Does play-based experience provide for inclusiveness? A case study of multi-dimensional indicators.

Playgrounds are not only for play and fun; they are places that offer diverse experiences for all groups of children. Outdoor playgrounds have been studied as an element of public space for their ability to offer an array of amenities and attributes. In addition to design and planning aspects, inclusiveness is a vital attribute of playgrounds. Inclusiveness within playgrounds provides accessibility for all children regardless of age, gender, and ethnicity, as both physical and social access are considered. Given the rapidly changing global agenda affected dramatically by the COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement, playgrounds have gained even more attention and the importance of inclusiveness has become more prevalent. This study examined the inclusiveness of play-based experiences within a playground in San Antonio, Texas, using mixed methods. The study utilized observational methods, behavior mapping, secondary data for spatial mapping, and a survey conducted in order to understand the perception of playground users. This study evaluated the inclusiveness of the playground and analyzed social and physical accessibility relative to the playground by assessing the diversity of users in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, and disability. The findings of this study show that there is a need for additional studies yielding proposed improvements revolving around playground inclusivity. The study results show that urban designers, urban planners, and policymakers need to collaborate in order to create opportunities that work to eliminate social and physical disparities and that ultimately enhance inclusiveness in playgrounds.

Assessment of the Role of C3(H2O) in the Alternative Pathway.

In this study we investigate the hydrolysis of C3 to C3(H2O) and its ability to initiate activation via the alternative pathway (AP) of the complement system. The internal thioester bond within C3 is hydrolyzed by water in plasma because of its inherent lability. This results in the formation of non-proteolytically activated C3(H2O) which is believed have C3b-like properties and be able to form an active initial fluid phase C3 convertase together with Factor B (FB). The generation of C3(H2O) occurs at a low but constant rate in blood, but the formation can be greatly accelerated by the interaction with various surfaces or nucleophilic and chaotropic agents. In order to more specifically elucidate the relevance of the C3(H2O) for AP activation, formation was induced in solution by repeated freeze/thawing, methylamine or KCSN treatment and named C3(x) where the x can be any of the reactive nucleophilic or chaotropic agents. Isolation and characterization of C3(x) showed that it exists in several forms with varying attributes, where some have more C3b-like properties and can be cleaved by Factor I in the presence of Factor H. However, in common for all these variants is that they are less active partners in initial formation of the AP convertase compared with the corresponding activity of C3b. These observations support the idea that formation of C3(x) in the fluid phase is not a strong initiator of the AP. It is rather likely that the AP mainly acts as an amplification mechanism of complement activation that is triggered by deposition of target-bound C3b molecules generated by other means.

Is generation of C3(H2O) necessary for activation of the alternative pathway in real life?

In the alternative pathway (AP) an amplification loop is formed, which is strictly controlled by various fluid-phase and cell-bound regulators resulting in a state of homeostasis. Generation of the "C3b-like" C3(H2O) has been described as essential for AP activation, since it conveniently explains how the initial fluid-phase AP convertase of the amplification loop is generated. Also, the AP has a status of being an unspecific pathway despite thorough regulation at different surfaces. During complement attack in pathological conditions and inflammation, large amounts of C3b are formed by the classical/lectin pathway (CP/LP) convertases. After the discovery of LP´s recognition molecules and its tight interaction with the AP, it is increasingly likely that the AP acts in vivo mainly as a powerful amplification mechanism of complement activation that is triggered by previously generated C3b molecules initiated by the binding of specific recognition molecules. Also in many pathological conditions caused by a dysregulated AP amplification loop such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobulinuria (PNH) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), C3b is available due to minute LP and CP activation and/or generated by non-complement proteases. Therefore, C3(H2O) generation in vivo may be less important for AP activation during specific attack or dysregulated homeostasis, but may be an important ligand for C3 receptors in cell-cell interactions and a source of C3 for the intracellular complement reservoir.