Search

Abstract Critical smart city research has presented wide-ranging risks of technocentric urban development. One critique lies in the kinds of citizenship directed under smart urban paradigms, which do little to account for residents’ practices of care. This paper is an ethico-onto-epistemological re-examination of smart cities through the lens of care practices specifically focusing on creative communities of practice. We use an enactivist empirical approach to help uncover experiences of sensemaking in the smart city held by three creative communities of practice in Helsinki. Through in-depth interviews with n = 22 urban planners, artists, and community space organizers, we assessed these groups’ differing and overlapping sensemaking processes. Utilizing 5E sensemaking processes (embodied, extended, enacted, emotive, and embedded) as a flexible analytical framework, we identify and interpret their practices of care as ways of sensemaking in a developing smart urban environment. Our results depict terrains of care in which participation and citizenship in the smart city is not neutral, but embedded in affective engagement, navigating rules and institutions, and cultivation of joy and inspiration. We use our findings to discuss what these interweaving terrains of care mean for citizenship and transformational change in the smart city.

Abstract The Rpd3L histone deacetylase (HDAC) complex is an ancient 12-subunit complex conserved in a broad range of eukaryotes that performs localized deacetylation at or near sites of recruitment by DNA-bound factors. Here we describe the cryo-EM structure of this prototypical HDAC complex that is characterized by as many as seven subunits performing scaffolding roles for the tight integration of the only catalytic subunit, Rpd3. The principal scaffolding protein, Sin3, along with Rpd3 and the histone chaperone, Ume1, are present in two copies, with each copy organized into separate lobes of an asymmetric dimeric molecular assembly. The active site of one Rpd3 is completely occluded by a leucine side chain of Rxt2, while the tips of the two lobes and the more peripherally associated subunits exhibit varying levels of flexibility and positional disorder. The structure reveals unexpected structural homology/analogy between unrelated subunits in the fungal and mammalian complexes and provides a foundation for deeper interrogations of structure, biology, and mechanism of these complexes, as well as for the discovery of HDAC complex-specific inhibitors.

Respecting connections between the diversity of values and forms of knowledge is essential to support a decision-making that fosters relationships between ecosystems and people. However, little theory has been developed for clarifying interactions between values and knowledge, and their relevance for environmental policy. We surfaced the overlooked relationship between values and knowledge by studying individual cognitive and emotional processes during a guided visioning exercise in the context of the multifunctional landscapes of Östergötland, Sweden. We investigated these cognitive processes using 30 semi-structured interviews and questionnaires organized around three types of relationships: vision ⇔ values, vision ⇔ knowledge, and especially values ⇔ knowledge. The analysis of the relationship between vision and values reveals that all types of values including core human values, relational, and intrinsic values are important in shaping the decision-making context in which landscape management visions arise. The relationship between vision and knowledge uncovers the mix of experiential and theoretical knowledge that informs the decision-making context. Interviews unfold three modalities in terms of how values and knowledge relate: i) linked and not necessarily connected (e.g. when individuals perceive a high conflict between their knowledge and their values leading to one construct silencing the other); ii) mutually reinforcing (e.g. when values and knowledge are seen as feeding into one another); and iii) intertwined (e.g. when individuals perceive that values and knowledge can co-exist). We discuss our findings in the context of their relevance for a collaborative decision-making process for balancing consensus and dissensus in multifunctional landscapes.

While previous socio-ecological systems research has shown relationships between local knowledge and the assignment of landscape values, the relationships between value assignment and more nuanced forms of local knowledge remain less understood. This study makes use of public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS), a method for identifying and mapping landscape attributes important to local communities. We use this method to assess the spatial associations between three landscape attributes often overlooked in the PPGIS literature: landscape values, self-reported knowledge about different types of landscape management practices and land-use types. We analyzed responses from residents of Mjölby kommun, Sweden (n = 301) using Monte Carlo simulations and density-based clustering. Overall, we found stronger spatial associations between landscape values and land-use types compared with landscape values and self-reported knowledge about landscape management. For example, significant positive associations were found between aesthetic and recreation values and certain land-use types, but there was no association between these values and self-reported knowledge. The land-use type to which a landscape value is assigned is sometimes supported by self-reported knowledge (especially for underrepresented landscape values), while self-reported knowledge did not provide a conclusive pattern about value assignment on its own. We discuss the implications of using PPGIS in integrated landscape management for building multifunctionality in landscape management by addressing the values of different land-use stakeholders, and the potential benefits of increased inclusivity in forms of local knowledge.

In modern urban environments the technologies that are basic to everyday life have become further embedded in that life. Smart cities are one example of the acceleration of technological change in order to engage with urban sustainability challenges, with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools as one mode of engagement. However, the discourses through which cities engage with smart city growth and management can have long-term consequences for diverse knowledge held within the imaginaries of situated smart urbanism. As the city of Helsinki increasingly focuses on sustainable smart city initiatives, concurrent research suggests that smart urbanism is at a crossroads, where developers must decide how smart cities choose to engage with its residents' knowledge. This research sets out to ask, how are top-down smart city interventions communicated on Twitter (de)legitimizing diverse knowledge in situated smart urbanism? We draw from Foucaudian theory to identify which discourses are elevated, through statements posted on the social media platform Twitter. By answering this question, our goal in this paper is to examine how Foucault's methods can be used to highlight unseen assumptions about smart urbanism in Helsinki. Our objective is to identify overarching narratives and potential contested conceptualizations of smart urbanism in Helsinki. With our methods, we contribute a novel angle to surfacing power relations that are becoming evident in the development of AI-governed smart cities.

INTRODUCTION: The collected information includes demographic profile, medical history, physical examination, patient risk factors, anthropometric evaluation, medications, echocardiographic results, and exercise testing of all patients who participated in the outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program in Cardiac Rehabilitation Department since 1996 until now. Each patient was assigned an electronic code by which the patient's information could be identified. Subsequently, standard questionnaires were used, such as International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) to assess physical activity, MAC NEW to assess the quality of life, Spielberg to measure anxiety, Beck to assess depression, and nutritional questionnaires.RESULTS: The findings were recorded, and the data were analyzed by the web and SPSS software. For all patients, the forms were filled based on a number of variables including backgrounds, registration components, type of referral, diagnosis of underlying heart disease, methods of data collection and entry, details of the educational program, return to work, psychiatric condition, drug regimen, clinical condition, echocardiography findings, functional capacity and exercise test response, smoking status, nutritional habits, and finally their 5-year follow-up for events and re-hospitalization.CONCLUSION: It is necessary for the authors to establish a cardiac rehabilitation registration that can properly display care quality indicators and collect and report standard data from different nations to improve the quality of cardiac rehabilitation services and identify weaknesses.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the diagnostic value of whole-body low-dose computed tomography (CT) to detect bone metastasis in prostate cancer (PCa) patients and its possible utility in therapeutic decision-making. Also, to determine the valuable CT features for lesion characterisation. Methods This IRB-approved retrospective study reviewed PCa patients who underwent 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in our centre from March 2017 to August 2022. Two board-certified radiologists and one nuclear medicine specialist reported all whole-body low-dose CT scans separately, unaware of the 68Ga-PSMA-PET results. The per-lesion and per-patient diagnostic performances were calculated. Also, the significance of CT features was evaluated. Moreover, the inter-observer agreement was analysed. A two-tailed p value 1 cm, ill-defined borders, presence of soft-tissue component, and cortical destruction were statistically in favour of metastasis. Also, Hu > 900 was in favour of benign entities with 93% specificity. Conclusions Although not as accurate as 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT, whole-body low-dose CT might precisely classify PCa patients considering therapeutic decision-making. Additionally, we proposed diagnostic CT features that could help radiologists with better characterisation of the detected lesions. Critical relevance statement The whole-body low-dose CT can be considered valuable in the clinical decision-making of prostate cancer patients. This modality may obviate performing multiple imaging sessions and high-cost scans in patients diagnosed with the high-burden disease. Graphical abstract

In this paper, we first define the generalized (F, φ, α−ψ)-contraction mappings. In the following, we consider the conditions in which these mappings have a φ-fixed point and also we present examples and applications of these mappings in partial metric space and integral equations.

Lithium (Li) is a metal with critical therapeutic properties ranging from the treatment of bipolar depression to antibacterial, anticancer, antiviral and pro-regenerative effects. This element can be incorporated into the structure of various biomaterials through the inclusion of Li chloride/carbonate into polymeric matrices or being doped in bioceramics. The biocompatibility and multifunctionality of Li-doped bioceramics present many opportunities for biomedical researchers and clinicians. Li-doped bioceramics (capable of immunomodulation) have been used extensively for bone and tooth regeneration, and they have great potential for cartilage/nerve regeneration, osteochondral repair, and wound healing. The synergistic effect of Li in combination with other anticancer drugs as well as the anticancer properties of Li underline the rationale that bioceramics doped with Li may be impactful in cancer treatments. The role of Li in autophagy may explain its impact in regenerative, antiviral, and anticancer research. The combination of Li-doped bioceramics with polymers can provide new biomaterials with suitable flexibility, especially as bio-ink used in 3D printing for clinical applications of tissue engineering. Such Li-doped biomaterials have significant clinical potential in the foreseeable future.

Aim:Some evidence exists concerning the relationship between anthropometric measurements and chronic kidney disease. This study aims to investigate the association of neck circumferences (NC), wrist circumferences (WC) and hip (HC) circumferences with kidney function in a pediatric population.Materials and Methods:In this national study, 4.200 students aged 7-18 years were selected by random cluster sampling from 30 provinces of Iran. NC, WC and HC were measured according to standard protocol and were categorized to either low or high according to their age-sex specific median values. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated based on the “updated” Schwartz equation.Results:The response rate was 91.5% (n=3.843). The mean standard deviation of eGFR was 96.71 (19.46), 96.49 (21.69), and 96.59 (20.66) mL/minimum/1.73 m2 for girls, boys and the total population, respectively. Compared to other participants, those in the high NC group had significantly higher eGFR (102.12±21.31 vs 90.65±18.18, p

Introduction: Nephrotic syndrome is an important clinical presentation of glomerular diseases that is classified into several types based on the findings of renal biopsy. Membranous neuropathy is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome, especially in adults over 40 years of age, which may lead to end-stage renal failure. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the association of morphologic lesions of membranous nephropathy (MN) on renal biopsy with various demographic and laboratory parameters of the patients. Patients and Methods: This study was performed on renal biopsies, which were referred to the laboratory with the diagnosis of MN. To reach a definite diagnosis of MN, an immunofluorescence study (IgG, IgA, IgM, C1q and C3 antibody deposits) was conducted for all patients. Light microscopy was conducted to categorize the morphologic lesions of the glomeruli and interstitial area. The percentage of interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy was assessed too. Additionally, age, gender, and 24- hour urinary protein and serum creatinine were recorded. Results: Among 175 idiopathic MN patients, 98 were male (56%). The patients’ age was between 14 and 84 years (mean; 42±15 years). The mean of serum creatinine and 24-hour urine protein were 1.05 ± 0.31 mg/dL and 2779.56± 1495.80 mg/d, respectively. We found a significant correlation between gender and serum creatinine level, which was higher in men (P

Introduction: one dimensional nanocrystals especially nano-rods have attracted a great deal of attention due to their unique properties and wide applications in industry. Chemical and physical methods which are currently used to produce zinc oxide nano- rods, often leave toxic chemicals on surface of nanoparticles limiting their applications for health and medical purposes. Therefore, biological synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles has been considered as an environmentally friendly process and a potential alternative to chemical and physical methods. Materials and methods: Nano-rods of zinc oxide were produced by Xanthomonas campestris using zinc nitrate hexa hydrate as substrate, in a shaker incubator at 37 ° C and pH 7. The powder produced was then calcined at 600 ° C for 2 hours after drying. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX and UV–vis spectroscopy. Results: FTIR analysis was used to identify functional groups involved in the biosynthesis of ZnO NPs. The peak observed at 563 cm-1 corresponds to the stretching vibrations of ZnO NPs. XRD analysis revealed that the hexagonal ZnO nanoparticles synthesized were pure and crystalline in nature. The morphology and size of the powder were investigated using SEM analysis and the results showed that ZnO nano-rods have a diameter ranging from 122–200 nm with an average length about 300 nm. EDX analysis was performed for determination of the elemental composition and purity of samples. The recorded EDX spectrum revealed the high purity of the synthesized ZnO nano-rods without detection of any impurities. The absorption peak at 376 nm indicating the presence of zinc oxide nanoparticles was further confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Discussion and conclusion: The current research work describes a low-cost, unreported, nontoxic, simple, safe and eco-friendly method for the biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticle using xanthomonas campestris as the reducing and capping agent.