An approximation of logarithmic functions in the regression setting

We consider a method of moments approach for dealing with censoring at zero for data expressed in levels when researchers would like to take logarithms. A Box–Cox transformation is employed. We explore this approach in the context of linear regression where both dependent and independent variables are censored. We contrast this method to two others, (1) dropping records of data containing censored values and (2) assuming normality for censored observations and the residuals in the model. Across the methods considered, where researchers are interested primarily in the slope parameter, estimation bias is consistently reduced using the method of moments approach.     

衍生金融工具的计量研究

衍生金融工具因具有高风险性、时态未来性及品种多样性等特点，其计量问题一直是会计核算的核心和难点。传统的会计计量理论和方法已无法满足其要求。为此，有必要改进现行的会计核算体制，以公允价值取代历史成本对衍生金融工具进行计量，以增强信息披露的力度。     

Non-ignorable missing covariate data in survival analysis: a case-study of an International Breast Cancer Study Group trial

Summary.  Non-ignorable missing data, a serious problem in both clinical trials and observational studies, can lead to biased inferences. Quality-of-life measures have become increasingly popular in clinical trials. However, these measures are often incompletely observed, and investigators may suspect that missing quality-of-life data are likely to be non-ignorable. Although several recent references have addressed missing covariates in survival analysis, they all required the assumption that missingness is at random or that all covariates are discrete. We present a method for estimating the parameters in the Cox proportional hazards model when missing covariates may be non-ignorable and continuous or discrete. Our method is useful in reducing the bias and improving efficiency in the presence of missing data. The methodology clearly specifies assumptions about the missing data mechanism and, through sensitivity analysis, helps investigators to understand the potential effect of missing data on study results.     

团队生产、计量难题与企业的性质

阿尔奇安和德姆塞茨(1972)从团队生产引发的“计量难题”及其解决机制的角度来解释企业的性质。本文在概述该企业理论的概念框架的基础上,指出了该理论存在的一个缺陷,即它忽视了企业的监督者-剩余索取者和其他成员之间的利益冲突及其解决机制。     

Markov chain Monte Carlo methods for high dimensional inversion in remote sensing

Summary.  We discuss the inversion of the gas profiles (ozone, NO₃, NO₂, aerosols and neutral density) in the upper atmosphere from the spectral occultation measurements. The data are produced by the 'Global ozone monitoring of occultation of stars' instrument on board the Envisat satellite that was launched in March 2002. The instrument measures the attenuation of light spectra at various horizontal paths from about 100 km down to 10–20 km. The new feature is that these data allow the inversion of the gas concentration height profiles. A short introduction is given to the present operational data management procedure with examples of the first real data inversion. Several solution options for a more comprehensive statistical inversion are presented. A direct inversion leads to a non-linear model with hundreds of parameters to be estimated. The problem is solved with an adaptive single-step Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. Another approach is to divide the problem into several non-linear smaller dimensional problems, to run parallel adaptive Markov chain Monte Carlo chains for them and to solve the gas profiles in repetitive linear steps. The effect of grid size is discussed, and we present how the prior regularization takes the grid size into account in a way that effectively leads to a grid-independent inversion.     

孔径自动检测机构的设计与分析

模拟人工测量过程,设计了一种适用于气体测微传感器自动测量孔径的柔顺机构.该机构也适用于孔径分选以及小型轴类零件的自动装配等作业过程.     

成长的感悟——析青年作曲家张朝的《变奏曲》

从音乐形态、表现手法等方面具体分析《变奏曲》这部钢琴作品,探究其中对中国传统戏曲效果的模拟,以及作者如何巧妙地借鉴皮黄丰富的音响和表现力并运用到钢琴音乐中。中西的结合,古今的碰撞、鲜明的色彩个性,这些特点使得这部作品成为探索中国钢琴音乐民族化道路上的闪光点。     

最少部件数的并联备份问题

如何快速提高系统的可靠度和最少部件数的并联备份问题,一直是系统可靠性问题中的研究热点。该文从系统的任意状态(k1,k2,L,kn)出发,讨论了上述问题,并证明了在子系统可靠度最小的位置上并联相同部件可使系统的可靠度提高最快,同时给出了最优算法和实例验证。     

Generalized additive models for location, scale and shape

Summary.  A general class of statistical models for a univariate response variable is presented which we call the generalized additive model for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS). The model assumes independent observations of the response variable y given the parameters, the explanatory variables and the values of the random effects. The distribution for the response variable in the GAMLSS can be selected from a very general family of distributions including highly skew or kurtotic continuous and discrete distributions. The systematic part of the model is expanded to allow modelling not only of the mean (or location) but also of the other parameters of the distribution of y , as parametric and/or additive nonparametric (smooth) functions of explanatory variables and/or random-effects terms. Maximum (penalized) likelihood estimation is used to fit the (non)parametric models. A Newton–Raphson or Fisher scoring algorithm is used to maximize the (penalized) likelihood. The additive terms in the model are fitted by using a backfitting algorithm. Censored data are easily incorporated into the framework. Five data sets from different fields of application are analysed to emphasize the generality of the GAMLSS class of models.     

Horwitz's rule, transforming both sides and the design of experiments for mechanistic models

Summary. The paper develops methods for the design of experiments for mechanistic models when the response must be transformed to achieve symmetry and constant variance. The power transformation that is used is partially justified by a rule in analytical chemistry. Because of the nature of the relationship between the response and the mechanistic model, it is necessary to transform both sides of the model. Expressions are given for the parameter sensitivities in the transformed model and examples are given of optimum designs, not only for single-response models, but also for experiments in which multivariate responses are measured and for experiments in which the model is defined by a set of differential equations which cannot be solved analytically. The extension to designs for checking models is discussed.