A hierarchical modelling approach for measuring reliability of and agreement between two types of magnetic field dosimeter

Summary.  The paper describes how to use hierarchical models to assess the reliability of and agreement between two or more types of measurement device. The idea is illustrated by fitting a linear model with nested random effects to a set of data that was obtained from the calibration of two samples of extremely low frequency magnetic field meters. The paper focuses on the formulation of a suitable model that accounts for the various aspects of the calibration protocol and the subsequent interpretation of the parameter estimates. The approach is very flexible and can easily be tuned to the various needs arising in the measurement agreement framework. It can be seen as an extension of the common practice of using a one-way random-effects model to retrieve a measure of agreement.     

Acceptance of Koha Open Source System among Librarians in the Malaysian Academic Libraries: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Abstract

This paper reports on a study that explores the requirements and level of acceptance for the Koha open source software implementation in Malaysian academic libraries. This is a qualitative study based on interviews with system librarians from library application and system divisions in 5 Malaysian universities. The interviews were conducted to understand the technology acceptance, system quality and system information, beliefs and attitude of librarians and to provide insight into a user and open system relations. These factors can be critical in order to understand what may hinder the acceptance of open source systems in Malaysia academic libraries. The findings disclose that the level of acceptance of the Koha open source system among Malaysian librarians is high as they are satisfied with the information quality, system quality and system platform. They have positive intentions to use this system and believe it meets their current and future information needs. The requirements of its implementation are focused on perceived usefulness (technology), attitude toward using (users), and perceived ease of use (system). The subsequent influencing factors are a reflection of Koha system stability and users’ acceptance of this system’s information quality, system quality, librarians’ awareness, satisfaction, user confidence level, support for library standards, highly integrated modules, a web-based solution, intention to use a system, and actual usage of an open-source system. Practical implications include cost savings, outsourced system maintenance, and accessibility of the system after office hours. The Koha open-source system is a new paradigm in system solutions for libraries in Malaysia. The results of the current study are applicable to other library settings.     

A variant of the Geo/G/1 queues with disasters and general repair times

Abstract

This paper deals with Geo/G/1 queues with a repairable server. The server is subject to failure due to a disaster arrival, which can occur while the server is turned on and not only when it is busy. At a failure instant, the server is turned off and its repair process begins. During the repair process, two models are considered. For both models, we present the PGF and the expected number of clients in the system in the steady state.     

Progressively censored variables sampling plans for two-parameter exponential distributions

Progressive censoring is quite useful in many practical situations where budget constraints are in place or there is a demand for rapid testing. Balasooriya & Saw (1998) present reliability sampling plans for the two-parameter exponential distribution, based on progressively censored samples. However, the operating characteristic (OC) curve derived in their paper does not depend on the sample size. This seems to be because, in their computations, they forget to consider the proportion of uncensored data, which also has an important influence on the subsequent developments. In consequence, their OC curve is only valid when there is no censoring. In this paper, some modifications are proposed. These are needed to obtain a proper design of the above sampling plan. Whenever at least two uncensored observations are available, the OC curve is derived in closed form and a procedure for determining progressively censored reliability sampling plans is also presented. Finally, the example considered by Balasooriya & Saw is used to illustrate the results developed in this paper for several censoring levels.     

行政长官及其权力运作—─香港政制系列研究之一

“九七”以后的香港政制架构中，行政长官居特殊地位，直接关系到“一国两制”方针和香港基本法的贯彻实施。本文主要是从香港特别行政区行政长官的法律地位、任职资格、产生办法、权力运作等问题的分析入手，阐明“九七”前后从港督到行政长官的转变给未来香港政制发展带来的影响，以及基本法有关规定的正确性。     

高校德育与创新型人才

树立新的知识观和人才观,目的在于培养更多的知识创新型人才;培养创新型人才,要确立有利于创新型人才成长的评比机制,还要创造适应创新型人才成长的环境。     

广义线性系统的解

:研究了广义线性系统初值问题可解的充要条件和解的结构     

'一业一会'还是'一业多会'？————基于行业协会集体物品供给的比较研究

“一业一会”制度与行业协会最优规模的联合约束限制了行业协会数量以及协会内可以容纳的会员数,从而影响集体物品的供给与消费。但是,取消“一业一会”制度可能引发行业协会运行逻辑的转变,进而导致行业协会最优规模缩小以及选择性供给行业性集体物品,从而加剧行业利益代表的碎片化,弱化行业自律,影响行业协会追求行业整体利益的能力。因此,在取消“一业一会”制度时,应基于行业协会运行逻辑的转变,建构行业协会体系与内部均衡机制,防范行业协会集体物品供给出现异化。     

欧陆法系趋同背景下的法学教师角色转变

二战后自然法学、分析法学、法社会学逐步走向融合,两大法系不断趋同进化,法学教育随之发生深刻变化,法学教师角色悄然转变。比较分析两大法系在欧陆的趋同,对于当前中国依法治国的全面推进和法治中国建设背景下深化法学教育改革有着重要意义,提供了有益借鉴。     

市场经济中的政府行为——郭嵩焘“向西方学习”思想新探

郭嵩焘作为最早走出国门的思想家,是向西方学习最热情的鼓吹者.他特别注意从制度、体制层面去认识和理解西方政府行为,把西方的种种制度创设和经济发展联系起来研究,认为西洋富强之本主要在于其"朝廷政教",而不仅仅是"船坚炮利";强调人们应该承认西方文明的先进之处,使"向西方学习"成为国人思想和行动上的一种自觉.落实到实践中,就要以学习西方的"朝廷政教"为中心,多角度多层次地拓展学习西方的内容.