Transferring Innovation From Corporate Incubators To Its Parent Company: Derivation Of Requirements For The Interfaces

The transfer of innovations into the parent company is one of the major challenges that separate innovation paths, such as corporate incubators, are facing these days. So far there is no specific design model for the transfer of innovation from corporate incubators. This research paper therefore focusses on the development of requirements for the configuration of the interfaces between these two entities. Based on an intensive literature study as well as interviews within a German automotive supplier, requirements for the transfer process between corporate incubator and its parent company are derived and discussed

Wolbachiain Parasitoids Attacking Native European and Introduced Eastern Cherry Fruit Flies in Europe

The eastern cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cingulata Loew (Diptera: Tephritidae), is an economically important pest of cherries in North America. In 1983 it was first reported in Europe where it shares its ecological niche with the native European cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis cerasi L. (Diptera: Tephritidae). Their coexistence in Europe led to the recent horizontal transmission of the Wolbachia strain wCer1 from R. cerasi to R. cingulata. Horizontal Wolbachia transmission is mediated by either sharing of ecological niches or by interacting species such as parasitoids. Here we describe for the first time that two braconid wasps, Psyttalia rhagoleticola Sachtleben (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Utetes magnus Fischer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), naturally parasitizing R. cerasi, use the invasive R. cingulata in Europe as a new host. In contrast, no parasitoids that parasitize R. cingulata in its native American range were detected in the introduced European range. Diagnostic Wolbachia PCR screening and sequence analyses demonstrated that all P. rhagoleticola individuals were infected with the newly described Wolbachia strain wRha while all U. magnus individuals were uninfected. wRha is different from wCer1 but had an Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene sequence that was identical to wCer2 of R. cerasi and wCin2 of R. cingulata. However, multi locus sequence typing revealed differences in all loci between wRha and the tephritid's strains. The horizontal transmission of wCer1 between the two tephritid species did not result in fixed heritable infections in the parasitoids. However, the parasitoids may have acted as a transient wCer1 vector

The Warps and Wefts of a Polyploidy Complex: Integrative Species Delimitation of the Diploid Leucanthemum (Compositae, Anthemideae) Representatives

Species delimitation—owing to the paramount role of the species rank in evolutionary, ecological, and nature conservation studies—is an essential contribution of taxonomy to biodiversity research. In an ‘integrative taxonomy’ approach to species delimitation on the diploid level, we searched for evolutionary significant units (the warps and wefts) that gave rise to the polyploid complex of European ox-eye daisies (Leucanthemum; Compositae-Anthemideae). Species discovery and validation methods based on genetic, ecological, geographical, and morphometric datasets were applied to test the currently accepted diploid morpho-species, i.e., morphologically delimited species, in Leucanthemum. Novel approaches were taken in the analyses of RADseq data (consensus clustering), morphometrics of reconstructed leaf silhouettes from digitized herbarium specimens, and quantification of species-distribution overlaps. We show that 17 of the 20 Leucanthemum morpho-species are supported by genetic evidence. The taxonomic rank of the remaining three morpho-species was resolved by combining genealogic, ecologic, geographic, and morphologic data in the framework of von Wettstein’s morpho-geographical species concept. We herewith provide a methodological pipeline for the species delimitation in an ‘integrative taxonomy’ fashion using sources of evidence from genealogical, morphological, ecological, and geographical data in the philosophy of De Queiroz’s “Unified Species Concept”

Ohmic heating - a novel approach for gluten-free bread baking

Gluten-free (GF) batters usually present several technological challenges that limit the performance during conventional baking and the resulting product quality. Due to the volumetric heating principle and faster heating rates, ohmic heating (OH) may be advantageous compared with conventional baking. Therefore, the potential of using ohmic heating as a novel approach for gluten-free bread baking was explored. In detail, the effect of different OH process parameters (power input, holding time) on the chemical and functional properties (specific volume, crumb firmness and relative elasticity, pore properties, color, starch gelatinization) and digestibility of breads was investigated. Results showed that GF breads could benefit from the uniform rapid heating during processing, as these breads showed superior functional properties (specific volume, 2.86-3.44 cm3/g; relative elasticity, 45.05-56.83%; porosity, 35.17-40.92%) compared with conventional oven-baked GF bread (specific volume, 2.60 cm3/g; relative elasticity, 44.23%; porosity, 37.63%). In order to maximize bread expansion and the OH performance, it was found that the OH process could be improved by applying the electrical energy in three descending power steps: first step with high power input (in this study, 2–6 kW for 15 s), followed by 1 kW for 10 s, and 0.3 kW for 1–30 min. In total, ohmic baking only needed a few minutes to obtain a fully expanded GF bread. The determination of pasting properties and starch digestibility demonstrated that these breads were comparable or even superior to GF breads baked in a conventional baking oven

Increasing atmospheric temperature implicates increasing risk for acute type A dissection in hypertensive patients

Background: Acute type A aortic dissection (AAAD) is a life-threatening condition with high mortality within 24 hours. We hypothesized if there is a correlation between seasonal weather changes and the occurrence of AAAD. The aim of the present study was to identify seasonal specific weather and patient characteristics predicting the occurrence of AAAD. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients of our department with AAAD between January 1st 2006 and December 31st 2016. The national meteorological department provided the data of temperature, humidity and air pressure during the study period. The occurrence of AAAD, preoperative neurological impairment and mortality were analyzed in correlation with the obtained daily weather data within the entire cohort and in patients with and without hypertension separately. Results: A total of 517 patients were included. Mean age was 63.4±13 years, 69.4% were male and 68.8% had documented hypertension. In-hospital mortality was 17.7%. In the whole cohort, the occurrence of AAAD was significantly increased in March, October, December (P=0.016). In hypertensive patients, the occurrence was increased 34% with rising temperature (0.1-9.6 °C, OR1.34, 95% CI: 1.06-1.69, P=0.015). There was no correlation between weather variables and preoperative neurological impairment or mortality. Conclusions: Our data suggests a relation between an increasing number of events of AAAD and certain months within our catchment area and a significantly increased occurrence with rising temperatures (independent from absolute temperature at time of the event) in hypertensive patients

Expression of 3q oncogene SEC62 in atypical fibroxanthoma-immunohistochemical analysis of 41 cases and correlation with clinical, viral and histopathologic features

Atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX) is a rare mesenchymal tumor with predominance in older male patients located mainly in chronically UV-exposed skin. Differentiation from clinically more aggressive pleomorphic dermal sarcoma (PDS) is still under debate and immunohistochemical markers are not available yet. An immunohistochemical study, including 41 cases of AFX was conducted to investigate the expression of 3q encoded oncogene SEC62 in AFX and determine the associations with histomorphologic, clinical and viral parameters. Our cohort displayed a mean of 79.9 years at the onset of the disease. In total, 90.2% (37/41) AFXs were located in the head and neck area, whereas, four were located at the extremities (9.7%). Tumor diameter ranged between 0.06 and 40 cm2 with a mean of 5.7 cm2. SEC62 expression was markedly increased in lesional tissue compared with the adjacent healthy squamous epithelium. We found significantly higher expression of SEC62 in cases of AFX with tumor necrosis. Tendency of higher Sec62-IRS-scores were found for tumors with higher Clark levels and a tumor size >5 cm2. Sec62 is involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress tolerance and cell migration, and has been identified as a novel prognostic marker for non-small cell lung cancer as well as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. For the first time, to the best of our knowledge, we suggest a role of 3q oncogene SEC62 in AFX and discuss a potential prognostic relevance in cases of disputable AFX with unfavorable histomorphologic features and may initiate a discussion on Sec62 serving as discriminating marker between AFX and PDS

Fibroblast activation protein is induced by inflammation and degrades type I collagen in thin-cap fibroatheromata

Aims Collagen degradation in atherosclerotic plaques with thin fibrous caps renders them more prone to rupture. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) plays a role in arthritis and tumour formation through its collagenase activity. However, the significance of FAP in thin-cap human fibroatheromata remains unknown. Methods and results We detected enhanced FAP expression in type IV-V human aortic atheromata (n = 12), compared with type II-III lesions (n = 9; P < 0.01) and healthy aortae (n = 8; P < 0.01) by immunostaining and western blot analyses. Fibroblast activation protein was also increased in thin-cap (<65 µm) vs. thick-cap (≥65 µm) human coronary fibroatheromata (n = 12; P < 0.01). Fibroblast activation protein was expressed by human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) as shown by colocalization on immunofluorescent aortic plaque stainings (n = 10; P < 0.01) and by flow cytometry in cell culture. Although macrophages did not express FAP, macrophage burden in human aortic plaques correlated with FAP expression (n = 12; R2= 0.763; P < 0.05). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays showed a time- and dose-dependent up-regulation of FAP in response to human tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) in HASMC (n = 6; P < 0.01). Moreover, supernatants from peripheral blood-derived macrophages induced FAP expression in cultured HASMC (n = 6; P < 0.01), an effect abolished by blocking TNFα (n = 6; P < 0.01). Fibroblast activation protein associated with collagen-poor regions in human coronary fibrous caps and digested type I collagen and gelatin in vitro (n = 6; P < 0.01). Zymography revealed that FAP-mediated collagenase activity was neutralized by an antibody directed against the FAP catalytic domain both in HASMC (n = 6; P < 0.01) and in fibrous caps of atherosclerotic plaques (n = 10; P < 0.01). Conclusion Fibroblast activation protein expression in HASMC is induced by macrophage-derived TNFα. Fibroblast activation protein associates with thin-cap human coronary fibroatheromata and contributes to type I collagen breakdown in fibrous cap

Fibroblast activation protein is induced by inflammation and degrades type I collagen in thin-cap fibroatheromata

Aims Collagen degradation in atherosclerotic plaques with thin fibrous caps renders them more prone to rupture. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) plays a role in arthritis and tumour formation through its collagenase activity. However, the significance of FAP in thin-cap human fibroatheromata remains unknown. Methods and results We detected enhanced FAP expression in type IV-V human aortic atheromata (n = 12), compared with type II-III lesions (n = 9; P < 0.01) and healthy aortae (n = 8; P < 0.01) by immunostaining and western blot analyses. Fibroblast activation protein was also increased in thin-cap (<65 µm) vs. thick-cap (≥65 µm) human coronary fibroatheromata (n = 12; P < 0.01). Fibroblast activation protein was expressed by human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) as shown by colocalization on immunofluorescent aortic plaque stainings (n = 10; P < 0.01) and by flow cytometry in cell culture. Although macrophages did not express FAP, macrophage burden in human aortic plaques correlated with FAP expression (n = 12; R(2)= 0.763; P < 0.05). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays showed a time- and dose-dependent up-regulation of FAP in response to human tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) in HASMC (n = 6; P < 0.01). Moreover, supernatants from peripheral blood-derived macrophages induced FAP expression in cultured HASMC (n = 6; P < 0.01), an effect abolished by blocking TNFα (n = 6; P < 0.01). Fibroblast activation protein associated with collagen-poor regions in human coronary fibrous caps and digested type I collagen and gelatin in vitro (n = 6; P < 0.01). Zymography revealed that FAP-mediated collagenase activity was neutralized by an antibody directed against the FAP catalytic domain both in HASMC (n = 6; P < 0.01) and in fibrous caps of atherosclerotic plaques (n = 10; P < 0.01). Conclusion Fibroblast activation protein expression in HASMC is induced by macrophage-derived TNFα. Fibroblast activation protein associates with thin-cap human coronary fibroatheromata and contributes to type I collagen breakdown in fibrous caps

The benzene polycarboxylic acid (BPCA) pattern of wood pyrolyzed between 200°C and 1000°C

Environmental charcoals represent a poorly defined part of the black carbon (BC) combustion continuum and may differ widely in their chemical and physical properties, depending on combustion conditions and source material. The benzene polycarboxylic acid (BPCA) molecular marker method is well established to quantify the BC component in charcoal, soil and sediment, although observed variations between labs could stem from subtle differences in methods. The objectives of this study were to identify and improve potential sources of analytical uncertainty. The improved method was then used to qualitatively characterize wood charred at 200–1000 °C. One significant improvement of the BPCA method was to replace citric acid with phthalic acid as an internal standard, which is more stable in acidic solution and more similar to the target compounds. Also, including a soil reference material as a quality control in each analysis proved to be a robust tool to detect for variations in reproducibility. For the thermosequence, elemental O/C and H/C ratios typically decreased with temperature to 60.03 at 1000 °C, whereas BPCA concentrations peaked at 700 °C. With temperature B6CA proportions increased consistently (6–98%), except for a plateau at 250–500 °C. Thus, relative contributions of B6CA reflected the pyrolysis temperature and probably also the degree of condensation of the charcoals we investigated. Future work will show if our results can be directly related to charcoal produced under oxygen limited conditions, including charcoal formed at wildfires or so called biochar for agricultural use