FIU researcher: Deterrence-based audit policies reduce excess costs in health care

–By Cynthia Corzo for FIU News Skyrocketing spending and excess costs in the health care industry are reduced by innovative auditing methods that focus on increasing overall deterrence of waste and abuse in the long run. FIU Business research found that the reduction is based on the concept of “sentinel effect” by which, once a set […]

FIU Expert: What Hurricane Michael taught us about preparing for this year’s hurricane season

As part of an op-ed series, FIU News shares the expertise and diverse perspectives of members of the university community. In this piece, meteorologist Erik Salna offers important insight about what last year’s hurricane season can teach us for this year’s. Salna is the associate director for Education and Outreach with the FIU International Hurricane Research Center […]

Scientists make waves in D.C. at Capitol Hill Oceans Week

–By JoAnn Adkins for FIU News Marine scientists Mike Heithaus and James Fourqurean hope to turn scientific solutions into policy for the world’s oceans. The marine predator expert and seagrass expert joined Capitol Hill Oceans Week, an annual event hosted by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation where marine scientists, conservationists, wildlife experts, climate scientists, fishing […]

Research rules out mental flexibility, attention as advantages for some bilingual children

–By Ayleen Barbel Fattal for FIU News Bilingual children are on equal footing with monolingual children when it comes to regulating their behavior, planning and problem-solving, according to a new FIU study. For more than 20 years, research has suggested children who are bilingual have an advantage when it comes to executive functions, which are […]

Scientists unearth clues to seismic event on day the dinosaurs died

–By Ayleen Barbel Fattal for FIU News A discovery confirms the meteor strike that likely wiped out dinosaurs produced tsunami-like waves reaching what is now North Dakota, according to FIU Professor Florentin Maurrasse who helped identify fossils and interpret data for the recently released findings. That means the waves traveled more than 2,800 miles from where the […]

Pediatricians should encourage parents to use their home language with their children, says researcher

As part of an op-ed series, FIU News shares the expertise and diverse perspectives of members of the university community. In this piece, associate professor of applied linguistics Melissa Baralt discusses the importance of bilingualism and its role in early child development and lifelong child health. Her colleagues, Ashley Darcy Mahoney, a neonatal nurse practitioner at Baptist Children’s […]

Scientists discover how mosquitoes zero in on our sweat

–By JoAnn Adkins for FIU News Finding creates roadmap for repellent design, population control Just like fresh-baked cookies or sizzling bacon is to us, the scent of your sweat is a mouthwatering aroma to mosquitoes. Now, scientists have discovered how these undesirable insects zero in on our delectable odor. It’s actually the odor from lactic […]

The Humanities Edge awards first research grants to Green School projects

-By Maria Gil for FIU News Sociology professor Matthew Marr knows just how critical proximity to social and public health services can be in a neighborhood where homelessness is an ongoing concern. During his research, he learned of a homeless man in Overtown who happened to bump into a former caseworker at a convenience store. The homeless […]

Demand for home ownership is falling in major markets, index produced jointly by FIU and FAU experts shows

–By Cynthia Corzo for FIU News If you’re looking to build wealth, renting a home may be wiser than buying, the new Beracha, Hardin & Johnson Buy vs. Rent (BH&J) Index reveals. Covering the first quarter of 2019, the index reveals that 19 of the 23 metropolitan markets tracked indicate slight to significant downward pressure on the […]

FIU professor working to prevent and cure blindness named National Academy of Inventors Senior Member

FIU professor of biomedical engineering Shuliang Jiao, whose research and technological innovations are helping prevent and cure blindness, has been named to the inaugural class of National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Senior Members. This first class of NAI Senior Members is made up of faculty, scientists and administrators who have successfully patented, licensed and commercialized technologies […]