Approximate composite marginal likelihood inference in spatial generalized linear mixed models

Non-Gaussian spatial responses are usually modeled using spatial generalized linear mixed model with spatial random effects. The likelihood function of this model cannot usually be given in a closed form, thus the maximum likelihood approach is very challenging. There are numerical ways to maximize the likelihood function, such as Monte Carlo Expectation Maximization and Quadrature Pairwise Expectation Maximization algorithms. They can be applied but may in such cases be computationally very slow or even prohibitive. Gauss–Hermite quadrature approximation only suitable for low-dimensional latent variables and its accuracy depends on the number of quadrature points. Here, we propose a new approximate pairwise maximum likelihood method to the inference of the spatial generalized linear mixed model. This approximate method is fast and deterministic, using no sampling-based strategies. The performance of the proposed method is illustrated through two simulation examples and practical aspects are investigated through a case study on a rainfall data set.     

区块链技术下智能合约之于合同的新诠释

应用于交易领域的智能合约融入区块链技术,以代码形式表现,可实现合同履行的自动化和不可逆,超越了传统意义上的合同模式.自助行为说、代理说将智能合约视为对合同过程的外部增强,是侧面功能的法律阐释,并未完全捕捉到实质.智能合约并不一定跨越整个合同过程,也可仅是合同过程某个方面或某个阶段.法律意义上的智能合约不是合同新类型,而是合同关系形式的新发展,即当事人缔结和履行合同的新形式,合同性质未发生实质变化.智能合约满足特定要件构成特殊的书面形式,具有"书面形式+自动履行"功能的特质.民事主体通过智能合约形式订立合同应遵守《民法典》等现行法律的具体规则,以保证合同依法成立与生效.智能合约不等同于具有法律效力的合同,认定其效力应结合智能合约应用中的具体问题展开具体分析.从立法上确认智能合约,在符合国家现有法律、政策基础上编写和应用,实现形式的合法化、内容的规范化是该技术谋求长远发展的保障.技术起步的现阶段,纸质合同、一般电子合同与智能合约在不同方面发挥协作作用,会在未来一段时间内成为民事交往、商业交易的主要状态.     

Does geographical proximity matter in determining the profitability of banks?

Despite the existence of a burgeoning literature on bank profitability, yet, none of them gave due consideration to geographical proximity. I fulfill such a gap by analyzing the effects of COVID-19 on the profitability of top-rated banks. Findings confirm the prevalence of spatial dependence at both the global and sub-global with feedback effects being systematically higher than spillover effects. My study uncovers evidence of a COVID-19 induced decline in asset utilization. Findings advocate sharing economy as a potential tool to banks in combating any future pandemic risk with regionalized approach to supervision being deemed better than its globalized counterpart.     

The New Spatial Planning Act in Taiwan: A Messy Shift from Economic Development-Oriented Planning to Environmental Conservation-Oriented Planning?

On 18 December 2015, the spatial planning bill was finally passed by the Legislative Yuan in Taiwan. That was a special moment for planning community and authority since they had anticipated this moment for more than two decades. However, this is not the end of the story. On the contrary, the battle between the economic development promoters and environmental conservation supporters just starts. The Act introduces several new changes to secure its goal of nationwide sustainable development, but the introduction also raises some tensions. This article reviews the tensions and their socio-political context, and gives some suggestions to the Taiwanese government.     

从造字到造形：汉字形体结构与书法艺术

汉字作为一种书写形体，笔画组合的丰富多样和间架结构的灵活多变，而使其“字形”成为复杂的美学构成，“书写”成为“书法”，并完成从造字到造形的转变。书法是汉字书写艺术，书法艺术深藏于汉字独特的形体结构之中。三位一体的整体架构、二维方块结体、平衡对称等汉字在形体构造上的诗性特征，既是人们对文字形体的一种审美预期，也是书法学家在书法创作时努力追求的美感。     

形似与神似，求真与求美--从本体诗歌翻译理论的角度分析

本体诗歌翻译理论主要探讨译文与原文在形式与内容上的关系。译文与原文应该达到形似还是神似，译者应该求真还是求美，这是翻译界一直争论的话题。按照“形似与神似，求真与求美”的关系来分析江枫先生对艾米莉·狄金森的两首诗歌“暴风雨夜”和“篱笆那边”的翻译，可以看出，标点符号、遣词、诗歌的韵式和诗人的创作风格等方面体现了江枫译文的特点和风格：译文选词简单但富有张力，行文简约而内敛，与原诗风格颇似；但由于过于追求简约而稍显生硬和晦涩。总之，江枫的译文是形似与神似结合的典范，体现其“形似而后神似”的主张以及“简约而忠实”的风格，但并未完全实现“求真与求美”的完美结合。     

健美操对学生形态的影响及优化策略

文章结合常见训练特点，分析了健美操在有氧活动促进心肺功能、协调运动、力量训练、柔韧训练、实践比赛、个体抗压等方面对学生形体产生的影响，为进一步强化学生身体素质提供理论参考意见。     

Parental advice to preadolescent bystanders about how to intervene during bullying differs by form of bullying

The current study examined parental advice given to fourth‐ and fifth‐grade preadolescents who imagined being bystanders to different forms of bullying (physical, verbal, property attack, social manipulation, exclusion). We assessed the frequency with which parents advised youth to follow specific intervention strategies (stop the bully, help/comfort the victim, tell adults), and we tested whether the frequency by which parents provided each kind of advice varied by the form of bullying described. One hundred and six fourth‐ and fifth‐grade preadolescents completed an interaction in which their parent gave them advice about how to respond if they were bystanders to five hypothetical bullying situations. Each situation described a different form of bullying. Across forms of bullying, parents most frequently told bystander children to intervene by telling an adult. However, advice differed based on the form of bullying presented. Parents most frequently advised children to “tell an adult” in response to physical bullying or property attacks, most frequently advised children to “help/comfort victims” in response to social exclusion and physical attacks, and most frequently advised children to “stop the bully” in response to verbal and social manipulation bullying.     

高等教育布局结构优化的理论前提

作为经济社会发展的重要助推力量,高等教育布局结构优化的影响因素是多维的,主要包括国家战略、区域经济、社会文化、人口结构以及地理空间等等。科学预设高等教育布局结构优化的应然目标,需要正视布局结构优化的目标限度,并重点从“社会满足度”和“个体满足度”两个方面予以考量。实施高等教育布局结构的优化,需要甄选多向度的优化理路,实现多元布局手段的优势集合。要坚持“去趋同化与优势集中相统整”“域内均衡与域间协调相统整”“突显公平与保障效益相统整”“积极适应与适当超越相统整”“内循规律与外在干预相统整”等原则。