Spatial patterning of periodic dynamics is a dramatic and ubiquitous ecological phenomenon arising in systems ranging from diseases to plants to mammals. The degree to which spatial correlations in cyclic dynamics are the result of endogenous factors related to local dynamics vs. exogenous forcing has been one of the central questions in ecology for nearly a century. With the goal of obtaining a robust explanation for correlations over space and time in dynamics that would apply to many systems, we base our analysis on the Ising model of statistical physics, which provides a fundamental mechanism of spatial patterning. We show, using 5 y of data on over 6,500 trees in a pistachio orchard, that annual nut production, in different years, exhibits both large-scale synchrony and self-similar, power-law decaying correlations consistent with the Ising model near criticality. Our approach demonstrates the possibility that short-range interactions can lead to long-range correlations over space and time of cyclic dynamics even in the presence of large environmental variability. We propose that root grafting could be the common mechanism leading to positive short-range interactions that explains the ubiquity of masting, correlated seed production over space through time, by trees.

The generation of innovation is well known to be a social process depending on mutual interactions, aiming at accessing and exchanging knowledge in order to generate novel goods and services. Accordingly, interest in interfirm innovation networks has increased sharply over the last decade. Preceding research indicates that the structural dynamics of networks is driven both by endogenous and exogenous forces. In particular, we focus on the role of the endogenous determinants of the network evolution of interfirm networks - a category of often underestimated forces. We employ a longitudinal dataset that comprises German automotive firms' performance between 2002 and 2006 and apply a stochastic actor-oriented model (SAOM) designed to analyse both the endogenous and exogenous determinants of network change. Our results show that endogenous determinants - approximated by measures for local and global clustering - exhibit greater explanatory power than exogenous firm characteristics such as age, size, and R&D activity.

The computer simulation of the reorientation of the Earth and Mars lithosphere figure has been performed, which due to the dynamic redistribution of masses, allowed to reveal certain regularities of the structure-forming processes. It has been shown that the shape of the lithosphere surface has a different orientation relatively to the geoids’ (aroids) figure. This causes redistribution of masses leading to a strained state of the lithosphere as a result of endogenous and gravitational-rotational forces action in the evolutionary processes of planet’s self-development. The solution of this problem is considered on the example of lithosphere surface heights approximation by a biaxial ellipsoid with seven parameters. The acting horizontal forces in the upper shell of the planet has been calculated, introducing the concept of “evolutionary deviation of the plumb” and assuming that the tangential forces are proportional to the angle, which is defined as the angle between the direction of the plumb line in the past geological epoch and the plumb line direction at a given point. The calculated fields of tangential force vectors show good consistency with the direction of space-time displacement of Earth’s continents and tectonic plates and consistent with the results of the horizontal movements of GNSS stations. This is quite convincing evidence that under the long-term action of vortex rotationalgravitational forces, the lithospheres masses acquire the properties of creep. All this leads to the fact that interacting blocks and plates within the vortex rotational-gravitational model can be interconnected to elastic fields that creates a single planetary geodynamic field that forms the evolutionary state of the geo-environment.

he behavioural structure of large and strategic industrial real estate accommodation does not exist in a vacuum. Instead, its fundamental investment values and yields are uniquely affected through the dynamic interaction among exogenous and endogenous forces related to the industrial real estate demand-supply conditions, macroeconomic and institutional polices as well as urban industrial plans. This study aims to understand the dynamic behaviour of the industrial real estate market in Singapore that is slowly transitioning from a capital intensive to knowledge intensive economy. Using data obtained from various sources between 2001Q4-2010Q2 which essentially capture three property cycles, we incorporate a vector autoregressive (VAR) approach to holistically model the industrial real estate market in Singapore with respect to its demand-supply conditions, market capitalization rates which encompass information about rental yields, capital values along with future expectations. This study will help policy makers and developers to understand the structure of the industrial real estate market in Singapore along with respect to its macroeconomic conditions. The results are insightful as the data capture both the public and private markets along with a new hi-tech industrial accommodation (science parks), which is slowly gaining prominence as of the turn at the 21st century as Singapore strives to steer towards a knowledge based industrial economy.

The structure and mechanics of tissues is constantly perturbed by endogenous forces originated from cells, and at the same time regulate many important cellular functions such as migration, differentiation, and growth. Here we show that 3D collagen gels, major components of connective tissues and extracellular matrix (ECM), are significantly and irreversibly remodeled by cellular traction forces, as well as by macroscopic strains. To understand this ECM plasticity, we develop a computational model that takes into account the sliding and merging of ECM fibers. We have confirmed the model predictions with experiment. Our results suggest the profound impacts of cellular traction forces on their host ECM during development and cancer progression, and suggest indirect mechanical channels of cell-cell communications in 3D fibrous matrices.

Peripheral rural regions are looking for new development strategies in the face of interregional competition for qualified labour, tourists and better image. Rural areas usually suffer from a number of socio-economic problems such as depopulation, ageing and negative educational structure. This article deals with the analysis of selected soft factor, cultural offer and its institutional arrangements and a possible impact on the socio-economic development of the peripheral rural Jesenicko Region. It is argued that culture economy approach to rural development is in line with the emerging theory that development activity of peripheral rural regions consists of both endogenous and exogenous forces using new forms of governance. The description of the types of actors and their interrelationships is the starting point for understanding and evaluating the actors’ role in regional development. Realization of semi-structured in-depth interviews, literature review and observation were the main methods of data collection. Many cultural and sports events of local character are held in the Jesenicko Region. Cultural offer, however, does not reflect the requirements of local residents and visitors. The participation of local inhabitants on the production of cultural activities is also very low, which can hinder further development of the region. The desired strategic connection of culture and tourism remains, with few exceptions, underused. This article suggests some possible directions of culture economy approach for further development of the Jesenicko Region.

Despite of long period of investigation (over 100 years), still a lot of questions remain unclear about molecular mechanisms of plant graviperception. This requires designing new experiments and new approaches to be applied in gravitational biology. Investigation of plant cell reactions under clinorotation (plant disorientation in respect to gravity vector) is of significant importance to such type of research. Clinorotation is known to cause changes of cell polarity and exert mechanical stress in plant cells. Microtubular cytoskeleton is highly dynamic structure and it responds to both of these stresses. Due to turgor pressure and cell elongation, endogenous mechanical forces influence microtubule orientation in order to coordinate cell growth. Rearrangements of microtubules are regulated by numerous associated proteins which functional activity is not fully clear. In this review, we discuss how MT associated proteins regulate cortical MT arrays under mechanical stress and consider how these proteins may act as plant cell gravisensors. Investigation of microtubule associated proteins under clinorotation might shed the light on molecular mechanism of plant cytoskeleton arrangement and its involvement in initial reactions of cell graviperception.

Recent progress in understanding the essential roles of mechanical forces in regulating various cellular processes expands the field of biology to one where interdisciplinary approaches with engineering techniques become indispensable. Contractile forces or contractility-inherently present in proliferative cells due to the activity of ubiquitous nonmuscle myosin II (NMII)-are one of such mechano-regulators, but because NMII works downstream of diverse signaling pathways, it is often difficult to predict how the inherent cellular forces change upon perturbations to particular molecules. Here, we determine whether the contractility of individual cells is upregulated or downregulated based on an assay analyzing specific deformations of silicone gel substrates. We focus on the effect of mutations in the human MYH9 gene that encodes NMIIA, which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases including nephritis. Our assay equipped with a high-throughput data analysis capability reveals that a point mutation of E1841K but not I1816V significantly reduces the magnitude of the endogenous forces of human embryonic kidney (HEK293) cells. Given the increasingly recognized roles of the endogenous forces as a critical mechano-regulator as well as that no apparent morphological changes were induced to cells even by introducing the mutations, our findings suggest a possibility that the detected reduction in the force magnitude at the individual cellular level may underlie the pathogenesis of the kidney disease.

The Market Economics* promoted by these research is an 'as it comes; as it goes'economics adaptable to the most recent exogenous and endogenous forces coming from the globalized marketplace and the improving technologies, productivity – it is non ideological, conviction-like, or status quo. Even though it values democracy, personal freedoms, individual rights it is apolitical by nature relying on flexibly used Market Tools to steer business activities, full employment, market development by capitalizing on environmentally friendly technologies, farming, tourism, development in a high Market Security business competition marketplace.

The Tragedy of the Grabbed Commons: Coercion and Dispossession in the Global Land Rush

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore the degree to which absorptive capacity and previous innovative performance affect network dynamics, specifically in the creation or destruction of inter-business relationships.Design/methodology/approach– The empirical study has drawn on the data collected in an industrial cluster located in the Valencian Community in Spain. This population of firms allowed us to test various roles played by network endogenous forces, absorptive capacity and former performance in the creation and dissolution of inter-organisational linkages. The authors followed an evolutionary approach and applied network analysis techniques.Findings– Empirical evidences suggest that absorptive capacity and previous innovative performance are predictors of inter-business relationships. Absorptive capacity affects the emergence of linkages in the technological network, due to the tacit nature of technological knowledge. On the other hand, previous innovative performance is an indicator to identify leaders companies. These companies tend to increase the reception of request for advice from local firms. Moreover, prestigious companies tend to be more selective in choosing collaborators.Practical implications– This study helps researchers and managers better understand network dynamics. The generation of inter-organisational relationships in clusters can be determined by cognitive proximity and prestigious status in the network. These evidences are relevant in a mature cluster where knowledge is asymmetrically distributed.Originality/value– Over the last few decades, studies on industrial clusters have evolved from the “canonical” standpoint. Nowadays, researchers usually take a more sophisticated and richer view of this reality, mainly as a consequence of the inclusion the proximity concept, intra-cluster heterogeneity and advanced analysis of overlapping between networks and territory. Thus, the authors try to add some empirical evidence along these lines.

While international portfolios are still heavily biased towards home assets, the home bias has exhibited a clear downward trend in the last few decades. Interestingly, the underlying rise in foreign investment has been primarily directed to just a handful of OECD countries, and has not given rise to an across the board increase in all foreign investments. To understand the evolution of the home bias, this paper develops a dynamic model of information acquisition and portfolio choice. The dynamic framework introduces two new endogenous forces due to the fact that asset payoffs depend on the future asset prices and hence on the future information sets. First, there is a measure of endogenous unlearnable uncertainty in asset payoffs which generates decreasing returns to information when agents are sufficiently well informed about an asset, and hence gives a reason to diversify information and portfolios. In addition, the dynamic framework introduces a strategic complementarity in learning, due to the beauty contest of dynamic asset markets, which is absent in the benchmark static model where learning is purely a strategic substitute. As a result of both of these new endogenous forces, the model can explain the high overall level of the home bias, its decline over time and the fact that the rise in foreign investment has been coordinated on just a handful of destination countries. Moreover, the model predicts that the home bias decline is linked to the fall in information costs, and I find direct evidence of this in the data.

IntroductionCorporate governance codes (further - governance codes) are an important area of international corporate governance as they are designed provide firms with guidelines how corporate best practice. Unlike other forms of regulation belonging hard law, a governance code is a set of best practice recommendations regarding the behaviour and structure of the board of directors of a firm. Since it consists of recommendations on how company may efficiently and transparently adjust its governing body in order to address deficiencies in the corporate governance system (Aguilera, 2004, p. 419), a governance code is considered an element of soft law. The contents address the key issues affecting the relationship between owners and managers in order eliminate information asymmetry and improve transparency in company's functioning (Cuomo et al., 2015).The code issued in the Unites States in 1978 was the first of its kind followed by a code from Hong Kong in 1989 and Ireland in 1991. However, the number began grow rapidly after establishing the first European code so-called the Cadbury Report issued in the United Kingdom in 1992, which became a model for many other national and international codes in the following years. The report recommends implementing the code for listed companies on the principle of or explain, which became the cornerstone of governance codes further on. This approach allows a company deviate from the recommendations of the code, but it must satisfactorily explain the reason of such behaviour. The principle has spread other countries and this manner of governance reporting is also recommended by the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance (OECD, 2004).Until the end of year 2014, their figure has grown 91 countries with at least one code and the total of 345 codes (91 original codes and 254 revisions) (Cuomo et al., 2015). Moreover, international organizations such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the World Bank or the United Nations also have their own versions of codes.In this paper, we will analyse the governance codes of the European Union member states and examine what extent they comply with international best practice. For the purpose of this study, we consider the EC recommendations as best practice. We examine whether contents of national codes are influenced by these recommendations as exogenous force or are driven by domestic stakeholders representing endogenous forces and how the contents evolve over time. The remainder of the paper is organised as follows. First, we discuss theoretical background of governance codes and present state of the art in the research area. Then we describe the corporate governance framework for the European Union. Afterwards, we describe the methodology, individual findings and their further analysis. Finally, we discuss conclusions and provide suggestions for further research.1. Literature Review of Governance CodesResearch of governance codes has emerged in the wake of the first wave of codes at the end of 1990s. Existing research is a large extent linked with comparative corporate governance, which investigates the differences in governance systems among countries and analyses the level and trends of either convergence or divergence between systems over time and space (Aguilera and Jackson, 2010; Hopt, 2011). Codes have become an important tool for such comparisons because their form and contents varies considerably across the world. These particular differences and similarities may help explain the existing diversity in the practice of corporate governance. Research essentially examines codes in different countries and analysing how codes diffuse and the extent which they comply with the international best practice. Within the domain of comparative corporate governance, the contribution of governance codes in the explanation of the differences and similarities across countries can be regarded from perspectives of various scholarly disciplines (Aguilera and Jackson, 2010; Fissi et al. …

This paper presents an extension of the concept of dynamically consistent Jacobian inverse from robotic manipulators (holonomic systems) to non-holonomic robotic systems, like mobile robots. This new inverse is derived within the framework of the endogenous configuration space approach, following a strict analogy with the original derivation of the dynamically consistent Jacobian inverse for holonomic systems. The analogy is founded on replacing a finite-dimensional configuration space of the manipulation robot by the space of control functions steering the non-holonomic system. Consequently, a curve in the space of control functions corresponds to the manipulator’s trajectory in the configuration space, whereas endogenous velocities and forces are defined as elements of the tangent and cotangent spaces to the control space. Three ways of introducing the dynamically consistent Jacobian inverse are proposed, referred to as the geometric method, the force method, and the optimization method. A crucial concept underlying all these methods is a Riemannian metric in the space of control functions of the non-holonomic system as well as in its operational space. It has been shown that, similarly as for holonomic systems, the dynamically consistent Jacobian inverse obtained prevents the transmission of certain internal forces acting in the system from the endogenous configuration space to the operational space. This property is illustrated with the example of the Pioneer 2DX mobile platform. Performance of the new Jacobian inverse is demonstrated in the context of motion planning of the rolling ball.

The deterministic approach (philosophy) considers natural and civilizational phenomena (architecture) as a result of complex interactions and relations between passive and active actors. This view of architecture has a very close relation to digital methods. It has developed from automatized processes of design through parametric approach to the generative and emergent design. Architecture emerges as a non-linear interaction of endogenous and exogenous forces. It is technically impossible to predict this process (to plan or sketch it). It is, on the other hand possible to simulate it in digital as well as physical world. According to paradigm of emergent design, material and fabrication tool may be considered to be agents of the design process. A long-term goal of the research activities in the collaboration between Academy of Performing Arts, Faculty of Architecture at Slovak University of Technology and an independent platform Rese arch with the KUKA robotic arm is to create an emergent fabrication tool (process).

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent of Combined code (2010) impact in the Greek soft law (SEV code, 2011) and the adoption of an overlapping set (between the two codes) of best practice provisions in Greece. Design/methodology/approach – Content analysis was conducted to examine the similarities between the UK’s Combined code (2010) and the Greek SEV code (2011). Moreover, a sample of 219 Greek listed companies’ annual reports was analyzed, and their compliance with a specific number of provisions was evaluated. Findings – Through analyzing the content of both codes, it was found that from the total 64 provisions of the SEV code (2011), 45 were matched to at least one of the Combined codes (2010). From these 45 provisions, 26 were characterized as “in spirit” influence and 19 as “in letter”. Based on this evidence, 22 overlapping practices were selected to investigate the compliance and a quite low rate was revealed, an average percentage of 30.46 per cent. These findings indicate that while exogenous forces trigger the development and adoption of a code in Greece, in line with the UK’s, the endogenous forces tend to avoid the compliance with that “exogenous practices”. Moreover, the results support the idea that the Greek national code should be reshaped to fit the different country’s characteristics. Research limitations/implications – The research limitations are associated with the content analysis methodology, as well as the reliability of corporate governance (CG)statements. Originality/value – This study contributes to understanding in a more comprehensive manner the impact of Combined Code (2010) in Greek soft law. More specifically, based on a previous case study, this paper extends the seven analyzed factors of Koutoupis’ (2012) research to the total CG provisions of both codes. However, it goes further and develops a coding scheme to rate the level of compliance of the overlapping provisions.

The Sayan-Altai mountain systems occupy the area of “convergence” of three types of climate: extreme continental of the West Siberia, dry-steppe and semi-desert of Kazakhstan, and desert Mongolian (according to M.V. Tronov). The author has compiled morphoclimatic scheme of the Altai-Sayan mountain systems, with 6 morphoclimatic zones: humid, semi-humid, transitional humid-arid, semiarid, arid and ultra-arid ones. Digital mapping, carried out using satellite imagery, helped to standardize interpretive indicators of these zones and to unify the existing diverse and multi-scale materials on this area. An essencial condition for understanding the formation of climate in mountain areas is the consideration of the interaction of endogenous and exogenous forces in the processes of mountain building. The character of relief depends not only on the tectonic factors but on the exogenous processes as well – erosion and baro-thermal conditions (primarily) and processes determined by the dynamics of air flows.

Seizure metaphors in children with epilepsy: A study based on a multiple-choice self-report questionnaire

Firms aspire to take advantage of technical and business networks through inter-organizational interactions to improve performance. Consequently, researchers are increasingly focusing on the dynamics and implications of network formation at both local and global levels. The recent research trend does not consider a monotonic effect and simplistic approach to proximity because proximity is a complex multidimensional concept. Using data from a foodstuffs cluster in the Valencian region (Spain) and advanced econometric methods such as Exponential Random Graph Models, this study aims to clarify the detrimental effects and complementarities that may arise among proximity dimensions. After controlling for network endogenous forces and firm characteristics, findings reveal the negative effect of cognitive and institutional proximity dimensions on the creation of linkages in advanced stages of the cluster life cycle. Furthermore, social proximity and geographical proximity favor the formation of inter-firm relationships and reinforce the organizational dimension.

That crises are in part defined as moments of disjuncture which, at the same time, create opportunities for meaningful agency, is well established (Hay 1996). This paper considers the content of 'discourse' and 'rhetoric' (Hay and Rosamond 2002) surrounding two significant ‘crises’ in the history of EU integration – namely the 1970s oil shocks and the more recent global financial crisis – in order to determine the extent to which these events have been contemporarily defined as providing opportunities to act, or simply challenges to the existing order. The paper provides an analysis of the way in which EU actors have mobilised the idea of ‘crisis’ in order to (a) exert control over endogenous and exogenous destabilising forces, (b) (re)define the EU as an object of both political engagement and academic study, and finally (c) make the case for further expansion and integration (particularly economic integration). In short, crises provide opportunities for the EU to reshape both its internal architecture and its relative position in the global economy, but only to the extent that they are viewed as an opportunity to effect change and not simply as an insurmountable state of flux. The comparative nature of the findings helps to contextualise current discourses around the global financial crisis, in order to evaluate the EU’s previous efforts at global repositioning, and the significance of crisis discourse to these efforts.