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When does intellectual capital enhance innovation capability? A three-way interaction test
No full textPurposeIn the current study based on the resource-based view (RBV), a three-way interaction model tests the relationships among human and social capital resources, innovation orientation (IO) and innovation capability in the context of new ventures.Design/methodology/approachHierarchical linear regression modeling presents the linear relations at two decision layers of start-ups, their founders and managers. Data is collected and analyzed from 233 new ventures in Turkey.FindingsFindings of the two and three-way interaction analyses indicate a positive relationship between human capital and innovation capability when social capital and IO are high; however, the relation turns off when low.Research limitations/implicationsThe study extends the previous works on the proposed link between intellectual capital (IC) resources and innovation, by confirming the moderating role of social capital and IO on the positive association between human capital resources and innovation capability.Practical implicationsThe results show that for start-up companies, the co-existence of strong social capital and the strategic orientation towards innovation is required for the effective utilization of human capital for generating innovation capability within the organization. Thus, this study highlights the importance of networks, alliances and social relationships, together with the unification of strategic thinking, organizational learning and a culture of innovation for attaining innovation goals, which are crucial for the survival and success of these units.Originality/valueThis study presents the first model in the literature which examines the moderating effects of IO and social capital on the human capital-innovation capability relationship
Minimally invasive cardiac surgery in low-resource settings: right vertical infra-axillary mini-thoracotomy without peripheral cannulation – the first 100 cases
No full textObjective: Literature is scarce on minimally invasive cardiac surgery in adults with a right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy approach without using peripheral cannulation. This study aimed to analyze the perioperative, early outcomes of minimally invasive cardiac surgery with direct vision using central aortic-venous cannulation through a right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy, vs. standard cardiac surgery with median sternotomy.
Patients and methods: This retrospective study included the first 100 adult patients who were operated on via right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy and central aortic and venous cannulation. The control group comprised 100 adult patients who underwent cardiac surgery through a median sternotomy and central aortic and venous cannulation.
Results: The thoracotomy group was associated with prolonged aortic cross-clamp time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, and operation time. The amount of postoperative chest tube drainage and blood transfusion was higher in the sternotomy group. No difference was found between the groups in terms of postoperative morbidity and mortality rates. Despite a higher level of pain in the thoracotomy group on the first 3 postoperative days, patient satisfaction was higher in this group.
Conclusions: In a resource-limited setting, minimally invasive cardiac surgery with direct vision using central aortic-venous cannulation through a right vertical infra-axillary thoracotomy may help to establish minimally invasive cardiac surgery with better cosmetic results, and higher patient satisfaction compared to the median sternotomy approach. Outcomes during the learning curve were similar
The Effect of Geometrical Features of Release Surfaces on the Stability of Tectonically Disturbed Deep Rock Slopes in an Albite Open Pit Mine
No full textAn albite deposit formed in orthogneiss has been operated using open pit mining process since 1996. However, landslides have occurred following the excavation works and heavy rainfalls. In the current state, the slopes are still susceptible to mass movement. For this reason, this study aimed to determine the root causes that are influencing continuous movements. In this context, two geometric features of the strike-slip faults that form tectonic slices in the pit were proposed. The first one (alpha-angle) is the acute angle between the dip direction of the overall slope and the general trend of the strike-slip fault and it was used for the kinematic evaluation of the sliding potential of the tectonic slices. The validity of alpha-angle was confirmed by investigating its relationship with the factor of safety values. The second one (undulation angle, i) was used to determine the effective surface friction angle (phi(eff)). Thereafter, phi(eff) value was used in the deterministic finite element (FE) slope stability analyses as well as back analyses. Its effect on the stability of overall slopes was investigated for static and pseudo-static conditions with different water table levels. The FE results confirmed the monitored field displacement measurements. It was found that as alpha-angle decreases, the ability to resist sliding also decreases since the low alpha-angle promotes block formation. This study also demonstrated that using the undulation angles on mapped profiles of large-scale discontinuities (>= 270 m) would be a promising approach for slope stability assessments of open pit excavations in tectonically disturbed metamorphic rocks
A Sound Definitional Interpreter for a Simply Typed Functional Language
No full textIn this paper, we develop, in the proof assistant Coq, a definitional interpreter and a type-checker for a simply typed functional language, and formally prove that the mentioned type-checker is sound with respect to the definitional interpreter via progress and preservation. To represent binders, we embark on the choice of “concrete syntax” in which parameters are just names (or strings)
CROSS-CULTURAL ADAPTATION, VALIDITY, AND RELIABILITY OF THE TURKISH VERSION OF HEALTH PROMOTING ACTIVITIES SCALE
No full textPurpose: The Health Promoting Activities Scale (HPAS) is a short scale designed to question activities that may be beneficial for the mental and physical health of the mother and to evaluate mothers in this sense. The aim of the study was to cross-culturally adapt the Turkish version of the Health Promoting Activities Scale (HPAS-T) and to assess its reliability and validity. Material and Methods: Eighty mothers of disabled children who received physiotherapy in a rehabilitation center were recruited in the study. HPAS-T was administered to mothers twice, one-week apart. Internal consistency of HPAS-T was assessed with Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Additionally, test-retest reliability was analyzed using intra-class correlation coefficient. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to evaluate the construct validity. Besides, known-group validity in terms of body mass index was conducted to reveal the discriminant capacity of the HPAS-T. Results: The mean age of the mothers and their children was 37.4 +/- 6.3 years and 8.1 +/- 4.1 years, respectively. The internal consistency and reproducibility of the HPAS-T total score was excellent (alpha>0.80, ICC>0.80). SEM95 and MDC95 of the HPAS-T values were 0.58 and 1.61, respectively. HPAS-T, all items were loaded into a single component (0.470-0.833). According to the results of known-group validity model, the HPAS-T score of the mothers in the group whose children's body mass index was >= 18 was significantly lower (p<0.05). Conclusion: HPAS-T is a valid and reliable questionnaire in mothers of disabled children population. HPAS-T should be used to evaluate the level of participation in leisure occupations of mothers with developmentally disabled children
A review and meta-analysis of the environmental biology of bleak Alburnus alburnus in its native and introduced ranges, with reflections on its invasiveness
No full textThe bleak Alburnus alburnus is a medium body-size leuciscid fish that is naturally distributed across central European and western Asian fresh waters. However, during the last two decades A. alburnus has been widely introduced elsewhere in Europe and in northern Africa, mostly as a forage species for game fishes. Given its relatively recent history of invasion in non-native Eurasian waters, where it can become highly abundant, A. alburnus poses a serious risk to native communities where introduced. This study provides a review and meta-analysis of the biological traits of A. alburnus coupled with insights into its invasiveness. In its native range, A. alburnus has a moderate lifespan, inhabiting lakes or still waters in medium-to-large rivers, where it feeds mainly on zooplankton. However, non-native A. alburnus populations display high phenotypic plasticity in their biological attributes. Thus, growth, reproductive and/or dietary traits have adapted to local environmental conditions, with the species also invading lotic (stream) ecosystems. Feeding changes to benthic invertebrates, plant material and detritus when zooplankton is scarce. Such plasticity, including broad physiological tolerance, is likely to facilitate the species' adaptation and invasion of new habitats in the near future
Crocin treatment exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects in liver tissue damage of pinealectomized diabetic rats
No full textDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder with an increasing global prevalence that leads to significant morbidity and mortality. The liver plays a vital role in glycemic regulation in physiological and pathological conditions such as DM. Free radical formation and inhibition of antioxidant defense systems play a role in the liver damage pathogenesis in diabetic patients The antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and radical scavenging properties of crocin are known. This study was designed to determine the possible protective effects of crocin against liver tissue damage in pinealectomized diabetic rats. Sixty rats were divided into six groups: Control, Sham+streptozotocin (STZ), Pinealectomy (PINX), PINX+STZ, PINX+Crocin, and PINX+STZ+Crocin. PNX procedure was carried out on the first day of the experiment. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 50 mg/kg STZ was performed on the 30th day of the experiment to induce DM. Crocin (50 mg/kg; i.p.) was applied for 15 days after the pinealectomy procedure and induction of DM. Crocin decreased the markers (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and malondialdehyde (MDA)) of liver damage and increased antioxidant enzyme levels and tissue total antioxidant status. Histological results showed that the administration of crocin exhibited a protective effect against liver damage caused by STZ. These results indicate that crocin evidence protection against liver injury caused by STZ
How does kinesiophobia affect short- and long-term gait parameters in individuals with total knee arthroplasty surgery?
No full textDelays in weight transfer due to various fears after Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery negatively affect recovery. Therefore, the presence of kinesiophobia is essential for the success of the treatment. This study was planned to investigate the effects of kinesiophobia on Spatio-temporal parameters in patients who underwent unilateral TKA surgery.
This study was a prospective and cross-sectional study. Seventy patients with TKA were assessed preoperatively in the 1st week (Pre1W) and postoperatively in the 3rd month (Post3M) and 12th month (Post12M). Spatiotemporal parameters were assessed using the Win-Track platform (Medicapteurs Technology, France). The Tampa kinesiophobia scale and Lequesne index were evaluated in all individuals. A significant relationship was found between the Pre1W, Post3M, and Post12M periods and Lequesne Index scores (p<0.01), and this relationship was in favor of improvement. In the Post3M period, kinesiophobia increased compared to the Pre1W period, and kinesiophobia decreased effectively in the Post12M period (p<0.01). The effect of kine-siophobia was evident in the first postoperative period. In the correlation analyses between spatiotemporal parameters and kinesiophobia, significant negative correlations were observed (p<0.01) in the early postoperative period (Post3M).
Evaluating the effectiveness of kinesiophobia on Spatio-temporal parameters at different time intervals before and after TKA surgery may be necessary for the treatment process
A selective androgen receptor modulator, S4, displays robust anti-cancer activity on hepatocellular cancer cells by negatively regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway
No full textHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global health problem that often correlates with poor prognosis. Due to the insufficient therapy options with limited benefits, it is crucial to identify new therapeutic approaches to overcome HCC. One of the vital signaling pathways in organ homeostasis and male sexual development is Androgen Receptor (AR) signaling. Its activity affects several genes that contribute to cancer characteristics and have essential roles in cell cycle progression, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. AR signaling has been shown to be misregulated in many cancers, including HCC, suggesting that it might contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. Targeting AR signaling using anti-androgens, AR inhibitors, or AR-degrading molecules is a powerful and promising strategy to defeat HCC. In this study, AR signaling was targeted by a novel Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM), S4, in HCC cells to evaluate its potential anti-cancer effect. To date, S4 activity in cancer has not been demonstrated, and our data unrevealed that S4 significantly impaired HCC growth, migration, proliferation, and induced apoptosis through inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. Since PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling is frequently activated in HCC and contributes to its aggressiveness and poor prognosis, its negative regulation by the downregulation of critical components via S4 was a prominent finding. Further studies are necessary to investigate the S4 action mechanism and anti-tumorigenic capacity in in-viv