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Germany's path to a national kidney exchange program: an assessment of the 2024 legislative proposal
No full textBackground:
Kidney exchange programs (KEPs) facilitate organ exchanges among multiple donor–recipient pairs, enabling recipients to obtain immunologically well-matched kidneys through coordinated donor swapping. Despite the demonstrated benefits of such programs, Germany remains the only highly populated EU country in which kidney exchange is permitted only under very restrictive conditions.
Reform context:
In July 2024, the German Federal Cabinet approved draft legislation to amend the 1997 Transplantation Act, with the establishment of a national kidney exchange program (KEP) as one of its primary objectives. The Federal Parliament is expected to deliberate on the draft and consider potential revisions in 2026.
Expected Results:
The proposal is expected to alleviate the shortage of donor organs by mandating full nationwide participation from all transplant centers and by allowing longer exchange cycles as well as chains initiated by non-directed donors. In this paper, we present several international case studies and recent statistical evidence from European KEPs that highlight the potential benefits of including compatible donor–recipient pairs—a feature that is currently absent from the draft legislation.
Conclusion:
We believe that the draft law’s exclusion of compatible donor–recipient pairs may ultimately undermine transplant quality, limit access, and reduce overall program efficiency. We therefore recommend a modest but essential amendment to the legislation before it is submitted for final approval by the Federal Parliament
Shifts in body mass index category with tirzepatide and associated changes in cardiometabolic risk factors in people with obesity: a post hoc analysis from the SURMOUNT-1 and SURMOUNT-4 trials
No full textObjective:
Obesity is a chronic disease that results in increased morbidity and mortality if left untreated. Tirzepatide is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide/glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist approved in the United States for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and obstructive sleep apnea. These post hoc analyses assessed the cardiometabolic risk factors of participants with obesity or overweight treated with tirzepatide who shifted to a lower body mass index (BMI) category.
Methods:
Shifts in BMI categories (<25, 25 to <30, 30 to <35, 35 to <40, and ≥40 kg/m2) from baseline to Week 72 (SURMOUNT-1) and Week 88 (SURMOUNT-4) were assessed. BMI shifts were classified as improved (shift to ≥1 lower category) or not improved (no change/shift to a higher category). Changes from baseline in weight, waist circumference, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, vitals, blood pressure, and lipid profile were measured.
Results:
Improvement in BMI category from baseline occurred in 81.8 % of participants treated with tirzepatide in SURMOUNT-1 and 91.6 % in SURMOUNT-4. Among these participants, mean BMI reductions were greater than in those without improvement (SURMOUNT-1: -8.90 vs -3.65 kg/m2; SURMOUNT-4: -10.47 vs -5.20 kg/m2). In the improved BMI category, tirzepatide treatment showed significant improvement in cardiometabolic parameters in both studies.
Conclusion:
In these post hoc analyses, the majority of tirzepatide-treated participants with obesity or overweight shifted to lower BMI categories. Tirzepatide treatment was associated with significantly improved cardiometabolic risk factors in participants who shifted to a lower BMI category, which may positively impact long-term cardiovascular outcomes
Biocontainment measures to control Mycoplasma bovis transmission in pre-weaning dairy calves: an evidence-based approach
No full textMycoplasma bovis is a key pathogen in the bovine respiratory disease complex, known for causing significant health issues in cattle. A dairy farm in Scotland faced a significant outbreak of bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaning calves (0–60 days old) during the winter period. M. bovis was identified as the primary pathogen in this case due to historical, clinical and postmortem evidence. The farm's calf management practices were found lacking, notably in the use of pooled colostrum, waste milk and incorrectly prepared milk replacer. A biocontainment strategy was implemented, focusing on isolating affected calves and revising feeding and cleanliness practices. After 3 months, the morbidity rate decreased to 3%, and there were no dead calves due to bovine respiratory disease. These evidence-based interventions proved effective in containing the M. bovis outbreak, highlighting the critical role of proactive management and prompt response in controlling the disease
U.S. Tariffs and Greek Exports
Get PDFWe examine the effects of the 2018-2019 U.S. tariffs on Greek goods exports using industry- and firm-level data within a difference-in-differences framework. The results reveal considerable heterogeneity: eight out of seventeen products experienced declines in exports, six saw increases, and the rest showed no significant change. Firm-level analysis confirms part of this heterogeneity. While many export-oriented firms were resilient, some in specific industries experienced either export and sales declines or gains. A notable case is the aluminum sector, where firms experienced substantial increases in exports, pointing to potential sector-specific advantages. We also find modest evidence of export market substitution as a mitigating strategy. Our findings highlight the nuanced, sector-dependent effects of trade policy shifts. Policymakers should design support for affected firms through targeted trade promotion, market diversification incentives, and streamlined export procedures to enhance resilience against trade shocks
Data-driven psychological methods to diversify SIAs and address bias
No full textTo realize their full potential, Socially Interactive Agents (SIAs) must effectively engage with human users from diverse individual, social, and cultural backgrounds. However, most current SIAs are grounded in White- and Western-centric assumptions, limiting their ability to express and interpret social cues appropriately across cultures. Here, we demonstrate how the data-driven psychophysical method of reverse correlation can help address these limitations by modeling users’ perceptual expectations, preferences, and sociocultural norms and strategically integrating these insights into SIA design. Drawing on examples from our research group, we show how this method could enable SIAs to exhibit social signals that are psychologically grounded, culturally adaptive, and ethnically inclusive. By informing the design of SIA appearance and expressive behavior with empirically derived user models, our approach aims to improve user engagement and trust while contributing to broader efforts to mitigate algorithmic bias, reduce access inequality, and challenge real-world prejudice in both human-AI and human–human interaction contexts
Preparing health professionals for environmental health and climate change: a challenge for Europe
Get PDFEven though environmental health and climate change are rapidly intensifying the severity of determinants of disease and inequity, training for health professionals in these areas remains fragmented across Europe. To address this gap, the European Medical Association (EMA), in collaboration with the European Network on Climate and Health Education (ENCHE), the International Network on Public Health and Environment Tracking (INPHET) and University College London, convened a one-day hybrid roundtable in London on 17 September 2025, focused on “Preparing Health Professionals for Environmental Health and Climate Change: A Challenge for Europe”. The programme combined keynote presentations on global and European policy, health economics and curriculum design with three disease-focused roundtables (respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological conditions), each examining the following topics: (A) climate and environment as preventable causes of disease; (B) healthcare as a source of environmental harm; and (C) capacity building through education and training. Contributors highlighted how environmental epidemiology, community-based prevention programmes and sustainable clinical practice can be integrated into teaching, illustrating models from respiratory, cardiovascular, surgical and neurological care. EU-level speakers outlined the policy framework (European Green Deal, Zero Pollution Action Plan and forthcoming global health programme) and tools through which professional and scientific societies can both inform and benefit from European action on environment and health. Discussions converged on persistent obstacles, including patchy national commitments to decarbonising healthcare, isolated innovations that are not scaled and curricula that do not yet embed sustainability in examinable clinical competencies. The conference concluded with proposals to develop an operational education package on environmental and climate health; map and harmonise core competencies across undergraduate, postgraduate and Continuing-professional-development pathways; and establish a permanent EMA-led working group to co-produce a broader position paper with professional and scientific societies. This conference report summarises the main messages and is intended as a bridge between practice-based experience and a formal EMA position on environmental-health training in Europe
LinkedIn to Get In: embedding learning activities to support student career development through online professional networking
Get PDFThe extent to which individuals interact online has expanded in recent years, with online networking playing a major aspect of most people's lives. With employers relying on online searches when evaluating job candidates, the development of a positive professional online presence has become an important aspect in most sectors and potentially a challenge for students preparing to enter the workplace. LinkedIn is a globally recognized networking site, enabling individuals to interact within a professional environment. However, it remains uncertain whether students are aware of its benefits and are confident in using it. Alongside other Life Science degree programmes at the University of Glasgow, staff within the Microbiology and Immunology programmes initiated closed LinkedIn groups, which were limited to staff and current or former students of the relevant degree. The aim of these groups was to promote student awareness of the diversity of career roles available post-university and enable students to network in their chosen field, as levels of student engagement with this platform and how it can be utilized by students for professional networking remained unclear. As part of our 'Linked to Get In' workshop, students connected and conducted an interview with an alumnus of their degree, allowing them to develop their networking skills with professionals in their field and enabling exploration of career prospects, prior to presenting their findings to their peers. Confidence in using LinkedIn for networking increased following this session, with all students agreeing that the inclusion of such a workshop in the curriculum is useful for exploring employability options. Moreover, students had increased awareness of the wider benefits the platform had to offer, and it was not only useful for job searching. Our findings show that LinkedIn has the potential for being an effective platform to enable undergraduate students to engage with professionals in their discipline, with the closed format providing a trusted space for students to enhance their networking and communication skills, whilst exploring the career diversity open to them
Inclusive and social justice-oriented pedagogies in English language classrooms: Insights from Türkiye, Pakistan, and the UK
No full textThis study explored how inclusive and social justice–oriented pedagogies are conceptualised and enacted in language teacher education across Türkiye, Pakistan, and Scotland. Employing a multiple-case, mixed-methods research design, it combined surveys, interviews, and policy-document analyses with a design-based intervention of co-created workshops, involving 66 learning teachers (referring to teachers at different stages of their professional development, including undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral students with varying levels of teaching experience) and 28 teacher educators. Our aim was to examine their knowledge, classroom practices, curricular contexts, and the policy landscapes shaping their teaching. By investigating multiple contexts, we sought to uncover both shared challenges and unique local dynamics influencing the integration of inclusive and social justice-oriented pedagogies in language education. Findings, drawn from descriptive statistics, thematic analysis, and constant comparison, revealed a strong endorsement of social justice goals among participants and a genuine motivation to act. However, systemic barriers, including rigid curricula, lack of resources, high-stakes assessment pressures, and a persistent gap between policy rhetoric and classroom realities, constrained the potential for long-term change. The co-designed workshops emerged as powerful catalysts as they helped clarify concepts, demonstrate inclusive teaching strategies, and strengthen teacher agency. Participants stressed, however, that such short-term interventions must be embedded within continuous professional development and aligned curricula to create sustained impact. Context also shaped outcomes: while awareness of social justice principles is emerging but constrained by centralised curricula in Türkiye, grassroots commitment and advocacy flourish in Pakistan despite material limitations, and ESOL strengths coexist with neoliberal assessment pressures that restrict pedagogic freedom in Scotland. We therefore argue for policy to translate into actionable guidance, embedding social justice across curricula and assessments, and investing in long-term, context-sensitive professional learning. Recognising teachers and teacher educators as agents of change and combining bottom-up professional agency with top-down structural support offers the most promising route to systemic transformation. Ultimately, this study underscores the importance of bridging policy, practice, and professional learning to foster language teacher education that is genuinely inclusive, equitable, and responsive to diverse learners. It provides empirical insights and practical recommendations for educators, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to enact meaningful, context-sensitive reform while shaping future research agendas
Beyond the Novelty Effect: Mathematical Frameworks for Sustainable Robot-Assisted Habit Formation
No full textSocially Assistive Robots (SARs) show promise for initiating positive behaviour change, yet sustaining habits beyond the intervention period remains a persistent challenge. This paper moves beyond interaction-based analysis to propose mathematical frameworks for modelling habit formation dynamics. We introduce three complementary models: Probabilistic Habit Formation optimised via Reinforcement Learning, Rational Habit Strength with hybrid decay, and Long-Term Retention with booster interventions. Using school-based handwashing as an exemplar, Monte Carlo simulations (� = 1000) predict that RL-optimised reinforcement could accelerate habit formation by 32%, while strategic boosters may maintain habit strength 1.3× above withdrawal baselines. These frameworks offer a potentially generalisable approach for robotassisted behaviour change across health, education, and other socially assistive contexts, pending empirical validation
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