ethicalabs/Research-Intent-Collab huggingface dataset:
Schr\"{o}dinger's Bat: Diffusion Models Sometimes Generate Polysemous Words in Superposition

Recent work has shown that despite their impressive capabilities, text-to-image diffusion models such as DALL-E 2 (Ramesh et al., 2022) can display strange behaviours when a prompt contains a word with multiple possible meanings, often generating images containing both senses of the word (Rassin et al., 2022). In this work we seek to put forward a possible explanation of this phenomenon. Using the similar Stable Diffusion model (Rombach et al., 2022), we first show that when given an input that is the sum of encodings of two distinct words, the model can produce an image containing both concepts represented in the sum. We then demonstrate that the CLIP encoder used to encode prompts (Radford et al., 2021) encodes polysemous words as a superposition of meanings, and that using linear algebraic techniques we can edit these representations to influence the senses represented in the generated images. Combining these two findings, we suggest that the homonym duplication phenomenon described by Rassin et al. (2022) is caused by diffusion models producing images representing both of the meanings that are present in superposition in the encoding of a polysemous word.
Representative Bureaucracy, Distributional Equity, and Environmental Justice

AbstractThis article explores the role of bureaucratic representation and distributional equity in the implementation of environmental policy, which has been shaped by the politics of identity, administrative discretion, and a contested discourse on the redistribution of public resources. The authors examine whether minority bureaucratic representation fosters policy outputs for race‐related disadvantaged communities and whether the behavior of public administrators reflects distributional equity. Linking representative bureaucracy to environmental justice, this research contributes to the understanding of social equity in public administration and sheds light on the relationship between bureaucratic representation and democratic values. Analyzing a nationwide, block‐group‐level data set, the authors find that a more racially representative workforce in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency promotes the agency's enforcement actions in communities that have large local‐national disparities in minority populations and severe policy problems. The size of the bureaucratic representation effect is larger for neighborhoods that are overburdened with race‐related social vulnerability.Evidence for Practice  Public administrators can play a critical role in representing the general public, particularly those who have historically been marginalized and underserved, and acting in their interests. Non‐service‐oriented regulatory agencies have taken equity into account in the process of implementing policies and serving socially vulnerable clients. Public administrators need to be cognizant of the degree of preexisting inequity in local communities, acquire adequate information to ascertain the equity point, and devise public policies and programs to achieve various democratic values. It is important to recruit more underrepresented and historically disadvantaged members of society into the public workforce.
Incident Investigation and Root Cause Analysis Method and Technology Review

Incident investigation and root cause analysis (RCA) are widely used in nuclear power plant incident investigation and root cause confirmation. In this paper, based on the analysis literature reviews of root cause investigation of related incidents in IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), Europe and the United States, the analysis methods and techniques or tools of root causes in the world are studied, the incident investigation and analysis methods and techniques for root causes are analyzed and summarized. Through a comparison of various analysis methods and relevant application techniques and tools, differences between these root cause analysis techniques and tools are elaborated in terms of both concept and applicable application. In addition, application of RCA analysis methods and techniques is also briefed based on domestic RCA application practices.
Quantum Error Correction

Quantum error correction is a set of methods to protect quantum information--that is, quantum states--from unwanted environmental interactions (decoherence) and other forms of noise. The information is stored in a quantum error-correcting code, which is a subspace in a larger Hilbert space. This code is designed so that the most common errors move the state into an error space orthogonal to the original code space while preserving the information in the state. It is possible to determine whether an error has occurred by a suitable measurement and to apply a unitary correction that returns the state to the code space, without measuring (and hence disturbing) the protected state itself. In general, codewords of a quantum code are entangled states. No code that stores information can protect against all possible errors; instead, codes are designed to correct a specific error set, which should be chosen to match the most likely types of noise. An error set is represented by a set of operators that can multiply the codeword state. Quantum error correction is used to protect information in quantum communication (where quantum states pass through noisy channels) and quantum computation (where quantum states are transformed through a sequence of imperfect computational steps in the presence of environmental decoherence to solve a computational problem). In quantum computation, error correction is just one component of fault-tolerant design.
Will the mRNA vaccine platform be the panacea for the development of vaccines against antimicrobial resistant (AMR) pathogens?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a major global public health catastrophe. Annual global deaths from AMR pathogen infections have been estimated to be ~700,000 and could reach 10 million by 2050, exceeding those due to cancer. In addition, AMR could result in up to 24 million people into extreme poverty by 2030 if no action is taken. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbates the AMR crisis because of the increased use of antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections and the delayed global action against AMR. As such, AMR has been recognized as a ‘silent’ or ‘the next’ pandemic by medical professions and public health experts.
Beyond Resistance: Prioritizing Safety in Antimicrobial Stewardship for Older Adults

Antimicrobial resistance remains a leading global health threat, often exacerbated by inappropriate antibiotic use, particularly among the growing population of older adults. This commentary highlights the urgent need for geriatric-focused antimicrobial stewardship programs that balance  efficacy, safety, and resistance mitigation. Age-related physiological changes, multimorbidity, and polypharmacy significantly increase the risk of antibiotic-associated adverse effects and drug interactions in older adults. Key challenges include inaccurate estimation of renal function and  hypoalbuminemia, which alter antibiotic pharmacokinetics, as well as inappropriate treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria and increased susceptibility to                     Clostridioides difficile                     infection. Clinical complexities such as prosthetic joint infections and antibiotic-induced neurotoxicity  further underscore the need for individualized dosing regimens and vigilant monitoring. Certain antimicrobial classes, including fluoroquinolones, and specific agents such as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and rifampin, require particular caution because of their potential for serious toxicities  and drug interactions in this population. Pharmacists play a central role in optimizing antibiotic selection, dosing, and monitoring across care settings. Expanding their leadership in antimicrobial stewardship programs is critical to improving outcomes and minimizing preventable harm. Strengthening  antimicrobial stewardship requires targeted policies and outcomes-driven research to identify best practices that effectively reduce adverse events. As the aging population continues to grow, it is imperative that pharmacists in geriatric and long-term care settings develop and implement robust  antimicrobial stewardship programs that prioritize safety across the continuum of geriatric care.
Spectroscopy and multiband photometry of the afterglow   of intermediate duration <i>γ</i>-ray burst GRB 040924 and its host galaxy

We present optical photometry and spectroscopy of the afterglow and host galaxy of gamma-ray burst 040924. This GRB had a rather short duration of T90 ~2.4s, and a well sampled optical afterglow light curve. We aim to use this dataset to find further evidence that this burst is consistent with a massive star core-collapse progenitor. We combine the afterglow data reported here with data taken from the literature and compare the host properties with survey data. We find that the global behaviour of the optical afterglow is well fit by a broken power-law, with a break at ~0.03 days. We determine the redshift z = 0.858 +/- 0.001 from the detected emission lines in our spectrum. Using the spectrum and photometry we derive global properties of the host, showing it to have similar properties to long GRB hosts. We detect the [Ne III] emission line in the spectrum, and compare the fluxes of this line of a sample of 15 long GRB host galaxies with survey data, showing the long GRB hosts to be comparable to local metal-poor emission line galaxies in their [Ne III] emission. We fit the supernova bump accompanying this burst, and find that it is similar to other long GRB supernova bumps, but fainter. All properties of GRB 040924 are consistent with an origin in the core-collapse of a massive star: the supernova, the spectrum and SED of the host and the afterglow.
Introduction of the Southeastern Anatolia Region Water and Fishery Resources Spatial Database on the Basis of Geographic Information System (GIS)

GAP Bölgesi`ndeki su kaynaklarının su ürünleri açısından etkin sekilde kullanılabilmesi için GAP Bölgesi balıkçılıgının sürdürülebilir yönetim stratejilerinin belirlenmesi önemlidir. Bu stratejiler belirlenirken bölgenin biyolojik çesitliliginin korunması, ekosistem ve insan saglıgı duyarlılıgı bu belirleme sürecinde gözönüne alınmalıdır. Bu asamada, cografi bilgi sistemleri (CBS) içinde ayrıntılı uzaysal veri tabanlarının olusturulması ve degerlendirilmesi günümüz karar vericileri için vazgeçilmez olmuştur. Bu çalısmada CBS teknikleri kullanılarak, GAP bölgesinde yer alan önemli su kaynakları, balıkçı kooperatifleri ve balık çiftliklerine ait uzaysal veri tabanları hazırlanmış ve açıklanmıştır.
Deciphering neural circuits for Caenorhabditis elegans behavior by computations and perturbations to genome and connectome

{\it Caenorhabditis elegans} nematode worms are the only animals with the known detailed neural connectivity diagram, well characterized genomics, and relatively simple quantifiable behavioral output. With this in mind, many researchers view this animal as the best candidate for a systems biology approach, where one can integrate molecular and cellular knowledge to gain global understanding of worm's behavior. This work reviews some research in this direction, emphasizing computational perspective, and points out some successes and challenges to meet this lofty goal.
Online price discrimination and personal data: A General Data Protection Regulation perspective

Abstract   The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) contains various provisions with relevance to online price discrimination. This article, which analyses a number of essential elements on this junction, aims to provide a theory on whether, and, if so, how the GDPR affects price discrimination based on the processing of personal data. First, the contribution clarifies the concept of price discrimination, as well as its typology and relevance for big data settings. Subsequent to studying this topic in the context of the Commission's Digital Single Market strategy, the article tests the applicability of the GDPR to online price personalisation practices by applying criteria as ‘personal data’ and ‘automated processing’ to several discriminatory pricing cases and examples. Secondly, the contribution evaluates the possible lawfulness of price personalisation under the GDPR on the basis of consent, the necessity for pre-contractual or contractual measures, and the data controller's legitimate interests. The paper concludes by providing a  capita selecta  of rights and obligations pertinent to online discriminatory pricing, such as transparency obligations and the right to access, as well as the right to rectify the data on which price discrimination is based, and the right not to be subject to certain discriminatory pricing decisions.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Based On Tongjiang Methodology Combined With Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) De-Escalation In Treating Non-Erosive Reflux Disease: A Study Protocol For A Multicentred, Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract         Background: Non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) is characterized by typical gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, such as heartburn and regurgitation, but an absence of oesophageal mucosal damage during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Although proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the first line therapy, almost 50% of patients with NERD fail to respond to this treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can better relieve the symptoms of NERD. Therefore, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed to investigate the efficiency of TCM granules based on Tongjiang (TJ) methodology combined with PPIs de-escalation therapy for NERD patients who did not respond to PPIs alone. Method: This multicentred, double-blinded, RCT with two parallel groups will recruit 174 participants who will be randomized into the TCM granules combined with PPIs de-escalation group (n=87) and the TCM granules placebo combined with PPIs de-escalation group (n=87). Both groups of participants will receive 6 weeks of treatment and 4 weeks of follow-up, and all participants will be assessed for related symptoms, mental health status and quality of life at each visit. The primary outcome measurements include Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for heartburn and regurgitation and the major symptoms scale. The secondary outcome measurements include PPI withdrawal rate, symptom recurrence rate, minor symptoms scale, SF-36, PRO, SAS, SDS, GERD–HRQL and TCM syndromes scales.Discussion: Previous research has shown that TCM is capable to alleviate NERD symptoms. This trial will help to provide a better understanding of the synergistic efficiency of the combination of TCM and PPIs, to explore whether the dosage of PPIs can be reduced after the supplement of TCM granules and to provide a feasible plan to reduce dependencies or withdraw NERD patients from PPIs. The outcome of this trial is expected to reduce the symptom recurrence rates, lessen patients’ physical and psychological burdens, and achieve good social benefits.Trial registration number: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04340297
Measuring Personality through Images: Validating a Forced-Choice Image-Based Assessment of the Big Five Personality Traits

Selection methods are commonly used in talent acquisition to predict future job performance and to find the best candidates, but questionnaire-based assessments can be lengthy and lead to candidate fatigue and poor engagement, affecting completion rates and producing poor data. Gamification can mitigate some of these issues through greater engagement and shorter testing times. One avenue of gamification is image-based tests. Although such assessments are starting to gain traction in personnel selection, few studies describing their validity and psychometric properties exist. The current study explores the potential of a five-minute, forced-choice, image-based assessment of the Big Five personality traits to be used in selection. Study 1 describes the creation of the image pairs and the selection of the 150 best-performing items based on a sample of 300 respondents. Study 2 describes the creation of machine-learning-based scoring algorithms and tests of their convergent and discriminate validity and adverse impact based on a sample of 431 respondents. All models showed good levels of convergent validity with the IPIP-NEO-120 (openness r = 0.71, conscientiousness r = 0.70, extraversion r = 0.78, agreeableness r = 0.60, and emotional stability r = 0.70) and were largely free from potential adverse impact. The implications for recruitment policy and practice and the need for further validation are discussed.
Self-Supervised Generative-Contrastive Learning of Multi-Modal Euclidean Input for 3D Shape Latent Representations: A Dynamic Switching Approach

We propose a combined generative and contrastive neural architecture for learning latent representations of 3D volumetric shapes. The architecture uses two encoder branches for voxel grids and multi-view images from the same underlying shape. The main idea is to combine a contrastive loss between the resulting latent representations with an additional reconstruction loss. That helps to avoid collapsing the latent representations as a trivial solution for minimizing the contrastive loss. A novel dynamic switching approach is used to cross-train two encoders with a shared decoder. The switching approach also enables the stop gradient operation on a random branch. Further classification experiments show that the latent representations learned with our self-supervised method integrate more useful information from the additional input data implicitly, thus leading to better reconstruction and classification performance.
A Thermodynamic Model for the Emergence of Natural Selection in Prebiotic Reaction Networks

The origin of life is often approached through the lens of replication, heredity, or molecular specificity. This paper proposes a thermodynamic framework in which the emergence of life is driven by the persistence of reaction pathways that align energetically with fluctuating environmental inputs. We define a reaction viability inequality based on energy input, release, resilience, and expenditure, which selects for persistent chemical configurations without invoking heredity or genetic encoding. We further incorporate entropic dynamics and spatial constraints into an augmented persistence function, showing that systems far from equilibrium can simultaneously increase global entropy while supporting localized chemical order. These refinements lead to the development of the Thermodynamic Abiogenesis Likelihood Model (TALM), a probabilistic extension that estimates the likelihood of persistence-driven selection under diverse prebiotic and planetary scenarios. This framework redefines the conditions under which life-like organization may emerge and provides a testable, general theory for abiogenesis grounded in physical law.
ChemInform Abstract: Molecular Dynamics Simulations Based on Reactive Force‐Fields for Surface Chemical Reactions

AbstractReview: 44 refs.
Public Access to Dispute Settlement Hearings in the World Trade Organization

In 2005, the first dispute settlement panels of the World Trade Organization (WTO) decided that the public could observe their oral hearings. Following three years of panel practice with open hearings where both parties requested public access, the Appellate Body in 2008 followed suit and held its first open hearings. Most people had believed this to be impossible without modification of the WTO Agreement, and WTO Members were far apart regarding the desirability and legality of open hearings. This controversy persists, but it has changed considerably, based on the entirely successful experience of open hearings to date, which has already prompted several WTO Members to change their position. The new practice is a historic and irreversible shift from sixty years of Practice under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and in the WTO. It is also remarkable given the importance of allowing public observation of judicial hearings, as it exists across the world both domestically and internationally. More than a quarter of WTO disputes currently have public hearings, and the future practice is likely to consolidate the trend. No political fallout has occurred so far, as it did on amicus curiae in 2000. This is also unlikely to happen in the future, which will tell whether WTO Members can find agreement on codifying rules on transparency. Already now, justice is not only done at the WTO, but it can also be seen to be done.
Decolonizing Self-Determination: Haudenosaunee Passports and Negotiated Sovereignty

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) recognises both Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination and simultaneously offers protections in regard to states’ right to sovereignty and territorial integrity vis-à-vis Indigenous peoples’ claims. Often, this is considered an internal inconsistency of the UNDRIP, and another common critique is that Indigenous peoples were only recognised as having a diminished right to self-determination, which is less than what everyone else enjoys. This article stands in contrast to these two lines of critique, arguing that the UNDRIP’s articulation of self-determination is potentially ushering in a broadening, and possible reshaping, of self-determination, which has been increasingly decoupled from singular Westphalian notions of ‘sovereignty’ and ‘territoriality’ in ways that require ongoing negotiation between peoples and states. This case study of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy’s issuance and use of their passports, based on original fieldwork including a set of qualitative interviews with key informants, demonstrates how the Haudenosaunee Confederacy is pushing the practice and understanding of self-determination in multiple, new directions to include plural sovereignties in deeply significant ways concerning International Relations in both theory and in practice.
An Artificial Intelligence driven Learning Analytics Method to Examine the Collaborative Problem solving Process from a Complex Adaptive Systems Perspective

Collaborative problem solving (CPS) enables student groups to complete learning tasks, construct knowledge, and solve problems. Previous research has argued the importance to examine the complexity of CPS, including its multimodality, dynamics, and synergy from the complex adaptive systems perspective. However, there is limited empirical research examining the adaptive and temporal characteristics of CPS which might lead to an oversimplified representation of the real complexity of the CPS process. To further understand the nature of CPS in online interaction settings, this research collected multimodal process and performance data (i.e., verbal audios, computer screen recordings, concept map data) and proposed a three-layered analytical framework that integrated AI algorithms with learning analytics to analyze the regularity of groups collaboration patterns. The results detected three types of collaborative patterns in groups, namely the behaviour-oriented collaborative pattern (Type 1) associated with medium-level performance, the communication - behaviour - synergistic collaborative pattern (Type 2) associated with high-level performance, and the communication-oriented collaborative pattern (Type 3) associated with low-level performance. The research further highlighted the multimodal, dynamic, and synergistic characteristics of groups collaborative patterns to explain the emergence of an adaptive, self-organizing system during the CPS process.