CSR Report on Chinese Business Overseas Operation

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to corporate behaviour that pro-actively meets the ethical expectations of the public and voluntarily contributes to the society. The global CSR movement yields numerous initiatives, standards and legislation. Owing to the need for development as well as the reform and opening-up policy, mounting Chinese enterprises are “going global” with large amounts of capital. Nevertheless, some foreign governments cast doubt on China’s strategic intent, and the general public is dissatisfied with Chinese CSR performance. Chinese enterprises must strengthen their capacities regarding risk control, internal governance, public communication etc., so as to achieve mutual benefit with multi-stakeholders and build an image of responsible global citizenship

Philanthropy in China

Philanthropy in China is fast growing. A new important charity law of China came into effect in 2016. This book is a comprehensive report about these developments: Philanthropy is considered the third form of wealth distribution (private means to public ends and communities) after market competition and taxation scheme. In individualistic and market-oriented societies, philanthropy is more established and relevant than in societies, where the state controls distribution. This book compares Chinese and Western concepts of philanthropy and analyzes the history, drivers, institutional environment, latest legal frame, donation patterns, the role of civil society, corporate giving and the media in Chinese philanthropy. The report serves as comprehensive overview for all actors in society in China and internationally who are dealing with philanthropy in China. (Globethics.net Publications

中国企业 “走出去” 社会责任研究报告

企业的社会责任指企业主动满足公众对其的道德期待或自 愿为社会作出额外贡献的行为。随着全球企业社会责任运动的发 展，各类倡议、规范和立法层出不穷。在改革开放政策和自身发 展需求的推动下，中国企业加快了“走出去”的步伐。但部分外 国政府对中方的战略意图尚有疑虑，海外公众对中国企业的责任 表现仍有微词。中国企业亟须提高风险管控、内部治理、公共沟 通等能力，进而实现与诸多利益相关者的互利共赢，树立负责任 的全球公民形象

Multimodal Identification of Alzheimer's Disease: A Review

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder characterized by cognitive impairment and memory loss. With the increasing aging population, the incidence of AD is continuously rising, making early diagnosis and intervention an urgent need. In recent years, a considerable number of teams have applied computer-aided diagnostic techniques to early classification research of AD. Most studies have utilized imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and electroencephalogram (EEG). However, there have also been studies that attempted to use other modalities as input features for the models, such as sound, posture, biomarkers, cognitive assessment scores, and their fusion. Experimental results have shown that the combination of multiple modalities often leads to better performance compared to a single modality. Therefore, this paper will focus on different modalities and their fusion, thoroughly elucidate the mechanisms of various modalities, explore which methods should be combined to better harness their utility, analyze and summarize the literature in the field of early classification of AD in recent years, in order to explore more possibilities of modality combinations

Recent development in the application of alternative sterilization technologies to prepared dishes: A review

Sterilization is one of the most effective food preservation methods. Conventional thermal sterilization commonly used in food industry usually causes the deterioration of food quality. Flavor, aroma, and texture, among other attributes, are significantly affected by thermal sterilization. However, demands of consumers for nutritious and safe dishes with a minimum change in their original textural and sensory properties are growing rapidly. In order to meet these demands, new approaches have been explored in the last few years to extend the shelf-life of dishes. This review discusses advantages and disadvantages of currently available physical sterilization technologies, including irradiation (eg. Gamma rays, X-rays, e-beams), microwave and radio frequency when used in prepared dishes. The preservation effect of these technologies on prepared dishes are normally evaluated by microbiological and sensory analyses

Investigation on Oil Physical States of Hybrid Shale Oil System: A Case Study on Cretaceous Second White Speckled Shale Formation from Highwood River Outcrop, Southern Alberta

Nine samples collected from the Upper Cretaceous Second White Speckled Shale Formation at the Highwood River outcrop in southern Alberta were geochemically characterized for their oil contents, physical states, and chemical compositions. Cold extraction was performed on 8–10 mm and 2–5 mm chips sequentially to obtain the first and second extractable organic matter (EOM-1 and EOM-2), while Soxhlet extraction was performed on powder from previously extracted chips to obtain the third extract (EOM-3). EOM-1 can be roughly regarded as free oil and EOM-2 is weakly adsorbed on mineral surfaces, while EOM-3 may represent the oil strongly adsorbed on kerogen. While both extraction yields and Rock-Eval pyrolysates differed from their original values due to the evaporative loss during outcropping, there was a generally positive correlation between the total EOM and total oil derived from Rock-Eval pyrolysis. EOM-1 was linearly correlated with Rock-Eval S1, while the extractable S2 content was well correlated with the loss of TOC, suggesting that TOC content was the main constraint for adsorbed oils. A bulk composition analysis illustrated that EOM-1 contained more saturated hydrocarbons, while EOM-3 was enriched in resins and asphaltenes. More detailed fractionation between the free and adsorbed oils was demonstrated by molecular compositions of each extract using quantitative GC-MS analysis. Lower-molecular-weight n-alkanes and smaller-ring-number aromatic compounds were preferentially concentrated in EOM-1 as compared to their higher-molecular or greater-ring-number counterparts and vice versa for EOM-3. Fractionation between isoprenoids and adjacent eluted n-alkanes, isomers of steranes, hopanes, alkylnaphthalenes, alkylphenanthrenes and alkyldibenzothiophenes was insignificant, suggesting no allogenic charge from deep strata. Strong chemical fractionation between saturated and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions was observed with EOM-1 apparently enriched in n-alkanes, while EOM-3 retained more aromatic hydrocarbons. However, the difference between free and adsorbed state oils was less dramatic than the variation from shales and siltstones. Lithological heterogeneities controlled both the amount and composition of retained fluids. Oil that resided in shales (source rock) behaved more similar to the EOM-3, with diffusive expulsion leading to the release of discrete molecules from a more adsorbed or occluded phase to a more free phase in siltstones with more connected pores and/or fractures (reservoir). Under current technical conditions, only the free oil can flow and will be the recoverable resource. Therefore, the highest potential can be expected from intervals adjacent to organic-rich beds. The compositional variations due to expulsion and primary migration from source rocks to reservoirs illustrated in the present study will contribute to a better understanding of the distribution of hydrocarbons generated and stored within the shale plays

Investigation on Oil Physical States of Hybrid Shale Oil System: A Case Study on Cretaceous Second White Speckled Shale Formation from Highwood River Outcrop, Southern Alberta

Nine samples collected from the Upper Cretaceous Second White Speckled Shale Formation at the Highwood River outcrop in southern Alberta were geochemically characterized for their oil contents, physical states, and chemical compositions. Cold extraction was performed on 8–10 mm and 2–5 mm chips sequentially to obtain the first and second extractable organic matter (EOM-1 and EOM-2), while Soxhlet extraction was performed on powder from previously extracted chips to obtain the third extract (EOM-3). EOM-1 can be roughly regarded as free oil and EOM-2 is weakly adsorbed on mineral surfaces, while EOM-3 may represent the oil strongly adsorbed on kerogen. While both extraction yields and Rock-Eval pyrolysates differed from their original values due to the evaporative loss during outcropping, there was a generally positive correlation between the total EOM and total oil derived from Rock-Eval pyrolysis. EOM-1 was linearly correlated with Rock-Eval S1, while the extractable S2 content was well correlated with the loss of TOC, suggesting that TOC content was the main constraint for adsorbed oils. A bulk composition analysis illustrated that EOM-1 contained more saturated hydrocarbons, while EOM-3 was enriched in resins and asphaltenes. More detailed fractionation between the free and adsorbed oils was demonstrated by molecular compositions of each extract using quantitative GC-MS analysis. Lower-molecular-weight n-alkanes and smaller-ring-number aromatic compounds were preferentially concentrated in EOM-1 as compared to their higher-molecular or greater-ring-number counterparts and vice versa for EOM-3. Fractionation between isoprenoids and adjacent eluted n-alkanes, isomers of steranes, hopanes, alkylnaphthalenes, alkylphenanthrenes and alkyldibenzothiophenes was insignificant, suggesting no allogenic charge from deep strata. Strong chemical fractionation between saturated and aromatic hydrocarbon fractions was observed with EOM-1 apparently enriched in n-alkanes, while EOM-3 retained more aromatic hydrocarbons. However, the difference between free and adsorbed state oils was less dramatic than the variation from shales and siltstones. Lithological heterogeneities controlled both the amount and composition of retained fluids. Oil that resided in shales (source rock) behaved more similar to the EOM-3, with diffusive expulsion leading to the release of discrete molecules from a more adsorbed or occluded phase to a more free phase in siltstones with more connected pores and/or fractures (reservoir). Under current technical conditions, only the free oil can flow and will be the recoverable resource. Therefore, the highest potential can be expected from intervals adjacent to organic-rich beds. The compositional variations due to expulsion and primary migration from source rocks to reservoirs illustrated in the present study will contribute to a better understanding of the distribution of hydrocarbons generated and stored within the shale plays

Conversion from natural wetlands to forestland and farmland alters the composition of soil fungal communities in Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China

To understand the effect of human activities on fungal communities in wetland, forestland and farmland soils, in this study, we investigated the relationship between the composition of soil fungal communities and their perturbations in wetland in northeast China. The results showed that a total of 132 OTUs were identified from all three site types combined, while 72 were exclusively shared between farmland and pristine wetland, 60 between forestland and pristine wetland, and 305 between farmland and forestland. All sites also hosted unique fungal OTUs, with 397 OTUs unique to farmland, 388 unique to pristine wetland and 463 unique to forestland. The obtained sequences were affiliated to nine different phyla throughout the dataset. Sequence abundance showed that Ascomycota members were more frequently identified than Basidiomycota, in all soil samples. The dominant phyla were specific for habitat type with Ascomycota for wetland, Ascomycota and Zygomycota for farmland, and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota for forest land. The diversity of the fungal community was found highest in farmland, lower in forestland, and lowest in wetland. Canonical correlation analyses demonstrated that changes in land use significantly altered the fungal community composition of the soil. The β-diversity of the soil fungal community was most affected by soil pH, total carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as available nitrogen and available phosphorus in the soil. Cultivation can significantly enhance the fungal diversity. These findings highlight the importance of effectively managing the soil fungal community to maintain a naturally functioning soil ecosystem

“增益”还是“损耗”?挑战性工作要求对工作-家庭增益的“双刃剑”影响

The balance of work and family has received widespread attention from managers and researchers in recent years. Previous research claims that job demand, as a kind of pressure felt by employees, reduces employees’ work motivation, increases employee fatigue and anxiety, and hinders work-family enrichment. However, different job demands (e.g., challenge demand and hindrance demand) have different effects on employees. Challenge demand, which gives individuals the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and promote personal growth, influences work-family enrichment in a complex way. However, few researches pay sufficient attention to the mechanism of the double-edged effect in the relationship between challenge demand and work-family enrichment. In addition, although scholarly research on job demand and work-family enrichment has increasingly focused on within-person fluctuations in recent years, how to examine the “dynamic” effects of challenge demand on work-family enrichment has received little attention. Therefore, based on conservation of resource theory and uncertainty management theory and from static and dynamic perspectives, we comprehensively examined the effects of challenge demand on work-family enrichment by clarifying the different attributes of challenge demand (daily level model, average level model, daily shift model, and variability model).We tested our hypothesis by conducting a diary study of 105 participations over 10 working days. Data were collected via a job demand scale, work absorption scale, relaxation scale, and work-family enrichment scale. First, we recorded control variables (gender, marital status, and spouse’s work status) during the weekends. Second, researchers collected daily data (challenge demand, hindrance demand, work absorption, relaxation, and work-family enrichment) from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each workday. Ultimately, 645 valid data points at the within-person level were available for 81 participants. Using SPSS 24.0, Mplus 7.0, and R software, we conducted a multilevel path analysis to examine the theoretical model.Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine the validity of the key variables (challenge demand, work absorption, relaxation, and work-family enrichment), and the results confirmed that the present study had good discriminant validity. The results of multilevel path analysis showed that the following. (1) In the static model, challenge demand had double-edged sword effects on work-family enrichment at the within-person level (daily level model); in the average level model (between-person level), the average level of challenge demand positively predicted chronic work absorption and negatively predicted chronic relaxation, and the mediating effect of chronic relaxation was stronger than that of chronic work absorption. (2) In the dynamic model, directionality of daily shifts in challenge demand negatively affected daily work absorption and daily relaxation in the daily shift model (within-person level). Only the mediating role of daily relaxation was significant; in the variability model (between-person level), the variability level of challenge demand had a negative impact on chronic work absorption and chronic relaxation, and only the mediating role of chronic relaxation was significant.The study makes critical contributions both theoretically and practically. (1) The static model indicated that, through the gained and deleted paths, the double-edged sword effect of the relationship between daily challenge demand, average level of change demand, and work-family enrichment was significant. (2) Through the dynamic model, this study explored the negative effect of challenge demand fluctuations on work-family enrichment in two forms, namely, daily shift directionality and the variability of challenge demand. Practically, this study suggests that managers should fully recognize the double-edged sword effect of challenge demand

Evaluating Scenario-Specific Loading Processes on Mobile Phones

The manuscript presents a study that evaluates satisfaction with loading processes during human interactions with mobile devices. This is an innovative study to investigate human perception in terms of loading time for critical scenarios using a realistic mobile device. The scenarios were retrieved by internet searching. Consequently, high-fidelity models were reconstructed based on the identified scenarios. The measurements of contemporary commercial mobile devices yielded typical loading time values, which were subsequently applied in these models. Subjects operated these models, which were installed in a mobile terminal, and scored the models in terms of the loading time and processes. The results indicated that a shorter loading time was generally associated with higher scores. However, unsatisfactory scores were given to the shortest loading interval for the social App, which may indicate that users have higher expectations for this scenario. Furthermore, animation improved subjective satisfaction. These experimental protocols, the developed tools and the obtained results benefit not only manufacturers but also application developers