Micro and macro indicators of competition: comparison and relation with productivity change

This paper investigates competition in the Dutch manufacturing sector. We look at various indicators that have been used throughout the literature and relate these to productivity growth. Moreover, where possible, the indicators and productivity growth are calculated at both the firm and industry level. This enables us to investigate differences in competition and in its relation with productivity for both aggregation levels. Our results indicate that contemporaneous competition is associated with lower productivity, while lagged competition is positively associated with productivity. This finding is consistent between micro and macro, and robust over the various indicators and industries. The results are consistent with the idea that firms first experience negative effects of changes in competition and need time to adjust, while in the period after adjustment productivity rises again.competition, productivity change, growth accounts, Production Statistics, micro-macro

Micro and macro indicators of competition: comparison and relation with productivity change

This paper investigates competition in the Dutch manufacturing sector. We look at various indicators that have been used throughout the literature and relate these to productivity growth. Moreover, where possible, the indicators and productivity growth are calculated at both the firm and industry level. This enables us to investigate differences in competition and in its relation with productivity for both aggregation levels. Our results indicate that contemporaneous competition is associated with lower productivity, while lagged competition is positively associated with productivity. This finding is consistent between micro and macro, and robust over the various indicators and industries. The results are consistent with the idea that firms first experience negative effects of changes in competition and need time to adjust, while in the period after adjustment productivity rises again

Stakeholder cooperation to overcome challenges in orphan medicine development: The example of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a rare, progressive, muscle-wasting disease leading to severe disability and premature death. Treatment is currently symptomatic, but several experimental therapies are in development. Implemented care standards, validated outcome measures correlating with clinical benefit, and comprehensive information about the natural history of the disease are essential for regulatory approval of any treatment. However, for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other rare diseases, these requirements are not always in place when potential therapies enter the clinical trial phase. A cooperative effort of stakeholders in Duchenne muscular dystrophy-including representatives from patients' groups, academia, industry, and regulatory agencies-is aimed at addressing this shortfall by identifying strategies to overcome challenges, developing the tools needed, and collecting relevant data. An open and constructive dialogue among European stakeholders has positively affected development of treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy; this approach could serve as a paradigm for development of treatments for rare diseases in general

Antiviral activity of selected cathelicidins against infectious bronchitis virus

Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is a highly contagious disease caused by infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), a coronavirus of domestic fowl. IB is a major concern in the poultry industry, causing worldwide economic losses through decreased egg production and quality and by increasing the chicken's susceptibility for secondary bacterial infections, particularly Escherichia coli. In this study, the anti-IBV activity of cathelicidins, small antimicrobial peptides of the innate immune system was investigated. The cell culture adapted (nonvirulent) IBV strain Beaudette was effectively inhibited by the human cathelicidin LL-37 in bovine hamster kidney-21 cells at nontoxic concentrations. The peptide needed to be present during virus inoculation to effectively inhibit the infection of IBV-Beaudette, indicating that LL-37 likely bound viral particles. However, no clear morphological changes in the IBV virion upon binding were observed by electron microscopy. In this cell culture model, chicken cathelicidins (CATH1-3) were inactive against IBV-Beaudette. In contrast, in multicellular infection models using the virulent IBV-M41 strain the activities of human and chicken cathelicidins were different. In particular, upon inoculation of 10-day-old embryonic eggs with IBV-M41, CATH-2 reduced the viral load to a higher extend than LL-37. Similarly, viral infection of chicken tracheal organ cultures with IBV-M41 was significantly reduced in the presence of CATH-2 but not LL-37. These results indicate a potential antiviral role for CATH-2 upon IBV infection in vivo

Peri-operative red blood cell transfusion in neonates and infants: NEonate and Children audiT of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe: A prospective European multicentre observational study

BACKGROUND: Little is known about current clinical practice concerning peri-operative red blood cell transfusion in neonates and small infants. Guidelines suggest transfusions based on haemoglobin thresholds ranging from 8.5 to 12 g dl-1, distinguishing between children from birth to day 7 (week 1), from day 8 to day 14 (week 2) or from day 15 (≥week 3) onwards. OBJECTIVE: To observe peri-operative red blood cell transfusion practice according to guidelines in relation to patient outcome. DESIGN: A multicentre observational study. SETTING: The NEonate-Children sTudy of Anaesthesia pRactice IN Europe (NECTARINE) trial recruited patients up to 60 weeks' postmenstrual age undergoing anaesthesia for surgical or diagnostic procedures from 165 centres in 31 European countries between March 2016 and January 2017. PATIENTS: The data included 5609 patients undergoing 6542 procedures. Inclusion criteria was a peri-operative red blood cell transfusion. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was the haemoglobin level triggering a transfusion for neonates in week 1, week 2 and week 3. Secondary endpoints were transfusion volumes, 'delta haemoglobin' (preprocedure - transfusion-triggering) and 30-day and 90-day morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: Peri-operative red blood cell transfusions were recorded during 447 procedures (6.9%). The median haemoglobin levels triggering a transfusion were 9.6 [IQR 8.7 to 10.9] g dl-1 for neonates in week 1, 9.6 [7.7 to 10.4] g dl-1 in week 2 and 8.0 [7.3 to 9.0] g dl-1 in week 3. The median transfusion volume was 17.1 [11.1 to 26.4] ml kg-1 with a median delta haemoglobin of 1.8 [0.0 to 3.6] g dl-1. Thirty-day morbidity was 47.8% with an overall mortality of 11.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate lower transfusion-triggering haemoglobin thresholds in clinical practice than suggested by current guidelines. The high morbidity and mortality of this NECTARINE sub-cohort calls for investigative action and evidence-based guidelines addressing peri-operative red blood cell transfusions strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT02350348

Succesfactoren in het proces van bedrijfsopvolging binnen Nederlandse familiebedrijven

Bedrijfsopvolging binnen familiebedrijven is een emotioneel geladen en complex proces. De tevredenheid van stakeholders over dit proces is cruciaal voor de continuïteit van het familiebedrijf en daarom is het belangrijk dat de ondernemer de juiste omstandigheden schept om het stokje aan de volgende generatie over te dragen. In deze studie doen we verslag van een onderzoek naar succesfactoren tijdens het proces van bedrijfsopvolging en geven we, op basis van een integraal model voor bedrijfsopvolging, adviseurs inzicht in factoren die een signiIcante bijdrage leveren aan de tevredenheid en het verloop van het opvolgingsproces

Succesfactoren in het proces van bedrijfsopvolging binnen Nederlandse familiebedrijven

Bedrijfsopvolging binnen familiebedrijven is een emotioneel geladen en complex proces. De tevredenheid van stakeholders over dit proces is cruciaal voor de continuïteit van het familiebedrijf en daarom is het belangrijk dat de ondernemer de juiste omstandigheden schept om het stokje aan de volgende generatie over te dragen. In deze studie doen we verslag van een onderzoek naar succesfactoren tijdens het proces van bedrijfsopvolging en geven we, op basis van een integraal model voor bedrijfsopvolging, adviseurs inzicht in factoren die een signiIcante bijdrage leveren aan de tevredenheid en het verloop van het opvolgingsproces

Internationale ambities: een onderzoek naar 10 jaar internationaal ondernemen door Nederlandse familiebedrijven

Deze publicatie gaat over de internationalisering van familiebedrijven. Om inzicht te krijgen in de internationale ambities van familiebedrijven hebben we de jaarverslagen van 228 familiebedrijven met een omzet van minimaal 40 miljoen euro in kaart gebracht en geanalyseerd. Dit onderzoek kwam tot stand door een samenwerking tussen adviesbureau Clifton Finance en het Landelijk Expertisecentrum Familiebedrijven van Hogeschool Windesheim. De resultaten van het onderzoek leveren interessante trends en inzichten op over tien jaar internationaal ondernemen door grote Nederlandse familiebedrijven. De cijfers en analyses worden aangevuld met persoonlijke verhalen van directeuren en eigenaren van verschillende familiebedrijven uit diverse sectoren. Zij vertellen uit eerste hand wat internationalisering betekent voor hun onderneming, welke barrières ze hierbij tegenkomen en bovenal: wat het hen oplevert

Het functioneren van Raden van Advies in de context van het familiebedrijf

Deze publicatie is het eindproduct van SIA RAAK MKB project Raden van Advies in familiebedrijven. Hoe functioneren Raden van Advies in familiebedrijven? De resultaten van onderzoek laten zien dat Raden van Advies zich volledig aanpassen aan de unieke situatie waarin de raad actief is. In de publicatie wordt uiteengezet hoe unieke situaties tot stand komen en welke aspecten cruciaal zijn voor een goed functionerende Raad van Advies. Daarnaast wordt een evaluatietool gepresenteerd waarmee ondernemers en adviesleden het functioneren van hun raad kunnen evalueren en eventueel suggesties voor verbetering kunnen doen