Minimum Viable Accelerator: Planning, Starting and Improving Startup Accelerator Programs under a Lean Approach

Startup accelerators positively influence their surrounding entrepreneurial ecosystem. This paper establishes a theoretical framework for a Minimum Viable Accelerator (MVA), a first-time accelerator program following lean principles. The MVA aims to improve the establishment and performance of accelerator programs. The resulting framework comprises six different stages, namely preparation, awareness, application, program, demo day and post demo day. The MVA framework focuses on improving validated learning through the implementation of Ries’ (2011) BML loop and the principle of structural questions. Simultaneously, MVAs reduce the amount of resources expended for setting up new programs through the involvement of the accelerator’s stakeholders

Intraoperative OCT for Monitoring Corneal Pachymetry during Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking for Keratoconus

Biomechanical reinforcement of the cornea by collagen cross-linking (CXL) using riboflavin and ultraviolet A (UV-A) irradiation is a well-established treatment for halting the progression of keratoconus. Corneal pachymetry is one of the most important factors with respect to the safety of CXL. In addition to the initial pachymetric changes, significant changes in corneal pachymetry may occur during the different steps of the procedure, highlighting the role of intraoperative pachymetric measurements. Intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used safely and effectively to monitor the corneal pachymetry during CXL. Among the advantages of this technology is its ability to provide a more detailed profile of the corneal thickness in a noncontact manner compared to the ultrasound method. These features are especially advantageous for monitoring corneal pachymetry in the setting of CXL in KCN patients, considering the marked irregularity of the epithelium and stroma in these patients. OCT has also been used for evaluation of other aspects of the CXL procedure like evaluation of in vivo riboflavin penetration in to the corneal stroma

Fostering Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and the Choice of Location for New Companies in Rural Areas – the Case of Germany

Startup ecosystems have become a popular field of research in recent years, not only for researchers but also for regional policy makers. Contemporary research on startup ecosystems generally focuses on urban areas and hubs such as Silicon Valley, Berlin, or Tel Aviv. However, little is known about startup ecosystems in rural areas. To fill this research gap, the research objective of this paper is to analyse disparities between entrepreneurial ecosystems in urban and rural areas in general and specifically in Germany. The major aim of this study is to examine the importance and development of startups in urban and rural areas and to identify challenges and opportunities for rural areas in order to set the right impulses. The research focus of this paper is to discuss which stakeholders and determinants affect the founders in their location decision. Using German Startup Monitor (DSM) 2019 data, it is found that the lack of network ties and opportunities to collaborate with established corporations; availability of qualified personnel; access to venture capital; an investment and economic policy initiative appear to be obstacles that prevent founders from starting up in rural areas in Germany. The results also confirm the findings of other studies that entrepreneurship tends to be an urban event. This study also provides suggestions for future research

Mythical Critique of the Hero's Journey in "Sam Nameh" Poem According to Campbell's Theory

By introducing the theory of individuality, Jung has opened a new chapter in literary criticism and provided a forum for the activities of many contemporary theorists, including Joseph Campbell. Campbell, enumerate one of the common themes in myths that have a similar structure to each other and follow the single target as the hero's adventurous journey and according to that brought up the monomyth theory. In this research, enlisting from the myth criticism method and according to Campbell's classification, the hero's journey in Sam Nameh’s poem that occurs in romantic adventure format was checked. Findings of research show that although the order of total pattern is not observed in this journey and all of the levels were not performed completely, the hero's journey differs slightly from Campbell's pattern. The hero at his own symbolic journey, with the discovery and recognition of the unknown and damaged aspects of his own psyche, was able to shape his shattered and unbalanced character by passing beyond the boundaries of his - limited- self and experiencing his own individuality by psychological evolution

Recognition of the factors affecting survival in colon and rectal cancer patients referred to RCGLD center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences: accelerated failure time parametric survival analysis with frailty

زمینه و هدف: عوامل تشخیصی سرطان کولورکتال بر بقای بیماران و تجویز درمان مناسب موثر است. با توجه به افزایش نرخ‌ این سرطان در ایران مخصوصاً در سنین جوانی و اینکه عوامل تشخیصی سرطان کولورکتال به عنوان یک سرطان واحد درک دقیقی از دو سرطان کولون و رکتوم و عوامل موثر بر آن فراهم نمی‌کند، بنابراین مطالعه حاضر به منظور تعیین عوامل خطر اختصاصی سرطان‌های کولون و رکتوم انجام گردید. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی-تحلیلی تعداد 1219 بیمار مبتلا به سرطان‌های کولون و رکتوم طی دی ‌ماه 1383 تا مهرماه 1387 مورد بررسی قرار گرفتند. متغیر‌های دموگرافیک و بالینی در قالب تحلیل‌های یک متغیره و چند متغیره با رویکرد الگوی زمان شکست شتابنده تحلیل بقا و با انجام تصحیح توسط پارامتر شکنندگی توسط نرم‌افزار STATA 10 تجزیه و تحلیل شدند. یافته‌ها: بر اساس نتایج حاصل از این مطالعه برای سرطان کولون در زنان، بیماران بدون سابقه‌ی بیماری التهاب روده، بیماران با درجه‌ی تومور ضعیف متمایز شده و بیماران با مرحله‌ی پاتولوژیک I تومور احتمال بقای بالاتری به دست آمد و برای دو عامل سابقه‌ی مصرف الکل و اندازه‌ی تومور رابطه آماری معنی‌داری مشاهده نشد. همچنین برای سرطان رکتوم، بیماران با نوع اولین درمان عمل جراحی احتمال بقای بالاتری داشتند و برای دو عامل سابقه‌ی شخصی ابتلا به سرطان و مرحله‌ی پاتولوژیک تومور رابطه آماری معنی‌داری مشاهده نشد. همچنین برای هر دو نوع سرطان، رده‌‌های با شاخص توده بدنی 9/29–25 و بیشتر از 30 شاخص توده‌ی بدنی به ترتیب احتمال بقای بالاتر و رده‌ی کمتر از 5/18 احتمال بقای پایین‌تری را نشان دادند. در مجموع احتمال بقای بیماران مبتلا به سرطان رکتوم در مقایسه با بیماران مبتلا به سرطان کولون بالاتر بود. نتیجه‌گیری: ارزیابی جداگانه ی کولون و رکتوم، به درک بیشتری از عوامل موثر بر این سرطان‌ها می‌انجامد و می‌تواند در طراحی کارآزمایی‌های بالینی، تشخیص بهتر بیماری و یا تجویز درمان بهینه و اختصاصی کمک نماید

How to Foster Innovation? A Methodology to Identify Fields for Fostering Innovation Capability in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Small and medium-sized enterprises are affected by changing development, production and selling paradigms in globalized industries, where innovation is a driver for sustainable competitiveness. However, innovating is highly challenging for small and medium-sized enterprises, as human resources are very limited and know-how are often highly specialized. It is often unclear which fields and factors provide the capability to innovate and which measures or methods can be applied to promote innovation based on existing competencies. For this reason, the aim of this paper is to present a framework to support the innovation capability of SMEs by identifying promising fields for innovation and providing suitable innovation methods. A particular focus in this paper is a methodology for the description and identification of fields to foster the innovation capability in SMEs as a part of the introduced framework