A single product closed-loop supply chain that satisfies an uncertain market demand with original and remanufactured products is considered.The yield of the recovery process is random and depends on the acquisition pr...A single product closed-loop supply chain that satisfies an uncertain market demand with original and remanufactured products is considered.The yield of the recovery process is random and depends on the acquisition price offered for the end-of-life products.In such a stochastic setting,a firm needs to make production and procurement decisions so that the total expected profit is maximized.Both centralized and decentralized models are established depending on the party collecting the returns.The optimal acquisition price and production quantities of original and remanufactured products are determined for the firm.The contracts to coordinate the decentralized systems are chosen and the optimal contract parameters are determined.A computational experiment is given to show the effects of recovery parameters on the system performance.Results show that the recovery parameters have a high impact on the profitability of the manufacturer in the centralized model and on that of the collection agency in the decentralized model.展开更多
According to the Researches on Coal Development Strategies in China (1991 ~ 2020),the production scale of coal in China will increase to 2100 Mt in the year 2020 and the district layout of coal development and product...According to the Researches on Coal Development Strategies in China (1991 ~ 2020),the production scale of coal in China will increase to 2100 Mt in the year 2020 and the district layout of coal development and production will be diverted from the east to the central-west step by step. In addit1on, the multi-ply runnning struc ture-mines of the nation,the local and the village and town combined with produc tion scales of the large, the middle,and the small-will be kept. However,the tech nique of mining will be improved greatly.展开更多
We evaluated the dietary protein requirements of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) and their effects on aquatic quality. Five experimental diets were formulated containing 450, 480, 500, 520, and 540 g/kg. Eac...We evaluated the dietary protein requirements of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) and their effects on aquatic quality. Five experimental diets were formulated containing 450, 480, 500, 520, and 540 g/kg. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of juvenile turbot (mean initial body weight 34.5 ± 5.5 g) for 88 d. Both the weight gain ratio and feed efficiency increased with increasing dietary protein up to 500 g/kg, but no further improvement was detected when dietary protein levels were >500 g/kg. Protein intake and digestion increased with protein levels, while fecal nitrogen and nitrogen content in seawater increased only when dietary protein exceeded 500 g/kg. Protein digestibility was highest at intermediate dietary protein levels. Chemical oxygen demand, nitrite-nitrogen (NO2--N) and phosphatic-phosphor (PO43--P) levels increased in the rearing water as dietary protein levels increased. The optimum eco-nutrition level of dietary protein for juvenile turbot was 500 g/kg under the current experimental conditions. The diets containing 540 and 500 g/kg protein had similar growth rates and feed conversion ratios, but levels of ammonia (NH4+) and nitrogen were considerably higher in the water and feces, respectively, at the higher level of dietary protein. The difference in the pattern of change between body weight gain and ammonia concentration in water with increasing dietary protein is described by rhomb characteristics.展开更多
Abstract Production planning under uncertainty is considered as one of the most important problems in plant-wide optimization. In this article, first, a stochastic programming model with uniform distribution assumptio...Abstract Production planning under uncertainty is considered as one of the most important problems in plant-wide optimization. In this article, first, a stochastic programming model with uniform distribution assumption is developed for refinery production planning under demand uncertainty, and then a hybrid programming model incorporating the linear programming model with the stochastic programming one by a weight factor is proposed. Subsequently, piecewise linear approximation functions are derived and applied to solve the hybrid programming model-under uniform distribution assumption. Case studies show that the linear approximation algorithm is effective to solve.the hybrid programming model, along with an error≤0.5% when the deviatiorgmean≤20%. The simulation results indicate that the hybrid programming model with an appropriate weight factor （0.1-0.2） can effectively improve the optimal operational strategies under demand uncertainty, achieving higher profit than the linear programming model and the stochastic programming one with about 1.3% and 0.4% enhancement, respectavely.展开更多
As a result of a large number of food scandals, societal interest in transparency in the food sector has grown considerably. Hence, the creation of transparency in the production process has been the focus of recent l...As a result of a large number of food scandals, societal interest in transparency in the food sector has grown considerably. Hence, the creation of transparency in the production process has been the focus of recent legislation. In addition to tracking and tracing, one finds in the public discussion an increasing number of demands for further information on such issues as food safety, animal and environmental protection and the sustainability of food production processes. However, it has not yet been sufficiently clarified which information about the production process--and thus which level of transparency--is actually desired or can actually be processed by consumers at the point of sale. In order to analyze this topic from the viewpoint of consumers, a large-scale empirical study has been conducted. This research uses an adaptive conjoint analysis to determine what transparency expectations consumers have with regards to information on packaged pork. Initial results show a very heterogeneous demand for information. Furthermore, consumers＇ demand for more information sometimes does not match their actual benefit profiles. The results provide insight into consumers＇ information needs and their willingness to pay for greater transparency; they also have interesting implications for meat processors＇ product development strategies.展开更多
Traditionally, organizations assume that compensation/pay and monetary benefits are what all employees need to work harder, be productive, or remain with the company. According to Abraham Maslow, within every person i...Traditionally, organizations assume that compensation/pay and monetary benefits are what all employees need to work harder, be productive, or remain with the company. According to Abraham Maslow, within every person is a hierarchy of five needs： physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs Organizations must be able to identify what employees desire to secure optimum performance and to meet the needs of both employees and employers. This research focuses on the generational gap and the significance of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards in the workforce. The purpose and objective of this research are to test the significance of monetary versus non-monetary rewards among the different generations in the organization. A self-designed questionnaire distributed to a multi-generational group of employees of selected organizations was used to collect the analyzed data. Sixty-five （65%） responses were obtained. Secondary data were used to elucidate the needs in this area of study. Because the workforce is predicted to become more diverse in terms of age, organizations will be unlikely to implement one set of rewards for the multiple generations. This is due to the differing expectations and requirements among the generations. However, the results indicate no significant difference in monetary versus non-monetary rewards among the different generations in the workforce.展开更多
Both the OECD and the WTO have accumulated systematic data on the magnitude of support going to farmers as a result of farm policies. The datasets are collected for different purposes, but both give a detailed picture...Both the OECD and the WTO have accumulated systematic data on the magnitude of support going to farmers as a result of farm policies. The datasets are collected for different purposes, but both give a detailed picture of the evolution of these policies. This paper extends recent work on the compatibility or otherwise of the two attempts at policy monitoring by considering the categorization of individual policy instruments in Norway, Switzerland, the US, and the EU. The results show how the OECD dataset, particularly with respect to the link between direct payments and production requirements, complements that of the WTO. Many payments classified in the WTO Green Box require production, raising the possibility that they may distort production and trade. Though the issue of correct notifications to the WTO is the province of lawyers, the implications for modeling and policy analysis are of interest to economists, and the broader question of improving the consistency of the two datasets is of importance in the quest for transparency in the interpretation of changes in farm policies.展开更多
The work＇s main purpose was to design and implement a model of agricultural production for the attention of food demand of the coal complex in the center of the department of Cesar, Colombia, by mounting Profitable P...The work＇s main purpose was to design and implement a model of agricultural production for the attention of food demand of the coal complex in the center of the department of Cesar, Colombia, by mounting Profitable Productive Units in rural areas of the zone with mining influence. The aforementioned rural communities are at a socioeconomic disadvantage concerning to the local economic development policies. It was taken a rural society with socio-economic conditions at a disadvantage, level 1 in the classification scale of 1 to 5 of Colombia, several associations were organized in each one of the affected municipalities with strong agricultural vocation to train them in profitable production strategies, authors performed technical and technological support for 12 months. In synthesis, there were meaningful differences among gross income per month of people who worked in the projects of the Young Rural Entrepreneurs, a fact confirmed by the P-value 0.00000005 （Prob. 〉 F） and the F-value 29.3, both denote the significance statistic for this case is best gross income per month of persons covered by the program, this implies that for a person of the rural community it is more meaningful economically linked to the SENA＇s Young Rural Entrepreneurs, in contrast to search for jobs in the informal sector, there is even an average value of 530.000 COP/month （about 265 US/month） higher than the statutory minimum wage for 2009, equivalent to 497.000 COP/month （about 245 US/month）.展开更多
Over 30% rural families in India live in poverty due to small holdings and low soil productivity. As many underutilised tree species are tolerant to harsh agro-climatic conditions, BAIF promoted agri-horti-forestry on...Over 30% rural families in India live in poverty due to small holdings and low soil productivity. As many underutilised tree species are tolerant to harsh agro-climatic conditions, BAIF promoted agri-horti-forestry on degraded lands inhabited by tribals. Traditionally dependent on non-timber forest products, they selected tamarind （Tamarindus indica）, jackfruit （Artocarpus heterophyllus）, Indian gooseberry （Emblica officinalis） and ber （Zizyphus mauritiana）, apart from mango and cashew for their livelihood. Oilseed trees like neem （Azadirachta indica）, mahua （Madhuca indica） and jatropha （Jatropha curcas） were introduced on field borders, while the interspace was utilised for cultivating food crops. To ensure higher yield and superior quality of the produce, selection of elite germplasm, domestication through standardisation of cultivation practices and facilitation for supply of planting material are essential, apart from increasing the demand by exploring their uses, creating awareness among consumers and establishing a good distribution network, Intercrops like foodgrains, vegetables and medicinal herbs generated additional income and reduced risk in case of failure of underutilised crops. Introduction of underutilised crops on a small scale with local crops and expansion of their cultivation with the demand is recommended.展开更多
Demand for power in Malaysia is projected to double the current demand in 2030. The current fuel mix for power generation is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. This has created energy supply and environmental sustaina...Demand for power in Malaysia is projected to double the current demand in 2030. The current fuel mix for power generation is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. This has created energy supply and environmental sustainability concerns to the industry. Furthermore, at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009-15th Conference of Parties （COP15）, Malaysia had given the commitment to voluntary reduction of up to 40% in terms of emissions intensity of GDP by the year 2020 compared to 2005 levels. Renewable energy （RE） provides the best alternative in addressing these issues. In 2001, RE was regarded as the fifth fuel in the new Five Fuel Strategy of the National Energy Policy. Small Renewable Energy Program （SREP） was launched with the main objective of supporting the government＇s strategy to intensify the development of RE as the fifth fuel resource. Biomass, the largest amongst the main RE resources available, can be used for heat and power generation. With optimum utilization, the value ofbiomass resources in Malaysia is estimated to be more than RM 500 billion （USD 156 billion） over the next 20 years. Malaysia has the capacity to use renewable energy resources to address the national energy agenda.展开更多
基金The National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.70772059)
文摘A single product closed-loop supply chain that satisfies an uncertain market demand with original and remanufactured products is considered.The yield of the recovery process is random and depends on the acquisition price offered for the end-of-life products.In such a stochastic setting,a firm needs to make production and procurement decisions so that the total expected profit is maximized.Both centralized and decentralized models are established depending on the party collecting the returns.The optimal acquisition price and production quantities of original and remanufactured products are determined for the firm.The contracts to coordinate the decentralized systems are chosen and the optimal contract parameters are determined.A computational experiment is given to show the effects of recovery parameters on the system performance.Results show that the recovery parameters have a high impact on the profitability of the manufacturer in the centralized model and on that of the collection agency in the decentralized model.
文摘According to the Researches on Coal Development Strategies in China (1991 ~ 2020),the production scale of coal in China will increase to 2100 Mt in the year 2020 and the district layout of coal development and production will be diverted from the east to the central-west step by step. In addit1on, the multi-ply runnning struc ture-mines of the nation,the local and the village and town combined with produc tion scales of the large, the middle,and the small-will be kept. However,the tech nique of mining will be improved greatly.
基金Supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (No. 2006AA100305)National Agricultural Science and Technology Achievements Commercialization Program (No. 2008GB2C100109)the Knowledge Innovation Program of Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. L49032503)
文摘We evaluated the dietary protein requirements of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) and their effects on aquatic quality. Five experimental diets were formulated containing 450, 480, 500, 520, and 540 g/kg. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of juvenile turbot (mean initial body weight 34.5 ± 5.5 g) for 88 d. Both the weight gain ratio and feed efficiency increased with increasing dietary protein up to 500 g/kg, but no further improvement was detected when dietary protein levels were >500 g/kg. Protein intake and digestion increased with protein levels, while fecal nitrogen and nitrogen content in seawater increased only when dietary protein exceeded 500 g/kg. Protein digestibility was highest at intermediate dietary protein levels. Chemical oxygen demand, nitrite-nitrogen (NO2--N) and phosphatic-phosphor (PO43--P) levels increased in the rearing water as dietary protein levels increased. The optimum eco-nutrition level of dietary protein for juvenile turbot was 500 g/kg under the current experimental conditions. The diets containing 540 and 500 g/kg protein had similar growth rates and feed conversion ratios, but levels of ammonia (NH4+) and nitrogen were considerably higher in the water and feces, respectively, at the higher level of dietary protein. The difference in the pattern of change between body weight gain and ammonia concentration in water with increasing dietary protein is described by rhomb characteristics.
基金the Specialized Research Fund for Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China(20060003087)
文摘Abstract Production planning under uncertainty is considered as one of the most important problems in plant-wide optimization. In this article, first, a stochastic programming model with uniform distribution assumption is developed for refinery production planning under demand uncertainty, and then a hybrid programming model incorporating the linear programming model with the stochastic programming one by a weight factor is proposed. Subsequently, piecewise linear approximation functions are derived and applied to solve the hybrid programming model-under uniform distribution assumption. Case studies show that the linear approximation algorithm is effective to solve.the hybrid programming model, along with an error≤0.5% when the deviatiorgmean≤20%. The simulation results indicate that the hybrid programming model with an appropriate weight factor （0.1-0.2） can effectively improve the optimal operational strategies under demand uncertainty, achieving higher profit than the linear programming model and the stochastic programming one with about 1.3% and 0.4% enhancement, respectavely.
文摘As a result of a large number of food scandals, societal interest in transparency in the food sector has grown considerably. Hence, the creation of transparency in the production process has been the focus of recent legislation. In addition to tracking and tracing, one finds in the public discussion an increasing number of demands for further information on such issues as food safety, animal and environmental protection and the sustainability of food production processes. However, it has not yet been sufficiently clarified which information about the production process--and thus which level of transparency--is actually desired or can actually be processed by consumers at the point of sale. In order to analyze this topic from the viewpoint of consumers, a large-scale empirical study has been conducted. This research uses an adaptive conjoint analysis to determine what transparency expectations consumers have with regards to information on packaged pork. Initial results show a very heterogeneous demand for information. Furthermore, consumers＇ demand for more information sometimes does not match their actual benefit profiles. The results provide insight into consumers＇ information needs and their willingness to pay for greater transparency; they also have interesting implications for meat processors＇ product development strategies.
文摘Traditionally, organizations assume that compensation/pay and monetary benefits are what all employees need to work harder, be productive, or remain with the company. According to Abraham Maslow, within every person is a hierarchy of five needs： physiological needs, safety needs, social needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization needs Organizations must be able to identify what employees desire to secure optimum performance and to meet the needs of both employees and employers. This research focuses on the generational gap and the significance of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards in the workforce. The purpose and objective of this research are to test the significance of monetary versus non-monetary rewards among the different generations in the organization. A self-designed questionnaire distributed to a multi-generational group of employees of selected organizations was used to collect the analyzed data. Sixty-five （65%） responses were obtained. Secondary data were used to elucidate the needs in this area of study. Because the workforce is predicted to become more diverse in terms of age, organizations will be unlikely to implement one set of rewards for the multiple generations. This is due to the differing expectations and requirements among the generations. However, the results indicate no significant difference in monetary versus non-monetary rewards among the different generations in the workforce.
文摘Both the OECD and the WTO have accumulated systematic data on the magnitude of support going to farmers as a result of farm policies. The datasets are collected for different purposes, but both give a detailed picture of the evolution of these policies. This paper extends recent work on the compatibility or otherwise of the two attempts at policy monitoring by considering the categorization of individual policy instruments in Norway, Switzerland, the US, and the EU. The results show how the OECD dataset, particularly with respect to the link between direct payments and production requirements, complements that of the WTO. Many payments classified in the WTO Green Box require production, raising the possibility that they may distort production and trade. Though the issue of correct notifications to the WTO is the province of lawyers, the implications for modeling and policy analysis are of interest to economists, and the broader question of improving the consistency of the two datasets is of importance in the quest for transparency in the interpretation of changes in farm policies.
文摘The work＇s main purpose was to design and implement a model of agricultural production for the attention of food demand of the coal complex in the center of the department of Cesar, Colombia, by mounting Profitable Productive Units in rural areas of the zone with mining influence. The aforementioned rural communities are at a socioeconomic disadvantage concerning to the local economic development policies. It was taken a rural society with socio-economic conditions at a disadvantage, level 1 in the classification scale of 1 to 5 of Colombia, several associations were organized in each one of the affected municipalities with strong agricultural vocation to train them in profitable production strategies, authors performed technical and technological support for 12 months. In synthesis, there were meaningful differences among gross income per month of people who worked in the projects of the Young Rural Entrepreneurs, a fact confirmed by the P-value 0.00000005 （Prob. 〉 F） and the F-value 29.3, both denote the significance statistic for this case is best gross income per month of persons covered by the program, this implies that for a person of the rural community it is more meaningful economically linked to the SENA＇s Young Rural Entrepreneurs, in contrast to search for jobs in the informal sector, there is even an average value of 530.000 COP/month （about 265 US/month） higher than the statutory minimum wage for 2009, equivalent to 497.000 COP/month （about 245 US/month）.
文摘Over 30% rural families in India live in poverty due to small holdings and low soil productivity. As many underutilised tree species are tolerant to harsh agro-climatic conditions, BAIF promoted agri-horti-forestry on degraded lands inhabited by tribals. Traditionally dependent on non-timber forest products, they selected tamarind （Tamarindus indica）, jackfruit （Artocarpus heterophyllus）, Indian gooseberry （Emblica officinalis） and ber （Zizyphus mauritiana）, apart from mango and cashew for their livelihood. Oilseed trees like neem （Azadirachta indica）, mahua （Madhuca indica） and jatropha （Jatropha curcas） were introduced on field borders, while the interspace was utilised for cultivating food crops. To ensure higher yield and superior quality of the produce, selection of elite germplasm, domestication through standardisation of cultivation practices and facilitation for supply of planting material are essential, apart from increasing the demand by exploring their uses, creating awareness among consumers and establishing a good distribution network, Intercrops like foodgrains, vegetables and medicinal herbs generated additional income and reduced risk in case of failure of underutilised crops. Introduction of underutilised crops on a small scale with local crops and expansion of their cultivation with the demand is recommended.
文摘Demand for power in Malaysia is projected to double the current demand in 2030. The current fuel mix for power generation is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. This has created energy supply and environmental sustainability concerns to the industry. Furthermore, at the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009-15th Conference of Parties （COP15）, Malaysia had given the commitment to voluntary reduction of up to 40% in terms of emissions intensity of GDP by the year 2020 compared to 2005 levels. Renewable energy （RE） provides the best alternative in addressing these issues. In 2001, RE was regarded as the fifth fuel in the new Five Fuel Strategy of the National Energy Policy. Small Renewable Energy Program （SREP） was launched with the main objective of supporting the government＇s strategy to intensify the development of RE as the fifth fuel resource. Biomass, the largest amongst the main RE resources available, can be used for heat and power generation. With optimum utilization, the value ofbiomass resources in Malaysia is estimated to be more than RM 500 billion （USD 156 billion） over the next 20 years. Malaysia has the capacity to use renewable energy resources to address the national energy agenda.
