Public-Private Partnership for Urban Housing Through Civic Engagement

Public-private partnership (PPP) is a contractual arrangement between a public agency and a private sector, whereby the private sector performs a public function in accordance with an output-based specification for a specified period of time in return for a financial benefit. The central problem investigated in this chapter is the challenges in urban housing delivery using the public-private partnership approach, to identify concerns and develop a framework to address them. Adopting a qualitative research strategy and descriptive approach, primary data was collected thru questionnaire administered to selected sample of staff, private partners, and beneficiaries of houses. This research analysed the identified challenges experienced in the urban housing based on the existing literature and theories on PPP. Findings reflect that, despite challenges, there is confirmation that the PPP concept is a catalyst to addressing urban housing delivery by using private investment.

Familial Guilt: Judgments of Collective Family Responsibility in the United States and South Korea

When a group member commits wrongdoing, people sometimes assign responsibility and blame not only to the wrongdoer but also to other members of the same group. We examined such assignment of collective responsibility in the context of exploitation of one family by another. Participants were recruited from an individualistic society (United States) and a more collectivistic society (South Korea) to assess differences in assignment of collective responsibility. Participants in both countries rated the degree to which an agent (grandson) should be held responsible for his grandfather’s exploitation of a victimized family, while varying the closeness of familial connection. Participants’ responsibility judgments showed sensitivity to whether the grandson received financial benefit from the wrongdoer and to the perceived closeness between the grandson and the wrongdoer. Korean participants imposed greater responsibility on the agent than did American participants. Implications for understanding the influence of social norms on moral judgments are discussed.

Advancing the Industrial Sectors Participation in Demand Response within National Electricity Grids

Increasing the level and diversifying the sources of flexible capacity available to transmission system operators will be a pivotal factor for maintaining reliable control of national electricity grids. These response capacities are widely available; however, one area with large capacities that could benefit from advancements is the industrial sector. This sector’s highly regulated nature ensures that structured procedures and thorough investigations are required to implement significant change. This study presents a systematic methodology to effectively categorise assets and evaluate their perceived risk of participation in demand response, allowing industries to present a sustainable portfolio of flexible capacity to the grid. Following implementation on an internationally relevant industrial site, this methodology identified several assets for participation, determining that it is realistic to expect 35 to 75 kW of flexible capacity from only air handling units on a single site. A selected unit was further evaluated using an internal air-temperature modelling tool. This demonstrated its ability to respond safely to the actual 2019 and 2020 grid frequency events and even remain off, at no risk to the indoor thermal environment for at least 20 min in each case. The potential impact of advancing industrial participation is presented, with the highest scenario providing almost 15 MW of flexible capacity to the Irish national grid. The financial benefit achievable on a site from the most conservative assets was found to be between EUR 993 and EUR 2129 annually for a single response category and up to EUR 6563 based on payment multipliers. Overall, this research demonstrates the significant flexible capacities available within the industrial sector and illustrates the low-risk capabilities and considerable benefits achievable on a single site and for the wider national electricity grids with this concept.

Environmental crisis effect on environmental costs

Environmental management accounting is a mechanism for determining and evaluating, and incorporating these cost and benefit in the day-to-day business decision making, the full spectrum of environmental costs of current production processes and the economic benefits of contamination prevention, or cleaner processes. In practice, the past 10 years have acquired significance from corporate accounting, which is the most prominent part of cost accounting. Limits were widely acknowledged of conventional financial and cost accounting techniques reflecting companies’ sustainability efforts and providing management with necessary information for sustainable business choices. Information on companies’ environmental performance may be somewhat accessible, but both domestic decision makers and those at the level of public authorities are seldom able to connect environmental information with economic variables and are essentially deprived of environmental cost information. Decision makers do thus not recognize the economic worth of natural resources as asset and the commercial and financial benefit of excellent environmental performance. Beyond ‘goodwill’ efforts, there are a number of market-based incentives for integration with decision making of environmental issues. This article provides an outline of environmental management methods and we evaluate environmental costs in terms of current economic crisis.

Effects of β-glucan and vitamin products supplementation into diets on growth performance of growing-finishing pigs in Ben Tre province

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of vitamin and β-glucan supplementations on growth performance of growing-finishing pigs in Ben Tre province. A total of 36 post-weaned piglets (Duroc x Yorkshire-Landrace) with the initial live weight of 17.42 kg±0.26, was allotted into 3 treatments and 4 replications in a completely randomized design. There were three diets, including basal diet (BD) without any addition of β-glucan or vitamin (diet CT), the BD supplemented with vitamin (diet Vit) and the BD supplemented with β-glucan (diet Glu). The results on growth parameters indicated that final live weight (kg), weight gain (kg), and average daily gain (g/head/day) of pigs in the experimental diets were significantly higher (P<0.01) than those in the control treatment. FCR was lowest in Glu and highest in the control (P<0.01). Financial benefit based on feed and veterinary expenses was higher in the vitamin and β-glucan supplement diets than that of the control from 15.74% to 18.98%, respectively.

Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Family Mental Health in Canada: Findings from a Multi-Round Cross-Sectional Study

Pandemic-related disruptions, including school, child care, and workplace closures, financial stressors, and relationship challenges, present unique risks to families’ mental health. We examined the mental health impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic among parents with children <18 years old living at home over three study rounds in May 2020 (n = 618), September 2020 (n = 804), and January 2021 (n = 602). Data were collected using a cross-sectional online survey of adults living in Canada, nationally representative by age, gender, household income, and region. Chi-square tests and logistic regression compared outcomes between parents and the rest of the sample, among parent subgroups, and over time. Parents reported worsened mental health compared with before the pandemic, as well as not coping well, increased alcohol use, increased suicidal thoughts/feelings, worsened mental health among their children, and increases in both negative and positive parent–child interactions. Mental health challenges were more frequently reported among parents with pre-existing mental health conditions, disabilities, and financial/relationship stressors. Increased alcohol use was more frequently reported among younger parents and men. Sustained mental health challenges of parents throughout nearly a year of the pandemic suggest that intervention efforts to support family mental health may not be adequately meeting families’ needs. Addressing family stressors through financial benefit programs and virtual mental health supports should be further explored.

Democratic member control in Chinese cooperatives: A study of the Gung Ho Movement

<p>Since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party has encouraged various forms of collective agricultural organizations in an effort to improve economic development for those living in rural areas. The introduction of a Specialized Farmers’ Cooperative Law in 2007 has seen an upsurge in the formation and registration of agricultural cooperatives in China. The law specifically states that Chinese cooperatives must be democratically managed. The main aim of this thesis is to explore the various meanings of democracy within Chinese cooperatives. To do this, the meaning and definition of the cooperative enterprise in China, is also scrutinized. Modern day cooperatives in Shandan County, that have been historically associated with the ‘Gung Ho’ movement, are the empirical focus of this thesis. This thesis makes an original contribution to the field of workplace democracy by presenting a qualitative exploration of democracy within cooperative organizations in China. Over recent years, there have been a limited number of efforts by scholars to quantitatively measure the level of democracy within Chinese cooperatives through the use of large-scale surveys. In contrast, this thesis draws on ethnographic principles of data collection. A series of in-depth interviews, conducted over a seven month period in China, provides a rich data source to examine the meanings of democracy within Chinese cooperatives. Unlike the studies previously conducted within this academic field in China, this thesis does not assume there is necessarily a single appropriate definition that can accurately measure the complex concept of democracy on a quantitative scale. This thesis adopts a critical approach to the research questions based on the analytical theories of Michel Foucault, in particular, his theories of power/ knowledge relations. The discourse(s) that interview informants used to describe their interactions and experiences within their cooperatives allow for an exploration of the power relations that exist to circulate, regulate, and resist the discourse(s) on democracy. This thesis presents an alternative perspective to the commonly used quantitative studies and provides an alternative approach that is able to further analyze and understand the function and presence of democracy in Chinese cooperatives. The use of this theoretical approach leads to a discussion on the complex power relationships between cooperative members and their leaders. This thesis presents three main arguments that emerged from the discourses explored in the discourse analysis. Firstly, the discourse of ‘international standards’ presents a tension in the ways a Chinese cooperative can be defined. Chinese cooperatives that may not adhere to internationally defined standards of a ‘true’ cooperative will often meet the local requirements to be legally recognized as a cooperative in China. Secondly, a discourse of ‘competency’ meant most cooperative members interviewed see little need, or desire, to actively participate in management decisions. For members, it is more important that information is made transparent and that the decisions made on their behalf are for the members’ financial benefit. Thirdly, a discourse of ‘competency’ led to elections where, given an opportunity to elect a leader for the cooperative, the cooperative members would often choose an existing village leader or village cadre for the role. The reinforcement of existing power structures is not considered by cooperative members to be a negative outcome of these elections. Cooperative members stressed the need for them to have strong ties to government officials in order to have any chance of developing a successful business venture in China. On a practical level, ‘workplace democratization’ is argued to be a valuable starting point to explore power relations within cooperatives. The discussion section of these thesis considers the influence of demographics, culture, and the political environment on developing workplace democratization in Chinese cooperatives. The arguments made in this thesis are relevant to cooperatives and other forms of organisations more broadly that are committed to workplace democratization, both within and outside of China.</p>

Democratic member control in Chinese cooperatives: A study of the Gung Ho Movement

<p>Since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party has encouraged various forms of collective agricultural organizations in an effort to improve economic development for those living in rural areas. The introduction of a Specialized Farmers’ Cooperative Law in 2007 has seen an upsurge in the formation and registration of agricultural cooperatives in China. The law specifically states that Chinese cooperatives must be democratically managed. The main aim of this thesis is to explore the various meanings of democracy within Chinese cooperatives. To do this, the meaning and definition of the cooperative enterprise in China, is also scrutinized. Modern day cooperatives in Shandan County, that have been historically associated with the ‘Gung Ho’ movement, are the empirical focus of this thesis. This thesis makes an original contribution to the field of workplace democracy by presenting a qualitative exploration of democracy within cooperative organizations in China. Over recent years, there have been a limited number of efforts by scholars to quantitatively measure the level of democracy within Chinese cooperatives through the use of large-scale surveys. In contrast, this thesis draws on ethnographic principles of data collection. A series of in-depth interviews, conducted over a seven month period in China, provides a rich data source to examine the meanings of democracy within Chinese cooperatives. Unlike the studies previously conducted within this academic field in China, this thesis does not assume there is necessarily a single appropriate definition that can accurately measure the complex concept of democracy on a quantitative scale. This thesis adopts a critical approach to the research questions based on the analytical theories of Michel Foucault, in particular, his theories of power/ knowledge relations. The discourse(s) that interview informants used to describe their interactions and experiences within their cooperatives allow for an exploration of the power relations that exist to circulate, regulate, and resist the discourse(s) on democracy. This thesis presents an alternative perspective to the commonly used quantitative studies and provides an alternative approach that is able to further analyze and understand the function and presence of democracy in Chinese cooperatives. The use of this theoretical approach leads to a discussion on the complex power relationships between cooperative members and their leaders. This thesis presents three main arguments that emerged from the discourses explored in the discourse analysis. Firstly, the discourse of ‘international standards’ presents a tension in the ways a Chinese cooperative can be defined. Chinese cooperatives that may not adhere to internationally defined standards of a ‘true’ cooperative will often meet the local requirements to be legally recognized as a cooperative in China. Secondly, a discourse of ‘competency’ meant most cooperative members interviewed see little need, or desire, to actively participate in management decisions. For members, it is more important that information is made transparent and that the decisions made on their behalf are for the members’ financial benefit. Thirdly, a discourse of ‘competency’ led to elections where, given an opportunity to elect a leader for the cooperative, the cooperative members would often choose an existing village leader or village cadre for the role. The reinforcement of existing power structures is not considered by cooperative members to be a negative outcome of these elections. Cooperative members stressed the need for them to have strong ties to government officials in order to have any chance of developing a successful business venture in China. On a practical level, ‘workplace democratization’ is argued to be a valuable starting point to explore power relations within cooperatives. The discussion section of these thesis considers the influence of demographics, culture, and the political environment on developing workplace democratization in Chinese cooperatives. The arguments made in this thesis are relevant to cooperatives and other forms of organisations more broadly that are committed to workplace democratization, both within and outside of China.</p>

Environmentally friendly private cities in Indonesia and Malaysia

This paper is a review of the model to investigate the effect of safety and security, financial benefit, social status, and lifestyle facilities on residential purchase and residential satisfaction. The future research will survey residents in private cities in Indonesia and Malaysia. For Indonesia, samples will be taken in South Tangerang, specifically in Bintaro Jaya, BSD City, and Summerecon. For Malaysia, samples will be taken among residents of private cities in Malaysia. The analysis will employ the use of structural equation model using SPSS and Amos software. The accepted hypotheses are expected be result of this study. Safety and security, financial benefit, social status, and lifestyle facilities determine the residential purchase and residential satisfaction. The originality of the research is the study investigate comparative study of the model testing in two countries, Indonesia and Malaysia.

755. Clostridioides difficile Testing and the Use of Laxatives in Immunocompromised Adults

Background Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) rates have plateaued at historical highs in the United States since 2010 and remains a major health problem. While optimal CDI testing remains unclear, current literature recommends testing patients whose symptoms are not clinically attributable to underlying conditions, e.g., laxatives. At Moffitt Cancer Center, a soft-stop alert was implemented to alert the provider if the patient received a laxative within the previous 48 hours of CDI testing. We aim to evaluate the incidence of CDI rates with prior laxative use in immunocompromised patients, as well as, the impact of the soft-stop alert in reducing CDI testing. Methods Retrospective, single-center, review of adult patients who were tested for CDI after the implementation of the soft-stop alert from October 1, 2020 to December 21, 2020. These patients were compared to a historical cohort of patients who were tested for CDI prior to the alert implementation from October 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019. The primary outcome was the percent of patients that received a laxative within 48 hours of CDI testing pre-alert compared to post-alert. Secondary outcomes included the percent of colonization versus active infection in this immunocompromised population, number and type of laxatives administered prior to testing, and the frequency of alert and reduction of CDI tests ordered. A cost-benefit analysis was also performed. Results In the historical cohort (n=480), 14.8% received a laxative within 48 hours of CDI testing (Figure 1). Within patients who received a laxative in this group, 4.2% had a definitive active infection. After the alert was implemented, a total of 630 CDI tests were ordered from October 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020, and the alert was fired for 123 (19.5%) tests ordered (Figure 2). Of the tests where the alert was fired, the CDI test was removed for 42.3% and continued for 57.7% of orders resulting in savings of &3,263. In this cohort, 5.6% of patients had a definitive active CDI infection who received a laxative and testing was continued (Figure 3). Figure 2: CDI Test and Laxative Administration Alert Figure 3: Post-Alert Laxatives Administered and CDI Test Result Conclusion The soft-stop alert implemented reduced CDI testing in patients who received a laxative in the last 48 hours correlating with a financial benefit, improvement in guideline adherence, and reduction in laboratory labor. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures