Sensitivity studies of air scattered neutron dose from particle accelerators

Sensitivity analysis of air scattered neutron dose at several distances from a particle accelerator with respect to shield thickness and neutron yield distributions has been carried out. We illustrate the successful use of Response Surface Methodology in studying the behaviour of the sensitivity coefficients for main effects and interaction terms. A comparison of the full six factor design and the orthogonal Central Composite Design has been made. The overhead shield is found to be the most sensitive parameter followed by the high energy part of the neutron energy distribution.     

Cutting Experimental Designs into Blocks

Most experimental material in agriculture and industry is heterogeneous in nature and therefore its statistical analysis benefits from blocking. Many experiments are restricted in time or space, and again blocking is useful. This paper adopts the idea of orthogonal blocking of Box & Hunter (1957) and applies it to optimal blocking designs. This approach is then compared with the determinant-based approach described in the literature for constructing block designs.     

Pseudo-Bayes and pseudo-empirical Bayes estimators in randomized response sampling

In this article, new pseudo-Bayes and pseudo-empirical Bayes estimators for estimating the proportion of a potentially sensitive attribute in a survey sampling have been introduced. The proposed estimators are compared with the recent estimator proposed by Odumade and Singh [Efficient use of two decks of cards in randomized response sampling, Comm. Statist. Theory Methods 38 (2009), pp. 439–446] and Warner [Randomized response: A survey technique for eliminating evasive answer bias, J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 60 (1965), pp. 63–69].     

A pool-adjacent-violators-algorithm approach to detect infinite parameter estimates in one-regressor dose–response models with asymptotes

Binary response models are often applied in dose–response settings where the number of dose levels is limited. Commonly, one can find cases where the maximum likelihood estimation process for these models produces infinite values for at least one of the parameters, often corresponding to the ‘separated data’ issue. Algorithms for detecting such data have been proposed, but are usually incorporated directly into in the parameter estimation. Additionally, they do not consider the use of asymptotes in the model formulation. In order to study this phenomenon in greater detail, we define the class of specifiably degenerate functions where this can occur (including the popular logistic and Weibull models) that allows for asymptotes in the dose–response specification. We demonstrate for this class that the well-known pool-adjacent-violators algorithm can efficiently pre-screen for non-estimable data. A simulation study demonstrates the frequency with which this problem can occur for various response models and conditions.     

Testing for parameter constancy in the time series direction in panel data models

We propose tests for parameter constancy in the time series direction in panel data models. We construct a locally best invariant test based on Tanaka [Time series analysis: nonstationary and noninvertible distribution theory. New York: Wiley; 1996] and an asymptotically point optimal test based on Elliott and Müller [Efficient tests for general persistent time variation in regression coefficients. Rev Econ Stud. 2006;73:907–940]. We derive the limiting distributions of the test statistics as T→∞ while N is fixed, and calculate the critical values by applying numerical integration and response surface regression. Simulation results show that the proposed tests perform well if we apply them appropriately.     

Protection of privacy in efficient application of randomized response techniques

In estimating the proportion of people bearing a sensitive attribute A, say, in a given community, following Warner’s (J Am Stat Assoc 60:63–69, 1965) pioneering work, certain randomized response (RR) techniques are available for application. These are intended to ensure efficient and unbiased estimation protecting a respondent’s privacy when it touches a person’s socially stigmatizing feature like rash driving, tax evasion, induced abortion, testing HIV positive, etc. Lanke (Int Stat Rev 44:197–203, 1976), Leysieffer and Warner (J Am Stat Assoc 71:649–656, 1976), Anderson (Int Stat Rev 44:213–217, 1976, Scand J Stat 4:11–19, 1977) and Nayak (Commun Stat Theor Method 23:3303–3321, 1994) among others have discussed how maintenance of efficiency is in conflict with protection of privacy. In their RR-related activities the sample selection is traditionally by simple random sampling (SRS) with replacement (WR). In this paper, an extension of an essential similarity in case of general unequal probability sample selection even without replacement is reported. Large scale surveys overwhelmingly employ complex designs other than SRSWR. So extension of RR techniques to complex designs is essential and hence this paper principally refers to them. New jeopardy measures to protect revelation of secrecy presented here are needed as modifications of those in the literature covering SRSWR alone. Observing that multiple responses are feasible in addressing such a dichotomous situation especially with Kuk’s (Biometrika 77:436–438, 1990) and Christofides’ (Metrika 57:195–200, 2003) RR devices, an average of the response-specific jeopardizing measures is proposed. This measure which is device dependent, could be regarded as a technical characteristic of the device and it should be made known to the participants before they agree to use the randomization device. The views expressed are the authors’, not of the organizations they work for. Prof Chaudhuri’s research is partially supported by CSIR Grant No. 21(0539)/02/EMR-II.     

Tolerance‐based error reduction in multi‐agent bioassays

Some degree of error is inevitable in multi‐agent bioassays regardless of design or measurement technology. Estimation error can be reduced post facto by exploiting the matrix partial ordering of the bioassay survival estimates. The standard method for this is order‐restricted regression (ORR). If the joint action of the bioassay agents admits a tolerance‐based interpretation, additional structure beyond matrix partial ordering is available, leading to a new method of error reduction. This tolerance‐based error reduction (TBER) procedure almost always outperforms ORR. Like ORR, TBER applies to complete factorial bioassay designs and, using weighting, to incomplete designs.     

Examples of the use of an equivalence theorem in constructing optimum experimental designs for random-effects nonlinear regression models

The problem considered is that of finding an optimum measurement schedule to estimate population parameters in a nonlinear model when the patient effects are random. The paper presents examples of the use of sensitivity functions, derived from the General Equivalence Theorem for D-optimality, in the construction of optimum population designs for such schedules. With independent observations, the theorem applies to the potential inclusion of a single observation. However, in population designs the observations are correlated and the theorem applies to the inclusion of an additional measurement schedule. In one example, three groups of patients of differing size are subject to distinct schedules. Numerical, as opposed to analytical, calculation of the sensitivity function is advocated. The required covariances of the observations are found by simulation.     

中国货币财政政策有效性的比较检验

货币政策和财政政策是政府干预宏观经济最重要、使用最频繁的两大工具。改革开放以来,我国政府综合运用货币政策和财政政策调控经济运行,促进经济增长。为检验中国1978～2006年间经济增长中货币政策和财政政策有效性的差异性特征,应用脉冲响应函数研究它们之间的动态特性后发现:无论是短期还是长期,积极货币政策对于经济增长均有正效应,而积极财政政策仅在短期内有效,长期内呈现负效应且随时间推移逐渐显著。积极财政政策长期失效的原因有多方面,主要是财政支出的供给范围不合理和支出管理失控产生的效率损失。     

蒙元初期儒士学术取向之转变及其原因

蒙元初期许多儒士在学术取向上发生了由旧儒学向新儒学的转变,一些新儒学代表人物和学术群体的出现,说明这种转变具有广泛性与深入度。而旧金儒士的凋丧与分流、理学影响的持续扩大、科举考试长期废止等,是促成转变的主要原因。