Illegal mid-block pedestrian crossings in China: gap acceptance,conflict and crossing path analysis

China has experienced unprecedented economic growth and changes in urban form in the past decades. Increased urbanisation and motorisation puts pedestrians and automobiles at greater conflict. Because of China's long urban blocks (superblocks), many conflicts occur mid-block at informal or illegal crossings. This study focuses on factors influencing mid-block crossing and gap acceptance. We remotely observed illegal mid-block crossing of a six-lane urban arterial in Kunming, China, tracking 522 accepted gaps and 152 rejected gaps in a two-stage crossing (roadside to median and median to roadside). We fit a probit discrete outcome model to the data to estimate environmental determinants of gap acceptance (and rejection) behaviour, including gap size, vehicle speed, time waiting and gap lane position. We also estimate a conflict model, focusing on parameters that influence the probability of vehicle speed changes or lane deviations.     

Cost analysis of road traffic crashes in China

Abstract

Fatalities and injuries resulting from road traffic crashes is always a serious problem. The overall economic losses caused by road traffic crashes are beyond imagination. Including the economic cost of property damage, productivity loss, medical cost, travel delay time cost, legal cost and insurance cost, the total economic cost of traffic crashes in China in 2017 is calculated as 490.1 billion yuan (72.6 billion USD 2017), which is equivalent to 0.60% of the GDP. The cost of productivity loss accounts for the highest proportion of total economic cost, which is 72%. The second is the travel delay cost, accounting for 12% insurance cost, property damage cost and medical cost are followed. The more serious the injury, the higher the unit economic cost. The unit cost of a crash that caused only property damage is 11,274 yuan. The unit cost of a minor injured crash is 20,223 yuan. The highest unit economic cost is the unit cost of a fatal crash, which is 3,181,394 yuan. This study provides important insights into the cost-benefit analysis of China's road safety policies.     

Examining the role of CSR skepticism using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis

This study shows the value of a set-theoretic comparative technique—namely, fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis—as a means to supplement other traditional techniques, such as regression analysis and structural equation modeling. The study illustrates the technique by using the empirical dataset in Skarmeas and Leonidou's (2013) study on consumer skepticism about corporate social responsibility (CSR). The investigation provides more nuanced coverage of the role of CSR skepticism than the conventional “net effect” symmetrical explanation and illustrates that CSR skepticism and its impact are contingent on combinations of complex antecedent conditions and several alternative paths. Specifically, the study expands on Skarmeas and Leonidou's findings by showing that the degree of CSR skepticism depends on the combination of “ingredients” in the CSR-induced consumer attribution causal “recipes.” The study also shows that the deleterious influence of CSR skepticism on consumer-related outcomes, such as retailer equity, resilience to negative information about the retailer, and word of mouth, is conditional and depends on the combination of antecedent conditions that occur in the causal statements.     

印度小额信贷的发展及启示

印度小额信贷的发展主要是以自助团体为基础的联系银行计划(LBP)所推动。小额信贷联系银行计划(LBP)的运作关键在于组建自助团体,建立自助团体与银行的联系。经过十多年的发展,印度拥有了发展中国家最大和成长最快的小额信贷项目。中国与印度都是发展中的人口大国,剖析印度小额信贷的经验可以为我国小额信贷的发展提供重要启示。     

An additional approach for interpretation of multiple discriminant analysis in business research

Several useful approaches for interpreting multiple discriminant analysis (MDA), including graph plots, have recently been illustrated for business researchers. This article proposes and illustrates an extension of the traditional plotting procedures in MDA that allows the depiction of both group overlaps and differences among groups. We also discuss several other interpretational approaches in MDA.     

An analysis of highway work zone safety practices in Pakistan

Highway Work Zones (HWZs) present a major hazard for road users, construction workers and equipment, and significantly contribute to occurrence of road crashes worldwide. The present study focuses on analysing the current state of safety measures at HWZs in Pakistan. A more direct approach is adopted by comparing safety measures at randomly selected HWZs in Pakistan with well-established safety procedures in Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). HWZ safety measures such as traffic signs, markings, safety measures for pedestrians, workers and construction machinery, police enforcement, speed control measures, provision of advance warning area, buffer spaces, transition areas, and tapers for eight different HWZs were studied and compared with MUTCD standards. The results revealed that majority of the HWZs in Pakistan do not conform to any standard layout especially for safety and speed control measures. An enhanced need for special efforts towards improving safety at HWZs in Pakistan is highlighted.     

凝胶渗透色谱净化高效液相色谱-串联质谱法检测辛辣蔬菜中咪鲜胺等7种农药残留

建立了辛辣蔬菜基质中咪鲜胺、异菌脲、虫酰肼、噻螨酮、涕灭威、涕灭威亚砜和涕灭威砜7种农药残留量的凝胶渗透色谱-分散固相萃取技术相结合净化高效液相色谱串联质谱检测法。样品经乙腈提取,氮气吹干,环己烷-乙酸乙酯(1＋1)溶液溶解后,凝胶渗透色谱与分散固相萃取法相结合进行净化,反相高效液相色谱柱分离后,采用液相色谱-串联质谱法在分时段多反应监测模式下进行测定,外标法定量。结果表明：7种农药在0.005-2.0μg/mL范围内线性关系均良好(r2在0.995-0.999),且所有农药检出限和定量限均低于国际限量要求;在定量限、5倍和10倍定量限的添加水平下,辛辣蔬菜中7种农药的平均回收率介于60％-120％,相对标准偏差不大于5.0％。该方法定性、定量准确,干扰小,能用于辛辣蔬菜基质中7种农药残留的检测,能很好的满足我国进出口辛辣蔬菜中这7种农药限量的严格要求。     

An Empirical Investigation of Dual Network Effects in Innovation Project Development

As innovation project developers advance their knowledge through more project experience, cross-project learning is likely to enhance project performance. Past research has demonstrated positive contributions of developer networking at the macro (project) level. However, the network effects at the micro (project property) level have not been studied as much. To address this gap, we apply a network model to examine which project properties (e.g., the project's operating system and topic) generate positive or negative network effects in addition to the macro network effect when developers engage in multiple projects. In this dual (developer and property) network model, we theorize that positive network effects take place because of cross-project learning and knowledge exchange, whereas negative network effects can also occur due to time constraints and cognitive overloading. In addition to such dual network effects, we also consider such project success predictors as spatial and temporal reach opportunities for project users (scope of translations and project age) and human resources availability (developer team size). Our empirical application using open source software (OSS) data demonstrates that the presented model can effectively integrate both the dual network effects and non-network variables as factors influencing the commercial success of OSS projects.     

Uneasy Alliances: Lessons Learned from Partnerships Between Businesses and NGOs in the context of CSR

Interest in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has proliferated in academic and business circles alike. In the context of CSR, the spotlight has traditionally focused on the role of the private sector particularly in view of its wealth and global reach. Other actors have recently begun to assume more visible roles in the context of CSR, including Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) which have acquired increasing prominence on the socio-economic landscape. This article examines five partnerships between businesses and NGOs in a developing country context that fall in the realm of CSR. The article starts with a literature review, delineating foundational underpinnings that have to be carefully designed and crafted to promote the success of collaborative ventures. An empirical study of five selected partnerships between businesses and NGOs in Lebanon is then presented, allowing to derive interesting insights into types of existing alliances, their relational characteristics as well as salient factors considered most determinant of success or failure in this regard.     

Accounting and Medicine: An Exploratory Investigation into Physicians’ Attitudes Toward the Use of Standard Cost-Accounting Methods in Medicine

Research studies demonstrate wide variation in how physicians diagnose and treat patients with similar medical conditions and suggest that at least some of the variation reflects inefficiencies and unnecessary medical costs. Health care researchers are actively examining ways to reduce variations in practice through standardization of medicine to reduce the cost of treatment and ensure the quality of outcomes. The most widely accepted form of this standardization is Evidence Based Best Practices (EBBP). Furthermore, financial health care providers such as hospitals and managed care organizations are investigating methods to tie resource usage to medical protocols in their efforts to monitor and control health care costs. Such proposals are contentious because they report on physicians’ medical practice behaviors (such as the number of tests ordered, use of specific therapies, etc.) and such reports could potentially be used to influence their clinical behaviors. The intent of this exploratory study was to examine physicians’ perceptions about linking a standard costing system to EBBP guidelines. The authors interviewed nine practicing physicians asking each physician to respond to the question, ‘As a physician working in a hospital environment, what are your reactions to and concerns with combining standard costing techniques with EBBP?’ The interviews were in-depth and free form in nature. The physicians’ responses were recorded and analyzed using Grounded Theory Methodology. Using this methodology the field data was categorized into two major themes. The most important theme centered on ethics and the second theme was concerned with the implementation and use of a standard cost system in regard to EBBP. If physicians’ worries about ethical dilemmas and implementation issues are not resolved, then it is likely that doctors would be unwilling to participate in any efforts to develop or use a standard cost-reporting system in medicine. While this study was exploratory in nature, it should provide future guidance to accountants, health care researchers and health care providers about physicians’ issues with the use of standard costing methods in medicine.     

Measuring the road safety performance of Iranian provinces: a double-frontier DEA model and evidential reasoning approach

Abstract

Road traffic accidents are critical public issue in developing countries, and they annually waste a significant amount of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In order to urgently consider how this problem is related to the current policies, a proper safety evaluation of regional programmes in crash reduction is fundamental to the governments. The current research aims to employ a double-frontier Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) model to assess the productivity of Iranian regional safety programmes in reducing the number of road fatalities. The safety efficiencies of Iranian provinces are simultaneously estimated using the double frontier DEA to reflect both the optimistic and pessimistic points of view. Then, the Evidential Reasoning (ER) approach is applied to aggregate the obtained efficiency values. These provinces are ranked based on the data panel for 2014–2016. Finally, a double-frontier Malmquist productivity index (MPI) is used to comprehensively measure the safety performance of Iranian roads over a period of time.     

组织化管理、技术性贸易壁垒与农产品质量安全——基于浙江临海西兰花产业的分析

通过对浙江临海西兰花产业的调查与分析,研究了在面对技术性贸易壁垒冲击时农业块状经济内部不同主体的行为和反应。结果表明:企业在面临技术性贸易壁垒时感知最为明显,反应最为强烈,是合作推动的主体;农户有合作的意愿和倾向,但不同特征农户对合作态度有所分化;政府作用有待加强,实施机制有待完善。企业与农户构建的纵向合作模式能够有力地推动块状经济的组织化、标准化管理,较为有效地克服技术性贸易壁垒。     

影响网络消费行为的组合要素探究

随着网络、物流、信息、支付手段等方面的进一步便利化,网络消费行为越发呈现多样化与高频的特征,消费行为的形成受诸多关键要素影响,对其行为机理的探索与发现,有助于全面理解和认知网络消费行为的本质。采用国内快递企业所进行的大规模调查数据,尝试运用定性比较分析(QCA)技术与传统定量分析(logistic回归)相结合的混合研究方法,就网络消费行为的影响因素、要件及组合效应进行深入研究,力争突破传统研究方法与技术,拓展新的研究视角和分析思路。研究发现,配送效率、好友推荐、支付方式对网络消费行为有积极的组合效应,信息交互则与网络消费行为结果有负相关性。     

基础设施投资领域PPP生态演化的系统动力学分析

从系统动力学的角度分析PPP生态演化的动力机制,认为制度创新、企业之间的竞争与市场需求是PPP生态演化的动力源,而政府行为、经济基础、伙伴关系、中介服务水平等则是它的支撑条件,它们的相互作用构成了一个正负反馈交错的复杂的动态系统.     

Modeling the Role of a Coordinator as a Medium of Communication in 2-Player Conflicts

This paper discusses the role of a coordinator in the 2-player conflict where the information on players' preference is incomplete. It is assumed that the coordinator has a priori prospect of feasible alternatives. First, the method of the graph model for conflict resolution (GMCR) is extended to apply to this conflict with incomplete information, and the coordination system for the conflict with incomplete information is proposed. The process operated by the coordinator uses Extended Robustness Analysis that specifies the critical conditions for the stability and Pareto efficiency of an alternative. Finally, the methodology is applied to the conflict between hydropower generation and environmental interests.     

An investigation of B-to-B brand value: evidence from manufacturing SMEs in Taiwan

Purpose: The importance of brand value has been increasingly recognized in business-to-business (B-to-B) marketing settings. Leek and Christodoulides (2012) proposed a comprehensive B-to-B brand value framework based on qualitative examination, which has yet to be quantitatively examined. As such, the objectives of this study are twofold: first, to quantitatively investigate Leek and Christodoulides’ (2012) B-to-B brand value framework and reveal the relative importance of the various attributes/elements; second, to explore whether the attribute/element priority in Leek and Christodoulides’ (2012) value framework differs for various types of buyers with respect to supplier characteristics, environmental factors, and situational factors. The research context is small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Taiwan. For industrial marketers, a better understanding of attribute/element priority pertaining to brand value is helpful in terms of marketing efficiency and success probability.

Methodology/Approach: Based on data from 22 SME buyers in Taiwan, a cluster analysis was performed to classify SME buyers into different buyer groups based on supplier characteristics, environmental factors, and situational factors, while an analytic hierarchy process was used to indicate the preference structure under different buyer groups.

Findings: The results reveal that the functional value items outperformed emotional value ones; further, quality, technology, and after-sales service were the top three elements of brand value. However, the attribute/element priority varied across different buyer groups. In general, the importance of functional value items was greater than that of emotional value items for most SME types. Top attributes/elements that exceeded 10% importance weight were almost all function-related, aside from emotion-related credibility—the primary concern (20.3%) of forced SMEs that held pessimistic perceptions regarding the economic environment, and procured within a highly concentrated market structure.

Originality/Value: This research study contributes by indicating the relative importance of brand value attributes/elements in the SME context and examining whether the attribute/element priority varies for distinct types of buyers. Based on the results, a target marketing strategy is provided for B-to-B marketers to effectively design marketing offerings and create brand value for their business buyers.