159370 research outputs found
Sort by
The new compiler stack: a survey on the synergy of LLMs and compilers
Get PDFThis survey has provided a systematic overview of the emerging field of LLM-enabled compilation by addressing several key research questions. We first answered how LLMs are being integrated by proposing a comprehensive, multi-dimensional taxonomy that categorizes works based on their Design Philosophy (Selector, Translator, Generator), LLM Methodology, their operational Level of Code Abstraction, and the specific Task Type they address. In answering what advancements these approaches offer, we identified three primary benefits: the democratization of compiler development, the discovery of novel optimization strategies, and the broadening of the compiler’s traditional scope. Finally, in addressing the field’s challenges and opportunities, we highlighted the critical hurdles of ensuring correctness and achieving scalability, while identifying the development of hybrid systems as the most promising path forward. By providing these answers, this survey serves as a foundational roadmap for researchers and practitioners, charting the course for a new generation of LLM-powered, intelligent, adaptive and synergistic compilation tools
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi enhance the efficacy of Solanum trap crops against potato cyst nematodes
Get PDFPotato cyst nematodes cause significant yield losses in potato crops worldwide. Trap cropping with non-host solanaceous species offers a sustainable alternative to chemical control by inducing nematode hatching without supporting lifecycle completion. However, trap crop efficacy is often limited by poor establishment under nutrient-deficient conditions. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, known to enhance plant growth through improved nutrient acquisition, may strengthen trap crop performance. This study investigated whether AM fungi colonise Solanum trap crops (S. chenopodioides and S. scabrum) and assessed their impact on Globodera pallida suppression. Both plant species were colonised by AM fungi, resulting in increased root biomass. In sterile and field soils, AM fungal inoculation significantly enhanced the ability of trap crops to reduce G. pallida populations compared to AM-free plants. Furthermore, root leachates from AM-colonised trap crops induced greater expression of the nematode hatching gene Gp-nep-1, suggesting amplified hatch stimulation. These findings demonstrate that AM fungi improve both growth and biological efficacy of Solanum trap crops, positioning AM-enhanced trap cropping as a potential strategy for integrated G. pallida management
In defence of sentient rights
Get PDFThe overall aim of Raffael Fasel’s excellent book More Equal than Others is to promote the ‘Species Membership Approach’ (SMA) as the way to award and protect ‘fundamental rights’ (the basic legal rights of individuals that are vital for securing their well-being). It is contrasted with the so-called ‘Meritocratic Approach’ (MA) that assigns rights based on individual characteristics, leaving those without said characteristics excluded from rights. And it is contrasted with the ‘Aristocratic Approach’ (AA) that assigns equal rights to all within a specified group, which traditionally has only been humans. The SMA offers a different way forward by keeping the egalitarian nature of the AA, whereby all humans are recognised as having equal rights. But, the SMA departs from the AA by recognising, akin to the MA, that humans are not the only group who can merit fundamental rights. Rather than assigning rights based on individual characteristics like the MA, the SMA instead extends them on the basis of species membership. This is a provocative and important new approach to our thinking on fundamental rights and it has numerous virtues. Nonetheless, while Fasel is right that some deference to groups is inevitable when assigning rights, it is crucial that we think carefully about the groups which count as relevant. And it is here where I believe Fasel’s argumentation goes astray. I maintain in this paper that sentience—both as an individual characteristic and a relevant grouping—is the proper basis for assigning fundamental legal rights. It further argues that Fasel’s own dismissal of sentience, a position with which he engages at some length, is flawed. In the first section of the paper, I briefly outline my own ‘sentient rights’ approach, and explain how it tackles the problems that Fasel identifies with alternative approaches for awarding fundamental legal rights. In the next two sections, I then confront and rebut the two objections that Fasel makes of this approach: that it inevitably leads to humans losing out to animals when their interests clash; and second, that it cannot award rights of equal value to individuals on the basis that sentience is scalar (comes in degrees). The fourth and final substantive section claims that the SMA’s prioritisation of pragmatism over moral relevance in the award of legal rights is flawed and may in fact stall progressive changes for non-human animals
AURKB-driven dissolution of CIZ1–RNA assemblies from the inactive X chromosome in mitosis
Get PDFCip1-interacting zinc-finger protein 1 (CIZ1) interacts with Xist lncRNA to form large RNA–protein assemblies at the inactive X-chromosome (Xi) in female mammalian nuclei, plus smaller assemblies in both sexes. CIZ1 assemblies influence underlying chromatin, and their disruption alters the expression of autosomal and X-linked gene clusters. Here, we explore the regulated dissolution of CIZ1–Xi assemblies during mitosis and show that, like Xist, CIZ1 is released in prometaphase under the regulation of Aurora Kinase B (AURKB). The part of human/mouse CIZ1 comprising 179/181 C-terminal amino acids encodes a matrin-3 domain that facilitates dimerization to form a compact folded core with disordered C-terminal extensions. Mass spectrometry revealed 56 high-confidence interacting partners of the C-terminal fragment, predominantly chromatin, nuclear matrix, and RNA-binding proteins. Phosphomimetic mutation of three conserved AURKB sites in the C-terminal extensions released CIZ1 from its nuclear anchor points, but did not affect its interaction with chromatin or nuclear matrix proteins. In contrast, the same mutations, or deletion of the C-terminal extensions, abolished interaction with RNAs, including Xist. Together, the data suggest CIZ1 is a regulatable component of the protein–RNA assemblies that preserve epigenetic stability across the nucleus, and that AURKB drives their dissolution in mitosis via dissociation of CIZ1 from RNA
British supervisors’ conceptions of ideal and successful PhD attributes and their implications for equity in doctoral candidate selection
Get PDFPurpose This study aims to explore supervisors’ conceptions of successful and ideal doctoral students’ attributes and their implications for integrating equity and diversity considerations into the doctoral selection process. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a qualitative approach and analyses data from extensive interviews with senior academics and a member of the professional staff in England on their perspectives of the attributes of ideal and successful doctoral candidates. The study is conceptually framed by the Research Development Framework (RDF) and an adapted ecosystem model of the factors influencing PhD completion (Lovitts, 2005). Findings The findings reveal that supervisors value both cognitive and non-cognitive attributes, with the majority of the non-cognitive attributes categorised in the RDF sub-domains of personal qualities, self-management, working with others and communication and dissemination. Non-cognitive attributes were, moreover, valued not just for their contribution to doctoral success but also to the doctoral experience. Practical implications In contrast to the typically narrow criteria emphasised in UK doctoral selection, the authors argue that a wider, more holistic, range of attributes better represents what supervisors actually value, while offering greater opportunities for equitable selection of diverse doctoral cohorts. Two key macroenvironmental challenges are discussed: the difficulty of selecting for highly valued non-cognitive attributes and the importance of institutional support for the creation and sustainability of more equitable selection processes. Originality/value This paper deepens the literature on supervisors’ perceptions of the qualities or attributes of doctoral success and links this to the use of criteria that avoid reinforcing structural racial inequities in higher education
How (and when) does party matter? Explaining MPs’ positions on assisted dying/assisted suicide
Get PDFWhile the legalisation of assisted dying/assisted suicide (AD/AS)1 has enjoyed sustained public support for several decades, Parliament has repeatedly voted decisively against legalisation. This article explores this parliamentary deviation from citizens’ preferences by explaining what shapes MPs’ positions on this free vote issue and, in particular, how (and when) party matters in shaping these positions. It considers both the last Commons vote in 2015 and developments up to July 2024,2 thus avoiding a snapshot analysis of a single moment in time. It finds that while party mattered in the 2015 vote, it was one of many factors that mattered, and was not obviously the most important. However, developments since 2015 suggest that party is likely to play a greater role in the next vote, which is expected in the current parliamentary term
The availability and marketing of nicotine pouches at tobacco-selling points- of-sale in Pakistan
No full textIntroduction: Nicotine pouches are gaining popularity among young people. Within five years of their introduction, Pakistan has become the third-largest market for Velo, a leading brand among nicotine pouches. However, more information is needed to know about the availability and marketing of these products at point-of-sale (POS). Methods: In August 2023, we surveyed 711 POS across nine districts covering all four provinces of Pakistan. We collected data on the availability of different brands of nicotine pouches and their flavours, nicotine strengths, prices, and pack features. Furthermore, we recorded any POS advertising in a subsample of 382 POS. Results: In Pakistan, nicotine pouches were available in all four provinces, eight of nine surveyed districts, and 56 of 711 (7.9%) POS. Urban settings had wider availability and more variety than rural settings. Velo, available in six flavours and three different strengths, captured 85% of the market. On average, nicotine pouches cost 133 Pakistani Rupees (SD 18.9, range 100-190 PKR) or 0.44 US dollars. Display stands advertising nicotine pouches were observed in 12.3% (46/382) POS. Conclusions: Nicotine pouches are widely available across Pakistan. A range of flavours and strengths are being sold at an affordable price, making it attractive, particularly for young people. Continued surveillance of these products is needed. Their perceptions and use, and their impact on the tobacco uptake in youth, also need further research. Implications: We observed widespread availability of Velo and the growing nicotine pouch market in Pakistan, underscoring the urgent need for regulation. These products appeal to youth with diverse flavors and affordability, raising concerns about experimentation leading to addiction. Policymakers must prioritize regulating manufacturing, sales, and marketing to limit youth access. Limited research in Asia necessitates longitudinal studies to explore oral health impact of using these products. Continued monitoring of promotions at points of sale, along with studies on youth perceptions, usage patterns, and influence on tobacco uptake, is critical for effective policy development
Building and maintaining trust “even when things aren't going well”: meta‐regulation through an explicit psychological contract
No full textHierarchical relationships between government regulators and public services providers often lead to dysfunctional behaviors that negatively impact service delivery. Meta-regulation encompassing continuous learning towards sustainable service improvement involving both parties could offer a more effective regulatory approach. Mutual trust is crucial for this approach but is often absent. Drawing on psychological contract theory and an empirical study in the English NHS, this research illustrates how an explicit psychological contract (EPC) can facilitate building and maintaining trust, even through challenging times. Our ethnographic observations reveal how a regular face-to-face meeting between regulators and hospital leaders provided a stable context through which the EPC could be operationalized to make fulfillment and breach visible, prompting responses that served to build and maintain trust. However, some breaches were deliberately kept hidden to protect trust and shared goals. We conclude the EPC is a pivotal mechanism to support a meta-regulatory approach in complex regulatory contexts
Data sources:
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Open Research Online? Become a CORE Member to access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard! 👇