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1 – 10 of 197Many e-commerce firms suffer from high returns because of inaccurate and incomplete product information. Omnichannel and bundling settings can help firms improve operational…
Abstract
Purpose
Many e-commerce firms suffer from high returns because of inaccurate and incomplete product information. Omnichannel and bundling settings can help firms improve operational efficiency and lower returns costs. However, no studies have been conducted on omnichannel supply chains considering bundling strategies. The purpose of this study is to examine the comparison between test-in-store-and-buy-online (TSBO) and online retail, comparing manufacturers’ bundling with retailers’ bundling.
Design/methodology/approach
The supply chain discussed here consists of two competitive manufacturers and one retailer. The retailer sells both manufacturers' products online and displays one manufacturer's product in a showroom who bears the display cost. Stackelberg game theory is used to develop mathematical models that help manufacturers and retailers make the most effective decisions. Here, the manufacturer is the Stackelberg leader, while the retailer is the follower. Using the backward induction approach, the authors determined the optimal values for selling price, wholesale price and service effort level.
Findings
The results show that the total TSBO retailing profit under manufacturer bundling is highest when the second manufacturer integrates with the online retailer. The result additionally establishes that when the bundling cost exceeds a certain threshold (1.5), the total profit is higher for the non-integrated type of supply chain channel as compared to the integrated retailer bundling-based configuration.
Practical implications
The operations and logistics manager will likely undertake the TSBO omnichannel strategy during manufacturers bundling and retailer bundling under the integrated strategy.
Originality/value
The main contribution of the study is to examine the effect of TSBO retailing on supply chains profit and individual decision-making under different bundling strategies. The authors developed different mathematical models in the TSBO retailing and bundling context and extended the earlier work in the area of integration frame.
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Stephen F. Thode and James M. Maskulka
Many firms, wine producers among them, have successfully communicated the quality of their products to the market by emphasizing the geographic origin, or location of production…
Abstract
Many firms, wine producers among them, have successfully communicated the quality of their products to the market by emphasizing the geographic origin, or location of production of critical ingredient(s) found in the product. The purpose of this article is to: introduce the concept of a “place‐based” marketing strategy, i.e. a marketing strategy that identifies a consumer product with a specific geographic area; explain why it is essential to the wine business; and, why it may be superior to other types of marketing strategies for certain types of agricultural products. Additionally, traditional valuation techniques applied to agricultural land typically assume that agricultural goods are undifferentiable commodities. With the growing trend toward the production of “place‐based” agricultural products, the traditional valuation methods omit an important variable – the potential for the geographical source to help develop a product‘s brand equity. This paper also discusses land valuation techniques and applies the concept of products of place to the trend among Californian wine growers to produce wines with vineyard designations.
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Andrew H. Chen and Edward J. Kane
This paper uses the capital asset pricing model to show that, in realistic circumstances, double taxation and differential tax rates on personal and capital-gains income affect…
Abstract
This paper uses the capital asset pricing model to show that, in realistic circumstances, double taxation and differential tax rates on personal and capital-gains income affect corporate stock values and financial policies in non-neutral ways. This non-neutrality holds whenever inflation is uncertain and tax-avoidance activity is neither costless nor riskless. The model also allows us to explore how a series of frequently proposed changes in the interplay of corporate and personal taxes would affect corporate dividend payouts and debt usage. Our analysis clarifies that conscientious efforts to integrate corporate and personal tax rates must make supporting changes in the size and character of capital-gains tax preferences built into the tax code.
The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibilities of introducing a number of visionary and pioneering ideas and upcoming enabling technologies for a conceptual and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the possibilities of introducing a number of visionary and pioneering ideas and upcoming enabling technologies for a conceptual and aerodynamic design of green business jet aircraft to meet various requirements within Green and N + 2 Aircraft framework, and at the same time, to meet the requirements of air transportation demand, economic growth and environmental conservation.
Design/methodology/approach
A synthesis of various aircraft design methodologies has been carried out through iterative optimization to arrive at the conceptually designed aircraft with novel concept with optimum performance within the subsonic flight regimes. Major ideas derived from D8 and other novel concepts are appropriately applied in the work, which starts with fuel efficient motivation, and followed by wing aerodynamics and other critical factors related to the design requirements and objectives.
Findings
Through a meticulous effort following the synthesized design methodologies in the conceptual design phase, a conceptual design of a quad-bubble business jets with a set of specifications that meet the green and N + 2 aircraft technology requirements and exhibit promising performances is proposed and assessed within recent aircraft technology development.
Research limitations/implications
The research work is limited to conceptual design and analytical work which should be followed by further iterative steps incorporating experiments and detailed structural and aerodynamic computations.
Practical implications
The conceptual design proposed can be utilized as a baseline for further practical step in an aircraft development project.
Social implications
The conceptual design proposed could be utilized for business and economic study for future air transportation system.
Originality/value
The work is original, incorporating review of state-of-the-art technology, environmental requirements and a synthesis of a novel product.
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Baocheng Liu, Jinliang Liu, Yanqian Wen, Qinglin Hu, Liang Liu and Shili Zhao
In this paper, to obtain shear and bending performance of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP)-strengthened beams bonded by geopolymers, the effects of impregnated adhesive…
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper, to obtain shear and bending performance of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP)-strengthened beams bonded by geopolymers, the effects of impregnated adhesive types, strengthened scheme, CFRP layer and pre-cracked width are investigated, and the performance of CFRP-strengthened beams is validated by the establishment of Finite Element Models (FEMs).
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, static loading test and finite element analysis of epoxy-CFRP-strengthened (ECS) and geopolymer-CFRP-strengthened (GCS) were carried out, and the bearing capacity and stiffness were compared, the results show that GCS reinforced concrete (RC) beam is feasible and effective.
Findings
The bearing capacity, crack distribution and development, load–deflection curves of GCS RC beams with different pre-crack widths were investigated. The reinforcement effect of geopolymer achieves the same as epoxy, effectively improving the ultimate bearing capacity of the beam, with a maximum increase rate of 28.9%. The failure mode of CFRP is broken in the yield failure stage of GCS RC beam with reasonable strengthening form, and the utilization rate of CFRP is improved. CFRP-strengthened layers, pre-cracked widths significantly affect the mechanical properties, and deformation properties of the strengthened beams.
Originality/value
Compared with ECS RC beams, the bearing capacity and stiffness of GCS RC beams are similar to or even better, indicating that GCS RC beam is feasible and effective. It is a new method for CFRP-strengthened beams, which not only conforms to the concept of national ecological civilization construction, but also provides an economical, environmentally friendly and excellent performance solution for structural reinforcement.
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Han Chen and Yaoyao Fiona Zhao
Binder jetting (BJ) process is an additive manufacturing (AM) process in which powder materials are selectively joined by binder materials. Products can be manufactured…
Abstract
Purpose
Binder jetting (BJ) process is an additive manufacturing (AM) process in which powder materials are selectively joined by binder materials. Products can be manufactured layer-by-layer directly from three-dimensional model data. The quality properties of the products fabricated by the BJ AM process are significantly affected by the process parameters. To improve the product quality, the optimal process parameters need to be identified and controlled. This research works with the 420 stainless steel powder material.
Design/methodology/approach
This study focuses on four key printing parameters and two end-product quality properties. Sixteen groups of orthogonal experiment designed by the Taguchi method are conducted, and then the results are converted to signal-to-noise ratios and analyzed by analysis of variance.
Findings
Five sets of optimal parameters are concluded and verified by four group confirmation tests. Finally, by taking the optimal parameters, the end-product quality properties are significantly improved.
Originality/value
These optimal parameters can be used as a guideline for selecting proper printing parameters in BJ to achieve the desired properties and help to improve the entire BJ process ability.
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Jialiang Xie, Wenxin Wang, Yanling Chen, Feng Li and Xiaohui Liu
The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel interval Multi-Objective Optimization by a Ratio Analysis plus the Full Multiplicative Form(MULTIMOORA) with combination weights to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a novel interval Multi-Objective Optimization by a Ratio Analysis plus the Full Multiplicative Form(MULTIMOORA) with combination weights to evaluate the employment quality of college graduates, where the criteria are expressed by interval numbers and the weights of criteria are completely unknown.
Design/methodology/approach
Firstly, considering the subjective uncertainty of the weights of the criteria, the interval best worst method (I-BWM) was present to determine the subjective weights of the criteria. Secondly, by the improved interval number distance measure, an improved interval deviation maximization method (I-MDM) was introduced to detemine the objective weights. In the following, based on the I-BWM and the improved I-MDM, a combination weighting method that takes into account the subjective and objective weights is proposed. Finally, a multi-criteria decision-making method based on the interval MULTIMOORA with combination weights is present to evaluate the employment quality of college graduates, and then a comparative analysis with some of the existing distance measures of interval numberswas conducted to illustrate the flexibility.
Findings
According to the data of the Report on Employment Quality of Chinese College Graduats released by Mycos Research Institute in 2016–2020 and 2021–2022, the proposed method was used to evaluate the employment quality of college graduates during the period before and after the COVID-19 epidemic. The results verify that the method is more reasonable because the subjective and objective weights of the criteria can be fully considered. Finally, the feasibility and practicability of the proposed method are further verified by varying parameters.
Originality/value
Present an evaluation method on the employment quality of college graduates based on the Interval MULTIMOORA with combination weights considering the subjective and objective weights. And the proposed method is proved that it can provide a more reasonable evaluation results. At the same time, it is verified that the feasibility and the practicability of the proposed method are affected by varying parameters in the paper.
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City investment companies (CICs) in China, set up and funded by the government, are playing an important role in the construction of urban infrastructure in China. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
City investment companies (CICs) in China, set up and funded by the government, are playing an important role in the construction of urban infrastructure in China. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the structural risk of diversified project financing of CICs and explore its key influencing factors.
Design/methodology/approach
The best worst method (BWM) is used in this study to empirically analyze and quantitatively study the optimization of the structural risk of diversified financing of CICs.
Findings
In this study, the structural risk of diversified financing of CICs has been clearly defined, and its key evaluation indexes, including the structure of projects, the structure of financing, asset-liability ratio, earnings before interest and tax margin, the rate of return on capital and the ratio of long-term debt and short-term debt, have been determined. What is more, a comprehensive evaluation system of the structural risk of diversified financing has been established.
Originality/value
This study has established a comprehensive evaluation system of the structural risk of diversified financing. Based on the validated systematic evaluation, comparison and ranking of the structural risk of diversified financing of CICs by using the BWM, the ranking results can help investors to select the CICs with small structural risk of diversified financing to invest.
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Bradley (BJ) Warren and Eleanor Odenheimer Brin
The purpose of this paper is to assess college students’ pre- and post- health-related, fitness levels, as determined by the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) five…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess college students’ pre- and post- health-related, fitness levels, as determined by the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) five components of fitness, in a one-credit, graded college course and to objectively measure any differences between those pre- and post- health-related fitness levels.
Design/methodology/approach
In a field setting, the investigators conducted health-related, fitness assessments using the ACSM validated protocols. In addition, descriptive statistics were collected including demographic information, such as, age and sex.
Findings
Paired-sample t tests were used to calculate the pre- and post-test scores for six fitness- and health-related categories across four semesters. There were statistically significant (p<0.001) improvements in six different areas in each of the four semesters with the exception of the resting heart rate and VO2 Max measurements in the fall semester of 2014.
Originality/value
This study builds upon the current body of work tracking trends in physical activity, college courses. The results answer health promotion scientists’ call for more research on the implementation and evaluation of programmatic interventions (Domitrovich and Greendberg, 2000; Durlack, 1998; Durlak and DuPre, 2008) “in real-world settings in order to understand if and how an intervention works” (Søvik et al., 2016, p. 238). This results in addressing a research gap in assessing the effectiveness of physical activity courses in higher education (Keating et al., 2005).
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Focuses on the applications of fuzzy set theory as a tool for the construction of multi‐criteria decision functions from specifications expressed in natural language. Starting…
Abstract
Focuses on the applications of fuzzy set theory as a tool for the construction of multi‐criteria decision functions from specifications expressed in natural language. Starting with the ability to represent individual criteria satisfactions in terms of membership of fuzzy subsets, shows how different types of linguistic specifications are implemented. Consideration is given to the representation of trade‐offs between criteria, quantifier‐guided aggregations, conditioned criteria and possibilistically qualified criteria.
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