Recent biodiversity research in the Western Amazon has emphasized the linkages among road construction, deforestation and loss of indigenous lands. Many observers have concluded that hydrocarbon production inevitably ...Recent biodiversity research in the Western Amazon has emphasized the linkages among road construction, deforestation and loss of indigenous lands. Many observers have concluded that hydrocarbon production inevitably means destruction of forests and expropriation of native territory. Yet evidence from the eastern lowlands of Ecuador (known as the Oriente) shows that oil can be developed without roads or harmful impacts. The Oriente also provides another contrasting case: in areas where no oil was discovered, the government often built roads to support its agricultural colonization efforts. In these areas, a great deal of deforestation and indigenous displacement occurred. Such evidence suggests that a different set of agrarian and environmental policies might permit oil activity without loss of rain forest or indigenous territory.展开更多
This paper summarizes the features of the new economy in America, and then analyses the differences between the new economy and Chinese economy with trade theories. At the last, this paper concentrates on study of str...This paper summarizes the features of the new economy in America, and then analyses the differences between the new economy and Chinese economy with trade theories. At the last, this paper concentrates on study of strategies for China to develop economic internationalization.展开更多
The future of Sino-U.S.strategic engagement has become a focus of international attention since the second inauguration of U.S.President Donald Trump this January.Previously,Trump claimed intentions to boost domestic ...The future of Sino-U.S.strategic engagement has become a focus of international attention since the second inauguration of U.S.President Donald Trump this January.Previously,Trump claimed intentions to boost domestic manufacturing.If his plan continues,the U.S.may seek a certain degree of cooperation with China in trade in order to benefit from China’s vast market and complete industrial chain.The two countries can negotiate on lowering tariffs and other trade barriers and leveraging China’s manufacturing capacity to reduce the risk of decoupling in bilateral trade.展开更多
China’s economy is expected to remain stable throughout 2025.According to projections by the Center for Forecasting Science of the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences,Chin...China’s economy is expected to remain stable throughout 2025.According to projections by the Center for Forecasting Science of the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences,China’s GDP(gross domestic product)growth should settle at around 4.8 percent this year and will likely hit 5 percent if the government’s stimulus package is effectively implemented.I personally believe that the Chinese economy will maintain growth of about 4.6 percent in 2025 with robust performance in the first and fourth quarters and slower economic activity in the second and third quarters.展开更多
While the significant role of technological innovation in promoting renewable energy has been extensively explored in the literature,limited attention has been paid to the impact of energy patents,particularly clean e...While the significant role of technological innovation in promoting renewable energy has been extensively explored in the literature,limited attention has been paid to the impact of energy patents,particularly clean energy patents and fossil fuel patents.This study pioneers an investigation into the effects of energy patents and energy prices on renewable energy consumption.The study utilizes data from 2000Q1 to 2023Q4 and,due to the nonlinear nature of the series,applies wavelet quantile-based methods.Specifically,it introduces the wavelet quantile cointegration approach to evaluate cointegration across different quantiles and time horizons,along with the wavelet quantile-on-quantile regression method.The results confirm cointegration across different periods and quantiles,highlighting the significant relationships between energy patents,economic factors,and renewable energy consumption.Furthermore,we found that fossil energy patents negatively affect renewable energy consumption,while clean energy patents have a similar but weaker effect,especially in the short term.In addition,higher energy prices promote renewable energy adoption while economic growth positively influences renewable energy consumption,particularly in the short term.The study formulates specific policies based on these findings.展开更多
Rangelands of Central Asia (referring to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in this study), the largest contiguous area of grazed land in the world, serve as an important source of livelih...Rangelands of Central Asia (referring to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in this study), the largest contiguous area of grazed land in the world, serve as an important source of livelihood for pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in this region. They also play an important role in absorbing CO<sub>2</sub> as a global carbon sink. However, unsustainable management of rangelands has led to their degradation hugely by downgrading their potential agro-ecological, environmental and socio-economical roles. This paper reviewed the rangeland degradation in Central Asia, a topic which so far has received only scant coverage in the international scientific literature. It also provided examples of successful experiences and outlined possible options that land managers can adopt to enhance the sustainable management of these vast degraded rangelands. The experiences and lessons described in this paper may also be relevant for other degraded rangeland areas, especially in the developing countries. The causes of rangeland degradation within the Central Asian region are numerous, complex and inter-related. Therefore, while addressing the factors associated with improper rangeland management may shed some light on the causes of rangeland degradation, the scope of this paper would not be all-encompassing for the major causes of degradation. There is a need to develop and widely apply the viable and locally accepted and adapted packages of technical, institutional and policy options for sustainable rangeland management. Incentivizing the collective action of small-scale pastoralists who group together to facilitate access to remote pastures can reduce the degree of overgrazing within community pastures, such as those near the settlements. We also found that migratory grazing through pooling of resources among small-scale pastoralists can increase household income. After their independence, most Central Asian countries adopted various rangeland tenure arrangements. However, the building of enhanced capacities of pasture management and effective local rangeland governance structures can increase the likelihood, which will be sustainable and equitable. Finally, this paper presented several promising technical options, aiming at reversing the trend of rangeland degradation in Central Asia.展开更多
As a form of economic and community development, agritourism has a strong and widespread appeal to all tourists. To explore the situation and value of agritourism in China, the Qianjiangyue agritourism farm located be...As a form of economic and community development, agritourism has a strong and widespread appeal to all tourists. To explore the situation and value of agritourism in China, the Qianjiangyue agritourism farm located between Fuzhou City and Yongtai County was chosen to evaluate recreational values. The data was obtained from tourists and farm samples in Qianjiangyue agritourism farm by questionnaires. Two basic models including the zonal travel cost method （ZTCM） and the individual travel cost method （ITCM） were applied for data analysis. The recreational value estimation results obtained from ITCM and ZTCM showed that the total consumer surplus （CS） of the Qianjiangyue agritourism farm in 2Oll was estimated at 54,533,300 CNY （8,894,682 US$） which was equal to a CS per tourist of 3029.63 CNY （494.i5 US$）, and the annual recreational value of agricultural landscapes per hm2 was 36i,o78 CNY （58,893.82 US$）. The average annual recreational value of agritourism farmland was 15.7 times of that from traditional farming, and 6 times of present land business income. This paper will be helpful for exploring and utilizing appropriate environmental resources in China.展开更多
Nutrition poverty alleviation is an effective measure to improve the nutritional status of economically disadvantaged individuals,fundamentally improving their health and reducing poverty.Based on the Entitlement Theo...Nutrition poverty alleviation is an effective measure to improve the nutritional status of economically disadvantaged individuals,fundamentally improving their health and reducing poverty.Based on the Entitlement Theory and using the China Health and Nutrition Survey(CHNS)data,this paper examines the relationship between farmers’nutritional intake,production structure and regional market conditions.Results show that farmers with diversified production have better nutritional intake than those who specialize.Furthermore,the correlation between regional market conditions and nutritional intake varies between economically disadvantaged and non-economically disadvantaged households.Market conditions significantly influence the carbohydrate and fat intake of economically disadvantaged households and are positively associated with the dietary structure and nutritional intake of non-economically disadvantaged ones.Moreover,income is positively correlated with the nutritional intake of non-economically disadvantaged households but not with economically disadvantaged ones.展开更多
Sustainable income growth and poverty reduction remain critical challenges at the forefront of research in Pakistan,particularly in rural areas.To overcome these challenges,the role of rural transformation(RT)has emer...Sustainable income growth and poverty reduction remain critical challenges at the forefront of research in Pakistan,particularly in rural areas.To overcome these challenges,the role of rural transformation(RT)has emerged and gained importance in recent years.The present study is based on district-level data and covers the period from 1981 to 2019.The study attempts to quantify the role of rural transformation in boosting rural per capita income and alleviating rural poverty in the country.The study also aims to explore the impact of stages of rural transformation on rural per capita income and rural poverty alleviation.The empirical findings reveal that rural transformation(RT_(1)and RT_(2))is essential in enhancing rural per capita income and alleviating rural poverty.The role of the share of high-value crops(RT_(1))is more pronounced than the share of non-farm employment(RT_(2))in boosting rural per capita income and poverty alleviation.The trend of larger contribution of RT_(1)to enhance rural per capita income also continued at 2nd stage of rural transformation.In the case of poverty reduction,at 3rd stage of rural transformation,the role of RT_(2)is dominant.Our results indicate that districts at higher stages of rural transformation(both RT_(1)and RT_(2))tend to correlate positively with increased rural per capita income and reduced poverty rates,suggesting that progress in rural transformation is associated with improved economic conditions.However,it is important to note that this correlation does not necessarily imply a direct causal relationship between rural transformation and these economic outcomes;other factors may have influenced this relationship.In addition,the welfare impacts are more noticeable among the districts where a simultaneous shift from grain crops to cash crops and from farm employment to non-farm employment is observed.The study provides baseline information to learn experiences from fast-growing districts and to replicate the strategies in other districts,which boosts the RT process that may increase rural per capita income and enhance poverty reduction efforts.展开更多
This work analyses the potential role of nitrogen pollution technology of crop systems of Pujiang, County in Eastern China’s Zhejiang Province, rice and vegetables are important cropping systems. We used a case study...This work analyses the potential role of nitrogen pollution technology of crop systems of Pujiang, County in Eastern China’s Zhejiang Province, rice and vegetables are important cropping systems. We used a case study approach involving com- parison of farmer practices and improved technologies. This approach allows assessing the impact of technology on pollution, is forward looking, and can yield information on the potential of on-the-shelf technology and provide opportunities for technology development. The approach particularly suits newly developed rice technologies with large potential of reducing nitrogen pollu- tion and for future rice and vegetables technologies. The results showed that substantial reductions in nitrogen pollution are fea- sible for both types of crops.展开更多
Human activities have severely impacted on many species and ecosystems.Thus,understanding the local biodiversity situation is crucial for implementing effective biodiversity conservation interventions.Mindanao in the ...Human activities have severely impacted on many species and ecosystems.Thus,understanding the local biodiversity situation is crucial for implementing effective biodiversity conservation interventions.Mindanao in the southern Philippines is home to various unique species,particularly in its pristine ecosystems.However,the available biodiversity data for many terrestrial vertebrates and key areas remain incomplete.To address this issue,we synthesized published literature related to biodiversity from 2000 to 2022 in Mindanao.Moreover,this analysis used four key terrestrial vertebrates(amphibians,reptiles,birds,and mammals)in Mindanao as research objects.According to our findings,there was a significant and positive correlation between the number of biodiversity studies and species recorded.In terms of species richness,birds were the most recorded group(n=334 spp.),followed by reptiles(n=108 spp.),mammals(n=70 spp.),and amphibians(n=52 spp.).We also found that the number of endemic and threatened species varies geographically and across taxonomic groups.Yet,we discovered a significant disparity in the information available on biodiversity in different provinces of Mindanao.For example,the western provinces of Mindanao have had no record of biodiversity for more than two decades.Furthermore,we found that the changes in tree cover loss were consistent with biodiversity records,but this correlation is only significant for birds.Finally,we highlighted some critical threats and challenges to biodiversity,including deforestation,agricultural expansion,mining,and their impact on biodiversity conservation in Mindanao.Our findings suggested that biodiversity conservation should focus not only on areas with high levels of biodiversity but also on areas lacking biodiversity information.To do this,we call for strengthening collaboration among various institutions and digitizing and centralizing of information related to biodiversity.By gaining a deeper understanding of biodiversity in Mindanao,we can better and sustainably protect critical ecosystems in this region from the increasing threats posed by human activities.展开更多
Background:When a privately owned firm or privatized government entity raises capital by selling its stocks for the first time to general public,is known as initial public offering(IPO).The underpricing phenomenon and...Background:When a privately owned firm or privatized government entity raises capital by selling its stocks for the first time to general public,is known as initial public offering(IPO).The underpricing phenomenon and ownership structure are important characteristics of IPO process that significantly affect the short-run and long-run performance of private firm and privitized entity.This study compares the short-and long-run performance,and factors affecting these performances for both private IPOs and privatized IPOs in Pakistan.It further investigates the relationship between capital structor and initial underpricing for both group of IPOs.Methods:Event study methodology is used to compares short-and long-run performance spanning from March 2000 to June 2015 of two categories of IPOs issued in the Karachi Stock Exchange(KSE).Multivariate regression analysis is applied to examine the factors that affect the short-run and long-run performance as well as for investigating the relationship betwen underpricing and ownership structure for both group of IPOs.Results:We find that both categories outperform in IPOs at which they are offered to investors on first day of trading,although differences in mean are insignificant.Over a five-year buy-and hold strategy,privatizing IPOs outperform and private IPOs underperform returns on the benchmark KSE 100 Stock Index.The results reveal that the size of the private firm or government entity,aftermarket risk of IPOs,and subscription ratio are significantly associated with the underpricing of IPO shares brought to market.First-day returns,market volatility and retained ownership are associated with higher five-year performance.We find that the concentration of ownership is similar,for both categories of IPOs;and significantly positive related to underpricing.The size of the firm/entity,aftermarket risk,return on assets and subscription ratio also affect ownership concentration.Conclusions:Same level of underpricing in both private and privatized IPOs reveals that Pakistan’s government is committed to its privatization policies as they developed capital markets by underpricing of IPOs.To make dispersion in ownership structure and to involve more small investors,the regulatory authorities such as Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan(SECP are required to take some steps to minimize concentration in ownership structure).There is a need of some specific range of underpricing by issuers and SECP.展开更多
Southeast China is one of the severe soil degradation areas in China. This paper theoretically examines the impact of some important institutional arrangements and policies, like land management pattern, the rural off...Southeast China is one of the severe soil degradation areas in China. This paper theoretically examines the impact of some important institutional arrangements and policies, like land management pattern, the rural off-farm employment, land property change and changes in prices of agricultural products, on soil degradation in this area. It further conducts some case studies to confirm the potential relationship between the institutions & policies and soil degradation, applying the surveyed and the second hand data. The paper at last makes some conclusions and proposes some suggestions on how to promote soil conservation by improving the ways of policy decision-making and the effects of policies on land use.展开更多
Neonatal mortality is of global concern, it is the death in the first month of life. According to WHO, 2.4 million children died globally in the first month of life2. Globally the neonatal mortality rate declined slow...Neonatal mortality is of global concern, it is the death in the first month of life. According to WHO, 2.4 million children died globally in the first month of life2. Globally the neonatal mortality rate declined slowly from 28/100 live births in 2000 to 17.9/100 live births in 2019. It is a major challenge for the low socioeconomic group of countries. Most neonatal deaths occurred in south Asia and African countries, in 2019 out of 2.4 million death 81% occurred in the Southeast Asia. Objective: To evaluate and improve cord care practices of mothers to reduce the risk of cord related infections. Methodology: The mixed method will be used in this research, questionnaire is used for data collection, total collected sample is 391. Results: 354 (91.0%) of the 394 patients analyzed obtained prenatal care (ANC) in both traditional and nontraditional settings. Among these, 288 (72.3%) got cord care health education, whereas 106 (27.7%) did not. The overall documentation of the instructions for the use of metabolized spirits alone included 116 (48.9%) teaching institutions and 103 (43.5%) private hospitals. the average results show the age of the baby 1 - 7 days, the average age of the mother is 18 - 25 years. The average education of the mothers is primary. Participation of health centers is average. Most of the participants has 1 child. Conclusion: This research concludes the poor umbilical cord practices and knowledge. Those with information used it better. Raise awareness about umbilical cord care and improper behaviors, including using mentholated balms. Before women leave the hospital, they should learn cord care. Mothers must clean wires. Several healthcare organizations don’t provide cord care instruction, and what they provide isn’t research-based.展开更多
The fecal components of Blaptica dubia and Blatta lateralis were analyzed and characterized using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(SPME-GC-MS)to explore can-didate compounds mediating t...The fecal components of Blaptica dubia and Blatta lateralis were analyzed and characterized using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(SPME-GC-MS)to explore can-didate compounds mediating their aggregation behavior.The results revealed that hydrocarbons and alde-hydes accounted for the majority of the 85 components detected in the fecula of B.dubia,with hexadecane(6.721%)and tetradecanal(6.555%)as the most prominent.In the fecula of B.lateralis,esters and hy-drocarbons accounted for the majority of the 93 identified components,with 3-phenylpropionic acid methyl ester(10.020%)and 2,7-dioxa-tricyclo[4.4.0.0(3,8)]deca-4,9-diene(3.604%)hexadecane(2.504%)predominating.The fecal compositions of the two cockroach species exhibited similarities,with seven common substances identified out of a total of 43.The relative percentages of these common components in the fecula were 68.516%for B.dubia and 53.541%for B.lateralis.展开更多
China＇s Sloping Land Conversion Program has been implemented since 2002. It aims to achieve goals of ecological recovery and poverty alleviation, by retiring steeply sloping land from crop production and freeing surp...China＇s Sloping Land Conversion Program has been implemented since 2002. It aims to achieve goals of ecological recovery and poverty alleviation, by retiring steeply sloping land from crop production and freeing surplus agricultural labor for off-farm activities. Given the huge investment that has been poured into it, and its ecological and social impacts, this government-initiated program has attracted significant academic attention and triggered a flood of debate. Since 2004, the debate has concentrated on the sustainability of the program. Although targets have been overachieved in some provinces, concern has still emerged regarding the livelihood of farmers after subsidies stop. The present paper analyzes the implementation of the Sloping Land Conversion Program in Ningxia Autonomous Region, with a focus on the required social capital for sustained participation o f farmers and the development of off-farm economic activities.展开更多
Weather forecasting is crucial to both the demand and supply sides of electricity systems. Temperature has a great effect on the demand side. Moreover, solar and wind are very promising renewable energy sources and ar...Weather forecasting is crucial to both the demand and supply sides of electricity systems. Temperature has a great effect on the demand side. Moreover, solar and wind are very promising renewable energy sources and are, thus, important on the supply side. In this paper, a large vector autoregression(VAR) model is built to forecast three important weather variables for 61 cities around the United States. The three variables at all locations are modeled as response variables. Lag terms are used to capture the relationship between observations in adjacent periods and daily and annual seasonality are modeled to consider the correlation between the same periods in adjacent days and years. We estimate the VAR model with16 years of hourly historical data and use two additional years of data for out-of-sample validation. Forecasts of up to six-hours-ahead are generated with good forecasting performance based on mean absolute error, root mean square error, relative root mean square error, and skill scores. Our VAR model gives forecasts with skill scoresthat are more than double the skill scores of other forecasting models in the literature. Our model also provides forecasts that outperform persistence forecasts by between6% and 80% in terms of mean absolute error. Our results show that the proposed time series approach is appropriate for very short-term forecasting of hourly solar radiation,temperature, and wind speed.展开更多
This paper analyzes the short-term and long-term effects that the global economic crisis and the investment priorities of the Chinese Government＇s stimulus package had on Chinese migrant flows between 2008 and 2014. ...This paper analyzes the short-term and long-term effects that the global economic crisis and the investment priorities of the Chinese Government＇s stimulus package had on Chinese migrant flows between 2008 and 2014. Combining micro-level household survey data and macro-level statistics, the authors have found that in the short run, the regional and sectoral impact of the crisis, combined with the government＇s investment priorities, caused a reorientation of migration routes from the export-oriented coastal provinces towards the central and western regions, from inter-provincial migration towards intra-provincial migration, and from manufacturing industry towards the construction sector. However, in the longer run, the decreasing attractiveness of the eastern region and the increasing attractiveness of the western region proved to be transitory, although the pre-crisis relative advantage of the eastern region was not fuUy restored. What proved to be persistent were the attractiveness of the central region and the intra-provincial migration in all three regions, and, in particular, the steady growth of migrants in the construction sector.展开更多
Agricultural innovation can be described as a coevolutionary process of technological innovation,symbolic change,and social or institutional innovation,which relies on the interactions and collaboration between multip...Agricultural innovation can be described as a coevolutionary process of technological innovation,symbolic change,and social or institutional innovation,which relies on the interactions and collaboration between multiple stakeholders.This view emphasizes the significance of innovation intermediaries in supporting the coevolution process of innovation.Many studies have provided evidence on how innovation intermediaries play roles in supporting the coevolution innovation process at a broader innovation system level.However,little emphasis has been given to the role of innovation intermediaries in supporting the coevolution process of innovation at the community level in rural China.To address this research gap,this paper offers a case study of a novel type of innovation support intervention designed to promote technical change at the community level,the Science and Technology Backyard(STB).The paper focuses on the efforts of a specific STB in Wangzhuang village to promote innovation in tillage methods in wheat production.The aims was to examine the role of this newly emerging innovation support intervention in supporting the coevolution process of innovation at the community level,and compare the outcome of the coevolution process in the village with an STB to that in villages without an STB.Innovation journey analysis is applied to understand the evolved intermediation roles in the innovation process,and multivariate regression analysis is employed to assess the outcome of the coevolution process in villages with and without an STB.The findings suggest that the roles of STBs have evolved from knowledge brokers to systemic innovation intermediaries that facilitate the coevolution process of innovation inside an STB village.It has led to a higher adoption rate of improved technology,a better enabling environment for learning,and more effective institutional support in STB villages than in non-STB villages.However,the effect of support provided by a single STB on the coevolution process outside the community was limited.This finding points to a need for collaboration mechanisms and for connecting single STBs to support the coevolution process of innovation at a larger scale.展开更多
文摘Recent biodiversity research in the Western Amazon has emphasized the linkages among road construction, deforestation and loss of indigenous lands. Many observers have concluded that hydrocarbon production inevitably means destruction of forests and expropriation of native territory. Yet evidence from the eastern lowlands of Ecuador (known as the Oriente) shows that oil can be developed without roads or harmful impacts. The Oriente also provides another contrasting case: in areas where no oil was discovered, the government often built roads to support its agricultural colonization efforts. In these areas, a great deal of deforestation and indigenous displacement occurred. Such evidence suggests that a different set of agrarian and environmental policies might permit oil activity without loss of rain forest or indigenous territory.
文摘This paper summarizes the features of the new economy in America, and then analyses the differences between the new economy and Chinese economy with trade theories. At the last, this paper concentrates on study of strategies for China to develop economic internationalization.
文摘The future of Sino-U.S.strategic engagement has become a focus of international attention since the second inauguration of U.S.President Donald Trump this January.Previously,Trump claimed intentions to boost domestic manufacturing.If his plan continues,the U.S.may seek a certain degree of cooperation with China in trade in order to benefit from China’s vast market and complete industrial chain.The two countries can negotiate on lowering tariffs and other trade barriers and leveraging China’s manufacturing capacity to reduce the risk of decoupling in bilateral trade.
文摘China’s economy is expected to remain stable throughout 2025.According to projections by the Center for Forecasting Science of the Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science under the Chinese Academy of Sciences,China’s GDP(gross domestic product)growth should settle at around 4.8 percent this year and will likely hit 5 percent if the government’s stimulus package is effectively implemented.I personally believe that the Chinese economy will maintain growth of about 4.6 percent in 2025 with robust performance in the first and fourth quarters and slower economic activity in the second and third quarters.
文摘While the significant role of technological innovation in promoting renewable energy has been extensively explored in the literature,limited attention has been paid to the impact of energy patents,particularly clean energy patents and fossil fuel patents.This study pioneers an investigation into the effects of energy patents and energy prices on renewable energy consumption.The study utilizes data from 2000Q1 to 2023Q4 and,due to the nonlinear nature of the series,applies wavelet quantile-based methods.Specifically,it introduces the wavelet quantile cointegration approach to evaluate cointegration across different quantiles and time horizons,along with the wavelet quantile-on-quantile regression method.The results confirm cointegration across different periods and quantiles,highlighting the significant relationships between energy patents,economic factors,and renewable energy consumption.Furthermore,we found that fossil energy patents negatively affect renewable energy consumption,while clean energy patents have a similar but weaker effect,especially in the short term.In addition,higher energy prices promote renewable energy adoption while economic growth positively influences renewable energy consumption,particularly in the short term.The study formulates specific policies based on these findings.
基金the Asian Development Bank,the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas,Russian Scientific Fund(14-38-00023)the CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems for their support and funding
文摘Rangelands of Central Asia (referring to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in this study), the largest contiguous area of grazed land in the world, serve as an important source of livelihood for pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in this region. They also play an important role in absorbing CO<sub>2</sub> as a global carbon sink. However, unsustainable management of rangelands has led to their degradation hugely by downgrading their potential agro-ecological, environmental and socio-economical roles. This paper reviewed the rangeland degradation in Central Asia, a topic which so far has received only scant coverage in the international scientific literature. It also provided examples of successful experiences and outlined possible options that land managers can adopt to enhance the sustainable management of these vast degraded rangelands. The experiences and lessons described in this paper may also be relevant for other degraded rangeland areas, especially in the developing countries. The causes of rangeland degradation within the Central Asian region are numerous, complex and inter-related. Therefore, while addressing the factors associated with improper rangeland management may shed some light on the causes of rangeland degradation, the scope of this paper would not be all-encompassing for the major causes of degradation. There is a need to develop and widely apply the viable and locally accepted and adapted packages of technical, institutional and policy options for sustainable rangeland management. Incentivizing the collective action of small-scale pastoralists who group together to facilitate access to remote pastures can reduce the degree of overgrazing within community pastures, such as those near the settlements. We also found that migratory grazing through pooling of resources among small-scale pastoralists can increase household income. After their independence, most Central Asian countries adopted various rangeland tenure arrangements. However, the building of enhanced capacities of pasture management and effective local rangeland governance structures can increase the likelihood, which will be sustainable and equitable. Finally, this paper presented several promising technical options, aiming at reversing the trend of rangeland degradation in Central Asia.
基金sponsored by the National Social Science Fund "How to Develop Idle Homestead by Agri-tourism (12BJY109)the Scientific Research Fund for Outstanding Young scholars in Fujian "The Research on the Developing Mechanism of Agritourism (K8011003)the A-Class Programs sponsored by Fujian Education Department "How to Upgrade Agritourism in Fujian by Industrial Agglomeration Theory (JA3409S)"
文摘As a form of economic and community development, agritourism has a strong and widespread appeal to all tourists. To explore the situation and value of agritourism in China, the Qianjiangyue agritourism farm located between Fuzhou City and Yongtai County was chosen to evaluate recreational values. The data was obtained from tourists and farm samples in Qianjiangyue agritourism farm by questionnaires. Two basic models including the zonal travel cost method （ZTCM） and the individual travel cost method （ITCM） were applied for data analysis. The recreational value estimation results obtained from ITCM and ZTCM showed that the total consumer surplus （CS） of the Qianjiangyue agritourism farm in 2Oll was estimated at 54,533,300 CNY （8,894,682 US$） which was equal to a CS per tourist of 3029.63 CNY （494.i5 US$）, and the annual recreational value of agricultural landscapes per hm2 was 36i,o78 CNY （58,893.82 US$）. The average annual recreational value of agritourism farmland was 15.7 times of that from traditional farming, and 6 times of present land business income. This paper will be helpful for exploring and utilizing appropriate environmental resources in China.
基金supported by the National Social Science Fund of China (19AGL020)funding from the National Institute for Health (NIH), the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) for R01 HD30880+2 种基金National Institute on Aging (NIA) for R01 AG065357National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) for R01DK104371 and R01HL108427the NIH Fogarty grant D43 TW009077
文摘Nutrition poverty alleviation is an effective measure to improve the nutritional status of economically disadvantaged individuals,fundamentally improving their health and reducing poverty.Based on the Entitlement Theory and using the China Health and Nutrition Survey(CHNS)data,this paper examines the relationship between farmers’nutritional intake,production structure and regional market conditions.Results show that farmers with diversified production have better nutritional intake than those who specialize.Furthermore,the correlation between regional market conditions and nutritional intake varies between economically disadvantaged and non-economically disadvantaged households.Market conditions significantly influence the carbohydrate and fat intake of economically disadvantaged households and are positively associated with the dietary structure and nutritional intake of non-economically disadvantaged ones.Moreover,income is positively correlated with the nutritional intake of non-economically disadvantaged households but not with economically disadvantaged ones.
基金We highly acknowledge the financial support of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research(ACIAR),Australia(ADP/2017/024)。
文摘Sustainable income growth and poverty reduction remain critical challenges at the forefront of research in Pakistan,particularly in rural areas.To overcome these challenges,the role of rural transformation(RT)has emerged and gained importance in recent years.The present study is based on district-level data and covers the period from 1981 to 2019.The study attempts to quantify the role of rural transformation in boosting rural per capita income and alleviating rural poverty in the country.The study also aims to explore the impact of stages of rural transformation on rural per capita income and rural poverty alleviation.The empirical findings reveal that rural transformation(RT_(1)and RT_(2))is essential in enhancing rural per capita income and alleviating rural poverty.The role of the share of high-value crops(RT_(1))is more pronounced than the share of non-farm employment(RT_(2))in boosting rural per capita income and poverty alleviation.The trend of larger contribution of RT_(1)to enhance rural per capita income also continued at 2nd stage of rural transformation.In the case of poverty reduction,at 3rd stage of rural transformation,the role of RT_(2)is dominant.Our results indicate that districts at higher stages of rural transformation(both RT_(1)and RT_(2))tend to correlate positively with increased rural per capita income and reduced poverty rates,suggesting that progress in rural transformation is associated with improved economic conditions.However,it is important to note that this correlation does not necessarily imply a direct causal relationship between rural transformation and these economic outcomes;other factors may have influenced this relationship.In addition,the welfare impacts are more noticeable among the districts where a simultaneous shift from grain crops to cash crops and from farm employment to non-farm employment is observed.The study provides baseline information to learn experiences from fast-growing districts and to replicate the strategies in other districts,which boosts the RT process that may increase rural per capita income and enhance poverty reduction efforts.
基金Project (No. ICA4-CT-2001-10055) supported by the European Economic Commission
文摘This work analyses the potential role of nitrogen pollution technology of crop systems of Pujiang, County in Eastern China’s Zhejiang Province, rice and vegetables are important cropping systems. We used a case study approach involving com- parison of farmer practices and improved technologies. This approach allows assessing the impact of technology on pollution, is forward looking, and can yield information on the potential of on-the-shelf technology and provide opportunities for technology development. The approach particularly suits newly developed rice technologies with large potential of reducing nitrogen pollu- tion and for future rice and vegetables technologies. The results showed that substantial reductions in nitrogen pollution are fea- sible for both types of crops.
基金the ‘Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in Changing Environment Project’ funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOST-BARMM)
文摘Human activities have severely impacted on many species and ecosystems.Thus,understanding the local biodiversity situation is crucial for implementing effective biodiversity conservation interventions.Mindanao in the southern Philippines is home to various unique species,particularly in its pristine ecosystems.However,the available biodiversity data for many terrestrial vertebrates and key areas remain incomplete.To address this issue,we synthesized published literature related to biodiversity from 2000 to 2022 in Mindanao.Moreover,this analysis used four key terrestrial vertebrates(amphibians,reptiles,birds,and mammals)in Mindanao as research objects.According to our findings,there was a significant and positive correlation between the number of biodiversity studies and species recorded.In terms of species richness,birds were the most recorded group(n=334 spp.),followed by reptiles(n=108 spp.),mammals(n=70 spp.),and amphibians(n=52 spp.).We also found that the number of endemic and threatened species varies geographically and across taxonomic groups.Yet,we discovered a significant disparity in the information available on biodiversity in different provinces of Mindanao.For example,the western provinces of Mindanao have had no record of biodiversity for more than two decades.Furthermore,we found that the changes in tree cover loss were consistent with biodiversity records,but this correlation is only significant for birds.Finally,we highlighted some critical threats and challenges to biodiversity,including deforestation,agricultural expansion,mining,and their impact on biodiversity conservation in Mindanao.Our findings suggested that biodiversity conservation should focus not only on areas with high levels of biodiversity but also on areas lacking biodiversity information.To do this,we call for strengthening collaboration among various institutions and digitizing and centralizing of information related to biodiversity.By gaining a deeper understanding of biodiversity in Mindanao,we can better and sustainably protect critical ecosystems in this region from the increasing threats posed by human activities.
文摘Background:When a privately owned firm or privatized government entity raises capital by selling its stocks for the first time to general public,is known as initial public offering(IPO).The underpricing phenomenon and ownership structure are important characteristics of IPO process that significantly affect the short-run and long-run performance of private firm and privitized entity.This study compares the short-and long-run performance,and factors affecting these performances for both private IPOs and privatized IPOs in Pakistan.It further investigates the relationship between capital structor and initial underpricing for both group of IPOs.Methods:Event study methodology is used to compares short-and long-run performance spanning from March 2000 to June 2015 of two categories of IPOs issued in the Karachi Stock Exchange(KSE).Multivariate regression analysis is applied to examine the factors that affect the short-run and long-run performance as well as for investigating the relationship betwen underpricing and ownership structure for both group of IPOs.Results:We find that both categories outperform in IPOs at which they are offered to investors on first day of trading,although differences in mean are insignificant.Over a five-year buy-and hold strategy,privatizing IPOs outperform and private IPOs underperform returns on the benchmark KSE 100 Stock Index.The results reveal that the size of the private firm or government entity,aftermarket risk of IPOs,and subscription ratio are significantly associated with the underpricing of IPO shares brought to market.First-day returns,market volatility and retained ownership are associated with higher five-year performance.We find that the concentration of ownership is similar,for both categories of IPOs;and significantly positive related to underpricing.The size of the firm/entity,aftermarket risk,return on assets and subscription ratio also affect ownership concentration.Conclusions:Same level of underpricing in both private and privatized IPOs reveals that Pakistan’s government is committed to its privatization policies as they developed capital markets by underpricing of IPOs.To make dispersion in ownership structure and to involve more small investors,the regulatory authorities such as Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan(SECP are required to take some steps to minimize concentration in ownership structure).There is a need of some specific range of underpricing by issuers and SECP.
基金The research is within the framework of Dutch-Sino SERENA project and funded by the National Natural Science Foundation(No.40101007).
文摘Southeast China is one of the severe soil degradation areas in China. This paper theoretically examines the impact of some important institutional arrangements and policies, like land management pattern, the rural off-farm employment, land property change and changes in prices of agricultural products, on soil degradation in this area. It further conducts some case studies to confirm the potential relationship between the institutions & policies and soil degradation, applying the surveyed and the second hand data. The paper at last makes some conclusions and proposes some suggestions on how to promote soil conservation by improving the ways of policy decision-making and the effects of policies on land use.
文摘Neonatal mortality is of global concern, it is the death in the first month of life. According to WHO, 2.4 million children died globally in the first month of life2. Globally the neonatal mortality rate declined slowly from 28/100 live births in 2000 to 17.9/100 live births in 2019. It is a major challenge for the low socioeconomic group of countries. Most neonatal deaths occurred in south Asia and African countries, in 2019 out of 2.4 million death 81% occurred in the Southeast Asia. Objective: To evaluate and improve cord care practices of mothers to reduce the risk of cord related infections. Methodology: The mixed method will be used in this research, questionnaire is used for data collection, total collected sample is 391. Results: 354 (91.0%) of the 394 patients analyzed obtained prenatal care (ANC) in both traditional and nontraditional settings. Among these, 288 (72.3%) got cord care health education, whereas 106 (27.7%) did not. The overall documentation of the instructions for the use of metabolized spirits alone included 116 (48.9%) teaching institutions and 103 (43.5%) private hospitals. the average results show the age of the baby 1 - 7 days, the average age of the mother is 18 - 25 years. The average education of the mothers is primary. Participation of health centers is average. Most of the participants has 1 child. Conclusion: This research concludes the poor umbilical cord practices and knowledge. Those with information used it better. Raise awareness about umbilical cord care and improper behaviors, including using mentholated balms. Before women leave the hospital, they should learn cord care. Mothers must clean wires. Several healthcare organizations don’t provide cord care instruction, and what they provide isn’t research-based.
基金funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province(20220402050GH,JJKH20220826KJ)the Natural Science Foundation of Changchun Normal University(2020012).
文摘The fecal components of Blaptica dubia and Blatta lateralis were analyzed and characterized using solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(SPME-GC-MS)to explore can-didate compounds mediating their aggregation behavior.The results revealed that hydrocarbons and alde-hydes accounted for the majority of the 85 components detected in the fecula of B.dubia,with hexadecane(6.721%)and tetradecanal(6.555%)as the most prominent.In the fecula of B.lateralis,esters and hy-drocarbons accounted for the majority of the 93 identified components,with 3-phenylpropionic acid methyl ester(10.020%)and 2,7-dioxa-tricyclo[4.4.0.0(3,8)]deca-4,9-diene(3.604%)hexadecane(2.504%)predominating.The fecal compositions of the two cockroach species exhibited similarities,with seven common substances identified out of a total of 43.The relative percentages of these common components in the fecula were 68.516%for B.dubia and 53.541%for B.lateralis.
基金the Dutch Royal Academy of Arts and Sciencesthe Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology
文摘China＇s Sloping Land Conversion Program has been implemented since 2002. It aims to achieve goals of ecological recovery and poverty alleviation, by retiring steeply sloping land from crop production and freeing surplus agricultural labor for off-farm activities. Given the huge investment that has been poured into it, and its ecological and social impacts, this government-initiated program has attracted significant academic attention and triggered a flood of debate. Since 2004, the debate has concentrated on the sustainability of the program. Although targets have been overachieved in some provinces, concern has still emerged regarding the livelihood of farmers after subsidies stop. The present paper analyzes the implementation of the Sloping Land Conversion Program in Ningxia Autonomous Region, with a focus on the required social capital for sustained participation o f farmers and the development of off-farm economic activities.
基金supported by the National Science Foundation (No: 1029337)supported by an allocation of computing time from the Ohio Supercomputer Center
文摘Weather forecasting is crucial to both the demand and supply sides of electricity systems. Temperature has a great effect on the demand side. Moreover, solar and wind are very promising renewable energy sources and are, thus, important on the supply side. In this paper, a large vector autoregression(VAR) model is built to forecast three important weather variables for 61 cities around the United States. The three variables at all locations are modeled as response variables. Lag terms are used to capture the relationship between observations in adjacent periods and daily and annual seasonality are modeled to consider the correlation between the same periods in adjacent days and years. We estimate the VAR model with16 years of hourly historical data and use two additional years of data for out-of-sample validation. Forecasts of up to six-hours-ahead are generated with good forecasting performance based on mean absolute error, root mean square error, relative root mean square error, and skill scores. Our VAR model gives forecasts with skill scoresthat are more than double the skill scores of other forecasting models in the literature. Our model also provides forecasts that outperform persistence forecasts by between6% and 80% in terms of mean absolute error. Our results show that the proposed time series approach is appropriate for very short-term forecasting of hourly solar radiation,temperature, and wind speed.
文摘This paper analyzes the short-term and long-term effects that the global economic crisis and the investment priorities of the Chinese Government＇s stimulus package had on Chinese migrant flows between 2008 and 2014. Combining micro-level household survey data and macro-level statistics, the authors have found that in the short run, the regional and sectoral impact of the crisis, combined with the government＇s investment priorities, caused a reorientation of migration routes from the export-oriented coastal provinces towards the central and western regions, from inter-provincial migration towards intra-provincial migration, and from manufacturing industry towards the construction sector. However, in the longer run, the decreasing attractiveness of the eastern region and the increasing attractiveness of the western region proved to be transitory, although the pre-crisis relative advantage of the eastern region was not fuUy restored. What proved to be persistent were the attractiveness of the central region and the intra-provincial migration in all three regions, and, in particular, the steady growth of migrants in the construction sector.
基金supported by China Scholarship Council(201913043)Agricultural Carbon Neutral Account Establishment Program in Quzhou(202127).
文摘Agricultural innovation can be described as a coevolutionary process of technological innovation,symbolic change,and social or institutional innovation,which relies on the interactions and collaboration between multiple stakeholders.This view emphasizes the significance of innovation intermediaries in supporting the coevolution process of innovation.Many studies have provided evidence on how innovation intermediaries play roles in supporting the coevolution innovation process at a broader innovation system level.However,little emphasis has been given to the role of innovation intermediaries in supporting the coevolution process of innovation at the community level in rural China.To address this research gap,this paper offers a case study of a novel type of innovation support intervention designed to promote technical change at the community level,the Science and Technology Backyard(STB).The paper focuses on the efforts of a specific STB in Wangzhuang village to promote innovation in tillage methods in wheat production.The aims was to examine the role of this newly emerging innovation support intervention in supporting the coevolution process of innovation at the community level,and compare the outcome of the coevolution process in the village with an STB to that in villages without an STB.Innovation journey analysis is applied to understand the evolved intermediation roles in the innovation process,and multivariate regression analysis is employed to assess the outcome of the coevolution process in villages with and without an STB.The findings suggest that the roles of STBs have evolved from knowledge brokers to systemic innovation intermediaries that facilitate the coevolution process of innovation inside an STB village.It has led to a higher adoption rate of improved technology,a better enabling environment for learning,and more effective institutional support in STB villages than in non-STB villages.However,the effect of support provided by a single STB on the coevolution process outside the community was limited.This finding points to a need for collaboration mechanisms and for connecting single STBs to support the coevolution process of innovation at a larger scale.
