Ya Ding, Michael J. Hayes and Melissa Widhalm
The purpose of this paper is to provide useful information for members of the weather community and policy makers, to help them understand the full scope of drought economic…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide useful information for members of the weather community and policy makers, to help them understand the full scope of drought economic impacts and assessment methodologies, and to help determine the feasibility of future drought mitigation programs.
Design/methodology/approach
To accomplish the objective, the paper reviews the literature of drought economic impact studies in both agricultural and non‐agricultural sectors, summarizes the methods and data employed, compares the various results, and investigates the problems and limitations of previous studies.
Findings
The paper concludes with a discussion of the challenges and directions of future improvement on drought economic impact assessment.
Originality/value
This paper gives a comprehensive review of drought economic impacts and the associated quantitative assessment methodologies, which provides valuable information to rational decisions supporting drought mitigation policies and programs.
Details
Keywords
Ying Xiong, Zhong Chen Lv and Ya Ding
The purpose of this paper is to understand farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming in China and quantify the degree to which farmers’ moral hazard is prevented by incentive or…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming in China and quantify the degree to which farmers’ moral hazard is prevented by incentive or constraint means or their combinations.
Design/methodology/approach
The logit model is used to analyze farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming and the effects of determinants by applying survey data of 560 vegetable and fruit farmers in China.
Findings
The result reveals that farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming is prevented by a combination of incentives and constraints. Among incentive factors, profits from safe agro-products are verified to affect farmers’ moral hazard negatively, whereas the effect of safe certification subsidy is not clear. In constraint factors, production environmental supervision (PESUPV) and agricultural input supervision (AISUPV) have significant effects in reducing farmers’ moral hazard, whereas the effects of production process supervision and market access supervision are not clear. Further, the incentives from higher profits of safe agro-products play a greater role in the prevention of farmers’ moral hazard than the constraints from PESUPV and AISUPV. The results indicate that farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming is more likely to be prevented by incentives compared with constraints.
Research limitations/implications
The study has some limitations that should be taken into account in future research. First, food safety incidents happen frequently in China, which caused widespread social concern. These affairs may spark a rethink for farmers about how to produce safe agro-products. From this prospective, farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming may be prevented by their social responsibility. However, the survey did not show it. This may be related to the beginning stage of safe farming in China. With the development of safe farming, the effect of social responsibility on the prevention of farmers’ moral hazard would constitute an interesting extension of the work. Second, the study focusses on farmers’ production of safe vegetables and fruits in three areas of China. Covering more activities and areas is likely to commit fruitful results.
Originality/value
Based on the theoretical analysis of farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming through using a principal-agent model, the paper proposes hypotheses of incentives and constraints affecting farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming and verifies them through logit model with the survey data from 15 counties (or cities) in Jiangsu, Jiangxi and Sichuan Provinces of China. The result provides some evidences that farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming is simultaneously affected by a combination of incentives and constraints and may be taken as proofs for China's policy-making and focusses implementation in preventing farmers’ moral hazard in safe farming.
Details
Keywords
Ugur Yavas and Mahmoud M. Yasin
Looks at the findings of a survey of 115 Saudi Arabian managers who had completed their undergraduate education in the United States in relation to the informational and computing…
Abstract
Looks at the findings of a survey of 115 Saudi Arabian managers who had completed their undergraduate education in the United States in relation to the informational and computing resources and their applications in Saudi organisations. Considers the role of computers in business and highlights the lack of specialists able to train within the country. Concludes that whilst the skills to use information technology exist, they are limited by cultural resistance to change, traditional viewpoints, authoritarian leadership and bureaucracy. Advocates government encouragement and ties with developed nations to help change such attitudes.
Details
Keywords
Xiao Wang, Xuan Liang, Bo Wang, Chang-qing Guo, Shan-gui Zhang, Kai Yang, Shi-ya Shao, Yan Sun, Zheng Guo, Xue-yan Yu, Donghai Zhang, Tai-jiang Gui, Wei Lu, Ming-liang Sun and Rui Ding
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of graphene, basalt flakes and their synergy on the corrosion resistance of zinc-rich coatings. As the important heavy-duty…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of graphene, basalt flakes and their synergy on the corrosion resistance of zinc-rich coatings. As the important heavy-duty anticorrosion coatings, zinc-rich coatings provided cathodic protection for the substrate. However, to ensure cathodic protection, a large number of zinc powder made the penetration resistance known as the weakness of zinc-rich coatings. Therefore, graphene and basalt flakes were introduced into zinc-rich coatings to coordinate its cathodic protection and shielding performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Three kinds of coatings were prepared; they were graphene modified zinc-rich coatings, basalt flakes modified zinc-rich coatings and graphene-basalt flakes modified zinc-rich coatings. The anticorrosion behavior of painted steel was studied by using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique in chloride solutions. The equivalent circuit methods were used for EIS analysis to obtain the electrode process structure of the coated steel system. Simultaneously, the corrosion resistance of the three coatings was evaluated by water resistance test, salt water resistance test and salt spray test.
Findings
The study found that the addition of a small amount of graphene and basalt flakes significantly improved the anticorrosion performance of coatings by enhancing their shielding ability against corrosive media and increasing the resistance of the electrochemical reaction. The modified coatings exhibited higher water resistance, salt water resistance and salt spray resistance. The graphene-basalt flakes modified zinc-rich coatings demonstrated the best anticorrosion effect. The presence of basalt scales and graphene oxide in the coatings significantly reduced the water content and slowed down the water penetration rate in the coatings, thus prolonging the coating life and improving anticorrosion effects. The modification of zinc-rich coatings with graphene and basalt flakes improved the utilization rate of zinc powder and the shielding property of coatings against corrosive media, thus strengthening the protective effect on steel structures and prolonging the service life of anticorrosion coatings.
Originality/value
The significance of developing graphene-basalt flakes modified zinc-rich coatings lies in their potential to offer superior performance in corrosive environments, leading to prolonged service life of metallic structures, reduced maintenance costs and a safer working environment. Furthermore, such coatings can be used in various industrial applications, including bridges, pipelines and offshore structures, among others.
Details
Keywords
Mohitul Ameen Ahmed Mustafi, Ya-Juan Dong and Md Sajjad Hosain
Effective green supply chain management (GSCM) has become a potentially valuable tool of securing competitive advantage and improving operational performance (OP) as competition…
Abstract
Purpose
Effective green supply chain management (GSCM) has become a potentially valuable tool of securing competitive advantage and improving operational performance (OP) as competition is no longer exists between the firms but within green supply chains. The aim of this empirical study is to determine the link between GSCM practices (GSCMPs) and OP within the manufacturing sector of Bangladesh mediated by perceived competitive advantage (PCA). GSCMPs were divided into three further dimensions: green eco-design (GED), green supply chain partnering (GSCP) and internal green orientation (IGO).
Design/methodology/approach
The study selected 376 individuals as respondents who work as the top-level managers and the members of the Board of Directors at different Bangladeshi manufacturing firms through purposive sampling. A partial least square-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to identify the relationships between the three dimensions of, GSCMPs, and the single dependent variable, OP.
Findings
The study identified that two factors, GED and GSCP, have significant positive relationships with OP. On the other hand, another factor, IGO has a statistically insignificant relationship with OP. Regarding the mediating effects, the study identified that PCA can fully mediate the insignificant relationship between IGO and OP, and partially mediate the significant relationship between GSCP and OP. On the contrary, PCA has no mediating effect on the relationship between GED and OP.
Originality/value
This empirical study is an effort that examined the role of GSCMPs on the OP in the Bangladeshi manufacturing context. It is believed that this empirical investigation will prompt future theoretical studies and empirical experiments to enrich academia. Further, the findings of this study can serve as foundational guidance for policymakers and/or managers studying the formulation and implementation of GSCMP-related policies and strategies.
Details
Keywords
Ya-Han Hu, Wen-Ming Shiau, Sheng-Pao Shih and Cho-Ju Chen
The purpose of this paper is to combine basic movie information factors, external factors and review factors, to predict box-office performance and identify the most crucial…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to combine basic movie information factors, external factors and review factors, to predict box-office performance and identify the most crucial factor of influence for box-office performance.
Design/methodology/approach
Five movie genres and first-week movie reviews found on IMDb were collected. The movie reviews were quantified using sentiment analysis tools SentiStrength and Stanford CoreNLP, in which quantified data were combined with basic movie information and external environment factors to predict movie box-office performance. A movie box-office performance prediction model was then developed using data mining (DM) technologies with M5 model trees (M5P), linear regression (LR) and support vector regression (SVR), after which movie box-office performance predictions were made.
Findings
The results of this paper showed that the inclusion of movie reviews generated more accurate prediction results. Concerning movie review-related factors, the one that exhibited the greatest effect on box-office performance was the number of movie reviews made, whereas movie review content only displayed an effect on box-office performance for specific movie genres.
Research limitations/implications
Because this paper collected movie data from the IMDb, the data were limited and primarily consisted of movies released in the USA; data pertaining to less popular movies or those released outside of the USA were, thus, insufficient.
Practical implications
This paper helps to verify whether the consideration of the features extracted from movie reviews can improve the performance of movie box-office.
Originality/value
Through various DM technologies, this paper shows that movie reviews enhanced the accuracy of box-office performance predictions and the content of movie reviews has an effect on box-office performance.
Details
Keywords
E‐commerce plays an important role in today’s business environment, and that role will continue to grow each year. eMarketer predicts that by “2004, world wide e‐commerce revenues…
Abstract
E‐commerce plays an important role in today’s business environment, and that role will continue to grow each year. eMarketer predicts that by “2004, world wide e‐commerce revenues are expected to total USD 2.7 trillion”. E‐commerce continues to grow in the United States. “The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that the estimate of U.S. retail e‐commerce sales for the first quarter of 2004, not adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading‐day differences, was $15.5 billion, an increase of 28.1 per cent (±2.9 per cent) from the first quarter of 2003.” “According to a new study by RoperASW and AOL Time Warner, Europeans spent on average EUR430 on line between August and October 2002.” This compares with an average spend of EUR543 per head in the US over the same period.
Details
Keywords
Yaw A. Debrah and Ian G. Smith
Presents over sixty abstracts summarising the 1999 Employment Research Unit annual conference held at the University of Cardiff. Explores the multiple impacts of globalization on…
Abstract
Presents over sixty abstracts summarising the 1999 Employment Research Unit annual conference held at the University of Cardiff. Explores the multiple impacts of globalization on work and employment in contemporary organizations. Covers the human resource management implications of organizational responses to globalization. Examines the theoretical, methodological, empirical and comparative issues pertaining to competitiveness and the management of human resources, the impact of organisational strategies and international production on the workplace, the organization of labour markets, human resource development, cultural change in organisations, trade union responses, and trans‐national corporations. Cites many case studies showing how globalization has brought a lot of opportunities together with much change both to the employee and the employer. Considers the threats to existing cultures, structures and systems.
Details
Keywords
He Ya‐Ling, Ding Wen‐Jing and Tao Wen‐Quan
The effect of the tube wall heat conduction on the natural convection in a tilted long cylindrical envelope with constant, but different temperature of the two ends and an…
Abstract
The effect of the tube wall heat conduction on the natural convection in a tilted long cylindrical envelope with constant, but different temperature of the two ends and an adiabatic outer surface was numerically investigated. The envelope is supposed to be a simplified model for the pulse tube in a pulse tube refrigerator when the pulse tube is positioned at different orientations. It is found that the cylindrical envelope lateral wall heat conduction can enhance the heat transfer from the hot end to the cold end, not only because of the increase in pure heat conduction in the wall, but more importantly, also the intensification of the natural convection within the enclosure. This enhancement is resulted from the big temperature difference between the tube wall and the adjacent fluid near the hot and cold ends. Adoption of low thermal conductivity tube can effectively reduce such additional heat transfers from hot to cold end, thus reducing the loss of cooling capacity for the pulse tube refrigerator.