Self‐consistent estimation of mean response functions and their derivatives

Many methods have been developed for the nonparametric estimation of a mean response function, but most of these methods do not lend themselves to simultaneous estimation of the mean response function and its derivatives. Recovering derivatives is important for analyzing human growth data, studying physical systems described by differential equations, and characterizing nanoparticles from scattering data. In this article the authors propose a new compound estimator that synthesizes information from numerous pointwise estimators indexed by a discrete set. Unlike spline and kernel smooths, the compound estimator is infinitely differentiable; unlike local regression smooths, the compound estimator is self‐consistent in that its derivatives estimate the derivatives of the mean response function. The authors show that the compound estimator and its derivatives can attain essentially optimal convergence rates in consistency. The authors also provide a filtration and extrapolation enhancement for finite samples, and the authors assess the empirical performance of the compound estimator and its derivatives via a simulation study and an application to real data. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 39: 280–299; 2011 © 2011 Statistical Society of Canada     

A SEMIPARAMETRIC MODEL FOR A FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSE TO CAPTURE IN CAPTURE–RECAPTURE EXPERIMENTS

Capture–recapture experiments are commonly used to estimate the size of a closed population. However, the associated estimators of the population size are well known to be highly sensitive to misspecification of the capture probabilities. To address this, we present a general semiparametric framework for the analysis of capture–recapture experiments when the capture probability depends on individual characteristics, time effects and behavioural response. This generalizes well‐known general parametric capture–recapture models and extends previous semiparametric models in which there is no time dependence or behavioural response. The method is evaluated in simulations and applied to two real data sets.     

Modelling the Telecommunication Pricing Decision

The local telecommunication pricing decision on residential, business, and private lines is modeled. This study demonstrates that when regulators use a weighted sum linear goal programming model to determine prices, adjustments can be made to Ramsey prices that reflect the regulators’ concerns about the trade-off of fairness with efficiency. An actual example shows that when regulators’ preferences were taken into account, residential prices were 14 percent lower than efficient optimal Ramsey prices.     

Sensitivity Analysis Revisted and Extended

The tolerance approach to sensitivity analysis in linear programming provides a framework for dealing with simultaneous and independent variations of the coefficients and terms. Specifically, the approach yields a maximum tolerance percentage which in turn characterizes a region of variability for the coefficients or terms. This paper shows how to expand this region of variability yielding ordinary sensitivity analysis as a special case of the tolerance approach.     

INDUSTRY STUDIES AND AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL PERFORMANCE

A nationwide research program on the performance of American industry, sponsored by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, now involves scores of faculty researchers and more than 100 graduate students at several American universities. Ten research centers have been established, and each one is dedicated to the study of a particular industry. An eleventh center is carrying out research on problems that cut across these industries. It is expected that the Sloan Industry Studies program will make useful contributions to the performance of the industries themselves, to policymaking at all levels of government, and to the development of interdisciplinary research communities within the universities.     

Configurations of informal social support among older lesbians

Limited research has been conducted on the needs and concerns of older lesbians in the American population. The purpose of this paper is to present findings from a qualitative study of older (aged 55 and older) lesbians' experiences of and perspectives on aging, with a focus on their discussions of social support. Through an in-depth qualitative study with 25 older lesbians, we found that aging lesbians may be less likely to access formal social services due to perceptions of bias within the services and a potential lack of connection with those who do use services. However, participants were creative at formulating informal networks of support. Four heuristic categories (empowered, secure, independent, and precarious) of informal social support were developed to characterize the various ways in which participants configured their support systems. Social support within each category was conceptualized both in terms of intentionality and degree of connectedness. Being partnered did not necessarily equate with a strong sense of social support. Further research needs to be conducted on older lesbians in order to better characterize and respond to their needs as they age.     

Children's disaster knowledge,risk perceptions,and preparedness: A cross-country comparison in Nepal and Turkey

While children are one of the groups at risk in disasters, they can also take an active part in disaster management, provided that the opportunity is given. This research examined the effect of disaster experience, disaster education, country, and city socioeconomic status on children's perceived risk and preparedness with a survey of 1335 children between 11 and 14 years old, in Nepal and Turkey. The survey used questionnaires and the pictorial representation of illness and self measure (PRISM) tool. Results showed that (1) children's risk perceptions were in line with their country-specific objective risks; (2) there were differences between the countries in relation to perception of risk for all the hazards except wildfire; (3) socioeconomic status had a statistically significant effect on children's perceptions of risk and preparedness for earthquakes, wildfires, that is, children who live in wealthier places had higher perceived risk and preparedness; (4) children in both countries showed similar trends in their knowledge of the correct protective actions to take in the event of a hazard occurrence. However, there is still room to enhance children's knowledge, in terms of safety behaviors, as the children selected many incorrect protective actions. There are important implications in terms of child-centered disaster management which hopefully will make life safer and help to create more resilience to disaster in society as a whole.