Twin Peaks Research Articles

A Comparative Analysis of the Design and Implementation of the Twin Peaks Model of Financial Regulation in South Africa and Australia

Abstract In response to the 2007-2009 global financial crisis, South Africa, like most other countries, embarked on a journey of financial regulatory reform. This transformation has seen the country shift away from a silo approach, where various sectoral regulators supervise different financial institutions, towards the Twin Peaks model of financial regulation. The term “Twin Peaks” refers to the separation of regulatory functions between two independent regulators. For instance, one regulatory agency is responsible for the supervision of the safety and soundness of financial institutions, and the other is focussed on the regulation of business conduct. The Twin Peaks model is designed to provide the benefits and efficiencies of an integrated approach while simultaneously addressing inherent conflicts between the objectives of the safety and soundness of the financial system and consumer protection. The Financial Sector Regulation Act provides for the Twin Peaks model in South Africa. This Act positions South Africa as one of the first developing countries to adopt the model. On the other hand, Australia is the pioneer of the model since it implemented it in 1998. Its implementation in Australia, much as in South Africa, involved the separation of regulators for prudential soundness on the one hand and market conduct and consumer protection on the other. In this article, the authors provide a comparative analysis of the design and implementation of the Twin Peaks model in Australia and South Africa. They argue that while there are minor differences between the design and implementation of this model in Australia and South Africa, the model was customised and implemented to align with the specific needs of each country

Twin Peaks: Interrogating Otolith Pairs to See Whether They Keep Their Stories Straight

To tackle the question of the reliability of otoliths as recorders of individual life events, we compared the information enclosed in otolith pairs: the sagittae pair and the sagitta/lapillus pair. We used the synchrotron XRF scanning imaging method, which enabled the comparison of this information at both global and hyperfine scales. Using otoliths of diadromous pipefish, we compared element incorporation in each pair with a focus on (i) environment and transition between water bodies with strontium (Sr) and heavy metals, (ii) temporal information and age estimation based on sulphur (S) incorporation, and (iii) otolith growth and biomineralization processes with zinc (Zn). Results show that the global information in terms of Sr and heavy metals given by both otoliths of a pair is the same and that any otolith may be used to retrieve such global data. In terms of S-based growth increment counts, the numbers are the same between two otoliths of the same kind, but the sagitta/lapillus pairs show a significant difference. Hyperfine-scale analysis of element distribution reveals that a given otolith is under the control of specific growth mechanisms, which can lead to heterogeneous elemental incorporation. The present results lead us to consider otolith growth dynamics and biomineralization processes in the context of a fluid mosaic perspective.

The “Twin Peaks” method of automated Spike-Wave detection: A two-step, two-criteria Matlab application

BackgroundThere are many automated spike-wave discharge detectors, but the known weaknesses of otherwise good methods and the varying working conditions of different research groups (mainly the access to hardware and software) invite further exploration into alternative approaches. New methodThe algorithm combines two criteria, one in the time-domain and one in the frequency-domain, exploiting morphological asymmetry and the presence of harmonics, respectively. The time-domain criterion is additionally adjusted by normal modelling between the first and second iterations. ResultsWe report specificity, sensitivity and accuracy values for 20 recordings from 17 mature, male WAG/Rij rats. In addition, performance was preliminary tested with different hormones, pharmacological injections and species (mice) in a smaller sample. Accuracy and specificity were consistently above 91 %. The number of automatically detected spike-wave discharges was strongly correlated with the numbers derived from visual inspection. Sensitivity varied more strongly than specificity, but high values were observed in both rats and mice. Comparison with existing methodsThe algorithm avoids low-voltage movement artifacts, displays a lower false positive rate than many predecessors and appears to work across species, i.e. while designed initially with data from the WAG/Rij rat, the algorithm can pick up seizure activity in the mouse of considerably lower inter-spike frequency. Weaknesses of the proposed method include a lower sensitivity than several predecessors. ConclusionThe algorithm excels in being a selective and flexible (based on e.g. its performance across rats and mice) spike-wave discharge detector. Future work could attempt to increase the sensitivity of this approach.

The twin peaks of learning neural networks

Recent works demonstrated the existence of a double-descent phenomenon for the generalization error of neural networks, where highly overparameterized models escape overfitting and achieve good test performance, at odds with the standard bias-variance trade-off described by statistical learning theory. In the present work, we explore a link between this phenomenon and the increase of complexity and sensitivity of the function represented by neural networks. In particular, we study the Boolean mean dimension (BMD), a metric developed in the context of Boolean function analysis. Focusing on a simple teacher-student setting for the random feature model, we derive a theoretical analysis based on the replica method that yields an interpretable expression for the BMD, in the high dimensional regime where the number of data points, the number of features, and the input size grow to infinity. We find that, as the degree of overparameterization of the network is increased, the BMD reaches an evident peak at the interpolation threshold, in correspondence with the generalization error peak, and then slowly approaches a low asymptotic value. The same phenomenology is then traced in numerical experiments with different model classes and training setups. Moreover, we find empirically that adversarially initialized models tend to show higher BMD values, and that models that are more robust to adversarial attacks exhibit a lower BMD.

Afro-surrealism in screen arts as an experience of the Otherworldly

This article is a study of such an original trend in art as "Afro-surrealism". The study contains an excursion into the history of this phenomenon, but special attention is paid to the special connection of the genre of Afro-surrealism with the realm of the otherworldly. The genre, being an offshoot of the general group of surrealist trends, tends to create images that cross the line of rational reality, in other words, Afro-surrealist works by their nature strive for knowledge of the otherworldly. Nevertheless, Afro-surrealism contains unique structural elements and techniques that make it possible to separate it from classical surrealism and make it a rich material for research. The purpose of the article is to examine the history of the genre, as well as some works in the genre of Afro–surrealism and, using their example, based on the "Manifesto of Afro-Surrealism" to identify special elements of language and demonstrate how they help to reveal the otherworldly reality of the work. The main research method in this article is a systematic film analysis. The special structural elements of the film language and their role in the isolation of the genre are the focus of the research. The results of the study can be considered the very fact of highlighting a cultural phenomenon, since this genre is quite young and unique for a group of authors belonging to the same cultural group. In this regard, the phenomenon is practically unknown and extremely poorly studied in the Russian-language scientific literature. In addition to analyzing the historical and theoretical foundations of the genre, this article identifies special elements of the language of works, thanks to which the view of the problem of the otherworldly acquires a special philosophical depth, turning into a question about the limits of knowledge and mystical experience. The article analyzes in detail some of the images created by the authors of the series "Atlanta", and also draws a parallel between this series and David Lynch's older surrealist work "Twin Peaks", which allows us to more specifically draw a line separating "classic" surrealism from Afro-surrealism.

Achieving self-awareness through film screening “Twin Peaks” By D. Lynch as an example of mindfulness meditation

IntroductionTranscendental cinema, distinguished from slow cinema by Paul Schreader, draws on the philosophy of existentialism and depicts the complexity of the human psyche using psychoanalytic tools. We claim that through the use of special procedures, the projection of transcendental cinema essentially becomes a meditation session in the spirit of mindfulness, which has been proven to alleviate and cure more than just neuropsychiatric ailments.ObjectivesThe purpose of this work is to demonstrate the similarity between mindfulness philosophy and transcendental cinema. We believe that the assumptions of both currents are so similar that we can treat the film screening in the category of a meditation session. Thus, we arrive at a situation in which we not only watch the protagonist developing his own consciousness in accordance with the mindfulness philosophy (also following the path of psychoanalysis), but also we, as viewers, develop self-awareness.MethodsWe analyze D. Lynch’s Twin Peaks series in accordance with Paul Schrader’s understanding of ‘transcendental cinema’. In addition, we use the scientific achievements of classical psychoanalysts, analyzing the metaphysical world of the characters in accordance with this trend. Using J. Kabat Zinn’s scientific publications, we analyze cinema in terms of a meditation session.ResultsParticipation is crucial; in meditation and in the transcendental cinema. Mindfulness means focusing on the emotions and feelings experienced at a given moment, on what comes to us, what we experience. Transcendental cinema using specific formal and narrative tools (e.g. extended scenes, no cuts, etc.) forces us to actively participate. Transcendental cinema fulfills the tenets of mindfulness, and during the screening we undergo a meditation session. What’s more, this style in cinema allows an in-depth exploration of the psyche, it brings us closer to the metaphysical, emotional dimension of humanity what develops in us the ability to understand the psyche of others, as well as our own.ConclusionsWe claim that the similarity between the philosophy of mindfulness and transcendental cinema allows us to treat a film screening as a meditation session. Cinema enriches us not only with knowledge about disorders and the therapeutic process, but is in itself a supportive tool - screening can allow viewers to deepen their awareness and improve their health. What is more, David Lynch’s work brings us closer to exploring the human psyche and the individualization of inner experiences, while also showing us what influence transcendental meditation has on characters and what happens when they undergo a kind of therapy; in the spirit of psychoanalysis or mindfulness philosophy.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Bank resolution in South Africa: Recent developments

AbstractIn this contribution, the authors explore recent developments in South Africa's approach to bank resolution, assessing compliance of its new regime with the Financial Stability Board's Key Attributes of Effective Resolution Regimes for Financial Institutions (KAs). Emphasizing the imperative for orderly resolutions to avert financial crises, the authors scrutinize the post‐2008 Global Financial Crisis regulatory landscape. Until June 2023, South Africa's approach to bank failure was limited to curatorship and liquidation under the Banks Act 94 of 1990. Addressing gaps identified by international bodies such as the Financial Stability Board, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, and taking lessons from the failure of African Bank in 2014, South Africa has transitioned to a Twin Peaks regulatory model and also introduced a comprehensive resolution framework effective June 1, 2023, captured in the Financial Sector Regulation Act 9 of 2017. This framework currently applies to banks only. The South African Reserve Bank now holds an explicit financial stability mandate and is designated as the resolution authority. The article discusses the design features for an effective resolution regime as recommended in the KAs to benchmark the new South African resolution regime, noting overall compliance. However, it acknowledges the need for further development in certain respects to enhance alignment.

The Uncanny Box: Nostalgia and TV Culture in David Lynch’s Twin Peaks: The Return

David Lynch and Mark Frost’s Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) may be read as an extended meditation on the universal desire to return – to a putative golden age or lost paradise – and the eerie effects that are produced when this desire is realized. More specifically, the show explores the prevalent desire amongst TV audiences to continually “return” to beloved fictional spaces and characters. Drawing on psychoanalytic and philosophical theories of the uncanny, as well as film and media studies, the article explores the theme of returning within the show’s fictional and meta-fictional cosmos (the characters’ and viewers’ dream of going back) in relation to Lynch’s highly critical portrayal of the medium of television. In Lynch’s cinematic aesthetics of the uncanny, television (associated with consumerism, the nuclear family, and mindless repetition) is portrayed as a malign influence, providing faux nostalgia devoid of meaning or experiential value. Given that most of the returns in Twin Peaks: The Return always turn out to be unhomely, I suggest that Lynch’s take on TV culture may be read as a general commentary on the social and political nightmares created by a fetishization of the (real or fictional) past.

Dispersive wave manipulation by the spectral Heaviside step phase modulation

We investigate the dispersive waves (DWs) emitted from shaped pulses with spectral Heaviside step phases (HSPs). The spectrally HSP-modulated pulse exhibits a unique double-peak structure, where the intensity and separation of the twin peaks are determined by the modulation depth and frequency detuning. By tailoring the parameters of the HSP suitably, we can control the DW emission with regard to resonant frequency and conversion efficiency. As the intensity ratio or relative separation of neighboring peaks is elaborately chosen, the DW emission can be effectively boosted, or a solitonic cage can be constructed for realizing temporal reflections and refractions associated with spectral broadening and multi-peak spectra of the output DWs. These findings offer a straightforward and efficient approach for controlling the DW emission, which is highly relevant to the advancement of supercontinuum generation and wavelength conversion technology.

Reforming Indonesia’s OJK to Comply with International Standards: Lessons from Australia

This research examines the need to reform the supervisory model of the Financial Services Authority (OJK) to align with international supervisory standards, such as the Basel Accords and IOSCO's principles. In Indonesia, the supervisory model used is an integrated one, where OJK is the sole authority responsible for supervising the financial services sector, but it shows weaknesses because the scope of supervision is too broad and therefore unfocused. This study begins with the hypothesis that it is time to move to an alternative model of OJK supervision by learning from supervisory models in other countries. It begins by examining international supervisory standards and their relevance to the context of OJK supervision, exploring specific provisions in the standards that relate to the scope of this paper. The method used is a micro comparison by comparing the supervisory models in Indonesia and Australia. In Australia, the prevailing supervisory model is Twin Peaks, which separates the task of maintaining financial system stability from the task of maintaining market behavior and consumer protection more clearly. Lessons learned from the Australian model in relation to coordination and cooperation, accountability and governance, and outcomes, provide valuable insights and form the basis of contextual recommendations for future OJK reforms. These recommendations aim to ensure that the OJK fully supervises to global standards to address the weaknesses and challenges identified in the integrated model. Accountability and governance, as well as the outcomes achieved, provide valuable insights and inform recommendations for future reform of the OJK.

“Normal Is What We Make It, Right?” Ordinary Aesthetics and Uncanny Twists in Contemporary TV Series

AbstractContemporary TV shows, characterized by their complex narrative form, are designed to reveal the simple. They enable characters and viewers alike to discover the ordinary by coupling the everyday to an underworld populated by criminals, demons, vampires, and other kinds of “lowlifes.” I will argue here that the structure of the Möbius strip, or Escher twist, draws a particular aesthetic appeal at the intersection of these worlds. I call these twists uncanny in the Cavellian sense that the underworld, looking strangely familiar, has the capacity of making the ordinary look unfamiliar, inherently strange, and unstable. Rather than allowing us to judge the demonic or illegal, they disclose what is normally inaccessible to us precisely because it is so ordinary and simple, so familiar and in plain sight. I will support this idea of Escher-twisting from one world to another by analyzing examples fromTwin Peaks(ABC 1990-2, Showtime 2017),The Sopranos(HBO 1999-2007),Awake(NBC 2012), andOzark(Netflix 2017–2022).

Propagators and widths of physical and purely virtual particles in a finite interval of time

We study the free and dressed propagators of physical and purely virtual particles in a finite interval of time τ and on a compact space manifold Ω, using coherent states. In the free-field limit, the propagators are described by the entire function (ez– 1 – z)/z2, whose shape on the real axis is similar to the one of a Breit-Wigner function, with an effective width around 1/τ. The real part is positive, in agreement with unitarity, and remains so after including the radiative corrections, which shift the function into the physical half plane. We investigate the effects of the restriction to finite τ on the problem of unstable particles vs resonances, and show that the muon observation emerges from the right physical process, differently from what happens at τ = ∞. We also study the case of purely virtual particles, and show that, if τ is small enough, there exists a situation where the geometric series of the self-energies is always convergent. The plots of the dressed propagators show testable differences: while physical particles are characterized by the usual, single peak, purely virtual particles are characterized by twin peaks.

Evaluation of covalent and supra-molecular interactions in phosphated galacturonic-glucuronic acid for network structure for use in wound dressings

Keeping in view the wound healing properties of sterculia gum (SG) and ceftriaxone in consideration, in the present work, antibiotic drug encapsulated SG and poly(vinylphosphonic acid) [poly(VPA)] based copolymeric hydrogel wound dressings were designed to enhance the wound healing. Copolymers were characterized by FESEM & EDS, AFM, FTIR, 13C NMR, XRD, TGA and biomedical assay of blood compatibility, mucoadhesion and antioxidant properties. AFM analysis revealed 76.5 nm average roughness and XRD analysis showed sharp peaks at 2θ = 21°. FTIR spectrum of copolymer indicated characteristic peaks at 1116 cm−1 due to stretching vibration of P = O groups of poly(VPA) and twin peaks at 985 and 920 cm−1 due to asymmetric and symmetric vibration of P-O respectively and depicted grafting of phosphated polymers onto gum. The hemolysis test (hemolysis index = 3.40 ± 0.18%) revealed biocompatible nature and the adhesion test demonstrated 84 ± 5.00 mN detachment force which was required to detach the copolymer from the mucosal membrane. Hydrogel dressings absorbed 6.0 ± 5.00 (g/g gel) simulated wound fluid to main the moist wound environment. They were found permeable to O2 and impermeable to microbes and also exhibited antioxidant character. The release profile of ceftriaxone elucidated sustained release of encapsulated ceftriaxone drug with non-Fickian diffusion mechanism and was best fitted in first order kinetic model. Covalent and supra-molecular interactions formed in phosphated galacturonic-glucuronic acid of sterculia gum (SG) were found useful for sustained drug delivery and mucoadhesive properties. These biophysical interactions demonstrated the suitability of antibiotic-encapsulated network structures for wound dressing applications.

Temporal trends of de novo urological malignancy in renal transplant recipients without a cancer history: A longitudinal cohort study.

The incidence of malignancies after successful kidney transplantation has historically been higher than in the general population, with adverse impact on clinical outcomes. However, uncertainty remains as to which cancers occur at what time points after kidney transplantation. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study to investigate the temporal trends and topographic patterns of de novo malignancies to optimize surveillance protocols and improve transplant outcome in renal transplant recipients. Measurement of death and cancer events was performed to calculate the cumulative risk of events of interest. Between 2000 and 2013, 3169 renal transplant recipients were retrospectively screened; 3035 (96%) of them met eligibility criteria and were evaluated with a follow-up of 27612 person-years. There was suboptimal overall survival and malignancy-free survival in renal transplant recipients compared to reference groups (HR: 1.65; 95% CI: 1.50-1.82; p<.001; HR: 2.33; 95% CI: 2.04-2.66; p<.001, respectively). Among renal transplant recipients, urological malignancies were predominant (57.5%), followed by digestive tract malignancies (21.4%). The cancer risks of the urinary bladder and upper urinary tract were lower in male subjects (HR: .48; 95% CI: .33-.72; p<.001; HR: .34; 95% CI: .20-.59; p<.001, respectively). The temporal trends of urological malignancies among renal transplant recipients were expressed in a bimodal pattern, with M-shaped peaks at 3 and 9 years, with gender disparity. In renal transplant recipients, cancer occurrences are shown as M-shaped twin peaks. Our study highlights that specific customized 'targeted' strategies for cancer surveillance programs are required to optimize posttransplant care.

Neo-Cult and the Altered Audience: Reviving Cult TV for the Post-TV Age

From The X-Files to Friends, Gilmore Girls to Twin Peaks, revivals of beloved TV series have dominated the airwaves and streaming services over the last decade. The media landscape has changed significantly since these series’ original airings, however, and webisodes, video games, social media hashtags and fan communities exist alongside—and act upon—the “original” text. By focusing on The X-Files and Twin Peaks revivals this chapter theorizes the return of cult television series as neo-cult. I use the concept of the dialogic to argue that if cult is defined dialogically between text, audience, industry, the media and the academy, neo-cult emerges through discourse recalling the series’ earlier iterations as cult being reflected and amplified, thus resulting in the revived text becoming a self-referential cult text or neo-cult.

Prediction of Compound Plasma Concentration-Time Profiles in Mice Using Random Forest.

Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters such as clearance (CL) and volume of distribution (Vd) have been the subject of previous in silico predictive models. However, having information of the concentration over time profile explicitly can provide additional value like time above MIC or AUC, etc., to understand both the efficacy and safety-related aspects of a compound. In this work, we developed machine learning models for plasma concentration-time profiles after both i.v. and p.o. dosing for a series of 17 in-house projects. For explanatory variables, MACCS Keys chemical descriptors as well as in silico and experimental in vitro PK parameters were used. The predictive accuracy of random forest (RF), message passing neural network, 2-compartment models using estimated CL and Vdss, and an average model (as a control experiment) was investigated using 5-fold cross-validation (5-fold CV) and leave-one-project-out validation (LOPO-V). The predictive accuracy of RF in 5-fold CV for i.v. and p.o. plasma concentration-time profiles was the best among the models studied, with an RMSE for i.v. dosing at 0.08, 1, and 8 h of 0.245, 0.474, and 0.462, respectively, and an RMSE for p.o. dosing at 0.25, 1, and 8 h of 0.500, 0.612, and 0.509, respectively. Furthermore, by investigating the importance of the in vitro PK parameters using the Gini index, we observed that the general prior knowledge in ADME research was reflected well in the respective feature importance of in vitro parameters such as predicted human Vd (hVd) for the initial distribution, mouse intrinsic CL and unbound fraction of mouse plasma for the elimination process, and Caco2 permeability for the absorption process. Also, this model is the first model that can predict twin peaks in the concentration-time profile much better than a baseline compartment model. Because of its combination of sufficient accuracy and speed of prediction, we found the model to be fit-for-purpose for practical lead optimization.

Thermal infrared spectroscopy studies on skarn minerals for exploration of the Jiama Cu-Mo deposit, Tibet, China

The zonation patterns of skarn minerals, including garnet, diopside, and wollastonite, are important for exploration of skarn deposits. Thermal infrared (TIR) spectroscopy, which covers the wavelength range of 6–14 μm, is a new eco-friendly technology for skarn mineral identification. In this study, the TIR spectra data were collected, using an Agilent 4300 Handheld FTIR Spectrometer from nine drill holes within Jiama Cu-Mo deposit in Tibet, China. This study focuses on the TIR characteristics of grandite-series garnets (i.e., grossular to andradite), which have twin peaks in the 10–13 μm range and a diagnostic absorption valley (T absorption valley) at around 11.5 μm shifting based on the contents of Al2O3 and Fe2O3. The T absorption valley in the zoned garnet sample showed an undulating pattern, shifting towards longer wavelengths from the core to the rim, indicating the increase in Fe2O3 content and a decrease in Al2O3, MnO, and TiO2 content. The mixed spectral features of three significant skarn minerals including garnet, diopside, and wollastonite were used to classify the skarn zonation into garnet skarns, diopside-garnet skarns, and wollastonite-garnet skarns. The results from nine drill holes of the No. 24 exploration line in the cross section showed that the garnet T absorption valley shifted towards shorter wavelengths from the proximal to the distal skarn, as well as from the lower to the upper skarn. Furthermore, intensive copper mineralization occurred in the skarn when the garnet T absorption valley exceeded 11.50 μm. In comparison, the garnet T absorption valley at 11.35–11.50 μm is related to more intense molybdenum mineralization. This study suggests that TIR spectroscopy has the potential to rapidly identify skarn zonation in the field, and providing a suitable vector tool for skarn ore exploration.

“I’ll see you again in twenty five years”: Life Course Fandom, Nostalgia and Cult Television Revivals

AbstractSince they first aired in the 1990s,Twin PeaksandThe X-Fileshave been enduring hallmarks of cult television. This reputation only increased with the news that the shows were to be revived and, perhaps unsurprisingly, media discourse surrounding the revivals harkened back to the shows’ peaks. Yet this discourse also drew heavily on concepts of generational fandom and nostalgia. This article is interested in how and why fans ofThe X-FilesandTwin Peaksuse nostalgia to discuss their relationship with the shows and their own fandom. Drawing on qualitative research conducted with fans, this article identifies three forms of nostalgia specifically related to reboots, remakes or revivals: spatiotemporal nostalgia, textual nostalgia and communal nostalgia.

Pink Triangle Legacies: Coming Out in the Shadow of the Holocaust. By W. Jake Newsome

Come to San Francisco in June and look up. On the eastern slopes of Twin Peaks, a garish pink triangle towers over the city. The symbol, which National Socialists first used to designate homosexual concentration camp prisoners, is meant to shock. Every year since 1996, activists have claimed an acre of hillside during LGBTQ Pride month to remind onlookers of the persecution that queer people continue to face. The pink triangle is one of the most recognizable symbols of queer politics, surpassed only by the iconic rainbow flag originally designed in 1978. Yet its ubiquity in the United States is also curious, a strange transposition of collective memory from across the Atlantic. That transatlantic exchange is the focus of Pink Triangle Legacies, W. Jake Newsome’s first monograph, which traces the triangle’s evolution from a symbol of persecution to one of liberation. In so doing, it not only delves into the history of postwar LGBTQ activism, but also asks about the specific ways that memory interacts with and even constitutes modern politics. Weaving together archival research, oral histories, and the findings of other scholars, Pink Triangle Legacies is a lovingly written book by a public historian committed to ensuring that this past will not be relegated to the ash heap of history. That is, it is both an analysis of the political uses to which memory of Nazi persecution has been put and one such political use in its own right.

Review: Vulgar Beauty: Acting Chinese in the Global Sensorium, by Mila Zuo

Review: <i>Vulgar Beauty: Acting Chinese in the Global Sensorium</i>, by Mila Zuo