Generalized run tests for statistical process control

ABSTRACT

In a sequence of elements, a run is defined as a maximal subsequence of like elements. The number of runs or the length of the longest run has been widely used to test the randomness of an ordered sequence. Based on two different sampling methods and two types of test statistics used, run tests can be classified into one of four cases. Numerous researchers have derived the probability distributions in many different ways, treating each case separately. In the paper, we propose a unified approach which is based on recurrence arguments of two mutually exclusive sub-sequences. We also consider the sequence of nominal data that has more than two classes. Thus, the traditional run tests for a binary sequence are special cases of our generalized run tests. We finally show that the generalized run tests can be applied to many quality management areas, such as testing changes in process variation, developing non-parametric multivariate control charts, and comparing the shapes and locations of more than two process distributions.     

关于我国教育改革中几个问题的思考

30年前恢复的高校入学考试制度对我国的人才培养而言功不可没，但同时也成为我国教育的“指挥棒”，左右着基础教育改革和发展的走向。高考的指挥棒作用导致义务教育属性异化，使提高全民素质的教育成为选拔教育。尽管素质教育的呼声不绝于耳，但“应试”仍是基础教育的灵魂，基础教育阶段的择校风也因此愈演愈烈。高等教育的大规模扩招有利于满足人民群众日益增长的对高等教育的需求，有利于满足社会经济发展对高层次人才的需求，但与此同时也出现了一些新问题，如高等教育迅速转向大众化引发了人才培养结构的失衡，高校毕业生人数的大幅度增加导致了就业形势越来越严峻等。我国基础教育和高等教育发展过程中出现的这些两难问题迫使我们应更加深入地去研究和思考我国教育的进一步改革问题。     

人类精神的隐喻和摹写——古代诗歌中“游子”意象的文化阐释

普遍存在于中国古代诗歌中的"游子"意象作为人类精神的一个凝结,既汇聚了生存个体的痛苦与欢乐、悲哀与追求,也凝结了社会群体的生活状态和精神本质.它所映照的人类精神流浪现象,所摹写的人类生存的精神实景,以及所透射的人类永远的诗意怀想,引领着我们走进古代先民的心灵世界,让我们在对人类共同精神的感受中进入审美境界.同时,它也再次呈现了文学意象把人类的思想和精神从偶然和短暂提升到永恒的共同特征.     

近年来我国总需求萎缩的体制背景分析

本文认为 ,近年来我国经济运行中出现的总需求萎缩现象有着深刻的制度背景。经济转轨过程中储蓄主体与投资主体的分离 ,储蓄—投资转化机制的堵塞与不畅 ,转轨过程中市场格局的转变 ,以及转轨过程中市场主体心理的变化 ,都是构成我国总需求萎缩的深层的体制根源。     

Negotiating Conflict through Music: The Case of the Tsonga Tingoma Ritual

Abstract

Tingoma is a three-day ritual conducted by Tsonga people to facilitate communication between the living and their Ancestor spirits, and to ensure that there is no disharmony between the beings in these two realms. Using a tingoma conducted for Eunice Maluleke as a case study, we argue that this ritual not only negotiates tension within an individual (body and spirit), and between an individual and his or her Ancestor spirits, but also functions as a site through which larger social and political tensions are addressed. Further, we propose that the structure of tingoma as it is practiced today inscribes and negotiates inter-ethnic tensions of the past. In the second part of this article we examine the ways in which tingoma has been affected by, and engages with, more recent power struggles and related identity politics, specifically those relating to the religious and political affiliations of people residing in South Africa's Limpopo province since the early 1980s.     

“Being Grounded”: Benefits of Gardening for Older Adults in Low-Income Housing

This study reports the findings of a qualitative evaluation of gardening programs for low-income minority older adults living in senior housing. A total of 20 individuals from three senior housing buildings participated in focus groups to discuss the benefits of and motivations for community gardening. The nine main themes of why seniors choose to participate in gardening were mental health benefits, the end product (fruits and vegetables), continuation of a past life, something to do/responsibility, beauty and connection to growth, connecting with others, physical health, learning something new, and helping each other out. These findings are placed in the context of theoretical perspectives and past studies. Implications for policy and relevance to senior housing are offered.     

Is “Walkability” A Useful Concept for Gerontology?

The study tested two hypotheses: that in a walkable neighborhood, residents will exercise more, eat healthier, and suffer from less obesity and that relation between environment and health outcomes will be stronger for the elderly. Health was measured by physical activity, the number of portions of fruits and vegetables eaten daily, and body mass index. Walkability was measured by three distinct environmental factors—distress, amenities, and residential. The three health outcomes were related to the three environmental factors. Age was not a significant predictor of health outcomes. Although the environment does contribute to health outcomes, the ways that contribution is expressed and its relation to age is complex.     

Community Aged Care Case Managers Transitioning to Consumer Directed Care: More Than Procedural Change Required

Abstract

Consumer directed care (CDC) is increasing in community aged care. However, limited information is available to successfully transition social workers and other case managers to their new role. This paper reports on a case study of six senior case managers who supervised staff in three Australian community-aged care agencies as they transitioned from agency directed care to consumer directed care. A change management framework was used to analyse the qualitative data collected in 12 semistructured interviews. A key finding is that changes in values, attitudes, and organisational culture are needed before staff can fully implement CDC principles of service user self-determination, empowerment, and choice. Process changes needed to assist staff transition to CDC are: using a change management strategy that maximises certainty; monitoring and responding to feelings of anxiety through ongoing consultations; and providing ongoing education and support in group sessions.     

Male Responsibility in Sexual Activity and Family Planning: Perspectives of a College Mental Health Professional

Abstract

Social movements of the previous two decades have forced a reevaluation of the traditional male role in sexual activity and family planning. Men are now expected to be active, responsible participants in decisions and actions concerning contraception, child care, pregnancy, partner satisfaction, and emotional bonding. While a number of rational “shoulds” have been advanced as guidelines for healthy, responsible male functioning, the actual behavior exercised is often a function of more irrational or conflicted motivations. The focus of this paper is an examination of motivations underlying maladaptive decisions by college males in the areas of sexual intercourse, contraception, and partner pleasure. The motivations involved in decisions to engage in sexual intercourse are classified and discussed along interpersonal and intrapersonal dimensions. The motivations involved in the use or nonuse of contraceptives are classified and discussed through use of Horney's interpersonal nomenclature. The motivations involved in the failure to give pleasure to one's partner are classified and discussed through use of sexual character types adapted by the author from Millon's personality typology. A societal influence on male lovemaking is also addressed. Concluding remarks address the difficulty of precisely defining male responsibility in sexual activity and family planning.