Coordination of a supply chain with loss-averse consumers in service quality

We develop a two-period game model to study the coordination mechanism for a supply chain with loss-averse consumers who are assumed to have dwindling sensitivity to service quality gain relative to loss. We find that all-unit quantity discount coupling with service subsidy rate can coordinate the retailer’s price and service quality decisions together in each period. When consumers become more loss-averse in service quality, the coordinated wholesale price in the first period might increase; whereas that in the second period decreases. With Pareto coordination mechanism, larger loss-aversion might weaken the supplier’s bargaining power. We provide managerial insights on how to adjust the coordinated contract when the consumers’ loss-aversion and reference value of service quality level change.     

Metallo‐supramolecular materials based on terpyridine‐functionalized polyhedral silsesquioxane

In this study, novel metallo‐supramolecular materials based on terpyridine‐functionalized polyhedral silsesquioxane were synthesized from 4′‐chloro‐2,2′:6′,2″‐terpyridine and amino‐group‐functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane. The obtained terpyridine‐functionalized polyhedral silsesquioxanes were converted to metallo‐supramolecular hybrid materials by coordination polycondensation reaction with Co(II) or Cu(II) ions. The supramolecular polymers created were characterized by means of structure, morphology and stimuli‐responsive performance employing scanning electron microscopy, amperometric techniques and UV–visible and Fourier transform IR spectroscopy. UV?visible and cyclic voltammetry studies showed that both the optical and electrochemical properties of metallo‐supramolecular materials are affected by the substituent at the pyridine periphery. The supramolecular polymers obtained exhibited electrochromism during the oxidation processes of cyclic voltammogram studies. As a result, these terpyridine‐functionalized polyhedral silsesquioxanes are good candidates for electronic, opto‐electronic and photovoltaic applications as smart stimuli‐responsive materials. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Bidding strategy of wind-thermal energy producers

This paper presents a stochastic mixed-integer linear programming approach for solving the self-scheduling problem of a price-taker thermal and wind power producer taking part in a pool-based electricity market. Uncertainty on electricity price and wind power is considered through a set of scenarios. Thermal units are modelled by variable costs, start-up costs and technical operating constraints, such as: forbidden operating zones, ramp up/down limits and minimum up/down time limits. An efficient mixed-integer linear program is presented to develop the offering strategies of the coordinated production of thermal and wind energy generation, having as a goal the maximization of profit. A case study with data from the Iberian Electricity Market is presented and results are discussed to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

WRC-15前俄罗斯L频段航空移动台站申报引发的思考

本文通过分析WRC-15前夕俄罗斯向国际电联申报L频段航空移动台站台站的情况，详细论述了其对我国此频段内其他各业务的影响，说明了我国在L频段国际台站申报的重要意义。     

The proton iron-sulfur cluster environment of the [FeFe]-hydrogenase maturation protein HydF from Thermotoga neapolitana

[FeFe]-hydrogenases contain a complex [4Fe–4S]-2Fe cluster (H-cluster) and are able to efficiently reduce protons to H₂. Due to their potential exploitation for renewable energy production biotechnologies, significant efforts have been put into understanding the mechanisms driving the H-cluster assembly, which involves three conserved proteins. Among them, HydF works as scaffold upon which the H-cluster precursor is synthesized and carrier to deliver it to the hydrogenase, resulting in its activation. A FeS cluster binding sequence (CxHx₄₆-₅₃HCxxC) is conserved in all HydF proteins and should in principle provide four ligands to coordinate the Fe atom. However, we found that alternative metal coordination may exist in different HydF proteins and that only the three cysteines are strictly required, whereas the fourth ligand may vary and is, in any case, readily exchangeable. In this work we analyzed by EPR/HYSCORE the FeS cluster proton environment of HydF from Thermotoga neapolitana to determine the possible role of surrounding residues in the non-cysteinyl iron ligation of the protein.     

Optimal ordering decisions under two returns policies

To avoid stockouts and maintain product availability, retailers typically carry excess units and subsequently incur higher cost. In case of style/fashion goods, demand forecasting is extremely difficult due to short selling cycles. The purpose of this study was to minimise the cost of excess stocking without compromising product availability. To achieve these conflicting objectives, our study includes two ordering instances and two returns policies. The time between orders subsequently helps resolve demand uncertainty. Existing studies consider only one type of returns policy, that is, returns on the entire purchase quantity; whereas our study considers two types of returns policies: returns on the first order size and returns on the entire purchase quantity. This study also includes models for the retailer and the supply chain system. Analytical and numerical insights into our study enable the retailer to select his appropriate returns policies to maximise his as well as system’s expected profits. We also show that perfect coordination of partners will help them improve their profits considerably.     

Structural elements of coordination mechanisms in collaborative planning processes and their assessment through maturity models: Application to a ceramic tile company

Maturity is defined as a measure to evaluate the capabilities of an organization in regards to a certain discipline. The Collaborative Planning Process is a very complex process and Coordination mechanisms are especially relevant in this field to align the plans of the supply chain members. The objective of this paper is to develop a maturity model and a methodology to perform assessment for the Structural Elements of Coordination Mechanisms in the Collaborative Planning Process. Structural elements are specified in order to characterize coordination mechanisms in a collaborative planning context and they have been defined as key areas to be assessed by the maturity model. The identified structural elements are: number of decision-makers, collaboration level, interdependence relationships nature, interdependence relationships type, number of coordination mechanisms, information exchanged, information processing, decision sequence characteristics and stopping criteria. Structural elements are assessed using the scheme of five levels: Initial, Repeatable, Defined, Managed and Optimized. This proposal has been applied to a ceramic tile company and the results are also reported.     

Teaching posttraining: Influencing diagnostic strategy with instructions at test.

It is believed that medical diagnosis involves two complementary processes, analytic and similarity-based. There is considerable debate as to which of these processes defines diagnostic expertise and how best to teach clinical diagnosis and reduce diagnostic errors. The purpose of these studies is to document the use of these strategies in medical students. We shifted the balance in use of these processes and improved diagnostic accuracy with instructions given posttraining at the moment of diagnosis. Analytic processing reflecting the degree to which cases contain the diagnostic rules was indexed by the rate of accuracy on typical versus atypical cases (typicality effect). Similarity-based processing reflecting the degree to which cases resemble previously encountered cases was indexed by the rate of accuracy on similar versus dissimilar cases (similarity effect). Two studies are presented illustrating that diagnosis involves the coordination of analytic and similarity-based processes and that differential instruction given at test shifts the balance in the use of these processes. Study 1 illustrated that participants adopting an analytic strategy exhibit a larger effect of typicality. Participants adopting a similarity-based strategy exhibit a larger effect of similarity. The diagnostic approach of students given no instructions was predominantly analytic. Dual instructions in which participants first employed similarity-based processing followed by the application of rules improved overall accuracy. Study 2 investigated two versions of dual instructions and illustrated that assessing a case with the rules of diagnosis first may inhibit the subsequent use of similarity-based reasoning. The implications for diagnostic expertise and pedagogy are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

500 kV变电站直流电源系统级差配合特性分析及建议

文中以某500 kV变电站直流电源系统交接试验中保护电器的越级跳闸为例对级差配合进行分析。首先,通过梳理直流电源系统各参数间的约束关系,对该工程级差配合存在的问题进行了研究;然后,根据该工程具体设备配置和整改难度,提出以减少直流分电柜进线段电缆截面的方法来控制短路电流水平进而实现上下级保护的级差配合。所提整改方案实施后通过了级差配合试验。     

多终端协同接入网络选择算法研究

针对"虚拟终端"中多个终端设备协同工作时的接入网络选择问题,介绍了提供虚拟终端功能的网络结构;研究了多终端协同工作时业务的提供方法;分析了多终端同时接入时网络选择参数的变化情况;通过对已有多属性决策算法的改进,提出了多终端协同的接入网络选择(CANS)算法,实现了接入网络选择结果具有整体最优化。仿真结果表明,协同接入网络选择算法与随机接入网络选择法相比,业务吞吐量得到显著提高。