Articles tagged with Urban Studies
A Rutgers University-Camden study found that urban insects are more resilient in extreme weather due to adaptations to high-stress urban environments. Arthropod diversity declined after Hurricane Sandy in New York City parks, becoming indistinguishable from street medians.
Fine aerosol particles in Beijing exhibit high growth rates, with frequent events occurring approximately every 20 hours. The study reveals that nucleation is the dominant mechanism driving these growth events, contributing to haze formation and air quality issues.
Researchers found that urban streams have more pharmaceutical pollution than suburban counterparts, leading to changes in microbial communities. The study suggests that urban streams harbor resistant microbes that can maintain ecological function despite pharmaceutical exposure.
A UC Riverside-led study found that tobacco shops are associated with high levels of violent and property crime in South Los Angeles. In contrast, medical marijuana dispensaries were not linked to greater violent crime around their locations.
A recent study found a rapid increase in type 1 diabetes cases among children in China over the past two decades. The majority of new cases are diagnosed in adults, highlighting the need for more resources to improve care for adult-onset type 1 diabetes.
Reduced nitric oxide levels over Los Angeles are triggering the formation of organic hydroperoxides, a potentially harmful class of airborne chemicals. These compounds can form when hydrocarbons react with themselves due to low nitric oxide concentrations, posing unknown health risks.
A simulation model found that investing in targeted policing and the community-based strategy Cure Violence can effectively reduce urban violence. The study suggests that a combination of both approaches may be more effective than either alone.
A new study by USC researchers links higher levels of air pollution to increased teenage delinquency, citing tiny, toxic particles as a major contributor. Exposure to PM2.5 has been shown to cause inflammation in the brain, damaging neural networks and influencing adolescent behavior.
A study published in The BMJ found that air pollution from road traffic in London is associated with an increased risk of low birth weight babies born at full term. Exposure to PM2.5 pollutants was linked to a 2-6% increased odds of low birth weight and 1-3% increased odds of being small for gestational age.
A recent study found that California's urban forest canopy cover per capita is the lowest in the US, despite providing significant ecosystem services valued at $8.3 billion annually. The state's arid climate and high population density may contribute to this result.
A study published in Scientific Reports reveals how Cape Town's baboons use a sit-and-wait tactic before raiding homes and gardens in search of food. The research shows that only 10% of their foraging time is spent on raids, highlighting the extreme behavioral flexibility of these canny primates.
A new study by Johns Hopkins University reveals that climate change will disproportionately affect people living in crowded urban settlements in Africa. The study found that temperatures in these areas can be up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the official weather station, leading to a significant increase in heat-related deaths.
The journal's Autumn 2017 issue features original research articles on mental health problems due to community violence exposure and overnight pulse oximetry for screening obstructive sleep apnea. Other topics include smoking cessation counseling accuracy and adult-onset celiac disease in primary care.
A new study reveals that spending time in rural and coastal locations has a greater positive impact on psychological well-being compared to urban green spaces. Visits to natural areas with protected status and longer durations are associated with stronger emotional connections and improved mental health.
A new study found that smokers who received financial incentives, in addition to personalized support, were nearly 10 times more likely to quit smoking after six months compared to those in the control group. The intervention also showed significant reductions in smoking rates among older participants, women, and non-white smokers.
Researchers discovered that bacteria use pili as their sense of touch when interacting with surfaces, leading to a new understanding of bacterial surface sensing. This mechanism may help scientists develop strategies to control bacterial growth, either beneficially in bioreactors or pathogenically on medical devices.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Toronto found that immigrant parents and refugees are more likely to experience mental health issues and socioeconomic challenges. Their children are also more likely to fall behind in learning before kindergarten, which can have long-term implications for their education and development.
A study by University of Illinois ornithologist Mike Ward found that 85% of Canada geese wintered in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area, with none making foraging flights to agricultural fields. The birds' ability to minimize risk by using urban areas suggests they are prioritizing survival over energy intake.
A new Berkeley Lab study finds that cool roofs can save up to 9% of outdoor water consumption in California counties. Widespread adoption could result in 83 million gallons of water savings daily in Los Angeles County.
A study of African-American and Latino adults in a high-risk urban community found that despite numerous risk factors, the rate of substance use problems is low for a substantial proportion of participants. Protective 'resilience' factors, such as support, education, and employment, also play a crucial role in preventing substance misuse.
Researchers found that users struggle to use drone images to locate objects on the ground, posing challenges for emergency operations and applications. Switching from an aerial view to a ground view slows down estimates of object location, with incorrect placements four times farther away.
Suburban areas in the US face barriers to healthcare access, including limited community health centers and free clinics. Poor suburbanites have higher odds of being uninsured and having unmet healthcare needs compared to higher-income adults.
A new study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found no association between prehospital advanced cardiac life support and survival for patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Instead, the study suggests focusing on increasing bystander CPR, decreasing response times, and defibrillation.
A study found that 40% of cancer patients at an urban cancer center were diagnosed with depression, with three-fourths of these cases being previously undiagnosed. Female patients and disabled patients were more likely to be depressed, emphasizing the need for mental health screening and care.
Researchers found utilizing local artists' images and dialects helped address misperceptions about Ebola treatment, involving trusted messengers for two-way communication. The study's evidence-based approach can inform message development and implementation during public health emergencies.
A large international study found that any physical activity can prevent heart disease and death, with 38% of participants meeting the 150 minutes a week guideline through activities like commuting or household chores. The study showed significant benefits from incorporating physical activity into daily life, regardless of intensity.
Research highlights the disparity in firearm injury rates among pediatric populations in urban and rural settings. Teenagers living in urban areas are disproportionately affected by firearm assaults, whereas children in rural areas face a higher risk of accidental firearm injuries. Accidental injuries were the leading cause of hospital...
A study of nine young athletes found that contact drills involving multiple players led to the highest number of head impacts, while open-field tackling resulted in high-magnitude impacts. The study suggests modifying or eliminating certain drills from practice sessions to reduce injury risks.
Researchers found that racially segregated areas had higher mortality rates in both urban and rural areas, but blacks sometimes lived longer in segregated areas. This may be due to less exposure to deadly infectious diseases before antibiotics were widely available.
A large-scale study of 135,335 individuals across 18 countries found that a moderate intake of fruit, vegetables, and legumes can significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and death. The study's findings indicate that consuming an average of 3-4 servings per day is as beneficial as higher amounts in reducing total mortality.
A new study from Brown University found that less than one-third of teachers perceived as ineffective by principals are actually formally rated that way. Despite major reforms, time constraints and top-down system designs limit the differentiation and support for teacher effectiveness.
A recent study finds that megacities generate an average of $505 million in ecosystem services from trees, including air and water filtration, stormwater management, and energy savings. The value of tree benefits could be doubled by increasing tree cover, improving urban well-being and mitigating climate change.
Suicide rates in rural areas of Maryland are 35% higher than urban settings, driven by significantly greater use of firearms. Removing firearms from the equation reveals comparable suicide rates between rural and urban areas.
A study led by the University of California, Berkeley, found that people with mental illness reoffend less if placed on specialty probation, a program using individualized treatment-oriented approaches. Specialty probationers had a 52% recidivism rate over two years compared to 29% for traditional probationers.
Researchers developed an optimization model that improves solar power integration in residential photovoltaic systems through demand-response applications. The study found that DR applications with 100% PV penetration reduced energy consumption by 32%, network losses by 42%, and improved network utilization by 12%.
A new book by UTA researcher Shima Hamidi shows that life expectancy, economic mobility, transportation choices, and personal health and safety all improve in less sprawling areas. People in compact, connected counties tend to have lower risks of obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
A study of rural primary care physicians found that younger physicians experience higher turnover rates than older counterparts, with 17% biennial turnover among younger physicians. Rural practice is particularly challenging, with non-retention worse in counties without a hospital or smaller population.
The study, analyzing 40,358 papers and 2,350 patents from 2004 to 2014, reveals that spatial relations on campus fuel collaboration. Researchers near colleagues are more likely to engage in substantive conversations, leading to increased collaborative activity.
A new study reveals that 65% of global irrigated areas are impacted by urban wastewater flows, with 29.3 million hectares in countries with limited treatment exposing widespread consumer and farmer health risks. The findings call for urgent investments in improved sanitation to mitigate public health threats.
A study reveals that tiger mosquitoes thrive in low-income urban areas of Baltimore due to vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and inadequate waste management. This research underscores the need for targeted mosquito control strategies and urban greening initiatives to mitigate environmental injustices and protect public health.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that health insurance expansion through the Affordable Care Act significantly reduced the incidence of sudden cardiac arrest among middle-aged adults who were previously uninsured. The study analyzed emergency medical services data from an urban Oregon coun...
A study from North Carolina State University found that common wild bee species decline as urban temperatures rise. The researchers used a lab test to predict how whole populations will fare at higher temperatures in urban areas, finding that the least heat-tolerant species are most affected.
A recent study by Louisiana State University researchers found that urban development has declined in coastal flood zones nationwide, but grown in inland counties. This trend poses a significant risk to populations living in inland flood zones, who may not be aware of the hazards despite migrating to coastal areas.
A recent study from Concordia's John Molson School of Business found that cycling to work significantly lowers stress levels within the first 45 minutes of work. The study collected data from 123 employees at Autodesk and confirmed previous research that cyclists perceive their commute as less stressful than those who travel by car.
A study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that youth football players aged 9-13 experience more forceful head impacts as they progress to higher levels of competition. The study recorded over 40,000 head impacts and found significant differences in impact exposure between different levels of play.
Researchers found that developing a pipeline to improve school leadership has been affordable for six urban districts, spending 0.4% of their budgets on the initiative. The main expense was district staff salaries, with per-pupil costs totaling $42.
A study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology found that diabetes prevalence is increasing among low socio-economic backgrounds living in urban areas of affluent states in India. Diabete's rates are higher among people from low socio-economic status, especially in cities with poor access to healthcare.
A new study by University of Maryland School of Public Health researcher Dr. Andrew Fenelon found that people receiving subsidized housing assistance were more likely to have medical insurance and less likely to have unmet medical need compared to those on HUD waitlist.
Scientists have shown how diesel exhaust particles directly affect the lungs to initiate symptoms such as a tightening of airways and cough. The study found that chemicals on the surface of diesel exhaust particles stimulate nerves in the lungs, leading to respiratory reflexes.
Children of migrant families in Chinese cities have lower obesity rates due to lack of parental supervision and influence from grandparents. Migrant children have fewer opportunities for unhealthy snacking and more active play, contributing to their lower obesity rates.
A University of Washington study found that neighborhoods with high poverty and disorganization tend to have residents who drink twice as much and binge-drink four times as frequently. The researchers suggest that improving neighborhood quality of life can lead to benefits, including reduced problem drinking.
A recent study reveals that human-related noise is doubling background sound levels in 63% of US protected areas, with significant impacts on wildlife and ecosystems. This increase in noise pollution is attributed to the growing presence of manmade disturbances in previously remote regions.
In Los Angeles, single-family home add-ons and paved property features led to a 14-55% loss of green cover. Urban forests' benefits, such as reduced energy use and improved health, were compromised.
A new interactive map shows the shifting racial composition of US neighborhoods over two decades, providing a detailed view of urban segregation and demographic changes. The map allows users to explore regional disparities and trends in census data.
A study found that outpatient laparoscopic appendectomy is safe and effective, with shorter hospital stays and decreased healthcare costs. The study showed no differences in complications, post-discharge ER visits, or readmissions between the outpatient and hospital-stay groups.
A new study by Michigan State University found that well-kept vacant lots can help reduce crime rates in urban areas. The research analyzed nine years of crime data in Flint, Michigan, and discovered a correlation between greening efforts and decreased crime rates, including violent and property crimes.
Researchers developed a clinical risk index tool to gauge future firearm violence risk among urban youth, considering peer and partner violence, community exposure, and family influences. The SaFETy score demonstrates superior predictive power, helping emergency physicians identify high-risk individuals and tailor preventative services.
A study of older people found that walking between busy urban areas and green spaces triggers changes in brain activity, reducing frustration and increasing excitement. The research has important implications for architects, planners, and health professionals as the global population ages and becomes more urbanized.
A recent study found that group meditation using the Transcendental Meditation program significantly reduced urban murder rates in large US cities, with an estimated 4,136 murders averted between 2007-2010. The reductions were consistent with the hypothesis that a sufficiently large group practice creates a positive effect on society.
A study from UC Berkeley found that Zika's decline before the Olympics was foreshadowed by seasonal patterns of similar diseases. Despite this, vulnerable populations in urban slums continue to be affected, highlighting the need for targeted public health efforts.