bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Television narratives of the Italian migrant worker: Disaster stories of sacrifice and redemption
Authors: Jansen Monica , Lanslots Inge
Published: April 2014

In the 2000s RAI television drama makes a temporal turn that coincides with Second Republic’s revisionism of the divided memory of crucial episodes in post-Unification Italian history. This article examines two historical mini-series on Italian migration in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Il Grande Torino/The Great Torino (2005) and Marcinelle/Inferno Below (2003). In both narratives the microhistory of migration lived and performed by ordinary people is coupled with the macrohistory of disaster: respectively the 1949 Superga airplane crash, which brought an end to the Grande Torino football team, and the Marcinelle coalmine fire of 8 August 1956, which killed 136 Italian workers. These historical narratives work within transmedial constellations of cultural memory and interact with institutionalized collective memory. In both cases the model image of the Italian migrant worker as a redemptive figure of Italy’s post-war regeneration in television documentaries of the 1950s and 1960s is replaced by a contemporary ambivalent representation of the paradoxes of migration, and redemption is activated instead by the story of disaster and as a specific quality of Italian character. Both episodes can be seen as a homage to the sacrifice of labour of the Italian worker with the difference that the main character of Il Grande Torino/The Great Torino sacrifices his individual migrant story to the memory of the Superga disaster, while Marcinelle’s hero becomes the redemptive figure of the Italian migrant worker thanks to the exceptional circumstances created by the mine catastrophe.
‘A magical balance of opposites’: Reading Luigi Ghirri’s photography through Walter Benjamin
Authors: Spunta Marina
Published: April 2014

In this article I contend that Ghirri’s photography can fruitfully be read through Benjamin’ thought, in particular through his key notions of experience, montage, aura, beauty, mystery and dialectical image, and at the same time I seek to redress a common misreading of Benjamin’s work in some art theory. This approach allows me to illuminate from a new angle Ghirri’s aesthetics and the change it underwent between the late 1970s and the early 1980s, and to demonstrate that his work effectively draws on Benjaminian dialectics to achieve a ‘magical balance of opposites’. Through a close analysis of selected Ghirri’s photographs from two of his main series from the 1970 – Kodachrome (1970–1978) and Still life (1975–1979) – and from two series from the 1980s – Il profilo delle nuvole/The Outline of Clouds (1980–1989) and Atelier Morandi (1989–1990) – I show that Ghirri’s photography moves from an early effort to deconstruct the assemblage of images that compose reality to an attempt to re-create an aura of places that are felt to be on the brink of disappearing. In so doing he both expressed a postmodern sense of loss of experience and history and challenged this by presenting photography as a means of achieving knowledge and experience of the world, before the onset of the digital age.
I wanna be Watson! Towards an eco-phenomenology of Carmelo Bene’s cinema
Authors: Gatti Giuseppe
Published: April 2014

Carmelo Bene’s films (1968–1973) were traumatic event in the history of Italian cinema. As a ‘visual philosopher’ he developed a counter-hegemonic discourse on the Self, being ‘within and against’ a complex transmedia environment that mixes practice with theory, writing with showing, performing with directing. In this article I will analyse Bene’s visual work through a methodology inspired by Consciousness Studies. I argue that Bene’s transmedia approach of giving up the unity and the wholeness of Self may be framed into a whole philosophical philum that relates to phenomenology, post-structuralism, cognitive science and Image Theory. In the first section I will illustrate the theory of consciousness of the American philosopher Daniel C. Dennett, going back to those thinkers with whom I have found similarities (Nietzsche, Sartre, Deleuze, Žižek), and integrating the discussion with Bene’s visual–theoretical suggestions taken from his television programmes and performances. In the second part I will analyse four Bene’s films Nostra signora dei turchi/Our Lady of the Turks (1968), Capricci/Caprices (1969), Don Giovanni/Don Juan (1970) and Salomé (1972) through the theories so far discussed, in order to blur the distinction between authorship and spectatorship, in favour of a distributed experience and hermeneutics of Self through mind, body and (imaginary-situated) environment.
The hybrid star: Steve Reeves, Hercules and the politics of transnational whiteness
Authors: D’Amelio Maria Elena
Published: April 2014

My article focuses on a particular cycle of the adventure films produced in Italy between 1957 and 1965 that has come to be known as the peplum. These Italian peplum films centred on heroes drawn from classical antiquity played by American bodybuilders, in particular Steve Reeves, who won the titles of Mr America and Mr Universe in the late 1940s. The purpose of the article is to investigate the use of Steve Reeves’ star persona in the peplum genre, focusing on the significance of his white muscularity as a cultural intertext between America and Italy during the Hollywood on the Tiber era.
Imagining Naples: Reconfiguration of a city in the movies by Terry Gilliam, John Turturro and Jonathan Demme
Authors: Gaudiosi Massimiliano
Published: April 2014

This article investigates the image of Naples depicted by three American film-makers: Terry Gilliam with The Wholly Family (2011), John Turturro with Passione (2010) and Jonathan Demme with Enzo Avitabile Music Life (2012). In these movies Naples is perceived through a translocal perspective, an intersection of different cultures and places, where the role of memory is strongly emphasized. The common denominator of these different productions is the topic of the roots, highlighted with a cinematic sightseeing of the city. Turturro, Demme and Gilliam move the camera in tourist places, but behind the typical postcard view they give rise to a reconfiguration of the city’s soul. The article focuses on the way in which these films reject the stereotyped image of Naples built by Hollywood, providing an opportunity to rethink the complex notion of porosity proposed by Walter Benjamin.
Reviews
Authors: Marlow-Mann Alex , Zamboni Camilla , Zambenedetti Alberto , Fabbri Lorenzo , Santello Marco , Koven Mikel J. , Purpura Marco , Gargiulo Gius
Published: April 2014

I ‘pori’ di Napoli. IL Cinema di Mario Martone, Antonio Capuano e Pappi Corsicato, Roberta Tabanelli (2011) Ravenna: Longo Editore, 190 pp., ISBN: 9788880636632, p/bk, €18 (£15)

Viaggio al termine dell’Italia. Fellini politico, Andrea Minuz (2012) Rome: Rubbettino Editore, 242 pp., ISBN: 9788849832778, p/bk, €13.60

Postcolonial Italy: Challenging National Homogeneity, Cristina Lombardi-Diop and Caterina Romeo (eds) (2012) New York: Palgrave MacMillan, 336 pp., ISBN: 9781137281456, h/bk, £54.79

Roberto Rossellini documentarista. Una cultura della realtà, Luca Caminati (2012) Roma: CSC/Carocci editore, 148 pp., ISBN: 9788843066124, p/bk, €17

L’Italia e i mass media, Marco Gargiulo (ed.) (2012) Rome: Aracne, 460 pp., ISBN: 9788854853454, p/bk, €25.00

Radical Frontiers in the Spaghetti Western: Politics, Violence and Popular Italian Cinema, Austin Fisher (2013) London: I. B. Tauris, 304 pp., ISBN: 9781780767116, p/bk, £17.99

Splendor. Storia (inconsueta) del cinema italiano, Steve Della Casa (2013) Rome: Editori Laterza, 140 pp., ISBN: 9788858108352, p/bk, €14

Unosguardo a Sud. Vent’anni di movimenti, storie, conflitti e trasformazioninellacittà di Napoli 1990–2010, Patrizia La Trecchia (2013) Naples: LiguoriEditore, 297 pp., ISBN-13: 9788820750985, €25.99
Cosmopolitismo versus nacionalismo. El intelectual en México 1869–1894
Authors: Gay Juan Pascual
Published: April 2014

Este artículo quiere dar cuenta del inicio de una polémica originada en el siglo xix, pero que recorre transversalmente la vida literaria, cultural e intelectual en México hasta el día de hoy. El texto pretende establecer la aparición de los dos extremos representados por Ignacio Manuel Altamirano desde las páginas de El Renacimiento (1869), en donde inicia su campaña nacionalista, y Manuel Gutiérrez Nájera, que pronto adopta una posición crítica frente a ese nacionalismo y, más bien, ofrece una alternativa cosmopolita que culmina con la Revista Azul (1894–1896).
State, Violence, and Security in Mexico
Authors: Solar Carlos
Published: April 2014

Paul Kenny, Mónica Serrano with Arturo Sotomayor, eds., Mexico's Security Failure, Collapse into Criminal Violence (New York: Routledge, 2012).

Wil G. Pansters, ed., Violence, Coercion, and State-Making in Twentieth-Century Mexico (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2012).

George Philip and Susana Berruecos, eds., Mexico's Struggle for Public Security: Organized Crime and State Responses (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012).

Peter Watt and Roberto Zepeda, Drug War Mexico: Politics, Neoliberalism and Violence in the New Narcoeconomy (London and New York: Zed, 2012).
A pancreas intraductalis papillaris mucinosus neoplasmájának sebészi vonatkozásai
Authors: Oláh Attila
Published: April 2014

Absztrakt

Az intraductalis papillaris mucinosus neoplasmák (IPMN) több szempontból is kiemelt szerepet játszanak a pancreas exocrin tumorai között. Noha arányuk nem több, mint 1%, az utóbbi időben reflektorfénybe került cystosus tumorok mintegy 20–30%-a ebbe a szövettani csoportba tartozik. A fővezetékből, illetve a mellékvezetékből kiinduló IPMN malignitási rátája, prognózisa, ebből következően műtéti indikációja is jelentősen eltérő. Bár az IPMN talaján kialakult ductalis carcinoma prognózisa nem különbözik a klasszikus ductalis adenocarcinoma igen alacsony, mintegy 10%-os 5 éves túlélésétől, összességében az IPMN prognózisa lényegesen kedvezőbbnek mondható, hiszen noninvazív tumor esetében ez meghaladja a 70%-ot. Ez a tény támasztja alá leginkább annak a jelentőségét, hogy az IPMN kimutatása és sebészi eltávolítása még az invazív carcinoma kialakulását megelőzően szükséges.
Mechanicus ileust okozó, eltérő hisztológiai szerkezetű, metastatizáló, duplex colontumor operált esete egy fiatal, 34 éves nőbetegben
Authors: Bartók Ádám , Banai Zoltán , Berczi Lajos
Published: April 2014

Absztrakt

Egy fiatal (34 éves) nőbeteg esetét szeretnénk bemutatni, akit hospitalizációja előtt egy héttel fokozatosan tűrhetetlenné váló, görcsös hasi fájdalom miatt vettünk fel osztályunkra. Az elvégzett vizsgálatok – ebben az életkorban műtéti előzmény nélkül szokatlan módon – mechanicus ileust igazoltak. Az urgens műtét során hasfalba törő, stenotizáló, descendens–sigma határon lévő tumort találtunk, kismedencei carcinosissal. Az extrém colontágulat és serosarepedések miatt subtotalis colectomiát végeztünk, ileosigmoidealis anastomosis képzésével. Az operáció során kismedencei peritonectomia is történt. A resecatum kórszövettani vizsgálata a várt, descendens–sigma határ adenocarcinomáján kívül egy másik, eltérő hisztológiai szerkezetű malignus tumor (jól differenciált neuroendokrin carcinoma [NEC]) egyidejű jelenlétét is igazolta, amelyet intraoperatívan látni, tapintani nem lehetett. A peritonealis áttétképződésért azonban ez a tumor volt felelős.
Betegelégedettségi vizsgálat latissimus dorsi musculocutan lebennyel és azonnali permanens implantátummal végzett emlőrekonstrukciós műtétek után
Authors: Bognár Gábor , Gőgh Bettina , Novák András , István Gábor
Published: April 2014

Absztrakt

Az emlő-helyreállító műtétek között a latissimus dorsi myocutan lebeny azonnal beültetett végleges implantátummal (LDI) elterjedt megoldás. Jelen munkánk célja a LDI rekonstrukció eredményének feldolgozása az életminőség, az esztétika és a betegelégedettség szempontjából. Kérdőíves felmérés során az első tíz LDI rekonstrukción átesett betegünket kérdeztük. Magas elégedettséget igazoltunk az életminőség és az esztétika terén, ami arra utal, hogy a LDI technika kiváló lehetőség az emlőrekonstrukcióra.
An Investigation of the Correctness of Item Assignment on the Subscales of the Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire and its Temporal Stability
Authors: Roszkowski Michael J.
Published: April 2014

The Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ) was administered to first year students during the fifth week of their first semester and then again at the end of the semester. The primary purpose was to examine item—remainder correlations to determine if the items are placed correctly into their respective domains. A secondary aim was to assess the temporal stability of the scores. The most suspicious are items 9, 14, 21, 23, 49, 32, and 56, but the major concern with the SACQ is the multidimensional nature of the majority of items rather than improper assignment of items to domains. Domain temporal stability (Pearson r) was: Social Adjustment = .60, Attachment = .50, Personal-Emotional Adjustment = .43, and Academic Adjustment = .35; the stability of the Total Score was r = .44. Suggestions are offered for revising the scale and for proper use of the current version given the identified issues.
Structured Opportunities: Exploring the Social and Academic Benefits for Peer Mentors in Retention Programs
Authors: Kiyama Judy Marquez , Luca Sandra Guillen
Published: April 2014

Informed by the experiences of former peer mentors, this qualitative study examines the structure of opportunity of a university retention program. Extending the concept of social capital, the study investigates the experiences of students who served as peer mentors, and how their involvement in the retention program has influenced their social and academic development while in college. Findings suggest that employing peer mentors can be mutually beneficial to retention efforts since the peer mentors were trained to demonstrate aspects of advocacy, role modeling, and acting as human bridges for the program participants while also benefiting from those very forms of institutional support embedded in the program structure. Specifically, peer mentors developed important peer-to-peer and peer-to-staff social relationships that aided in their own retention.
Rethinking Intelligence: The Role of Mindset in Promoting Success for Academically High-Risk Students
Authors: Sriram Rishi
Published: April 2014

This study utilized an experimental pretest-posttest control group design to determine if changing the way academically high-risk college students view intelligence affected their academic effort and achievement when compared to students in a control intervention. Results indicated that students taught to view intelligence as malleable reported significantly higher levels of the multivariate variable academic effort and the univariate variable study skills than did the students who were directly taught study skills. No significant difference in GPA was found between the two groups. Implications for future research and current practice are discussed.
Matters of Success: A Deliberative Polling Approach to the Study of Student Retention
Authors: Brown Tucker , Kenney Matthew T.
Published: April 2014

In this article, the authors discuss a recent study they carried out at a mid-sized state university that used a polling method called deliberative polling. This type of polling differs from conventional polling in that respondents are polled before and after a deliberative session in which they discuss issues based on pertinent and empirically-grounded information. This method, it is argued, uncovers observations and insights that could prove valuable to improving university retention and graduation rates.
Examining Relevant Influences on the Persistence of African-American College Students at a Diverse Urban University
Authors: Thomas Jackie C. , Wolters Christopher , Horn Catherine , Kennedy Heidi
Published: April 2014

In this study, campus involvement, faculty mentorship, motivational beliefs (self-efficacy and utility value), and sense of belonging were examined as potential predictors of African-American college student academic persistence. Participants ( n = 139) in the study were African-American college students from a large-urban university. Separate analyses were conducted to predict two related aspects of student persistence. A multiple linear regression was used to predict self-reported student persistence and a logistic regression was used to predict actual enrollment in the following semester. Results indicated that utility value was the only significant predictor of self-reported persistence. Surprisingly, results of the logistic regression indicated that students who reported having higher levels of self-efficacy in the fall were less likely to enroll in the subsequent spring semester. Findings in this study add to the body of research on college student persistence.
Exploring Characteristics of Retained First-Year Students Enrolled in Non-Proximal Distance Learning Programs
Authors: Hillstock Laurie G. , Havice Pamela A.
Published: April 2014

This study explored pre- and post-admission characteristics of retained first-year students enrolled in non-proximal distance learning programs within public, 2-year colleges. Five pre-admission and six post-admission characteristics were explored. The sample for this study consisted of 197 first-year students enrolled in non-proximal distance learning programs from among five, public, 2-year colleges in Virginia. A quantitative data collection method was used in this exploratory study. Data analysis revealed that a majority of participants: (1) were non-traditional-aged White females, with a high GPA and experience with technology; (2) were employed on a full-time basis and had dependent children; (3) had a high school and college GPA of above 3.0; (4) believed the institutional academic advising system was more than adequate; (5) noted that commitment to the institution and graduation were important; and (6) had access to technology.
Correlates of African-American Undergraduate Student Achievement: Implications for the Prize Initiative
Authors: Newton Brian C. , Ghee Kenneth L. , Langmeyer Daniel
Published: April 2014

Male and female African-American college students ( n = 131) at a large urban predominately White publicly funded institution participated in a survey measuring the effect of a multitude of psychosocial constructs and factors on grade point average (GPA). Part One of the study's analysis focused on three of the six total constructs examined within this study: Barriers to Achievement, Ethnic Identity, and Intrapersonal Attributes. Cronbach's alpha tests and item analyses found that each subscale was determined sufficiently reliable with the exception of Ethnic Identity. Pearson correlations indicated that the Interpersonal Attributes subscale and its individual factors were most significant in predicting academic success. The Barriers to Achievement subscale did not significantly affect student GPA, though family problems and maintaining employment were found detrimental to GPA. While the Ethnic Identity construct was not reliable, the factor “ethnic fit” was significant.
Improving Teacher Feedback During Active Learning
Authors: Van den Bergh Linda , Ros Anje , Beijaard Douwe
Published: April 2014

This study focuses on improving teacher feedback during active learning. Changing teachers’ behavior sustainably, however, is very difficult. Several conditions should be taken into account, and programs should build on teachers’ cognitions and practices. Effects of a specifically designed professional development program on 16 elementary schoolteachers’ knowledge, beliefs, perceived problems, and classroom behavior were examined via observations, a beliefs instrument, and a questionnaire prior to and twice after the program was implemented. Results show that several aspects of feedback during active learning were improved, both in the short and in the long term. It is concluded that the professional development of teachers can be effective and sustainable, if certain conditions are met.
Preface: The Initiation Vol.5
Authors: Editor The
Published: April 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10242 The Initiation 2013 Vol.5
Acknowledgement: The Initiation Vol.5
Authors: Editor The
Published: April 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10243The Initiation 2013 Vol.5
Status and distribution of the globally threatened Bristled Grassbird Chaetornis striata (Jerdon, 1841) (Fam. Sylviidae) in Nepal
Authors: Baral Hem Sagar , Wattel Jan , Brewin Philip A , Ormerod Steve J
Published: April 2014

Lowland grasslands in Nepal were thoroughly surveyed in 1996-1999 to assess the status and distribution of the globally threatened Bristled Grassbird Chaetornis striata. Birds were located on foot, from elephants and from jeeps by sight and sound backed up by mistnets and tape playback. The status information was updated again by visiting these areas in 2010-2012. Bristled Grassbirds were recorded in Sukla Phanta and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserves, and Chitwan National Park where most of the Nepal population is confined. From the research, it was found that they were most associated with newly formed Saccharum and Imperata dominated grasslands during summer. The low numbers present during winter suggested that this species was primarily a summer migrant to Nepal. A total population for Nepal is presented based on a reliable density estimate. Loss and degradation of grassland habitat and invasion of Mikania micrantha were identified as the major threats. Further research on migratory status, better control of cattle grazing inside reserves, expansion of Protected Areas to include more grassland, and listing of Bristled Grassbird as protected under the wildlife law of Nepal for its conservation are highly recommended. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10244   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 1-15
Is Community Forestry Supporting for Minimizing the Income Inequality of Different Social Strata of Users’ Households: A case from Gorkha, Nepal
Authors: Kafle Mohan Raj , Upadhyaya Chiranjibi Pd
Published: April 2014

This research paper describes the share of community forest income to the total income of users’ households and its role in minimizing the inequality among different socio-economic group of users. Community forests support 12.3% of total household income to poor, 4.06% to middle and only 2.78% to rich class households. As there is huge difference in household income between three classes, the absolute income of CF to rich class households is largest though it seems greater to the poor in percentage income terms. Share of household input in terms of annual household income is highest (10.6%) for poor class households and lowest (2.4%) for rich class. CF income has more equalizing effect in the household income of poor class households. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10245   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 16-22
Willingness to Pay for Offsetting Carbon Programs by Vehicle Owners in Sunsari District, Nepal
Authors: Nepal Lok Raj , Juan Shi
Published: April 2014

The objective of this study was to assess the willingness to pay (WTP) of vehicle owners for carbon offsetting programs. This study could potentially assist local governmental institutions to take further steps in environmental conservation programs. A contingent valuation method was used. Open-ended questionnaire surveys were conducted with 181 respondents. The results revealed that WTP was dependent on several demographic variables including educational level, occupation, gender, and residential area. However, only occupation and educational level significantly affected the WTP of the respondents. The total WTP was 600 NRs. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10246   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 23-31
Role of Agroforestry Practices in Changing Rural Livelihood Economy: Case study of Dhaibung VDC of Rasuwa District
Authors: Pandit Naba Raj , Gautam Deepak , Adhikari Sharada
Published: April 2014

This paper is part of the case study on “Socio-economic development of rural people through Agroforestry system in Rasuwa District of Nepal” surveyed during 2008. With the aim to assess the contribution of agro forestry to household economy of rural people, a study was conducted at Dhaibung VDC of Rasuwa district as agro forestry system creates employment and livelihood opportunity to the majority of the rural dwellers. Comparative study was done between agro forestry and non-agro forestry system village based on the project in terms of financial benefits and incentives received by respondents. Findings from the study revealed that agro forestry system practiced in project area; gross income and net income analysis in project village (PV) are more profitable than control village (CV) farms. Income from sale of livestock, fruits, milk and milk products was higher in project village as compared to control village whereas income from public services, wage labour was somehow same. The integration of agroforestry into existing farming system is the strongest driver to meet the food sufficiency of rural resident for longer months and ensure food security sustainably in the study area. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10251 The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 32-42
Gaurishankar Conservation Area - A Prime Habitat for Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens) in Central Nepal
Authors: Thapa Arjun , Thapa Sunil , Poudel Shumbu
Published: April 2014

Globally threatened Red Panda is found in isolated high mountain’s bamboo- forest patches in Nepal, India, Bhutan, China and Burma. This study was focused in Gaurishankar Conservation Area, one of the newly declared protected areas of Nepal, with aim to glean baseline information regarding existence of Red Panda, its habitat status and conservation issues. Methods like altitudinal line intercept, key informant survey and consultation (with local people, herders, conservation stakeholder) were used to address the objectives. Marbu, Kalinchok, Gaurishankar (Dolkha District), Chuchure, Gumdel (Ramechhap District) and Fulpingkatti (Sindupalchok District) area were surveyed in first phase of study and presence of Red Panda distribution was recorded from Marbu, Kalinchok, Chuchure and Fulpingkatti forests areas through sign evidence (fecal pellets). A total of 24 transects were established randomly in the whole area and only 16 transects were worked effectively because of topographical barrier. Distribution of Red Panda was found as clumped pattern ( ). Among these sites, frequent sign encounter was recorded in Marbu (5.45/km) area followed by Fulpingkatti (5.06/km), Kalinchok (3.73/km) and Chuchre (1.67/km). Like in other areas, conservation issues like habitat destruction, livestock pressure, fire wood collection and illegal poaching were rampant in Gaurishankar also. This study recommended for detail survey on population status and conservation activities should be elaborated in current identified habitat as well as further survey should be focused on other possible habitats within conservation area. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10252 The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 43-49
Findings on the Chiropteran Status in Rautahat and Sarlahi, Nepal
Authors: Jha Sunny Kumar
Published: April 2014

Bats are the second most diverse mammals found in earth with around 1250 species in a single Chiropteran order. In Nepal, authentic list of 53 bat species have been prepared so far. This research was conducted in 10 VDCs of Rautahat and Sarlahi with the main objectives being assessing the status, diversity and threats. Key-informant survey, direct observation, roost survey and mist netting were done for assessing the primary data. A total of five species were identified. Deforestation, poaching, destruction of old houses, concrete constructions, use of chemical fertilizers in agricultural and fruit lands, change in the agricultural pattern and deliberate killing were identified as major. People’s attitude was satisfactory, though awareness level was found to be low. Diversity was found to be very high, but the respondents argued that the bats’ frequency was in continuous decrease from past few years. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10253   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 50-54
Market situation of Bio-Briquette in Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Bhujel Krishna Bahadur
Published: April 2014

This paper analyzes the present market scenario of the bio-briquette in the Kathmandu valley. The bio-briquette has been emerged as alternative biomass energy in the Nepal from one decade. But it does not scale up as per targets due to the lack of the awareness, technologies transfer and markets. There are opportunities to establish and replace fossil fuel through using wastage vegetations as well as economic empowerment of local people. It has found that the market situation of the bio-briquette is initial stage. Now, the supply and demand condition is increased trends and it is available in super market, department store and other outlets in the Kathmandu valley. It uses especially in the cooking, heating for children/older, house and office purposes. It is high potential to establish as alternative biomass energy in Nepal through promoting the sustainable markets. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10254   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 55-62
Study on Carbon Stock of Leasehold Forests of Katakuti VDC, Dolakha District
Authors: Lama Tshering Dolma , Mandal Ram Asheshwar
Published: April 2014

A study was carried on ten leasehold forests of Katakuti VDC, Dolakha district to estimate the carbon stock. Random sampling was used to collect the biophysical data of trees/ poles, sapling, root and leaf litter, herb and grass. Then, the biomass was calculated using the respective equation and the calculated biomass stock was converted into carbon stock multiplying with 0.47. Similarly, the soil samples were collectewd from different depths of 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm to determine the soil organic carbon. Lastly, all analyzed data were compiled to get total carbon stocks. The result showed that the estimated total carbon stock per ha was found to be highest in Srijana leasehold forest with 125.493 t C/ha. The estimated total carbon stock of 10 leasehold forest was found to be 1439.033 tons. Here, Leasehold forests have been an emerging and successful example in conserving forests in epal. So, it is recommended to extend such studies in other parts of Nepal. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10255   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 63-67
Local People Perception on Biodiversity Change In Lower Mustang
Authors: Paudel Sambhu , Rayamajhi Trishna
Published: April 2014

Local people response was obtained on biodiversity change in lower Mustang relying on social survey and from various data sources for natural assets. The main focus was centralized on the change in avifaunal and mammalian diversity and the effect of environmental change on agricultural/livestock forest as well as on grazing land. The change was detected on wildlife movement, livestock depredation, forest stock, palatable species and birds. Climate change is the key issue in conserving biodiversity and linking its goal in livelihood. Change in livelihood pattern seems more adverse factor for community development as urbanization is prevalent. Animals and birds solely dependent in the nutshell area are at increasing rate but transition (forest and agriculture) species are decreasing. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10256   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 68-74
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) in Nepal: A Review
Authors: Gauli Banu , Upadhyay Suraj
Published: April 2014

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) in developing countries is a mechanism that allows industrialized countries to offset their emissions by purchasing carbon credits from developing countries, which reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation by avoiding such activities. The Government of Nepal is committed to REDD through reversing deforestation and forest degradation, conservation of existing forest and enhancing forest carbon stocks, while addressing livelihoods concerns at the same time since 2009 and now it has been flourished in the country along with concept of sustainable development of the forest resource of country. Nepal has undergone different stages during this process and has planned certain strategy for the future. The assemblages of the available information on REDD in Nepal is important to over view its holistic prospect, aspect and potentiality in the least developing country like Nepal which holds the greater possibility to be benefited from the REDD. Nepal is now in the process to prepare national REDD strategy by 2013 and there are different On Going REDD -Plus Piloting Initiatives in Nepal. Nepal has greater potentiality of being benefited from REDD though some policy related to it needed to be redefined and clarify. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10257  The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 75-83
Nepal’s Pro-poor Leasehold Forestry Program: Processes, Policies, Problems and Ways Forward
Authors: Laudari HK , Kaini T
Published: April 2014

The pro-poor leasehold forestry program has put forth the ultra-poor’s livelihood agenda in the natural resource management regime and tried to liberate the poor from complex poverty trap through manipulating and institutionalizing the local resources. This paper is based on review of published and unpublished documents, direct field observation of leasehold forest user groups and discussion with concerned stakeholders and line agencies working in pro-poor leasehold forestry program. The paper has explicitly tried to dig out the institutional, field level and legal issues, and put forwarded some ways out. The unclear land tenure right and use rights of conserved forest trees have created misunderstanding to the beneficiaries that ultimately pushed the pro-poor leasehold forestry program towards uncertainty. Both technocratic approach and supply-driven implementation of the program have created misunderstanding while deliberating the program, and resulted low participation, weak institution and little internalization at community level. The explicit learning-oriented approach both in policy making and program designing is central to achieve the dual objectives of program: environmental amelioration and poverty reduction. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10258   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 84-95
Green Economy for Sustainable Development in Nepal: Role of Forestry Sector
Authors: Karki Madhav
Published: April 2014

Although there is no unified view among the policy makers and development experts on what represents and drives a Green Economy and there is also no clarity on what it means for the mountain countries like Nepal, the concept is however, very pertinent in the context of rapid climate change and unsustainable development. There is a general agreement that green economy provides opportunities for developing and forest rich country like Nepal as the fossil fuel-based and import oriented consumerism based economy cannot be successful today and in future. It is likely that green economy could be a good vehicle to reach sustainable mountain development (SMD). However, there is a need to develop specific and strategies and action plans to implement green and low-carbon economic activities. First and foremost, there is a need to develop a national policy and to use green economy to achieve poverty reduction and sustainable development. The economic growth rate has to be sustained while reducing poverty through sound development plans and programmes actively participated and managed by poor and enterprising rural and urban communities and supported by government, non-government and donor agencies. There are numerous challenges in adapting and adopting Green Economy policies in a poor country like Nepal. Capacity and skill development, technology adaptation, transfer, and retrofitting to suit Nepal’s hilly and mountainous terrains, need for huge investment in processing and value addition, and of course adapting to and mitigating against climate change are some of the major challenges. Notwithstanding these constraints, green economic policies and programmes can be means to achieve sustainable development in the mountainous region. There is need to document good case studies for drawing lessons so that future green growth pathway can be charted in a flawless manner and scaling up of the success to create bigger impacts can be achieved. Finally, effective and outcome oriented implementation will require multi-disciplinary planning, interdisciplinary implementation, and effective and participatory monitoring and evaluation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10259   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 96-109
Sawmilling in Sweden: Past, present and future
Authors: Tamrakar Rijan
Published: April 2014

With 62% of her land covered with forest, Sweden is the world’s second largest combined exporter of paper, pulp and sawn wood products. Modern industrial sawmilling of Sweden started from the mid-19th Century after British import was made liberal, and Norwegian exporters faced short supplies of raw materials and Canadian producers were more expensive. During the same time, Sweden also developed industries and technology making it more competitive. However, after 20th century, sawmilling in Sweden started to adopt ‘integrated forest firm approach’ where many small and locals sawmills were forced out of the business because of numerous war-crises and oil-crises that occurred. In recent decades production and exports from Sweden is in increasing trend. This increasing trend is the result of some specific strategies undertaken by Swedish sawmilling sectors viz. transforming market channel, transforming product value adding strategy and transforming service value adding strategy. Currently, Swedish sawmills can be categorized into nine groups based on their value addition strategy and technology they use. These sawmills face competition from other materials and countries, low efficient transfer of technology and knowledge transfer, presence of small scale sawmilling, and some sawmills are in risk as they lack of product diversification and have specialized production. Future of the sawmilling in Sweden is expected to be growing. However, they have to encourage the use of wood, transfer skill and knowledge, increase the size of the firm, further diversify the products, and also improve technology and mechanization. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10260   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 110-120
Invasive Species in Nepal: Appraisal of Legal Provisions and Institutional Setup
Authors: Karki Ajay , Paudel Rajan P
Published: April 2014

Invasive species are top threat to biodiversity because of their negative effects on floral and faunal species, food web, on ecosystems and their habitat. Their inherent capability to adjust in wide range of environmental conditions and spread at higher pace with economic activities like travel, trade and tourism have necessitated a concern for their prevention and protection. This has been recognized by Convention on Biodiversity that calls the contracting parties to prevent introduction and control or eradication of invasive species. Nepal as a signatory to this convention has to take essential legal and managerial actions to abide by the convention. This paper reviews some literatures and existing legal documents dealing with the invasive species management. The paper finds out that there is impact of Mikenia micrantha in Chitwan National Park and it may affect the productivity the area. There are legal provisions and institutional setup at National and local level under different acts, regulations and guidelines that influence the introduction, control and eradication of this species. This paper recommends that the full functioning of these provisions and institutional setup is required to manage the invasive species. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10261 The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 121-127
Sustainable Resin Collection and trade Practices in Mid Hills of Nepal
Authors: Gotame Bharat
Published: April 2014

Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in mountains are one of the enormously valued ecosystem services due to their contribution to the livelihood of people. Pine resin is one of the viable NTFP in middle mountain of Nepal which is tapped from Pinus roxbhurghii tree and can be used in paints, varnishes, stimulant, anti-spasmodic, astringent, diuretic and anti-pathogenic and so on. This piece of work is an attempt to review the current status of pine resin collection enterprise in Nepalese Community Forests and its contribution to the livelihood of Community forest users in mid-hill region. Typically, existing legislations and guidelines have high potential to endure the sustainable livelihood promotion by resin tapping enterprise but the endeavors of revitalizing the financial benefit sharing and governance system is still far. The valued contribution of resin enterprise to sustainable livelihood of users is not impossible but it needs greater effort of all stakeholders. For example, partial intervention to market, involvement of poorer households, improve the local and regional governance and so on. Participatory monitoring of collection work and proper enforcement of sustainable harvesting procedure both have to be improved in state of arts that could finally recognize the rational benefit sharing mechanism among various value chain actors from collector to international traders which is indispensable. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10262 The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 128-137
Wetlands, Biodiversity and Climate Change
Authors: Khatri Top B
Published: April 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10263 The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 138-142
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): An introductory episode for Forestry Sector in Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Tej Kumar
Published: April 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10264 The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 143-146
Conceptual framework for research design: practical essential points for developing a proposal in forestry sector in Nepal
Authors: Koirala Pashupati Nath
Published: April 2014

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10265 The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 147-152
Role of Tree Breeding in Timber and Wood Supply in World and India: Status and Outlook
Authors: Thakur Ram Bichari , Schmerbeck Joachim
Published: April 2014

Tree breeding is an important component of tree improvement which involves the application of genetic principles for the mass production of seedlings with desired traits in order to achieve higher productivity, better adaptability of the environment and vigorous growth rate. It helps in increasing yields and shortened rotations so it has a large potentiality to supply timber and wood demand of the world. Species choice, provenance selection and propagation method are the major aspects of tree breeding. Plus tree selection, progeny testing, provenance test and vegetative propagation have been used since early of civilization and often regarded as conventional tree breeding techniques while seed orchards, clonal propagation, somatic embryogenesis, micro-propagation or in-Vitro propagation, and biotechnology are modern tree breeding techniques. Different countries have been developing tree breeding techniques and achieving maximum benefits from it. Southeast Asia is using Acacia mangium, A. crassicarpa, Gmelina arborea, and Eucalyptus spp.; Populus deltoids, Casuarina equisetifolia, Eucalyptus spp. have been using by India; Teak has been vegetative propagated in Thailand; Salix babylonica has been growing in Greece for biomass production. Increasing yield and shortened rotation are the major prospects while loss of genetic diversity, higher production costs and requirement of constant upgrading are the major hindrances of tree breeding. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10266   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 153-163
An Overview of Chinese Pangolin (Manis pentadactyla): Its General Biology, Status, Distribution and Conservation Threats in Nepal
Authors: Thapa Prakash
Published: April 2014

Chinese Pangolin is nocturnal, shy, non-aggressive, solitary, strange and burrowing mammal which has received low scientific attention. Little information is known about its biology, distribution and status. In Nepal it is distributed in many districts and protected areas. The status of this mammal is decreasing in the country but there is no any research regarding its biology, status and distribution. Although, this mammal is protected nationally and internationally, it is facing too much problems due to habitat destruction and illegal trade. This article mainly focuses on the biology, status, distribution and conservation threats of this ecologically beneficial handsome creature. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10267   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 164-170
An Overview of the Status and Conservation Initiatives of Red Panda Ailurus fulgens (Cuvier, 1825) in Nepal
Authors: Bista Damber , Paudel Rajiv
Published: April 2014

The existing status of Red Panda Ailurus fulgens in Nepal is poorly known. Current work attempts to put the information on Red Panda status together from Nepal and the conservation initiatives taken so far in the country. Red Panda inhabits eastern Himalayan temperate broadleaved forest with bamboo in the understory with an altitudinal range preference of 2400-3900 m. The Red Panda population in Nepal is about 314 individuals. Although the majority of potential habitat i.e. 62% lies in community managed and national forest, a very few initiatives have been started for the research and conservation of this species outside the protected areas. The Red Panda is protected in Nepal. Forest fire, rotational grazing, slash and burn cultivation, timber and fire wood collection, predation by dogs, natural dying of ringal bamboo species, drought, landslide and lack of awareness are identified as the major conservation threats for Red Panda throughout its habitat within the country. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10268   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 171-181
Lowland Wetlands in Nepal
Authors: KC Jibesh Kumar , Gurung Karma Dolma , Shrestha Puspa Deep
Published: April 2014

Wetlands are considered to be one of the most threatened of all major natural ecosystems and are claimed to deserve a high priority for conservation and sustainable use. The conservation of wetlands is important because it provides a multitude of benefits i.e. ecological, economic, aesthetic, religious and socio-cultural benefits. This paper attempts to gather information about significance and classification of wetlands on the one hand and current status of lowland wetlands of Nepal and their threats on the other. Wetland dependent communities account for more than 17 % of the country’s population out of which more than 90 % are of Terai origin. As a result, a close interaction takes place between local community and biological resources of the wetlands. It with increase in population causes a number of threats to wetland ecosystem and associated biodiversity. These threats can be broadly categorised as habitat destruction and degradation, loss of ecosystem integrity, and depletion of species abundance and diversity. The importance of wetlands and their threats has been recognized in Nepal and different legislations have been formulated regarding Nepal Wetland Policy 2069 recently. But the policies itself cannot manage the wetlands without its appropriate implementation. Current status of wetlands is decreasing which shows a greater need of review and strong implementation of the existing policies. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v5i0.10269   The Initiation 2013 Vol.5; 182-193
L'évolution de la notion d'espace dans un pays nomade du Tiers Monde. L'exemple de la Mauritanie
Authors: Toupet Charles
Published: April 2014

Abstract.

Dislike for the Ocean and, on the contrary, love for nomadism throughout sahelian pastures were traditional features of Mauritania, the modern national space is, however, progressively organized owing to new requisites : fisheries, mining, and political ties with Maghreb as well as with black states. But modernization would be impossible without making any change.