Dynamic Model of R&D,Spillovers, and Efficiency of Bertrand and Cournot Equilibria

Using an infinite-horizon two-player differential game, we derive and compare Bertrand and Cournot equilibria for a differentiated duopoly engaging in the process of R&D competition. The main findings of this study are as follows. First, Bertrand competition is more efficient if either R&D productivity is low or products are very different. Second, Cournot competition is more efficient provided that R&D productivity is high, products are close substitutes, and spillovers are not close to zero. This last result is different from what has been obtained in the literature. Hence, this shows that considering a dynamic model and more general investment costs does have an impact on the efficiency results.     

Role of compositional changes on thermal,magnetic,and mechanical properties of Fe-P-C-based amorphous alloys

This work aimed to tune the comprehensive properties of Fe-P-C-based amorphous system through investigating the role of microalloying process on the crystallization behavior,glass forming ability(GFA),soft magnetic features,and mechanical properties.Considering minor addition of elements into the system,it was found that the simultaneous microalloying of Ni and Co leads to the highest GFA,which was due to the optimization of compositional heterogeneity and creation of near-eutectic composition.Moreover,the FeCoNiCuPC amorphous alloy exhibited the best anelastic/viscoplastic behavior under the nanoindentation test,which was owing to the intensified structural fluctuations in the system.However,the improved plasticity by the extra Cu addition comes at the expense of magnetic properties,so that the saturation magnetization of this alloying system is significantly decreased compared to the FeCoPC amorphous alloy with the highest soft magnetic properties.In total,the results indicated that a combination of added elemental constitutes,i.e.,Fe69Co5Ni5Cu1P13C7 composition,provides an optimized state for the comprehensive properties in the alloying system.     

Short Synthesis of Functionalized Cyclic Homoallylsilanes

The synthesis of functionalized cyclic homoallylsilanes 5 and 6 was described starting from functional cycloalkenols 1 and 2, in which the addition of silylcuprate to the functional acetates 3 and 4 were used as the key reaction step.     

Enhancement of β-Glucan Biological Activity Using a Modified Acid-Base Extraction Method from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Beta glucan (β-glucan) has promising bioactive properties. Consequently, the use of β-glucan as a food additive is favored with the dual-purpose potential of increasing the fiber content of food products and enhancing their health properties. Our aim was to evaluate the biological activity of β-glucan (antimicrobial, antitoxic, immunostimulatory, and anticancer) extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a modified acid-base extraction method. The results demonstrated that a modified acid-base extraction method gives a higher biological efficacy of β-glucan than in the water extraction method. Using 0.5 mg dry weight of acid-base extracted β-glucan (AB extracted) not only succeeded in removing 100% of aflatoxins, but also had a promising antimicrobial activity against multidrug-resistant bacteria, fungi, and yeast, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 0.39 and 0.19 mg/mL in the case of resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. In addition, AB extract exhibited a positive immunomodulatory effect, mediated through the high induction of TNFα, IL-6, IFN-γ, and IL-2. Moreover, AB extract showed a greater anticancer effect against A549, MDA-MB-232, and HepG-2 cells compared to WI-38 cells, at high concentrations. By studying the cell death mechanism using flow-cytometry, AB extract was shown to induce apoptotic cell death at higher concentrations, as in the case of MDA-MB-231 and HePG-2 cells. In conclusion, the use of a modified AB for β-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae exerted a promising antimicrobial, immunomodulatory efficacy, and anti-cancer potential. Future research should focus on evaluating β-glucan in various biological systems and elucidating the underlying mechanism of action.     

An Enhanced Process for the Production of a Highly Purified Extracellular Lipase in the Non-conventional Yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yarrowia lipolytica</Emphasis>

Yarrowia lipolytica LgX64.81 is a non-genetically modified mutant that was previously identified as a promising microorganism for extracellular lipase production. In this work, the development of a fed-batch process for the production of this enzyme in this strain was described. A lipolytic activity of 2,145 U/mL was obtained after 32 h of batch culture in a defined medium supplemented with 10 g/L of tryptone, an enhancer of lipase expression. To maximize the volumetric productivity, two different fed-batch strategies had been investigated. In comparison to batch process, the intermittent fed-batch strategy had not improved the volumetric lipase productivity. In contrast, the stepwise feeding strategy combined with uncoupled cell growth and lipase production phases resulted in a 2-fold increase in the volumetric lipase productivity, namely, the lipase activity reached 10,000 U/mL after 80 h of culture. Furthermore, this lipase was purified to homogeneity by anion exchange chromatography on MonoQ resin followed by gel filtration on Sephacryl S-100. This process resulted in an overall yield of 72% and a 3.5-fold increase of the specific lipase activity. The developed process offers a great potential for an economic production of Lip2 at large scale in Y. lipolytica LgX64.81.     

Volatile constituents of two Hypericum species from Tunisia

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of the Tunisian Hypericum perforatum and H. ericoides ssp. roberti was elucidated by a combination of GC and GC-MS analyses. The main constituents of the oil of H. perforatum were alpha-pinene (11.8%), alpha-ylangene (10.4%), germacrene-D (9.5%), n-octane (6.5%) and alpha-selinene (5.9%). The oil of H. ericoides ssp. roberti exhibited a higher amount of aliphatic and branched hydrocarbons and the main constituents were n-octane (29.1%), alpha-pinene (10.9%), pulegone (7.7%) and acetophenone (7%). Both qualitative and quantitative differences were observed between the studied oils. This chemical variability seems likely to result from the genetic variability, since samples of both species were collected at the same location and processed under the same conditions.     

Highly insulating alkane rings with destructive σ-interference

Science China Chemistry - Destructive quantum interference (DQI) provides a unique approach to controlling the leakage current in the OFF state of molecular devices. However, the DQI in...     

Global Stabilization of a Class of Bilinear Systems in $${\mathbb{R}^3}$$

In this paper, we consider a class of bilinear systems in dimension three which can be an extension of another one in \({\mathbbm{R}^{2}}\). We prove that there exists some homogeneous feedback of degree zero stabilizing the considered class if and only if these feedbacks are constants.     

One‐Pot Synthesis of 3,5‐Disubstituted Pyridin‐2‐ones by Annulation of β‐Keto‐amides with 2‐Dimethylaminomethylene‐1,3‐bis(dimethylimonio)propane Diperchlorate

β‐Keto‐amides react with 2‐dimethylaminomethylene‐1,3‐bis(dimethylimonio)propane diperchlorate salt to give the corresponding 3‐acetyl‐5‐formylpyridin‐2‐ones. The annulation reactions proceed with excellent yields.