International housing partnership exchange

Housing

The economic crisis and community development finance: an industry assessment

For thirty years, the community development finance industry—banks, credit unions, loan funds, community development corporations, venture funds, microfinance institutions—has quietly provided responsible, well-designed and well priced credit to lower-income people and communities. These entities have provided this credit with the support of the federal government, through the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, the Low Income Housing and New Markets Tax Credits, the Small Business Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and various housing and facilities development programs. The industry has also been supported in its efforts by mainstream institutions such as banks and insurance companies, most frequently motivated by the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) or by concern that CRA-like obligations would be imposed. Philanthropic foundations and supporters and state and local governments have also played their parts. The result: a community development finance industry that has survived and even prospered during recessions and political downdrafts. But the field, and the communities, businesses, and individuals it serves, are hurting now, and fearing bigger hurt. This paper examines this situation and focuses attention on what needs to be done.

Dietary quality in vegetarian and omnivorous female students in Germany: a retrospective study

Vegetarian diets have gained in popularity, especially among highly educated women, and are considered beneficial to health. Comparative studies assessing the diet of vegetarians against omnivores are rather limited and often provide ambivalent results. Therefore, this study examined the nutrient intake and nutritional quality of vegetarian and omnivorous diets in a group of 61 female students in Germany. Habitual dietary intake was evaluated using a validated graphical online food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Differences in nutrient intakes were analyzed by Mann–Whitney-U-Tests. Odds Ratios (OR) were calculated for vegetarians exceeding dietary reference values (DRV) compared to omnivores. The overall nutritional quality was assessed using the Healthy-Eating-Index-2015 (HEI-2015). In omnivores, intakes of total energy from saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-n3-PUFA), cholesterol, sucrose, lactose, retinol, and cobalamin were significantly higher than in vegetarians. Significantly lower intakes were observed for fiber, magnesium, and beta-carotene. Significant OR were detected for total fat (OR = 0.29), SFA (OR = 0.04), beta-carotene (OR = 4.55), and cobalamin (OR = 0.32). HEI-2015 scores were higher for vegetarians than for omnivores (79 points versus 74 points) and significant differences were recorded for the HEI-2015 components dairy, seafood plant proteins, fatty acids, added sugars, and saturated fatty acids

Bibliothèques et sciences de l\u27information : quel dialogue ? - Programme

Face aux évolutions technologiques, scientifiques, économiques, sociales, culturelles et politiques de leur environnement, les bibliothèques en tant qu\u27organismes culturels et scientifiques doivent repenser leurs pratiques, leur positionnement économique, politique et institutionnel, et leur rôle social, culturel et scientifique. Dans ce contexte, qu\u27attendent les bibliothèques de la recherche ? Quels thématiques et projets de recherche répondraient à leurs besoins ? Les sciences de l\u27information peuvent-elles apporter des réponses aux enjeux actuels ? Pour répondre aux interrogations posées par ces nouveaux défis, le colloque croise les approches et expériences de bibliothécaires et chercheurs en sciences de l\u27information de nombreux pays ( France, Canada, Etats-Unis, Allemagne, Royaume-Uni...