Online Peer-to-Peer (P2P) lending marketplaces allow individuals to lend and borrow directly among each other without the mediation of a creditor bank institution. Prior literature has examined online P2P, but has largely been limited to the Western context. This paper thus explores how social...

Non-isothermal crystallization of aqueous nanofluids in the presence of two types of high aspect-ratio carbon nano-additives, i.e., carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), was characterized by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). A parametric investigation was...

We extend the differentiated product model, first developed by Bowley (1924), by relaxing the assumption that each firm produces only one differentiated product. By doing so, we are able to analyze the potential for collusive market segmentation in a two-stage decision framework, first in...

Aiming at investigating an appropriate furrow irrigation management strategy for high melon yields and water productivity (WP), a new coupled model was developed based on the CHAIN_2D and the crop growth model of EPIC. In the coupled model, the root water uptake model of Vrugt was coupled with...

Considering the current water scarcity of Northwest China, aiming at sustainable agricultural development in this region, it is required to identify and apply the most appropriate practices for water-saving, and yield and water productivity improvement. Relative to the tomato crop, a two-year...

Irrigation is essential for agriculture in the middle Heihe River basin, Northwest China, due to water scarcity and dryness of climate. The diverted river water for agriculture is being gradually reduced which requires an increased water use performance to meet crop water requirements and to...

Within the framework of the modified Ginzburg–Landau–Devonshire phenomenological theory, we study the properties of a ferroelectric thin film with surface transition layer, considering the effect of electrodes. The combined effect of the electrode and surface transition layer on the...

The irrigation districts of the upper Yellow River basin are highly productive agricultural areas of North China. Due to the severe water scarcity, application of water-saving practices at both farm and district levels are required for sustainable agricultural development. An integrated...

Sudoku is played by millions of people across the globe. It has simple rules and is very addictive. The game board is a nine-by-nine grid of numbers from one to nine. Several entries within the grid are provided and the remaining entries must be filled in subject to no row, column, or...

Water resources allocated to the agricultural sector in the Yellow River basin are being reduced due to severe water scarcity and increased demand by the non-agricultural sectors. In large-scale irrigation districts, the application of water-saving practices, e.g., improving the canal system,...