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Model Accounting (model + accounting)
Selected AbstractsA comparison of offenders with intellectual disability across three levels of securityCRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 1 2006Todd Hogue Background,A number of authors have described, with disparate results, the prevalence of people with intellectual disability and their characteristics, in a range of offender cohorts defined by service use. These have included high security, a range of criminal justice services and community services. There is a need for research comparing cohorts of offenders with intellectual disabilities across different settings. Aim and hypothesis,To conduct such a comparison and test the hypothesis that severity of characteristics measured will be highest in highest levels of residential security. Method,A clinical-record-based comparison a offenders with intellectual disability in high security (n = 73), medium/low security (n = 70), and a community service (n = 69). Results,Groups were similar in age and tested IQ levels. Early psychiatric service contact had been more likely in the lower security groups. In line with the hypothesis, more complex presentations, in particular comorbid personality disorder, was more likely in the highest security group. Both fatal and non-fatal interpersonal violence convictions were significantly related to group, with more in the high security group sustaining a conviction both at the index offence and prior to that. Over 50% of all groups had at least one conviction for a sexual offence. A regression model accounting for 78% of the variance was made up largely of disposal variables (Mental Health Act status and probation) and indications of antisocial traits (criminal damage, lifetime conviction for murder and ICD-10 personality disorder classification). Conclusions and implications for practice,The authors show that context of sampling affects most relationships between intellectual disability (ID) and offending when the methods for measuring ID are held constant. The results also present several questions on the relationship between risk, services available in an area and referral to higher security. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Modelling peak accelerations from earthquakesEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 8 2006Debbie J. Dupuis Abstract This paper deals with the prediction of peak horizontal accelerations with emphasis on seismic risk and insurance concerns. Non-linear mixed effects models are used to analyse well-known earthquake data and the consequences of mis-specifying assumptions on the error term are quantified. A robust fit of the usual model, using recently developed robust weighted maximum likelihood estimators, is presented. Outlying data are automatically identified and subsequently investigated. A more appropriate model accounting for the extreme value nature of the responses, is also developed and implemented. The implication on acceleration predictions is demonstrated. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A field-scale infiltration model accounting for spatial heterogeneity of rainfall and soil saturated hydraulic conductivityHYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES, Issue 7 2006Renato Morbidelli Abstract This study first explores the role of spatial heterogeneity, in both the saturated hydraulic conductivity Ks and rainfall intensity r, on the integrated hydrological response of a natural slope. On this basis, a mathematical model for estimating the expected areal-average infiltration is then formulated. Both Ks and r are considered as random variables with assessed probability density functions. The model relies upon a semi-analytical component, which describes the directly infiltrated rainfall, and an empirical component, which accounts further for the infiltration of surface water running downslope into pervious soils (the run-on effect). Monte Carlo simulations over a clay loam soil and a sandy loam soil were performed for constructing the ensemble averages of field-scale infiltration used for model validation. The model produced very accurate estimates of the expected field-scale infiltration rate, as well as of the outflow generated by significant rainfall events. Furthermore, the two model components were found to interact appropriately for different weights of the two infiltration mechanisms involved. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Application of thermodynamics to the global modelling of shallow foundations on frictional materialINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 14 2001Y. Le Pape Abstract Soil,shallow foundation interaction has been theoretically analysed within the framework of thermomechanics. The design of a global interaction model has been achieved with an original treatment of the Clausius,Duhem inequality. The role of the gravity volume forces is emphasized. The paper is focused on a strip footing based on dense sand and subjected to time-independent plastic processes. The theoretical approach has confirmed that an associated global flow rule cannot be expected to hold true. The analysis of the sources of dissipation has led to the development of a soil,footing interface model and a complete interaction model accounting for the interface constraints and the intrinsic frictional properties of the soil. Finally, the abilities of the complete model are checked by comparisons with experimental results found in the literature. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] An accelerated algorithm for parameter identification in a hierarchical plasticity model accounting for material constraintsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, Issue 3 2001L. Simoni Abstract The parameter identification procedure proposed in this paper is based on the solution of an inverse problem, which relies on the minimization of an error function of least-squares type. The solution of the ensuing optimization problem, which is a constrained one owing to the presence of physical links between the optimization parameters, is performed by means of a particular technique of the feasible direction type, which is modified and improved when the problem turns to an unconstrained one. The algorithm is particularly efficient in the presence of hierarchical material models. The numerical properties of the proposed procedure are discussed and its behaviour is compared with usual optimization methods when applied to constrained and unconstrained problems. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Physiologically based predictions of the impact of inhibition of intestinal and hepatic metabolism on human pharmacokinetics of CYP3A substratesJOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, Issue 1 2010Frederique Fenneteau Abstract The first objective of the present study was to predict the pharmacokinetics of selected CYP3A substrates administered at a single oral dose to human. The second objective was to predict pharmacokinetics of the selected drugs in presence of inhibitors of the intestinal and/or hepatic CYP3A activity. We developed a whole-body physiologically based pharmacokinetics (WB-PBPK) model accounting for presystemic elimination of midazolam (MDZ), alprazolam (APZ), triazolam (TRZ), and simvastatin (SMV). The model also accounted for concomitant administration of the above-mentioned drugs with CYP3A inhibitors, namely ketoconazole (KTZ), itraconazole (ITZ), diltiazem (DTZ), saquinavir (SQV), and a furanocoumarin contained in grape-fruit juice (GFJ), namely 6,,7,-dihydroxybergamottin (DHB). Model predictions were compared to published clinical data. An uncertainty analysis was performed to account for the variability and uncertainty of model parameters when predicting the model outcomes. We also briefly report on the results of our efforts to develop a global sensitivity analysis and its application to the current WB-PBPK model. Considering the current criterion for a successful prediction, judged satisfied once the clinical data are captured within the 5th and 95th percentiles of the predicted concentration,time profiles, a successful prediction has been obtained for a single oral administration of MDZ and SMV. For APZ and TRZ, however, a slight deviation toward the 95th percentile was observed especially for Cmax but, overall, the in vivo profiles were well captured by the PBPK model. Moreover, the impact of DHB-mediated inhibition on the extent of intestinal pre-systemic elimination of MDZ and SMV has been accurately predicted by the proposed PBPK model. For concomitant administrations of MDZ and ITZ, APZ and KTZ, as well as SMV and DTZ, the in vivo concentration,time profiles were accurately captured by the model. A slight deviation was observed for SMV when coadministered with ITZ, whereas more important deviations have been obtained between the model predictions and in vivo concentration,time profiles of MDZ coadministered with SQV. The same observation was made for TRZ when administered with KTZ. Most of the pharmacokinetic parameters predicted by the PBPK model were successfully predicted within a two-fold error range either in the absence or presence of metabolism-based inhibition. Overall, the present study demonstrated the ability of the PBPK model to predict DDI of CYP3A substrates with promising accuracy. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 99:486,514, 2010 [source] Multi-Component Kinetic Modeling for Controlling Local Compositions in Thermosensitive PolymersMACROMOLECULAR THEORY AND SIMULATIONS, Issue 8 2006Todd Hoare Abstract Summary: An explicit terminal copolymerization kinetic model accounting for the copolymerization of up to four different comonomers is developed and applied to model the conversion profiles and local compositional gradients in functionalized PNIPAM-based polymer and hydrogel systems. The kinetics of the functional comonomer(s) have a large influence on both the mole fraction and chain distribution of functional groups in polymers. Strategies are developed to synthesize polymers with uniform compositions by applying semi-batch techniques or via copolymerization of multiple monomers with the same target functionality but with divergent reactivities relative to NIPAM. Synthetic protocols are also designed to maximize the compositional uniformity and randomness of ampholytic polymers. Instantaneous mole fractions of monomers in polymers as a function of the overall monomer conversion for the copolymerizations of NIPAM, MBA, and two functional monomers: MMA and acrylamide. [source] Characterization of Powder Beds by Thermal Conductivity: Effect of Gas Pressure on the Thermal Resistance of Particle Contact PointsPARTICLE & PARTICLE SYSTEMS CHARACTERIZATION, Issue 4 2004Michael Shapiro Abstract The thermal conductivity of ceramic powder packed beds was measured at temperatures below 100,°C for various powder sizes and compositions and under different gas atmospheres. Measurements at low pressures (down to 10,Pa) combined with a theoretical model allowed the elucidation of geometrical and thermal resistance parameters for the contact points between granules. The gap thickness and contact point size were found to be well correlated with the mean particle size. The thermal conductivities of all powders at low pressure were found to differ at most by a factor of two, whereas the solid-phase conductivities of the powder materials differed by more than one order of magnitude. A theoretical model accounting for the size-dependence of contact point conductivity is incorporated to rationalize this trend. [source] Attachment style and intimacy in friendshipPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, Issue 4 2000CHANDRA M. GRABILL Two studies with college students tested the hypothesis that a secure attachment style enhances intimacy in friendship. Three intimacy characteristics were studied: self-disclosure; responsiveness to a partner's disclosure; and feeling understood, validated, and cared for by a partner during conversations. In Study 1, individuals with a secure attachment style were higher on all three intimacy characteristics In Study 2, a lab-based assessment of intimacy revealed some relations between attachment and intimacy, providing mixed support for the hypothesis. Both studies found gender differences in intimacy characteristics The findings provide a starting point for a model accounting for individual differences in friendship. [source] Functional bases of host-acceptance behaviour in the aphid parasitoid Aphidius erviPHYSIOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 4 2007ANNA LAROCCA Abstract The host acceptance behaviour in Aphidius ervi is investigated, assessing the role of both external and internal host-associated cues, offered to the experimental parasitoids with parafilm-made aphid dummies. The reaction to internal cues present in the host haemolymph is clearly evident, and its intensity is enhanced by external cues. Parasitoid females lay few eggs in aphid dummies filled with host haemolymph. A significant increase in the number of both oviposition reactions (host stinging) and egg laying is observed only when these dummies are coated with cornicle secretion. However, this enhancement is not observed when the aphid dummies contain distilled water. Thus, the host acceptance behaviour of A. ervi females appears to be controlled by the integration of both external and internal chemical cues. The physiological basis of this behavioural response is investigated with a detailed study on the anatomy and ultrastructure of A. ervi ovipositor. The detection of chemical cues present in the host haemolymph that act as kairomones is made possible by the presence of gustatory sensilla on the tip of the ovipositor. These sensilla consist of porous areas, reached by unbranched dendrites running inside both the lower valves (i.e. first valvulae) and the unpaired upper valve (i.e. second valvulae). The mechanosensory function during oviposition appears to be provided mostly by the basiconic sensilla found on the tip of external valves (i.e. third valvulae). A tentative functional model accounting for the observed oviposition behaviour of A. ervi is proposed. [source] Continuum molecular electrostatics, salt effects, and counterion binding,A review of the Poisson,Boltzmann theory and its modificationsBIOPOLYMERS, Issue 2 2008Grochowski Abstract This work is a review of the Poisson,Boltzmann (PB) continuum electrostatics theory and its modifications, with a focus on salt effects and counterion binding. The PB model is one of the mesoscopic theories that describes the electrostatic potential and equilibrium distribution of mobile ions around molecules in solution. It serves as a tool to characterize electrostatic properties of molecules, counterion association, electrostatic contributions to solvation, and molecular binding free energies. We focus on general formulations which can be applied to large molecules of arbitrary shape in all-atomic representation, including highly charged biomolecules such as nucleic acids. These molecules present a challenge for theoretical description, because the conventional PB model may become insufficient in those cases. We discuss the conventional PB equation, the corresponding functionals of the electrostatic free energy, including a connection to DFT, simple empirical extensions to this model accounting for finite size of ions, the modified PB theory including ionic correlations and fluctuations, the cell model, and supplementary methods allowing to incorporate site-bound ions in the PB calculations. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 89: 93,113, 2008. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The "Published Online" date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com [source] | |||||||||||||||||||