Capacity building of sea level and climate monitoring in the Pacific region： Fiji case study

In order to enhance capacity building in the Pacific region, and to raise awareness on climate change and sea level issues, teaching and training modules were made available to the Pacific community through the ＂South pacific sea level and climate monitoring project＂ funded by AusAID. Numerous training workshops have been conducted through the project since its inception in 1991 and the project is now in its fourth and final phase. It was hoped that the goals of capacity building for the stakeholders on correct information of climate change and sea level have been understood and taken heed of. In addition, ＂The scientific educational resources and experience associated with the deployment of Argo＂ （SEREAD） project was also set up especially for ocean science in the Pacific island schools in 2001. However, it has been realized that the data from this project is more relevant to tertiary level rather than to secondary level students. Consequently, a survey was carried out to gauge the students＇ outlook towards the physical side of marine science. The survey revealed that more than 80% of both tertiary level and high school non-physical science students decided not to take the physical aspect of marine science sighting reasons that it is either a difficult subject, boring, too hard to understand or difficult to pass in the examination. Even amongst students taking physical science, only about 50% believe that the physical aspect of marine science is enjoyable. A minority of students at USP and high school take science as a subject and a small proportion from them take the physical science. From this scenario, it can be predicted that there will be a shortage of physical science graduates in the future. The confidence of the Pacific community in the work of scientists is built on faith. They appreciate the effect of science on their lives and support it but are unaware of the scientific methods involved. Therefore, for the sustainability of physical aspect of marine science in the future for the Pacific region, public awareness of climate change and sea level is vitally important and it should be widely promoted in the community as a matter of urgency.     

Evaluating the Concept of Location Affordability: Recent Data on the Relationship Between Transportation,Housing, and Urban Form

The concept of location affordability holds that housing affordability should be augmented to include transportation cost as a related and substantial household cost burden. The recent United States foreclosure crisis of 2006–2008 offers an opportunity to evaluate location affordability as a concept for policy and practice by investigating the relationship between transportation cost burdens and negative housing outcomes. This article contributes to the growing literature on location affordability and the recent crisis with an analysis of default and foreclosure data for 70 metropolitan areas. The analysis includes transportation and housing cost burdens and demographic data, as well as multidimensional measures of urban form. High rates of automobility are associated with increased foreclosure. The urban form variables yield mixed results, suggesting the relationship between urban sprawl and affordability is complex. However, across a range of specifications, high levels of development intensity are associated with increased foreclosure rates. The results have implications for both the housing and transportation sectors and lend support for the notion of location affordability.     

新形势下日中蒙交通体系建设研究

图们江地区开发项目自1990年提出并启动实施以来,经过十几年的发展,东北亚各国的交流已取得了实质性的进展.特别是2005年东北亚各国提出的大图们江地区开发与中国吉林省提出的"长吉图开发先导区"构想的结合,将使图们江地区的现代化、国际化走向一个全新的阶段.目前,该地区的基础设施建设已有了长足的进步.为了进一步促进东北亚各国的经济交流与合作,增强图们江地区运输走廊的活力,中蒙铁路的建设成为一个需要解决的现实问题.当今世界范围内的金融危机使该项目的实施受到一定程度的影响,但面对未来逐步扎实地推进是非常重要的.     

论船舶经营人在船舶碰撞中的责任主体地位

针对应当如何确定船舶经营人在船舶碰撞中的责任主体地位这一难点问题,从界定船舶经营人的概念入手,分析船舶经营人在海上运输中的法律地位,归纳、总结认定船舶碰撞损害责任主体应遵循的三个基本原则,并在此基础上展开分析、论证,提出船舶在委托经营期间发生碰撞事故,船舶经营人应当作为责任主体承担损害赔偿责任的结论。     

对环渤海地区开展区域合作的思考

该文回顾了环渤海区域20多年以来区域合作的发展历程,总结了取得的成绩。分析了目前存在的不足,主要表现为基础设施共享水平低、缺少产业分工与合作以及没有形成经济中心;提出进一步开展区域合作的设想：在合作目标和原则上达成共识,开展实质性的合作,强化决策意识并且建立制度保障。     

我国铁路发展集装箱运输对策分析

作为一种现代化的先进运输方式,集装箱运输可以促使运输实现机械化、自动化,因而被认为是对货物运输的一场革命。由于集装箱运输具有诸多优点,铁路零担运输业务将逐步由集装箱运输所取代。分析我国目前铁路集装箱物流现状,尽快解决其发展过程中存在的一些问题,是发展铁路运输业的当务之急。     

Postmortem changes of human bodies on the bathyal sea floor--two cases of aircraft accidents above the open sea

Forensic taphonomy in the marine context recently received growing attention. However, only limited information is available about the fate of human bodies at greater sea depth. Following two fatal aircraft accidents (west of Namibia, south of Sicily) human remains were recovered from a depth of 540-580 m (both cases) after 3 months (Namibia)/34 days (Sicily). In the Namibia case fully skeletonized bones were lifted. In the Sicily case a complete, dressed body was found exhibiting a partially skeletonized skull, starting adipocere formation and pink teeth. The rate and mode of decomposition of human bodies in the deep sea varies considerably and is mainly influenced by the local faunal composition. Of special relevance for the understanding of both cases was the oceanographic observation that the highly efficient necrophageous lyssianassids are abundant off Namibia but are rare in the Mediterranean, emphasizing the importance of collaboration of forensic and marine scientists in such case work.     

ASEAN AND CHINA IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTES

The South China Sea disputes involve both island and maritime claims among sovereign states and the issue has long been a point of debate in international politics. It involves not only the countries in dispute but also other major world powers, including the United States. Its important strategic location and the abundant resources make the South China Sea a target of contention among the claimant countries. The arbitral ruling in July 2016 gives a new momentum to the dispute. The article examines the strategic relations of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by analyzing the positions and steps taken by ASEAN and China, as well as ASEAN-China joint initiatives. It also discusses the challenges and viable solutions to the dispute.     

预见性思维倾向有助于道路交通安全隐患的排除——以头屯河区交通安全为切入点

乌鲁木齐市头屯河区交通管理以预见性思维倾向治理和预防事故黑点和交通拥堵问题初见成效。加强交通事故安全管理,解决交通拥堵问题,预防和减少道路交通事故,应当具备预见性思维倾向,从＂管理机制＂（绩效考核）、＂道路交通设施的完善＂、＂信息化应用＂、＂执法理念＂、＂安全教育＂等方面入手,从而有预见性地去开展落实工作,达到秩序好、事故少、群众满意的水平。