A Synthesis of Global Urbanization Projections

This chapter reviews recent literature on global projections of future urbanization, covering the population, economic and physical extent perspectives. We report on several recent findings based on studies and reports on global patterns of urbanization. Specifically, we review new literature that makes projections about the spatial pattern, rate, and magnitude of urbanization change in the next 30–50 years. While projections should be viewed and utilized with caution, the chapter synthesis reports on several major findings that will have significant socioeconomic and environmental impacts including the following: By 2030, world urban population is expected to increase from the current 3.4 billion to almost 5 billion; Urban areas dominate the global economy – urban economies currently generate more than 90 % of global Gross Value Added; From 2000 to 2030, the percent increase in global urban land cover will be over 200 % whereas the global urban population will only grow by a little over 70 %. Our synthesis of recent projections suggest that between 50%–60% of the total urban land in existence in 2030 will be built in the first three decades of the 21st century. Challenges and limitations of urban dynamic projections are discussed, as well as possible innovative applications and potential pathways towards sustainable urban futures

Approximation of the critical buckling factor for composite panels

This article is concerned with the approximation of the critical buckling factor for thin composite plates. A new method to improve the approximation of this critical factor is applied based on its behavior with respect to lamination parameters and loading conditions. This method allows accurate approximation of the critical buckling factor for non-orthotropic laminates under complex combined loadings (including shear loading). The influence of the stacking sequence and loading conditions is extensively studied as well as properties of the critical buckling factor behavior (e.g concavity over tensor D or out-of-plane lamination parameters). Moreover, the critical buckling factor is numerically shown to be piecewise linear for orthotropic laminates under combined loading whenever shear remains low and it is also shown to be piecewise continuous in the general case. Based on the numerically observed behavior, a new scheme for the approximation is applied that separates each buckling mode and builds linear, polynomial or rational regressions for each mode. Results of this approach and applications to structural optimization are presented

Synthesis and Oligonucleotide Incorporation of Fluorescent Cytosine Analogue tC: a Promising Nucleic Acid Probe

The tricyclic cytosine, tC, is a fluorescent base analogue with excellent properties for investigating intrinsic characteristics of nucleic acid as well as interactions between nucleic acids and other molecules. Its unique fluorescence properties and insignificant influence on overall structure and dynamics of nucleic acid after incorporation makes tC particularly interesting in fluorescence resonance energy transfer and anisotropy measurements. We here describe a straightforward synthesis of the standard monomer form of tC for DNA solid-phase synthesis, the tC phosphoramidite, and its subsequent incorporation into oligonucleotides. The total synthesis of the tC phosphoramidite takes approximately 8 days and its incorporation and the subsequent oligonucleotide purification an additional day

Search for High Mass Photon Pairs in p-pbar --> gamma-gamma-jet-jet Events at sqrt(s)=1.8 TeV

A search has been carried out for events in the channel p-barp --> gamma gamma jet jet. Such a signature can characterize the production of a non-standard Higgs boson together with a W or Z boson. We refer to this non-standard Higgs, having standard model couplings to vector bosons but no coupling to fermions, as a "bosonic Higgs." With the requirement of two high transverse energy photons and two jets, the diphoton mass (m(gamma gamma)) distribution is consistent with expected background. A 90(95)% C.L. upper limit on the cross section as a function of mass is calculated, ranging from 0.60(0.80) pb for m(gamma gamma) = 65 GeV/c^2 to 0.26(0.34) pb for m(gamma gamma) = 150 GeV/c^2, corresponding to a 95% C.L. lower limit on the mass of a bosonic Higgs of 78.5 GeV/c^2.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures. Replacement has new H->gamma gamma branching ratios and corresponding new mass limit

Search For Heavy Pointlike Dirac Monopoles

We have searched for central production of a pair of photons with high transverse energies in $p\bar p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s} = 1.8$ TeV using $70 pb^{-1}$ of data collected with the D\O detector at the Fermilab Tevatron in 1994--1996. If they exist, virtual heavy pointlike Dirac monopoles could rescatter pairs of nearly real photons into this final state via a box diagram. We observe no excess of events above background, and set lower 95% C.L. limits of $610, 870, or 1580 GeV/c^2$ on the mass of a spin 0, 1/2, or 1 Dirac monopole.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Antidiabetic Medication and Asthma Attacks

Importance: Elevated body mass index (BMI) and type 2 diabetes are prevalent in asthma and are associated with an increase in the risk of asthma attacks. In experimental studies, the diabetes medications metformin and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) have mitigated airway inflammation, hyperresponsiveness, and remodeling. However, epidemiological evidence is limited. / Objective: To estimate the association of metformin and add-on antidiabetic medications (GLP-1RA, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, sulphonylureas, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, and insulin) with asthma attacks. / Design, Setting, and Participants: The study used data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum linked hospital admissions and mortality data from 2004 to 2020. A triangulation approach was used that applied 2 distinct approaches to enhance robustness: a self-controlled case series (SCCS) and a metformin new user cohort with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Eligible participants were new users of metformin with type 2 diabetes. To evaluate the association between metabolic phenotypes (BMI, glycemic control) and asthma phenotypes (type 2 inflammation, asthma severity), interaction analyses were conducted. Negative control analyses were conducted to assess for bias. / Exposure: The primary exposure was metformin; secondary exposures included add-on antidiabetic medications. / Main Outcomes: The primary outcome was first asthma exacerbation (short course of oral corticosteroids, unscheduled asthma-related hospital attendance, or death) during 12-month follow-up. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) with 95% CIs were estimated using fixed-effect conditional Poisson models in the SCCS, and hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using weighted Cox proportional hazards models in the cohort. / Results: Of more than 2 million adults with asthma, 4278 patients (2617 women [61.2%]; mean [SD] age, 52.9 [13.6] years) were identified for the SCCS and 8424 patients (4690 women [55.7%]; unexposed: mean [SD] age, 61.6 [13.2] years; exposed: mean [SD] age, 59.7 [13.7] years) for the IPTW cohort. Metformin was found to be associated with fewer asthma attacks of similar magnitude in both approaches (SCCS: IRR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.62-0.75; IPTW: HR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.67-0.85). Negative control analyses did not find evidence of significant bias. Hemoglobin A1c levels, BMI, blood eosinophil cell counts, and asthma severity did not modify the association. The only add-on antidiabetic medication to have an additive association was GLP-1RA (SCCS: IRR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.49-0.73). / Conclusions and Relevance: The results of this cohort study suggest that metformin was associated with a lower rate of asthma attacks, with further reductions with the use of GLP-1RA. This appeared to be associated with mechanisms other than through glycemic control or weight loss and occurred across asthma phenotypes

Limits on WWZ and WW\gamma couplings from p\bar{p}\to e\nu jj X events at \sqrt{s} = 1.8 TeV

We present limits on anomalous WWZ and WW-gamma couplings from a search for WW and WZ production in p-bar p collisions at sqrt(s)=1.8 TeV. We use p-bar p -> e-nu jjX events recorded with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider during the 1992-1995 run. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 96.0+-5.1 pb^(-1). Assuming identical WWZ and WW-gamma coupling parameters, the 95% CL limits on the CP-conserving couplings are -0.33<lambda<0.36 (Delta-kappa=0) and -0.43<Delta-kappa<0.59 (lambda=0), for a form factor scale Lambda = 2.0 TeV. Limits based on other assumptions are also presented.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, 2 table

The Dijet Mass Spectrum and a Search for Quark Compositeness in bar{p}p Collisions at sqrt{s} = 1.8 TeV

Using the DZero detector at the 1.8 TeV pbarp Fermilab Tevatron collider, we have measured the inclusive dijet mass spectrum in the central pseudorapidity region |eta_jet| < 1.0 for dijet masses greater than 200 Gev/c^2. We have also measured the ratio of spectra sigma(|eta_jet| < 0.5)/sigma(0.5 < |eta_jet| < 1.0). The order alpha_s^3 QCD predictions are in good agreement with the data and we rule out models of quark compositeness with a contact interaction scale < 2.4 TeV at the 95% confidence level.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Like Mother(-in-Law) Like Daughter? Influence of the Older Generation’s Fertility Behaviours on Women’s Desired Family Size in Bihar, India

This paper investigates the associations between preferred family size of women in rural Bihar, India and the fertility behaviours of their mother and mother-in-law. Scheduled interviews of 440 pairs of married women aged 16–34 years and their mothers-in-law were conducted in 2011. Preferred family size is first measured by Coombs scale, allowing us to capture latent desired number of children and then categorized into three categories (low, medium and high). Women’s preferred family size is estimated using ordered logistic regression. We find that the family size preferences are not associated with mother’s fertility but with mother’s education. Mother-in-law’s desired number of grandchildren is positively associated with women’s preferred family size. However, when the woman has higher education than her mother-in-law, her preferred family size gets smaller, suggesting that education provides women with greater autonomy in their decision-making on childbearing