NewzIntel.com

Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council receives analysis of Constitutional Change Engagement

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Council receives analysis of Constitutional Change Engagement

    14 April 2025

    Derry City and Strabane District Council has published a detailed independent analysis of the engagement that was carried out in 2023 relating to the issue of Constitutional Change and its implications for the Council area and the North West.

    The engagement was carried out following a notice of motion agreed by Council and members of the public, and other stakeholders were invited to inform themselves on the issue of constitutional change and give their views, experiences and research relating to Constitutional Change and the implications for the Derry and Strabane Council area.  The engagement process was carried out over a four-month period and the results of the findings have been collated and independently analysed by Professor Mark Slevin of Ulster University, and are now available for the public to read via the Council website at – Unity-Thematic_Analysis-(1-1-2025).pdf Unity-Thematic_Analysis-(1-1-2025).pdf

    A total of 242 responses were received as part of the public consultation exercise that were subsequently screened and categorised into subthemes with commentary used as supporting evidence to capture the diverse perspectives and to provide a comprehensive understanding of the overall exercise. The outcome of the analysis highlighted that while there is a wide range of perspectives on constitutional change, the majority of views expressed in the survey were positive.

    Professor Slevin in his report said:  “While most participants supported reunification as a means to promote equality, economic growth, and governance reform, other expressed concerns about economic stability, identity preservation and political instability.”

    Professor Slevin said the findings emphasised the need for careful planning, inclusive dialogue and a transparent process such as a Citizens Assembly, to accurately address the aspirations and fears of everyone. He said participants in the engagement exercise stressed the need for lessons to be learned from the Brexit process and for all voices and views to be heard. He said participants were of the view that “to create a fair and stable transition process, detailed planning, economic analysis and social inclusion needed to be prioritised.”

    The five themes identified in the analysis was – Support for Irish Unity; Economic and Infrastructural Development; Governance and Political Reform; Social Justice and Historical Grievances and Concerns and Opposition to Change.

    Under the first theme of Support for Irish Unity many participants expressed support for Irish unity referencing potential economic, social and cultural benefits with many viewing it as an opportunity to address inequalities that some have seen to be caused by partition. Some participants viewed it as an opportunity to restore Ireland’s position within the European union and to create new and effective governance structures, with some saying it was a pathway towards fairness, equality and sovereignty, whilst highlighting the need for inclusivity and democratic planning to ensure a successful transition process.

    The second theme of Economic and Infrastructural Development emerged as a very central theme in the engagement process with many participants arguing that Irish unity would go some way towards addressing economic deficiencies created by partition and the duplication of services and would improve current infrastructure and transport, attract international investment and streamline governance.

    Many of the participants in the engagement process expressed their dissatisfaction with the political structure under Stormont and Westminster and were of the view that a united Ireland would provide better governance, accountability and policy-making under the third theme of Governance and Political Reform while under the Social Justice and Historical Grievances theme, the need for social justice and for historical grievances to be acknowledged, was highlighted. Many respondents cited systematic inequalities in education, access to employment and healthcare, as well as a legacy of discrimination as issues that could be addressed as part of Constitutional Change.

    Under the theme of Concerns and Opposition to Change a few respondents expressed concerns about the impact on economic stability, identity preservation and political instability. Unionist perspectives were a recurring theme with some participants opposing change outright while others highlighting the need for inclusive planning and dialogue to address fears and opposition to any constitutional change.

    Professor Slevin in his conclusion of the analysis report cautioned on the limitations of the engagement exercise saying that the sampling of those taking part was opportunistic and self-selecting and for that reason the views expressed could not be generalised to the wider population. He said: “The nature of the issued being explored may have impacted on who chose to engage with the survey, and how they answered. The study was qualitative in nature, and this means that themes can be identified but their overall significance and importance cannot be assessed.”

    It was agreed at the March meeting of Full Council that the results of the Engagement would be made public for the public to access via the website at – https://www.derrystrabane.com/Constitutional-Change

    It was also agreed at the meeting that representative organisations would be invited to attend further meetings of the Unity Working Group, that was set up for elected members to discuss this issue, and that a third tranche of engagement with the community would be considered, subject to a further report with details and costings.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor launches Workers Rights and Social Justice Programme

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Mayor launches Workers Rights and Social Justice Programme

    14 April 2025

    The programme for this year’s Workers Rights and Social Justice Week in Derry and Strabane has gone live this week with a range of events focusing on workers’ unity and activism.

    The programme will reflect on the campaign by the workers’ rights movement down through the decades and provides an opportunity to highlight issues that are facing workforces today.

    It will feature events hosted by Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) and by Derry Trades Union Council (DTUC) and will run from April 26th to the 5th of May, 2025.

    Looking ahead to Workers Rights and Social Justice Week, Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, said: “I would really encourage people to support the events taking place throughout WR&SJ Week, which have been planned to educate, inspire and empower local workers.

    “It’s an opportunity to share learnings and raise awareness of the issues that are impacting us in our workplaces every day. As a Council we support the campaign to ensure all employees are fairly paid and feel valued in their work. So much has already been achieved but more needs to be done, and it’s important that we to continue to work together in solidarity to progress the campaign for change.”

    The programme opens at 12noon on Saturday April 26th, with a day of workshops, discussions and entertainment in the Guildhall, exploring workers’ unity across the decades, communities and culture. Everyone is welcome to attend this free event, and booking is not required.

    On May 1st, the Alley Theatre will play host to a special talk by Alana Moore on the work of prominent local campaigner and activist Ann Browne, titled ‘Our Local Girl Loved Worldwide’. Ann Browne campaigned extensively for workers in, and refugees from, Latin America, particularly those involved in the mining and similar industries. Ann first developed a love for Latin America at Queen’s University where she studied Spanish and at London’s Institute of Latin American Studies. During her time at university she was also an avid supporter of the civil rights movement, and she took that passion with her when she worked in London and Brussels when she joined the Miners’ International Federation (MIF).

    The talk sets the scene for the opening of a special exhibition in Ann Browne’s honour titled ‘Ann’s Journey: Honouring the Life and Legacy of Strabane’s Trade Union Pioneer’. The exhibition will run throughout May.

    The annual Noelene O’Kane Annual Walk around the City Walls will also take place on Thursday May 1st, leaving Magazine Gate at 6pm with the opportunity to hear more about significant events in the working class history of the city.

    Find out more about the full programme of events at www.derrystrabane.com/workersrights

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor hosts UMass Boston delegation

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Mayor hosts UMass Boston delegation

    14 April 2025

    Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Cllr Lillian Seenoi Barr met with a delegation from UMass Boston at the weekend.

    The delegation included the Chancellor UMass Boston Marcelo Suárez-Orozco and the Executive Director, Office of Global Programs, UMass Boston who visited Derry as part of a wider Northern Ireland visit.

    Welcoming the delegation to the City, Mayor Barr said. “I was hugely honoured extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to the esteemed Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Boston to our city. We were delighted to host him in our vibrant and historic city. This visit presented a valuable opportunity to explore potential collaborations in education, research, and cultural exchange between our region and UMass Boston. We deeply value the strong connections we share with Boston and look forward to fruitful discussions that will benefit both our communities and foster even closer ties in the years to come.”

    In addition to attending a civic meeting with the Mayor, the group attended several engagements during their stay including a visit to Acorn Farm where they heard all about the work being done to deliver an urban food growing hub and the green skills academy.  They attended an Entrepreneurship & Innovation roundtable discussion on STEM entrepreneurship including student, academic & graduate entrepreneurship, research Collaboration &  Innovation including Derry City & Strabane’s City Region Growth Deal and community and citizen driven research and innovation before attending a Uniting Communities Celebration event hosted by the Manchester United Foundation in partnership with the International Fund for Ireland at the John and Pat Hume Building at Ulster University, Magee Campus.

    The group attended a number of private meetings and availed of the opportunity to explore the city by taking part in a walking tour of the Derry Walls and the Guildhall.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytech received a grant for the development of sports

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation summed up the results of the competition for the best organization of physical education and sports work among the country’s universities. The Polytechnic University became one of the five winners among the first category universities. 88 institutions from all over the country participated in the competition.

    The project “Strength of body and spirit: sports for the harmonious development of students”, developed by the sports club “Black Bears – Polytech”, includes a set of events in all areas of physical education and sports activities.

    Thanks to the grant, the Polytechnic will seriously upgrade its sports infrastructure. It is planned to renovate the assembly hall for dance, cheerleading and rhythmic gymnastics, replace the basketball backboards and flooring in the martial arts hall, and modernize the weightlifting and functional training halls. Special attention will be paid to the tug-of-war hall: this sport is becoming increasingly popular among students.

    Polytechnics will be able to participate in new sports events. The university will host all-Russian tournaments in laser combat, fencing, arm wrestling, karate and skateboarding.

    For fans of military applied disciplines, master classes in tactical and fire training will be held. At the educational intensive “School of the Black Bear”, future sports managers will understand how to organize events.

    Patriotic education will be an important part of the project. The traditional Victor Lyagin Run on Victory Day will unite students, teachers and families. In addition, a book dedicated to the history of student sports at the Polytechnic will be published.

    The university teams will receive new equipment and inventory, and will travel to competitions more often. The university will host all-Russian level matches in football, basketball and hockey, which will increase the prestige of student sports.

    In order for as many people as possible to know about all the events, professional equipment for photo and video shooting will be purchased. The most active participants will be marked with branded clothing and souvenirs with the club’s symbols.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Upcoming US Law Webinars – May 2025

    Source: US Global Legal Monitor

    We hope you will join us in May for the next offering of our Orientation to Legal Research webinar focusing on U.S. federal statutes, and an Orientation to Law Library Collections (OLLC) webinar, which will feature the Alaska State Court Law Library as part of our 50 State Law Libraries Outreach Project. The 50 State Law Libraries Outreach Project aims to strengthen the ties between the Law Library of Congress and state law libraries by sharing information about our collections, products, and services with one another and with the public. Susan Falk, state law librarian, will present from the Alaska State Court Law Library during the webinar. The Law Library will also offer a Lunch and Learn webinar, which will focus on public international law and the general principles of law as they relate to international law. We hope you will join us for these upcoming webinars in May!

    An Orientation to Legal Research: U.S. Federal Statutes

    Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT

    Content: This webinar is designed to give a basic introduction to legal sources and research techniques. This entry in the series provides an overview of U.S. statutory and legislative research, including information about how to find and use the U.S. Code, the U.S. Statutes at Large, and U.S. federal bills and resolutions.

    Instructor: Jason Zarin. Jason is a legal reference specialist at the Law Library. Jason has a B.A. in economics from Tufts University, an M.A. in economics from UCLA, a J.D. from the University of Southern California, an LL.M. in taxation from Georgetown University, and a Master of Science in information systems from the University of Texas at Austin.

    Register here. 

    An Orientation to Law Library Collections Webinar Featuring the Alaska State Court Law Library 

    Date: Thursday, May 15, 2025, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. EDT

    Content: This webinar will feature a special appearance by law librarians from the Alaska State Court Law Library as part of the State Law Libraries Outreach Project. The purpose of the State Law Libraries Outreach Project is to strengthen the ties between the Law Library of Congress and state law libraries by sharing information about our collections, products, and services with one another and with the public. This project involves providing a guest spot for state law librarians, or their designees, to discuss the collections and services they offer during our Orientation to Law Library Collections Webinars.

    Instructor: Sarah Friedman. Sarah Friedman is a legal reference librarian at the Law Library of Congress. Sarah holds a B.A. in English literature and criticism from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law.

    Register here. 

    Flyer announcing the Lunch and Learn webinar titled, An Overview of Public International Law. Created by Taylor Gulatsi.

    A Lunch and Learn Webinar: An Overview of Public International Law

    Date: Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EDT

    Content: This entry in the series provides an introduction to treaty practice and international conventions, international customary law and its relationship to international law, general principles of law as they relate to international law, and a final category covering other evidence for international law. The presentation also briefly discusses the inclusion of international governmental organizations, such as the United Nations, within the framework of international law.

    Instructor: Louis Myers. Louis Myers holds a B.A. in history from Kent State University, a J.D. from the University of Idaho College of Law, and an M.L.I.S. from Kent State University.

    Register here.

    To learn about other upcoming classes on domestic and foreign law topics, visit the Legal Research Institute. Please request ADA accommodations at least five business days in advance by contacting (202) 707-6362 or [email protected].

    Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Are twins allergic to the same things?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Breanne Hayes Haney, Allergy and Immunology Fellow-in-Training, School of Medicine, West Virginia University

    If one has a reaction to a new food, is the other more likely to as well? BjelicaS/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.

    Are twins allergic to the same things? – Ella, age 7, Philadelphia

    Allergies, whether spring sneezes due to pollen or trouble breathing triggered by a certain food, are caused by a combination of someone’s genes and the environment they live in.

    The more things two people share, the higher their chances of being allergic to the same things. Twins are more likely to share allergies because of everything they have in common, but the story doesn’t end there.

    I’m an allergist and immunologist, and part of my job is treating patients who have environmental, food or drug allergies. Allergies are really complex, and a lot of factors play a role in who gets them and who doesn’t.

    What is an allergy?

    Your immune system makes defense proteins called antibodies. Their job is to keep watch and attack any invading germs or other dangerous substances that get inside your body before they can make you sick.

    An allergy happens when your body mistakes some usually harmless substance for a harmful intruder. These trigger molecules are called allergens.

    Y-shaped antibodies are meant to grab onto any harmful germs, but sometimes they make a mistake and grab something that isn’t actually a threat: an allergen.
    ttsz/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    The antibodies stick like suction cups to the allergens, setting off an immune system reaction. That process leads to common allergy symptoms: sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, itchy, watery eyes, a cough. These symptoms can be annoying but minor.

    Allergies can also cause a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis that requires immediate medical attention. For example, if someone ate a food they were allergic to, and then had throat swelling and a rash, that would be considered anaphylaxis.

    The traditional treatment for anaphylaxis is a shot of the hormone epinephrine into the leg muscle. Allergy sufferers can also carry an auto-injector to give themselves an emergency shot in case of a life-threatening case of anaphylaxis. An epinephrine nasal spray is now available, too, which also works very quickly.

    A person can be allergic to things outdoors, like grass or tree pollen and bee stings, or indoors, like pets and tiny bugs called dust mites that hang out in carpets and mattresses.

    A person can also be allergic to foods. Food allergies affect 4% to 5% of the population. The most common are to cow’s milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and sesame. Sometimes people grow out of allergies, and sometimes they are lifelong.

    Who gets allergies?

    Each antibody has a specific target, which is why some people may only be allergic to one thing.

    The antibodies responsible for allergies also take care of cleaning up any parasites that your body encounters. Thanks to modern medicine, people in the United States rarely deal with parasites. Those antibodies are still ready to fight, though, and sometimes they misfire at silly things, like pollen or food.

    Hygiene and the environment around you can also play a role in how likely it is you’ll develop allergies. Basically, the more different kinds of bacteria that you’re exposed to earlier in life, the less likely you are to develop allergies. Studies have even shown that kids who grow up on farms, kids who have pets before the age of 5, and kids who have a lot of siblings are less likely to develop allergies. Being breastfed as a baby can also protect against having allergies.

    Children who grow up in cities are more likely to develop allergies, probably due to air pollution, as are children who are around people who smoke.

    Kids are less likely to develop food allergies if they try foods early in life rather than waiting until they are older. Sometimes a certain job can contribute to an adult developing environmental allergies. For example, hairdressers, bakers and car mechanics can develop allergies due to chemicals they work with.

    Genetics can also play a huge role in why some people develop allergies. If a mom or dad has environmental or food allergies, their child is more likely to have allergies. Specifically for peanut allergies, if your parent or sibling is allergic to peanuts, you are seven times more likely to be allergic to peanuts!

    Do you have an allergy twin in your family?
    Ronnie Kaufman/DigitalVision via Getty Images Plus

    Identical in allergies?

    Back to the idea of twins: Yes, they can be allergic to the same things, but not always.

    Researchers in Australia found that 60% to 70% of twins in one study both had environmental allergies, and identical twins were more likely to share allergies than fraternal (nonidentical) twins. Identical twins share 100% of their genes, while fraternal twins only share about 50% of their genes, the same as any pair of siblings.

    A lot more research has been done on the genetics of food allergies. One peanut allergy study found that identical twins were more likely to both be allergic to peanuts than fraternal twins were.

    So, twins can be allergic to the same things, and it’s more likely that they will be, based on their shared genetics and growing up together. But twins aren’t automatically allergic to the exact same things.

    Imagine if two twins are separated at birth and raised in different homes: one on a farm with pets and one in the inner city. What if one’s parents smoke, and the others don’t? What if one lives with a lot of siblings and the other is an only child? They certainly could develop different allergies, or maybe not develop allergies at all.

    Scientists like me are continuing to research allergies, and we hope to have more answers in the future.

    Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

    And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.

    Breanne Hayes Haney does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Are twins allergic to the same things? – https://theconversation.com/are-twins-allergic-to-the-same-things-245914

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Getting AIs working toward human goals − study shows how to measure misalignment

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Aidan Kierans, Ph.D. Student in Computer Science and Engineering, University of Connecticut

    Self-driving cars are only one example where it’s tricky but critical to align AI and human goals. AP Photo/Michael Liedtke

    Ideally, artificial intelligence agents aim to help humans, but what does that mean when humans want conflicting things? My colleagues and I have come up with a way to measure the alignment of the goals of a group of humans and AI agents.

    The alignment problem – making sure that AI systems act according to human values – has become more urgent as AI capabilities grow exponentially. But aligning AI to humanity seems impossible in the real world because everyone has their own priorities. For example, a pedestrian might want a self-driving car to slam on the brakes if an accident seems likely, but a passenger in the car might prefer to swerve.

    By looking at examples like this, we developed a score for misalignment based on three key factors: the humans and AI agents involved, their specific goals for different issues, and how important each issue is to them. Our model of misalignment is based on a simple insight: A group of humans and AI agents are most aligned when the group’s goals are most compatible.

    In simulations, we found that misalignment peaks when goals are evenly distributed among agents. This makes sense – if everyone wants something different, conflict is highest. When most agents share the same goal, misalignment drops.

    Why it matters

    Most AI safety research treats alignment as an all-or-nothing property. Our framework shows it’s more complex. The same AI can be aligned with humans in one context but misaligned in another.

    This matters because it helps AI developers be more precise about what they mean by aligned AI. Instead of vague goals, such as align with human values, researchers and developers can talk about specific contexts and roles for AI more clearly. For example, an AI recommender system – those “you might like” product suggestions – that entices someone to make an unnecessary purchase could be aligned with the retailer’s goal of increasing sales but misaligned with the customer’s goal of living within his means.

    Recommender systems use sophisticated AI technologies to influence consumers, making it all the more important that they aren’t out of alignment with human values.

    For policymakers, evaluation frameworks like ours offer a way to measure misalignment in systems that are in use and create standards for alignment. For AI developers and safety teams, it provides a framework to balance competing stakeholder interests.

    For everyone, having a clear understanding of the problem makes people better able to help solve it.

    What other research is happening

    To measure alignment, our research assumes we can compare what humans want with what AI wants. Human value data can be collected through surveys, and the field of social choice offers useful tools to interpret it for AI alignment. Unfortunately, learning the goals of AI agents is much harder.

    Today’s smartest AI systems are large language models, and their black box nature makes it hard to learn the goals of the AI agents such as ChatGPT that they power. Interpretability research might help by revealing the models’ inner “thoughts”, or researchers could design AI that thinks transparently to begin with. But for now, it’s impossible to know whether an AI system is truly aligned.

    What’s next

    For now, we recognize that sometimes goals and preferences don’t fully reflect what humans want. To address trickier scenarios, we are working on approaches for aligning AI to moral philosophy experts.

    Moving forward, we hope that developers will implement practical tools to measure and improve alignment across diverse human populations.

    The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.

    Aidan Kierans has participated as an independent contractor in the OpenAI Red Teaming Network. His research described in this article was supported in part by the NSF Program on Fairness in AI in collaboration with Amazon. Any opinion, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or Amazon. Kierans has also received research funding from the Future of Life Institute.

    – ref. Getting AIs working toward human goals − study shows how to measure misalignment – https://theconversation.com/getting-ais-working-toward-human-goals-study-shows-how-to-measure-misalignment-251896

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Molecular nanocages remove 80-90% of PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals,’ from water

    Source: US Government research organizations

    The porphyrin-based chemical nanocages remove more PFAS from groundwater than traditional filtering methods while keeping toxicity low

    Researchers funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation have created a molecular nanocage that captures the bulk of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, found in water — and it works better than traditional filtering techniques that use activated carbon. Made of organic nanoporous material designed to capture only PFAS, this tiny chemical-based filtration system removed 80 to 90% of PFAS from sewage and groundwater during the study, respectively, while showing very low adverse environmental effects.

    The study was led by scientists at the University at Buffalo and published in American Chemical Society ES&T Engineering.

    PFAS are chemical compounds sometimes called “forever chemicals” and are commonly used in food packaging, nonstick coatings and other applications. PFAS do not degrade easily and are notoriously difficult to remove from water sources. Studies show exposure to PFAS may cause a range of negative health impacts, including decreased fertility, developmental delays in children and increased risk for some cancers. The safe and effective removal of PFAS from groundwater, sewage and other water sources is a national challenge.

    Molecular nanocages have been previously suggested as candidates for pollutant removal, including for PFAS. Their sturdy structures provide capabilities to capture, remove and chemically deactivate hazardous substances like PFAS and many others. They could also potentially filter out noxious gases from the air, the study authors say.

    Credit: Karla Sanchez Lievanos/Research and Education in Energy, Environment and Water Institute (RENEW), University at Buffalo

    An illustration of porphyrin-based molecular nanocages that are engineered for selectivity, water stability and fast sorption. These nanocages achieve on average 90% removal of 38 PFAS compounds from mixed water solutions. The material shows promise for more efficient, safer and sustainable water remediation.

    The researchers synthesized the nanocages from a group of organic chemicals called porphyrins. Previous studies have shown success with porphyrin nanocages in removing dyes, antibiotics, insecticides and chemicals that disrupt human hormone production from water.

    The researchers then tested their nanocages’ ability to absorb 38 different types of PFAS, including GenX, a type of PFAS commonly used in nonstick cookware and other materials. The results showed the nanocages removed 90% of PFAS from groundwater and 80% from unprocessed or “influent” sewage.

    The organic molecular nanocages also outperformed the PFAS-filtering abilities of activated carbon, particularly in unprocessed sewage. Activated carbon and other purification or filtration methods, such as ion exchange resins and reverse osmosis, tend to interact weakly with PFAS, the researchers note. They are also costly, high-maintenance and energy-intensive in comparison to nanocages.

    “Porphyrin-based nanocages offer a potentially practical solution to the challenges of PFAS removal,” says Samy El-Shall, a program director in the NSF Division of Chemistry. “The material can also be mass-produced at scale, and the cages are modifiable to remove PFAS only while leaving other water contents alone.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: “Your Only Limit Is Yourself”: First-Year Student’s Cancer Research Gains International Recognition

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    As a child, Tehreem Fatima ’28 (CLAS) spent hours reconstructing microscopes from secondhand parts and conducting various science experiments at home. 

    As she finishes her first year at UConn, Fatima has channeled that curiosity to research glioblastoma, an aggressive and deadly form of brain cancer originating in the brain’s glial cells. The research, which she conducted with no professional support or academic resources, has been accepted into dozens of academic and professional conferences. 

     “I never imagined that so many conferences would accept my work,” Fatima says. “It’s exciting, but since I’m conducting this research independently, I don’t have the funding to attend all of them.” 

    Fatima’s interest in glioblastoma began after her five-year-old cousin, who lived in Pakistan was diagnosed and later died from the disease in February 2025.  

    “When he was diagnosed, I thought, ‘Okay, he’s in Pakistan—there’s nothing I can do for him,’” Fatima says. “But something valuable I can do is apply my skill set. So, I did a lot of research and asked, ‘Where is there a gap in the research?’” 

    Fatima, a physiology and neurobiology major on a full STEM scholarship, an honors program which provides financial support to promising students, first delved into research during high school through a three-year college program in Albany, New York. 

    Early Drive for Research 

    During her sophomore year of high school, Fatima was selected for a competitive three-year program sponsored by SUNY Albany called Science Research, which required students to secure a mentor and participate in research.  

    Tehreem Fatima at the Yale Undergraduate Research Conference. (Contributed by Tehreem Fatima).

    At just 15 years old, she struggled to find academic researchers willing to take her on. But she persisted and eventually convinced J. Andrew Berglund, distinguished professor of biology and director of SUNY Albany’s RNA Institute, to mentor her. 

    “Even before I had a mentor, I was driven to understand how research worked,” Fatima says. “I wanted to build the skills necessary to contribute meaningfully.” 

    Before joining Berglund’s lab, Fatima had taught herself research fundamentals by conducting literature reviews and enrolling in independent courses on platforms like Udemy. 

    Her initial work at the RNA Institute focused on statistical analysis rather than lab experiments, since her young age prevented her from working in an in-person laboratory. Over time, she took on more responsibilities, and by the end of the three-year program, she was leading a summer course at the institute, teaching bioinformatics to students ranging from high school to graduate levels. 

    Independent Research on Glioblastoma 

    During her first year at UConn, Fatima explored a wide range of interests, taking classes across multiple disciplines, writing poetry, and meeting new people. But she also wanted to build on her research experience and continue to study glioblastoma treatments. 

    She designed a study using open-source data, compiling and analyzing chemotherapy treatment datasets. Her goal was to determine whether, when used together, a combination of two widely used chemotherapies could target additional genetic markers compared to using each drug individually. 

    Her work focused on immune checkpoint genes or molecules that glioblastoma tumors use to evade detection by the immune system. By analyzing patient data, she aimed to identify correlations among gene expression, patient survival, and chemotherapy effectiveness. Her findings suggested potential avenues for improving glioblastoma treatment strategies. 

    “Some labs have already collected similar data, but funding constraints have limited further research,” she says. “I wanted to see if my analysis could stand on its own and be useful to the professional community.” 

    Fatima submitted her findings to multiple academic conferences throughout the U.S. as well as internationally, hoping for at least one acceptance. Instead, her research was accepted into over 25 conferences, including those at Brown University, Harvard University, and Yale University. 

    She plans to attend as many of the symposiums as she can, both in-person and online.  

    Next Steps in Her Research 

    This summer, Fatima will participate in a bioinformatics cybersecurity internship at SUNY Albany, where she hopes to expand on her previous research and refine her analysis of glioblastoma therapies. 

    Fatima says it will provide her with valuable skills and resources to further advance her research, and help her as she works toward earning both medical and law degrees. Her long-term goal is to bridge the gap between medicine and public policy. 

    “I want to make science more accessible,” she says. “A lot of times, science is seen as a prestigious field that’s difficult to enter.” 

    Fatima hopes her research will contribute to the fight against glioblastoma and offer hope to families affected by the disease.  

    “Your only limit is yourself,” she says. “I constantly remind myself that if I want to accomplish something, the only thing stopping me is me.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What We Talk About When We Talk About AI

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Depending on who is asked, artificial intelligence (AI) may be revered, feared, or just plain weird. To some, AI represents the dawn of a new golden age of technology and humanity. And others would argue that so-called AI is not really that “intelligent” at all. 

    In order to have these disagreements productively, argues UConn Humanities Institute Director Anna Mae Duane, we first have to clear something up: are we even talking about the same thing? 

    “There’s an issue of disciplinary language — when we’re talking about AI, even when we’re using the same words in the same language, we don’t mean the same thing at all,” says Duane. “What a philosopher means by ‘intelligence’ and what a computer programmer means by ‘intelligence,’ or ‘learning’ or ‘training’ or ‘language,’ are all very different things.” 

    Duane has had a career-long penchant for collaborating with other scholars, across disciplines and continents. Under her leadership, the UCHI’s latest venture is “Reading Between the Lines: An Interdisciplinary Glossary for Human-Centered AI,” a partnership with the International University at Rabat (UIR) in Morocco. 

    This partnership is supported by a $25,000 grant from the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes (CHCI).  

    It will include a series of podcasts with interdisciplinary experts weighing in on these critical AI conversations, culminating in a cross-campus, in-person symposium in fall 2025.  

    ‘L’ is for Large Language Model

    What we refer to as “AI” is usually a large language model, which works just how it sounds – by absorbing vast amounts of linguistic data and learning to synthesize outputs based on this data. Examples of LLMs include ChatGPT and the built-in AI features on many apps. 

    But exactly what language are these models being trained on? Predominantly English, notes Duane.  

    This can result in issues when AI is used for non-English contexts. For example, Duane recalls a colleague at UIR who is developing an application to help seniors in need of arthritis care. 

    “What became clear was that just because the AI she was using was trained on English, there were all sorts of mistranslations and misunderstandings,” Duane says. 

    In addition to mistranslations on a literal level, AI can also introduce cultural errors. Culturally informed care is critical to increasing access to healthcare for everyone; an LLM that is trained on mainstream American ideologies will be less useful in every other cultural context. 

    This is just one unforeseen consequence of modeling LLMs on a diet of data dominated by one small corner of the world. Others are likely to emerge as AI is integrated into more industries and technologies.  

    But by establishing a strong scholarly basis for understanding these consequences, Duane thinks we can also help mitigate them. 

    “We’re not helpless in how this turns out, including how we speak about it now,” she says. “We don’t have to do this sort of passive, ‘Well, it’s off and running…’ thing.” 

    Collaborating with an international university, where the primary languages spoken are French and Arabic, is an important step in building this understanding. 

    “This project is a bold step toward reimagining AI in ways that respect and reflect linguistic and cultural diversity,” says Dr. Ihsane Hmamouchi, Vice-Dean at the International Faculty of Medicine at UIR. “What excites me most is our commitment to embedding patient stories and social realities into AI models. By doing so, we’re not only challenging the structural biases of conventional systems but also paving the way for more equitable, human-centered digital healthcare solutions. It’s about developing technology that listens as much as it computes.” 

    Taking the Conversation Global

    “One reason this became possible is because we’ve been putting together an interdisciplinary AI working group here, building that conversation,” says Duane. “We have computer scientists and philosophers and historians and journalists, and we meet once a month via the Institute.” 

    This working group was first supported by a UConn CLAS Multidisciplinary Research Grant. With the interdisciplinary groundwork already laid, the research team was able to then expand the conversation, growing what had previously been an “informal collaboration” with AI scholars at UIR. 

    It’s a testament to the creative and scholarly potential that is unlocked when academics can freely share and build on one another’s expertise. 

    “Here at UConn, we have this great synergy between people in several disciplines, and the capacity to really learn from each other’s work, in ways that produce better research and better conversations than staying in our silos,” Duane says. “We can’t [stay in our silos], on something like AI. It’s going to change everything about how we work and live.” 

    In addition to Duane and Hmamouchi, the project’s collaborators include Clarissa J. Ceglio, UCHI Associate Director of Collaborative Research and Associate Professor of Digital Humanities; Nasya Al-Saidy, UCHI Managing Director; Dan Weiner, Vice Provost of UConn Global Affairs; and Allison Cassaly, Global Initiatives Coordinator, UConn Global Affairs. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Berry Corporation Strengthens Executive Leadership Team with Appointment of General Counsel

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Berry Corporation (bry) (NASDAQ: BRY) (“Berry” or the “Company”) today announced the appointment of Jenarae Garland as Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Garland brings with her a wealth of industry experience, having served as a key strategic legal partner to executive leadership teams and boards of major energy corporations, including advising on capital markets and commercial and strategic transactions.

    Fernando Araujo, Berry’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are excited to welcome Jenarae to our executive leadership team during this pivotal time for our business. She is an accomplished lawyer and business leader, with experience that will have an immediate, positive impact as we work hard to accelerate growth, drive a high-performance culture and create long-term value for our Company and our stakeholders. Working closely with our board of directors and executive leadership team, Jenarae will be a critical partner in driving sustainable and profitable growth.”

    Prior to joining Berry, Ms. Garland served in roles of increasing responsibility in the legal department of Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX), a Fortune 50 integrated downstream energy provider, most recently as Deputy General Counsel, Corporate and Assistant Corporate Secretary. Before joining Phillips 66, she served in various leadership roles within the legal department of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY), most recently as Assistant General Counsel, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures. She began her career as a corporate associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP representing public and private companies primarily within the energy industry in capital markets offerings, mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting and corporate governance matters. Ms. Garland holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from the University of Texas at Austin and graduated magna cum laude from Tulane University Law School.

    About Berry Corporation (BRY)

    Berry is a publicly traded (NASDAQ: BRY) western United States independent upstream energy company with a focus on onshore, low geologic risk, long-lived oil and gas reserves. We operate in two business segments: (i) exploration and production (“E&P”) and (ii) well servicing and abandonment services. Our E&P assets are located in California and Utah, are characterized by high oil content and are predominantly located in rural areas with low population. Our California assets are in the San Joaquin Basin (100% oil), and our Utah assets are in the Uinta Basin (65% oil). We provide our well servicing and abandonment services to third party operators in California and our California E&P operations through C&J Well Services (CJWS). More information can be found at the Company’s website at www.bry.com.

    COMPANY CONTACT:

    Christopher Denison – Investor Relations
    ir@bry.com
    (661) 616-3811

    Forward Looking Statements

    This news release contains forward-looking statements. Berry’s management believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. No assurance, however, can be given that such expectations will prove correct. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results, or other expectations expressed in this news release. These factors include our ability to meet financial guidance or distribution expectations; our ability to safely and efficiently operate Berry’s assets; the supply of, demand for, and price of oil, natural gas, NGLs, and related products or services; our capital program and development and production plans; potential acquisitions and other strategic opportunities; reserves; hedging activities; and the other factors described in the “Risk Factors” section of Berry’s most-recent Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and other public filings and press releases. Berry undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Public protesters are our socially connected friends and neighbours, not angry loners

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Shelley Boulianne, Professor in Communication Studies, Mount Royal University

    For some people, protests don’t seem like rational and responsible forms of political participation in a democratic system. According to the latest World Values Survey (2017-2022), 28.6 per cent of Canadians and 27.7 per cent of Americans said they’d would never, under any circumstances, attend a peaceful demonstration.

    Yet citizens often lack opportunities to influence government decisions outside of voting during elections, leaving them feeling powerless about the direction of their elected government.

    From this perspective, it’s easy to understand why millions may attend protests against Donald Trump’s tariffs, his annexation threats and other policy decisions.

    Some argue that citizens should email, call or write letters to political leaders, but these individualistic activities are easily ignored because they occur behind closed doors. The visibility of protests, combined with a large turnout, helps raise awareness of issues among other citizens and political leaders.

    Protests serve a critical function in a democratic system — they offer a collective and visible method for citizens to express their political views. These events can attract millions of people — many more than the number of respondents to public opinion polls or attendees at government public consultation events.

    Perceptions of effectiveness

    When deciding whether to participate in a march or demonstration, anger, grievances and discontent are important, but these sentiments alone are insufficient to motivate people to act.

    Instead, citizens must interpret their experiences as unjust or unfair to feel compelled to participate in a protest. Likewise, people must believe that the protest will be effective in influencing political leaders.

    In 2019, I conducted an online survey in four countries — the U.S., Canada, the U.K and France — asking respondents to rate the effectiveness of street marches and demonstrations in influencing political leaders.

    Across the four countries, the averages were similar, based on the five-point scale ranging from “not at all” to “a great deal.” And those who believed that protests were effective were far more likely to report having participated in a march or demonstration in the past 12 months compared to those who did not view protests as effective.

    Who protests and why?

    The decision to take part in a protest involves weighing a variety of factors that may encourage or discourage participation, as well as views about the effectiveness of public protests.

    People will often join if they’re asked to, and whether they’re asked to depends on their ties to others who are also interested in attending, or if they’re a member of an organization that encourages its members to attend.

    This social network effect is as important, if not more important, than simply being angry or frustrated.

    People who identify as left-wing are more likely to participate in marches and demonstrations. Historically, this has been true in the United States, but in contemporary research, individuals on both the right and the left sides of the political continuum participate in protest.

    Furthermore, these ideological differences vary by country and time period. Whether a protest attracts those from the right versus the left depends on the issue. Liberals tend to protest against racism, for example, while conservatives protested COVID-19 restrictions.

    Paying attention

    Rather than focusing on left vs. right, research should pay attention to political interest. Are people paying attention to current events or what’s going on in government? Political interest precedes the development of ideological views.

    Furthermore, people can only form their views about the effectiveness of protest once they start paying attention to politics.

    The recent global Hands Off protests attracted citizens who are dissatisfied with Trump’s newly imposed tariffs and other recent government decisions, such as firing thousands of federal civil servants, dismantling of the Department of Education, changes to immigration enforcement and Social Security administration and the termination of health and science funding, especially those with a diversity, equity and inclusion focus.

    These demonstrations were part of a cycle of protests, similar to those observed in 2017 after Trump’s first election.

    To truly understand who participates and who does not in public protests, we need to consider social connections, views about the effectiveness of protest and people’s interest in politics.

    Shelley Boulianne received funding for the administration of the survey from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Public protesters are our socially connected friends and neighbours, not angry loners – https://theconversation.com/public-protesters-are-our-socially-connected-friends-and-neighbours-not-angry-loners-254044

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Innovative facades for low-rise buildings in St. Petersburg

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    At the Institute of Civil Engineering of SPbPU, scientific and technical solutions for the installation of curtain wall ventilated facades were discussed using the example of low-rise residential buildings in St. Petersburg.

    The event was organized by the Institute of Civil Engineering of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, the St. Petersburg Union of Construction Companies “Soyuzpetrostroy”, the Research Laboratory “Facade Constructions of Buildings and Structures”, and the company “Glavstroy-SPb”.

    Before the meeting, the guests visited the laboratories “Facade structures of buildings and structures” and “Polytech SKiM-Test”.

    The invited experts were Boris Barsky, a representative of Nordfasad, Leonid Mayorov, a representative of Peak Engineering, and Artem Alekseev, a consultant at SPbPU. The discussion was moderated by Alexander Galyamichev, chief engineer of the research laboratory “Facade structures of buildings and structures”, senior lecturer at the Higher School of Industrial, Civil and Road Construction.

    Director of the Institute of Scientific Research Marina Petrochenko covered in detail the main areas of the institute’s activities, key achievements and structure. She spoke about the training of highly qualified specialists for the construction industry, international cooperation and scientific research. Marina Petrochenko noted that the introduction of modern technologies and innovative approaches in the educational process allows graduates to successfully compete in the global labor market. In this regard, attention was paid to digital modeling of buildings, in particular the Metacampus Polytech project. This project is a virtual digital ecosystem consisting of an information model of the university campus, a database and a system of services that provide strategic and operational management of the university’s business processes based on a data-driven approach.

    The director of Soyuzpetrostroy, Irina Toldova, also gave a welcoming speech, talking about the creation of the company and presenting its activities.

    We are holding a meeting ahead of the conference, to which I invite all participants to discuss current issues and tasks. The Polytechnic University is a long-standing member of our union, our cooperation began back in the 1990s. We are confident that we will be able to strengthen this partnership, Irina Toldova emphasized.

    The participants discussed the formulation of the problem, description of projects, scientific and technical support of objects of increased and normal responsibility classes, presentation of a technical solution for the installation of the NFS of the object under consideration on the systems “Alternative”, DIAT and U-KON, the use of concrete and clinker tiles, options for cladding the residential complex “Yuntolovo”.

    In St. Petersburg, there is a stable tradition of professional discussion of architectural solutions aimed at improving the quality of construction and design. The Polytechnic University offers a new format of technical interaction with developers and designers. It involves a detailed professional review of design solutions and materials used for the construction of façade structures of designed objects. The approach is based on the results of experimental studies and analysis of the experience of implementing already completed projects. We use our own scientific and practical developments, involve leading specialists in the façade industry from among the managers, as well as engineers of design, installation and supply organizations, to help colleagues make the most rational and justified technical decisions. This approach increases the efficiency of construction projects and ensures high quality of implementation of façade structures, – noted Alexander Galyamichev.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Registration is open for the Summer School on Cryptography and Information Security (July 7-21, 2025, St. Petersburg)

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Registration is open for the Summer School on Cryptography and Information Security (July 7-21, 2025, St. Petersburg)!

    The Summer School-Conference “Cryptography and Information Security” is a traditional event organized by the Cryptographic Center (Novosibirsk) and the International Mathematical Center in Akademgorodok. In 2025, the Summer School “Cryptography and Information Security” will be held in St. Petersburg, at the St. Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation (GUAP).

    Dates: July 7 – 21, 2025.

    Venue: St. Petersburg, GUAP.

    Participation format: face-to-face.

    Application deadline: May 15th.

    There is a possibility of partial financial support for the arrival and accommodation of out-of-town participants.

    Students will attend lectures, team and individual work in projects related to solving research problems in the field of cryptography and information security, and participate in sports activities. One of the most important events of the school-conference is a round table on modern problems of cryptography. The topics of the projects touch upon various issues of modern cryptography and information security: algorithms of symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, issues of constructing cryptographic protocols for solving authentication, identification, key transfer, message exchange and other cryptographic problems.

    University students, postgraduates and high school students are invited to participate.

    You can submit an application on the school website

    The organizers and partners of the summer school are:

    – Cryptographic center (Novosibirsk)

    – International Mathematical Center in Akademgorodok

    – Saint Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation (SUAI)

    – Southern Federal University

    – LLC “Special Technology Center”

    – OOO “Systems of practical security”

    – Enseucrypto-lab LLC

    – Neokutus

    Let us recall that in 2024 the Summer School was held in Taganrog, in 2023 in Kaliningrad, and before that in Novosibirsk.

    Dear friends, we are waiting for you at the summer school in the northern capital!

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers special lecture at Kansai University in Japan

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this afternoon delivered a special lecture on ‘ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: Peace, Prosperity, and People’ at the Kansai University.

    In his speech, Dr. Kao outlined the deep and dynamic partnership between ASEAN and Japan which has grown over the past 50 years. He also reinforced the importance of youth engagement in addressing future challenges, encouraging young people to engage in cultural exchanges and collaborative initiatives.

    Ultimately, Dr. Kao encouraged the next generation to take an active role in enhancing this partnership and to leverage their potentials as changemakers in shaping a more inclusive, sustainable future for both ASEAN and Japan.

    Download the full remarks here.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers special lecture at Kansai University in Japan appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Even small lakes can tell big earthquake stories in the Yellowstone region

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from USGS Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow Sylvia Nicovich of the Geologic Hazards Science Center.

    This house fell into Hebgen Lake during the 1959 earthquake and floated along the shore until it came to rest here. The owner of the house, then-70-year-old Mrs. Grace Miller, escaped only after kicking out her front door and leaping a 5-foot-wide ground crack as her house dropped into the lake.
    Epicenters of 6,188 earthquakes in the Hebgen Lake region since 1990 determined by the University of Utah Seismograph Stations and the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology. All epicenters have horizontal uncertainties of 1.0 km or less. Black contour lines show subsidence (in 2-foot intervals) resulting from the 1959 M7.3 Hebgen Lake earthquake (epicenter shown by red star). Magenta line segments show faults that ruptured during the 1959 earthquake and green line segments are Late Quaternary faults from the USGS Quaternary Fault and Fold Database.

    In the summer of 1959, the west Yellowstone region experienced one of the largest Rocky Mountain earthquakes in instrumented history. The M7.3 Hebgen Lake earthquake caused severe damage and killed 28 people, most notably due to a landslide into a campground in Madison Canyon downstream from Hebgen dam. Here, roughly 30 million cubic meters (imagine 30 million washing machines!) of material from the north-facing slope of Madison Canyon came crashing down in the night, burying the campground and damming the Madison River to form Earthquake Lake. 

    We have learned a lot from destructive historic earthquakes like that at Hebgen Lake. The evidence it left on the landscape, such as fault scarps (steep breaks in slope where vertical displacement occurred along the fault), are especially important for understanding prehistoric earthquakes. The study of such earthquakes, called paleoseismology, can help to better characterize earthquake-producing faults by providing information about the recurrence and magnitudes of past earthquakes. 

    Lakes are becoming increasingly popular in paleoseismic studies. Their regular sedimentation patterns can refine earthquake-timing estimates and can potentially capture earthquakes that may not have ruptured the ground surface but still produced substantial ground shaking. This subdiscipline is called lacustrine paleoseismology and has been typically practiced in deep, steep, glacially influenced lake systems, like those along the Teton Range to the south. Because the impacts of the Hebgen Lake earthquake have been documented, a thorough understanding of how this earthquake affected nearby lake basins could teach us to interpret hidden earthquake records in different types of lakes—especially in shallow lakes with gentle slopes, like Henrys Lake just west of West Yellowstone in Idaho.

    In the late winter of 2023, our team from the US Geological Survey Geologic Hazards Science Center set out to Henrys Lake with the hypothesis that this shallow lake basin contains evidence of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake. Because Henrys Lake is only about 25 kilometers (about 15 miles) from the earthquake epicenter and therefore experienced strong to very strong shaking, it is fair to assume that lake sediment may have been disturbed. To test this hypothesis, we extracted seven sediment cores, each about 2 meters (a little over 6 feet) long, along an east-west transect across Henrys Lake during winter 2023. A benefit of working on lakes in the winter is that standing on solid (icy) ground can offer a steadier working environment than trying to collect sediment cores from a boat. Just like ice fishing, we used an ice auger to make a hole through the frozen lake surface and plunged the coring device into the water and then into the lake floor, keeping it leashed on a rope to pull it back up once the sediment was collected.

    USGS scientists work to recover sediment cores from Henrys Lake, Idaho. (Left): geologists traverse frozen Henrys Lake with coring supplies. USGS photo by Sylvia Nicovich, March 30, 2023.  (Right) Geologists lower the corer into the lake through a hole augured through the ice. USGS photo by Chris DuRoss, March 31, 2023.

    The cores were examined at the USGS Pacific Coastal Marine Science Center core lab, which is specially equipped for imaging and sampling sediment cores. A common signature of earthquake disturbance within sediment cores results from sediment failure of the lake margin, transport downslope, and deposition in central areas of the lake basin. Cores from multiple locations in Henrys Lake contained a thin (~5 cm, or 2 in), distinct, gray sandy layer in their upper portion that appeared to be a record of a recent earthquake. 

    Transect of sediment cores from Henrys Lake, Idaho. (a) High‐resolution photoscans and computed tomography (CT) of each core correspond to the location tie line. White line on CT represents gamma ray attenuation bulk density (g/cc). Mapped facies are right of each correspondent core. Shades of gray represent background sedimentation and the event deposit by orange. Numbers 1–4 represent background sediment subfacies. HP: herbaceous peat, FL: fluviolacustrine facies, E: event deposit. Yellow rectangles represent sediment sample locations for radiocarbon dating (R1‐3). (b) Bathymetric map of Henrys Lake from data collected by the Idaho National Lab ca. 1990 with a contour interval (CI) of 0.6 m. Thick contour line shows the estimated shoreline prior to dam construction. Black triangles point to primary inlets; DC‐ Duck Creek and TC‐ Targhee Creek.  Figure from Nicovich et al., 2014 (https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024GL110889).
    President Kennedy signs the nuclear test ban treaty for the United States in 1963. Photo from National Archives, Still Pictures Division, Department of State Collection 59-0, box 23 (https://nsarchive2.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB94/tb02.htm).

    The challenge was then to test if this layer matched the timing of the 1959 earthquake. This was done by measuring the concentration of the chemical component Cesium-137 (137Cs) with depth. 137Cs was produced during atmospheric nuclear testing in the mid-20th century, so the concentration in sediment can be matched with the known frequency of nuclear testing through time to establish the age of the sediment layer. For example, above ground nuclear testing increased around 1954, and the concentration of 137Cs in sediments starts to grow from undetectable levels to detectable that year. Conversely, the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty was signed in 1963, so sediment of this age has peak 137Cs concentration that drastically drops immediately thereafter (which is toward the top of the core in the most recently deposited sediment). These defined concentration levels should essentially bound the 1959 earthquake deposit in the sedimentary record!

    So, what about that outstanding layer of sand hypothesized to be associated with the 1959 earthquake? When pairing the 137Cs concentration data with the sedimentological data, we found that the sand deposit was indeed bracketed between 1954 and 1963, providing solid evidence that this layer probably formed during the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake. 

    With evidence that sediment at the bottom of Henrys Lake does, indeed, contain records of past earthquakes, the next goal was to look for other prehistoric earthquakes using the 1959 Hebgen Lake deposit as a reference. However, there were no such similar deposits with the same sediment character and presence in multiple cores. Using radiocarbon dating techniques, we were able to establish that the very lowest portions of the cores were approximately 5,000 years old. Does this mean that there have not been earthquakes similar in intensity to the Hebgen Lake earthquake in the last 5,000 years? Not exactly. The lowermost layer of the cores—the 5,000-year-old layer—is consistent with deposits from a marshy wetland, not a lake at all! Marshy wetlands are saturated areas with a lot of plants and grasses that typically produce organic-rich soils and not finely layered sediment like lakes do, making them much less likely to record an earthquake. Based on estimates of sedimentation rate, it appears that Henrys Lake likely only changed from a marshy wetland to a shallow lake less than about 1,000 years ago.

    Photo and cartoon of 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake deposit in sediment core from Henrys Lake, Idaho, with references to Cesium-137 activity (or concentration). Changes in Cesium-137 are related to atmospheric nuclear tests and provide a means of dating the deposit; those measurements are plotted on the right with depth (in cm) of the core.

    Although there is a lot more to explore about the specific evolution of Henrys Lake and other lakes in the west Yellowstone area, it is promising that a shallow lake with gentle sloping margins can record earthquake shaking. These findings provide increased confidence in our ability to investigate shaking-related deposits in other lakes with similar characteristics in the Rocky Mountain region or beyond.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Lombardo Announces Appointment of 7th Judicial District Judge

    Source: US State of Nevada

    Carson City, NV April 11, 2025

    Today, Governor Joe Lombardo announced the appointment of Dylan V. Frehner as a Judge for the Seventh Judicial District Court, Department 2.

    “I am honored to announce the appointment of Dylan V. Frehner to the Seventh Judicial District Court, Department 2,” said Governor Joe Lombardo. “Frehner is well-rounded in many areas of the law and brings 20 years of experience as a rural attorney. His dedication to Nevada law and his commitment to serving the public make him a valuable addition to this judicial position.”

    Frehner has served as the Lincoln County District Attorney since 2018, where he has managed criminal cases and provided legal counsel to county officials. Over the last 20 years, he has practiced in various areas of law, including family law, estate planning, and representation of the Lincoln County Water District (LCWD). He earned recognition from the Nevada Department of Wildlife for securing the first felony conviction for a wildlife crime in the state.

    “I am grateful and honored by Governor Lombardo’s appointment,” said Dylan Frehner. “It is extremely humbling to follow in the footsteps of great judges like Judge Fairman and Judge Papez. I will work tirelessly to maintain the standard of fairness that has been established in the Seventh Judicial District.”

    Frehner earned his Juris Doctor with Distinction from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. While attending the University of Nevada, Reno, he met his wife and started a family. Additionally, he served as a legislative intern for the minority leader during the 2001 Nevada Legislative Session. During law school, he impressively won his first mock trial competition, which awarded him scholarship money to help finance his education.

    Outside of his legal career, Frehner considers his most significant role to be that of a husband and father to five children.

    ### 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mathematicians from the Nizhny Novgorod Higher School of Economics have proven the existence of stable chaos in complex systems

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Researchers fromInternational Laboratory of Dynamic Systems and Applications HSE University – Nizhny Novgoroddeveloped a theory that allows us to prove with mathematical precision the existence of stable chaotic behavior in networks of interacting elements. The work opens up new possibilities for studying complex dynamic processes in neuroscience, biology, medicine, chemistry, optics and other fields. The results of the study have been accepted for publication in the leading international scientific journal Physical Review Letters. The results of the study can beget acquaintedin the Arxiv.org archive.

    In scientific terminology, chaos does not mean disorder, but dynamics that are extremely sensitive to the slightest changes. In such modes, the system’s behavior becomes unpredictable, which in some cases turns out to be useful. For example, in neuroscience, stable chaos helps prevent excessive synchronization of neurons and, as a result, epileptic seizures. In artificial intelligence algorithms, chaotic modes help improve the efficiency of learning.

    Chaotic dynamics are also used to describe behavioral and economic cycles and help make more accurate short-term forecasts. However, until recently, the question remained open: how to understand whether the observed dynamics are truly chaotic, or just a temporary phenomenon, followed by stabilization of the system?

    Scientists from the National Research University Higher School of Economics – Nizhny Novgorod, Professor Alexey Kazakov and postgraduate students Efrosinia Karatetskaya and Klim Safonov, together with Professor Dmitry Turaev from Imperial College London, were able to answer this question by applying the concept of pseudo-hyperbolicity.

    Professor Turaev took part in the creation of this concept together with the Nizhny Novgorod mathematician Leonid Shilnikov. This property of the system excludes the transition to a stable state and guarantees the preservation of chaotic behavior, even if the system is affected by small external disturbances. By checking the conditions of pseudohyperbolicity, the researchers proved that networks of four or more identical interacting oscillators can demonstrate stable chaos under certain functions of the connections between the elements.

    Moreover, the authors constructed numerical maps of the regions of existence of stable and unstable chaos and described different types of chaotic attractors, including two-winged and four-winged analogues of the classical Lorenz attractor.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Sci-Fi, Sci-Talk” to offer free screenings of two sci-fi films to explore relationship between technology and human (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Jointly organised by the Film Programmes Office, the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Science Museum of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, “Sci-Fi, Sci-Talk” will feature two popular sci-fi films, “Interstellar” (2014) and “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” (2001), which will be screened free of charge at the Lecture Hall of the Hong Kong Space Museum at 2pm on April 20 and 21 respectively, leading audiences to reflect on the impact of technological advancements on human life. 

         Astrophysicist and Associate Professor of the Department of Science and Environmental Studies of the Education University of Hong Kong, Professor Chan Man-ho, and Research Professor of the Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Principal Investigator of the CUHK Jockey Club AI for the Future Project, Professor Yam Yeung, have been invited as guest speakers for post-screening talks respectively to explore the scientific knowledge behind the films.

         In “Interstellar”, the protagonist, Cooper, is pulled into a black hole while on a mission searching for habitable planets for humankind. He accidentally enters a five-dimensional space created by future humans, where he communicates with his daughter on Earth using gravity and helps her achieve a plan to save humanity. The film visually presents scientific concepts such as relativity, black holes and wormholes on the screen, allowing the audience to experience the wonder of science through the story.

         In “A.I. Artificial Intelligence”, directed by Steven Spielberg, a robotic boy named David, endowed with genuine human emotions, is adopted by a human, Monica, as a replacement for her seriously ill son. Following her own son’s recovery and return home, David desperately searches for a way to become a real human in the hope of regaining Monica’s motherly love and care. The film profoundly explores the relationship between love, humanity and technology, making it a classic in the genre of sci-fi films featuring robots.

         Both films are in English with Chinese subtitles.

         Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis. For programme enquiries, please call 2734 2900 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/fp/en/listing.html?id=74. “Sci-Fi, Sci-Talk” is one of the programmes of HK SciFest 2025 held by the Hong Kong Science Museum from April 18 to 27. For details about HK SciFest 2025, please visit the website at www.hk.science.museum/scifest2025/?lang=en.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Student Mental Health in Focus as National Efforts Intensify on Suicide Prevention and Well-being

    Source: Government of India

    Student Mental Health in Focus as National Efforts Intensify on Suicide Prevention and Well-being

    Ministry of Education Convenes 2nd National Task Force Meeting Chaired by Hon. Justice (Retd.) S. Ravindra Bhat

    Posted On: 14 APR 2025 2:44PM by PIB Delhi

    The 2nd meeting of the National Task Force on the Mental Health Concerns of Students and the Prevention of Suicides in Higher Educational Institutions was held under the chairmanship of Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, former judge of the Supreme Court of India, in New Delhi today.

    Members of the Task Force; Dr. Vineet Joshi, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education; Shri Amit Yadav, Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment; Shri Anil Malik, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development; senior officials of the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Law and Justice and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare attended the meeting.

    During the meeting, actions taken so far were reported and discussed in detail. Agenda points included developing a portal/website for data collection; reports and regulations/guidelines; dissemination of questionnaires; gathering support from different sectors; onboarding of officers from DoSEL and MoHFW; coordination with institutions and NIEPA, among others.

    The Supreme Court of India, in a judgment dated 24.03.2025, issued significant directions concerning the prevention of student suicides in higher education institutions. The judgment underscored the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address mental health concerns among students. The Supreme Court constituted a National Task Force under the chairmanship of Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, former judge of the Supreme Court of India, along with other experts from various domains as members, to discuss and deliberate on issues related to mental health concerns among students, the prevention of suicides in educational institutions, and to recommend preventive measures. The key areas of focus include:

    i. Identifying predominant causes leading to student suicides, such as academic pressure, discrimination, financial burdens, and the stigma surrounding mental health.

    ii. Analyzing the effectiveness of existing student welfare and mental health regulations/policies.

    iii. Proposing reforms to strengthen institutional frameworks and create a supportive academic environment.

    The composition of the National Task Force is as follows:

    • Justice S. Ravindra Bhat, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India, as the Chairperson;
    • Dr. Alok Sarin, Consultant Psychiatrist, Sitaram Bhartia Institute of Science & Research, New Delhi, as the Member;
    • Prof. Mary E. John (retired), Former Director, Centre, for Women’s Development Studies, New Delhi; as the Member;
    • Mr. Arman Ali, Executive Director, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People; as the Member;
    • Prof. Rajendar Kachroo, Founder, Aman Satya Kachroo Trust; as the Member;
    • Dr. Aqsa Shaikh, Professor of the Department of Community Medicine in Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, New Delhi; as the Member;
    • Dr. Seema Mehrotra, Professor of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS; as the Member;
    • Prof. Virginius Xaxa, Visiting Professor at the Institute for Human Development (IHD), New Delhi; as the Member;
    • Dr. Nidhi S. Sabharwal, Associate Professor, Centre for Policy Research in Higher Education, National University of Educational Planning and Administration, New Delhi; as the Member;
    • Ms. Aparna Bhat, Senior Advocate (as amicus curiae).

    The following are the ex-officio members of the Task Force:

    • Secretary, Department of Higher Education, M/o Education, Govt. of India, as the Member Secretary
    • Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India;
    • Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India;
    • Secretary, Department of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India; and
    • Joint Secretary, Department of Higher Education, M/o Education – Convenor.

    The Task Force has decided to form three working groups each looking after different tasks. Progress of working groups so far was discussed. This includes compiling and reviewing previous reports, examining existing laws and regulations, and developing a methodology for designing questionnaires.

    The first meeting of the Task Force was virtually held on 29.03.2025, in which the Chairperson outlined the agenda of the meeting highlighting the need for collection of data from various stakeholders which included teachers, academics, persons involved in social sector, policy makers, formulation of diverse set questionnaires for collection of data from various stakeholders, making available resources for the task force for effective discharge of its time bound functions, formation of working groups for division of works, dissemination and publicity of the questionnaires and activities to be taken up by the task force etc.

    *****

    MV/AK

    MOE/DoHE/12 April 2025/7

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with President of Kansai University

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, was received by Dr. TAKAHAYASHI Tomoyuki, President of the Kansai University, during his visit to their Senriyama Campus.

    During the discussion, Dr. Kao shared that education is a priority area under the ‘Heart- to- Heart Partners Across Generations’ pillar, as outlined in the Joint Vision Statement on ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation titled ‘Trusted Partners’ along with its implementation plan.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with President of Kansai University appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Round table of the Moscow City Organization “Opora Rossii”: RUC GUU shared its experience of inclusive education

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On April 11, the Moscow City Branch of the All-Russian Public Organization of Small and Medium Business “Opora Rossii” held a round table “Employment of Disabled People and Persons with Disabilities: Main Issues, Positive Experience, Imperfections of Current Legislation”, organized by the Committee on Social Entrepreneurship of the organization.

    Representatives of Opora Rossii took part in the event, namely the Chairman of the Commission on Social Entrepreneurship Sergey Golubev, the Chairman of the Committee on Social Entrepreneurship Irina Slesareva, members of the Committee Veronika Kazantseva and Yulia Pavlenko, as well as invited experts, including the State University of Management, represented at the meeting by Svetlana Grishaeva, a specialist from the Resource Educational and Methodological Center for the Training of Disabled People and Persons with Disabilities (REMC) of the State University of Management.

    The round table raised pressing issues on the topic of inclusion, work with people with disabilities, and those who had the status of people with disabilities in childhood but lost it upon reaching adulthood.

    Svetlana Grishaeva spoke about the history of the emergence of the RUC, their activities and role in the lives of students with disabilities, and also shared the experience of the State University of Management in the field of cooperation with employers and work on career guidance, paying special attention to the specifics of interaction.

    Following the discussion, a decision was made to continue the joint work of the round table participants due to the relevance and timeliness of the topic of employment of persons with congenital and acquired disabilities and special health opportunities.

    The speakers particularly noted the importance and effectiveness of such interdepartmental expert sessions, which allow for a comprehensive understanding of the problem and its solutions.

    The participants concluded that it is necessary to work with the parent community, with those who raise children with disabilities, to prepare route maps for parents and employers by nosology, and to gather those who are ready to support the employment of persons with disabilities, as well as potential employers on one platform. The “category 3 problem” also remains relevant: people with group 3 disabilities stop receiving allowances in the event of employment.

    Those gathered agreed that information “pollination” and exchange of experience should be continued, and for this purpose a council on inclusion and employment should be created on the basis of the Committee on Social Entrepreneurship of the Moscow City Organization “OPORA RUSSIA” and its systematic meetings should be planned.

    Options were also proposed for covering the Council’s initiatives within the framework of the meeting on social entrepreneurship at the SPIEF, joint work with the ASI and the Open for All project, and presentations and discussions within the framework of future forums for social entrepreneurs.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/14/2025

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Liberation of Bergen-Belsen: how a lack of protective clothing cost lives

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Susan L. Carruthers, Professor of History, University of Warwick

    Clothing can kill. So, too, can the absence of personal protective equipment. For decades, the medical establishment has understood the role of fabric in both spreading contagion and guarding against its transmission — but never with greater urgency than 80 years ago.

    On April 15 1945, British troops liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp near Celle in northern Germany. Shocking scenes awaited behind the barbed wire.

    On entry, British personnel found an epidemic of typhus decimating the camp’s surviving population. Thousands of unburied corpses, appallingly overcrowded huts, the absence of running water and chronic emaciation contributed to the rapid spread of this louse-borne disease. So too did unwashed garments into which lice burrowed and deposited their contaminated faeces.

    For warmth, some camp inmates removed clothing from corpses, heedless of the danger of contagion. Others feared infection so acutely that they went unclothed rather than risk contamination. Anne Frank died, just weeks before the camp’s liberation, in a state of naked terror.

    For military and medical personnel, burying bodies and burning garments was imperative, along with triaging survivors and moving the fittest from the camp’s corpse-strewn huts to a hastily established hospital area. To transform a site of mass death into a place of recovery wasn’t easy. Staff lacked supplies of every sort, substituting newspaper for mackintosh sheeting and commandeering dog bowls for use as bedpans.

    Protective clothing was also in desperately short supply. There, too, improvisation was the order of the day. Around 100 British medical students drafted into action at Belsen sported a motley assemblage of British military and appropriated German Wehrmacht apparel. They, like everyone else in the camp, were liberally sprayed with DDT. This pesticide was later proven to be carcinogenic.

    Female British Red Cross workers modified their uniforms, ditching regulation skirts. “I always go about in slacks and battle dress, trousers being a greater protection against the louse!” Margaret Ward wrote home to her mother with forced bravado.

    Meanwhile, members of the Royal Army Medical Corps, better provisioned than anyone else at Belsen, wore “typhus suits” as they stretchered patients from the huts to the hospital. These outfits – complete with drawstring hoods, gauntlets and gaiters, but no masks – helped keep contagion at bay, though their alien appearance terrified some patients.

    British authorities “solved” their protective equipment crisis at Belsen by compelling captured German SS personnel to undertake the most dangerous work. Sometimes, prisoners were given rubberised capes. But more often, as numerous photographs taken by British military photographers attest, German prisoners handled corpses without any protection at all.

    Dressed in their SS uniforms, German men and women set to work (under armed guard) removing piles of contaminated clothing and dead bodies from the huts. With uncovered mouths and bare hands, they carried corpses to mass graves.

    In April and May 1945, anti-Nazi feelings ran understandably high among allied personnel, particularly those who just participated in the camps’ liberation. Few found anything ethically wrong with the decision to expose German prisoners to a high risk of infection.

    War crimes trials, with the prospect of execution for defendants found guilty, awaited SS prisoners. Forcing German camp personnel to confront the deadly consequences of their actions – in the most visceral way possible – struck most uniformed Britons as an entirely warranted form of retribution. A moral corrective for SS prisoners was also a medical expedient made necessary by the camp’s dire shortage of protective equipment.

    At Belsen, the consequences were predictable. Seven of the British medical students contracted typhus, though none seemingly died of the disease.

    The brunt was borne by the captured enemies. Reuters reported on June 28 1945 that 20 SS guards had “died of typhus before their trials by the war crimes court could be held”, adding that it was “believed that they caught the disease when they were forced to bury the bodies of some of the prisoners”.

    Meanwhile, Belsen’s survivors urgently required garments and footwear. Retributive justice played a role here too. British military personnel ordered German civilians in the environs of the camp to surrender clothing, shoes and bedding for use by survivors. Here was postwar redress at its most literal. People stripped of so much by the Third Reich would begin life anew in apparel removed from Germans.

    Susan L. Carruthers does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Liberation of Bergen-Belsen: how a lack of protective clothing cost lives – https://theconversation.com/liberation-of-bergen-belsen-how-a-lack-of-protective-clothing-cost-lives-252838

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Five lessons from Perugia’s global gathering of journalists, climate changemakers and media leaders

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Anna Turns, Senior Environment Editor

    Perugia, Italy. Anna Turns, CC BY-NC-ND

    Last week, I travelled to the historic city of Perugia in Umbria, Italy. With clear blue skies, wisteria hanging over ancient Roman walls, plenty of gelato and beautiful vistas from the hilltop, the setting was pretty special. More inspiring though, were the people I spoke to during my visit. Perugia is the home of the annual international journalism festival, a meeting of media movers and shakers from all over the globe. These are my five biggest takeaways.

    1. In-person connections are irreplaceable

    Yes, I see the irony of flying to talk about climate journalism, but sometimes face-to-face connections, impromptu chats and dinner table discussions are just impossible to replicate on a video call. I caught up with journalists from my Oxford Climate Journalism Network cohort. Run by the Reuters Institute, this six-month programme is proving invaluable, not only for seminars from guest speakers at the top of their game, but for the collaborations that are developing within the network. Learning from my peers working in Austria, Brazil, Canada and way beyond has opened my eyes so much to the diversity of challenges we all face – and the creative possibilities.

    Kevin Burden (European media leaders fellowship project manager), Nina Fasciaux (director of Solutions Journalism Network) and Anna Turns.
    Kevin Burden, CC BY-NC-ND

    During my discussions with colleagues from my European media leaders climate solutions fellowship visiting from France, Italy and the Czech Republic, I listened to the lightbulb moments others have had and reflected on my own progress – internally, in terms of what leadership means to me and how I can effect meaningful change, plus externally, in terms of supporting my own team and encouraging more collaboration within this organisation.

    By sharing joys and worries over a margarita pizza or scoop of nocciola (hazelnut icecream – my favourite), I was struck that authenticity is the most important attribute. All else follows and every single one of those real, honest and open in-person connections deepens my appreciation for that.

    2. Environmental journalism is thriving

    So many early career journalists approached me, keen to chat and wanting to know more about how to immerse themselves in this specialism. When I first started out as a biology graduate, I worked in wildlife TV production and magazine journalism. Back then, environment coverage tended to be an outlier, an afterthought at best. Climate journalists were few and far between; willing mentors were difficult to find.

    Anna Turns chatted to lots of environmental journalists after her conference event.
    Monica Rizza #IJF25, CC BY-NC-ND

    That landscape has shifted so much over the past 20 years and I’m proud that this part of our industry is growing, and becoming richer for it. Now, people want to cover climate stories in so many creative formats and that’s invigorating.

    3. Science doesn’t have to stay in silos

    With growing misinformation, (both inadvertent misinterpretation and deliberate miscommunication) online, combined with widespread disengagement from mainstream news sources, social media has a big role to play in how we engage with climate, or not.

    I hosted an event with Adam Levy about how to make climate science shine on social media. With a PhD in atmospheric physics from the University of Oxford, Levy now works as a science journalist and broadcaster, while producing jargon-free videos that make complex climate issues relatable and succinct.

    Anna Turns interviewed Adam Levy at the International Journalism Festival.
    Monica Rizza #IJF25, CC BY-NC-ND

    Climate communication is definitely not just about imparting facts. There’s space for nuance, even humour. We chatted about bridging the gap between science and storytelling, how to apply a rigorous journalistic approach to all forms of content and how integrity must be the top priority. That all builds precious trust and creates connection.

    4. Time is ticking

    The next UN climate summit (Cop30) is coming and we’re getting ready. One of my favourite sessions was a talk by Daniel Nardin, another solutions journalist member of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network. He lives in Belem, the Brazilian city that will be hosting Cop30 in November, where negotiators will continue to debate how best to tackle and adapt to climate change. But those strategies, frameworks and commitments can seem dry, dense and hard to digest.

    Nardin’s publication, Amazonia Vox, platforms the voices of the people living in the Amazon, in forested, deforested and urban areas. He explained that the environmental, social and political issues in the Amazon are complex and full of nuance, which is why he makes local voices central to the narrative.

    None of this is rocket science. But Nardin is proactively cracking on with it, because there isn’t time to wait.

    Mark Hertsgard from Covering Climate Now (far left) talks about how newsrooms can make climate training effective.
    Alexa Cano #IJF25, CC BY-NC-ND

    5. Newsroom culture is transforming

    The Conversation is already highly respected. So many expert communicators, academics and readers told me how much they love what we do and what we stand for. Tackling misinformation in engaging ways is what we do best. Connecting you, our audience and community, with the most accurate and evidence-based knowledge is our purpose. We’re already bridging the gap between research and the real world. But there’s still scope to evolve and embrace change.

    Looking ahead, The Conversation can help shift the way climate stories can be told. The climate crisis has gone way beyond being an environmental issue. It’s linked to all aspects of our lives, from health and education to business and democracy, as well as conflicts and culture. Newsrooms don’t have to function like they have done for decades. By being curious, we can experiment, find out what works and reinvent the norm.

    At the New York Times, the climate team is physically in the centre of the office. At the French newswire Agence France-Presse, job titles such as “future of the planet, global editor” reflect big ambitions to integrate climate into everything. At CBC, the Canadian public broadcaster, the science and climate unit has made climate literacy training a top priority for all staff – not because it’s worthy, but because future proofing makes business sense.

    As the executive director of Covering Climate Now, a media community based in the US, Mark Hertsgard said: “Every journalist in the 21st century will need to be a climate journalist.”

    Now, my job is to turn Perugia’s inspiration into action. Watch this space.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    – ref. Five lessons from Perugia’s global gathering of journalists, climate changemakers and media leaders – https://theconversation.com/five-lessons-from-perugias-global-gathering-of-journalists-climate-changemakers-and-media-leaders-254457

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbPU journals entered the first and second quartiles of the international ranking

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    In April 2025, the ranking quartiles were updated. The Fangular Magazine Rank. This indicator reflects the popularity and authority of publications of journals included in the Scopus database since 1996. It takes into account not only the number of citations, but also their quality, assessing the prestige of the journals from which the citations were obtained.

    Published by Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University Terra Lingoustics entered the first quartile (Q1) in the Linguistics and Language subject area.

    It is noteworthy that this magazine was included in Scopus MNDB only in December 2024. The journal is also included in the HAC List and has the scientific significance category K1, indexed in the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI), China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Index Copernicus International, ROAD and CyberLeninka databases.

    The first quartile is a goal for any scientific journal, as it is recognition of its authority and significance in the scientific community. A humanities journal requires much more effort and time to reach this peak, but editor-in-chief Valeria Evgenyevna Chernyavskaya and the Center for Scientific Publications, which publishes the journal, set the bar high enough at the start and achieved an excellent result, commented Vice-Rector for Research at SPbPU Yuri Fomin.

    Another highly rated publication is Technology And Language, included in Scopus in 2023, received the second quartile (Q2) in the subject areas of Cultural Studies and History and Philosophy of Science. The journal, whose editor-in-chief is the director of the Humanities Institute, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences Natalia Chicherina, publishes studies on various relationships between technology and language from the perspective of history, linguistics, cultural studies, anthropology, philosophy, literary studies and media studies.

    For journals participating in the rating for the first time, this is a very high and honorable result. These indicators show the great work of editors-in-chief, reviewers, authors and the editorial team. Now, inclusion in the White List has become a global task for many Russian publications, but it is also important to strengthen their positions in international databases, which is what Polytechnic publications are actively striving for, noted Ekaterina Linnik, Director of the Scientific Publications Center.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Investments in the Future: GUU students attended the presentation of the national project “Youth and Children”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On April 12, students and young scientists of the State University of Management attended the presentation of the national project “Youth and Children”, launched on the initiative of the President of Russia.

    The event took place in the national center “Russia”, where the main ideas of the national project, innovations of the upcoming forums and a demonstration of national values that form the basis of the cultural code of Russia were presented.

    At the ceremony, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office of the Russian Federation Sergei Kiriyenko addressed the participants.

    “The decision of the President of Russia has established the children and youth of our country as a key state priority. It is very important that you are not just beneficiaries of the national project “Youth and Children”, you are its co-authors. Because the basic principle that our President set for all state work with youth can be formulated as follows: nothing for children and youth without the participation of children and youth themselves. This is your time, because Russia today is truly a country of opportunities,” emphasized Sergei Kiriyenko.

    Together with Sergei Kiriyenko, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Chernyshenko launched online registration for the upcoming forum events of Rosmolodezh.

    The official presentation ceremony of the national project “Youth and Children” and the opening of the forum season were also attended by the head of Rosmolodezh, associate professor of the department of state and municipal administration of the State University of Management Grigory Gurov, chairman of the board of the Movement of the First, Hero of Russia Artur Orlov, general director of the Russian society “Knowledge” Maxim Dreval and others.

    “The national project “Youth and Children” has united all the opportunities for young people, and our task is to help the children realize their potential both at our forums and at the sites of year-round youth educational centers, opened on the instructions of the President, throughout the year,” noted Grigory Gurov.

    The event was attended by about a thousand graduates of Rosmolodezh forums of previous years, representatives of regional organizations responsible for the implementation of this national project, winners of the Rosmolodezh grant competition, including students and young scientists of the State University of Management.

    “The national project “Youth and Children” clearly demonstrates that the youth of Russia is the main state priority that needs to be developed. The young generation has unique talents, and it is precisely such strategic initiatives that help to reveal their potential, shaping the future based on the values and meanings that were presented at the Presentation,” shared Nikita Smirnov, a second-year student of the State and Municipal Administration Department of the State University of Management.

    The event was organized by Rosmolodezh together with the Ministry of Education of Russia, the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, the State Corporation Roscosmos, the Russian Society Znanie, the ANO National Priorities of Russia, the presidential platform Russia – the Land of Opportunities, the Movement of the First, the National Center Russia, and the portal Dobro.rf.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/14/2025

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Safety First: Training for People with Disabilities Held at GUU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On April 11, at the State University of Management, instructors from the Moscow City Branch of the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps conducted training for people with disabilities and for children and teenagers whose parents are disabled.

    Participants were taught first aid skills and fire safety rules. The classes were held in a friendly and inclusive atmosphere, which allowed each participant to feel comfortable and confident.

    The event was held on the initiative of the coordinator of the federal party project “United Country – Accessible Environment” in Moscow Natalia Prisetskaya and the deputy of the Moscow City Duma, head of the Moscow city branch of the VSKS, director of the Educational and training center for emergency response and basic military training of the State University of Management Maxim Dzhetygenov.

    “We are pleased to join such an important project as “United Country – Accessible Environment”. The training, developed taking into account the special needs of the participants, covers a wide range of topics. The participants received not only theoretical foundations, but also the opportunity to practice the acquired knowledge. We are confident that the acquired skills will help the participants feel more confident and secure in everyday life. The “United Country” project plays an important role in creating an inclusive society, and we are proud to have the opportunity to contribute to this noble cause!” – shared Maxim Dzhetygenov.

    When teaching first aid skills to rescuers, it was important not to help the training participants too much, but to teach them manipulations and techniques, to give them the opportunity to independently complete the actions, even if the wheelchair was in the way. Children with disabled parents were also taught resuscitation skills, studied first aid and, of course, asked questions of interest.

    “For many years I have been working on the idea of organizing trainings where professional rescuers could show how people in wheelchairs can help save themselves and what techniques will be most effective, how to provide first aid to their loved ones, children, what can be done based on their physical condition, strength, skills. It is important to have an action plan so that a person in a wheelchair, even watching from the side, can manage the entire process of providing first aid. And it is very important for all of us to raise the level of safety culture together,” noted Natalia Prisetskaya.

    The second part of the training was dedicated to fire safety. Many participants picked up a fire extinguisher for the first time in their lives and thought about the risk they expose themselves and their loved ones to every day by not following the most basic fire safety rules.

    According to rescuers, trainings involve a full-fledged exchange. During practical training, it is possible to understand the approximate physical capabilities of people with disabilities and the nuances of different types of wheelchairs. Rescuers also learn more about personal boundaries and rules for comfortable communication with this category of people, and how best to interact with them.

    In total, 40 trainings are planned to be held in 2025, in which more than 200 people will take part: both wheelchair users and people with other types of disabilities, their relatives and children.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 04/14/2025

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Quantum Computing and Virtual Cities: A Future with Artificial Intelligence

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    What is the essence of hybrid quantum-classical artificial intelligence? In which high-tech areas are quantum computing already being piloted today? And when might high-performance quantum computers appear in Russia? Anton Guglya, an employee of the National University of Science and Technology MISIS, told participants of the SPbPU seminar on artificial intelligence about this.

    Anton Pavlovich in his review focused on the practical application of quantum computing for the implementation of business projects. In Russia, there are already the first experimental versions of quantum computers and a cloud interface for accessing them, although none of the domestic quantum computers can yet solve industrial-scale problems. At this stage, businesses and scientific groups have the opportunity to carry out research and pilot projects using quantum computing emulators – “digital twins” of quantum computers that use new algorithmic approaches, but operate on traditional CPU and GPU architectures.

    The financial, oil and gas and other industries need business effects, they need results, not just advanced technology. If their tasks are solved using traditional methods, they will not invest in advanced equipment, new software and obtaining additional competencies. But if they see the benefit, even if it is delayed in time, from using quantum computing, then, of course, they will prefer to use it, the speaker emphasized.

    Anton Guglya spoke about the technical features of hybrid quantum-classical neural networks, describing their advantages over classical ones:

    quantum algorithms will be able to solve some classes of problems faster and more accurately than classical analogs; it is possible to process a larger volume of information with less energy consumption; a smaller set of hyperparameters for training a neural network when working with noisy data.

    The MISiS specialist presented a typical process for developing an industrial quantum algorithm and launching it on an emulator, as well as several cases from his practice. For example, a credit scoring algorithm was implemented using quantum neural networks. The resulting model, based on data, calculates the probability of the return of funds received from the borrower to the bank.

    Another popular area is image classification. Using hybrid quantum-classical neural networks, this task can be performed faster and with greater accuracy. Also, with the help of a quantum neural network, the task of generating new drugs is performed more efficiently. At the same time, the learning speed of quantum neural networks is much higher than that of traditional ones.

    The second presentation at the seminar was devoted to the prospects of creating “virtual cities”. Ivan Dorokhov, a research fellow at the AI Center of Novosibirsk State University, spoke about the integrated system for modeling “virtual cities” that he and his colleagues from SPbPU and SPbSU are proposing.

    According to the speaker, unlike digital twins, which directly reflect the physical environment, virtual twins can simulate a wide range of objects or scenarios for various purposes and are not conceptually limited to digital computing.

    Our results show that such virtual environments can facilitate the emergence of societies consisting of AI agents, i.e. subjects with artificial intelligence, in which governance mechanisms such as decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO) and artificial collective consciousness (ACC) provide ethical and normative control, said Ivan Dorokhov.

    Agent-based AI systems are already on their way to engaging in cultural, economic, and political activity, shaping the social fabric of cities, and researchers must address how to make their impact as beneficial to people as possible. This will require understanding how advanced rendering and procedural generation techniques can provide the high realism required for complex simulations, how IoT data and predictive modeling can make these environments more responsive and adaptive, and what ethical and legal frameworks will be needed when AI agents gain autonomy. Answering these questions is important to realizing the potential of virtual worlds as platforms for innovation, experimentation, and sociotechnical evolution.

    Both presentations raised many questions and a lively discussion, which you can join at the next seminar on April 23, which was announced by the Head of the Department for Support of Scientific Projects and Programs Natalia Leontyeva.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Loanboox accelerates the digitalization of real estate financing

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ZURICH, Switzerland, April 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The digitalization of commercial real estate financing is gaining momentum – and Loanboox is establishing itself as a key technology partner for real estate companies across Europe. The Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution for the real estate industry, which was launched in 2022, is enjoying strong demand: the financing volume tendered via the Loanboox software now amounts to more than five billion euros, around 50 percent of which has been processed since the beginning of 2024 alone.

    “The real estate industry is local and highly fragmented. It is therefore under particular pressure to digitize processes and make them more transparent – especially when it comes to financing,” says Urs Meier, CEO of Loanboox. “With our software, we offer exactly the right tool at the right time: a comprehensive solution that efficiently brings borrowers and lenders together and maps the entire process from the tender to portfolio management.”

    A study conducted by Loanboox in collaboration with Fresenius University of Applied Sciences shows that 67% of the real estate companies surveyed see digitalization deficits in their core processes, especially in financing. Three out of four users explicitly want specialized industry software instead of general “office applications” – a clear sign of the need for tailor-made solutions.

    Loanboox’s software specifically addresses this need: Borrowers can manage the financing process digitally with their chosen lenders. The success in the commercial real estate financing segment speaks for itself: the average annual growth rate of user access is over 100 percent. In addition, around 90 percent of financing requests are successfully completed. In total, Loanboox’s technology has already processed well over EUR 100 billion in financing volumes across all customer segments since the company’s launch in 2016.

    Loanboox on its way to becoming pan-European financing software in real estate

    Loanboox customers have made financings in 16 European countries already, with Germany, Switzerland, France and Austria being the key markets. The company has recently seen a sharp increase in demand. In Germany in particular, Loanboox has signed up tier 1 real estate asset managers and project developers. And in the last six months alone they have already published financing requests in the three-digit million range via Loanboox’s software.

    “Today, we have more than 500 lenders in Europe using our software, who particularly appreciate the ease of use, the multilingualism and the quality of the tendering process. This means that Loanboox has one of the largest networks of lenders and the high number of repeat deals shows the very solid level of acceptance of our technology,” says Dominique Hügli, CPO (Chief Product Officer) at Loanboox. The large network of lenders is also particularly attractive for companies looking to finance real estate projects in the DACH region from other European countries.

    Debt Management module allows customers to manage their capital efficiently

    Another growth driver is the integrated debt management module: European asset managers, real estate companies, project developers and housing companies currently use the software to manage a loan volume of more than five billion euros via the software – and the trend is rising.

    “Our solution offers a 360-degree view for financing experts – from relationship management with lenders and financing processes to comprehensive loan management, evaluation and scenario planning,” explains Hügli.

    2025: Digitalization is advancing – broad market comparison for financing necessary

    With banks still reluctant to lend and the cost of managing loans rising, digital financing processes with a broad network of lenders are becoming increasingly important. Loanboox intends to take advantage of this momentum and the ongoing digitalization of the real estate industry and systematically expand its reach in Europe.

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is of course also finding its way into the real estate industry and will in the future help finance teams to process complex data efficiently, identify suitable financing options more quickly and facilitate the exchange with lenders. Whether it is the automated extraction of information from loan agreements and term sheets, the creation of teaser documents or the targeted analysis of portfolio data, AI opens up new efficiency potential along the entire financing process. AI also significantly simplifies the intelligent search in the data room of a tender – a function that has already been successfully implemented at Loanboox. The continuous integration of AI will continue for Loanboox in 2025 to enable even more effective and data-driven collaboration between borrowers and lenders.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8038b456-146d-46c6-9430-8e7ab54b3663

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Department of Landscape Architecture opened an exhibition of projects for school and kindergarten territories

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Alexander Demin, Nina Korsakova and Ekaterina Voznyak

    In the exhibition hall of the architectural faculty of SPbGASU, the department of landscape architecture opened an exhibition of projects for the territories of schools and kindergartens.

    Let us recall that the Department of Landscape Architecture was formed in the current academic year. It is attended by students who transferred from the Department of Architectural Environment Design and first-year students. Therefore, the exhibition was the first in the history of the new department.

    As Ekaterina Voznyak, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at SPbGASU, noted, on the one hand, the Department of Landscape Architecture is young, on the other hand, it is developing most dynamically. In terms of the number of students, it is the largest in the Faculty of Architecture.

    “Over the years, we have developed our own system and our own school of teaching landscape design: if the similar department of the St. Petersburg State Forestry University focuses on plantings, then we work with the architecture of space. In the presented projects, we managed to combine both architectural and landscape directions. All the works are impressive in their high level of execution,” Ekaterina Voznyak emphasized.

    Acting Head of the Department of Landscape Architecture Alexander Demin explained that part of the exhibition consists of course projects by second-year students, and part consists of completed projects by department staff.

    “The exhibition presents the first steps and first experience of students in designing public spaces. The sites of existing schools and kindergartens are used as a basis, where real problems of organizing adjacent territories and public spaces need to be solved. You can also see the completed projects under the program of the Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of the Russian Federation “Small Towns and Historical Settlements”, completed by the department’s employees. This selection of projects is not accidental: it symbolizes the construction of a single content line in continuity between professionals and students. In addition, projects of public spaces in the cities of Kommunar and Pikalyovo in the Leningrad Region, completed within the framework of the Russian competition “Small Towns and Historical Settlements” of the Ministry of Construction of Russia, are presented. They were completed by the employees of the landscape architecture department together with students, the Kremlin studio, the Competence Center of the Leningrad Region and district administrations,” said Alexander Demin.

    The director of the design studio, chief architect of SPbGASU Svetlana Bochkareva noted the unique design of the exhibition in a single style, which speaks of the personal participation of the head of the department.

    “For all of us, such a bright exhibition is a great gift and a bright, colorful event. For second-year students, participation in it is a kind of bonus, motivation for further professional activity,” Svetlana Bochkareva summarized.

    Among the first visitors to the exhibition on April 10 were students from Secondary School No. 564 of the Admiralty District of St. Petersburg, with which our university has been cooperating since 1988. As Director Nina Korsakova noted, yesterday’s schoolchildren enter SPbGASU and subsequently successfully work in their profession.

    “What is presented at the exhibition today is great! I hope that the traditions of cooperation established 37 years ago will continue. It is gratifying to see how the works of our graduates, and now your students, are being implemented here. Thus, in the two new buildings of the school, a large number of unique interiors were made according to the design projects of our students,” said Nina Korsakova.

    Second-year student of the landscape architecture department Yulia Rozhkova admits that it is nice to see her project at the exhibition.

    “This is my first time participating in an exhibition and my first time developing a project for the functional zoning of a kindergarten territory. I wanted to make modern playgrounds that children would like. Landscaping was also taken into account, new plants were added. Bright accents of the territory are color and paving. I believe that such a first experience will be a good step towards the profession,” said Yulia.

    Ariadna Bobokova, a tenth-grader at School No. 564, is not yet familiar with landscape design and believes that an exhibition is the best way to learn about it.

    “I plan to enroll in your university, but I am more interested in architectural design. Just the other day, a teacher at SPbGASU and I discussed that landscape design is not only flowers and plants, but also architecture. After looking at the work, I was convinced that this is really true: the projects present complex master plans,” Ariadna said.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –