SCIBASE-AI · karollooool · May 23, 2026
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
@@ -1,2 +1,6 @@
 # deepevents.ai
 deepevents.ai main codebase
+
+## Research Assistant Bounty Slices
+
+- [Literature freshness review assistant](literature-freshness-review-assistant/README.md)
diff --git a/literature-freshness-review-assistant/README.md b/literature-freshness-review-assistant/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+# Literature Freshness Review Assistant
+
+This is a focused AI-Powered Research Assistant Suite slice for SCIBASE issue #16. It checks whether reviewer-facing manuscript claims rely on current evidence before the assistant marks a packet ready.
+
+## Scope
+
+- Flags stale support citations outside a configurable freshness window.
+- Detects newer systematic reviews, reporting guidelines, dataset releases, and benchmark updates that are missing from a claim.
+- Escalates newer contradictory evidence as a review hold.
+- Detects dataset and benchmark version drift for claims using "current" or "state-of-the-art" wording.
+- Emits reviewer actions, research-gap prompts, stable audit digests, and deterministic JSON/Markdown/SVG/MP4 artifacts.
+
+This is intentionally separate from broad assistant suites, citation-context reconciliation, retraction notices, statistics review, benchmark-leakage checks, reporting-guideline compliance, figure/table checks, prompt-safety guards, and assay control/calibration completeness.
+
+## Files
+
+- `index.js` - freshness evaluator and report renderers
+- `sample-data.js` - synthetic evidence ledger and manuscript packets
+- `test.js` - dependency-free assertion tests
+- `demo.js` - deterministic JSON/Markdown/SVG report generator
+- `scripts/render-demo-video.js` - optional ffmpeg MP4 renderer
+- `reports/` - generated reviewer artifacts
+
+## Validate
+
+```bash
+npm run check
+npm test
+npm run demo
+npm run demo:video
+```
+
+Synthetic data only. The module does not call external APIs, scan private manuscripts, use credentials, or contact payment services.
diff --git a/literature-freshness-review-assistant/demo.js b/literature-freshness-review-assistant/demo.js
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+const fs = require("fs");
+const path = require("path");
+
+const {
+  evaluateFreshnessReview,
+  renderMarkdown,
+  renderSvg
+} = require("./index");
+const {
+  freshnessPolicy,
+  evidenceLedger,
+  manuscriptPackets
+} = require("./sample-data");
+
+const reportsDir = path.join(__dirname, "reports");
+fs.mkdirSync(reportsDir, { recursive: true });
+
+const report = evaluateFreshnessReview(manuscriptPackets, evidenceLedger, freshnessPolicy);
+fs.writeFileSync(path.join(reportsDir, "demo.json"), `${JSON.stringify(report, null, 2)}\n`);
+fs.writeFileSync(path.join(reportsDir, "demo.md"), renderMarkdown(report));
+fs.writeFileSync(path.join(reportsDir, "demo.svg"), renderSvg(report));
+
+console.log(`status=${report.manuscripts[0].summary.status}`);
+console.log(`reviewed=${report.aggregate.reviewedManuscripts}`);
+console.log(`held=${report.aggregate.heldManuscripts}`);
+console.log(`critical=${report.aggregate.criticalFindings}`);
+console.log(`major=${report.aggregate.majorFindings}`);
+console.log(`digest=${report.auditDigest}`);
diff --git a/literature-freshness-review-assistant/index.js b/literature-freshness-review-assistant/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,322 @@
+const crypto = require("crypto");
+
+const SEVERITY_RANK = {
+  info: 0,
+  warning: 1,
+  major: 2,
+  critical: 3
+};
+
+function yearsBetween(olderDate, newerDate) {
+  const older = new Date(`${olderDate}T00:00:00Z`);
+  const newer = new Date(`${newerDate}T00:00:00Z`);
+  return (newer.getTime() - older.getTime()) / (365.25 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
+}
+
+function latestDate(dates) {
+  const validDates = dates.filter(Boolean).sort();
+  return validDates[validDates.length - 1] || null;
+}
+
+function evidenceForTopic(ledger, topic) {
+  return ledger.signals.filter((signal) => signal.topic === topic);
+}
+
+function addFinding(findings, finding) {
+  findings.push({
+    severity: finding.severity,
+    code: finding.code,
+    claimId: finding.claimId,
+    topic: finding.topic,
+    detail: finding.detail,
+    requiredAction: finding.requiredAction,
+    evidenceSignalId: finding.evidenceSignalId || null
+  });
+}
+
+function evaluateClaimFreshness(claim, ledger, policy) {
+  const findings = [];
+  const signals = evidenceForTopic(ledger, claim.topic);
+  const latestCitation = latestDate(claim.citationDates || []);
+  const reviewDate = policy.reviewDate;
+
+  if (!latestCitation) {
+    addFinding(findings, {
+      severity: "critical",
+      code: "NO_SUPPORT_DATES",
+      claimId: claim.id,
+      topic: claim.topic,
+      detail: "Claim has no dated supporting citations for freshness review.",
+      requiredAction: "Attach dated evidence before the assistant marks this claim reviewer-ready."
+    });
+  } else if (yearsBetween(latestCitation, reviewDate) > policy.staleAfterYears) {
+    addFinding(findings, {
+      severity: "major",
+      code: "STALE_SUPPORT_WINDOW",
+      claimId: claim.id,
+      topic: claim.topic,
+      detail: `Latest support is ${latestCitation}, older than the ${policy.staleAfterYears}-year freshness window.`,
+      requiredAction: "Add recent evidence or downgrade the claim wording."
+    });
+  }
+
+  for (const signal of signals) {
+    const cited = (claim.citedCurrentSignalIds || []).includes(signal.id);
+    const signalIsNewer = !latestCitation || signal.published > latestCitation;
+
+    if (!cited && signalIsNewer) {
+      const severity = signal.relation === "contradicts" ? policy.contradictionSeverity : "major";
+      addFinding(findings, {
+        severity,
+        code: signal.relation === "contradicts" ? "NEWER_CONTRADICTORY_EVIDENCE" : "MISSING_NEWER_EVIDENCE",
+        claimId: claim.id,
+        topic: claim.topic,
+        detail: `${signal.title} (${signal.published}) ${signal.relation} older support but is not cited.`,
+        requiredAction: signal.requirement,
+        evidenceSignalId: signal.id
+      });
+    }
+
+    if (signal.currentVersion && claim.datasetVersion && claim.datasetVersion !== signal.currentVersion) {
+      addFinding(findings, {
+        severity: "major",
+        code: "DATASET_VERSION_DRIFT",
+        claimId: claim.id,
+        topic: claim.topic,
+        detail: `Claim uses dataset ${claim.datasetVersion}; current ledger version is ${signal.currentVersion}.`,
+        requiredAction: signal.requirement,
+        evidenceSignalId: signal.id
+      });
+    }
+
+    if (signal.currentVersion && claim.benchmarkVersion && claim.benchmarkVersion !== signal.currentVersion) {
+      addFinding(findings, {
+        severity: "major",
+        code: "BENCHMARK_VERSION_DRIFT",
+        claimId: claim.id,
+        topic: claim.topic,
+        detail: `Claim uses benchmark ${claim.benchmarkVersion}; current ledger version is ${signal.currentVersion}.`,
+        requiredAction: signal.requirement,
+        evidenceSignalId: signal.id
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  if (findings.length === 0) {
+    addFinding(findings, {
+      severity: "info",
+      code: "FRESHNESS_READY",
+      claimId: claim.id,
+      topic: claim.topic,
+      detail: "Claim cites the current evidence signal for its topic.",
+      requiredAction: "No freshness hold required."
+    });
+  }
+
+  return findings;
+}
+
+function summarizeFindings(findings, policy) {
+  const actionable = findings.filter((finding) => finding.severity !== "info");
+  const critical = findings.filter((finding) => finding.severity === "critical");
+  const major = findings.filter((finding) => finding.severity === "major");
+  const warnings = findings.filter((finding) => finding.severity === "warning");
+  const maxSeverity = findings.reduce((max, finding) => {
+    return SEVERITY_RANK[finding.severity] > SEVERITY_RANK[max] ? finding.severity : max;
+  }, "info");
+  const status = SEVERITY_RANK[maxSeverity] >= SEVERITY_RANK[policy.holdSeverityCutoff]
+    ? "hold_freshness_review"
+    : actionable.length > 0
+      ? "revise_freshness_context"
+      : "ready_for_review";
+
+  return {
+    status,
+    totalFindings: findings.length,
+    actionableFindings: actionable.length,
+    criticalFindings: critical.length,
+    majorFindings: major.length,
+    warningFindings: warnings.length,
+    readyFindings: findings.length - actionable.length
+  };
+}
+
+function buildReviewerActions(findings) {
+  return findings
+    .filter((finding) => finding.severity !== "info")
+    .map((finding) => ({
+      claimId: finding.claimId,
+      severity: finding.severity,
+      action: finding.requiredAction,
+      reason: finding.detail
+    }));
+}
+
+function buildResearchGapPrompts(findings) {
+  const topics = new Map();
+  for (const finding of findings) {
+    if (finding.severity === "info") {
+      continue;
+    }
+    if (!topics.has(finding.topic)) {
+      topics.set(
+        finding.topic,
+        `Freshness gap: update the evidence base for ${finding.topic} before treating the claim as current.`
+      );
+    }
+  }
+  return [...topics.values()];
+}
+
+function stableDigest(value) {
+  return crypto.createHash("sha256").update(JSON.stringify(value)).digest("hex");
+}
+
+function evaluateManuscript(packet, ledger, policy) {
+  const findings = packet.claims.flatMap((claim) => evaluateClaimFreshness(claim, ledger, policy));
+  const summary = summarizeFindings(findings, policy);
+  const reviewerActions = buildReviewerActions(findings);
+  const researchGapPrompts = buildResearchGapPrompts(findings);
+  const result = {
+    packetId: packet.id,
+    title: packet.title,
+    domain: packet.domain,
+    reviewDate: policy.reviewDate,
+    summary,
+    findings,
+    reviewerActions,
+    researchGapPrompts
+  };
+  return {
+    ...result,
+    auditDigest: stableDigest(result)
+  };
+}
+
+function evaluateFreshnessReview(packets, ledger, policy) {
+  const manuscripts = packets.map((packet) => evaluateManuscript(packet, ledger, policy));
+  const aggregate = {
+    reviewedManuscripts: manuscripts.length,
+    heldManuscripts: manuscripts.filter((entry) => entry.summary.status === "hold_freshness_review").length,
+    revisionManuscripts: manuscripts.filter((entry) => entry.summary.status === "revise_freshness_context").length,
+    readyManuscripts: manuscripts.filter((entry) => entry.summary.status === "ready_for_review").length,
+    criticalFindings: manuscripts.reduce((sum, entry) => sum + entry.summary.criticalFindings, 0),
+    majorFindings: manuscripts.reduce((sum, entry) => sum + entry.summary.majorFindings, 0),
+    actionableFindings: manuscripts.reduce((sum, entry) => sum + entry.summary.actionableFindings, 0)
+  };
+  const result = {
+    assistant: "literature-freshness-review-assistant",
+    policy,
+    aggregate,
+    manuscripts
+  };
+  return {
+    ...result,
+    auditDigest: stableDigest(result)
+  };
+}
+
+function renderMarkdown(report) {
+  const lines = [
+    "# Literature Freshness Review Assistant",
+    "",
+    `Review date: ${report.policy.reviewDate}`,
+    `Overall digest: ${report.auditDigest}`,
+    "",
+    "## Aggregate",
+    "",
+    `- Reviewed manuscripts: ${report.aggregate.reviewedManuscripts}`,
+    `- Held manuscripts: ${report.aggregate.heldManuscripts}`,
+    `- Revision manuscripts: ${report.aggregate.revisionManuscripts}`,
+    `- Ready manuscripts: ${report.aggregate.readyManuscripts}`,
+    `- Critical findings: ${report.aggregate.criticalFindings}`,
+    `- Major findings: ${report.aggregate.majorFindings}`,
+    `- Actionable findings: ${report.aggregate.actionableFindings}`,
+    ""
+  ];
+
+  for (const manuscript of report.manuscripts) {
+    lines.push(`## ${manuscript.title}`);
+    lines.push("");
+    lines.push(`Status: ${manuscript.summary.status}`);
+    lines.push(`Digest: ${manuscript.auditDigest}`);
+    lines.push("");
+    lines.push("| Severity | Code | Claim | Detail | Required action |");
+    lines.push("| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |");
+    for (const finding of manuscript.findings) {
+      lines.push(
+        `| ${finding.severity} | ${finding.code} | ${finding.claimId} | ${finding.detail} | ${finding.requiredAction} |`
+      );
+    }
+    lines.push("");
+    if (manuscript.researchGapPrompts.length > 0) {
+      lines.push("Research gap prompts:");
+      for (const prompt of manuscript.researchGapPrompts) {
+        lines.push(`- ${prompt}`);
+      }
+      lines.push("");
+    }
+  }
+
+  return `${lines.join("\n").trimEnd()}\n`;
+}
+
+function escapeXml(value) {
+  return String(value)
+    .replaceAll("&", "&amp;")
+    .replaceAll("<", "&lt;")
+    .replaceAll(">", "&gt;")
+    .replaceAll('"', "&quot;");
+}
+
+function renderSvg(report) {
+  const held = report.aggregate.heldManuscripts;
+  const ready = report.aggregate.readyManuscripts;
+  const critical = report.aggregate.criticalFindings;
+  const major = report.aggregate.majorFindings;
+  const bars = [
+    { label: "Held", value: held, color: "#b91c1c" },
+    { label: "Ready", value: ready, color: "#047857" },
+    { label: "Critical", value: critical, color: "#dc2626" },
+    { label: "Major", value: major, color: "#d97706" }
+  ];
+  const maxValue = Math.max(1, ...bars.map((bar) => bar.value));
+  const rows = bars.map((bar, index) => {
+    const y = 170 + index * 70;
+    const width = Math.round((bar.value / maxValue) * 560);
+    return `  <text x="72" y="${y + 24}" class="label">${escapeXml(bar.label)}</text>
+      <rect x="190" y="${y}" width="560" height="34" rx="6" fill="#e5e7eb"/>
+      <rect x="190" y="${y}" width="${width}" height="34" rx="6" fill="${bar.color}"/>
+      <text x="770" y="${y + 24}" class="value">${bar.value}</text>`;
+  }).join("\n");
+
+  return `<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="960" height="560" viewBox="0 0 960 560" role="img" aria-labelledby="title desc">
+  <title id="title">Literature freshness review assistant summary</title>
+  <desc id="desc">Summary of held manuscripts, ready manuscripts, and freshness findings.</desc>
+  <style>
+    .bg { fill: #f8fafc; }
+    .panel { fill: #ffffff; stroke: #cbd5e1; stroke-width: 1.5; }
+    .title { font: 700 34px Arial, sans-serif; fill: #0f172a; }
+    .subtitle { font: 400 18px Arial, sans-serif; fill: #475569; }
+    .label { font: 700 20px Arial, sans-serif; fill: #0f172a; }
+    .value { font: 700 22px Arial, sans-serif; fill: #0f172a; }
+    .digest { font: 400 14px Arial, sans-serif; fill: #475569; }
+  </style>
+  <rect class="bg" width="960" height="560"/>
+  <rect class="panel" x="40" y="40" width="880" height="480" rx="8"/>
+  <text x="72" y="98" class="title">Literature freshness review assistant</text>
+  <text x="72" y="132" class="subtitle">Stale citations, missing newer evidence, and temporal drift before AI review release</text>
+${rows}
+  <text x="72" y="500" class="digest">Audit digest: ${escapeXml(report.auditDigest.slice(0, 24))}</text>
+</svg>
+`;
+}
+
+module.exports = {
+  evaluateClaimFreshness,
+  evaluateManuscript,
+  evaluateFreshnessReview,
+  renderMarkdown,
+  renderSvg,
+  stableDigest
+};