This paper presents a non-linear modeling framework that supports model development \in between" empirical and mechanistic modeling. A model is composed of a number of local models valid in di erent operating regimes. The local models are combined by smooth interpolation into a complete global model. It is illustrated how di erent kinds of empirical and mechanistic knowledge and models can be c...

The present study explores the structural pavement design techniques related to distresses in terms of rutting, cracking and International Roughness Index (IRI) based on materials properties, roadbed characteristics, climate traffic loads for highway network Saudi Arabia (KSA). was focused selected site conditions at four regions KSA: Central (Riyadh); Eastern (Al-Ahsa); Western (Jeddah) Northe...

The first part of this paper argues that if Craver’s ([2007a], [2007b]) popular mutual manipulability account (MM) of mechanistic constitution is embedded within Woodward’s ([2003]) interventionist theory of causation—for which it is explicitly designed—it either undermines the mechanistic research paradigm by entailing that there do not exist relationships of constitutive relevance or it gives...

Declining success rates coupled with increased costs is leading to an inevitable breaking point in the drug development pipeline. Can we avoid it by incorporating the vast mechanistic understanding of drug action? A recent review highlights this dilemma and proposes "quantitative logic gate" modeling as a solution.(1) The goal of this commentary is to contrast this approach with mechanistic bio...

It is well known that current equilibrium-based models fall short as predictive descriptions of natural ecosystems, and particularly of fisheries systems that exhibit nonlinear dynamics. For example, model parameters assumed to be fixed constants may actually vary in time, models may fit well to existing data but lack out-of-sample predictive skill, and key driving variables may be misidentifie...

[1] We present new empirical and mechanistic models for predicting the export of organic carbon out of the surface ocean by sinking particles. To calibrate these models, we have compiled a synthesis of field observations related to ecosystem size structure, primary production and particle export from around the globe. The empirical model captures 61% of the observed variance in the ratio of par...

Roads cause significant impacts on the environment, such as contributing to emissions responsible for climate change. For this reason, pavement design methodology should integrate environmental as well as economical impacts. The objective of this study was to incorporate environmental impacts as part of the Mechanistic-Empirical (ME) pavement design procedure using Environmental Product Declara...