title: Sustainable livelihood development: A case study measuring social capital and its role in sustainable livelihood development in Zoucheng, China

authors: Liu, Shaoyong

subjects: sustainable livleihood development

abstract: This thesis is to discover whether the strength of social capital can alter household livelihoods and their sustainability. The intention of this thesis is to answer two questions: (1) Can different types of social ties (kin and non-kin ties) lead to differential access to social capital in a small community in China？(2) Does the strength of social capital alter local livelihood patterns by diversifying household livelihoods, or producing new livelihoods in an industry that has potential for development? 
This thesis, using a quantitative methodology, focuses on social capital measures. It begins with data collection on the social capital status and livelihoods of mining households. The household survey used a random recruitment for sample selection, which involved 228 participants in mines and related working departments (e.g. electricity, and the corporate headquarters of the local biggest mining company) in Zoucheng city, Shandong Province, China. OLS regression models used the household survey to generate associations of variables, such as human capital resources for respondents, length and location of residency, access to social networks, etc. with the composite measure of access to social capital. With these analyses and background information about Zoucheng, I use a simulation model to project the alternative livelihoods for local rural households based on local resources (e.g. farmland, tourism, and mineral resources). The aim of the simulation model was to better understand the role that social capital might play in possible transitions to alternative livelihoods (namely, tourism and farming).

The research results argue that both kin ties and weak ties (such as friendships) are important factors associated with social capital for mining sector residents in Zoucheng (Chapter Six). The advantages of strengthened social capital are presented in the simulation model (Chapter Eight). As social capital was enhanced, both incomes and number of rural tourism operators increased. These results have implications for governmental policy regarding livelihood strategy diversification and poverty alleviation. An understanding of these concepts may play a role in assisting emerging economies to be resilient at local levels and better equipped to withstand exogenous shocks in certain cultural contexts (e.g. Confucian society).

text: Sustainable livelihood development: A case study measuring social capital and its role in sustainable livelihood development in Zoucheng, China This thesis is to discover whether the strength of social capital can alter household livelihoods and their sustainability. The intention of this thesis is to answer two questions: (1) Can different types of social ties (kin and non-kin ties) lead to differential access to social capital in a small community in China？(2) Does the strength of social capital alter local livelihood patterns by diversifying household livelihoods, or producing new livelihoods in an industry that has potential for development? 
This thesis, using a quantitative methodology, focuses on social capital measures. It begins with data collection on the social capital status and livelihoods of mining households. The household survey used a random recruitment for sample selection, which involved 228 participants in mines and related working departments (e.g. electricity, and the corporate headquarters of the local biggest mining company) in Zoucheng city, Shandong Province, China. OLS regression models used the household survey to generate associations of variables, such as human capital resources for respondents, length and location of residency, access to social networks, etc. with the composite measure of access to social capital. With these analyses and background information about Zoucheng, I use a simulation model to project the alternative livelihoods for local rural households based on local resources (e.g. farmland, tourism, and mineral resources). The aim of the simulation model was to better understand the role that social capital might play in possible transitions to alternative livelihoods (namely, tourism and farming).

The research results argue that both kin ties and weak ties (such as friendships) are important factors associated with social capital for mining sector residents in Zoucheng (Chapter Six). The advantages of strengthened social capital are presented in the simulation model (Chapter Eight). As social capital was enhanced, both incomes and number of rural tourism operators increased. These results have implications for governmental policy regarding livelihood strategy diversification and poverty alleviation. An understanding of these concepts may play a role in assisting emerging economies to be resilient at local levels and better equipped to withstand exogenous shocks in certain cultural contexts (e.g. Confucian society).

year: 2017

title: A grammar of the Neverver language of Malakula (Vanuatu)

authors: Barbour, Julie Renee

subjects: endangered languages

abstract: A grammar of the Neverver language of Malakula (Vanuatu) is a synchronic account of the endangered Neverver language spoken by the Mindu and Sakhan peoples.  The description is one outcome of a larger project to document the Neverver language, and it is based on a large and varied corpus of communicative events collected from Neverver speakers residing in the villages of Limap and Lingarakh.  The description includes an account of the phonological system of the language, where complex segments with prenasalisation, including bilabial and alveolar trills, contrast with plain segments.  Heterogeneous and geminate sequences of consonants are permitted in the language, provided syllable onsets and codes are simple.  Epenthesis can be employed to ensure that the maximal CVC syllable template is adhered to.  The nominal system displays classes of common, personal, and local nouns, along with independent pronouns, and a set of pronominal-nouns.  Possessive constructions suggest an earlier system based on the semantic notion of alienability; today constructions are formed by a combination of semantic and phonological properties.  The nominal modifying particle is employed in one type of possessive construction, as well as in relative clauses with definite heads.  Verbs are either inherently transitive or intransitive; valency increase is achieved with suffixation, while valency decrease can be achieved with reduplication.  Reduplication is common in the corpus and typically serves as a marker of low transitivity.  In keeping with the basic constraint on syllable structure, the reduplicative prefix has a CV(C) template.  In terms of verbal morphology, Neverver is a mood-prominent language, with all verbal predicates being marked for either realis or irrealis mood.  Further tense/aspect distinctions can be indicated with optional verbal morphology.   The basic word order of verbal predicates is SVO, and the language is both head-initial and head-marking.  A number of complex constructions have been identified in the language.  Complex nuclei, including incorporated objects and nuclear serial verb constructions, contrast structurally with core serial verb constructions.  Concordant mood marking characterises core serial constructions, while sentential complements display varying patterns of mood dependency.  Adverbial subordination and subordinating tail-head linkage contrast with coordinate structures, including syndetic coordination and juxtaposition.  A variety of inter-propositional semantic relations are expressed through these complex structures.

text: A grammar of the Neverver language of Malakula (Vanuatu) A grammar of the Neverver language of Malakula (Vanuatu) is a synchronic account of the endangered Neverver language spoken by the Mindu and Sakhan peoples.  The description is one outcome of a larger project to document the Neverver language, and it is based on a large and varied corpus of communicative events collected from Neverver speakers residing in the villages of Limap and Lingarakh.  The description includes an account of the phonological system of the language, where complex segments with prenasalisation, including bilabial and alveolar trills, contrast with plain segments.  Heterogeneous and geminate sequences of consonants are permitted in the language, provided syllable onsets and codes are simple.  Epenthesis can be employed to ensure that the maximal CVC syllable template is adhered to.  The nominal system displays classes of common, personal, and local nouns, along with independent pronouns, and a set of pronominal-nouns.  Possessive constructions suggest an earlier system based on the semantic notion of alienability; today constructions are formed by a combination of semantic and phonological properties.  The nominal modifying particle is employed in one type of possessive construction, as well as in relative clauses with definite heads.  Verbs are either inherently transitive or intransitive; valency increase is achieved with suffixation, while valency decrease can be achieved with reduplication.  Reduplication is common in the corpus and typically serves as a marker of low transitivity.  In keeping with the basic constraint on syllable structure, the reduplicative prefix has a CV(C) template.  In terms of verbal morphology, Neverver is a mood-prominent language, with all verbal predicates being marked for either realis or irrealis mood.  Further tense/aspect distinctions can be indicated with optional verbal morphology.   The basic word order of verbal predicates is SVO, and the language is both head-initial and head-marking.  A number of complex constructions have been identified in the language.  Complex nuclei, including incorporated objects and nuclear serial verb constructions, contrast structurally with core serial verb constructions.  Concordant mood marking characterises core serial constructions, while sentential complements display varying patterns of mood dependency.  Adverbial subordination and subordinating tail-head linkage contrast with coordinate structures, including syndetic coordination and juxtaposition.  A variety of inter-propositional semantic relations are expressed through these complex structures.

year: 2009

title: Microbiological quality of Toroi:  A Māori food delicacy

authors: Dixon, Lorraine Louise

subjects: Maori

abstract: A study was undertaken to determine the food safety of the fermented Māori delicacy, Toroi.  Ten batches of Toroi were prepared by a commonly used traditional method that consisted of boiling the vegetable component, either watercress or puha, and combining it with chopped mussel flesh.  The mixture was cooled and then stored in a refrigerator for up to eight months to allow natural fermentation to take place.  All ingredients were sourced from retail outlets.  The Toroi was examined at intervals over eight months for a range of pathogens (seven in all) that have been related to incidents of food poisoning in ready-to-eat foods in New Zealand.  The survival of a faecal contamination indicator, the laboratory grown strain Escherichia coli NZRM 916, was mapped over eight months.  Two strategies to prevent the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in Toroi were also investigated.  

Only one of the seven pathogens sought was recovered from any sample.  This pathogen was Bacillus cereus, a spore-former known to be associated with vegetables.  All batches contained B. cereus on the day of preparation but after two weeks refrigerated storage there was no further recovery from any sample.  There was a very low incidence of natural E. coli in the Toroi, consistent with levels permitted in mussels sold in retail outlets.  The laboratory grown strain, E. coli declined substantially over two months and was not recovered from any samples at eight months.  
A laboratory grown strain of Listeria monocytogenes, (L70) was added to Toroi and grew well with an increase in concentration of about seven-fold, over 19 days storage in a refrigerator.  A bacteriocin producing lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus sake Lb706, was added in combined culture with L. monocytogenes to Toroi.  It was found that at least 5 x108 L. sake cells were required as an inoculum to ensure elimination of L. monocytogenes from the Toroi.  When a purified bacteriocin; nisin, was added, a concentration of 10 mg g-1 in the Toroi was required to eliminate L. monocytogenes.  The inhibition study results suggest that unacceptably high inocula or purified bacteriocin would be required to prevent the growth of L. monocytogenes in Toroi.

The results of this suggest that Toroi be prepared from mussels either purchased from a retail outlet or harvested from sites known to be free from contamination.  Toroi should be safe to eat if prepared carefully, chilled promptly and thoroughly and allowed to ferment for at least two weeks.  In addition, care should be taken to maintain Toroi at refrigerated temperatures until it is eaten.

text: Microbiological quality of Toroi:  A Māori food delicacy A study was undertaken to determine the food safety of the fermented Māori delicacy, Toroi.  Ten batches of Toroi were prepared by a commonly used traditional method that consisted of boiling the vegetable component, either watercress or puha, and combining it with chopped mussel flesh.  The mixture was cooled and then stored in a refrigerator for up to eight months to allow natural fermentation to take place.  All ingredients were sourced from retail outlets.  The Toroi was examined at intervals over eight months for a range of pathogens (seven in all) that have been related to incidents of food poisoning in ready-to-eat foods in New Zealand.  The survival of a faecal contamination indicator, the laboratory grown strain Escherichia coli NZRM 916, was mapped over eight months.  Two strategies to prevent the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in Toroi were also investigated.  

Only one of the seven pathogens sought was recovered from any sample.  This pathogen was Bacillus cereus, a spore-former known to be associated with vegetables.  All batches contained B. cereus on the day of preparation but after two weeks refrigerated storage there was no further recovery from any sample.  There was a very low incidence of natural E. coli in the Toroi, consistent with levels permitted in mussels sold in retail outlets.  The laboratory grown strain, E. coli declined substantially over two months and was not recovered from any samples at eight months.  
A laboratory grown strain of Listeria monocytogenes, (L70) was added to Toroi and grew well with an increase in concentration of about seven-fold, over 19 days storage in a refrigerator.  A bacteriocin producing lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus sake Lb706, was added in combined culture with L. monocytogenes to Toroi.  It was found that at least 5 x108 L. sake cells were required as an inoculum to ensure elimination of L. monocytogenes from the Toroi.  When a purified bacteriocin; nisin, was added, a concentration of 10 mg g-1 in the Toroi was required to eliminate L. monocytogenes.  The inhibition study results suggest that unacceptably high inocula or purified bacteriocin would be required to prevent the growth of L. monocytogenes in Toroi.

The results of this suggest that Toroi be prepared from mussels either purchased from a retail outlet or harvested from sites known to be free from contamination.  Toroi should be safe to eat if prepared carefully, chilled promptly and thoroughly and allowed to ferment for at least two weeks.  In addition, care should be taken to maintain Toroi at refrigerated temperatures until it is eaten.

year: 2007