Fitting competing risks data to bivariate Pareto models

This paper revisits two bivariate Pareto models for fitting competing risks data. The first model is the Frank copula model, and the second one is a bivariate Pareto model introduced by Sankaran and Nair (1993 Sankaran, P. G., and N. U. Nair. 1993. A bivariate Pareto model and its applications to reliability. Naval Research Logistics 40 (7):1013–1020. doi:10.1002/1520-6750(199312)40:7%3c1013::AID-NAV3220400711%3e3.0.CO;2-7.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). We discuss the identifiability issues of these models and develop the maximum likelihood estimation procedures including their computational algorithms and model-diagnostic procedures. Simulations are conducted to examine the performance of the maximum likelihood estimation. Real data are analyzed for illustration.     

谈弗·雷·利维斯小说批评中的非个性化原则

非个性化是利维斯衡量其伟大小说和小说家的重要尺度.通过时这一尺度的诠释来捕捉和说明利维斯评价标准的实质,推敲和体味这一标准在其重要评价中所具有的丰富意蕴,这对于我们正确理解和评价利维斯的批评事业无疑是至关重要的.     

Reducing attitudes of prejudice and discrimination through literature: a quasi-experiment on the upper key-stage 2 students of the British schools in Karachi,Pakistan

This study aims to explore the efficacy of literature relating to Anne Frank to reduce children’s attitudes of prejudice and discrimination with respect to specific dimensions, including ethnicity and race, religion and gender. A quasi-experiment was employed with pre-post control design. The sample consisted of 100 students of the upper key-stage 2 (UKS2) level, recruited from the two British schools in Karachi. These schools represented an Experimental Group (EG) and a matched Comparison Group (CG). A research instrument titled ‘Muggles world of differences’ (MWD) was developed and validated. It was administered on CG and EG, both before and after intervention. The intervention plan ‘Reading of Young Anne’s Literature’ (ROYAL) was developed based on selected readings from Anne Frank related literature (AFL). Intervention was provided to EG, while CG studied similar concepts using a more standard method. Results of the pretest revealed a high level of prejudice and discrimination in both the EG and CG, with no significant difference (p > 0.05) in the overall scores, as well as in the specific content domains. However, the post-test of the two groups revealed that the students in the EG had outperformed their CG counterparts in overall MWD scores, as well as in specific content domains. The difference was found to be significant (p < 0.05) with the large effect size (r = ?0.63). Results support the efficacy of teaching Anne Frank related literature in reducing attitudes of prejudice and discrimination.     

Copula-based regression models: A survey

In this review paper we collect several results about copula-based models, especially concerning regression models, by focusing on some insurance applications.     

Thinking through tragedy: critical distance and the law of genre

Abstract

This article focuses on two problems associated with tragedy. One ancient: what is it that draws us to the dramatic presentation of events of terrible suffering and loss? And one modern: namely, that while tragedies are still performed and appreciated, little new tragedy is being written. It will be argued in relation to the second problem that the vitality of tragedy as a dramatic form requires a less rigid approach to what might be considered tragic. And in relation to the first problem it will be argued that this more expansive conception of tragedy will allow an understanding of the ‘pay-off’ of tragedy in a way that draws both on the tradition that focuses on tragedy as cathartic therapeutic, and on the tradition that sees it as a thought laboratory that allows ethical dilemmas to be posed and explored from different perspectives. This argument constitutes a two-fold dialectical synthesis (emotional and intellectual approaches to tragedy on the one hand and the technical and popular use of the word ‘tragedy’ on the other) and the effect of this is to facilitate an understanding of tragedy as establishing a ‘critical distance’ that sets the scene for the possibility of thinking.     

Trends in the History of Vocational Guidance

In this article, the relationships between vocational guidance and vocational education, employment counseling, career guidance, and career counseling are explored. Also examined are the wide‐ranging federal and state policies that have stimulated and shaped the professional history of vocational guidance, vocational policy, and contemporary terms.     

从“少数人”到“心智成熟的民众”--利维斯的文化批评与“共同体”形塑

不少学者对利维斯的批判大多立足于片面理解其“少数人文化”论,给利维斯扣上“文化精英主义”的帽子。然而,对利维斯“少数人文化”的理解必须结合利维斯对“大众文明”的界定和批判,更不能忽视利维斯对“心智成熟的民众”的关注和想象。利维斯批判的“大众文明”是工业技术发展带来的批量生产的文化后果,他所批判的“大众文化”并非指人民群众创造的民间文化,而是指商业利益驱动的现代传媒对大众的操纵、欺骗和误导。他清醒地意识到,解决“大众文明”时代的“文化困境”,光靠“少数人”的突围是不够的,而得到“心智成熟的民众”的回应和支持,文化传承才有希望;因此,大学教育的各门学科都应该以培养“心智成熟的民众”为使命,文学研究尤应如此。“少数人”与“心智成熟的民众”之间的创造性合作就是利维斯对“共同体”的想象。     

Flexible Bivariate INAR(1) Processes Using Copulas

Multivariate count time series data occur in many different disciplines. The class of INteger-valued AutoRegressive (INAR) processes has the great advantage to consider explicitly both the discreteness and autocorrelation characterizing this type of data. Moreover, extensions of the simple INAR(1) model to the multi-dimensional space make it possible to model more than one series simultaneously. However, existing models do not offer great flexibility for dependence modelling, allowing only for positive correlation. In this work, we consider a bivariate INAR(1) (BINAR(1)) process where cross-correlation is introduced through the use of copulas for the specification of the joint distribution of the innovations. We mainly emphasize on the parametric case that arises under the assumption of Poisson marginals. Other marginal distributions are also considered. A short application on a bivariate financial count series illustrates the model.     

一部建立在对话原则上的作品——评雷蒙德·卡佛小说集《大教堂》

小说集《大教堂》是美国杰出短篇小说家雷蒙德.卡佛的晚期代表作,共分11篇,分别讲述各自独特的故事,这种看似松散的结构遵循着严密的布局,无论是作者与作品之间、作者与读者之间还是作品篇章之间都遵循着对话的原则,对话使得整部小说张力十足。     

后现代主义视角下的卡佛叙事特征

针对雷蒙德·卡佛的＂极简主义＂小说,采用文献综述与文学批评的方法,阐述了后现代主义视角下卡佛小说中的主要叙事特征：白描式的不确定背景、确定的人物形象与破碎的叙事结构相结合、极简的语言和无头绪的对话以及＂留白＂的结尾。