Hypergroup Deformations of Semigroups

We view the well-known example of the dual of a countable compact hypergroup, motivated by the orbit space of p-adic integers by Dunkl and Ramirez (1975), as hypergroup deformation of the max semigroup structure on the linearly ordered set $\mathbb{Z}_+$ of the non-negative integers along the diagonal. This works as motivation for us to study hypergroups or semi convolution spaces arising from "max" semigroups or general commutative semigroups via hypergroup deformation on idempotents.Comment: 28 pages, 1 Table, This version is a truncated version with fourth section deleted from version 3, which is being developed into a separate paper. The title and abstract have been changed accordingl

The Equipping Paradigm of New Testament Fivefold Leaders for Parishoner- Based Ministry

This study addresses the need for a more equipping oriented leadership model to engender parishioner based ministry in the church and community. The study begins by recognizing the steady national and ecclesial decline in morals, ethics, marriage and family in America. This decline reveals the waning influence of the church in American culture. At the same time, there is evidence of a significant departure from the institutional church, in great part by Christians that want to be the church rather than just attend church. I propose that one possible solution is to return to a more equipping role for ecclesial leaders that could create and release effective ministry from parishioners, ultimately producing a more first-century ecclesial experience. In Chapter 2 of this study, I construct a biblical foundation for an equipping leadership paradigm. I begin by considering three groups of Old Testament leaders, the priests, prophets and sages, and their ministerial roles in Israel. Though initially ministers in their particular offices, they ultimately served to equip the nation to become priestly, prophetic and sagacious. Their failure necessitated a revolutionary form of leadership instituted by Jesus Christ: Servant-leaders whose primal purpose was to equip others for ministry. In Chapter 3, I attempt to synthesize the New Testament leadership paradigm with current secular leadership movements. I first consider the ministry of the Apostle Paul, specifically addressing the fivefold equipping gifts of Ephesians 4:11, as they are revealed in his own ministry. I propose that these five aspects of ministry were as well present in the ministry of Christ and are definitive of Christ like ministry. I then address the paradigm shift that occurred in the second-century church that served to create a more hierarchal, clergy ministry based ecclesiology and the failure of the Protestant Reformation to remedy it. Finally, I consider contemporary secular leadership paradigms that reflect the New Testament servant-leader equipping model. In Chapter 4, I consider the possible impact of the fivefold equipping leaders on the first-century church, and then view them in contrast to present ecclesial leadership. In doing this, I present the context from which both minister and the ideological shifts that must occur to accommodate a more first-century equipping model for today. Finally, I present an equipping prospectus for implementing the fivefold equipping leadership model. Finally, in Chapter 5, I consider the ultimate product of fivefold equipping leaders, the fivefold Christian. I first address the need for radical reform in order to accommodate a more first-century leadership and ecclesial model. Then I consider the impact of equipping leadership upon the Christian as he or she become functional in the fivefold ministries of Christ: becoming more missional (apostle), prophetic (prophet), reconciling (evangelist), pastoral (pastor) and rabbinical (teacher)

ASSESSING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF PROXIMITY TO EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION DELIVERY

Effective instruction delivery (EID) is a component of the Compliance Training for Children (CTC) Model developed by D. Joe Olmi from the School Psychology program at the University of Southern Mississippi that is designed to increase childhood compliance to adult-delivered directives. EID has been observed to be an effective strategy for increasing compliance in children (Bellipanni et al., 2013; Derieux, 2021; Ford et al., 2001; Griffin, 2007; Wimberly, 2016). Additionally, the contributions of the individual components of EID, such as demanded eye contact (Everett et al., 2005; Faciane, 2004) and contingent praise (Everett et al., 2005), have been investigated over time regarding their contribution to the EID procedure. Proximity to the child is another component of the EID procedure that needs further research. The current study used a nonconcurrent multiple baseline design to assess the contributions of proximity to EID on child compliance across four students in general education classrooms. Results showed that EID with close proximity (i.e., within 3 ft) and distant proximity (i.e., 5 ft or more) increased levels of compliance to teacher instruction and academically engaged behavior and decreased disruptive behavior from baseline levels. Implications for applied practice and research are discussed. Additionally, limitations of the current study are offered

Financing threatened species management: the costs of single species programmes and the budget constraint

In New Zealand total annual funding allows 15 percent of the 2,400 threatened species to be targeted for management. Although management costs are crucial to a conservation organisation's ability to achieve its goals, estimates of costs are not usually included in applications for funding or the preparation of recovery plans. Cost is also not generally a factor in priority ranking systems and cost-effectiveness analysis is rarely conducted. Using the results of analysis of 11 single species programmes for 2003-2012, this paper investigates the costs of management. It also considers the impact of the budget constraint on outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and investment.threatened species, management, cost, budget constraint, Agricultural and Food Policy, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

State and Not-For-Profit delivery of species conservation. Cost utility analysis of multiple-species projects.

Conservation of species is challenging, and there is continuing interest in finding more effective means to achieve conservation goals. State provision of conservation occurs in many countries, alongside a growing range of alternative providers including Not For Profit organisations and the private sector. Few studies have compared the effectiveness and efficiency of State provision against Not For Profit or private sector provision. This research assesses the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of multiple-species projects in regard to the conservation of threatened and endangered species using a cost-utility analysis. Three State managed projects, three Not For Profit managed projects and one project managed by the State yet funded privately, were evaluated. All of the Not For Profit managed projects were enclosed by predator-proof fences, while the other projects relied on natural barriers and/or intensive predator control methods. Results indicate that State managed multiple-species projects are both more effective and cost-effective than those projects managed by Not For Profits. While the Not For Profit managed projects are not so effective in improving national population totals, they are essential for ensuring regional biodiversity of threatened and endangered species. The objectives set by the projects appear to have a significant impact on their outputs. A number of recommendations are made for improving conservation efforts in the future. Most importantly, the development of a threatened and endangered species database to be contributed to by all conservation project providers. The importance of standardised reporting techniques is highlighted to allow comparisons both over time and between projects.State provision, Not For Profit, multiple-species, cost-utility analysis, Agricultural and Food Policy, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Environmental Economics and Policy, Land Economics/Use, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Public Perceptions of New Zealand's Environment

Beginning in 2000 Lincoln University has completed biennial surveys of people's perceptions of the state of the New Zealand environment. The surveys use the Pressure-State-Response framework for state of the environment reporting to assess resources such as air quality, native plants and animals, native forest and bush, soils, beaches and coastal waters, marine fisheries, marine reserves, freshwaters, national parks, wetlands, urban environments, and the natural environment compared to other developed nations. They also examine participation in environmentally friendly activities, the most important environmental issues facing New Zealanders and a range of other issues. Individual case studies are also undertaken: in 2000 natural hazards; in 2002 the coastal marine environment, marine recreational fishing and preferences for expenditure on environmental matters; in 2004 freshwater and recreational angling; in 2006 transport and policies to internalise transport externalities. This paper reviews this research programme and its contribution to understanding state of the New Zealand environment and its management.Public perceptions, environment, survey, New Zealand, Environmental Economics and Policy,