Ecological Culture in Traditional Chinese Vernacular Dwellings

Traditional Chinese vernacular dwellings take root in farming culture with profound connotations. Through analyzing ecological thoughts and cultural ideas in traditional vernacular dwellings, this study aims to provide references for the design of modern vernacular dwellings. It is proposed in this study that ① Ecological thoughts of traditional vernacular dwellings include the simple eco-thought of 'human-nature oneness', Fengshui (traditional Chinese ideas hold that the location of a house or tomb is supposed to have an influence on the fortune of a family) theories of 'balance of yin and yang', energy-saving thought of 'making the best use of local advantages'. Traditional vernacular dwellings are mainly constructed according to local conditions, facing the sunny side and water, backing on the shady side and mountains, with local materials and suitable construction structures for local environment and climatic conditions, which enable residents to enjoy warm winter and cool summer, sufficient sunshine, excellent ventilation and heat-proof, wind and humidity proof, that is, a natural ecological living environment. ② Cultural thoughts of traditional vernacular dwellings include the strict and square philosophical ideas as well as harmonious artistic thoughts. Traditional Chinese vernacular dwellings demonstrate morals and ethics by strict and square patterns and strong sense of hierarchy, most of them have definite axes in spatial patterns to show the hierarchy and core of construction groups; abstract patterns of flower, grass, animal or human beings are also often applied in detailed designs, showing esthetic tastes. The formation of traditional Chinese vernacular dwellings has been closely linked with social and cultural factors, living habits, geographical, water and soil, environmental and climatic conditions as well as folk customs, which can provide significant references for the design and reformation of modern new-type vernacular dwellings.

积极稳妥引导城镇化健康发展

本期刊登了中共中央、国务院印发的《国家新型城镇化规划(2014—2020年)》,明确未来城镇化的发展路径、主要目标和战略任务,统筹相关领域制度和政策创新,是指导全国城镇化健康发展的宏观性、战略性、基础性规划。当前,我国城镇化发展已经站在新的历史起点上,既面临巨大机遇,更面临诸多难题,必须要寻找到一条有利于释放内需巨大潜力、提高劳动生产率、加快破解城乡二元结构、促进社会公平和共同富裕的道路。在这样一个十分关键的路口,我们一定要牢记,正确的方向就是新型城镇化。

Residents′Activity-travel Behavior Variation by Communities in Beijing,China

China's transition from a planned economy to a market economy has resulted in many changes in its urban structure and society and provided an opportunity for a quasi-longitudinal case study on the relationship between the built environment and activity-travel behavior.This paper draws upon data from an activity diary survey conducted in Beijing in 2007.The survey sample comprised 652 residents living in Danwei(work unit),commodity housing,and affordable housing neighborhoods.On the basis of the three-dimensional geo-visualization analysis of the space-time path and statistical multivariate regression models of daily travel and leisure time,it was found that both residential spatial factors and socio-demographics influence residents' daily behaviors.The findings show that Danwei residents have less daily travel time than those who live in commodity housing,but people living in affordable housing endure the longest travel time.Daily leisure time is associated more with individual attributes.We argue that although China's transition is currently gradual,the Danwei system may continue to play significant roles in daily life,and it might provide a valuable model for neighborhood spatial planning.

Impact of Urban Water Pricing on Future Water Demand： A ＇Socioeconomic＇ Study in Greece

The main aim of this study is to assess various aspects of the current water policy, investigate the perspectives of water saving, evaluate water price elasticity and explore new approaches toward sustainable water management in the water sector, through a questionnaire survey that has been performed in the city of Volos, Greece, concerning the residential sector. The appropriate design of water management measures presupposes the investigation of the influence of some selected variables to consumers＇ behavior. The price of water, the size of the dwelling, the indoor and outdoor uses, the educational level, the income of consumers as well as rainfall and temperature levels are examined, the residential water demand curve is estimated and projections of future water demand under different pricing policies are performed.

Electricity Consumption and Spillover Effects A Dynamic Panel Data Approach

The paper intends to analyze economic factors that influence electricity consumption in the OECD economies. A special interest in this context is given to spillover effects of trade on electricity consumption. For this purpose, a model is constructed that using a dynamic panel study approach. The model is estimated in a GMM framework in which a dynamic procedure is conducted along the balanced growth path for electricity consumption in each economy. In advance, the long run dynamic behavior of prices, GDP, and trade induced spillover variables is determined. In a further step, the short run dynamic mechanism is pursued by estimating the partial adjustment dynamic coefficient on the target level of electricity consumption. The analysis is conducted for industrial, as well as residential electricity consumption. Alternatively, the same procedure is estimated by the application of a fixed period model. The model provides a benchmark tool for electricity policy decisions and for electricity consumption projections.

Understanding Environmental Worldview of Famagusta Residents and Its Determinants through Survey Research

Environmental attitude studies have been a key focus within the environmental research field, as the significance of ecological citizenship for the sustainable development discourse has been highly recognized in recent years. In this context, the influence of demographic variables on environmental attitude is an emerging issue that is widely investigated in the west. In this respect, this paper seeks to understand the impact of demographic variables on the environmental worldview of Famagusta residents in order to make a scientific contribution to the possible construction of relevant strategies. A random sample of 165 residents within the territory of Famagusta Municipality was chosen for the survey. The survey tapped the relationship between environmental （ecocentric and anthropocentric） attitudes and selected demographic variables （age, gender, education and household income） and the survey results were evaluated with the help of SPSS （statistical package for social sciences） analyses. The findings reveal that younger respondents, women and the highly educated do not achieve higher scores of environmental attitudes and household income has a statistically significant nonlinear effect.

Sanitation in Urban Slums： Perception, Attitude and Behavior： The Case of Kibera, Nairobi-Kenya

Over 60 percent of Kenya＇s urban dwellers live in slum settlements. Here, people live under life-threatening conditions characterized with poverty, inadequate food and shelter, physical overcrowding, unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation. The flimsiness of these dwellers is not always due to low incomes. It is often the result of insecurity of tenure and other deprivations： the lack of entitlement inhibits their investment in better health. In Kibera Slum, Africa＇s second largest and Kenya＇s oldest and largest slum, poor sanitation and inadequate water supply is a daily challenge for the residents. Over 150 persons share one shallow pit latrine while 75 percent of the population uses sanitation practices that involve direct handling of human waste increasing in spread of infectious diseases. Insecurity of tenure; low levels of education; inadequate socio-economic, infrastructural and physical entitlements all affect the Kibera＇s residents＇ perception and attitude towards investing in better sanitation behavior.

Suitability Evaluation of Rural Settlements Based on Accessibility of Production and Living： A Case Study of Tingzu Town in Hubei Prov- ince of China

Rural settlements are the main carriers of agriculture, rural areas and farmers; thus, optimizing the production and living space of rural settlements is highly significant to rural development. Taking the effective allocation of resources as the starting point, a suitability evaluation system of rural settlements, based on accessibility of production and living, was proposed in this study to provide scientific basis for the optimization of production and living space. The accessibility of production and living was measured by an im- proved two-step floating catchment area method, which considered proximity and availability based on the inclination of rural residents. The suitability evaluation system consisted of traditional suitability evaluation and newly proposed limiting factor identification based on the loss score proportion of suitability. Tingzu Town of Hubei Province, China, was chosen as the case study area. Based on the re- suits of the suitability evaluation system, corresponding suggestions on rural land consolidation, industry division, as well as the layout of health care and education facilities were proposed to optimize the production and living space of rural settlements in Tingzu Town. It is found that the suitability evaluation based on accessibility of production and living is more scientific and accurate than the traditional ones which significantly overestimate production and living convenience. Moreover, the limiting factor identification can help us put forward suggestions according to local conditions and bring about the highly targeted optimization of production and living space of rural settlements.

Health Literacy Level of Chinese Residents Improved to 9.48%

The 2013 Monitoring Report of Health Literacy Level of Chinese Residents announced by National Health and Family Planning Commission（NHFPC）on February 17,2015 shows that health literacy level of Chinese residents had increased to 9.48%,a rise of 0.68percentage point over 8.80% in 2012 and an increase of 3 percentage points over 6.48% in 2008.

Feasibility study on the integration of urban and rural minimum living security system based on SWOT model

This paper uses SWOT analysis, feasibility analysis of integration of urban and rural residents in China, including the overall analysis of the urban and rural integration China internal conditions, mainly for its overall advantages and disadvantages are analyzed; and the external environment, the system is mainly to raise the opportunities and threats were analyzed; in these. The external conditions are analyzed based on the construction of SWOT strategic matrix, found the advantages and disadvantages of the reform process of the integration of urban and rural subsistence allowances system in coexist, opportunities outweigh the challenges, so China＇s overall urban and rural integration construction is feasible.

Cities Make Life Better:Hukou and Household Satisfaction about Life

This paper examines the relationship between a change of hukou and househoM satisfaction about life based on large-sample China Family Panel Studies （CFPS） data. As horizontally shown by cross-section data, significant hukou identity differences exist in the subjective happiness of households reflected in life satisfaction. However, the traditional view that ＂rural residents are subjectively happier than urban residents＂ is not verified in this study. From a vertical perspective of tracing data, the estimation results of the DID model and the PSM model indicate that a change of hukou identity for rural residents has a significantly positive effect on their subjective happiness, lending credence to the saying that ＂cities make life better＂.

Techniques and Methods for Urban Regeneration and Quality Improvement for Suburbia

The paper is based on the results of two research experiences： an European research titled ＂Improving the Quality of Suburban Building Stock＂ （COST Action TU0701 ） and an Italian National Research project called ＂Renovation, Regeneration and Valorization of Social Housing Settlements Built in the Suburban Areas in the Second Half of Last Century＂ （PRIN 2010-2012）. The paper summarizes the researches outputs whose main aim was to illustrate the potentialities of different strategies for the improvement of suburbs. In order to implement different strategies for the refurbishment of suburban areas, researches were aimed firstly at the identification of several case studies that are representatives of the European panorama because of their typology, construction and state of physical and social deterioration. The final result was a collection of examples for the urban regeneration, gathered from case studies but offering a wide-scale of applications on public housing complexes. The paper highlights different approaches and strategies taken by different countries towards the methodologies of assessing, refurbishing and adding new value to the suburban areas, in view of increasing not only the quality of buildings but also the quality of public spaces and services, for a better quality of life of the citizens.

Protecting the Environment as a Way of Life

LAQIAO is a tiny village in the karstic mountains of Libo. Its 96 Shui residents in their community of 20 households decided, in 2002,to take part in an environmental protection program. This was a welcome decision, in view of the ecological significance of the swamps and karst forests in the Maolan Nature Reserve of Libo.

Simulation training in contemporary obstetrics education

AIM: To investigate the use of the Gaumard's Noelle S550.100 Maternal and Neonatal Simulators for teaching forceps delivery.METHODS: Twenty two(n = 22) resident physicians were enrolled in a simulation course on operative forceps deliveries. The physicians enrolled in the course were all part of an accredited Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program and ranged in their training from post graduate year(PGY) 1-4. Each participant received simulation based teaching on the indications, contraindications, proper application, delivery and removal of forceps by a single teacher. The Gaumard's simulator and Simpson forceps were used for this course. Statistical analysis using SPSS statistical software was performed after the completion of the simulation training program. A paired student t-test was performed to compare the cohort's mean pretest and post simulation training scores. Follow up skills assessment scores at one month, 3 mo and 6 mo were compared to thebaseline pretest score using a paired student t-test. RESULTS: There was statistically significant improvement in the post simulation training performance evaluations compared to the pretest, 13.7(SD = 3.14) vs 7.9(SD = 4.92), P < 0.05. Scores at 1 mo, 3 mo, and 6 mo were compared to the pretest score and showed retention of skills: 4.6(SD = 5.5, 95%CI: 2.21-7.07), 4.4(SD = 5.2, 95%CI: 2.13-6.70), and 5.6(SD = 4.8, 95%CI: 3.53-7.75) points, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between residents by post graduate training year on pretest scores, however these differences were not present after simulation training. Pretest scores for PGY 1, 2, 3, 4 were 3.5(SD = 2.27, 95%CI: 2.13-5.00), 7.25(SD = 6.70, 95%CI: 1.50-13.00), 10.75(SD = 1.5, 95%CI: 9.50-12.00), 12.17(SD = 2.57, 95%CI: 10.33-14.00). After simulation training PGY 1 residents did as well as well as the upper level residents. Posttest mean test scores for PGY 1, 2, 3, 4 were 13.75(SD = 1.49, 95%CI: 12.75-14.63), 10.25(SD = 0.24, 95%CI: 4.25-14.00), 15.00(SD = 1.16, 95%CI: 14.00-16.00), 15.17(SD = 0.75, 95%CI: 14.67-15.67). CONCLUSION: Our simulation based training program not only produced short term gains, but participants were able to retain the skills learned and demonstrate their knowledge months later.

The Impact of Catastrophic Natural Disaster on Land-Use Changes of Qingping Town and the Selection of Suitable Land for Settlement Construction

A Ms 8.0 large earthquake occurred in Sichuan,China on May 12,2008（hereafter called 5.12 Earthquake）,and then a large debris flow happened in the quake-hit Qingping Township of Mianzhu county on August 13,2008（hereafter called 8.13 Debris Flow）.The influence of two disasters on the changes in land use were analyzed by using highresolution aerial photos and satellite remote sensing images taken before and after the 5.12 Earthquake and 8.13 Debris Flow,the selection of suitable construction land were studied by learning experiences and lessons from the selection of resettlement areas and through field surveys and with land use transfer model and analytical model in combination with RS and GIS.The results showed that the influence of the 5.12 Earthquake on ecological environment was far greater than that of the 8.13 Debris Flow;there were more salient conflicts between population and land after the earthquake.Sites for post-disaster reconstruction should not be in disaster-prone areas or in gully-facing areas.Suitable land for settlement construction in I-1~I-5 low-hazard zones is optimal settlement areas for post-disaster reconstruction.

The Initial Exploration of The Catastrophic Medical Insurance in Shanghai

Developing the catastrophic medical insurance for urban and rural residents positively is the key action to keep the new round of reform for medical system into deep. However this insurance is the ＇shortage＇ of the national health system, so the Shanghai government carries out The Trial Measures for Catastrophic Medical Insurance of urban and rural residents in 2014. In this thesis, we will describe the current situation of the catastrophic medical insurance in Shanghai from aspects of financing, level of compensation, the way to undertake and regulatory. What＇s more, we expect to explore the weakness of catastrophic medical insurance in actual motion, and offer proposals for progressively realizing the integration of urban and rural in medical insurance, improving the basic health care directory, enhancing cooperation with commercial medical insurance.

Integrity of Local Ecosystems and Storm Water Management in Residential Areas

The authors designed an ecological storm water system in a residential area to replace the conventional underground channels for the collection of storm water so as to reduce the nutrients and sediments discharged. This system contains natural sub-creeks as drainage channels discharging overflow to nearby creeks, an open green trench, a storage pond, and natural sub-creeks. The sub -creeks were designed to be integrated into community landscape, which not only increases the efficiency of water usage, but also improves the aesthetic qualities of the community residence area as required by Agenda 21. This research proved the feasibility of an open storm water collection and utilization system for the design of a community water system.

The Spatio-temporal Evolution and Effect Factors of Cultivated Land Fragmentation in Jiangsu,China

Based on the land use change data obtained from the interpretation of remote sensing images in 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2008, the research applied principal component analysis, Markov chain and ESDA method, and took cultivated land patch as the basic unit of landscape. A comprehensive measure of the fragmentation of cultivated land was made in Jiangsu counties and its temporal and spatial evolution characteristics and driving process from the perspective of landscape ecology were discussed. The results are as follows:(1)The overall fragmentation of cultivated land in Jiangsu Province presents that the eastern coastal areas are low, the interior of the west is high, the fragmentation of northern and southern Jiangsu is high, while the fragmentation of mid-Jiangsu is low.(2)The degree of fragmentation of cultivated land in most area of southern Jiangsu and midJiangsu showed an upward trend, while the fragmentation of cultivated land in northern Jiangsu showed a downward trend from 1985 to 2008. The degree of agglomeration of cultivated land is weakened continuously, the area of high value agglomeration is decreasing and the trend of "polarization" is weakening.(3) Topographic condition is the decisive factor for the formation of the difference pattern. The change of rural residential land, cultivated land and the scale of urban land use plays a role on the cultivated land fragmentation index, among them, the change of rural residential land scale has the most significant effect on cultivated land fragmentation.

Community attitudes toward ecotourism development and environmental conservation in nature reserve:a case of Fujian Wuyishan National Nature Reserve,China

Using social exchange theory, this study investigated residents＇ attitudes toward the preliminary stage of tourism development in nature reserves in Wuyishan National Nature Reserve of China, and the socio-economic and negative effects of residents＇ attitude toward the tourist industry. Results of the questionnaire survey indicated that local people perceived they could benefit from the economic activities related to tourism, and were supportive of the conservation of natural resources and local culture, sustainable community development, and community participation in ecotourism planning and management. This study also revealed that the variables of age, gender, education level, household income, family size, non-farm work arrangements, and the distance to tourism attractions, have significant association with respondents＇ attitudes toward ecotourism development, or negative impacts of the tourist industry. Respondents who are male, or have a higher household income, are more supportive of tourism development inside the reserve. Younger and more highly educated community members are more likely to support learning more about natural and cultural resources and landscapes. Respondents who have a hieher household income, or live far fromthe village center, are more concerned about the negative environmental impacts of tourism development.

Tsingtao li stone community management present situation analysis

In China, the country with a large population, the number of rural residents still occupies a considerable proportion. With the development of the country, reducing the living standards of the gap between urban and rural areas as soon as possible, to be able to realize urban and rural integration, a new rural community management is a very good choice. In this paper, the research aims to Tsingtao li stone community the brief analysis of the present situation of community management, research on the current situation of community management problems, and put forward the community management services to long-term healthy development of the constructive Suggestions and countermeasures.