Central Authority Research Articles

Central banks’ knowledge controversies

ABSTRACT In the last few years, the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the Bank of Canada have all initiated policy reviews to reassess monetary policy tools and ideas that were no longer working in a changing global economy. In this paper, I argue that the debates that shaped these reviews can best be understood as ‘knowledge controversies’ in which some of the foundational metrics that monetary policies rely on themselves became the subject of debate. This unsettling of existing economic metrics poses not just technical but also political problems for central banks. These debates have eroded their efforts to depoliticise key issues, revealing the fragility of their technical fixes as metrics themselves can become the source of political disagreement both within the central banks themselves and in the wider public. As we enter an era of even more intense inflation-driven debates about central banking expertise and authority, these reviews provide insights into the epistemic dilemmas that central banks confront, suggesting that they will be dealing with knowledge controversies for some time to come.

Developing a set of core items for assessing preparedness in Italy: a Delphi approach

Abstract Background Effective pandemic management relies on preparedness and several tools are available for evaluation. However, due to differences in regional healthcare organization and structures, these may not accurately evaluate Italy’s capacities. This study, part of a project funded by the Italian Ministry of Health, report on the development of an assessment tool capable of evaluating the preparedness to confront pandemics at the regional level based on the actions outlined by the Italian influenza pandemic plan. Methods A desk research was carried out for preparedness evaluation tools, consulting Public Health Agencies, and Google Scholar and Search. Tools evaluation items were extracted, associated with the Italian plan, and screened for relevance and data availability. Selected items were then subjected to a two-round Delphi procedure involving 18 stakeholders from academia, local health services, and national agencies. The agreement was assessed using a 10-point Likert scale, and defined as a mean score ≥8, and consensus as a score standard deviation (SD) ≤1.5. Items with mean score ≥ 8 and SD > 1.5 after the first round were sent to the second round. Results A total of 6 tools were included in the study, from which 303 evaluation items matched the actions of the plan. After the screening phase, 122 indicators were deemed relevant and potentially available and sent to the Delphi procedure. Eighteen (14.8%) items reached both agreement and consensus in the first round, while another fifteen (12.3%) after the second. The 33 items covered all the domains of the national plan, especially Research and Development (21.1%) and Clinical Governance (15.2%). Conclusions The development of a set of core items that are agile, relevant, and readily available was facilitated by the involvement of stakeholders from different sectors. Moreover, adherence to the Italian pandemic plan should ensure that these items are deeply integrated into the unique context of the Italian regions. Key messages • The Delphi process identified a narrow number of evaluation items with great consensus. • Consensus was searched involving stakeholders from central authorities, local units, and academia.

Preferences regarding the Booster Dose of Covid-19: a cross-sectional study in Central Italy

Abstract Background Examining information sources, communication channels, and preferred content formats is crucial for adapting and improving future communication strategies in vaccination campaigns. This study aims to evaluate the information and communication preferences regarding the booster dose of Covid-19 among employees of the Central Tuscany Local Health Authority (CT-LHA). Methods From July to October 2022, a questionnaire was administered to 7,000 out of approximately 15,000 CT-LHA employees. The questionnaire analyzed communication, organizational, and access aspects regarding preferences for the Covid-19 booster dose. The sample was stratified into healthcare workers (HCWs) and non-healthcare workers (NHCWs). Chi-squared tests were performed using STATA, with the significance level set at 95%. Results The returned questionnaires were 1,885 (26.9%), with the majority being HCWs (64.4%). HCWs rated the quality of communication significantly lower compared to NHCWs, who rated it very high (p < 0.05). HCWs also rated the ease of booking the Covid-19 booster dose and access modalities to vaccination significantly lower than NHCWs (p < 0.05). NHCWs expressed a preference for receiving scientific information from Ministry of Health tutorials, while HCWs preferred information from their general practitioner (p < 0.05). HCWs preferred to receive organizational information from healthcare management, while NHCWs preferred information from vaccination physicians (p < 0.05). Additionally, HCWs preferred company operating procedures for disseminating information, whereas NHCWs preferred corporate communications circulars (p < 0.05). Conclusions HCWs and NHCWs showed differences in perceived quality of communication, ease of access to vaccination services, and preferred sources of information. HCWs rated the quality of communication and access to vaccination services lower than NHCWs. This results suggest the need for tailored communication strategies to effectively reach both groups. Key messages • Health organizations need to develop targeted communication approaches that address the specific needs and preferences of their employees. • Flexibility and adaptability are crucial to adapt communication methods and channels to strengthen vaccination initiatives and promote public health outcomes.

Implikasi Postmodernisme Dalam Masyarakat Kontemporer (Analisis Paradigma Pemikiran Tokoh Jean Francois Lyotard)

This article aims to investigate the implications of postmodernism in contemporary society by analyzing the paradigm of thought of the figure Jean-François Lyotard. Lyotard is known as one of the leading thinkers in postmodern thought, and this research aims to understand how his idea of skepticism towards grand narratives influences and permeates the structures of power, knowledge, and language in the context of contemporary society. This study uses a qualitative approach with a focus on the analysis of key texts by Jean-François Lyotard, especially "The Postmodern Condition: A Report on Knowledge." Analysis is performed to identify key concepts such as grand narratives, language games, and changes in knowledge structure. In addition, literature studies on the application of these concepts in the context of contemporary society are also involved to support research findings. The research findings suggest that Lyotard's postmodern views have significant implications in contemporary society. Skepticism of grand narratives creates space for narrative plurality, uncertainty of knowledge, and diverse language games. These implications affect power structures by challenging central authority and paving the way for a diversity of values and views. In addition, Lyotard's concepts also had an impact on changes in the way society understood and conveyed knowledge.

VOTEMAT: A Blockchain Based Voting System

This study aims to show that a secure, trustable and immutable voting system can be established with Blockchain technology. Decentralized structure of the Blockchain excludes the central authority and provides transparency. Moreover, its cryptographic functions enable secure transactions. Therefore, the operation is prevented from potential frauds, such as multiple votes, fake vote attempts, and fraudulent vote counts. The proposed method, VOTEMAT, covers both electronic voting and paper ballot as a complete solution. A mobile application and a Website, connected to Ethereum private Blockchain network, were developed for the voters who prefer to cast their votes remotely. It is also possible to vote in the voting centres via the mobile device or paper ballot placed in the vote boxes; but these votes are also recorded in the same Blockchain and equally secure. For the remote users, a two-step authentication is designed, based on the information on the national identity card and face recognition. An additional encryption based security measure is used to avoid hacking attempts, such as man in the middle attacks. Since the proposed system is more practical than the traditional voting methods, it can increase the participation and be utilized in all kinds of local or national elections.

The Druze District Governor Nasib Beik Jumblatt and the Ottoman Policy in Mount Lebanon

This study examines the policies of the Ottoman Empire in the Shouf region during the 19th century, focusing on the prominent figures of the area. In this context, the Ottoman state's approach to the influence of Nasib Jumblatt, a significant political figure from the Jumblatt family, in the region will be discussed. As the Ottoman central government's authority weakened in the 19th century, the rivalry between the Jumblatts and Arslans, two long-standing families in the region, intensified. As a result, acquiring the district governorship of Shouf, where the Druze were densely populated, became crucial for perpetuating the influence of both families. For this reason, this study examines the political maneuvers of the Arslan and Jumblatt families in order to control the district of Shouf, as well as the activities of Nasib Jumblatt as district governor. The study will also discuss the manifestations of international interventions in Mount Lebanon. Finally, the Ottoman state's approach to the British influence in shaping Nasib Jumblatt's political identity will be another aspect of the study.

The Legal Nature of the Acts of the National Authority for Personal Data Protection

The national supervisory authority for data protection is the Commission for Personal Data Protection, which, as of 2023, is also the central authority for external whistleblowing and for the protection of persons reporting violations of Bulgarian legislation or acts of the European Union that threaten or harm the public interest. Based on its competencies, it issues administrative acts that hold an important place in Bulgaria’s legal system. This study will examine and analyze the legal acts of the commission, which it issues as a specialized body carrying out supervisory activities to prevent the violation of individuals’ rights and ensure their adequate protection.

Towards Scalable and Secure Blockchain in Internet of Things: A Preference-Driven Committee Member Auction Consensus Approach

Blockchain technology is acclaimed for eliminating the need for a central authority while ensuring stability, security, and immutability. However, its integration into Internet of Things (IoT) environments is hampered by the limited computational resources of IoT devices. Consensus algorithms, vital for blockchain safety and efficiency, often require substantial computational power and face challenges related to security, scalability, and resource demands. To address these critical issues, we propose a novel model that significantly enhances the security and performance of blockchain in IoT environments. Our model introduces three key innovations: (1) a bidirectional-linked blockchain system that strengthens security against long-range attacks by exploiting dual reference points for block validation; (2) the integration of user preferences into the Committee Member Auction (CMA) consensus algorithm, optimizing miner selection to balance resource efficiency with security; and (3) a comprehensive performance and frequency analysis that demonstrates the system’s resilience against double-spend, long-range, and eclipse attacks. The proposed model not only reduces block validation delays but also enhances overall system performance, as evidenced by simulations comparing its effectiveness with existing CMA algorithms. These advancements have the potential to significantly impact the deployment of blockchain in resource-constrained IoT environments, offering a more secure and efficient solution.

JUSTICE AND SUBJECTIVITY IN MEASURE FOR MEASURE: BRIEF REFLECTIONS ON LAW AND LITERATURE

This article explores the complexities of justice, power, and subjectivity in Shakespeare’s work, focusing on Measure for Measure. The analysis connects Shakespearean themes to emerging philosophical and legal traditions in early modernity, particularly tensions over authority and social order. The play is intertwined with the views of Hobbes, Machiavelli, and Sir Edward Coke, who debate the role of law and central authority. Seventeenth-century England, in transition from feudalism to absolutism, provides the backdrop for this reflection. Hobbes, in Leviathan, advocated a strong central government, while Coke argued for the primacy of the Common Law and judicial control over Parliament. This judicial contention is reflected in the moral and legal conflict of Measure for Measure, where the intersections between law and subjectivity emerge vividly. Shakespeare, although not presenting a partisan position, articulates dilemmas that echo modern concerns about the use of force and the flexibility of the law, opening up room for interpretations about the role of judges and the manipulation of laws in favor of private interests. These debates are deepened by Shakespeare's reading of themes such as honor, virtue, and the tension between freedom and order, linking the work to an ongoing dialogue between literature, law, and politics.

Sustainable Adoption of E-Learning in Romanian Universities after the COVID-19 Outbreak

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted economic processes and various facets of daily life, including education, necessitating adjustments to help society adapt to the temporary status quo, with Romanian educational institutions being profoundly affected, and a full transition to online learning was mandated by central authorities in March 2020. The paper’s scope is to assess the sustainability of e-learning in Romanian higher education in the aftermath of the COVID-19 outbreak. The study was conducted on bachelor students from three Romanian universities through an online questionnaire with a sample size of 505 valid responses. This study aims to investigate the relationships between information quality (IQ), system quality (SQ), service quality (SEQ), and quality of life (QL) within an integrated model, based on the variables of the technology acceptance model (TAM) and performance models of information systems (IS). Specifically, the research explores how these factors, along with the mediating roles of perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU), influence students’ behavioral intention to adopt e-learning systems (BISE) and actual use of them (EUOES) as a sustainable solution for post-pandemic COVID-19 education. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS–SEM) was the selected method for data analysis performed with SmartPLS 4.0 software. The research results demonstrated that PU and PEOU showed a positive correlation relationship and were significantly influenced by IQ, SQ, and QL in the educational setting. The study also revealed that PEOU and PU exerted a positive influence on students’ behavioral intention to adopt e-learning systems (BISE) sustainably and on their actual use (EUOES). This study benefits universities and higher education institutions by providing insights into enhancing e-learning platforms and integrating technology effectively, as well as by supporting the formulation of sustainable online learning strategies beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

A behaviouristic semantic approach to blockchain-based e-commerce

Electronic commerce and finance are progressively supporting and including decentralized, shared and public ledgers such as the blockchain. This is reshaping traditional commercial activities by advancing them towards Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Commerce 3.0, thereby supporting the latter’s potential to outpace the hurdles of central authority controllers and lawgivers. The quantity and entropy of the information that must be sought and managed to become active participants in such a relentlessly evolving scenario are increasing at a steady pace. For example, that information comprises asset or service description, general rules of the game, and specific technologies involved for decentralization. Moreover, the relevant information ought to be shared among innumerable and heterogeneous stakeholders, such as producers, buyers, digital identity providers, valuation services, and shipment services, to just name a few. A clear semantic representation of such a complex and multifaceted blockchain-based e-Commerce ecosystem would contribute dramatically to make it more usable, namely more automatically accessible to virtually anyone wanting to play the role of a stakeholder, thereby reducing programmers’ effort. However, we feel that reaching that goal still requires substantial effort in the tailoring of Semantic Web technologies, hence this article sets out on such a route and advances a stack of OWL 2 ontologies for the semantic description of decentralized e-commerce. The stack includes a number of relevant features, ranging from the applicable stakeholders through the supply chain of the offerings for an asset, up to the Ethereum blockchain, its tokens and smart contracts. Ontologies are defined by taking a behaviouristic approach to represent the various participants as agents in terms of their actions, inspired by the Theory of Agents and the related mentalistic notions. The stack is validated through appropriate metrics and SPARQL queries implementing suitable competency questions, then demonstrated through the representation of a real world use case, namely, the iExec marketplace.

Evaluating Trust in Blockchain Technology for Waqf Adoption: Insights from Importance-Performance Map Analysis

Blockchain technology offers transformative benefits for waqf by enhancing transparency, security, and efficiency. Its decentralized ledger system allows for independent transaction verification, reduces central authority risks, and improves accountability. However, while the potential benefits are significant, the success of blockchain-based waqf initiatives hinges on the level of trust that stakeholders place in this technology. Therefore, the study aims to examine the effect of trust in blockchain technology on the intention to adopt waqf blockchain with insight from importance-performance map analysis to better understand the relations between trust and intention. The study adopted a survey research design and data was collected through questionnaires distributed throughout Malaysia. The collected data were then analyzed using Smart-PLS software. The results of the analysis indicate a strong positive relationship between trust in blockchain technology and the intention to adopt waqf blockchain. However, the importance-performance map analysis shows a critical disparity exists between user expectations and actual performance, especially regarding the transaction process, which scored the lowest in performance. This implies a need to focus on improving the transaction process to align with user expectations.

Fluctuations of Power: How Minting in Tenth-Century England Reflected Shifts in Royal Authority

ABSTRACT This article explores the potential that a correlation of the removal of the mint locations from the epigraphy along with the changes in royal title and shifting power dynamics in the north may have some relation to one another. A steady progression towards centralisation in minting practice took place between the late ninth-century and 930, and Edgar’s reform of the early 970s solidified the central authority of the crown for the remainder of the Pre-Norman Conquest period. However, political upheaval as well as persistent threats and losses led to a contraction of minting in the north. And the reversal of some of the policies established by Edward the Elder and Æthelstan in the first third of the tenth century saw widespread regionalisation in the coinage of the south. This loss of momentum is well illustrated by the shifts in minting during the period.

A blockchain-enabled private parking space allocation with improved parking space utilization

With the rapid development of the world’s infrastructure, we are moving towards making cities smart, known as smart cities. To make smart cities sustainable, designing efficient solutions is needed to reduce traffic congestion due to the lack of parking spaces within the constrained land areas of many metropolitan city centres. Parking problems in urban areas can be reduced by sharing vacant private parking spaces with others. In this work, we propose a decentralized and shared private parking management system using blockchain, which helps private parking owners and users fulfil their demands without the involvement of central authority. The proposed parking allocation method assigns parking to a single user from multiple parking providers, but the requester does not need to relocate between different parking spaces. The proposed method significantly improves private parking space utilization compared to a state-of-the-art parking allocation system. Hence, the system satisfies more user requests and generates more profit for parking owners than the state-of-the-art parking allocation system. The proposed system is a winning strategy because it maximizes the utilization of private parking spaces for the entire community’s benefit and helps to reduce traffic congestion. Experiments conducted in the simulated environment validate the benefits of the proposed model and show that it outperforms the state-of-the-art parking allocation system. A prototype of the proposed system is also developed in the Ethereum blockchain to validate the work, and the gas cost used to deploy the proposed model is analyzed.

Scheduling of Earth observing satellites using distributed constraint optimization

Earth observation satellites (EOS) are satellites equipped with optical sensors that orbit the Earth to take photographs of particular areas at the request of users. With the development of space technology, the number of satellites has increased continuously. Yet still, the number of satellites cannot meet the explosive growth of applications. Thus, scheduling solutions are required to satisfy requests and obtain high observation efficiency. While the literature on multi-satellite scheduling is rich, most solutions are centralized algorithms. However, due to their cost, EOS systems are often co-funded by several agents (e.g., countries, companies, or research institutes). Central solutions require that these agents share their requests for observations with others. To date, there has yet to be a solution for EOS scheduling that protects the private information of the interested parties. In this study, we model the EOS scheduling problem as a distributed constraint optimization problem (DCOP). This modeling enables the generation of timetables for the satellites in a distributed manner without a priori sharing users’ private information with some central authority. For solving the resulting DCOP, we use and compare the results of two different local search algorithms—Distributed Stochastic Algorithm and Maximum Gain Message—which are known to produce efficient solutions in a timely manner. The modeling and solving of the resulting DCOP constitute our new solution method, which we term Distributed Satellite Timetable Solver (DSTS). Experimental evaluation reveals that the DSTS method provides solutions of higher quality than a commonly used centralized greedy algorithm and is comparable to an additional centralized algorithm that we propose.

Brief Considerations Regarding the Competence of the Central Authorities in Matters of Filiation, in the Context of the Proposal for a Council Regulation on the Creation of a European Certificate of Parenthood

The study aims to present and analyse the competence of the central authorities in the matter of filiation according to the Proposal for a Council Regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition of decisions and acceptance of authentic instruments in matters of parenthood and on the creation of a European Certificate of Parenthood and according to the regulations in Romanian law such as: Civil Code, Law no. 119/1996 regarding civil status documents, Government Ordinance no. 84/2001 regarding the establishment and operation of community public services for the registration of persons. The authors present due clarifications regarding the dichotomy of the provisions of Romanian law (Romanian private international law, civil law and the regulations from the normative acts stipulated in the paragraph above) and the correspondence with the Council's Proposal for a regulation on filiation, noting the competence, the applicable law, respectively the recognition. Next, the paper will present the competent authorities from the perspective of the proposed Regulation and Romanian law. In conclusion, the authors will present de lege ferenda what changes would be made to the provisions of Romanian law by adopting the Proposal for a Regulation of the Council regarding jurisdiction, the applicable law, the recognition of court decisions and the acceptance of authentic documents in matters of filiation and regarding the creation of a European certificate of filiation considering that there will be rules of immediate application. Keywords: Central authorities; Child; Filiation; Parents; Private international law; Romanian law.

«Владельцы песков»: пескоукрепительные работы на землях кочевых народов Юга России (ногайцев, калмыков и туркмен) в XIX – начале XX веков

The publication examines the organization of sand protection works carried out in semi–desert zones of Southern Russia in the XIX - early XX centuries. Despite separate publications on measures to combat desertification in the Russian Empire, sand protection activities that unfolded in the XIX – early XX centuries on the lands of the nomadic peoples of Southern Russia (Nogais, Kalmyks and Turkmens) did not become the subject of separate works, which determines the nov-elty of the study. The peculiarities of the natural, climatic and geographical living conditions of nomads and their irrational use of arid zones as pasture lands for their livestock were factors that caused the rapid growth of sands in the XIX – early XX centuries. Sand protection works in the south and officials of the sand-ravine parties and the corps of foresters of the Forest Department, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of State Property, carried south-east of Russia out. The ac-tivities of sand protection organizations included experimental measures to combat desertifica-tion, which included husking and grass sowing on the sands, sowing sandy oats, removing sands from the use of their owners, forestry and horticulture in the steppe. The source base of the study was materials extracted from the State Archives of the Stavropol Territory (GASK) funds: 153 «Forester of the Stavropol sandy-ravine district» and 247 «Stavropol Provincial Forest Protection Committee». Historiographical works on the study of the problem include publications by pre–revolutionary, Soviet and modern researchers involved in combating desertification in Southern Russia in the XIX - early XX centuries. The analysis of materials and sources made it possible to trace the peculiarities of the activities of central and regional authorities, local societies (A.D. – owners of sands), and other organizations that participated in sand protection works during the historical period under consideration. The conclusion is formulated that the sand protection activi-ty that unfolded in the South of Russia in the XIX – early XX centuries. It included many forest reclamation works, the purpose of which was to curb the process of desertification of pasture and agricultural lands of Nogais, Kalmyks and Turkmens, which in turn was a measure of protection and guardianship of the life, health and economic and cultural activities of nomadic peoples with-in the Russian Empire.

О местном самоуправлении в Грузии в конце XX – начале XXI вв.

The article is devoted to the analysis of the features of local self-government in the Republic of Georgia at the end of the 20th–21st centuries. This study allows us to assess the legal development of local self-government in Georgia during the period under review and analyze the problems of interaction between central and local authorities. According to the author, in the conditions of managing society during the period under review in Georgia, elements of state administration and local self-government were combined. Throughout the 20th century, methods of public administration were predominant. However, already at the beginning of the 21st century, the process of changing the functions of managing the affairs of society actualized the problem of creating an independent system of self-government. This was partly facilitated by Georgia’s accession to the Council of Europe in 2000, and as a consequence of this, by the assumption of obligations to reduce the direct influence of the state on local governments, as well as the formation of exclusively elected local authorities. Consequently, improving the structure of local self-government in the Republic of Georgia, on the one hand, and the procedure for its interaction with government bodies, on the other, constituted the content of municipal construction at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries.

Toward a New Era of Smart and Secure Healthcare Information Exchange Systems: Combining Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence

Healthcare Information Exchange (HIE) is becoming a fundamental operation in current healthcare systems. In such systems, electronic health records (EHRs) are digitally stored inside each medical centers and, sometimes, are required to be shared between various healthcare facilities (HCFs). Indeed, sharing patient information is crucial and might be vulnerable to power outages, data misuse, privacy or security violations, and an audit trail. Hence, researchers have focused recently on cutting-edge technologies to develop secure HIE systems and ensure data privacy during transactions. Among such technologies, blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) occupy a vital role in researchers’ focuses and efforts to detect risky transactions in HIE systems, thus enhancing their security and privacy. While the blockchain allows HCFs to link to each other without requiring a central authority, AI models offer an additional security layer when sharing patient data between HCFs. This paper presents a survey about HIE systems, and the aim is two-fold: we first present the architecture of HIE systems along with their challenges; then, we categorize and classify the current state-the-art-techniques that show the potential of using blockchain and AI technologies in such systems.

Mountain Jewish Community of Kabardino-Balkaria from 1944 to 1965

This article addresses the issue of state-religious relations through the lens of the registered religious community of Mountain Jews in the city of Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria. The selected period from 1944 to 1965 encompasses the operations of the Council for Religious Affairs and its regional representation. The aim of this study is to identify state policies regarding the Mountain Jewish believers based on archival documents and thematic analysis. The research reveals that from the early 1950s, bureaucratic pressure on the religious community intensified within a multi-tiered system of control. Protocols, cash receipts, and reports obtained from the Mountain Jewish community served as an informational basis for the regional representative of the Council for Religious Affairs when preparing documents for the central authority. The closure of the synagogue, restrictions on cooperation in preparing believers for holidays, and various bureaucratic maneuvers did not yield the desired results for the authorities. Despite the official closure of the synagogue in 1951, religious holidays resonated widely among believers beyond the registered group and official mandates. In the context of financial flows and material concerns, Mountain Jewish believers found ways to circumvent the constraints imposed by the state.