Tales from a small island: applying the ‘path-dependency’ thesis to explore migration to a remote rural community

Peer reviewed

An investigation into the techniques for detecting hedgehogs in a rural landscape

Various techniques and devices have been developed for the purpose of detecting wildlife but many only provide optimum results in particular habitats, for certain species or under ideal weather conditions. It is therefore advantageous to understand the efficiency and suitability of techniques under different scenarios. The effectiveness of methods for detecting rural Irish hedgehogs was investigated as part of a larger study in April 2008. Road kill sightings and questionnaires were employed to locate possible hedgehog sites. Six sites were subsequently selected, and in these areas trapping, spotlighting and foot print tunnels were employed to investigate whether hedgehogs were indeed in the surrounding landscape. Infrared thermal imagery was examined as a detection device. Trapping and infrared imagery failed to detect hedgehogs in areas where they had previously been recorded. Footprint tunnels proved to be unsuccessful in providing absolute proof of hedgehogs in an area. No single method of detection technique could be relied upon to conclude the presence of hedgehogs in an area. A combination of methods is therefore recommended. However, spotlighting was the most effective method, taking a mean of 4 nights to detect a hedgehog, in comparison to 48 nights if footprint tunnels were used as a sole method of detection. This was also suggested by rarefaction curves of these two detection techniques, where over a 48 night period hedgehogs were expected to be recorded 27 times through spotlighting and just 5 times in an equivalent period of footprint tunnel nights.

Inter-Species Microbial Sharing in Rural Madagascar: A Study of Environmental Influences on the Skin Microbiome

The skin is home to trillions of microbes, many of which are recently implicated in immune system regulation and various health conditions (33). The skin is continuously exposed to the outside environment, inviting microbial transfer between human skin and the people, animals, and surfaces with which an individual comes into contact. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess how different environmental exposures influence skin microbe communities, as this can strengthen our understanding of how microbial variation relates to health outcomes. This study investigated the skin microbial communities of humans and domesticated cattle living in rural Madagascar. The V3 region of the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced from samples of zebu (the domesticated cattle of Madagascar), zebu owners, and non-zebu owners. Overall, human armpits were the least diverse sample site, while ankles were the most diverse. The diversity of zebu samples was significantly different from armpits, irrespective of zebu ownership (one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD, p<0.05). However, zebu owner samples (from the armpit, ankle forearm, and hand) were more similar to other zebu owner samples than they were to zebu, yet no more similar to other zebu owner samples than they were to non-zebu owner samples (unweighted UniFrac distances, p<0.05). These data suggest a lack of a microbial signature shared by zebu owners and zebu, though further taxonomic analysis is required to explain the role of additional environmental variables in dictating the microbial communities of various samples sites. Understanding the magnitude and directionality of microbial sharing has implications for a breadth of microbe-related health outcomes, with the potential to explain mosquito host preference and mitigate the threats of vector-borne diseases.

Menopause, Rurality, And Obesity in Rural African American Women

In the US, one in every eight deaths is due to an obesity-related chronic health condition (ORCHC). More than half of African American women (AAW) 20 years old or older are obese or morbidly obese, as are 63% of menopausal AAW. Many have ORCHC that increase their morbidity and mortality and increase health care costs. In 2013, 42.6 percent of AAs living in South Carolina (SC) were obese. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify the cognitive, behavioral, biological, and demographic factors that influence health outcomes (BMI, and ORCHC) of AAW living in rural SC. A sample of 200 AAW (50 in each of the 4 groups of rurality by menopausal status), 18-64 years, completed the: Menopausal Rating Scale (symptoms); Body Image Assessment for Obesity (self-perception of body); Mental Health Inventory; Block Food Frequency Questionnaire; Eating Behaviors and Chronic Conditions, Traditional Food Habits, and Food Preparation Technique questionnaires – and measures for Body Mass Index. Most rural, and premenopausal AAW were single and not living with a partner. Premenopausal women had significantly higher educational levels. Sixty percent of AAW had between 1 and 5 ORCHC. Most AAW used salt based seasonings, ate deep fried foods 1 to 3 times a week, and ate outside the home 1 to 3 times a month. Few AAW knew the correct daily serving for grains and dairy, and most consumed less than the recommended daily serving of fruits, vegetables and dairy. Morbidly obese AAW used more traditional food preparation techniques than obese and normal-weight AAW. Rural, and menopausal AAW had significantly higher morbid obesity levels, consumed larger portions of meats and vegetables, and reported more body image dissatisfaction than very rural AAW, and premenopausal AAW, respectively. Controlling for socioeconomic factors the relationships between perceptions of body images, psychological distress, and psychological wellbeing remained significant for numbers of ORCHC

La apertura al mundo y el mundo rural, doscientos años después

El texto repasa el impacto de la apertura comercial al mundo traída por la Revolución en el Río de la Plata. Se enfoca en las condiciones que el nuevo paradigma trajo al mundo rural y en las consecuencias para los distintos espacios de esa región. Se trata de un ensayo basado en fuentes éditas, inéditas y bibliografía.

La apertura al mundo y el mundo rural, doscientos años después

El texto repasa el impacto de la apertura comercial al mundo traída por la Revolución en el Río de la Plata. Se enfoca en las condiciones que el nuevo paradigma trajo al mundo rural y en las consecuencias para los distintos espacios de esa región. Se trata de un ensayo basado en fuentes éditas, inéditas y bibliografía.

La apertura al mundo y el mundo rural, doscientos años después

El texto repasa el impacto de la apertura comercial al mundo traída por la Revolución en el Río de la Plata. Se enfoca en las condiciones que el nuevo paradigma trajo al mundo rural y en las consecuencias para los distintos espacios de esa región. Se trata de un ensayo basado en fuentes éditas, inéditas y bibliografía.

Perspective d'un développement rural durable : le cas des Hmongs du Laos

Résumé : Le développement durable est un processus d'évolution dans lequel toutes les ethnies coexistent en harmonie avec un environnement sain. Depuis une quarantaine d'années, le Laos a connu de nombreux bouleversements. Des groupes minoritaires, dont les Hmongs, ont subi les contrecoups des changements socio-politiques et économiques. Les Hmongs, qui habitent les régions montagneuses et qui pratiquent l'agriculture itinérante, sont particulièrement touchés par des inégalités économiques et sociales malgré la politique d'égalité ethnique. Les transformations progressives de leur méthode d'utilisation du sol, de leur mode de production et de leur mode de vie itinérants en sédentarisation durable deviennent fondamentales et cruciales. Les Hmongs défavorisés aspirent fortement à de meilleures conditions de vie tout comme les populations qui vivent dans les plaines. En effet, les Hmongs, qui habitent dans les régions de Lakhasipsong et de Longsan, province de Vientiane, s'adaptent aux nouvelles conditions de transformation socio-économique, soient la sédentarisation du mode de production et du mode de vie. On peut affirmer que le développement rural et communautaire permet la sédentarisation des Hmongs et que ces derniers sont aptes à s'adapter à la vie moderne. La méthode d'enquête par entrevue sur la base d'un sondage employée sur le terrain nous a permis de découvrir les caractéristiques de développement durable autant socio-économique que politique dans la province de Vientiane avec application particulière aux Hmongs. Les résultats de l'enquête démontrent que les stratégies de sédentarisation sans relocalisation et avec relocalisation sur l'initiative soit personnelle soit gouvernementale ont fait leurs preuves. Des changements dans les modes de production et de vie ont non seulement permis une meilleure utilisation du sol, une augmentation de la production et une amélioration des conditions de vie mais aussi une meilleure préservation de l'écosystème.||Abstract : Sustainable development is an evolutionary process in which all ethnie groups live in harmony with a healthy environment. For approximately forty years, Laos has been subjected to many disruptions. Minority groups, like the Hmong, have felt the full impact of the numerous socio-political and economic changes that took place in the country. The Hmong, in particular, who live in mountainous regions and practice slash and burn agriculture, have suffered from economic and social inequality policies praticed by previous governments. The progressive transformation of their methods of land use, their mode of production and their migrant life style must clearly be understood before any attempt at a sedentary life style with a view to a sustainable development be undertaken. The underprivileged Hmong aspire to better living conditions comparable to those of people living in the plains. More precisely, the Hmong, who live in Lakhasipsong and Longsan in the province of Vientiane, adapt to their new conditions of social and economic transformation by fixing into place their mode of production and their lifestyle. We can state that the rural community development taking place allows an effective sédentarisation for the Hmong and, that they are able to adapt themselves to modem life. The survey method by interview and randown sampling on the ground permits us to discover elements of farming development within the socio-economic as well as political life in Vientiane province with a particular application to the Hmong. The survey results in showing that settling down strategies without relocation or with relocation on personal or governmental initiative are truly operational. Changes in the mode of production and life style have not only permitted a better land use, an increased production and a better life style but also, a better conservation of the environment.

La coopérative d’épargne et de crédit : une alternative aux systèmes financiers informels dans le monde rural des pays du tiers-monde : contexte et cas

[…] L'objectif visé est de faire une synthèse des connaissances accumulées sur les systèmes financiers informels du monde rural dans les pays du tiers-monde. Nous procéderons en deuxième lieu à l'application du modèle des coopératives d'épargne et de crédit comme alternative aux circuits financiers informels présents dans les économies à faible revenu. Enfin par l'analyse sommaire d'une C.E.C. située en milieu rural haïtien nous tenterons de justifier notre hypothèse de recherche. Dans cette étude, nous posons l'hypothèse que la coopérative d'épargne et de crédit, lorsqu'elle répond à certaines conditions de base, serait une réelle alternative aux systèmes financiers informels dans le monde rural des pays du tiers-monde. Il serait prétentieux de vouloir décrire tous les systèmes financiers informels rencontrés dans le monde rural des pays du tiers-monde. Aussi en vue de circonscrire le champ de notre étude nous nous sommes limités à analyser le cadre général de l’intermédiation financière dans un échantillon de quelques pays en développement appartenant à trois continents soit l'Afrique, l'Asie et l'Amérique Latine, couvrant les secteurs formel et informel en milieu rural. Dans le but d'atténuer le dualisme financier et son incidence sur le développement, nous proposons comme alternative aux systèmes financiers informels, la formule coopérative. Considérant qu'il y a autant de modèle coopératif de développement qu'il y a de contexte culturel, il nous a semblé important de relever les principales conditions de base pouvant assurer le succès d'une telle intégration. Nous avons choisi de tester la faisabilité de notre choix à travers un cas particulier qui est celui d'une C.E.C. située en milieu semi-rural à 104 Km de la Capitale dans le Département du Sud-Est d'Haïti. […]

Mathematical analysis of maximum power generated by photovoltaic systems and fitting curves for standard test conditions

The rural electrification is characterized by geographical dispersion of the population, low consumption, high investment by consumers and high cost. Moreover, solar radiation constitutes an inexhaustible source of energy and in its conversion into electricity photovoltaic panels are used. In this study, equations were adjusted to field conditions presented by the manufacturer for current and power of small photovoltaic systems. The mathematical analysis was performed on the photovoltaic rural system I- 100 from ISOFOTON, with power 300 Wp, located at the Experimental Farm Lageado of FCA/UNESP. For the development of such equations, the circuitry of photovoltaic cells has been studied to apply iterative numerical methods for the determination of electrical parameters and possible errors in the appropriate equations in the literature to reality. Therefore, a simulation of a photovoltaic panel was proposed through mathematical equations that were adjusted according to the data of local radiation. The results have presented equations that provide real answers to the user and may assist in the design of these systems, once calculated that the maximum power limit ensures a supply of energy generated. This real sizing helps establishing the possible applications of solar energy to the rural producer and informing the real possibilities of generating electricity from the sun.

Young adults in rural tourism areas

This thesis examines how tourism affects conditions for young adults in rural areas. Such a study lies at the intersection of research about tourism impacts, adult transition, and rural areas. The aim is to examine how largescale tourism affects the opportunities for young adults living in rural areas; their perception of place and the perceived opportunities and obstacles that tourism provides. The thesis utilizes a mixed method approach. A quantitative study based on micro-data on individuals identifies the patterns and magnitudes of the mechanisms by which tourism affects population change among young adults. Interview methods are used in the case study area, Sälen, to investigate these mechanisms in depth. Finally, the rural–urban dichotomy is explored in a conceptual study that asks how tourism affects the perception of a local village as either rural or urban. Young inhabitants in rural areas are rarely considered in tourism research; therefore, the main contribution of this thesis is that it illuminates how tourism affects conditions for young adults in rural areas. The thesis reveals a substantial impact on the adult transition, mainly due to easier access to the labor market and a good supply of jobs during the high season. Further, the large number of people passing through creates flows of opportunities to make friends, get a job, or just meet people. All of these factors contribute to high mobility in these places, and to the perception of them as places where things happen. The high mobility in Sälen implies that fixed migrant categories (such as stayers and leavers) are largely insufficient. The tourism environment creates a space that is always under construction and continually producing new social relations mainly perceived as opportunities. Conceptualizing this as a modern rurality is a way to move beyond the often implicit notions of urban as modern and rural as traditional.

Prevalencia de síndrome de agotamiento profesional y su relación con las condiciones de trabajo en el personal de salud de la zona rural del departamento del Cauca, Colombia 2016

Introducción: El síndrome de agotamiento profesional o de burnout se define como una respuesta al estrés laboral crónico, afecta con frecuencia a los trabajadores del sector salud y ha sido descrito según la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) como un riesgo laboral. En su desarrollo intervienen distintos factores principalmente sociodemográficos y laborales. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de síndrome de agotamiento profesional y su relación con las condiciones de trabajo del personal de salud de la zona rural del Cauca. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal en 4 hospitales rurales nivel I, con un muestreo probabilístico aleatorio simple, para un total de 212 trabajadores, de los cuales el 74.5% fueron asistenciales y el 25.5% administrativos, Se les aplicó el cuestionario Maslash Burnout Inventory (MBI) que consta de 22 ítems y mide los 3 aspectos del síndrome: cansancio emocional, despersonalización y falta de realización personal y el cuestionario nacional de condiciones de trabajo del instituto nacional de seguridad e higiene en el trabajo de España (INSHT). Se realizó un análisis de datos en STATA versión 12. Resultados: Se encontró una prevalencia general de síndrome de agotamiento profesional de 39.7% y según cada dimensión para cansancio emocional de 21.7%, para despersonalización de 15.1% y para realización personal de 13.7%. Se halló significancia estadística con relación a la edad y baja realización personal (p=0.037), con los factores de riesgo psicolaborales por sobrecarga y cansancio emocional (p=0.020), falta de autonomía y cansancio emocional (p=0.021) entre otros. En los factores de riesgo biomecánicos por falta de iluminación y cansancio emocional (p=0.000), falta de iluminación y despersonalización (p=0.017) y falta de iluminación y síndrome en general (p=0.000). Conclusión: La prevalencia de síndrome de agotamiento profesional en el personal de salud que trabaja en zona rural del Cauca fue de 39.7%, la dimensión más determinante fue cansancio emocional seguido de despersonalización y por ultimo realización personal. Se recomienda iniciar en la institución con un programa de vigilancia epidemiológica de prevención para el agotamiento laboral e intervenir en los factores biomecánicos y factores psicolaborales.

Effects of clouds on the surface shortwave radiation at a rural inland mid-latitude site

Seven years (2003–2010) of measured shortwave (SW) irradiances were used to obtain estimates of the 10 min averaged effective cloud optical thickness (ECOT) and of the shortwave cloud radiative effect (CRESW) at the surface in a mid-latitude site (Évora — south of Portugal), and its seasonal variability is presented. The ECOT, obtained using transmittance measurements at 415 nm, was compared with the correspondent MODIS cloud optical thickness (MODIS COT) for non-precipitating water clouds and cloud fractions higher than 0.25. This comparison showed that the ECOT represents well the cloud optical thickness over the study area. The CRESW, determined for two SW broadband ranges (300–1100 nm; 285–2800 nm), was normalized (NCRESW) and related with the obtained ECOT. A logarithmic relation between NCRESW and ECOT was found for both SW ranges, presenting lower dispersion for overcast-sky situations than for partially cloudy-sky situations. The NCRESW efficiency (NCRESW per unit of ECOT) was also related with the ECOT for overcast-sky conditions. The relation found is parameterized by a power law function showing that NCRESW efficiency decreases as the ECOT increases, approaching one for ECOT values higher than about 50.

DISEÑO DE UN GEOPORTAL PARA ANALIZAR LAS INICIATIVAS DE DESARROLLO RURAL LEADER EN EXTREMADURA

En Europa se están gestionando Políticas de Desarrollo Rural desde el año 1991 bajo el amparo de la Iniciativa LEADER. En este proyecto se ha diseñado un Geoportal para visualizar las Iniciativas LEADER de Desarrollo Rural en Extremadura. Para su elaboración se utilizó MapServer que facilita la introducción de las variables físicas, demográficas, económicas, equipamientos y las inversiones por medidas en una base de datos  cartográfica y alfanumérica a escala municipal. El diseño de dicho Geoportal permite, por una parte, analizar el impacto de este tipo de políticas en los últimos dieciséis años, así como establecer su contribución a la mejora de las condiciones de vida de la población rural, sin duda, objetivo principal de estas iniciativas. Y, por otra parte, facilita la consulta pública de los datos sin coste alguno para el usuario, al estar disponible en software SIG Libre.Palabras clave: Europa, LEADER Iniciativa, SIG, software libre, MapServer.ABSTRACTIn Europe, Rural Development Policy since 1991 has been managed under the auspices of the LEADER Initiative. In this project a Geoportal has been designed to visualize rural development under the LEADER Initiatives. MapServer has been used for elaboration and the physical, demographic, economic, equipment and investment measures have been introduced in an alphanumeric and cartographic database to municipal scale. The design of the Geoportal allows the impact of the policies over the last 16 years to be analyzed, as well as to determine their impact on improving the living conditions of the rural population, without a doubt the main objective of these initiatives. Moreover, it allows inspection of the data at no cost to the user via free Open Source GIS software.Key Words: Europe, LEADER Initiative, GIS, Open Source, MapServer.