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Integrating pig production stability and pollution control is a matter of social livelihood and green development. This paper estimates the policy effectiveness of environmental regulation based on the big data of Chinese government websites and combines the pig production data of various provinces in China from 2008 to 2018 to construct a mediating effect model, empirically analyzing the relationship between environmental regulations, herd structure, and pig production. Research shows: (1) Improving environmental regulations in the short term will increase the slaughter of pigs, but in the long run it will decrease first and then increase; (2) At this stage, environmental regulations can increase the slaughter of pigs by changing the herd structure; (3) Reasonable adjustment of the herd structure can effectively increase the slaughter of pigs; (4) The herd structure can be used as a supplementary monitoring indicator to stabilize the supply of pigs. Combine it with the change rate of sow stock to provide early warning of fluctuations in pig production, and the early warning herd structure values are 0.0980 and 0.1135. There are two key initiatives to achieve supply and price stability in the pig industry that taking into account environmental protection: first, an industrial regulation instrument based on the herd structure needs to be established; second, an early warning system for pig production fluctuations should be established with reference to the early warning system for pork price fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The High Energy Cosmic Radiation Detection (HERD) facility will be installed on the China space station, and the critical sub-detector is the homogeneous, isotropic, and finely segmented 3D calorimeter (CALO), composed of 7500 LYSO cubes. In this paper, GEANT4 was used to simulate the optical photon propagation inside a single LYSO crystal including the Wavelength Shifting Fiber (WLSF) and photodiode (PD) and compared with experimental results. The results show that only a tiny fraction of the photons produced in the LYSO can be collected through the WLSF and PD, and the light output can be enhanced by increasing the number of rough surfaces. Additionally, the variability in WLSF and PD light output when particles entered the LYSO crystal from varying positions, known as non-uniformity, was examined through simulation. The simulated non-uniformity using thin X-ray beams is compatible within the experimental errors and can be improved at higher light output. Finally, the non-uniformity is highly sensitive to the polishing condition of the crystal surface, and better polishing conditions are preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economics literature contains many theoretical analyses of imitation and differentiation strategies but relatively few empirical studies of these topics due to the limitation of data and methods. This paper conducts empirical research on competitive behavior among three dominant Chinese satellite TVs. It indicates that: 1) Program selection decisions of dominant satellite TVs primarily depend on their previous decision, showing decision inertia, which is verified by the fact that shock of each satellite TV's previous decisions best explains its current decision. Meanwhile, there is strategic dynamic interaction between each other, in the form of a mixed strategy with both imitation and differentiation. 2) Degree of imitation depends on satellite TVs' competitive positions. Leaders tend to differentiate, while pursuers incline to imitate. 3) Satellite TVs' decision patterns show heterogeneity related to program types. A satellite TV's decisions on its representative and advantageous programs are less affected by its competitors, while decisions on other programs suffer greater impacts. And heterogeneity is more obvious in pursuers. Impacts of market structure and degree of imitation on program ratings are further studied. Results indicate that: 1) Competitive pressure has negative crowd-out effect on leaders' program ratings, while it has positive spillover effect on pursuers. This finding is consistent with the fact that rating gap between first-class dominant satellite TVs and second-class dominant ones has narrowed. 2) Imitation leads to higher program ratings, indicating possible presence of herd behavior among Chinese audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the cultural context of "guanxi" in China, it is particularly challenging to develop a framework capable to capture the complexity and adaptability of farmers facing conflicts between wetland conservation and livelihood development. In this paper, we integrate agent-based model (ABM) and field experimental methods to develop a hybrid simulation experiment model for wetland conservation behavior, in order to reveal the driving forces of land change and understand the dynamic change process of farmers' behavior. Through a field experiment and a questionnaire survey of farmers around the Shankou Mangrove Ecological Nature Reserve (SMENR) in Guangxi, China, the intention of different types of farmers to adopt wetland conservation behavior was assessed from different angles, constructing a rational choice theory (RCT) framework and ABM proxy behavior rules. The results showed that after 5 years, the adoption rate of farmers' wetland conservation behavior reached 100% under the assumption of bounded self-interest, but only about 80% under bounded rationality. This confirms that herd is more conducive to promoting farmers' wetland conservation behavior. Decision makers should consider the importance of bounded rationality and bounded self-interest interaction, foster farmers' sense of belonging and responsibility toward wetlands, and guide farmers to participate in the ecological protection and sustainable use of wetlands. [Display omitted] • Herd is more conducive to promoting farmers to protect wetlands. • The fastest take-off can be achieved at a threshold of about 20%. • Livelihood patterns lead to differences in willingness to protect wetlands. • Sense of belonging and responsibility is important for wetland conservation. • Combining experimental economics and ABM can improve the accuracy of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unanticipated environmental shocks impact the livelihoods of many resource users around the world. These shocks are likely to be more unpredictable as the effects of climate change continue to mount. Yet how households adapt to these changing climatic conditions especially in the context of rapidly changing market conditions in most areas of the world, is poorly understood. These interactions have wide implications for both smallholder livelihoods and sustainable use of natural resources. In this paper, we examine the relationship between environmental shocks and stocking rates in livestock herds in the Inner Mongolian grasslands of northern China. We uniquely examine three types of shocks and how households adapt livestock production strategies in response to each. Separately and in aggregate, we look at three common shocks in Inner Mongolia: droughts, snowstorms, and locust outbreaks. We use a difference-in-differences approach to estimate changes in stocking rates among households that experience shocks versus those that do not with a panel dataset from 2009 to 2014 of 597 households. While we find no clear impact from locusts, our results suggest droughts and snowstorms have opposite effects: droughts are associated with increases in herd sizes, but snowstorms result in decreased herds. We suggest these differences are due to interactions between shocks, emerging options to borrow on credit, and livestock markets. Household adaptation to climate change will be strategic and take advantage of both available resources as well as market conditions. • Climate change is causing stronger and more unpredictable environmental shocks. • We use a difference-in-differences model to estimate the impact of shocks on stocking rate. • Drought relates to bigger herds; snowstorms relate to smaller herds. • Households adapt to shocks taking advantage of both available resources and market conditions. • Shaping well-functioning market may reduce opportunistic resource exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents compositional results for six faience beads from Adunqiaolu, an Early Bronze Age site in western Xinjiang, China. It is shown that all analysed samples were made of mixed-alkali flux with sodium oxide 8–10% and potassium oxide 5–9%. The microstructure of samples indicates that cementation glazing was used. The analytical results, together with the typology of the faience beads were then compared with data of Bronze Age faience beads found in Europe and East Asia. There are clear similarities in both typological and technological features. As the earliest faience objects discovered in China so far, the Adunqiaolu beads set an essential starting point for the further discussion on the early exchange network evidenced by faience products and long distance transmission of technologies and knowledge. This observation is of significance for deepening our understanding of prehistoric exchange between West and East across the Eurasian continent by providing another element in addition to metallurgy, cereal crops and herding animals. • Earliest faience beads in China analysed by SEM and EPMA. • Mixed-alkali glaze composition and typology indicate origin from the West. • Import of faience objects as part of wider package of cultural contact West-East. • Precursor for faience production in China using local materials and recipes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]