Brief Analysis on the Inter-Firm Cooperative Performance Under BSC Framework

In the 21st century, with the globalization and integration of market economy, market competition becomes increasingly fierce and more and more requirements have been raised by the customers to make the enterprises face great challenges in every aspect. In order to cater for the demand of times and to satisfy the customers' requirements, the inter-firm cooperation now becomes increasingly important. Since the assessment methods for the enterprise cooperative performance have been the key problems that have been discussed all the time, this paper will make a brief analysis on the enterprise cooperative performance under the BSC framework. Key words: BSC framework; Enterprise; Cooperation; Performanc

Automatic mapping aquaculture in coastal zone from TM imagery with OBIA approach

IEEE GRSS; The Geographical Society of China<span class="MedBlackText">Aquaculture area monitoring is of great importance for coastal zone sustainable management and planning. This paper focuses on the development and assessment of an automatic approach for aquaculture mapping in coastal zone from TM imagery. The contribution mainly consists of three aspects: first, utilizes the Multi-scale segmentation/object relationship modeling (MSS/ORM) strategy on the object based image analysis (OBIA) of TM imagery; second, evaluates the effectiveness GLCM homogeneity texture feature on pond aquaculture area information extraction; third, compares the analysis results from three different approaches, namely pixelbased maximum likelihood classifier (MLC), One-step supervised OBIA with stand nearest neighbor (SNN) and MSS/ORM OBIA strategy. The final result shows that the MSS/ORM OBIA approach greatly improves the classification accuracy and has good potential for automatic pond aquaculture land mapping in coastal zone from TM imagery.</span

Knowledge utilisation in Chinese medium sized manufacturing firms: An exploration under the backcloth of quality improvement

Purpose. This paper reports findings of up-to-date insights to fill the knowledge gap of lack of theoretical and practical understandings of how knowledge is utilized in medium-sized enterprises (MEs) for ensuring their performance excellence, healthy survival and growth, particularly using the contextual background of quality improvement as the standing point to concretize the research content and research participants’ mind-set for data collection.  Design/methodology/approach. The empirical data were attained by conducting firstly an multiple-case study and thereafter a structured interview. Insights were obtained through analysing the collected data as well as triangulating the findings with the contention from the extant literature where available. Findings. A set of approaches for effective quality improvement knowledge (QIK) utilization in MEs have been identified and attested as well as prioritised for a clear guidance on their application by practical businesses. Originality/value. As a pioneering study on the particularly focused issue, namely a current knowledge gap – QIK utilization in MEs, theoretically the research contributes to the enrichment of the current KM and QI literature with a primary focus on knowledge utilization in MEs. Practically its findings provide insightful guidance to practice on the approaches of QIK utilization.

Electrochemical synthesis of phosphorus and sulfur co-doped graphene quantum dots as efficient electrochemiluminescent immunomarkers for monitoring okadaic acid

Abstract(#br)In this study, water-dispersed, uniform-sized phosphorus and sulfur co-doped graphene quantum dots (P, S-GQDs) were prepared by the one-step electrolysis of a graphite rod in an alkaline solution containing sodium phytate and sodium sulfide. Compared with GQDs and mono-doped GQDs (P-GQDs and S-GQDs), the P, S-GQDs dramatically improved the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) performance. Therefore, they were used as bright ECL signaling markers through conjugation with a monoclonal antibody against okadaic acid (anti-OA-MAb). Moreover, as an effective matrix for OA immobilization, the carboxylated multiwall carbon nanotubes-poly(diallyldimethylammonium) chloride-Au nanocluster (CMCNT-PDDA-AuNCs) composite promoted electron transfer and enlarged the surface area. Owing to the multiple amplifications, a competitive indirect ECL immunosensor for highly sensitive quantitation of OA has been developed. Under the optimized conditions, the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of the immunosensor was 0.25 ng mL −1 , and its linear range was 0.01–20 ng mL −1 with a low detection limit of 0.005 ng mL −1 . Finally, the proposed ECL sensor was successfully utilized to detect OA contents in mussel samples. Therefore, this study provides new insights into the designation of ECL luminophores and expands application of co-doped GQDs in fabrication of ECL immunosensors for shellfish toxin determination

Low Cost Industrial Production of Coagulation Factor IX Bioencapsulated in Lettuce Cells for Oral Tolerance Induction in Hemophilia B

Antibodies (inhibitors) developed by hemophilia B patients against coagulation factor IX (FIX) are challenging to eliminate because of anaphylaxis or nephrotic syndrome after continued infusion. To address this urgent unmet medical need, FIX fused with a transmucosal carrier (CTB) was produced in a commercial lettuce (Simpson Elite) cultivar using species specific chloroplast vectors regulated by endogenous psbA sequences. CTB-FIX (~1mg/g) in lyophilized cells was stable with proper folding, disulfide bonds and pentamer assembly when stored ~2 years at ambient temperature. Feeding lettuce cells to hemophilia B mice delivered CTB-FIX efficiently to the gut immune system, induced LAP+ regulatory T cells and suppressed inhibitor/IgE formation and anaphylaxis against FIX. Lyophilized cells enabled 10-fold dose escalation studies and successful induction of oral tolerance was observed in all tested doses. Induction of tolerance in such a broad dose range should enable oral delivery to patients of different age groups and diverse genetic background. Using Fraunhofer cGMP hydroponic system, ~870 kg fresh or 43.5 kg dry weight can be harvested per 1000 ft2 per annum yielding 24,000–36,000 doses for 20-kg pediatric patients, enabling first commercial development of an oral drug, addressing prohibitively expensive purification, cold storage/transportation and short shelf life of current protein drugs

Au nanoparticles on citrate-functionalized graphene nanosheets with a high peroxidase-like performance

Japan Society for Promotion of Science (JSPS); National Natural Science Foundation of China [21305050]; Special Foundation for Young researchers of Health Department of Fujian [2013-2-106]; Scientific Research Foundation of Shangda Li, Jimei University [ZC2013005]; JSPS KAKENHI [2402335, 24550100]In this paper, Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been homogeneously deposited on citrate-functionalized graphene nanosheets (Cit-GNs) by a simple one-pot reducing method. The morphology and composition of the thus-prepared AuNPs/Cit-GNs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution TEM, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that the AuNPs with a uniform size are well dispersed on the surface of the Cit-GNs. Significantly, the as-prepared AuNPs/Cit-GNs possess intrinsic peroxidase-like activity, which can catalyze the oxidation of the peroxidase substrate 3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to develop a blue color in aqueous solution. The catalysis was in accordance with Michaelis-Menten kinetics and the AuNPs/Cit-GNs showed a strong affinity for both H2O2 and TMB. Moreover, by comparing with Cit-AuNPs, AuNPs/GNs and AuNPs/PVP-GNs, the AuNPs/Cit-GNs composite exhibits a higher catalytic ability with a lower Michaelis constant (Km) value, suggesting that the GNs with a large surface area and the citrate ions with more carboxyl groups around the AuNPs can greatly enhance the peroxidase-like activity of AuNPs/Cit-GNs. Taking the advantages of the high catalytic activity, the good stability and the low cost, the novel AuNPs/Cit-GNs represent a promising candidate as an enzyme mimic and may find a wide range of new applications in biochemistry and biotechnology

Tunable and absolute electromagnetic vacuum in two-dimensional photonic-band-gap Based on multiferroic materials

When multiferroic terbium manganite (TbMnO₃) crystal cylinders are periodically arranged in a square lattice, the resulting two-dimensional (2D) system exhibits photonic band gaps (PBGs). The absolute PBG originating from the Mie resonance is modulated from closed to open by applying an external static magnetic field, which is attributed to the electromagnon depression of the dielectric constant by the rearrangement of antiferromagnetic order. Tunable electromagnetic band structure may be realized by controlling the magnetic transition of manganese spins in TbMnO₃.The authors are grateful for financial support from the Outstanding Foundation of NJUST, the NJUST Research Funding (No. 2010ZDJH06), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 11004106, 50672034, 50832002, and 50901042), and the State Key Program for Basic Research of China (Grant Nos. 2009CB623303 and 2009CB929501)

The Ets dominant repressor En/Erm enhances intestinal epithelial tumorigenesis in ApcMin mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ets transcription factors have been widely implicated in the control of tumorigenesis, with most studies suggesting tumor-promoting roles. However, few studies have examined Ets tumorigenesis-modifying functions <it>in vivo </it>using model genetic systems.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using mice expressing a previously characterized Ets dominant repressor transgene in the intestinal epithelium (Villin-En/Erm), we examined the consequences of blocking endogenous Ets-mediated transcriptional activation on tumorigenesis in the Apc^Minmodel of intestinal carcinoma.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>En/Erm expression in the intestine, at levels not associated with overt crypt-villus dysmorphogenesis, results in a marked increase in tumor number in Apc^Minanimals. Moreover, when examined histologically, tumors from En/Erm-expressing animals show a trend toward greater stromal invasiveness. Detailed analysis of crypt-villus homeostasis in these En/Erm transgenic animals suggests increased epithelial turnover as one possible mechanism for the enhanced tumorigenesis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings provide <it>in vivo </it>evidence for a tumor-restricting function of endogenous Ets factors in the intestinal epithelium.</p