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The authors’ conclusions are based on mathematical derivations that are supported by computer simulations and three worked examples in applications of economics and finance. Finally, the authors provide a link to a computer program so that researchers can perform the analyses easily.

Based on a parameter estimation goal, the present work is concerned with determining the minimum sample size researchers should collect so their sample medians can be trusted as good estimates of corresponding population medians. The authors derive two solutions, using a normal approximation and an exact method.

The exact method provides more accurate answers than the normal approximation method. The authors show that the minimum sample size necessary for estimating the median using the exact method is substantially smaller than that using the normal approximation method. Therefore, researchers can use the exact method to enjoy a sample size savings.

In this paper, the a priori procedure is extended for estimating the population median under the skew normal settings. The mathematical derivation and with computer simulations of the exact method by using sample median to estimate the population median is new and a link to a free and user-friendly computer program is provided so researchers can make their own calculations.

The purpose of this paper is to propose and test a conceptual model that explains racially/ethnically differential confidence in order institutions through a mediating mechanism of perception of discrimination.

This study relies on a nationally representative sample of 1,001 respondents and path analysis to test the relationships between race/ethnicity, multiple mediating factors, and confidence in order institutions.

Both African and Latino Americans reported significantly lower levels of confidence compared to White Americans. People who have stronger senses of being discriminated against, regardless of their races, have reduced confidence. A range of other cognitive/evaluative variables have promoted or inhibited people’s confidence in order institutions.

This study relies on cross-sectional data which preclude definite inferences regarding causal relationships among the variables. Some measures are limited due to constraint of data.

To lessen discrimination, both actual and perceived, officials from order institutions should act fairly and impartially, recognize citizen rights, and treat people with respect and dignity. In addition, comprehensive measures involving interventions throughout the entire criminal justice system to reduce racial inequalities should be in place.

Equal protection and application of the law by order institutions are imperative, so are social policies that aim to close the structural gaps among all races and ethnicities.

This paper takes an innovative effort of incorporating the currently dominant group position perspective and the injustice perspective into an integrated account of the process by which race and ethnicity affect the perception of discrimination, which, in turn, links to confidence in order institutions.

The purpose of this paper is to explore concrete design methodology which can improve production technology.

An application of advanced process control (APC) on distributed control systems (DCS) was designed by defining the project target, scope, and control strategy. Calculation is based on heat and mass conservation, such as RPID=FC 203×900×(DC 241 PV‐400)×1.06/500 DC 241 PV; CATRATE=LEVELRATE×0.2²×3.14/4. The quality controller writes the control target on the density controller, which writes the initial value or output value onto the DCS.

The technique has dramatically increased the control quality of the DCS system: production capacity of the equipment has been improved and the aim of fecundity with little input is realized. The transit time of the product name is shortened and the excess stock is reduced.

The paper is aimed at operational researches and engineers.

This study aims to identify the stakeholders and critical factors (CFs) of promoting age-friendly communities (AFCs), discuss the relationship between the stakeholders and CFs and develop a preliminary framework for the briefing stage of promoting AFCs in urban China.

Stakeholders and CFs were identified through literature review and document analysis. The Delphi method was used to screen the extracted stakeholders and CFs. The focus group methodology was applied to obtain evaluation matrices of relationships between stakeholders and CFs. A two-mode social network was formed to analyse the evaluation matrices generated.

Results of the analyses indicate that local governments and policymaking institutions, together with project investors, obtained high prioritisations in the stakeholders' group, whilst senior citizens and caregivers appear to rank last. For CFs, communities' environmental factors receive the most attention from stakeholders.

Results of the analyses can only show similarities of the participating stakeholders' opinions on their concerns, and provide researchers and practitioners with initial ideas on analysing stakeholders and CFs at the briefing stage of promoting AFCs. For a specific project, the concerns and prioritisations would change. Diverse voices are necessary and case studies are in need.

Challenges in promoting AFCs in urban China are discussed, and a preliminary framework of the briefing stage is developed for practitioners to follow when promoting AFCs.

This study discusses which CFs should be considered priorities and what consensuses are generally reached by stakeholders. CFs are utilised to interpret stakeholders' relationships, influences and concerns on AFC projects when conducting the social network analysis (SNA).

This study aims to identify senior citizens’ requirements related to “embedded retirement facilities (ERFs)”, which are small-scale, multi-functional and community-based care facilities for senior citizens in mainland China, and to discuss whether senior citizens’ perceptions are influenced by their backgrounds.

A questionnaire type of research was administrated to gain senior citizens’ rankings of services that should be provided by ERFs. Non-parametric statistical models were applied to analyse the collected data.

Results reveal that health care services for senior citizens are considered the most important. Requirements regarding rehabilitation and entertainment and daily life assistance are ranked second and third, respectively. Culture-related activities are the least important. Differences in the senior citizens’ background also influence their choices.

This research is based on a questionnaire survey completed in northeast China. Opinions from other areas of mainland China will be collected in the future study. Furthermore, the key items identified in this research, which was completed by participants from the built environment discipline, can be further elaborated by combining interdisciplinary feedback.

This study explores services that are supposedly provided by ERFs. Findings will provide useful perceptions from senior citizens and will enable decision makers to prioritise services for senior citizens.

Although senior citizens are the end users of ERFs, their needs are easily overlooked. This study calls attention to their needs from ERFs, and the results are likely to serve as references for stakeholders in building improved facilities.

ERFs have been provided in mainland China to cater to senior citizens’ needs since 2014. However, few studies have identified senior citizens’ requirements for provided services. The survey-based results of this work will serve as references for various stakeholders in making enhanced decisions.

Basic safety message (BSM) is a core subset of standard protocols for connected vehicle system to transmit related safety information via vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I). Although some safety prototypes of connected vehicle have been proposed with effective strategies, few of them are fully evaluated in terms of the significance of BSM messages on performance of safety applications when in emergency.

To address this problem, a data fusion method is proposed to capture the vehicle crash risk by extracting critical information from raw BSMs data, such as driver volition, vehicle speed, hard accelerations and braking. Thereafter, a classification model based on information-entropy and variable precision rough set (VPRS) is used for assessing the instantaneous driving safety by fusing the BSMs data from field test, and predicting the vehicle crash risk level with the driver emergency maneuvers in the next short term.

The findings and implications are discussed for developing an improved warning and driving assistant system by using BSMs messages.

The findings of this study are relevant to incorporation of alerts, warnings and control assists in V2V applications of connected vehicles. Such applications can help drivers identify situations where surrounding drivers are volatile, and they may avoid dangers by taking defensive actions.

The National People’s Congress (NPC) of People’s Republic of China, the highest organ of state power, is popularly seen as a rubber-stamp entity. However, it has been substantially evolving its roles to accommodate the governance discourses within China’s political system over the decades. This study aims to explore the changes of governance discourse of the NPC within China’s political system through which to offer a thorough understanding of the NPC’s evolving substantial role in current China.

This study deploys a historical approach to explore the changes of governance discourse of the NPC that has seen a growing importance in China’s political agenda, as argued by this study.

The authors find that the NPC has been substantially evolving its role within China’s political system in which the Chinese Communist Party has created different governance discourses. Besides, the NPC and its Standing Committee have asserted its authority as a substantial actor within China’s political system. The NPC is no longer functioned as a rubber-stamp institution, though it is still popularized as a rubber stamp by many scholars.

This study is a historical elaboration on the development of NPC under three governance discourses. It might be, to some extent, relatively descriptive in nature.

This study, therefore, sheds some light on a revisit on the governance discourses in current China.

Drawing on signaling theory and social capital theory, this study aims to examine the underlying mechanisms and contingencies of the relationships between social capital (SC) and collaboration in buyer-supplier relationships (BSRs). This is achieved by evaluating the mediating effect of psychological contract fulfillment (PCF) and the moderating roles of guanxi orientation and market uncertainty.

The current study used a survey method to collect data from 271 buyers in China. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and moderated regression analysis were applied to examine the hypotheses.

The positive effect of structural and relational SC on buyers’ collaborative behaviors is partially mediated by buyers’ PCF. In contrast, the positive effect of cognitive SC on collaboration is fully mediated by buyers’ PCF. Guanxi orientation strengthens the indirect effect of buyers’ PCF on the cognitive SC-collaboration relationship and relational SC-collaboration relationship. Market uncertainty amplifies the relational SC-collaboration relationship.

Prior studies have presented mixed evidence of the effect of SC on collaboration and have paid little attention to the underlying mechanisms and conditions moderating the effect. This research proposes a theoretical model that integrates signaling theory and social capital theory to explore how three dimensions of SC can enhance buyer collaboration through buyers’ PCF under different levels of guanxi orientation and market uncertainty.

The purpose of this paper is to differentiate clearly between three frequently used concepts found in the research literature on public perceptions of the police: confidence in the police, satisfaction with the police and trust in the police.

Systemic literature review and thematic analysis are employed to assess each key term in the official English language dictionary and in the research literature. Their individual origins, their evolvement and their current usages are examined with great care.

The findings of the study suggest that the three phrases are indeed distinct in their connotation. It is concluded that “confidence in the police” is the preferred choice when we survey the citizenry about the level of support for the police and when the police is evaluated as a political institution.

Given that most criminologists believe that we are doing scientific research, it is our duty to be attentive to the pitfalls of lack of conceptual clarity.

The essay advances the conceptual clarification of one of the popular themes in the study of the police.