Liveable for whom? Prospects of urban liveability to address health inequities

The aspiration of liveable cities, underpinned by the New Urban Agenda, is gaining popularity as a mechanism to enhance population health and wellbeing. However, less attention has been given to understanding how urban liveability may provide an opportunity to redress health inequities. Using an environmental justice lens, this paper investigates whether urban liveability poses an opportunity or threat to reducing health inequities and outlines a future research agenda. Selected urban liveability attributes, being: education; employment; food, alcohol, and tobacco; green space; housing; transport; and walkability, were investigated to understand how they can serve to widen or narrow inequities. Some domains showed consistent evidence, others suggested context-specific associations that made it difficult to draw general conclusions, and some showed a reverse patterning with the social gradient, but with poorer outcomes. This suggests urban liveability attributes have equigenic potential, but operate within a complex system. We conclude more disadvantaged neighbourhoods and their residents likely have additional policy and design considerations for optimising outcomes, especially as changes to the contextual environment may impact neighbourhood composition through displacement and/or pulling up effects. Future research needs to continue to explore downstream associations using longitudinal and natural experiments, and also seek to gain a deeper understanding of the urban liveability system, including interactions, feedback loops, and non-linear and linear responses. There is a need to monitor neighbourhood population changes over time to understand how liveability impacts the most vulnerable. Other areas worthy of further investigation include applying a life course approach and understanding liveability within the context of other adversities and contextual settings

Pedestrianisation: Are We Reading From the Same Page? Perspective From Key Stakeholders in Takapuna, Auckland

Transforming car-oriented streets into functional public spaces and pedestrianised environments has the potential to create environments that support active transport (e.g. walking and cycling), social interaction, and economic development. In the face of built environment characteristics, individual perceptions play a vital role in travel behaviour, spend characteristics, and social cohesion. This study investigates the perceived benefits of pedestrianising a shopping precinct in Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine stakeholders across three groups: shoppers, retailers, and local government. Shoppers and retailers perceived pedestrianisation schemes as a way of improving: aesthetics; connectivity and accessibility; safety; public transport infrastructure, and walking and cycling levels within the area. Retailers were also concerned about the impact of short-term construction on revenue. Local government respondents realised the potential of pedestrianising the site to improve existing infrastructure and become more economically competitive with other nearby retail options. All stakeholders recognised the importance and benefit of securing collaborative input into urban regeneration schemes. Any urban regeneration developments must be considered within a long-term cohesive strategic framework. Overall perceptions of pedestrianising Takapuna were seen as positive across all groups, and seen as being able to make improvements across multiple areas including further supporting business development

Linking GPS and travel diary data using sequence alignment in a study of children's independent mobility

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Global positioning systems (<b>GPS</b>) are increasingly being used in health research to determine the location of study participants. Combining GPS data with data collected via travel/activity diaries allows researchers to assess where people travel in conjunction with data about trip purpose and accompaniment. However, linking GPS and diary data is problematic and to date the only method has been to match the two datasets manually, which is time consuming and unlikely to be practical for larger data sets. This paper assesses the feasibility of a new sequence alignment method of linking GPS and travel diary data in comparison with the manual matching method.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>GPS and travel diary data obtained from a study of children's independent mobility were linked using sequence alignment algorithms to test the proof of concept. Travel diaries were assessed for quality by counting the number of errors and inconsistencies in each participant's set of diaries. The success of the sequence alignment method was compared for higher versus lower quality travel diaries, and for accompanied versus unaccompanied trips. Time taken and percentage of trips matched were compared for the sequence alignment method and the manual method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The sequence alignment method matched 61.9% of all trips. Higher quality travel diaries were associated with higher match rates in both the sequence alignment and manual matching methods. The sequence alignment method performed almost as well as the manual method and was an order of magnitude faster. However, the sequence alignment method was less successful at fully matching trips and at matching unaccompanied trips.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Sequence alignment is a promising method of linking GPS and travel diary data in large population datasets, especially if limitations in the trip detection algorithm are addressed.</p

B(OCH2CF3)3-mediated direct amidation of pharmaceutically relevant building blocks in cyclopentyl methyl ether

The use of B(OCH2CF3)3 for mediating direct amidation reactions of a wide range of pharmaceutically relevant carboxylic acids and amines is described, including numerous heterocycle-containing examples. An initial screen of solvents for the direct amidation reaction suggested that cyclopentyl methyl ether, a solvent with a very good safety profile suitable for use over a wide temperature range, was an excellent replacement for the previously used solvent acetonitrile. Under these conditions amides could be prepared from 18 of the 21 carboxylic acids and 18 of the 21 amines examined. Further optimisation of one of the low yielding amidation reactions (36% yield) via a design of experiments approach enabled an 84% yield of the amide to be obtained

The incidence of injuries traveling to and from school by travel mode

Objective. To assess the absolute and relative risks of youth school-related travel using the New Zealand's no fault accident liability scheme and Census at School datasets. Methods. Injury risk associated with traveling to and from school was assessed by combining census data from the Accident Compensation Commission database, New Zealand's no fault liability accident scheme database and the Census at School survey. Population injury and cost was assessed for incidents during a 2-year period (1 July 2003 to 30 June 2005) and during normal school travel hours (7.30 a.m.–9.00 a.m., 3.00 p.m.–4.30 p.m., weekdays) for youth 5–17 years of age. Results. Overall, 7573 cases were identified as being school travel-related, representing 1.6% of total, and 11.4% school travel period injuries. Walking (30.7%), cycling (30.3%), and motor vehicles (27.7%) provided the majority of injuries. Risk of injury per million trips was highest for cycling (46.1), walking (10.3), and motor vehicle travel (6.1). Conclusion. These data provide the first comprehensive examination of absolute risk of travel to and from school and by transport mode, showing that school-related travel is a relatively safe activity contributing to a minority of all injuries sustained by youth

The built environment and transport-related physical activity: What we do and do not know

Background: Leisure time physical activities have been a priority in recent years for many health practitioners, with transport-related physical activity (TPA) largely ignored. The urban environment has altered in the last few decades, increasing the reliance on automobiles. Simultaneously we have seen increases in obesity and other non-communicable diseases related to sedentary lifestyles. Methods: Information was sourced from major health databases. The remainder of the literature was directed from citations in articles accessed from the initial search. Results: Clear health benefits result from regular TPA engagement, with opportunities closely linked to accessible urban design infrastructure. Much of the existing evidence, however, has been extracted from cross-sectional research, rather than interventions. As such, drawing causal relationships is not yet possible. Conclusions: Existing evidence necessitates TPA research and promotion should be public health and urban design priorities. Collaborative research needs to incorporate prospective study designs to understand TPA behavior

Physical activity interventions in the workplace: a review and future for New Zealand research

Aim: To examine the worksite physical activity intervention literature and discuss whether the findings are applicable to New Zealand worksite environments. Data sources: Information was sourced from major health databases using key words physical activity, intervention, worksite, workplace, and health promotion. The remainder of the literature search was directed from citations in the articles sourced from the original search. Study selection: Studies included in the review were related to worksite physical activity programmes and/or interventions. Programmes that incorporated screening and other risk behaviour management (for example smoking or stress management) but no health-related physical activity were excluded. Data extraction: The literature was systematically reviewed to evaluate the utility of worksite physical activity programmes for health in general and more specifically for their utility in application to New Zealand worksites. Effect size calculations were generated to quantify major studies. Symphysis: Despite convincing potential, data show little conclusive evidence that worksite interventions do increase long-term adherence to physical activity, provide health benefits, reduce absenteeism, or improve productivity. Problems include contamination through self-selection, high attrition rates, and poor outcome measures. A scarcity of New Zealand worksite physical activity research currently exists with no published accounts of evidence-based programmes identified. Conclusions: A comprehensive appraisal of worksite physical activity literature highlights the complexity of carrying out worksite physical activity interventions and drawing dose-response conclusions. Quality New Zealand research is needed to understand the specifics of the New Zealand workplace and how activity programmes might affect worker behaviour

The contribution of worksite physical activity to total daily physical activity levels in professional occupations

This study investigated the amount of physical activity that occurred during work and total waking hours in a sample of New Zealand professional office workers. Data were collected over three days using a retrospective self-report recall (Three day physical activity recall [3DPAR]), and pedometers (Yamax Digiwalker SW-700). Fifty-six participants (27 men and 29 women) reported their activities over a three-day period and wore two sealed, hip-mounted pedometers. One pedometer was worn during working hours; the other was worn for all waking hours. Results showed that the mean step count over three days for men was 26 609 (+9 194) and 27 489 (+8 222) for women. Relative contributions of work (WPV), non-work (NWPV) and total pedometer values (TPV) were analysed for tertiled activity groups. The high activity group (HAG) achieved more physical activity outside the workday (56%) when compared to the lowest activity group (LAG) (29%). A finding from this study is that the extra activity the HAG accumulated outside the workplace was through active commuting, exercise, and sport and exercise. 3DPAR activity blocks of active transportation, exercise, and sport and exercise showed positive moderate correlations with TPV and NWPV. A moderate positive correlation also existed between pedometer values and 3DPAR (METs.3day-1) data (Spearman correlation=0.28). Odds ratios showed that doing sport and exercise, manual work, and exercise, significantly increased the likelihood of membership in the high pedometer step group. Further research needs to be conducted to determine if worksite interventions can increase health related physical activity of any activity group

Protecting‐Group‐Free Amidation of Amino Acids using Lewis Acid Catalysts

Amidation of unprotected amino acids has been investigated using a variety of ‘classical“ coupling reagents, stoichiometric or catalytic group(IV) metal salts, and boron Lewis acids. The scope of the reaction was explored through the attempted synthesis of amides derived from twenty natural, and several unnatural, amino acids, as well as a wide selection of primary and secondary amines. The study also examines the synthesis of medicinally relevant compounds, and the scalability of this direct amidation approach. Finally, we provide insight into the chemoselectivity observed in these reactions

Posters in a sample of professional worksites have no effect on objectively measured physical activity.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: Whether posters promoting stair use are effective in increasing objectively measured physical activity in a sample of New Zealand professional employees. METHODS: Forty-six participants (27 men and 19 women) recruited from two professional worksites wore one sealed pedometer during all waking hours (total physical activity [TPV]), and another sealed pedometer during working hours (worksite physical activity [WPV]), for three days over four separate occasions. The study protocol was a crossover design with the first worksite receiving the treatment (posters) for three weeks, followed by a six-week washout period, then a three-week control. The second worksite received the control prior to the treatment period. Measurements were taken at the beginning and end of each three-week block. RESULTS: The posters were ineffective at increasing objectively measured work and total physical activity levels in this sample. Trivial (0.04) to moderate Cohen effect sizes (-0.79) were shown. When posters were visible in the worksites, mean step counts decreased (-868 steps [WPV], and -1,861 steps [TPV]). Women's step counts (-9% [WPV] and -13% [TPV]) were more negatively affected by the posters' appearance when compared with men (-2% [WPV] and -8% [TPV])