36 research outputs found

    Foreword

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    Citizen science, the active participation of the public in scientific research projects, is a rapidly expanding field in open science and open innovation. It provides an integrated model of public knowledge production and engagement with science. As a growing worldwide phenomenon, it is invigorated by evolving new technologies that connect people easily and effectively with the scientific community. Catalysed by citizens’ wishes to be actively involved in scientific processes, as a result of recent societal trends, it also offers contributions to the rise in tertiary education. In addition, citizen science provides a valuable tool for citizens to play a more active role in sustainable development. This book identifies and explains the role of citizen science within innovation in science and society, and as a vibrant and productive science-policy interface. The scope of this volume is global, geared towards identifying solutions and lessons to be applied across science, practice and policy. The chapters consider the role of citizen science in the context of the wider agenda of open science and open innovation, and discuss progress towards responsible research and innovation, two of the most critical aspects of science today

    The use of cluster resources: a dynamic capabilities approach

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    The cluster literature acknowledges the existence of resources that are shared by firms in the same cluster. The literature on dynamic capabilities argues that in the context of capability development, firms need to develop different business models and to define their firm boundaries in complementary ways. We use a multiple case study approach to analyze how three small and medium sized firms (Portuguese footwear manufacturers) belonging to the same cluster, but with different business models, exploit cluster resources. We find that the same resources are not used in the same way or for the same purpose. Our inductive investigation leads to two propositions: non-strategic shared resources are used by cluster firms in similar ways, and for the same objectives; strategic resources, which relate to the firms business models, are used by each firm differently and for different purposes

    A role for atorvastatin and insulin combination in protecting from liver injury in a model of type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidemia

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    Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major complication linked with the metabolic syndrome associated with dyslipidemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Impact of type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidemia in NAFLD has to be established, as well as the utility of commonly prescribed anti-diabetic and lipid-lowering agents in improving liver injury markers. Genetic type 2 diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats were fed with a high-fat diet to test hepatic effects of type 2 diabetes with hyperlipidemia and the effect of atorvastatin and insulin, individually and in combination, in systemic and hepatic inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. High-fat diet aggravated fasting glycemia, systemic and liver lipids, and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Individual treatments improved glycemic and lipid profiles, but failed to improve inflammatory markers, whereas insulin was able to reduce liver oxidative stress parameters. Combination of insulin and atorvastatin further improved glycemic and lipid profiles and decreased circulating C-reactive protein levels and liver inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. Insulin and atorvastatin combination leads to better glycaemic and lipid profiles and to better protection against liver inflammation and oxidative stress, giving a superior level of liver protection in type 2 diabetic with hyperlipidemia

    Predicted asteroseismic detection yield for solar-like oscillating stars with PLATO

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    Aims: In this work, we determine the expected yield of detections of solar-like oscillations for the targets of the foreseen PLATO ESA mission. Our estimates are based on a study of the detection probability, which takes into account the properties of the target stars, using the information available in the PIC 1.1.0, including the current best estimate of the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N). The stellar samples, as defined for this mission, include those with the lowest noise level (P1 and P2 samples) and the P5 sample, which has a higher noise level. For the P1 and P2 samples, the S/N is high enough (by construction) that we can assume that the individual mode frequencies can be measured. For these stars, we estimate the expected uncertainties in mass, radius, and age due to statistical errors induced by uncertainties from the observations only.Methods: We used a formulation from the literature to calculate the detection probability. We validated this formulation and the underlying assumptions with Kepler data. Once validated, we applied this approach to the PLATO samples. Using again Kepler data as a calibration set, we also derived relations to estimate the uncertainties of seismically inferred stellar mass, radius, and age. We then applied those relations to the main sequence stars with masses equal to or below 1.2 M⊙ belonging to the PLATO P1 and P2 samples and for which we predict a positive seismic detection.Results: We found that we can expect positive detections of solar-like oscillations for more than 15 000 FGK stars in one single field after a two-year observation run. Among them, 1131 main sequence stars with masses of ≀1.2 M⊙ satisfy the PLATO requirements for the uncertainties of the seismically inferred stellar masses, radii, and ages. The baseline observation programme of PLATO consists of observing two fields of similar size (one in the southern hemisphere and one in the northern hemisphere) for two years apiece. Accordingly, the expected seismic yields of the mission amount to over 30 000 FGK dwarfs and subgiants, with positive detections of solar-like oscillations. This sample of expected solar-like oscillating stars is large enough to enable the PLATO mission's stellar objectives to be amply satisfied.Conclusions: The PLATO mission is expected to produce a catalog sample of extremely well seismically characterized stars of a quality that is equivalent to the Kepler Legacy sample, but containing a number that is about 80 times greater, when observing two PLATO fields for two years apiece. These stars are a gold mine that will make it possible to make significant advances in stellar modelling

    Imprinting of founders’ entrepreneurial motivations on enterprises’ practices and processes: The context of creative industries

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    This paper explores the imprinting of entrepreneurs' motivations on the practices and processes of enterprises. We investigate the question in the context of creative industries (CIs) as an extreme case of entrepreneurial motivations (EMs) prevalence. We analyse the EM of 14 founders of design consultancies. Three EMs emerge: self‐fulfilment, freedom and financial motivation. The qualitative analysis reveals that the founders' EMs at the time of a venture's founding has a lasting impact on the characteristics of the venture (name, processes formalization, decision‐making processes, performance measures and growth strategies). Specifically, founders driven by self‐fulfilment tend to build ventures named after them. In these ventures, processes are informal, decision‐making is centralized, performance measures are based on personal satisfaction and recognition and enterprise growth is restrained. Founders who seek freedom tend to run enterprises with semiformal processes, semicentralized decision‐making, a client satisfaction focus, and slow growth strategies. In contrast, founders with financial motivations tend to create enterprises with formal processes, decentralized decision‐making, financial performance metrics and growth ambitions. By focusing on EM and adopting a holistic approach beyond some characteristics of the venture, we complement the imprinting literature

    Stable Isotope Labeling of Amino Acids in Flies (SILAF) Reveals Differential Phosphorylation of Mitochondrial Proteins Upon Loss of OXPHOS Subunits

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    Drosophila melanogaster has been a workhorse of genetics and cell biology for more than a century. However, proteomic-based methods have been limited due to the complexity and dynamic range of the fly proteome and the lack of efficient labeling methods. Here, we advanced a chemically defined food source into direct stable-isotope labeling of amino acids in flies (SILAF). It allows for the rapid and cost-efficient generation of a large number of larvae or flies, with full incorporation of lysine-[(13)C6] after six labeling days. SILAF followed by fractionation and enrichment gave proteomic insights at a depth of 7196 proteins and 8451 phosphorylation sites, which substantiated metabolic regulation on enzymatic level. We applied SILAF to quantify the mitochondrial phosphoproteome of an early-stage leucine-rich PPR motif-containing protein (LRPPRC)-knockdown fly model of mitochondrial disease that almost exclusively affects protein levels of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. While the mitochondrial compartment was hypo-phosphorylated, two conserved phosphosites on OXPHOS subunits NDUFB10 and NDUFA4 were significantly upregulated upon impaired OXPHOS function. The ease and versatility of the method actuate the fruit fly as an appealing model in proteomic and posttranslational modification studies, and it enlarges potential metabolic applications based on heavy amino acid diets
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