Search

The rapid diffusion of mobile telephony is an important subject in diffusion studies of innovation. This study attempts to learn how mobile telephony diffuses in China, which has the most mobile telephone subscribers worldwide, in terms of the appropriate growth model and forces driving the diffusion. To identify the appropriate growth model, this study compares the fitness and forecasting ability of three conventional models — the Logistic, Bass, and Gompertz models. The determinants of the diffusion rate are then analyzed based on the most appropriate model. Empirical results, based on data for mobile telephone subscribers in China for 1986–2007, indicate that the Gompertz model performs best. Moreover, the four determinants for the diffusion rate are: number of fixed-line telephone subscribers, the low cost of mobile handsets, pre-paid service and the personal handy-phone system (PHS) service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide a basis for tracing changes in vegetation and tree cover density, we studied the phytoliths of 129 common temperate plant species, and extracted the phytoliths from 75 surface soil samples from sites in grassland, forest−grassland ecotone and forest habitats in northeast China. From the analysis of shapes and morphological parameters of the plant samples, we developed a reference data set of herbaceous and woody phytoliths, and subsequently identified 21 herbaceous and 13 woody phytolith types in the surface soil samples. To test the reliability of soil phytolith analysis for distinguishing forest, grassland and the forest−grassland ecotone, we used principal components analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis (DA) to summarize the soil phytolith assemblage characteristics of the different ecosystems. The results show that the grassland and forest samples are characterized by abundant herbaceous and woody phytoliths, respectively; and that forest−grassland ecotone habitats are characterized by low abundances of blocky polyhedral, multifaceted epidermal and sclereid phytoliths. In general, the surface soil phytolith assemblages can reliably differentiate samples from forest, grassland and the forest−grassland ecotone, with up to 92% of the samples classified correctly. We also tested the reliability of phytolith indices (W/G (1), W/G (2), W/G (3)) for discriminating different vegetation types in our study area, and found that W/G (2) was the most reliable index and corresponded well with the species inventory data. The W/G values for grassland ranged from 0 to 0.3, from 0.3 to 0.6 for the forest−grassland ecotone, and exceeded 0.6 for forest. We conclude that our study provides reliable analogues for phytolith assemblages from palaeoecological contexts, which can be used to reconstruct shifts in forest−grassland ecotones and vegetation succession in temperate areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of the shore-fly genus Rhynchopsilopa Hendel from China are reviewed. Four new species (Rhynchopsilopa guangdongensis sp. n., R. huangkengensis sp. n., R. jinxiuensis sp. n., R. shixingensis sp. n.) and two previously known species, R. longicornis (Okada) and R. magnicornis Hendel, are described or redescribed. A key to the species hitherto known from China is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three species of Michotamia are recorded from China. Of these M. aurata (Fabricius, 1794) was previously reported from Hainan and Taiwan. M. assamensis Joseph & Parui, 1995 is recorded from China and Laos for the first time, and M. yunnanensis sp. n., is described and figured. A key to the known species from China is provided. A new name, Michotamia subnigra, is given to Michotamia nigra Scarbrough & Hill, 2000, which is preoccupied by Michotamia nigra (Meijere, 1911). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A review of the species of the genus Thressa from China is provided. The following four species are described as new to science: T. bimaculata sp. n., T. daiyunshana sp. n., T. foliacea sp. n. and T. longimaculata sp. n. One species, T. flavior (Duda), is recorded from China for the first time. A key to the species of the Thressa from China is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the community life perspective, this article argues that the segmentation feature of new urban migrants in contemporary China has set back their integration as well as current community construction. The making of interests-based communities to embrace new migrants instead of settlement-based communities may accelerate their inclusion and promote community building. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study a new tomographic method is applied to over 43,400 high-quality absolute direct P arrival times and 200,660 relative P arrival times to determine detailed 3D crustal velocity structures as well as the absolute and relative hypocenter parameters of 2809 seismic events under the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan region. The inferred velocity model of the upper crust correlates well with the surface geological and topographic features in the BTT region. In the North China Basin, the depression and uplift areas are imaged as slow and fast velocities, respectively. After relocation, the double-difference tomography method provides a sharp picture of the seismicity in the BTT region, which is concentrated along with the major faults. A broad low-velocity anomaly exists in Tangshan and surrounding area from 20 km down to 30 km depth. Our results suggest that the top boundary of low-velocity anomalies is at about 25.4 km depth. The event relocations inverted from double-difference tomography are clusted tightly along the Tangshan-Dacheng Fault and formthree clusters on the vertical slice. The maximumfocal depth after relocation is about 25 km depth in the Tangshan area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines the impact of economic growth and reform, and income increase on nutrition availability in urban China. An overview of the changes in economic environment in the country from 1986 to 2000 is provided. It presents statistical data on the change in calorie demand elasticities with the increase in income and economic growth and significant institutional reform in China. It also discusses the nonlinear relationship between calorie availability and expenditure, as well as the estimated income elasticities of calorie availability for different expenditure groups. Findings suggest that for the most poly relevant group, which are the poor, income growth is beneficial in solving the problems on malnutrition.

The six nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have approximately 40 percent of total proven oil reserves as well as 23 percent of the world's gas reserves. Although rising oil revenues have led to greater outward investment flows, there is also a growing need for significant expansion of the domestic energy sector's capacity. Meanwhile, China's sustained economic boom has resulted in China emerging as the world's second largest consumer and importer of oil, with close to 40 percent of its import demand presently sourced from the GCC. This share will grow significantly in the future. Commercial relations between the GCC and China have to date been dominated by energy-related bilateral investment flows and China's oil imports. Although this will continue to be a central feature, trade and investment links in non-energy areas will further broaden and deepen the relationship. China's relationship with the USA in terms of energy is also emerging as a major issue. Rather than being competitors, a mutual dependence on stable and secure supplies from the GCC highlights the need for a cooperative relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil nematode community structure was studied in a terrestrial sand dune system of the Horqin Sandy Land, Northeast China. The nematode abundance and generic composition in four sites (from the lowland, the middle part of windward slope and the top of windward slope to leeward slope) and three soil layers (0–20 cm, 20–40 cm and 40–60 cm) of the stabilized sand dune were compared. The results showed the total number of nematodes which ranged from 11 to 160 individuals per 100 g dry soils was significantly different among the sites and the depths (P < 0.05). Thirty genera were observed and Acrobeles was the dominant genus in our investigation. A significant difference in the abundance of bacterivores was found among the depths (P < 0.01). The total numbers of nematodes and plant parasites positively correlated with electronic conductivity, soil moisture, total organic carbon and nitrogen contents (P < 0.05). S, TD, NCR and PPI were found to be sensitive to environmental stress in the stabilized sand dune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade in Hong Kong, the relationship and accountability of statutory bodies to core government, to the legislature, and to the broader public have been the subject of continuing and, as yet, unresolved debate. Faced with scandals and other serious problems in a number of the major statutory bodies, and in the context of its own problems of lack of political support and legitimacy, the Tung administration tended to reduce the autonomy of the statutory bodies by increasing central control and integrating their functions with those of core government. Legislators have seen the problems of statutory bodies from a rather different perspective, arguing that they result from a lack of accountability and transparency. The government’s eventual concession to the need for reform has resulted, since 2003, in a review of the principles governing the work of all advisory and statutory bodies and of specific statutory bodies which have experienced serious problems. This article examines the principles contained in the review and assesses whether they are likely to lead to increased autonomy and improvements in governance standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major and trace element, Sr-Nd-Pb-O isotope and mineral chemical data are presented for post-collisional ultrapotassic, silicic potassic and high-K calc-alkaline volcanic rocks from SW Tibet, with 40Ar/39Ar ages in the range 17-25 Ma. The ultrapotassic lavas contain mantle xenocrysts (olivine ± rutile/armalcolite). Their initial 87Sr/86Sr (0·7172-0·7220) and 143Nd/144Nd (0·51190-0·51200) ratios suggest that they originated from lithospheric sources enriched in Rb with low Sm/Nd ratios. Initial Pb isotopic compositions (206Pb/204Pb = 18·41-18·51; 207Pb/204Pb = 15·68-15·72; 208Pb/204Pb = 39·42-39·60) and geochemical features such as high Th/Ta, low Sr/Nd, low Ce/Pb and negative Eu anomalies are consistent with a recycled crustal component. Nd depleted mantle model ages range from 1·3 to 1·9 Ga, whereas Pb model ages record an Archaean event, suggesting that the source had a complex multi-stage evolution. In contrast, the high-K calc-alkaline dacites and rhyolites have less enriched initial Sr (0·7091-0·7097) and Nd (0·51213-0·51225) isotopic compositions. The presence of zircon xenocrysts with a Pb-evaporation age of 471 ± 33 Ma documents the importance of crustal anatexis in their genesis. Processes responsible for the partial melting of metasomatized lithospheric mantle and post-collisional magmatism in the Lhasa block could be a consequence of (1) convective removal of the lower lithosphere or (2) of slab breakoff. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]