Articles tagged with Urban Studies
A new Ohio State University study of 617 tobacco users found that vaping did not boost quit rates, and dual users were no more likely to stop smoking. Researchers say the results suggest that for heavy smokers, tried-and-true methods like medication and nicotine replacement are still the best approach.
Researchers found that using low-cost portable air purifiers at home significantly lowered urban seniors' fine particulate matter exposure and blood pressure. The study showed a 40% reduction in air pollutant exposure and an average of 3.4 mm Hg decrease in systolic blood pressure.
This study examined the impact of neighborhood characteristics on the growth of alcohol outlets from 2000 to 2013 in 53 California cities. It found that lower-income areas with larger populations and higher incomes experienced greater growth in bars, restaurants, and liquor stores.
Researchers analyzed charcoal and pollen remains to infer a long history of human occupation at Koh Ker, contradicting traditional abandonment theory. The study suggests the region was occupied from the late 7th century CE, continuing for seven centuries or more after the royal seat's departure.
A new approach for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been proposed, increasing physical activity levels by over 900 steps per day. The Urban Training intervention, developed by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, combines tailored components to address individual social and cultural factors.
A study found that city-dwelling blue tits lay larger eggs than forest-dwelling birds, likely due to the urban environment's higher calcium availability. The researchers also observed a trade-off between egg size and clutch number, with urban birds producing fewer but larger eggs.
A new study by Michigan State University finds that party polarization is at its worst level since the early 1970s. The research analyzed publicly available data on who sponsors bills in Congress and found that politicians co-sponsor legislation only about 200 times, viewing nearly half of their colleagues as opposition.
Increasing job accessibility can reduce carbon emissions and social inequities, but tradeoffs between these outcomes exist. Low-income residents often lack benefits from increased job accessibility, exacerbating existing social and environmental disparities.
Researchers monitored microchipped rats in the presence of feral cats, finding that rats avoided cats and spent more time in burrows, contradicting popular opinion about cat-rat interactions. The study adds to growing evidence that releasing cats to control city rats is outweighed by threats to urban wildlife.
Researchers found that private healthcare providers in urban India deliver inadequate TB care, with only 35% adhering to national and international standards. The study highlights the need for improved training and protocols to enhance TB management in the country's private sector.
A survey of 6,082 racially/ethnically diverse high school students in California and Florida found associations between nonconforming gender expression and mental distress. The study highlights the need for more research on the topic, particularly among adolescents independent of sexual orientation.
Researchers found that giant jararacas are more abundant in an urban park with fewer predators than a nearby nature reserve. The study suggests that the lesser presence of predators is the key factor explaining this phenomenon.
USC research reveals that air pollution alters thyroid development in fetuses, increasing the risk of health impacts later in life. Thyroid hormone levels were found to increase with exposure to particulate matter, highlighting a potential link between air pollution and fetal growth and metabolism.
Researchers at the University of Illinois are developing a system that combines drones with existing ride-sharing vehicles to provide synergetic delivery service. The goal is to reduce delivery costs by solving the complex problem of the 'last mile' of delivery, which accounts for 50% of all delivery costs.
A new study from St. Michael's Hospital examines health-care interventions to support patients seeking work and identifies key features of successful interventions. These include multidisciplinary teams, packages of services, one-on-one tailored services, comprehensive views of social needs, and communication with employers.
A study published in The Lancet found that telemedical interventional management reduced unplanned hospitalizations by 44% and increased life expectancy for patients with heart failure. Patients who received remote patient management interventions also showed significant reductions in all-cause mortality, regardless of their location.
A new study suggests that a heart-healthy diet may consist of foods previously thought to be detrimental, such as dairy products and meat. The research, which analyzed data from over 218,000 people across five continents, found that consuming these foods was associated with lower risks of cardiovascular disease and death.
A study of 6,626 French adults aged 65+ found that those with optimal levels in six cardiovascular metrics (nonsmoking, weight, diet, physical activity, cholesterol, and blood pressure) had a lower risk for dementia. Each additional metric at the recommended level was associated with a lower risk for cognitive decline.
A new study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that increased airport flight patterns can pose serious health threats to nearby communities. The researchers analyzed the impact of LaGuardia Airport's automated flight systems on noise levels and their effects on cardiovascular disease and anxiety disorder.
A new study from the University of Miami Business School and the University of Western Australia found that discriminating against workers with tattoos puts hiring managers at a disadvantage. The study surveyed over 2,000 subjects and found that visible tattoos are not linked to individual employment, wages, or earnings discrimination.
A randomized controlled study found that greening vacant lots significantly reduces feelings of depression and improves mental health for surrounding residents. Residents living near greened lots experienced a 41.5% decrease in depression compared to those living near untreated abandoned lots.
A new study from the University of Kansas found that individuals with disabilities are significantly more likely to be employed in states with expanded Medicaid coverage. In these states, the percentage of individuals with disabilities reporting employment or self-employment increased from 41.3% in 2013 to 47% in 2017, while those not ...
Researchers found that using stress balls or having hands held did not reduce anxiety, pain, or satisfaction in patients undergoing skin cancer surgery. The study of 135 patients showed no significant difference in outcomes between those who used stress balls or had their hands held.
A new study led by Professor Sung-Deuk Choi found that Ulsan, South Korea, is affected by toxic substances in fine dust particles throughout the year. The study analyzed PAHs concentrations in air samples and showed that even in summer, when fine dust concentration is lowest, PAHs remain present.
A new study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation identifies communities at risk of dying from snakebites. The analysis reveals regions and nations with limited access to treatment and healthcare, highlighting the need for greater measures to support countries in implementing snakebite prevention and treatment programs.
A new study reveals that patients and families are often uncomfortable speaking up about care concerns in ICU settings, with hesitation being the most common reason. The findings highlight the need for explicit support to enable patients and families to voice their concerns, leading to improved patient safety.
A 10-year follow-up of 6,500 people found that those living in greener neighborhoods experienced a slower rate of cognitive decline compared to those living in less green areas. The study suggests that exposure to urban environmental hazards can have negative effects on mental capacity after aging.
A new study by Duke University found that urban stormwater ponds do not release significant amounts of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. The research, which analyzed sediment samples from 64 ponds in eight cities, concluded that these ponds are unlikely to be important sources of climate change emissions.
A new study by UBC researchers reveals that urban greenways can significantly reduce daily car travel distances and resulting carbon emissions. Participants living within 300 meters of Vancouver's Comox-Helmcken Greenway showed an 18% decrease in car travel, while those farther away experienced increased motorized travel.
A new study published in Annals of Emergency Medicine found that pelvic exams lack reliability and provide little new information for diagnosing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in adolescent females. The study's authors argue that rapid urine STD testing provides a more accurate and less invasive way to diagnose these diseases.
A study found that women living in socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods for longer periods had an increased risk of non-optimal weight gain during pregnancy. Non-optimal weight gain is linked to low birth weights and preterm birth.
A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that food insecurity has a greater impact on behavior problems and poor cognitive outcomes in vulnerable children, particularly those born to single mothers living in urban neighborhoods.
Two studies found significant differences in obesity rates among children, teens, and adults based on demographic factors and geographic location. Rural areas showed higher rates of severe and moderate obesity compared to urban areas.
A new study by Anglia Ruskin University finds that watching short films set in natural environments can improve body appreciation, while urban settings have no effect. This suggests a potential low-cost solution for promoting healthier body image, especially for those with limited access to real natural environments.
A study of nearly 50,000 New Zealand children found that greener neighborhoods are less likely to develop asthma, while low plant diversity is associated with a higher risk. Biodiversity conservation may provide concrete health benefits beyond its ecological significance.
A new material called C18-Mica-4 has been shown to eliminate up to 100% of organic pollutants in water, including industrial and personal care products. The study found significant correlations between pollutant properties and adsorption rates.
A recent study has revealed significant microbiome differences between infants born in rural and urban areas of Nigeria, which begin as early as infancy. The researchers found that rural infants had more diverse microbiomes and higher levels of beneficial bacterial species than their urban counterparts.
A study from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that states adopting handgun licensing laws are associated with a 14% reduction in firearm homicides in large, urban counties. In contrast, states with comprehensive background check-only laws see a 16% increase in firearm homicides.
A study found that including Indigenous elders in primary care improves urban Indigenous people's mental and physical health. Elders provide cultural support and healing, strengthening identity and trust.
Research reveals that six-year-old minority children show an implicit pro-White bias when exposed to images of both White and Black children. However, this bias decreases with age, suggesting that the social environment plays a crucial role in shaping racial attitudes.
A new study reveals that the removal of roadkill by urban scavengers is a significant factor in underestimating roadkill numbers, particularly for small animals. The study found that scavengers such as crows, gulls, and foxes play an under-appreciated role in removing carcasses from roads.
A new chemical method is used to determine nitrogen stable isotope composition at natural abundance for ammonium, revealing source dependence of isotopic abundance in urban Beijing. Fossil fuel emissions are found to be a significant source of aerosol ammonium, accounting for 37-52% of initial ammonia concentrations.
Airlines compete using departure times to offset location disadvantages, saving consumers time and money. Low-cost carriers exploit lower operating costs to offer variety in departure times, improving social welfare and helping smaller carriers compete more effectively.
A Montreal study reveals that bus travel is significantly safer than car travel, with four times fewer injuries for passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians. The study's findings suggest that permanent speed-reducing structures and public transit are key to reducing road injuries.
A new USC study shows that gentrifying neighborhoods become more white, with minority communities changing racial makeup in 18-30% of cases. Most ascending neighborhoods primarily black or Hispanic become mixed-race, while whites become the majority in only 11% of these areas.
A study of 40 healthy male participants found that those raised in urban areas without pets exhibited heightened immune activation and inflammation after psychosocial stress. This suggests a potential link between urban upbringing and increased vulnerability to stress-associated physical and mental disorders.
A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing explores how injured black men in Philadelphia perceived their psychological symptoms after injury and the factors that guided their decisions to seek professional mental health help. The study found that despite suffering from severe psychological symptoms, very few ...
Large disparities persist in the impact of cardiovascular disease across US states, mainly influenced by modifiable risk factors. The study estimated health lost to CVD at the state level from 1990 to 2016 using the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016.
In a study on Baltimore neighborhoods, researchers found that mosquito bites vary by socioeconomic status, with rats being the primary blood meal source in lower-income areas. Humans and cats are also bitten, but proportionally more frequently in higher-income neighborhoods due to human behavior.
Research by INRS professor Tracie A. Barnett found that children living in more walkable neighborhoods have smaller waist measurements and lower BMI levels. The study suggests that infrastructure designed to encourage walking can help reduce childhood obesity.
A new study projects that cutting carbon emissions sooner could avoid up to 153 million premature deaths globally, with the greatest gains in Asia and Africa. Cities like Kolkata and Delhi, India, could see up to 4.4 million projected saved lives.
A University of Guelph study found that human encroachment is the leading cause of death among Ontario's at-risk birds of prey, with trauma and starvation being the top causes. The study analyzed over 1,500 bird deaths from 1991 to 2014 and highlighted the need for public awareness and habitat preservation to protect raptor populations.
A study found that restoring vacant land plots significantly reduced crime and vandalism, while increasing feelings of safety and use of public spaces. Residents near restored land plots reported a decrease in overall crime rates, reflecting the interventions' effectiveness.
Researchers found less people tweet per capita from larger cities compared to smaller ones, but identified a group of prolific tweeters who serve as information broadcasters for larger cities. This study challenges previous results and provides new insights into urban pace of life and social media behavior.
A study by Portland State University found that rural ranchers in Mexico's Baja California peninsula faced significant challenges accessing water during a six-year drought. The study highlights a rural-urban divide, with those living closer to urban areas having better access to water deliveries.
A new study finds that consumer and industrial products are a dominant urban air pollution source, contributing as much as the transportation sector. Particle-forming emissions from chemical products are twice as high as those from vehicles, causing lung damage.
A study published in PLOS ONE reveals that nearly 60% of Anna's Hummingbirds have feather mites on their tail flight feathers, while other species show lower rates. The distribution of live mites was found to be more prevalent on outer tail feathers and often nestled between barbs.
A new study by Université Laval researchers found that Canadians who suffer a stroke have a higher risk of dying if treated in a rural hospital compared to an urban one. The mortality rate is approximately 25% higher for patients treated in rural areas.
In a recent study, red foxes and coyotes were found to coexist in the urban environment of Madison, Wisconsin, due to abundant food resources. The animals' home ranges were classified into five categories based on human development, with coyotes preferring natural spaces and red foxes opting for developed areas.
A recent study published in Nature Scientific Reports suggests that containment measures during epidemics can make a society less resilient and more vulnerable to economic and social disruption. By limiting mobility, authorities may create greater risks than they mitigate. The study's findings highlight the need for policymakers to con...