Radiation-induced Liver Injury after 3D-conformal Radiotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Quantitative Assessment Using Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI

Focal liver reaction (FLR) appears in the hepatobiliary-phase images of gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI) following radiotherapy (RT). We investigated the threshold dose (TD) for FLR development in 13 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) with 45 Gy in 15 fractions. FLR volumes (FLRVs) were calculated based on planning CT images by referring to fused hepatobiliary-phase images. We also calculated the TD and the irradiated volumes (IVs) of the liver parenchyma at a given dose of every 5 Gy (IVdose) based on a dose-volume histogram (DVH). The median TD was 35.2 Gy. The median IV20, IV25, IV30, IV35, IV40, and IV45 values were 371.1, 274.8, 233.4, 188.6, 145.8, and 31.0 ml, respectively. The median FLRV was 144.9 ml. There was a significant difference between the FLRV and IV20, IV25, and IV45 (p<0.05), but no significant differences between the FLRV and IV30, IV35, or IV40. These results suggest that the threshold dose of the FLR is approx. 35 Gy in HCC patients who undergo 3D-CRT in 15 fractions. The percentage of the whole liver volume receiving a dose of more than 30-40 Gy (V30-40) is a potential candidate optimal DVH parameter for this fractionation schedule

What specific modes of internationalization influence SME innovation in Sub-Saharan least developed countries (LDCs)?

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) located in the least developed countries (LDCs), operate in distinctively hostile institutional environments compared to those in developed economies. Better understanding of the determinants of SME innovation in such environments is important for the development of private sector in LDCs, because innovative SMEs are crucial for sustainable economic growth. Yet, determinants of SME innovation in LDCs have hardly been studied. Considering the potential relevance of internationalization for SME innovation in LDCs, as means of overcoming domestic environmental constraints, this paper investigates the influence of foreign technology licensing, exports and imports on SME innovation in LDCs. The study employs data from 1058 manufacturing SMEs from Sub-Saharan LDCs - Djibouti, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The findings suggest that foreign technology licensing is found to be positively and statistically associated with SME product and process innovations in Sub-Saharan LDCs. Findings are compared with those from developed economies in order to identify distinctive features. The implication is that SMEs in Sub-Saharan LDCs need to be supported by different policies compared to developed economies. The results also show that R&D, firm size, sectoral characteristics and access to finance are important determinants of SME innovation

Determinants of Unlawful File Sharing: A Scoping Review

We employ a scoping review methodology to consider and assess the existing evidence on the determinants of unlawful file sharing (UFS) transparently and systematically. Based on the evidence, we build a simple conceptual framework to model the psychological decision to engage in UFS, purchase legally or do nothing. We identify social, moral, experiential, technical, legal and financial utility sources of the decision to purchase or to file share. They interact in complex ways. We consider the strength of evidence within these areas and note patterns of results. There is good evidence for influences on UFS within each of the identified determinants, particularly for self-reported measures, with more behavioral research needed. There are also indications that the reasons for UFS differ across media; more studies exploring media other than music are required

Regional collaborations and indigenous innovation capabilities in China: A multivariate method for the analysis of regional innovation systems

In this study we analyse the emerging patterns of regional collaboration for innovation projects in China, using official government statistics of 30 Chinese regions. We propose the use of Ordinal Multidimensional Scaling and Cluster analysis as a robust method to study regional innovation systems. Our results show that regional collaborations amongst organisations can be categorised by means of eight dimensions: public versus private organisational mindset; public versus private resources; innovation capacity versus available infrastructures; innovation input (allocated resources) versus innovation output; knowledge production versus knowledge dissemination; and collaborative capacity versus collaboration output. Collaborations which are aimed to generate innovation fell into 4 categories, those related to highly specialised public research institutions, public universities, private firms and governmental intervention. By comparing the representative cases of regions in terms of these four innovation actors, we propose policy measures for improving regional innovation collaboration within China

Product-level evidence of the determinants and impacts of public agricultural research: Panel analysis of plant patent data in Japan

The public sector is an important source of agricultural research as many of the agricultural producers are individual farmers who cannot bear the cost of research and development. Public institutes for experimentation and research called Kosetsushi help producers in agriculture and manufacturing improve productivity through technology transfer activities, thereby constituting an important component of regional innovation systems in Japan. This study establishes panel data of agricultural research input and output (new variety of a plant) by Kosetsushi and examines whether their research activities are responsive to local needs and which type of research effort is conducive to the promotion of agricultural product innovation measured as registration of new varieties. Estimation results reveal significant variations across plants in the impacts of agricultural clusters on research on that plant. The impact of research on plant breeding on product innovation also varies across plants. Policy implications of the major findings are discussed