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1 – 7 of 7Guangyuan Xing, Yi Li, Haixu Bao, Guoxing Zhang and Zhenguo Li
Public crisis often generates new knowledge that should be incorporated into a government’s macro-control to ensure the relief supply. From the perspective of public crisis…
Abstract
Purpose
Public crisis often generates new knowledge that should be incorporated into a government’s macro-control to ensure the relief supply. From the perspective of public crisis knowledge management, the Chinese system of Government relief supplies can be considered as a special case of the knowledge system. This paper aims to investigate the supply and production mechanism of relief goods and explore the advantages of the Chinese system when a sudden public crisis occurs.
Design/methodology/approach
Under the Chinese system, the authors construct a relief supply chain model consisting of the Chinese Government, one manufacturer and one supplier, where the supplier has no capital constraints. Given the demand for relief goods, the government purchases from the manufacturer with a guide price. Then, the manufacturer decides on its order quantity and offers a wholesale price to the supplier. The supplier has a random capacity and decides on the level of knowledge acquisition to improve its capacity.
Findings
The authors first obtain the analytical solution for the manufacturer to motivate a high level of knowledge acquisition from the supplier. Specifically, the manufacturer’s optimal order quantity is equal to the demand and the optimal wholesale price has a cost-plus form that reimburses the supplier for its production cost and knowledge-acquisition cost. Next, the authors derive the optimal guide price for the government, which should be set to subsidize the manufacturer with a proportion of the sourcing cost. Finally, the authors compare the Chinese system with the market mechanism where the supplier has capital constraints and confirm that the Chinese system is more beneficial to both the manufacturer and the government.
Originality/value
Quantitative research on the Chinese system of Government relief supplies is difficult to be conducted. This paper provides feasible and practical methods to quantify the benefits of the Chinese system. The results reveal that the Chinese system is an effective mechanism of public crisis knowledge management, which can be helpful to the government’s policy-making in practice.
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Jia Xu, Jingyu Zhang, Jiahan Xu, Guangyuan Miao, Long Feng, Zhanzhu Zhang and Huanxia Zhang
Nanotechnology has been able to bind to a wide range of functional textiles in recently. This paper aims to modify graphene oxide (GO) by grafting dimethyl phosphite and…
Abstract
Purpose
Nanotechnology has been able to bind to a wide range of functional textiles in recently. This paper aims to modify graphene oxide (GO) by grafting dimethyl phosphite and perfluorohexyl iodine. It was applied to cotton to obtain a flame-retardant, water-repellent and ultraviolet-resistant multifunctional fabric.
Design/methodology/approach
The GO-multi was synthesized by grafted dimethyl phosphite and perfluorohexyl chain and applied to cotton by the dipping-drying method. The surface chemistry of functionalized GO was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The thermal stability of the fabric was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The combustion properties were evaluated using a microscale combustion calorimeter, match test and TGA. Hydrophobicity of film and fabric surface was characterized by static contact angle, and the UV resistance of the fabric was represented by the ultroviolet procetion factor (UPF) value.
Findings
Dimethyl phosphite and perfluorohexyl chains were grafted on the surface of GO successively. In the match test, the GO-multi/cotton kept the original outline of the fabric. According to the micro-scale combustion calorimetry (MCC) data, the value of PHRR and THR of GO-multi/cotton was about 45 per cent lower than that of untreated cotton fabric. It was found from the field-emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) pictures that the residue of GO-multi/ cotton burned by the match method was more compact and the graphene lamellar structure remained more complete. The hydrophobic effect of GO-multi/cotton was improved compared to untreated cotton, but not better than the fabric treated by the perfluorohexyl chain-grafted GO. The UPF value of GO-multi/cotton reached 253, which indicated that the anti-ultraviolet performance of GO-multi was greatly improved after it was deposited on the cotton fabric.
Research limitations/implications
Although the hydrophobic effect was much higher than that of untreated cotton fabric, its hydrophobic effect was not satisfied, which may be due to the fact that the content of F element content was low. So, it is still needed to explore the modifying method to increase the functional component amount on the GO nanosheet.
Practical implications
This modifying method can be used in any of multifunctional textile preparation process. The hydrophobic and flame-retardant cotton fabric revealed a sample for use in outdoor sports such as clothes and tents.
Originality/value
To meet the needs of multifunctional cotton fabrics, the modification of GO with dimethyl phosphite and perfluorohexyl iodine has not been reported. The modified fabric has flame-retardant, UV-resistant and hydrophobic properties.
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Abstract
Purpose
The construction project is implemented under uncertainty environment, and the product of construction is very complex. Selecting a project delivery system/approach is a critical task, which determines the project schedule, quality and investment objectives. The purpose of this paper is to propose a decision-making model for the selection of project delivery system which is based on information entropy and unascertained measure model.
Design/methodology/approach
A decision-making model based on information entropy and unascertained set is employed to select project delivery approach. In order to overcome the subjective evaluations from the experts, the theory of “entropy weight” is applied to modify the experts’ subjective weight. The multi-attribute unascertained measure decision making is fitted to deal with the uncertainty information for selection of project delivery system.
Findings
The proposed methodology is more comprehensive compared with the previous work, especially in the uncertainty environment.
Research limitations/implications
There is some further work that should be considered, such as how to deal with the imprecise and subjective information given by the experts; how to determine the weight of the experts’; finding a set of importance factors influencing the selection of a delivery system is a complex task to further research.
Practical implications
The proposed method can help the construction owner to select a most fitted project delivery system of a construction project.
Originality/value
A new approach to select project delivery approach is proposed based on information entropy and unascertained set.
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Linhao Ouyang, Zijian Zhang, Xiaoling Huang and Shi Xie
The purpose of this study is to restore the spatial distribution of overseas remittance businesses in Shantou during the 1940s. It explores various socioeconomic factors that…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to restore the spatial distribution of overseas remittance businesses in Shantou during the 1940s. It explores various socioeconomic factors that influenced the concentration of local remittance business investment in real estate. By reconstructing the spatial distribution of remittance business activities in Shantou, this study hopes to lay a foundation for further analysis of the business strategies of Chaoshan merchants.
Design/methodology/approach
This research draws on information from the published Swatow Guide, archival sources and cadastral maps to identify the location of remittance enterprises and the native place and overseas networks of property owners.
Finding
This study reveals that the spatial distribution of the remittance enterprises was determined by the native place origins of local property owners, and that the inflow of overseas Chinese capital contributed to real estate development in Shantou.
Research limitations/implications
Despite the limited access to Chinese official archives, this paper manages to identify several building blocks and neighbors in Shantou for spatial analysis.
Practical implications
This study is the first attempt to use the geographical information system (GIS) method in Chinese urban history research and hopes to establish a larger historical database of Shantou as a sample for comparison.
Originality/value
This investigation advances the spatial study of urban history and overseas Chinese remittances in the maritime society of South China.
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Calum G. Turvey, Guangwen He, Rong Kong, Jiujie Ma and Patrick Meagher
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the farm and rural credit system in China. To do this the authors use the so‐called “7 Cs” of credit (these include: Credit…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the farm and rural credit system in China. To do this the authors use the so‐called “7 Cs” of credit (these include: Credit, Character, Capacity, Capital, Condition, Capability, and Collateral) and for each “C” provide some aspect of importance related to agricultural finance.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is largely based on a survey of 897 farm households in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, and extensive interviews of agricultural lenders conducted in the summer and fall of 2009. These data are used in simple form and in regression form to explain a variety of credit issues in China.
Findings
A number of key factors related to credit delivery and demand are found. First, using the 7 Cs as a guide proved to be very fruitful for disentangling the many institutional and cultural facets affecting rural credit in China. Under “Character” the authors discuss the cultural characteristics of the Chinese farmer in terms of informal lending and borrowing; under “Capacity” the authors discuss the challenges of delivering credit to farms with limited resources; under “Condition” the authors discuss group guarantees and credit worthy villages, credit rationing and insurance and incomplete markets; under “Capability” the authors discuss income inequality and challenges in economies of scale and size; and for “Collateral” the authors discuss the implications of lack of collateral and limitations on farm economic growth due to the collectivization of land and the potential for agricultural lending from the transferability and mortgagability of land or forestry use rights.
Research limitations/implications
Although the assessment provides a great deal of breadth and depth across many credit‐related issues in China, it is not an exhaustive study. Agricultural and rural credit in China is very complex and in many instance under developed. The survey results from Shaanxi and Gansu tell a story that is consistently told throughout China, but the authors would caution against using the data to characterize farm credit across China as a whole.
Social implications
Large swaths of China have either no or very rudimentary credit services. Even in areas where credit is in supply there are issues of poverty that could be aided with credit access and delivery. In order to improve livelihoods through credit institutions, it is important to understand rural credit in many dimensions. This paper takes a step in that direction.
Originality/value
Despite the importance of rural credit in China, it is largely understudied and not well understood. This paper makes progress in providing such an understanding. Our reasoning for using our unique approach is that by understanding the 7 Cs of credit one comes to understand the elemental characteristics of the credit decision from the lender's point of view but in a way that takes into account conditions at the farm level. The 7 Cs provide an objective approach to credit assessment that balances both the supply of and demand for credit.
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Md. Abdul Fattah, Syed Riad Morshed, Gitisree Biswas, Md. Nazmul Haque, Saifullah Bin Ansar, Md. Mojammel Hoque, Fahmida Yeasmin Sami and Asma Amin Rimi
Khan Jahan Ali (KJA) Bridge was constructed to promote industrial and commercial activity and improve economic and employment activity for local people. This study assessed the…
Abstract
Purpose
Khan Jahan Ali (KJA) Bridge was constructed to promote industrial and commercial activity and improve economic and employment activity for local people. This study assessed the post-socioeconomic and environmental impacts of KJA Bridge on the inhabitants living adjacent to 2 Km from the bridge. As there is a slum adjacent to the bridge, the bridge has impacted much on the improvement of the social economic condition and lifestyle of the slum people.
Design/methodology/approach
The study approached a questionnaire-based field survey data collection through interviewing the people in the surrounding areas. To assess the environmental impacts, land cover change (LCC), carbon emissions and land surface temperature (LST) data were derived from Landsat images and processed in geospatial environment.
Findings
The study suggests that after bridge construction, 84% people have new jobs and about 87% people's income level has been increased. As a tourist spot, the bridge served employment opportunities for the 12% of the inhabitants. About 83% house structures have been improved, where the percentages of pucca and semi-pucca houses increased by 11% and 23%, respectively. The frequency of school-going children and literacy rate also increased. Despite all the socioeconomic development, 7.48% agricultural, 9.75% vegetation, 1.74% waterbodies were declined. Net carbon emissions increased to 13,432.39 tons from 3,323.46 tons; average LST increased from 25.750 to 32.550°C after the bridge construction.
Originality/value
This study focused on descriptive statistical analysis and portrayed the impact of the bridge on social, economic and environment from a micro point of view.
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Onur Al, Recep Boncukcuoğlu and Sinan Güneysu
Cationic resin is widely used in decolouring of textile wastewaters. Tonnes of resin are used in sector, and disposal of resin is being a second waste problem. The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
Cationic resin is widely used in decolouring of textile wastewaters. Tonnes of resin are used in sector, and disposal of resin is being a second waste problem. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the adsorption behaviour of the methylene blue cationic dye from aqueous solution on the cation exchanger Lewatit CNP80 to understand the regenerability of cation exchanger resin from textile wastewaters.
Design/methodology/approach
Cationic resin was used as an alternative low-cost adsorbent for removing methylene blue dye from textile wastewaters. The adsorption study was carried out in the batch mode. Batch adsorption studies were carried out to examine the effect of parameters such as methylene blue concentration, temperature, pH, resin dose, shaking speed and contact time.
Findings
It was observed that dye-removal capacity of resin was reached from 17 mgg−1 to 19.4 mgg−1 at 25 °C temperature, pH 5 in 15 min. At the appropriate range of parameters, it was observed that more than 98% removal efficiency was achieved for methylene blue dye, and also, this study was focussed on whether the resin regenerates. In regeneration studies, our purpose was to recover of non-regenerable exhausted cationic resin by NaOCl. Regeneration of Lewatit CNP80 was performed in five cycles. After regeneration, the authors tried to determine whether the adsorption capacity was affected by regeneration.
Originality/value
In this study, the authors focussed on regeneration studies. The aim is to find easy, low-cost regeneration agent. In conclusion, the authors found that NaOCl is eligible for regeneration studies. The exhausted resin was recovered by NaOCl, and the authors also tested 5th regeneration cycles. Sodium hypochlorite is not a common regeneration agent for adsorption studies. Generally, resin is regenerated by HCl or other regeneration agent products. As a result of that, operational cost was reduced, and the other thing that the authors want to emphasise is textile industry wastewater based high temperature; therefore, this regeneration study can easily work with textile industries.
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