Engaging children and youth in research and evaluation using group concept mapping

Group concept mapping is a systematic methodology that recognizes participants’ expertise in their own experiences. In this approach, participants share their diverse knowledge and interpret the data generated by all group members. This approach uniquely blends quantitative and qualitative techniques to create illustrative, structured conceptualizations. In this article, we describe the steps in group concept mapping and report feedback on this method from 37 children and youth who participated in group concept mapping studies. We recommend group concept mapping as an engaging way to involve children and youth in research and evaluation activities.     

《泰王国民商法典》制定的历史背景

《泰王国民商法典》是在近代泰国法制改革的大背景下产生的，有着复杂的社会历史背景。曼谷王朝拉玛四世以前，泰国历经素可泰王朝、大城王朝和曼谷王朝的一部分，朝代更迭，历时漫长但在法制上却保持了相对稳定。1851年，曼谷王朝四世王拉玛四世（1851-1868）登基，拉开了泰国近代史的序幕。1852年1月，英国在第二次英缅战争之后，占领了缅甸，并觊觎泰国。1855年，英国派其驻香港的总督鲍林率使团到泰国与拉玛四世谈判，威逼泰国于1855年4月18日签订了《英暹条约》（史称《鲍林条约》）。这一个不平等条约彻底打开了泰国闭关自守的大门，欧洲列强以该条约为蓝本，威逼泰国签订了类似条约。泰国自此成为一个半殖民地国家，其法制也逐步西化，泰国的法制也这一时期完成了从古代法制向现代法制的转型。事实上，泰国法制现代化的过程，就是一个从理论到制度逐步西化的过程。《泰王国民商法典》就是在这样一个大的背景下产生的。     

中东剧变中的阿尔及利亚政局透视

2010年底以来,中东地区多国发生了政权更迭,阿尔及利亚一度爆发群众游行示威,但目前阿尔及利亚政局基本稳定,原因可归纳为以下四个方面:一是阿尔及利亚独立以来的长期动荡释放了民众的不满;二是布特弗利卡执政联盟仍具有较强的政治实力;三是国内的两个主要反对派因其各自的缺陷,难以获得大多数民众的支持;四是现政权与美国保持了较好的关系。然而,由于目前中东地区的局势尚在发展中,随着新因素的加入,阿尔及利亚的政局仍存在变数。     

试析黎锦熙先生拼音规划研究的主要理念

黎锦熙先生在研究拼音规划的过程中,灵活处理标准音和方音的关系,客观处理利用汉字和走向拼音的关系,务实处理音节传统拼写法和现代拼写法的关系,辩证处理普及和提高的关系。黎先生不避俗浅,务求实用,热心语文普及运动的学风对当今的语言文字研究很有借鉴意义。     

Model averaging for treatment effect estimation in subgroups

In many clinical trials, biological, pharmacological, or clinical information is used to define candidate subgroups of patients that might have a differential treatment effect. Once the trial results are available, interest will focus on subgroups with an increased treatment effect. Estimating a treatment effect for these groups, together with an adequate uncertainty statement is challenging, owing to the resulting “random high” / selection bias. In this paper, we will investigate Bayesian model averaging to address this problem. The general motivation for the use of model averaging is to realize that subgroup selection can be viewed as model selection, so that methods to deal with model selection uncertainty, such as model averaging, can be used also in this setting. Simulations are used to evaluate the performance of the proposed approach. We illustrate it on an example early‐phase clinical trial.     

Exporting stimulus and “shared prosperity”: Reinventing foreign aid for a retroliberal era

The global aid world has changed, partly in response to the reconfigurations of geopolitical power and to the global financial crisis (GFC). Paradoxically, in the face of recession in most northern economies, collectively foreign aid contributions have not fallen. However there has been a qualitative shift in its narrative and nature. This new regime—which we term retroliberalism—projects the concept of “shared prosperity,” but constitutes a return to explicit self‐interest designed to bolster private sector trade and investment. Drawing evidence from New Zealand and the United Kingdom, we argue that aid programmes are increasingly functioning as “exported stimulus” packages.     

幸福学视角下构建幸福家庭的实践研究

幸福家庭是家庭发展的高级阶段，是家庭成员一生的共同追求。本文立足于幸福学理论，探讨发展性、多元化的家庭幸福观，并从转变幸福观念、引导家庭成员挖掘幸福资源、提升家庭成员的主观幸福感、寻找幸福家庭的支点、构建家庭共同体等核心环节入手，提出幸福家庭建设的具体对策,以提高家庭成员的幸福感，改善家庭成员的内部矛盾，在一定程度上为建设幸福家庭这一影响经济发展和社会稳定的民生大计提供决策参考。     

Foodborne Exposure to Pesticides and Methylmercury in the United Arab Emirates

As part of a comprehensive environmental health strategic planning project initiated by the government of Abu Dhabi, we assessed potential dietary exposure in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to methylmercury (in seafood) and pesticides (in fruits and vegetables) above international guideline levels. We present results for the UAE population by age, gender, and body mass index. Our results show very low daily risks of exposure to pesticides in fruits and vegetables at levels exceeding WHO guidelines even under the conservative assumption that no pesticides are removed during washing and food preparation. Thus, exposure to pesticides on fruits and vegetables does not appear to be a major public health concern in the UAE. The chances of exposure to methylmercury in seafood are much higher; our model estimates a mean 1 in 5 daily risk of exceeding the FAO/WHO provisional tolerable weekly intake. However, great caution should be used in interpreting these results, as we analyzed only the risks and not the substantial benefits of fish consumption. In fact, previous studies have demonstrated that exposure to the n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish can increase IQ in developing children, and it can substantially decrease the risk in adults of coronary heart disease and stroke. Further research is warranted to compare the risk of Me‐Hg exposure from fish to the nutritional benefits of fish consumption in the UAE and to determine appropriate methods to communicate risk and benefit information to the UAE population.     

认知语言学的隐喻观对介词隐喻义的教学启示

在传统语言学中，隐喻被看作是一种修辞方式，但认知语言学家则认为隐喻不仅是一种修辞手段，而且还是一种重要的认知世界的思维方式。它还被看作是人们思维、行为和表达思想的一种系统的方式，即隐喻概念或概念隐喻。根据这一隐喻概念理论，分析一些空间介词所体现的隐喻概念及其存在的经验基础，可为英语介词隐喻义的教学提供一些方法。     

“重陆轻海”与“通洋裕国”之海洋观刍议

明清两朝正处于世界性海洋历史发展的"千古变局"时代,但统治者沿袭传统模式,在立国思想上"重农抑商"、"重陆轻海",在国防战略上以"禁海"代替海防,禁海迁界、"守土防御",反映其海洋观念的淡薄;而东南沿海地方官员,尤其郑成功"通洋裕国"思想的提出和实践,显露出"以商立国",向海洋空间发展的意涵;传统时代"重陆轻海"与"通洋裕国"所反映的海洋观念,对国家民族发展的影响在某种程度上可以忽略不计,但大航海时代,海洋作为人类的第二生存空间影响到世界历史走向和发展格局时,"重陆轻海"观念所带来的深层影响会因此而改变国家和民族的命运。