Deadlock in Rule of Law Theory and the Potential of Internal Critique

This article proposes that theoretical debates over the Rule of Law can be revitalised through careful focus on methodology. First, it contends that the prevalent methodology of theory-construction is a rationally reconstructive form of conceptual analysis which makes deadlock practically inescapable. The methodology requires the invocation of deeply controversial conceptual cross-references: to reconstruct vague intuitions about the Rule of Law, theories are compelled to invoke other concepts over which deeply engrained disagreements persist. Second, turning to the possibility of overcoming or mitigating deadlock through critical argument, it argues that the capacity of critique to pose meaningful challenges to rival theories turns on its treatment of its target’s conceptual cross-references. Dissonant critique, which is premised on the rejection of a rival theory’s defensible conceptual cross-references, is seldom productive. Internal critique, which proceeds from rival theories’ conceptual cross-references, poses more meaningful challenges and is more philosophically productive

The efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in adolescents newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes: the USTEK1D RCT

Background: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease affecting over 400,000 children and adults in the United Kingdom for which currently the only available therapy is insulin. Objective(s): To determine the efficacy and safety of the monoclonal antibody ustekinumab targeting the interleukin 12/interleukin 23 immune pathway that generates T helper 1/T helper 17 T cells to slow down the autoimmune process and preserve beta cell production in type 1 diabetes. Design: Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase II trial. Setting: Paediatric and young adult diabetes clinics across 16 sites in the United Kingdom. Participants: Newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and aged 12–18 years. Eligibility criteria: Type 1 diabetes confirmed by islet autoantibody testing, within 100 days of first insulin injection, and with residual beta cell function (stimulated C-peptide level > 0.2 nmol/l). Interventions: Ustekinumab at the highest approved doses or control (saline) subcutaneously at weeks 0, 4 and 12 and subsequently every 8 weeks to week 44 (seven doses). Main outcome measures: Preservation of Mixed Meal Tolerance Test stimulated 2-hour insulin C-peptide area under the curve at week 52 as compared to control (saline) treatment by analysis of covariance adjusted for baseline parameters. Randomisation: 2 : 1 Remote computerised randomisation with minimisation by age and baseline C-peptide groups. Blinding: Blinding of participants, investigators, laboratory and trial staff. Numbers randomised: Seventy-two participants were randomised, 60% male, 18% aged 16–18 years. Recruitment: Two hundred and eight potentially eligible patients were approached, and 88 patients were screened. Four participants were lost to follow-up (6%). Four participants withdrew from the treatment but attended the primary end-point assessment. Numbers analysed: Six participants were missing baseline data for the primary analysis. The final analysable sample was n = 62. Outcome: Ustekinumab was associated with a 49% higher endogenous stimulated insulin production than control at week 52 after adjustments for baseline factors [geometric ratio of ustekinumab to control was 1.49 (95% confidence interval 1.08 to 2.06; p = 0.02)]. Secondary analyses showed no difference in C-peptide at week 28 suggesting that the effect was ‘late’ or ‘delayed’. Ancillary analysis showed a significant reduction in activated T helper 17.1 T cells (p < 0.001) in the treatment group which was associated with C-peptide preservation from week 28 to week 52. Harms: No severe adverse events were reported and there were no differences between ustekinumab and control groups in the proportion of participants overall experiencing mild (87% vs. 88%) or moderate (32% vs. 32%) events. Limitations: Sensitivity analysis showed the primary end point to be robust to exclusion of small numbers of participants with some protocol deviations and extreme values in key covariates, but not to imputation of all missing data. Conclusions: Ustekinumab appears to slow down the autoimmune process providing the first clinical trial evidence that interleukin 17-secreting T cells play a pathogenic role in type 1 diabetes. Alone, it is insufficient to halt the autoimmune process. Future work: Replication of this result is ongoing in a trial with a similar design in Canada. If confirmed, consideration may be given to testing other drugs targeting the interleukin 17 pathway, using ustekinumab in combination with other agents or using it earlier in the disease pathway (preclinical disease) since it is so well tolerated and simple to use. Study registration: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN14274380

A dream EEG and mentation database

Magneto/electroencephalography (M/EEG) studies of dreaming are an essential paradigm in the investigation of neurocognitive processes of human consciousness during sleep, but they are limited by the number of observations that can be collected per study. Dream research also involves substantial methodological and conceptual variability, which poses problems for the integration of results. To address these issues, here we present the DREAM database—an expanding collection of standardized datasets on human sleep M/EEG combined with dream report data—with an initial release comprising 20 datasets, 505 participants, and 2643 awakenings. Each awakening consists, at minimum, of sleep M/EEG ( ≥ 20 s, ≥100 Hz, ≥2 electrodes) up to the time of waking and a standardized dream report classification of the subject’s experience during sleep. We observed that reports of conscious experiences can be predicted with objective features extracted from EEG recordings in both Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep. We also provide several examples of analyses, showcasing the database’s high potential in paving the way for new research questions at a scale beyond the capacity of any single research group

The intertemporal unfairness of the feed-in tariff scheme in the United Kingdom: Catching up across regions

The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme in the UK was designed to promote residential solar photovoltaic (PV) projects by offering fixed payments for electricity generated, thereby positioning solar PV as an investment opportunity for households. This study investigates the role of income in shaping the uptake of solar PV under the FIT scheme and assesses the intertemporal fairness of the financial returns it provides. Using data from 323 local authority districts, the analysis focuses on two major installation peaks in 2011 and 2015, which correspond to significant changes in tariff rates. The findings reveal a positive relationship between income and solar PV adoption during the first peak, but a negative relationship in the second. This shift suggests that as installation costs declined, lower-income regions began to catch up in adopting solar PV. However, by estimating the expected (ex ante) rates of return across these periods, the study identifies a substantial decline in returns, both between the two peaks and following sharp reductions in tariff rates. These results indicate that early adopters in higher-income regions achieved significantly higher financial returns than those who adopted later. The study reveals a form of intertemporal unfairness embedded in the FIT scheme, confirming the need for more frequent and responsive tariff adjustments to ensure consistent investment incentives over time

Engaging a critical mass of change agents through climate action in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The impacts of climate change are strongly felt in Nigeria. Nevertheless, climate change literacy across the country is varied. This study developed a climate change education training program for 20 secondary school teachers from both Science and non-Science backgrounds in Ebonyi State, one of the rural and vulnerable states in South-East Nigeria. These teachers then established climate clubs in their schools, where all members planted and adopted a tree. This paper details the climate change education program and its impact not only on the teachers and pupils, but also the wider communities. Following the training, participating teachers demonstrated increased awareness of the drivers and effects of climate change. They reported feeling more confident and empowered to teach climate change concepts and enhance their waste management practices. This knowledge spread to students and communities, which, if sustained, could lead to lifestyle changes, reduced waste and bush burning. This study confirms that teachers can be ideal channels to convey meaningful information as change agents who can stimulate people to act positively

Twisted-circle compactifications of SQCD-like theories and holography

We construct and analyse holographic duals to a class of four-dimensional = 1 SU(Nc) SQCD-like theories compactified on a circle with an R-symmetry twist. The setup originates from type IIB backgrounds previously proposed as duals to SQCD with Nf fundamental flavours. The U(1) R-symmetry is anomaly-free only if Nf = 2Nc. We implement a supersymmetric twisted-circle reduction, holographically realised through a smoothly shrinking S1 fibered over the internal U(1)R direction. We obtain new regular type IIB supergravity backgrounds that are valid only if the condition Nf = 2Nc is satisfied — mirroring the anomaly cancellation requirement in the field theory. We compute various field-theoretic observables — including the Chern-Simons level, Wilson loop and the holographic central charge — showing the emergence of a 3D = 2 gapped phase consistent with a Chern-Simons TQFT. This work highlights the interplay between anomalies, supersymmetry, and geometry in the holographic realisation of compactified gauge theories with fundamental matter

Digitalisation and Democratisation as a Leverage Point in Transformation of International Criminal Justice

This chapter examines the transformative impact of digitalisation and democratisation on international crimes investigations within the international criminal justice (ICJ) ecosystem. Focusing on the role of civil society organisations (CSOs), it argues that integrating these non-state actors into evidence collection and analysis enhances transparency, accountability, and evidence quality, while mitigating risks such as revictimisation. Employing an interdisciplinary methodology that combines legal analysis, systems thinking and interagency coordination theory, the chapter advocates for a shift in mindset for domestic prosecutors and development of a robust cooperation between state authorities and CSOs. By viewing the ICJ as a complex, dynamic system, the chapter rejects one-size-fits-all solutions, instead proposing adaptable, context-specific suggestions that leverage the strengths of diverse stakeholders. It emphasises the need for trust, mutual recognition, and standardised protocols for managing digital evidence. Structured into sections that explore the digitalisation of ICJ, the theoretical framework, and practical applications, the chapter uses European experiences to highlight broader, globally relevant insights. Ultimately, it calls for a symbiotic relationship between state entities and CSOs, facilitated by formalised coordination, to advance justice in international crimes investigation

Enhancing empathy and understanding: Developing a virtual reality simulation to educate healthcare students on deaf patient experiences

Background: Deaf patients face challenges in healthcare settings, with limited deaf awareness in health professional programs, due to a lack of training. Healthcare professional students lack preparation about how to communicate effectively with deaf people and may not understand or empathize with their experiences in healthcare settings. The aim of the study was to co-design and develop a 360-degree VR simulation, informed by deaf patient experiences, to enhance health professional students’ empathy and understanding when working with deaf patients. Sample: Study sample was comprised of a purposive sample of preregistration healthcare professional students (n = 8) enrolled in an undergraduate degree at one university in Wales, UK. Participants were recruited through email invitation to all students in one School of Health and Social Care. Methods: A user-centered design approach was used across three phases: gathering feedback from deaf communities on healthcare experiences, design and development of an immersive 360-degree video VR, and evaluating it with health professional students (n = 8), through a pre/post survey and focus group. The survey was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the focus group transcript analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Positive feedback from participating students emphasized the benefits of the simulation and its engaging, impactful nature with a focus on lived experience. Conclusion: Simulation education is an effective tool in preparing students for working with deaf patients and in enhancing empathy