bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient and Provider Characteristics Associated With Sodium–Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Prescription in Patients With Diabetes and Proteinuric Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: McCoy Ian E. , Han Jialin , Montez-Rath Maria E. , Chertow Glenn M. , Rhee Jinnie J.
Published: May 2020

Despite accumulating evidence of cardiorenal benefits from sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, prescription of agents in this drug class may be limited by concerns regarding adverse effects and interdisciplinary care coordination. To investigate these potential barriers, we performed a cross-sectional study of SGLT2 inhibitor prescriptions in 2017 in 3,779 adults with type 2 diabetes and proteinuric chronic kidney disease from a nationwide database. Only 173 (5%) of these patients received an SGLT2 inhibitor in 2017. Younger age, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor prescription, and higher estimated glomerular filtration rate were associated with SGLT2 inhibitor prescription. Primary care providers were responsible for the majority of the prescriptions. Continued efforts should be made to track and improve SGLT2 inhibitor use in indicated populations.
The Influence of Baseline Diastolic Blood Pressure on the Effects of Intensive Blood Pressure Lowering on Cardiovascular Outcomes and All-Cause Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Ilkun Olesya L. , Greene Tom , Cheung Alfred K. , Whelton Paul K. , Wei Guo , Boucher Robert E. , Ambrosius Walter , Chertow Glenn M. , Beddhu Srinivasan
Published: May 2020

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether low baseline diastolic blood pressure (DBP) modifies the effects of intensive systolic blood pressure (SBP) lowering on cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Blood Pressure trial (ACCORD BP), a two-by-two factorial randomized controlled trial, examined effects of SBP (<120 vs. <140 mmHg) and glycemic (HbA1c <6% vs. 7.0–7.9% [<42 vs. 53–63 mmol/mol]) control on cardiovascular events in T2DM (N = 4,731). We examined whether effects of SBP control on cardiovascular composite were modified by baseline DBP and glycemic control.

RESULTS

Intensive SBP lowering decreased the risk of the cardiovascular composite (hazard ratio [HR] 0.76 [95% CI 0.59–0.98]) in the standard glycemic arm but not in the intensive glycemic arm (HR 1.06 [95% CI 0.81–1.40]). Spline regression models relating the effects of the intervention on the cardiovascular composite across the range of baseline DBP did not show evidence of effect modification by low baseline DBP for the cardiovascular composite in the standard or intensive glycemic arms. The relation between the effect of the intensive SBP intervention and baseline DBP was similar between glycemic arms for the cardiovascular composite three-way interaction (P = 0.83).

CONCLUSIONS

In persons with T2DM, intensive SBP lowering decreased the risk of cardiovascular composite end point irrespective of baseline DBP in the setting of standard glycemic control. Hence, low baseline DBP should not be an impediment to intensive SBP lowering in patients with T2DM treated with guideline-recommended standard glycemic control.
Cardiovascular Risk Reduction With Liraglutide: An Exploratory Mediation Analysis of the LEADER Trial
Authors: Buse John B. , Bain Stephen C. , Mann Johannes F.E. , Nauck Michael A. , Nissen Steven E. , Pocock Stuart , Poulter Neil R. , Pratley Richard E. , Linder Martin , Monk Fries Tea , Ørsted David D. , Zinman Bernard
Published: May 2020

OBJECTIVE

The Liraglutide Effect and Action in Diabetes: Evaluation of Cardiovascular Outcome Results (LEADER) trial (ClinicalTrials.gov reg. no. NCT01179048) demonstrated a reduced risk of cardiovascular (CV) events for patients with type 2 diabetes who received the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist liraglutide versus placebo. The mechanisms behind this CV benefit remain unclear. We aimed to identify potential mediators for the CV benefit observed with liraglutide in the LEADER trial.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We performed exploratory analyses to identify potential mediators of the effect of liraglutide on major adverse CV events (MACE; composite of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke) from the following candidates: glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), confirmed hypoglycemia, sulfonylurea use, insulin use, systolic blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol. These candidates were selected as CV risk factors on which liraglutide had an effect in LEADER such that a reduction in CV risk might result. We used two methods based on a Cox proportional hazards model and the new Vansteelandt method designed to use all available information from the mediator and to control for confounding factors.

RESULTS

Analyses using the Cox methods and Vansteelandt method indicated potential mediation by HbA1c (up to 41% and 83% mediation, respectively) and UACR (up to 29% and 33% mediation, respectively) on the effect of liraglutide on MACE. Mediation effects were small for other candidates.

CONCLUSIONS

These analyses identify HbA1c and, to a lesser extent, UACR as potential mediators of the CV effects of liraglutide. Whether either is a marker of an unmeasured factor or a true mediator remains a key question that invites further investigation.
Absorption and temperature distribution during ultrafast laser microcutting of polymeric materials
Authors: Rahaman Arifur , Du Xinpeng , Zhou Boyang , Cheng He , Kar Aravinda , Yu Xiaoming
Published: May 2020

Material processing by ultrafast lasers is an attractive technology for high-precision fabrication, such as cutting, drilling, and surface modification, of a wide range of material, including dielectrics, semiconductor, metals, and polymer composites. However, it is still challenging to apply ultrafast laser processing in many applications because some key processes, such as absorption and heat accumulation, are not fully understood, especially for polymeric materials, which have a low melting temperature and, therefore, are more vulnerable to thermal damage. In this study, an analytical solution to a transient, two-dimensional thermal model is derived using Duhamel's theorem and Hankel’s transform method to understand the effect of laser parameters during ultrafast laser interactions with polypropylene (PP), which is a material widely used in many industrial applications. To correlate with theoretical calculation, laser cutting experiments are carried out on PP sheets. This study found that the total energy absorbed in the material and the laser intensity are two important factors to estimate the laser processing performance. In addition, time-resolved measurements are performed by using fast photodiodes and an oscilloscope to understand the dynamics of ultrafast laser interactions during the laser cutting process. Transmitted and reflected signals are monitored and analyzed to extract information on nonlinearity and the absorption coefficient.
Organizational Values as 'Attractors of Chaos': An Emerging Supply Chain Management Change Designed to Overcome Organizational Complexity
Authors: Ji Guojun , Zhou Yan
Published: May 2020

This paper considers supply chain management organizations with the aid of 'chaotic systems theory' developed originally in physics and mathematics. Since innovations in supply chain management are vital for organizational survival 'complex systems theory' may assist in fine-tuning managerial philosophies that provide stability in supply chain management because it is on the boundary of chaos that the greatest innovational creativity occurs. Neither 'management by rigid objectives' (MBO) nor 'management by instruction' (MBI) will be suitable for the information society of the twenty-first century because chaotic social systems will no longer be effectively managed. However, the capacity for self-organization will be derived essentially from how supply chain management members accept a shared set of values or principles for action-'management by values' (MBV). Complex systems theory deals with systems that show complex structures in time or space, often hiding simple deterministic rules. This theory holds that once these rules are found, it is possible to make effective predictions and even to control the apparent complexity. The state of chaos that self-organizes is attributable to the appearance of the 'strange attractor' and provides the ideal basis for creativity and innovation in the twenty-first century. In the self-organized state of chaos, social members are not confined to narrow roles and gradually develop their capacity for differentiation and relationships, growing progressively towards their maximum potential contribution to the efficiency of the organization. In this meaning, values act as organizers of 'attractors' of disorder, which, in the theory of chaos, are systems represented by usually regular geometric configurations that predict the long-term behavior of complex systems. In supply chain management organizations (as in all kinds of social systems) the initial principles end up as the final principles in the long term. An attractor is a model representation of the behavioral results of the system. The attractor is not a force of attraction or a goal-oriented presence in the system; it simply depicts where the system is heading based on its rules of motion. In supply chain management organizations that cultivate or shares values of autonomy, responsibility, independence, innovation, creativity, and proactivity, the risk of short-term chaos is mitigated by external complexities that organizations are currently confronting. The strategy is to alter the supply chain management's surroundings so that they can benefit from management by values (MBV).
Building An Employment Market without Confrontational Trade Unions: A Pattern of Core Employment Expansion in Korea and China
Authors: Wang Cheng
Published: May 2020

A core employment market based on modem information and communications technology (ICT) and human resources (HR) management can fundamentally overcome the shortcomings of a traditional employment market, in which the problems of an imbalance in the relationship between employers and employees are antagonistically alleviated by independent trade unions and other similar means. Core employment means the portion of total employment closely related to modem entrepreneurial innovation - the employment of directly or indirectly aiding in conducting, promoting, protecting and expanding innovation with entrepreneurship. The severe industrial conflicts existing currently in Korea and China can probably be resolved by economic and social measures other than confrontational trade unions, as long as the efforts are made in an expansion of core employment by the government, enterprises and individuals.
Korea's Policy on Free Trade Agreements and its Position on an Agreement with Japan
Authors: Cheong Inkyo
Published: May 2020

The government of Korea considers the promotion of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) as necessary to develop its economy into an open trading nation. As for the countries with which the Korean government is actively investigating possible FTAs, there are Japan, Singapore, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN,) and Mexico. For the time-being, the FTA with Japan seems to be a critical one in practicing Korea s FTA policy. Recently, Korean industries show negative positions against a Korea-Japan FTA, with strong opposition from the labor union insisting that it is evident that Korea will sustain damages in the short-run and the dynamic (long-term) benefits are still ambiguous and uncertain. Regardless of whether their argument is correct or not, it will be difficult for Korea to conclude the FTA with Japan unless there is concrete confidence of balanced economic gains through the FTA between the two countries.
Russia-Korea trade and investment cooperation: critical trends and perspectives
Authors: Korenevskiy Konstantin
Published: May 2020

Since 1988 Russia and Korea have been developing bilateral economic relations. After the conclusion of, the first trade agreement, Korea has become one of the largest trading and investment partners of the Russian Far East. Annually, Korea has increased trade and investment flows to the Russian Far East, a region with high growth potential. By the 2000s Korea has become the Russian Far East’s third largest trading partner. This article considers trade and investment flows from the 1990s to the present, analyses the prospects of achieving goals, and the problems of developing further bilateral cooperation between Russia and Korea.
Network Performance Measurement, As Appplied To Maritime Ports Communities
Authors: Fredouet Charles-Henri , Le Mestre Patrick
Published: May 2020

Implementations of inter-organizational networks are common, following a growing diversity of cooperative modes between the independent companies associated in these networks.

Their scientific analysis has recently intensified, attention to network structures obviously including the study of the way their performance can be measured. Although academic research has mostly dealt with the performance of the network’s members, the concern of this article is rather with the performance of the global network.

Among the numerous forms of existing inter-organizational networks, maritime port communities are complex organizations which have to deal with operational synchronization, strategic cohesiveness and global performance measurement problems.

This article therefore mainly describes a port performance measurement system (PPMS): built in a predominantly empirical research context, the performance model and the associated measurement indicators illustrate the kind of network-level dedicated, performance control systems, on which port communities need to rely when designing their global strategy.
China’s Rise and its Impact on the East Asian Economy
Authors: Hyun Jung Taik , Lee Jun Yeop
Published: May 2020

This paper examined the future prospects of China’s economic development and its impact on the East Asian Economy and the economic integration of the region. The key issue to China’s economic growth is the contradiction between the socialist political system and a market-based economy. The overall assessment is that China will be able to manage the transformation of the nation into a steadily growing market economy.

We also found that China is the key country forming a triangular trading block which has implemented the international division of labor in the North-East Asian region. China’s rapid export growth and increased market share in the world economy is not a threat but a new opportunity for the East Asian countries. The rise of China will certainly be accompanied by an expansion of a consumer market, which will also broaden business opportunities for East Asian.

Despite the interdependence between East Asian countries, a regional trading bloc embracing East Asia has not been created yet. The future prospects for realizing the vision of a regional free trade agreement in East Asia in the foreseeable future is not bright, either.
The Emergence of the Yangtze River Delta and the Responses of Busan and Kaohsiung
Authors: Tao Chen
Published: May 2020

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) has become the world’s most important container-export area in the world because of the huge growth of container volume from China. Shanghai, the gateway of the YRD, handles most of the cargoes. But the nature of river port has restricted its development, which forced China to built the Yangshan deepwater port to act as the mega hub in the region. In response to the emergence of the YRD and Yangshan, two traditionally transshipment centers in the region, Busan and Kaohsiung, have implemented strategies to in response to the emergence of YRD and Yangshan. This paper analyzes Busan’s and Kaohsiung’s strategies and tries to forecast the development of these ports. Research result shows Busan is aggressive and ambitious but that Kaohsiung has little chance of becoming the mega-hub in the region.
Reciprocal Dumping under Antidumping Enforcement
Authors: Banik Nilanjan , Gilbert John
Published: May 2020

In a dynamic extension of the reciprocal dumping approach, oligopolistic firms producing imperfect substitutes use the carrot and stick strategy to enforce cooperative behavior. When dumping occurs, firms lobby for tariffs as punishment. After a finite punishment period, the non-dumping equilibrium is restored. Conditions are derived on the degrees of substitutability and observability that allow non-dumping under an infinite horizon. The model suggests the degree of substitutability between goods and the market interest rate, affect the likelihood of dumping.
Aligning Reverse Logistics into a Sustainable and Scalable Business Organization – A Benchmarking Study in High-Tech Industry
Authors: Min Jung Ung , Ha Hun-Koo
Published: May 2020

Reverse logistics has been seen as a necessary cost of business, but more companies are seeing it as a core strategic activity. Every firm needs to find more efficicient ways of reclaiming, redistributing, and disposing returns. For a fast growing industry, however, it is difficult to focus on structuring internal processes for reverse logistics because its emphasis is always on time to market and growing sales. In order to capture the most updated trend in the field of reverse logistics, this paper describes best practices of reverse logistics in hi-tech industry and identifies barriers in implementing those practices. The focus areas of the benchmarking survey are outsourcing of the logistics function, organization of the logistics function, return management, and sustainability-green issue. Based on the survey results, we provide an insight for capturing these trends and leveraging them as a strategic core competency for this industry.
Port dynamics since 1965: Past patterns, current conditions and future directions
Authors: Rimmer Peter J.
Published: May 2020

An examination is made of developments in port dynamics since 1965. Initially, this task is addressed by studying changes in past port patterns using a simple descriptive model to accommodate shifts induced by containerization. Over time these changes have led to the reversal of the concentration and centralization of port activities. Then consideration is given to the behavior of stakeholders active in the contemporary port scene by elaborating a bipolar global-local analytical framework through an invocation of the hybrid concepts of glocalization and loglobalization. This analysis leads to an examination of emerging economies to gauge future trends in port dynamics following the dramatic emergence of China. Finally, there is a discussion of the need to go beyond inter-port competition to comprehend global production-distribution networks by exploring synergies between the supply chain and the total transport network to bring out parallels in the hub-and-spoke structure not only underpinning maritime activities but also air transport and telecommunications.
Overview of interport competition: Issues and methods
Authors: Chang Young-Tae , Lee Paul T.W.
Published: May 2020

Port competition attracted much scholarly attention in Northwest Europe during the 1980s. Following the rise of powerful economies in East Asia, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s, port competition has become an important phenomenon with the top five container ports in the world being located in the region. This paper aims to overview major port competition issues and outlines and analyzes the main alternative methodologies that researchers have employed to address them, referring to 70 items, mostly papers but including a few books and reports
Estimation of the J-curve in China: a cointegration approach
Authors: Ahmad Jaleel , Yang Jing
Published: May 2020

This paper investigates whether a J-curve can be detected in the time series data on China’s bilateral trade with the G-7 countries. It utilizes cointegration and causality tests to ascertain both the long-run relatedness, and the short-run dynamics, between the real exchange rate, national income, and the trade balance. There is some evidence that a real depreciation eventually improves the trade balance with some countries. But there is no indication of a negative short-run response which characterizes the J-curve.
Emissions impacts of a modal shift: a case study of the Southern California ports region
Authors: Park Minyoung , Regan Amelia , Yang Choon-Heon
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a case study examining the emissions impacts of a modal shift from on-road trucks to rail for goods movement through the Southern California ports region, one of the severest non-attainment areas in terms of national air quality standards. Recent completion of the Alameda Corridor, a 20-mile rail expressway that connects the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles with rail mainlines near downtown Los Angeles, provides substantial reserve capacity for port traffic to be diverted from the severely congested road network to the rail line. On-road vehicles emissions were estimated using California mobile-source emissions model, ‘EMFAC’ that incorporates a set of emissions factors for each vehicle type and an estimate of vehicle activity. These emissions were then compared with the emissions generated from trains increased to carry freight volume diverted from truck traffic. On the basis of year 2000 traffic level, it was estimated that for a 20 percent modal shift of port traffic, mobile-source emissions can be reduced up to 0.86 tons for nitrogen oxides and 16 kg for particulate matter per day. The analysis results indicate that encouraging the modal shift for port-related freight traffic should be an integral part of overall air quality improvement initiatives for the study area.
Analysis of the role of maritime freight transport industry in the Korean national economy
Authors: Choi Young Yoon , Ha Hun-Koo , Park Minions
Published: May 2020

The maritime freight transportation industry has played an important role in the Korean economy. The Korean maritime freight transportation industry is faced with a period of transforming it competitively and efficiently in this global age. This paper, therefore, aims to identify the impact of the maritime freight transportation industry in the Korean national economy. Hence, this paper provides policy-makers with accessible and reliable information regarding the role of the Korean maritime freight transportation industry. This study employs input-output (I-O) analysis to examine the role of the maritime freight transportation industry in the national economy for the period 1995-2003, with specific application to Korea. This study pays particular attention to the maritime freight transportation industry by taking the industry as exogenous variable and then investigates its economic impacts. We identify inter-industry linkage effects in 20 sectors, production-inducing effects, added value-inducing effects, and supply-shortage effects of the maritime freight transportation industry.
The effect of logistics service quality on customer satisfaction and repurchase intention: focusing on company size as a moderator
Authors: Lee Yong-Ock , Kim Minsung
Published: May 2020

There are many studies supporting that logistics service quality affects on customers satisfaction and these satisfied customers have a strong repurchase intention in consumer products. However, a few studies involving Industrial products examined these relationships. Therefore, the main purposes of this study are (1) to empirically examine logistics service factors influencing on the customers’ satisfaction and repurchase in industrial purchasing, (2) to clarify the differences of service factors between customers satisfaction and repurchase in industrial purchasing process, and (3) to analyze the influence of these factors on the customers’ satisfaction depending on the size of company. As a result of an analysis of survey data, this study found the followings. (1) the factors affect customer satisfaction and the factors affect repurchase intention are different from each other; 5 factors (timeliness, order quality, personnel intimacy, personnel quality, order release quantities) for customer satisfaction and 6 factors (timeliness, order period, personnel quality, order quality, information factor, order release quantities) for repurchase intention. (2) the relationship between order release quality factor and customer satisfaction was differ depending on the company size. The large companies showed a stronger relationship than the smaller company did. (3) the positive linear relationship between customer satisfaction and repurchase intention was identified also in industrial purchasing.
Lean organization: a new direction for ports in global logistics
Authors: Lee Eon-Seong , Song Dong-Wook
Published: May 2020

A port plays a crucial role in total logistics chain by conducting its function as a gateway for inbound (import) and outbound (export) cargo operations. The port has traditionally been regarded as a connecting place where handles ships on one side and cargoes on the other side. These interactive functions to be carried out by the port imply that a port organization should be established, maintained and altered in a way that generates a value-adding activity to the whole logistics chain. This paper aims to suggest an alternative direction for a port organization in context of changing global logistics environment so as to be better prepared for the ever-changing business horizon. Such an attempt will provide global logistics and port management with a strategic insight into innovative and responsive port organizational strategies.
Analysis of container dwell time on marine terminal throughput and rehandling productivity
Authors: Huynh Nathan
Published: May 2020

When port authorities or terminal operators set the free time or increase storage density, the decision is often made without a clear understanding of their effects on throughput and rehandling productivity. This is partly because practical methods that deal specifically with the effect of dwell time on throughput and productivity are limited in the literature; hence the motivation for this work. This paper introduces simple methods to evaluate the effect of container dwell time and storage policies on import throughput, storage density, and rehandling productivity. The analysis considers two import storage strategies 1) non-mixed - no stacking of new import containers on top of old ones, and 2) mixed - stacking of new import containers on top of old ones. The results highlight the effect dwell time has on throughput and rehandling productivity. For the non-mixed storage policy, the increasing container dwell time lowers throughput and average stack height - resulting in an increase in rehandling productivity. On the other hand, for the mixed storage policy, the increasing container dwell time raises throughput and average stack height - resulting in a decrease in rehandling productivity. Using the presented methods, port authorities and terminal operators are able to assess and quantify the benefits of their decisions regarding container free time and subsequently make an informed decision.
Global warming, policy suggestion to logistics industry about ‘Energy saving and emission reduction’
Authors: Jing Linbo , Wang Xuefeng
Published: May 2020

This paper summarizes the severity of global warming, collaboration and endeavor within international government and the trend of international development for “energy-saving and emission reduction.” The Chinese government is enduring high pressure under the environment of “global warming” and “energy-saving and emission reduction” and it has made a policy for “energy-saving and emission reduction.” Based on this, we analyzed the possibility and feasibility for our logistics to “energy-saving and emission reduction,” then propose some solutions for our logistics industry to development and “energy-saving and emission reduction.”
Determining terminal concession durations in seaports: theoretical considerations, applicable techniques and current practices
Authors: Theys Christophe , Notteboom Theo
Published: May 2020

The awarding of terminals to private operators is considered a prime task of landlord port authorities. Yet, terminal concessions in seaports have only recently gained interest in academic circles. The awarding process poses a complex set of managerial challenges to port authorities, one of the key issues being the determination of the duration of the concession.

Despite the importance of the duration of terminal concessions in seaports, the issue has not received much attention in academic circles. Factors impacting on the duration of contracts, leases or concessions have, however, been studied extensively in other research areas, such as agriculture, coal contracts, franchising and natural gas. This paper uses insights from these academic studies to obtain a better understanding of the impact of concession duration on the stakeholders involved and relates them to empirical evidence on concession length in European seaports. The paper then proposes a classification scheme for the exogenous determination of concession duration, based on techniques developed for Public-Private-Partnerships in large infrastructure projects. In the last section the paper discusses the importance of concession durations to various stakeholders in seaports and illustrates these principles using a case study.
A cost- benefit analysis of routes between the Trans-Korean and Trans-Siberian railways
Authors: Eremina Anna , Sohn Chan-Hyun
Published: May 2020

Recently the route connecting the trans-Korean railway and the trans-Siberian railway has become of particular interest for many academics and policy-makers in East Asian countries. The extensive review of previous studies, however, reveals that literature on the subject is lacking solid analytical framework. Most studies are one-sided, focusing on the political aspects of the issue or paying little attention to the economic aspects of the problem.

This study intends to develop an analytical framework through which the most efficient route among four major alternative routes connecting the trans-Korean and trans-Siberian railways can be identified. It attempts to assign priorities to the four alternative routes according to their level of economic efficiency.

This study utilizes a simple cost-benefit analysis in evaluating the four routes. Cost side, transportation time, effectiveness of customs procedures, and gauge difference are selected as the main economic factors. The volume of cargo, industrial production in adjacent regions, access to natural resources, and market size and foreign investment climate are used to evaluate the benefits of the routes.

The study concludes that Route 3, which connects ‘Busan - Seoul (South Korea) –Pyongyang -Sinuiju (North Korea) –Shenyang –Beijing - Erenhot (China) –Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) –Ulan-Ude - Moscow (Russia)’ is the most efficient route.
Selecting a Location for a City Logistics Facility: A Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation Method
Authors: Zhang Yan , Kwon Oh Kyoung , Kim Hwa-Joong
Published: May 2020

The strategic location of city logistics facilities may help to establish more efficient urban logistics systems, reduce social and environmental costs of urban freight transport, and improve urban traffic conditions. In addition, it may allow a number of shippers or freight carriers to jointly operate freight vehicles and terminals or information systems while allowing them to have the capability to provide higher levels of services to their customers. This paper considers the problem of selecting a location for a city logistics facility while considering linguistic factors. This paper identifies the important factors in the selection of a location for a city logistics facility by performing a case study which applies the analytic hierarchy process method on data from Chongqing, China. The optimal location in Chongqing is then determined by using the fuzzy synthetic evaluation method. The results of this paper are expected to help municipal governments select appropriate locations for city logistics facilities and quantify the advantages and disadvantages of alternative locations.
Determinants For Assigning Value-added Logistics Services To Logistics Centers Within A Supply Chain Configuration
Authors: Chen Lu , Notteboom Theo
Published: May 2020

A number of literature contributions have underlined the importance of developing value-added logistics activities or VALS in order to help improve customers’ satisfaction. However, there is usually very little attention given regarding where to perform these VALS. This study aims to: (1) identify a comprehensive set of factors which may influence the location of VALS, (2) to analyze to what extent those factors influence location decisions, and (3) to distinguish the determinants behind the location choices for distribution centers and for the kind of VALS that will be developed in these distribution centers.

In this paper, we will present a conceptual framework on the locations of VALS in view of the identifying determinants for assigning VALS to logistical centers. We argue that the optimal location of VALS is determined by complex interactions between the determinants at the level of the choice of a distribution system, distribution center location factors, and different logistical characteristics regarding products.
GIS Exploitation for New Facility Location Decisions- A Logistics Perspective
Authors: Khaled Afzal Mohammad , Kim Yong Jin
Published: May 2020

Logistical facility location decisions can make a crucial difference in the success or failure of a company. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) have recently become a very popular decision support system to help deal with facility location problems. However, until recently, GIS methodologies have not been fully embraced as a way to deal with new facility location problems in business logistics. This research makes a framework for categorizing empirical facility location problems based on the intensity of the involvement of GIS methodologies in decision making. This framework was built by analyzing facility location models and GIS methodologies. The research results revealed the depth of the embracement of GIS methodologies in logistics for determining new facility location decisions. In the new facility location decisions, spatial data inputs are almost always coupled with the visualization of the problems and solutions. However, the usage of GIS capability solely (i.e. suitability analysis) for problem solving has not been embraced at the same level. In most cases, the suitability analysis is used together with special optimization models for choosing among the multiple alternatives.
A Sensitivity Analysis Regarding the Impacts of Trade Openness and Globalization Growth: Empirical Evidence from Korea
Authors: Kim Youn-Kyoo , Lee Jae-Hyung
Published: May 2020

By using the annual time series data from 1986 to 2008 in South Korea (hereafter Korea) we will examine the possibility that the difference in trade liberalization is causal to the differentials in growth and measure the sensitivity of growth to changes in trade liberalization. For the estimation, we will use both alternative measures of trade liberalization; imports for the total factor cost of national income for trade openness (hereafter openness) and the sum of exports and imports for the total factor cost of national income for trade globalization (hereafter globalization). The regression results suggest that both openness and globalization make a substantial contribution towards Korea’s economic growth. In a comparison between these two indicators of trade liberalization, openness is more sensitive to growth. A negative and statistically significant error correction term implies that the null hypothesis of no co-integration is rejected when one period lag is used. The existence of co-integration means that openness and globalization policies can be targeted in order to bring about a desired long-run effect as well as a short run effect on growth.
Inter-Provincial Railroad Network in China
Authors: Lee Jun-Yeop , Wang Shuyun
Published: May 2020

Using Social Network Analysis (SNA), this paper examines the inter-provincial logistics relationships in China. Based on the annual data of inter-provincial railway logistics quantity during the period 1998-2009, the degree of interconnection between regions could imply intensified trends of regional economic integration.

The main results of the logistic relationships in China are as follows: the regional logistic interconnection, especially between western and eastern China has increased continuously, which would imply a rising national economic integration. However, the increased centralization index and the average Degree Centrality level imply that a logistics bottleneck has intensified in several hub provinces.

Secondly, logistic center provinces evaluated by the Degree Centrality have changed. In 2009, Hebei, Liaoning, Jiangsu, Shandong, Henan and Sichuan provinces revealed the highest inward Degree Centrality. Sichuan Province is the region that most surprisingly increased its centrality.

Thirdly, the number of logistic hub provinces, evaluated by the Degree Betweenness Centrality, has increased. In 2008, Henan province was only a focal hub but in 2009, Shandong, Hubei, Sichuan provinces became logistic hubs.

Lastly, the Community Modularity which analyzed grouping structures shows that there are three time-consistent communities. This means that even though there is enhanced between-region integration, the inter-regional inter-connection is more important in explaining the regional logistic relationship.
Measuring Harbor Management, Stevedoring and Warehousing Performance of Taiwanese Container Ports Using the Multi-activity Network DEA Model
Authors: Yu Ming-Miin , Hsiao Bo , Hsu Shih-Hsun , Li Shaw Yu
Published: May 2020

This paper presents an alternative approach to evaluating the overall efficiency and performance of Taiwanese container ports. Specifically, a parallel activity with series structure concept in the form of data envelopment analysis (MNDEA) is used to construct a model that applies to three different activities: harbor management, stevedoring and warehousing operations. We will further divide each activity into two process types, production processes and services processes. We will also adopt a Delphi survey approach and use the Analytic Network Process (ANP) to identify these processes’influence dependence and their degree of importance for the MNDEA model setting. An empirical application demonstrates the performance of Taiwanese container ports by using MNDEA with window analysis techniques via the directional distance functionThe results demonstrate that the application is effective in indicating and/or suggesting resource-adjustments, while considering which undesirable output levels and shared inputs were involved. The results also present directions for possible improvements in workplace efficiency.
Value Innovation: New Entrants and Chain Restructuring in Australia’s Export Coal Chains
Authors: EVERETT Sophia , ROBINSONE Ross
Published: May 2020

Recently, the entry of new players has prompted significant restructuring in the Australian coal market with value migrating away from the existing fragmented, traditional production/export model characterised by competing operators generally using 'common user' infrastructure facilities to new, fully integrated supply chains creating a multi-tiered production-consumer framework.

This paper argues that not only are coal markets restructuring but they are doing so within the framework of a significant paradigm shift towards efficiency-seeking and efficiency-driven mechanisms. Value innovation and a deregulated market are enabling operators to enter the industry seeking and implementing end-to-end control of the supply chain - and, in so doing, capturing the significant gains of integration.

This paper explores these changes within the framework of integrative efficiency - a product of end-to-end control by a single party, derived from a number of companies, or chain elements, working cooperatively rather than competitively, or a single operator vertically integrating the chain from point of production to point of consumption to capture and deliver significantly higher value. The paper focuses attention on this paradigmatic shift in a brief though detailed case study of a major new industry entrant into export coal chains from the rapidly developing Galilee Basin in northern Queensland. It examines the dynamics and implications of this shift in the context of chain efficiency and value innovation
Service Quality Evaluation of International Logistics Company: An Empirical Case Using QFD Approach
Authors: Huang Sheng Teng , Bulut Emrah , Duru Okan , Yoshida Shigeru
Published: May 2020

The national logistics policy report published by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism in 2011 proposes to establish international logistics strategy teams in 10 different regions around Japan to satisfy the increasing demand for advance transportation infrastructure and stay competitive in Asia Pacific. The globalization of world economies creates many opportunities as well as challenges for international logistics companies to gain more business chances in this changing environment. The purpose of this paper is to improve service quality of international logistics companies and explores the quality function deployment in terms of quality evaluation method. The logistics service is particularly characterized by offering a series of transport solution and including other logistics activities. The major customers of the logistics services are the industrial clients. The customer satisfaction is key managerial mission since the competitiveness is a growing issue in this industry. The quality function deployment is one of the unique procedures to expose the requirements of customer and transform them into managerial tasks by cross correlation analysis between requirements and technical measures. The empirical study is performed to investigate service quality of the logistics industry by focusing on a group of leading logistics companies.
Third-party enterprises’ perceptions of green logistics in China
Authors: Kim Hyunggeun , Choi Jungseok
Published: May 2020

This article represents an empirical examination of green logistics awareness of employees at third-party enterprises in China. The data used for this study was collected using a survey related to green logistics awareness. Participants were employees of Chinese enterprises, including five logistics companies. Although there was a general low level of green logistics awareness, results showed a diverse awareness of the topic contingent upon green logistics knowledge. More specifically, with the exception of those who demonstrated a high degree of green logistics knowledge, green logistics awareness level and other dimensions were low. In addition, educational background demonstrated an influence on green logistics awareness. The findings from this study have real-world implications for the development of state logistics environmental protection policy.
Korea-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement: The Implications on Seaborne Trade Volume and Maritime Logistics Policy Development in Korea
Authors: Lee Paul T-W , Lee Tsung-Chen , Yang Tzu-Han
Published: May 2020

This paper aims to explore the impacts of the recent development of Korean free trade agreements (FTAs) on its seaborne trade volumes. The paper firstly estimates the changes in cargo value flows caused by Korea-EU FTA, Korea-USA FTA and Korea-ASEAN FTA using a global computable general equilibrium model named Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) and its most recent database - version 7 with 2004 as the base year. Then a set of systematic conversion factors transferring trade value flows to volume flows of different types of commodities is calibrated according to the United Nations COMTRADE database and is used to convert the GTAP trade value flows into volume flows. Having indentified maritime cargo flows by different commodity types, this paper attempts to draw implications for maritime logistics policy in order to facilitate the trade of Korean merchandises and to propose key competitive strategy for the maritime container transport networking and logistics service providers in the Korean logistics industry.
The Effect of Customer Service on Firm Performance: Developing Scales for Performance Measurement of Customs Clearance Firms
Authors: BAE Hee-sung , LEE Woo-young , LEE Yang-kee
Published: May 2020

This research has three objectives: one is to develop measuring criteria for ascertaining performance of customs clearance firms, another is to test reliability and validity of the factors, and the third is to analyze the relationship between customer service and firm performance. This research gathered the data from customs clearance firms. Reliability and validity concerned with the collected data are tested by exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis and the relationship between variables is tested by analyzing structural equation modeling. The results are as follows. There are no problems in reliability and validity. According to the result of the analysis, customer service is divided into customer focus, customer needs, customer response and flexibility and performance is classified into customer performance and financial performance. The result of empirical tests is as follows. Customer focus has a positive effect on customer performance and financial performance. Flexibility has a positive effect on both types of performance. This means that firms which have discriminative services and a high level of flexibility through collaboration with customers can achieve high levels of customer performance and financial performance.
Impact of Market Openness on Growth and Stability in Korea
Authors: Jang Wonchang
Published: May 2020

A controversy about whether liberalization through market opening is a necessary and sufficient condition for a stable and balanced growth in the developing countries was retriggered by the 2008 global financial crisis. This paper aims to analyze 1) the impact of market openness on the economic growth and financial development, 2) the dynamic correlation between the compositional change in foreign investments and the returns of domestic financial markets, 3) the effect of foreign portfolio investment on the stock market activity (liquidity and profitability). Our empirical findings infer that the income level has a positive relationship with financial openness and the foreign portfolio investments cause price fluctuations in the domestic stock market. These results imply that the precautionary and effective policies such as prudential regulations on the short-term capital transactions are strongly needed to emerging markets in order to prevent the excessive fluctuations in the financial markets over the macroeconomic fundamentals.
Volatility Modeling of Emerging Foreign Exchange Market: A Case of Bangladesh
Authors: Ara Laila Arjuman , Rahman Mohammad Masudur
Published: May 2020

This paper examined the volatility models for exchange rate return, including Random Walk model, AR model, GARCH model and extensive GARCH model, with Normal and Student-t distribution assumption as well as nonparametric specification test of these models. We fit these models to Bangladesh foreign exchange rate index from January 1999 to December 31, 2012. The return series of Bangladesh foreign exchange rate are leptokurtic, significant skewness, deviation from normality as well as the returns series are volatility clustering as well. We found that student t distribution into GARCH model improves the better performance to forecast the volatility for Bangladesh foreign exchange market. The traditional likelihood comparison showed that the importance of GARCH model in modeling of Bangladesh foreign market, but the modern nonparametric specification test found that RW, AR and the model with GARCH effect are still grossly mis-specified. All these imply that there is still a long way before we reach the adequate specification for Bangladesh exchange rate dynamics.