Textured Materials Research Articles

Determination of Diffraction Elastic Constants Using the Maximum Entropy Method

X-ray diffraction methods are an established technique to analyze residual stresses in polycrystalline materials. Using diffraction, lattice plane distances are measured, from which residual stresses can be calculated by using diffraction elastic constants which can be inferred from experimental measurements or calculated based on micromechanical model assumptions. We consider two different generalizations of existing micromechanical models for the case of texture-free, i.e. statistically isotropic, single-phase polycrystals. The first is based on the singular approximation method of classical micromechanics, from which existing Voigt, Reuss, Hashin-Shtrikman and self-consistent methods are recovered. The second approach, which is newly proposed in this work, is based on the micromechanical Maximum Entropy Method. Both approaches are applied to the problem of calculating diffraction elastic constants of texture-free cubic polycrystals and are found to be consistent with each other in that case. Full-field FFT simulations are used to validate the analytical models by simulating X-ray diffraction measurements of copper. In the simulative setting, many sources of experimental measurement error are not present, which results in a particularly accurate validation of theoretical bounds and approximations. The first core result of the paper is a formulation of diffraction elastic constants for texture-free polycrystals in terms of the macroscopically measurable effective shear modulus. These diffraction elastic constants can be adapted to the properties of a given material sample. The second core result is the validation of the Maximum Entropy Method for X-ray diffraction stress analysis of texture-free single-phase materials as a preliminary step before extending the method to textured and multi-phase materials.

Robustness of radiomics within photon-counting detector CT: impact of acquisition and reconstruction factors.

To assess the impact of acquisition and reconstruction factors on the robustness of radiomics within photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT). A phantom with twenty-eight texture materials was scanned with different acquisition and reconstruction factors including reposition, scan mode (standard vs high-pitch), tube voltage (120 kVp vs 140 kVp), slice thickness (1.0 mm vs 0.4 mm), radiation dose level (0.5 mGy, 1.0 mGy, 3.0 mGy, 5.0 mGy, vs 10.0 mGy), quantum iterative reconstruction level (0/4, 2/4, vs 4/4), and reconstruction kernel (Qr40, Qr44, vs Qr48). Thirteen sets of virtual monochromatic images at 70-keV were reconstructed. The regions of interest were drawn with rigid registrations. Ninety-three radiomics features were extracted from each material. The reproducibility of radiomics features was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). The variability of radiomics features was assessed by coefficient of variation (CV) and quartile coefficient of dispersion (QCD). The percentage of features with ICC > 0.90 and CCC > 0.90 were high when repositioned (88.2% and 88.2%) and tube voltage was changed (87.1% and 87.1%), but none of the features with ICC > 0.90 and CCC > 0.90 when high-pitch scan and different slice thickness were used. The percentage of features with CV < 10% and QCD < 10% were high when repositioned (47.3% and 68.8%) and tube voltage was changed (64.2% and 71.0%), but that with CV < 10% and QCD < 10% were low between standard and high-pitch scans (16.1% and 26.9%) and slice thickness (19.4% and 29.0%). The PCD-CT radiomics was robust to tube voltage, radiation dose, reconstruction strength level, and kernel, but brittle to high-pitch scan and slice thickness. Question The stability of radiomics features against acquisition and reconstruction factors within PCD-CT should be fully determined before academic research and clinical application. Findings The radiomics features are robust against tube voltage, radiation dose, reconstruction strength level, and kernel within PCD-CT but brittle to high-pitch scan and slice thickness. Clinical relevance The high-pitch scan and slice thickness that influence voxel size should be set with careful attention within PCD-CT, to allow a higher robustness of radiomics features before the implementation of radiomics analysis in clinical routine.

Mn-based tunnel-structured Na0.44MnO2 cathode materials for high-performance sodium-ion batteries: electrochemical mechanism, synthesis and modifications.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have emerged as promising and mature alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in the post-LIB era, necessitating the development of cost-effective and high-performance cathode materials. The unique crystal texture of Mn-based tunnel-structured cathode materials offers outstanding cycling stability, rate capability and air stability, making them a highly attractive option for sodium-ion storage applications. This comprehensive review summarizes recent advancements in the understanding of sodium-ion storage mechanism, synthesis techniques, and modification strategies for Mn-based tunnel-structured cathode materials, thereby significantly contributing to the advancement of high-performance cathodes for SIBs.

Laser surface texturing of materials for surface functionalization: A holistic review

Laser surface texturing of materials for surface functionalization: A holistic review

A Study on the Design of Gel Nail Art Using the Visual Texture of Architectural Exterior and Playability in the New Deconstructivism

Although the nail beauty industry is showing a wide range of growth by applying various materials and colors, it reached the limit of design, dismantled elements limited to various shapes and textures in the small space of the nail, and sublimated them into artistic trends to express new aesthetic values by adding individual tastes and autonomy. Therefore, a total of eight gel nail art pieces were produced and presented by fusing the playfulness characteristics of neoclassicism and eight visual textures of architectural exterior materials through literature review. The design applying bricks was expressed as an active attitude amid anxiety caused by rapid social changes by destroying another rule and order with a repeated structure. The design applying stone expresses the shape of the design in a design that achieves a harmony of symmetry and asymmetry by using dots, lines, and planes, and the surface is expressed as a design that realizes a rough texture. The design applying metal materials was expressed in a soft balance and a stable design by making metal materials, which are iron materials, curved. The design applying paint was expressed as a design that induces interest by creating a complementary relationship by adding a bumpy surface to the flat design. The design applying tiles expressed a satirical image in simplicity with a repeated structure while maintaining balance by connecting horizontally and vertically to planes and curves. The design applying exposed concrete expresses the dismantling of rules in simplicity and expressing ideas and thoughts through an autonomous design. The design applying wood was expressed as a design that induces humor by reconstructing and combining toothpicks that are common in everyday life. The glass-applied design is expressed as a design that stimulates interest by amplifying the curiosity inside the translucent by connecting the vertices of the square surface of the film and attaching them three-dimensionally on the nail. Therefore, this study presented a design that can advance with the present era with infinite possibilities of nail art design by providing a category of innovative ideas rather than creating them as motifs by approaching neo-deconstructionist playfulness characteristics and architectural exterior materials. It is expected that various gel nail art designs will be developed with creative artistic trends by predicting the trend of gel nail art design in the future and presenting it as basic data for subsequent studies related to acid dismantlementism and architectural exterior materials.

Effect of herbal toothpaste on the colour stability, surface roughness, and microhardness of aesthetic restorative materials—an in vitro study

Abstract Objective To evaluate the in vitro effects of two commonly used commercial herbal toothpastes (Dabur Meswak and Patanjali Dant Kanti) on the colour stability, surface texture, and microhardness of two commonly used aesthetic restorative materials, i.e., nanofilled composite and resin-modified glass ionomer cement (NFC and RMGIC). Materials and methods The samples were brushed twice daily using two herbal toothpastes, Dabur Meswak (Dabur India Ltd) and Patanjali Dant Kanti (Patanjali Ayurved Ltd, India) and powered toothbrush. Atomic force microscopy, spectroscopy, and digital micro hardness testing were used to estimate the changes in the surface roughness, colour change, and hardness of the samples, respectively, at baseline and after six months. Results Regarding colour change, a statistically significant difference (P &lt; 0.05) was observed between baseline and six months in both the RMGIC and NFC for both herbal toothpastes. Both RMGIC and NFC had higher Ra values when brushed with either toothpaste, indicating a rough surface. The greatest increase in the mean difference in microhardness was observed for the Patanjali Dant Kanti toothpaste samples brushed on both NFC and RMGIC. Conclusion In our work, herbal toothpaste increased surface roughness and microhardness and caused colour changes in the two most commonly used aesthetic restorative materials. Clinical relevance Herbal toothpastes affect the surface texture of aesthetic dental restorative materials. Dental professionals may need to educate their patients to be cautious regarding the prolonged use of herbal toothpaste.

Lunar dust dermatologic considerations for NASA's artemis program and the gateway space station: a narrative review.

The Artemis program and lunar gateway present an opportunity to advance NASA's presence away from Earth's orbit and back to the Moon. Astronauts will be faced with many dermatological challenges unique to the lunar environment, such as the surface material on the Moon. We used PubMed and Google Scholar to perform a literature review with articles related to the effects of lunar dust on skin collated and analyzed to assess the dermatological implications of these missions. The effects of lunar dust on wound generation and healing were reviewed, while also analyzing passive and active measures used to minimize astronaut exposure to lunar dust. A myriad of methods involving advances in medicine and engineering (e.g. bioinspired texturing of materials, staged decontamination, emollients) will need to be employed to best protect astronauts from the effects of lunar surface materials and other insults to best protect the Artemis astronauts. These advances will help with future NASA missions to Mars and beyond as other terrestrial space bodies will likely present astronauts with similar dermatological insults from surface materials and regolith. Dermatologists can serve a role in helping researchers develop techniques to protect skin health and understand the pathophysiology involved with lunar dust exposure.

Electrical properties as a tool for oil and gas exploration: A case study of Wadi Saal, east Central Sinai, Egypt

Abstract Some rock samples (39) have been obtained from Wadi Saal, East Central Sinai, Egypt, for studying electrical, petrographical, and petrophysical parameters. The petrographal analysis shows two major facies. Carbonate (limestone) facies with low porosity (11%) and permeability (69 mD), and sandstone facies with high porosity (28%) and permeability (5901 mD) indicate good reservoir characteristics. Porosity values are related to the bulk density, whereas permeability is controlled by rock porosity and irreducible water saturation. Alternating current (AC) electrical properties were measured with frequency (42 Hz–5 MHz) for samples. Electrical characteristic differences are affected with texture changes, mineralogy, porosity, tortuosity, pore-water salinity, mineral concentrations, permeability, and fluid content. Conductivity and impedance decrease whenever an insulator is existed. The dielectric constant increases with conductor composition (below the percolation) and falls with frequency beyond it. The conductivity expands with the number of conductor pathways connecting the electrodes. The primary objective of this work is to use laboratory AC electrical measurements to shed some light on the relationship between the texture, petrography, petrophysics, and geochemical composition of materials (sandstone and limestone). The goal is to study electrical properties of these mixtures at varying clay concentrations and saturation levels. These analyses could enhance oil and gas recovery by shedding light on reservoir rock electrical characteristics.

Modification of Superhydrophilic Surfaces with Antibacterial Properties to Enhance Their Resistance to Fiber Contamination during Sanitary Treatment

Superhydrophilic copper surfaces with hierarchical textures have demonstrated high effectiveness in combating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). However, a key drawback of these surfaces is their susceptibility to mechanical contamination by fibrous materials during sanitary treatment. This study proposes a method for laser modification of superhydrophilic copper surfaces to enhance resistance to fiber contamination during sanitary processing. The modified surfaces retain superhydrophilicity and exhibit superhydrophobic properties upon the application of a hydrophobic agent. Additionally, the proposed modification method improves the resistance of the hierarchical texture to abrasive wear while maintaining high bactericidal properties. The results suggest that these modified textured copper materials can be utilized as bactericidal touch surfaces to combat HAIs in medical facilities.

Exploring the use of generative AI for material texturing in 3D interior design spaces

Exploring the use of generative AI for material texturing in 3D interior design spaces

SOC: clay ratio: A mechanistically-sound, universal soil health indicator across ecological zones and land use categories?

The European Union has recently launched a proposal for a soil monitoring and resilience directive (“soil monitoring law”, SML), defining the SOC: clay ratio as descriptor of the soil organic carbon (SOC) status, with a ratio of 1/13 separating “healthy” from “unhealthy” soils. Using data of the Lower Austrian soil database, this article explores the mechanistic foundation and applicability of the SOC: clay ratio in the ecologically diverse study region. We observe considerable variation of the SOC: clay ratio among agroecological regions because clay content and SOC are driven by different ecological variables, with clay content related to the texture of parent materials. After stratification by land use (cropland versus grassland), we built multiple regression models starting with an initial set of predictor variables including mean annual precipitation (MAP) and temperature (MAT), clay content, CaCO3 equivalent, amorphous oxyhydroxides of Al (Alo) and Fe (Feo), and pH to identify the main drivers of SOC and their relative importance. The final models explain between 23 and 77 % of the overall SOC variation, and reveal that SOC is primarily controlled by Alo and the CaCO3 equivalent across the entire study region and within most agroecological and soil units, with smaller contributions of clay content and MAP. The set of relevant SOC drivers and their relative importance vary with spatial scale (entire study region versus agroecological and soil units), the aridity index (defined as MAT: MAP) and the state of soil development, as reflected by soil pH. With some notable exceptions, Alo is most important in more humid regions and acidic soils, whereas the relevance of CaCO3 equivalent and clay content increases with pH and aridity.The limited importance of clay content indicates that the SOC: clay ratio is a poor descriptor of soil health in the study region. Moreover, we could not confirm a meaningful functional relation between the SOC: clay ratio and the quality of soil structure derived from visual assessment. These findings challenge the universal use of the SOC: clay ratio as descriptor of soil health, and its threshold of 1/13 to distinguish the soil health status across different ecological zones. If SOC is not primarily driven by clay content, also the use of correction factors to the SOC: clay threshold as suggested by the SML is not appropriate.To derive meaningful regional benchmarks of SOC, we suggest to employ multiple regression analysis with the main SOC drivers as input variables. The regression equation can be used to predict the SOC levels expected for the average management regime of the region at any given values of the relevant main soil and climate drivers. This approach can be further refined by scaling down to the soil unit level, and by developing relations for different, clearly defined categories of soil management, and their calibration to soil functional properties (e.g., air capacity, structure quality scores) in order to link the benchmarks to soil management, soil health and related ecosystem services.

Visual Art for People with Blind Disabilities: Return to Syncretism

The study is devoted to inclusion in art and design. Its aim is to identify certain forms and means that can significantly bring the experience of communicating with visual art to people with blind disabilities, as well as to find out the opportunities of creating unique inclusively oriented art. Research methods: general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, comparative, formal and phenomenological methods. Scientific novelty. As a result of comparative analysis of existing inclusive projects, as well as those forms of modern art that have actualised the experience of tactile perception at the time, approaches are identified that can correct the perception of art objects for people with visual impairments and use these tools to create a unique artistic product. Conclusions. The research identified three approaches to creating inclusive art projects for people with blind disabilities. The first one is a kind of “translation” of architectural forms into a language that is comprehensible for tactile reading of the model. The component of this language is size, which should be optimal for both touch perception and comprehension of the art work as a whole; therefore, the scale and preserved proportions of the elements, the texture of materials and forms, details that give uniqueness to a certain art work, are important. The second approach is a creation of adapted art objects that have a regulated relief texture applied using digital technologies. With the appropriate instruction or guidance, certain objects, line patterns and even colours can be identified. The alternation of textures of different densities and smooth surfaces allows to convey a message about colours, however, only a limited palette. In both cases, information is duplicated in Braille and equipped with a QR code with audio information. Nonetheless, both approaches are exactly adaptive products, which are certainly very valuable in terms of creating an understanding of visual art. Instead, the importance of another approach is highlighted. It is called a syncretic one in this research. To a greater extent, it corresponds to the essence of artistic experience, the deficiency of which, according to our belief, is also experienced by people with blind disabilities. Such an art work or trend claims to be not a model or a “translation” of some definite art object into the language of tactile sensations, but a unique work of art and design, universal for any person and, at the same time, marking the work with the presence of people with disabilities and being available for their perception.

Design of China's Modern Parks in Post-industrial Territories: Project Approaches in the Processing of Industrial Heritage

The transformation of industrial heritage is an essential issue in the urban development process in China. Currently, most of China’s industrial heritage has undergone numerous changes. Such territories, where industrial buildings are stored, have undergone adaptive changes for recreational use. Therefore, the purpose of the research was to establish project approaches to the processing of industrial heritage and the formation of modern Chinese parks in post-industrial territories. Research methods. Achieving the goal of this work involves studying the object and identifying various types of connections that exist in it, which determines the use of a systemic approach. In the process of conducting the research, both the comparative-historical method and the morphological and compositional methods were used. Their inclusion in the research procedure made it possible to consider the park environment as a complex compositional structure characterised by the interrelationship between functional and morphological solutions and the artistic characteristics of park environment design. Scientific novelty. For the first time, the work systematises material on the usage of industrial heritage objects in the design of modern parks created on post-industrial territories. Project approaches to its development have been established. Conclusions. The contem porary approach in the processes of renewal of industrial heritage is characterised by the transition from only adaptive reuse to the creation of urban cultural landscapes. This is due to combining the original industrial texture with the new design, which forms a landscape with unique characteristics. Scale is the most characteristic feature of industrial heritage. This scale marks industrial buildings and individual equipment that characterises a particular territory. The following project approaches have been established in the processing of buildings: exposing the frameworks of industrial buildings while preserving their authentic appearance, when the brutal textures of building materials of industrial buildings act as carriers of memory; another approach – frame structures in the environment of the park landscape are solved as expressive accents thanks to bright painting, lighting, wrapping with a glass shell. Also, an expressive object of industrial heritage is the equipment that ensured the production process in each production. Depending on the type of this equipment, several approaches are distinguished in its processing: large-sized objects retain their original appearance, are brightly painted, and play the role of visual anchors in the park environment, marking the identity of the area; as for small individual elements of production equipment, they become art objects, organising specific areas of the park.

Annealing textures of low stacking fault energy (SFE) FCC materials: Traversing binary to high entropy alloys (HEAs)

Although the origin of brass-type deformation texture in low SFE alloys has been extensively investigated, the annealing textures of such materials have received less attention, mostly limited to brass and different austenitic steels. On the other hand, the annealing textures of low SFE HEAs have been investigated more intensively recently; however, a comprehensive insight into annealing texture formation from HEAs down to binary systems is missing. To bridge the gap, the annealing texture of FCC single-phase Cu-11.6 at%Al alloy with SFE ∼10 mJm−2 comparable to HEAs was first investigated as a model binary system and compared with selected low SFE binary, medium entropy (MEAs), and HEAs to understand the similarities and characteristic differences. The cold-rolled alloy showed massive nanostructure and a typical brass-type texture featured by a strong B ({110}<112>) component expected for a low SFE alloy. Annealing resulted in ultrafine recrystallized microstructure but extensive grain growth at higher temperatures, like other binary alloys but unlike HEAs. The annealing texture showed the retention of deformation components, weak α-fiber (ND//<110>) components and a high random fraction. These features were very similar to HEAs/MEAs and attributed to the absence of oriented nucleation (ON) or oriented growth (OG) mechanisms. However, striking differences such as strong BR ({236}<385>) and D ({113}<332>) components in the brass alloy, selective growth of the G ({110}<001>) and G/B ({110}<115>) in binary Ni-60wt%Co alloy, and strong retention of the {110}<112> component in the annealing texture of (FCC+B2) dual-phase AlCrFe2Ni2 HEA were remarkable. These outcomes indicated underlying microstructural effects on annealing texture formation in low SFE binary to HEAs/MEAs and should motivate further research.

Stress quantification in textured materials considering anisotropic crystal orientation via X-ray diffraction

Developing a theoretical model, we quantify stress contributions in textured polycrystals by accounting for anisotropic crystal orientations. This approach offers enhanced accuracy in stress evaluation, bridging gaps in conventional methods and advancing our understanding of texture-induced anisotropy's impact on material performance.

Textured ferroelectric ceramics based 1–3 piezoelectric composite for photoacoustic imaging

The quality of ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging primarily depends on the performance of piezoelectric transducer elements, which is closely related to the acoustic and electrical properties of piezoelectric materials. With the increasing demand for high-performance, low-cost piezoelectric materials, a high-temperature-resistant <001>-textured ferroelectric ceramic Pb(In1/2Nb1/2)O3-Pb(Sc1/2Nb1/2)O3-PbTiO3 (PIN-PSN-PT) has been developed. In recent years, low-cost textured ceramic materials have exhibited high piezoelectric constants (d33) and large electromechanical coupling coefficients (kt). In this study, an ultrasonic transducer based on PIN-PSN-PT textured ceramic was successfully manufactured for the first time. The transducer has a center frequency of 4.7 MHz, −6 dB bandwidth of 60 %, effective kt of 0.76, and two-way insertion loss (IL) of −34 dB. Photoacoustic imaging experiments on carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) were conducted to evaluate the sensitivity and imaging quality of the transducer. The results indicate that the use of PIN-PSN-PT textured ceramics holds great potential in developing acoustic sensors for photoacoustic non-destructive testing applications.

Exploiting Friedel pairs to interpret scanning 3DXRD data from complex geological materials.

The present study introduces a processing strategy for synchrotron scanning 3D X-ray diffraction (s3DXRD) data, aimed at addressing the challenges posed by large, highly deformed, polyphase materials such as crystalline rocks. Leveraging symmetric Bragg reflections known as Friedel pairs, our method enables diffraction events to be precisely located within the sample volume. This method allows for fitting the phase, crystal structure and unit-cell parameters at the intra-grain scale on a voxel grid. The processing workflow incorporates several new modules, designed to (i) efficiently match Friedel pairs in large s3DXRD datasets containing up to 108 diffraction peaks; (ii) assign phases to each pixel or voxel, resolving potential ambiguities arising from overlap in scattering angles between different crystallographic phases; and (iii) fit the crystal orientation and unit cell locally on a point-by-point basis. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique on fractured granite samples, highlighting the ability of the method to characterize complex geological materials and show their internal structure and mineral composition. Additionally, we include the characterization of a metal gasket made of a commercial aluminium alloy, which surrounded the granite sample during experiments. The results show the effectiveness of the technique in recovering information about the internal texture and residual strain of materials that have undergone high levels of plastic deformation.

Research on the Characteristics of High-Performance Textured Ceramic Materials and Their Application in Composite Rod Transducers

Recently, textured piezoelectric ceramics have become a hot topic in the field of piezoelectric materials. Due to their high cost-effectiveness, textured ceramics are expected to be the material of choice for the next generation of acoustic transducers. In this study, we investigated the coercive field (Ec), piezoelectric constant (d33), and dielectric constant (ε33) of textured PIN-PSN-PT ceramics under different torques, in response to the demand for the development of composite rod transducer technology for transmitting and receiving. Based on the obtained data, a wideband composite rod transducer was designed and fabricated using textured PIN-PSN-PT ceramics with high performance. Compared with conventional PZT piezoelectric ceramic transducers of the same size, the wideband composite rod transducer made with textured ceramics extends the frequency band to a lower frequency of 6.5 kHz, improves the emission performance by 2 dB, and enhances the reception performance by 2 dB. Compared with conventional PZT piezoelectric ceramics in the same frequency band, the acoustic performance is comparable, but there is a volume reduction of 59.23% and a weight reduction of 49.7%, solving the technical bottleneck of developing composite rod transducers that are miniaturized and lightweight. The research results of this study have important reference value for the engineering application of textured ceramic materials in acoustic transducers.

Bioinspired skin-like in vitro model for investigating catheter-related bloodstream infections

Intravenous (IV) catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) cause significant risks in healthcare, necessitating advancements in catheter design and materials. This study investigates the effectiveness of Ecoflex, a silicone-based material, in studying CRBSIs through the development of skin-like replicas that mimic human skin properties for use in wearable sensing devices. We characterized the replica’s bioinspired surface roughness, wettability, bacterial adhesion, and mechanical properties and validated its performance using in vitro IV simulation. The results demonstrated that the bioinspired model replicates human skin textures with less than 7.5% error for surface roughness ranging from 0.05 μm to 6.3 μm. Wettability tests revealed that the artificial sebum application significantly reduced the static contact angles for deionized water and artificial sweat. Comprehensive mechanical testing revealed material high elasticity and resilience, suitable for dynamic biomedical applications. Bacterial adhesion studies using Staphylococcus epidermidis showed varying adhesion patterns influenced by surface roughness, highlighting the potential for material texture to impact infection risk. In IV therapy simulations, we observed bacterial growth dynamics over the incubation period. Our findings suggest that Ecoflex-based skin-like replicas can serve as a valuable tool for developing and testing new catheters, while the potential for use in other medical innovation devices, including wearable sensing devices, ultimately contributes to improved patient outcomes and infection control strategies.

Reflections from a “Third Space”: “Politics is What Happens Between Bodies”

Priscyll Avoine suggests that, “[p]olitics is what happens between bodies” (2022, 7). With this in mind, this paper reflects on what happens when women of faith from the Israel-Palestine region, situated within the ongoing political conflict, encounter one another in a “third space” through their involvement in peacebuilding. I examine the affective impact of the material textures of these encounters, which range from organized institutional events to intimate interpersonal conversations. I argue that the (contested) processes of curation, facilitation and transformation within this space of bodily encounter be specifically attentive to “hierarchical markers” which, left un-named or un-explored, emerge as performative frictions between participants. The texture (scratchiness, softness) of the relationships (generated, enabled, hampered, disabled) within this “third space” exposes the complications of the “situated” body – from a site of (relentless) conflict to a site of (relative) peace, from a state of separation to a state of encounter, from a weariness of permanence to a transient moment in time. Each of these shifts in meanings of embodiment impact explicitly and implicitly on the material presence in a space where the borders of bodily otherness are disrupted, and potentially transform these bodies, the relationships between them, and the spaces they inhabit.