No description available.

"In a field work placement as a student, this writer had his first experience in serving Runaways. This aroused questions such as: who are these people who run away; what are their family backgrounds; how do they come to the Atlanta Travelers Aid Society; how does that agency help them; and what becomes of them after leaving that agency. In an attempt to find answers to these questions several case records of Runaways were read. It was found that the details of working out solutions to each individual Runaway's problems obscured the general characteristics of the Runaways as a group and the services offered them. It is the purpose of this study to compile, in statistical form, the measurable data from the case records of all Runaways known to the Atlanta Travelers Aid Society in a one year period. These data are presented in a manner that will permit their comparison with the data found in other studies of Runaways and studies of non-runaway groups"--Introduction. / Typescript. / "May 16, 1952." / "Submitted to the Graduate Council of Florida State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work." / Advisor: J. Benjamin Beyrer, Professor Directing Study. / Graduate study in social work. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-45).

Tropospheric ozone pollution is a world-wide problem, based on studies reported from locations as diverse as India, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany, Spain, Greece, Canada, and the United States. Ozone is a serious pollutant in the troposphere due to its adverse effects on the health of plants, and on the respiratory systems, eyes, and mucous membranes of humans. Due to the seriousness of the issue, the ozone problem in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area was investigated. A review of the literature revealed a research deficiency, since no environment-to-circulation analysis of the ozone problem in the Atlanta metropolitan area could be found. Therefore such a study was conducted, in order to determine how high ozone days in Atlanta were related to atmospheric patterns and meteorological variables. Statistical analysis of radiosonde data, and data from eleven air quality monitoring stations in metropolitan Atlanta, for the summer months of 2000-2003, revealed a relationship between high ozone days and both high- and low- pressure patterns, as well as between high ozone days and higher temperature and lower dew point temperature. The data revealed two groups of stations differentiated by geography, and also suggested transport of precursor chemicals as a factor at some stations. This research may assist policy-makers as well as policy-implementers in elucidating associations or mechanisms that can assist efforts to reduce tropospheric ozone concentrations in the Atlanta area.

INTRODUCTION: The fastest growing segment of the U.S. population is among individuals aged 50 and older. However, advanced age is not protective against HIV. AIM: The purpose of this study is to examine individual characteristics (gender, age, education) as well as environmental and behavioral factors (doctor visits and IDU) that may be linked with HIV status among older heterosexual African American adults. The factors associated with HIV status that were examined include education level, IDU within the last six months, non-injected drugs that were used within the last six months and the length of time since the last doctor visit. METHODS: The original study used participant-driven sampling to identify seeds in high risk zip codes within the City of Atlanta to complete questionnaire and provide biospecimens. This study focuses on the interviews and test results of participants ages 50 and older. Associations of demographic characteristics, behavioral risk factors and HIV status were analyzed using Pearson chi-square, univariatae, and multivariate tests. RESULTS: African Americans who have injected drugs within the last six months are more likely to be HIV positive than those that have not injected drugs in the last six months. DISCUSSION: Results of this study reveal that there are unique patterns of risk taking behavior among older adults. These findings can provide potential intervention opportunities that may prevent HIV transmission among this vulnerable, increasing segment of the population.

I conduct a case study of Atlanta's metropolitan core in order to provide a rich, detailed analysis of urban neighborhoods, and to document the persistence of racial inequalities. Using Census 2000 block group data, I examine racial residential segregation in the five core counties of Atlanta between whites and minority groups, as well as among minority groups. I find high levels of residential segregation between whites and blacks, as well as between blacks and Asians, and blacks and Hispanics; segregation is lower between whites and Asians, and whites and Hispanics. I also investigate neighborhood characteristics like percentage poverty and educational attainment in neighborhoods with different racial compositions. These results highlight the advantages found in predominately white neighborhoods compared to racially concentrated minority neighborhoods, particularly African American and Latino neighborhoods. Overall, this thesis shows that residential stratification remains a hallmark indicator of racial inequality through the opening of the twenty-first century in Atlanta.

The Halloween ritual, trick-or-treat, has compelled suburban residents in Atlanta, Georgia to parade throughout the shared public spaces of their communities’ streets for nearly a century. In recent years, however, privatized children’s rituals beyond the realm of the neighborhood seemingly compete for trick-or-treat’s participants: trunk-or-treats in church parking lots now rise in popularity. I parse the impetuses behind the construction of these innovative ritual spaces using in-depth interviews and participant observations alongside the Christian churches who host them and the parents and guardians who participate in them. Cursorily appearing solely as privatized defangings of otherwise venomous and pagan-aligned public rites, trunk-or-treats embody social action in other ways: by actualizing and expanding faith communities’ networks of social capital, they not only afford churches the means to surmount various challenges they face in the New South, but also provide safe and attractive options for security-conscious parents and guardians in contemporary suburban Atlanta.

Starting in March of 1999, the ASACA study has measured PM2.5 mass and composition using 24-hr integrated and continuous measurement techniques. The ASACA network has one rural (Fort Yargo) and three urban (Fort McPherson, South Dekalb, and Tucker) monitoring sites located in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Supplementary data from the SEARCH and STN monitoring networks is also used where applicable. Yearly-averaged TEOM measurements recorded violations of the annual PM2.5 NAAQS (>15 μg/m3) every year of the study, and the daily NAAQS (>65 μg/m3) was exceeded on five separate occasions. Seven-year PM2.5 averages for the sites ranged from 18.8 – 19.8 μg/m3. PCMs were employed to collect PM2.5 composition data, detect spatial variations of PM species, and compare results with the continuous mass measurements. From 2004 – 2005, approximately 28% of the mass was OC, 24% was sulfate, 10% was ammonium, 6% was nitrate, and 3% was EC. Lesser ions contribute less than 3% to the total PM2.5 mass. Spatial variation of the major species was minimal, especially for species formed from secondary processes. South Dekalb did exhibit elevated levels of EC compared to the other sites, most likely due to its proximity to an interstate heavily used by diesel vehicles. PCM averages were found to be less than the averaged TEOM data due to the presence of unidentified matter (UM). Depending on the season, UM can contribute as little as 5% and as much as 50+% of the total mass. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) concentrations from 2004 – 2005 were predicted using the EC-tracer method. Peak SOA occurs in mid-summer, and winter concentrations are significant due to biomass burning increasing the estimated OC/EC ratios. PCM, TEOM, and aethalometer data was also subjected to seasonal, day-of-the-week, and diurnal temporal variations. Active photochemistry plays an important role, as most species exhibit higher concentrations during summer months. The lone exception was nitrate, whose peak occurs in winter. Daily-averaged PM2.5 concentrations tend to peak late in the work-week and reach their low point on Sundays. Morning and afternoon rush-hour spikes in one-hour averaged PM2.5 are visible most days.

Background: Access to food is an issue that not only deals with the safety of food that people consume, but also entails the availability and access of food in certain areas or neighborhoods. Eating behavior is highly complex and results from the interplay of multiple influences across different contexts. An ecological approach is useful to guide research efforts related to eating behavior because of the emphasis on multilevel links. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the access to, availability, and price of food in various food outlets of two zip codes in Atlanta, Georgia, which differ in socioeconomic status (SES) and racial background. It is hypothesized that low SES communities have a lower availability and higher price of healthy foods, and also have a higher number of small grocery stores, convenience stores and gas station food markets. Methodology: Primary data were collected for this study. Two zip codes were selected in the Metropolitan Atlanta area, 30318 and 30329. Frequencies and independent sample t-test for small sample sizes was used to determine whether the items of the market basket was significantly different for the two zip codes. Results: The Market Basket Survey showed significant disparities in areas with convenience stores. People who may have access to convenience stores before will pay more for healthy food items, if they are available at all. Fruit and vegetables were least likely to be available in convenience stores. In terms of small food stores, items were available in national brands, which are more costly than chain grocery stores or supermarkets. The hypothesis was rejected. Conclusion: Maintaining a nutritious diet is impossible if healthy foods are not available; and it is not realistic to expect food retailers to address the problem without community support and investment. Local Governments and communities should assess needs to improve access to healthy foods and develop action plans to address deficiencies identified in their assessments.

No description available.

No description available.