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"Dio e le Sacre Scritture non insegnano questo." Scrittura emminile e uso delle Bibbia in due opuscoli anonimi della Riforma
No full textOn the Interplay Between Graph Quality, Traversal Strategies, and Performance of ANN Retrieval Methods
No full textState-of-the-art approximate nearest neighbor (ANN) methods like HNSW and LADR use document-document proximity graphs (also known as corpus graphs) to identify relevant documents efficiently. Complete graph construction latency (though built offline) has a quadratic time complexity of the number of documents, which is a major hurdle when scaling these methods. Graph approximations are popular ways to reduce the computational cost of building such corpus graphs. However, approximations come with a cost, namely, a lower quality of corpus graphs. Hence, there is a practical need to understand the tradeoffs between a corpus graph's quality and its effectiveness when used with various ANN methods; in other words, how 'approximate' can a corpus graph be while maintaining strong retrieval effectiveness? We construct approximate (i.e. poorer quality) corpus graphs using various methods and present extensive experiments that analyze the robustness and performance of popular ANN methods on these graphs. Our analysis is performed on multiple datasets, with different parameters and various poor graph simulation strategies. We also analyze different graph traversal approaches for robust and efficient retrieval across graphs of poor quality. We conclude by addressing the utility of these approaches at the billion-scale, practical scenarios by optimizing graph construction and graph traversal stages. We show that robust ANN methods like Adaptive LADR show statistically equivalent performance on poor quality graphs while saving 33% graph construction time
Pf8: an open dataset of Plasmodium falciparum genome variation in 33,325 worldwide samples
Get PDFWe describe the Pf8 data resource, the latest MalariaGEN release of curated genome variation data on over 33,000 Plasmodium falciparum samples from 99 partner studies and 122 locations over more than 50 years. This release provides open access to raw sequencing data and genotypes at over 12 million genomic positions. For the first time, it includes copy-number variation (CNV) calls in the drug-resistance associated genes gch1 and crt . As in Pf7, CNV calls are provided for mdr1 and plasmepsin2/3 , along with calls for deletion in hrp2 and hrp3, genes associated with rapid diagnostic test failures. This data resource additionally features derived datasets, interactive web applications for exploring patterns of drug resistance and variation in over 5,000 genes, an updated Python package providing methods for accessing and analysing the data, and open access analysis notebooks that can be used as starting points for further analyses. In addition, informative example analyses show contrasting profiles of the decline of chloroquine resistance-associated mutations in Africa, and variation in copy number variation across 10 distinct sub-populations. To the best of our knowledge, Pf8 is the largest open data set of genome variation in any eukaryotic species, making it an invaluable foundational resource for understanding evolution, including that of pathogens
Branch-and-bound algorithm for efficient reliability analysis of general coherent systems
Get PDFBranch-and-bound algorithms, also known as bounding or decomposition algorithms, have been developed for reliability analysis of coherent systems. They can find a computationally efficient representation of a system failure or survival event, which can be re-used when the input probability distributions or reliabilities change, for example with time or when new data is available. Existing branch-and-bound algorithms can handle only a limited set of system performance functions, mostly network connectivity and maximum flow. Furthermore, they run redundant analyses on component vector states whose system state can be inferred from previous analysis results. We address these limitations by proposing the branch-and-bound for reliability analysis of general coherent systems (BRC) algorithm: an algorithm that automatically finds minimal representations of failure/survival events of general coherent systems. Computational efficiency is attained by dynamically inferring importance of component events from hitherto obtained results. We demonstrate advantages of the BRC method as a real-time risk management tool by application to the Eastern Massachusetts highway benchmark network
Populist radical right frames of gender and sexuality in France and Italy. Targeting feminists and other enemies of the people
No full textDrawing on Critical Frame Analysis, and bringing together research on the populist radical right (PRR) and on anti-gender campaigns, this article explores how two main PRR transnational frames—the anti-gender and the “racialization of sexism” frame—are combined and recontextualized, varying over time and across contexts. It focuses on how the Rassemblement national (France) and the Lega (Italy) frame gender/sexuality to target the gendered internal enemies of the people—feminists, LGBTQI+ people, and political élites. The PRR frames its internal and external enemies as cultural and moral relativists in Italy (moral frame), and as “communitarianists” in France (modernist frame). The analysis identifies two PRR discursive strategies overtly attacking and delegitimating, respectively, feminist/LGBTQI+ claims. Gender/sexuality issues connect populist and nativist claims, and nationally specific regimes of gender, ethnicity, and religion as well as party cultures define how PRR frames of gender/sexuality are recontextualized and vary over time
Robot, avatar, or human: the impact of partner representation and task on the communication experience
No full textAvatars and telepresence robots have long received attention for remote communication. However, the specific nature of their physicality, expressiveness, and mobility may affect their usefulness for different tasks. This work compares using an avatar (presented in augmented reality) and a telepresence robot to Face-to-Face (F2F) communication during different communication tasks: free conversation, negotiation, and referential communication with movement. We conducted a user study (split-plot design, N=54) with the type of representation of the conversational partner as the within variable and the communication task as the between variable. Our results show that the type of task, especially referential communication with movement, influenced the perceived attention to nonverbal cues and closeness. Generally, gestures and body movements received the least focus with telepresence robots. Gestures in avatars and F2F drew similar attention, which we attribute to the avatar’s tracking fidelity. Gaze received less attention in both avatar- and robot-mediated communication compared to F2F, while facial expressions on the robot’s screen heightened attention compared to avatars. These findings advance the fundamental understanding of mediated communication and support researchers and practitioners in shaping the design of communication applications beyond today’s video calls
Observations of a faint nonthermal onset before a GOES C-class flare
No full textWe present an analysis of a GOES C1-class flare from 2022 September 6, which was jointly observed as occulted by Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray (NuSTAR) and on-disk by Spectrometer/Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX). NuSTAR observed faint coronal nonthermal emission as well as plasma heating >10MK, starting 7 minutes prior to the flare. This onset emission implies that during this time, there is a continuous electron acceleration in the corona, which could also be responsible for the observed heating. The nonthermal model parameters remained consistent throughout the entire onset, indicating that the electron acceleration process persisted during this time. Furthermore, the onset coincided with a series of type III radio bursts observed by Long Wavelength Array-1, further supporting the presence of electron acceleration before the flare began. We also performed spectral analysis of the impulsive flare emission with STIX (thermal and footpoint emission). STIX footpoints and the onset coronal source were found to have similar electron distribution power-law indices, but with increased low-energy cut-off during the flare time. This could suggest that the nonthermal onset is an early signature of the acceleration mechanism that occurs during the main phase of the flare
The big growth reset in UK competition law: perception is everything
No full textThe Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is enduring one of the most turbulent periods of its decade-long history, following the politically charged departure of its former chairman, Marcus Bokkerink, in January 2025. Having been issued a government steer to support economic growth and investment, the CMA has proceeded to consult on a series of guidance updates and procedural reforms, forged under a new “4Ps” mantra, focused on pace, predictability, proportionality, and process. This article considers the emergence of the growth agenda under UK competition law and, in particular, efforts by the government to regain control of the growth discourse by capitalising on the CMA’s (largely ill-founded) reputation as an overzealous enforcer of international renown. It suggests that the government’s intervention in the leadership and strategic vision of the CMA likely coincided with a reimagining of the 4Ps as a fully fledged enforcement framework, prompting the CMA to accelerate its pre-existing efforts to nurture a more business-friendly approach to its mergers and markets regime. Having exaggerated Bokkerink’s role at the helm of an oft-regarded bureaucratic authority, his removal enabled the government to send a clear message to the international investment community that the UK is “open for business.
Why early, large-scale weight loss is the future of type 2 diabetes care
No full textType 2 diabetes has traditionally been viewed as a chronic, progressive condition. However, recent innovations, such as accessible low-calorie diets and newer weight loss medications, are challenging this paradigm. Evidence from clinical trials and mechanistic studies indicates that intentional weight loss, especially early in the disease course, can meaningfully alter its trajectory through reducing ectopic fat and glycemic levels. New medications that reduce “food noise” are particularly valuable in today’s obesogenic environments, helping patients regain some control over calorie intake and supporting sustainable lifestyle changes. These therapies can lead to weight loss of ≥10% in type 2 diabetes and may enable newly diagnosed individuals to achieve and maintain normoglycemia for many years. Early, substantial weight loss combined with glycemic normalization has the potential to extend life expectancy, reduce or delay complications associated with obesity and hyperglycemia, improve quality of life, and lower long-term care needs. Beyond weight reduction, additional health benefits are offered by these medications, as they also slow atherosclerosis and preserve kidney function. Building on recent American Diabetes Association–European Association for the Study of Diabetes guideline recommendations, we propose that intentional weight loss at or near the time of diagnosis be considered a central strategy in type 2 diabetes management. To support this shift, proof-of-concept trials should be conducted for assessment of the long-term efficacy and durability of this approach. With success, increased competition and broader access to weight loss medications could lower costs and expand availability—even in low- and middle-income countries, where diabetes rates are rising rapidly—supporting a transformative change in the global standard of care
MEMS-based magnetoelectric antennas for wireless power transmission in brain-implantable devices
No full textWirelessly powered brain-implantable devices are emerging as promising approaches for treating neural disorders through the precise recording and stimulation of neuronal activity. Magnetoelectric (ME) antennas hold substantial potential for addressing the fundamental trade-off between size and resonant frequency in implantable antennas, as they transduce magnetic waves into acoustic resonance at their intrinsic structural frequency. This allows the ME antenna to achieve a microscale size at low operating frequencies while maintaining high power transfer efficiency, robust misalignment tolerance, and minimal tissue attenuation, thereby overcoming the limitations of conventional near-field and far-field wireless power transfer. Furthermore, ME-antenna-based energy harvesting systems enable seamless integration with complementary circuits, facilitate fully integrated designs at the system level with compact size and low power consumption. This review presents the primary building blocks, design principles, and performance parameters of ME-antenna-based power links for neural interfacing, outlining a vision toward minimally invasive and reliable next-generation self-powered wireless brain implantable devices
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