None of these papers provide live proxy links or endorse piracy. They analyze behavior from a sociological or economic standpoint.
However, I must clarify a critical point before proceeding: because reputable journals do not publish research that endorses or provides instructions for accessing pirated content.
A acts as an intermediary, rerouting your connection through a different IP address. This makes it appear as though you are accessing the internet from a location where the site isn't blocked. While the original 2016 KAT site is gone, community-driven clones and mirror sites preserve the library and community features. Safe Torrenting Best Practices
Then focus on:

