Problematizing the Experts: The One-Dimensional Engineering Understanding of the Users and its Contextual Frameworks

What is engineers’ conception of their users and the public? And what makes it so difficult to be changed? Studies in public understanding and participation of science and technology have depicted the pre-commitment of criticism against the deficit model in scientists’ conception of the public and enriched our understanding of the public’s knowledgeability of science and technology. Literature of technoscientific practices also explores the framing of users in technoscientific practices. Following the insights and adopting the concept of framing, this paper examines engineering researchers’ knowledgeability by illustrating their understanding of the users when they are developing new devices and by showing the contextual practices that frames their vision. This paper tackles the issue by examining the fieldwork in an university engineering research team in Taiwan. It is argued that engineering researchers have their own sociology concerned with the technical aspect of their users and society. This paper proposes an analytical framework; the engineering vision and agenda emerges and being practiced in the conjuncture of frames of publication-oriented regulation, delivery-assured practical work, and diversity reduction team networking to situate the engineering vision. The notion of frame also highlights the dynamic, relational, and conjunctive constitution of the experts’ knowledgeability. It is suggested that with more understanding of the interlocking mechanism of these frames, then we can alleviate the one-dimensional engineering vision and only then is the ambition of interdisciplinary collaboration possible in Taiwan.     

Design considerations for small experiments and simple logistic regression

Inference for a generalized linear model is generally performed using asymptotic approximations for the bias and the covariance matrix of the parameter estimators. For small experiments, these approximations can be poor and result in estimators with considerable bias. We investigate the properties of designs for small experiments when the response is described by a simple logistic regression model and parameter estimators are to be obtained by the maximum penalized likelihood method of Firth [Firth, D., 1993, Bias reduction of maximum likelihood estimates. Biometrika, 80, 27–38]. Although this method achieves a reduction in bias, we illustrate that the remaining bias may be substantial for small experiments, and propose minimization of the integrated mean square error, based on Firth's estimates, as a suitable criterion for design selection. This approach is used to find locally optimal designs for two support points.     

Minimum Risk Invariant Estimators of a Continuous Cumulative Distribution Function

The problem of nonparametric minimum risk invariant estimation has engaged a good deal of attention in the literature and minimum risk invariant estimators (MRIE's) have been constructed for some special statistical models. We present a new and simple method of obtaining the MRIE's of a continuous cumulative distribution function (cdf) under a general invariant loss function. All the MRIE's, which are known from the literature, can be constructed by the method presented in the article, in particular, under the weighted quadratic, LINEX and entropy loss functions. This method enables also to construct the MRIE's in nonparametric statistical models which have not been considered until now. In particular, considering a family of nonparametric precautionary loss functions, a new class of MRIE's of the cdf has been found. We also give some general remarks on obtaining the MRIE's and a review concerning minimaxity and admissibility of MRIE's.     

孙子复杂适应系统理论及其对企业竞争战略的启示

孙子兵法是围绕战争问题的复杂适应系统理论。其根源在于战争本身的对抗性、不确定性及中国传统思维方式的整体性、系统性和辩证性。在对接、融合孙子兵法与现代复杂适应系统理论的基础上,以孙子的知胜思想、治胜思想、致胜思想、全胜思想为主线,论述了孙子兵法对动态复杂环境下企业竞争战略的指导价值,借以推动孙子兵法在商业领域的创新应用。     

“李约瑟问题”的中西文化比较解读及其启示

"李约瑟问题"是一个引起国内外众多人士关注的"问题丛",从中西文化比较视角能够作出更清晰地解读。在文化定位上,西方为自然哲学,中国为道德哲学;在文化取向上,西方属爱智,中国属致用;在文化精神上,西方倡批判怀疑,中国倡中庸;在文化传统上,西方学者传统、工匠传统、数学传统与宗教传统等蕴育了近代科学而中国诸传统与其迥然不同。由此,中国文化建设应注重研究基础理论、培养怀疑批判精神与培育科学文化等。     

巧用方志 妙解悬疑

目前学界对方志的利用还不充分。本文利用方志,成功地解决了宋代地方武学及武学博士的一些问题,并补充了《全宋文》漏收的一篇文章,展示了方志对解决学术疑难问题的价值。     

Web 2.0, Library 2.0, and the Hyperlinked Library

Abstract

Discussions surrounding the concepts of Web 2.0/Library 2.0 are increasing among the library community. This column outlines key principles behind Web 2.0 and provides a brief explanation of social tools, such as blogs, RSS feeds, podcasting, and wikis. The author also provides specific uses and applications of these tools within the library environment to illustrate the Library 2.0 concept. An open framework for library communication or hyperlinked library can result if Library 2.0 philosophies are fully utilized.     

Mapping Our Way: New Formations in Technical Services: Ohio Valley Group of Technical Services Librarians Annual Conference

Abstract

The annual meeting of the Ohio Valley Group of Technical Services Librarians (OVGTSL) was held May 16–18, 2007, at the Holiday Inn-University Plaza in Bowling Green, Kentucky. One hundred twenty technical services librarians from Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and points beyond gathered for programming centered around the theme of “Mapping Our Way: New Formations in Technical Services.”     

A Short-Cut Derivation for the Solution of Autoregressive Models from Sharp Algebraic Arguments

This article uses algebraic arguments to cast light on the solution of vector autoregressive models in the presence of unit roots. First, the linear case and then the multi-lag specification are investigated. Clear-cut representations of the model solutions are obtained, closed-form expressions of the coefficient matrices are provided, and integration features and cointegration mechanisms for stationarity recovery are elucidated.     

Realized Volatility and Long Memory: An Overview

The challenge of modeling, estimating, testing, and forecasting financial volatility is both intellectually worthwhile and also central to the successful analysis of financial returns and optimal investment strategies. In each of the three primary areas of volatility modeling, namely, conditional (or generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity) volatility, stochastic volatility and realized volatility (RV), numerous univariate volatility models of individual financial assets and multivariate volatility models of portfolios of assets have been established. This special issue has eleven innovative articles, eight of which are focused directly on RV and three on long memory, while two are concerned with both RV and long memory.