Systematic analysis of corporate environmental responsibility:elements,structure,function,and principles

Corporate Environmental Responsibility(CER) is the subsystem of Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR),which continues to increase prominence in the global economy.Nowadays,CER becomes more important in corporate sustainable development.Based on Carroll's pyramid mode of CSR,this article explores the systematic feature of CER.From a systematic perspective,it sorts out its elements,structure,function,and principles of CER.And the four levels of economic,legal,ethical,and charitable structure are emphasized.With these considerations interpreted into practice,success will be achieved in potential cost savings,technological innovation,increased public acceptance,and better relations with governments.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Consumers’ Reaction: An Experiment

Companies differ in their motivation to corporate social responsibility(CSR)practices,with some compa­nies taking a genuine,altruistic approach and others preferring an opportunistic approach(and attempting to mimic the former).If consumers can distinguish them,they will eventually reward the altruistic(being willing to pay more)and penalize the opportunistic ones.This paper performs an experimental study to assess whether differences in consumers’willingness to pay are statistically significant for different classifications of CSR activities:(i)proactive or reactive,(ii)environment,employees,or social,(iii)involving more or less expensive products,(iv)being performed by firms facing competition or not.Results show that consumers are willing to reward CSR initiatives that follow a reactive approach;consumers’decisions are more moderate when rewarding initiatives associated with more expensive products;the rewards provided depend on the CSR dimension;a relationship between market structure and consumers’reaction to CSR was not found.

Reflection and operationalization of the common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities principle in the transparency framework under the international climate change regime

“Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”(CBDRRC) is the most significant guiding principle in the international climate change regime, created by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 and inherited by the Paris Agreement 24 years later. This paper examines the operationalization of the CBDRRC principle in one of the cornerstone rules of the regimedits transparency provisions, both in existing practice under the convention and possible evolvement in negotiations under the Paris Agreement, from the perspectives of both international rule-making and domestic implementation. The authors have found a continuous enhancement of the transparency framework since the 1990s, and gradual consolidation of a bifurcated system between developed and developing countries into a common one. The authors argue that the transparency framework, as part of the procedural rules, should be designed to facilitate transparent information sharing in accordance with substantive commitments under international climate change laws. Thus, it indirectly reflects historical responsibilities for climate change, while the framework should also be designed as feasible and reflective of the respective capabilities of nations. Finally, the evolution of the transparency framework will aim to enact common and enhanced provisions while differentiating between developed and developing countries in the near term, and greater transparency-related capacity-building for developing countries.

FORMULATION OF A SEMI-ANALYTICAL APPROACH BASEDON GURTIN VARIATIONAL PRINCIPLE FOR DYNAMICRESPONSE OF GENERAL THIN PLATES

4 semi-analytical approach for the dynamic response of general thin plates whichemployes finite element discretization in space domain and a series of representation intime demain is developed on the basis of Curtin variational principles.The formulationof time series is also investigated so that the dynamic response of plates with arbitraryshape and boundary constraints can be achieved with adequate accuracy.

A Study on the Legal Sources and Principles of Consumer Cooling-off Period System

In October 25, 2013, the Standing Committee of the National People＇s Congress made a decision on revising the ＂consumer rights protection law＂ of PRC. The new revised ＂Chinese Consumer Protection Law＂ China consumers will take consumer cooling-off period system as an important consumer right.2 Because it is a new system different from traditional civil law ＂principle of obeying compacts＂ , and the theoretical research on the calm period by scholars is still not mature enough. This paper discusses the consumer cooling off period from the theoretical perspective, and its legal origin, and puts forward and demonstrates legal principles and the legal basis the cooling off period system should follow.

Application of the generalized quasi-complementary energy principle to the fluid-solid coupling problem

The fluid-solid coupling theory, an interdisciplinary science between hydrodynamics and solid mechanics, is an important tool for response analysis and direct design of structures in naval architecture and ocean engineering. By applying the corresponding relations between generalized forces and generalized displacements, convolutions were performed between the basic equations of elasto-dynamics in the primary space and corresponding virtual quantities. The results were integrated and then added algebraically. In light of the fact that body forces and surface forces are both follower forces, the generalized quasi-complementary energy principle with two kinds of variables for an initial value problem is established in non-conservative systems. Using the generalized quasi-complementary energy principle to deal with the fluid-solid coupling problem and to analyze the dynamic response of structures, a method for using two kinds of variables simultaneously for calculation of force and displacement was derived.

Coupon-based Demand Response for Consumers Facing Flat-rate Retail Pricing

Even though smart meters have been widely used in power systems around the world,many consumers are still finding it hard to participate in demand response(DR)due to flat-rate retail pricing policy.To address this issue,this paper proposes a coupon-based demand response(CDR)scheme to achieve equivalent dynamic retail prices to inspire consumers’inherent elasticity.First,a security-constrained unit commitment optimization model is developed in the day-ahead market to obtain coupon rewards,which are then broadcast to consumers to motivate them to reschedule their power consumption behaviors.To evaluate the adjustment value of consumers’power consumption,a collective utility function is proposed to formulate the relationship between power quantity and coupon rewards.On this basis,the security-constrained economic dispatch model is developed in the intra-day market to reschedule generating units’output power according to real-time load demands and fluctuating renewable energies.After the operation interval,a settlement method is developed to quantify consumers’electricity fees and coupon benefits on a monthly basis.The proposed CDR scheme avoids real-time iterative bidding process and effectively decreases the difficulty of massive,small consumers participating in DR.The proposed CDR is implemented in a realistic DR project in China to verify consumers’energy cost and renewables’curtailment can both be decreased.

Educated consumers don't believe artificial meat is the solution to the problems with the meat industry

The production of in vitro meat by cell culture has been suggested by some scientists as one solution to address the major challenges facing our society. Firstly, consumers would like the meat industry to reduce potential discomfort of animals on modern farms, or even to avoid killing animals to eat them. Secondly, citizens would like meat producers to reduce potential environmental deterioration by livestock and finally, there is a need to reduce world hunger by increasing protein resources while the global population is predicted to grow rapidly. According to its promoters, artificial meat has a potential to make eating animals unnecessary, to reduce carbon footprint of meat production and to satisfy all the nutritional needs and desires of consumers and citizens. To check these assumptions, a total of 817 educated people（mainly scientists and students） were interviewed worldwide by internet in addition to 865 French educated people. We also interviewed 208 persons（mainly scientists） after an oral presentation regarding artificial meat. Results of the three surveys were similar, but differed between males and females. More than half of the respondents believed that ＂artificial meat＂ was feasible and realistic. However, there was no majority to think that artificial meat will be healthy and tasty, except respondents who were in favour of artificial meat. A large majority of the respondents believed that the meat industry is facing important problems related to the protection of the environment, animal welfare or inefficient meat production to feed humanity. However, respondents did not believe that artificial meat will be the solution to solve the mentioned problems with the meat industry, especially respondents who were against artificial meat. The vast majority of consumers wished to continue to eat meat even they would accept to consume less meat in a context of increasing food needs. Only a minority of respondents（from 5 to 11%） would recommend or accept to eat in vitro meat instead of meat produced from farm animals. Despite these limitations, 38 to 47% of the respondents would continue to support research on artificial meat, but a majority of them believed that artificial meat will not be accepted by consumers in the future, except for respondents who were in favour of artificial meat. We speculated that the apparent contradictory answers to this survey expressed the fact that people trust scientists whoare supposed to continuously discover new technologies potentially useful in a long term future for the human beings, but people also expressed concern for their health and were not convinced that artificial meat will be tasty, safe and healthy enough to be accepted by consumers.

Nursing homes’social responsibility and competitive edge:a cross‐sectional study on elderly choices about care service and price levels in Zhejiang Province,China

Background In the context of China's aging population,meeting consumer demand is an essential way for nursing homes to fulfill social responsibilities and improve competitive advantages.However,since little is known about the elderly's service level and price choices for nursing home care,this study aims to explore the non-disabled elderly's nursing home admission intention,service level,and price choices.Methods A cross-sectional survey of 402 non-disabled respondents was conducted in three different income level cities of Zhejiang Province,in July and August 2018.Multinomial logistic regression and multiple linear regression were used to identify the determinants of admission intention,service level choice,and price choice.Results Education,residence,and number of children were significantly associated with nursing home admission intention.Compared to those with no intention,the elderly with higher income and household wealth were less likely to have conditional intentions,and those living with the family were less likely to have unconditional intentions.Compared to medium-level services,the elderly with higher monthly income(relative risk ratio[RRR]3.07,95%confidence interval[CI]:1.801 to 5.233),household wealth(RRR 5.451,95%CI:2.249 to 13.216),and age(RRR 1.528,95%CI:1.004 to 2.326)were more likely to prefer high-level services,while older adults with higher monthly income(RRR 0.516,95%CI:0.344 to 0.774),and those with pensions(RRR 0.267,95%CI:0.076 to 0.931)were less likely to prefer low-level services.The elderly's price preference increased by 398 CNY as monthly income increased by 1000 CNY,and by 270 CNY as the housing number increased by one.Having pensions increased price preference(468 CNY),whereas having health insurance decreased price preference(–690 CNY).Conclusion The elderly's intention of nursing home admission was primarily affected by sociodemographic factors,while price and service level choices were primarily affected by financial factors.Nursing homes should use the market segmentation method to provide precision nursing home care for different groups of non-disabled elderly.

First-principles calculation of the structural, electronic, elastic, and optical properties of sulfur-doping ε-GaSe crystal

The structural,electronic,mechanical properties,and frequency-dependent refractive indexes of GaSe1-xSx（x=0,0.25,and 1） are studied by using the first-principles pseudopotential method within density functional theory.The calculated results demonstrate the relationships between intralayer structure and elastic modulus in GaSe1-xSx（x=0,0.25,and 1）.Doping of ε-GaSe with S strengthens the Ga-X bonds and increases its elastic moduli of C（11） and C（66）.Born effective charge analysis provides an explanation for the modification of cleavage properties about the doping of e-GaSe with S.The calculated results of band gaps suggest that the distance between intralayer atom and substitution of S（Se）,rather than interlayer force,is a key factor influencing the electronic exciton energy of the layer semiconductor.The calculated refractive indexes indicate that the doping of ε-GaSe with S reduces its refractive index and increases its birefringence.

电力动态碳排放责任因子

新型电力系统建设背景下,需要充分发挥海量用电终端具有的储能和灵活用电资源来解决电力系统的实时调节需求,这一调节目标的实现亟需建立合理的引导指标和激励机制。为此,该文提出利用“电力动态碳排放责任因子”激励用电终端进行自律式调节的方法。首先,给出这种方法的基本原则;然后,具体讨论碳排放责任因子的计算方法,再利用电网的实际运行数据说明这种确定电力动态碳排放责任因子方法的有效性和可持续性;最后,通过案例分析建筑等用电终端的灵活性调节潜力。该文提出的电力动态碳排放责任因子,为新型电力系统实现与海量用户侧灵活可调资源间的实时互动提供了新的思路,未来将进一步完善其政策、理论及实际实施等多方面的工作。

基于消费者耦合行为的综合需求响应建模与主从博弈运行策略研究

多种异质能源的集成利用在带来互补耦合效益的同时,通常忽略了需求侧多能耦合转换对用户用能满意度的影响,并且当前主流的需求响应单边定价机制大多难以应对系统与用户间复杂的利益交互与迭代关系。据此,提出一种考虑消费者耦合行为的综合需求响应建模与主从博弈运行策略。首先,考虑消费者耦合行为对用户满意度的影响,建立一种适用于综合能源系统负荷聚合商的综合需求响应改进模型。其次,以系统运营商为领导者、多个负荷聚合商为跟随者,提出一种基于主从博弈的综合能源系统优化运行策略,并对所建立的一主多从互动模型的Nash均衡解存在性与唯一性进行了证明。最后,结合标准IEEE33节点系统与比利时20节点天然气系统构建算例分析系统,所得结论验证了所提出的消费者耦合行为需求响应模型的准确性与所提策略方法在兼顾博弈主体双方利益方面的有效性。

多刺激响应型高强度复合材料柔性致动器研究进展

复合材料柔性致动器兼具灵活性、适应性和结构可设计性等特点,能够响应外界刺激而改变结构、形状和宏观性质,具有广阔的应用前景。本文总结了近几年复合材料柔性致动器在多刺激响应性与力学强度提高方面的研究进展,介绍了该类致动器的成型制备方法,分析了致动原理。从填料的维度出发,总结了各类填料在致动器响应速度、机械性能、多刺激响应能力方面的影响,总结了该类致动器在柔性机器人、微型医疗器械、精密传感器、折叠电子器件等方面的现状。最后,对多刺激响应型高强度复合材料致动器的发展前景进行展望,以期为设计制备具有新颖功能和更有挑战性的致动器提供借鉴和参考。

消费与社会责任:一个关于利益与道德的二元对立困境及其出路探究

现代消费领域中出现的关于利益与道德之间的二元对立困境,反映了现代消费社会背景下形成的对消费的一种经济主义偏见。消费是涉及商品化和去商品化过程的复杂社会活动,始终是利益与道德的结合体。企业、消费者和国家作为消费道德性的三大来源,在社会责任消费的形成与发展中发挥着各自相应的作用。西方社会中基于市场原理驱动并聚焦企业和消费者之间互动响应的社会责任消费发展模式,因其内含自相矛盾的一面而容易被“商业主义”收编而事与愿违。基于此,关注国家在推动社会责任消费中的作用,对于具有“强国家”传统的我国而言,不失为值得期待的另一种可能性。

道德运气与道德评估

道德运气问题对我们的道德实践提出了一个挑战。一方面我们接受控制原则,根据这个原则,我们应当只对那些行为者可以控制的因素进行道德评估。另一方面,行为者不能控制的运气因素却总是影响着我们的道德评估。本文首先检验和批评对这一挑战的各种主要的回应,然后在此基础上提出用一种更准确的部分控制原则替代原来的完全控制原则。最后,我们展示这个新的原则可以被用来解答所有四种类型的道德运气问题。

基于需求响应的家庭负荷优化调度算法研究

为提升电力需求侧负荷需求响应能力,降低家庭用户的用电成本和电网日负荷曲线峰谷差,提出一种基于改进多目标粒子群算法的家庭负荷优化调度策略。首先,分析家庭负荷的运行特性并对其分类建模,采用功率平衡和储能充放电功率为约束,建立以用电成本和负荷峰值平均功率比为目标的负荷优化调度模型;其次,以自适应惯性权重和均值欧氏距离等策略对多目标粒子群算法进行改进,并用改进算法对建立的模型进行优化求解;最后,用实际算例进行仿真,验证所提模型和算法的可行性与有效性,为用户参与需求响应提供了多种参考方案。

既有框架结构的新型等效简化动力模型构建方法

为了实现对长期服役后的结构在地震、风等动荷载作用下安全性和舒适性的评估,利用监/检测数据建立一个能准确反映实际建筑在地震、风等动荷载作用下动力响应的结构动力学模型至关重要。本文针对非常普遍的框架建筑结构,提出了一种基于少量移动传感器的框架结构等效简化动力学模型构建方法。首先,提出建筑结构等效简化模型构建的层间剪力等效原理,证明了以该原理构建的简化模型具备准确模拟实际建筑结构动力响应的能力。其次,推导了框架结构简化模型形式,并研究了简化模型参数特点。然后,提出了一种框架结构简化模型参数的迭代识别方法,实现了仅使用少量无线移动传感器的简化模型参数识别。最后,通过一个12层3跨钢框架结构数值模拟算例,研究了在不预知结构刚度退化的具体形式和仅使用少量移动加速度传感器的条件下,由本文所提方法构建的等效简化模型对实际框架结构在不同水平动荷载作用下结构动力响应的预测能力。数值试验结果表明,等效简化模型能准确模拟不同荷载工况下框架结构加速度和位移响应。因此,本文提出的框架结构等效简化模型构建方法将在评估既有框架结构在风、地震等动荷载作用下的结构安全性和舒适性方面具有重要的应用前景。

旅行社无过错事由与关联制度的冲突及协调--以《旅游法》第67条为中心

《旅游法》第67条整合式立法暗藏归责事由与关联制度的冲突:不可归责于旅行社的事由作为组团社的免责事由与其承担严格责任相冲突;另作为旅游者的解除事由与免责事由则有违法秩序的一致性。为化解该体系冲突,应参考日本与我国台湾地区分解式立法,通过重新解释法律,就不可归责于旅行社的事由与关联制度作体系性协调:解构第70条的严格责任,确立旅行社过错责任为主、严格责任为辅的责任体系,从而化解第67条将通常事变作为旅行社免责事由与其承担严格责任的冲突;对“影响旅游行程的”进行目的性限缩,补充第67条适用的目的性要件,限制旅行社法定解除权的滥用;对第66条因旅游者原因的解除与责任做反面解释,可归责于旅游者的事件,旅游者不得免责与享有解除权,以限缩第67条“旅行社、履行辅助人已尽合理注意义务仍不能避免的事件”的范围。

风险预防原则下日本核污水排海的法律规制与规则构建

就日本福岛核污水排海的问题,当前学界试图通过解释现行国际公约规则的内容来认定日本的责任,存在一定的局限性。日本核污水排海贻害无穷,违反了风险预防原则,通过适用相关国际公约中规定的风险预防原则,能够认定日本违反国际义务、应当承担国际责任。但是,核污水排海风险的法律规制重点不仅在于事后的责任追究,更重要的是事前的预防和阻却。然而,当前国际公约中规定的风险预防原则的具体要求不够严格、全面,在预防和阻却上的效果不佳。国际社会应当以风险预防原则为基础,从风险评估、风险沟通、风险管理和风险救济4个方面构建更为严格的风险预防制度体系。中国应当秉承“海洋命运共同体”理念,从协商沟通、加强监督、科技进步等多个方面助力国际社会风险预防制度体系的建构与落实,以应对日本长期的核污水排海计划以及未来更多的核污水处置问题。

静动力边界转换及其合理性验证方法的研究

繁琐复杂的静动力边界转换处理是进行静动力耦合模拟的关键步骤,为了研究黏弹性边界条件下传统静动力边界转换的合理性及其验证方法的适用性,本文首先根据弹性叠加原理提出了一种验证静动力耦合模拟分析中静动力边界转换合理性的方法(参考解法);然后基于有限元软件ABAQUS,并结合自行研发的适用于成层介质的黏弹性边界施加和等效节点力计算程序VBEA2.0,对多土层自由场静动力耦合模型和土-地下结构静动力耦合模型进行了地震反应分析,对参考解法的适用性进行了探究;最后使用本文提出的参考解法,对一种典型的未进行合理静动力边界转换的自由场模型进行了分析,探讨了静动力边界转换产生振荡的原因和机理。研究结果表明:用于验证静动力边界转换合理性的参考解法,既适用于多土层自由场静动力耦合计算模型,又适用于土-结构相互作用的静动力耦合模型;静动力边界转换后产?生的振荡是静动力耦合计算模型静力不平衡所导致,一般是因为未合理施加边界反力或单元应力。