The Impact of Railway Stations on Residential and Commercial Property Value: A Meta-analysis

Railway stations function as nodes in transport networks and places in an urban environment. They have accessibility and environmental impacts, which contribute to property value. The literature on the effects of railway stations on property value is mixed in its finding in respect to the impact magnitude and direction, ranging from a negative to an insignificant or a positive impact. This paper attempts to explain the variation in the findings by meta-analytical procedures. Generally the variations are attributed to the nature of data, particular spatial characteristics, temporal effects and methodology. Railway station proximity is addressed from two spatial considerations: a local station effect measuring the effect for properties with in 1/4 mile range and a global station effect measuring the effect of coming 250 m closer to the station. We find that the effect of railway stations on commercial property value mainly takes place at short distances. Commercial properties within 1/4 mile rang are 12.2% more expensive than residential properties. Where the price gap between the railway station zone and the rest is about 4.2% for the average residence, it is about 16.4% for the average commercial property. At longer distances the effect on residential property values dominate. We find that for every 250 m a residence is located closer to a station its price is 2.3% higher than commercial properties. Commuter railway stations have a consistently higher positive impact on the property value compared to light and heavy railway/Metro stations. The inclusion of other accessibility variables (such as highways) in the models reduces the level of reported railway station impact. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

Phenomenological Study Identifying Facilitators and Barriers to Black and Latinx Youth’s Engagement in Hospital-Based Violence Intervention Programs

Black and Latinx youth are disproportionately affected by violence in the United States. Hospital-based violence intervention programs (HVIPs) have emerged as an effective response to this epidemic; however, participation rates remain low. This study aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to recruitment and engagement amongst black and Latinx youth from the perspective of HVIP staff. Employing a phenomenological approach, a purposive sample of key informants was recruited. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews lasting approximately 90 min were conducted with representatives (N = 12) from five HVIPs in U.S. cities across the Midwest and Northeast, making up 15% of all HVIPs in the United States. Each interview was recorded and transcribed verbatim. The research team employed rigorous content analysis of the data. Three themes and subsequent categories resulted from the analysis: (1) Interpersonal/Relational Facilitators (building rapport; connecting with youth; enhancing the teachable moment; building relational health); (2) Structural/Systemic Barriers (lack of reinforcement; difficulties connecting after discharge from the hospital; hospital workflow; institutional challenges); (3) Structural/Systemic Facilitators (embedding the HVIP; trauma-informed practices and policies). Given the limited research on black and Latinx youth and the disproportionate rate of violent injuries amongst these groups, an evidence-based systematic approach to engage youth is essential to promote health equity. The findings from this study suggest that there are several steps that HVIPs and hospitals can take to enhance their recruitment and engagement of youth and their families

Correction to: Clinical management of ageing people living with HIV in Europe: the view of the care providers.

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Exploring Low-Income, Black Fathers\u27 Strengths and Barriers to Positive Change Using Qualitative Methods

Objective: The goal was to explore low-income, Black fathers\u27 personal strengths and barriers to engaged fatherhood, healthy relationships, and economic stability. Background: Fatherhood programs often rely on case management and education to promote positive fathering, healthy relationships, and economic stability. However, methods should be tailored to fit the strengths and needs of participating fathers. Low-income, Black fathers face additional challenges related to systemic discrimination and structural violence that can hinder their success. To effectively serve this group, research is required to understand their relevant strengths and barriers. Methods: Semistructured focus groups explored fathers\u27 personal strengths and barriers specific to the three areas of interest with fatherhood program staff (n = 8) and enrolled fathers (n = 26). Thematic analysis was conducted then systematically vetted by community scholars (previously enrolled or graduated fathers). Results: Fathering strengths included empathy, listening skills, and active family participation. Barriers included limited custody or access, individual constraints, and unmet social needs. Participants contextualized these findings with structural issues related to coparenting and the legal system (e.g., biased court systems). Men\u27s relationship strengths included mutual respect and teamwork. Barriers included past trauma, lack of healthy relationship models, and relationship strain. Economic stability strengths included financial literacy and motivation to provide, whereas barriers included legal history, financial obligations, and limited resources. Conclusion: These findings highlight key individual-level strengths and barriers grounded in fathers\u27 intersectional identities as predominantly low-income, Black men. Implications: Programs serving low-income, Black fathers should consider tailoring their programming to the lived experiences of participants to navigate these critical barriers and amplify assets for success

Clinical management of ageing people living with HIV in Europe : the view of the care providers

Background: Although guidelines for the management of HIV infection include recommendations for aging people living with HIV (PLWH), clinical practice of European HIV care providers may vary. Method: We performed a study using a 3-phase Delphi methodology by involving a panel of clinicians with expertise in HIV infection clinical management. The main aim of the study was to assess the care provider prospective on how HIV clinical care should be delivered to ageing PLWH. The first phase involved ten clinicians to identify HIV comorbidities of interest. The second and third phases recruited clinicians virtually via a web-based questionnaire that included 137 questions focussed on 11 comorbidities (e.g. cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, etc.). Results: Results were analysed thematically and consensus (or not) among European physicians reported. Ninety-seven and 85 responses were collected in phase 2 and 3, respectively. High levels of agreement were found among clinical care providers across Europe and with the European AIDS Conference Society guidelines regarding key items of clinical management of comorbidities in ageing PLWH. Conclusion: However, we identified some important gaps, such as the lack of standardisation or implementation of the assessment of frailty or menopause, which are emerging as important factors to optimise ageing PLWH clinical care. Further studies are warranted to confirm whether intensified screening translates into HIV morbidity advances

How Do Users Value a Network Expansion? Evidence from the Public Transit System in Singapore

We estimate the network externality of a public transit system by examining the effects of its expansion on the housing market. Our results show that a major expansion of Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system increased the price of apartments within 0.5 km of a pre-expansion station by 1.6% to 2.1% relative to apartments that were further away from a station. Evaluated at the mean housing price, the expansion increased the value of pre-connected apartments by at least S$386 million, which is equivalent to about 8$5 billion cost of the expansion

Stereotypic horses (Equus caballus) are not cognitively impaired

Stereotypies in animals are thought to arise from an interaction between genetic predisposition and sub-optimal housing conditions. In domestic horses, a well-studied stereotypy is crib-biting, an abnormal behaviour that appears to help individuals to cope with stressful situations. One prominent hypothesis states that animals affected by stereotypies are cognitively less flexible compared to healthy controls, due to sensitization of a specific brain area, the basal ganglia. The aim of this study was to test this hypothesis in crib-biting and healthy controls, using a cognitive task, reversal learning, which has been used as a diagnostic for basal ganglia dysfunction. The procedure consisted of exposing subjects to four learning tasks; first and second acquisition, and their reversals. For each task, we measured the number of trials to reach criterion and heart rate and heart-rate variability. Importantly, we did not try to prevent crib-biters from executing their stereotypic behaviour. We found that the first reversal learning task required the largest number of trials, confirming its challenging nature. Interestingly, the second reversal learning task required significantly fewer trials to reach criterion, suggesting generalisation learning. However, we did not find any performance differences across groups; both stereotypic and control animals required a similar numbers of trials and did not differ in their physiological responses. Our results thus challenge the widely held belief that crib-biting horses, and stereotypic animals more generally, are cognitively impaired. We conclude that cognitive underperformance may occur in stereotypic horses if they are prevented from crib-biting to cope with experienced stress.PostprintPeer reviewe