Point-symmetry models and decomposition for collapsed square contingency tables

For square contingency tables with ordered categories, there may be some cases that one wants to analyze them by considering collapsed tables with some adjacent categories combined in the original table. This paper proposes three kinds of new models which have the structure of point-symmetry (PS), quasi point-symmetry and marginal point-symmetry for collapsed square tables. This paper also gives a decomposition of the PS model for collapsed square tables. The father's and his daughter's occupational mobility data are analyzed using new models.     

Recent changes in long range corporate planning in Japan

In his article the author discusses an emerging new stage in Japanese long range corporate planning which reflects the struggles of Japanese companies against the new economic situation in which it is very difficult to enjoy a high economic growth rate. Among the many long range plans launched in 1976 and 1977 Hitachi's new long range plan provides an excellent illustration of the main features of the struggles. Using Hitachi as an example various new aspects manifested in Stage IV of Japanese long range corporate planning are described with reference to the economic and social background and its implications for Japanese companies.     

A randomized Baumgartner statistic for multivariate two-sample testing hypothesis

In this paper, multivariate two-sample testing problems were examined based on the Jure?ková–Kalina's ranks of distances. The multivariate two-sample rank test based on the modified Baumgartner statistic for the two-sided alternative was proposed. The proposed statistic was a randomized statistic. Simulations were used to investigate the power of the suggested statistic for various population distributions.     

Fetal movement frequency and the effect of associated perinatal factors: Multicenter study

Background

Decreased fetal movements are associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, including stillbirth. Delayed maternal visits to a health care provider after perceiving decreased fetal movements are frequently observed in stillbirths. Informing pregnant women of the normal range of fetal movement frequency is essential in their earlier visits in order to prevent stillbirth.

Asymptotic normality of the deconvolution kernel density estimator under the vanishing error variance

Let $X_1,\dots ,X_n$ be i.i.d. observations, where $X_i=Y_i+{\sigma }_n{Z}_i$ and the $Y$’s and $Z$’s are independent. Assume that the $Y$’s are unobservable and that they have the density $f$ and also that the $Z$’s have a known density $k$. Furthermore, let ${\sigma }_n$ depend on $n$ and let ${\sigma }_n\to 0$ as $n\to \infty$. We consider the deconvolution problem, i.e. the problem of estimation of the density $f$ based on the sample $X_1,\dots ,X_n$. A popular estimator of $f$ in this setting is the deconvolution kernel density estimator. We derive its asymptotic normality under two different assumptions on the relation between the sequence ${\sigma }_n$ and the sequence of bandwidths $h_n$. We also consider several simulation examples which illustrate different types of asymptotics corresponding to the derived theoretical results and which show that there exist situations where models with ${\sigma }_n\to 0$ have to be preferred to the models with fixed $\sigma$.     

Estimate of the Number of International Children in Japan, Based on Trends in Intermarriage

Abstract  This paper focuses on international children (that is, children whose parents have different nationalities) in Japanese society. Using statistics on intermarriage in Japan between 1965 and 1990, we project the numbers of such children from 1991 to 2000. The important findings are summarized below:
1. There were estimated 165,000 international children under the age of 21 in Japan as of 1991. The number will increase to 528,000 by the end of the century if the intermarriage rate continues to increase as it has recently, but this will still represent less than 2% of the Japanese population under 21.
2. By the year 2000 roughly 75% of these will be children of foreign mothers, due to the rapid increase in marriages between Japanese grooms and foreign brides.
3. The number of children with dual nationality continues to remain much lower in Japan than advanced countries in Europe, despite concern expressed when the Nationality Law was revised in 1985. The number of children born to international couples in Japan is surprisingly small with respect to the number of international marriages, so a dramatic increase is not likely.     

Effect of avian predation on survival of leaf-rolling lepidopterous larvae

Manipulative field experiments were performed in a northern Japanese deciduous forest to determine the role of avian predation in the survival of three leaf-rolling lepidopterous larvae (Homonopsis foedenratana, Archips viola, and Zeiraphera corpulentana) on Japanese lilac (Syringa reticulata) trees. When all leaf rolls on the lilacs were experimentally removed, the visitation rate of birds declined, indicating that the leaf rolls served as a visual cue for the birds. In a second experiment in which birds were excluded from the lilac trees, the survival of H. foedenratana larvae was improved, whereas the mortality of the other two Lepidoptera stayed the same. This is probably the result of differences in the shape of leaf rolls; larvae of H. foedenratana alter the leaf form to a greater extent, which may facilitate the detection of the rolls by birds. The high predation rate on the tight leaf rolls of H. foedenratana may be offset by enhanced resistance against other predators and better food quality for the enclosed larvae. Received: January 30, 1998 / Accepted: December 2, 1998     

中原平原农区回乡创业的现状——对周口市回乡创业者的问卷调查

"回乡创业"现象从上世纪90年代后期开始受到学者们的关注.近年来在中国,"回乡创业"已经形成了一个潮流.中原农村地区是典型的传统平原农区,工业化和城镇化进程较为缓慢,诸多矛盾在这里交织汇集."回乡创业"对促进这些地区的工业化、城镇化及农业现代化进程也许有更强的作用与更大的意义,同时,对解决广受社会关注的"留守儿童"及"留守老人"问题也做出了一些贡献.一般来说,回乡创业者具有相对高的学历,外出打工时,他们有学技术与本事的有关人力资本积累的动机;另外,他们外出打工时作为技术人员或经营班子成员的经历对他们以后的创业意义重大.但值得注意的是,"关系"(社会网络)在创业者的创业过程中作用较大;此外,政府的政策支持必不可少.     

Job coaching for persons with mental disabilities

The effectiveness of job coaching for persons with mental challenges at the Yokohama City Comprehensive Care Continuum is examined through case records. The immediate intervention with the client, as well as improved working conditions through consultation with the company are recognized as crucial for the client's optimum adjustment at the work site. On the other hand, in a case where the client quit the job, we can see that the inadequacy is in the assessment of the client and of the working conditions. Improved assessments are needed. Using the principle and the strategies of supported employment developed in America, the goal of job coaching at Y.C.C.C. is to form an adequate support system for the client, both at the workplace and in other living and social situation which influence the client in the workplace.     

Incentives for International Migration of Scientists and Engineers to Japan

Many developed countries, welcome foreign talent, and Japan is no exception. The Japanese government has developed programmes for expanding the acceptance of foreign labour in specialized and technical fields, in order to compete with foreign nations in the global economy and accommodate the highly specialized domestic industrial structure. This paper focuses on scientists and engineers (S&E) as a component of the highly skilled labour force, and examines their incentives for migrating to Japan, which is one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. According to a survey conducted in 2004, the majority of S&E working in Japan migrated from Asian nations, and many obtained their doctoral degrees in Japan and continued to stay in the country to work. Key incentives for migration are Japan’s high level of science and technology, opportunities to acquire cutting‐edge knowledge, and prospects for improving performance in an environment with large budgets, superior equipment and facilities, and good quality human resources. In particular, the technological environment is influential for S&E from countries with a significant technological gap when compared with Japan. However, this does not mean that S&E are indifferent to monetary rewards. The salary gap, which is considered to be a major factor in international mobility in to traditional economic theory, has also proven to be a significant incentive, particularly for S&E from countries where the gap in gross domestic product (GDP) per capita compared with Japan is large. In addition, cultural and social aspects of Japan attract mainly young S&E. The attractiveness of Japanese culture, opportunities to learn the Japanese language, and chances to build a network of personal contacts are important incentives for migration. This study presents some policy implications for countries competing over capable S&E.