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Gentrification Everywhere? Delinking Culture‐Led Regeneration From Gentrification
No full textThis paper challenges the prevalent use of “gentrification” (shishen hua [士紳化/仕紳化] or jinshen hua [縉紳化]) as a catch-all critique of culture-led regeneration and neighborhood transformations, including rent increases and shifts in aesthetic and tastes, in Sinophone Asia and beyond. To maintain the critical dimension of gentrification, defined by the displacement of existing poorer people by late-coming wealthier people, this paper argues for a conceptual delinking culture-led regeneration from gentrification by presenting two case studies from Taiwan. These cases demonstrate that new aesthetic-oriented, culture- and creativity-related businesses, rather than existing traditional businesses and residents, are often less resilient toward rent increases. Rather than “gentrification,” rent increases affect the future of heritage remaking and community building. By examining the influx of unregulated street vendors and arcade merchandisers, this paper illustrates how gentrification fails to address the problems regenerated neighborhoods face
Development and optimisation of influenza C and influenza D pseudotyped viruses
No full textTo facilitate the study of influenza C (ICV) and influenza D (IDV) viruses, we generated lentiviral pseudotyped viruses (PVs) expressing the hemagglutinin-esterase fusion (HEF) glycoprotein from ICV (C/Minnesota/33/2015) and IDV (D/Swine/Italy/199724-3/2015, D/Bovine/France/5920/2014, and D/Bovine/Ibaraki/7768/2016). The production of these PVs was optimised using different amount of human airway trypsin-like (HAT) protease to enhance HEF maturation, and the transduction efficiency was evaluated in multiple cell lines. Using these PVs, we established a pseudovirus-based microneutralisation (pMN) assay to measure neutralising antibody responses and adapted an esterase activity assay to evaluate PV. Specific antisera neutralised PVs but failed to inhibit esterase activity. These findings confirm that ICV and IDV PVs provide a scalable, sensitive, and safe tool for antiviral screening, and sero-epidemiological research
Electric bus rapid transit supported by solar generation: A scalable economic model for zero-emission urban transit
Full text linkThe transition to zero-emission public transport, particularly through electrification, presents environmental and economic challenges, especially in emerging economies, where financial constraints and policy gaps restrict the deployment of large-scale solutions. This study develops a scalable economic model for implementing solar-powered electric Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, using the Brazilian city of Cuiabá as a case study. The selection of Cuiabá as the case study is based on its representativeness as a medium-sized Brazilian city characterized by rapid population growth, ongoing expansion of mass transit infrastructure, and a predominantly clean energy matrix. Technical and economic simulations indicate that integrating photovoltaic (PV) generation into the fleet’s charging infrastructure can reduce the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) by 19.17 % over 10 years. The proposed system supplies 64.12 % of the fleet’s energy demand from solar generation, resulting in monthly savings of USD 176,490.57 compared with a diesel-powered fleet. Despite higher initial capital costs, the model yields a payback period of 7 years and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 34.21 %, confirming financial feasibility. Under a distributed generation rental scheme, the IRR increases to 36.73 % and cumulative savings reach USD 231,000 per bus over 10 years. The results provide quantitative evidence that integrating renewable energy sources can enhance the financial viability of electric BRT systems, supporting policy and investment decisions for sustainable urban transport
Interpersonal Determinants of Suicide Risk Among Young Adults: A Cross-Cultural Study
Full text link(1) Background: Understanding suicide risk across cultures requires examining both universal and culturally specific factors that inform assessment and intervention. This study explores the influence of interpersonal variables—such as interpersonal competence, perceived social support, and constructs from the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS)—on suicidal behaviour in two culturally distinct samples: young adults from Spain and Japan. (2) Methods: A total of [437] participants (Spanish sample: n = 260; Japanese sample: n = 177) completed validated measures assessing suicide risk, depression, perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, acquired capability for suicide, interpersonal competence, and perceived social support. Moderated mediation and SEM comparative analyses were conducted to identify predictors of suicide risk in each cultural context. (3) Results: Social support was a consistent protective factor against depression and suicidal ideation, and interpersonal competence showed more contextual protective effects, significant only in the Japanese sample. Perceived burdensomeness stood out as a robust predictor of depression and suicidal ideation in both samples, and suicidal ideation was strongly associated with suicidal behaviour, while acquired capability for suicide and interpersonal competence did not show a direct association with it. (4) Conclusions: The findings highlight the protective role of interpersonal competence and perceived social support in the progression to suicidal behavior, suggesting cultural similarities and differences in how these factors operate
Two-Step Ligand-Directed Covalent Fluorescent Labeling of the Adenosine A1-Receptor That Maintains Its Orthosteric Binding Site’s Availability to Bind Ligands
Full text linkGenetic tagging of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) with bioluminescent or fluorescent proteins is a well-established method for the study of ligand-binding and protein–protein interactions using resonance energy transfer approaches. Here we present a two-step, ligand-directed covalent labeling (LDCL) method that allows attachment of different fluorescent labels to an untagged adenosine A1 receptor using click chemistry. We also describe a range of biophysical approaches to confirm that the orthosteric binding site remains available to interact with endogenous ligands, agonists and antagonists, and access to the orthosteric binding site is not sterically hindered by the transferred cargo (fluorophore or click-reactive group)
Review of solar spectral irradiance modelling at ground level: Current methods and machine learning opportunities
Full text linkThe accurate acquisition of solar spectral irradiance is crucial for the efficient utilisation of solar energy and the strategic planning of solar energy harvesting systems. Due to the high costs associated with specialised measurement instruments, spectral irradiance modelling has become a popular alternative in various fields, including industrial electricity generation, agriculture, and building applications. This review provides a thorough evaluation of existing methods for modelling spectral irradiance at the Earth's surface, while also exploring the potential of machine learning (ML) in this domain. The review begins by examining the atmospheric parameters (e.g., components of gas, aerosol and cloud) that influence spectral irradiance, summarising their wavelength-specific effects and accessibility via different physical or numerical models. A systematic comparison of various mainstream physical models reveals that using more relevant atmospheric parameters as input and enhancing the spatial–temporal resolutions could improve the accuracy of spectral irradiance prediction. However, their accuracy still depends on the accurate parameter acquisition by either measurement or modelling. In contrast, statistical parameterisation approaches can reduce dependence on complex input data, which enhances computational efficiency and maintains high accuracy under certain conditions, such as clear-sky conditions. In addition, machine learning is a promising method that can further enhance the accuracy and efficiency of spectral irradiance modelling. By leveraging large datasets and advanced algorithms, ML models can capture complex patterns and relationships in the data that are difficult to represent with traditional physical models. This enables more accurate predictions of spectral irradiance under a wide range of atmospheric conditions. However, compared to the ML models for total irradiance predictions, ML approaches for spectral modelling are still in the development stage. The challenge is to establish reliable wavelength-dependent correlations between atmospheric parameters and spectral irradiance outputs. Through this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive foundation for researchers and practitioners to better understand the current state of spectral irradiance modelling and to identify key areas for future development
Chinese migrant children’s constructions of transnational childhood in Norway
Full text linkEngaging with the lens of ‘children as been, being and becoming’, this paper analyses Chinese migrant children’s constructions of transnational childhood in Norway, particularly in family context. The study conducted semi-structured interviews with five Chinese families, including children aged 7–14 years old (N = 5) and their parents (N = 9). Findings reveal that Chinese migrant children actively produce meanings of childhood in the migration process, resisting, subverting, and embracing dominant childhood ideals in both Chinese and Norwegian societies. They integrate their past, current, and future experiences and aspirations, constructing (transnational) childhood ideals that matter to them and that are beyond adult-centric
Introduction to Marketing: Concepts and Contexts
No full textThis concise introduction to marketing essentials provides a grounding in the key concepts of the subject and the contexts in which they operate. Considering how the organisation must deal clearly with the contrasting value needs of both consumer and customer, the text views marketing through three topical lenses: technology, responsibility and employability. This provides a unique contemporary approach for today's students.The structure enables students to work through topics in a logical order. Throughout, the author reflects on the differences between best practice and reality. Recognisable brand examples stimulate applied thinking and encourage situational awareness of the issues that shape marketing practices at local, national and global levels.A wealth of pedagogical features consolidates students' knowledge of key concepts. They include a running case study, real life cases, quizzes and discussion and reflection prompts. This digestible yet critical introduction to marketing will help undergraduate students to understand how value is transferred from organisations to the market, using a broad range of marketing mix techniques
Intestinal stem and progenitor cells exhibit distinct adaptive responses to inflammatory stress in IBD
Full text linkBackgroundIntestinal epithelial stem cells (SCs) and their transit-amplifying (TA) progeny are critical for mucosal repair and regeneration. However, their behaviour under chronic inflammatory conditions, such as those observed in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), remains incompletely understood.MethodsWe investigated the impact of chronic inflammation on intestinal stem/progenitor cells by integrating bulk RNA sequencing from the largest IBD biopsy cohort to date with single-cell transcriptomic analysis and experimental assays using patient-derived intestinal organoids.ResultsActive inflammation was associated with a reduction in canonical LGR5⁺ intestinal stem cells and a concurrent expansion of OLFM4⁺ populations, consistent with an inflammation-induced epithelial repair program. Notably, SC/TA cells from both inflamed and non-inflamed IBD tissues exhibited persistent transcriptional changes that were distinct from those in healthy controls. Single-cell analysis identified transcriptionally heterogeneous SC/TA subpopulations, including a previously uncharacterized inflammation-associated cluster enriched in immune signalling pathways. Pseudotime trajectory analysis demonstrated a shift in differentiation toward deep crypt secretory (Paneth-like) cell lineages under inflammatory conditions.ConclusionsChronic intestinal inflammation reshapes the epithelial stem and progenitor cell compartment, promoting altered differentiation and the emergence of immune-responsive epithelial states. These findings highlight the plasticity of the human intestinal epithelium in IBD and point to new avenues for therapeutic strategies aimed at maintaining epithelial integrity during chronic inflammation
Reducing the exceptional affordability of hand-rolling tobacco using tax escalators: a health and economic impact modelling study for England
Full text linkBackground Hand-rolling tobacco (HRT) remains more affordable than factory-made (FM) cigarettes in the UK, which could undermine the health benefits of tobacco tax increases. This study modelled health and economic impacts of raising HRT duty annually to reduce this affordability gap.Methods We used the Sheffield Tobacco and Alcohol Policy Model V.2.5.0, an individual-level microsimulation, to project tobacco consumption, spending and health outcomes for adults in England aged 18–89 from 2024 to 2030. Four duty policies were compared against a business-as-usual scenario of duty rising 2% above the Retail Price Index (RPI) annually: Policy A increased duty by RPI+12% in 2024 only (the UK Government’s October 2023 policy); Policy B applied RPI+10% annually to align with FM duty by 2030; Policy C applied RPI+12% annually; and Policy D applied RPI+18% annually to equalise average HRT and FM prices by 2030.Results Policy A was estimated to prevent 1770 deaths, add 36 947 life years and save the National Health Service £12 million, with greater gains in deprived areas. Policies B–D achieved larger health benefits and reduced inequalities, but increased spending by people who smoke. Policy D generated £3.19 billion additional tax revenue and reduced tobacco industry revenue by £400 million by 2030. Revenue effects depended on assumptions about how higher HRT prices affected FM consumption.Conclusions Sustained duty increases on the least expensive tobacco products could deliver substantial public health gains and reduce health inequalities. Such measures should coincide with strong enforcement against illicit tobacco and comprehensive smoking cessation support
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