Self-paced Movement Intention Detection from Human Brain Signals: Invasive and Non-invasive EEG

Neural signatures of humans' movement intention can be exploited by future neuroprosthesis. We propose a method for detecting self-paced upper limb movement intention from brain signals acquired with both invasive and noninvasive methods. In the first study with scalp electroencephalograph (EEG) signals from healthy controls, we report single trial detection of movement intention using movement related potentials (MRPs) in a frequency range between 0.1 to 1 Hz. Movement intention can be detected above chance level (p<0.05) on average 460 ms before the movement onset with low detection rate during the on-movement intention period. Using intracranial EEG (iEEG) from one epileptic subject, we detect movement intention as early as 1500 ms before movement onset with accuracy above 90% using electrodes implanted in the bilateral supplementary motor area (SMA). The coherent results obtained with non-invasive and invasive method and its generalization capabilities across different days of recording, strengthened the theory that self-paced movement intention can be detected before movement initiation for the advancement in robot-assisted neurorehabilitation.

Three essays on internationalization and firm entrepreneurial behavior

PAPER 1: A THEORY ON THE EFFECTS OF INTERNATIONALIZATION ON FIRM ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOR AND GROWTH Abstract This article addresses the relationship. Past findings reveal that the direct effects of internationalization on performance are mixed and inconclusive. Our framework integrates firm entrepreneurial behavior as a mediating force of the troublesome Drawing on the tension between the entrepreneurship literature and the organizational inertia theory, we argue that internationalization is key to minimizing the stifling effects of inertia and in engendering entrepreneurial behavior towards growth. We suggest that firms that internationalize at a young age and enjoy an intense degree of internationalization tend to become more entrepreneurial than do late and weakly internationalized firms. As a consequence, early and intense internationalizers experience superior growth. Aware of the inherent endogeneity of our propositions, we also discuss how consistent estimates can be obtained when testing the model empirically. PAPER 2: DOES INTERNATIONALIZATION MATTER FOR GROWTH? THE CASE OF SWISS SOFTWARE FIRMS. Abstract This paper seeks to address the issue of whether early and intense internationalization leads to superior firm growth. We revisit the hypotheses of previous studies within the emerging research domain of international entrepreneurship. Empirical analyses on the performance implications of internationalization have so far been limited and inconsistent. Our paper intends to make two contributions to the international entrepreneurship literature. First, we bring additional empirical evidence as to the inconclusive firm performance endogeneity in our causal model, using a sample of 103 Swiss international small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). On one hand, we find that the degree of internationalization significantly increases perceived firm growth (i.e., relative firm performance in a market); however, age at internationalization was unrelated to perceived firm growth. On the other hand, we reproduced the causal path of a highly cited study that showed how age at internationalization was significantly and negatively associated with objective firm growth (i.e., sales). Interestingly, our results support the study similar setting (OLS regression with comparable control variables); however, the effect for age at internationalization reverses when we correct for endogeneity. PAPER 3: EFFECT OF INTERNATIONALIZATION ON FIRM ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND PERFORMANCE: THE CASE OF SWISS SOFTWARE FIRMS. Abstract How does internationalization influence a firm orientation (EO) and is this related to firm growth? This paper inquires into the performance theorizing, we test a process model in which EO plays a mediating role in accounting for the relationship between internationalization and growth. We position this paper on the tension zone between the entrepreneurship literature and the organizational inertia theory. We lay out the argument that internationalization is source of opportunities that drives a firm and thus mitigates inertial pressure. Using a sample of Swiss software small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), we found that degree of internationalization (but not age of internationalization) increases EO, which subsequently increased firm growth.

EviPrev, un programme de prévention et de promotion de la santé à l'intention des médecins praticiens

Un groupe de médecins et de spécialistes de la prévention, en collaboration avec des médecins installés, s'est récemment constitué pour lancer le projet EviPrev, acronyme pour Evidence based preventive medicine. Ce développement vise à apporter aux médecins suisses (médecins de famille et médecins spécialistes) qui le souhaitent de nouveaux outils pour leur intervention en médecine préventive. Cet article résume les principaux objectifs et les conditions de développement.

University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center annual report, FY 2011.

Annual report of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Iowa.

University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center annual report, FY 2012.

Annual report of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Iowa.

University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center annual report, FY 2013.

Annual report of the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at the University of Iowa.

Business Development Efforts and Performance Improvements in SMEs Case Study of Business Development Projects Implemented in SME

Under the circumstances of the increasing market pressure, enterprises try to improve their competitive position by development efforts, and a business development project is one tool for that. There are not many answers to the question of how the development projects launched to improve the business performance in SMEs have succeeded. Theacademic interest in the business development project success has mainly focused on projects implemented in larger organisations rather than in SMEs. The previous studies on the business success of SMEs have mainly focused on new business ventures rather than on existing SMEs. However, nowadays a large number of business development projects are undertaken in existing SMEs, where they can pose a great challenge. This study focuses on business development success in SMEs thathave already established their business. The objective of the present study is to gain a deep understanding on business development project success in the SME-context and to identify the dimensions and factors affecting the project success. Further, the aim is to clarify how the business development projects implemented in SMEs have affected their performance. The empirical evidence is based on multiple case study. This study builds a framework for a generic theory of business development success in the SME-context, based on literature from the areas ofproject and change management, entrepreneurship and small business management, as well as performance measurement, and on empirical evidence from SMES. The framework consists of five success dimensions: entrepreneurial, project preparation, change management, project management and project success. The framework provides a systematic way for analysing the business development project and its impact on the performance and on the performing company. This case evidence indicates that successful business development projects have a balanced, high performance concerning all the dimensions. Good performance in one dimension is not enoughfor the project success, but it gives a good ground for the other dimensions. The other way round, poor performance in one success dimension affects the others, leading to poor performance of the project. In the SME-context the business development project success seems to be dependent on several interrelated dimensions and factors. Success in one area leads to success in other areas, and so creates an upward success spiral. Failure in one area seems to lead to failure in other areas, creating a downward failure spiral. The study indicates that the internal business development projects have affected the SMEs' performance widely also on areas and functions not initially targeted. The implications cover all thesuccess categories: the project efficiency, the impact on the customer, the business success and the future potentiality. With successful cases, the success tends to spread out to areas and functions not mentioned as the project goals, andwith unsuccessful cases the failure seems to spread out widely to the SMEs' other functions. This study also indicates that the most important key factors for successful business development project implementation are the strength of intention, business ability, knowledge, motivation and participation of the employees, as well as adequate and well-timed training provided to the employees.

Promotion de l'activité physique au cabinet médical: manuel de référence à l'intention des médecins

[Table des matières] 1. Introduction: que vais-je apprendre? - quelques définitions - recommandations pour une activité physique favorable à la santé - comment mesure-t-on l'activité physique? - déterminants de l'activité physique. - 2. Épidémiologie de la sédentarité: prévalence de la sédentarité - coûts imputables à la sédentarité. - 3. Bénéfices pour la santé: un effet dose-réponse non linéaire - estimation des bénéfices de l'activité physique. - 4. Rôle du médecin de premier recours. - 5. Prise en charge: description générale d'un modèle de prise en charge - comment s'y prendre dans les détails - appréciation des risques liés à l'activité physique. - 6. Exemples d'outils: brochure pour les patients - podomètre: 10000 pas quotidiens pour sa santé! - 7. Autres ressources à disposition: site internet: www.paprica.ch. - Glossaire [Introduction (extrait)] Ce manuel décrit la perspective et le rôle du médecin de premier recours dans la promotion d'une activité physique bénéfique pour la santé. Il s'inscrit, avec la brochure d'accompagnement destinée aux patients, dans un concept global de promotion de l'activité physique au cabinet médical. Développé pour être le plus concis possible, ce manuel fait la synthèse des connaissances et des savoir-faire utiles à la pratique du conseil en activité physique au cabinet médical.

The influence of the quality of government institutions on entrepreneurial motivation: exploring the variance across countries

Despite the increasing understanding of the relationships between institutions and entrepreneurship, the influence of the quality of government institutions on entrepreneurship is less addressed. This paper focuses on this critical determinant of entrepreneurship in developing and developed countries. Drawing from institutional theory we hypothesize and empirically assess the role of the quality of institutions in entrepreneurial activity. We examine how the quality of government institutions influences the rate of necessity-based entrepreneurial activity across countries and over time by using a cross-sectional time-series approach on data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) database covering the years 2001–2011. Our results suggest that higher economic development associated with better quality of institutions reduces the prevalence of necessity-based entrepreneurship. Our findings imply that developing countries must rationally organize their functions, and seek to remove unnecessary barriers, decrease political instability, and controls that hamper entrepreneurial activity

Le renouveau du mercenariat entrepreneurial: symbole d'un État en déclin ?

L'émergence du mercenariat entrepreneurial, et plus précisément les Sociétés Militaires et Sécuritaires Privées, fait depuis plus d'une décennie l'objet de nombreuses recherches, ouvrages et reportages. L'intervention des États-Unis en Afghanistan et en Irak constitue un tournant pour le mercenariat entrepreneurial, puisqu'en fin 2007, et ce pour la première fois dans l'histoire moderne, les contractors privés ont dépassé le nombre de troupes régulières. La fin de la guerre froide et des armées de masse, la complexification technologique, ou encore les difficultés financières des États, facteurs très souvent mis en avant pour expliquer le renouveau du mercenariat entrepreneurial sont certes des facteurs explicatifs, mais ne peuvent rendre compte à eux seuls ce phénomène. Ce travail replace tout d'abord le mercenariat dans son contexte historique en analysant quatre périodes distinctes : la guerre de Cents Ans et les Grandes compagnies ; les condottieri de la péninsule italienne ; la guerre de Trente Ans ; les compagnies marchandes. En effet, le mercenariat est intimement lié au processus de construction étatique et à son acquisition progressive du monopole de la violence légitime. Dans un deuxième temps, le processus historique du renouveau du mercenariat durant le XXème siècle est abordé. Deux changements structurels - l'avènement d'un capitalisme financier transnational et les transformations du système capitaliste dès les années 1970, et l'émergence puis la domination de la norme néolibérale dès la fin de la guerre froide - ont permis de rendre réalisable la délégation de services sécuritaires et militaires à des acteurs privés. Désormais en train de lutter pour maintenir sa position, l'État tend à devenir de plus en plus dépendant de services qu'il peine pourtant à contrôler efficacement.

Career decision making, stability and actualization of career intentions : the case of entrepreneurial intentions

Career counselors are often concerned with stability and likelihood of implementation of clients' career intentions. It is often assumed that the status in career decision making (CDM) is one likely indicator; yet, empirical support for this assumption is sparse. The present study focused on entrepreneurial career intentions (EI) and showed that German university students (N = 1,221), with high EI can be found in very different empirically derived CDM statuses that range from preconcern to mature decidedness. Longitudinal analyses (n = 561) showed that career choice foreclosure (high decidedness/low exploration) related to more EI stability and that mature decidedness (high decidedness/high exploration) amplified effects of EI on opportunity identification, a form of EI actualization. The results imply that CDM statuses are useful to estimate stability and actualization of career intentions.

The Significance of Business Exit for Future Entrepreneurial Activity

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impact of business exits on future dimensions of entrepreneurial activity at the macroeconomic level. Design/methodology/approach: This research uses the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) data for 41 countries and the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to carry out the analysis. The paper differentiates the effect of the two components of total entrepreneurial activity, and the two motivations for it – opportunity and necessity entrepreneurship. Findings: The results presented here show a positive and significant effect of the coefficient associated with exits in all models. This means that the levels of entrepreneurial activity exceed business exits. The robustness of the models are tested, including other variables such as the fear of failure, the Gross Domestic Product, role models, entrepreneurial skills and the unemployment variables. The main hypothesis which stated that at national level business exits imply greater rates of opportunity-driven entrepreneurship is corroborated. Originality/value: One would expect that unemployment rates would imply higher levels of necessity entrepreneurship. However, results show that unemployment rates do in fact favour opportunity entrepreneurship levels. This could be due to those government policies that are aimed at promoting entrepreneurship through the capitalization of unemployment to be totally invested in a new start-up. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first panel data study to link previous exit rates to future dimensions of entrepreneurial activity. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, business exits, social values, industrial organization Paper type: Research paper