Corporate Entrepreneurship in the Digital Era: The Cascading Effect through Operations

This study examines a firm’s response to perceived changes in the environment, such as the growth of the digital era, at different levels of a firm—beginning with the adoption of corporate entrepreneurship (CE) down to process renewal (PR). We further explore if the technological intensity of a firm, high-tech or low-tech intensity, influences its choice of mode for organisational renewal (OR)—use of internal competence or outside acquisition—to exploit the opportunities created by the digital era. Using survey data from 170 firms, we test a sequential relationship among environmental changes (growth of the digital era), CE, OR and finally PR that involves operating procedures at the functional level. We conclude by identifying the study’s interdisciplinary contributions, which open new research avenues in the field of CE

Twenty-five years study (1995–2019) of Food and Bioproducts Processing: An overview of research trends

In the current study, we presented an overview of the publication profile of Food and Bioproducts Processing (FBP), a leading international journal on food processing. The detailed analysis was made to measure its scientific progress from 1995 to 2019 by identifying publication trends, most cited articles, leading institutes, and profolic countries. The publication dataset and citations information were retrieved from the Scopus bibliographic database hosted by Elsevier. Several scientific achievements were observed in publications (n=1548), impact factor 3.726 or CiteScore 6.10, and the citations (a total of 33,663) over the 25-year time frame. The factorial analysis revealed that the journal research focuses on two clusters. The first cluster focused on moisture determination, spray drying, mathematical models, thermal processing foods, food products and food processing, and the second cluster focuses on research areas of the dimension of surface properties, organic solvents, response surface methodology, antioxidant activities, flavonoids, solvent extraction and fermentation. Although citations have increased significantly need wider publicity of the work. The most cited articles were identified with the interdisciplinary research within food science and technology and added to reinforce science advancement within the field. Overall, these findings highlighted the evolution, progress, quality, and efficiency of the journal and provided early-profession researchers/specialists with an opportunity to lead more inventive studies in food science and technology (FST)

Impaired antiviral activity of interferon alpha against hepatitis C virus 2a in Huh-7 cells with a defective Jak-Stat pathway

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The sustained virological response to interferon-alpha (IFN-α) in individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 is only 50%, but is about 80% in patients infected with genotype 2-6 viruses. The molecular mechanisms explaining the differences in IFN-α responsiveness between HCV 1 and other genotypes have not been elucidated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Virus and host cellular factors contributing to IFN responsiveness were analyzed using a green fluorescence protein (GFP) based replication system of HCV 2a and Huh-7 cell clones that either possesses or lack a functional Jak-Stat pathway. The GFP gene was inserted into the C-terminal non-structural protein 5A of HCV 2a full-length and sub-genomic clones. Both HCV clones replicated to a high level in Huh-7 cells and could be visualized by either fluorescence microscopy or flow cytometric analysis. Huh-7 cells transfected with the GFP tagged HCV 2a genome produced infectious virus particles and the replication of fluorescence virus particles was demonstrated in naïve Huh-7.5 cells after infection. IFN-α effectively inhibited the replication of full-length as well as sub-genomic HCV 2a clones in Huh-7 cells with a functional Jak-Stat pathway. However, the antiviral effect of IFN-α against HCV 2a virus was not observed in Huh-7 cell clones with a defect in Jak-Stat signaling. HCV infection or replication did not alter IFN-α induced Stat phosphorylation or ISRE promoter-luciferase activity in both the sensitive and resistant Huh-7 cell clones.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The cellular Jak-Stat pathway is critical for a successful IFN-α antiviral response against HCV 2a. HCV infection or replication did not alter signaling by the Jak-Stat pathway. GFP labeled JFH1 2a replicon based stable cell lines with IFN sensitive and IFN resistant phenotypes can be used to develop new strategies to overcome IFN-resistance against hepatitis C.</p

Targeting Tumor-Associated Exosomes with Integrin-Binding Peptides

All cells expel a variety of nanosized extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, with composition reflecting the cells' biological state. Cancer pathology is dramatically mediated by EV trafficking via key proteins, lipids, metabolites, and microRNAs. Recent proteomics evidence suggests that tumor-associated exosomes exhibit distinct expression of certain membrane proteins, rendering those proteins as attractive targets for diagnostic or therapeutic application, yet it is not currently feasible to distinguish circulating EVs in complex biofluids according to their tissue of origin or state of disease. Here, peptide binding to tumor-associated EVs via overexpressed membrane protein is demonstrated. It is found that SKOV-3 ovarian tumor cells and their released EVs express alpha(3)beta(1) integrin, which can be targeted by the in-house cyclic nonapeptide, LXY30. After measuring bulk SKOV-3 EV association with LXY30 by flow cytometry, Raman spectral analysis of laser-trapped single exosomes with LXY30-dialkyne conjugate enables the differentiation of cancer-associated exosomes from noncancer exosomes. Furthermore, the foundation for a highly specific detection platform for tumor-EVs in solution with biosensor surface-immobilized LXY30 is introduced. LXY30 not only exhibits high specificity and affinity to alpha(3)beta(1) integrin-expressing EVs, but also reduces EV uptake into SKOV-3 parent cells, demonstrating the possibility for therapeutic application.Peer reviewe

A Paper-Based Multiplexed Transaminase Test for Low-Cost, Point-of-Care Liver Function Testing

In developed nations, monitoring for drug-induced liver injury through serial measurements of serum transaminases [aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)] in at-risk individuals is the standard of care. Despite the need, monitoring for drug-related hepatotoxicity in resource-limited settings is often limited by expense and logistics, even for patients at highest risk. This article describes the development and clinical testing of a paper-based, multiplexed microfluidic assay designed for rapid, semiquantitative measurement of AST and ALT in a fingerstick specimen. Using 223 clinical specimens obtained by venipuncture and 10 fingerstick specimens from healthy volunteers, we have shown that our assay can, in 15 min, provide visual measurements of AST and ALT in whole blood or serum, which allow the user to place those values into one of three readout “bins” [5× ULN, corresponding to tuberculosis/HIV treatment guidelines] with >90% accuracy. These data suggest that the ultimate point-of-care fingerstick device will have high impact on patient care in low-resource settings.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog

Radiation responses of 2D and 3D glioblastoma cells: a novel, 3D-specific radioprotective role of VEGF/Akt signaling through functional activation of NHEJ

Glioblastoma is resistant to conventional treatments and has dismal prognosis. Despite promising in vitro data, molecular targeted agents have failed to improve outcomes in patients, indicating that conventional two-dimensional (2D) in vitro models of GBM do not recapitulate the clinical scenario. Responses of primary glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSC) to radiation in combination with EGFR, VEGF and Akt inhibition were investigated in conventional 2D cultures and a 3-dimensional (3D) in vitro model of GBM that recapitulates key GBM clinical features. VEGF deprivation had no effect on radiation responses of 2D GSC but enhanced radiosensitivity of GSC cultures in 3D. The opposite effects were observed for EGFR inhibition. Detailed analysis of VEGF and EGF signalling demonstrated a radioprotective role of Akt that correlates with VEGF in 3D and with EGFR in 2D. In all cases, positive correlations were observed between increased radiosensitivity, markers of unrepaired DNA damage and persistent phospho-DNA-PK nuclear foci. Conversely, increased numbers of Rad51 foci were observed in radioresistant populations, indicating a novel role for VEGF/Akt signalling in influencing radiosensitivity by regulating the balance between non-homologous end-joining and homologous recombination mediated DNA repair. Differential activation of tyrosine kinase receptors in 2D and 3D models of GBM explains the well documented discrepancy between pre-clinical and clinical effects of EGFR inhibitors. Data obtained from our 3D model identify novel determinants and mechanisms of DNA repair and radiosensitivity in GBM, and confirm Akt as a promising therapeutic target in this cancer of unmet need

Procjena prijelazne stabilnosti dvopodručnog energetskog sustava s CSC-STATCOM-om zasnovanom na LQR-u

A current source converter (CSC) based static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) is a shunt flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) device, which has a vital role as a stability support for small and large transient instability in an interconnected power network. A robust linear quadratic regulator (LQR) based controller for CSC-STATCOM is proposed. In this paper, LQR based CSC-STATCOM is designed to enhance the transient stability of two-area two-machine power system. First of all, modeling &amp; LQR based controller design for CSC-STATCOM are described. After that, the impact of the proposed scheme on the test system with different disturbances is demonstrated. The feasibility of the proposed scheme is demonstrated through simulation in MATLAB and the simulation results show an improvement in the transient stability of power system with CSC-STATCOM. Also, the robustness and effectiveness of CSC-STATCOM are better rather than other shunt FACTS devices (SVC &amp; VSC-STATCOM) in this paper.Statički sinkroni kompenzator (STATCOM) zasnovan na pretvaraču strujnog izvora (CSC) je uređaj za izmjenični prijenos s fleksibilnim "shuntom" (FACTS), koji značajno doprinosi stabilnosti malih i srednjih prijelaznih nestabilnosti u međusobno povezanoj energetskoj mreži. Ovdje je predložen robusni sustav upravljanja zasnovan na linearnom kvadratičnom regulatoru (LQR) za CSC-STATCOM. U ovom radu, CSC-STATCOM zasnovan na LQR-u dizajniran je za povećanje stabilnosti dvopodručnog energetskog sustava s dva motora. Prvo su opisani postupak modeliranja te upravljački sustav zasnovan na LQR-u za CSC-STATCOM. Nakon toga, prikazan je utjecaj predstavljene sheme na ispitni sustav uz prisutnost različitih poremećaja. Provedivost predstavljenog pristupa je prikazana kroz MATLAB simulacije čiji rezultati prikazuju poboljšanje u prijelaznoj stabilnosti energetskog sustava s CSC-STATCOM-om. Također, u ovom radu je prikazana veća robusnost i efikasnost CSC-STATCOM "shunt" FACTS uređaja u odnosu na SVC i VSC-STATCOM

From the Bench to the Field in Low-Cost Diagnostics: Two Case Studies

Despite the growth of research in universities on point-of-care (POC) diagnostics for global health, most devices never leave the laboratory. The processes that move diagnostic technology from the laboratory to the field—the processes intended to evaluate operation and performance under realistic conditions—are more complicated than they might seem. Two case studies illustrate this process: the development of a paper-based device to measure liver function, and the development of a device to identify sickle cell disease based on aqueous multiphase systems (AMPS) and differences in the densities of normal and sickled cells. Details of developing these devices provide strategies for forming partnerships, prototyping devices, designing studies, and evaluating POC diagnostics. Technical and procedural lessons drawn from these experiences may be useful to those designing diagnostic tests for developing countries, and more generally, technologies for use in resource-limited environments.Chemistry and Chemical Biolog

A simplified method to measure choroidal thickness using adaptive compensation in enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography

10.1371/journal.pone.0096661PLoS ONE95-POLN