Health Service Utilization and Expenditure of the Elderly in China

Using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey, we employed counterfactual propensity score matching to examine the association between income and health service utilization and expenditure of the elderly in China. The results demonstrated that income did not differentiate whether the poor elderly in China visited a doctor when suffering an illness, but their expenditure on medical treatment was significantly associated with income. Subgroup analysis further indicated that the medical demands of female, older, and rural elderly were more likely to be reduced by their income compared with their counterparts.     

Does the supplemental nutrition assistance program really increase obesity? The importance of accounting for misclassification errors

The prevalence of obesity among US citizens has grown rapidly over the last few decades, especially among low-income individuals. This has led to questions about the effectiveness of nutritional assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Previous results on the effect of SNAP participation on obesity are mixed. These findings are however based on the assumption that participation status can be accurately observed, despite significant misclassification errors reported in the literature. Using propensity score matching, we conclude that there seems to be a positive effect of SNAP participation on obesity rates for female participants and no such effect for males, a result that is consistent with several previous studies. However, an extensive sensitivity analysis reveals that the positive effect for females is sensitive to misclassification errors and to the conditional independence assumption. Thus analogous findings should also be used with caution unless examined under the prism of classification errors and of other assumptions used for the identification of causal parameters.     

Testing a block exchangeable covariance matrix

Testing hypotheses about the structure of a covariance matrix for doubly multivariate data is often considered in the literature. In this paper the Rao's score test (RST) is derived to test the block exchangeable covariance matrix or block compound symmetry (BCS) covariance structure under the assumption of multivariate normality. It is shown that the empirical distribution of the RST statistic under the null hypothesis is independent of the true values of the mean and the matrix components of a BCS structure. A significant advantage of the RST is that it can be performed for small samples, even smaller than the dimension of the data, where the likelihood ratio test (LRT) cannot be used, and it outperforms the standard LRT in a number of contexts. Simulation studies are performed for the sample size consideration, and for the estimation of the empirical quantiles of the null distribution of the test statistic. The RST procedure is illustrated on a real data set from the medical studies.     

层次分析法在商业银行信息化绩效评价的应用

平衡计分卡（Balanced Scorecard）是一系列财务绩效衡量指标与非财务绩效衡量指标的综合体,它为管理层快速、全面、客观地考察企业的运营状况提供最为真实的依据。IT平衡计分卡是为实现商业银行信息化战略服务,关注商业银行信息化建设。正确评价商业银行信息部门的绩效水平的前提是建立科学、合理、可行的评价指标体系。采取层次分析法（Analytical Hierarchy Process,AHP）建立商业银行信息部门的绩效综合评价模型,能有效地反映出商业银行信息化的基本情况,抓住主要因素,以保证评价工作的全面性和可信度,同时评价指标易于操作。     

英语课堂听力焦虑的成因及其与四级听力成绩的关系

作为语言学习者心理因素之一的焦虑感对外语学习效果有着重要的影响。采用"大学英语听力课堂焦虑状况问卷"调查大学英语学生听力课堂的心理焦虑程度,分析造成听力焦虑的原因;并以调查数据为基础,探讨听力焦虑与四级听力成绩之间的关系。研究结果发现焦虑情绪在英语听力课堂普遍存在,英语课堂的听力焦虑对四级听力成绩产生负面影响。针对听力焦虑的成因,阐述缓解听力教学中学生焦虑心理的策略,从而获得改善听力教学的启示。     

Higher-order asymptotics under model misspecification

Most of the higher-order asymptotic results in statistical inference available in the literature assume model correctness. The aim of this paper is to develop higher-order results under model misspecification. The density functions to O(n^?3/2) of the robust score test statistic and the robust Wald test statistic are derived under the null hypothesis, for the scalar as well as the multiparameter case. Alternate statistics which are robust to O(n^?3/2) are also proposed.     

Generalized Score Test of Homogeneity Based on Correlated Random Effects Models

We present a family of tests based on correlated random effects models which provides a synthesis and a generalization of recent work on homogeneity testing. In these models each subject has a particular random effect, but the random effects between subjects are correlated. We derive the general form of the score statistic for testing that the random effects have a variance equal to 0. We apply this result to both parametric and semi-parametric models. In both cases we show that under certain conditions the score statistic has an asymptotic normal distribution. We consider several applications of this theory, including overdispersion, heterogeneity between groups, spatial correlations and genetic linkage.     

Multistage Sampling Designs and Estimating Equations

In some applications it is cost efficient to sample data in two or more stages. In the first stage a simple random sample is drawn and then stratified according to some easily measured attribute. In each subsequent stage a random subset of previously selected units is sampled for more detailed and costly observation, with a unit's sampling probability determined by its attributes as observed in the previous stages. This paper describes multistage sampling designs and estimating equations based on the resulting data. Maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) and their asymptotic variances are given for designs using parametric models. Horvitz–Thompson estimates are introduced as alternatives to MLEs, their asymptotic distributions are derived and their strengths and weaknesses are evaluated. The designs and the estimates are illustrated with data on corn production.     

Tests for Trend in Developmental Toxicity Experiments with Correlated Binary Data

In this article, the operating characteristics of recently proposed tests for trend in correlated binary data arising in laboratory studies of developmental toxicity are examined using both computer-generated and experimental data. Specifically, we consider adjusted Cochran-Armitgc tests based on the Rao-Scott transformation which are of the same general form as that for uncorrelated data. In addition, generalized score tests based on generalized estimating equations allowing for extra-binomial variation in the data are discussed. Specific forms of these statistics demonstrating favorable type I and type II error rates are identified and recommended for use in practice. The application of these tests is illustrated using data from studies of developmental toxicity that have been reported in the literature.     

UEAS高等学校教务管理系统应用与思考

高等学校综合教务管理系统是实现教学管理信息化的重要途径,是促进教务管理规范化的有力保障,是推进教学信息资源共享和传递的有效方式,其主要工作模块包括学籍管理、收费管理、注册管理、选课管理、考务管理、成绩管理、课程管理、教室管理、教材管理、实践教学管理、排课管理和教学评估管理等.高等院校综合教务管理系统的有效运行,应该建立制度,探索信息化管理的长效机制;强化培训,提高教务管理人员的业务素质;加大投入,解决自身个性化发展的整体需求.