ethicalabs/Research-Intent-Collab huggingface dataset:
Situated Artificial Intelligence for Brand Identity Creation: Grounding Generative Content in Digital Branding

This thesis explores how organizations employ generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in the creation of brand identity within digital advertising contexts, with a particular focus on the concept of grounding as part of the Situated AI framework. Grounding refers to the alignment of AI generated outputs with the authentic values, vision, and cultural context of a brand. While GenAI offers unprecedented capabilities for producing creative and scalable content, the quality and strategic value of such outputs depend heavily on the extent to which they are anchored in brand-specific knowledge and organizational objectives. A qualitative research design was adopted, drawing on semi-structured interviews with selected creative agencies. These agencies varied in their adoption of GenAI, from experimental integration in early creative stages to more structured and brand aligned uses. The interviews examined how practitioners design, refine, and re-prompt AI systems to achieve grounded outcomes, and how organizational processes, brand guidelines, and human oversight influence the role of GenAI in branding. Findings indicate that effective grounding requires a combination of technical prompt engineering skills, iterative design processes, and deep familiarity with brand identity. Agencies that embedded GenAI within collaborative workflows and maintained continuous human input were more likely to produce outputs that reinforced brand authenticity and strategic positioning, whereas superficial or unstructured use of GenAI often led to outputs that lacked contextual fit or emotional resonance. The study contributes to both theory and practice by demonstrating how grounding operates as a critical mechanism for aligning GenAI outputs with brand identity, extending the Situated AI framework into the domain of creative brand work. It also offers practical insights for organizations seeking to integrate GenAI in ways that enhance creativity without compromising brand coherence.
Report on the October 25, 2011 Roundtable Meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation, Catarina De Albuquerque

On October 25th, 2011, the Carr Center Human Rights to Water and Sanitation Program at Harvard Kennedy School hosted Catarina de Albuquerque, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation for a roundtable discussion on the human rights to water and sanitation. At this meeting were25 scholars from multiple academic institutions including Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Law School, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts, and Northeastern, as well as NGO practitioners. These scholars represented various disciplines, including engineering, law, philosophy, design, history and economics. The goal of the meeting was to facilitate a dialogue between the Special Rapporteur and scholars working on various aspects of realizing and implementing the rights to water and sanitation. This report summarizes the key themes that emerged at the workshop.
Evaluation of AlphaFold structure-based protein stability prediction on missense variations in cancer

Identifying pathogenic missense variants in hereditary cancer is critical to the efforts of patient surveillance and risk-reduction strategies. For this purpose, many different gene panels consisting of different number and/or set of genes are available and we are particularly interested in a panel of 26 genes with a varying degree of hereditary cancer risk consisting of ABRAXAS1, ATM, BARD1, BLM, BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, CDH1, CHEK2, EPCAM, MEN1, MLH1, MRE11, MSH2, MSH6, MUTYH, NBN, PALB2, PMS2, PTEN, RAD50, RAD51C, RAD51D, STK11, TP53, and XRCC2. In this study, we have compiled a collection of the missense variations reported in any of these 26 genes. More than a thousand missense variants were collected from ClinVar and the targeted screen of a breast cancer cohort of 355 patients which contributed to this set with 160 novel missense variations. We analyzed the impact of the missense variations on protein stability by five different predictors including both sequence- (SAAF2EC and MUpro) and structure-based (Maestro, mCSM, CUPSAT) predictors. For the structure-based tools, we have utilized the AlphaFold (AF2) protein structures which comprise the first structural analysis of this hereditary cancer proteins. Our results agreed with the recent benchmarks that computed the power of stability predictors in discriminating the pathogenic variants. Overall, we reported a low-to-medium-level performance for the stability predictors in discriminating pathogenic variants, except MUpro which had an AUROC of 0.534 (95% CI [0.499–0.570]). The AUROC values ranged between 0.614–0.719 for the total set and 0.596–0.682 for the set with high AF2 confidence regions. Furthermore, our findings revealed that the confidence score for a given variant in the AF2 structure could alone predict pathogenicity more robustly than any of the tested stability predictors with an AUROC of 0.852. Altogether, this study represents the first structural analysis of the 26 hereditary cancer genes underscoring 1) the thermodynamic stability predicted from AF2 structures as a moderate and 2) the confidence score of AF2 as a strong descriptor for variant pathogenicity.
Development of methodology for genome editing in Xenopus laevis using CRISPR/Cas9, targeting the rhodopsin gene

Xenopus laevis is a commonly used research subject for retinal physiology and cell biology studies, but its utility is limited by the lack of a robust technology for generation of knock-out (KO) or knock-down (KD) phenotypes. However, new genome manipulation techniques involving CRISPR/Cas9 offer an opportunity for generating gene KOs in X. laevis. RNA-guided Cas9 endonuclease introduces double-stranded DNA breaks into the genome, which are either repaired by error-prone non-homologous-end joining (NHEJ), facilitating indel generation, or by less error-prone homology-directed repair (HDR), facilitating insertion of specific sequences. Rhodopsin was targeted for editing as the expected phenotypes, missing/malformed rod photoreceptor outer segments and lower rhodopsin content, are easily assayed. RNA and transgene methods for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated rhodopsin KOs and knock-ins (KI) in rod photoreceptors of X. laevis were tested, and an RNA injection protocol was developed and optimized. KOs were generated by in vitro transcription and microinjection of Cas9 mRNA, eGFP mRNA, and sgRNAs into in vitro fertilized eggs. Cas9 transgene cassettes were built and tested but editing attempts were unsuccessful. Indel mutations were identified by direct sequencing of PCR products and further characterized by sequencing individual clones. The extent of rhodopsin KO was quantified in 14 post-fertilization day-old tadpoles by anti-rod opsin dot blot assay of retinal extracts, and retinal phenotypes were assessed by cryosectioning and immunolabeling contralateral eyes for confocal microscopy. HDR-mediated KIs were generated by co-injection of a DNA repair fragment, with sufficient homology to the genomic region surrounding predicted dsDNA break-site. Heterologous expression of KIs was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Delivery of Cas9 by RNA injection can produce high frequency homozygous and heterozygous KOs in X. laevis, permitting analysis in the first generation. I was able to obtain extensive KD generating very severe retinal degeneration phenotypes, and germline transmission of Cas9-mediated indels was confirmed. However, KO was never complete. Sequencing results indicate that first generation animals are chimeric containing many independently derived indels. HDR-mediated KI techniques proved possible, but low in efficiency. These techniques significantly advance the utility of X. laevis as an experimental subject for cell biology and physiology studies.
Achieving food security in the face of climate change: summary for policy makers from the Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change

Business as usual in our globally interconnected food system will not bring us food security and environmental sustainability. Several converging threats – from climate change, population growth and unsustainable use of resources – are steadily intensifying pressure on humanity and world governments to transform the way food is produced, distributed and consumed.
A characterization of the consistent Hoare powerdomains over dcpos

It has been shown that for a dcpo P, the Scott closure of Γ_c(P) in Γ(P) is a consistent Hoare powerdomain of P, where Γ_c(P) is the family of nonempty, consistent and Scott closed subsets of P, and Γ(P) is the collection of all nonempty Scott closed subsets of P. In this paper, by introducing the notion of a \vee-existing set, we present a direct characterization of the consistent Hoare powerdomain: the set of all \vee-existing Scott closed subsets of a dcpo P is exactly the consistent Hoare powerdomain of P. We also introduce the concept of an F-Scott closed set over each dcpo-\vee-semilattice. We prove that the Scott closed set lattice of a dcpo P is isomorphic to the family of all F-Scott closed sets of P's consistent Hoare powerdomain.
Interstellar Dust in the WIRE to Planck Era

Interstellar dust appears in a number of roles in the interstellar medium. Historically, the most familiar one is as a source of extinction in the optical. Absorbed optical and ultraviolet light heats the dust, whence infrared (including near-infrared to submillimeter) emission, the particular theme of this review. In some distant galaxies, most of the luminosity of the galaxy is thus converted into the infrared, though in the Milky Way the situation is not generally as extreme, except in localized regions of star formation. I briefly review the range of physical conditions in which the dust emits in the interstellar medium and the various sizes of dust probed. Of interest astrophysically are observations of both the spectrum and the spatial distribution of the emission, preferably in combination.  In the past fifteen year probes of dust emission have advanced significantly: through IRAS, KAO, COBE experiments, IRTS, ISO, and MSX. Satellite and stratospheric observations of dust emission are complemented by ground-based studies, such as imaging and polarimetry in the submillimeter with the JCMT or imaging of reflected light from dust in the near infrared with 2MASS. Looking ahead, the next decade promises to be equally exciting. I give an overview of some of the distinctive features of facilities anticipated in the near term (WIRE), early in the new millennium (SOFIA, SIRTF), and somewhat further out (IRIS, FIRST, Planck).
FACING BACK TO MOVE FORWARD: EVALUATING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL TRIBUNAL OF RWANDA ON THE EVOLUTION OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW

The 1994 Rwanda genocide is one of the worst human catastrophes to have befallen mankind since World War II. The genocide left over 800 000 people dead, 1.7 million displaced, 400 000 widowed, and 130 000 arrested on suspicion of committing acts of genocide. The consequences of this genocide are still felt today. Despite the fact that the causes of this genocide were apparent, no commendable steps were taken by the international community, in particular the United Nations, to avert it. Having established that ‘genocide and other systematic, widespread and flagrant violations of international humanitarian law committed in Rwanda constituted a threat to international peace and security’ the UN adopted Resolution 955 which established the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). The ICTR was largely inspired by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), a similar institution established for bringing those responsible for similar atrocities committed in the former Yugoslavia to justice. The ICTR has been largely criticised for taking too long when trying to dispose of the cases before it. At an international level, it is said that many funds are being spent on the ICTR without showing any results. These criticisms do not take the logistical, political and social challenges faced by the ICTR into account. At the time of its establishment, the ICTR faced mainly infrastructural challenges, thus it took almost three years for the ICTR to decide its first case. Most of its time was spent on putting an ICTR facility with three chambers in place. The wide-ranging criticisms tend to overshadow the achievements of the ICTR, which are highlighted in this paper.
Outcomes of an Integrated Urology-Palliative Care Clinic for Patients With Advanced Urological Cancers: Maintenance of Quality of Life and Satisfaction and High Rate of Hospice Utilization Through End of Life

Introduction:                     Systematic integration of palliative care in a surgical setting is important, but has yet to be achieved. Despite evidence of early palliative care improving patients’ quality of life, hospice utilization remains low. Through an integrated palliative care-urology clinic, we aim to assess the effect of early outpatient palliative care on hospice utilization, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and satisfaction in patients with advanced urological cancers.                                                           Methods:                     Participants were recruited from 2012 through 2016 in the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital. We partnered with palliative care clinicians to develop an integrated urology-palliative care clinic, where participants were seen by the palliative care team on the same day as their urological visit. The 12-item Short-Form Survey, Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire Short-Form, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Brief Pain Inventory were administered at initial and subsequent visits. Follow-up questionnaire results were compared between baseline and the 2 follow-up visits, and hospice utilization rates were assessed.                                                           Results:                     Fifty-three participants completed baseline questionnaires. Of those 22 (42%) patients completed at least one follow-up assessment. The median time for the first and second follow-up visits was 2.9 and 7.8 months, respectively. There were no significant differences in HRQOL and satisfaction between baseline and subsequent follow-up visits. A total of 36 (68%) of 53 participants who were enrolled at the start of the study were deceased. Of those, 29 (81%) expired within a home or inpatient hospice.                                                           Conclusions:                     Rates of hospice use were high in an integrated palliative care-urology model. Health-related quality of life and satisfaction did not worsen over time.
Modeling adult skeletal stem cell response to laser-machined topographies through deep learning

The response of adult human bone marrow stromal stem cells to surface topographies generated through femtosecond laser machining can be predicted by a deep neural network. The network is capable of predicting cell response to a statistically significant level, including positioning predictions with a probability P < 0.001, and therefore can be used as a model to determine the minimum line separation required for cell alignment, with implications for tissue structure development and tissue engineering. The application of a deep neural network, as a model, reduces the amount of experimental cell culture required to develop an enhanced understanding of cell behavior to topographical cues and, critically, provides rapid prediction of the effects of novel surface structures on tissue fabrication and cell signaling.
Self-report assessment of the DSM-IV personality  disorders. Measurement of trait and distress  characteristics: the ADP-IV

Background. Self-report instruments assessing the DSM  personality  disorders are characterized by  overdiagnosis due to their emphasis on the measurement of personality traits  rather than the  impairment and distress associated with the criteria.Methods. The ADP-IV, a Dutch questionnaire, introduces  an alternative assessment method: each  test item assesses ‘Trait’ as well as ‘Distress/impairment’   characteristics of a DSM-IV criterion.  This item format allows dimensional as well as categorical diagnostic  evaluations. The present study  explores the validity of the ADP-IV in a sample of 659 subjects of the  Flemish population.Results. The dimensional personality disorder subscales,  measuring Trait characteristics, are  internally consistent and display a good concurrent validity with the Wisconsin  Personality  Disorders Inventory. Factor analysis at the item-level resulted in  11 orthogonal factors, describing  personality dimensions such as psychopathy, social anxiety and avoidance,   negative affect and self-image. Factor analysis at the subscale-level identified  two basic  dimensions, reflecting hostile (DSM-IV Cluster B) and anxious (DSM-IV Cluster  C)  interpersonal attitudes. Categorical ADP-IV  diagnoses are obtained using scoring algorithms, which emphasize the  Trait or the Distress concepts  in the diagnostic evaluation. Prevalences of ADP-IV diagnoses of any personality  disorder  according to these algorithms vary between 2·28 and 20·64%.Conclusions. Although further research in clinical samples   is required, the present results support  the validity of the ADP-IV and the potential of the measurement of trait   and distress characteristics  as a method for assessing personality pathology.
TEDDY: A Family Of Foundation Models For Understanding Single Cell Biology

Understanding the biological mechanisms of disease is crucial for medicine, and in particular, for drug discovery. AI-powered analysis of genome-scale biological data holds great potential in this regard. The increasing availability of single-cell RNA sequencing data has enabled the development of large foundation models for disease biology. However, existing foundation models only modestly improve over task-specific models in downstream applications. Here, we explored two avenues for improving single-cell foundation models. First, we scaled the pre-training data to a diverse collection of 116 million cells, which is larger than those used by previous models. Second, we leveraged the availability of large-scale biological annotations as a form of supervision during pre-training. We trained the \model family of models comprising six transformer-based state-of-the-art single-cell foundation models with 70 million, 160 million, and 400 million parameters. We vetted our models on several downstream evaluation tasks, including identifying the underlying disease state of held-out donors not seen during training, distinguishing between diseased and healthy cells for disease conditions and donors not seen during training, and probing the learned representations for known biology. Our models showed substantial improvement over existing works, and scaling experiments showed that performance improved predictably with both data volume and parameter count.
Enforcing Compliance with the Judgments of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

Abstract                This chapter reflects on how compliance can be bridged with the decisions of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Court) at the domestic level. It identifies a two-tier enforcement monitoring framework. The first tier is at the international level where the executive in the form of the AU Assembly and the African Court itself are endowed with the responsibility to monitor compliance with judgments. While the AU Assembly role is rooted in the African Court Protocol, the Court’s role is largely based on judicial activism at that level following the path charted by the Inter-American Court and to some extent, the European Court. The Court has a further role of rendering specific and clear orders as an incentive to facilitating enforcement. Meanwhile, the second tier lies at the national level. A number of distinct functionaries may operate in cohorts resulting in improved compliance with international human rights judgments. In order to make such participation less complex and problematic, the roles of these functionaries in monitoring compliance ought to naturally flow from their traditional competences.
An Application Study of Lean Six Sigma in Logistic Service Quality Management

In terms of technological process analysis, process waste and instability are major reasons for the high cost of logistics. Lean Six Sigma aims at the study of “value stream”, which uses statistical tools to analyze the stability of technological process to reduce process waste and variation. Based on the application of Lean Six Sigma to logistic service quality management, the paper intends to look into the improvement for lean logistics through the analysis of distribution process of fresh food cold-chain logistics.
Local Authorities’ Involvement in Fulfilling the Minor Children Maintenance Obligation, in Protecting and Promoting Children’s Rights

The present article aims to analyze the role of the local authorities in overseeing the fulfi lment of the minor children maintenance obligation by their parents but also, in protecting and promoting children’s rights. The research highlights the fact that the liability for growth and ensuring child development lies primarily with the parents, but also local government authorities have the duty to assist parents in achieving their obligations towards the child, developing and ensuring diversifi ed, affordable and quality services which meet the child’s needs. Last but not least, on the basis of some practical cases presented, we issue some recommendations regarding the way in which the community and the state could improve local authorities’ work.
Use of Hospice and End-of-Life Care Quality Among Medical Centers with High Versus Lower Specialist Palliative Care Reach Among People with Heart Failure: An Observational Study

Background: Rates of specialist palliative care (SPC) vary among Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) for people with advanced heart failure (aHF). We evaluated the associations between facility rates of SPC reach and the quality of end of life (EOL) care received among this population. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 3681 people with aHF who died in 83 VAMCs from 2018 to 2020. We used multilevel logistic regression to derive SPC reach (i.e., the predicted probability or rate of SPC) for each VAMC adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. We examined the associations between high (top 20%) versus lower (bottom 80%) SPC reach and receipt of inpatient hospice and family-reported EOL care quality and the interactions between receiving SPC and VAMC reach on study outcomes. Results: The sample included 97.9% male, 61.6% White, and 32.2% Black adults (mean age = 72.9 ± 10.9 years). Rates of "Excellent" EOL care quality, but not inpatient hospice care, were significantly higher in VAMCs in the top 20% of reach (predicted probability: inpatient hospice = 0.56 vs. 0.51, p = 0.32; "Excellent" EOL care quality 0.69 vs. 0.60, p = 0.04). There was a significant interaction between VAMC reach, receipt of SPC, and inpatient hospice (p < 0.001) but no interaction between VAMC reach, receipt of SPC, and EOL care quality (p = 0.049). Conclusion: Families of patients with aHF who die in VAMCs with higher SPC reach report better EOL care quality regardless of whether or not they receive SPC. Research is needed to investigate factors beyond receiving SPC associated with these EOL outcomes.