Autonomic management of multiple non-functional concerns in behavioural skeletons

We introduce and address the problem of concurrent autonomic management of different non-functional concerns in parallel applications build as a hierarchical composition of behavioural skeletons. We first define the problems arising when multiple concerns are dealt with by independent managers, then we propose a methodology supporting coordinated management, and finally we discuss how autonomic management of multiple concerns may be implemented in a typical use case. The paper concludes with an outline of the challenges involved in realizing the proposed methodology on distributed target architectures such as clusters and grids. Being based on the behavioural skeleton concept proposed in the CoreGRID GCM, it is anticipated that the methodology will be readily integrated into the current reference implementation of GCM based on Java ProActive and running on top of major grid middleware systems.Comment: 20 pages + cover pag

Common Knowledge and Consensus with Noisy Communication

Parikh and Krasucki (1990, JET 52) have suggested in an informal manner that a consensus does not require common knowledge. Weyers (1992, CORE DP 9228) has proved that their model does not permit such a conclusion, and that a more general one has to be constructed. Heifetz (1996, JET 70) has given an example with three agents, inspired by computer science works, which illustrates the intuition of the first authors, i.e. where a consensus is obtained without common knowledge of it. We propose a general setting of noisy communication to confirm this result. We show that for any non public and noisy communication, no event can become common knowledge if it was not at the beginning, but that under some assumptions a consensus and arbitrary high levels of interactive knowledge are achievable. A minimal example is given, with two agents and two states. Nevertheless, for public and noisy communication, some results on common knowledge are obtained, depending on the richness of available language. We apply our results to describe some conditions that ensure or prevent epistemic conditions for Nash equilibrium. In general, non public and noisy communication is not sufficient for the conjectures to form, during time, a Nash equilibrium, even if the game and mutual rationality are mutually known. However, with only two agents, or with a noisy and public communication protocol, sufficient conditions are given for the conjectures to form a Nash equilibrium in a finite number of communication periods.

Leading from within : a reflective essay

The principal is a team member that brings a specialized skill set to the table, for the benefit of the whole team. The principal\u27 s role is that of a leader. The principal functions as the leader of vision, climate and culture, the leader of reflective practice, the leader of change, the leader of learning, and the leader of service. In all of these areas the principal leads from within the team as a member of the team

Real-Time Science Operations to Support a Lunar Polar Volatiles Rover Mission

Future human exploration of the Moon will likely rely on in situ resource utilization (ISRU) to enable long duration lunar missions. Prior to utilizing ISRU on the Moon, the natural resources (in this case lunar volatiles) must be identified and characterized, and ISRU demonstrated on the lunar surface. To enable future uses of ISRU, NASA and the CSA are developing a lunar rover payload that can (1) locate near subsurface volatiles, (2) excavate and analyze samples of the volatile-bearing regolith, and (3) demonstrate the form, extractability and usefulness of the materials. Such investigations are important both for ISRU purposes and for understanding the scientific nature of these intriguing lunar volatile deposits. Temperature models and orbital data suggest near surface volatile concentrations may exist at briefly lit lunar polar locations outside persistently shadowed regions. A lunar rover could be remotely operated at some of these locations for the approx. 2-14 days of expected sunlight at relatively low cost. Due to the limited operational time available, both science and rover operations decisions must be made in real time, requiring immediate situational awareness, data analysis, and decision support tools. Given these constraints, such a mission requires a new concept of operations. In this paper we outline the results and lessons learned from an analog field campaign in July 2012 which tested operations for a lunar polar rover concept. A rover was operated in the analog environment of Hawaii by an off-site Flight Control Center, a rover navigation center in Canada, a Science Backroom at NASA Ames Research Center in California, and support teams at NASA Johnson Space Center in Texas and NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. We find that this type of mission requires highly efficient, real time, remotely operated rover operations to enable low cost, scientifically relevant exploration of the distribution and nature of lunar polar volatiles. The field demonstration illustrated the need for science operations personnel in constant communications with the flight mission operators and the Science Backroom to provide immediate and continual science support and validation throughout the mission. Specific data analysis tools are also required to enable immediate data monitoring, visualization, and decision making. The field campaign demonstrated that this novel methodology of real-time science operations is possible and applicable to providing important new insights regarding lunar polar volatiles for both science and exploration

Signed Opinions, Concurrences, Dissents, and Vote Counts in the U.S. Supreme Court: Boon or Bane? (A Response to Professors Penrose and Sherry)

Some commentators recently have argued for changes in how United States Supreme Court Justices communicate with everyone except perhaps other Justices of the Supreme Court and the Justices\u27 assistants. Specifically, some commentators have urged that signed opinions and separate opinions, such as concurrences and dissents, stop being published in the official reports. One commentator also has advocated non‑publication of the vote count in Supreme Court decisions. Another has demanded unanimity, as required by due process. In this piece, I offer my thoughts in response to these proposals. I argue several reasons to doubt that a prohibition on publication of concurring and dissenting opinions (or a requirement that any publication of such opinions be separate in time and place from the Court\u27s opinion or naked decision) would result in the Court deciding more cases than it currently decides or would lead to more agreement among the Justices. I explain why I believe the concerns about ill effects of separate opinions are not empirically well grounded, and why concurrences and dissents have significant salutary effects that their critics do not sufficiently appreciate. My article also argues that Professor Sherry\u27s proposal, requiring action by Congress, would violate the First Amendment rights of the citizenry and the Justices, and would likely affect the processes by which the Court makes, as well as explains and justifies, its substantive decisions, thereby violating separation of powers. Professor Orentlicher\u27s proposal to require unanimous decisions would moot a number of the problems with Professor Penrose\u27s and Professor Sherry\u27s proposals. But the degree to which unanimous decisions would be attainable, and at what costs, remain very open questions. Open debates do far more for the Court\u27s legitimacy than purportedly univocal utterances and silenced disagreements (even if feasible) ever could do. Separate opinions demonstrate that the process of decision making is legitimate, and thereby both help to insulate the Court from political attacks and give hope to those who oppose particular results that those results someday may be reversed. Thus, the respectful airing of differing, even opposing, views is far more desirable than hiding Justices\u27 differences of opinions

Assessing the efficacy of policy reform in Zimbabwe's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector

In 2009 Zimbabwe experienced a cholera outbreak of unprecedented magnitude where over 90 000 cases where recorded an at least 4 500 people lost their lives. It is argued that this outbreak created the impetus for implementation of water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) sector reforms which would contribute towards addressing service level challenges and gaps. Through this study the researcher sought to understand the WASH sector reforms implemented and the extent to which they had resulted in the anticipated improvements in service delivery amongst targeted rural communities. The study adopted a mixed methodology descriptive survey to understand the practical aspects and intricacies of policy implementation and reform in the Zimbabwean WASH sector, with emphasis on the benefits of policy reform for enhancing access and management of rural WASH service delivery initiatives. Three empirical data sources were used, comprising of desktop review of documents on WASH policy implementation processes and guidelines, qualitative interviews carried out with four key informants from WASH coordinating committees and the case methodology to study three districts implementing the sector reforms using a semi-structured questionnaire administered to various district and community stakeholders. The researcher found that the WASH sector reforms have not fully achieved the intended objectives, although some strides have been made in terms of improving water and sanitation access to selected communities. However, the researcher notes that the gains in service coverage that have been made in the case districts are proving short-lived and unsustainable as issues such as limited funding, sustainability of the WASH coordination structures, operation and maintenance of infrastructures remain a real challenge. Considering these challenges the researcher recommends that the government explore alternative innovative sources for WASH funding including streamlining the WASH coordinating committees to improve efficiency and effectiveness, strengthening sector financing through adoption of user-pays initiatives and inclusion of community-based management structures in WASH planning and decision making to enhance effective community participation

The political realities of Rio Grande Valley women

The inclusion of minority women in literature on electoral politics is scarce. Although they do exist in this realm, officially and unofficially, their influence has not been a popular topic of study. This study attempts to gain insight into the meaning that politically-active Mexican American women attach to their involvement in politics. The rhetorical criticism approach of fantasy theme analysis has been chosen as the framework for this thesis, which is linked to the general communication theory of symbolic convergence. Responses from 24 in-depth interviews with Mexican American women of Hidalgo County in south Texas were analyzed for common themes indicating the presence of symbolic convergence

Transformative Urban Education Leaders in Los Angeles

The job of an education system-level leader in urban environments is becoming more demanding, and the environment in which they operate more complex. Filling these very critical roles with individuals who possess the right characteristics could mean the difference between success and failure at improving the educational outcomes of students who are more often than not students of color and economically disadvantaged students. Through seven interviews, this qualitative study focused on understanding the leadership dispositions that contributed to the success of transformative urban education system-level leaders in Los Angeles. The new transformative urban education leadership framework was developed using elements from each of the following existing frameworks: leadership for multicultural education, transformative leadership, and leadership for social justice. Findings from the data revealed four themes and two subthemes that described the characteristics that these transformative education leaders in urban Los Angeles had in common. The four themes were early experiences that impacted future trajectory, power of positive communication, forming deep relationships with the community, collaborative decision-making and teambuilder; the subthemes were communicating beliefs and vision, communicating hope, and communicating courage. These themes and subthemes suggest some positive alignment to the new transformative urban education leadership framework. Los Angeles education organizations could develop their own pipeline of top-level leaders who are prepared to assume positions when the opportunities present themselves, elevate the role of community-based organizations (and community), and be more targeted in their recruitment and professional development strategies for existing transformative leaders

Mechanisms of end-of-life communication contributing to optimal care at the end of life: a review of reviews

Background: End-of-life communication is an essential component of high-quality care, but its potential mechanisms for improving care are not well understood. Objectives: To summarise the potential mechanisms by which end-of-life communication may contribute to enhanced end-of-life care in any setting. Design: An overview of systematic reviews, with a narrative synthesis of results. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Study quality was assessed using the AMSTAR (A MeaSurement Tool to Assess Reviews) tool. Data sources: CINAHL, MEDLINE, Cochrane, SSCI and PsycINFO databases, were searched from inception to January 2024. Manual searches were also conducted. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: Systematic reviews (published in English) related to end-of-life communication, where the target population was adult patients in their last year of life, relatives, caregivers and/or healthcare professionals involved in communicating with dying patients. Results: We reviewed 35 eligible studies. The reviews suggest potential mechanisms of effective end-of-life communication including collaborative decision-making, tailoring communication to individuals, using effective communication strategies and incorporating communication skills into practice. The reviews also highlighted barriers related to patients, professionals and organisations. Conclusion: This review highlights a nuanced understanding of potential mechanisms of end-of-life communication, emphasising the need for tailored training, policy enhancements and interprofessional collaboration. It calls on healthcare professionals to reflect on their practices, advocating for co-designing a person-centred communication model that addresses patient preferences at the end of life. Importantly, in culturally diverse contexts, there is a need for a communication paradigm that embraces diversity to provide truly empathetic and effective end-of-life care. This concise roadmap may foster compassionate, dignified and effective end-of-life communication. Trial registration number: Protocol registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022271433, 29 March 2022)