A stereotype is an over-generalized belief about a particular group of people, e.g., Asians are good at math or African Americans are athletic. Such beliefs (biases) are known to hurt target groups. Since pretrained language models are trained on large real-world data, they are known to capture stereotypical biases. It is important to quantify to what extent these biases are present in them. Although this is a rapidly growing area of research, existing literature lacks in two important aspects: 1) they mainly evaluate bias of pretrained language models on a small set of artificial sentences, even though these models are trained on natural data 2) current evaluations focus on measuring bias without considering the language modeling ability of a model, which could lead to misleading trust on a model even if it is a poor language model. We address both these problems. We present StereoSet, a large-scale natural English dataset to measure stereotypical biases in four domains: gender, profession, race, and religion. We contrast both stereotypical bias and language modeling ability of popular models like BERT, GPT-2, RoBERTa, and XLnet. We show that these models exhibit strong stereotypical biases. Our data and code are available at https://stereoset.mit.edu.
SummaryThe country-specific risk of hip fracture and the 10-year probability of a major osteoporotic fracture were determined on a worldwide basis from a systematic review of literature. There was a greater than 10-fold variation in hip fracture risk and fracture probability between countries.IntroductionThe present study aimed to update the available information base available on the heterogeneity in the risk of hip fracture on a worldwide basis. An additional aim was to document variations in major fracture probability as determined from the available FRAX models.MethodsStudies on hip fracture risk were identified from 1950 to November 2011 by a Medline OVID search. Evaluable studies in each country were reviewed for quality and representativeness and a study (studies) chosen to represent that country. Age-specific incidence rates were age-standardised to the world population in 2010 in men, women and both sexes combined. The 10-year probability of a major osteoporotic fracture for a specific clinical scenario was computed in those countries for which a FRAX model was available.ResultsFollowing quality evaluation, age-standardised rates of hip fracture were available for 63 countries and 45 FRAX models available in 40 countries to determine fracture probability. There was a greater than 10-fold variation in hip fracture risk and fracture probability between countries.ConclusionsWorldwide, there are marked variations in hip fracture rates and in the 10-year probability of major osteoporotic fractures. The variation is sufficiently large that these cannot be explained by the often multiple sources of error in the ascertainment of cases or the catchment population. Understanding the reasons for this heterogeneity may lead to global strategies for the prevention of fractures.
Bias in Foundation Models (FMs) - trained on vast datasets spanning societal and historical knowledge - poses significant challenges for fairness and equity across fields such as healthcare, education, and finance. These biases, rooted in the overrepresentation of stereotypes and societal inequalities in training data, exacerbate real-world discrimination, reinforce harmful stereotypes, and erode trust in AI systems. To address this, we introduce Trident Probe Testing (TriProTesting), a systematic testing method that detects explicit and implicit biases using semantically designed probes. Here we show that FMs, including CLIP, ALIGN, BridgeTower, and OWLv2, demonstrate pervasive biases across single and mixed social attributes (gender, race, age, and occupation). Notably, we uncover mixed biases when social attributes are combined, such as gender x race, gender x age, and gender x occupation, revealing deeper layers of discrimination. We further propose Adaptive Logit Adjustment (AdaLogAdjustment), a post-processing technique that dynamically redistributes probability power to mitigate these biases effectively, achieving significant improvements in fairness without retraining models. These findings highlight the urgent need for ethical AI practices and interdisciplinary solutions to address biases not only at the model level but also in societal structures. Our work provides a scalable and interpretable solution that advances fairness in AI systems while offering practical insights for future research on fair AI technologies.
R. Risco, R. Sebio-García, R. González-Colom
et al.
Background/Objectives: The real impact of prehabilitation in the healthcare setting is controversial due to the efficacy–effectiveness gap. The effectiveness of prehabilitation in real-world scenarios has been associated with program attrition and adherence. This study aimed to identify factors influencing adherence to a multimodal prehabilitation program for patients undergoing major surgery. Methods: This is a analysis of a prospective trial conceived to explore the implementation of prehabilitation in a real-life setting. Participants were patients enrolled in our multimodal prehabilitation program, candidates for major surgery, and at high risk for postoperative complications. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were studied, with adherence to the program as the primary outcome. Descriptive analyses were conducted to examine associations between adherence and the study variables. A binary logistic regression model was applied to identify predictors of adherence. Results: Among the 559 patients included in the study, 356 (63.7%) were labelled as adherent. The analysis revealed significant associations between adherence and working status, type of exercise program prescribed (p < 0.001), smoking status (p = 0.023), age (t = −3.00, p = 0.003), comorbidities (t = −2.19, p = 0.029), and self-reported physical activity (t = −2.45, p = 0.015). The logistic regression identified as independent factors the type of exercise prescription, smoking status, residential area, working status, and neoadjuvant therapy. The predictive model demonstrated good specificity (86.1%) but lower sensitivity (50.6%), suggesting its utility in identifying patients at risk of non-adherence. Conclusions: Multiple factors influence adherence in prehabilitation programs. Our model exhibited good accuracy and specificity, but poor sensitivity.
Travelogues are essential for the history of religions as they are the records of travelers observing firsthand different cultures, belief systems, and religious practices. Travelers observed and recorded religious and cultural life, forms of worship, holy places, the role of clergymen, the people's perspectives on beliefs, and their customs and traditions in the regions they visited. One of them is Ibn Battuta (1304-1369), who is a world-famous Muslim traveler. In 1325, Ibn Battuta set out on a pilgrimage, which evolved into a world journey, and over the course of about thirty years, he traveled across a vast geography that extended to Africa, the Middle East, Anatolia, Central Asia, India, China, and Al-Andalus. Ibn Battuta, who came to India with the invitation of Sultan of Delhi Muhammad bin Tughluq, stayed here for about seven years, undertook important duties under him, and served the sultan. During this time, he had the opportunity to closely observe Indian culture, beliefs, and the people’s relations with one another. Later, in his work “Rihlatu Ibn Battuta”, Ibn Battuta described Hindu temples, the impact of the caste system on social life, and various Indian rituals, and provided information about the beliefs and traditions of the local people. This study aims to examine Ibn Battuta's observations about India, one of the most essential travelers of the 14th century, in his work Rihlatu Ibn Battuta from the perspective of the history of religions. Ibn Battuta’s travelogue is taken as a primary source and analyzed through content analysis.
Eudia Anggelia Ika Agustin, Hana Suparti, Muner Daliman
This study aims to develop a character education module for Sunday school children rooted in Christian spiritual formation, using Galatians 5:22–23, the fruit of the Spirit, as its theological foundation. In response to the growing concern over moral development in children, especially in faith-based educational settings, the module integrates biblical principles with pedagogical approaches suitable for young learners. Employing the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation), the research includes a literature review, biblical exegesis, and field validation. The findings demonstrate that incorporating the fruit of the Spirit into structured Sunday school lessons significantly enhances the internalization of Christian virtues such as love, joy, peace, and self-control. This module offers a practical tool for teachers and church educators to nurture spiritual maturity and moral character in early childhood ministry. Theologically, it affirms the centrality of spiritual formation in Christian education and contributes to the discourse on faith-based curriculum development.
One of the harder lessons offered by history is that only the first half of the revolution seems worth carrying out. This study examines how, contra Christianity, which spells out the fate of revolution in its entirety, Gnosticism stands as a symbol for revolution arrested and immortalized in its most radical phase. It shows that Gnosticism is a revolution that structurally renounces the prospect of phenomenal victory in exchange for the eternal preservation and constant renewal of its revolutionary energy. I do so by examining how, rejecting worldly victory, the critical spirit of Gnosticism seeks its minimal and sole embodiment in the individual (the individuated, the indivisible, the residue). I argue that, by building the court of radical inwardness as its theater for enacting what I call the “politics of world loss,” Gnosticism invents the noumenal as that impossible space for enacting the quintessentially phenomenal, i.e., the political.
Ibrahim Eker, Hamide Nur Çevik Özdemir, F. Yılmaz
et al.
Objective Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing represents a significant advancement in treating inherited hematological disorders, particularly thalassemia major. This technology enables the birth of healthy children who can serve as compatible stem cell donors for their affected siblings. Türkiye is a world leader in both PGD+HLA typing technology and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from savior siblings born through PGD+HLA typing. This study investigated the experiences of Turkish parents who underwent successful savior sibling procedures using PGD+HLA typing and then successful HSCT from the savior sibling for the treatment of the child with thalassemia major. We aimed to understand the medical, psychological, and sociocultural dimensions of this complex process within the Turkish healthcare context. Materials and Methods A qualitative study was undertaken using a descriptive phenomenological approach. In-depth interviews were conducted with parents from 16 families who had successfully completed PGD+HLA matching and subsequent stem cell transplantation processes from the savior sibling to the child with thalassemia. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method and MAXQDA 20.0 software. Results The analysis revealed six main themes: disease stage, treatment, recovery process, social/family, support systems, and recommendations. Parents reported significant emotional challenges but demonstrated unexpected resilience. Religious and cultural factors played nuanced roles, with most parents viewing the process as compatible with their beliefs. Economic burdens, prolonged hospitalizations, and geographical access to treatment centers emerged as key challenges. Extended family support and professional healthcare guidance were identified as crucial support mechanisms. Conclusion This study highlights the complex interplay between advanced medical technologies and traditional values in Turkish society. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive and culturally sensitive support systems and long-term follow-up for families. The results suggest the value of implementing multidisciplinary care teams and developing specialized support programs for families undergoing savior sibling procedures.
Background/Objectives: Endovascular therapy (EVT) is the treatment of choice for femoropopliteal artery (FPA) disease manifesting as critical limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) or intermittent claudication (IC). This study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of patients with CLTI with those of patients with IC after EVT in a real-world setting. Methods: In total, 1924 patients with FPA disease (CLTI: n = 812, IC: n = 1112) from the K-VIS ELLA (Korean Vascular Intervention Society Endovascular Therapy in Lower Limb Artery Diseases) registry who underwent EVT between 2006 and 2021 were analyzed. The primary endpoint was defined as target limb amputation or clinically driven (CD) target extremity revascularization (TER) 2 years after the procedure. Results: The incidence of the primary endpoint after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was significantly higher in the CLTI group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.314; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.105–1.561; p = 0.002). The incidences of loss of clinical patency, major adverse limb events (MALEs), and all-cause mortality were also higher in the CLTI group (hazard ratio [HR], 1.312; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.157–1.488; p < 0.001). However, the risk of repeat percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was similar between the groups (HR, 1.014; 95% CI, 0.833–1.234; p = 0.920). The use of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) was associated with favorable primary outcomes in both groups, particularly in patients with IC (HR: 0.429, 95% CI: 0.25–0.734; p = 0.002). Conclusions: Patients with CLTI undergoing EVT for FPA disease experienced worse clinical outcomes than those with IC, although the repeat PTA rates were similar. The use of DCBs showed promising results in both groups.
Simple Summary Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare, aggressive cancers that require carefully balanced treatment strategies to improve survival without excessive side effects. Standard treatment for high-risk localized STS typically includes preoperative radiotherapy and surgery. Recent trials have explored intensifying treatment by adding immunotherapy (e.g., pembrolizumab), but these approaches often lead to increased toxicity, prolonged treatment times, and higher healthcare demands. In this study, we evaluated an optimized, short-course preoperative ultra-hypofractionated radiotherapy (uhpRT) using real-world data, highlighting differences between outcomes achieved under everyday clinical conditions versus highly standardized trial environments. Comparing our outcomes with those from a recent randomized controlled trial (SU2C-SARC032) that tested intensified therapy with pembrolizumab, our streamlined uhpRT protocol achieved similar survival outcomes while markedly reducing toxicity, treatment duration, and resource utilization. Our results underline the importance of therapeutic optimization, emphasizing efficacy, safety, and real-world applicability over routine intensification.
Background: Data on the use of dolutegravir (DTG) plus boosted darunavir (DRV/b) in people with 4-class drug-resistant HIV (4DR-PWH) are limited. This study assessed the virological effectiveness of DTG + DRV/b in this population using real-world data from the PRESTIGIO Registry. Methods: We compared three regimen groups: dual DTG + DRV/b (DODA), DTG + DRV/b plus an additional antiretroviral drug (DODA + Other), and regimens excluding DTG + DRV/b (NO-DODA). Virological failure (VF) was defined as ≥2 HIV-RNA values ≥ 50 copies/mL or 1 ≥ 1000 copies/mL. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to assess VF, adjusting for antiretroviral therapy (ART) duration, age, number of fully active drugs, sex at birth, and nadir CD4+. Individuals could switch regimens during follow-up. Results: Among 249 4DR-PWH (median follow-up: 8.7 years), 844 ART regimens were analyzed: 72 (8.5%) DODA, 264 (31.3%) DODA + Other, and 508 (60.2%) NO-DODA. Compared to NO-DODA, the odds of VF were 77% and 35.9% lower with DODA and DODA + Other, respectively. Notably, in the DODA group, DTG and DRV/b were fully active in only 63.9% and 47.2% of the cases, respectively. Conclusions: DTG + DRV/b regimens were associated with a significantly lower risk of virological failure, even when drug activity was partial. This strategy remains a valuable option for managing multi-drug-resistant HIV.
Significance Artificial intelligence (AI), once merely the draw and drama of science fiction, is now a feature of everyday life. AI is commonly used to generate recommendations, from the movies we watch to the medical procedures we endure. As AI recommendations become increasingly prevalent and the world grapples with its benefits and costs, it is important to understand the factors that shape whether people accept or reject AI-based recommendations. We focus on one factor that is prevalent across nearly every society: religion. Research has not yet systematically examined how religion affects decision-making in light of emerging AI technologies, which inherently raise questions on the role and value of humans. In introducing this discussion, we find that God salience heightens AI acceptance.
Bianca Zardetto, M. C. Lauffer, W. V. van Roon-Mom
et al.
Although around 6% of the world's population is affected by rare diseases, only a small number of disease-modifying therapies are available. In recent years, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have emerged as one option for the development of therapeutics for orphan diseases. In particular, ASOs can be utilized for individualized genetic treatments, addressing patients with a known disease-causing genetic variant, who would otherwise not be able to receive therapy. Careful prioritization of genetic variants amenable to an ASO approach is crucial to increase chances for successful treatments and reduce costs and time for drug development. At present, there is no consensus on how to systematically approach this selection procedure. Here, we present practical guidelines to evaluate disease-causing variants and standardize the process of selecting n-of-1 cases. We focus on variants leading to a loss of function in monogenic disorders and consider which splice-switching ASO-mediated treatments are applicable in each case. To ease the understanding and application of our guidelines, we created a hypothetical transcript covering different pathogenic variants and explained their evaluation in detail. We support our recommendations with real-life examples and add further considerations to be applied to specific cases to provide a comprehensive framework for selecting eligible variants.
Missio Dei represents a missiological attempt to articulate a theocentric concept of mission with reference to the missionary nature and act of the triune God. This attempt arose as a reaction to the ecclesiocentric understanding of mission which was predominant within the Western global missionary movements in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This article briefly reviews the historical, biblical, and theological context of such an attempt, and then highlights an ongoing polarity in the employment of trinitarianism within missio Dei. The article concludes with a reflection on the implications of missio Dei for the church and Christian life in a contemporary, globalized society.
Karl Jaspers (1883–1969) was an important philosopher and thinker chiefly in the areas of epistemology, existentialism, the philosophy of religion, and also political theory amongst others. However, his ideas have to a very large degree become obscured over the years. This notwithstanding, among his important contributions, Jaspers articulated the notion that individuals do not cognize objects but explain and objectify their being as often unique thinkers and consequently they become themselves. It is a question of delineating and analysing the structure of Being, as such, which leads to ultimate illumination. Humanity may understand
the mechanical operations of our corporeal world through science, but it is only philosophy that is proficient in giving insights into the human condition and the individual being who, in turn, has a capacity to exercise freedom. This article considers Jaspers’ ideas on transcendence and how they differ from mainline Eastern Orthodoxy. It argues that only a person whose entire being has been transformed by faith has some access to truth. It is further advanced that, faith is a priori philosophical and not religious issue because it is ultimately a personal and thus subjective matter and has no support in authority. Faith is thus not to be
viewed as an objective and communicable subjugator of reason. It is through suffering and a range of experiences and ultimately the reconning with death, that one encounters ultimate situations wherein the Transcendent God is encountered. God is not an object and can be known and described only through myths and symbols or ciphers. The Transcendent Being (God) is symbolically expressed in religion. Jaspers view of Being in its various facets is in opposition to Eastern Orthodox Christian views which is what this work interrogates to a limited
extent. The Orthodox doctrine of God perceives God as a Transcendent Being in each of the material and immaterial domains of His Creation.
LTT 1445 is a hierarchical triple M-dwarf star system located at a distance of 6.86 pc. The primary star LTT 1445A (0.257 M ⊙) is known to host the transiting planet LTT 1445Ab with an orbital period of 5.36 days, making it the second-closest known transiting exoplanet system, and the closest one for which the host is an M dwarf. Using Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite data, we present the discovery of a second planet in the LTT 1445 system, with an orbital period of 3.12 days. We combine radial-velocity measurements obtained from the five spectrographs, Echelle Spectrograph for Rocky Exoplanets and Stable Spectroscopic Observations, High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher, High-Resolution Echelle Spectrometer, MAROON-X, and Planet Finder Spectrograph to establish that the new world also orbits LTT 1445A. We determine the mass and radius of LTT 1445Ab to be 2.87 ± 0.25 M ⊕ and 1.304−0.060+0.067 R ⊕, consistent with an Earth-like composition. For the newly discovered LTT 1445Ac, we measure a mass of 1.54−0.19+0.20 M ⊕ and a minimum radius of 1.15 R ⊕, but we cannot determine the radius directly as the signal-to-noise ratio of our light curve permits both grazing and nongrazing configurations. Using MEarth photometry and ground-based spectroscopy, we establish that star C (0.161 M ⊙) is likely the source of the 1.4 day rotation period, and star B (0.215 M ⊙) has a likely rotation period of 6.7 days. We estimate a probable rotation period of 85 days for LTT 1445A. Thus, this triple M-dwarf system appears to be in a special evolutionary stage where the most massive M dwarf has spun down, the intermediate mass M dwarf is in the process of spinning down, while the least massive stellar component has not yet begun to spin down.
Online alcohol screening may be helpful in preventing alcohol use disorders. We assessed psychometric properties of an online version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) among Spanish university students. We used a longitudinal online survey (the UNIVERSAL project) of first-year students (18–24 years old) in five universities, including the AUDIT, as part of the WHO World Mental Health International College Student (WMH-ICS) initiative. A reappraisal interview was carried out with the Timeline Followback (TLFB) for alcohol consumption categories and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) for alcohol use disorder. Reliability, construct validity and diagnostic accuracy were assessed. Results: 287 students (75% women) completed the MINI, of whom 242 also completed the TLFB. AUDIT’s Cronbach’s alpha was 0.82. The confirmatory factor analysis for the one-factor solution of the AUDIT showed a good fit to the data. Significant AUDIT score differences were observed by TLFB categories and by MINI disorders. Areas under the curve (AUC) were very large for dependence (AUC = 0.96) and adequate for consumption categories (AUC > 0.7). AUDIT cut-off points of 6/8 (women/men) for moderate-risk drinking and 13 for alcohol dependence showed sensitivity/specificity of 76.2%/78.9% and 56%/97.5%, respectively. The online version of the AUDIT is useful for detecting alcohol consumption categories and alcohol dependence in Spanish university students.
The purpose of this paper is to explore different meditative techniques and their benefits and to open a discussion on the applicability of meditative techniques in educational institutions. Thus, the ability to apply meditative techniques to help develop self-control and regulation of emotions, as well as a form of prevention of problematic behavior in children. Upbringing begins in the family, and this is where the foundations for building a child’s personality are formed. The social community and the environment surrounding us contribute to what we will become. Different religions have their upbringing principles, and given the origin of meditation, we will explore the possibility of its application in spiritual upbringing. This paper will show some meditation techniques and their connection with emotions, how they can help children, as well as the positive aspects of applying meditative techniques in various dysfunctional behaviors. We will explore how and in what way meditation techniques are applied in the world and how and where the application of meditative techniques occurs in children in Croatia.
History of scholarship and learning. The humanities