Industrial policy evaluation in the presence of spillovers

The shortage of studies on spatial spillovers of capital subsidy policies is rather surprising, considering that such policies are usually designed to generate spatial externalities. We propose a new framework that allows positive agglomeration effects to be contrasted with the negative cross-sectional substitution and the crowding-out effect. The global evaluation of the ATT and the spillover parameters shifts the spotlight from the policy effect on subsidised firms to the global effect of capital subsidy policies on the targeted territory. The empirical evaluation of a policy in Italy mainly directed towards small- and medium-sized firms shows that the impact on investments, turnover and employment is positive and large, but is negative on TFP. However, the employment growth is partially determined to the detriment of the untreated firms

‘Better late than never’: the interplay between green technology and age for firm growth

This paper investigates the relationship between green/non-green technologies and firm growth. By combining the literature on eco-innovations, industrial organisation and entrepreneurial studies, we examine the dependence of this relationship on the pace at which firms grow and the age of the firm. From a dataset of 5498 manufacturing firms in Italy for the period of 2000–2008, longitudinal fixed effects quantile models are estimated, in which the firm’s age is set to moderate the effects of green and non-green patents on employment growth. We find that the positive effect of green technologies on growth is greater than that of non-green technologies. However, this result does not apply to struggling and rapidly growing firms. With fast-growing (above the median) firms, age moderates the growth effect of green technologies. Inconsistent with the extant literature, this moderation effect is positive: firm experience appears important for the growth benefits of green technologies, possibly relative to the complexity of their management

Detecting neurodevelopmental trajectories in congenital heart diseases with a machine-learning approach

We aimed to delineate the neuropsychological and psychopathological profiles of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and look for associations with clinical parameters. We conducted a prospective observational study in children with CHD who underwent cardiac surgery within five years of age. At least 18\ua0months after cardiac surgery, we performed an extensive neuropsychological (intelligence, language, attention, executive function, memory, social skills) and psychopathological assessment, implementing a machine-learning approach for clustering and influencing variable classification. We examined 74 children (37 with CHD and 37 age-matched controls). Group comparisons have shown differences in many domains: intelligence, language, executive skills, and memory. From CHD questionnaires, we identified two clinical subtypes of psychopathological profiles: a small subgroup with high symptoms of psychopathology and a wider subgroup of patients with ADHD-like profiles. No associations with the considered clinical parameters were found. CHD patients are prone to high interindividual variability in neuropsychological and psychological outcomes, depending on many factors that are difficult to control and study. Unfortunately, these dysfunctions are under-recognized by clinicians. Given that brain maturation continues through childhood, providing a significant window for recovery, there is a need for a lifespan approach to optimize the outcome trajectory for patients with CHD

Spectral EEG in Congenital Heart Disease: A Case–Control Study in Infants Undergoing Cardiac Surgery

Children suffering from congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk of developing a variety of neurocognitive sequelae. The etiology of these impairments is thought to be multifactorial, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to compare the power spectra of postoperative electroencephalographic (EEG) activity of children with CHD undergoing cardiac surgery and controls to highlight differences in brain oscillations and cerebral architecture. We recruited 35 children with CHD undergoing cardiac surgery within six months of life (CHD group, M = 22, age at evaluation 111 days [38; 173]) and 35 age-matched healthy controls (control group, M = 24). After surgery, immediately before discharge, CHD children underwent multichannel EEG and psychomotor evaluation with the Griffiths Mental Developmental Scale (GMDS). At the psychomotor evaluation, 25/35 (71%) children in CHD group had a normal GMDS total score, 7/35 (20%) were borderline, and 3/35 (5%) were impaired. The EEG activity of CHD and controls differed significantly in the alpha (F = 23.662, p <.001) and beta (F = 36.457, p <.001) bands. Only for the CHD group did EEG power not correlate with age. CHD children exhibit marked differences in the EEG spectrum, particularly in the medium–high frequencies, suggesting an abnormal development of cerebral networks sustaining early cognitive milestones

A Novel WAC Loss of Function Mutation in an Individual Presenting with Encephalopathy Related to Status Epilepticus during Sleep (ESES)

WAC (WW Domain Containing Adaptor With Coiled-Coil) mutations have been reported in only 20 individuals presenting a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intellectual disability, neonatal hypotonia, behavioral problems, and mildly dysmorphic features. Using targeted deep sequencing, we screened a cohort of 630 individuals with variable degrees of intellectual disability and identified five WAC rare variants: two variants were inherited from healthy parents; two previously reported de novo mutations, c.1661_1664del (p.Ser554*) and c.374C>A (p.Ser125*); and a novel c.381+2T>C variant causing the skipping of exon 4 of the gene, inherited from a reportedly asymptomatic father with somatic mosaicism. A phenotypic evaluation of this individual evidenced areas of cognitive and behavioral deficits. The patient carrying the novel splicing mutation had a clinical history of encephalopathy related to status epilepticus during slow sleep (ESES), recently reported in another WAC individual. This first report of a WAC somatic mosaic remarks the contribution of mosaicism in the etiology of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders. We summarized the clinical data of reported individuals with WAC pathogenic mutations, which together with our findings, allowed for the expansion of the phenotypic spectrum of WAC-related disorders

Análise da imunogenicidade e da estabilidade do surfactante pulmonar de origem porcina administrado em coelhos

PURPOSE: To study the immunogenicity and the stability of the porcine pulmonary surfactant preparation produced by the Instituto Butantan. METHOD: Immunogenicity assay: Sixteen New-Zealand-White rabbits (1000 g body weight) were divided into 4 study groups. Each group was assigned to receive either a) Butantan surfactant, b) Survanta® (Abbott Laboratories), c) Curosurf® (Farmalab Chiesi), or d) no surfactant. The surfactants were administered intratracheally, and the animals were collected immediately before and 60 and 180 days after surfactant administration. Sera were assayed for the presence of antisurfactant antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Stability assay: The Butantan surfactant used in this assay had been stored for one year in the refrigerator (4 to 8ºC) and its stability was evaluated in distinct assay conditions using a premature rabbit model. RESULTS: Immunogenicity assay: None of the surfactants analyzed triggered antibody immune responses against their components in any of the animals. Stability assay: The results of this study demonstrate that Butantan surfactant was as effective as Curosurf when both were submitted to the adverse circumstance of short- and long-term storage at room temperature. A similar level of efficacy for the Butantan surfactant, as compared to Curosurf was demonstrated by the pulmonary dynamic compliance, ventilatory pressure, and pressure-volume curve results. CONCLUSION: The results of our study demonstrate that Butantan surfactant may be a suitable alternative for surfactant replacement therapy.OBJETIVO: Estudar a imunogenicidade e a estabilidade do surfactante de origem porcina produzido pelo Instituto Butantan. MÉTODO: Experimento imunogenicidade: 16 coelhos da raça New-Zealand-White (Peso de 1000g) foram divididos em grupos de 4 animais. Cada grupo foi designado para receber: a) Surfactante do Butantan, b) Survanta® (Abbott Laboratories), c) Curosurf (Farmalab Chiesi) e d) nenhum tratamento com surfactante. Os surfactantes foram administrados via intratraqueal e o sangue dos animais foi coletado antes, 60 e 180 dias após a administração do surfactante. O soro obtido foi analisado quanto a presença de anticorpos anti-surfactante pelo método ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Experimento estabilidade: O surfactante do Butantan usado neste experimento tinha sido armazenado por um ano em refrigerador (4 a 8&deg;C) e sua estabilidade foi analisada em condições distintas de experimentação, usando o modelo de coelho prematuro. RESULTADOS: Experimento imunogenicidade: Nenhum dos surfactantes analisados determinou a produção de anticorpos contra seus constituintes. Experimento estabilidade: Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram que o surfactante do Instituto Butantan mostrou eficácia semelhante a do Curosurf após ter sido submetido à condições adversas ao longo do tempo. A eficácia foi demonstrada através da complacência pulmonar dinâmica, pressão ventilatória e da curva pressão-volume. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram que o surfactante do Instituto Butantan pode representar um tratamento alternativo de reposição de surfactante

Investigating leaf-environment surface modulation in apple leaves for enhancing resilience to environmental challenges

The cuticle, a hydrophobic extracellular layer that covers aerial plant organs, plays a crucial role in plant health and development. It serves as a barrier against pathogens, helps prevent water loss, shields the plant from UV radiation, and supports cellular processes essential for photosynthesis. With the epidermal cells, it forms a specialized tissue that originates from the L1 tissue layer, ensuring effective protection and adaptation to environmental conditions. This research aims to investigate the genetic mechanisms involved in biotic and abiotic stress resistance, by modulating the organization of epidermal cells and influencing the structure and composition of the cuticle. Specific genes, such as ROP and RBK, have been linked to responses to fungal infections in Arabidopsis and bacterial resistance in tomato. In Malus domestica, MdROP5 is a member of the ROP family, which functions as a molecular regulator of several cellular processes, including stress responses and development. ROP proteins cycle between an inactive GDP-bound (DN) and an active GTP-bound (CA) state. MdRBK2, a receptor-like cytosolic kinase, has been identified as an interactor of ROP GTPases in Arabidopsis. Anatomical evaluations were conducted on Gala cv. plants overexpressing either the active or inactive forms of MdROP5 and MdRBK2, revealing their influence on epidermal cell organization. In addition, previous studies have shown interactions between MdGPAT6 and the Venturia inaequalis AvrVf gene in Golden Delicious, confirmed by BiFC screening. GPAT6, a membrane-bound enzyme involved in lipid biosynthesis, regulates cutin accumulation and impacts fungal resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana and tomato. A heterologous subcellular localization study of MdGPAT6 was performed, and cisgenic Gala overexpressing MdGPAT6 were generated to assess its potential role in enhancing abiotic stress resilience in apples. These findings provide new insights into the molecular pathways regulating epidermal integrity and stress tolerance, with the potential to improve crop protection and stress resilience strategies in apple cultivatio

SME Performance, Innovation and Networking - Evidence on Complementarities for a Local Economic System

The paper addresses the relevancy of networking activities and R&D as main drivers of productivity performance and ouput innovation, for small and medium enterprises (SME) playing in a local economic system. Given the intangible nature of many techno organisational innovation and networking strategies, original recent survey data for manufacturing and services are exploited. The aim is to provide new evidence on the complementarity relationships concerning different networking activities and R&D in a local SME oriented system in Northern Italy. We first introduce a methodological framework to empirically test complementarity among R&D and networking, in a discrete setting. Secondly, we consequently present empirical evidence on productivity drivers and on complementarity between R&D and networking strategies, with respect to firm productivity and process/product output innovation. R&D is a main driver of innovation and productivity, even without networking. This may signify, in association with the evidence on complementarity, that firm expenditures on R&D are a primary driver for performance. The complementarity with networking is a consequential step. Networking by itself cannot thus play a role in stimulating productivity and innovation. It can be a complementary factor in situations where cooperation and networking are needed to achieve economies of scale and/or to merge and integrate diverse skills, technologies and competencies. This is compatible with a framework where networking is the public good part of an impure public good wherein R&D plays the part of the private-led driving force towards structural break from the business as usual scenario. Managers and policy makers should be aware that in order to exploit asset complementarity, possibly transformed into competitive advantages, both R&D and networking are to be sustained and favoured. our evidence suggests that R&D may be a single main driver of performance. Since R&D expenditures are associated with firm size, a policy sustain is to be directed towards firm enlargement. After a certain threshold firms have the force to increase expenditures. The size effect is nevertheless non monotonous. Then, but not least important, for the majority of firms still remaining under a critical size threshold, policy incentives should be directed to R&D in connection with networking, through which a virtuous circle may arise. It is worth noting that it is not networking as such the main engine. Networking elements are crucially linked to innovation dynamics; it is nevertheless innovation that explains and drives networking, and not the often claimed mere existence of local spillovers or of a civic associative culture in the territory. Such public good factors exist but are likely to evolve with and be sustained by firm innovative dynamics