Microfinance in post-disaster and post-conflict situations: turning victims into shareholders

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Using Indexed and Synchronous Events to Model and Validate Cyber-Physical Systems

Timed Transition Models (TTMs) are event-based descriptions for modelling, specifying, and verifying discrete real-time systems. An event can be spontaneous, fair, or timed with specified bounds. TTMs have a textual syntax, an operational semantics, and an automated tool supporting linear-time temporal logic. We extend TTMs and its tool with two novel modelling features for writing high-level specifications: indexed events and synchronous events. Indexed events allow for concise description of behaviour common to a set of actors. The indexing construct allows us to select a specific actor and to specify a temporal property for that actor. We use indexed events to validate the requirements of a train control system. Synchronous events allow developers to decompose simultaneous state updates into actions of separate events. To specify the intended data flow among synchronized actions, we use primed variables to reference the post-state (i.e., one resulted from taking the synchronized actions). The TTM tool automatically infers the data flow from synchronous events, and reports errors on inconsistencies due to circular data flow. We use synchronous events to validate part of the requirements of a nuclear shutdown system. In both case studies, we show how the new notation facilitates the formal validation of system requirements, and use the TTM tool to verify safety, liveness, and real-time properties.Comment: In Proceedings ESSS 2015, arXiv:1506.0325

L’auto-référencement en physiothérapie : la mise de l’avant d’une culture éthique pour encadrer la pratique organisationnelle

Commentaire / CommentaryL’auto-référencement en physiothérapie, soit le fait pour un professionnel de la santé de référer un patient vers une clinique privée de physiothérapie dans laquelle ce même professionnel possède des intérêts financiers, comporte des implications éthiques importantes de nature organisationnelle. Cet article propose des pistes de solutions à cette pratique éthiquement condamnable. En plus de miser sur des stratégies législatives et déontologiques, les cliniques privées doivent adopter des balises et des activités formelles visant à améliorer la culture éthique de leur entreprise, en impliquant les propriétaires, les actionnaires et les employés.Self-referral in physiotherapy, that is, a healthcare professional referring a patient to a private physiotherapy clinic in which the same professional has a financial interest, presents significant organizational ethical implications. This article offers potential solutions to this ethically reprehensible practice. In addition to focusing on legislative and ethical strategies, private clinics should adopt guidelines and formal activities to improve the ethical culture of their company, by involving owners, shareholders and employees