Suchergebnisse

What can states expect to receive in return for the military aid they provide to other states? Can military aid buy recipient state compliance with donor objectives? In this study, we systematically investigate the effects of US military assistance on recipient state behavior toward the United States. We build on existing literature by creating three explicit theoretical models, employing a new measure of cooperation generated from events data, and controlling for preference similarity, so that our results capture the influence military aid has on recipient state behavior independent of any dyadic predisposition toward cooperation or conflict. We test seven hypotheses using a combination of simultaneous equation, cross-sectional time series, and Heckman selection models. We find that, with limited exceptions, increasing levels of US military aid significantly reduce cooperative foreign policy behavior with the United States. US reaction to recipient state behavior is also counterintuitive; instead of using a carrot-and-stick approach to military aid allocations, our results show that recipient state cooperation is likely to lead to subsequent reductions in US military assistance. Adapted from the source document.

The wide and in-depth adoption of advanced information technologies within the construction industry has led to its revolution of all aspects; the construction site is not an exception. Recently, the notion of a smart construction site (SCS) has drawn the attention of all stakeholders within the industry. While the practice of SCS could be witnessed in various regions and the notion is mentioned frequently, the concept of SCS is still emerging, a sound framework for SCS development is still absent. As a bottom-up phenomenon, a systematic analysis of critical factors would provide all stakeholders with a comprehensive view of SCS development. In this research, previous research and existing practices of SCS are referred to, which helps to identify 17 critical factors for SCS development from the perspective of management, technology, and organization. The DEMATEL-ISM approach is introduced to conduct the factor analysis, and a questionnaire survey is conducted among 10 experts to investigate their attitudes on these factors. Following the proposed method, the 17 factors are classified into seven hierarchies and further categorized into three layers, i.e., effect layer, operational layer, and input layer, which helps to demonstrate the interrelationship among the critical factors for SCS development. The effect layer consists of the first to the third hierarchy, which contains the factors of cost (F2), safety (F4), schedule (F5), environment (F9), and quality (F3) management; these factors belong to the management perspective and reflect the expectations during SCS development. The operational layer consists of the fourth to the sixth hierarchy, which contains seven factors, namely, processing (F8), information (F10), communication and coordination (F15), personnel (F5), material (F6), equipment (F7), and management regulation (F17); these factors are critical in processing the input resources into the final effect of SCS development. The input layer only consists of the seventh hierarchy, which contains hardware and software facility (F11), integrated platform (F12), data sharing center (F13), smart decision system (F14), and technical team (F16); these factors represent the investment of SCS development. The systematic analysis of critical factors provides new insights on SCS development, which could be adopted as references for future SCS development by all stakeholders like government and construction enterprises.

Water tank is one important component of passive containment cooling system (PCS) of nuclear island building. The sloshing frequency of water is much less than structure frequency and large-amplitude sloshing occurs easily when subjected to seismic loadings. Therefore, the sloshing dynamics and fluid-structure interaction (FSI) effect of water tank should be considered when the dynamic response of nuclear island building is analyzed. A 1/16 scaled model was designed and the shaking table test was done, in which the hydrodynamic pressure time histories and attenuation data of wave height were recorded. Then the sloshing frequencies and 1st sloshing damping ratio were recognized. Moreover, modal analysis and time history analysis of numerical model were done by ADINA software. By comparing the sloshing frequencies and hydrodynamic pressures, it is proved that the test method is reasonable and the formulation of potential-based fluid elements (PBFE) can be used to simulate FSI effect of nuclear island building.

AbstractThe aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and the risk of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). In this cross-sectional case–control study, 32 women with POI and 58 women with normal menstrual cycles were recruited. The serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), CoQ10 and total cholesterol were measured. The association of CoQ10 with POI was assessed using binary logistic regression analysis. The CoQ10/total cholesterol ratio was significantly lower in the women with POI than in the women with normal menstrual cycles (120.94 ± 25.35 nmol/mmol vs 138.97 ± 39.19 nmol/mmol, P = 0.021). The serum CoQ10/total cholesterol ratio was inversely associated with POI (the unadjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.984, 95% CI: 0.970–0.998, P = 0.027). The same trend was found after adjusting for confounding factors (such as age, body mass index, annual household income and education) (OR = 0.976, 95% CI: 0.956–0.996, P = 0.020). The serum CoQ10/total cholesterol ratio was inversely associated with POI, indicating that antioxidant deficiency may be a risk associated with the development of POI. CoQ10 may be a protective factor for ovarian tissue.

China Joins Global Governance: Cooperation and Contentions, edited by Mingjiang Li, provides a comprehensive and insightful examination of China's role in global governance. The contributors make a significant contribution to the scholarly debate on the impacts of China's rise on the stability and future evolution of the international system.