Rate Of Entry Research Articles

The Causal Effects of R&D Grants: Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity

Abstract We leverage the discontinuity in the assignment mechanism of the Small and Medium Enterprise Instrument—the first European research and development (R&D) subsidy targeting small firms—to provide the broadest quasi-experimental evidence on R&D grants over both geographical and sectoral scopes. Grants trigger sizable impacts on a wide range of firm-level outcomes. Heterogeneous effects are consistent with grants reducing financial frictions. This reduction is due to funding rather than certification. We also provide direct causal evidence on pure certification—signaling not attached to funding—and show that firms that only receive “quality stamps” do not improve their performance. Finally, our estimates suggest that the scheme produces private returns that are positive and comparable to those of the U.S. Small Business Innovation Research program, while also generating geographical and sectoral spillovers in the form of increased rates of entrepreneurial entry.

Environmental regulations and export performance: firm-level evidence from China’s low-carbon pilot policy

The rapid increase in global carbon emissions has raised significant concerns, prompting various environmental regulations, including China’s low-carbon pilot policy. Prior studies have shown mixed results regarding the impact of environmental regulations on firms’ export performance. Using data from Chinese industrial firms from 2001 to 2015, this study investigates how the low-carbon pilot policy, a quasi-experiment, influences firms’ exports. We employ the Heckman Two-Step Method and the Difference-in-Differences approach to separate the effects on firms’ export participation and the effects on export scales. We find that firms in the pilot provinces/cities become less likely to export after the implementation of the low-carbon pilot policy compared to firms in the non-pilot regions, resulting in a relative decrease in export probability by 4.5 percentage points. For the firms that export, their export values relatively decrease by 10 percent after the policy implementation. The effects are mainly driven by firms in Eastern China. The policy leads to higher exit rates and lower entry rates in international markets for firms in pilot regions. After the implementation of the low-carbon pilot policy, exporting firms increase the unit price of their export products, reduce the quantity of export products, and diversify both their export destinations and product types. However, we do not find evidence supporting the Pollution Haven mechanism.

Analysis and Design of Efficient Authentication Techniques for Password Entry with the Qwerty Keyboard for VR Environments.

Authentication in digital security relies heavily on text-based passwords, even with other available methods like biometrics and graphical passwords. While virtual reality (VR) keyboards are typically invisible to onlookers, the presence of inconspicuous sensors, including accelerometers, gyroscopes, and barometers, poses a potential risk of unauthorized observation and recording. Traditional defense shoulder-surfing attack methods typically involve breaking apart the Qwerty layout, which destroys the user's inherent familiarity with the layout. This research addresses the need for secure password entry in VR environments while retaining the Qwerty layout. We explore three keyboard-related position alteration strategies to ensure security while mitigating the decline in user experience. These strategies involve moving the entire keyboard, cursor, and keys. Our theoretical study assesses the effectiveness of these strategies against shoulder-surfing attacks. Two user studies, employing ray-based and position-based text entry methods, respectively, evaluate the practical effectiveness of the three strategies in resisting shoulder-surfing attacks, as well as their impact on typing performance and user experience. Our findings demonstrate that the three strategies achieve shoulder-surfing attack resistance comparable to a random layout keyboard. Moreover, compared to a random layout, the two strategies involving the movement of the entire keyboard and the repositioning of keys support faster entry rates and enhanced user experience.

Locus coeruleus co-activation patterns at rest show higher state persistence in patients with dissociative seizures: A Pilot Study.

Dissociative seizures are paroxysmal disruptions of awareness and behavioral control in the context of affective arousal. Alterations in stress-related endocrine function have been demonstrated, but the timescale of dissociation suggests that the central locus coeruleus (LC) noradrenergic system is likely pivotal. Here, we investigate whether LC activation at rest is associated with altered brain network dynamics. A preliminary co-activation pattern (CAP) analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in 14 patients with dissociative seizures and 14 healthy controls was performed by using the LC as a seeding region. The red nucleus served as a control condition. Entry rates, durations, and state transition probabilities of identified CAPs were calculated. Analyses were corrected for demographic, technical, and clinical confounders including depression and anxiety. Three LC-related CAPs were identified, with the dominant two showing inverse activations and deactivations of the default mode network and the attention networks, respectively. Analysis of transition probabilities between and within the three CAPs revealed higher state persistence in patients compared to healthy controls for both CAP2LC (Cohen's d = -0.55; p = 0.01) and CAP3LC (Cohen's d = -0.57; p = 0.01). The control analysis using the red nucleus as a seed yielded similar CAPs, but no significant between-group differences in transition probabilities. Higher state persistence of LC-CAPs in patients with dissociative seizures generates the novel hypothesis that arousal-related impairments of network switching might be a candidate neural mechanism of dissociation. Dissociative seizures often arise during high affective arousal. The locus coeruleus is a brain structure involved in managing such acute arousal states. We investigated whether the activity of the locus coeruleus correlates with activity in other regions of the brain (which we refer to as "brain states"), and whether those brain states were different between patients with dissociative seizures and healthy controls. We found that patients tended to stay in certain locus coeruleus-dependent brain states instead of switching between them. This might be related to the loss of awareness and disruptions of brain functions ("dissociation") that patients experience during seizures.

6657 A rare case of a composite pheochromocytoma and ganglioneuroma in a 47-year-old male

Abstract Disclosure: C. Ekladios: None. M.J. Levine: None. Introduction: Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor that originates from adrenal chromaffin cells. It remains a diagnostic challenge due to its diverse clinical manifestations. We present a case of pheochromocytoma, shedding light on its atypical presentation and diagnostic complexity.Case reportA 47-year-old male was referred to our clinic with a recent diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. Patient started having symptoms approximately two months prior to referral to our office. He initially presented to the emergency department (ED) with generalized weakness for three days, accompanied by feelings of “rushing of blood to the head” and a “rush of blood in the arms” every time he laid down. Symptoms would last for a few seconds and resolve without intervention. Vitals signs and physical examination (PE) were within normal limits. He had basic laboratory studies including BMP and CBC without any abnormalities. He was discharged home with instructions to follow-up outpatient. He returned to the ED two days after with a chief complaint of left sided chest pain associated with palpitations, pain was non-persistent, lasting a few seconds. On presentation his blood pressure was 142/89 mmHg, Pulse: 66 bpm, Temperature: 98.4 °F, and oxygen Saturation 100%. On PE, he had clear bilateral air entry and regular heart rate with no murmurs noted, EKG demonstrated no ischemic changes. Chest Xray showed no evidence of cardiopulmonary disease. A CTA revealed no pulmonary embolism, pleural effusion, or pneumothorax. However, a large heterogeneous adrenal mass was partially visualized, measuring 8.3 cm anteroposteriorly concerning for adrenal cortical carcinoma. His labs were pertinent for Metanephrine level of 0.52 nmol/L (nl:0-0.49) and Normetanephrine of 4.22 nmol/L (nl:0-0.89). Aldosterone level is 16.2 ng/dL and Renin activity was 0.1ng/mL. An abdominal CT scan confirmed a left adrenal mass measuring approximately 9.2 x 8.8 cm transaxially and 9.9 cm craniocaudal. He was seen in our office after discharge, at that time he was still experiencing tingling in both lower extremities that sometimes would wake him up from sleep. His blood pressure at the office was 125/83 mm Hg. In preparation for the surgery, we started treatment with Prazosin, followed by addition of Metoprolol succinate. Further work-up included a dexamethasone suppression test that ruled out Cushing’s syndrome and a negative RET proto-oncogene, ruling out MEN 2. Patient underwent laparoscopic left adrenalectomy without complications. Pathology results interestingly showed a composite pheochromocytoma and ganglioneuroma constituting 5 % of the mass volume, Ki-67 proliferative index was less than 1% for the pheochromocytoma and overall findings were consistent with a benign tumor.ConclusionOur case report emphasizes the necessity of a high index of suspicion for diagnosing pheochromocytoma in the absence of the classic symptoms. Presentation: 6/2/2024

What is the relationship between industry‐specific regulation and technology startups?

AbstractWe examine the relationship between industry‐specific regulations and startup birth rates (entry) and startup ‘deaths’ (closings) in the United States and Canada during 2012–19. Our sample contains data on thousands of active and closed technology startups in the United States and Canada that were founded between January 2012 and June 2019. We use the Mercatus Center's RegData database to capture the intensity of national‐level regulations. Our findings suggest that more regulated industries may exhibit lower rates of entry and that more regulated industries are associated with a greater likelihood of a startup closing. These findings seem more robust for the US than for Canada. We discuss startup funding as a potential mechanism by which regulation may impact startup closings, using our fieldwork interviews with over 100 technology startup executives and venture capital investors.

Kinnecting Caregivers to Services, Resources, and Supports: Findings from an RCT of Colorado’s Kinship Navigator Program

This study reflects the evidence-building journey for the Colorado Kinnected kinship navigator program. Colorado Kinnected expands the scope of services, resources, and supports offered to kinship families through an innovative approach that enhances an earlier Kinship Supports Demonstration Project. The Colorado Kinnected target population includes kinship caregivers caring for children and youth of any age with an open child welfare case. The primary purpose of the program is to reduce child welfare involvement by limiting traditional foster care and congregate care use when out-of-home placements are required. A randomized controlled trial was conducted from June to November 2020 to examine the impact of the Colorado Kinnected kinship navigator program on the kinship placement outcomes of 402 children and youth with an open child welfare case in seven Colorado counties. The initial study found that children and youth placed with kinship caregivers who received Colorado Kinnected services were significantly more likely to reunify with their parents after their kinship placements ended than were children and youth who received kinship supports as usual. The sustained effects study featured additional analyses of traditional foster and congregate care entry rates within six months of kinship placement for the same sample of children and youth. Children and youth in the intervention group were significantly less likely than children and youth in the control group to enter foster care or congregate care within six months after the end of their kinship placements. Overall, both analyses indicate that the Colorado Kinnected program promotes sustained permanency among children and youth in formal kinship placements. Data equity analyses to explore the contextual sensitivity of the intervention are detailed, and implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed.

Child protection and developmental trajectories of children who entered care as infants

AbstractInfants have the highest rate of admission into out‐of‐home care in Australia, with rising rates of entry to care occurring around the world. Our previous research identified children who entered care as infants as having high levels of developmental vulnerability. The objective of this study was to determine the child protection and developmental trajectories of children who entered care as infants and whether meeting developmental needs through service provision improves trajectories and outcomes for these children. This is a prospective cohort study using three waves (2011–2016) of survey data from the New South Wales Pathways of Care Longitudinal Study which includes standardised assessments (Age and Stages Questionnaire, Brief Infant Toddler Social Emotional Assessment and the Child Behaviour Checklist), as well as linked administrative child protection and health data. Our findings suggest that children who entered care as infants predominantly remained in the care system and had a high level of developmental vulnerability as infants. A large group had positive physical and cognitive developmental trajectories with service provision increasing over time; however, early service provision is needed. Another group was identified as having early social–emotional concerns and displaying worsening social–emotional trajectories. Intervention for this group is an important priority to reduce risk of ongoing poor mental health outcomes.

Chemically Powered Nanomotors with Magnetically Responsive Function for Targeted Delivery of Exosomes.

Janus structure plays a crucial role in achieving chemically driven nanomotors with exceptional motion performance. However, Janus-structured chemically driven nanomotors with magnetic responsiveness are commonly fabricated by sputtering metal films. In the study, a self-assembly technique is employed to asymmetrically modify the surfaces of magnetic silica (SiO2@Fe3O4) nanoparticles with platinum nanoparticles, resulting in the formation of this kind nanomotors. Compared to platinumfilm, platinum nanoparticles exhibit a larger surface area and a higher catalytic activity. Hence, the nanomotors demonstrate improved diffusion capabilities at a significantly lower concentration (0.05%) of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Meanwhile, exosomes have gained attention as a potential tool for the efficient delivery of biological therapeutic drugs due to their biocompatibility. However, the clinical applications of exosomes are limited by their restricted tropism. The previously obtained nanomotors are utilized to deliver exosomes, greatly enhancing its targetability. The drug doxorubicin (DOX) is subsequently encapsulated within exosomes, acting as a representative drug model. Under the conditions of H2O2 concentration at the tumor site, the exosomes exhibited a significantly enhanced rate of entry into the breast cancercells. The utilization of the nanomotors for exosomes presents a novel approach in the development of hybrid chemically and magnetically responsive nanomotors.

Comparison of three umbilical entry sites for intraperitoneal access by the direct trocar insertion technique: a randomized pilot study.

The most effective methods and entry sites for laparoscopic surgery remain a subject of ongoing investigation and discussion. The purpose of the study was to analyze and compare three umbilical entry sites for intraperitoneal access using the direct trocar insertion technique. A randomized pilot study was conducted between March 2021 and January 2023, involving women eligible for laparoscopic gynecological surgery. The women were allocated to one of three equally sized groups based on trocar entry points: subumbilical, supraumbilical, or umbilical. Success and failure rates of trocar entry, factors influencing success or failure, and early and late complications were systematically evaluated and compared across groups. A total of 243 patients, with a mean age of 32.93±8.33 years, were included in three groups of 81 each. Trocar entry success rates were 97.5%, 89.2%, and 89.5% in the supraumbilical, umbilical, and subumbilical groups, respectively (p>0.05). Failed trocar entry was significantly associated with age, gravidity, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, and abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness (p<0.001). Regression analysis revealed that, in the subumbilical group, higher gravidity [odds ratios (OR): 0.390, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.174-0.872, p=0.022) and greater abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness (OR: 0.090, 95% CI: 0.019-0.431, p=0.03) were associated with lower odds of successful trocar entry. In contrast, in the umbilical group, a higher waist circumference was associated with lower odds of successful trocar entry (OR: 0.673, 95% CI: 0.494-0.918, p=0.012). None of the covariates were significant in the supraumbilical group. The study highlighted the importance of selecting the appropriate trocar entry site in laparoscopic gynecological surgery. Surgeons should consider factors such as age, gravidity, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness, as these factors significantly influence the success of trocar entry.

Founder‐CEO Compensation and Selection into Venture Capital‐Backed Entrepreneurship

ABSTRACTWe show theoretically that a critical determinant of the attractiveness of venture capital (VC)‐backed entrepreneurship for high‐earning potential founders is the expected time to develop a startup's initial product. This is because founder‐CEOs' cash compensation increases substantially after product development, alleviating the nondiversifiable risk that founders face at startup birth. Consistent with the model's predictions of where the supply of entrepreneurial talent is likely to be most constrained, we find that technological shocks differentially altering the expected time to product across industries can explain changes in both the rate of entry and characteristics of individuals selecting into VC‐backed entrepreneurship.

The Problem of Sequential Entry of Nurses as a Disincentive to Medical Safety and a Factor Increasing Overtime.

The purpose of this study was to visualize the nurses' approach to recording and to identify the causes that lead to overtime. The data used were those related to the performance and entry of nursing tasks (observation and care acts). Data from Hospital A, a provider of acute care with approximately 400 beds, was used. One month of work data were obtained from 12 nurses who were judged by the chief nurse to be excellent and efficient in their work. 12 nurses were divided into three groups: a high-level sequential entry rate group (>0.6), a medium-level sequential entry rate group (0.4 to <0.6), and a low-level sequential entry rate group (<0.4). The high-level sequential input rate group had data input every time they performed their work, so that the work implementation and input implementation were completed at 5:00 p.m. The medium-level sequential entry rate group tended to enter data about an hour late when they started work, which tended to result in overtime. The low-level sequential input rate group tended to input work in the afternoon, resulting in significant overtime. The data of approximately 400 nurses in a 900-bed University Hospital B, where Team Compass is implemented, were used to analyze the actual sequential input rate. 884 nurses in University Hospital B, of whom 397 had input data for 19 consecutive months. The sequential input rate in November 2020, one and a half years after the start of operation, was divided into five groups by 20%: 0-20%: 27 (7%), 20-40%: 30 (7%), 40-60%: 37 (9%), 60-80%: 69 (17%), and over 80%: 234 (59%). The number of employees who have been working overtime hours is also high. Although the importance of sequential entry to achieve results in reducing overtime hours continued to be strongly presented, there were 23% of nurses who indicated a sequential entry rate of less than 60%.

Price dispersion in dynamic competition

In product markets, substantial price dispersion exists for transactions of physically identical goods. Moreover, in these markets, incumbent firms sell at higher prices than entrants. This paper presents a theory of price formation under dynamic competition that explains these facts by assuming both that consumers have imperfect access to firms and that their degree of access depends on each firm’s sales history. The model has a unique equilibrium that features randomized pricing strategies, with incumbents always posting higher prices than entrants. For a fixed underlying environment, the equilibrium converges to a stationary equilibrium over time. As firms’ entry and exit rates approach zero, this stationary equilibrium converges to perfect competition.

Beyond SIRD models: a novel dynamic model for epidemics, relating infected with entries to health care units and application for identification and restraining policy.

Epidemic models of susceptibles, exposed, infected, recovered and deceased (SΕIRD) presume homogeneity, constant rates and fixed, bilinear structure. They produce short-range, single-peak responses, hardly attained under restrictive measures. Tuned via uncertain I,R,D data, they cannot faithfully represent long-range evolution. A robust epidemic model is presented that relates infected with the entry rate to health care units (HCUs) via population averages. Model uncertainty is circumvented by not presuming any specific model structure, or constant rates. The model is tuned via data of low uncertainty, by direct monitoring: (a) of entries to HCUs (accurately known, in contrast to delayed and non-reliable I,R,D data) and (b) of scaled model parameters, representing population averages. The model encompasses random propagation of infections, delayed, randomly distributed entries to HCUs and varying exodus of non-hospitalized, as disease severity subdues. It closely follows multi-pattern growth of epidemics with possible recurrency, viral strains and mutations, varying environmental conditions, immunity levels, control measures and efficacy thereof, including vaccination. The results enable real-time identification of infected and infection rate. They allow design of resilient, cost-effective policy in real time, targeting directly the key variable to be controlled (entries to HCUs) below current HCU capacity. As demonstrated in ex post case studies, the policy can lead to lower overall cost of epidemics, by balancing the trade-off between the social cost of infected and the economic contraction associated with social distancing and mobility restriction measures.

The Sustainable Taman Nasional Gunung Gede Pangrango Ecotourism Policy Scheme

The environmental damage of Taman Nasional Gunung Gede Pangrango (TNGGP) is triggered by visitors or the local community, it can threaten the sustainability of the ecotourism area and disrupt the stability of the ecological are functions. The solving of existing problems is the forming of sustainable ecotourism development policy, that it can preserve and preserve the ecotourism area of TNGGP. This study method was descriptive. The research was analyzed by Analytic Hierarchy Process. AHP is one of the tools to formulate the priorities policies among many intangible factors. The needed ecotourism policy ware TNGGP area conservation, increasing the role of the local community around TNGGP and the enhancing unique ecological experiences for visitors policy. The ecotourism policies must apply based on priority of TNGGP ecosystem protection and preservation, protection of vulnerable ecosystems, activities to improve community welfare around TNGGP, protection of unique and endangered species, providing environmental education to visitors and local community around the TNGPP, management's efforts towards TNGGP entry rates, fostering TNGGP staff to improve services for visitors, and unique ecotourism experience activities and environmental awareness raising for all stakeholders in TNGGP.

Totally asymmetric simple exclusion process on a dynamic lattice with local inhomogeneity

In this manuscript, we introduce a totally asymmetric simple exclusion process on a dynamic lattice with inhomogeneity to model motor-based long-range transport along microtubules (MTs) which exhibit cycles of growth, shortening and regrowth at their growing tips. By mean-field approximation and numerical simulations, we explore phase diagrams for the particle density near the dynamic end of the lattice as well as over the entire lattice. In particular, we find seven different phases for the density over the entire lattice and explore the corresponding phase diagram by analytical analysis. Interestingly, we find that the density may have a linear profile in part of the lattice. When the lattice has a defect, we separate the lattice into two subsystems: a right subsystem with fixed length and a defect in the middle and a left subsystem with dynamic length. When the right subsystem is in maximum-current phase, we calculate an analytical approximation of the density away from the boundaries and the defect site and the density is in association with the reduced hopping rate at the defect site; the density at the left side of the defect site serves as the effective entry rate of the left subsystem. We find that with defects, the linear profiles no longer appear at the left end of the left subsystem and only five possible phases could occur. This is a step-forward to a more comprehensive mathematical description of intracellular long-range transport of organelles along MTs with instability.

Modelling the role of tourism in the spread of HIV: A case study from Malaysia

This study aimed to assess the role of tourism in the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using Malaysian epidemiological data on HIV and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) incidence from 1986 to 2004. A population-level mathematical model was developed with the following compartments: the population susceptible to HIV infection, the clinically confirmed HIV-positive population, the population diagnosed with AIDS, and the tourist population. Additionally, newborns infected with HIV were considered. Sensitivity analyses and variations in fixed parameter values were used to explore the effect of changes to various parameter values on HIV incidence in the model. It was determined that variations in the rate of HIV-positive inbound tourist entries and the rate of foreign tourist exits (i.e., the duration of time tourists spent in Malaysia) significantly impacted the predicted incidence of HIV and AIDS in Malaysia. The model's fit to observed HIV and AIDS incidence was evaluated, resulting in adjusted R2 values of 53.3% and 53.2% for HIV and AIDS, respectively. Furthermore, the reproduction number (R0) was also calculated to quantify the stability of the HIV endemicity in Malaysia. The findings suggest that a steady-state level of HIV in Malaysia is achievable based on the low value of R0 = 0.0136, and the disease-free equilibrium was stable from the negative eigenvalues obtained, which is encouraging from a public health perspective. The Partial Rank Correlation Coefficient (PRCC) values between the proportion of newborns born HIV-positive, the rate of Malaysian tourist entries returning home after contracting HIV, and the rate of foreign tourist exits have a significant impact on the R0. The methods provide a framework for epidemiological modelling of HIV spread through transient population groups. The model results suggest that the role of tourism should not be overlooked within the set of available measures to mitigate the spread of HIV.

A Longitudinal Study of the Antecedents of Population-Level Exporting Entry Rates from 62 Countries

A Longitudinal Study of the Antecedents of Population-Level Exporting Entry Rates from 62 Countries

Platform economy and missing entrepreneurship: Evidence from E‐commerce development policy in China

AbstractThis paper utilises the staggered county‐level rollout of China's E‐commerce entering villages policy to examine the effect of policy‐driven platform economy development on local entrepreneurship. Exploiting county‐level variations in yearly new business registration with a difference‐in‐differences strategy, we find that policy‐driven platform economy development decreased the number of new business registrations and business entry rates by approximately 4.6% and 0.6%, respectively. The reduction effect is more prominent in business registration in micro‐small scale, tertiary industries, eastern regions, and rural areas. Microfinance plays a positive role in this association. Mechanism analysis shows that the platform‐driven supply chain transformation could rule out entrepreneurial opportunities, and the platform‐enabled gig work opportunities could weaken entrepreneurial motivation. Loss of entrepreneurial opportunities and motivation leads to less entrepreneurship.

Optimal time reuse strategy-based dynamic multi-AGV path planning method

The window strategy, known for its flexibility and efficiency, is extensively used in dynamic path planning. To further enhance the performance of the Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) sorting system, the two processes of AGV movement and path planning can be executed concurrently based on the window strategy. Nonetheless, difficulties in matching the computing time of the planning server with the moving time of AGVs may cause delays or reduced path optimality. To address the problem, this paper proposes an optimal time reuse strategy. The proposed solution controls computing time by managing path length for each planning instance, ensuring alignment with the moving time of AGVs to maximize path optimality and avoid delays. To achieve this, two aspects need to be considered. Firstly, on a systemic level, we control the entry rate of AGVs by adjusting the replanning period, thus avoiding congestion caused by excessive AGVs and maintaining high system efficiency. Secondly, we reversely control the computing time by adjusting the path length that needs to be planned for each single planning, so that it matches the moving time of AGVs. Simulation results show that our method outperforms existing top-performing methods, achieving task completion rates 1.64, 1.57, and 1.12 times faster across various map sizes. This indicates its effectiveness in synchronizing planning and movement times. The method contributes significantly to dynamic path planning methodologies, offering a novel approach to time management in AGV systems.