Social Capital and Sustainability in a Community under Threat

Abstract

Engaging with dialogue concerning the relevance and applicability of social capital to a model of sustainable community development, we illustrate an in-depth case of a community experiencing an ideological clash with the dominant politico-societal structures. We argue that while the exclusivity of bonding social capital has been described as the ‘dark side’, it may be essential for progressive sustainable community development (PSCD). When faced with a development threat, such bonds are essential for building links, bridges and solidarity, enabling cultural reproduction and promoting environmental protection for sustainability.     

Statistical control in correlational studies: 10 essential recommendations for organizational researchers

Statistical control is widely used in correlational studies with the intent of providing more accurate estimates of relationships among variables, more conservative tests of hypotheses, or ruling out alternative explanations for empirical findings. However, the use of control variables can produce uninterpretable parameter estimates, erroneous inferences, irreplicable results, and other barriers to scientific progress. As a result, methodologists have provided a great deal of advice regarding the use of statistical control, to the point that researchers might have difficulties sifting through and prioritizing the available suggestions. We integrate and condense this literature into a set of 10 essential recommendations that are generally applicable and which, if followed, would substantially enhance the quality of published organizational research. We provide explanations, qualifications, and examples following each recommendation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Consumer-resource body-size relationships in natural food webs

It has been suggested that differences in body size between consumer and resource species may have important implications for interaction strengths, population dynamics, and eventually food web structure, function, and evolution. Still, the general distribution of consumer-'resource body-size ratios in real ecosystems, and whether they vary systematically among habitats or broad taxonomic groups, is poorly understood. Using a unique global database on consumer and resource body sizes, we show that the mean body-size ratios of aquatic herbivorous and detritivorous consumers are several orders of magnitude larger than those of carnivorous predators. Carnivorous predator-prey body-size ratios vary across different habitats and predator and prey types (invertebrates, ectotherm, and endotherm vertebrates). Predator-prey body-size ratios are on average significantly higher (1) in freshwater habitats than in marine or terrestrial habitats, (2) for vertebrate than for invertebrate predators, and (3) for invertebrate than for ectotherm vertebrate prey. If recent studies that relate body-size ratios to interaction strengths are general, our results suggest that mean consumer-resource interaction strengths may vary systematically across different habitat categories and consumer types.     

An inexpensive dual-chamber particle monitor: laboratory characterization

In developing countries, high levels of particle pollution from the use of coal and biomass fuels for household cooking and heating are a major cause of ill health and premature mortality. The cost and complexity of existing monitoring equipment, combined with the need to sample many locations, make routine quantification of household particle pollution levels difficult. Recent advances in technology, however, have enabled the development of a small, portable, data-logging particle monitor modified from commercial smoke alarm technology that can meet the needs of surveys in the developing world at reasonable cost. Laboratory comparisons of a prototype particle monitor developed at the University of California at Berkeley (UCB) with gravimetric filters, a tapered element oscillating microbalance, and a TSI DustTrak to quantify the UCB particle monitor response as a function of both concentration and particle size and to examine sensor response in relation to changes in temperature, relative humidity, and elevation are presented here. UCB particle monitors showed good linearity in response to different concentrations of laboratory-generated oleic acid aerosols with a coarse (mass median diameter, 2.1 microm) and fine (mass median diameter, 0.27-0.42 microm) size distributions (average r2 = 0.997 +/- 0.005). The photoelectric and ionization chamber showed a wide range of responses based on particle size and, thus, require calibration with the aerosol of interest. The ionization chamber was five times more sensitive to fine rather than coarse particles, whereas the photoelectric chamber was five times more sensitive to coarse than fine. The ratio of the response between the two sensors has the potential for mass calibration of individual data points based on estimated parameters of the size distribution. The results demonstrate the significant potential of this monitor, which will facilitate the evaluation of interventions (improved fuels, stoves, and ventilation) on indoor air pollution levels and research on the impacts of indoor particle levels on health in developing countries.     

The combined use of electrokinetic remediation and phytoremediation to decontaminate metal-polluted soils: a laboratory-scale feasibility study

The use of a combination of electrokinetic remediation and phytoremediation to decontaminate two metal-polluted soils has been demonstrated in laboratory-scale reactors. One soil was heavily contaminated with copper, the other with cadmium and arsenic (2500 g g^-1 Cu; 300-400 g g^-1 Cd and 230 g g^-1 As, respectively). Test reactors with twoseparated chambers, each with a capacity of 5.25 kg soil, wereconstructed, then the respective chambers were filled with eithera mixture of the polluted soil and a control topsoil (75:25) ortopsoil alone. Reactors were sown with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv Elka) and a constant voltage of 30 V was applied continually across the soils in each reactor. Soil sampling took place at the start and the end of the test run, whilst plant foliage was sampled after approximately 3 weeks (both reactors) 6 weeks (Cd soil reactor only) and at the conclusion of each test run (98 days Cu soil, 80 days Cd soil). Soil and plant metal concentrations were measured, together withsoil pH. Results showed that in both soils there was a significant re-distribution of metals from anode to cathode in the test reactors, coupled with an enhancement of plant Cu uptakein the cathode region for the Cu soil. Patterns of plant Cd uptake were less clear cut and were not as clearly related to theredistribution of Cd measured in the soil. There was significant acidification of soil at the anode in each test reactor, but soilpH in other parts of the reactor changed little during the courseof the experiment. Plant growth was affected at the anode, but was not affected in other parts of the reactor. There was no visual evidence of metal toxicity in the ryegrass in either polluted soil. Some effects on soil fungi were apparent, with a stimulation of Fusarium infection of ryegrass in the cathode region of all reactors and the appearance of sporophoresof Coprinus in the same location. It is concluded that the combination of the two techniques represents a very promising approach to the decontamination of metal polluted soils that nowrequires validation in field conditions.     

云南寻甸中全新世降温事件的石笋同位素记录

通过对寻甸仙人洞X1石笋进行高精度的TIMS-U系测年和碳、氧同位素分析,建立了寻甸地区8000aB.P.以来高分辨率的古气候变化时间序列。研究结果表明,寻甸地区8000aB.P.以来石笋记录的古气候环境变化,大致可分为3个气候期:中全新世8000—5560aB.P.为气候适宜期,显示印度季风由强盛逐渐减弱的趋势,气候温暖湿润期,与太阳辐射增强引起的北半球季风环流加强有关;中全新世中晚期5560—4400aB.P.为季风转变期,显示印度季风减弱并快速退出、萎缩,东亚冬季风加强并快速推进,太阳辐射强度减弱,气候为干冷期;中全新世晚期4400—2000aB.P.,显示东亚冬季风逐渐减弱,东亚夏季风有所增加,气温有所回升,但气候变化的波动大。研究还表明,全新世以来石笋记录的气候变化非常不稳定,在千年尺度上表现为台阶状,在短尺度———百年尺度上呈锯齿状波动。石笋记录的突发性气候波动事件,与冰芯记录极为相似,反映低纬度地区石笋记录的季风气候与高纬度及北极地区的气候具有极好的相关性,这对于认识现代气候系统变化以及对未来十年、百年尺度的气候预测具有重要的科学意义。     

Empowering Indigenous natural hazards management in northern Australia

Northern Australia is prone to recurring severe natural hazards, especially frequent cyclones, flooding, and extensive wildfires. The region is sparsely populated (≪ 0.5 persons km⁻²), with Indigenous (Aboriginal) residents comprising 14% of the population, and typically the majority in remote regions. Despite national policy committed to addressing emergency management (EM) in vulnerable Indigenous communities, implementation remains unfunded. We synthesise participatory intercultural research conducted over seven years exploring core challenges, opportunities and potential solutions towards developing effective EM partnerships. Similar EM engagement and empowerment issues face First Nations and local communities in many international settings. In search of solutions, we explore developing effective partnership arrangements between EM agencies and culturally diverse Indigenous communities. Observing that government already provides substantial investment in cultural and natural resource management programmes conducted by over 150 Indigenous Ranger Groups (IRGs) nationally, we demonstrate that expansion of IRG roles to incorporate EM community engagement and service delivery can provide multiple cost-effective community and business development benefits for many remote communities.     

Reverse supply chain practices for construction and demolition waste in the Brazilian Amazon: a multi-stakeholder view

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is an environmental problem that affects all regions of the world. Particularly in the Brazilian Amazon...