Housing Facilities Research Articles

Housing Situation of People with Severe Mental Illnesses

People with mental illness should live independently in the community. This study analyzed the housing situation and the use and need of psychiatric housing facilities of people with severe mental illness. Data from a cross-sectional study with 397 people with severe mental illness from two Bavarian districts were used and analyzed descriptively. 70% of the patients live independently. 6% use supported housing or residential care. 25% of the participants have housing needs, but 39% of them do not receive adequate help. Most of the patients are familiar with supported housing or residential care and find these helpful. Most patients live in a housing situation that meets the social norm. However, some patients have an unresolved housing problem. The use of supported housing or residential care is helpful, but is rarely used.

Machine Learning-Based Local Knowledge Approach to Mapping Urban Slums in Bandung City, Indonesia

Rapid urban population growth in Bandung City has led to the development of slums due to inadequate housing facilities and urban planning. However, it remains unclear how these slums are distributed and evolve spatially and temporally. Therefore, it is necessary to map their distribution and trends effectively. This study aimed to classify slum areas in Bandung City using a machine learning-based local knowledge approach; this classification exercise contributes towards Sustainable Development Goal 11 related to sustainable cities and communities. The methods included settlement and commercial/industrial classification from 2021 SPOT-6 satellite data by the Random Forest classifier. A knowledge-based classifier was used to derive slum and non-slum settlements from the settlement and commercial/industrial classification, as well as railway, river, and road buffering. Our findings indicate that these methods achieved an overall accuracy of 82%. The producer’s accuracy for slum areas was 70%, while the associated user’s accuracy was 92%. Meanwhile, the Kappa coefficient was 0.63. These findings suggest that local knowledge could be a potent option in the machine learning algorithm.

Proposal of Space Management Plan through Analysis of Temporary Housing Facility Status to Strengthen Community Disaster Capacity- Focusing on Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City -

Proposal of Space Management Plan through Analysis of Temporary Housing Facility Status to Strengthen Community Disaster Capacity- Focusing on Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City -

Roadmap for rebuilding the health system and scenarios of crisis path in Gaza.

The horrific attacks on Gaza have had a profound impact on Gaza's health system, culminating in a multidimensional crisis. The deliberate destruction of vital infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools, housing, and public facilities, coupled with the deaths and injuries of medical personnel and support workers has only exacerbated the situation and further highlighted the existing gaps. This unprecedented catastrophe proves the criticality of adopting a new national inclusive integrated approach to meeting the immediate and long-term needs of the population. In this perspective, we explore the recovery roadmap features for rebuilding the health system in Gaza, specifically focusing on determining the primary challenges that might emerge, the trajectory of recovery, and the expected crisis scenarios. The existing evidence and perspectives of key stakeholders, including state and non-state health authorities in Palestine were synthesised. Despite some local and international initiatives undertaken to generate a concrete road to recovery, there remains a need for realistic, innovative, and comprehensive Marshall plans to rebuild Gaza's health system. The article draws on insights and gaps in current efforts and underscores the urgent need to address the challenges of rebuilding the health system. The authors strive to offer an inclusive and realistic path with the potential scenarios toward recovery and resilience considering the mass levels of loss and damage, and ways to move forward for building back a resilient health system in Gaza.

Combined Analysis over the Years on the Influence of Foliar Application of Kappaphycus Seaweed-based Biostimulant on the Yield of Two Different Varieties of Black Gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper)

Experiments were conducted in a split-plot design with the different concentrations of Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed extract (KSWE; 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) along with recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) assigned to the main plots and varieties (TAU-1 and DBGV-5) assigned to the sub-plots at the net house facility of CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute during the Kharif season of 2019 and 2020, in order to investigate the influence of (KSWE on two black gram varieties, DBGV-5 and TAU-1, at a single location over two years. KSWE was foliar applied 3 times at 20, 40 and 60 DAS and various yield and yield attributes were measured. Combined analysis over the years revealed that the response of black gram varieties to KSWE varied between years, with significant improvements in yield and its attributes in 2020 as compared to 2019. KSWE concentration at 5% concentration was optimal, enhancing seed yield by 14.1% over the control and improving most yield parameters except pod length and seeds per pod. Yield attributes like pod numbers and total seeds per plant were enhanced by 9 and 10.7%, respectively, over control by this factor (KSWE concentration) at 5% level. No significant interaction was observed between KSWE concentration and variety, indicating consistent effectiveness across different black gram varieties.

The Great Death Valley National Monument Mission 66 Conspiracy (That Never Was)

In 1956 the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) launched Mission 66, a ten-year program to rebuild and improve infrastructure within hundreds of units of the National Park System, among them Death Valley National Monument in California. As elsewhere, plans in this unit centered on a visitor center, new employee housing, administrative and maintenance facilities, and campgrounds. The original plans developed for Death Valley were abruptly changed, leading to allegations that the NPS was involved in a deal with a resort in the park, in which the NPS would receive a land donation in exchange for overlooking illegal use of monument water by the resort. This Great Death Valley Mission 66 Conspiracy reached the ears of Congress, and in 1962 Congressional hearings were held to investigate these matters. The NPS director and many others were called to give testimony. This story gives a fascinating glimpse into the development of Mission 66 facilities in a large park, and how the plans for these facilities depended on an underlying geography of land ownership, water rights, dubious surveys, and expectations by faraway bureaucrats; these in turn reveal much about possibilities and limitations on opportunities for park development. The Mission 66 facilities in Death Valley have stood the test of time and remain central to visitation in the park to this day.

No Report, No Densification? A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Urban Densification and Reporting Practices in World Heritage Properties

As urbanization accelerates, World Heritage properties, critical conservation areas, face a growing threat of urban densification, jeopardizing their Outstanding Universal Value (OUV). States Parties, the countries that have ratified the World Heritage Convention, are responsible for submitting periodic reports on the state-of-conservation of their World Heritage properties. These reports should explicitly address any instances of urban densification that may be occurring. But do they? This research investigates the relationship between urban densification and reporting practices in World Heritage properties over time and space. Through a spatiotemporal analysis, by analyzing changes in the built-up area within the core zones of cultural World Heritage properties from 1985 to 2015. We found that urban development, including housing, infrastructure, and tourism facilities, has significantly impacted World Heritage properties and an increase in built-up area can be observed especially in properties not reporting on urban threats.

Inclusive factor inputs for determination of human development index for informal settlements: A case study of Enugu city, Nigeria

Despite the popularity of the human development index (HDI) in the measurement of human development, it has been variously criticized on the ground that its three dimensions, namely, health, education, and income, as presently constituted do not completely reflect human overall well-being goal which it set-out to measure. The critics have suggested the introduction of additional relevant indicators for the construction of HDI. The goal of this study is to investigate inclusive factor variables for determining the human development index for informal settlements using the city of Enugu, Nigeria, as a case study. The variables used in the development of HDI include the following: wealth, housing/environmental, and social protection. The HDI formula was subsequently modified to the more elaborate and inclusive factor inputs. The results show that households in informal settlements in Enugu are experiencing deprivation. The level of deprivation is highest in the area of wealth dimension, followed by housing/environmental and social protection. Four informal settlements are currently experiencing significant low-level human development in each area of housing/environmental and social protection issues. The aggregation of the three dimensions of the human development index shows that the informal settlements in the city of Enugu are seriously deprived. This implies that the settlements are poorly served with housing facilities, environmental amenities, and social protection structure. In effect, wealth, housing/environmental, and social protection mechanisms are veritable indicators for the measurement of human development and should be included as variables for calculating HDI, especially for the urban poor.

Rural development: the basis for the realization of agrarian policy

Among the problems currently existing in the regions of Kazakhstan is the increasing outflow of able-bodied population from rural areas and localization in the suburban zone of cities. The aim- is to identify the causes of deterioration of the demographic situation in rural settlements (RS) and to develop recommendations for stabilization of the rural economy in the West Kazakhstan region. Methods - retrospective when obtaining data for past periods of time, comparative analysis - to compare the information obtained, on the basis of economic and statistical method the selection and analysis of statistical indicators of the Bureau of National Statistics of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms of the Republic of Kazakhstan, used information from scientific institutions, official sources, defined absolute and relative parameters, average values. Results - it is shown that the main factors of degradation of most rural areas of Western Kazakhstan are the lack of a clear vision of the role and place of rural residents and rural areas in the socio-economic development of the republic, weakening of state regulation in the sectors of agriculture. Conclusions - the prospects for building the capacity of rural areas of the West Kazakhstan region is associated with a number of interrelated problems that need to be solved as soon as possible, primarily modernization of social and technical infrastructure, increasing the motivation of the economically active part of the rural population in mastering new knowledge and technologies, which will increase labor income and effective demand of rural residents for goods and services. The study indicates that in rural areas the situation with investment and expansion of small business activities is ambiguous. It is necessary to emphasize the small business entities in the sphere of agrarian production and the formation of social facilities - housing, catering enterprises, social and cultural facilities, education, pre-school education, sports and recreational facilities. This author's position provides for the possibility of forming greater investment attractiveness and attracting extra-budgetary sources of financing. Elimination of environmental barriers will require improvement of the current regulatory and legal framework.

SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Other Communicable Diseases Identified Among Evacuees From Afghanistan Arriving in Virginia and Pennsylvania, August to September 2021.

In 2021, the US government undertook Operation Allies Welcome, in which evacuees from Afghanistan arrived at 2 US ports of entry in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Because of the rapid evacuation process, the US government granted evacuees an exemption to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requirement in place at that time-namely, that air passengers present a negative SARS-CoV-2 viral test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they boarded international flights bound for the United States. This study describes cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection detected among 65 068 evacuees who arrived at the 2 ports of entry in August and September 2021. Because evacuees were a population at increased risk for infection with diseases of public health concern, CDC staff helped coordinate on-site and on-arrival testing, visually observed evacuees for signs and symptoms of communicable disease, and referred evacuees for further evaluation and treatment as needed. CDC staff used antigen or nucleic acid amplification tests at the ports of entry to evaluate evacuees aged ≥2 years without documentation of recent SARS-CoV-2 infection. CDC staff isolated evacuees with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and quarantined their close contacts, consistent with CDC guidance at the time, before evacuees rejoined the repatriation process. Of 65 068 evacuees, 214 (0.3%) were confirmed as having SARS-CoV-2 infection after port-of-entry testing. Cases of measles, varicella, pertussis, tuberculosis, hepatitis A, malaria, leishmaniasis, and diarrheal illness were also identified. Although the percentage of SARS-CoV-2 infection was low in this evacuated population, communicable disease detection at US ports of entry, along with vaccination efforts, was an important part of a multilayered approach to mitigate the transmission of disease in congregate housing facilities and into US communities.

Microbial load of facilities for keeping pigs of different production groups

The study analyzed the microbial load of objects in the facilities where pigs of different production groups were kept at the final stage of production cycles, immediately before disinfection measures. The study found that the number of mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms (MAFAnM) in the swabs from the surfaces of the studied objects varied from 5.00 to 6.88 log CFU/cm³. The lowest quantity of bacteria was found on drinkers and feeders, while the highest quantity was on the facilities’ floor. The average level of microbial load in the facilities for keeping sows, farrowing, and growing piglets ranged from 5.91 to 6.07 log CFU/cm³. The highest values were observed for the study of swabs taken in the piglet-rearing facility. The proportion of field isolates of the rod, cocci, and spiral shapes of microorganisms in the rearing facility was 62.1%, 28.8%, and 9.1%, respectively, in the farrowing facility — 63.9%, 29.2%, and 6.9%, and in the sow housing facility — 66.2%, 26%, and 7.8%. Escherichia coli was dominant in the rearing facility — 13.9% of isolates, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus subtilis, and Campylobacter jejuni — 9.7% each, and Citrobacter freundii, Enterococcus faecalis, and Enterococcus faecium — 8.3% each. In farrowing facilities, the proportion of E. coli isolates was 16.6%. 7.5% fewer isolates belonged to B. subtilis, Streptococcus salivarius, and C. jejuni, and 9% fewer isolates belonged to Klebsiella pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, E. faecalis, and E. faecium. In the sow housing facility, the proportion of E. coli isolates was 12.9%, the number of P. mirabilis isolates was 1.2% less, and C. freundii was 3.8% less

200 Transcriptomics analyses of mink spleen infected by Aleutian Disease

Abstract Aleutian disease (AD) is one of the most challenging mink diseases that causes high mortality and affects several economically important traits. Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) targets multiple organs and among them, the spleen is one of the major targeted organs. Transcriptomics has been widely used to reveal genes and biological pathways and identify biomarkers for early detection or prevention of diseases. This study aimed to identify genes and pathways related to the host response to AD infection in the spleen via transcriptomic study. Twelve (3 sets of 4 full-sibs) AMDV-free black male mink were housed in the clean section of the animal housing facility at the AD Research Centre (Truro, NS, Canada) between 4 to 7 d before inoculation. Before inoculation, sampling, and euthanasia, animals were anesthetized. The viral inoculum was a 10% (W/V) passage 2 of AMDV prepared from the spleens of mink infected with a local strain and stored at − 80 °C. Animals were intranasally inoculated under sedation with 60 µL of the viral homogenate, corresponding to approximately 300 to 700 ID50. Infected mink were humanely euthanized and the spleen tissues were collected for RNA isolation at 24h (d 1), 48h (d 2), and d 7. Libraries were prepared from total RNA using the Illumina TruSeqTM RNA kit, and were sequenced using the HiScanSQ platform, producing 101 bp reads from each end. The raw RNA-Seq data were cleaned using Cutadapt V1.4.2 and after the cleaning process was completed, 942,803,540 paired-end reads remained to be used in downstream analysis. Differential gene expression analyses revealed most (168) significant differentially expressed (DE) genes between d 1 and d 0 (Control or ADMV-free mink) while fewer DE genes (23) were between d 7 and d 0 (Table 1; Figure 1). A total of 19 DE genes are identified between three pair comparisons and seven of them are directly involved in immune response (FGL2, TLF8, LRP1, SERPINB9, MSR1, C3, PLA2R1, and XCR1). Gene enrichment analyses revealed pathways related to innate immune and fat metabolism which are important for the host mechanism to fight against infections. One of the important pathways is neutrophil degranulation which functions as aiding in the elimination of pathogens and the initiation of the inflammatory process. In conclusion, the current study provides insight into the transcriptomic profiles of the spleen in mink infected with AD. Identified candidate genes might be used for functional studies or as prior information for markers or genomic selection against AD in mink. Further studies in other tissues or single-cell RNA sequencing might deliver more comprehensive pictures of host responses to AD infections.

Renewable Energy and Sustainability Convergence

The change to renewable energy in the development of senior citizens homes is crucial as professionals in the built environment and organizations are getting more conscious of environmental conservation. The need to cut energy billing costs, raising energy efficiency, and emit little or no greenhouse gases known to be dangerous to human living makes this very imperative. Solar, wind, and geothermal energy sources are gaining ground. This study seeks to examine the benefits of incorporating renewable energy in housing facilities that accommodate senior citizens. The survey research design, employing qualitative and quantitative data from respondents, was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential analysis. The study revealed that structures integrated with solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, solar panels and wind power can reduce dependence on conventional power systems, having a notable positive influence on the greenhouse effect through a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases, providing satisfactory indoor conditions to have a positive impact on elderly health. Favourable government policies and regulations in terms of subsidies, grants and regulation enforcement of regulations would help greatly. The research concluded that in addition to improving the quality of care for elderly residents, the generation of renewable energy promotes the concept of sustainability.

Assessment of Fire Safety Measures in On-Campus Housing Facilities

Universities, including Caleb University, offer various on-campus housing options, such as hostels and private residences. Ensuring fire safety in these facilities is paramount for the protection of students, staff, and property. This study investigates the fire safety measures in place at Caleb University's male hostel, examining both the physical infrastructure and the awareness and training of residents and staff. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines a physical inspection of fire safety equipment and infrastructure with semi-structured interviews to assess the comprehensiveness of fire safety protocols and awareness programs. The findings reveal significant gaps in both the awareness and implementation of fire safety measures. Only 33% of the staff and 69% of students are aware of any fire safety programs, and 86% of the staff and 65% of the students lack knowledge of evacuation protocols. These deficiencies highlight the need for structured and mandatory fire safety training, regular drills, and clear communication of evacuation procedures. Recommendations include the development of comprehensive fire safety programs, integration of fire safety education into the curriculum, regular maintenance of fire safety equipment, and partnerships with local fire safety authorities. Implementing these measures can improve the safety and preparedness of Caleb University’s residential facilities, providing a safer living environment for all residents.

Study Of The Legal Responsibility Of Developers For The Provision Of Public Facilities And Social Facilities

The enforcement of law is an integral aspect of the legal system's functioning, and it is often criticized with phrases like "no viral, no justice" or "law is sharp downwards, blunt upwards." In this context, how does the philosophy of law play a role in upholding the integrity of law enforcement, and how can a legal enforcement system be grounded in the rationality of legal philosophy. The provision of public facilities and social facilities in housing is needed for the welfare and comfort of the community in housing. The provision of these facilities involves developers and the Government. In accordance with Cirebon Regency Regional Regulation No. 7 of 2015 the implementation of the provision of infrastructure and facilities in housing refers to the principles of openness, accountability, legal certainty, partiality, and sustainability. In connection with this, the purpose of this paper is to be able to find out the Developer's responsibility in carrying out the procurement of public facilities and social facilities as a condition of submission of housing to the Local Government. The method of approach used here is socio-legal which is associated with social problems. Related to the management of infrastructure and facilities in housing is still a problem, namely the developer has not submitted housing facilities to the Local Government. This happened due to the default of the developer to consumers and the lack of assertiveness of the Regional Government in implementing Government Regulation No. 6 of 2015.

There and back again: dynamics of temporary labor migration, insights from rural India.

Temporary labor migration is a household phenomenon among rural communities in India. This study seeks to understand the subjective experiences influencing the temporariness of labor migration among internal migrants in India by examining various factors such as migration conditions, motivation, migration arrangements, coping and adaptation strategies, and determinants of stay. To achieve this objective, the current qualitative study utilized 14 in-depth interviews and 2 focus group discussions to investigate the temporary nature of labor migration among internal migrants in India. Our findings reveal that migration decisions are rational choices made collectively at the household level, considering socio-economic outcomes. We also find that social networks and contractors facilitate migration arrangements and job connections, and migrants employ various strategies to reduce costs and cope with expenses in urban areas. However, migration destinations often fail to meet migrants' expectations, exposing them to low-wage employment and precarious working and living conditions, which are detrimental to their health. Limited housing and sanitation facilities further contribute to the challenges faced by migrants. Work conditions, including poor wages and high job demands, also affect their well-being. These findings highlight the need for improved support systems that address accommodation challenges, work conditions, and the overall welfare of labor migrants.

Development of an Intelligent Service Platform for a Poultry House Facility Environment Based on the Internet of Things

Development of an Intelligent Service Platform for a Poultry House Facility Environment Based on the Internet of Things

3D Construction Printing as a Tool for Forming the Design Methodology of an Actual Modern Object of Architecture and Construction

An analysis of the experience of the design and construction of objects of modern architecture, reflecting in an aesthetic image, a high -tech direction and brightness of the image. In particular, the features of 3D construction printing with a variety of approaches and purposes of using this technology in the field of architecture are considered.The purpose of the research and analysis is to bring the theory of technological capabilities, their practical application and the relevance of modern architectural solutions into design methods, on the basis of which it is possible to form general trends and directions of aesthetic images of modern architecture.The article presents an approach to the design of a residential housing facility based on the analyzed experience and selected methods of architectural design, taking into account their subsequent implementation by 3D construction printing.

Biochar as an Alternative Litter Additive to Mitigate Gaseous Emissions from Broiler Housing and Subsequent Storage

Broiler farming is a significant source of gaseous emissions. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of different litter additives on the emission of NH3, N2O, CO2, and CH4 during broiler housing and subsequent manure storage. The gaseous emissions from the housing facilities were evaluated during one fattening cycle in environmentally controlled rooms with three different additives applied to the litter material (10% w/w aluminum sulphate or biochar and 2.50 mg m−2 urease inhibitor), as well as a control. A storage experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions for 90 days to evaluate the influence of these three additives on gaseous losses. During broiler housing, the results indicated that NH3 emissions were reduced significantly (40–60%) by litter additives, while global warming potential (GWP) emissions were reduced significantly (31%) by Alum. The addition of Biochar (a 58% reduction) had the same significant effect as Alum (a 60% reduction) to mitigate these losses. The re-application of Urease (a 41% reduction) may be required to reach an equal or higher reduction. During storage, NH3 and GWP emissions were not significantly affected by the litter additives. During broiler housing and subsequent manure storage, NH3 emissions were reduced significantly (22–41%) by litter additives, whereas GWP emissions did not decrease significantly. Globally, it can be concluded that Biochar appears to be a good alternative to Alum due to its equal effectiveness in mitigating NH3 losses, without increasing the GWP potential in the housing and avoiding pollution swapping.

The Future Is Not Bright: Evaluation of Rat Preferences for Color and Intensity of Light.

Light is a key factor influencing the welfare of laboratory rodents, but little is known about their optimal lighting condition. It i common knowledge that rats prefer dim light, so bright light is mitigated with red-tinted shelters or cages, which alter both the color and intensity of light. Because both aspects are altered, the contribution of each feature to rodent preference is unknown. Further, it is unknown if this preference is influenced by previous experience. We hypothesized that rats would prefer lower light intensity and that their preferences would be influenced by their housing environment. Breeder pairs of rats were randomly separated into four treatments groups: red 200 lux, red 25 lux, clear 200 lux, and clear 25 lux. The breeders' offspring were tested three times in an apparatus that offered access to each environment, and their preferences were analyzed. Generally, the rats preferred the lower-lux environments and showed no color preference. However, the rats from the clear, 200 lux cages, preferred clear caging and only showed a preference for 25 lux conditions during the second and third preference tests. These results suggest that the light intensity, more than color, should be considered when designing rodent housing and testing facilities.