Multi-Period E-Closed-Loop Supply Chain Network Considering Consumers’ Preference for Products and AI-Push

The remanufacturing industry plays a significant role to improve the utilization of resources and contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development. E-commerce channel (e-channel) has become an important retail channel. The multi-period closed-loop supply chain network of electronic channels (E-CLSCN) is studied. Moreover, this study considers the influence of consumers’ preference for products and artificial intelligence push (AI-push) on network balance under the conditions of dynamic and static. The network consists of manufacturers, remanufacturers, and demand markets. Remanufacturers are responsible for collecting and remanufacturing. The multi-period E-CLSCN model is established through variational inequalities. The study finds that whether dynamic or static, consumers’ preference for new products (NP) has positively correlated with the profits of manufacturers and the whole E-CLSCN. Consumers’ preference for remanufacturer products (RP) has only positively correlated with the profits of remanufactures. In the aspect of AI-push, the manufacturers’ AI-push has positively correlated with the profits of the entire players of E-CLSCN, while the remanufacturers’ AI-push has only positively correlated with the profits of the remanufacturers. Also, considering the multi-period, the sensitivity of the demand markets for the investment of manufacturers’ and remanufacturers’ AI-push gradually reduces, and the marginal benefit of AI-push gradually decreases. Finally, this paper addresses interesting managerial insights from the perspective of government and enterprises. Under the dual objectives of environmental protection and economic interests of enterprises, this study provides a reference for governments and enterprises to develop relevant dynamic policies. Namely, the government formulates dynamic environmental protection measures, and enterprises formulate dynamic strategic plans and implement government policies. While promoting the management level of E-CLSCN, it effectively boosts the development of the remanufacturing industry and recycling sustainable economy

The Impact of Equity Financing on the Performance of Capital-Constrained Supply Chain under Consumers’ Low-Carbon Preference

The reduction in carbon emissions by industrial enterprises is an important means for promoting environmental protection and achieving sustainable development. To determine the impact of carbon emissions reduction on supply chain operation and financing decision-making, in this study we designed three financing strategies, i.e., bank loan financing, equity financing, and hybrid financing (a combination of bank loan financing and equity financing), for a manufacturer (leader) and a low-carbon supply chain composed of a capital-constrained retailer, constructed Stackelberg game models, solved the equilibrium results under each financing strategy using the reverse recursion method, and revealed the financing preference of the supply chain member companies through comparative analysis. The results showed that the increase in the consumers’ low-carbon preference and equity financing ratio have positive impacts on supply chain equilibrium, a result that is opposite that for the impact of the interest rate of bank loan financing; additionally, the abovementioned three factors jointly determine the profit of the manufacturer of the low-carbon supply chain, while the retailer’s profit is affected by the equity dividend ratio. Finally, we present the conditions for the financing preference of the manufacturer and the retailer. The findings of this study can provide references for low-carbon supply chain companies to make appropriate management decisions

Optimal Financing Strategy in a Capital-Constrained Supply Chain with Retailer Green Marketing Efforts

The purpose of this research is to examine the green supply chain (GSC) financing decisions of manufacturers and capital-constrained retailers in order to establish a Stackelberg game model under decentralized and centralized decision-making. This paper studies the influence of retailers’ choice of trade credit or bank loan financing strategy on a GSC’s performance and analyzes their decision-making tendency. The results show that manufacturers should provide trade credit and participate in retailers’ financing decisions to avoid double marginal effects under both centralized and decentralized decision-making. Interestingly, the optimal value of green marketing effort and retailer order quantity was twice as high as the decentralized under the centralized decision, indicating that the centralized decision could better improve GSC’s financing efficiency. Especially when the trade credit financing strategy is feasible, this effect is more significant. Finally, the outcomes are verified through numerical simulation, which references GSC practitioners in management decisions

Optimal Financing Strategy in a Capital-Constrained Supply Chain with Retailer Green Marketing Efforts

The purpose of this research is to examine the green supply chain (GSC) financing decisions of manufacturers and capital-constrained retailers in order to establish a Stackelberg game model under decentralized and centralized decision-making. This paper studies the influence of retailers’ choice of trade credit or bank loan financing strategy on a GSC’s performance and analyzes their decision-making tendency. The results show that manufacturers should provide trade credit and participate in retailers’ financing decisions to avoid double marginal effects under both centralized and decentralized decision-making. Interestingly, the optimal value of green marketing effort and retailer order quantity was twice as high as the decentralized under the centralized decision, indicating that the centralized decision could better improve GSC’s financing efficiency. Especially when the trade credit financing strategy is feasible, this effect is more significant. Finally, the outcomes are verified through numerical simulation, which references GSC practitioners in management decisions

Knowledge and practices regarding diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients registered in a chronic disease management system in eastern China.

PurposeTo investigate the knowledge and practices regarding diabetic retinopathy (DR) among diabetic patients included in a community-based primary health system (CBPHS) in China.MethodsDiabetic patients aged 18 years and above registered in the CBPHS in Yueqing city, Zhejiang province were recruited. Information obtained by questionnaire included: demographic and socioeconomic status, knowledge about DR, and ocular and medical history. The primary outcome was whether the participant knew that DM can affect the eyes, defined according to the question: "Do you know diabetes mellitus (DM) can affect eyes? (yes or no)". A knowledge score was calculated based on the responses to seven questions, with 1 point awarded for a correct response and 0 points for an incorrect or uncertain answer.ResultsA total of 1972 diabetic patients were included in the study with an average age of 65.2±10.8 years, 45.7% were male. One thousand two hundred and nineteen patients (61.8%) knew that DM can affect the eyes. Significant differences in age, education, income status, insurance covering eye care, fasting blood glucose, duration of DM, history of hypertension existed between subjects who knew and those who did not know that DM can affect the eyes (PConclusionsThe knowledge toward DR among DM patients were still low within the chronic disease management system in eastern China. Routine ophthalmic screening, health care promotions, and educational programs should be emphasized and implemented for better DR prevention and management

Preparation of silica microcapsules containing octadecane as temperature-adjusting powder

status: publishe

Catalytic deoxygenation of carboxyl compounds in the hydrothermal liquefaction crude bio-oil via in-situ hydrogen supply by CuO-CeO2/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) has drawn great attention as a potential method to produce bio-oil from biomass waste. However, bio-crude from HTL shows undesired high-oxygen content and needs further deoxygenation upgrading. Herein, stearic acids as a model carboxylic compounds in HTL bio-crude was employed to investigate catalytic deoxygenation performance. Results showed that (CuO)(10)-CeO2/gamma-Al2O3 had the most superior catalytic deoxygenation performance for the stearic acids. The maximum stearic acid conversion rate (96.36%) and total hydrocarbon yield (88.79%) were obtained at 300 degrees C, 12 h, ratio of stearic acid to water 1 : 4. The main catalytic deoxygenation pathways were proposed: carbon monoxide generation (decarbonylation) - in-situ hydrogen generation (water-gas shift) - short-chain fatty acid generation (hydrogenolysis) - n-alkanes generation (decarboxylation, hydrodeoxygenation and hydrogenation). DFT calculation elucidated that CuO-CeO2 reduced the activation energy from 24.8 kcal mol(-1) (vacuum) to 15.0 kcal mol(-1) (catalytic). Thus, deoxygenation via CuO-CeO2/gamma-Al2O3 would be an effective method for upgrading HTL bio-crude

Prevalence of Diabetes, Prediabetes, and Associated Factors in an Adult Chinese Population: Baseline of a Prediabetes Cohort Study

Purpose. To report baseline information of a prediabetes mellitus (PDM) cohort with the aim of exploring related factors for the progression of PDM and its complications. Methods. This study is an exploratory and cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data from a cohort study. Residents aged 18 to 70 years from Houtang Village, Nanyue Town, Yueqing City, Zhejiang Province, China, were invited to participate between October 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019. Blood samples were collected for analysis, and questionnaire interviews were conducted to assess behavioral characteristics. The study participants were divided into DM, PDM, and normal groups for comparisons based on their blood work, and multiple multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to assess the risk factors for DM and PDM. Results. Data from 406 participants were used in the baseline analysis, with a mean age of 51.2 ± 11.0 years and 160 (33.0%) males. The number of participants in the DM, PDM, and normal group was 58 (14.3%), 166 (40.9%), and 182 (44.8%), respectively. The prevalence of DM was 14.3%, and the prevalence of PDM was 40.9%. The regression analysis showed that older age (relative risk ratio (RRR) = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01–1.11, P=0.018), higher systolic blood pressure (RRR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.004–1.08, P=0.030), higher BMI (RRR = 1.20; 95% CI, 1.06–3.06, P=0.004), higher TG (RRR = 1.80; 95% CI, 1.06–3.06, P=0.029), and higher WBC count (RRR = 1.32; 95% CI, 1.07–1.64, P=0.010) were significantly associated with a higher risk of DM. Meanwhile, higher systolic blood pressure (RRR = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.004–1.06, P=0.025) was the only factor significantly associated with a higher risk of PDM. Conclusion. The prevalence of DM and PDM is relatively high in this wealthy East China village population. Many modifiable risk factors exist for DM and PDM, which will be closely monitored during our longitudinal observation