The US Enhancing Ties with Sri Lanka: Motivations and Restraints

The rapid growth in US-Sri Lanka relations is the latest attempt by the US to implement its Indo-Pacific strategy in South Asia. As the strategy materializes, the intensified US involvement in the region will bring new variables to the security situation in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.

The Sign Test with Ties Included

The sign rank test is taught in virtually all introductory Statistics classes. When teaching the sign rank test the students are told to ignore the ties. Ignoring ties that support the null hypothesis is not logical. Why should valid data that support the null hypothesis be ignored? The approach taken here demonstrates a method for testing with ties included. A typical problem presentation in a text book would indicate that if you had ten ties in a sample of size fifty the tie scores would be excluded. However, the ten tie scores are a very valuable piece of statistical information which should not be ignored. The method demonstrated here shows that a different conclusion is reached in some cases when the ties are not excluded. Further many sign tests often will have ties because in some cases the data are not a cardinal number, but an ordinal number chosen from a set often results in ties. The alternative approach uses a one-tailed distribution and considers both +’s and -'s separated. A two-tailed test for equal variances is done with a one-tail of an F distribution. This alternate approach to the sign test allows the use of important statistical information which has been ignored with the traditional sign rank test.

Party-to-Party Ties Can Enhance Basis for Japan-China State-to-State Relations:An exclusive interview with Kiyohiko Toyama,Member of Central Secretariat and Director of International Affairs Bureau,the Komeito of Japan

Q:Mr.Kiyohiko Toyama,through your study tours to China and ex-changes of views during your visits in the past few years,could you speak about your understanding and impres-sions of China’s economic and social development?If possible,would you also speak about economic cooperation between China and Japan in relation to your current visit?

Studies of Soil Physical Properties and Community Characteristics of Different Abandoned Lands in the Minqin Oasis,Downstream of the Shiyang River

[Objective] The aim was to explore physical properties and community characteristics of abandoned lands in different years in Minqin Oasis, downstream of the Shiyang River, [Method] The evolution of environment and plant community characteristics in different abandoned lands were analyzed after abandonment for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 15, 24 and 31 years, and the plant community characteristics, water content, bulk density, porosity and mechanical composition of soil in the different a- bandoned lands were also researched in the Minqin Oasis, downstream of the Shiyang River. [Result] Plant of 32 species spread over 14 family live through fifty years appeared in abandoned lands in the study area. Shrubs was 6 species, herbs was 26 species among them, which were 18.75%, 81.25% respectively. The goose- foot family （6 species）, the composite family（4 species）,the grass family（4 species）, caltrop family（3 species） were 53.13% among them. Within the range of 0-40 cm of different abandoned Land, the soil moisture content showed a trend of first increase and then decrease with the increase of soil depth changes in soil bulk density and porosity of less obvious. In the range of 0-40 cm soil depth, the largest proportion of fine sand, followed by silt and clay and the smallest proportion of coarse sand in every plot, but the proportion of the each silt size varies little with the years aban- doned. [Conclusion] The research provides references for vegetation reconstruction and eco-environment construction in abandoned lands in downstream of Shiyang River.

Toxicity evaluation in a paper recycling mill effluent by coupling bioindicator of aging with the toxicity identification evaluation method in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) can be used to determine the specific toxicant(s) in industrial effluents.In the current study,the authors have attempted to combine the advantages of the model organism,Caenorhabditis elegans,with the virtues of the TIE technique,to evaluate and identify the toxicity on aging from a paper recycling mill effluent.The results indicate that only the toxicities from mixed cellulose (MC) filtration and EDTA treatment are similar to the baseline aging toxicity,suggesting ...

Confirmation of combinational effects of calcium with other metals in a paper recycling mill effluent on nematode lifespan with toxicity identification evaluation method

We used toxicity identification evaluation （TIE） method to confirm the combinational effects of identified toxic metals in a paper recycling mill effluent in inducing the decreased lifespan in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.Exposure to Ca ＋ Al caused more severely decreased lifespan than that exposed to Ca,or Al;and exposure to Ca ＋ Fe induced more severely decreased lifespan than that exposed to Ca,or Fe.Exposure to Ca＋Al＋Fe caused more severely decreased lifespan than that exposed to Ca,or Ca＋Fe.Moreover,the baseline toxicity on lifespan was doubled by doubling the concentration of combined metals （Ca＋Al＋Fe） in spiking test in original effluent （oe）,and lifespan defects in oe＋Ca＋Al＋Fe exposed nematodes were more severe than that in Ca＋Al＋Fe exposed nematode.Therefore,Ca＋Al＋Fe exposure may largely explain the formation of decreased lifespan induced by the examined industrial effluent.Furthermore,the observed reduction of lifespan induced by the combination of high level of Ca with other metals may be at least partially independent of the insulin-like pathway.

Effects of anti-pull ties on the bearing behaviors of shallow tunnel-type anchorages in soft rock

Tunnel-type anchorages(TTAs)installed in human gathering areas are characterized by a shallow burial depth,and in many instances,they utilize soft rock as the bearing stratum.However,the stability control measures and the principle of shallow TTAs in soft rock have not been fully studied.Hence,a structure suitable for improving the stability of shallow TTAs in soft rock strata,named the anti-pull tie(APT),was added to the floor of the back face.Physical tests and numerical models were established to study the influence of the APT on the load transfer of TTAs,the mechanical response of the surrounding rock,the stress distribution of the interface,and the failure model.The mechanical characteristics of APTs were also studied.The results show that the ultimate bearing capacity of TTAs with an APT is increased by approximately 11.8%,as compared to the TTAs without an APT.Also,the bearing capacity of TTAs increases approximately linearly with increasing height,width,length,and quantity of APTs,and decreases approximately linearly with increasing distance from the back face and slope angle of the tie slope.The normal squeezing between the tie slope and the surrounding rock increases the shear resistance of the interface and expands the range of the surrounding rock participating in bearing sharing.Both tension and compression zones exist in the APT during loading.The tension zone extends from the tie toe to the tie bottom along the tie slope.The range of the tie body tension zone constantly expands to the deep part of the APT with an increasing load.The peak tensile stress value is located at the tie toe.The distribution of compressive stress in the tie body is the largest at the tie top,followed by the tie slope,and then the tie bottom.

Ponder over the Changes in Sino-Russian-U. S. Ties

Some changes have indeed taken place in international situation from September 11 to Iraq war. Changes in big power relations in particular have given food for thought. Today Ⅰ would like to focus on the changes in the relations among China, Russia and the United States as well as my consideration of China’s diplomacy.

The Lagging behind Security Ties and the Way out

The present Sino-Japanese relations have developed smoothly and achieved marked results, but some problems are yet to be, solved. One of them is that, compared with the closer economic ties, political and security relations between the two states are lagging behind, in which security relations in particular have obstructed the deepening of ties between the two nations. As two major powers in East Asia, the ties be-

The Principle Describing Possible Combinations ofSingularities in Deformations of a Fixed Singularity

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Statistical Comparison of Eight Alternative Methods for the Analysis of Paired Sample Data with Applications

This paper presents and statistically compared eight alternative methods that could possibly be used in the analysis of matched or paired sample data, including situations in which the data being analyzed satisfy the usual assumptions of normality and continuity necessary for the use of parametric tests as well as when the data are numeric and non-numeric measurements on as low as the ordinal scale. It is shown that only the modified sign tests based on only the raw observations or their assigned ranks may be used with non numeric measurement on the ordinal scale. If the ordinary sign test, the Wilcoxon signed rank sum test and the modified sign tests can be equally used in data analysis, then it is shown that the modified sign tests are more efficient and hence more powerful than the ordinary sign tests because the two test statistics are intrinsically and structurally modified for the possible presence of tied observations between the sampled populations for both using raw and simulated data. Of all the non-parametric methods presented, the modified Wilcoxon’s signed rank sum test when applicable is the most efficient and powerful, following in this order by the modified sign test by ranks and the modified sign test based on only raw scores for raw data but simulation, modified sign test by ranks is the most efficient and powerful, following in this order by modified wilcoxon’s signed rank sum test and modified sign test. Each of the non-parametric methods presented can be easily modified and re-specified for use with one sample data by simply re-designating the observations from one of the sampled populations to correspond with a hypothesized value of some measure of central tendency. The methods are illustrated with some raw data as well as simulated data and their relative performances compared.

Paving the Way for Sino-Foreign Economic and Trade Ties——Notes on Second Session of CCPIT Second Council

The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) held the Second Session of the Second Council of its National Congress in the latter half of July. Attending the session were officials in charge of foreign economic relations and trade from related Chinese ministries, provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, chairmen of 46 local and 14 industrial sub-councils throughout

Following the Tide to the Future in Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of Sino-Japan Ties

There were both good times and bad times in the history of SinoJapanese relations.And the single most important lesson we could draw from it is that cooperation 1eads to a in-win situation,while conflict lose-lose.The purpose of reviewing and contemplating on this part of history is to look forward to the future.

Changes of China’s Status in the Global System and Its Influencing Factors:A Multiple Contact Networks Perspective

Clarifying China’s position in the global system is an important logical basis for developing national diplomacy.Although much research has been done on China’s development status,most studies have been based on country comparisons or institutional en-vironment.In today’s networked era in which the global economy,trade,personnel,and information are closely connected,studies on China’s global position and its status changes and influencing factors in multiple contact networks are still insufficient.In this study,from the perspective of diverse global contact networks,we constructed economic,cultural,and political influence indices to explore the changes and influencing factors on China’s status in the global system from 2005 to 2018.The results show that during the study period,China’s global influence in the fields of economic ties,cultural exchanges,and political contacts increased significantly,but its influ-ence in the fields of cultural exchanges and political contacts lagged far economic ties.The pattern of China’s economic influence on various economies around the world has shown a transformation from an‘upright pyramid’to an‘inverted pyramid’structure.The proportion of these economies in low-influence zones has decreased from more than 60%in 2005 to less than 20%in 2018.China’s cultural and political influence on various economies around the world has increased significantly;however,for the former,the percentage of high-influence areas is still less than 20%,whereas for the latter the percentage of these economies in medium-and high-influence areas is still less than 50%.Analyses such as a scatter plot matrix show that geographical proximity,economic globalization,close cooperation with developing countries,and a proactive and peaceful foreign policy are important factors in improving China’s status in the diverse global network system.

Promoting Understanding and Friendship， Strengthening Political and Economical Ties──Highlights of the CAFIU Delegation＇s Visit to Six Gulf Countries

At the invitation of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Corporation Committee(GCC),a 6-member CAFIU delegation visited the six member countries of GCC from February 25 to March5,1996.

China Forges Closer Cultural Ties with Japan and South Korea

China’s cultural dxchanges with foreign countries have advanced from separate and shortterm prog5rams inta conprehensive and largescale alal activities the 2000 ferlin asia-pacific week highlighting chinese culture has just wuond up successfully china culture year will be heid in france in

Balance,Rationality and Developmental Perspective Are the Key to Assess Sino-African Ties

A senior fellow at Brookings recently published an article titles as'Setting the Record Straight on China’s Engagement in Africa',pointing out the actual share of Chinese investment in Africa as well as its impact on the continent.David Dollar,the research fellow,explained that Chinese investment represents less than 5%of the total volume of foreign investment in Africa,defying accusations that China is buying up the continent with an overwhelming

The Youthful Ties That Bind

LAST month, hundreds of African and Chinese youth leaders descended on Beijing. Xhey had already met once before in Windhoek, Namibia＇s capital. One year later, they convened again to discuss new issues at the Second Africa-China Young Leaders Forum, which ran between June 18 and 19.