Non-Compete Covenants: Incentives to Innovate or Impediments to Growth

We find that the enforcement of non-compete clauses significantly impedes entrepreneurship and employment growth. Based on a panel of metropolitan areas in the United States from 1993 to 2002, our results indicate that, relative to states that enforce non-compete covenants, an increase in the local supply of venture capital in states that restrict the scope of these agreements has significantly stronger positive effects on (i) the number of patents, (ii) the number of firm starts, and (iii) employment. We address potential endogeneity issues in the supply of venture capital by using endowment returns as an instrumental variable. Our results point to a strong interaction between financial intermediation and the legal regime in promoting entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Validity and reliability of the Brazilian version of the Center for Epidemiological Scale - Depression (CES-D) in Brazilian elderly

Foram identificados indicadores de validade de construto e de confiabilidade interna para a Center for Epidemiological Scale-Depression (CES-D) aplicada a idosos recrutados na comunidade, em um estudo que envolveu duas medidas sucessivas. A amostra foi composta de 347 idosos (73% mulheres) com idade média de 71,96 anos (DP=8,45), os quais foram submetidos à versão brasileira da CES-D em duas ocasiões, com um tempo médio de 15,7 meses (DP=4,57) entre as medidas. Os dados da segunda medida da CES-D foram submetidos à análise fatorial confirmatória, que revelou adequação do ajuste do modelo anterior com três fatores ("afetos negativos", "dificuldades de iniciar comportamentos", "afetos positivos"). O índice de consistência interna foi 0,82 para a escala, 0,77 para o fator 1, 0,59 para o fator 2 e 0,47 para o fator 3. A prevalência de depressão foi a mesma nas duas medidas (34%).Construct validity and internal reliability concerning the Center for Epidemiological Study-Depression (CES-D) were described in a prospective study with elderly people living in the community. The sample consisted of 347 elderly adults (73% women), 71.96 years old in average (SD=8.45), which were submitted to two measures of depressive symptoms through the CES-D. The mean time between measures was 15.7 months (SD=4.57). Confirmatory factorial analysis performed on the second measure revealed the same factors identified in the first measure ("negative affection", "difficulty in initiating behaviors" and "positive affection"). Cronbach alpha was 0.82 for the scale, and 0.77, 0.59 and 0.47, respectively for factors 1, 2, and 3. Prevalence of depressive symptoms was consistent in both measures (34%)

Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ): psychometric indicators and affective relations in an elderly sample

Examinou-se indicadores psicométricos do Questionário de Regulação Emocional (QRE) e suas relações com medidas de experiência afetiva, satisfação com a vida e depressão em idosos. Cento e cinquenta e três idosos (M= 66,8 anos; DP=±5,20, 71,2% feminino) de uma Universidade Aberta à Terceira Idade responderam ao QRE, ao Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) e à escala satisfação com a vida e de depressão (GDS-15). Dois fatores (Reavaliação Cognitiva; Supressão Emocional) explicaram 50,1% da variância e os índices de consistência interna e de estabilidade temporal foram acima de 0,70. Houve relações positivas entre Reavaliação Cognitiva, satisfação com a vida e afetos positivos e relações negativas com depressão. Maior uso da Reavaliação Cognitiva é indicativo de saúde emocional em idososWe examined psychometric indicators of the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) and their relationship with measures of affective experience, satisfaction with life and depression in the elderly. One hundred and fifty-three elderly people (M = 66.8 years, SD = 5.20, 71.2% female) of an Open University for Seniors responded to the ERQ, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Life Satisfaction Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15). Two factors (Cognitive Reappraisal and Emotional Suppression) explained 50.1% of variance; internal consistency and temporal stability were above .70. There were positive relations between Cognitive Reappraisal and life satisfaction and positive affect; and there were negative relations with depression. Increased use of Cognitive Reappraisal is an indication of emotional health in the elderl

Uma Investigação sobre o Efeito dos Componentes de Potência na Confiança e Compromisso entre Fornecedores e Clientes (com Efeito Intermediário de Conflito e Satisfação): Um Estudo de Caso Múltiplo de Empresas Industriais do Parque Industrial de Firoozkooh

Marketing relationships are main issues that have been considered in industrial markets. The reality of industrial marketing is that many supplier organizations and buyer deal with each other for many years, and long term relationships are formed between them. In this study, the relationships between suppliers and customers of industrial companies of Firoozkooh industrial park were studied, with regard to the effect of power components on trust and commitment with the mediator effect of satisfaction and conflict. The statistical population was about 500 people. 100 people were selected as sample. Sampling method is quota sampling. For this research, library and field methods have also been used. In this study, using two analytical tools, SPSS and AMOS, two descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. At the descriptive level, figures were plotted and data were analyzed using statistical characteristics such as frequency, percentage. Cronbach's alpha was used to verify the reliability of the questionnaire, K-S test to determine data normalization, structural equation model to reject or confirm the research hypotheses, a goodness of fit to determine the fitness of the research model, confirmatory factor analysis to explain the variable by each of the related questions in the questionnaire. Data analysis showed that non-repressive power had a positive and significant effect on satisfaction, trust and commitment, while repressive power had a negative and significant effect on these factors and increased the conflict. The result of using non-repressive power sources, such as power of reward, knowledge, returning, etc., can lead to long-term and efficient relationships.Las relaciones de marketing son temas principales que se han considerado en los mercados industriales. La realidad del marketing industrial es que muchas organizaciones proveedoras y compradores se tratan entre sí durante muchos años, y se forman relaciones a largo plazo entre ellos. En este estudio, se estudiaron las relaciones entre proveedores y clientes de empresas industriales del parque industrial Firoozkooh, con respecto al efecto de los componentes de poder en la confianza y el compromiso con el efecto mediador de la satisfacción y el conflicto. La población estadística fue de unas 500 personas. Se seleccionaron 100 personas como muestra. El método de muestreo es el muestreo de cuotas. Para esta investigación, también se han utilizado métodos de biblioteca y de campo. En este estudio, utilizando dos herramientas analíticas, SPSS y AMOS, se utilizaron dos estadísticas descriptivas e inferenciales para analizar los datos. A nivel descriptivo, las cifras se representaron gráficamente y los datos se analizaron mediante características estadísticas, como la frecuencia y el porcentaje. Se utilizó el alfa de Cronbach para verificar la confiabilidad del cuestionario, la prueba KS para determinar la normalización de los datos, el modelo de ecuación estructural para rechazar o confirmar las hipótesis de investigación, una bondad de ajuste para determinar la idoneidad del modelo de investigación, el análisis factorial confirmatorio para explicar la variable por cada una de las preguntas relacionadas en el cuestionario. El análisis de los datos mostró que el poder no represivo tuvo un efecto positivo y significativo en la satisfacción, la confianza y el compromiso, mientras que el poder represivo tuvo un efecto negativo y significativo en estos factores y aumentó el conflicto. El resultado del uso de fuentes de poder no represivas, como el poder de recompensa, el conocimiento, el retorno, etc., puede llevar a relaciones a largo plazo y eficientes.As relações de marketing são as principais questões que foram consideradas nos mercados industriais. A realidade do marketing industrial é que muitas organizações de fornecedores e compradores lidam uns com os outros por muitos anos, e relacionamentos de longo prazo são formados entre eles. Neste estudo, foram estudadas as relações entre fornecedores e clientes de empresas industriais do parque industrial de Firoozkooh, no que diz respeito ao efeito dos componentes de poder na confiança e comprometimento com o efeito mediador da satisfação e do conflito. A população estatística foi de cerca de 500 pessoas. 100 pessoas foram selecionadas como amostra. O método de amostragem é a amostragem de cotas. Para esta pesquisa, a biblioteca e os métodos de campo também foram usados. Neste estudo, utilizando duas ferramentas analíticas, o SPSS e o AMOS, duas estatísticas descritivas e inferenciais foram utilizadas para analisar os dados. No nível descritivo, os números foram plotados e os dados foram analisados usando características estatísticas, como freqüência e porcentagem. O alfa de Cronbach foi utilizado para verificar a confiabilidade do questionário, o teste de KS para determinar a normalização dos dados, o modelo de equações estruturais para rejeitar ou confirmar as hipóteses de pesquisa, a adequação do modelo de pesquisa e a análise fatorial confirmatória para explicar a variável por cada uma das questões relacionadas no questionário. A análise dos dados mostrou que o poder não repressivo teve um efeito positivo e significativo na satisfação, confiança e comprometimento, enquanto o poder repressivo teve um efeito negativo e significativo sobre esses fatores e aumentou o conflito. O resultado do uso de fontes de energia não repressivas, como poder de recompensa, conhecimento, retorno, etc., pode levar a relacionamentos eficientes e de longo prazo

Mechanobiology of Epithelial Clusters in ECMs of Diverse Mechanical Properties

Cell clusters reside in complex extracellular matrices (ECMs) of varying mechanical properties. Epithelial cells sense and translate the mechanical cues presented by the surrounding ECM into biochemical signals through a process called ‘mechanotransduction’, which controls fundamental aspects of disease and development. During the course of metastasis, mechanical changes in the tumor microenvironment can lead to declustering of epithelial cells through a process called epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Throughout different steps of metastasis, escaped epithelial clusters encounter heterogeneous tissues of varying mechanical properties that ultimately influence their behavior in distant locations within the body. This dissertation investigates the mechanobiology of epithelial clusters inside mechanically heterogeneous tissue microenvironments. Chapter 1 provides an introduction for the mechanobiology of epithelial clusters and describes how mechanical properties of the microenvironment mediates behavior of epithelial cells. Chapter 2 addresses the mechano-regulated epithelial to mesenchymal transition inside matrices of varying stiffness and confinement. Growing evidence suggests that high extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness induces EMT. Yet, very little is known about how various geometrical parameters of the ECM might influence EMT. To this end, we develop polyacrylamide (PA)-microchannels based matrix platform to culture mammary epithelial cell clusters in ECMs of tunable stiffness and confinement. Our results demonstrate that ECM confinement alone is able to induce EMT in epithelial clusters surrounded by a soft matrix, which otherwise protects against EMT in unconfined environments. Also, we demonstrate that stiffness- and confinement-induced EMT work through cell-matrix adhesions and cytoskeletal polarization, respectively. In chapter 3, we examined the combinatorial effect of phenotypic heterogeneity and matrix heterogeneity in determining the overall migration of the migrating clusters and the motion of individual cells in the cluster. These findings may provide insights into the effect of cellular heterogeneity on the epithelial dynamics during the early stage of cancer progression. In chapter 4, we examined the collective migration of epithelial cells across physically diverse matrices. Although the influence of matrix stiffness on cell migration is well-recognized, it remains unknown whether these matrix-dependent cellular features persist even after cells move to a new microenvironment. We have discovered that epithelial cells primed on a stiff matrix migrate faster, generate higher actomyosin expression, and retain nuclear YAP even after arriving on a soft matrix, as compared to their control behavior on a homogeneously soft matrix. Our results have uncovered a mechanical memory of past matrix stiffness in collective migration of normal and cancer epithelial cells. The depletion of YAP dramatically reduces this memory-dependent migration. These revelations imply that, during metastasis, changes in tumor microenvironment stiffness may influence the future invasion of escaping tumor cells

Matrix stiffness and confinement influence YAP localization in clustered epithelial cells

Epithelial cell clusters reside in complex extracellular matrices (ECMs) of varying mechanical properties including stiffness, topography, dimensionality, and confinement. Through mechanotransduction, cells sense and translate the mechanical cues presented by the surrounding ECM into biochemical signals, which control fundamental aspects of cell behavior including differentiation, proliferation, and motility. While it is well established that nuclear translocation of Yes-associated-protein (YAP) in single cells serves as a key sensor of ECM stiffness, it remains unknown whether grouped epithelial cells exhibit a similar nuclear YAP localization response on stiff substrates. Moreover, the regulation of YAP activity in clustered cells in confined microenvironments has remained unexplored. In this study, we cultured epithelial cell monolayers on flat polyacrylamide (PA) gels of varying stiffness and measured nuclear and cytoplasmic localization of YAP. We found that nuclear YAP localization in grouped cells increased on stiffer gels. However, this stiffness-dependent nuclear localization of YAP was not as effective in densely packed monolayers. To understand how ECM stiffness and confinement independently influence YAP activity, we fabricated a PA-microchannels platform and cultured epithelial cell clusters in channels of tunable width and stiffness. Our measurements demonstrate that the likelihood of nuclear YAP localization increases in cell clusters confined within narrower channels. In wide channels, cells neighboring the channel walls exhibit less roundedness and more nuclear YAP compared to those in the interior of the channels. Taken together, these findings reveal that the mechanosensitive nuclear localization of YAP in clustered cells depends not only on ECM stiffness, but also on the cell density and the degree of matrix confinement

Synthesis, characterization, antibacterial and antitumoral activities of mononuclear zinc complexes containing tridentate amine based ligands with N3 or N2O donor groups

The synthesis and characterization of the four zinc(II) complexes [Zn(HL1)Cl-2] (1), [Zn(H2L2)Cl-2](2), [Zn(H2L3)Cl-2] (3) and[Zn(H2L4)Cl-2] (4), where HL1 = (bis-2-pyridylmethyl)amine, H2L2 = (2-hydroxybenzyl- 2-pyridylmethyl) amine, H2L3 = N-2[(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)amino)ethanol, H2L4 = 1-[(pyridine-2-ylmethyl)- amino]-propan-2-ol are reported; (3) and (4) are new while (2) was reported previously but its structure had not been determined. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis and NMR spectroscopic, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI(+)-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry ESI(+)-MS/MS). X-ray diffraction studies were performed for complexes (1)-(3) revealing the presence of mononuclear structures in the solid state. The X-ray analyses of (1) and (3) demonstrate that HL1 and HL2 act as tridentate ligands, while the ligand H2L2 in (2) is bidentate. The cytotoxic properties of the ligands and of all the complexes were examined using human leukemia THP-1, U937 and Molt-4 cells. Complex (4) exhibited the highest cytotoxicity in this series with an IC50 value of 75 +/- 1 mu mol L (1) against U937 cells. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals ultrastructural changes typical of apoptotic cells. The induction of apoptosis was confirmed by the annexin V assay. The antimicrobial activity of complexes (1)-(4) was also investigated in vitro against four Gram-positive bacteria (ATCC10832, ATCC25923, COL) and the clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolate LSA88 (SEC/SEF/ TSST-1+). Complex (2) showed the most potent inhibitory activity, reaching almost 100% of inhibition against all strains tested. Morphological investigations using TEM indicate that the antibacterial activity of complex (2) may be associated with the inhibition of cell wall and therefore cell division. (C) 2014 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved

Optimalisasi Rendemen Gurita Beku Flower Type Menggunakan Metode Kaizen pada Unit Pengolahan Ikan di Sulawesi Tenggara

Gurita beku bentuk bunga (flower type) merupakan salah satu produk olahan perikanan yang menjadi komoditas ekspor Indonesia. Rendemen yang rendah akan berdampak pada target perusahaan dan jumlah produk yang di ekspor. Penelitian dilakukan untuk mengetahui akar masalah dan memberikan solusi permasalahan untuk meningkatkan rendemen dan keuntungan perusahaan pengolahan gurita. Penelitian dilakukan dengan mengamati seluruh alur proses pengolahan dan penerapan metode kaizen hingga perhitungan estimasi keuntungan yang diperoleh perusahaan. Permasalahan utama yang ditemukan adalah rendemen yang lebih rendah dari target perusahaan (<85%). Permasalahan ini disebabkan oleh tenaga kerja yang kurang kompeten, proses penyiangan menghabiskan waktu lama, kerusakan bahan baku saat penyiangan dan pisau yang tumpul. Tindakan perbaikan atas hasil analisis akar masalah: 1) Adanya pengawasan pada karyawan khususnya pada karyawan tahapan penyiangan, 2) perbaikan penanganan bahan baku pada saat penyiangan, 3) pengadaan pisau yang sesuai dengan spesifikasi dan perbaikan alat asahan sesuai dengan jumlah dan kualitas. Penerapan metode Kaizen dapat meningkatkan rendemen hingga 2%. Secara ekonomis peningkatan rendemen berdampak terhadap peningkatan pendapatan perusahaan hingga 2,4 %/tahun atau setara dengan Rp. 384.400.000,- /tahun. Hasil ini dapat menjadi acuan dalam peningkatan rendemen dan profit perusahaan

REPRESENTASI KEKERASAN DALAM DRAMA KOREA WEAK HERO CLASS 1 EPISODE 2

ABSTRAK Nama : Samila Prodi : Ilmu Komunikasi Judul : Representasi Kekerasan dalam Drama Weak Hero Class 1 Epiosde 2 Drama Weak Hero Class 1 Episode 2 yang disutradari oleh Yoo Soo Min dan ditulis oleh Kim Jin Seok dan Yoo Soo Min dan produksi oleh Playlist Studio drama ini mengangkat tema cerita SMA dengan bumbu aksi dan drama persahabatan. Dengan menampilkan bermacam-macam kekerasan yang terjadi baik fisik dan psikis. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui representasi kekerasan yang terjadi didalam drama Weak Hero Class 1. Teori penelitian yang digunakan didalam drama ini yaitu teori semiotika Charles Sander Pierce dengan menggunakan segitiga makna yaitu ikon,indeks,dan simbol untuk menarik kesimpulan kemudian metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah kualitatif deskriptif dimana data yang dikumpulkan berupa kata-kata,gambar bukan angka. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah terdapat dua jenis kekerasan fisik yaitu memukul,menampar,menendang,membenturkan benda dan menginjak. Kemudian kekerasan psikis yaitu membentak dan merendahkan. Kata Kunci:Representasi,Kekerasan,Weak Hero Class

Monopsony and Automation

We examine the impact of labor market power on firms' adoption of automation technologies. We develop a model that incorporates labor market power into the task-based theory of automation. We show that, due to higher marginal cost of labor, monopsonistic firms have stronger incentives to automate than wage-taking firms, which could amplify or mitigate the negative employment effects of automation. Using data from US commuting zones, our results show that commuting zones that are more exposed to industrial robots exhibit considerably larger reductions in both employment and wages when their labor markets demonstrate higher levels of concentration