The geography of foreclosure in Contra Costa County, California

Americans of all races and income levels recognize homeownership as a quintessential part of the American dream. This belief, along with federal policy that encourages homeownership and increased access to credit, has contributed to a dramatic rise in the number of families that own their home, particularly among low-income and minority households. In addition, rising homeownership in the first part of this decade contributed substantially to neighborhood revitalization, and brought much needed investment into low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. The recent subprime meltdown and rising foreclosures, however, threaten these gains. In this study, I use 2007 foreclosure data from Contra Costa County, California, to examine how foreclosures are distributed across neighborhoods, and to identify the neighborhood characteristics that are associated with foreclosure. I find that foreclosures are directly associated with subprime lending and that both subprime lending and foreclosures are concentrated in neighborhoods with high proportions of minority residents, lower-income households, and less educated households. These results have important policy implications for mortgage lending regulations and housing policies moving forward.Foreclosure - California

Fabrication of PEM Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates by Indirect SLS

The paper presents a new manufacturing technique involving Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) bipolar plate fabrication. A material system for bipolar plate fabrication was identified to satisfy both the cell performance requirement and SLS operation restriction. Carbonization and liquid epoxy infiltration are subsequently performed following the completion of SLS green bipolar plate. The finished SLS bipolar plate showed impressive surface finish and mechanical strength, and a single fuel cell was assembled with two SLS end plates and membrane electrode assembly (MEA) in between. Various physical property tests were performed with positive results. Fuel cell performance (voltage vs. current density, voltage vs. time, etc.) will be assessed in the near future.Mechanical Engineerin

The Role of Spirituality and Religiosity in Persons Living With Sickle Cell Disease

Purpose: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious debilitating chronic illness, affecting approximately 90,000 Americans and millions globally. Spirituality and religiosity (S/R) may ease the burden faced by persons living with SCD. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of S/R in adolescents and adults living with SCD in the research literature. Method: The electronic databases Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Health Source Nursing/Academic, ProQuest Health Module, PsycINFO, Medline, PubMed, and the American Theological Library Association were searched from January 1995 to December 2014. Findings: Of the 89 studies retrieved, 11 articles between 2001 and 2013 met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Four themes emerged. The themes included (a) S/R as sources of coping, (b) S/R enhance pain management, (c) S/R influence health care utilization, and (d) S/R improve quality of life. Discussion: Use of S/R may be significant in coping with SCD, managing pain, affecting hospitalizations, and affecting quality of life. This review can direct researchers exploring S/R in adolescents and adults living with SCD

Improvement of Electrical Conductivity of SLS PEM Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates

Previous work in this research demonstrated the feasibility of fabrication of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell bipolar plates by an indirect selective laser sintering (SLS) route. Properties of the SLS bipolar plate, such as flexural strength, corrosion resistance and gas impermeability, etc. are quite promising and satisfactory. However, initial results showed that there was still room for the improvement in electrical conductivity. This paper summaries the strategies investigated in an effort to increase the electrical conductivity, among which are: (1) infiltration of brown parts with conductive polymer (2) addition of a liquid phenolic infiltration/re-curing step prior to final sealing and (3) reduction of glassy carbon resistivity by curing process parameter control. Results show that the electrical conductivity value may be improved from 80 S/cm to around 108 S/cm, which is equivalent to a 35% jump, when the phenolic infiltration/re-curing step is applied before final epoxy sealing.Mechanical Engineerin

Domestic Human Trafficking Legislation in the 113th Congress

[Excerpt] This report examines the trafficking-related provisions in legislation that has at least been reported out of committee in the 113th Congress. Where applicable, it discusses companion legislation that may not have been considered in committee or other legislation that has received significant Congressional interest. The legislation includes the following: • The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Title XII of P.L. 113-4) enacted on March 7, 2013. This act was part of the larger The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013. • The E. Clay Shaw, Jr. Missing Children’s Assistance Reauthorization Act (P.L. 113-38), enacted on September 30, 2013. • The Fraudulent Overseas Recruitment and Trafficking Elimination Act (H.R. 3344).14 • The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2013 (H.R. 3530), placed on the House calendar on May 15, 2014. The companion legislation (S. 1738) has not been taken up in committee. • The Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act of 2013 (H.R. 3610), placed on the House calendar on May 13, 2014. The companion legislation (S. 1733) has not been taken up in committee. • The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Improving Opportunities for Youth in Foster Care Act (H.R. 4058), as ordered reported by the House Ways and Means Committee on April 29, 2014.15 • The SAVE Act of 2014 (H.R. 4225), placed on the House calendar on May 15, 2014. • International Megan’s Law to Prevent Demand for Child Sex Trafficking (H.R. 4573), as ordered reported by the House Foreign Affairs Committee on May 9, 2014. • The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744), as passed by the Senate on June 27, 2013. • The Supporting At-Risk Children Act (S. 1870), as ordered reported by the Senate Finance Committee on December 12, 2013.16 The following sections lay out issues raised in the bills. The issues are grouped under the following themes: (1) restoring victims through services and benefits, (2) unaccompanied minor trafficking victims, (3) protection of foreign national workers, (4) criminal justice, (5) improving data, (6) domestic sex trafficking of children, and (7) other issues that include inter-agency coordination and sex offender registry and notification

Sex Trafficking of Children in the United States: Overview and Issues for Congress

[Excerpt] This report provides an overview of sex trafficking of children in the United States. It first conceptualizes the issue, discussing the victims and perpetrators involved. It then outlines the federal response to investigating and prosecuting perpetrators as well as providing services to victims. The report concludes with a discussion of select issues concerning the federal response to sex trafficking of minors in the United States

Obstacle avoidance for redundant robots using configuration control

A redundant robot control scheme is provided for avoiding obstacles in a workspace during the motion of an end effector along a preselected trajectory by stopping motion of the critical point on the robot closest to the obstacle when the distance between is reduced to a predetermined sphere of influence surrounding the obstacle. Algorithms are provided for conveniently determining the critical point and critical distance

Developments in British banking: lessons for regulation and supervision

Banks and banking - Great Britain ; Great Britain

The Western regional economy

Federal Reserve District, 12th ; Economic conditions - West (U.S.)