The impact of lead users on innovation success The mediating impact of knowledge sharing case of IT companies

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of lead users (LUs) on innovation success by proposing and validating an integrative model that links LUs, innovation success and knowledge sharing (KS) variables. Design/methodology/approach – The authors research is quantitative in nature and data were collected through a survey conducted among 30 information technology Tunisian companies. The authors preliminary analysis was explored using the “SPSS” software and processed through exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis methods. Findings – Results showed that LUs who possess advanced skills and valuable knowledge can contribute to enhance new successful innovations, and hence, enable companies to gain short and long-term profits. Besides, the authors confirmed that the impact of LUs on innovation success is mediated by the “KS” behavior. Practical implications – An integrative framework that links LUs, innovation success and a third variable called KS is presented to see beyond the intended importance of this type of user regarding the development of new innovations. Originality/value – The paper offers new insights to the topic of LUs by emphasizing the role of “KS” variable in strengthening the LUs – innovation success relationship

Extracts from medicinal plants inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce apoptosis in ovary, lung and neuronal cancer cell lines

International audienc

Assessment of cyto-protective, antiproliferative and antioxidant potential of a medicinal plant Jatropha podagrica

International audienc

Lycium Europaeum Fruit Extract: Antiproliferative Activity on A549 Human Lung Carcinoma Cells and PC12 Rat Adrenal Medulla Cancer Cells and Assessment of Its Cytotoxicity on Cerebellum Granule Cells

International audienc

Improvement of egg hatch of Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) for enhanced output

International audienceEmbryonated eggs of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) genetic sexing strain (GSS), VIENNA 8 were treated with low concentrations of five disinfectants—formaldehyde, iodine, sodium hypochlorite, peracetic acid, and quaternary ammonium—for decontamination and egg hatch improvement. The newly laid eggs were successfully treated with formaldehyde at 100 ppm for 1 min with 74.2% hatching and with quaternary ammonium at 150 ppm for 1 and 2 min with 70.4 and 69% hatching, respectively. Increased formaldehyde concentration may have affected the embryos, because it resulted in a decrease in the hatching percentage. However, egg viability was not impaired and hatch was not affected by quaternary ammonium treatment compared with controls and eggs treated with other disinfectants. Quaternary ammonium shows promise for decontaminating eggs and improving egg hatch

Effect of <i>Providencia rettgeri</i> (suspension at 1 and 2%) on egg to pupae recovery.

<p>Control corresponds to non infected eggs. Male represent brown pupae and Female represent white pupae. Each bar shows mean percentage ± SE.</p

Evaluation of <i>Providencia rettgeri</i> pathogenicity against laboratory Mediterranean fruit fly strain (<i>Ceratitis capitata</i>)

<div><p>The Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is often referred to as the most severe agricultural pest. Its biological control is mainly through the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). Colonization, mass-rearing conditions and the irradiation process impact the competitiveness of sterile males and disrupt symbiotic associations by favoring some bacterial species and suppressing others. Levels of <i>Providencia</i> species have been shown to fluctuate considerably in the gut of the medfly laboratory strain Vienna 8 under irradiation, increasing by up to 22%. This study aimed to determine the pathogenicity of <i>Providencia rettgeri</i> isolated from the gut of laboratory Vienna 8 medfly strains by examining the effects of 1) two different treatment doses on egg-hatching and development and 2) two infection methodologies (ingestion and injection) of male and female adults according to their mating status. Treatment of eggs with <i>P</i>. <i>rettgeri</i> (2%) significantly decreased the mean egg to pupae recovery rate. Our data showed significant high mortality in flies with both injection and ingestion after 24 hours without any effect of sex. Microbial counts demonstrated that the bacteria could proliferate and replicate in adult flies. There was a significant sex-dependent effect after infection, with mortality decreasing significantly for males more than females. <i>Providencia rettgeri</i> can be considered as a potential pathogen of <i>C</i>. <i>capitata</i>. Mating protected males and females against infection by <i>P</i>. <i>rettgeri</i> by triggering an immune response leading to double the levels of <i>Cecropin</i> being secreted compared to infected virgin adults, thus reducing the virulence of the bacteria.</p></div

The relative density of cDNA amplicons of <i>Cecropin</i> gene expression (Log₂ transformed fold) in infected post-mating <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> males and females compared to virgin ones.

<p>Each bar shows mean ± SE. Different symbols correspond to a significant difference, (*) for the females (F) and (#) for the males (M), (Multivariate analysis, MANOVA).</p

Effect of mating status and infection by injection with <i>Providencia rettgeri</i> on male and female <i>Ceratitis capitata</i> mortality.

<p>Virgin infected flies are flies from experiment “Infection by injection”. Each bar shows mean percentage± SE. Different symbols correspond to a significant difference (LSD test) for the males (*) and (#) for females.</p