ASSESSMENT OF INDIRECT USE VALUES OF FOREST BIODIVERSITY IN YAOLUOPING NATIONAL NATURE RESERVE, ANHUI PROVINCE

Direct use values of forest ecosystem have been recognized apparently due toits easy and convenient assessment, while indirect use values are usually neglected because they arenot easy to be recognized by the public. For a nature reserve with forest ecosystem, the mostimportant economic values are the indirect use values, which provide human beings and other livingthings with beneficial services through ecological processes and functions. In this case study, aquantifying framework to estimate the annual indirect use values of forest ecosystem has beenestablished in Yaoluoping National Nature Reserve based on alternative cost method and opportunitycost method. The ecological functions assessed in the study relate to six aspects: soil protection,water conservation, CO_2 fixation, nutrient cycling, pollutant decomposition and disease and pestcontrol. These ecological functions provide an economic value of 86.1xl0~6 yuan (RMB) per year(US$10.37xl0~6), which is 25 times higher than the opportunity cost for regular timber production.This study can contribute to the monetary assessment of indirect use values of forest biodiversityand to the conservation and sustainable use of nature reserves.

The Use and Non-use Values of Ecosystem Services for Hechuan Wetland

Hechuan wetland is located in the mid-Yellow River and at the intersection of Shaanxi, Shanxi and Henan provinces in China. It is the largest hot spring lake wetland in the Yellow River basin and the birthplace of Guanju, a famous poem in theBook of Songs. Based on field investigations and questionnaires, we valued Hechuan Wetland ecosystem services, considering use values and non-use values. The annual use value of Hechuan Wetland ecosystem services is 79.236 bilion CNY. The contingent valuation method was applied to value the annual non-use value, which is 6.27 bilion CNY. We examined how the historical and cultural value of theBook of Songs affected respondents’ willingness to pay by establishing a control group. Results suggest that historical and cultural value does have a strong inlfuence on wilingness to pay.

Ethnobotany of food,medicinal,construction and household utilities producing plants in Cikaniki,Gunung Halimun Salak National Park,Indonesia

The community living around the Cikaniki Area of Gunung Halimun Salak National Park(CAGHSNP)uses various plants to fulfill their needs.Their habits are related to indigenous knowledge of using plants as food,medicine,construction,and household utilities,which dynamic societal changes have not displaced.This study aimed to inventory and update potential plants used as food,medicine,construction,and household utilities by local communities in the Cikaniki area,and measure and analyze their cultural and ethnobotanical value.This study objected to five hamlets in the Cikaniki at Malasari Village,Nanggung District,Bogor Regency,West Java,Indonesia.The quantitative analysis was calculated based on the Informant Consensus Factor,Fidelity Level,and Use Value.We analyzed the qualitative data based on the data collection through observation,interviews,and documentation from informants and respondents in five hamlets.The study recorded 199 plant species from 75 families used by the community of CA-GHSNP.The most utilized species in Cikaniki were Staurogyne elongata,Caryota mitis,Blumea balsamifera,Castanopsis argentea,Pilea melastomoides,and Piper betle.There are 72 species of plants used as food,122species for medicinal purposes,and 50 species of plants used for construction and household utilities.The potential plant species in the CA-GHSNP,their utilization categories,and recommendation for conservation strategy are discussed.

Community Perception of Riparian Corridors Ecosystem Services and Implications for Environmental Education in Upper Oueme Catchment in Benin, West Africa

The assessment of the local community perception of the value of riparian corridors is relevant to understand their attitude towards the conservation of such ecosystem. We conducted a semi-structured survey on the perception and importance attributed to the ecosystem services (ESs) provided by riparian corridors in 368 households across 70 villages located in a buffer zone of 5 km of servitude around the permanent rivers of the Upper Oueme watershed in Benin. We found that local communities easily reported provisioning and cultural ESs than regulating and supporting ones, indicating their misunderstanding of the main role of riparian corridor. Moreover, the supply of cropping areas was perceived as the most important ES. Educated respondents and high-income households had more knowledge of regulating ESs and supporting ESs, respectively. Overall, the highly perceived importance of the provision of cropping areas indicates a potential risk of agricultural encroachment of riparian corridors. We suggest the consideration of the current local perception of riparian corridor’s role in designing a sound environmental education aiming at the change of local population’s perception. This perception shift will promote a sustainable management of the riparian corridors.

Assessment on Qilihai Wetland Value in Tianjin City

[Objective]The study aimed at assessing the whole value of Qilihai Wetland in Tianjin City.[Method]In this study,the whole value of Qilihai Wetland was divided into two parts,namely use value and non-use value.The use value of Qilihai Wetland was estimated by market value,travel cost,shadow project method and so forth,and the non-use value of Qilihai Wetland was assessed by contingent valuation method.[Result]The total value of Qilihai Wetland reached 1.892 billion yuan,wherein the direct use value,including animal and plant products,tourism,scientific and cultural value,was 0.539 billion yuan,accounting for 28% of total value;the indirect use value,composed of functional values in hydrology,water quality,erosion control,CO2 fixation and habitats,was up to 0.965 billion yuan,making up 51%;the non-use value totaled 0.388 billion yuan,taking up 21%.In addition,the ecological benefit of Qilihai Wetland was the maximum,accounting for 72% of total benefit,followed by economic benefit（21%）,while the social benefit was the minimum（9%）.[Conclusion]The results can provide scientific references for the effective conservation and sustainable utilization of Qilihai Wetland.

Controversies over fair value accounting： The case of SMEs

This study analyses IASB＇s stipulations on fair value usage in its standard designed for SMEs and the reactions of national standard setters, preparers and users of financial reporting in this respect. It tries to clarify fair value applications such as market value and value in use and the appropriateness of their usage for the case on hand. This research determines the inconsistencies within IASB ED IFRSfor SMEs （2007） related to the usage of fair value, underlined by the respondents＇ comment letters. The content analysis of all the above, conducted according to the type of economy and nature of respondent, along with the statistical techniques applied, indicates a partial approval of fair value usage under the following conditions： clarification of the concept, details on its usage in relation to market liquidity and the nature of the asset, additional guidance regarding the measurement methods. We advocate for the value in use, an application of the fair value based on internal valuations, which offers an adequate cost-benefit rate. The final version ofIFRSfor SMEs highlights both the preference of market information over the internal valuations and the insufficient information regarding solutions suited for non-liquid markets. It may be appropriate for the IASB, maybe in collaboration with the IVSC, to provide guidance and details regarding the implementation and disclosure of the valuation techniques applicable to this type of entities.

ON VECTOR VALUED FUNCTION APPROXIMATION USING A PEAK NORM

A peak norm is defined for Lp spaces of E-valued Bochner integrable functions, where E is a Banach space, and best approximations from a sun to elements of the space are characterized. Applications are given to some families of simultaneous best approximation problems.

Comparison of K_(IC) Values for SiC Whisker Reinforced Ceramic Composites Obtained by Using Various Methods

The fracture toughness (KIC) values determined by indentation microfracture method (IM ) for SiC whisker reinforced Al2O3 and ZrO2 based composites were calculated with different IM equations and compared with those obtained by singte edge notched beam (SENB) technique. Experimental results show that the KIC (IM) values calculated with different equations are quite different one from another. For composites without phase transformable components the KIC (IM) and KIC (SENB) values are practically on the same level, but for composites with phase transformable components (partially stabilized zirconia) the KIC (SENB) values are always higher than KIC (IM). This is because that the IM method can not reveal sensitively the toughening effect due to dynamic t-m transformation of ZrO2 as the SENB method does. The accuracy of the IM method depends on the Suitability of the IM equations and was evaluated for the materials used in this investigation. Two new IM equations are suggested with which the KIC (IM ) values can be obtained very close to KIC (SENB) values for composites having phase transformable components.

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants traded in herbal markets of Kahramanmaras¸

Most people in the world still use medicinal plants to treat and prevent disease.In Anatolia,studies have shown that people have used plants for centuries to treat many diseases.Herbal markets play an important role in the supply of medicinal plants and the transmission of cultural heritage.In this study,we investigated the traditional uses of medicinal plants traded in Kahramanmaras¸herbal markets.We also analyzed the threats that may arise from the use of medicinal plants and the measures that can be taken to protect these plants.For these purposes,ethnomedicinal data were collected using semistructured and open-ended questionnaires of herbalists and local people.Ethnobotanical indices(e.g.,Relative Frequency of Citation,Use Value,Relative Importance,and Informant Consensus Factor)were used to quantify the use and cultural importance of medicinal plants sold at Kahramanmaras¸herbal markets.We identified 62 taxa(11 imported)of plants that are used in traditional folk medicines.The top three plant taxa sold per year by herbalists at Kahramanmaras¸herbal markets are Licorice(Glycyrrhiza glabra;140 kg),Thyme(Thymus sp.;109 kg),and Carob(Ceratonia siliqua;106.5 kg).The plant parts and mode of utilization used most are leaves(28 reports)and infusion(36 reports),respectively.The highest ICF value was detected for endocrine system ailments(0.78),and the next highest two values were lymphatic system(0.75)and respiratory system ailments(0.72).We determined that Urtica dioica,G.glabra,Thymus sp.,Mentha x piperita have widely traditional uses,with high ethnobotanical index values and use reports.In addition,according to IUCN criteria,26 of 62 taxa identified in the research are under threat to various degrees on a global scale.

Political Economy Factors Shaping News Culture of Hyperlocal News Website www.ippodhu.com

In contemporary media ecosystem, media content is not only produced by employees rather it is also produced by its users in the form of curating stories, writing feedback, engaging in online discussions and at the same time disseminating the content through their personal online profiles. Keeping these views in mind, this paper critically examines the political economy of Ippodhu (Tamil Nadu based news website), a hyperlocal news application, in terms of digital labour, audience as participatory commodities and audience as producers, which Alvin Toffler terms as prosumer. Further, this paper explores how social media, analytics, or other analytical tools create value or anti-value for Ippodhu. The qualitative data obtained through in-depth interview reveals that readers/audiences of Ippodhu are commodified in two ways, first they consume the content of the website by spending their time, which will be sold to the advertisers and secondly by creating free content either in the writing stories, uploading photographs or even in the form of comment which will be consumed by other readers/audiences which result in the chain of production of values.

The Reliability of Impairment Tests： The Case of Vessels

For a shipping company, the vessel is the most valuable and important asset. In most cases, the value of the vessel is the bigger part of total assets. Under International Accounting Standards （IAS） and also United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles （US GAAP） （IAS 36 and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards （SFAS） 144 respectively）, entities are required to conduct impairment tests where there is an indication of impairment of an asset. It is of high importance that the assumptions and the methodology of these tests be right, in order for the results of these tests to be valid. Always, there is the risk that the accountant manipulates the test in order to avoid any impairment losses. Our purpose is to examine the way that the results from these tests are related with market values. Also, we aim to examine under what test assumptions the results from these tests are close enough to market values of vessels.

Extracting the interference components of normal modes in shallow water waveguide using singular value decomposition method

The normal mode interference characteristic in shallow water waveguide is a valu- able topic in the fields of underwater acoustic. A method for extracting the interference components of normal modes from broadband acoustic propagation data recorded by a single hy- drophone without any prior information is present in this paper. First, a Hermitian matrix is formed by the power spectral density. Second, a singular value decomposition （SVD） is performed on the Hermitian matrix to obtain the orthonormal eigenvectors, which are proportional to the interference components of normal modes. The fundamental equations of the new extracting method are derived based on normal mode and waveguide invariant theory. And the validity of the present method is verified by the numerical simulation and experimental results. In addition, the extracted results of normal-mode interference components are intended to be used for passive ranging of broadband sources.