Governance mode vs. governance fit: Performance implications of make-or-ally choices for product innovation in the worldwide aircraft industry, 1942-2000

We examine the impact of governance mode and governance fit on performance in make-or-ally decisions. We argue that while horizontal collaboration and autonomous governance have direct and countervailing performance implications, the alignment of make-or-ally choices with the focal firm's resource endowment and the activity's resource requirements leads to better performance. Data on the aircraft industry show that relative to aircraft developed autonomously, collaborative aircraft exhibit greater sales but require longer time-to-market. However, governance fit increases unit sales and reduces time-to-market. We contribute to the alliance and economic organization literatures. (Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Dell'arcano del mare / Robert Dudley (junior) Earl of Warwick and Leicester, Duke of Northumberland

Sir Robert Dudleyn arvokas karttateos Dell´Arcano del Mare, osat I-III, on varhaisin koko maapallon kattava merikartasto. Se on myös ensimmäinen merikartasto, joka on laadittu Mercatorin projektion mukaan. Kartastoon on koottu yhteen kaikki silloinen tietämys merenkulusta. Se sisältää merenkulun ja navigoinnin teoriaa, laivanrakennusta ja astronomiaa käsittelevät tekstiosuudet, 145 merikarttaa sekä 180 kuvaliitettä, joiden tekijänä on tunnettu kaivertaja Antonio Francesco Lucini. Kaiverrukset, joiden tekemiseen Lucini oli käyttänyt 12 vuotta, ovat poikkeuksellisen hienolaatuisia, kuten teoksen muukin painotyö. Dudleyn kartasto kuuluu Kansalliskirjaston A. E. Nordenskiöldin karttojen ja kartografisen kirjallisuuden kokoelmaan, joka on liitetty ainoana suomalaisena kohteena Unescon Memory of the World –rekisteriin.

Factors associated with the onset of hypertension in women of 50 years of age or more in a city in Southeastern Brazil

PURPOSE:To evaluate factors associated with hypertension in Brazilian women of 50 years of age or more.METHODS:A cross-sectional population based study using self-reports. A total of 622 women were included. The association between sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral factors and the woman's age at the onset of hypertension was evaluated. Data were analyzed according to cumulative continuation rates without hypertension, using the life-table method and considering annual intervals. Next, a Cox multiple regression analysis model was adjusted to analyze the occurrence rates of hypertension according to various predictor variables. Significance level was pre-established at 5% (95% confidence level) and the sampling plan (primary sampling unit) was taken into consideration.RESULTS:Median age at onset of hypertension was 64.3 years. Cumulative continuation rate without hypertension at 90 years was 20%. Higher body mass index (BMI) at 20–30 years of age was associated with a higher cumulative occurrence rate of hypertension over time (coefficient=0.078; p<0.001). Being white was associated with a lower cumulative occurrence rate of hypertension over time (coefficient= -0.439; p=0.003), while smoking >15 cigarettes/day was associated with a higher rate over time (coefficient=0.485; p=0.004).CONCLUSION:The results of the present study highlight the importance of weight control in young adulthood and of avoiding smoking in preventing hypertension in women aged ≥50 years.

Hematological profile of Chelonia mydas (Testudines, Cheloniidae) according to the severity of fibropapillomatosis or its absence

The green turtle Chelonia mydas feeds and nests in the Brazilian coastal area and is considered an endangered species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN 2009) and threatened by the Red List of Brazilian Fauna (Ministério do Meio Ambiente 2009). Fibropapillomatosis is a disease characterized by benign skin tumors (fibropapillomas), and it is one of the main threats to the survival of this species. Studies suggest the involvement of viruses as infectious agents associated with environmental and genetic factors. Blood samples were collected from 45 turtles captured in the coastal area of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. From these, 27 were affected by fibropapillomas and 18 were tumor free. Biometrical data on the turtles, size, location and quantity of tumors were recorded. The area occupied by fibropapillomas per animal was calculated and four groups were determined according to severity of the disease or its absence. The objective of the study was to compare hemogram results of the sea turtles classified in these four groups. The lowest hematocrit value was observed in severely affected animals. In the hemoglobin assay, the highest value was observed in the group of tumor free turtles and the lowest, in animals severely affected. Lymphocyte counts and curved carapace length were on the verge of statistical significance.

Competitiveness of alexandergrass or Bengal dayflower with soybean

Weeds compete with field crops mainly for water, light and nutrients, and the degree of competition is affected by the weed density and the intrinsic competitive ability of each plant species in coexistence. The objective of this research was to compare the competitiveness of alexandergrass (Brachiaria plantaginea) or Bengal dayflower (Commelina benghalensis) in coexistence with soybean, cv. M-Soy 8045. A factorial experiment (2 x 5) with two weed species and five competition proportions was carried out in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Proportions were based on a replacement series competition design, always maintaining the total density of four plants per 10 L plastic pots, which corresponded to 60 plants m ². The weed-crop proportions were: 0:4; 1:3; 2:2; 3:1; 4:0; that corresponded to the proportion of 100, 75, 50, 25 and 0% of soybean plants and the opposite for weeds, B. plantaginea or C. benghalensis plants. Leaf area, shoot dry mass of the weeds and soybean and number of soybean trifoliate leaves were evaluated when the soybean reached the phenologic stage of full flowering. B. plantaginea was a better competitor than soybean plants. Otherwise, C. benghalensis revealed a similar competitive ability that of the soybean. In both cases, there were evidences that intraspecific competition was more important.

The collective dimension of freedom of religion or belief in international law : the application of findings to the case of Turkey

Pertinent domestic and international developments involving issues related to tensions affecting religious or belief communities have been increasingly occupying the international law agenda. Those who generate and, thus, shape international law jurisprudence are in the process of seeking some of the answers to these questions. Thus the need for reconceptualization of the right to freedom of religion or belief continues as demands to the right to freedom of religion or belief challenge the boundaries of religious freedom in national and international law. This thesis aims to contribute to the process of “re-conceptualization” by exploring the notion of the collective dimension of freedom of religion or belief with a view to advance the protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief. The case of Turkey provides a useful test case where both the domestic legislation can be assessed against international standards, while at the same time lessons can be drawn for the improvement of the standard of international review of the protection of the collective dimension of freedom of religion or belief. The right to freedom of religion or belief, as enshrined in international human rights documents, is unique in its formulation in that it provides protection for the enjoyment of the rights “in community with others”.1 It cannot be realized in isolation; it crosses categories of human rights with aspects that are individual, aspects that can be effectively realized only in an organized community of individuals and aspects that belong to the field of economic, social and cultural rights such as those related to religious or moral education. This study centers on two primary questions; first, what is the scope and nature of protection afforded to the collective dimension of freedom of religion or belief in international law, and, secondly, how does the protection of the collective dimension of freedom of religion or belief in Turkey compare and contrast to international standards? Section I explores and examines the notion of the collective dimension of freedom of religion or belief, and the scope of its protection in international law with particular reference to the right to acquire legal personality and autonomy religious/belief communities. In Section II, the case study on Turkey constitutes the applied part of the thesis; here, the protection of the collective dimension is assessed with a view to evaluate the compliance of Turkish legislation and practice with international norms as well as seeking to identify how the standard of international review of the collective dimension of freedom of religion or belief can be improved.

Cortisol and 17-a-hydroxy-progesterone levels in infants with refractory hypotension born at 30 weeks of gestation or less

Refractory hypotension is frequent in very low-birth weight infants, whose hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis has been suggested to be immature. The objective of the present study was to evaluate basal cortisol and 17-a-OH-progesterone in the first 36 h of life in preterm infants with and without refractory hypotension (mean arterial blood pressure below the lower limit for gestational age throughout the study despite aggressive volume expansion and use of vasopressors). Thirty-five infants with £30 weeks of gestation and a birth weight £1250 g, with no postnatal use of corticosteroid or death in the first 48 h were studied. Mean arterial pressure was measured every 4 h during the first 48 h. Cortisol and 17-a-OH-progesterone were determined at 12 and 36 h and patients were divided into refractory hypotensive (N = 15) and control (N = 20) groups. The groups were not different regarding type of delivery, use of prenatal corticosteroid, requirement of mechanical ventilation, use of vasopressor drugs, morphine, fentanyl, prophylactic indomethacin, and mean sample timing. Although refractory hypotensive newborns were more immature, were smaller, suffered more deaths after 48 h of life and had a higher SNAPPE-2 score, their cortisol and 17-a-OH-progesterone levels were not different from controls at 12 h and at 36 h. The increase of cortisol in newborns with refractory hypotension 36 h after birth was significantly higher than in controls. Despite the fact that refractory hypotensive very low-birth weight neonates were submitted to a very stressful condition, their cortisol and 17-a-OH-progesterone levels were similar to controls.

Implications of extubation failure and prolonged mechanical ventilation in the postoperative period following elective intracranial surgery

Patients undergoing neurosurgery are predisposed to a variety of complications related to mechanical ventilation (MV). There is an increased incidence of extubation failure, pneumonia, and prolonged MV among such patients. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of extubation failure and prolonged MV on the following variables: postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC), mortality, reoperation, tracheostomy, and duration of postoperative hospitalization following elective intra-cranial surgery. The study involved a prospective observational cohort of 317 patients submitted to elective intracranial surgery for tumors, aneurysms and arteriovenous malformation. Preoperative assessment was performed and patients were followed up for the determination of extubation failure and prolonged MV (>48 h) until discharge from the hospital or death. The occurrence of PPC, incidence of death, the need for reoperation and tracheostomy, and the length of hospitalization were assessed during the postoperative period. Twenty-six patients (8.2%) experienced extubation failure and 30 (9.5%) needed prolonged MV after surgery. Multivariate analysis showed that extubation failure was significant for the occurrence of death (OR = 8.05 [1.88; 34.36]), PPC (OR = 11.18 [2.27; 55.02]) and tracheostomy (OR = 7.8 [1.12; 55.07]). Prolonged MV was significant only for the occurrence of PPC (OR = 4.87 [1.3; 18.18]). Elective intracranial surgery patients who experienced extubation failure or required prolonged MV had a higher incidence of PPC, reoperation and tracheostomy and required a longer period of time in the ICU. Level of consciousness and extubation failure were associated with death and PPC. Patients who required prolonged MV had a higher incidence of extubation failure.

Effect of starter culture and inulin addition on microbial viability, texture, and chemical characteristics of whole or skim milk Kefir

The effect of inulin addition and starters (Kefir grains or commercial starter culture) on the microbial viability, texture, and chemical characteristics of Kefir beverages prepared with whole or skim milk was evaluated during refrigerated storage. The type of starter did not influence microbial viability during the storage of the beverages, but the chemical and textural changes (decreases in pH, lactose concentration, and inulin and increased acidity, firmness, and syneresis) were more pronounced in the formulations fermented with grains than those fermented with the starter culture. The addition of inulin did not influence acidity or viability of lactic acid bacteria, but in general, its effect on the survival of acetic acid bacteria, Lactococcus and yeasts, firmness, and syneresis depended on the type of milk and starter culture used. Generally, the yeast, acetic acid bacteria, and Leuconostoc counts increased or remained unchanged, while the total population of lactic acid bacteria and Lactococcus were either reduced by 1 to 2 logs or remained unchanged during storage.

A new and accurate map of Scandinavia, or the northern crowns of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway: drawn from the most approv'd maps and charts, and adjusted by astronoml. observations

Teoksessa A complete system of geography / E. Bowen, (London) 1747. Plate n:o 25.

Every man his own guide to the Falls of Niagara : or, The whole story in a few words /

Cover title: Guide to Niagara Falls.