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The corner space, an important area of underground commercial streets, not only converts space functions but also exerts a great impact on the space atmosphere by transforming the environmental quality of the commercial street space. Based on corner space investigations of several underground commercial streets in China, this paper constructs a realistic scene model using virtual reality technology and screens. This paper classifies the corner space elements of underground commercial streets through preliminary experiments. Based on the conclusions, different morphological models of the corner space were constructed by orthogonal experiments and virtual reality technology combined with psychology. A semantic differential was used to quantitatively evaluate and analyze the spatial experience cognition of the subjects. This enabled an analysis of the of underground commercial street corners’ relationship to the component elements and the visitors’ psychological perception of their spatial form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper selects the live performances China has Brought Forth a Mao Zedong and Jinggang Mountain as cases to examine the red tourism performance tourist experience based on online review data. The study finds that the audience mainly formed their experience perceptions from six categories -- evaluated subjects, performance environment and services, performance design and stage elements, red culture perception, tourist experience comparison and tourist experience evaluation. Tourism performance is a deep integration of red culture and tourism, and the form of live performance is well received. Performance environment and service is a guarantee factor for tourists' experience, and its standardization and flexibility should be balanced. Performance design and stage elements are the core factors for tourists' experience, and art and technology should be organically combined. Red culture perception is a unique element of tourists' experience, and it is related to the effect of red genetic inheritance. Well-known performance projects are the reference object for tourists' experience, and it's necessary to be deeply rooted in the local culture. Currently, tourists' evaluation of red tourism performance is quite positive. It continuously integrates and innovates without stopping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Threat perception has been central in the field of international relations, especially in the literature of states' alliances and conflict solutions. International Relations (IR) balance of power and alliance theories have largely equated "threat" to "power." A standard narrative in Singapore's foreign policy toward great powers is its reluctance to choose between both. Singapore's immediate neighbor, Indonesia, the largest archipelagic country in the world, has voiced similar inclinations. Studies have concentrated on the larger power threat interpretation and their responses toward the change in the international order arising from China's growth or the rise of terrorism but rarely examining issues from small states' point of view. According to Realists' logic, small states possess little capacity to influence the fate of their own survival; therefore, they can only choose between balancing and band wagoning. Threat perceptions play an intermediary role in connecting the external environment and state foreign policy behavior. Hence, the study of threat perception is critical as it influences states foreign policies regarding issues ranging from defense spending to states' level of commitment toward international multilateral cooperation. IR scholars have examined how states form threat perceptions from various psychological and non-psychological perspectives. However, these factors are often studied independently. This paper argues that Gestalt principles of threat perception offer a more thorough analysis of Singapore's threat perception by bridging the gap between realist and constructivist studies by demonstrating how Singapore's threat perception as a small state is magnified due to its unique geographical position and its shared cultural affinity with China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why has China delayed commercialization of genetically modified (GM) crops over the last decade given its heavy public R&D investment in biotechnology and maturing GM capacity? Further, imports of GM products for consumption are allowed while similar domestic GM‐crops cannot be commercialized. The paper analyzes, from a political economy perspective, how the delay of commercialization arises from the government balancing interests and conflicts among vested interests to keep social stability based on comprehensive secondary data and unique primary survey data. Anti‐GMO activists have, over time, been able to shape the public perception of biotechnology. Their efforts have garnered widespread acceptance among interest groups and have been sufficient to raise the specter of underlying social instability, which is always near the top of mind for China's government. As a result, no movement on commercialization has been made since 2010—more than a decade ago. The failure to commercialize is important because food production would increase considerably if China were able to commercialize GM crops and the resolution of the biotechnology issue has broad implications for food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Short videos have become the most-liked medium for Chinese consumers to learn about a brand's products or services. This paper assesses how short video storytelling shapes Chinese consumers' perceptions towards blockchain-credentialed Australian beef and their willingness to pay (WTP). A controlled experiment with a one-minute short video was implemented in an online survey. Respondents in the treatment group watched the video before filling out the survey, whereas respondents in the control group did not. The paper analyses and compares the empirical results from local (n = 76) and foreign (n = 27) consumers. Results illustrate that the short video, as part of our food communications, positively shapes consumer perception towards meat quality, labelling and traceability trust of Australian beef but has only slight or even negative effects on WTP. This could be due to the short video offering consumers a sense of supply chain visibility but not delivering the right messages to meet their expectation of blockchain credentials. Furthermore, short video storytelling effects vary among consumers with different socio-economic characteristics. Our results posit that short video storytelling can be a useful tool in communicating blockchain-credentialed food products but require the design of a tailor-made storytelling experience for diverse consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discrepancy between expected and actual food product features can be an important indicator of food quality and thus may inform consumer decisions. Using mixed method design, this paper explores whether and how expectation discrepancy affects food consumers' quality perception and purchase intentions under food safety risk situation. In the first phase, a qualitative study based on in-depth semi structured interviews (N = 15) was conducted. The interview results revealed that consumers in general responded negatively towards the existence of expectation discrepancies as it led to poor perceived food quality. It was further revealed that the discrepancy in expectation dimensions had a stronger effect on consumers' perceptions as compared to the discrepancy in expectation extent. In the second phase extensive online survey (N = 2172), it was confirmed that expectation discrepancy had significantly affected quality perceptions and purchase intentions. Moreover, perceived quality played a mediating role between expectation discrepancy and purchase intentions. In addition, expectation proportion (measured with the importance of specific food feature) was shown to strengthen (moderate) the impact of expectation discrepancy. Furthermore, the effects of expectation discrepancy were stronger for high-risk food (versus low risk food). The current paper shows that the effects of expectation discrepancy play a highly significant role in forming perceptions about food safety, therefore, precise marketing strategies can be made by clustering consumers according to the expectation proportions. • Consumers had a negative attitude towards the existence of expectation discrepancies. • The negative quality perception limited consumers' purchase intentions. • Expectation dimension discrepancy had a stronger influence than extent discrepancy. • Effects of expectation discrepancy were higher for high-risk food. • Expectation proportions strengthened the impact of expectation discrepancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 2000s, China has deepened public relations in its engagement with Africa primarily through economic investment and assistance. The present work looks at China's African public relations and the mechanism that shapes public perception of China, focusing on Mali. Mali is not a major destination for Chinese investment, yet public perceptions of China appear to be uniquely positive. How may we explain this trajectory? The work undertakes a longitudinal examination, comparing China's economic developments in Mali (2010–20) with Malians' perception of China's influence on the Malian economy that shapes the general perception and attitude towards China (2010–20) and the media's role in this process. Some questions guide this study: how do Chinese economic activities in Mali shape Malians' perception of China? How does the media contribute (if any) to shaping Malian perception of China's developmental programmes? Employing a mixed research method and a range of datasets, I find that economic investment does not necessarily shape positive public perception of China in Mali. Instead, how the public receives information about economic investments shapes and enhances a positive perception of China in Mali. Consequently, China would substantially enhance its image-building effort when its foreign economic development assistance is linked with public relations, making economic programmes more visible through media representations. I based the theoretical discussion on the media agenda-setting framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India and China have launched enormous projects aimed at collecting vital personal information regarding their billion-plus populations and building the world's biggest data sets in the process. However, both Aadhaar in India and the Social Credit System in China are controversial and raise a plethora of political and ethical concerns. The governments claim that participation in these projects is voluntary, even as they link vital services to citizens registering with these projects. In this study, we analyze how the news media in India and China—crucial data intermediaries that shape public perceptions on data and technological practices—framed these projects since their inception. Topic modeling suggests news coverage in both nations disregards the public interest and focuses largely on how businesses can benefit from them. The media, institutionally and ideologically linked with governments and corporations, show little concern with violations of privacy and mass surveillance that these projects could lead to. We argue that this renders citizens structurally incapable of making a meaningful "choice" about whether or not to participate in such projects. Implications for various stakeholders are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is often conflict between disclosures and actions in corporate operations. One area of interest relates to the joint influence of tax avoidance and Corporate Social Responsibility on economic outcomes. We evaluate investor perceptions when these corporate behaviors are in conflict, and our results indicate that tax avoidance negatively influences investment decisions. We find that although CSR in isolation has no direct effect, the negative influence of tax avoidance is tempered when it is present. We provide evidence that not only do a firm's policies related to CSR and tax avoidance result in diverse investment intentions, but also that it is the individual's unique beliefs on ethics and CSR that appear to be driving these differences. Our results suggest that espousing stakeholder values serves as a shield to protect the company from the negative consequences associated with tax avoidance, and that individual attitudes can shape perceptions relative to these behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using a questionnaire survey and performing a case study in the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, this study examined the similarities and differences between the perceptions of local practitioners and the perceptions of experts regarding the priority of the factors affecting earthquake emergency response and rescue at the county level in China. The results show that the perceptions of the most and the least important factors are similar between the two groups, except for the factors that affect special abilities. However, one first-level factor, i.e., environmental conditions, and 16 second-level factors, e.g., influence of ethnic cultures, professional rescue teams, GDP level and historical earthquake disaster experience, significantly differed. The local realities of the natural geography, socioeconomic conditions (e.g., economic level, education and ethnic), earthquake experiences and knowledge form the perception of local practitioners, whereas the experts' perceptions are more consistent with their social role, emergency experiences and knowledge, especially in disaster-prone areas, influencing the differences between the two groups. Suggestions regarding the incorporation local perceptions into the development of local emergency capabilities rather than merely following the perception of experts are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]