Search results for " Models"
showing 10 items of 4240 documents
Dynamic factorial graphical models for dynamic networks
2014
Dynamic networks models describe a growing number of important scientific processes, from cell biology and epidemiology to sociology and finance. Estimating dynamic networks from noisy time series data is a difficult task since the number of components involved in the system is very large. As a result, the number of parameters to be estimated is typically larger than the number of observations. However, a characteristic of many real life networks is that they are sparse. For example, the molec- ular structure of genes make interactions with other components a highly-structured and, therefore, a sparse process. Penalized Gaussian graphical models have been used to estimate sparse networks. H…
Demographic change, tourism expenditure and life cycle behavior
2015
Abstract The paper explores how demographic changes in human populations may impact on tourism decision-making of households over their life cycle. By means of hurdle models, the study focuses respectively on the decision to travel domestically or abroad and investigates if statistically significant differences exist as to the impact of age and cohort on the decision to travel and tourism expenditure. Using a vast dataset on Italian Household Expenditures over the period 1997–2007 the empirical results show that demographic aspects do have a strong effect on the tourism behaviour of families and that cohort and age effects act differently on the decision of households to make a trip and on …
Is participation in the tourism market an opportunity for everyone? Some evidence from Italy
2016
This paper investigates whether there are differences in tourism consumption behaviour among families by analysing the main determinants of tourism participation at national and international levels. In particular, it explores whether tourism is becoming part of the lifestyle of Italians or whether it is still a luxury good only for the privileged. A Heckman model was used on micro-data on Italian family expenditure over the period 1997–2007, and an income elasticity analysis for different personal and household characteristics was carried out. The results show that participation in the tourism market is strongly affected by the personal characteristics of individuals and that tourism cons…
Towards a Neofunctionalist Theory of Psychology?
1984
The contemporary study of human activity comprises various levels of description. Three levels are distinguished for the purpose of the present paper: (1) single acts and interaction episodes; (2) individual activity structures; (3) life process. Regardless of the level of analysis the theoretical models correspond to each other. Activity is examined in relation to goals and conditions which include both situational and environmental inputs. It is suggested that different types of explanations are fruitful for each aspect of activity, but they do not exclude each other. The action-oriented approach represents a continuation to the functionalist tradition while emphasizing intentional activi…
Un sistema formativo ancora da costruire. Riflessioni e proposte per la formazione iniziale degli educatori per la prima infanzia
2022
Mettendo in relazione la formazione iniziale di educatori/educatrici e insegnanti per la prima infanzia con le conoscenze relative allo sviluppo, alle modalità di apprendimento e ai bisogni dei bambini nei primi sei anni di vita, il mio intervento si centra sulla ipotesi di un curriculo formativo unitario. Individua quindi sia le aree disciplinari fondamentali e i possibili contenuti, sia i modelli formativi più efficaci per delineare un profilo professionale specifico, conducendo un approfondimento sull’apprendimento dall’esperienza all’interno dell’Università e sulle modalità di tirocinio maggiormente efficaci. In base alla normativa vigente, delineo poi le criticità del modello formativo…
Robust fault tolerant tracking controller design for a VTOL aircraft
2013
This paper deals with the fault tolerant control (FTC) design for a Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft subject to external disturbances and actuator faults. The aim is to synthesize a fault tolerant controller ensuring trajectory tracking for the nonlinear uncertain system represented by a Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) model. In order to design the FTC law, a proportional integral observer (PIO) is adopted which estimate both of the faults and the faulty system states. Based on the Lyapunov theory and ℓ2 optimization, the trajectory tracking performance and the stability of the closed loop system are analyzed. Sufficient conditions are obtained in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMI). …
How is gravity integrated into motor planning : behavioural and fMRI approaches
2016
Gravity is immutable, ubiquitous and affects the dynamic of our daily movements. The gravitational attraction (9.81 m / s2) which varies less than 1% of the earth's surface, is an actress of the evolution of all living species. Thanks to an efficient sensorimotor system, the dynamical consequences of the effects of gravity on our movements are stored as internal representations. To circumvent the time delays of the afferent signals coming from the sensorimotor system (too long to plan quick movements), the Central Nervous System (CNS) acts in a proactive fashion by using suitable internal models developed during our past experiences. These models are mainly used during the motor planning to…
How physical parameterizations can modulate internal variability in a regional climate model
2012
Abstract The authors analyze to what extent the internal variability simulated by a regional climate model is sensitive to its physical parameterizations. The influence of two convection schemes is quantified over southern Africa, where convective rainfall predominates. Internal variability is much larger with the Kain–Fritsch scheme than for the Grell–Dévényi scheme at the seasonal, intraseasonal, and daily time scales, and from the regional to the local (grid point) spatial scales. Phenomenological analyses reveal that the core (periphery) of the rain-bearing systems tends to be highly (weakly) reproducible, showing that it is their morphological features that induce the largest internal …
Insights into the summer diurnal cycle over Eastern South Africa.
2018
Abstract Adopting a state-of-the-art numerical model system, we investigate how the diurnal variations in precipitation and local breeze systems are characterized by lower-boundary conditions related to the Drakensberg highland and warm SST associated with the Agulhas Current. A control simulation can simulate the hydrometeorological climates in the region realistically, but the terrestrial rainfall is overestimated. During daytime, the precipitation is confined to the Drakensberg highland, and there is an onshore local breeze, while during midnight to morning, the rainfall is confined to the Agulhas Current, and the breeze is offshore. These variations are captured by the numerical simulat…
La matriz de análisis de políticas con datos eficientes: evaluación de la rentabilidad del cultivo del arroz
2008
This paper combines policy analysis matrix and data envelopment analysis techniques to model the analysis of profitability from farming. Policy analysis matrices are computed for a sample of rice growers located in the wetland of the Albufera (Eastern Spain) under observed conventional and profit-efficient farming conditions. While conventional analysis points to a lack of profitability, farmers are shown to make positive profits at private and social prices when data reflecting efficiency adjustments are used in the analysis. The main conclusion is that the usefulness of the policy analysis matrix might be substantially enhanced by simulating profitability after efficiency-improving manage…