On the state—nonstate theory of hypnosis: network and topological EEG findings

Hypnosis is a state of consciousness spontaneously occurring or induced through various techniques. Its occurrence is more likely in individuals with high scores of hypnotizability (highs) than in low hypnotizables (lows). The study aimed to assess the topological homogeneity within highs and lows during neutral hypnosis, and the EEG topological characteristics of highs and lows before and after hypnotic induction experienced as an altered state of consciousness only by highs. Sixteen highs and 16 lows were enrolled, informed that they would be submitted to hypnotic induction and studied across a session including open and closed eyes waking rest, hypnotic induction, neutral hypnosis, and post hypnosis open eyes rest. EEG was monitored throughout the session. Network analysis showed greater identifiability (less homogeneity) among lows than among highs. It revealed a similar pattern of changes in functional connectivity and topological properties—homological persistence and persistent entropy, which describe multiscale integration patterns—in the two groups across the session. Findings suggest that neutral hypnosis represents a modulation of the ordinary consciousness within its physiological variability rather than a distinct physiological state. Neither network nor topological differences account for the different subjective experiences of highs and lows

Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Impacts of Population-Wide Adoption of Dietary Guidelines in China

This paper uses an optimisation model to quantify the necessary food consumption adjustments for Chinese diets to fulfil the requirements in the health-based Chinese Dietary Guidelines (CDG) or WHO dietary guidelines. We further aim to determine whether adopting these guidelines could lead to lower levels of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) while maintaining diet affordability. Modelling outcomes under the CDG and WHO scenarios differ significantly from nutritional, GHGE and diet affordability perspectives: relative to observed eating patterns, diets following the WHO guidelines are equally emissions intensive, while diets consistent with the CDG recommendations are less sustainable. Further optimisations imposing significant reductions in GHGE indicate important environmental and nutritional co-benefits can be achieved through the WHO guidelines, while maintaining diet affordability. In the WHO scenario, the maximum diet-related GHGE reduction policymakers could aim for is30%, since above this threshold, recommended diets would deviate considerably from observed patterns. The CDG model with a20% emissions reduction does not converge for 64% of the initial data set, casting doubt on the affordability and compatibility of the CDG with China's decarbonisation goal. We recommend that future versions of the CDG be reformulated to closer align withWHO advice and explicitly include environmental considerations

An assessment of evidence to inform best practice for the communication of acute venous thromboembolism diagnosis: a scoping review

Background Physician communication with patients is a key aspect of excellent care. Scant evidence exists to inform best practice for physician communication in patients diagnosed with pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis, collectively referred to as venous thromboembolism (VTE). The aim of this study was to summarize the existing literature on best practices for communication between healthcare providers and patients newly diagnosed with VTE. Methods We performed a scoping review to report existing literature on best practice for physician-patient communication and the diagnosis and management of acute VTE. Manuscripts on communication between healthcare professionals and patients presenting with acute VTE, and acute vascular disease presentations that included atrial fibrillation and ACS were identified. Two authors independently reviewed studies for eligibility, and consensus determined article inclusion. The manuscripts were further categorized into two categories: best practice in communication and unmet needs in communication. Data aggregation was achieved by a modified thematic synthesis. Results Among 345 initial publications, 22 manuscripts met inclusion criteria with 11 that addressed VTE, five pulmonary embolism, four deep vein thrombosis, one atrial fibrillation, and one acute coronary syndrome. Eleven manuscripts addressed communication of VTE diagnosis, while 12 focused on communication of VTE treatment. Eleven manuscripts identified unmet communication needs, and 14 addressed best practice. Our review showed that good communication enhanced satisfaction while suboptimal communication was associated with emotional, cognitive, behavioral, social, and health-systems adverse effects. Conclusion Scant literature guides best practices for communicating VTE diagnosis and treatment. Further research is necessary to establish practices for improving communication with VTE patients

Variational Quantum Eigensolver Approach to Prime Factorization on IBM’s Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum Computer

This paper presents a hybrid quantum-classical approach to prime factorization. The proposed algorithm is based on the Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE), which employs a classical optimizer to find the ground state of a given Hamiltonian. A numerical study is presented, evaluating the performance of the proposed method across various instances on both IBM’s real quantum computer and its classical simulator. The results demonstrate that the method is capable of successfully factorizing numbers up to 253 on a real quantum computer and up to 1048561 on a classical simulator. These findings show the potential of the approach for practical applications on near-term quantum computers

Distinguishing mechanisms of social contagion from local network view

The adoption of individual behavioural patterns is largely determined by stimuli arriving from peers via social interactions or from external sources. Based on these influences, individuals are commonly assumed to follow simple or complex adoption rules, inducing social contagion processes. In reality, multiple adoption rules may coexist even within the same social contagion process, introducing additional complexity into the spreading phenomena. Our goal is to understand whether coexisting adoption mechanisms can be distinguished from a microscopic view, at the egocentric network level, without requiring global information about the underlying network, or the unfolding spreading process. We formulate this question as a classification problem, and study it through a likelihood approach and with random forest classifiers in various synthetic and data-driven experiments. This study offers a novel perspective on the observations of propagation processes at the egocentric level and a better understanding of landmark contagion mechanisms from a local view

The Horses of 'The Plumed Serpent': Resistance, Cooperation, Victimisation

This article, one of an invited multi-author series of brief articles on the topic of horses in D. H. Lawrence, uses a focus on horses in the 1923-25 Mexican novel The Plumed Serpent to develop an entirely new perspective on this most controversial of his works. It has been criticised, ever since its publication, as fascistic, misogynist and fantasist. Of late a few critics have, whilst acknowledging these criticisms, commended its anti-racism, anti-colonialism, and environmentalism. This article argues that a focus on the novel’s animals – and on horses in particular (the ways in which they resist, cooperate, and are killed) – indicates the mode in which the novel should be read: one which forbids any aggregate moral calculus or definitive assessment of aesthetic meaning in the novel, but which tracks the nature of lived experience, and which holds the reader open to a realm beyond, and contextualising, all human meaning – the animal other

Concept and Feature Change in Scientific and Deep Neural Net Representations

Scientific representations and their constituent concepts change over time to reflect improvements in our understanding of the world. Similar improvements in understanding lead to changes in DNN-procured representations and their features. In this paper, we investigate whether useful methodological practices in concept change and in feature change carry across the two types of representations. We argue that there is indeed considerable potential for methodological cross-pollination and offer some examples of how such benefit may be derived

AI and the law: assistant or assassin?

Abstract AI and the Law: assistant or assassin? By Ursula Smartt Northeastern University London Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are revolutionizing various fields at an unprecedented pace, with profound implications for industries, such as law. AI, first defined in 1956 by John McCarthy, refers to machines imitating human-like behaviours, while ML is a subset where systems ‘learn’ from data to make decisions. Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), a key example of ML, are designed to mimic the human brain’s structure to discern patterns, used notably in music recommendation algorithms. Despite their potential, challenges arise in intellectual property (IP) law, as demonstrated in the Emotional Perception AI Ltd case in 2024, where the London Court of Appeal Court (CA) ruled against granting a patent to an ANN, highlighting legal debates on whether AI-generated inventions should be recognized as intellectual property. The issue extends to Large Language Models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT or Gemini, which predict and generate human-like text but often suffer from inconsistencies or ‘hallucinations.’ Another contentious area is whether AI can be considered sentient. While some argue that the neural network design of LLMs might lead to artificial consciousness, others claim that AI simply simulates understanding without true cognition. In the realm of patents, the case of DABUS, an AI that independently generates inventions, has sparked global debate on whether AI systems can be granted patent rights. Courts have largely rejected AI as inventors, though some countries, such as South Africa, have granted patents recognizing AI’s legal personhood. Generative AI’s rise also challenges copyright laws, particularly in music creation, as AI tools generate content from pre-existing works. Legal disputes, such as those involving Universal Music Group and AI firms, highlight the complexities of ownership and infringement, raising fundamental questions about the future of copyright in an AI-driven world

Evidence of Economic Consequences of IFRS 15 and ASC 606

This paper offers a review of the recent literature examining the adoption of the new revenue recognition accounting standards under IFRS (IFRS 15) and US GAAP (ASC 606). Starting with the questions raised by standard setters during their post-implementation review processes, this study explores the questions pertinent to academics using relevant, existing academic evidence that can provide decision-useful information for standard setters. We utilize a proposed framework of the economic consequences of regulatory changes, identify gaps in the literature, and propose future research. This study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the implications of the new revenue recognition standards, thereby enlightening standard setters on the effects of the changes, ultimately bridging the demand and supply of accounting research