡对立是社会历史发展到一定阶段的产物,并随着生产力的发展逐步消失,城乡融合才是城乡关系发展的最终目标,提出了在未来社会消除城乡对立和差别的"城乡融合"思想,并通过阐释"城乡融合"的必然趋势,实现"城乡融合"的条件与途径从而形成了系统的城乡融合理论,是我国进行城乡一体化建设的理论基础。小城镇作为城市和新农村建设的结合部,是联结城乡发展的纽带和中间体,是我国进行城乡一体化建设的切入点,发展小城镇对促进我国城乡融合,实现城乡协调发展具有重大意义。以马克思、恩格斯的城乡融合理论为指导,探寻小城镇促进城乡融合的路径,可以更好地发挥小城镇促进城乡一体化发展的功能。     

农村贫困老人日常生活中的代际冲突分析*

在当前农村社会出现了“价值虚化”现象,伦理体系发生异化,生活中的“去价值化”、“去老龄化”使得村庄张力、离心力扩大,贫困老人被边缘化、污名化,加剧了农村代际冲突.在面对代际冲突时,亟需关注贫困老人的行动选择及其后果.在日常生活中追寻农村社会伦理的变异,探究贫困老人代际冲突行动背后的逻辑及隐藏其后的农村社会的变迁,应是我们当前研究农村贫困老人问题的一个新视角.     

Historical land use and soil analysis guiding corridor landscape design

Changing land use from forested environments to agricultural and/or urban spaces dramatically alters soil chemical, physical, and biological properties and thereby influences the survivability of landscape plants installed in these areas. This site analysis was conducted along New Hope Road, in Pickens County, SC, to develop a sustainable landscape design for the greenway corridor to buffer future cuttings of pines and offer a variety of recreational and educational opportunities for the community. Using a “design with nature” framework, an interdisciplinary team collaborated on a thorough observation and analysis of the inherent qualities of the site, historical documents and aerial photographs to describe the land use history of the site. The dominant soil series found on the site were Cecil clay loam, Cecil sandy loam, and Pacolet clay loam. Surface soil chemistry tests were conducted to examine soil and buffer pH; organic carbon and nitrogen contents; nitrate–nitrogen; extractable phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, copper, boron, and sodium; lime requirements and recommendations; cation exchange capacity; acidity; and percent base saturation. Analysis of site history, aerial photographs, and soil testing revealed that a history of intensive agricultural land use and managed forestry on the site has noticeably altered the soil quality. Severe soil erosion and compaction brought about by a combination of anthropogenic and natural causes have left much of the site with infertile soils lacking a true topsoil layer and characterized by low pH. These qualities present numerous challenges when attempting to modify and install vegetation. Based on historical land use, soil analysis, and plant species characteristics, a final landscape design was created that addressed the environmental opportunities, constraints of the site and provided site- and plant-specific fertilizer recommendations for successful establishment and maintenance of this greenway corridor.     

The Complexities of Change in the Psychotherapy of Serious Mental Illness: A Practitioner’s Reflections

The sweeping revisions in the understanding of major mental illness brought about by the biological revolution in psychiatry moved the spotlight away from the treatment relationship. In recent years, however, a resurgence of interest in subjectivity underscored the fact that despite dramatic scientific breakthroughs the existential realities of illness were largely unaltered. Even with this shift in inquiry, however, little attention was shown to the inner experience of practitioners engaged in long-term therapeutic relationships where movement of any kind was barely detectable. Clinicians and clients alike frequently travel a long and difficult road in search of pathways to recovery. Tracing their shared journey through a detailed case presentation illuminates the interior worlds of both travelers and illustrates that neither is left untouched by the complexities of change.     

Matching deprivation mapping to urban governance in three Indian mega-cities

Recent discussions of poverty recognize its multi-dimensional character, focusing on multiple sources of deprivation that poor households experience. However, for urban planners and politicians to implement intervention programs effectively in mega-cities, knowledge on sources and spatial patterns of multiple deprivations is needed. Disaggregated analysis potentially allows them to target programs to specific locations, set priorities in line with local needs, and be efficient in the use of funding. This article maps multiple deprivations of households in three Indian mega-cities, at the electoral ward level. It uses the livelihoods approach to address the following questions: 1) Is there a spatial concentration of deprivations within cities and do poverty levels differ between them? 2) Do cities differ in the types of deprivations? and 3) do these cluster within the city? The paper compares Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, using a multi-criteria model within a geographical information system developed for identifying hotspots of multiple deprivation. It further links the results of deprivation mapping to questions of urban governance by comparing deprivation results with data on slums currently used to target anti-poverty programs. Finally, the opportunities of using spatial data for improving priorities and efficient use of funds in poverty programs are analyzed.     

Exotic monk parakeets (Myiopsitta monachus) in New Jersey: nest site selection, rebuilding following removal, and their urban wildlife appeal

Understanding how birds exist in highly urban cities is important to maintaining biodiversity within these environments, and exotic species pose a unique opportunity to examine adaptation. The non-native monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) nests mainly in cities in the United States, and in some places, is considered a nuisance by utility companies. Monk parakeets nest communally (many nests in one nest structure) and colonially (many nest structures in one area). We studied monk parakeets in urban New Jersey to determine where they nested, if nest sites were similar among parakeets nesting in trees and utility poles, and if they rebuilt following removal. Of the 51 nest structures we studied, 37% were on utility poles, 8% were on a man-made gazebo, and the rest were in trees. Nest structures located on poles were located closer to the ground, had fewer nest holes, and the distance to nearest tree was greater than for tree nest structures. The pole nest structures were closer to the top of the “canopy” or structure, and were always located on or around the pole rather than out on one of the cross beams. The nest structures were similar in size and shape whether they were located on poles, other man-made objects, or in trees. Thus monk parakeets built similar nest structures, and located them about the same distance from the ground and from houses whether they were in utility poles or in trees, leading to the conclusion that poles provide suitable sites for them. The parakeets persisted in nesting on the utility poles and another man-made gazebo despite being removed over several years, and despite the presence of other nearby unused trees. After parakeet nest structures were removed from poles by the utility company, most birds began rebuilding within the day. The persistence, despite persecution, of the monk parakeet on poles, and the fact that poles provide attractive and secure support for nest structures, suggest that they will continue to do so. Managers must either learn to live with the parakeets, redesign the utility pole structure to be less appealing to the birds, provide them with alternative nest sites on the utility poles or nearby, or continue to forcibly remove them. Local support for the parakeets, and their potential to serve as urban icons, have resulted in New Jersey’s utility company working with local enthusiasts and scientists to ensure the birds are not harmed during nest removal.     

基于状态转移矩阵（STM）旗型的城镇职工基本养老保险制度可持续性研究

本文应用系统工程的理论方法,通过构建状态转移矩阵（STM）模型,定量分析了人口“城乡-年龄”结构联动对城镇职工基本养老保险制度可持续性的影响机理．研究表明城镇职工基本养老保险制度的可持续性受到“农村人口、农民工和城镇人口”数量及其结构变动、“未成年人口、劳动年龄人口、老年人口”数量及其结构变动的双重影响。基于模型推导结果和研究结论,本文提出实现城镇职工基本养老保险制度的可持续发展的相关对策建议．以期为加快建立覆盖城乡居民的养老保险体系提供决策依据和实践参考。     

城乡投入产出模型的构建及应用

 推进城乡一体化,需要深入理解工农之间的产业关联和城乡之间的相互作用。构建城乡投入产出模型,对于定量分析农业部门与产业之间及城乡之间的经济联系,具有不可比拟的优势。本研究基于2002年全国投入产出表数据,对农业部门进行了细化,构建了77部门城乡投入产出模型,并测算了种植业和畜牧业部门的影响力、感应度系数和依赖系数。计算结果表明：影响力和感应度系数的结果基本符合我国农业的发展现状和基本特点;依赖系数量化了各农业部门产出对消费、投资和出口的依赖关系,揭示了粮食作物是以消费拉动为主、棉麻以出口拉动为主、林业和木材对投资依赖较高的格局, 分析结果验证了模型的科学性和可靠性。