Progressive fragmentation of a traditional Mediterranean landscape by hazelnut plantations: The impact of CAP over time in the Langhe region (NW Italy)

Land use change is strongly modifying the traditional landscape of hilly productive Mediterranean sites. An example of these circumstances is the Langhe region (Piemonte, NW Italy), where woody plantations such as vineyards and orchards have been cultivated on hillslopes for centuries. In this paper we assess landscape changes occurred in the Diano study area (2651 ha) in the 1954–2000 period and we ascertain land use transition paths and rates of this rural ecosystem. Land use mapping obtained from object-oriented analysis of aerial photographs was used to quantify land use changes between 1954 and 2000. To examine the spatio-temporal patterns of land use change over time, a set of spatial statistics capturing different dimensions of landscape change was identified. An increase of landscape heterogeneity from 1954 to the present was observed due to the expansion of orchards and the fragmentation of field crops. A significant portion (55%) of current orchards surface is represented by former field crops, 24% by vineyards and 15% by forests. The strong expansion of hazelnut orchards concurred to the fragmentation of traditional rural landscape was dominated by vineyards, field crops and forests. Hazelnut orchards expansion was mainly located in places where grapes cultivation was less remunerative. A further expansion of hazelnut in the area should be planned, discussed and carefully monitored through change detection studies in order to avoid potential unsustainable use of the land.     

环境与耕地约束下的城镇化效率及其发展模式探因

[目的]考虑环境和耕地约束,构建了城镇化效率测算指标体系,测算并分析我国2000~2014年区域城镇化效率,并且从城镇化发展模式与产业结构分布形态2个角度探索区域城镇化效率差异的机理。[方法]以"工业三废"和耕地面积减少量作为非合意产出,构建了由11个指标组成的投入—合意产出—非合意产出指标体系,进而利用优化ISBM模型测算了2000~2014年我国区域城镇化效率,并利用谱系聚类方法分析了其梯队层次特征。[结果]我国各省域城镇化效率总体较低,绝大多数省域处于效率缺损的状态;各省域城镇化效率表现为明显的5个梯队层次,不同区域、不同梯队省域城镇化效率存在明显差异,总体呈现出东、中、西依次递减的格局,并且省域之间城镇化效率差距自2000年以来呈不断缩小的趋势;东部地区城镇化效率较高,总体上城镇化与产业结构之间相互协调,城市群发展程度高而使得城市之间的分工合作程度高;中西部地区城镇化效率相对较低,产业结构对经济的支撑作用相对较弱,城市体系断层明显,城市群带动作用弱。[结论]我国区域城镇化效率总体较低且不平衡,这在很大程度上取决于城镇化模式和演进机制,区域之间的城镇化效率差异体现在产业结构层次、城市集聚方式以及劳动力转移方式等方面。     

国有部门与非国有部门的工资差异及影响因素研究

基于CGSS数据，利用Heckman样本选择模型对中国国有部门与非国有部门的工资差异和影响因素进行系统研究。回归结果显示，国有部门员工的教育收益率高于非国有部门，教育收益率与学历水平呈现正相关关系，与非国有部门相比，国有部门中大学本科及以上学历员工的教育收益率更高。工资差异分解结果表明，两部门全样本工资差异中市场歧视占比高于特征差异占比，与全样本相比，大学本科及以上学历员工的工资总差异和特征差异占比更高，系数差异占比更低，说明高学历群体中部门间工资差异更为明显，而且两部门中仍存在较严重的劳动力市场分割和就业歧视问题。因此，政府应努力消除劳动力的流动性障碍，深化国有部门市场化改革，制定更为合理的工资机制，以促进中国经济的持续健康稳定增长。     

The Narrow and Broad Approaches to Evolutionary Modeling in Economics

Some models in evolutionary economics rely on direct analogies to genetic evolution, assuming a population of firms with routines, technologies, and strategies on which forces of diversity generation and selection act. This narrow conception can build upon previous findings from evolutionary biology. Broader concepts of evolution allow many or just one adaptive entity, instead of necessarily requiring a population. Thus, an institution or a society can also be understood as an evolutionary entity. Both the narrow and broad approaches have been extensively used in the literature, albeit in different literature traditions. I provide an overview of the conception and development of both approaches to evolutionary modeling, and argue that a generalization is needed to realize the full potential of evolutionary modeling.     

Identifying R&D partners through Subject-Action-Object semantic analysis in a problem & solution pattern

Today’s companies still rely heavily on expert knowledge rather than quantitative data with a systematic approach to effectively identify and choose Research and Development (R&D) partners. It is advantageous to identify and select potential R&D partners using a Problem & Solution (P&S) pattern. This paper presents a novel process for identifying R&D partners on the basis of solution similarities that assist technology managers in understanding the relationships between research targets. First, we choose a thematic dataset that contains problems and quantitative data with relative topic terms. Then, we extract Subject-Action-Object semantic structures in a P&S pattern from the dataset, and identify various solutions to a technical problem, with each as a subject. In addition, we provide correlation mapping to visualise the text characters and identify R&D partners. Finally, we validate the proposed method through a case study of the dye-sensitized solar cells sector.     

Optimization of postal express line network under mixed driving pattern of trucks

Details about the movement of trucks on postal express lines are investigated to improve the performances of mail distribution. A mixed driving pattern of trucks is introduced to minimize the transportation cost of a postal express line network with a service level requirement. We formulate this problem as a mixed p meeting depots location with shipment scheduling problem and build a MINLP model. A two-level tabu search procedure based on shipment grouping method is developed. Through a series of computational experiments and sensitivity analysis on different instances, some managerial insights of the network under mixed driving pattern are revealed.     

Evaluating museum visitor experiences based on user-generated travel photos

ABSTRACT

This research introduces online travel photos published on social media platforms as a complementary data resource to examine the behavior and experience of museum visitors. The practical value of online travel photos is demonstrated through a case study of popular Hong Kong museums, particularly by using the photo content and metadata available from the Flickr platform. The proposed approach is a generic method for understanding museum visitor behavior and preferences, and supports museum practitioners in developing improved products for visitors. The case study findings are particularly beneficial for tourism managers, especially those in Hong Kong, in promoting and attracting tourists to visit local museums.     

终身学习视角下公共图书馆的转型与发展思考

公共图书馆作为公共文化服务体系的重要组成部分,在构建学习型社会的大背景下,为促进终身学习的理念,借鉴国外图书馆的前沿探索,提升人文素质和知识内涵,实现公共图书馆在新的历史形势下自身的转型与发展。     

陕北地区土地利用及景观格局变化对生态服务价值的影响*——基于退耕还林（草）背景

［目的］通过揭示退耕还林（草）工程背景下陕北地区近25年生态系统服务价值的演变规律，旨在为陕北地区的土地利用规划及新一轮退耕还林（草）政策的推进提供参考。［方法］以生态环境脆弱的陕北地区为研究对象，基于1990年、2000年、2015年3期的土地利用变化数据，以退耕还林（草）政策的实施为节点，利用土地转移矩阵、景观格局指数、生态服务价值损益表等方法对陕北地区的土地利用情况、景观格局演变以及生态服务价值的变化进行分析，借助相关性系数对土地利用类型、景观格局及生态服务价值之间的关系进行了定量研究。［结果］（1）草地、耕地和林地是陕北地区最主要的土地利用类型，耕地面积减少，林草地面积持续增加且增速加快。（2）近25年，陕北地区景观格局的连接性和通达性降低，景观格局主要呈破碎化发展趋势。研究区各景观类型的破碎化程度增大，空间异质性增加，草地是该地区的优势景观类型。（3）陕北地区1990年、2000年和2015年各类生态系统提供的总生态服务价值分别为38919亿元、39431亿元和40622亿元，退耕还林（草）前年均增长率为1396%，退耕还林（草）后这一比率增加至5622%。［结论］受退耕还林（草）政策的影响，陕北地区土地利用类型和土地景观格局的变化均对生态系统服务价值有显著的影响，但是不同的景观指数对生态系统服务价值的影响程度和趋势不同，水域和林草地面积对生态系统服务价值呈正相关，未利用地和城乡建设用地面积对生态系统服务价值呈负相关。     

Quantile regression for the qualifying match of GEFCom2017 probabilistic load forecasting

We present a simple quantile regression-based forecasting method that was applied in the probabilistic load forecasting framework of the Global Energy Forecasting Competition 2017 (GEFCom2017). The hourly load data are log transformed and split into a long-term trend component and a remainder term. The key forecasting element is the quantile regression approach for the remainder term, which takes into account both weekly and annual seasonalities, such as their interactions. Temperature information is used only for stabilizing the forecast of the long-term trend component. Information on public holidays is ignored. However, the forecasting method still placed second in the open data track and fourth in the definite data track, which is remarkable given the simplicity of the model. The method also outperforms the Vanilla benchmark consistently.