Discrimination in Metropolitan Housing Markets: National Results from Phase 1 of the Housing Discrimination Study (HDS)

The Housing Discrimination Study 2000 (HDS 2000) is the third nationwide effort sponsored by HUD to measure the amount of discrimination faced by minority home seekers. This report provides national estimates of discrimination faced by African Americans and Hispanics in 2000 as they searched for housing in the sales and rental markets. It also provides an accurate measure of how housing discrimination has changed since 1989. The report shows large decreases between 1989 and 2000 in the level of discrimination experienced by Hispanics and African Americans seeking to a buy a home. There are, however, worrisome upward trends of discrimination in the areas of geographic steering in home sales for African Americans and the amount of help agents provide to Hispanics with obtaining financing. There has also been a modest decrease in discrimination toward African Americans seeking to rent a unit. This downward trend, however, has not been seen for Hispanic renters. Hispanic renters now are more likely to experience discrimination in their housing search than do African American renters.

Effects of air pollution on asthma hospitalization rates in different age groups in metropolitan cities of Korea

Many studies have shown relationships between air pollution and the rate of hospital admissions for asthma. A few studies have controlled for age-specific effects by adding separate smoothing functions for each age group. However, it has not yet been reported whether air pollution effects are significantly different for different age groups. This lack of information is the motivation for this study, which tests the hypothesis that air pollution effects on asthmatic hospital admissions are significantly different by age groups. Each air pollutant's effect on asthmatic hospital admissions by age groups was estimated separately. In this study, daily time-series data for hospital admission rates from seven cities in Korea from June 1999 through 2003 were analyzed. The outcome variable, daily hospital admission rates for asthma, was related to five air pollutants which were used as the independent variables, namely particulate matter <10 micrometers (μm) in aerodynamic diameter (PM10), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Meteorological variables were considered as confounders. Admission data were divided into three age groups: children (<15 years of age), adults (ages 15-64), and elderly (≥ 65 years of age). The adult age group was considered to be the reference group for each city. In order to estimate age-specific air pollution effects, the analysis was separated into two stages. In the first stage, Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) with cubic spline for smoothing were applied to estimate the age-city-specific air pollution effects on asthmatic hospital admission rates by city and age group. In the second stage, the Bayesian Hierarchical Model with non-informative prior which has large variance was used to combine city-specific effects by age groups. The hypothesis test showed that the effects of PM10, CO and NO2 were significantly different by age groups. Assuming that the air pollution effect for adults is zero as a reference, age-specific air pollution effects were: -0.00154 (95% confidence interval(CI)= (-0.0030,-0.0001)) for children and 0.00126 (95% CI = (0.0006, 0.0019)) for the elderly for PM 10; -0.0195 (95% CI = (-0.0386,-0.0004)) for children for CO; and 0.00494 (95% CI = (0.0028, 0.0071)) for the elderly for NO2. Relative rates (RRs) were 1.008 (95% CI = (1.000-1.017)) in adults and 1.021 (95% CI = (1.012-1.030)) in the elderly for every 10 μg/m3 increase of PM10 , 1.019 (95% CI = (1.005-1.033)) in adults and 1.022 (95% CI = (1.012-1.033)) in the elderly for every 0.1 part per million (ppm) increase of CO; 1.006 (95%CI = (1.002-1.009)) and 1.019 (95%CI = (1.007-1.032)) in the elderly for every 1 part per billion (ppb) increase of NO2 and SO2, respectively. Asthma hospital admissions were significantly increased for PM10 and CO in adults, and for PM10, CO, NO2 and SO2 in the elderly.^

HOUSE-TO-HOUSE SURVEY OF ACCESS TO AND USE OF PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN METROPOLITAN LAGOS, NIGERIA

One of the broad objectives of the Nigerian health service, vigorously being pursued at all levels of government, is to make comprehensive health care available and accessible to the population at the lowest possible cost, within available resources. Some state governments in the federation have already introduced free medical service as a practical way to remove financial barriers to access and in turn to encourage greater utilization of publicly funded care facilities.^ To aid health planners and decision makers in identifying a shorter corridor through which urban dwellers can gain access to comprehensive health care, a health interview survey of the metropolitan Lagos was undertaken. The primary purpose was to ascertain the magnitude of access problems which urban households face in seeking care from existing public facilities at the time of need. Six categories of illness chosen from the 1975 edition of the International Classification of Disease were used as indicators of health need.^ Choice of treatment facilities in response to illness episode was examined in relation to distance, travel time, time of use and transportation experiences. These were graphically described. The overall picture indicated that distance and travel time coexist with transportation problems in preventing a significant segment of those in need of health care from benefitting in the free medical service offered in public health facilities. Within this milieu, traditional medicine and its practitioners became the most preferred alternative. Recommendations were offered for action with regard to decentralization of general practitioner (GP) consultations in general hospitals and integration of traditional medicine and its practitioners into public health service. ^

Metropolitan Observatory for Street Children and Youngsters: A Chilean Experience of an Innovative Model

In Chile, street children and youngsters' situations have changed significantly over the last decades. The Metropolitan Observatory is an innovative organization that makes it possible to follow this velnerable group. The Observatory is becoming a pioneering actor in the subject, thanks to the participative work and agreed consensus of different institutions involved. The aim of this paper is to introduce the innovative cross-sectoral work done by the Metropolitan Observatory for street children and youth.

Nannofossil bioevents and biozones of ODP Holes 197-1203A and 197-1204A on Detroit Seamount

Calcareous nannofossils were studied in sedimentary successions recovered from two holes on the Detroit Seamount in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Preservation of calcareous nannoflora assemblages varies from poor to good throughout the sediments recovered from both Holes 1203A and 1204A. Biostratigraphic investigation allowed the identification of 19 nannofossil zones in Hole 1203A and 7 in Hole 1204A. The sedimentary cover in Hole 1203A ranges from lower Eocene (Zone NP12) to upper Miocene (Zone NN9). The sedimentary interval investigated directly overlying the basalt recovered at Hole 1204A is late Campanian in age (Zones CC22-CC23), and the top of the section is middle Eocene (Zone NP15) in age. Major unconformities were observed in Hole 1204A between upper Campanian (Zones CC22-CC23) and lower Thanetian (Zone NP7) sediments and between upper Thanetian (Zone NP8) and upper Ypresian (Zone NP12) sediments.

Paleomagnetic of basalts from ODP Site 145-883 on Detroit Seamount

Paleomagnetic data were measured from basaltic flows cored by the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) at Site 883 on the summit of Detroit Seamount, located in the northernmost Emperor seamounts. These data are important because they reflect the paleolatitude of Hawaiian volcanism for the Late Cretaceous and bear upon geodynamic models of hotspot drift. A total of 143 samples were measured, from cores acquired at two ~20-30 m apart. Most samples gave apparently reliable magnetic directions that were analyzed in a tiered fashion to compute a composite inclination vs. depth curve. One hole gave 13 distinct inclination groups, the other 10, and the two were combined into nine groups thought to represent independent measurements of paleofield direction. These data indicate normal magnetic polarity and give a mean inclination of 61.5+10.6°/-6.4° and paleolatitude of 42.8+13.2°/-7.6° (95% confidence limits). This paleolatitude is 6.2° higher than results from another ODP site (884) drilled on the lower flank of the same seamount. The difference is thought to result partly from an age difference (1-3 Myr) and partly from incomplete averaging of paleosecular variation at both drill sites. Together, the data from the two sites reinforce the conclusion that the northern Emperor seamounts were formed far north of the present-day hotspot latitude (~19.5°N) and suggest prior estimates of the amount and rate of southward drift may have been low. This analysis also illustrates uncertainties in determining paleolatitude from a small number of lava flow units from a single drill site.

Space-time analysis of the urban-rural grafient in the metropolitan area of Madrid and ist surroundings -Guadalajara and Toledo.

According to UN provisions in the period from 2007 to 2050 world population will grow up to 9200 million people. In fact, for the first time in history, in the year 2008 world urban population became higher than rural population. The increase of urban areas and their transport infrastructures has influenced agricultural land use due to their irreversible change, especially when they remain as periurban vacant land, losing their character and identity. In the Europe of the nineties, the traditional urban-rural gradient, characterized by a neat contact between both land types, has become so complex that it has change to a gradient in which it is difficult to separate urban and rural land uses. [Antrop 2004]. A literature review has been made on methodologies used for the urban-rural gradient analysis. One of these methodologies was selected that integrates ecological characterization based on the use of spatial metrics and geographical characterization based on spatial components. Cartographical sources used were Corine Land Cover at 1: 100000 scale and the Spanish Land Use Information System at 1:25000 scale. Urban-rural gradient paradigm is an analysis methodology, coming from landscape ecology, which enables to investigate how urbanization provokes changes in ecological patterns and processes into landscape. [Hahs and McDonnell 2006].The present research adapt this methodology to study the urban-rural gradient in the outskirts of Madrid, Toledo and Guadalajara. Both scales (1:25000 and 1:100000) were simultaneously used to reach the next objectives: 1) Analysis of landscape pattern dynamics in relation to distance to the town centre and major infrastructures. 2) Analysis of landscape pattern dynamics in the fringe of protected areas. The paper presents a new approach to the urban-rural relationship which allows better planning and management of urban áreas.

Integration of quantum key distribution in metropolitan area networks

The deployment of Quantum Key Distribution forces the development of QKD-links to be operated in current and next-generation photonic metro-access networks. These highly heterogeneous architectures determine the conditions QKD-links need to be optimized for.

Evaluating the equity effects of road-pricing in the European urban context - The Madrid Metropolitan Area

The paper identifies the potential spatial and social impacts of a proposed road-pricing scheme for different social groups in the Madrid Metropolitan Area (MMA). We appraise the accessibility of different districts within the MMA in terms of the actual and perceived cost of using the road infrastructure ‘before’ and ‘after’ implementation of the scheme. The appraisal framework was developed using quantitative survey data and qualitative focus group discussions with residents. We then simulated user behaviours (mode and route choice) based on the empirical evidence from a travel demand model for the MMA. The results from our simulation model demonstrated that implementation of the toll on the orbital metropolitan motorways (M40, M30, for example) decreases accessibility mostly in the districts where there are no viable public transport alternatives. Our specific study finding is that the economic burden of the road-pricing scheme particularly affects unskilled and lower income individuals living in the south of the MMA. The focus groups confirmed that low income drivers in the south part of the MMA would reduce their use of tolled roads and have to find new arrangements for these trips: i.e. switch to public transport, spend double the time travelling or stay at home. More generally, our research finds that European transport planners are still a long way from recognising the social equity implications of their policy decisions and that more thorough social appraisals are needed to avoid the social exclusion of low income populations when road tolling is proposed.

Evaluating the spatial and social equity effects of road pricing in the European urban context: the Madrid Metropolitan Area.

The paper explores the spatial and social impacts arising from implementation of a road-pricing scheme in the Madrid Metropolitan Area (MMA). Our analytical focus is on understanding the effects of the scheme on the transport accessibility of different social groups within the MMA. We define an evaluation framework to appraise the accessibility of different districts within the MMA in terms of the actual and perceived cost of using the road infrastructure "before" and "after" the implementation of the scheme. The framework was developed using quantitative survey data and qualitative data from focus group discussions with residents. We then simulated user behaviors (mode and route choice) based on the empirical evidence from a travel demand model for the MMA. The results from our simulation model demonstrated that implementation of the toll on the orbital metropolitan motorways (M40, M30, for example) decreases accessibility, mostly in the districts where there are no viable public transport alternatives. Our key finding is that the economic burden of the road-pricing scheme particularly affects unskilled and lower income individuals living in the south of the MMA. Consequently lower income people reduce their use of tolled roads and have to find new arrangements for these trips: i.e. switch to the public transport, spend double the time for their commuter trips or stay at home. The results of our research could be applicable more widely for anyone wishing to better understand the important relationship between increased transport cost and social equity, especially where there is an intention to introduce similar road-pricing schemes within the urban context.

Shear wave velocity estimation in the metropolitan area of Málaga (S Spain)

We carry out a seismic noise study based on array measurements at three sites in the Málaga basin, South Spain, for the further estimation of shear wave velocity profiles. For this purpose, we use both the H/V method and the f–k technique in order to characterize the different materials present in the zone, i.e., Quaternary sediments and Pliocene sedimentary rocks above the bedrock. The H/V analysis shows frequency peaks going from 1 Hz, in areas close to the border of the basin, to 0.3 Hz in places located toward the center of the formation. The f–k analysis allows obtaining the dispersion curves associated with each site and subsequently, estimating the Vs profiles by inversion of the respective group velocities. In this way, the basin basement can be characterized by S-wave velocities greater than 2000 m/s. Regarding the basin fill, it is divided into three layers defined by different wave velocity intervals. The shallowest one is featured by velocities ranging from 150 to 400 m/s and comprises the Quaternary sediments, while velocities going from 550–700 to1200–1600 m/s characterize the two underlying layers composed by Pliocene sediments. Finally, the information provided by the three Vs profiles is integrated in a 2D cross-section of the basin to have a spatial view of its sedimentary structure. The results obtained here, in addition to providing useful information about the infill of the basin near the metropolitan area of Málaga, will be very helpful for future seismic zonation studies in the region.

The condition of women workers under the present industrial system: an address by Ida M. Van Etten at the National Convention of the American Federation of Labor held at Detroit, Michigan, December 8th, 1890

At head of title: Publication of the American Federation of Labor.