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EVERYDAY LIFE AND SOCIAL ISOLATION OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IN URBAN AND RURAL ENVIRONMENTS THE ABSTRACT: My presented diploma thesis includes two concepts. The first one describes the quality of life and residential environments; the second concerns social isolation. Both of these examine a different view on the quality of life within the senior generation because the daily life of the older generation is influenced by the intensity and frequency of sociable relations together with the quality of residential environment in which they live. In the study I chose two different types of environments - an urban environment of Plzeň, a borough of Doubravka and a rural environment of a small village - Pasečnice. In the work, I observed the strengths and weaknesses of these environments in a group of people, who were interviewed. The research was made with semi-structural interview and analyzes the disposition of social isolation and the personal feeling about each residential environment. Diploma thesis concentrates on the main factors in senior's daily lives such as social relations, housing, basic service facilities, transportation availability, free time, and safety in the mentioned area of living. Key words: social isolation, quality of residential environments, seniors, city, country, civic facilities

A erosão do solo tem sido extensamente estudada dentro do ponto de vista agrícola, pois está relacionada a sérias perdas em termos de produtividade das mais variadas culturas e conseqüentemente, é causa de prejuízos econômicos. Recentemente tem-se dado atenção especial aos problemas ambientais relacionados à erosão, transporte e deposição de sedimentos, já que são, provavelmente, os mais significativos de todos os poluentes em termos de sua concentração na água e dos seus impactos e efeitos no transporte de substâncias químicas, entre elas o nitrogênio aplicado na forma de fertilizantes. O foco central do presente trabalho foi a investigação dos padrões de transporte de sedimentos por erosão hídrica e suas influências na transferência de nitrogênio aos cursos d\'água. A fonte de nitrogênio avaliada foi o sulfato de amônio aplicado superficialmente como fertilizante em um latossolo vermelho amarelo, em diferentes preparos do solo, sem cobertura vegetal e sob chuva simulada em diferentes intensidades. Os resultados permitiram identificar a fração argilosa dos sedimentos erodidos transportados em suspensão na água da enxurrada como a principal via de transporte/transferência de nitrogênio proveniente do fertilizante. Este processo de transferência deu-se mais intensamente nas primeiras chuvas. Constatou-se que os valores de perdas de solo e água não influenciam a capacidade de transporte de nitrogênio entre a área de cultivo e os cursos d\'água. O preparo do solo influenciou as concentrações de nitrogênio transportadas pela enxurrada. As concentrações de nitrogênio nos sedimentos são altas mesmo com baixo volume e intensidade de chuva. / Soil erosion has been extensively studied from the agricultural point of view, because it is related with serious damages in terms of a huge variety of plantations productivity and its consequent economic detriments. Currently, special attention is given to the environmental problems caused by erosion processes and the transport and deposition of the sediments, since they are, probably, the most significant pollutants in terms of its concentration in the water and its impacts and effects in the chemical substances transport, such as nitrogen which is applied in the form of fertilizer. The central focus of the present work was the research of the standards sediment transport origined by the water erosion and their influences in the transference of nitrogen to the water bodies. The evaluated nitrogen source was the ammonium sulphate applied superficially as a fertilizer in a latossolo vermelho amarelo soil, under different soil tillage systems, without vegetal covering and under different intensities of simulated rain. The results allowed to identified that the argillaceous fraction of the eroded sediments carried in the runoff suspension was the main way of the nitrogen transport/transference derived from the fertilizer. This transference process was more intensely observed in the first rains. It was evidenced too, that the losses values of soil and water did not influence the nitrogen transport capacity between the planted areas and the water bodies. Aditionally, soil tillage influenced in nitrogen concentrations carried by the runoff. The nitrogen concentrations in the sediments were high, in spite of the low volumes and low intensities of the rain.

A erosão do solo tem sido extensamente estudada dentro do ponto de vista agrícola, pois está relacionada a sérias perdas em termos de produtividade das mais variadas culturas e conseqüentemente, é causa de prejuízos econômicos. Recentemente tem-se dado atenção especial aos problemas ambientais relacionados à erosão, transporte e deposição de sedimentos, já que são, provavelmente, os mais significativos de todos os poluentes em termos de sua concentração na água e dos seus impactos e efeitos no transporte de substâncias químicas, entre elas o nitrogênio aplicado na forma de fertilizantes. O foco central do presente trabalho foi a investigação dos padrões de transporte de sedimentos por erosão hídrica e suas influências na transferência de nitrogênio aos cursos d\'água. A fonte de nitrogênio avaliada foi o sulfato de amônio aplicado superficialmente como fertilizante em um latossolo vermelho amarelo, em diferentes preparos do solo, sem cobertura vegetal e sob chuva simulada em diferentes intensidades. Os resultados permitiram identificar a fração argilosa dos sedimentos erodidos transportados em suspensão na água da enxurrada como a principal via de transporte/transferência de nitrogênio proveniente do fertilizante. Este processo de transferência deu-se mais intensamente nas primeiras chuvas. Constatou-se que os valores de perdas de solo e água não influenciam a capacidade de transporte de nitrogênio entre a área de cultivo e os cursos d\'água. O preparo do solo influenciou as concentrações de nitrogênio transportadas pela enxurrada. As concentrações de nitrogênio nos sedimentos são altas mesmo com baixo volume e intensidade de chuva. / Soil erosion has been extensively studied from the agricultural point of view, because it is related with serious damages in terms of a huge variety of plantations productivity and its consequent economic detriments. Currently, special attention is given to the environmental problems caused by erosion processes and the transport and deposition of the sediments, since they are, probably, the most significant pollutants in terms of its concentration in the water and its impacts and effects in the chemical substances transport, such as nitrogen which is applied in the form of fertilizer. The central focus of the present work was the research of the standards sediment transport origined by the water erosion and their influences in the transference of nitrogen to the water bodies. The evaluated nitrogen source was the ammonium sulphate applied superficially as a fertilizer in a latossolo vermelho amarelo soil, under different soil tillage systems, without vegetal covering and under different intensities of simulated rain. The results allowed to identified that the argillaceous fraction of the eroded sediments carried in the runoff suspension was the main way of the nitrogen transport/transference derived from the fertilizer. This transference process was more intensely observed in the first rains. It was evidenced too, that the losses values of soil and water did not influence the nitrogen transport capacity between the planted areas and the water bodies. Aditionally, soil tillage influenced in nitrogen concentrations carried by the runoff. The nitrogen concentrations in the sediments were high, in spite of the low volumes and low intensities of the rain.

Purpose/aim: The purpose of this dissertation is to find out the effect of waste disposal on environment and to explore the effect of renewable resources on economy. We use some data to test and verify the existence of effects. Design/methodology/approach: We use our questionnaires to collect data, and analyze the data in statistical tests. We use case studies to find examples to verify the significance of waste classification and renewable resources as well as the problems in main cities of China. Findings: The analysis shows that we need to focus on waste classification education, if we want to apply it in real life. The best way to use renewable resource more widely is to aquire government support. If we can carry out waste classification better, we can make use of more renewable resources. Originality/value: The value of this paper is that we prove that using waste classification and renewable resource can increase economic growth rate and protect the environment. It is also important because economic growth brings about the reduction of environment quality. When the environment quality decreases, the economic level will also decrease.

Given the increasing awareness of indoor air quality (IAQ) and the direct correlation to human health, passive removal materials (PRM) have become known as a potential strategy for reducing occupant exposure to indoor air pollutants (Lu 2013). In recent studies, untreated natural wool fiber has been recognized as a PRM for removing formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. These are common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from sources, such as building materials, fixtures, furnishings and cleaning supplies (Darling et al. 2012). Test chamber studies have shown that wool fiber can irreversibly remove up to 67% of these VOC’s in an interior environment (Curling et al 2012). When the toxins come in physical contact with the fiber, a chemical reaction occurs due to the amino-acid side chains within the keratin molecule. Increase in air-tight buildings has recently become a concern with the rising popularity of sustainable building practices, causing occupant exposure to these indoor air pollutants to rise (Weschler 2009). Beyond known adverse health effects, such as eye irritation and respiratory issues, formaldehyde has been designated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a human carcinogen and is the leading cause for Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) (World Health Organization 2010). The interior cortex of a wool fiber is hydrophilic – highly water absorbent, and can absorb 1/3 its weight in moisture. Wool fiber has a unique wicking property that allows the fiber to absorb water vapor from the air in a regulating sense; absorbing when there is an excess moisture level and releasing the gained moisture when the surrounding atmosphere is less humid. This provides passive humidity regulation in an indoor environment, stabilizing the comfort level of 20-50% relative humidity (RH) without requiring higher air-conditioning or ventilation rates (Bingelli 2010). Wool also has excellent properties for optimizing indoor acoustics, as it absorbs acoustic energy via the friction of air being moved through the tiny spaces between fibers and reduces traveling noise and reverberation (Bingelli 2010). In an untreated, natural roving state the density of wool is ideal for acoustic control in conversational speech situations where 70dB or lower is present, such as meeting rooms, lobbies and restaurants. With the consideration of these properties, wool has the capability to improve the indoor environment quality (IEQ) and the health of occupants through the absorption of indoor air pollutants, humidity regulation and acoustic control. As Australia and the USA are among the top 3 wool producing countries, I will be working specifically with locally sourced wool from New South Wales and Texas as a basis for a sustainable IEQ intervention installation model that may be applied to future projects. The wool was obtained from local, small-scale fiber farms that implement hand processing in an effort to reduce toxins, in addition to lowering the manufacturing energy and transportation emission requirements. The local supply chain model provides increased environmental, social, economic and human health benefits to the design. Individual installations based on the vernacular wool fiber atrributes and interior climate needs will greatly increase the overall spatial environment, while also serving as an aesthetically pleasing piece of art. / text

Diss. Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2003.

Thesis (MTech (Human Resources Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-80). Also available online.

The purpose of this study is to develop a Learner Thermal Comfort Protocol (LTCP) for the assessment of thermal comfort in naturally ventilated public school classrooms occupied by primary learners aged between 7 and 14 years and to establish whether there is a relationship between the thermal comfort standards (ASHRAE 55-2004 and ISO 7730-2005) and the learners’ perception thereof. The study tests the LTCP on two primary school case studies in Mamelodi Township, City of Tshwane (CoT), South Africa, by following the adaptive or field study method to collect quantitative data from the classroom and the learners. The classrooms’ actual temperature is measured and recorded by HOBO pendant data loggers while the learners’ thermal comfort perception is surveyed using questionnaires. The actual classroom indoor temperatures are compared to the ASHRAE 55 and ISO 7730 standard temperature range recommendations of ±22°C to ±27°C, based on the heat balance model, and ±20°C to ±27°C temperature range based on the context related adaptive model. To establish whether there is a relationship between standards and learners’ perception, the learners’ perception results are compared to the predicted percentage that occupants would find acceptable. This predicted percentage is based on the heat balance model (i.e. 80%) and adaptive model (i.e. 80% - 90%). The results indicate that the indoor temperature range did not meet the recommended temperature range of either of the thermal comfort models. However, the thermal perception scale shows that the indoor temperatures were accepted by most of the learners. A relationship between the learners’ perception, the thermal comfort standards’ recommended temperature range and predicted percentage of acceptance was established. However, a wider temperature range is suggested for the thermal comfort assessment of classrooms located in the South African climate. This study will contribute to the body of knowledge on thermal comfort in schools and provide the Department of Basic Education (DBE) with an assessment tool for the evaluation of school classroom indoor environments. / Dissertation (MArch(Prof)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / Architecture / Unrestricted

This master’s thesis deals with some concepts and theories related to public space and everyday life and points to how neglecting women’s needs and preferences in public spaces can lead to the formation of gendered urban spaces which prevent women from earning their right to the city. Concepts such as quality of life, quality of place, living environment, residential perception and satisfaction, and place attachment overlap and have many interrelations. One cannot consider, for example, the quality of residential environment independent of residential satisfaction or ignore its influence on the quality of life. This study focuses specifically on the perception of residential environment quality, in the medium scale (neighborhood). Despite a wide range of studies in the field of perceived residential environment quality, the review of literature reveals that studies in this field lack sufficient attention to power relations which among others (cultural, ethnic, etc.), can be gender related. Given the mentioned issues, this study explores women’s perceptions of residential environment quality in the Lindängen neighborhood in Malmö, Sweden. Drawing upon the analysis of a questionnaire, the study presents four scales of REQ in which women’s perceptions have been different from men’s: Recreational services, Safety, Public furniture and Commercial services. In the next stage, a set of semi-structured interviews were done with five women living in the neighborhood. These interviews explore the way women’s ideas and perceptions about their neighborhood, more specifically about the four aforementioned scales, affect their daily lives. The findings of this study highlight the influence of the residential environment quality on everyday lives of women and indicates their different needs for urban facilities and infrastructures (such as recreational or commercial services, as this study indicates) as compared to men.