Analysis of Latin American Fertility in Terms of Probable Social Classes

Theories of demographic change have not paid enough attention to how factors associated with fertility decline play different roles across social classes that are defined multidimensionally. I use a multidimensional definition of social class along with information on the reproductive histories of women born between 1920 and 1965 in six Latin American countries to show the following: the enduring connection between social stratification and fertility differentials, the concomitance of diverse fertility decline trajectories by class, and the role of within- and between-class social distances in promoting/preventing ideational change towards the acceptance of lower fertility. These results enable me to revisit the scope of theories of fertility change and to provide an explanatory narrative centred on empirically constructed social classes (probable social classes) and the macro- and micro-level conditions that influenced their life courses. I use 21 census samples collected between 1970 and 2005 in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Paraguay.     

The run length distributions of the R,s and s2 control charts when is estimated

R, s and s2 charts with estimated control limits are widely used in practice. Common practice in control-chart theory is to estimate the control limits using data from the process and, once the process is determined to be in control, to treat the resulting control limits as though fixed. While there are empirical rules for setting up the control charts using past or trial data, little is known about the run length distributions of these charts when the fact that control limits are estimated is taken into account. In this paper, we derive and evaluate the run length distributions associated with the R, s and s2 charts when the process standard deviation a is estimated. The results are then used to discuss the appropriateness of the widely followed empirical rules for choosing the number m of samples and the sample size n.     

规划调整决策任务分解、认知限制与决策支持

规划调整决策问题(PCDPs-Program and Control Decision Problems)都比较宏观综合,涉及面广且结构性差,决策支持需求不易确定。本论文将通过决策任务分解说明决策认知过程,并在知识分类的基础上论述完成决策任务中的认知限制,进而从扩展决策者的认知能力出发给出了决策支持基本功能设计和开发规划调整决策支持系统(PCDSS)的三层结构。     

Economic Production Lot Sizing with Periodic Costs and Overtime*

Traditional approaches for modeling economic production lot‐sizing problems assume that a single, fixed equipment setup cost is incurred each time a product is run, regardless of the quantity manufactured. This permits multiple days of production from one production setup. In this paper, we extend the model to consider additional fixed charges, such as cleanup or inspection costs, that are associated with each time period's production. This manufacturing cost structure is common in the food, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries, where process equipment must be sanitized between item changeovers and at the end of each day's production. We propose two mathematical problem formulations and optimization algorithms. The models' unique features include regular time production constraints, a fixed charge for each time period's production, and the availability of overtime production capacity. Experimental results indicate the conditions under which our algorithms' performance is superior to traditional approaches. We also test the procedures on a set of lot‐sizing problems facing a national food processor and document their potential economic benefit.     

根治当代灾疫的社会学思考（上）

当代灾疫,是一个世界性难题,需要进行全球生态化的社会学重建。这一重建工作的首要任务是重建灾疫防治的伦理认知体系：首先引导社会重新认识人性和再造人性,为重建当代灾疫防治伦理认知体系奠定基石。在此基础上,一是构建以生命中心论、整体生态观和生态逻辑优先观为基本内容的灾疫防治伦理认知论;二是创建灾疫防治伦理方法论,主要包括灾疫...     

大股东控制下的股权再融资决策

不对称信息条件下,股权再融资的选择方式和认购量能作为信号向外部投资者表明公司的质量.本文发现:公开增发发行成本较高且大股东持股比例较小时,存在唯一的分离均衡,此时高质量公司定向增发,低质量公司配股;当公开增发成本较高且大股东持股比例较大时,定向增发是唯一的混同均衡;当公开增发成本较低且大股东持股比例较小时,公开增发是唯一的混同均衡.模型预测定向增发的公告效应为正,配股的公告效应为负,而公开增发的公告效应不明确,这与大量实证文献相吻合.     

深圳流动育龄妇女生育子女数的影响因素分析

本文利用“深圳市龙岗区流动人口计划生育管理与服务状况”调查数据,设计了4个模型,分别从不同角度对生育子女数、初婚初育、初婚二孩生育和初婚三孩生育的影响因素进行了多因素分析。研究结果表明,早婚和多育之间有正相关关系,它和生育意愿有一定的关联。生育意愿对生育行为的影响是非线性的,它对三孩生育的影响最强。经济收入水平对生育行为的影响很复杂,收入水平提高产生的短期效果可能是促进生育率增长。     

Integration Between Business Planning and Information Systems Planning: Validating a Stage Hypothesis

This paper proposes and empirically validates a stages of growth model for the evolution of Information Systems Planning (ISP). A questionnaire survey of senior IS executives is used to gather information pertaining to the stages of growth model, which includes measurement of the nature and level of integration between business planning (BP) and ISP. The del test is used to validate empirically benchmark variables for each stage of BP-ISP integration. The results support the stages of growth model of BP-ISP integration and the benchmark variables are generally found to be successful in predicting the stage of integration.     

The United Kingdom and the Netherlands maternity care responses to COVID-19: A comparative study

BackgroundThe national health care response to coronavirus (COVID-19) has varied between countries. The United Kingdom (UK) and the Netherlands (NL) have comparable maternity and neonatal care systems, and experienced similar numbers of COVID-19 infections, but had different organisational responses to the pandemic. Understanding why and how similarities and differences occurred in these two contexts could inform optimal care in normal circumstances, and during future crises.AimTo compare the UK and Dutch COVID-19 maternity and neonatal care responses in three key domains: choice of birthplace, companionship, and families in vulnerable situations.MethodA multi-method study, including documentary analysis of national organisation policy and guidance on COVID-19, and interviews with national and regional stakeholders.FindingsBoth countries had an infection control focus, with less emphasis on the impact of restrictions, especially for families in vulnerable situations. Differences included care providers’ fear of contracting COVID-19; the extent to which community- and personalised care was embedded in the care system before the pandemic; and how far multidisciplinary collaboration and service-user involvement were prioritised.ConclusionWe recommend that countries should 1) make a systematic plan for crisis decision-making before a serious event occurs, and that this must include authentic service-user involvement, multidisciplinary collaboration, and protection of staff wellbeing 2) integrate women’s and families’ values into the maternity and neonatal care system, ensuring equitable inclusion of the most vulnerable and 3) strengthen community provision to ensure system wide resilience to future shocks from pandemics, or other unexpected large-scale events.