A motif in the Cypria is sometimes explained as borrowed in the seventh century from the Akkadian epic Atra-ḫasīs, sometimes as inherited from a third-millennium Indo-European poetic tradition surviving also in the Sanskrit Mahābhārata. These explanations seem incompatible, but they are not. Narrative traditions often cross linguistic boundaries through multilinguals, and linguistic and archaeological evidence suggests that some speakers of Proto-Indo-European were also speakers of Semitic languages. Indo-European and Ancient Near Eastern comparative approaches are therefore halves of a single enterprise: the Cypria, Mahābhārata and Atra-ḫasīs belong to a Eurasian-Steppe tradition, and must be read together.

The characterization of ionizing radiation as a human carcinogen affecting most organs was a major achievement in epidemiological studies. Although high-dose or high-dose rate radiation effects are well established, the health impacts of low-dose or low-dose rate exposure (<100 mSv) remain controversial, which brings significant social attention and scientific inquiry. This paper outlined the current status and future plans of radiation epidemiology in Korea, focusing on research developments based on legal grounds, including the Korean Radiation Workers Study (KRWS) and epidemiological studies of aircrews and residents near nuclear facilities. The KRWS encompasses a large cohort of approximately 200 000 current and retired radiation workers, integrating individual dose data collected since 1984 with national health datasets to assess cancer and non-cancer risks. Initial findings showed a decrease in overall cancer incidence among workers compared to the general population, though thyroid cancer rates were higher, possibly due to increased screening. In 2023, new studies on aircrews and residents near nuclear facilities began, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses of existing studies, as well as ecological analyses of regional cancer risks. Despite challenges in low-dose research, these large-scale Korean studies using comprehensive national health data are expected to provide scientific evidence on the effects of low-dose radiation and address public concerns about radiation exposure.

Canadian politics is shaped by three intersecting areas of constitutional law: Aboriginal rights, federalism and Charter jurisprudence. While a canon has emerged on the role of courts in Canadian democracy, it is often asserted that Charter scholarship dominates the field. Is this true—and does it matter? We address these questions through a systematic survey of 423 studies published between 2012 and 2022 in leading Canadian journals, books and edited volumes. We find that most work is produced by legal scholars, is descriptive, focuses on the Charter and examines a narrow range of cases and themes—most notably the court’s relationship with other institutions, its legitimacy and its power of judicial review. We argue that advancing our understanding of courts in Canadian democracy requires moving beyond our tendency to stick to our lanes—engaging core theories of judicial politics, employing explanatory methods and analyzing multiple areas of constitutional law.

The noise levels produced by high-performance supersonic military aircraft engines significantly exceed those of civilian aircraft, highlighting the critical importance of predicting military aircraft noise levels. This paper shows the modeling and assessment of the correlation between sound frequency and sound pressure level (SPL) using particle awarm optimisation (PSO) and the cuckoo search algorithm (CSA) for the high-performance fighter aircraft F-22 Raptor. The developed model aims to predict noise with high precision at various microphone angles from 60° to 150°. As a result of the analysis, the MAPE value for CSA was found to be below 1% for 10 different inlet angles, while the maximum mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for PSO was 1.7863%. The large dataset ranging from 238 to 762 data points are used and the minimal error values confirm the high accuracy of the model. Additionally, the PSO and CSA algorithms were compared indirectly. The lower error values for CSA, along with its correlation coefficient (R) values closer to 1 indicate that the CSA method gives better results than PSO.

Mulberry (Morus spp.), a key moriculture crop, serves a dual role: its leaves are indispensable as exclusive fodder for silkworms, while its fruits, particularly in species such as Morus nigra, Morus laevigata and Morus macroura, are valued as functional foods enriched with antioxidants and vitamins. The genus exhibits remarkable natural chromosome-level variation ranging from 14 to 308, which offers a unique system to investigate the impact of genome expansion on plant function. Herein, the influence of different cytotypes on functional traits associated with cell division, cell size and biomass metrics was studied. Principal component analysis revealed that tetraploid (4x), followed by triploid (3x), exhibits the most favourable cytotype, suggesting a vigorous and balanced expression of polyploid advantage. However, downsizing of many key parameters with increasing ploidy levels was also evident, predominantly at 22-ploid (22x). Furthermore, the estimated plasticity index reveals that the lower limit of cell size and rate-limited attributes influenced the loss of growth superiority of the extreme ploidy level; in turn, data imply the large-genome constraint in mulberry, as the consequence of the functioning of a large genome is likely expensive. Therefore, the present study emphasizes that the benchmarking of ploidy levels for the selection of parental material is essential for improving cellular function and developmental efficiency, thereby optimizing leaf yield for the future sustainability of sericulture.

This study aimed to assess the situations involving potential risks of over-exposure to radiation faced by workers during the decommissioning of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP), and to prepare effective medical countermeasures. While deaths have occurred at regular intervals at the FDNPP site, they cannot be attributed to direct effects of radiation. Radiation exposure among decommissioning workers is strictly maintained within regulatory limits, and no deterministic or stochastic radiation effects have been observed. High-risk areas include the reactor buildings of Units 1-4 and the filtration systems for cooling water contaminated by decay heat from melted nuclear fuel. The reactor buildings contain a mix of α, β, and γ radionuclides, which may increase the need for medical responses specifically targeting α radionuclides in cases of internal contamination. With nuclear fuel removal in September 2024, there are growing concerns regarding the potential increase in radiation risks at the decommissioning site.

We show that the ‘ternary’ elliptic functions that were introduced and studied by Du Val in 1964 are the $n=3$ instances of n-ary elliptic functions that are defined for arbitrary integers n greater than unity. We also trace the general n-ary elliptic function back to 1886 and the ‘fort remarquable’ function of Halphen.

Local prosecutors in the United States have significant discretion in the criminal legal system and have traditionally wielded their power in a way that contributes to mass incarceration. Since 2016, however, “progressive” prosecutors have been elected in growing numbers on pledges to mitigate the racialized harms of mass incarceration. While scholars tie progressive prosecutors’ elections to the Movement for Black Lives (BLM), less is known about countermovement efforts—including recalls, impeachments, and suspensions, examples of extra-electoral challenges—opposing these prosecutors. To address this gap, I constructed an original database of all local prosecutors in 2012 and/or 2022 in the country’s 300 most populous jurisdictions. Findings reveal that extra-electoral challenges disproportionately target women of color, disproportionately occur in Republican-controlled states, and have nearly tripled over the last decade. I argue that extra-electoral challenges constitute a novel movement repertoire used by the political right to challenge racial justice efforts following BLM.

Accurate radiation dose measurement is crucial for medical intervention and protective actions. Biological dose assessment directly measures radiation-induced molecular and physiological changes, providing information about the absorbed dose and potential health risks. The Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (KIRAMS) has performed biological dosimetry using cytogenetic assays since 2010. These assays are used for individual dose estimation in various situations, including occupational exposure, accidental radiation exposure, and health risk assessment of people living near nuclear power plants in Korea. Recent advancements in biological dose assessment methods, such as automated scoring and high-throughput assays, have improved efficiency and enabled more people to undergo dose assessment. The KIRAMS continuously explores new methods and targets for biodosimetry to enhance dose assessment capabilities and can contribute to expand the biological dose assessment capacity with the expertise and facilities, responding to large-scale accidents of radiation exposure in the world.

Let G be a finite group and p be a prime number. An element g of G is called an $\mathrm {SM}^*$-vanishing element of G if there exists a strongly monolithic character $\chi $ of G satisfying $Z(\chi )=\ker \chi $ and $\chi (g)=0$. In this paper, we present some results on the relationship between the orders of $\mathrm {SM}^*$-vanishing elements of G and the structure of G.

A few years after Singapore was founded, Lady Sophia Raffles sponsored a school for girls started by the wife of a London Missionary Society (LMS) missionary. This and several other early attempts at female education by missionary women linked to LMS or the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM) were largely forgotten by historians. Then there were girls’ schools operated by the Protestant Society for Promoting Female Education in the East (SPFEE) in Britian; the secular Singapore Institution founded by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles; and the Catholic Convent of Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) linked to Sœurs de l’Enfant Jésus-Nicolas Barré (EJNB) in France, followed by others. As there were many pioneering schools and some better-known ones tend to overshadow others, recent studies often contain inconsistent information as to which were the earliest schools, when they started, and who and which organisations were involved. This article uses primary sources from several archives to reconstruct the stories of the first Western-style girls’ schools on the island to hopefully clarify matters and close some knowledge gaps for readers interested in the history of female education in the early decades of colonial Singapore.

Timely blood cultures (BCx) are required by SEP-1. The recent BCx bottle shortage necessitated enhanced BCx stewardship. At two hospitals during the shortage, SEP-1 metric compliance declined related to BCx utilization. Review of cases where BCx were not obtained demonstrated most BCx were safely avoided without demonstrable patient harm.

This paper examines the prescription stimulant shortage in the United States, a crisis that has intensified since the FDA’s 2022 announcement of an Adderall shortage. The regulatory, systemic, and societal factors driving the shortage are analyzed — including the surge in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses, expanded use of telehealth services, and disproportionate impact of the shortage on marginalized communities. It’s argued that existing health inequities are exacerbated by barriers to medication access as current regulatory frameworks are ill-equipped to address the growing demand for prescription stimulants, causing substantial harm to patients. A series of reforms are proposed — including modernizing the DEA’s quota system, strengthening interagency collaboration between the DEA, FDA, and HHS, and diversifying pharmaceutical supply chains to enhance resilience. These reforms aim to balance the dual imperatives of preventing misuse and ensuring equitable access to medications for patients with legitimate medical needs. By offering a comprehensive analysis of the prescription stimulant shortage and actionable policy recommendations, this paper seeks to inform regulatory reform, foster a more adaptive, patient-centered approach to ADHD care, and provide a roadmap for addressing one of the most pressing healthcare challenges of our time.