Learning and sharing in a Chinese high-technology cluster: A study of inter-firm and intra-firm knowledge flows between R&D employees

learning, China, knowledge work, knowledge transfer

A new acid isolated from V. negundo L. inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation and protects against inflammatory diseases

The NLRP3 inflammasome plays a critical role in the innate immune response, and its excessive activation will cause pyroptotic cell death and be associated with the onset of inflammatory diseases. However, NLRP3 inflammasome targeting therapies are still to be implemented in the clinic setting. Here, we first isolated, purified and characterized a novel Vitenegu acid from V. negundo L. herb that specifically inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation, without affecting NLRC4 or AIM2 inflammasomes. Vitenegu acid blocks the oligomerization of NLRP3, thus inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and activation. In vivo data show that Vitenegu acid exerts therapeutic effects on NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent inflammation. Taken together, our results suggest that Vitenegu acid is a candidate therapeutic agent for treating NLRP3 inflammasome related diseases

How is water-use efficiency of terrestrial ecosystems distributed and changing on Earth?

Peer reviewe

Antitumor Effect of Malaria Parasite Infection in a Murine Lewis Lung Cancer Model through Induction of Innate and Adaptive Immunity

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is the most common malignancy in humans and its high fatality means that no effective treatment is available. Developing new therapeutic strategies for lung cancer is urgently needed. Malaria has been reported to stimulate host immune responses, which are believed to be efficacious for combating some clinical cancers. This study is aimed to provide evidence that malaria parasite infection is therapeutic for lung cancer. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Antitumor effect of malaria infection was examined in both subcutaneously and intravenously implanted murine Lewis lung cancer (LLC) model. The results showed that malaria infection inhibited LLC growth and metastasis and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Histological analysis of tumors from mice infected with malaria revealed that angiogenesis was inhibited, which correlated with increased terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated (TUNEL) staining and decreased Ki-67 expression in tumors. Through natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity activity, cytokine assays, enzyme-linked immunospot assay, lymphocyte proliferation, and flow cytometry, we demonstrated that malaria infection provided anti-tumor effects by inducing both a potent anti-tumor innate immune response, including the secretion of IFN-γ and TNF-α and the activation of NK cells as well as adaptive anti-tumor immunity with increasing tumor-specific T-cell proliferation and cytolytic activity of CD8(+) T cells. Notably, tumor-bearing mice infected with the parasite developed long-lasting and effective tumor-specific immunity. Consequently, we found that malaria parasite infection could enhance the immune response of lung cancer DNA vaccine pcDNA3.1-hMUC1 and the combination produced a synergistic antitumor effect. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Malaria infection significantly suppresses LLC growth via induction of innate and adaptive antitumor responses in a mouse model. These data suggest that the malaria parasite may provide a novel strategy or therapeutic vaccine vector for anti-lung cancer immune-based therapy

China's regional innovation capacity in transition: An empirical approach

Drawing upon regional innovation system literature, this paper estimates a stochastic frontier model to explain the increasing disparity in innovation performance between Chinese regions. The estimated results show that government support, the constitution of the R&D performers, and the regional industry-specific innovation environment are significant determinants of innovation efficiency. Due to the large difference in the firms' innovation performance across the regions, when regional innovation modes are transformed from university and research institute dominant to firm dominant, the overall innovation efficiency between regions becomes more and more disparate, which actually underlies the widening gap in regional innovation performance.Patent Regional innovation system Knowledge production function Stochastic frontier model

Manager Mobility and Private Equity Syndications from the Perspective of Coupling Networks: Evidence from China's Private Equity Industry

This study explores whether manager mobility can influence syndications between private equity (PE) firms by constructing coupling network models. Using data from China's private equity market from 1993 to 2017, we found that driving forces, resistant forces, and network structure play significant roles in determining resource flows between PE firms. Specifically, driving forces indicate that managers moving from domestic and foreign PE firms to state-owned PE firms are more likely to induce syndications. Furthermore, if the manager is promoted when changing jobs, mobility is likely to enhance the flow of resources. Resistant forces indicate that increased geographical distance reduces syndications. As for the influence of structure, if managers leave PE firms with higher status, they are more likely to induce syndications. This study contributes to the coupling network literature by providing a clarified three-factor framework. By exploring the characteristic of managers in state-owned private equity firms, we specified the syndication theory in China. This study can help private equity firms hire valuable managers and expand syndication networks in practice

Patent Propensity in Small Technology-based Firms: Evidence from Zhongguancun Science Park

Using a survey administered in Zhongguancun Science Park in Beijing, China, this paper investigates the impact of R&D personnel-related intellectual property management practices on the patent propensity of small technology-based firms. It is found that R&D personnel-related management practices, including training and reward mechanisms, are effective in enhancing a firm's willingness to patent. In particular, we find that reward mechanisms can negatively moderate the effect of size on a firm's willingness to patent. One implication that emerged from the analysis is that a small firm can counteract its size disadvantage in patenting by introducing a well-developed reward mechanism. Copyright (c) 2010 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2010 Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Three Gorges Project: effects of resettlement on nutrient balance of the agroecosystems in the reservoir area

This paper reports on the effects of human resettlement on the nutrient balance of the agroecosystems in Three Gorges Reservoir Area (TGRA) of China. The analysis used is the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) 'Soil Surface Nitrogen Balance Model' and agricultural statistical data for the county level in 1985-2005. Spatial and temporal changes of nutrient balance and the impacts of resettlement on such changes were examined. The results demonstrate that rural resettlement has significantly increased soil surface nitrogen and phosphorous surplus since 2000. The structural transformation of agricultural activities from grain production to horticulture or forestry should be encouraged, and more people may need to be moved out of the TGRA to reduce nutrient water pollution.Three Gorges Project, resettlement, nutrient balance, agroecosystems,