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.     

On the preservation of copula structure under truncation

The author characterizes the copula associated with the bivariate survival model of Clayton (1978) as the only absolutely continuous copula that is preserved under bivariate truncation.     

On the logic of common belief and common knowledge

The paper surveys the currently available axiomatizations of common belief (CB) and common knowledge (CK) by means of modal propositional logics. (Throughout, knowledge — whether individual or common — is defined as true belief.) Section 1 introduces the formal method of axiomatization followed by epistemic logicians, especially the syntax-semantics distinction, and the notion of a soundness and completeness theorem. Section 2 explains the syntactical concepts, while briefly discussing their motivations. Two standard semantic constructions, Kripke structures and neighbourhood structures, are introduced in Sections 3 and 4, respectively. It is recalled that Aumann's partitional model of CK is a particular case of a definition in terms of Kripke structures. The paper also restates the well-known fact that Kripke structures can be regarded as particular cases of neighbourhood structures. Section 3 reviews the soundness and completeness theorems proved w.r.t. the former structures by Fagin, Halpern, Moses and Vardi, as well as related results by Lismont. Section 4 reviews the corresponding theorems derived w.r.t. the latter structures by Lismont and Mongin. A general conclusion of the paper is that the axiomatization of CB does not require as strong systems of individual belief as was originally thought — onlymonotonicity has thusfar proved indispensable. Section 5 explains another consequence of general relevance: despite the infinitary nature of CB, the axiom systems of this paper admit of effective decision procedures, i.e., they aredecidable in the logician's sense.     

Measuring credibility of compensatory preference statements when trade-offs are interval determined

This paper studies how an overall fuzzy preference relation can be constructed in the compensatory context of the simple additive difference model, when imprecision on the trade-offs has to be taken into account. Three credibility indices of preferences are analysed and illustrated by a numerical example. Arguments are presented supporting the use of the third index, for which an interesting transitivity property (which was an open problem) is proved.     

Retirement patterns in Hong Kong: a censored regression analysis

This paper provides an overview of retirement patterns in Hong Kong on the basis of limited data. A censored regression model is used to infer the retirement age from people‘s current retirement status and their current age. This model is equivalent to a restricted probit model, and the interpretation of parameters is straightforward. The results clearly show a negative income effect on the retirement decision. The retirement age seems to be positively related to lifetime earnings but negatively related to the rate of decline of earnings with age. JEL classification: C24, J14, J26 Received May 6, 1996 / Accepted February 5, 1997     

FDI对我国三次产业影响作用的实证分析

利用自回归分布滞后(ADL)模型,结合我国1983到2006年的有关数据,对我国FDI对三次产业的影响作用作出实证分析,得出结论,FDI在短期内对我国经济增长起了较大的促进作用,但长期作用不显著.并结合我国经济现状分析了原因,提出要充分发挥其在经济增长中的作用,需调整FDI在三次产业之间以及产业内部的投资结构.     

数字金融对农户气候适应性行为的影响

气候适应性技术采用率低下已成为制约农业可持续发展的重要因素,数字金融可能影响农户的气候适应性行为。基于河南、陕西、山西三省1 384份农户微观调查数据,运用内生转换回归模型构建反事实分析框架,实证分析数字金融使用对农户气候适应性行为的影响效应及其作用机制。研究发现:使用数字金融能显著促进农户气候适应性技术采纳行为,具体表现为在反事实假设下,使用数字金融的农户若未使用其气候适应性技术采纳程度将下降;未使用数字金融的农户如果使用了,其气候适应性技术采纳程度将上升。机制分析表明,数字金融能够提高借贷易得性与信息易得性,进而促进农户采纳气候适应性行为,农户对于金融包容性的认知能够正向增强数字金融对农户气候适应性行为的影响效应。异质性分析表明,数字金融使用对于资本型适应性行为影响的边际效应最大,在反事实假设下也表现为数字金融使用对农户资本型适应性行为提升效果最强;数字金融对农业收入占家庭收入比率较高、接受过培训的农户采纳气候适应性技术促进效应更高。     

基于资源观的企业IT能力与企业绩效研究

在企业广泛应用信息技术提高竞争能力之际,信息化如何给企业带来效益一直是国内外研究的热点问题.在回顾相关文献的基础上,利用基于资源观的概念框架分析企业IT资源,建立企业IT能力模型;采用配对样本比较和统计检验方法,对企业IT能力与企业绩效之间的关系进行实证分析.研究结果表明,具有卓越IT能力的企业会表现出更好的绩效,这些企业具有显著较高的营业净利率、总资产收益率、净资产收益率和人均净利润.企业不仅需要进行IT投资,更重要的是把IT投资内化为整个企业的IT能力,只有这样IT才会更好地给企业带来效益,这有助于指导中国企业信息化工程的建设和论证.     

Seasonal forcing on the dynamics ofClethrionomys rufocanus: Modeling geographic gradients in population dynamics

We interpret gradients in population dynamics of the gray-sided vole from the southwestern part of the island of Hokkaido to its northeastern part within the framework of a phenomenological model involving the relative length of summer and winter. In Hokkaido, as in other northern regions, both spring and fall is considered as short transition periods between the two main seasons — summer (the primary breeding season) and winter (the non-reproductive or secondary breeding season). We show that the geographic transition in dynamics may be understood as the combined consequence of different patterns of density-dependence during summer and winter, and geographically varying season lengths. Differences are shown to exist between summer and winter with respect to strength of density-dependence. Direct density-dependence, in particular, is stronger during winter than during summer. A model is presented to show how relative lengths of seasons can induce both stable and periodically fluctuating population dynamics. The results are compared and contrasted with what is otherwise known about the gradient in rodent dynamics in Fennoscandia.     

A new heteroscedastic regression to analyze mass loss of wood in civil construction in Brazil

A heteroscedastic regression based on the odd log-logistic Marshall–Olkin normal (OLLMON) distribution is defined by extending previous models. Some structural properties of this distribution are presented. The estimation of the parameters is addressed by maximum likelihood. For different parameter settings, sample sizes and some scenarios, various simulations investigate the performance of the heteroscedastic OLLMON regression. We use residual analysis to detect influential observations and to check the model assumptions. The new regression explains the mass loss of different wood species in civil construction in Brazil.