ethicalabs/Research-Intent-Collab huggingface dataset:
Conformal Policy Learning for Sensorimotor Control Under Distribution Shifts

This paper focuses on the problem of detecting and reacting to changes in the distribution of a sensorimotor controller's observables. The key idea is the design of switching policies that can take conformal quantiles as input, which we define as conformal policy learning, that allows robots to detect distribution shifts with formal statistical guarantees. We show how to design such policies by using conformal quantiles to switch between base policies with different characteristics, e.g. safety or speed, or directly augmenting a policy observation with a quantile and training it with reinforcement learning. Theoretically, we show that such policies achieve the formal convergence guarantees in finite time. In addition, we thoroughly evaluate their advantages and limitations on two compelling use cases: simulated autonomous driving and active perception with a physical quadruped. Empirical results demonstrate that our approach outperforms five baselines. It is also the simplest of the baseline strategies besides one ablation. Being easy to use, flexible, and with formal guarantees, our work demonstrates how conformal prediction can be an effective tool for sensorimotor learning under uncertainty.
Additional file 1 of Beta blocker use in traumatic brain injury based on the high-sensitive troponin status (BBTBBT): methodology and protocol implementation of a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

Additional file 1.
Lean Six Sigma: A Fresh Approach to Achieving Quality Management

Over the last 10 years, a Denver toll road has taken a different approach to implementing a quality system. It uses a project-oriented approach.
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Cradle-to-Grave (CTG) Carbon Footprint of a Multidose Reservoir Dry Powder Inhaler

Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) have about 20-fold lower carbon footprint (CO2FP) than metered dose inhalers (MDIs) with estimates of CO2FP between 1.5 and 6kg CO2e for a 200-dose DPI. GSK’s Carbon Trust-verified analysis including Relvar and Seretide Accuhaler is about 1kg CO2e/inhaler, and Product Carbon Footprint analysis of Spiriva Respimat 0.780kg CO2e. Still, limited data is available on CO2FP and LCA of different types of DPIs.  We conducted a CTG CO2FP analysis and LCA of four different Easyhaler® (EH) products available for the treatment of asthma and COPD (budesonide-formoterol; salmeterol-fluticasone; salbutamol, and formoterol EH). In-depth data collection from Orion in-house data, suppliers, and reference databases was conducted in 2019. Analyses were performed by ISO14001:2015 and 9001:2015 certified Carbon Footprint Ltd.  The total CTG life cycle emissions for one EH (average) was 0.588kg CO2e (range 0.514-0.664kg). Emissions from manufacture accounted for 60% (range 54-65%). In comparison, emissions from distribution accounted for less than 2%, indicating that most potential for improvement lies in manufacture processes.  Patients with asthma or COPD, and treating physicians alike, are increasingly aware of climate change and this affects even their treatment choices. When considering the climate impact of inhalation therapy, DPIs, like EH, have a minimal carbon footprint compared with MDI.
Surveillance and the right to privacy in the counter-terrorism state

Whether new surveillance technologies interfere with the right to privacy
Genetic discrimination by Australian insurance companies: a survey of consumer experiences

AbstractWe report previously undocumented evidence of genetic discrimination by Australian insurance companies, obtained through direct consumer reports. We surveyed 174 consumers with cancer-predisposing variants, recruited by cancer organisations Lynch Syndrome Australia and Pink Hope. Questions related to experiences accessing risk-rated insurance after genetic testing. Results indicate that both legal (permitted under current regulation) and illegal discrimination is occurring. Although some respondents had not applied for risk-rated insurance, or had insurance in place before genetic testing (n = 100), those seeking new policies (n = 74) commonly experienced difficulties obtaining insurance (86%, 64/74). Of those experiencing difficulties, 50% (32/64) had no prior history or symptoms of cancer, and had undertaken risk reduction through surveillance and/or preventative surgery. Seventy-seven percent (49/64) reported difficulties related to life insurance. Follow-up telephone interviews with four respondents further described cases of apparent illegal breaches. All reports of discrimination identified were, to our knowledge, previously unreported in the literature. The number of cases suggests a systemic problem with the Australian life insurance industry. We support calls for government oversight of the inherently conflicted model of industry self-regulation in Australia, and an immediate ban on the use of genetic test results in insurance underwriting.
The role of social quality in enhancing total quality management: An assessment through corporate social responsibility and business ethics

This study explores the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Business Ethics (BE) in enhancing Social Quality (SQ) within the framework of Total Quality Management (TQM). The primary objective is to analyse how CSR and BE contribute to the development of SQ, focusing on the interconnectedness of these concepts and their practical implications for business performance. A qualitative research design was employed, utilising a content analysis approach to systematically examine data from corporate reports, academic literature, and case studies. The findings reveal that CSR and BE are critical in fostering SQ by promoting brand reputation, stakeholder trust, employee engagement, and operational efficiency. Furthermore, companies that align their strategies with international standards such as ISO 26000, SA8000, and SEDEX achieve higher levels of SQ and sustainability. This study contributes to the existing literature by presenting a holistic framework that links CSR, BE, and SQ, offering theoretical and practical insights for businesses, policymakers, and researchers. The implications of this study highlight the necessity for companies to integrate CSR and BE into their TQM practices to achieve sustainable development and long-term value creation.
Hospitality Environmental Indicators Enhancing Tourism Destination Sustainable Management

Environmental aspects are considered a specific process that requires a multidisciplinary analysis, as the application of indicators in organizations stems from effective performance management; the tourism sector is no exception. In 2015, the United Nations formulated 17 sustainable development goals to contribute to a common vision for people and the planet. The main objective of this study is to propose a framework of science-based environmental sustainability indicators for the hospitality industry, which can be used by hotel managers to improve the efficiency of sustainable management of tourism destinations. This study used a mixed methodology of systematic review and content analysis, which is an innovative methodological approach; an in-depth analysis of various scientific articles, consultancy firms’ websites, and technical books was carried out. The results categorized the environmental indicators into four domains: water, energy, waste, and emissions. After a framework was established with 24 environmental indicators, the most relevant were water consumption per guest, water consumption per occupied room, and energy consumption per square meter/foot. However, there were disparities in the use of indicators between the scientific literature, consultancy firms, and the technical books. In this way, there is a need to create stronger relationships between these sources for effective adoption by hoteliers, allowing for adequate environmental indicators with positive impacts on the tourism destination management.
Perception of Management on Outcomes of Human Resource Information System (HRIS)

&lt;p&gt;Human Resource Management is getting focused day by day for ensuring and sustaining organizational success. HRIS (Human Resource Information System) is a prevailing HR tool coupled with contemporary innovation of information system. HRIS is defined as the information system to collect, store, process and retrieve HR information to seamlessly help organization achieve strategic objectives. For installation of HRIS, commitment, decision and action of management are inevitable. This study aims at unveiling implicit perception of management regarding performance of HRIS towards organizational objectives in three perspectives such as “Operational Efficiency (OE)”, “Managerial Effectiveness (ME)” and “Strategic Finesse (SF)”. 54% and 57% respondents respectively agree that HRIS enhances OE and ensures ME. On the other hand, 70% respondents underline HRIS as SF. However, the hypothesis results showed that management perception toward HRIS performance is independent of experience, gender and education of managerial people but associated with organizational origin either Bangladeshi or foreign. Thus it is concluded that foreign companies are advanced to adopt contemporary tools whereas Bangladeshi firms are averse or endeavor to assimilate laggardly. The findings open the door for future research why Bangladeshi firms respond at late.&lt;/p&gt;
WiCV 2019: The Sixth Women In Computer Vision Workshop

In this paper we present the Women in Computer Vision Workshop - WiCV 2019, organized in conjunction with CVPR 2019. This event is meant for increasing the visibility and inclusion of women researchers in the computer vision field. Computer vision and machine learning have made incredible progress over the past years, but the number of female researchers is still low both in academia and in industry. WiCV is organized especially for the following reason: to raise visibility of female researchers, to increase collaborations between them, and to provide mentorship to female junior researchers in the field. In this paper, we present a report of trends over the past years, along with a summary of statistics regarding presenters, attendees, and sponsorship for the current workshop.
Stability and oscillation of linear delay differential equations

There is a close connection between stability and oscillation of delay differential equations. For the first-order equation $$ x^{\prime}(t)+c(t)x(τ(t))=0,~~t\geq 0, $$ where $c$ is locally integrable of any sign, $τ(t)\leq t$ is Lebesgue measurable, $\lim_{t\rightarrow\infty}τ(t)=\infty$, we obtain sharp results, relating the speed of oscillation and stability. We thus unify the classical results of Myshkis and Lillo. We also generalise the $3/2-$stability criterion to the case of measurable parameters, improving $1+1/e$ to the sharp $3/2$ constant.
Investigating Schedule Deviation in Construction Projects through Root Cause Analysis

Abstract   In construction projects delays are not only disruptive but also expensive. Thus, the reasons for schedule deviation need to be identified. The delay factors determined in previous research were predominantly studied through surveys. In these studies, the participants were stakeholders in construction projects, and the reasons for schedule deviation were identified through their point of view. In addition, delay factors are typically considered individually and are presented at the same level. In reality, owing to the complex structure of construction projects and long execution time, non-conformance in schedules occurs by a chain of events. The aim of this research is to investigate the factors causing schedule deviation in construction projects and understand the cause-effect relationships between the events leading to delays. Among various techniques developed to root cause problems, fault tree analysis (FTA) is an established tool. FTA looks deeply into the chain of events leading to a problem to identify its primary cause. FTA was applied to a modular construction project that experienced significant delays. The analysis identified multiple delay factors, and showed how they are linked from the primary causes to the ultimate event. The root of most delays was traced to the inexperience of the project stakeholders.
Riemann geometry in theory of the first order systems of equations

Theory of Riemann Extensions of the spaces with constant affine connection for the studying of the properties of nonlinear the first order systems of differential equations is proposed. Quadratic planar system of equations and the Lorenz system of equations are investigated in detail.
Natural Language Processing for Requirements Traceability

Traceability, the ability to trace relevant software artifacts to support reasoning about the quality of the software and its development process, plays a crucial role in requirements and software engineering, particularly for safety-critical systems. In this chapter, we provide a comprehensive overview of the representative tasks in requirement traceability for which natural language processing (NLP) and related techniques have made considerable progress in the past decade. We first present the definition of traceability in the context of requirements and the overall engineering process, as well as other important concepts related to traceability tasks. Then, we discuss two tasks in detail, including trace link recovery and trace link maintenance. We also introduce two other related tasks concerning when trace links are used in practical contexts. For each task, we explain the characteristics of the task, how it can be approached through NLP techniques, and how to design and conduct the experiment to demonstrate the performance of the NLP techniques. We further discuss practical considerations on how to effectively apply NLP techniques and assess their effectiveness regarding the data set collection, the metrics selection, and the role of humans when evaluating the NLP approaches. Overall, this chapter prepares the readers with the fundamental knowledge of designing automated traceability solutions enabled by NLP in practice.
The Medusa Stare: Surveillance and Monitoring of Employees and the Right to Privacy

The nature and scope of modern technology poses a growing threat to employee privacy in the workplace and, as a result, presents new challenges and a greater need for clearer rules and boundaries for both actors in the workplace: the employer and the employee. This article focuses on various aspects of surveillance and monitoring of employees regarding the internet, e-mail, phone calls and location data. It examines the problems and conflict of interests that arise and outlines various legal responses in hard law and soft law, including legal rulings. Different approaches to these topics are presented, mainly the approach of the American legal system versus the European ones, and some examples of cases in various countries are considered. It is argued that by learning from each other and the various solutions adopted, we should strive to preserve, as far as possible, the employee's right to privacy.
RETRACTED: Fault-Event Trees Based Probabilistic Safety Analysis of a Boiling Water Nuclear Reactor’s Core Meltdown and Minor Damage Frequencies

A systematic probabilistic safety assessment for a boiling water nuclear reactor core is performed using fault trees and event trees analysis models. Based on a survey of the BWR’s safety systems against potential hazards, eight independent failure modes (initiating events) triggered scenarios are modelled and evaluated in the assembled fault-event trees, obtaining the two key outcome probabilities of interest, i.e., complete core meltdown (CCMD) frequency and minor core damage (MCD) frequency. The analysis results indicate that the complete loss of heat sink accounts for the initiating accident most vulnerable to CCMD (with a frequency of 1.8 ×       10   − 5       per year), while the large break in the reactor pressure vessel is the least susceptible one (with a frequency of 2.9 ×       10   − 12       per year). The quantitative risk assessment and independent review conducted in this case study contributed a reference reliability model for defense-in-depth core optimizations with reduced costs, informing risk-based policy decision making, licensing, and public understanding in nuclear safety systems.
On-chip deep residual photonic neural networks using optical-electrical shortcut connections

On-chip photonic neural networks (PNNs) have recently emerged as an attractive hardware accelerator for deep learning applications. However, deep PNNs with higher inference complexity are harder to train due to gradient vanishing and exploding problems. In this work, we propose an on-chip deep residual photonic neural network architecture (Res-PNN), which enables the training of deeper PNNs by using optical-electrical shortcut connections. The optical-electrical shortcut connection is designed using a power splitter, a wavelength demultiplexer, and photodetectors to directly connect the input and the output across optical weight layers. This optical-electrical shortcut connection alleviates the gradient vanishing and exploding problems by providing a direct path for gradient backpropagation, ensuring stable training of deeper PNNs. The proposed Res-PNN achieves classification accuracies of 88.4% on the CIFAR-10 dataset and 80.3% on the CIFAR-100 dataset. Compared to fully connected PNNs, Res-PNN improves classification accuracy by 3.2% on the CIFAR-10 dataset and 11.3% on the CIFAR-100 dataset.
Educating Bodies for Self-Determination: A Decolonizing Strategy

The transformation of the effects of sexual, racial, and colonial violence on Aboriginalpeople requires unlearning ways of thinking and being. This process involves areaffirmation of Indigenous Knowledge and pedagogy. This article examines aprogram developed for urban Aboriginal women in Vancouver that focuses onrestoring the felt sense of the sacred interconnections with relations and developingan embodied spiritual pedagogy incorporating traditional teachings. The principlesfor educating bodies for self determination are remembering, reclamation, andcollective witness. These guiding principles provide a framework for a decolonizingstrategy in holistic education for Aboriginal peoples.
Stochastic Differential Equations with Nonlocal Sample Dependence

Stochastic ordinary differential equations are investigated for which the coefficients depend on nonlocal properties of the current random variable in the sample space such as the expected value or the second moment. The approach here covers a broad class of functional dependence of the right-hand side on the current random state and is not restricted to pathwise relations. Existence and uniqueness of solutions is obtained as a limiting process by freezing the coefficients over short time intervals and applying existence and uniqueness results and appropriate estimates for stochastic ordinary differential equations.
<i>Neutron physics for nuclear reactors, unpublished writings by Enrico Fermi</i>

This article reviews Neutron physics for nuclear reactors, unpublished writings by Enrico Fermi by S. Esposito, O. Pisanti , Hackensack, NJ 2010. (Hardcover) 704 pp. Price: $111.00. 978–981–4392–22–4.
Regulating the Use of Genetic Testing by Insurers and Employers in the Province of Quebec: Is the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act Really Necessary?

Insurers and employers have become increasingly interested in the capacity of genetic information to predict future health outcomes. This trend has sparked fears that they may use this information to discriminate between individuals based on their genetic characteristics. Despite limited empirical evidence, concerns among some interest groups have prompted many G8 countries to adopt legislation to protect against genetic discrimination (GD), including Canada in 2017. Quebec was quick to challenge the constitutionality of the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act (GNDA) on the basis that the Canadian government exceeded its legislative power over criminal law, impinging on the provinces’ jurisdiction over local matters and property and civil rights. It argued that the provinces and territories are the competent legislators to enact such regulation, and that existing laws in Quebec make specific legislative action unnecessary. This chapter explores Quebec law pertaining to privacy, insurance, employment, and human rights and critically evaluates Quebecers’ current protections against GD, including that afforded by the GNDA. It also reviews Quebec’s constitutional challenge to this new Canadian legislation.
Are Educational Escape Rooms More Effective Than Traditional Lectures for Teaching Software Engineering? A Randomized Controlled Trial

Contribution: This article analyzes the learning effectiveness of a virtual educational escape room for teaching software engineering and compares this activity with traditional teaching through a randomized controlled trial. Background: Educational escape rooms have been used across a wide variety of disciplines at all levels of education and they are becoming increasingly popular among teachers. Nevertheless, there is a clear general need for more robust empirical evidence on the learning effectiveness of these novel activities and, particularly, on their application in software engineering education. Research Questions: Is game-based learning using educational escape rooms more effective than traditional lectures for teaching software engineering? What are the perceptions of software engineering students toward game-based learning using educational escape rooms? Methodology: The study presented in this article is a randomized controlled trial with a pre-and post-test design that was completed by a total of 326 software engineering students. The 164 students belonging to the experimental group learned software modeling by playing an educational escape room whereas the 162 students belonging to the control group learned the same subject matter through a traditional lecture. Findings: The results of the randomized controlled trial show that the students who learned software modeling through the educational escape room had very positive perceptions toward this activity, significantly increased their knowledge, and outperformed those students who learned through a traditional lecture in terms of knowledge acquisition.