The Entrepreneurial State: An Ownership Competence Perspective

Academics, pundits, and policymakers have recently called for a stronger governmental role in the economy to tackle social issues such as inequality and grand challenges like global warming. Despite a general recognition among economists and management scholars that government efforts to guide and control innovation or subsidize private entrepreneurs have failed to yield results, these calls also describe an entrepreneurial state in which bureaucrats, not entrepreneurs, direct not only basic research but also applied technological development. Building on the notions of economic competence and ownership competence we argue that even well-intentioned and strongly motivated public actors lack the ability to manage the process of innovation, especially under Knightian uncertainty. As stewards of resources owned by the public, government bureaucrats do not exercise the ultimate responsibility that comes with ownership. Moreover, government ownership of firms and labs and government intervention in the management of privately owned assets hampers the competitive process of putting ownership of innovative firms and projects in the hands of individuals and groups with higher levels of ownership ability. We suggest that ownership competence differs systematically between public and private actors, particularly around innovation, with important implications for innovation policy

Роль кафедры акушерства и гинекологии ФПК и ПК в подготовке врачей-интернов

ИНТЕРНАТУРА И РЕЗИДЕНТУРААКУШЕРСТВОГИНЕКОЛОГИЯМЕДИЦИНСКОЙ ПРАКТИКИ МЕНЕДЖМЕНТОБРАЗОВАНИЕ МЕДИЦИНСКО

Probiotics Prevent Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction in Acute Pancreatitis in Rats via Induction of Ileal Mucosal Glutathione Biosynthesis

BACKGROUND: During acute pancreatitis (AP), oxidative stress contributes to intestinal barrier failure. We studied actions of multispecies probiotics on barrier dysfunction and oxidative stress in experimental AP. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Fifty-three male Spraque-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into five groups: 1) controls, non-operated, 2) sham-operated, 3) AP, 4) AP and probiotics and 5) AP and placebo. AP was induced by intraductal glycodeoxycholate infusion and intravenous cerulein (6 h). Daily probiotics or placebo were administered intragastrically, starting five days prior to AP. After cerulein infusion, ileal mucosa was collected for measurements of E. coli K12 and (51)Cr-EDTA passage in Ussing chambers. Tight junction proteins were investigated by confocal immunofluorescence imaging. Ileal mucosal apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione levels were determined and glutamate-cysteine-ligase activity and expression were quantified. AP-induced barrier dysfunction was characterized by epithelial cell apoptosis and alterations of tight junction proteins (i.e. disruption of occludin and claudin-1 and up-regulation of claudin-2) and correlated with lipid peroxidation (r>0.8). Probiotic pre-treatment diminished the AP-induced increase in E. coli passage (probiotics 57.4+/-33.5 vs. placebo 223.7+/-93.7 a.u.; P<0.001), (51)Cr-EDTA flux (16.7+/-10.1 vs. 32.1+/-10.0 cm/s10(-6); P<0.005), apoptosis, lipid peroxidation (0.42+/-0.13 vs. 1.62+/-0.53 pmol MDA/mg protein; P<0.001), and prevented tight junction protein disruption. AP-induced decline in glutathione was not only prevented (14.33+/-1.47 vs. 8.82+/-1.30 nmol/mg protein, P<0.001), but probiotics even increased mucosal glutathione compared with sham rats (14.33+/-1.47 vs. 10.70+/-1.74 nmol/mg protein, P<0.001). Glutamate-cysteine-ligase activity, which is rate-limiting in glutathione biosynthesis, was enhanced in probiotic pre-treated animals (probiotics 2.88+/-1.21 vs. placebo 1.94+/-0.55 nmol/min/mg protein; P<0.05) coinciding with an increase in mRNA expression of glutamate-cysteine-ligase catalytic (GCLc) and modifier (GCLm) subunits. CONCLUSIONS: Probiotic pre-treatment diminished AP-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction and prevented oxidative stress via mechanisms mainly involving mucosal glutathione biosynthesis.Original Publication:Femke Lutgendorff, Rian M Nijmeijer, Per A Sandström, Lena M Trulsson, Karl-Eric Magnusson, Harro M Timmerman, L Paul van Minnen, Ger T Rijkers, Hein G Gooszen, Louis M A Akkermans and Johan D Söderholm, Probiotics prevent intestinal barrier dysfunction in acute pancreatitis in rats via induction of ileal mucosal glutathione biosynthesis., 2009, PLoS ONE, (4), 2, e4512.http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0004512Licensee: Public Library of Science (PLoS)http://www.plos.org

Transoral Robotic Surgery in the Nordic Countries : Current Status and Perspectives

Background: The five Nordic countries with a population of 27 M people form a rather homogenous region in terms of health care. The management of head and neck cancer is centralized to the 21 university hospitals in these countries. Our aim was to gain an overview of the volume and role of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and to evaluate the need to centralize it in this area as the field is rapidly developing. Materials and Methods: A structured questionnaire was sent to all 10 Departments of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery in the Nordic countries having an active programme for TORS in December 2017. Results: The total cumulative number of performed robotic surgeries at these 10 Nordic centers was 528 and varied between 5 and 240 per center. The median annual number of robotic surgeries was 38 (range, 5-60). The observed number of annually operated cases remained fairly low ( Conclusions: The present results showing a limited volume of performed surgeries call for considerations to further centralize TORS in the Nordic countries.Peer reviewe

Shadowlands - Responding to Terrorism in the International Community

Skugglandskap - Att svara på terrorism i det internationella samfundet Diskussionen är fokuserad på det problematiska förhållandet mellan en ny hotnivå från internationell terrorism, och internationell rätt som den är utformad idag. En utgångspunkt för diskussionen är antagandet att internationell rätt inte ger användbara verktyg för en internationell kontra-terrorism. Den statiska fokusen på mellan-statliga relationer och krigsbrott lämnar en bred grå-zon där både internationell terrorism och kontra-terrorism kan utvecklas under okontrollerade former. Saken kompliceras ytterligare av både krig och terrorisms förandrade natur. Det är ett slags "skugglandskap" där gränserna mellan internationell terrorist och kontra-terrorist, likaväl som mellan kombatant och icke-kombatant, riskerar att suddas ut bortom igenkänning. Internationell rätt har kommit att förlita sig på nationella lagar för för att handskas med förövarna av internationell terrorism. Det här beroendet har skapat en situation där stater som inte är villiga, eller förmögna, att stoppa terrorister från att operera från baser på deras territorium, har blivit fristader. Det verkar komma en förändring, men det är en förändring framdriven av stater med nog styrka att agera, inte av det internationella samfundet självt. Den underliggande tesen är att internationell rätt behöver anpassas till denna nya verklighet. Uppsatsen försöker besvara hur detta kan genomföras genom att granska de verktyg och konventioner som finns idag, samt diskutera angreppsvinklar och lösningar på problem inte täckta i, eller rent av skapade av, dessa. SLutligen föreslås en modell för en domstol för internationell terrorism som ett konstruktivt sätt att föra situationen under det internationell samfundets kontroll innan antingen terrorism eller kontra-terrorism spinner bortom kontroll.Shadow Lands-Responding to Terrorism in the International Community- The discussion is focused on the problematic relationship between a new level of threat from international terrorism, and international law as it is shaped today. A basis for the discussion is the assumption that international law does not provide applicable tools for an international counter terrorism. The static focus on inter-state relations and wartime offences leaves a wide grey area where both international terrorism and counter terrorism can evolve in uncontrolled conditions. Matters are complicated further by the changing nature both of war and terrorism. It is a “Shadow Lands” of sorts, where the demarcations between international terrorist and counter terrorist, as well as between combatant and non-combatant, could become blurred beyond distinction. International law has come to rely on national legislation to take care of perpetrators of international terrorism. This dependency has created a situation where states not willing, or able, to stop terrorists operating from bases in their territory become safe havens.There appears to be a change to this on the rise, but it is a change driven onwards by states powerful enough to take action, not the international community itself.The underlying thesis is that international law needs to adapt to this new reality. The discussion attempts to answer the question how this can be achieved by examining the tools and conventions available today and discuss approaches and solutions to problems not covered by, or originating in, these. Finally, there is suggested a type model for a court on international terrorism as a constructive way to bring the situation under the control of the international community before either terrorism, or counter terrorism, spins out of hand

Radioimmunodiagnosis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas : Preclinical Studies

Despite improvements in treatment, the prognosis for patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) has only improved to a minor degree. To raise the success rate and minimize morbidity further developments in diagnostics are highly desired. Radioimmunodiagnosis could offer a more specific and sensitive diagnostic method. Herein, we have evaluated different radioimmunoconjugates directed against CD44v6 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) for imaging of HNSCC. The studies were performed in a murine HNSCC xenograft model. Initially, the 111In-labeled anti CD44v6 chimeric monoclonal antibody U36 (cMAb U36) was evaluated. The novel radioimmunoconjugate showed high and accumulating tumor uptake. Since small molecules might be advantageous for imaging, due mainly to their shorter circulation half-life in the bloodstream, we then investigated antibody fragments F(ab’)2 and Fab’ derived from cMAb U36. The highest tumor-to-blood ratio was achieved with the dimeric antibody fragment F(ab’)2, compared with both the intact anti-body and monomeric Fab’. Furthermore, the possibility of improving EGFR-targeted imaging was explored by pre-blocking EGFR. The liver uptake of injected labeled human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) was significantly reduced when an excess of unlabeled hEGF was injected 30 minutes in advance. However, as hEGF stimulates cell proliferation it may be inadvisable to treat cancer patients with large amounts. Alternatively, pre-blocking with an anti-EGFR Affibody molecule (ZEGFR:955)2 demonstrated similar decrease in liver uptake as unlabeled hEGF. Finally, (ZEGFR:955)2 was compared with other Affibody molecules with higher affinity to EGFR, ZEGFR:1907 and (ZEGFR:1907)2, as pre-blocking agents. In addition, a novel hEGF radioimmunoconjugate, [67Ga]Ga-NOTA-Bn-NCS-hEGF was used for EGFR targeting. The dimeric (ZEGFR:1907)2 showed greatest reduction in non-tumor uptake, and highest tumor-to-organ ratio in EGFR expressing organs, when injected in advance of the radioimmunoconjugate. To summarize, the results presented here demonstrate how different radioimmunoconjugates as well as pre-blocking EGFR can improve the radioimmunodiagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas

Shadowlands - Responding to Terrorism in the International Community

Skugglandskap - Att svara på terrorism i det internationella samfundet Diskussionen är fokuserad på det problematiska förhållandet mellan en ny hotnivå från internationell terrorism, och internationell rätt som den är utformad idag. En utgångspunkt för diskussionen är antagandet att internationell rätt inte ger användbara verktyg för en internationell kontra-terrorism. Den statiska fokusen på mellan-statliga relationer och krigsbrott lämnar en bred grå-zon där både internationell terrorism och kontra-terrorism kan utvecklas under okontrollerade former. Saken kompliceras ytterligare av både krig och terrorisms förandrade natur. Det är ett slags "skugglandskap" där gränserna mellan internationell terrorist och kontra-terrorist, likaväl som mellan kombatant och icke-kombatant, riskerar att suddas ut bortom igenkänning. Internationell rätt har kommit att förlita sig på nationella lagar för för att handskas med förövarna av internationell terrorism. Det här beroendet har skapat en situation där stater som inte är villiga, eller förmögna, att stoppa terrorister från att operera från baser på deras territorium, har blivit fristader. Det verkar komma en förändring, men det är en förändring framdriven av stater med nog styrka att agera, inte av det internationella samfundet självt. Den underliggande tesen är att internationell rätt behöver anpassas till denna nya verklighet. Uppsatsen försöker besvara hur detta kan genomföras genom att granska de verktyg och konventioner som finns idag, samt diskutera angreppsvinklar och lösningar på problem inte täckta i, eller rent av skapade av, dessa. SLutligen föreslås en modell för en domstol för internationell terrorism som ett konstruktivt sätt att föra situationen under det internationell samfundets kontroll innan antingen terrorism eller kontra-terrorism spinner bortom kontroll.Shadow Lands-Responding to Terrorism in the International Community- The discussion is focused on the problematic relationship between a new level of threat from international terrorism, and international law as it is shaped today. A basis for the discussion is the assumption that international law does not provide applicable tools for an international counter terrorism. The static focus on inter-state relations and wartime offences leaves a wide grey area where both international terrorism and counter terrorism can evolve in uncontrolled conditions. Matters are complicated further by the changing nature both of war and terrorism. It is a “Shadow Lands” of sorts, where the demarcations between international terrorist and counter terrorist, as well as between combatant and non-combatant, could become blurred beyond distinction. International law has come to rely on national legislation to take care of perpetrators of international terrorism. This dependency has created a situation where states not willing, or able, to stop terrorists operating from bases in their territory become safe havens.There appears to be a change to this on the rise, but it is a change driven onwards by states powerful enough to take action, not the international community itself.The underlying thesis is that international law needs to adapt to this new reality. The discussion attempts to answer the question how this can be achieved by examining the tools and conventions available today and discuss approaches and solutions to problems not covered by, or originating in, these. Finally, there is suggested a type model for a court on international terrorism as a constructive way to bring the situation under the control of the international community before either terrorism, or counter terrorism, spins out of hand