In order to explore the mechanism of consumer responses to corporate social responsibility, this paper constructs a research framework including CSR, consumer–company identification, consumer responses, and fit, and tests the framework using a scene-questionnaire survey. Empirical results demonstrate that CSR not only has positive influence on consumer purchase intention, recommend intention, and loyalty directly, but also has indirect positive influence on consumer purchase intention and recommend intention through CCI. The influencing process of CSR on CCI is moderated by fit and (...) the moderating direction is different owing to product types. For the products whose association preference is positive, fit can positively moderate the relationship between CSR and CCI, while for products whose association preference is negative, the moderating role will be negative. (shrink)

E-learning has gained popularity since the outbreak of COVID-19. This study aims to identify gender differences in e-learners' self-efficacy, satisfaction, motivation, attitude, and performance across the world. Through a meta-analysis and systematic review, this study concludes that there are generally no significant gender differences in e-learning outcomes except in a few countries. Females significantly outperformed males in Spain and the UK. In Austria, India, and mixed countries, females hold significantly more positive attitudes toward e-learning than males. In the USA, females (...) present significantly higher self-efficacy than males. Future research into the gender issue in e-learning across the world may adopt cross-disciplinary research methods except for a meta-analysis. (shrink)

This paper uses agent-based modelling to study the frequent booms and busts in Chinese agricultural markets. First, an artificial agricultural commodity market consisting of heterogeneous agents, such as producers, consumers, and speculators, is built. A numerical simulation suggests that speculation can cause large price fluctuations via nonlinear price dynamics. Then, parameters are estimated by the simulated method of moments using garlic and ginger price data in China from 2006Q2 to 2018Q3. The estimation yields a statistically significant speculative behavior parameter, supporting (...) speculators’ existence. Based on the well-estimated model, a low-cost policy experiment aiming at market stabilization is carried out. The essence of this policy is to release the theoretical steady state of the estimated model as the government-guided price to producers. The guided price, even partially followed by producers, can reduce simulated price variances and weaken speculators’ negative impact on market stability. Robustness tests show that the effect of policy experiment is robust under a 20% change in any parameter value or a 5% change in the guided price. (shrink)

While previous studies have discussed how much should be given by firms, less is known about how firms would spend these investments, such as strategically allocating these philanthropy activities across geographic markets. This study examines the impact of multimarket contact on corporate philanthropy in different geographic markets. Using Chinese property insurance firms from 2007 to 2015 as samples, the results show that firms are less likely to initiate philanthropy activities in geographic markets with high multimarket contact. We also found that (...) the negative impact of multimarket competition on corporate philanthropy is stronger in highly concentrated markets. Moreover, this negative relationship is stronger when institutional distance at a firm level is low. Our study contributes to the literature on corporate philanthropy and multimarket contact. (shrink)

In exploring the profound interplay between aesthetic experience and psychological needs within piano performance, this study adopts a philosophical lens, particularly through the dimensions of aesthetics, challenge, and novelty, guided by the BRECVEMA theoretical model. Through rigorous statistical analysis, including ANOVA, we delved into how different piano playing techniques affect these core dimensions, revealing that technique significantly influences aesthetic enjoyment (F=27.394). Notably, a nuanced delay in technique yielded the highest aesthetic ratings (7.39) among advanced players, underscoring the intricate relationship between (...) skill execution and aesthetic perception. Moreover, the challenge dimension, pivotal in shaping performers' engagement, varied significantly with experience level and technique (F=21.063). Beginner players found variations less challenging (rated 3.42) compared to advanced players (rated 4.86), highlighting how psychological needs evolve with proficiency. The novelty dimension exhibited the most pronounced effect (F=30.05), with beginners experiencing heightened psychological challenges as they navigated skill enhancement (R²=0.65, adjusted R²=0.62), suggesting that mastering new skills is integral to their aesthetic journey. In contrast, for advanced players, the capacity for self-expression emerged as paramount, directly influencing their aesthetic enjoyment (R²=0.75). This shift indicates a deeper philosophical and potentially spiritual engagement with music, where self-expression transcends mere performance to fulfill more profound psychological needs. This analysis not only sheds light on the intrinsic connection between aesthetic experience and psychological fulfillment in piano performance but also invites a philosophical contemplation of how these elements reflect broader spiritual and existential themes, thus enriching our understanding of art as a medium for profound human expression and connection. (shrink)

In this paper, an adaptive fuzzy containment condtrol is considered for nonlinear multiagent systems, in which it contains the unknown control coefficient and actuator fault. The uncertain nonlinear function has been approximated by fuzzy logic system. The unknown control coefficient and the remaining control rate of actuator fault can be solved by introducing a Nussbaum function. In order to avoid the repeated differentiations of the virtual controllers, first-order filters are added to the traditional backstepping control method. By designing the maximum (...) norm of ideal adaptive parameters, only one adaptive parameter needs to be adjusted online for each agent itself. An adaptive fuzzy containment controller is constructed through the backstepping control technique and compensating signals. It is demonstrated that all the signals in nonlinear multiagent systems are bounded by designing adaptive fuzzy containment controller, and all followers can converge to the convex hull built by the leaders. The simulation studies can further confirm the effectiveness of the proposed control method in this paper. (shrink)

本书内容包括:马一浮其人其学、“六艺一心论”的思想体系及其论证、“六艺一心论”之评价、马一浮与熊十力的六艺论之比较等。.

The form of higher plants is largely dependent upon cell division and expansion patterns. Taking a genetic approach, Takahashi et al.(1) have identified a regulatory molecule in Arabidopsis thaliana called DIMINUTO (DIM), which is involved in determining the degree and direction of plant cell expansion. Their extensive characterization of a dim mutant suggested a direct involvement of the DIM gene in regulating cell elongation, perhaps by modulating the expression of structural genes which determine the orientation and elasticity of the cell (...) wall. (shrink)

Light mediates plant development partly by orchestrating changes in gene expression, a process which involves a complex combination of positive and negative signaling cascades. Genetic investigations using the small crucifer Arabidopsis thaliana have demonstrated a fundamental role for the down‐regulation of light‐inducible genes in response to darkness, thus offering a suitable model system for investigating how plants repress gene expression in a developmental context. Rapid progress in eukaryotic gene repression mechanisms in general, and light control of plant gene expression in (...) particular, sheds new light on how a class of ten pleiotropic COP/DET/FUS genes might function to down‐regulate light‐inducible genes in plants. (shrink)

Background: Organizational climate refers to an individual's perception and experience of the climate of the work environment, and it is the most important environmental variable that affects individuals’ work performance. This study aims to classify characteristics of transformational leadership among kindergarten principals and examine their relationship to organizational climate. Methods: Convenience sampling yielded 498 kindergarten principals who completed the “Questionnaire on the Principal’s Transformational Leadership Behavior” and “Questionnaire on Organizational Climate.” Ethics approval was obtained from the Academic Ethics Committee of (...) the College of Psychology of Northeast Normal University prior to starting the study. Results: Three latent classes were identified, including the high-level (68.8%), care-virtues (35.7%), and virtues groups (5.3%). There were significant differences in support, directive, restrictive, colleague, intimate, and disengaged behavior scores between groups. In terms of support, colleague, and intimate behavior, the high-level group had the highest scores, followed by the care-virtues group and virtues group, respectively. Regarding restrictive and disengaged behavior, the highest scores were received by the virtues group, followed by the care-virtues and high-level group, respectively. Conclusion: The study suggested that principals’ transformational leadership could be classified into three latent classes that are related to organizational climate. (shrink)

The response of consumers to a firm’s ethical behavior and the underlying factors influencing/forming each consumer’s response outcome is analyzed in this article based on information obtained through interviews. The results indicate that, in the Chinese context, the responding outcome can be boiled down to five types, namely, resistance, questioning, indifference, praise, and support. Additionally, consumers’ responses were mainly influenced by the specific consumer’s ethical consciousness, ethical cognitive effort, perception of ethical justice, motivation judgment, institutional rationality, and corporate social responsibility–corporate (...) ability (CSR–CA) belief. Based on these results, a generalized framework of consumer’s ethical responses is developed which provides a number of insightful suggestions upon how to motivate a consumer’s support of a firm’s ethical behavior and to transfer this kind of support into truly positive purchasing behavior. (shrink)