Trademarks as an indicator of innovation: towards a fuller picture

Scientometrics - Encouraged by the emergence of a new and growing literature on the use of trademark data as complementary indicators of innovation, this paper strengthens the case for such use by...     

Impact of the inversion time on regional brain perfusion estimation with clinical arterial spin labeling protocols

Objective

Evaluating the impact of the Inversion Time (TI) on regional perfusion estimation in a pediatric cohort using Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL).

Materials and methods

Pulsed ASL (PASL) was acquired at 3 T both at TI 1500 ms and 2020 ms from twelve MRI-negative patients (age range 9–17 years). A volume of interest (VOIs) and a voxel-wise approach were employed to evaluate subject-specific TI-dependent Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF) differences, and grey matter CBF Z-score differences. A visual evaluation was also performed.

Results

CBF was higher for TI 1500 ms in the proximal territories of the arteries (PTAs) (e.g. insular cortex and basal ganglia — P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 from the VOI analysis, respectively), and for TI 2020 ms in the distal territories of the arteries (DTAs), including the watershed areas (e.g. posterior parietal and occipital cortex — P < 0.001 and P < 0.01 from the VOI analysis, respectively). Similar differences were also evident when analyzing patient-specific CBF Z-scores and at a visual inspection.

Conclusions

TI influences ASL perfusion estimates with a region-dependent effect. The presence of intraluminal arterial signal in PTAs and the longer arterial transit time in the DTAs (including watershed areas) may account for the TI-dependent differences. Watershed areas exhibiting a lower perfusion signal at short TIs (~ 1500 ms) should not be misinterpreted as focal hypoperfused areas.

     

Playing chess or playing poker? Assessment of uncertainty propagation in open innovation projects

Consider an interorganizational open innovation project, in which different organizations cooperate to generate value for clients or to solve a technological problem. In this setting, both the focal firm and the partners face uncertainties over time (e.g., technological uncertainties, market uncertainties) and, therefore, the performance of the focal firm and the overall interorganizational project depend on that firm's ability to assess potential uncertainties. The process of diffusion of a particular uncertainty throughout an inter-organizational project can be defined as uncertainty propagation. Assessment of uncertainty propagation can be employed to mitigate its detrimental impact. This paper connects previous studies of open innovation, uncertainty management and project management by providing a comprehensive, but structured, framework to assess uncertainty propagation. First, we propose the underlying causes of uncertainty propagation. Then, we present the three different approaches to its assessment, based on causes, effects and protection.     

Role of the Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in the Pathophysiology of Pre-Eclampsia

Proinflammatory cytokines are produced in pregnancy in response to the invading pathogens and/or nonmicrobial causes such as damage-associated molecules and embryonic semi-allogenic antigens. While inflammation is essential for a successful pregnancy, an excessive inflammatory response is implicated in several pathologies including pre-eclampsia (PE). This review focuses on the proinflammatory cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a critical regulator of the innate immune response and a major player of processes allowing normal placental development. PE is a severe pregnancy-related syndrome characterized by exaggerated inflammatory response and generalized endothelial damage. In some cases, usually of early onset, it originates from a maldevelopment of the placenta, and is associated with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (placental PE). In other cases, usually of late onset, pre-pregnancy maternal diseases represent risk factors for the development of the disease (maternal PE). Available data suggest that low MIF production in early pregnancy could contribute to the abnormal placentation. The resulting placental hypoxia in later pregnancy could produce high release of MIF in maternal serum typical of placental PE. More studies are needed to understand the role of MIF, if any, in maternal PE.     

Inflammatory Microenvironment and Specific T Cells in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Immunopathogenesis and Novel Immunotherapies

The Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are malignancies of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) arising as a consequence of clonal proliferation driven by somatically acquired driver mutations in discrete genes (JAK2, CALR, MPL). In recent years, along with the advances in molecular characterization, the role of immune dysregulation has been achieving increasing relevance in the pathogenesis and evolution of MPNs. In particular, a growing number of studies have shown that MPNs are often associated with detrimental cytokine milieu, expansion of the monocyte/macrophage compartment and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, as well as altered functions of T cells, dendritic cells and NK cells. Moreover, akin to solid tumors and other hematological malignancies, MPNs are able to evade T cell immune surveillance by engaging the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, whose pharmacological blockade with checkpoint inhibitors can successfully restore effective antitumor responses. A further interesting cue is provided by the recent discovery of the high immunogenic potential of JAK2V617F and CALR exon 9 mutations, that could be harnessed as intriguing targets for innovative adoptive immunotherapies. This review focuses on the recent insights in the immunological dysfunctions contributing to the pathogenesis of MPNs and outlines the potential impact of related immunotherapeutic approaches.     

Expanding the Clinical and Genetic Spectrum of RAB28-Related Cone-Rod Dystrophy: Pathogenicity of Novel Variants in Italian Families

The small Ras-related GTPase Rab-28 is highly expressed in photoreceptor cells, where it possibly participates in membrane trafficking. To date, six alterations in the RAB28 gene have been associated with autosomal recessive cone-rod dystrophies. Confirmed variants include splicing variants, missense and nonsense mutations. Here, we present a thorough phenotypical and genotypical characterization of five individuals belonging to four Italian families, constituting the largest cohort of RAB28 patients reported in literature to date. All probands displayed similar clinical phenotype consisting of photophobia, decreased visual acuity, central outer retinal thinning, and impaired color vision. By sequencing the four probands, we identified: a novel homozygous splicing variant; two novel nonsense variants in homozygosis; a novel missense variant in compound heterozygous state with a previously reported nonsense variant. Exhaustive molecular dynamics simulations of the missense variant p.(Thr26Asn) in both its active and inactive states revealed an allosteric structural mechanism that impairs the binding of Mg²⁺, thus decreasing the affinity for GTP. The impaired GTP-GDP exchange ultimately locks Rab-28 in a GDP-bound inactive state. The loss-of-function mutation p.(Thr26Asn) was present in a compound heterozygosis with the nonsense variant p.(Arg137*), which does not cause mRNA-mediated decay, but is rather likely degraded due to its incomplete folding. The frameshift p.(Thr26Valfs4*) and nonsense p.(Leu13*) and p.(Trp107*) variants, if translated, would lack several key structural components necessary for the correct functioning of the encoded protein.     

Oil Quality and Yield of Different Carthamus tinctorius Cultivars: Promising Oilseeds for Biodiesel in Semi-Arid Regions

In this study, seed productivity and oil content of three safflower genotypes (IMAMT 1750, IMAMT 946 and IMAMT 894) cultivated in the Brazilian semi-arid region were evaluated to identify which genotype has the best in-field performance. The acidity and saponification index were evaluated, as well as the efficiency of lipid extraction through thermal analysis, aiming to estimate the species' potential for biofuel production in semi-arid regions. Field cultivation under semi-arid conditions lasted for ~75 days and no herbivory were observed on the plants. The IMAMT 894 genotype presented higher seed yield than the other genotypes, IMAMT 1750 presented 34% oil, and IMAMT 946 and IMAMT 894 presented 32% oil with efficient extraction in the Soxhlet system and high oil content and quality; higher than traditionally used crops such as soybean and cotton. The IMAMT 894 genotype showed higher seed productivity, but all three genotypes presented good oil yield and quality for biodiesel production. Oil extraction in the Soxhlet system was efficient since the thermogravimetric analysis showed no oil in the residual biomass after oil extraction.     

Influence of particle size and glassy carbon content on the thermal,mechanical, and electrical properties of PHBV/glassy carbon composites

Glassy carbon (GC) constitutes a promising carbonaceous material that can be employed as an antistatic agent in the development of antistatic packaging used in the electronics industry. Thus, the present work aims at developing biodegradable and antistatic packaging from poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) reinforced with different GC contents (0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, and 5.0 wt%) and different GC particle size (<45 μm and > 75 μm) using extrusion processing. differential scanning calorimetry analysis shows that the addition of GC decreases the degree of crystallinity (X_c) of PHBV, which can explain the reduction of its stiffness. Impedance spectroscopy results reveal that the use of GC contents greater than 2.5 wt% (GC > 75 μm) makes possible the obtainment of a material with an electrical resistivity small enough to be used in antistatic packaging. It can be concluded that GC is an interesting alternative of antistatic agent for electrically dissipative packaging.