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Alliances are essential for high-tech startups that are seeking resources and preparing for future expansion. This study examines how the attributes of high-tech startups' early-stage inventions influence the likelihood of forming alliances. Specifically, we explore the impact of technological novelty and economic scope of inventions on alliance formation. Using a sample of 408 healthcare startups, we empirically demonstrate that technological novelty has a negative impact on alliance formation, whereas economic scope has a positive impact. We also find that the engagement of corporate venture capitalists can mitigate the negative impact of technological novelty on high-tech startups' alliance formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the influence of ascribed and achieved political connections on corporate strategies of incremental versus radical innovation. The corporate political strategy literature maintains that while politically connected firms have access to resources controlled by the government, they also have an obligation to reciprocate for this access by fulfilling government expectations. We integrate an institutional perspective with the political strategy literature to develop the argument that ascribed political connections enhance incremental innovation because firms with these connections will tend to innovate just enough to meet government expectations. In contrast, firms with achieved political connections will tend to prefer radical innovation because these innovations help them to maintain their relationships with the government and expand their competitive advantage in the market. Furthermore, we propose that these effects depend on firms' innovation orientation, captured by the firms' technological capability, industry characteristics, and the innovation context of their geographical region. Our predictions are largely supported by analysis of a panel dataset of privately controlled, publicly listed Chinese firms during the period 2008 to 2018. Our findings reveal that the positive effect of ascribed political connections on incremental innovation is less salient when a firm has stronger technological capability, or when a firm operates in a high‐tech industry or a region with a strong innovative climate. Conversely, the positive influence of achieved political connections on radical innovation is stronger when a firm has stronger technological capability, or when a firm competes in a high‐tech industry or is located in a region with a strong innovative climate. We also discuss the important implications for firms and the government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature compensation is the main measure to solve the problem that the detection accuracy of non-dispersive infrared CO2 gas sensor is affected by temperature. As the measurement accuracy of the non-dispersive infrared CO2 gas sensor is easily affected by the ambient temperature, this article analyzes the reasons why the sensor is affected by temperature, and proposes a temperature compensation method that integrates the Whale Algorithm (WOA) and BP neural network. The whale algorithm is used to optimize the weights and thresholds of the BP neural network to build a temperature compensation model for the non-dispersive infrared CO2 gas sensor and compare the superiority with the traditional BP neural network model and particle swarm optimization (PSO) BP neural network model. The experimental results show that the temperature compensation model error of WOA-BP algorithm is lower than 30 ppm, and the average absolute error percentage is 3.86%, which is far better than BP neural network and PSO-BP neural network, and effectively reduces the influence of temperature on the accuracy of the sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technological novelty of inventions signals economic potential while simultaneously indicating considerable technological and market risks. We speculate that unlike early-stage venture capital (VC) investors, late-stage public investors will interpret technological novelty as a signal of high risks. Consequently, they will hesitate to promptly invest in high-tech start-ups with such inventions, thereby slowing the initial public offering speed of the start-ups. Based on a sample of 408 VC-backed healthcare start-ups founded between 1990 and 2010, we find support for our hypothesis. We also find that the negative effect of technological novelty of inventions can be relieved when the technology is characterised by conventionality, when the founder is also the inventor, or when the start-up is backed by premium VC investors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Periostin is important for the maintenance of periodontal tissue, but its role in periodontitis is controversial. This research investigated the effect of periostin in periodontitis and the underlying mechanism. Design: Mouse periodontitis models in vivo and inflammation model in vitro which were induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide were established to evaluate periostin expression. Human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs) were treated with lipopolysaccharide and N‐acetylcysteine, fluorescence staining, flow cytometry, Western blot, and qRT‐PCR were used to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS), periostin expression, and apoptosis‐related makers. The periostin gene was successfully transfected into PDLFs to verify the effect of periostin on apoptosis. Then, the Nrf2 inhibitor was added to clarify the mechanism. Results: Periostin expression decreased in the periodontal ligaments of mouse periodontitis models and lipopolysaccharide‐induced PDLFs. Lipopolysaccharide promoted the activation of ROS and apoptosis in PDLFs, whereas N‐acetylcysteine reversed this condition. Overexpression of periostin suppressed apoptosis of PDLFs and reversed the inhibitory effect of lipopolysaccharide on nuclear Nrf2 expression. Moreover, the Nrf2 inhibitor attenuated the protective effect of periostin on lipopolysaccharide‐induced apoptosis. Conclusions: Lipopolysaccharide induced apoptosis in PDLFs by inhibiting periostin expression and thus Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway, indicating that periostin could be a potential therapeutic target for periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reverse innovation (RI) patents, which apply to intellectual property that is created in an emerging country but patented in a developed country, are better representatives of innovation value than domestic patents in emerging economies. We argue that RI patents contribute to firm value by proxying for the private value of innovation, generating product market value, and signalling firms' capabilities. Using a sample of Chinese‐listed companies, we find RI patents positively relate to firms' short‐ and long‐term market value. This effect is stronger for firms with high innovative intensity and managerial ability. We also explore the mechanisms behind the relationship between RI and firm value. We demonstrate that, in addition to the domestic patent functions of creating value and capturing innovation rent, RI patents can further leverage firm value by signalling firm quality to customers and investors in developed markets, a function that is unique to RI patents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the coordinated optimization problem of distributed generation (DG), on‐load tap changer (OLTC) and capacitor banks, a dynamic reactive power optimization (DRPO) method based on fuzzy time clustering is proposed. In the method, fuzzy time clustering algorithm is used to cluster the static optimal switching sequence of OLTC and capacitor banks. The time decoupling of control variables is realized and it meets the constraints of the maximum switching times. Next, the influencing factors of DG reactive power limit are analysed. Considering the control ability of OLTC, capacitor banks and DG in voltage and reactive power optimization, a coordinated optimization method is proposed. Since the adjustment of OLTC tap position directly affects the voltage and reactive power distribution of the whole line, the switching time and tap position of OLTC are determined based on the static optimization results of each time and fuzzy time clustering algorithm. Then, the switching time of capacitor banks is determined by fuzzy time clustering algorithm. At last, the switching capacity of capacitor banks and DG reactive power are jointly optimized to get the final control scheme. The proposed method demonstrated good performance in the modified IEEE33 node system and two actual power grid examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley (MPV) reduction has gained much attention due to is mid reaction conditions, and this reaction can be performed without the presence of reductive atmosphere and the reaction conditions of high temperature and high pressure. Solid bases with abundant strong basic sites can be synthesized with metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as precursors. These MOFs are immobilized with alkane metal nitrides, followed by calcination to produce the desired basic metal oxides. The basic zirconia shows highly efficient catalytic performance in MPV reduction of substrates with the carbonyl group, and benzaldehyde can be completely reduced in 6 hours with a mild reaction temperature (160 °C) in the absence of hydrogen gas. The catalytic efficiency is determined by the amounts of strong basic sites, but not the total amounts of basic sites, and this phenomenon is proved by the contrast experiments with the catalytic test of weak solid bases. Furthermore, the cooperative action between basic and acid sites can also enhance the catalytic performance in MPV reactions. With MOFs as precursors, metal oxide catalysts can be synthesized with well dispersed active sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]