The Attractiveness of Ports in West Africa: Some Lessons from Shipping Lines' Port Selection

This paper investigates the attractiveness of ports in West Africa through the development of a container shipping lines' port choice methodology. Although many multi-criteria decision-making methods have been developed and applied to facilitate a rational port choice process, few have investigated the criteria used by shipping lines when selecting ports in West Africa. With the rapid economic development of West Africa, the task of establishing a rational model to guide shipping lines to choose their favourite ports in the region becomes urgent. In this work, 16 criteria are identified to assist shipping lines in port choice from four perspectives including adequate infrastructure, port location, port charge, and port administration/port efficiency. In order to quantitatively evaluate these criteria, an analytical hierarchy process approach is used to make use of subjective judgements to compensate the incompleteness of objective data. One of the important findings from this study is that port infrastructure is the most crucial criterion in terms of the port attractiveness in West Africa. It is followed by port draught, political stability, market size/cargo volume, and international networks. The research outcomes also indicate that the port of Abidjan is the most attractive container port in West Africa, followed by Dakar when all the identified important criteria are taken into account

How is Business Adapting to Climate Change Impacts Appropriately? Insight from the Commercial Port Sector

Adaptation to climate change impacts is a key research topic in business ethics that poses substantial implications on the good lives of human beings. The commercial port sector is a highly relevant study focus with its pivotal roles in supply chains and international trade. Hence, it is important to investigate whether the port planning system and practice is appropriate in tackling climate change impacts. But beforehand, we must thoroughly understand the attitude and behaviors of port planners and operators on ports’ climate adaptation planning. Through a survey towards 21 ports (seaports and dry ports) in Canada, the paper investigates the attitude and behaviors of port planners and operators on ports’ climate adaptation planning. Towards the end, we propose a new approach so as to enable port stakeholders to carry out climate adaptation planning effectively. The paper offers important insight to researchers to investigate the ways in developing effective climate adaptation plans and practice for ports and other business sectors. © 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrech

Flag choice behaviour in the world merchant fleet

Accepted ManuscriptPublishe

Determination of the number of J/ψ events with J/ψ → inclusive decays

postprin

Two-photon widths of the χ c0,2 states and helicity analysis for χ c2→γγ

Based on a data sample of 106×106 ψ ′ events collected with the BESIII detector, the decays ψ ′→γχ c0,2, χ c0,2→γγ are studied to determine the two-photon widths of the χ c0,2 states. The two-photon decay branching fractions are determined to be B(χ c0→γγ)=(2. 24±0.19±0.12±0.08)×10 -4 and B(χ c2→γγ)=(3.21±0.18±0. 17±0.13)×10 -4. From these, the two-photon widths are determined to be Γ γγ(χ c0)=(2. 33±0.20±0.13±0.17)keV, Γ γγ(χ c2)=(0.63±0.04±0. 04±0.04)keV, and R=Γ γγ(χ c2)/ Γ γγ(χ c0)=0.271±0. 029±0.013±0.027, where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic, and those from the PDG B(ψ ′→γχ c0,2) and Γ(χ c0,2) errors, respectively. The ratio of the two-photon widths for helicity λ=0 and helicity λ=2 components in the decay χ c2→γγ is measured for the first time to be f 0/2=Γγγλ= 0(χ c2)/Γγγλ=2(χ c2)=0. 00±0.02±0.02. © 2012 American Physical Society.published_or_final_versio

Improvements and Applications of AMS Radiocarbon Measurement at Peking University

AMS radiocarbon measurements were started at Peking University in 1992 with a modified HICONEX 834 ion source. Some archaeological samples were measured at a sensitivity of 10(-14) with ca. 1.7% precision for modern samples. We have made many improvements in our first two years of operation: a high-intensity Cs sputtering ion source was installed; the graphite sample preparation technique was investigated; and the system stability has been improved. The blank sample background is currently ca. 0.006 MC and a precision within 1% can be reached for modern samples. Geological, archaeological, environmental and biomedical samples can be measured routinely. We present some typical applications.Geochemistry & GeophysicsSCI(E)

AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Tianma-Qucun Site in Shanxi, China

Tianma-Qucun is the biggest site of Western Zhou Dynasty discovered in Shanxi Province, China. It has been recognized as the early capital of Jin, a vassal state of Western Zhou. The territories were granted to the first Marquis of Jin with the title in the early days of Western Zhou. Bone sample series from the site were radiocarbon-dated by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and calibrated with the Oxford calibration program OxCal 3.5. Bayesian analysis of the calibrated ages shows that the earliest residents of the Western Zhou came to Tianma-Qucun area in 1020-940 BC and the lower boundary of the Western Zhou is 796-754 BC, which corresponds well to the historical record 770 BC.Geochemistry & GeophysicsSCI(E)CPCI-S(ISTP)

Curcumin-Loaded Long-Circulation Liposomes Ameliorate Insulin Resistance in Type 2 Diabetic Mice

Kang-Xin Li,1,* Hui Yuan,1,* Jing Zhang,2,3 Xiao-bin Peng,1 Wei-Fen Zhuang,1 Wen-Tao Huang,1 Hui-Xin Liang,1 Ying Lin,1 Ying-Zhen Huang,1 Shu-Lan Qin1 1Department of Endocrinology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2State Key Laboratory for the Modernization of Classical and Famous Prescriptions of Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330004, People’s Republic of China; 3China Resources Jiangzhong Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330004, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Shu-Lan Qin, Email [email protected]: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterised by insulin resistance, hyperglycaemia, and inflammation, with oxidative stress contributing to its progression. Curcumin (CUR), known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and insulin sensitising effects, has shown potential for the treatment of T2DM but is limited by low solubility and bioavailability. This study investigated long-circulating curcumin-loaded liposomes (CUR-LPs) to improve curcumin stability, solubility, and circulation and assessed their effect on insulin resistance in a murine model of T2DM.Methods: CUR-LPs were prepared using the ethanol injection method and characterized for morphology, particle size, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, drug-loading capacity, and in vitro release. Cell viability was tested on murine L929 cells. In a T2DM murine model, after four weeks of CUR-LP treatment, inflammatory markers TNF-α and IL-6 were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and liver tissues were analyzed for glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) via colorimetry.Results: CUR-LPs were spherical, with an average diameter of (249 ± 2.3) nm and a zeta potential of (− 33.5 ± 0.8) mV. They exhibited an encapsulation efficiency of (99.2 ± 0.5) %and a drug-loading capacity of (1.63 ± 0.02) %. CUR embedding in liposomes significantly maintained CUR release. In L929 cells, over 80% viability was maintained at 12 uM CUR concentration after 24 h. In HFD/STZ-induced T2DM mice, CUR-LPs improved blood glucose and insulin levels more efficiently than free CUR, and CUR-LPs also reduced hepatic inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6), enhanced hepatic GSH and SOD, and attenuated liver injury.Conclusion: CUR-LPs improved glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in HFD/STZ-induced T2DM mice, which may be associated with a decrease in liver inflammation and oxidative stress.Keyworks: T2DM, curcumin, liposomes, insulin resistance, glucose metabolism, oxidative stres