Oldenburg’s properties of third places were established almost three decades ago. In order to understand if these properties still hold and if and how ICTs changed the concept of third places, we looked at affordances and practices in nine third places in Paris. Our findings point out that most of the properties have changed and also three new ones have emerged mixing the physical and the virtual. We also provide implications for ICTs that aim at stimulating and supporting properties of third places.
Many nano- and microstructured
devices capable of promoting neuronal
growth and network formation have been previously investigated. In
certain cases, topographical cues have been successfully complemented
with external bias, by employing electrically conducting scaffolds.
However, the use of optical stimulation with topographical cues was
rarely addressed in this context, and the development of light-addressable
platforms for modulating and guiding cellular growth and proliferation
remains almost completely unexplored. Here, we develop high aspect
ratio micropillars based on a prototype semiconducting polymer, regioregular
poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), as an optically active, three-dimensional
platform for embryonic cortical neurons. P3HT micropillars provide
a mechanically compliant environment and allow a close contact with
neuronal cells. The combined action of nano/microtopography and visible
light excitation leads to effective optical modulation of neuronal
growth and orientation. Embryonic neurons cultured on polymer pillars
show a clear polarization effect and, upon exposure to optical excitation,
a significant increase in both neurite and axon length. The biocompatible,
microstructured, and light-sensitive platform developed here opens
up the opportunity to optically regulate neuronal growth in a wireless,
repeatable, and spatio-temporally controlled manner without genetic
modification. This approach may be extended to other cell models,
thus uncovering interesting applications of photonic devices in regenerative
medicine.
Epistemic diversity is the ability or possibility of producing diverse and rich epistemic apparati to make sense of the world around us. In this paper we discuss whether, and to what extent, different conceptions of knowledge-notably as 'justified true belief' and as 'distributed and embodied cognition'-hinder or foster epistemic diversity. We then link this discussion to the widespread move in science and philosophy towards monolingual disciplinary environments. We argue that English, despite all appearance, is no Lingua Franca, and we give reasons why epistemic diversity is also deeply hindered is monolingual contexts. Finally, we sketch a proposal for multilingual academia where epistemic diversity is thereby fostered.
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