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Global Consistency of Urban Scaling Evidenced by Remote Sensing
Get PDFThe urban scaling theory (UST) strives for a universal taxonomy that depicts relationships among urban indicators (e.g. energy consumption, economic output) with city size. However, the lack of international agreement on city de nitions and statistics complicates cross-country comparisons of urban scaling performance. Remote sensing provides a uniform standard for measuring cities around the world. To scrutinize the consistency of UST, we quanti ed changes in remotely sensed urban built-up areas (UBA) and nighttime lights (NTL) distributions from 11,581 cities in 61 countries spanning 2000–2020, representing urban physical elements and socioeconomic activities, respectively. We nd that UBA is well described by UST in all analyzed countries, while NTL aligns with 98% of them. UST quanti ed by remote sensing shows greater robustness than country-dependent aggregate statistics. We also observed disparities of scaling exponents (β) among countries, with UBA all being sublinear (β < 1), and NTL ranging from 0.46 to 1.22 with a median of 0.94. Both UST and rank-size distributions of urban area and population show stronger scaling relationships for countries with larger networks of built environments, (Brazil, China, Germany, Japan, Russia, United States) suggesting that both size and evolution of urban systems impact the underlying scaling processes. Comparison of scaling properties of remotely sensed UBA and NTL captures complementary physical characteristics of built environments while minimizing the Modi able Area Unit Problem introduced using spatially aggregated metrics within administrative units. Our ndings highlight the consistency of urban growth patterns while con rming the systematic socioeconomic disparities among urban systems of varying size and growth trajectory
Expanding the paradigm of evaluating community benefits in investments in grid resilience utilising a balanced scorecard approach
Get PDFThe electric grid is increasingly a major component in the impact of and recovery from disasters. Ultimately, investments in grid resilience help to sustain the ability of a community to withstand and recover after a disaster by mitigating the effects of widespread power outages and hardening critical infrastructure to better withstand and recover from disasters. This notion of ‘resilience’, however, has generally been more theoretical and aspirational rather than something that can be quantified and ultimately integrated into systems evaluation and decision-making paradigms. This paper describes how on resilience profile and balanced scorecard approaches, an evidence-informed approach towards quantifying resilience across various domains utilising a modified balanced scorecard methodology is presented
Unlocking the geography of Azobé timber (Lophira alata): revealing spatial genetic structure beyond species boundaries
Get PDFBackground
The illegal trade of tropical timber constitutes a major and persistent environmental problem. Since the detection of fraud in trade documents remains challenging, forensic tools that can independently trace timber origin are needed. In this study, we evaluated the potential of the chloroplast genome (plastome) as a genetic tool to verify the claimed species and geographic origin of timber from Azobé (Lophira alata), an intensively exploited and threatened tropical tree species.
Results
We sampled 480 trees from Lophira alata and the congeneric species L. lanceolata across nine countries in Central and West Africa. Sampling included L. alata trees from 15 logging concessions in Cameroon, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. DNA was isolated from the cambium or leaf tissue, and complete plastid genomes were assembled. A total of 228 SNPs from 436 trees were retained, which formed 35 pDNA haplotypes (with a length of 179 SNPs). The two Lophira species shared one plastid haplotype and contained several closely related plastid haplotypes. For the exploited L. alata, we detected a moderately strong correlation between genetic and spatial distances. Two haplotypes were widely spread across the core of Central Africa, while several others were more spatially constrained or endemic, for example, in West Gabon (potentially a L. alata cryptic species) and Northern Congo.
Conclusions
The distribution of haplotypes revealed a clear spatial structure. Some widely spread haplotypes potentially hamper site distinction of Azobé wood samples, but still reveal their wider region of origin. In regions where endemic haplotypes are present, differentiation may be successful at finer scales. Thus, the potential spatial resolution for timber tracing may vary across regions. We assembled the first reference database of plastome-wide SNP datasets for Azobé timber, with a focus on the major logging areas. Our work represents a step towards plastome-based timber tracing for this species, but also reveals limited potential of this method for species differentiation. To validate the potential of the plastid genome for timber tracing, further steps, including assignment and blind sample tests, will be needed
Impacts of a puberty and period education intervention among 9- to 12-year-old girls in the New York metropolitan area: a randomized trial
Get PDFObjectives
To evaluate the immediate impacts of an illustrated book on puberty and periods for girls in the United States (US).
Methods
We conducted a randomized educational intervention between February–May 2023 among girls ages 9–12 years in after-school programs in the New York metropolitan area (n = 123). Girls were assigned to read a book on puberty and periods or an alternative book on healthy eating. We conducted multivariate linear and logistic models to examine changes in knowledge, beliefs/attitudes, and comfort in communicating about puberty and periods between treatment groups using pre- and post-test surveys. We also examined for effect measure modification to assess if changes in knowledge about puberty and periods significantly differed by menarchal status.
Results
The intervention produced an increase in knowledge score (p < 0.05). Girls in the treatment group compared to the control group were more likely to report positive shifts in beliefs/attitudes towards physical activity during their period and asking questions about periods. Knowledge scores were significantly higher among girls of pre-menarche status compared to girls who had already experienced their first period (p = 0.05).
Conclusion
Findings from our educational intervention demonstrated that a simple distribution of an illustrated puberty and period book, without the support of formal instruction, had positive attitude shifts and educational impacts among girls ages 9–12 years. The intervention was efficacious in improving knowledge, particularly among girls who had not yet experienced their first period. Follow-up is needed to assess long-term health and social impacts of simple delivery of pubertal content to adolescents. Our study contributes to filling the gap in understanding the utility of puberty education in the US and our findings underscore the importance of appropriately timed puberty education
Highway Infrastructure in Rochester, New York: Removing Barriers & Reconnecting Communities
No full textThis thesis investigates highway infrastructure in Rochester, New York, with a specific focus on the effects of the original construction and eventual partial filling of the 'Inner Loop'. Constructed in 1965, the Inner Loop is an extension of the I-490, an interstate highway that connects Rochester to major cities like Syracuse, Buffalo, and Albany. This loop-shaped freeway encircled Rochester's downtown business district, isolating it from surrounding neighborhoods for half a century.
Since 2014, the city has taken a phased approach to its removal and redevelopment of the land into housing, mixed-use spaces, cultural centers, and multi-modal infrastructure. This thesis asks to what extent highway removal creates opportunities for reconnection and urbanization for the City of Rochester. Archival research and semi-structured interviews with key planners, businesses, cultural institutions, and residents are the primary research methods.
I supplemented this research by conducting a historical analysis of the Inner Loop’s original construction in the mid-20th century, as well as a spatial analysis of the study area before and after the Inner Loop’s partial removal (2010-2020). The research concludes that highway removal can be used as a tool for planners in mid-sized American cities looking to reintegrate urban fabric and improve neighborhood equity, quality of life, public health, connectivity, urban services, etc
Beneath the Metal Canopies, Beyond the Past: Branding the Industrial Heritage of the Meatpacking District
No full textThis thesis examines the preservation of industrial heritage in New York City’s Meatpacking District, focusing on the physical manifestations of its historical past, such as metal canopies. Once a hub of industrial activity defined by meatpacking plants and warehouses, the district has transformed into a high-end mixed-use area, marked by luxury retail, hospitality, and residential development.
Although the Gansevoort Market Historic District received local landmark designation by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2003, this form of designation regulates physical alterations to building exteriors rather than their use. As a result, much of the district’s industrial functionality has faded, leaving behind symbolic remnants of its past.
The study investigates the role of adaptive reuse practices and architectural elements, particularly metal canopies, in shaping the district’s evolving identity. It evaluates how these physical features contribute to preserving the district’s industrial character amid pressures of economic development. By examining these elements in the context of preservation efforts and urban branding, this thesis sheds light on how historic authenticity can be maintained while accommodating contemporary urban needs. This research aims to provide insights into preserving industrial heritage through architectural features and offering strategies that emphasize both functionality and historical integrity
The Effects of Reinforcement for Collaboration in Preschoolers with Disabilities
No full textCollaboration is a required skill for individuals to engage in, from childhood and throughout adulthood. Collaboration is necessary for children to successfully play team sports, for students to work on group projects in college, and for adults to work productively on team projects in their professional careers. In education, collaboration occurs when two or more children work together to achieve a shared goal. Collaborative behaviors include communication, social interactions, and joint decision making. Research has demonstrated positive effects on collaboration in education (Barfield, 2016). However, there is a need to investigate the developmental trajectory of which reinforcement for collaboration can be established and any positive impacts of the cusp on socialization. Further, more research needs to be conducted on the effects of reinforcement for collaboration for children with disabilities.
In Experiment 1, the researcher established reinforcement for collaboration in preschoolers with disabilities and evaluated the effects on learning, collaborative behaviors during a shared task, vocal verbal operants during a shared task, and joint attention with peers. Using multiple collaborative activities through a Social Listener Reinforcement (SLR) protocol, the participants demonstrated reinforcement for collaboration, as evident by increases in collaborative behaviors and vocal verbal operants to peers during a collaborative activity. The participants also demonstrated some increases in joint attention to peers and learned faster under collaborative contingencies.
In Experiment 2, the researcher extended Experiment 1 by shortening the intervention, changing the learning measure, and adding more social validity measures. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of establishing conditioned reinforcement for collaboration on collaborative behaviors during a shared task, vocal verbal operants during a shared task, learning tacts in small group instruction, social skills, and preference for completing activities alone or with a peer.
The results demonstrated a shortened intervention moderately increased collaborative and joint engagement behaviors during a floor puzzle and moderately increase the amount of vocal verbal operants emitted to a peer. The results also demonstrated that following intervention, the participants selected to complete activities with peers, versus alone, and learned faster in small group instruction. Findings from these experiments are discussed regarding educational significance for children with disabilities
GRID3 COD - Settlement Names v6.0
No full textThe GRID3 COD - Settlement Names v6.0 dataset consists of settlement points with name and attributes for fifteen provinces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (COD).
Province group 1: Haut-Katanga, Kasaï, Kasaï-Oriental, Kinshasa, and Lomami
Province group 2: Haut-Lomami and Tanganyika
Province group 3: Ituri and Kwilu
Province group 4: Maniema
Province group 5: Kasaï-Central
Province group 6: Tshopo and Mongala
Province group 7: Sankuru
Province group 8: Kongo-Central
Province group 9: Lualaba, Mai-Ndombe, Sud-Ubangi, Tshuapa
This operational dataset has not been fully validated by government officials or ministries.
This current version supersedes the GRID3 COD - Settlement Names v5.0 (https://doi.org/10.7916/4j72-7t72). The following changes were made:
Added data for the provinces of Lualaba, Mai-Ndombe, Sud-Ubangi and Tshuapa.
Keywords: Settlement
Imaging the Cosmos: Adapting Ibn al-ʿArabī’s Cosmographical Diagrams to Digital Media
No full textThis article spotlights an animated digital rendering of medieval illustrations of the cosmos by the Sufi scholar Ibn al-ʿArabī (d. 638/1240). It briefly explains the series of illustrations, the difficulties of their transmission history, and why they are well-suited for digital adaptation. It focuses on how the medieval author couched his images in an acknowledgment of the limits of his medium, remarking that he wished he could make it more clear. It then shows how an animated website offers new dimensions for reimagining the images while remaining faithful to the original intent of the author. It encourages further creative engagements with the visual traditions of the Islamicate world in order to furnish new perspectives on its past and present
Three Essays on Economic Insecurity and its Racial/Ethnic Inequalities in the United States
No full textThis dissertation comprises three papers that examine economic insecurity, including income poverty and material hardships, as well as inequalities across racial and ethnic lines.
Paper I uncovers hidden disparities of economic insecurity rates within the Asian American population, among its 20 ethnic groups. Paper II investigates white–Asian poverty gaps among the six largest Asian ethnic groups, respectively, and considers how and to what extent demographic characteristics explain these gaps. Paper III estimates the effects of monthly and lump-sum payments from the expanded Child Tax Credit on child welfare risk factors, including economic insecurity and parenting outcomes