From Circle of Poison to Circle of Virtue: Pesticides,Export Standards and Kenya’s Green Bean Farmers

In response to growing consumer concerns, developed‐country governments have reduced permissible pesticide residue levels in food. Many food retailers have developed even more stringent private food safety protocols relating to pesticide use, storage and disposal and passed them on to their suppliers. Exporters in developing countries enforce these developed‐country pesticide standards (DC‐PS) by subjecting farmers to close monitoring. This study explores the effects of enforcing compliance with DC‐PS on smallholder farmers’ pesticide‐related health costs. Results suggest that enforcing DC‐PS encourages farmers to use protection that lowers pesticide‐induced morbidity, hence reducing farmers’ health costs from pesticide exposure. The study concludes that there are health benefits to family farmers from complying with DC‐PS beyond the acknowledged income generation from selling fresh produce in premium export markets.     

水库供水环境安全问题研究

在阐述水库供水环境安全的作用及意义的基础上,分析了水库供水环境安全存在的主要问题及原因,提出了保障水库供水环境安全的对策:实行最严格的水资源管理制度;发动群众,依靠群众;建立水库供水环境保护和安全的相关法规;编制水库供水环境保护和安全规划;健全水库水资源管理体制机制,协调处理好上下游利益关系;采取综合措施加强水库供水环境的保护和安全工作;科技创新,提高水库供水环境安全效益。     

The implementation mechanisms of voluntary food safety systems

The recent food scares have been the motivation for voluntary programmes on food safety being promoted by public authorities and voluntarily implemented by food operators. In this article, we take into account the nature of the contamination risk to investigate the complementarities between private and public mechanisms for those voluntary systems to be implemented by a firm. We show two main results. First, when the firm directly markets its products to consumers a strong mandatory threat is a sufficient condition to implement voluntary systems whatever the risk of contamination. In contrast, when the mandatory threat is weak voluntary systems should be more implemented in industries where the risk of food contamination is low (pesticide residue) than in industries where the risk of contamination is high (pathogenic contamination). Second, when the risk of food contamination is low and the firm is embedded in a supply chain where the retailer can impose its own safety system, a well-designed penalty contract will induce a voluntary implementation whatever the mandatory threat.     

Risk assessment in the international food safety policy arena. Can the multilateral institutions encourage unbiased outcomes?

Two institutions provide multilateral venues for countries to discuss food safety measures at the international level: the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) and the World Trade Organization. Both institutions encourage their Members to base food safety standards on scientific evidence.     

上跨徐兰高铁立交转体桥施工安全防护技术

城市快速通道飞快建设的同时,上跨铁路营业线施工项目逐渐增多,不仅给施工增加了难度,也给铁路运行的安全带来了隐患.本文就上跨徐兰高铁转体施工安全风险,系统总结了该项目为确保高速铁路行车安全和施工安全所采取的安全技术和安全防护措施,对今后同类桥梁上跨高速铁路营业线转体施工项目安全防护具有一定的借鉴作用.     

The effect of job stress on the quality of life of commercial pilots: Testing the mediating effects of mindfulness and job satisfaction

The commercial pilots responsible for aircraft and passenger safety are exposed to various environmental job stresses. This study investigates the relationship between job stress and the quality of life of commercial pilots, and examines the mediating effects of mindfulness and job satisfaction in the relationship between job stress and quality of life. The results show that the job stress aced by commercial pilots has a negative impact on quality of life, and that mindfulness and job satisfaction partially mediates this stress. However, despite the mediating effects of mindfulness and job satisfaction, there is a need for a way to reduce job stress more directly. These results indicate the need for various strategies, including direct and indirect methods, to reduce job stress among commercial pilots, as this is directly related to safety.     

钢筋混凝土主梁无监督式安全性评估方法

为了解决人为主观因素和指标权重不确定性对桥梁安全性评估的影响,基于模糊聚类理论,提出了一种适用于钢筋混凝土主梁结构的无监督式安全状态评估方法。首先,构建了钢筋混凝土主梁结构安全性评估指标体系,以典型桥梁的检测数据为聚类样本,基于F统计量计算,确定了聚类样本的最佳分类。其次,将同一类桥梁检测指标均值作为该类别的中心,通过待评估桥梁检测指标数据与类别中心的模糊贴近度计算,实现该桥梁的安全性评价。以长春赛德大桥为实体工程,针对评价指标对结构安全性的影响差异,通过考虑和不考虑指标权重对桥梁安全性评估进行了分析。结果表明,基于模糊聚类的钢筋混凝土主梁结构安全评估方法是有效性。研究方法对客观评价钢筋混凝土主梁安全性及研究钢筋混凝土桥梁安全性评估方法具有借鉴意义。     

Customers’ perceptions in value and food safety on customer satisfaction and loyalty in restaurant environments: moderating roles of gender and restaurant types

Using a valid sample of 334 restaurant diners, this study investigated the relative effects of perceived value and food safety on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty. The proposed model was consistent with other cognitive–attitudinal–behavioral frameworks. This study also explored how these two perceptions on customer satisfaction were different based on gender and restaurant type. We found support for all of the hypothesized relationships. Results from the structural equation modeling showed that customer satisfaction mediated the relationships between two antecedents and customer loyalty. Implications of the findings, limitations of the study, and recommendations for future research were discussed.     

How does perceived formality shape unheard challenging voices?

Abstract

It has been argued that upward challenge is important because it allows employees to have a say in organisational decision-making. Yet upward challenge may go unheard in organisations. Formal voice mechanisms are largely considered to be advantageous for encouraging employees to share their views and concerns. However, recent papers calling into question the distinction between formal and informal voice have prompted investigation into the value of formal voice mechanisms in encouraging upward challenge. This qualitative study attempted to understand in what ways formal voice mechanisms had the potential to create unheard voices by first establishing a working definition of formal voice mechanisms. Using a sample of 19 UK police officers, participants used a card sort to categorise formal and informal voice mechanisms. They subsequently identified, through semi-structured interviews, that formal voice mechanisms could be considered risky for upward challenge. The findings can be used by scholars and practitioners as a framework to identify where challenging voices may be going unheard.     

钢栈桥兼做钢梁运输通道的应用研究

本文主要介绍了在某项目公铁两用长江大桥施工中,针对桥梁施工的特点及周边运输条件,通过将钢栈桥兼做钢梁运输通道,从而很好解决了在长江航道范围内大吨位钢梁运输的难题.该栈桥不但可以满足主体工程下部施工,而且也可兼做钢梁运输通道,提高了栈桥的使用效率,大大降低了施工措施费用.并且由于钢栈桥承载吨位较大,钢梁运输更加安全,避免...