Waterloo Library Journal Publishing Service (University of Waterloo, Canada)
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2023 research outputs found
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Optimizing 3D Gaussian Splatting via Point Cloud Upsampling
No full text3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) is a technique for creating and rendering 3D scenes, however its performance depends heavily on the quality of initial seed points. To improve 3DGS initialization, this study presents and evaluates several point cloud upsampling approaches: linear interpolation, triangular interpolation, spline-based surface reconstruction, moving least squares surface fitting, and Voronoi-based point generation. Additionally, this research introduces a depth-guided point lifting method that leverages depth maps to maintain geometric consistency with Structure-from-Motion (SfM) reconstructions. Through extensive experiments on the Mip-NeRF360 and Replica datasets, the proposed methods demonstrate improvements in reconstruction quality across diverse scene types. Results indicate that different upsampling strategies excel in different scenarios: surface reconstruction methods perform better with organic, detailed scenes, while simpler interpolation approaches are more suited for scenes dominated by piecewise-smooth geometries. In comparison, the depth-guided approach shows promise for adding geometry-aware points across the entire scene, importantly in texture-less regions. These findings, which provide preliminary practical guidelines for selecting appropriate upsampling methods based on scene characteristics and computational constraints, advances the understanding of how point cloud initialization affects 3DGS quality
Temporary Migration and Wages of Ph.D.s. Stay Longer or Come Back Sooner?
No full textThis paper examines the wage implications of temporary migration for two cohorts of Italian Ph.D.s. Special attention is given to the duration of the international experience, its contribution to earned wages and the selectivity of returnees. Returnees are found to be a self-selected group whose unobservable characteristics are simultaneously associated with both higher wages and a higher propensity to migrate. Moreover, we find positive returns for those who stay longer and negative returns for those who come back sooner. The results are confirmed in several robustness and sensitivity checks
Does Boardroom Ethnic Diversity Shape ESG Performance? Insights from the US Banking Sector
No full textThis research investigates the relationship between ethnic diversity in the boardroom and the ESG performance of US banks during the 2016-2021 period. To this aim, we implement the 2-step system GMM estimation technique, which addresses endogeneity issues that have posed challenges in many studies. Our findings indicate that boardroom ethnic diversity negatively influences ESG performance. Moreover, in a nonlinear analysis, we provide evidence of a U-shaped relationship between boardroom ethnic diversity and the ESG performance of banks. These results remain robust when, instead of ESG performance, we examine the social and corporate governance performance of banks. We also demonstrate that the impact of boardroom ethnic heterogeneity on ESG performance varies with bank size. Furthermore, we reveal that during the pandemic, the previously negative impact of ethnically diverse directors on ESG performance shifts and ultimately becomes positive. Consequently, our conclusions serve as an important source of information to lawmakers and regulators and enrich the corporate governance research concerning the nexus between board characteristics and ESG performance
Reflections of a #Unsettledscholar
No full textThis paper investigates the intersections of race, identity, feminism, and digital media through a reflexive blogging project on Tumblr. The blog, Unsettledscholar explores decolonial thought, white racial socialization (Frey et al. 2022), and algorithmic biases (Philips and Ng-A-Fook 2024), that mediate the digital representation of marginalized voices. Using Jennifer A. Moon’s reflective practice methodology, the project examines how whiteness and settler privilege shape perceptions of race and identity in digital contexts, particularly in relation to Indigenous sovereignty and feminist praxis, Tumblr’s affordances as a multimodal, dialogic space (Bourdaa 2018), that facilitate a non-linear reflection on how colonial and patriarchal structures are perpetuated or challenged in digital environments. By engaging with multimedia content—such as images, text, and GIFs—the blog connects theoretical frameworks like Eve Tuck and K. Wayne Yang’s critique of decolonization as a metaphor and intersectional feminist scholarship with lived experiences of digital activism and advocacy. The project highlights how algorithms, rooted in colonial and capitalist systems, invisibilize Indigenous and BIPOC voices while amplifying certain narratives that align with settler colonial ideologies. It also considers how feminist counterpublics (Hoch et al. 2020) on Tumblr foster solidarity and resistance, creating spaces for nuanced discussions of relationality, care, and identity affirmation
X-ray diffraction-based estimation of remaining fatigue life in AA6061-T6 for “additive remanufacturing®”
No full textCold spray is an advanced additive manufacturing technology that is capable of restoration of damaged metallic components without exposing them to high temperatures. To expand the use of cold spray from restoring the geometry and structure of defective parts to full remanufacturing, extending their lifespan beyond the original life cycle by replacing internally damaged areas (typically only 10–15% of the part’s volume), the first step is to accurately assess the damage at the part’s hot spot. This study explores the capabilities of X-ray diffraction (XRD) as a non-destructive testing method for assessing damage in AA6061-T6. A set of dog-bone samples was prepared to introduce controlled damage at different levels. X-ray diffraction measurements were conducted on these samples to generate test data, to assess dislocation densities. These values offer a quantified measure of internal damage and provide insight into the microstructural evolution under fatigue loading. By using this method, this study aims to develop a reliable method for pre-additive remanufacturing® damage assessment. In corroboration with earlier studies, we show that XRD can effectively detect internal material damage using dislocation densities through XRD-measured parameters such as full width at half maxima (FWHM), a measure of XRD peak broadening used for analyzing dislocation and strain. Integrating XRD-based damage assessment with cold spray additive manufacturing can enable precise and localized repairs. By implementing cold spray remanufacturing, this method can significantly reduce material waste, a major contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions, and extend components\u27 lifespans across various industries, promoting sustainability and circular economy
The Keeper of Flame and Shadow
No full textBefore names, before fire curled in cupped palms, I was here. Stone-bellied, dark-lunged, waiting.They came to me with ochre fingers and a breath warm with wonder. Come closer. Not too fast. Let your eyes adjust. Do you see them? They’re still here. The spirits of those who danced with flame and shadow. I have kept them safe. Thirty-six thousand years ago, they stepped into me with torches; children of flesh and bone. And with time, they began to sing. Then, they painted. And in that instant, I became more than stone
Did ETS Coverage and Free Allowances Affect Economic Performance and GHG Emissions in the EU?: Evidence from a Panel of EU Sectors
No full textThis study analyzes the impacts of the European Union Emissions Trading System and free allowances on sectoral value added, gross output, and greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union for the period 1995-2020. Since the European Union Emissions Trading System inherently covers firm-level emissions, most studies in this area have been conducted at the firm level. However, a sectoral analysis allows understanding how sectors as a whole respond to the carbon pricing mechanism in terms of carbon reductions, competitiveness and sectoral output growth. It can also reveal how changes differ across sectors subject to different regulations. Controlling for sectoral employment, intermediate input use, and time effects, the results show that European Union Emissions Trading System coverage has a negative impact on both value added and gross output, but does not lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The findings indicate that more labor-intensive and less input-intensive production can reduce emissions. Furthermore, the study draws attention to the competitive losses caused by compliance costs in sectors within the scope of the European Union Emissions Trading System and shows that the impact of free allowances on performance is insufficient. These results highlight the importance of coherent and inclusive approaches in policy design to more effectively manage the economic and environmental impacts of the European Union Emissions Trading System. It is recommended to develop more targeted and flexible strategies, taking into account sectoral differences
Keynesianism and U.S. Economic Transformation: Institutional Challenges, Policy Limits, and Global Interdependence
No full textThis paper presents a historically grounded reinterpretation of Keynesianism within the context of U.S. economic development and global capitalist transformations. It traces how Keynesianism has evolved through major crises—the Great Depression, stagflation, the 2008 financial collapse, and the COVID-19 pandemic—engaging critically with competing paradigms such as monetarism, rational expectations, supply-side economics, and computational models of economic behavior. The argument centers on the growing inadequacy of traditional demand management policies to address long-term structural issues, including market concentration, rent extraction, technological displacement, and the erosion of democratic institutions. Drawing on institutional and geopolitical analysis, the paper foregrounds the role of fiscal deficits, debt accumulation, and the international monetary system in shaping U.S. economic policy space. It advocates for a structurally integrated Keynesianism—one that embeds macroeconomic stabilization within a framework of institutional reform, regulatory innovation, and democratic accountability. Rather than treating crises as anomalies, the paper conceptualizes them as catalysts for institutional adaptation and systemic recalibration. This revised Keynesian approach not only enhances the explanatory power of the theory but also expands its normative and practical scope, offering a more comprehensive lens through which to understand and govern economic behavior in an interdependent and volatile global order
Corruption, Natural Capital and Economic Development: A Dynamic GMM Analysis
No full textUsing a dynamic panel dataset of 150 countries for the period of 2006-2018 and a two-step system GMM estimation model, this paper shows that natural resources have a positive effect on economic development while holding corruption constant. Our findings support the notion that natural resources have a positive effect on the economy of a nation. When a country has less corruption, it improves the appropriation of economic gains from natural resources which serves as natural capital that would drive further capital accumulation and further development. We also find that physical capital, human capital, and freedom from corruption show strong positive effects on economic development, controlling for other economic and institutional variables