Quantifying the impact of farmers' social networks on the effectiveness of climate change mitigation policies in agriculture

To reduce agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, farmers need to change current farming practices. However, farmers' climate change mitigation behaviour and particularly the role of social and individual characteristics remains poorly understood. Using an agent-based modelling approach, we investigate how knowledge exchange within farmers' social networks affects the adoption of mitigation measures and the effectiveness of a payment per ton of GHG emissions abated. Our simulations are based on census, survey and interview data for 49 Swiss dairy and cattle farms to simulate the effect of social networks on overall GHG reduction and marginal abatement costs. We find that considering social networks increases overall reduction of GHG emissions by 45% at a given payment of 120 Swiss Francs (CHF) per ton of reduced GHG emissions. The per ton payment would have to increase by 380 CHF (i.e., 500 CHF/tCO₂eq) to reach the same overall GHG reduction level without any social network effects. Moreover, marginal abatement costs for emissions are lower when farmers exchange relevant knowledge through social networks. The effectiveness of policy incentives aiming at agricultural climate change mitigation can hence be improved by simultaneously supporting knowledge exchange and opportunities of social learning in farming communities.     

一种基于CMAC神经网络的板形模式识别新方法

针对传统的板形识别模型在识别板形时,由于板宽的变化需要不同拓扑结构的神经网络才能完成板形模式识别任务,网络学习工作量大,网络存在收敛速度慢,易陷入局部极小等结构性能不佳的问题,建立了一种新的基于CMAC神经网络的板形模式识别模型。该模型利用欧式距离差得到网络的输入神经元,并在权值更新算法中引入了动态学习率。通过仿真实验表明该方法简单、实用,识别精度较高,克服了传统的识别模型的缺点和不足,有效地提高了板形模式识别模型的速度和精度。     

“丝绸之路经济带”贸易联系网络结构研究——基于省区尺度和国家尺度的社会网络分析

选择中国西部的9省区和18个相关国家,基于两个不同的空间尺度（省区尺度和国家尺度）构建“丝绸之路经济带”贸易空间关联网络,采用1997年、2002年、2007年、2012年4个时间断面的贸易数据,利用社会网络分析方法,绘制可视化网络结构拓扑图,并对关联网络的拓扑学特征进行定量分析。结果表明：省区尺度的贸易网络密度呈现先增后减的趋势,而国家尺度的贸易网络密度则保持稳定增加;四川、重庆处于省区尺度贸易网络中心地位,陕西、宁夏、青海则处于边缘地位,新疆、甘肃逐渐向边缘移动,云南、广西则逐渐向中心移动;欧洲国家大都处于国家尺度贸易网络中心地位,而中亚五国处于边缘地位,中国的地位跃升趋势最为明显;省区尺度贸易网络内存在5个凝聚子群,国家尺度贸易网络内存在9个凝聚子群;省区尺度网络的贸易联系基本平衡,而国家尺度网络的贸易联系具有明显的核心边缘结构。应加强区域合作,以创新驱动发展,优化网络组团结构,充分发挥网络核心的辐射作用,推动区域经济一体化进程,实现“经济带”区域共同发展。     

The Role of Cooperation and Innovation in Reducing the Likelihood of Export Withdrawals

SUMMARY

This study concentrates on analyzing the role played by innovation and cooperation in the likelihood of Estonian wood industry enterprises' export withdrawals. The data obtained from two different databases show that about 40% of the Estonian wood sector firms have withdrawn from (some of) their foreign markets. The results indicate that export withdrawls are more typical of those firms that have not introduced new products, services or processes. In the case of cooperative activities the data present mixed results, not allowing us to draw explicit conclusions.     

Cooperative communication: Computerware and humanware

This article emphasizes the combined requirements of computer systems and humanistics. In cooperative computing, negotiations can be used as a basic paradigm by which different roles and their requisites can be identified—the facilitator, the mediator, and the negotiator. The negotiation‐cooperation process has a logical sequence of agreements, definition of terms, objectives, mode of operation, common security measures concerning integrity and liability, handling protocols, etc. The cooperation is based on models of the subject and the partners—i.e., a minimum of three models should be matched. The usual methods of human negotiations supported by metacommunication should have a computer‐realizable substitute. All these subjects are outgrowths of recent research in artificial intelligence (knowledge‐based systems) and cognitive psychology; some experiences are reported in the field. However, the main task is human‐oriented—education of people for this new powerful means of coexistence.     

Strategic Implications of Alliances and Networks of Horizontal Portals in Brazil

ABSTRACT

This paper contributes to recent research on strategic networks by making evident the relevance of identifying network implications for the conduct and performance of firms that are embedded in alliance networks and other strategic relationships in a typical industry of the new economy. Through a study of horizontal portals in Brazil from 2000 to 2002, it shows that an assessment of the implications for these firms' networks can provide relational insights for corporate decision-making that could not be found through traditional strategic analyses, such as those of the positioning school or the Resource-Based View.

RESUMEN. Este estudio ofrece una contribución para un análisis realizado recientemente sobre las redes estratégicas, haciendo hincapié en la importancia que se debe dar a la identificación de las implicancias inherentes a estas redes, cuanto al comportamiento y desempeño de las empresas arraigadas en la alianza de redes y otras relaciones estratégicas, en una industria típica de la nueva economía. A través del estudio de los portales horizontales en el Brasil entre los años 2000 y 2002, se demuestra que una evaluación de las implicancias para las redes de dichas empresas puede suministrar una visión relacional para la toma de decisiones corporativas, inexistentes en los análisis estratégicos tradiciones, tales como los elaborados por las escuelas de posicionamiento o bajo la perspectiva denominada Resource-Based View.

RESUMO. O presente estudo contribui para pesquisas recentes sobre redes estratégicas, evidenciando a relevância da identificação das implicaç[otilde]es da rede para a conduta e desempenho das empresas envolvidas de redes e outros relacionamentos estratégicos em um setor típico da nova economia. Por meio da análise dos portais horizontais no Brasil de 2000 a 2002, o estudo mostra que uma avaliação das implicaç[otilde]es para essas redes de empresas pode gerar insights para processos decisórios corporativos que não são encontrados por meio de análises estratégicas tradicionais, como as da escola de posicionamento ou a visão baseada em recursos.     

Artificial Intelligence in Managing Market Relationships

Abstract

In the 21st century our society is increasingly defined by access to and fluency with digital technologies and information infrastructures which are described to be essential to economic development, global competitiveness and national productivity (Merril Lynch & Co. Inc., 2000). This paper presents a theoretical framework for the development of a new intelligent software system designed to integrate loyalty programs data bases information, consumer surveys and qualitative studies what will enable the producing firm to be in contact with consumers' behavioural and attitudinal patterns. The benefit of this theoretical model is its assistance to consumer goods-producing firms to establish information-based relationships with both the end customer-user and the retailers that distribute the goods.     

清代回族伊斯兰学者刘智名相思想初探

刘智认为相是体的显现,名是相的称呼。相包括人们可以通过感官感觉到的物质现象,也包括需要人们理性把握的精神现象,特别是需要用信仰去把握的真主的存在。名相相互依存,但是名为虚幻,相体为实有。名相既与体相连,也与体之用相关。名要与相符合,名实一致。通过名可以认知相,也能认知相之体用。     

基于组合预测方法的“十二五”期间安徽省住房价格预测

以安徽省2001-2010年住房销售面积以及销售额为样本,采用灰色预测、三次指数平滑和BP神经网络三种预测模型,基于预测误差平方和最小为最优准则建立诱导有序加权平均算子组合预测模型,预测安徽省未来五年的平均住房价格。根据预测结果,安徽省未来五年平均住房价格以14.43%的速度增长。     

基于人工智能方法的混凝土企业质量管理

分析了目前混凝土质量管理中存在的问题,基于戴明循环,研究了各阶段混凝土质量管理的主要内容,进而提出了基于人工智能的质量管理方法。应用创新的遗传算法修饰的人工神经网络,在实际质量数据的基础上,预测了C30的28天强度,与实际值的偏差在[-1.57,1.72]MPa,证明了此种创新的人工智能方法的可行性,同时为混凝土企业的质量管理提供了依据。