Estimating spatial quantile regression with functional coefficients: A robust semiparametric framework

This paper considers an estimation of semiparametric functional (varying)-coefficient quantile regression with spatial data. A general robust framework is developed that treats quantile regression for spatial data in a natural semiparametric way. The local M-estimators of the unknown functional-coefficient functions are proposed by using local linear approximation, and their asymptotic distributions are then established under weak spatial mixing conditions allowing the data processes to be either stationary or nonstationary with spatial trends. Application to a soil data set is demonstrated with interesting findings that go beyond traditional analysis.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.3150/12-BEJ480 the Bernoulli (http://isi.cbs.nl/bernoulli/) by the International Statistical Institute/Bernoulli Society (http://isi.cbs.nl/BS/bshome.htm

Research on Warnings with New Thought of Neuro-IE

AbstractSafety production is a seriously stubborn problem in modern industry engineering. Warnings, as the most fundamental and important measure used in safety management, especially in Mine Exploitation, have played a vital role in risk cognition, behaviors guide and accidents prevention. However, traditional researches are so subjective that it's hard to deeply explore the inner mechanism and process, which has been hidden behind the outer behaviors. As a result, the effectiveness of Warnings is much discounted. In this paper, we make use of neuroscience methods to study Warnings from the basically cognitive levels and have acquired preliminary achievements, which provide new evidence, discussion and introductions for former researches

ENVIRONMENTAL SURROUNDINGS AND PERSONAL WELL-BEING IN URBAN CHINA

We examine the relationship between atmospheric pollution, water pollution, traffic congestion, access to parkland and personal well-being using a survey administered across six Chinese cities in 2007. In contrast to existing studies of the determinants of well-being by economists, which have typically employed single item indicators to measure well-being, we use the Personal Well-Being Index (PWI). We also employ the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) to measure job satisfaction, which is one of the variables for which we control when examining the relationship between environmental surroundings and personal well-being. Previous research by psychologists has shown the PWI and JSS to have good psychometric properties in western and Chinese samples. A robust finding is that in cities with higher levels of atmospheric pollution and traffic congestion, respondents report lower levels of personal well-being ceteris paribus. Specifically, we find that a one standard deviation increase in suspended particles or sulphur dioxide emissions is roughly equivalent to a 12-13 per cent reduction in average monthly income in the six cities.China, Environment, Pollution, Personal Well-Being.

ENVIRONMENTAL SURROUNDINGS AND PERSONAL WELL-BEING IN URBAN CHINA

We examine the relationship between atmospheric pollution, water pollution, traffic congestion, access to parkland and personal well-being using a survey administered across six Chinese cities in 2007. In contrast to existing studies of the determinants of well-being by economists, which have typically employed single item indicators to measure well-being, we use the Personal Well-Being Index (PWI). We also employ the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS) to measure job satisfaction, which is one of the variables for which we control when examining the relationship between environmental surroundings and personal well-being. Previous research by psychologists has shown the PWI and JSS to have good psychometric properties in western and Chinese samples. A robust finding is that in cities with higher levels of atmospheric pollution and traffic congestion, respondents report lower levels of personal well-being ceteris paribus. We find that a one standard deviation increase in suspended particles or sulphur dioxide emissions is roughly equivalent to a 12-13 percent reduction in average monthly income in the six cities. This result suggests that the personal well-being of China's urban population can be enhanced if China were to pursue a more balanced growth path which curtailed atmospheric pollution.China, Environment, Pollution, Personal Well-Being.

The impact of maternal pre-pregnancy impaired fasting glucose on preterm birth and large for gestational age: a large population-based cohort study

Background The impact of maternal pre-pregnancy impaired fasting glucose on preterm birth and large for gestational age has been poorly understood. Objectives We aimed to estimate the impact of pre-pregnancy impaired fasting glucose defined by the WHO cut-point on the risk of preterm birth and large for gestational age, and to investigate whether the WHO cut-point of impaired fasting glucose was appropriate for identifying women at the risk of preterm birth and large for gestational age among the Chinese population. Study Design This was a retrospective cohort study of women from the National Free Preconception Health Examination Project with singleton birth from 121 counties/districts in 21 cities of Guangdong Province, China, from 1st January 2013 to 31st December 2017. Women were included if pre-pregnancy fasting glucose was less than 7.0mmol/L. The primary outcomes were preterm birth (gestational age 90th percentile based on the international standards in the INTERGROWTH-21st) and severe large for gestational age (birth weight by gestational age >97th percentile). We calculated the adjusted risk ratio for impaired fasting glucose, and a 1 standard deviation increase in fasting glucose. Results We included 640469 women. Of these, 31006 (4.84%) met the WHO cut-point for impaired fasting glucose, 32640 (5.10%) had preterm birth and 7201 (1.12%) had early preterm birth, 45532 (7.11%) had large for gestational age birth and 16231 (2.53%) had severe large for gestational age birth. Compared with women with normoglycaemia, women with pre-pregnancy impaired fasting glucose had a 7.0% higher risk of preterm birth (adjusted risk ratio 1.07, 95%CI 1.02-1.12), 10.0% higher risk of large for gestational age (1.10, 1.06-1.14) and 17.0% higher risk of severe large for gestational age (1.17, 1.10-1.26). No significant association of pre-pregnancy impaired fasting glucose with early preterm birth was found. The association of pre-pregnancy impaired fasting glucose with preterm birth and large for gestational age were similar in subgroups of women with various baseline characteristics. Adjusted risk ratio for preterm birth per standard deviation fasting glucose (0.7mmol/L) was 0.99 (95% CI 0.98-1.00), for early preterm birth 0.99 (0.97-1.02), for large for gestational age 1.04 (1.03-1.05) and for severe large for gestational age 1.03 (1.01-1.04). Conclusions Our data suggest that maternal pre-pregnancy impaired fasting glucose increases the risk of preterm birth, large for gestational age and severe large for gestational age. Data also suggest that the WHO cut-point of impaired fasting glucose is too restrictive and lesser levels of fasting glucose also increase the risk of large gestational age and severe for severe gestational age in the Chinese population. Further investigation is warranted to determine whether and how counselling and interventions for women with pre-pregnancy impaired fasting glucose could reduce the risk of preterm birth and large for gestational age.This work was supported by grants National Natural Science Foundation of China (81773457 & 81302445 to JJT)Published versio

Preparation and Performance of Inorganic Heat Insulation Panel Based on Sepiolite Nanofibers

High efficiency and low cost thermal insulation energy saving panel materials containing sepiolite nanofibers were developed by means of the synergistic action of inorganic adhesive, curing agent, and hydrogen peroxide. The water soluble sodium silicate was used as inorganic adhesive, and the sodium fluorosilicate was chosen as curing agent. Moreover, appropriate amount of hydrogen peroxide was added in order to decrease the bulk density and improve the heat insulation performance of panel materials. The results showed that the synergistic action of inorganic adhesive, curing agent, and hydrogen peroxide could make thermal insulation energy saving panel materials have low bulk density and high mechanical performance, and the optimal process was as follows: 120°C of drying temperature, 1.6% of sodium silicate as inorganic adhesive, 12% of sodium fluorosilicate as curing agent in sodium silicate, and 2.5% of hydrogen peroxide. The thermal insulation energy saving panel materials as prepared could arrest heat transmission and resist external force effectively

Memory Load Influences Taste Sensitivities

Previous literature reports have demonstrated that taste perception would be influenced by different internal brain status or external environment stimulation. Although there are different hypotheses about the cross-modal interactive process, it still remains unclear as of how the brain modulates and processes taste perception, particularly with different memory load. Here in this study we address this question. To do so we assign the participants different memory loads in the form of varying lengths of alphanumerical items, before tasting different concentrations of sweet or bitter tastants. After tasting they were asked to recall the alphanumerical items they were assigned. Our results show that the memory load reduces sweet and bitter taste sensitivities, from sub-threshold level to high concentration. Higher the memory load, less is the taste sensitivity. The study has extended our previous results and supports our previous hypothesis that the cognitive status, such as the general stress of memory load, influences sensory perception

Pump-controlled wavelength switchable dissipative soliton mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser using a 45° tilted fiber grating

We demonstrate a pump-controlled wavelength switchable Yb-doped fiber laser (YDFL) by nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) for the first time. The polarizer replaced by a 45° tilted fiber grating (45°-TFG) combines with a section of polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) to form a fiber-based birefringent filter. Stable dissipative soliton (DS) with center wavelength of 1068.39 nm is generated under the mode-locked threshold of 277 mW. The operating wavelength switching between 1046.51 nm and 1067.90 nm can be realized via increasing the pump power simply while keeping the polarization controllers (PCs) in a fixed state. The laser maintains stable mode-locking operation at each wavelength, which can be regarded as a type of multi-wavelength ultrafast light source with precise control and integration potential