Digital hermeneutics and the European Historic Towns Atlas project: The digital and interactive historical town atlas of Luxembourg City as a “trading zone”

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Traces and memories of an ongoing pandemic – Yes We Care

in HumaMed@Larca (2021)

La démographie de la Grande Région SaarLorLux

E-print/Working paper (2021)

This article is an extract from the Report on the Economic and Social Situation of the Greater Region 2013/2014 for the Economic and Social Committee of the Greater Region (CESGR) (IBA/OIE, 2014, p.3-10 ... [more ▼]

This article is an extract from the Report on the Economic and Social Situation of the Greater Region 2013/2014 for the Economic and Social Committee of the Greater Region (CESGR) (IBA/OIE, 2014, p.3-10). The maps show the population density in the Greater Region on 1 January 2013, the population of working age on 1 January 2012 and the evolution of the total population 2000-2013 in % (Lorraine employment areas 1999-2011), calculated by the Interregional Labour Market Observatory IOE. [less ▲]

A Survey of Requirements for COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies. Part II: Elicitation of Requirements

E-print/Working paper (2021)

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced virtually all aspects of our lives. Across the world, countries have applied various mitigation strategies, based on social, political, and technological instruments ... [more ▼]

The COVID-19 pandemic has influenced virtually all aspects of our lives. Across the world, countries have applied various mitigation strategies, based on social, political, and technological instruments. We postulate that multi-agent systems can provide a common platform to study (and balance) their essential properties. We also show how to obtain a comprehensive list of the properties by ``distilling'' them from media snippets. Finally, we present a preliminary take on their formal specification, using ideas from multi-agent logics. [less ▲]

Border or bordering practice? Changing perspectives on borders and challenges of praxeological approaches

E-print/Working paper (2021)

In Border Studies, the ongoing discussions on methodological and theoretical questions have led to the development of transformed approaches and vocabulary for border research. This contribution ... [more ▼]

In Border Studies, the ongoing discussions on methodological and theoretical questions have led to the development of transformed approaches and vocabulary for border research. This contribution highlights the shift from ‘border’ to ‘bordering practice’ and questions its sources in the scientific context, such as the cultural turn and the related practice turn. Despite the popular use of the term ‘practice’ in Border Studies, sociological practice theories are not at the center of the development of dynamic concepts for studying borders. The article emphasizes the compatibility of sociological practice theories with the practice and process orientation in Border Studies. It gives a short overview of praxeological thinking in sociology and identifies methodological challenges for Border Studies targeting the development of praxeological re-search perspectives for borders. [less ▲]

Batch Learning in Stochastic Dual Dynamic Programming

E-print/Working paper (2021)

All in one stroke? Intervention Spaces for Dark Patterns

E-print/Working paper (2021)

This position paper draws from the complexity of dark patterns to develop arguments for differentiated interventions. We propose a matrix of interventions with a \textit{measure axis} (from user-directed ... [more ▼]

This position paper draws from the complexity of dark patterns to develop arguments for differentiated interventions. We propose a matrix of interventions with a \textit{measure axis} (from user-directed to environment-directed) and a \textit{scope axis} (from general to specific). We furthermore discuss a set of interventions situated in different fields of the intervention spaces. The discussions at the 2021 CHI workshop "What can CHI do about dark patterns?" should help hone the matrix structure and fill its fields with specific intervention proposals. [less ▲]

A Mixture of Generative Models Strategy Helps Humans Generalize across Tasks

E-print/Working paper (2021)

What role do generative models play in generalization of learning in humans? Our novel multi-task prediction paradigm—where participants complete four sequence learning tasks, each being a different ... [more ▼]

What role do generative models play in generalization of learning in humans? Our novel multi-task prediction paradigm—where participants complete four sequence learning tasks, each being a different instance of a common generative family—allows the separate study of within-task learning (i.e., finding the solution to each of the tasks), and across-task learning (i.e., learning a task differently because of past experiences). The very first responses participants make in each task are not yet affected by within-task learning and thus reflect their priors. Our results show that these priors change across successive tasks, increasingly resembling the underlying generative family. We conceptualize multi-task learning as arising from a mixture-of-generative-models learning strategy, whereby participants simultaneously entertain multiple candidate models which compete against each other to explain the experienced sequences. This framework predicts specific error patterns, as well as a gating mechanism for learning, both of which are observed in the data. [less ▲]

The Cost of No Reform: Assessing the Impact of Different Electricity Pricing Regimes on Indonesia\textquoterights Energy Trilemma

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Many countries have a clear policy objective of increasing their share of renewable energy sources (RESs). However, a major impediment to higher RES penetration often lies in the historically grown ... [more ▼]

Many countries have a clear policy objective of increasing their share of renewable energy sources (RESs). However, a major impediment to higher RES penetration often lies in the historically grown structures of a country\textquoterights electricity sector. In Indonesia, policy makers have relied on cheap fossil fuels and state control to provide the population with access to both reliable and affordable electricity. However, this focus on only two of the three horns of the energy trilemma, namely energy security and energy equity (and not sustainability), may put Indonesia at risk of missing its ambitious RES targets. In this context, a number of small-scale reform attempts to promote RES integration in recent years have proved to be relatively unsuccessful. Like many other countries, Indonesia needs clear policy directions to avoid an unsustainable lock-in into a fossil fuel future. In the last decades, several other countries have successfully restructured their electricity sectors, for example by introducing a wholesale market for electricity under different electricity pricing systems, including nodal, zonal, or uniform pricing. These countries may hold valuable experiences of overcoming the historically grown barriers to successful RES integration through a greater role for market mechanisms. We develop three generic models that allow policy makers to analyze the impact of introducing either a nodal, a zonal, or a uniform pricing system on the three horns of the energy trilemma in their country. We evaluate our model using a simplified network representation of the Indonesian electricity sector. Our results indicate that each of the pricing systems is able to foster specific horns of the energy trilemma. Considering that any major reform intended to improve energy sustainability in Indonesia will only be a success if it also addresses energy security and energy equity, we also discuss our results from the perspective of energy justice and the need to balance the country\textquoterights energy trilemma. Ultimately, we illustrate a transformation pathway for a more sustainable and just transition to a low-carbon economy in Indonesia. [less ▲]

Factoring Primes to Factor Moduli: Backdooring and Distributed Generation of Semiprimes

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Automated Truncation of Differential Trails and Trail Clustering in ARX

E-print/Working paper (2021)

We propose a tool for automated truncation of differential trails in ciphers using modular addition, bitwise rotation, and XOR (ARX). The tool takes as input a differential trail and produces as output a ... [more ▼]

We propose a tool for automated truncation of differential trails in ciphers using modular addition, bitwise rotation, and XOR (ARX). The tool takes as input a differential trail and produces as output a set of truncated differential trails. The set represents all possible truncations of the input trail according to certain predefined rules. A linear-time algorithm for the exact computation of the differential probability of a truncated trail that follows the truncation rules is proposed. We further describe a method to merge the set of truncated trails into a compact set of non-overlapping truncated trails with associated probability and we demonstrate the application of the tool on block cipher Speck64. We have also investigated the effect of clustering of differential trails around a fixed input trail. The best cluster that we have found for 15 rounds has probability 2^−55.03 (consisting of 389 unique output differences) which allows us to build a distinguisher using 128 times less data than the one based on just the single best trail, which has probability 2^−62. Moreover, we show examples for Speck64 where a cluster of trails around a suboptimal (in terms of probability) input trail results in higher overall probability compared to a cluster obtained around the best differential trail. [less ▲]

Towards AI Logic for Social Reasoning

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) logic formalizes the reasoning of intelligent agents. In this paper, we discuss how an argumentation-based AI logic could be used also to formalize important aspects of social ... [more ▼]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) logic formalizes the reasoning of intelligent agents. In this paper, we discuss how an argumentation-based AI logic could be used also to formalize important aspects of social reasoning. Besides reasoning about the knowledge and actions of individual agents, social AI logic can reason also about social dependencies among agents using the rights, obligations and permissions of the agents. We discuss four aspects of social AI logic. First, we discuss how rights represent relations between the obligations and permissions of intelligent agents. Second, we discuss how to argue about the right-to-know, a central issue in the recent discussion of privacy and ethics. Third, we discuss how a wide variety of conflicts among intelligent agents can be identified and (sometimes) resolved by comparing formal arguments. Importantly, to cover a wide range of arguments occurring in daily life, also fallacious arguments can be represented and reasoned about. Fourth, we discuss how to argue about the freedom to act for intelligent agents. Examples from social, legal and ethical reasoning highlight the challenges in developing social AI logic. The discussion of the four challenges leads to a research program for argumentation-based social AI logic, contributing towards the future development of AI logic. [less ▲]

Parent-Teacher Partnerships, Collaboration with Families, Parental Participation: Day Care–Family Relations from the Perspective of Inequality Research. Kind-heitsforschung – Working Paper 1.

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Fashion ID and decisively influencing Facebook plugins: A fair approach to single and joint controllership or the introduction of unbearable burdens in the name of illusory user-control?

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Dynamic Universal Accumulator with Batch Update over Bilinear Groups

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Division in modules and Kummer theory

E-print/Working paper (2021)

In this work we generalize the concept of injective module and develop a theory of divisibility for modules over a general ring, which provides a general and unified framework to study Kummer-like field ... [more ▼]

In this work we generalize the concept of injective module and develop a theory of divisibility for modules over a general ring, which provides a general and unified framework to study Kummer-like field extensions arising from commutative algebraic groups. With these tools we provide an effective bound for the degree of the field extensions arising from division points of elliptic curves, extending previous results of Javan Peykar for CM curves and of Lombardo and the author for the non-CM case. [less ▲]

European Border Region Studies in Times of Borderization

E-print/Working paper (2021)

The text originates from a time of borderization, at global level and at the EU’s internal borders. At the latest since covidfencing began in the spring of 2020, many Europeans have become familiar with ... [more ▼]

The text originates from a time of borderization, at global level and at the EU’s internal borders. At the latest since covidfencing began in the spring of 2020, many Europeans have become familiar with border experiences and the practices of civic contestation of borders. With that in mind, the text argues that it is necessary to open European border region studies to the contestation of borders, for which it should enter into dialogue with international (and critical) border studies. [less ▲]

Optical properties of topological flat and dispersive bands

E-print/Working paper (2021)

We study the optical properties of topological flat and dispersive bands. Due to their topological nature, there exists an anomalous Hall response which gives rise to a transverse current without applied ... [more ▼]

We study the optical properties of topological flat and dispersive bands. Due to their topological nature, there exists an anomalous Hall response which gives rise to a transverse current without applied magnetic field. The dynamical Hall conductivity of systems with flat bands exhibits a sign change when the excitation energy is on resonance with the band gap, similar to the magnetotransport Hall conductivity profile. The sign change of the Hall conductivity is located at the frequency corresponding to the singularity of the joint density of states, i.e., the van Hove singularity (VHS). For perfectly flat bands, this VHS energy matches the band gap. On the other hand, in the case of dispersive bands, the VHS energy is located above the band gap. As a result, the two features of the Hall conductivity, i.e., the resonant feature at the band gap and the sign change at the VHS energy, become separated. This anomalous Hall response rotates the polarization of an electric field and can be detected in the reflected and transmitted waves, as Kerr and Faraday rotations, respectively, thus allowing a simple optical characterization of topological flat bands. [less ▲]

Discovering Pesticides and their Transformation Products in Luxembourg Waters using Open Cheminformatics Approaches

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Abstract The diversity of hundreds of thousands of potential organic pollutants and the lack of (publicly available) information about many of them is a huge challenge for environmental sciences ... [more ▼]

Abstract The diversity of hundreds of thousands of potential organic pollutants and the lack of (publicly available) information about many of them is a huge challenge for environmental sciences, engineering, and regulation. Suspect screening based on high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) has enormous potential to help characterize the presence of these chemicals in our environment, enabling the detection of known and newly emerging pollutants, as well as their potential transformation products (TPs). Here, suspect list creation (focusing on pesticides relevant for Luxembourg, incorporating data sources in 4 languages) was coupled to an automated retrieval of related TPs from PubChem based on high confidence suspect hits, to screen for pesticides and their TPs in Luxembourgish river samples. A computational workflow was established to combine LC-HRMS analysis and pre-screening of the suspects (including automated quality control steps), with spectral annotation to determine which pesticides and, in a second step, their related TPs may be present in the samples. The data analysis with Shinyscreen (https://git-r3lab.uni.lu/eci/shinyscreen/), an open source software developed in house, coupled with custom-made scripts, revealed the presence of 162 potential pesticide masses and 135 potential TP masses in the samples. Further identification of these mass matches was performed using the open source MetFrag (https://msbi.ipb-halle.de/MetFrag/). Eventual target analysis of 36 suspects resulted in 31 pesticides and TPs confirmed at Level-1 (highest confidence), and five pesticides and TPs not confirmed due to different retention times. Spatio-temporal analysis of the results showed that TPs and pesticides followed similar trends, with a maximum number of potential detections in July. The highest detections were in the rivers Alzette and Mess and the lowest in the Sûre and Eisch. This study (a) added pesticides, classification information and related TPs into the open domain, (b) developed automated open source retrieval methods - both enhancing FAIRness (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability and Reusability) of the data and methods; and (c) will directly support “L’Administration de la Gestion de l’Eau” on further monitoring steps in Luxembourg. [less ▲]

Genomic and metabolic adaptations of biofilms to ecological windows of opportunities in glacier-fed streams 2021.10.07.463499

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Microorganisms dominate life in cryospheric ecosystems. In glacier-fed streams (GFSs), ecological windows of opportunities allow complex microbial biofilms to develop and transiently form the basis of the ... [more ▼]

Microorganisms dominate life in cryospheric ecosystems. In glacier-fed streams (GFSs), ecological windows of opportunities allow complex microbial biofilms to develop and transiently form the basis of the food web, thereby controlling key ecosystem processes. Here, using high-resolution metagenomics, we unravel strategies that allow biofilms to seize this opportunity in an ecosystem otherwise characterized by harsh environmental conditions. We found a diverse microbiome spanning the entire tree of life and including a rich virome. Various and co-existing energy acquisition pathways point to diverse niches and the simultaneous exploitation of available resources, likely fostering the establishment of complex biofilms in GFSs during windows of opportunity. The wide occurrence of rhodopsins across metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), besides chlorophyll, highlights the role of solar energy capture in these biofilms. Concomitantly, internal carbon and nutrient cycling between photoautotrophs and heterotrophs may help overcome constraints imposed by the high oligotrophy in GFSs. MAGs also revealed mechanisms potentially protecting bacteria against low temperatures and high UV-radiation. The selective pressure of the GFS environment is further highlighted by the phylogenomic analysis, differentiating the representatives of the genus Polaromonas, an important component of the GFS microbiome, from those found in other ecosystems. Our findings reveal key genomic underpinnings of adaptive traits that contribute to the success of complex biofilms to exploit environmental opportunities in GFSs, now rapidly changing owing to global warming.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest. [less ▲]

Exploring the Possibility of Interplay between Different Types of Control: Connecting Political and Judicial Accountability in the Case of EASA

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Gaussian fluctuation for Gaussian Wishart matrices of overall correlation

E-print/Working paper (2021)

THE EU SUSTAINABLE FINANCE FRAMEWORK IN LIGHT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Mobilome-driven segregation of the resistome in biological wastewater treatment 2021.11.15.468621

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Biological wastewater treatment plants (BWWTP) are considered to be hotspots of evolution and subsequent spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) promote the mobilization ... [more ▼]

Biological wastewater treatment plants (BWWTP) are considered to be hotspots of evolution and subsequent spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) promote the mobilization and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and are thereby critical mediators of AMR within the BWWTP microbial community. At present, it is unclear whether specific AMR categories are differentially disseminated via bacteriophages (phages) or plasmids. To understand the segregation of AMR in relation to MGEs, we analyzed meta-omic (metagenomic, metatranscriptomic and metaproteomic) data systematically collected over 1.5 years from a BWWTP. Our results showed a core group of fifteen AMR categories which were found across all timepoints. Some of these AMR categories were disseminated exclusively (bacitracin) or primarily (aminoglycoside, MLS, sulfonamide) via plasmids or phages (fosfomycin and peptide), whereas others were disseminated equally by both MGEs. Subsequent expression- and protein-level analyses further demonstrated that aminoglycoside, bacitracin and sulfonamide resistance genes were expressed more by plasmids, in contrast to fosfomycin and peptide AMR expression by phages, thereby validating our genomic findings. Longitudinal assessment further underlined these findings whereby the log2-fold changes of aminoglycoside, bacitracin and sulfonamide resistance genes were increased in plasmids, while fosfomycin and peptide resistance showed similar trends in phages. In the analyzed communities, the dominant taxon Candidatus Microthrix parvicella was a major contributor to several AMR categories whereby its plasmids primarily mediated aminoglycoside resistance. Importantly, we also found AMR associated with ESKAPEE pathogens within the BWWTP, for which MGEs also contributed differentially to the dissemination of ARGs. Collectively our findings pave the way towards understanding the segmentation of AMR within MGEs, thereby shedding new light on resistome populations and their mediators, essential elements that are of immediate relevance to human health.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest. [less ▲]

Glacier-fed stream biofilms harbour diverse resistomes and biosynthetic gene clusters 2021.11.18.469141

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a universal phenomenon whose origins lay in natural ecological interactions such as competition within niches, within and between micro- to higher-order ... [more ▼]

Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a universal phenomenon whose origins lay in natural ecological interactions such as competition within niches, within and between micro- to higher-order organisms. However, the ecological and evolutionary processes shaping AMR need to be better understood in view of better antimicrobial stewardship. Resolving antibiotic biosynthetic pathways, including biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), and corresponding antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) may therefore help in understanding the inherent mechanisms. However, to study these phenomena, it is crucial to examine the origins of AMR in pristine environments with limited anthropogenic influences. In this context, epilithic biofilms residing in glacier-fed streams (GFSs) are an excellent model system to study diverse, intra- and inter-domain, ecological crosstalk.Results We assessed the resistomes of epilithic biofilms from GFSs across the Southern Alps (New Zealand) and the Caucasus (Russia) and observed that both bacteria and eukaryotes encoded twenty-nine distinct AMR categories. Of these, beta-lactam, aminoglycoside, and multidrug resistance were both abundant and taxonomically distributed in most of the bacterial and eukaryotic phyla. AMR-encoding phyla included Bacteroidota and Proteobacteria among the bacteria, alongside Ochrophyta (algae) among the eukaryotes. Additionally, BGCs involved in the production of antibacterial compounds were identified across all phyla in the epilithic biofilms. Furthermore, we found that several bacterial genera (Flavobacterium, Polaromonas, etc.) including representatives of the superphylum Patescibacteria encode both ARGs and BGCs within close proximity of each other, thereby demonstrating their capacity to simultaneously influence and compete within the microbial community.Conclusions Our findings highlight the presence and abundance of AMR in epilithic biofilms within GFSs. Additionally, we identify their role in the complex intra- and inter-domain competition and the underlying mechanisms influencing microbial survival in GFS epilithic biofilms. We demonstrate that eukaryotes may serve as AMR reservoirs owing to their potential for encoding ARGs. We also find that the taxonomic affiliation of the AMR and the BGCs are congruent. Importantly, our findings allow for understanding how naturally occurring BGCs and AMR contribute to the epilithic biofilms mode of life in GFSs. Importantly, these observations may be generalizable and potentially extended to other environments which may be more or less impacted by human activity.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.AMRAntimicrobial resistanceARGsAntimicrobial resistance gene(s)BGCBiosynthetic gene clustersCACaucasusCPRCandidate Phyla radiationGFSsGlacier-fed stream(s)GLGlacierIRS-RSisoleucyl-tRNA synthetase - high resistanceIMPIntegrate Meta-Omics PipelineKEGGKyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and GenomesMAGsMetagenome-assembled genome(s)NRPSNon-ribosomal peptide synthetasesPKSPolyketide synthases (type I and type II)RiPPsPost-translationally modified peptide(s)SASouthern Alps [less ▲]

The Seventh International Olympiad in Cryptography NSUCRYPTO: problems and solutions

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Observing Many Researchers Using the Same Data and Hypothesis Reveals a Hidden Universe of Uncertainty

E-print/Working paper (2021)

How does noise generated by researcher decisions undermine the credibility of science? We test this by observing all decisions made among 73 research teams as they independently conduct studies on the ... [more ▼]

How does noise generated by researcher decisions undermine the credibility of science? We test this by observing all decisions made among 73 research teams as they independently conduct studies on the same hypothesis with identical starting data. We find excessive variation of outcomes. When combined, the 107 observed research decisions taken across teams explained at most 2.6 of the total variance in effect sizes and 10 of the deviance in subjective conclusions. Expertise, prior beliefs and attitudes of the researchers explain even less. Each model deployed to test the hypothesis was unique, which highlights a vast universe of research design variability that is normally hidden from view and suggests humility when presenting and interpreting scientific findings. [less ▲]

Safety Norms for Space Security: How the Development of STM Norms Can Strengthen Security in Space

E-print/Working paper (2021)

Remuneration Debacle at the International Criminal Court: Should ICC Judges Get a Pay Rise? Part II

E-print/Working paper (2020)

ESG Data and Reporting in the Forefront of Sustainability: Challenges and the Way Forward

E-print/Working paper (2020)

A NEW CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN TASEPAND BURGERS’ EQUATION

E-print/Working paper (2020)

We introduce a new particle model, which we dub Active Bi-Directional Flow, conjugated to the Totally Asymmetric Exclusion Processin discrete time. We then associate to our model intrinsically stochastic ... [more ▼]

We introduce a new particle model, which we dub Active Bi-Directional Flow, conjugated to the Totally Asymmetric Exclusion Processin discrete time. We then associate to our model intrinsically stochastic, non-entropic weak solutions of Burgers’ equation onR, thus linking the latter tothe KPZ universality class. [less ▲]

International Arbitration and National Criminal Proceedings: Presentation Given to the Luxembourg Arbitration Association, 30 June 2020

E-print/Working paper (2020)

This paper examines how arbitral proceedings and domestic criminal processes can interact; how parties to arbitrations have attempted to use domestic criminal proceedings to advance their interests; and ... [more ▼]

This paper examines how arbitral proceedings and domestic criminal processes can interact; how parties to arbitrations have attempted to use domestic criminal proceedings to advance their interests; and how arbitral tribunals can and should respond to such attempts. It concludes that arbitral tribunals must take account of concurrent national criminal proceedings but cannot defer entirely to them. This is not only because they undertake a different role but also because national authorities cannot always entirely be trusted. In turn, this means that tribunals can find themselves between Scylla and Charybdis, so that arbitrators must be skillful navigators to get safely to their destination: an enforceable award. [less ▲]

A hybrid MGA-MSGD ANN training approach for approximate solution of linear elliptic PDEs

E-print/Working paper (2020)

We introduce a hybrid "Modified Genetic Algorithm-Multilevel Stochastic Gradient Descent" (MGA-MSGD) training algorithm that considerably improves accuracy and efficiency of solving 3D mechanical problems ... [more ▼]

We introduce a hybrid "Modified Genetic Algorithm-Multilevel Stochastic Gradient Descent" (MGA-MSGD) training algorithm that considerably improves accuracy and efficiency of solving 3D mechanical problems described, in strong-form, by PDEs via ANNs (Artificial Neural Networks). This presented approach allows the selection of a number of locations of interest at which the state variables are expected to fulfil the governing equations associated with a physical problem. Unlike classical PDE approximation methods such as finite differences or the finite element method, there is no need to establish and reconstruct the physical field quantity throughout the computational domain in order to predict the mechanical response at specific locations of interest. The basic idea of MGA-MSGD is the manipulation of the learnable parameters’ components responsible for the error explosion so that we can train the network with relatively larger learning rates which avoids trapping in local minima. The proposed training approach is less sensitive to the learning rate value, training points density and distribution, and the random initial parameters. The distance function to minimise is where we introduce the PDEs including any physical laws and conditions (so-called, Physics Informed ANN). The Genetic algorithm is modified to be suitable for this type of ANN in which a Coarse-level Stochastic Gradient Descent (CSGD) is exploited to make the decision of the offspring qualification. Employing the presented approach, a considerable improvement in both accuracy and efficiency, compared with standard training algorithms such classical SGD and Adam optimiser, is observed. The local displacement accuracy is studied and ensured by introducing the results of Finite Element Method (FEM) at sufficiently fine mesh as the reference displacements. A slightly more complex problem is solved ensuring the feasibility of the methodology [less ▲]

Age, Intentions and the Implicit Role of Out-Selection Factors of International Migration

E-print/Working paper (2020)

In this paper, I propose to isolate the role of age as a self-selection factor of international migration. The role of age is estimated on intended emigration rather than on observed outcomes of migration ... [more ▼]

In this paper, I propose to isolate the role of age as a self-selection factor of international migration. The role of age is estimated on intended emigration rather than on observed outcomes of migration, using individual measures of intended emigration drawn from a large-scale survey conducted by Gallup. I find evidence that age has a monotonic negative effect on desired emigration for the working-age population. The estimations point to a very robust effect, suggesting that an additional year of age decreases the probability of intended emigration by about 0.5%. This effect is steady over different periods of time and for most types of countries of origin. The results contrast with previous evidence obtained on observed outcomes of migration, suggesting that out-selection factors interact with age and shape the demographic profile of migrants. [less ▲]

Empowering Large Chemical Knowledge Bases for Exposomics: PubChemLite Meets MetFrag

E-print/Working paper (2020)

Rate of estimation for the stationary distribution of jump-processes over anisotropic Holder classes.

E-print/Working paper (2020)

We study the problem of the non-parametric estimation for the density π of the stationary distribution of the multivariate stochastic differential equation with jumps (Xt)0≤t≤T , when the dimension d is ... [more ▼]

We study the problem of the non-parametric estimation for the density π of the stationary distribution of the multivariate stochastic differential equation with jumps (Xt)0≤t≤T , when the dimension d is such that d ≥ 3. From the continuous observa- tion of the sampling path on [0, T ] we show that, under anisotropic H ̈older smoothness constraints, kernel based estimators can achieve fast convergence rates. In particu- lar, they are as fast as the ones found by Dalalyan and Reiss [9] for the estimation of the invariant density in the case without jumps under isotropic H ̈older smooth- ness constraints. Moreover, they are faster than the ones found by Strauch [29] for the invariant density estimation of continuous stochastic differential equations, under anisotropic H ̈older smoothness constraints. Furthermore, we obtain a minimax lower bound on the L2-risk for pointwise estimation, with the same rate up to a log(T) term. It implies that, on a class of diffusions whose invariant density belongs to the anisotropic Holder class we are considering, it is impossible to find an estimator with a rate of estimation faster than the one we propose. [less ▲]

On the nonparametric inference of coefficients of self-exciting jump-diffusion

E-print/Working paper (2020)

In this paper, we consider a one-dimensional diffusion process with jumps driven by a Hawkes process. We are interested in the estimations of the volatility function and of the jump function from discrete ... [more ▼]

In this paper, we consider a one-dimensional diffusion process with jumps driven by a Hawkes process. We are interested in the estimations of the volatility function and of the jump function from discrete high-frequency observations in long time horizon. We first propose to estimate the volatility coefficient. For that, we introduce in our estimation procedure a truncation function that allows to take into account the jumps of the process and we estimate the volatility function on a linear subspace of L 2 (A) where A is a compact interval of R. We obtain a bound for the empirical risk of the volatility estimator and establish an oracle inequality for the adaptive estimator to measure the performance of the procedure. Then, we propose an estimator of a sum between the volatility and the jump coefficient modified with the conditional expectation of the intensity of the jumps. The idea behind this is to recover the jump function. We also establish a bound for the empirical risk for the non-adaptive estimator of this sum and an oracle inequality for the final adaptive estimator. We conduct a simulation study to measure the accuracy of our estimators in practice and we discuss the possibility of recovering the jump function from our estimation procedure. [less ▲]

Anonymous proof-ofasset transactions using pairing-based designated blind signatures

E-print/Working paper (2020)

‘Grading’ the Nominees for the International Criminal Court Judges Election 2021-2030: The Report of the Advisory Committee on Nomination of Judges—Part I

E-print/Working paper (2020)

Between Discretion and Proportionality: The Duty of Care in EU Judicial Review

E-print/Working paper (2020)

Time to reconsider Strasbourg's whistleblower case law

E-print/Working paper (2020)

On the Composition and Limitations of Publicly Available COVID-19 X-Ray Imaging Datasets

E-print/Working paper (2020)

 Machine learning based methods for diagnosis and progression prediction of COVID-19 from imaging data have gained significant attention in the last months, in particular by the use of deep learning ... [more ▼]

 Machine learning based methods for diagnosis and progression prediction of COVID-19 from imaging data have gained significant attention in the last months, in particular by the use of deep learning models. In this context hundreds of models where proposed with the majority of them trained on public datasets. Data scarcity, mismatch between training and target population, group imbalance, and lack of documentation are important sources of bias, hindering the applicability of these models to real-world clinical practice. Considering that datasets are an essential part of model building and evaluation, a deeper understanding of the current landscape is needed. This paper presents an overview of the currently public available COVID-19 chest X-ray datasets. Each dataset is briefly described and potential strength, limitations and interactions between datasets are identified. In particular, some key properties of current datasets that could be potential sources of bias, impairing models trained on them are pointed out. These descriptions are useful for model building on those datasets, to choose the best dataset according the model goal, to take into account the specific limitations to avoid reporting overconfident benchmark results, and to discuss their impact on the generalisation capabilities in a specific clinical setting. [less ▲]

On the Gauss map of equivariant immersions in hyperbolic space

E-print/Working paper (2020)

Given an oriented immersed hypersurface in hyperbolic space H^{n+1}, its Gauss map is defined with values in the space of oriented geodesics of H^{n+1}, which is endowed with a natural para-Kähler ... [more ▼]

Given an oriented immersed hypersurface in hyperbolic space H^{n+1}, its Gauss map is defined with values in the space of oriented geodesics of H^{n+1}, which is endowed with a natural para-Kähler structure. In this paper we address the question of whether an immersion G of the universal cover of an n-manifold M, equivariant for some group representation of π1(M) in Isom(H^{n+1}), is the Gauss map of an equivariant immersion in H^{n+1}. We fully answer this question for immersions with principal curvatures in (−1,1): while the only local obstructions are the conditions that G is Lagrangian and Riemannian, the global obstruction is more subtle, and we provide two characterizations, the first in terms of the Maslov class, and the second (for M compact) in terms of the action of the group of compactly supported Hamiltonian symplectomorphisms [less ▲]

The Flow of Information Among Authorities Involved in the Banking Union’s Resolution Procedure: The Case of the SRB and the ECB

E-print/Working paper (2020)

The flow of information is vital for the smooth functioning and certainty of the successful outcome of a resolution procedure during resolution planning and execution. As a result, the exchange of ... [more ▼]

The flow of information is vital for the smooth functioning and certainty of the successful outcome of a resolution procedure during resolution planning and execution. As a result, the exchange of relevant information has become highly influential in current debates. This article will focus on the exchange of information between the Single Resolution Board (SRB) and the European Central Bank (ECB). Firstly, the Authorities decided to arrange the rules for sharing information bilaterally in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). While this framework of cooperation and exchange of information between the SRB and the ECB constitutes an obligation under Article 30(7) of the Single Resolution Mechanism Regulation (SRMR), it was drafted in the non-binding form of an MoU. The general purpose of an MoU is to establish the basis for cooperation and convergence of intentions. Such foundations aim to strengthen the resolution procedure by joining forces to obtain more accurate and complete data with better coordination of tasks and resources in order to achieve the most solid result possible within a tighter timeframe. [less ▲]

The prestige and status of research fields within mathematics

E-print/Working paper (2020)

While the ``hierarchy of science'' has been widely analysed, there is no corresponding study of the status of subfields within a given scientific field. We use bibliometric data to show that subfields of ... [more ▼]

While the ``hierarchy of science'' has been widely analysed, there is no corresponding study of the status of subfields within a given scientific field. We use bibliometric data to show that subfields of mathematics have a different ``standing'' within the mathematics community. Highly ranked departments tend to specialize in some subfields more than in others, and the same subfields are also over-represented in the most selective mathematics journals or among recipients of top prizes. Moreover this status of subfields evolves markedly over the period of observation (1984--2016), with some subfields gaining and others losing in standing. The status of subfields is related to different publishing habits, but some of those differences are opposite to those observed when considering the hierarchy of scientific fields. We examine possible explanations for the ``status'' of different subfields. Some natural explanations -- availability of funding, importance of applications -- do not appear to function, suggesting that factors internal to the discipline are at work. We propose a different type of explanation, based on a notion of ``focus'' of a subfield, that might or might not be specific to mathematics. [less ▲]

100 лет русской школе зарубежом: Люксембург

E-print/Working paper (2020)

The article provides an overview of different types of schools, teachers and their methods of teaching Russian in Luxembourg over the past 100 years. A distinction is made between the affiliation of ... [more ▼]

The article provides an overview of different types of schools, teachers and their methods of teaching Russian in Luxembourg over the past 100 years. A distinction is made between the affiliation of schools and the values that they try to convey along with the Russian language. The article analyzes the motivation of parents and teachers in the transfer of oral or written knowledge of the native language. [less ▲]

PISTIS: From a Word-of-Mouth to a Gentleman’s Agreement

E-print/Working paper (2020)

The accelerated digitalisation of society along with technological evolution have extended the geographical span of cyber-physical systems. Two main threats have made the reliable and real-time control of ... [more ▼]

The accelerated digitalisation of society along with technological evolution have extended the geographical span of cyber-physical systems. Two main threats have made the reliable and real-time control of these systems challenging: (i) uncertainty in the communication infrastructure induced by scale, openness and heterogeneity of the environment and devices; and (ii) targeted attacks maliciously worsening the impact of the above-mentioned communication uncertainties, disrupting the correctness of real-time applications. This paper addresses those challenges by showing how to build distributed protocols that provide both real-time with practical performance, and scalability in the presence of network faults and attacks. We provide a suite of real-time Byzantine protocols, which we prove correct, starting from a reliable broadcast protocol, called PISTIS, up to atomic broadcast and consensus. This suite simplifies the construction of powerful distributed and decentralized monitoring and control applications, including state-machine replication. Extensive empirical evaluations show- case PISTIS’s robustness, latency, and scalability. For example, PISTIS can withstand message loss (and delay) rates up to 40% in systems with 49 nodes and provides bounded delivery latencies in the order of a few milliseconds. [less ▲]

Was frustriert Arbeitnehmer in Luxemburg an ihrem Arbeitsplatz?

E-print/Working paper (2020)

Im Rahmen dieser Newsletter wird analysiert, in welchem Umfang Arbeitnehmer in Luxemburg an ihrem Arbeitsplatz von der Frustration dreier psychologischer Grundbedürfnisse – der Autonomie, der Kompetenz ... [more ▼]

Im Rahmen dieser Newsletter wird analysiert, in welchem Umfang Arbeitnehmer in Luxemburg an ihrem Arbeitsplatz von der Frustration dreier psychologischer Grundbedürfnisse – der Autonomie, der Kompetenz, und der Verbundenheit – betroffen sind. Hierbei zeigt sich durchgängig bei den Arbeitnehmern, dass die Frustration über fehlende Autonomie am Stärksten ausgeprägt ist. Spezifische Arbeitsbedingungen, wie z.B. fehlende Partizipation sowie geringes Well-Being sindzudem besonders hoch mit Frustration korreliert. Vergleiche zwischen unterschiedlichen Arbeitnehmergruppen zeigen auf, dass Frauen gegenüber Männern ein etwas höheres Ausmaß der Frustration von Verbundenheit und von Kompetenz erleben. Manager zeigen hingegen ein geringeres Ausmaß der Frustration von Verbundenheit im Vergleich zu Arbeitnehmern in anderen Berufen. Arbeitnehmer, die in NGOs arbeiten, weisen wiederum das geringste Ausmaß an Frustration über fehlende Autonomie auf. [less ▲]

Scattering theory for the Hodge-Laplacian

E-print/Working paper (2020)

We prove using an integral criterion the existence and completeness of the wave operators corresponding to the Hodge-Laplacians acting on differential p-forms, induced by two quasi-isometric Riemannian ... [more ▼]

We prove using an integral criterion the existence and completeness of the wave operators corresponding to the Hodge-Laplacians acting on differential p-forms, induced by two quasi-isometric Riemannian metrics g and h on a complete open smooth manifold M. In particular, this result provides a criterion for the absolutely continuous spectra to coincide. The proof is based on gradient estimates obtained by probabilistic Bismut-type formulae for the heat semigroup defined by spectral calculus. By these localised formulae, the integral criterion only requires local curvature bounds and some upper local control on the heat kernel acting on functions, but no control on the injectivity radii. A consequence is a stability result of the absolutely continuous spectrum under a Ricci flow. As an application we concentrate on the important case of conformal perturbations. [less ▲]

Conferences and international collaboration revisited in times of the coronavirus: Experiences from a digital transition and lessons for the future

E-print/Working paper (2020)

"Everything was booked and ready to go for a two-day scientific workshop on education policies in Europe, scheduled for April 23-24, 2020 at the Hertie School in Berlin. The workshop intended to take ... [more ▼]

"Everything was booked and ready to go for a two-day scientific workshop on education policies in Europe, scheduled for April 23-24, 2020 at the Hertie School in Berlin. The workshop intended to take stock of developments at the European, national and sub-national levels given the European Union’s wrap up of its decade-long Education & Training 2020 strategy (ET 2020), a framework for cooperation in education and training. However, on March 12, we had to cancel the physical meeting on short notice due to the coronavirus crisis. In the following, we share our experiences with the subsequent transition to an alternative online workshop format that took place on April 23, involving 25 participants from 10 countries, and 16 paper presentations. After sketching the workshop’s virtual setup, we discuss strengths, weaknesses, and challenges related to this digital transition. Furthermore, we explore the prospects of such online formats for future academic conferences and networking." [less ▲]