The Basle Accord: A Review and a Simple Model.

Rapport de recherche

Le Modèle des vies saines (Good lives model) appliqué dans le traitement de délinquants sexuels suivis dans la communauté

Rapport de stage présenté à la Faculté des arts et sciences en vue de l'obtention du grade de Maîtrise ès sciences (M. Sc.) en criminologie

L'enriquiment instrumental segons R. Feuerstein : vers la caracterització d'un model d'acció pedagògica per a l'adquisició d'habilitats de pensament. 'El enriquecimiento instrumental según R. Feuerstein : hacia la caracterización de un modelo de acción pedagógica para la adquisición de habilidades de pensamiento'.

Valorar el modelo de Feuerstein (FIE) en su ámbito de adquisición de habilidades de pensamiento, en alumnos de escolaridad normal, desde la perspectiva de la acción pedagógica y desde una óptica teórica y experimental. Grupo experimental: 85 alumnos de sexto nivel de EGB, de un centro privado, procedentes de familias de status socioeconómico medio-alto, del curso académico 1986-87 y 1987-88. Grupo control: alumnos de las mismas características que los anteriores de otro centro privado. Describe la teoría y materiales de Feuerstein. Discusión de las bases teóricas del FIE. Valora el programa y lo contrasta con otros modelos. Experimenta el modelo para evaluar las aptitudes mentales que mejoran en los alumnos después de la aplicación del programa. Plantea un diseño con grupo control pretest posttest. V.I.: Participación o no en el programa. V.D.: Mejora en las aptitudes. Controla variables intervinientes. Aplica el programa al grupo experimental y una batería de tests pretest y posttest a los dos grupos para medir las aptitudes. Analiza los datos y complementa los resultados con un un estudio sobre las actitudes del profesorado y los alumnos hacia el FIE. Instrumentos del programa: organización de puntos, orientación espacial I y II, comparaciones, clasificaciones, percepción analítica y relaciones familiares. Batería de tests: test de comprensión verbal, test de fluidez verbal, test de razonamiento abstracto, test de aptitud numérica, test de comprensión espacial, test de memoria y test de rapidez perceptiva. ANCOVA, ANOVA, t de Student, índices de fiabilidad y validez y representaciones gráficas. El FIE mejora fluidez verbal y rapidez perceptiva. Potencia la eficacia en tareas donde se requiere una estrategia sencilla. Es suficiente para desarrollar el razonamiento abstracto, la memoria o el razonamiento numérico. Puede contrarestar déficits en la comprensión verbal pero no mejora el razonamiento espacial. Los alumnos tienen una opinión positiva hacia el FIE y los profesores creen que los alumnos han mejorado en sus hábitos de estudio, autoconcepto y capacidad de comunicación verbal, pero no puede generalizarse una mejora en el rendimiento académico. El modelo cognitivo-natural de acción pedagógica en el ámbito de la adquisición de habilidades de pensamiento queda corroborado. Es uno de los programas más completos para aprender a pensar. Plantea la prospectiva de investigar los efectos del FIE en la esfera emotiva, mejorar los instrumentos de medida y estudiar el grado de generabilidad de las conclusiones.

A model for self-directed problem-based learning for renal therapeutics

Objective To introduce a new approach to problem-based learning (PBL) for self-directed learning in renal therapeutics. Design This 5-week course, designed for large student cohorts using minimal teaching resources, was based on a series of case studies and subsequent pharmaceutical care plans, followed by intensive and regular feedback from the instructor. Assessment Assessment of achievement of the learning outcomes was based on weekly-graded care plans and peer review assessment, allowing each student to judge the contributions of each group member and their own, along with a written case-study based examination. The pharmaceutical care plan template, designed using a “tick-box” system, significantly reduced staff time for feedback and scoring. Conclusion The proposed instructional model achieved the desired learning outcomes with appropriate student feedback, while promoting skills that are essential for the students' future careers as health care professionals.

A generalised Bayesian instrumental variable approach under student t-distributed errors with application

Bayesian analysis is given of an instrumental variable model that allows for heteroscedasticity in both the structural equation and the instrument equation. Specifically, the approach for dealing with heteroscedastic errors in Geweke (1993) is extended to the Bayesian instrumental variable estimator outlined in Rossi et al. (2005). Heteroscedasticity is treated by modelling the variance for each error using a hierarchical prior that is Gamma distributed. The computation is carried out by using a Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling algorithm with an augmented draw for the heteroscedastic case. An example using real data illustrates the approach and shows that ignoring heteroscedasticity in the instrument equation when it exists may lead to biased estimates.

Robust inference in an heteroscedastic measurement error model

In this paper we deal with robust inference in heteroscedastic measurement error models Rather than the normal distribution we postulate a Student t distribution for the observed variables Maximum likelihood estimates are computed numerically Consistent estimation of the asymptotic covariance matrices of the maximum likelihood and generalized least squares estimators is also discussed Three test statistics are proposed for testing hypotheses of interest with the asymptotic chi-square distribution which guarantees correct asymptotic significance levels Results of simulations and an application to a real data set are also reported (C) 2009 The Korean Statistical Society Published by Elsevier B V All rights reserved

Bayesian analysis of skew-t multivariate null intercept measurement error model

The multivariate skew-t distribution (J Multivar Anal 79:93-113, 2001; J R Stat Soc, Ser B 65:367-389, 2003; Statistics 37:359-363, 2003) includes the Student t, skew-Cauchy and Cauchy distributions as special cases and the normal and skew-normal ones as limiting cases. In this paper, we explore the use of Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods to develop a Bayesian analysis of repeated measures, pretest/post-test data, under multivariate null intercept measurement error model (J Biopharm Stat 13(4):763-771, 2003) where the random errors and the unobserved value of the covariate (latent variable) follows a Student t and skew-t distribution, respectively. The results and methods are numerically illustrated with an example in the field of dentistry.

On estimation and influence diagnostics for log-Birnbaum-Saunders Student-t regression models: Full Bayesian analysis

The purpose of this paper is to develop a Bayesian approach for log-Birnbaum-Saunders Student-t regression models under right-censored survival data. Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods are used to develop a Bayesian procedure for the considered model. In order to attenuate the influence of the outlying observations on the parameter estimates, we present in this paper Birnbaum-Saunders models in which a Student-t distribution is assumed to explain the cumulative damage. Also, some discussions on the model selection to compare the fitted models are given and case deletion influence diagnostics are developed for the joint posterior distribution based on the Kullback-Leibler divergence. The developed procedures are illustrated with a real data set. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Local influence for Student-t partially linear models

In this paper we extend partial linear models with normal errors to Student-t errors Penalized likelihood equations are applied to derive the maximum likelihood estimates which appear to be robust against outlying observations in the sense of the Mahalanobis distance In order to study the sensitivity of the penalized estimates under some usual perturbation schemes in the model or data the local influence curvatures are derived and some diagnostic graphics are proposed A motivating example preliminary analyzed under normal errors is reanalyzed under Student-t errors The local influence approach is used to compare the sensitivity of the model estimates (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved

Pupils' Interaction with the Exhibits According to the Learning Behaviour Model

Science centres are one of the best opportunities for informal study of natural science. There are many advantages to learn in the science centres compared with the traditional methods: it is possible to motivate and supply visitors with the social experience, to improve people’s understandings and attitudes, thereby bringing on and attaching wider interest towards natural science. In the science centres, pupils show interest, enthusiasm, motivation, self-confidence, sensitiveness and also they are more open and eager to learn. Traditional school-classes however mostly do not favour these capabilities. This research presents the qualitative study in the science centre. Data was gathered from observations and interviews at Science North science centre in Canada. Pupils’ learning behaviours were studied at different exhibits in the science centre. Learning behaviours are classified as follows: labels reading, experimenting with the exhibits, observing others or exhibit, using guide, repeating the activity, positive emotional response, acknowledged relevance, seeking and sharing information. In this research, it became clear that in general pupils do not read labels; in most cases pupils do not use the guides help; pupils prefer exhibits that enable high level of interactivity; pupils display more learning behaviours at exhibits that enable a high level of interactivity.

A gravity model for trade between Vietnam and twenty-three European countries

This thesis examines the bilateral trade between Vietnam and twenty three European countries based on a gravity model and panel data for years 1993 to 2004. Estimates indicate that economic size, market size and real exchange rate of Vietnam and twenty three European countries play major role in bilateral trade between Vietnam and these countries. Distance and history, however, do not seem to drive the bilateral trade. The results of gravity model are also applied to calculate the trade potential between Vietnam and twenty three European countries. It shows that Vietnam’s trade with twenty three European countries has considerable room for growth.

Chinese Basic Pension Substitution Rate: A Monte Carlo Demonstration of the Individual Account Model

At the end of 2005, the State Council of China passed ”The Decision on adjusting the Individual Account of Basic Pension System”, which adjusted the individual account in the 1997 basic pension system. In this essay, we will analyze the adjustment above, and use Life Annuity Actuarial Theory to establish the basic pension substitution rate model. Monte Carlo simulation is also used to prove the rationality of the model. Some suggestions are put forward associated with the substitution rate according to the current policy.