Encounters in Music Cultures of Aztec and Early Colonial Times

Dieser Artikel untersucht die sozio-politischen und religiösen Dimensionen des Musizierens und Klangerzeugens über den Vergleich zweier kulturell unterschiedlicher, aber nah beieinander liegenden Zeitabschnitte an ein und demselben Ort: dem Tal von Mexiko. Zunächst werden die Praktiken der Azteken zur Ausübung musikalischer Dominanz und Kontrolle über die von ihnen eroberten Gesellschaften der späten post-klassischen Periode Mesoamerikas (1325 bis 1521 n. Chr.) untersucht. Darauf folgend werden die spanischen Strategien der musikalischen Dominanz und Kontrolle über die eroberten Azteken der frühen Kolonialzeit (1521 bis 1600) beleuchtet und dem aztekischen Modell gegenübergestellt. Der Artikel fragt nach den Unterschieden und strukturellen Ähnlichkeiten in der musikalischen Eroberung

Modeling and Analysis of Solar Arrays for Grid Connected Systems with Maximum Power Point Tracking

The shrinking of the world’s energy sources has prompted an unprecedented interest in renewable and clean energy sources such as photovoltaic (solar) array. Already popular in space and some industrial power system applications, photovoltaic arrays have yet to become a viable source of energy for most terrestrial applications. For several decades now, engineers have been striving to design reliable and affordable solar array based power systems. One popular approach to achieve reliability is the integration of Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology in solar power system design. The purpose of this study was to gain more insight into the nature of photovoltaic arrays, in order to help engineers improve solar array systems efficiency and reliability. To this end, a detailed analysis and modeling of the electrical properties and parameters of solar arrays have been presented. Shading effects on solar arrays, as well as the benefits of incorporating MPPT technology in photovoltaic systems have also been studied. Finally an application of MPPT to grid connected systems will be introduced as part of the ongoing efforts of the Power Electronics Lab at the University of Central Florida to participate in the 2005 Future Energy Challenge

Conflits Communautaires Liés À L’exploitation Du Patrimoine Forestier De L’état : L’exemple De La Forêt Classée De Goin-Débé Dans Le Département De Guiglo

En Côte d’Ivoire, les autorités administratives ont mis en place des organes locaux pour faire face aux conflits ruraux. Mais, malgré ces organes locaux de prévention et de gestion de conflits, le département de Guiglo, à l’ouest de la Côte d’Ivoire, connait toujours des problèmes de violences liés à l’exploitation des ressources forestières. À partir de l’exemple de la forêt classée de Goin-Débé, la présente étude analyse les fondements socio-culturels des conflits communautaires liés à l’exploitation agricole des domaines forestiers de l’État, domaines pourtant interdits de toute exploitation agricole. Fondée sur l’approche qualitative, la méthodologie utilisée pour atteindre cet objectif a mobilisé un ensemble d’outils et de techniques de collecte de données répondant à cette approche, à savoir la recherche documentaire, l’enquête par entrevue semi-dirigée réalisée auprès des responsables administratifs, notamment le corps préfectoral et l’administration forestière, les autorités coutumières, les responsables des associations de jeunes et de femmes ainsi que les communautés étrangères, enfin l’observation directe. L’analyse des données a montré qu’à l’origine, le laxisme de l’État dans le contrôle et la gestion de ces domaines forestiers a créé un certain nombre de facteurs alimentant les conflits entre les communautés riveraines autochtones, allogènes et allochtones. In Côte d'Ivoire, the administrative authorities have set up local bodies to deal with rural conflicts. But, despite the existence of local organisation for prevention and fighting against conflicts located in west of Côte d’Ivoire, the department of Guiglo faces all the times violence caused by the exploitation of natural. From an example of the classified forest of Goin-Débé, this study analyzes the socio-cultural foundations of community conflicts linked to the agricultural exploitation of State forest estates, areas which are however prohibited from any agricultural exploitation. Based on the qualitative approach, the methodology used to achieve this objective mobilized a set of tools and data collection techniques responding to this approach, namely documentary research, the survey by semi-structured interview carried out among administrative officials (prefectural body and forestry administration), customary authorities, heads of youth and women's associations as well as foreign communities, and finally direct observation. Analysis of the data showed that the state's laxity in the control and management of these forest estates originally created a number of factors fueling conflicts between native, non-native and non-native riparian communities

The measurement of effective parenting in Native communities

In Native communities across North America, there are initiatives currently being taken by Native people to develop culturally relevant child welfare programs to deal with the problems of child maltreatment. One example of such a program is Cherish the Children, a training program developed by the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Centre to teach “parenting skills to Indian mothers with young children” (Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, 1988). It was developed by Anishnabe (Ojibway) people and encourages Anishnabe parents to return to “the old ways” of parenting. The purpose of this study was to develop a culturally-sensitive instrument that would measure effectively parenting in a Native family. The instrument, called the Cherish the Children Questionnaire, was to be used to evaluate the outcomes of Native parenting programs. In addition to establishing the reliability and validity of the instrument, the study also tested the hypothesis that there was a difference in parenting between Native and Euro-Canadian parents. The results indicated that the reliability of the Cherish the Children Questionnaire, using a Cronbach’s Alpha test of internal consistency is high (.89). The correlation between the IPBI and the C.T.C., suggested a reasonable validity (.47). Finally, based on the results of a t-test comparing the scores of Native and non-Native parents on the C.T.C. Questionnaire, the instrument did distinguish between Native and non-Native parents. The limitations of the study and of the instrument included the fact that the results of the factor analysis were inconclusive. The instrument would have to be tested on a much larger sample to obtain more meaningful results. Another limitation is that validity has not been clearly established. Assessment by workers offering the Cherish the Children program of parents before and after participation in the program could be used in the future as a test of criterion validity

Evaluating Safety Practices Associated With Use of Household Pesticides: An Interventional Study in Kurmin Mashi Rural Community, Kaduna, Nigeria

Many households in developing countries routinely use pesticides without any safety considerations. The objective of this study was to determine types of pesticides and pesticide-use practices of the residents, to determine self-reported adverse effects resulting from pesticide use and to assess the impact of educational intervention on pesticide use behavior in the study area. Commercially available pesticide samples were collected from pesticide vendors in the area. Pre -tested questionnaires were distributed to 375 family heads. Data was expressed as frequency and percentages.Educational intervention on safe pesticide use was carried out. Pre and post intervention behavior were compared using paired t test. Relationship between demographic variables and pesticide use practices were explored using Chi Square statistics. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Prevalent pests were mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats, bedbugs, ants, termites, houseflies, ticks and scorpion. The major constituent of pesticides in this environment was Dichlorvos (DDVP). Many commercially available pesticides were unlabeled. Nearly half, 48.8% had used pesticides in the home. More than three quarters, 78.7% indicated that they read instructions before using pesticides. More than one third, 36% had experienced health problems attributed to pesticide use. Many locally available pesticides were unlabeled. Majority of labelled pesticides contained mainly Diclorvos (DDPV). Unsafe pesticide handling practices were common. The most common self -reported adverse effect was respiratory symptoms. Educational intervention increased in the proportion of respondents that used of non-chemical methods and adopted safer pesticide use practices. Keywords: Pesticides, Diclorvos (DDPV), Educational Intervention, Pharmacist, Nigeri

Health implications of housing, human waste disposal practices and water supply in Uyo, southern Nigeria

This study was aimed at assessing the health implications of housing, human waste disposal practices and water supply in Uyo, Southern Nigeria. The town was demarcated into three zones A, B and C equivalent to the north-eastern area, southern area and north-western area respectively. Out of the estimated one hundred and twenty two thousand three hundred and thirty eight households in the town, a total of one hundred and forty households were selected from the three zones A, B and C in the proportion of 40:40:60 respectively based on the number of wards per zone. Data were collected using questionnaires distributed to the head/representative of each household.  Number of people per room, number of people per toilet, location of toilet, type of toilet facility and type of water supply were evaluated for each zone. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test. Zone B had the largest number of people per room (2.10) while zone C had the largest number of people per toilet facility (2.14). Zone A had the highest proportion of households having toilet facility located within the house (95.00%). Water closet was the most frequent toilet type in all the zones with the proportion being highest in zone A (p <0.01). Borehole was observed to be the commonest source of water supply in all the zones. The status of housing facility, human waste disposal and water supply in Uyo is satisfactory. Zone A had the best facilities consistent with the high income status of the zone. Key Words:   Health implication, Housing, Toilet facility, Water supply, Uy

Drivers of conservation and utilization of pineapple genetic resources in Benin

Valuation of farmer knowledge has been seen as a route to promote sustainable use of plant genetic resources. In pineapple production systems in Benin, inadequate knowledge of cultivation practices can lead to a number of inconveniences including abandon of some varieties and cultivars. To understand how farmers' knowledge and cultivation practices impact the sustainable utilization of pineapple genetic resources, we surveyed 177 pineapple farmers in southern Benin. We assessed farmers' knowledge and analyzed the relationship between their knowledge and factors such as age, education, and locality of provenance. Pineapple production system was dominated by men (96% respondents). According to farmers, Smooth cayenne is international market-oriented while Sugarloaf mainly targets domestic and regional markets. All farmers recognized that Smooth cayenne provided more income (USD 5,750/ha) than sugarloaf (USD 3,950/ha) in the production systems of southern Benin. The high value of median scores in comparison with the range of possible score showed that most farmers agreed and shared relatively similar knowledge. Correlation matrix and multiple linear regressions showed a significant relationship between farmers'practices and their knowledge of the plant; their knowledge of pineapple varieties is based on fruits traits. Also, farmers' knowledge was associated with locality of provenance. Constraints and options for genetic resources conservation and utilization in the pineapple production systems in Southern Benin were discussed based on current knowledg