An Investigation of Quantile Function Estimators Relative to Quantile Confidence Interval Coverage

In this article, we investigate the limitations of traditional quantile function estimators and introduce a new class of quantile function estimators, namely, the semi-parametric tail-extrapolated quantile estimators, which has excellent performance for estimating the extreme tails with finite sample sizes. The smoothed bootstrap and direct density estimation via the characteristic function methods are developed for the estimation of confidence intervals. Through a comprehensive simulation study to compare the confidence interval estimations of various quantile estimators, we discuss the preferred quantile estimator in conjunction with the confidence interval estimation method to use under different circumstances. Data examples are given to illustrate the superiority of the semi-parametric tail-extrapolated quantile estimators. The new class of quantile estimators is obtained by slight modification of traditional quantile estimators, and therefore, should be specifically appealing to researchers in estimating the extreme tails.     

Operating Characteristics for Group Sequential Trials Monitored Under Fractional Brownian Motion

Brownian motion has been used to derive stopping boundaries for group sequential trials, however, when we observe dependent increment in the data, fractional Brownian motion is an alternative to be considered to model such data. In this article we compared expected sample sizes and stopping times for different stopping boundaries based on the power family alpha spending function under various values of Hurst coefficient. Results showed that the expected sample sizes and stopping times will decrease and power increases when the Hurst coefficient increases. With same Hurst coefficient, the closer the boundaries are to that of O'Brien-Fleming, the higher the expected sample sizes and stopping times are; however, power has a decreasing trend for values start from H = 0.6 (early analysis), 0.7 (equal space), 0.8 (late analysis). We also illustrate study design changes using results from the BHAT study.     

Effects of mediator competence and mediation process on user satisfaction with child custody,finances, and property outcomes

This study draws on survey data from 205 family mediation service users concerning their satisfaction with the outcomes of mediation to address two research questions: (a) how satisfied are service users? and (b) what factors account for users' satisfaction with the outcome of child custody arrangements and the allocation of finances and property? Overall, users' level of satisfaction with outcomes was high. While the mediation process explained a significant variance in satisfaction with the outcomes for child custody and for finances and property, the mediator's perceived professional competence did not predict user satisfaction with the outcomes for either issue. This study contributes to our knowledge on the significance of mediators' process skill, specifically their calm and clear responses to the socioemotional needs of the mediated parties, on the service outcomes for both types of dispute. The implications for mediation training are discussed.     

Experimental Coastal Land Reclamation: Qianhai as a Case Interpreted

ABSTRACT

Informed by a Coasian transaction cost paradigm enriched by the concept of Schumpeterian innovations, this paper discusses the advantages of using experimental coastal reclamation of the sea to build new cities with a policy for fostering innovations. A new development area at the margin of Shenzhen in China, Qianhai, is used to demonstrate how urban expansion by urban sprawling in a megacity can be avoided by reclamation of marginal land as analytically less costly than along intra-marginal land and more suitable for experimentation for the type of megacity concept that Qianhai aims to achieve.     

英语俚语及其风格

本文介绍了英语俚语的来源、现状,并着重对其风格特征作一些探讨。     

中国古代人性论之流变

人性善恶是哲学思想史非常关注的一个重要问题,中国古代思想家对此十分重视。关于人性善恶问题,不同时代的贤哲有不同的观点和论述。孟子以人有四端言人性善,荀子因人好利恶害、贫愿富、贱愿贵而云人性恶,汉唐思想家据善恶之异,将人性分为三品,宋理学家分先天与后天之人性,言天命之性善、气质之性恶,清儒以智,人也;不智,禽兽也,竭力张扬人性之善。不同时期的善恶之辩,争辩的目标指向各不相同,善恶内涵也因此发生变化。     

“主体性”观念的价值内涵与社会发展的“价值排序”

主体性是上个世纪80年代中国哲学和人文社会科学界的核心概念,它在深层所表达和体现的是对中国现代性建构的价值规范基础的寻求,这一点构成了主体性原则最为深层的底蕴。只有从此视野出发,我们才能倾听到这一哲学原则背后最深沉的呼声。虽然主体性原则在学院哲学中表现为一个纯粹的学术问题,但如果把它置于中国特定的思想与现实语境中,它包含着对中国社会历史方位的认知判断,表达着深层的价值冲突和利益争执,在此意义上,主体性既是一个理论问题,同时更是重大的现实问题。面对围绕着主体性所产生的种种冲突,我们应该采取价值排序的态度和思维方式,贯彻这种思维方式和态度,主体性原则及其价值理念在当代中国的落实在价值排序中仍拥有着优先地位,简单宣告主体性原则及其价值理念的终结,实际上是在宣告一个根本没有完全存在过的对象的消失。     

“两型”社会建设中的农户土地转出意愿分析——以长沙大河西光导区为例

对长沙大河西4个典型土地流转示范村进行农户土地转出意愿问卷调查,建立Logistic回归模型,分析农户土地转出意愿及影响因素。在5％水平下。对土地转出意愿具有显著的影响因素有中介组织、就业类型、家庭总收入、土地流转合同和家庭总人口,而年龄、受教育程度和家庭参保人数等对农户土地转出意愿没有显著性影响。