The Type Research of the Blockhouse with Load Bearing Wood Frameworks in the Khampa Tibetan Region

The Khampa Tibetans are one of three Tibetan ethnic groups living in the areas of Tibet, Sichuan, Qinghai and Yunnan. Along with the tent, the blockhouse is another building system in the regions where they live. Among different types, the blockhouse using load bearing wood frameworks is representative. Based on field work and summarization of previous studies, we present the construction types, analyze the correlation in evolution between different types, and summarize the law of their regional distribution.     

Claiming and naming resources on the border of the state: Akha strategies in China and Thailand

This paper explores the intersection of state policies and local interests in allocating and managing resources in mountainous border areas of China and Thailand. These two states differ markedly in policies and approaches both to forests and to ethnic minorities on the periphery. The first section of the paper traces the history of policies in both countries for forested border areas and for forest-dependent ethnic minorities. The next section explores the evolution of property rights, land use, and the meaning of resources for one Akha village in China, and one in Thailand, in response to these dramatically different political economies. The final section considers some current outcomes for both the Akha and the local landscape as a result of these differing policy histories, and Akha strategies for claiming and using resources under these two regimes.     

Miao migrants to Shanghai: Multilocality,invisibility and ethnicity

This paper reports on a recent research project into rural–urban labour migrants in Shanghai, China, who are members of ethnic minorities, inquiring into the role of ethnicity in national labour migration. It introduces some of the main features of the ethnic nationalities (minzu) in China and considers some of the literature on rural–urban migration in China which may be considered as relevant to ethnicity. The case of a Miao minority family in Shanghai is described in detail to argue that what remains important to them in the city is not their formal ethnic affiliation (minzu) so much as a sub‐ethnic identity of connectedness and intimacy, importantly related to kinship and place.     

Behind the Pan‐European Convergence Path: The Role of Innovation,Specialisation and Socio‐economic Factors

The paper analyses the determinants of regional disparities in per capita gross domestic product (GDP) and their evolution over time in the enlarged European Union (EU). With reference to the literature it groups EU regions on the basis of three different factors—specialisation, socio‐economic features, and innovation. It then analyses regional disparities in per capita GDP (EU‐relative and country‐relative) across groups over 2004–2011 using both non‐parametric tools and traditional regression analysis with spatial effects. The paper finds that EU‐wide convergence actually conceals growing divergence across old member regions and within new members. Coming to the factors that lie at the heart of regional disparities, country factors lose importance for newcomers but become more important for older members, notwithstanding longstanding integration. Socio‐economic factors and innovation instead become increasingly important for all areas, socio‐economic factors lying at the heart of within‐country differences and innovation more of those between regions. Finally, specialisation appears to have a lower explanatory power.     

An analysis of employment patterns of domestic migrants and immigrants in a Rustbelt city: A study of Buffalo-Niagara Falls

This study evaluates employment patterns of domestic migrants and immigrants and also explores the role of ethnic niching for Asian and African American recent arrivals in the context of local structural transformation (e.g., the shift from manufacturing to services). Employment patterns are examined for industry-occupation groups using the 5% Public Use Micro Sample of the 2000 U.S. Decennial Census and the 2006–2010 of the American Community Survey. The study area is a Rustbelt city that has suffered from population loss: the Buffalo-Niagara Falls MSA. Location quotients and shift-share analysis are used to classify employment shifts into four industry-occupation groups: growing, transforming, declining, and emerging. Logistic regressions are estimated to identify the role of various demographic factors and ethnic niches on the employment of recent arrivals in the above four industry-occupation groups. The results show that the employment of recent arrivals vary by migration status and ethnicity. The role of ethnic niches is especially important in declining industry-occupation groups. The analytical framework can be used to understand where and how migrants, both domestic and immigrants, find work. Future studies can focus on the pros and cons of ethnic niching (e.g., barriers to suitable jobs, ethnic entrepreneurship through niche experience) as structural transformation continues across U.S. regions, especially with new technologies.     

Disparities and Divided Growth: Ethnic Entrepreneurship in the Greater Los Angeles Area, 1980–2015

This study employs a multilevel research design to examine business ownership across ethnic groups in the greater Los Angeles area. It finds significant divide between white and non‐white businesses along the labor market hierarchy. The entrepreneurial environment, ethnic residential communities, ethnic business spatial clustering, ethnic concentration in particular niche sectors, and ethnic diversity in local areas are all related to business ownership and disparities across ethnic groups. The results suggest that ethnically diverse neighborhoods and co‐ethnic business communities could provide a conducive institutional environment and resources for minority businesses to start. However, in contrast to white owned businesses, ethnic minority businesses' concentration in the low‐end and easy‐entry sectors may reinforce their disadvantages and hinder upward economic mobility. This study provides policy implications for community regional development through entrepreneurship especially when race and ethnicity are concerned.     

Ribosomal DNA spacer-length polymorphisms in three samples of wild and cultivated barleys and their relevance to the origin of cultivated barley

This study was conducted to provide additional data for evaluating two important issues surrounding the origin of cultivated barley: (i) the level of genetic diversity of the two‐rowed wild barley from Tibet, and (ii) the distribution of rDNA allele 104 in wild and cultivated barleys in the Occidental region. A total of 198 accessions consisting of three distinct samples were used: 82 entries of two‐rowed wild barley from Tibet, 57 accessions of two‐rowed wild barley from 8 countries with a broad range of representation of two‐rowed wild barley in the world, and 59 landrace accessions from four countries representing a part of the barley‐growing areas in the Middle East. These were assayed for rDNA spacer‐length variants (slvs). In all, 27 rDNA space length pheno types were detected, from which 10 slvs were identified as alleles at the two rDNA loci. The two‐rowed wild barley samples from Tibet had the lowest level of genetic variation as evaluated by rDNA polymorphism. Together with results of previous studies, the two wild forms (two‐rowed and six‐rowed) from Tibet could not account for the large genetic diversity observed in the cultivated barley of this region, suggesting that Tibet is unlikely a centre of origin for cultivated barley. In samples from the Occidental region, allele 104 of Rm2 was very rare in wild barley, but occurred at the highest frequency in cultivated barley, while the reverse is the case for allele 107, which is consistent with previous results. The implications of such a contrasting distribution of these rDNA alleles between wild and cultivated barleys in the origin and evolution of cultivated barley were discussed.     

A Territorial Articulation Index for Rural Areas Applied to Four Spanish Comarcas

This paper proposes a model for calculating a composite index to evaluate the internal territorial cohesion or articulation of rural areas, specifically rural Spanish comarcas (groups of municipalities with common geographic and historical characteristics). Evaluation is based on the optimum spatial distributions of their urban nuclei and access to roads by their inhabitants. First, we built the index for spatial distributions of urban nuclei in each comarca. Next, we constructed road accessibility indexes for all urban nuclei to each other and to the main urban nucleus (defined by the largest concentration of services). Based on these indexes, we developed an Internal Territorial Articulation Index (ITAI) that reflects the spatial distribution of the territory's urban nuclei in terms of their aggregation, internal accessibility within the comarca, and relationship with the main urban nucleus. The ITAI was applied to four Spanish comarcas in the province of Almería: Almería Alpujarra, Almanzora, Los Vélez, and Almería Poniente. The results are highly varied and allow areas with low degrees of territorial articulation or coherence to be identified either by the distribution of their urban nuclei or by their poor accessibility to roads. Results were unfavourable in mountainous regions with steep slopes and in areas furthest from the province's large urban nuclei. The conclusions may help develop settlement and road transport infrastructure strategies in these rural comarcas.     

Crossability percentages of bread wheat collections from Tibet,China with rye

Summary The crossability percentages of 282 accessions of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) collected in Tibet, China with rye (Secale cereale L.) have been tested. Five collections have a similar to and 277 accessions have a lower crossability percentage than Chinese Spring or are non-crossable with rye. The accessions with high crossability percentage occur along the highway near Lhasa. No landraces with higher crossability than Chinese Spring and rare landraces with similar crossability to Chinese Spring indicated that the landraces in Tibet region are different from those in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Henan provinces in the distribution frequency of high crossability, and there is no distribution of recessive kr4 alleles.     

Breeding of transgenic rice restorer line for multiple resistance against bacterial blight, striped stem borer and herbicide

In this paper, we described the breeding of transgenic rice restorer line for multiple resistance against bacterial blight, striped stem borer (SSB) and herbicide by conventional crossing of two transgenic parental lines transformed independently with different genes. Two stable transgenic rice lines used as donor parents were developed, one was Zhongguo91 which contained cry1Ab gene (for insect resistance) and bar gene (for tolerance of herbicide), and the other was Yujing6 which contained Xa21 gene (resistance to bacterial blight). The elite restorer line Hui773 was used as recipient and crossed with the two stable transgenic rice lines. Then five successive backcrosses were made using Hui773 as recurrent parent. Two rice elite restorers, T773-1 expressing cry1Ab and bar genes and T773-2 expressing Xa21 gene, were obtained, which were confirmed by PCR analysis and testing selectable marker genes in the hybrid progenies. The cross was made between T773-1 and T773-2 to select stable restorer line carrying Xa21, cry1Ab and bar genes. Finally, we obtained transgenic restorer line T773 with good agronomic traits and obvious multiple resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, striped stem borer (Chilo suppressalis) and herbicide. The hybrid F₁ generation produced from the cross between transgenic restorer line T773 and a corresponding male sterile line Zaohua2A maintained obvious resistance to rice bacterial blight, rice leaffolder and striped stem borer, and showed significant heterosis. Our results indicate that it is feasible to develop transgenic hybrid rice cultivar through breeding transgenic restorer lines.     

Measuring Potential Ethnic Conflict in Southeast Asia

This article offers insights into the identification of cases with a significant potential for ethnic conflict over a 2‐3 year time horizon through an examination of the application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to the analysis of ethnic conflict potential in those cases. The goal is to suggest an analytical framework with applicability to the assessment of ethnic conflicts in Southeast Asia and beyond; thus, factors are identified that tend to precipitate or facilitate ethnic conflict in a world dominated by the norms of the modern state system. Twenty‐four ethnic minority groups are identified in Southeast Asia that havesome potential for conflict over the next 2‐3 years. The AHP methodology is then employed as a means to measure the potential for ethnic conflict among these twenty‐four groups. Potential is defined as the product of desire or motivation to act (i.e., the motivating factors) and the ability or capability to act (i.e., the enabling conditions), such that: POTENTIAL = (MOTIVATION) X (ABILITY). This approach to ethnic conflict analysis promotes consideration of the contextual factors that influence feelings of marginalization and capacity to effect change—a considerable step forward over approaches that are based on (inevitably problematic) generalizations about the shared attributes or historically rooted prejudices toward ethnic groups.     

Genetic diversity of tropical maize inbred lines combining resistance to Striga hermonthica with drought tolerance using SNP markers

Striga hermonthica and drought are the major stresses limiting maize yields in sub‐Saharan Africa. The search for diverse maize lines’ tolerance to drought and resistance to S. hermonthica (DTSTHR) is very crucial for yield improvement in areas affected by the two stresses. Understanding the genetic diversity among the lines is important to develop cultivars resistant to S. hermonthica and tolerant to drought. The lines were developed from biparental crosses of drought‐tolerant and Striga‐resistant lines. A total of 128 DTSTHR maize lines were characterized using single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Results of the cluster analysis based on 3297 SNP markers showed four distinct groups consistent with the pedigrees of the lines. Furthermore, model‐based analysis also formed the same groups of the DTSTHR lines. Integrating the pedigree information with combining ability and the SNP analyses may provide defined heterotic groups for maize improvement work in West and Central Africa. These results also help breeders to utilize DTSTHR lines present at IITA for developing biparental crosses without disrupting the heterotic groups they have established in their breeding programmes.     

Human capital agglomeration,institutional barriers,and internal migration in China

This paper investigates how human capital agglomeration interplays with institutional factors to affect migration destination choice in China. Over the last decades, China has experienced massive internal migration, substantial human capital investment, and the relaxation of its hukou system, thus providing us with a valuable opportunity to examine the role of human capital externality in migration choice. Based on rich data on province-to-province migration flows for different education and hukou groups, we find that migrants in China, especially highly educated and urban-to-urban migrants, have a strong preference to move to provinces with a high agglomeration of human capital. Further examination reveals that low-skilled migrants in China are less likely to benefit from human capital agglomeration because of their lower ability to overcome hukou restrictions. Our findings raise the concern that labor migration under the skill-biased hukou system would enlarge China's regional disparities in human capital and economic development.     

Genetic diversity of physic nut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis> L.) revealed by SSR markers

Ten microsatellite markers were used to investigate genetic diversity and genetic structure among 32 accessions of Jatropha curcas. Low levels of average genetic diversity were observed (H _E = 0.160). A dendrogram produced by the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) based on Nei’s genetic distances revealed 3 groups among 32 accessions. The genetic differentiation (F _ST ) among two groups was significant (P < 0.01). The model-based Bayesian clustering method indicated that a population structure (ΔK) was separated into two groups. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed higher variability (63.753%) among groups than within groups (36.247%). These findings could assist in defining the best method of genetic conservation and studies in breeding programs for genetic improvement of J. curcas.     

云南11个特有少数民族的茶传统文化保护与利用初析

云南茶文化具有悠久的历史和文化底蕴,为更好地保护和利用云南特有少数民族的茶传统文化,在文献资料查阅、问卷调查和实地考察等基础上,分析了哈尼族、傣族、布朗族、德昂族、阿昌族、基诺族、白族、纳西族、怒族、普米族和佤族等11个云南特有少数民族,在茶树驯化、种植、制茶、饮茶以及古茶树保护等方面的传统知识,发现云南特有少数民族茶文化既有本民族鲜明的独特性又相互交融。为更好地保护和传承这些丰富多样、宝贵的茶文化资源,提出云南特有少数民族茶文化保护与利用建议,通过开展茶文化旅游、建立云南民族茶文化理论体系以及古茶树保护区等措施,既增加了当地的经济收入、提高了对外界的影响力,又对当地生态环境及民族茶文化进行了有效的保护,实现各民族地区生态环境的保护与社会经济的发展。     

Widening the gene pool of cultivated lentils through introgression of alien chromatin from wild Lens subspecies

Wild Lens species/subspecies are a potential source for increasing genetic diversity in cultivated lentil. Four intraspecific crosses were attempted between cultivated and wild lentils. Viable hybrids were produced between L. culinaris ssp. culinaris × L. culinaris ssp. orientalis and L. culinaris ssp. culinaris × L. culinaris ssp. odomensis. Normal meiosis and pollen fertility were observed in the first set of crosses, whereas chromosomal abnormalities and reduced pollen fertility were observed in the second set of crosses. These crosses were also studied for some quantitative traits. The range, mean and coefficient of variation were calculated in parents, F₁, F₂ and BC₁ generations to determine the extent of variability generated in the cultivated lentil through introgression of genes from wild lentil. The cultivated lentil × L. culinaris ssp. orientalis crosses showed substantially higher variability for all the traits than crosses involving cultivated lentil ×L. culinaris ssp. odomensis. The results of the present study indicated that these wild subspecies can be exploited for breeding purposes and their variation can easily be utilized to widen the genetic base of the cultivated lentil.     

Inequality and conflict in Fiji: From purgatory to hell?

Abstract: This article examines socio‐economic inequality in Fiji and finds that, contrary to oft‐repeated claims, inequality between Fiji"s major ethnic groups (inter‐ethnic inequality) is less significant than inequality within each ethnic group (intra‐ethnic inequality). In spite of this reality, inter‐group inequality and affirmative action policies have remained central features of state policy in Fiji. This article suggests that Fiji's experience has three implications for the growing literature on the relationship between inequality and conflict. First, examining average inequality between groups can be misleading. Secondly, a key to understanding the relationship between ethnic and economic cleavages in post‐colonial plural societies, such as Fiji, is in the interaction between intra‐group and inter‐group inequality. Thirdly, there does not seem to be a straightforward relationship between actual levels of inequality, perceptions of inequality, and the prominence given to inequality in ethno‐nationalist discourse. In Fiji's case, the strategic deployment of inter‐group inequality has served, and continues to serve, the material and discursive interests of some political elites. As a result, the intersection between ethnicity, inequality and political rivalry in contemporary Fiji has been the source of much conflict and, importantly, may offer a nexus on which attempts at conflict resolution should focus.     

Ethnic or Political Fractionalisation? A District Level Analysis of the Provision of Public Goods in Sri Lanka

This study investigates the influence of ethnic and political fractionalisation on the provision of public goods at a district level in Sri Lanka. Evidence shows that political fractionalisation has a greater negative impact on the provision of public goods compared with ethnic fractionalisation. Similarly, political polarisation has a greater negative effect on the provision of public goods compared with ethnic polarisation. The interaction between ethnic and political measures suggests that political fractionalisation (political polarisation) exacerbates the negative effects of ethnic fractionalisation (ethnic polarisation) on the provision of public goods. The ethnolinguistic fractionalisation (ELF) index assumes greater statistical significance under fixed effects estimation suggesting greater within district effects in the relationship between ELF and public good provision.     

Revised calculation of the coefficient of parentage in plant breeding

The knowledge of the genetic similarity between two individuals has been useful for animal breeders for a long time, and one of the most common measures of similarity is the Coefficient of Parentage (COP). For two individuals X and Y, it is defined as the probability that an allele taken from a particular locus in individual X is equal by descent to another allele taken from the same locus in individual Y; thus, the COP between two individuals is the same as the expected inbreeding of their offspring, and it is now a routine calculation among plant breeders as part of crop improvement programmes. Nevertheless, plant breeders deal with the genealogy between strains or groups of individuals, and here, we provide a mathematical proof that in this case the application of standard formulae replicated from animal breeding may result in overestimation of the true amount of inbreeding between two strains.     

Genetic diversity revealed in the apomictic fruit species Garcinia mangostana L. (mangosteen)

The novel molecular marker technique Randomly Amplified DNA Fingerprinting (RAF)was used to survey genetic relationships between 37 accessions of the tropical fruit G. mangostana (mangosteen) and among 11 accessions from eight other Garcinia species. Although mangosteen is believed to reproduce exclusively through apomixis, our results show that considerable genetic diversity exists within G. mangostana and between other Garcinia species. Among the 37G. mangostana accessions examined, nine different genotypes were identified which clustered into three distinct groups based on correspondence analysis(reciprocal averaging). For 26 (70%) of the accessions no marker variation was detected over 530 loci screened. A further eight (22%) accessions exhibited very low levels of variation (0.2–1%) suggesting at least one well conserved mangosteen genotype. The remaining three accessions (8%) showed extensive variation (22–31%)compared with the majority of accessions. The three mangosteen groups were 63–70% dissimilar to the other Garciniaspecies investigated. The genetic diversity identified in this research will assist in the conservation of Garciniagermplasm and provides a valuable framework for the genetic improvement of mangosteen. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.