Spatial Protection and Development of Traditional Mountain Settlements from the Perspective of Self-organization : A Case Study of Anju Ancient Town in Tongliang District, Chongqing

Through literature research, field research and urban design analysis methods, based on the self-organization theory, the evolution characteristics of the settlement space of Anju Ancient Town with significant characteristics of traditional mountain settlements were analyzed, and then its internal and external influencing factors were summarized. Finally, appropriate protection and development strategies were proposed, such as reasonably planning functional zones, breaking through the single structure, and creating a good living cultural environment. The innovation of this study is that it integrates the self-organization theory into the cognition of traditional mountain settlement space, and discusses the connection between the mountain settlement space and the traditional regional context under the modern development concept, so as to seek the benign protection and reasonable development of traditional mountain settlement space.

Protection and Development Strategies of Historic Town——A Case Study of the Ancient Daxu Town,Guilin,China

Historic town was stressed as an important base of succeeding local cultures and characteristics,features and modes of protecting and developing historic towns in China were studied and summarized.By taking the Ancient Daxu Town for an example,the protection of this ancient town was introduced,and deficiencies of its development were pointed out as:loss of "original" behaviors of the locals,commercial acts replacing "original" folk customs,incomplete tourist facilities,shabby traditional settlements and so on.In view of this,strategies for protecting and exploring the ancient town were proposed:properly making protection,construction and tourism planning,determining the direction of functional shift,realizing organic renovation of the old town,enhancing the planning and construction of tourist facilities,promoting the sustainable development of the ancient town;expanding the chain of tourism industry,strengthening regional integration;encouraging the locals to participate into the protection and development;applying the operation mode of "supervised by government,operated by enterprises,participated by locals".

Protection and Rural Tourism Development of Ancient Wuji Town in Hengdong County of Hunan Province,China

Wuji Town,which is located by the east of Mt.Hengshan(one of the Five Mountains in China),and the side of Mishui River(a principal east-west water transport in ancient central and southern regions of Hunan),once was an important commercial town and a political,economic and cultural center in the lower and middle reaches of Mishui River due to the particular historical opportunities.Its tourist resources are characterized by "integrated natural scenery and ancient town,highly concentrated scenic spots,prosperous business in the history,row upon row of stores and workshops,numerous temples and ancestral halls,and various festivals".It was proposed that the protection and rural tourism development of Wuji Town should be based on consciousness raising,unification of concepts,scientific planning,application of integrated protection means,and development of regional clusters on the basis of famous mountain and city.

Digital psychiatry in low-and-middle-income countries:New developments and the way forward

Low-and middle-income countries(LMICs)bear the greater share of the global mental health burden but are ill-equipped to deal with it because of severe resource constraints leading to a large treatment gap.The remote provision of mental health services by digital means can effectively augment conventional services in LMICs to reduce the treatment gap.Digital psychiatry in LMICs has always lagged behind high-income countries,but there have been encouraging developments in the last decade.There is increasing research on the efficacy of digital psychiatric interventions.However,the evidence is not adequate to conclude that digital psychiatric interventions are invariably effective in LMICs.A striking development has been the rise in mobile and smartphone ownership in LMICs,which has driven the increasing use of mobile technologies to deliver mental health services.An innovative use of mobile technologies has been to optimize task-shifting,which involves delivering mental healthcare services in community settings using non-specialist health professionals.Emerging evidence from LMICs shows that it is possible to use digital tools to train non-specialist workers effectively and ensure that the psychosocial interventions they deliver are efficacious.Despite these promising developments,many barriers such as service costs,underdeveloped infrastructure,lack of trained professionals,and significant disparities in access to digital services impede the progress of digital psychiatry in LMICs.To overcome these barriers,digital psychiatric services in LMICs should address contextual factors influencing the delivery of digital services,ensure collaboration between different stakeholders,and focus on reducing the digital divide.

China’s Industrial Modernization:Development Rationale,Current Status,and Policy Directions

Economies that have effectively escaped the“middle-income trap”demonstrate common traits in their industrial restructuring as they progressed to high-income status.These include a relatively stable share of an economy’s manufacturing sector,a reasonable economic structure,enhanced industrial capabilities,and growth driven by innovation.However,late-moving countries face a number of hurdles as they strive to cross this threshold.China’s development advantages include,among other things,a complete industrial system,a more balanced industrial structure,growing indigenous innovation capabilities,continual expansion and upgrading of domestic demand,and a greater degree of openness.These capabilities have provided continuous momentum for industrial growth,allowing China to capitalize on the next wave of technological and industrial revolutions while also promoting long-term,steady industrial development.During its modernization efforts,China has seen substantial changes in the external environment surrounding its industrial development.We must not only recognize the increasing complexity,intensity,and uncertainty of these changes,but also take proactive steps to solve diverse issues and capitalize on opportunities arising from global digital and green transitions.Equal focus should be placed on strengthening reforms and promoting high-level openness,improving policy coordination and consistency,and pursuing an innovation-driven strategy.This will speed the development of a modern industrial system and encourage the formation of new,high-quality productive forces.

Development and Application of Integrated Indicators for Assessing Healthcare Waste Management Systems in Kenyan Hospitals

Healthcare waste management (HCWM) is an important aspect of healthcare delivery globally because of its hazardous and infectious components that have potential for adverse health and environmental impacts. The paper introduces a set of indicators for assessing HCWM systems in hospitals. These indicators are: HCWM policies and standard operating procedures, management and oversight, logistics and budget support, training and occupational health and safety, and treatment, disposal and waste treatment equipment housing. By plotting a mark on a continuum which is defined as good and poor on the extremes and is connected with all other marks in a spoke arrangement, it’s possible to describe a baseline for HCWM in any specific hospital. This baseline can be used to improve awareness of the actors and policy-makers, compare the same hospital at a different point in time, to compare observations by different evaluators and to track improvements. Results suggest that in Kenya, the application of such indicators is useful for evaluating which priorities should be addressed to improve outcomes in HCWM systems. Systematic sampling technique was used to identify and collect data by use of observational checklist, interviews, visual verification and review of documents and a HCWM assessment tool. The objective is to suggest an integrated management tool as a method to identify prevailing problems with a HCWM system. The method can be replicated in other contexts worldwide, with a focus on the developing world. The integrated indicators focus on management of HCW and not its potential impact on human health and environment, an area recognized to be critical for future research.

Influence of new town development on the urban heat island-The case of the Bundang area

Five new towns have been developed around the Seoul metropolitan area since 1996 However, these new towns generate lots of traffic and related problems in the areas including those new towns and Seoul as a result of increases in population and a lack of ecological-self-sufficiency. Currently, construction of another new town is under deliberation, and what should be a major consider is the notion that the new town be located within a wide, green zone. Many studies have revealed that green space can play an important role in improving urban eco-meteorological capability and air quality. In order to analyze the urban heat island which will be created by the new urban development, and to investigate the local thermal environment and its negative effects caused by a change of land use type and urbanization, Landsat TM images were used for extraction of urban surface temperature according to changes of land use over the last 15 years. These data are analyzed together with digital land use and topographic information. As a study result, it was found the urban heat island of the study area from 1985 to 1999 rapidly developed which showed a difference of mean temperature above +2 0 Before the Bundang new town construction the temperature of the residential area was the same as a forest, but during the new town construction in 1991 analysis revealed the creation of an urban heat island. The temperature of a forest whose size is over 50% of the investigation area was lowest, and thus the presence of a forest is believed to have a direct cooling effect on the urban environment and its surroundings. The mean temperature of the residential and commercial areas in the study was found to be +4 5 higher than the forest, and therefore this part of land use is believed to be the main factor causing the temperature increase of the urban heat island.

Land use suitability analysis for town development planning in Nanjing hilly areas: A case study of Tangshan new town, China

Land use suitability analysis plays an important role in sustainable land use and solving environmental problems caused by rapid urban development.A land use suitability mapping approach for town development planning in hilly areas was constructed based on two multi-criteria evaluation methods:Weighted Linear Combination(WLC)and Ordered Weighted Averaging(OWA),to comparatively evaluate and map land use suitability of Tangshan new town in Nanjing,China.Fourteen evaluation factors related to topographic,environmental,socio-economics and historical sites data were used as suitability criteria.The analytic hierarchy process(AHP)method and GIS techniques were integrated into the evaluation models to create the land use suitability map for town development planning.The results of WLC approach showed that 11.4%of the total area is highly suitable while the 48.6%is unsuitable.The results of WLC and OWA approach showed the distribution of degree of land use suitability is almost the same.The areas located at the southern and eastern flat regions are highly suitable for land use,whereas the areas close to the mountain forests,steep slopes,waters,and hot springs,have lower suitability for land use.Sensitivity analysis indicated that the suitability results of the two proposed methods are robust.Indirect validation was achieved by mutual comparison of suitability maps derived from the WLC and OWA methods.It demonstrated that the overall agreement is 90.81%and kappa coefficient is 0.81,indicating that both methods provide very similar spatial suitability distributions.By overlaying the resultant map with the previous master plan map of Tangshan new town,the overlay map once again indicated a satisfactory ecological fit between the two maps.At last,several recommendations are proposed aiming at improving the long-term town development plan for Tangshan new town.

Green development model and cultivating path for characteristic small town

In the context of the new urbanization,the characteristic town,as a new hotspot to developing rapidly to explore the industry,humanities,community integration town model,a urbanization and high-tech industry development booster,by the government and developers attention.At the same time,the green development model applies to the characteristic town of industrial upgrading and transformation,guiding the future characteristic town of green economic industry development direction.This paper studies the green development model of the characteristic town,and puts forward the implementation of the green industry through the greening industry structure,promoting green consumption and optimizing the green management.

Preliminary Study of Ancient Town Protection and Rural Tourism Development of Caoshi Town in Hengdong County,Hunan Province

The typical style and features of mountains and waters in Caoshi Ancient Town,have hitherto been well preserved. Caoshi Ancient Town boasts superior base of the natural eco-environment and deep-rooted background of regional culture,where mountains,waters,shoals,towns and other landscape elements are merged harmoniously,the transportation and geographical conditions have been fundamentally changed. Ancient towns,old temples,ancient forests,ancient wells and ancient piers are unique in different ways,with characteristics of tourism resources such as long history and ancient folklore. It should seize the historical opportunity of China vigorously developing rural tourism based on the construction of the new socialist countryside,to make characteristic agricultural economy gain ground; assume the leading role to drive the development of tourism economy in surrounding areas; correctly handle the relationship between development and protection to walk the path of sustainable development of tourism.

The Development Trend of Developed Countries to Invest in Education of Disadvantaged Groups and the Enlightenment to Our Country

Educational investment is the material basis for developing intelligence and educational cause and also an important factor for the development of economic and society.This paper argues that educational investment is an important strategy to solve the problem of disadvantaged groups in our country,and hopes that through the analysis of the structure and the trend for educational investment in developed countries,and it can provide reference and valuable suggestions for our country.

Regional Economic Types and Development Strategy of Small Towns in Suburb Beijing

The purpose of this article is to classify the regional economic types and development dynamics of small towns in suburb Beijing by applying the classification methods developed by Nelson's method and Location Quotient method into 183 small towns in Beijing.Four types of small towns are thus identified,including urban agriculture dominated towns,manufacturing dominated towns,service industry dominated towns and comprehensive type towns with balanced economic development.Within the environment of geographical information system,the spatial distribution pattern of four types of small towns with their evolution trend is analyzed.The results indicate that four types of small towns have obvious'core-periphery'spatial structure but with different functional orientations and evolution mechanisms.Based on this,the different development strategies for each type of small towns are summarized,providing a scientific reference for the differentiating planning and development strategies of these small towns.

Integrated Development of the Tourism and Protection of Ancient Towns

Local color is not only the cultural counter in the competition between cities,but the main cultural element that attracts foreign tourists.In recent years,many cities have regarded tourism development as a major mean of reviving ancient towns.The excavation of local culture,material reconstruction of local characteristics,and the resurgence and"reproduction"of local industries have become an important work in the tourism development of ancient towns.Apart from the discussion of the protection,inheritance,and touristification of tangible cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage,this paper demonstrated the possibility of the integration and production capacity of local characteristic industry resources and analyzed the impact of the integrated development on the lifestyle and living atmosphere of residents in the ancient towns.In this paper,ways to realize the integrated development of the tourism and protection of ancient towns were included as follows:(1)to ensure the principal status of local residents and give full play to their initiatives;(2)to protect the local traditional way of life and improve the public service system;(3)to choose the appropriate development pattern and achieve the diversified development;(4)to improve service facilities in tourism and adjust the structure of tourism products.

Problems in the Development of Small Cities and Towns in West China and Countermeasures: A Case Study of Luzhou City, Sichuan Province

New urbanization targets at coordinated urban-rural development, and construction of ecological and livable environment, it is the foundation for breaking urban-rural dual structure of China and promoting the agricultural modernization. Small cities and towns as carriers of new urbanization have already become important paths of realizing new urbanization and solving problems concerning 300 million peasants in China. Considering the requirements of new urbanization, this paper took Luzhou City in Sichuan Province for example to explore development path suitable for small cities and towns in west China and gave pertinent suggestions.

Solidified Branding Function: How the Urban Brand Affects a Small Town’s Development? Case Study of Wangqingtuo, Tianjin, China

Chinese small towns are usually developed with single core industry,and the urban brand is the identity of a town that formed with the development of its industry.However,when the core industry representing its urban brand is facing a changing situation or market,will the brand be a motivation or an obstruction of the development of a town?The paper combined top-down and bottom-up research method to study the function of the urban brand in Wangqingtuo town in Tianjin,China.We studied over 400 samples(including government staff and town citizens)to make questionnaire investigation about the town’s branding.And we found that the solidified urban brand is a complicated emotional symbol for both government and citizens.The town has demand of exploring and developing new dominant industry,and it has the expectation to keep branding and upgrade its current core industry.

Marginal narration in Town and Country Lovers

Town and Country Lovers is the masterpiece of the prominent South African writer Nadine Gordimer.Trying to illustrate the discrimination bore by native African women in the 20th century from the perspective of marginal narration,it is going to ex?plore how the character suffers from the multiple oppressions in patriarchal and the whites’society.The three sets of marginal nar?rations:racial marginalization,gender marginalization and emotional marginalization will reveal the miserable encounter and sur?vival predicament of colored women in South Africa.

Countermeasures for Development and Present Situation of Chives in Xiaogang Town, Xiaogan City, Hubei Province

Through the overview of main problems existing in chives production, its current situation and history, the thesis puts forward countermeasures for developing chives industrialization in Xiaogang Town, Xiaogan City.

Research on Development Mode of Solid Ancient Towns Based on Cultural Reproduction——A Case Study of Zouma Ancient Town in China

The paper had pointed out hollow ancient town was the result of urbanization and desire; and analyzed that hollowness made ancient towns degenerate in nature, economy and social function, seriously blocking the sustainable development of economic society of ancient towns. Based on the connotation and idea of cultural reproduction, in terms of application of basic theories of cultural ecology and restoration ecology, it had established tourism development of solid ancient towns, which had been analyzed specifically from the perspectives of representation of ancient towns'scene, cultural realization and cultural promotion. By taking Zouwa Ancient Town in the west of the main urban area of Chongqing City for example, it had discussed tourism development practice of ancient towns, emphasized making Zouma scene reappear from the aspects of pattern protection, restoration and treatment of ecological environment, ancient towns' protection and cultural facilities' construction, experiencing and publicizing Zouma culture. It also highlighted taking historical and cultural heritages as the theme of tourist products, and proposed development mode of solid ancient towns, realizing reproduction of cultural heritage.

The Research on Protection of Historical and Cultural Towns and Villages in China

After the discussion of the protection process and significance for historical and cultural towns and villages and the introduction of survey and theoretical researches on them,five modes had been divided for the protection of historical and cultural towns and villages in China,which were original appearance protection,renovated utilization protection,removal protection,antique imitation development and real estate development.It had pointed out problems existing in historical and cultural villages' protection,which were that policies and regulations were incomplete and protective measures were laggard;leaders decided blindly and neglected experts' opinions;immediate interest had been highlighted and sustainable development been overlooked,capitals were lacked and management was disordered,and the publicity was insufficient and the masses had no high protection consciousness.On this basis,it had discussed the protection of historical and cultural towns and villages in the future,emphasized the completion of regulatory system and management mechanism,enhance capital investment and publicity education,and deeply explore material cultural heritages and non-material cultural heritages in historical and cultural villages,finally further studying the theories and cases.

Comparative analysis of open and laparoscopic colectomy for malignancy in a developing country

AIM: To compare the short-term, including oncologic, outcomes of open vs laparoscopic colectomy for cancer in a developing country. METHODS: The records of patients who underwent elective open and laparoscopic colectomies for cancer at the University Hospital of the West Indies between January 2005 and December 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic(age, gender, Charlson comorbidity index score), peri-operative, post-operative and oncologic data were collected for each patient. Specific oncologic variables included lymph node yield, pathologic stage, grade, proximal, distal and circumferential margin involvement. Fisher's exact, Mann-Whitney, and binary logistic regression tests were used for analysis. Significance level was set atP < 0.05. RESULTS: There were 87 cases for open colectomy(OC) and 17 cases for laparoscopic colectomy(LC). Demographics did not significantly differ between OC and LC groups. Intra-operative blood loss and postoperative analgesic requirements did not significantly differ between groups. There was a trend towards longer operating times in OC group and shorter hospital stay in the LC group. Lymph node yield(14 vs 14, P = 0.619), proximal(10 cm vs 7 cm, P = 0.353) and distal(8 cm vs 8 cm, P = 0.57) resection margin distance and circumferential margin involvement(9 vs 0, P = 0.348) did not significantly differ between groups. Thirty-day morbidity was equivalent between groups(22 vs 6, P = 0.774). There were 6 deaths within 30 d of initial procedure, all in the OC group(6.9%). CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic colectomy in a developing country is oncologically safe and represents a option for colonic malignancies in these regions. Such data encourage the continued laparoscopic development.