Tomato is one of the extensively consumed vegetable crops worldwide. The regular consumption of tomato decreases the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases such as certain types of cancer and cardiovascular diseas...Tomato is one of the extensively consumed vegetable crops worldwide. The regular consumption of tomato decreases the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases such as certain types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to find an appropriate method that not only reduces tomatoes decay, but also maintains its post-harvest quality. A factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted to evaluate effects of ultraviolet（UV）-C and CaCl_2 applications on tomato during storage. The traits studied included ethylene, polygalacturonase（PG） activity, pectin methyl esterase（PME） activity, firmness, total phenol content, and fungal-induced decay were measured weekly during 35 days of storage. Both UV-C and CaCl_2 treatments had positive effects on tomato quality as compared to control treatment. The 3 and 4.5 k J m^（-2） levels of UV-C and 2% CaCl_2 had positive effects on quality characteristics, respectivly. Fruits treated by UV-C and CaCl_2 had higher phenol and firmness, and less PME activity, PG activity, ethylene production, and decay than the control fruits. In conclusion, increasing in storage duration significantly affected the fruits quality by increasing in ethylene, PME activity, PG activity, decay and decreasing the phenol content and firmness. But UV-C and CaCl_2 led to significant decrease in this adverse impact relative to control treatment.展开更多
Under a heterogeneous firm analysis framework,this paper creates a theoretical model to investigate how trade liberalization of intermediates influences the technology choice of firms based on the data of Chinese manu...Under a heterogeneous firm analysis framework,this paper creates a theoretical model to investigate how trade liberalization of intermediates influences the technology choice of firms based on the data of Chinese manufacturers during 2000-2006.According to our empirical result,after China's WTO entry,trade liberalization of intermediates significantly induced Chinese exporters to apply advanced technologies.In our further consideration of the differentiated productivity of firms,we found that such an effect is related to the initial productivity of firms and only significantly induces mediumproductivity firms to upgrade their technologies.In addition,the technology-promotion effect of trade liberalization of intermediates is the most significant for technology-intensive exporters and the least significant for labor-intensive exporters.展开更多
Using data from the 2012 China Enterprise Survey conducted by the World Bank, this study examines the determinants of intangible investment by private manufacturing firms and its impacts on firms ＇productivity in Chi...Using data from the 2012 China Enterprise Survey conducted by the World Bank, this study examines the determinants of intangible investment by private manufacturing firms and its impacts on firms ＇productivity in China, thus shedding light on the recent development of intangibles in one of the largest emerging economies in the world. Higher human capital, larger firm size and better institutional quality are found to increase the propensity and the amount of intangible investment, yet fiercer market competition generally decreases both the propensity and the amount invested in intangibles. We provide evidence that the disaggregated components of intangibles are positively correlated with firm productivity and there is complementarity between software and organization investment. Implications for policies to enhance investment in intangibles are identified from the empirical results.展开更多
An appreciation in the price of housing could generate speculation opportunities for enterprises.Many firms try to seize these opportunities for quick returns.This may harm their productivity.We use the real estate bo...An appreciation in the price of housing could generate speculation opportunities for enterprises.Many firms try to seize these opportunities for quick returns.This may harm their productivity.We use the real estate boom and the investment activities of Chinese manufacturing firms during 2006–2017 to examine the processes and the net effect of housing market speculation on firm productivity.We find that housing market speculation negatively affects firm productivity by crowding out investments in research and development and productive fixed assets,and the positive effect brought about by a strengthened balance sheet and better financing capacity is outweighed by the crowding-out effect.This negative impact is more evident in state-owned firms,but is mitigated in regions and periods with better business environments.Set in the overheated housing market in China,our study contributes to the existing literature by exploring how firms’investments outside of their main business influence firm behavior and productivity.展开更多
文摘Tomato is one of the extensively consumed vegetable crops worldwide. The regular consumption of tomato decreases the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases such as certain types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to find an appropriate method that not only reduces tomatoes decay, but also maintains its post-harvest quality. A factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted to evaluate effects of ultraviolet（UV）-C and CaCl_2 applications on tomato during storage. The traits studied included ethylene, polygalacturonase（PG） activity, pectin methyl esterase（PME） activity, firmness, total phenol content, and fungal-induced decay were measured weekly during 35 days of storage. Both UV-C and CaCl_2 treatments had positive effects on tomato quality as compared to control treatment. The 3 and 4.5 k J m^（-2） levels of UV-C and 2% CaCl_2 had positive effects on quality characteristics, respectivly. Fruits treated by UV-C and CaCl_2 had higher phenol and firmness, and less PME activity, PG activity, ethylene production, and decay than the control fruits. In conclusion, increasing in storage duration significantly affected the fruits quality by increasing in ethylene, PME activity, PG activity, decay and decreasing the phenol content and firmness. But UV-C and CaCl_2 led to significant decrease in this adverse impact relative to control treatment.
文摘Under a heterogeneous firm analysis framework,this paper creates a theoretical model to investigate how trade liberalization of intermediates influences the technology choice of firms based on the data of Chinese manufacturers during 2000-2006.According to our empirical result,after China's WTO entry,trade liberalization of intermediates significantly induced Chinese exporters to apply advanced technologies.In our further consideration of the differentiated productivity of firms,we found that such an effect is related to the initial productivity of firms and only significantly induces mediumproductivity firms to upgrade their technologies.In addition,the technology-promotion effect of trade liberalization of intermediates is the most significant for technology-intensive exporters and the least significant for labor-intensive exporters.
文摘Using data from the 2012 China Enterprise Survey conducted by the World Bank, this study examines the determinants of intangible investment by private manufacturing firms and its impacts on firms ＇productivity in China, thus shedding light on the recent development of intangibles in one of the largest emerging economies in the world. Higher human capital, larger firm size and better institutional quality are found to increase the propensity and the amount of intangible investment, yet fiercer market competition generally decreases both the propensity and the amount invested in intangibles. We provide evidence that the disaggregated components of intangibles are positively correlated with firm productivity and there is complementarity between software and organization investment. Implications for policies to enhance investment in intangibles are identified from the empirical results.
基金This research was financially supported by the National Social Science Foundation of China(No.19BJY105).
文摘An appreciation in the price of housing could generate speculation opportunities for enterprises.Many firms try to seize these opportunities for quick returns.This may harm their productivity.We use the real estate boom and the investment activities of Chinese manufacturing firms during 2006–2017 to examine the processes and the net effect of housing market speculation on firm productivity.We find that housing market speculation negatively affects firm productivity by crowding out investments in research and development and productive fixed assets,and the positive effect brought about by a strengthened balance sheet and better financing capacity is outweighed by the crowding-out effect.This negative impact is more evident in state-owned firms,but is mitigated in regions and periods with better business environments.Set in the overheated housing market in China,our study contributes to the existing literature by exploring how firms’investments outside of their main business influence firm behavior and productivity.
