Groundwater Entrepreneurs in China: Selling Water to Meet the Demand for Water

The overall goal of our paper is to better understand the development of groundwater markets in northern China. In particular, we focus on the factors that determine the development of groundwater markets in our attempt to explain their 'breadth' and 'depth.' Based on a survey of 24 randomly sampled villages and 50 randomly sampled tubewells in two provinces (Hebei and Henan Province) in 2001 and a field survey of 68 randomly sampled villages in 4 provinces (Hebei, Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi) of northern China in 2004, our results show that groundwater markets in northern China have emerged and are developing rapidly. Our results show that groundwater markets in northern China are informal and localized. The markets have developed in a way in which they appear somewhat similar to markets that are found in South Asia. However, groundwater markets differ from markets in South Asia in other ways -- water sellers discriminate in pricing and they almost always work on a spot-market, cash basis (that is, there are no share or labor sharing arrangements as found in South Asia). Econometric results show that the privatization of tubewells is one of the most important driving factors that encourage the development of groundwater markets. Increasing water and land scarcity are also major determinants that induce the development of groundwater markets

Groundwater Entrepreneurs in China: Selling Water to Meet the Demand for Water

The overall goal of our paper is to better understand the development of groundwater markets in northern China. In particular, we focus on the factors that determine the development of groundwater markets in our attempt to explain their 'breadth' and 'depth.' Based on a survey of 24 randomly sampled villages and 50 randomly sampled tubewells in two provinces (Hebei and Henan Province) in 2001 and a field survey of 68 randomly sampled villages in 4 provinces (Hebei, Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi) of northern China in 2004, our results show that groundwater markets in northern China have emerged and are developing rapidly. Our results show that groundwater markets in northern China are informal and localized. The markets have developed in a way in which they appear somewhat similar to markets that are found in South Asia. However, groundwater markets differ from markets in South Asia in other wayswater sellers discriminate in pricing and they almost always work on a spot-market, cash basis (that is, there are no share or labor sharing arrangements as found in South Asia). Econometric results show that the privatization of tubewells is one of the most important driving factors that encourage the development of groundwater markets. Increasing water and land scarcity are also major determinants that induce the development of groundwater markets.Groundwater markets, Emergence, Characteristics, Determinants, northern China, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, O53, Q15, Q25,

China’s E-commerce Development Path and Mode Innovation of Agricultural Product Based on Business Model Canvas Method

Rapid development of modern e-commerce technology has greatly improved the efficiency of China’s agricultural product supply chain operation , and the traditional e-commerce of agricultural products mode and path have been far from enough to solve new problems that modern economic development brought in China. This paper synthesizes the domestic and foreign development status of e-commerce of agricultural products, further establishes the analysis frame of e-commerce of agricultural products mode, first applies the business model canvas method to generalize China’s e-commerce mode of agricultural products from nine important dimensions of customer segmentation, key business, value proposition, core resources etc, aiming at the deficiencies of the present model,creatively put forward new mode, LBS O2O Community with WeChat, and explores development path of the community e-commerce of agricultural products, provides feasible suggestions to agricultural operators in the selection and optimization of electronic business mode

Diagnostic efficacy of two-dimensional echocardiography combined with coronary angiogram in patients with acute myocardial infarction, and the effectiveness of atorvastatin

Purpose: To investigate the diagnostic significance of two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) combined with coronary angiogram in patients with acute myocardial infarction, and to determine the effectiveness of atorvastatin.Methods: Patients (n = 100) with acute myocardial infarction admitted in Affiliated Hospital of Jinggangshan University, Ji’an, China, were divided into control group (CG) treated with conventional therapy, and study group (EG) treated with atorvastatin, in addition to conventional therapy. The diseased vessels examined by echocardiography and coronary angiogramv were recorded and compared. The effectiveness of atorvastatin treatment was assessed by evaluating myocardial injury, oxidative stress, vascular injury and cardiac function indices, viz, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic internal diameter (LVESD), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV).Results: The number of double and multiple lesions shown on coronary angiogram were significantly higher than those shown in echocardiography. Phosphocreatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) improved significantly in both groups after surgery, with CK-MB significantly lower in EG than those in CG at 1 and 3 days post-operation. Interleukin-6 (IL- 6) was significantly lower in EG than in CG at 1 and 7 days after the surgery (p < 0.05). N-terminal Btype natriuretic peptidogen (NT-proBNP) was lower in EG than in CG on the 3rd day after surgery (p < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) was significantly higher in EG than in the CG at 1, 3 and 7 days after surgery. The QRS scores significantly improved in both groups after surgery (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Echocardiography, when used in combination with coronary angiogram, accurately assesses the coronary lesions in acute myocardial infarction, and atorvastatin treatment after PCI reduces myocardial injury, relieves inflammation, and promotes the recovery of cardiac function in patients

Antecedents of User Stickiness and Loyalty and Their Effects on Users’ Group-Buying Repurchase Intention

Intense competition among a vast number of group-buying websites leads to higher product homogeneity, which allows customers to switch to alternative websites easily and reduce their website stickiness and loyalty. This study explores the antecedents of user stickiness and loyalty and their effects on consumers’ group-buying repurchase intention. Results indicate that systems quality, information quality, service quality, and alternative system quality each has a positive relationship with user loyalty through user stickiness. Meanwhile, information quality directly impacts user loyalty. Thereafter, user stickiness and loyalty each has a positive relationship with consumers’ repurchase intention. Theoretical and managerial implications are also discussed

Can China continue feeding itself ? the impact of climate change on agriculture

Several studies addressing the supply and demand for food in China suggest that the nation can largely meet its needs in the coming decades. However, these studies do not consider the effects of climate change. This paper examines whether near future expected changes in climate are likely to alter this picture. The authors analyze the effect of temperature and precipitation on net crop revenues using a cross section consisting of both rainfed and irrigated farms. Based on survey data from 8,405 households across 28 provinces, the results of the Ricardian analysis demonstrate that global warming is likely to be harmful to China but the impacts are likely to be very different in each region. The mid latitude region of China may benefit from warming but the southern and northern regions are likely to be damaged by warming. More precipitation is beneficial to Chinese farmers except in the wet southeast. Irrigated and rainfed farmers have similar responses to precipitation but not to temperature. Warmer temperatures may benefit irrigated farms but they are likely to harm rainfed farms. Finally, seasonal effects vary and are offsetting. Although we were able to measure the direct effect of precipitation and temperature, we could not capture the effects of change in water flow which will be very important in China. Can China continue feeding itself if climate changes? Based on the empirical results, the likely gains realized by some farmers will nearly offset the losses that will occur to other farmers in China. If future climate scenarios lead to significant reductions in water, there may be large damages not addressed in this study.Climate Change,Crops&Crop Management Systems,Global Environment Facility,Common Property Resource Development,Rural Development Knowledge&Information Systems

Crowdsourcing for Sustainable Urban Logistics: Exploring the Factors Influencing Crowd Workers’ Participative Behavior

With crowd logistics becoming a crucial part of the last-mile delivery challenge in many cities, continued participation of crowd workers has become an essential issue affecting the growth of the crowd logistics platform. Understanding how people are motivated to continue their participation in crowd logistics can provide some clarity as to what policies and measures should be undertaken by the industry to support its further growth. Using the Push-Pull-Mooring (PPM) theory, we developed a research model to explain the factors influencing crowd workers' participative behavior. Survey data from 455 crowd workers were analyzed using SmartPLS3.0 software. The results show monetary rewards and trust have a significant positive impact on the willingness of crowd workers to continue participating in crowd logistics, while work enjoyment from previous work and entry barriers for work have a significant negative impact. Trust plays an intermediary role between monetary incentives and crowd workers' willingness to continue participating. Based on the findings of this study, we recommend that crowd logistics platforms should offer reasonable monetary incentives and keep these under constant review, build a high degree of trust and cooperation with their crowd workers, and initiate activities geared towards promoting satisfaction at work