process innovation alliances and the interplay of firm age early evidence from italian small firms

We investigate whether and how process innovation of small enterprises is influenced by allying with another firm. Drawing on resource-based view of the firm and integrating findings from studies on the liabilities of age and newness, we argue: 1) for a direct association between strategic alliances and process innovation, and 2) in favor of a moderating role of firm age on this relationship. The results from a representative sample of 159 Italian small firms shed new light on the role of strategic alliances in explaining process innovation, and support this proposal. We find a significant and positive relationship between strategic alliances and process innovation, and a moderating effect of firm age on this relationship. This suggests that a younger firm benefits more than an older one from the increase in process innovation activities occurring as a result of alliances with other firms. The age of the firm appears to dictate the nature of relationship between strategic alliances and process innovation. Significant and novel theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.</p

Renal phosphate handling in Gitelman syndrome—the results of a case-control study

Background: Patients with Gitelman syndrome, a hereditary salt-wasting tubulopathy, have loss-of-function mutations in the SLC12A3 gene coding for the thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride co-transporter in the distal convoluted tubule. Since the bulk of filtered phosphate is reabsorbed in the proximal tubule, renal phosphate wasting is considered exceptional in Gitelman syndrome. Methods: We investigated the renal handling of inorganic phosphate in 12 unselected Italian patients affected with Gitelman syndrome (5 females and 7 males, aged 6.0-18 years, median age 12years) and in 12 healthy subjects matched for gender and age (controls). The diagnosis of Gitelman syndrome among the patients had been made clinically and confirmed by molecular biology studies. Results: The biochemical hallmarks of Gitelman syndrome, namely hypochloremia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, increased urinary excretion of sodium, chloride, potassium and magnesium and reduced urinary excretion of calcium, were present in the 12 patients. In addition, both the plasma inorganic phosphate concentration (median and interquartile range: 1.28 [1.12-1.36] vs. 1.61 [1.51-1.66)] mmol/L) and the maximal tubular reabsorption of inorganic phosphate (1.08 [0.99-1.22] vs. 1.41 [1.38-1.47] mmol/L) were significantly lower (P < 0.001) in Gitelman patients than in control subjects. Circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, intact parathyroid hormone and osteocalcin were similar in patients and controls. Conclusions: The results of our case-control study disclose a hitherto unrecognized tendency towards renal phosphate wasting with mild to moderate hypophosphatemia in Gitelman syndrom

Family entrepreneurship as a field of research: exploring its contours and contents.

This research note presents some food for thought about linking and relating the family, family business and entrepreneurship fields. Although each field has developed an important body of knowledge and some work has been done at the intersections, we show that many important questions remain unanswered. We first offer a brief review of the main research streams and perspectives in the topic areas, shedding light on the significant contributions and highlighting some outstanding research questions. We then examine the intersection of all three fields and offer recommendations on how these might be researched. We propose theories, perspectives, methods, epistemological stances as well as interesting questions for further investigation

Prevalence of hypoalbuminemia and nutritional issues in hospitalized elders

Objetivo: estimar la prevalencia de hipoalbuminemia en ancianos hospitalizados, considerando las variables sociodemográficas, estado nutricional y tiempo de internación. Método: estudio transversal, en 200 pacientes internados en hospital de gran porte del sur de Brasil, durante un período de tres meses. Fueron realizadas evaluaciones, análisis de exámenes de laboratorio y se realizó una entrevista usando un cuestionario. Resultados: el promedio de albuminemia fue 2,9 ± 0,5g/dL. El diagnóstico de hipoalbuminemia, fue encontrado en 173 sujetos (87%), y no revelado en 27 (13%), que presentaron albuminemia normal (p=0,000). Se constató que después de seis días de internación la prevalencia de niveles bajos aumentó significativamente para 90% (p=0,002), con promedio de 2,7 ± 0,5g/dL. Utilizando la Mini Evaluación Nutricional, se observó que 41 pacientes estaban desnutridos, y que de estos, 40 presentaban hipoalbuminemia. Conclusión: la prevalencia de hipoalbuminemia se mostró elevada, afectando aproximadamente nueve entre diez ancianos, siendo que el estado nutricional, de la misma manera que el tiempo de internación, está relacionado a la disminución de los niveles de albúmina sérica. Así, se sugiere monitorizar los niveles de albuminemia para evaluar el riesgo que el paciente tiene de desarrollar desnutrición y demás complicaciones durante la internación hospitalaria.Objetivo: estimar a prevalência de hipoalbuminemia em idosos hospitalizados, em relação às variáveis sociodemográficas, estado nutricional e tempo de internação. Método: estudo transversal, com 200 pacientes internados em hospital de grande porte do sul do Brasil, durante o período de três meses. Foram realizadas avaliações, análise de exames laboratoriais e entrevista através de questionário. Resultados: a média de albuminemia foi 2,9 ± 0,5g/dL. O diagnóstico de hipoalbuminemia, foi encontrado em 173 sujeitos (87%), e não revelado em 27 (13%), que apresentaram albuminemia normal (p=0,000). Constatou-se que após seis dias de internação a prevalência de níveis baixos aumentou significativamente para 90% (p=0,002), com média de 2,7 ± 0,5g/dL. Utilizando-se a Mini Avaliação Nutricional, observou-se que 41 pacientes estavam desnutridos, e que destes, 40 apresentavam hipoalbuminemia. Conclusão: a prevalência de hipoalbuminemia mostrou-se elevada, acometendo aproximadamente nove entre dez idosos, sendo que o estado nutricional, da mesma maneira que o tempo de internação , está relacionado à diminuição dos níveis de albumina sérica. Assim, sugere-se monitorar os níveis de albuminemia para avaliar o risco que o paciente tem de desenvolver desnutrição e demais complicações durante a internação hospitalar.Objective: to estimate the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia in hospitalized elders, related to socio-demographic variables, nutritional status and length of stay. Methods: crosscutting study with 200 patients hospitalized in a large hospital in the South of Brazil during three months. Evaluations, lab tests and interviews through questionnaires were performed. Results: the average albuminemia was 2,9 ± 0,5g/dL. Hypoalbuminemia was diagnosed in 173 subjects (87%) and was absent in 27 (13%) that have normal albuminemia (p=0,000). After six days of hospitalization, the prevalence of low levels grew significantly to 90% (p=0,002), average 2,7 ± 0,5g/dL. Using the Mini Nutritional Assessment, it was observed that 41 patients were malnourished and from those, 40 had hypoalbuminemia. Conclusion: the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia proved to be high, in approx. nine in ten elders, and the nutritional status and the length of stay proved to be related to the decrease of serum albumin levels. Thus, it is suggested that monitoring albumin levels should be done to evaluate the risk that the patient has to develop malnutrition and other complications during hospital stays

Prevalence of hypoalbuminemia and nutritional issues in hospitalized elders

Objective: to estimate the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia in hospitalized elders, related to socio-demographic variables, nutritional status and length of stay. Methods: crosscutting study with 200 patients hospitalized in a large hospital in the South of Brazil during three months. Evaluations, lab tests and interviews through questionnaires were performed. Results: the average albuminemia was 2,9 ± 0,5g/dL. Hypoalbuminemia was diagnosed in 173 subjects (87%) and was absent in 27 (13%) that have normal albuminemia (p=0,000). After six days of hospitalization, the prevalence of low levels grew significantly to 90% (p=0,002), average 2,7 ± 0,5g/dL. Using the Mini Nutritional Assessment, it was observed that 41 patients were malnourished and from those, 40 had hypoalbuminemia. Conclusion: the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia proved to be high, in approx. nine in ten elders, and the nutritional status and the length of stay proved to be related to the decrease of serum albumin levels. Thus, it is suggested that monitoring albumin levels should be done to evaluate the risk that the patient has to develop malnutrition and other complications during hospital stays

Phosphate homeostasis in Bartter syndrome: a case-control study

Background: Bartter patients may be hypercalciuric. Additional abnormalities in the metabolism of calcium, phosphate, and calciotropic hormones have occasionally been reported. Methods: The metabolism of calcium, phosphate, and calciotropic hormones was investigated in 15 patients with Bartter syndrome and 15 healthy subjects. Results: Compared to the controls, Bartter patients had significantly reduced plasma phosphate {mean [interquartile range]:1.29 [1.16-1.46] vs. 1.61 [1.54-1.67] mmol/L} and maximal tubular phosphate reabsorption (1.16 [1.00-1.35] vs. 1.41 [1.37-1.47] mmol/L) and significantly increased parathyroid hormone (PTH) level (6.1 [4.5-7.7] vs. 2.8 [2.2-4.4] pmol/L). However, patients and controls did not differ in blood calcium, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin levels. In patients, an inverse correlation (P < 0.05) was noted between total plasma calcium or glomerular filtration rate and PTH concentration. A positive correlation was also noted between PTH and osteocalcin concentrations (P < 0.005), as well as between chloriduria or natriuria and phosphaturia (P < 0.001). No correlation was noted between calciuria and PTH concentration or between urinary or circulating phosphate and PTH. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate a tendency towards renal phosphate wasting and elevated circulating PTH levels in Bartter patients

Prevalence of hypoalbuminemia and nutritional issues in hospitalized elders

ABSTRACT Objective: to estimate the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia in hospitalized elders, related to socio-demographic variables, nutritional status and length of stay. Methods: crosscutting study with 200 patients hospitalized in a large hospital in the South of Brazil during three months. Evaluations, lab tests and interviews through questionnaires were performed. Results: the average albuminemia was 2,9 ± 0,5g/dL. Hypoalbuminemia was diagnosed in 173 subjects (87%) and was absent in 27 (13%) that have normal albuminemia (p=0,000). After six days of hospitalization, the prevalence of low levels grew significantly to 90% (p=0,002), average 2,7 ± 0,5g/dL. Using the Mini Nutritional Assessment, it was observed that 41 patients were malnourished and from those, 40 had hypoalbuminemia. Conclusion: the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia proved to be high, in approx. nine in ten elders, and the nutritional status and the length of stay proved to be related to the decrease of serum albumin levels. Thus, it is suggested that monitoring albumin levels should be done to evaluate the risk that the patient has to develop malnutrition and other complications during hospital stays

Mediate evaluation of replicating a Training Program in Nonverbal Communication in Gerontology

OBJECTIVE Replicating the training program in non-verbal communication based on the theoretical framework of interpersonal communication; non-verbal coding, valuing the aging aspects in the perspective of active aging, checking its current relevance through the content assimilation index after 90 days (mediate) of its application. METHOD A descriptive and exploratory field study was conducted in three hospitals under direct administration of the state of São Paulo that caters exclusively to Unified Health System (SUS) patients. The training lasted 12 hours divided in three meetings, applied to 102 health professionals. RESULTS Revealed very satisfactory and satisfactory mediate content assimilation index in 82.9%. CONCLUSION The program replication proved to be relevant and updated the setting of hospital services, while remaining efficient for healthcare professionals