On Block Skip Free Transition Matrices and First Passage Times

Starting from an abstract setting which extends the property “skip free to the left” for transition matrices to a partition of the state space, we develop bounds for the mean hitting time of a Markov chain to an arbitrary subset from an arbitrary initial law. We apply our theory to the embedded Markov chains associated with the M/G/1 and the GI/M/1 queueing systems. We also illustrate its applicability with an asymptotic analysis of a non-reversible Markovian star queueing network with losses.     

清初河工腐败问题研究

清初河工腐败问题已经存在,给物料采办、夫役管理、工程建设等造成了很大的危害。腐败问题的出现与清朝制度设计的缺陷、皇帝对腐败问题的宽纵、社会风气的变化、社会经济的发展有着密切的关系。尽管统治者采取了一些措施如严惩贪官、严密立法来进行治理,但并未取得明显成效。     

20世纪以来日本学者中国古典诗学研究的特征

20世纪以来,日本学者对中国古典诗学的研究在总体上呈现出五大特征:一是在研究分布上南重北轻;二是在研究方向上呈现出专而精;三是在研究内容上重点突出及以考论见长;四是在研究时段上三阶段稳步发展;五是在研究方法上重视文本细读与分析。日本学者中国古典诗学研究的内容、方法与特点,对我国古典诗学研究界具有重要的参照与借鉴意义。     

文明与危机：20世纪的双重遗赠

20世纪堪称人类有史以来变化最大的世纪。人类具有理性和非理性的双重本性，在20世纪的遗产中，有文明也有危机，有经验更有教训。因此，如何承继文明及扭转危机就成为21世纪人类面临的共同课题。个人的生命是脆弱的，但整个人类是坚强的。如果人类能够认识并克服自身的弱点，21世纪必将充满生机与活力。     

19世纪末20世纪初中国商人阶层的崛起

在漫长的中国封建社会中,商业被"贬之日末务",商人也位于"四民"之末,士农工商的地位归序似乎成了中国封建社会亘古不变的模式.然而到了19世纪末20世纪初,随着民族危机日益加深,"商战"呼之欲出,商人团体相继成立,商会诞生,商人政治意识提高并且对政治广泛参与,使商人的社会地位发生了根本性的变化.商人阶层坚持不懈地努力终于迎来了清政府自上而下的重商措施的出台.清延设立商部以指导商人组织,制定商律以规范商人行动,颁行一系列工商的法规以奖商恤商,一系列新经济政策的实施使社会舆论开始从抑商转为誉商,商人在社会上广受赞扬,官员也开始纷纷投资经商.所有这些,促进了中国新的绅商阶层的形成,并进而带动了整个商人阶层随之崛起.     

透过《米德尔马契》看19世纪英国的女性伦理观

乔治·艾略特是19世纪的英国著名的女作家,她不仅集哲学思辨与艺术鉴赏力于一身,且对女性问题颇为关注,她塑造的很多女性形象,都极富代表性,透露出强烈的女性观念。其中最具代表性的当属《米德尔马契》,透过《米德尔马契》来解读乔治.艾略所持的英国19世纪的女性观。     

地域学视野中的当代中国诗歌

每个诗人的心灵深处都会深烙上较为鲜明的地理学印迹,那种特定的地域意识和地域特性也将在他们的诗行之间不时悄然地流溢出来。这种诗学特征在当代许多诗人的诗歌中都可以找到验证。论文以潘维、陈先发、雷平阳为例,揭示他们的诗歌分别与"江南"、"桐城"和"云南"等地域的精神联系,以期从新的视角上对新世纪诗歌进行阐发。     

面向新世纪素质教育中学英语教师的培养

心理素质、自学能力、计算机辅助教材的应用、教学实习和课堂教学评鉴,这些方面在教师培养过程中应得到重视。     

Nonparametric estimation of the shape function in a Gamma process for degradation data

The author considers estimation under a Gamma process model for degradation data. The setting for degradation data is one in which n independent units, each with a Gamma process with a common shape function and scale parameter, are observed at several possibly different times. Covariates can be incorporated into the model by taking the scale parameter as a function of the covariates. The author proposes using the maximum pseudo‐likelihood method to estimate the unknown parameters. The method requires usage of the Pool Adjacent Violators Algorithm. Asymptotic properties, including consistency, convergence rate and asymptotic distribution, are established. Simulation studies are conducted to validate the method and its application is illustrated by using bridge beams data and carbon‐film resistors data. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 37: 102‐118; 2009 © 2009 Statistical Society of Canada     

Normal approximation to the hypergeometric distribution in nonstandard cases and a sub-Gaussian Berry–Esseen theorem

In this paper, we consider simple random sampling without replacement from a dichotomous finite population. We investigate accuracy of the Normal approximation to the Hypergeometric probabilities for a wide range of parameter values, including the nonstandard cases where the sampling fraction tends to one and where the proportion of the objects of interest in the population tends to the boundary values, zero and one. We establish a non-uniform Berry–Esseen theorem for the Hypergeometric distribution which shows that in the nonstandard cases, the rate of Normal approximation to the Hypergeometric distribution can be considerably slower than the rate of Normal approximation to the Binomial distribution. We also report results from a moderately large numerical study and provide some guidelines for using the Normal approximation to the Hypergeometric distribution in finite samples.