Open Innovation and Team Leaders’ Innovation Traits

Open innovation has transformed internal novel resource allocation and facilitated diverse interorganizational cooperation models. Previous studies have investigated open innovation archetypes and their formation. However, most researchers have neglected the crucial role that team leaders play in integrating internal and external resources and connecting creative ideas in open innovation. This study investigated the influence of open innovation archetypes and team leaders’ innovation traits on team performance. On the basis of the literature review, the analytical hierarchy process was applied to construct a framework for assessing and selecting team leaders in open innovation. The analysis was completed based on samples from 45 valid respondents (88% return rate) in Taiwan’s high-tech industry. The study results suggested that innovation knowledge is the most crucial innovation criterion for a leader, particularly core knowledge and advanced knowledge. Among the various sub-criteria, extrinsic motivation was the second most important sub-criterion. Leaders with strong innovation motivations are suitable to lead inbound open innovation projects.     

Hyperprolactinemia in end‐stage renal disease and effects of frequent hemodialysis

Introduction: End‐stage renal disease is associated with elevations in circulating prolactin concentrations, but the association of prolactin concentrations with intermediate health outcomes and the effects of hemodialysis frequency on changes in serum prolactin have not been examined. Methods: The FHN Daily and Nocturnal Dialysis Trials compared the effects of conventional thrice weekly hemodialysis with in‐center daily hemodialysis (6 days/week) and nocturnal home hemodialysis (6 nights/week) over 12 months and obtained measures of health‐related quality of life, self‐reported physical function, mental health and cognition. Serum prolactin concentrations were measured at baseline and 12‐month follow‐up in 70% of the FHN Trial cohort to examine the associations among serum prolactin concentrations and physical, mental and cognitive function and the effects of hemodialysis frequency on serum prolactin. Findings: Among 177 Daily Trial and 60 Nocturnal Trial participants with baseline serum prolactin measurements, the median serum prolactin concentration was 65 ng/mL (25th–75th percentile 48–195 ng/mL) and 81% had serum prolactin concentrations >30 ng/mL. While serum prolactin was associated with sex (higher in women), we observed no association between baseline serum prolactin and age, dialysis vintage, and baseline measures of physical, mental and cognitive function. Furthermore, there was no significant effect of hemodialysis frequency on serum prolactin in either of the two trials. Discussion: Serum prolactin concentrations were elevated in the large majority of patients with ESRD, but were not associated with several measures of health status. Circulating prolactin levels also do not appear to decrease in response to more frequent hemodialysis over a one‐year period.     

Simultaneous Imaging of Endogenous Survivin mRNA and On‐Demand Drug Release in Live Cells by Using a Mesoporous Silica Nanoquencher

The design of multifunctional drug delivery systems capable of simultaneous target detection, imaging, and therapeutics in live mammalian cells is critical for biomedical research. In this study, by using mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) chemically modified with a small‐molecule dark quencher, followed by sequential drug encapsulation, MSN capping with a dye‐labeled antisense oligonucleotide, and bioorthogonal surface modification with cell‐penetrating poly(disulfide)s, the authors have successfully developed the first mesoporous silica nanoquencher (qMSN), characterized by high drug‐loading and endocytosis‐independent cell uptake, which is able to quantitatively image endogenous survivin mRNA and release the loaded drug in a manner that depends on the survivin expression level in tumor cells. The authors further show that this novel drug delivery system may be used to minimize potential cytotoxicity encountered by many existing small‐molecule drugs in cancer therapy.     

Rational Design and Synthesis of Extremely Efficient Macroporous CoSe2–CNT Composite Microspheres for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

Uniquely structured CoSe₂–carbon nanotube (CNT) composite microspheres with optimized morphology for the hydrogen‐evolution reaction (HER) are prepared by spray pyrolysis and subsequent selenization. The ultrafine CoSe₂ nanocrystals uniformly decorate the entire macroporous CNT backbone in CoSe₂–CNT composite microspheres. The macroporous CNT backbone strongly improves the electrocatalytic activity of CoSe₂ by improving the electrical conductivity and minimizing the growth of CoSe₂ nanocrystals during the synthesis process. In addition, the macroporous structure resulting from the CNT backbone improves the electrocatalytic activity of the CoSe₂–CNT microspheres by increasing the removal rate of generated H₂ and minimizing the polarization of the electrode during HER. The CoSe₂–CNT composite microspheres demonstrate excellent catalytic activity for HER in an acidic medium (10 mA cm^?2 at an overpotential of ≈174 mV). The bare CoSe₂ powders exhibit moderate HER activity, with an overpotential of 226 mV at 10 mA cm^?2. The Tafel slopes for the CoSe₂–CNT composite and bare CoSe₂ powders are 37.8 and 58.9 mV dec^?1, respectively. The CoSe₂–CNT composite microspheres have a slightly larger Tafel slope than that of commercial carbon‐supported platinum nanoparticles, which is 30.2 mV dec^–1.     

Carbon Nanodot‐Sensitized Modulation of Alzheimer's β‐Amyloid Self‐Assembly,Disassembly, and Toxicity

The self‐assembly of amyloidogenic peptides into β‐sheet‐rich aggregates is a general feature of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, which signifies the need for the effective attenuation of amyloid aggregation toward alleviating amyloid‐associated neurotoxicity. This study reports that photoluminescent carbon nanodots (CDs) can effectively suppress Alzheimer's β‐amyloid (Aβ) self‐assembly and function as a β‐sheet breaker disintegrating preformed Aβ aggregates. This study synthesizes CDs using ammonium citrate through one‐pot hydrothermal treatment and passivates their surface with branched polyethylenimine (bPEI). The bPEI‐coated CDs (bPEI@CDs) exhibit hydrophilic and cationic surface characteristics, which interact with the negatively charged residues of Aβ peptides, suppressing the aggregation of Aβ peptides. Under light illumination, bPEI@CDs display a more pronounced effect on Aβ aggregation and on the dissociation of β‐sheet‐rich assemblies through the generation of reactive oxygen species from photoactivated bPEI@CDs. The light‐triggered attenuation effect of Aβ aggregation using a series of experiments, including photochemical and microscopic analysis, is verified. Furthermore, the cell viability test confirms the ability of photoactivated bPEI@CDs for the suppression of Aβ‐mediated cytotoxicity, indicating bPEI@CDs' potency as an effective anti‐Aβ neurotoxin agent.     

Synthesis of Co/SiO2 hybrid nanocatalyst via twisted Co3Si2O5(OH)4 nanosheets for high-temperature Fischer-Tropsch reaction

A cobalt-silica hybrid nanocatalyst bearing small cobalt particles of diameter ～5 nm was prepared through a hydrothermal reaction and hydrogen reduction.The resulting material showed very high CO conversion (＞82％) and high hydrocarbon productivity (～1.0 gHc·g-1cat,·h-11) with high activity (～8.5 x 10-5 molco·g-1Co·S-1) in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction.     

Application of a hot-melt granulation process to enhance fenofibrate solid dose manufacturing

Evaluation of hot-melt granulation of fenofibrate and croscarmellose sodium and its cooling time for the molten mass in a ratio of 55:45 was conducted to assess the manufacturing process capability to produce an acceptable granulation which flows well on Korsch PH300 tablet compression machine. The formation of the drug-polymer eutectic mixture was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. The physical properties of the hot-melt was determined by examining the milled blocks after solidification and milling after cooling periods of 10, 20 and 30 d. The milled material was assessed for the effect of hold time of the blend on the solid dose compression characteristics. The impact of cooling on the processing of the blocks was assessed after 10, 20 and 30 d of cooling. The study suggests that after the hot-melt formed the fenofibrate crystallized independently and a solid solution with croscarmellose sodium was not formed. The age of the blocks determined the hardness of the crystals, changing the processing nature of the granules with respect to compression and powder flow characteristics. The blocks processed after 20 d and beyond produced granules with a characteristic suitable for holding the blend for 14 d in the bin with no impact on flow properties and compressibility of the blend. There was no chipping, capping, sticking or picking observed and a higher compression speed was achieved.