Exploring Competing Perspectives on How to Design Open Innovation Program for High School STEM Education: A Case Study

Open innovation (OI) has become an essential business model for big tech companies and innovation ecosystems. However, most STEM high schools in the United States do not have appropriate OI programs for students. This paper explores how various perspectives on open innovation as an emerging trend in the entrepreneurial ecosystem can link with STEM education programs. We use the Q methodology technique with interviews from students and managers of STEM education at C Academy and academic members from a field of open innovation. Twentythree participants responded to the 35 Q statements derived from preliminary findings of critical issues on a relationship between open innovation and STEM education. Five key perspectives compete, each with a unique view on why STEM education matters and how to renovate the current STEM program for an open innovation-based curriculum and club activities inside and outside high schools. Empirical findings from Q method analysis combined with Promax rotation illustrate five views: (1) civic virtue-driven open innovation, (2) open innovation with imagination from arts and culture, (3) daily life-based open innovation project, (4) critics on conventional STEM education, and (5) community service-driven open innovation. A common area that all five perspectives support is that the government should expand and strengthen support in the design and operation of open innovation education programs in STEM high schools

Liver transplantation for acute-on-chronic liver failure from erythropoietic protoporphyria

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is an inherited disorder of the heme metabolic pathway that is characterized by accumulation of protoporphyrin in the blood, erythrocytes, and tissues, and cutaneous manifestations of photosensitivity, all resulting from abnormalities in ferrochelatase (FECH) activity due to mutations in the FECH gene. Protoporphyrin is excreted by the liver, and excess protoporphyrin leads to cholelithiasis with obstructive episodes and chronic liver disease, finally progressing to liver cirrhosis. Patients with end-stage EPP-associated liver disease require liver transplantation. We describe here a 31-year-old male patient with EPP who experienced acute-on-chronic liver failure and underwent deceased-donor liver transplantation. Surgical and postoperative care included specific shielding from exposure to ultraviolet radiation to prevent photosensitivity-associated adverse effects. The patient recovered uneventfully and was doing well 24 months after transplantation. Future prevention and treatment of liver disease are discussed in detail

Identification of peripheral inflammatory markers between normal control and Alzheimer's disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Multiple pathogenic factors may contribute to the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Peripheral blood markers have been used to assess biochemical changes associated with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and involved in their pathophysiology.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Plasma samples and clinical data were obtained from participants in the Ansan Geriatric Study (AGE study). Plasma concentrations of four candidate biomarkers were measured in the normal control (NC), MCI, and AD group: interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).</p> <p>Body mass index (BMI), MMSE (Mini Mental State Examination), CDR(Clinical Dementia Rating) score and homocystein level were recorded with social and demographic information.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Total of 59 subjects were randomly selected for this analysis [NC (n = 21), MCI(n = 20) and AD(n = 18)]. In demographic data, educational year was correlated with the diagnosis states (<b><it>p </it></b>< 0.0001). No significant differences in cardiovascular disease, BMI and use of NSAIDs were found in MCI or AD group compared with NC group, respectively. The involvement of inflammatory illness or conditions in subjects, WBC count, fibrinogen and homocystein of the three groups, but no significant differences were found in each groups. The plasma IL-8 level was lower in MCI and AD patients compared with the normal control group (respectively, <it>p </it>< 0.0001). The MCI and AD patients had similar MCP-1, IL-10, and TNF-α level.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study suggests the existence of an independent and negative relationship between plasma IL-8 levels and functional status in MCI and AD patients.</p

A Study of Regional Economic Policy Focusing on Three Approaches

Regional economic growth can have a quite different dynamic and logic than national economic growth. This paper empirically investigates whether three major approaches to regional economic development: industrial mix, human capital, and quality of place significantly contribute to the regional economy. This paper tests the hypotheses using ordinary least squares (OLS) based on state-level data from the United States. The OLS results indicated a significant effect of industrial mix on regional economic growth when other factors were controlled for, though significance levels differed depending on the definition of "high-tech industry". The joint hypothesis test on human capital and quality of place showed they were statistically insignificant. The insignificance of the human-capital variables was different from the expectation. This may be caused by the fact that the level of analysis of this study is a state rather than a city, which may dilute the concentration of human capital in major cities. The significance of the industrial mix variables is meaningful because the positive relation between the concentration of high-tech industries and regional economic growth supports regional governments' efforts in Korea to establish or lure more high-tech industries into their regions. However, because the result is sensitive to various definitions of high-tech industries, it needs cautious interpretation

Exploring Competing Perspectives on How to Design Open Innovation Program for High School STEM Education: A Case Study

Open innovation (OI) has become an essential business model for big tech companies and innovation ecosystems. However, most STEM high schools in the United States do not have appropriate OI programs for students. This paper explores how various perspectives on open innovation as an emerging trend in the entrepreneurial ecosystem can link with STEM education programs. We use the Q methodology technique with interviews from students and managers of STEM education at C Academy and academic members from a field of open innovation. Twenty-three participants responded to the 35 Q statements derived from preliminary findings of critical issues on a relationship between open innovation and STEM education. Five key perspectives compete, each with a unique view on why STEM education matters and how to renovate the current STEM program for an open innovation-based curriculum and club activities inside and outside high schools. Empirical findings from Q method analysis combined with Promax rotation illustrate five views: (1) civic virtue-driven open innovation, (2) open innovation with imagination from arts and culture, (3) daily life-based open innovation project, (4) critics on conventional STEM education, and (5) community service-driven open innovation. A common area that all five perspectives support is that the government should expand and strengthen support in the design and operation of open innovation education programs in STEM high schools

Creativity and Entrepreneurship: A Regional Analysis of New Firm Formation

Understanding the factors that promote or mitigate new firm birth is crucial to regional economic development efforts, since a high level of new firm creation significantly contributes to regional economic vitality and is a major signal of a dynamic economy. The literature suggest that various factors such as unemployment, population density/growth, industrial structure, human capital, the availability of financing, and entrepreneurial characteristics significantly influence regional variation in new firm birth rates.

Creativity and Entrepreneurship : A Regional Analysis of New Firm Formation

Understanding the factors that promote or mitigate new firm birth is crucial to regional economic development efforts, since a high level of new firm creation significantly contributes to regional economic vitality and is a major signal of a dynamic economy. The literature suggest that various factors such as unemployment, population density/growth, industrial structure, human capital, the availability of financing, and entrepreneurial characteristics significantly influence regional variation in new firm birth rates

Laparoscopic Liver Resection Enhanced by an Intervention-Guided Fluorescence Imaging Technique Using Sodium Fluorescein

Background and Objectives: In laparoscopic liver resections, tumor localization is a critical aspect of ensuring clear resection margins and preserving the hepatic parenchyma. In this study, we designed a fluorescence imaging technique using a new fluorophore for tumor localization. Materials and Methods: Immediately before laparoscopic or transthoracic liver resection, microcatheter was inserted through the hepatic artery and used to engrave the segment containing the tumor in the intervention room. Under blue light, the fluorescence of the lesion was visually confirmed, and the location was determined through intraoperative sonography. After tumor localization, liver resection was performed. Results: From February 2017 to March 2020, 24 patients underwent laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) or video-assisted transthoracic liver resection (VTLR) using intervention-guided fluorescence imaging technique (IFIT). Conclusions: IFIT can provide some advantages in the field of LLR. In addition, in cases of VTLR for hepatocellular carcinoma in the superior posterior segment in patients with marginal liver function, IFIT is considered useful