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‘All the tools in the toolbox’: some reflections on the proposed recalibration of corporate insolvency laws for environmental ends
No full textDetecting and characterising exoplanets with HARPS-N
Get PDFExoplanet follow-up with JWST requires precise masses and radii. HARPS-N is a high-resolution spectrograph on the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG), predominantly used to detect and characterize exoplanets using the radial velocity (RV) method. The HARPS-N Collaboration has been characterising exoplanets with HARPS-N for over a decade. In this short paper we highlight the contributions that the HARPS-N Collaboration has made to the characterisation of small exoplanets
Optimal timing of cranioplasty post-decompressive craniectomy in traumatic brain injury: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and overview of ongoing trials
Get PDFBackground: The optimal timing of cranioplasty (CP) following decompressive craniectomy (DC) for the management of traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains debated. Prior studies comparing early CP (EC) and late CP (LC) report conflicting outcomes, compounded by inconsistent timing thresholds and limited attention to effect modifiers such as implant material. Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing outcomes of EC (≤ 90 days) versus LC (> 90 days) after DC for TBI, with particular evaluation of ultra-EC (< 35 days) and implant material. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and CENTRAL were electronically searched from inception to April 2025, supplemented by manual screening of references and grey literature. Randomised and observational studies comparing EC and LC in adult TBI patients were included. Primary outcomes of interest were overall complications, reoperation, and functional outcomes. Secondary outcomes included hydrocephalus, shunt dependence, extra-axial collections, infection, haematoma, bone resorption, seizures, mortality, and operative time. Risk of bias was assessed with ROBINS-I and RoB 2 tools, and certainty of evidence with GRADE. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs) were calculated using random-effects meta-analysis. Results: Eighteen studies (n = 2226) were included. Overall complications did not differ between EC and LC, though autologous/allogenic EC carried higher risk (RR = 1.92; P = 0.02). Reoperation was significantly higher in mixed-materials EC cohorts (RR = 2.98; P = 0.02). No difference was observed in functional outcomes. Ultra-EC was associated with a lower risk of postoperative hydrocephalus (RR = 0.31; P = 0.005), while shunt dependence showed no significant difference. No significant differences were observed in extra-axial collections, infection, haematoma, bone resorption, seizures, or mortality. Operative time was shorter with EC (MD = -23.94 min; P = 0.0008), with the greatest reductions in ultra-EC (MD = -42.43 min; P < 0.00001). These findings are based largely on observational data with low-moderate certainty and should be interpreted cautiously. Conclusions: CP timing alone does not determine safety or efficacy, with risks varying substantially by implant material. Outcomes are critically modified by implant material and perioperative context. Ultra-EC may confer operative and physiological advantages without excess infection or mortality, particularly with synthetic implants, whereas early autologous or allogenic reimplantation carries higher risk of complications and reoperations. These findings argue for moving beyond a simplistic early-versus-late dichotomy and instead shifting towards material- and patient-specific strategies. Harmonised definitions and material-stratified prospective trials incorporating long-term functional outcomes are essential to establish evidence-based guidelines
Der stadtberg zu Pergamon im winter 1302-1303, und die entwicklung Pergamons im 14. jahrhundert, anhand numismatischer quellen: The city hill of Pergamon in the winter of 1302-1303, and the development of Pergamon in the 14th century, based on numismatic sources
Get PDFStabilized perovskite ink for scalable coating enables high-efficiency perovskite modules
Get PDFPerovskite inks play critical roles in determining film quality and device performance, and ink stability is desired to ensure high device reproducibility. Here, we reveal the instability issue of current cesium-formamidinium lead triiodide (CsxFA1-xPbI3) inks whose aggregation and precipitation tendencies are induced by excessively strong solvent-lead-halide coordination. By modulating coordination strength between precursor salts and solvents, we identify solvent coordination-dispersion equilibrium as the governing factor for ink stability and develop a stable ink that exhibits a remarkable increase in the shelf life. It effectively tunes ink drying and film crystallization, resulting in blade-coated perovskite films with excellent uniformity and low defect density. This enhancement led to increased aperture efficiency of ambient-fabricated p-i-n perovskite modules to 23.5%. The resultant devices also exhibit high durability, and 99% of the initial PCE was retained after 1700 hours of maximum power point tracking following the ISOS-L-2 standard protocol
Attenuated viral strains of priority pathogens for potential use in controlled human infection model studies: A scoping review
Get PDFBackground: There are several known pathogens and families identified as high risk for pandemic potential. It is essential to study these pathogens and develop medical countermeasures to mitigate disease prior to potential pandemics. Controlled human infection models (CHIMs) using attenuated viral strains may offer an efficient and safe way to do this. Objective: Our aim was to systematically examine the literature for attenuated, but replication competent, strains of Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) identified priority pathogens (Ebola, Lassa virus, Nipah virus, Rift Valley fever virus, chikungunya virus and Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus) that have been administered to humans. Design: A comprehensive literature search of multiple databases was performed by an information specialist. All search results were screened by two authors against inclusion/exclusion criteria from a pre-specified protocol. The primary outcome was confirmation that the administered viral strain could subsequently be recovered from participants. The secondary outcome was attenuated virus safety. Results: Our searches yielded 13078 results and 5998 articles remained for screening after removing duplicates and animal studies. Subsequently, 351 articles were selected for full text review and nine were included for data extraction. Four distinct attenuated strains were identified across two priority pathogens – TSI-GSD-218 and VLA1553 for chikungunya virus and MP-12 and hRVFV-4s for Rift Valley Fever virus. Attenuated virus was recovered for each strain except hRVFV-4s. There were no major safety concerns for these identified strains in Phase 1–3 studies. Conclusions: We have identified three attenuated viral strains that may be amenable to development into novel CHIMs for two priority pathogens. Of these, VLA1553 for chikungunya is a licenced and commercially available vaccine product suitable for use in CHIM. There is a research gap for the creation of new attenuated mutants that could be utilised in CHIM for other priority pathogens
Toward inclusive feedback in multilingual writing: a Global Englishes perspective
Get PDFFeedback on multilingual writing is a central yet contested feature of English language education, historically guided by narrow, prescriptive norms. Drawing on our experience as researchers and editors in the fields of Global Englishes and academic writing, this viewpoint article critiques conventional feedback practices that privilege prescriptive native-speaker standards and marginalise multilingual writers. We argue for a reconceptualization of feedback as an inclusive, dialogic process that aims to improve rhetorical effectiveness and mirrors the linguistically diverse contexts within which the written language is used. The paper explores how teacher-, peer-, and AI-generated feedback can reinforce or resist normative bias, and examines the structural challenges that inhibit change, including high-stakes expectations and institutional pressures. We propose that feedback, when guided by Global Englishes and translingual principles, and supported by emerging forms of critical digital literacy, can empower writers to participate confidently and equitably in global and academic discourses
Investigation of English language learners’ attitudes toward Global Englishes and Global Englishes Language Teaching in relation to their academic interests and experiences with English as a global lingua franca
Get PDFThis study investigates Japanese university students’ attitudes toward Global Englishes (GE) and Global Englishes Language Teaching (GELT), focusing on how these attitudes are shaped by students’ academic interests and experiences using English as a lingua franca (ELF), both abroad and in domestic EFL contexts. Drawing on survey data from 531 undergraduates, the study examines learners’ GE and GELT attitudes, including desire for ELF communication, attachment to “native” English, and openness to GELT. Independent samples t-tests revealed that English majors and students with study abroad experience demonstrated stronger support for GELT and ELF communication, and the latter group also showed lower attachment to “native” speaker norms. Structural equation modeling indicated that learners’ experiences using ELF locally had complex effects: they increased both the desire for ELF communication and attachment to “native” English, with opposing implications for GELT attitudes. While ELF experience indirectly supported GELT openness through increased ELF desire, it also hindered acceptance via strengthened nativespeakerism. The findings highlight a persistent tension in learners’ beliefs about linguistic diversity, shaped by deeply embedded ideologies and limited opportunities for multilingual engagement in Japanese local contexts. The study calls for pedagogical environments that recognize and promote ELF affordances and multilingualism to foster more equitable and contextually relevant English language education
Investigating human paleodiet at Mesolithic Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov, Karelia using a multi-proxy stable isotope approach
Get PDFThis study employs multiple isotopic proxies to investigate dietary practices at Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov (YOO, Karelia, north-western Russia), the largest Mesolithic cemetery in northern Europe. Building on previous research, we combine bulk δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N collagen measurements from 60 human individuals with new δ¹³C values on enamel bioapatite (n = 10) and the first archaeological compound-specific isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA) from north-western Russia (n = 6), to provide a more comprehensive view of local resource use and dietary patterns. Results show that YOO forms a distinct isotopic cluster within the broader circum-Baltic hunter-gatherer-fisher spectrum, characterized by unusually high δ¹⁵N values for an inland site. CSIA-AA and combined enamel-collagen δ¹³C data do not indicate marine contributions or freshwater seal hunting as the drivers of these values, instead confirming a high reliance on freshwater resources compatible with the Lake Onega system and potentially an increased diet-to-tissue offset related to a high protein diet. FRUITS Bayesian dietary modelling similarly indicated a high freshwater component, alongside unexpectedly low contributions from terrestrial game and high estimates for plant foods. The latter results diverge from ethnographic expectations for boreal hunter-gatherer-fisher subsistence and may reflect current limitations in modelling lipid intake and adaptive strategies in high-protein diets, highlighting a need to reconsider how isotopic and ethnographic data are integrated. Isotopic variability between individuals was minimal, with no significant differences by sex or burial location, supporting a shared dietary regime during the relatively short period of site use. Overall, this study presents the most detailed isotopic evaluation of diet at Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov to date and underscores the value of multi-proxy isotope analysis in exploring prehistoric lifeways
The MAESTRIA demonstrator: AI-driven multimodal clinical decision support for cardiovascular risk prediction
Get PDFBackground: Personalised cardiovascular risk prediction remains limited by fragmented data and lack of clinical interpretability. The MAESTRIA project aims to overcome these limitations by developing an AI-powered, multimodal Clinical Decision Support Demonstrator for stroke and atrial fibrillation (AF) risk stratification. Purpose: To develop and validate an interoperable demonstrator integrating imaging, electrophysiology, clinical and omics data using explainable AI to support personalised cardiovascular care. Methods: We harmonised multimodal datasets across several European centers, including clinical variables, ECG, echocardiography, cardiac-MRI, CT, wearable-datasets and omics. Predictive models were developed using ensemble machine learning algorithms (e.g., RandomForest, Logistic Regression, CatBoost, XGBoost), deep learning approaches for imaging segmentation, and multi-block data integration frameworks. Model interpretability was addressed through SHAP value analysis and partial dependence plots. The demonstrator was built as a GDPR-compliant, decision support tool with clinician-friendly interfaces. Results: The demonstrator integrates validated models predicting AF recurrence, stroke risk, and atrial cardiomyopathy. By integrating ECG, echo, MRI, CT, and omics data, it significantly outperforms standard clinical scores, boosting prediction accuracy (AUC increase up to 0.15). External validation across multiple cohorts confirmed generalisability and clinical usability. Conclusion: The MAESTRIA Demonstrator, built on a robust multimodal AI framework, promises to be a powerful clinical tool enabling clinicians to predict, visualize, and interpret cardiovascular risk, particularly atrial fibrillation, through the integration of clinical, imaging, and biological data