Risk governance in Nepal: Reflecting on experiences with Risk and Resilience Committees

This paper reports on fieldwork in Nepal, which produces a comparison between two communities of their perception and experience of risk. In particular, it explores contrasting ideas of risk governance based upon a community survey as well as in depth interviews with risk and resilience committee members. The paper moves to a tentative conclusion that suggests, in more urban areas the existence of a formal structure embedded in local government is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for disaster risk reduction; in contrast, in rural areas disaster risk reduction discourse is more difficult because of the overwhelming priority of maintaining livelihood security

Ceria Based Catalysts for Low Temperature NO\u3csub\u3ex\u3c/sub\u3e Storage and Release

Model ceria catalysts were evaluated for NOx storage and desorption performance under lean conditions. Three different storage temperatures (80 °C, 120 °C, and 160 °C) were utilized to evaluate NOx storage. Higher temperatures resulted in higher NOx storage. It was observed that storage of platinum promoted ceria resulted in higher NOx storage compared to promotion with palladium. NOx desorption behavior of platinum promoted ceria indicated that the majority of NOx is released at high temperatures (\u3e 350 °C), comparatively palladium promotion released more of the stored NOx at lower temperatures. Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS) indicated that platinum promotion results in NOx storage as thermally stabile nitrates, while palladium promotion results in NOx storage as thermally labile nitrites. Doping ceria with trivalent rare earth oxides has been shown to improve NOx storage by generating lattice oxygen vacancies. Ceria doped with Pr, Y, La, Sm, and Nd at two different concentrations (5 and 20 mol%) and promoted with Pt were evaluated. Doping ceria with 5% Sm, Nd, and Pr improved the amount of NOx stored while the addition of Sm and La did not improve storage. Upon increasing dopant concentration, NOx storage decreased in all cases but Pr. However, increasing Pr concentration was found to increase NOx storage as well as low temperature NOx release. Ceria doped with Pr promoted with Pd increased the amount of NOx released at lower temperatures compared to Pt promotion, although palladium promotion resulted in lower storage. Similar DRIFTS spectra were obtained with Ce-Pr when promoted with Pt or Pd compared to model catalysts. Platinum promotion results in the storage of NOx at nitrates, which require high temperatures for removal. Comparatively, Pd promotion results in NOx stored at nitrites requiring lower temperatures for removal. Ceria doped with Pr proved to be promising, although not thermally stable when exposed to high temperatures as may be seen during a DPF clean up. Therefor, stabilizing Ce-Pr catalysts with Zr were evaluated. It was found that stabilizing Ce-Pr with Zr was not found to be beneficial to the catalyst performance

Getting into the Irish groove: dancing in Boston Irish music sessions

Thesis (M.M.)--Boston UniversityIrish music sessions are informal performance spaces meant for musicians to create music for listening. The repertoire of this music tradition, however, is composed of dance music. In Boston, there is a group of Irish dancers who attend music sessions, seeking out live music performance with which they can dance. In these live performances, musicians and dancers have the opportunity to create collaborative and mutually meaningful performances. In my research, I explore the nature of collaborative performance between musicians and dancers in Boston Irish music sessions through an investigation of social relationships, participatory expectations, and performance elements like tempo, instrumentation, rhythm and dance style. Dancers are performing an improvisatory genre of Irish dance known as sean nos as a method of achieving successful collaborative performances with live musicians. The success of a music session is measured by the musicians' likelihood and ability to experience groove. A successful collaboration between music and dancers is measured against this same experiential goal. In some circumstances, the experience of groove leads to the experience of flow

Academic Entitlement and the Association of Attitude toward Learning and Perseverance for Goals, and Identity Processes.

The purpose of this study was to examine associations between academic entitlement and attitude toward learning, perseverance for goals, and identity processes. Participants included 364 undergraduate students, ages 18-29. Results revealed that overall, participants in this study reported low academic entitlement. Nevertheless, students who reported higher academic entitlement reported lower attitude toward learning (mastery approach), and lower perseverance for goals (consistency of interest, perseverance of effort). In addition, students who reported higher academic entitlement were more likely to score higher on diffused, foreclosed, and moratorium identity processes (ideological and interpersonal domains). Lastly, results indicated that participants who reported higher academic entitlement fell into the age category of 18-20. Overall, it appeared that students age 18-20 reported higher academic entitlement, lower attitude toward learning, perseverance for goals, and were more likely to score higher on diffusion, foreclosure, and moratorium. Older students age 21-29 appeared to be more likely to be achieved

Compliance with the building byelaws and earthquake safety in urban areas of Bihar: progress, constraints and challenges

The adoption and enforcement of building codes is considered the most effective tool in safeguarding lives and property against earthquakes. There would appear to be a vital regulatory role for government in the enforcement of building codes, but this is somewhat at odds with the neoliberal agenda of ‘rolling back the state’. This paper explores constraints to the implementation of building codes in the context of changing roles and responsibilities of local authorities in Bihar in India. In-depth interviews were conducted with key stakeholders across major urban centres in north Bihar. Some factors, such as: code complexity; competition between the public and private sectors for qualified personnel; and low public risk perception were found to be less significant in Bihar than has been noted elsewhere, while other factors such as: the cost of earthquake-resistant measures; political interests; corrupt practices; and lack of government capacity were important. Additional factors were also revealed by the research, some of which are exacerbated by the neoliberal climate of urban governance. While the recent 2014 byelaws represent an improvement in the system and a degree of re-regulation, ambiguities create opportunities for failures arising from ‘normalised irresponsibility’

1998 Highway Cost Allocation Update: Technical Report

This update of the highway cost allocation study is the eighth in a recent series begun in the early 1980\u27s by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Kentucky Transportation Center. The primary objectives were to determine the level of revenue contribution and cost responsibility for each class of highway user. The base year of the study is FY 97; the most recent time period for which revenue and cost data were available. Highway user or travel activity for calender year 1996 was the most recent available. A basic premise of the study was that only state maintained highways were of interest in recouping the costs expended to construct and maintain the system. In 1996, this system comprised 27,350 miles of the 73,170 miles of roads and streets in Kentucky, while accommodation 84 percent of all travel. There were 17 highway user classes with which revenue contribution and cost responsibility were associated. Primary sources of revenue included fuel taxes, registration fees, usage taxes, tolls, and other motor carrier and federal taxes and fees. Primary expenditure categories included construction (subdivided into 6 categories), maintenance and traffic, administration, and enforcement. Construction was subdivided into planning and design; right of way; utility relocation; grade, drain and surfacing; resurfacing; bridges; and miscellaneous. Results from the analysis indicate that cost responsibility is borne most heavily by cars and motorcycles with 45.74 percent; followed by heavy trucks with gross weights of 60,000 pounds or more at 26.22 percent. Pickups and other vehicles registered in the 6,000 pound category were responsible for 20.72 percent of the cost. The ratio of percentage revenue attributed to percentage cost allocated was also determined in the study. A ratio of one indicates that the revenue and cost percentages are in balance for a particular vehicle type. Cars (0.94), buses (0. 78) and heavy trucks (0.91) contribute less revenue than their cost responsibility dictates

Interventions to provide culturally-appropriate maternity care services: factors affecting implementation

Background The World Health Organization recently made a recommendation supporting ‘culturally-appropriate’ maternity care services to improve maternal and newborn health. This recommendation results, in part, from a systematic review we conducted, which showed that interventions to provide culturally-appropriate maternity care have largely improved women’s use of skilled maternity care. Factors relating to the implementation of these interventions can have implications for their success. This paper examines stakeholders’ perspectives and experiences of these interventions, and facilitators and barriers to implementation; and concludes with how they relate to the effects of the interventions on care-seeking outcomes. Methods We based our analysis on 15 papers included in the systematic review. To extract, collate and organise data on the context and conditions from each paper, we adapted the SURE (Supporting the Use of Research Evidence) framework that lists categories of factors that could influence implementation. We considered information from the background and discussion sections of papers included in the systematic review, as well as cost data and qualitative data when included. Results Women’s and other stakeholders’ perspectives on the interventions were generally positive. Four key themes emerged in our analysis of facilitators and barriers to implementation. Firstly, interventions must consider broader economic, geographical and social factors that affect ethnic minority groups’ access to services, alongside providing culturally-appropriate care. Secondly, community participation is important in understanding problems with existing services and potential solutions from the community perspective, and in the development and implementation of interventions. Thirdly, respectful, person-centred care should be at the core of these interventions. Finally, cohesiveness is essential between the culturally-appropriate service and other health care providers encountered by women and their families along the continuum of care through pregnancy until after birth. Conclusion Several important factors should be considered and addressed when implementing interventions to provide culturally-appropriate care. These factors reflect more general goals on the international agenda of improving access to skilled maternity care; providing high-quality, respectful care; and community participation