A comparison of approaches for estimating the effect of women's education on the probability of using modern contraceptive methods in Malawi

The aim of this study is to estimate the effect of education on the probability of married Malawian women using modern contraceptive methods by accounting for both observed and unobserved confounders. We conduct a sensitivity analysis and compare the results of naive models with instrumental variable models to account for the potential endogeneity of education. Our findings demonstrate conflicting results between the two modelling approaches. The naive models report smaller education effects on the probability of using modern contraceptive methods compared to instrumental variable models. We also find that by relaxing the functional form assumption on the effect of continuous covariates, using a flexible instrumental variable model, the education's effect follows a positive, nonlinear pattern. This finding is not observed with a classic instrumental variable model.     

The governance of social enterprises: Mission drift and accountability challenges in hybrid organizations

We examine the challenges of governance facing organizations that pursue a social mission through the use of market mechanisms. These hybrid organizations, often referred to as social enterprises, combine aspects of both charity and business at their core. In this paper we distinguish between two ideal types of such hybrids, differentiated and integrated, and we conceptualize two key challenges of governance they face: accountability for dual performance objectives and accountability to multiple principal stakeholders. We revisit the potential and limitations of recently introduced legal forms to address these challenges. We then theorize about the importance of organizational governance and the role of governing boards in particular, in prioritizing and aligning potentially conflicting objectives and interests in order to avoid mission drift and to maintain organizational hybridity in social enterprises. Finally, we discuss future research directions and the implications of this work for rethinking traditional categories of organizations, namely business and charity.     

Reliability analysis of systems with components having two dependent subcomponents

In this article, a system that consists of n independent components each having two dependent subcomponents (A_i, B_i), i = 1, …, n is considered. The system is assumed to compose of components that have two correlated subcomponents (A_i, B_i), and functions iff both systems of subcomponents A₁, A₂, …, A_n and B₁, B₂, …, B_n work under certain structural rules. The expressions for reliability and mean time to failure of such systems are obtained. A sufficient condition to compare two systems of bivariate components in terms of stochastic ordering is also presented.     

美国中小学服务学习课程模式的理论与实践

服务学习是美国中小学广泛实施的一种优秀的实践教学课程模式。不同于单纯的社会体验或学科教学,服务学习将课程学习、社会服务和体验反思三者有机地结合起来,不仅加强了学生课堂所学知识与现实世界的关联,同时也极大地丰富了中小学生的社会实践活动。其基本理念、特征、实践模式及实施经验对我国当前基础教育课程改革有着很高的借鉴价值。     

布斯的隐喻观与西方修辞学

韦恩·布斯是二十世纪美国修辞学界的知名学者，尤以小说修辞学著称。但布斯对隐喻的论述也颇具前瞻性。由于其修辞学家身份，其在阐述隐喻定义、评价等方面时难免不涉及一些诸如修辞情境、修辞动机、劝说等修辞学概念，这些概念的运用极大地充实了他的隐喻观。研究对韦恩·布斯的隐喻观作了梳理与分析，主要阐析了布斯对隐喻的概念本质、评价等方面的理解，分析了布斯的隐喻观与西方修辞学之间的内在关联，在此基础上评价了其理论贡献和局限。研究发现，布斯的隐喻观较具前瞻性，有深厚的西方修辞学底蕴，为后来的隐喻研究作了重要的铺垫。     

Extending social security coverage to the rural sector in China

In late 2009 China launched an innovative, voluntary programme that by 2011 had extended pension coverage to 326.4 million people in the rural sector, including contributors and beneficiaries. It requires one contribution per year and provides a flat‐rate benefit and a contributions‐related benefit through a contributory individual account, with a government guarantee that the benefit will continue for life. The programme encourages participation of persons who do not pay income taxes, and thus have no tax incentive to participate, by providing substantial government subsidies. As a further incentive, old‐age benefits are provided to older parents when all their adult children participate in the contributory programme.     

＂贫困＂的多模态表征

本文以中介话语分析、多模态社会符号学为理论框架从语言、图像两方面探讨"贫困"现象的话语表征方式。基于BNC语料库揭示"贫困"的词汇语法模式,在语篇层面以媒体对贫困弱势群体表征为例分析其语篇语法,并探讨新闻报道中与"贫困"相关的视觉语法。"贫困"不仅仅表征为穷者匮乏的物质存在,更表征所映现的符号状态和人类精神。