Investigating the feasibility of supply chain-centric business models in 3D chocolate
建环专业英语翻译
Southwest university of science and technology 专业英语翻译学院名称：西南科技大学专业名称：建筑环境与能源应用工程学生姓名：学号：指导教师：2015年 12 月论文要求：The final assignment:To translate part of Introduction of an English academic article related to our mayor(refrigeration，heat and mass transfer, fluid dynamic, ventilation, new energy, etc.).Requirements：1.The translation partshould be No less than 300 English words.2. The article should be published in the journals of the periodicals databases of ScienceDirect.(/science/journals).3. The publish year of the article should be no earlier than 2010.4. The article of each student should be different.5. The final assignment includes: the cover page, the first page ofsource article, the translation part and its corresponding Chinese version.打分标准：理解准确,30%语句通顺,30%用词规范专业，40%。
Simulation of electricity generation by marine current turbines at Istanbul Bosphorus Strait∙Hasan Yazicioglu a,∙K.M. Murat Tunc b,∙Muammer Ozbek b, , ,∙Tolga Kara b∙a Technical University of Denmark, Department of Wind Energy, Denmark ∙b Istanbul Bilgi University, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, TurkeyReceived 9 July 2015, Revised 29 October 2015, Accepted 17 November2015, Available online 24 December 2015doi:10.1016/j.energy.2015.11.038Highlights•Simulations are performed for a 10MW marine turbine cluster located in Bosphorus.•360 different simulations are performed for 15 different virtual sea states.•8 different configurations are analyzed to find the optimum spacing between turbines.•Annual energy yield and cluster efficiency are calculated for each simulation.AbstractIn this work, several simulations and analyses are carried out to investigate the feasibility of generating electricity from underwater sea currents at Istanbul Bosphorus Strait. Bosphorus is a natural canal which forms a border between Europe and Asia by connecting Black Sea and Marmara Sea. The differences in elevation and salinity ratios between these two seas cause strong marine currents. Depending on the morphology of the canal the speed of the flow varies and at some specific locations the energy intensity reaches to sufficient levels where electricity generation by marine current turbines becomes economically feasible.In this study, several simulations are performed for a 10 MW marine turbine farm/cluster whose location is selected by taking into account several factors such as the canal morphology, current speed and passage of vessels. 360 different simulations are performed for 15 different virtual sea states. Similarly, 8 different configurations are analyzed in order to find the optimum spacing between the turbines. Considering the spatial variations in the current speed within the selected region, the analyses are performed for three different flow speeds corresponding to ±10% change in the average value. Foreach simulation the annual energy yield and cluster efficiency are calculated.Keywords∙Renewable energy;∙Marine current turbine;∙Energy yield simulations;∙Cluster/farm optimization;∙Offshore engineering;∙Dynamic interactions1. IntroductionThe growing world population and rapid industrialization seen in developing countries cause a continuous increase in the global energy demand. Today the major source of energy comes from fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas. However, considering the rate of increase in the consumption, it can easily be realized that these limited sources cannot be a long term solution to satisfy the global energy demand and are definitely bound to run out. Besides, using fossil fuels asprimary source of energy has irreversible negative impacts on the environment which force many countries to seek for alternative environmental friendly renewable energy sources.Turkey, as a rapidly growing economy with very limited national hydrocarbon resources, is also heavily dependent on fossil fuels (e.g. natural gas) imported for electricity production[1]. However, some recent political instabilities in the supplier countries, the heavy economic burden of importing these resources and the most importantly, the increasing awareness of environmental issues have been encouraging policy makers to increase the use of renewable energy sources. Indeed, very detailed investigations and analyses were performed to determine the wind, solar and geothermal energy capacity of the country [1]. However, the potential of harnessing some other renewable sources, particularly sea current energy has not been fully realized yet.Compared to the other types of renewable energy such as wind and solar, current energy can still be considered in development phase and is not commercially available in large scales. Existing marine turbine systems are mostly in prototype testing stage. Although initial results are quitepromising [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]and [9]some further verification for long term performance and durability under severe environmental conditions is still required.The average current speed needed for most commercial turbines is approximately 4–5 knots (2–2.5 m/s). Areas that typically experience high marine current flows are in narrow straits, between islands and around headlands. Entrances to lochs, bays and large harbors often also have high marine current flows. Generally the resource is largest where the water depth is relatively shallow and a good tidal range exists [10].The flow in Bosphorus does not originate from tidal currents but the differences in elevation and salinity ratios between two seas and wind and pressure variations [11]. The unique characteristics of the strait enable very high energy intensities to be reached at some locations and sections.This paper aims at investigating the feasibility of generating electricity from the streams at Bosphorus by using marine current turbines. Extensive simulations and analyses are performed for a 10 MW marine turbine farm (10 – SeaGen 1 MW) where several important design parameters such as the size, orientation, depth and spacing of the turbines areoptimized according to the specific morphology and flow patterns seen at Bosphorus.翻译1.引言发展中国家快速增长的人口和工业化进程造成了全球能源需求的持续增长。
英国监管沙箱英文版
1 OverviewIntroduction1.1 The FCA is committed to promoting effective competition in regulated financial services in the interests of consumers. Disruptive innovation is a key part of effective competition, which is why we launched Project Innovate. Project Innovate aims to support innovation that offers new products and services to customers and challenges existing business models. To do this, we engage constructively with innovative businesses, and seek to remove unnecessary regulatory barriers to innovation.1.2 Following recommendations by the Government Office for Science, the FCA was asked by Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) to investigate the feasibility of developing a regulatory sandbox for financial services. A regulatory sandbox is a ‘safe space’in which businesses can test innovative products, services, business models and delivery mechanisms without immediately incurring all the normal regulatory consequences of engaging in the activity in question.Case study no.1The FCA recently hosted a forum to discuss automatic advice business models (robo-advice). The attendees noted that it would be very helpful if they could test their algorithms in a regulatory sandbox. A sandbox could allow a firm to make their advice platform available to a limited number of consumers. As a safeguard, once the advice is issued, but before transactions are executed, financial advisers would review the advice. This would allow firms to learn how consumers interact with their advice platform and how their algorithm performs compared to human assessment.1.3 A regulatory sandbox has the potential to deliver more effective competition in the interests ofconsumers by:•reducing the time and, potentially, the cost of getting innovative ideas to market•enabling greater access to finance for innovators•enabling more products to be tested and, thus, potentially introduced to the market, andallowing the FCA to work with innovators to ensure that appropriate consumer protectionsafeguards are built in to their new products and services1.4 We have considered three key questions when investigating the feasibility of a regulatory sandbox:•Barriers –what regulatory barriers do firms face when testing out new ideas? How and to what extent can they be lowered?•Safeguards –what safeguards should be in place to ensure consumers and the financial system are appropriately protected during testing?•Legal framework –what regulatory arrangements are mandated by EU legislation and therefore are not within the gift of the FCA to change?1.5 We believe that it is feasible for the FCA to reduce some of the existing regulatory barriers to firms that are testing new ideas, while also maintaining suitable safeguards. Where the FCA is constrained, we believe solutions are available to industry. There may also be some scope for the Government to consider changes to the legislation that regulates financial services (see Chapter 5 for more details).1.6 This report sets out the FCA’s recommendations for implementing the regulatory sandbox:•The FCA will expand Project Innovate to include a sandbox unit: This team will be responsible for considering sandbox applications and monitoring the testing process.•There will be eligibility criteria for access to the sandbox: The sandbox unit will use consistent criteria to decide which sandbox proposals should be accepted for testing in this framework (see section 3.4).•The FCA sandbox unit will offer a range of options: Firms face different regulatory challenges depending on a range of factors, including regulatory status and type of activity.We have identified a range of available options for helping firms to address some of these challenges while testing in the sandbox (see section 3.5 and following).•The regulatory sandbox should be flexible: Safeguards for consumers and the financial system while testing will be agreed between the businesses and the FCA on a case-by-case basis. This way we can ensure that protections are sufficient but at the same time not unnecessarily burdensome on the businesses considering their sandbox activities (see section 3.14 and following).•The regulatory sandbox should be flexible: Safeguards for consumers and the financial system while testing will be agreed between the businesses and the FCA on a case-by-case basis. This way we can ensure that protections are sufficient but at the same time not unnecessarily burdensome on the businesses considering their sandbox activities (see section 3.14 and following).•We will work with industry to support the development of an industry led virtual sandbox: A virtual sandbox is an environment that enables firms to test their products and services in a virtual space without entering the real market (for example, by testing with publicly available data sets, or with data provided by other firms through the virtual sandbox). We propose to facilitate collaboration between interested parties and provide support when the virtual sandbox is being developed. We will look into providing access to our various systems and to some data sets (see section 4.3).•Private-sector stakeholders acting together should consider setting up a not-for- profit sandbox umbrella company: This company could seek authorisation from the FCA and then allow innovative businesses to act as ‘appointed representatives’for the duration of the trial in question. The FCA would help with setting up the umbrella and provide ongoing support and advice (see section 4.7).•The Government may wish to consider whether changes to legislation may be appropriate (see Chapter 5).1.7 The remaining chapters of this document are as follows:•Chapter 2 sets out the benefits of introducing a sandbox•Chapter 3 describes how a sandbox could be implemented by the FCA•Chapter 4 makes recommendations for the industry to consider•Chapter 5 sets out some options for legislative change for the Government to consider, and •Chapter 6 outlines next stepsWho should read this paper?1.8 This paper will be of particular interest to businesses looking to develop innovative ways to provide financial services. This includes, but is not limited to, innovator firms (both authorised firms and new entrants), accelerators, software firms, and technology companies. It will also beinteresting to their representative bodies, and to professional firms providing support to such businesses.Is this of interest to consumers?1.9 This report will be interesting to consumers who want to engage with new solutions to manage their financial affairs and consumer groups who represent their interests. This report describes the different ways that consumers can participate in testing and what consumer protection will be available.What will we do next?1.10 We intend to open the sandbox unit for testing proposals in spring 2016. Over the course of the next few months we will engage with interested parties to finalise the design of how the unit will operate. As part of this engagement process we have arranged an event in December 2015. Please see https:/// for more information.1.11 We will also start engaging with stakeholders regarding establishing a virtual sandbox and a sandbox umbrella.1.12 We have set up an e-mail address sandbox@ for anyone who would like to provide input into the development of the sandbox unit.2. Why introduce a regulatory sandbox?2.1 In this chapter we set out the potential benefits of introducing the regulatory sandbox.2.2 The FCA wants to promote competition by supporting disruptive innovation. It is estimated that the UK’s FinTech sector generates about £20bn in revenue annually, with a total market of £3.6bn in ‘disruptive’FinTech (small, innovative firms disintermediating incumbent financial services firms with new technology).Half of the promising ‘disruptive’FinTech start-ups in Europe are in the UK. To remain Europe’s leading FinTech Hub, we have to ensure that we continue to be an attractive market with an appropriate regulatory framework.2.3 The potential benefits of a regulatory sandbox could be significant from:•Reduced time-to-market at potentially lower cost: Delays driven by regulatory uncertainty disproportionately affect first-movers and discourage innovators. Evidence from other industries suggests that time-to-market can be increased by about a third in this way, at a cost of about 8% of product lifetime revenue.•Better access to finance: Financial innovation relies on investment, much of it through equity funding. Regulatory uncertainty at a crucial growth stage means that FinTech firms find it harder to raise funds and achieve lower valuations as investors try to factor in risks that they are not well placed to assess. Evidence from other industries suggests valuations may be reduced by about 15% due to regulatory uncertainty 5 ; it is more difficult to estimate the number of firms that fail to achieve any funding at all.•More innovative products reaching the market: Due to regulatory uncertainty, some innovations are abandoned at an early stage and never even tested. As the sandbox framework enables firms to manage regulatory risks during the testing stage, more solutions may be trialled and later potentially introduced to the market.2.4 The benefits the sandbox could provide firms should lead to better outcomes for consumers through, for example, an increased range of products and services, reduced costs, and improved access to financial services.2.5 The sandbox enables the FCA to work with innovators to ensure that appropriate consumer protection safeguards are built in to their new products and services before these reach a mass market.2. Why introduce a regulatory sandbox?2.1 In this chapter we set out the potential benefits of introducing the regulatory sandbox.2.2 The FCA wants to promote competition by supporting disruptive innovation. It is estimated that the UK’s FinTech sector generates about £20bn in revenue annually, with a total market of £3.6bn in ‘disruptive’FinTech (small, innovative firms disintermediating incumbent financial services firms with new technology).Half of the promising ‘disruptive’FinTech start-ups in Europe are in the UK. To remain Europe’s leading FinTech Hub, we have to ensure that we continue to be an attractive market with an appropriate regulatory framework.2.3 The potential benefits of a regulatory sandbox could be significant from:•Reduced time-to-market at potentially lower cost: Delays driven by regulatory uncertainty disproportionately affect first-movers and discourage innovators. Evidence from other industries suggests that time-to-market can be increased by about a third in this way, at a cost of about 8% of product lifetime revenue.•Better access to finance: Financial innovation relies on investment, much of it through equity funding. Regulatory uncertainty at a crucial growth stage means that FinTech firms find it harder to raise funds and achieve lower valuations as investors try to factor in risks that they are not well placed to assess. Evidence from other industries suggests valuations may be reduced by about 15% due to regulatory uncertainty 5 ; it is more difficult to estimate the number of firms that fail to achieve any funding at all.•More innovative products reaching the market: Due to regulatory uncertainty, some innovations are abandoned at an early stage and never even tested. As the sandbox framework enables firms to manage regulatory risks during the testing stage, more solutions may be trialled and later potentially introduced to the market.2.4 The benefits the sandbox could provide firms should lead to better outcomes for consumers through, for example, an increased range of products and services, reduced costs, and improved access to financial services.2.5 The sandbox enables the FCA to work with innovators to ensure that appropriate consumer protection safeguards are built in to their new products and services before these reach a mass market.2.6 Since the sandbox is intended for testing new solutions, in real life situations, the risk of consumer detriment needs to be carefully considered, as does the need to respect binding legal rules. These constraints will limit the flexibility the FCA can offer. However, even with these limits, we believe that it is feasible to develop a sandbox that will be helpful for innovative firms and deliver the above benefits.3 Implementing a regulatory sandbox3.1 In this chapter we set out our plans for implementing a regulatory sandbox: the criteria we plan to use, the options we have available, our approach to safeguards, and the ‘firm journey’.3.2 For dual regulated firms, we will work with the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to agree on the appropriate sandbox options. Where necessary, these will be delivered in consultation orwith the consent of the PRA under the current terms of the Memorandum of Understanding in place between the FCA and the PRA, or under the relevant provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA). For example, the FCA will consult with the PRA in respect of restrictions or rule waivers applied to dual regulated firms.Criteria for using sandbox3.3 Introducing publicly available criteria that need to be met as a prerequisite for entry into the sandbox will help to ensure that we treat all businesses fairly and transparently, while also ensuring we focus on propositions that are genuinely of benefit to consumers.3.4 We recommend that the sandbox criteria is similar to the criteria for requesting support from the FCA’s Innovation Hub:•Is the firm in scope: Is the planned new solution designed for or supports the financial services industry?•Genuine innovation: Is the new solution novel or significantly different to existing offerings? •Consumer benefit: Does the innovation offer a good prospect of identifiable benefit to consumers? This criterion should continue to be met throughout the period of sandbox testing. •Need for sandbox: What is the objective of testing? Does the business have a genuine need for testing within the sandbox framework?•Background research: Has the business invested appropriate resources in developing the new solution, understanding the applicable regulations, and mitigating the risks?3.5 We engaged with firms, trade bodies and other stakeholders to understand what a sandbox could deliver to be a useful facility for innovative businesses. What we found was that innovators face different challenges depending on a range of factors, including whether they are authorised and what kind of products/services they want to test.3.6 Authorised firms and technology firms that provide outsourced services to such firms are mainly concerned about the FCA’s reaction to new solutions. They are interested in early dialogue, clarity about how to apply rules and the risk of the FCA taking enforcement action at a later date. Unauthorised firms have to incur potentially significant one-off costs and apply for authorisation before they can meaningfully explore consumers’appetite for a product/service or if there are any significant risks posed to consumers.3.7 We have identified a number of options that the FCA can use to address some of these challenges while firms test out their ideas in the sandbox.Option for unauthorised firms3.8 We will set up a tailored authorisation process, similar to the banking mobilisation authorisation process to allow testing by firms who need to become authorised to trial their new products or services. Sandbox firms will first be authorised with restrictions, allowing them to test their ideas but no more (restricted authorisation). Once the firm is able to meet ‘full’requirements restrictions can be lifted.3.9 The restricted authorisation option will allow firms to become authorised in their own right while only having to meet authorisation requirements that are proportionate to testing activities. This process should also be quicker than applying for a ‘full’authorisation. When launching full commercial activity, firms will have to apply to have restrictions lifted in order to carry on relevant regulated activities but they will not have to apply for new authorisation.3.10 This option does have some limitations. Before being able to test, firms still need to become authorised and meet relevant requirements which requires time and resource. Further, EU legislation restricts the flexibility that the FCA has in setting some authorisation requirements (see section 5.5. for an illustrative list of firms that need to be authorised or registered under EU legislation). These requirements may be quite onerous for firms (especially for start-ups). For such firms, we have suggested that the sandbox umbrella option may be a more appropriate option to address the challenges they face in taking innovative products/services to market (see section4.7).3.11 A restricted authorisation and sandbox umbrella will not apply to carrying out activities outside the FSMA: e.g. payment services and e-money. The Payment Services Regulations and Electronic Money Regulations already provide for a lighter registration regime for small payment institutions and small e-money firms and a number of exemptions when these regulations do not apply (e.g. limited network).3.12 For avoidance of doubt, this restricted authorisation option under the sandbox framework will not replace the banking mobilisation authorisation process or extend it to other firms. This option will not be an alternative route for authorisation for all firms. We will only use it to enable firms who meet the sandbox eligibility criteria to test their new products and services.Options for authorised firms and outsourcing arrangements3.13 Authorised firms and technology firms that provide outsourced services to such firms are mainly concerned about the FCA’s reaction to new solutions. The following options help to manage this risk by giving certainty that the FCA will not take enforcement action at a later date in relation to testing activities, provided firms abide by the conditions agreed with the sandbox unit. These options may also be used by technology companies when they find authorised firms that are interested in testing their products or services.•No enforcement action letters (NALs): We could issue a NAL stating that no FCA enforcement action will be taken against testing activities where we are reasonably satisfied that the activities do not breach our requirements or harm our objectives. We think it would be appropriate for the FCA to reserve the right to close the trial. The FCA’s commitment not to take enforcement action applies to the period from the issue of the NAL until the testing is completed or closed by the FCA. The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is implementing a similar policy. It is important to note that this only addresses the risk of enforcement action by the FCA and does not limit businesses’liability towards their customers.•Individual Guidance (IG): In addition to NALs, the FCA can issue individual guidance to a firm on the interpretation of applicable rules in respect of testing activities the firm may be carrying out. If the firm acts in accordance with this guidance, it will give them certainty that the FCA would not take action against them.•Waivers: Where it is clear that testing activities do not meet our rules but the firm can meet the waiver test 8 and the rules are within the FCA’s power to waive, the FCA can waive or modify particular rules for sandbox firms. A waiver or modification would allow what would otherwise be a temporary breach of our rules. The FCA is limited in what it can waive by EU legislative requirements. This is not an option for firms not regulated under FSMA (e.g. payment institutions).Safeguards3.14 We believe that the benefits that the sandbox can bring to firms should lead to better outcomes for consumers through, for example, an increased range of products and services, reduced cost, and improved access to financial services. However, there is potential for customer detriment when innovative financial products or services are tested in real life situations. This risk needs to be carefully managed.3.15 There are a number of approaches that the FCA can take to protect customers that participate in sandbox testing (Appendix 4 sets this out in more detail):•Approach 1: As in clinical trials, sandbox firms can only test their new solutions on customers who have given informed consent to be included in testing. Customers are notified of the potential risks and the available compensation.•Approach 2: FCA agrees on a case-by-case basis the disclosure, protection and compensation appropriate to the testing activity.•Approach 3: Customers have the same rights as customers who engage with other authorised firms (e.g. complain to firm, then to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), and have access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if a firm fails).•Approach 4: Businesses undertaking sandbox trials are required to compensate any losses (including investment losses) to customers and must demonstrate that they have the resources (capital) to do that.3.16 It is important that the safeguards for customers are appropriate to the sandboxing activity. So we prefer approach 2 –the FCA agrees on safeguard proposals on a case-by-case basis (for example, these could be approach 1, 3, or 4 alone or accompanied by some other safeguards). This approach enables flexibility in setting appropriate customer protection for the testing activities.Case study no 2For testing blockchain based transaction tools, the appropriate safeguards may be limiting testing only to sophisticated customers, using approach 1, and daily monitoring of whether the transactions are executed correctly and on time.3.17 With the proposed tools for sandbox, consumers will have FOS and FSCS protection 9 , provided that the tested solutions fall within their jurisdiction.3.18 The parameters of the sandbox activities will have to take into account that testing should not cause risks to the financial system (i.e. scale of testing has to be limited).3.19 The exact firm journey and the FCA’s involvement will depend on the specific options used, the regulatory status of the firm, the solution being tested and the extent of consumer involvement.4 Recommendations for industry4.1 In this chapter we set out the solutions that can be delivered by industry acting collectively(e.g.financial services firms, software developers, technology companies, accelerators, and so on)to help address the challenges that innovators face when taking a new product or service to market.4.2 In addition to the options that the FCA has, we think there are also solutions that the industry can implement which offer more flexibility. We think there is a potential role for trade bodies in bringing together industry to achieve these solutions.Virtual sandbox4.3 A virtual sandbox could be introduced by industry. This would be an environment to enable firms to test their solutions virtually without entering the real market. A number of large firms already have similar solutions for testing technologies but we understand these operate separately from each other and with data only from the owners of these sandboxes.4.4 The virtual sandbox could be, for example, a cloud-based solution set up and equipped in collaboration between the industry, which businesses then could customise for their products or services, run tests with public data sets or data provided by other firms through the virtual sandbox, and then invite firms or even consumers to try their new solution. In this environment, there is no risk of consumer detriment, risk to market integrity or financial stability while testing.4.5 A virtual sandbox could be used by all innovators regardless of whether they are authorised or not. It will probably be most useful for small start-ups who cannot build their own sandboxes. Technology companies seeking to engage with incumbents may also benefit; being accepted into a virtual sandbox may encourage more incumbents to engage with the new solution. This environment could also allow collaboration between a number of businesses and other interested parties (e.g. academia) to develop innovative solutions quicker and in a more informed way.4.6 We do not think it is necessary for the FCA to set up the virtual sandbox; the industry is well placed to set up a useful virtual testing environment itself. However, we propose to facilitate collaboration between interested parties and provide support when the virtual sandbox is being developed. We will look into providing access to our various systems and to some data sets (provided this does not breach requirements from the Data Protection Act 1998 or section 348 of FSMA). We would be interested in having access to the results of the virtual sandboxing activity.Case study no 3The FCA has committed to identifying ways to support the adoption of technologiesthat facilitate compliance with regulatory requirements (RegTech). Any products developed to address this challenge could be tested in the virtual sandbox and developed further in collaboration between interested parties.Sandbox umbrella4.7 A not-for-profit company could be set up by industry to act as a sandbox umbrella that allows unauthorised innovators to offer their services under its shelter as appointed representatives.The umbrella company would need to be authorised with appropriate permissions and then supervised by the FCA as other authorised firms. The umbrella company would monitor its appointed representatives.4.8 This option would take some time to implement but it would be faster and simpler for innovators to use than the restricted authorisation option outlined in Chapter 3. Innovators would not have to apply for authorisation and meet authorisation requirements in their own right. The umbrella company would assess whether the firms applying to become appointed representatives are ready to test their solutions.4.9 It is worth noting that the appointed representative regime is not available for all regulated activities, so not all innovative businesses would be able to use the sandbox umbrella. For example, this regime does not apply to insurance underwriting and managing investments. Thesefirms would need to use the restricted authorisation option described in Chapter 3 to participate in the sandbox.4.10 We believe that the sandbox umbrella should be introduced by industry. An industry-led umbrella is better equipped to assess and advise sandbox firms and facilitate overall innovation. The FCA would help to set up the umbrella through the Innovation Hub and provide ongoing support and advice. We would also supervise the umbrella to ensure oversight of testing activities.5 Options that require legislative change5.1 In this chapter we set out considerations regarding whether changes to legislation that governs financial services have the potential to better address some of the challenges described above.5.2 We have identified two potential options as feasible:•New Regulated Activity: The Regulated Activities Order 11 could be amended to introduce a new regulated activity of ‘sandboxing’for testing. This option could enable the FCA to create a new sandbox regime (with new authorisation requirements and rules) that is more flexible than the current regime in areas where EU legislation does not apply or where the UK can have additional rules to those that exist under EU legislation. Thus, it could allow for a streamlined authorisation process and potentially less regulatory requirements to comply with when testing. The drawbacks to this option are that firms still need to become authorised before being able to test, and proposed changes need to take into account EU requirements. Further, this option will not apply to activities that are not regulated under FSMA (e.g. payment services and e-money). Thus, this change could have a limited effect.•Amending the waiver test: The FCA’s power to issue waivers is limited in relation to requirements which come from EU legislation and by the current waiver test provided in FSMA. The Government could consider changing the waiver conditions in FSMA to make it easier for the FCA to waive rules for a firm within the sandbox. This could be achieved by introducing a new test for sandbox firms. However, we would not be able to waive rules stemming from EU legislation despite this change.5.3 We recommend considering these options further when we have collected more evidence about the specific needs of innovative firms during the testing of new solutions. This evidence would enable us to understand better which specific rules or legislation firms struggle with when testing innovative solutions and then analyse the effect the above legislative changes could have.5.4 We also analysed the two potential options below:•Amendment to Exemptions Order 12 : The Exemptions Order could be amended to introduce an exemption from authorisation for sandbox firms. The exemption would apply if the firm complies with sandbox conditions and the FCA confirms that it meets sandbox criteria. •Amendment to By Way of Business Order 13 : The By Way of Business Order could be amended to provide that a sandbox activity is not to be regarded as carried out ‘by way of business’, so it would not be a regulated activity. This would apply if the firm complies with sandbox conditions and the FCA confirms that it meets sandbox criteria.5.5 We consider the options in section 5.4 to be unfeasible due to limitations set by EU legislative requirements. For example, subject to a range of exclusions, under a number of different pieces of EU legislation, the following firms must be authorised or registered: credit institutions, some insurance and reinsurance companies, insurance and reinsurance intermediaries, firms who provide ‘investment services or activities’under MiFID, some。
花生研究英文文献
花生研究英文文献Peanuts, scientifically known as Arachis hypogaea, are a legume crop that has gained significant global attention due to their versatility, nutritional value, and economic importance. The study of peanuts, often referred to as "groundnuts," has been a topic of extensive research across various scientific disciplines, including agronomy, plant breeding, food science, and nutrition. This essay will delve into the existing English literature on peanut research, highlighting key findings, advancements, and future directions in this field.One of the primary areas of peanut research focuses on understanding the crop's genetic diversity and the development of improved cultivars. Peanuts are known to exhibit a wide range of genetic variation, which can be leveraged to enhance desirable traits such as yield, disease resistance, and adaptability to different environmental conditions. Researchers have employed various techniques, including traditional breeding methods and modern genomic approaches, to identify and characterize the genetic factors responsible for these traits. For instance, studies have explored the use of molecular markers and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) analysis todissect the genetic architecture of peanut yield components, oil content, and resistance to major diseases like leaf spot and aflatoxin contamination.Another significant aspect of peanut research is the investigation of the crop's nutritional profile and potential health benefits. Peanuts are renowned for their high protein content, as well as their abundance of essential vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds. Researchers have conducted extensive studies to evaluate the nutritional composition of different peanut cultivars, examining factors such as fatty acid profiles, antioxidant activity, and the presence of beneficial phytochemicals. These findings have important implications for the development of nutritionally-enhanced peanut products and the promotion of peanuts as a healthy food choice.In the realm of food science, peanut research has focused on exploring the processing and utilization of peanuts in various food applications. Researchers have investigated methods for improving the quality, shelf-life, and safety of peanut-based products, such as peanut butter, roasted peanuts, and peanut oil. This includes studying the effects of different processing techniques, the role of packaging materials, and the mitigation of food safety concerns like aflatoxin contamination. Additionally, researchers have explored the potential for value-added peanut products, such as the developmentof peanut-based protein isolates, flours, and other ingredients for use in the food industry.Peanut research has also addressed the agronomic and environmental aspects of peanut cultivation. Researchers have examined the optimal growing conditions, water management strategies, and nutrient requirements for peanut production, aiming to enhance yield and sustainability. Studies have also delved into the impact of climate change on peanut cultivation, exploring strategies for adapting to shifting environmental conditions and mitigating the effects of drought, heat stress, and other abiotic stresses.Furthermore, peanut research has contributed to the understanding of the crop's role in agricultural systems and its potential for sustainable development. Peanuts are known for their ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic relationships with soil microorganisms, making them a valuable component of crop rotation and intercropping practices. Researchers have investigated the agronomic and environmental benefits of integrating peanuts into diverse farming systems, examining their impact on soil fertility, greenhouse gas emissions, and the overall sustainability of agricultural production.In recent years, the emergence of advanced technologies, such as precision agriculture, remote sensing, and machine learning, hassignificantly enhanced peanut research. These tools have enabled researchers to collect and analyze large-scale data on peanut growth, yield, and environmental interactions, leading to the development of more efficient and data-driven management strategies. Additionally, the application of biotechnology and genetic engineering has opened up new avenues for peanut improvement, including the development of disease-resistant cultivars, the enhancement of nutritional profiles, and the exploration of novel uses for peanut-derived products.Despite the substantial progress made in peanut research, there are still numerous challenges and opportunities that warrant further investigation. For instance, the continued efforts to address the issue of aflatoxin contamination, a major food safety concern associated with peanuts, remain a priority. Researchers are exploring various strategies, such as the development of resistant cultivars, improved post-harvest handling practices, and the use of biological control agents, to mitigate this problem.Another area of growing interest is the exploration of peanut's potential as a sustainable and versatile crop for biofuel production. Peanut oil has been identified as a promising feedstock for biodiesel, and researchers are investigating the feasibility and environmental impacts of using peanut-derived fuels as alternatives to fossil fuels.Furthermore, as consumer preferences and dietary trends evolve, peanut research is also shifting towards the development of innovative peanut-based food products that cater to diverse dietary needs and preferences, such as gluten-free, vegan, and allergen-free options.In conclusion, the existing English literature on peanut research showcases the multifaceted and dynamic nature of this field. From genetic improvement and nutritional analysis to food processing and sustainable agriculture, peanut research has made significant contributions to our understanding of this important legume crop. As the global demand for peanuts continues to grow, the ongoing research efforts in this area will be crucial in addressing the challenges and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead, ultimately enhancing the production, utilization, and sustainability of peanuts worldwide.。
行业提升的建议他是否有可行性英语作文
Title: The Feasibility of Suggestions for Industry EnhancementIn the ever-evolving landscape of industry, it is imperative for businesses and sectors to continuously seek ways to enhance their operations, foster innovation, and remain competitive. The implementation of strategic suggestions aimed at industry enhancement is thus a crucial endeavor. However, the feasibility of these suggestions is a crucial factor that must be thoroughly evaluated before embarking on any transformational journey. This essay delves into the various aspects that determine the feasibility of industry enhancement suggestions.Firstly, Market Analysis and Demand Validation:The cornerstone of any feasible suggestion for industry enhancement lies in a thorough market analysis. This involves assessing current market trends, identifying consumer needs and preferences, and evaluating the potential impact of proposed changes. If a suggestion fails to address a genuine market gap or align with consumer demands, its feasibility is inherently questionable. By conducting surveys, focus groups, and market research, businesses can validate the demand for their enhancement suggestions, ensuring that they are not only innovative but also relevant to the market.Secondly, Resource Availability and Allocation:Another critical aspect of feasibility is the availability and allocation of resources. This includes financial capital, human resources, technology, and infrastructure. Implementing significant industry enhancements often requires substantial investments, both upfront and ongoing. Therefore, it is essential to assess whether the necessary resources are available or can be secured. Moreover, efficient resource allocation is key to ensuring that the enhancement efforts do not strain the organization's financial health or disrupt its day-to-day operations.Thirdly, Technical Feasibility:Technical feasibility refers to the practicality of implementing the proposed enhancement from a technological standpoint. This includes evaluating the current technological capabilities of the industry, assessing the availability of necessary technologies, and determining whether the implementation process is technically sound. For instance, a suggestion that relies on cutting-edge technology that is not yet widely accessible or affordable may not be feasible in the short term. Fourthly, Regulatory Compliance:Industry enhancements must also comply with relevant laws, regulations, and standards. Failure to do so can result in legal consequences, reputational damage, and operational disruptions. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct a regulatory analysis to ensure that the proposed suggestions align with all applicable legal frameworks. Thisincludes seeking legal advice, consulting with regulatory bodies, and ensuring that all necessary permits and approvals are in place.Lastly, Stakeholder Engagement and Support:The success of industry enhancement suggestions is heavily influenced by stakeholder engagement and support. Stakeholders, including employees, customers, suppliers, investors, and government agencies, can play a vital role in shaping the implementation process and ensuring its success. It is essential to involve stakeholders early on in the process, communicate the benefits and implications of the proposed enhancements, and address their concerns and suggestions. By building a strong coalition of support, businesses can increase the feasibility and likelihood of success of their enhancement efforts.In conclusion, the feasibility of suggestions for industry enhancement is a multifaceted concept that requires careful consideration of market analysis, resource availability, technical feasibility, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement. By evaluating these aspects thoroughly, businesses can make informed decisions about which enhancement suggestions to pursue, ensuring that their efforts are not only innovative but also practical and sustainable.。
五星级酒店坏账预提和审批英语版流程
五星级酒店坏账预提和审批英语版流程全文共3篇示例，供读者参考篇1Bad Debt Provision and Approval Process for a Five-Star HotelAs a hospitality student, one of the crucial aspects I've learned about managing a high-end hotel is the importance of effectively dealing with bad debts. In the world of luxury accommodations, where exceptional service and guest satisfaction are paramount, the financial implications of unpaid bills can be substantial. This is where the bad debt provision and approval process comes into play, serving as a safeguard against potential losses while maintaining the hotel's reputation and financial stability.The Bad Debt Provision: A Preemptive MeasureBefore diving into the approval process, it's essential to understand the concept of a bad debt provision. This provision is essentially an accounting practice that recognizes the potential for some accounts receivable to become uncollectible. In other words, it's a preemptive measure taken by the hotel to accountfor the possibility that certain guests may fail to pay their outstanding balances.The bad debt provision is typically calculated as a percentage of the total accounts receivable or based on an analysis of the aging of individual accounts. This percentage is determined by the hotel's management, taking into consideration factors such as historical data on bad debts, current economic conditions, and the overall risk profile of the guest population.The Approval Process: A Multi-Step ApproachOnce the bad debt provision has been established, the approval process kicks in to ensure that any write-offs or adjustments to the provision are thoroughly reviewed and authorized. This process typically involves multiple levels of approval, each serving as a check and balance to maintain transparency and accountability.Step 1: Departmental ReviewThe first step in the approval process involves a thorough review by the respective department responsible for the outstanding debt. This could be the front desk, the banquet department, or any other revenue-generating department withinthe hotel. The department manager will analyze the account in question, gather relevant documentation, and prepare a comprehensive report detailing the circumstances surrounding the unpaid balance.Step 2: Finance Department EvaluationAfter the departmental review, the report and supporting documentation are forwarded to the hotel's finance department. Here, a team of financial analysts and accountants will conduct a detailed evaluation of the case. They will review the efforts made to collect the outstanding debt, verify the accuracy of the information provided, and assess the feasibility of recovering the debt.Step 3: Bad Debt Committee ReviewMany five-star hotels have a designated Bad Debt Committee, comprising representatives from various departments, such as operations, finance, legal, and risk management. This committee convenes regularly to review and discuss the proposed bad debt write-offs or adjustments to the provision.During the committee meeting, each case is presented, and the members scrutinize the details, considering factors such asthe guest's history, the hotel's relationship with the guest, and any potential legal or reputational risks. The committee may request additional information or clarification from the respective departments before reaching a decision.Step 4: Executive ApprovalDepending on the amount of the bad debt and the hotel's internal policies, executive-level approval may be required. This could involve the hotel's general manager, the chief financial officer, or even the board of directors, particularly for larger write-offs or significant adjustments to the bad debt provision.At this stage, the executives will review the committee's recommendations, assess the potential impact on the hotel's financial performance, and evaluate any associated risks or legal implications. Their approval is typically the final step before the bad debt write-off or adjustment can be officially recorded in the hotel's financial statements.Step 5: Documentation and ReportingOnce the necessary approvals have been obtained, the finance department will record the bad debt write-off or adjustment in the hotel's accounting system. Detailed documentation of the entire process, including the committee'sdeliberations, executive approvals, and any supporting documentation, is maintained for audit and compliance purposes.Additionally, the hotel's management may require regular reporting on bad debt levels, trends, and the effectiveness of the collection efforts. This information helps inform future strategies and decision-making processes related to credit policies, guest screening, and overall risk management practices.The Importance of a Robust ProcessThe bad debt provision and approval process may seem complex and time-consuming, but it serves several critical purposes for a five-star hotel. First and foremost, it ensures that the hotel's financial statements accurately reflect its financial position by accounting for potential losses from uncollectible debts.Furthermore, the multi-step approval process promotes transparency, accountability, and effective risk management. By involving various stakeholders and subject matter experts, the hotel can make informed decisions and mitigate potential legal, reputational, or financial risks associated with bad debts.Moreover, a robust approval process helps maintain the hotel's reputation for exceptional service and guest satisfaction. By carefully evaluating each case and considering the guest's history and relationship with the hotel, the management can strike a balance between protecting the hotel's financial interests and preserving valuable guest relationships.ConclusionIn the world of luxury hospitality, the bad debt provision and approval process is a crucial aspect of financial management. It not only safeguards the hotel's financial stability but also contributes to its overall reputation and guest experience. As a student aspiring to work in the hospitality industry, understanding this process and its implications is essential for effective hotel management and maintaining the highest standards of service and professionalism.篇2Bad Debt Provision and Approval Process for Five-Star HotelsAs an aspiring hotelier, understanding the financial intricacies of the hospitality industry is paramount. One crucial aspect that often gets overlooked is the management of baddebts, particularly in the realm of luxury, five-star hotels. These establishments cater to an affluent clientele, but even the most prestigious venues can fall victim to uncollected payments, necessitating a robust system for provisioning and approving bad debt write-offs.At the core of this process lies the recognition that not every outstanding account receivable will be collected. Despite the best efforts of the hotel's billing and collection departments, certain factors may render some debts uncollectible. These factors could range from guests experiencing financial difficulties to disputes over service quality or simple oversight on the part of the customer.The first step in managing bad debts is to establish a comprehensive policy that outlines the criteria for identifying and classifying them. This policy should take into account the age of the outstanding balance, the customer's payment history, and any extenuating circumstances that may have contributed to the non-payment. For instance, a long-standing corporate client with an exceptional payment record may be granted more leeway than a first-time guest with a history of delinquency.Once the criteria for bad debts have been defined, the hotel must implement a systematic approach to monitoring andtracking these accounts. This typically involves maintaining a detailed aging report that categorizes outstanding balances based on the number of days they have been overdue. Accounts that have exceeded a certain threshold, say 90 or 120 days, may be flagged for further review and potential write-off.At this juncture, the hotel's accounting team plays a pivotal role. They are responsible for thoroughly investigating each flagged account, gathering relevant documentation, and assessing the likelihood of collection. This assessment may involve contacting the customer directly, reviewing correspondence or contracts, and consulting with the hotel's legal counsel if necessary.Based on their findings, the accounting team will generate a recommendation for either continuing collection efforts or writing off the debt as uncollectible. This recommendation, along with a detailed justification and supporting documentation, is then submitted to the appropriate level of management for review and approval.The approval process for bad debt write-offs is typically structured in a hierarchical manner, with varying levels of authority based on the monetary value of the debt in question. For smaller debts, the approval may rest with the hotel's financialcontroller or director of finance. However, larger debts or those involving high-profile clients may require the approval of senior management, such as the general manager or even the ownership group.This multi-tiered approval process serves several important purposes. First, it ensures that due diligence has been exercised in exhausting all reasonable collection efforts before resorting to a write-off. Second, it provides a system of checks and balances, reducing the risk of fraud or abuse. Finally, it allows for a more comprehensive evaluation of the potential impact on the hotel's financial performance and reputation.Once a bad debt has been approved for write-off, the accounting team will execute the necessary journal entries to remove the outstanding balance from the hotel's accounts receivable. This process typically involves crediting the accounts receivable account and debiting a bad debt expense account, effectively recognizing the loss on the hotel's financial statements.It is important to note that the bad debt provision and approval process is not a one-time event. Rather, it is an ongoing cycle that requires continuous monitoring and adjustment. The hotel's accounting team should regularly review the aging reportand make recommendations for further write-offs or adjustments to the bad debt provision as needed.In addition to the financial implications, the management of bad debts can also have a significant impact on the hotel's operational efficiency and customer relations. Unpaid balances can tie up valuable resources in collection efforts, diverting attention from more productive endeavors. Furthermore, a failure to effectively manage bad debts can lead to strained relationships with customers, potentially damaging the hotel's reputation and future business prospects.To mitigate these risks, many five-star hotels have implemented proactive measures to minimize the occurrence of bad debts in the first place. These measures may include requiring advance deposits or credit card authorizations for certain types of bookings, as well as implementing strict credit policies for corporate accounts or groups.Moreover, hotels may employ sophisticated revenue management systems that analyze historical data and identify potential risk factors associated with certain booking patterns or customer segments. By leveraging this data-driven approach, hotels can make more informed decisions about extendingcredit or requiring prepayment, thereby reducing their exposure to bad debts.In conclusion, the provision for bad debts and the associated approval process are critical components of financial management for five-star hotels. By implementing a robust system that combines clear policies, diligent monitoring, and a multi-tiered approval structure, these establishments can effectively manage the inevitable occurrence of uncollectible accounts while maintaining financial integrity and operational efficiency. Ultimately, a well-designed bad debt provision and approval process not only safeguards the hotel's bottom line but also protects its reputation as a world-class provider of luxury hospitality services.篇3Bad Debt Provision and Approval Process for a Five-Star HotelAs a student pursuing a degree in hospitality management, understanding the financial aspects of running a luxuriousfive-star hotel is crucial. One of the key areas that caught my attention during my studies was the process of managing bad debts and the corresponding approval procedures. Let me walkyou through this intricate process, providing insights into how these prestigious establishments safeguard their financial interests while maintaining a seamless guest experience.The Concept of Bad DebtsBefore delving into the specifics of the bad debt provision and approval process, it's essential to grasp the concept of bad debts itself. Bad debts, also known as delinquent debts or doubtful debts, refer to outstanding amounts owed by customers that the hotel deems unlikely to be collected. These debts can arise from various circumstances, such as guests leaving without settling their bills, credit card disputes, or bankruptcies.The Importance of Bad Debt ManagementEffective bad debt management is vital for the financial health and sustainability of a five-star hotel. These establishments cater to affluent clientele and often extend credit facilities, making them susceptible to potential non-payments. Failure to properly account for and manage bad debts can result in overstated revenue, cash flow issues, and potential legal complications.The Bad Debt Provision ProcessTo mitigate the impact of bad debts, five-star hotels employ a systematic approach known as the bad debt provision process. This process involves estimating the amount of outstanding debts that are unlikely to be collected and setting aside a portion of revenue to cover these potential losses. Here's a breakdown of the typical steps involved:Accounts Receivable Aging AnalysisThe first step in the bad debt provision process is conducting an accounts receivable aging analysis. This analysis categorizes outstanding customer balances based on the number of days they have been outstanding. Typically, accounts are classified into various aging buckets, such as 0-30 days, 31-60 days, 61-90 days, and over 90 days.Historical Bad Debt Percentage CalculationThe hotel's finance team then analyzes historical data to determine the percentage of outstanding balances that have historically resulted in bad debts for each aging bucket. This historical bad debt percentage serves as a basis for estimating future bad debt provisions.Bad Debt Provision CalculationUsing the accounts receivable aging analysis and the historical bad debt percentages, the finance team calculates the estimated bad debt provision for each aging bucket. The sum of these provisions represents the total bad debt provision for the period.Accounting TreatmentThe calculated bad debt provision is recorded as an expense in the hotel's income statement, reducing the overall revenue and net income for the period. Simultaneously, an allowance for doubtful accounts (a contra-asset account) is created on the balance sheet to reflect the estimated uncollectible amounts.The Bad Debt Approval ProcessWhile the bad debt provision process is crucial for financial reporting purposes, five-star hotels also have a robust approval process in place to ensure proper oversight and control over the write-off of actual bad debts. This approval process typically involves multiple levels of review and authorization, depending on the amount and nature of the bad debt.Initial Review and DocumentationWhen a customer account is identified as a potential bad debt, the hotel's accounting department conducts an initialreview to verify the outstanding balance, gather supporting documentation (such as correspondence with the customer, billing statements, and collection efforts), and prepare a write-off request.Department Manager ApprovalThe write-off request is then submitted to the department manager responsible for the respective revenue stream (e.g., rooms, food and beverage, or other services). The department manager reviews the request, assesses the circumstances surrounding the bad debt, and provides initial approval or rejection.Financial Controller ReviewIf approved by the department manager, the write-off request proceeds to the hotel's financial controller or chief accountant. This individual thoroughly examines the request, ensuring compliance with accounting standards, internal policies, and regulatory requirements. They may request additional documentation or clarification if needed.Executive Committee ApprovalFor significant bad debt amounts or high-risk cases, the write-off request is escalated to the hotel's executive committee,typically comprising the general manager, financial controller, and other senior executives. This committee evaluates the request from a strategic and risk management perspective, considering factors such as the potential impact on the hotel's reputation, legal implications, and long-term financial consequences.Board of Directors Approval (if applicable)In some cases, particularly for extraordinarily large bad debt amounts or cases with potential legal ramifications, the write-off request may require approval from the hotel's board of directors or the parent company's executive leadership. This level of scrutiny ensures proper governance and oversight for significant financial decisions.Continuous Monitoring and AdjustmentThe bad debt provision and approval processes are not one-time occurrences but rather ongoing activities that require continuous monitoring and adjustment. The finance team periodically reviews the accuracy of the bad debt provision estimates by comparing them with actual write-offs. If significant discrepancies are observed, the historical bad debt percentages and provision calculations are adjusted accordingly.Furthermore, the hotel's credit policies and collection practices may be revised based on the analysis of bad debt trends and patterns. This proactive approach helps mitigate future bad debt risks and ensures the financial sustainability of the five-star hotel operation.ConclusionManaging bad debts is a critical aspect of financial management for five-star hotels. The bad debt provision process ensures that the hotel's financial statements accurately reflect potential losses from uncollectible accounts, while the approval process provides a system of checks and balances for writing off actual bad debts. By implementing robust procedures and regularly reviewing and adjusting these processes, five-star hotels can maintain their financial integrity while delivering exceptional service to their discerning clientele.。
放疗的文献
J. Radiat. Res., 53, 462–468 (2012)Pretreatment Maximal Standardized Uptake Value of the Primary Tumor Predicts Outcome to Radiotherapy in Patientswith Pharyngeal CancerShih-Chieh LIN1, Chih-Ying LIAO6, Chia-Hung KAO2,3*†, Kuo-Yang YEN2,5,Shih-Neng YANG1,5, Yao-Ching WANG1, Ji-An LIANG1,3and Shang-Wen CHEN1,3,4*†FDG PET-CT/SUV/Pharyngeal carcinoma/Radiotherapy/Tumor volume.This study aimed to investigate whether the combination of clinical information, tumor volume and pretreatment SUVmax at the primary tumors might improve the prognostic stratification in pharyngeal cancer (PC) patients treated with radiotherapy (RT). Sixty-two patients with PC (35 oropharynx; 27 hypo-pharynx) treated with RT were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. All patients received pretreatment FDG- PET or PET/CT. The primary tumor relapse-free survival (PRFS) was calculated according to dif-ferent variables. The median values of the SUVmax for the primary tumors (SUVp-max) and the gross tumor volume (GTVp) were used to divide patients into two groups. Independent prognosticators were identified by the Cox regression analysis. In this study, the median SUVp-max and GTVp was 11 and15.5 ml. Patients having tumors with SUVp-max > 11 had a significantly inferior 2-year PRFS (41% vs.75%, p = 0.003) compared with patients having lower uptake tumors. Multivariate analysis of the PRFS showed two prognostic factors: SUVp-max > 11 (p = 0.04, hazard ratio = 2.67) and GTVp > 15.5 ml (p =0.03, hazard ratio = 2.88). For patients with a GTVp less than 15.5 ml, there was a more significant impactof SUVmax-p on their PRFS compared to that for those with large ones. We disclosed a higher pretreat-ment SUVp-max is a predictor for primary recurrence in PC patients treated with RT, particularly for those with smaller tumor volumes. Patients with a large tumor volume or a higher SUVp-max should be considered for requiring more aggressive treatment approaches.INTRODUCTIONOver the past decade definitive radiotherapy (RT) or con-current chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) has been increasingly employed in organ preservation scheme for oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers. Despite recent advances in the high-precision delivery of RT, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), implementation of individualized therapy is limited by a lack of comprehensive knowledge about individual response to a given RT until treatment has been completed. Although the traditional TNM classifica-tion or computed tomogram (CT)- based tumor volume has been used as a predictor of prognosis in head and neck patients,1,2) this parameter may not accurately reflect RT out-come because of the greater variations in the radiosensitivity between tumors, even with the same origins.Several methods for assessing tumor response before RT have been applied; one of the most easily or increasingly used is positron emission tomography and computed tomo-gram (PE T/CT) or PE T scan, which have the potential to improve treatment outcome by providing improved lymph node staging, and perhaps predictive factors. Theoretically, a high SUV value of the tumor probably implies a higher chance of tumor aggressiveness. Based on the results of 17 studies identified; however, the predictive value for head and neck cancer patients treated with RT or CCRT was not*Corresponding author:Phone: 886-4-22052121-7450/7412,Fax: 886-4-22336174,E-mail: vincent1680616@E-mail: d10040@.tw1Department of Radiation Oncology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung Taiwan; 2Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; 3School of Medicine, College of Medicine School, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; 4School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; 5Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; 6Department of Radiation Oncology, Taichung Hospital, Taichung Taiwan.†Contributed equally to this work.Conflicts of Interest: All authors declare there were no actual or potential conflicts of interest in this study.doi:10.1269/jrr.11174Pretreatment Standardized Uptake Value in Pharyngeal Cancer463 conclusive. E ight investigators indicated that the maximalstandardized uptake value (SUVmax) could play a role inpredicting RT/CCRT outcome,3–10) whereas the othersshowed that it does not.2,11–18) These inconsistencies could bea result of the heterogeneity of treatment modalities, the het-erogeneity of tumor sites, the use of several endpoints andthe use of various SUVmax cut-off points.11) Furthermore,substantial numbers of patients in theses studies were treatedwith surgery. In particular, most published studies did notexamine the impact of tumor volume when investigating thepredictive value of the SUVmax. Possibly studies withhomogeneous tumor types, treatment characteristics andstratified for tumor volumes would be able to establish a realrole for an optimal SUVmax cut-off for future treatmentindividualization.This study aimed to investigate whether the combinationof clinical information, tumor volume and pretreatmentSUVmax at the primary tumors might improve the prognos-tic stratification in pharyngeal cancer (PC) patients afterdefinitive RT or CCRT. We hypothesized that a higher pre-treatment SUVmax would adversely affect the local tumorcontrol following RT. By this way, radiation oncologistsmight be able to assess the feasibility of salvage surgery ear-lier, or conduct a dose escalation scheme for those who havegreat probability of local failure.MATERIALS AND METHODSPatient populationBetween Jan 2007 and Dec 2010, a cohort of 62 newlydiagnosed oropharyngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer patients,who would undergo definitive CCRT or RT with IMRT atChina Medical University Hospital, were enrolled in this ret-rospective study (certificate number of local institutionalreview board: DMR99-IRB-010-1). The median age was 51years (range, 37 to 76 years). Fifty-nine patients were maleand 3 were female. They received a pretreatment PE T orPET/CT for pretreatment staging. The interval between the images and the commencement of RT was less than 2 weeks. No patient was known to have a history of diabetes and all had a normal serum glucose level before taking the PET/CT image. Nasopharyngeal cancer was not included in this study because of its relatively higher radiosensitivity and the difference in staging strategy compared to the other pharyn-geal cancers. The characteristics of the 62 patients are listed in Table 1.PET/CT image acquisitionAll patients were asked to fast for at least 4 hours before 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging. Approximately 60 minutes after the administration of 370 MBq of 18F-FDG, images were taken by PET scanner (Advance NXi PET scanner, General E lectric Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI, USA) before December 2008 or PE T/CT scanner (PE T/CT-16 slice, Discovery STE, GE Medical System, Milwaukee, Wisconsin USA) after December 2008. During the uptake period, patients were asked to rest. The PET/CT workstation provid-ed the quantification of FDG uptake in terms of SUV. Nucle-ar medicine physicians identified the locations and values of SUVmax for all the primary tumors (SUVp-max). Then radiation oncologists reviewed the consistency of PE T/CT images with nuclear medicine physicians. They also recon-firmed the allocated point of the SUVmax within the tumors. This procedure has been addressed in our previous report.19) Delineation of CT-based tumor volumeCT-based tumor volume definition was previously described.20) Briefly, contouring of the tumor volume and normal and critical structures was performed without knowl-edge of the PET results in an effort to reduce bias. Radiation oncologists, who had clinical experiences of more than Table 1.Patient characteristics (totally 62)Characteristic ValueAge (years)37–76 (median, 51) Sex Male 59, Female 3 Smoking Yes: 53, No: 19 Betel nut Yes: 42, No: 20 Alcoholism Yes: 43, No: 19 PathologyW-D/M-D squamous cell carcinoma44P-D squamous cell carcinoma8Unclassified squamous cell carcinoma10Primary lesion site:Oropharynx:35 (56.5%)Hypopharynx:27 (43.5%)AJCC 7th Stage II: 12, III: 20, IV: 30 GTV of the primary tumor (mL)mean ± SD,25.3 ± 24.8median (range)15.5 (2.3–130.2) SUVmax of the primary tumormean ± SD,11.9 ± 4.8median (range)11.0 (3.9–30.5) Concurrent chemotherapy or drugCisplatin-based chemotherapy54Cetuximab4None4Follow up (months)6–80 (median, 24) Abbreviation: W-D = well-differentiated; M-D =moderately-differentiated; P-D = poorly-differentiated; AJCC = American Joint Committee on Cancer; SD: standard deviation.S.-C. Lin et al. 46410 years, delineated the primary gross tumor volume (GTVp) and the metastatic lymph node volume. Neck lymph nodes were considered pathological when their smallest axis diameter was > 1 cm. To reduce inter-observer variations, at least 2 different radiation oncologists carried out the con-touring of the tumors for each patient. An average of the readings was used as the measured volume.TreatmentRT was performed using a sequential IMRT technique as reported previously.20) All patients received 1.8 Gy daily up to a total dose of between 68.4 and 73.8 Gy (median, 70.2 Gy). The clinical target volumes (CTV) were considered to be two regions with different risks: CTV1 encompassed the primary tumor, metastatic lymph nodes, and the regions adjacent to the gross tumor, and CTV2 consisted of the ipsi-lateral or contralateral N0 regions at risk of harboring micro-scopic tumors. The dose delivered to CTV1/CTV2 during the first course was 50.4 to 54 Gy with a further boost of 16.2 to 21.6 Gy to the CTV1 during the second course. Thus, the median cumulative doses to the CTV1 and CTV2 were 70.2 Gy and 54.0 Gy, respectively. The median RT duration was 56 days. Because a phase 3 trial showed a survival ben-efit of CCRT in patients with unresectable head and neck cancers,21) patients with age less than 70 years and suitable renal function were suggested to have CCRT. In all, 54 patients had concurrent chemotherapy. The regimen consist-ed of cisplatin (80–100 mg/m2 on Days 1, 22, 43). Four patients had combined Cetuximab (400 mg/m2 loading dose, then 250 mg/m2 weekly). Four patients received RT alone. Follow-upAfter completion of treatment, all patients were followed up every 1 to 2 months over the first 2 years, and then every 3 to 4 months thereafter. A physical examination and laryn-goscopy were performed during each follow-up examina-tion, and a CT scan of the neck was done every 4 to 6 months over the first 2 years. The follow-up period for all patients ranged from 6 to 80 months (median, 24 months). Following RT, the definition of primary failure was based onTable 2.Patient outcomeOutcome Patient number (totally 62)Alive without evidence of recurrence29 Alive with evidence of recurrence11 Primary relapse alone8 Neck lymph node relapse alone2 Primary relapse with distant metastasis1 Died of cancer18 Primary relapse12 Primary relapse and distant metastasis1 Primary and neck lymph node relapse3 Neck lymph node relapse2 Died of complication without evidenceof recurrent cancer1 Died of concurrent disease3Table 3.The distribution of the SUVp-max and GTVp with respect to T classificationNoMean GTVp ± SD ml(range)Mean SUVp-max ± SD(range)ALL6225.3 ± 24.8 (2.3–130.2)11.9 ± 4.8 (3.9–30.5) T1-22411.4 ± 5.8 (2.3–25.5)9.9 ± 3.6 (3.9–18.7) T31031.5 ± 24.4 (3.6–72.0)12.3 ± 3.9 (6.7–20.1) T42832.4 ± 29.1 (5.1–130.2)13.7 ± 5.4 (5.1–30.5) Abbreviations: GTVp = gross tumor volume of the primary tumor; SD= standard deviation; SUVp-max= maximal standard uptake value of the primary tumor.Table 4.Result of univariate, multivariate analysis and esti-mating hazard ratio of for primary relapse-free survivalVariablesUnivariate Multivariatep value HR(95% CI)p value Age≦51 vs.> 510.03 1.83(0.68–4.92)0.22 smokingyes vs. no0.30 2.72(0.16–40.41)0.38 Betel nutyes vs. no0.220.59(0.14–2.46)0.31 Alcoholismyes vs. no0.030.25(0.03–2.21)0.10 Tumor sitesOPC vs. HPC0.60 1.39(0.52–3.75)0.59 T-stageT1-2 vs. T3-40.001 1.43(0.69–2.93)0.33 T1-3 vs. T40.520.67(0.19–2.37)0.58 N-stageN0-1 vs. N2-30.240.62(0.22–1.77)0.68 GTVp (mL)≦15.5 vs. > 15.50.012 2.88(1.08–6.59)0.03 SUVp-max≦11.0 vs. > 11.00.004 2.67(1.04–6.84)0.04 Abbreviations: HR = hazard ratio; CI = confidence interval; OPC= oropharyngeal cancer; HPC = hypopharyngeal cancer; GTVp = gross tumor volume of the primary tumor; SUVp-max= maximal standard uptake value of the primary tumor.Pretreatment Standardized Uptake Value in Pharyngeal Cancer 465the laryngoscopy results, a CT scan of the neck, or both. The RE CIST criteria were used to assess the follow-up image findings.22) When the patient had a persistent tumor or local recurrence after initial complete remission, salvage surgery was suggested when this was technically feasible and the patient’s condition allowed it.Statistical analysisIn this study, median values for the SUVp-max and the GTVp were used as cut-off points. Because we hypothesized a positive impact of pretreatment SUVmax on local control by RT, the study endpoint simply focused on primary tumor relapse-free survival (PRFS) instead of other parameterssuch as nodal failure. The PRFS was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A successful surgical salvage for any recurrence in primary sites or neck lymph nodes was not tak-en into account when labeling the relapse-free. The log-rank test and the Cox regression were performed to explore the impact of explanatory variables on PRFS. Statistical signif-icance was defined as two-sided, p < 0.05. A correlation test between the SUVp-max and the GTVp was also done using the Pearson’s correlation with significance at 0.01. All cal-culations were performed with SPSS 13.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA).RESULTSAt the time of analysis, 29 patients were alive withoutFig. 1. Primary relapse-free survival according to the SUVp-max >11 and ≦ 11.Fig. 2. Primary relapse-free survival according to the GTVp > 15.5 ml and ≦15.5 ml.Fig. 3. Primary relapse-free survival divided by the SUVp-max > 11 and SUVp-max ≦ 11 for patients with GTVp ≦ 15.5 ml.Fig. 4. Primary relapse-free survival divided by the SUVp-max > 11 and SUVp-max ≦11 for patients with GTVp > 15.5 ml.S.-C. Lin et al.466known recurrent disease. E leven patients had primary or nodal relapse but were still alive after salvage or palliative treatment. E ighteen patients had died of tumor recurrence. One had died of complication. Three patients were dead due to metachronous esophageal cancer. Table 2 summarizes the outcome of patients in this study. When initial treatment response was assessed at 1 to 2 month after the completion of treatment, complete remission of the primary tumor was observed in 42 patients (67.7%). With a median follow-up interval of 2 years, 25 patients (40.3%) developed recurrenc-es at the primary site with or without nodal failure. For all patients, the 2-year overall survival and 2-year PRFS were 60% and 57%, respectively.The mean SUVp-max was 11.9 ± 4.8 (median 11.0; range, 3.9 to 30.5), whereas the mean GTVp was 25.3 ml ± 24.8 (median 15.5 ml; range, 2.3 to 130.2 ml). The distribution of the SUVp-max and pGTV with respect to T classification in is shown in Table 3. The correlation test showed there was no obvious association between the GTVp and the SUVp-max values (p = 0.24).The impact of the tumors and the patient-related parame-ters on the PRFS was analyzed by univariate and multivari-ate analyses, and is presented in Table 4. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, patients having tumors with SUVp-max > 11 had a significantly worse 2-year PRFS (41% vs. 75%, p = 0.003) compared with those having lower uptake tumors. Subjects having tumors with GTVp > 15.5 ml had an inferior 2-year PRFS (42% vs. 74%, p = 0.005) compared with those having smaller tumor volumes. Multivariate analysis of the PRFS showed two prognostic factors: SUVp-max > 11 (p = 0.04, hazard ratio = 2.67, 95% CI 1.04–6.84) and GTVp > 15.5 mL (p = 0.03, hazard ratio = 2.88, 95% CI 1.08–6.59). When using the SUVp-max > 11 in predicting primary recurrence at 2 year, the sensitivity, specificity, positive pre-dictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy was 69.2%, 72.0%, 72.0%, 69.2% and 70.6%, respectively.When the PRFS curve was further stratified by the median value of the GTVp, the 2-year PRFS for SUVp-max ≦ 11 and SUVp-max > 11 were 92% and 47% (p = 0.014) for patients with GTVp ≦ 15.5 ml, whereas that for those withlarge volumes were 49% and 37% (p = 0.35), as depicted in Figs. 3 and 4. The predictive value of the SUVp-max did better for patients with smaller tumor volumes.To minimize the confounding variables from the treatment modalities, a subgroup analysis was carried out for 54 patients treated with CCRT. Similarly, multivariate analysis of the PRFS showed SUVp-max > 11 was a predictor with a HR of 5.84 (p = 0.006, 95% CI 1.65 to 20.66).DISCUSSIONIdentification of factors predictive of treatment outcome in cancer patients is of great potential interest, because such research may allow therapy to be tailored to the characteris-tics of individual tumors. The fact that pretreatment tumor volume can be a predictive factor is not novel. Because of variation in the radiosensitivity between tumors, treatment results might be optimized if prognostic factors, such as information from molecular image or other biomarkers could be used to supplement the clinical stage. Our study implement-ed patient- or tumor-related, volumetric and PE T/CT data when investigating the RT outcome in PC patients. All the subjects were treated with a consistent IMRT scheme. Theresult demonstrated that FDG uptake of the primary tumor, as mainly measured by the SUVmax, was associated withworse PRFS in PC patients treated by IMRT. A SUVp-max >11 represents a biological phenotype for predicting recur-rence of primary tumor, particularly for those with the GTVp < 15.5 ml. This finding is consistent with a notion that within a limited tumor burden a higher FDG uptake might represent tumor aggressiveness such as proliferative activity, hypoxia, low apoptosis rate and p53 overexpression as described in some molecular studies.23–25) These charac-teristics could be potentially adverse factors in patients treat-ed with RT/CCRT.Our findings need to be compared with some earlier RTstudies for head and neck cancers. Allal et al .3) showed the SUVmax of the primary tumor remained significant adverse factors, either by considering the median value of 4.76 or the best cut-off of 3.5 in terms of local control or disease-free survival. However, 39.2% (47/120) of the patients were treated with surgery in their study. On the other hand, the investigation by Brun et al .4) is the only study indicating that SUVmax is a prognostic factor in a patient population treat-ed with definitive RT/CCRT. They found that disease-free survival was worse when SUVmax was > 9. Because these studies included some proportion of patients with oral cavitycancers, which are always treated mainly by surgery with or without adjuvant RT, direct comparison might not be straightforward due to the heterogeneity of tumor sites. In addition, both studies analyzed the impact of clinical stage alone without CT-based tumor volumes information. In con-trast, Ohnishi K et al .2) reported an RT study for PC patientswith a combination of comprehensive pretreatment parame-ters. In their study, SUVmax > 12 was significantly associ-ated with local failure in univariate analysis, but only tumorvolume > 10 ml remained an adverse factor in multinivariate analysis. To clarify the predictive value and an optimal cut-off point for SUVmax, previous and our studies highlighted the importance of working out comprehensive in-house data, including patient-related or volumetric information for those institutions using pretreatment FDG uptake as a biomarkerfor RT.Another approach of implementing pretreatment PET/CT as a predictor is the measurement of metabolic tumor vol-ume (MTV). Chung et al .12) has investigated the outcome of RT for PC and suggested the MTV > 40 ml was only a sig-nificant predictor for the disease-free survival. AnotherPretreatment Standardized Uptake Value in Pharyngeal Cancer467study indicated a higher MTV of 9.3 mL is significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence and death.13) In the two studies, the regions of the MTVs were defined on the pretreatment PE T/CT by a fixed SUV value of 2.5. While the debate between fixed and adaptive threshold still exits despite it has been discussed for a long time. In partic-ular, our previous investigation showed the latter approach could obtain a better match with the presumed tumor vol-umes.19) Also, Schinagl et al.11) conducted a predictive trial of 77 head and neck cancer patients with eligible for defin-itive RT/CCRT. Five PE T segmentation methods were applied: interpreting FDG PET visually, applying an isocon-tour at a SUV of 2.5, using fixed thresholds of 40% and 50% of the maximum FDG activity and applying an adaptive threshold based on the signal-to-background. They conclud-ed there is no role yet for pretreatment FDG PET as a pre-dictor of RT outcome. However, this potential application needs further exploration, focusing both on PE T-based tumor volume and SUVmax of the primary tumor.Despite the limitation, such as short follow-up duration, this study provides a reference value of SUVmax for opti-mizing an organ preservation scheme for PC when both PE T/CT and primary tumor volume become a part of pre-treatment workup. Based on our data, we recommend the best treatment modification, such as dose escalation or con-sideration of adjunctive surgery, should be considered for tumors with a pretreatment SUVp-max more than 11 or with large tumor volumes. Certainly, the results have to be exam-ined further with longer follow-up interval and PC patients could not be classified simply by this model. Nonetheless, some progress of prognostic stratification could be done by this approach and might lead to a more appropriate selection of suitable candidates for organ preservation scheme.CONCLUSIONThe pretreatment SUVp-max > 11 is a predictor for recur-rence of primary tumor in PC patients treated with RT/CCRT, particularly for those with smaller tumor volumes. PC patients with a large tumor volume or a higher SUVp-max should be considered for requiring more aggressive treat-ment approaches, such as RT dose escalation or adjunctive surgery.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWe want to thank the grant support of the study projects (DMR-94-080 and DMR-98-052) in our hospital and Taiwan Department of Health, Cancer Research Centers for Excel-lence (DOH100-TD-C-111-005).REFERENCES1.Studer G, et al (2007) Volumetric staging (VS) is superior toTNM and AJCC staging in predicting outcome of head and neck cancer treated with IMRT. Acta Oncol 46: 386–394.2.Ohnishi K, et al (2011) Prediction of local failures with acombination of pretreatment tumor volume and apparent dif-fusion coefficient in patients treated with definitive radiother-apy for hypopharyngeal or oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. J Radiat Res 52: 522–530.3.Allal AS, et al (2004) Prediction of outcome in head-and-neckcancer patients using the standardized uptake value of 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 59: 1295–1300.4.Brun E, et al (2002) FDG PET studies during treatment: pre-diction of therapy outcome in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Head Neck 24: 127–135.5.Halfpenny W, et al (2002) A possible prognostic factor inhead and neck cancer. Br J Cancer 86: 512–516.6.Lee SW, et al (2008) Prediction of prognosis using standard-ized uptake value of 2-[(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose posi-tron emission tomography for nasopharyngeal carcinomas.Radiother Oncol 87: 211–216.7.Machtay M, et al (2009) Pretreatment FDG-PET standardizeduptake value as a prognostic factor for outcome in head and neck cancer. Head Neck 31: 195–201.8.Minn H, et al (1997) Prediction of survival with fluorine-18-fluoro-deoxyglucose and PET in head and neck cancer. J Nucl Med 38: 1907–1911.9.Roh JL, et al (2007) 2-[18F]-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose pos-itron emission tomography as guidance for primary treatment in patients with advanced-stage resectable squamous cell car-cinoma of the larynx and hypopharynx. Eur J Surg Oncol 33: 790–795.10.Schwartz DL, et al (2004) FDG-PET prediction of head andneck squamous cell cancer outcomes. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 130: 1361–1367.11.Schinagl DAX, et al (2011) Can FDG PET predict radiationtreatment outcome in head and neck cancer? Results of a pro-spective study. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 38: 1449–1458.12.Chung MK, et al (2009) Metabolic tumor volume of [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography predicts short-term outcome to radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy in pharyngeal cancer. Clin Cancer Res 15: 5861–5868.13.Seol YM, et al (2010) Measurement of tumor volume by PETto evaluate prognosis in patients with head and neck cancer treated by chemo-radiation therapy. Acta Oncol 49: 201–208. TH, et al (2009) Metabolic tumor volume predicts forrecurrence and death in head-and-neck cancer. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 74: 1335–1341.15.Soto DE, et al (2008) Correlation between pretreatment FDG-PE T biological target volume and anatomical location of failure after radiation therapy for head and neck cancers.Radiother Oncol 89: 13–18.16.Suzuki K, et al (2009) Value of fluorodeoxyglucose positronemission tomography before radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: does standardized value predict treatment outcome?Jpn J Radiol 27: 237–242.17.Thorwarth D, et al (2006) Combined uptake of [18F]FDG and[18F]FMISO correlates with radiation treatment outcome inS.-C. Lin et al. 468head and neck cancer patients. Radiother Oncol 80: 151–156.18.Vernon MR, et al (2008) Clinical outcomes of patients receiv-ing integrated PET/CT-guided radiotherapy for head and neck carcinoma. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 70: 678–684.19.Kao CH, et al (2010) 18F-FDG PE T/CT-based gross tumorvolume definition for radiotherapy in head and neck cancer: a correlation study between suitable uptake value threshold and tumor parameters. Radiat Oncol 5: 76.20.Chen SW, et al (2009) Prognostic impact of tumor volume inpatients with stage III-IVA hypopharyngeal cancer without bulky lymph nodes treated with definitive concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. Head Neck 31: 709–716.21.Adelstein DJ, et al (2003) An intergroup phase III comparisonof standard radiation therapy and two schedules of concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with unresectable squamous cell head and neck cancer. J Clin Oncol 21: 92–98.22.Therasse P, et a (2000) New guidelines to evaluate theresponse to treatment in solid tumors. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer, National Cancer Insti-tute of the United States, National Cancer Institute of Canada.J Natl Cancer Inst 92: 205–216.23.Minn H, et al (1995) In vitro comparison of cell proliferationkinetics and uptake of tritiated fluorodeoxyglucose and L-methionine in squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck.J Nucl Med 36: 252–258.24.Clavo AC, Brown RS and Wahl RL (1995) Fluorodeoxyglu-cose uptake in human cancer cell lines is increased by hypoxia. J Nucl Med 36: 1625–1632.25.Furuta M, et al (1997) Rapid rise in FDG uptake in an irradi-ated human tumour xenograft. Eur J Nucl Med 24: 435–438.Received on September 8, 2011Accepted on February 7, 2012J-STAGE Advance Publication Date: May 11, 2012。
Research Experience and Statement General Interests
Dr.Constantine BekasPostdoctoral AssociateComputer Science&Engineering Dept.,University of Minnesota,Twin CitiesResearch Experience and StatementGeneral InterestsMy general research interests are in the area of algorithms in numerical linear algebra,for the solution of large scale problems in computational materials science and in mining of high dimensional data.The computation of eigenvalues and singular values of very large and sparse matrices holds central role in the above setting.The computational framework for these problems involves high performance parallel systems as well as highly and widely distributed networks of computers.I strongly believe that it is necessary to incorporate advances in algorithms for these problems as well as recent innovations in computing hardware and software techniques in user friendly software interfaces.Thus,I consider research in problem solving environments to be of significant importance.Large Scale Eigenvalue&Singular Value ProblemsEigenvalue and Singular value calculations hold a central role in an exceptionally broad spectrum of scientific rge scale eigenvalue problems that involve very sparse and large matrices are very demanding. Even though that thefield has enjoyed significant progress in the last twenty years,we are still far from “black-box”algorithms that can be safely and efficiently used as their counterpart algorithms for smaller, dense matrices(as in the widely used LAPACK library).My research efforts in thisfield involve Krylov subspace methods in the framework of implicitly restarted techniques[9].The immense difficulty of large scale problems,especially when we are interested in the eigenvalues in the interior of the spectrum,call for combining several different techniques.I strongly believe in the importance of unifying algorithmic frameworks,that seamlessly allow for the integration of advances in our theoretical understanding of the problem.A very important new technique,that is totaly different from traditional Krylov methods,is the Au-tomated Multilevel Substructuring method(AMLS)[8].AMLS is a multilevel extension of Component Mode Synthesis methods and has been demonstrated to solve extremely large eigenproblems in Structural Engi-neering,allowing for unprecedented simulations potentially revolutionizing this scientificfield.In the recent paper[5],together with Y.Saad we were able to conduct a purely algebraic analysis of the approximation mechanism of AMLS.This novel understanding has lead to important improvements that greatly increase the convergence properties of the method,thus allowing its use in other applications,such as electronic structure calculations,with more stringent accuracy demands than Structural Engineering.Currently,AMLS is a one-shot algorithm in the sense that certain approximate eigenvectors are built and no further refinements are made.The current framework does not iteratively refine these approximations.I am currently exploring the feasibility of an iterative scheme based on AMLS.Preliminary results([6],[3])indicate that one can devise an AMLS based method that adopts shifting strategies of shift-and-invert Lanczos,resulting in a highly robust method.Ifirmly believe that substructuring techniques for the eigenvalue problem is a very promising line of research with significant potential impact on many application areas.Computational Materials SciencePerhaps one of the greatest achievements of modern science and technology is the ability to master the proper-ties of materials.Indeed,innovative materials have revolutionized many aspects of modern life.Undoubtedly, this dramatic progress could not have happened without the corresponding revolution of computing systems. However,the ever growing needs of humanity for lighter,stronger and cheaper materials will surely push our computing capabilities to their limits.Therefore,new algorithmic techniques that will allow us to attack larger problems in computational materials science are much needed.My main goals in this line of research is to exploit high performance computers for solving large scale problems that arise in modelling of real-life materials,i.e.,materials beyond simple crystals or artificial mod-1els.During my post-doc collaboration with prof.Y.Saad(CS Dept.)and prof.J.Chelikowsky(Chem.Eng. &Materials Science Dept.)we are investigating new algorithms for excited states of various nanostructures. We have focused primarily on methods based on time-dependent density functional theory(TDDFT).My contribution involves a)better eigenvalue algorithms(such as AMLS,see above)and b)methods which avoid eigenvalue problems altogether.Concerning thefirst approach,apart from AMLS we are proposing to exploit the particular structure of density(or occupation)matrices,both in real space and in the Fourier space as well[7].Our preliminary results indicate considerable improvement over standard methods.Concerning the second approach,our research has focused on using expressions of the density matrix in bases other than the eigenbasis,which are much easier to compute than eigenvectors[4].This methodology is similar to the popular Order-N methods but has the potential to yield much better accuracy while at the same time having no applicability restrictions as Order-N methods appear to have.It is very important to stress that research in computational materials science is most likely to benefit from advances in algorithms that are suited for large scale distributed computation.Thus,I consider that in the(near)future enabling wide area parallel calculations(putational GRIDS)in materials science research will be of crucial importance and thus one of my central research goals.Numerical Methods in Mining of High Dimensional DataThe revolution in communications and data acquisition has dramatically increased the volume of available data.However,this wealth of information is useless unless it is properly analyzed.In recent years we have witnessed a significant extension of the application of linear algebra algorithms and techniques in areas such as Information Retrieval,Pattern Recognition and Data tent semantic indexing,support vector machines and principal components analysis are only a few of the many methodologies based on linear algebra.My research interests in thisfield involve new(numerical)algorithms for clustering high dimensional data as well as new efficient techniques for classification.I consider equally important the scalability of the methods in distributed computational environments as well as the development of software environments (problem solving tools–see below)that will provide a user-friendly interface to the back end algorithms,so that practitioners will be able to a achieve a better understanding of the data.Problem Solving Environments and High Performance Parallel&Distributed Computing Advances in algorithmic techniques as well as in mathematical modelling are indeed essential in solving demanding problems.However,in recent years researchers in computer science have recognized the need for software that will allow transparent access to the above theoretical advances,combined with equally transparent access to computational platforms,especially ones that facilitate distributed computation.These problem solving(software)environments(PSEs)enable practitioners to describe problems in an abstract framework.The goal is to free researchers from programming details and thus allow them to concentrate on the problem itself.In addition,such tools should be able to efficiently harness the full potential of the computational infrastructure available.Automatically ensuring scalability and efficiency in a wide range of applications is a particularly exciting and significant problem which is central in modern high performance computing research around the world.My research interests in this important area has so far concentrated on the development of a parallel problem solving environment for pseudospectra computations[1],[2].This tool is based on MATLAB and recent advances that allow Message Passing parallel computing in MATLAB.Through my collaboration with researchers from the Department of Chemical Eng.&Materials Science at the University of Minnesota,I was able to appreciate the potential impact of PSEs in materials science research.The development of such a tool that will combine graphic illustration and molecule design,wealth of models and algorithms with direct access to highly(and widely)distributed computation resources is bound to enjoy great success.PhD Thesis ResearchMy PhD thesis work was in the area of pseudospectra calculation,that is a problem with a well documented extreme computational cost,which is closely related to eigenvalue and singular value calculations of large and sparse(non-normal)matrices.My advisor was prof.Dr. E.Gallopoulos in the University of Patras, Greece.In order to address the problem I have developed parallel geometric path following algorithms as2well as parallel iterative methods for the efficient approximation of the smallest singular value of large and sparse shifted matrices(A−z k I)for many complex shifts z k.(see my C.V.for a complete list of relevant publications).My overall goal was to combine the above approaches in a unifying algorithmic and software framework that will help pseudospectra to become a useful tool for researchers and engineers.Interest in Collaborations&Interdisciplinary ResearchI am particularly interested in continuing my research efforts at an institution that encourages interdisci-plinary collaboration for the solution of a variety of problems of science and engineering.I am especially looking forward to working in an environment that nurtures and rewards scientific achievement.Further-more,Ifind particularly appealing the prospect of working on real world problems that originate from the industry as well as from the life sciences.I plan to establish a research group in the areas of my interest.My goal is to train graduate students in developing state-of-the art(numerical)algorithms and linear algebra techniques on high performance computing platforms for the solution of challenging problems in these research areas.It is my conviction that the computational challenges of our time demand a new breed of scientists that will be able to combine rigorous mathematical modelling with advanced computer science skills.Contact Information:Dr.Constantine Bekas4-192,EE/CS BLD.Computer Science&Engineering Dept.University of Minnesota,Twin Cities200Union St.SE,55455,Minneapolis,USAemail:bekas@WWW:/∼bekasTel:+16126267510Fax:+16126250572References[1]C.Bekas,E.Kokiopoulou,and E.Gallopoulos.The design of a distributed PSE for computing Pseu-dospectra.To appear in Future Generation Computer Systems,Elsevier,2004.[2]C.Bekas,E.Kokiopoulou,I.Koutis,and E.Gallopoulos.Developing a cluster based matlab environmentfor computing pseudospectra.In GRACM Congress on Computational Mechanics,2002.[3]C.Bekas and Y.Saad.Amls,spectral schur complements and iterative computation of eigenvalues.PMAA04,Marseilles,France,2004.[4]C.Bekas and Y.Saad.Avoiding large scale eigenvalue problems in electronic structure calculations.Inpreparation.,2004.[5]C.Bekas and putation of smallest eigenvalues using spectral schur complements.To appearin SIAM put.,2004.[6]C.Bekas and Y.Saad.Accurate computation of eigenvalues via multiple-shift amls.In preparation.,2005.[7]C.Bekas,Y.Saad,and J.Chelikowsky.Exploting structure in large scale eigenvalue problems in electronicstructure calculations.In preparation.,2004.[8]J.K.Bennighof and R.B.Lehoucq.An automated multilevel substructuring method for eigenspacecomputation in linear put.,25(6),2004.3[9]E.Kokiopoulou,C.Bekas,and puting smallest singular triplets with implicitlyrestarted Lanczos bidiagonalization.J.Appl.Num.Math.,49(1):39–61,2004.4。
穿越历史的英语作文
穿越历史的英语作文英文回答：Throughout the annals of human existence, the allure of traversing the temporal boundaries has captivated the imaginations of countless dreamers, explorers, and storytellers. The concept of time travel, with itstantalizing promise of witnessing momentous events, experiencing bygone eras, and shaping the course of history, has inspired an abundance of literature, art, andscientific inquiry.In the realm of science fiction, time machines have become synonymous with the exploration of temporalfrontiers. From H.G. Wells' seminal "The Time Machine" to Isaac Asimov's intricate "Foundation" series, theseliterary devices have allowed readers to embark on extraordinary journeys through different periods in history. Novels such as "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" by Mark Twain and "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon havefurther ignited the public's fascination with the possibilities of traveling through time.Beyond the realm of fiction, scientists have long pondered the feasibility of time travel. In the early 20th century, physicist Albert Einstein's theory of special relativity introduced the notion of time dilation, which posits that time flows at different rates for objects moving at different speeds. This concept has led to the development of theories such as the "twin paradox," which suggests that a person traveling at near-light speeds could return to the future having experienced less time than those who remained on Earth.However, the practical realization of time travel remains an elusive goal. The technological challenges are immense, as it would require the manipulation of spacetime, a fabric that has proven to be both complex and enigmatic. Nonetheless, the pursuit of time travel continues toinspire researchers, who are investigating avenues such as quantum mechanics and wormholes as potential pathways to traversing the boundaries of time.中文回答：历史的穿梭。
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Investigating the feasibility of supply chain-centric business models in3D chocolate printing:A simulation studyFu Jia a,b,Xiaofeng Wang c,⁎,Navonil Mustafee a,Liang Hao da Business school,University of Exeter,UKb School of Economics and Management,Minjiang University,Fuzhou,Chinac Glorious Sun School of Business and Management,Donghua University,Shanghai,Chinad Advanced Materials and Manufacturing School,University of Exeter,UKa b s t r a c ta r t i c l e i n f oArticle history:Received21January2014Received in revised form17March2015 Accepted28July2015Available online xxxxKeywords:3D chocolate printingCase studySimulationBusiness model innovationSupply chain management 3D chocolate printing provides the technology for manufacturing chocolates layer-by-layer,thus offering customers enhanced product value and personalized consumption experience.As business models in the choc-olate industry are closely associated with the profitability of the supply chain constituents,it seems appropriate to investigate thefinancial viability of these supply-chain centric business models prior to their introduction in the real world.In this paper we present two business models pertaining to the supply chain for3D printed choc-olates;we evaluate thefinancial viability of these innovative models through the use of computer modelling and simulation.The study is based on the commercialization efforts of a UK based3D chocolate printing technology provider(Choc Edge).The results of the study indicate that1)the retailer dominant supply chain model is a po-tentially disruptive business model innovations that are enabled by the3D food printing technology,and as such, may pose a challenge to traditional high end chocolate products;2)the manufacturer dominant model helps manufacturers gain more profits while retailer profits tend to be stagnant.©2015Elsevier Inc.All rights reserved.1.IntroductionTraditional chocolate manufacturers such as Dove,Cadbury,Hershey and Ferrero,capture the most market shares of the confectionary industry by offering standard chocolate bars and gift boxes.In order to deliver more customer value propositions,there are some small and medium sized chocolate manufacturers such as Chocolate Bouquets directly selling handmade chocolates via e-commerce platforms such as eBay or Amazon. Besides,some upscale chocolate manufacturers such as Teuscher(www. )provide highly customized chocolate products in terms of fruits,spices,nuts,confectionery and white/dark cocoa,which allows for more than27billion combinations(). Although the launch of customized chocolate products fulfil the increas-ing requirements for personalization,the mainstream chocolate con-sumers are faced with long order-to-delivery time and prices that are generally2–3times higher than traditional chocolate products.As the market requirement for customized chocolate keeps growing,satisfying customization needs at relatively low costs is a challenge that is faced by many players in this industry.The application of3D printing technol-ogy in the chocolate industry is an innovative approach towards mass customization of chocolates.The prototype3D chocolate printing technology that was developed at the University of Exeter(BBC News,2011;BBC News,2012),repre-sents a revolutionary product innovation and manufacturing approach which can engage consumers to create and produce chocolate gifts lo-cally and share their digitized product design and innovation globally through online communities.Clearly this new technology represents great potential to reconstruct food innovation,production and supply chain in the future,in particular achieving a leagile and low carbon food value chain(Christopher,2011).However,our search of literature in3D food printing using bibliographic databases ISI Web of Knowledge and Scopus retrieved only6and15articles respectively(the keywords used were3D food print*,additive manufacturing,rapid manufacturing, rapid prototyping,solid freeform fabrication,layer manufacturing;search conducted on article title,abstract and keywords;final search was conduct-ed in December,2013).Of these,the relevant articles focused primarily on engineering and automation(e.g.,Millen et al.,2012)and food science (Kim et al.,2012).There is presently little research carried out to date studying the impact of3D food printing on the supply chain of innovative food products and their underlying business models;a possible reason for this is that3D food printing is at its infancy and research in this topic should arguably be preceded by commercialization of this technology and the creation of associated supply chains,both of which are still devel-oping.In the context of3D chocolate printing,to the best of our knowl-edge there is only one technology provider attempting to commercialize operations in the UK:Choc Edge.The company was founded by a co-Technological Forecasting&Social Change xxx(2015)xxx–xxx⁎Corresponding author.E-mail address:xfwang@(X.Wang).TFS-18293;No of Pages12/10.1016/j.techfore.2015.07.026 0040-1625/©2015Elsevier Inc.All rights reserved.Contents lists available at ScienceDirectTechnological Forecasting&Social Changeauthor of this paper and the University of Exeter for commercially exploiting3D chocolate printing(https:///).Robust business models are necessary for ensuring the economic sustainability of3D chocolate printing.It should take into account the profitability aspects of the supply chain constituents,viz.,the manufactur-er and the retailer,and the utility derived by the end user(e.g.,permitting both shape and mix customization of chocolate products).Towards this,we present two business models that are being considered by Choc Edge—the manufacturer-dominant model and the retailer-dominant model.The question now arises as to how we assess the eco-nomic sustainability of business models based on supply chain configu-rations that do not yet exist?This brings us to the next part of the study which has applied computer simulation in the context of supply chains(supply chain simulation).A computer simulation is a quantita-tive technique that uses the power of computers to conduct experiments with models that represent either an existing or a proposed system of interest(Pidd,2004).In this research we use simulation for modelling the supply chain constituents and their profitability functions with the aim of experimentingfinancial viability of the proposed manufacturer-dominant and the retailer-dominant model business models.Due to the nascent nature of the3D food printing technology (Eisenhardt,1989;Yin,2003)a simulation case study is an effective experimentation-based approach to evaluate new business model inno-vations.Such an approach has been used previously in the context of ascertaining thefinancial viability of business models pertaining to tele-communication networks(Bohlin,2007).The contribution of the paper is twofold.First,it outlines two business models for3D printing of chocolates and compares it to the traditional model for the production of standard chocolates.Second,the paper presents a simulation study to assess thefinancial viability of the two pro-posed business models.As discussed earlier in the paper,there is present-ly no literature on3D food printing and its effects on existing food supply chains and business models;and thus the novelty of our contribution.The remainder of the paper is structured as follows.Section2presents a literature review on business models in food supply chains.Section3 then outlines our research methodology which uses computer modelling and simulation.Section4is on business models;it discusses them in re-lation to3D printing-enabled customized chocolate production(the pro-posed manufacturer-dominant and retailer-dominant models)and standard chocolate production(traditional model).Section5presents the simulation logic and the equations that are implemented in the computer model.The simulation results are discussed in section6. Section7presents a discussion on the entrepreneurial challenges faced by Choc Edge as it attempts to commercialize the technology and what adaptations to its business model and strategy might be nec-essary for it to be commercially successful.Section8is the concluding section of the paper.2.Literature reviewTraditional chocolate making is a highly sophisticated process using specialized machinery.The production method may involve moulding (e.g.,pouring moulding),enrobing and roll forming(Aasted,1998; Beckett,2009),among others.Furthermore,different mouldings re-quire different chocolate production machines and lines(Jeffery et al., 1977).These traditional methods of chocolate production focus primar-ily on standard products and mass manufacturing(Akutagawa,1983; Hunter,1927)and capture the majority of the market share.However, they cannot match customer demands for customized chocolates (Beckett,2009).Although traditional methods can manufacture such products,they are expensive and time consuming as they frequently necessitate the manufacture of customized moulds(Aasted,1998).In this section we present a review of literature on business models in food supply chains(Section2.1).Robust business models are necessary for ensuring the economic sustainability of chocolate production,taking into account the profitability aspects of the supply chain constituents.In this paper this is referred to as supply chain-centric business model inno-vations and is further discussed in Section2.2.2.1.A review of business models for food supply chainsFood Supply Chains(FSC)are an example of complex supply chains and consist of several inter-dependent steps,for example,farming,food processing,distribution,retailing and consumer handling(van der Vorst,2000).In between these operations,storage,packaging and trans-port need special considerations due to food safety issues(Jennings, 2005).As a result of the long processflows and food storage,the logistics costs are high.With regard to FSC for chocolates,the chocolate production processes have strict requirements for temperature control,which pushes the cost even higher(Aasted,1998).The main challenges of the tradition-al FSC are how to shorten the food process,reduce logistics and storage costs,and enhance the consumption value of products(Christopher, 2011).Nowadays,supply chain and logistics managers face another chal-lenge and are required to re-evaluate their strategies and tactics to make the food supply chain more sustainable(Flint et al.,2008).The traditional FSC and production lines are more appropriate for mass manufacturing of standard products or for limited customization products;customized products,on the other hand,require expert skills of hand-decoration which are often associated with high labour costs(Berkes et al.,1984).Customization involves seeing each customer as a potential market segment and designing and producing individualized products,and quickly delivering them to each customer(Fitzgerald,1995).Boland (2008)illustrated that there are an increasing number of consumers who require personalized nutrition,and they are willing to pay a premi-um price to buy innovative food(Cohen et al.,2009;Hendry,2010). Personalized nutrition becomes a mainstream in affluent societies (Boland,2008),with a goal of healthy lifestyle(Boland,2008;Martínez et al.,2008).At the same time,customers want to receive products and services with a certain degree of individualization(Gilmore,and Pine, 1997;Franke et al.,2009).As a result of manufacturers'decisions to configure their products to match every customer's individual preferences,the relationship be-tween manufacturers and customers has been enhanced(Wong and Eyers,2011;Simonson,2005).However,the manufacturer's total cost (e.g.,production and logistics)would increase linearly with the number of products available to the market(Banerjee and Golhar,2013). Furthermore,in the midst offierce competition and diversified product offerings in the market,manufacturersfind it difficult to simply expand product ranges,and they do not have enoughflexibility to respond to this rapid change in customer demands(Wang,2011),such as in regards to product designs,colour,sizes and packaging(Childerhouse et al.,2002;Wang,2011).Therefore,it has become a common trend to continuously improve the level of customization in the FSC for pro-ducing standard products in the market(Lyons et al.,2013).Discussing the impact of the customization on the FSC,Wang(2011) proposes a dynamic model,which states that product customization level would be affected by product costs and potential profit margin,in-ventory cost of semi-finished products,shortage costs and inventory costs.Echoing Wang(2011);Wong and Eyers(2011)concentrated on several key factors such as the inventory level,number of product vari-ety,price,and delivery lead-time,which may inhibit or promote the use of a higher level of customization.In addition,producing customized products may create solutions for postponement in FSC.For instance, customized production will not start until manufacturers receive a clear order from customer preference(Periard et al.,2007),thus,the issue of delaying or postponing production of a product can be solved (Banerjee and Golhar,2013;Getschmann,2013).Arguably,the FSC factors which inhibit the large scale adoption of personalized food products will also apply to the supply chains for cus-tomized chocolates.However,it's possible that impact on the latter may be diminished considering that an innovative food processing technology (like3D chocolate printing)may simplify logistics and thereby reduce2 F.Jia et al./Technological Forecasting&Social Change xxx(2015)xxx–xxxinventory cost;further,the promise of co-creation of value together with customers(through design of customized chocolates)has provide a unique Customer Value Proposition and thereby the potential to enhance the company's competitive advantage(van der Vorst,2010).This pre-sents an opportunity for new supply chain-centric business models in 3D chocolate printing.2.2.A critique of business model innovations for3D chocolate printingIn business,innovation is divided into two broad categories:(1)con-tinuous or dynamic evolutionary innovation,which brings about incre-mental advances in technology or processes;and(2)disruptive innovations,which is the emergent or step-function innovation(Yu and Hang,2010).Disruptive innovation is the introduction of new technolo-gy,products or services,as well as the efforts to promote,reform and ob-tain superiority in the competition and mainly includes business-model innovation and technology innovation(Markides,2006).Such innova-tions are an effective way to develop and expand new markets (Govindarajan and Kopalle,2006;Schmidt and Druehl,2008)and they may also have a profound influence on the existing market(Schmidt and Druehl,2008).It is arguable that3D chocolate printing is a disruptive innovation enabled not only by the3D print technology but also by the changes in the underlying supply chain configurations that are necessitated through its use.However,it is important to also consider the level of maturity of this innovation in the food industry.An immature disruptive innovation cannot substitute the traditional business(Yu and Hang, 2010).3D chocolate printing technology requires high quality of raw materials since the chocolate viscosity affects the quality of the end product;such conditions increase the operational problems(Finkel, 1987;Lipton,2010).Accordingly,although3D chocolate printing tech-nology has enormous potentials to change food innovation,it is not a disruptive innovation just yet as it currently is a new and immature technology for manufacturing.The focus of this paper is not on technol-ogy but on supply chain-centric business model innovations that com-plement the use of this technology.puter modelling and simulationComputer simulation enables us to experiment with a computer model and to know more about the system under scrutiny and to evalu-ate various strategies for its operation(Shannon,1998).Computer simu-lations are generally used because they are cheaper than building(and discarding)real systems;they assist in the identification of problems in the underlying system and allow testing of different scenarios in an attempt to resolve them;allow faster than real-time experimentation; provide a means to depict the behaviour of systems under development; facilitate the replication of experiments,among others(Brooks et al., 2001;Pidd,2004).All the aforementioned advantages of computer simu-lation apply to our study.Supply Chains,from their very nature,are complex as they entail all the processes from procurement and manufacturing to sales and support(Stevens,1989).Moreover,modern supply chain management approaches favour a global,holistic view in which the individual eche-lons share information and trust each other,rather than simply trying to optimize their own local processes independently of its neighbours (Chapman and Corso,2005).This is also true of the supply chains for chocolates.Most of these multi-echelon and complex supply chains can benefit from Operational Research(OR)techniques.One such OR technique is simulation;application of this technique to supply chain management is called supply chain simulation(SCS).SCS helps organiza-tions determine the strategies that have the potential to provide the most flexible and profitable operating environment(Huang et al.,2003).SCS differs from the conventional types of simulations(e.g.,traditional manufacturing simulation)because it spans far beyond the confines of a single entity and its goal is to improve thefinancial position of an entire enterprise or a group of trading partners(Bagchi et al.,1998).This partic-ular goal makes the application of this OR technique relevant to our study.Our computer simulation models three supply chain-centric busi-ness models(see Section4).Thefirst model is the traditional model for the production of standard chocolate products that presently exists in the chocolate industry.The remaining two models are the proposed models and are based on,(a)the researchers'observation of business development of Choc Edge,and(b)extensive consultations and semi-structured interviews with food/chocolate production experts including plant managers,R&D managers,marketing managers and supply chain managers of large multinational food corporations based in the UK and China.The objective of carrying out the interviews in both UK and China is that it is realized that the latter,being an emerging economy and in-creasingly thefinancial powerhouse of the world,tends to accept new technologies faster than the developed economies.These interviews were also crucial in providing input data for the models(e.g.,inventory levels maintained by the manufacturer,product cost and retailer selling price).The computer models were implemented using the commercially available ExtendSim()software(Krahl,2009).4.Business modelsIn this section,wefirst present a supply chain model for the tradi-tional chocolate production(Section4.1),then move on to proposing two business models based on the3D chocolate printing technology: manufacturing dominant model and retailer dominant model(Sections 4.2and4.3respectively).The former represents a business model wherein a chocolate manufacturer adopts this technology,with pro-duction taking place at the manufacturers'plants and the manufac-turers then choosing to sell the products through retailers and through e-commerce platforms.The latter scenario is that of a retailer adopting this technology with thefinal production(3D printing)taking place at the retailers'stores with the retailers then selling the products through its stores and its online platform.The novelty of the supply-centric business model innovation is described in Section4.4.4.1.Traditional chocolate production business model(model1)The supply chain strategy for traditional chocolate production is make-to-stock.The supply chain comprises of the suppliers of raw material,the manufacturer,a network of retailers and the end con-sumers.Fig.1shows the materialsflow from right(raw materials provider)to the left(end consumers)and are depicted through arrows. Theflow of information is from the left to the right and is illustrated by dotted arrows.Thisflow can be specific to the customer(demandflow), the retailer(orderflow forfinished goods)or to the manufacturer (orderflow for raw materials).The manufacturer's process is further divided into the inventory for raw material,the production process and the inventory for thefinished product.Similar to the material and informationflow above,there are upstream and downstreamflows be-tween these sub-processes and they are depicted by dotted blue arrows. Thefigure also includes icons for representing inventory and the upstream transportation.Finally,the readers should take note of three variables(D,P and W)included in thefigure;these refer to the variables that will be subsequently used in the simulation.D is the consumer de-mand for the standard chocolate products;P is the price for the tradi-tional chocolates and W is the wholesale price.4.2.Manufacturer-dominant business model for3D chocolate production (model2)The production of customized chocolates will necessitate changes to be made to the traditional supply chain and its underlying business model and should take into account the revised role of the supply chain constituents in fulfilling customer demand.The manufacturer-dominant model is thefirst supply-centric business model innovation3F.Jia et al./Technological Forecasting&Social Change xxx(2015)xxx–xxxpresented in the paper.Here the manufacture is not only responsible for the make-to-stock (as in the traditional model)but also for the custom-ized production of chocolates.The conventional retailer –manufacturer channel for make-to-stock is complemented by processes pertaining to the production of customized chocolates,wherein,(a)customers order personalized chocolates through the retailers,(b)the orders are communicated to the manufacturer,(c)the chocolates manufactured using semi-finished products inventory and 3D chocolate printing ma-chines,(d)the manufacturer transports the customized chocolates back to the retailer,and (e)the customer collects the customized choc-olates from the retailers (Fig.2).The proposed supply-chain structure also includes the customer –manufacturer channel which facilitates communication between the customer and the manufacturer with the objective of ful filling customer demand.The dual channel may be realized through the development of an online e-commerce portal by the manufacturer,wherein (a)the portal enables customers to put for-ward their customizations through the internet,(b)the manufacturer then produces personalized chocolates using 3D printing technology and semi-finished chocolate inventory,and (c)the manufacture delivers the chocolates directly to the customers.In the customer –manufacturer channel the role of the retailer is made redundant.Fig.2shows the cus-tomer demand for finished products (i.e.,standard chocolates)(D f ),the demand for customized chocolates that are ordered and delivered through the retailer channel (D c )and those ordered online and transported directly from the manufacturer (D c ′);the corresponding prices are P f ,P c and P c ′respectively.Finally the variables W f and W c refer to the price the retailer has to pay to the manufacturer for the stan-dard and customizedchocolates.Fig.1.Supply chain of a traditional chocolateproduction.Fig.2.Manufacturer-dominant double-channel supply chain structure.4 F.Jia et al./Technological Forecasting &Social Change xxx (2015)xxx –xxx4.3.Retailer-dominant business model for3D chocolate production(model3)In retailer-dominant supply chain the customized product is created using the3D chocolate printer by the retailer.The customer can either place an online order for such chocolates through the retailer website or can come into a store to place an order;in case of the latter it may be possible to manufacture the personalized chocolate in the presence of the customer(an aesthetic appeal!)or it can be shipped to the cus-tomer,as is the case with online orders.The chocolate is manufactured using semi-finished products which have to be ordered from the manu-facturer.Thus,there exist two inventories in the case of retailer-dominant supply chains-the inventory for standard chocolates and the inventory for semi-finished goods(Fig.3).Compared to the manufacturer-dominant business model wherein the manufacturer has processes pertaining to customized chocolate production,in model3 this is incorporated with retailers'processes.However,the manufacturer will continue to produce and maintain an additional inventory for semi-finished products to fulfil the retailers'demand for the raw materials for customized chocolate production.The variables shown in Fig.3are sim-ilar to those in Fig.2since in both scenarios customer demand exists for standard chocolates(D f),customized chocolates ordered and delivered through the retailer channel(D c)and customized chocolates ordered online(D c′);however,unlike the previous scenario wherein the manu-facturer fulfilled the order,in retailer-dominant model the customer re-ceives the chocolate from the retailer.The price for D f,D c and D c′are P f,P c and P c′respectively.Similarly,the variables W f and W c refer to the price the retailer has to pay to the manufacturer for standard and semi-finished chocolates.For both models2and3there is no inventory subsequent to the process for manufacturing customized chocolates(shown in grey) since this is a make-to-order strategy.Finally,for all the three models presented,there exists an inventory for standard chocolates at both manufacturer and retailers since it is make-to-order.4.4.Contribution to supply chain-centric business model innovationWhy do we consider the manufacturer dominant model a supply-chain centric business model innovation?There are numerous examples of business models that circumvent the retailer,for example,those based on home shopping catalogue,e-commerce and e-business.Business models based on the internet have particularly been disruptive; such models have frequently allowed limited customization of the manufactured good(e.g.,Apple which allows personalization of a gadget through laser engravings)or non-trivial customization(e.g.,make-to-order strategy of DELL computers allows customers to choose CPU,mem-ory,Operating System,and a host of other configurations)—these are ex-amples of Business to Consumer(B2C)business models.Business models offering no customizations may include Customer to Customer(C2C)in-teractions realized through e-Bay and Amazon.Shifting our focus from internet-based business models to traditional and hybrid models,the strategy of augmenting the conventional brick and mortar stores with on-line channels(bricks and clicks)has proved to be an effective strategy among high-street retailers in the UK and elsewhere.For example,John Lewis chain of departmental stores in the UK reported a rise of23%in their brick and click operations as against1.2%for store operations for the2013Christmas sales(BBC News,2014).Again the question arises as to why we consider retailer dominant supply-centric business model as a novel innovation?Complementing the traditional make-to-stock retailer–manufacturer channel(model2)and retailer–customer channel(model3)with make-to-order products and further extending it to the customer–manufacturer channel(model2)is in itself not a novel business model innovation in terms of e-Commerce since Internet is now widely recognized as a dis-ruptive technology.And indeed,with the ubiquity of the Internet,we take this as granted;our argument for the novelty of our business model innovation lies in the3D printing technology.In other words, our business model for customization of chocolates could not be realized without the invention of3D chocolate printing technology;the use of the online e-commerce portal would only assist in the efficient communica-tion of designs(shape customization)and product mix to the manufac-turer.The opposite of this is not true,i.e.,having an online portal for shape and mix-based customization but not the3D printing machine would fail to realize the two supply-chain centric business model inno-vations that have been proposed in the paper for personalization of choc-olates.The value of the3D printing technology is that it enables the adopter of the technology to co-create value with consumers in terms shape design and enhances consumer experience of being involved in the design process offinal chocolate products.5.Choc Edge simulation studyThe Choc Edge engineered3D chocolate printing machines will en-able manufacturers(as in business model2)and retailer(as in business model3)to produce chocolates based on customer preferences;this is especially true for the manufacture of chocolates with shape-customi-zation.In3D chocolate printing,production does not commenceuntil Fig.3.Retailer-dominant supply chain structure.5 F.Jia et al./Technological Forecasting&Social Change xxx(2015)xxx–xxx。