Degree Of Discretion Research Articles

Моделювання акустичного поля на основі дисперсії звуку при відбитті трасуючих хвиль на відкритих майданчиках

A method of numerical modeling of acoustic fields in open areas with the possibility of parallelization of calculations is proposed. This method is part of a developed software solution that allows you to perform physical field modeling in various subject areas, being scalable in the sense of using an arbitrary set of parallel calculators. The use of existing modeling systems is associated with great difficulties in solving complex problems with a high degree of detail of the simulated object. Greater accuracy implies a high degree of discretization, a greater number of elementary model calculations performed. Parallel and distributed computing systems have a much better ratio of accuracy-approximation and time and cost costs compared to single-processor systems. Modern general purpose modeling systems use a simplified ray model of sound propagation, which neglects diffractional and interference effects, which are often critical in industrial acoustics. The article proposed a method based on the approximation of the principle of superposition of sound fields. It is accurate, while the linearity of the equations of acoustics is relevant. The basis is the Rayleigh integral and the approximation of reflective surfaces by flat point radiators. A parallel form of such a method is presented, as well as an analysis of its properties, both in sequential and parallel forms.

“Countries you go, asylum adjudication you find.” Asylum appeals implementation arrangements, actors' discretion, and organizational practices

AbstractThe article investigates the implementation of a crucial area of the EU asylum policy, which is asylum adjudication at the appeal stage. According to the Common European Asylum System, Member States must guarantee asylum seekers an effective remedy against first‐instance decisions. However, the EU policy framework leaves space for each country to choose its implementation model. Filling a gap in the literature on asylum policy implementation, the article explores the implementation arrangements (IAs) for asylum appeals in three countries, Italy, France, and Greece, which adopt different models. More precisely, relying on Strategic Analysis of Organizations and the Street‐Level Bureaucracy approach, the article addresses how specific elements of the IA influence organizational autonomy, implementing actors' routines and perceptions, as well as the degree of discretion. Moreover, it investigates the influence of de facto organizational practices on policy performance. The analysis of qualitative data suggests that different IAs, such as the nature of the body, the appointment system, and mechanisms of vertical accountability, shape de facto individual and organizational practices and actors' spaces for discretion. This process seems to impact policy performance, particularly in terms of uniformity, which is a core objective within the broader European policy framework for asylum adjudication.

Stochastic kinetic theory applied to coarse-grained polymer model.

A stochastic field theory approach is applied to a coarse-grained polymer model that will enable studies of polymer behavior under non-equilibrium conditions. This article is focused on the validation of the new model in comparison with explicit Langevin equation simulations under conditions with analytical solutions. The polymers are modeled as Hookean dumbbells in one dimension, without including hydrodynamic interactions and polymer-polymer interactions. Stochastic moment equations are derived from full field theory. The accuracy of the field theory and moment equations is quantified using autocorrelation functions. The full field theory is only accurate for a large number of polymers due to keeping track of rare occurrences of polymers with a large stretch. The moment equations do not have this error because they do not explicitly track these configurations. The accuracy of both methods depends on the spatial degree of discretization. The timescale of decorrelation over length scales bigger than the spatial discretization is accurate, while there is an error over the scale of single mesh points.

Characterization on the mesostructural properties of asphalt mixtures based on meso-element equivalence method

The randomness and variation of material composition at the meso-scale lead to some limitations in the application of asphalt mixture. When all features are taken into account, the computational effort increases significantly. Therefore, the relationship can be established using the meso-element equivalence method (MEEM). In this paper, the effects of aggregate-asphalt interface, initial void defects and material damage were introduced and MEEM of asphalt mixture was established based on industrial computed tomography (ICT) and finite element method (FEM). The rationality of the model was verified by laboratory performance tests, and the effects of aggregate type, mixture gradation and mesostructural parameters on the mechanical response of MEEM were compared and analyzed. The results showed that the MEEM model captures the mechanical behavior of asphalt mixtures well, the input of visco-elastic material parameters is an important step of MEEM simulation accuracy. The aggregate type, the discrete degree of the skeleton structure and the distribution characteristics of mesostructural parameters are important factors affecting the mechanical properties of asphalt mixture in MEEM.

Protecting vulnerability. An international comparison of social workers as street-level bureaucrats during the COVID-19 lockdown

Protecting vulnerability. An international comparison of social workers as street-level bureaucrats during the COVID-19 lockdown

On the Improvement of the Rules on the Obligation of Interpretation by Judges in Online Litigation

As a new way of litigation, the practice of online litigation has attracted great attention, especially online civil litigation, which has also become a hot issue in the field of civil litigation. The online judge’s obligation to interpret not only inherits the content of the existing obligation of traditional offline litigation, but also expands the scope of the obligation of interpretation, and the expansion of the online judge’s obligation to interpret adapts to the requirements of online litigation following the principles of fairness and efficiency, convenience and benefit. However, the existing rules on online litigation are relatively general in their provisions on the obligation of interpretation by online judges, and judges usually enjoy a certain degree of discretion in the exercise of the obligation to interpret in online litigation, which makes there are some problems that need to be solved urgently in the performance of judges’ obligation to interpret in online litigation.

SUSTAINABLE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OF AMERICAN SOCIAL ENTERPRISES UNDER THE PRESSURE OF NEW TRENDS

With minimal federal regulation, state legislation and precedent in the United States, the institutional environment for social enterprises, the development of social responsibility of business and sustainable corporate governance has generally been formed. It is distinguished by active support for social initiatives of business, a minimum of administrative barriers and interference in matters of their internal management, and the presence of special legal regimes. At the same time, the economic effectiveness of sustainable corporate governance is not known; its principles are also not enshrined at the federal level, but are implemented through the charters of corporations and social entrepreneurship organizations. The type and specifics of sustainable management depend on the type of organization. They are fully implemented in the organizational and legal forms of SPC and BC. The main problem in implementing the principles of sustainable management by the owners and management of social corporations remains the search for a balance between profit and social interests, including an objective assessment of the level of achievement of the latter. This balance is achieved not by the application of corporate law, which varies from state to state, but by the application of the business judgment rule, based on precedent, which implies a high degree of discretion and the difficulty or even impossibility of an objective assessment. Sustainable corporate governance is under increasing pressure from multidirectional non-economic trends leading to socialization, greening and politicization of business to the detriment of its traditional goals. The American federal, decentralized model of legal regulation of social entrepreneurship does not correspond to the development trends of the Russian legal system, where the trends of centralization of regulation dominate. The American legal model of sustainable corporate governance is implemented mainly in large international corporations, which no longer exist in Russia, which significantly reduces the relevance of the experience.

Critical Analysis of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958

The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) has been a topic of widespread discussion. The Act remains in effect in regions where issues like ethnic conflict and unfulfilled aspirations persist, and where violence and secessionist movements pose a threat to national and societal harmony. The law has been criticized for exacerbating fear and suspicion between the military/law enforcement and the communities they serve, which hinders efforts to build trust and promote reconciliation in areas affected by conflict. Originally enacted in 1958 to address the Naga insurgency in the northeastern state of Assam, it has since been implemented in other parts of India grappling with armed conflict or insurgency. The Act is applicable in certain "disturbed areas," including the Northeastern states of India, Kashmir, and formerly in Punjab. This Act has been criticized for being non-compliant with international conventions and treaties that India has signed. Additionally, the definitions within the Act are ambiguous, giving the armed forces a wide scope to interpret them as per their own will and escape punishment even after committing severe violations of human rights. This paper scrutinizes the historical backdrop and legal trajectory of the Act, with reference to the demarcation of legislative powers and the degree of discretion vested upon the executive in declaring regions to be “disturbed”. The present working paper seeks to analyze the effect of this presumably draconian law in the states it has been enacted. Further, the authors seek to address the debate that AFSPA has proven ineffective in addressing insurgency and, in fact, has exacerbated the human rights issues associated with it. Ultimately, the matter has been deliberated upon and consequently, a conclusion has been arrived at, along with some reasonable recommendations.

Complete integrability and equilibrium thermodynamics of biaxial nematic systems with discrete orientational degrees of freedom

We study a discrete version of a biaxial nematic liquid crystal model with external fields via an approach based on the solution of differential identities for the partition function. In the thermodynamic limit, we derive the free energy of the model and the associated closed set of equations of state involving four order parameters, proving the integrability and exact solvability of the model. The equations of state are specified via a suitable representation of the orientational order parameters, which imply two-order parameter reductions in the absence of external fields. A detailed exact analysis of the equations of state reveal a rich phase diagram where isotropic versus uniaxial versus biaxial phase transitions are explicitly described, including the existence of triple and tricritical points. Results on the discrete models are qualitatively consistent with their continuum analogue. This observation suggests that, in more general settings, discrete models may be used to capture and describe phenomena that also occur in the continuum for which exact equations of state in closed form are not available.

Identical ratios: a red flag of ratio management

AbstractThis paper identifies a helpful red flag stakeholders can use to detect whether a nonprofit has managed its financial information. This red flag is reporting an identical program ratio—that is, the nonprofit organization reports the exact same ratio in multiple years—while reporting a large change in total spending. We find nonprofits are more likely to report identical program ratios when resource providers rely on ratios; pay is determined, at least in part, by performance; and the potential for regulatory interference is high. This paper also identifies the cost allocation techniques and the specific expenses nonprofits likely manage. We find most nonprofits alter the allocations of multiple expenses and find the specific expenses most likely manipulated are ones where managers have a high degree of discretion over how much to allocate to programs.

Rejection-free quantum Monte Carlo in continuous time from transition path sampling

Continuous-time quantum Monte Carlo refers to a class of algorithms designed to sample the thermal distribution of a quantum Hamiltonian through exact expansions of the Boltzmann exponential in terms of stochastic trajectories which are periodic in imaginary time. Here, we show that for (sign-problem-free) quantum many-body systems with discrete degrees of freedom—such as spins on a lattice—this sampling can be done in a rejection-free manner using transition path sampling (TPS). The key idea is to converge the trajectory ensemble through updates where one individual degree of freedom is modified across all time while the remaining unaltered ones provide a time-dependent background. The ensuing single-body dynamics provides a way to generate trajectory updates exactly, allowing one to obtain the target ensemble efficiently via rejection-free TPS. We demonstrate our method on the transverse field Ising model in one and two dimensions, and on the quantum triangular plaquette (or Newman-Moore) model. We show that despite large autocorrelation times, our method is able to efficiently recover the respective quantum phase transition of each model. We also discuss the connection to rare event sampling in continuous-time Markov dynamics. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

The Current Situation, Problems and Development Concepts of Korean Language Education in Chinese Universities under the Integration of Information Technology

Abstract The use of information technology in classroom teaching has become a common trend. This paper proposes a mathematical model for the dynamic measurement of the level of informatization of Korean language education, which adopts a mathematical logic method to comprehensively examine the attributes, functions, and values of each part of the construction of informatization of Korean language education, and dynamically regulate the relationship between the whole and the parts. The index value of the assessment system is obtained by the weighted average of the factor loading coefficients of each index variable, and the weighting coefficients are determined by the difference assignment method to maximize the differences between the objects being assessed. Finally, the differences in informatization of Korean language education in colleges and universities are measured through the concentrated trend, discrete degree, skewed and peak indicators, and the optimization path is proposed. The results show that the differences in the level of informatization of Korean language education in colleges and universities between regions are all less than 0.1, and the degree of contribution to the total difference is all around 15%, which indicates a relatively small situation of differences between colleges and universities in each region. In this paper, the in-depth measurement of the difference in the level of informatization of Korean language education among Chinese universities in various regions is of great value and significance in promoting the development of Korean language education informatization in Chinese universities.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Text Value and Linguistic Characteristics of Chinese Language Literature Based on Text Mining Technology

Abstract In this paper, webpage information is extracted by the directed crawling method in data crawling technology so as to obtain a collection of Chinese language literature, which is processed by data cleaning, Chinese word splitting, and de-duplication. Text mining techniques such as machine learning, the LDA model, and semantic networks are used to perform operations such as sentiment analysis, theme extraction, and linguistic association analysis on the acquired text. Based on the mined text, text value assessment and linguistic characterization of literary works written in Chinese are carried out. The text value is quantified and graded using the PMC index model, and the linguistic features of the text, including punctuation, vocabulary, and sentences, are analyzed by constructing a linguistic feature model. Eight of the 10 Chinese literary works selected in this paper, including Alive, have text values at an excellent level. The frequently used punctuation mark in works is the period. The average word length is around 2.75, and the degree of discreteness of sentences is small.

Experimentalist Competition Law Enforcement as a Complementary Data Sharing Toolkit: Learning from AGCM v. Google – Ostacoli alla Portabilità dei Dati

Analysing the Italian case AGCM v. Google – Ostacoli alla portabilità dei dati, this paper scrutinises the “experimentalist architecture” of public competition law enforcement in dealing with data sharing disputes. In AGCM v. Google, the experimentalist competition law enforcement aimed at ensuring and designing the right to data portability provided by Article 20 GDPR. The paper investigates the extent to which the conditions and distinctive features of the experimentalist architecture play a role in AGCM v. Google, which include: strategic uncertainty, polyarchic distribution of powers, high degree of discretion of local agents, dynamic accountability, and the participation of all stakeholders in the design, review and updating of cross-sectoral data sharing solutions. In conducting the analysis, the internal administrative dialogue between local actors within the national competition law enforcement process is examined. In addition, the paper explores the potential for an external administrative dialogue between national competition law enforcement, implementation mechanisms, and regulatory revisions of the data sharing framework, involving local and EU actors.

Text Value and Linguistic Characterization in Chinese Language Literature Based on Text Mining Techniques

Abstract This study applies text mining techniques to deeply analyze Chinese language and literature’s text value and linguistic features. The study adopts the methods of textual disambiguation, vector space modeling, semantic network and Labeled-LDA model. Taking the novels of Yu Hua and Ge Fei as an example, it reveals the differences between the two writers in linguistic features such as using punctuation, average word length, and sentence discrete degree. The study provides a comprehensive heat score for the novels based on three dimensions: reading base group, reading gain, and reading discussion. The results show that the frequency of period use in Yu Hua’s works is decentralized, while Ge Fei’s works are more concentrated. Ge Fei’s average word length is slightly higher, showing a tendency to use multi-syllabic words. The novel popularity and heat scores conform to a power law distribution, reflecting the Pareto rule that 80% of the popularity is concentrated on 20% of the hot novels. This study provides a new perspective on Chinese language and literature through the application of text mining technology, and its methods and tools can effectively enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of teaching.

Redefining User Expectations: The Impact of Adjustable Social Autonomy in Human–Robot Interaction

To promote the acceptance of robots in society, it is crucial to design systems exhibiting adaptive behavior. This is particularly needed in various social domains (e.g., cultural heritage, healthcare, education). Despite significant advancements in adaptability within Human-Robot Interaction and Social Robotics, research in these fields has overlooked the essential task of analyzing the robot’s cognitive processes and their implications for intelligent interaction (e.g., adaptive behavior, personalization). This study investigates human users’ satisfaction when interacting with a robot whose decision-making process is guided by a computational cognitive model integrating the principles of adjustable social autonomy. We designed a within-subjects experimental study in the domain of Cultural Heritage, where users (e.g., museum visitors) interacted with the humanoid robot Nao. The robot’s task was to provide the user with a museum exhibition to visit. The robot adopted the delegated task by exerting some degree of discretion, which required different levels of autonomy in the task adoption, relying on its capability to have a theory of mind. The results indicated that as the robot’s level of autonomy in task adoption increased, user satisfaction with the robot decreased, whereas their satisfaction with the tour itself improved. Results highlight the potential of adjustable social autonomy as a paradigm for developing autonomous adaptive social robots that can improve user experiences in multiple HRI real domains.

Towards automated recommendations for drunk driving penalties in Poland - a case study analysis in selected court

Abstract Depending on the legal system, judges may have varying degrees of discretion in determining the type and extent of sentence that can be imposed for a particular offence. Nevertheless, it appears that even in systems traditionally considered discretionary, accepted patterns play a significant role in determining penalties, and judges utilize merely a limited spectrum of potential penalties in repetitive cases. Confirmation of the predictability of sentencing in certain categories of cases facilitates the possibility of automation. Utilising a computer program to assist judges in sentencing proposals based on input is feasible. This program can reflect the standard practice of sentencing penalties and punitive measures in a particular category of cases or rectify it, depending on the adopted sentencing policy. The objective of the article is to present findings from research that investigated whether a specific relation shapes the dimension of penalties and penal measures for cases concerning driving under the influence of alcohol in Poland, in the context of possible automation of the sentencing process. Another aim of this study is to provide an example of a straightforward mathematical recommendation model that tries to reflect both the discovered correlations in the data and the presumed intentions of legislators.

От звонка до карточки: в поисках дискреции у операторов службы единого номера «112»

One of the classic research questions of street-level bureaucracy studies is the question of the discretion of the officials when making a decision. In recent decades, the discussion about such bureaucrats has changed. Research has focused on new forms of bureaucracy, e.g., screen-level bureaucrats — various dispatchers and operators who receive calls and messages from citizens. Traditionally, such employees are considered to be almost completely deprived of the ability to act independently, and their work is reduced to following a strict algorithm as much as possible. This article employs data from 20 semi-structured interviews and three participant observation sessions in two cases of municipal emergency call centers of the unified “112” hotline. It attempts to elucidate the daily operations of dispatchers and the mechanisms through which they manage to operate within formal constraints while gaining a broader degree of discretion. The discretion exercised by dispatchers has a dual nature. Their core task involves constant communication with representatives from other emergency services, governed by procedural discretion (regulations and instructions). However, in certain circumstances when dealing with incidents, they can shift a situation from “routine” to “emergency”, thereby expanding their operational possibilities. Moreover, the existing frameworks can undergo transformation when there is a higher level of trust between dispatchers from different services. In such cases, when interacting with other authorities, the dispatcher’s actions are constrained less by rules and more by unspoken conventions, which can vary in different interactions depending on the level of trust between the conversing parties.

Аспекты численного моделирования процессов разрушения упруго-хрупких тел

Understanding the nucleation and evolution of microdefects in solid bodies is important to ensure the reliability and safety of critical structures and to identify their strength and deformation resources. In numerical modeling, failure zones can be represented as areas with significantly underestimated rigid characteristics by analogy with the method of variable elastic parameters used in solving the boundary-value problems of the theory of plasticity. However, the formal application of numerical algorithms of plasticity does not always lead to an adequate description of failure processes especially in elastic-brittle bodies. This paper considers some aspects of the numerical simulation of failure processes, such as the calculation of a stress-strain state after reducing the rigidity of finite elements under constant boundary conditions by organizing an appropriate iteration procedure, and the selection of the maximum number of finite elements fractured per iteration, the value of a loading step, and the discretization degree of the computational domain. The influence of the above aspects on the results of failure simulation is illustrated by comparing the numerical solutions to the problem of deformation of the strip made of elastic-brittle material with the edge stress concentrator, which were obtained by different algorithms. The loading diagrams were plotted, and the implementation of the post-critical stage at the macro level was demonstrated. Failure kinetics was analyzed for different variants of implementation of the iterative procedure and at a variable number of elements fractured per iteration. It has been found that, in order to get an accurate description of deformation and failure processes, the automatic selection of a loading step seems to be more reasonable. Analysis has indicated that the discretization degree of the computational domain has a strong impact on the modeling results. This suggests that the finite element size should correspond to a certain strength constant of a material having the dimensions of length.

The Random Ray Method Versus Multigroup Monte Carlo: The Method of Characteristics in OpenMC and SCONE

The Random Ray Method (TRRM) is a recently developed approach to solving neutral particle transport problems based on the Method of Characteristics. While the method previously has been implemented only in closed-source or limited-functionality codes, this work describes its implementation in two open-source Monte Carlo codes: OpenMC and SCONE. The random ray implementations required small modifications to the existing Multigroup Monte Carlo (MGMC) solvers, offering a rare venue for redundant, fine-grained, “apples-to-apples” speed and accuracy comparisons between transport methods. To this end, TRRM and MGMC solvers are evaluated against each other using each code’s native capabilities on reactor eigenvalue problems with different degrees of energy discretization. On the C5G7 benchmark (featuring only seven energy groups), TRRM achieves a maximum pin power error comparable to or lower than that of MGMC for a given run time. On a problem with 69 energy groups, MGMC is found to scale more efficiently, obtaining a lower pin power error for a given run time. However, the defining difference between the two transport methods is found to be their vastly different uncertainty distributions. Specifically, TRRM is found to maintain similar levels of accuracy and uncertainty throughout the simulation domain whereas MGMC can exhibit orders-of-magnitude greater errors in areas of the problem that feature low neutron flux. For instance, TRRM provided an up to 373 times speed advantage compared with MGMC for computing the flux in low-flux regions in the moderator surrounding the C5G7 core.