Design and administration of activity-travel diaries: a case study from Bengaluru city in India

Studies on travel survey instrument design and administration in the context of Indian cities are limited despite the fact that these aspects of travel survey face unique challenges here when compared to the cities in the developed world. Here we report results of a pilot survey conducted for evaluating the performances, alternative diary formats and survey administration techniques in Bengaluru city, India. The study proposes two diary formats. `Diary-1' is in day-planner format and is a variant of the one reported earlier in the literature. `Diary-2' is derived as a combination of `Diary-1' and the trip-based diaries widely applied in Indian cities. `Face-to-face', and `drop-off and pick-up' methods of survey administration are considered for retrieving the activity-travel information of individuals. Evidence appears to be strong that diary-2 is preferable to diary-1 for collecting the travel details of individuals. The comparison of the retrieval methods suggests that the face-to-face method of instrument administration is superior to the drop-off and pick-up method in terms of higher response rates and minimum recording errors.

Intrinsic large gap quantum anomalous Hall insulators in LaX (X = Br,Cl,I)

We report a theoretical prediction of a new class of bulk and intrinsic quantum anomalous Hall (QAH) insulators LaX (X=Br, Cl, and I) via relativistic first-principles calculations. We find that these systems are innate long-ranged ferromagnets which, with the help of intrinsic spin-orbit coupling, become QAH insulators. A low-energy multiband tight-binding model is developed to understand the origin of the QAH effect. Finally, integer Chern number is obtained via Berry phase computation for each two-dimensional plane. These materials have the added benefit of a sizable band gap of as large as similar to 25 meV, with the flexibility of enhancing it to above 75 meV via strain engineering. The synthesis of LaX materials will provide the impurity-free single crystals and thin-film QAH insulators for versatile experiments and functionalities.

El abastecimiento de agua corriente en la ciudad de Córdoba (1900-1910) : continuidad y cambio en la gestión

Resumen: Desde un punto de vista general el agua es definida en la actualidad como un recurso natural no renovable en cantidad, recuperable en calidad y con posibilidad de nuevo uso (re-uso) en continua mutación dentro del ciclo hidrológico. A la vez posee las categorías de bien común como elemento esencial para la vida humana y que como tal no tiene precio, y de recurso hídrico con dimensión económica como insumo, que supone un valor mensurable. Los recursos hídricos y su gestión forman parte de la administración pública, como pueden serlo la energía o la salud. La organización adecuada de un servicio, y las formas institucionales a través de las que se presta, varían de acuerdo a las épocas, los costes tecnológicos, los de distribución, organización y regulación, resultando un aspecto importante del análisis la implementación y funcionamiento del servicio público. Atendiendo a estos aspectos teóricos, este trabajo continua con la problemática del abastecimiento de agua corriente en la ciudad de Córdoba, ahora en la primera década del siglo XX, manteniendo el supuesto de que las dificultades para el abastecimiento de agua obedecen a razones de orden natural, a dificultades económicas y a enfrentamientos políticos, en el marco de un Estado que aún posee limitaciones de índole institucional y administrativo, por lo cual intervendrán el gobierno provincial y Nacional para la concreción de las obras de salubridad, en una ciudad y un país enrolados en el proceso de modernización impulsado por el deseo de adecuación al modelo de vida europeo. Seguimos analizando las fuentes inéditas del Archivo Histórico Municipal de Córdoba, fuentes oficiales editas, publicaciones periódicas y bibliografía tanto general como específica.

A hall dynamo model for the reversed field pinch

A mechanism for the reversed field pinch (RFP) dynamo is proposed, based on the nonlinear Hall effect of a saturated helical MHD instability. The sign and magnitude of the effect are shown to be those required for the RFP dynamo. Predictions of the model are in accord with RFP fluctuation measurements.

Encouraging the implication of shops in the city by means of retail associationism. The case of Bilbao

[EN] Retail activity in urban areas constitutes a key variable in the health of a city. For that reason, the processes of urban revitalization and retail revitalization run in parallel manner. Integrated management models for urban centres constitute a good framework to harness the competitiveness of the cities and their retail businesses, but they require of all implied participation, by means of a public – private cooperation.

Hopwood Hall College: Touchscreen technology overtakes interactive whiteboards as interactive teaching tool of choice

Hopwood Hall is adopting the use of touch screen technology and gradually replacing its interactive whiteboards to improve access to interactive learning. The touch screen monitors connected to LCD TV’s provide a cheaper classroom build with technology that’s more user-friendly and better suited to classroom delivery. Until now, interactive boards had been the mainstay of classrooms but they created teaching barriers for staff including the additional software to learn and master. They are also expensive and often have usability issues with 'pens' not working or having a delay when used as the mouse tool.

City College Southampton: Striving for Gold with Moodle benchmarking scheme

.How do you answer the question: “How well is your VLE being used?” City College Southampton rose to the challenge with the creation, development and implementation of a highly motivational ‘Gold, Silver and Bronze’ benchmarking system to evaluate and recognise quality of content and activity on its College Moodle system. The results are impressive.

Caribbean connectivity: implications for Marine Protected Area Management. Proceedings of a Special Symposium, 9-11 November 2006, 59th Annual Meeting of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute, Belize City, Belize

Executive Summary: Tropical marine ecosystems in the Caribbean region are inextricably linked through the movement of pollutants, nutrients, diseases, and other stressors, which threaten to further degrade coral reef communities. The magnitude of change that is occurring within the region is considerable, and solutions will require investigating pros and cons of networks of marine protected areas (MPAs), cooperation of neighboring countries, improved understanding of how external stressors degrade local marine resources, and ameliorating those stressors. Connectivity can be broadly defined as the exchange of materials (e.g., nutrients and pollutants), organisms, and genes and can be divided into: 1) genetic or evolutionary connectivity that concerns the exchange of organisms and genes, 2) demographic connectivity, which is the exchange of individuals among local groups, and 3) oceanographic connectivity, which includes flow of materials and circulation patterns and variability that underpin much of all these exchanges. Presently, we understand little about connectivity at specific locations beyond model outputs, and yet we must manage MPAs with connectivity in mind. A key to successful MPA management is how to most effectively work with scientists to acquire the information managers need. Oceanography connectivity is poorly understood, and even less is known about the shape of the dispersal curve for most species. Dispersal kernels differ for various systems, species, and life histories and are likely highly variable in space and time. Furthermore, the implications of different dispersal kernels on population dynamics and management of species is unknown. However, small dispersal kernels are the norm - not the exception. Linking patterns of dispersal to management options is difficult given the present state of knowledge. The behavioral component of larval dispersal has a major impact on where larvae settle. Individual larval behavior and life history details are required to produce meaningful simulations of population connectivity. Biological inputs are critical determinants of dispersal outcomes beyond what can be gleaned from models of passive dispersal. There is considerable temporal and spatial variation to connectivity patterns. New models are increasingly being developed, but these must be validated to understand upstream-downstream neighborhoods, dispersal corridors, stepping stones, and source/sink dynamics. At present, models are mainly useful for providing generalities and generating hypotheses. Low-technology approaches such as drifter vials and oceanographic drogues are useful, affordable options for understanding local connectivity. The “silver bullet” approach to MPA design may not be possible for several reasons. Genetic connectivity studies reveal divergent population genetic structures despite similar larval life histories. Historical stochasticity in reproduction and/or recruitment likely has important, longlasting consequences on present day genetic structure. (PDF has 200 pages.)

Voyages and travels into Brasil and east-Indies : containing an exact description of the dutch Brasil and divers parts of the east-Indies, their provinces, cities, living creatures, and products, the manners, customs, habits and religion the inhabitants : with a particular account of all the remarkable passages that happened during the author's stay of nine years in Brasil, especially in relation to the revolt of the portugueses, and the intestine war carried on there from 1640 to 1649 : as also a most ample description of the most famous city of batavia in the east-Indies

Joan Nieuhoff, viajante alemão, nasceu em Usen, Vesfália, em 1618, e morreu em Madagascar, em 1672. Trabalhou na Companhia das Índias Orientais, foi nomeado agente em Batávia, em 1654. Em 1655, foi à China tratar da abertura dos portos daquele país ao comércio holandês. Governou o Ceilão de 1662 a 1667. Em 1672, desembarcando em Madagascar, foi morto pelos nativos.

Report of the second STREAM regional conference. Tagaytay City, Philippines 8-10 June 2003

The Second STREAM Regional Conference was held in Tagaytay City, Philippines, from 8-10 June 2003 with the participation of 23 people from Australia, Cambodia, India, Nepal, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Yunnan (China). Following a regional overview of STREAM’s themes, country partners, donors and funding, and activities, participants visited four “stations” on the themes of livelihoods, institutions, policy development, and communications, working in groups representing National Coordinators, Communications Hub Managers, and Partners. They engaged in discussions with a “station leader” and each other to learn about and comment on objectives, activities, outcomes and outputs, and to consider issues that need addressing in STREAM. (PDF has 49 pages.)

Assistance in poverty alleviation through improved aquatic resources management in Asia-Pacific: BFAR/NACA-STREAM/FAO Workshop on livelihoods approaches and analysis. Iloilo City, Philippines, 24-28 Nov. 2003

This is the report of the “BFAR/NACA-STREAM/FAO Workshop on Livelihoods Approaches and Analysis” that was conducted in Iloilo City, Philippines from 24-28 November 2003. The main purpose of the workshop was to develop and document mechanisms for training in livelihoods approaches and analysis, and to build national capacity to conduct livelihoods analysis. The workshop in Iloilo was the first in a series which will take place in other countries in the region, including India (with Nepal), Lao PDR, Myanmar and Yunnan, China. (Pdf contains 53 pages).