Algorithmic Accountability in the Administrative State

How will artificial intelligence (AI) transform government? Stemming from a major study commissioned by the Administrative Conference of the United States (ACUS), we highlight the promise and trajectory of algorithmic tools used by federal agencies to perform the work of governance. Moving past the abstract mappings of transparency measures and regulatory mechanisms that pervade the current algorithmic accountability literature, our analysis centers around a detailed technical account of a pair of current applications that exemplify AI’s move to the center of the redistributive and coercive power of the state: the Social Security Administration’s use of AI tools to adjudicate disability benefits cases and the Securities and Exchange Commission’s use of AI tools to target enforcement efforts under federal securities law. We argue that the next generation of work will need to push past a narrow focus on constitutional law and instead engage with the broader terrain of administrative law, which is far more likely to modulate use of algorithmic governance tools going forward

Psychosocial and Re-Incarceration Risks Among Older Adults in Mental Health Courts

Objective Older adults are increasingly involved in the criminal justice system, yet there is limited research regarding their needs and experiences. This study examined differences in psychosocial experiences and reincarceration between older and younger adults with psychiatric disorders involved in the criminal justice system. Methods Participants (N = 80) were recruited from two mental health courts in the midwestern United States. Bivariate analyses examined age-related differences in psychosocial experiences and reincarceration between younger and older participants. Results Older adults, on average, experienced more treatment adherence and fewer probation violations than younger adults during the 6-month follow-up; however, they experienced comparable risk for reincarceration. Older adults\u27 substance use, service use, housing instability, and program retention were similar to their younger counterparts. Conclusion Despite older mental health court participants\u27 treatment adherence and reduced probation violations, they are at risk for incarceration, substance use, and housing instability

Transition Probabilities Of Astrophysical Interest In The Niobium Ions Nb+ And Nb2+

Aims. We attempt to derive accurate transition probabilities for astrophysically interesting spectral lines of Nb II and Nb III and determine the niobium abundance in the Sun and metal-poor stars rich in neutron-capture elements. Methods. We used the time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence technique to measure radiative lifetimes in Nb II. Branching fractions were measured from spectra recorded using Fourier transform spectroscopy. The radiative lifetimes and the branching fractions were combined yielding transition probabilities. In addition, we calculated lifetimes and transition probablities in Nb II and Nb III using a relativistic Hartree-Fock method that includes core polarization. Abundances of the sun and five metal-poor stars were derived using synthetic spectra calculated with the MOOG code, including hyperfine broadening of the lines. Results. We present laboratory measurements of 17 radiative lifetimes in Nb II. By combining these lifetimes with branching fractions for lines depopulating the levels, we derive the transition probabilities of 107 Nb II lines from 4d(3)5p configuration in the wavelength region 2240-4700 angstrom. For the first time, we present theoretical transition probabilities of 76 Nb III transitions with wavelengths in the range 1430-3140 angstrom. The derived solar photospheric niobium abundance log epsilon(circle dot) = 1.44 +/- 0.06 is in agreement with the meteoritic value. The stellar Nb/Eu abundance ratio determined for five metal-poor stars confirms that the r-process is a dominant production method for the n-capture elements in these stars.Integrated Initiative of Infrastructure RII3-CT-2003-506350Swedish Research CouncilKnut and Alice Wallenberg FoundationBelgian FRS-FNRSFRIAUS National Science Foundation AST-0607708, AST-0908978Astronom

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Mercury Accumulation in Lacustrine Sediments across the Laurentian Great Lakes Region

Data from 104 sediment cores from the Great Lakes and “inland lakes” in the region were compiled to assess historical and recent changes in mercury (Hg) deposition. The lower Great Lakes showed sharp increases in Hg loading c. 1850-1950 from point-source water dischargers, with marked decreases during the past half century associated with effluent controls and decreases in the industrial use of Hg. In contrast, Lake Superior and inland lakes exhibited a pattern of Hg loading consistent with an atmospheric source - gradual increases followed by recent (post-1980) decreases. Variation in sedimentary Hg flux among inland lakes was primarily attributed to the ratio of watershed area: lake area, and secondarily to a lake’s proximity to emission sources. A consistent region-wide decrease (~20%) of sediment Hg flux suggests that controls on local and regional atmospheric Hg emissions have been effective in decreasing the supply of Hg to Lake Superior and inland lakes

Gestão participativa na Atenção Primária à Saúde: ensaio sobre experiência em território urbano vulnerável

The participatory management, although instituted in the norms of the constitution of the Brazilian universal health system (SUS-Sistema Único de Saúde), still faces challenges to be effective in practice at a local level, especially in complex urban territories, aiming at community strengthening and social participation. The essay aims to present and discuss aspects of a participatory management experience in a vulnerable territory, mediated by Primary Health Care. This experience of health co-management was developed between 2009 and 2013 in Manguinhos, municipality of Rio de Janeiro. From the managers' reports and the technical materials produced, the implementation of strategies analyzed were the mobilization to create a local intersectorial management council and those of information, education, and communication in health supported by institutional supporters and by the family health teams. We concluded that democratic managerial and sanitary practices can be developed through social technologies, which value participative and shared management between workers-users-management.A gestão participativa, embora instituída nas normativas de constituição do Sistema Único de Saúde, ainda encontra desafios para efetivação em âmbito local, especialmente em territórios urbanos marcados pela violência e pobreza. O ensaio objetiva apresentar e discutir aspectos de uma experiência de gestão participativa em um território vulnerável, mediada pela Atenção Primária à Saúde. Esta experiência de cogestão da saúde foi desenvolvida entre 2009 a 2013 em Manguinhos, município do Rio de Janeiro. A partir do relato de gestores e de materiais técnicos produzidos, analisou-se a implementação de estratégias, tais como a mobilização para criação de um conselho gestor intersetorial local e aquelas de informação, educação e comunicação em saúde suportadas por apoiadores institucionais e pelas equipes de saúde da família. Conclui-se que práticas gerenciais e sanitárias democráticas podem ser desenvolvidas por meio de tecnologias sociais, que valorizem a gestão participativa e compartilhada entre trabalhadores-usuários-gestão

Comment: Cultural eutrophication of natural lakes in the United States is real and widespread

This is the published version

The outflow in Mrk 509: A method to calibrate XMM-Newton EPIC-pn and RGS

We have analyzed three XMM-Newton observations of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509, with the goal to detect small variations in the ionized outflow properties. Such measurements are limited by the quality of the cross-calibration between RGS, the best instrument to characterize the spectrum, and EPIC-pn, the best instrument to characterize the variability. For all three observations we are able to improve the relative calibration of RGS and pn consistently to 4 %. In all observations we detect three different outflow components and, thanks to our accurate cross-calibration we are able to detect small differences in the ionization parameter and column density in the highest ionized component of the outflow. This constrains the location of this component of the outflow to within 0.5 pc of the central source. Our method for modeling the relative effective area is not restricted to just this source and can in principle be extended to other types of sources as well.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

Applying spatial regression to evaluate risk factors for microbiological contamination of urban groundwater sources in Juba, South Sudan

This study developed methodology for statistically assessing groundwater contamination mechanisms. It focused on microbial water pollution in low-income regions. Risk factors for faecal contamination of groundwater-fed drinking-water sources were evaluated in a case study in Juba, South Sudan. The study was based on counts of thermotolerant coliforms in water samples from 129 sources, collected by the humanitarian aid organisation M,decins Sans FrontiSres in 2010. The factors included hydrogeological settings, land use and socio-economic characteristics. The results showed that the residuals of a conventional probit regression model had a significant positive spatial autocorrelation (Moran\u27s I = 3.05, I-stat = 9.28); therefore, a spatial model was developed that had better goodness-of-fit to the observations. The most significant factor in this model (p-value 0.005) was the distance from a water source to the nearest Tukul area, an area with informal settlements that lack sanitation services. It is thus recommended that future remediation and monitoring efforts in the city be concentrated in such low-income regions. The spatial model differed from the conventional approach: in contrast with the latter case, lowland topography was not significant at the 5% level, as the p-value was 0.074 in the spatial model and 0.040 in the traditional model. This study showed that statistical risk-factor assessments of groundwater contamination need to consider spatial interactions when the water sources are located close to each other. Future studies might further investigate the cut-off distance that reflects spatial autocorrelation. Particularly, these results advise research on urban groundwater quality