Individual Housing Research Articles

Seismic Risk Classification of Building Clusters Using MST Clustering and UAV Remote Sensing

The fundamental attribute that is essential for the seismic capacity assessment of houses is the building structure type. Conventionally, remote sensing assessment of the seismic capacity for houses has been based on the image features of individual houses, instead of the spatial similarity between them. To enhance the classification accuracy of house structure types, this work proposes a minimum spanning tree (MST) house clustering structure type classification method based on the spatial similarity of houses. First, the method employs the geometric characteristics of residential buildings to calculate the Gestalt factor that characterizes the visual distance. Subsequently, a Delaunay triangular mesh is constructed to create a proximity map between the houses, with the MST generated using visual distance as the weighting factor. Then, the spatial proximity similarity of house clusters is obtained through pruning. Finally, a support vector machine is employed to categorize the architectural structure of the housing complex, viz., simple houses, brick–concrete houses, and frame houses. This classification is based on the geometric, textural, height, and spatial distribution characteristics of the houses. We have conducted a remote sensing classification experiment of house structure types with Zhushan County, Hubei Province as the study area. The results show that the MST clustering method improves the classification accuracy of brick–concrete houses to 95.4% and the classification accuracy of simple houses to 93.4%. Compared to the single-family-based classification method of building structure types, the classification accuracy of frame-structure buildings is improved to 87%. The Kappa coefficient increased to 0.89. This study significantly improves the classification accuracy of building structure types by introducing spatial similarity. Furthermore, it shows the potential for spatial similarity in classifying building structure types.

Nesting density and nest site selection of the Magpie Pica pica in Kaliningrad, south-east of the Baltic Sea area

Over the past decades, the Magpie, which has ecological and behavioral flexibility, has colonized many cities. In this study, we examine the effect of urban disturbance on nesting density of the Magpie and nest height in a city in the south-eastern Baltic region. The studies were carried out in Kaliningrad (54°43’N, 20°30’E) during the leafless period in 2018–2021 in green residential areas with a predominance of 5-storey buildings (“residential area”) and low-rise individual housing areas (“individual houses”). In the residential area, nest counts were carried out separately in the central part of the city and outside the city center. Based on literature data on urban populations of the Magpie in other cities, we predict that: (1) in the central part of the city there will be a higher nesting density of magpies and (2) in the central part of the city, nests will be located higher than outside the central part of the city. The results obtained did not confirm these assumptions. The average nesting density in residential areas in the city center and outside the city center was virtually the same. And, in addition, in the residential area in the city center, nests were on average located lower than in the residential area outside the central part of the city, but the differences were not statistically significant and the median values of these city zones coincide. The work also provides data on the placement of nests on various types of trees and shrubs. The Hooded crow, being the main predator and competitor of the Magpie, shares the same habitats in Kaliningrad. This coexistence could potentially slow down the increase in Magpie nesting density, especially in the residential area of the city centre, where the nesting density of the Hooded crow is significantly higher than outside the city centre.

Recommendations for the operation of residential premises as a way to enhance their reliability and safety

The Rosstat data shows a steady increase in the volume of residential premises being put into operation. Notably, the number of individual housing units has grown significantly, and the total area of multifamily buildings commissioned in 2023 reached a record high in the Russian Federation. A multifamily building is considered as a complex structure composed of individual apartment units, engineering systems, stairwells, elevators, attics, basements, and other structural elements. Property owners lack knowledge about the parameters and features of their residential premises, locations of load-bearing structures, and critical engineering systems. In most cases, residents do not seek assistance from specialized organizations for developing a renovation or reconfiguration project. Transformations may lead to changes in loads on the supporting structures and other systems, thereby providing certain risk for the entire residential building. In order to prevent serious consequences, the present paper suggests the “Residential Premise Operation Guideline” that outlines key parameters and recommendations to be introduced. In the long term, it should reduce the likelihood of emergency situations caused by the actions of the owners.

Housing construction in Russia during the 100-year period: Dynamics, results and socio-economic problems

The article considers the dynamics of housing construction in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR — a constituent republic of the Soviet Union) and the Russian Federation from the year of 1918 to 2023. For our analysis, we make use of such indicators as housing completions overall and in urban and rural areas, by source of financing, by segment (apartment buildings and individual houses); the data on the size of the housing stock and its structure depending on the form of ownership; housing availability to the population; quantity, structure and floor space of housing units built as well as number of people who improved their housing conditions. On the basis of the data on housing completions in various segments and changes in the legislation, we identify seven stages in the evolution of housing construction in the RSFSR and the Russian Federation during the century considered as well as characterize each of the stages. The article presents for the first time estimates of the area of total and rural socialized housing stock and the housing stock of the RSFSR that was in the personal ownership of citizens for the years of 1926, 1939, 1949 and for the period from 1958 to 1979. We also pinpoint major current socioeconomic problems in housing construction and suggest measures to resolve them with the aim of raising housing availability and affordability for the population of the Russian Federation.

Milk feeding and calf housing practices on British Columbia dairy farms.

Decades of research have helped inform practices on how to care for calves, but little is known about how well these practices are adopted on commercial dairy farms. The primary aim of this study was to describe rearing practices of dairy calves in British Columbia, Canada. Measures of calf growth are sometimes used to assess success in calf rearing, so a secondary aim was to describe methods used to assess calf growth on these farms. All 437 dairy farms in the province were invited to participate in a survey distributed via email from the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food from June to December 2023. A total of 63 completed responses were received (i.e., 14.4% of those invited). Milking herd size averaged (±SD) 167 ± 172 cows, and the primary breed was Holstein for 84.1% of respondents. Most (63.5%) farms housed calves individually before weaning; the remainer used either just social housing (groups of 2 or more; 25.4% of farms) or a combination of individual and social housing (11.1% of farms). Maximum milk allowance averaged 9.5 ± 2.7 L/d, with 86.4% of respondents offering > 8 L/d. Teat feeding was used on 71.6% of farms, and 13.1% of farms used automated milk feeders. Two participants reported feeding calves via the dam or nurse cows. Weaning age averaged 75.8 ± 16.3 d, with calf age being the primary criterion for weaning. About half (52.4%) of farms reported monitoring calf growth, and 31.7% of farms reported to having a target growth rate. Our results suggest that rearing practices are changing, in that calves are now often fed higher milk rations via a teat, and many farms use social housing. However, individual housing remains prevalent, suggesting research is needed to understand the barriers to adopting social housing on farms. Our findings also suggest the opportunity to improve methods for monitoring calf growth; improved measures may facilitate evidence-based evaluations of calf rearing and weaning protocols on farms.

When to pair: Effects of different pairing ages on dairy calf health, behavior and performance.

Pair housing presents an alternative to individual or larger group housing systems, though the effects of different pairing ages on calf welfare are not well understood. In this study, we examined the impact of pairing age on the performance, health, and behavior of dairy calves. A total of 140 Holstein female calves (n = 70 pairs) were used, paired at 3 ages: Early (6-7 d; 48 calves), Intermediate (29-30 d; 48 calves), and Late pairing (49-50 d; 44 calves). Calves were housed individually before pairing and weaned at 78 ± 2 d of age. Weight measurements were recorded at birth, 30, 50, 60 d, and at weaning. Calves' behavior was assessed 5 times per week through scan sampling after milk feedings from d 6-7 until weaning, and a food neophobia test was conducted at 50-51 d. Health assessments were performed 3 times per week by a veterinarian using Wisconsin clinical scores to diagnose diarrhea and BRD, with pulmonary ultrasonography at 55 d. The results suggest no association between pairing age and the prevalence of diarrhea or bovine respiratory disease (BRD), although our statistical power was limited. The number of calves with lung consolidation scores above 2 was also unaffected by pairing age. Early paired calves exhibited more exploration and play behaviors, and less idleness, stereotypies, and non-nutritive oral behaviors than Late paired calves. No differences were observed in cross-suckling likelihood across pairing ages. Early paired calves also showed a shorter latency to touch a novel feed in the food neophobia test, higher calf starter intake during the first 15 d, and greater ADG up to 50 d. Although overall ADG did not differ among pairing ages, Early paired calves were more homogeneous in weaning weight compared with Late paired calves. In conclusion, early pairing supports calves' initial development, promoting early feeding behavior and growth, enhancing behaviors associated with positive affective states, and without adverse effects on health or undesirable behaviors.

Individual behavior and housing setup interact to influence markers of welfare in the critically endangered Hawaiian crow

Individual behavior and housing setup interact to influence markers of welfare in the critically endangered Hawaiian crow

Linking Plant Diversity and Urban Uses at the City-Block Scale to Inform Urban Planning

A challenge for urban ecology is to reduce biotic homogenisation by promoting plant diversity from local to city scales. As ecological and social components constantly interact in cities, an urban landscape characterisation reflecting socio-spatial functioning seems essential. However, spatially explicit description of cities at a relevant scale for urban planning are uncommon in ecological studies. Here, we explored a new approach based on the city-block scale, common in urban geography and planning, to directly link urban uses and patterns of herbaceous plant communities. We characterised all city blocks of a medium-sized French city (Blois). We inventoried grassland and meadows in 129 city blocks (10% of the whole city) for seven public and private urban uses (collective housing, individual housing, industrial, public service, park, land reserve, and road verge). We measured alpha diversity, community composition, regional originality of urban uses, and beta diversity between them. Urban land reserved for future development and parks harbour unique community composition within the city. Collective and individual housings have the same average alpha diversity, but the variability in community composition was higher for individual housing blocks. School and industrial city blocks have important alpha diversity and regional originality. Road verges have the highest alpha diversity but low regional originality and many common urban and regional species. Large green spaces with original communities should be protected during urban densification. The verticalization of residential housing could be an efficient means of internal urban densification if the lowest level of management intensity is promoted to maintain diversified vegetation. Some little-studied uses (schools, industrial city blocks) present opportunities to impede urban homogenisation.

Research on the Determinants of Real Estate Prices in China under Supply and Demand

Since the reform and opening up, the real estate industry has gradually become the pillar industry of the Chinese people, directly or indirectly promoting the development of macro-economy. However, in recent years, the continuous rise of housing prices has become the focus of attention of the government and all sectors of society, which has triggered extensive and in-depth discussion and attention on the real estate industry. Real estate prices are not only closely related to people's lives, but also related to the development of cities and the long-term stability of the country. The healthy development of the real estate industry is also related to the composition of household wealth and government revenue, as well as the stable development of the national economy. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to pay attention to the changes of housing prices. This paper mainly summarizes and reviews the relevant literature on the analysis of factors affecting house prices at home and abroad from three aspects: the supply side, the demand side and the hedonic price model of real estate. It provides basic underlying logic for academic research, policy-making, practical application and individual house purchase decision-making.

Exploring Relationship Between Immunocompetence, HPA Axis Functioning and Performances of Preweaning Dairy Calves.

Cortisol and DHEA(S) are markers of allostatic load and resilience; as such, they may be added to the definition of performance measures alongside immunocompetence. We aimed at studying the potential carryover effects of management practices on growth performances and the interrelationship between the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, immunocompetence and performances during the preweaning period in dairy calves. This study consisted of first a retrospective cohort study and second a prospective study. Calves had their growth performances and disease occurrence recorded, and their hair steroids (T1 at 20.03 ± 0.39 and T2 at 50.83 ± 0.41 days from birth) and plasmatic and colostral immunoglobulin G (IgG) was measured by immunoassays. The occurrence of preweaning diseases and the duration of individual housing negatively correlated to body weight (BW) at 60 days and the hair cortisol-to-DHEA(S) ratio (HC/HDHEA(S)) (T2) was negatively correlated to the daily weight gain (DWG) (-0.36; p < 0.05), plasmatic IgG (plaIgG) and the apparent efficiency of absorption (AEA) (-0.41; p < 0.01). Our results confirmed that the occurrence of diseases during the preweaning period and individual housing duration are pivotal for calves' growth. This prospective study highlighted a detrimental effect of allostatic load on immunocompetence and described a link between resilience and growth performances.

Developing Independence in University Housing for Individuals with an Intellectual Disability

The purpose of this mixed method study using a single-case design was to determine if prompt fading is beneficial in increasing the rate of completion in cleaning a dormitory room for three students with an intellectual disability participating in a postsecondary program. In addition, the intervention’s social validity was measured through participant interviews. While the intervention showed a relation with increased clean dormitory rooms for the participants, it was determined the participants preferred the use of technology to conduct the dormitory room checks over in-person measures.

114 billboards in the City of Wyndham: selling the contemporary Australian suburban housing dream

The study examines the critical, but frequently overlooked, role of real estate intermediation in responding to demographic diversity within the organised production of Melbourne’s growth area suburbs. We examined 114 on-site billboards and 38 active residential development sites in the City of Wyndham, one of the most rapidly expanding suburban municipalities in Australia. Our findings underscore the ways real estate intermediation enchants an imagined suburban lifestyle through systematic marketing of community, amenity, and place. In-situ billboards serve as ‘technologies of enchantment’, promoting an Australian housing dream that is less closely associated with individual housing units, but obscures much of the poor social, environmental, and housing outcomes of suburbanisation. Instead, suburbs are presented as a blank canvas for new migrant homebuyers to exercise agency in consuming culture and building community. The study thus highlights the crucial role real estate intermediation plays in the production of future ethnoburbs in the urban fringes. We call for critical scrutiny of the specific use of visual resources that normalise suburban sprawl and substandard housing production by ingraining specific lifestyle imaginations in the Australian public psyche.

Applying nutritional ecology to optimize diets of crickets raised for food and feed.

Increasing yield is a primary goal of mass insect rearing for food and feed, and diet impacts insect life-history traits that affect yield, such as survival, development time and body size. However, experiments rarely test the nutritional requirements of insects from hatch to adulthood, and so little is known about how the full developmental macronutrient intake impacts the survival, growth and adult body size of mass-reared insects. Here, we applied the nutritional geometry framework and reared individual tropical house crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) from hatch to adulthood on a wide range of protein : carbohydrate diets. We measured weekly food consumption, survival, development time to adulthood and adult body size and mass, and calculated a yield metric to extrapolate our individual-level results and predict how diet influences yield at the mass-rearing level. Yield was maximized on a 3P : 1C diet, as crickets fed this diet were most likely to develop into adults and grew maximum mass and body size. When provided with a choice between diets, crickets selected a relatively balanced 1.05P : 1C diet throughout development, but males consumed 17% more protein than females. Our results represent a crucial first step towards determining the optimal standard feed formulation required to maximize cricket farming yield.

Social and nonsocial environmental loss have differential effects on ventral hippocampus-dependent behavior and inhibitory synaptic markers in adult male mice.

In humans, psychological loss, whether social or nonsocial, can lead to clinical depression, anxiety disorders, and social memory impairments. Researchers have modeled combined social and nonsocial loss in rodents by transitioning them from social, enriched environments (EE) to individual housing, affecting behaviors related to avoidance, stress coping, and cognitive function. However, it remains unclear if these effects are driven by social or nonsocial loss. We examined the effects of nonsocial loss by housing adult male mice in EE before moving them to standard cages, where they were pair-housed, and compared this to mice experiencing complete social loss. Continuous EE reduced social investigation time while leaving social memory intact, also decreasing avoidance behavior. Nonsocial loss restored social investigation and avoidance behavior to control levels, while social loss impaired social memory and increased avoidance. In rodents, social memory and avoidance require ventral hippocampus (vHIP) neuronal oscillations, which involve parvalbumin-positive (PV+) inhibitory interneurons. We found decreased vHIP PV intensity in the social loss group, with no differences in the nonsocial loss group. Most PV+ cells are surrounded by perineuronal nets (PNNs) concentrating GABAA receptors in their lattice-like holes. Social loss decreased GABAA-δ expression, a subunit associated with extrasynaptic receptors, across PNN+ soma and in PNN holes, while nonsocial loss reduced gephyrin in these regions. These findings suggest social and nonsocial losses differentially affect vHIP function and behavior, with social loss having a more pronounced impact through mechanisms involving PV+ interneurons, PNN structure, and neurotransmitter receptor expression.

Examining Sufism and Space Through Ego-Documents: Tekke (Dervish Lodge) and Everyday Life in the Sohbetnâme (1661-1665) by Seyyid Hasan

This article analyzes an ego-document written by a Halveti sheikh, Seyyid Hasan, in seventeenth-century Istanbul, the Sohbetnâme (1661-1665). By using space as an analytical category, this study illuminates the use of space in the daily practices of Sufi dervishes mentioned in the diary and discusses the role of dervish lodges in the lives of Sufis. It shows that the everyday lives of dervishes were not structured mainly around the lodge: they preferred to carry out their routines and devotional practices across various venues, such as individual houses, gardens, and shops, a preference that ultimately made these Sufis highly mobile. Given this itinerancy, this article provides an alternative to tekke-centered thinking and argues that the role of other spaces must also be examined in order to write a comprehensive history of Sufism. Finally, this article aims to show that ego-documents are fruitful sources for studying Sufi spaces in addition to conventional sources on this theme, such as archival documents and material sources.

How does the second-hand housing price regulatory policy differentiate the housing price premiums for multi-dimensional school qualities? Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment in urban China

The housing price premiums for high-quality education and associated socioeconomic inequalities are of global concern. While the literature on education capitalisation is proliferating, how multi-dimensional school qualities and their respective capitalisation effects respond to external policy intervention has not been comprehensively understood. Drawing on long-term actual housing transaction data, this study presents a detailed examination of the relationship between multi-dimensional school qualities and housing price dynamics under the intervention of an unprecedented regulatory policy, with special reference to Shenzhen, the first Chinese city to propose a list of reference prices to regulate transaction prices of individual second-hand houses directly. Our analysis of policy regulation degrees and quasi-natural experiments discovers that the second-hand housing price regulatory policy is designed to, and does result in, decreased housing price premiums for subjective and objective school qualities, but increased housing price premiums for state-assessed school qualities. This study enhances our understanding of housing policy and its social implications for educational equity.

Neighborhood facilities and physical self-efficacy of older adults: The mediating role of daily activity opportunities

IntroductionThe social and health benefits of physical self-efficacy have led to a strong interest in identifying neighborhood environment factors related to self-efficacy of older adults. However, little is known about the relationship between neighborhood facilities and physical self-efficacy. This study aims to investigate the structural relationships among neighborhood facilities, activity opportunities, and physical self-efficacy. MethodsData were collected through a survey of 788 older adults aged 60 and over living in Dalian, China; commercial, medical and recreational facilities were selected; the built environment characteristics were quantified in terms of location advantages, path patency, environmental comfort, suitability of design, travel convenience and environmental safety; and the relationships were assessed using path analyses. ResultsDaily activity perception was positively related to physical self-efficacy through daily activity participation. A greater presence of sidewalks around food markets and a larger residential area around clinics were associated with higher physical self-efficacy through increased the number of daily activity participation. More streetlights around drugstores and a higher density of main-road networks around gymnasiums were associated with more perceived opportunities for outdoor activities among older adults. The distance between an individual's house and the shopping mall was negatively related to daily activity opportunities and physical self-efficacy. ConclusionsThe findings demonstrated the mediating role of daily activity opportunities in the relationships between neighborhood facilities and physical self-efficacy. These findings have implications for the development of environmental optimization strategies of public service facilities to promote physical self-efficacy among older adults.

Reimagining Housing During Reentry: A Process Evaluation of the Village of Hope Transitional Housing Program

ABSTRACT Village of Hope Transitional Housing Program is the first tiny home housing program in the United States for formerly incarcerated individuals. Unlike traditional congregate shelters, Village of Hope provides participants with individual housing units or “tiny homes,” in a neighborhood-like setting with an autonomous living space, amenities, case management, and referrals to services for up to six months. This process evaluation assesses the early implementation of Village of Hope, examining stakeholder planning and collaboration, program construction, and participant needs and perceptions. The study employs qualitative research methods to understand the major hurdles of implementing this housing model and the initial strides in easing reentry challenges for previously incarcerated individuals who would be experiencing homelessness. Findings reveal the achievements and challenges of implementing a tiny home program for the reentry population and are divided into six themes which outline the importance of public buy-in, program construction planning, autonomous housing benefits, service delivery, community engagement, and stakeholder collaboration. This paper concludes with recommendations for future tiny home programs designed for this population.

Identification and analysis of influencing factors of multidimensional health poverty in rural areas of Northwest China

Poverty alleviation remains an urgent issue in China’s rural areas, with health poverty being a critical dimension. This study analyzed the multidimensional health poverty status of 9,052 rural residents in Ningxia in 2019 and 7,910 in 2022, aiming to provide a reference for optimizing health poverty alleviation strategies. The A-F dual cutoff method was used to identify and measure multidimensional health poverty through dimensions such as health status, health service utilization capacity poverty, and health spending and security poverty. Logistic regression analysis was further applied to examine the influencing factors of multidimensional health poverty. The results indicate that when the k-value is set at 0.3, the incidence of multidimensional health poverty was 22.3% in 2019 and 7.7% in 2022. The corresponding multidimensional health poverty indices were 0.091 and 0.028, respectively. Furthermore, the level of multidimensional health poverty was higher among women than men. Chronic diseases were identified as a significant indicator of multidimensional health poverty. At the individual level, gender, age, education, government subsidies, family size, housing, and digital divide significantly effected health poverty. Although multidimensional health poverty has improved in rural northwest China, targeted measures remain essential, especially for rural women, individuals with chronic illnesses, and those facing challenges in accessing healthcare and digital connectivity. Sustainable multidimensional health poverty alleviation should prioritize remote rural areas, especially by enhancing healthcare resource utilization for rural women and individuals with chronic diseases. Additionally, increasing medical subsidies for marginalized groups is essential. Improving rural housing conditions, strengthening digital infrastructure, and raising digital health literacy are also critical steps.

Insights from large‐scale shake table testing: Key criticisms and potential solutions

AbstractThis article presents the authors' experience with large‐scale shaking table tests conducted in Japan using the E‐Defense shaking table. The discussion focuses on four criticisms often addressed regarding the utilities of large‐scale shaking table tests. Potential solutions to mitigate such criticisms are discussed based on shaking table tests conducted for a pair of three‐story wooden houses. The first criticism is that the test specimen anchored rigidly to a rigid shaking table is not a reproduction of actual structures supported by soils and foundations. A model ground was developed in a large sandbox, which occupied about 85% of the total specimen weight, supported the house, and the entire soil‐structure system was shaken. Considerable sliding occurred, having lessened the earthquake forces exerted and resultant damage to the superstructure. The second criticism is that a single specimen test, regardless of its size, cannot provide sufficient information for generalizing the behavior and performance. Empirical equations between the maximum story drift and the change in the natural frequency were developed from a series of shaking table tests. Using such empirical equations might promote quick damage assessment of individual houses when suffering from actual earthquakes. The third criticism is the importance of public appeal and eventual support from the general public to secure the budget to operate large‐scale testing facilities. The example test featured two nearly identical specimens placed on the table with different support conditions. The apparent difference in response revealed the effect of support conditions on seismic performance. The fourth criticism is the importance of increasing the number of experimental projects to balance the operation budget. Most of the preparation in the example test was accomplished in an open yard adjacent to the shaking table, and the test specimens were quickly assembled on the table using indoor cranes. The table occupation was four out of 35 weeks of the entire test duration.