Local Administration Research Articles

Electromobility in local administration offices of provincial cities in Poland – status at the end of 2022

ABSTRACT: The objective of this article is to investigate behaviours related to electromobility in terms of owned vehicle fleets and charging stations in local administration units, the role of zero-emission vehicles in building the image of the administration and the promotion of environmentally friendly behaviours among its employees as at the end of 2022. The completion of the objective was based on surveys of the data collected using the CATI technique from provincial offices (POs) and municipal offices (MOs)[1] of provincial cities. The survey showed that the primary means of transport owned by the entities surveyed are internal combustion engine vehicles. Of these, the largest group is made up of passenger cars – the average age of vehicles at the time of the survey was approx. eight years. In sum, the local administration in the provincial cities is approaching the target value established by law. The average share of BEVs in the passenger vehicle fleet is 9%. In terms of charging station ownership, there were three dominant patterns. There is a perception among respondents that a fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles builds a positive, pro-environmental image of the office, while in none of the offices was there any action to support the environmentally friendly behaviour of employees in terms of travelling to and from work. [1] The survey covered local government administrative units in 16 cities where local government offices are located and involved provincial local government offices (POs) and municipal local government offices (MOs).

Smads and AP-1 activation of TGF-β signaling upregulate transcription of Osteoprotegerin in Cementoblasts to inhibit osteoclastogenesis.

Orthodontically induced root resorption (OIRR) is a common side effect during orthodontic tooth treatment (OTM). The function of osteoprotegerin (OPG) is considered to protect cementum from excessive resorption to maintain root integrity. In this study, we observed that the expression of TGF-β1 and OPG was upregulated under the loading of orthodontic force in periodontal tissues. However, the specific molecular mechanisms of TGF-β1-induced OPG expression in cementoblasts are not fully elucidated. This study aims to investigate the effect of Smads and AP-1 stimulated by TGF-β signaling on the transcription of OPG in cementoblasts. Invitro, we demonstrated that TGF-β/Smad and AP-1 signaling involved in TGF-β1-induced extracellular secretion of OPG in conditioned media (CM) from cementoblasts, which further inhibited osteoclastogenesis. Reporter gene plasmids containing OPG promoter sequences of different lengths (0.5-3 kb) were constructed to investigate the potential binding sites of Smads and AP-1. We identified nine binding sites of Smads and AP-1 concentrated in the 0-0.5 and 2.3-3 kb regions of OPG promoter in cementoblasts. ChlP results showed that Smad2/3/4 and c-Jun were bound more to the OPG promoter under TGF-β1 stimulation. Invivo, localized administration of TGF-β1 in the OTM model increased OPG expression, which resulted in the inhibition of OIRR. In summary, TGF-β1-induced Smads and AP-1 can bind to the OPG promoter to promote the transcription, expression, and secretion of OPG in cementoblasts, which inhibits osteoclast differentiation and protects cementum from excessive resorption.

Język polski w jednoklasowych szkołach podstawowych w guberni grodzieńskiej po 1906 roku: niespełnione obietnice rządu

This article examines the implementation of one paragraph of the Tsar’s decree of 22 April 1906, to which historians have paid little attention. It stipulated that in those one-class schools that were located in the Polish populated part of Grodna Province, the Polish language could be taught as a subject and used to teach arithmetic. The overseer of the Vil’na school district, Boris Wolf, and some other local officials tried their best to implement the decree not only because the regulations passed by the higher authorities had to be enforced but also because they believed that the loyalty of non-Russians could be ensured by meeting their cultural requirements. In the end their efforts were in vain. The official version was that the‚ ethnographic expeditions’ and meetings of local administration officials did not indicate the exact area where Poles would dominate numerically, but this interpretation was a pretext, not a cause. The Polish language in primary school was seen by many officials as a tool for the Polonisation of Belarusian Catholics, so those close to the principles of nationalist nationality politics obstructed the implementation of the decree of 22 April 1906 in the Grodno Governorate. They would also have been aware that the introduction of the Polish language in primary schools, together with other measures confirming that the area was a Polish ‚national territory’, could lead to parts of the Białystok and Bielsk districts being included to the Kingdom of Poland in the event of future territorialization of ethnicity. The likelihood of the implementation of such projects on the western borderlands of the Romanov empire grew in the early 20th century, until their eventual implementation in the Soviet Union.

An Assessment of Rural Midwestern Schoolteachers' Nutrition Literacy and MyPlate Knowledge: Implications for Current Practice and Policy.

Background. Rural schoolchildren outpace their urban counterparts in obesity and diet-related chronic disease rates. Educating students on nutrition basics may help reduce these health burdens in this focus population. Rural schoolteachers are ideally positioned to teach students about nutrition; however, to teach nutrition, one must first understand basic nutrition concepts. The nutrition literacy and knowledge of rural schoolteachers, as well as strategies to and barriers for integrating nutrition into rural classrooms, are understudied. Examining these topics may provide a deeper understanding of nutrition education in rural schools. Methods. Data were collected via an online survey of K-12 teachers (n = 153) from seven Midwestern rural school districts. This survey collected data on nutrition literacy, nutrition knowledge, and preferred methods for implementing nutrition education into current curricula. Descriptive statistics were reported; associations between nutrition literacy and knowledge were examined. Results. Nutrition literacy levels were borderline low (mean score 45.7 out of 64). Nutrition knowledge and literacy were associated (p < .001). Most teachers (n = 108, 70%) were/may be willing to change lessons to incorporate nutrition information, with hands-on and group activities being preferred strategies. Barriers to including nutrition information into curricula included lack of time, knowledge, and resources. Most teachers reported little support from administration for promoting nutrition in the classroom. Discussion. Implementing nutrition education into teachers' continuing education requirements may provide a means of improving teacher nutrition literacy and knowledge. Support from both state-level and local administration could benefit both nutrition knowledge acquisition by schoolteachers and implementation of nutrition education throughout the curriculum.

Local and Noninvasive Glyco-Virus Checkpoint Nanoblockades Restrict Sialylation for Prolonged Broad-Spectrum Epidemic Virus Therapy.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has driven major advances in virus research. The role of glycans in viral infection has been revealed, with research demonstrating that terminal sialic acids are key receptors during viral attachment and infection into host cells. However, there is an urgent demand for universal tools to study the mechanism of sialic acids in viral infections, as well as to develop therapeutic agents against epidemic viruses through the downregulation of terminal sialic acid residues on glycans acting as a glyco-virus checkpoint to accelerate virus clearance. In this study, we developed a robust sialic acids blockade tool termed local and noninvasive glyco-virus checkpoint nanoblockades (LONG NBs), which blocked cell surface sialic acids by endogenously and continuously inhibiting the de novo sialic acids biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, LONG NBs could accurately characterize the sialic acid-dependent profiles of multiple virus variants and protected the host against partial SARS-CoV-2, rotavirus, and influenza A virus infections after local and noninvasive administration. Our results suggest that LONG NBs represent a promising tool to facilitate in-depth research on the mechanism of viral infection, and serve as a broad-spectrum protectant against existing and emerging viral variants via glyco-virus checkpoint blockade.

‘Social defence’ and the resilience of the domestic war on terror: A genealogy of social security, national security, and defence

Abstract Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has moved attention within International Security back to Great Power Politics and interstate war, and away from phenomena like ‘foreign terrorist fighters’ and lone actor terrorism. Is the War on Terror paradigm receding? This paper argues that counter-radicalisation imaginaries and counter-extremism programming will all remain stubbornly present despite the shift back to interstate war. The resilience of domestic War on Terror policies will stem from their integration within local municipality activity and social policy during the second decade of the 21st century. These policy areas and levels are detached from the international security community, meaning that shifts in attention at the global level will have little effect upon localised national security practices. The paper then interrogates how counterterrorism agendas have so successfully entered the world of social policy and local public administration, using genealogical methods to trace how social security and crime prevention were historically prefaced upon defence. The paper traces the policy paradigm of ‘social defence’ which dominated mid-20th century international organisations, targeting non-criminal juveniles with pre-emptive interventions to prevent ‘dangerous persons’ imperilling society. Effectively, this untold history of crime prevention in Europe demonstrates the profound interlocking of national security, social policy and defence across the 20th century, with implications for the resilience of this triad.

Possible Potentiating Effects of Combined Administration of Alcohol, Caffeine, and Nicotine on In Vivo Dopamine Release in Addiction-Related Circuits Within the CNS of Rats

Background: Studies that assess the effects of the interaction of psychoactive substances on dopamine release, the key neurotransmitter in the neurochemical and behavioral effects related to drug consumption, are crucial to understand both their roles and the dysfunctions they produce in the central nervous system. Objective: We evaluated the effects of individual and combined administration of the three most widely consumed psychoactive substances in the world, ethanol, caffeine, and nicotine, on dopaminergic neurotransmission in three brain regions of rats related to addiction: the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), and the dorsal striatum. Methods: The dopamine levels were measured in vivo by cerebral microdialysis associated with HPLC-ED. Results: We observed that local administration of a single concentration of caffeine (5 mM) or nicotine (5 mM) significantly increased the dopamine levels in all three areas studied, while ethanol (300 mM) increased them in the NAcc and striatum. Perfusion of nicotine + caffeine produced a synergistic effect in both the NAcc and striatum, with increases in the in vivo dopamine release greater than the sum of the effects of both substances. When administering the combination of nicotine + caffeine + ethanol, we observed an additive effect in the NAcc, while in the PFC we observed a synergistic effect. Conclusions: Our results support the stimulating effects of caffeine, nicotine, and ethanol on the brain reward system. In addition, we also observed that the administration of different mixtures of these substances produces synergistic and additive effects on the release of dopamine in the mesocortical and nigrostriatal systems.

AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROVISION OF LAND USE POLICY FOR BUILDING HOUSES IN RURAL BANGLADESH

The paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of the national land use policy in Bangladesh, highlighting the gaps in implementation and the need for strategic improvements for building houses using minimum agricultural land in rural areas of Bangladesh. The main objectives of the policy evaluation research are to explore the extent of the intervention of the National Land Use Policy 2001 that has achieved the objective of minimum use of agricultural land, to determine whether the authority has made the rural people aware of building model houses, multistorey buildings, and planned residential areas in the village and finally to find out the critical factors for effective implementation of national land use policy. It has been used as a mixed evaluation research method with both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected online using a semistructured questionnaire and checklist for respondent interviews. The main results of the policy evaluation revealed that the objectives of the policy are not achieved and effectively implemented for numerous reasons as such, the implementers are reluctant to implement and make aware the villagers, responsible implementing agencies are not fully well-defined, people are unaware and do not know about the policy, lack of village development planning and design, overpopulation and segregation of families, poverty, lack of monitoring by the ministry, unorganized urbanization and industrialization, local political influence, absence of land zoning and union parishad are unwilling to enforce their laws, etc. To implement the policy effectively, a joint effort of the local government bodies, local communities, and all local administration departments would be required, and each organization’s role would be well classified, and payment or loan support would be transferred to the rural people of Bangladesh.

Nearby Real-Time Earthquake Simulation on an Urban Scale Based on Structural Monitoring

The real-time input of ground motions can effectively assess earthquake disasters in building structures. In this study, we proposed a nearby real-time simulation method that can be applied to assess regional earthquake disasters using structural monitoring recordings based on an urban earthquake simulation system. Real-time accelerations recorded during the 5.1 magnitude Tangshan earthquake were used to update and modify the computing models. El Centro waves were calibrated to 400 cm/s2 for structural seismic resilience analyses. The results indicated that approximately 70% of the structural functions were lost during the rare earthquake. Regional numerical models of 216 buildings were constructed and timeously updated using a geographic information system and measured data. The inputting ground motions recorded in the 5.1 magnitude Tangshan earthquake and typical El Centro waves were selected to analyze the structural seismic response, in which the damage indexes were computed, and the damage predictions of the regional 216 buildings were also simulated in different levels of earthquakes by being combined with the simplified principles of structural damage estimation. Finally, the evaluation results were visualized in three dimensions using ParaView software. The simulated results of earthquake disasters at an urban scale will promote the prediction abilities of local earthquake administration agencies and have considerable potential to provide essential information for emergency responses and regional disaster mitigation.

Pharmacology and Articular Cartilage Regeneration: A New Strategy for Osteoarthritis

ABSTRACT Background: Osteoarthrosis is a slowly progressive, multifactorial, and non-inflammatory degenerative disease affecting synovial joints and is typically associated with aging or previous joint damage. Method: Fifty male Sprague Dawley rats were utilized in the study and divided into five groups, with ten rats in each group. The experiment was divided into two phases: in Phase 1, ten animals received 50 μL of saline in the left tibiotarsal joint and served as the control group (SAL), while the other four groups (n = 40) received a single dose of 50 μL complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) to induce monoarthritis. In Phase II, after the induction of monoarthritis, from the fourth week onward, the rats in the four CFA-induced monoarthritis groups were treated with 20 μl of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), serotonin (SERO), or a neurotransmitter cocktail (NTC) which were given intra-articularly once for three consecutive weeks, while one group was kept as an experimental control. The animals were monitored throughout the experiment, for ankle diameter, gait, and radiological assessment, and were then euthanized and subjected to histopathological evaluation at the conclusion of the study. Results: The study found that there were statistically significant differences in the degree of inflammation between the CFA group and the groups treated with GABA, SERO, and NTC. The CFA group exhibited the most severe and persistent inflammation, whereas the NTC group showed a milder and shorter inflammatory response than the control group (SAL). In terms of gait score, the NTC treatment resulted in a significant reduction in score compared to the treatments with GABA and SERO administered separately. The radiological scores revealed that NTC was the most effective treatment in mitigating radiographic evidence of joint damage, with a significant decrease in bone destruction. The histopathological examination showed that the NTC group had minimal tissue damage or inflammation and had a regenerative effect compared to the other treatment groups. Conclusions: In conclusion, the local administration of neurotransmitters was found to be effective in reversing inflammation, improving gait score, and mitigating radiological changes in CFA-induced arthritis in the murine model.

Inhibition of Orthodontic Relapse by Local Application of Simvastatin-Loaded Gelatin Hydrogel in a Rabbit Model.

This study aims to determine the effect of gelatin-simvastatin hydrogel application on bone remodelling during relapse. Twenty-four rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were divided into a control group (n = 12) and a treatment group (n = 12). The lower incisors were subjected to orthodontic force and moved distally by an open coil spring. The force (50 cN) was extended for 1 week and retained in a new position for 2 weeks (stabilisation period). The treatment group received a local gelatin-simvastatin hydrogel administration during stabilisation, and the control group received only gelatin hydrogel. The springs were debonded after the stabilisation phase from both groups to facilitate a relapse. The percentage of relapse was measured in a model study using digital callipers. Levels of OPG and RANKL were analysed using ELISA. The local application of gelatin-simvastatin hydrogel in the treatment group significantly decreases the relapse percentage and RANKL level. Additionally, the gelatin-simvastatin hydrogel significantly increases the level of OPG and ratio of OPG/RANKL. Applying gelatin-simvastatin hydrogel in the retention period can induce bone formation, inhibit orthodontic relapse and increase tooth stability (in vivo).

CD1530, selective RARγ agonist, facilitates Achilles tendon healing by modulating the healing environment including less chondrification in a mouse model.

Heterotopic ossification (HO) in Achilles tendon often arises due to endochondral ossification during the healing process following trauma. Retinoic acid receptor γ (RARγ) plays a critical role in this phenomenon. This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic effects of CD1530, an RARγ selective agonist, along with the contributing cells, in Achilles tendon healing, utilizing a cell lineage tracing system. Local injection of CD1530 facilitated histological tendon healing by inhibiting chondrification in a mouse Achilles rupture model. Resident Scleraxis (Scx)+ cells in Achilles tendon were not found to be actively involved in HO or tendon healing following injury. Instead, these processes were primarily driven by tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPC)-like cells. Furthermore, an in vitro assay revealed that CD1530 attenuated inflammation in injured Achilles tendon-derived tendon fibroblasts (iATF) and inhibited the chondrogenesis of iATF. This dual effect suggests the potential of CD1530 in effectively modulating the healing environment during tendon healing. Together, the present study demonstrated that the local administration of CD1530 accelerated tendon healing by modulating the healing environment, including reducing chondrification via targeting TSPC-like cells in a mouse Achilles tendon rupture model. These results suggest that CD1530 may have the potential to be a novel tendon therapy that offers benefits via the inhibition of chondrogenesis.

A Mucous Permeable Local Delivery Strategy Based on Manganese-Enhanced Bacterial Cuproptosis-like Death for Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment.

Bacterial pneumonia is one of the most challenging global infectious diseases with high morbidity and mortality. Considering the antibiotic abuse and resistance of bacterial biofilms, a variety of metal-based materials have been developed. However, due to the high oxygen environment of the lungs, some aerobic infection bacteria have high tolerance to oxygen and ROS, and most of the metal-based materials based on ROS may not achieve good therapeutic effects. Inspired by the sensitivity of cuproptosis to aerobic respiratory cells, we designed a copper composite antibacterial nanoparticle and found that it can effectively induce cuproptosis-like death in the aerobic bacteria of the lungs. To address the challenge of in vivo application of cuproptosis, manganese dioxide was first incorporated to deplete protective glutathione, which can interact with copper and thus hinder the interaction of copper with proteins and assist in antibacterial action through immune enhancement. Cuproptosis-like death also requires a large number of copper ions. To meet this demand, we deliver positively hydrophilic modified composite nanoparticles that effectively penetrate the lung mucus layer directly to the lungs through local administration, and the copper ions are further released rapidly by the acidic environment at the infected site, which can further destroy bacterial biofilms in synergy with manganese. This drug-delivery system can effectively treat pneumonia caused by aerobic bacteria and avoid systemic toxicity that can be caused by large doses of copper.

Effectiveness of phentolamine mesylate, vibration and photobiomodulation in reducing pain and the reversal of local anesthesia: A systematic review.

Dental anesthesia administration often triggers unpleasant sensations, particularly needle injection-related pain, which can evoke fear among patients, especially in the pediatric population. Vibration and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) have been extensively studied as potential methods for alleviating pain. Additionally, phentolamine mesylate (PM) has shown promise in reducing the duration of anesthesia. From a clinical perspective, inadequate control over the persistence of the anesthetic effect may lead to complications associated with its prolonged duration, such as self-injuries or functional impairments. This review aimed to systematically summarize and compare methods of alleviating pain during local anesthesia and reducing its duration. In November 2023, an electronic search was systematically conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases using keywords (pain) AND (anesthesia) AND ((phentolamine) or (vibration) or (LLLT) OR (PBM)). The initial pool consisted of 495 records, from which 241 duplicates were eliminated. After careful examination of the remaining articles, 40 were included. The study adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. Most studies reported beneficial effects of LLLT and vibration; however, some did not corroborate these findings. Four studies had inconclusive results. Regarding anesthesia duration involving PM and LLLT, the majority of studies exhibited notable reductions, although no significant differences were revealed in 1 study. Vibration and LLLT appear to be advantageous methods in alleviating pain associated with local anesthesia administration. Phentolamine mesylate and LLLT are efficient in reversing local anesthesia.

Allergic clinical symptoms and distribution of stimulation index of drug lymphocyte stimulation test for local anesthetics.

The Drug Lymphocyte Stimulation Test (DLST), recognized for its safety as an allergy diagnostic modality, has been acknowledged for its utility in diagnosing drug-induced pathological conditions. However, reports elucidating DLST outcomes concerning local anesthetics are notably scarce. An exhaustive analysis was conducted on the DLST results pertaining to local anesthetics derived from 571 patients presenting with suspected allergies to these specific agents. Remarkably, Stimulation Index (SI) > 1.8 was discerned in 11.4% and 7.8% of patients exhibiting hives or swelling subsequent to the administration of local anesthetics, surpassing the incidence observed in those experiencing post-injection discomfort. Additionally, SI > 3.0 was observed in 3 cases with lidocaine, 3 cases with prilocaine, and 1 case with mepivacaine. The distribution of SI exhibited a non-normal pattern for all three tested local anesthetics. Noteworthy is the case of a singular patient registering an SI of 1.84, who also yielded a positive challenge test, conclusively confirming an allergy to lidocaine. The DLST, holding promise as a potentially invaluable tool in identifying the causative factors behind adverse reactions to dental local anesthetics, lacks sufficient evidence to substantiate its efficacy definitively at present. DLST, coupled with intradermal testing and challenge testing, may be elucidated in patients exhibiting indicators of suspected local anesthetic allergy.

Angiopoietin 1 Attenuates Dysregulated Angiogenesis in the Gastrocnemius of DMD Mice.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a degenerative neuromuscular disease caused by a lack of functional dystrophin. Ang 1 paracrine signalling maintains the endothelial barrier of blood vessels, preventing plasma leakage. Chronic inflammation, a consequence of DMD, causes endothelial barrier dysfunction in skeletal muscle. We aim to elucidate changes in the DMD mouse's gastrocnemius microvascular niche following local administration of Ang 1. Gastrocnemii were collected from eight-week-old mdx/utrn+/- and healthy mice. Additional DMD cohort received an intramuscular injection of Ang 1 to gastrocnemius and contralateral control. Gastrocnemii were collected for analysis after two weeks. Using immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative reverse transcription, we demonstrated an abundance of endothelial cells in DMD mouse's gastrocnemius, but morphology and gene expression were altered. Myofiber perimeters were shorter in DMD mice. Following Ang 1 treatment, fewer endothelial cells were present, and microvessels were more circular. Vegfr1, Vegfr2, and Vegfa expression in Ang 1-treated gastronemii increased, while myofiber size distribution was consistent with vehicle-only gastrocnemii. These results suggest robust angiogenesis in DMD mice, but essential genes were underexpressed-furthermore, exogenous Ang 1 attenuated angiogenesis. Consequentially, gene expression increased. The impact must be investigated further, as Ang 1 therapy may be pivotal in restoring the skeletal muscle microvascular niche.

The SQ tree sublingual immunotherapy tablet is effective and well tolerated in children-A pivotal phase III trial.

Allergic rhinitis and/or conjunctivitis (AR/C) induced by tree pollen is common and negatively impacts quality of life in children and adolescents. This phase III trial investigated the efficacy and safety of the SQ tree SLIT-tablet in a paediatric population (5-17 years) with moderate-to-severe AR/C induced by pollen from birch and trees in the birch homologous group. Nine hundred and fifty-two subjects were randomized (1:1) to daily treatment with SQ tree SLIT-tablet or placebo for up to 52 weeks and had free access to AR/C symptom-relieving medications. The primary endpoint was the average total combined score (TCS); sum of average daily symptom score (DSS) and average daily medication score (DMS) during the birch pollen season (BPS). Key secondary endpoints included average DSS and DMS during BPS and average TCS, DSS and DMS during tree pollen season (TPS). SQ tree SLIT-tablet demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically relevant treatment effect compared with placebo for the TCS during BPS with an absolute treatment difference of 1.29 (95% CI: 0.58, 2.00; p = .0004) and a relative reduction of 21.9% (95% CI: 10.6, 31.9). Results were substantiated by reductions in both DSS and DMS versus placebo during the BPS and in DSS, DMS and TCS during the TPS. Treatment was generally well tolerated. Most treatment-related adverse events were mild or moderate local administration site reactions. This is the first paediatric trial to provide robust evidence of efficacy and safety of the SQ tree SLIT-tablet in tree pollen-induced AR/C in a paediatric population (5-17 years).

Controlled Stimulus-Responsive Delivery Systems for Osteoarthritis Treatment.

Osteoarthritis (OA), a common and disabling degenerative joint disease, affects millions of people worldwide and imposes a considerable burden on patients and society due to its high prevalence and economic costs. The pathogenesis of OA is closely related to the progressive degradation of articular cartilage and the accompany inflammation; however, articular cartilage itself cannot heal and modulate the inflammation due to the lack of nerves, blood vessels, and lymph-vessels. Therefore, reliable and effective methods to treat OA remain highly desired. Local administration of drugs or bioactive materials by intra-articular injection of the delivery system represents a promising approach to treat OA, especially considering the prolonged joint retention, cartilage or chondrocytes targeting, and stimuli-responsive release to achieve precision OA therapy. This article summarizes and discusses the advances in the currently used delivery systems (nanoparticle, hydrogel, liposome, and microsphere) and then focuses on their applications in OA treatment from the perspective of endogenous stimulus (redox reactions, pH, enzymes, and temperature) and exogenous stimulus (near-infrared, magnetic, and ultrasound)-responsive release. Finally, the challenges and potential future directions for the development of nano-delivery systems are summarized.

New ways of collecting urban freight traffic data and applications for urban freight policies and research

The current quality of data on urban logistics traffic patterns is poor. Data are scarce, heterogeneous, often old and expensive to collect. This research looks at new ways to collect urban freight data and make that data available to both policy-makers and academia. Three case studies are examined: Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Brussels, Belgium; and Barcelona, Spain. They help identify new sources of data from traffic and parking policies: automated number plate recognition cameras, an on-street delivery smartphone app, and a truck pricing scheme. Both the context in which new data sources of interest to urban logistics are produced, and the level of appropriation of these data by local stakeholders and the research community are examined. We then construct an analysis grid to evaluate the diversity of systems (technical and socio-technical) producing data relevant to urban logistics. This analysis framework can be used to facilitate comparisons between data sources and thus help future case studies. In the three cases, we found that local governments use the data more than researchers do. The issue of data dissemination raises questions about costs (who is to bear the cost of storing, maintaining and extracting data sets?) as well as regulatory questions. We conclude that local administrations should be encouraged to work towards harmonizing data collection methods and data sharing conditions in order to improve the quality and comparability of the data. Cities in countries with little access to new sources of data, such as France for regulatory reasons, should try to find ways to create data source opportunities. In all countries, urban freight research communities should be encouraged to use the now increasingly available data.

Research on the protection of intangible cultural heritage and sustainable development of city brands—Taking Jingdezhen as an example

This research aims to examine the intricate connection between the preservation of intangible cultural assets and the promotion of city brands, using Jingdezhen, known as the “Porcelain Capital” of China, as a case study. Through an exploratory investigation, the study highlighted two distinct yet significant issues: the recognition of Jingdezhen’s intangible cultural assets, encompassing folklore, rituals, traditional ceramic skills, and artwork, and the economic effects resulting from cultural tourism. The research delineates the obstacles encountered by Jingdezhen in relation to urbanization, industrialization, and globalization subsequent to its establishment as the principal production hub for Chinese blue and white porcelain. Additionally, it highlights the decline of traditional ceramic skills and expertise, as community members who relied on handicrafts for their livelihoods were affected by the closure of companies. Subsequently, it elucidates the potential prospects arising from cultural tourism and the consequential economic influence of this progress on the local economy and the community’s quality of life. The report delineates community engagement initiatives and collaborative partnerships with local enterprises, colleges, government agencies, and Jingdezhen communities to use the city’s abundant cultural legacy. This research provides a comprehensive overview and assessment of the most effective methods, as identified by international studies, for incorporating the safeguarding of intangible cultural assets into sustainable urban development. Concisely, the paper offers guidance to stakeholders, the local administration, and its legislators. The statement emphasizes the necessity of implementing a comprehensive policy framework in Jingdezhen to safeguard its intangible cultural heritage and promote urban development. The objective is to achieve sustainable growth by leveraging the city’s cultural assets. The results serve as a benchmark for other cities and towns to use their cultural legacy in order to establish a sustainable city brand. Additionally, they make a valuable addition to the worldwide discourse on striking a balance between cultural preservation and economic development.