Market Integration and Technological Leadership in Europe

This study traces and analyses the changes in firm and industry structure due to EU market integration and the integration of the EU in the global economy. It focuses on changes in competitiveness based on innovation and technology development.european union, eu, denmark, sweden, norway, jonung, bergman, scandinavian, currency, union, synchronisation of cycles, co-movement of cycles, monetary unions, symnetry, symmetry, european business cycles

Internal Basic Research, External Basic Research and the Technological Performance of Pharmaceutical Firms

We evaluate the impact of basic research on pharmaceutical firms technological performance, distinguishing between internal basic research and the exploitation of external basic research findings. We find that firms increase their performance by engaging more in internal basic research, in particular if basic research is conducted in collaboration with university scientists. The exploitation of external basic research improves performance, while the magnitude increases with firms involvement in internal basic research. Hence, internal basic research and the exploitation of external basic research are complements, suggesting that internal basic research provides firms with the skills to exploit external basic research more effectively.Basic Research; Industrial Innovation; Pharmaceutical Industry

Plasma-mediated immune suppression:a neonatal perspective

<p>Plasma is a rich mixture of immune regulatory factors that shape immune cell function. This immunomodulatory role of plasma is especially important in neonates. To maintain in utero feto-maternal tolerance and to allow for microbial colonization after birth, the neonatal immune system is biased against pro-inflammatory responses while favoring immune suppression. Therefore, the neonatal period provides a unique opportunity to study the physiologic mechanisms regulating the immune system. Several recent studies in neonates have identified plasma factors that play a key role in immune regulation. Insight into immune regulation by neonatal and adult plasma may have clinical implications, because plasma is easily accessible, affordable, and widely available. Herein, we review plasma-mediated immune regulation, with specific focus on neonatal plasma. We discuss how immune suppression is a key function of plasma and provide a systematic overview of the published literature regarding plasma-derived immune suppressive proteins, lipids, purines, and sugars. Finally, we outline how immune regulation by these factors, which are particularly abundant in neonatal plasma, may eventually be used to treat immune-mediated diseases, such as autoimmune, allergic, and inflammatory diseases.</p>