The Approach to Accelerate Collaborative New Product Development Process through Managing Knowledge Sharing Behaviors

Knowledge sharing plays a critical role in collaborative new product development (Co-NPD) process. Through knowledge sharing, the excessive revenue of participants in Co-NPD can be easily realized. The research literature shows the way actors create a knowledge-sharing environment to create new products is a quality indicator of Co-NPD. This study summarizes which factors influence the knowledge sharing behaviors in Co-NPD, and it analyzes knowledge sharing behaviors among enterprises in Co-NPD process by evolutionary game theory. The conclusion indicates that the initial value and change tendency of revenue function parameters of knowledge sharing in Co-NPD process affects the choice of knowledge sharing strategy. According to the findings, the governance mechanism for promoting knowledge sharing is expounded to create a high performance of new product development collaboratively. The significance of the results is to help all participants achieve the expected maximum utility in the Co-NPD process by knowledge sharing behaviors. Keywords: collaborative new product development; knowledge sharing; evolutionary game theory; governance mechanis

Route Restoration Method for Sparse Taxi GPS trajectory based on Bayesian Network

In order to improve the availability of taxi GPS big data, we restore the chosen route for the sparse taxi GPS trajectory in this work. A trajectory restoration method based on Bayesian network is proposed. Compared with the traditional research solely based on time-spatial variables, this method additionally considers the characteristics of empty/heavy taxi status, weather conditions, drivers, vehicle running and other factors to carry out route restoration. A field case of grid network in Ningbo is taken to verify the applicability of the method, using the taxi GPS trajectory data from Ningbo Taxi Information Management Platform. The case results show that the accuracy of Bayesian network method based on multiple factors reaches 91.4%. Its performance is superior to the Multivariate logistic regression model. In addition, the proposed method is especially suitable for scenarios with a high missing rate of track data, such as a scene with timespan of about 5 min between neighbour trajectories

Numerical proper reparametrization of space curves and surfaces

Simplifying rational parametrizations of surfaces is a basic problem in CAD (computer-aided design). One important way is to reduce their tracing index, called proper reparametrization. Most existing proper reparametrization work is symbolic, yet in practical environments the surfaces are usually given with perturbed coefficients hence need a numerical technique of reparametrization considering the intrinsic properness of the perturbed surfaces. We present algorithms for reparametrizing a numerically rational space curve or surface. First, we provide an efficient way to find a parametric support transformation and compute a reparametrization with proper parametric support. Second, we develop a numerical algorithm to further reduce the tracing index, where numerical techniques such as sparse interpolation and approximated GCD computations are involved. We finally provide the error bound between the given rational curve/surface and our reparametrization result.Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidade

Discontinuity of maximum entropy inference and quantum phase transitions

In this paper, we discuss the connection between two genuinely quantum phenomena-the discontinuity of quantum maximum entropy inference and quantum phase transitions at zero temperature. It is shown that the discontinuity of the maximum entropy inference of local observable measurements signals the non-local type of transitions, where local density matrices of the ground state change smoothly at the transition point. We then propose to use the quantum conditional mutual information of the ground state as an indicator to detect the discontinuity and the non-local type of quantum phase transitions in the thermodynamic limit

Discontinuity of Maximum Entropy Inference and Quantum Phase Transitions

In this paper, we discuss the connection between two genuinely quantum phenomena --- the discontinuity of quantum maximum entropy inference and quantum phase transitions at zero temperature. It is shown that the discontinuity of the maximum entropy inference of local observable measurements signals the non-local type of transitions, where local density matrices of the ground state change smoothly at the transition point. We then propose to use the quantum conditional mutual information of the ground state as an indicator to detect the discontinuity and the non-local type of quantum phase transitions in the thermodynamic limit.Comment: Major revision. 26 pages, 12 figure

Maslinic acid potentiates the anti-tumor activity of tumor necrosis factor α by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) has been used to treat certain tumors in clinic trials. However, the curative effect of TNFα has been undermined by the induced-NF-κB activation in many types of tumor. Maslinic acid (MA), a pharmacological safe natural product, has been known for its important effects as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral activities. The aim of this study was to determine whether MA potentiates the anti-tumor activity of TNFα though the regulation of NF-κB activation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, we demonstrate that MA significantly enhanced TNFα-induced inhibition of pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and potentiated TNFα-induced cell apoptosis by suppressing TNFα-induced NF-κB activation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Addition of MA inhibited TNFα-induced IκBα degradation, p65 phosphorylation, and nuclear translocation. Furthermore, MA decreased the expression levels of NF-κB-regulated genes, including genes involved in tumor cell proliferation (Cyclin D1, COX-2 and c-Myc), apoptosis (Survivin, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, XIAP, IAP-1), invasion (MMP-9 and ICAM-1), and angiogenesis (VEGF). In athymic nu/nu mouse model, we further demonstrated that MA significantly suppressed pancreatic tumor growth, induced tumor apoptosis, and inhibited NF-κB-regulated anti-apoptotic gene expression, such as Survivin and Bcl-xl.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data demonstrate that MA can potentiate the anti-tumor activities of TNFα and inhibit pancreatic tumor growth and invasion by activating caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway and by suppressing NF-κB activation and its downstream gene expression. Therefore, MA together with TNFα could be new promising agents in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.</p

Repeat hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma: a local experience and a systematic review

Background: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of repeat hepatectomy for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Thirty-seven patients who underwent a curative repeat hepatectomy in our hospital were retrospectively studied. An extensive database literature search was performed to obtain for all relevant studies. Results: In our series, there were no perioperative deaths during repeat hepatectomy for recurrent HCC. Patients survival after repeat hepatectomy were similar to 429 patients undergoing initial hepatectomy. A computerized search of the Medline and PubMed databases found 29 retrospective studies providing relevant data in 1149 patients were included for appraisal and data extraction. After the repeat hepatectomy, postoperative morbidity ranged from 6.2% to 68.2% with a median per cohort of 23.5 per cent. There were 7 perioperative deaths (0.7 per cent of 993 for whom mortality data were provided). The overall median survival ranged from 21 to 61.5 months, with 1 -, 3 -, and 5-year survival of 69.0% to 100%, 21.0% to 87.0%, and 25.0% to 87.0%, respectively. Conclusions: Repeat hepatectomy can be performed safely and is associated with long-term survival in a subset of patients with recurrent HCC. However, the findings have to be carefully interpreted due to the lower level of evidence. A randomized controlled study is needed to compare repeat hepatectomy and other modalities for recurrent HCC