Hasil untuk "Social insurance. Social security. Pension"

Shiori Furukawa, Sho Tsugawa

Although beneficial information abounds on social media, the dissemination of harmful information such as so-called ``fake news'' has become a serious issue. Therefore, many researchers have devoted considerable effort to limiting the diffusion of harmful information. A promising approach to limiting diffusion of such information is link deletion methods in social networks. Link deletion methods have been shown to be effective in reducing the size of information diffusion cascades generated by synthetic models on a given social network. In this study, we evaluate the effectiveness of link deletion methods by using actual logs of retweet cascades, rather than by using synthetic diffusion models. Our results show that even after deleting 10\%--50\% of links from a social network, the size of cascades after link deletion is estimated to be only 50\% the original size under the optimistic estimation, which suggests that the effectiveness of the link deletion strategy for suppressing information diffusion is limited. Moreover, our results also show that there is a considerable number of cascades with many seed users, which renders link deletion methods inefficient.

Zhixiu Yu

The labor supply of older men increased from the 1930s to the 1950s cohort. This paper explores the role of three Social Security changes in determining these differences: a delayed normal retirement age, increased delayed retirement credits, and a change in the earnings test that was eliminated beyond the retirement age, and evaluates the effects of several proposed reforms to the Social Security program on individuals’ behaviors. I develop and estimate a rich dynamic life-cycle model of labor supply, savings, and Social Security application for healthy and unhealthy people using the Method of Simulated Moments for the 1930s birth cohort. The model captures the key structure of the Social Security retirement benefits, pension systems, and disability insurance, while taking into account uncertainties in health and disability, survival rates, wages, and medical expenditures. My model matches well the observed life-cycle profiles of employment, hours worked by workers, and savings for healthy and unhealthy people from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics data, and generates labor supply elasticities that rise with age and are smaller for healthy workers. It shows that the joint effects of the three changes in Social Security rules account for over 73% of the observed rises in labor force participation and hours per worker by the 1950s cohort. Of the three changed rules, the change in the earnings test contributes the most to the labor dynamics of older men. Additional policy experiments suggest that postponing the retirement age has little effect on older workers, while eliminating the earnings test and reducing retirement benefits by 23% would further increase older-age participation by 3.4 and 5.1 percent, respectively. Social Security Administration and Study of Dynamics calculations. of older men across cohorts. Compared with previous studies, my model fits the labor supply and savings profiles by health status very well after incorporating heterogeneity in health and disability, health-dependent medical expenditures, and the key features of disability benefits. My model shows that the three changed Social Security rules explain most observed rises in the older-age labor supply along both margins across cohorts. Of the three changed rules, eliminating the RET beyond the NRA provided the greatest contribution to these increases. Additional policy experiments suggest that postponing the retirement age has small effects on individual behaviors, while eliminating the RET completely and reducing retirement benefits by 23% would further increase the older-age labor supply.

Vladyslav Shevchuk

Мета роботи. Розробити оптимізаційну математичну модель максимізації значення інтегрального індексу безпеки державного кордону. Метод дослідження. В основу моделі покладено інтегральний індекс безпеки державного кордону (ІІБ) як цільову функцію, яку необхідно максимізувати. Змінними в моделі виступають не самі показники, а керуючі впливи або ресурси, що спрямовуються на покращення цих показників. Результати дослідження. Розроблено математичну модель максимізації значення інтегрального індексу безпеки державного кордону та реалізовано її у середовищі Matlab. Теоретична цінність дослідження. Теоретично методика збагачує область математичного моделювання в системах безпеки, демонструючи, як оціночні індекси можна трансформувати в оптимізуючі задачі. Оригінальність/Цінність дослідження. Новизна полягає у інтеграції оціночної моделі та агрегації цільової функції до специфічного індексу IIБ з елементами математичного програмування для оптимального розподілу ресурсів у контексті безпеки державного кордону. Майбутні дослідження. У ході подальших досліджень доцільно опрацювати вхідні дані та розробити програмний продукт для комп’ютерної підтримки. Тип статті. Теоретична.

ZHU Guochen, CHEN Zhuoming

ObjectiveThis study used the 2020 China health and retirement longitudinal study (CHARLS) data to explore the current status and influencing factors of life satisfaction among middle-aged and elderly patients with chronic diseases aged 45 and above in China, in order to provide scientific basis for health management and reveal potential paths to improve their life satisfaction.MethodsThe latest 2020 wave 5 national survey data released by CHARLS was used, and 13 487 middle-aged and elderly patients with chronic diseases over 45 years old were selected as the research subjects. Chronic disease data were collected using the question with the original questionnaire code da007; gender, age, education level, place of residence, living with a partner, number of chronic diseases, child satisfaction, number of social activities, smoking, alcohol consumption, pension insurance, medical insurance, basic activities of daily living (BADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), nighttime sleep duration, and midday sleep duration were included as demographic variables. The life satisfaction of middle-aged and elderly patients with chronic diseases was collected using the original questionnaire code dc026.ResultsA total of 13 487 patients with chronic diseases were included. There were significant differences in life satisfaction among middle-aged and elderly patients with chronic diseases in the following aspects: gender, age, education level, place of residence, whether living with partners, number of chronic diseases, child satisfaction, alcohol consumption, whether having pension insurance, whether having medical insurance, BADL impairment, IADL impairment, nighttime sleep duration and midday sleep duration (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the number of social activities and whether smoking (<italic>P</italic>&gt;0.05). Middle aged and elderly patients with chronic diseases suffered from a wide range of chronic diseases, with a probability over 50% for hypertension, stomach or other digestive system diseases. There were 3 914 middle-aged and elderly patients with one chronic disease, 3 445 patients with two chronic diseases, 2 468 patients with three chronic diseases, and 3 660 patients with four or more chronic diseases. A total of 1 232 patients were dissatisfied with their lives, and 12 255 patients were satisfied. The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that age range of 55-64 years (95%<italic>CI</italic>=0.49-0.77), 65-74 years (95%<italic>CI</italic>=0.37-0.59), 75-84 years (95%<italic>CI</italic>=0.28-0.46), and 85 years and above (95%<italic>CI</italic>=0.19-0.41), with a nighttime sleep duration of 6-8 hours (95%<italic>CI</italic>=0.72-0.95) and ≥8 h (95%<italic>CI</italic>=0.62-0.88), and a midday sleep duration of 1-2 hours (95%<italic>CI</italic>=0.65-0.86) and ≥2 h (95%<italic>CI</italic>=0.56-0.86) were protective factors for life satisfaction among middle-aged and elderly patients with chronic diseases (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05); Living in rural areas (95%<italic>CI</italic>=0.65-0.89), not living with a partner (95%<italic>CI</italic>=1.39-1.81), having four or more chronic diseases (95%<italic>CI</italic>=1.17-1.64), being dissatisfied with children (95%<italic>CI</italic>=3.27-4.66), not having medical insurance (95%<italic>CI</italic>=1.22-2.04), impaired BADL (95%<italic>CI</italic>=1.20-1.62), and impaired IADL (95%<italic>CI</italic>=1.26-1.70) were risk factors for life satisfaction among middle-aged and elderly patients with chronic diseases (<italic>P</italic>&lt;0.05).ConclusionMiddle aged and elderly patients with chronic diseases in China have a high overall satisfaction with their lives. It is necessary from the perspective of family environment and social support to create a good family atmosphere, improve the medical security system, strengthen monitoring and intervention of mental health, and strive for the physical and mental health of middle-aged and elderly patients with chronic disease.

Volodymyr Batalyuk, Volodymyr Kharabara, Olena Chaikovska et al.

Мета роботи: аналіз правового регулювання військового резерву людських ресурсів провідних держав світу, вивчення досвіду і можливостей його адаптації до потреб України в умовах сучасних викликів. Метод дослідження: теоретичний аналіз, якісний аналіз, порівняльний аналіз. Результати дослідження: проведено аналіз правових основ і практик формування військового резерву людських ресурсів в провідних країнах світу та запропоновано рекомендації для України. Теоретична цінність дослідження: результати дослідження розширюють теоретичні знання щодо організації та функціонування військового резерву. Практична цінність дослідження: в межах дослідження розроблено рекомендації для подальшого вдосконалення комплектування сил оборони. Оригінальність/Цінність дослідження: наведено порівняльний аналіз  формування та функціонування військового резерву людських ресурсів в США, Туреччині, Південній Кореї та Ізраїлі. Майбутні дослідження: підвищення ефективності комплектування сил оборони резервістами військового оперативного резерву.

Аndrii Bochkovskyi, Nаtalia Sapozhnikova, Valentina Purich et al.

Мета. Визначити проблеми, що зумовлюють неможливість надання ефективної медичної допомоги постраждалому від нещасних випадків на виробництві на місці виникнення інциденту та визначення напрямів щодо їх вирішення. Методи. Аналіз статистичних даних щодо кількості та динаміки випадків виникнення виробничого травматизму та нормативно-правових актів з порядку надання домедичної допомоги потерпілим, а також інших нормативно-правових документів – для визначення та актуалізації проблеми дослідження, а також визначення напрямів її вирішення. Результати. Встановлено актуальні проблеми, що унеможливлюють надання якісної та швидкої домедичної допомоги постраждалим від нещасного випадку або професійного отруєння безпосередньо на місці виникнення інциденту. Розроблено напрями їх вирішення, що передбачають впровадження обов’язкового набуття теоретичних знань та практичних навичок з надання домедичної допомоги у закладах освіти, удосконалення порядку навчання та перевірки знань з питань охорони праці в організаціях, необхідність унормування питань правового захисту особи, що надає домедичну допомогу постраждалому. Теоретична цінність. Обґрунтовано необхідність внесення змін в чинні стандарти освіти з метою забезпечення обов’язковості набуття знань та навичок з надання домедичної допомоги здобувачами освіти всіх спеціальностей, а також змін в чинне законодавство з питань правового захисту осіб, що надають домедичну допомогу потерпілим у невідкладних станах. Практична цінність. Результати проведених досліджень дозволять значно мінімізувати ризик для життя постраждалого, що знаходиться у невідкладному стані, за рахунок забезпечення можливості надання йому швидкої та якісної медичної допомоги безпосередньо на місці виникнення інциденту. Оригінальність. Розроблено напрями, реалізація яких дозволить підвищити рівень теоретичних знань та практичних навичок майбутніх фахівців та працівників з надання домедичної допомоги потерпілим та рівень правової захищеності осіб, які надають домедичну допомогу, що дозволить, в свою чергу, підвищити якість та швидкість надання домедичної допомоги безпосередньо на місці події та, відповідно, знизити ймовірність виникнення летальних випадків у постраждалого, за рахунок полегшення його стану та скорочення часу госпіталізації.

Sho Tsugawa, Hiroyuki Ohsaki

In this paper, we address the challenge of discovering hidden nodes in unknown social networks, formulating three types of hidden-node discovery problems, namely, Sybil-node discovery, peripheral-node discovery, and influencer discovery. We tackle these problems by employing a graph exploration framework grounded in machine learning. Leveraging the structure of the subgraph gradually obtained from graph exploration, we construct prediction models to identify target hidden nodes in unknown social graphs. Through empirical investigations of real social graphs, we investigate the efficiency of graph exploration strategies in uncovering hidden nodes. Our results show that our graph exploration strategies discover hidden nodes with an efficiency comparable to that when the graph structure is known. Specifically, the query cost of discovering 10% of the hidden nodes is at most only 1.2 times that when the topology is known, and the query-cost multiplier for discovering 90% of the hidden nodes is at most only 1.4. Furthermore, our results suggest that using node embeddings, which are low-dimensional vector representations of nodes, for hidden-node discovery is a double-edged sword: it is effective in certain scenarios but sometimes degrades the efficiency of node discovery. Guided by this observation, we examine the effectiveness of using a bandit algorithm to combine the prediction models that use node embeddings with those that do not, and our analysis shows that the bandit-based graph exploration strategy achieves efficient node discovery across a wide array of settings.

Tim Donkers, Jürgen Ziegler

The rise of social media has fundamentally transformed how people engage in public discourse and form opinions. While these platforms offer unprecedented opportunities for democratic engagement, they have been implicated in increasing social polarization and the formation of ideological echo chambers. Previous research has primarily relied on observational studies of social media data or theoretical modeling approaches, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of how individuals respond to and are influenced by polarized online environments. Here we present a novel experimental framework for investigating polarization dynamics that allows human users to interact with LLM-based artificial agents in a controlled social network simulation. Through a user study with 122 participants, we demonstrate that this approach can successfully reproduce key characteristics of polarized online discourse while enabling precise manipulation of environmental factors. Our results provide empirical validation of theoretical predictions about online polarization, showing that polarized environments significantly increase perceived emotionality and group identity salience while reducing expressed uncertainty. These findings extend previous observational and theoretical work by providing causal evidence for how specific features of online environments influence user perceptions and behaviors. More broadly, this research introduces a powerful new methodology for studying social media dynamics, offering researchers unprecedented control over experimental conditions while maintaining ecological validity.

Xiaohan Liu, Jianmin Liu, Jia Liu et al.

Reducing the burden of social security contributions for firms, unleashing their vitality, and enhancing their total factor productivity (TFP) are crucial measures in China's pursuit of sustainable and high‐value‐added growth. This article utilizes three reductions in the corporate pension insurance contribution ratio in China as a quasi‐natural experiment to construct a treatment intensity DID (Difference‐in‐Differences) model. By utilizing data from listed companies between 2013 and 2020, this study empirically examines the impact of reducing the pension insurance contribution ratio on firms’ TFP while identifying the underlying mechanisms. The findings of the study are as follows: First, the policy exhibits a significant positive effect on corporate TFP in China. Second, this policy's contribution primarily stems from stimulating firms to increase their employment of highly skilled labour, elevating wages for ordinary employees, and enhancing firm investment efficiency. Lastly, the analysis of heterogeneity demonstrates that the policy's positive effect is more pronounced among non‐state‐owned enterprises, small and medium‐sized enterprises, and labour‐intensive enterprises. This study provides empirical evidence for evaluating the contribution reduction policy and serves as a policy reference for endeavours to deepen the reform of the pension insurance system and enhance pension insurance fund budget management.

Guiling Zhao, Deyu Zhou, Yunpeng Fu

With the aging of China’s population, the problem of pension security has become more and more prominent, and whether delayed retirement can effectively alleviate the pension fund gap and ensure the sustainability of the pension fund has become the focus of social concern. This study predicts the income and expenditure of urban workers’ basic pension insurance fund from 2021 to 2050 by constructing an actuarial model of pension insurance fund income and expenditure, and simulates the effect of delayed retirement policy. The prediction results show that under the existing system, the basic pension insurance fund for urban workers will have a shortfall for the first time in 2027, and the shortfall will expand year by year. Compared with the non-implementation of delayed retirement policy, the simulation of the implementation of a delayed retirement program delayed the emergence of the fund gap until 2029, and the forecast period of the pension fund gap significantly narrowed, indicating that delayed retirement policy has a certain positive impact on alleviating the pressure of pension payments, but delayed retirement cannot completely eliminate the pension fund gap. In view of this, this paper suggests that a progressive and flexible delayed retirement policy should be introduced as soon as possible to better adapt to the needs of different groups. At the same time, differentiated policies should be formulated for different groups of people and a pension incentive mechanism for delayed retirement should be set up to improve public acceptance of delayed retirement policy. In addition, delayed retirement policy should be combined with other measures, such as lowering the corporate contribution rate and enhancing the value-added capacity of the pension fund, so as to ensure the sustainability of the pension fund.

J. Wang, Hua-qun Liu, Meijie Li et al.

To analyze the effect of the state‐owned capital transfer policy on the sustainability of China's urban employee basic pension insurance fund (CUEBPIF), this study develops an actuarial model for pension insurance. The results reveal the following: (i) Without policy intervention, the CUEBPIF would face a deficit in 2027 and a cumulative shortfall of RMB207.44 trillion by 2050, and the proportion of fiscal subsidies for the CUEBPIF in the total fiscal expenditure would increase to 12.86 percent in 2050. (ii) Based on a delayed retirement policy, the transfer of 10 percent of state‐owned capital can delay the onset of the fund deficit by 6 years, and the accumulated shortfall in 2050 would fall to RMB39.42 trillion, and the proportion of fiscal subsidies would decrease by 11.77 percentage points. (iii) The state‐owned capital transfer policy can improve the sustainability of the CUEBPIF and reduce the burden of enterprise social security contributions when the transfer ratio increases to 20 percent.

Oleksii B. Zarudnii

The paper is devoted to an actual scientific and applied problem – the development of methodology for applying mathematical models and data mining methods for actuarial calculations in mandatory state pension insurance system. The paper describes methodology for modeling changes in the number of pension recipients taking into account the impact of environmental factors, in particular air pollution. The basis of the proposed method is a multi-model approach, characterized by combination of data mining and probabilistic models in the form of Bayesian network, which are appropriate in conditions of statistical, parametric and structural uncertainty.The proposed approach describes the change in number of pension recipients, in particular for disability and breadwinner loss, under influence of air pollution from organic and inorganic compounds. The scientific novelty of the paper is in the use of an ensemble of models including probabilistic and statistical models in the form of Bayesian network and regression models, in the system of actuarial calculations of mandatory state pension insurance.The paper considers several scenarios for the impact of pollutants on the growth of number of pension recipients. The indicator of the share of expenditures on social protection and social security of the population in the gross national product was chosen as the target variable of the process under study. Mathematical models were found to be adequate to the modeling process, and the Bayesian network classification error is about 20%. The model structure is built in Genie 2.0 modeling system. The principal component analysis, is used to reduce the data dimension. The proposed methodology can also be applied to other tasks of forecasting social protection and social security expenditures.

Maksym Trotsko, Viktor Hudyma, Andrii Diadechko et al.

Мета роботи: розробити узагальнену математичну модель функціонування сектору безпеки і оборони України в умовах невизначеності та ризиків, притаманних впливу гібридних засобів противника, а також дослідити синергетичний ефект впливу взаємосумісності на спроможності сектору безпеки і оборони протидіяти стратегії застосування гібридної боротьби. Метод дослідження: методи комплексного аналізу та синтезу, метод нелінійного математичного моделювання. Результати дослідження: визначено, що існує взаємозв’язок між невизначеністю та ризиками гібридних загроз, а також доведене існування компенсуючого впливу з боку сектору безпеки та оборони держави на застосування противником заходів гібридного впливу. Теоретична цінність дослідження: теоретичні положення, висновки та рекомендації, викладені в роботі, можуть стати основою для подальших наукових досліджень й дискусій з питань підвищення можливостей сектору безпеки та оборони України протидіяти гібридним засобам противника. Практична цінність дослідження: реалізація  рекомендацій  і пропозицій,  обґрунтованих  у  роботі,  які спрямовані, на основі процесів військової стандартизації, на забезпечення взаємосумісності складових сектору безпеки і оборони України, а також міжнародних партнерів, дозволить протидіяти стратегії противника щодо застосування заходів гібридної боротьби. Цінність дослідження: в даному дослідженні моделювання процесів функціонування сектору безпеки та оборони України в умовах невизначеності та ризиків, притаманних впливу гібридних засобів противника ще не були предметом комплексного наукового дослідження.

Volodymir Kotsyuruba, Іhor Proshchyn

Мета роботи: удосконалити методику прогнозування наслідків надзвичайних ситуацій на гідротехнічних спорудах терористичного характеру. Метод дослідження: основними методами досліджень є методи : аналізу та синтезу. Теоретична цінність дослідження: Запропонована методика має суттєве значення для теорії цивільного захисту та може бути використана не лише для проведення розрахунків при прогнозуванні масштабів та обсягів негативного впливу наслідків зруйнування гідротехнічних споруд, а і  для проведення наступних наукових досліджень.. Практична цінність дослідження: дана методика дає можливість враховувати міграційні процеси населення та темпи розбудови урбанізованої місцевості при прогнозуванні параметрів надзвичайних ситуацій терористичного характеру на гідротехнічних спорудах. Цінність дослідження: розроблена методика враховує зниження прохідності місцевості, неоднорідність щільності забудови урбанізованої місцевості та густини заселеності районів виникнення надзвичайних ситуацій в межах зон затоплень Тип статті: практичний.

Ori Swed, Sachith Dassanayaka, Dimitri Volchenkov

In 2016, a network of social media accounts animated by Russian operatives attempted to divert political discourse within the American public around the presidential elections. This was a coordinated effort, part of a Russian-led complex information operation. Utilizing the anonymity and outreach of social media platforms Russian operatives created an online astroturf that is in direct contact with regular Americans, promoting Russian agenda and goals. The elusiveness of this type of adversarial approach rendered security agencies helpless, stressing the unique challenges this type of intervention presents. Building on existing scholarship on the functions within influence networks on social media, we suggest a new approach to map those types of operations. We argue that pretending to be legitimate social actors obliges the network to adhere to social expectations, leaving a social footprint. To test the robustness of this social footprint we train artificial intelligence to identify it and create a predictive model. We use Twitter data identified as part of the Russian influence network for training the artificial intelligence and to test the prediction. Our model attains 88% prediction accuracy for the test set. Testing our prediction on two additional models results in 90.7% and 90.5% accuracy, validating our model. The predictive and validation results suggest that building a machine learning model around social functions within the Russian influence network can be used to map its actors and functions.

Dongliang Yang, Zhichao Ren, G. Zheng

Introduction Pension insurance is an essential safeguard for the quality of life and health of older adults because it provides a stable and dependable source of income after retirement. China has constructed a multi-level social security system to accommodate the diverse needs of older adults, and offers various levels of pension insurance to maximize their interests. Methods This study uses propensity score matching and ordinary least squares techniques to analyze 7,359 data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in order to explore the relationship between different pension insurance categories and the health of older individuals. Results The research findings reveal that advanced insurances greatly benefit the health of older adults more than basic pension insurances, and the findings pass the robustness test. In addition, the effect was found to be heterogeneous, depending on the location of retirement and the marital status of older adults.Our findings suggest that both material and non-material consumption may be potential mechanisms by which pension insurance affects the health of older adults, providing new evidence for the causal mechanism between pension insurance and the health of older adults. Discussion This study expands the scope of research on the health effects of pension insurance by covering a large representative sample across the country. The results show the important impact of the level of pension insurance on the health of older adults and can contribute to the development of social policies to promote the physical and mental health of older adults.

Jinghua Sun, Peng Cheng, Zhaoxu Liu

In China, the transfer of land management rights has always been a topic of much discussion, as it plays an important role in improving land use efficiency, achieving the optimal allocation of agricultural resources, and protecting farmers’ rights and interests. With the advent of an aging society, elderly farmers are becoming the main force of agricultural production, and their land transfer behavior influences the land transfer situation in China. Based on three-period panel data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS), this study uses a binary linear regression model to explore the effects of social security, intergenerational care, and their interactions with elderly farmers’ cultivated land renting out behavior. The results show variability among elderly farmers across different regions of China, as well as a variability in other characteristics that influence cultivated land renting out behavior. It was found that: (1) pension insurance had a significant positive effect on elderly farmers’ cultivated land renting out behavior, while the effect of medical insurance was not significant. Elderly farmers who participated/received pension insurance were 4.3% more likely to choose to rent out farmland, compared to those who did not do so. (2) The frequency of intergenerational care had a significant negative effect on elderly farmers’ cultivated land renting out behavior, while the intensity of intergenerational care had no significant effect. (3) There was an interaction between the frequency of intergenerational care and social security, whereby a high frequency of intergenerational care was found to increase the probability of renting out farmland among elderly farmers with pension insurance.

Jiannan Li, B. Yuan, Kunmei Li et al.

Delayed retirement initiative proposed in China attaches greater importance to the sustainability of pension systems and the labour shortage, but less to the health status of older people. The existing social health insurance and pension system are not well established to match this initiative. This study investigates the policy mix of delayed retirement, employment-based social health insurance, social pension participation for health status of older people. Results of the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS-2018) show that late retirement could benefit health status among older adults. Moreover, such effect of late retirement appears more salient for those uninsured by employment-based social health insurance and those still in the pension contribution phase upon reaching the statutory retirement age. Hence, in countries with inadequate health insurance and pension systems, such as China, delayed retirement may serve as an important alternative to social security for the health of older people.

Loukas Ilias, Dimitris Askounis

Stress and depression are prevalent nowadays across people of all ages due to the quick paces of life. People use social media to express their feelings. Thus, social media constitute a valuable form of information for the early detection of stress and depression. Although many research works have been introduced targeting the early recognition of stress and depression, there are still limitations. There have been proposed multi-task learning settings, which use depression and emotion (or figurative language) as the primary and auxiliary tasks respectively. However, although stress is inextricably linked with depression, researchers face these two tasks as two separate tasks. To address these limitations, we present the first study, which exploits two different datasets collected under different conditions, and introduce two multitask learning frameworks, which use depression and stress as the main and auxiliary tasks respectively. Specifically, we use a depression dataset and a stressful dataset including stressful posts from ten subreddits of five domains. In terms of the first approach, each post passes through a shared BERT layer, which is updated by both tasks. Next, two separate BERT encoder layers are exploited, which are updated by each task separately. Regarding the second approach, it consists of shared and task-specific layers weighted by attention fusion networks. We conduct a series of experiments and compare our approaches with existing research initiatives, single-task learning, and transfer learning. Experiments show multiple advantages of our approaches over state-of-the-art ones.

Marcelo Sartori Locatelli, Pedro Calais, Matheus Prado Miranda et al.

Politicization is a social phenomenon studied by political science characterized by the extent to which ideas and facts are given a political tone. A range of topics, such as climate change, religion and vaccines has been subject to increasing politicization in the media and social media platforms. In this work, we propose a computational method for assessing politicization in online conversations based on topic shifts, i.e., the degree to which people switch topics in online conversations. The intuition is that topic shifts from a non-political topic to politics are a direct measure of politicization -- making something political, and that the more people switch conversations to politics, the more they perceive politics as playing a vital role in their daily lives. A fundamental challenge that must be addressed when one studies politicization in social media is that, a priori, any topic may be politicized. Hence, any keyword-based method or even machine learning approaches that rely on topic labels to classify topics are expensive to run and potentially ineffective. Instead, we learn from a seed of political keywords and use Positive-Unlabeled (PU) Learning to detect political comments in reaction to non-political news articles posted on Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok during the 2022 Brazilian presidential elections. Our findings indicate that all platforms show evidence of politicization as discussion around topics adjacent to politics such as economy, crime and drugs tend to shift to politics. Even the least politicized topics had the rate in which their topics shift to politics increased in the lead up to the elections and after other political events in Brazil -- an evidence of politicization.