Offshoring of Information-intensive Services: Structural Breaks in Industry Life Cycles. ACES Working Papers, August 2010

The emergence of widespread offshoring of information-intensive services is arguably one of the more impactful phenomena to transform business in the last ten years. A growing body of research has examined the firm-level drivers andlocation factors (i.e., the why's and where's) of services offshoring. However, little empirical research has examined the maturation sequencing (or when's) of services offshoring. Adopting industry life cycle theory as a framework, the key research questions examined in the paper are: when do different categories of offshoring services provision change from being emergent sectors to more mature ones, and how does the timing of this sequence relate to the type of service offshored. Using a database of 1420 offshore services FDI projects, we find that the value-add as well as the information sensitivity of the service category are related to when the service categories progress through the industry life cycle. Implications for future waves of service offshoring are discussed

Collagen Membranes: A Review

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141506/1/jper0215.pd

Effects of hydroxyapatite and PDGF concentrations on osteoblast growth in a nanohydroxyapatite-polylactic acid composite for guided tissue regeneration

The technique of guided tissue regeneration (GTR) has evolved over recent years in an attempt to achieve periodontal tissue regeneration by the use of a barrier membrane. However, there are significant limitations in the currently available membranes and overall outcomes may be limited. A degradable composite material was investigated as a potential GTR membrane material. Polylactic acid (PLA) and nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) composite was analysed, its bioactive potential and suitability as a carrier system for growth factors were assessed. The effect of nHA concentrations and the addition of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) on osteoblast proliferation and differentiation was investigated. The bioactivity was dependent on the nHA concentration in the films, with more apatite deposited on films containing higher nHA content. Osteoblasts proliferated well on samples containing low nHA content and differentiated on films with higher nHA content. The composite films were able to deliver PDGF and cell proliferation increased on samples that were pre absorbed with the growth factor. nHA–PLA composite films are able to deliver active PDGF. In addition the bioactivity and cell differentiation was higher on films containing more nHA. The use of a nHA–PLA composite material containing a high concentration of nHA may be a useful material for GTR membrane as it will not only act as a barrier, but may also be able to enhance bone regeneration by delivery of biologically active molecules

A Novel Technique of Aluminum Multiplier Slide Culture for Fungal Identification

Objective: Single slide culture technique (SSC) is the standard method of preparing fungal colonies for species identification. As contamination was frequently found, restarting the process wasted time and delayed diagnosis for patients. Aluminum slide culture (ASC) is the novel method, which aims to increase more fungal colonies in same time. Even through, some colonies showed contamination, there would be others left to use for identification. This study aimed to evaluate contaminate rate and time consumed in ASC technique to identify mold fungi compared to SSC. Methods: ASC and SSC were used to identify 50 fungal colonies comprising 3 species of dermatophytes including Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, Microsporum canis, and 2 species of non-dermatophytes including Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and Fusarium solani which are common causative molds for superficial fungal skin and nail infection. Fungal colonies were microscopically examined every 5 days. Time to species identification and contamination rate were recorded and analyzed. Results: This study demonstrated that ASC had equal efficacy in fungal identification with SSC. Median time from inoculation to fungal identification in ASC technique was 15 days which was significantly less than in SSC technique (18 days, p-value ≤ 0.05). At 15 days after inoculation, contamination rate revealed 2% in ASC whereas in SSC it was significantly higher at 16%. Conclusion: ASC technique is an effective alternative method to prepare fungal colonies for identification. This study demonstrated that ASC uses less time to identify mold fungi and revealed lower contamination rate than SSC technique

Clinical Application of Toothbrush Technique for Specimen Collection of Tinea Capitis

Objective: To demonstrate the efficacy of toothbrush culture test. Moreover, influential factors which affected the success of these methods were analyzed. Methods: To retrospectively analyze clinical presentation and investigation data of 59 Buddhist novices who diagnosed TC. The laboratory data of the toothbrush technique was reviewed and the efficacy of this technique was investigated. Results: The efficacy of toothbrush technique was demonstrated as 49.2% by comparing to the standard method. The analysis proved that more than 15% area TC involvement of scalp group achieved higher positive fungal culture outcome to be 65.5 % (p-value = 0.013). In the aspect of the clinical presentation, the effectiveness of the hairbrush technique significantly increased in the gray patch TC group (p-value 0.024). For the reason that the toothbrush technique demonstrated statistically higher efficacy in a group of patients with > 15 % gray patch area involvement (p-value = 0.007). Conclusion: The toothbrush technique was a good cooperation method that was recommended to apply in TC patients who presented as gray-patch type and more than 15% scalp area involvement

Clinical Application of Toothbrush Technique for Specimen Collection of Tinea Capitis

Objective: To demonstrate the efficacy of toothbrush culture test. Moreover, influential factors which affected the success of these methods were analyzed. Methods: To retrospectively analyze clinical presentation and investigation data of 59 Buddhist novices who diagnosed TC. The laboratory data of the toothbrush technique was reviewed and the efficacy of this technique was investigated. Results: The efficacy of toothbrush technique was demonstrated as 49.2% by comparing to the standard method. The analysis proved that more than 15% area TC involvement of scalp group achieved higher positive fungal culture outcome to be 65.5 % (p-value = 0.013). In the aspect of the clinical presentation, the effectiveness of the hairbrush technique significantly increased in the gray patch TC group (p-value 0.024). For the reason that the toothbrush technique demonstrated statistically higher efficacy in a group of patients with > 15 % gray patch area involvement (p-value = 0.007). Conclusion: The toothbrush technique was a good cooperation method that was recommended to apply in TC patients who presented as gray-patch type and more than 15% scalp area involvement

Correlation of Undercarboxylated Osteocalcin (ucOC) Concentration and Bone Density with Age in Healthy Korean Women

Uncarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) is important in evaluating vitamin K status and it is inversely associated with bone mineral density (BMD). We studied the correlationship between ucOC and BMD in healthy Korean women. This study recruited 337 healthy women between ages 20-70 were recruited. Serum ucOC, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, body mass index (BMI), and BMD were measured and compared. Mean BMI was lowest (20.3±1.9 kg/m2) in the 20 yr old group and highest (24.8±2.6 kg/m2) in the 60 yr old group. Women age 20-70 yr old had ucOC inversely related to BMD independent of other factors that may influence BMD. Serum ucOC concentration and BMD of lumbar spine showed a significant inverse relationship. Serum mean alkaline phosphatase was lowest (122±30 IU/L) in the age 30 group and highest (190.3±55.8 IU/L) in the age 60 group. Serum ucOC was inversely associated with BMI, and positively associated with alkaline phosphatase. Uncarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC) was inversely associated with spinal BMD in healthy Korean women. Serum mean ucOC was highest in the age 20 group, followed by age 50 group, which may indicate vitamin K insufficiency could be related to high bone turnover in these groups. These results suggest that vitamin K supplement may be considered to help both bone growth and bone loss during these periods

Bovine pericardium based non-cross linked collagen matrix for successful root coverage, a clinical study in human

Introduction: The aim of this study was to clinically assess the capacity of a novel bovine pericardium based, non-cross linked collagen matrix in root coverage. Methods: 62 gingival recessions of Miller class I or II were treated. The matrix was adapted underneath a coronal repositioned split thickness flap. Clinical values were assessed at baseline and after six months. Results: The mean recession in each patient was 2.2 mm at baseline. 6 Months after surgery 86.7% of the exposed root surfaces were covered. On average 0,3 mm of recession remained. The clinical attachment level changed from 3.5 ± 1.3 mm to 1,8 ( ± 0,7) mm during the observational time period. No statistically significant difference was found in the difference of probing depth. An increase in the width of gingiva was significant. With a baseline value of 1.5 ± 0.9 mm an improvement of 2.4 ± 0.8 mm after six month could be observed. 40 out of 62 recessions were considered a thin biotype at baseline. After 6 months all 62 sites were assessed thick. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the capacity of the bovine pericardium based non-cross linked collagen matrix for successful root coverage. This material was able to enhance gingival thickness and the width of keratinized gingiva. The percentage of root coverage achieved thereby is comparable to existing techniques. This method might contribute to an increase of patient's comfort and an enhanced aesthetical outcome

Chinese multinationals: host country factors and foreign direct investment location

The study of Chinese multinationals (MNEs) is becoming one of the most promising research topics in the international business literature. After outlining the distinctive characteristics of the internationalization process of Chinese MNEs, this chapter analyzes the influence of various host country factors on the location of Chinese outward foreign direct investment (FDI). From a sample of 189 outward FDI decisions made by 35 mainland Chinese firms in 63 countries, our results show that host market size and the existence of overseas Chinese in the host country are positively associated with the number of Chinese FDIs. However, greater difficulty in doing business and host country political risk have no effect

Offshoring innovation: an empirical investigation of dyadic complementarity within SMEs

Despite scholarly agreement that complementary capabilities are essential to successful collaborations, little is known about how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) manage collaborative innovation through offshoring. Besides, the innovation management literature remains generally silent about when supplier joint actions could work in enhancing offshoring innovation (OI) performance. The purpose of this study is twofold. First, we aim to delineate why supplier's asset specificity and goal compatibility predict supplier's complimentary capabilities in OI. Second, we empirically explore the role of supplier joint actions in enhancing OI performance. Based on data collected from 200 SMEs having active OI relationships spanning four developed European countries, our results propose that supplier's complementary capabilities mediate the relationship between critical relational antecedents (supplier's asset specificity and goal compatibility) and OI performance. It should be noted, however, that despite their incentivising power, supplier joint actions can be a “double-edged sword” in SMEs’ OI relationships