Trustworthiness on social capital of structural hole and firm resource acquisition

Social capital plays an important role in the growth of small-medium enterprises (SMEs). However, limited research exists on how the social capital of structural hole contributes to resource acquisition from the perspective of entrepreneurs and how trustworthiness is related to the effectiveness of social capital. The study examines these issues based on a sample of Chinese firms. The findings indicate that social capital of structural hole has positive effects on the firm s resource acquisition and trustworthiness does not significantly mediates the relationship between social capital of structural hole and resource acquisition in the context of China

The moderating effect of social capital and environmental dynamism on the link between entrepreneurial orientation and resource acquisition

This study attempts to define the four constructs identified in the title and examine patterns of interaction among them. It begins by demonstrating that entrepreneurial orientation influences resource acquisition. It then puts forward a set of parameters to assess the degree to which two factors identified as social capital and environmental dynamism affect an entrepreneurial orientation resource acquisition equation. The study finds that there are relationships between all four of the constructs, but in three propositions developed in the course of discussion it puts forward issues that may be clarified by future research, which from various angles could show how entrepreneurially oriented firms react differently from more established firms in terms of their acquisition of resources and interaction with social capital and environmental dynamism. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V

Simple finite element formulation for computing stress singularities at bimaterial interfaces

By using the weak form of the governing equations for sectorial bimaterial domains and assuming that the displacement field is proportional to the (λ+1)th power of the distance from the singular stress point, a second-order characteristic matrix equation on λ is derived by a one-dimensional finite element formulation that only discretizes the domain circumferentially. Numerical examples covering a variety of interfacial singularities are presented to demonstrate the efficacy of the formulation. Accurate solutions are yielded by very few elements whereas convergence can be attained by either h- or p-refinement. The related procedures are programmed in a short MAPLE worksheet given in the appendix.postprin

Benefits and Risks of Social Capital - A Resource-Based Approach

This paper reviews concepts of social capital, resource-based view and resource dependence theory with the view of focusing on their most basic meaning as a basis for determining the benefits and risks of social capital. The benefits of social capital from the resource-based view were explored with focus on how firms achieve competitive advantage. The risks of social capital from the resource dependence perspective were likewise reviewed in the context of individual and corporate behavior. The review concluded with a recommendation for study on how to maximize benefits and reduce therisk of social capital in multidimensional situation

The mediating effect of endogenous creativity on knowledge exploitation and firm performance in an emerging economy

The emerging economies are key factors in the future growth of world trade and the maintenance of global financial stability. Little is known about the way in which firms in emerging economies strategically manage the learning â creativity process to develop competitive advantage in both domestic and global markets. We extend the literature on learning and human capital by positing a model and examining 1) the mediating role of higherorder human capital in the relationship between learning facilitation and knowledge exploitation (KE); and 2) the mediating role of endogenous creativity in the KE â firm performance relationship. Qualitative method based on the sample in Chinaâs firms was adopted and the results indicate that all the hypothesized relationships are supported

The preparation, characterization, and pharmacokinetic studies of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel/dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexes.

A novel biocompatible and biodegradable drug-delivery nanoparticle (NP) has been developed to minimize the severe side effects of the poorly water-soluble anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) for clinical use. PTX was loaded into the hydrophobic cavity of a hydrophilic cyclodextrin derivative, heptakis (2,6-di-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (DM-β-CD), using an aqueous solution-stirring method followed by lyophilization. The resulting PTX/DM-β-CD inclusion complex dramatically enhanced the solubility of PTX in water and was directly incorporated into chitosan (CS) to form NPs (with a size of 323.9–407.8 nm in diameter) using an ionic gelation method. The formed NPs had a zeta potential of +15.9–23.3 mV and showed high colloidal stability. With the same weight ratio of PTX to CS of 0.7, the loading efficiency of the PTX/DM-β-CD inclusion complex-loaded CS NPs was 30.3-fold higher than that of the PTX-loaded CS NPs. Moreover, it is notable that PTX was released from the DM-β-CD/CS NPs in a sustained-release manner. The pharmacokinetic studies revealed that, compared with reference formulation (Taxol(®)), the PTX/DM-β-CD inclusion complex-loaded CS NPs exhibited a significant increase in AUC(0→24h) (the area under the plasma drug concentration–time curve over the period of 24 hours) and mean residence time by 2.7-fold and 1.4-fold, respectively. Therefore, the novel drug/DM-β-CD inclusion complex-loaded CS NPs have promising applications for the significantly improved delivery and controlled release of the poorly water-soluble drug PTX or its derivatives, thus possibly leading to enhanced therapeutic efficacy and less severe side effects

Feeling Trusted And Loyalty: Modeling Supervisor-Subordinate Interaction From A Trustee Perspective

Previous research on interpersonal trust has focused only on trusting, such as the antecedents leading to trust in management. This study explores the effect of subordinate feeling trusted in the interaction between Chinese supervisors and subordinates. We examine the mediating effect of subordinate satisfaction with supervisor and the moderating effect of trust in supervisor on their loyalty to supervisor in this interaction. The findings indicate that subordinate feeling trusted positively affects their satisfaction with the supervisor and ultimately results in improving loyalty to supervisor. The article concludes with a discussion of theoretical and practical implications for trust management in real work settings