Predicting the Risk of Biological Invasions Using Environmental Similarity and Transport Network Connectedness

Understanding the risk of biological invasions associated with particular transport pathways and source regions is critical for implementing effective biosecurity management. This may require both a model for physical connectedness between regions, and a measure of environmental similarity, so as to quantify the potential for a species to be transported from a given region and to survive at a destination region. We present an analysis of integrated biosecurity risk into Australia, based on flights and shipping data from each global geopolitical region, and an adaptation of the “range bagging” method to determine environmental matching between regions. Here, we describe global patterns of environmental matching and highlight those regions with many physical connections. We classify patterns of global invasion risk (high to low) into Australian states and territories. We validate our analysis by comparison with global presence data for 844 phytophagous insect pest species, and produce a list of high‐risk species not previously known to be present in Australia. We determined that, of the insect pest species used for validation, the species most likely to be present in Australia were those also present in geopolitical regions with high transport connectivity to Australia, and those regions that were geographically close, and had similar environments.     

Conditional time-dependent nonparametric estimators with an application to healthcare production function

ABSTRACT

By using the probabilistic framework of production efficiency, the paper develops time-dependent conditional efficiency estimators performing a non-parametric frontier analysis. Specifically, by applying both full and quantile (robust) time-dependent conditional estimators, it models the dynamic effect of health expenditure on countries’ technological change and technological catch-up levels. The results from the application reveal that the effect of per capita health expenditure on countries’ technological change and technological catch-up is nonlinear and is subject to countries’ specific income levels.     

A NOTE ON EVANESCENT PROCESSES

This note examines the connection between μ-invariant measures for the transition function of a continuous-time Markov chain and those of its q-matrix, Q. The major result establishes a necessary and aufficient condition for a convergent μ-invariant measure for Q to be μ-inhant for the minimal transition function, P, under the assumption that P is honest. This corrects Theorem 6 of Vere-Jones (1969) and the first part of Corollary 1 of Pollett (1986), both of which assert that the above conclusion holds in the absence of this condition. The error was pointed out by E.A. van Doom (1991) and the counterexample which be presented provides the basis for the present arguments. In determining where the error occurred in the original proof, we are able to identify a simple sufficient condition for μ-invariance.     

中外合作办学的现状及问题分析

文章就中外合作办学的质量、合作者的水平和资质、合作办学的监管等问题进行了分析,并提出了相应的几点对策建议。     

社会民主主义复兴的两种模式比较

20世纪90年代在社会民主主义复兴的过程中,英国和法国由于竞选方式、政策策略等一系列方面存在显著差别,被认为是社会民主主义复兴的两种典型模式,对英国道路与法国道路的相同之处和不同之处进行比较,说明二者存在共同性和差异性的原因。     

同质异趣色彩纷呈--莫泊桑与欧·亨利短篇小说布局艺术比较

个性是创作的生命。尽管莫泊桑和欧·亨利同是短篇小说大师,都以布局的精致巧妙而著称,但他们在创作上却是各自发挥他们独有的艺术魅力,显示出其独特的创作个性和风格,两人的创作,无论是从情节的设置、结尾艺术,还是叙述方式等方面,在有着外在相似性的同时,还有着内在的相通与相异。     

与时俱进 应势而变——浅议入世后我国高等职业教育发展的趋势

入世以后,必将对我国高等职业教育提出新的要求。高等职业教育必须顺应时代发展的趋势,与时俱进、应势而变,才能与时代同步。本文遵循以下思路展开:入世以后,对我国高等职业教育的发展趋势作一些前瞻性的探讨,在此基础上提出应对的措施。有利于我国高等职业教育主动地适应新形势发展的要求。     

实施网络外语教学应注重的问题

实施网络外语教学应注重的几个问题 ,一是要认真考虑使用网络的教学目的 ,二是网络交流应该结合课程目的而展开 ,三是不能低估网络使用中存在的困难 ,四是在进行网络外语教学时教师必须提供必要的帮助 ,五是要让学生参与确定网络课堂教学的计划和内容     

交流电路参数的实用测量法研究

探讨了二端交流电路的R,L,C元件参数的测定,并研究了工频电路的等效电阻、等效电抗的测量方法。     

“袖”在中、朝舞蹈作品中运用异同之管见

"袖"舞是东方舞蹈的一大创造."袖"的运用,除延长了人的肢体,大大扩展了身体的表现力外,还通过舞者手臂、手腕、腰腹、身肢等不同力量、不同幅度的运动,使"袖"缭绕空际,变幻着无数的形态,其传情丰富、鲜明,超过了许多表情手段."袖"的徐缓、抑扬、飘忽、回旋所产生的形式美,完全可以把人们引入一个非物质的境界之中,赋予"袖"舞以人文精神内涵和意蕴,展现了"袖"舞的魅力和光环.