bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of magnetic field strength on the positron range and projected annihilation artifact in integrated PET/MR systems: A GATE Monte Carlo study
Authors: Barati Sepideh , Enferadi Milad , Sarkar Saeed , Geramifar Parham
Published: October 2021

Purpose

With improvements in positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) over the last decade, there is a need to investigate the projected annihilation (shine‐through) artifact and resolution impact for different PET radiopharmaceuticals, magnetic field (MF) strengths, and tissues.

Methods

The GATE Monte Carlo (MC) simulation was used to simulate the annihilation distribution of positrons in different tissues and MFs. The positron distribution was studied in magnetic field (MF) intensities up to 15 T for 11C, 13N, 15O, 18F, 68Ga, and 82Rb. Moreover, the image quality in terms of the occurrence of projected annihilation artifacts was investigated using the 4D anthropomorphic digital extended cardiac‐torso (XCAT) phantom.

Results

Positron ranges were restricted across the directions perpendicular to the MF, but no change along the direction of the MF was detected. The projected annihilation artifacts were observed with the presence of MF in the sagittal and coronal view of PET images prepared from the XCAT phantom. The intensity of artifact was constant in MFs higher than 3 T. The significant effect of the MF on resolution improvement was observed in soft tissue for 68Ga in 7 T and 82Rb in 3 and 7 T, while higher MFs have no impact on resolution. The improvement of resolution in the lung tissue was observed for the medium‐ and high‐energy radionuclides in 7 T MF.

Conclusion

The MF can create the projected annihilation artifact in the boundary of air cavities and other tissues for medium‐ and high‐energy radionuclides especially for 68Ga in clinical studies. In addition, the strength of the MFs more than 3 T was ineffective on the intensity of the projected annihilation artifact. In a clinical PET/MR scanner, MF has remarkable spatial resolution improvement in lung tissue, especially for medium‐ and high‐energy radionuclides, and negligible effect in bone and soft tissue for most radionuclides.
Comparison between patient‐reported and physician‐estimated pain and disability in hand and wrist disorders
Authors: Berduszek Redmar J. , Reinders‐Messelink Heleen A. , Dijkstra Pieter U. , van der Sluis Corry K.
Published: October 2021

Background

Pain and disability are important components of the assessment of hand problems, but it is unknown how physician estimates compare to patient self‐reports.

Objective

To analyse differences between patient‐reported and physician‐estimated pain and disability in patients with hand or wrist disorders and to analyse factors influencing these differences.

Methods

Observational study of patients with hand or wrist disorders seen during multidisciplinary outpatient consultations. Patients, rehabilitation medicine (RM) consultants, RM trainees and plastic surgeons completed visual analogue scales (VASs) to rate the level of self‐reported (patients) or estimated (physicians) pain and disability. Multilevel analyses were performed to evaluate differences in VAS‐pain and VAS‐disability scores between patients and physicians and to evaluate the influences of diagnosis, physician experience and medical specialty.

Results

Complete data were obtained for 250 patients. Levels of pain and disability estimated by physicians were lower compared to patient self‐reports. Ratings differed among medical specialties. Pain was underestimated to a greater extent by plastic surgeons compared to RM consultants. Disability was underestimated to a greater extent by RM consultants compared to plastic surgeons. Estimates of pain and disability did not differ between consultants and trainees in RM. Type of diagnosis did not influence the degree of underestimation of pain and disability.

Conclusions

Physicians underestimate pain and disability compared to self‐reports in patients with hand or wrist disorders. Ratings differ among medical specialties: plastic surgeons underestimate pain more, while RM consultants underestimate disability more. Physician experience and diagnosis do not influence the degree of underestimation of pain and disability.
Plasticity in Abundance and Demographic Responses of Walleye to Elevated Exploitation in a North Temperate Lake
Authors: Sass Greg G. , Shaw Stephanie L. , Sikora Logan W. , Lorenzoni Matthew , Luehring Mark
Published: October 2021

Knowledge of density-dependent responses of fish populations to exploitation is important for the sustainable management of fisheries and in structuring fish populations to meet angler desires. To better understand the density-dependent responses of Walleye Sander vitreus to exploitation, we conducted a 10-year, 50% annual exploitation experiment on Sherman Lake, Wisconsin, during 2007–2016. In the following order, annual exploitation goals were met through liberalized recreational angling regulations, tribal spearfishing, and physical removals (if necessary). Response variables included total and sex-specific adult density, age-0 and age-1 relative abundance, age-0 to age-1 survival, length at maturity, individual growth, and population size structure. To control for environmental and interannual influences on adult density and recruitment, unexploited Escanaba Lake, Wisconsin, was used as a reference system. Total and sex-specific adult density and age-0 relative abundance did not differ between Sherman and Escanaba lakes. Age-1 relative abundance was significantly higher and more variable under elevated exploitation compared with the reference lake. Age-0 to age-1 survival significantly increased between pretreatment and elevated-exploitation time periods. Sex-specific length at maturity significantly declined between pretreatment and elevated-exploitation time periods. Mean juvenile length at age increased, male asymptotic length declined, and the proportional size distribution of quality-sized Walleye declined between pretreatment and elevated-exploitation time periods. Our results suggest that compensatory age-0 to age-1 survival and declines in length at maturity interacted to offset elevated-exploitation effects on adult density. Likewise, density-dependent growth responses were most evident in juveniles. Although the Sherman Lake Walleye population appeared resilient to elevated exploitation, we caution that this level of long-term exploitation is likely not sustainable for most Walleye populations due to the findings of previous exploitation studies and observations of depensatory recruitment dynamics in Walleye.
Estimating and increasing the structural robustness of a network
Authors: Noschese Silvia , Reichel Lothar
Published: October 2021

The capability of a network to cope with threats and survive attacks is referred to as its robustness. This article discusses one kind of robustness, commonly denoted structural robustness, which increases when the spectral radius of the adjacency matrix associated with the network decreases. We discuss computational techniques for identifying edges, whose removal may significantly reduce the spectral radius. Nonsymmetric adjacency matrices are studied with the aid of their pseudospectra. In particular, we consider nonsymmetric adjacency matrices that arise when people seek to avoid being infected by Covid‐19 by wearing facial masks of different qualities.
Synthesis of thiophene‐based conjugated microporous polymers for high iodine and carbon dioxide capture
Authors: Wang Li , Xie Wei , Xu Guangjuan , Zhang Shuran , Yao Chan , Xu Yanhong
Published: October 2021

Two new thiophene‐based conjugated microporous polymers (BTCMP‐1 and BTCMP‐2) were synthesized by cross‐coupling polycondensation reaction of dithiophene derivatives, 1,4‐phenylenediboronic acid and 1,2,4,5‐tetrafluorobenzene. BTCMP‐1 and BTCMP‐2 display good physicochemical stability and outstanding CO2 adsorption capacity (648 and 289 mg/g at 50 bar and 318 K, respectively). In addition, BTCMP‐1 and BTCMP‐2 exhibit high iodine adsorption of 480 and 284 wt%, respectively. BTCMP‐1 has relatively loose accumulation and good porosity, which leads to higher iodine adsorption value of BTCMP‐1 than that of BTCMP‐2. The obtained thiophene‐based conjugated microporous polymers are ideal materials for iodine capture and carbon dioxide capture.
Mechanical characterization and water absorption behaviors of pineapple leaf/glass fiber‐reinforced polypropylene hybrid composites
Authors: Ng Lin Feng , Yahya Mohd Yazid , Muthukumar Chandrasekar
Published: October 2021

Hybrid composites have become the focal point of research communities due to the balance in mechanical and ecological properties of such materials. Hybridization is an efficient technique to strengthen and enhance the performance of composite materials. In this research study, hybrid composites were prepared by embedding pineapple leaf and glass fibers in polypropylene polymers via the hot press molding compression technique. Mechanical tests were carried out to determine the tensile, flexural and Charpy impact properties of pineapple leaf/glass fiber‐reinforced hybrid composite laminates. Additionally, water absorption test was also conducted to investigate the influence of hybridization on the moisture uptake of hybrid composites. In accordance with the findings obtained, the hybridization of pineapple leaf with glass fibers was found to improve the mechanical properties and moisture uptake sensitivity of the composite laminates. The [G/P/G] composite laminates are especially promising, having comparable mechanical strengths to those of non‐hybrid [G/G/G] composite laminates. Meanwhile, the water absorption and diffusion coefficient of [G/P/G] composite laminates were 66.64% and 40.71% lower than non‐hybrid [P/P/P] composite laminates. Based on the findings obtained, it is anticipated that the hybridization of pineapple leaf and glass fibers endows the composite laminates with lightweight characteristic, remarkable mechanical properties and low moisture uptake sensitivity while improving the environmental friendliness of the materials. Therefore, hybrid composites have indeed attested a very high potential to be used in transportation sectors.
Fabrication and evaluation of homogeneous alginate/polyacrylamide–chitosan–gelatin composite hydrogel scaffolds based on the interpenetrating networks for tissue engineering
Authors: Chen Xiuqiong , Yan Huiqiong , Bao Chaoling , Zhu Qingmei , Liu Zhaowen , Wen Yanshi , Li Zhengyue , Zhang Tong , Lin Qiang
Published: October 2021

Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) is generally considered to be one of the most effective methods for imparting high‐strength mechanical properties to hydrogel materials. To broaden the application of alginate hydrogel in skeletal muscle or muscle tissue engineering, the interpenetrating network technology and layer‐by‐layer (LBL) electrostatic assembly were proposed to fabricate the homogeneous alginate/polyacrylamide–chitosan–gelatin (Alg/PAAM–CS–GT) composite hydrogel scaffolds, using the hydroxyapatite/d‐glucono‐δ‐lactone (HAP/GDL) complex as the gelling system. The effects of different components of alginate/polyacrylamide (Alg/PAAM) on the morphology, mechanical properties, swelling, degradability, and cytocompatibility of the hydrogel scaffolds were comparatively characterized. Experimental results showed that the as‐prepared Alg/PAAM–CS–GT composite hydrogel scaffolds exhibited sharp edges and regular 3D structures. Their pore structure could be regulated by changing the content of PAAM in Alg/PAAM–CS–GT composite hydrogel scaffolds. And the filling of PAAM reduced the pores and thickened the pore walls, which obviously enhanced the mechanical properties of Alg/PAAM–CS–GT composite hydrogel scaffolds. FT‐IR and thermogravimetric analysis showed that O‧‧‧N hydrogen bonding between COOH of SA and NH2 of PAAM could be helpful to improve the thermal stability of the composite hydrogel scaffolds. The swelling and biodegradation measurements indicated that the swelling and degradation of Alg/PAAM–CS–GT composite hydrogel scaffolds could be effectively regulated by changing the component content of the composite hydrogel. In addition, the in vitro cytocompatibility analysis showed that the Alg/PAAM–CS–GT composite hydrogel scaffolds could support the growth of MC3T3‐E1 cells and promote cell proliferation and differentiation. According to the in vitro cytocompatibility test results, the optimum PAAM content for the Alg/PAAM–CS–GT composite hydrogel scaffolds was 60%. Because of good morphology, well‐developed pores, excellent mechanical properties, and high biological activity of Alg/PAAM–CS–GT composite hydrogel scaffolds, they could be suitable for application in the tissue engineering field.
Trans‐kingdom expression of an insect endogenous microRNA in rice enhances resistance to striped stem borer Chilo suppressalis
Authors: Liu Haoju , Shen Enlong , Wu Hao , Ma Weihua , Chen Hao , Lin Yongjun
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUND

The striped stem borer (SSB), Chilo suppressalis Walker, is a major pest of rice worldwide. Breeding of transgenic rice expressing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxins is a powerful strategy to control SSB. However, pests may evolve certain resistance to Bt toxins in transgenic plants. Hence, new controlling strategies must be continuously developed.

RESULTS

We successfully generated SSB‐resistant rice (csu‐53) expressing the artificial microRNA (amiRNA) of SSB endogenous miRNA (csu‐novel‐miR53) through the RNAi‐based technology. Feeding assays demonstrated that csu‐53 rice inhibited larval growth, delayed pupation time, and reduced pupal weight and eclosion rate of SSB larva. In a 10‐day feeding experiment, the miRNA mimic of csu‐novel‐miR53 also suppressed larval growth and more importantly increased larval mortality. Transcriptome analysis identified 28 differentially expressed unigenes (DEGs) in the midgut between SSB larvae fed on csu‐53 rice and the wild type. One DEG (DN90065_c0_g12) validated by qRT‐PCR had a predicted target site of csu‐novel‐miR53. In addition, in vitro double‐stranded RNA synthesis and further feeding assay proved that DN90065_c0_g12 is most likely the target of csu‐novel‐miR53.

CONCLUSION

amiRNA‐mediated strategy can be applied to the development of insect‐resistant crops, and the novel amiRNA csu‐novel‐miR53 of SSB has important application potential in developing SSB resistant rice. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Associations between migration and commuting to work in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo
Authors: de Castro Lameira Verônica , Golgher André Braz
Published: October 2021

This paper investigates associations between migration and inter‐municipal commuting to work in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo with two main objectives: to determine whether a connection exists between long‐term relocation and daily travel and to determine whether this relationship is dependent on the distance of the migratory process. The empirical strategy is based on the estimation of univariate and bivariate probit models applied to microdata of the Brazilian Demographic Census of 2010. Different socio‐economic and demographic characteristics, such as sex, age, civil status, household arrangements and labour market features, were associated with both inter‐municipal commuting and migration. Moreover, associations between inter‐municipal commuting and migration depended on the distance of migration. It was observed that inter‐municipal commuting and intrametropolitan migration are complementary, whereas commuting and longer distance migration are substitutes.
First wave of SARS‐COV2 in Europe: Study and typology of the 15 worst affected European countries
Authors: Tragaki Alexandra , Richard Jean‐Luc
Published: October 2021

Since 11 March 2020 when officially declared a global pandemic, Covid‐19 (or SARS‐COV2) has turned out to be a multifaceted disease differently affecting countries and individuals. What makes certain countries more vulnerable than others has attracted the interest of scientists from various disciplines. This paper intends to compare the impact of demographic parameters, population health conditions and policy actions on prevalence and fatality levels of Covid‐19 during the first 3 months since its declaration of global pandemic. A country‐level exploratory analysis has been conducted in order to assess how demography, national health conditions and measures taken interact and condition the disease outcomes. Analysis relies on publicly available data on Covid‐19 reported cases, deaths and number of persons tested. Those data are combined with demographic parameters (sex ratio, mean age, population density and life expectancy), health data (cardiovascular death rate, diabetes prevalence, share of smokers among males and females and number of hospital beds) and information about relative national policies aiming the management of the pandemic (lockdown timing and duration). Our analysis confirms the diversity of factors and the complexity of their interaction in explaining the propagation and fatality of the disease across Europe. Our findings question some well‐established attitudes concerning the role of demographic variables and public health conditions in the spread of the disease.
Peonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside and cyanidin increase osteoblast differentiation and reduce RANKL‐induced bone resorption in transgenic medaka
Authors: Ren Zhitao , Raut Nishikant A. , Lawal Temitope O. , Patel Shital R. , Lee Simon M. , Mahady Gail B.
Published: October 2021

Experimental and clinical studies suggest a positive impact of anthocyanins on bone health; however, the mechanisms of anthocyanins altering the differentiation and function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts are not fully understood. This work demonstrates that dietary anthocyanins and resveratrol increased proliferation of cultured human hFOB 1.19 osteoblasts. In addition, treatment of serum starvation of hFOB osteoblasts with anthocyanins and resveratrol at 1.0 μg/ml reduced apoptosis, the Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio, p53, and HDAC1 expression, but increased SIRT1/3 and PGC1α mRNA expression, suggesting mitochondrial and epigenetic regulation. In Sp7/osterix:mCherry transgenic medaka, peonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside and resveratrol increased osteoblast differentiation and increased the expression of Sp7/osterix. Cyanidin, peonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside, and resveratrol also reduced RANKL‐induced ectopic osteoclast formation and bone resorption in col10α1:nlGFP/rankl:HSE:CFP medaka in doses of 1–4 μg/ml. The results indicate that both cyanidin and peonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside have anabolic effects on bone, increasing osteoblast proliferation and differentiation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and by altering the osteoblast epigenome. Cyanidin and peonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside also reduced RANKL‐induced bone resorption in a transgenic medaka model of bone resorption. Thus, peonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside and cyanidin appear to both increase bone formation and reduce bone loss, suggesting that they be further investigated as potential treatments for osteoporosis and osteomalacia.
Effect of early rescue ICSI and split IVF‐ICSI in preventing low fertilization rate during the first ART cycle: A real‐world retrospective cohort study
Authors: Jiang Linlin , Qian Yifan , Chen Xiaoli , Ji Xiaohui , Ou Songbang , Li Ruiqi , Yang Dongzi , Li Yu
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To determine the utility of short gamete coincubation in in vitro fertilization (IVF‐S) combined with early rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (R‐ICSI) and split IVF‐ICSI in preventing low fertilization based on a retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Couples with a high risk of low IVF fertilization during the first ART cycle underwent IVF‐S with R‐ICSI or split IVF‐ICSI. Fertilization rate, embryo quality, and clinical outcomes were measured.

Results

After propensity score matching, we included 188 couples in the IVF‐S with R‐ICSI group as Group 1 and 720 in the split IVF‐ICSI group as Group 2. Normal fertilization rates were similar; however, Group 1 had a higher multiple pronuclei rate (10.42% vs. 4.50%, p < 0.001) but a higher embryo utilization rate (59.84% vs. 53.60%, p < 0.001). The groups were similar in the rates of high‐quality embryos, embryo implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth. Low IVF fertilization rate was 4.79% and 9.03% in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively, with similar fertilization rate and embryo development.

Conclusion

IVF‐S with early R‐ICSI and split IVF‐ICSI were effective strategies in preventing low fertilization rate. IVF‐S with early R‐ICSI could become the preferred approach because of its advantages—higher embryo utilization rate, fewer ICSI procedures, similar clinical pregnancy rate, and live birth rate.
Positive associations of soil organic matter and crop yields across a regional network of working farms
Authors: Oldfield Emily E. , Bradford Mark A. , Augarten Abigail J. , Cooley Eric T. , Radatz Amber M. , Radatz Timothy , Ruark Matthew D.
Published: October 2021

The amount of soil organic matter (SOM) is considered a key indicator of soil properties associated with higher fertility. Despite the ubiquity of assumptions surrounding SOM's contributions to soil functioning, we lack quantitative relationships between SOM and yield outcomes on working farms. We quantified the relationship between SOM and yields of corn (Zea mays L.) and silage for a dataset of 170 fields arrayed across 49 farms in a network of growers based in Wisconsin and Minnesota, USA. As SOM concentrations increase so do yields, though gains start to level off around 4% SOM. When examining the relationship between yield and soil health indicators representative of biologically active C pools, we found that mineralizable C has a stronger relationship with yield than permanganate oxidizable C. Mineral fertilizer, manure, and SOM had relationships of similar magnitude with yield, highlighting that SOM in combination with exogenous inputs likely plays an important role in driving agricultural productivity in this region. An interaction between SOM and crop rotation indicated that the impact of SOM on crop yields varied depending on rotation (continuous corn vs. corn in rotation). That is, continuous corn had lower yields than corn in rotation despite higher SOM concentrations. Our findings provide insight into the relationship between indicators of soil health, farm management, and crop yields for a set of working farms and lend support to the goals of soil health initiatives that rest on building SOM in agricultural soils to improve agricultural outcomes.
The fairness‐accuracy Pareto front
Authors: Wei Susan , Niethammer Marc
Published: October 2021

Algorithmic fairness seeks to identify and correct sources of bias in machine learning algorithms. Confoundingly, ensuring fairness often comes at the cost of accuracy. We provide formal tools in this work for reconciling this fundamental tension in algorithm fairness. Specifically, we put to use the concept of Pareto optimality from multiobjective optimization and seek the fairness‐accuracy Pareto front of a neural network classifier. We demonstrate that many existing algorithmic fairness methods are performing the so‐called linear scalarization scheme, which has severe limitations in recovering Pareto optimal solutions. We instead apply the Chebyshev scalarization scheme which is provably superior theoretically and no more computationally burdensome at recovering Pareto optimal solutions compared to the linear scheme.
Corrections for the effects of analyzer modulation on peak intensity in derivative Auger spectra
Authors: Grant John T.
Published: October 2021

Starting in the mid‐1960s, the detection and display of peaks in Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) were improved by using modulation of the electron energy analyzer coupled with electron detection using a lock‐in amplifier. This allowed a derivative of the electron energy distribution, N(E), to be obtained directly at the output of the lock‐in amplifier thereby removing most of the effect from the relatively large, slowly varying, electron background signal due to secondary and backscattered electrons. For relatively low modulation amplitudes, the peak‐to‐peak intensity of the Auger features increased linearly with modulation amplitude (for a deflection‐type analyzer), improving the signal‐to‐noise ratio. However, with relatively large modulations, the Auger peak shapes distorted, and the peak‐to‐peak heights eventually decreased in size, and this nonlinearity would cause problems in quantitative analysis. A universal curve was developed for singlet Auger peaks to approximate corrections due to this peak distortion, but an approach to exactly correct for such distortions was largely ignored by the AES community. This approach was called Dynamic Background Subtraction and is even relevant today as some Auger instruments using modulation and lock‐in amplifiers are still being manufactured. This review paper describes approximate and exact corrections for modulation effects in AES data.
Use of likelihood estimates for variances for the design and evaluation of multiregional clinical trials with heterogeneous variances
Authors: Wu Yuh‐Jenn , Cheng Yu‐Chieh , Chiang Chieh , Cheng Li‐Hsueh , Liu Ching‐Ti , Hsiao Chin‐Fu
Published: October 2021

Globalized drug development studies, such as multiregional clinical trials (MRCTs), have attracted much attention due to their ability to expedite drug development and shorten the time lag of drug release. While observing the overall effect of a new drug, the region‐specific effects to support drug registration in constituent regions can also be evaluated. Several challenges arise in conducting MRCTs, such as the heterogeneity in the variability of the primary endpoint across regions. However, most of the existing statistical methods assume a common variability, which may not be valid in practice due to differences across regions (eg, diversities in ethnicity or disparities in medical culture/practice). We present a statistical method for the design and evaluation of MRCTs to consider the heterogeneous variability across regions. We assessed the overall sample size requirement and addressed the region‐specific sample size determination to establish the consistency of treatment effects between the specific region and the entire group. We demonstrate the proposed approach with numerical examples.
Immobilized Na2WO4.2H2O on Arginine Modified Bentonite (Bentonite@L‐Arginine‐WO3): An Efficient and Sustainable Catalyst for the C−C Bond Formation
Authors: Taherinia Zahra , Ghorbani‐Choghamarani Arash
Published: October 2021

In this study, we have reported the preparation of arginine modified bentonite supported WO3, bentonite@ L‐arginine‐WO3.The structure of the functionalized bentonite was characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X‐Ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption isotherm techniques. Thereafter, this new material has been applied as a sustainable catalyst in the C−C bond formation and also heterogeneity of the catalyst was examined by a hot filtration test. Moreover, this catalyst can be easily recovered by centrifuge and reused for at least four cycles without any significant loss of catalyst activity.
The market value spillovers of technological acquisitions: Evidence frompatent‐textanalysis
Authors: Testoni Marco
Published: October 2021

Research Summary

The resource‐based view claims that bundles of resources are the key determinants of a firm's value. Yet, market value spillovers stemming from firms' resource bases have received scarce attention in the literature. This article provides evidence of such spillovers in the context of technological acquisitions. I hypothesize that acquisitions act as signals, revealing to investors that the acquired technologies are more valuable than initially expected. These signals should affect firms owning similar technological resources. Measuring technological similarity with the text similarity of firms' patent portfolios, I find that the announcement of an acquisition brings a positive revaluation of firms with technological resources like those of the target. These spillovers also reach firms with a product market focus different from those of the merging firms.

Managerial Summary

Technological resources are key strategic resources that significantly contribute to firms' valuations. These resources are often acquired through corporate acquisitions. This study explores whether acquisitions affect the valuation of technological resources of other companies not involved in the transaction. The results show that a firm that owns patents similar to the company being acquired experience positive stock market returns at the acquisition announcement, which suggests that the deal signals to investors that the acquired resources are more valuable than initially expected. This effect holds regardless of whether the firm belongs to the same industry as the target or the acquirer. These spillovers change the market value of technological resources and are likely to affect the gains from later acquisitions or divestures of similar resources.
Specialization as a double‐edged sword: The relationship of scientist specialization with R&D productivity and impact following collaborator change
Authors: Jain Amit , Mitchell Will
Published: October 2021

Research Summary

Organizational learning studies demonstrate that specialization conditions multiple aspects of firm performance, including productivity and financial returns, through its effect on skill development and coordination. We know little, however, about how specialization may influence a firm's R&D performance, including both R&D productivity and innovation impact. We propose that specialization is a double‐edged sword for R&D performance that can be influenced via changing scientists' collaborators: specialization increases scientist and firm R&D productivity but decreases the impact of innovations, while changing collaborators in a team reverses how specialization relates to productivity and impact. We validate this argument using a long panel (1970–2017) from the biotechnology industry. Specialization and collaborator change may thus serve as mechanisms to manage the trade‐off between productivity and impact in R&D activities.

Managerial Summary

This article studies how managers in firms may leverage their R&D workers' specialization to optimize their R&D performance. Our study shows that specialization is a double‐edged sword for R&D performance: it facilitates R&D productivity at the detriment of R&D impact, while the trade‐off shifts when collaborators within a scientist's team change. Thus, specialization and collaborator change condition R&D performance, with two implications for strategy. First, a firm's managers can recruit specialists or generalists depending on whether they want to prioritize productivity or impact in R&D activities. Second, job rotation practices that create periodic collaborator change may disrupt R&D productivity, yet invigorate explorative activity and increase the likelihood of impactful innovation.
3D Hollow Xerogels with Ordered Cellulose Nanocrystals for Tailored Mechanical Properties
Authors: Yang Yang , Huang Heqin , Xu Dan , Wang Xiaojie , Chen Ye , Wang Xiaohui , Zhang Kai
Published: October 2021

Advanced materials with aligned cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have attracted much attention due to their remarkable mechanical and optical properties, but most of them still focus on 1D or 2D architectures. Herein, complex 3D architectures as pseudo catenoid hollow xerogels with aligned CNCs are prepared from dynamic hydrogels by mechanical stretching and air‐drying process. Aligned CNCs endow the pseudo catenoids with distinct birefringence in addition to reinforcement. The mechanical properties of pseudo catenoid architecture are revealed for the first time to be controlled at two stages on diverse length scales. Both the aligned CNCs on the nanoscale and the geometry of the xerogels affect the mechanical properties. The inwardly curved surface of the pseudo catenoid xerogel makes the structure conducive to energy dissipation. These both stages of controls on the mechanical properties can be adjusted by changing the morphology of the initial hydrogels and the mechanical stretching ratios. These results will provide a new perspective for the design and manufacture advanced materials with tailored mechanical properties and functions.
Environmental records from coral skeletons: A decade of novel insights and innovation
Authors: Thompson Diane M.
Published: October 2021

Hundreds of coral paleoclimate records have been developed over the past several decades, significantly extending the instrumental record and improving our understanding of tropical climate variability and change in otherwise data‐poor regions. Coral “proxy” records measure the change in skeletal geochemistry or growth as a function of ocean conditions at the time of calcification. Over the past decade (since 2010), new syntheses have identified coherent patterns of warming and variability that are unique within the paleo record (albeit not yet unprecedented). In turn, ocean warming and acidification have had a detrimental impact on coral growth, with reduced extension and increased stress banding. Methodological advances have constrained uncertainties and improved our understanding of the processes by which climate information is archived in coral skeletons. Models that describe these processes have been developed to facilitate proxy‐model comparisons, identify sources of uncertainties, and provide a benchmark upon which forced changes may be detected within a highly variable climate system. Finally, several innovative new proxies have expanded the climate and environmental information that may be obtained from corals, including: seawater pH, aragonite saturation, anthropogenic nitrogen, runoff, and trade winds. Further extending established and novel proxies should remain a priority, along with seawater monitoring and density measurements with which to screen and calibrate these records. As this critical climate archive is increasingly threatened by warming and ocean acidification, the community must work closely together to collect this invaluable climate data in an ecologically and culturally sensitive manner, before it is too late.

This article is categorized under:

Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Paleoclimate
Cybersecurity as a Public Task in Administration
Authors: Chałubińska–Jentkiewicz Katarzyna
Published: October 2021

Contemporary models of public administration have been formed by various political, social and economic conditions. Public tasks are carried out on the basis of legal provisions under the conditions of applying specific decision-making rules and organisational techniques, which include specific principles, procedures and practice—experience. These features characterise public administration as a system of operations, also in relation to cyberspace. The transformations associated with the computerisation and dissemination of information and communication technologies have meant that the duty of public administration in the information age is, on the one hand, to synchronise the activities of entities belonging to different sectors, and on the other, to manage complex networks, as well as to adapt the functioning of public administration to using new technologies. The goal of cybersecurity management is to provide optimal cost protection; to determine which risks can be avoided and how, using both organisational and technical solutions, the risk can be minimised to an acceptable level.
Tasks of Operators of Essential Services and Digital Service Providers
Authors: Chałubińska-Jentkiewicz Katarzyna
Published: October 2021

Public tasks for cyberspace security occupy an important place in the National Security System of the Republic of Poland. The responsibility for ensuring cybersecurity lies with all network users, but public administration authorities play a significant role, with one of the basic tasks being activities to ensure public security and order. In the conditions of arrangements for the implementation of public tasks for national security, with particular emphasis on the specification of public tasks in the area of critical infrastructure protection, it is important to determine the catalogue of entities performing public tasks in the field of cyberspace security. It should be noted that these entities may be public entities performing public tasks, private entities performing public tasks based on the privatisation of public task implementation, and private entities performing their own tasks that are of significant public interest, or which were once carried out as public tasks but were subject to privatisation.
The Liability of Entities Providing Services by Electronic Means for Digital Content
Authors: Zając Paweł
Published: October 2021

As a result of computerisation, digitisation and informatisation of human activities, cyber responsibility became a key and indispensable issue related to human functioning in cyberspace. One of its aspects is the liability of service providers for digital content shared in network and information systems. This issue is increasingly important as the Internet has become a medium of exchange for ideas, views and content, and thus, a potential place of abuse, both from service providers and end users.

This article aims to show the legal regulations regarding the scope of liability of entities providing electronic services for digital content provided under Polish legislation, with particular emphasis on the obligations incumbent on service providers and indication of limitations of liability in the case of mere conduit, caching and hosting services, upon fulfilling certain regulatory requirements. This article also deals with the issue of protecting the copyrights to works unlawfully made available on the web by users and the scope of responsibility of service providers for the above activities.
Cyberspace, Cybercrime, Cyberterrorism
Authors: Radoniewicz Filip
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this chapter is to synthetically characterize the phenomenon of cybercrime, cyberterrorism and cyberwar. It presents attempts to define computer crimes and their classification, history of criminalization of this phenomenon together with related difficulties. The author consistently distinguishes cybercrime from cyberterrorism and cyberwar.
Patent Oppositions in India
Authors: Rathod Sandeep Kanak
Published: October 2021

Pre-grant and post-grant oppositions filed in India by civil society and generic companies have been instrumental in visibly increasing access of drugs to the public—both in terms of earlier generic entry and also cheaper prices due to such generic competition. This paper looks at the significant pharmaceutical patent oppositions in India during the last 15 years. It focuses on some unique aspects connected to each of these oppositions and tracks how these oppositions helped in securing earlier access to generic drugs. The last part of the paper analyses patent opposition pendency statistics and notes that increasing pendency numbers, over the last few years, is a matter of deep concern as it could impact access to drugs, in future.
Robust Patent Examination or Deep Harmonization? Cooperation and Work Sharing Between Patent Offices
Authors: Syam Nirmalya
Published: October 2021

Patent laws and regulations in many countries have utilized the flexibility available under the WTO TRIPS Agreement to apply nationally appropriate standards to define the patentability criteria of novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability, in order to ensure the grant of high-quality patents for genuine inventions. Robust search and examination are crucial for the application of this flexibility to ensure the grant of patents for genuine inventions, e.g., for secondary pharmaceutical patent applications which could lead to patent evergreening and adversely impact access to medicines by restraining generic competition. However, limited examination resources of patent offices have been stretched by the tremendous surge in the number of patent applications to be processed, leading to delays and backlogs. This has led patent offices to prioritize efficient and speedy processing of patent applications with their limited resources by using the search and examination work of other patent offices, sometimes to the extent of granting a patent on the basis of a corresponding grant by another patent office. This chapter discusses how work sharing has been driven by the major patent offices as part of a global patent harmonization agenda, both within the WIPO Patent Cooperation Treaty and through technical assistance and cooperation with other patent offices, and suggests how patent offices in developing countries could best harness the advantages of work sharing, particularly in a South-South cooperation framework, while safeguarding the ability to apply in practice the patentability requirements under their national laws through a robust search and examination of patent claims.
Der digitale Wandel als Motor der Hochschulentwicklung – Strategiemuster für die Digitalisierung der Hochschullehre
Authors: Budde Jannica
Published: October 2021

Der digitale Wandel in Studium und Lehre stellt Hochschulen vor die Herausforderung, einen Veränderungsprozess strategisch zu gestalten, dessen Komplexität nicht zu unterschätzen ist. Denn einerseits soll die Digitalisierung kein Selbstzweck sein und in allen strategischen Prozessen mitgedacht werden, andererseits müssen sich Hochschulen auch konkret damit auseinandersetzen, was der digitale Wandel für Studium und Lehre an der jeweiligen Institution bedeutet. Dafür sollte ein individuelles Strategienarrativ entwickelt werden, das den Veränderungsprozess begründet und diesem eine konkrete Richtung gibt. Dieser Beitrag diskutiert die Fragestellung, welche Grundmuster es für diese strategischen Narrative gibt. Dazu betrachtet der Beitrag unterschiedliche Modelle zu Strategie- und Profilierungsoptionen aus der Literatur und entwickelt hieraus ein Modell von sechs Strategiemustern, die als Begründung und Leitrahmen für strategische Digitalisierungsbestrebungen an Hochschulen dienen können.
Zwischen Dynamik und Synchronisation. Herausforderungen und Handlungsoptionen für die strategische hochschulweite digitale Transformation der Hochschullehre
Authors: Graf-Schlattmann Marcel , Thomsen Birte , Wilde Melanie , Meister Dorothee M. , Oevel Gudrun
Published: October 2021

Im vorliegenden Beitrag verbinden wir drei Aspekte der Digitalisierung der Hochschullehre miteinander und diskutieren sie im Verhältnis zu Strategieempfehlungen und Modellen der Agilität. Zuerst stellen wir dabei die Gelingensbedingungen der strategisch gerahmten Digitalisierung anhand unseres Modells der Kollektiven Veränderung dar. Anschließend widmen wir uns der Projektförmigkeit als dem zentralen Organisationsmuster der digitalen Transformation sowie dem Verhältnis von Dynamik und Synchronisation. Beide Phänomene sind wichtige Eigenschaften der digitalen Transformation, die eine Herausforderung, aber auch eine Chance darstellen.
Die Digitalisierung der Lehre und die Hochschulpolitik. Was bei der Strategiebildung nicht übersehen werden sollte
Authors: Metzner Joachim
Published: October 2021

Wenn die 2020 erfolgte Umstellung der Hochschulen auf digitales Lehren und Lernen zu einer nachhaltigen positiven Veränderung der Hochschule als Bildungsinstitution beitragen soll, wird es auf eine gut durchdachte Digitalisierungsstrategie ankommen; auch eine Neujustierung bestehender Strategien kann geboten sein. Das Gleiche gilt für strategische Positionen zur Digitalisierung der Hochschulen in der europäischen und nationalen Bildungspolitik. Im Beitrag werden inhaltliche Defizite in der bisherigen Strategiebildung auf beiden Seiten aufgezeigt, die nicht zuletzt auf das Fehlen einer politischen Dimension in den hochschulischen Strategien und ein unklares Bildungsverständnis seitens der Politik zurückzuführen sind. Der Aufsatz will zu einer Aufarbeitung dieser Defizite in der aktuellen Situation anregen.
Learning Analytics aus institutioneller Perspektive: Ein Orientierungsrahmen für die hochschulische Datennutzung
Authors: Scheidig Falk , Holmeier Monika
Published: October 2021

Der digitale Wandel führt zu einer Zunahme des Datenvolumens und neuen Möglichkeiten der Datennutzung. Auch an Hochschulen befördert der voranschreitende Technologieeinsatz in Studium und Lehre die als „Datafication“ beschriebene Entwicklung. Hieraus erwachsen einerseits Anforderungen bezüglich des kompetenten Umgangs mit Daten (Data Literacy) und insbesondere des Datenschutzes, denen sich Hochschulen schon heute nicht entziehen können, andererseits aber auch neue Potenziale der gezielten Datennutzung. Unter „Learning Analytics“ werden seit etwa einer Dekade Möglichkeiten der Datenauswertung entwickelt und diskutiert, die ein tieferes Verständnis und eine Optimierung von Lernumgebungen und -prozessen in Aussicht stellen und sowohl Dozierende und Studierende als auch hochschulische Leitungspersonen und -gremien adressieren. Ungeachtet der technischen Dimension der Datenverarbeitung ist die Implementierung von Learning Analytics vor allem auch organisational anspruchsvoll. Zugleich korrespondieren mit Szenarien hochschulischer Datennutzung begründete Einwände und ethische Bedenken. Im Beitrag wird zunächst in das noch junge Feld Learning Analytics eingeführt und anschließend ein Orientierungsrahmen für Hochschulen vorgelegt, der aus institutioneller Perspektive 25 Handlungsanforderungen für einen sensiblen, potenzialorientierten und organisationsbewussten Umgang mit lehr- und lernbezogenen Daten beschreibt.
Analyse didaktischer Veränderungen durch Digitalisierung. Die Mär von mehr Partizipation?
Authors: Gloerfeld Christina
Published: October 2021

Dieser Artikel ist ein Beitrag zur Diskussion über die Transformation von Lehr-/Lernprozessen durch Digitalisierung aus didaktischer Perspektive und nimmt dabei gezielt den Bereich der Partizipation in den Blick. Es wird eine empirische Untersuchung der didaktischen Veränderungen durch Digitalisierung an der FernUniversität (FeU) in Hagen vorgestellt. Die Grundlage bildet eine systematische Erfassung der Lehr-/Lernprozesse anhand eines entwickelten analytischen Rahmenmodells, das aus sechs allgemeindidaktischen Modellen abgeleitet ist. Die exemplarischen Ergebnisse werden vor dem Hintergrund aktueller Erkenntnisse diskutiert und geben auf diese Weise Impulse und Reflexionsansätze gegen teilweise stark überzogene Erwartungshaltungen der Veränderungen im Lehren und Lernen. Es ist evident, dass durch Digitalisierung Handlungsräume erweitert werden und Möglichkeiten für neue Handlungsformen und -praxen entstehen. Die Realisierung dieser Potenziale, zum Beispiel im Bereich der Partizipation, befindet sich jedoch noch am Anfang und hat grundlegende Strukturen bisher wenig aufgebrochen.
Der physische Raum im Kontext der Digitalisierung. Perspektiven für Lehr- und Lernraumkonstellationen an Hochschulen
Authors: Stang Richard , Petschenka Anke , Gläser Christine , Becker Alexandra
Published: October 2021

Im Zuge der Coronapandemie hat sich gezeigt, welche Relevanz Strategien für das Onlinelehren und -lernen für Hochschulen haben. Doch greift es zu kurz, nur den digitalen Raum in strategische Überlegungen bei der Hochschulentwicklung einzubeziehen. Auch der physische Raum wird in Zukunft von zentraler Bedeutung für die Gestaltung der Rahmenbedingungen für Lernende sein. Es gilt, hybride Lehr- und Lernraumkonstellationen zu entwickeln. Dabei wird die Einbeziehung der Studierendenperspektive besonders relevant. Der Beitrag entfaltet die verschiedenen Dimensionen einer entsprechenden Strategieentwicklung an Hochschulen im 21. Jahrhundert. Auf der Basis der Forschungsergebnisse des Projektes „Lernwelt Hochschule (LeHo)“ werden ausgewählte Aspekte diskutiert, die für Hochschulen von besonderer Relevanz sind, wenn sie im Modus der Digitalisierung Zukunft gestalten.