People's Republic (people + republic)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Humanities and Social Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Fire regimes of China: inference from statistical comparison with the United States

GLOBAL ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
Meg A. Krawchuk
ABSTRACT Aim, Substantial overlap in the climate characteristics of the United States and China results in similar land-cover types and weather conditions, especially in the eastern half of the two countries. These parallels suggest similarities in fire regimes as well, yet relatively little is known about the historical role of fire in Chinese ecosystems. Consequently, we aimed to infer fire regime characteristics for China based on our understanding of climate,fire relationships in the United States. Location, The conterminous United States and the People's Republic of China. Methods, We used generalized additive models to quantify the relationship between reference fire regime classes adopted by the LANDFIRE initiative in the United States, and a global climate data set. With the models, we determined which climate variables best described the distribution of fire regimes in the United States then used these models to predict the spatial distribution of fire regimes in China. The fitted models were validated quantitatively using receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC). We validated the predicted fire regimes in China by comparison with palaeoecological fire data and satellite-derived estimates of current fire activity. Results, Quantitative validation using the AUC indicated good discrimination of the distribution of fire regimes by models for the United States. Overall, fire regimes with more frequent return intervals were more likely in the east than in the west. The resolution of available historical and prehistorical fire data for China, including sediment cores, allowed only coarse, qualitative validation, but provided supporting evidence that fire has long been a part of ecosystem function in eastern China. MODIS satellite data illustrated that fire frequency within the last decade supported the classification of much of western China as relatively fire-free; however, much of south-eastern China experiences more fire activity than predicted with our models, probably as a function of the extensive use of fire by people. Conclusions, While acknowledging there are many cultural, environmental and historical differences between the United States and China, our fire regime models based on climate data demonstrate potential historical fire regimes for China, and propose that large areas of China share historical fire,vegetation,climate complexes with the United States. [source]


The Rise of World History Studies in Twentieth-Century China

HISTORY COMPASS (ELECTRONIC), Issue 8 2010
Luo Xu
The essay is a brief survey of the rise of world history studies in China. It traces the origin of the political and academic interest in the world outside of China back to the mid-nineteenth century, and discusses the growth and changes in the institution, curriculum, and ideology in China's world history field in the twentieth century and the early years of the twenty-first century. The emphasis of the essay is on the development of world history studies during the six decades of the People's Republic of China after 1949, first under Soviet influence, and then under Western influence. It also addresses Chinese historians' persistent effort to search for their own identity and build a Chinese system of world history studies. [source]


HR practices perceptions, emotional exhaustion, and work outcomes: A conservation-of-resources theory in the Chinese context

HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 1 2008
Li-Yun Sun
The conservation-of-resources theory provided the theoretical underpinning for the relationship among HR practices perceived by employees, emotional exhaustion, and work outcomes ( job satisfaction and job performance). To fully understand the underlying mechanism of the relationship, the study examined (1) the main and interactive effects of HR practices and employee age on emotional exhaustion and (2) the mediating effect of job satisfaction on the relationship between emotional exhaustion and job performance. Data were obtained from manufacturing workers in a privately owned company in the People's Republic of China. Empirical results lent strong support for the main, moderated, and mediated effects mentioned previously. However, contrary to our hypotheses the research result indicated that the relationship between low-commitment HR practices and emotional exhaustion was stronger for older employees than for younger ones. This contrasting finding demonstrated the criticality of an organization's commitment to employees, particularly to older employees, which further supported and enriched the conservation-of-resources theory in the Chinese context. [source]


Institutional antecedents and performance consequences of employment security and career advancement practices: Evidence from the people's republic of China

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, Issue 1 2008
Yaping Gong
In this study, we examine the provision of employment security and career advancement opportunities in firms of diverse institutional ownership and the impact of such practices on employee and firm outcomes. The sample included 478 state-owned and non-state-owned firms (i.e., domestic private firms, Sino-foreign joint ventures, and wholly-foreign-owned firms) in the People's Republic of China. We found that the provision of employment security was greater in state-owned than in non-state-owned firms. The provision of career advancement opportunities in domestic private firms and Sino-foreign joint ventures was similar to that in wholly foreign-owned firms, but greater than that in state-owned firms. The provision of career advancement opportunities was positively related to employee organizational commitment, citizenship behaviors, and firm performance. The provision of employment security was positively related to employee organizational commitment, but not to citizenship behaviors or firm performance. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


Breeding success in a Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis [undulata] macqueenii population on the eastern fringe of the Jungar Basin, People's Republic of China

IBIS, Issue 2 2002
O. Combreau
Nesting success and chick survival of a migratory population of Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis [undulata] macqueenii were studied during three consecutive years (1998,2000) in the Xinjiang province of north-west China. A total of 45 nests was monitored and 85 broods comprising 227 chicks were captured, of which 82 chicks were radio-tracked. Start of laying varied between 6 and 17 April between years but the laying mode fell consistently between 26 and 30 April. Mean clutch size was 4.0 (sd = 0.8) (range 2,6) for early clutches and 3.3 (sd = 1.1) for late clutches (range 2,5). The average nesting success was 0.588 (sd = 0.270) but great variations were observed between years ,0.882 in 1998, 0.530 in 1999 and 0.351 in 2000. This was related to increased predation in 1999 and 2000, which is reflected by increased predator density (chiefly Corsac Fox Vulpes corsac and Long-legged Buzzards Buteo rufinus). The overall hatchability, defined as the proportion of eggs hatched in successful nests was 0.839 sd = 0.238). The average brood size at hatching varied from 2.9 (sd = 0.8) to 3.3 (sd = 0.9) according to years, and no significant decrease in brood size was observed in the first 5 days post-hatching. In 1999 and 2000 the brood size diminished sharply (14% and 27%, respectively) in prefledging chicks. A further severe decrease (37%) was observed in fledglings in 2000, probably due to predation by raptors. For the 3 years of the study, a successful female Houbara would bring on average 2.3 (sd = 0.9) chicks to fledging and would have lost 30.2% (sd = 14.9%) of its brood to adversity during the rearing process. The proportion of females that lost their entire brood was 0.181 in 1998, 0.708 in 1999 and 0.453 in 2000. For the 3 years of the study, only 55.3% (sd = 26.3%) of the females hatching eggs brought chicks to fledging. The overall chick production was 0.827 per breeding female per year and the probability of an egg laid producing a fledgling of 8 weeks old was 0.190. [source]


Satellite babies in transnational families: A study of parents' decision to separate from their infants,

INFANT MENTAL HEALTH JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009
Yvonne Bohr
This study examines a practice which is characteristic of an era of intensifying globalization: As part of a transnational lifestyle, an increasing number of immigrants to North America send infants thousands of miles back to their country of origin to be raised by members of their extended families,a culturally sanctioned tradition. After several years of separation, the children return to the biological parents to attend school in the adopted country, a custom which, according to Western mental health models, could have significant sequelae for attachment relationships and other facets of development. This practice is particularly prevalent among immigrants from the People's Republic of China, but a modified version of it can be found in other groups as well. The work described here is the first phase of a longitudinal project that explores the advantages and potential repercussions, for both infants and parents, of a transnational lifestyle. The current study reviews the decision-making process of a group of Chinese Canadian immigrant parents who are considering a separation from their infants. Preliminary findings show that the expected concerns about disrupting attachment relationships are embedded in more salient considerations of economic need and cultural perspective. These exploratory data exemplify an emergent field of culture-focused research and practice in infant mental health, and support the call for innovative models to situate infant developmental pathways in global and transcultural contexts. [source]


Erratum: Enterprise bankruptcy law of the People's Republic of China

INTERNATIONAL INSOLVENCY REVIEW, Issue 2 2008
Article first published online: 29 JUL 200
The article above (DOI:10.1002/iir.155) was published in IIR 17:1 on pages 33,55. In the list of contents of that issue it was attributed in error to L. Qi. The correct attribution should have been to the translator of the document, Professor Li Shuguang. We apologise to Professor Li and his collaborators for this oversight. [source]


Enterprise bankruptcy law of the People's Republic of China

INTERNATIONAL INSOLVENCY REVIEW, Issue 1 2008
Article first published online: 16 APR 200
First page of article [source]


Linearity in rhetorical organisation: a comparative cross-cultural analysis of newstext from the People's Republic of China and Australia

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS, Issue 2 2000
Guy RamsayArticle first published online: 3 APR 200
Second or foreign language teachers would be familiar with student comments such as, "I can't follow what they're saying!", "What are they getting at?", or "What's their point?", particularly when reading L2 texts of considerable length. This paper seeks to address the issues premised by such comments made by L2 learners of Modern Standard Chinese, within the rubric of contrastive rhetoric studies. Such studies to date have produced equivocal evidence of variation in rhetorical organisation across culturo-linguistic groups. In order to contribute to this continuing debate, this study employs the Rhetorical Structure Theory analytic framework to produce pictorial representations of lengthy Chinese and Australian news journal text. Results obtained clearly demonstrate the feasibility of using the RST framework in this kind of analysis. While the small size of the newstext corpus severely limits the generality of other findings, they give tentative support to the contrastive rhetoric hypothesis. Pedagogical implications include the benefits of promoting awareness of such cross-cultural variation within the L2 classroom. [source]


Dimensions of financial integration in Greater China: money markets, banks and policy effects

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FINANCE & ECONOMICS, Issue 2 2005
Yin-Wong Cheung
Abstract The financial linkages between the People's Republic of China (hereafter ,China') and the other Greater China economies of Hong Kong and Taiwan are assessed, and compared against those of China with Singapore, Japan and the United States. For both sets of links, there is evidence that ex post uncovered interest parity tends to hold over longer periods, and the magnitude of the parity deviations is shrinking over time. The deviations depend upon the extent of capital controls, and in certain cases, exchange rate volatility. However, while the money markets of China are increasingly linked to money markets in the rest of the world, our empirical results suggest that the banking sector,the main source of capital for Chinese firms,remains insulated. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Urban community in China: service, participation and development

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WELFARE, Issue 3 2006
Qingwen Xu
With the rapid urbanisation and population growth in the cities, the People's Republic of China has recognised the importance of community development based on an ever-increasing demand for social services. In 1994, the Chinese government adopted community service as an alternative way of providing the supplemental safety net in urban areas. Along with this top-down approach, resident-initiated activities, participation and grassroots organisations at the community level are growing at an incredible pace. Using a case study, this study explores the context and aspects of community services, participation and community development in a Chinese urban community. Results indicate that China's reformed market economy and welfare system presses ordinary urban people to reconnect to the local community to ensure welfare security and quality of life. Community participation in China has rediscovered the path of community development and re-interpreted the top-down and bottom-up approaches in the context of community services. [source]


Segmenting mainland Chinese residents based on experience, intention and desire to visit Hong Kong

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TOURISM RESEARCH, Issue 4 2006
Cathy Hsu
Abstract The general consensus among marketers is that the People's Republic of China will have an enormous impact on the world's economy. However, much of this discussion is centred on China's strength as a centre of manufacturing and exports. The increase in affluence in pockets of China's 1.3 billion residents has also been the focus of firms interested in this large and virtually untapped consumer market. However, relatively little attention has been given to this market as potential sources of tourists. The purpose of this study was to profile the important visitor segments from mainland China who had previously visited, had the intention to visit or desired to visit Hong Kong,a destination traditionally priced and positioned for Western markets. Based on a sample of 470 Chinese from three cities in the mainland, the distinctive characteristics of tourists who had previously visited Hong Kong and who had strong intentions or interest to visit in the future were identified. It is hoped that this information will help tourism marketing professionals not only gain insights as to the potential of China as a source of visitors, but also highlight a useful approach to the market segmentation process. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Building on formal education: employers' approaches to the training and development of new recruits in the People's Republic of China

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2003
Katharine Venter
Conceptions of modern management and of skill in China have developed out of quantitative, production oriented traditions that have tended to downplay the human side of management, training and development. Based on recent survey and case study research this paper argues that some organisations are moving away from such narrow definitions. These tend to be resource rich, larger enterprises, often in modern growth sectors and organisations exposed to foreign practice (either by virtue of foreign ownership or investment, or as a result of exposure to the pressures of global competition through operation in international markets). Skills shortages are faced by organisations throughout China. However, employers do not generally feel that the education system is serving to address these skills needs. The varying conceptions of modern management shape the manner in which organisations recruit from, and build, on formal education provision. Many resource rich employers are using formal education as a selection mechanism, selecting the educational elite and continuing to develop them. Those organisations that have limited access to highly qualified recruits are also least likely to be in a position to provide extensive or high quality training. Consequently the divide between resource rich and resource poor organisations, in terms of both organisational resources and employees' opportunities for skill acquisition, learning and development, seems likely to widen. [source]


Training and Development in the People's Republic of China

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2001
Jinyu Xie
First page of article [source]


Reflections on Place and Place-making in the Cities of China

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF URBAN AND REGIONAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2007
JOHN FRIEDMANN
Abstract This article is about the small spaces of the city we call ,places'. Places are shaped by being lived in; they are spaces of encounter where the little histories of the city are played out. They are, of course, also shaped by the state through planning, supervision, ordinances, and so forth. The patterns and rhythms of life in the small spaces of the city are therefore not simply a straightforward projection of civil life. Places are also sites of resistance, contestation, and actions that are often thought to be illegal by the (local) state. After introducing the concept of place, the remainder of this article is a reflection on places and place-making (but also place-breaking) in urban China. Because the patterns and rhythms of urban life have continuity, however, my approach to their study was historical. The story told here is roughly divided into four major periods: Imperial China, Republican China, the People's Republic under Mao Zedong, and the reform period from about 1980 onward. I then return to the concepts of place and place-making with which I began, summarizing my findings and suggesting some topics for further research. Résumé Cet article traite des petits espaces de la ville qu'on appelle des ,lieux'. Les lieux sont modelés par la vie qui s'y déroule; ce sont des espaces de rencontre où se jouent les petites histoires d'une ville. Bien sûr, ils sont aussi façonnés par l'Etat, à travers l'aménagement, le contrôle, les règlements, etc. Les modèles et rythmes de vie dans les petits espaces urbains ne sont donc pas une projection pure de la vie civique. Ce sont aussi des scènes de résistance, de contestation et d'actions souvent jugées illégales par les autorités (locales). Après le concept de lieu, l'article présente une réflexion sur les lieux et leur fabrication (ainsi que leur fracture) dans la Chine urbaine. Les modèles et rythmes de la vie urbaine présentant une continuité, l'approche appliquée à leur étude est historique. Le récit rapporté se décompose en quatre grandes périodes: la Chine impériale, la Chine républicaine, la République populaire de Mao Zedong et l'ère réformatrice depuis 1980 environ. L'article revient ensuite sur les concepts de lieux et de fabrication de lieux en résumant les résultats obtenus et en suggérant quelques thèmes de recherche à approfondir. [source]


Emigration from China: A Sending Country Perspective

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, Issue 3 2003
Xiang Biao
This paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the policies pursued by the People's Republic of China (PRC) regarding the emigration of Chinese nationals. Most of the available literature on migration management has focused on receiving countries. With a few exceptions, little attention has been directed at migration management policies pursued in countries of origin. In the case of the PRC, policies regarding overseas Chinese have been fairly well documented and researched, but very little has been written about how the Chinese authorities manage ongoing emigration flows. This gap becomes particularly salient as the importance of the "partnership with the countries of origin" in devising migration policies is being increasingly acknowledged by receiving countries in Europe (Commission of the European Communities, 2000). Over the last 20 years, there have been significant changes in the Chinese Government's policies and perspectives on emigration. But, just like most other governments, the Chinese authorities do not have a single blanket policy covering all categories of emigrants. Emigration is normally managed on a case-by-case basis and the Government's attitude toward the same type of emigration may vary depending on different cases and circumstances. Because of this, this article examines China's major emigration-related policy spheres one by one. Specifically, six issues will be discussed: (1) exit control; (2) diaspora policy; (3) student migration; (4) labour export; (5) regulations on emigration agencies and, finally (6) the Government's response to human smuggling. This article shows both the coherence and the fragmentation in China's policies toward emigration. The coherence is due to the fact that all the policies are inherently linked to China's overall economic and social development strategy. The emigration management regime is sometimes fragmented partly because emigration consists of different streams and is handled by different Government departments, partly because some emigration issues (such as regulations on emigration agents) are very new for the Chinese Government and the authorities are still exploring them. Overall, the Chinese authorities increasingly see emigration as a means to enhance China's integration to the world and are keen to avoid conflicts with the international community over migration issues. At the same time, China's emigration policies need to be more balanced, in particular, the emigration of unskilled labour should be given more priority. [source]


Job satisfaction among intensive care nurses from the People's Republic of China

INTERNATIONAL NURSING REVIEW, Issue 1 2008
J. Li rn
Background:, Prior research has suggested that job satisfaction is a major concern for both nurses and healthcare administrators. A variety of workplace stressors, coping strategies and demographic characteristics have been found to contribute both positively and negatively to job satisfaction. However, most of this research has been conducted in Western culture countries, leaving one to wonder if the findings are relevant in China, particularly in regard to intensive care nurses. Aim:, Therefore, the purpose of this descriptive study was to determine, in intensive care nurses from the People's Republic of China, which combination of workplace stressors, coping strategies and demographic characteristics was the best predictor of job satisfaction. Methods:, To address these purposes, four self-report questionnaires were administered to a convenience sample of 102 intensive care nurses from four teaching hospitals located in two cities in central China. Results:, The best predictors of job satisfaction were workload, years of experience in nursing, uncertainty about patients' treatment, behavioural disengagement and positive reframing. Conclusions:, The findings provide information about what factors need to be considered and addressed in the workplace to facilitate job satisfaction among Chinese intensive care nurses. [source]


Chinese values, health and nursing

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 2 2001
Yu-chih Chen PhD RN
Chinese values, health and nursing Purpose.,To describe the roots of Chinese values, beliefs and the concept of health, and to illustrate how these ways have influenced the development of health care and nursing among Chinese in the Republic of China (ROC) and the People's Republic of China (PRC). Scope.,Based on the literature and direct observation in the PRC and ROC, this is an introduction to Chinese philosophies, religion, basic beliefs, and values with a special meaning for health and nursing. Chinese philosophies and religion include Confucian principles, Taoism, theory of ,Yin' and ,Yang', and Buddhism. Beliefs and values include the way of education, practice of acupuncture, herbal treatments and diet therapy. How people value traditional Chinese medicine in combination with western science, and the future direction of nursing and nursing inquiry are also briefly addressed. Conclusion.,Chinese philosophies and religions strongly influence the Chinese way of living and thinking about health and health care. Nurses must combine information about culture with clinical assessment of the patient to provide cultural sensitive care. A better way may be to combine both western and Chinese values into the Chinese health care system by negotiating between the traditional values while at the same time, respecting an individual's choice. The foundation of China's philosophical and aesthetic tradition, in combination with western science is important to the future advancement of nursing research that will be beneficial to the Republics, Asia, and the world. [source]


The pharmacological properties of anisodamine,

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
Jay M. Poupko
Abstract Anisodamine is a naturally occurring atropine derivative that has been isolated, synthesized and characterized by scientists in the People's Republic of China. Like atropine and scopolamine, anisodamine is a non-specific cholinergic antagonist exhibiting the usual spectrum of pharmacological effects of this drug class. It appears to be less potent and less toxic than atropine and displays less CNS toxicity than scopolamine. Anisodamine has been shown to interact with and disrupt liposome structure which may reflect its effects on cellular membranes. Experimental evidence implicates anisodamine as an anti-oxidant that may protect against free radical-induced cellular damage. Its cardiovascular properties include depression of cardiac conduction and the ability to protect against arrhythmia induced by various agents. Anisodamine is a relatively weak ,1 adrenergic antagonist which may explain its vasodilating activity. Its anti-thrombotic activity may be a result of inhibition of thromboxane synthesis. The T1/2 of anisodamine in humans is about 2,3 h. Numerous therapeutic uses of anisodamine have been proposed including treatment of septic shock, various circulatory disorders, organophosphorus (OP) poisoning, migraine, gastric ulcers, gastrointestinal colic, acute glomerular nephritis, eclampsia, respiratory diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, obstructive jaundice, opiate addiction, snake bite and radiation damage protection. The primary therapeutic use of anisodamine has been for the treatment of septic shock. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain its beneficial effect though most mechanisms are based upon the assumption that anisodamine ultimately acts by an improvement of blood flow in the microcirculation. Preliminary studies suggest another important therapeutic use of anisodamine is for the treatment of OP poisoning. Additional research is needed to delineate further the clinical usefulness of anisodamine relative to other anti-muscarinic drugs such as atropine and scopolamine. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Voluntary Disclosure by State-owned Enterprises Listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong

JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT & ACCOUNTING, Issue 2 2002
Michael J. Ferguson
This study examines the impact of international capital market pressures on the voluntary disclosure of three types of information (strategic, financial, and non-financial) in the annual reports of former wholly state-owned People's Republic of China (PRC) enterprises, listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK). Consistent with a cost­benefit framework, we find that PRC H-Share firms disclose significantly more strategic and financial information than other SEHK firms. Additional analysis of disclosures in their home listings on the PRC exchanges, however, suggests an alternative explanation. The fact that these firms have been selected for "showcasing" in international capital markets may also play a role in our findings. While H-Share firm disclosures in the PRC also appear sensitive to management's assessment of the associated costs, the magnitude of differences across listing locations suggests that disclosure practices on the SEHK may also reflect the effects of state-encouraged disclosure policies. Our findings contribute to the understanding of disclosure behavior among former wholly state-owned enterprises and to the emerging literature on the efficacy of the privatization process. [source]


Molecular typing and epidemiology of non-polio enteroviruses isolated from Yunnan Province, the People's Republic of China

JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY, Issue 4 2008
Tian Bingjun
Abstract This report presents an overview of human enteroviruses in Yunnan Province, the People's Republic of China. A total of 210 non-polioviruses isolated under acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance during a total study period of 5 years,1997 to 2000 and 2004,were examined. Of the 210 non-poliovirus isolates, 12 adenoviruses were serologically identified, and the remaining 198 isolates were used for molecular typing. The viral genomes of 195 non-polio enteroviruses (NPEVs) on VP1 partial region of virus capsid were translated to the corresponding amino acid sequences; these were compared with those of prototype strains. Based on molecular typing, 5 isolates were classified into 5 serotypes of the human enterovirus A species, 158 isolates, into 35 serotypes of the human enterovirus B species; and 32 isolates, into 6 serotypes of the human enterovirus C species. Viruses belonging to the human enterovirus D species were not isolated. Thus, under AFP surveillance, the human enterovirus B species accounted for 75.2% of the 210 isolates, and it was considered the predominant species. This was followed by human enterovirus C (12.2%), adenovirus (5.7%), and human enterovirus A (2.4%). Further, molecular analysis suggested that several serotypes of human enteroviruses B and C that exhibited genetic polymorphism were indigenous. Molecular typing methods may aid in understanding the epidemiology of NPEVs in Yunnan Province. J. Med. Virol. 80:670,679, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Comparison of maternal and newborn outcomes of Tibetan and Han Chinese delivering in Lhasa, Tibet

JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 6 2008
Suellen Miller
Abstract Aim:, To compare maternal and neonatal outcomes of Tibetan and Han Chinese women delivering vaginally at high altitude (3650 meters) in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. Method:, Comparative analysis of data from a prospective observational study of Tibetan (n = 938) and Han Chinese (n = 146) women delivering at three hospitals between January 2004 and May 2005. Results:, Han Chinese women had higher rates of pre-eclampsia/gestational hypertension than Tibetan women, (10.3% vs 5.9%, P = 0.04). There was no difference in rates of postpartum hemorrhage between Tibetan and Han women (12.8% vs 17.1%, P = 0.15). Han newborns weighed significantly less than Tibetan newborns (P < 0.01), and were twice as likely to be small for gestational age, (24.5% vs 11.6%, P < 0.01). Tibetan newborns were less likely to have poor neonatal outcomes than Han newborns (P < 0.01). Conclusion:, In high altitude deliveries in Tibet, adverse outcomes were significantly more common among Han Chinese. [source]


Personality Profiles and the Prediction of Categorical Personality Disorders

JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 2 2001
Robert R. McCrae
Personality disorders (PDs) are usually construed as psychiatric categories characterized by a unique configuration of traits and behaviors. To generate clinical hypotheses from normal personality trait scores, profile agreement statistics can be calculated using a prototypical personality profile for each PD. Multimethod data from 1,909 psychiatric patients in the People's Republic of China were used to examine the accuracy of such hypotheses in the Interpretive Report of the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. Profile agreement indices from both self-reports and spouse ratings were significantly related to PD symptom scores derived from questionnaires and clinical interviews. However, accuracy of diagnostic classification was only modest to moderate, probably because PDs are not discrete categorical entities. Together with other literature, these data suggest that the current categorical system should be replaced by a more comprehensive system of personality traits and personality-related problems. [source]


International political marketing: a case study of its application in China

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, Issue 4 2007
Henry H. Sun
The practice of International Political Marketing can be seen increasingly in the foreign relations of independent states. A review of relevant Political Marketing and International Relations publications reveals close linkage between the two. Based on the review, this paper categorizes political marketing into three aspects: the election aspect, the governing aspect (permanent campaign) and the international aspect of political marketing. The focus of this study is on international political marketing which was defined based on the review. This paper then reports a case study of the utilization of International Political Marketing by the government of the People's Republic of China. It looks at the recent events of China's accession of the WTO in 2001, China's hosting of Sino-African Summit in 2006 and the on going promotion of China's image of ,Peaceful Development and Cooperation'. The paper advances the argument that practically all nation states and international organizations apply International Political Marketing to both their strategic planning as well as conduct of day-to-day affairs. The paper concludes that there is a great demand both at a theoretical as well as practical level for International Political Marketing, requiring further study. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Scientific investigations of the Tokhung-Ri tomb mural paintings (408 A.D.) of the Koguryo era, Democratic People's Republic of Korea

JOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 10 2006
R. Mazzeo
Abstract In the framework of the UNESCO workshops on the Conservation and Preservation of the Koguryo mural paintings, which were held in Pyongyang in 2004 and 2005, paint samples were collected from the Tokhung-Ri tomb located in suburban Pyongyang and analyzed by optical, polarized and FTIR microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD) as well as Raman spectroscopy, in order to characterize the composition of pigments, the execution technique adopted and the state of conservation of the murals. The first scientific results seem to confirm the suggestion of local conservators about the adoption of a fresco technique, even though it is not yet clear whether this was intentionally achieved by the North Korean painters. As regards this, analyses of more samples as well as confirmations from a survey of the historical literature are needed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Returns to Education during the Reform of State-owned Enterprises in Hunan, People's Republic of China

LABOUR, Issue 3 2002
Xiaoyu Huang
The objective of this paper is to analyse the impact of education on personal earnings during the reform of state-owned enterprises, comparing 1995 with 1998 in Hunan, China, using the Mincerian earnings equation method. The results show that the rates of return to education increased, indicating that human capital has been better rewarded as the reforms of the Chinese economic structure have progressed. Moreover, the findings show that primary education receives the highest returns, followed by tertiary education. Middle school education obtains the lowest rewards, reflecting the effects of the reform of state-owned enterprises on middle school graduates on whom the unemployment impact of this change has been the greatest. [source]


Managerial Knowledge Sharing: The Role of Individual, Interpersonal, and Organizational Factors

MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION REVIEW, Issue 1 2006
Lin Lu
abstract This paper describes two studies conducted in the People's Republic of China aimed at improving understanding of knowledge sharing among managers. Study 1 found evidence for the role of two individual factors: greed which reduced knowledge sharing, and self-efficacy which increased it. In addition, co-worker collegiality has an indirect influence on knowledge sharing by lowering greed and raising self-efficacy. Study 2 replicated the key findings of Study 1 and also identified the influence of organizational support on knowledge sharing. Organizational support led to higher utilization of information and communication technologies, resulting in more knowledge sharing, especially for explicit as opposed to implicit knowledge. [source]


The Challenge of Cross-Cultural Clinical Trials Research: Case Report from the Tibetan Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China

MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2005
VINCANNE ADAMS
Efforts to conduct Western clinical research in non-Western medical settings with little or no familiarity with such methodologies are on the rise, but documented accounts of the ways that biomedical science requires negotiation and translation across cultures are not plentiful. This article adds to this literature through analysis of an NICHD-funded collaborative research effort in women's health carried out in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. The research involved a feasibility study for an eventual clinical trial comparing Tibetan medicine with misoprostol for preventing postpartum hemorrhage in delivering women. It explores strategies of negotiation and translation in and around notions of the scientific method, informed consent procedures, randomization, blinding, placebo, and concepts of medical standardization. [source]


Strategy Use by Nonnative English-Speaking Students in an MBA Program: Not Business as Usual!

MODERN LANGUAGE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2004
Susan Parks
Despite the long-standing interest in strategy use and language learning, little attention has been given to how social context may constrain or facilitate this use or the development of new strategies. Drawing on data from a longitudinal qualitative study, we discuss this issue in relation to the experiences of Chinese students from the People's Republic of China, who, following study in English for Academic Purposes courses, registered in a Masters in Business Administration program in a Canadian university. Specifically, we focus on how the contact with the native-English-speaking Canadian students mediated the Chinese students' strategy use in 3 domains: reading, class lectures, and team work. In contrast to the rather simplistic notion evoked in certain portrayals of the good language learner, strategy use as reported herein emerges as a complex, socially situated phenomenon, bound up with issues related to personal identity (Leki, 2001; Norton, 1997, 2000; Spack, 1997). [source]


A flawed perspective: the limitations inherent within the study of Chinese nationalism1

NATIONS AND NATIONALISM, Issue 1 2009
ALLEN CARLSON
ABSTRACT. Is nationalism in China on the rise? Is it making China more combative in the international arena? More fundamentally: Is a focus on nationalism the most effective intellectual framework for understanding how those living within the People's Republic of China (PRC) are defining their position in contemporary world politics? This article briefly answers each of these questions. It argues that, despite forwarding some compelling insights, previous work on Chinese nationalism has been undermined by a number of major flaws. It then finds that such shortcomings are in no small part a product of the narrowing gaze that a focus on nationalism alone imposes on the study of identity politics. The article then advocates that in place of the nationalism rubric, a turn to the broader question of national identity formation is merited. Utilising this perspective, it concludes by cautioning that incipient splits within contemporary Chinese national identity may portend a more tumultuous relationship between China and the rest of the world in the years to come. [source]