Progress in biological research on Tupaia belangeri

Tupaia belangeri,as a typical tropical species,has high value in biological research.It has the characteristics of small body size,high brain to body mass ratio,short reproductive cycle,short lifespan,and low maintenance cost.In biomedical research,experimental animals considered as substitutes for primates.This review discusses the systematic classification,distribution,and research progress of Scandentia.Emphasis was focus on the research progress,developmental status,and basic biological research in T.belangeri.Believing that the T.belangeri,as the closest species to humans,has many advantages as an experimental animal,and it can be further widely applied in human disease research.Therefore,how to create a clear and stable strain of T.belangeri with a clear genetic background is crucial for the development of the national economy and scientific research.

Agricultural Heritage Systems Tourism： definition,characteristics and development framework

Architectural heritage comprises one o the most important elements of mountain settlements in Greece. It holds high cultural value, represents the tangible continuation of the past and forms the unique character and identity of each mountain region. Yet, controversy regarding funding for its preservation often arises. In this paper, we used two Contingent Valuation surveys to estimate the socia benefit deriving from protecting the traditiona architecture in the mountainous village of Sirako and through it, to examine perceptions and attitudes o local residents and visitors. Research findings revealed a strong social will in favor of the good＇s protection followed by high percentages of positive willingness to pay（WTP）. However, WTP is significantly higher among residents. Cultura heritage value, of the good, appears to prevail, along with the environmental one. However, both residents and visitors pointed out that local heritage, if wellpreserved, will boost tourism development. Residents appeared to better recognize the true level o architectural decay, expressed higher apprehension for its protection and were willing to pay higher amount of money. Tourists, on the other side expressed high satisfaction for their visit, appreciated the beauty and serenity emerging from local built and natural environment and spent several days visiting the surrounding area. The longer they stayed and gotfamiliar with the village, the more willing they were to contribute to local heritage＇s protection. Percentages reflecting indifference for protecting architecture were extremely low. Yet, they were higher among tourists. Traditional architecture is considered as public good; an opinion resulting in an important percentage of visitors stating that national government should provide the necessary funding. In addition, the architecture appears to hold a high level of topicality. Those descending from Sirako or emotionally connected to it, of both social groups,turned out to be more concerned about the good and with a stronger sense of responsibility for it. Usevalue of the good holds high economic value, as well,while higher percentages of zero WTP appeared among non-users. Research findings revealed social attitudes and perceptions on what constitutes architectural heritage, in its cultural and economic frame. If taken under consideration, they may form useful drivers for local, heritage-based, sustainable

（Dis）Economies of Scale in Business Software Systems Development and Enhancement Projects

In the software engineering literature, it is commonly believed that economies of scale do not occur in case of software Development and Enhancement Projects （D＆EP）. Their per-unit cost does not decrease but increase with the growth of such projects product size. Thus this is diseconomies of scale that occur in them. The significance of this phenomenon results from the fact that it is commonly considered to be one of the fundamental objective causes of their low effectiveness. This is of particular significance with regard to Business Software Systems （BSS） D＆EP characterized by exceptionally low effectiveness comparing to other software D＆EP. Thus the paper aims at answering the following two questions： （1） Do economies of scale really not occur in BSS D＆EP？ （2） If economies of scale may occur in BSS D＆EP, what factors are then promoting them？ These issues classify into economics problems of software engineering research and practice.

Development Trends of Key Technologies for IPTV Systems

Fast growing IPTV services have become a major concern in China’s information industry. However,the IPTV service model has not been perfected yet after long-time trial made in a couple of Chinese cities. Selecting optimum technologies for IPTV is difficult to solve in the short term. So far most trial IPTV services in China are designed to provide a small number of local viewers with television and recorded programs. Accordingly,the technology used for the available IPTV services can hardly become a paradigm for future IPTV technology development. Therefore,with the ultimate goal of constructing a countrywide IPTV service network that can meet the requirements of commercial operation,it is necessary to conduct research into the design of countrywide IPTV network architecture,improvement of the bearer network,selection of video encoding technology,terminal structure,building of the Content Distribution Network (CDN),establishment of the open Digital Rights Management (DRM) platform,and construction of Media Asset Management (MAM) system.

ANOTHER KEY BREAKTHROUGH IN CHINESE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-END CNC SYSTEMS

Next to the successful development of the SS-8510 High-end CNC System in 1993, another feat was one year later achieved in development of the SS-8520/8530 CNC Systems,all being accomplished by the Shenyang Institute of Computational Technology,an affiliate to the CAS in Northeast China.Recently,the new models have passed a technical appraisal hosted by the CAS. Modem manufacture is the industrial basis for a country’s economic growth and the national defense.Its technological level plays a pivotal role in

Regulation of Vascular Development by CLE Peptide-receptor Systems

Cell division and differentiation of stem cells are controlled by non- cell-autonomous signals in higher organisms. The plant vascular meristem is a stem-cell tissue comprising procambial cells that produce xylem cells on one side and phloem cells on the other side. Recent studies have revealed that TDIF （tracheary element differentiation inhibitory factor）/CLE41/CLE44 peptide signal controls the procambial cell fate in a non-cell-autonomous manner. TDIF produced in and secreted from phloem cells is perceived by TDR/PXY, a leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase located in the plasma membrane of procambial cells. This signal suppresses xylem cell differentiation of procambial cells and promotes their proliferation. In addition to TDIF, some other CLE peptides play roles in vascular development. Here, we summarize recent advances in CLE signaling governing vascular development.

Long-distance nitrate signaling displays cytokinin dependent and independent branches

The long-distance signaling network allowing a plant to properly develop its root system is crucial to optimize root foraging in areas where nutrients are available. Cytokinin is an essential element of the systemic signaling network leading to the enhancement of lateral root proliferation in areas where nitrate is available. Here,we explore more precisely：（i） which particular traits of lateral root growth（density and length of emerged lateral roots） are the targets of systemic signaling in a context of heterogeneous nitrate supply; and（ii） if the systemic signaling depends only on cytokinin or on a combination of several signalings.

Empirical Study of Distinct Features and Challenges of Joint Development of Information Systems: The Case of ABC Bank

The internal development and outsourced development of information systems have been studied intensively, but little research has been conducted on the joint development mode. This paper describes the benefits and problems encountered in the joint development of accounting management information systems based on a real case. The case illustrates some distinct advantages, such as full control over the development schedule, the flexibility with resource allocation, and insurance for sustained active participation by the end-users. However, this development mode also involves potential problems, e.g., potential conflicts arising from diverse backgrounds and cultures of the various stakeholders and challenges to manage personnel from outside partners.

Pre-post notation is questionable in effectively specifying operations of object-oriented systems

There is a growing tendency for people in the community of object-oriented methods to use preand post-conditions to write formal specifications for opera- tions （methods） of classes. The motivation for trying to take advantage of well established formalism in precisely defining the functionality of operations is laudable, but unfortunately this exercise may be flawed because the use of pre- and post-conditions containing method calls （or similar） with side effects are likely to cause confusion in the interpretation of specifications. This paper analyzes, with comprehensible examples, why using pre-post notation is not effective to specify operations in objectoriented systems in general, discusses existing approaches to using pre-post notation for object-oriented systems, and offers some solutions to the problem.

Information Systems Development in a Low Methodology Maturity Environment： A Case Study from the Control Perspective

This paper presents an exploratory case study to examine information systems development （ISD） processes in a low methodology maturity environment, and to understand the role of control mechanisms in project success. The case involves the development of a large scale information system, which progressed without a fully-defined ＂master plan＂ or much reliance on formal methodologies, but was successfully launched nevertheless despite some delay. Data were analyzed from the lens of control theory. Results show that clan control emerged as a dominant form of informal control in a high complexity and low methodology maturity environment. Moreover, end-to-end user participation through collocation with the developers served as effective outcome control, which appeared to be a critical success factor. The reliance on behavior control was marginal, although the project manager＇s effective leadership as a form of self-control also played a role in project success. This work contributes to ISD research in general and the development of a control perspective to user participation in ISD.

Differentiation and dynamism within the IT development program

Information technology(IT)developments of large magnitude organize as collections of multiple projects into a single program,especially under dynamic conditions of market uncertainty that frequently change requirements or solutions midstream.Successful completion of an IT development program requires that the multiple teams work effec-tively together as well as independently in response to changes by relying on the differ-entiation of talent and knowledge available to the program manager.We consider and empirically support a model derived from principles in the multi-team systems(MTS)literature to determine the influence of differentiation among the IT program in the sharing of knowledge and information.The relationship from differentiation to program success is mediated by knowledge and information sharing,showing how to manage change through the dissemination of information and knowledge.Uncertainty of the market positively moderates the relation from differentiation among projects to infor-mation sharing.These findings contribute to the literature by empirically validating that MTS frameworks are exceptionally well suited for dealing with complex environments in the context of IT development.