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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Behaviour models'
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1
Johnson, Neil. "Learning object behaviour models." Thesis, University of Leeds, 1998. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/1281/.
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The human visual system is capable of interpreting a remarkable variety of often subtle, learnt, characteristic behaviours. For instance we can determine the gender of a distant walking figure from their gait, interpret a facial expression as that of surprise, or identify suspicious behaviour in the movements of an individual within a car-park. Machine vision systems wishing to exploit such behavioural knowledge have been limited by the inaccuracies inherent in hand-crafted models and the absence of a unified framework for the perception of powerful behaviour models. The research described in this thesis attempts to address these limitations, using a statistical modelling approach to provide a framework in which detailed behavioural knowledge is acquired from the observation of long image sequences. The core of the behaviour modelling framework is an optimised sample-set representation of the probability density in a behaviour space defined by a novel temporal pattern formation strategy. This representation of behaviour is both concise and accurate and facilitates the recognition of actions or events and the assessment of behaviour typicality. The inclusion of generative capabilities is achieved via the addition of a learnt stochastic process model, thus facilitating the generation of predictions and realistic sample behaviours. Experimental results demonstrate the acquisition of behaviour models and suggest a variety of possible applications, including automated visual surveillance, object tracking, gesture recognition, and the generation of realistic object behaviours within animations, virtual worlds, and computer generated film sequences. The utility of the behaviour modelling framework is further extended through the modelling of object interaction. Two separate approaches are presented, and a technique is developed which, using learnt models of joint behaviour together with a stochastic tracking algorithm, can be used to equip a virtual object with the ability to interact in a natural way. Experimental results demonstrate the simulation of a plausible virtual partner during interaction between a user and the machine.
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Davison, Lexie. "Glassy behaviour in simple systems." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2001. http://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:10c594d7-1fa5-45f5-bba4-0fefb837aadf.
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In this thesis we study several different models which display glassy behaviour. Firstly, we investigate a simple, purely topological, cellular model for which the Hamiltonian is non-interacting but the dynamics are constrained. We find a non-thermodynamic transition to a glassy phase in which the energy fails to reach the equilibrium value below a characteristic temperature which is dependent on the cooling rate. This model involves activated processes and displays two-step relaxation in both the energy and the correlation functions; the latter also exhibit signs of aging. The relaxation time can be well-fitted at all temperatures by an offset Arrhenius law. Some predictions of Mode-coupling Theory are tested with some agreement found, but no convincing evidence that this description is the most fitting. By defining a suitable response function, we find that the equilibrium Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem (FDT) is upheld for all but very short waiting-times, despite the fact that the system is not in equilibrium. This topological model is simplified to a hexagonally-based spin model, which also displays glassy behaviour, involves activated processes and exhibits two-step relaxation. This is a consequence of reaction-diffusion processes on two different time-scales, one temperature-independent and the other an exponential function of inverse temperature. We study two versions of this model, one with a single absorbing ground state, and the other with a highly degenerate ground state. These display qualitatively similar but quantitatively distinct macroscopic behaviour, and related but different microscopic behaviour. We extend this work to a square lattice, and find that the geometry of the lattice has a considerable impact on the behaviour, and to three dimensions, which provides support for the reaction-diffusion classification of the early behaviour. We find observable-dependent FDT plots; the observable can be chosen such that FDT is upheld for a region whilst the system is out of equilibrium — this observation is supported by some preliminary results for one-dimensional kinetically-constrained Ising chains.
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Sacker, Amanda. "Longitudinal models of maladaptive behaviour." Thesis, University of Hertfordshire, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.361262.
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Kizildag, Yelda. "Housing Management Models And Household Behaviour." Master's thesis, METU, 2003. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/652/index.pdf.
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A significantly large stock of housing has been realised In Turkey during the past five decades, building the cities almost entirely anew. This has shifted the central concern from production, design and ownership issues in the housing sector to that of housing management. The major problem in housing for the coming decades is not how to maintain the growth of the stock further, but how to efficiently use and improve the existing assets.
Currently, no central or local authority is responsible for the management, running or control at any scale, but only the residents and property owners responsibilities exist at the individual plot scale. There is evidence of greater efficiency however, for the need of housing management at supra-plot scales. The hypothesis of the study in this context is that no part of the stock is without problems in terms of management. This is empirically investigated by two complementary analyses based on two distinct surveys.
The first analysis demonstrated that the role of tenure and income on expenditures on housing, especially expenditures for repairs and maintenance are dominant. A three-fold difference is observed between tenants and owner-occupiers, and 10 times between households of highest and lowest incomes. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance is 1.9 times greater in the apartment stock and 1.2 times more in the ‘
gecekondu&
#8217
dwellings than in individual &
#8216
houses&
#8217
. Lowest levels of expenditures are observed in oldest part of the stock, in less developed neighbourhoods, and in stock with lowest rental values. According to the results of the second analysis, organisational tendencies of household groups varying in their characteristics are not sharply differentiated as in their expenditures. One most significant factor is tenure. Tenants are observed to have a weaker sense of dedication and identity in the dwellings they occupy and in neighbourhoods they live. Current management problem issues could then be identified as: low-income households, tenant households, stock with low rental values, aged stock and undeveloped neighbourhoods. Some of the most significant policy tools for tackling these problems are credit opportunities to be made available to households for repairs and maintenance in such problem areas, subsidies in terms of tax deductions, material incentives, technical support and public investments in degraded localities to boost economic activities which are eventually to initiate private investments.
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Lee, Lik Wee. "Critical behaviour of spin glass models /." Diss., Digital Dissertations Database. Restricted to UC campuses, 2006. http://uclibs.org/PID/11984.
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Verberkmoes, Alain. "Tiling models: phase behaviour and scaling." [S.l : Amsterdam : s.n] ; Universiteit van Amsterdam [Host], 2003. http://dare.uva.nl/document/71144.
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Moffatt, Peter Grant. "Microeconometric models of household purchasing behaviour." Thesis, University of Bristol, 1991. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.307355.
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Spier, Emmet. "From reactive behaviour to adaptive behaviour : motivational models for behaviour in animals and robots." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.364107.
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Huang, Xin, and 黃昕. "Exploring critical-state behaviour using DEM." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/206742.
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The critical state soil mechanics (CSSM) framework originally proposed by Schofield & Wroth (1968) has been shown to capture the mechanical behaviour of soils effectively. The particulate implementation of the discrete element method (DEM) can replicate many of the complex mechanical characteristics associated with sand. This research firstly shows that the CSSM framework is useful to assess whether a DEM simulation gives a response that is representative of a real soil. The research then explores the capacity of DEM to extend understanding of soil behaviour within the CSSM framework.
The influence of sample size on the critical-state response observed in DEM simulations that use rigid-wall boundaries was examined. The observed sensitivity was shown to be caused by higher void ratios and lower contact densities adjacent to the boundaries. When the void ratio (e) and mean stress (p’) of the homogeneous interior regions were considered, the influence of sample size on the position of the critical state line (CSL) in e-log(p’) space diminished.
A parametric study on the influence of the interparticle friction (μ) on the load-deformation response was carried out. The macro-scale stress-deformation characteristics were nonlinearly related to μ and the particle-scale measures (fabric, contact force distribution, etc.) varied systematically with μ. The limited effect of increases in μ on the overall strength at high μ values (μ>0.5) is attributable to transition from sliding-dominant to rolling-dominant contact behaviour. A μ value higher than 0.5 leads to a CSL in e-log(p’) space that does not capture real soil response.
True-triaxial simulations with different intermediate stress ratios (b) were performed. The dependency of strength on b agreed with empirical failure criteria for sands and was related to a change of buckling modes of the strong force chains as b increased. DEM simulations showed that the position of the CSL in e-log(p’) space depends on the intermediate stress ratio b. This sensitivity seems to be related to the dependency of the directional fabric anisotropy on b. The link between the state parameter and both soil strength and dilatancy proposed by Jefferies & Been (2006) was reproduced in DEM simulations.
A new rotational resistance model was proposed and it was shown that the new model can qualitatively capture the influence of particle shape on the mechanical behaviour of sand. However, it was shown that the effect of rotational resistance is limited and to quantitatively compare the DEM simulation results with laboratory testing data, e.g., the critical-state loci, it is necessary to use non-spherical particles.published_or_final_version
Civil Engineering
Doctoral
Doctor of Philosophy
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Allcroft, David John. "Statistical models for short-term animal behaviour." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/11132.
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This thesis aims to identify appropriate methods for the modelling of animal behaviour data, and in the wider context, any time series of categorical data. We make extensive use of a large dataset of cow feeding behaviour, consisting of full feeding records for a number of cows over one month, the data taking the form of binary time series, i.e. feeding/non-feeding periods. After initial exploratory data analysis, we go on to investigate three classes of model: latent Gaussian, hidden Markov and semi-Markov. The latent Gaussian model assumes the binary data occur from the thresholding of an underlying continuous variable. We identify the one-to-one relationship between the autocorrelation of the observed and latent variables and consider techniques for parameter estimation. For a multivariate stationary Gaussian process we show the asymptotic equivalence of the likelihood written in its spectral and conventional forms, and provide a proof that for short-term memory processes such as ARMA models, a good approximation for the spectral form is obtained using Fourier transforms of correlations at only the first few lags. A simulation study highlights the saving in computing time that this offers, and also shows that, in contrast to the least squares methods considered, the number of lags to retain is not crucial for obtaining efficient parameter estimates. Hidden Markov models also directly model the underlying state of the animal, but the latent variable here is discrete and follows a Markov chain, observations being dependent only on the current state. However, this type of model constrains the durations between feeding events to follow a mixture of geometric distributions, which is seen to be inappropriate for the data considered. Semi-Markov models simply involve the animal moving between a set of feeding and non-feeding states according to a set of transition probabilities, the marginal distributions for durations in each state being specified directly.
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Jamison, Sharon Linda. "Chaotic behaviour in looped car following models." Thesis, University of Ulster, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.442372.
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Edwards, Helen Joanne. "Individual-based models of Atlantic cod behaviour." Thesis, University of York, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.437562.
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Sumida, Brian Hiroshi. "Models of decision making." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1989. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.329967.
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Eadie, Edward Norman. "Small resource stock share price behaviour and prediction." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2002. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09CM/09cme11.pdf.
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Wisniewski, Michael. "Stochastic models of buyer behaviour : issues and applications." Thesis, London Business School (University of London), 2004. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.405565.
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Allen, Antony John. "Integrated systems models of automotive diesel engine behaviour." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.430324.
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Bwambale, Andrew. "Developing travel behaviour models using mobile phone data." Thesis, University of Leeds, 2018. http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/22518/.
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Improving the performance and efficiency of transport systems requires sound decision-making supported by data and models. However, conducting travel surveys to facilitate travel behaviour model estimation is an expensive venture. Hence, such surveys are typically infrequent in nature, and cover limited sample sizes. Furthermore, the quality of such data is often affected by reporting errors and changes in the respondents' behaviour due to awareness of being observed. On the other hand, large and diverse quantities of time-stamped location data are nowadays passively generated as a by-product of technological growth. These passive data sources include Global Positioning System (GPS) traces, mobile phone network records, smart card data and social media data, to name but a few. Among these, mobile phone network records (i.e. call detail records (CDRs) and Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM) data) offer the biggest promise due to the increasing mobile phone penetration rates in both the developed and the developing worlds. Previous studies using mobile phone data have primarily focused on extracting travel patterns and trends rather than establishing mathematical relationships between the observed behaviour and the causal factors to predict the travel behaviour in alternative policy scenarios. This research aims to extend the application of mobile phone data to travel behaviour modelling and policy analysis by augmenting the data with information derived from other sources. This comes along with significant challenges stemming from the anonymous and noisy nature of the data. Consequently, novel data fusion and modelling frameworks have been developed and tested for different modelling scenarios to demonstrate the potential of this emerging low-cost data source. In the context of trip generation, a hybrid modelling framework has been developed to account for the anonymous nature of CDR data. This involves fusing the CDR and demographic data of a sub-sample of the users to estimate a demographic prediction sub-model based on phone usage variables extracted from the data. The demographic group membership probabilities from this model are then used as class weights in a latent class model for trip generation based on trip rates extracted from the GSM data of the same users. Once estimated, the hybrid model can be applied to probabilistically infer the socio-demographics, and subsequently, the trip generation of a large proportion of the population where only large-scale anonymous CDR data is available as an input. The estimation and validation results using data from Switzerland show that the hybrid model competes well against a typical trip generation model estimated using data with known socio-demographics of the users. The hybrid framework can be applied to other travel behaviour modelling contexts using CDR data (in mode or route choice for instance). The potential of CDR data to capture rational route choice behaviour for long-distance inter-regional O-D pairs (joined by highly overlapping routes) is demonstrated through data fusion with information on the attributes of the alternatives extracted from multiple external sources. The effect of location discontinuities in CDR data (due to its event-driven nature), and how this impacts the ability to observe the users' trajectories in a highly overlapping network is discussed prompting the development of a route identification algorithm that distinguishes between unique and broad sub-group route choices. The broad choice framework, which was developed in the context of vehicle type choice is then adapted to leverage this limitation where unique route choices cannot be observed for some users, and only the broad sub-groups of the possible overlapping routes are identifiable. The estimation and validation results using data from Senegal show that CDR data can capture rational route choice behaviour, as well as reasonable value of travel time estimates. Still relying on data fusion, a novel method based on the mixed logit framework is developed to enable the analysis of departure time choice behaviour using passively collected data (GSM and GPS data) where the challenge is to deal with the lack of information on the desired times of travel. The proposed method relies on data fusion with travel time information extracted from Google Maps in the context of Switzerland. It is unique in the sense that it allows the modeller to understand the sensitivity attached to schedule delay, thus enabling its valuation, despite the passive nature of the data. The model results are in line with the expected travel behaviour, and the schedule delay valuation estimates are reasonable for the study area. Finally, a joint trip generation modelling framework fusing CDR, household travel survey, and census data is developed. The framework adjusts the scaling factors of a traditional trip generation model (based on household travel survey data only) to optimise model performance at both the disaggregate and aggregate levels. The framework is calibrated using data from Bangladesh and the adjusted models are found to have better spatial and temporal transferability. Thus, besides demonstrating the potential of mobile phone data, the thesis makes significant methodological and applied contributions. The use of different datasets provides rich insights that can inform policy measures related to the adoption of big data for transport studies. The research findings are particularly timely for transport agencies and practitioners working in contexts with severe data limitations (especially in developing countries), as well as academics generally interested in exploring the potential of emerging big data sources, both in transport and beyond.
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Uncles, M. D. "Models of consumer shopping behaviour in urban areas." Thesis, University of Bristol, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/1983/653c145a-2ac7-49a9-bd65-3bd88de90217.
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Colvin, Thomas. "Comparing computational models of vision to human behaviour." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2018. http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/50196/.
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Biological vision and computational models of vision can be split into three independent components (image description, decision process, and image set). The thesis presented here aimed to investigate the influence of each of these core components on computational model’s similarity to human behaviour. Chapter 3 investigated the similarity of different computational image descriptors to their biological counterparts, using an image matching task. The results showed that several of the computational models could explain a significant amount of the variance in human performance on individual images. The deep supervised convolutional neural net explained the most variance, followed by GIST, HMAX and then PHOW. Chapter 4 investigated which computational decision process best explained observers’ behaviour on an image categorization task. The results showed that Decision Bound theory produced behaviour the closest to that of observers. This was followed by Exemplar theory and Prototype theory. Chapter 5 examined whether the naturally differing image set between computational models and observers could partially account for the difference in their behaviour. The results showed that, indeed, the naturally differing image set between computational models and observers was affecting the similarity of their behaviour. This gap did not alter which image descriptor best fit observers’ behaviour and could be reduced by training observers on the image set the computational models were using. Chapter 6 investigated, using computational models of vision, the impact of the neighbouring (masking) images on the target images in a RSVP task. This was done by combining the neighbouring images with the target image for the computational models’ simulation for each trial. The results showed that models behaviour became closer to that of the human observers when the neighbouring mask images were included in the computational simulations, as would be expected given an integration period for neural mechanisms. This thesis has shown that computational models can show quite similar behaviours to human observers, even at the level of how they perform with individual images. While this shows the potential utility in computational models as a tool to study visual processing, It has also shown the need to take into account many aspects of the overall model of the visual process and task; not only the image description, but the task requirements, the decision processes, the images being used as stimuli and even the sequence in which they are presented.
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Kilminster, Devin. "Modelling dynamical systems via behaviour criteria." University of Western Australia. Dept. of Mathematics and Statistics, 2002. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2003.0029.
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An important part of the study of dynamical systems is the fitting of models to time-series data. That is, given the data, a series of observations taken from a (not fully understood) system of interest, we would like to specify a model, a mathematical system which generates a sequence of “simulated” observations. Our aim is to obtain a “good” model — one that is in agreement with the data. We would like this agreement to be quantitative — not merely qualitative. The major subject of this thesis is the question of what good quantitative agreement means. Most approaches to this question could be described as “predictionist”. In the predictionist approach one builds models by attempting to answer the question, “given that the system is now here, where will it be next?” The quality of the model is judged by the degree to which the states of the model and the original system agree in the near future, conditioned on the present state of the model agreeing with that of the original system. Equivalently, the model is judged on its ability to make good short-term predictions on the original system. The main claim of this thesis is that prediction is often not the most appropriate criterion to apply when fitting models. We show, for example, that one can have models that, while able to make good predictions, have long term (or free-running) behaviour bearing little resemblance to that exhibited in the original time-series. We would hope to be able to use our models for a wide range of purposes other than just prediction — certainly we would like our models to exhibit good free-running behaviour. This thesis advocates a “behaviourist” approach, in which the criterion for a good model is that its long-term behaviour matches that exhibited by the data. We suggest that the behaviourist approach enjoys a certain robustness over the predictionist approaches. We show that good predictors can often be very poorly behaved, and suggest that well behaved models cannot perform too badly at the task of prediction. The thesis begins by comparing the predictionist and behaviourist approaches in the context of a number of simplified model-building problems. It then presents a simple theory for the understanding of the differences between the two approaches. Effective methods for the construction of well-behaved models are presented. Finally, these methods are applied to two real-world problems — modelling of the response of a voltage-clamped squid “giant” axon, and modelling of the “yearly sunspot number”.
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Sykes, Jennifer. "Behavioural healthcare modelling : incorporating behaviour into healthcare simulation models ; a breast cancer screening example." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.438669.
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Gasson, Catherine Emma. "Game-theoretic models of parental care." Thesis, University of Bristol, 1999. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.299330.
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Costello, Hilary. "The dynamic behaviour and stability of streamlined cables." Thesis, University of Cambridge, 2015. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.708471.
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Lindberg, Julia. "Exploring Brain Gene Expression i Animal Models of Behaviour." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala : Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2007. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-8177.
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Revell, Kirsten Magrethe Anita. "Mental models : understanding domestic energy systems and user behaviour." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2015. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/386139/.
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Energy consumption due to domestic heating is a major contributor to climate change. Kempton (1986) proposed that ‘Mental Models’ of thermostat controls could be linked to energy wasting behaviour. Mental models can be thought of as ‘pictures in the mind’ that help users understand and operate systems. This thesis explored if changes to the heating interface design could influence the mental model held, to promote appropriate behaviour with heating controls. Consideration of bias is essential when undertaking research into mental models. The ‘Tree-Rings’ framework was developed to address this, resulting in the creation of the ‘Quick Association Check’ (QuACK); a method for capturing and analysing mental models and behaviour related to heating controls. QuACk was initially applied to a case study of 6 householders. This revealed a ‘systems level’ approach was necessary to understand behaviour strategies, in contrast to Kempton’s single device focus. Differences in mental models explained differences in self-reported behaviour. Misunderstandings of how heating controls worked together and the influence of thermodynamics on boiler activation, explained variations in consumption between households. Norman’s (1983) ‘7 stages of activity’ was used to produce a design specification for a ‘control panel’ style heating interface. This focused on correcting key misunderstandings in householders’ mental models, that hindered appropriate behaviour. A home heating simulation was developed to allow the design to be compared with a typical presentation of heating controls. The new interface significantly improved the appropriateness of users’ mental models at the system and device levels. More appropriate behaviour was found with specific controls and the duration of goal achievement was significantly increased. These findings have implications for strategies to reduce domestic consumption through behaviour change, and provide insights that can be used to improve the design of home heating interfaces.
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Skilton, Helen E. "Bacteriophage as models of pathogenic virus behaviour in groundwater." Thesis, University of Surrey, 1987. http://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/844351/.
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In order to study the behaviour of pathogenic viruses in groundwater, several tracer experiments were performed at chalk aquifer sites using three different bacteriophage. Laboratory experiments were performed in parallel to investigate the efficacy of the bacteriophage as models of pathogenic virus behaviour. The high titres per ml of bacteriophage available for the initial inoculum and the simplicity of the assay permitted the detection of a pattern of bacteriophage recovery from three different groundwater sites. The greatest percentage of original inoculum recovered was 1.9 percent. Bacteriophage were observed to migrate 1km over a five month period and 366m within just over 3.5 hours. The laboratory experiments explored: i) decay rates of viruses suspended within chalk groundwater; ii) adsorption of viruses to chalk in batch studies and; iii) virus behaviour in chalk columns representing natural aquifer conditions. Three human enteric viruses were used: poliovirus 1, echovirus 1 and coxsackievirus B5. In addition the simian rotavirus (SA-11), and a group of bacteriophage were tested. The laboratory experiments indicated that the bacteriophage included in this study survived longer than the animal viruses in groundwater and that all viruses adsorbed well to chalk. In the simulated aquifer conditions all viruses investigated percolated through a chalk column at a similar rate and with a similar pattern. No differences in behaviour between the viruses, whether in laboratory or field experiments, was found which could be directly attributed to their size or shape. A mathematical model was used which included coefficients for adsorption and decay observed in the laboratory experiments and certain other parameters found in one of the field sites under investigation. Those factors considered and included in the model were shown to be sufficient to produce the same behaviour pattern as that observed in the field. This confirmed that the main factors influencing viral migration in natural conditions have been considered in this investigation. Bacteriophage were found to be good tracers for determining certain properties of chalk aquifers and a potential model of the behaviour of human enteric viruses in groundwater.
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Marshall, Peter John 1960. "Rational versus anchored traders : exchange rate behaviour in macro models." Monash University, Dept. of Economics, 2001. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/9048.
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Torchinsky, Raymon Lev. "Individual choice behaviour and urban commuting." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/27552.
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Urban commuting patterns can be viewed as the spatial manifestation of the outcome of labour market processes. Recent theoretical and empirical work investigating urban labour markets has emphasized the role of spatial wage differentials in mediating the interrelationship between labour supply and demand distributions and the dynamics of land-use change. This thesis represents an extension of such research. A simulation approach to commuting modelling, based on the explicit characterization of the interrelationship between urban location and interaction in terms of labour market processes, is developed.
The solution path logic of the simulation model is designed to provide normative commuting outcomes, given the spatial pattern of labour supply and demand, under a wide range of assumptions concerning labour market processes and choice-making behaviour of market participants. An explicit characterization of the labour market, based on the specification of an endogenous behavioural assumption set, defines a model version. Thus, the model may be used to test the ability of various behavioural constructs to explain empirical commuting patterns.
The justification and internal logic underlying the development of a specific model version is presented. This version is based on the assumption that the decision by a worker to apply for a job is objectively rational, given that the market environment does not provide certainty as to the outcome of an application. It is shown that such choice behaviour is analogous to the game-theoretic mixed strategy solution to non-cooperative games under uncertainty. The algorithm of the operational model incorporating this approach is detailed.
The model was tested on empirical commuting patterns derived from Vancouver Census data, and model results were compared with those obtained from a positive entropy-based model. Commuting predictions exhibited a level of accuracy comparable to that achieved by the calibrated entropy model.Arts, Faculty of
Geography, Department of
Graduate
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Ferdjani, Omar. "Behaviour of a one cell prestressed concrete box girder bridge : analytical study." Thesis, McGill University, 1987. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=66163.
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Sewart, Pete. "Graphical and longitudinal models in credit analysis." Thesis, Lancaster University, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.387438.
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Seaman, Matthew. "Computational models of structure and dynamics." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1996. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.362082.
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Forster, Martin. "Economics, inequalities in health and health-related behaviour." Thesis, University of York, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.245870.
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Sierra, Robinson. "Investigation of the mechanical behaviour of TRIP steels using FEM." Thesis, McGill University, 2006. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=99793.
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The need to develop light-weight and high strength materials for car frames which improve fuel efficiency and provide increased passenger safety during dynamic events such as automobile crashes has been the focus of the steel and automobile industries for the past 30 years. In recent years, the development of high strength steels such as multi-phase TRIP (Transformation-Induced Plasticity)-aided steels have shown great promise due to their excellent combination of high strength and ductility. The savings in automobile weight is provided by the inherent strength of TRIP steels which allows for the use of thinner sections. The TRIP effect is characterized by the phenomenon known as strain-induced martensitic transformation (SIMT) which enhances the work hardenability of such steels as the austenite phase transforms to the much harder martensite phase during plastic straining. This results in a resistance to local necking which subsequently enhances the strength, ductility, and formability of such steels. However, various factors exist which affect the mechanical behaviour of TRIP steels. This study will aim, through the use of finite element models, to investigate the role and influence of each of these factors on the TRIP effect in type 304 austenitic and multi-phase TRIP steels. These factors include the rate at which the martensitic transformation proceeds, the state of stress to which the material is subjected to, the interaction between the surrounding matrix and embedded retained austenite islands in multi-phase TRIP steels, and the volume fraction and morphology of the retained austenite islands. Investigation of these factors will provide further insight on each of their contributions to the TRIP effect in order to exploit the potential benefits offered by these steels.
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Palczynski, Jacob [Verfasser]. "Time-continuous behaviour comparison based on abstract models / Jacob Palczynski." Aachen : Hochschulbibliothek der Rheinisch-Westfälischen Technischen Hochschule Aachen, 2014. http://d-nb.info/1051895839/34.
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Mejia, Jose. "Monoamine oxidases and aggressive behaviour : clinical studies and animal models." Thesis, McGill University, 2002. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=38238.
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Monoamine oxidases (MAOs) are phylogenetically old enzymes which catalyze the deamination of monoamines. Interest in a relationship between MAO and aggressive behaviour derives from the report of a single family with a mutation which obliterates the activity of MAO A, as well as a long history of studies which substantiate a relationship between MAO activity and impulsive aggressive behaviour. The goals of this thesis were: (1) to examine the generalizability of the specific MAO mutation noted above; (2) to evaluate the relationship between platelet MAO activity and genetic polymorphisms in MAO genes, and (3) to extend knowledge regarding the developmental behavioural impact of MAO deficiency in mice treated pre- and perinatally with inhibitors of MAO.In the first study we genotyped the C936T mutation in 100 subjects followed longitudinally and oversampled for aggressive behaviour. None of the subjects in our sample carried this mutation.
In the second study, we report the lack of association between platelet MAO activity and four intronic microsatellite polymorphisms of the MAO genes.
Studies of MAO knockout mice are at significant variance with clinical pharmacological experience using MAO inhibitors. Prompted by this and by other seminal basic experiments, we hypothesized that inhibition of MAO activity during the developmental period would have profound behavioural effects. MAO A and B inhibitors were administered, separately or in combination, to mice during gestation and lactation. Total prenatal MAO inhibition produced a severe pattern of behaviour, while MAO-B inhibited mice demonstrated a similar pattern with lower intensity. Aggression was elevated in MAO-A inhibited mice only after acute pharmacological challenges suggesting prenatal sensitization. Thus developmental inhibition of MAO activity engenders behavioural effects which parallel those observed in animals devoid functional MAO. These data underscore the importance of neurochemical changes during development and provide a possible model for uninhibited aggression, common in clinical populations.
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Crawford, Alistair, and n/a. "Bad Behaviour: The Prevention of Usability Problems Using GSE Models." Griffith University. School of Information and Communication Technology, 2006. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20061108.154141.
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The aim of Human Computer Interaction or HCI is to both understand and improve the quality of the users' experience with the systems and technology they interact with. Recent HCI research requirements have stated a need for a unified predictive approach to system design that consolidates system engineering, cognitive modelling, and design principles into a single 'total system approach.' At present, few methods seek to integrate all three of these aspects into a single method and of those that do many are extensions to existing engineering techniques. This thesis, however proposes a new behaviour based approach designed to identify usability problems early in the design process before testing the system with actual users. In order to address the research requirements, this model uses a new design notation called Genetic Software Engineering (GSE) in conjunction with aspects of a cognitive modelling technique called NGOMSL (Natural GOMS Language) as the basis for this approach. GSE's behaviour tree notation, and NGOMSL's goal orientated format are integrated using a set of simple conversion rules defined in this study. Several well established design principles, believed to contribute to the eventual usability of a product, are then modelled in GSE. This thesis addresses the design of simple interfaces and the design of complex ubiquitous technology. The new GSE approach is used to model and predict usability problems in an extensive range of tasks from programming a VCR to making a video recording on a modern mobile phone. The validity of these findings is tested against actual user tests on the same tasks and devices to demonstrate the effectiveness of the GSE approach. Ultimately, the aim of the study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new cognitive and engineering based approach at predicting usability problems based on tangible representations of established design principles. This both fulfils the MCI research requirements for a 'total system approach' and establishes a new and novel approach to user interface and system design.
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Maia, Paulo Henrique Mendes. "Improving the accuracy of probablastic behaviour models using state refinement." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2011. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.534955.
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White, Ruth Jemma. "Using topic models to detect behaviour patterns for healthcare monitoring." Thesis, University of Reading, 2018. http://centaur.reading.ac.uk/77839/.
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Healthcare systems worldwide are facing growing demands on their resources due to an ageing population and increase in prevalence of chronic diseases. Innovative residential healthcare monitoring systems, using a variety of sensors are being developed to help address these needs. Interpreting the vast wealth of data generated is key to fully exploiting the benefits offered by a monitoring system. This thesis presents the application of topic models, a machine learning algorithm, to detect behaviour patterns in different types of data produced by a monitoring system. Latent Dirichlet Allocation was applied to real world activity data with corresponding ground truth labels of daily routines. The results from an existing dataset and a novel dataset collected using a custom mobile phone app, demonstrated that the patterns found are equivalent of routines. Long term monitoring can identify changes that could indicate an alteration in health status. Dynamic topic models were applied to simulated long term activity datasets to detect changes in the structure of daily routines. It was shown that the changes occurring in the simulated data can successfully be detected. This result suggests potential for dynamic topic models to identify changes in routines that could aid early diagnosis of chronic diseases. Furthermore, chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, are related to quality of diet. Current research findings on the association between eating behaviours, especially snacking, and the impact on diet quality and health are often conflicting. One problem is the lack of consistent definitions for different types of eating event. The novel application of Latent Dirichlet Allocation to three nutrition datasets is described. The results demonstrated that combinations of food groups representative of eating event types can be detected. Moreover, labels assigned to these combinations showed good agreement with alternative methods for labelling eating event types.
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Turner, Katherine Mary Elizabeth. "Mathematical models of gonorrhoea and chlamydia : biology, behaviour and interactions." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/1303.
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Gonorrhoea and chlamydia are curable, bacterial, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) of humans, with important long term consequences for health. Their epidemiology and biology are reviewed in chapter one. The way the biology of the organisms and the behaviour of human hosts interact to influence the patterns of infection and the potential impact of interventions is the subject of the main body of the thesis. Mathematical models are presented, together with empirical data, to gain a better understanding of the epidemiology of gonorrhoea and chlamydia. New approaches are applied, using more complex measures of disease occurrence including reinfection (subsequent infection by the same organism) or coinfection (infection with both organisms simultaneously). Coinfection with gonorrhoea and chlamydia is investigated in chapter two. The third chapter investigates the importance of heterogeneity in human behaviour (i.e. level of sexual activity, mixing patterns within and between populations) on the spread of disease in subpopulations, using a model incorporating race, gender and sexual activity level. This was parameterised and validated using data collected in South East London. In chapter four, models of reinfection are used to investigate the interaction of population level parameters such as degree of assortative mixing and rates of reinfection. In chapter five, the characteristics of individuals coinfected with both organisms are shown to provide additional information useful in determining how infection is distributed across a population. The biology of the organism is demonstrated, in the fifth chapter, to play an important role in the prevalence and incidence of disease within the host population. The impact of the emergence of resistant or asymptomatic phenotypes under selective pressure by different treatment regimens is quantified using a two strain model, including asymptomatic and symptomatic infections. The final chapter considers the contribution of the research and discusses the implications of the results for STI intervention strategies.
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Milios, Dimitrios. "On approximating the stochastic behaviour of Markovian process algebra models." Thesis, University of Edinburgh, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/1842/8930.
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Markov chains offer a rigorous mathematical framework to describe systems that exhibit stochastic behaviour, as they are supported by a plethora of methodologies to analyse their properties. Stochastic process algebras are high-level formalisms, where systems are represented as collections of interacting components. This compositional approach to modelling allows us to describe complex Markov chains using a compact high-level specification. There is an increasing need to investigate the properties of complex systems, not only in the field of computer science, but also in computational biology. To explore the stochastic properties of large Markov chains is a demanding task in terms of computational resources. Approximating the stochastic properties can be an effective way to deal with the complexity of large models. In this thesis, we investigate methodologies to approximate the stochastic behaviour of Markovian process algebra models. The discussion revolves around two main topics: approximate state-space aggregation and stochastic simulation. Although these topics are different in nature, they are both motivated by the need to efficiently handle complex systems. Approximate Markov chain aggregation constitutes the formulation of a smaller Markov chain that approximates the behaviour of the original model. The principal hypothesis is that states that can be characterised as equivalent can be adequately represented as a single state. We discuss different notions of approximate state equivalence, and how each of these can be used as a criterion to partition the state-space accordingly. Nevertheless, approximate aggregation methods typically require an explicit representation of the transition matrix, a fact that renders them impractical for large models. We propose a compositional approach to aggregation, as a means to efficiently approximate complex Markov models that are defined in a process algebra specification, PEPA in particular. Regarding our contributions to Markov chain simulation, we propose an accelerated method that can be characterised as almost exact, in the sense that it can be arbitrarily precise. We discuss how it is possible to sample from the trajectory space rather than the transition space. This approach requires fewer random samples than a typical simulation algorithm. Most importantly, our approach does not rely on particular assumptions with respect to the model properties, in contrast to otherwise more efficient approaches.
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Fonseca, Rodrigues Pedro. "Compositional behaviour and reliability models for adaptive component-based architectures." Thesis, Imperial College London, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/26896.
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The increasing scale and distribution of modern pervasive computing and service-based platforms makes manual maintenance and evolution difficult and too slow. Systems should therefore be designed to self-adapt in response to environment changes, which requires the use of on-line models and analysis. Although there has been a considerable amount of work on architectural modelling and behavioural analysis of component-based systems, there is a need for approaches that integrate the architectural, behavioural and management aspects of a system. In particular, the lack of support for composability in probabilisitic behavioural models prevents their systematic use for adapting systems based on changes in their non-functional properties. Of these non-functional properties, this thesis focuses on reliability. We introduce Probabilistic Component Automata (PCA) for describing the probabilistic behaviour of those systems. Our formalism simultaneously overcomes three of the main limitations of existing work: it preserves a close correspondence between the behavioural and architectural views of a system in both abstractions and semantics; it is composable as behavioural models of composite components are automatically obtained by combining the models of their constituent parts; and lastly it is probabilistic thereby enabling analysis of non-functional properties. PCA also provide constructs for representing failure, failure propagation and failure handling in component-based systems in a manner that closely corresponds to the use of exceptions in programming languages. Although PCA is used throughout this thesis for reliability analysis, the model can also be seen as an abstract process algebra that may be applicable for analysis of other system properties. We further show how reliability analysis based on PCA models can be used to perform architectural adaptation on distributed component-based systems and evaluate the computational cost of decentralised adaptation decisions. To mitigate the state-explosion problem associated with composite models, we further introduce an algorithm to reduce a component's PCA model to one that only represents its interface behaviour. We formally show that such model preserves the properties of the original representation. By experiment, we show that the reduced models are significantly smaller than the original, achieving a reduction of more than 80\% on both the number of states and transitions. A further benefit of the approach is that it allows component profiling and probabilistic interface behaviour to be extracted independently for each component, thereby enabling its exchange between different organisations without revealing commercially sensitive aspects of the components' implementations. The contributions and results of this work are evaluated both through a series of small scale examples and through a larger case study of an e-Banking application derived from Java EE training materials. Our work shows how probabilistic non-functional properties can be integrated with the architectural and behavioural models of a system in an intuitive and scalable way that enables automated architecture reconfiguration based on reliability properties using composable models.
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Khaled, Amar. "Behaviour of a two-cell prestressed concrete box girder bridge : analytical study." Thesis, McGill University, 1988. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=64019.
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Joucdar, Karim. "Behaviour of a two-cell prestressed concrete box girder bridge : experimental study." Thesis, McGill University, 1988. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=63981.
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Ferdjani, Aissam. "Behaviour of concrete under generalized biaxial loadings." Thesis, McGill University, 1987. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=63762.
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Pincombe, Brandon. "A study of non-Newtonian behaviour of blood flow through stenosed arteries /." Title page, contents and summary only, 1999. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09php6469.pdf.
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Davids, Fawwaaz. "The Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Entrepreneurial Event Model as predictive models of entrepreneurial intention." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/27299.
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The Theory of Planned Behaviour and The Entrepreneurial Event Model were used as models to predict entrepreneurial intention amongst final year students. The sufficiency of this paradigm was compared with the aim of determining which model predicts entrepreneurial intention the most within a South African context. A sample of 186 students was used to determine the sufficiency of the Theory of Planned Behaviour. As part of our methodology, a sub-set (n = 123) of the sample was used to determine the sufficiency of the Entrepreneurial Event Model. The sample consisted of final year commerce and engineering students. The results of the regression analysis indicated that the Theory of Planned Behaviour explained 58% of the variance in entrepreneurial intention. The Entrepreneurial Event Model was found to be less sufficient than the Theory of Planned Behaviour and only explained 38% of the variance in entrepreneurial intention. Therefore, when predicting entrepreneurial intention in a South African context, the Theory of Planned Behaviour can be considered the more sufficient model of prediction. Future research should consider using the Theory of Planned Behaviour, rather than Entrepreneurial Event Model, for entrepreneurial intention prediction among students in South Africa.
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Beville, S. T. "Modelling differences in angler choice behaviour with advanced discrete choice models." Lincoln University, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10182/2332.
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New Zealand is internationally renowned for having some of the finest and most challenging trout fishing in the world. However, due to continuing development and angling pressure many fishing sites are showing signs of environmental degradation and over fishing. This trend is almost certain to continue into the future given continued population and economic growth. Understanding the determinants of site choice, preference heterogeneity and anglers’ substitution patterns is fundamentally important to fishery managers who have the difficult task of maintaining quality angling experiences on a number of fishing sites, managing angling pressure and maintaining license sales. Recent advances in simulation techniques and computational power have improved the capability of discrete choice models to reveal preference heterogeneity and complex substitution patterns among individuals. This thesis applies and evaluates a number of state-of-the-art discrete choice models to study angler site choice in New Zealand. Recreation specialisation theory is integrated into the analysis to enhance the behavioural representation of the statistical models. A suite of models is presented throughout the empirical portion of this thesis. These models demonstrate different ways and degrees of explaining preference heterogeneity as well as identifying anglers’ substitution patterns. The results show that North Canterbury anglers’ preferences vary considerably. Resource disturbances such as riparian margin erosion, reduced water visibility and declines in catch rates can cause significant declines in angler use of affected sites, and at the same time non-proportional increases in the use of unaffected sites. Recreation specialisation is found to be closely related to the types of fishing site conditions, experiences and regulations preferred by anglers. Anglers’ preference intensities for fishing site attributes, such as catch rates, vary across different types of fishing sites. This location specific preference heterogeneity is found to be related to specialisation. Overall, the empirical findings indicate that conventional approaches to modelling angler site choice which do not incorporate a strong understanding of angler preference heterogeneity can lead to poorly representative models and suboptimal management and policy outcomes.
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Billyard, Andrew Philip. "The asymptotic behaviour of cosmological models containing matter and scalar fields." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1999. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape9/PQDD_0020/NQ49245.pdf.
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Fisher, Jacinda. "A comparison of predictive models of adherence behaviour in hypertensive patients /." Title page, abstract and contents only, 1998. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09SPS/09spsf534.pdf.
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Ghaffari, Ghazi Said Peyman. "Renormalization-group analysis of nonconservative models of self-organised critical behaviour." Thesis, Imperial College London, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.264228.
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