Chinese consumers’ preferences for food quality test/measurement indicators and cues of milk powder: A case of Zhengzhou,China

Many food regulations focus on test/measurement indicators, such as hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) and traceability, etc. Other than these indicators, the food industry uses various cues such as product origin as indicators of product quality. However, in an environment where consumers’ confidence in food safety is low due to frequent food safety scandals, little is known about the efficiency of these test/measurement indicators and cues. This paper used the primary data collected in Zhengzhou (China) to estimate consumers’ preferences for test/measurement indicators and a new cue of “own farm” for milk powder. Our results show that country of origin is the most important cue attribute, followed by price and own farm. The importance of test/measurement indicators such as organic, traceability, and HACCP certification is relatively low. Also, the individual parameter estimates show that consumers’ preferences for test/measurement indicators currently in the market are weak and fragile. Interestingly, price has an inverse-U-shaped relationship with consumer utility, implying that Chinese consumers may perceive low-price milk powder as low quality. The results of this study provide important insight for regulatory authorities and the food industry to develop more effective policies and programs to improve consumer preferences for milk powder.     

Demand for ecolabeled seafood in the Japanese market: A conjoint analysis of the impact of information and interaction with other labels

The use of seafood ecolabels is expanding in the world marketplace, but so are labels indicating other product attributes, such as country of origin and wild vs. farmed. The interactive effects of these labels and attributes in evaluating consumers’ preferences for ecolabeled seafood are relatively unexplored. In this paper we investigate (1) the direct and interactive effects of seafood ecolabels with other common fish labels, and (2) how consumers’ perceptions about the state of marine stocks and the valuation of ecolabels may be affected by different information. We find moderate interactive effects between ecolabels and country of origin labels, whereas the valuation for seafood ecolabels is fairly high. In terms of information, we find that consumers’ perceptions about fish stock levels changed (negatively) after receiving information on declining stock levels, and more sensationalized information led to increased change. However, valuation for a seafood ecolabel increases only when the information was perceived positively (credible/interesting); whereas exaggerated information (which was also perceived less credible) had insignificant effects on WTP.     

A field experiment to explore the effects of detection and penalties communications and framing among Washington State retail firms

The Washington Department of Revenue facilitated a field experiment to explore opportunities to increase Use Tax and Business and Occupation (B&O) Tax compliance by retail industry firms. The experiment tested two enforcement strategies (actually put in place by the State of Washington): communication of noncompliance penalties and announcement of an enhanced detection initiative. Of special interest was whether the compliance initiatives would differentially influence firms in divergent financial positions (increasing versus decreasing revenues). Findings were consistent with the gain/loss framing concept of prospect theory: the elevated enforcement initiatives increased both actual reported Washington State Use taxes and B&O Taxes more for firms with declining revenues (loss frame) than for firms with raising revenues (gain frame). Historically the Use Tax has had a low rate of compliance while the B&O Tax has had a high rate of compliance; thus we tested two very different taxes. The results of the experiment suggest that revenue agencies with limited resources may benefit from focusing greater compliance enhancement efforts on firms with declining revenues as more tax dollars will be generated from these taxpayers. For tax researchers, this experiment demonstrates that gain/loss tax framing can occur in nature by means other than withholding.     

Donor recognition: A double-edged sword in charitable giving

Previous studies discover confounding results on how donor recognition affects individual charitable giving. To answer the questions of how different donor recognition schemes affect individual giving and what type is more effective as a marketing strategy to meet different fundraising goals, we conducted a field experiment in China with three donor recognition types: voluntary, involuntary, and mandatory donor recognition. We used social media to recognize donors and verified the field experiment results with naturally occurring data. We observed similar behavioral patterns in both samples. The results of this study explain the mixed results from previous studies, suggesting that there is no one-size-fits-all approach for recognizing donors. Decision makers of nonprofit organizations need to select the appropriate type of donor recognition based on their fundraising goals.     

实践论下的理论与实验相融合模式研究——以《多传感器信息融合技术》课程为例

基于多媒体技术开发了多传感器信息融合实验平台,利用该平台将理论与实验在时间和空间上做到真正的融合。该平台集多源信息融合领域的新理论和新算法于一体,便于学生全面、系统的学习和实践。实践表明:通过丰富而生动的实验,学生对繁杂而艰深的理论知识获得了直接、客观而形象的认识,理论与实验的融合激发了学生们的学习热情和积极性,提高了科技创新能力。     

尼龙阀芯单向阀替代不锈钢锥阀芯单向阀可行性分析

本文从市场应用、成本、可靠性等多方面分析了尼龙阀芯PA66单向阀替代不锈钢锥单向阀的可能性,通过和市场上常见的几种阀芯在不同冷媒中的浸泡试验以及长期运行试验等得出结论,尼龙阀芯单向阀在在R410a新冷媒中性能稳定,存在较大成本优势,可以替代加工工艺复杂且成本较高的不锈钢锥单向阀。     

基于桌面云的实验教学平台的构建

本科实验教学课程是本科教学的重要组成部分,传统实验教学中心的模式已不能适应计算机软件专业的发展和需求。本文针对传统实验教学平台存在的问题,充分利用桌面云技术的优势,构建基于桌面云的实验教学平台。该平台面向实验教学过程的各个环节,涉及到实验室的管理、学生上机实验的考勤和管理、实验教学镜像的制作、服务器集群的监控等过程。学生可通过本文构建的桌面云实验教学平台按需自助的通过云终端获取实验资源,从而最大化满足学生对学习资源的需求。同时该平台有利于教师教学资源及教学成果的共享,从而提高实验教学的质量,促进学院学科建设的发展。     

《互换性与技术测量》课程实验教学的探索

实验教学作为高等学校实践教学的重要组成部分,是培养学生创新意识和实践能力的重要途径。文章针对传统《互换性与技术测量》课程实验的教学,突破传统的实验教学模式,大胆改革创新,同时引入比较性实验教学方法。这种方法为培养应用性和实用性人才,也可为满足市场人才的需要奠定良好的基础。     

80后教师如何改进中专会计教学

为适应信息社会的需要,培养适应21世纪市场经济需要的会计专业人才,中等专业学校会计专业对学生培养的方式方法要有所改进,创造灵活的课堂讲授氛围、注重会计实验的联系和强化案例教学。培养有实际动手能力的应用型人才。     

艺术类实验的特征及其实验室建设定位

艺术类实验有别于理工科实验:实验要求不求量化,实验过程不求统一,实验评价不求标准,因此就要求学校在实验室建设中做到以下几点,整合共享实验室,注重实验教学方法,优化实验教学内容,注重实践基地建设,重视个性发展,变封闭型为开放型。只有明确了实验的特征与实验室建设的定位,才能培养出个性鲜明的艺术人才。