Port Integration in China: Temporal Pathways, Spatial Patterns and Dynamics

Over the past two decades, numerous ports located in China have participated in port integration strategies, thus influencing the entire port system. The current research is initiated in order to examine the nature of port integration in China, including associated temporal pathways, spatial patterns and dynamics. Results indicate that port integration in China has been characterized by a significant increase at the turn of the 21 st century, comprising thirteen distinguishable pathways typified by differing dynamics, particularly between the northern and southern ports. Pathways were found to include 44 seaports and river ports, chiefly concentrated in the Bohai Rim, Yangtze(Changjiang) River Delta, Beibu Gulf and the southeastern Fujian, thus representing significant spatial regions. Categorically larger seaports have become the primary beneficiaries of port integration. Integration cases were divided into four categories based upon quantified dynamic magnitude including the government-driven mode, market-driven mode, government/market-driven mode and strategic alliance, and into five further categories based upon spatial extent including port internal integration, jurisdictional port integration, port integration across neighbor region, regional port integration and hub-feeder port integration. Results suggest that several factors have effectively driven port integration in China, including legislative tools and spatial planning, optimization of shoreline resources and port functionality, and port competition with the same hinterland.

Genetic Variability of the Mitochondrial DNA in Honeybees （Apis mellifera L.） from Benin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability in bees Apis mellifera from Benin by using mitochondrial DNA （mtDNA） as a molecular marker in their cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and II （COI-COI1） intergenic region. A total of 304 bee colonies were sampled in 27 municipalities of the cashew growing area of Benin. These samples were analyzed by the cleaved amplified polymorphisms technique for determining the haplotypes of subspecies present in the sampled population. Eight PCR-RFLP profiles of African lineage A were then identified in the 304 samples of bees investigated. Forty-nine percent （49%） of the samples showed the profile of haplotype A1 （subspecies adansonii of Zambia）, 40% of haplotype A4 （subspecies scutellata of South Africa） and 3% of haplotype A 19 （subspecies adansonii of Guinea）. Five other haplotypes of the African branch （A） that had been described in a previous study were also identified： new 1 （2%）, new 2 （2%）, new 3 （1%）, new 4 （2%） and new 5 （1%）. This study showed that A. rnellifera from Benin belonged only to lineage A with the predominance of haplotypes AI and A4. This study will contribute to the development of coherent policies for conservation of local bees in Benin.

孔历纪元法是在中国先使用还是在南洋先使用?（英文）

学者一般认为孔子纪年的设想初步形成于1891年前后。康有为首次使用孔子纪年则是在1895年创立的《强学报》第一期上,1898年他提倡把孔历当作国历。同年在新加坡,邱菽园在其创立的《天南新报》上也开始使用孔子纪年。然而在南洋,当时孔教和孔子纪元的观念却并非新鲜事物。根据一些华文碑铭和马来文的回忆录的记载,1880年前后出生于爪哇泗水的一位改革者周[平为],已经开始使用孔子纪年,其带有双重目的:一是提醒国人中国文化的本位意识,二是引进西洋的思想。因此,不仅关于孔子纪年的起始时间、起源地区需要重新检讨,而且对于处在多元文化交融与碰撞前沿的南洋华人在近代东西方文化交流中的地位与作用也需要郑重关注。

Reliability-based settlement analysis of embankments over soft soils reinforced with T-shaped deep cement mixing piles

This paper presents a reliability-based settlement analysis of T-shaped deep cement mixing(TDM)pile-supported embankments over soft soils.The uncertainties of the mechanical properties of the in-situ soil,pile,and embankment,and the effect of the pile shape are considered simultaneously.The analyses are performed using Monte Carlo Simulations in combination with an adaptive Kriging(using adaptive sampling algorithm).Individual and system failure probabilities,in terms of the differential and maximum settlements(serviceability limit state(SLS)requirements),are considered.The reliability results for the embankments supported by TDM piles,with various shapes,are compared and discussed together with the results for conventional deep cement mixing pile-supported embankments with equivalent pile volumes.The influences of the inherent variabilities in the material properties(mean and coefficient of variation values)on the reliability of the piled embankments,are also investigated.This study shows that large TDM piles,particularly those with a shape factor of greater than 3,can enhance the reliability of the embankment in terms of SLS requirements,and even avoid unacceptable reliability levels caused by variability in the material properties.

Evolution, accessibility and dynamics of road networks in China from 1600 BC to 1900 AD

Before the emergence of modern modes of transport, the traditional road infra structure was the major historical means of carrying out nationwide socioeconomic exchange However, the history of transport infrastructure has received little attention from researchers. Given this background, the work reported here examined the longterm development of transport networks in China. The national road network was selected for study and the 3500 years from 1600 BC to 1900 AD was chosen as the study period. Indicators were designed for the maturity level of road networks and an accessibility model was developed for the paths of the shortest distance. The evolution of the road network in China since the Shang Dynasty （1600 BC） was described and its major features were summarized to reveal longterm regu larities. The maturity level of the road network and its accessibility was assessed and regions with good and poor networks were identified. The relationship between China＇s natural, social and economic systems and the road network were discussed. Our analysis shows that the road network in China has a number of longterm regularities. The continuously expanding road network follows a path of inland expansion especially towards the border areas. How ever, its coverage and accessibility are characterized by a coreperipheral configuration, which has close relationships with, not only the natural conditions, but also national defense and warfare. The centralization of national power, national land governance, postal transport, the transport of specialized cargos, and international trade are also related to the develop ment of the road network. This research draws attention to the evolving regularities of trans port networks.

Precipitation strengthening of nano-scale TiC in a duplex low-density steel under near-rapid solidification

Precipitation strengthening of nano-scale TiC is a promising method to improve mechanical properties of Fe–16Mn–9Al–0.8C (wt.%) low-density steel. This work attempted to introduce nano-scale TiC precipitates by adding 1 wt.% Ti element. The experimental results show that these precipitates with the total fraction of about 2 vol.% were formed and no coarse precipitates were observed despite the high Ti addition. It was interesting that the polygonal and needle-shaped TiC precipitates were observed in γ-austenite and δ-ferrite, respectively. Ti addition also decreased the volume fraction of γ-austenite significantly. Correspondingly, the yield strength was increased, but the elongation was significantly decreased due to the significant decrease of γ-austenite. Comparing with the Ti-free steel, the formation of TiC precipitates was the main reason for the increase in yield strength of Ti-bearing steel, and TiC precipitates also led to a higher strain hardening index at the first deformation stage. TiC precipitates promoted the Orowan strengthening, resulting in a higher strain hardening capability than Ti-free steel reinforced by shearable κ-carbide.

Bubbles and incentives:an experiment on asset markets

We explore the effects of competitive incentives and of their time horizon on the evolution of both asset prices and trading activity in experimental asset markets.We compare(i)a no-bonus treatment;(ii)a short-term bonus treatment in which bonuses are assigned to the best performers at the end of each trading period;(iii)a long-term bonus treatment in which bonuses are assigned to the best performers at the end of the 15 periods of the market.We find that the existence of bonus contracts does not increase the likelihood of bubbles but it affects their severity,depending on the time horizon of bonuses.Markets with longterm bonus contracts experience lower price deviations and a lower turnover of assets than markets with either no bonuses or long-term bonus contracts.Short-term bonus contracts increase price deviations but only when markets include a higher share of male traders.At the individual level,the introduction of bonus contracts increases the trading activity of males,probably due to their higher competitiveness.

Introduction

Behavioural and experimental economics constitutes a dynamic field of research that has produced new and perhaps more realistic theoretical models of human behaviour,and allowed researchers to test empirically these models in laboratory and/or field settings.This field is based on models of preferences,beliefs,and decision rules that contrast with standard economic theories assuming selfish individual preferences,perfect and immediate information processing,and rational decision-making.By hybridising knowledge from other social and cognitive sciences with economics,behavioural and experimental economics models and tests how cognitive biases and non-standard preferences affect the way people process information,update their beliefs,and make decisions.