This brief presents new architecture and strategies for distribution of social video content. A primary framework for socially-aware video delivery and a thorough overview of the possible approaches is provided. The book identifies the unique characteristics of socially-aware video access and social content propagation, revealing the design and integration of individual modules that are aimed at enhancing user experience in the social network context. The change in video content generation, propagation, and consumption for online social networks, has significantly challenged the traditional video delivery paradigm. Given the massive amount of user-generated content shared in online social networks, users are now engaged as active participants in the social ecosystem rather than as passive receivers of media content. This revolution is being driven further by the deep penetration of 3G/4G wireless networks and smart mobile devices that are seamlessly integrated with online social networking and media-sharing services. Despite increasingly abundant bandwidth and computational resources, the ever-increasing volume of data created by user-generated video content--along with the boundless coverage of socialized sharing--presents unprecedented challenges.

The Asian financial crisis precipitated significant changes in real exchange rates in the region that substantially altered the volume and pattern of international trade. It was predicted that the crisis countries would increase their exports and, especially, reduce their imports. Japan, China, and the other non-crisis countries will experience more complex changes. The trade balances of the United States and Western Europe would deteriorate by about $40-50 billion as a result of the currency movements in Asia. Written at the height of the crisis, this study quantifies the impact of the currency changes on the individual countries in Asia, on the United States, on Europe and on other regions on a sector-by-sector basis. It analyzes the additional impact that might occur if China, a relative bystander in the crisis, were to devalue its currency as well. It then examines potential trade policy responses to these developments including the risk of an upsurge in protectionist pressure in the United States.

China and Taiwan have built one of the most intertwined and important economic relationships in the world, and yet that relationship is not mutually open, compliant with World Trade Organization norms, or even fully institutionalized. What's more, despite massive trade and investment flows, the boundary between the two is a serious flashpoint for potential conflict. But leaders in Beijing and Taipei have committed to normalize and deepen their economic intercourse and open a new post-Cold War era in their relationship. While the political significance of this gambit has captured attention worldwide, the scope of opening intended and the bilateral, regional, and global effects likely to ensue are as yet poorly understood. This volume attempts to remedy that uncertainty with careful modeling combined with a qualitative assessment of the implications of the cross-strait economic opening now agreed in an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA). The study explores the implications for Taiwan and China, for their neighbors, and for the United States if this undertaking is fully implemented by 2020.

Zeit ist in modernen Gesellschaften ein knappes Gut. Als Zeit f r Schul- und Ausbildung kann sie als Langfrist-Faktor ber wirtschaftlichen Erfolg bestimmen. Wie investieren Jugendliche ihre individuelle Zeit? Gibt es kulturelle, soziale oder bildungspolitische Unterschiede zwischen der alten" Industrienation Deutschland und dem aufstrebenden Boom-Staat China? Um die Zeitnutzung von Jugendlichen aus der Sicht der verschiedenen Kulturen zu vergleichen, hat Zhi Wang 2004 und 2005 in China und Deutschland die Daten von 374 Sch lern erhoben. Sie befragte auch die Lehrkr fte zu ihrer Unterrichtsgestaltung. Die Ergebnisse liefern Hinweise auf die relative Einflussst rke der verschiedenen Kulturen und lassen einen Zusammenhang zwischen Schulleistungen und Zeitnutzung erkennen. Jugendliche in China wenden demnach im Durchschnitt wesentlich mehr Zeit sowohl in der Schule (Unterricht und brige Aktivit ten) als auch f r die Schule (Hausaufgaben und Nachhilfestunden) auf als ihre deutschen Altersgenossen. Liegt hierin das Geheimnis f r Chinas rapide wirtschaftliche Entwicklung?