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Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Population and Development Commission Continues General Discussion, Holds Panel on ‘Ensuring Healthy Lives and Promoting Well-Being for All at All Ages’

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Following the continuation of its general discussion in the morning, this afternoon, the Commission on Population and Development heard from Deus Mubangizi, Director of the Health Products Policy and Standards Department and Director ad interim of Innovation and Emerging Technologies Department of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Werner Obermayer, Director of WHO New York Office.

    Their presentations were followed by a multi-stakeholder panel Moderated by Pascale Allotey, Director of the WHO Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research.  The panel featured the following pannelists:  James Sailer, Vice-President and Executive Director, Biomedical Research Center, Population Council; Gloria Langat, Head of Ageing and Development, African Population Health and Research Center; Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez, Professor of Medical Sciences, National Autonomous University of Mexico; Ashley Ambrose, Deputy Director, Health Equity, Clinton Global Initiative; and Hanna Mulugeta, Youth Country Coordinator, RHRN2 Programme Ethiopia, Development Expertise Center.

    The Commission’s fifty-eighth session, held this week from 7 to 11 April, is focusing on the theme “ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages”.

    …

    __________

    * Owing to the liquidity crisis facing our Organization, the 4th through 6th Meetings were not covered.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to the BARCODE1 trial assessing the use of a polygenic risk score in screening for prostate cancer

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The results of the BARCODE1 trial, published by The New England Journal of Medicine assesses the use of a polygenic risk score in screening for prostate cancer.

    Prof Michael Inouye, Professor of Systems Genomics & Population Health, University of Cambridge, said:

    “This study is the strongest evidence to date on the clinical utility of a polygenic score for prostate cancer screening. It shows that a polygenic score can improve early detection of clinically significant prostate cancer, including those warranting radical treatment. A large proportion of prostate cancer cases detected using a polygenic score would not have been detected using the current diagnostic pathway. The authors appropriately discuss the study’s limitations and further research required (e.g. cost effectiveness). Taken together, I suspect we will look back on this as a landmark study that really made the clinical case for polygenic scores as a new tool that moved health systems from disease management to early detection and prevention.”

    When asked how long it would take to know if this could be used clinically?

    “This is a big step along the path to clinical implementation, but it is still a long road. Realistically, it will likely be years for the NHS to use polygenic scores routinely. It will require investment in infrastructure, generation of genomic data, training for healthcare practicians and potentially access to counselling for patients. There are more targeted ways to use polygenic scores clinically which may make for good next steps. To me, the study really makes me start to believe that these investments are worth it.”

     

    Mr Ben Lamb, Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon, Barts Health and UCLH NHS Trusts, and Clinical Senior Lecturer, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), said:

    “This is a very interesting study that assesses the utility of polygenic risk score in the detection of prostate cancer. The population may not be representative of those most at risk of prostate cancer, or of poorer health outcomes in general (e.g. black men, men in areas of deprivation), and further research is needed to test the results in these populations. Further research is also needed to understand longitudinal risk for men with a higher polygenic risk score i.e. their risk of developing cancer over time.

    “Interestingly, the best rate of detection of significant prostate cancer arose when the saliva test, PSA test and MRI tests were all positive. The saliva test may help to direct resources to those men most likely to have significant prostate cancer, but at present it does not replace these investigations, which we know are powerful tools in reassuring some men and recommending biopsy (and performing a better biopsy) in others.

    “The saliva test is less invasive than a blood test, or an MRI, and may be more acceptable for larger populations.”

    Dr Oliver Pain, Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London, said:

    “This study uses solid data and analyses and its findings fit nicely with the previous literature suggesting that polygenic scores can improve estimation of prostate cancer risk. It goes a step further than previous research in this area by providing a direct comparison with the current diagnostic pathway, showing that stratifying individuals by their polygenic score helped to identify people with clinically significant prostate cancer who would have otherwise been missed. As stated by the authors, the main limitation of this study is that it is restricted to individuals of European ancestry. Previous research has shown that the polygenic score they have used performs worse in non-European individuals, limiting the generalisability of this study’s conclusions. However, this is a common limitation of the field, not just this study, and there is progress being made with polygenic scores performing better across ancestral populations as the training data (GWAS) becomes more ancestrally diverse and polygenic scoring methods develop to improve their ability to be transferred across populations. There is evidence that progress is being made in this area for prostate cancer specifically, although there is a lot more work to be done (https://elifesciences.org/articles/78304, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011990).

    “In general, this study fits with others coming out for other diseases, and it is great step forward, but I would say we need research demonstrating the predictive utility of polygenic scores for prostate cancer in a more representative sample before we can start implementing them in the clinical setting.”

    Dr Chantal Babb de Villiiers, Senior Policy Analyst at PHG Foundation, said:

    “The BARCODE study results contribute valuable insights into the use of polygenic scores for risk stratification of prostate cancer, and how they can supplement risk prediction with known risk factors. The follow-up of the entire cohort will provide crucial data for evaluating the clinical and economic impact of using polygenic scores. Whilst some polygenic scores are showing promise in very specific scenarios, it is important to approach their implementation with caution and ensure thorough validation. We need further research to determine the best combination of these risk factors as well as how to effectively implement stratified screening.”

    Professor Rhian Gabe, Professor of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), said:

    “The test evaluated in this high quality study has exciting results in terms of detection, the hopes for an optimal future prostate cancer screening strategy and deserves larger-scale evaluation. Excitingly, this will happen in the TRANSFORM trial of prostate cancer screening where the test will also be evaluated in terms of acceptance, impact on prostate cancer deaths and incidence by comparing it with other promising strategies involving PSA testing and MRI.”

    Dr Samuel Lambert, Assistant Professor of Health Data Science, University of Cambridge, said:

    “The results of the BARCODE1 study are a major achievement, clearly illustrating the value of targeting prostate cancer screening to individuals defined as high-risk using a polygenic risk score. Targeting screening to the high-polygenic score population identified significant cancers that would not have been detected using existing thresholds, a comparable rate to previous trials targeting screening to individuals with pathogenic BRCA1/2 variants.

    “A current limitation is that the polygenic risk score in this study could only be used in individuals of European ancestry due to limitations in the diversity of available genome-wide association study data. This limitation is likely to be overcome in the long term, with data from new studies like Our Future Health in the UK that have prioritised diversity in their recruitment and linked health records to genetics data. Diverse studies like Our Future Health will allow researchers to better identify the variants associated with disease in all ancestries.”

     

    Prof Dusko Ilic, Professor of Stem Cell Sciences, King’s College London (KCL), said:

    “Polygenic risk scores (PRS) offer moderate discriminatory power when used alone. The study used a score based on 130 SNPs and showed that men in the top 10% of the PRS distribution had significantly higher risk. However, when added to established factors like age, PSA level, and MRI findings, the predicting clinically significant prostate cancer improved only modestly. Notably, further stratification within the top decile (e.g., 90th vs. 99th percentile) did not significantly improve predictive accuracy, suggesting diminishing returns at extreme PRS levels.

    “Furthermore, there is no direct evidence yet that using PRS improves long-term outcomes such as mortality or quality-adjusted life years. Modelling suggests benefit, but empirical confirmation is needed.

    “While the results are promising, especially in identifying significant cancers that would otherwise be missed, major caveats remain:

    • Population limitations: The cohort was self-selected, highly educated, and entirely of European ancestry.
    • Unclear generalizability: The PRS used was only validated in men of European descent.
    • No mortality data: The study doesn’t demonstrate reduced prostate cancer mortality or improved overall survival.
    • Cost-effectiveness: Not yet fully evaluated.

    “So, while PRS could supplement existing screening in high-risk individuals, the evidence is insufficient to recommend a standalone screening program based solely on PRS at this time.”

     

    Dr Britta Stordal, Associate Professor in Cancer Research, Middlesex University, said:

    “McHugh et al show that through the use of their BARCODE1 genetic risk score they are able to identify men who are at a higher risk of prostate cancer. 74 men had their prostate cancer diagnosed as a result of participating in this clinical trial that would not have been detected with current standard care on the NHS. This work is possible due to extensive previous research into genetic risk for prostate cancer in European populations. A similar risk score for men of Black African or Caribbean ancestry is urgently needed as we know that these men have a much higher prostate cancer risk than those of European ancestry.”

     

    ‘Assessment of a Polygenic Risk Score in Screening for Prostate Cancer’ by J.K. McHugh et al. was published in The New England Journal of Medicine at 22:00 UK time Wednesday 9 April 2025. 

    DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2407934

    Declared interests

    Prof Michael Inouye: Trustee of the Public Health Genomics (PHG) Foundation, Scientific Advisory Board of Open Targets, and research collaborations with AstraZeneca, Nightingale Health, and Pfizer. All of these are not related to the study. It’s also worth noting that, while the study is obviously driven by the Institute of Cancer Research in London, one of the coauthors (Pashayan) is a colleague at Cambridge.

    Prof Dusko Ilic: I declare no interest.

    Prof Rhian Gabe: I am Co-Lead of the TRANSFORM trial of prostate cancer screening, we are collaborating with Professor Eles to evaluate her PRS test.

    Dr Samuel Lambert: No conflicts of interest to disclose.

    Dr Britta Stordal: No conflicts of interest to declare.

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: LiBama Power Awarded $100,000 SuperBoost Grant to Advance Breakthrough Lithium Metal Anode Technology

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BINGHAMTON, N.Y., April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LiBama Power, a leader in next-generation lithium battery anode technology, has been awarded a $100,000 SuperBoost grant from the NSF Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York. The funding will accelerate the commercialization of LiBama’s Advanced Metal Anodes (AMAs), a transformative lithium-metal technology designed to increase energy density, reduce costs, and enhance battery safety for electric vehicles (EVs), drones, wearables, and power tools.

    LiBama’s patented AMA technology delivers twice the energy density of conventional lithium-ion batteries while reducing cell costs by 30%. Unlike many next-gen battery materials, AMAs are designed for drop-in compatibility with existing manufacturing processes, enabling seamless industry adoption without the need for costly retooling.

    “The energy storage industry is shifting rapidly toward higher-performance, cost-effective solutions, and LiBama Power is leading the way,” said Wentao Li, founder and CTO of LiBama Power. “With this support from the NSF Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York, we are moving quickly to scale and commercialize our Advanced Metal Anodes, enabling safer, more powerful, and more accessible lithium-metal battery solutions.”

    The SuperBoost program, a flagship initiative of the NSF Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York, is designed to accelerate battery technology commercialization, cutting traditional development cycles from five or more years to under two years. By providing funding, access to testbeds, and regional partnerships, SuperBoost helps startups bridge the gap between R&D and market deployment.

    LiBama’s work aligns with the Engine’s broader efforts to position upstate New York as a leader in energy storage innovation. Fernando Gómez-Baquero, translation pillar director for the NSF Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York, noted the significance of LiBama’s advancements: “LiBama Power is redefining what’s possible for lithium battery anodes, combining high energy density with cost efficiency and scalability. By leveraging the Engine’s network of resources, they are positioned to make a rapid transition from prototype to commercial production — exactly what SuperBoost was designed to support.”

    The NSF Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York is committed to building a robust, interconnected ecosystem that strengthens the U.S. battery supply chain. Meera Sampath, CEO of the Engine, highlighted how investments like these drive broader impact. “Our goal is to accelerate the market readiness of transformative battery technologies, ensuring they can scale rapidly and contribute to national energy security,” she said. “SuperBoost provides startups with the critical resources they need to shorten commercialization timelines and position Upstate New York as a global hub for energy storage innovation. LiBama Power exemplifies this mission by bringing breakthrough battery solutions closer to real-world deployment.”

    With this funding, LiBama Power will refine its AMA production process and produce prototype batteries for key applications in EVs, aviation, and grid storage. The investment represents a critical step toward strengthening the domestic energy storage industry, reinforcing the U.S. supply chain, and advancing high-performance, cost-effective battery solutions.

    About LiBama Power

    LiBama Power designs, manufactures, and markets AMAs for lithium-metal batteries. Its patented technology enables higher energy density, faster charging, and lower costs while ensuring compatibility with existing manufacturing infrastructure. With applications in EVs, drones, wearables, and grid storage, LiBama is advancing the next generation of safe and scalable energy storage solutions.

    For more information, visit www.libamapower.com.

    Contact:
    Mark Sperry, CCO
    mark@sperryenergy.com

    About the NSF Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York
    The NSF Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York, led by Binghamton University, is a National Science Foundation-funded, place-based innovation program. The coalition of 40+ academic, industry, nonprofit, state, and community organizations includes Cornell University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, Launch-NY and NY-BEST as core partners. The Engine advances next-gen battery technology development and manufacturing to drive economic growth and bolster national security. Its vision is to transform upstate New York into America’s Battery Capital.

    For more information on the Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine, visit https://upstatenyengine.org/.

    Contact:
    Fernando Gómez-Baquero Ph.D.
    Translation Pillar Director
    NSF Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine
    fernando@cornell.edu

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Our ancestors didn’t eat 3 meals a day. So why do we?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rob Richardson, Senior Lecturer in Culinary Arts & Gastronomy, Auckland University of Technology

    Shutterstock

    Pop quiz: name the world’s most famous trio? If you’re a foodie, then your answer might have been breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s an almost universally accepted trinity – particularly in the Western world.

    But how did it come about?

    The first meals

    Early humans were nomadic. Forming small communities, they would travel with the seasons, following local food sources.

    While we can only guess what daily mealtimes rhythms looked like, evidence dating back 30,000 years from the South Moravia region, Czech Republic, shows people visited specific settlements time and again. They gathered around hearths, cooking and sharing food: the first signs of human “commensality”, the practice of eating together.

    One of the best-preserved hunter-gatherer sites we’ve found is Ohalo II – located on the shores of the modern-day Sea of Galilee (also called Lake Tiberias or Lake Kinneret) in Israel, and dating back some 23,000 years.

    In addition to several small dwellings with hearths, it provides evidence of diverse food sources, including more than 140 types of seeds and nuts, and various birds, fish and mammals.

    The development of agricultural knowledge some 12,000 years ago gave rise to permanent settlements. The earliest were in the Levant region (across modern-day Iraq, southwestern Iran and eastern Turkey), in an area called the “Fertile Crescent”.

    The fertile crescent covers the rich, biodiverse valleys of the Tigris, Euphrates and Jordan rivers.
    Shutterstock

    Permanent agriculture led to the production of a surplus of food. The ability to stay in one place with food on-hand meant the time it took to cook no longer mattered as much.

    It quickly became common to eat one light meal early in the day, followed by a larger hearth-prepared meal later on. The specific timings would have varied between groups.

    Eating together as a rule

    The communal nature of foraging and hunting, and later farming, meant humans almost always ate their meals in the company of others. In the ancient city-state of Sparta, in the 4th century BCE, these practices were codified as common main meals called syssitia (meaning “eating together”).

    These meals were consumed at the end of the day in communal dining halls. Food was served by young boys to tables of 15 or so men who lived together and fought in the same military division. The men gradually shared generational knowledge with the young boys, who themselves would join the tables by age 20.

    In the 5th century BCE, Greek historian Herodotus wrote about how syssitia evolved from a Spartan military practice to having deep political meaning in society. Similarly, Plato wrote common meals were an integral component of civil society, and that missing a meal without good reason was a civic offence.

    By dining in full view of the rest of society, citizens were compelled to maintain self-discipline. Mealtime was also an opportunity for social linkage, and important discussions ranging from business deals to politics.

    The eating habits of Spartan women are missing in the texts, although it is implied they ate at home.

    Bunches of lunches

    Counter to the tough Spartan way of life, the Romans enjoyed their main meal, cena, earlier in the day, followed by a lighter meal just before bed.

    The northern European tribes tended towards two larger meals per day, as more sustenance is required in colder climes. To the Vikings, these meals were known as dagmal and nattmal, or day meal and night meal. Nattmal was the cooked evening meal, while dagmal usually consisted of leftover nattmal with the addition of bread and beer or mead.

    In Australia, evidence suggests Aboriginal peoples tended toward a daily single meal, which aligns with the predominant method of cookery: slow-cooking with hot coals or rocks in an earth oven. This underground oven, used by Aboriginal and also Torres Strait Islander communities, was referred to as a kup murri or kap mauri by some groups.

    This is similar to other Indigenous preparations throughout the Pacific, such as the New Zealand Māori hāngī, Hawaiian imu, Fijian lovo, and even the Mayan píib.

    The once-daily meal would have been supplemented with snacks throughout the day.

    Three’s the magic number

    The timing of meals was heavily influenced by class structure, local climate and people’s daily activities. Practicality also played a part. Without reliable lighting, meals had to be prepared and eaten before dark. In settled parts of Northern Europe, this could be as early as 3pm.

    So how did we go from one or two main meals, to three? The answer may lie with the British Royal Navy.

    Since its inception in the 16th century, the navy served three regular meals to align with the shipboard routine. This included a simple breakfast of ship’s biscuits, lunch as the main meal, and dinner as more of a light supper.

    Some sources suggest the term “square meal” may have come from the square wooden trays meals were served in.

    Initially, sailors recieved a daily gallon of beer with meals. This was later changed to watered-down rum, the infamous ‘grog’, which is being handed out in this 1940 photo taken aboard HMS King George V.
    Imperial War Museums, CC BY-NC

    The Industrial Revolution, which started around 1760, arguably also played a role in formalising the concept of three specific mealtimes across the Western world.

    The cadence of breakfast, lunch and dinner matched the routine of the longer, standardised workdays. Workers ate breakfast and dinner at home, before and after work, while lunch was eaten with coworkers at a set time.

    With minimal breaks, and no time for snacking, three substantial meals became necessary.

    The fall of the holy trinity

    Today, many factors impact the time and frequency of our meals, from long work commutes to juggling hobbies and social obligations.

    The ways in which we eat and share food continue to evolve alongside our societies and cultures.
    Shutterstock

    The COVID pandemic also impacted how and what we eat, leading us to eat larger amounts of higher calorie foods. The rapid growth of delivery services also means a meal is no more than a few minutes away from most people.

    All of this has resulted in mealtimes becoming less rigid, with social meals such as brunch, elevenses and afternoon teas expanding how we connect over food. And mealtimes will continue to evolve as our schedules become ever more complicated.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Our ancestors didn’t eat 3 meals a day. So why do we? – https://theconversation.com/our-ancestors-didnt-eat-3-meals-a-day-so-why-do-we-250773

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Here’s how a ‘silent’ tax hike is balancing the budget – with the heaviest burden on the lowest paid

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Chris Murphy, Visiting Fellow, Economics (modelling), Australian National University

    With just over three weeks to go until the federal election, both major parties are trying to position themselves as Australia’s better economic managers.

    Labor was able to hand down two consecutive budget surpluses in its current term. But the most recent federal budget shows a return to deficit this financial year.

    After the deficit peaks – at 1.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) next financial year – it will then take a decade to balance the budget. My own economic forecasts also imply the budget can return to balance in this time frame.

    However, this slow budget repair work is done silently by “bracket creep”, not by policy actions of the government.

    Under a progressive tax system, as incomes rise with inflation, the additional income is taxed more heavily.

    For example, a worker on average, annual wages of A$79,000 pays 20.3% of that in tax. But they pay tax of 32% (including the medicare levy) on any wage increases, even if those wage increases are only just enough to keep pace with inflation.

    The higher tax rate on additional wages pushes up average tax rates – known as bracket creep. This piece explains it well.

    Bracket creep has the political advantage of being a silent way of gradually increasing average tax rates. Both major parties are heavily relying on it. But is it good economic policy?

    The ‘silent’ tax hike

    Though Australia’s personal income tax system is progressive, it’s possible to work out the average tax rate faced by Australians collectively. This is total personal income tax paid as a percentage of total taxable income.

    In the first two decades of this century, personal income tax accounted for an average of 22.9% of taxable incomes. There was no clear trend.

    Since then, the trend has been up, because announced tax cuts haven’t been enough to offset silent bracket creep.

    The average tax rate this financial year, 2024-25, is estimated to be 24.3%.

    In the latest budget, the government reduced the lowest marginal tax rate – from 16% to 15% in 2026-27, then to 14% in 2027-28 and beyond.

    This almost stabilises the average tax rate for two years. However, it then resumes its upward trend under the silent influence of bracket creep, reaching 28.1% in 2035-36.

    This will be an all-time high average tax rate. Living standards will be squeezed and incentives to work and save will diminish.

    Some countries limit bracket creep by indexing personal income tax brackets to price inflation. This stops price inflation alone pushing workers into higher tax brackets.

    To illustrate how indexing could work, if inflation was 2%, all of the tax thresholds would move up by 2%. For example, the tax free threshold of $18,200 would increase to $18,564.

    A worker whose pay had increased by 2% would similarly pay only 2% extra tax, keeping their average tax rate unchanged.

    However, most of the time wages rise faster than prices because of productivity growth.

    Why bracket creep is unfair

    The unfairness of bracket creep can be illustrated with examples.

    Under the budget, the average rate of tax (for everyone) rises over the next 11 years by 3.8% points of income.

    The average wage earner with an annual income of $79,000 fares a little better. Their average tax rate goes from 20.3% in 2024-25 to 23.6% in 2035-36, an increase of 3.3% points of income, as noted in the recent budget.

    However, a low wage earner, with an annual income of $45,000 fares worse. Their average tax rate jumps from 10.8% to 17.3%, an increase of 6.5% points of income.

    Do we think it is fair that someone with an annual income of only $45,000 today should have to pay about 17% of their income in income tax in 11 years time?

    While this is an extreme example, it illustrates the fact that bracket creep is regressive and has serious unintended consequences.

    Less of a “Robin Hood” effect

    All of this has implications for the fairness of our tax system overall.

    To measure how much a country’s personal income tax system reduces inequality in income distribution, economists use something called the “Reynolds-Smolensky redistribution index”. Let’s call it the “R” index.

    A higher R index for a country means a stronger “Robin Hood” element in its tax system – that the system is doing more to redistribute income.

    Bracket creep disproportionately affects those on low incomes.
    muse studio/Shutterstock

    The International Monetary Fund reports that in 2018, the R index for Australia was 6.8%, compared to the average for OECD countries of under 5%. In 2024-25, the Australian R index is already a little lower at 6.5%.

    The R index can also be used to measure how benefits reduce inequality, but here, we’re only using it for personal income tax.

    Without any budget measures, the regressive nature of bracket creep would have caused the R index to fall further to a value of 6.3% in 2035-36.

    However, this budget’s “top-up tax cut” to the lowest marginal tax rate limited this fall to 6.4%, because it was a progressive tax change.

    Time for indexation

    Politicians from both major parties should stop relying so much on their silent partner, bracket creep, to slowly repair budget deficits.

    Instead of misleading announcements of tax cuts in only some budgets, my modelling shows how we could benefit from automatically indexing the tax brackets to prices in every budget.

    This will mean that the average rate of personal income tax will rise more modestly over the next 11 years, from 24.3% to 25.5%, instead of to 28.1%. Indexation also limits the fall in the R index to a value of 6.4%.

    The resulting revenue shortfall could be filled in ways that are more transparent, efficient and fairer than bracket creep.

    Possible ways include better priorities and higher efficiency in government spending, more reliance on indirect taxes such as the GST and expanding the tax base itself through reforms to boost productivity.

    Chris Murphy 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. Here’s how a ‘silent’ tax hike is balancing the budget – with the heaviest burden on the lowest paid – https://theconversation.com/heres-how-a-silent-tax-hike-is-balancing-the-budget-with-the-heaviest-burden-on-the-lowest-paid-253442

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 1 in 10 tunnel workers could develop silicosis, our new research shows

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Cole, Occupational Hygienist, PhD Candidate, University of Sydney

    Around 10% of underground tunnel workers in Queensland could develop silicosis, our new study has found.

    Silicosis is a serious, incurable lung disease caused by inhaling small particles of silica dust. You might have heard about it in people who work with engineered stone. But silica is more widespread.

    Silica is found in rocks and concrete, so workers in industries such as construction, mining and tunnelling are at high risk if proper safety measures aren’t in place.

    When silica dust is breathed in, it gets trapped in the lungs, causing inflammation and scarring. Over time, this scarring makes it harder to breathe and can be fatal.

    As symptoms of silicosis can take decades to appear, workers may not realise they’re sick until long after they’ve started working, or even after they stop.

    But silicosis is preventable.

    When silica dust is breathed in, it gets trapped in the lungs in tiny air sacs (the alveoli), causing inflammation and scarring.
    Pikovit/Shutterstock

    How does silicosis affect tunnel workers?

    Thousands of people are involved in tunnelling projects in Australia.

    Tunnelling involves breaking up large amounts of silica-containing rock with heavy machinery.

    Tunnel workers rely on advanced ventilation systems to provide fresh air underground, water systems to keep the rocks wet and suppress dust, and they wear respirators on their face to keep the air they breathe clean. But some people have raised concerns these measures do not always work properly.

    There are also national legal limits in place for silica dust exposure, currently 0.05 milligrams per cubic metre over an eight-hour work day.

    However, a media investigation last November revealed one-third of air monitoring tests from a Sydney tunnel project were above legal limits.

    While air monitoring tests are required by law, the results of routine air monitoring tests are often not made public.

    An expert taskforce has recently been set up in New South Wales to address the silica-related health risks for tunnel workers, promising to make high silica results above legal limits publicly available.

    But while attention has been focused on tunnel workers in Sydney, the problem of lung disease in underground workers is more widespread.

    Our Queensland study

    The results of air monitoring tests are important because they show whether legal silica dust limits are being adhered to.

    Another valuable use of this data is it can help us predict future disease risk. Instead of waiting to see how many workers develop silica-related diseases such as silicosis and lung cancer, this data can be used to estimate cases in advance.

    In 2017, a Queensland parliamentary inquiry raised concerns about the health of Brisbane’s tunnel workers, particularly regarding the harmful effects of exposure to silica dust.

    We worked through the parliamentary inquiry documents to uncover the results of hundreds of individual air monitoring tests conducted on three major Queensland tunnel projects between 2007 and 2013.

    We analysed this data to estimate how many workers were exposed to silica dust and at what levels. We then modelled how many cases of silicosis and lung cancer would occur over the workers’ lifetimes.

    We estimated that in a group of around 2,000 workers involved in these Queensland tunnel projects, 200 to 300 would develop silicosis over their lifetime as a result of silica dust exposure (roughly one in every ten workers).

    We also estimated between 20 to 30 workers would develop lung cancer due to their exposure.

    We had limited information on workplace conditions in the specific projects, so we made a number of assumptions based on publicly available information and our own experience. These included assumptions around the use and protective nature of masks. The fact we had to make some assumptions could be a limitation of our study. Due to the lack of data transparency we don’t know if these figures apply more broadly to tunnel workers throughout Australia.

    Silicosis can appear decades after occupational exposure.
    Marco Di Stefano/Shutterstock

    Our projected rate of silicosis, 10%, is the same as the rate of silicosis recorded by a government inquiry in 1924 which investigated silicosis among workers who built Sydney’s sewers.

    So it doesn’t seem things are any better in terms of silicosis risk in underground work than a century ago.

    We need to do more to protect tunnel workers

    Continued secrecy around silica dust data reduces our ability to understand the scale of the problem and respond effectively. Nonetheless, the small amount of data that has been made available supports the need for urgent action.

    With Australia’s ongoing infrastructure expansion, policymakers must act now. This should include enforcing stricter legal limits for silica dust exposure. There is concern among health experts that current limits don’t sufficiently protect workers’ health.

    Policymakers should also ensure protective measures such as advanced ventilation and dust suppression systems are in place for all tunnel projects, set up national tunnel worker health surveillance, and make exposure data available to workers and the public.

    There are several examples where things are done better. Internationally, Norway and Switzerland have strong systems to protect tunnel workers’ health such as air and health monitoring being conducted by an independent government agency. In Switzerland, this agency also insures the project. Noncompliance results in higher insurance premiums or, in some cases, the withdrawal of insurance, effectively stopping the project.

    Nationally, Australia’s mining industry is more heavily regulated than tunnelling, with stricter enforcement of compliance.

    Without immediate intervention, thousands of tunnel workers will continue to face serious health risks and Australia will face a growing wave of preventable occupational diseases.

    Kate Cole receives higher degree by research funding from The University of Sydney; is a member of the Asbestos and Silica Safety Eradication Council; the NSW Dust Diseases Board; the Chair of the External Affairs Committee for the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists; and acts as an expert witness for law firms concerning silica-related diseases in tunnel workers.

    Renee Carey has previously received funding from the Australian Council of Trade Unions. She is a member of the Occupational Lung Disease Network Steering Committee formed by Lung Foundation Australia.

    Tim Driscoll has acted as an expert witness, and written government reports, in relation to silica exposure but not specifically connected to tunnelling. He chairs the Occupational and Environmental Cancer Committee of Cancer Council Australia and chairs the Occupational Lung Disease Network Steering Committee of Lung Foundation Australia.

    – ref. 1 in 10 tunnel workers could develop silicosis, our new research shows – https://theconversation.com/1-in-10-tunnel-workers-could-develop-silicosis-our-new-research-shows-252186

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia urgently needs to get serious about long-term climate policy – but there’s no sign of that in the election campaign

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Jotzo, Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy and Head of Energy, Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions, Australian National University

    The federal election should be an earnest contest over the fundamentals of Australia’s climate and energy policies.

    Strong global action on climate change is clearly in Australia’s long-term national interest. But it has fallen prey to US President Donald Trump’s disruption of the world order, which has drained global attention from other crucial issues, including climate change.

    The Trump administration’s anti-climate actions might energise some to counteract it, but its overall affect will be chilling.

    Election reality

    A comprehensive platform to strengthen and broaden Australian climate policy towards net zero is needed more than ever.

    But the political reality playing out in the election campaign is very different, with the overriding focus on the cost of living, and the usual emphasis on electoral tactics rather than long-term strategies.

    Even a policy like Labor’s subsidised home batteries is being framed as a hip-pocket measure, rather than as a small contribution to energy infrastructure.

    Likewise, the Coalition’s pledge to halve fuel excise is aimed squarely at easing price pressures at the pump. In fact, the policy would slightly delay progress towards low emissions transport.

    The vexed question of how to ensure sufficient gas supplies for south eastern Australia is also cloaked in energy affordability. We are already seeing industry push back against the Coalition’s policy to require gas companies to withhold a share of production for the domestic market.

    Off target

    Regardless of who wins the election, Australia’s 43% emissions reduction target by 2030 will be difficult to achieve unless there is a change of pace.

    The government’s projections assume sharp
    cuts during 2027–30. But national emissions have flatlined at around 28% below 2005 levels for four years.

    Labor will subsidise the cost of solar batteries if its re-elected on May 4.
    Kathie Nichols/Shutterstock

    Under the Paris Agreement, a 2035 target commitment is required this year. The Climate Change Authority will give its advice to the new government after the election. It has previously floated a reduction range of 65–75%

    This would be compatible with the global goal of keeping warming below 2°C. Yet it might look highly ambitious under current political and international circumstances.

    Renewables reloaded

    The shift from coal to clean energy sources in the power sector is well underway. In 2024, renewables accounted for 39% of the national energy market, three times the share a decade ago.

    But progress has slowed at the same time as older coal plants have become unreliable and costly to run.

    It is clear that the future of an affordable, secure power supply in Australia is mostly wind and solar, supported by energy storage and some gas.

    But progress needs to be much faster. Many renewable projects, transmission lines and also Snowy 2 energy storage, are behind schedule. This is due to supply chain constraints, regulatory clogging and community opposition.

    Blueprint for action

    Deep emission reductions can still be achieved over the next ten years, but only if we pull out all the stops. That would mean:

    • going much faster on electricity transition
    • strengthening incentives and regulation to cut industrial and resource sector emissions
    • getting serious about a transition to clean transport
    • meaningful action towards low-emissions agriculture including changes to land use.

    A re-elected Labor government would likely do more on renewable power, while also strengthening action on industrial and resource emissions through the Safeguard Mechanism.

    But more will be needed to prepare for the 2030s. If the Teals hold the balance of power in a hung parliament, they would push Labor to be more ambitious.

    By contrast, a Dutton government might dial back the existing ambition and adopt a lower 2035 target than labor.

    Nuclear means more coal

    The initial focus of the Coalition’s energy policy going into the campaign has been to build nuclear power stations.

    Nuclear power would be far more expensive than the alternatives, costing hundreds of billions of dollars for only a small share of future power supply. It would need enormous subsidies, probably through government ownership.

    Deployment would inevitably be a very long time off. The near term affect would be to delay the transition to more renewable energy.

    The Coalition’s modelling assumes ageing coal-fired power plants would keep running beyond their announced closure dates. That would mean burning more coal and keeping Australia’s national carbon emissions higher for longer.

    The future of resource exports is green

    Australia’s intrinsic interest in limiting climate change remains urgent. Our opportunity as a green commodity producer and exporter remains solid.

    Green industry policy has been on the rise under the Albanese government, through support for green hydrogen and green iron. But we will not be able to subsidise our way to greatness in clean export industries.

    What is needed is international green commodity markets for Australian supplies of green ammonia, iron and other products. This is best achieved through carbon pricing in commodity importing countries, coupled with border carbon adjustments which give exporters of cleanly produced products an edge in those markets.

    A strong Australian 2035 emissions target would help send a signal to investors and overseas markets that we are serious about the transition.

    A COP in Australia

    Australia has a strong chance of hosting the 2026 UN climate conference. Labor wants it, but the Coalition doesn’t.

    COP31 would be a big chance for Australia to demonstrate positive leadership. It would also create pressure to do more for developing countries, given the conference would be hosted jointly with Pacific island states.

    Disappointment is likely, as rich countries will probably fail to meet expectations. In any case, Australia will be pushed by our Pacific neighbours to do more on climate change.

    We could do with the encouragement.

    This is the fourth article in our special series, Australia’s Policy Challenges. You can read the other articles here

    Frank Jotzo leads various research projects on climate policy. He is a commissioner with the NSW Net Zero Commission, chairs the Queensland Clean Economy Expert Panel and led the federal government’s Carbon Leakage Review.

    – ref. Australia urgently needs to get serious about long-term climate policy – but there’s no sign of that in the election campaign – https://theconversation.com/australia-urgently-needs-to-get-serious-about-long-term-climate-policy-but-theres-no-sign-of-that-in-the-election-campaign-250637

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor made plenty of promises at the last election. Did they deliver?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Frank Rindert Algra-Maschio, PhD Candidate, Social and Political Sciences, Monash University

    Election promises are a mainstay of contemporary politics. Governments cite kept commitments as proof they can be trusted, while oppositions pounce on any failure to deliver.

    But beyond the politics, campaign pledges are also central to representative democracy. They telegraph what to expect from a party in government and create a moral obligation for it to follow through.

    Democratic governments across the globe fulfil, on average, roughly two-thirds of their promises, but most voters believe it is far fewer. Since voters will punish governments for breaking promises, it’s vital they have accurate information on their government’s record.

    We set out to provide Australians with that information through RMIT’s Election Promise Tracker. We assessed 66 major promises made by Labor before the last election.

    By presenting evidence through an interactive timeline that follows all the twists and turns since 2022, the tracker allows voters to form their own judgements during the 2025 campaign.

    Tracking election promises

    Our team compiled a long list of promises during the last election campaign by scouring public statements made by both major parties.

    For this, we kept to the definition of an “election promise” used by the Comparative Pledges Project, a research network that employs a common approach to studying promises.

    After the election, we narrowed Labor’s list to 66 promises — based on newsworthiness, coverage of policy areas and, later, feedback from the audience of ABC News.

    The tracker was originally launched as a project of RMIT ABC Fact Check, and it applies a methodology of fact-check journalism that prioritises impartiality and transparency.

    We laid out, from the start, the criteria by which we would eventually assess each promise, to ensure only those that could be assessed by the end of the electoral term were included.

    Three years on, we determined whether those criteria had been met, marking promises as “delivered”, “thwarted” or “broken”. In a few cases, some remain “in progress” or “stalled”.

    Mostly good news for the government

    Overall, the government delivered at least 46 of the promises (roughly 70%) we tracked. Many of these are in areas typically seen as Labor strengths.

    These include key promises in health and aged care, such as funding pay rises for aged care workers, requiring aged care homes to keep a registered nurse on site 24/7, and mandating minimum “care minutes” for their residents.

    On education, employment and social services, the government boosted childcare subsidies and increased workplace protections for gig workers. It also delivered funding for 450,000 fee-free TAFE places and for the states to hire 500 support workers for women in crisis.

    Integrity was a key theme of the 2022 election, and the government has since followed through on establishing an anti-corruption commission, delivering a royal commission into Robodebt and implementing all the recommendations of the Respect@Work report that fell within its remit.

    And on the all-important cost of living, Labor cut the maximum price for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) scripts, boosted payments for disabled veterans, increased the low-and-middle income tax offset by $420 and – following a Senate standoff with the Greens and Coalition — established a $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund.

    And some bad news

    But it was not all smooth sailing for the government. It failed to deliver on at least 14 pledges (roughly 20%), including a promise to increase real wages above pre-election levels. It’s pledged to address real wages through a submission to the Fair Work Commission this time around.

    Arguably, it was unlucky on defence spending. Despite injecting $10 billion over its first three years, Labor is poised to miss its target of spending “at least” 2% of gross domestic product on defence, due to an uptick in GDP.

    In other cases, the government never really got close. After promising to deliver 450 gigalitres of environmental water under the Murray Darling Basin Plan, it only managed 27.5GL.

    And some deadlines were simply missed, with the government belatedly establishing 50 urgent care clinics and introducing a new Pacific Engagement Visa.

    Among the most controversial issues was Labor’s restructuring of the stage three tax cuts, having previously pledged to implement the cuts exactly as the Coalition had formulated them. But polling showed voters may forgive the “breaking” of a pledge if they agree with the outcome.

    The government also retreated from its promise to establish a Makarrata Commission following the defeated Voice referendum, providing an example of how changed political circumstances can come to haunt promises made years earlier.

    Not always an easy answer

    Despite the best intentions, some promises don’t fit neatly into the “delivered” or “broken” binary.

    For example, Labor promised Australia would make a joint bid with Pacific Island countries to host a United Nations climate conference. But the government can’t formally submit a bid unless Turkey bows out of the race, meaning this pledge has been “thwarted”.

    And it remains to be seen whether households will receive a much-touted $275 cut to their annual electricity bill (on 2021 levels) by mid-2025. The necessary data won’t arrive until after the election, and Labor’s energy rebates have complicated the picture.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese may not have delivered on “every single thing” he promised, but of the promises we tracked, far more were kept than broken.

    This suggests the Albanese government has performed on a fairly level footing with other comparative countries, as well as with the Gillard Labor government.

    But voters will have different views on which promises are most important, so as ever, it’s the details that matter.

    Lisa Waller receives funding from The Australian Research Council

    David Campbell and Frank Rindert Algra-Maschio do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Labor made plenty of promises at the last election. Did they deliver? – https://theconversation.com/labor-made-plenty-of-promises-at-the-last-election-did-they-deliver-251481

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How the small autonomous region of Puntland found success in battling Islamic State in Somalia

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Ido Levy, PhD Candidate, School of International Service, American University

    Soldiers with the Puntland Defense Forces. Photo by Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via Getty Images

    On Feb. 24, 2025, members of the Puntland Defense Forces posed next to a sign in Arabic that proclaimed the mountain town of Sheebaab as a “province” of the Islamic State group. The town, located in Somalia’s autonomous northeastern region of Puntland, was one of numerous areas that soldiers from the regional government have taken back during Operation Hilaac, an ongoing campaign against fighters from the Islamic State in Somalia – the local branch of the terrorist network – which began in late November 2024.

    Puntland’s success in combating a growing Islamic State group presence in the northeastern region is particularly notable given the relative lack of success of the central Somali government’s confrontation with the al-Qaida-affiliated group Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahidin – more commonly known as al-Shabab – which for about two decades has waged war against federal forces.

    In contrast, security forces in the self-declared autonomous region of Puntland have, with some key support from international partners, united to repel the Islamic State group’s advance.

    The Islamic State group’s rise in Somalia

    Islamist groups have been part of Somalia’s fractured political landscape since the country’s descent into civil war in the 1980s.

    They tapped into profound local dissatisfaction with warlordism, tribalism and corruption, as well as a reaction to foreign intervention by Ethiopia, the United States and other international actors.

    Al-Shabab and later the Islamic State in Somalia are the most extreme manifestations of this trend.

    Islamic State in Somalia emerged in 2015 when a small group of al-Shabab members led by Abdulqadir Mumin – an extremist Somali preacher who previously lived in Sweden and the United Kingdom, where he acquired citizenship – pledged allegiance to then-Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Having formed as a local branch – or “province” in the group’s self conception as a global entity intent on expanding territory – Islamic State in Somalia launched its first major operation in October 2016, briefly seizing the port town of Qandala in Puntland.

    Thereafter, the group retreated to its strongholds in the mountain regions inside Puntland amid pressure from both the regional government and al-Shabab, which has cracked down on Islamic State supporters in its ranks.

    Yet from the Puntland mountains, Islamic State in Somalia grew into a key node of the terrorist group’s global network. It is now a hub for transferring funds and drawing recruits from across Africa and elsewhere via the regional coordination office it operates known as al-Karrar.

    One notable Sudan-born operative killed in a 2023 U.S. raid in Puntland, Bilal al-Sudani, was known as a key foreign fighter, facilitator and financier who developed Islamic State funding networks in South Africa and helped fund the group’s branch in Afghanistan.

    An NBC News report from mid-2024 cited U.S. officials who believed Mumin, head of Islamic State in Somalia, was acting as the network’s overall leader, or caliph, though other analysts have suggested he holds a top role close to caliph.

    In any case, Islamic State in Somalia’s ranks have increased steadily, from an estimated 200-300 fighters in 2016 to about 1,000 as of February 2025, according to reports.

    Puntland pushes back

    Puntland declared itself an autonomous region of Somalia in 1998 amid the ongoing Somali civil war and has since achieved relative stability compared with the other parts of the country, which have generally been marked by decades of sectarian division and weak central governance.

    Puntland is no stranger to divisions in a country that often hinges on clan loyalties, but it has achieved a greater degree of unity and has regularly raised security forces to defeat external threats, often with considerable foreign support.

    The dominance of a single clan, the Majeerteen, has in part likely helped facilitate this unity. In the current operations against Islamic State in Somalia, the autonomous Puntland government under President Said Abdullahi Deni has gathered several disparate regional forces under the “Puntland Defense Forces” banner, including clan militias, the Puntland Darawish – a regional paramilitary unit – and the Puntland Maritime Police Force.

    Soldiers with the Puntland Defense Forces stand at a base formerly held by the Islamic State group’s Somali affiliate in January 2025 in Puntland, Somalia.
    Carolyn Van Houten/The Washington Post via Getty Images

    The Puntland Maritime Police Force in particular has evolved into a well-trained and experienced counterterrorism unit. Founded with United Arab Emirates money and mentored by private South African military contractors to address growing piracy, it has turned to fighting al-Shabab and Islamic State in Somalia in the mountain regions. Indeed, it played a leading role in taking Qandala from Islamic State control in 2016. It also cooperated effectively with other forces to defeat a 2016 al-Shabab attempt to attack Puntland from the sea.

    The U.S. and UAE have supported the Puntland government’s campaign. In February 2025, the U.S. launched two airstrikes on Islamic State fighters, with one on Feb. 1, 2025, killing Omani-born Ahmed Maeleninine, a key recruiter, financier and facilitator. The United States claimed another airstrike on March 25.

    The UAE has conducted airstrikes too, likely from the large UAE-funded Puntland Maritime Police Force headquarters base in the major port city of Bosaso.

    The Puntland government has claimed that through its latest operation it has advanced through 315 kilometers, clearing numerous villages and outposts in the mountains.

    On Feb. 11, 2025, The Washington Post reported that regional security forces had killed more than 150 Islamic State members, mostly foreign fighters from countries including Morocco, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, illustrating the group’s significance as a global hub for the network. In fact, one analyst counted 118 dead fighters from a single encounter in early February, indicating a possibly higher death toll. In any case, it represents heavy losses for Islamic State in Somalia, though it is not defeated yet and still numbers fighters in the hundreds.

    The risk of outside interference

    All in all, Puntland has leveraged past success fighting jihadist groups in making remarkable progress in its fight against Islamic State in Somalia.

    It shows how local and substate forces can be more effective at fighting armed nonstate groups than the federal authorities, despite limited resources.

    No doubt, support from the United States and UAE has aided Puntland’s anti-Islamic State push. But reliance on outside sources risks creating dependence on them when local forces must ultimately take ownership of the fight themselves.

    And less patient foreign supporters have been known to spoil the elite units they build. This occurred with the Puntland Security Force, a U.S.-created special forces unit that splintered during a brief withdrawal of U.S. forces from Somalia in 2021 and 2022.

    There are also risks that partner forces will behave badly. While the Emirati mission in Puntland – as well as in Afghanistan and Yemen – has proven effective in fighting jihadists, in Sudan it has been arguably disastrous. There, the UAE-backed Rapid Support Forces paramilitary unit helped to ignite an ongoing civil war in 2023 during which its members perpetrated alleged atrocities.

    Ultimately, it will be up to Puntlanders themselves to keep fighting. Indeed, foreign support would have little impact without effective local forces on the ground with the political will to sustain the campaign. Just as Puntland has done before, so too is it now demonstrating that it is determined to fight the threat posed by jihadist groups like Islamic State in Somalia.

    Ido Levy 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. How the small autonomous region of Puntland found success in battling Islamic State in Somalia – https://theconversation.com/how-the-small-autonomous-region-of-puntland-found-success-in-battling-islamic-state-in-somalia-251775

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Health Expands Comprehensive Concussion Care

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    A neurosurgeon with specialized training is leading a new concussion clinic at UConn Health.

    Dr. Brian Kelley, in the roles of neurosurgeon and neurointensivist, seeks to offer an outpatient setting where those who’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can progress with their recovery following their initial acute care.

    Dr. Bryan Kelley is a UConn Health neurosurgeon with specialty training in neurotrauma and neurocritical care. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)

    “There are ongoing processes inside your head that are not necessarily surgical problems, but still very much contribute to the overall pathology,” Kelley says. “There are several aspects related to traumatic brain injury that deal not only with surgical issues, but also with what are called secondary mechanisms of injury. These are processes like hypoxia, free radical formation, or pathologic enzyme activity that happen in a delayed fashion.”

    Free radicals are unstable molecules that can harm cells. Hypoxia refers to when the body’s oxygen levels are low.

    Kelley joined UConn Health in 2022, after completing a fellowship in neurocritical care at the University of Pennsylvania that followed his neurosurgical training. In addition to treating brain-injured patients surgically, he’s interested in coordinating services to help patients transition into longer-term care needs.

    “TBI patients often have long-term neurologic issues, be it cognitive or motor function, and they need resources and a place to go where someone with expertise in the field may not be able to necessarily fix everything but can steer them in the proper direction,” Kelley says. “The ultimate goal of the concussion clinic is to integrate neurotrauma care with physical, occupational, and speech therapies, as well as cognitive treatment down the line. That’s in addition to dealing with any potential surgical or postoperative issues.”

    Kelley envisions a comprehensive model for patients to access interdisciplinary care unique to their needs. His concussion clinic opened March 30 at the Brain and Spine Institute at UConn Health, just off its main campus in Farmington at 5 Munson Road.

    “The concussion clinic is born out of building an academic practice focused on head trauma,” he says. “Post-concussive syndrome can be a little bit of a nebulous diagnosis. Not everybody fits nicely into a box, but if you can drill down on a patient’s chief complaint, then at the very least, we can make sure they’re seeing the right groups of people.”

    Of note, Kelley’s clinic is separate and distinct from Neurosport, which is part of UConn Health’s orthopedics and sports medicine practice and provides comprehensive care for athletes who suffer head injuries.

    To start, Kelley expects most of his referrals to come from the UConn John Dempsey Hospital Emergency Department, with an eye toward cultivating the clinic’s reputation as a resource for community physicians to send their patients who may be struggling with the aftereffects of brain injury.

    “There are patients who suffer what you might think is a fairly innocuous event, but they’re left with fairly significant neurologic issues and kind of stuck,” he says. “They’re not sick enough to be in the hospital, but they can’t go back to work or they’re not enjoying the quality of life they want. The idea is to perform a neurologic exam, provide them with a head-to-toe assessment of what’s going on, and give them the resources to help mitigate some of the ongoing TBI effects.”

    Dr. Ketan Bulsara, chair of UConn Health’s Department of Neurosurgery, says, “Dr. Kelley’s training and expertise uniquely position him to provide a great service to help a large group of post-concussive patients. Combined with his research interest in understanding the pathophysiology of brain trauma, he is also uniquely positioned to help advance treatments for this group of patients.”

    Learn more about UConn Health’s Department of Neurosurgery, or call 860-679-8080 to schedule a consultation.

    Learn more about the Brain and Spine Institute at UConn Health.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tripped at the first hurdle: fees-free changes could put some students off tertiary study altogether

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wendy Ann Alabaster, PhD candidate, University of Canterbury

    skynesher/Getty Images

    The door to tertiary education will likely close for some students now changes have kicked in for the fees-free policy.

    In 2017, the Labour government introduced a fee holiday for students’ first year of academic study, or two years of training in a work-based setting. This was meant to help those who had been put off tertiary study because of the cost. It was also intended to boost the number of people going into higher education.

    But students who started university or other tertiary training in 2025 will instead have to wait until their final year for the fees holiday under a policy change by the current coalition government.

    According to Tertiary Education Minister Penny Simmonds, the goal was to incentivise “hard working learners, businesses and tertiary providers” and help those “most in need of support to access tertiary education and training”.

    However, my research suggests the change will likely compound existing inequalities in access to tertiary education for students from low-income backgrounds.

    Through repeated in-depth interviews with students throughout their first year of study, I examined the impact of the fees free policy on their attitudes and behaviours. What I found is for students from low-income backgrounds, the policy is going to make entering study harder.

    Fees free as an entry point

    My study focused on ten students from low-income backgrounds or who were first in their family to undertake tertiary study. They were interviewed three times: on enrolment, mid-year and at the end of their first year.

    Five of the ten students said they could not have imagined beginning their studies without the first year fees-free support. One student said,

    If it had cost, I wouldn’t have gone.

    Another said,

    I don’t think I would have [studied], to be honest.

    And a third said,

    I’m definitely not one to have debt. No, I don’t think I would have [studied].

    The students in my study were also worried about the debt associated with a student loan. As of December 2024, the total student loan debt in New Zealand was around NZ$15.6 billion, with the median loan balance being $17,949.

    One student said she did not want the debt from a student loan. Another commented,

    It was always the thought that, oh, uni, there’s a massive student loan that you’re going to end up with later down the line. I don’t want to end up stuck in debt and then, you know, never be able to pay off things like that.

    A third said,

    It’s daunting because it was only recently that my mum’s paid off her student loan or her debt.

    Throughout the interviews, the students suggested other changes that could help how low-income students approached tertiary study.

    These included improving access to career education advice, assistance and mentoring in navigating the tertiary environment (including application processes), and increased health and wellbeing support.

    Despite Labour’s fees-free policy, there has been a persistent decline in the number of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds entering tertiary study.
    Phil Walter/Getty Images

    The participants in this study found it difficult to access help with scholarship and enrolment applications. One student commented,

    [High school staff] were very passionate about people to go to uni so it looked good on their reports, but not like helping people apply or anything like that. So it was quite one sided.

    Another student was frustrated with trying to navigate Studylink, the student loan and assistance provider. She said,

    I don’t know why [Studylink] make it so hard for everybody.

    It was difficult for low-income and first-in-family students to communicate with their families about their struggles. One student said,

    Coming from a low-income family meant I was the first in my family to attend tertiary study. It was hard to communicate to my family the struggles of tertiary education and I found it difficult to connect with them and feel like they understood my experience.

    Ongoing unequal access

    Despite the fees free policy, there has been a persistent disparity in the background of students who go on to study at university or other tertiary institutions.

    In 2021, the proportion of students undertaking tertiary study from decile one schools (those with the highest number of students from low-income backgrounds) was under 4%. The proportion from decile 10 schools was closer to 16%. (The decile system has since been replaced by the Schooling Equity Index).

    Regardless of the fees free programme’s original goals, the percentage of students accessing tertiary education from the schools with the lowest five deciles has decreased from 38% in 2017 to 28% in 2021. At the same time, the number of students from the highest five decile schools has increased from 62% to 72%.

    Improving access for students

    Research in 2019 and 2020 revealed that students who were more influenced by the fees-free policy may need extra support to complete qualifications and have a successful tertiary experience.

    The students who were more influenced by the fees-free policy were approximately 1.67 times more likely to struggle during the transition to university and show an interest in early departure within the first few weeks of study.

    My study suggests free fees in the first year allowed students from low-income families to feel they had a right to study.

    Rather than being a reward for students at the end of their study, it is more likely the shift of the fees-free year will discourage low-income students from taking the risk to commit to study at the tertiary level.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Tripped at the first hurdle: fees-free changes could put some students off tertiary study altogether – https://theconversation.com/tripped-at-the-first-hurdle-fees-free-changes-could-put-some-students-off-tertiary-study-altogether-253613

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER SOUNDS ALARM ON ‘DOGE’ PLANS TO SLASH UPSTATE NY’S MANUFACTURERING FEDERAL SUPPORT PROGRAM, CUTTING MILLIONS FOR UPSTATE’S SMALL BIZ & WORKFORCE TRAINING, DEMANDS TRUMP ADMIN REVERSE CUTS AND…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer

    NY’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers – Including NextCorps in Rochester, Center For Economic Growth & FuzeHub In Capital Region, Insyte In Western NY, And More – Rely On Fed Investment To Support Small Businesses And Create New Jobs

    Senator Says These Centers Are One Of The Best Tools To Grow Upstate’s Economy – And Is Especially Needed As We Make Major Investments Thanks To His CHIPS & Science Law- And Cutting Support Now Would Be Double Whammy For Businesses Already Reeling From Trump’s Trade War

    Schumer: Cutting Off Support For Upstate NY Businesses Is Not How You Rebuild American Manufacturing

    After the Trump administration canceled funding for Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers across America and those in Upstate NY are fearing they are next, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today sounded the alarm to protect MEP centers that have helped hundreds of small manufacturers grow and create thousands of good-paying jobs in every region of New York. The senator said cutting off federal investment for Upstate NY manufacturing would hinder the growth the region is seeing thanks to his CHIPS & Science Law and threaten the next generation of American manufacturing and jobs across New York. Schumer called on the Trump administration to immediately reverse these cuts and keep MEP investments flowing for Upstate NY.

    “Trump and ‘DOGE’ are threatening to defund a main federal support program for growing Upstate NY manufacturing. We cannot cut off this mainstay program for helping small businesses, attracting new supply chains, and creating new jobs just as we are seeing tremendous manufacturing growth across Upstate NY thanks to my CHIPS & Science Law,” said Senator Schumer. “From Buffalo to Albany, MEP Centers have proven to be one of the best bangs for your buck investments the federal government can make helping create thousands of new good-paying jobs and billions in new investment throughout New York. These centers are how we attract new supply chains, get workers the hands-on training they need, and bring back jobs from overseas. Trump can’t be ushering in the Golden Age of American manufacturing while simultaneously decimating the program that helps American manufacturers thrive. Trump’s haphazard trade war against allies like Canada is already wreaking havoc on New York’s economy and small manufacturers. These Trump cuts to manufacturing centers will only add to that chaos. These cuts are wrong, illegal, and should be immediately reversed.”

    The Manufacturing Extension Program is authorized and appropriated by Congress, and Schumer said cutting these contracts without Congressional approval is most likely illegal. The MEP has a long track record of successfully boosting small American manufacturers in New York and across the country.

    The New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP) is a network of 11 independent nonprofit organizations that help smaller manufacturers grow and create jobs. As a result of the federally-funded NY MEP network, over 32,000 manufacturing jobs in New York have been created or saved between 2019 and 2023. More than 4,400 projects have been completed between NY MEP and manufacturers in every region of the state to help those companies succeed and grow, increasing their sales by $1 billion, helping reduce costs by nearly $40 million, and increasing new investments by nearly $190 million, all in FY2024 alone.

    Schumer explained the rising cost of foreign goods due to Trump’s tariffs is hurting small manufacturers that often already operate on razor-thin margins and ripping away this vital federal MEP assistance is just further insult to injury and threatens the jobs and growth of manufacturers across the state and country. According to WIRED, the U.S. Department of Commerce said they would not pay out nearly $13 million across ten MEP agreements because they were “no longer aligned with the priorities of the department,” and no clarity or certainty has been provided that the contract cuts won’t continue to happen across the country, including in New York, as the deadlines approach for contracts to be renewed.

    A breakdown of contracts in New York State can be found below:

    Recipient 

    Region

    MEP Federal Investment Per Year

    Alliance for Manufacturing and Technology

    Southern Tier

    $380,000

    Center for Economic Growth

    Capital Region

    $380,000

     CITEC

    North Country

    $380,000

    Central New York Technology Development Organization

    Central New York

    $380,000

    Insyte

    Western NY

    $560,000

    NextCorps

    Rochester-Finger Lakes

    $560,000

    Manufacturing & Technology Enterprise Center

    Hudson Valley

    $560,000

    Industrial & Technology Assistance Corporation

    New York City

    $635,000

    Stony Brook

    Long Island

    $635,000

    Mohawk Valley Community College

    Mohawk Valley

    $380,000

    FuzeHub

    Statewide

    $1,135,194

    Empire State Development

    Statewide

    $892,766
       

    $6,877,960

    Every year, the Department spends nearly $200 million annually on MEP nationally. Though states also contribute to MEP programs, it will be difficult for them to compensate for the loss of federal funding. Schumer said cutting these contracts will prevent the United States from establishing manufacturing leadership and could lead to nationwide job losses. In a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Schumer highlighted the importance of MEP in supporting the growth of small manufacturers and demanded certainty that funding for New York’s MEP centers would not be cut.

    “Saying that these critical investments are not aligned with the Department of Commerce’s priorities just doesn’t add up. Trump claims to care a lot about maintaining American manufacturing leadership, but his actions are doing the opposite. The MEP has delivered manufacturing growth in New York and America for years. We need to double down on investment in proven programs like this, not eliminate it,” Schumer added.

    Elena Garuc, Executive Director of FuzeHub, the statewide NY MEP center, said, “The New York MEP serves as an economic engine for communities across our state. Local manufacturers rely on us as a vital resource to become more competitive, adopt new technologies, and create jobs. Occasionally we even step in as a safety net to help manufacturers solve tough challenges and protect their operations. When manufacturing leaders don’t know where to turn, they turn to us. Looking out on the economic horizon, I believe the New York MEP is needed now more than ever.  We’re grateful to Senator Schumer for recognizing the economic impact we deliver and for his determined advocacy for this essential program that strengthens American manufacturing and creates good-paying local jobs.”

    “Small manufacturers are vital to the economy, driving innovation, creating high-quality jobs, and strengthening local and regional supply chains. In New York City, rising operational costs present added challenges. The success of the MEP program, both locally and nationally, lies in its ability to produce tangible results—whether by helping manufacturers adopt technologies tailored to their unique needs and resources, or by implementing strategies that enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and boost profitability,” said Kinda Younes, Executive Director of ITAC, New York City’s NY-MEP Center.

    “LIMEP, operating out of Stony Brook University,  works with the many small and medium-sized manufacturers on Long Island supplying key Department of Defense programs.  By leveraging the NIST MEP resources in cyber security, technical resources and hands-on manufacturing engineering support with Stony Brook University’s vast research capabilities, manufacturers on Long Island are able to accelerate the development and adoption of advanced technologies that support DoD programs.  Our Long Island region helps to sustain the DoD supply chain that is so vital to our nation.  LIMEP is actively working with our regional manufacturers and the Bell Flight & Textron team to make the LI Supply Chain an important spoke in the national defense industrial base and the V-280 Valor Tiltrotor Program,” said Amy Erickson, Executive Director of the Long Island Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program.

    “If you look at our mission statement “To grow and strengthen manufacturing in the Capital Region”, that is why we exist and have taken great pride in it for over 20 years. Many manufacturing CEO’s have to come to rely on the MEP network for assistance with finding domestic supply chain partners, workforce challenges, Industry 4.0 adoption, operational excellence… and the list goes on. Bipartisan support including that from Congressman Schumer has been a hallmark of the MEP program because by any measure we have delivered results,” said Don Weisenforth, President of Center for Economic Growth, the Capital Region’s NY-MEP center.

    “Small manufacturers have been in the forefront of Buffalo’s and Western New York’s renaissance, with NYMEP providing critical support ranging from advanced technology and cybersecurity to workforce and supply chain.  We couldn’t provide these vital services without the MEP Program funding and bipartisan support provided by our Congressional Delegation, led by Senator Schumer,” said Ben Rand, President of Insyte Consulting, Western New York’s NY-MEP center.

    “The NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program is a cornerstone of American manufacturing, empowering small and mid-sized manufacturers with the tools, expertise, and resources they need to compete, grow, and innovate. These companies are the backbone of our economy and the heart of our communities. We are grateful for Senator Schumer’s leadership in urging the administration to restore full funding to this critical program—because investing in MEP is investing in jobs, resilience, and the future of U.S. manufacturing,” said James Senall, President of NextCorps, the Rochester/Finger Lakes Region’s NY-MEP center.

    “The Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program is a critical resource for small and medium-sized manufacturers, especially in Central New York. No other program has MEP’s track record, documented history of success, or independently verified impacts. CNYTDO wouldn’t be able to provide these vital services without the MEP Program funding and bipartisan support provided by our Congressional Delegation, led by Senator Schumer,” said James A. D’Agostino, Center Director of CNYTDO, Central New York’s NY-MEP center.

    “The MEP National Network is a critical driver of America’s manufacturing resurgence, directly supporting the administration’s efforts to rebuild our industrial base. The Alliance for Manufacturing & Technology, part of the NY MEP, delivers that impact in the Southern Tier of NY – helping small and mid-sized manufacturers increase productivity, adopt advanced technologies, and address workforce and supply chain challenges head-on. Cutting the MEP program would have immediate consequences, including job losses and hindered growth at a time when these businesses are critical to America’s future in manufacturing. We deeply appreciate Senator Schumer’s leadership in championing this vital program and his unwavering commitment to strengthening American manufacturing,” said Carol Miller, Executive Director of the Alliance for Manufacturing and Technology, the Southern Tier’s NY-MEP center.

    “We must continue supporting Hudson Valley manufacturers with the tools they need to compete globally—not just nationally. After more than 30 years working alongside global manufacturers, I’ve seen firsthand how aggressive and integrated their supply chains can be. If we’re serious about reshoring, we must invest in the smaller manufacturers that form the backbone of those supply chains—while also strengthening workforce, cybersecurity, and technology readiness. The MEP program is critical to this work and deserves continued bipartisan support,” said David Carter, Executive Director of MTEC, the Hudson Valley’s NY-MEP center.

    “The NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program is critical to the success of Mohawk Valley Regional manufacturers. This investment and parentship has allowed for MVCC’s Advanced Institute for Manufacturing to assist more than 200 manufacturers and create and retain more than 2,900 Mohawk Valley advanced manufacturing jobs. We extend our deepest gratitude to Senator Schumer for advocating for this essential investment. This initiative underscores our dedication to innovation and community collaboration, promising a transformative influence on our workforce and students in the entire six-county region,” said Cory Albrecht, Director of Advanced Institute for Manufacturing, the Mohawk Valleys NY-MEP Center.

    “On behalf of CITEC and North Country Manufacturing I would like to thank Senator Schumer in his efforts to save the MEP system. As part of the NY MEP, CITEC can leverage the strength and resources of the entire national network to bring world class expertise to small and medium manufacturers in our remote rural region. CITEC raises the level of our expertise, of our talent, of our skills,” said Jay Ward, President and CEO of Ward Lumber in Jay, NY. “I would highly recommend CITEC for gaining skills and expertise and improving the overall operation of most any company I can think of, certainly ours.”

    Schumer and colleagues wrote a letter urging Commerce Secretary Lutnick not to cancel funding for ten MEP Centers across the country, which is creating uncertainty for all MEP centers. The Trump administration’s action cutting MEP came on April 1, one day before Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports, which tanked the stock market and raised warnings from experts of a recession.  

    Schumer led to passage of the bipartisan CHIPS & Science Law, which included $2.23 billion for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program over five years. The CHIPS & Science Law also established a pilot program of expansion awards for MEP Centers to provide services for workforce development, resiliency of domestic supply chains, and expanded support for adopting advanced technology upgrades at small and medium manufacturers. The Law also established a voluntary national supply chain database under MEP.

    Schumer’s letter to Commerce Secretary Lutnick can be found below:

    Dear Secretary Lutnick,

    We write to express our deep concern regarding the Department of Commerce’s recent decision to cancel future funding for ten National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers in Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, and Wyoming. This decision has raised widespread concern across the entire national network of MEP Centers, prompting fears about whether these initial cancellations are the first step in a broader effort to dismantle the program and eliminate federal funding for all 51 centers, with centers in Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin expected to be notified about their status shortly. Given the MEP program’s long-standing, bipartisan support in strengthening small and medium-sized American manufacturers, we share these concerns and urge you to provide clarity and certainty on your plans for the future of the MEP program.

    According to the National Association of Manufacturers, 93% of manufacturers have fewer than 100 employees, while 75% have fewer than 20 employees. Small manufacturers rely on MEP Centers for essential support in adopting the latest advanced technologies, updating their cybersecurity, navigating supply chain challenges, and accessing workforce training—resources that are often out of reach for small businesses without this dedicated assistance. These centers drive innovation, boost productivity, and create high-quality jobs, strengthening both local economies and America’s global competitiveness. Without this critical federal support, MEP Centers—especially those with the fewest resources, and those serving rural and underserved communities—will be at the greatest risk of closure.

    Dismantling this program would not only disrupt benefits for small businesses but also undermine decades of federal investment in domestic manufacturing resilience, which Congress prioritized in the MEP program in the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. Congress also reauthorized the MEP program in the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. NIST was provided $175 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 to fund the MEP Centers. In FY2024 alone, the MEP National Network resulted in $2.6 billion in cost savings, $15 billion in new and retained sales, $5 billion in new client investments, and over 108,000 jobs created or retained. Additionally, a report by Summit Consulting and the Upjohn Institute found that the MEP program generated a substantial economic and financial return ratio of more than 17:1 for the $175 million funding invested by the federal government in FY2023. The study also determined that MEP Center projects contributed to an overall increase of nearly 309,000 jobs across the United States.

    Given these benefits and the funding in the FY 2025 Continuing Resolution, we request a full explanation of the rationale behind this funding decision and ask that you promptly reconsider. Additionally, we urge the Department of Commerce to provide Congress with an impact assessment detailing how this decision will affect manufacturers in the affected states and regions. This action has caused tremendous uncertainty for all MEP Centers and the thousands of American manufacturing companies and their workers.  Therefore, to better understand your plans for renewals across other states in the future, we request a briefing on the way ahead for the overall MEP program prior to making any final non-renewal decisions by April 30, 2025. 

    Eliminating federal support for MEP Centers would hamper American small and medium-sized manufacturers. We urge you to take immediate action to protect the MEP program and the manufacturers that rely on it. We look forward to your response no later than April 30, 2025, and are ready to work with you to find solutions that maintain and enhance the MEP program’s ability to serve America’s manufacturing sector.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Universities in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union thought giving in to government demands would save their independence

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Iveta Silova, Professor of Comparative and International Education, Arizona State University

    Columbia University has been in the crosshairs of the Trump administration.
     Rudi Von Briel/Photodisc via Getty Images

    Many American universities, widely seen globally as beacons of academic integrity and free speech, are giving in to demands from the Trump administration, which has been targeting academia since it took office.

    In one of his first acts, President Donald Trump branded diversity, equity and inclusion programs as discriminatory. His administration also launched federal investigations into more than 50 universities, from smaller regional schools such as Grand Valley State University in Michigan and the New England College of Optometry in Massachusetts to elite private universities such as Harvard and Yale.

    Trump ramped up the pressure by threatening university research funding and targeting specific schools. In one example, the Trump administration revoked US$400 million in grants to Columbia University over its alleged failures to curb antisemitic harassment on campus. The school later agreed to most of Trump’s demands, from tightening student protest policies to placing an entire academic department under administrative oversight – though the funding remains frozen.

    Cornell, Northwestern, Princeton, Brown and the University of Pennsylvania have also recently had grants frozen. Harvard was sent a list of demands in order to keep $9 billion in federal funding.

    Now, across the United States, many universities are trying to avoid being Trump’s next target. Administrators are dismantling DEI initiatives – closing and rebranding offices, eliminating positions, revising training programs and sanitizing diversity statements – while professors are preemptively self-censoring.

    Not all institutions are complying. Some schools, such as Wesleyan, have refused to abandon their diversity principles. And organizations including the American Association of University Professors have filed lawsuits challenging Trump’s executive orders, arguing they violate academic freedom and the First Amendment.

    But these remain exceptions, as the broader trend leans toward institutional caution and retreat.

    As a scholar of comparative and international education, I study how academic institutions respond to authoritarian pressure – across political systems, cultural contexts and historical moments. While some universities may believe that compliance with the administration will protect their funding and independence, a few historical parallels suggest otherwise.

    Students and other Nazi supporters gather at Humboldt University in Berlin in 1933.
    AP Photo

    German universities: A lesson

    In the 1975 book “The Abuse of Learning: The Failure of German Universities,” historian Frederic Lilge chronicles how German universities, which entered the 20th century in a golden age of global intellectual influence, did not resist the Nazi regime but instead adapted to it.

    Even before seizing national power in 1933, the Nazi Party was closely monitoring German universities through nationalist student groups and sympathetic faculty, flagging professors deemed politically unreliable – particularly Jews, Marxists, liberals and pacifists.

    After Hitler took office in 1933, his regime moved swiftly to purge academic institutions of Jews and political opponents. The 1933 Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service mandated the firing of Jewish and other “non-Aryan” professors and members of the faculty deemed politically suspect.

    Soon after, professors were required to swear loyalty to Hitler, curricula were overhauled to emphasize “national defense” and “racial science” – a pseudoscientific framework used to justify antisemitism and Aryan supremacy – and entire departments were restructured to serve Nazi ideology.

    Some institutions, such as the Technische Hochschule Stuttgart, even rushed to honor Hitler with an honorary doctorate within weeks of his rise to power. He declined the offer, though the gesture signaled the university’s eagerness to align with the regime. Professional associations, such as the Association of German Universities, stayed silent, ignoring key opportunities to resist before universities lost their autonomy and became subservient to the Nazi state.

    As linguist Max Weinreich wrote in his 1999 book “Hitler’s Professors,” many academics didn’t just comply, they enabled the regime by reshaping their research. This legitimized state doctrine, helping build the intellectual framework of the regime.

    A few academics resisted and were dismissed, exiled or executed. Most did not.

    The transformation of German academia was not a slow drift but a swift and systemic overhaul. But what made Hitler’s orders stick was the eagerness of many academic leaders to comply, justify and normalize the new order. Each decision – each erased name, each revised syllabus, each closed program and department – was framed as necessary, even patriotic. Within a few years, German universities no longer served knowledge – they served power.

    It would take more than a decade after the war, through denazification, reinvestment and international reintegration, for West German universities to begin regaining their intellectual standing and academic credibility.

    Under Stalin, dissenting scholars were purged and history rewritten to glorify the Communist Party. Moscow State University opened in 1953 with murals such as this one depicting Soviet symbols.
    AP Photo/Zander Hollander

    USSR and fascist Italy suffer similar fate

    Other countries that have fallen under authoritarian regimes followed similar trajectories.

    In fascist Italy, the shift began not with violence but with a signature. In 1931, the Mussolini regime required all university professors to swear an oath of loyalty to the state. Out of more than 1,200, only 12 refused.

    Many justified their compliance by insisting the oath had no bearing on their teaching or research. But by publicly affirming loyalty and offering no organized resistance, the academic community signaled its willingness to accommodate the regime. This lack of opposition allowed the fascist government to tighten control over universities and use them to advance its ideological agenda.

    In the Soviet Union, this control was not limited to symbolic gestures – it reshaped the entire academic system.

    After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the Bolsheviks oscillated between wanting to abolish universities as “feudal relics” and repurposing them to serve a socialist state, as historians John Connelly and Michael Grüttner explain in their book “Universities Under Dictatorship.” Ultimately, they chose the latter, remaking universities as instruments of ideological education and technical training, tightly aligned with Marxist-Leninist goals.

    Under Josef Stalin, academic survival depended less on scholarly merit than on conformity to official doctrine. Dissenting scholars were purged or exiled, history was rewritten to glorify the Communist Party, and entire disciplines such as genetics were reshaped to fit political orthodoxy.

    This model was exported across Eastern and Central Europe during the Cold War. In East Germany, Czechoslovakia and Poland, ministries dictated curricula, Marxism-Leninism became mandatory across disciplines, and admissions were reengineered to favor students from loyalist backgrounds. In some contexts, adherents to older intellectual traditions pushed back, especially in Poland, where resistance slowed though could not prevent the imposition of ideological control.

    By the early 1950s, universities across the region had become what Connelly calls “captive institutions,” stripped of independence and recast to serve the state.

    A more recent example is Turkey, where, following the failed 2016 coup, more than 6,000 academics were dismissed, universities were shuttered and research deemed “subversive” was banned.

    History’s warning

    The Trump administration’s early and direct intervention into higher education governance echoes historical attempts to bring universities under state influence or control.

    The administration says it is doing so to eradicate “discrimatory” DEI policies and fight what it sees as antisemitism on college campuses. But by withholding federal funding, the administration is also trying to force universities into ideological conformity – by dictating whose knowledge counts but also whose presence and perspectives are permissible on campus.

    Columbia’s reaction to Trump’s demands sent a clear message: Resistance is risky, but compliance may be rewarded – though the $400 million has yet to be restored. The speed and scope of its concessions set a precedent, signaling to other universities that avoiding political fallout now may mean rewriting policies, reshaping departments and retreating from controversy, perhaps before anyone even asks.

    The Trump administration has already moved on to other universities, including the University of Pennsylvania over its transgender policies, Princeton for its climate programs and Harvard over alleged antisemitism. The question is which school is next.

    The Department of Education has launched investigations into over 50 institutions, accusing them of using “racial preferences and stereotypes in education programs and activities.” How these institutions choose to respond may determine whether higher education remains a space for open inquiry.

    The pressure to conform is not just financial – it is also cultural. Faculty at some institutions are being advised not to use “DEI” in emails and public communication, with warnings to not be a target. Academics are removing pronouns from their email signatures and asking their students to comply, too. I’ve been on the receiving end of those warnings, and so have my counterparts at other institutions. And students on visas are being warned not to travel outside the U.S. after several were deported or denied reentry due to alleged involvement in protests.

    Meanwhile, people inside and outside academia are combing websites, syllabi, presentations and public writing in search of what they consider ideological infractions. This type of peer surveillance can reward silence, incentivize erasure and turn institutions against their own.

    When universities start regulating not just what they say but what they teach, support and stand for – driven by fear rather than principle – they are no longer just reacting to political threats, they are internalizing them. And as history has shown, that may mark the beginning of the end of their academic independence.

    This article does not represent the views of Arizona State University.

    – ref. Universities in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union thought giving in to government demands would save their independence – https://theconversation.com/universities-in-nazi-germany-and-the-soviet-union-thought-giving-in-to-government-demands-would-save-their-independence-252888

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Activities of Secretary-General in Belgium, 18-21 March

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    On Tuesday evening, 18 March, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Brussels to meet with European Union leaders.

    On Wednesday, the Secretary-General had meetings with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, as well as with Roberta Metsola, the President of the European Parliament. 

    In the evening, he attended a dinner organized by Antonio Costa, the President of the European Council, along with Ms. Von der Leyen and Kaja Kallas, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.

    On Thursday, 20 March, at the invitation of the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, the Secretary-General took part in a working lunch with the Heads of State and Government of the European Union at the opening of the European Council.  

    The Secretary-General and Mr. Costa spoke to the press as they entered the European Union building.  Mr. Guterres expressed his appreciation for the UN’s partnership with the European Union, reiterating that it is a fundamental pillar of the multilateral response to the challenges we face in peace and security, climate, sustainable development and human rights.

    Turning to the situation in Ukraine, the Secretary-General said any ceasefire is welcome because it saves lives, but he added that it is essential that a ceasefire paves the way for a just peace in Ukraine — a peace that respects the Charter of the United Nations, international law and Security Council resolutions, namely about the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

    The Secretary-General renewed his appeal for respect of the ceasefire in Gaza, for unimpeded humanitarian access to all areas of Gaza, and for the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages.

    Immediately after the working lunch, Mr. Guterres had a pull-aside meeting with the President of France, Emmanuel Macron.

    Later that afternoon, the Secretary-General sat down for a background briefing with a group of journalists assembled by the United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe.

    On Friday morning, the universities KU Leuven and UC Louvain jointly awarded an honorary doctorate to the United Nations.  The Secretary-General received the honorary doctorate on behalf of the organization and, in his remarks, he said that by bestowing this honour, the universities are sending a message of support for the mission of the United Nations — a message of solidarity to all those working to make it real — and a message of inspiration for us to keep up the fight.  (See Press Release SG/SM/22596.)

    He said the Universities’ 600th anniversary coincides with a moment of reflection for the United Nations, which marks its own eightieth anniversary as an organization at the epicentre of multilateralism.

    Standing here in Europe, the Secretary-General added, we know this same commitment to multilateralism is the beating heart of the European Union — a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to the world’s most vulnerable people and proof that isolationism is an illusion, never a solution.

    Turning to the situation in Gaza, the Secretary-General renewed his appeal for the ceasefire to be restored, for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to be reestablished and for the remaining hostages to be released immediately and unconditionally.

    Following the ceremony, the Secretary-General visited the university library and had an exchange with students.

    Upon returning to Brussels that afternoon, the Secretary-General had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Belgium, Bart De Wever.

    He left Brussels early in the evening.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mike Drury: A 40-Year Legacy of Precision

    Source: NASA

    Deputy Integration and Testing Manager – Goddard Space Flight Center
    Mike Drury began at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, as a temporary technician — a contractor hired for six weeks to set up High Capacity Centrifuge tests. Six weeks then turned into three months and, eventually, over 40 years.

    Now, Mike is the deputy integration and testing manager for NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. In this role, Mike oversees both Roman’s assembly and the many verification processes that ensure it is ready for launch.
    “It’s a privilege to work here. There’s really no regrets,” Mike says. “This is a big place, and it is what you make it. You can really spread your wings and go into a lot of different areas and do different things.”
    When Mike first began at Goddard, only government-employed technicians could work on space flight hardware. However, times were changing. The “old-timers,” as Mike affectionately calls them, soon began training a small group of contractors, including Mike, for flight hardware work. Mike credits these “old-timers” for the mindset he still carries decades later.
    “They taught me how to approach things and execute, and that helped me through my entire career,” Mike says. “It’s that approach — making sure things are done right, without cutting any corners — that I always liked about working here.”
    Not everyone can say that they worked on space missions while in college, but Mike can. Mike took advantage of a program through his contract that paid for classes. For 10 years, Mike studied at Anne Arundel Community College while continuing full-time work at Goddard, eventually earning an associate’s degree in mathematics. 
    While in community college, Mike also stocked up on several physics and calculus credits which helped prepare him to study thermal engineering at Johns Hopkins University. After seven more years of night classes, Mike completed a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. 
    “Night school was really difficult between full-time work and traveling because I was working on several missions,” Mike says. “You needed that perseverance to just keep going and working away at it. So I just hung in there.”

    In his 17 years of night school, Mike worked on seven missions, expanding his skill set from test set-up, to clean room tech work, to training astronauts. While working on the Hubble Space Telescope, Mike helped to train astronauts for their in-orbit tech work to install various instruments. 
    “Every mission I’ve worked on I’ve learned something,” Mike says. “Every test you learn more and more about other disciplines.”
    After graduating from Johns Hopkins, Mike worked for a short time as an engineer before becoming an integration supervisor. In 2006, Mike took on the position of James Webb Space Telescope ISIM (Integrated Science Instrument Module) integration and test manager. After Webb’s ISIM was integrated with the Optical Telescope Element, Mike became the OTIS (Optical Telescope Element and Integrated Science Instrument Module) integration and testing manager.
    “It was a tough eight to 10 years of work,” Mike says. “Loading the OTIS into the shipping container to be sent to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for further testing was a great accomplishment.” 
    To ensure that Webb’s ISIM would thrive in space, Mike was involved in more than three months of round-the-clock thermal vacuum testing. During this time, a blizzard stranded Mike and others on-site at Goddard for three days. Mike spent his nights overseeing thermal vacuum tests and his days driving test directors and operators to their nearby hotel rooms with his four-wheel-drive truck — a winter storm savior in short supply.

    For Mike, the hard work behind space missions is well worth it.
    “As humans, we want to discover new things and see things. That’s what keeps me coming back — the thought of discovery and space flight,” Mike says. “I get excited talking to some of the Hubble or Webb scientists about the discoveries they’ve made. They answer questions but they also find themselves asking new ones.”
    Some of these new questions opened by Hubble and Webb will be addressed by Mike’s current project — Roman.
    “This team I would say is the best I’ve ever worked with. I say that because it’s the Goddard family. Everyone here on Roman has the same agenda, and that’s a successful, on-time launch,” Mike says. “My ultimate goal is to be staying on the beach in Florida after watching Roman blast off. That would be all the icing on the cake.”
    Mike is also focusing on laying the groundwork for the next era at Goddard. He works hard to instill a sense of import, intention, and precision in his successors, just as the “old-timers” instilled in him 40 years ago.
    “I talk to a lot of my colleagues that I’ve worked with for years, and we’re all excited to hand it off to the next generation,” Mike says. “It’s so exciting to see. I’m the old guy now.”
    By Laine HavensNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Judicial appointments increase Albertans access to justice

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canada was mostly spared from Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, but it must not grow complacent

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor, Associate Professor of Agri-Food Trade and Policy, University of Guelph

    United States President Donald Trump’s so-called Liberation Day introduced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on approximately 60 countries on April 2.

    Canada, a major U.S. trading partner, was largely spared from these reciprocal tariffs thanks to the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) — a free trade agreement renegotiated and signed by the Trump administration in 2020.

    Although it may appear Canada has avoided the worst of the tariff measures, other existing tariffs could still significantly impact Canadian trade with the U.S.

    Currently, Canada faces other tariffs on its exports to the U.S., which Trump has linked to concerns over illicit drugs and immigrants crossing the border. Under these measures, the U.S. has imposed a 25 per cent tariff on non-CUSMA compliant goods. Canadian energy and potash exports that are not CUSMA-compliant have been hit with a 10 per cent tariff.

    If the current tariffs related to fentanyl and migration are lifted, CUSMA-compliant goods would continue to enjoy preferential treatment, while non-compliant goods would then be subject to a 12 per cent reciprocal tariff.

    What makes a product CUSMA-compliant?

    Under CUSMA, a product is considered compliant if it originates from any of the three member countries: Canada, the U.S. or Mexico. This means the product satisfies the originating status according to the rules of origin criteria listed in the CUSMA agreement.

    To be deemed originating, some of the criteria includes, for instance:

    1. That the product is wholly produced in the territory of one of the member states.
    2. That, if the product is produced with non-originating materials, the regional value of content must not be less than product specific rules of origin.
    3. That the product has undergone substantial transformation or a change in tariff classification.

    Regional value content is the difference between the transaction value of a product adjusted for costs related to international shipping of the good, and the value of non-originating material. It is expressed as a percentage of the transaction value.

    When a product qualifies for an originating status, it is considered CUSMA-compliant. It then qualifies for a preferential treatment, which means it can enter the CUSMA market duty-free or at a reduced rate.

    Products exported under CUSMA

    Under the CUSMA tariff schedule, which outlines tariff commitments on Canadian products, the vast majority of Canadian exports to the U.S. are eligible for preferential treatment.

    In fact, more than 98 per cent of tariff lines and more than 99.9 per cent of bilateral trade are CUSMA-compliant, meaning Canadian exporters can claim preferential access if their products meet the agreement’s rules of origin.

    Based on the Tariff Schedule of the United States, 98.4 per cent of Canadian products enter the U.S. duty-free, while only 1.6 per cent face tariffs. These protected products are primarily agricultural goods considered sensitive by the U.S. — notably dairy and sugar.

    These protected items are typically subject to tariff rate quotas, which allow limited quantities to enter at a lower (within-quota) duty rate, while imports beyond the quota are permitted at a higher (over-quota) tariff rate.

    Steel and aluminum tariffs

    Although Canada was not directly targeted by Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, its steel and aluminum industries remains significantly impacted by Section 232 tariffs. Importantly, these tariffs cannot be waived due to CUSMA.

    Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 authorizes the U.S. president to restrict the import of certain goods if they threaten national security. Under this provision, the Trump administration has imposed a 25 per cent duty on steel, aluminum and related products.

    Steel and aluminum products are crucial to Canada, with total exports of iron and steel, iron or steel products and aluminum products reaching $34.8 billion in 2024. It’s hard to imagine the U.S. justifying tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum on national security grounds, given Canada’s longstanding role as one of its closest allies.

    Automotive tariffs

    The automotive sector has also been targeted with the Section 232 tariffs. As Canada’s second-largest export to the U.S., valued at over $72.3 billion in 2024, the industry relies heavily on an integrated cross-border supply chain. That makes the sector particularly vulnerable to tariffs.

    The imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on non-U.S. content in vehicles threatens the profitability of Canadian producers and reduces production efficiency.

    Determining non-U.S. content at the border will lead to significant inefficiencies, including long wait times, as companies attempt to prove American content in vehicles. This process will also demand an excessive amount of documentation, imposing unnecessary costs on businesses.

    This tariff also undermines CUSMA’s rules of origin, which allow vehicles with at least 75 per cent North American content to qualify for duty-free access. The Section 232 measure effectively penalizes compliant vehicles, creating a trade barrier inconsistent with the spirit of the agreement.

    The way forward

    The uncertainty created by the Trump administration’s unilateral trade policies poses a serious threat to Canada and the global economy as a whole. With Trump’s presidency just beginning, both Canada and the rest of the world must brace for the economic disruptions his policies may bring.

    At the bilateral level, Canada appears to have exhausted nearly all diplomatic avenues to persuade the Trump administration to reverse its harmful tariff measures. Regionally, while Trump renegotiated the CUSMA agreement, his actions have undermined its spirit and violated key provisions.

    At the multilateral level, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been significantly weakened. Its dispute settlement mechanism has been rendered ineffective due to the U.S. blocking the appointment of new judges to its appellate body.

    The only faint silver lining is that, despite threats during his first term to withdraw from the organization, Trump has not followed through. This suggests he still holds at least some degree of respect or recognition for the WTO’s role in global trade.

    The world is currently navigating a period of deep uncertainty and confusion. Canada must stand in solidarity with the international community to exert collective pressure on the U.S. A co-ordinated global response could compel Trump to reconsider his unilateral trade policies.

    Although Canada has been granted a reprieve from the new reciprocal tariffs, this should not lead to complacency. Instead, Canada should continue to collaborate with other nations to push for a more stable and rules-based global trading system. This is the way to protect Canada’s interests and reinforce multilateral co-operation.

    Sylvanus Kwaku Afesorgbor receives funding from OMAFA

    – ref. Canada was mostly spared from Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, but it must not grow complacent – https://theconversation.com/canada-was-mostly-spared-from-trumps-reciprocal-tariffs-but-it-must-not-grow-complacent-253813

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Some rivers have ‘legal personhood’. Now they need a lawyer

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Will de Freitas, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

    New Zealand has granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River. Ron Kolet / shutterstock

    Most rivers need some human help to stay clean and healthy and to flow freely. People have to fish out litter, block sewage, look out for invasive species and so on.

    This is obvious enough. But, as rivers are increasingly being granted legal rights of their own, they’ll need another form of human help: people willing to be their legal representatives, filing lawsuits and speaking in court.

    This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. 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.

    The idea that nature should be granted rights similar to that of a human (sometimes described as “legal personhood”) has been around for a few decades now. Though some lakes, forests and other features have been awarded these rights, it’s rivers that are the main beneficiaries. Most recently, the River Ouse in East Sussex, England, was awarded rights by its local council, following similar moves in places as diverse as New Zealand, Ecuador, Canada and India.

    “Rivers often have strong cultural and spiritual identities as sacred living entities or life-giving beings. These existential understandings have underpinned legal actions.” That’s according to Nick Mount, a rivers expert at the University of Nottingham.

    Back in 2017, Mount travelled to Colombia to visit the River Atrato. The Atrato flows through a remote and highly biodiverse jungle, in a region which at the time remained a paramilitary stronghold. The country’s constitutional court had recently awarded the river humans rights and Mount wanted to see what that meant in practice.

    “The Atrato River has been awarded rights,” he said, “because of what it provides for human life – not because it should be equated with human life”. He continued “this places a significant burden on the Colombian state to ensure the rights are enforced – and it demands that local people are empowered to manage their river properly”.

    However, “the reality was sobering”. He found deforested riverbanks, so contaminated with chemicals that plants could not regrow. He found industrial dredging had reshaped an entire river to the point where its regular nutrient-cycling floods had broken down entirely, while whole human communities had been displaced.

    “The Atrato River in general, and [its tributary] the Rio Quito in particular, serve as a stark reminder that awarding environmental rights is not the same as realising them. Such rights don’t exist within a vacuum, of course, and they will only be fulfilled if political, socio-economic and cultural systems support them.”



    Read more:
    Can a river have legal rights? I visited the jungles of Colombia to find out

    So what might a more supportive human system involve? Oluwabusayo Wuraola is a law lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University. Writing about the recent River Ouse news, she agrees with Mount that “simply granting a river some rights isn’t enough” and adds that “we now need to think about who will actually defend these rights”.

    The River Ouse, playing hide and seek.
    Melanie Hobson / shutterstock

    “Appointing representatives who care about their own personal and property interests would be a grave mistake, as would appointing anyone who prioritises the rights of humans to a healthy environment over a more intrinsic right of nature (remember: the idea is that the River Ouse has rights in itself and shouldn’t need to demonstrate its worth to humans).”

    In her analysis, “the most effective defenders of the rights of nature in many court cases” have been people with an “ecocentric perspective”. That means an outlook that prioritises the intrinsic value of nature itself, rather than focusing on how it can serve human interests. She cites instances where the supposed advocates for a river’s rights in court were actually motivated by wanting to protect their own property downstream.

    Ultimately, though “moves to give rights to nature are promising … we’ll need a whole army of nature protectors to actually enforce those rights”.



    Read more:
    Rivers are increasingly being given legal rights. Now they need people who will defend these rights in court

    These ideas can be applied to rivers in the news right now. For instance, China recently approved the construction of the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet.

    The dam will provide enormous amounts of clean energy – when complete, it will be the world’s largest power plant by some distance. But it will also displace people, destroy ecosystems and, of course, disrupt the river itself.

    Mehebub Sahana, a geographer at the University of Manchester, points out the effects may be especially severe downstream in India and Bangladesh, where that same river is known as the Brahmaputra and helps form a vast and incredibly fertile delta system.

    For him, the dam highlights “some of the geopolitical issues raised by rivers that cross international borders”. “Who owns the river itself,” he asks, “and who has the right to use its water? Do countries have obligations not to pollute shared rivers, or to keep their shipping lanes open? And when a drop of rain falls on a mountain, do farmers in a different country thousands of miles downstream have a claim to use it?”



    Read more:
    China plans to build the world’s largest dam – but what does this mean for India and Bangladesh downstream?

    These are crucial questions, even if they’re ultimately framed around humans. An ecocentric representative might argue the Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra has an intrinsic right to flow undisturbed and to dump its sediment where it pleases.

    There may be a happy medium. Viktoria Kahui is an environmental economist at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Last year, she investigated 14 examples of rights-of-nature from around the world.

    She found a “fundamental divide between local communities and external economic interests”. In some cases, interest groups were able to overturn the provision of nature rights.

    She therefore recommends that “future rights-of-nature frameworks need to … include appointed guardians, established as separate legal entities with limited liability, as well as the support of representatives from interest groups”.



    Read more:
    Granting legal ‘personhood’ to nature is a growing movement – can it stem biodiversity loss?

    In the Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra example, those interest groups might include rice farmers and mangrove conservationists in Bangladesh, or fishermen a thousand miles upstream. They might include the millions of people who would gain electricity, or the thousands who would lose their homes. The river itself could also be an interested party, perhaps via eco-centric human representatives.

    Exactly where you draw the line in these cases is tricky. But with rivers increasingly being granted legal rights, this isn’t the last you’ll hear of this issue.

    – ref. Some rivers have ‘legal personhood’. Now they need a lawyer – https://theconversation.com/some-rivers-have-legal-personhood-now-they-need-a-lawyer-254267

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Pillen and the Nebraska Business Development Center Recognize Business Award Winners

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    .

    “NBDC provides businesses with the resources and guidance they need to grow, at no cost,” said Gov. Pillen. “Today’s award winners show the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and well across Nebraska. The businesses being recognized create jobs, solve problems and show that Nebraska is the place to bring innovative ideas to life, in part because of the level of support available in this state through organizations like NBDC.”

    With nine offices across the state and headquartered at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), NBDC offers no-cost consulting services that span from start-up to succession. NBDC is also the home of the SourceLink Nebraska program, which plays a key role in the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by connecting businesses with the resources they need to succeed.

    UNO Chancellor Dr. Joanne Li noted that her own parents were entrepreneurs, and  she saw firsthand the hard work and dedication it took to grow an enterprise from the ground up.

    “NBDC is very important to the state of Nebraska. It’s one goal is to promote growth and development for our businesses – and you are the lifeline, the bloodline, for economic development,” Li told the award recipients. “I thank the Governor for having today’s ceremony to celebrate your hard work, because you set the example for us to continue to be entrepreneurs for the state of Nebraska.”

    K.C. Belitz, Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED) Director, emphasized the importance of growing talent right in Nebraska. “We have to home grow our own,” he said. “That’s going to be an important strategy for building the Nebraska economy. It’s great to be celebrating today’s business owners who are showing that Nebraska is the best place to be an entrepreneur.”

    Dan Curran, NBDC’s executive director, announced the awards and highlighted the wide range of services NBDC offers.

    “This year’s NBDC award recipients embody the innovation and determination that fuel Nebraska’s economy,” said Curran. “Entrepreneurship is about tackling challenges head-on, and the dedication of these individuals and businesses helps make Nebraska an exceptional place to live and work. We are honored to celebrate their achievements today.”

    Nebraska Business Development Center – 2024 Business Award Winners

    Champion of Small Business – Elevator (Omaha)

    Entrepreneurs Shannon and Emiliano Lerda created Elevator, a co-warehousing and community space in downtown Omaha, to support more than 150 small business owners. Recognizing their commitment to fostering Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, NBDC has named Elevator the 2024 Champion of Small Business.

    The Lerdas launched Elevator after struggling to find flexible warehouse space for their e-commerce business. With guidance from NBDC, they developed a business plan and financial strategy, transforming a four-story building into a thriving hub for startups. Their innovative approach has attracted funding for expansion into Des Moines and Kansas City, ensuring more entrepreneurs have the resources to succeed.

    Government Contractor of the Year – Daycos (Norfolk)

    Daycos, a transportation revenue solutions company, has been recognized as the 2024 Government Contractor of the Year for securing a Tier 1 subcontractor role in a Department of Defense (DoD) contract. CEO Brandon Day credits the company’s growth to its commitment to workforce retention, government contracting, and community involvement.

    Daycos, which has worked with NBDC since 2009, processes more than 400,000 invoices annually and earned a B Corp Certification for its high standards in performance and transparency. The company’s success underscores the impact of Nebraska businesses in the federal contracting space.

    Innovation Business of the Year – Set Your Sites (Lincoln)

    Lincoln-based Set Your Sites has been honored as the 2024 Innovation Business of the Year for revolutionizing campground management. Stacy and Dustin Dam created Set Your Sites to provide real-time availability checks, mobile payments, and Wi-Fi services for campers, solving a long-standing issue in the industry.

    Inspired by a frustrating campground reservation experience, the Dams developed a technology-driven solution. With guidance from NBDC, they transformed their idea into a business that improves efficiency for campgrounds and enhances experiences for campers nationwide.

    SourceLink Nebraska Resource Partner of the Year – Entrepreneur’s Education Collaborative (Statewide)

    The Entrepreneur’s Education Collaborative (EEC), led by Blake Martin, has been named the 2024 SourceLink Nebraska Resource Partner of the Year for an unwavering commitment to supporting and connecting Nebraska’s entrepreneurial community.

    A founding member and leader of the Entrepreneur’s Education Collaborative (EEC), Martin has played a pivotal role in developing free learning opportunities to help entrepreneurs succeed.  Martin says the organization sponsors six or seven educational events a year, with more if a topic warrants attention. His efforts have enhanced access to entrepreneurial education, streamlined resources, and expanded outreach beyond metropolitan areas to a statewide audience. Under his leadership, EEC has continued to grow since its founding in 2016.

    About the Nebraska Business Development Center

    The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) provides confidential, no-cost business consulting services to any Nebraskan wanting to start, grow, or transition a business. NBDC is a University of Nebraska at Omaha center with nine locations, partnering with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Wayne State College, and Chadron State College to deliver its services statewide.

    In 2024, NBDC served over 2,000 clients, leading to a $716.5 million impact to the Nebraska economy through job start or creation, business investments, government contracts, and SBIR awards.

    KC Belitz, Chancellor Li, Shannon and Emiliano Lerda, Gov. Pillen

    Champion of Small Business

    KC Belitz, Chancellor Li, Brandon Day, Gov. Pillen

    Government Contractor of the Year

    KC Belitz, Chancellor Li, Stacy and Dustin Dam & family, Gov. Pillen

    Innovation Business of the Year

    KC Belitz, Chancellor Li, Winsley Durand, Gov. Pillen

    SourceLink Nebraska Resource Partner of the Year

    (Winsley is with MCL Construction, a sponsor of the Entrepreneur’s Education Collaborative)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: PMDD: social media users claim antihistamines help symptoms – here’s what the evidence says

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Milli Raizada, Senior Clinical lecturer in Primary care academia, Lancaster University

    Some social media users claims anti-allergy medications have helped their PMDD symptoms. antoniodiaz/ Shutterstock

    A number of videos have surfaced recently on social media with women claiming that common medications used to treat allergies and heartburn have helped them manage symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). But is there any science behind this claim?

    Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a long-term condition which causes severe psychological distress in the week or two before a woman’s period begins. PMDD symptoms can be varied and vast – with physical symptoms ranging from difficulty sleeping, migraines, bloating and breast tenderness. Psychological symptoms include rage, anger, anxiety, low mood and feeling overwhelmed.

    All of these symptoms can have a severe impact on a woman’s social, home and work life. Women with PMDD are seven times more likely to attempt suicide due to the mood symptoms they suffer with making them more vulnerable.

    PMDD affects 3-8% of the population but is still widely under-recognised and undiagnosed. Some women have to wait years before getting a diagnosis.

    It’s not fully known what causes PMDD. It’s thought to be due to many factors.

    One theory is that the condition occurs due to variations in genes that activate hormones and their receptors. Other theories suggest the brain’s emotional circuits (limbic system), which are densely populated with hormone receptors, react differently in those with PMDD.

    For example, a widespread theory posits that when oestrogen fluctuates up and down in the two weeks before a woman’s period, this has a negative impact on serotonin (the so-called happy hormone). If this is true, it would explain why selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants can be effective for some women as these drugs aim to increase serotonin levels.



    Read more:
    Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: the frightening psychological condition suffered by Dixie D’Amelio

    Another theory relates to faults in the progesterone pathway and its breakdown product called allopregnenalone (a steroid). Allopregnenalone normally stimulates a calming chemical called GABA in the brain, which acts as a natural anti-anxiety substance.

    Fluctuations and altered sensitivity of allopregnenalone on the GABA system is thought to be why some women suffer with PMDD. This can explain why some women typically have no symptoms of PMDD during pregnancy due to the lack of fluctuation in the hormone progesterone.

    Histamine link?

    Some women online are now claiming that high histamine levels may also be the cause of PMDD symptoms – and that taking over-the-counter drugs which block the effects of histamines has helped to alleviate their symptoms.

    Histamine is a chemical the body naturally produces which plays a role in allergies, digestion, inflammation, brain function and hormone balance.

    There is currently no evidence that antihistamines can help with PMDD symptoms.
    MDV Edwards/ Shutterstock

    There is currently no published research which has investigated the link between PMDD symptoms and histamine levels. However, we do know from other areas of research that histamine activity varies throughout the menstrual cycle.

    One study found that in the two weeks before a period, immune cells called mast cells, which release histamine, are more likely to be activated due to oestrogen levels being high. It’s suggested that these changing oestrogen levels – which cause high histamine – may explain why PMDD symptoms occur. If this theory is true, it would also explain why antihistamines would help with PMDD symptoms, as these drugs block the release of histamines.

    There are many potential reasons why oestrogen levels may be particularly high in some women – particularly those with PMDD. This so-called oestrogen dominance may be due to many factors, such as excess toxin exposure in the environment from plastics and issues with people unable to detoxify oestrogen from the body efficiently due to poor liver and gut health. All this can potentially add to the oestrogen bucket, which has a knock-on effect on histamine levels, which can further stimulate oestrogen – leading to a vicious cycle.

    But the histamine intolerance and oestrogen dominance theories are both still controversial and not fully recognised in the mainstream medical community. There are no scientific, clinical studies that exist on the topic of PMDD, oestrogen dominance and histamine as yet to show whether they are linked to PMDD or not – or whether antihistamines are effective for PMDD.

    Yet, many people with PMDD are turning to antihistamines, as well as famotidine – a histamine receptor antagonist which blocks histamine production in the stomach – to reduce PMDD symptoms. Many of these women are reporting they’re seeing improvement, so there may well be some validity behind these claims. However, there is no research to back the use of these drugs just yet.

    Lifestyle changes – such as eating fewer inflammatory, processed foods, exercising and talking therapies (such as cognitive therapy) – have all shown small but positive benefits in people with PMDD.

    Prescription drugs such as antidepressants (SSRIs) and contraceptive pills containing a synthetic progestin called drospirenone are also shown to be effective for people with PMDD. These options may be better for women in the meantime until more research in this area has been done.

    Disclosure: Dr Milli Raizada, a GP, is the medical director, founder and works in of Dr Milli health clinics. She is a Senior Clinical Lecturer at Lancaster University. She is affiliated as a trustee and ambassador of the first and only UK PMDD charity: The PMDD project. She is a GMC associate where she gets paid as her role as chief invigilator, PLAB Part 2 examiner and Part 1 station management group member. She also delivers paid corporate talks on primary care topics and is an paid expert content creator for Clinical Knowledge skills.

    – ref. PMDD: social media users claim antihistamines help symptoms – here’s what the evidence says – https://theconversation.com/pmdd-social-media-users-claim-antihistamines-help-symptoms-heres-what-the-evidence-says-253587

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Press freedom linked to greater financial stability, finds global study

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By George Kladakis, Lecturer in Finance, University of St Andrews

    Press freedom is widely considered to be a cornerstone of democracy. It brings accountability, transparency and access to reliable information.

    But beyond its democratic role, press freedom is also a vital part of a stable economy. Research has shown that it acts as a kind of financial watchdog, ensuring balance and accuracy.

    In doing so, an independent press strengthens the resilience of financial institutions. And our research suggests that higher levels of press freedom can also be linked to greater financial stability and lower “systemic risk” – where something bad happening at one company can trigger wider instability or even industry collapse – in the banking sector.

    Using data from 47 countries, we found that an independent press brings greater scrutiny of banking executives. Another benefit is a better flow of information around the financial markets, making the whole system more efficient.

    Countries with higher levels of press freedom are also more likely to foster corporate and political cultures that are free from the sort of corruption which could jeopardise the stability of the banking sector. All of these advantages are most pronounced during economic downturns or banking crises.

    And even outside times of crisis, we can see the positive effects by looking at basic financial indicators in countries with high and low press freedom levels. Countries with consistently high levels of press freedom such as Norway, Sweden or Estonia, for example, have far fewer non-performing (unrepaid) loans than countries with low levels of press freedom such as Pakistan, Greece or Russia.

    But a free press and a stable banking industry are by no means the norm.

    Recent data from the campaign group Reporters Without Borders highlights a worrying decline in media autonomy. It reports that 135 out of 180 countries now have press freedom levels classified as “problematic”, “difficult” or “very serious”.

    This trend extends to advanced economies such as Japan (70th, down from 68th in 2023), Italy (46th, down from 41st), and the US (55th, down from 45th).

    And it looks like the world’s largest economy could slip down the rankings even further. Although President Trump signed an executive order aimed at “restoring freedom of speech”, he has also explicitly threatened to revoke broadcast licenses, investigate critical media and jail journalists who protect confidential sources.

    In February 2025, White House officials even informed one US news agency that its journalists would be barred from entering the Oval Office until it stopped using the geographic term “Gulf of Mexico” instead of Trump’s preferred “Gulf of America”.

    But the Trump effect is not limited to the US. A recent aid freeze by his administration has cut billions in funding for independent media outlets across more than 30 countries, including Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iran.

    Press test

    Notable declines in press freedom have also been observed in politically volatile regions such as Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and central Asia, where authoritarian regimes continue to tighten their grip on the media.

    The survey from Reporters Without Borders suggests that governments across the world are failing to protect journalism, with a marked trend of declining press freedom.

    In 2014, 13% of countries enjoyed a “good” degree of press freedom, but this figure dropped to 7% by 2021 and then to just 4.4% in 2022. Conversely, the share of countries in the lowest classifications has risen dramatically. A decade ago, 8% were considered “difficult”, now that figure is 24%. The number of those with a “very serious” situation has gone from 8% to 17% in the same period.



    Read more:
    White House spat with AP over ‘Gulf of America’ ignites fears for press freedom in second Trump era

    Of course, there are outliers in the global picture. China, for example, has limited press freedom but a very stable banking sector that has been highly resilient to external shocks in the past. But the country is run by an authoritarian regime that helps to shield its banks from those kinds of risks.

    Elsewhere though, the decline in press freedom threatens not just democratic principles and political transparency, but also the operation of financial markets. Safeguarding that freedom is a critical basis of economic resilience and stability.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Press freedom linked to greater financial stability, finds global study – https://theconversation.com/press-freedom-linked-to-greater-financial-stability-finds-global-study-248207

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: White Lotus hotels target gen Z travellers – but luxury resorts don’t reflect their travel habits

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ross Bennett-Cook, PhD Candidate in the Carnegie School of Sport, Leeds Beckett University

    American-British actor, Sam Nivola, in the season three finale of The White Lotus. Fabio Lovino / HBO

    HBO’s hit television series, The White Lotus, is as renowned for its stunning hotels and filming locations as it is for its mixture of unsettling, hilarious and sultry storylines.

    Set in fictional five-star “White Lotus” resorts, fans quickly learned the true locations of the luxury hotels. Each season has been set in a different destination – Hawaii, Sicily and, most recently, Thailand – and every resort has seen a surge in interest since featuring on the show. This has been labelled the “White Lotus effect”.

    Four Seasons Hotels, the actual brand behind the resorts, said the original White Lotus in Hawaii saw a 386% increase in availability checks after appearing on the show. And Hotels.com reported a 40% spike in booking interest for the filming location in Koh Samui, Thailand, following the release of the season three trailer.

    Four Seasons says the show’s popularity among gen Z and millennials is introducing a new market to their hotels. According to the company’s internal research, 71% of millennials who watch the show and are aware of Four Seasons have expressed a strong likelihood of visiting the featured properties.

    Younger age groups are key targets for Four Seasons, which is keen to attract the next generation of luxury travellers. But do luxury resorts really represent the travel habits of young people?

    According to a 2023 survey by consultancy firm Deloitte, young people have been hit particularly hard by the rising cost of living. Many are losing hope of owning a home and even starting a family. It has been widely reported that younger generations are worse off than their parents.

    With property ownership out of reach, many young people seem more willing to splurge on travel than save for an uncertain future. According to a 2017 poll by Realty Mogul, a real estate crowdfunding platform, almost half of young people aged 18 to 34 would prioritise travelling over buying a home. This compared to just 26% of those aged 45 and over.

    But gen Z generally aren’t as interested in five-star resorts as they are in five-star experiences. Many travellers from this age group opt to spend big on once-in-a-lifetime activities rather than splash out on luxury accommodation. According to a 2022 YouGov poll, over one-third of young people say they’d pick a standard three-star or below hotel, making this the most popular accommodation option.

    However, the European Travel Commission has found that this generation embraces mixing budget and luxury options when they can. For example, they may use budget airlines to reach their destination so they can spend a little more elsewhere. According to the same YouGov poll, luxury hotels and resorts still rank among gen Z’s top three travel accommodations.

    Four Seasons properties have provided the setting for the first three seasons of The White Lotus.
    Todamo / Shutterstock

    For many gen Z travellers, the journey is also just as important as the destination – and the impact they leave behind matters, too. Research by Booking.com reveals that over half (52%) of gen Z travellers say the environmental impact of tourism on a destination influences their travel choices. Even more (63%) would consider avoiding a destination altogether if they knew it was threatened by overtourism.

    Many of these values may not align with the opulence typically associated with luxury travel. On the Hawaiian island of Maui, the setting for season one of The White Lotus, local opposition towards tourism erupted after deadly wildfires swept across the island in 2023 – the most deadly wildfire event in recent US history.

    While locals faced heavy restrictions due to water scarcity, the island’s hotels and resorts were allowed to maintain vast golf courses, lush gardens and pools and welcomed up to 8,000 tourists a day.

    Thousands signed petitions to delay the return of mass tourism to the islands. And community groups held what was called a 24 hour “fish-in” protest to prevent tourists from using the popular Kāʻanapali Beach, a long stretch of pristine coastline where several high-end resorts are located.

    Protesters said their aim was to bring attention to the displacement of locals made homeless due to the wildfires and unable to find permanent housing due to short-term holiday rentals taking priority.

    Leaders have long worried the islands are losing their culture as the cost of housing fuels an exodus of native Hawaiian residents. The 2022 census revealed that more native Hawaiians live outside of Hawaii than within.

    Luxury travel reimagined

    Gen Z may well be the next generation of luxury travellers. In 2017, millennials and gen Z consumers were responsible for 32% of sales in the global personal luxury goods market. This figure was forecast to increase to 45% by 2025.

    But luxury travel must change to cater to the tastes and interests of younger generations. These people largely crave unique, shareable and story-worthy travel – not just comfort, but connection. For this new generation of luxury travellers, a remote glamping trip under the stars, or an off-grid adventure with experienced locals, may be more attractive than the traditional luxury resort.

    Some brands are already making changes. In 2024, the Hyatt Hotels group introduced its “Be More Here” brand initiative, a collection of bespoke guest activities with a focus on wellness and experience.

    And the latest addition to the Maldives’ luxury resort portfolio, Six Senses, has an ethos centred on sustainability. Its resorts have an onsite environmental learning space, and offer immersive marine conservation experiences and sustainability tours to guests.

    As young people navigate a complex future, their travel choices reflect a deeper desire: not just to see the world, but to engage with it responsibly and thoughtfully, and gain something meaningful from it.

    Ross Bennett-Cook 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. White Lotus hotels target gen Z travellers – but luxury resorts don’t reflect their travel habits – https://theconversation.com/white-lotus-hotels-target-gen-z-travellers-but-luxury-resorts-dont-reflect-their-travel-habits-252242

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Earth’s oceans once turned green – and they could change again

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cédric M. John, Professor and Head of Data Science for the Environment and Sustainability, Queen Mary University of London

    Were Earth’s oceans once green? 100Y Design/Shutterstock

    Nearly three fourths of Earth is covered by oceans, making the planet look like a pale blue dot from space. But Japanese researchers have made a compelling case that Earth’s oceans were once green, in a study published in Nature.

    The reason Earth’s oceans may have looked different in the ancient past is to do with their chemistry and the evolution of photosynthesis. As a geology undergraduate student, I was taught about the importance of a type of rock deposit known as the banded iron formation in recording the planet’s history.

    Banded iron formations were deposited in the Archean and Paleoproterozoic eons, roughly between 3.8 and 1.8 billion years ago. Life back then was confined to one cell organisms in the oceans. The continents were a barren landscape of grey, brown and black rocks and sediments.

    Rain falling on continental rocks dissolved iron which was then carried to the oceans by rivers. Other sources of iron were volcanoes on the ocean floor. This iron will become important later.

    Cross section of banded iron formation in Karijini National park, in the Hamersley Range, Western Australia.
    Hans Wismeijer/Shutterstock

    The Archaean eon was a time when Earth’s atmosphere and ocean were devoid of gaseous oxygen, but also when the first organisms to generate energy from sunlight evolved. These organisms used anaerobic photosynthesis, meaning they can do photosynthesis in the absence of oxygen.

    It triggered important changes as a byproduct of anaerobic photosynthesis is oxygen gas. Oxygen gas bound to iron in seawater. Oxygen only existed as a gas in the atmosphere once the seawater iron could neutralise no more oxygen.

    Eventually, early photosynthesis led to the “great oxidation event”, a major ecological turning point that made complex life on Earth possible. It marked the transition from a largely oxygen free Earth to one with large amounts of oxygen in the ocean and atmosphere.

    The “bands” of different colours in banded iron formations record this shift with an alternation between deposits of iron deposited in the absence of oxygen and red oxidised iron.

    The case for green oceans

    The recent paper’s case for green oceans in the Archaean eon starts with an observation: waters around the Japanese volcanic island of Iwo Jima have a greenish hue linked to a form of oxidised iron – Fe(III). Blue-green algae thrive in the green waters surrounding the island.

    Despite their name, blue-green algae are primitive bacteria and not true algae. In the Archaean eon, the ancestors of modern blue-green algae evolved alongside other bacteria that use ferrous iron instead of water as the source of electrons for photosynthesis. This points to high levels of iron in the ocean.

    The ocean around Iwo Jima has a greenish hue.
    Phan Lee McCaskill/US Navy

    Photosynthetic organisms use pigments (mostly chlorophyll) in their cells to transform CO₂ into sugars using the energy of the sun. Chlorophyll gives plants their green colour. Blue-green algae are peculiar because they carry the common chlorophyll pigment, but also a second pigment called phycoerythrobilin (PEB).

    In their paper, the researchers found that genetically engineered modern blue-green algae with PEB grow better in green waters. Although chlorophyll is great for photosynthesis in the spectra of light visible to us, PEB seems to be superior in green-light conditions.

    Before the rise of photosynthesis and oxygen, Earth’s oceans contained dissolved reduced iron (iron deposited in the absence of oxygen). Oxygen released by the rise of photosynthesis in the Archean eon then led to oxidised iron in seawater. The paper’s computer simulations also found oxygen released by early photosynthesis led to a high enough concentration of oxidised iron particles to turn the surface water green.

    Once all iron in the ocean was oxidised, free oxygen (0₂) existed in Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. So a major implication of the study is that pale-green dot worlds viewed from space are good candidates planets to harbour early photosynthetic life.

    The changes in ocean chemistry were gradual. The Archaean period lasted 1.5 billion years. This is more than half of Earth’s history. By comparison, the entire history of the rise and evolution of complex life represents about an eighth of Earth’s history.

    Almost certainly, the colour of the oceans changed gradually during this period and potentially oscillated. This could explain why blue-green algae evolved both forms of photosynthetic pigments. Chlorophyll is best for white light which is the type of sunlight we have today. Taking advantage of green and white light would have been an evolutionary advantage.

    Could oceans change colour again?

    The lesson from the recent Japanese paper is that the colour of our oceans are linked to water chemistry and the influence of life. We can imagine different ocean colours without borrowing too much from science fiction.

    Purple oceans would be possible on Earth if the levels of sulphur were high. This could be linked to intense volcanic activity and low oxygen content in the atmosphere, which would lead to the dominance of purple sulphur bacteria.

    Red oceans are also theoretically possible under intense tropical climates when red oxidised iron forms from the decay of rocks on the land and is carried to the oceans by rivers or winds. Or if a type of algae linked to “red tides” came to dominate the surface oceans.

    These red algae are common in areas with intense concentration of fertiliser such as nitrogen. In the modern oceans, this tends to happen in coastline close to sewers.

    As our sun ages, it will first become brighter leading to increased surface evaporation and intense UV light. This may favour purple sulphur bacteria living in deep waters without oxygen.

    It will lead to more purple, brown, or green hues in coastal or stratified areas, with less deep blue colour in water as phytoplankton decline. Eventually, oceans will evaporate completely as the sun expands to encompass the orbit of Earth.

    At geological timescales nothing is permanent and changes in the colour of our oceans are therefore inevitable.

    Cedric John receives funding from the UKRI.

    – ref. Earth’s oceans once turned green – and they could change again – https://theconversation.com/earths-oceans-once-turned-green-and-they-could-change-again-253460

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Return: how each new retelling of The Odyssey opens up the worlds of the women in this epic

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Emily Hauser, Senior Lecturer in Classics, University of Exeter

    Waves crash across Ithaca’s rocky shore. “The city of Troy has fallen,” we are told, as the shuttle on Penelope’s loom flickers across the screen. “On the island of Ithaca, Queen Penelope still longs for the return of her husband Odysseus.” The camera then cuts to the wreckage of a ship and the body of a man washed up on the beach – naked, dishevelled, scarred.

    This is the beginning of the new Odyssey-inspired film starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, The Return.

    The Odyssey, the ancient Greek epic poem ascribed to the poet Homer, charts the return home of its eponymous hero, Odysseus. For half the epic poem, we follow the hero as he struggles, sometimes against fantastical monsters and goddesses, sometimes against himself and his crew, to return.

    But Ralph Fiennes’s Odysseus is not stranded on his travels. He has already returned home. Home to Ithaca but not quite home to Penelope.

    It has often been said that the Odyssey shows a marked interest in its women – Penelope, perhaps, above all. Odysseus makes it clear that returning home is about much more than the literal voyage to Ithaca. What he wants, he says (in Emily Wilson’s translation) is a reinstatement to “the joys of home”, and to partnership with “my wife”.

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    Retelling the Odyssey’s women

    Many retellings, particularly those in recent years, have been interested in giving the women of the Odyssey more agency and voice. The Return is no exception: it is made quite clear that Penelope and her recognition of Odysseus are central to his reintegration into Ithaca.

    The film is centred on her refusal to choose one of her suitors, and Odysseus’s fear – in the face of her anger at being forced to wait for him for 20 years – that she might not want him back. After battles with female monsters and rest-stops with enchanting goddesses, Penelope is the final and greatest woman he must face and win back.

    Putting Penelope at the centre of the tale follows a line of recent reinterpretations of Odysseus’s return that have taken Penelope’s point of view more explicitly – most notably, Margaret Atwood’s The Penelopiad (2005).

    Here Penelope’s version of the story is used not only to emphasise the costs (and compromises) borne by the archetypal patient wife in her husband’s absence, but also to shed light on the sheer violence and bloodshed of Odysseus’s return. In particular, it highlights the victimisation of the 12 enslaved women raped by Penelope’s suitors, who are later hanged for their actions by Odysseus’s son.

    Wilson made similar strides in her 2018 translation of the Odyssey – the first into English by a woman. In it, she stripped away the judgments imposed on Odysseus’s enslaved women by earlier male translators that suggested they deserved what they got.

    We see some similar, if less pointed, changes in The Return. Penelope is quick to condemn the violence of war (“Why do men go to war?” she demands), and then the bloodshed Odysseus brings into her home.

    Binoche plays Penelope with a brittle resilience that is both moving and powerful. Though quiet, she refuses to move her ground, and the words she speaks are always charged with meaning. Yet it is worth noting that the film – despite Atwood and Wilson’s interventions in reminding readers of their existence and changing how they are perceived – does not include the execution of the enslaved women.

    Real Greek women

    In my new book, Mythica: A New History of Homer’s World, through the Women Written Out Of It, I also explore what the Odyssey (and Homer’s other epic, the Iliad) might look like from the women’s point of view – using the latest archaeological evidence and newest scientific analysis of ancient DNA. I use these findings as a window into the worlds of the real women who might have inspired the myths and legends of the Odyssey.

    Take, for instance, discoveries of spinning and weaving equipment that belonged to queens who once ruled in the historical kingdoms like Mycenae, Pylos and even Troy. The Homeric epics, the Iliad and Odyssey, are full of scenes of women weaving in the Greek palaces of legend.

    Perhaps most famous is Penelope’s weaving: the famous ruse in which she wove and unwove her weaving and so delayed the suitors’ demand that she choose one of them for marriage.

    Penelope is said in the Odyssey to have been weaving for three years before her trick was revealed. It’s been suggested that she was making what’s known as a “story cloth” – a tapestry detailing narratives.

    Such “story cloths” have been found in the Greek world, dating back to the 4th century BC, from the shores of the Black Sea. The idea of Penelope weaving her own story in thread is a particularly rich one – making her a poet of her own story to rival the poet of the Odyssey (though her tapestry, of course, unravels to make space for Odysseus).

    The red, yellow and purple dyes women used to dye the threads they spun and wove with have also been recovered from minuscule traces on prehistoric pots.

    In Pasolini’s The Return, we see Penelope weaving with blood-red thread. This is probably meant to represent the ancient colour porphyreos, or reddish-purple, that was so expensive it came to be called “royal purple”. It’s a word (and shade) that’s also used for blood in the Homeric epics – so anticipating the bloodshed of Odysseus’s return.

    To me, starting from the history that surrounds legend and myth is a radical way into the stories of women like Penelope. It allows us to understand them from the experiences and activities of actual, historical women of the Greek past.

    The Odyssey has been retold and will continue to be retold countless times. I found The Return to be a moving, tightly theatrical version of the closing scenes of the Odyssey. It puts Penelope at the heart of the drama. The foregrounding of her role is a particular highlight and Binoche plays her spectacularly well.

    We have director Christopher Nolan’s take on the Odyssey to look forward to next in July 2026. It remains to be seen how Penelope, and the enslaved women, will be treated there.

    However, with every new retelling comes the opportunity to draw attention to the central roles of female figures in this ancient epic.

    Emily Hauser 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. The Return: how each new retelling of The Odyssey opens up the worlds of the women in this epic – https://theconversation.com/the-return-how-each-new-retelling-of-the-odyssey-opens-up-the-worlds-of-the-women-in-this-epic-253922

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Hypermasculine influencers can be good role models for boys too

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michael Joseph Richardson, Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, Newcastle University

    Body Stock/Shutterstock

    It’s good to see that men in positions of power and influence are concerned about the impact that masculinity influencers, the manosphere and the misogyny they can inspire is having on boys and young men.

    Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate have spoken about the need for positive role models. Southgate has highlighted the ills of social media, gaming and pornography. Starmer has backed the showing of Netflix series Adolescence, which explores the impact of the manosphere on teenagers, in schools.

    Starmer and Southgate mean well and their words have amplified the issue. But their approach may not reach the boys and young men they would hope to inspire.

    Southgate’s recent Richard Dimbleby lecture followed a well-trodden path of demonising certain spaces – such as social media – and in doing so offered a somewhat limited understanding of how and why they are so prevalent in young people’s lives.

    Men like Starmer and Southgate are defined by their progressive outlook. But in the manosphere, “niceness” can be viewed with suspicion and disdain. It can come with the assumption that “white knights,” men who display a caring kind of masculinity, are driven by an aim, conscious or unconscious, of being sexually rewarded by women for their efforts. Messages from proponents of this caring masculinity may be dismissed out of hand by the young men they are most trying to reach.

    The influencers that so many boys are drawn to project an entirely different kind of masculinity to that of Starmer and Southgate. They are characterised by a focus on fitness and physical strength, financial success and heterosexuality. This is known as hypermasculinity.

    Boys and young men may feel more comfortable, less judged and more valued if they can see themselves in the people who support them. Youth workers, for example, can offer an important and effective counterpoint to online misogyny.

    My research with young fathers reveals that a “safe environment free of judgment” is key to exploring ideas of care and equality with young men. I learned that hypermasculinity does not have to necessitate dominance over others – women, LGBTQ+ people, people of colour. Nor does this way of being a man need to be predicated on emotional repression, misogyny, racism or homophobia.

    Hypermasculine spaces can offer comfort for those who fail to see themselves in more “feminised” spaces elsewhere.

    Fitness and gym culture

    Influencers know that fitness is appealing to many young men. They make explicit links between physical strength, fitness and sexual prowess.

    According to incel (involuntary celibate) culture, athleticism and physicality help determine a man’s “sexual market value”, and those who lack these hypermasculine characteristics are denied sexual access and social status. But young men do not need to buy wholly into this mindset to value gym culture and see physical strength as desirable.

    Former kickboxer Andrew Tate offers the appeal of the hypermasculine triumvirate of fitness, fame and fighting. Listening to young men tells us that they can be drawn to the hypermasculine “success” of Andrew Tate for reasons such as his devotion to physical fitness, not because of his misogyny.

    This tells us we should be spending time better understanding hypermasculinity, not further marginalising it. I believe hypermasculinity can make space for positive social change, but there needs to be an authentic connection for young men.

    Paddy “the Baddy” Pimblett would be a good place to start in understanding how hypermasculinity can be a positive force. Pimblett is a professional mixed martial artist who has over 3 million followers on Instagram.

    His public profile proves that hypermasculinity can carry more than just violence: he is using his platform for social good through charity work and mental health campaigning.

    Tech and financial independence

    Hypermasculine social media influencers also attract followers through their pursuit of financial independence. The allure of an aspirational lifestyle is not surprising in an era of financial uncertainty, especially when influencers purport that their successes are replicable. Andrew Tate’s “education system” The Real World, for instance, offers to teach paid subscribers the pathway to financial success when they sign up.

    At the same time, “tech bros” have become a defining financial success story. They are aspirational figures for some young men – simultaneously representing elite financial power and a self-sufficient, anti-establishment swagger. I am not suprised by their popularity, as in my work with young men in the north east of England, anti-elite narratives were often repeated.

    Again, though, there are positive examples to be found in this hypermasculine space. Gary Stevenson, whose YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, represents this. On one level, he is a hypermasculine trader who claims he won his job through a card game and whose high-risk gambling brought great rewards. Yet he now calls himself a “people’s economist” and uses his significant media profile to highlight structural disadvantage instead of aspirational lifestyles.

    Making space for hypermasculinity does not mean it should replace other forms, such as caring masculinities. But we need to engage with the hypermasculine and listen to those who value it to better understand it. We should not assume the hypermasculine is always problematic. In acknowledging, and avoiding demonising this kind of masculinity, we can ensure greater representation for young men and boys, while continuing to challenge sexism, misogyny and other social ills.

    Michael Joseph Richardson has received funding from the Economic and Social Research Council Impact Accelerator Account (ESRC IAA), Arts Council England and the National Lottery Climate Action Fund.

    – ref. Hypermasculine influencers can be good role models for boys too – https://theconversation.com/hypermasculine-influencers-can-be-good-role-models-for-boys-too-253187

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Minister Burke announces €17 million for innovative Cancer and neonatal treatments

    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

    9th April 2025

    Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, today announced funding of €17 million for two additional projects under Call 7 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF).

    The announcement took place in the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), Co. Dublin.  NIBRT is a partner in the “Can-Vas” project which has been awarded €10.7m

    This first of its kind in-human study treats infants with a type of brain damage, as well as expanding the pipeline of cell and gene therapies for rare and seriously debilitating diseases. NIBRT are working with three other partners on this project – Deantusaiocht Slainte HiTech Teoranta, University College Cork, INFANT Research Centre and the lead partner, HAON Life Sciences.

    An additional project – LOTUS – has been awarded €6.4m which will develop a complete smart system to facilitate at-home anti-cancer treatment (SACT) with monitoring, enabling cancer patients to self-administer treatment in their own home.  Representatives of the consortium comprised of Luminate Medical – the lead partner, Gentian Health, University of Galway and Trinity College Dublin were also in attendance at today’s event.

    Announcing today’s projects, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said: 

    “I am delighted to announce awards of over €17 million to two exciting and hugely innovative projects under Call 7 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. These two projects demonstrate the importance of the fund in leveraging emerging technologies for the well-being of our citizens. The technology in these projects will provide life-changing solutions for patients undergoing cancer treatment and for new and expectant parents where the safety and well-being of their unborn child is paramount. By funding these projects, the Government is maintaining its commitment to investing in cutting-edge technologies, with consequent benefits for the health care sector and other national research priority areas.

    Since the Fund launch in 2018, my Department has awarded over €393 million in funding to 107 collaborative DTIF projects. Importantly, the fund is giving enterprises and research institutions opportunities to engage and connect with some of the brightest minds in Ireland, to conceive ideas, build relationships and foster knowledge-sharing for the benefit of all.”

    James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science added:

    “It is great to see projects with a strong potential to deliver impactful health care solutions becoming recipients of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund.  We are now financing 404 project partners from our enterprise and research sectors which are bringing forward novel and innovative ideas that will not only benefit our health services but focus on tackling wider sectoral and economic challenges associated with demands emerging around developments with Artificial Intelligence, sustainability and digitalisation. What makes this Fund unique is its ability to foster collaborative research that builds strong relationships that will benefit our citizens, our economy and generating high quality jobs for our graduates.”

    The projects announced today bring the total number awarded to 107. This is no small feat. It underscores the critical role of disruptive technologies, on a national scale, and recognises the Government’s continued commitment to advancing and supporting the development of these transformative and lifechanging technologies.”

    Kevin Sherry, interim CEO, Enterprise Ireland said:

    “Enterprise Ireland is proud to support the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, which continues to drive impactful collaborations between Ireland’s leading enterprises and research institutions. These newly funded projects exemplify the power of innovation in addressing critical healthcare challenges, from advancing cancer treatment solutions to pioneering life-saving therapies for newborns. By investing in cutting-edge technologies, we are strengthening Ireland’s position as a global leader in innovation, fostering high-value job creation, and delivering real-world benefits for patients and society. We look forward to seeing these transformative projects progress and make a lasting impact.”

    DTIF Call 7 remains open for project applications which can be submitted at any time up to the closing date of 30 April 2025.

    Note to Editors

    The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million fund established under the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2018. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment manages the DTIF with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland.

    The purpose of the Fund is to drive collaboration between Ireland’s world-class research base and industry as well as facilitating enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and adoption of these technologies. The aim is to support investment in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies and applications on a commercial basis.

    DTIF Call 7 applications are assessed by panels of international experts against four criteria – quality of the disruptive technology, excellence of overall approach, economic impact and sustainability, and strength of the collaboration.

    Since the Fund was launched in 2018, a total of 107 projects have been awarded funding of over €393m. The 404 project partners involved are operating in every region across the country, with 60% of those partners located outside of Dublin.

    Prospective applicants can obtain detailed information on the Fund and on the application process through enterprise.gov.ie/DTIF. 

    Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) Call 7 Award Details 

    Project Description

    Consortium Members

    Research Priority Area

    Regional Location

    Total DTIF Award 

    Can-Vas Cell Therapy Platform: Unlocking life-changing treatments for neonatal brain injury

    1. HAON Life Sciences   

    2. Deantusaiocht Slainte HiTech Teoranta 

    3. NIBRT

    4. University College Cork (INFANT)

    Health & Wellbeing

    Dublin, Galway and Cork

    €10.7m

    A technology breakthrough to enable At Home cancer care in oncology patients

    1. Luminate Medical

    2. Gentian Health

    3. University of Galway

    4. Trinity College Dublin

    Health & Wellbeing

    Dublin, Clare and Galway

    €6.4m

    ENDS

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Changes to Beryl bike Plymouth operation

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Beryl will be consolidating its operation in Plymouth, focussing on more popular locations in the city centre, the south west of the city, including Mutley, Central Park and Keyham.

    The scheme was launched in 2023 as part of Connect Plymouth, a Council initiative funded by the Department of Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund. The scheme was designed to encourage people to take greener, more sustainable ways to travel about the city, with a focus on better connecting with existing public travel including buses, trains, ferries, walking and cycling routes.

    Since its launch there have been 27,773 users of the e-bikes and over 213,000 journeys taken. The data from the bikes show that the average ride is 1.4 miles and 15 minutes long, with the most popular areas, by far, being the city centre and the south west of Plymouth, as well as Derriford and St Budeaux – key transport points.

    The 450 e-bikes in the scheme will now be concentrated into the areas where they are best used, with the docking locations outside this removed.

    Beryl informed users with a message sent on their app on Tuesday 8 April.

    Councillor Mark Coker, cabinet member for transport said: “This was a business decision made by Beryl based purely on the amount of use e-bikes have in various areas.

    “In the two years that the e-bikes have been available in Plymouth, it is clear that while they are very popular in some areas, such as the city centre, they are simply not being used as much as we would all like in other areas.

    “It makes sense to concentrate the available e-bikes where they are far more popular and convenient for short, sharp journeys.”

    We do not yet have dates of when the docking bays will be removed, Beryl users are advised to check the Beryl app for updates.

    The list of docking stations to be moved from Plymouth are:

    Marjon University and Sports Centre         

    Southway Centre      

    Whitleigh Green       

    Manadon Sports Hub

    Poole Farm    

    Fort Austin    

    Mount Batten

    Hooe Green  

    Plymstock Library     

    Elburton Road

    Plympton Victoria RFC        

    Coypool Park and Ride

    YMCA Plymouth      

    Honicknowle Green  

    Beacon Park Road     

    Eggbuckland Road

    Higher Compton      

    Consort Village         

    Saltram         

    The Beacon

    Torr Lane Supermarket

    Ridgeway       

    Cross Hill      

    Tamar Bridge 

    Uxbridge Drive        

    John Bull Building      

    Oreston Slipway       

    Chaddlewood

    Glen Road

    Leigham

    Elm Community Centre       

    Crownhill Village      

    West Park     

    Southway Drive        

    Clittaford Road        

    Hele’s School 

    Haye Road South      

    Pomphlett Roundabout        

    Mannamead Road     

    Estover Road 

    Sherford Sports Centre

    Broxton Drive

    Wyndham Square     

    Saltram Meadow Cycle Way 

    Tamar Community Centre   

    UHP Bush Park        

    Goosewell Road       

    Compton Avenue     

    Segrave Road Stores 

    Tothill Park   

    Alpha Way

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Recommendations on Fish Consumption for Parts of the Pawcatuck River and Grills Preserve Pond Due to PFAS Contamination

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is recommending that the public limit consumption of native fish caught in certain areas of the Pawcatuck River downstream of Burdickville Road in Hopkinton and to avoid eating any fish from the Grills Preserve Pond in Bradford. Fish caught in these areas have had high levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).

    RIDOH is issuing the following fish consumption recommendations to protect public health:

    – Do not eat any fish caught from the Grills Preserve Pond.

    – Eat no more than 1 meal per month of native fish (i.e., perch, bass, and pickerel) caught from the Pawcatuck River downstream of Burdickville Road in Hopkinton.

    – Since PFAS tend to accumulate more in organs compared to muscle tissue, do not eat the organs of fish caught from the Pawcatuck River downstream of Burdickville Road in Hopkinton.

    – RIDOH does not currently have the data needed to make a health-based recommendation on the safety of consuming stocked trout in this section of the Pawcatuck River. Individuals concerned about PFAS should know that these species can accumulate PFAS. People can be exposed to PFAS from a variety of sources and can lower their intake from one or more sources by limiting or replacing them.

    Stocked trout were not collected in this study, so RIDOH does not have data to show how much PFAS they contain. Generally, research shows that fish take up PFAS quickly from the environment. Stocked trout are raised in a separate location and do not spend as much time in the river. Right now, there is not enough data about how fast PFAS levels increase in stocked trout. For stocked trout in the Pawcatuck River, RIDOH cannot determine if PFAS will reach levels of concern before they are fished. RIDOH is currently working with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) to get better data on whether PFAS reaches levels of concern in stocked trout. RIDEM has also changed the stocking schedule so that PFAS in stocked trout are less likely to reach levels of concern.

    “Fishing is a valued tradition in Rhode Island, and fish are a good source of protein and nutrients. However, fish in some areas can have high levels of pollutants that can harm our health,” said Director of Health Jerome Larkin, MD. “While we are still learning about the sources and effects of PFAS, it is important to take steps to lower our exposure to these chemicals. After careful consideration of the data and health risks, we are recommending that people eat only one meal per month of native fish (i.e., perch, bass, and pickerel) caught from the Pawcatuck River downstream Burdickville Road in Hopkinton.”

    RIDOH has posted signs at the Grills Preserve Pond advising people not to eat the fish. RIDOH is planning to post signs at popular fishing spots along the Pawcatuck River in the area of the advisory. The Department is also planning two public meetings to discuss the findings, hear community concerns and input, and provide guidance on reducing exposure risks. The community meetings will be scheduled in spring 2025. Sign up to be notified when the meetings are scheduled at health.ri.gov/fish.

    About PFAS PFAS are a class of chemicals that repel oil and water. They have been used since the 1940s to make products water-, grease-, and stain-resistant and in certain fire-fighting products. Some PFAS take centuries to break down in the environment. PFAS that don’t break down build up in and pollute the environment. PFAS can also build up in our bodies. People can be exposed to PFAS by eating food, drinking water, accidentally swallowing dust, or breathing air polluted with PFAS.

    Studies have shown certain PFAS can contribute to negative health effects, including: higher cholesterol levels; lower infant birth weights; weakened immune response; and increased risk of some cancer, including kidney cancer.

    More Details About the Advisory and Data RIDOH is making these recommendations based on the known health risks of PFAS and data on PFAS in fish that is available today. RIDOH, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, researchers from Roger Williams University, and the Environmental Protection Agency recently worked together to test several fish species that are native to the Pawcatuck River and Grills Preserve Pond for PFAS. The fish tested included sunfish, largemouth bass, and chain pickerel.

    Fish caught from the Grills Preserve Pond had very high levels of PFAS that could increase the risk of health effects. Based on the level of PFAS, RIDOH advises the public not to eat fish from the Grills Preserve Pond.

    Fish were collected from the Pawcatuck River in the area of the former Bradford Dyeing Association facility also had high levels of PFAS. However, levels of PFAS were lower in fish from the Pawcatuck River than the Grills Preserve Pond. Therefore, RIDOH advises the public to eat only one native fish meal per month from the Pawcatuck River downstream of Burdickville Road in Hopkinton. Upstream of this point, RIDOH does not have data to make a recommendation on the amount of fish that is safe to eat.

    Currently, there is no data on how quickly stocked trout in the Pawcatuck River accumulate PFAS from the river. There is limited data from other states and scientific studies that shows stocked trout can accumulate PFAS quickly. However, studies on this topic have used conditions that are not reflective of conditions in the Pawcatuck River. RIDOH may change this guidance if data show that stocked trout in the Pawcatuck River do accumulate PFAS to levels that cause health concerns. Similarly, RIDOH does not have the data needed to make a health-based recommendation on the safety of eating wild game and bird species near Bradford Dyeing Association. People concerned about PFAS should know that these species (e.g., stocked trout and game birds) can accumulate PFAS. People can be exposed to PFAS from a variety of sources. You can lower your exposure to PFAS by limiting or replacing common sources of PFAS. PFAS is common in many products like grease-resistant food packaging, non-stick pots and pans, and stain-resistant carpeting.

    For more information about fish consumption guidance, visit health.ri.gov/fish or contact the RIDOH Health Information Line at 401-222-5960. The full health consultation report and addendum on stocked trout are available on the RIDOH website at health.ri.gov/ehrap. For more information on PFAS and health risks, visit health.ri.gov/pfas.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Next generation computer chips could process data at the speed of light – new research

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Demosthenes Koutsogeorgis, Associate Professor of Photonic Technologies, School of Science & Technology, Nottingham Trent University

    3dartists / Shutterstock

    Electronic microchips are at the heart of the modern world. They’re found in our laptops, our smartphones, our cars and our household appliances. For years, manufacturers have been making them more powerful and efficient, which increases the performance of our electronic devices.

    But that trend is now faltering because of the increased cost and complexity of manufacturing chips, as well as performance limits set by the laws of physics. This is happening just as there’s a need for increased computing power because of the boom in artificial intelligence (AI).

    An alternative to the electronic microchips we currently use are photonic chips. These use light instead of electricity to achieve higher performance. However, photonic chips have not yet taken off due to a number of hurdles. Now, two papers published in Nature address some of these roadblocks, offering essential stepping stones to achieving the computing power required by complex artificial intelligence systems.

    By using light (photons) instead of electricity (electrons) for the transport and processing of information, photonic computing promises higher speeds and greater bandwidths with greater efficiency. This is because it does not suffer from the loss of electrical current due to a phenomenon known as resistance, as well as unwanted heat loss from electrical components.

    Photonic computing is also particularly suited for performing what are known as matrix multiplications – mathematical operations that are fundamental to AI.

    Those are some of the benefits. The challenges, however, are not trivial. In the past, the performance of photonic chips has generally been studied in isolation. But because of the dominance of electronics in modern technology, photonic hardware will need to be integrated with those electronic systems.

    However, converting photons into electrical signals can slow down processing times since light operates at higher speeds. Photonic computing is also based around analogue operations rather than digital ones. This can reduce precision and limit the type of computing tasks that can be carried out.

    It’s also difficult to scale them up from small prototypes because large-scale photonic circuits cannot currently be fabricated with sufficient accuracy. Photonic computing will require its own software and algorithms, compounding the challenges of integration and compatibility with other technology.

    Photonic chips would need to be integrated with electronic hardware.
    IM Imagery / Shutterstock

    The two new papers in Nature address many of these hurdles. Bo Peng, from Singapore-based company Lightelligence, and colleagues demonstrate a new type of processor for photonic computing called a Photonic Arithmetic Computing Engine (Pace). This processor has a low latency, which means that there is a minimal delay between an input or command and the corresponding response or action by the computer.

    The large-scale Pace processor, which has more than 16,000 photonic components, can solve difficult computing tasks, demonstrating the feasibility of the system for real world applications. The processor shows how integration of photonic and electronic hardware, accuracy, and the need for different software and algorithms can be resolved. It also demonstrates that the technology can be scaled up.

    This marks a significant development, despite some speed limitations of the current hardware.

    In a separate paper, Nicholas Harris, from California-based company Lightmatter, and colleagues describe a photonic processor that was able to run two AI systems with accuracy similar to those of conventional electronic processors. The authors demonstrated the effectiveness of their photonic processor through generating Shakespeare-like text, accurately classifying movie reviews and playing classic Atari computer games such as Pac-Man.

    The platform is also potentially scalable, though in this case limitations of the materials and engineering used curtailed one measure of the processor’s speed and its overall computational capabilities.

    Both teams suggest that their photonic systems can be part of scalable next generation hardware that can support the use of AI. This would finally make photonics viable, though further refinements will be needed. These will involve the use of more effective materials or designs.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Next generation computer chips could process data at the speed of light – new research – https://theconversation.com/next-generation-computer-chips-could-process-data-at-the-speed-of-light-new-research-254104

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: SeafoodAI Secures Investment from NEC X, Accelerating AI-Powered Biometrics to Enhance Seafood Sustainability

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALO ALTO, Calif., April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NEC X, the Silicon Valley venture studio backed by NEC’s advanced technologies and global businesses, today announced a strategic investment in SeafoodAI, an innovative startup revolutionizing sustainable seafood with real-time biometric data and AI-powered traceability. The announcement coincides with SeafoodAI’s graduation from NEC X’s prestigious Elev X! Ignite program.

    CrabScan360 – Automated crab scanning and sorting system for verifiable, traceable harvests

    SeafoodAI addresses the seafood industry’s $50 billion in annual losses due to outdated, manual processes that hinder compliance, traceability and efficiency—starting with the crab fisheries sector, valued globally at $11.5 billion. Leveraging AI-powered biometric scanning technology, SeafoodAI’s flagship solution, CrabScan360, automates crab measurement, sorting and data recording, replacing error-prone manual processes. This transformative solution significantly enhances traceability, simplifies regulatory compliance and delivers precise operational insights to stakeholders across the supply chain.

    Leading retailers, including Whole Foods, Walmart and Costco, have committed to exclusively selling sustainably certified seafood by 2027 or earlier. SeafoodAI’s innovative approach enables fisheries and processors to achieve verifiable sustainability certifications rapidly, efficiently and at scale, meeting the growing demand for transparent seafood sourcing.

    SeafoodAI is revolutionizing seafood sourcing with advanced technology, enhancing sustainability and profitability through real-time data insights and instant verification.

    “Seafood sustainability is no longer optional; it’s imperative,” said Rob Terry, CEO and Founder of SeafoodAI. “With CrabScan360, we’re digitizing what was once a manual, labor-intensive process—bringing accuracy, transparency and trust directly to the seafood industry. The strategic investment and technical expertise from NEC X significantly accelerate our ability to drive meaningful change across seafood supply chains.”

    NEC X’s Elev X! Ignite program provides early-stage startups with strategic guidance, cutting-edge technology access and business resources to drive innovation. SeafoodAI directly leveraged NEC X’s expertise in image recognition and artificial intelligence, rapidly advancing its technology during the program as part of cohort Batch 9.

    “SeafoodAI represents the impactful innovation that NEC X is committed to nurturing,” said Shintaro Matsumoto, CEO of NEC X. “Their biometric scanning technology unlocks new value across seafood supply chains by addressing global challenges with scalable, AI-driven solutions. We’re excited to support SeafoodAI’s journey toward redefining seafood supply chain standards.”

    Alongside its new investment from NEC X, SeafoodAI is gaining significant momentum. The company successfully launched a beta of its field scanner, is rapidly advancing its digital logbook and is adapting its scanner for aquaculture in collaboration with the University of Mississippi. A graduate of Techstars’ Water Tech and Sustainability cohort, SeafoodAI is also part of Blue Swell’s Sea Ahead program and is working with partners like Hyperion to enhance its AI-powered seafood scanner for factory automation.

    SeafoodAI is actively collaborating with leading certification bodies and seafood industry stakeholders, including Aruna, ASIC and Where Food Comes From, to implement digital verification solutions.

    Beyond hardware, SeafoodAI is building a scalable data infrastructure—laying the groundwork for a trusted digital verification marketplace that connects harvesters, processors, regulators and retailers with real-time, actionable data. The startup is also expanding its biometric scanning innovations to additional seafood markets such as tuna, salmon and shrimp. It is in pilot discussions with government agencies and recently won the Open Sphere Startup Awards 2024.

    SeafoodAI generates revenue through a hybrid model of hardware sales and recurring SaaS subscriptions, supporting long-term growth across the $12B seafood tech market.

    For more information on SeafoodAI and its groundbreaking technology, visit https://seafoodai.com/.

    About SeafoodAI
    SeafoodAI provides AI-powered tools and technologies that enable a smarter, more connected seafood economy. Its intelligent scanners, sorters, graders, and digital logbooks help producers and processors improve efficiency while seamlessly capturing critical, verifiable data across every stage of the supply chain.

    By embedding productivity tools that enhance operations and generate ground-truth insights, SeafoodAI supports real-time traceability, streamlined compliance, and data-driven decision-making from harvest to distribution. The company’s solutions help reduce waste, accelerate sustainability certification, and unlock access to premium markets.

    With inefficiencies and data gaps costing the global seafood industry over $50 billion annually, SeafoodAI addresses a major need in an underserved, high-value sector. Its hybrid business model—combining hardware sales or leasing with recurring software subscriptions—positions the company for scalable, defensible growth.

    For more information, visit www.seafoodai.com.

    About NEC X 
    NEC X is an innovation powerhouse and curator of disruptive startups backed by the global technology leadership of NEC. Leveraging 125 years of IT and network technologies expertise, NEC X’s startup-focused approach transforms visionary ideas into commercial successes that revolutionize how we work and live. Since its inception in 2018, NEC X has helped launch and grow more than 150 startups. 

    Their Silicon Valley programs – Elev X! Ignite and Elev X! Boost – equip early-stage startup founders with the tools to fast-track their tech development and adoption. Elev X! fuels startup success from inception to launch, connecting innovators with NEC’s 45,000 patents; global network of partners, mentors and advisors; reach into 55+ international markets; and $8 billion R&D ecosystem.  

    For more information, visit https://nec-x.com and https://www.elev-x.com. 

    About NEC Corporation
    NEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of “Orchestrating a brighter world.” NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential.

    For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.

    NEC is a registered trademark of NEC Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Other product or service marks mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners. ©2025 NEC Corporation.

    Media Contact:

    Robert Brownlie
    Bob Gold & Associates
    310-320-2010
    necx@bobgoldpr.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: 

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a6b250bd-383c-4d49-a37b-ab8ff9ab56cf

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/448ec661-76f6-42d4-8308-57143f629580

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/695be8e8-0e5b-43b9-8bd2-132300918d37

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8fc9cff2-5636-45ea-abf7-187557ca5630

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at: 

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4e9aa436-4ac8-4e5a-96d4-1eed76da5a57

    The MIL Network –