Influence of market orientation on performance: the moderating roles of customer participation breadth and depth in new product development

ABSTRACT

With a greater number of B2B firms integrating customers into the new product development (NPD) process, how to utilize customer involvement in NPD is an important decision because it may be a double-edged sword carrying both bright and dark sides. Utilizing a sample of 193 B2B firms across various industries, we validate previous research that suggests market orientation positively influences NPD performance and subsequently examine how this relationship may either be enhanced or diminished contingent upon how customers are utilized in the NPD process. The results show that the market orientation–NPD performance relationship is enhanced by having customers participate in a greater number of activities throughout NPD (customer participation breadth) and diminished when customers are involved at deeper levels (customer participation depth). This research suggests that the exact involvement of customers is a critical decision and has clear implications for the dialogues about customer involvement and management of customer relationships.     

The development of a single-item Food Choice Questionnaire

Based on the multi-item Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) originally developed by Steptoe and colleagues (1995), the current study developed a single-item FCQ that provides an acceptable balance between practical needs and psychometric concerns. Studies 1 (N = 1851) and 2 (2a (N = 3290), 2b (N = 4723), 2c (N = 270)) showed that the single-item FCQ scale has good convergent and discriminant validity. Generally, the results showed the highest correlations with the related multi-item dimensions (>0.40). Study 2 refined the scale. Only the items for convenience (Study 2a), sensory appeal (Study 2b) and mood (Study 2c) needed to be revised (as Study 1 showed a correlation between the multi-item and the single-item below the threshold of 0.60). The results also showed comparable predictive validity. Both methods revealed similar association patterns between food motives and consumption behaviours (Fisher’s z tests revealed agreements of 86.2% for Study 1, 92.9% for Study 2a and 100% for Studies 2b and 2c). Study 3 (N = 6062) showed an example of the added value of a context-specific application for the single-item FCQ. Different motives were shown to be relevant across contexts, and the context-specific motives had additional explained variance beyond the general multi-item FCQ. Studies 2b and 3 also showed the performance of the single-item FCQ in an international context. In sum, the results indicate that the single-item FCQ can be used as a flexible and short substitute for the multi-item FCQ. The study also discusses the conditions that should be considered when using the single-item scale.     

流量替代渗透率评价破碎性储层工作流体伤害程度

若地层岩石整体强度偏低,在力学环境改变后岩石易破碎成不规则破裂体,则储存油气资源的此类破碎地层被称为破碎性储层。由于破碎性储层在纵向上存在着较强的非均质性,通过测试单个柱塞岩样在工作流体伤害前后的渗透率变化难以体现工作流体对储层的整体伤害程度。为此,利用达西定律先从理论上探讨用流量替代渗透率定量表征储层伤害程度的可行性,再开展单层开采、双层及三层并采的流量测试实验,评价工作流体对单层、多层储层的整体伤害程度,并将流量损害率与渗透率损害率进行对比以求证流量替代渗透率的可行性。研究结果表明:①单层开采时,流量损害率与渗透率损害率基本一致,渗透率损害率是流量损害率的一种特殊形式;②双层及三层并采时,单层各自稳定流量损害率与渗透率损害率接近,且流量损害率可以定量表征并采储层的整体伤害程度,而渗透率损害率则无法定量表证;③稳定流量损害率较累积流量损害率更接近渗透率损害率。结论认为,测定稳定流量可以替代测定渗透率评价工作流体对破碎性储层的伤害程度,从而为优选工程技术与评价工作流体的适应性提供了方法依据。     

Flowsheet Options for Cobalt Recovery in African Copper–cobalt Hydrometallurgy Circuits

The price of cobalt has increased by some 450% in the past two years, mainly due to increasing demand for lithium–ion batteries. With an official 2017 production of 64 kt, the Democratic Republic of Congo produces more than half of the world’s cobalt. African Copperbelt operations have traditionally focused on copper production; however, it has now become imperative to also consider cobalt recovery from these ores. A plethora of processing routes is possible. Most hydrometallurgical flowsheets recover cobalt from the raffinate of the low-grade copper solvent-extraction circuit. Downstream purification processes include sequential precipitation with a variety of reagents, solvent extraction, and ion exchange. Product choices include hydroxide, carbonate, sulfate, and metal cathode. This study assesses technical and economic advantages and limitations of various approaches to the hydrometallurgical processing of cobalt in an African context.     

In Silico/In Vitro Hit-to-Lead Methodology Yields SMYD3 Inhibitor That Eliminates Unrestrained Proliferation of Breast Carcinoma Cells

SMYD3 is a lysine methyltransferase that regulates the expression of over 80 genes and is required for the uncontrolled proliferation of most breast, colorectal, and hepatocellular carcinomas. The elimination of SMYD3 restores normal expression patterns of these genes and halts aberrant cell proliferation, making it a promising target for small molecule inhibition. In this study, we sought to establish a proof of concept for our in silico/in vitro hit-to-lead enzyme inhibitor development platform and to identify a lead small molecule candidate for SMYD3 inhibition. We used Schrodinger^® software to screen libraries of small molecules in silico and the five compounds with the greatest predicted binding affinity within the SMYD3 binding pocket were purchased and assessed in vitro in direct binding assays and in breast cancer cell lines. We have confirmed the ability of one of these inhibitors, Inhibitor-4, to restore normal rates of cell proliferation, arrest the cell cycle, and induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells without affecting wildtype cell behavior. Our results provide a proof of concept for this fast and affordable small molecule hit-to-lead methodology as well as a promising candidate small molecule SMYD3 inhibitor for the treatment of human cancer.     

原子及近原子尺度制造——制造技术发展趋势

探讨了制造技术发展趋势，论述了制造历史发展的三个阶段，指出原子及近原子尺度制造（ACSM）是下一代制造技术的主流发展趋势，对未来科技发展和高端元件制造具有重要意义。详细分析阐述了ACSM的主要研究内容及关键科学问题，并提出了相应的建议和措施。     

新形势下地勘单位实现绿色发展的研究

针对近年来国家对绿色发展的需求，从矿产资源需求现状及地勘行业新形势入手，分析了矿产勘查开发的必要性及面临的新形势，并重点阐述了新形势下地勘单位实现绿色发展的途径:引领生态优先绿色发展新理念，落实政策导向，深化绿色勘查理念，以绿色发展为指导，实现产业转型突破；支持国企致力于生态绿色发展行动，调整企业工作重点，提高绿色勘查技能，引进民营投资等混合所有制经济模式；培育高质量发展市场主体，做好人才培养、人才储备工作，强化专业技术团队建设；建立有效激励和约束机制。     

新疆油气行业碳捕集、利用与封存技术发展路线分析

为了缓解新疆CO₂气体控排压力，扭转严峻的节能减排形势，做好能源行业领域的减排技术发展规划，基于现阶段较为成熟的CCUS技术，探讨了对CO₂捕集、运输、利用和封存几个环节不同的方案，针对性的提出现阶段新疆油气行业可行的CCUS技术方案。结果表明:短期内新疆地区以化石能源消费的结构不会发生较大变化，限制碳排放量可从开展CCUS技术入手；规划合适的碳源是开展CCUS技术的重要前提，在条件允许的情况下，对排碳设备（燃烧器）进行改造对提高捕集效率有正相关性；CO₂运输方式的合理性直接影响了CCUS技术产业布局和使用效率；推广和开拓CO₂的使用方式和途径，对响应国家低碳环保政策、调整新疆能源产业结构有积极意义。     

多中心治理视角下经济与生态共赢的路径与启示

改革开放40年来,我国经济飞速发展的同时也产生了一系列的生态环境问题,土壤重金属污染问题尤为严重。上世纪80年代,江西贵溪地区数家大中型冶炼、化工类企业在九牛岗区域逐渐集中,由于长期对资源的粗放型开发,高耗能、高污染、高排放加之低效率生产对贵溪J区域农田造成了严重污染,土壤重金属含量严重超标,生态环境遭到破坏。污染治理过程中,各相关主体从“各自为政”到“共同发力”,从长期得不到有效解决到多主体相互协作综合治理取得成效,走出了一条政府主导,企业主体,村民参与,社会支持的土壤重金属污染治理新路。本文着重就自然资源、环境保护与社会经济如何协调发展,探索运用多中心治理理论对土壤污染治理进行实践,推动经济发展与生态环境和谐共进。