Articles tagged with Urban Studies
A recent study suggests that nature experiences positively impact human time perception, particularly in temporal duration and perspective. This can lead to a sense of 'gaining time' and balance feelings of time scarcity. By reconnecting with nature, people may develop a more positive and balanced time perspective.
A study published in Public Health Nutrition found that unhealthy food retailers and advertisements dominate urban school neighborhoods in Greater Tunis, contributing to high rates of childhood obesity. The researchers analyzed over 3600 retailers and nearly 2100 advertisements, revealing that two-thirds were classified as unhealthy, w...
A new study from Columbia University finds that communities severed by roads and traffic in NYC experience a larger number of collisions, including pedestrian and cyclist injuries. The Community Severance Index developed for this study can help identify areas requiring targeted interventions.
A study of 5,279 children found that early-life exposure to air pollution significantly increases the risk of developing asthma by early and middle childhood. The study highlights the need for targeted environmental interventions and greater health equity in urban communities.
High levels of air pollution have a significant negative impact on teams' ability to solve complex problems, such as developing clean energy technologies and vaccines. The study used escape-room games data to estimate that high-pollution days can lead to up to 5% longer completion times for teams.
A new study found that living close to pubs, bars, and fast-food restaurants is associated with a higher risk of heart failure. The study, which analyzed data from over 500,000 adults in the UK, also found that proximity and density of ready-to-eat food outlets were linked to an elevated risk of heart failure.
A new Georgia State study reveals that Invitation Homes, Pretium Partners, and Amherst Holdings control over 11% of single-family homes available for rent in metro Atlanta's core counties. The three companies own tens of thousands of properties in select neighborhoods, allowing them to exercise significant market power over tenants.
A study of 2,180 participants found that early childhood neighborhood poverty is significantly associated with death from unintentional injury, suicide, and homicide in early adulthood. Economic policies are needed to address health equity and premature mortality.
A Brazilian study analyzed how low-income communities deal with the effects of the economic crisis in São Paulo city. The research found that entrepreneurship is a main strategy used by members of poor communities to participate in the economy, with over 15 million people registered as micro-entrepreneurs nationwide.
A new study from the Icahn School of Medicine of Mount Sinai reveals significant variations in emergency medical service (EMS) performance across the United States. The research found that EMS agencies in rural areas were less likely to provide optimal care, including treating low blood sugar and pain for trauma patients.
Researchers found Joro spiders can thrive near busy roads, attacking simulated prey 59% of the time, despite slight differences in attack rates, without compromising their health or body mass. The species' ability to tolerate urban vibrations and sounds is likely a key factor in its exponential growth
Researchers found that more biodiverse nature landscapes can help reduce stress in humans. However, this benefit depends on the individual's ability to notice and appreciate the differences in biodiversity.
This study uses large-scale GPS data to assess pedestrian movement around Tokyo's stations and its relationship with urban characteristics such as density, diversity, and design. The findings highlight that TOD attributes significantly impact pedestrian count, distances, and durations, but the impact varies across different metrics.
Researchers found that larger, more diverse, and less segregated cities experience decreased implicit racial biases due to increased social interactions. This is attributed to a lack of cosmopolitan public spaces where people can interact with others from different groups, creating barriers to equity.
A recent study found that pedestrian injuries from falls exceed those from motor vehicle collisions in the US, with older adults particularly vulnerable. The study analyzed EMS data and found that pedestrians over 50 years old were 3.9 times more likely to experience severe injuries from falls compared to motor vehicle collisions.
Researchers found that permeable pavements can capture tire-associated chemicals, resulting in a 68% average reduction of the toxic contaminant 6PPD-quinone. The technology has vast potential to protect salmon populations and human health.
A new study found that heatwaves in Brazil are disproportionately affecting female, elderly, Black, Brown, and low-education individuals, resulting in a staggering 48,075 deaths between 2000 and 2018. The research highlights the need for targeted efforts to reduce mortality rates during future heatwaves.
Research from University of South Australia shows professional firefighters have lower movement quality as they age, which could put them at greater risk of injury. Functional strength training can help maintain a fit and healthy workforce.
A Tokyo neighborhood study reveals that independent eateries serve as social infrastructure for communities, supporting local businesses, social integration, and political mobilization. These small restaurants are essential for economic resource generation, entry point creation, and deployment of social capital.
The study found that urban design favours species with varying characteristics, with implications for ecosystem improvement and public health. Land-sparing areas support birds with short life cycles, while land-sharing areas host species with longer life cycles.
A new study reveals that the protective effect of income has largely eroded in affluent neighborhoods over the past 40 years. This means that even if residents have more wealth, they won't be able to enjoy cooler temperatures as climate change worsens.
Smartphone usage patterns differ substantially between urban and rural populations, with urban users favoring social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. In contrast, rural users tend to use Facebook and Snapchat, suggesting that environment influences smartphone behavior.
A new study from the University of Exeter emphasizes the importance of shared community spaces in addressing gentrification and its effects on rural communities. Dr. Joanie Willett's research found that these spaces can foster relationships, knowledge-sharing, and community action to adapt to changing futures.
The Asian malaria mosquito Anopheles stephensi is spreading drug and diagnostic resistant malaria in Africa, increasing the risk of malaria infections by 270%. Its unique ecology and resistance to insecticides make it challenging for conventional mosquito control tools.
A University of Houston research team integrated machine learning with SHAP analysis to identify the city's air pollution sources more accurately. The study found that the oil and gas industry had the highest impact on emissions, while shortwave radiation and relative humidity were key influencing factors for overall ozone concentration.
Researchers found that green spaces alleviate extreme heat's negative impacts on human health, while densely packed buildings increase mortality risk. Urban design strategies incorporating different types of greenery are recommended to mitigate heatwave-associated mortality.
A research project involving citizens in flood-prone areas improves data collection and increases resilience. The methodology shows a combination of digital technologies, participatory methods, and co-production of new understandings to enable just and sustainable transformations.
A new study presents evidence that school redistricting is linked to spikes in shooting-related injuries in urban areas, with a 14% increase in incidents during redistricting events. The study suggests that social destabilization caused by redistricting may contribute to the increased violence.
Researchers developed a novel approach to predict therapeutic targets for aging and age-related diseases. They trained a domain-specific BioGPT model on biomedical literature, which improved its performance in identifying prospective targets.
A recent study has found that rural US counties have worse health outcomes than their urban counterparts, with declines in health measures accelerating over time. The researchers developed a publicly available dashboard to visualize health disparities and identify areas for policy interventions.
Research highlights the challenges of rural hospital-based maternity unit closures and transportation barriers, leading to delays in care and adverse outcomes. The study suggests that telehealth services can provide a solution to address these disparities in maternal health outcomes.
A new ecological theory may help explain the persistence of segregation in US cities. The theory, called the 'adaptive resilience cycle,' emphasizes how systems adjust to shocks and retain their structure. Researchers analyzed Baltimore's history and found that this cycle has reinforced segregation throughout the city's history.
High-performing primary care practices use similar strategies to manage change and improve diabetes care, including standardizing the care process, enhancing care teams, and engaging staff and clinicians. These practices also focus on proactive care, pre-visit planning, and improving patient relationships.
Researchers found that two common songbirds have smaller eyes than their counterparts from less bright outskirts, adapting to urban light. This study suggests that sensory pollutants like human-caused light may play a role in the decline of bird populations.
A University of Houston study found that most of Houston's ozone exceedance is due to transported pollutants from the central and northern US, while local photochemistry contributes to elevated ozone production. The research highlights the importance of reducing emissions at the Houston Ship Channel to mitigate future ozone pollution.
A recent study found a three-fold increase in obesity-related heart disease deaths in the US between 1999 and 2020. The study highlights racial disparities, particularly among Black women, who faced the highest rates of obesity-related cardiovascular mortality.
A study published in Science of the Total Environment found that biofiltration increased coho salmon hatchling survival by up to 87%, reducing mortality from stormwater runoff exposure. The method effectively removes contaminants, but implementation faces hurdles due to land requirements.
A study of US families found that lower caregiver education led to financial strain and reduced adaptability, while younger children faced limited school support. Experiences varied little between urban and rural families.
A study published in PLOS ONE found a significant surge in bird feeding interest worldwide during the pandemic, with countries having higher bird diversity exhibiting more Google search activity. The researchers analyzed data from 115 countries and found an average increase of 511 bird species in countries with higher search interest.
A new study found that rural areas experienced higher excess deaths during the second year of the pandemic, despite vaccines being widely available in urban areas. The study highlights the role of healthcare inequities, vaccine skepticism, and partisanship in exacerbating mortality rates in rural communities.
A new study using Marine Monitor highlights the need for systems that can track boater activity in small, coastal MPAs. The findings show that traditional vessel tracking systems can miss up to 93% of boater activity at highly urban MPAs.
A new study by Washington University researchers identifies primary organics as the main drivers of high PM2.5 concentrations over South Asia, attributing 1 million deaths to residential combustion and industry emissions in 2019.
A new study found that living in urban environments with material and social inequities is associated with premature biological aging. Depressive symptoms also accelerate epigenetic age acceleration, regardless of neighborhood deprivation. The researchers used DNA methylation-based estimators to examine aging at the cellular level and ...
A new study from the University of Kansas shows that neighborhood characteristics such as being predominantly Black and having families with children are strongly associated with higher eviction rates. In contrast, gentrified neighborhoods or those with high rents do not predict increased eviction levels.
A multicenter study found that deep learning-based computer-aided diagnosis significantly improved radiologists' diagnostic performance for breast lesion classification on ultrasound. The use of CAD resulted in a 6.0% upgrade of BI-RADS category 3 assessments to category 4A, with 16.7% being malignant.
Researchers found that rural patients with diabetes met fewer of the D5 metric criteria, including no tobacco use and blood pressure control, compared to urban patients. Rural patients also had fewer outpatient visits and endocrinology visits, which may contribute to poorer health outcomes.
A new study found that hundreds of U.S. counties lack access to safe and accessible play areas for children. The researchers used machine learning technologies to determine the county-level disparities in physical activity environments.
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.
A study of 700 participants found that time outdoors doesn't always reduce smartphone screentime. However, visits to nature reserves or forests saw significant declines in screentime compared to urban locations. Participants who visited wilder areas spent more time disconnected from their smartphones and regained attention.
Researchers from Universitat Oberta de Catalunya studied sidewalk networks in Barcelona and found that even pedestrian-friendly cities like Barcelona struggle with mobility constraints. The study proposes a framework for assessing multi-factor walkability using percolation theory and insights into pedestrian behavior to improve sidewal...
The Southwest Rural Health Research Center's survey highlights mental health and addiction as rising concerns in rural areas, while access to quality healthcare remains a significant issue. Economic stability is also a key priority, reflecting the impact of poverty on healthcare access.
The National Institutes of Health recognizes World Asthma Day and highlights innovative research on asthma, its causes and treatments. Several NIH institutes conduct and support asthma-related research, including NIEHS, NHLBI, and NIAID.
A recent study by the University of California, Davis found that coal trains and terminal operations significantly increase fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution in urban areas, contributing to serious health problems. The study also highlighted the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations.
A study by Carnegie Mellon University found that ridesharing platforms significantly outperformed traditional taxi systems during urban emergencies. The platforms' use of technology and elastic supply of vehicles and drivers enabled them to cope with uncertainties more effectively.
A study in Auckland, New Zealand has detected methamphetamine and other substances in the air for the first time in Oceania. The largest concentration of methamphetamine was found to be 104 picograms per cubic meter, highlighting the need for better air quality monitoring.
Research from the University of Kansas shows that families in Washington D.C.'s school choice policy are making choices that perpetuate segregation. Despite having more opportunities for integration, white families are returning to city centers and using tactics such as gaming the lottery system to secure spots in desirable schools.
A new study suggests that using underground water for thermal energy storage (ATES) can reduce heating and cooling energy demand in the US by 40%, making urban energy infrastructure more resilient. ATES stores energy as temperature underground, leveraging natural geological features to heat or cool buildings during extreme weather events.
Seismic arrays in California's Long Beach and Seal Beach detected over 1,200 shallow earthquakes, showing the Newport-Inglewood fault splays widely at shallow depths. This suggests that a rupture to propagate to the surface may have multiple paths, implications for earthquake hazard planning.
A global study analyzing height and BMI data from 71 million children and adolescents found that urban areas are no longer healthier than rural areas, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Rural areas have been closing the gap in recent decades due to improvements in nutrition and healthcare.
Scientists developed a modeling technique to study urban traffic flows and verified it with real-world data from Shanghai. They discovered that Zhonghuan Road is a potential bottleneck that could lead to cascading failure of the entire urban traffic system.