Foreign competition, domestic knowledge base and innovation activities: evidence from Chinese high-tech industries

Using panel data analysis for a sample of Chinese high-technology industries from 1998 to 2008, this study examines how industry characteristics affect industry innovation activities. Differing from existing studies, our research considers the impact of foreign competition on innovation activities at industry level in a large emerging economy. The results indicate that the intensity of competition from foreign invested enterprises (FIEs) and domestic skill intensity affect industry buy and make activities. Foreign competition is positively associated with the intensity of buy activity, but negatively affects the intensity of make activity. Further, the findings show that domestic skill intensity weakens the impact of foreign competitive pressure on innovation activities. Our empirical evidence has important policy implications

6β,15β-Diacet­oxy-1β,7β,13α-trihydr­oxy-7α,20-ep­oxy-ent-kaur-16-ene

The title compound, C24H34O8, a natural ent-kaurane diterpenoid, is composed of four rings with the expected cis and trans junctions. The crystal structure is stabilized by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. In addition, an intra­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bond occurs

1α,11α,15β-Triacet­oxy-7β-hydroxy-7α,20-ep­oxy-ent-kaur-16-en-6-one

The title compound, C26H34O9, a natural ent-kaurane diterpenoid, is composed of four rings with the expected cis and trans junctions. In the crystal structure, the mol­ecules stack along the a axis and are linked together by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

1α,6β,7β,14β,15β-Penta­hydr­oxy-7α,20-ep­oxy-ent-kaur-16-ene

The title compound, enmenol, C20H30O6, a natural ent-kaurane diterpenoid, comprises five fused rings, four of which are six-membered. Cyclo­hexane ring A adopts a chair conformation, rings B and C adopt boat conformations, while ring D has an envelope conformation, and two intramolecular O—H⋯O interactions occur. In the crystal, inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds generate a two dimensional network

6β-Acet­oxy-1α,7β,11β,15β-tetra­hydr­oxy-7α,20-ep­oxy-ent-kaur-16-ene

The title compound, C22H32O7, a natural ent-kaurane diterpenoid also referred to as Maoyecrystal F, was obtained from the medicinal plant Isodon nervosa. There are four rings with the expected cis and trans junctions. Cyclohexane ring A adopts a chair conformation, rings B and C adopt boat conformations, while the five-membered ring has an envelope conformation. The mol­ecules stack along the a axis in the crystal and are linked together by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

15α,20β-Dihydr­oxy-6β-meth­oxy-6,7-seco-6,20-ep­oxy-1,7-olide-ent-kaur-16-ene

The title compound, C21H30O6, a natural ent-kaurane diterpenoid, was obtained from the medicinal plant Isodon serra. The five rings in the mol­ecule exhibit the expected cis and trans junctions. The three six-membered rings adopt chair, twist-boat and boat conformations, while two five-membered rings adopt envelope conformations. There are two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, related by a non-crystallographic twofold screw axis; the main difference is in the different degrees of distortion of ring B. In the crystal, the mol­ecules are linked by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming chains along the b axis

1α,6β,7β,11α,15β-Penta­hydr­oxy-7α,20-ep­oxy-ent-kaur-16-ene

The title compound, C20H30O6, a natural ent-kaurane diterpenoid, named nervosanin B, was obtained from the medicinal plant Isodon serra. It is composed of four rings with the expected trans and cis junctions. One of the six-membered rings is in a chair conformation, the other two are in boat conformations and the five-membered ring adopts an evenlope conformation. The mol­ecules stack along the a axis and are linked together by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. Two intramolecular O—H⋯O interactions also occur

Magnetically Directed Targeting Aggregation of Radiolabelled Ferrite Nanoparticles

Ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 or iron (II,III) oxide; 15–25 nm of diameter) were developed. These magnetic nanoparticles are a potential vehicle for magnetically induced target aggregation in living animals. In this preliminary study, the radiochemical purity for the radiolabeled magnetic nanoparticles was examined, and the possibility of the magnetically induced targeting of the radio-nanoparticles was evaluated. Our results showed that radiolabeled ferrite nanoparticles can be used as magnetic targeting agents with high labeling efficiency and stability. These particles can be distributed within living animals via intravenous injection, and the biodistribution of the particles can be potentially controlled by external magnetism. These evaluations will be the groundwork for the future development of delivery techniques for radiopharmaceuticals through external magnetic control

New product development process execution, integration mechanisms, capabilities, and outcomes: Evidence from Chinese high-technology ventures

This study examines new product development (NPD) processes in high-technology new product ventures in the emerging market context. Drawing upon the knowledge-based view and the capability-based view, we propose a model that characterizes relationships between NPD process execution stages and product competitive advantage, and accounts for the moderating effects of NPD integration mechanisms on these relationships. Our model also explains how pricing capabilities can become a liability that undermines how product advantage impacts new product performance. We test this framework within an emerging market context that has been notably absent from the literature. Our data are generated from 187 new product projects and a follow-up of 83 projects, from Chinese high-technology ventures. We identify important theoretical interdependencies within our structural model results. Specifically, marketing–technical integration positively moderates the relationship between product development and testing capability and commercialization capability, while new product implementation capability positively moderates the relationship of commercialization capability and product competitive advantage. Yet, penetration pricing capability negatively moderates the link between product competitive advantage and new product performance

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school children in capital areas of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, West Africa

Background: Although the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe (DRSTP) has undertaken school children-based deworming programs against intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) using a single dose of mebendazole annually since 2005, it remains unclear as to the outcome to date. The present study intends to  investigate the recent IPIs status among school children living in capital areas of the DRSTP.Methods: A total of 252 school children (121 boys and 131 girls) of grades 4 and 5 from 4 primary schools located in the capital areas participated in the present study and their fresh fecal specimens were examined for the presence of any parasites using the merthiolate- iodine-formaldehyde concentration method as conducted.Results: The overall prevalence of IPIs was 64.7% (163/ 252). No significant gender difference in prevalence between boys (67.8%) and girls (61.8%) was found (p = 0.3). The majority of school children were infected with a single species of parasite (55.8%). Altogether, 12 different intestinal parasite species were identified in DRSTP school children, of which 9 species were pathogenic and the remaining 3 were non-pathogenic.Conclusion: Improving the detection method, sanitation facilities and personal hygiene as well as utilizing combined drugs are all important measures to greatly reduce IPIs in DRSTP school children.Keywords: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, school children, intestinal parasitic infection