Innovation in the Application of Digital Tools for Managing Uncertainty: The Case of UK Independent Film

This research investigates innovation in how film producers use social digital tools to engage consumers, reduce demand uncertainty and respond to the challenge of digital disruption that affects the traditional film value chain. Through three empirical case studies of film production and exploitation, we examine examples of innovation in product, service, distribution, marketing and process, each having important implications at the organizational level. Our findings show that innovations in one area have important implications for other areas, distribution impacting on concepts of product and service, for example. We also show that internal firm micro‐process dynamics impact directly on external interactions between the firm, consumers en masse and partner firms. Our research thus lies at the nexus of innovation, social media and uncertainty management, and questions the boundaries found in innovation ‘types’ or dominant taxonomies in traditional R&D frames.     

Ceramic pigments with sphene structure obtained by both spray- and freeze-drying techniques

The present study is focused on the procedure of spray- and freeze-drying techniques for the preparation of Cr-doped sphene pigments (CaSn_0.98Cr_0.02SiO₅, CaTi_0.98Cr_0.02SiO₅) from an aqueous solution of precursor salts, followed by calcinations of the resulting powders in absence of additives. The evolution of the present crystalline phases with applied thermal treatments was studied by X-ray powder diffraction and thermal analysis. The powder morphology was analysed by scanning electronic microscopy. The behaviour of the chromium ion was clarified by ultraviolet and visible spectroscopy. The colour efficiency of pigments was evaluated by colourimetric analysis (CIE L?a?b? system).     

Synthesis by pyrolysis of aerosols and ceramic application of Cr-doped CaYAlO4 red–orange pigments

The synthesis of red–orange Cr-doped YCaAlO₄ pigments has been improved (softer thermal conditions and lower environmental impact) and optimised by using the pyrolysis of aerosols method. We also study the crystallochemical features of the Cr chromophore with special emphasis on its oxidation state which has not been yet clarified, finding that Cr(III) and Cr(IV) species are present in the octahedral and interstitial tetrahedral sites of the YCaAlO₄ lattice, respectively. Finally, the applicability of this system as ceramic pigment was tested using conventional industrial glazes. A change from orange to pink shades was detected after glaze firing, which is mainly attributed to the Cr³⁺ to Cr⁴⁺ oxidation.     

A Tandem Enzymatic sp2‐C‐Methylation Process: Coupling in Situ S‐Adenosyl‐l‐Methionine Formation with Methyl Transfer

A one‐pot, two‐step biocatalytic platform for the regiospecfic C‐methylation and C‐ethylation of aromatic substrates is described. The tandem process utilises SalL (Salinospora tropica) for in situ synthesis of S‐adenosyl‐l ‐methionine (SAM), followed by alkylation of aromatic substrates by the C‐methyltransferase NovO (Streptomyces spheroides). The application of this methodology is demonstrated for the regiospecific labelling of aromatic substrates by the transfer of methyl, ethyl and isotopically labelled ¹³CH_3, ¹³CD₃ and CD₃ groups from their corresponding SAM analogues formed in situ.     

Ancestral Haloalkane Dehalogenases Show Robustness and Unique Substrate Specificity

Ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) represents a powerful approach for empirical testing structure‐function relationships of diverse proteins. We employed ASR to predict sequences of five ancestral haloalkane dehalogenases (HLDs) from the HLD‐II subfamily. Genes encoding the inferred ancestral sequences were synthesized and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the resurrected ancestral enzymes (AncHLD1–5) were experimentally characterized. Strikingly, the ancestral HLDs exhibited significantly enhanced thermodynamic stability compared to extant enzymes (ΔT_m up to 24 °C), as well as higher specific activities with preference for short multi‐substituted halogenated substrates. Moreover, multivariate statistical analysis revealed a shift in the substrate specificity profiles of AncHLD1 and AncHLD2. This is extremely difficult to achieve by rational protein engineering. The study highlights that ASR is an efficient approach for the development of novel biocatalysts and robust templates for directed evolution.     

Decomposition of ozone on Ag/SiO2 catalyst for abatement of waste gases emissions

A silica-supported Ag system made by the incipient wetness impregnation method was investigated in the reaction of heterogeneous catalytic decomposition of ozone. It was established that the catalytic ozone decomposition on Ag/SiO₂ proceeded in the temperature interval −40 °C to 25 °C as a first order reaction with activation energy of 65 kJ/mol (pre-exponential factor 5.0 × 10¹⁴ s⁻¹). Based on the results from the instrumental methods (SEM, XRD, XPS, EPR, TPD) it can be concluded that in presence of ozone the silver is oxidized to a complicated mixture of Ag₂O₃ and AgO. Due to the high activity and stability of the Ag/SiO₂ catalyst, it is promising for neutralization of waste gases containing ozone.     

Microstructural Features of Deformation of AMg6 Alloy under Conditions of Creep and Tension

We established the micromechanisms of deformation of AMg6 alloy under conditions of short-term creep and tension under the action of combined loading (static loading with superposition of low-amplitude cyclic component) at 293 K. We propose a mechanism according to which grinding of grains and increase in their amount leads to an increase in nucleation centers of pores in the material. The presence of the cyclic component leads to an increase in the density and size of pores as compared with creep and short-term tension under static loading.