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Draft genome sequences of two Thioalkalivibrio sulfidiphilus strains isolated from a pilot-scale haloalkaline biodesulfurization installation
Full text linkThe genome sequences of two Thioalkalivibrio sulfidiphilus strains, SGAR-7 and SGAR-13, isolated from a pilot-scale haloalkaline biodesulfurization (BD) installation, are reported. The genomes comprise Flavocytochrome c sulfide dehydrogenase and SoxAX cytochromes, which are essential for respiration and thiosulfate oxidation, offering insights into Thioalkalivibrio’s role in BD.This work was performed within the cooperation framework of Wetsus, European centrecentre of excellence for sustainable water technology (https://www.wetsus.nl/). Wetsus is co-funded by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Ministry of Infrastructure and Environment, the European Union Regional Development Fund, the Province of Fryslân, and the Northern Netherlands Provinces. This work is part of a project that has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 665874. We thank Peter Kuperus (University of Amsterdam) for technical support.YesPublishe
Blame Attribution and Compliance with COVID-19 Measures in Australia: The Theory of Planned Behaviour
Full text linkThis study scrutinizes the influence of “blame attribution” and the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) on compliance with COVID-19 public health measures in Australia. This study elucidates that blaming individuals rather than governments surprisingly augments support for governmental regulations, highlighting the complexities of blame attribution in shaping public adherence to health policies. It underscores the nuanced roles of TPB elements like subjective norms and behavioural control, revealing that feelings of empowerment, social responsibility, and recognizing personal roles in pandemic control enhance the inclination to support governmental directives. The outcomes emphasize the criticality of understanding blame attribution and TPB dynamics for devising efficacious communication and management strategies, promoting societal adherence to essential regulations and actions during health crises, and fostering a more resilient societal infrastructure for dealing with pandemics.YesPublishe
Ethical Safeguards for Sales of Weaponizable Technology: A Case Study
No full textThis article presents a case study in how sellers of weaponizable technology can develop safeguards to mitigate risks of misuse by end users. In 2020, the authors were approached by a defense technology start-up whose core product offering was weaponizable drones. The start-up sought guidance in designing terms of sale and service that would ensure responsible usage of this technology. Combining elements from just war theory, international humanitarian law, and the theory of responsibility, we developed a novel, systematic framework for reducing risks of misuse on the basis of precise principles and objective metrics. Although designed for a specific use case, we believe aspects of this framework are portable to a wide range of scenarios. We share it to demonstrate proof of concept and stimulate further work on integrating ethical considerations into the business of weapons and dual-use technology.Research support was provided by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Award AIDG983718408.YesPublishe
Without Roots: The Political Consequences of Collective Economic Shocks
No full textWhile an abundance of scholarly work investigates how economic shocks influence the political behavior of affected individuals, we know much less about their collective effects. Exploiting the sudden onset of a plant disease epidemic in Puglia, Italy—where the plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa devastated centuries-old olive groves—we explore the collective effects of economic shocks. By combining quantitative difference-in-differences analysis of municipal data with a novel case selection strategy for qualitative fieldwork, we document the hardship caused by the outbreak, and estimate a 2.2-percentage-point increase in far-right vote share. We show that preexisting public service deprivation moderates the shock’s political consequences through a community narrative of state neglect. These findings highlight that preexisting community conditions shape the political consequences of economic shocks, and that plant disease epidemics—which are becoming more prevalent due to climate change—have important political effects.yesPublishe
Differential contributions of lean and fat mass on bone mineral density in Asian women of reproductive age: the Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes study
Full text linkThe relationships between fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), and bone mass are complex with significant implications for obesity, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis later in life. While greater LM is associated with higher BMD, the association between FM and BMD is less clear. Such relationships warrant further investigation, especially in Asians, who have a higher risk of metabolic diseases and osteoporotic fractures compared to Western populations. This study investigated the associations of LM, FM, and modifiable risk factors with BMD in Asian women aged 18-45 yr. A total of 191 women from the Singapore Preconception Study of Long-Term Maternal and Child Outcomes (S-PRESTO) cohort study underwent DXA scanning at the first study visit for BMD and body composition measurements. LM, FM, and four body composition phenotypes derived from dichotomizing LM and FM were related to cohort-specific Z-scores of BMD at FN (BMDFN), LS (BMDLS), and whole body (BMDWB). Adjusting for covariates, LM showed positive associations with Z-BMDFN, [β (95%CI)], [0.38 (0.22, 0.55)], Z-BMDLS [0.43 (0.25, 0.62)], and Z-BMDWB, [0.63 (0.44, 0.81)]. Fat mass by contrast showed an inverse association only with Z-BMDWB, [−0.39 (−0.58, −0.20)]. Compared to women with healthy body composition (higher LM-lower FM), women with lower LM-higher FM had similar BMI, mean (SD) 20.9 (1.5) kg/m2 but disproportionately higher percent fat, 38.4 (2.2%), and lower Z-BMDFN [−0.58 (−0.97, −0.18)], Z-BMDLS [−0.41 (−0.81, 0.00)], and Z-BMDWB [−0.66 (−1.06, −0.25)]. Chinese women had lower BMD than Malay women. Physical activity and education attainment were positively, while the age of menarche was negatively associated with BMD. These findings in young women underscore the importance of early interventions recognizing ethnic differences in BMD to improve lifecourse musculoskeletal health. Most importantly, intervention strategies for Asian women should focus on healthy body composition beyond BMI, with a goal to preserve or increase LM.This study is supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF) under the Open Fund-Large Collaborative Grant (OF-LCG; MOH000504) administered by the Singapore Ministry of Health’s National Medical Research Council (NMRC) and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR). In RIE2025, S-PRESTO is supported by funding from the NRF’s Human Health and Potential (HHP) Domain, under the Human Potential Programme. K.M.G. is supported by the UK Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12011/4), the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR Senior Investigator (NF-SI-0515-10042)), NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (IS-BRC-1215-20004), the European Union (Erasmus+ Programme ImpENSA 598488-EPP-1-2018-1-DE-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP), and the British Heart Foundation (RG/15/17/3174). Y.-S.C. is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the Singapore NMRC (NMRC/CSAINV/0010/2016). J.K.Y.C. is supported by a Clinician Scientist Award from the Singapore NMRC (CSA(SI)/008/2016). N.C.H. acknowledges support from the UK Medical Research Council (MC_PC_21003; MC_PC_21001), and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton, and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, UK.YesPublishe
Actualidad de los MASC en el ordenamiento jurídico español: el caso especial de la mediación y su coexistencia con la inteligencia artificial
Full text linkLos llamados MASC o Medios Alternativos de Solución de Controversias han recibido un impulso legislativo con la Ley Orgánica 1/2025, de 2 de enero de medidas de eficiencia en el servicio público de justicia que los coloca, en la mayoría de las ocasiones, como requisito de procedibilidad en la jurisdicción civil. Este trabajo plantea un estudio crítico de cada uno de estos MASC y, en concreto, de la mediación, al configurarse como el MASC más complejo y en el que la irrupción de la inteligencia artificial puede cuestionar muchos de sus principios configuradores y del estatuto del mediador. Finalmente, el trabajo termina por abordar los desafíos más apremiantes que la inteligencia artificial plantea en este ámbito, así como los dilemas éticos asociados y nuestra visión sobre el verdadero enfoque innovador de los MASC.yesPublishe
IA y sus implicaciones en Negociación
No full textLa irrupción de la inteligencia artificial como exponente máximo de la digitalización en la utilización de los Mecanismos de Resolución Alternativa de Conflictos (MASC) está teniendo implicaciones importantes. En el caso de la Negociación, son muchas las ventajas pero también serios los inconvenientes que hay que tener en cuenta para saber el grado de ella que el estado actual de la ciencia permite utilizar en entornos seguros.yesPublishe
Participatory Heritage Documentation: Low-cost Photogrammetry of Decayed Historic Buildings in the Medina of Tunis
Full text linkThis paper presents a low-cost, community-led documentation approach for endangered historic buildings in the Medina of Tunis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site facing significant conservation challenges. Focusing on Fondok El Henna—an abandoned caravanserai in a state of advanced decay—the study explores how image-based photogrammetry can be employed in resource-limited contexts through collaboration between local civil society and academic partners. Using available photographic equipment and remote training, the project successfully documented the building’s façade and assessed its condition. The process relied on a modular workflow that combined field data collection by a locally trained team with remote data processing by heritage experts. Despite limited access to technical infrastructure and computing resources, the method proved effective in producing accurate 3D models and identifying key agents of deterioration, including water ingress, biological growth, and human-induced damage. The scientific contribution of this work lies in demonstrating that affordable photogrammetry can be adapted for fragile urban environments, supporting both heritage conservation and community empowerment. The paper offers a replicable methodology that lowers technical barriers and enhances local capacity, while also highlighting the roles digital documentation can play in advocacy, conservation planning, and memory preservation. This approach provides a meaningful, scalable model for documenting neglected heritage in similar contexts globally, particularly where conventional resources and institutional support are limited.yesPublishe
Evaluation of factors associated with fear and anxiety in the orthodontic treatment of adult patients
Full text linkBackground: Despite the technological advances made in dentistry, anxiety and fear of pain due to dental treatment are still common. Most patients in a dental clinic suffer some symptoms of anxiety, which can appear at different times. The objective is to know the degree of anxiety and the factors associated with this anxiety during orthodontic treatment.
Material and Methods: 180 adult patients who started orthodontic treatment were selected and a questionnaire was administered at the beginning and after six months of treatment. The SDAI anxiety scale was used to determine the degree of anxiety and its own questionnaire to determine its relationship with the different factors of orthodontic treatment.
Results: When performing descriptive and inferential statistics, it is obtained that 72% of patients at the beginning of orthodontic treatment present a certain degree of anxiety. Through individual logistic regression using anxiety as a response and each of the demographic variables at six months as predictors, it is obtained that gender(OR=3.15) and occupation(OR=3.11) are the two significant predictors (P<0, 05).
Using Fisher’s exact test of independence, the additional questions are related to the demographic variables and anxiety, obtaining a value of P<0.05 in 27(of 114) non-independent relationships between the additional questions and the demographic/anxiety variables.
Conclusions: 38%of patients who begin orthodontic treatment have high anxiety, but after 6 months this anxiety drops to 22%. Women and patients with active work are the most likely to present more anxiety at 6 months. The biggest concerns at the beginning of treatment are: Changes in appearance(Q15),Eating(Q18),Appliance loss(Q19),Hygiene(Q24),Tooth loss(Q25),Extend treatment(Q26),Expectations(Q27) and Retention(Q28).Of these eight, only three continue to worry patients after six months: appliances loss(Q19),Hygiene(Q24) and Tooth
Loss(Q25).At the beginning of treatment there are two questions that do not worry: Enter alone(Q10) and take medications(Q21).Four more are added after six months: Embarrassment(Q16),Getting used to it(Q17),Periodic visits(Q22) and Emergencies(Q23).yesPublishe
Enhancing Sustainability Learning with Immersive Tech at Esade Library
Full text linkThis document, authored by Josep Soler from the Information & Knowledge Service at Esade, outlines the integration of immersive technology at the Esade Library to enhance sustainability learning. The initiative includes the use of VR Meta Quest devices and immersive projectors in dedicated "Immersive Rooms" to create a multi-sensory environment. The project aims to enrich the learning experience, promote mental and physical well-being, and foster student engagement through a student-led model. Key milestones include multiple pilot phases, high student satisfaction, and the official launch planned for April 2025. The document also highlights the collaboration between PACS and the Library, emphasizing the role of immersive tech in raising awareness on sustainability and social impact issuesyesPublishe