Proportional hazards model for competing risks data with missing cause of failure

We consider the semiparametric proportional hazards model for the cause-specific hazard function in analysis of competing risks data with missing cause of failure. The inverse probability weighted equation and augmented inverse probability weighted equation are proposed for estimating the regression parameters in the model, and their theoretical properties are established for inference. Simulation studies demonstrate that the augmented inverse probability weighted estimator is doubly robust and the proposed method is appropriate for practical use. The simulations also compare the proposed estimators with the multiple imputation estimator of Lu and Tsiatis (2001). The application of the proposed method is illustrated using data from a bone marrow transplant study.     

Risk Assessment as a Paradox: When Actions of an IRB Become Incompatible with Ethical Principles

As anecdotal evidence mounts up of Institutional Review Boards becoming an impediment to research, I share a personal experience in this article to argue how the conduct of an Institutional Review Board was incompatible with a number of ethical principles such as Respect for Persons, Deception, Informed Consent, and Justice. I conclude by promoting Evidence-Based Ethical Problem Solving to facilitate and enhance risk assessments through empirical evidence.     

Problem Gambling and the Circumstances Facing Older People

Local gambling venues are an important contemporary context for older people's gambling in many parts of the world typically being more accessible to this segment of the population than traditional, centralised gambling venues, such as casinos. This study, undertaken in South East Queensland, analyses older people's electronic gaming machine (EGM) behaviour and motivations, specifically in the context of licensed social and recreational clubs-a popular local gambling venue in many parts of Australia. The study gathered data via a postal survey of 80 managers of licensed clubs, interviews with Gambling Help services and a survey of 414 people aged 60+ who regularly play EGMs, self-administered on site at local clubs. The analysis undertaken suggests that certain age-related circumstances of older people-such as being without a partner, having a disability that impacts on everyday activities, having a low annual income, and no longer participating in the workforce-are associated with higher overall levels of motivation for playing EGMs and greater reliance on EGMs to meet social, recreational and mental health needs. Over a quarter of the older people surveyed (27%) reported drawing on their savings to fund their EGM gambling. Certain categories of older people, including those who were without a partner and those with a disability, were more likely to report drawing on their savings to fund EGM play and betting more than they could afford to lose, pointing to age-related vulnerabilities older people may experience to the negative impacts of gambling given the greater likelihood of their dependency on smaller, fixed incomes. The explanatory contribution of a range of demographic and motivational variables on problem/moderate risk gambling status was computed via a logistic regression model. Younger age (60-69), male gender, single marital status and being motivated to play EGMs to experience excitement and to win money all emerged as significant predictors in the model.     

Equalizing population denominators for australian metropolitan areas

Most population data are collected and tabulated in an aggregate form by censuses around the world in which political and economic considerations determine the geographic unit of the aggregation. Large spatial variation in population size among, units can limit comparative analysis among different subregions. Census population counts are often used as the denominator in rate calculations. This paper proposes the design of new districts for Australian metropolitan areas that will decrease the absolute range in population among districts. The transport algorithm is used for aggregation of Collection Districts in order to achieve this goal. The transport algorithm proved efficient in assigning CDs to a more equitable alignment of population in the selected Statistical Divisions. This method affords the spatial comparison of city settlement and socio-economic variables as well as deriving a stable denominator for these comparisons. The results demonstrate the advantages of equalized population denominators over those associated with the current statistical districts.     

基于国家标准学科分类的统计学科体系研究

统计学科体系及其分类是统计学的基本理论问题之一。本文围绕中国两次颁布的国家标准《学科分类与代码（GB/T 13745）》,探讨其中有关统计学科分类的变化、进展、问题和症结,并结合“大统计”思想在中国践行的历程,提出若干新的理论思考与参考结论。     

贫困大学生心理问题及对策探析

作为高校中的弱势群体,贫困大学生不仅承受着经济压力,也更容易产生心理问题。因此,分析贫困大学生心理问题的表现,关注贫困大学生的心理问题,探索相应的对策,从多方面促进贫困大学生心理健康发展,引导学生健康成长,是高校学生思想教育面临的重要课题。     

Escalation: The Role of Problem Recognition and Cognitive Bias

Escalation of commitment to a failing course of action is an enduring problem that remains central to the study of managerial behavior. Prior research suggests that escalation behavior results when decision makers choose to ignore negative feedback concerning the viability of a previously chosen course of action. Previous work has also suggested that certain cognitive biases might promote escalation behavior, but there has been little attempt to explore how biases other than framing affect escalation. In this article, we explore the extent to which decision makers actually perceive negative feedback as indicative of a problem and how this influences their decision to escalate. Although problem recognition and cognitive biases have been intensively studied individually, little is known about their effect on escalation behavior. In this research, we construct and test an escalation decision model that incorporates both problem recognition and two cognitive biases: selective perception and illusion of control. Our results revealed a significant inverse relationship between problem recognition and escalation. Furthermore, selective perception and illusion of control were found to significantly affect both problem recognition and escalation. The implications of these findings for research and practice are discussed. To improve problem recognition and reduce the incidence of escalation, practicing managers should implement modern project management practices that can help to identify and highlight potential problems while guarding against these two key cognitive biases that promote the behavior.     

高校人力资源管理存在的问题与对策研究

随着高校的扩招和高校规模的扩大,高校管理的难度也不断增加,尤其是高校的人力资源管理跟不上高校的发展速度。文章在探讨高校人力资源管理中存在的问题的基础上,提出了优化人力资源管理的对策。     

论我国目前行政问责制的突出问题及对策探微

目前我国在行政问责制方面还存在一些问题:行政问责的范围不清、对象不明确;行政问责的主体缺位、有名无实;行政问责的法律体系不健全、无程序性。因此,有必要寻求问责制之出路:规范行政问责原则;明确行政问责范围;健全行政问责法律;强化行政问责意识。