NETWORK EXTERNALITY ON RETAILER AND SUPPLIER PRICING STRATEGIES FOR COMPETITIVE PRODUCTS

Network externality, which affects the value of many high-tech and Internet-related products, may have a critical impact on firm strategies. This paper focuses on the strategy selection of various players in a channel structure. We design a sequential game among two suppliers and a retailer. In the developed game and model, we provide two optional strategies to the retailer, whereas suppliers can impact retailer strategies with their own pricing. We found that (direct) network externality typically had a positive effect on firms. More important, we conclude that when the degree of product network externality from a weak supplier reaches a certain scale, a relatively stable state of competition is facilitated, which is more profitable compared with a collusion strategy. Otherwise, the two suppliers can still maintain a competition relationship. However, a collusion strategy may be more profitable than competition in the second case. In this article, we recommend an acquisition strategy as a sustainable and reasonable collusion strategy

Conifers in Mountains of China

China has the largest area of mountains of all countries, with about 70% of land territory covered with mountains and plateaus. Thanks to vastness, mountainousness, highly heterogeneous habitats and long history of biological evolution, China boasts of extremely high biodiversity (more than 30,000 species of seed plants). The objectives of this chapter are to investigate conifer species and to analyze their multi-dimensional distribution in China. Our conclusions include: (1) China has 244 species of conifers belonging to 32 genera in 4 families (Pinaceae, Cupressaceae, Podocarpaceae and Taxaceae), accounting for 38.37, 49.29 and 66.67% of the global totals, respectively; (2) there are totally 115 conifer species endemic to China, falling in 23 genera of 4 families; (3) conifers and coniferous forests are widely distributed in China, from north to south and from east to west, more prominently in its numerous and high mountains and plateaus; (4) some conifer species appear even at very high elevations, e.g., Juniperus tibetica forests at 4800–4900 m above sea level in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau; and (5) China has established a large number of nature reserves and promulgated and implemented a series of laws and regulations to protect its rare and precious conifer resources

Impact of Guideline Markings on Saturation Flow Rate at Signalized Intersections

Many intersections around the world are irregular crossings where the approach and exit lanes are offset or the two roads cross at oblique angles. These irregular intersections often confuse drivers and greatly affect operational efficiency. Although guideline markings are recommended in many design manuals and codes on traffic signs and markings to address these problems, the effectiveness and application conditions are ambiguous. The research goal was to analyze the impact of guideline markings on the saturation flow rate at signalized intersections. An adjustment estimation model was established based on field data collected at 33 intersections in Shanghai, China. The proposed model was validated using a before–after case study. The underlying reasons for the impact of intersection guideline markings on the saturation flow rate are discussed. The results reveal that the improvement in the saturation flow rate obtained from painting guide line markings is positively correlated with the number of traffic lanes, offset of through movement, and turning angle of left-turns. On average, improvements of 7.0% and 10.3% can be obtained for through and left-turn movements, respectively. Document type: Articl

Mathematical Model to Predict Preheating Time and Temperature Profile in Boxed-Heart Square Timber during Preheating

The objective of this study was to develop a two-dimensional mathematical model that can beused to calculate the heat transfer in larch boxed-heart square timber during the preheating process. The preheating time obtained with the calculations agreed with the experimental results. Both experiments and calculations indicated that it took about 6.5 h for the center of the timbers (120 mm thick 120 mm wide) to reach ambient temperature, suggesting that the model can be used to accurately estimate preheating times. During the preheating process, the simulated core temperature of the wood agreed with the experimental result. However, for the remaining locations, the relative error was rather large, with the value first increasing and then decreasing with time. Therefore, the model can only be used to accurately estimate temperature at the core region of the wood. Furthermore, the results suggested that MC had no significant effect on preheating time

Genome-Wide Association Mapping for Tomato Volatiles Positively Contributing to Tomato Flavor

Tomato volatiles, mainly derived from essential nutrients and health-promoting precursors, affect tomato flavor. Taste volatiles present a major challenge for flavor improvement and quality breeding. In this study, we performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to investigate potential chromosome regions associated with the tomato flavor volatiles. We observed significant variation (1200x) among the selected 28 most important volatiles in tomato based on their concentration and odor threshold importance across our sampled accessions. Using 174 tomato accessions, GWAS identified 125 significant associations (P<0.005) among 182 SSR markers and 28 volatiles (27 volatiles with at least one significant association). Several significant associations were co-localized in previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTL). This result provides new potential candidate loci affecting the metabolism of several volatiles

ANALYSIS OF MULTI-CHANNEL TWO-DIMENSIONAL PROBABILITY CSMA AD HOC NETWORK PROTOCOL BASED THREE-WAY HANDSHAKE MECHANISM

In wireless Ad Hoc networks, large number and flexible mobility of terminals lead to the rarity of wireless channel resources. Also the hidden and exposed terminal problem exists in the Ad Hoc network which is the major factors restricting its development and applying. Considering these factors, this paper proposes a new CSMA protocol: multi-channel two-dimensional probability CSMA for wireless Ad Hoc network protocol based on three-way handshake mechanism, and analyzes the system throughput, delay of information packet, energy consumption and other properties under the control of the proposed protocol. By using the cycle analysis method, computer simulation results not only verify the theoretical analysis, but also show that the protocol has the optimum performance. The proposed protocol can not only reduce the collision probability of information packets to some extent, improving the channel utilization, reducing the waste of channel resources, but also achieve the balancing of load in a variety of wireless Ad Hoc network services, meeting the needs by different priorities with different QoS, and ensuring the systematic efficiency and fairness