A company whose owners fled the country with over Rs 400 crore in unpaid loans borrowed from the State Bank of India (SBI) and other banks has emerged as the latest example of a mega defaulter...

Punjab cabinet ministers today walked out of a meeting with bureaucrats to decide a new excise policy, sources said. Finance Minister Manpreet Badal had an argument with Chief Secretary Karan Avatar...

प्रशासनाच्या या निर्णयामुळं मद्य शौकीनांची मात्र निराशा झाली आहे.

WILMINGTON – Gov. John Carney signed a bill Tuesday that will clarify and enforce workplace fraud rules and create a new registry to oversee contractor activity in the First State. Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 95 passed the Delaware General Assembly earlier this year with nearly unanimous support and incorporates recommendations from a 2018 […]

WILMINGTON, DE – The Delaware Department of Labor will be celebrating the Fifth Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) with three open house events, one in each county throughout the state from 6 – 7 pm to showcase the value of apprenticeship in the community. Secretary Cerron Cade from The Delaware Department of Labor will be […]

Review of: Multi-Agent-Based Simulation XIX. 19th International Workshop, MABS 2018, Stockholm, Sweden, July 14, 2018, Revised Selected Papers by Davidsson, Paul, Verhagen, Harko (Eds.), reviewed by Patrycja Antosz

J Jumadi, Nick Malleson, Steve Carver and Duncan Quincey: Managing disasters caused by natural events, especially volcanic crises, requires a range of approaches, including risk modelling and analysis. Risk modelling is commonly conducted at the community/regional scale using GIS. However, people and objects move in response to a crisis, so static approaches cannot capture the dynamics of the risk properly, as they do not accommodate objects’ movements within time and space. The emergence of Agent-Based Modelling makes it possible to model the risk at an individual level as it evolves over space and time. We propose a new approach of Spatio-Temporal Dynamics Model of Risk (STDMR) by integrating multi-criteria evaluation (MCE) within a georeferenced agent-based model, using Mt. Merapi, Indonesia, as a case study. The model makes it possible to simulate the spatio-temporal dynamics of those at risk during a volcanic crisis. Importantly, individual vulnerability is heterogeneous and depends on the characteristics of the individuals concerned. The risk for the individuals is dynamic and changes along with the hazard and their location. The model is able to highlight a small number of high-risk spatio-temporal positions where, due to the behaviour of individuals who are evacuating the volcano and the dynamics of the hazard itself, the overall risk in those times and places is extremely high. These outcomes are extremely relevant for the stakeholders, and the work of coupling an ABM, MCE, and dynamic volcanic hazard is both novel and contextually relevant.

Alireza Mansouri and Fattaneh Taghiyareh: Human interactions and opinion exchanges lead to social opinion dynamics, which is well described by opinion formation models. In these models, a random parameter is usually considered as the system noise, indicating the individual's inexplicable opinion changes. This noise could be an indicator of any other influential factors, such as public media, affects, and emotions. We study phase transitions, changes from one social phase to another, for various noise levels in a discrete opinion formation model based on the social impact theory with a scale-free random network as its interaction network topology. We also generate another similar model using the concept of social power based on the agents' node degrees in the interaction network as an estimation for their persuasiveness and supportiveness strengths and compare both models from phase transition viewpoint. We show by agent-based simulation and analytical considerations how opinion phases, including majority and non-majority, are formed in terms of the initial population of agents in opinion groups and noise levels. Two factors affect the system phase in equilibrium when the noise level increases: breaking up more segregated groups and dominance of stochastic behavior of the agents on their deterministic behavior. In the high enough noise levels, the system reaches a non-majority phase in equilibrium, regardless of the initial combination of opinion groups. In relatively low noise levels, the original model and the model whose agents' strengths are proportional to their centrality have different behaviors. The presence of a few high-connected influential leaders in the latter model consequences a different behavior in reaching equilibrium phase and different thresholds of noise levels for phase transitions.

Katarzyna Growiec, Jakub Growiec and Bogumił Kamiński: We study the impact of endogenous creation and destruction of social ties in an artificial society on aggregate outcomes such as generalized trust, willingness to cooperate, social utility and economic performance. To this end we put forward a computational multi-agent model where agents of overlapping generations interact in a dynamically evolving social network. In the model, four distinct dimensions of individuals’ social capital: degree, centrality, heterophilous and homophilous interactions, determine their generalized trust and willingness to cooperate, altogether helping them achieve certain levels of social utility (i.e., utility from social contacts) and economic performance. We find that the stationary state of the simulated social network exhibits realistic small-world topology. We also observe that societies whose social networks are relatively frequently reconfigured, display relatively higher generalized trust, willingness to cooperate, and economic performance – at the cost of lower social utility. Similar outcomes are found for societies where social tie dissolution is relatively weakly linked to family closeness.

Szymon Talaga and Andrzej Nowak: Real-world social networks often exhibit high levels of clustering, positive degree assortativity, short average path lengths (small-world property) and right-skewed but rarely power law degree distributions. On the other hand homophily, defined as the propensity of similar agents to connect to each other, is one of the most fundamental social processes observed in many human and animal societies. In this paper we examine the extent to which homophily is sufficient to produce the typical structural properties of social networks. To do so, we conduct a simulation study based on the Social Distance Attachment (SDA) model, a particular kind of Random Geometric Graph (RGG), in which nodes are embedded in a social space and connection probabilities depend functionally on distances between nodes. We derive the form of the model from first principles based on existing analytical results and argue that the mathematical construction of RGGs corresponds directly to the homophily principle, so they provide a good model for it. We find that homophily, especially when combined with a random edge rewiring, is sufficient to reproduce many of the characteristic features of social networks. Additionally, we devise a hybrid model combining SDA with the configuration model that allows generating homophilic networks with arbitrary degree sequences and we use it to study interactions of homophily with processes imposing constraints on degree distributions. We show that the effects of homophily on clustering are robust with respect to distribution constraints, while degree assortativity can be highly dependent on the particular kind of enforced degree sequence.

Flaminio Squazzoni, J. Gareth Polhill, Bruce Edmonds, Petra Ahrweiler, Patrycja Antosz, Geeske Scholz, Émile Chappin, Melania Borit, Harko Verhagen, Francesca Giardini and Nigel Gilbert: The COVID-19 pandemic is causing a dramatic loss of lives worldwide, challenging the sustainability of our health care systems, threatening economic meltdown, and putting pressure on the mental health of individuals (due to social distancing and lock-down measures). The pandemic is also posing severe challenges to the scientific community, with scholars under pressure to respond to policymakers’ demands for advice despite the absence of adequate, trusted data. Understanding the pandemic requires fine-grained data representing specific local conditions and the social reactions of individuals. While experts have built simulation models to estimate disease trajectories that may be enough to guide decision-makers to formulate policy measures to limit the epidemic, they do not cover the full behavioural and social complexity of societies under pandemic crisis. Modelling that has such a large potential impact upon people’s lives is a great responsibility. This paper calls on the scientific community to improve the transparency, access, and rigour of their models. It also calls on stakeholders to improve the rapidity with which data from trusted sources are released to the community (in a fully responsible manner). Responding to the pandemic is a stress test of our collaborative capacity and the social/economic value of research.

Over 300 State leaders, including Cabinet secretaries, state agency heads, division directors and human resources professionals participated in the Equal Employment Opportunity Summit which was hosted by the Governor’s Council on Equal Employment Opportunity.

An eight member team from the Department of Technology and Information was chosen by Governor Jack Markell as the 2012 recipient of the Governor’s Team Excellence Award.

Governor Markell recognized and celebrated the efforts of the 2013 recipients of the Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service.

Flags to be lowered in remembrance of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.

US and Delaware flags have been ordered lowered to half-staff until sunset on Friday, September 20, 2013, as a mark of respect for the victims of the Navy Yard shootings.

U.S. and Delaware flags have been ordered lowered to half-staff until the start of business on Monday, October 7, 2013, to honor firefighters who have died protecting Delawareans and in recognition of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

Governor Jack Markell has ordered the U.S. and Delaware flags at all state buildings and facilities lowered on Friday, November 1, to mark the passing of two former Delaware leaders.

Governor Markell has ordered the U.S. and Delaware flags at all state buildings and facilities lowered in memory of Nelson Mandela and to mark National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

Governor Jack Markell unveiled a balanced budget proposal that promotes increased job and educational opportunities, supporting the theme of his State of the State address last week when he focused on ways to unleash the potential of all Delawareans.

The 20-member Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Brandywine Zoo Staff Team was recognized by Governor Markell as the 2013 Governor's Team Excellence Award recipient.

State of Delaware offices in Kent and Sussex counties are closed during regular business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Non-essential employees who live or work in Kent or Sussex County are not to report to work for this period. Essential employees are to report as scheduled. State of Delaware offices in New Castle County will open at 10 a.m. Non-essential employees who live or work in New Castle County do not report until 10 a.m. Essential employees are to report as scheduled.

Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags at state buildings and facilities be flown at half-staff in memory of former State Representative William Vernon.

Businesses owned by individuals with disabilities and certain small businesses will now be included in the state’s supplier diversity efforts thanks to an executive order recently signed by Governor Jack Markell.

Governor Jack Markell today recognized and celebrated the efforts of the 2014 recipients of the Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service.

Twenty-seven state employees were recognized for their acts of bravery.

Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags at state buildings and facilities be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, Thursday, May 15.

Governor Markell Orders Flags Lowered on Tuesday, June 17, for the passing of former State Representative Thomas E. Brady Jr.

Governor Markell Orders Flags Lowered on Wednesday, July 30, for the passing of former State Representative and Judge Vincent Bifferato.

Governor Markell orders flags lowered for the passing of retired Delaware Supreme Court Justice Joseph Walsh.

Governor Markell orders flags lowered for the passing of former State Representative C. Leslie Ridings Jr.

DOVER – This afternoon, President Obama ordered American flags at all government buildings and facilities to be flown at half-staff on Thursday, September 11, in observance of Patriot Day and National Day of Service to honor the individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. In concurrence with the President’s order and in remembrance […]

In recognition of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags at state buildings and facilities to be lowered to half-staff.

Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags lowered to half-staff for the passing of former State Representative Clifford G. "Biff" Lee.

Governor Jack Markell announced today that Friday, December 26, 2014, will be an additional holiday for state government.

State of Delaware offices in New Castle County and Kent County will open at 10 a.m. Non-essential employees who live or work in New Castle County or Kent County do not report until 10 a.m. Essential employees are to report as scheduled. More Information

Governor Jack Markell announced today that the "Improving Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities Workgroup," a team of employees from seven agencies focused on increasing the hiring and retention of people with disabilities, is the 2014 recipient of the Governor’s Team Excellence Award.

To honor the life and legacy of President Abraham Lincoln and in concurrence with an order issued by President Obama, Governor Markell has ordered both the U.S. and Delaware State flags be lowered to half-staff on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.​

Five individuals receive the Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service.

Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags at state buildings and facilities be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, Friday, May 15.

Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags at state buildings and facilities be lowered to half-staff as a mark of respect for the victims of the shooting that took place on July 16, 2015 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags lowered to half-staff on Wednesday, September 2, for the passing of former State Representative Joseph R. Petrilli, Sr.

Governor Markell has ordered the Delaware and American flags to be lowered to half-staff on Friday, September 11, in remembrance of the victims who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Governor Markell has ordered the Delaware flag at state buildings and facilities be flown at half-staff in honor of civil rights activist James H. Gilliam, Sr.

Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags lowered to half-staff for the passing of former State Representative Charles P. West.

Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags lowered on Thursday, October 22, in honor of Family Court Judge Alan N. Cooper and his many years of public service to the State of Delaware.

Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags at state buildings and facilities lowered as a mark of respect for the victims of the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13.

Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags at state buildings and facilities be lowered to half-staff as a mark of respect for the victims of the shooting that took place on December 2, 2015 in San Bernardino, California.

Governor Jack Markell announced today that Thursday, December 24, 2015, will be an additional holiday for state government.

Governor Markell has ordered the American and Delaware flags at state buildings and facilities lowered in honor of former State Representative Benjamin Ewing.