Riverside, California, located approximately 55 miles east of Los Angeles, is home to a sprawling population of over 320,000 residents. Previously a citrus farming town, Riverside has evolved into an industrial manufacturing city competing with others of its size. Public transportation in Riverside is deficient compared to larger cities across the United States, with routes taking over 100% longer than personal vehicle routes. A Geographical Information System and qualitative data assessment were used as analysis tools to determine the accessibility of the existing infrastructure. Mapping identified transportation covered areas, while qualitative data examined income levels as a potential factor. Two neighborhood groups, Canyon Crest in the southeast and La Sierra in the northwest, were selected for analysis. La Sierra lacks public transport coverage and has a lower median household income, meaning there is a greater reliance on public transit. Canyon Crest, despite limited public transportation, has a higher median household income, showing the need for broader public transit accessibility beyond lower-income demographics. This study revealed that while transportation infrastructure exists within these neighborhoods, the frequency of bus services falls short, limiting many from using public transit. Addressing these gaps is essential to encourage more residents to use public transportation and reduce reliance on personal vehicles, considering that over 73% of commuters currently drive single-use transport.

This thesis explores the intersection of spatial accessibility, social equity, and neighbourhood demographics within the context of emerging urban challenges related to plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) infrastructure. Incorporating sociological theories such as spatial accessibility and spatial segregation, combined with statistical methods including network routing analyses and multilevel modelling, it examines how neighbourhood demographics shape patterns of spatial accessibility to public charging infrastructure across the city of Gothenburg. In considering neighbourhood demographics in urban planning processes, municipalities can develop more equitable urban development strategies that facilitate EV adoption outside of prevalent demographics. The findings highlight current disparities in access to public charging opportunities, particularly in segregated neighbourhoods, and stress the need for targeted planning strategies to promote social inclusion in this area. This can contribute to local PEV charging network expansion by providing key insights and points for further research and provides a foundation for discussions on related areas, including the provision of emerging transport initiatives such as public car-sharing points.

This thesis investigates the impact that changing age demographics have on household debt-to-income ratios across 16 European countries using fixed effect panel data regression analysis. This study is conducted for the period between 2000 and 2021, and investigates how different age groups contribute to variations in household debt-to-income ratios, based on the life cycle hypothesis. Major findings point to a negative relationship in regards to the presence of older population, particularly older workers in the labor force, on debt-to-income ratios. On the other hand, the young adults, majorly those aged 30-39 years, present a correlation that is positive. The paper gives insight into how changing age structures may impact household debt at the macro level, offering considerations for policymakers.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2018. / INTRODUCTION: Neck pain is considered to be one of the most disabling conditions, with a universal prevalence among youth, adult and elderly populations. However, despite its disabling nature and its high prevalence there is still much uncertainty surrounding the aetiology of the pain and the extent to which the condition is influenced by the intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of an individual. While there is growing evidence to support the notion that marked bio-psychosocial associations exist with neck pain, this literature is heavily weighted toward an adult and a developed nation context leaving developing nations and the student population largely under-researched in comparison. Moreover, while a high prevalence of neck pain and its associated risk factors exist in the student population among health sciences and non-health sciences programmes, across many levels of study, the literature is ambivalent about which faculty and level of study is more at risk, if any. The first year of university stands out among the rest in that the students undergo a significant transition and are required to adapt to a new environment and style of learning compared to what they have been used to. Furthermore, students have been observed to exit first year with higher levels of distress than were present in the beginning of the year, suggesting that this unique environment may influence the psychosocial well-being of students. The extent and strength of this relationship is yet to be determined in a South African tertiary educational context and this is even more true of the first year student population at the Durban University of Technology. Research on the unique bio-psychosocial factors of these students would provide a more holistic understanding of the extent to which these factors exist and the role they play in the general well-being of the students and in the development of neck pain. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed, firstly, to determine the prevalence and psychosocial risk factors of neck pain in registered first year Faculty of Health Sciences students at the Durban University of Technology and, secondly, to determine the association between neck pain presentation, demographic characteristics, socio-demographic and psychosocial risk factors. The outcomes of this study could possibly have a threefold benefit (for the student, the institution, and the chiropractic profession at large). RESEARCH DESIGN: A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was adopted in this research. This design was chosen as it was believed to be the best suited to achieving the aims and objectives of the study. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: Neck pain questionnaires were administered to the first year Faculty of Health Sciences students at the Durban University of Technology towards the end of the academic year in order to determine the prevalence of neck pain and its associated demographic, socio-demographic, and psychosocial risk factors. There was a final sample size of 135 participants achieving a response rate of 54.7% for the study. Data was captured by the researcher and sent to a statistician for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A high prevalence of neck pain was found among the students (72%) with symptoms of depression (59.8%), anxiety (68.1%), and stress (53.6%) also being highly prevalent among this group. However, when neck pain was quantified by its characteristics the related impact was comparatively low. There was a common theme observed in the results highlighting the association between stress and neck pain, with stress furthermore being determined as an independent risk factor for neck pain (p = 0.023) with an odds ratio of 1.1. This result was not surprising, however, considering the stressors which emerged in the results highlighting factors such as transport protests, student protests, upcoming tests and financial aid as stress causing factors among the participants. The results provided valuable insight which enabled recommendations to be made about the direction of future research as well as recommendations for the Institution and the Chiropractic profession in the approach and management of students enrolled in tertiary education and with neck pain. / M

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This explanatory mixed-methods policy analysis describes how school counselors' thoughts and attitudes contribute to the implementation fidelity of the Academic and Career Plan (ACP) policy in a suburban Virginia school division. A quantitative survey investigated counselor thoughts about the policy, implementation behaviors, and counselor ideas about equity issues related to providing college and career planning services to at risk students. Counselor interviews were conducted to provide deeper insight about the street level implementation practices and beliefs of counselors. Findings reveal that counselors place substantial value in the ACP policy and think the process is useful for connecting student interests and postsecondary goals to high school programs of study. Counselors implement the ACP policy with high fidelity because the policy incorporates counselor beliefs such as integrating the career pathway model into the course selection process. Counselors report spending more time assisting higher socioeconomic groups with college planning which results in less time for supporting at risk students. Findings indicate that counselors recognize the need at risk students have for additional support during postsecondary planning but are inhibited by the demands of higher socioeconomic groups. Finally, implications for school leaders related to improving counselor services to at risk students are discussed.

HOW THE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT ARE GETTING GREEN? Factors Influencing Environmental Policy. Jan Skalík Abstract In the new millennium the Chamber of Deputies has been significantly less supportive towards environmental protection than it was in the 1990s. It has been proved by the analysis of 156 votes concerning the environment in the period 1994 - 2010. Unequivocally, the strongest and the most influential factor in terms of the impact on the other characteristics and the environmental benefits is to which Parliamentary Club the deputy belongs. From the comparison of voting patterns of the Green Party (SZ) and Civic Democratic Party (ODS) it is possible to demonstrate why the environmental legislation is supported mostly by women and MPs from Moravian districts. Generally it could be said that growing political success in the parliamentary right-wing parties is linked to less favourable voting for the environment. However, among centrist and left wing parties this is different: proenvironmental voting is connected to success in the Chamber. MPs who vote pro- environmentally are often older and were elected to the Chamber earlier. While a degree in engineering correlates with an unenthusiastic relationship to the environment, a degree in the humanities is often related to its protection. If an MP is...

"This thesis is a study of the Negro voter in Austin, Texas. The writer hopes that the findings of this study will be a valuable addition to our knowledge of the Negro voter in American politics. The thesis certainly does answer pertinent questions about Negro politics in Austin, Texas. What is the attitude of the Austin Negro toward the two major political parties? What are the attitudes of the Negro voter towards Negro political leaders and organizations? What are some of the personal factors which affect who does and who does not vote among Negroes? What is the influence of the poll tax upon the political behavior of the Negro? It is hoped that this study will answer these questions and others concerning Negro political life in Austin."-- leaf 1.