Search Results (1,525)

Precise control of keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation is critical for oral epithelial regeneration, yet the mechanobiological cues guiding these processes remain incompletely defined. Here, we systematically evaluated how electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with defined fiber orientations (aligned vs. random) and diameters (600–800 nm, 1.2–1.7 µm, 2.0–2.5 µm) direct gingival keratinocyte fate. Using immortalized human gingival keratinocytes, we assessed cell and nuclear morphology, proliferation dynamics, differentiation marker expression, and the effects of basal keratin (KRT5/KRT14) knockdown. Quantitative morphological analysis revealed scaffold-dependent changes in cell shape: aligned medium-diameter fibers (with fiber diameters of 1.2–1.7 µm) induced pronounced cell and nuclear elongation, whereas random fibers (600–800 nm) promoted larger, more rounded cell and nuclear shapes. Time-resolved EdU assays indicated that aligned scaffolds supported sustained proliferation, whereas random scaffolds elicited a transient proliferative burst followed by a decline. Gene expression analysis (ddPCR) demonstrated that random scaffolds (especially 600–800 nm fibers) upregulated basal keratins (KRT5, KRT14) and early differentiation markers (KRT1, KRT10, KRT4, KRT13) relative to aligned scaffolds. At the protein level, differentiation markers involucrin (IVL) and filaggrin (FLG) were likewise elevated on random scaffolds, corroborating the mRNA findings. Functional KRT5/KRT14 knockdown experiments revealed scaffold-specific dependencies: cells on random scaffolds required these keratins for viability, whereas aligned cultures remained viable upon KRT5/14 loss. Furthermore, KRT5/14 depletion differentially altered downstream differentiation markers (IVL, KRT1) and mechanotransduction markers (LMNB1, YAP1) in a scaffold-dependent manner. Collectively, these findings establish fiber orientation and diameter as key design parameters for controlling keratinocyte fate. As a translational concept, layered scaffolds combining aligned and random fibers may enable spatially controlled proliferation and differentiation in engineered oral epithelia. Full article

This article offers the first systematic analytical methodology to understand distant play as a multidimensional, ludoliterary, critical, and philosophical practice of engaging with so-called idle or semi-idle games. It uses Anselm Pyta’s The Longing, a so far underexplored semi-idle, slow game that challenges traditional gameplay paradigms through its metareferential, bookish, philosophical, and contemplative structure, as a case study. Our central argument is that The Longing deploys antimimetic temporal mechanics, interpassive forms of bookish play, and ideas of existentialist resistance to explore themes of time, agency, and existential longing, thereby offering a reflective space for dealing with neo-liberal, post-pandemic, polycrisis-stricken angst. To come to terms with the multidisciplinary complexities of the game, our paper adopts a triadic analytical methodology interweaving insights from postclassical, medium-specific narratology, platform-comparative literary analysis, and existentialist philosophy. This combined approach transcends existing ludoliterary frameworks and accounts for divergent forms of play. Our first focus is the game’s multiscalar temporal layering and the strategies it requires from players to “ludify” antimimetic frictions bookish between those layers. This is followed by an examination of how the game constructs a bookish player by interweaving ludexical processes of reading, unreading, dis-reading, and writing (in) books and other printed documents. Finally, we turn to the game’s complex interpassive relationships between player, player-character, and game world, highlighting in particular the role of walking, collecting, building, and searching as acts of catharsis and rebellion, and examining failure as a valid ludic alternative to survival and happiness. Ultimately, our analysis renders distant play as a form of parasocial resistance, which in The Longing manifests as an affective and philosophically fine-grained combination of more-than-human relationality, care, and relief vis-a-vis the nothingness of lost hope. The game thus offers a new form of e-literary engagement, placing books and their “unnatural,” transmediated affordances front and center while questioning the capitalist undercurrents of contemporary literary media and critiquing a culture of acceleration. Full article

Museums are cultural spaces that should promote accessibility and inclusion for all. However, accessibility is often interpreted as removing physical barriers, overlooking less visible obstacles—such as cognitive, sensory, and communicative challenges—that can profoundly shape the museum experience for people with intellectual disabilities. This paper presents an ethnographic case study conducted in the Veneto region of Italy, in collaboration with a group of individuals with Down Syndrome (DS), aiming to explore their lived experiences of a museum visit. Drawing on participant observation and in-depth interviews, the study examines how visitors with DS engage with the museum environment on behavioural and sensory levels. Findings reveal the impact of environmental stimuli, difficulties in navigating abstract or densely layered visual content, and the importance of embodied interaction with objects and spatial cues. Positive experiences emerged from relational engagement, guided facilitation, and the use of multi-sensory supports. The study underscores the need for museums to move beyond compensatory or charity-based models of accessibility, and instead adopt inclusive design principles that value neurodiversity and participatory co-creation. In doing so, this research contributes to the emerging discourse on how museums can become safe spaces for learning, dialogue, and self-expression for people with intellectual disabilities. Full article

Magnesium has attracted attention as an orthopedic implant material due to its excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability; however, rapid corrosion in physiological environments remains a major limitation. In this study, a polydopamine (PDA) intermediate layer and alginate/chitosan multilayer coating were formed on pure magnesium surfaces, with dexamethasone incorporation to simultaneously improve corrosion resistance and bioactivity. SEM observation revealed that uniform coating layers were formed on alginate/chitosan multilayer coated specimens, and the chemical structure of the coating layers was confirmed through FT-IR and XRD analyses. Electrochemical analysis revealed that the PDA/alginate/chitosan coating group exhibited higher corrosion potential (Ecorr: −0.7514 ± 0.022 V vs. −1.706 ± 0.001 V) and lower corrosion current density (icorr: 2.275 ± 0.15 × 10⁻⁷ A/cm² vs. 1.528 ± 0.47 × 10⁻⁴ A/cm²) compared to pure magnesium, with the highest impedance indicating superior corrosion resistance. In tape peel testing, the polydopamine-coated group demonstrated superior adhesion compared to the non-coated group, and sustained release of dexamethasone was confirmed. MC3T3-E1 cell culture results confirmed cell proliferation in all specimens, with the PDA/alginate/chitosan group exhibiting the highest ALP activity compared to other surface-treated groups. Based on these results, the PDA/alginate/chitosan multilayer coating was confirmed to be an effective surface modification method for corrosion control and promotion of osteoblast differentiation on magnesium. Full article

The rapid digital transformation of healthcare has improved clinical efficiency, patient engagement, and data accessibility, but it has also introduced significant cyber security and data privacy challenges. Healthcare IT systems increasingly rely on interconnected networks, electronic health records (EHRs), tele-medicine platforms, cloud infrastructures, and Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) devices, which collectively expand the attack surface for cyber threats. This scoping review maps and synthesizes recent evidence on cyber security risks in healthcare, including ransomware, data breaches, insider threats, and vulnerabilities in legacy systems, and examines key data privacy concerns related to patient confidentiality, regulatory compliance, and secure data governance. We also review contemporary security strategies, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, zero-trust architecture, blockchain-based approaches, AI-enabled threat detection, and compliance frameworks such as HIPAA and GDPR. Persistent challenges include integrating robust security with clinical usability, protecting resource-limited hospital environments, and managing human factors such as staff awareness and policy adherence. Overall, the findings suggest that effective healthcare cyber security requires a multi-layered defense combining technical controls, continuous monitoring, governance and regulatory alignment, and sustained organizational commitment to security culture. Future research should prioritize adaptive security models, improved standardization, and privacy-preserving analytics to protect patient data in increasingly complex healthcare ecosystems. Full article

Heterotrophic nanoflagellates (HNANs) are central components of the microbial loop, transferring carbon from bacteria to higher trophic levels and facilitating nutrient recycling. While many HNANs are free-swimming, some exhibit enhanced feeding efficiency when attached to surfaces, including diatom frustules. Here, we describe the attachment behavior of a novel interception-feeding HNAN affiliated with the order Bicosoecida to centric diatoms common in North Carolina coastal waters. Using growth experiments, live observations, and time-lapse microscopy, we quantified attachment frequency and assessed its influence on diatom growth for three diatom species: Coscinodiscus sp., Odontella sp., and Rhizosolenia sp. HNAN attachment differed significantly among diatom taxa: Coscinodiscus sp. hosted the highest and most sustained numbers per frustule, whereas after normalizing for surface area, Rhizosolenia sp. exhibited the highest attachment efficiency. Diatom peak growth was 1.2 to 2.1-fold higher and occurred earlier in HNAN co-cultures than in controls, indicating microbial recycling by the HNAN stimulated growth. These findings highlight the nuanced ecological role attached HNANs might play as they exploit diatom-associated boundary layers to enhance bacterial encounter rates. The growth trajectories in our lab experiments suggests that attachment behavior in situ can play a role in driving diatom bloom dynamics and, therefore, play an important role for carbon cycling. Full article

Heritage buildings pose persistent challenges for documentation and conservation due to their geometric complexity, material heterogeneity, and the fragmentation of spatial and semantic datasets. To address these limitations, this study proposes a geospatially enabled HBIM–GIS framework that integrates hybrid photogrammetric survey data with semantic modeling and spatial analysis to support evidence-based conservation planning. A multi-source acquisition strategy combining terrestrial digital photogrammetry (TDP), Unmanned aerial vehicle digital photogrammetry (UAVDP), and spherical photogrammetry (SP) was employed to capture accurate geometric and semantic information across multiple spatial scales. Staged point-cloud fusion (UAVDP → TDP via ICP; SP → UAV–TDP via SICP) generated a high-density, georeferenced composite, achieving RMS residuals below 0.013 m and resulting in an integrated dataset exceeding 360 million points. From this composite, authoritative 2D drawings and a reality-based 3D HBIM model were developed, while GIS thematic mapping translated heterogeneous observations into structured, queryable layers representing materials, cracks, detachments, deformations, and construction phases. The proposed framework enabled the spatial diagnosis of deterioration mechanisms, revealing moisture-driven decay from plinth to mid-wall and concentrated cracking at openings and architectural transitions; side-to-side cracks accounted for approximately 55% and 65% of mapped fissures on the most affected façades. By embedding these diagnostics as element-level attributes within the HBIM environment, the framework supports precise localization, quantification, and prioritization of conservation interventions, ensuring material-compatible and location-specific decision making. The applicability of the framework is demonstrated through its implementation on a complex historic mosque in Yemen, validating its robustness under constrained access and resource-limited conditions. Overall, the study demonstrates that geospatially integrated HBIM–GIS workflows provide a reproducible, scalable, and transferable solution for the sustainable documentation and conservation of heritage buildings, supporting long-term monitoring and informed management of cultural heritage assets worldwide. Full article

Inefficient fertilization practices frequently take place in orchards in Dangshan County, leading to substantial changes in soil properties and pear tree growth. To comprehensively evaluate the long-term impact and identify limiting factors, this study assessed the effects of 30-year fertilization across different soil layers in “Dangshansuli” pear orchards. In May 2020, 30 soil samples were collected from a long-term fertilized plot and an unfertilized sandy control. The analyses focused on the physicochemical properties, mineral elements, heavy metals, chemical compound diversity, and allelopathic effects. The results showed that long-term fertilization significantly reduced soil pH (e.g., from 8.1 to 7.3 in the topsoil) and increased the content of soil organic matter by about 3.7-fold in the 0–20 cm layer. The contents of available potassium, exchangeable calcium, and magnesium in fertilized soil were optimal for pear growth, whereas available iron was deficient. Although fertilization led to the accumulation of heavy metals (Cu, Hg, Ni, Cr, As, Mn), their concentrations remained within national safety limits. The number of chemical compounds detected in fertilized soil was over 40% higher than in the control. Allelopathy tests indicated that 0.18 mmol·L⁻¹ of octadecane strongly inhibited the root growth of “Shanli” (Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim.) tissue-cultured seedlings by more than 50%. These findings provide a scientific basis for optimizing fertilization strategies in “Dangshansuli” pear orchards. Full article

Moisture damage severely compromises the material properties, structural integrity, and decorative layer integrity of historic buildings, presenting a critical technical challenge in architectural heritage conservation. Electromagnetic wave dehumidification technology has garnered attention for its minimal intervention, low cost, and high efficiency, yet its practical engineering applications remain limited. This paper categorizes electromagnetic wave dehumidification devices into two main types based on their active moisture removal capability: “water-blocking type” and “dewatering type”. Research indicates that electromagnetic wave dehumidification devices utilizing electroosmosis principles require precise control of electric field strength (≥40 V/m) and Joule effect, making them more suitable for historic buildings where the material surface carries a net negative charge and low salt content. Among moisture-blocking devices, those neutralizing water molecules perform best during humidity maintenance phases. Devices that primarily alter the structure of water molecules struggle to meet heritage dehumidification requirements. Experimental analysis indicates that external factors like moisture sources and seasonal environments significantly influence technical evaluations. This paper recommends that future research should optimize experimental design, strengthen comparative studies, and explore composite mechanisms to enhance the systematic reliability of electromagnetic wave dehumidification technology in architectural heritage conservation. This research helps to clarify some of the conceptual uncertainties associated with the use of electromagnetic wave dehumidification technology. Furthermore, it proposes a principle-based experimental framework that can be used to guide future experimental designs and the application of this technology in the field of cultural heritage preservation. Full article

To meet the development needs of high-rise timber structures, current cross-laminated timber (CLT) shear walls typically feature a single-layer thickness of 35 mm with more than three laminations in the stack. However, such thickness easily leads to resource waste in small-scale residential buildings, while increasing transportation and hoisting costs, which is not conducive to the prefabrication and lightweight development of timber structures. To adapt to the development trend of China’s timber structure market towards public buildings such as cultural and tourism projects and small-scale residential buildings including new rural housing renovation, this study focuses on thin CLT shear walls with an overall thickness of 48 mm (16 mm per layer) and conducts research on their lateral load-bearing performance. Monotonic lateral static load tests and finite element (FE) simulations were carried out on thin CLT shear walls without openings, with different opening areas, and with the same opening area but different positions. A corresponding FE model was established and validated, with a focus on analyzing the influence of opening parameters on the shear performance of the walls. The research results show that wall openings significantly reduce the bearing capacity and shear stiffness of the walls: compared with the wall without openings, the ultimate load and shear stiffness of the walls with openings decrease by 20.4–28.6% and 36.3–42.3%, respectively. Among them, increasing the opening height has a more obvious weakening effect on the bearing capacity; for the same opening area, a wider opening results in a more significant decrease in stiffness. The FE model exhibits reliable accuracy, with the error between the experimental and simulation results in the elastic stage controlled within 10%, and the influence of the under-wall support on the shear stiffness is relatively small. Opening parameters have a prominent impact on the stiffness of the wall in the elastic stage, and the influence of the opening position is more critical—the smaller the distance from the opening to the top of the wall, the more obvious the decrease in overall stiffness. Full article

Industrial heritage—particularly large modern cement plants—serves as a crucial witness to the architectural and technological evolution of modern urbanization. In Europe, North America, and East Asia, many decommissioned cement factories have been transformed into cultural venues, creative districts, or urban landmarks, while a greater number of sites still face the risks of functional decline and spatial disappearance. In China, early large-scale cement plants have received limited attention in international industrial heritage research, and their conservation and adaptive reuse practices remain underdeveloped. This study takes the Huaxin Cement Plant, founded in 1907, as the research object. As the birthplace of China’s modern cement industry, it preserves the world’s only complete wet-process rotary kiln production line, representing exceptional rarity and typological significance. Combining social media perception analysis with the Hidalgo-Giralt four-quadrant model, the study aims to clarify the plant’s value positioning and propose a design-oriented pathway for spatial activation. Based on 378 short videos and 75,001 words of textual data collected from five major platforms, the study conducts a value-tag analysis of public perceptions across five dimensions—historical, technological, social, aesthetic, and economic. Two composite indicators, Cultural Representativeness (CR) and Utilization Intensity (UI), are further established to evaluate the relationship between heritage value and spatial performance. The findings indicate that (1) historical and aesthetic values dominate public perception, whereas social and economic values are significantly underrepresented; (2) the Huaxin Cement Plant falls within the “high cultural representativeness/low utilization intensity” quadrant, revealing concentrated heritage value but insufficient spatial activation; (3) the gap between value cognition and spatial transformation primarily arises from limited public accessibility, weak interpretive narratives, and a lack of immersive experience. In response, the study proposes five optimization strategies: expanding public access, building a multi-layered interpretive system, introducing immersive and interactive design, integrating into the Yangtze River Industrial Heritage Corridor, and encouraging community co-participation. As a representative case of modern Chinese industrial heritage distinguished by its integrity and scarcity, the Huaxin Cement Plant not only enriches the understanding of industrial heritage typology in China but also provides a methodological paradigm for the “value positioning–spatial utilization–heritage activation” framework, bearing both international comparability and disciplinary methodological significance. Full article

The crown conveys a rich tapestry of history and deep cultural resonances among the Yoruba people of South-western Nigeria, beyond its representation as an emblem of leadership, royalty, and nobility. This article explores layers of the meaning of crown in the Yoruba personal naming system. It relies on an ethnopragmatic theory to analyse the cultural significance and symbolic impact of crown-related names among the Yoruba. Drawing on a qualitative research approach using participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 25 participants who were purposively sampled in Ikeja, Lagos State, we argue that crown-related names are not mere identifiers or person reference labels, but they provide cultural insights and reflections on the foundation of authority and continuity, and carry the aspirational principles of the Yoruba traditional structure. The names symbolise personal journey; reinforce the hierarchical structure of the Yoruba society; and highlight the people’s deep connection to their ancestral lineage. This study concludes that crown-related names encapsulate the values, beliefs, and social structures of the Yoruba society, serving as enduring markers of dynastic identity and cultural values. In this way, crown-related names represent badges of honour that validate their bearers’ self-worth and dignity. Full article

The 17th-century stucco altar dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel is an interesting, but very damaged, artwork located in the complex of St. Angel in the little town of Barbarano Romano in Central Italy. During the recent and quite necessary restoration carried out by University of Tuscia students on the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage Master’s program, some problems with the surface coating were encountered in the cleaning phase. Diagnostic and scientific analyses were crucial to better understanding the composition of these materials to perform the safest and most efficient cleaning procedures. The first of many steps required by this approach was an in situ analysis, starting from on-site analysis and diagnostic documentation through X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and ultraviolet fluorescence photography, followed by laboratory investigations. The latter included µ-Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies, gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy equipped with an energy-dispersive detector. Each technique provided useful data to determine the chemical composition of the white surface coating, which was found to be a non-original overpaint containing lead and organic binder. This overpaint had been applied to retouch the white stucco during a previous restoration project. All this new information contributed to achieving the final decision to remove this layer. Full article

Background/Objectives: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease and a major cause of ulcers and chronic inflammation in the colon and rectum. Recurring symptoms include abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, and diarrhoea, and patients with UC are at a higher risk of developing comorbidities such as colorectal cancer and poor mental health. In UC, the decreased diversity and changed metabolic profile of gut microbiota, along with a diminished mucus layer, leads to disruption of the underlying epithelial barrier, with an ensuing excessive and detrimental inflammatory response. Treatment options currently rely on drugs that reduce the inflammation, but less emphasis has been placed on improving the resilience of the epithelial barrier. Macrolide antibiotics exhibit epithelial barrier-enhancing capacities unrelated to their antibacterial properties. Methods: We investigated two novel barriolides, macrolides with reduced antibacterial effects in common bacterial strains. Gut epithelial cell barrier resistance in the Caco-2 cell line, with and without co-culture with mucus-producing HT-29 cells, was increased when treated with barriolides. Using ^AXGut-on-Chip technology with inflammatory cytokine-stimulated Caco-2/HT-29 co-cultures, the effectiveness of the barriolides was confirmed. Lastly, we reveal the barrier-enhancing and inflammation-reducing effects of the barriolides in a dextran-sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Results: We show the predictive power of the novel ^AXGut-on-Chip system and the effectiveness of the novel barriolides. Indications include reduced inflammatory response, increased epithelial barrier and decreased overall clinical score. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate the notion that barriolides could be used as a treatment option for UC. Full article

This article explores urban ‘societal resilience’ during the global pandemic of 2020–2021. This health crisis involved a complex interweaving of social, cultural, political, and economic processes which involved both top-down measures undertaken by nation-state governments and bottom-up actions by local residents. In a research study undertaken in two European cities—Stuttgart and London—we focussed on two migrant minorities and the involvement by ‘experts’ and ‘non-experts’ in the meso-level where these top-down measures and bottom-up actions met. Our study provided a grounded understanding of ‘layered resilience’ where resiliency develops through the disjunctive order of communication patterns, public service delivery, institutionalized dialogue, narratives, and values. Through distinguishing between resiliency and resilience, we seek to illustrate the ‘elastic’ character of urban modes of integration. Our study suggests the need for more empirically grounded investigations into the continuity and difference between adaptation and adjustment, normality and normalcy, and resilience and resiliency. It also highlights the importance of context-specific and path-dependent notions of resilience and resiliency. Full article