Optimal bundling and pricing decisions for complementary products in a two-layer supply chain

This article explores bundling and pricing decisions for two complementary products in a two-layer supply chain consisting of a multi-product manufacturer and a retailer. We establish four different pricing models under cases of decentralized decision, while considering different portfolio-bundling strategies of the manufacturer and the retailer. A game-theoretical method is used to characterize the corresponding equilibrium outcomes in each scenario. By further analyzing and comparing the maximum profits of all four possible scenarios, optimal bundling and pricing decisions for the manufacturer and the retailer are obtained, respectively. Model extensions and numerical examples are enriched to highlight the factors affecting optimal decision-making. Finally, valuable and interesting managerial insights are summarized. Results show that the upstream manufacturer always profits more when he sells complementary products separately. However, the optimal bundling decision of the downstream retailer is jointly determined by product complementarity (as a major factor) and the difference of product profitability (as a secondary factor). Market power cannot exert an influence on both optimal bundling decisions, but it can partly affect pricing decisions.     

Which is the use of systems theory in literature analysis?: The discovery of the place in La Mancha in Don Quixote

The use of systems theory to attempt to determine which ''place in La Mancha'' was the one whose name Cervantes could not quite recall in his universal novel, appears to be ordained to change certain attitudes towards science held in Cervantine literature. The reason: after four centuries of literary analysis, systemic methodology has proven able to identify the famous ''place'' with acceptable accuracy. Nonetheless, certain reasonable doubts persist around the suitability of a strictly scientific analysis of literature. In light of those doubts, the present article aims primarily to facilitate critique both of the systemic approach adopted and its outcome.     

The cellular autophagy/apoptosis checkpoint during inflammation

Cell death is a major determinant of inflammatory disease severity. Whether cells live or die during inflammation largely depends on the relative success of the pro-survival process of autophagy versus the pro-death process of apoptosis. These processes interact and influence each other during inflammation and there is a checkpoint at which cells irrevocably commit to either one pathway or another. This review will discuss the concept of the autophagy/apoptosis checkpoint and its importance during inflammation, the mechanisms of inflammation leading up to the checkpoint, and how the checkpoint is regulated. Understanding these concepts is important since manipulation of the autophagy/apoptosis checkpoint represents a novel opportunity for treatment of inflammatory diseases caused by too much or too little cell death.     

CD44v6、E-cadherin和ki-67蛋白质与腮腺多形性腺瘤的生物学行为相关性研究

为检测腮腺多形性腺瘤中CD44v6、E-cadherin和ki-67蛋白表达,以探讨其与腮腺多形性腺瘤生物学行为的相关性。应用免疫组织化学SP法染色检测腮腺多形性腺瘤组、多形性腺瘤恶变组和瘤旁非瘤组织组各组间CD44v6、Ecadherin和ki-67蛋白表达。结果显示,(1)CD44v6、E-cadherin和ki-67在腮腺多形性腺瘤组中的阳性表达率分别为100%、96%和73.8%;(2)E-cadherin和ki-67在腮腺多形性腺瘤组、多形性腺瘤恶变组和瘤周非瘤组织间的阳性表达率均有差异,其表达与腮腺多形性腺瘤的浸润转移有关;(3)CD44v6在腮腺多形性腺瘤组与瘤周非瘤组织组,多形性腺瘤恶变组与瘤周非瘤组织组中的表达有统计学差异。由此可知,E-cadherin和ki-67与腮腺多形性腺瘤的生物学行为有关,可作为新的肿瘤标志物,其表达对判断预后有一定的价值。     

Null controllability of some degenerate wave equations

This paper is devoted to a study of the null controllability problems for one-dimensional linear degenerate wave equations through a boundary controller. First, the well-posedness of linear degenerate wave equations is discussed. Then the null controllability of some degenerate wave equations is established, when a control acts on the non-degenerate boundary. Different from the known controllability results in the case that a control acts on the degenerate boundary, any initial value in state space is controllable in this case. Also, an explicit expression for the controllability time is given. Furthermore, a counterexample on the controllability is given for some other degenerate wave equations.     

林木胸径与树高的关系研究

胸径与树高都是衡量林木生长好坏的两个非常重要的因子,为此借用黑龙江省红松的一组生长数据,对胸径与树高的非线性模型进行了拟合研究;经分析所选五个模型均相关性极显著,但以模型H=32.7008e-8.7297d相关性最好,F值为1110.000,高出其他F值2倍及以上.为此应用该模型大大的提高了树高因子的估测精度,并为今后的森林资源调查工作提供高精度的间接树高数据.     

Single cell biology beyond the era of antibodies: relevance,challenges, and promises in biomedical research

Research of the past two decades has proved the relevance of single cell biology in basic research and translational medicine. Successful detection and isolation of specific subsets is the key to understand their functional heterogeneity. Antibodies are conventionally used for this purpose, but their relevance in certain contexts is limited. In this review, we discuss some of these contexts, posing bottle neck for different fields of biology including biomedical research. With the advancement of chemistry, several methods have been introduced to overcome these problems. Even though microfluidics and microraft array are newer techniques exploited for single cell biology, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) remains the gold standard technique for isolation of cells for many biomedical applications, like stem cell therapy. Here, we present a comprehensive and comparative account of some of the probes that are useful in FACS. Further, we illustrate how these techniques could be applied in biomedical research. It is postulated that intracellular molecular markers like nucleostemin (GNL3), alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) and HIRA can be used for improving the outcome of cardiac as well as bone regeneration. Another field that could utilize intracellular markers is diagnostics, and we propose the use of specific peptide nucleic acid probes (PNPs) against certain miRNAs for cancer surgical margin prediction. The newer techniques for single cell biology, based on intracellular molecules, will immensely enhance the repertoire of possible markers for the isolation of cell types useful in biomedical research.     

离散加权信源与熵密度偏差的极限性质

利用熵密度偏差，研究了服从几分分布的离散加权信源的极限性质，其主要结果推广了离散信源Shannon－Mcmillan定理。     

达州城市精神的内涵阐释与基本特征

提炼达州城市精神,是凝聚达州人民信心和力量、推动达州经济社会科学发展、加快发展和追赶跨越的需要,是展示达州人民精神风貌和价值取向的具体体现,同时也是增强达州文化内涵,塑造城市形象的需要。"通达开放、诚义创新"的达州城市精神不仅具有地域性、传承性和时代性等显著特征,而且具有丰富的内涵和价值,能够引导广大市民团结奋进、自强不息,能够增强达州文化内涵、引领城市不断发展,同时也有利于让世界、让全国各地更加全面准确地了解达州、加深对达州这座城市的印象,从而提高达州的对内凝聚力和对外影响力,成为向海内外推介达州、展示达州城市形象的又一独特品牌和靓丽名片。     

Asymptotic behavior of solutions for the one-dimensional drift-diffusion model in the quarter plane

In this paper, we study the classical drift-diffusion model arising from the semiconductor device simulation, which is the simplest macroscopic model describing the dynamics of the electron and the hole. We prove the global existence of strong solutions for the initial boundary value problem in the quarter plane. In particular, we show that in large time, these solutions tend to the nonlinear diffusion wave which is different from the steady state, at an algebraic time-decay rate. As far as we know, this is the first result about the nonlinear diffusion wave phenomena of the solutions for the one-dimensional drift-diffusion model in the quarter plane.