The contribution of international R&D to firm profitability

The internationalisation of corporate R&D opens up the chances to participate in international knowledge sharing. This increasingly motivates firms to accelerate the pace and extent of their international R&D activities in order to enhance innovativeness and consequently competitiveness and profitability. Such business ventures, however, might be associated with huge organizational costs as well as risks of outgoing knowledge spillovers. In this paper we empirically address the question whether international R&D activities boost profitability. We employ a large data set of about 1300 firms from the German Community Innovation Survey (CIS). The empirical results demonstrate that R&D location matters for profitability. Firms with both domestic and foreign R&D activities make significantly higher profits than all other firms, including those that carry out solely domestic R&D. We furthermore ascertain that the degree of R&D internationalisation affects profitability. Our findings suggest that medium decentralised firms which innovate in two or three foreign countries outperform firms with centralized or highly decentralized international R&D strategies. Notwithstanding, decentralized firms achieve a higher firm performance than firms that solely conduct R&D activities in their home country. --R&D,Innovation,Internationalisation,Firm performance,Profit

Influence of pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells on bone healing in a rodent atrophic nonunion model regarding the periosteal reconstruction

Deckblatt-Impressum persönlicher Dank Inhalt Abkürzungsverzeichnis Einleitung Stand des Wissens Material und Methoden Ergebnisse Diskussion Zusammenfassung Summary Literaturverzeichnis Danksagung SelbständigkeitserklärungAtrophe Pseudarthrosen stellen eine der schwerwiegendsten Komplikationen der Knochenbruchheilung dar. Das biologische Potential des Knochens ist so stark reduziert, dass er ohne externe Unterstützung nicht heilt. Oft ist die Auffrischung der Fragmentenden, ein Verfahrenswechsel und die Anlage einer Spongiosaplastik erforderlich. Neben den hohen volkswirtschaftlichen Kosten erleidet der Patient eine erhebliche Einschränkung seiner Lebensqualität. Zudem entsteht durch Verfahrenswechsel und Spongiosaentnahme ein zusätzliches Operations- und Entnahmerisiko (Arrington et al., 1996). In dieser Studie wurde deshalb untersucht, inwieweit lokal applizierte autologe mesenchymale Stammzellen die frühe Heilung einer Osteotomie mit reduziertem biologischem Potential beeinflussen. Weiterhin sollten Erkenntnisse über den bisher ungeklärten Verlauf der periostalen Rekonstruktion während der Knochenheilung gewonnen und dabei analysiert werden, ob die injizierten Zellen zur periostalen Rekonstruktion beitragen. Dazu wurden 32 Ratten randomisiert in zwei Gruppen eingeteilt. Nach Knochenmarksentnahme und Expansion der aus dem Knochenmark selektierten mesenchymalen Stammzellen wurde das Os femoris in Diaphysenmitte standardisiert osteotomiert und mit einem Fixateur externe stabilisiert. Zur Schaffung einer atrophen Pseudarthrose wurde das Periost 2 mm proximal und distal des Osteotomiespaltes mit einem Elektrokauter thermisch zerstört und in diesem Bereich das Knochenmark entfernt. Zwei Tage post Osteotomie wurden bei 16 Tieren 2 x 106 MSCs/100 µl Zell-Mediumsuspension perkutan in den Osteotomiespalt injiziert (MSC-Gruppe). Die anderen 16 Tiere dienten als Kontrolle. Sie erhielten die analoge Menge des Kultivierungsmediums ohne Zellen (Medium-Gruppe). Röntgenkontrollen erfolgten post OP und im wöchentlichen Abstand. Zwei Wochen nach der Osteotomie wurden die Femora entnommen und histologisch, immunhistologisch sowie histomorphometrisch untersucht. Radiologisch und histologisch stellte sich der Heilungsverlauf in beiden Gruppen verzögert dar. Das histologische Bild beider Gruppen glich sich, bei den MSC-Tieren differenzierte das Kallusgewebe im deperiostierten Bereich häufiger zu Knorpelgewebe. Histomorphometrisch waren die Knochenfläche, die mineralisierte Fläche, die Bindegewebs- und Knorpelfläche des periostalen Kallus in der MSC-Gruppe signifikant größer. Diese Unterschiede relativierten sich jedoch bei Bezug dieser Flächen auf die periostale Gesamtfläche. In allen anderen analysierten Parametern glichen sich beide Gruppen. Die applizierten Stammzellen trugen nicht zur Unterstützung der Knochenheilung bei, noch nahmen sie einen Einfluss auf die periostale Rekonstruktion. Das Stratum fibrosum des Periost begann sich zwei Wochen nach der Deperiostierung in beiden Gruppen dezent zu rekonstruieren. Die Cambiumschicht des Periosts war dazu nicht in der Lage. Scheinbar ist eine vollständige periostale Regeneration an die Bildung eines knöchernen Kallus gebunden. Die Applikation der Zellen zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt oder die Verwendung osteogen prädifferenzierter Zellen führt möglicherweise zu einem günstigeren Heilungsverlauf.Atrophic nonunions represent one of the most severe complications in fracture healing. The bone´s biological capability to heal is such reduced, that it necessarily needs any external support. Often the refreshment of the ends of fragments, switching osteosynthesis and transplantation of spongiosa is necessary. Besides high economic costs the patient suffers a considerable restriction of quality of life. Futhermore an increasing operation risk and donor-site morbidity may result from switching osteosynthesis and transplantation of spongiosa (Arrington et al., 1996). Therefore in this study was investigated, how far local injected autogenic mesenchymal stem cells impact the early healing of an osteotomy with reduced biological potential. Futhermore, findings about the so far unknown course of periosteal reconstruction during bone healing should be gained by analysing the role of the injected cells in periosteal reconstruction. Therefore 32 rats were randomised into two groups. After sampling of bone marrow and selection of the bone marrow´s mesenchymal stem cells took place, a standardised osteotomy of the femur´s midshaft, which was stabilised with an external fixator was performed. In order to produce the atrophic nonunion, the periosteum was cauterized circumferentially for a distance of 2 mm on each side of the osteotomy. In this area the bone marrow was removed. Two days after the osteotomy 16 animals got a percutaneous injection of 2 x 106 MSCs/100 µl cell- medium-suspension in the osteotomy gap (msc-group). The other 16 rats served as control group. These animals obtained the equivalent volume of the expansion medium without cells (medium-group). X-rays were taken directly after operation and in weekly intervals. Two weeks after osteotomy the femora was extracted for histological, immunhistological and histomorphometrical examination of the osteotomy area. In both groups the course of healing appeared delayed as well radiologically as histologically. The histological appearances were equal in both groups. The callus tissue in the cauterised area of the msc-group differentiated more often into cartilage tissue. The histomorphometrical ananlysis shows, that the bone area, the mineralised area, the connective tissue area, and the cartilage area of periosteal callus of the msc-group were significantly greater. Relating to the total callus area these differences balanced. Both groups were equal regarding all other analysed parameters. The injected stem cells neither contributed to bone healing nor did they influence periosteal reconstruction. In both groups the fibrous layer of periosteum started to reestablish discreetly two weeks after osteotomy. The cambium layer of periosteum had not the ability to do so. Apparently the complete periosteal reconstruction is bound to the formation of an osseus callus. Possibly the application of the cells at a later date (e. q. after establish of an atrophic nonunion) or the use of osteogen pre-differentiated cells would have lead to a more benefical course of healing

Theoretical perspective on rebound effects from a social science point of view: Working paper to prepare empirical psychological and sociological studies in the REBOUND project

The replacement of appliances and other energy using products by more efficient ones is generally regarded as an effective strategy to reduce energy demand. However, the savings realized by this strategy may be lower than those theoretically expected or calculated from a technological point of view due to changes of behaviour following the acquisition. This phenomenon is known as the rebound effect. While scientists generally agree on the existence of rebound effects, size, relevance and explanations of such effects are controversially discussed. This paper discusses concepts to explain rebound effects from a psychological as well as sociological point of view. In particular, an approach which combines variables from psychological action theories with the sociological life-style concept is suggested as a framework for studying determinants of rebound effects. --

The Contribution of international R&D to firm profitability

The internationalisation of corporate R&D opens up the chances to participate in international knowledge sharing. This increasingly motivates firms to accelerate the pace and extent of their international R&D activities in order to enhance innovativeness and consequently competitiveness and profitability. Such business ventures, however, might be associated with huge organizational costs as well as risks of outgoing knowledge spillovers. In this paper we empirically address the question whether international R&D activities boost profitability. We employ a large data set of about 1300 firms from the German Community Innovation Survey (CIS). The empirical results demonstrate that R&D location matters for profitability. Firms with both domestic and foreign R&D activities make significantly higher profits than all other firms, including those that carry out solely domestic R&D. We furthermore ascertain that the degree of R&D internationalisation affects profitability. Our findings suggest that medium decentralised firms which innovate in two or three foreign countries outperform firms with centralized or highly decentralized international R&D strategies. Notwithstanding, decentralized firms achieve a higher firm performance than firms that solely conduct R&D activities in their home country

The influence of international dispersed vs. home-based R&D on innovation performance

Recent years have shown a surge of firms globalising their innovation activities in order to gain from international knowledge. This paper evaluates this strategy by investigating whether firms with international R&D are more innovative than firms doing R&D only in their home country. One main novelty is that we shed light on two competing hypotheses whether stronger dispersed international R&D activities hamper or stimulate innovation. Second, we employ two well-established market-based indicators for innovation (introduction of and sales growth rates due to new products) instead of looking at inventions (patents). Using German CIS data for about 2100 firms, the econometric results show that firms with international R&D are more likely to launch new products (firm and market novelties) than firms with home-based R&D only. They are also more successful in terms of higher sales growth with firm novelties. However, given the introduction of a market novelty, the location of R&D doesn’t matter for the sales growth with market novelties. The results concerning the degree of R&D internationalisation are mixed: The likelihood of introducing firm novelties increases with a stronger dispersion of foreign R&D activities (for market novelties only up to a specific point). The relationship between degree of R&D internationalisation and innovation success turns out to be inverse u-shaped

Clinical reasoning for acute dyspnoea: comparison between final-year medical students from discipline- and competency-based undergraduate programmes

Abstract: Clinical reasoning for acute dyspnoea: Comparison of final-year medical students from discipline- andcompetency-based undergraduate programmes. Background: The global shift to competency-based medical education aims to improve the performance of itstrainees, including in the key competency domain of clinical reasoning. However, research on whether such educationactually improves clinical reasoning is sparse. The purpose of this study is to compare assessed clinical reasoningperformance in digitally presented cases of acute dyspnoea between final-year medical students from a traditional,discipline-based and those from an integrated, competency-based undergraduate programme. Methods: A total of 60 medical students in their final-year clerkships participated in the study; 30 were from adiscipline-based programme, and 30 were from a competency-based programme of the same faculty. The studentscompleted a knowledge test consisting of 22 single choice items and a computer-based test of clinical reasoning withsix video-based case scenarios with different underlying diseases leading to dyspnoea. The operationalized measures ofclinical reasoning were the number and relevance of the diagnostic tests chosen, time to diagnosis and diagnosticaccuracy. Results: The two groups did not differ in their knowledge of the acute dyspnoea content domain. With regard toclinical reasoning, the selection of relevant tests, time required to make a diagnosis and accuracy of the diagnosisvaried across the six case scenarios in both groups. However, the results from the measures of the clinical reasoningprocess did not differ between the students from the two types of undergraduate medical programmes. No significantdifferences were found with regard to the selection of relevant diagnostic tests (M = 63.8% vs. M = 62.8%), the time toa diagnosis (M = 128.7 s vs. M = 136.4 s) or the accuracy of diagnosis (M = 82.2% vs. M = 77.0%). Conclusions: Key indicators of the clinical reasoning process, when assessed with objectively measured parameters,did not differ between final-year medical students from a traditional, discipline-based and those from an integrated,competency-based undergraduate programme in the domain of acute dyspnoea. The results substantiate and expandthose of previous studies based on subjective assessor ratings that showed limited change in the clinical reasoningperformance of medical students with competency-based undergraduate education

How do people buy fuel-efficient cars?

The purchase of fuel-efficient new vehicles is a decisive factor with regard to reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions from road transport. Models forecasting car choice and analyzing the effects of measures to change car choice behavior have focused primarily on sociodemographic differentiation among car buyers. Psychological variables such as beliefs, attitudes, or norms related to fuel-efficient cars are rarely included. However, it is important to consider these factors when developing and evaluating effective measures to promote fuel-efficient vehicles. The aim of this thesis was to gain insight into the psychological factors underlying vehicle purchase with regard to fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Therefore, a model drawn from literature on environmental behavior and combining relevant psychological theories (theory of planned behavior and norm-activation model) was adopted. By means of a quantitative survey, the psychological variables of this model, the car purchase behavior, and the likelihood of acceptance of specific measures to change this behavior were assessed. Three studies analyzing this data combined with data of the Swiss vehicle market show different relevant aspects of car purchase behavior. On the one hand, the results help to improve models to explain and forecast car choice with respect to fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. On the other hand, they deliver recommendations for the effective design and implementation of a broad range of measures. Der Kauf treibstoffeffizienter Neuwagen ist eine der wirkungsvollsten Einflussmöglichkeiten, um den Energieverbrauch sowie die CO2-Emissionen des Strassenverkehrs zu reduzieren. Modelle zur Vorhersage des Autokaufes und zur Bewertung möglicher Massnahmen zur Beeinflussung der Konsumenten unterscheiden die Käufer vor allem nach soziodemographischen Merkmalen. Psychologische Variablen, wie zum Beispiel spezifische Überzeugungen, Einstellungen und Normen werden selten betrachtet. Ein Einbezug dieser Faktoren ist jedoch wesentlich für die Entwicklung und Bewertung von Massnahmen. Ziel dieser Dissertation war es, Erkenntnisse über die psychologischen Faktoren zu gewinnen, welche dem Autokauf in Hinblick auf Treibstoffverbrauch und CO2-Emissionen zugrunde liegen. Ausgehend von der psychologischen Forschung zu Umweltverhalten wurde ein Modell untersucht, welches relevante psychologische Theorien (die Theorie des geplanten Verhaltens und das Normaktivationsmodell) kombiniert. Die Modellvariablen, das Autokaufverhalten sowie die Akzeptanz spezifischer Maßnahmen wurden mittels einer quantitativen Befragung erhoben. Drei Studien, in denen diese Daten zusammen mit Daten des Schweizer Automarktes analysiert werden, geben Einblick in relevante Aspekte des Autokaufverhaltens. Die Ergebnisse tragen einerseits dazu bei, Modelle zu verbessern, welche Treibstoffverbrauch und CO2-Emissionen eines gewählten Autos erklären und vorhersagen. Auf der anderen Seite liefern sie Empfehlungen für die Entwicklung und Umsetzung effektiver Massnahmen zur Förderung effizienter Autos