An Examination of the Interaction Between Modelling and Its Relationship with Construction Kits: Lessons from the Past and for the Future

Construction kits have played a significant part in nurturing the growth and development of the minds and manipulation-based skills of children (and adults) in formal and non-formal education settings. These kits have origins rooted in the representation of the built world and now have a diversity of form and function, including technical versions with moving parts. This article examines some of the historically based ideas that lie behind the role that kits may have in terms of physical modelling. The article traces the transformation of kits from simple bricks and blocks into more complicated pieces for space-filling and achieving the transfer of forces and motion. This transformation occurred during the Victorian era when the influence of the ideas of educationalists and, perhaps rather strangely, exponents of early aviation, played major roles in determining the diversity of forms of construction kit and modelled possibilities that are now to be seen in classrooms and homes. The article ends with a review of some of the lessons from the past and present that will need to be considered in relation to concrete modelling in schools for the future. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

西汉初期“与民休息”政策述论

西汉初期是我国农业经济迅速恢复并达到空前繁荣的时期,这与西汉初期统治集团采取了比较符合实际的"与民休息"的经济政策紧密相关。其时代背景主要是鉴于秦朝实行严刑峻法、横征暴敛政策而亡的历史教训,以及汉初经济崩溃、民生凋敝的实际状况。"与民休息"政策内容丰富,主要包括调整土地关系、赋予军功贵族免役特权、免部分官私奴婢为庶人、减免田税口算徭戍、崇尚节俭和轻刑慎罚等六个方面。"与民休息"的经济政策,将为我们今天解决"三农"问题,发展农业经济,建设社会主义新农村提供有益的借鉴。     

石家庄市地震危险性评价

本文在分析石家庄市及邻近地区活动性构造及地震活动特征的基础上，运用数理统计的方法，对市区的地震危险性进行了评价。认为未来百年内市区可能发生的最大地震为５级左右，其地震危险性主要来自河北平原地震带的影响。     

Entry in the presence of dueling options

This paper investigates the influence of industry uncertainty on the decision by established firms to enter a new industry. Specifically, we examine the tension between the option to defer , which discourages entry in the presence of uncertainty, and the option to grow , which may encourage entry in the presence of uncertainty when there are early mover advantages. Empirical analysis on data from a broad array of industries revealed that the effect of uncertainty on entry is not monotonic. Our findings are the first to find support for the nonmonotonic effect of uncertainty that has only recently emerged in theoretical treatments of real options theory, and amplify the importance of considering both the option to defer and the option to grow when contemplating entry. Furthermore, we found evidence that the relationship between uncertainty and entry is moderated by: (a) irreversibility, which influences the value of the option to defer; (b) the total value of growth opportunities; and (c) early mover advantages, which magnify the value of growth options. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

提前退休行为的影响与扼制

首先论述了提前退休的负面影响,认为提前退休现象的蔓延给养老保险制度的运行带来了很大的冲击,加大了社会劳动力供大于求的矛盾,增加了就业困难,引发新的社会矛盾,所以必须坚决扼制;然后分析了引发提前退休的制度原因,并在此基础上提出了建立科学的养老金给付机制,建立垂直的社会保险经营管理机构等政策性建议。     

日本化解贸易摩擦的策略分析--以日美贸易摩擦为例

日本外贸摩擦从50年代中期开始以来从未间断过，而日本在处理与他国的贸易摩擦方面往往能化险为夷，避过贸易战火的伤害，最大程度地保护本国的贸易利益。这主要是因为日本长期以来建立了以监控外贸摩擦为主的，由政府、社会团体及企业广泛参与的预警机制体系，从而做到识警防惠、超前预控。     

从湖湘文化看丁玲早年创作心态

丁玲无意走上创作之路,却成为中国现代特有的知名作家之一。她早年的小说《梦珂》、《莎菲女士的日记》、《阿毛姑娘》等作品的主人公都是女性,她们具有对传统男尊女卑的极端反叛的非常鲜明的特点。＂莎菲＂更是这一时期文学的典型代表,一时成为丁玲的代名词。这些作品闪烁着＂五四＂追求自由、民主的精神光芒,也充满湖湘文化敢为人先的精神。这些在男人世界中自强不息,奋斗不止的小说形象,正是作者的缩影,也是湖湘文化的精神体现。这与其一生坎坷不平,晚年政治化的心态也有着一定的联系。     

汶川地震重灾区旅游环境保护与旅游经济协调发展

纯粹的市场经济运作不可能使汶川地震重灾区旅游环境保护与旅游经济协调发展,必须从法律手段、经济政策、行政干预、思想认识、科技创新等几方面制定汶川地震重灾区旅游环境保护与旅游经济协调发展的保障措施,从而保证汶川地震重灾区旅游环境保护与旅游经济协调发展目标的实现。     

20世纪前期买办职业收入分析

20世纪前期,买办的职业报酬制度达到成熟和完善。买办的职业收入主要由薪金和佣金构成,还有一部分被外商默许的暗中收入。佣金是多数买办的主要收入,是买办经纪人身份的体现;薪金是买办与外商雇佣关系的一种象征。买办收入的复杂挂还在于不同行业的买办收入来源不一,且差距较大。     

20世纪初俄国军事经费的来源

军事经费的来源毫无疑问是任何一场战争都必须面对的一个基础性问题,寻找军事经费的来源是财政备战的最重要因素,没有相应的军事经费,战争就无从谈起。俄国在18世纪初成为世界强国之后,为了维持它的强国地位,坚持对外扩张的政策,连年战事不断。进入20世纪,俄国经历了日俄战争和第一次世界大战。然而对于财政经济状况不断恶化的俄国来说,面临战争经费短缺是很正常的,而筹措战争经费则属难事。俄国战争经费来源主要有税收、债务和发行纸币三个方面。