Pricing strategy research in the dual-channel pharmaceutical supply chain considering service

In the context of developing a new era, the pharmaceutical supply chain market has gradually transformed from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. The closer the consumers are, the greater the market pricing power, so the pharmaceutical market power of manufacturers and retailers has also changed. This study considers the effect of service on the pricing strategy of the pharmaceutical platform supply chain. The study aimed to coordinate optimization, and the coordination strategy of the pharmaceutical platform supply chain of complementary products is discussed mainly by researching the price and service factors. Various situations are studied by hypothesis and model solving. This study uses Stackelberg game decision-making. Manufacturers are at the forefront of platform supply chain decisions. The research found that the price was lower under centralized decision-making than under decentralized decision-making. Coordination between price and service levels needs attention in the pharmaceutical platform supply chain of complementary products, and the service level should be controlled within a certain range. Only by improving the service level can enterprises maximize profits, providing a theoretical basis for pharmaceutical supply chain pricing strategy research. Supply chain members must strive to improve service levels to improve medical supply consumers’ (patients) psychological satisfaction level. Service levels do not fully mitigate channel conflict. Therefore, pharmaceutical complements have become a way to alleviate the conflicts in the pharmaceutical platform supply chain

A Novel Radar Sensor for the Non-Contact Detection of Speech Signals

Different speech detection sensors have been developed over the years but they are limited by the loss of high frequency speech energy, and have restricted non-contact detection due to the lack of penetrability. This paper proposes a novel millimeter microwave radar sensor to detect speech signals. The utilization of a high operating frequency and a superheterodyne receiver contributes to the high sensitivity of the radar sensor for small sound vibrations. In addition, the penetrability of microwaves allows the novel sensor to detect speech signals through nonmetal barriers. Results show that the novel sensor can detect high frequency speech energies and that the speech quality is comparable to traditional microphone speech. Moreover, the novel sensor can detect speech signals through a nonmetal material of a certain thickness between the sensor and the subject. Thus, the novel speech sensor expands traditional speech detection techniques and provides an exciting alternative for broader application prospects

Shear Capacity and Failure Behavior of Steel-Reinforced High Ductile Concrete Beams

The shear behavior of six high ductile fiber reinforced concrete (HDC) beams is studied to investigate the influence of shear-span ratio and HDC mechanical property on the improvement of the shear failure mode and shear capacity of short beams. Four steel-reinforced high ductile concrete beams (SHDC) beams with different shear span ratios are tested under concentrated load at midspan. To study the effect of stirrups and steel on the shear capacity of short beams, two additional specimens without steel but one including stirrups are investigated. The main aspects of SHDC beams are discussed in detail, such as failure mode, deformability, and shear capacity. Test results show that the SHDC short beams keep high residual bearing capacity and great integrity when suffering from large deformation. It is revealed that HDC increased the shear ductility and improved the shear failure mode of short beams. A comparison with the shear equations of Chinese YB9082-2006 shows that the Chinese Code equation provides conservative estimation for HDC beams. This study proposes modifications to the equation for predicting the shear capacity of HDC beams

Developing Platform Supply Chain Contract Coordination and a Numerical Analysis Considering Fresh-Keeping Services

With changes in demand and the emergence of new distribution channels, consumer-centric buyer’s markets for many products have been formed. The platform supply chain has been continuously optimized and upgraded. Supply chain leaders have moved downstream to the end of the supply chain. The operational value has been further enhanced. The corresponding systematic construction of the platform supply chain has become an important driving force for future development. The model in this paper is different from the traditional supply chain contract model, which mainly focuses on suppliers or demand. In order to meet the requirements of fresh-keeping services and the goal of revenue sharing, we integrate the production and circulation characteristics of fresh produce into the design of a contract model. In this paper, a revenue-sharing contract model of the fresh produce supply chain is constructed based on the core position of retailers, the uncertainty of the market size, and the consideration of a fresh-keeping service. The model is mainly composed of the core retailer and the supplier. Through further numerical analysis, we verify the effectiveness of the revenue-sharing contract model in supply chain coordination. We also analyze the change trends in the optimal retail price, optimal freshness level, and optimal order quantity caused by changes in both the fresh-keeping service capacity and the revenue-sharing coefficient. The results show that after changing these two parameters, the supply chain can achieve coordination under the specified parameter values. The changed parameters will also lead to certain change trends in the optimal retail price, optimal freshness level, and optimal order quantity, and will have a corresponding impact on the stability of supply chain operation. This research provides a relevant theoretical and empirical basis for a fresh produce supply chain contract model with retailers at the core position. We also provide guidance and reference for optimizing the supply chain management mode and improving the overall operational efficiency of the fresh produce supply chain

Integrating Morphology, Breeding Ground and Mitochondrial COI Gene Analysis for Species Identification of Bellamya lithophaga (Gastropoda: Viviparidae) in China

Background: Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a zoonotic public health concern that causes human severe eosinophilic meningitis in Southeast Asia and China. As a medically important intermediate host of A. cantonensis, Bellamya lithophaga (Gastrop-oda: Viviparidae) is often confused with other morphologically similar sibling spe-cies of genus Bellamya, such as B. aeruginosa and B. purificata in the past. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate evidences to discriminate these equivo-cal Bellamya species. Methods: This study was carried out by getting Bellamya snail samples from Fujian Province in the South-East of China. The snail morphological features，breeding grounds and phylogenetic relationship according to mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene marker were analyzed. Results: Based on external morphology, radular shape and cusp formula, as well as major breeding environment, B. lithophaga could be distinguished from B. aeruginosa, B. purificata. The phylogenetic tree also unconfirmed that B. lithophaga belongs to a different genetic clade from other morphologically similar species. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the significant differences in B. lithophaga and other sibling species, which supports the traditional species delimitation in the genus Bellamya

Numerical Analysis and Service Quality Evaluation of the Fresh Agricultural Produce Supply Chain Platform

The traditional performance evaluation method, which is mainly based on financial indexes, is no longer applicable to the current dynamic, complex, and coordinated evaluation of the service quality of fresh agricultural produce supply chains. Comprehensive evaluations regarding the quality of coordination-based supply chain services are now required. Specific analyses of index weights, the identification of potential problems, the exploration of the best solutions, and efforts to improve the current situation—regarding the circulation of fresh agricultural products—are also required. By carrying out this research, this paper aims to construct a coordination-based service quality evaluation index system for the fresh agricultural produce supply chain platform. The evaluation system that was created covered the four dimensions involved in platform supply chain coordination. These dimensions are capital flow, logistics, business flow, and information flow. On this basis, this study designed a survey questionnaire to collect data to evaluate customer service quality satisfaction. The research used AHP and the Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation method to calculate and analyze indexes and models in the “Fresh Networking” project. Furthermore, this paper proposed a sensitivity analysis model of MCDM evaluation indexes and their weights. In order to verify whether the numerical analysis method was suitable for use in the MCDM evaluation system, in this paper, the sensitivity analysis process of the indexes and their weights was introduced in the evaluation of the “Fresh Networking” project. The evaluation results may reflect the real quality of service in the “Fresh Network” supply chain. The final conclusion to be drawn from this paper is that capital flow is the most sensitive weight, which means that it should be designed and implemented in accordance with optimization-based decisions. The novelty of this paper lies in: (1) the proposal of a coordination-based service quality evaluation index system which includes four dimensions: capital flow, logistics, business flow, and information flow; (2) the design of a research questionnaire for data collection; and (3) the introduction of an improved sensitivity analysis method for the MCDM index. The results presented in this paper will enrich the theoretical research related to MCDM in supply chain evaluations. The results of the analysis can be used to guide supply chain decision makers to make optimization decisions accordingly, which will ensure overall benefits in terms of supply chain coordination, improving the capacity of preservation services, and loss reduction

Cep85 Relays Plk1 Activity to Phosphorylated Nek2A for Its Timely Activation in Centrosome Disjunction

Summary: Timely centrosome separation is critical for accurate chromosome separation. It is initiated by Nek2A at the onset of mitosis, but the mechanism for the strict requirement of phosphorylated Nek2A for its own activation remains unclear. In this study, we have found that Plk1 interacts with Cep85 and forms a ternary complex with Cep85-Nek2A. Nek2A binding, but not its kinase activity, is pre-required for Cep85 to be phosphorylated by Plk1. Nek2A-dependent Cep85 phosphorylation, in turn, leads to the dissociation of phosphorylated Cep85 exclusively from phospho-Nek2A, thereby increasing the freed phospho-Nek2A activity. Both kinases are also required for phosphorylating endogenous Cep85 in cells, and timely phosphorylation of Cep85 and Nek2A is crucial for initiating centrosome disjunction at G2/M. Overall, our study has uncovered a previously unrecognized role of Plk1 and Nek2A and identified Cep85 as a missing piece directly relaying Plk1 activity to Nek2A for its activation in centrosome disjunction. : Molecular Biology; Molecular Interaction; Cell Biology; Functional Aspects of Cell Biology Subject Areas: Molecular Biology, Molecular Interaction, Cell Biology, Functional Aspects of Cell Biolog

Investigation of the toxicity of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride to Saccharomyces cerevisiae AY93161 for lignocellulosic ethanol production

Ionic liquid (IL) pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials has provided a new technical tool to improve lignocellulosic ethanol production. To evaluate the influence of the residual IL in the fermentable sugars from enzymatic hydrolysis of IL pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials on the subsequent ethanol fermentation, the toxicity of the IL 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) to Saccharomyces cerevisiae AY93161 was investigated. Firstly, the morphological structure, budding and metabolic activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae AY93161 at different [BMIM]Cl concentrations were observed under an optical microscope. The results show that its single cell morphology remained unchanged at all [BMIM]Cl concentrations, but its reproduction rate by budding and its metabolic activity decreased with the [BMIM]Cl concentration increasing. The half effective concentration (EC50) and the half inhibition concentration (IC50) of [BMIM]Cl to Saccharomyces cerevisiae AY93161 were then measured using solid and liquid suspension culture and their value were 0.53 and 0.39 g.L-1 respectively. Finally, the influence of [BMIM]Cl on ethanol production was investigated. The results indicate that the [BMIM]Cl inhibited the growth and ethanol production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae AY93161. This toxicity study provides useful basic data for further development in lignocellulosic ethanol production by using IL technology and it also enriches the IL toxicity data

Multi-Strain Infections and ‘Relapse’ of <i>Leucocytozoon sabrazesi</i> Gametocytes in Domestic Chickens in Southern China

<div><p><i>Leucocytozoon</i> parasites infect many species of avian hosts, including domestic chicken, and can inflict heavy economic loss to the poultry industry. Although the prevalence and distribution of two <i>Leucocytozoon</i> species (<i>L. sabrazesi</i> and <i>L. caulleryi</i>) have been reported in China previously, there are many questions related to the parasite infection that remain unanswered, including population diversity and transmission dynamics in domestic chickens. Here we surveyed chicken blood samples from seven sites in four provinces of China to identify <i>Leucocytozoon</i> infection, characterized parasite diversity within individual infected hosts and between sampling sites, and investigated the dynamics of gametocytemia in chickens over time. We found high infection rates in three of the seven sites. Clustering parasite sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase III (<i>coxIII</i>) and cytochrome b (<i>cytb</i>) genes showed lack of grouping according to geographic origins and individual hosts carrying large numbers of <i>L. sabrazesi</i> strains. Monitoring gametocytemia in blood samples from infected chickens over time showed ‘relapse’ or persistence of low-level gametocytemia for 4–5 months, which could be explored as an <i>in vivo</i> model for testing drugs against liver stages of Apicomplexan parasites. This study provides important information on population diversity and transmission dynamics of <i>L. sabrazesi</i> and for disease control.</p></div