WILL STRONG RETAILERS ACQUIRE BETTER PROCUMENT PERFORMANCE?: ANALYSIS BASED ON THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF THE QUALITY OF RETAILER-SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIP

Wenchao Liu,Rupan Sun,Xin Xin,Lihui Sun 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2016 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2016 No.7

Due to the continuous development of international retailers in the Chinese market, and the merger and reorganization among Chinese retailers in recent years, the degree of concentration of the Chinese retail industry has been increasing, and the scale of retailers has been expanding. It is suggested by the report China Powers of Retailing 2014 that an increasing number of large-scale retail groups have been formed in the Chinese retail industry. In large and medium-sized cities in China, such large-scale supermarkets as Wal-Mart, Carrefour and RT-Mart have controlled most market shares of food and daily necessities. And large-scale household appliance chains, such as Gome and Suning, have controlled most market shares of home appliance. Due to the advantage of scale and brand of large-scale retailers, these retailers have gradually occupied a leading role in the supply chain, and formed buyer monopoly power and countervailing power. Intuitively speaking, retailers can acquire obvious advantages in procurement activities, no matter it is the buyer monopoly power or countervailing power that is being utilized. And the advantages are beneficial to the improvement of retailers’ procurement performance. However, it is pointed out by a number of scholars’ research that buyer power’s influence on retail enterprises’ performance is quite complicated. Whether buyer power can improve economic efficiency depends on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship. The quality of the relationships between retailers and suppliers exerts direct influence on the stability, durability and equity of the trade. In the long term, the reinforcement of buyer power will probably exert adverse influence on the suppliers and retailers. By imposing influence on suppliers with buyer power, retailers will cause twisted competition and prifit shrinkage to suppliers in the upstream market. As a result, the quantity of suppliers will be decreased, which will be disadvantageous to the selection of retailers and affect retailers’ utilization of their negotiating advantage. In the meanwhile, by imposing special prices and discounts, collecting extra charges and signing exclusive agreement with suppliers, retailers will lead to suppliers’ impaired benefit. It will further affect the quality of the retailer-supplierrelationship and ultimately exert adverse influence on both parties’ long-term earnings. In the existing research, few scholars have thoroughly discussed the influence of retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retail enterprises’ procurement performance. In addition, different conclusions exist in the analysis of the relationships among the three factors, or between two of them. In order to empirically test the influence of retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retail enterprises’ procurement performance, we established the theoretical model of this study in figure 1. The research will help us to cognize the influence of retailers’ buyer power more reasonably, and guide retailers better utilize buyer power, an attempt is made to explore the following questions in this research: 1. Does direct positive influence exist between large-scale retailers’ buyer power and retailers’ procurement performance? 2. Are there any differences in the influence of different types of retailers’ buyer power on retailers’ procurement performance? 3. What influence will large-scale retailers’ buyer power exert on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship? 4. When the quality of retailer-supplier relationship is brought in as a mediating variable, what influence will large-scale retailers’ buyer power exert on retailers’ procurement performance? From the perspective of the relationships among channel members, large-scale retailers in the Chinese market, such as Wal-Mart, Carrefour, RT-Mart, OUYA Supermarket and Vanguard, as well as suppliers of their products are taken as the object of the research. Methods like interview, pre-survey and official survery with questionnaire are adopted to verify different hypotheses in the research. During the indepth interview, twelve respondents are invited respectively to the interview. Seven of them are in charge of large-scale retailers’ procurement, and five of them are salespersons of manufacturers, who supply products to retailers. It can be seen from the result of the interview that the twelve respondents hold different opinions towards the relationships among large-scale retailers’ buyer power, the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retailers’ procurement performance. In terms of the influence of large-scale retailers’ buyer power on retailers’ procurement performance, some believe that there’s positive influence, some believe there’s negative influence, and some believe the influence should be respectively analyzed according to the degree of buyer power. In terms of the influence of large-scale retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship, some believe large-scale retailers’ buyer power exerts positive influence on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship, some believe it exerts negative influence, and some believe the influence depends on specific circumstances. During the pre-survey with questionnaire, scales of retailers’ buyer power, the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retailers’ procurement performance are developed on the basis of theoretical overview and interview research. Specifically speaking, the scale of retailers’ buyer power is constituted of two level-1 dimensions (buyer’s monopoly power and countervailing power) and seven level-2 dimensions; the scalerelationship and ultimately exert adverse influence on both parties’ long-term earnings. In the existing research, few scholars have thoroughly discussed the influence of retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retail enterprises’ procurement performance. In addition, different conclusions exist in the analysis of the relationships among the three factors, or between two of them. In order to empirically test the influence of retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retail enterprises’ procurement performance, we established the theoretical model of this study in figure 1. The research will help us to cognize the influence of retailers’ buyer power more reasonably, and guide retailers better utilize buyer power, an attempt is made to explore the following questions in this research: 1. Does direct positive influence exist between large-scale retailers’ buyer power and retailers’ procurement performance? 2. Are there any differences in the influence of different types of retailers’ buyer power on retailers’ procurement performance? 3. What influence will large-scale retailers’ buyer power exert on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship? 4. When the quality of retailer-supplier relationship is brought in as a mediating variable, what influence will large-scale retailers’ buyer power exert on retailers’ procurement performance? From the perspective of the relationships among channel members, large-scale retailers in the Chinese market, such as Wal-Mart, Carrefour, RT-Mart, OUYA Supermarket and Vanguard, as well as suppliers of their products are taken as the object of the research. Methods like interview, pre-survey and official survery with questionnaire are adopted to verify different hypotheses in the research. During the indepth interview, twelve respondents are invited respectively to the interview. Seven of them are in charge of large-scale retailers’ procurement, and five of them are salespersons of manufacturers, who supply products to retailers. It can be seen from the result of the interview that the twelve respondents hold different opinions towards the relationships among large-scale retailers’ buyer power, the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retailers’ procurement performance. In terms of the influence of large-scale retailers’ buyer power on retailers’ procurement performance, some believe that there’s positive influence, some believe there’s negative influence, and some believe the influence should be respectively analyzed according to the degree of buyer power. In terms of the influence of large-scale retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship, some believe large-scale retailers’ buyer power exerts positive influence on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship, some believe it exerts negative influence, and some believe the influence depends on specific circumstances. During the pre-survey with questionnaire, scales of retailers’ buyer power, the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and retailers’ procurement performance are developed on the basis of theoretical overview and interview research. Specifically speaking, the scale of retailers’ buyer power is constituted of two level-1 dimensions (buyer’s monopoly power and countervailing power) and seven level-2 dimensions; the scaleof the quality of retailer-supplier relationship is constituted of three level-1 dimensions (cooperation, adaption and relationship atmosphere); the scale of retailers’ procurement performance is constituted of three level-1 dimensions (cost performance, time performance and quality performance of procurement). The questionnaire pre-survey is specific to retailers’ procurement staff and suppliers’ sales personnel respectively. A total of valid 179 questionnaires are collected, among which, 86 are from retailers’ procurement staff and 93 are from suppliers’ sales personnel. Based on the survey data, SPSS and AMOS software are utilized in the analysis of items, reliability and validity of the different scales. Finally, the factor structure of the scale regarding retailers’ buyer power is adjusted, and the scale regarding retailers’ buyer monolopy power is re-designed specially. During the official survey with questionnaire, questionnaires are handed out to retailers’ procurement staff and suppliers’ sales personnel respectively. A total of 340 valid questionnaires are collected, among which, 178 are from retailers’ procurement staff and 162 are from suppliers’ sales personnel. The samples, which are quite representative, are evenly distributed. Based on the survey data, SPSS and AMOS software are utilized to further analyze the reliability and validity of the different appraisal scales. Finally, the various hypotheses in the research are tested by causual steps of regression analysis with SPSS. After relatively complicated and elaborate statistical analysis, most of the hypotheses are supported, some are partially supported, and only one is not supported. One of the mediating effect analysis results is show in table 1 and figure 2. Based on direct regression analysis, we can get some important results: First of all, the hypothesis that retailers’ buyer power will overally exert positive influence on retailer enterprises’ procurement performance is supported, but the hypothesis that retailers’ buyer monopoly power and countervailing power will exert positive influence on retailer enterprises’ procurement performance is partially supported. Secondly, the hypothesis that retailers’ buyer power will overally exert negative influence on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship is not supported, and the hypothesis that retailers’ buyer monopoly power will exert negative influence on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and the dimension is partially supported, and the hypothesis that retailers’ buyer countervailing power will exert positive influence on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship and the dimension is supported. Thirdly, the hypothesis that the quality of retailer-supplier relationship, as well as the dimensions (cooperation and relationship atmosphere) will overally exert positive influence on retailer enterprises’ procurement performance is supported, and the hypothesis that the dimension---the adaptation of the quality of retailer-supplier relationship will exert positive influence on retail enterprises’ procurement performance is only partially supported. Based on causual steps of regression analysis for the mediating effect, we can also get some important results: First of all, the relationship quality plays a complete intermediary role between the retailer’s buyer power and the procurement performance. Secondly, the relationship quality plays a complete intermediary role between the r retailers’ buyer monopoly power and the procurement performance. Thirdly, the relationship quality plays a complete intermediary role between the r retailers’ buyer countervailing power and the procurement performance.Some inspirations are achieved from the research. First of all, basically speaking, the direct influence of retailers’ buyer power on retail enterprises’ procurement performance is significantly positive. Secondly, the influence of retailers’ buyer power on the quality of retailer-supplier relationship is relatively complicated. Thirdly, basically speaking, the influence of the quality of retailer-supplier relationship on retail enterprises’ procurement performance is significantly positive. Fourthly, after the quality of retailer-supplier relationship is brought in as a mediating variable, the influence of retailers’ buyer power on retail enterprises’ procurement performance depends on the specific condition of the retailer-supplier relationship.

意與境会·情韵兼胜 - 郑愁予《错误》赏析 -

孙新新(Sun, xin-xin),韓宗完(Han, Jong-Wan) 조선대학교 국제문화연구원 2010 국제문화연구 Vol.3 No.2

대만의 대표적인 현대시인 정초우위(鄭愁予)의 <착각(錯誤)>은 오늘날 까지 중화권의 많은 독자들에게 애송되는 뛰어난 시이다. 이 작품의 발표와 더불어 작자는 문단에서 확고한 위치를 차지하였으며 상당한 영향을 끼쳤다. 시는 규방에서 외롭게 사랑하는 이의 귀향을 고대하며 근심에 잠긴 여인의 내면을 섬세하게 표현하고 있다. 말을 타고 강남을 유람 하던 “나”의 말발굽소리에 실의에 빠졌던 여인이 희망을 가져보지만, 말발굽소리가 점점 멀어짐에 따라 다시 절망에 빠지고 하염없는 기다림 속으로 빠져드는 여인의 감정이 독자의 가슴에 절절하게 와 닿는다. 이 시는 현대 중국인이 현대적인 언어로 써내려간 고대중국의 전통적인 규원시(闺怨詩)라고 할 수 있다. 본고에서는 먼저 작자에 대한 배경연 구를 통해 “유랑자”같은 시인의 창작 특징을 살펴보았다. 다음, 시에 드러난 이미지, 구조, 주제 등에 대한 구체 분석을 진행하였다. 즉, 고대중 국의 전통의식과 서구 현대파의 완벽한 융합, 짧고 간결한 시어 속에 담긴 세련된 이미지, 독특한 구상 등을 분석하였다. 또한 9행의 짧은 시 속에 담겨 표현된 복잡한 감정(感情), 감각(感覺), 감오(感悟)가 어떻게 수많은 독자들의 심금을 울리고 호응을 이끌어낼 수 있었는지 설명하였다. 특히 중국 전통의 이미지에 대한 대량의 차용으로 인해 완성된 농후한 시적 정취와 그윽한 경지, 부드럽고 함축적인 미를 잘 표현하고 있는 시의 미학적 특징을 중심으로 분석을 진행하였다.

In Vivo Experimental Study on the Effects of Fluid in Increasing the Efficiency of Radiofrequency Ablation

Sun, Yi-Xin,Cheng, Wen,Han, Xue,Liu, Zhao,Wang, Qiu-Cheng,Shao, Hua Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.14

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the most widely used and studied method internationally for the local treatment of liver tumors. However, the extension of coagulation necrosis in one RFA procedure is limited and incomplete coverage of the damaged area can lead to a high local recurrence rate. Objective: In this study, we compared the effects of different solutions in enhancing hepatic radiofrequency by establishing a rabbit VX2 liver cancer model. We also determined the optimal solution to maximise effects on the extent of RFA-induced coagulation necrosis. Methods: Thirty VX2 tumor rabbits were randomly assigned to five groups: group A, RFA alone; group B, RFA with anhydrous ethanol injection; group C, RFA with 5% hypertonic saline injection; group D, RFA with lidocaine injection; and group E, RFA with a mixed solution. Routine ultrasound examinations and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) of the ablation areas were performed after RFA. Then, we measured the major axis and transverse diameter and compared the areas of coagulation necrosis induced by RFA. Results: The mean ablation area range increased in groups B, C and especially E, and the scopes were greater compared with group A. Preoperative application of anhydrous ethanol, hypertonic saline, lidocaine and the mixed solution (groups B, C, D and E, respectively) resulted in larger coagulation necrosis areas than in group A (p<0.05). Among the groups, the coagulation necrosis areas in group E was largest, and the difference was statistically significant compared with other groups (p<0.05). Pathological findings were consistent with imaging results. Conclusions: A mixture of dehydrated alcohol, hypertonic saline and lidocaine injected with RFA increases the extent of coagulation necrosis in the liver with a single application, and the mixed solution is more effective than any other injection alone.

Design of 1500V solar inverter stack beyond megawatt in NPC1 topology

Xin Hao,Kwok-Wai Ma,Jia Zhao,Xin-Yu Sun 전력전자학회 2017 전력전자학술대회 논문집 Vol.2017 No.7

This paper describes a design concept of NPC1 power stack for 1500VDC megawatt level solar inverter. This stack uses three latest half-bridge IGBT modules with highest power density and operation junction temperature, which enable realization of power level beyond 1MW without paralleling. Critical design concept on loop inductance is explained. Dynamic characteristics are verified by double-pulse test. Thermal characteristics and output power limits are verified by thermal test. Temperature-sensitive component on PCB as output power constraint is identified. Different PCB repositioning solutions are tested to give the overall output power thermal derating curves, which enable output power of 1.15MW at TA=55°C with 15°C thermal margin. The power stack characteristic and performance change under different thermal environment is further analyzed.

Integrated Magnetic Transformer for ZVS Phase Shift Full Bridge Converter

Xin-Lan Li(이형란),Yong-Hwan Shin(신용환),Jae-Sun Won(원재선),Jong-Sun Kim(김종선),Hwi-Beom Shin(신휘범) 전력전자학회 2010 전력전자학회 논문지 Vol.15 No.2

Overexpression of a Phosphatidylinositol-Specific Phospholipase C Gene from Populus simonii ×  P. nigra Improves Salt Tolerance in Transgenic Tobacco

Sun Yao,Li Yao,Sun Xin,Wu Qiong,Yang Chunhui,Wang Lei 한국식물학회 2022 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.65 No.5

Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate into diacylglycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. It can play an essential role in plant stress response and signaling. However, the functions of PLCs remain unclear in wooden plants. This study carried out the bioinformatics analysis of the PLC gene family in poplar. The expression pattern analysis suggested the transient up-regulation of PsnPLC in salt stress conditions. The transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing PsnPLC were generated by the Agrobacterium-mediated leaf disc method. The transgenic lines showed a significant increase in plant height, SOD and POD activity, and proline content under salt stress. By contrast, transgenic lines showed a decreased malondialdehyde content under salt stress. Comparative transcriptome analysis indicated that the overexpression of PsnPLC mainly affects membrane-associated GO terms and signaling pathways, and the differential expression of salt-responsive genes may contribute to the enhanced salt tolerance. Overall, the results indicated that PsnPLC plays an essential role in modulating salt tolerance in transgenic tobacco.

Parthenolide-Induced Apoptosis, Autophagy and Suppression of Proliferation in HepG2 Cells

Sun, Jing,Zhang, Chan,Bao, Yong-Li,Wu, Yin,Chen, Zhong-Liang,Yu, Chun-Lei,Huang, Yan-Xin,Sun, Ying,Zheng, Li-Hua,Wang, Xue,Li, Yu-Xin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.12

Purpose: To investigate the anticancer effects and underlying mechanisms of parthenolide on HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Materials and Methods: Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay and cell apoptosis through DAPI, TUNEL staining and Western blotting. Monodansylcadaverin(MDC) and AO staining were used to detect cell autophagy. Cell proliferation was assessed by Ki67 immunofluorescence staining. Results: Parthenolide induced growth inhibition in HepG2 cells. DAPI and TUNEL staining showed that parthenolide could increase the number of apoptotic nuclei, while reducing the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and elevating the expression of related proteins, like p53, Bax, cleaved caspase9 and cleaved caspase3. Parthenolide could induce autophagy in HepG2 cells and inhibited the expression of proliferation-related gene, Ki-67. Conclusions: Parthenolide can exert anti-cancer effects by inducing cell apoptosis, activating autophagy and inhibiting cell proliferation.

R&D intensity, free cash flow, and technological innovation: evidence from high-tech manufacturing firms in China

Xin Kuang,Chen Xin,Zhang Ran,Sun Yuchun 기술경영경제학회 2019 ASIAN JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION Vol.27 No.2

Technological innovation, which can be classified into major and minor innovation, enables firms to gain competitive and sustainable advantage in the changing environment. R&D investment and financial resources are recognized as two critical factors for fostering technological innovation. Based on a panel dataset of 257 listed Chinese high-tech manufacturing firms over the period of 2008–2015, we explored the effect of R&D intensity on technological innovation and the moderating role of free cash flow using negative binormal regression models. Our results reveal that the relationship between R&D intensity and technological innovation (both major and minor innovation) follows an inverted U pattern in which technological innovation increases with R&D intensity at decreasing rates and falls gradually after R&D intensity exceeds a threshold. Our results also indicate that free cash flow plays a moderating role in the relationship between R&D intensity and major innovation but not in the relationship between R&D intensity and minor innovation. Our study draws attention to the improvement of R&D investment efficiency in high-tech manufacturing firms and sheds light on the importance of holding cash in major innovation-oriented firms.

Towards efficient sharing of encrypted data in cloud-based mobile social network

( Xin Sun ),( Yiyang Yao ),( Yingjie Xia ),( Xuejiao Liu ),( Jian Chen ),( Zhiqiang Wang ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2016 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.10 No.4

Mobile social network is becoming more and more popular with respect to the development and popularity of mobile devices and interpersonal sociality. As the amount of social data increases in a great deal and cloud computing techniques become developed, the architecture of mobile social network is evolved into cloud-based that mobile clients send data to the cloud and make data accessible from clients. The data in the cloud should be stored in a secure fashion to protect user privacy and restrict data sharing defined by users. Ciphertext-policy attribute-based encryption (CP-ABE) is currently considered to be a promising security solution for cloud-based mobile social network to encrypt the sensitive data. However, its ciphertext size and decryption time grow linearly with the attribute numbers in the access structure. In order to reduce the computing overhead held by the mobile devices, in this paper we propose a new Outsourcing decryption and Match-then-decrypt CP-ABE algorithm (OM-CP-ABE) which firstly outsources the computation-intensive bilinear pairing operations to a proxy, and secondly performs the decryption test on the attributes set matching access policy in ciphertexts. The experimental performance assessments show the security strength and efficiency of the proposed solution in terms of computation, communication, and storage. Also, our construction is proven to be replayable choosen-ciphertext attacks (RCCA) secure based on the decisional bilinear Diffie-Hellman (DBDH) assumption in the standard model.

Questioning Gender

Sun Zhonig xin 이화여자대학교 아시아여성학센터 2005 이화여자대학교 아시아여성학센터 학술대회자료집 Vol.2005 No.6