Search

Managers and academics are increasingly viewing innovating firms as being interdependent on other firms in the business ecosystem. But how might the structure of interdependencies shape the innovativeness of firms in an ecosystem? To answer this question, we develop a search-based theory that considers a multiplicity of upstream and downstream firms simultaneously innovating in an ecosystem, contributing to and searching for novel combinations of components. We conceptualize two types of structural interdependencies between firms in an ecosystem based on the structure of technological interactions between components and the structure of input–output flows between stages of production. Using a simulation model, we show that downstream firms can benefit from mixing and matching components produced upstream, whereas upstream firms can benefit from optimizing their search more narrowly around their focal components. Importantly, these benefits that accrue to upstream and downstream firms are significantly impacted by the structure of technological and flow interdependencies in the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The life cycle inventory of a composting facility is expected to predict the fate of individual waste fragments and compost quality. Mechanical composting is a popular treatment method for the mechanically separated organic fraction of municipal solid wastes to stabilize the waste material and reduce its environmental impacts. The model and life cycle inventory database are created based on the existing centralized mechanical composting facility located in Chania (Crete, Greece). This study aims to assess all stages of the composting process, wherein input-output flows are comprehensively analyzed based on specific waste fragments. The transfer coefficients are calculated for each waste fragment throughout the processes. The degradation rate is measured as kg of C and N released per Mg of the treated material. The results show that process degradation rates are independent of the initial fragmental composition. This is the first study that accurately models the fate of distinctive waste fragments in a composting plant, while the developed life cycle inventory (with regard to mass and energy balances) can be applied to estimate the environmental impacts regarding mechanical composting the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanical composting is a popular treatment method for the mechanically separated organic fraction of municipal solid wastes to stabilize the waste material and reduce its environmental impacts. The model and life cycle inventory database are created based on the existing centralized mechanical composting facility located in Chania (Crete, Greece). This study aims to assess all stages of the composting process, wherein input-output flows are comprehensively analyzed based on specific waste fragments. The transfer coefficients are calculated for each waste fragment throughout the processes. The degradation rate is measured as kg of C and N released per Mg of the treated material. The results show that process degradation rates are independent of the initial fragmental composition. This is the first study that accurately models the fate of distinctive waste fragments in a composting plant, while the developed life cycle inventory (with regard to mass and energy balances) can be applied to estimate the environmental impacts regarding mechanical composting the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes.

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) originated in China in 2002, and it spread to 26 provinces in mainland China and 32 countries across five continents in a matter of months. This outbreak resulted in 774 deaths. However, the spatial features and potential determinants of SARS input-output flows remain unclear. Methods We used an adjusted spatial interaction model to examine the spatial effects and potential factors associated with SARS input-output flows. Results The presence of origin-based spatial dependence positively affected SARS input-output flows from the neighbours of the origin regions. Two components of the input-output flows, migrant and hospitalization flows, exhibited distinctive features. The origin-based and destination-based spatial dependence positively affected migrant flows (i.e., due to those seeking jobs) from the neighbours of origin and destination locations. Similarly, the destination-based spatial dependence also positively affected hospitalization flows (i.e., due to those seeking treatment) from the neighbours of destination regions. However, the origin-to-destination based spatial dependence negatively affected hospitalisation flows from the neighbours of origin-to-destination regions. The direct effects accounted for 78 % of the SARS input-output flows, which was 3.56-fold greater than the indirect effects. Differences in regional income drove the SARS input-output flows. Therefore, urban income had a positive effect, whereas rural income had a negative effect. Total interregional flows increased by 3.54 % with a 1 % increase in urban income, and intraregional flows increased by 8.35 %. In contrast, the total interregional flows decreased by 3.38 % with a 1 % increase in rural income, and intraregional flows declined by 2.29 %. Railway capacity, per person gross domestic product (PGDP), urban rate and the law of distance decay also affected the input-output flows. Conclusions Our results confirm that the SARS input-output flows presented significant geographic spatial heterogeneity and spatial effects. Income differences were the major cause of the flows between pairs of regions. Railway capacity, PGDP, and urban rate also played important roles. These findings provide valuable information for the Chinese government to control the future spread of nationwide epidemics.