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Unveiling the nature of the Einstein Probe transient EP241021a
Get PDFWe present a multiwavelength analysis of the fast X-ray transient EP241021a, discovered by the Wide-field X-ray Telescope aboard the Einstein Probe satellite on 2024 October 21. The event was not detected in gamma-rays. Follow-up observations from 1.5 to 100 d post-trigger were obtained across X-ray, ultraviolet, optical, near-infrared, and radio bands with ground- and space-based facilities. The redshift is constrained to from prominent optical spectral features. The optical light curve shows complex evolution: an initial decay, followed by a rapid re-brightening peaking at day 7.7 with decay, and a third phase peaking near day 19 with decay. The spectral energy distribution (SED) and its temporal evolution are consistent with a mix of non-thermal and thermal components. Early optical-to-X-ray spectral indices agree with optically thin synchrotron emission, while steepening of the optical SED after 20 d indicates either a shift in emission mechanism or the emergence of an additional component. Although broad-lined absorption features are absent, comparisons with Type Ic-BL supernovae suggest an SN contribution at late times, suggesting a collapsar origin for EP241021a. The likely SN in EP241021a appears to require an additional energy source beyond Ni decay. These results support the view that some fast X-ray transients detected by the Einstein Probe arise from massive stellar explosions
Baiting AI: Deceptive adversary against AI-protected industrial infrastructures
No full textThis paper explores a new cyber-attack vector targeting Industrial Control Systems (ICS), particularly focusing on water treatment facilities. Developing a new multi-agent Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) approach, adversaries craft stealthy, strategically timed, wear-out attacks designed to subtly degrade product quality and reduce the lifespan of field actuators. This sophisticated method leverages DRL methodology not only to execute precise and detrimental impacts on targeted infrastructure but also to evade detection by contemporary AI-driven defence systems. By developing and implementing tailored policies, the attackers ensure their hostile actions blend seamlessly with normal operational patterns, circumventing integrated security measures. Our research reveals the robustness of this attack strategy, shedding light on the potential for DRL models to be manipulated for adversarial purposes. Our research has been validated through testing and analysis in an industry-level setup. For reproducibility and further study, all related materials, including datasets and documentation, are publicly accessible
Which medical subspecialties use qualitative research? A bibliometric analysis
Get PDFObjectives: Qualitative research addresses ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions in healthcare. It captures the complexity of clinical practice by providing insights into experiences, behaviours and context often missed by quantitative methods. The objective of this review was to explore the volume, trends and adherence to reporting standards in qualitative research across hospital-based medical subspecialties.
Design: Longitudinal bibliometric review.
Setting and participants: Ovid Medline, Embase and Emcare were searched for qualitative research published between 2000 and 2024 in 12 medical subspecialties. For each subspecialty, the number and percentage of qualitative publications was identified. Adherence to reporting standards was assessed in a random sample of publications covering all subspecialties.
Results: Between 2000 and 2024, 715 471 qualitative research studies were published across 12 medical subspecialties, representing 1.36% of all studies (52 620 042). Neurology and oncology had the highest number of qualitative studies (116 835 and 106 360). Although infectious diseases contributed a lower absolute number of qualitative studies (59 947), they had the highest proportion relative to all studies (4.07%). Conversely, nephrology and haematology exhibited the lowest number of qualitative studies (14 510 and 29 198) and smallest proportions (0.90% and 0.81%). Overall, the annual proportion of qualitative research increased from 0.64% (6052/945 008) in 2000 to 1.95% (56 909/2 919 825) in 2024. However, the relative positions remained largely stable over time.
Adherence to reporting standards was generally good, particularly in relation to methodological coherence. However, there was under-reporting of positionality (where researchers consider how their identity and standpoint may influence the research process) and reflexivity (where researchers critically reflect on how their assumptions and decisions shape the study).
Conclusions: Qualitative research is under-represented in medical subspecialties but has increased steadily over time, with notable variation in adoption between subspecialties. While overall adherence to reporting standards is good, greater attention to positionality and reflexivity is needed to enhance transparency and rigour
Analysis of mRNA multimerisation (aggregation) using non-denaturing ion-pair reversed-phase liquid chromatography
No full textmRNA-based technology has emerged as a new class of medicines with a wide range of applications, including viral vaccines, cancer vaccines, and therapeutics for the treatment of metabolic diseases and cardiovascular conditions. Impurities, including double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), mRNA fragments, and mRNA multimers (aggregates) that result from the manufacturing of mRNA, as well as from subsequent purification, formulation, and storage, can potentially impact the safety and efficacy of mRNA medicines.
mRNA higher-order structures and mRNA multimers (aggregates) can affect translational efficiency and also impact the efficiency of formulation into lipid nanoparticles. mRNA purity is typically analysed using denaturing or partially denaturing methods, precluding the detection of mRNA multimers (aggregates). In this study, we developed and utilised ion-pair reversed-phase HPLC (IP-RP HPLC) under non-denaturing conditions to analyse mRNA multimers. The inclusion of 1 mM Mg²⁺ in the mobile phase stabilises mRNA higher-order structures, RNA:RNA interactions, and the formation of mRNA dimers/multimers, which can be readily separated from the mRNA monomers.
The ability to resolve mRNA monomers from mRNA dimers/multimers was demonstrated for a range of mRNA sequences and lengths. Moreover, we have shown that the relative abundance of mRNA dimers/multimers is concentration dependent. Using the relative percentage of dimer vs concentration of monomer, we were able to determine that the Kd of the interaction between two eGFP mRNA monomers was 82.93 nM. Characterisation and sizing of the mRNA multimers was performed using mass photometry analysis following the purification of mRNA monomer and dimer/multimer peaks using IP-RP HPLC.
Thus, non-denaturing IP-RP demonstrates significant advantages over current approaches for the analysis of mRNA multimers (aggregates). The high-throughput, temperature-dependent profiling of mRNA multimerisation using IP-RP HPLC will enable further comparative studies on the stability of mRNA multimers and provide important insights into potential factors influencing mRNA multimerisation
Public health impacts of increasing the minimum unit price for alcohol in Scotland: A model-based appraisal
Get PDFBackground
Governments in several countries have introduced a minimum unit price (MUP) for alcohol. Evaluation studies suggest this has reduced alcohol-related harm, but MUPs must increase with inflation to remain effective. This paper estimates the impact of the impact of the Scottish Government’s decision to increase its MUP from £0.50 to £0.65 in September 2024 and, alternative options where the MUP changes to between £0.40 and £0.80. It examines impacts on alcohol consumption, spending, and related health outcomes, how impacts vary across the population with regard to deprivation, and how drinkers move between lighter and heavier alcohol consumption groups.
Methods and findings
Policy appraisal using the Sheffield Tobacco and Alcohol Policy Model, a dynamic microsimulation model that combines data on alcohol purchasing and consumption for 10 beverage types and 800 subgroups comprising adults in the Scottish population with price elasticities and an epidemiological model. Deprivation is measured using quintiles of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Drinker group is categorised as moderate (14 to ≤35/ ≤50 units/week for women/men), and harmful (>35/50 units/week for women/men). The policy appraisal estimates that, compared to retaining Scotland’s MUP at £0.50, increasing the MUP to £0.65 leads to an estimated 12.0% decrease in alcohol consumption, 2.1% decrease in alcohol spending, 3,385 fewer deaths overall, and 2,578 fewer deaths wholly attributable to alcohol over 20 years. Estimated effects are largest in the quintile of the population living in the most deprived areas. Increasing the MUP to £0.65 is also estimated to reduce the proportion of drinkers consuming at harmful levels by 29.4% and the proportion consuming at hazardous levels by 8.0%. Key limitations of the study include relying on data on alcohol consumption and spending collected before the COVID-19 pandemic, synthesising consumption and spending data from separate datasets, and assuming no supply-side responses (e.g., price changes above the MUP threshold).
Conclusions
Increasing the threshold of an established MUP can lead to additional reductions in alcohol consumption, related harm, and health inequalities. Benefits accrue particularly to the most deprived and heaviest drinkers
How do unexpected networks help female entrepreneurs in the Global South survive in adverse contexts? A case study of Bangladesh
Get PDFThis study investigates the role of various unexpected networks in supporting the survival of female-owned SMEs in the Global South. The research focuses upon Bangladesh, which is a context marked by institutional adversity and postcolonial legacies. Grounded in Social Network Theory and informed by a decolonial perspective, the research examines personal, professional, and virtual networks to identify how these relational resources are able to empower women entrepreneurs, in an area where formal systems tend not to be inclusive. Using a sample of 156 female entrepreneurs, hierarchical regression analysis reveals that personal and virtual networks significantly enhance business survival, while professional networks do not show a significant effect. The interaction of personal and virtual networks with adverse contexts further strengthens their impact, highlighting their role as adaptive infrastructures in constrained environments. In contrast, professional networks remain limited in their influence. These findings challenge Western-centric assumptions about entrepreneurial networking and underscore the importance of inclusive, context-sensitive strategies for supporting female entrepreneurship in the Global South
Nothing About Us Without Us in the First 1000 Days: Developing Inclusive Early Years Support With Disabled Families
No full textThis article reports on co-design workshops with 11 disabled families (‘co-designers’) as part of developing a ‘universal’ (for all families) early years programme in health and social care. The programme aims to enhance caregiver and infant well-being. Given well-documented limitations of existing support for disabled families, ensuring disability inclusion from the outset was essential. The term ‘disabled families’ refers to 2 configurations: families where a parent is disabled and families of disabled children. Intensive workshops employed barrier mapping and solution generation activities. Thematic analysis revealed four domains where co-designers identified exclusionary practices and proposed inclusive alternatives: physical and environmental accessibility, programme design flexibility, content inclusivity and professional practice and empowerment. Co-designers demonstrated how institutional ableism operates through inaccessible venues, rigid attendance policies, normative developmental milestones and dismissal of parental expertise. Solutions moved beyond surface accommodations towards fundamental transformation. Co-designers proposed accessible venues with sensory considerations, flexible attendance, strength-based content, comprehensive facilitator training validating experiential knowledge and enabled peer support. This study demonstrates that meaningful inclusion requires dismantling rather than retrofitting exclusionary systems. Co-designers' insights provide both structural critique of institutional ableism and practical design principles for inclusive provision, showing how participatory approaches can generate alternative possibilities for equitable family support
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