Carbon cap-and-trade regulation is widely adopted to reduce carbon emissions. Under this regulation, we propose a carbon trading mechanism considering refrigerated logistics services in a fresh food supply chain. In addition to supplying fresh food, the supplier offers refrigerated logistics services and overstocked carbon emission permits to the retailer. We study the decisions on the price of emission permits traded within the supply chain, the retail price and the price of refrigerated logistics services in different carbon trading options, without carbon trade, inner carbon trade, inner and outer carbon trade. Pricing strategies for fresh food, emission permits and refrigerated logistics services are provided for supply chain members. We also reveal the relationship between carbon trading and refrigerated logistics services, and investigate their joint influence on the supplier–retailer cooperative relationship. In addition, it is shown that with the implementation of a transfer payment mechanism, supply chain members are motivated to participate in the carbon trading mechanism, which has advantages including improved resource utilisation and more competitive supply chains.
29 May 2018 in International Transactions in Operational Research
Our research is aimed at developing a quantitative approach for assessing predicted supply chain resilience based on structural evolution against random supply disruptions. The paper begins by identifying a conceptual supply chain resilience model, which extends the concept of the disaster resilience triangle by adding the third metric – redundancy. Based on this conceptual model, a measurement model considering structural evolution is proposed as an analytic measure of supply chain resilience. The structural evolution mechanism results from the two fundamental abilities according to cell resilience theory, i.e. the self-adaption ability and the self-recovery ability. Finally, simulation is adopted to demonstrate the measurement model of predicted supply chain resilience.
29 November 2018 in Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Background: The huge gap in adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) uptake between China (< 2%) and developed countries (> 60%) indicates the necessity of comprehensive examination on the modifiable factors for parents’ decision-making. The present study investigated parental perceptions of HPV vaccination for children in China from a socio-economic perspective. Methods: Parents of 9-to-14-year-old adolescents who understood the HPV vaccination (n = 925) completed our questionnaire survey in Fall 2017. Based on the structural equation modeling, we examined the relationship among knowledge, awareness, and intentions of 20 items by 7-point Likert scale, the moderating effects also were tested among 5 socioeconomic variables. Results: Parents of female students have more positive intention about the HPV vaccination than male students’ parents (3.74 vs 2.80, p < 0.001). Parents of 12–14-years old students have higher average scores in knowledge (p = 0.006) and intention (p < 0.001) than that of 9–11-years old students’ parents. The average score of mothers on knowledge (p = 0.018) and awareness (p < 0.001) was lower than that of fathers. The elder parents (≥ 50 years) performed significantly better on knowledge (p < 0.001) and awareness (p < 0.001) than the other two subgroups. Annual household income is an important factor in determining the knowledge (p = 0.0017), awareness (p < 0.001), and intention (p < 0.001). Knowledge and awareness were considered as the positive determinant of intention, and awareness was partial mediator. Child gender (P = 0.046), child age (P = 0.004), parent gender (P = 0.043) and parental age (P = 0.021) were significant moderators. Conclusion: To improve the acceptability of HPV vaccination among Chinese adolescents, policymakers should develop positive strategies for their parents.