Empirical Bayes estimates for correlated hierarchical data with overdispersion

An extension of the generalized linear mixed model was constructed to simultaneously accommodate overdispersion and hierarchies present in longitudinal or clustered data. This so‐called combined model includes conjugate random effects at observation level for overdispersion and normal random effects at subject level to handle correlation, respectively. A variety of data types can be handled in this way, using different members of the exponential family. Both maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimation for covariate effects and variance components were proposed. The focus of this paper is the development of an estimation procedure for the two sets of random effects. These are necessary when making predictions for future responses or their associated probabilities. Such (empirical) Bayes estimates will also be helpful in model diagnosis, both when checking the fit of the model as well as when investigating outlying observations. The proposed procedure is applied to three datasets of different outcome types. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Performance of goodness-of-fit tests for the Cox proportional hazards model with time-varying covariates

There are few readily-implemented tests for goodness-of-fit for the Cox proportional hazards model with time-varying covariates. Through simulations, we assess the power of tests by Cox (J R Stat Soc B (Methodol) 34(2):187–220, 1972), Grambsch and Therneau (Biometrika 81(3):515–526, 1994), and Lin et al. (Biometrics 62:803–812, 2006). Results show that power is highly variable depending on the time to violation of proportional hazards, the magnitude of the change in hazard ratio, and the direction of the change. Because these characteristics are unknown outside of simulation studies, none of the tests examined is expected to have high power in real applications. While all of these tests are theoretically interesting, they appear to be of limited practical value.     

Understanding the concept of food sovereignty using the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP)

This article deepens the understanding of the emerging food sovereignty concept using a case study of a home-grown school feeding programme that promotes local food demand – supply linkages. A school feeding programme in four selected districts in Ghana is analysed with respect to community involvement in programme implementation and management as well as its socio-economic impacts. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches was used in data collection and analysis. Results showed a significant improvement in household food access and months of adequate household food provisioning, which were used as measurement proxies for food sovereignty, as a result of access to local market created by the Ghana School Feeding Programme. However, the study recommends more empirical evidence from research to support the claim that using locally produced food for school feeding actually reduces poverty and malnutrition in rural farming communities.     

微妙地使用权力

要想实现一个人的目标，至关重要的一点就是要学会有效地利用自己手中的权力。在完成了与苏联的裁减核武器条约谈判，并主持过Bechtel公司的工作之后，乔治·舒尔茨开始真正彻底地理解了权力的内涵。他的建议是：“不要害怕权力，但一定要学会对它负责。”     

Pure hyperbolic discount curves predict “eyes open” self-control

The models of internal self-control that have recently been proposed by behavioral economists do not depict motivational interaction that occurs while temptation is present. Those models that include willpower at all either envision a faculty with a motivation (??strength??) different from the motives that are weighed in the marketplace of choice, or rely on incompatible goals among diverse brain centers. Both assumptions are questionable, but these models?? biggest problem is that they do not let resolutions withstand re-examination while being challenged by impulsive alternatives. The economists?? models all attempt to make a single equilibrium preference predictable from a person??s prior incentives. This was the original purpose of these models?? hyperboloid (???¨C????) delay discount functions, which have been widely justified by the assumption that a person??s intertemporal inconsistency (impulsiveness) can be accounted for by the arousal of appetite for visceral rewards. Although arousal is clearly a factor in some cases of intertemporal inconsistency, it cannot be blamed for others, and furthermore does not necessarily imply hyperboloid discounting. The inadequacy of ?¨C?? functions is particularly evident in models of internal self-control. I have reviewed several of these models, and have argued for a return to pure hyperbolic discount function as originally proposed, the relatively high tails of which can motivate a recursive process of self-prediction and thereby the formation of self-enforcing intertemporal contracts. Such a process does not require a separately motivated faculty of will, or incompatible goals among brain centers; but it also does not permit the prediction of unique preferences from prior incentives.     

Six Step Therapeutic Process to Facilitate Forgiveness of Self and Others

This theoretical article postulates a six step therapeutic process to facilitate forgiveness of self and others. The purpose of this article is to provide therapists with the therapeutic process that can be used to assist clients who are working through forgiveness and self-forgiveness. The combination of several therapeutic methods in a specific order might be effective in assisting clients to work through the forgiveness process in a systematic way. A case example that chronicles a client’s experience while working through forgiveness is provided. Lastly, a discussion of implications for practice and further research questions are presented.     

Music education in remote aboriginal communities

These papers deal with some of the complex cultural and pedagogical issues involved in the delivery of a secondary-school music education program to remote Aboriginal communities. The papers outline the history of the program, the challenges in its delivery and some of the prospects for its future.