Challenges of the Performance Standards of the International Finance Corporation in Financing the African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network and the Way Forward: The Case of Standard Gauge Railway in Tanzania

Financing of the African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network (AIHSRN) through Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Projects is very expensive. As a result, most of the African countries seek financial supports from the International Financial Institutions (IFIs). However, conditions provided by the IFIs through the Performance Standards (PS) of the International Financial Corporation (IFC) increase cost of the projects and thus, it becomes a burden to most of the African countries. This study aimed to explore the causes of IFC-PS through the SGR Projects that escalate costs and how to address them. The Tanzania SGR Lot 1 Project that covered 205 km from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro was selected as a case study. The methods used for data collection involved literature review, focus group discussions and interviews. The results and findings show a gap between the IFC-PS and the National Laws and Regulations that escalates costs of the projects if funds from the IFIs were to be secured. To bridge the gap, it is recommended that the African countries should engage into negotiations with the IFIs to agree to waive IFC-PS conditions that escalate costs provided they are adequately covered in the national laws and regulations;engagement of locally established national and regional financial institutions;and the responsible government institutions in the African countries should sit together for assessment and review of the IFC-PS against the national laws and regulations.

Synthetical Control of AGC/LPC System Based on Neural Networks Internal Model Control

One synthetical control method of AGC/LPC system based on intelligence control theory-neural networks internal model control method is presented. Genetic algorithm (GA) is applied to optimize the parameters of the neural networks. Simulation results prove that this method is effective.

New International Partner Network Launched to Further Sino-US Business Relations

"The network will foster newrelationship between US andChinese small and medium-size companies in 14 key busi-ness centers, generating newopportunities for US SMEs inthe China market and prosper-ity for both our great nations,"said Tim Hauser.

2007 IEEE International Conference on Networking,Sensing and Control

Conference Theme-Anti-Crime Networking and Systems The 2007 IEEE International Conference on Networking,Sensing and Control will be held in London. The main theme of the conference is anti-crime networking and critical infrastructure.The area of anti- crime networking and critical infrastructure is a fusion of a number of research areas in networking, sensing,human factors,artificial intelligence,operational research,and systems control theory. However,the real challenge is to design anti-crime networking and systems from a holistic perspective; taking into account technical,organizational as well as contextual complexity.A system engineering approach is required to address new problems of this challenging and promising area.This conference will provide a remarkable opportunity for the academic and industrial community to address new challenges and share solutions,and discuss future research directions.It will feature plenary speeches, industrial panel sessions,funding agency panel sessions,interactive sessions,and invited/special sessions.Contributions are expected from academia,industry,EPSRC,EU,DTI,and MoD.Technical topics of the conference include but are not limited to:

ICNSC 2008 CALL FOR PAPERS 5th IEEE International Conference on Networking, Sensing and Control Sanya China April 6-8, 2008

Conference Theme Advanced Technologies for Emergency Planning and ResponseThe 2008 IEEE International Conference on Networking, Sensing and Control will be held in Sanya,China. The main theme of the conference is advanced technologies for emergency planning and re-

International Freight Forwarding Services Network in the Yangtze River Delta, 2005–2015: Patterns and Mechanisms

This study examined the spatio-temporal trajectories of the international freight forwarding service(IFFS) in the Yangtze River Delta(YRD) and explored the driving mechanisms of the service. Based on a bipartite network projection from an IFFS firm-city data source, we mapped three IFFS networks in the YRD in 2005, 2010, and 2015. A range of statistical indicators were used to explore changes in the spatial patterns of the three networks. The underlying influence of marketization, globalization, decentralization, and integration was then explored. It was found that the connections between Shanghai and other nodal cities formed the backbones of these networks. The effects of a city's administrative level and provincial administrative borders were generally obvious. We found several specific spatial patterns associated with IFFS. For example, the four non-administrative centers of Ningbo, Suzhou, Lianyungang, and Nantong were the most connected cities and played the role of gateway cities. Furthermore, remarkable regional equalities were found regarding a city's IFFS network provision, with notable examples in the weakly connected areas of northern Jiangsu and southwestern Zhejiang. Finally, an analysis of the driving mechanisms demonstrated that IFFS network changes were highly sensitive to the influences of marketization and globalization, while regional integration played a lesser role in driving changes in IFFS networks.

The 23rd International Conference on Computer Communication and Networks (ICCCN 2014)

August 4-August 7, 2014 Shanghai, China http:/www.icccn.org/icccn14/ICCCN is one of the leading international conferences for presenting noel ideas and fundamental advances in the fields of computer communications and networks. ICCCN serves to foster communication among researchers and practitioners with

Internal limiting membrane peeling with different dyes in the surgery of idiopathic macular hole: a systematic review of literature and network Meta-analysis

AIM: To evaluate the effect of internal limiting membrane(ILM) peeling with indocyanine green(ICG), brilliant blue G(BBG), triamcinolone acetonide(TA), trypan blue(TB), or without dye for the treatment of idiopathic macular hole(IMH). METHODS: A search was conducted using Pub Med, EMBASE, and CENTRAL(Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) for related studies published before October 2018. RESULTS: A total of 29 studies and 2514 eyes were included in this network Meta-analysis. For IMH closure, the rank from the best to the worse treatment was: BBG, TB, TA, ICG, and no dye. There was a significant difference in postoperative IMH closure rate between BBG and no dye. The rank of the best to the worse treatment to improve visual acuity was: BBG, TB, no dye, TA, and ICG. The improvement rate of visual acuity after using BBG was significantly higher than ICG. The improvement rate of visual acuity was more favorable with TB than ICG, TA, and no dye. CONCLUSION: BBG can contribute to better anatomical and functional outcomes compared to other dyes for ILM peeling in patients with IMH. The results show that the best treatment of ILM peeling with dyes is BBG.

Tapping Advantages and Expanding International and Domestic Networks for Further Integrating Jiangxi with the Rest of the World——Thriving Foreign Related Work in Jiangxi Province

"…enable Jiangxi to become the example of ecological civilization and pacesetter of building beautiful China,and realize the dream of a prosperous,harmonious and beautiful Jiangxi through our earnest efforts."Recent years have witnessed vigorous efforts made by the Provincial Foreign Affairs and Overseas Chinese

Effects of internal noise on the spiking regularity of a clustered Hodgkin–Huxley neuronal network

Spiking regularity in a clustered Hodgkin–Huxley（HH） neuronal network has been studied in this letter. A stochastic HH neuronal model with channel blocks has been applied as local neuronal model. Effects of the internal channel noise on the spiking regularity are discussed by changing the membrane patch size. We find that when there is no channel blocks in potassium channels, there exist some intermediate membrane patch sizes at which the spiking regularity could reach to a higher level. Spiking regularity increases with the membrane patch size when sodium channels are not blocked. Namely, depending on different channel blocking states, internal channel noise tuned by membrane patch size could have different influence on the spiking regularity of neuronal networks.

知识产权保护对“一带一路”国家间创新合作的影响

当前全球创新网络正向区域化方向发展,呈现出与“西方中心论”话语体系下“南北冲突”模型所不同的发展态势。“一带一路”倡议下包含的政策沟通、设施联通、贸易畅通、资金融通和民心相通的“五通”合作模式为南南合作提供了新范式。利用零膨胀负二项模型,以2008—2019年incoPat数据库中“一带一路”国家申请的《专利合作条约》(PCT)专利数据作为研究样本,探究“一带一路”共建国家创新合作与知识产权保护的关系。结果表明:“一带一路”创新合作网络已从以俄罗斯为核心的单核心布局发展为以俄罗斯、中国和新加坡为核心的多核心集聚型布局,俄罗斯的主导地位下降、中国和新加坡后来居上;国家创新体量、知识产权保护水平和互联互通水平是“一带一路”共建国家间创新合作的重要影响因素。其中,提高知识产权保护水平和互联互通水平对处于区域创新网络外围位置的国家的促进作用更强,而处于网络核心位置的国家的创新合作则更依赖国家创新体量;增强互联互通水平有助于为创新合作搭建桥梁,缓解对知识产权正式制度的依赖;处于区域创新网络外围位置的后发国家可以在维持知识产权标准以保护本国工业基础的同时,通过增强互联互通水平参与创新网络构建。因此,中国应加强与“一带一路”共建国家的知识产权国际合作,加快构建多边、周边、小多边、双边四边联动及协调推进的知识产权国际合作新格局。

多元协同的中国国际传播交往行动网络构建

顺应全球交往语境与数字智能时代的趋势与要求,中国国际传播研究应从单一的信息传播向国际交往发生转向,这一转向应基于交往理论,关注在数字时代国际交往对传统国际传播的发展与升维。因此本文基于国际传播的交往转向,从行动网络构建这一路径切入探讨国际传播中多元交往主体的关系形态变化,并构建多元协同的中国国际传播交往行动网络。本文首先对中国国际传播交往行动网络进行分解,认为该网络是多层次、多维度的,主要的层次和维度为五个方面:交往主体、交往规则、交往关系、交往媒介以及交往形态。因此,本文从多位一体的国际传播交往主体格局构建、多层次的交往规则网络构建、复合型的交往关系网络构建、多维度的交往媒介网络构建以及多方位的交往形态网络构建五个方面出发,构建多元协同的中国国际传播交往行动网络。

协同创新理论下中国国家实验室建设路径探索——基于美国能源部国家实验室的经验启示

为推进中国国家实验室的开放和协同创新,运用协同创新理论,基于对美国能源部国家实验室协同创新的实践经验分析,结合中国当前面临被西方主要国家技术封锁的严峻形势,探讨协同创新促进中国国家实验室建设的路径。协同创新包含了多方创新主体、共同目标、优势互补和合理分工、复杂的相互作用和整体协同效应等五方面的核心要素,其结构从简单无序布局向高级有序组织变革转变为网络化创新结构,因此要确保协同创新成果实现,需要充分考虑不同主体之间的利益平衡和风险控制等因素。美国能源部国家实验室具有明确的战略目标与使命、充足的财政投入与多元化经费来源、高效的管理运行机制、人员组成多元化的强大科研团队,其发展总体呈现开放化、网络化的对外合作趋势,在协同创新方面形成了强化战略导向和目标聚焦、深化产学研合作、建立高效的协同机制、强化人才培养和团队建设,以及鼓励创新、营造宽容失败的文化氛围等经验举措。借鉴美国经验,深化国际合作和加强内部合作是应对挑战、促进国家实验室建设的两翼。因此,应对当前西方国家技术封锁,中国国家实验室建设须毫不动摇地坚持开放共享与合作交流的理念,强化顶层设计与政策引导,深化产学研用合作,建立高效协同机制,实现多领域协同创新、引领学科交叉创新,并积极融入创新联合体建设,弘扬科学家精神、营造鼓励创新探索的科研文化氛围。

资本网络嵌入对国际创业企业动态能力的影响——风险偏好的调节作用

国际化情境下,创业企业如何嵌入资本网络以提升动态能力,这一问题引起学界广泛讨论。基于社会网络理论与动态能力理论,以2011—2022年87家国际创业企业为样本,检验资本网络嵌入对国际创业企业动态能力的影响,以及风险偏好对上述关系的调节作用。结果显示,资本网络关系嵌入、结构嵌入分别对国际创业企业动态能力具有显著正向影响,风险偏好在资本网络关系嵌入、结构嵌入促进国际创业企业动态能力提升过程中发挥正向调节作用。结论可丰富资本网络与创业动态能力相关研究,为国际创业企业提升动态能力以应对动荡的国际市场环境提供理论指导。

全球价值链重构与中国制造集群网络转型升级

受制于发达国家的技术主导,中国制造业长期处于“低端锁定”和“高端封锁”状态。当前,新冠疫情、数字化革命和国际贸易规则变化多重因素加速全球价值链重构,为我国制造业实现全球价值链的跃迁提供了绝佳机遇。首先,本文分析中国制造集群网络目前面临的困境,并从数字化、服务化和区域化三层面,探讨全球价值链重构对中国制造业升级的影响机制。在此基础上,文章提出中国制造集群网络转型升级的战略路径:分别是促进产业链、创新链和服务链的深度融合,实现向“微笑曲线”两端延伸和中部“凸起”的直接路径;以及重构国内价值链和区域价值链,并逆向整合全球价值链的间接路径,以期为我国制造集群网络在全球价值链的攀升提供理论支持。

Leveraging Quantum Computing for the Ising Model to Simulate Two Real Systems: Magnetic Materials and Biological Neural Networks (BNNs)

Quantum computing is a field with increasing relevance as quantum hardware improves and more applications of quantum computing are discovered. In this paper, we demonstrate the feasibility of modeling Ising Model Hamiltonians on the IBM quantum computer. We developed quantum circuits to simulate these systems more efficiently for both closed and open boundary Ising models, with and without perturbations. We tested these various geometries of systems in both 1-D and 2-D space to mimic two real systems: magnetic materials and biological neural networks (BNNs). Our quantum model is more efficient than classical computers, which can struggle to simulate large, complex systems of particles.