1,582 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Association Between Sleep Duration and Diabetes in Black and White Adults
OBJECTIVE To examine racial differences in sleep duration and its relationship with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We used data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults (n = 130,943) participating in the National Health Interview Survey from 2004 to 2011. Usual sleep duration was self-reported and categorized as 7 h (long). Diabetes status was based on self-reported diagnosis from a health professional. RESULTS Participantsâ mean age was 50.6 years, 49% were men, and 13% were black. Compared with whites, blacks were more likely to report short sleep (37 vs. 28%) and less likely to get 7 h of sleep (24 vs. 33%). Diabetes (9,643 cases [9%] in whites and 3,612 cases [15%] in blacks) had a U-shaped distribution with sleep in whites (10, 7, and 9%, for short, optimal, and long sleep, respectively) and blacks (16, 13, and 15%). Suboptimal sleep duration was more strongly associated with diabetes in whites than in blacks among short (prevalence ratio 1.49 [95% CI 1.40â1.58] vs. 1.21 [1.09â1.34]) and long (1.32 [1.25â1.40] vs. 1.11 [1.00â1.23]) sleepers on the relative scale. Adjustment for socioeconomic status (SES) attenuated the short sleepâdiabetes association in blacks (1.15 [1.02â1.29]), and the racial/ethnic difference in the short sleepâdiabetes association became nonsignificant after SES adjustments. CONCLUSIONS Suboptimal sleep duration was positively associated with diabetes in blacks and whites, although diabetes prevalence was higher at any level of sleep in blacks. Socioeconomic factors appear to partly explain the association for short sleep in blacks as well as disparity between racial groups
Effects of Racial Prejudice on the Health of Communities: A Multilevel Survival Analysis
Objectives. We examined whether and how racial prejudice at both the individual and community levels contributes to mortality risk among majority as well as minority group members.
Methods. We used data on racial attitudes from the General Social Survey (1993â2002) prospectively linked to mortality data from the National Death Index through 2008.
Results. Whites and Blacks living in communities with higher levels of racial prejudice were at an elevated risk of mortality, independent of individual and community sociodemographic characteristics and individually held racist beliefs (odds ratioâ=â1.24; 95% confidence intervalâ=â1.04, 1.49). Living in a highly prejudiced community had similar harmful effects among both Blacks and Whites. Furthermore, the interaction observed between individual- and community-level racial prejudice indicated that respondents with higher levels of racial prejudice had lower survival rates if they lived in communities with low degrees of racial prejudice. Community-level social capital explained the relationship between community racial prejudice and mortality.
Conclusions. Community-level racial prejudice may disrupt social capital, and reduced social capital is associated with increased mortality risk among both Whites and Blacks. Our results contribute to an emerging body of literature documenting the negative consequences of prejudice for population health
Recommended from our members
Asian-White disparities in short sleep duration by industry of employment and occupation in the US: a cross-sectional study
Background: Although short sleep is associated with an increased risk of morbidity as well as mortality and has been shown to vary by industry of employment and occupation, little is known about the relationship between work and sleep among Asian Americans. Methods: Using a nationally representative sample of US adults (n = 125,610) in the National Health Interview Survey from 2004â2011, we estimated prevalence ratios for self-reported short sleep duration (<7 hours) in Asians compared to Whites by industry of employment and occupation using adjusted Poisson regression models with robust variance. Results: Asians were more likely to report short sleep duration than Whites (33 vs. 28%, p < 0.001), and the Asian-White disparity was widest in finance/information and healthcare industries. Compared to Whites after adjustments, short sleep was also more prevalent among Asians employed in Public administration (PR = 1.35 [95% CI: 1.17,1.56]), Education (PR = 1.29 [95% CI: 1.08,1.53]), and Professional/Management (PR = 1.18 [95% CI: 1.03,1.36]). Short sleep, however, was lower among Asians in Accommodation/Food (PR = 0.81 [95% CI: 0.66, 0.99]) with no difference in Retail. In professional and support-service occupations, short sleep was higher among Asians, but was not different among laborers. Conclusions: U.S. Asian-White disparities in short sleep varied by industries, suggesting a need to consider both race and occupational characteristics to identify high-risk individuals
The association between blood pressure and years of schooling versus educational credentials: Test of the sheepskin effect
Purpose Attaining a degree may offer greater opportunities for health than years of schooling alone. This study examines whether there is a degree, or âsheepskinâ, effect on the association between education and blood pressure. Methods Multivariable-adjusted ordinal and linear regression models assessed associations of years of schooling and degree attainment with systolic and diastolic blood pressure in a sample of 552 adults aged 38â47 years. Results Years of schooling was inversely associated with systolic blood pressure adjusting for age, gender and race (ÎČ=â0.4, 95% CL:â0.7,â0.1 mmHg systolic blood pressure/year of schooling). Additional adjustment for motherâs education, childhood verbal intelligence quotient, childhood health and childhood socioeconomic status had minimal impact on effect size (ÎČ= â0.3, 95% CI=â0.7,0.0). However, years of schooling was no longer associated with blood pressure in the fully adjusted model which included additional adjustment for degree attained (ÎČ=0.0, 95% CL:â0.5, 0.4). In the fully adjusted model (including adjustment for years of schooling), individuals with a graduate degree still had significantly lower systolic blood pressure than HS degree-holders (e.g. ÎČ=â9.2, 95% CL:â15.2,â3.2 for graduate vs. high school degree). Findings were similar for diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion The association of years of schooling with blood pressure may be largely due to degree attainment rather than simply the knowledge and skills accumulated due to years of schooling alone
Affirmative Action Bans and Health Risk Behaviors
College affirmative action bans were associated with higher rates of smoking and drinking in underrepresented minority 11th and 12th graders, and these students continued to smoke at higher rates into young adulthood. Policymakers should consider unintended public health consequences of proposals, such as affirmative action bans, that may limit socioeconomic opportunities
On the Mass of Population III Stars
Performing 1D hydrodynamical calculations coupled with non-equilibrium
processes for H2 formation, we pursue the thermal and dynamical evolution of
filamentary primordial clouds and attempt to make an estimate on the mass of
population III stars. It is found that, almost independent of initial
conditions, a filamentary cloud continues to collapse nearly isothermally due
to H_2 cooling until the cloud becomes optically thick against the H_2 lines.
During the collapse the cloud structure separates into two parts, i.e., a
denser spindle and a diffuse envelope. The spindle contracts quasi-statically,
and thus the line mass of the spindle keeps a characteristic value determined
solely by the temperature ( K). Applying a linear theory, we find
that the spindle is unstable against fragmentation during the collapse. The
wavelength of the fastest growing perturbation lessens as the collapse
proceeds. Consequently, successive fragmentation could occur. When the central
density exceeds , the successive fragmentation may
cease since the cloud becomes opaque against the H_2 lines and the collapse
decelerates appreciably. The mass of the first star is then expected to be
typically , which may grow up to by accreting
the diffuse envelope. Thus, the first-generation stars are anticipated to be
massive but not supermassive.Comment: 23 pages, 6 figures, accepted by ApJ (April 10
The Association of Neighborhood Social Capital and Ethnic (Minority) Density with Pregnancy Outcomes in the Netherlands
Background: Perinatal morbidity rates are relatively high in the Netherlands, and significant inequalities in perinatal morbidity and mortality can be found across neighborhoods. In socioeconomically deprived areas, âWesternâ women are particularly at risk for adverse birth outcomes. Almost all studies to date have explained the disparities in terms of individual determinants of birth outcomes. This study examines the influence of neighborhood contextual characteristics on birth weight (adjusted for gestational age) and preterm birth. We focused on the influence of neighborhood social capital â measured as informal socializing and social connections between neighbors â as well as ethnic (minority) density. Methods: Data on birth weight and prematurity were obtained from the Perinatal Registration Netherlands 2000â2008 dataset, containing 97% of all pregnancies. Neighborhood-level measurements were obtained from three different sources, comprising both survey and registration data. We included 3.422 neighborhoods and 1.527.565 pregnancies for the birth weight analysis and 1.549.285 pregnancies for the premature birth analysis. Linear and logistic multilevel regression was performed to assess the associations of individual and neighborhood level variables with birth weight and preterm birth. Results: We found modest but significant neighborhood effects on birth weight and preterm births. The effect of ethnic (minority) density was stronger than that of neighborhood social capital. Moreover, ethnic (minority) density was associated with higher birth weight for infants of non-Western ethnic minority women compared to Western women (15 grams; 95% CI: 12,4/17,5) as well as reduced risk for prematurity (OR 0.97; CI 0,95/0,99). Conclusions: Our results indicate that neighborhood contexts are associated with birth weight and preterm birth in the Netherlands. Moreover, ethnic (minority) density seems to be a protective factor for non-Western ethnic minority women, but not for Western women. This helps explain the increased risk of Western women in deprived neighborhoods for adverse birth outcomes found in previous studies
Recommended from our members
Longitudinal cohort of HIV-negative transgender women of colour in New York City: protocol for the TURNNT ('Trying to Understand Relationships, Networks and Neighbourhoods among Transgender women of colour') study.
IntroductionIn the USA, transgender women are among the most vulnerable to HIV. In particular, transgender women of colour face high rates of infection and low uptake of important HIV prevention tools, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). This paper describes the design, sampling methods, data collection and analyses of the TURNNT ('Trying to Understand Relationships, Networks and Neighbourhoods among Transgender women of colour') study. In collaboration with communities of transgender women of colour, TURNNT aims to explore the complex social and environmental (ie, neighbourhood) structures that affect HIV prevention and other aspects of health in order to identify avenues for intervention.Methods and analysesTURNNT is a prospective cohort study, which will recruit 300 transgender women of colour (150 Black/African American, 100 Latina and 50 Asian/Pacific Islander participants) in New York City. There will be three waves of data collection separated by 6âmonths. At each wave, participants will provide information on their relationships, social and sexual networks, and neighbourhoods. Global position system technology will be used to generate individual daily path areas in order to estimate neighbourhood-level exposures. Multivariate analyses will be conducted to assess cross-sectional and longitudinal, independent and synergistic associations of personal relationships (notably individual social capital), social and sexual networks, and neighbourhood factors (notably neighbourhood-level social cohesion) with PrEP uptake and discontinuation.Ethics and disseminationThe TURNNT protocol was approved by the Columbia University Institutional Review Board (reference no. AAAS8164). This study will provide novel insights into the relationship, network and neighbourhood factors that influence HIV prevention behaviours among transgender women of colour and facilitate exploration of this population's health and well-being more broadly. Through community-based dissemination events and consultation with policy makers, this foundational work will be used to guide the development and implementation of future interventions with and for transgender women of colour
Recommended from our members
Phobic Anxiety is Associated with Higher Serum Concentrations of Adipokines and Cytokines in Women with Diabetes
OBJECTIVE: Phobic anxiety has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. We aimed to determine whether associations of phobic anxiety with several known markers of CVD might be contributors. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We used a 16-point validated index (Crown-Crisp) measured in 1988 to categorize 984 women with type 2 diabetes from the Nurses' Health Study as having low, moderate, or high phobic anxiety. Groups were then compared for differences in adipokines (adiponectin and leptin), inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α receptor II), and markers of endothelial function (sE-selectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule [sICAM]-1) measured on blood samples provided between 1989 and 1990. RESULTS: Higher levels of phobic anxiety were associated with higher BMI and lower education. Higher levels of phobic anxiety were also associated with higher leptin and soluble TNF-α receptor II in both crude analyses and after adjustment for potential confounders. sICAM and sE-selectin were higher in the highest tertile compared with the middle tertile, but there was no significant trend across tertiles. We found no association between phobic anxiety and adiponectin. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of phobic anxiety are associated with increased levels of leptin and inflammatory markers, which may in part explain the previously observed relationship between anxiety and other psychosocial disorders with CVD
Detection of diffuse TeV gamma-ray emission from the nearby starburst galaxy NGC 253
We report the TeV gamma-ray observations of the nearby normal spiral galaxy
NGC 253. At a distance of 2.5 Mpc, NGC 253 is one of the nearest
starburst galaxies. This relative closeness, coupled with the high star
formation rate in the galaxy, make it a good candidate TeV gamma-ray source.
Observations were carried out in 2000 and 2001 with the CANGAROO-II 10 m
imaging atmospheric Cerenkov telescope. TeV gamma-ray emission is detected at
the level with a flux of at energies 0.5 TeV. The data indicate that the
emission region is broader than the point spread function of our telescope.Comment: 4 pages, double colomn, 3 figures, aa.cl
- âŠ