Comparing Conditional Quantile Curves

Abstract. We consider the problem of testing the equality of J quantile curves from independent samples. A test statistic based on an L²‐distance between non‐crossing non‐parametric estimates of the quantile curves from the individual samples is proposed. Asymptotic normality of this statistic is established under the null hypothesis, local and fixed alternatives, and the finite sample properties of a bootstrap‐based version of this test statistic are investigated by means of a simulation study.     

Assessing non-inferiority to an aggregate response with an application to development of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines

The development of a new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine involves assessing the responses of the new serotypes included in the vaccine. The World Health Organization guidance states that the response from each new serotype in the new vaccine should be compared with the aggregate response from the existing vaccine to evaluate non-inferiority. However, no details are provided on how to define and estimate the aggregate response and what methods to use for non-inferiority comparisons. We investigate several methods to estimate the aggregate response based on binary data including simple average, model-based, and lowest response methods. The response of each new serotype is then compared with the estimated aggregate response for non-inferiority. The non-inferiority test p-value and confidence interval are obtained from Miettinen and Nurminen's method, using an effective sample size. The methods are evaluated using simulations and demonstrated with a real clinical trial example.     

Fitting E(max) models to clinical trial dose-response data

We consider fitting Emax models to the primary endpoint for a parallel group dose–response clinical trial. Such models can be difficult to fit using Maximum Likelihood if the data give little information about the maximum possible response. Consequently, we consider alternative models that can be derived as limiting cases, which can usually be fitted. Furthermore we propose two model selection procedures for choosing between the different models. These model selection procedures are compared with two model selection procedures which have previously been used. In a simulation study we find that the model selection procedure that performs best depends on the underlying true situation. One of the new model selection procedures gives what may be regarded as the most robust of the procedures.     

Policy and practice: non‐governmental organisations and the health delivery system for displaced children in khartoum,Sudan

The civil war in Sudan and natural disasters have led to the displacement of many people of whom 2.2 million live in and around Khartoum, half of whom are under the age of 18. These children, living in barren, remote areas, must find ways to survive and meet their basic needs of food, shelter, health and education. This article focuses on the work of an international organisation working in health services for displaced people in one of the camps in Khartoum in order to argue the case for a rights‐based approach to health care, for separate provision of services to adolescent mothers, for education on sexual and reproductive health for children before they become sexually active, and for sexual and reproductive health services and education for adolescent boys and men. This article concentrates on health education, in particular sexual and reproductive rights and how gender‐based differences impact on the health and well‐being of children. By concentrating almost exclusively on pregnant and lactating women and children under five, the organisation may reduce the possibility of successful outcomes for women and may not contribute to the reduction of sexually transmitted diseases, early pregnancy and related morbidity and mortality. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

U形波纹管的强度设计

应用几何非线性原理,采用空间壳体单元对U形波纹管在各种受载情况下的强度进行了分析计算,并根据第四强度理论提出了U形波纹管的强度设计准则,给出了一个实例,结果是令人满意的.     

西南边疆少数民族地区师专学生需要结构特点的研究

采用问卷法对我国西南边疆少数民族地区634 名师专学生的18 种基本需要进行调查。结果表明:强度最大的主导需要为求知的需要、友情的需要、自尊自立的需要、建树的需要;强度最弱的非主导需要为性的需要、物质享受的需要、权力的需要、躲避伤害和躲避羞辱的需要;从需要的6 大维度看,由强至弱依次为发展的需要、尊重的需要、贡献的需要、交往的需要、安全的需要和生理的需要;边疆少数民族地区师专学生的需要结构存在团体差异和个体差异     

简论民间信贷成因及其治理对策——从金融监管者角度分析

从金融监管角度看 ,民间信贷蔓延的根源在于滞后的农村金融体制 ,而民间信贷蔓延的外部条件则在于金融监管的法制不健全和手段、方法的落后。因此 ,治理民间信贷的根本出路是改革现有的农村金融体制 ,建立以合作金融为主体的农村金融新体制。     

Fiscal Foresight and Information Flows

News—or foresight—about future economic fundamentals can create rational expectations equilibria with non‐fundamental representations that pose substantial challenges to econometric efforts to recover the structural shocks to which economic agents react. Using tax policies as a leading example of foresight, simple theory makes transparent the economic behavior and information structures that generate non‐fundamental equilibria. Econometric analyses that fail to model foresight will obtain biased estimates of output multipliers for taxes; biases are quantitatively important when two canonical theoretical models are taken as data generating processes. Both the nature of equilibria and the inferences about the effects of anticipated tax changes hinge critically on hypothesized information flows. Different methods for extracting or hypothesizing the information flows are discussed and shown to be alternative techniques for resolving a non‐uniqueness problem endemic to moving average representations.     

唐朝政府的民间结社政策研究

本文通过对史料的追索研究 ,发现了唐朝政府对民间的结社的政策 ,曾经有过一个从禁断到承认的过程。民间结社虽然会受到政府政策的影响 ,但因为拥有坚实的社会基础 ,所以禁而不止 ,并终于使得政府做出改变。这对于重新认识中国古代的社会组织特别是民间结社的历史是很有意义的     

第三部门及其与相关部门比较释义

第三部门是指以服务公众为宗旨,不以营利为目的,其所得不分配给内部成员,其自身具有合法的免税资格和提供捐赠人减免税的合法地位的组织.该文重点分析了第三部门的特征以及第三部门概念与非营利部门、中介组织和事业单位等概念之间的关系以及区别,同时针对第三部门当前的状况和存在的问题,应该完善法律,放松规制;依法管理,依法监督;提高人员素质,改善经营管理等措施,以便加深对我国第三部门的再认识,促进我国第三部门健康稳定的发展.