Automated Repair of Process Models with Non-local Constraints Using State-Based Region Theory

State-of-the-art process discovery methods construct free-choice process models from event logs. Consequently, the constructed models do not take into account indirect dependencies between events. Whenever the input behaviour is not free-choice, these methods fail to provide a precise model. In this paper, we propose a novel approach for enhancing free-choice process models by adding non-free-choice constructs discovered a-posteriori via region-based techniques. This allows us to benefit from the performance of existing process discovery methods and the accuracy of the employed fundamental synthesis techniques. We prove that the proposed approach preserves fitness with respect to the event log while improving the precision when indirect dependencies exist. The approach has been implemented and tested on both synthetic and real-life datasets. The results show its effectiveness in repairing models discovered from event logs.

Average-Reward Reinforcement Learning with Trust Region Methods

Most of reinforcement learning algorithms optimize the discounted criterion which is beneficial to accelerate the convergence and reduce the variance of estimates. Although the discounted criterion is appropriate for certain tasks such as financial related problems, many engineering problems treat future rewards equally and prefer a long-run average criterion. In this paper, we study the reinforcement learning problem with the long-run average criterion. Firstly, we develop a unified trust region theory with discounted and average criteria. With the average criterion, a novel performance bound within the trust region is derived with the Perturbation Analysis (PA) theory. Secondly, we propose a practical algorithm named Average Policy Optimization (APO), which improves the value estimation with a novel technique named Average Value Constraint. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first one to study the trust region approach with the average criterion and it complements the framework of reinforcement learning beyond the discounted criterion. Finally, experiments are conducted in the continuous control environment MuJoCo. In most tasks, APO performs better than the discounted PPO, which demonstrates the effectiveness of our approach.

Sociological measurement of the effectiveness of state national policy in the Russian region: Theory and practice

The article is devoted to measuring the effectiveness of the state national policy in Saratov region by means of using sociological methods and practices. The most commonly used method of obtaining social information in such studies was the combination of quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (expert survey) methods. The study revealed a number of trends in the development of the ethno-confessional situation in Saratov region. The results of the mass survey indicate a low and increasingly declining level of both national and religious conflicts in Saratov region. One of the indicators of religious and national tolerance is the characterization of emotional expression towards the representatives of different beliefs and nationalities. The analysis of these data confirms the above-described trends. A general assessment of the dynamics of interethnic relations in Saratov region also allows to speak about stability. The survey of experts made it possible to more thoroughly analyze the state of ethno-confessional relations and state national policy in this field. The significant differences in the general assessments of inter-ethnic relations in the regional context, public organizations and authorities in the field of the implementation of ethno-confessional policy between the respondents-representatives of authorities and the respondents-representatives of public organizations and the scientific community were revealed. The fundamental agreement was achieved on the current state of interethnic relations in Saratov region regarding the ethno-political situation on the part of the state authorities. The modern ethnopolitical situation is assessed as a stable and relatively calm one.

The Manifold Of Variations: hazard assessment of short-term impactors

When an asteroid has a few observations over a short time span the information contained in the observational arc could be so little that a full orbit determination may be not possible. One of the methods developed in recent years to overcome this problem is based on the systematic ranging and combined with the Admissible Region theory to constrain the poorly-determined topocentric range and range-rate. The result is a set of orbits compatible with the observations, the Manifold Of Variations, a two-dimensional compact manifold parametrised over the Admissible Region. Such a set of orbits represents the asteroid confidence region and is used for short-term hazard predictions. In this paper we present the Manifold Of Variations method and make a detailed analysis of the related probabilistic formalism.

Transformation of the identity of a region: Theory and the empirical case of the perceptual regions of Bohemia and Moravia, Czech Republic

By using the concept of perceptual region – an essential part of the identity of a region and a part of every person’s mental map – this paper demonstrates a way to examine the understudied transformation of (the identity of) a region and, specifically, its territorial shape (boundaries). This concept effectively fuses the “institutionalisation of regions” theory and the methodologies of behavioural geography. This case study of the perceptual regions of Bohemia and Moravia shows how and why these historical regions and their boundary/boundaries developed, after a significant deinstitutionalisation by splitting into smaller regions in an administrative reform. Many people now perceive the Bohemian-Moravian boundary according to the newly-emerged regional boundaries, which often ignore old (historical) boundaries. Thus, the territorial shape of Bohemia and Moravia is transformed, with the Vysočina Region emerging as one of the new regions to witness the most eroded consciousness concerning these historical regions and their boundaries. The impact of administrative reforms on the perception and thus also the transformation of regions and boundaries is obvious, but the results also suggest that the more radical the administrative changes (in terms of toponyms and boundary mismatches), the fuzzier the collective perceptions of historical boundaries become, as well as peoples’ consciousness of historical regions.

Laser beam self-focusing in collisional plasma with periodical density ripple

In the paper, we applied the paraxial region theory and Wentzel–-Kramers–-Brillouin approximation to study laser beam self-focusing in the interaction of laser and collisional plasma with periodical density ripple. The results have shown that, under the influence of collision nonlinear effect, laser presents stable self-focusing, self-defocusing, and oscillational self-focusing in the plasma. Besides, the parameters of plasma with periodical density ripple have a greater impact on the effect of self-defocusing and oscillational self-focusing than stable self-focusing. In certain conditions, beam self-defocusing and oscillational self-focusing would decline and even disappear, and stable self-focusing would further be strengthened. Hence, selecting a suitable periodic plasma system is advantageous for separating self-defocusing and oscillational self-focusing, and for the formation of a more stable collisional self-focusing.