No abstract

Activation of the late prespore-specific RNA polymerase sigma factor G during Bacillus subtilis sporulation coincides with completion of the engulfment process, when the prespore becomes a protoplast fully surrounded by the mother cell cytoplasm and separated from it by a double membrane system. Activation of G also requires expression of spoIIIJ, coding for a membrane protein translocase of the YidC/Oxa1p/Alb3 family, and of the mother cell-specific spoIIIA operon. Here we present genetic and biochemical evidence indicating that SpoIIIAE, the product of one of the spoIIIA cistrons, and SpoIIIJ interact in the membrane, thereby linking the function of the spoIIIJ and spoIIIA loci in the activation of G . We also show that SpoIIIAE has a functional Sec-type signal peptide, which is cleaved during sporulation. Furthermore, mutations that reduce or eliminate processing of the SpoIIIAE signal peptide arrest sporulation following engulfment completion and prevent activation of G . SpoIIIJ-type proteins can function in cooperation with or independently of the Sec system. In one model, SpoIIIJ interacts with SpoIIIAE in the context of the Sec translocon to promote its correct localization and/or topology in the membrane, so that it can signal the activation of G following engulfment completion.Two important issues in developmental biology are how adjacent cells communicate so that coordinated responses emerge and how these signal transduction complexes are assembled at appropriate, discrete sites within the cell. The process of spore differentiation by the gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis provides several examples of cell-cell communication pathways that initiate in one cell and influence the behavior of an adjacent sister cell (11,15,39). Sporulation involves the cooperation between two cells formed at the onset of the process by asymmetric division of a sporangial cell. This polar division produces a polar prespore, the future spore, and an adjacent larger mother cell, a terminal cell line, which contributes to spore morphogenesis but that lyses at its completion (11,15,39). The programs of gene expression in the prespore and the mother cell are controlled by the successive activation of cell-type-specific RNA polymerase sigma factors.

Purpose: To understand how Embrapa Forestry Unit structure its business model to manage better the issues inherent to open innovation, oriented to the management of technology, science delimiting the elements of business models, and inbound and outbound open innovation and their aspects related to impact model. Originality/value: Embrapa Forestry is a research unit focused on technological research in the commercial and non-commercial forestry sector. The central objective of this work was to evaluate how a public company manages its business model in the practical exercise of open innovation. Design/methodology/approach: In order to understand the company’s business model, we adopted the perspective of triangulated single case study between semi-structured interviews and secondary data review based on reports and memos. This is all due to the technological relevance that used open innovation to design a model that today we understand as business models and impact business model, with the data collected and analyzed using the Atlas.ti software. Findings: The results indicate that the importance of Embrapa in the technological scenario in Brazilian agriculture has a significant socioeconomic impact. As a variant, we recognize that, for future research, other theoretical models could be used or adapted to the Brazilian empirical context to understand other organizational elements not addressed in the present study, which can explore cultural relations of the organization and the constitution of sense and meanings in the context of the innovation in public research companies.

Resumo: Este artigo objetiva identificar teórica e empiricamente a relação entre um eficiente sistema financeiro e um sistema de inovação consolidado para os estados do Sudeste brasileiro entre 2000 e 2012, com base na literatura Keynesiana e Schumpeteriana. Com base no método de dados em painel, identifica-se que tanto o montante de depósitos totais do sistema financeiro, quanto o volume estadual de crédito possuem relação positiva com o dinamismo econômico. Já a relação entre preferência pela liquidez e crédito mostrou-se inversamente proporcional, conforme prediz a teoria. Ademais, confirma-se a importância do learning-by-doing, da renda interna bruta estadual e do crédito financeiro para aumentos no índice de progresso tecnológico das economias estaduais do Sudeste brasileiro. Em suma, conclui-se pela necessidade de políticas de estímulo ao desenvolvimento do sistema financeiro e do sistema regional de inovações, visando ao crescimento econômico sustentável. Palavras-chave:Inovação; Crédito; Desenvolvimento Regional. JEL: G21, L16, R11.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to map the process of opening an innovation network in the context of the Brazilian agroforestry sector.Design/methodology/approachQualitative case study of the open innovation network Embrapa Florestas (17 semi-structured interviews, observation and documentary data). Social network analysis (SNA) of the open innovation network from primary data is available at Embrapa Florestas’ system.FindingsThree primary triggers to the opening process of Embrapa Florestas’ innovation network were identified. The process starts with an innovation network with closed network characteristics. The process of opening the innovation network is motivated by a restructuring in its source of fundraising (trigger 1), by the change in strategic orientation toward the internationalization of its network activities (trigger 2) and by opening the black box of its innovation with greater proximity to the productive sector and partner universities (trigger 3). Comparing the pre-opening and post-opening networks (open innovation network), sociometric data allows us to verify that the opening of the innovation network presents better density, clustering and centrality indexes for the network as a whole and for the Embrapa Florestas specifically.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies that aims to investigate the transition from a closed innovation network to an open innovation network by a public research institute. It may also be considered innovative because it presents practical and managerial relevance – in addition to contributions to public policy makers – which allows for improvements in the development of innovation and technology in the country's strategic sectors.