Justice as relationality: socio-ecological justice in the context of anti-hydropower movements in Turkey

By introducing a notion of socio-ecological justice, this article aims to deepen the relationship between environment and justice, which has already been firmly established by environmental justice movements and scholarship. Based on extensive fieldwork on local community struggles against small-scale run-of-river hydropower plants in Turkey, it expands the justice frame of environmental justice scholarship by going beyond the established conceptions of environmental justice as distribution – of environmental hazards and benefits, recognition and representation. Drawing on ethnographical fieldwork conducted in the East Black Sea region of Turkey, the article introduces the notion of socio-ecological justice to translate the relationality of the social and the ecological, of human life and non-human world, to the vocabulary of justice. It aims to extend the strictly humanist borders of social justice by maintaining that our intrinsic and intimate relations with the non-human world are an essential part of our well-being, and central to our needs to pursue a fair, decent life. It also seeks to contribute to the broader debate to facilitate a ‘progressive composition’ of a common, more-than-human world

Investigation of recycling perspectives of grey water for resource recovery in Witbank, South Africa

Published ThesisSouth Africa is a water scarce country. The demand for water is exceeding the supply significantly in some of the cities of the country. Simultaneously, a significant amount of grey water is generated by the households in the cities. Consequently, an argument has emerged that if grey water is treated and re-used for domestic use purposes, then it can contribute to the alleviation of the challenges to meet the water demand. Besides, grey water also constitutes significant amount of resources such as Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium. Therefore, a study was done by considering the city of Witbank of the Mpumalanga Province in South Africa in order to examine the quality (impurities and nutrient content) of grey water generated in the study area, explore the appropriate treatment processes to treat the grey water to and to quantify the availability of Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus so that resources such as water and chemical resources (Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus) can be recovered from grey water. The study was motivated by the need to reduce the high demand for scarce fresh water and the amounts of generated waste water, and a resource recovery through recycling process can ease the pressure on the environment. Grey water from bathrooms, showers, kitchens, laundry and sinks were collected from domestic water users of Witbank Mpumalanga Province, based on the location of the area such as central areas, upscale development and township of the city Witbank. Grey water samples were collected across the four seasons of the year and analysed in the laboratory for physical, chemical, operational, microbiological and resource content before and after treatment processes using various treatment combinations such as aerobic screening (AS), Multimedia Filtration (MMF), Ultraviolet radiation (UV) and Chlorination (CL). After treating grey water with a combination of MMF, AS and UV, the physical, chemical, operational and microbiological characteristics of grey water are compared with the standards recommended by the Department of Water Affairs and National Standards Specifications of South Africa. Also, a household survey targeting areas of Witbank as water users was carried out to collect household data relating to socio-economic characteristics and water demand, water supply scenarios. The data collected was statistically analysed. The results of the survey indicated that upscale development areas, had the highest income and household water usage followed by central areas, then townships and lastly the city. There was a significant (p < 0.05), correlation between income and water consumption. There was also a significant, positive (p < 0.05) correlation between income and grey water production. Household surveys indicated a significant, positive (p < 0.05) correlation between income, water consumption and grey water production. The results also confirmed that income, water consumption and grey water production across upscale development, city, the townships and central areas in Witbank were significantly (p < 0.05) different. Regression analysis of income as an independent variable and water demand as a dependent variable indicated a linear and significant causal correlation between income and household water demand exists. Results of the experimental study indicated that the physical, chemical, operational alert and microbiological characteristics of grey water improved significantly to fall within the standard stipulated by the Department of Water Affairs after subjecting untreated grey water to individual and a combination of aerobic screening (AS), Multimedia Filtration (MMF), Ultraviolet radiation (UV) and Chlorination (CL) treatment processes. The grey water also contains significant amount of Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus. Therefore, if recycling of grey water is conducted appropriately then quality water for domestic use can be recovered and re-used. Also, there is a potential for recovery of significant amount of the chemical resources such as Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus

An unusual appearance of giant Meckel’s diverticulum

Meckel's diverticulum (MD) results from incomplete involution of the proximal portion of the vitelline duct. Although MD is the most commonly diagnosed congenital gastrointestinal anomaly, it is estimated to affect only 2% of the population worldwide. Most cases are asymptomatic, and diagnosis is often made following investigation of unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding, perforation, inflammation or obstruction that prompt clinic presentation. While MD range in size from 1-10 cm, cases of giant MD (B5 cm) are relatively rare and associated with more severe forms of the complications. Herein, we report a 43-year-old male patient presented at the Emergency Department with a complaint of abdominal pain, associated with fever (38,5C), nausea and anorexia. The clinical examination revealed pain in the right lower quadrant, as well as abdominal guarding and rebound tenderness. The leucocyte count was elevated at 18 × 109/L. Plain abdominal xray depicted multiple air-fluid levels. An abdominal and pelvic CT scan revealed a fluid-filled structure in the pelvis adjacent to the distal small bowel. The surgical method of exploration can be either by laparoscopy or through an open incision. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and revealed oedema throughout the entire small bowel, dilation of small bowel segments, and a giant Meckel's diverticulum (10 cm long) with mushroom appearance on the antimesenteric border of the small bowel at 70 cm proximal to the ileocaecal valve . Resection of the small bowel was performed with a linear stapler and an ileoileal anastomosis was generated using a 80 mm endo-GIA stapler. Patient was discharged on post-operative day 4 without any complications. Histopathologic examination indicated Meckel's diverticulitis without gastric or pancreatic metaplasia.Pan African Medical Journal 2015; 2

Augmented Cystine–Glutamate Exchange by Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-activating Polypeptide Signaling via the VPAC1 Receptor

In the central nervous system, cystine import in exchange for glutamate through system xc- is critical for the production of the antioxidant glutathione by astrocytes, as well as the maintenance of extracellular glutamate. Therefore, regulation of system xc- activity affects multiple aspects of cellular physiology and may contribute to disease states. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuronally derived peptide that has already been demonstrated to modulate multiple aspects of glutamate signaling suggesting PACAP may also target activity of cystine–glutamate exchange via system xc-. In this study, 24-h treatment of primary cortical cultures containing neurons and glia with PACAP concentration-dependently increased system xc- function as measured by radiolabeled cystine uptake. Furthermore, the increase in cystine uptake was completely abolished by the system xc- inhibitor, (S)-4-carboxyphenylglycine (CPG), attributing increases in cystine uptake specifically to system xc- activity. Time course and quantitative PCR results indicate that PACAP signaling may increase cystine–glutamate exchange by increasing expression of xCT, the catalytic subunit of system xc-. Furthermore, the potentiation of system xc- activity by PACAP occurs via a PKA-dependent pathway that is not mediated by the PAC1R, but rather the shared vasoactive intestinal polypeptide receptor VPAC1R. Finally, assessment of neuronal, astrocytic, and microglial-enriched cultures demonstrated that only astrocyte-enriched cultures exhibit enhanced cystine uptake following both PACAP and VIP treatment. These data introduce a novel mechanism by which both PACAP and VIP regulate system xc- activity

Evaluation of interventions in Western Stoa of Agora in İzmir

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, Architectural Restoration, Izmir, 2006Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 134-138)Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and Englishxiii, 146 leavesConservation implementations in archeological sites should be applied in order to better perceive the ancient remains. The implementations based on limited information must be avoided if the necessary findings are not revealed. These implementations should be executed in order not to damage the remains, should be reversible and not prevent future conservation action. Although the interventions should be compatible with original qualities with respect to form and material, they should be distinguishable from the original parts. In this study, the restoration implementations which started in 1932 and continued sporadically until 2005 in the ancient Agora of zmir are investigated. The former restoration implementations had to be reinterpreted due to new findings during the recent investigations. The aim is to introduce the restoration interventions carried out in the Agora/West Stoa, and to evaluate them regarding present conservation approaches. Architectural findings of the excavation are examined, documentation studies are performed through field surveys, in addition original building components and lateral interventions are analyzed. In the evaluation, distinguishability of the new application, the compatibility of the materials used and proper techniques, with existing materials, the availability for future applications and reversibility of present interventions in order to allow necessary rectification in future are taken into consideration. Accordingly, the interventions between 1932 and 1944 are evaluated reversible and distinguishabile while materials and techniques applied in the interventions are not compatible with the original. The implementations applied between 2002 and 2005, are evaluated distinguishable, compatible with original materials and techniques, available for future studies and reversible

Inclusion and obstacles in the Swedish social pedagogical context: an analysis of narratives on working with unaccompanied refugee minors with wartime experiences in institutional care

The general perspective on social pedagogy and research emphasises the importance of recognising the various identities that are actualised and re-actualised during interpersonal interactions in the various social contexts in which the individual acts or is expected to act. The purpose of the present study was to provide a new understanding of: (1) narratives by staff at institutions regarding the day-to-day work of caring for youths who, having experienced war, fled to Sweden and were taken into care and placed in institutions; and (2) interactive patterns contributing to constructing and reconstructing the inclusion of the clients and the obstacles to inclusion during practical social pedagogy. Analytical findings with the following themes are presented: (1) empathy, collaboration and inclusion; (2) stigma and inclusion; and (3) (in)competence of personnel and inclusion. This study demonstrates that recognition, or the lack thereof, of young peoples’ various identities may affect their opportunities for inclusion in the new society. Both the recognition and loss of identity that occur in various contexts in which young people act or are expected to act contribute to the success of integration and can be an obstacle to it

Archaeogenomic analysis of the first steps of Neolithization in Anatolia and the Aegean

The Neolithic transition in west Eurasia occurred in two main steps: the gradual development of sedentism and plant cultivation in the Near East and the subsequent spread of Neolithic cultures into the Aegean and across Europe after 7000 cal BCE. Here, we use published ancient genomes to investigate gene flow events in west Eurasia during the Neolithic transition. We confirm that the Early Neolithic central Anatolians in the ninth millennium BCE were probably descendants of local hunter-gatherers, rather than immigrants from the Levant or Iran. We further study the emergence of post-7000 cal BCE north Aegean Neolithic communities. Although Aegean farmers have frequently been assumed to be colonists originating from either central Anatolia or from the Levant, our findings raise alternative possibilities: north Aegean Neolithic populations may have been the product of multiple westward migrations, including south Anatolian emigrants, or they may have been descendants of local Aegean Mesolithic groups who adopted farming. These scenarios are consistent with the diversity of material cultures among Aegean Neolithic communities and the inheritance of local forager know-how. The demographic and cultural dynamics behind the earliest spread of Neolithic culture in the Aegean could therefore be distinct from the subsequent Neolithization of mainland Europe.WoSScopu

DECIGO pathfinder

DECIGO pathfinder (DPF) is a milestone satellite mission for DECIGO (DECi-hertz Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) which is a future space gravitational wave antenna. DECIGO is expected to provide us fruitful insights into the universe, in particular about dark energy, a formation mechanism of supermassive black holes, and the inflation of the universe. Since DECIGO will be an extremely large mission which will formed by three drag-free spacecraft with 1000m separation, it is significant to gain the technical feasibility of DECIGO before its planned launch in 2024. Thus, we are planning to launch two milestone missions: DPF and pre-DECIGO. The conceptual design and current status of the first milestone mission, DPF, are reviewed in this article

Soil Dust Aerosols and Wind as Predictors of Seasonal Meningitis Incidence in Niger

Background: Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa during the dry season, a period when the region is affected by the Harmattan, a dry and dusty northeasterly trade wind blowing from the Sahara into the Gulf of Guinea. Objectives: We examined the potential of climate-based statistical forecasting models to predict seasonal incidence of meningitis in Niger at both the national and district levels. Data and methods: We used time series of meningitis incidence from 1986 through 2006 for 38 districts in Niger. We tested models based on data that would be readily available in an operational framework, such as climate and dust, population, and the incidence of early cases before the onset of the meningitis season in January–May. Incidence was used as a proxy for immunological state, susceptibility, and carriage in the population. We compared a range of negative binomial generalized linear models fitted to the meningitis data. Results: At the national level, a model using early incidence in December and averaged November–December zonal wind provided the best fit (pseudo-R2 = 0.57), with zonal wind having the greatest impact. A model with surface dust concentration as a predictive variable performed indistinguishably well. At the district level, the best spatiotemporal model included zonal wind, dust concentration, early incidence in December, and population density (pseudo-R2 = 0.41). Conclusions: We showed that wind and dust information and incidence in the early dry season predict part of the year-to-year variability of the seasonal incidence of meningitis at both national and district levels in Niger. Models of this form could provide an early-season alert that wind, dust, and other conditions are potentially conducive to an epidemic

Peran Unit Pelaksanaan Teknis Daerah Perlindungan Perempuan Dan Anak Dalam Menangani Kasus Kekerasan Dalam Rumah Tangga (KDRT) Di Kabupaten Banyumas (Studi di Unit Pelaksanaan Teknis Daerah Perlindungan Perempuan Anak, Kab. Banyumas)

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis peran Unit Pelayanan Teknis Daerah Perlindungan Perempuan dan Anak dalam menangani KDRT di Kabupaten Banyumas serta faktor-faktor apa saja yang cenderung memengaruhi peran UPTD PPA dalam menangani KDRT di Kabupaten Banyumas. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif dengan metode pendekatan yuridis empiris dan spesifikasi penelitian deskriptif. Jenis data yang digunakan adalah data primer yang diperoleh dari hasil wawancara dan data sekunder yang diperoleh dari studi kepustakaan. Metode pengolahan data dengan reduksi data, display data dan kategorisasi data. Penyajian data dalam bentuk teks naratif dengan metode analisis data secara kualitatif model analisis isi. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian diperoleh hasil penelitian. Pertama, peran UPTD PPA Kabupaten Banyumas dalam menangani kasus KDRT di Kabupaten Banyumas sudah sesuai dengan Pasal 5 jo. Pasal 6 Peraturan Menteri Perlindungan Perempuan dan Anak No. 4 Tahun 2018 Tentang Pembentukan Unit Pelaksanaan Teknis Daerah PPA. Dibuktikan dengan ditanganinya 46 kasus sepanjang tahun 2021. Adapun peran yang dilakukan oleh UPTD PPA Kabupaten Banyumas adalah Pengaduan masyarakat, Penjangkauan korban, Pengelolaan kasus, Penampungan sementara, Mediasi, dan Pendampingan korban. Kedua, faktor-faktor yang cenderung memengaruhi peran UPTD PPA dalam menangani KDRT Kabupaten Banyumas terdiri dari faktor pendukung seperti tersedianya dana, petugas yang sudah terliterasi tentang gender dengan baik dan sudah berpengetahuan tentang KDRT serta sebagian masyarakat sudah terliterasi tentang KDRT. Sementara faktor penghambatnya seperti pandangan patriarkis masyarakat terhadap KDRT, kurangnya SDM, dsb