Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) positioning and integrity monitoring models and algorithms currently generically assume that measurement errors follow a Gaussian distribution. As this is not always the case, there is a trade-off affecting system safety and availability, emphasising the need for better error characterisation in mission-critical applications. Research to date has shown advantages of Generalised Extreme Value (GEV) distribution for mapping extreme events. However, it is more complex than the Gaussian distribution, especially in the error convolution process. This paper derives a distribution, referred to as the GEV-based Gaussian distribution, that benefits from the advantages of both the GEV and Gaussian distributions in mapping extreme events and simplicity, respectively. The proposed distribution is tested against Gaussian, GEV and Generalised t distribution. The results show that the proposed distribution can provide a better bound for extreme events than the tested distribution both for pseudorange and carrier phase errors.

Racial hate crimes against Asian Americans in the USA have recently risen. While many examined the domestic consequences of hate crimes, little is known about their impact on foreign public perception of the country. This study fills this gap by investigating how hate crimes in the USA influence attitudes toward the USA. Conducting a survey experiment in nine Asian countries, we found that exposure to information about hate crime incidents in the USA resulted in a significant increase in unfavourable views of the USA (−10.1pp), decreased confidence in the USA (−6.3pp), and increasingly negative perceptions of American democracy (−6.5pp), American ideas and customs (−11.0pp), and American people (−11.8pp). We also find that legislative actions can mitigate the negative effects of hate crime information. These findings underscore the global significance of addressing hate crimes in the USA for the country’s reputation and soft power.

Charles A. Beard's trajectory as a political scientist and expert on municipal government has not yet been fully examined. Based on a close analysis of his teaching at Columbia University and his contributions to city government in New York and Tokyo, this article outlines the development of Beard's vision of American democracy. It argues that, unlike most progressives, Beard refrained from endorsing direct democracy measures as a blueprint for reform, focusing instead on streamlining the American system of government to incorporate, in a transparent fashion, both political parties and interest groups. This article showcases Beard's conception of politics and explains how pluralism and functionalism underpinned his proposals for efficient government.