The era of globalization has created a proverbial ‘rush’ to utilize trade and investment in developing nations. Growing fear over the abuse of developed nations’ bargaining power in these areas led the WTO to adopt remedial measures ensuring the protection of developing nations during disputes. The WTO’s dispute settlement system is unequivocally the most comprehensive form of the resolution of disputes among its Member States. Despite the numerous privileges and safeguards offered to developing Members States, reluctance and a lack of understanding in using the WTO dispute resolution process remain within these nations. This paper explains the options available to these nations, in an attempt to attract to use the dispute resolution process, and offers key insight on future amendments that can facilitate developing Member’s participation in the future. It will further articulate the statutory safeguards and favors provided to developing countries in DSS.

Aimed at determining whether China’s active carbon emission reduction policy can respond to the threat of carbon tariff of the USA, this study proposed two kinds of carbon tax schemes for the USA and China, same carbon tax policy and a differential carbon tax policy. Four scenarios are set: the USA only charging carbon tax on domestic products; the USA charging carbon tax on domestic products and carbon tariff on imported products from China; the USA and China taking the same carbon tax policy on domestic products; the USA and China taking the differential carbon tax policy on their domestic products. Global Trade Analysis Project Energy model is applied to discuss whether China’s active measure to reduce carbon emissions can be an effective solution to the threat of carbon tariff of the USA. The research results show that China’s active measure of the same carbon tax policy as the USA is not effective to cope with carbon tariff of the USA. However, it is an effective measure to take a differential carbon tax policy. The specific policy implications of the study are discussed in conclusion.

Intensive Monitoring Survey of Nearby Galaxies (IMSNG) is a high cadence observation program monitoring nearby galaxies with high probabilities of hosting supernovae (SNe). IMSNG aims to constrain the SN explosion mechanism by inferring sizes of SN progenitor systems through the detection of the shock-heated emission that lasts less than a few days after the SN explosion. To catch the signal, IMSNG utilizes a network of 0.5-m to 1-m class telescopes around the world and monitors the images of 60 nearby galaxies at distances D < 50 Mpc to a cadence as short as a few hours. The target galaxies are bright in near-ultraviolet (NUV) with MNUV < - 18.4 AB mag and have high probabilities of hosting SNe (0.06 SN yr-1 per galaxy). With this strategy, we expect to detect the early light curves of 3.4 SNe per year to a depth of R  19:5 mag, enabling us to detect the shock-heated emission from a progenitor star with a radius as small as 0.1 R. The accumulated data will be also useful for studying faint features around the target galaxies and other science projects. So far, 18 SNe have occurred in our target fields (16 in IMSNG galaxies) over 5 years, confirming our SN rate estimate of 0.06 SN yr-1 per galaxy.

In this study, an empirical relationship between the energy band gap of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and synthesis parameters in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor using factorial design of experiment was established. A bimetallic (Fe-Ni) catalyst supported on CaCO3 was synthesized via wet impregnation technique and used for MWCNT growth. The effects of synthesis parameters such as temperature, time, acetylene flow rate, and argon carrier gas flow rate on the MWCNTs energy gap, yield, and aspect ratio were investigated. The as-prepared supported bimetallic catalyst and the MWCNTs were characterized for their morphologies, microstructures, elemental composition, thermal profiles and surface areas by high-resolution scanning electron microscope, high resolution transmission electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermal gravimetry analysis and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. A regression model was developed to establish the relationship between band gap energy, MWCNTs yield and aspect ratio. The results revealed that the optimum conditions to obtain high yield and quality MWCNTs of 159.9% were: temperature (700ºC), time (55 min), argon flow rate (230.37 mL min–1) and acetylene flow rate (150 mL min–1) respectively. The developed regression models demonstrated that the estimated values for the three response variables; energy gap, yield and aspect ratio, were 0.246 eV, 557.64 and 0.82. The regression models showed that the energy band gap, yield, and aspect ratio of the MWCNTs were largely influenced by the synthesis parameters and can be controlled in a CVD reactor.

Forward osmosis (FO) has emerged as one of the most promising technologies for seawater desalination. Despite the progress in membrane technology, draw solutions are still limited in terms of its reusability thereby hampering its economic viability. Hydrophilic ILs can be easily dissolved in water to constitute a DS. ILs are environmentally benign due to their high thermal stability and negligible vapor pressure. Hydrophilic ILs can be easily dissolved in water to constitute a DS. ILs are environmentally benign due to their high thermal stability and negligible vapor pressure. This work was supported by NRF funded by the Korea government funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (2016R1A2B1009221 and 2017R1A2B2002109) and Ministry of Education (2009-0093816 and 22A20130012051(BK21Plus)).

This study investigated the use of bovine serum albumin (BSA) as alternatives to fetal bovine serum (FBS) in in vitro maturation medium. The oocyte maturation, cumulus cell-oocyte gap junctional communication, and development of bovine embryos were determined by assessing their cell number, lipid content, mitochondrial activity, gene expression and cryo-tolerance. Oocytes were cultured in TCM-199 supplemented with 1 μg/ml estradiol-17ß, 10 μg/ml FSH, 10 ng/ml EGF, 0.6 mM cysteine, 0.2 mM sodium pyruvate and either 8% BSA (BSA group), 10% FBS (FBS group), or neither BSA nor FBS (TCM group), and followed by in vitro fertilization and the zygotes were cultured in SOF-BE1 medium. The differences in embryo development between experimental groups were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. We have shown that the percentages of embryos that underwent cleavage and formed a blastocyst were non significantly different among all experimental groups (37.4 ± 1.5% for FBS group vs. 31.1 ± 3.9% for BSA group and 34.5 ± 1.6% for TCM group, six replicates were performed). Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the percentage of MII oocyte between FBS (71.8 ± 1.9%) and BSA groups (69.3 ± 2.3%). However, culture of oocytes with FBS increased (P < 0.05) the cumulus cell expansion as well as expression of gape junction proteins, CX37 and CX43, at both transcriptional and translation levels. We also found that FBS significantly increased total cell number and decreased the apoptotic index in day-8 blastocyst comparing to BSA group. The beneficial effects of BSA on embryos were associated with significantly reduced intracellular lipid content and increased mitochondrial activity in both oocytes and blastocyst. Taken together, these data suggest that supplementation of maturation medium with BSA, as alternatives to FBS, can be used as defined medium that support consistently the development of IVP bovine embryos.

Mammalian fetal ovaries contains numerous primordial germ cells, however fewer ones can yield mature oocytes due to apoptosis and follicle atresia. Successful in vitro reconstitution of primordial germ cells has recently had a significant effect in the field of assisted reproductive technologies. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying oogenesis remain unknown and recapitulation of oogenesis in vitro remains unachieved. Therefore, development of methods for obtaining mature oocytes by culturing the fetal ovaries in vitro could contribute to clarify these mechanisms. We adapt an in vitro system for culturing mouse fetal ovaries that support successful follicle assembly and improve oocyte growth and maturation. Ovarian tissues from 12.5 days postcoitum (dpc) fetal mice were cultured in vitro and the matured oocytes were differentiated from primordial germ cells after a 31 days culture period. Our results demonstrate that mouse fetal germ cells are able to form primordial follicles with artificial ovarian cells, and that oocytes within the growing follicles are able to mature normally in vitro. Taken together, this in vitro culture system is expected to aid in the development of new strategies to identify the reasons behind failure of follicle assembly and offer a platform for innovative research into preservation of female germ cells and conservation of endangered species.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of Src homology 2-containing phosphotyrosine phosphatase SHP2 in intricate signaling network invoked by oocyte to achieve cytoplasmic maturation and also blastocyst development. Activation of SHP2 regulates multicellular differentiation, proliferation and survival through numerous signal pathways. The most prominent pathway is RAS/PI3K and p-AKT signaling cascade, as a result mitogenic effect become enhanced. Oocytes were cultured in cisplatin an anticancer drug, but selective activator of SHP2 and our grouping were SOF medium alone, SOF + EGF, SOF + CISPLATIN 0.3 μM, and SOF + EGF + CISPLATIN 0.3 μM. We evaluated that EGF neutralizes the apoptotic effect of cisplatin as well as maintain the high expression of SHP2, as a result blastocyst development become boosted up. We also found that inhibition of SHP2 with its specific inhibitor PHPS1 5 μM decreases the blastocyst development and neutralizes growth factors effect. The developmental ability and quality of bovine embryos were determined by assessing their cell number, gene expression, immunofluorescence, and immunoblot. The differences in embryo development between experimental groups were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Our results show that SHP2 have significant effect on MAP kinase pathways which expand the cumulus cells during oocyte maturation and blastocyst development as compare to inhibition of SHP2 with PHPS1. SHP2 not only transduce the signaling of epidermal growth factor but it also has a role in signal transduction of FGF and IGF. The expression of ERK, PI3K/p-AKT and mTOR was increased with EGF, but with the treatment of SHP2 inhibitor the expression of these genes become drop done. So we can conclude from these results that SHP2 is important for oocyte maturation as well as for blastocyst development.

Value creation is the purpose and end result of business relationships. However, there has been little research on the sources of relationship value in cross-border interfirm relationships. This is surprising given that value creation and delivery is arguably a more complex and difficult task in international markets than in domestic ones due to the differences in culture, language, management styles, and economic, social, and legal systems between exchange partners. This study investigates the drivers of relationship value in manufacturer–foreign distributor relationships. The focus is on distributor-perceived relationship value because it is typically the customer firm the final arbiter of value. The study develops a research model that consists of four different groups of predictors of relationship value: (1) exporter capabilities (i.e., marketing and technological); (2) importer capabilities (i.e., market-sensing and customer relationship management); (3) relational factors (i.e., relationship learning and cultural compatibility); and (4) market factors (i.e., competitive intensity and market growth). The identification and specification of these prognostic factors of relationship value formation was based on the review of extant literature and exploratory interviews with import and export managers. The study employs partial least squares-structural equation modeling to test model relationships. The results indicate that exporter marketing and technological capabilities, importer market-sensing and customer relationship management capabilities, relationship learning, cultural compatibility, and market growth are potent determinants of relationship value in manufacturer–foreign distributor relationships, while competitive intensity has no detectable effect. Several managerial implications are extracted from the study, as well as suggestions for future research.

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between perceived value, ethnic identity and purchase intention of ethnic apparel. This study examines how Hanfu (traditional costume of the Han Ethnic Group of China) customers perceive certain types of values (emotional value, social value, uniqueness value, conditional value and perceived value). Then this study determined how customers’ perceptions of these values and ethnic identity were correlated with perceived value, and intention to buy Hanfu. Findings from this study indicated that perceived value and ethnic identity were generally associated with purchase intention of ethnic apparel. Hence, ethnic identity moderated the relationship between perceived value and purchase intention. Finally, compared to emotional value, social value, and uniqueness value, conditional value showed the most influential impact on the perceived value. The findings provide an insight in recognizing factors which play an important role in wearing ethnic apparel. More specifically this research provides insight for traditional apparel marketers to design apparel products and reposition the existing products.

Introduction In order to solve the information asymmetry and make full use of resources (unused goods, spare capacity and so on), the sharing economy, which based on the application of mobile internet technology and focused on the consumption of the right to use, is developing rapidly. Lack of trust is considered to be one of the important problems hindering the development of sharing economy. Möhlmann (2015) said that trust is a fundamental determinant of sharing economy development and ensuring shared satisfaction. At present, sharing economy enterprises have established product evaluation system and docked a third party credit rating system (i.e. Zhima Credit) to promote consumers’ trust. However, with most enterprises are becoming more and more consistent in evaluation and credit rating system, there is a new problem emerged: how to further deepen consumers’ trust in order to promote consumers’ intention to participate continuously (Zucker, 1986; Lewis & Weigert, 1985). Granovetter (1985) mentioned that trust is the product of social relationships. Botsman and Rogers (2011) made it clear that social networks play an important role in building trust in sharing economy. And people are always more willing to accept the opinions of people who have social relations with them (Lu, Zhao, & Wang, 2010). Hence, with the feature of participant of everyone in sharing economy, it is necessary to further strengthen consumers’ trust through the social interaction among consumers and between consumers and sharing platforms. Theoretical Development Sharing economy is based on LBS and other new technologies to realize the matching of supply and demand information across time and space. And to a certain extent, it solves the problem of information asymmetry in the era of e-commerce. Yet consumer have new requirements for product information. For example, consumers are more concerned about whether the utility of products and services can meet their needs (i.e. some consumers are more concerned about when to reach their destination than the performance of the car). But it is difficult for company to understand each everyone of consumers’ utility preference and publish product utility information based on these preferences (Xie & Gerstner, 2007). Because this kind of utility preference has the characteristic of timeliness and personalization. Therefore, consumers’ perceived uncertainty about the utility of the product will also affect the consumers’ trust. In summary, we then address these research questions:(1) can the promotion of trust between consumers and sharing platforms be achieved through the socializing of sharing platforms and then affect consumers’ intention to participate continuously; (2) if so, which type of privacy protection method and social information can promote consumer trust; and (3) does the impact of sharing platform socialization on consumer trust vary according to consumers’ concerns about the perceived utility uncertainty of the product. Research Design We then address these issues using experiment data. The first experiment was a 2 (social media: have, not have) x 2 (individual trust propensity: trust, not trust) between-subject design on the intention to trust sharing platform and participant continuously. Perceived utility uncertainty was added to this design as a moderator. Moreover, the second experiment was a 2 (social information type: hedonic, utilitarian) x 2 (degree of privacy protection: week, strong) between-subject design on the intention to trust sharing platform. Our scales come from existing scales and optimize it according to the characteristics of sharing economy (Schneider, 1999; Dhar & Wertenbroch, 2000; McKnight, Choudhury, & Kacmar, 2002). Results and Conclusion The results of the first experiment show that whether or not the social platform has no significant impact on the consumer trust if the individual tends to trust others. And for individuals who tends to do not trust others, they are more likely to trust socialized sharing platforms. The higher the consumer perceived utility uncertainty is, the higher (lower) trust of the consumer platform in the socialized (not socialized) sharing platform. For the second experiment results, in the context of sharing economy, the utilitarian information has a greater positive impact on the consumer trust than the hedonic information. In addition, the stronger the privacy protection of sharing platforms, the higher the trust of consumes. This study makes several academic contributions. First, we extend the topic of socialization to sharing economy context. Second, we add the perceived utility uncertainty as a moderator, and supplement the role of perceived uncertainty. This research also provides several practical implications. First, sharing platform can promote their consumers’ trust by establishing their own social platform. This platform can be used as a differentiated competitive strategy for sharing platform. Second, sharing platform should guide consumers to share utilitarian information (i.e. weather for specific place or real time traffic) to improve consumer satisfaction. Third, sharing platform can access consumer preference information through this social platform for further product development and classification.

The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between perceived value, ethnic identity and purchase intention of ethnic apparel. This study examines how Hanfu (traditional costume of the Han Ethnic Group of China) customers perceive certain types of values (emotional value, social value, uniqueness value, conditional value and perceived value). Then this study determined how customers’ perceptions of these values and ethnic identity were correlated with perceived value, and intention to buy Hanfu. Findings from this study indicated that perceived value and ethnic identity were generally associated with purchase intention of ethnic apparel. Hence, ethnic identity moderated the relationship between perceived value and purchase intention. Finally, compared to emotional value, social value, and uniqueness value, conditional value showed the most influential impact on the perceived value. The findings provide an insight in recognizing factors which play an important role in wearing ethnic apparel. More specifically this research provides insight for traditional apparel marketers to design apparel products and reposition the existing products.

A predominantly positive view is shown in engagement literature in terms of positive actor engagement (PNE) expressions and outcomes. However, business practices indicate that the understanding of actors being negatively engaged is important. Yet a few studies in marketing, which attempt to conceptualise negative actor engagement (NAE), do not have a consensus as for whether NE and PE are reciprocal or NE is a distinct construct with a different nomological network and process. The purpose of this study is to conceptualise and operationalise NAE. Built on Li et al.’s (2018) conceptualisation of actor engagement valence, this paper follows Churchill’s (1979) methods of scale development and operationalises the construct of NAE. By developing and validating a NAE scale in specific online learning servcie platforms, we address this identified literature gap. Specifically, this study derives four NAE dimensions, including annoyance, anxiety, futitlity and failed expectation, which we proceed to validate within a nomological net of conceptual relationships in relation to the engagement behaviours (learning, sharing and endorsing). We conclude with an overview of key managerial and scholarly implications arising from this research. This marks the first study in the marketing discipline to operationalise NAE.

In recent years, terrorism has become one of the major world's concerns. According to the Institute for Economics and Peace (2016), among OECD member countries, deaths from terrorism have dramatically increased in 2015, rising by 650% relative to 2014. France stands as the country with the largest increase of deaths from 2014 to 2015. Recent terrorist attacks in France have triggered widespread awareness of this tragic phenomenon. Comparatively, Israel is a country that has experienced chronic terror attacks since the early 1960s, creating a high level of awareness that has become part of the citizen’s daily life, as attacks can occur in restaurants, bars, buses, and stores, or in the streets (Ben-David & Cohen-Louck, 2010). Due to their different experiences of terror, we chose to focus our study on France and Israel. In line with the terror management theory (Greenberg et al., 1986), which suggests that death reminders influence behaviors, these terror threats may have consequences on feelings of well-being (Maguen et al., 2008). Most studies concerning the effects of terrorism on consumer behaviour have focused on personal characteristics (Cohen-Louck, 2016). However, to the best of our knowledge, studies have yet to characterize customers' behaviors in different service situations in the wake of a terrorist attack and the factors influencing these behaviors. This will be the main contribution of the current study. A qualitative study has been conducted in France and Israel. We focused on both utilitarian (modes of transportation) and hedonic (cinema, restaurants, bars) services (Bradley & LaFleur, 2016). The study highlighted two specific criteria that could affect customer behavior: time from the terrorist attack and its proximity to the respondent. In-depth interviews were conducted with customers from France (22) and Israel (29; total n=51). Participants were interviewed on their behaviors, either immediately following a terror attack or one month after. Customer strategies were found to be similar and long termed in both France and Israel. However, Israeli customer responses are more personal and emotional, more detailed, more proactive in protecting themselves. The passage of time from the attack has less effect on Israelis’ chosen strategies. Among French respondents, the effect of time is evident: attacks have a significant impact on behaviours immediately after their occurrence, compared with a month later. Whereas the avoidance strategy is mainly adopted immediately after the attack, as time passes, there is a kind of resignation of the situation. The perception of internal vs. external control over one's life seems also to be an important variable that may explain behaviour in both groups.

Customer-owned touch points have emerged as a central context for customers to interact with one another on social media (Lemon and Verhoef 2016). Empirical research on firms’ presence and behaviour in these forums is limited, especially as regards how this presence affects customer experiences. This study is an attempt to address this this gap, analysing customer experiences from such forums using self-determination theory as a lens. The results show that companies’ efforts to control the discussions in such forums have a negative impact on customers' cognitive experiences. However, firms’ intervention is welcomed when the intention is to add value to customers in these forums, and allow customers to retain the feeling self-efficacy, and social affiliation and autonomy (Ryan and Deci 2002).