Strategic commitment to price to stimulate downstream innovation in a supply chain

It is generally in a firm’s interest for its supply chain partners to invest in innovations. To the extent that these innovations either reduce the partners’ variable costs or stimulate demand for the end product, they will tend to lead to higher levels of output for all of the firms in the chain. However, in response to the innovations of its partners, a firm may have an incentive to opportunistically increase its own prices. The possibility of such opportunistic behavior creates a hold-up problem that leads supply chain partners to underinvest in innovation. Clearly, this hold-up problem could be eliminated by a pre-commitment to price. However, by making an advance commitment to price, a firm sacrifices an important means of responding to demand uncertainty. In this paper we examine the trade-off that is faced when a firm’s channel partner has opportunities to invest in either cost reduction or quality improvement, i.e. demand enhancement. Should it commit to a price in order to encourage innovation, or should it remain flexible in order to respond to demand uncertainty. We discuss several simple wholesale pricing mechanisms with respect to this trade-off.     

SUPERPOROUS HYDROGELS: FAST RESPONSIVE HYDROGEL SYSTEMS

ABSTRACT

Superporous hydrogels, hydrogels with pore sizes in the range of 100 μm and larger, were synthesized using N-isopropyl-acrylamide (NIPAM) and acrylamide (AM). The superporous hydrogels were synthesized by crosslinking polymerization of monomers in the presence of gas bubbles. The pores of superporous hydrogels were connected to each other to form open capillary channels, which provided fast response to the changes in the environmental temperature. Upon increase in temperature from 10°C to 65°C, the superporous hydrogel made from a monomer solution of NIPAM:AM = 9:1 shrank from the fully swollen state (volume of 36 cm³) to the fully collapsed state (volume of 6.5 cm³) in 72±14 sec. When the temperature was changed back to 10°C, the superporous hydrogel swelled to 36 cm³ in 78±15 sec. This deswelling-swelling cycle was repeated many times without changes in the thermo-reversible property of the superporous hydrogel. The response time of the superporous hydrogels was thousand times faster than that of conventional hydrogels. The fast response of the superporous hydrogels is due to the rapid uptake or exclusion of water molecules through the extensive capillary channels. Because superporous hydrogels still maintain the open capillary structure even after drying, the dried superporous hydrogels can also swell to the equilibrium swelling state within minutes. These fast responsive hydrogels can find many pharmaceutical and medical applications.     

One‐Dimensional Channels Encapsulated in Supramolecular Networks Constructed of Zinc(II), Manganese(II), or ­Nickel(II) Atoms with 3‐(Carboxymethyl)‐2, 7‐dimethyl‐3H‐benzo[d]imidazole‐5‐carboxylic Acid

Four complexes with supramolecular architectures, namely, MZCA · 3H₂O ( 1 ), [Zn(H₂O)₆]²⁺ · [MZCA]₂ · [H₂O]₆ ( 2 ), [Mn(MZCA)₂(H₂O)₄] · 2H₂O ( 3 ), and [Ni(MZCA)₂(H₂O)₄] · 2H₂O ( 4 ) [MZCA = 3‐(carboxymethyl)‐2, 7‐dimethyl‐3H‐benzo[d]imidazole‐5‐carboxylic acid], were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Complexes 1 and 2 display a remarkable 3D network with 1D hydrophilic channels. Complexes 3 and 4 are isostructural and exhibit a 3D structure encapsulating 1D 24‐membered ring microporous channels. The UV/Vis and fluorescent spectra were measured to characterize complexes 1 – 4 . The thermal stability of complexes 2 – 4 were also examined.     

Magnetohydrodynamic flow in a rectangular duct

The magnetohydrodynamic flow of an incompressible, viscous, electrically conducting fluid in a rectangular duct, with an external magnetic field applied transverse to the flow, has been investigated. One of the duct's boundaries which is perpendicular to the magnetic field is taken partly insulated, partly conducting. An analytical solution has been developed for the velocity field and magnetic field by reducing the problem to the solution of a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind, which has been solved numerically. Solutions have been obtained for Hartmann numbers M up to 100. All the infinite series obtained are transformed to infinite integrals first and then to finite integrals which contain modified Bessel functions of the second kind. In this way, the difficulties associated with the computation of infinite integrals with oscillating integrands and slowly converging infinite series, the convergence of which is further affected for large values of M, have been avoided. It is found that, as M increases, boundary layers are formed near the non-conducting boundaries and in the interface region, and a stagnant region is developed in front of the conducting boundary for velocity field. The maximm value of magnetic field takes place on the conducting part. These behaviours are shown on some graphs.     

Highly Selective Transmembrane Transport of Exogenous Lithium Ions through Rationally Designed Supramolecular Channels

Lithium ions have been applied in the clinic in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In this work, we report artificial supramolecular lithium channels composed of pore-containing small aromatic molecules. By adjusting the lumen size and coordination numbers, we found that one of the supramolecular channels developed shows unprecedented transmembrane transport of exogenous lithium ions with a Li⁺/Na⁺ selectivity ratio of 23.0, which is in the same level of that of natural Na⁺ channels. Furthermore, four coordination sites inside channels are found to be the basic requirement for ion transport function. Importantly, this artificial lithium channel displays very low transport of physiological Na⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, and Ca²⁺ ions. This highly selective Li⁺ channel may become an important tool for studying the physiological role of intracellular lithium ions, especially in the treatment of psychiatric disorders.     

Sulfur-Containing Foldamer-Based Artificial Lithium Channels

Unlike many other biologically relevant ions (Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Cl⁻, etc) and protons, whose cellular concentrations are closely regulated by highly selective channel proteins, Li⁺ ion is unusual in that its concentration is well tolerated over many orders of magnitude and that no lithium-specific channel proteins have so far been identified. While one naturally evolved primary pathway for Li⁺ ions to traverse across the cell membrane is through sodium channels by competing with Na⁺ ions, highly sought-after artificial lithium-transporting channels remain a major challenge to develop. Here we show that sulfur-containing organic nanotubes derived from intramolecularly H-bonded helically folded aromatic foldamers of 3.6 Å in hollow cavity diameter could facilitate highly selective and efficient transmembrane transport of Li⁺ ions, with high transport selectivity factors of 15.3 and 19.9 over Na⁺ and K⁺ ions, respectively.     

Synthetic K+ Channels Constructed by Rebuilding the Core Modules of Natural K+ Channels in an Artificial System

Different types of natural K⁺ channels share similar core modules and cation permeability characteristics. In this study, we have developed novel artificial K⁺ channels by rebuilding the core modules of natural K⁺ channels in artificial systems. All the channels displayed high selectivity for K⁺ over Na⁺ and exhibited a selectivity sequence of K⁺≈Rb⁺ during the transport process, which is highly consistent with the cation permeability characteristics of natural K⁺ channels. More importantly, these artificial channels could be efficiently inserted into cell membranes and mediate the transmembrane transport of K⁺, disrupting the cellular K⁺ homeostasis and eventually triggering the apoptosis of cells. These findings demonstrate that, by rebuilding the core modules of natural K⁺ channels in artificial systems, the structures, transport behaviors, and physiological functions of natural K⁺ channels can be mimicked in synthetic channels.     

A Halogen-Bond-Driven Artificial Chloride-Selective Channel Constructed from 5-Iodoisophthalamide-based Molecules

Despite considerable emphasis on advancing artificial ion channels, progress is constrained by the limited availability of small molecules with the necessary attributes of self-assembly and ion selectivity. In this study, a library of small molecules based on 5-haloisophthalamide and a non-halogenated isophthalamide were examined for their ion transport properties across the lipid bilayer membranes, and the finding demonstrates that the di-hexyl-substituted 5-iodoisophthalamide derivative exhibits the highest level of activity. Furthermore, it was established that the highest active compound facilitates the selective chloride transport that occurs via an antiport-mediated mechanism. The crystal structure of the compound unveils a distinctive self-assembly of molecules, forming a zig-zag channel pore that is well-suited for the permeation of anions. Planar bilayer conductance measurements proved the formation of chloride selective channels. A molecular dynamics simulation study, relying on the self-assembled component derived from the crystal structure, affirmed the paramount significance of intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the formation of supramolecular barrel-rosette structures that span the bilayer. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the transport of chloride across the lipid bilayer membrane is facilitated by the synergistic effects of halogen bonding and hydrogen bonding within the channel.     

Nanometer Channels and Cages within the Extended Basic Mercurous Cations [(Hg2)3(OH)2]4+ and [(Hg2)2O]2+

The two‐ and three‐dimensional mercurous cations [(Hg₂)₃(OH)₂]⁴⁺ and [(Hg₂)₂O]²⁺ crystallize with channels and cages of roughly 1 nm diameter from aqueous solutions dependent upon the acidity of the solution. Crystal structures were determined, for example, for [Zn(H₂O)₆][(Hg₂)₃(OH)₂](NO₃)₆ (trigonal, space group P321, a = 1183.5(2) pm, c = 534.8(1) pm, Z = 1, R1 = 0.0351 for I₀ > 2σ(I₀)) and for [(Hg₂)₂O][Pb(NO₃)₃]₂ (cubic, space group , a = 1543.1(2) pm, Z = 8, R1 = 0.0534 I₀ > 2σ(I₀)).     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of a 1D Chained Coordination Polymer Containing One-dimensional Egg-like Channels： {[Cu2（C2O4）2（inta）4]（inta）}n （inta = Isonicotinamide）

A new one-dimensional copper coordination polymer chain has been prepared and fully characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction,elemental analyses and IR spectroscopy. The compound {[Cu2(C2O4)2(inta)4](inta)}n1 crystallizes in the triclinic system,space group P1,with a=8.4722(5),b=10.9825(6),c=11.6128(6),α=104.8050(10),β=102.5740(10),γ= 109.6890(10)o,V=927.18(9)3,Mr=929.79,Z=1,Dc=1.665 g/cm3,F(000)=475,μ=1.231 mm-1,R=0.0453 and wR=0.1185 for 3290 observed reflections (I > 2σ(I)). Of the compound,the Cu center is octahedrally coordinated with oxalate acting as a tetra-dentate ligand coordinated to the copper atom and each inta serving as a terminal ligand by employing only one N-donor to coordinate with the Cu center. An infinite {Cu2(C2O4)2}∞ chain is formed along the c axis. Furthermore,the 1D chains are held together via extensive hydrogen-bonding interactions to generate a three-dimensional network with 1D channels (ca. 5.491×11.507) where inta molecules are filled.