EVERYDAY LANDSCAPE AND MEANING IN URBAN LIVING

This paper conceptualizes landscape from a temporal and spatial perspective which emphasizes peoples’ interactions and activities as an inherent part of understanding the landscape itself. Today, peoples’ interaction with the landscape has become more complex, largely owing to the changing notions of place in contemporary urban living. In this context, the paper examines the role and significance of the landscapes of everyday life in urban environment and delineates how it (re)constructs ordinary human and social meanings that are necessary conditions for our existence. The paper is presented in three sections. In the first section, it discusses the concept of everyday life and its relevance in the contemporary urban living. In the following section, it examines the complexities encountered in urban landscapes today .The third section of the paper discusses how meaningful interaction experienced with everyday landscapes offer valuable insights for addressing the challenges posed by the complexities of urban city living. The paper concludes by highlighting the need for attention towards the largely neglected or overlooked domains of ‘ordinary’ everyday landscape by designer professionals, which plays a crucial role in creating meaningful relationship between people and place

Molecular epidemiology of rotavirus in children and animals and characterization of an unusual G10P[15] strain associated with bovine diarrhea in south India

AbstractRotaviruses are enteric pathogens causing acute, watery, dehydrating diarrhea in various host species, including birds and mammals. This study collected data on the disease burden and strain prevalence of Group A rotavirus in animals and humans in Vellore and investigated interspecies transmission by comparison of circulating genotypes. Stool samples from children aged less than 5 years, admitted to the hospital between January 2003 and May 2006 for diarrhea and diarrheal samples from animals that were collected from a veterinary clinic and several dairy farms near Vellore between February 2007 and May 2008 were processed and subjected to RNA extraction and reverse-transcription PCR for genotyping of VP7 and VP4. Of 394 children with diarrhea, 158 (40%) were positive for rotavirus and the common G types identified were G1 (47, 29.7%), G2 (43, 27.2%), G9 (22, 13.9%), G10 (2, 1.2%), G12 (1, 0.6%) and mixed infections (27, 17.8%). The common P types were P[4] accounting for 57 (36%) samples, P[8] 57 (36%), P[11] 3 (1.8%) and P[6] 2 (1.2%). Of 627 animals, 35 (1 bullock, 2 goats, 32 cows) were found to be infected with rotavirus (5.5%). The common G types identified in order of frequency were G6 (17, 48.5%), G2 (10, 28%), G10 (4, 11%), G8 (2, 5.7%) and mixed infections (2, 5.7%). The common P types were P[6] accounting for 16 (46%) samples, P[4] 7 (20%), P[1] 3 (8.5%) and P[8] 3 (8.5%). An unusual P type P[15] was seen in one sample in combination with G10. The finding of G2 infections which are rarely identified in animals implies anthroponotic transmission since this genotype is predominantly associated with infection in humans

Predicting Clinical Outcome in Diabetics versus Nondiabetics with Acute Myocardial Infarction After Thrombolysis

Acute myocardial infarction can be considered as a potential epidemic for mankind (WHO 1982). Diabetes mellitus is one of the 6 primary risk factors identified for myocardial infarction. The aim of our study was to correlate the incidence of complications with diabetes by using ST segment resolution as a tool, thereby re-enforcing the role of incomplete ST resolution as a marker of worse clinical outcome in cases of diabetes with ST-elevated myocardialinfarction in our population

Screening of Padina boergesenii for pharmacological activities

Padina boergesenii is a distinctive small brown algae with rounded fronds growing to a length and diameter of 04 to 06 cm (1.6 to 2.4 in). P. boergesenii is widely present in the shallow water of tropical, subtropical and warm temperate areas. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-bacterial, anti-biofilm, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity activities of crude ethyl acetate extract of P. boergesenii. Anti-bacterial activity of crude ethyl acetate extract of P. boergesenii against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was determined using the well diffusion method. MIC of P. boergesenii against biofilm was carried out by the Resazurin method. Antioxidant potential was assessed by DPPH, FRAP, and the Hydrogen peroxide scavenging method. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using the albumin denaturation and heat-induced hemolysis method. Cytotoxicity activity of P. boergesenii against cell line L929 was analyzed by MTT assay. The maximum zone of inhibition obtained was 23 mm for Staphylococcus aureus, followed by 21 mm for Escherichia coli. Biofilm of Enterococcus faecalis showed higher resistance (MIC= 25.00±00.00 mg/mL). Biofilm of Acinetobacter baumannii was found to be most susceptible (MIC= 06.25±00.00 mg/mL). The IC50 value for the crude ethyl acetate extract P. boergesenii was 155.5 μg/mL for the DPPH method, 1567.18 μg/mL for the FRAP method, and 3098.27 μg/mL for the H2O2 method. The results of in vitro anti-inflammatory studies exhibited IC50= 122.33 μg/mL and 2522.40 μg/mL for albumin denaturation assay and heat-induced hemolysis method respectively. The crude ethyl acetate extract of P. boergesenii showed cytotoxicity against the growth of the L929 cell line. The present study suggested that the crude ethyl acetate extract P. boergesenii has potent antibacterial, anti-biofilm, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity activities. The bioactive components present in the P. boergesenii extract can be a promising source for pharmaceuticals

An investigation on the effects of psychological contract (PC) towards site safety in the south Indian construction industry

The construction sector is India\u27s second-largest industry, contributing to the country\u27s economy and providing many job opportunities. However, construction has been described as a hazardous industry with a high rate of injuries, accidents, and fatalities compared to other sectors worldwide. The psychological contract of safety (PCS) is one of the safety climate (SC) variables that influence worker safety behavior (WSB) actions on construction sites to improve safety. This research investigates the influence of SC factors on PCS and PCS on WSB in construction site safety. A quantitative research method has been adopted in this study, and the data is collected from the construction professionals working in South India. Statistical analyses were performed for the collected data; consisted of stepwise regression analysis and structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis to determine the significance of PCS. The findings disclose that in direct effect, four out of six SC factors contribute to enhancing PCS, namely supervisor safety behavior, co-worker safety behavior, worker involvement, and safety system, and it shows that PCS influences WSB. In indirect effect of SC factor on WSB two factors positively influence namely: supervisor safety behavior, co-worker safety behavior and remaining two negatively influences. The outcome of this study helps the construction professionals to improve safety performance by fulfilling their obligations and improving WSB in construction sites

The ‘peri-urban turn’:A systems thinking approach for a paradigm shift in reconceptualising urban-rural futures in the global South

With the rapid pace of urbanization, urban sprawl has become a prevalent phenomenon, particularly in the global South, leading to the emergence of peri-urban spaces where rural-urban interfaces occur. These peri-urban areas exhibit dynamic and continuous interactions among social, economic, and environmental systems, offering valuable insights for fostering resilient futures. However, this aspect remains largely unexplored in current research due to a lack of innovative methodological approaches that effectively capture the complementarities, potentialities, and contestations inherent in the dynamics of peri-urban areas. We contend that peri-urbanisation needs to be reconceptualized as an alternative socio-spatial framework that extends the predominantly Eurocentric discourse on counterurbanisation, making it more inclusive of the emerging urban-rural transformations in the global South. By doing so, we can better understand and address the complex dynamics and challenges associated with peri-urban areas and develop strategies to foster resilience in these contexts

Towards a Combined Physical and Social Evaluation of Climate Vulnerability in Coastal Urban Megacities

Coastal urban megacities across Asia face significant risks from climate change, including coastal flooding, high temperatures, urban heat island impacts and air pollution. These hazards are associated with negative impacts on infrastructure, communities and the environment. To identify the current intensity of climate change impacts in coastal urban megacities, an integrated evaluation method is needed. Firstly, the present study assesses the climate change impacts of Guangzhou, a Chinese coastal urban megacity, for both physical and social aspects. This study includes 60 years of time-series data for 1960–2020 to examine temperatures, precipitation, humidity and air pollution in Guangzhou city. At the same time, a survey was conducted between April and July 2022 in this megacity and collected the views of 336 people on climate change and its associated environmental impacts. Secondly, the Ganzhou city results are compared with existing data from similar nearby cities to evaluate the diverse climate change trends. Results show that during 1961-1990, the city received the most rainfall in May, reaching 283.6 mm. From 1990 to 2020, June recorded the highest rainfall of 356.6 mm and shows an increase of 73 mm during that period. The very severe monsoon season brought an increased risk of flooding. Results also revealed that the warmest month is July, and the coldest month is January, and both months showed increased temperatures of 0.60 ℃. Comparison results revealed that Guangzhou is not the only city which scored increased highest temperatures; other nearby cities including Heyuan, Shantou and Shaoguan also scored increased highest temperatures. The survey reveals that the majority of respondents (75%) perceived the increased frequency of extreme weather, including typhoons, heavy rainfall and multiple days of hot weather, such as higher temperatures and an increased number of hot days. In the responses to the questions related to the heat island effect, more than 80% of residents are aware of the existence of the heat island and its impacts. People believe that the primary causes of the urban heat island problem are industrial production and anthropogenic heat generated by the city. These results will be helpful to local and national policy and decision makers to revise and/or develop new strategies to improve the environment and quality of life in coastal megacities, particularly Ganzhou