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Starting with Peng and Heath (Academy of Management Review, 21: 492–528, 1996), the growth of the firm in emerging economies (EE) has received increasing attention in the literature in the last two decades. This line of research has not only extended our knowledge on firms’ strategic choices to the context of EE, but also proposed new perspectives on the growth of the firm. Leveraging prior research, this article focuses on three major modes for firm growth—organic, acquisitive, and network-based. For each mode, we identify new themes and insights emerging from the last two decades of research. They center on (1) compositional capabilities and frugal innovations for organic growth, (2) business groups and cross-border acquisitions for acquisitive growth, and (3) network capitalism and institutional transitions for network-based growth. Overall, we not only identify new themes and insights, but also outline important yet unresolved debates as future research directions.

Shanzhai refers to a set of dynamic strategies for firms to grow out of counterfeiting. Shanzhai firms have traditionally been perceived as counterfeiters from the emerging economies producing cheap and low-quality products. This trend has changed in recent years when Shanzhai firms have grown into market leaders and have introduced leading technologies and applications. This paper focuses on the growth of Shanzhai firms by exploring how Shanzhai firms and Shanzhai industries emerged. We further investigate the context that supports the emergence of Shanzhai firms into market leaders. We leverage two case studies using the growth path of two market leaders in their respective industries to illustrate the two paths leading to the emergence of Shanzhai firms. We attempt to show that although Shanzhai firms start out with low legitimacy, these firms grow their legitimacy over time by building their core competitiveness in their respective industries.

Shanzhai refers to a set of dynamic strategies for firms to grow out of counterfeiting. Shanzhai firms have traditionally been perceived as counterfeiters from the emerging economies producing cheap and low-quality products. This trend has changed in recent years when Shanzhai firms have grown into market leaders and have introduced leading technologies and applications. This paper focuses on the growth of Shanzhai firms by exploring how Shanzhai firms and Shanzhai industries emerged. We further investigate the context that supports the emergence of Shanzhai firms into market leaders. We leverage two case studies using the growth path of two market leaders in their respective industries to illustrate the two paths leading to the emergence of Shanzhai firms. We attempt to show that although Shanzhai firms start out with low legitimacy, these firms grow their legitimacy over time by building their core competitiveness in their respective industries.

A blackboard-based architecture is developed for modular product design for the implementation of concurrent engineering. This proposed approach adopts blackboard-based techniques including blackboard, knowledge sources, agents and control module. The Workflow Automation through Agent-Based Reflective Processes (WARP) approach is used to collect the requirements and to build this model for the product development. This WARP approach entails an agent-based architecture that supports the bottom-up configuration, reconfiguration, and workflow-based services of reusable distributed design for X. Furthermore, a prototype system is created on Java, Jess and Jade platform. A specific case of bicycle part design is studied through the use of prototype system to prove the effectiveness and efficiency of the model. The blackboard-based architecture shows to take lesser time and cost in evolutionary cooperative and concurrent product design. It will greatly enhance the capability of companies to satisfy the diverse customer requirements.

How ecological niche breadth evolves is central to adaptation and speciation and has been a topic of perennial interest. Niche breadth evolution research has occurred within environmental, ecological, evolutionary, and biogeographical contexts, and although some generalities have emerged, critical knowledge gaps exist. Performance breadth trade-offs, although long invoked, may not be common determinants of niche breadth evolution or limits. Niche breadth can expand or contract from specialist or generalist lineages, and so specialization need not be an evolutionary dead end. Whether niche breadth determines diversification and distribution breadth and how niche breadth is partitioned among individuals and populations within a species are important but particularly understudied topics. Molecular genetic and phylogenetic techniques have greatly expanded understanding of niche breadth evolution, but field studies of how niche breadth evolves are essential for providing mechanistic details and allowing the development of comprehensive theory and improved prediction of biological responses under global change.

: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are new diagnostic and potentially therapeutic tools to model disease and assess the toxicity of pharmaceutical medications. A common limitation of cell lineages derived from iPSCs is a blunted phenotype compared with fully developed, endogenous cells. We examined the influence of novel three-dimensional bioartificial microenvironments on function and maturation of hepatocyte-like cells differentiated from iPSCs and grown within an acellular, liver-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffold. In parallel, we also compared a bioplotted poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) scaffold that allows for cell growth in three dimensions and formation of cell-cell contacts but is infused with type I collagen (PLLA-collagen scaffold) alone as a \"deconstructed\" control scaffold with narrowed biological diversity. iPSC-derived hepatocytes cultured within both scaffolds remained viable, became polarized, and formed bile canaliculi-like structures; however, cells grown within ECM scaffolds had significantly higher P450 (CYP2C9, CYP3A4, CYP1A2) mRNA levels and metabolic enzyme activity compared with iPSC hepatocytes grown in either bioplotted PLLA collagen or Matrigel sandwich control culture. Additionally, the rate of albumin synthesis approached the level of primary cryopreserved hepatocytes with lower transcription of fetal-specific genes, α-fetoprotein and CYP3A7, compared with either PLLA-collagen scaffolds or sandwich culture. These studies show that two acellular, three-dimensional culture systems increase the function of iPSC-derived hepatocytes. However, scaffolds derived from ECM alone induced further hepatocyte maturation compared with bioplotted PLLA-collagen scaffolds. This effect is likely mediated by the complex composition of ECM scaffolds in contrast to bioplotted scaffolds, suggesting their utility for in vitro hepatocyte assays or drug discovery. Through the use of novel technology to develop three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds, the present study demonstrated that hepatocyte-like cells derived via induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology mature on 3D extracellular matrix scaffolds as a result of 3D matrix structure and scaffold biology. The result is an improved hepatic phenotype with increased synthetic and catalytic potency, an improvement on the blunted phenotype of iPSC-derived hepatocytes, a critical limitation of iPSC technology. These findings provide insight into the influence of 3D microenvironments on the viability, proliferation, and function of iPSC hepatocytes to yield a more mature population of cells for cell toxicity studies and disease modeling.

Background Passive-dynamic ankle–foot orthoses (PD-AFOs) are often prescribed to address plantar flexor weakness during gait, which is commonly observed after stroke. However, limited evidence is available to inform the prescription guidelines of PD-AFO bending stiffness. This study assessed the extent to which PD-AFOs customized to match an individual’s level of plantar flexor weakness influence walking function, as compared to No AFO and their standard of care (SOC) AFO. Methods Mechanical cost-of-transport, self-selected walking speed, and key biomechanical variables were measured while individuals greater than six months post-stroke walked with No AFO, with their SOC AFO, and with a stiffness-customized PD-AFO. Outcomes were compared across these conditions using a repeated measures ANOVA or Friedman test (depending on normality) for group-level analysis and simulation modeling analysis for individual-level analysis. Results Twenty participants completed study activities. Mechanical cost-of-transport and self-selected walking speed improved with the stiffness-customized PD-AFOs compared to No AFO and SOC AFO. However, this did not result in a consistent improvement in other biomechanical variables toward typical values. In line with the heterogeneous nature of the post-stroke population, the response to the PD-AFO was highly variable. Conclusions Stiffness-customized PD-AFOs can improve the mechanical cost-of-transport and self-selected walking speed in many individuals post-stroke, as compared to No AFO and participants’ standard of care AFO. This work provides initial efficacy data for stiffness-customized PD-AFOs in individuals post-stroke and lays the foundation for future studies to enable consistently effective prescription of PD-AFOs for patients post-stroke in clinical practice. Trial Registration: NCT04619043.

1. Early arrival at breeding grounds is of prime importance for migrating birds as it is known to enhance breeding success. Adults, males and higher quality individuals typically arrive earlier, and across years, early arrival has been linked to warmer spring temperatures. However, the mechanisms and potential costs of early arrival are not well understood. 2. To deepen the understanding of arrival date differences between individuals and years, we studied them in light of the preceding spring migration behaviour and atmospheric conditions en route. 3. GPS and body acceleration (ACC) data were obtained for 35 adult white storks (Ciconia ciconia) over five years (2012-2016). ACC records were translated to energy expenditure estimates (overall dynamic body acceleration; ODBA) and to behavioural modes, and GPS fixes were coupled with environmental parameters. 4. At the interindividual level (within years), early arrival was attributed primarily to departing earlier for migration and from more northern wintering sites (closer to breeding grounds), rather than to migration speed. In fact, early-departing birds flew slower, experienced weaker thermal uplifts and expended more energy during flight, but still arrived earlier, emphasizing the cost and the significance of early departure. Individuals that wintered further south arrived later at the breeding grounds but did not produce fewer fledglings, presumably due to positive carryover effects of advantageous wintering conditions (increased precipitation, vegetation productivity and daylight time). Therefore, early arrival increased breeding success only after controlling for wintering latitude. Males arrived slightly ahead of females. Between years, late arrival was linked to colder temperatures en route through two different mechanisms: stronger headwinds causing slower migration and lower thermal uplifts resulting in longer stopovers. 5. This study showed that distinct migratory properties underlie arrival time variation within and between years. It highlighted (a) an overlooked cost of early arrival induced by unfavourable atmospheric conditions during migration, (b) an important fitness trade-off in storks between arrival date and wintering habitat quality and (c) mechanistic explanations for the negative temperature–arrival date correlation in soaring birds. Such understanding of arrival time can facilitate forecasting migrating species responses to climate changes.

To facilitate implementation of home-based care following an elective total knee or hip replacement in a private hospital, we explored patient and caregiver barriers and enablers and components of care that may increase its acceptability. Thirty-one patients (mean age 71 years, 77% female) and 14 caregivers (mean age 69 years, 57% female) were interviewed. All themes were developed using thematic analysis, then categorised as barriers or enablers to uptake of home-based care or acceptable components of care. Barrier and enabler themes were mapped to the Theoretical Domains Framework. Eight themes emerged as barriers or enablers: feeling unsafe versus confident; caregivers' willingness to provide support and patients' unwillingness to seek help; less support and opportunity to rest; positive feelings about home over the hospital; certainty about anticipated recovery; trusting specialist advice over family and friends; length of hospital stay; paying for health insurance. Five themes emerged as acceptable components: home visits prior to discharge; specific information about recovery at home; one-to-one physiotherapy and occupational therapy perceived as first-line care; medical, nursing and a 24/7 direct-line perceived as second-line care for complications; no one-size-fits-all model for domestic support. Theoretical domains relating to barriers included emotion (e.g., feeling unsafe), environmental context and resources (e.g., perceived lack of physiotherapy) and beliefs about consequences (e.g., unwillingness to burden their caregiver). Theoretical domains relating to enablers included beliefs about capabilities (e.g., feeling strong), skills (e.g., practising stairs), procedural knowledge (e.g., receiving advice about early mobility) and social influences (e.g., caregivers' willingness to provide support). Multiple factors, such as feeling unsafe and caregivers' willingness to provide support, may influence implementation of home-based care from the perspectives of privately insured patients and caregivers. Our findings provide insights to inform design of suitable home-based care following joint replacement in a private setting.

Novel management strategies for controlling smutgrass have potential to influence sward dynamics in bahiagrass forage systems. This experiment evaluated population shifts in bahiagrass forage following implementation of integrated herbicide and fertilizer management plans for controlling smutgrass. Herbicide treatments included indaziflam applied PRE, hexazinone applied POST, a combination of PRE + POST herbicides, and a nonsprayed control. Fertilizer treatments included nitrogen, nitrogen + potassium, and an unfertilized control. The POST treatment reduced smutgrass coverage regardless of PRE or fertilizer application by the end of the first season and remained low for the 3-yr duration of the experiment (P < 0.01). All treatments, including nontreated controls, reduced smutgrass coverage during year 3 (P < 0.05), indicating that routine harvesting to remove the biomass reduced smutgrass coverage. Bahiagrass cover increased at the end of year 1 with POST treatment (P < 0.01), but only the POST + fertilizer treatment maintained greater bahiagrass coverage than the nontreated control by the end of year 3 (P < 0.05). Expenses associated with the POST + fertilizer treatment totaled US $348 ha −1 across the 3-yr experiment. Other smutgrass control options could include complete removal of biomass (hay production) and pasture renovation, which can cost 3-fold or greater more than POST + fertilizer treatment. Complete removal of biomass may reduce smutgrass coverage by removing mature seedheads, but at a much greater expense of US$ 2,835 to US $5,825 ha −1 , depending on herbicide and fertilizer inputs. Bahiagrass renovation is US$ 826 ha −1 in establishment costs alone. When pasture production expenses are included for two seasons postrenovation, the total increases to US$1,120 ha −1 across three seasons. The importance of hexazinone and fertilizer as components of smutgrass control in bahiagrass forage was confirmed in this study. Future research should focus on the biology of smutgrass and the role of a PRE treatment in a long-term, larger-scale forage system.