The Participation Opportunities Act (POA) came into force in Germany in January 2019 with the aim of making publicly subsidised employment accessible to the long-term unemployed, whose prospects of regular employment are poor. The POA responds to a two-fold exclusion suffered by this group: exclusion from the labour market and a kind of ‘internal exclusion’ from social services. We argue that the POA can therefore be understood as a ‘policy of dignity’ and thus as a challenge to the neoliberal recognition order. The aim of this paper is an empirical examination of this thesis based on qualitative interviews with managers and professionals at German job centres. We apply Honneth’s theory of recognition as a theoretical framework and examine two levels of implementation: the interpretation of the law and how it is put into practice from 2019-2023.

We use instruction-tuned large language models (LLMs) like GPT-4, Llama 3, MiXtral, or Aya to position political texts within policy and ideological spaces. We ask an LLM where a tweet or a sentence of a political text stands on the focal dimension and take the average of the LLM responses to position political actors such as US Senators, or longer texts such as UK party manifestos or EU policy speeches given in 10 different languages. The correlations between the position estimates obtained with the best LLMs and benchmarks based on text coding by experts, crowdworkers, or roll call votes exceed .90. This approach is generally more accurate than the positions obtained with supervised classifiers trained on large amounts of research data. Using instruction-tuned LLMs to position texts in policy and ideological spaces is fast, cost-efficient, reliable, and reproducible (in the case of open LLMs) even if the texts are short and written in different languages. We conclude with cautionary notes about the need for empirical validation.

We give a complete combinatorial classification of the parabolic Verma modules in the principal block of the parabolic category $\mathcal{O}$ associated with a minimal or a maximal parabolic subalgebra of the special linear Lie algebra for which the answer to Kostant’s problem is positive.

Understanding protein fermentation in the hindgut of pigs is essential due to its implications for health, and ileal digesta is commonly used to study this process in vitro. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of utilising in vitro digested residues as a replacement for ileal digesta in evaluating the protein fermentation potential. In vitro residues from cottonseed meal, maize germ meal, peanut meal, rapeseed cake, rapeseed meal, soyabean meal and sunflower meal were analysed using a modified gas production (GP) technique and curve fitting model to determine their fermentation dynamics and compare with the use of ileal digesta. Significant variations were observed in GP parameters between in vitro digested residues, indicating differences in nitrogen utilisation by fecal microbiota. Soyabean meal and sunflower meal exhibited the highest maximum GP rates (Rmax), with values of 29·5 ± 0·6 and 28·0 ± 1·2 ml/h, respectively, while maize germ meal showed slowest protein utilisation (17·3 ± 0·2 ml/h). A positive relationship was found between the Rmax of in vitro residues and ileal digesta (R2 = 0·85, P < 0·01). However, GP potential (GPs) showed a tendency for a negative relationship (R2 = 0·39, P < 0·1), likely due to narrow observed GPs values and the presence of varied endogenous proteins in ileal digesta. Our results demonstrate the potential of using in vitro digested residues as a substitute for ileal digesta in assessing the fermentation potential of protein ingredients, particularly regarding the rate of protein fermentation.

In $\mathsf {ZF}$ (i.e., Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory minus the axiom of choice ($\mathsf {AC}$)), we investigate the open problem of the deductive strength of the principle

which was introduced by Herzberg, Kanovei, Katz, and Lyubetsky [(2018), Journal of Symbolic Logic, 83(1), 385–391]. Typical results are:

1. (1) “$\aleph _{1}\leq 2^{\aleph _{0}}$” is strictly weaker than $\mathsf {UF_{wob}}(\omega )$ in $\mathsf {ZF}$.

2. (2) “There exists a free ultrafilter on $\omega $” does not imply “$\aleph _{1}\leq 2^{\aleph _{0}}$” in $\mathsf {ZF}$, and thus (by (1)) neither does it imply $\mathsf {UF_{wob}}(\omega )$ in $\mathsf {ZF}$. This fills the gap in information in Howard and Rubin [Mathematical Surveys and Monographs, American Mathematical Society, 1998], as well as in Herzberg et al. (2018).

3. (3) Martin’s Axiom ($\mathsf {MA}$) implies “no free ultrafilter on $\omega $ has a well-orderable base of cardinality $<2^{\aleph _{0}}$”, and the latter principle is not implied by $\aleph _{0}$-Martin’s Axiom ($\mathsf {MA}(\aleph _{0})$) in $\mathsf {ZF}$.

4. (4) $\mathsf {MA} + \mathsf {UF_{wob}}(\omega )$ implies $\mathsf {AC}(\mathbb {R})$ (the axiom of choice for non-empty sets of reals), which in turn implies $\mathsf {UF_{wob}}(\omega )$. Furthermore, $\mathsf {MA}$ and $\mathsf {UF_{wob}}(\omega )$ are mutually independent in $\mathsf {ZF}$.

5. (5) For any infinite linearly orderable set X, each of “every filter base on X can be well ordered” and “every filter on X has a well-orderable base” is equivalent to “$\wp (X)$ can be well ordered”. This yields novel characterizations of the principle “every linearly ordered set can be well ordered” in $\mathsf {ZFA}$ (i.e., Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory with atoms), and of $\mathsf {AC}$ in $\mathsf {ZF}$.

6. (6) “Every filter on $\mathbb {R}$ has a well-orderable base” implies “every filter on $\omega $ has a well-orderable base”, which in turn implies $\mathsf {UF_{wob}}(\omega )$, and none of these implications are reversible in $\mathsf {ZF}$.

7. (7) “Every filter on $\omega $ can be extended to an ultrafilter with a well-orderable base” is equivalent to $\mathsf {AC}(\mathbb {R}),$ and thus is strictly stronger than $\mathsf {UF_{wob}}(\omega )$ in $\mathsf {ZF}$.

8. (8) “Every filter on $\omega $ can be extended to an ultrafilter” implies “there exists a free ultrafilter on $\omega $ which has no well-orderable base of cardinality ${<2^{\aleph _{0}}}$”. The former principle does not imply “there exists a free ultrafilter on $\omega $ which has no well-orderable base” in $\mathsf {ZF}$, and the latter principle is true in the Basic Cohen Model.

If instant runoff voting (IRV) mitigates strategic voting, is that because the rules of the system mechanically reduce strategic opportunities, or because of other more indirect effects? In single-vote plurality elections, a voter can be pivotal if adding one vote to a candidate would cause that candidate to win. In IRV, it is more complicated to identify when one voter can be pivotal. This letter derives all the ways that a single ballot can change the result of an IRV election, for any number of candidates and voters. I obtain an expression for the probability of casting a pivotal vote in IRV by phrasing the probability that any pivotal event occurs as a function of all the rankings cast by other voters. This expression facilitates modeling vote choice in IRV, and enables the estimation of voters’ strategic opportunities in IRV contests between any number of candidates. I present some illustrative simulations estimating pivotal probabilities in both IRV and Single-Member District Plurality for stylized electorates with identical preference structures. These simulations produce similar estimated pivotal probabilities in the two systems, suggesting that these systems may provide similar opportunities to strategically cast a decisive vote.

This paper introduces a novel bipedal robot model designed for adaptive transition between walking and running gaits solely through changes in locomotion speed. The bipedal robot model comprises two sub-components: a mechanical model for the legs that accommodates both walking and running and a continuous state model that does not explicitly switch states. The mechanical model employs a structure combining a linear cylinder with springs, dampers, and stoppers, designed to have mechanistic properties of both the inverted pendulum model used for walking and the spring-loaded inverted pendulum model used for running. The state model utilizes a virtual leg representation to abstractly describe the actual support leg, capable of commonly representing both a double support leg in walking and a single support leg in running. These models enable a simple gait controller to determine the kick force and the foot touchdown point based solely on the parameter of the target speed, thus allowing a robot to walk and run stably. Hence, simulation validation demonstrates the adaptive robot transition to an energy-efficient gait depending on locomotion speed without explicit gait-type instructions and maintaining stable locomotion across a wide range of speeds.

The paper investigates the gender-driven disparities in total factor productivity (TFP) between women-owned enterprises (WOEs) and male-owned enterprises (MOEs) across 30 developing countries. Utilizing firm-level data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys, the study addresses biases in previous gender literature by employing a semi-parametric technique to more accurately measure TFP. The results reveal a significant TFP gap, with WOEs being 5.5% to 6.7% less productive than MOEs, even after controlling for key firm characteristics like age, innovation, human capital, and ownership status. The study attributes this productivity disparity primarily to financial obstacles faced by WOEs, which hinder their ability to innovate and capitalize on opportunities. The lack of access to credit leads to a misallocation of capital, excluding equally efficient women entrepreneurs from financial resources that could stimulate productivity. Contrary to some assumptions, the study finds no evidence that WOEs underperform in sectors with high financial dependence, suggesting that WOEs are not inherently inefficient in their use of capital. Our findings provide causal evidence as we control for selectivity bias in the TFP-WOEs nexus by identifying exogenously the factors that affect financial constraints and innovation.

Whole genome sequencing (WGS) and clinical review were used to characterize 14 cases of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) due to Staphylococcus epidermidis. WGS, which demonstrated disparate strains, suggested that 42.9% of S. epidermidis CLABSI cases were due to contamination, while clinical review suggested that 57.1% were contamination events.

In this article, we propose a new classification of $\Sigma ^0_2$ formulas under the realizability interpretation of many-one reducibility (i.e., Levin reducibility). For example, $\mathsf {Fin}$, the decision of being eventually zero for sequences, is many-one/Levin complete among $\Sigma ^0_2$ formulas of the form $\exists n\forall m\geq n.\varphi (m,x)$, where $\varphi $ is decidable. The decision of boundedness for sequences $\mathsf {BddSeq}$ and for width of posets $\mathsf {FinWidth}$ are many-one/Levin complete among $\Sigma ^0_2$ formulas of the form $\exists n\forall m\geq n\forall k.\varphi (m,k,x)$, where $\varphi $ is decidable. However, unlike the classical many-one reducibility, none of the above is $\Sigma ^0_2$-complete. The decision of non-density of linear orders $\mathsf {NonDense}$ is truly $\Sigma ^0_2$-complete.

Lyubetsky and Kanovei showed in [8] that there is a second-order arithmetic model of $\mathrm {Z}_2^{-p}$, (comprehension for all second-order formulas without parameters), in which $\Sigma ^1_2$-$\mathrm {CA}$ (comprehension for all $\Sigma ^1_2$-formulas with parameters) holds, but $\Sigma ^1_4$-$\mathrm {CA}$ fails. They asked whether there is a model of $\mathrm {Z}_2^{-p}+\Sigma ^1_2$-$\mathrm {CA}$ with the optimal failure of $\Sigma ^1_3$-$\mathrm {CA}$. We answer the question positively by constructing such a model in a forcing extension by a tree iteration of Jensen’s forcing. Let $\mathrm {Coll}^{-p}$ be the parameter-free collection scheme for second-order formulas and let $\mathrm {AC}^{-p}$ be the parameter-free choice scheme. We show that there is a model of $\mathrm {Z}_2^{-p}+\mathrm { AC}^{-p}+\Sigma ^1_2$-$\mathrm {CA}$ with a failure of $\Sigma ^1_4$-$\mathrm {CA}$. We also show that there is a model of $\mathrm {Z}_2^{-p}+\mathrm {Coll}^{-p}+\Sigma ^1_2$-$\mathrm {CA}$ with a failure of $\Sigma ^1_4$-$\mathrm {CA}$ and a failure of $\mathrm {AC}^{-p}$, so that, in particular, the schemes $\mathrm {Coll}^{-p}$ and $\mathrm {AC}^{-p}$ are not equivalent over $\mathrm {Z}_2^{-p}$.

This contribution discusses the central thesis in Michael Otsuka’s book that collective pensions can be organized on a voluntary basis from the recent experience with pension reform in the Netherlands. Despite a long tradition of collective-funded pensions organized in a decentralized way by social partners, basis reform was necessary as population ageing made it increasingly harder to maintain the intergenerational solidarity implicit in these pensions. Although it is well-established that risk sharing between generations can be beneficial and welfare improving to all, it is far from certain that new generations will enter existing pension arrangements on a voluntary basis. First, there is a considerable ‘discontinuity risk’ if deficits in pension funding – caused by bad shocks – deter younger generations from entering the scheme. Second, even if it is to their own interest most people do not voluntarily engage in pension schemes due to several kinds of behavioural and psychological barriers.

A response to pressures on pension finance caused by population ageing and economic turbulence has been a substantial move from traditional defined-benefit plans in which, at least in principle, all risk falls on the contributions side, to defined-contribution plans in which risk during accumulation all falls on the benefits side. This paper argues that both designs are ‘corner solutions’ and hence generally suboptimal, and goes on to set out a range of designs that offer different ways of sharing risk among workers, employers, future pensioners and current pensioners.

Members of norsethite-type carbonate solid solutions with the compositions Ba(Mg1–xMnx)(CO3)2, (x = 0, 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75) have been synthesised under high-pressure and -temperature conditions (3GPa, 800°C) for the first time. The synthetic transparent crystals gradually changed their appearance from colourless to blue lustre with the increasing Mn2+ content (XMn). The results of the crystal structure analyses reveal that the lattice parameters (a, c, unit-cell volume, Mg/Mn–O bond lengths and Ba–O bond lengths) complied with a linear increase with XMn. In contrast, the C–O bond lengths and O–C–O bond angles decreased, because the CO32– group was squeezed by the expansion of the (Mg/Mn)O6 octahedra. Moreover, the Raman and infrared vibrations, except for the lattice mode T, shift to low frequency with the increasing XMn, and the slight corresponding variations of the atomic positions were also determined. These new results demonstrate the impact of Mg2+–Mn2+ substitution on the crystal chemistry of norsethite-type solid solutions, with further implications for the natural occurrence and environmental of norsethite-type and dolomite/ankerite-type carbonates.

We investigate and compare applications of the Zilber–Pink conjecture and dynamical methods to rigidity problems for arithmetic real and complex hyperbolic lattices. Along the way, we obtain new general results about reconstructing a variation of Hodge structure from its typical Hodge locus that may be of independent interest. Applications to Siu’s immersion problem are also discussed, the most general of which only requires the hypothesis that infinitely many closed geodesics map to proper totally geodesic subvarieties under the immersion.

We show that the evasion number $\mathfrak {e}$ can be added to Cichoń’s maximum with a distinct value. More specifically, it is consistent that $\aleph _1<\operatorname {\mathrm {add}}(\mathcal {N})<\operatorname {\mathrm {cov}}(\mathcal {N})<\mathfrak {b}<\mathfrak {e}<\operatorname {\mathrm {non}}(\mathcal {M})<\operatorname {\mathrm {cov}}(\mathcal {M})<\mathfrak {d}<\operatorname {\mathrm {non}}(\mathcal {N})<\operatorname {\mathrm {cof}}(\mathcal {N})<2^{\aleph _0}$ holds.