630 research outputs found
Xp54 and related (DDX6-like) RNA helicases : roles in messenger RNP assembly, translation regulation and RNA degradation
No full textThe DEAD-box RNA helicase Xp54 is an integral component of the messenger ribonucleoprotein (mRNP) particles of Xenopus oocytes. In oocytes, several abundant proteins bind pre-mRNA transcripts to modulate nuclear export, RNA stability and translational fate. Of these, Xp54, the mRNA-masking protein FRGY2 and its activating protein kinase CK2 alpha, bind to nascent transcripts on chromosome loops, whereas an Xp54-associated factor, RapA/B, binds to the mRNP complex in the cytoplasm. Over-expression, mutation and knockdown experiments indicate that Xp54 functions to change the conformation of mRNP complexes, displacing one subset of proteins to accommodate another. The sequence of Xp54 is highly conserved in a wide spectrum of organisms. Like Xp54, Drosophila Me31B and Caenorhabditis CGH-1 are required for proper meiotic development, apparently by regulating the translational activation of stored mRNPs and also for sorting certain mRNPs into germ plasm-containing structures. Studies on yeast Dhh1 and mammalian rck/p54 have revealed a key role for these helicases in mRNA degradation and in earlier remodelling of mRNP for entry into translation, storage or decay pathways. The versatility of Xp54 and related helicases in modulating the metabolism of mRNAs at all stages of their lifetimes marks them out as key regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression.Peer reviewe
(Re)production of Shanghai's "Lilong" space : from historical and social conception to cultural and cognitive perception
No full textUrban conservation (or heritage conservation in the urban setting), by its nature, imposes irreversible and enduring impacts on the built environment and urban fabrics. While conservation of individual monuments of indisputable historic and cultural significance often ignites heated debates, protests and resistance movements, the episodic conservation efforts of everyday architectures and heritage assets woven in the urban setting are often overlooked. Evidently within the rapidly changing context of urban China, which is virtually a contested ground for the struggles of many marginalized social groups and the upholding of local values and lived experiences amid the globalization waves and economic development, the urban conservation practice has not been systematically evaluated, monitored nor reviewed from an integrated perspective.
This fittingly calls for the utility of French philosopher Henri Lefebvre’s triadic “conceived – perceived – lived” spatial framework, which has been proven useful in discerning the spatial changes and power interplays embedded in the process and outcome of the production and re-production of space. As suggested in the title, the application of the Lefebvrian spatial framework in this research endeavor is manifold, in both spatial and temporal senses: First, to discern how the concerned space was historically produced; Then, to examine how the space has been re-produced (as in produced for the second time) in the conservation processes and outcomes; At the same time, to paradoxically explore whether and how the space has been reproduced (as in organically and biologically conceived, given birth and nurtured) to perpetuate for a sustainable future; Ultimately, to investigate how urban conservation efforts can possibly facilitate or impact on the preservation, integration and transformation of space from a physical construct to a mental construct in the urban restructuring processes across China today.
To this end, two fundamentally different yet very telling case study sites of urban conservation in Shanghai, the forefront city of China, have been identified, namely, Xintiandi and Tianzifang. They represent the market-driven conservation approach and the community-initiated conservation approach respectively, and both have deep-rooted causal relationships with the economic and developmental boom and evolution of urban conservation practice in Shanghai, and China as a whole.
Through a comparative analysis of the two case studies, this research endeavor examines, individually and collectively, what the driving forces and the evolving relationships of the key players are behind the conservation efforts, and whose interests have been represented in the conservation processes, whether the lived environments, routines and experiences have been identified, respected and conserved; thereby summarizing the salient issues facing urban conservation efforts in China today, and reflecting upon how urban conservation practice can contribute to the sustainability of urban development and redevelopment in Chinese cities and beyond.published_or_final_versionUrban Planning and DesignDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph
A Cross-Cultural Examination of the Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised - General Short Form (ECR-R-GSF) in an Australian and a Chinese Sample
No full textAttachment dimensions refer to how interpersonal emotion regulation strategies are utilised and have a profound impact in adulthood. Its measurement has attracted a large amount of research attention. The Experiences in Close Relationships — Revised (ECR-R) Questionnaire is one of the most widely used and researched self-report questionnaires to measure romantic attachment anxiety and avoidance in multiple language groups, despite inconsistent evidence regarding its factorial structure. The 20-item Experiences in Close Relationships — Revised — General Short Form (ECR-R-GSF) was developed based on the ECR-R to measure attachment experiences in all relationships (not just romantic ones) in an English-speaking sample. However, no short form of the ECR-R is available for the Chinese population. In order to cross-validate the first Chinese version of the ECR-R-GSF, specifically the proposed two-factor structure, against the English version, an Australian university student sample (n = 426) and a Chinese university student sample from China (n = 626) were recruited. The Anxiety and Avoidance scales were found to have good internal reliability in both samples. However, the proposed two-factor model only provided an acceptable fit even after adding modifications in the Australian sample, and the fit was not satisfactory in the Chinese sample. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated that partial metric but not scalar invariance was achieved across cultures. Implications for relationship and cross-cultural research and practice were discussed.Full Tex
Urban and regional planning for technopoles : case study of Shenzhen, a planned city in the Greater Pearl River Delta Region
No full textThe Greater Pearl River Delta (GPRD) region in China has been dramatically changing since the economic reform in the late 1970s. The ‘front shop back factory’ model of industrialisation and urbanisation between Hong Kong and the hinterland cities in the region had resulted in the significant economic success, which albeit encountered several bottleneck problems. To tackle them, a new development pattern seems emerging, with more focuses on balanced growth and regional synergy in accordance with industrial upgrading towards the knowledge-intensive economy.
Through the review of related literature, the research on the new pattern is linked with various classical theories and developmental concepts in the fields of industrial geography, technological innovation, as well as urban and regional planning and development. It reveals that these theories and concepts would contribute to the transition of GPRD’s industrialisation and urbanisation. Moreover, it is indicated that the concept of ‘technopole’ and its planning and development can contribute to this new pattern of urban and regional growth under current circumstances.
To study the new pattern, the author conducts a detailed case study on Shenzhen, a planned city in the region with a short development history and successful economic growth attributed to economic reform. Based on a qualitative effort of data collection through secondary-data and documentary research, the study employs multiple methods for the description, interpretation, and deduction of the case, towards the understanding on three key research themes: new growth pattern (balanced development and regional synergy), urban and regional planning, and technopole development. The case study aims to fill in the gaps between Western theories and their application in China, and build connections between academic exploration and real practice.
The planning and development history of Shenzhen and an overview of the city’s technopole development are documented, which illustrate a picture of industrialisation, urbanisation, and technological development in the study area. The evolution of growth centres and their contribution to the city’s growth trajectory are also analysed. At the same time, three typical technopoles of the city, namely, the Shenzhen High-tech Industrial Park (SHIP), the Huaqiangbei area, and the Overseas Chinese Town (OCT), are taken into examination, leading to categories of findings: spatial establishment, development pattern, and key characteristics of innovative milieux.
Through the case study of Shenzhen and its technopoles, the research came to a conclusion in three aspects. First, the linkages between Western theories and their application in China are identified, which provide a feasible theoretical support for the new development pattern. Second, progress in planning and development system is concluded in accordance with the transition of the city and the evolution of the growth centres, which is expected to facilitate better understanding and implementation of the new pattern. Third, key issues of planning and making of technopoles are summarized based on the case of Shenzhen, leading to suggestions on possible improvement for future development.published_or_final_versionUrban Planning and DesignDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph
Consumer's role in cultural industry promotion : a case study of China's ceramic industry
No full textCultural industries are highly relevant to the economic, social, and cultural development. Cultural industries directly and indirectly affect sustainable urban development and city governance. In particular, the cultural industry exerts a direct and positive impact on the socioeconomic development of a city. Booming cultural industries can directly benefit a city in the short term. In the long term, the cultural industry satisfies a city’s needs for talented people and innovative research and development (R&D) for future potential development. The role of the cultural industry has, is, and will be crucial in city development and, ultimately, national strategy.
China’s concept of the cultural industry was only officially introduced recently. After the state-supplier dyad in the early “engineer” model period and the changing market environment in the post-reform period, the Chinese cultural industry has entered into a new period with diverging local responses. This study investigates the role of consumers in the development of the Chinese cultural industry and the interactions of this actor with the government and supplier in the triad model. Specifically, the consumer’s involvement in products’ innovation and the cultural industry’s performance are studied. In this thesis, the main analysis methods are (1) provincial-level analysis and (2) two-case comparative analysis. The former provides a view of the arts and crafts category in China at the provincial level. The latter looks further into the sub-sector of the ceramic industry in the two selected ceramic industrial clusters in Jingdezhen and Longquan. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses are conducted in the thesis.
Three findings are indicated in the study. First, the collaborative integration of the government–supplier–consumer triad with the supportive role of the government benefits the development of the cultural industry. Second, the active participation of consumers in the creation and production of the cultural industry positively influences the open innovation. Last, the local cultural industry’s business environment is crucial to attracting talented people and influencing the values of cultural products and related services.
The author enumerates the contributions of this research on the basis of her understanding. This thesis bears two implications. The theoretical implications include contributions to the cultural industries in China and the innovation process of these industries. The empirical implications are on the case studies of the ceramic industry, which belongs to the cultural industry in China. With the findings and implications as basis, this study provides recommendations for policymakers, urban planners, developers, individual suppliers of the cultural industries, and consumers as well as the civil society.published_or_final_versionUrban Planning and DesignDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph
Urban land allocation as a mechanism in the development of ecocities: a case study of Nanjing
No full textpublished_or_final_versionUrban Planning and Environmental ManagementDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph
Urban competitiveness and regional city-to-city cooperation in the Yangtze River Delta Region : a case study of joint development zones
No full textWith the rise of cities as geographical units, there have been a growing number of municipal partnerships and networks. Government-led intercity cooperation at regional scale—regional city-to-city (C2C) cooperation booms in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region in the last two decades. Urban competitiveness is a concept tied to intercity competition that decides the relative position of cities in urban ranking. In regional C2C cooperation, urban competitiveness serves as the asset of partner-cities and usually as one of the primary targets of the cooperation. However, there is a general lack of studies on the influence of urban competitiveness on regional C2C cooperation. The introduction of the perspective of urban competitiveness is an approach of developing a comprehensive framework connecting factors of regional C2C cooperation. The objective of this research is to analyze the influence of urban competitiveness on regional C2C cooperation in China’s local context. In this study, the added value of regional C2C cooperation is divided into added value of urban competitiveness and political added value brought by intervention from upper-level governments. Three typology of C2C cooperation (i.e. hybrid, hierarchical and spontaneous) have been identified. Three cases in the YRD region including the Jiangyin-Jingjiang Industrial Park of Jiangsu Province, Suzhou-Suqian Industrial Park, and Shanghai Caohejing Hi-Tech Park Haining Sub-park are selected for case studies accordingly.
This study indicates that urban competitiveness and government intervention are crucial to regional C2C cooperation. Urban competitiveness is essential in regional C2C partnership maintenance, while intervention from upper-level governments is effective and efficient in strategy formulation and partner selection. The measurement of urban competitiveness in the YRD region in 2002, 2005, and 2008 indicates the partner-city with relatively larger urban competitiveness is more likely to assume a leading role in the C2C partnership. Noticeably, it is found that the intervention from the provincial government tends to consolidate such impact. The measurement also reveals that urban competitiveness in the YRD region is transforming from an investment-driven stage to an innovation- and human capital-driven stage. Noticeably, the increasing weighting of basic factors in the building of urban competitiveness found in the YRD region is hard to be explained by the mainstream urban competitive advantage theories. Therefore, a localization of the theories is advocated by this research.
Imprints of China’s local context transpire in the three cases, including economic decentralization and simultaneous political centralization. The role of provincial government is weakened in China’s political restructuring. However, revealed by the case studies, intervention from provincial government to regional C2C cooperation is still observed to be effective in terms of strategy formulation and negotiation. With the rise of public-private partnership focusing on investment and economic growth, as well as strong government intervention in regional C2C cooperation, the three cases reflect China’s urban entrepreneurialism. Furthermore, a recent shift in China’s urban entrepreneurialism has been found in the region, which is the increasing emphasis on environmental care for sustainable development. This recent shift accords with the global movement toward environmentalism for sustainable development. The underlying logic and reasons are different from those in the West, resting upon the different nature of involvement and governing process.
The findings of this research contribute to a better understanding of the relations between urban competitiveness and regional C2C cooperation in China’s local context and the role of governments. As one of the most developed regions in China, the experiences in the YRD region can shed light on the development of other developing areas.published_or_final_versionUrban Planning and DesignDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph
Institutional fit of development zone-led peri-urbanization in China
No full textChina has been undergoing rapid peri-urbanization in recent decades. The changes in land use, demography, and economy are easy to perceive, and have been intensively examined, yet little is known about how local actors react to peri-urban dynamics. Adopting an institutional approach, this study extends the model of institutional fit and applies it to examine the development zone-led peri-urbanization taking place around Chinese small cities, focusing on how peri-urban households adjust their livelihood strategies to cope with the changing socio-economic environment, and how local governments adapt the rules of grassroots governance for various peri-urban settlements.
Jiangyan, a small city located in central Jiangsu province, was selected for detailed case study. The investigation on the institutional fit of household livelihood strategy shows that the adjustments made by peri-urban households in their income-earning activities, the shift from the agricultural sector to the non-agricultural sector, and the straddling of both sectors, are more to fit the grand circumstance of nationwide economic development than DZ-led peri-urbanization. The efforts by land loss households to retain farming activities, however, is identified as a “real” fit of income-earning activities to the land expropriation caused by DZ-led peri-urbanization. On the other hand, peri-urban households cannot secure all members’ access to social security. They strategically declined to enroll members in pension schemes and medical insurance programs for which they are eligible, which are compromises to the restraints on the available social security programs and the economic conditions of peri-urban households. The examination of grassroots governance focuses on changes in the mechanisms of grassroots governance generated by the establishment of JEDZ, the making of rural shequ, and the establishment of Sanshui sub-district. The findings show that local actors cannot make radical changes to the rural-urban dichotomy that constrains the governance of peri-urban settlements. The measures they adopted were either to provide provisional solutions, or to patch the surface of insufficient institutions. Local actors are powerless in implementing institutional innovation.
The study contributes to the theory of institutionalism by reconceptualizing the concept of institutional fit in studies of peri-urbanization, and extending the model of institutional fit to illustrate how local actors work successively on adapting institutions to local context. The extended model of institutional fit provides a framework for analyzing the complicated processes of making and adjusting institutions. Moreover, this study draws from the findings of several policy implications on land expropriation, social security systems, and grassroots governance for Chinese small cities that are undergoing DZ-led peri-urbanization.published_or_final_versionUrban Planning and DesignDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph
An integrated approach towards coastal zone management in Shantou, China
No full textpublished_or_final_versionabstractUrban Planning and Environmental ManagementMasterMaster of Philosoph
Land banking mechanism and its effects on urban development : a case study of Guangzhou, China
No full textChinese cities have been experiencing significant growth and profound socioeconomic transition since late 1970’s. Reform and development on institution arrangement for land, which is one of the basic production elements, have been the core issue for the strategies of establishing market economy and urbanization.
Land banking was a mechanism initiated in western European cities for directing urban development in early 1900’s. Under this mechanism land is resumed by public authorized organizations and will be held for future use to implement public land use policies. Some Chinese cities began their own land banking operation in the 1990’s. After nearly 20 years of introduction of land banking mechanism to China most of the cities and counties are now practicing this mechanism in their land management and supply framework.
This study attempts to explore land banking mechanism and its effects on urban development comprehensively in lights of theories of new institutional economics and urban spatial structure applying the diachronic public policy analytical framework. Guangzhou, the third largest city and the first city to practice land banking mechanism, is taken as the study area. Spatial data for land supply records since introduction of land banking mechanism are collected and processed with GIS software. Archives in Guangzhou Construction Archive covering the land development and planning administration in Guangzhou were studied to facilitate in-depth understanding of the mechanism. Related statistics data, regulations, planning proposals, internal reports and were obtained to facilitate this study.
Review on evolution of land banking mechanism in China and comparison of related regulations at state and local levels argue that the introduction of land banking mechanism into China has lead to institutional changes in the land development process by integrating western experience and local characteristics.
Applying empirical transaction costs analysis on institutional models of major land supply mechanisms in China, this research illustrated that land banking mechanism has resulted in re-distribution of transaction costs of the land supply process, which reduces the transaction costs from the perspective land use right (LUR) users. However, for a specific case of land supply, overall transaction costs would increase under land banking mechanism compared to other land supply mechanisms.
Exploration on data collected through GIS analysis illustrated that land banking mechanism strengthens city government’s capacity to instruct changes in both macro level urban form and micro level built environment.
Analysis on statistics data and budgetary reports of Guangzhou Municipal Government demonstrates that with land banking mechanism gains of LUR conveyance are providing supplement income for the city government, which is approximately 30% of the traditional tax-based fiscal income. Financing values of Guangzhou city’s land bank are developed by land banking loans and establishment of the urban development financing platform. Supplement fiscal income and financing values of land banking greatly improve local governments’ leading role in urbanization process mainly through investment on urban infrastructures.
Case study on evolution of Liede village under land banking mechanism illustrates that different land development process and changes of urban form have also lead to rearrangement of socio spatial structure such as significant changes in residential spatial changes.published_or_final_versionUrban Planning and DesignDoctoralDoctor of Philosoph
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