City University London

About: City University London is a education organization based out in London, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 5735 authors who have published 17285 publications receiving 453290 citations.

Childhood mental ability in relation to food intake and physical activity in adulthood: the 1970 British Cohort Study.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this work was to examine the relation of scores on tests of mental ability in childhood with food consumption and physical activity in adulthood. METHODS: Based on a cohort of >17,000 individuals born in Great Britain in 1970, 8282 had complete data for mental ability scores at 10 years of age and reported their food intake and physical activity patterns at 30 years of age. RESULTS: Children with higher mental ability scores reported significantly more frequent consumption of fruit, vegetables (cooked and raw), wholemeal bread, poultry, fish, and foods fried in vegetable oil in adulthood. They were also more likely to have a lower intake of chips (French fries), nonwholemeal bread, and cakes and biscuits. There was some attenuation in these associations after adjustment for markers of socioeconomic position across the life course, which included educational attainment, with statistical significance lost in some analyses. Higher mental ability was positively associated with exercise habit, in particular, intense activity (defined by being out of breath/sweaty). The associations between mental ability and these behaviors were similar in both men and women, and they were somewhat stronger for verbal than nonverbal ability. CONCLUSIONS: It is plausible that the skills captured by IQ tests, such as the ability to comprehend and reason, may be important in the successful management of a person's health behaviors

Birth weight and later socioeconomic disadvantage: evidence from the 1958 British cohort study

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the relation between birth weight and socioeconomic disadvantage during childhood and adolescence in a birth cohort study. Design: Longitudinal analysis of birth weight in relation to social class, household amenities and overcrowding, and financial difficulties as reported by parents at interview when participants were aged 7, 11, and 16 years; and receipt of unemployment or supplementary benefits as reported by participants at age 23. Subjects: Male participants in the 1958 birth cohort (national child development study) born to parents resident in Great Britain during the week of 3-9 March 1958. Data on birth weight and financial difficulties between birth and 23 years were available for 4321; data on housing conditions and social class at ages 7, 11, and 16 years were available for 3370. Main outcome measures: Socioeconomic disadvantage at later ages in men weighing 6 lb (2721g) or under at birth compared with those weighing over 6 lb and between fifths of the distribution of birth weight. Results: Cohort members who weighed 6 lb or under at birth were more likely to experience socioeconomic disadvantage subsequently. Those in lower fifths of the distribution were more likely to experience socioeconomic disadvantage. Conclusion—Low birth weight is associated with socioeconomic disadvantage in childhood and adolescence. Studies of the association of indicators of early development and adult disease need to take into account experiences right through from birth to adulthood if they are to elucidate the combination of risks attributable to developmental problems and socioeconomic disadvantage.

Competing with Privacy

Abstract: We analyze the implications of consumer privacy for competition in the marketplace. Firms compete for consumer information and derive revenues both from consumer purchases as well as from disclosing consumer information in a secondary market. Consumers choose which firm to patronize and how much personal information to provide it with. We show that firms maximize profits by focusing on a single revenue source and competing at the extensive rather than the intensive margin, outperforming competitors by attracting a larger customer base. We also show that competition drives the provision of services with a low level of consumer information disclosure high level of privacy, but higher competition intensity in the marketplace need not improve privacy when consumers exhibit low willingness to pay. Our findings are relevant to the business models of Internet firms and contribute to inform the regulatory debate on consumer privacy. This paper was accepted by Bruno Cassiman, business strategy.

Basel III: Is the Cure Worse than the Disease?

Abstract: Basel III will force banks to shift their business model from liability management, in which business decisions are made about asset volumes, with the financing found in short term wholesale markets as necessary, to asset management, in which asset volumes are constrained by the availability of funding. We find, contrary to what many have argued, that once there is a full adjustment, the costs of credit to low risk bank borrowers – the majority of customers – will be only moderately affected; but that there will a reduction in availability and higher cost at the riskier end of the credit spectrum. Alternative arrangements are therefore needed for financing of risky exposures if a fall in economic growth is to be avoided. In this context securitisation (broadly defined to include all forms of bank sponsored collateralised instrument, including covered bonds) will be of central importance. Re-establishing securitisation markets on a sounder footing appears essential, in order both to prevent a renewed credit contraction and to help prevent riskier borrowers from being cut off from credit. The shifts in bank balance sheets will also require substantial portfolio adjustments amongst long term institutional investors, from short term to long term debt and from debt to equity. The associated adjustment of both market prices and required returns can be accommodated but poses a substantial co-ordination problem and could take a long time. Finally the new liquidity rules could create new unintended systemic risks. In particular the proposed definition of eligible liquid assets is dangerously over-concentrated on government debt. The definition of should be broadened to give banks more scope to hold liquidity in the form of commercial claims; and central banks should clarify in what circumstances they will provide emergency liquidity assistance.

Objectively monitored patching regimens for treatment of amblyopia: randomised trial.

Abstract: Objectives To compare visual outcome in response to two prescribed rates of occlusion (six hours a day and 12 hours a day). Design Unmasked randomised trial. Setting Research clinics in two London hospitals. Participants 97 children with a confirmed diagnosis of amblyopia associated with strabismus, anisometropia, or both. Interventions: 18 week period of wearing glasses (refractive adaptation) followed by occlusion prescribed (“patching”) for six or 12 hours a day. Main outcome measures Visual acuity measured by logMAR letter recognition; objectively monitored rate of occlusion (hours a day). Results The mean age of children at study entry was 5.6 (SD 1.5) years. Ninety were eligible for occlusion but 10 dropped out in this phase, leaving 80 children who were randomised to a prescribed dose rate of six (n=40) or 12 (n=40) hours a day. The mean change in visual acuity of the amblyopic eye was not significantly different (P=0.64) between the two groups (0.26 (95% confidence interval 0.21 to 0.31) log units in six hour group; 0.24 (0.19 to 0.29) log units in 12 hour group). The mean dose rates (hours a day) actually received, however, were also not significantly different (4.2 (3.7 to 4.7) in six hour group v 6.2 (5.1 to 7.3) in 12 hour group; P=0.06). The visual outcome was similar for those children who received three to six hours a day or more than six to 12 hours a day, but significantly better than that in children who received less than three hours a day. Children aged under 4 required significantly less occlusion than older children. Visual outcome was not influenced by type of amblyopia. Conclusions Substantial (six hours a day) and maximal (12 hours a day) prescribed occlusion results in similar visual outcome. On average, the occlusion dose received in the maximal group was only 50% more than in the substantial group and in both groups was much less than that prescribed. Younger children required the least occlusion. Trials registration Clinical Trials NCT00274664.