An increase in song pitch of eastern great tits (Parus minor) in response to urban noise at Seoul,Korea

Urban Ecosystems - Anthropogenic noise may mask effective vocal signal transmission by birds, particularly in notes occurring in lower frequencies. Previous studies have shown a correlation of...     

Perimeter-area ratio effects of urbanization intensity on forest characteristics,landscape patterns and their associations in Harbin City,Northeast China

To maximize the ecological services of urban forests, a better understanding of the effects of urbanization on urban forest characteristics, landscape metrics, and their associations is needed for landscape-related regulations in space-limited green infrastructure of metropolitan regions. In this study, Harbin, a typical fast-growing provincial-capital city in Northeast China, is used as a case study. Based on remote sensing images, field surveys, and correlation and variation partitioning analyses, we conclude that landscape characteristics and forest attributes have large variations among different urbanization intensity (UI) regions. Forest patch density (PD), landscape shape index, woody plants species richness, and the Shannon–Wiener index (H′) increased linearly, while stem section area and tree height decreased linearly with the increasing of UIs. UI had a greater influence on tree size and forest community attributes than the forest landscape pattern. Accordingly, any landscape regulation on forest attributes should be implemented according to UIs. In addition, Euclidean nearest neighbor distance(ENN-MN), mean perimeter-area ratio (PARA-MN), fractal dimension index(FRAC-MN), and PD could probably indicate forest attributes the most, e.g., the increase of PARA-MN may be accompanied with taller trees in low and heavy UI regions, but lower woody plants species evenness in low and medium UI regions. More diversified woody plants species, and afforested areas should be advocated in a low UI region, while in a heavy UI region, the conservation of large trees should be implemented. Our results highlight that the implementation of urban forest management should vary according to different urbanization regions to maximize ecological services.

     

Family size and educational attainment in England and Wales

In this paper, we use linked census data from England and Wales to investigate whether having a large number of siblings leads to lower educational attainment. There is a large literature suggesting that with large sibship size, parental resources will be diluted and this, in turn, will lead to lower educational attainment. Using twin births and the sex composition of the sibling group as instrumental variables, we find that the evidence of a family size effect on educational attainment is rather uncertain. Similar results are obtained when we use occupational attainment as the dependent variable. We also demonstrate the confounding of birth order and family size effects, and show that an adjusted birth order index proposed by Booth and Kee provides an effective solution to this estimation problem.     

外商直接投资对中国高新技术产业国际竞争力的影响

基于国际贸易理论中外商直接投资对一国产业国际竞争立提升的理论,通过协整检验的计量方法具体分析了外商直接投资对中国高新技术产业总体国际竞争力及对中国主要出口的三种高新技术产品的国际竞争力的影响程度。结果表明,外商直接投资对中国计算机技术、通信技术和电子技术等三类高新技术产品出口竞争力有很强的正向作用。因此,继续吸引外商投资,可以较好的提升中国高新技术产业的国际竞争力。     

高校工资管理存在的问题及对策研究

工资管理是高校管理工作中一项很重要的内容。工资不仅关系到每个教职工的切身利益,也关系到高等学校的稳定和发展。通过介绍高等学校工资管理工作的发展历程,分析了高校工资管理中存在的问题,并提出了改革工资管理的思路与对策。     

负面清单制度的国际经验及其对上海自贸区的启示

负面清单作为上海自贸区改革一大亮点,体现了我国开始着手建立高标准的投资规则。国外的负面清单制度已发展得较为成熟,无论是多边协定NAFTA,或是各双边协定,其负面清单模式都可为上海自贸区的建设提供经验和启示。在上海自贸区负面清单模式推行中,应对重点行业实施重点保护,将负面清单制度化,使经济开放与经济安全相平衡,使宏观经济管理与微观经济自由相平衡,使立法与司法制度相结合。     

Social Harmony in Hong Kong: Level,Determinants and Policy Implications

This study aims at ascertaining how Hong Kong people perceive Hong Kong as a harmonious society. It also identifies the elements that are most conducive to social harmony in Hong Kong, so that the government could take reference when formulating new policies. 1,062 adults residents were asked to rate their perceived level of social harmony and their satisfaction with 36 items (divided into three dimensions: public governance, society, and economy, family and work) for which the research team believes would be influencing the perceived level of social harmony. Results show that the average rating of social harmony was 5.57 (out of 10), delineating a moderate level of social harmony. Subsequent multivariate factor analysis and regression analysis show that the four extracted factors (from the three dimensions) had significant impacts on the level of social harmony. These were, in order of significance: (a) public governance, (b) social solidarity and respect, (c) economy/family/work and, (d) social tolerance and progressiveness. According to the factor loadings of each significant factor, we identified four core values which we hope the government would consider when formulating new policies, as follows: (1) A Justice Government with Sincerity on Communication, (2) Mutual Support and Respect with Integrity and Dedication, (3) Dedication to One’s Job and Community by Helping the Needed and, (4) Creativity and Progressiveness with Tolerance. Implications for policy making are discussed. The study was conducted under the direction and guidance of the Fostering Social Harmony Task Force of the Hong Kong Professionals and Senior Executives Association (HKPASEA). The authors acknowledge the kind support and assistance provided by the Council Members of HKPASEA and staff members of the Centre for Corporate Governance and Financial Policy at Hong Kong Baptist University. We are also grateful to Prof. Alex Michalos and Prof. P. K. Ip for their comments and suggestions given at the International Conference on National Well-Being held in November 2006 at the National Central University, Taiwan.     

加快西部地区特色经济发展的区域优势分析

本文对区域特色经济的基本理论进行了系统的论述,在以区域经济相关理论对区域特色经济进行理论分析的基础上,论述了西部地区发展特色经济的现状及基本思路,即将西部地区的资源禀赋潜在优势转化为现实的经济优势,依托比较优势,发展特色经济,走区域经济特色化的道路。     

仪式类非物质文化遗产保护模式研究—--基于长阳“撒叶儿嗬”保护的分析

湖北省长阳土家族自治县“撒叶儿嗬”的抢救与保护取得了重要成果。一向重视民族民间传统文化保护与开发的长阳县在政府支持、法律保障、群众基础以及各种切实有效的措施和方略等方面均给予“撒叶儿嗬”保护以高度的重视和深切的关怀,成功申报了中国首批非物质文化遗产保护项目,并且充分利用自身文化资源服务于民族社会的发展。长阳以“撤叶儿嗬...     

日本和德国的环境工程专业教学模式介绍

从环境工程专业教学特点、时代需求出发,介绍了日本和德国环境工程专业本科教学课程设置及实践性环节的基本情况和主要特色,对我国环境工程专业的教学改革和人才培养规划有一定的借鉴意义。