Geographic analysis of road accident severity index in Nigeria

Before 2030, deaths from road traffic accidents (RTAs) will surpass cerebrovascular disease, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Yet, there is little knowledge on the geographic distribution of RTA severity in Nigeria. Accident Severity Index is the proportion of deaths that result from a road accident. This study analysed the geographic pattern of RTA severity based on the data retrieved from Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The study predicted a two-year data from a historic road accident data using exponential smoothing technique. To determine spatial autocorrelation, global and local indicators of spatial association were implemented in a geographic information system. Results show significant clusters of high RTA severity among states in the northeast and the northwest of Nigeria. Hence, the findings are discussed from two perspectives: Road traffic law compliance and poor emergency response. Conclusion, the severity of RTA is high in the northern states of Nigeria, hence, RTA remains a public health concern.     

华北地区休闲型农业园区空间分布特征及影响因素分析

［目的］近几年，华北地区休闲农业发展取得长足进展，研究其空间基本分布特征，剖析其发展影响因素，对把握其休闲农业分布现状，找准发展华北地区休闲农业关键入手点具有重要意义。［方法］以2012—2017年华北地区评定的680个休闲农业园区（企业）为样本，采用地理信息系统（GIS）对休闲型农业园区的空间分布特征进行简要分析，并利用层次分析法（AHP）探究华北地区休闲型农业发展的影响因素。［结果］（1）华北地区休闲型农业园区呈集聚分布，且集中分布程度极高，空间分布不均衡，主要集中分布在北京，其次为天津、河北、山西，内蒙古分布最少； （2）影响华北地区休闲型农业发展排名前3位的因素是公路密度、农林牧渔业总产值、城镇居民可支配收入； （3）目前城镇居民生活水平显著提高，游客消费水准已成为影响休闲型农业产业发展的重要要因素但并非决定性因子。［结论］休闲型农业是一个新产业，影响华北地区休闲农业发展的重要因素还是政府以及投资者，游客的可意愿度、经济能力已经不是休闲型农业产业发展的决定性因素。要发展休闲农业产业要从增加对投资者的政策导向以及增加园区（企业）的可到达性，将公路密度适当向郊区拓展入手。     

航班流时空分布不均衡程度评价方法

为了量化航班流在空域内时空分布的不均衡程度,通过将广义的均衡性评价工具泰尔指数和基尼系数应用在民航领域的方法研究量化航班流分布的不均衡程度的方法.定义泰尔空间分布不均衡度、基尼空间分布不均衡度、泰尔时间分布不均衡度和基尼时间分布不均衡度4个指标,通过这4个指标来评价航班流的空间分布不均衡程度和时间分布不均衡程度.以国内某飞行情报区为例,计算空域内每个时间片段的泰尔空间分布不均衡度和基尼空间分布不均衡度,计算这两个指标的相关系数为0.9734,结果表明两个指标具有极高相关,判断两种方法得出的评价结果是一致的,并且评价结果与实际情况相符.计算该飞行情报区内每个扇区的泰尔时间分布不均衡度和基尼时间分布不均衡度,得到这两个指标的相关系数为0.8101,结果表明这两个指标高度相关,且两种方法的评价结果与实际情况相符.研究证明可以利用基尼系数和泰尔指数来评价航班流时空分布的不均衡程度.     

Technology Gap,Reverse Technology Spillover and Domestic Innovation Performance in Outward Foreign Direct Investment: Evidence from China

This research adds to the literature studying the effects of outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on domestic innovation performance and the moderating effect of a technology gap between host and home countries. New definitions of observed technology gap and expected technology gap are proposed. An observed technology gap captures the existing differences in technology level between establishments, regions or countries. An expected technology gap is an indication of the effort of imitating and learning from technology leaders. The corresponding measures and effects of observed and expected technology gaps on OFDI‐induced reverse technology spillover are analyzed. OFDI in developed countries promotes innovation performance. However, OFDI in emerging markets hampers innovation performance. It is also found that regions with a wider observed technology gap and a narrower expected technology gap can benefit more from OFDI.     

Effect of new product alliances on building cross-functional capability: cross-fertilisation or cannibalisation?

ABSTRACT

The extant literature has focused mainly on how establishing alliances helps firms develop their capabilities within focal functional areas, while paying limited attention to the cross-functional effects of alliances. Drawing on the knowledge-spillover literature and resource-dependence theory, this study investigates the effects of new product development (NPD) alliances on building cross-functional capabilities, testing the influences of important organisational, strategic, and environmental contingencies. Based on survey data collected from 212 Chinese firms, the findings reveal that, for resource-abundant firms, R&D-focused NPD alliances have cross-functional fertilisation effects on marketing capabilities; whereas for resource-constrained or highly innovative firms such alliances cannibalise marketing capabilities; in dynamic markets, marketing-focused NPD alliances cross-fertilise technological capabilities, but such an effect is weaker in firms adopting a highly incremental innovation orientation. Overall, this study sheds new light on how NPD alliances affect cross-functional capabilities under important contingencies.     

A technical solution for 3D crowdsourced cadastral surveys

The development of 3D property registration systems is indispensable for the spatial determination of property Rights, Restrictions and Responsibilities (RRR), the sustainable operation of property markets and the safeguarding of ownership in the highly urbanized world. Several developments in computer graphics, 3D modelling and rendering techniques have attracted the growing global interest in 3D cadastre. Since 2012, the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM ISO 19152) is adopted as the international standard for 2D and 3D cadastral data modelling. Developed legal procedures and prototype systems for 3D property rights registration provide interesting solutions for data acquisition and visualization but such approaches are time and cost demanding. In parallel, 2D cadastral surveying procedures have progressed significantly in reducing required time and cost, utilizing crowdsourcing methodology and mobile services.This paper presents a technical solution under development, aiming to provide the beginning for a new era in the initial acquisition, registration and representation of 3D crowdsourced cadastral data, appropriate for both the developed and the developing world. The proposed solution consists of two complementary parts, the technical framework and the crowdsourced methodology to be followed. The technical framework consists of two interconnected parts, the server-side and the client-side. The server-side refers to the Database Management System (DBMS) where the collected data are stored. The client-side refers to the data capturing tool, which in this case is the mobile device. For the server-side, a prototype system based on model driven architecture practices and LADM is developed; while for the client-side, an open-source mobile application for the acquisition of 3D crowdsourced cadastral data, 3D modelling and visualization of 3D property units as block models (LoD1) on a mobile’s phone screen in real-time, is developed.This research is focused on investigating technical aspects for capturing and integrating data about legal rights on physical objects. Detailed investigation of legal issues is not within the objectives of this research. Two case-studies for testing the proposed technical solution are made. An assessment of the current stage of development of the technical solution is presented. The main conclusions converge that the proposed technical solution has huge potentials for the fast, economic implementation of 3D cadastral surveys as it can produce an accurate and reliable 3D information model, depending on the accuracy of the available basemaps. The developed application is easy-to-use as users may not have the necessary level of 3D modelling skills in order to contribute to the registration procedure.     

Trade development between China and countries along the Belt and Road: A spatial econometric analysis based on trade competitiveness and complementarity

This paper empirically analyses the effect of trade competitiveness and complementarity on the trade development between China and the countries along the Belt and Road (B&R). The study first measures the trade competitiveness and the complementarity between China and the countries along the B&R by using the trade competitiveness coefficient (TCC) and the trade complementarity index (TCI). Then a spatial gravity model is constructed to analyse the effect of trade competitiveness and complementarity on trade development between China and the countries along the B&R. We use generalized method of moments (GMM) and spatial filtering technology to verify the robustness of the model. The results show that the GDP of China and the countries along the B&R, the land area of countries along the B&R, trade complementarity, common language, free trade agreements (FTA), and the B&R Initiative significantly promote the trade development between China and the countries along the B&R, whereas the geographical distance between countries and trade competitiveness significantly inhibit it. Finally, to promote the trade development between China and the countries along the B&R, the present paper puts forward suggestions including improving trade promotion policies between China and the countries along the B&R and vigorously expanding cooperation with complementary industries in the countries along the B&R to enhance trade dependence.     

复合型休闲农业空间布局及驱动力分析

[目的]针对复合型休闲农业要素配置的空间布局展开,并探讨复合型休闲农业产生和发展的主要驱动因素,以期为复合型休闲农业的未来发展和规划建设提供参考。[方法]文章以复合型休闲农业空间布局为总目标,根据专家问卷结果,采用层次分析法,构建了3个系统、8个要素、34个指标的复合型休闲农业评价指标体系,并计算各系统、各要素和各指标的权重,分析各配置要素的重要性。[结果]在系统层中,空间结构的权重值达到0.539 6,远高于基本功能系统和附加功能系统的权重。在要素层中,各要素的权重排序为:斑块休闲体验廊道基质教育认知农业生产生态安全观光旅游,前5项指标的权重之和达到78.38%。从指标层来看,景观聚集度、多样性指数、斑块总面积、结构连通性、农产品种类、农事体验丰富度的权重超过0.05。居民休闲体验需求、空间布局合理性和社会认知需求是复合型休闲农业发展的主要驱动力。[结论]根据对复合型休闲农业空间布局各指标的综合评价,整体空间的斑块结构是园区规划和建设中最重要的部分。今后对复合型休闲农业的研究重点应放在园区的整体空间布局和景观协调度方面,研究如何促使园区更好地利用农业景观资源打造和谐的农业景观和布局。     

东北地区乡村聚落空间分布特征及影响因素分析

［目的］乡村聚落空间上的差异化，深刻影响着新农村建设工作的开展及进程。截止目前，基于空间角度对整个东北地区乡村聚落空间的研究尚无，为推进东北地区区域新型城镇化建设、统筹城乡发展和乡村聚落的转型，文章对其乡村聚落的空间分布特征及影响因素进行探索分析。［方法］该文采用最邻近距离指数、平均分布密度、核密度估计法，借助GIS101，对2016年东北地区乡村聚落空间分布进行测算与空间可视化表达。［结果］（1）东北地区乡村聚落呈随机分布类型； （2）其下辖的36个地级市乡村聚落分布密度均处于最低等级，且南部高于北部，极化现象非常明显； （3）东北地区乡村聚落在空间规模上表现出由边缘地区向中部逐渐降低的空间分异特征，规模较高的聚落集中在中部地区，包括齐齐哈尔、大庆、绥化、哈尔滨、长春等市； 规模较低的集中在边缘地区，包括大兴安岭、鹤岗、延边、白山、盘锦等市。［结论］地理位置、城镇化率高、人口净流出大是引起东北地区乡村聚落空间分布特征的主要原因，且解决人口净流问题是核心关键所在。     

The impact of corporate fraud on director‐interlocked firms: Evidence from bank loans

We examine the impact of corporate fraud committed by one firm (the “fraudulent firm”) on other firms with interlocking directors (the “interlocked firms”), focusing on the debtholder side. We argue that the revelation of a fraudulent firm's fraud can damage the reputation of the interlocked firms because corporate governance can propagate via director interlocks. Empirically, we find that the interlocked firms' cost of debt is higher and the loan covenants become stricter after the fraud cases of the fraudulent firms are revealed. Consistent with the corporate governance propagation explanation, our results are weaker (stronger) for interlocked firms that have better (worse) pre‐event corporate governance standards. Our findings suggest that corporate fraud of fraudulent firms can affect other firms through director‐interlocks beyond shareholder value.