A generalized estimating equation method for fitting autocorrelated ordinal score data with an application in horticultural research

Summary.  Generalized estimating equations for correlated repeated ordinal score data are developed assuming a proportional odds model and a working correlation structure based on a first-order autoregressive process. Repeated ordinal scores on the same experimental units, not necessarily with equally spaced time intervals, are assumed and a new algorithm for the joint estimation of the model regression parameters and the correlation coefficient is developed. Approximate standard errors for the estimated correlation coefficient are developed and a simulation study is used to compare the new methodology with existing methodology. The work was part of a project on post-harvest quality of pot-plants and the generalized estimating equation model is used to analyse data on poinsettia and begonia pot-plant quality deterioration over time. The relationship between the key attributes of plant quality and the quality and longevity of ornamental pot-plants during shelf and after-sales life is explored.     

运动训练专业可持续发展研究

在可持续发展的全球战略中,体育作为人类社会文化的一个重要领域也发生着相应的发展与变革,如何有效地实现体育事业的良性发展,值得每个体育工作者认真思考.作为支柱专业的运动训练,必须确立运动训练专业"为奥运增光和全民健身战略服务的宗旨,培养各类高素质体育专门人才"的可持续发展指导思想,用可持续发展的办学理念迎来运动训练专业的新发展.     

Measuring Social Cohesion: An Experiment using the Canadian National Survey of Giving,Volunteering, and Participating

Social cohesion is a concept difficult to define and to measure. As there can be many definitions, so there can be many measurements. The main problem, either in defining or measuring the concept, is its multilevel and multidimensional nature. At one extreme, country is the most commonly used level to view social cohesion but measurement at this level is of little use for any interventions. At the other extreme, community is the most useful level but it is a social construct for which data are difficult to get, given the administrative boundaries used in social surveys. As an initial attempt to measure social cohesion at a subcountry level, this study focuses on census metropolitan areas for which data on several dimensions of social cohesion are available. We use the information gathered by the National Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating (NSGVP) on three dimensions of social cohesion: political (voting and volunteering), economic (occupation, income, labour force participation) and social (social interactions, informal volunteering). Using statistical techniques including factor analysis and standardization, we create an overall index of social cohesion for each CMA. We point out use of this measure for further analysis of social dynamics.     

关于Bernstein定理的推广

本文对Bernsstem定理进行了推广,得到了一种新型的Bernstein多项式。     

数字图书馆的可持续发展之路

本文讨论了数字图书馆建设的可持续发展问题,可持续发展涉及到法律和技术两个层面。文章就此 问题讨论了DRM和数字图书馆的操作平台技术。本文还提出了上海理工大学“数字图书馆”建设的对策。     

Parental transfer of financial knowledge and later credit outcomes among low- and moderate-income homeowners

It is well established that acquiring financial skills during childhood is linked with better savings in adulthood. Little is known, however, about the relationship between parental teaching of money management early in life and children's financial outcomes in adulthood. This is particularly true for low- and moderate-income (LMI) households. Using data from Community Advantage Program survey data for 2,389 LMI homeowners, we find that adults who report receiving high levels of money-management teaching in childhood from their parents are associated with higher credit scores and lower credit card debt in adulthood. We also find that the level of parental financial teaching influences the relationship between children's later educational attainment and credit scores. These findings suggest implications for initiatives promoting financial capability for parents and children.     

交通累积记分行为法律性质辨析

对于交通累积记分行为的法律性质,学界及实务界一直存有争议,提出了不同的学术观点,如行政处罚说、中间行为说、行政事实行为说、程序行政行为说.基于厘清交通累积记分行为法律性质的目的,首先对已有学术观点进行了批判论证.而后,在批判论证、借鉴已有学说优点的基础上,将传统行政行为理论的静态角度与行政过程论的静态角度相结合,重新对交通累积记分行为进行认识.经两方面的分析论证,将交通累积记分行为定性为行政确认行为.     

Modeling fetal-growth biometry with Response Modeling Methodology (RMM) and comparison to current models

Monitoring fetal growth via ultrasound requires modeling fetal biometry in terms of gestation age. In this study, we compare Response Modeling Methodology (RMM) to current models, in three stages. First, RMM is used to approximate 47 empirical mean models that have appeared in the literature resulting in models with negligible loss in accuracy (unlike two other commonly applied models). Next, RMM models are fitted to sample averages of the Singaporean population and compared to a formerly published model. A similar simulation-based analysis is performed in the last stage for raw data of the British population. Altogether over 70 comparisons had been performed resulting in RMM consistently delivering better performing models.     

Association of vitamin D status and the risk of cardiovascular disease as assessed by various cardiovascular risk scoring systems in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D (25[OH]D) status and the risk of cardiovascular disease as assessed by various cardiovascular risk scoring systems such as QRISK2, BNF, ASSING, SCORE, and Framingham in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM).

Methods: The study included 108 patients with vitamin D insufficiency (25[OH]D?≥?10–30?ng/mL) and 100 patients with vitamin D deficiency (25[OH]D?Results: HbA1c levels were significantly higher in patients with vitamin D deficiency. Patients with vitamin D deficiency had significantly higher Framingham risk score (p?p?r?=?0.537) and a weak but statistically significant correlation between 25[OH]D levels and BNF score (r?=?0.295). 25[OH]D levels were significantly higher and HbA1c levels were significantly lower in patients with Framingham cardiovascular risk score ≤10%.

Conclusion: We found a close relationship with Framingham cardiovascular risk score in diabetic patients with very low serum vitamin D levels. Cardiovascular risk as assessed by the Framingham’s scale increases with decreasing 25[OH]D levels. BNF score was negatively correlated with 25[OH]D levels.     

Optimum release time of a software under periodic debugging schedule

In this paper, we study the problem of finding the optimal release time of a software meant to be marketed over a finite time horizon. The optimal design scheme considers reduction of the whole cost, achievement of a specified reliability with some high probability, or a combination of the both. We assume that the software is debugged periodically and the bug detection rates in the pre-release and post-release periods are different. We derive the optimal solution in each case. We also demonstrate the utility of the results through simulations, leading to different types of graphs showing the relationship between the target reliability, specified budget and the optimal number of additional debugging periods.