Latest news from Florida Atlantic University on Newswise en-us Copyright 2024 Newswise 115 31 / /images/newswise-logo-rss.gif /articles/hot-streets-historic-bias-effects-on-neighborhood-walking-in-older-adults/?sc=rsin /articles/hot-streets-historic-bias-effects-on-neighborhood-walking-in-older-adults/?sc=rsin Wed, 11 Sep 2024 08:30:31 EST Redlining from the 1930s, marked minority and low-income neighborhoods as "hazardous," which influenced mortgage and insurance decisions. Results show that redlined areas have less greenspace and more pavement, intensifying urban heat. While higher temperatures generally decreased walking in "still desirable" or "best" neighborhoods, this effect was not significant in "definitely declining" or "hazardous" areas, possibly due to greater reliance on walking for essential activities. Findings underscore the lasting impact of discriminatory policies on environmental vulnerability and physical activity. Florida Atlantic University /articles/what-s-really-fueling-harmful-algae-in-florida-s-lake-okeechobee/?sc=rsin /articles/what-s-really-fueling-harmful-algae-in-florida-s-lake-okeechobee/?sc=rsin Tue, 10 Sep 2024 08:30:52 EST Historically, Lake Okeechobee was thought to be impaired only by phosphorus, focusing efforts on reducing agricultural runoff. However, new comprehensive sampling across the Lake Okeechobee Waterway and its connected estuaries shows that toxic algal blooms also are driven by rising nitrogen levels from human waste and urban runoff. Increased nitrogen, worsened by extreme rainfall, significantly fuels bloom severity. Findings underscore the need for integrated nutrient management and improved wastewater treatment to protect the lake and its estuaries. Florida Atlantic University /articles/researchers-explore-how-income-race-and-design-affect-pedestrian-casualties/?sc=rsin /articles/researchers-explore-how-income-race-and-design-affect-pedestrian-casualties/?sc=rsin Fri, 06 Sep 2024 08:30:14 EST Researchers examined environmental factors associated with crash incidence in lower-income and more affluent areas in Broward and Palm Beach counties, revealing that the nature of pedestrian crash risk is markedly different in lower income communities than in more affluent ones. Florida Atlantic University /articles/fau-engineering-professor-achieves-milestone-as-highly-cited-google-scholar/?sc=rsin /articles/fau-engineering-professor-achieves-milestone-as-highly-cited-google-scholar/?sc=rsin Thu, 05 Sep 2024 08:30:18 EST Dr. Khoshgoftaar's scientific publications have garnered more than 63,500 citations during his distinguished career at FAU (1985 to present), yielding a Google Scholar h-index of 95. Florida Atlantic University /articles/banning-friendships-can-backfire-moms-who-meddle-make-bad-behavior-worse/?sc=rsin /articles/banning-friendships-can-backfire-moms-who-meddle-make-bad-behavior-worse/?sc=rsin Wed, 04 Sep 2024 08:30:56 EST Bad behavior often occurs away from home, leading parents to blame and limit contact with peers. However, a new study shows that banning friendships can backfire, worsening behavior instead of improving it. Florida Atlantic University /articles/1-8m-nih-grant-to-fau-engineering-fuels-quest-to-decode-human-evolution/?sc=rsin /articles/1-8m-nih-grant-to-fau-engineering-fuels-quest-to-decode-human-evolution/?sc=rsin Tue, 03 Sep 2024 08:30:30 EST FAU has received a five-year NIH grant to further research on designing and applying statistical methods to identify regions of the genome affected by natural selection, which is an important evolutionary force that enables humans to adapt to new environments and fight disease-causing pathogens. Florida Atlantic University /articles/nsf-grant-empowers-fau-to-explore-caribbean-climate-crisis-with-ethnography/?sc=rsin /articles/nsf-grant-empowers-fau-to-explore-caribbean-climate-crisis-with-ethnography/?sc=rsin Thu, 29 Aug 2024 08:30:29 EST Researchers have received a $650,000 NSF grant to investigate the cultural dimensions of ecological instability by studying the experiences of vulnerable communities in South Florida and Puerto Rico. Using ethnography, they will capture the nuanced ways in which communities are responding to ecological disruptions. Understanding how cultures adapt to ecological instability can provide valuable insights for communities worldwide, including those in the Caribbean. By documenting and analyzing these responses, researchers can develop and refine strategies to enhance collective survival. Florida Atlantic University /articles/rain-or-shine-how-rainfall-impacts-size-of-sea-turtle-hatchlings/?sc=rsin /articles/rain-or-shine-how-rainfall-impacts-size-of-sea-turtle-hatchlings/?sc=rsin Wed, 28 Aug 2024 08:30:40 EST An internationally collaborative study delves into how fluctuating rainfall impacts the development of sea turtle hatchlings, revealing that it has a more profound effect than changes in air temperature. Regional weather influences incubation and hatchling development and the impact of rainfall varies between species. For loggerhead turtles, heavier rainfall results in hatchlings with smaller carapaces (shell) but greater weight, while green turtle hatchlings grow smaller carapaces without a change in body mass. Florida Atlantic University /articles/faumainstreet-usa-poll-harris-gains-momentum-independents-shift-in-the-wake-of-the-dnc/?sc=rsin /articles/faumainstreet-usa-poll-harris-gains-momentum-independents-shift-in-the-wake-of-the-dnc/?sc=rsin Tue, 27 Aug 2024 13:00:32 EST A new poll reveals significant shifts in the 2024 U.S. presidential race, underscoring deep gender and racial divides among voters across the nation. Florida Atlantic University /articles/fau-engineering-to-lead-1-3m-collaborative-conservation-project/?sc=rsin /articles/fau-engineering-to-lead-1-3m-collaborative-conservation-project/?sc=rsin Wed, 21 Aug 2024 08:30:24 EST Tracking marine animals at both individual and group levels is crucial for wildlife conservation. Researchers will develop and employ generative AI to identify, track, and analyze behavior of marine animals (with a focus on manatees), and address traditional tracking cost-precision trade-offs. Florida Atlantic University /articles/growth-from-adversity-how-older-adults-bounced-back-from-covid-19-pandemic/?sc=rsin /articles/growth-from-adversity-how-older-adults-bounced-back-from-covid-19-pandemic/?sc=rsin Tue, 20 Aug 2024 08:30:56 EST The study highlights the remarkable resilience of older adults (median age 86) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Disruptions to their routines led many to discover new hobbies like gardening and painting and explore virtual activities such as online yoga. Florida Atlantic University /articles/national-academy-of-medicine-selects-fau-for-substance-use-opioid-crises-collaborative/?sc=rsin /articles/national-academy-of-medicine-selects-fau-for-substance-use-opioid-crises-collaborative/?sc=rsin Mon, 19 Aug 2024 08:30:11 EST FAU joins the National Academy of Medicine's Action Collaborative on Combating Opioid Crises. This pilot project, involving more 80 organizations, aims to enhance coordination and address addiction challenges through collaboration among public, private and nonprofit sectors. Florida Atlantic University /articles/exploring-emerging-diagnostic-tools-for-early-diagnosis-of-endometriosis/?sc=rsin /articles/exploring-emerging-diagnostic-tools-for-early-diagnosis-of-endometriosis/?sc=rsin Thu, 15 Aug 2024 11:30:09 EST Endometriosis affects more than 11% of women of reproductive age in the U.S. and 190 million women worldwide. The average time to diagnose endometriosis is seven years after the onset of symptoms. These circumstances may cause life-altering consequences such as chronic pain, infertility and quality of life. Florida Atlantic University /articles/nighttime-light-data-shows-inequities-in-restoring-power-after-hurricane-michael/?sc=rsin /articles/nighttime-light-data-shows-inequities-in-restoring-power-after-hurricane-michael/?sc=rsin Wed, 14 Aug 2024 08:30:13 EST Using nighttime lightdata from NASA, remote sensing, official outage records and census information, a study reveals notable differences in power-restoration rates between urbanized and rural areas and between disadvantaged and more affluent communities after Hurricane Michael in Florida's Panhandle. Florida Atlantic University /articles/taking-a-one-in-a-million-shot-to-tackle-dopamine-linked-brain-disorders/?sc=rsin /articles/taking-a-one-in-a-million-shot-to-tackle-dopamine-linked-brain-disorders/?sc=rsin Mon, 12 Aug 2024 08:30:05 EST With the help of a tiny, transparent worm called Caenorhabditis elegans, researchers have identified novel players in dopamine signaling by taking advantage of a powerful platform generated via the Million Mutation Project for the rapid identification of mutant genes based on their functional impact. Florida Atlantic University /articles/alcohol-use-in-older-adults-doubles-risk-of-brain-bleeds-from-falls/?sc=rsin /articles/alcohol-use-in-older-adults-doubles-risk-of-brain-bleeds-from-falls/?sc=rsin Thu, 08 Aug 2024 08:30:16 EST Little is known about the association between the frequency of alcohol use and the severity of injuries sustained after a fall in older adults. A study of 3,128 older adults who underwent an initial head CT scan in the emergency department after head trauma from a fall shows that occasional alcohol use was associated with double the odds of a brain bleed when compared to patients with no alcohol use. Daily alcohol use was associated with 150% increased odds of a brain bleed. Florida Atlantic University /articles/baby-talk-decoding-how-children-s-vocal-and-cognitive-cues-sway-adults/?sc=rsin /articles/baby-talk-decoding-how-children-s-vocal-and-cognitive-cues-sway-adults/?sc=rsin Tue, 06 Aug 2024 08:30:32 EST In infancy, caregivers rely on facial expressions and vocal cues to understand a baby's needs and emotions, as babies do not use language. A new study shows that while facial expressions are important, they are less effective than vocal and cognitive signals. Adults are more focused on a child's voice when assessing emotional states and helplessness, but use cognitive content, such as reasoning abilities, to gauge intelligence. When a child's vocal immaturity conflicts with advanced cognitive abilities, caregivers prioritize vocal cues for emotional needs and cognitive cues for intelligence, highlighting how different cues influence judgments in early childhood. Florida Atlantic University /articles/fau-lands-1-3m-nsf-grant-to-boost-dryland-soil-quality-amid-climate-stressors/?sc=rsin /articles/fau-lands-1-3m-nsf-grant-to-boost-dryland-soil-quality-amid-climate-stressors/?sc=rsin Mon, 05 Aug 2024 08:30:22 EST Drylands, found across every continent, cover about 45% of the Earth's land surface and support 38% of the human population. The NSF grant will enable scientists to enhance understanding of climate resistance of individual microbes and to improve microbial remediations to reduce soil degradation under climate change. Florida Atlantic University /articles/uncontrolled-hypertension-the-old-silent-killer-is-alive-and-well/?sc=rsin /articles/uncontrolled-hypertension-the-old-silent-killer-is-alive-and-well/?sc=rsin Thu, 01 Aug 2024 08:30:19 EST High blood pressure affects about 45% of U.S. adults. In the 1970s, only about 50% of patients were aware of their hypertension. Today, 54% are aware of their high blood pressure, 40% are actively treated and 21% are actively controlled. As such, researchers alert health care providers that the old "silent killer" is alive and well. Florida Atlantic University /articles/for-bigger-muscles-push-close-to-failure-for-strength-maybe-not/?sc=rsin /articles/for-bigger-muscles-push-close-to-failure-for-strength-maybe-not/?sc=rsin Wed, 31 Jul 2024 08:30:38 EST When lifting weights, do you wonder how pushing yourself to the point of failure--where you can't do another rep--impacts your results? New research finds that if you're aiming for muscle growth, training closer to failure might be more effective. Florida Atlantic University