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New model adds human reactions to flood risk assessment

A new land change model simulates interactions between urban growth, increased flooding, and human adaptation, offering deeper insights into adaptive capacities and identifying communities with limited resources. The model reduces projected developed land exposed to flooding by 5-24% depending on flood hazard zone.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 6, 2023

Single model predicts trends in employment, microbiomes, forests

Researchers developed a single model that predicts population fluctuations in urban employment, human gut microbiomes, and tropical forests. The model, SLRM, generates a narrow distribution of the most likely trajectories, allowing for prediction and response to variability across multiple domains.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 25, 2023

Rising seas will tighten vise on Miami even for people who are not flooded, says study

A new study finds that four out of five Miami-Dade County residents may face disruption or displacement due to sea-level rise, with lower-income people bearing the brunt. As habitable areas shrink and housing prices rise, only a small number of affluent residents can relocate, while many others are trapped in low-lying properties.

SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·TypeMeta-analysis·DateOct 16, 2023

LSU Health’s fish study finds clinic-based community program improved food security and health

A clinic-based community program improved food security scores, healthy eating behaviors, and depression scores in a vulnerable, food-insecure population. The Geaux Get Healthy Clinical Program provided comprehensive education and access to resources, leveraging community partnerships.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalNutrients·TypeObservational study·DateOct 12, 2023

Disaster-proofing sustainable neighborhoods requires thorough long-term planning, new Concordia study shows

A new study by Caroline Hachem-Vermette and Kuljeet Singh analyzed the design and energy characteristics of various neighborhoods to assess their vulnerabilities to power outages. The researchers found that thoughtful design can reduce a neighborhood's energy vulnerability during disruptions, and they recommend modifications to shelter...

SourceConcordia University·JournalRenewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 3, 2023

New program helps health professionals and community members determine health risks and create medical interventions for people experiencing homelessness

The CARE program, a rapid risk assessment tool, gathered data on immunization status, general health risk, and support needs of people experiencing homelessness. Automated dashboards provide secure, real-time information on resident needs, enabling health professionals to mitigate risks associated with homelessness.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateSep 22, 2023

Socially vulnerable populations are disproportionately exposed to wildfires in the West, study finds

A new study reveals that people with high social vulnerability are more exposed to wildfires in Oregon and Washington, with the number of exposed individuals tripling between 2011 and 2021. The study highlights the need for tailored wildfire preparation and response strategies for individual communities with different risk factors.

SourceOregon State University·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 20, 2023

Invasive red fire ants confirmed in Europe for the first time

Researchers confirm invasive red fire ant species Solenopsis invicta has established itself in Sicily, with potential to spread across Europe due to climate change. Urban areas are particularly at risk, and the team plans a multi-year treatment plan to eradicate nests and monitor the ants' spread.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateSep 11, 2023

Remoteness didn’t protect Amazonian Tsimané from COVID-19

A new study found that voluntary collective isolation alone was ineffective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 among the Amazonian Tsimané. The researchers used a computer model and serological testing to confirm their predictions, showing nearly identical infection rates across communities.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 24, 2023

Policies favoring high-volume hospitals may disadvantage rural cancer patients

Patients with cancer who live in rural Pennsylvania counties are more likely to receive complex surgeries at high-volume hospitals due to their perceived better outcomes. However, for less complex surgeries, rural patients are less likely to opt for high-volume hospitals despite potential benefits from centralization.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalJCO Oncology Practice·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 17, 2023

City-dwelling wildlife demonstrate “urban trait syndrome”

A study of 379 cities across 6 continents found that city-dwelling organisms have evolved smaller body sizes, diverse diets, and changes in reproduction and foraging strategies. The 'urban trait syndrome' affects different species groups, such as birds, beetles, and reptiles, with varying levels of mobility and dietary adaptations.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Communications·TypeObservational study·DateAug 8, 2023

Mesoamerica a model for modern metropolises

A recent study suggests that ancient Mesoamerican cities, such as Caracol and Teotihuacan, withstood environmental challenges like drought and earthquakes due to their advanced infrastructure and socio-economic systems. These cities' resiliency is often overlooked in historical accounts of their collapse.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeMeta-analysis·DateJul 24, 2023

Historical Redlining May Be Linked to Current Kidney Failure

A new study finds that long-term disinvestment in health and wealth resources in historically redlined neighborhoods contributes to a disproportionate rate of kidney failure among Black adults. Redlining, the discriminatory federal housing policy from the 1930s, has been associated with current racial inequities in poor health outcomes.

SourceBoston University School of Public Health·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 29, 2023

New nationwide modeling points to widespread racial disparities in urban heat stress

A new study finds that the average Black urban resident is exposed to disproportionately higher heat stress due to warmer air temperatures, while white residents experience cooler temperatures. The research highlights income- and race-based disparities in urban heat stress across US cities.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalOne Earth·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateJun 23, 2023

What’s a park worth to the economy?

Researchers developed a framework to estimate economic benefits of urban parks, finding improved mental health and air quality lead to significant cost savings. The Quaker Foods City Square park in Peterborough, Ontario, yielded estimated annual benefits of over $4 million, justifying financial investment.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateMay 17, 2023