Search Results (480)

Artificial intelligence (AI) coding systems now range from inline completion to repository-level agents and platform-supported application builders; yet, software engineering still lacks a code-generation-centered operational taxonomy for describing how much work is delegated, under what conditions, and with what responsibility structure. This study proposes Levels of Automated Code Generation (LACG), a six-level taxonomy (L0–L5) for classifying automation in AI-augmented software construction. LACG is organized around four responsibility-aware concepts—The Software Development Task (SDT), Operational Capability Domain (OCD), fallback responsibility, and minimal risk condition—and is assigned to a declared configuration–SDT–OCD tuple rather than to a vendor brand or model family in the abstract. To reduce the risk that public vendor documentation reproduces marketing bias, the method separates declared affordance evidence from routine capability evidence and adopts an evidence-triangulation design. Public documentation is used only to identify configuration boundaries and declared affordances; independent software engineering benchmarks, agent studies, productivity studies, and taxonomy-evaluation literature are used to calibrate the level boundaries and constrain the claims. LACG is then applied to 30 representative current AI coding tool configurations using time-stamped public-documentation records, with boundary logic cross-checked against independent evidence on repository-level issue solving, agent tool use, and context-dependent productivity outcomes. Three anonymized human raters, selected for software engineering or AI-coding-tool expertise and independent of the authors and evaluated vendors, then classified the same prepared, blinded public-documentation records using the LACG coding manual. Exact three-rater agreement was 28/30 (93.3%); adjacent-level and majority agreement were both 30/30 (100.0%); mean pairwise quadratic-weighted Cohen’s kappa was 0.963; and Krippendorff’s alpha for ordinal ratings was 0.963. These agreement statistics test classification consistency over a structured documentary evidence base; they do not test actual tool behavior, direct execution, product performance, safety, productivity, or deployment outcomes. After adjudication, the final sample contains six L1 configurations, nine L2 configurations, and fifteen L3 configurations; no public configuration is classified as L4 or L5 under the fallback-responsibility criterion. The study supports preliminary, documentation-bound classification applicability, boundary calibration, and discriminative vocabulary development, not predictive validation or product-level performance claims. LACG provides an operational vocabulary for future empirical work on AI-augmented software construction, benchmark design, tool comparison, and responsibility allocation, while leaving outcome validation for governance, security, productivity, and procurement to subsequent empirical studies. Full article

Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) has been widely investigated for cognitive enhancement and neurorehabilitation; however, its cognitive effects remain highly variable across studies and individuals. Increasing evidence suggests that this variability may be explained by state-dependent and history-dependent plasticity mechanisms rather than stimulation parameters alone. This systematic review aimed to synthesize experimental human studies investigating how stimulation protocols interact with brain state, baseline performance, and prior stimulation history to influence cognitive outcomes. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, resulting in 27 eligible experimental studies published between 2008 and 2024. Across cognitive domains such as working memory, declarative memory, perceptual learning, inhibitory control, and creativity, stimulation effects were consistently modulated by baseline performance, task engagement, emotional or physiological state, stimulation timing, and prior stimulation exposure. These findings suggest that transcranial electrical stimulation may be better conceptualized as a state-dependent modulator of neural plasticity rather than a direct cognitive enhancement technique. Overall, the review indicates that protocol-dependent factors such as timing, priming, baseline state, and stimulation history play a critical role in shaping cognitive outcomes. Future research should therefore prioritize state-dependent, task-coupled, and individualized stimulation protocols to improve reproducibility and to better understand variability in cognitive and clinical outcomes. Full article

Saxitoxin (STX) is one of the most potent natural neurotoxins known and is the only marine toxin to be declared a chemical weapon. In both marine and freshwater systems filter feeding organisms can accumulate saxitoxin and human consumption of toxin-contaminated food can result in paralytic shellfish poisoning. Here we highlight for the first time a human cell-based assay for the detection and neutralisation of STX activity on an automated patch clamp (APC) system. We demonstrate that a human embryonic kidney (HEK) cell line expressing human Nav1.6 can rapidly and sensitively detect the presence of a range of sodium ion channel blockers including STX. The use of neutralising monoclonal antibody GT13-A and/or saxiphilin was found to confer specificity to the assay by being able to dissociate between STX (along with closely related analogues) and tetrodotoxin. Finally, the application of the functional assay for the detection of STX in complex samples was evaluated during an international exercise led by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The neutralisation of STX activity in blinded samples enabled the indirect detection of the toxin in the relevant samples and provided an alternative orthogonal technique to corroborate the findings of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Collectively this work demonstrates the significant potential for functional assays in the analysis of samples suspected of being contaminated with STX and related sodium ion channel targeting toxins; complementing traditional direct identification methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD), LC-MS or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Full article

A Jeffersonian model of civic education supports robust civic engagement while differing in important respects from prevailing paradigms of community-embedded learning that prioritize activism. Rather than emphasizing participation alone, Jefferson’s approach to the development of civic awareness foregrounds reasoned speech, civil discourse, and the cultivation of practical judgment informed by theoretical understanding. Central to this model is Jefferson’s insistence that civic education is primarily a local and state responsibility, grounded in a broader commitment to self-government. Jefferson’s account reflects an appreciation for human reason as a universal capacity that makes consent and civic deliberation possible. Reason, so understood, provides the foundation for political equality and for an account of human flourishing articulated most clearly in the Declaration of Independence and consistent with core claims of the natural law tradition. This framework supports a conception grounded in metaphysical equality and civic friendship, best expressed within a federal political order, and capable of sustaining what classic sources and contemporary initiatives describe as a “pervasive commitment to diversity—as well as unity”. Further contributing to the novelty of our argument, we show that Jeffersonian natural-law-inflected civic engagement resonates well into the 20th century. Important judicial decisions, educational initiatives, and policy recommendations—including Cook v. McKee, Education for American Democracy (EAD), and the Truman Commission Report—draw upon related concepts of civic formation, consent, and reasoned participation. Jefferson’s emphasis on “reasons in speech,” understood as an essential element of self-government, thus remains a necessary and underappreciated contribution to contemporary debates over civic education and engagement. Full article

Monkeypox (Mpox) disease, caused by the Monkeypox virus (Mpox virus), emerged as a significant global health threat during the 2022 outbreak, prompting the World Health Organisation (WHO) to declare it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Rapid evolution through genomic modifications enhanced its outbreak potential. Zoonotic transmission occurs through close contact with infected rodents or primates; human-to-human transmission occurs via close contact or homosexual intercourse. The virus disseminates via the lymphatic system, causing symptoms ranging from mild skin lesions to severe multi-system complications or even death. Diagnosis incorporates clinical symptoms as well as advanced molecular and immunological methods. Currently, no specific antiviral medications or vaccines are available for Mpox, necessitating reliance on conventional therapeutic supports and treatments developed for smallpox. Raising awareness, promoting protective practices, implementing surveillance, enabling rapid diagnosis, ensuring timely treatment, and promoting mass vaccination are crucial to curb Mpox transmission. This narrative review provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on epidemiology, evolution, transmission, pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, vaccination, and prevention strategies for Mpox. Full article

This paper provides a feasibility study of a non-invasive microwave-based glucose-sensing system based on a small printed slot antenna with etched step-impedance resonators (SIRs) on an FR4 substrate in the ground plane at approximately 5.7 GHz. The sensor proposed takes advantage of the effect of the antenna resonant frequency and reflection coefficient (S11) perturbation due to the dielectric loading of a human finger placed in the antenna near field. Instead of declaring direct glucose specificity, this paper is dedicated to understand whether the measures of RF can be translated to the invasive glucose values under the condition of controlled positioning. A vector network analyzer was used to measure the experimental values where resonant frequency and S11 magnitude were obtained at the point of peak sensitivity due to fixed finger placement at the point. These RF properties were associated with invasively measured glucose values using three modeling methods: a simple analytical linear formula, a second-degree Polynomial Ridge regression model, and a Random Forest machine learning model. The comparative analysis has established that nonlinear data-driven models outperform the analytical formulations significantly with the highest predictive accuracy being the Random Forest model (R² = 0.72, RMSE = 10.57 mg/dL, MAE = 5.16 mg/dL). The findings affirm that the impacts of antenna loading control the raw measurements, but the trend related to glucose can be extracted upon machine learning calibration under controlled conditions. The research provides a methodological framework of RF-based non-invasive glucose sensing and the need to employ various phantom-based validation, sub-subject-based modeling, or clinically based evaluation metrics in future studies. Full article

Women’s political participation and representation is an important requirement for gender equality and achieving a truly democratic society. As provided in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, women and men have an equal right to civic and political rights. When women are involved in politics, communities move towards gender equality, which ensures that various voices are heard in governance and policy-making. This study was rooted in the fact that many African women continue to face repression, with several societies constraining their capability to contribute fully within political and social domains. The study employed secondary quantitative data to achieve its objective. Panel data for 17 countries with a poor track record on women’s rights and ever-declining rates on the Women’s Development Index were used by the study. A Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) panel technique was used for estimation purposes. The results showed that economic growth, participatory democracy, freedom of expression, globalisation and clean elections have a positive relationship with women’s political participation. This entails that these factors contribute to more political participation for women. The study recommends that in order to enhance women’s political participation, governments and civil society should strengthen by institutionalising inclusive decision-making processes at all levels. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chrononutrition is an emergent field concerning the effect of eating patterns on human health and their relationship with biological rhythms. Current evidence points towards the benefits of early eating in the prevention of non-communicable diseases and circadian health. Despite the importance of eating/fasting rhythm, current methods are neither specific nor validated against physiological variables. This work aimed to explore an objective metabolic outcome, postprandial glucose, as an accuracy indicator of self-declared meal schedules registered in a mobile app. Methods: A 1-week protocol of ambulatory monitoring of meal schedules, glucose, and circadian variables was performed in 20 young adults. Meal annotations were registered using KronoEat 1.0, a smartphone app, allowing for both prospective and recall entries. A circadian monitoring device provided data on movement intensity, distal skin temperature, and prospective food annotation. Results: Participants annotated an average of 3.5 food events/day/participant with KronoEat. Breakfast (92.7%) and lunch (86.4%) showed the highest proportion of food events related to a glycemic excursion, whereas this proportion was lower for dinner (79.7%) and snacks (67.7%). Postprandial glucose after main meals differed significantly from average glucose levels. Interesting couplings were found in circadian variables and glucose—for example, between post-breakfast glycemic excursions and the morning increase in activity. Conclusions: Meal schedules registered under free-living conditions in KronoEat show high levels of correlation with postprandial glucose and glycemic excursions derived from continuous glucose monitoring. Full article

This paper explores the controversial issue of the extent to which human rights values are universal and applicable within all cultural contexts across the contemporary world. It evaluates three claims that are commonly made by those working in the field of intercultural education: (i) because human rights are a product of Western ways of thinking, they are incompatible with the values and norms of non-Western cultures; (ii) applying human rights to non-Western cultures is culturally insensitive and a form of cultural imperialism; and (iii) human rights are based on an individualistic conception of the human being and are therefore inappropriate for collectivistic cultures. This paper provides a critical review of all three claims, with the aim of evaluating each of them in turn. The review reveals that the claim that human rights are incompatible with the values and norms of non-Western cultures is both factually incorrect and analytically problematic; that historically, the contents of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights were shaped and endorsed by both Western and non-Western actors; and that human rights are based on a collectivistic and communitarian—not an individualistic—conception of the human being. It is argued that the approach to human rights that is compatible with these conclusions is relative universalism, according to which the implementation of human rights principles should always display flexibility so that cultural specificities can be appropriately balanced against the general principles of universal human rights. Two further issues that are also discussed are the organised hypocrisy in the policies of many Western governments in relationship to human rights and the need for greater material equality to ensure the effective implementation of human rights. The conclusion that is drawn from the review is that there is no ethical dilemma for those working in the field of intercultural education in embracing and endorsing universal human rights, that a culturally sensitive approach can, and indeed should, be adopted in applying universal human rights principles in all cultural contexts, and that the assault on universal human rights from intercultural education is based on widely repeated misunderstandings and myths about human rights. Full article

In this essay, I explore the historical challenge that Abraham Lincoln posed to Stephen Douglas at the fifth debate in Galesburg. During an argument regarding the morality of slavery and the meaning and significance of the American regime, Douglas contended that the nation was legally founded on white supremacy. Lincoln, however, affirmed that based on all available historical evidence, the Founders intended to include all humans when they said in the Declaration of Independence, based on their understanding of natural law, that “all men are created equal.” To demonstrate his confidence in this belief, Lincoln challenged Douglas to provide primary source evidence that anyone, prior to the 1850s, ever said that the black race was not included in the Declaration. Studying Lincoln’s natural law challenge and the responses it received offers a new perspective on the importance of the original meaning of the Declaration’s equality principle, grounded in the law of nature, as well as how Lincoln thought about that principle—particularly in contrast to rivals like Douglas and Roger Taney. Full article

Cost code verification in state-funded construction projects remains a labor-intensive and error-prone task, particularly given the structural heterogeneity of project estimates and the prevalence of malformed codes, inconsistent units of measurement (UoMs), and locally modified price components. This study evaluates a deterministic GPT-based assistant designed to automate Vietnam’s regulatory verification. The assistant was developed and iteratively refined across four Action Research cycles. Also, the system enforces strict rule sequencing and dataset grounding via Python-governed computations. Rather than relying on probabilistic or semantic reasoning, the system performs strictly deterministic checks on code validity, UoM alignment, and unit price conformity in material (MTR), labor (LBR), and machinery (MCR), given the provincial unit price books (UPBs). Deterministic equality is evaluated either on raw numerical values or on values transformed through explicitly declared, rule-governed operations, preserving auditability without introducing tolerance-based or inferential reasoning. A dedicated exact-match mechanism, which is activated only when a code is invalid, enables the recovery of typographical errors only when a project item’s full price vector well matches a normative entry. Using twenty real construction estimates (16,100 rows) and twelve controlled error-injection cases, the study demonstrates that the assistant executes verification steps with high reliability across diverse spreadsheet structures, avoiding ambiguity and maintaining full auditability. Deterministic extraction and normalization routines facilitate robust handling of displaced headers, merged cells, and non-standard labeling, while structured reporting provides line-by-line traceability aligned with professional verification workflows. Practitioner feedback confirms that the system reduces manual tracing effort, improves evaluation consistency, and supports documentation compliance with human judgment. This research contributes a framework for large language model (LLM)-orchestrated verification, demonstrating how Action Research can align AI tools with domain expectations. Furthermore, it establishes a methodology for deploying LLMs in safety-critical and regulation-driven environments. Limitations—including narrow diagnostic scope, unlisted quotation exclusion, single-province UPB compliance, and sensitivity to extreme spreadsheet irregularities—define directions for future deterministic extensions. Overall, the findings illustrate how tightly constrained LLM configurations can augment, rather than replace, professional cost verification practices in public-sector construction. Full article

The tilework of Talavera de la Reina (Toledo, Spain) was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019, with one of its landmarks being the tilework preserved in the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Prado, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of Talavera tilework’. In the entrance portico to the Basilica, we find the ceramic panel of Virgins and Tercios in front of Christ, which should be reinterpreted as two different compositions: virgins in front of Mary and tercios in front of Christ (milites Christi), on which we will focus our research. The analysis of the location and state of conservation of the pieces that currently make up this panel, as well as the existence of pieces in various areas of the Basilica, which most likely belong to each of the compositions, allow us to propose a recomposition and reintegration of elements that would enable a better view and interpretation of these panels. To this end, a scientific methodology and appropriate intervention criteria are proposed to completely recompose this panel through the restoration of all the necessary pieces. This example can be extrapolated to the rest of the altarpieces and interior panels of the Basilica, which would facilitate their proper conservation, interpretation and dissemination. Full article

Background/Objectives: Notwithstanding the declaration by the World Health Organization in May 2023 regarding the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, new cases of this potentially lethal infection continue to be documented globally, exerting a sustained influence on the worldwide economy and social structures. Contemporary SARS-CoV-2 variants, while associated with a reduced propensity for severe acute pathology, retain the capacity to induce long-term post-COVID syndrome, including in ambulatory patient populations. This clinical phenomenon may be attributable to potential autoimmune reactions hypothetically triggered by antiviral antibodies, thereby underscoring the need for developing novel, universal vaccines against COVID-19. The nucleocapsid protein (N), being one of its most conserved and highly immunogenic components of SARS-CoV-2, presents a promising target for such investigative efforts. However, the protective role of anti-N antibodies, generated during natural infection or through immunization with N-based vaccines, alongside the potential adverse effects associated with their production, remains to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we aim to identify potential sites of homology in structures or sequences between the SARS-CoV-2 N protein and human antigens detected using hyperimmune sera against N protein obtained from mice, rabbits, and hamsters. Methods: We employed Western blot analysis of lysates from human cell lines (MCF7, HEK293T, THP-1, CaCo2, Hep2, T98G, A549) coupled with mass spectrometric identification to assess the cross-reactivity of polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies generated against recombinant SARS-CoV-2 N protein with human self-antigens. Results: We showed that anti-N antibodies developed in mice and rabbits exhibit pronounced immunoreactivity towards specific components of the human proteome. In contrast, anti-N immunoglobulins from hamsters showed no non-specific cross-reactivity with either hamster or human proteomic extracts because of the lack of autoreactivity or immunogenicity differences. Subsequent mass spectrometric analysis of the immunoreactive bands identified principal autoantigenic targets, which were predominantly heat shock proteins (including HSP90-beta, HSP70, mitochondrial HSP60, and HSPA8), histones (H2B, H3.1–3), and key metabolic enzymes (G6PD, GP3, PKM, members of the 1st family of aldo-keto reductases). Conclusions: The results obtained herein highlight the differences in the development of anti-N humoral responses in humans and in the Syrian hamster model. These data provide a foundational basis for formulating clinical recommendations to predict possible autoimmune consequences in COVID-19 convalescents and are of critical importance for the rational design of future N protein-based, cross-protective vaccine candidates against novel coronavirus infections. Full article

Despite seven decades of international commitment—from the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights through SDG 3.8—universal health coverage remains stubbornly out of reach. Two billion people, predominantly informal sector workers, lack access to sustainable health insurance. This entry explains the underlying cause: sustainable health insurance requires specific behavioral and institutional conditions for collective action—conditions that existing health insurance models systematically fail to satisfy, thereby structurally excluding informal populations. The Trinity Law framework formalizes these conditions as three multiplicatively interacting requirements—Trust (T), Consensus (C), and Dual Benefit (DB)—expressed as S = T × C × DB. Empirical analysis of community-based health insurance schemes across 24 countries identifies a robust trust threshold (τ* ≈ 0.68) operating as a behavioral phase transition: below this level, cooperation collapses; above it, participation becomes self-sustaining. Cross-country evidence from 274 organizations across 155 countries confirms consensus thresholds (C* ≈ 0.59), while analysis of 158,763 observations validates dual benefit mechanisms. The multiplicative structure explains why partial reforms fail: weakness in any single component drives overall sustainability toward zero. Applied to health insurance, this framework distinguishes conventional systems—Bismarckian employment-based, Beveridgean tax-financed, and commercial health insurance from sustainable systems like participatory community-based microinsurance that satisfy all three Trinity Law conditions through participatory design, transparent governance, and aligned incentives. The persistent UHC gap reflects not implementation failures but fundamental design incompatibilities that the Trinity Law makes explicit. This entry has three objectives: first, it states the Trinity Law conditions; second, it summarizes the empirical evidence for each component; third, it applies the framework to classify major health insurance models. Supporting datasets and code are available in the referenced Zenodo repositories. The term ‘law’ follows the tradition of social science regularities like the ‘law of demand’: a robust empirical pattern with strong predictive validity, not a claim to physical certainty. Full article

This study investigates the key success factors of IT project management in an emerging, innovation-oriented economy using evidence from Kazakhstan. Drawing on expert interviews and an anonymous enterprise survey, we rank 59 processes across the project life cycle and test three hypotheses concerning the roles of human factors and professional governance. The results confirm broad alignment with success factors commonly reported in mature economies yet reveal a distinctive pattern at earlier maturity stages: team composition, communication, and collaboration have a stronger impact on project success than formal controlling and detailed financial governance. We also identify a substantial gap between the declared importance of success factors and their actual implementation—particularly in integration-stage budgeting, acceptance testing and quality assurance, and lessons-learned practices—highlighting how limited practical experience constrains the adoption of governance routines. The findings refine contingency perspectives on project success by positioning key success factors along a development trajectory in which people-centric capabilities serve as prerequisites for the subsequent effectiveness of “hard” project-management methods. The study advances understanding of the role of IT project management in countries at an early stage of developing an innovation-driven economy. Full article