Petri net model decomposition - a model based approach supporting distributed execution

Dissertação apresentada para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia Electrotécnica, Especialidade de Sistemas Digitais, pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências e TecnologiaModel-based systems development has contributed to reducing the enormous difference between the continuous increase of systems complexity and the improvement of methods and methodologies available to support systems development. The choice of the modeling formalism is an important factor for success-fully increasing productivity. Petri nets proved to be a suitable candidate for being chosen as a system specification language due to their natural support of modeling processes with concurrency, synchronization and resource sharing, as well as the mechanisms of composition and decomposition. Also having a formal representation reinforces the choice, given that the use of verification tools is fundamental for complex systems development. This work proposes a method for partitioning Petri net models into concurrent sub-models, supporting their distributed implementation. The IOPT class (Input-Output Place Transition) is used as a reference class. It is extended by directed synchronous communication channels, enabling the com- munication between the generated sub-models. Three rules are proposed to perform the partition, and restrictions of the proposed partition method are identified. It is possible to directly compose models which result from the partitioning operation, through an operation of model addition. This allows the re-use of previously obtained models, as well as the easy modification of the intended system functionalities. The algorithms associated with the implementation of the partition operation are presented, as well as its rules and other procedures. The proposed methods are validated through several case studies emphasizing control components of automation systems

A vallásos attitűdök, a megküzdési módok és a lelki egészség összefüggései serdülő- és fiatal felnőttkorban = The relationship between religious attitudes, coping strategies, and mental health in adolescence and young adulthood

Egyre több kutatás bizonyítja a vallás pozitív hatását a lelki egészségre nézve. A jelen vizsgálatban arra a kérdésre kerestük a választ, hogy serdülők és fiatal felnőttek esetében hogyan függ össze a vallásos attitűd a megküzdés adaptív és nem adaptív formáival, valamint hogy lehet-e közvetítő szerepe a megküzdésnek a vallásosság és lelki egészség közötti kapcsolatban. 190 budapesti középiskolás (átlagéletkoruk 16,9 év) és 213 egyetemista (átlagéletkoruk 21,4 év) töltötte ki anonim, önkitöltős kérdőívünket. Eredményeink szerint a transzcendens elfogadása mind a serdülő, mind a fiatal felnőtt mintán erős összefüggést mutat az érzelmi-adaptív megküzdés faktorával, melyben szerepel a társas támasz elfogadása/igénybevétele is. A regressziós elemzés eredményei arra utalnak, hogy az érzelmi-adaptív és a problémaközpontú megküzdés közvetítő tényezőként játszhat szerepet a vallásosság és a pozitív lelki egészség kapcsolatában. A vallásosság változása miatt azonban a vallásosság különböző aspektusai (középiskolásoknál a templomba járás gyakorisága és a transzcendens elfogadása, egyetemistáknál a vallásos kijelentések szimbolikus értelmezése) járulnak hozzá a megküzdési stratégiák választásán keresztül a jobb lelki egészséghez. | There is a growing body of evidence proving the protective effects of religion on mental health. In the present study our aim was to explore the relationship between religious attitudes and adaptive and non-adaptive coping, as well as the possible mediating role of coping in the relationship between religion and mental health in an adolescent and young adult sample. Data was gathered from 190 high-school students (mean age 16.9) and 213 university students (mean age 21.4) with the help of self-administered questionnaires. Our results show a strong relationship between the inclusion of transcendence and the factor of emotional-adaptive coping, including social support, in both age groups. Results of the regression analysis suggest that emotional-adaptive and problem-focused coping might play a mediating role in the relationship between religion and mental health. Due to the changes in religiosity, however, it is different aspects of religion (frequency of church attendance and inclusion of transcendence in high-school students, and symbolic interpretation in university students) that enhance mental health through the choice of coping strategies

Studies On The Potential Impacts Of The New Basel Capital Accord

In April 2003, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision published the third consultative paper (CP3) of the new Basel Capital Accord relating to the prudential regulation of banks, which was followed in July 2003 by the EU Commission’s draft directive with the same contents, but slightly different detailed rules (Capital Adequacy Directive, CAD3). During the consultative process both organisations expect comments from the players affected by the new capital regulation, thus from the central banks of each country as well. The significance of the new capital regulation is underlined by the fact that the Basel recommendation will soon be followed by the European Union’s directive (presumably in 2004), the implementation of which will be one of the largest regulative challenges for Hungary. Accordingly, the Magyar Nemzeti Bank pays special attention to preparing the implementation of the Basel II/CAD3 capital accords, laying the groundwork for the adaptation and carrying out the necessary background analyses. Our main objective in the first phase of this rather complex and far-reaching project was – through participation in the legislative process – to analyse the issues important and relevant for the MNB, as well as to assess the potential consequences of implementation in Hungary. During such analyses we focused on the macro-prudential consequences. Accordingly, we carried out a detailed assessment of five topics.Basel Capital Accord, Pro-cyclicality, Credit risk, Market Risk, Regulation, Corporate governance.

Vallásosság és személyiség = Religiosity and personality

A kutatás során a vallásos orientációk és a személyiség közötti összefüggést, valamint a vallásos orientációk mérésére kidolgozott eszköz (Post-Critical Belief Scale; Kritika utáni vallásosság-skála) hazai érvényességét vizsgáltuk. A kutatás igazolta a vallásos orientációk magasabb szintjei és a személyiség érettsége közötti pozitív összefüggést (biztos kötődés, érettebb megküzdési módok), illetve igazolta a skála magyar változatának hazai környezetben való megbízhatóságát, valamint felhívta a figyelmet a remény koncepció árnyaltabb kidolgozásának szükségességére. | The aim of the research was to explore the relationship between religious orientations and personality, as well as testing the validity of the Hungarian version of the scale measuring religious orientation (Post-Critical Belief Scale) in a Hungarian environment. The results confirm the positive relationship between higher levels of religious orientation and the maturity of personality (characterized by secure attachment and mature coping mechanisms). The results also confirmed the validity of the scale, and brought the attention for the need for developing a more a differentiated hope concept

Autonomic and sensory nerve dysfunction in primary biliary cirrhosis

AIM: Cardiovascular autonomic and peripheral sensory neuropathy is a known complication of chronic alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver diseases. We aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors for peripheral sensory nerve and autonomic dysfunction using sensitive methods in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). METHODS: Twenty-four AMA M2 positive female patients with clinical, biochemical and histological evidence of PBC and 20 age matched healthy female subjects were studied. Five standard cardiovascular reflex tests and 24-h heart rate variability (HRV) analysis were performed to define autonomic function. Peripheral sensory nerve function on median and peroneal nerves was characterized by current perception threshold (CPT), measured by a neuroselective diagnostic stimulator (Neurotron, Baltimore, MD). RESULTS: Fourteen of 24 patients (58%) had at least one abnormal cardiovascular reflex test and thirteen (54%) had peripheral sensory neuropathy. Lower heart rate response to deep breathing (P = 0.001), standing (P = 0.03) and Valsalva manoeuvre (P = 0.01), and more profound decrease of blood pressure after standing (P = 0.03) was found in PBC patients than in controls. As a novel finding we proved that both time domain and frequency domain parameters of 24-h HRV were significantly reduced in PBC patients compared to controls. Each patient had at least one abnormal parameter of HRV. Lower CPT values indicated hyperaesthesia as a characteristic feature at peroneal nerve testing at three frequencies (2000 Hz: P = 0.005; 250 Hz: P = 0.002; 5 Hz: P = 0.004) in PBC compared to controls. Correlation of autonomic dysfunction with the severity and duration of the disease was observed. Lower total power of HRV correlated with lower CPT values at median nerve testing at 250 Hz (P = 0.0001) and at 5 Hz (P = 0.002), as well as with those at peroneal nerve testing at 2000 Hz (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Autonomic and sensory nerve dysfunctions are frequent in PBC. Twenty-four-hour HRV analysis is more sensitive than standard cardiovascular tests for detecting of both parasympathetic and sympathetic impairments. Our novel data suggest that hyperaesthesia is a characteristic feature of peripheral sensory neuropathy and might contribute to itching in PBC. Autonomic dysfunction is related to the duration and severity of PBC

The Challenges and Opportunities of Pre-Marriage Counselling in Hungary : a flexible model

The article offers an overview of the obstacles, challenges and opportunities of pre-marriage counsellor and facilitator training in Hungary. It presents the first institutionally affiliated pre-marriage counselling program and the corresponding facilitator training. It summarises the feedback from the test course participants (eight couples and nine priests), and reviews options for development