A Non-parametric Frailty Model for Temporally Clustered Multivariate Failure Times

Abstract A model is introduced here for multivariate failure time data arising from heterogenous populations. In particular, we consider a situation in which the failure times of individual subjects are often temporally clustered, so that many failures occur during a relatively short age interval. The clustering is modelled by assuming that the subjects can be divided into ‘internally homogenous’ latent classes, each such class being then described by a time‐dependent frailty profile function. As an example, we reanalysed the dental caries data presented earlier in Härkänen et al. [Scand. J. Statist. 27 (2000) 577], as it turned out that our earlier model could not adequately describe the observed clustering.     

B股与H股及红筹股之间的溢出效应与信息流动

运用向量GARCH-M模型检验了B股与H股及红筹股之间的溢出效应与信息流动.实证结果表明:红筹股对沪深市B股、H股对沪市B股的收益和波动溢出效应均显著存在,而反向的溢出效应均不显著,表明信息是从红筹股向沪深市B股、从H股向沪市B股单向流动的;深市B股与H股之间相互的收益溢出效应均存在,而波动溢出效应均不存在,信息在H股和深市B股之间的流动情况不明显;在信息流动过程中,红筹股始终处于信息领先地位.     

大学英语语调交际功能的课堂教学研究与实践

大学英语课堂教学不能只注意学生英语语音，更重要的是在语音的基础上掌握语调及其功能。从学生语言运用能力的角度来说语调的教学比纯语音教学应该更重要，因为同一个单词或句子用不同的语调在同等交际背景下传递出的含义就会不同，有时还会是相反的含义。以语调的交际功能为出发点，运用语用学的相关理论，设计并分析了基于语调交际功能的英语课堂教学模式的实践，探讨了这种模式的可行性和有效性，以引起大家对语调教学的重新思考。     

高职物流管理专业实践教学的改革与创新

在物流业快速发展和物流人才需求剧增的情况下，高职院校物流管理专业深化教育：教学改革，构建“职业导向型”实践教学体系，探索“订单武”、工学交替等人才培养模式，打造专业特色，对培养合格的技能型物流人才具有重要的社会价值。     

A Unified Approach to the Characterization of Equivalence Classes of DAGs, Chain Graphs with no Flags and Chain Graphs

Abstract.  A Markov property associates a set of conditional independencies to a graph. Two alternative Markov properties are available for chain graphs (CGs), the Lauritzen–Wermuth–Frydenberg (LWF) and the Andersson–Madigan– Perlman (AMP) Markov properties, which are different in general but coincide for the subclass of CGs with no flags . Markov equivalence induces a partition of the class of CGs into equivalence classes and every equivalence class contains a, possibly empty, subclass of CGs with no flags itself containing a, possibly empty, subclass of directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). LWF-Markov equivalence classes of CGs can be naturally characterized by means of the so-called largest CGs , whereas a graphical characterization of equivalence classes of DAGs is provided by the essential graphs . In this paper, we show the existence of largest CGs with no flags that provide a natural characterization of equivalence classes of CGs of this kind, with respect to both the LWF- and the AMP-Markov properties. We propose a procedure for the construction of the largest CGs, the largest CGs with no flags and the essential graphs, thereby providing a unified approach to the problem. As by-products we obtain a characterization of graphs that are largest CGs with no flags and an alternative characterization of graphs which are largest CGs. Furthermore, a known characterization of the essential graphs is shown to be a special case of our more general framework. The three graphical characterizations have a common structure: they use two versions of a locally verifiable graphical rule. Moreover, in case of DAGs, an immediate comparison of three characterizing graphs is possible.     

Mapping water quality by local scoring

The mean density of bacteria in a water body is commonly monitored using quantal assay. This paper describes the use of local scoring in estimating the spatial distribution of mean density from quantal assay results at a set of point locations. An application to estimating the mean density of fecal conform bacteria in a coastal pond is presented. Model diagnostics based on a parametric bootstrap are also presented.     

Modelling map positional error to infer true feature location

The authors consider the issue of map positional error, or the difference between location as represented in a spatial database (i.e., a map) and the corresponding unobservable true location. They propose a fully model‐based approach that incorporates aspects of the map registration process commonly performed by users of geographic informations systems, including rubber‐sheeting. They explain how estimates of positional error can be obtained, hence estimates of true location. They show that with multiple maps of varying accuracy along with ground truthing data, suitable model averaging offers a strategy for using all of the maps to learn about true location.     

Defining the linear portion of a sigmoid‐shaped curve: bend points

Formulae are provided that define the ‘bend points’, the beginning and end of the essentially linear dose–response region, for the four‐parameter logistic model. The formulae are expressed in both response and dose units. The derivation of the formulae is shown in order to illustrate the general nature of the methodology. Examples are given that describe how the formulae may be used while planning and conducting bioassays. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Numerical Solution to the Nonhomogeneous Two-Stage MVK Model of Cancer

In this article, we describe a straightforward method for solving the probability of at least one malignant cell by time t, and the associated hazard function, in the general (i.e., nonhomogeneous) two-stage Moolgavkar-Venzon-Knudson (MVK) model of cancer. The method consists of solving four coupled ordinary differential equations derived from the Kolmogorov backward equations for this process. The relationship of this method to previously proposed solutions is discussed.     

国家财政对农业投入的分析与预测——基于状态空间模型的实证分析

国家财政对农业的投入是影响农业发展的重要因素。收集了建国以来国家财政对农业投入的数据,分析构造出状态空间模型,应用卡尔曼滤波估计出状态向量,挖掘出隐藏在数据内部的变化特征,分析国家财政对农业投入的实际情况,并对未来几年的农业投入进行预测。