A Hierarchy of Scheduler Classes for Stochastic Automata

Stochastic automata are a formal compositional model for concurrent stochastic timed systems, with general distributions and non-deterministic choices. Measures of interest are defined over schedulers that resolve the nondeterminism. In this paper we investigate the power of various theoretically and practically motivated classes of schedulers, considering the classic complete-information view and a restriction to non-prophetic schedulers. We prove a hierarchy of scheduler classes w.r.t. unbounded probabilistic reachability. We find that, unlike Markovian formalisms, stochastic automata distinguish most classes even in this basic setting. Verification and strategy synthesis methods thus face a tradeoff between powerful and efficient classes. Using lightweight scheduler sampling, we explore this tradeoff and demonstrate the concept of a useful approximative verification technique for stochastic automata

ECONOMIC DISCOVERY IN FEDERALLY SUPPORTED IRRIGATION DISTRICTS: A TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM E. MARTIN AND FRIENDS

Ex post evaluation of economic projections validates our shared understanding of economic methodology and methods. The recent economic history of Central Arizona Project (CAP) agriculture reveals the predictive power of economic reasoning and its policy impotence within a political environment intent on obtaining its share of federally allocated water. The financial inability and unwillingness of large irrigation districts to pay for CAP water under existing federal rules produced an urban tax- and rate-payer controlled CAP decades earlier than planned. Yet irrigation districts remain a large residual buyer of CAP water under new pricing and allocation rules. Unfortunately, water markets remain an underutilized and distrusted tool in the water development game.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The impact of spirituality and social responsibility on organizational citizenship behaviour from the Islamic perspective: empirical investigation of Malaysian businesses

The phenomenon of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) emanating from the Western value system has received enormous attention from researchers, however, the model of organizational citizenship behavior from other cross cultural or religious perspectives such as the Islamic perspective, has not been much explored. This empirical study attempts to enrich the understanding of OCB from Islamic management perspective. In view of this, Western OCB framework was studied and further enriched in light of the Islamic heritage (Qur’an and Sunnah, i.e. that Prophetic tradition of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) and established the need for Taqwa serving as antecedent of citizenship behaviors from the Islamic perspective. The survey data used for this empirical research was drawn from 405 Muslim employees in business organizations in Malaysia. Principal component analysis (i.e. PCA using SPSS version 18.0) and confirmatory factor analysis (i.e. CFA using AMOS version 18.0) of the constructs; Islamic spirituality (IS), Islamic social responsibility (ISR) and Organizational citizenship behaviour from Islamic perspective (OCBIP), were conducted. Using structural equation modeling (SEM), good fit indices led to two major findings, thus, ISR influences employees’ OCBIP performance; IS does not. Several implications from the study were discussed

The missional status of African Christians in diaspora: a case of the African Christian Fellowship and African-led churches in the United States of America

https://place.asburyseminary.edu/ecommonsatsdissertations/1687/thumbnail.jp

A Future Horizon For a Prophetic Tradition: A Missional, Hermeneuical, and Pastoral Leadership Approach To Education and Black Church Civic Engagement

This mixed-methods study performed among six congregations explored how the historical framework, fabric, and focus of the Black Church have changed throughout a modern/postmodern context. An exploratory approach was used to study congregations identified by a 10-person pastoral focus group using methods of interviews and questionnaires. This researcher hypothesized that the social gospel dimensions and prophetic radicalism of the historic Black Church have diminished, but that it might reestablish itself as a pillar in the community through a retrieval of its prophetic voice and social gospel roots which caused it to be missional-minded and civically-engaged. It is anticipated that this perspective will assist the Black Church in reclamation of its heritage by confirming its purpose and affirming its position within the missional context that God has placed it

"Digital Transitions: The POLIS Theory and The NIEs"

In the fast developing digital technological revolution even the newly industrialized economies (the NIEs) have found it hard to catch up and maintain the pace required for not falling behind. The developing economies are clearly at a great disadvantage in such a fast paced technological race. Thus there is a digital divide that is growing and through a cumulative causation the gap will widen further unless coordinated action is taken. This paper discusses some of the most important economic issues conceptually and offers some modest policy advice. The basic problem of adoption of a new technology system such as the ICT( information and communications technologies) is explored via the theory of a positive feedback loop innovation system (POLIS) in a nonlinear, path-dependent world where institutional structure and its evolution matter crucially. By investing strategically in physical, intellectual and other forms of human and organizational capital as well as building new institutions of cooperation the NIEs may be able to forge a path not only in the ICT sectors, but also create innovation systems of their own that can be extended to region-wide systems. Under the emerging globally competitive market environment this will be the best way to compete dynamically. However, creating comparative advantage in this way requires capabilities that many NIES in Asia will need to promote. Creative policy interventions with a mix of market promotion, good governance, relative openness, and promotion of sustainable development in an equitable manner are necessary if the NIEs are not to be left far behind. The theoretical approach developed here also allows to evaluate the state of the economy and society ethically by extending and incorporating Amartya Sen's capabilities approach within the POLIS.

Immunization in developing countries : its political and organizational determinants

The authors use cross-national social, political, economic, and institutional data to explain why some countries have stronger immunization programs than others, as measured by diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) and measles vaccine coverage rates and the adoption of the hepatitis B vaccine. After reveiwing the existing literature on demand- and supply-side side factors that affect immunization programs, the authors find that the elements that most affect immunization programs in low- and middle-income countries involve broad changes in the global policy environment and contact with international agencies. Democracies tend to have lower coverage rates than autocracies, perhaps because bureaucratic elites have an affinity for immunization programs and are granted more autonomy in autocracies, althought this effect is not visible in low-income countries. The authors also find that the quality of a nation's institutions and its level of development are strongly related to immunization rate coverage and vaccine adoption, and that coverage rates are in general more a function of supply-side than demand effects. there is no evidence that epidemics or polio eradication campaigns affect immunization rates one way or another, or that average immunization rates increase following outbreaks of diphtheria, pertussis, or measles.Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Disease Control&Prevention,Insurance&Risk Mitigation,Public Health Promotion,Early Child and Children's Health,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Early Child and Children's Health,Insurance&Risk Mitigation,ICT Policy and Strategies,Health Economics&Finance

Introduction: comparing media systems in Central and Eastern Europe: politics, economy, culture

Introduction: comparing media systems in Central and Eastern Europe: politics, economy, cultur