Role of Landlords in Creating Healthy Homes: Section 8 Landlord Perspectives on Healthy Housing Practices

PURPOSE

This article presents qualitative research findings of Section 8 landlord perceptions regarding healthy housing practices to inform landlord-focused initiatives. Approach or Design: Five focus groups were conducted with landlords.

SETTING

Boston, Massachusetts.

PARTICIPANTS

Section 8 landlords participated in focus groups (n = 39).

METHOD

Focus group transcripts were coded for key themes using a grounded theory approach.

RESULTS

Landlords' primary challenges to creating a healthy housing environment included tenant behavior, financial burden, and policy enforcement; tenant safety and cost savings were seen as primary benefits.

CONCLUSION

Landlords play a critical role in implementing healthy housing practices. Several opportunities exist to reduce barriers and capitalize on perceived benefits of implementing these practices, including increasing access to educational and financial resources.

Mechanism of Li adsorption on carbon nanotube-fullerene hybrid system: a first-principles study

The lithium (Li) adsorption mechanism on the metallic (5,5) single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-fullerene (C(60)) hybrid material system is investigated using first-principles method. It is found that the Li adsorption energy (-2.649 eV) on the CNT-C(60) hybrid system is lower than that on the peapod system (-1.837 eV) and the bare CNT (-1.720 eV), indicating that the Li adsorption on the CNT-C(60) hybrid system is more stable than on the peapod or bare CNT system. This is due to the C(60) of high electron affinity and the charge redistribution after mixing CNT with C(60). In order to estimate how efficiently Li can utilize the vast surface area of the hybrid system for increasing energy density, the Li adsorption energy is calculated as a function of the adsorption positions around the CNT-C(60) hybrid system. It turns out that Li preferably occupies the mid-space between C(60) and CNT and then wraps up the C(60) side and subsequently the CNT side. It is also found that the electronic properties of the CNT-C(60) system, such as band structure, molecular orbital, and charge distribution, are influenced by the Li adsorption as a function of the number of Li atoms. From the results, it is expected that the CNT-C(60) hybrid system has enhanced the charge transport properties in addition to the Li adsorption, compared to both CNT and C(60).