Knowledge utilisation drivers in technological M&As

Several contributions look at the effect of technological M&As on the acquirer's technological performance. The knowledge-based perspective highlights the critical role that the acquirer's target's knowledge absorption plays as the main driver in enhancing post-M&A technological performance. However, absorptive capacity is a rather complex construct, which includes assimilation, utilisation and transformation of the acquired knowledge. In this paper, we focus on knowledge utilisation and investigate two factors whose effects on post-M&A technological performance have been extensively highlighted: technological relatedness and managerial experience. We contribute to the existing literature with a better understanding of the factors underlying the utilisation of the knowledge acquired in M&As. This should help managers to enhance their capacity to manage integration process post-M&As. Our results are based on a cross-sectional data set of 152 biopharmaceutical acquirers that completed at least one M&A between 2001 and 2005

Fracture of Polyjet 3D printed materials: a preliminary investigation

Additive manufacturing (AM), in particular 3D printing, gained a lot of interest in the past few years. This work is focused in particular on the Polyjet 3D process by means of which photo-curable polymers with strongly different physical and mechanical properties can be injected (in the form of liquid droplets) and cured through the use of a UV lamp. In previous works [1,2] we already highlighted the important influence that the interphase between different constituents can have on the viscoelastic properties of the 3D printed composite materials. In view of extending our research beyond small deformations and towards the determination of the fracture properties of Polyjet composites, a preliminary investigation was carried out to characterize the fracture behaviour of base constituents, and to verify the applicability of conventional fracture mechanics approaches to this particular class of AM materials/structures. As a first step, the effect of several parameters on the apparent fracture properties was determined: material composition (rubber content), printing orientation, presence of support material and ageing time. For this study, two polymers were considered: VeroWhitePlus (RGD835) and VeroGray (RGD850). They both share the same glassy matrix, but VeroGray also includes a secondary rubbery phase. Tensile and scratch experiments were performed to evaluate bulk and surface mechanical properties, later to be considered as a basis to analyze fracture data obtained on three point bending notched samples, tested according to ISO 13586 to determine apparent toughness and fracture energy values, KIC and GIC. The applicability of a fracture mechanics framework to these materials was discussed

Carbon monoxide poisoning in the home as an indicator of social integration of immigrant population

Verona is a town in Veneto Region (Italy) characterised by a high socio-economic status, but we register some health problems related to low income or social deprivation, such as unintentional carbon monoxide poisoning in private houses. Recently, indeed, there has been a rise in the number of accidents concerning immigrant populations. Since early 1990s, epidemiological informations in the matter weren?t complete and the number of cases was therefore probably underestimated. Presently no centralised system exists in Italy or in Veneto Region for recording the incidence of household CO poisoning. An ?Observatory on CO poisonings? was therefore activated in Verona Municipality in 1994 to overcome the problem of lacking data. The Observatory systematically collects data on cases of acute household CO poisoning occurring in the whole Verona area. These informations are used to assess public health interventions. During 13 years? activity 671 cases of CO poisoning and 22 deaths were recorded. The accidents were caused by the malfunctioning of home heating appliances. Statistics show a progressive increase in the number of not Italian involved in these episodes. Inspections revealed that immigrants often live in poor houses with unsafe systems or with extremely precarious heating systems. Data from this surveillance system on CO poisoning have shown that this is a public health problem involving immigrants much more often than local population. This system in real time supplies epidemiological and environmental data for improving public health intervention strategies. Such data collection systems could be useful to study other relevant problems of health disparities in lower socio-economical classes

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening