Households' perception of climate change and human health risks: A community perspective

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bangladesh has been identified as one of the most vulnerable countries in the world concerning the adverse effects of climate change (CC). However, little is known about the perception of CC from the community, which is important for developing adaptation strategies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was a cross-sectional survey of respondents from two villages--one from the northern part and the other from the southern part of Bangladesh. A total of 450 households were selected randomly through multistage sampling completed a semi-structure questionnaire. This was supplemented with 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) and 15 key informant interviews (KIIs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Over 95 percent of the respondents reported that the heat during the summers had increased and 80.2 percent reported that rainfall had decreased, compared to their previous experiences. Approximately 65 percent reported that winters were warmer than in previous years but they still experienced very erratic and severe cold during the winter for about 5-7 days, which restricted their activities with very destructive effect on agricultural production, everyday life and the health of people. FGDs and KIIs also reported that overall winters were warmer. Eighty point two percent, 72.5 percent and 54.7 percent survey respondents perceived that the frequency of water, heat and cold related diseases/health problems, respectively, had increased compared to five to ten years ago. FGDs and KIIs respondents were also reported the same.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Respondents had clear perceptions about changes in heat, cold and rainfall that had occurred over the last five to ten years. Local perceptions of climate variability (CV) included increased heat, overall warmer winters, reduced rainfall and fewer floods. The effects of CV were mostly negative in terms of means of living, human health, agriculture and overall livelihoods. Most local perceptions on CV are consistent with the evidence regarding the vulnerability of Bangladesh to CC. Such findings can be used to formulate appropriate sector programs and interventions. The systematic collection of such information will allow scientists, researchers and policy makers to design and implement appropriate adaptation strategies for CC in countries that are especially vulnerable.</p

Darwin’s finches treat their feathers with a natural repellent

Darwin’s finches are highly innovative. Recently we recorded for the first time a behavioural innovation in Darwin’s finches outside the foraging context: individuals of four species rubbed leaves of the endemic tree Psidium galapageium on their feathers. We hypothesised that this behaviour serves to repel ectoparasites and tested the repellency of P. galapageium leaf extracts against parasites that negatively affect the fitness of Darwin’s finches, namely mosquitoes and the invasive hematophagous fly Philornis downsi. Mosquitoes transmit pathogens which have recently been introduced by humans and the larvae of the fly suck blood from nestlings and incubating females. Our experimental evidence demonstrates that P. galapageium leaf extracts repel both mosquitoes and adult P. downsi and also inhibit the growth of P. downsi larvae. It is therefore possible that finches use this plant to repel ectopoarasites

同一作業を床の上とはしご上で行う場合の強度差(人間環境学)

To investigate the difference of work intensity of same work on the floor and ladder, 8 male subjects performed sham pruning in the laboratory with a hatched whose weight was 650g and length was 35cm. A measuring pole 4.5cm in diameter was supposed to be a tree with branches at a height of 120 and 170cm. The height of the subject on the ladder from the floor was 52 and 83cm at the left and right foot, respectively. Oxygen uptake and heart rate of 6 levels were measured i.e. while standing still holding a hatched with a hand, exercising at a branch height of 120,and 170cm, respectively, both on the floor and ladder. Concerning oxygen uptake, both while standing still and in activity, significant difference was observed between the positions on the floor and ladder. The correlation of oxygen uptake and heart rate was significant at p<0.001 about the whole data of all subjects. But according to paired-sample t test, the differences of heart rate between the positions on the floor and ladder were not significant both while standing still and in activity, dissimilar to the case of oxygen uptake

水平面と斜面上における作業の形態別強度差と呼気による判別(人間環境学)

To investigate the difference of work intensity based on work form at plane and slope, 5 subjects performed sham weeding with a scythe and a weeding machine of gasoline engine in a laboratory. Expired gas was then analyzed and energy expenditure was calculated. Both at plane and slope of 20°, energy expenditure of the scythe work was significantly higher than that of weeding machine. And energy expenditure of the work with the scythe at slope was significantly higher than at plane, but concerning the weeding machine significant difference was not observed between plane and slope work. From this result, it was concluded that work intensity at slope was higher than at plane when the work was performed with legs actively, and work intensity did not differ when legs were used only to maintain standing position. At the same time it was revealed that the work with a scythe could be discriminated clearly from that with a weeding machine by means of a linear discriminant function constructed with 6 variables i. e. VE, ETO_2,FEO_2,ETCO_2,FECO_2,and VCO_2