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Article
Publication date: 18 March 2016

Yung‐Hsiang Lu

In Taiwan, owing to the defects of the management system, the percentage of non-performing loans of the Credit Departments of Farmers’ Associations (CDFAs) has increased markedly…

238

Abstract

Purpose

In Taiwan, owing to the defects of the management system, the percentage of non-performing loans of the Credit Departments of Farmers’ Associations (CDFAs) has increased markedly. The government has thus imposed a series of financial reforms on them over the years. It is necessary to examine the influence of public policies on the CDFAs’ performance and check if they are a driving force or obstruction?

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the generalized meta-frontier Malmquist productivity index framework to estimate the productivity dynamics for various types of CDFAs during 2000-2009. Moreover, the proposition of whether financial supervision and structural change played the role of driving force or obstruction on productivity changes of CDFAs is also examined.

Findings

The empirical results show that the productivity of CDFAs decreased year on year despite the policies. The sources resulting in the decline were mainly from technical change and technical efficiency. Meanwhile, the productivity performance of urban Farmers’ Associations was the best, followed by that of rural and hybrid ones. As for the determinants, it was found that small financial reforms and the financial tsunami caused a decrease in the productivity of CDFAs. Furthermore, increasing the number of competitive financial institutions, expanding the scale of the arable lands of peasant households, increasing the proportion of dry lands, decreasing the area of fallow lands and increasing the ratio of peasant households helped increase the productivity of CDFAs.

Originality/value

This study uses the generalized Meta-frontier Malmquist Productivity Index model to observe productivity dynamics in order to analyze changes in the productivity of different types of CDFAs

Details

China Agricultural Economic Review, vol. 8 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-137X

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Article
Publication date: 16 June 2021

Hui-Chun Chang, Yung-Kai Lin, Chia-Hua Liang, Hsin-Wei Huang, Yung-Hao Lin, Yung-Hsiang Lin, Wei-Chun Hu and Chi Fu Chiang

Population aging was a global trend, and the most obvious thing after aging was the change in skin appearance. Therefore, the active ingredients that delay skin aging were…

200

Abstract

Purpose

Population aging was a global trend, and the most obvious thing after aging was the change in skin appearance. Therefore, the active ingredients that delay skin aging were particularly noticed. Past studies had pointed out that Chinese herbal extracts can improve skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles and melanin precipitation. The purpose of this paper is to explore whether combining hydrolyzed collagen with Chinese herbal extracts can improve skin conditions and achieve anti-inflammatory effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Fifty subjects were randomly divided into collagen or placebo groups, and one bottle of collagen or placebo drink was used every day for four weeks, after which skin and inflammatory factors were tested.

Findings

In comparison with the baseline results, the skin parameters were improving after four-week intervention. In addition, the IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a were significantly decreased and tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) was increased after four-week hydrolyzed collagen intervention.

Originality/value

This study showed that hydrolyzed collagen combined with Chinese herbal extracts can improve the condition of the skin, and can also reduce inflammatory associated factors, thereby achieving anti-aging effects.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 51 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

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Abstract

Details

Inside Major East Asian Library Collections in North America, Volume 2
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80455-140-0

Abstract

Details

Inside Major East Asian Library Collections in North America, Volume 1
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80262-234-8

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Article
Publication date: 28 June 2019

Shuo-Fang Liu, Yuan-Chin Hsu and Hung-Cheng Tsai

Belief in Mazu has a crucial cultural status in Taiwan and the coastal area of Fujian, China. The design and manufacture of apparel and accessories to be placed on statues of the…

347

Abstract

Purpose

Belief in Mazu has a crucial cultural status in Taiwan and the coastal area of Fujian, China. The design and manufacture of apparel and accessories to be placed on statues of the deity are also considered a sacred and critical part of the religion’s cultural and artistic inheritance. The crown hat of Mazu is one of the most essential elements of the deity’s apparel. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This study explored the styles of Mazu crown hats using Kansei engineering (KE). People generally use adjectives words to provide aesthetic evaluations. Fuzzy theory is suitable for processing linguistic problems that include vagueness, thereby providing a reasonable method of quantifying such aesthetic evaluations. Therefore, this study first established a fuzzy positioning model (FPM) of word evaluations for analysis. Factor analysis was used to obtain representative image adjectives that represented Mazu’s image. Fuzzy analysis methods were then employed to rank the various image adjectives through evaluation words and to determine the differences between adjectives. Finally, on the basis of image analysis results and expert suggestions, the crown hat was redesigned and its suitability verified.

Findings

Four results were obtained. First, four image adjectives appropriate for representing Mazu’s image were identified, of which “noble and kind” is the most suitable. Second, fuzzy analysis was found to successfully rank style images. Third, the crown hat style and design characteristics suitable for Mazu were acquired. Fourth, the verification demonstrated that the redesign effectively enhanced the perceived image of the crown hat design.

Originality/value

This study employed KE to improve the design of a Mazu crown hat. The proposed FPM can aid the development of cultural and creative design.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 31 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

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