Current Debate Research Articles

Stock market prediction using Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) – Study case Germany stock market

Using neural networks in economics time series data is a new unexplored field. Lot of companies and economics research use mostly logistic regression or statistical approach when they try to predict the movement of stock market. Neural networks became a frequent tool for prediction in recent years and this approach has been confirmed to provide more reliable and better solutions when it comes to prediction and accuracy power. Within a wider context of current debate on neural networks employment in stock market predictions, we suggest an innovative methodology based on the combination of neural networks. In our analysis we use Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network (WGAN) on Germany stock market as an example. We present how the trading strategy could be established on the prediction of the model and how it can be compared with other models in terms of returns. Overall, the WGAN monthly prediction outperformed Random Forest by 36%, benchmark by 32% and LSTM by 26% in the testing period. Our results also suggest that the WGAN model has on average higher returns than pure investment into index. Furthermore, WGAN is less volatile, which is always the preferred option for investors. Using neural networks for stock index prediction and confirming that WGAN investment strategy brings higher returns compared to generally used models is our main contribution to the current debate.

Essays as “clinical” pedagogy: a Hegelian approach to essay writing

ABSTRACT Current debates in clinical legal education (CLE) exclude essay writing as a legitimate form of “clinical” pedagogy. This article argues that essay writing should be classified as a form of CLE due to its potential to mirror legal practice and enhance students’ reflective capacities. By incorporating Hegelian dialectical reasoning, the paper proposes a structured approach to legal essay writing that includes thesis, antithesis and synthesis. This method encourages students to engage deeply with legal arguments, reflecting on their merits and counterarguments. The dialectical approach aligns with constructivist teaching methodologies, promoting critical thinking and practical skills relevant to legal practice and beyond. The article outlines the theoretical basis of this model and provides a practical framework for its implementation in legal education. It further connects this pedagogical strategy to the development of transferable skills that prepare students for professional legal environments. Through this dialectical method, the paper advocates a more holistic and nuanced understanding of legal concepts, bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application, and, thus, making the case for the incorporation of Hegel-inspired essay writing into the definition of CLE.

Pooling and repooling risk: The limits of Insurtech platforms in inclusive insurance

Abstract This article investigates the promise of Insurtech to expand the frontier of the insurance market to include vulnerable populations around the world. It contributes to current debates on the proliferation of new technologies for financial inclusion as embedded in contemporary forms of platform-based capitalism. We argue that Insurtech’s promises fall short of expectations because of the contradiction between the principles of platform scalability and insurance risk pooling. Such contradictions lead Insurtech platforms to unpool risk rather than provide innovative technologies to pool it. This ultimately limits the expansion of markets for inclusive insurance as Insurtech platforms struggle to scale up the market through their supposedly disruptive technology. Our analysis draws on a range of regulatory reports, complemented by in-depth interviews with Insurtech executive officers. The article offers insights into the contradictory principles currently driving the digital inclusive insurance market, as well as the limits to the ongoing global expansion of platform capitalism.

Fostering togetherness in superdiverse Catholic parishes

ABSTRACT This article analyses how togetherness is fostered in superdiverse Catholic settings, and develops conceptualisation of togetherness through encounter, building on long-standing work on throwntogetherness and diversity. We draw on the context of faith education in four Catholic parishes in Norway and engage with the growing body of work on migration and Catholicism in anthropology and beyond. During fieldwork in superdiverse Catholic parishes, where the parishes main faith education for children and youth was offered in a shared language, Norwegian, we found both a sense of togetherness and emphasis placed on fostering togetherness among those in charge. We therefore ask: How is togetherness fostered in such superdiverse settings, what does this look like, and how is difference and disagreement negotiated? The article contributes to current debates in migration studies (1) with conceptualisation of togetherness through encounters, emphasising the (potentially) inclusive relationality of co-presence in shared spaces, as sites of throwntogetherness; (2) by analysing shared rather than ethno-linguistically divided religious activities, transcending nationally bounded thinking; and (3) by engaging insights from interdisciplinary research on migration and Catholicism. In the conclusion we discuss the uniqueness and broader relevance of our findings and of conceptualising togetherness through encounters, beyond Catholic and other religious spaces.

Exploring the dynamics of ultrasound training in medical education: current trends, debates, and approaches to didactics and hands-on learning.

Medical education, especially in ultrasound training, is undergoing significant changes. This study examines practical issues in ultrasound medical education, emphasizing state-of-the-art teaching methods, their effectiveness, and implementation challenges. The study analyzed advancements in ultrasound education, including randomized controlled trials comparing peer-to-peer teaching with traditional faculty-led instruction. It evaluated the effectiveness of collaborative small-group training and group size impact in simulation-based training. The study also assessed practical training components outlined in the WFUMB Position Paper Part II. Findings indicate that peer-to-peer and collaborative small-group training are effective and cost-efficient. Group size did not significantly affect training outcomes. Key practical training elements, including early hands-on sessions and exposure to various equipment, substantially improved learning outcomes. Simulation tools like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and phantoms were crucial for teaching standardized procedures and rare pathologies. Challenges identified include developing robust image acquisition skills, scarcity of qualified student tutors, and the need for reliable ultrasound skill assessment methods. Integrating peer-to-peer teaching and advanced simulation technologies significantly advances ultrasound medical education. These methods enhance cognitive and psychomotor skills but also present challenges such as ensuring quality education and developing effective assessment methods. Future research should compare different simulation tools and establish objective ultrasound proficiency assessment criteria. Continual method evaluation and improvement are essential for effective and standardized ultrasound training, ultimately enhancing patient care and clinical outcomes.

Embodied Thermal Insecurity and Counter‐Hegemonic Heat Mapping

AbstractLived experiences with urban heat are often rendered invisible, shrouded under the cloak of neoliberal resilience discourse and sanitised heat mapping and messaging. This is particularly tragic for disadvantaged at‐risk populations in white, settler colonial contexts where heat tolerance is worn as a badge of honour. Here, drawing upon semi‐structured interviews and focus group discussions in Perth, Western Australia, and with feminist emphasis on the embodied, the everyday, and bodily difference, we illustrate how corporeal thermal insecurities among rough sleepers, people with disabilities, and across intersectional disenfranchisement immobilise and dehumanise. By employing the logic of structures of violence to thermal suffering, we reveal how housing and energy precarity exacerbate entrenched racism and normalised discrimination. Our aim is to expand current debates on heat action plans (HAPs) and cool refuges by examining what “better weathering” could mean in practice, via the materialities of heated urban bodies (HUBs) and to demonstrate how such counter‐hegemonic heat mapping serves as a corporeal critique of the neoliberal resilient subject.

How food delivery service can be sustainable: some evidence from the Giusta delivery case

PurposeThe study explores the drivers of the intention to continue using sustainable food delivery services, considering the influence of value, satisfaction and the combined effects of utilitarian and hedonic motives. We employ a comprehensive framework that integrates the norm activation model (NAM) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), with satisfaction, utilitarian motives and hedonic motives. This approach facilitates a deeper understanding of the factors motivating users to remain loyal to the service.Design/methodology/approachThe study examines the data using a quantitative approach based on the partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe findings suggest that the intention to continue using sustainable food delivery services, such as the Giusta app, is significantly influenced by user satisfaction and attitudes. Attitudes not only influence the intention but also user satisfaction and are shaped by utilitarian motivations associated with sustainable food delivery. Beyond personal expectations and perceived benefits, the study reveals that behavior is also driven by altruistic values and moral convictions. Specifically, attitudes and satisfaction are positively affected by personal norms, which are influenced by ascribed responsibility. This ascribed responsibility is, in turn, shaped by awareness of both environmental and social issues.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the current debate on consumers' ethical behavior in food delivery. Only a few studies have integrated the NAM and TPB models in this context. This article highlights the factors useful in predicting people’s choice of food delivery services, showing the key role of personal norms, attitude, satisfaction and utilitarian motives.

Neural signatures of visual awareness independent of postperceptual processing.

What are the neural processes associated with perceptual awareness that are distinct from preconscious sensory encoding and postperceptual processes such as reporting an experience? Using electroencephalography and a no-report visual masking paradigm, we manipulated stimulus visibility by varying the time between stimuli and masks in linear steps (17, 33, 50, 67, and 83ms). Awareness increased nonlinearly, with stimuli never seen at the two shortest intervals, always seen at the two longest, and 50% seen at the intermediate interval. Separate report and no-report conditions were used to isolate awareness from task performance. Our results revealed a neural signal closely linked to perceptual awareness, independent of the task: a fronto-central event-related potential that we refer to as the N2 (~250 to 300ms). Earlier event-related potential signals reflected the linear manipulation of stimulus strength, while later signals like P3b and temporal generalization of decoding were tied to task performance, appearing only in the report condition. Taken together, these findings inform current debates regarding theories of consciousness and offer new avenues for exploring the neural mechanisms supporting conscious processing.

To ride-hail or not to ride-hail? Complementarity and competition between public transit and transportation network companies through the lens of app data

AbstractTransportation Network Company (TNC) services have become a prominent factor in urban transportation in recent years, and there is an ongoing debate regarding their relationship with public transit. While many argue that TNCs draw passengers away from public transportation, others believe the two modes complement each other. However, due to the inadequate sample size of rider surveys as primary data sources, our understanding of how riders choose between these two modalities remains limited. This study uses nine months of trip planning data generated by the Transit App, which captures how travelers engage with multiple options in real time, including TNC and public transit services. We extract measures from Transit describing the travel options and the habits of each individual user for sessions in which the user “tapped” on one of these two modes, indicating consideration of it as an option. Machine learning models predict the likelihood of a rider tapping TNC based on features of the available public transit options and other contextual factors (e.g., time of day, weather conditions). The models find that these taps are driven by factors that highlight the convenience of TNC, such as the waiting time, walking distance, and the number of transfers for public transportation trips. We also find that the majority of TNC trips tapped by app users combine the two modes when using the Transit App, with TNC acting as a connection to or from public transit. These results provide detailed additional evidence for current arguments for both competition and complementarity between TNC and public transit from a population that uses an app to navigate public transit.

The historical transformation of individual concepts into populational ones: an explanatory shift in the gestation of the modern synthesis.

In this paper, I will conduct three interrelated analyses. First, I will develop an analysis of various concepts in the history of biology that used to refer to individual-level phenomena but were then reinterpreted by the Modern Synthesis in terms of populations. Second, a similar situation can be found in contemporary evolutionary theory. While different approaches reflect on the causal role of developing organisms in evolution, proponents of the Modern Synthesis refrain from any substantial change by reinterpreting and explaining individual-level phenomena from a population perspective. Finally, I will approach these historical and contemporary debates by arguing for the statistical reading of natural selection, which holds that explanations by natural selection are statistical. My main conclusion is that the historical conceptual reinterpretations belong to a new explanatory strategy developed by the Modern Synthesis based on population thinking. Adopting the statistical point of view has three advantages for the issues discussed in this paper. First, understanding historical conceptual change as part of an explanatory shift fits with the emergence of population biology as a discipline that employs statistical methods. Second, concerning current debates in evolutionary biology, the statisticalist reading can validate the goal of both sides of the dispute. It ascribes an invaluable role to the population statistical explanation of the MS and also commends the study of developmental and organismal causes of adaptive evolution. Finally, the division of explanatory roles in evolutionary biology, embarrassed by statisticalism, can be related to the different interpretations that important biological concepts have undergone throughout history and contemporary biology, i.e., that the division of explanatory roles allows for a division of conceptual interpretations.

Academic Air Travel: Debates, Tensions and the Need for a Sociology of Science Perspective

ABSTRACTTraveling to conferences is a central feature of academic life. Yet recently, academic air travel has been called into question in the context of climate change, and the digital transformation has facilitated the spread of virtual alternatives to face‐to‐face meetings. The near‐total halt in air travel associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic has solidified the use of technologies of virtual meetings. However, the return to in‐person conferences after the pandemic suggests that these are not as easily replaced by virtual alternatives as is sometimes assumed. While this is increasingly coming into focus in the behavioral sciences, the sociology of science is largely absent in this debate. As a first step toward bringing this debate into conversation with the sociology of science, this review article examines the literature on academic air travel for key tensions, current debates and politicizations. It concludes that academic conference travel is an emerging, timely and relevant, yet under‐studied area of interest for sociologists of science, and suggests some avenues for future inquiry.

Policy Note: Special Taxes for Special Times? A Critical Analysis of Fiscal Crisis Responses with an Earmarking Feature in the Context of EU Law

Do special times require special taxes? The answer may not be the same from a legal, political, or economic perspective. One type of answer that legislators in Europe – both on the national and the supranational level – have given to the crises that make our times special are fiscal measures targeting extraordinary profits, revenues, or even assets while reserving the collected revenue for specific purposes. This article discusses the arguments for and against such earmarked crisis response measures in the context of their implications in the framework of EU law. It argues that specific earmarks may be attractive for reasons of political psychology such as health expenditure or inflation relief for households and firms. However, they may have unintended legal consequences by putting the respective measure into the scope of other legal regimes such as social security or banking regulation. The article contributes to the current debate about appropriate fiscal measures in times of crisis by pointing to examples of such direct and indirect interactions with primary or secondary EU law based on earmarking.

Pulmonary hypertension associated with COPD: a phenotype analysis

BackgroundPulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; PH-COPD) exhibits diverse phenotypes, challenging therapeutic management. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of COPD patients with distinct phenotypes: end-stage COPD with or without PH; group 1; other COPD patients with mild-to-moderate precapillary PH-COPD; group 2; and COPD patients with a pulmonary vascular phenotype (PVP); group 3.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of COPD patients who underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) from 2015 to 2022.ResultsEighty-one patients were included in group 1, 37 in group 2, and 35 in group 3. The groups differed in clinical, functional, hemodynamic, and imaging characteristics. Group 1 had significantly marked lung hyperinflation with increased total lung capacity and residual volume, a feature not observed in group 3. These results were confirmed by analysis of chest CT scans, which confirmed varying degrees of emphysema: severe in group 1, moderate in group 2, and mild in group 3, with median total emphysema index of 55% (48–62), 32% (16–49), and 16% (3.4–31), respectively, p<0.0001.ConclusionsOur results highlight the broad spectrum of precapillary PH in COPD, from PH associated with end-stage COPD (phenotype/group 1), characterized by predominant alveolar wall damage with severe emphysema, to PVP (phenotype/group 3), mainly due to pulmonary vascular changes. Phenotype/group 2 represents an intermediate state combining features of both. In the current debate on how to distinguish PH-COPD phenotypes, it might be of interest to include quantitative thresholds for emphysema in future diagnostic and management algorithms.

Unveil the molecular recognition mechanisms of triazine haptens and monoclonal antibodies: Establishing ic‐ELISA methods for triazine herbicide analysis in tea

AbstractThis study introduced two triazine haptens (with 0 or 1 carbon connecting arms at nonisopropyl positions) and developed two heterologous indirect competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ic‐ELISA) methods. The IC50 values for the 17 triazine pesticides ranged from 0.84 ng/mL to 225.63 ng/mL, and the established method was applied to determine their concentrations in tea samples. This study aimed to address the current debate on the recognition mechanism of triazine haptens with shorter connecting arms. This study produced two new findings by investigating the recognition mechanism of triazine haptens and antibodies. On the one hand, the specific amino acid isoleucine (ILE‐219) is crucial for isopropyl recognition. On the other hand, the selection of the connecting site of the triazine hapten has a significant effect on the specificity of the antibody, with the influence of the length of the carbon connecting arm being secondary. Our newly designed haptens show promise for diverse triazine pesticide immunoassay applications. This discovery established a foundational framework for constructing a tailored antibody library for pollutants.

Evaluating Policy Shifts on Perceived Greenspace Quality: Applying Regression Discontinuity During the COVID-19 Reopening Period

Abstract: Urban greenspaces have been essential in supporting residents’ well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly under strict lockdown measures. However, the impact of changing containment policies on residents’ perceived greenspace quality remains insufficiently explored. This study utilized online survey data collected between 11 October and 29 December 2022, in Shanghai, coinciding with the major policy shift on 5 December 2022. A probability proportionate to size sampling was adopted to survey residents aged 18 and above who had lived in the city for at least six months, yielding a total of 577 valid responses. We assessed residents’ perceived greenspace quality using 20 park- and community-level variables, focusing on both overall quality and specific features of greenspaces. A regression discontinuity design (RDD) was applied to evaluate how the lifting of the COVID-19 policies influenced residents’ perceptions of parks and community greenspaces. Our RDD estimation indicates no statistically significant change in residents’ overall perceived quality of parks after the policy shift, except for increased satisfaction with specific features such as plant diversity, maintenance, seating areas, trails, and large open spaces. In contrast, residents who responded after the policy shift reported a significantly higher perceived quality of community greenspaces compared to those who completed the survey before the shift (0.609 score difference, p < 0.01), with notable increases in satisfaction regarding plant diversity, maintenance, and seating areas. Perception of plant quantity remained unchanged in both types of greenspaces. Residents expressed greater satisfaction with sports facilities in parks, while community greenspaces were preferred for their water features and esthetic qualities. By adopting an RDD with a unique dataset, this study contributes empirical evidence to the current ongoing debate on the role of urban greenspace during the later stages of COVID-19. Specifically, it examines how changes in public health policy and the resulting increase in mobility might affect residents’ perceived greenspace quality. The findings can assist decision-makers and urban planners in developing more adaptive strategies to address the diverse needs of residents for greenspaces during the transitional period of a public health crisis.

THE EVENT: ON SCREEN, REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

This article analyzes the feature film The Happening (Audrey Diwan, 2021) based on the journey and experiences of its protagonist, a young French woman in the 1960s who seeks a safe abortion despite living in a patriarchal context marked by oppression, condemnation of women's bodies, and violence. The aim is to relate the aesthetic, visual, and sound analysis to the current and urgent debate on women's reproductive rights, with an emphasis on abortion. The theoretical framework is anchored in contemporary feminist theory and criticism, especially Federici (2018) and Diniz (2020), and the methodology of film analysis is understood here as a recreation of the original narrative, an exercise that prioritizes passages and frames allied to interlocutions with the theme addressed.

Studying Narratives in International Relations

Abstract Many scholars in international relations (IR) share an interest in narratives. With few, notable exceptions, IR scholars seem to lack clear methodological guidelines on how to conceptualize and study narratives in IR. We therefore develop a minimal definition of narratives and introduce a conceptual framework that shows how narrative analysis can be applied to questions and concepts within IR. We introduce narrative analysis as a multi-modal approach, which also draws on methodological insights from visual analysis, discourse analysis, and practice theory. The aim of the article is pedagogical, namely to translate insights from narratology to studies in IR and to show how everyday sources of the political, such as pop culture or social media, can be meaningfully analyzed. We argue that such an interpretive analysis implies adopting a critical and reflective stance to explore how narratives are shaped, how they appeal to specific political audiences, and whose interests are served by dominant political narratives. Such a perspective strongly resonates with current research debates in IR on practices, discourse, visuality, and emotions and puts a strong emphasis on power relations.

The Patterns of Digital Deception

Current consumer-protection debates focus on the powerful new data-analysis techniques that have disrupted the balance of power between companies and their customers. Online tracking enables sellers to amass troves of historical data, apply machine-learning tools to construct detailed customer profiles, and target those customers with tailored offers that best suit their interests. It is often a win-win. Sellers avoid pumping dud products and consumers see ads for things they actually want to buy. But the same tools are also used for ill—to target vulnerable members of the population with scams specially tailored to prey on their weaknesses. The result has been a dramatic rise in online fraud that disproportionately impacts those least able to bear the loss. The law’s response has been technology centric. Lawmakers race to identify those technologies that drive consumer deception and target them for regulatory restrictions. But that approach comes at a major cost. General-purpose data analysis and communications tools have both desirable and undesirable uses, and uniform restrictions on their use impede the good along with the bad. A superior approach would focus not on the technological tools of deception but on what this Article identifies as the legal patterns of digital deception: those aspects of digital technology that have outflanked the law’s existing mechanisms for redressing consumer harm. This Article reorients the discussion from the power of new technologies to the shortcomings in existing regulatory structures that have allowed for their abuse. Focus on these patterns of deception will allow regulators to reallocate resources to offset those shortcomings and thereby enhance efforts to combat online fraud without impeding technological innovation.

Corporate regulation in the public interest– from concession to authorisation

ABSTRACT The current debate on corporate purpose challenges the idea that the corporation is solely a private actor. There is an increasing insistence that corporations are social and political actors as much as they are economic actors. If a key concern in the corporate purpose literature is to define and delimit the role that corporations now play in public and private life, then it is important to have a theoretical framework within which we can decide where and how those limits should be set. Available theories do not adequately capture this conceptual shift. The most likely candidate is concession theory, but it does not properly capture the role of the state in modern regulatory capitalism. This paper reconfigures the core elements of concession theory and develops a framework that provides a justification for the role of the state in regulating corporations.

Fringe discourse networks 1932–2022: a media archaeological approach to (Ex)communication and (De)platforming

ABSTRACT In 1932, the Dutch writer Ernest Michel was banned from publishing with a Catholic publisher for critiquing the Catholic church and Dutch democracy. After his ban, Michel joined Verdinaso, a political organization with strong ties to upcoming National Socialist movements in the Netherlands, where he continued to write, frequently advocating for free speech, and against censorship. In this paper, we will compare the case of Michel with the case of Laurens Buijs, as well as contemporary processes of deplatformization and replatforming. We will discuss the removal of right-wing political actors from mainstream platforms, and analyze their narratives of victimhood and cultural decline, as well as the ‘network of technologies and institutions’, i.e. the ‘discourse networks’ that make far-right and populist political communication possible. We follow a media archaeological approach allowing us to show the continuities in seemingly distant times and seemingly different material and institutional networks, as well as the discontinuities in the development of contemporary media. With this analysis, we aim to contribute to current debates concerning the governance of anti-democratic and right-wing media, and their material and institutional networks.