Search Results (151)

The environment of cybersecurity is changing at a higher rate than most automated defensive systems can keep pace with, and most enterprise-level solutions are based on a fixed set of rules or a black box with machine learning results. This leads to a loophole between identifying and controlling responses, particularly where the mitigation should demand accountability, proportionality, and justifiable reliability. Current AI–blockchain models enhance logging and detection and are seldom used to enforce adaptive, understandable, or risk-weighted response automation. It presents AGML, a hybrid governance-based defense framework that integrates blockchain mitigation execution with reinforcement-tuned prediction of cyber-risks. The system scores the risk continuously, mitigates severity depending on the situation, and recalculates behavior via a closed feedback mechanism. The blockchain layer is an enforcement boundary and not a passive ledger as all activities are auditable and not tamperable. The results of the evaluation show that there is a quantifiable increase in comparison with recent baselines: 96.48% detection accuracy, 95.22% precision, 94.65% recall, and a false-positive rate of 2.81. The average response latency was 312 ms and around 26 ms was due to governance validation. The system was also found to be stable in repeated adversarial cycles and exhibited stable convergence as opposed to drifting. These findings indicate that responsible and responsive automation, not rapid but uninhibited automation, could provide a more feasible solution to the resilient enterprise cybersecurity. Full article

One of the most famous and frequently analysed descriptions in literary and art history is undoubtedly Dostoevsky’s ekphrasis of Holbein’s painting The Dead Christ in the Tomb in his novel The Idiot (Part III. Chapter 6). The painting itself sparked a series of theological and aesthetic controversies with its unusual, non-canonical iconography depicting of the Passion of Christ. Most art historical analyses do not ignore the ekphrasis of that picture in The Idiot. In this study, we proceed from the premise that the “reading of the painting” leads to different results from the point of view of three main characters of the novel: Rogozhin, Myshkin, and Ippolit. Our goal is to prove that ekphrasis is an inseparable part of a speech act—not an objective description, but intentional speech. Therefore, it cannot be interpreted without understanding the speaker’s intention or the character’s situation. This explains the strong distortions and misreading in the ekphrasis. We can capture the meaning reconstructed in the character’s speech through the motifs of copy, epigonism, duplication and misquotation. Ippolit, the subiectum of ekphrasis, proves to be a truly “bad reader,” and his reading becomes devastating in the world of the novel insofar as it anticipates the destruction expressed in the motifs of the Apocalypse. In addition, we also reveal that there is a hidden intention behind Ippolit’s reading, which we can grasp by examining the signs in the text (metaphorical meaning). The most important motifs of ekphrasis (e.g., nature, the number six, actuality, darkness–light) weave through the entire text of the novel and are incorporated into the process of text production and meaning creation. Full article

Background: E-cigarette use has risen sharply among young never-smokers, largely driven by the availability of several thousand appealing flavours. This narrative review synthesises evidence on the health effects of vaping, flavour toxicology and attractiveness, designs and outcomes of flavour bans, and complementary measures. Methods: Peer-reviewed publications and institutional reports (up to January 2026) were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and reference lists of included articles. Evidence from about 200 references was synthesised by a multidisciplinary working group. Results: Although flavouring substances are generally considered safe for ingestion, their inhalation toxicity remains uncertain. In vitro and in vivo studies have reported oxidative stress, inflammation, cytotoxicity, impaired ciliary function, transcriptomic changes, genotoxicity, and DNA damage. These findings—along with the strong youth appeal of fruit/sweet flavours, the inconclusive effects of flavours on smoking cessation, and persisting uncertainties—support banning non-tobacco e-cigarette flavours under the precautionary principle. Flavour bans can reduce e-cigarette use and initiation, especially among young adults, although partial substitution towards combustible cigarettes has been reported in some U.S. states. Policy success requires effective enforcement, prevention of industry circumvention, curbing cross-border sales, and closing regulatory loopholes—ideally at the international level (e.g., EU-wide). Conclusions: E-cigarette flavours may increase vaping toxicity and strongly appeal to youth, justifying flavour bans to prioritise youth protection. To maximise effectiveness, accompanying measures and sustained investment in tobacco prevention, youth education, and accessible evidence-based smoking cessation support are essential. Full article

Bell–CHSH is an inequality about unconditional expectations: under measurement independence, Bell locality, and bounded outcomes, the CHSH value satisfies $S\le 2$. Experimental correlators, however, are often computed on an accepted subset of trials defined by detection logic, coincidence matching, quality cuts, and analysis windows. We model this by an acceptance probability $\gamma (a,b,\lambda )\in [0,1]$ and the resulting accepted hidden-variable law ${\nu }_{ab}$ obtained by weighting the measurement-independent prior $\rho$ by $\gamma$ and renormalizing. If ${\nu }_{ab}$ depends on the setting pair then the four correlators entering CHSH are expectations under four different measures, and a Bell-local measurement-independent model can yield $S_{\mathrm{obs}}>2$ by selection alone. We quantify the required setting dependence in total variation (TV) distance. For any reference law $\mu$ we prove the sharp bound $S_{\mathrm{obs}}\le 2+2{\sum }_{q\in Q}\mathrm{TV}({\nu }_q,\mu )$ for a CHSH quartet Q. Optimizing over $\mu$ yields the intrinsic dispersion bound $S_{\mathrm{obs}}\le 2+2{\Delta }_Q$, and, in particular, $S_{\mathrm{obs}}\le min\{4,2+6D_Q\}$, where $D_Q$ is the quartet TV diameter. The constants are optimal. Consequently, reproducing Tsirelson’s value $2\sqrt{2}$ within Bell-local measurement-independent models via setting-dependent acceptance requires ${\Delta }_Q\ge \sqrt{2}-1$ (hence, $D_Q\ge (\sqrt{2}-1)/3$). We then propose a two-lane experimental audit protocol: (i) prior-relative fair-sampling diagnostics using tags recorded on all trials, and (ii) prior-free dispersion diagnostics using accepted-tag distributions across settings, with ${\Delta }_{Q,X}$ computable by linear programming on finite tag alphabets. Full article

We revisit the status of quantum probabilities in light of Kolmogorovian Censorship (KC) and the Contexts, Systems, and Modalities (CSM) framework, and we discuss KC-based ideas with respect to superdeterminism, counterfactuality, and predictive incompleteness. After briefly recalling the technical content of KC and its scope, we show that KC correctly identifies that probabilities are classical within a fixed measurement context but does not by itself remove the conceptual tension that motivates nonlocal or conspiratorial explanations of Bell inequality violations. We argue that predictive incompleteness—the view that the quantum state is operationally incomplete until the measurement context is specified—provides a simple, minimal, and explanatory framework that preserves relativistic locality while matching experimental practice. Finally we clarify logical relations among these positions, highlight the assumptions behind them, and justify the move from Kolmogorov’s to Gleason’s framework for quantum probabilities. Full article

In the field of material micro-/nano-analysis, the lack of an efficient method for characterizing the same microregion has been an obstacle in scientific research. This not only severely affects the efficiency and depth of academic communication, but also creates loopholes for data manipulation. To address these challenges, it is essential to develop microscale repositioning techniques to achieve repeatable characterization. However, microscale localization techniques based on Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) remain underdeveloped, facing issues such as poor localization accuracy, high costs, and cumbersome procedures in practical applications. This paper proposes a positioning method for nanoscale samples that utilizes coordinate grids and artificially added micron-scale markers as references. Accurate localization and retrieval of micro- and nanoscale targets in TEM were achieved using a confined comparison approach. This method is simple, cost-effective, and universally applicable to Inter-instrument correlative operation, enabling repeated characterization of the same microregion. It is also effective in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). By enhancing the integration efficiency between TEM, SEM, and AFM, this method will yield more meaningful data and address challenges such as target localization difficulties and poor data reproducibility. It will mitigate issues related to data fabrication and experimental irreproducibility, thereby offering technical support for the smooth progress of research and academic exchange activities. Full article

This study investigated the impact of corruption on the persistence of informality across countries, offering new insights into the institutional dynamics that sustain informal economic activities. Drawing on firm-level data from World Bank Enterprise Surveys covering 159 countries, the analysis employed quantitative methods in Stata to assess four indicators of informality against five exogenous variables. These variables captured key institutional constraints, including corruption (with a focus on bribery), bureaucratic inefficiencies, and infrastructure deficits. Results revealed both linear and nonlinear effects of corruption on informality, suggesting that firms embedded in corrupt environments are more likely to remain informal over time. The role of political networks as facilitators of corruption is particularly significant in developing economies, where informal firms benefit from weak enforcement and institutional loopholes. The findings underscore the structural nature of informality and highlight corruption as a critical barrier to sustainable economic development. By exposing how informal payments and institutional weakness interact, this study contributes to global efforts to promote inclusive growth and effective governance under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 8 and SDG 16. Full article

This article focuses on the fire safety risks associated with conventional glass–aluminum façades—with a particular focus on stick and unitized curtain walling systems—providing an overview of possible fire spread mechanisms, considering the role of the curtain wall in maintaining compartmentation at the spandrel zone. First, it analyzes some of the relevant requirements of different European building regulations. Then, it provides a test evidence-based critical analysis of the gaps and loopholes in the relevant fire resistance standard for partial curtain wall configurations (EN 1364-4), where the evaluation of the propagation within the façade system is not necessarily considered in the fire-resistant spandrel zone. Finally, it presents a proposal for addressing these gaps in the form of a theoretical concept for a new test configuration and additional assessment criteria. This is followed by an initial experimental analysis of the concept. The standard testing campaign showed that temperature rise in mullions can exceed 180 °C after 30 min if limiting measures are not considered in the façade design. However, this can be only detected if framing is in the non-exposed area of the sample, being part of the evaluation surface. Meanwhile, differences are detected between the results from standard and new assessment criteria in the new configuration proposed, including a more rapid temperature rise for framing elements (207 K in a second level mullion at minute 90) than for the common non-exposed assessment surface of the sample (172 K at the same time) in cases where cavities are not protected. Accordingly, the proposed configuration successfully detected vertical temperature transfer within mullions, which can remain undetected in standard EN 1364-4 tests, highlighting the potential for fire spread even in EI120-rated assemblies. Full article

Neglecting preventive healthcare policies has contributed to the global surge in chronic diseases, increased hospitalizations, declining quality of care, and escalating costs. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—notably cardiovascular conditions, diabetes, and cancer—consume over 80% of healthcare expenditure and account for more than 60% of global deaths, which are projected to exceed 75% by 2030. Poor diets, sedentary lifestyles, regulatory loopholes, and underfunded public health initiatives are driving this crisis. Compounding the issue are flawed policies, congressional lobbying, and conflicts of interest that prioritize costly, hospital-based, symptom-driven care over identifying and treating to eliminate root causes and disease prevention. Regulatory agencies are failing to deliver their intended functions. For instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) broad oversight across drugs, devices, food, and supplements has resulted in inefficiencies, reduced transparency, and public safety risks. This broad mandate has allowed the release of unsafe drugs, food additives, and supplements, contributing to the rising childhood diseases, the burden of chronic illness, and over-medicalization. The author proposes separating oversight responsibilities: transferring authority over food, supplements, and OTC products to a new Food and Nutraceutical Agency (FNA), allowing the FDA to be restructured as the Drug and Device Agency (DDA), to refocus on pharmaceuticals and medical devices. While complete reform requires Congressional action, interim policy shifts are urgently needed to improve public health. Broader structural changes—including overhauling the Affordable Care Act, eliminating waste and fraud, redesigning regulatory and insurance systems, and eliminating intermediaries are essential to reducing costs, improving care, and transforming national and global health outcomes. The information provided herein can serve as a White Paper to help reform health agencies and healthcare systems for greater efficiency and lower costs in the USA and globally. Full article

We show that loophole-free Bell-type no-go theorems cannot be derived in theories involving local hidden fields. At the time of measurement, a contextuality loophole appears because each particle’s electromagnetic field interacts with the field of its respective apparatus, preventing the expression of the probability density as a function independent of the orientation of the measuring devices. Then, we use the dynamical evolution of the probability distribution to show that the spin-correlation integral cannot be expressed in terms of initial Cauchy data restricted to the particles. A measurement independence loophole ensues, which prevents the usage of the non-contextual correlation integrals required to demonstrate the CHSH-Bell inequality. We propose that correlated fields are the missing hidden variable triggering the coupled nonlinear oscillations of the particles, which bring about the synchronicities observed in the Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen–Bohm (EPRB) experiment. Full article

Compared to the traditional flip-chip bonded focal plane array, in high-density vertically integrated photodiode (HDVIP) focal plane technology, the thickness of the mercury cadmium telluride (MCT or Hg_1−xCd_xTe) layer serves as a more critical parameter. This parameter not only influences the efficiency of photon energy absorption but also defines the pn junction area, thereby affecting the magnitude of the dark current. Furthermore, it significantly impacts the manufacturability of via-hole etching and formation processes. This paper investigated the photonic crystal resonances and coherent perfect absorption (CPA) effect of a thin MCT layer in HDVIP by using COMSOL Multiphysics^® 4.3b and optimized the structure of the loop-hole photodiode device. The CPA, which is formed by this structure, achieves high absorption of illumination in a very thin MCT film. It is demonstrated that an absorption rate of infrared radiation of more than 95% with a wavelength during the 8 µm–10 µm range can be achieved in Hg_1−xCd_xTe (x = 0.225) with a thickness of only 1.5 µm–3 µm. The benefit of thinner MCT film is that it decreases the dark current of pn junction and reduces the technical difficulty of etching and metallization of the loop-hole photodiode. Full article

This study investigates the legal and planning risks related to the implementation of individual recreational buildings in environmentally valuable areas, with particular emphasis on the municipality of Bukowina Tatrzańska in southern Poland. This research highlights the consequences of a legal loophole that allows construction in protected landscapes based solely on a notification procedure, often excluding municipal authorities from the decision-making process. This analysis combines field inventory, planning document review, and interviews with local officials to assess the scale and nature of development in areas lacking valid local development plans. The findings reveal increasing investor pressure and the misuse of individual recreational buildings for commercial purposes, leading to spatial and landscape degradation. Despite formal compliance with certain legal provisions, construction often takes place in areas of high natural and scenic value, undermining spatial order. This study recommends strengthening local planning instruments, revising construction laws, and enhancing investment control to ensure sustainable land use and landscape protection. Full article

Management of occupational health and safety (OHS) plays a critical role in building safe and effective working environments, especially in industries defined by dangerous operations like manufacturing. Secondary industries are characterized by their use of dangerous materials, complex machinery, and repetitive manual work, prompting the need for stringent OHS laws to protect employees and support business sustainability. Although extensive regulatory materials like ISO 45001 and EU Directive 89/391/EEC exist, the implementation of OHS standards varies among organizations significantly. While larger organizations adopt structured frameworks of safety management, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are often confronted by economic and technical constraints. As a result, policies only appear on paper, and their attitude toward occupational safety is passive. Employing a structured survey analysis, this study evaluates the level at which manufacturing companies in Macedonia-Thrace, a region in Northern Greece, implement OHS actions, the barriers that face them, and how OHS programs influence business performance. Based on the findings, companies that apply proactive OHS practices achieve more productivity, increased staff retention, and lower costs due to accidents, while SMEs often find it difficult to undertake comprehensive policies. The research further identifies the impact of electronic technology, regulation, and leadership on enhancing OHS performance. This study provides evidence-based recommendations on policy changes through the exploration of regionalized patterns of adoption of OHS practices by industrial companies and key policy intervention areas. By eliminating underlying structural loopholes in the implementation of OHS, this paper provides research-backed policy solutions aimed at enhancing work safety and improving corporate performance in the secondary industry. The reinforcement of OHS measures not only reduces hazards at the workplace but also improves the resilience of business, its competitiveness, and conformity to regulations. Full article

Brazil’s Forest Code (FC) is a landmark law that, despite dating back to the 1930s, has low compliance. Illegal deforestation continues, and millions of hectares that were set to be reforested remain degraded. Although sector agreements such as the Amazon Soy Moratorium (ASM) have been important in the fight against deforestation, the implementation of the FC represents the key long-term strategy to halt deforestation in the soy supply chain. Here, we used datasets of the boundaries of rural properties, deforestation permits, environmental licensing, and land cover in Mato Grosso to quantify illegal deforestation and analyzed compliance with the Forest Code (FC) on soy farms to explore how loopholes in the implementation of the FC allow deforestation to continue unabated. Our analyses show that between August 2009 and July 2019, soy farms in Mato Grosso State, the largest Brazilian soy producer, were responsible for 15% (or 468.1 thousand hectares) of all land cleared in registered properties. Half of this deforestation was illegal. The FC implementation within these properties has been slow: only 11% of registered soy farms have made it to the final stage of the registration process, thus being considered fully compliant. This novel analysis reinforces that accelerating the implementation of the FC could significantly reduce deforestation and advance the restoration of illegally cleared land particularly in the Cerrado, where 50% of the original cover has already been lost, as well as in the Amazon. By achieving full compliance in the soy sector, Brazil’s position in the international market would be strengthened as a supplier of sustainably produced, deforestation-free commodities. Full article

This article describes our point of view regarding the security capabilities of classical learning algorithms (CLAs) and quantum mechanisms (QM) in the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) ecosystem. The heterogeneity of the IIoT ecosystem and the inevitability of the security paradigm necessitate a systematic review of the contributions of the research community toward IIoT security (IIoTsec). Thus, we obtained relevant contributions from five digital repositories between the period of 2015 and 2024 inclusively, in line with the established systematic literature review procedure. In the main part, we analyze a variety of security loopholes in the IIoT and categorize them into two categories—architectural design and multifaceted connectivity. Then, we discuss security-deploying technologies, CLAs, blockchain, and QM, owing to their contributions to IIoTsec and the security challenges of the main loopholes. We also describe how quantum-inclined attacks are computationally challenging to CLAs, for which QM is very promising. In addition, we present available IIoT-centric datasets and encourage researchers in the IIoT niche to validate the models using the industrial-featured datasets for better accuracy, prediction, and decision-making. In addition, we show how hybrid quantum-classical learning could leverage optimal IIoTsec when deployed. We conclude with the possible limitations, challenges, and prospects of the deployment. Full article