bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Field test of quantum key distribution over aerial fiber based on simple and stable modulation
Authors: tang yan-lin , Xie Zhi-Lin , Zhou Chun , Zhang Dexiang , Xu Mulan , Sun Jian , Sun De , Xu Yong-Xiang , Wang Liwei , Ma Yan , Zhao Yu-Kang , Jiang Mu-Sheng , Wang Yang , Li Jian , Xue Kaiping , Yu NengHai , Zhao Mei-Sheng , Li Dong-Dong , Bao Wan-Su , Tang Shi-biao
Published: April 2023

We have developed a simple time-bin phase encoding quantum key distribution system, using the optical injection locking technique. This setup incorporates both the merits of simplicity and stability in encoding, and the immunity to channel disturbance. We have demonstrated, to our knowledge, the longest field implementation of quantum key distribution over deployed aerial fiber with a distance of 87 km. During the 70-day field test, we achieved approximately a 1.0 kbps secure key rate with stable performance. Our work takes an important step toward widespread implementation of QKD systems in diverse and complex real-life scenarios.
Crystal structure of dihydrofolate reductase from the filarial nematode W. bancrofti in complex with NADPH and folate
Authors: Lange Keith , Frey Kathleen M. , Eck Tyler , Janson Cheryl A. , Gubler Ueli , Goodey Nina M.
Published: April 2023

Lymphatic filariasis is a debilitating illness with an estimated 50 million cases as of 2018. The majority of cases are caused by the parasitic wormW.bancroftiand additional cases by the wormsB.malayiandB.timori. Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an established target in the treatment of cancer, bacterial, and protozoal infections and may be a potential target for drugs targeting parasitic worm infections, including filariasis. Recent studies have shown that known antifolate compounds, including methotrexate, inhibit the activity ofW.bancroftiDHFR (WbDHFR). However, the absence of structural information for filarial DHFRs has limited the study of more in-depth structure-function relationships. We report the structure ofWbDHFR complexed with NADPH and folate using X-ray diffraction data measured to 2.47 Å resolution. The structure ofWbDHFR reveals the usual DHFR fold and is currently only the second nematode DHFR structure in the Protein Data Bank. The equilibrium dissociation constants for NADPH (90 ± 29 nM) and folate (23 ± 4 nM) were determined by equilibrium titrations. The interactions of known antifolates withWbDHFR were analyzed using molecular docking programs and molecular dynamics simulations. Antifolates with a hydrophobic core and extended linker formed favorable interactions withWbDHFR. These combined data should now facilitate the rational design of filarial DHFR inhibitors, which in turn can be used to determine whether DHFR is a viable drug target for filariasis and whether existing antifolates may be repurposed for its treatment.
Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on tumor immune infiltration in breast cancer patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Llano-León Manuela , Martínez-Enriquez Laura Camila , Rodríguez-Bohórquez Oscar Mauricio , Velandia-Vargas Esteban Alejandro , Lalinde-Ruíz Nicolás , Villota-Álava María Alejandra , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Ivon Johanna , Montilla-Velásquez María del Pilar , Parra-López Carlos Alberto
Published: April 2023

The tumor immune infiltrate has an impact on cancer control and progression, additionally a growing body of evidence has proposed the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in modulating the contexture of the tumor immune infiltrate. Here, we performed a systematic review to evaluate the effect of chemotherapy in the immune infiltration of breast cancer tumors. We systematically searched Pubmed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and BVS databases with a cutoff date of 11/06/2022. Studies in patients with pathological diagnosis of BC, whose first line of treatment was only NAC, were included. Only published experimental studies that measured tumor immune infiltrate before and after NAC by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, immunohistochemistry (IHQ), or transcriptome were included. Reviews, studies with animal models and in-vitro models were excluded. Studies in which BC was not the primary tumor or studies with patients who received other types of neoadjuvant therapy were also excluded. The NIH quality assessment tool for before and after studies without control was used. We included 32 articles that evaluated the proximal tumor microenvironment before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy in 2072 patients who received NAC as first line of treatment and who were evaluated for immune infiltrate in the pre- and post-chemotherapy tumor sample. Results were divided into two major categories immune cells and in-situ expression of immune checkpoints and cytokines. Qualitative synthesis was performed with the 32 articles included, and in nine of them a quantitative analysis was achieved, resulting in six meta-analyses. Despite high heterogeneity among the articles regarding treatment received, type of tumor reported, and techniques used to evaluate immune infiltrate, we found a significant decrease of TILs and FoxP3 expression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO 2021 (Protocol ID: CRD42021243784) on 6/29/2021.
Clinical progression, disease severity, and mortality among adults hospitalized with COVID-19 caused by the Omicron and Delta SARS-CoV-2 variants: A population-based, matched cohort study
Authors:   COVID-19 Omicron Delta study group
Published: April 2023

Background

To compare the intrinsic virulence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) omicron variant with the delta variant in hospitalized adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods

All adults hospitalized in the Capital Region of Copenhagen with a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV-2 and an available variant determination from 1 September 2021 to 11 February 2022. Data from health registries and patient files were used. Omicron and Delta patients were matched (1:1) by age, sex, comorbidities, and vaccination status. We calculated crude and adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) for severe hypoxemia and mortality at 30 and 60 days.

Results

1,043 patients were included. Patients with Omicron were older, had more comorbidities, were frailer, and more often had three vaccine doses than those with Delta. Fewer patients with Omicron developed severe hypoxemia than those with Delta (aHR, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.38–0.78). Omicron patients exhibited decreased aHR for 30-day mortality compared to Delta (aHR, 0.61; 0.39–0.95). Omicron patients who had received three vaccine doses had lower mortality compared to Delta patients who received three doses (aHR, 0.31;0.16–0.59), but not among those who received two or 0–1 doses (aHR, 0.86; 0.41–1.84 and 0.94; 0.49–1.81 respectively). Similar findings were observed for mortality at 60 days. Similar outcomes were obtained in the analyses of 316 individually matched patients.

Conclusions

Among adults hospitalized with COVID-19, those with Omicron had less severe hypoxemia and nearly 40% higher 30- and 60-day survival, as compared with those with Delta, mainly driven by a larger proportion of Omicron patients vaccinated with three doses of an mRNA vaccine.
Exploring first-feeding diets for European eel larval culture: Insights at morphological, nutritional, and molecular levels
Authors: Benini Elisa , Bandara Kasun A. , Politis Sebastian Nikitas , Engrola Sofia , Nielsen Anders , Conceição Luis E. C. , Santos Andre , Sørensen Sune Riis , Tomkiewicz Jonna
Published: April 2023

Closing the life cycle of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in captivity is targeted to provide a sustainable, year-round supply of juveniles for aquaculture. Present focus is on the nutritional requirements during the larval first-feeding period. In this study, three experimental diets were tested on hatchery-produced European eel larvae from the onset of the first-feeding stage commencing 10 days post hatch (dph) until 28 dph. Larval mortality was recorded daily, while sampling was conducted at regular intervals to record larval biometrics and analyze the expression of genes related to digestion, appetite, feed intake and growth. Two periods of high mortality were identified: the first appeared shortly after introduction of feeds (10–12 dph), while the second occurred 20–24 dph, indicating the “point of no return”. This interpretation was supported at the molecular level by the expression of the gene encoding the “hunger hormone” ghrelin (ghrl) that peaked at 22 dph in all dietary trials, suggesting that most larvae were fasting. However, in larvae fed diet 3,ghrlexpression was downregulated beyond 22 dph, which indicated that those larvae were no longer starving at this stage, while upregulation of genes encoding the major digestive enzymes (try,tgl, andamyl2a) advocated their healthy development. Moreover, for larvae fed diet 3, the expression of those genes as well as genes for feed intake (pomca) and growth (gh) continued to increase towards 28 dph. These results together with the registered highest survival, largest dry weight increase, and enhanced biometrics (length and body area) pointed to diet 3 as the best-performing. As a whole, this first-feeding study represents a landmark being the first to document European eel larval growth and survival beyond the point of no return, providing novel insights into the molecular development of digestive functions during the first feeding stage.
Understanding vaccine hesitancy with PCV13 in children: Results of a survey in Shanghai, China
Authors: Ni Yi-hong , Xu Zhen-hui , Wang Jing
Published: April 2023

A questionnaire survey for parents of children under 5 years of age was conducted to analyze vaccine hesitancy with the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in Shanghai, China. A total of 892 valid questionnaires were collected. Descriptive statistical methods, Chi-square test and effect size of Cohen were used. Among participants, 421 (48.8%) had children who had been vaccinated with PCV13 before the survey while 227 (26.73%) planned vaccination with PCV13 in the future. The main reasons for not receiving vaccination were the fear of adverse reactions (79, 26.7%), beyond vaccination age (69, 23.3%), and no need to vaccinate (44, 14.9%). Reducing vaccine hesitancy and increasing vaccination willingness can be achieved through health interventions, lower vaccine prices, and the adjustment of vaccination strategies.
Metabarcoding of ichthyoplankton communities associated with a highly dynamic shelf region of the southwest Indian Ocean
Authors: Govender Ashrenee , Fennessy Sean T. , Porter Sean N. , Groeneveld Johan C.
Published: April 2023

Drifting fish eggs and larvae (ichthyoplankton) can be identified to species using DNA metabarcoding, thus allowing for post hoc community analyses at a high taxonomic resolution. We undertook a regional-scale study of ichthyoplankton distribution along the east coast of South Africa, focused on the contrasting environments of the tropical Delagoa and subtropical Natal Ecoregions, and on exposed and sheltered shelf areas. Zooplankton samples were collected with tow nets at discrete stations along cross-shelf transects (20–200 m depth) spaced along a latitudinal gradient that incorporates a known biogeographical boundary. Metabarcoding detected 67 fish species, of which 64 matched prior distribution records of fishes from South Africa, with the remaining three known from the Western Indian Ocean. Coastal, neritic and oceanic species were present, from epi- and mesopelagic to benthopelagic and benthic adult habitats. By family, Myctophidae (10 species), Carangidae, Clupeidae, Labridae (each with 4 species) and Haemulidae (3 species) were most speciose. Ichthyoplankton community composition varied significantly with latitude, distance to coast, and distance to the shelf edge. Small pelagic fishes had the highest frequency of occurrence: Engraulis capensis, Emmelichthys nitidus and Benthosema pterotum increased in frequency towards the north, whereas Etrumeus whiteheadi increased towards the south. Chub mackerel Scomber japonicus accounted for most variability related to distance from the coast, whilst African scad Trachurus delagoa correlated with distance to the shelf edge. Dissimilarity between communities in the Delagoa and Natal Ecoregions was 98–100%, whereas neighbouring transects located within the sheltered KwaZulu-Natal Bight had lower dissimilarity (56–86%). Onshore transport of ichthyoplankton by Agulhas Current intrusions plausibly explained the abundance of mesopelagic species over the shelf. Metabarcoding followed by community analysis revealed a latitudinal gradient in the ichthyoplankton, associations with coastal and shelf-edge processes, and evidence of a spawning area in the sheltered KwaZulu-Natal Bight.
Readiness, barriers, and attitude of students towards online medical education amidst COVID-19 pandemic: A study among medical students of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria
Authors: Ossai Edmund Ndudi , Eze Irene Ifeyinwa , Umeokonkwo Chukwuma David , Izuagba Chukwuemeka Obioma , Ogbonnaya Lawrence Ulu
Published: April 2023

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic caused massive disruption to medical education in Nigeria, necessitating the call for online medical education in the country. This study assessed the readiness, barriers, and attitude of medical students of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria, to online medical education.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was employed. All matriculated medical students of the university participated in the study. Information was obtained using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire which was self-administered. Good attitude towards information and communication technology (ICT) based medical education was determined by the proportion of respondents correctly answering 60% of nine variables. Readiness for online classes was determined by the proportion of students who preferred either a combination of physical and online lectures or only online medical education amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Chi-square test and multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression analysis were used in the study. A p-value of <0.05 determined the level of statistical significance.

Results

Four hundred and forty-three students participated in the study (response rate; 73.3%). The mean age of the students was 23.0±3.2 years. The majority of the respondents, 52.4%, were males. The students’ most preferred sources for studying before the COVID-19 pandemic included textbooks, 55.1% and lecture notes, 19.0%. The commonly visited websites included Google, 75.2%, WhatsApp, 70.0% and YouTube, 59.1%. Less than half, 41.1%, have a functional laptop. The majority, 96.4%, have a functioning email address, while 33.2% participated in a webinar during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though 59.2% had a good attitude towards online medical education, only 56.0% expressed readiness for online medical education. The major barriers to online medical education included poor internet connectivity, 27.1%, poor e-learning infrastructure, 12.9% and students not having laptops, 8.6%. Predictors of readiness for online medical education included previous participation in a webinar, AOR = 2.1, (95%CI: 1.3–3.2) and having a good attitude towards IT-based medical education, AOR = 3.5, (95%CI: 2.3–5.2).

Conclusions

The majority of the students showed readiness for online medical education. Lessons from COVID-19 pandemic necessitate the initiation of online medical education. University authorities should ensure that every enrolled medical student owns or have access to a dedicated laptop through a university-mediated arrangement. Adequate attention should be given to the development of e-learning infrastructure, including steady internet services within the confines of the university.
Prioritization of the concepts and skills in quantitative education for graduate students in biomedical science
Authors: Gross Louis J. , McCord Rachel Patton , LoRe Sondra , Ganusov Vitaly V. , Hong Tian , Strickland W. Christopher , Talmy David , von Arnim Albrecht G. , Wiggins Greg
Published: April 2023

Substantial guidance is available on undergraduate quantitative training for biologists, including reports focused on biomedical science. Far less attention has been paid to the graduate curriculum and the particular challenges of the diversity of specialization within the life sciences. We propose an innovative approach to quantitative education that goes beyond recommendations of a course or set of courses or activities, derived from analysis of the expectations for students in particular programs. Due to the plethora of quantitative methods, it is infeasible to expect that biomedical PhD students can be exposed to more than a minority of the quantitative concepts and techniques employed in modern biology. We collected key recent papers suggested by the faculty in biomedical science programs, chosen to include important scientific contributions that the faculty consider appropriate for all students in the program to be able to read with confidence. The quantitative concepts and methods inherent in these papers were then analyzed and categorized to provide a rational basis for prioritization of those concepts to be emphasized in the education program. This novel approach to prioritization of quantitative skills and concepts provides an effective method to drive curricular focus based upon program-specific faculty input for science programs of all types. The results of our particular application to biomedical science training highlight the disconnect between typical undergraduate quantitative education for life science students, focused on continuous mathematics, and the concepts and skills in graphics, statistics, and discrete mathematics that arise from priorities established by biomedical science faculty. There was little reference in the key recent papers chosen by faculty to classic mathematical areas such as calculus which make up a large component of the formal undergraduate mathematics training of graduate students in biomedical areas.
Motivators and barriers to research participation among medical students in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alhabib Rakan K. , Alhusseini Noara , Aboalsamh Anas G. , Adi Ghaith , Ismail Aya , Hajja Amro , Alammari Duaa , Khalil Ziad , Alharbi Maha A. , Albahiti Sarah K.
Published: April 2023

Little is known about the obstacles medical students face when conducting research in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, the proportion of medical students in research has been unknown in our region compared to other regions. We sought to identify the barriers and motivators that influence undergraduate medical students in pursuing research. This was a cross-sectional study design, utilizing an online survey distributed through social media platforms from the 17th of December 2021 to the 8th of April 2022. The survey was distributed to four universities in Saudi Arabia. Participants’ characteristics, details regarding involvement in research, and attitude towards research were collected. Frequency measures were used to characterize the demographics and chi-squared tests to determine associations. A total of 435 students were included in the final analysis. The highest proportion of students that responded were second year, followed by first year medical students. Less than half (47.6%) of medical students were involved in research. A significant correlation was revealed between the involvement in research and higher participants’ Grade Point Average (GPA). The top three incentives for pursuing undergraduate research were “admission into residency programs” (44.8%), “interest in research” (28.7%), and “financial return” (10.8%). However, the top three limitations were “lack of time” (29.2%), “lack of mentoring” (16.8%), and “lack of interest in research” (14.7%). System-related barriers and motivators were the main reasons behind the involvement of medical students in research. Our study is a call for action to raise awareness among medical students about the importance of research and to provide solutions to overcome these barriers.
Phenotypic and functional features of B cells from two different human subcutaneous adipose depots
Authors: Frasca Daniela , Garcia Denisse , Diaz Alain , Romero Maria , Thaller Seth , Blomberg Bonnie B.
Published: April 2023

In this study, we have compared frequencies, phenotype, function and metabolic requirements of B cells isolated from the breast and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) of women with obesity who underwent weight reduction surgeries. Results show that B cells from the abdominal AT are more inflammatory than those from the breast, characterized by higher frequencies of inflammatory B cell subsets and higher expression of RNA for inflammatory markers associated with senescence. Secretion of autoimmune antibodies is also higher in the abdominal AT as compared to the breast, and is associated with higher frequencies of autoimmune B cells with the membrane phenotype CD21lowCD95+ B cells expressing the transcription factor T-bet. Moreover, glucose uptake is higher in B cells from the abdominal AT as compared to the breast, thereby suggesting a better capacity to perform glycolysis, needed to support intrinsic B cell inflammation and autoimmune antibody secretion.
Qualitative assessment of healthy volunteer experience receiving subcutaneous infusions of high-dose benzathine penicillin G (SCIP) provides insights into design of late phase clinical studies
Authors: Enkel Stephanie L. , Kado Joseph , Hla Thel K. , Salman Sam , Bennett Julie , Anderson Anneka , Carapetis Jonathan R. , Manning Laurens
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Secondary prophylaxis to prevent rheumatic heart disease (RHD) progression, in the form of four-weekly intramuscular benzathine benzylpenicillin G (BPG) injections, has remained unchanged since 1955. Qualitative investigations into patient preference have highlighted the need for long-acting penicillins to be delivered less frequently, ideally with reduced pain. We describe the experience of healthy volunteers participating in a phase-I safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic trial of subcutaneous infusions of high-dose benzathine penicillin G (BPG)–the SCIP study (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12622000916741).

Methods

Participants (n = 24) received between 6.9 mL to 20.7 mL (3–9 times the standard dose) of BPG as a single infusion into the abdominal subcutaneous tissues via a spring-driven syringe pump over approximately 20 minutes. Semi-structured interviews at four time points were recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Tolerability and specific descriptors of the experience were explored, alongside thoughts on how the intervention could be improved for future trials in children and young adults receiving monthly BPG intramuscular injections for RHD.

Results

Participants tolerated the infusion well and were able describe their experiences throughout. Most reported minimal pain, substantiated via quantitative pain scores. Abdominal bruising at the infusion site did not concern participants nor impair normal activities. Insight into how SCIP could be improved for children included the use of topical analgesia, distractions via television or personal devices, a drawn-out infusion time with reduced delivery speed, and alternative infusion sites. Trust in the trial team was high.

Conclusion

Qualitative research is an important adjunct for early-phase clinical trials, particularly when adherence to the planned intervention is a key driver of success. These results will inform later-phase SCIP trials in people living with RHD and other indications.
Human fetal cartilage-derived chondrocytes and chondroprogenitors display a greater commitment to chondrogenesis than adult cartilage resident cells
Authors: Vinod Elizabeth , Parasuraman Ganesh , Lisha J. Jeya , Amirtham Soosai Manickam , Livingston Abel , Varghese Jithu James , Rani Sandya , Francis Deepak Vinod , Rebekah Grace , Daniel Alfred Job , Ramasamy Boopalan , Sathishkumar Solomon
Published: April 2023

Obtaining regeneration-competent cells and generating high-quality neocartilage are still challenges in articular cartilage tissue engineering. Although chondroprogenitor cells are a resident subpopulation of native cartilage and possess a high capacity for proliferation and cartilage formation, their potential for regenerative medicine has not been adequately explored. Fetal cartilage, another potential source with greater cellularity and a higher cell-matrix ratio than adult tissue, has been evaluated for sourcing cells to treat articular disorders. This study aimed to compare cartilage resident cells, namely chondrocytes, fibronectin adhesion assay-derived chondroprogenitors (FAA-CPCs) and migratory chondroprogenitors (MCPs) isolated from fetal and adult cartilage, to evaluate differences in their biological properties and their potential for cartilage repair. Following informed consent, three human fetal and three adult osteoarthritic knee joints were used to harvest the cartilage samples, from which the three cell types a) chondrocytes, b) FAA-CPCs, and MCPs were isolated. Assessment parameters consisted of flow cytometry analysis for percentage expression of cell surface markers, population doubling time and cell cycle analyses, qRT-PCR for markers of chondrogenesis and hypertrophy, trilineage differentiation potential and biochemical analysis of differentiated chondrogenic pellets for total GAG/DNA content. Compared to their adult counterparts, fetal cartilage-derived cells displayed significantly lower CD106 and higher levels of CD146 expression, indicative of their superior chondrogenic capacity. Moreover, all fetal groups demonstrated significantly higher levels of GAG/DNA ratio with enhanced uptake of collagen type 2 and GAG stains on histology. It was also noted that fetal FAA CPCs had a greater proliferative ability with significantly higher levels of the primary transcription factor SOX-9. Fetal chondrocytes and chondroprogenitors displayed a superior propensity for chondrogenesis when compared to their adult counterparts. To understand their therapeutic potential and provide an important solution to long-standing challenges in cartilage tissue engineering, focused research into its regenerative properties using in-vivo models is warranted.
The role of PEEP for cannulation of the subclavian vein: A prospective observational study
Authors: Eimer Christine , Rump Knut G. , Elke Gunnar , Becher Tobias H. , Weiler Norbert , Caliebe Amke , Schädler Dirk
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The role of positive endexpiratory pressure (PEEP) for successful cannulation of the subclavian vein (SCV) remains inconclusive. The aim of our study was to assess the effect of different levels of PEEP on distance from SCV to parietal pleura (DVP) and on the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the SCV.

Methods

Invasive mechanically ventilated adult patients with a clinical indication for a stepwise PEEP-trial (0, 5, 10, and 15 cm H2O) were included in this prospective observational single-center study. Ultrasound examinations of SCV were performed with a linear ultrasound probe using the infraclavicular view. DVP and CSA were measured on the right and left bodyside. Examinations were repeated at each PEEP step.

Results

27 patients were enrolled (12 female; 60±21 years; BMI 24.6±4.9 kg/m2; 20 patients on controlled, 7 on assisted ventilation). A statistically significant increase of DVP in the in-plane view was found on the left side which was not clinically relevant. No significant differences of DVP were observed in all other views. PEEP induced changes in CSAs were statistically significant but clinically not relevant on both sides. The largest change in CSA (2mm2) was observed when comparing PEEP 10 with PEEP 0 cm H2O.

Conclusion

A stepwise PEEP increase was not associated with clinically relevant changes of the DVP and CSA. Thus, a PEEP-optimization for the cannulation of the subclavian vein is not indicated.
Everyday life and spatial transformation: The construction of a community’s interiority in the void deck
Authors: Han Jiawen
Published: April 2023

The void deck, originally developed for housing projects in Singapore, refers to the open space located on the ground floor of a residential building. The model of the void deck was exported to Suzhou Industrial Park and later used in a growing number of high-rise residential developments in China. Taking community interiority as a new perspective, the discussion of void decks and everyday life investigates whether the void deck endows a new layer of interiority to communal life as a special type of threshold space in China’s highly dense and high-rise residential environments. The growing number of domestic objects in the void decks represents a consensual reconstruction of community interiority, allowing the reflection and rediscovery of the resonant membrane that mediates every relationship between people and things living in a substantially enclosed community. The study of void deck, its status and its transformation reflects how neo-liberal community spaces and new social relations in the communities in China have been changing: the communities are evolving from a consumption-based and top–down designed space, circling back to a deeper relationship between people and community within the urban transformation.
Practising collectivity: Performing public space in everyday China
Authors: Hoskyns Teresa , Roslan Siti Balkish , Westermann Claudia
Published: April 2023

This article investigates the specific cultural and collaborative nature of China’s public spaces and how they are formed through performative appropriations. Collective cultural practices as political participation were encouraged during the Mao era when cultural activities played a key role in workers’ education and participation. Since the opening-up period, performance in public space has become widespread in China and creates alternative community spaces that constitute alternatives to capitalist spaces of consumption. Using Habermas’s theory of communicative action, we argue that cultural practices performed in public space create a proletariat public sphere that plays a wider role in governance and China’s democratization. Further, the article examines performative practices in public space. It traces the popular activity of public square dancing through history and counters this research with a parallel study of a much younger skateboarding practice. The two practices are very differently rooted. Yet both practices appear to move through cycles of disruption and appropriation, followed by an affirmation of governmental rule. The studies reveal that western ideas of citizenship and individual leisure are less applicable. Public spaces are largely managed through collaborative practices, whereas contemporary scholarship reaffirms Fei Xiaotong’s description of Chinese society as individuals positioned within a complex network of concentric circles.
Confined with a coyote: The question of the face BORD®
Authors: Veyrat Marc
Published: April 2023

This text discusses the impact of immersive technologies on our identity and relationship to digital and analogue modalities in a non-normative way. It references the work of Joseph Beuys, specifically his iconic performance of being confined with a coyote in a gallery space for three days, to construct connections between borders, edges, limits and identity, face presentation, representation and projection towards ourselves and our audiences. We reference the works of Marcel Duchamp and George Orwell and compare the immersive devices of the nineteenth century to current technology. Various works of art and literature are used to illustrate the impact of technology on society and the individual’s relationship to the collective imagination. The text raises questions about the limits or nonlimits of exposure of identity through machinic and technological devices or processes in the context of privacy of expression in a contemporary networked world.
Of House and Home: The meanings of housing for women engaged in criminalised street-based sex work
Authors: Shdaimah Corey , Franke Nancy , Becker Todd , Leon Chrysanthi
Published: April 2023

Despite emerging as a core concern for street-based sex workers participating in prostitution diversion programmes (PDPs), housing has received limited empirical attention. In this article, we explore the meanings of housing in the context of court-affiliated PDPs in the US cities of Baltimore and Philadelphia based on interviews and focus groups with 31 PDP participants and 32 criminal legal system professionals. Three themes emerged: (a) housing precarity and crisis mode, (b) housing as a foundation, and (c) housing as an idea(l). PDPs prioritise therapeutic interventions targeting individual behaviours and attitudes over meeting basic needs, often placing programme participants in substandard housing and removing them from existing networks of support. Such prioritisation, which often conflicts with participants’ expressed preferences, does not always leave them better off in the short or long term. PDPs’ neglect of the quality, type, and meaning of housing reveals and reinforces a fundamental disregard for people in street-based sex trade as multifaceted, agentic human beings. We conclude that programmes must prioritise home as a ‘comfort zone’ that must be afforded to all people.
When the Home Is Also the Workplace: Women migrant domestic workers’ experiences with the ‘live-in’ policy in Singapore and Hong Kong
Authors: Joo Tan Shih
Published: April 2023

This article examines the link between the mandatory live-in policy and the unsafe working and living conditions of women migrant domestic workers. This policy has been rationalised on the principles of the inviolability of the private home and challenges around regulating and enforcing labour protections in the home-workplace but has, in practice, increased migrant domestic workers’ precarity and exploitation. Drawing on empirical research in Singapore and Hong Kong, the article demonstrates how the live-in policy operates in tandem with inadequate labour and migration regulations to produce a situation where poor working and living conditions are an enduring part of workers’ employment and everyday lives. It contributes to research that has highlighted the gendered dynamics and exclusionary bordering practices that shape waged domestic labour, and considers the implications this may have for the well-being and security of women migrant domestic workers.
A Study on the Improvement of the Road Management Ordinance of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province through the Case of Lava Cave Management
Authors:   Crisis and Emergency Management: Theory and Praxis, Kim Jinhwan , Baek Yong , Lee Jonghyun
Published: April 2023

There are many lava caves on Jeju Island that were created by volcanic eruptions. Roads and residential facilities have been built above these lava caves, and the number of such structures is expected to increase with the development of Jeju Island. Various studies are being conducted to assess the safety of facilities, such as roads, built above lava caves, but currently there is no administrative system to support the safety management of the lava caves and their surrounding facilities. This study proposes revising and creating Jeju Island ordinances that are necessary for the safe construction and maintenance of major facilities on the island, where many lava caves are located. By revising the current ordinance on the preservation and management of natural caves and enacting an ordinance on the safety management of the upper ground of natural caves, it is expected that the possibility of ground subsidence in Jeju Island can be reduced.
Solar Decathlon Europe 21/22 – experiences and findings
Authors: Voss Karsten
Published: April 2023

The Solar Decathlon is a competition for universities from all over the world to design, build and operate small experimental solar powered houses. Its first edition took place in the US in 2002. Since 2010 it is in practice in Europe with four competitions and 65 net zero or net energy plus houses build and tested in 10 disciplines (decathlon). The lecture provides an overview and initial experience and findings from the 22nd edition of the competition in Wuppertal, Germany. It represents a profiling on densification in the existing urban environmental, resource efficiency and carbon neutral energy supply towards climate neutrality.
A theoretical assessment of transport emissions from institutional buildings in a Norwegian municipality
Authors: Fahlstedt Oskar , Bohne Rolf Andrè
Published: April 2023

Municipalities are key actors in reaching the sustainable development goals 9, 11, 12, 13 set by the United Nations. The aim of this paper is to develop, on a theoretical level, a sustainable building refurbishment framework for municipalities. The focal point of the framework is reduction of embodied and operational carbon emissions deriving from buildings, including travel-induced emissions. The institutional buildings governed by a Norwegian municipality are the case study objects in this study. The framework that is currently is used in the municipality value the building stock based on the quality and cost of refurbishing them. No framework currently includes travel-induced emissions in the evaluation. The intention is to provide a holistic framework that includes this aspect when deciding if a building should be refurbished or demolished. The omission of transport emissions can lead to truncation errors in assessments. The transport to and from the school generates higher emissions in certain scenarios. Based on the knowledge in the assessment, a theoretical framework that assesses this is developed.
Advanced modelling of concrete structures for improved sustainability
Authors: Rymeš Jiří , Červenka Jan , Pukl Radomír
Published: April 2023

The safe and long-term serviceability of concrete structures is one of the methods how to improve the sustainability of the concrete industry. This study presents a pilot application of an~integrated system for online monitoring and service life prediction of concrete bridges. The system consists of strain gauges measuring the structural response coupled with a laser rangefinder for detection of the bridge-crossing traffic. The measured data were used for the development of a computational model of the bridge. Next, the deterioration models were applied to the model to assess the long-term mechanical behaviour. In this study, we considered chloride-induced reinforcement corrosion. The numerical data are given for 100-years-long service life prediction.
Experimental monitoring of autonomous curtain walling facade module
Authors: Zavřel Vojtěch , Matuška Tomáš , Slanina Petr
Published: April 2023

This paper introduces an innovative concept for active wall-curtain façade modules aiming at high level of energy autonomy. The façade module consists of two opaque panels and one transparent panel integrating building integrated photovoltaics supported by façade integrated battery Peltier air-conditioning unit, active shading, and LED lighting. The developed demo-protype was deployed at testing facility and subjected to long-term experimental monitoring to assess the energy performance in real environment. The complex monitoring system captured key power and thermal fluxes, temperatures, mass flows and other operational states of the active wall-curtain façade modules. These measurements were assessed in form of monthly overview depicting total electricity consumption, on-site energy production, heating and cooling delivery as well as self-sufficiency and self-consumption indicators.
Evaluation of thermal and mechanical properties of demonstration wall utilizing phase change cementitious materials
Authors: Červenka Jan , Herzfeldt Michaela , Caggiano Antonio , Koenders Eduardus
Published: April 2023

International project PoroPCM involves partners from Germany, Czech Republic, Spain and Japan with the objective to develop new multifunctional Phase Change Materials modified porous cementitious nanocomposite (PoroPCM). Such material can be utilized for storing heat energy in the insulation layer of buildings compared to commonly used insulation materials since the phase change increases heat capacity. This enhanced feature reduces the amount of energy necessary for running the heating/cooling system. For the testing of the newly developed phase change cementitious composite a demonstration wall will be developed and tested for its thermal as well as mechanical performance. The topic of the paper is the description of the properties of the new phase change cementitious nanocomposite. The main emphasis of the paper is the description of the demonstration wall behaviour under typical environmental conditions. The wall design is supported by numerical simulation of the wall physical parameters. The numerical modelling involves the definition of suitable numerical models for the simulation of the thermal properties of the new phase change nanocomposite. The numerical model is then used to demonstrate the performance of the wall layer design. The presented pilot results show efficiency increase of the insulation material in the range 15-70 %. Also modelling of wind resistance of the layered structure is included. The developed wall design and PoroPCM material will be tested and verified by a large scale test in the final year of the project.
Advancing Circular Economy in the existing building stock: A methodology to support building characterisation for sustainable refurbishment design
Authors: Fernandes Joana Bastos , Ferrão Paulo  Cadete , Silvestre José Dinis , Aguiar Costa António , Göswein Verena
Published: April 2023

The lack of standard practices and platforms for assessing refurbishment strategies towards Circular Economy (CE) and their impact in global warming constitutes a challenge for the decarbonization of existing building stock. Incorporating data and feedback from designers and practitioners since early design stages is important to feed a multi-criteria dynamic process with multiple dimensions, which must be assessed under a life cycle perspective. To tackle this issue, this paper introduces a new methodology to support the implementation of tailored refurbishment strategies for increased recovery, reuse and recycling of construction materials. The final objective is to build a methodological framework for sustainable refurbishment design in a BIM environment, which aims to facilitate standardized practices in the construction sector, regarding CE, with a positive impact in the mitigation of global warming and the decarbonization of the building stock. To test the development of this methodology, a case study building in Lisbon, corresponding to a 1919 - 1945 archetype is analysed, making use of its BIM model, where BIM standardization criteria and circularity indicators are discussed, in order to be implemented as a Plugin for Circularity.
Circular design in the Global South
Authors: Huovila Pekka , Iyer-Raniga Usha , Cheong Christina , Malhotra Riya , Choudhary Yatin , Penagos Guillermo
Published: April 2023

One Planet Sustainable Buildings and Construction Programme (SBC), led by the Ministry of the Environment, Finland and co-led by RMIT University and UN Environment Programme was initiated in 2015. Work on circular built environments commenced in the second iteration of the programme’s work plan. SBC was the first global programme that worked on circularity and responsibly sourced materials in the buildings and construction sector. In 2020, the SBC programme published a range of reports focusing on the state of play for circular built environments across specific regions, tied together with a global report. The present focus of the programme is on Africa, Asia and Latin America, where case studies are collected following a common framework.These case studies together with a global survey provide reliable performance data for responsibly sourced building materials in the Global South. The underpinning premise through this process is to support related SDGs across the social, environmental, and economic considerations and enable countries to achieve their targets under the Paris Agreement. This paper presents key findings from this study, largely derived through case studies in the Global South. The results show that not all stages of the building life cycle are addressed through local examples.
ETA y MLN-Tupamaros
Authors: Azcona José Manuel , Madueño Álvarez Miguel
Published: April 2023

El siguiente texto tiene como objetivo principal la búsqueda de los elementos en común entre dos organizaciones violentas como fueron el MLN-Tupamaros en Uruguay y ETA en España. Se pretende, por tanto, establecer la relación entre dos organizaciones en cuanto a su planteamiento táctico y estratégico en torno a la guerrilla urbana, así como exponer aquellos puntos tangenciales en los que tuvieron una vinculación más concreta.
Sujeto colectivo y reparación en el marco del derecho internacional de los derechos humanos
Authors: Ortega Hernandez Mary Cruz
Published: April 2023

El reconocimiento de sujetos colectivos de Derechos Humanos implica tensiones y dificultades para la teoría jurídica tradicional. La evolución de los Derechos Humanos de tercera generación y la reparación a víctimas de violaciones colectivas y sistemáticas de Derechos Humanos en el marco del Derecho Internacional de los Derechos Humanos pone de presente la existencia de este tipo de sujetos. Este trabajo realiza una aproximación a el abordaje de los sujetos colectivos de Derechos Humanos como un cambio de paradigma de la tradición jurídica occidental sobre el sujeto y el sujeto de derechos, para lo cual se realiza un análisis crítico de fuentes bibliográficas, documentales, normativas y jurisprudenciales en la materia.
Condiciones normativas de procedencia excepcional de privación de libertad individual en Colombia
Authors: Trujillo Diana Marcela , Restrepo John Fernando
Published: April 2023

El presente artículo tiene por objeto analizar de qué manera el derecho fundamental a la libertad personal, declarado en la Constitución política de 1991 es limitado a partir de los mecanismos constitucionales y legales dispuestos para ello tales como la captura y la aprehensión, asimismo los diferentes tipos de detención preventiva. En este orden de ideas resulta pertinente hacer un análisis en el que se busca abordar la base normativa de estos mecanismos, de forma tal que resulte posible identificar de qué manera inciden en la limitación del mencionado derecho.
“Ahí está el patrimonio que nadie protegió...” Guayacán y la subsistencia de su paisaje industrial minero. Desde el siglo XIX hacia el XXI
Authors: Ovalle Letelier Alex Andrés , Santa Cruz Becerra Valentina Paz , Vásquez Barrios Macarena Gabriel
Published: April 2023

El pueblo de Guayacán, situado en la Región de Coquimbo, fue el centro de un complejo minero e industrial que tuvo su auge durante el siglo XIX. Se convirtió desde hace 40 años en un espacio monumental y fue declarado Zona Típica por el Estado de Chile durante 2005. Este artículo explora la compleja actualidad de un espacio en que confluyen diversas actividades económicas, a la vez que se distingue como un paisaje cultural reconocido por sus habitantes. A partir del análisis histórico que incluye imágenes, relatos y artículos de prensa se propone que a pesar de su dinamismo social en la cotidianidad, las autoridades han desaprovechado sus posibilidades turísticas y abandonado las edificaciones protegidas por ley, mientras que la población demanda el apoyo gubernamental para establecer políticas de desarrollo humano y reconocimiento patrimonial.