Geometric ergodicity of nonlinear autoregressive models with changing conditional variances

The authors give easy‐to‐check sufficient conditions for the geometric ergodicity and the finiteness of the moments of a random process x_t = ?(x_t‐1,…, x_t‐p) + ?_tσ(x_t‐1,…, x_t‐q) in which ?: R^p → R, σ R^q → R and (?_t) is a sequence of independent and identically distributed random variables. They deduce strong mixing properties for this class of nonlinear autoregressive models with changing conditional variances which includes, among others, the ARCH(p), the AR(p)‐ARCH(p), and the double‐threshold autoregressive models.     

Differential equation models for statistical functions

Differential equations have been used in statistics to define functions such as probability densities. But the idea of using differential equation formulations of stochastic models has a much wider scope. The author gives several examples, including simultaneous estimation of a regression model and residual density, monotone smoothing, specification of a link function, differential equation models of data, and smoothing over complicated multidimensional domains. This paper aims to stimulate interest in this approach to functional estimation problems, rather than provide carefully worked out methods.     

Bayesian prediction of waiting times in stochastic models

The authors show how saddlepoint techniques lead to highly accurate approximations for Bayesian predictive densities and cumulative distribution functions in stochastic model settings where the prior is tractable, but not necessarily the likelihood or the predictand distribution. They consider more specifically models involving predictions associated with waiting times for semi‐Markov processes whose distributions are indexed by an unknown parameter θ. Bayesian prediction for such processes when they are not stationary is also addressed and the inverse‐Gaussian based saddlepoint approximation of Wood, Booth & Butler (1993) is shown to accurately deal with the nonstationarity whereas the normal‐based Lugannani & Rice (1980) approximation cannot, Their methods are illustrated by predicting various waiting times associated with M/M/q and M/G/1 queues. They also discuss modifications to the matrix renewal theory needed for computing the moment generating functions that are used in the saddlepoint methods.     

Directional mixture models and optimal estimation of the mixing density

The authors develop consistent nonparametric estimation techniques for the directional mixing density. Classical spherical harmonics are used to adapt Euclidean techniques to this directional environment. Minimax rates of convergence are obtained for rotation ally invariant densities verifying various smoothness conditions. It is found that the differences in smoothness between the Laplace, the Gaussian and the von Mises‐Fisher distributions lead to contrasting inferential conclusions.     

Multiple-arm superiority and non-inferiority designs with various endpoints

Multiple-arm dose-response superiority trials are widely studied for continuous and binary endpoints, while non-inferiority designs have been studied recently in two-arm trials. In this paper, a unified asymptotic formulation of a sample size calculation for k-arm (k>0) trials with different endpoints (continuous, binary and survival endpoints) is derived for both superiority and non-inferiority designs. The proposed method covers the sample size calculation for single-arm and k-arm (k> or =2) designs with survival endpoints, which has not been covered in the statistic literature. A simple, closed form for power and sample size calculations is derived from a contrast test. Application examples are provided. The effect of the contrasts on the power is discussed, and a SAS program for sample size calculation is provided and ready to use.     

Assessing Effects on Long-term Survival after Early Termination of Randomized Trials

In this paper we present an approach to using historical control data to augment information from a randomized controlled clinical trial, when it is not possible to continue the control regimen to obtain the most reliable and valid assessment of long term treatment effects. Using an adjustment procedure to the historical control data, we investigate a method of estimating the long term survival function for the clinical trial control group and for evaluating the long term treatment effect. The suggested method is simple to interpret, and particularly motivated in clinical trial settings when ethical considerations preclude the long term follow-up of placebo controls. A simulation study reveals that the bias in parameter estimates that arises in the setting of group sequential monitoring will be attenuated when long term historical control information is used in the proposed manner. Data from the first and second National Wilms' Tumor studies are used to illustrate the method.     

英语习语中的非言语交际表达

从跨文化交际的角度对英语习语中的非言语交际行为及其特征进行探讨研究,认为英语习语在非言语交际中具有民族性和修辞性的特征,通过身体动作、面部表情、颜色、服装容饰等非言语行为的表达,强调和加强了言语内容,使得习语更加形象、生动、传神。     

后现代文化观

后现代文化作为后工业社会人类拥有的一种生存状态、精神样式和美学实践,其目的、性质、对象、形式、内容、功能和价值都发生“哥白尼式”变化。一种健全的、非祛魅的、更多尊严和更多自主性的文化将是非异化的、人道的、自由的、多元的、反本质主义的、非决定论的多种文化形式的混合体。特别是第四世界文化将日益超越政治、国家、阶级、种族、意识形态和宗教信仰,真正实现自在和自为的统一;构建高质量的人文生态,塑造完整人性。     

文化遗产国际司法保护的里程碑

探讨纽伦堡审判对于文化遗产国际司法保护的历史意义。简单交代纽伦堡审判的背景,详细叙述纽伦堡审判中关于破坏文化遗产罪行的起诉书和判决书的内容,指出其依据在于1907年《海牙公约》和长期以来形成的国际习惯法规范。纽伦堡审判中所形成的一系列原则对于制止破坏文化遗产的罪行、推动文化遗产保护规则的法典化都有重要意义。