Does Size Matter? Evaluating Corporate Environmental Disclosure in the Australian Mining and Metal Industry: A Combined Approach of Quantity and Quality Measurement

There are an increasing number of companies in the mining and metals sector disclosing environmental sustainability information in their annual reports, sustainability reports and corporate internet web pages. However, there is ongoing debate about the relationship between the quantity and the quality of environmental disclosure. That is, does an increase in number equate to an increase in quality? This study investigates the relationship between the quantity and the quality of environmental disclosure reports. Using content analysis, we examine the environmental disclosure of 55 Australian mining and metal companies which are listed among the Australian Securities Exchange's (ASX) Top 100 mining and metal sector companies. We find that the size of firms influences both the quantity and the quality of corporate environmental disclosure. That is, we find that market capitalization is positively and significantly correlated to the quantity (number of words) and the quality of disclosure. We also confirm that there is a very highly significant, positive correlation between quantity (number of words) and quality of environmental disclosure. In order to investigate any differences between the top performing group and the bottom performing group in terms of environmental disclosure quality, further analysis also confirms that there is a positive relationship between the quantity and the quality of environmental disclosure. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment     

Data mining framework based on rough set theory to improve location selection decisions: A case study of a restaurant chain

Location selection plays a crucial role in the retail and service industries. A comprehensive location selection model and appropriate analytical technique can improve the quality of location decisions, attracting more customers and substantially impacting market share and profitability. This study developed a data mining framework based on rough set theory (RST) to support location selection decisions. The proposed framework consists of four stages: (1) problem definition and data collection; (2) RST analysis; (3) rule validation; and (4) knowledge extraction and usage. An empirical study focused on a restaurant chain to demonstrate the validity of the proposed approach. Twenty location variables relevant to five location aspects were examined, and the results indicated that latent knowledge can be identified to support location selection decisions.     

Foreign Direct Investment,Institutional Voids,and the Internationalization of Mining Companies into Africa

The paper investigates the factors influencing the internationalization of mining firms into Africa and the strategies employed. We find that the three most important factors identified by mining houses as influencing their decisions to invest are all related to institutional voids particular to developing countries—security of tenure, political stability and poor infrastructure. South African firms have shown themselves to be adept to doing business in volatile political and institutional environments because of their experience within their home base with relatively weaker institutions. They have therefore developed advantages over multinational enterprises from industrialized countries to doing business in these new frontiers.     

煤炭企业“主动安全型”员工培育研究

阐述了＂主动安全型员工＂培育的作用及内涵,并系统分析了煤炭企业员工安全意识及保安能力上的不足,提出了从＂意识强化、技能升级、行为管控、文化熏陶＂等4种关键环节上培育主动安全型员工的方法。     

我国化肥价格波动与农民收入关系的实证分析

本文利用1978～2008年的时间序列数据,运用脉冲响应函数和方差分解技术考察化肥价格波动与农民收入之间的关系,发现化肥价格的波动与农民收入变化之间存在着双向的因果关系,即化肥价格的上涨导致农民增收缓慢,而化肥价格上涨的根本原因在于＂需求拉动＂和＂成本推动＂。今后必须从需求和供给两方面采取对策：一方面通过建立化肥直接补贴制度和化肥储备制度,从需求上控制化肥价格上涨;另一方面通过采用新型化肥生产技术和给予化肥生产企业生产用能以优惠政策,从供给上控制化肥价格上涨。     

松动爆破在突出煤层巷道掘进中的实践与应用

煤层突出危险一直是影响矿井煤巷安全快速掘进的重要因素,传统的防治方法又严重制约掘进面的生产速度。以五轮山矿井8#突出煤层1801运输顺槽为例,提出在区域消突前提下采用松动爆破方法实现快速掘进。实践证明,中深孔松动爆破治理瓦斯,较好地解决了煤巷掘进过程中掘进速度与防治瓦斯之间的矛盾,实现了煤巷的安全快速掘进,具有较好的经济效益,可以为煤矿的防突工作提供借鉴。     

综合防治水法在刘店矿首采工作面的应用

根据刘店矿10煤层首采工作面底板岩层为高阻电性层的特点,采用电测深法进行探测,探测结果显示存在4个视电阻率低阻异常条带区,把其中幅值和范围相对较大、富水性和突水危险性较强的异常区作为重点防治水区。根据电测和钻探探查结论对1044工作面底板进行防治水工作,总结提出了"物探先行、疏水降压与底板加固相结合"的综合防治水途径。     

经济异常数据的挖掘方法与处理研究

数据挖掘是一门新兴技术,随着社会经济的发展,数据挖掘与处理愈发显得重要了。在社会经济现象分析中发现统计来的数据有异常现象。而这些异常数据对社会经济现象起了很大的作用。正确挖掘数据、处理数据,有利于正确认识现象规律,对指导经济发展具有重要意义。     

基于步行连续性的城市健身步道空间 挖掘与选线设计研究——以青岛主城四区 为例

高连续性路径空间是步行健身行为高效性与安全性 的重要保障。当前城市建设中,能够被大众高效利用的健身 步道呈碎片化分布,全民健身导向下亟须在现有城市空间中 进行高连续性的步道网络化构建。以青岛主城四区为例,基 于连续性目标,通过对OSM数据的爬取与处理,形成适于连 续度赋值的城市基础路网数据。挖掘具有高连续性特征的铁 路沿线、高架走廊、滨河沿海、环景观外边界路径等潜力空 间融入步道选线设计,提出与地铁站点相结合的高连续性选 线技术路线。基于ArcGIS网络分析计算成本最小路径,兼顾 路口等级及公园、绿地、湖泊等自然资源的紧邻性进行步道 选线规划,并从连续度水平、便捷可达性、环境舒适性、空 间多元性几方面对选线结果进行探讨。该选线途径有助于提 升城市步行运动环境的健身利用效能,为实现高连续性的健 身步道网络构建提供设计支持。     

我国矿业税收的绿色化

矿业税收的绿色化是指矿业税收改革时应有利于环境保护和矿业的可持续发展。我国矿业税收中已有一些绿色化的规定,但也还存在一些问题。为促进资源节约利用和环境保护,实现我国矿业税收的绿色化,有必要将绿色化原则作为制定矿业税收的基本原则,对现行矿业所得税、矿产资源税、增值税等进行改革。