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Background: Latina women are less likely to report engaging in leisure-time physical activity (PA) than non-Latina white women. This study evaluated the 24-month impact of a faith-based PA intervention targeting Latinas. Methods: The study is a cluster randomized controlled trial of a PA intervention or cancer screening comparison condition, with churches as the randomization unit. A total of 436 Latinas (aged 18-65 years) from 16 churches who engaged in low levels of self-report and accelerometer-based PA were enrolled. The experimental condition was a 24-month PA intervention, with in-person classes, social support, and environmental changes, led by community health workers (i.e., promotoras). At baseline, 12-, and 24 months, we assessed changes in accelerometer-based and self-reported moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA; primary outcomes). Secondary outcomes were light intensity activity, sedentary time, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference. Results: After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, a mixed effects analysis found significant increases in self-reported leisure time MVPA (p < 0.005) and marginal increases in accelerometer-assessed MVPA (p < 0.08) 24 months post-baseline in the intervention compared to the attention-control condition. Data showed significant associations between PA class attendance and engaging in MVPA as assessed by self-report and accelerometry. No significant changes were found for light activity, sedentary time, BMI, or waist circumference. Conclusions: Participants who attended the PA classes at least once a month engaged in significantly higher MVPA compared to those who did not. Maximizing engagement and maintenance strategies to enhance PA maintenance could contribute to important long-term health benefits. Trial registration: NCT01776632, Registered March 18, 2011. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying sites with refugial capacity can inform conservation efforts to assess the degradation status of global ecosystems (Keith et al., 2013), and it can guide landscape conservation planning (e.g., Moilanen, 2007). Although climate-change impacts are of mounting concern (e.g., Araújo et al., 2006; Scholze et al., 2006; Halsch et al., 2021), climate change is only one of many anthropogenic stressors contributing to biodiversity declines (Morris et al., 2020). Environmental stability is a key concept often applied when describing refugia for species and ecosystem persistence or resistance to change (Keppel et al., 2015, Morelli et al., 2020) under current and future climate change (McCullough et al., 2016). Keywords: amenazas; biodiversidad; cambio climático; cambio global; gestión y planificación estratégica; paisajes; sur de California; biodiversity; climate change; global change; landscapes; Southern California; strategic planning and management; threats; ; ; ; ; ; ; EN amenazas biodiversidad cambio climático cambio global gestión y planificación estratégica paisajes sur de California biodiversity climate change global change landscapes Southern California strategic planning and management threats 1 11 11 03/02/22 20220201 NES 220201 INTRODUCTION The specter of biodiversity loss due to human activities is widely recognized and well described in natural systems (Maxwell et al., 2016). [Extracted from the article]

This study explores a tool used to assess economic development, technological innovation, environmental sustainability and liveability in urban areas. The research employs qualitative and quantitative analysis in the development of an index – the Sustainability–Innovation–Local Economic Development Index (Sustain-LED Index) – that considers macroeconomic and environmental indicators and associated policies implemented in the largest US metropolitan areas. The Sustain-LED Index could broaden the range of tools available to policy-makers for identifying and removing obstacles for improving the quality of life, reducing inequalities and diminishing the degree of pollution in urban areas. It could represent a supporting tool for local entities to design new policies for spurring local economic development and it could be used for designing new urban policies throughout a greater understanding of the economic, social and environmental consequences caused by urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although public support for physical activity-friendly Traditional Neighborhood Developments (TNDs) appears to be growing, information is lacking on private sector perspectives and how economic factors (eg, fuel prices) might influence the development and sale of TNDs. Methods: A sample of realtors from the National Association of Realtors (n = 4950) and developers from the National Association of Home Builders (n = 162) were surveyed in early 2009 to assess factors influencing homebuyers' decisions; incentives and barriers to developing TNDs; effects of depressed housing market conditions and financing on sales; trends in buying; and energy considerations (eg, green building). Results: Realtors believed that homebuyers continue to rank affordability, safety and school quality higher than TND amenities. Developers reported numerous barriers to TNDs, including the inability to overcome governmental/political hurdles, lack of cooperation between government agencies, and lack of market demand. Yet, realtors believed clients are increasingly influenced by gas and oil prices, and developers reported that clients are looking for energy efficient homes, reduced commute time, and walkable neighborhoods. Respondents reported consumers are more interested in living in a TND than 5 years ago. Conclusions: Activity-friendly TNDs appear to be increasing in demand, but developers and realtors reported significant barriers to creating these communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Concurrent validity of Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS) items was evaluated with objective measures of the built environment using geographic information systems (GIS). Methods: A sample of 878 parents of children 10 to 16 years old (mean age 43.5 years, SD = 6.8, 34.8% non-White, 63.8% overweight) completed NEWS and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. GIS was used to develop 1-mile street network buffers around participants' residences. GIS measures of the built environment within participants' buffers included percent of commercial and institutional land uses; number of schools and colleges, recreational facilities, parks, transit stops, and trees; land topography; and traffic congestion. Results: Except for trees and traffic, concordance between the NEWS and GIS measures were significant, with weak to moderate effect sizes (r = -0.09 to -0.36, all P ≤ 01). After participants were stratified by physical activity level, stronger concordance was observed among active participants for some measures. A sensitivity analysis of self-reported distance to 15 neighborhood destinations found a 20-minute (compared with 10- or 30-minute) walking threshold generally had the strongest correlations with GIS measures. Conclusions: These findings provide evidence of the concurrent validity of self-reported built environment items with objective measures. Physically active adults may be more knowledgeable about their neighborhood characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neighborhood-level environmental features have been associated with adult physical activity and weight status, but this link has not been established for adolescents. Methods: Community design and access to recreational facilities variables were derived using geographic information systems (GIS) for 799 adolescents (age 11 to 15 y, mean = 12.8 y, 53% girls, 43% ethnic minority). Environment variables were calculated for a 1-mile buffer around each participant's residence. Accelerometers measured min/d of physical activity. Results: Number of nearby recreation facilities and number of nearby parks correlated positively with girls' physical activity, and intersection density inversely related to girls' physical activity. Retail floor area ratio correlated positively with boys' physical activity. No community design or access to recreation variables were related to BMI-percentile. Conclusions: There was limited evidence that both community design and access to recreation facilities variables were associated with adolescent physical activity, but additional built environment variables need to be studied that have particular relevance for youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of social subsystem costs and benefits in information technology (IT) investment choices has been a difficult problem for IT decision-makers. Past research has shown that although some organizations adequately and consistently consider social subsystem issues when making IT investment decisions, many do not. This demonstrates a discrepancy between prescriptive theory and descriptive evidence. Our study addresses this theory-practice disconnection by investigating which firms, and under what conditions IT investments are likely to follow or violate prescriptions. Data collected from a national sample of 200 firms shed light on the firm and situational factors that affect the consideration of social subsystem issues during the IT investment decision process. The amount of social subsystem disruption associated with the IT in question, the strategic relevance of the IT to the organization, and the firm's continuous-learning culture each have direct or interactive influences on the decision process. Specifically, they impact the consideration of social subsystem costs and benefits for IT investments. Organizational size and industry are unrelated to this facet of decision-making. Overall, the empirical results help us better understand (1) what kinds of IT decisions cause stronger evaluation of social subsystem costs and benefits, (2) what types of firms give the greatest consideration to these issues, and (3) which intangible social subsystem costs or benefits are seen as the most important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information technology (IT) investment decisions have traditionally focused on financial or technological issues. Responding to what appears to be a lack of payoff in IT investments, researchers as well as practitioners recently have suggested that traditional valuation analyses are incomplete and have called for additional work to identify "hidden" or seldom-considered costs and benefits. The present paper attempts to improve understanding of a chief source of these hidden costs and benefits: those changes in the social subsystem brought about by a new IT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last decade, demand for active transportation modes such as walking and bicycling has increased. While it is desirable to provide high levels of safety for these eco-friendly modes of travel, unfortunately, the overall percentage of pedestrian and bicycle fatalities increased from 13% to 18% of total road-related fatalities in the last decade. In San Diego County, although the total number of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities decreased over the same period of time, a similar trend with a more drastic change is observed; the overall percentage of pedestrian and bicycle fatalities increased from 19.5% to 31.8%. This study aims to estimate pedestrian and bicyclist exposure and identify signalized intersections with highest risk for walking and bicycling within the city of San Diego, California, USA. Multiple data sources such as automated pedestrian and bicycle counters, video cameras, and crash data were utilized. Data mining techniques, a new sampling strategy, and automated video processing methods were adopted to demonstrate a holistic approach that can be applied to identify facilities with highest need of improvement. Cluster analysis coupled with stratification was employed to select a representative sample of intersections for data collection. Automated pedestrian and bicycle counting models utilized in this study reached a high accuracy, provided certain conditions exist in video data. Results from exposure modeling showed that pedestrian and bicyclist volume was characterized by transportation network, population, traffic generators, and land use variables. There were both similarities and differences between pedestrian and bicycle models, including different spatial scales of influence by mode. Additionally, the study quantified risk incorporating injury severity levels, frequency of victims, distance crossed, and exposure into a single equation. It was found that not all intersections with the highest number of pedestrian and bicyclist victims were identified as high-risk after exposure and other factors such as crash severity were taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic surveys have become one of the most popular methods of data collection in research. In order to obtain satisfactory results, good response rates are needed. We examine response rates to a survey administered in a face-to-face class-based setting collected using an electronic survey tool. The electronic survey was administered in four separate instances where each instance involved the survey administrator using either an active or passive administrative approach, and either offering or declining to offer extra credit. While no significant difference was found in actual responses to questions between the four groups, a significant difference was found in response rates between respondents who were offered extra credit and those who were not, and between surveys that were administered using active versus passive approaches. Other expected findings include higher responses in individual groups using the active approach and offering extra credit. An unexpected result occurred in the groups where no extra credit was offered: No significant difference was found between the active and passive administrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social networking sites have experienced tremendous growth and have become an integral part of the daily lives of a large portion of the population, both in the United States, as well as worldwide. Whereas a vast majority of university students log in to Facebook every day, both research and implementation of Facebook as a learning tool in higher education is lacking. This study investigates the question, "How can Facebook be used to enhance educational experiences beyond the traditional classroom?" To facilitate this research a multi-round Dephi study was conducted among students from a southwestern university in the United States with the purpose of generating and ranking ideas regarding the use of Facebook at the university level. Results are reported and discussion and conclusions are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facebook is an informing social networking application that has experienced phenomenal worldwide user growth within a relatively short time and continues to grow at a rapid rate. This study examines the motivations for users to continue to use Facebook after adoption. Using a transdisciplinary approach, we draw on the technology acceptance research stream, post-adoption theories, and social capital theory to develop a model of the critical factors that affect the post-adoptive use of Facebook. We argue that social capital is also poised to play a significant part in social networking informing environments for the foreseeable future. Other critical factors affecting post-adoptive use of Facebook include hedonic enjoyment, perceived usefulness, satisfaction, and attitude toward using. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

California State Density Bonus Law §65915-18 financially incentivizes housing developers to produce affordable housing by granting density bonuses to those who designate a percentage of the total units for residence by low or moderate income households. By incorporating affordable housing units alongside market-rate units, state density bonus law fosters opportunities to enhance neighborhood level socio-economic diversity. This paper investigates the effectiveness of density bonus policy at promoting socio-economic diversity within the City of San Diego by examining locational patterns of density bonus implementation and neighborhood demographic characteristics. This study utilizes spatial and non-spatial statistical analyses to identify trends and correlations in density bonus usage, housing stock, and racial and economic characteristics. The results indicate that density bonus usage in San Diego has not fostered socio-economic integration; rather its usage is clustered in neighborhoods characterized by high concentrations of Hispanics, Blacks, and multi-family housing units. The findings underscore the need to refine supply-side affordable housing tools so that they are effective in a range of land markets, and not only in the traditionally lower value land markets where minority households tend to reside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cell phone industry is in a unique position that lies in the intersection of high technology and service industry. There is exponential growth in the mobile phone service market with new innovation and modern technology serving as the catalyst to this growth. The aim of this study is to provide insight into the importance of quality attributes to behavioral intentions. In this work we posit a research model based on the quality literature. The proposed model is compared with the predictive level of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Using Partial Least Squares (PLS) our findings suggest that, as hypothesized, perceived service quality and perceived satisfaction in web access quality are essential in consumers' intent of continued service usage (ICU). Also, our parsimonious model is a more highly predictive model than TAM in explaining an internet-enabled mobile phone user's continued service usage intention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to present a conceptual model that posits the strategic relationships between information technology, clinic operations and physicians and the subsequent outcomes to patients, physicians and clinics which can lead to competitive advantages in the healthcare environment. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on a review of the literature and proposes a conceptual model of the strategic relationships essential for success. The scope of the paper is based on the legal, economic and political triggers impacting the strategic relationship between electronic medical records, clinic interoperability and physicians as owners/users. Findings – The paper presents the formation of a conceptual model which identifies the strategic alignment between clinics, physicians and information technology, more specifically, electronic medical records. Research limitations/implications – This paper is limited in that it is not an empirical investigation but a conceptual model of future research endeavours. Future research endeavours should seek empirical findings related to the relationships proposed in the model. Practical implications – Physicians, clinics and patients should be aware of the impact electronic medical records have on the health environment as well as the potential competitiveness due to health consumerism enabled by electronic medical records. Social implications – Electronic medical records, personal health records and electronic health records are infiltrating society; subsequently health consumers should determine how this technology may impact their healthcare. Originality/value – The value of this paper is to provide a conceptual model as a basis for future empirical research and awareness of changes in the competitiveness of the healthcare environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of social networking sites (SNSs) introduces a variety of interesting behaviors by users of these online informing environments. SNSs have become important informing channels for both personal and commercial interests, but paradoxically some experience enormous growth even when unfavorable consequences are continually reported, while others decline. This research investigates new factors influencing SNS satisfaction and continuance intention. A survey given to college students in a North American university using sites like Facebook or MySpace was used to examine satisfaction and continuance intention based on transdisciplinary theories of technology acceptance and satisfaction, with the addition of two new constructs. The results indicate that authority figure users have a negative moderating effect on satisfaction, while resistance to change positively affects continuance intention, even in the face of such dissatisfaction. Limitations of the study include the use of only North American students as subjects. Therefore, cultural issues and the use of a student sample make the results inapplicable to the general population. The results of the study help explain why some SNS environments might enjoy growth and popularity even as others fail, extending the literature on continuance intention and also providing implications for practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge sharing is an important variable in the knowledge management literature emphasizing the importance of social factors. Recent research has revealed that social-psychological and sociological factors are imperative to knowledge sharing. The theory of reasoned action (TRA) was designed to model how any specified behavior under volitional control is produced by beliefs, attitudes, and intentions towards that behavior. Organizational justice encompasses three dimensions: interactive, procedural, and distributive justice. This study explores knowledge sharing through the lens of organizational justice by empirically testing a model that combined elements from the Theory of Reasoned Action and the Organizational Justice Theory. The study findings show that attitude toward knowledge sharing, subjective norm, and procedural justice have a direct impact on the intention to share knowledge, while distributive and interactional justice influence it indirectly via attitude toward knowledge sharing. Implications for both theory and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Executive Summary Social networking sites have seen tremendous growth and are widely used around the world. Nevertheless, the use of social networking sites in educational contexts is an under explored area. This paper uses a qualitative methodology, autoethnography, to investigate how social networking sites, specifically Facebook™, can help first semester doctoral students adapt to a Ph.D. pro-gram and a new national culture. Each week during the semester, a Ph.D. Student Tip and a Cultural Tip was posted. Students would then post related discussions, observations, and/or questions. At the conclusion of the semester the doctoral students shared their thoughts about participating in the Facebook™ group through autobiographical narratives. A technique called open coding was used to analyze the narratives. Our findings suggest three emergent themes. Social networking sites can aid adaptation through: 1) facilitating knowledge exchange, 2) alleviating apprehension, and 3) enabling socialization and building community. The data showed that the Facebook™ discussions aided in various types of knowledge exchange, providing a conceptual map that facilitated greater adaptation. Next, the interactions appeared to help minimize trepidation related to embarking on a new program of study and adjusting to a new national culture. Third, the Facebook™ group was useful fostering socialization and community among the students. We make the following recommendations for professors when implementing SNS (Social Network Site) groups: 1) establish a Facebook™ group with a course-related identity, 2) be sensitive to security and privacy issues, 3) provide tips to "seed" various types of knowledge ex-change, 4) encourage participation, and 5) assess and adjust. While our research is exploratory in nature, we believe it provides a foundation for future research in this important and rapidly expanding area of SNS usage. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study examines the effects of a redevelopment project, called the Model School Project, on the community of City Heights in central San Diego, California. Sixty-two in-person surveys were administered to gather the perspectives of three groups affected by the Model School Project: displaced residents, existing residents, and project participants. The study's aim was to determine how the perceptions of project residents and professional project participants varied, in other words how the 'insider' and 'outsider' place identities varied. The survey showed significant differences in residents' and professional project participants' views related to neighborhood quality and project impacts. The findings suggest that the planning profession still faces hurdles in accurately understanding the nature of blight and thereby bringing about effective neighborhood change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite decades of research surrounding determinants of alcohol and tobacco (A&T) use among adolescents, built environment influences have only recently been explored. This study used ordinal regression on 205 Latino adolescents to explore the influence of the built environment (proximity to A&T retailers) on A&T use, while controlling for recognized social predictors. The sample was 45% foreign-born. A&T use was associated with distance from respondents’ home to the nearest A&T retailer (−), acculturation (+), parents’ consistent use of contingency management (−), peer use of A&T (+), skipping school (+), attending school in immediate proximity to the US/Mexico border (+), and the interaction between the distance to the nearest retailer and parents’ consistent use of contingency management (+). The association between decreasing distance to the nearest A&T retailer and increased A&T use in Latino adolescents reveals an additional risk behavior determinant in the US–Mexico border region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the informing science perspective that construes systems at three levels of abstraction, we integrated findings from prior studies into a model for system use in mandatory environments. Data collected from 333 municipal government employees using mandatory systems were used to test the model. We found that captive users' attitudes toward system use plays a pivotal role while intention to use, the central construct in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), loses much of its explanatory power in mandatory settings. Both attitude and intention are not good predictors of use. Data analysis also supported our hypotheses about information quality, a system characteristic important to the first-level informing instance, and net benefits from system use, which are the main objectives of informing at the second level of abstraction. We discuss the implications of our findings for system design, the fundamental activity at the third level of abstraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is lack of empirical, broad-based research in the area of comparative, cross-cultural studies that focus on knowledge sharing. Using the knowledge-based view (KBV) as the theoretical foundation, the study investigates how organizational practices in two distinct national cultures support knowledge sharing activities and the associated supporting organizational practices that are widely transferable. We propose and empirically test a model that examines the relationships among strategic, decision and technology practices and organizational knowledge sharing in two distinct national cultures (US and Japan). The results of the study suggest that despite the existing cultural contrasts in these two countries there are some common organizational practices that positively impact an organization's knowledge-sharing environment. While these results support a model of core organizational practices that foster knowledge sharing and that are transferable across national cultures our findings also support the need for careful consideration of the type of practices applied across different cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One important aspect of consumer relationships is trust. Conducting business on the Web is relatively new compared to traditional business and many of the factors related to consumer trust related to the Web remained unexplored. To increase our understanding about trust building on the Internet, this article studies trust with a focus on its relationship to Web design characteristics, specifically perceived quality of presentation, perceived ease of navigation, and several user attributes: prior internet experience, Web users' self efficacy, and gender differences. A research model is proposed that builth upon prior research on trust. A survey is developed based on the constructs and relationships in the model. The data analysis and results confirm five out of eight of the hypotheses associated with the model. Theoretical and practical implications are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from a randomized clinical trial were used to examine the extent to which a health promotion intervention affected changes in psychosocial constructs and if so whether these in turn explained changes in physical activity (PA). PA and psychosocial data on 878 adolescents (ages 11-15) recruited through primary care providers (age M = 12.7 years, SD = 1.3; 58% white non-Hispanic) were measured at baseline, six and 12 months. Parallel process latent growth curve analyses found positive relationships between the growth trajectories of behavior change strategies, self-efficacy, family support, peer support and the growth trajectory of PA. However, mediation analyses did not reveal statistically significant intervention-mediated effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Cell phone use while driving is hazardous; it quadruples the risk of a collision and multiplies the risk of a fatality nine-fold. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 8% of young drivers and 5% of all drivers use cell phones while driving. Participants and Methods The authors trained graduate student volunteers to observe the daytime cell phone use of 3,650 drivers leaving the student exits of college parking structures at a large university. Results The student observers recorded a cell phone usage rate of 11.1%, which was significantly higher than that seen in the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (p < .00001). Female drivers were 1.51 times more likely to be using a cell phone while driving than were men (12.9% vs 8.6%, p < .001), and drivers with passengers were 0.15 times more likely to drive while telephoning than were solo drivers (1.8% vs 12.1%, p < .001). Conclusions The authors offer suggestions for possible interventions to reduce this hazardous behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the importance of access to light rail transit and highway systems in estimating office and industrial property rents. The analysis improves our understanding of the role played by transport facilities in locational decisions for the firm. Hedonic price analysis is utilised on longitudinal data for 520 office properties and 500 industrial properties collected from the San Diego metropolitan area over the period from 1986 to 1995. Results indicate that access to highways is a significant factor in estimating office property rents in the San Diego area, while access to light rail systems is not significant for office properties. Industrial firms in the San Diego area are not paying rent premiums to locate near highways or light rail transit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have attempted to augment the traditional cost/benefit analysis model used in the IT decision process. However, frequently social subsystem issues are inadequately considered. Survey data, collected from a U.S. sample of 200 executives, provides an empirical assessment of how these issues compare with other IT decision criteria given differing decision types. The social subsystem issues considered most important by decision makers are also identified and the manner by which they consider these issues is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction and operation of the Century Freeway (I-105) created problems for and presented opportunities to the socioeconomically diverse south Los Angeles County area. Early decisions regarding the interstate facility effected economic decline of the area, encouraging disinvestment and forcing dislocation of residents. However, construction and operation provided job and housing opportunities in a depressed area, relieved urban congestion on arterial streets and other highways and provided a direct route to Los Angeles International Airport. In this study, travel behaviour benefits to local residents are analysed. We report modest changes in routes taken to work and shopping, general satisfaction with time and money savings associated with the system and impressive subsistence travel-time decreases for automobile trips. However travel-time benefits are not shared equally across ethnic groups and geographical locations. We discuss these findings in the context of higher percentages of central city-area residents reporting that the Century is not a route to work for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which proposed a model for motivational intentions and antecedents in information technology retraining context. Motivation theories applied in training research; Research model of motivational intentions; Conclusion.

Construction and operation of the Century Freeway (1-105) created problems for and presented opportunities to the socioeconomically diverse south Los Angeles County area. Early decisions regarding the interstate facility effected economic decline of the area, encouraging disinvestment and forcing dislocation of residents. However, construction and operation provided job and housing opportunities in a depressed area, relieved urban congestion on arterial streets and other highways and provided a direct route to Los Angeles International Airport. In this study, travel behaviour benefits to local residents are analysed. We report modest changes in routes taken to work and shopping, general satisfaction with time and money savings associated with the system and impressive subsistence travel-time decreases for automobile trips. However travel-time benefits are not shared equally across ethnic groups and geographical locations. We discuss these findings in the context of higher percentages of central city-area residents reporting that the Century is not a route to work for them. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Discusses a study which reviewed empirical studies of the relationship between transportation facilities and property values. Methods and design of the first and second generation highway studies; Effects of rail transit on land values; Conclusions.

Policies that are aimed at discouraging commuters from solo driving have become a part of overall efforts to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion. Since driving alone is the overwhelming choice of employed residents in US metropolitan areas, the political acceptability of proposed policy changes plays a role in their success. The 1992 Orange County (CA) Annual Survey asked employed solo drivers to rate their likelihood of changing from solo driving in response to various fees and incentives. Fewer say they would be very likely to stop solo driving if they were charged a parking fee at work (20%), a smog fee (17%) or a congestion fee (16%), than if their employers paid them a cash bonus for stopping solo driving (28%), or if more public transit (33%) or more carpools at work (35%) were available. Young and lower-status solo drivers are more likely than others to say they would stop driving alone if there were fees or cash bonuses. Current non-solo drivers tend to be young and low income, providing a validity check on the demographic predictors of stated preferences. The findings are discussed in light of recent policy changes in Southern California. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Change in local land use policy is generally a necessary precursor to future land use changes. Using the recently opened Century Freeway/ Transitway (I-105) in Los Angeles County as a case study, this article examines the land use policy responses of local jurisdictions traversed by a new transportation facility. Focusing on this local policy context, we analyze former and current general plans and zoning ordinances from the 13 jurisdictions near the freeway! transitway and we interview city managers or directors of community development from each jurisdiction. Changes have most often been to foster commercial and mixed use designation. However, our analysis of zoning changes in the corridor area also indicates that some jurisdictions are attempting to deintensify land uses, and this dynamic is even more evident when a wider analysis area of the affected jurisdictions is employed (one mile band). We offer several reasons for these results and comment on relevance to an understanding of accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: 1) Determine if follicular thyroid lesions in a Veteran Affairs (VA) population are at increased risk of harboring malignancy compared to the general population. 2) Analyze imaging modalities leading to diagnosis. Method: Retrospective analysis of 107 patients undergoing partial or total thyroidectomy from 2005 to 2010 at a single Veteran Affairs hospital. Outcome measures included age, sex, method of nodule detection, fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytopathology, final histopathology, associated 2deoxy‐2[18F]fluoro‐D‐glucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET) uptake, and incidence of cancer compared with previously published data. Results: Age range was 27 to 84 years (mean, 60 years). Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytopathology results were benign in 31% (n = 33), follicular lesion in 41% (n = 46); suspicious for malignancy or malignant in 11.2% (n = 12). The overall malignancy rate was 36.4% (n = 39). Of the indeterminant FNA lesions, 41% (n = 19) had malignancy confirmed histopathologically. This is higher compared to recently published rates of malignancy in follicular lesions (15%‐30%). In 9 of the 10 patients who underwent 2deoxy‐2[18F]fluoro‐D‐glucose positron emission tomography (FDG‐PET), focal thyroid uptake was identified and was significantly (P <. 01) associated with malignancy. This percentage is also much higher prevalence than the approximately 33% reported. Conclusion: Follicular thyroid nodules of undetermined significance on FNA may harbor malignancy more frequently in the VA population compared to the general population. Focal FDG‐PET uptake is significantly associated with malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]