Catch up strategies of Asian firms : a micro-level perspective

In this paper we study a case-study of Haier Corporation of China in order to illustrate how successful companies in China have been able to catch up technologically with western countries and Japan. In spite of the common opinion in the managerial and academic literature, in which China is often noted as a low cost production country, we show that there is evidence that a number of companies are catching up technologically as well. Some of them are even threatening the competitive technological position of dominant companies in the US, Europe and Japan. In this paper we analyze a typical example of such a successful Chinese company; The Haier Group

Antecedents and consequences of helping among adolescents

The onset of adolescence is a challenging period in life, given that adolescents face a myriad of social, cognitive, and biological developments. Adolescents do not confront these challenges on their own, but seek help from their social network. Classmates play an important role herein, but there is little knowledge about help relations among adolescents. In her dissertation, Loes van Rijsewijk provides answers to questions such as who helps whom, what does a help network look like, and what are the consequences of help? To map out help networks, over 1000 adolescents were asked to identify classmates who help them with problems. This approach added novel insights to the existing body of knowledge on adolescent help behavior. Amongst others, Loes found that help behavior is selective, that is, primarily asked from or directed towards similar others and friends, that tendencies towards giving and receiving help vary over friendships and contexts, and that help affects social embeddedness, achievement, and depressive symptoms. Together, these results form a first, important step towards unraveling adolescents’ help networks

De Kunstenaarsfamiilie Delff

n/

Huybert tons Jansz

n/

Who Helps Whom? Investigating the Development of Adolescent Prosocial Relationships

We investigated adolescent prosocial relations by examining social networks based on the question "Who helps you (e.g., with homework, with repairing a flat [bicycle] tire, or when you are feeling down?)." The effects of individual characteristics (academic achievement, symptoms of depressive mood, and peer status) on receiving help and giving help were examined, and we investigated the contribution of (dis)similarity between adolescents to the development of prosocial relations. Gender, structural network characteristics, and friendship relations were taken into account. Data were derived from the Social Network Analysis of Risk behavior in Early adolescence (SNARE) study, and contained information on students in 40 secondary school classes across 3 waves (N = 840, M age = 13.4, 49.7% boys). Results from longitudinal social network analyses (RSiena) revealed tendencies toward reciprocation of help and exchange of help within helping groups. Furthermore, boys were less often mentioned as helpers, particularly by girls. Depressed adolescents were less often mentioned as helpers, especially by low-depressed peers. Moreover, lower academic achievers indicated that they received help from their higher achieving peers. Rejected adolescents received help more often, but they less often helped low-rejected peers. Last, low-and high-popular adolescents less often helped each other, and also high-popular adolescents less often helped each other. These findings show that (dis) similarity in these characteristics is an important driving factor underlying the emergence and development of prosocial relations in the peer context, and that prosocial behavior should be defined in terms of benefitting particular others.</p

Practice of ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT in ICU Patients:A Systematic Review

18F-FDG-PET/CT imaging has become a key tool to evaluate infectious and inflammatory diseases. However, application of 18F-FDG-PET/CT in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is limited, which is remarkable since the development of critical illness is closely linked to infection and inflammation. This limited use is caused by perceived complexity and risk of planning and executing 18F-FDG-PET/CT in such patients. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the feasibility of 18F-FDG-PET/CT in ICU patients with special emphasis on patient preparation, transport logistics and safety. Therefore, a systematic search was performed in PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science using the search terms: intensive care, critically ill, positron emission tomography and 18F-FDG or derivates. A total of 1183 articles were found of which 10 were included. Three studies evaluated the pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute lung injury and acute chest syndrome. Three other studies applied 18F-FDG-PET/CT to increase understanding of pathophysiology after traumatic brain injury. The remaining four studies evaluated infection of unknown origin. These four studies showed a sensitivity and specificity between 85%-100% and 57%-88%, respectively. A remarkable low adverse event rate of 2% was found during the entire 18F-FDG-PET/CT procedure, including desaturation and hypotension. In all studies, a team consisting of an intensive care physician and nurse was present during transport to ensure continuation of necessary critical care. Full monitoring during transport was used in patients requiring mechanical ventilation or vasopressor support. None of the studies used specific patient preparation for ICU patients. However, one article described specific recommendations in their discussion. In conclusion, 18F-FDG-PET/CT has been shown to be feasible and safe in ICU patients, even when ventilated or requiring vasopressors. Specific recommendations regarding patient preparation, logistics and scanning are needed. Including 18F-FDG-PET/CT in routine workup of infection of unknown origin in ICU patients showed potential to identify source of infection and might improve outcome.</p

Long axial field of view PET/CT in critically ill patients:lessons from a case report

The introduction of new long axial field of view (LAFOV) scanners is a major milestone in positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging. With these new systems a revolutionary reduction in scan time can be achieved, concurrently lowering tracer dose. Therefore, PET/CT has come within reach for groups of patients in whom PET/CT previously was undesirable. In this case report we discuss the procedure of a continuous bed motion (CBM) total-body [18F]FDG PET/CT scan in an intensive care patient. We emphasize the clinical and technical possibilities with this new camera system, a matched clinical protocol, and the added value of a dedicated team.</p