State of the environment as a determinant of life quality: a local scale approach

Traditionally nature plays a significant role for people worldwide. Thousands of years ago our ancestors made their life-related decisions by accounting for the environmental situation. They relied on natural phenomena, divinized and defied them. Due to the high dependence on the resources provided by the surrounding environment, people were vulnerable, and changes in environmental conditions motivated them towards migration processes and search for ways of communication. In the 21st century this link to the local environment is not so clear for many people and the role of nature for well-being appears to be disappearing in the shadow of traditional socio-economic factors affecting life quality. However, in circumstances of the global environmental crisis caused by climate change, local nature becomes an important indicator of stress with impact on society. At the same time, the role of local nature for well-being of community is not well known. In this thesis, I studied the impact of the local environment on people’s well-being reflected by the sea surface water quality for inhabitants of a coastal community. These environmental conditions were measured objectively with professional scientific equipment and subjectively by surveying people, who made general assessments of their local environmental conditions. First, I investigated if and how accurately respondents’ perception of water quality corresponds with objective measures, and if socio-demographic status can affect people’s evaluations. My findings suggest that the accuracy of assessing water quality is high and potentially adequate for considering their use in policymaking. Over 70% of people assessed the state of water quality in the right direction and almost 60% were correct in their estimates. At the same time, socio-demographic status had an effect on perceptions but did not markedly improve their reliability. Next, I tested the effect of the local environmental conditions (objectively measured and perceived) on the well-being of individuals in combination with traditional socio-economic factors. I found that the objectively measured state of the environment has a less pronounced impact on life quality, but that the way people perceive their surrounding environmental (water) quality plays a significant role for well-being (life quality). This finding highlights the psychological effect of how the local environment is perceived. Moreover, the strength of this positive relationship between life quality and water quality is conditional on income level, such that people with income issues are more dissatisfied with their life regardless of the quality of surrounding environmental. In my third chapter, I found that local nature can buffer the adverse impacts of global stress on the life quality of individuals. My investigation of the changes in life quality before and during the COVID-19 pandemic indicated that there is a significant role of good environmental conditions for mitigation of the personal impacts of the pandemic. I found that the pandemic had a negative impact on well-being, especially for people who lived in areas with poor coastal water quality. Additionally, I found that the pandemic changed the people-nature relationship toward environmentally-friendly behavior. Lastly, I studied if property prices are influenced by local environmental conditions and whether environmental aspects generate economic benefits through a positive effect on property prices, presented by price perception extracted from real estate listings. My findings indicate that people responsible for the price perception value, property owners and real estate agents, do take into consideration the water quality conditions in their evaluation, and that good water quality corresponds with higher property prices in advertisements. The results of this thesis highlight the significant role of the local environment for life quality of community members. Based on the results, I conclude that local environmental conditions can be buffer to stress impacts, which is important in light of the negative effects of the climate change crisis that small communities are exposed to. This thesis suggests that local councils should involve residents in decision-making and thereby promote environmental democracy

Housing issue in shrinking Russian cities: mapping the reality

Abstract. In Russia, housing issue has been remaining one of the most important political concerns since the beginning of the 20th century. In the recent political discourse, it is associated mainly with the need to provide new housing area and the improvement of housing conditions regardless of the difference in the development of regions or cities. However, the fact that over 70% of Russia's cities shrink (Batunova and Gunko, 2018) requires developing specific approaches to housing policy's formulation within depopulating territories. The phenomenon of urban shrinkage is generally understood as population decline which results in physical urban infrastructure surplus &amp; degradation. Dilapidated or abandoned houses become the most evident sign of a city's decline and one of the most important challenges for the local authorities. However, most examples known from the existing literature come from the countries of Western Europe and the US, where economic factors are the main drivers of urban depopulation. The real estate market reacts to the population decline by falling prices (Follain, 2010), which worsens the economic situation in the city and leads to a vicious circle of economic/population decline. Less is known about what happens with the housing stock of, in words of J. B. Hollander (2018), 'atypical shrinking cities', where demographic aspects are the primary causes of depopulation: the excess of mortality over fertility and ageing. Hollander applied the term 'atypical' to Japanese shrinking cities, but in Russia, urban shrinkage is also foremost a result of demographic change (Karachurina, 2013). International migration to Russia does not compensate natural population decline, while the national policies are oriented towards promoting growth in large metropolitan areas (Kinossian, 2013) which intensifies internal migration flows from cities which are not the foci of national development. Consequently, for many Russian cities, especially small peripheral ones, urban shrinkage is an inevitable process. Less is known about what happens with the housing stock of, in words of J. B. Hollander (2018), 'atypical shrinking cities', where demographic aspects are the primary causes of depopulation: the excess of mortality over fertility and ageing. Hollander applied the term 'atypical' to Japanese shrinking cities, but in Russia, urban shrinkage is also foremost a result of demographic change (Karachurina, 2013). International migration to Russia does not compensate natural population decline, while the national policies are oriented towards promoting growth in large metropolitan areas (Kinossian, 2013) which intensifies internal migration flows from cities which are not the foci of national development. Consequently, for many Russian cities, especially small peripheral ones, urban shrinkage is an inevitable process. Against this background our research questions are as follows: What happens to housing stock in shrinking Russian cities? What are the preconditions (tools, regulations) for managing housing stock in shrinking Russian cities: official discourse of urban shrinkage, reaction to the transformation of housing demand-supply, main approaches to manage housing excess? To answer the first question, we turned to cartographic methods of research. The study of housing in selected shrinking cities (Vorkuta, Komi Republic and Apatity, Murmansk region) was based on visualization of statistical information, crowdsourcing of spatial data and visual decoding of remote sensing data, based on the theory of decryption features for the recognition of objects. To interpret high-resolution images direct (geometry, brightness, and structural) and indirect signs were used. The utilized data includes images from WorldView 1/2/3, QuickBird, GeoEye, which are published on the web mapping services of Yandex.Maps, GoogleMaps, BingMaps (Microsoft), ArcGIS.Imagery (ESRI), Roscosmos Geoportal. Maps of scale 1:10000 and 1:100000 became cartographic data sources. For comparison of data on separate structures regional statistical data of BTI (Technical Inventory Bureau) were used, to identify and verify abandoned houses and apartments field observations were also conducted. The main stage of work was the logical organization of data and the development of the geodatabase structure for the future geoinformation analytical system. All presented information is divided into two types: spatial datasets of different geometry (layers) and tabular data with thematic attribute information. This integrated approach to the state of the urban environment has been implemented for the first time in Russia and, supplemented by the capabilities of automatic spatial analysis in GIS, will identify the most 'acute' issues for territorial planning and housing management in shrinking cities. In addition, a series of maps were created visualizing housing features and condition which were presented to the local administrations of the case study cities. To answer the second question, we conducted an analysis of the local strategic, planning and policy document as well as interviews with the local stakeholders. The results vary in two cities. While local planning and policy in the realm of housing in Vorkuta are adequate to the identifies housing issues, in Apatity local development plans still serve land provision for the future 'dreamt' housing construction, needs of which are calculated based on over-optimistic demographic projections that do not consider the real factors influencing population development.</p

Estimation deformable material of blanks in cold rolling

Запропоновано методику визначення напружено-деформованого стану на вільній поверхні заготовки при вальцюванні. В основу методики покладено експериментально-аналітичний метод, що передбачає відновлення за експериментальними даними аналітичної залежності між компонентами логарифмічних деформацій. Побудовано узагальнені скалярну і тензорну моделі граничного стану матеріалу вільної поверхні заготовки при вальцюванні, що надає можливість оцінити рівень накопичених пошкоджень як для операцій формування заготовок вальцюванням, так і для подальших операцій.Object of research are the processes of formation by rolling. Subject of research is the stress-strain state of the free surface of the workpiece material in the process of rolling. The purpose of this paper is to construct models of limit strains for points of the free surface of the workpiece in the process of rolling. Method for determination of stress-strain state at the free surface of the workpiece during forge-rolling was developed. Stress-strain state of the material is determined using experimental and analytical method. This method is based on the construction of an analytical relationship between the logarithmic strain components by of the experimental data. Scalar and tensor models of the limiting state material of the free surface of the workpiece during forge-rolling are eveloped. The analytical models of the limit state are a generalization of known analytical models for the points of the free surface of the workpiece. These results represent an independent value for the analysis of the quality of the surface layer in the areas of free surface of the workpiece during rolling. It is also important for to set up simulation of plastic deformation of the entire workpiece by finite element method.Предложена методика определения напряженно-деформированного состояния на свободной поверхности заготовки при вальцовке. В основу методики положен экспериментально-аналитический метод, предусматривающий восстановление по экспериментальным данным аналитической зависимости между компонентами логарифмических деформаций. Построены обобщенные скалярная и тензорная модели предельного состояния материала свободной поверхности заготовки при вальцовке, что позволяет оценить уровень накопленных повреждений как для операций формирования заготовок вальцовкой, так и для последующих операций

Theoretical Approaches of Definition the Concept ‹Competitive Advantages of the Region» Теоретические подходы к определению понятия «конкурентные преимущества региона»

The article analyses the theories of formation of competitive advantages, defines their distinctive features from the point of view of different approaches. Relevance of research of the concept «competitive advantages of the region» of a context of formation of a certain level of competitiveness is proved. It was found that a competitiveness is one that captures the competitive advantages, and without the latter can not be competitive. Development of competitive advantages at the regional level is an important and necessary prerequisite for achieving a certain level of competitiveness, and the mechanism of formation of the competitive advantages of the region is a key issue for further research.В статье проанализированы теории формирования конкурентных преимуществ, определены их отличительные черты с точки зрения разных подходов. Обоснована актуальность исследования понятия «конкурентные преимущества региона» в контексте формирования определенного уровня конкурентоспособности. Установлено, что конкурентоспособность является результатом, который фиксирует наличие конкурентных преимуществ, а без последних конкурентоспособность невозможна. Формирование конкурентных преимуществ на региональном уровне является важной и необходимой предпосылкой для достижения определенного уровня конкурентоспособности, а механизм формирования конкурентных преимуществ региона – актуальным вопросом дальнейших научных исследований

Integración de información ambiental en asistentes personales gestionados por voz

Los asistentes personales son agentes software presentes en dispositivos inteligentes que pueden ayudar a las personas a llevar a cabo tareas de una manera cómoda e interactiva. Son una tecnología bastante reciente con mucho potencial para expandir sus aplicaciones a diferentes ámbitos de la vida de los seres humanos en el contexto del llamado Internet de las Cosas. El objetivo de este Trabajo fin de Grado es la implementación de la funcionalidad necesaria para interconectar los asistentes personales de Alexa y Google Assistant con una nariz electrónica artificial. De esta forma, se desea poder obtener los datos e informes recogidos por la nariz y consultarlos mediante comandos de voz, que serán interpretados por los asistentes personales. También se podrán recibir alarmas por eventos específicos detectados en las señales obtenidas en la nariz. La nariz mencionada anteriormente está formada por un conjunto de sensores que pueden detectar diferentes características ambientales, como pueden ser la presencia y cantidad de ciertas componentes orgánicas en el aire, por ejemplo, la cantidad de CO2. El objetivo de la nariz es registrar las rutinas humanas y recoger toda la información ambiental relevante. En este TFG se abordan los aspectos de este proyecto relacionados únicamente con la obtención y comunicación de datos de la nariz por medio de asistentes personales. Con la implementación de la conexión entre los asistentes personales y la nariz artificial, resulta posible añadir módulos que realicen un estudio más profundo de los datos que el que se utiliza para ilustrar este trabajo, creando una herramienta muy potente para la monitorización de la actividad humana en distintos entorno

Influence of tannins and mannoproteins products on the improvement of organoleptic characteristics of wines

The aim of the work was to establish an influence of oenological tannins and mannoproteins products on the change of the organoleptic parameters of table dry wines, made from grapes of aromatic and non-aromatic varieties. The materials of the researches were wines that had defects or faults, mainly related with changes in wine aroma and taste. Oenological tannins of various botanical origins and mannoproteins products of a company Martin Vialatte (France) were used in the researches. Wines with these additives were mixed intensively, kept during 3 days at a temperature, not exceeding 12&nbsp;°C and then determined the sensory characteristics of wine. Control samples were wines without additives. The descriptive method of analysis was used to create aromatic profiles of wines. The effectiveness of tannins and mannoproteins products on the sensory characteristics of wines was established. The intensity of the descriptors that made a positive affect on the aroma and taste of the samples was increasing. If, at the beginning tones of oxidation or bitterness were felt in the wines, then after introduction of the additives, these tones decreased in intensity. A difference of the changes of aromatic characteristics of wines from two groups of grapes with different aromatics was established. The action of additives was spread on the tings of descriptors, enriching the aroma of samples from non-aromatic grape varieties together with eliminating faults of taste. The effect of the additives was light in the aromatic varieties of grape that is due to the strong aroma and expressed taste of the grapes of these varieties. The results of the researches can be used to improve the quality of white wines, and further researches should be focused on the expansion of assortments of wines from other varieties, as a result utilizing tannins and mannoprotein product

Losing your home : temporal changes in forest landscape structure due to timber harvest accelerate Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) nest stand losses

In Finland, forests are both one of the main national economic resources and the main source of biodiversity. Lack of detailed empirical evidence of how forestry affects biodiversity limits the development of sustainable forest management. Previous studies have found that the Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) is a keystone species in mature coniferous boreal forests, and that its presence is associated with high local biodiversity. To understand how timber harvest affect goshawk nest-stand constancy and nest occupancy, we analyzed changes in nine landscape classes in two buffer zones (100 m, 250 m) around goshawk nests in Western Finland during 2005-2013. Patterns of nest occupancy and nest stand loss during 2005-2013 was compared with corresponding data from 1999-2005 to investigate possible long-term changes in the same. We found a positive connection between the proportion of mature spruce forest and nest occupancy. Nest stand constancy was at a lower level during 2005-2013 than during 1999-2005. This was mainly because of forest loss due to cutting of nest stands. Given that the loss of goshawk nest stands has accelerated and because timber harvest in the area was found to be specifically targeted towards forest types favoured by goshawks, forestry may have an even larger negative effect on biodiversity locally than previously thought given that goshawk nest stands are associated with high biodiversity. To render the Finnish forestry ecologically sustainable, we propose that protection of goshawk nest stands should be an integrated part of standard forestry practices in the future.Peer reviewe

Nanocomposites Based on Chitozan and Carbon Nanotubers with Iron Oxides Formed by in situ Precipitation

Composites which contain iron oxide nanoparticles and unmodified or aminated silica were synthesised by in situ precipitation of ferrous salts in chitozan or glucose solution. Nanocomposites based on oxidized or aminated carbon nanotubers were obtained by immobilizing oxide nanoparticles in surface layer during salt precipitation in water dispersion. The metal-containing phase was obtained by the Elmore reaction using different ratios of ferrous ammonium sulfate hexahydrate (FeSO4∙(NH4)2SO4∙6H2O) and ferric chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3∙6H2O). The composites obtained were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy. In addition for selected samples XRD, DSC, and specific surface area measurements were carry out. The analysis results indicate that in situ co-precipitation of iron oxide precursors in chitosan or glucose allows producing Fe3O4 particles with the average size ca. 5-7 nm. The presence of silica leads to particles size decrease which can be controlled, along with iron oxide particles location, by changing the silica surface functional ity. Characteristics and location of iron oxide nanoparticles in nanotubers modified layer are strongly depended from nature of the groups attached to surface. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/3536