Junqi Ding, Bo Li and Lingxian Zhang
The quantitative understanding of the safe input management practices of vegetable producers is essential for both food safety and environmental protection. The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
The quantitative understanding of the safe input management practices of vegetable producers is essential for both food safety and environmental protection. The purpose of this study is to investigate the current status of safe production in vegetable enterprises and examine the key risk factors affecting the safe production of vegetables from the perspective of agricultural inputs.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the theory of risk analysis, a framework of safe vegetable production risk analysis is constructed from the perspective of production input behaviour. Based on 202 valid questionnaires in Beijing, China, this paper identifies direct risks in input management through statistical descriptive analysis; determines weights through an expert elicitation process and calculates weighted safety values accordingly; and finally uses a categorical regression model to explore the indirect risks affecting corporate safety production.
Findings
The results show that direct risk factors include seed treatment risk, pesticide and fertilizer use criteria risk, pesticide and fertilizer operation risk, and pesticide application object risk. The production safety value of Beijing's enterprises is found to be high in the north and south regions, and low in the central region. Finally, some indirect risk factors, namely the cognition of agricultural product safety laws, the cognition of pesticide safety intervals, the cognition of prohibited pesticides and the possession of brands, are found to have positive and significant impacts on the safe production behaviour of enterprises.
Originality/value
These findings provide entry points for interventions aimed at reducing dependence on pesticides and fertilizers and promoting input management for safe vegetable production in enterprises, thus avoiding vegetable safety incidents due to improper practices in the production chain.
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Chenchi Zhang, Jieqiong Wang, Biao Zhang, Junqi Ding, Zetian Fu and Lingxian Zhang
The selection of marketing channels by vegetable producers directly affects the income of producers and is important for the maintenance of a stable supply of vegetables and food…
Abstract
Purpose
The selection of marketing channels by vegetable producers directly affects the income of producers and is important for the maintenance of a stable supply of vegetables and food control. The purpose of this paper is threefold: to investigate the cooperative selection of vegetable marketing channels; to identify the factors that influence the selection of marketing channels by professional vegetable cooperatives by comparing emerging and traditional circulation modes; and to solve the problems related to vegetable circulation channels in Beijing.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 187 valid questionnaires were collected from seven main vegetable production districts in Beijing urban areas from September to December 2017, with a response rate of 89 percent. Binary logistic regression was used for analysis in this study.
Findings
Results revealed that the cooperatives mainly selected large wholesalers, wholesale markets, supermarkets and electronic commerce as their marketing channels for their vegetables. Estimation results showed that among the 18 influencing factors in the four categories, the educational level of the person in charge and some other factors significantly influence the selection of these four distribution channels by the cooperatives.
Research limitations/implications
Due to the lack of time and energy, this paper does not analyze the factors influencing a cooperative’s choice of different e-commerce platforms. If this problem can be solved, it will definitely promote the development of e-commerce in rural areas.
Originality/value
The results obtained in the present study and their implications could help policy makers establish a science-based and reasonable policy to encourage vegetable producers to participate in the new circulation modes of vegetables in Beijing and ensure their income in the vegetable supply chain. This study suggests methods to improve the vegetable sector in other cities facing similar issues.
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Bo Li, Zhengqing Yin, Junqi Ding, Suyao Xu, Biao Zhang, Yunfei Ma and Lingxian Zhang
Vegetable e-commerce is of great significance for improving the efficiency of vegetable circulation, and for solving the problems of high circulation cost and poor connection…
Abstract
Purpose
Vegetable e-commerce is of great significance for improving the efficiency of vegetable circulation, and for solving the problems of high circulation cost and poor connection between production and marketing. The purpose of this study is to explore the key factors that influence consumers’ vegetable e-commerce adoption willingness, behavior, and willingness-behavior consistency.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 427 valid questionnaires were collected from 16 districts of Beijing in 2019 via the internet, yielding a response rate of 94.9%. Bivariate probit and binary logistic regression were used for analysis.
Findings
The results show that 62.84% of vegetable e-commerce consumers have the same willingness and behavior, and 37.16% of consumers have a deviation of willingness and behavior; the key factors influencing the willingness, behavior, and willingness-behavior consistency of vegetable e-commerce consumers are different. The three variables of usefulness perception, logistics service quality perception, and nearest vegetable market distance have significant effects on and are positively correlated with the adoption willingness, behavior, and willingness-behavior consistency of vegetable e-commerce consumers.
Research limitations/implications
Consumers in Beijing, a first-tier city, were taken as the research object in this study. Second-tier and even third-tier cities can be investigated as comparative studies in a follow-up study. In addition, the key factors that affect the differences in the willingness and behavior of vegetable e-commerce adoption can be studied.
Originality/value
The results obtained in the present study and their implications could aid in vegetable e-commerce optimization, and contribute to the understanding of how to improve consumers’ awareness and participation in vegetable e-commerce. The suggestions of this study could also be used for the improvement of vegetable e-commerce in other cities facing similar issues.
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Fan Zhang, Junqi Shen, Shengsun Hu, Hui Geng and Shunxing Wang
A 3D finite element (FE) model based on the double ellipsoidal heat source was developed to investigate the evolution of temperature and stress fields during the multilayer and…
Abstract
Purpose
A 3D finite element (FE) model based on the double ellipsoidal heat source was developed to investigate the evolution of temperature and stress fields during the multilayer and multi-pass wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) process. This paper aims to investigate the evolution of temperature and stress fields during the multilayer and multi-pass wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) process by developing a 3D finite element (FE) model based on the double ellipsoidal heat source.
Design/methodology/approach
Experimental thermal cycle curves and residual stresses were obtained by thermocouples and X-ray diffraction, respectively. The validity of the model was verified by the corresponding experimental results.
Findings
The deposition process of the upper pass led to the partial remelting of the lower deposited pass. The thermal process of the current-deposited pass alleviated the stress concentration in the previous-formed passes. A more uniform temperature distribution could be obtained by using the reciprocating deposition path. Compared to the reciprocating deposition path, the peak values of the transverse and longitudinal tensile residual stresses of the deposited sample under the unidirectional deposition path were reduced by 15 MPa and increased by 13 MPa, respectively. The heat conduction in the deposited passes could be improved by extending the inter-pass cooling time appropriately. With an increase in the inter-pass cooling time, the longitudinal residual stress in the middle region of sample along longitudinal and transverse directions showed increase and decrease–increase trends, respectively, while the transverse residual stress exhibited decrease trend.
Originality/value
This study enhances the understanding of temperature and stress fields evolution during the multilayer and multi-pass cold metal transfer-WAAM processes of magnesium alloy and provides the reference for parameter optimization.
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Liangjun Zhou, Jerred Junqi Wang, Xiaoying Chen, Beth Cianfrone and Nathan David Pifer
Since 2014, “sport for all” has been promoted as a new national strategy in China, which injects powerful dynamism and vitality for its development in numerous aspects. However…
Abstract
Purpose
Since 2014, “sport for all” has been promoted as a new national strategy in China, which injects powerful dynamism and vitality for its development in numerous aspects. However, there has been very little feedback on sport service provision in community, and the satisfaction level of community participants is largely unmeasured. To promote physical and mental health of residents and form a stronger foundation of sport culture, more attention should be directed to community sports. The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of community-sport service provisions on participants’ satisfaction and, in turn, on their sport participation behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
Community-sport program participants in China (n=576) responded to a survey measuring the proposed concepts.
Findings
Structural equation modeling analyses revealed that community-sport services in the areas of sport facility, grassroots sport organizations and sport activity programs had strong influences on participant satisfaction and, in turn, their desire for participation, which highlighted the demand for high-quality sport service provision by community.
Originality/value
The study contributed to the literature by proposing two clear dimensions (core sport service and peripheral sport service) for the measurement of public sport service provision in community sports. A second theoretical contribution of the study relates to the clarification of the relationship between the two dimensions of community-sport service provision (both core and peripheral services) and community participants’ satisfaction levels.
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Xuwei Pan, Jihu Li, Jianhong Luo and Wenbang Zhan
It is widely known that fast-fashion retailers are struggling to keep up with consumer attention for quick responses within the fashion industry. With the advance of Internet and…
Abstract
Purpose
It is widely known that fast-fashion retailers are struggling to keep up with consumer attention for quick responses within the fashion industry. With the advance of Internet and e-commerce, consumers prefer to purchase online. Online platform information has become an essential source for exploring consumer attention. However, there is often a mismatch between the information provided by retailers and the feedback received from consumers, leading to an imbalance between the supply side and demand side of online information. The purpose of this study is therefore to provide a unified approach to discover consumer attention from the design topic aspect by revealing the information imbalance between supply side and demand side.
Design/methodology/approach
To address the issue of online information imbalance and discover consumer attention, this study proposed an approach that focuses on the design topic perspective. The design topic is a collection of design elements that represent a clothing-design feature more comprehensively and accurately compared to a single design element. The proposed approach begins with generating design topics through topic modeling based on online information provided by retailers on e-commerce platforms. Two indicators, influence degree and attention degree, are then used to quantify the intensity of supply information and consumer attention related to design topics. Finally, design topic strategy diagrams are constructed to reveal information imbalance and discover consumer attention.
Findings
The experimental case demonstrates the existence of information imbalance, indicating that the intensity of supply information and consumer attention from the perspective of design topics is not uniform, although both follow the Pareto principle. The results of consumer attention distribution with heavy power-law tails are consistent with current research findings. This further demonstrates that the proposed approach is capable of discovering consumer attention in the design topic strategy diagrams.
Practical implications
The issue of information imbalance between retailers and consumers poses a challenge in keeping up with customer attention. The proposed approach offers a practical solution by visually identifying the symptoms of information imbalance and discovering consumer attention through design topic strategy diagrams. This approach provides fast-fashion retailers with a valuable reference to seize market opportunities, improve product design and adjust marketing or management strategies.
Originality/value
This study proposes a novel approach to disclose the issue of information imbalance between supply side and demand side and therefore to discover consumer attention from the perspective of design topics. In addition, guidelines for applying the proposed approach for fast-fashion marketing and management are presented.
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– Heat transfer inside wavy fins is analyzed in this work. The paper aim to discuss this issue.
Abstract
Purpose
Heat transfer inside wavy fins is analyzed in this work. The paper aim to discuss this issue.
Design/methodology/approach
Six different types of wavy fins are considered. The fin equation for each fin type is solved using a high accurate finite difference method. Excellent agreement is obtained between the numerical solution under zero wave amplitude and the exact solution of the plain fin.
Findings
The following wavy fin types and conditions are found to produce larger heat transfer rate and its volumetric value than those for the plain fin and other wavy fins: short fins with parallel wavy profiles and large surface-wave frequency; long fins with symmetric wavy surface around the length axis, positive cross-sectional area gradient at the base, and large surface-wave frequency; and long fins with symmetric wavy profiles around the length axis, positive cross-sectional area gradient at the base, and small surface-wave frequency.
Research limitations/implications
In addition, both fins with symmetric wavy surface around the width axis and parallel wavy surfaces along the width axis have same performance indicators. Also, these wavy fins possess higher fin efficiency than either that of the plain fin or those of the other types of wavy fins.
Originality/value
Finally, heat transfer enhancements in the studied wavy fins are increased by increases in the excess of the surface area, cross-sectional area gradient at the base, arc length and arc width relative to those of the plain fin.