Linear scalar-on-surface random effects regression models

Many research fields increasingly involve analyzing data of a complex structure. Models investigating the dependence of a response on a predictor have moved beyond the ordinary scalar-on-vector regression. We propose a regression model for a scalar response and a surface (or a bivariate function) predictor. The predictor has a random component and the regression model falls in the framework of linear random effects models. We estimate the model parameters via maximizing the log-likelihood with the ECME (Expectation/Conditional Maximization Either) algorithm. We use the approach to analyze a data set where the response is the neuroticism score and the predictor is the resting-state brain function image. In the simulations we tried, the approach has better performance than two other approaches, a functional principal component regression approach and a smooth scalar-on-image regression approach.     

Empirical evaluation of the implementation of the EMA guideline on missing data in confirmatory clinical trials: Specification of mixed models for longitudinal data in study protocols

In confirmatory clinical trials, the prespecification of the primary analysis model is a universally accepted scientific principle to allow strict control of the type I error. Consequently, both the ICH E9 guideline and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) guideline on missing data in confirmatory clinical trials require that the primary analysis model is defined unambiguously. This requirement applies to mixed models for longitudinal data handling missing data implicitly. To evaluate the compliance with the EMA guideline, we evaluated the model specifications in those clinical study protocols from development phases II and III submitted between 2015 and 2018 to the Ethics Committee at Hannover Medical School under the German Medicinal Products Act, which planned to use a mixed model for longitudinal data in the confirmatory testing strategy. Overall, 39 trials from different types of sponsors and a wide range of therapeutic areas were evaluated. While nearly all protocols specify the fixed and random effects of the analysis model (95%), only 77% give the structure of the covariance matrix used for modeling the repeated measurements. Moreover, the testing method (36%), the estimation method (28%), the computation method (3%), and the fallback strategy (18%) are given by less than half the study protocols. Subgroup analyses indicate that these findings are universal and not specific to clinical trial phases or size of company. Altogether, our results show that guideline compliance is to various degrees poor and consequently, strict type I error rate control at the intended level is not guaranteed.     

Population aging and long-term care policies in the Gulf region: a case study of Oman

Population aging is a phenomenon occurring across the globe including in countries traditionally exhibiting population dividends and “youth bulges.” The Gulf Corporation Council countries are no exception as they currently experience a process of population aging, albeit at a different stage from many developed countries. However, due to historically high fertility rates and fast-paced epidemiological transition, some of these countries will experience population aging at a higher pace than what has been observed in Europe and the United States. This article reviews recent developments in long-term care policies in the Gulf region with a focus on Oman as an example of a high-income Arab country that is experiencing population aging while still being governed by traditional family aged-care norms. Utilizing existing data and published research complemented by policy analysis and field visits, we analyze the process of population aging in Oman and neighboring countries and its policy implications.     

Social policies and solidarity during the Greek Crisis

This article provides a succinct overview of the phenomenon of solidarization in crisis‐ridden Greece. Brief accounts of the pre‐ and post‐crisis situation in four core social policy areas (health, employment, housing, education) are combined with the presentation of four illustrative case studies, one for each of the aforementioned areas. Drawing on a broad range of primary and secondary data, including 20 in‐depth interviews with key stakeholders and end‐users of the actions examined, we argue that while the crisis provoked a further “residualization” of the institutionalized solidarity system, it also triggered the development of new solidarity ventures, both by state and non‐state actors, often even including partnerships between them. These ventures reflect the building of a bridge between institutionalized and informal solidarity in Greece and the shift towards a new type of mixed, although fragmented, mode of solidarity.     

我国亲告罪追诉模式之困境及其重构——以网络诽谤案件的证据收集问题为切入点

网络诽谤犯罪属于《刑法》规定的亲告罪类型,此类案件中被害人的证据收集能力受到较大制约,导致其面临“自诉困境”。对此问题,不论是亲告罪的选择性公诉化,还是公权力适当介入证据收集过程的处理路径均存在不足。《刑法修正案(九)》针对网络侮辱、诽谤犯罪的证据收集问题作出新规定,但是无法扩张适用于所有亲告罪类型。亲告罪的自诉困境凸显出我国对亲告罪确立的单纯自诉制追诉模式存在显著缺陷：不利于对被害人的平等保护,以及混淆告诉权和举证责任。重构亲告罪追诉模式的前提是对刑事法中的“告诉”进行重新解释,使其本质回归为诉讼条件,与证明责任“解绑”。在模式选择上,应确立混合告诉制的追诉模式,被害人提起告诉后,可以自主选择适用自诉程序还是公诉程序。     

从分税制到项目制:制度演进和组织机制

分税制改革以后,中国随之进行了公共预算体制改革,由此形成了一种新的国家治理体制——项目制。地方政府的项目支出主要有三种类型：上级专项转移支付、上级非补助性项目支出和本级项目支出。三类项目支出在地方得以汇聚和重组,在很大程度上形塑了基层政府的财政结构。项目制本质上不是对科层制的一种摆脱或超越,而是国家主动对政府科层体系的一次完善和补充,是近代国家政权建设在新时期的延续与拓展。项目制的直接目的是“硬化”预算约束,深层目的是增强政府的回应能力,二者在实践中呈现一定张力,政府治理的理性化和技术化并不必然增强其对公共需求的回应能力,甚至可能形成反向效应。     

论美国的会计概念框架与我国的基本会计准则

会计准则和概念框架同属于经济中的制度安排。会计准则起因于财务报告的编报者与其使用者之间的信息不对称。建立会计概念框架的主要用途是为国际会计准则理事会和财务会计委员会评估和发展会计准则提供指南。美国会计概念框架是当前世界上最全面、最细致的会计概念框架。IASB和FASB联合制定的会计概念框架项目,在财务报告的目标和信息质量特征的发布方面初步达成一致意见。他们还讨论了要素,如资产、负债的定义和报告主体概念,而这些均未有结论。对比国际会计的概念框架,我国基本会计准则既有趋同性,也有创新性。     

欧美商业银行金融信息化发展对我国的启示

金融信息化是随着西方金融发展趋势递进的,同时又是在金融业和信息技术相互作用中不断发展的.目前跨国经营和混业经营成为发达国家金融业的主流模式,信息化已成为影响现代金融发展的核心要素,成为欧美金融业发展和创新的重要驱动力.本文介绍了欧美银行业信息化发展的趋势,通过对比我国金融信息化的现状,提出我国要借鉴发达国家银行业信息化的经验,同时结合自身优点及特点,提升我国银行业信息化水平.     

电视娱乐节目低俗化成因与博弈效应

我国电视娱乐节目中的低俗化现象引起了全社会的广泛关注。以电视娱乐节目的历时性发展为个案,分析说明国家、市场、社会等力量在电视娱乐节目的各发展阶段中是如何先后入场,这些力量又是如何演变和相互抗衡,并不断推进电视娱乐节目中的低俗现象发展,形成当今低俗化这一社会问题的。     

民族共生理论:散杂居民族关系及目标范示研究

本文以生物学中的共生理论为参照,基于生物共生理论的理念范畴和分析方法,结合生物共生理论在其他领域的研究成果,重点考察了我国散杂居民族的共生关系,并提供了民族共生目标范式以及实现途径.