Angiogenesis inhibition for the improvement of photodynamic therapy: The revival of a promising idea.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a minimally invasive form of treatment, which is clinically approved for the treatment of angiogenic disorders, including certain forms of cancer and neovascular eye diseases. Although the concept of PDT has existed for a long time now, it has never made a solid entrance into the clinical management of cancer. This is likely due to secondary tissue reactions, such as inflammation and neoangiogenesis. The recent development of clinically effective angiogenesis inhibitors has lead to the initiation of research on the combination of PDT with such angiostatic targeted therapies. Preclinical studies in this research field have shown promising results, causing a revival in the field of PDT. This review reports on the current research efforts on PDT and vascular targeted combination therapies. Different combination strategies with angiogenesis inhibition and vascular targeting approaches are discussed. In addition, the concept of increasing PDT selectivity by targeted delivery of photosensitizers is presented. Furthermore, the current insights on sequencing the therapy arms of such combinations will be discussed in light of vascular normalization induced by angiogenesis inhibition.

Investment, duration, and exit strategies for corporate and independent venture capital-backed start-ups

We propose a model of investment, duration, and exit strategies for start-ups backed by venture capital (VC) funds that accounts for the high level of uncertainty, the asymmetry of information between insiders and outsiders, and the discount rate. Our analysis predicts that start-ups backed by corporate VC funds remain for a longer period of time before exiting and receive larger investment amounts than those financed by independent VC funds. Although a longer duration leads to a higher likelihood of an exit through an acquisition, a larger investment increases the probability of an IPO exit. These predictions find strong empirical support.

Sharing competences in strategic alliances: a case study of the Cosan and Shell biofuel venture

In a competitive world, the way a firm establishes its organizational arrangements may determine the enhancement of its core competences and the possibility of reaching new markets. Firms that find their skills to be applicable in just one type of market encounter constraints in expanding their markets, and through alliances may find a competitive form of value capture. Hybrid forms of organization appear primarily as an alternative to capturing value and managing joint assets when the market and hierarchy modes do not present any yields for the firm's competitiveness. As a result, this form may present other challenging issues, such as the allocation of rights and principal-agent problems. The biofuel market has presented a strong pattern of changes over the last 10 years. New intra-firm arrangements have appeared as a path to participate or survive among global competition. Given the need for capital to achieve better results, there has been a consistent movement of mergers and acquisitions in the Biofuel sector, especially since the 2008 financial crisis. In 2011 there were five major groups in Brazil with a grinding capacity of more than 15 million tons per year: Raízen (joint venture formed by Cosan and Shell), Louis Dreyfus, Tereos Petrobras, ETH, and Bunge. Major oil companies have implemented the strategy of diversification as a hedge against the rising cost of oil. Using the alliance of Cosan and Shell in the Brazilian biofuel market as a case study, this paper analyses the governance mode and challenging issues raised by strategic alliances when firms aim to reach new markets through the sharing of core competences with local firms. The article is based on documentary research and interviews with Cosan's Investor Relations staff, and examines the main questions involving hybrid forms through the lens of the Transaction Cost Economics (TCE), Agency Theory, Resource Based View (RBV), and dynamic capabilities theoretical approaches. One focal point is knowledge "appropriability" and the specific assets originated by the joint venture. Once the alliance is formed, it is expected that competences will be shared and new capabilities will expand the limits of the firm. In the case studied, Cosan and Shell shared a number of strategic assets related to their competences. Raízen was formed with economizing incentives, as well to continue marshalling internal resources to enhance the company's presence in the world energy sector. Therefore, some challenges might be related to the control and monitoring agents' behavior, considering the two-part organism formed by distinctive organizational culture, tacit knowledge, and long-term incentives. The case study analyzed illustrates the hybrid arrangement as a middle form for organizing the transaction: neither in the market nor in the hierarchy mode, but rather a more flexible commitment agreement with a strategic central authority. The corporate governance devices are also a challenge, since the alignment between the parent companies in the joint ventures is far more complex. These characteristics have led to an organism with bilateral dependence, offering favorable conditions for developing dynamic capabilities. However, these conditions might rely on the partners' long-term interest in the joint venture.

"Pollock broke the ice": la idea d'art nord-americà en el temps de la Guerra Freda. Reflexions sobre Jackson Pollock.

Les avantguardes mostren la deshumanització i la violència de la primera Gran Guerra i del món que va néixer com a conseqüència. La fi de la Segona Guerra va donar pas a un món dividit on dues potències enfrontades pretenien ser el referent mundial, tant en àmbits polítics com en els culturals.L’objecte d’aquest treball és la transformació de la pintura nord-americana des d’inicis dels anys 30 fins als 60, un gir promogut pels crítics d’art en resposta a una pintura concreta: la de l’Expressionisme Abstracte.

Consumer Advisory Bulletin, Credit Insurance: Is it a Good Idea for You?, June 2005

The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division receives hundreds of calls and consumer complaints every year. Follow these tips to avoid unexpected expense and disappointments. This record is about: Credit Insurance: Is it a Good Idea for You?

Annual Performance Report IDEA Part C FFY 2008-2009

This is the annual performance report for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C, which was submitted on February 2, 2010 to the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. The report provides data on the State's Early ACCESS system and the 10 Regional Grantees' performance in 14 national indicators.

State Performance Plan IDEA Part C FFY 2008-2009

In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, Iowa must have in place a Part C State Performance Plan that evaluates Iowa's efforts to implement the requirements and purposes of Part C and describes how Iowa will improve such implementation. This plan is in effect for six years and Iowa will report annually to the U.S. Department of Education on the performance of the State under this plan.

Placement of Students Ages 3-21 with Disabilities Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): A Policy Discussion, May 2010

The provision of free appropriate public education (FAPE), an Individualized Education Program (IEP), and the least restrictive environment (LRE) have been important cornerstones of educating students with disabilities since the enactment of the Education of All Handicapped Children Act (EAHCA), Public Law 94-142, in 1975, and its subsequent reauthorizations, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1990, 1997, and 2004. It is impossible to consider any one of these cornerstones without the others, when determining an appropriate educational placement for a student with a disability. The Iowa Department of Education has identified several practice issues regarding the interplay between FAPE, LRE, and the IEP in placement decisions for students with disabilities. To that end, this document will provide guidance for administrators of local education agencies (LEAs) and area education agencies (AEAs), as well as IEP teams (or other placement teams) within Iowa LEAs and AEAs when making placement decisions for eligible children with disabilities. This guidance will specifically discuss ten LRE and FAPE placement/program policy questions that have been identified by the Iowa Department of Education as needing attention. The policy discussions are consistent with the legal provisions of the 2004 reauthorization of IDEA (IDEA 2004) and its 2006 final federal implementing regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). This document is also consistent with the Iowa Administrative Rules of Special Education (2007) [hereinafter “Iowa Rules”]. In addition, the term local education agency (LEA) is used interchangeably for school district throughout this document. Prior to the discussion of specific policy questions, a federal and state legal framework for providing FAPE for students with disabilities within the LRE is briefly outlined. Pertinent FAPE and LRE court decisions that impact Iowa LEAs and AEAs are also included within Section II.

Yhteishankintakoulutuksen idea ja todellisuus

Kommentti Heikki Silvennoisen ja Kirsi Kuitusen lehden tässä numerossa olevan artikkelin johdosta

Innovació en educació. De la idea a l'acció. Procés participatiu cap a l'INNED 2.

Per al progrés de l'educació, la innovació és indispensable. Aquest concepte, que es relaciona però no s'ha de confondre amb el de canvi, no tothom l'entén igual, i això fa que sigui necessari definir quines són les característiques que ha de tenir un procés perquè es pugui considerar una innovació educativa. A partir de la preocupació per ajudar a fer que les innovacions no es quedin només en idees sinó que esdevinguin realitats a les aules i en altres espais educatius, es va engegar un procés de trobades amb professorat i altres educadors i educadores per treballar sobre la innovació educativa de cara a l'organització del II Simposi d'Innovació Educativa (INNED 2). Un dels eixos que va suscitar més interès va ser el de la innovació metodològica. En la part final de l'article es recullen una sèrie de consideracions sobre alguns àmbits que cal considerar en aquesta innovació: la implicació de l'alumnat, l'organització de l'espai i el temps, l'avaluació per aprendre i l'atenció a la diversitat

How An Idea Becomes a Law, 2008

A flow chart of how an idea becomes a law.

L'educació permanent: la història d'una idea

El fet de viure i de formar part d'una comunitat suposa, per a les persones que la integren, un procés de socialització i d'aprenentatge continuat. La creació i la transmissió de la cultura d'una generació a l'altra implica unes modalitats d'aprenentatge que transcendeixen el temps i l'espai limitats de l'educació formal, per comprendre pràcticament qualsevol moment i situació de la vida. Així doncs, el concepte de l'educació permanent no és un descobriment pedagògic modern, esta present en la practica de la humanitat des deis seus orígens, i podem trobar referencies sobre aquest tema en les antigues civilitzacions xinesa, índia, grega, al cristianisme, a l'humanisme, al Renaixement, etc. Però és durant el període il·lustrat quan la idea d'una educació per a tothom més enllà de la infància i de l'adolescència s'expressa amb més claredat que en èpoques anteriors.