Land policy instrument selection in China's urban redevelopment: a governance structure perspective

This study explores the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and geospatial tools to design 15-min cities, focusing on proximity, public space quality, environmental resilience, and inclusion. Using the post-industrial Young City district in Gdańsk, Poland, as a case study, the research integrates semantic segmentation (DeepLabv3) and AI-driven object detection for evaluating public space quality, flood simulation modeling (InVEST UFRM) for climate resilience, and network analysis using adjusted walking speeds (2.95 km/h) to capture the needs of vulnerable populations. By identifying “hotspots” with compounded deficits in access to urban amenities, public space quality, and resilience, the study provides a replicable, data-informed tool for guiding equitable urban transformation. The findings reveal critical spatial and environmental disparities, particularly in former fence-line neighborhoods in Gdańsk, which remain underserved despite ongoing urban redevelopment. The proposed framework offers practical insights for mainstreaming inclusive adaptation strategies into planning policies and contributes to the evolving discourse on operationalizing the 15-min city (FMC) concept in complex contexts. • Introduces an enhanced 15-minute city (FMC) framework combining spatial quality, environmental resilience, and inclusivity. • Applies advanced geospatial tools, including DeepLabv3 (segmentation) and InVEST flood modeling, for scalable urban analysis. • Reveals hotspots where accessibility, livability, and climate resilience deficits overlap, mainly in former fence-line zones. • Demonstrates a replicable methodology that bridges proximity metrics with public space quality and climate adaptation. • Supports inclusive urban transformation by noting the need for equitable investment in historically marginalized areas.

Engineering cardiac regeneration using stem cells: Cellular sources, differentiation signatures, targeted delivery, and functional recovery.

Advancements in sustainable bioprinting: Materials, challenges and opportunities in transition from 3D to 4D printing

Bone mineralization is a critical process in bone tissue formation and remodeling, yet the underlying mechanisms in three-dimensional (3D) cellular environments remain unclear. In this study, we fabricated scaffold-free spheroids using mouse osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells and evaluated their long-term morphological and mechanical changes to elucidate the mineralization process. The spheroids were cultured for up to 35 days in osteogenic medium, and their size reduction (53.2 % compared to 2-day spheroid), cellular viability, collagen accumulation, and mineral deposition were systematically analyzed. Live/dead staining and nuclear imaging revealed that cell death occurred as early as day 2, predominantly in the spheroid core. Two-photon microscopy showed progressive collagen accumulation, and Alizarin-Red staining confirmed calcium deposition in the inner region by day 35. Mechanical analysis using uniaxial compression test by a microglass plate demonstrated 2.6-fold increase in Young's modulus, indicating increased stiffness associated with mineralization. These findings suggest that mineralization initiates from the spheroid core, potentially facilitated by extracellular matrix accumulation. The study provides new insights into bone-like tissue formation in 3D culture, contributing to the development of bone organoids for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.

Promoting urban green transformation: Evidence from China’s national artificial intelligence innovation application pilot zones on energy environmental performance

Evaluating urban mobility strategies to foster inclusive urban regeneration for vulnerable groups

Exploring the driving mechanism of public participation in urban regeneration projects: A system dynamics approach

Transit-induced gentrification in the context of urban regeneration: Evidence from East London and implications for inclusive transit-oriented development

Integrating social, technological, and policy innovations for sustainable urban renovation in heritage-sensitive contexts: The transdisciplinary approach of DeCO2

Societal impact assessment and differentiated governance of urban shrinkage in China

Whose land builds the city? Spatial politics and power dynamics in negotiating space for infrastructure during informal settlement regularization in Mbarali, Tanzania

ABSTRACT Smart cities increasingly leverage advanced digital technologies to address complex urban challenges. These initiatives aim for sustainable urban transformation through digital service systems (DSS) that enhance citizen functionality by integrating digital technology, urban assets, and physical products. However, overemphasis on technological development hinders successful implementation owing overlooking alignment with the values of urban actors. This study proposes a strategic design framework for DSS that operationalises a value-driven approach through roadmapping. Adopting a service system perspective, the framework conceptualises smart cities as socio-technical configurations in which multiple actors co-create value. The framework is demonstrated through a case study on smart mobility service design in a suburban city. This study contributes to the literatures by (1) operationalising the shift from technology-driven to value-driven smart city planning; (2) extending roadmapping process to incorporate socio-technical integration in early-stage planning; and (3) providing a practical framework for transparent decision-making by enabling the systematic evaluation and prioritisation of DSS alternatives.

A central challenge in achieving sustainable urban transformation is reducing the environmental impact of existing buildings, many of which were not designed to meet today’s sustainability standards. While integrating green infrastructure into new construction is increasingly feasible, retrofitting older structures presents significant technical and spatial constraints. We address this challenge by developing a proof-of-concept for integrating modular flat-panel photobioreactors into existing urban buildings. Photobioreactors cultivate photoautotrophic microorganisms that fix atmospheric CO 2 through photosynthesis, producing oxygen and biomass. We constructed a window-integrated prototype ( 124 × 85 cm) and installed it directly into a standard window frame at the Biology Building, RWTH Aachen University, Germany, without major structural modifications. Window integration offers distinct advantages over facade-mounted systems for retrofit applications which include elimination of structural reinforcements and reduced visual impact on building envelope, as existing structural openings can be used, and stable operating temperatures due to the integration with climate-controlled building interiors. Two sequential cultivation trials using Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (5-day window-installed and 20-day stand-alone tests) demonstrated biological activity while revealing critical technical barriers that must be addressed for continuous operation. This proof-of-concept successfully demonstrates the feasibility of window-integrated PBRs for building retrofit applications and establishes a research pathway for system optimization toward practical deployment.

Despite the potential of Green-Adaptive Green Infrastructure (GAGI) to increase the provision of ecosystem services, and to mitigate urban climate risks while maintaining biodiversity, there is a critical research gap in the empirical identification of the context specific factors in developing nations. Therefore, this study examine the critical barriers, drivers and potential strategies to optimize GAGI by employing satellite imagery and survey data of 1232 respondents from Pakistan. The research rationale stems from the need to align urban expansion with ecosystem resilience. By employing remote sensing techniques on satellite imagery data, land use land cover analysis highlights the significant urban expansion in the study area. For the empirical analysis, a deep learning-based hybrid structural equation modeling-artificial neural network analysis was used to capture linear and complex non-linear relationships. Findings reveal that integrated urban transformation, socioeconomic equity, governance, and infrastructural barriers were critical barriers to implementing GAGI. Among the drivers, economic development and innovation, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure integration and efficiency are the main drivers of GAGI implementation. Moreover, education and R&D support, GAGI incentives, government standards and regulations, publicity programs, and awareness are the potential strategies for implementing GAGI in Pakistan. Specifically, sensitivity analysis of artificial neural network identifies governance and infrastructural barriers, economic development and innovation, and incentives towards GAGI as the most influencing factors. The study highlights the need for GAGI and provides a reference for decision-making on GAGI implementation and landscape transformation in response to extreme climate changes.

Latin American cities are transforming in response to climate change, yet residents' liveability experiences before these transformations begin are rarely documented. In Bogotá, the 2022-2035 Land Use Master Plan's Green Corridors aim to promote sustainable mobility and integrate green infrastructure in urban design, with the first corridor planned along 7th Street. This study provides a baseline evaluation of liveability conditions along 7th Street before construction, aiming to (i) identify perceptions of social and built environment factors that facilitate or hinder liveability and (ii) document potential solutions to identified barriers. We employed a multi-method approach. A cross-sectional household survey described residents' sociodemographic profile and perceptions of the Green Corridor's expected effects on liveability. The Our Voice citizen science method engaged residents and commuters in identifying perceived facilitators and barriers, proposing potential solutions, and exchanging knowledge with policymakers. Residents' most expected improvements included increased vegetation, pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and public space upgrades, while the most anticipated deteriorations included difficulty in car use and worsening public transport operations. Through the Our Voice method, 66 citizen scientists captured 1123 photo-narratives, documenting access to essential services, green areas, and urban trees as the most mentioned facilitators, while poor pedestrian infrastructure and safety concerns as the most mentioned barriers. Proposed solutions included infrastructure improvements, educational campaigns, and evidence-based policymaking. The process increased environmental awareness among citizen scientists and supported knowledge exchange with policymakers. This study underscores the importance of grounding climate mitigation and adaptation efforts in baseline assessments of urban residents' liveability experiences. Built environment factors were widely valued as facilitators, while social environment factors emerged as persistent barriers, a pattern that the Our Voice method deepened by revealing the conditions that underpin these perceptions. The participatory process generated practical solutions, deepened citizen scientists' awareness of their surroundings, and enabled meaningful engagement with policymakers. As cities pursue climate goals, these findings offer a foundation for understanding and evaluating the effects of a Green Corridor on residents' everyday liveability as the intervention unfolds.

Neighborhood revitalization is a process through which land use rezoning and capital investment can spur new resources, such as access to healthful food and amenities for physical activity. While revitalization efforts may promote cardiovascular health, their benefits may not be distributed equally across sociodemographic groups. The objective of the study is to apply a socioecological framework that uses a multimethod approach incorporating quantitative data (longitudinal electronic health records and cross-sectional surveys) and qualitative data (longitudinal "walk-a-long" interviews) to examine the short-term effect of neighborhood land use rezoning and revitalization efforts on cardiovascular disease (CVD), CVD-related health behaviors, and access to and utilization of health care. System science methods, namely microsimulation modeling and system dynamics modeling, will be used to assess the long-term effects of land use rezoning policy and revitalization efforts on cardiovascular health and ways to sustain priority health equity goals in revitalized neighborhoods. We leverage a land use rezoning initiative in the Bronx, New York, where a largely commercial area is being rezoned along with capital investments to expand healthful neighborhood resources. Using electronic health records from a single hospital system, we will follow cohorts of midlife and older adults (≥50 y) residing in both the rezoned area and a comparison area. We will assess clinically measured incident CVD and other CVD risk factors to evaluate changes in cardiovascular health over time. In parallel, we will conduct a cross-sectional survey and a purposive sampling of patients for in-person "walk-a-long" qualitative interviews to understand how residents perceive neighborhood access to healthful resources after land use rezoning. To estimate long-term effects, we will use a validated microsimulation model to project CVD outcomes and costs. Finally, we will use system dynamics modeling to integrate quantitative and qualitative findings to inform future revitalization and public health strategies. Midlife and older adult patients (N=10,813) in the intervention area and the comparison area will be followed for approximately 7 years following land use rezoning and revitalization efforts to compare CVD risk between neighborhoods. The cross-sectional survey (n=300) and qualitative assessment (n=36) will increase understanding of perceptions of access to healthful resources and related health behaviors among residents. Systems science approaches will estimate long-term CVD risk and related costs associated with revitalization efforts. An advisory committee of clinical and community stakeholders will assist in interpreting results and developing dissemination strategies for their constituents. This study was funded from January 2023 until December 2026. This study uses a socioecological framework to provide a novel, transferable method for evaluating the impact of neighborhood revitalization efforts on cardiovascular health by combining methods to examine short- and long-term effects across individual, neighborhood, and structural (system) levels over time. Findings will inform policies aimed at reducing CVD through equitable urban revitalization.

Along with the rising interest in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering comes the necessity to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying nature behind the mechanical responses of various soft tissues. This study investigates the differences in mechanical responses of the aorta and pulmonary artery, both of which share similar trilayered structures, by examining how their microstructural architectures influence their response to traction forces. As such, two-photon microscopy was used to visualize elastin and collagen fibers, via two-photon excited autofluorescence and second-harmonic generation respectively, during a mode I tensile fracture test on trouser-shaped specimens harvested from the aorta and pulmonary artery. The tensile tests revealed that while the aorta exhibited significantly higher low-strain elasticity compared to the pulmonary artery (aorta: 184.9 ± 37.4 kPa, pulmonary artery: 25.9 ± 6.0 kPa), both tissues required comparable forces for fracture propagation under mode I fracture (aorta: 7.6 ± 3.4 N, pulmonary artery: 6.3 ± 4.5 N). In this study, the possible reasons behind these mechanical disparities are discussed based on the microscopic images depicting the specimen's histologic structural deformation throughout the tensile test. Elastic responses from the aorta and pulmonary artery were discussed using static images of the elastin and collagen networks taken at a fixed interval during the tensile test. Moreover, this study presents the first successful acquisition of a microscopic video capturing the microstructural failure dynamics during arterial fracture, which served as a basis for discussion on the fracture properties of the aorta and pulmonary artery under mode I loading. These findings offer insights into fracture propagation mechanisms in arteries and underscore the importance of microstructural analysis for elucidating soft tissue biomechanics. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: An artery's biomechanical response is essential for its physiological function and is influenced by the vessel's microstructure. While prior studies have focused on the elastic response of the aorta alone, this study examines both elastic and fracture behavior in the aorta and pulmonary artery. Microscopic image sequences capturing elastic and plastic deformation were acquired in both vessels, revealing microstructural differences leading to distinct biomechanical responses. From an engineering perspective, the results show that differences in elastin and collagen organization lead to artery-specific biomechanical properties, indicating that biomechanical models should incorporate vessel-specific structure rather than assuming uniform behavior. Clinically, these differences are relevant for vascular graft design, where matching both mechanical response and structural characteristics may improve performance and durability.

ABSTRACT This used to be the old fishing village. What kind of future do these fishing villages have? Starting from research on the environmental renovation of coastal urban villages, we analyzed the risk characteristics of village renovation of urban villages by risk identification, risk evaluation and risk countermeasures. Based on a survey of urban villages, we explore risk factors using qualitative and quantitative methods to identify potential risks, use the flowchart method to define risks, and then determine the risks that the renovation may face from aspects such as policy, economy, management, social stability, technology, and nature. The results showed that village renovation involves more risk factors than traditional construction does. In the coastal village renovation of the Wanggezhuang community, the identified risk levels are ranked as follows: economic risk > technical risk > housing acquisition and relocation risk > internal decision-making and management risk > policy risk > natural risk. If response measures and effective risk prevention and control through early intervention are developed, the smooth completion of renovation can be ensured. This study can provide a reference for renovation and transformation in coastal urban villages while also laying a theoretical and practical foundation for coastal urban renewal.

Promoting urban green transformation has become a key pathway to achieving sustainable development. As an essential component of the modern economy, data factors demonstrate significant potential in enhancing the efficiency of energy systems and facilitating green transformation. Based on panel data from 273 prefecture-level cities in China over the period 2010-2023, this study employs a difference-in-differences (DID) model to assess the impact and underlying mechanisms of the Big Data Pilot Policy (TECH) on green energy efficiency (GEEF). The findings are as follows: First, China's GEEF exhibits an overall upward trend and displays a spatial pattern of "higher in the east and lower in the west." Second, TECH significantly improves GEEF, with green innovation (GREEN) and financial development (FINA) playing positive moderating roles. Third, the policy effect of TECH is significant in eastern regions but not in western regions. Finally, TECH exerts cross-regional spillover effects on GEEF. This study expands the theoretical perspective on urban green energy efficiency and provides empirical evidence and policy implications for the deep integration of digital development and green transition, as well as the realization of coordinated regional development.