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Electrification of homes is a critical part of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, space constraints, installation complexity, and the potential impact on energy costs slows the pace of retrofit electrification efforts. Also, the addition of electrical circuits for heat pumps and the increased household electrical demand often necessitates electrical panel upgrades, which increases costs and slows installation. Multi-Function Heat Pumps (MFHPs) use a single compressor to provide heating, cooling, and domestic hot water (DHW) –which represent the most intensive thermal loads of a home –and can ease the process of retrofit electrification. MFHPs are potentially more economical than typical split HVAC heat pumps (HPs) and heat pump water heaters(HPWHs), as they consolidate systems, require fewer circuits, streamline installation, and enable efficiency opportunities, such as recovering waste heat from cooling to heat DHW. The current study evaluates one MFHP product, a split HP with indirect water heater and ducted air handler, using a low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant (R454B). This MFHP has a unique defrost operation that pulls heat from the DHW tank instead of the indoor air, which avoids cold drafts on occupants. This allows for better thermal comfort without requiring an electrical resistance backup heater and costly panel upgrades. The MFHP was installed in two low-income apartments, evaluated for ease of installation, and monitored through the heating season to assess reliability, energy efficiency, and performance.

Post-earthquake recovery simulation is crucial for resilient community planning, and different interconnected factors are required to be considered holistically. To identify the key infrastructural characteristics affecting the recovery of densely populated urban residential communities (URCs) in China, a comprehensive methodology for resilience assessment and analysis is established on a systematic integration of multiple analysis tools (e.g. population-based functionality indicators, post-earthquake recovery simulations, and infrastructural dependence analyses). The methodology can consider the dependence among residential buildings, supporting buildings, and utility networks, as well as the relationships between their functionalities and resident outmigration; it also includes infrastructural repair sequences to allow flexible repair plans to be simulated. A case study is employed to conduct a factor analysis to clarify the impacts of three important infrastructural characteristics. Results show that improvements on the seismic performance of residential buildings facilitate recovery more significantly than utility networks, and the use of redundant utility pipelines can hardly impact the recovery of URCs. In long-term community recoveries, utility networks play more important role due to the cascading effects arising from the extension of repair durations. The proposed methodology can promote the understanding of community recovery, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of identifying key factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

\nSUMMARYThis research was conducted as part of an action research project supporting intersectoral care experiments in Flanders for minors in residential care. This article details some of the questions the stakeholders in this project had at the start of such a project, as well as the results from a scoping literature review conducted to answer these questions. This scoping literature review was conducted on four databases, returning 23 articles providing information on the effects of, good practices of, or barriers for intersectoral care for looked-after minors. Results show that research on this specific topic for this population is scarce, mostly qualitative, and mostly from the perspective of staff rather than clients. Reports on the effects of intersectoral initiatives seem cautiously encouraging. Many possible obstacles for coordinated or shared care have been identified, with difficulties in communication, information sharing and lack of shared vision as prominent ones. Many potentially good practices have however also been identified in this review that can help collaborative partners overcome several of the barriers. Intersectoral collaboration in the care for minors in residential settings seems to have positive effects like better permanency and staff wellbeingGood practices include getting to know people working in other sectors and having formal proceduresJoint case planning, intersectoral training and consultation options can lead to familiarity with people in other sectorsLack of communication and disagreements about decision making are frequently mentioned as hindering intersectoral care in this populationIntersectoral collaboration in the care for minors in residential settings seems to have positive effects like better permanency and staff wellbeingGood practices include getting to know people working in other sectors and having formal proceduresJoint case planning, intersectoral training and consultation options can lead to familiarity with people in other sectorsLack of communication and disagreements about decision making are frequently mentioned as hindering intersectoral care in this population [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staff turnover in youth residential treatment centers (RTC) has immense potential to disrupt the therapeutic environment and prompt an increase in mistrust, aggressive and anti-therapeutic behaviors, and feelings of abandonment and worthlessness among residents. The current study examined factors associated with intent to leave the workplace at an RTC in the southeastern United States, focusing on staff role and identity presentation and their effects on workplace culture and climate. Results suggest that indicated job satisfaction, burnout, and perceptions of culture and climate are the best predictors of turnover and retention. Dimensions of culture and climate were rated lower by specific underrepresented minority groups in the organization, highlighting the importance of the agency's imperative to protect racial, sexual, and gender minority groups to promote retention and a diverse workforce reflecting the demographics of the youth it serves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered how people work, with an increasing number transitioning to working from home (WFH). This paradigm shift has raised various challenges in adapting living spaces to meet the needs of remote work. Dedicated workspaces or home offices need to be customized for creativity and productivity. Thus, this systematic literature review explores the potential challenges and limitations of implementing modern office design features in residential environments. The study synthesizes findings from 108 peer-reviewed articles published within the last decade, focusing on ergonomics, productivity, work–life balance, and spatial constraints. The study found several challenges in translating office design features to home settings. Firstly, spatial limitations in residential areas often restrict the implementation of open-plan layouts and collaborative zones, which are hallmarks of modern office designs. Secondly, the integration of ergonomic furniture and adjustable workstations are limited by budget constraints and the dual-purpose nature of many home spaces. Furthermore, the review highlights the psychological challenges of maintaining work–life boundaries when professional and personal spaces overlap. Noise pollution and distractions emerge as significant factors impacting productivity in home offices, which contrasts controlled modern office environments. The review suggests that the complete replication of modern office design in homes may be impractical; a hybrid approach that adapts key features to residential constraints could enhance home office productivity. Potential solutions could include modular furniture designs, the simulation of collaborative spaces, and the development of noise-cancelling technologies specifically for home environments. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on remote work environments and provides valuable insights for enhancing work–life balance, environmental sustainability, and economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The care and services offered in the treatment of active military personnel and veterans with PTSD take a variety of forms, ranging from residential to outpatient treatment programs. The differences in the organization of care between these programs make comparisons difficult; however, an intermediate alternative exists in the form of intensive outpatient programs (IOPs), whose organization and range of care are closer to that offered in residential programs. This review compares and evaluates the effectiveness of residential programs to that of IOPs in the treatment of PTSD in active military personnel and veterans. Nine databases were searched from September/November 2022 to include primary studies evaluating the treatment of PTSD in active military personnel and veterans in residential programs and IOPs. Results were summarized in a narrative synthesis. A meta-analysis using a random effects model examined changes in standardized mean differences in PTSD symptom scores at baseline and discharge. Thirty-two studies in 41 publications were included. There was a notable decrease in PTSD symptom scores at the end of treatment in both programs, and no significant difference was found between them. However, IOPs effectiveness may be influenced by patient type (active military personnel or veterans). Regardless, our results suggest a positive effect of both types of programs on reducing PTSD symptoms. It is essential to be aware of the constraints inherent in the literature on the subject, including the lack of comparative studies, the potential impact of comorbidities, and the differential response of active military personnel and veterans to similar treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective Methods Results Discussion Perceived burdensomeness (PB) and thwarted belongingness (TB), two proximal risk factors for suicide, may rise during residential eating disorder (ED) treatment when patients are separated from support and face exorbitant costs of care. In this setting, fostering motivation for treatment is challenging, and low motivation for treatment may exacerbate feelings of PB and TB. Simultaneously, PB and TB could reduce motivation for treatment, though no studies have explored this relationship longitudinally. Accordingly, this study examined associations between interpersonal needs (TB, PB) and motivation for treatment across the first 6 weeks of residential ED treatment.Participants (n = 98) completed the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ) and rated treatment motivation weekly. Pearson bivariate correlations examined the relationship between motivation and interpersonal needs at each timepoint. Two autoregressive cross‐lagged panel models (AR‐CLPMs) tested reciprocal relationships between these constructs longitudinally across the first 6 weeks of treatment.Motivation was significantly negatively correlated with PB and TB at all timepoints. In AR‐CLPM 1, Week 2 Motivation predicted Weeks 3 PB, then Week 3 PB predicted Week 4 Motivation. In AR‐CLPM 2, Week 2 TB predicted Week 3 Motivation, but Motivation did not predict TB at any timepoint.This study is the first to examine longitudinal relations between interpersonal needs and treatment motivation in residential ED care. PB and TB may influence one's motivation for treatment, although motivation and PB had a stronger reciprocal relationship than motivation and TB. Interpersonal needs should be addressed early in residential treatment to mitigate negative cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) is rapidly increasing within energy systems worldwide. However, this shift introduces intermittency and uncertainty on the supply side. To hedge against RES intermittency, demand-side flexibility introduces a practical solution. Therefore, further studies are required to unleash demand-side flexibility in power systems. This flexibility is relevant across various sectors of power systems, including residential, industrial, commercial, and agricultural sectors. This paper reviews the key aspects of demand-side flexibility within the residential sector. To achieve this objective, a general introduction to demand flexibility across the four sectors is provided. As a contribution of this paper, and in comparison with previous studies, household appliances are classified based on their flexibility and controllability. The flexibility potential of key residential demands, including heat pumps, district heating, electric vehicles, and battery systems, is then reviewed. Another contribution of this paper is the exploration of demand-side flexibility scheduling under uncertainty, examining three approaches: stochastic programming, robust optimization, and information-gap decision theory. Additionally, the integration of demand flexibility into short-term electricity markets with high-RES penetration is discussed. Finally, the key objective functions and simulation software used in the study of demand-side flexibility are reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe mainly at winter season the PM levels exceed air quality limits, which correlated with the operation of solid-fired boilers. More and more people are returning to using these devices due to energy shortage caused by the pandemic and regional conflicts. In addition, the phenomena of co-burning fuels and municipal waste in residential boilers in primarily fuel poverty households increases further the amount of pollutants in the atmosphere. This study aims to correlate the quantity and quality of air pollutants with the type of fuel (wood and wastes) burned. Combustion experiments were conducted using oak fuel mixed with three waste groups: (1) plastics (PP, HDPE, PET); (2) textiles (polyester—PES, cotton—COT); and (3) papers (cardboard—CARD, glossy coated paper—GCP, 84C/PAP). The addition of waste to wood fuel altered the morphology of emitted particles. While waste burning doesn't always increase particle quantity, it significantly raises PAH concentrations. A strong relationship exists between waste type, particle morphology, and PAH quality, where with lower molecular weight PAHs linked to tar agglomerates and higher ones to soot agglomerates with inorganic crystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: This study aims to develop a database of existing academic information in house purchase decision (HPD) using systematic literature review (SLR), to facilitate worldwide advancement of research under HPD domain. Design/methodology/approach: This research examined papers from two reputable databases – Scopus and Google Scholar – from 1992 to 2022 using a scoping review technique (Arksey and O'Malley, 2005) and a theme analysis method. Out of 374, 181 articles fit the inclusion parameters and were evaluated using the theme analysis approach. Findings: Data from 181 articles was evaluated thematically to create a thematic map of HPD research. Five main themes and their sub-themes were identified: consumer behaviour, housing attributes, factors influencing purchasing decisions, investment analysis and demographics, which proved essential in understanding HPD and customer preferences for house purchase. Practical implications: Data from 181 articles were evaluated thematically to create a thematic map of HPD research. This SLR intends to provide useful new insights on consumer concerns about home purchases in the rapidly developing residential real estate market and the issues that marketers, housing sector stakeholders, real estate industry and existing and future researchers should prioritize. Originality/value: This research is unique such that it is the only 30-year-long SLR on the subject matter of HPD. This paper makes a significant contribution to residential real estate domain signifying the present state of research in HPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In Europe mainly at winter season the PM levels exceed air quality limits, which correlated with the operation of solid-fired boilers. More and more people are returning to using these devices due to energy shortage caused by the pandemic and regional conflicts. In addition, the phenomena of co-burning fuels and municipal waste in residential boilers in primarily fuel poverty households increases further the amount of pollutants in the atmosphere. This study aims to correlate the quantity and quality of air pollutants with the type of fuel (wood and wastes) burned. Combustion experiments were conducted using oak fuel mixed with three waste groups: (1) plastics (PP, HDPE, PET); (2) textiles (polyester—PES, cotton—COT); and (3) papers (cardboard—CARD, glossy coated paper—GCP, 84C/PAP). The addition of waste to wood fuel altered the morphology of emitted particles. While waste burning doesn't always increase particle quantity, it significantly raises PAH concentrations. A strong relationship exists between waste type, particle morphology, and PAH quality, where with lower molecular weight PAHs linked to tar agglomerates and higher ones to soot agglomerates with inorganic crystals.

Individuals with eating disorders often face difficulty accessing sufficiently intensive, recovery-focused treatment. Residential treatment may fill a gap in the spectrum of care, offering 24-h support in a more home-like environment than a hospital and using a holistic approach including individual and group psychological therapy, meal support, and lived experience staff. As residential treatment has not previously been examined in Australia, the current study aimed to document the development, treatment components, and structure of this first Australian residential service for eating disorders and provide a pilot of its treatment outcomes. Preliminary outcomes are included from a sample of 19 individuals from the first six months of admissions, including eating disorder symptoms, eating disorder-related impairment, anxiety, and depression. Significant pre- to post-treatment improvement was found in total eating disorder psychopathology, dietary restraint, eating concerns, body mass index, eating disorder-related impairment, and depression, but not from pre-treatment to a six-month follow-up. Pilot outcomes were positive at end-of-treatment but require further clinical evaluation to examine follow-up effects. Clinical insights are discussed from the establishment of this new treatment service, including recommendations for clinicians involved in the current roll-out of residential programs across Australia.

The rapid rise in Nigeria's population has led to a corresponding increase in demand for rental housing prompting real estate investors to capitalize on the opportunity by providing private rental housing for the teeming population and offset government's inability to provide adequate accommodation. As the source of income of a rented house is the tenant, it is important for the landlord or his agent to select the possible tenant. The study assessed gender discrimination in the property market of Delta state with a view to promoting equal access to rights and occupation. The study adopts a survey research method. Structured questionnaires were administered to 120 property owners in Elu residential neighborhood, in which 100 was retrieved. Data collected were analysed using Weight Mean Score (WMS) to rank factors influencing gender discrimination. Findings revealed that though important criteria such as economic and financial constraints, socio cultural norms, power dynamics were important factors however demographic factors such as ethnicity, marital status and religion ranked high in order of importance. The study recommends enactment of legislation (policy reform) that is devoid of bias and discrimination, awareness and education through orientation of citizens as well as landlords against any form of discrimination as regards house occupation, community engagement to improve social integration in the rental housing market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic emerged in Wuhan, China, towards the end of 2019 and affected the whole world. People who were confined to their homes for a long time due to the global pandemic, which caused many deaths in the world, connected with the outside world through their balconies. The purpose of this research is to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals' habits of using balconies at their homes. The survey prepared to determine the change in the balcony usage habits of people experiencing the pandemic period in Turkey in 2020-2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic was intense, was applied to 462 people and statistical analyzes were employed. According to the finding; approximately 81% of the participants stated that they spent time on the balcony during the pandemic period, 68% stated that the time spent on the balcony increased, 53% stated that they made changes to their balconies, and 54% stated that spending time on the balcony had a positive effect on the treatment process. 24% of the participants stated that the balconies of their residences were not large enough and comfortable and that they wanted to move to another residence with a balcony of sufficient size and comfort. In this study shows that having balconies of sufficient size and comfort in newly planned residences, the use of furniture on the balcony, and the production of ornamental plants will provide a great advantage in psychologically recovering from future epidemics and in establishing connections with the outdoors for people who have to stay in quarantine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native ecosystem and biodiversity loss from land use conversion into human‐modified landscapes are evident in the United States and globally. In addition to public land conservation, there is an increase in private land conservation through conservation easements (CEs) across exurban landscapes. Not every CE was established strictly for biodiversity protection and permitted land uses can increase human modification. No research of which we are aware has examined the actual tax assessor's land use designations (LUDs) through time. We constructed granular CE datasets (GCED) of CEs and their parcels' tax assessment LUDs for 1997–2008/2009, based on original data from 12 counties in six US states. Using the GCED, we examined patterns in the LUDs, with implications for land uses that could impact CE biological outcomes. We show that LUDs on exurban private conservation lands were predominately residential and agricultural, with increased residential over time. Critically, the LUDs lack a biological conservation exempt designation/category. There is no consistent trend in association between the primary CE reason and its parcel's LUD, suggesting that they coincide in some circumstances but in others, the CE may be a response to contravene the LUD. The majority of the first CE reasons are focused on open space preservation, except in some counties where agricultural land uses and agricultural CEs are associated. The economically and human‐focused LUD is one of many social factors that should be considered in a classification system for private land conservation and CEs more specifically. These results prompt the land conservation, conservation biology, and environmental planning communities to explore assessed land uses' impact on biodiversity conservation objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a unique dataset of land parcels and forest cover, before and after subdivision development, to examine outcomes of Maryland's Forest Conservation Act (FCA). Focusing on the spatial configuration of homes and forests, we compare subdivisions created before and after FCA implementation in 1993. We found minimal impacts of FCA on forest outcomes we considered: houses were as likely to be built in forest before and after FCA, and forest metrics showed increasing fragmentation with development unchanged by FCA regulation. However, the FCA led to a greater proportion of forest located away from houses after development. Other regulatory efforts, particularly zoning and riparian buffer regulations, were consistently related to outcomes we studied. FCA has been successful in preserving forest cover, but a stronger emphasis on connectivity and conservation of large forest patches, particularly for parcels with extensive forest cover, will be helpful in reducing fragmentation and disturbance with development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There is a growing interest in assessing the benefits of exposure to urban greenspace on mental health due to the increased urbanization of youth and concerns for their mental health. We investigated the prospective associations of residential greenspace in childhood and mental health in adolescence. Use of a well-characterized birth cohort permitted adjustment for a range of potential confounding factors including family and neighborhood characteristics in addition to prior mental health problems, and exploration of moderation effects by sex and family socioeconomic status. Methods: We analyzed longitudinal data collected from 742 urban-dwelling participants of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Children Development. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within 250, 500, and 1000 m buffer zones surrounding the home residence was used to indicate childhood exposure to greenspace. Six self-reported mental health problems at 15/17 years were examined using the Mental Health and Social Inadaptation questionnaire: inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, conduct, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Results: Childhood urban greenspace was associated with lower inattention problems in both females and males. We observed a 0.14 reduced standard deviation (SD) (β = − 0.14, SE = 0.05, p < 0.01) in relation to an interquartile range (IQR) increase of NDVI (0.15) at the 250 m buffer zone, and similar results were found in 500 m and 1000 m buffer zones. These associations only slightly attenuated after adjustment for individual (sex, childhood mental health), family (family SES, maternal age at birth, parental mental health, family composition), and neighborhood (material and social deprivation) characteristics (β = − 0.13, SE = 0.06, p = 0.03). No association was found for other mental health problems, and no moderation associations of sex or family socioeconomic status were observed. Conclusion: These findings suggest that increasing residential greenspace in cities may be associated with modest benefits in attentional capacities in youth, necessitating further research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residential large urban developments are the dominant mode of housing development in many cities around the world. They introduce new technologies to the residential setting that reshape the dwelling experience. Using digital ethnography and in-depth interviews with residents of three residential large urban developments at the center of Israel, this paper portrays how the digital dimension is embedded in and reshapes the performance and experience of the housing environment. We argue the centrality of the digital dimension to the emergence of a distinctly different dwelling experience and the transformation of residential power relations in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the financial feasibility of rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse in a multifamily building located in Florianópolis, Brazil. A building, consisting of two blocks with 60 flats each, was chosen to obtain data about the number of residents, building characteristics, potable water consumption, and rainwater and greywater demands (obtained by means of questionnaires and water measurements). The financial feasibility analyses considered rainwater and greywater systems separately and together. The impact on the urban stormwater drainage system was evaluated through the reduction of stormwater runoff. The energy consumption in the operational phase of each system was estimated through the amount of energy consumed by the motor pumps to supply one cubic meter of water. The potential for potable water savings through the use of rainwater—that supplies water for washing machines—was approximately 6.9%. The potential for potable water savings through the use of greywater—that supplies water to toilets—was approximately 5.7%. Both systems were feasible. The payback period for rainwater harvesting systems ranged from 57 to 76 months. For greywater systems, the payback period ranged from 127 to 159 months. When considering both systems working together, the payback period ranged from 89 to 132 months. The rainwater harvesting system can reduce 11.8% the stormwater volume destined to the urban stormwater drainage system in relation to the current contribution volume. Energy consumption was approximately 0.56 kWh/m3 of treated water for the rainwater harvesting system and 0.89 kWh/m3 of treated water for the greywater system. Rainwater and greywater were considered economically feasible, especially for higher inflation scenarios. Furthermore, such systems are interesting alternatives in terms of impacts considering urban drainage and energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities support abundant human and wildlife populations that are shaped indirectly and directly by human decisions, often resulting in unequal access to environmental services and accessible open spaces. Urban land cover drives biodiversity patterns across metropolitan areas, but at smaller scales that matter to local residents, neighborhood socio‐cultural factors can influence the presence and abundance of wildlife. Neighborhood income is associated with plant and animal diversity in some cities, but the influence of other social variables is less well understood, especially across desert ecosystems. We explored wildlife distribution across gradients of neighborhood ethnicity in addition to income and landscape characteristics within residential areas of metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Utilizing data from 38 wildlife cameras deployed in public parks and undeveloped open spaces within or near suburban neighborhoods, we estimated occupancy and activity patterns of common mammal species, including species native to the Sonoran Desert (coyote [Canis latrans] and desert cottontail rabbit [Sylvilagus audubonii]), and non‐native domestic cat (Felis catus). Neighborhood ethnicity (percentage of Latino residents) appeared to exhibit a negative relationship with occupancy for coyotes and cottontail rabbits. Additionally, daily activity patterns of coyotes occurred later in the evenings and mornings in neighborhoods with higher proportions of Latino residents, but activity was unaffected by differences in neighborhood income. This study is one of the first to show that social‐ecological mechanisms associated with patterns of neighborhood ethnicity as well as income may help to shape wildlife distribution in cities. These findings have implications for equitable management and provisioning of ecosystem services for urban residents and highlight the importance of considering a range of social covariates to better understand biodiversity outcomes in urban and urbanizing areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanisation today is a continuous process that results in people being attracted to urban areas for a better lifestyle. Therefore, the demand for residential land in urban areas is prominent. Especially in Sri Lanka, many problems related to infrastructure, social, economic, and environmental aspects have arisen due to not adopting the most effective measures in the creation of planned cities. The objective of this study is to develop a Geographical Information System based model to assess suitable areas for residential land development within the Galle Municipal Council area. GIS-AHP is the most effective tool in the analysis of spatial data in the study and it provides a clear approach to multi-criteria evaluation and suitability analysis. Suitability analysis was done under five main steps which included Selection, Scoring, Weighting using AHP, and Creation of a Suitability Map and GIS Model. These methods have become the most prominent system in the global spatial decision-making and decision-making process. MCDA is a general procedure for comparing and evaluating any criteria used. The study results have been shown that 0.33 Km2 of the total land area was found as highly suitable areas and 0.49 Km2 as not suitable areas. Almost half of the total area is moderately suitable areas which are 6.80 Km2. By weighting the criteria and with the help of GIS models, it can be revealed that 3.06 Km2 of land in the entire study area is highly suitable for the development of residential areas. It was assessed to what extent the contributions of the selected criteria are useful in identifying suitable areas for residential land development in the Galle Municipal Council area. The findings of this study will be useful not only to prospective residents but also to many stakeholders involved in real estate development and commercial activities. Not only that, such a methodology has a high potential to be adopted in other areas of Sri Lanka and will be a more effective and useful guide for city planners, decision-makers, and architects for future planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birds are a prominent component of urban biodiversity yet many species, particularly forest-dependent birds, are vulnerable to landscape transformation. We examined the relative influence of three factors that potentially influence forest bird communities in residential areas of Melbourne, Australia: (i) local habitat attributes; (ii) types of land use; and (iii) biotic interactions with an aggressive native species, the noisy miner (Manorina melanocephala). We also investigated characteristics of urban sites that contribute most to landscape-level diversity of forest species. We systematically surveyed forest birds at 300 sites in a range of urban land-uses; with sites clustered in 30 landscapes representing gradients in housing cover and tree cover. Composition and richness of forest bird communities differed among land-use types: sites with greater cover of native canopy trees had a distinct and richer avifauna. However, a pervasive influence on communities was the relative abundance of the noisy miner, a native species that aggressively excludes small insectivores. Sites in native vegetation made the greatest contribution to landscape-level richness of forest birds, but also were negatively influenced by noisy miner occurrence. The dominance of the noisy miner poses a challenge for conservation because actions to improve urban habitat for forest species may also benefit this aggressive species. Conservation of forest birds will depend on larger forest tracts, fringing residential areas, which are less suitable for the noisy miner and serve as potential source populations for forest species. Within residential areas, enhancing understorey complexity with native shrubs and mid-storey will help improve urban habitats for forest birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development is considered as one of the cardinal measures of the state of an environment with an important aim of ensuring adequate land use without compromising future needs. However, despite efforts by statutory body on controlling the use of land through sustainable practices such as zoning, environmental conservation, land related issues still persists. The study assessed sustainable development practice of private residential land in Ondo state in order to enhance its suitability to the environment. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from landowners in Ipinsa, Ilara-Mokin and Ibule-Soro areas of Ondo state, Nigeria. The obtained information was examined using Weighted Mean Score, Logistic Regression, Factor Analysis and Thematic Analysis. Weighted Mean Score is used to determine the probability associated with a particular event with its associated quantitative outcome. The findings of this study show that emergence of adjoining land use, unguided market price, emergence of small illegal development amongst others were activities found on residential land in the study area. Therefore, this study recommends the need for policy/guidelines on controlling the intense use of land for environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enable net zero sustainable thermal building energy, this study develops an open-source thermal house model to couple solar photovoltaic (PV) and heat pumps (HPs) for grid-connected residential housing. The calculation of both space heating and cooling thermal loads and the selection of HP is accomplished with a validated Python model for air-source heat pumps. The capacity of PV required to supply the HPs is calculated using a System Advisor Model integrated Python model. Self-sufficiency and self-consumption of PV and the energy imported/exported to the grid for a case study are provided, which shows that simulations based on the monthly load profile have a significant reduction of 43% for energy sent to/from the grid compared to the detailed hourly simulation and an increase from 30% to 60% for self-consumption and self-sufficiency. These results show the importance of more granular modeling and also indicate mismatches of PV generation and HP load based on hourly simulation datasets. The back-calculation PV sizing algorithm combined with HP and thermal loads presented in this study exhibited robust performance. The results indicate this approach can be used to accelerate the solar electrification of heating and cooling to offset the use of fossil fuels in northern climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective mitigation of the health impacts of radon exposure begins with accurate measurement of this environmental contaminant. Typically, radon surveys require measurements over a period of several months. This process involves the application of temporal correction factors (TCF). Disparities in indoor radon concentration (IRC) are evident across building types. While the integrated technique has traditionally been considered the most reliable for measuring IRC, the active method is becoming more prevalent due to the availability of commercial radon measurement instruments. The aim of this study is to compare IRC using passive (CR-39) and active (ICA device) methods across 69 indoor spaces, including 35 workplaces and 34 residential buildings. The investigation was conducted over a span of one year and included 966 CR-39 detectors that were replaced every 3 and 6 months, respectively, to assess seasonal fluctuations and facilitate the computation of TCF. Statistically significant differences in IRC were observed between residential and workplace buildings (p

The retro interior style is about the 1940′s glamor and the end of World War II, often refers to the design period roughly between the 1950s and the 1970s. The Retro movement rehashed styles produced since the Industrial Revolution. Designers coordinate retro designs with a wide variation of interior design and furniture styles, including rustic, contemporary , and industrial design. Designers use the term "Retro style" to characterize styles that have been created or inspired from the past. Designers nowadays create a link between styles and designs, to move away from the idea of pure design, which on its own can become impersonal and boring, so its boring to have interior space with only retro design, but can be unique to have a piece of retro furniture antique to enrich your space. It is meant to be nostalgic and looks to an elegant time in history which influences users. Modern retro interior design is a term used by interior designer to describe an eclectic mix of vintage and contemporary features, so mix elements from different times, creating a time link from the past to the present. Retro furniture greatly differs from most modern furniture; They are bright and colorful, with unique shapes. Iconic pieces often define an era and play an important role in characterizing the interior space, so the designer must be wise in choosing this unique piece of furniture. The aim of this thoughts is to evoke pleasant memories, in order to create a familiar interior space for user.

The research objective of the article was to assess the potential of residential property in Poland as an inflation hedge investment. The study was conducted using innovative measures of the level of inflation hedging. The study was made for Poland’s six largest local residential markets, for two types of investments, for different investment horizons (from 6 to 15 years). The research period adopted was: 3Q2006-4Q2022. In all cities, investments providing only capital gains allowed an attractive inflation hedging level to be achieved. Investments that additionally included rental offered a high inflation hedging level. The variation in the six cities studied in terms of inflation hedging through housing investment was found to be very low. The question of how extending the investment horizon affected the inflation hedging ability was not firmly answered. Frequently, the extension of the investment horizon has been accompanied by an increase in the level of hedging.

This study of the openings in ancient Egyptian residential architecture, which is limited survival monuments we have to, describes precisely what it was when compared to funerary and religious architecture, was a fleeting plant and clay architecture that was unreliable to survive. As a result of his strong belief in life after death and that it is the longest and eternal surviving life, this is reflected in his interest in the immortality of religious and funerary buildings. And yet I got his attention in study and design and it contained important symbolic values, this prompted us to look for the models that the ancient Egyptian left behind to help complete the design image. and looking for different factors behind the different design of windows and doors from place to place, Hence, the study aims to describe and analyse the openings in ancient Egyptian architecture in terms of windows, entrances and doors because of their aesthetic and functional importance, as well as their symbolic values. in addition to its expression in the ancient Egyptian language and what the words refer to and its association with the form expressed in hieroglyphic writing, As the location of the openings varies, their role and design differs in terms of the elements and foundations of the design used in each of them, and what is actually expressed in some graphic shapes by comparing them to the real models that have been found, though fewer in number. As an attempt to get a picture that comes close to perfection and truth whenever possible, the study will be based on the work that describes the façades of palaces as in the Horsi name of kings and the depiction of houses and palaces on the walls of graves or papyri and some of the few models that survived to tell us what these vents were like, With description and analysis, it is possible to determine the design data, what the designer has achieved, its relevance to the nature of the building used, the symbols used and their connotations, and the interpretation of some shapes and materials.

Objectives: Veterans with substance use disorder (SUD) can show high severity and are at high risk of relapse due to trauma histories and other comorbid conditions. However, evidence-based SUD therapies may not be available to many veterans due to geographic or transportation constraints. Telehealth approaches have shown promise to improve access to different SUD therapy formats but have not been well-studied in open (rolling-admission) group therapy of in-person patients as administered by a single on-screen therapist. Methods: Social distancing required by the COVID-19 pandemic forced the transition of delivery of Transcending Self Therapy (TST) from an in-person therapist to a single remote (on-screen) therapist. In this virtual model, veterans continued to receive TST but the therapist was off site and provided therapy to veterans who were together in the same room during a 28 day residential Veterans Affairs treatment program. In a program evaluation, we compared their changes in quality of life (QoL), treatment satisfaction ratings and group therapy treatment outcomes with those of Veterans who received TST from an in-person therapist. Results: In both groups, there was a significant increase in QoL Inventory scores from baseline to post-treatment, with no difference in improvement between treatment modalities (i.e., in-person group vs telehealth-delivered group). Veterans professed knowledge of therapy-driven skills at the end of treatment in both groups and overwhelmingly rated TST as helpful and understandable. Conclusions: These data extend previous findings of patient acceptability of remotely-delivered SUD treatment, here with a remote therapist administering open group therapy, as evidenced by improvement in QoL and positive patient feedback about the remote intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study utilized a qualitative approach to learn about a co-educational housing pilot program in a rural serving, four-year regional university in the mid-south United States. Four individuals involved in the program took part in semi-structured interviews. Open coding analysis revealed four themes: sense of belonging, learning, gender and sexuality, and secrets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting urban-scale carbon emissions (CEs) is crucial in drawing implications for various urgent environmental issues, including global warming. However, prior studies have overlooked the impact of the micro-level street environment, which might lead to biased prediction. To fill this gap, we developed an effective machine learning (ML) framework to predict neighborhood-level residential CEs based on a single data source, street view images (SVIs), which are publicly available worldwide. Specifically, more than 30 streetscape elements were classified from SVIs using semantic segmentation to describe the micro-level street environment, whose visual features can indicate major socioeconomic activities that significantly affect residential CEs. A ten-fold cross-validation was deployed to train ML models to predict the residential CEs at the 1 km grid level. We found, first, that random forest (R2 = 0.8) outperforms many traditional models, confirming that visual features are non-negligible in explaining CEs. Second, more building, wall, and fence views indicate higher CEs. Third, the presence of trees and grass is inversely related to CEs. Our findings justify the feasibility of using SVIs as a single data source to effectively predict neighborhood-level residential CEs. The framework is applicable to large regions across diverse urban forms, informing urban planners of sustainable urban form strategies to achieve carbon-neutral goals, especially for the development of new towns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youth who are involved with the adoption and foster care systems report notable rates of complex trauma responses associated with their developmental experiences, which can have deleterious implications for well-being across the lifespan. We implemented a retrospective quasi-experimental non-inferiority evaluation design using a frequency matching approach to estimate the degree of differential treatment effects reported by youth who completed a Developmental Trauma and Attachment Program protocol in its standard (DTAP) or abbreviated (DTAP-A) format at a long-term residential care facility located in the Midwestern United States. Program completers were 28 youth (Mage = 12.39) who predominately identified as female (n = 23, 82%) with Caucasian/White (n = 12, 43%) or Multiracial (n = 10, 35%) racial identities. Analyses of scores on the UCLA Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Reaction Index and Behavior Assessment System for Children (3rd ed.) did not identify any statistical or practical significance between DTAP and DTAP-A program completers self-reported treatment gains. However, DTAP program completers tended to report clinically significant changes in posttraumatic stress disorder and personal adjustment to greater degrees when compared to those completing the DTAP-A protocol. Implications for increasing access, resource management, and supporting a continuum of care approach are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Point and level (P&L) systems are commonly used for behavior management and modification in youth residential treatment centers. In 2019, the Association of Children's Residential Centers (ACRC) released a position paper urging youth residential programs to abolish prescriptive, universally applied point and level systems because they are inconsistent with the principles of trauma-sensitive care and can be counterproductive to treatment. Despite this, few residential agencies have executed this change, possibly due to the complexities of dismantling long-held practices, concerns about youth safety, and lack of knowledge about other trauma-sensitive approaches. In this case study, we describe how one agency de-implemented its universal P&L system across three residential campuses, replacing it with the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) and Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS). An analysis of administrative data before and after the removal of P&L suggests no evidence of increased safety risk for youth or staff. We discuss the agency's strategies for de-implementation and the determinants that helped and hindered the process and provide recommendations for other residential agencies seeking to make this change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water security has become a critical issue worldwide in the 21st century due to rapid population growth, urbanization, and climate change. These factors have affected water availability, particularly for domestic consumption, leading to a potential water crisis. To better understand the factors affecting water security among various income groups and explore water consumption patterns, a study was conducted using a multiple regression model. The dependent variable was water security, and the independent variables were based on socioeconomic characteristics. A total of 571 residents from Malaysia's higher-income, middle-income, and lowest-income groups participated in the study. The study found that several factors significantly influenced water security, including race, household size, type of house, education, and income. In Johor, household size, type of house, and income explained 65% of the variance in water security for the overall income group. In Terengganu, race, type of house, education, and income explained 96% of the variance in water security for the overall income group. The variable income had a significant relationship with water security, with approximately 0.01% and 0.05% in Johor and 0.10% in Terengganu. These results indicate that socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in water security for both indoor and outdoor activities. Access to water is a basic need that affects the quality of life, especially for drinking water. Therefore, these findings are essential for water operators to manage and educate households through campaigns on sustainable water use and conservation. The lack of availability and access to basic water impedes individuals and communities from achieving a greater quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents part of the research from a 2019 project in Czechia's residential educational facilities for children with emotional and behavioral disorders. The high prevalence of drug use among these adolescents has a cumulative set of harms to health. The main research objective was to examine the prevalence of substance use among adolescent girls and boys living in residential educational facilities. The auxiliary research objective was to compare its results with the ESPAD (2015 and 2019) survey of the general Czech adolescent mainstream population. The sample consisted of 204 respondents aged 15-19 years. The primary data collection instrument was the ESPAD questionnaire. The analysis of the collected data was carried out using SPSS software. The findings arrived from statistical procedures such as descriptive data analysis and various statistical methods. Data from ESPAD research (2015, 2019) was selected for analytical comparisons. The findings indicate a high prevalence of drug use among the study group of adolescents in residential education facilities and a high majority of selected substance use in comparison with the results found in the ESPAD (2015, 2019) study in the general school population of Czechia. The findings support a systemic focus on the prevention of health risks, harm reduction, as well as the treatment of substance use disorder among adolescents. Data on the incidence and prevalence of substance use should be regularly collected and evaluated in these facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study extends the limited research on predictors of completion of adolescent residential drug and alcohol program. A Queensland, Australia, five-bed state-wide voluntary adolescent drug and alcohol withdrawal service collected routine clinical pre-entry data over a period of 9 years (2000–2009) on 524 subjects. Potential predictors of program completion included socio-demographic, family functioning, past mental health history, mental health problems on admission, and patterns of drug use variables. The chi-square analysis identified significant predictors with subsequent multivariate logistic regression modeling. Given the loss of data, additional multiple imputation logistic regression analysis was utilized. Initial predictors were aged 17 and over; a past history of psychiatric treatment or violence or assault; mental health problems identified on entry; absence of current alcohol use or ecstasy use. After regression and multiple imputation modeling, predictors were a history of psychiatric treatment and of violence/assault. A history of co-morbidity rather than traditional markers of good outcomes such as sex, ethnic background, income support, and housing support predicted program retention. The study reinforces the important role of non-substance psychiatry co-morbidity in the treatment of substance use disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing carbon emissions associated with buildings is a top priority for mitigating the human impacts from climate change. Reducing carbon emissions resulting from the manufacturing, designing, constructing, investing, owning, operating, occupying, renovating, and demolishing of buildings is essential to safeguard the environment from negative consequences. This paper relates to the environment and human influence on the climate and addresses the different amounts of embedded carbon for building activities ranging from new buildings to major renovations to minor renovations, using a methodology termed the "whole-life carbon measurement". The data from the case studies indicate that refurbished or renovated buildings exhibit the least carbon footprint compared to other alternatives. This outcome can be attributed to the sustainable practice of reusing materials, coupled with the positive effects of retrofitting. The expectation that refurbished buildings would demonstrate a lower carbon footprint aligns with the principles of sustainability, emphasizing the environmental benefits of repurposing existing structures. While embedded carbon is currently not priced, it is important that it be accurately measured over the entire life cycle of buildings if the real estate industry is to meet sustainability goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tolerance against air pollution in plants depends on the nature of air particles and gases. This study was carried out to determine chemical composition of indoor dust and to assess its impact on the biochemical properties of foliage of Ficus elastica in two households with different characteristics of Delhi (India). The dustfall fluxe data of major cations and anions were analyzed to understand the spatial variations in the chemical composition and sources of the deposited particles onto the foliage. The fluxes of anionic species (SO42− + NO3−) were higher at MH (industrial) site as compared to the DH (residential) site. The physiological response of F. elastica was investigated by studying the biochemical constituents, i.e., ascorbic acid, soluble sugars, carotenoids, and chlorophyll a and b, in foliage and variations with respect to dustfall fluxes of anionic species (SO42− + NO3−) in the households. Higher (SO42− + NO3−) fluxes had noticeable impacts on biochemical constituents of F. elastica indicating indoor air pollution stress. Chemistry of dust particles showed influences from indoor and outdoor anthropogenic activities. The morphological effects of dustfall deposition on the foliage were also studied using SEM–EDX. Indoor plants can serve as a platform to capture dust particles and plant responses are influenced by the chemical composition of deposited dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 'ideal' optimal control of a radiant floor heating system (RFHS) can be achieved when a central controller is fully aware of the interrelationship between the different thermal dynamics of a boiler, radiant floor, and room. This study proposed integrated control strategies that can consider the interaction of heterogeneous RFHSs using a minimalistic approach with minimal data easily available from residential buildings. Three individual artificial neural networks were developed to choreograph the heterogeneous dynamics of the RFHSs for each household. Then, model predictive control was applied to realize the real-time integrated control of the RFHSs in the residential buildings. Approximately 14–46% of heating energy could be saved by integrated control. Moreover, the potential energy saving rate from integrated control varied depending on the degree of human intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Residential is a common treatment setting for youth with high-severity substance use disorders (SUD). This study evaluated the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms and medication for youth in residential SUD treatment. Methods: Youth in Massachusetts state licensed and funded SUD residential programs completed questionnaires assessing demographics, primary substance of use, and psychopathology symptoms (Youth Self Report [YSR]/Adult Self Report [ASR]). De-identified medication lists were provided by the programs. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. Results: Among the 47 youth who participated, 51.1% were male, 72.3% white, 83% non-Hispanic, mean age 20.7 years. Opioids were the most common primary substance identified by youth (51.1%), and 75% had at least one clinically elevated subscale on the YSR/ASR. Most youth were prescribed at least one medication (89.4%) with a mean of 2.9 medications. Conclusion: Youth in SUD residential treatment frequently have clinically elevated psychiatric symptoms, and psychotropic medication was commonly prescribed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) is a toxic metal associated with several health disorders. The mining and Pb battery industry are related to Pb increase in air, water, and soil. Mexico is an important worldwide Pb producer; however, reviews on environmental Pb contamination in Mexico are insufficient. Since Pb remains stable in soil and its concentration is an indicator of Pb exposure, this systematic review focused on reports of Pb concentrations in soil from Mexico published in 2010–2023. The retrieved reports were ordered, and contamination grade and health risk were estimated for location. From 36 retrieved reports, 24 were associated with mining Pb pollution, while a unique report mentioned the battery industry. The publications evaluated mining (13), agricultural (11), and residential (16) soils. Pb concentrations in soil were higher than the allowed limits in more than half of the reports. According to the Pb concentrations in soil, the locations evaluated in Mexico presented a contamination grade from heavily contaminated to extremely contaminated and health risks results suggested severe hazards, particularly for children. This work can guide other researchers to identify potentially contaminated but understudied Mexican locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cities support abundant human and wildlife populations that are shaped indirectly and directly by human decisions, often resulting in unequal access to environmental services and accessible open spaces. Urban land cover drives biodiversity patterns across metropolitan areas, but at smaller scales that matter to local residents, neighborhood socio‐cultural factors can influence the presence and abundance of wildlife. Neighborhood income is associated with plant and animal diversity in some cities, but the influence of other social variables is less well understood, especially across desert ecosystems. We explored wildlife distribution across gradients of neighborhood ethnicity in addition to income and landscape characteristics within residential areas of metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Utilizing data from 38 wildlife cameras deployed in public parks and undeveloped open spaces within or near suburban neighborhoods, we estimated occupancy and activity patterns of common mammal species, including species native to the Sonoran Desert (coyote [Canis latrans] and desert cottontail rabbit [Sylvilagus audubonii]), and non‐native domestic cat (Felis catus). Neighborhood ethnicity (percentage of Latino residents) appeared to exhibit a negative relationship with occupancy for coyotes and cottontail rabbits. Additionally, daily activity patterns of coyotes occurred later in the evenings and mornings in neighborhoods with higher proportions of Latino residents, but activity was unaffected by differences in neighborhood income. This study is one of the first to show that social‐ecological mechanisms associated with patterns of neighborhood ethnicity as well as income may help to shape wildlife distribution in cities. These findings have implications for equitable management and provisioning of ecosystem services for urban residents and highlight the importance of considering a range of social covariates to better understand biodiversity outcomes in urban and urbanizing areas.

Context: Older adults are more susceptible to acute deterioration. Delayed recognition or response is linked to poor health outcomes and adverse events. Identification and management of deterioration is more difficult in this population due to increasingly complex healthcare needs and limited/no healthcare knowledge of some staff. Enhancing ability of care home staff to recognise and communicate concerns could reduce avoidable harm for residents at risk of or experiencing physical deterioration. Objective: To evaluate the implementation of RESTORE2, a physical deterioration and escalation tool, in care homes. Methods: A mixed-methods approach, comprising individual semi-structured interviews and online survey, was used. A total of 35 care home staff from 34 care homes took part in this evaluation. Findings: Implementation of the full RESTORE2 tool was low. Several challenges that impeded successful implementation including complexity, uncertainty over carers’ role in carrying out clinical observations, inadequate training and buy-in from health-service providers, need to be addressed. Nevertheless, some benefits including improved staff knowledge/confidence to identify deterioration, escalate and communicate concerns, as well as potential to reduce unnecessary healthcare utilisation particularly 999 calls and hospital admissions were reported. Limitations: This study was limited by the small sample size of the quantitative phase. The Covid-19 pandemic affected recruitment and engagement with care homes. Implications: RESTORE2 has a long way to go to become a common language in social care. Collaboration between health professionals and care staff is important for RESTORE2 to become embedded into practice. Further quantitative and qualitative research is required to strengthen the evidence base.