Is open innovation always the best for SMEs? An exploratory analysis at the project level

Open innovation (OI) projects are increasingly adopted by small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs). Yet, undertaking OI is not only a source of opportunities for SMEs as it can, at the same time, present risks. How SMEs manage the balance between the potential benefits and the emerging challenges of OI is still an overlooked topic in the literature. Using evidence gathered through multiple case studies and drawing upon the relational view of the firm, we explore how and why value creation opportunities and different managerial challenges emerge for SMEs pursuing OI projects. We analyze different stages of OI projects in several different contexts of their implementation. Our analysis sheds light on the different nature and dynamics of knowledge involved within OI projects as important boundary conditions affecting successful search paths, learning processes, and the development of appropriability mechanisms. By offering a contextualized view of OI in SMEs, this study also provides insights to business managers on the situational opportunities and constraints of OI, including managerial suggestions on actions to manage tensions within differing OI projects.     

基于RFID标签阵列的睡眠期间呼吸量连续监测系统

睡眠期间连续且准确的呼吸量监测有助于推断用户的睡眠阶段以及提供一些慢性疾病的线索。现有工作主要针对呼吸频率进行感知和监测,缺乏对呼吸量进行连续监测的手段。针对上述问题提出了一种基于商用无线射频识别(RFID)标签的无线感知用户睡眠期间呼吸量的系统——RF-SLEEP。RF-SLEEP通过阅读器连续收集附着在胸部表面的标签阵列返回的相位值及时间戳数据,计算出呼吸引起的胸部不同点的位移量,基于广义回归神经网络(GRNN)构建胸部不同点的位移量与呼吸量之间的关系模型,从而实现对用户睡眠期间呼吸量的评估。RF-SLEEP通过在用户肩膀处附着双参考标签,消除用户睡眠期间翻转身体对胸部位移计算造成的误差。实验结果表明,RFSLEEP对不同用户睡眠期间的呼吸量连续监测的平均精确度为92.49%。     

A variable neighborhood search heuristic algorithm for the double vehicle routing problem with multiple stacks

This paper addresses the double vehicle routing problem with multiple stacks (DVRPMS) in which a fleet of vehicles must collect items in a pickup region and then travel to a delivery region where all items are delivered. The load compartment of all vehicles is divided into rows (horizontal stacks) of fixed profundity (horizontal heights), and on each row, the unloading process must respect the last‐in‐first‐out policy. The objective of the DVRPMS is to find optimal routes visiting all pickup and delivery points while ensuring the feasibility of the vehicle loading plans. We propose a new integer linear programming formulation, which was useful to find inconsistencies in the results of exact algorithms proposed in the literature, and a variable neighborhood search based algorithm that was able to find solutions with same or higher quality in shorter computational time for most instances when compared to the methods already present in the literature.     

兴隆庄煤矿生态系统服务价值评估

以兖州矿区兴隆庄煤矿为例,基于1990-2018年间的遥感影像数据,从供给、调节、支持和文化4个方面对兴隆庄生态系统服务价值进行测算评估,并分析其动态变化度及敏感性。评估结果表明,总生态服务价值表现为先增加后减少,1990-2010年矿区生态系统服务总价值从18841.5万元增加至29034.2万元,主要原因是采煤塌陷导致耕地向塌陷水体转变以及林地面积的增加;2010-2018年生态总价值减少了2484.8万元,主要在于耕地大规模地转变为建设用地以及区域地下水位下降造成的水域面积减小。敏感性分析显示,耕地和水体是平原矿区生态系统服务价值最敏感的因素,耕地的敏感性指数由1990年的0.79降为2018年的0.28,说明其在生态服务价值中的影响逐年降低。     

Attitude-behaviour dissonance regarding the importance of food preservation for customers

The aim of the study was to identify the importance of individual food product attributes (the use of preservatives, processing method, shelf-life period and nutritional value) as well as their relation to the purchase behaviour. To achieve this, consumer preferences were decomposed in conditions of full access to information, and data was compared with actual consumer behaviour related to making purchasing decisions in front of the store shelf. Based on data from 338 respondents, conjoint analysis and repeated ANOVA measurements were carried out, allowing to eliminate individual behavioural patterns. The results showed a dissonance between the consumers attitudes towards the attributes and their shopping behaviour. The processing method was the most important declared attribute for consumers, meanwhile this information was the least searched for during purchase. At the same time, shelf-life period marked as the least important was the main information searched for by consumers when shopping. The results also show a clear dislike towards the use of microwaves as a preservation method, while traditional thermal preservation was marked as the most positive for consumers. In addition, consumers were classified into 3 heterogeneous groups, identifying differences in the preferences of food attributes. The obtained results have practical value relating not only to the preferences of individual attributes, but also to their various variants. The results can be a guide for companies to properly label food products. The indicated dissonance illustrates the educational gap and related insufficient motivation to get to know the product before buying it. This is extremely important in connection with technological development and new food processing methods.     

Cross-regional integrated energy system scheduling optimization model considering conditional value at risk

Integrated energy system is a very important way to improve energy efficiency. Based on the combined heating cooling and power system, combined with energy storage equipment, a cross-regional integrated energy system scheduling optimization problem is studied. An integrated energy system scheduling optimization model is established that meets the requirements of electrical, heating, and cooling load under a variety of energy sources while both considering the interaction of electrical, heating, and cooling load between regions, and complementation of them within one region. Meanwhile, the value at risk (VaR) theory is introduced and the operating constraints of equipment in the integrated energy system fully considered, the integrated energy system scheduling model with VaR is established. The example shows that the model can realize multi-type electrical, heating, and cooling load optimized by schedule across regions under the premise of satisfying the balance of energy supply and demand, which can reduce the system operation cost. The sensitivity analysis of the minimum expected cost and the influencing factors of conditional VaR is carried out to verify the validity and feasibility of the proposed model.

• An integrated energy system scheduling optimization model is established that meets the requirements of electrical, heating, and cooling load under a variety of energy sources while both considering the interaction of electrical, heating, and cooling load between regions, and complementation of them within one region.
• By using the conditional value at risk theory to consider various types of the integrated energy system complements and evaluates the operational risk of the system under optimal operating conditions of the system.
• The total cost of system scheduling operation is proportional to the storage capacity, which is inversely proportional to the heat storage capacity and inversely proportional to the pipeline capacity within a certain interval.

     

大学生信守社会主义核心价值观“三自”理性演进论——基于主体能动价值的实现

依据马克思主义哲学观对人的主体能动价值实现的条件，联系高校对大学生社会主义核心价值观培育的实践，尊重、培育、强化大学生信守社会主义核心价值观的主体性就应当基于其主体能动价值的实现，应当尊重、培育、强化自为、自觉、自由的“三自”理性的能动性，使之信守社会主义核心价值观的“三自”理性能动性向着由高校引领的方向演进。     

Levelized cost of energy definition – An economic paradox

Using mean value theorem for integrals we show that the well-known LCOE definition is incorrect.     

Synthesis and characterization of cellulose nanowhisker-reinforced-poly(ε-caprolactone) scaffold for tissue-engineering applications

Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is a bioresorbable and biocompatible polymer with assorted medical applications. However, remarkable hydrophobicity and nonosteoconductivity have stood as a barrier to limit its applications. The present study aims to modify the bulk characteristics of PCL to develop a polymeric scaffold with adequate structural and mechanical properties to support regenerated tissues. For this purpose, functionalized bacterial cellulose nanowhiskers (BCNW-g-βCD-PCL₂₀₀₀) are synthesized. Reinforcing PCL matrix with 4 wt % of the nanowhiskers resulted in a bionanocomposite with promoted bulk properties. Compared to neat PCL, the obtained bionanocomposite shows improvements of 115 and 51% in tensile strength and Young's modulus, respectively; 20% increase in hydrophilicity; 7% increase in degradation rate; and 6% decrease in crystallinity. Gas foaming/combined particulate leaching technique is used to develop highly porous structures of 86–95% porosity with interconnected macropores of mean pore diameters of 250–420 μm. Porous scaffolds showed compression modulus values of 5.3–9.1 MPa and would have promising applications in regenerative medicine. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48481.     

Design and characterization of PNVCL-based nanofibers and evaluation of their potential applications as scaffolds for surface drug delivery of hydrophobic drugs

In this work, nanofiber scaffolds for surface drug delivery applications were obtained by electrospinning poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) and its blends with poly(ε-caprolactone) and poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone). The process parameters to obtain smooth and beadless PNVCL fibers were optimized. The average fibers diameter was less than 1 μm, and it was determined by scanning electron microscopy analyses. Their affinity toward water was evaluated by measuring the contact angle with water. The ketoprofen release behavior from the fibers was analyzed using independent and model-dependent approaches. The low values of the release exponent (n < 0.5) obtained for 20 and 42 °C, indicating a Fickian diffusion mechanism for all formulations. Dissolution efficiencies (DEs) revealed the effect of polymer composition, methodology used in the electrospinning process, and temperature on the release rate of ketoprofen. PNVCL/poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone)-based nanofibers showed greater ability to control the in vitro release of ketoprofen, in view of reduced kinetic constant and DE, making this material promising system for controlling release of hydrophobic drugs. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48472.