A plant-capture approach for achieving complete coverage of a population

Sightings of, any member of a target population of unknown size occur according to a homogeneous Poisson process. The Poisson processes are independent and have a common rate. Individuals are tagged when first sighted. The population is augmented by the insertion of known number of planted individuals who have already been tagged and whose behaviour is identical to that of the other members. Consideration is given to two stopping rules for determining, within a specified error probability, when all members of the target population have been seen. A comparison is made of the average time to termination under these two rules. It is shown that, when the target population is small, the use of plants can provide a useful reduction in the average time taken to achieve complete coverage within the specified error probability.     

Modified repeated median filters

We discuss moving window techniques for fast extraction of a signal composed of monotonic trends and abrupt shifts from a noisy time series with irrelevant spikes. Running medians remove spikes and preserve shifts, but they deteriorate in trend periods. Modified trimmed mean filters use a robust scale estimate such as the median absolute deviation about the median (MAD) to select an adaptive amount of trimming. Application of robust regression, particularly of the repeated median, has been suggested for improving upon the median in trend periods. We combine these ideas and construct modified filters based on the repeated median offering better shift preservation. All these filters are compared w.r.t. fundamental analytical properties and in basic data situations. An algorithm for the update of the MAD running in time O(log n) for window width n is presented as well.     

Second order asymptotic and non-asymptotic optimality properties of combined tests

Let p independent test statistics be available to test a null hypothesis concerned with the same parameter. The p are assumed to be similar tests. Asymptotic and non-asymptotic optimality properties of combined tests are studied. The asymptotic study centers around two notions. The first is Bahadur efficiency. The second is based on a notion of second order comparisons. The non-asymptotic study is concerned with admissibility questions. Most of the popular combining methods are considered along with a method not studied in the past. Among the results are the following: Assume each of the p statistics has the same Bahadur slope. Then the combined test based on the sum of normal transforms, is asymptotically best among all tests studied, by virtue of second order considerations. Most of the popular combined tests are inadmissible for testing the noncentrality parameter of chi-square, t, and F distributions. For chi-square a combined test is offered which is admissible, asymptotically optimal (first order), asymptotically optimal (second order) among all tests studied, and for which critical values are obtainable in special cases. Extensions of the basic model are given.     

自我的凝视:白居易的写真诗与对镜诗

文章探讨的是作者书写"看见自我"的视觉经验及其反思。在唐代诗人中,题咏自己的肖像画、书写揽镜自照心情者,以白居易(772～846)的作品最多,至少有十五首。文章即以白居易观看自己的肖像画以及照镜题材的诗作为例,分析诗人从凝视自我的视觉体验中感知的自我意识。诗人透过画像再现或镜面反射,得知三重层次的"自我形象"——真实自我的幻影、他人眼中的"我"以及理想之"我"的期许。     

Behavioral quality assurance: a transforming experience

The captains of the health care industry are leading a transformation in health care. Increasing numbers of physician executives are acquiring the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential to both the science and the art of management. If they wish to practice the art of management at a high professional level, however, physician executives must be willing to experiment with their behavior in interactions. Change and growth in this aspect of human nature will also bring them face-to-face with their self-images. More important, attention throughout an organization to behavior toward one another will have a significant bearing on the quality of the organization's services to clients.     

Tracing developmental trends in Ira Gordon's programs for children and families

Ira Gordon's work in the area of child and family services is traced for six of his programs according to two main trends: (1) perceptions of families through the years and the changing roles of parents in the education of their children; and (2) curriculum changes in activities brought into homes. Gordon's programs, some being initiated as early as 1966, focused upon parents, infants, toddlers, and school-age children and utilized home visitations as a major intervention strategy. Evidence of successes reported for these programs has shown the impact of early intervention upon children as well as their families, school, and community.