Factors facilitating upgrading process of knowledge-intensive business services' clusters in global value chains

The aim of this article is to describe the factors that facilitate upgrading process of knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) clusters in global value chains. The observed phenomenon which can be described as an increase in value added produced by KIBS leads to a similar increase at the clusters’ level, and consequently to an increase in the position of these clusters in global value chains. This topic constitutes a new research area. The available definitions of clusters were reviewed. The nature and specificity of knowledge-intensive business services’ clusters were presented. The concepts of upgrading and global value chains were defined and the idea of upgrading of KIBS’ clusters in global value chains were presented. As a result of the literature analysis, endogenous and exogenous factors influencing the upgrading of clusters in global value chains were presented. The article is conceptual and based on scientific literature, the review of which was a research method used

Prognostic robustness of serum creatinine based AKI definitions in patients with sepsis: a prospective cohort study

Background: It is unclear how modifications in the way to calculate serum creatinine (sCr) increase and in the cut-off value applied, influences the prognostic value of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). We wanted to evaluate whether these modifications alter the prognostic value of AKI for prediction of mortality at 3 months, 1 and 2 years. Methods: We prospectively included 195 septic patients and evaluated the prognostic value of AKI by using three different algorithms to calculate sCr increase: either as the difference between the highest value in the first 24 h after ICU admission and a pre-admission historical (Delta HIS) or an estimated (Delta EST) baseline value, or by subtracting the ICU admission value from the sCr value 24 h after ICU admission (Delta ADM). Different cut-off levels of sCr increase (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 mg/dl) were evaluated. Results: Mortality at 3 months, 1 and 2 years in AKI defined as Delta ADM > 0.3 mg/dl was 48.1 %, 63.0 % and 63.0 % vs 27.7 %, 39.8 % and 47.6 % in no AKI respectively (OR(95%CI): 2.42(1.06-5.54), 2.58(1.11-5.97) and 1.87(0.81-4.33); 0.3 mg/dl was the lowest cut-off value that was discriminatory. When AKI was defined as Delta HIS > 0.3 mg/dl or Delta EST > 0.3 mg/dl, there was no significant difference in mortality between AKI and no AKI. Conclusions: The prognostic value of a 0.3 mg/dl increase in sCr, on mortality in sepsis, depends on how this sCr increase is calculated. Only if the evolution of serum creatinine over the first 24 h after ICU admission is taken into account, an association with mortality is found

Effect of Sb deficiency on the thermoelectric properties of Zn4Sb3

We have investigated the effect of Sb-deficiency on the thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) of Zn4Sb3 prepared by solid state reaction route. At high temperatures, the Seebeck coefficient (S) and electrical conductivity ({\sigma}) increase with increase in Sb deficiency whereas the thermal conductivity (\k{appa}) decreases giving rise to an increase in the overall zT value. The observations suggest that creation of vacancies could be an effective route in improving the thermoelectric properties of Zn4Sb3 system. This coupled to nanostructuring strategy could lead to the ultimate maximum value of zT in this system for high temperature thermoelectric applications

MODEL PEMBELAJARAN KOOPERATIF TEKNIK STUDENT TEAMS ACHIEVEMENT DIVISIONS NARASIMAHASISWA ASINGDI UNIVERSITAS SEBELAS MARET

Indonesian Language Teaching for Foreign Learners (BIPA) aims to improve the language skills of foreign students in Indonesia, including at the Sebelas Maret University. Therefore, learning must consist of four language skills, namely listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Based on some of the problems above, the use of cooperative learning Student Teams Achievement Divisions (STAD) in which the working group will prioritize the individual's responsibility but still developed. The research was conducted at the Class of Academic 1 BIPA UPT2B UNS total 15 foreign students and its object is learning to write narratives based on experience. This research shaped the Classroom Action Research is a form of reflective inquiry conducted in partnership on specific social situations to improve the rationality and justice. Based on the analysis it can be concluded that there is an increase in quality of the learning process. The improvement can be seen from several indicators, namely (1) an increase in interest in students for learning, (2) an increase in student activity during learning, and (3)an increase in cooperation during the learning. The second conclusion is that there is an increase in learning outcomes. It can be seen from the increase in the value obtained from the students and the value reaches the specified standard

Quantum Hydrodynamic Model for the enhanced moments of Inertia of molecules in Helium Nanodroplets: Application to SF6_6

The increase in moment of inertia of SF$_6$ in helium nanodroplets is calculated using the quantum hydrodynamic approach. This required an extension of the numerical solution to the hydrodynamic equation to three explicit dimensions. Based upon an expansion of the density in terms of the lowest four Octahedral spherical harmonics, the predicted increase in moment of inertia is $170 {\rm u \AA^2}$, compared to an experimentally determined value of $310(10) {\rm u \AA^2}$, i.e., 55% of the observed value. The difference is likely in at least part due to lack of convergence with respect to the angular expansion, but at present we do not have access to the full densities from which a higher order expansion can be determined. The present results contradict those of Kwon et al., J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 113}, 6469 (2000), who predicted that the hydrodynamic theory predicted less than 10% of the observed increase in moment of inertia.Comment: 10 pages, including 1 figur

The Effects of Global Warming on Fisheries

This paper develops two fisheries models in order to estimate the effect of global warming (GW) on firm value. GW is defined as an increase in the average temperature of the earth's surface because of CO₂ emissions. It is assumed that (i) GW exists, and (ii) higher temperatures negatively affect biomass. The literature on biology and GW supporting these two crucial assumptions is reviewed. The main argument presented is that temperature increase has two effects on biomass, both of which have an impact on firm value. First, higher temperatures cause biomass to oscillate. To measure the effect of biomass oscillation on firm value Pindyck's (1984) model is modified to include water temperature as a variable. The results indicate that a 1 to 20% variation in biomass causes firm value to fall from 6 to 44%, respectively. Second, higher temperatures reduce biomass, and a modification of the Smith's (1968) model reveals that an increase in temperature anomaly between +1 and +8°C causes fishery's value to decrease by 8 to 10%.fisheries; fisheries economics; global warming; climate change

EVA, Economic profit and cash value added do NOT measure shareholder value creation

We analyze 582 American companies using EVA, MVA, NOPAT and WACC data provided by Stern Stewart. For each of the 582 companies, we have calculated the 10-year correlation between the increase in the MVA (Market Value Added) each year and each year's EVA, NOPAT and WACC. For 296 (of the 582) companies, the correlation between the increase in the MVA each year and the NOPAT was greater than the correlation between the increase in the MVA each year and the EVA. There are 210 companies for which the correlation with the EVA has been negative! The average correlation between the increase in the MVA and EVA, NOPAT and WACC was 16%, 21% and -21.4%. The average correlation between the increase in the MVA and the increases of EVA, NOPAT and WACC was 18%, 22.5% and -4.1%. We also find that the correlation between the shareholder return in 1994-1998 and the increase in the CVA (according to the Boston Consulting Group) of the world's 100 most profitable companies was 1.7%. We have also analyzed the relationship between shareholder value creation and various other parameters, including Economic Profit and EVA, during the period 1991-1997. In this case, the sample consisted of the 28 largest Spanish companies. Economic Profit had the highest correlation with shareholder value creation in only 4 companies (EVA in only 2), while in 18 companies the highest correlation was found for the interest rate. A firm's value and the increase in the firm's value over a certain period are basically determined by the changes in expectations regarding the growth of the firm's cash flows and also by the changes in the firm's risk, which lead to changes in the discount rate. However, accounting only reflects the firm's history. Both the items of the income statement, which explain what has happened during a certain year, and those of the balance sheet, which reflect the state of a firm's assets and liabilities at a certain point in time, are historic data. Consequently, it is impossible for accounting-based measures, such as those we have seen (EVA, economic profit, cash value added), to measure value creation. We finish the paper with an anecdote about EVA: an e-mail written by an analyst at Stern Stewart & Co. in response to an article, written by me, questioning the ability of EVA to measure shareholder value creation.Economic Profit; correlations

Best Approximation to a Reversible Process in Black-Hole Physics and the Area Spectrum of Spherical Black Holes

The assimilation of a quantum (finite size) particle by a Reissner-Nordstr\"om black hole inevitably involves an increase in the black-hole surface area. It is shown that this increase can be minimized if one considers the capture of the lightest charged particle in nature. The unavoidable area increase is attributed to two physical reasons: the Heisenberg quantum uncertainty principle and a Schwinger-type charge emission (vacuum polarization). The fundamental lower bound on the area increase is $4 \hbar$, which is smaller than the value given by Bekenstein for neutral particles. Thus, this process is a better approximation to a reversible process in black-hole physics. The universality of the minimal area increase is a further evidence in favor of a uniformly spaced area spectrum for spherical quantum black holes. Moreover, this universal value is in excellent agreement with the area spacing predicted by Mukhanov and Bekenstein and independently by Hod.Comment: 10 page