How inter-firm networks influence the development of agglomerations

Non-market interactions are increasingly regarded as key explanations for spatial concentration. Consistently, both innovation and local knowledge spillovers play a central role in recent theories of agglomeration. According to these theories, exchange of localised knowledge gives firms an innovative advantage which results in better economic performance. However, it has turned out to be difficult to open the black box of economies of scale using empirical tests.\ud Since interactions get considerable attention in recent agglomeration theory, social network methods and theory are promising approaches to research spatial agglomerations. Even more so because simultaneously, there is an increasing emphasis on interfirm ties in the network field.\ud The goal of our research is to explore how interfirm networks influence the development of agglomerations. Firstly we provide a review on network and innovation literature in the field of spatial clusters. Secondly, we discuss measurement issues related to networks and innovation and ways to overcome them. Finally, we present preliminary results of our network study among high tech firms in the Dutch region of Twente

Join the club : knowledge spillovers and the influence of social networks on firm performance

Social networks are frequently claimed to provide advantages to firms, but rarely has this been empirically demonstrated. It is generally assumed that networks benefit not only individual firms, but also the regional economy as a whole. Localized knowledge spillovers are seen as the basis of these gains. This study investigates whether the role of social networks, as the ‘tubes’ through which knowledge spills over and flows, does indeed provide benefit. The starting point of this study is the idea that the social capital embodied in these networks strengthens firms, giving them knowledge that supports their development. Both formal and informal networks are studied here. \ud \ud A part of the empirical data for this study derives from a large-scale analysis of cooperative patents within the Netherlands. The results of this analysis show that this formal type of network cooperation occurs much less frequently than is widely assumed and, furthermore, that they appear to have no effect on the performance of high-tech firms.\ud \ud The second part of the data collection focused on business association networks. The analysis from this data, performed on a larger scale than in previous studies, confirms that informal inter-firm networks are one of the micro-foundations of knowledge spillovers. However, their effects appear to be limited to individual firms and do not extend to regions as a whole. This implies that only individual firms benefit from participation in business associations. The results of this study thus provide new insights into the mechanisms behind knowledge spillovers as drivers of a regional economy

Long-term wine consumption is related to cardiovascular mortality and life expectancy independently of moderate alcohol intake: the Zutphen Study

Background: Light to moderate alcohol intake lowers the risk of cardiovascular mortality, but whether this protective effect can be attributed to a specific type of beverage remains unclear. Moreover, little is known about the effects of long-term alcohol intake on life expectancy. Methods: The impact of long-term alcohol intake and types of alcoholic beverages consumed on cardiovascular mortality and life expectancy at age 50 was investigated in the Zutphen Study, a cohort of 1373 men born between 1900 and 1920 and examined repeatedly between 1960 and 2000. Hazard ratios (HRs) for total alcohol intake and alcohol from wine, beer and spirits were obtained from time-dependent Cox regression models. Life expectancy at age 50 was calculated from areas under survival curves. Results: Long-term light alcohol intake, that is =20 g per day, compared with no alcohol, was strongly and inversely associated with cerebrovascular (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.26 to 0.70), total cardiovascular (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.89) and all-cause mortality (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.91). Independent of total alcohol intake, long-term wine consumption of, on average, less than half a glass per day was strongly and inversely associated with coronary heart disease (HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.89), total cardiovascular (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.86) and all-cause mortality (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.87). These results could not be explained by differences in socioeconomic status. Life expectancy was about 5 years longer in men who consumed wine compared with those who did not use alcoholic beverages. Conclusion: Long-term light alcohol intake lowered cardiovascular and all-cause mortality risk and increased life expectancy. Light wine consumption was associated with 5 years longer life expectancy; however, more studies are needed to verify this resul

Expertise development: how to bridge the gap between school and work

Boshuizen, H. P. A. (2003). Expertise development: how to bridge the gap between school and work. Inaugural address, Open University of the Netherlands, The Netherlands

Development of positive and negative knowledge in a professional community

Boshuizen, H. P. A. (2011, 30 August - 3 September). Development of positive and negative knowledge in a professional community. Presentation at EARLI 2011, Exeter, UK.This presentation analysed the question what the role is of negative knowledge (knowledge about what NOT to do, and about when NOT to do what)in further development of knowledge in a professional community. The case of Lyme disease, borreliose, is taken as an example. It was conjectured that professions differ in the amount of knowledge that is shared. Political or societal pressure may be needed toward more sharing. The present case shows that knowledge sharing (wanting to share; wanting to search for knowledge generated elsewhere) and joint commitments can make a huge difference but it is hard to say whether that applies in the same way to positive and negative knowledge … The issue of awareness of not-knowing and dealing with uncertainty transcends the positive/negative dichotomy, and is probably a stronger driver for knowledge development

Standardized exercise tests in horses : current situation and future perspectives

The purpose of this literature review is to clarify how exercise capacity can be measured in horses and which standardized exercise tests (SETs) exist. In this review, the measurement of the exercise capacity of horses is discussed and the standardized exercise tests (SET) are described. Two main types of SETs are used. Laboratory or treadmill tests are easy to standardize and provide more options to use all kinds of measuring devices, since the horse stays on the treadmill. On the other hand, field tests are conducted under the natural conditions associated with the specific sports discipline, and are easier to implement in the training schedule. However, field tests encompass interfering variables, such as weather conditions, ground surface conditions and the rider or jockey. Several variables are measured in order to calculate the fitness level which may be expressed by different parameters, such as V200 (speed at a heart rate of 200 beats per minute), V1a4 (speed at a blood lactic acid level of 4 mmol/L) and VO2max (maximum oxygen uptake)

On the origin of intermediate effects in clinical case recall

In two experiments, the effects of level of medical expertise and study time on free recall of a clinical case were assessed. In Experiment 1, a nonmonotonic relationship between level of expertise and recall was found: Subjects of intermediate levels of expertise remembered more information from the case than both experts and novices. This "intermediate effect" disappeared, however, when study time was restricted. Analysis of post hoc acquired protocols of pathophysiological knowledge active during case processing suggested that this phenomenon could be attributed to the nature of the pathophysiological knowledge mobilized to comprehend the case. In Experiment 2, this assumption was directly tested by priming relevant pathophysiological knowledge for either a short or a longer period, before enabling subjects to study the case briefly. Free-recall data confirmed and extended the results of Experiment 1. Again, an intermediate effect was found; this time, however, it was generated experimentally. The findings were interpreted in terms of qualitative differences in the nature of the knowledge structures underlying performance between novices, advanced students, and medical experts: Experts use knowledge in an encapsulated mode while comprehending a case, whereas students use elaborated knowledge