ethicalabs/Research-Intent-Collab huggingface dataset:
Institutions, Political Cycles and Corruption : Essays on Dynamic Political Economy of Government

This thesis consists of three essays in Political Economy: “China’s Political Business Cycle” uncovers the fact that the timing of China’s business cycle correlates to the timing of the Communist Party’s Congress and constructs a theory to explain the mechanism of the political business cycle. An empirical test of the theory derives a result consistent with the predictions of the theory. “A Theory of Dynastic Cycle” provides a politico-economic theory to explain the mechanism of the dynastic cycle, a repeating pattern in China’s theory. The core of the theory is the ruler’s trade-off between the political account and the economic account in choosing a successor. “A Politico-Economic Theory of Corruption in Non-Democracy” investigates the ruler’s incentive to have corrupt agents. The key point is that a corrupt agent has a bad reputation and is less likely to replace the incumbent ruler. The major implication is that unless there is fundamental institutional change, it is hard to eradicate corruption in non-democracy.
Digital Platform Regulation

This Open Access volume provides an in-depth exploration of global policy and governance issues related to digital platform regulation. With an international ensemble of contributors, the volume has at its heard the question: what would actually be involved in digital platform regulation?’. Once a specialised and niche field within internet and digital media studies, internet governance has in recent years moved to the forefront of policy debate. In the wake of scandals such as Cambridge Analytica and the global ‘techlash’ against digital monopolies, platform studies are undergoing a critical turn, but there is a greater need to connect such analysis to questions of public policy. This volume does just that, through a rich array of chapters concretely exploring the operation and influence of digital platforms and their related policy concerns. A wide variety of digital communication platforms are explored, including social media, content portals, search engines and app stores. An important and timely work, ‘Digital Platform Regulation’ provides valuable insights into new global platform-orientated policy reforms, supplying an important resource to researchers everywhere seeking to engage with policymakers in the debate about the power of digital platforms and how to address it.
SCINet: Time Series Modeling and Forecasting with Sample Convolution and Interaction

One unique property of time series is that the temporal relations are largely preserved after downsampling into two sub-sequences. By taking advantage of this property, we propose a novel neural network architecture that conducts sample convolution and interaction for temporal modeling and forecasting, named SCINet. Specifically, SCINet is a recursive downsample-convolve-interact architecture. In each layer, we use multiple convolutional filters to extract distinct yet valuable temporal features from the downsampled sub-sequences or features. By combining these rich features aggregated from multiple resolutions, SCINet effectively models time series with complex temporal dynamics. Experimental results show that SCINet achieves significant forecasting accuracy improvements over both existing convolutional models and Transformer-based solutions across various real-world time series forecasting datasets. Our codes and data are available at https://github.com/cure-lab/SCINet.
First Nations in Canada: Decolonization and Self-Determination

The study of geo-political and policy relationships between First Nations and Canada enables one to consider how Canada has used education as a process of colonizing First Nations, and to consider decolonization and self-determination as processes in education that can derail oppression in First Nation communities. From the position of an Indigenous paradigm, I use histography as an organizing element and consider power relationships through the metaphor of Foucault’s (1991) conceptual framework of panopticism. Colonization processes are deeply rooted in the historical context, policies, and institutions of Canada. Paternalistic power structures and colonization has impacted many generations in First Nation communities. Decolonization and self-determination processes provide an opportunity for First Nation communities to find their own answers.    Keywords: Indigenous education; decolonization; self-determination
The Atacama Cosmology Telescope: A Measurement of the Cosmic Microwave Background Power Spectrum at 148 and 218 GHz from the 2008 Southern Survey

We present measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) power spectrum made by the Atacama Cosmology Telescope at 148 GHz and 218 GHz, as well as the cross-frequency spectrum between the two channels. Our results clearly show the second through the seventh acoustic peaks in the CMB power spectrum. The measurements of these higher-order peaks provide an additional test of the {\Lambda}CDM cosmological model. At l > 3000, we detect power in excess of the primary anisotropy spectrum of the CMB. At lower multipoles 500 < l < 3000, we find evidence for gravitational lensing of the CMB in the power spectrum at the 2.8{\sigma} level. We also detect a low level of Galactic dust in our maps, which demonstrates that we can recover known faint, diffuse signals.
Mapping and investigating regional groundwater&amp;#8211;surface water dynamics using an integrated hydrologic model of the Kaoping River watershed, Taiwan

Climate change and the increasing reliance of high-tech industries on water resources are impacting the hydrology of the Kaoping River watershed in southern Taiwan. Effective decision-making for water resource management requires a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between groundwater and surface water systems. This study aims to address this need by using the integrated hydrologic model ParFlow-CLM to simulate hourly hydrologic processes on a 250-meter grid, enabling detailed analysis of groundwater&amp;#8211;surface water dynamics within the watershed.A novel aspect of this research is the application of machine learning to estimate the depth to bedrock, which provides critical insights into the subsurface structure. Additionally, a geostatistical approach, Bayesian Maximum Entropy (BME),, is utilized to estimate lithology and hydraulic conductivity, resulting in a refined and detailed hydrogeological framework.The results reveal key groundwater and surface water interactions and produce detailed maps of the saturation zone. These findings offer insights that can serve as a foundation for informed water resource policy-making and management in the Kaoping River watershed.
Bayesian deep learning applied to diabetic retinopathy with uncertainty quantification

Deep Learning (DL) has significantly contributed to the field of medical imaging in recent years, leading to advancements in disease diagnosis and treatment. In the case of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), DL models have shown high efficacy in tasks such as classification, segmentation, detection, and prediction. However, DL model's opacity and complexity lead to errors in decision-making, particularly in complex cases, making it necessary to estimate the model's uncertainty in predictions. Therefore, there is a need to estimate uncertainty in the model's predictions, which cannot be estimated by classical DL models alone. To address this issue, Bayesian DL methods have been proposed, and their use is increasing in the field. In this paper, we developed a straightforward architecture for the classification of DR using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model. We then applied the Bayesian CNN twice, once using Variational Inference (VI) and once using Monte Carlo dropout (MC-dropout) methods, to the same CNN architecture. This allowed us to gain the posterior predictive distributions for each of them. The performance of the proposed models was evaluated on two benchmark datasets, namely APTOS 2019 and Messidor-2. Experimental findings demonstrated that the proposed models surpassed other state-of-the-art models, achieving a test accuracy of 94.70 % and 77.00 % for CNN, 94.00 % and 86.00 % for BCNN-VI, and 93.30 % and 81.00 % for BCNN-MC-dropout on the APTOS dataset and Messidor-2 dataset, respectively. Finally, we computed the entropy and standard deviation on the obtained predictive distribution to quantify the model uncertainty. This research highlights the potential benefits of using Bayesian DL methods in medical image analysis to improve the accuracy and reliability of diagnosing disease and treatment.
AN ECO-EPIDEMIOLOGICAL MODEL WITH INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN FOOD CHAIN

In this paper, a model of predator-prey with disease in food chain is investigated — where, prey is infected by bacteria and then the infected prey in turn infects predator, but the disease does not spread among predators. The law for disease development and biodiversity conservation are the focus. Stability and persistence are deduced in terms of system parameters. Next, time required delay is incorporated into the model. Stability and bifurcation analysis of the delay differential equation model are carried out. Furthermore, stability and direction of the bifurcating periodic solutions are performed by the normal form theory and the center manifold argument. Finally, numerical simulations are included for illustrating the theoretical analysis.
Chapter IV. Punishment In Criminal Law. Differences With Deterrents

Evolution in Criminal Law consists precisely in the progressive substitution of capital punishment by privation of liberty and in the form of the death penalty, in extreme cases, as depriving of life but without going to the extremes of special additions or unnecessary suffering. According to current statistics, the true effect of Criminal Law's general deterrent, to be taken into account, does not depend so much on the gravity or severity of the punishment threatened by the law as it does on other factors, especially on how often the threat is made good in practical life, the knowledge that it will always be inexorably imposed whenever there is a crime committed. The equal or personalized treatment, having rehabilitatory ends in view, or individual or social therapy as a goal, is avoided. Avoiding these pitfalls, it avoids the danger of treating the criminal as a guinea-pig.Keywords: criminal law; death penalty; deterrent; guinea-pig; liberty; punishment
European Judicial Supervision of the Rule of Law: The Protection of the Independence of National Judges by the CJEU and the ECtHR

While an independent judiciary is considered an indispensable component of the rule of law, attacks of the domestic political power on the independence of the judicial branch are observed today in several European States. The European judges (CJUE, ECtHR) appear to be the “last soldier standing” in the defense of judicial independence and they have in no case remained indifferent. This contribution contains an analysis of the dynamic approaches that the CJEU and the ECtHR have adopted in order to reinforce the guarantees of independence that domestic judges enjoy under European Law (EU and ECHR law). An emphasis is put on the international judicial function of these Courts as protective and promoting judicial independence at the national level, arguing that both Courts assumed their role as guarantors of the common European value of the rule of law through a proactive stance, without going, however, to the extremes. Furthermore, the paper provides an examination on the fact that the European Courts have adopted measures in order to assure the effectiveness of the European guarantees of judicial independence. A particular focus is put on the protection through interim measures as a means of assuring an effective protection of the independence of national judges. Considering a comparative analysis, the issue of the ECtHR’s potential in this regard is hereby tackled, notably after the recent evolution in the case-law of the CJEU.
Paleoenvironmental evolution of the Pliocene Villarroya Lake, northern Spain, from stable isotopes and trace-element geochemistry of ostracods and molluscs

Peer reviewed
Dynamics of Pendulum Forced by a Magnetic Excitation with Position-Dependent Phase

This study investigates the dynamics of a magnetic pendulum under time-varying magnetic excitation with a position-dependent phase. The system exhibits complex chaotic and regular dynamics, validated through simulations and experiments. The mathematical model, based on a physical setup, includes a magnetic excitation torque with phase dependence on the dynamic variable. Bifurcation analyses confirm the rich multistability of the system, showcasing periodic attractors, period-doubling bifurcations, and chaotic behavior. Experimental validation demonstrates a high agreement between numerical and experimental results, supporting the efficacy of the proposed model. The study sheds light on the system's sensitivity to changes in magnetic interaction, providing insights into controlling resonance energy exchange in coupled magnetic pendulum systems.
Generalizing Machine Learning Evaluation through the Integration of Shannon Entropy and Rough Set Theory

This research paper delves into the innovative integration of Shannon entropy and rough set theory, presenting a novel approach to generalize the evaluation approach in machine learning. The conventional application of entropy, primarily focused on information uncertainty, is extended through its combination with rough set theory to offer a deeper insight into data's intrinsic structure and the interpretability of machine learning models. We introduce a comprehensive framework that synergizes the granularity of rough set theory with the uncertainty quantification of Shannon entropy, applied across a spectrum of machine learning algorithms. Our methodology is rigorously tested on various datasets, showcasing its capability to not only assess predictive performance but also to illuminate the underlying data complexity and model robustness. The results underscore the utility of this integrated approach in enhancing the evaluation landscape of machine learning, offering a multi-faceted perspective that balances accuracy with a profound understanding of data attributes and model dynamics. This paper contributes a groundbreaking perspective to machine learning evaluation, proposing a method that encapsulates a holistic view of model performance, thereby facilitating more informed decision-making in model selection and application.
FLOw boiling REgimes iN microgravity Conditions Experiment (FLORENCE): REXUS-27 sounding rocket campaign

Effective cooling through boiling heat transfer plays a critical role in thermal management systems for space applications. Due to the complexities of the involved phenomena, there is still a need to validate numerical models in microgravity by experimental data. Therefore, we aim to investigate the feasibility of performing low-budget and miniaturized flow boiling experiments in microgravity conditions. This communication focuses on the design and qualification of the FLORENCE experiment conducted aboard the REXUS-27 sounding rocket in November 2022. We observe increased bubble size due to coalescence in reduced gravity. This research contributes to understanding flow boiling in reduced gravity and its potential for future sounding rocket missions.
International Organizations and COVID-19: The (In)Action of the United Nations Security Council during the Pandemic

Este artigo discute o papel das organizações internacionais (OIs) em tempos de crise a partir da atuação do Conselho de Segurança das Nações Unidas (CSNU) ante a pandemia ocasionada pela covid-19. O argumento central é que houve uma dificuldade do CSNU em se posicionar no tocante à pandemia por conta de suas dinâmicas internas de interesses e competição. O estudo de caso com abordagem qualitativa utiliza conceitos que tratam de burocracias, autonomia, legitimidade, competição e cooperação, entre outros, obtidos da literatura que aborda as OIs, e fontes documentais e secundárias, para apoiar os argumentos. Como a pandemia ainda persiste, o recorte temporal abrange seu primeiro ano a partir da declaração oficial dessa situação sanitária em março de 2020. As evidências permitem afirmar que, no caso da resposta da Organização das Nações Unidas à pandemia, a competição se sobrepôs à cooperação entre alguns membros permanentes do CSNU; nesse cenário de disputa, os membros eletivos ocuparam posição marginal no processo de aprovação de resoluções, e a paralisia do Conselho levou o secretário-geral a tomar iniciativas na busca por soluções com relação aos efeitos da pandemia na paz e na segurança internacionais. Dessa forma, a politização da pandemia combinada com as dinâmicas de interesses e competição no CSNU afetaram a tomada de decisões com relação à crise. Sendo a pandemia um problema novo que ainda se encontra em andamento, o artigo é por si só inovador e, embora não tenha o objetivo de apresentar conclusões generalizáveis, ele abre caminho para outras pesquisas no campo da segurança e das OIs.
Genetic testing and insurance: When is discrimination justified?

This paper will be of interest to ethics committees as well as to a general audience. The potential for discrimination on the basis of genetic test results is an issue to be considered by ethics committees when genetic testing is part of research. As well as the possibility of genetic information being used to discriminate against individuals unfairly, genetic discrimination may be a threat to research itself; it could deter others from volunteering.
“Between Protection and Punishment: a Critical Analysis of the UK’s Approach to Safeguarding the Rights of Unaccompanied Minors”

Abstract                                        This paper aims to navigate the complex terrain of refugee law with a child-centric approach, evaluating whether the UK adequately safeguards the rights of unaccompanied children. Section One introduces the international legal framework and appraises the strengths and caveats of the                     UNCRC                     and 1951 Refugee Convention (‘the Convention’). Sections Two- Four focus on the UK’s domestic legal frameworks, which are essential for operationalising the protections envisioned by the international framework. Four barriers to protection are examined: (i) the criminalisation of unaccompanied children, (ii) citizenship and deportation, (iii) age assessment procedures and (iv) unsafe accommodation and detention practices. This paper will conclude that whilst the UK’s domestic legislation is in compliance with its international obligations, its asylum procedures ultimately fail to adequately safeguard unaccompanied children. A framework recognising vulnerability (as opposed to chronological age) as the appropriate threshold and determinative factor for safeguarding would better support the rights of unaccompanied minors and age-disputed individuals.
Introducing explainable supervised machine learning into interactive feedback loops for statistical production system

Irving Fisher Committee (IFC) - Bank of Italy workshop on Data science in central banking: Applications and tools. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2107.08045
Social Risk Factors, Health Insurance Coverage, and Inequities in Access to Care

Social risk factors are associated with worse access to care. This study measured the prevalence of social risk factors among low-income adults, assessed the relationship between number of social risk factors and access to care, and examined heterogeneity by health insurance type.Using 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey data from 39 states, the association between number of SRFs (0, 1, 2-3, 4, or more) and three access to care measures (having a personal doctor, having a routine checkup, and inability to see doctor because of cost) were measured using multivariable linear probability models. The analysis was stratified by health insurance coverage type (private, Medicare, Medicaid, or uninsured) to assess whether effects were differential. Analyses were conducted in 2024.Among 90,208 low-income adults, 46.6% reported at least one SRF. Compared to people who reported no SRFs, those who reported four or more were more likely to report being unable to afford care (28.21 percentage points [PP], p<0.001) and less likely to have a personal doctor (-4.98 PP, p<0.001) or routine checkup in the last two years (-4.29 PP, p<0.001). The magnitude of disparity by number of SRFs in inability to afford care was larger among privately insured and uninsured people compared to those with Medicare or Medicaid coverage.Higher levels of SRFs were associated with worse access to care among low-income adults. Policies that minimize cost-related barriers to care, coupled with care delivery reforms and social policies that address SRFs, may improve access to care.
The right to reparations under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC)

With the Rome Statute for the international criminal Court, international criminal law introduces for the first time the right to reparations for victims against their offender. Article 75 of the Statute creates the right for victims to claim reparations before the court and vests the latter with the power to decide on reparations upon request or upon its own motion. This study aimed to unpack the content of this new right and assess legal mechanisms for its implementation. Specifically, this study sought to establish whether there is any substantive and procedural law applicable to reparation before the International Criminal Court (ICC), how the risk of conflict between national justice and the ICC is dispelled and how reparations orders are enforced. This study found that the ICC Statute created the right to reparations as a principle whose content should gradually be shaped and developed by the Court on a case by case basis. As regards with legal mechanisms of the implementation of the new right, the study found that procedural mechanisms are at their embryonic stage and like the content of the right they shall be developed by the Court. In addition, the study noted that complementarity principle, which governs the jurisdiction of the ICC, should be applied to the right to reparation before the Court. Thus the principle appears as a mechanism to dispel the risk of conflict between national judicial institutions and the ICC. Moreover, it was observed that for effective and efficient implementation of the right to reparations the ICC Statute established a legal framework for the interactivity of institutional mechanisms - the Court, the TFV and States - which play crucial role in the enforcement of reparations orders. Furthermore, the study found that some legal and practical challenges facing the effective implementation of the right to reparation require reviewing the Court’s procedure in order that collective approach may be prioritised in reparation proceedings. It was also observed that the flexibility of the Statute provides opportunities for establishment of a Special Chamber for reparations within the Court for the purpose of complying with the requirements of fair trial. It is expected that the findings of this study will constitute an invaluable contribution to the few research already carried out on this novel topic in international criminal law and inform various actors in the field including judges, lawyers and scholars.