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Coronavirus (CoV) proteins in GtoPdb v.2025.3
Get PDFCoronaviruses are large, often spherical, enveloped, single-stranded positive-sense RNA viruses, ranging in size from 80-220 nm. Their genomes and protein structures are highly conserved. Three coronaviruses have emerged over the last 20 years as serious human pathogens: SARS-CoV was identified as the causative agent in an outbreak in 2002-2003, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) CoV emerged in 2012 and the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 emerged in 2019-2020. SARS-CoV-2 is the virus responsible for the infectious disease termed COVID-19 (WHO Technical Guidance 2020)
The Intersection of International Criminal Law and Human Rights Law: A Philosophical Inquiry into the Paradox of Justice by Calistus Abang, PhD
Get PDFThis study undertakes a philosophical examination of the intersection of international criminal law and human rights law, revealing the paradoxical tensions between the pursuit of justice and the protection of human rights. Through a critical analysis of the normative foundations of these two fields, this research discloses the differing ontological and epistemological assumptions underlying international criminal law and human rights law. Employing a qualitative research methodology, this study conducts an in-depth examination of the major international criminal law and human rights law instruments, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Additionally, this research undertakes a critical discourse analysis of the jurisprudence of international criminal law and human rights law institutions, including the International Criminal Court and the European Court of Human Rights. This study argues that the paradox of justice at the intersection of international criminal law and human rights law stems from the differing conceptions of justice and human rights that underlie these two fields. While international criminal law prioritizes retributive justice and the punishment of perpetrators, human rights law emphasizes restorative justice and the protection of human dignity. To reconcile this paradox, this research proposes a philosophical framework that integrates the insights of both fields. Drawing on the concepts of "justice as recognition" and "human rights as capabilities," this study develops a novel approach to understanding the intersection of international criminal law and human rights law. The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex relationships between justice, human rights, and international law. This research informs strategies for enhanced cooperation and accountability between international criminal law and human rights law institutions, ultimately promoting a more just and equitable international legal order. This study employs a qualitative research methodology, including critical discourse analysis and philosophical inquiry. The research questions guiding this study include: What are the differing ontological and epistemological assumptions underlying international criminal law and human rights law? How do these differing assumptions give rise to the paradox of justice at the intersection of international criminal law and human rights law? How can a philosophical framework that integrates the insights of both fields reconcile this paradox?. The study\u27s findings suggest that a philosophical framework that integrates the insights of both fields is necessary to reconcile the paradox of justice. The research also highlights the importance of enhanced cooperation and accountability between international criminal law and human rights law institutions in promoting a more just and equitable international legal order. The key lessons from this study include the importance of understanding the complex relationships between justice, human rights, and international law, and the need for a philosophical framework that integrates the insights of both fields. The study also emphasizes the importance of enhanced cooperation and accountability between international criminal law and human rights law institutions
Alternatives to Imprisonment for Female Prisoners in the MENA Region by Reem Alhasan & Noora Alshaibani
No full textImprisonment aims to deter criminal behaviour and promote the rehabilitation of offenders. However, prisons often encounter challenges, particularly concerning female prisoners. Many facilities lack adequate support tailored to females needs, which exacerbates their difficulties. Special health and social services are crucial for their rehabilitation and for reducing stigma. Despite the rising number of female prisoners in the MENA region, there is limited research on their circumstances and potential alternative solutions within the criminal justice system. This study employs the doctrinal method, analysing secondary data from existing literature, official reports, and newspapers. Exploring alternatives to imprisonment could have a positive impact on female prisoners, providing a solution to mitigate the negative effects of incarceration and fostering healthier family dynamics in the MENA region
Using an autoencoder to determine the input function for dynamic PET data in the presence of radiometabolites
Get PDFPreviously, we have demonstrated that an estimate of the arterial input function can be found from dynamic positron emission tomography (PET) data using a machine learning tool called an autoencoder. [1] Our initial study made use of an inflammation tracer ([18F]LW223) which is not greatly influenced by radiometabolites. [2] This means that an input function estimate derived from the image data without further correction has some hope of being accurate.
Here we focus on the synaptic density tracer [18F]SynVesT-1 and pre-clinical studies of rodent models. For this radiotracer initially, 100% of the radioactivity is associated with the tracer, however as the scan progresses an increasing proportion of the radioactivity originates from radiometabolites. [3] We use the autoencoder to decompose the dynamic signals from the PET data into three characteristic components. We associate the component with the earliest peak with the input function. Finally, we re-train the autoencoder while constraining the input function to be similar to a population curve. This provides the estimate of the input function which we then use to analyse time activity curves from different tissues. [1]
Microparameters characteristic of different tissues were obtained using a linearisation approach due to Ito (Figure 1) which produces values for K1 (rate of entry of tracer from blood to tissue) and VT (the volume of distribution). [4] Estimating K1 relies on the earliest part of the input function. This part of the curve is least influenced by radiometabolites; we find good agreement between our K1 values and those derived using invasive blood sampling and radiometabolite correction. By contrast, VT is much more dependent on the later parts of the curve which are most corrupted. Unsurprisingly we were unable to capture reasonable values without taking account of radiometabolites.
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Tumour Segmentation and Volume estimation from PET Lymphoma Data Using a Pre-trained U-Net Model and Probability Contour Framework
Get PDFAccurate tumour delineation is critical for utilizing total metabolic tumour volume (TMTV) as a reproducible prognostic biomarker in lymphoma PET imaging [1]. This study focuses on achieving robust tumour segmentation specifically from PET data [1] by applying a pre-trained U-Net model [2] and a kernel-smoothed probability contour framework [3]. Additionally, ongoing segmentation experiments on various other PET datasets are underway to validate and generalize this approach further
Tumour segmentation was conducted using a pre-trained U-Net model, initially developed on the AutoPET II PET challenge dataset [4]. The model achieved a Dice similarity coefficient of 0.65 on the new lymphoma PET benchmark dataset [1]. To enhance interpretability and reliability, a kernel-smoothed probability contour framework was applied as a post-processing step, generating voxel-wise uncertainty information for each segmented subvolume without compromising Dice accuracy.
The U-Net model effectively segmented lymphoma tumours across multiple PET datasets, consistently demonstrating stable and reproducible performance. The probability contour framework successfully provided uncertainty quantification, highlighting regions of high and low confidence in PET segmentation results. This combined methodology presents a robust, interpretable solution for tumour delineation specifically optimized for PET lymphoma imaging.
Integrating a pre-trained U-Net model with a kernel-smoothed probability contour approach enables standardized and reproducible tumour segmentation from PET data in lymphoma. The provision of uncertainty metrics significantly enhances the segmentation\u27s reliability, supporting the potential of TMTV as a robust clinical biomarker. Future research leveraging this PET-focused framework will continue to explore and validate its clinical utility across additional PET lymphoma datasets.
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Folklore Material in Ruaraidh Erskine’s Gaelic Magazines
Get PDFGaelic magazines founded and run by Ruaraidh Erskine in the 1900s – 1930s are usually, and justifiably, perceived as cosmopolitan and admittedly elitist, focused on discussing contemporary affairs and supporting new Gaelic writing inspired by latest international developments. However, as this article demonstrates, they also featured a substantial amount of content related to Gaelic folklore and traditional culture. In all respects, Erskine’s magazines showed consistent interest in other Celtic countries, especially Ireland but also Brittany, Cornwall, Isle of Man, and Wales. This article examines the role of folklore and traditional culture play within the magazines’ vision of the Gaelic revival and Scottish independence, inspiring other influential ventures, including the quarterly Gairm (1952-2002)
‘Buaile bheag do na laoigh\u27 (a wee fold for the calves) Historical cattle management for milk production
Get PDFThis article explores experiences of pastoralism in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in their historical contexts, focussing on the oral and material cultural traditions around milking. Past studies have examined how these traditions are reflected in songs. However little has been written previously about the practical management of cattle. This article considers its significance in the social, agricultural, cultural and economic systems of the Gaelic speaking areas
Dematerializing Riegl’s Modern Cult of Monuments
Get PDFThis paper delves into the transformation of memory and heritage in the digital age, interpreting Alois Riegl’s pivotal 1903 work, “The Modern Cult of Monuments,” through the lens of today’s digital technologies. Riegl’s axiological examination, foundational in the field of heritage preservation, is reevaluated to explore how digital documentation reinterprets historical and age values of monuments, aligning with his philosophy of ‘touchless’ preservation. This research proposes a novel paradigm for representing and engaging with monuments within the digital sphere that I term “Cult Beyond the Digital.”
Furthermore, the paper argues for the contemporary relevance of Riegl’s methodologies in architecture, particularly those linked to non-contact recording methods that result in the creation of intangible heritage. The paper speculates on future preservation strategies, especially as emerging AI technologies promise the potential to reconstruct missing historical data and enhance monument preservation efforts.
By examining the interaction between technological advancements and monument preservation, the study revisits and expands Riegl’s theory, offering a forward-looking perspective on the discipline in the digital and beyond the digital era, aligning with the theme “Beyond the Visible” by exploring how architectural processes such as aging are documented by contemporary digital tools to protect our heritage and memory. This invisible force of time leaves architecture with traces that can be seen as a continuous “unmaking” or dematerializing of its physical forms. The age value of monuments was considered the monument’s most essential value of the twentieth century, according to Riegl. Extending his theory to our time, the age value is surpassed by what I call a “timeless” value that represents digitally documented monuments over time. They, as digital data, shift their properties from the material world to the digital realm. By doing so, the main protagonist of this architectural “unmaking” is not an architect but the environment itself. 
De-constructing the Sense of Inside and the Outside in a Chawl
No full textThe chawl is a housing typology from western India, known especially for its overwhelming population density and strong sense of community living, comprised of several small, tightly spaced units connected by a common veranda. Built predominantly in the early 1900s, chawls were commonly adopted in cities like Mumbai and Ahmedabad, which rapidly absorbed working-class populations migrating from villages to work in the booming textile industries. The Cotton Chawl, built in 1935 in Ahmedabad, is one such three-storied chawl, housing 87 units. Comprising only one room and a small kitchenette, generally used by 4-5 family members, the household units in the chawl often spill out onto the 3-foot-wide veranda. Activities such as sitting, conversing, performing everyday domestic tasks, celebrating religious ceremonies, and even sleeping take place on the veranda, which becomes a complex site at the intersection of personal and collective life. The close-knit architecture of the chawl gives people the sense of an extended home, outside the individual house unit, where language, behaviors, movement, and interactions are all shaped by people’s perceptions of privacy, gender norms, and shared understandings of social and cultural codes. Understanding the spatio-temporal rhythms of these activities, I use oral history and ethnography to understand how terms like inside and outside, private and public, and the home and the world have deeply specific and relational meanings. I illustrate how physical demarcations of inside and outside are highly inadequate to understand how space is truly used. My central argument is that, in community settlements like the chawl, spatial demarcations of architecture don’t necessarily correspond with the metaphorical, embodied, and ideological conceptions of place. Here, common spaces like the balcony are not merely containers of activities, but they are produced from the very activities and relationalities of time and people\u27s acts, constantly imbuing newer meaning within them