BIOMETRIC CARDS FOR THE INDIAN POPULATION

Mathematical models could be helpful in assisting the Indian government's new initiative of issuing biometric cards to its citizens. This note examines the role of mathematical models in estimating the missing, non-enumerated population numbers, and in estimating the number of cards required by age, gender and regions annually in India. The link between the National Population Register and biometric cards is also highlighted. There are other scientific issues, such as electronic security, data storage management and identity verification, which we do not model in this paper, though we address the role they play in successful implementation.     

Population Distribution and Spatial Structure in Transitional Chinese Cities: A Study of Nanjing

Two geographers use population surface model techniques to analyze the distribution of population in Chinese cities. Focusing on Nanjing, they utilize detailed urban land use and building distribution data to develop a productive alternative method to reveal spatial variations in the distribution of inhabitants. The findings indicate that despite suburbanization, Nanjing remains a compact city with a population density that declines rapidly as distance from its central business district increases. Also, suburbanization has been limited to an inner area where population is densely distributed while commercial and office development is less prominent. Lastly, commercial activities influence the distribution of urban inhabitants and suburbanization more significantly than industrial development in suburbia. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: O15, O18, R12, R14. 9 figures, 3 tables, 37 references.     

What Explains the Carcass Field Processing and Transport Decisions of Contemporary Hunter-Gatherers? Measures of Economic Anatomy and Zooarchaeological Skeletal Part Representation

This paper uses rationale derived from central place foraging models to explore the factors that guide the carcass processing and transport decisions of modern hunters. Using data derived from butchering experiments, I test different economic indices that purportedly reflect the field processing and transport decisions of contemporary African Hadza hunter-gatherers. The results show that no single index predicts part processing and transport for the species examined in this analysis. Processing and transport decisions are, however, patterned in ways that are consistent with theoretical predictions. While similar processes likely guide carcass treatment and transport decisions among all hunter-gatherers, different ecological, social, and historical constraints define the range of solutions to problems involving carcass treatment. In this specific example, intertaxonomic differences in carcass size and bone properties constrain how the trade-offs between field processing and transport costs are resolved. I conclude by suggesting ways in which analysts might make use of central place foraging rationale and models to explain variation in skeletal representation and abundances across time and space.

The Re-Assessment and Reconstruction of Excavated Boats

In response to papers by John Coates and by Owain Roberts, the author re-evaluates mid- to late-20th-century reconstruction drawings and models of prehistoric sewn-plank boats Ferriby 1 and Brigg 2. He concludes that an impartial and informed group should re-examine all surviving evidence for these boats and then build a small-scale 'as-found' model of each one. After being subjected to criticism, these models could become the basis for generally-agreed reconstruction models of the original form and structure of these two boats. A similar process would be the best way ahead for the Dover sewn-plank boat.
© 2007 The Author     

越南境内汉墓出土院落明器研究

越南境内院落明器在东汉中期开始出现并延续至三国初年,院落的主体房屋由平地式演变为干栏式,院落的布局由前庭后屋式结构演变为房屋三面环绕中庭的结构。越南境内汉墓出土的院落明器在干栏式结构和城堡式设计方面既受到两广地区汉代典型建筑明器的影响又形成了自身的地域特点,此外以天井为中心的院落平面布局以及房屋独特的制作技法也体现了鲜明的本地特色,东汉晚期至三国初年具有越南境内地区特色的院落明器直接输出到两广地区,上述文化交流现象产生的原因与东汉时期两地密切联系的历史背景有关。     

《毛诗》经学化的过程及其特点与得失

本文主要论述三个问题：一、西汉前期,有经学的指导思想,但没有《诗经》经学的范本。即《子夏序》是不存在的,并从六个方面加以证明。二、《毛诗》经学化的过程。三、《毛诗》经学化的模式及其特点与得失。     

榆阳区明长城典型遗址的雨蚀破坏模式分析

现有的夯土遗址雨蚀病害分类方式关注的是多次降雨后遗址破坏的静态结果,以识别病害、辨明病因为主要目的。为进一步研究水土作用方式在夯土雨蚀病害发育过程中的作用,明确雨蚀病害的动态发育过程,在现场调查的基础上对榆阳区明代夯土长城的雨蚀病害进行分类、统计、分析,综合考虑侵蚀模式、雨蚀动态响应过程和劣化程度三个方面提出雨蚀破坏模式,分别为干湿破坏、冲刷破坏和降雨导致的重力侵蚀三种,三种破坏模式的提出为研究夯土遗址雨蚀和降雨间的响应关系提供新思路。     

流动人口租房消费的空间格局及影响因素

随着“租购并举”住房制度的确立,如何满足流动人口租房需求成为实现新型城镇化的关键。基于金额、压力、意愿、差距四项指标从不同维度评价流动人口租房消费水平,运用GIS空间统计工具考察其在全国283个城市间的空间格局,通过多层线性模型从城市和个体两个层面识别流动人口租房消费水平影响因素。研究发现:我国流动人口租房消费水平整体偏低,金额少、压力轻、意愿低、与城市租房市场差距大,城市间分布呈现显著空间分异,综合水平高的城市集聚于苏鲁豫皖交界地区,综合水平低的城市集聚于东南沿海大城市带;流动人口租房消费主要受流动距离、落户意愿、社会融合程度等个体属性影响,流入城市在人口结构、公共服务、住房成本等方面的特征通过改变购房意愿和能力而影响个体属性对租房消费水平的作用;优越的公共服务和外来者友好的社会氛围使有购房意愿的流动人口节省租房开支;高房价使有落户意愿、社会融合程度高的流动人口将消费重心转向租房,使跨省流动人口在租房消费上更趋保守谨慎。     

上海都市区制造业就业格局的演化及影响因素

制造业是城市经济的重要组成部分和推动城市空间格局演化的重要驱动力。本文采用上海1996年、2004年、2008年制造业企业分街道就业数据,分析上海都市区制造业的空间格局演化,采用计量模型探究了制造业就业分布的主要影响因素。研究表明,上海都市区制造业就业空间格局已经基本实现了郊区化,并涌现出了稳定的制造业次中心;区位、交通、地价和政策因素对制造业就业格局的形成有着显著作用,而且这些因素的作用存在着显著的行业间差异性。为实现制造业的合理布局和城市空间结构优化,政府应该尊重市场规律和不同产业的特点,为不同产业选址布局提供相应的空间供给和基础设施。     

Quantitative Methods in Archaeology: A Review of Recent Trends and Developments

This paper reviews recent developments in the application of quantitative methods to archaeological research and focuses upon three major themes: the development of so-called designer methods, which are quantitative methods created to solve specific problems; the resurgence of whole-society modeling through a variety of formal and mathematical approaches; and trends in the the teaching of quantitative methods at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Not surprisingly, different subfields have had greater success than others in the development of useful methods, and the causes of this are explored. Finally, suggestions for improving training in the use of these methods are offered.