Factors influencing high-rise gated community collective action effectiveness: Conceptualization of the Social-Ecological System (SES) framework

Managing common property in gated communities is challenging. Although numerous studies have demonstrated that there are several determinants of collective action effectiveness and performances in gated communities, empirical research drawing on a multidimensional social-ecological system (SES) framework in quantitatively exploring relationships between institutional– physical–social factors and gated community collective action remains lacking. Therefore, based on Ostrom’s social-ecological system (SES) framework, this study attempts to identify factors influencing the self-organizing system (collective action) of gated communities in China. Using stratified purposive sampling, ten gated communities with various characteristics in the Taigu district were selected, in which questionnaires were then distributed to 414 households to collect valid data within the communities. Taking the ridge regression as a more robust predictive SES model with a penalty value of k = 0.1 and regularization, R Square of 0.882, this study, among 14 factors, ultimately identified six key institutional–social–ecological factors based on the descending standardized effect size, and they are: (i) types of community, (ii) presence of leaders, (iii) exclusiveness systems of a gated community, (iv) age of gated community, (v) strict enforcement of rules, and (vi) number of households that affect residents’ collective action in terms of community security, hygiene and cleanliness, and facility quality. The research findings provide urban managers and communities novel insights to formulate strategic policies towards sustainable housing and building management

Different mechanism of response of asymmetric lone pair electrons around ns2 cations to birefringence and second harmonic generation

[[abstract]]The 6s2 lone-pair electrons (Pb2+, Bi3+) and 5s2 lone-pair electrons (Sn2+, Sb3+) show different responses to birefringence than they do to second harmonic generation (SHG). In the current work, different mechanisms of birefringence and SHG responses induced by Pb2+/Sn2+ cations were investigated using the first-principles method on AB2O3F2 (A = Ba, Sn, Pb). The obtained birefringence and SHG coefficients were in good agreement with the experimental values. The anisotropic lone-pair electron distribution was found at the states near the Fermi level containing cation sp-oxygen p states. Our analyses showed the birefringences of the AB2O3F2 (A = Ba, Sn, Pb) compounds to be directly affected by the anisotropic lone-pair electron distribution, however, the SHG responses of these three compounds have a more complicated relationship with the hybrid cation-oxygen states. The expanded hybrid cation-oxygen states including the lone-pair states were concluded to endow the PbB2O3F2 compound with a stronger SHG response than those displayed by the other compounds.[[notice]]補正完

Factors Influencing High-Rise Gated Community Collective Action Effectiveness: Conceptualization of the Social-Ecological System (SES) Framework

Managing common property in gated communities is challenging. Although numerous studies have demonstrated that there are several determinants of collective action effectiveness and performances in gated communities, empirical research drawing on a multidimensional social-ecological system (SES) framework in quantitatively exploring relationships between institutional–physical–social factors and gated community collective action remains lacking. Therefore, based on Ostrom’s social-ecological system (SES) framework, this study attempts to identify factors influencing the self-organizing system (collective action) of gated communities in China. Using stratified purposive sampling, ten gated communities with various characteristics in the Taigu district were selected, in which questionnaires were then distributed to 414 households to collect valid data within the communities. Taking the ridge regression as a more robust predictive SES model with a penalty value of k = 0.1 and regularization, R Square of 0.882, this study, among 14 factors, ultimately identified six key institutional–social–ecological factors based on the descending standardized effect size, and they are: (i) types of community; (ii) presence of leaders; (iii) exclusiveness systems of a gated community; (iv) age of gated community; (v) strict enforcement of rules; and (vi) number of households that affect residents’ collective action in terms of community security, hygiene and cleanliness, and facility quality. The research findings provide urban managers and communities novel insights to formulate strategic policies towards sustainable housing and building management

Optimization of Random Surface Scattering Models for RR Polarization in SoOp-R/GNSS-R Applications

Polarization in global navigation satellite system-reflectometry (GNSS-R) or signal of opportunity-reflectometry (SoOP-R) is commonly used for retrieving geophysical parameters. However, the attention toward other polarizations of reflected signals has increased with developments in this field. The widely used equation for RR polarization suggests that it decreases as soil moisture content increases, which contradicts the experimental data. The accurate forward calculation of RR polarization is essential for the subsequent retrieval algorithm in polarization GNSS-R/ SoOP-R. To address this issue, three new models have been developed: specular reflectivity model for polarization GNSS-R (Spec4PolR), small perturbation model for polarization GNSS-R (SPM4Pol), and Umich model for polarization GNSS-R (Umich4PolR). The Mueller matrix of these three models has been presented, and the wave synthesis technique has been employed to calculate the reflectivity at RR polarization. Spec4polR uses only three elements in the Mueller matrix for final reflectivity, while five elements are used in Umich4polR. In SPM4Pol, all elements construct the Mueller matrix, and only nine elements are employed for calculation. The effects of each element on soil moisture content are presented, and the final reflectivity at RR polarization is illustrated. However, due to the simple formulation of Spec4Pol, its reflectivity at RR polarization still decreases as soil moisture content increases. On the other hand, the results of SPM4Pol and Umich4Pol are consistent with the measured data, and the reflectivity at RR polarization increases as soil moisture content increases. The formula developed in this article for calculating RR polarization will contribute to subsequent polarization studies and geophysical parameter retrieval based on RR polarization

Sustainable Collective Action in High-Rise Gated Communities: Evidence from Shanxi, China Using Ostrom’s Design Principles

Gated communities have been the popular form of housing around the world to address social and safety issues over the past decade, including in Chinese cities. However, gated communities, despite being a more efficient system (less congested), have been criticized for their inefficiency to address the tragedy of the urban commons (overexploitation). Therefore, Ostrom’s self-organizing system (collective action) has been suggested as a sustainable approach to govern common resources but little empirical research has demonstrated how Ostrom’s collective action theory, associated with new institutional economics theory, is applied to the gated communities’ commons management. To address the research gap, the study, via a phenomenological case study, proposes a collective action model in which Ostrom’s eight design principles coupled with Williamson’s transaction cost and opportunism theories are used to improve commons management performance in gated communities. Using stratified purposive sampling, ten gated communities with various characteristics were selected in the Taigu district. In-depth semi-structured interviews were then held with community managers to collect valid data, which were subsequently subjected to content (thematic) analysis. As a result, by understanding and structuring the managers’ real experiences into a modified version of Ostrom’s eight principles, the study proposed a collective action model with low transaction costs in terms of enforcement in gated communities as well as reduced opportunistic behaviors of commoners. Specifically, the eight principles in the model include well-defined community members’ rights, commons management rules aligned with local needs and conditions, rights of residents to modify the commons management rules, monitoring systems overseen by community members, a graduated sanction system for rule violators, low-cost dispute resolution, unchallenged rule-making rights by community members, and a nested-tier management structure. The study findings contribute novel insights to the formulation of institutional strategies toward sustainable housing and building management for urban and community managers

Sustainable Collective Action in High-Rise Gated Communities: Evidence from Shanxi, China Using Ostrom’s Design Principles

Gated communities have been the popular form of housing around the world to address social and safety issues over the past decade, including in Chinese cities. However, gated communities, despite being a more efficient system (less congested), have been criticized for their inefficiency to address the tragedy of the urban commons (overexploitation). Therefore, Ostrom’s self-organizing system (collective action) has been suggested as a sustainable approach to govern common resources but little empirical research has demonstrated how Ostrom’s collective action theory, associated with new institutional economics theory, is applied to the gated communities’ commons management. To address the research gap, the study, via a phenomenological case study, proposes a collective action model in which Ostrom’s eight design principles coupled with Williamson’s transaction cost and opportunism theories are used to improve commons management performance in gated communities. Using stratified purposive sampling, ten gated communities with various characteristics were selected in the Taigu district. In-depth semi-structured interviews were then held with community managers to collect valid data, which were subsequently subjected to content (thematic) analysis. As a result, by understanding and structuring the managers’ real experiences into a modified version of Ostrom’s eight principles, the study proposed a collective action model with low transaction costs in terms of enforcement in gated communities as well as reduced opportunistic behaviors of commoners. Specifically, the eight principles in the model include well-defined community members’ rights, commons management rules aligned with local needs and conditions, rights of residents to modify the commons management rules, monitoring systems overseen by community members, a graduated sanction system for rule violators, low-cost dispute resolution, unchallenged rule-making rights by community members, and a nested-tier management structure. The study findings contribute novel insights to the formulation of institutional strategies toward sustainable housing and building management for urban and community managers

Atrial Fibrillation Is an Independent Risk Factor for Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia

<div><p>Background</p><p>Patients who were hospitalized for community-based pneumonia frequently had pre-existing atrial fibrillation (AF) and had subsequent cardiovascular complications. Whether patients who had AF would be susceptible to the development of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is a serious concern but this has not been investigated. In our clinics, we have made empirical observation of such susceptibility.</p><p>Objectives</p><p>To investigate the association between newly developed HAP and pre-existing AF, and to identify whether AF is an independent risk factor for HAP.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Hospital data from 8657 sequentially admitted inpatients [1059 patients with AF and 7598 without AF (NAF)] were collected from the Department of Cardiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China, from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2011. Exclusion criteria were: having previous or current pneumonia, pacemakers, sick sinus syndrome and repeated hospitalization. The incidence of HAP (within 48 hours after hospitalization) was identified among all the patients.</p><p>Results</p><p>Among the AF patients, 274 had HAP (adjusted rate 25.64%) which was significantly higher than the 276 NAF patients who had HAP (adjusted rate 3.66%; <i>P</i><0.001). The increased risk was also associated with high blood pressure, heart failure and age, but not with gender, smoking, coronary heart disease, diabetes, congenital heart disease. In addition, our multiple regression analysis indicates that AF is an independent risk factor for HAP.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>We have identified, for the first time, that AF is an important risk factor for HAP. Although additional clinical confirmation is needed, our data provide valuable evidence for use in prevention of HAP which is the most common cause of death from nosocomial infection.</p></div

Enzyme-programmable microgel lasers for information encoding and anti-counterfeiting

Microscale laser emissions have emerged as a promising approach for information encoding and anti-counterfeiting for their feature-rich spectra and high sensitivity to the surrounding environment. Compared with artificial materials, natural responsive biomaterials enable a higher level of complexity and versatile ways for tailoring optical responses. However, precise control of lasing wavelengths and spatial locations with biomolecules remains a huge challenge. Here, a biologically programmable laser, in which the lasing can be manipulated by biomolecular activities at the nanoscale, is developed. Tunable lasing wavelengths are achieved by exploiting the swelling properties of enzyme-responsive hydrogel droplets in a Fabry-Pérot microcavity. Both experimental and theoretical means demonstrate that inner 3D network structures and external curvature of the hydrogel droplets lead to different lasing thresholds and resonance wavelengths. Finally, inkjet-printed multiwavelength laser encoding and anti-counterfeiting are showcased under different scalabilities and environments. Hyperspectral laser images are utilized as an advanced feature for a higher level of security. The biologically encoded laser will provide a new insight into the development of biosynthetic and bioprogrammable laser devices, offering new opportunities for secure communication and smart sensing.Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)Ministry of Education (MOE)This research was supported by A*STAR under its AME IRG Grant (Project No. A20E5c0085). This research was also supported by Ministry of Education, Singapore, under grant AcRF TIER 1-2021-T1-001-040 RG46/21

Two Pyrophosphates with Large Birefringences and Second-Harmonic Responses as Ultraviolet Nonlinear Optical Materials

[[abstract]]Two new pyrophosphates nonlinear optical (NLO) materials, Rb3PbBi(P2O7)2 (I) and Cs3PbBi(P2O7)2 (II), were successfully designed and synthesized. Both compounds exhibit large NLO effects and birefringences. Material I presents the scarce case of possessing the coexistence of large birefringence (0.031 at 1064 nm and 0.037 at 532 nm) and second harmonic generation (SHG) response (2.8× potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP)) in ultraviolet NLO phosphates and its SHG is the largest in the phase‐matching (PM) pyrophosphates. Both I and II have three‐dimensional (3D) crystal structures composed of corner‐shared RbO12 (CsO11), RbO10 (CsO10), BiO6, PbO7 (PbO6) and P2O7 groups, in which P2O7 and PbO7 (PbO6) units form an alveolate [PbPO]∞ skeleton frame. Theoretical calculations reveal that the P−O, Bi−O and Pb−O units are mainly responsible for the moderate birefringence and large SHG efficiency of I.[[notice]]補正完