A Regulatory Analysis of the Specific Allocation Fund (Dak) and Horizontal Equalization in Indonesia

This chapter examines the regulatory arrangements implemented by the republic of Indonesia governing intergovernmental fiscal arrangements relating to specific funding allocations. the specific allocation fund (dak) is a statutorily created and governed policy instrument enabling the central government to make ‘specific\u27 fiscal transfers to regional and district governments that qualify for horizontal equalization assistance. the question that forms the basis of this chapter is whether the measures implemented to achieve dak policy objectives constitute a coherent and operationally effective regulatory scheme. the mechanics and operational well functioning of the regulatory scheme are analyzed by examining the regulatory coherence of the statutory arrangements underlying the dak. an outcome of this analysis includes consideration of the benefits of creating of a special administrative body to improve the functioning of the regulatory scheme

Musical Scenes on a Greek Vase

"The handsome Greek vase in the collection of the Museum of the University of Missouri has already been noticed in a major publication by J. V. Noble, but he cites only a minor blemish -- the misfiring of parts of its black glaze. It is only fair that the score be rectified by a more comprehensive study to bring out both the high interest of the subject matter of its painting and its intrinsic beauty."--First paragraph.Includes bibliographical reference

Foreign Policy and the Electoral Connection

Public opinion is central to representation, democratic accountability, and decision making. Yet, the public was long believed to be relatively uninterested in foreign affairs, absent an immediate threat to safety and welfare. It had become conventional to say that voting ends at water\u27s edge. We start the examination of the scholarly understanding of the role of foreign affairs in public opinion and voting at that low point of view. Much subsequent development saw an increasing degree of holding and using of attitudes and beliefs about foreign affairs among the public. Moving in parallel with developments in political psychology, theoretical and methodological advances led to an increasingly widely shared view that the public holds reasonably sensible and nuanced views, that these help shape their political behaviors, and that these, in turn, help shape and constrain foreign policy making

Measurement of the cosmic microwave background polarization lensing power spectrum from two years of POLARBEAR data

We present a measurement of the gravitational lensing deflection power spectrum reconstructed with two seasons of cosmic microwave background polarization data from the POLARBEAR experiment. Observations were taken at 150 GHz from 2012 to 2014 and surveyed three patches of sky totaling 30 square degrees. We test the consistency of the lensing spectrum with a cold dark matter cosmology and reject the no-lensing hypothesis at a confidence of 10.9σ, including statistical and systematic uncertainties. We observe a value of AL = 1.33 ± 0.32 (statistical) ±0.02 (systematic) ±0.07 (foreground) using all polarization lensing estimators, which corresponds to a 24% accurate measurement of the lensing amplitude. Compared to the analysis of the first- year data, we have improved the breadth of both the suite of null tests and the error terms included in the estimation of systematic contamination

Internal delensing of cosmic microwave background polarization B-Modes with the POLARBEAR experiment

International audienceUsing only cosmic microwave background polarization data from the polarbear experiment, we measure B-mode polarization delensing on subdegree scales at more than 5σ significance. We achieve a 14% B-mode power variance reduction, the highest to date for internal delensing, and improve this result to 22% by applying for the first time an iterative maximum a posteriori delensing method. Our analysis demonstrates the capability of internal delensing as a means of improving constraints on inflationary models, paving the way for the optimal analysis of next-generation primordial B-mode experiments

Voluntary organizations and society–military relations in contemporary Russia

The 2014 crisis in Ukraine has refocused attention on Russia as a European security actor. Despite showing renewed military capability, compared to the post-Soviet period, Russian society–military relations have remained the same. This relationship (between society and the security organs) provides the key context for assessing security. Analysis of everyday militarization and the role of voluntary organizations (such as DOSAAF [Dobrovol'noe obshchestvo sodeistviya armii, aviatsii i flotu] and Nashi [Molodezhnoe demokraticheskoe antifashistskoe dvizheni]) in supporting the military can provide an important insight into Russian behaviour as a security actor. These organizations generate a pro-military outlook and at the same time provide training and activities, thus contributing to military effectiveness by developing the competency of young people prior to military service as well as increasing public knowledge of military affairs. However, strong support for the military, a lack of independent information, and an absence of a shared vision on how society–military relations should be developed and also represent political challenges in terms of everyday militarization. This dynamic is important for understanding both Russia's security posture and wider security implications for Europe