Techniques for the Fast Simulation of Models of Highly dependable Systems

With the ever-increasing complexity and requirements of highly dependable systems, their evaluation during design and operation is becoming more crucial. Realistic models of such systems are often not amenable to analysis using conventional analytic or numerical methods. Therefore, analysts and designers turn to simulation to evaluate these models. However, accurate estimation of dependability measures of these models requires that the simulation frequently observes system failures, which are rare events in highly dependable systems. This renders ordinary Simulation impractical for evaluating such systems. To overcome this problem, simulation techniques based on importance sampling have been developed, and are very effective in certain settings. When importance sampling works well, simulation run lengths can be reduced by several orders of magnitude when estimating transient as well as steady-state dependability measures. This paper reviews some of the importance-sampling techniques that have been developed in recent years to estimate dependability measures efficiently in Markov and nonMarkov models of highly dependable system

Understanding policy and programming on sex-selection in Tamil Nadu: Ethnographic and sociological reflections

The family-planning programme of Tamil Nadu, largely a female sterilisation campaign, has been applauded as one of the successful public health interventions in India, which had arguably led to the drastic fertility decline in the state. To the state's dismay, however, the fertility decline in Tamil Nadu was also attended by the increasing reports of female infanticide and sex-selective abortion. In its subsequent response, the state in Tamil Nadu introduced specific policy and interventionary measures to curb the practice. In this paper, I critically examine these responses in their local ethnographic contexts to highlight the manner in which family-planning goals get intertwined with the political intervention on the issue of sex-selection. This leads to women's diminishing access to unmet needs for family planning and reproductive health services thereby contributing to further marginalisation of Tamil women

Simulating Tail Probabilities in GI/GI.1 Queues and Insurance Risk Processes with Subexponentail Distributions

This paper deals with estimating small tail probabilities of thesteady-state waiting time in a GI/GI/1 queue with heavy-tailed (subexponential) service times. The problem of estimating infinite horizon ruin probabilities in insurance risk processes with heavy-tailed claims can be transformed into the same framework. It is well-known that naive simulation is ineffective for estimating small probabilities and special fast simulation techniques like importance sampling, multilevel splitting, etc., have to be used. Though there exists a vast amount of literature on the rare event simulation of queuing systems and networks with light-tailed distributions, previous fast simulation techniques for queues with subexponential service times have been confined to the M/GI/1 queue. The general approach is to use the Pollaczek-Khintchine transformation to convert the problem into that of estimating the tail distribution of a geometric sum of independent subexponential random variables. However, no such useful transformation exists when one goes from Poisson arrivals to general interarrival-time distributions. We describe and evaluate an approach that is based on directly simulating the random walk associated with the waiting-time process of the GI/GI/1 queue, using a change of measure called delayed subexponential twisting -an importance sampling idea recently developed and found useful in the context of M/GI/1 heavy-tailed simulations

How farmers in an Indian village used broadband to save onions, and their livelihood

In a country with around 300 million smartphones, data usage per smartphone has increased to 9.6GB per month. While Internet penetration in rural areas is still low, those who do have access to Internet are benefiting from it writes Arshad Perwez. Some to even save their crop of onions

The Importance of the implementation of financial regulation in crypto currency

Research Question and Justification Why it is very necessary to implement financial regulation in cryptocurrency? Can financial regulation play a significant role in stabilising the cryptocurrency market? What would be the post implementation effect of financial regulatory body on crypto currency assets

Relationship, Workload: A Study in Mickey and the Memsahib

Good relationship is an essence for happy and peaceful life as water is necessary for existence of living beings. Extensive workloads and lust for huge earnings compel many professionals, private and government employees to be stuck with their duties for extra hours in the cosmopolitan cities; aloof from their family, relatives and friends; with them they should spend some time to sustain good relationship but they have no time to do so. Contrary, confusion and doubt has penetrate in their minds that disturb many people and force human beings to stay in perturbed circumstances though proper discussion restore their relationship with family particularly. They should spare time at home to share their ups and downs with wife, mother, sisters, brothers and other relatives in the high-tech cities and towns. Therefore, an appreciable relationship has taken a resentful situation when Professor and Memsahib become incompetent and careless to maintain their life-bonding relationship in the Marathi play Mickey and the Memsahib that is written by Satish Alekar (1949-). Professor has been doing research on the mouse named Mickey; so he has a hectic life of taking care of the mouse, scrutinizing research papers that are generally submitted by his research scholars, preparing lectures in the university, maintaining official works because he has been playing role of HOD for years. Memsahib is an Associate Professor who is always busy in her works. They do not negotiate nor give sufficient time to each other that results loneliness, sadness and dilemma

Rethinking the Cape Town Property Developer: Understanding the local developer's perspective of the City of Cape Town Municipality and comparing this perspective to local Transit-Orientated Development policy constructs of the developer

Purpose – This dissertation investigated the degree to which the City of Cape Town understands a ‘notional' Cape Town property developer within the Transit-Orientated Development (“TOD”) context. This dissertation is not meant to draw a distinction between a right or wrong model of a local property developer, but to investigate what a richer model would look like using alternative economic perspectives that capture the multiplicity of reality and possible TOD policy implications. Design – A literature review was undertaken to understand institutional and behavioural economic frameworks, how each framework relates to the property market, and how to use the frameworks to assist in defining a developer. Further research was conducted to consider the property development process from the perspective of the Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) framework. The property developer as an actor within the property market was then deconstructed. Alternative approaches to local government involvement in the development industry and the developer's perspective on TOD was also explored. A qualitative, semi-structured localist interview was conducted with nine major developers operating in Cape Town. They were selected because they are likely to participate in catalytic TOD-type projects. The interview aimed to understand their world view and how their lived experience relates to the City of Cape Town municipality. Findings – There is a ‘definition gap' between how the City of Cape Town has defined a developer and the findings of this dissertation. Policy implies a developer has perfect decision-making qualities pursuing maximum profits, whereas this dissertation found that developers tend to be focussed on risk reduction and exhibit satisficing and loss-averse behaviour. There are also those who prefer to build and hold a portfolio of rental properties which are not defined in policy. This type of developer possesses a different outlook and investment behaviour than the one defined in the TOD Strategic Framework. The City of Cape Town does not appreciate its positioning within and its influence on local property market dynamics, as it relates to the ‘rules of the game'. Practical Implications – Without understanding these distinctions, developers may not necessarily, predictably and readily respond to any TOD incentives and levers as set out in the Framework, resulting in policy perpetuating the very spatial inequalities and status quo the City of Cape Town aims to redress

Death before Birth : Negotiating Reproduction, Female Infanticide and Sex Selective Abortion in Tamil Nadu, South India

This thesis deals with the cultural and political underpinnings of female infanticide and sex selective abortion in contemporary South India. Based on a fifteen months' ethnographic fieldwork in western parts of Salem district in Tamil Nadu, I explore the ideas and practices around deaths of (un)born children - particularly in the context of issues of gender-selective child survival, use and control over new reproductive technologies for sex selection, fertility and reproduction. Elucidating further the ethnographic contexts of state and non-state (primarily NGO) interventions in these deaths, the thesis examines the new forms of governance on issues that affect contemporary Tamil women. I discuss three different discourses by the government, by NGOs, and by the communities on the meaning and context of these deaths including the ways in which these meanings and ideas are reconceptualised and re-configured into a changing social and cultural context of birth. My thesis, therefore, contributes to the anthropology of reproduction. The underlying questions of the thesis are: Why has female infanticide, which was claimed to be effectively controlled in nineteenth century colonial India, appeared in post-colonial (South) India - in the form of both sex selective abortion and female infanticide - in communities and regions where it was previously claimed to be unknown? What effects could these social practices have on contemporary women' s positions and their developments and vice-versa? In answering these questions. the thesis makes a significant departure from previous anthropological studies on female infanticide in India in that it does not solely look into one single unit (village/s in this case), but uses a multi-sited approach, covering a wider geographical area, i.e .. parts of Salem, Dharmapuri, and Erode districts of Tamil Nadu. The thesis also shifts from the purely demographic approach to female infanticide in that it does not generate a new data set on female infanticide. Rather, it engages with the institutional responses and their rhetoric on female infanticide and sex selective abortion

Telugu Jews: Are the Dalits of coastal Andhra going caste-awry?

In the context of religious conversion movements of low castes in India, many Dalit groups have embraced Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and even Jainism in order to restore egalitarian traditions. However, their conversion to Judaism is relatively unheard of in the academia. This essay throws light on the nature of these conversions by looking at a section of Dalit population in the coastal Andhra, who embraced Judaism two decades ago by declaring their community to be the descendants of the Children of Ephraim – one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel

Predicting Financial Survival: Altman Z-Score Insights into India's Renewable Energy Industry.

This study evaluates the financial health and bankruptcy risk of seven major Indian renewable energy firms from 2014 to 2023 using the Altman Z-score model, specifically its version adapted for emerging markets. As India targets 450 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, understanding the financial resilience of key industry players is essential to guide investment strategies and policy decisions. The selected firms, Tata Power Renewable Energy, Adani Green Energy, Suzlon Energy, Inox Wind, NHPC, SJVN, and Reliance Power, represent a mix of ownership structures and operate across solar, wind, and hydro sectors. A quantitative approach was applied using publicly available financial data, incorporating key ratios such as working capital, retained earnings, EBIT, and market value of equity. The results reveal variation in financial performance: Adani Green consistently remained in the green zone after 2020, reflecting strong investor confidence and low insolvency risk, while NHPC and Reliance Power stayed in the distress zone throughout, suggesting persistent financial weakness. Suzlon Energy showed volatility but signs of recovery by 2023, whereas Inox Wind moved from stability to distress after 2017. These findings support the use of the Z-score as a financial early-warning tool in capital-intensive sectors. However, the model’s limitations are evident in its inability to fully capture industry-specific challenges like delayed subsidies, regulatory uncertainty, and long asset payback periods. The study recommends integrating financial ratios with sector-specific and qualitative indicators.It contributes to the literature by applying the Z-score in India’s renewable energy context and offers practical insights for investors and policymakers