Articles tagged with Urban Studies
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.
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.
A newly analyzed fault system off California's coast is capable of producing earthquakes with magnitudes up to 7.3. The Newport-Inglewood/Rose Canyon faults are part of a single, continuous fault system that runs from San Diego to Los Angeles. This realization has significant implications for the state's densely populated urban areas.
A new study reveals that ride-sharing is feasible in various cities worldwide, with the potential for sharing autos being more similar than expected. Over 99% of trips in New York and over 97% in San Francisco, Singapore, and Vienna are shareable, highlighting the importance of daily mobility patterns rather than city layout.
A qualitative study by Marie Plaisime found that healthcare providers perceive black male patients with bias, fear, and discomfort. This bias influences treatment decisions, leading to unequal care for black men compared to white male patients with identical symptoms.
A study led by Emory University found that contact tracing combined with targeted indoor residual spraying reduced dengue transmission by 86-96% during an outbreak in Cairns, Australia. This approach is more effective than traditional vaccines, which offer only 30-70% effectiveness.
Researchers at Lund University discovered that malaria mosquitos are sensitive to horseradish, similar to the effects of heat on vertebrates. This finding suggests a shared molecular mechanism underlying temperature sensing in insects and animals.
A new study from the University at Buffalo School of Management found that materialistic consumers who believe they can improve their financial status through hard work are more likely to save money and regulate their spending. Conversely, those with pessimistic views on economic mobility are more prone to impulse purchases.
Researchers used data from the USGS 'Did You Feel It?' website to develop new intensity mapping for two California earthquakes. They found that including non-reporting ZIP codes improved the accuracy of seismic intensity maps, particularly at intermediate distances from the epicenter.
Researchers have recovered over 100 billion micrometeorites from urban areas, including Norway, and found that the majority are cosmic spherules, representing the youngest large MMs yet recovered. This study challenges the long-held belief that these particles can only be found in pristine environments.
A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health estimates that nearly 80% of adolescents living in Cambodia's orphanages have one or more living parents. The research aimed to generate inclusive data to guide policy makers and service providers in recognizing and protecting these children.
A study led by the University of Pittsburgh found that teenage girls in urban settings took significantly fewer steps per day than their suburban counterparts, averaging only about 5% of the recommended daily activity level. This disparity puts them at risk for poor quality of life and chronic diseases.
Researchers found Atlantic killifish adapting to toxic pollutants due to high genetic variation, making them more resilient than other species. This study suggests that genetic diversity is key to evolutionary adaptation and could inform strategies for human sensitivity to environmental chemicals.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that rural communities have seen a dramatic increase in newborns diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome due to opioid exposure. The rate of diagnosis increased by nearly 80% between 2003 and 2013, compared to urban areas.
Online health communities help bridge disparities between rural and urban healthcare, providing a platform for patients to ask questions and share knowledge. The communities offer emotional support, amplifying the health capabilities of rural users and creating a supportive social network that transcends geographic constraints.
Atlantic killifish have evolved remarkable resilience to toxic industrial pollutants, with genetic diversity playing a key role in their adaptation. The study's findings could help explain how genetic differences among humans contribute to varying sensitivity to environmental chemicals.
A recent study found that 62% of falls in elderly hospital patients occurred within 24 hours of administering high-risk medications. The study highlights the importance of lowering default doses for vulnerable patient groups using electronic prescribing systems.
A new study finds that Detroit's poverty rate has increased, unemployment remains high, and public education is declining, highlighting the gap between the city's core and neighborhoods.
Researchers at Binghamton University found that a 10-week walking program improved cardiovascular risk factors in women, including weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol. The study suggested that incorporating challenges into exercise programs can increase motivation and success rates.
A seasonal unit root analysis found that Hong Kong's urban mean air temperature increased by 0.169°C per 10 years, outpacing global warming.
A study found that African-American and Latina women have a higher accumulated stress level than Caucasian women, but less than half the difference can be explained by expected factors. The study's results suggest that more social determinants of health, such as employment and housing status, need to be studied.
A new approach, SystemChange, focuses on manipulating environments to change habits without relying on individual motivation. This approach has proven effective in reducing screen time, improving sleep, and developing healthy eating and exercise habits.
A new study published in The Annals of Family Medicine reveals that Ontario patients not attached to new primary care practices receive lower quality care. These patients are more likely to be poor, urban, and new immigrants, with gaps in cancer screenings and diabetes testing widening over time.
A new study by Brown University researchers found that integrated neighborhoods, where black, white, Asian, and Hispanic residents coexist, are becoming more common in the US. This trend is seen in both diverse and less diverse metropolitan centers, with global neighborhoods emerging as a result of Hispanic and Asian immigration.
A study found that physically active children had reduced airway inflammation but also higher exposure to black carbon and diesel exhaust. Exercise did not counteract the negative effects of high pollutant levels on lung health.
A study of electronic prescriptions and nonadherence rates found that patients receiving e-prescriptions had a 16 percentage point lower risk of nonadherence compared to those with paper prescriptions. The rate of nonadherence decreased with age, but increased among older adults.
A study published in JAMA Dermatology found that patients given electronic prescriptions were more likely to fill and pick up their dermatological medications. Rates of primary nonadherence decreased in older patients but increased in those over 70.
A new study suggests that 'Middle England', a group of affluent, older white British people living in rural areas, face the lowest risk of developing psychosis. The research found that people from more urban and deprived communities are at a higher risk of experiencing their first episode of psychosis.
Research shows that black students in high schools with a large discipline gap perceive less fair and inclusive treatment, feeling less like they belong. Schools can address this by providing diversity training for teachers and staff, using mindfulness and stress management techniques, and exploring alternative discipline methods.
Dr. LeConté Dill received the Women's Caucus Highest Scoring Abstract award at the American Public Health Association conference for her research on gender-based inequities in violence experienced by teenage girls in their dating relationships. Her study explores the role of trauma and resilience among urban girls of color, highlightin...
A study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that clearing vacant lots and adding windows to vacant houses can reduce neighborhood gun violence. The intervention yielded significant cost savings for society, with an estimated $333 return on investment.
A study found that Medicaid expansion in 2014 led to a decline of $2.8 million in average annual uncompensated care costs per hospital, while increasing Medicaid revenue by $3.2 million annually. Hospitals in states with Medicaid expansion also experienced improved excess margins, but not operating margins.
A new study from UMass Amherst finds that untreated lawns provide a rich diversity of flowers offering nectar and pollen to bees, boosting their populations. Researchers discovered 111 native bee species on lawns in suburban Springfield, Massachusetts.
A new study reveals that amphetamine pollution in urban streams stunts biofilm growth, changes bacterial and diatom communities, and speeds up aquatic insect emergence. The research highlights the need for innovations in wastewater management to mitigate the effects of pharmaceutical and illicit drug pollution on freshwater resources.
A simulated patient study sheds light on antibiotic misuse in Indian pharmacies, revealing that only a minority of urban Indian pharmacies correctly managed patients with presumed tuberculosis. The study found that pharmacies frequently dispensed antibiotics to patients presenting with TB symptoms without prescriptions.
A nurse-initiated protocol to improve timeliness of care can significantly decrease ER stays for patients with certain conditions, including fever and hip fractures. The study found that average length of stay was reduced by almost 4 hours by implementing such a protocol.
A Yale-led study found that haze in China significantly drives the urban heat island effect, unlike in the US where vegetation plays a key role. The research highlights the paradoxical impact of smaller aerosol particles, which cool surfaces but larger ones radiate heat.
Researchers at UTEP have developed a new brain preservation technique that allows for the study of brain tissue in remote locations without specialized laboratory equipment. The technique uses formaldehyde and can be performed with minimal resources, making it accessible to scientists in underdeveloped countries.
A new study by Michigan State University scholar Chezare Warren found that over-supporting urban black males in high school can have negative consequences for their academic success in college. The research suggests that balancing instructional and social supports is crucial to preparing students academically for college
A multinational study of over 4,700 children aged 9-11 years found a significant link between maternal gestational diabetes and childhood obesity. The researchers discovered that children of mothers with gestational diabetes had a 53% higher risk of obesity, 73% for central obesity, and 42% for high body fat.
A relational aggression prevention program for urban girls improves overall classroom climate, with benefits extending to boys and teachers. The program, Friend to Friend (F2F), teaches problem-solving, anger management strategies, and leadership skills.
A study from the University of Edinburgh found that older people in Japan were less likely to experience a deterioration of existing chronic conditions after the Fukushima earthquake and nuclear meltdown. In contrast, urban dwellers showed a higher decline in managing their blood sugar levels.
Researchers tag NYC rats with RFID microchips to study their daily activity and potential for transmitting disease. Initial results show distinct personalities and sex differences in rat behavior, offering a new insight into these elusive city dwellers.
Researchers found that using cartoon characters to promote vegetables in school lunchrooms can increase veggie selection by up to 35% among elementary school students. The Super Sprowtz team, including Miki Mushroom and friends, was effective in encouraging kids to choose healthier options.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that Mexico's nonessential food tax led to a significant decline in energy-dense food purchases, primarily among low and medium SES households. The study showed a 5.1% decline in taxed food sales beyond pre-tax trends, with lower SES households experiencing an even greater reduction of 10.2%.
A new study found that adolescents living in neighborhoods with more greenery have less aggressive behaviors. The researchers linked the adolescents' residential locations to satellite data, measuring the levels of greenery and associated it with reduced aggressive behaviors.