Fast-connecting open innovation practices: On the role of intermediaries to accelerate the absorptive capacity function

International audienceFirms that engage in open innovation (OI) activities seek to leverage on external knowledge to innovate and use the open innovation intermediaries to conduct and structure their collaborative efforts. The access to external knowledge often requires an internal knowledge effort to be able to recognize, assimilate and use external knowledge which imply the organization of absorptive capacity (AC) function. Still, the absorption of isolated ideas in OI initiatives is a major issue. The purpose of this research is to investigate how the OI intermediaries ensure the AC for firms participating in the OI through the process of searching and integrating knowledge created through the innovation process. Through an exploratory case study of an intermediary platform that connects the technical experts throughout the world – IdexLab and its clients, we investigate IdexLab’s capacity to prepare and conduct the AC activity based on “novelty search” algorithms. We find that the OI platform can incorporate function to automatize the AC and facilitate further diffusion of ideas

Coupling between Inclusions and Membranes at the Nanoscale

International audienceThe activity of cell membrane inclusions (such as ion channels) is influenced by the host lipid membrane, to which they are elastically coupled. This coupling concerns the hydrophobic thickness of the bilayer (imposed by the length of the channel, as per the hydrophobic matching principle) but also its slope at the boundary of the inclusion. However, this parameter has never been measured so far. We combine small-angle x-ray scattering data and a complete elastic model to measure the slope for the model gramicidin channel and show that it is surprisingly steep, in two membrane systems with very different elastic properties. This conclusion is confirmed and generalized by the comparison with recent results in the simulation literature and with conductivity measurements

Contribution of adipocyte precursors in the phenotypic specificity of intra-articular adipose tissues in knee osteoarthritis patients

International audienceBACKGROUND: Intra-articular adipose tissues (IAATs) are involved in osteoarthritis (OA) pathophysiology. We hypothesize that mesenchymal cells residing in IAATs may account for the specific inflammatory and metabolic patterns in OA patients.METHODS: Adipocyte precursors (preadipocytes and dedifferentiated fat cells (DFATc)) from IAATs (infrapatellar and suprapatellar fat pads) and autologous subcutaneous adipose tissues (SCATs) were isolated from knee OA patients. The ability of these precursors to differentiate into adipocytes was assessed by oil red O staining after 14 days of culture in adipogenic medium. The gene expression of adipocyte-related transcription factors (C/EBP-α and PPAR-γ) and development-related factors (EN1 and SFRP2) were analyzed. The inflammatory pattern was assessed by RT-qPCR and ELISA (interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-8, Cox2, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)) after a 24-h stimulation by IL-1β (1 ng/mL) and by conditioned medium from OA synovium.RESULTS: IAAT preadipocytes displayed a significantly higher ability to differentiate into adipocytes and expressed significantly more C/EBP-α mRNA than SCAT preadipocytes. IAAT preadipocytes expressed significantly less EN-1 and SFRP2 mRNA than SCAT preadipocytes. Unstimulated IAAT preadipocytes displayed a less inflammatory pattern (IL-6, IL-8, and Cox2/PGE2) than SCAT preadipocytes. In contrast, the response of IAAT preadipocytes to an inflammatory stimulus (IL-1β and conditioned media of OA synovium) was exacerbated compared to that of SCAT preadipocytes. Similar results were obtained with DFATc.CONCLUSION: IAAT adipocyte precursors from OA patients have a specific phenotype, which may account for the unique phenotype of OA IAATs. The exacerbated response of IAAT preadipocytes to inflammatory stimulation may contribute to OA pathophysiology

Des patrimoines et des normes

Le patrimoine culturel revêt aujourd’hui des formes variées. Sa conception a évolué ajoutant à sa dimension matérielle une approche immatérielle. Pour protéger et préserver ces patrimoines, des normes ont été élaborées tant au niveau national qu’international. Dans un contexte de forte production normative depuis ces trente dernières années n’assiste-t-on pas dans le domaine patrimonial à une inflation normative ? Une analyse rétrospective et actuelle des relations entre patrimoines et normes invite à envisager et formuler quelques pistes de réflexion sur un futur normatif patrimonial au moment où s’engagent les débats sur le projet de loi sur la « Liberté de la création, patrimoine et architecture » en France. Dépassant la simple approche française, cet ouvrage réunit 19 contributions qui intéressent d’autres législations (Chine, Taïwan, Espagne) ainsi que le droit international pour questionner les rapports entre normes. Un dialogue a ainsi été noué entre passé, présent et futur de la norme patrimoniale, en particulier pour les patrimoines archéologique, architectural, immatériel, naturel, numérique, subaquatique et de manière nouvelle aussi pour le patrimoine scientifique. Au delà de la diversité de ces champs, « s’esquisse l’idée d’un changement de paradigme dans le traitement patrimonial » (M. Cornu)

Synchronous primary neoplasia in patients with oropharyngeal cancer: Impact of tumor HPV status. A GETTEC multicentric study

International audiencePatients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) display a significant risk of synchronous primary neoplasia (SPN) which could impact their management. The aims of this study were to evaluate the risk and distribution of SPN in OPSCC patients according to their HPV (p16) status, the predictive factors of SPN and the impact of SPN on therapeutic strategy and oncologic outcomes.Material and methods: All OPSCC patients treated from 2009 to 2014 were included in this multicentric retrospective study. Univariate analyses were conducted using Chi-2 and Fisher exact tests. For multivariate analyses, all variables associated with a p ≤ 0.10 in univariate analysis were included in logistic regression models.Results: Among the 1291 patients included in this study, 75 (5.8%) displayed a SPN which was preferentially located in the upper aerodigestive tract, lung and esophagus. Comorbidity level (p = 0.03), alcohol (p = 0.005) and tobacco (p = 0.01) consumptions, and p16 tumor status (p < 0.0001) were significant predictors of SPN. In multivariate analysis, p16+ status was significantly associated with a lower risk of SPN (OR = 0.251, IC95% [0.133;0.474]). Patients with a SPN were more frequently referred for non-curative treatment (p = 0.02). In patients treated with curative intent, there was no impact of SPN on the therapeutic strategy (surgical vs. non-surgical treatment). We observed no overall survival differences between patients with or without SPN.Conclusion: P16 tumor status is the main predictive factor of SPN in OPSCC patients. This study provides crucial results which should help adapt the initial work-up and the global management of OPSCC patients

Metachronous second primary neoplasia in oropharyngeal cancer patients: Impact of tumor HPV status. A GETTEC multicentric study

International audienceIntroduction: Patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) display a significant risk to develop a metachronous second primary neoplasia (MSPN). HPV and non-HPV-related OPSCC are 2 distinct entities with biological, clinical and prognostic differences. The aims of our study were to analyze the impact of tumor HPV status and other relevant clinical factors, such as tobacco and/or alcohol (T/A) consumption, on the risk and distribution of MSPN in OPSCC patients and to assess the impact of MSPN on patient survival.Material and methods: All OPSCC patients treated from 2009 to 2014 were included in this multicentric retrospective study. P16 immunohistochemical expression was used as a surrogate maker of tumor HPV status. The impact of tumor p16 status on the risk of MSPN was assessed in uni- and multivariate analyses. Overall survival (OS) was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results: Among the 1291 patients included in this study, 138 (10.7%) displayed a MSPN which was preferentially located in the head and neck area (H&N), lung and esophagus. Multivariate analyses showed that p16- tumor status (p = 0.003), T/A consumption (p = 0.005) and soft palate tumor site (p = 0.009) were significantly associated with a higher risk of MSPN. We found no impact of p16 tumor status on the median time between index OPSCC diagnosis and MSPN development, but a higher proportion of MSPN arising outside the H&N, lung and esophagus was found in p16 + than in p16- patients. MSPN development had an unfavorable impact (p = 0.04) on OS only in the p16 + patient group.Conclusion: P16 tumor status and T/A consumption were the main predictive factors of MSPN in OPSCC patients. This study provides crucial results with a view to tailoring global management and follow-up of OPSCC patients

Les agricultures urbaines durables : un vecteur pour la transition écologique

Ce Hors-série de [VertigO] explore les formes et des fonctions de l'Agriculture urbaine (AU). La collection d'articles qui le composent est issue des principales présentations du colloque international « Agriculture urbaine durable : vecteur de transition écologique » (Toulouse, 2017) organisé conjointement par les laboratoires CERTOP Axe Transition Ecologique et LISST Dynamiques rurales. Est abordée dans un premier temps, la situation de l’implication citoyenne dans les projets d’AU ainsi que la mise en débat public des enjeux de ces projets. L’importance des agricultures urbaines dans la fabrique de la ville et de ses territoires est par la suite discutée. Enfin, le dernier chapitre ouvre un débat sur l’intérêt d’approfondir les potentialités qui peuvent être puisées dans les liens entre les agricultures urbaines et l’économie circulaire. Au-delà d’une actualisation de la situation des agricultures urbaines d'un peu partout dans le monde, ce hors-série amène ainsi la lectrice et le lecteur à approfondir les enjeux qui les sous-tendent et à réfléchir aux opportunités qu’ils permettent d’ouvrir