Sufficient Absorption Capacity Research Articles

Application of a novel deep eutectic solvent as an eco-friendly medium for green extraction of cadmium from herbal medicines

In this research, hydrophobic DESs were successfully prepared using components with hydrophobic and sulfydryl group, which were applied to develop a green and eco-friendly method to extract and detect the cadmium (Cd) in herbal medicine (HM). The basic properties of the DESs were studied, which showed good hydrophobicity, low density and sufficient absorption capacity. In extraction process, the extraction efficiency (EE) of Cd employing proposed process ranged from 89.12 %∼94.59 % and the maximal enrichment factor (EF) was 46.85. The DES based method demonstrated a good linear response in the range of 1 ∼ 50 µg·L-1 with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.29 μg L-1, which was detected by Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Additionally, the accuracy of method (as recoveries %) was obtained with the recoveries ranging from 98.38 %∼105.48 %. The extraction process was also compared with microwave digestion (MD) method and showed basically equivalent effect with good propensity to enrichment. The mechanism was explored by DFT calculation to reveal the interaction of extraction process. The greenness of the proposed method was also evaluated using the Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI) and Analytical Eco-Scale (AES), which indicated excellent environmental protection. This study successfully prepared novel DESs and established an eco-friendly and effective analytical process integrating adsorption, collection, separation and detection for the detection of heavy metals in HM, and the DESs were contributed to the first three parts as a multifunctional role. The absorption mechanism related to the formation of molecular complexes in quantum chemistry perspective, which were attribute to the electrostatic attraction and H+ exchange between Cd and adsorbent. This method showed vast potential in heavy metal research involving complex matrices such as HM and its processed products, and the proposed process provides the way for a greener alternative for Cd extraction rather than conventional polluting processes.

The impact of FDI on economic growth in developing countries: the role of FDI inflow and trade openness

This study examines the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow, trade openness, and the influence of FDI on economic growth. The threshold methodology and GMM estimation are employed to analyze panel data from 60 developing countries in the period between 1995 and 2019. This study demonstrates the positive impact of FDI on economic growth in developing countries. However, the study also finds a significant threshold of FDI inflow relative to GDP that changes the impact of inward FDI on GDP growth. Regarding the role of trade openness, a significant threshold is found, which also indicates the absorptive capacity of the host countries. Moving from below to above this threshold, an increase in FDI inflow leads to a lower increase in economic growth. An increase in FDI relative to GDP stimulates growth only when the host country has sufficient absorptive capacity with regard to trade openness above the threshold. We suggest developing countries tighten the coherence of trade liberalization and FDI attraction policies to obtain the benefits of FDI and make changes to attract new investors when they succeed in attracting massive FDI inflows.

Learning mechanisms and technological innovation performance: a study of China’s mobile phone manufacturing firms

ABSTRACT This article analyses the relationship between learning mechanisms and technological innovation performance in less developed countries’ (LDCs) firms participating in global value chains (GVCs). For this purpose, patent production functions of China’s mobile phone manufactures were estimated using an original dataset. In estimating the functions, we analysed how firms’ learning mechanisms through global suppliers, customers in China and other LDCs, and research institutes correlate with the number of patent applications. The main findings are: along with firms’ in-house R&D efforts, learnings from LDC customers and research institutions positively correlate with the amount of innovation, even in firms with less absorptive capacity. There is no positive correlation between learning from global suppliers and patent applications, although positive correlation may emerge as local firms accumulate sufficient absorptive capacity. The results highlight the importance of learning via broadly defined local innovation systems in enhancing technological innovation in LDC firms participating in GVCs.

Exporting decision of agricultural firms: The role of foreign direct investment

AbstractIn this study, we examine how foreign direct investment affects agricultural firms' exporting decisions. We investigate this by using a Tobit model of export intensity, estimated on the sample of 104 Serbian agricultural firms observed in the period 2014–2017. In particular, we considered both direct and indirect export effects of foreign direct investment. The results indicate that foreign ownership positively affects firms' export intensity. Furthermore, we find that the effect is conditional on the origin of foreign capital, the strongest effects being associated with capital coming from bordering countries. Finally, the results show that the indirect effects of foreign direct investment on export are mainly negative. The results imply that agricultural firms which are a part of the system of multinational enterprises have lower costs of exporting, due to their reliance on international distribution networks and the information on foreign markets provided by the parent companies. In contrast, the costs of production for the local firms could be increased due to the intensive competition by the foreign affiliates. This means that foreign direct investment has the potential to improve the export performances of host‐country agricultural firms. However, to realize their full potential, a sufficient absorptive capacity of the local firms is required. [EconLit Citations: F21, F23, Q17].

Оценка фитотоксичности серебра на почвах разной устойчивости: бурых лесных, черноземах, серопесках

The effect of silver pollution on the phytotoxicity of soils of varying degrees of resistance: chernozems, sierosands and brown forest soils was investigated. A direct relationship was observed between the concentration of the element in the soil and the length of the radish roots. At a silver concentration of 10 mg/kg, the highest toxicity was established on sulphurous sand and brown forest soil. A dose of 100 mg/kg had the greatest inhibitory effect on the length of the roots of radishes grown on ordinary chernozem, sierosands, and brown forest soil at 17, 24, and 29 % of the control, respectively. According to the degree of resistance to silver pollution, according to the radish root length indicator, the studied soils form the following series: ordinary chernozem (90) ≥ sierosands (88) > brown forest soil (81). The toxic effect of silver depends on the concentration of the element in the soil, the particle size distribution, the reaction of the soil environment and the content of organic matter in the soil. The greatest resistance of common chernozem to silver contamination is due to the particle size distribution, high humus content (3.7 %) and neutral alkaline-acid conditions (pH = 7.8). The light particle size distribution of the sierosands does not provide a sufficient absorption capacity for fixing silver in the soil. Brown forest soil is most sensitive to silver, as it has an acidic soil reaction (pH = 5.8), in which this element is mobile and has a toxic effect on the radish root system.

Does Open Innovation Enhance a Large Firm’s Financial Sustainability? A Case of the Korean Food Industry

This study aims to explore whether a firm’s financial sustainability is enhanced by open innovation especially after a global financial crisis. There are few studies on the relationship between open innovation and financial sustainability. This study aimed to fill the literature gap by analyzing the change in the financial ratio according to the increase or decrease in open innovation. We used a case study method regarding large Korean food firms. Korea is a latecomer in the food industry, which is driven by large companies. This study is meaningful for financial sustainability studies of countries with a lack of resources and small market size, which require open innovation. The findings of this study are as follows: The most preferred alliance strategy of large food firms is joint research. In order to secure raw materials and markets, open innovation was actively conducted abroad, which increased growth and profitability. However, a firm which rarely adopts open innovation could grow steadily through internal strategies. On the other hand, although relatively many open innovations have been used, growth and profitability could decrease. Firms with sufficient absorptive capacity strengthen financial sustainability through open innovation.

The Impact of Foreign Technology and Embodied R&D on Productivity in Internationally Oriented and High-Technology Industries in Egypt, 2006\u20132009

This paper investigates the domestic productivity and spillover effects of foreign technology and embodied R&D on Egyptian manufacturing industries, 2006 to 2009. It also analyses the heterogeneous sectoral effects of technology transfer by focusing specifically on the productivity effects on highly internationalized and technology-intensive industries. These are expected to have greater absorptive capacity with respect to foreign technology and therefore larger productivity effects because of their greater exposure to foreign competition and greater technological capacity respectively. This study is the first to analyse the efficiency effects of foreign technology by classifying industries in this manner. It finds that foreign technology and embodied R&D have positive and significant industry-specific effects on domestic productivity and TFP in technology-intensive industries but that these are weaker in internationally oriented industries. The study suggests that only technological-intensive industries in Egypt have sufficient absorptive capacity to assimilate foreign technology effectively. The paper’s findings highlight the key role of foreign technology in domestic productivity growth, subject to the absorptive capacity of the domestic labour force, and the need for improved policies to promote the domestic benefits of technology transfer through the accumulation of local technological competences.

ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ПРИРОДНИХ СОРБЕНТІВ В ПРОЦЕСАХ ОЧИЩЕННЯ ПОГЛИНАЛЬНИХ РОЗЧИНІВ ПОТАШУ ВИРОБНИЦТВ АМІАКУ

Today, the problem of purification of monoethanolamine (MEA) solutions and potassium-based, deethanolamine (DEA) activated solutions to purify gases from carbon dioxide is very acute at the enterprises of chemical industry for the production of ammonia in the synthesis scheme, at the stage of carbon monoxide conversion. Long-term use of such solutions (Carsol solution (25-28 % of КНСО3 and 1,.8 % of diethanolamine) and Benfield solution (29-30 % of КНСО3 and 2,9 % of diethanolamine)) leads to a decrease in their absorption capacity. At the stage of high-temperature regeneration, indirect processes of thermal diethanolamine decomposition occur in the volume of solutions, resulting in the formation of resinous substances and corrosion-active compounds, for removal of which additional stage for filtration of solutions on carbon filters is introduced into the flow chart. Experimental studies have been conducted at the Department of Chemical Technology and Water Purification to determine the adsorption capacity of activated bentonite clays for absorption of solutions of resinous substances and corrosion-active compounds. During the work, it has been established that bentonite clays activated by acid and alkaline activation have sufficient absorption capacity for resinous substances and corrosion-active compounds to replace the activated carbon used for these production purposes. It is revealed that the clay of acid activation is characterized by the lowest degree of absorption of the target components of the potassium solution. The clay of alkaline activation also absorbs K2CO3, KHCO3, diethanolamine and V2O5 in the process of adsorption but to a greater extent than the clay of acid activation. Activated carbon has the highest degree of absorption. Activated carbon has the highest degree of absorption. This disadvantage of activated carbon necessitates the constant replenishment of the absorbent solution with new portions of K2CO3, KHCO3, diethanolamine, which increases the production costs for purification of synthesis gas from carbon monoxide (IV).

Understanding the micro-foundations of internal capabilities for open innovation in the minerals industry: a holistic sustainability perspective

It is indisputable that achieving sustainability in the minerals industry requires a holistic approach to innovation that utilizes the breadth of knowledge found outside the industry. While providing a myriad of opportunities, this open approach to innovation would also be challenging in that companies need to have sufficient absorptive capacity, i.e. the ability to ‘recognize’, ‘assimilate’ and ‘exploit’ external knowledge when developing their processes and products. Despite recent theoretical advances, we do not yet fully understand the determinants of these three components of absorptive capacity for innovations aimed at sustainability. By employing a qualitative design with data obtained from 16 interviews conducted within Norway's minerals industry, this study explores the skills and routines that comprise micro-foundations of the capabilities for absorptive capacity. The analysis reveals that, in order to achieve recognition, companies need to firstly keep abreast of technological and market changes that emanate from sustainability transition, and secondly increase their awareness about social issues. Accordingly, assimilation depends on the established routines for facilitating dissemination of internal knowledge, whereas exploitation occurs by means of the piloting of innovative new solutions. This paper contributes to the sustainability-oriented innovation literature by demonstrating how companies in sustainability-sensitive industries could benefit from various types of external knowledge in their innovation activities. It also provides some insights into the nature of open innovation and absorptive capacity beyond high-tech industries and research and development-based knowledge.

Are seminars on export promotion effective? Evidence from a randomised controlled trial

AbstractThis paper investigates the impacts of informational and motivational seminars on export promotion targeting small and medium enterprises in the traditional apparel and textile clusters in Vietnam. To control for biases due to self‐selection, we conducted a randomised controlled trial and invited randomly selected firms to participate in 1‐day seminars. Because only some of the invited firms participated in the seminars, we employ an instrumental variable approach in which the dummy variable for a random invitation is used as an instrument for quantifying the effects of participation. We find that seminar participants were more likely to sense the difficulties of the export procedures and were, on average, unlikely to start exporting in the short run. However, the seminars encouraged large firms, which possibly embody higher productivity and absorptive capacity, to start exporting shortly after the seminars. This effect was not sustained in the long term without additional stimuli. We have also identified spillover effects of participants on non‐participants through informal information networks within the cluster. Overall, the results suggest that the provision of information about export is useful only to adequately productive larger firms with a sufficient absorptive capacity.

The Balkan route: towards an assessment of the impact of migration in Serbia and Croatia

SEER Journal for Labour and Social Affairs in Eastern Europe , Seite 219 - 236

Absorptive Capabilities, FDI, and Economic Growth in Transition Economies

This article advances the literature on economic growth and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in transition economies by incorporating data on “absorbtive capabilities” of the host economy including R&D indicators and by enhancing the quality of data on FDI. We explore whether countries with accumulated technological and innovative capabilities gain significantly more from FDI. We find that FDI exerts an exogenous positive impact on economic growth, while FDI tends to have a larger impact on economic growth when there is sufficient absorptive capacity and when occurring in technologically more advanced transition economies. The results are robust to different specifications and consideration of endogeneity.

Superenhancers: novel opportunities for nanowire optoelectronics.

Nanowires play a crucial role in the development of new generation optoelectronic devices ranging from photovoltaics to photodetectors, as these designs capitalize on the low material usage, utilize leaky-mode optical resonances and possess high conversion efficiencies associated with nanowire geometry. However, their current schemes lack sufficient absorption capacity demanded for their practical applicability, and more efficient materials cannot find widespread usage in these designs due to their rarity and cost. Here we suggest a novel and versatile nanoconcentrator scheme utilizing unique optical features of non-resonant Mie (NRM) scattering regime associated with low-index structures. The scattering regime is highly compatible with resonant Mie absorption effect taking place in nanowire absorbers. This technique in its optimized forms can provide up to 1500% total absorption enhancement, 400-fold material save and is suitable for large-area applications with significant area preservation compared to thin-film of same materials. Proposed superenhancer concept with its exceptional features such as broadband absorption enhancement, polarization immunity and material-independent manner paves the way for development of efficient nanowire photosensors or solar thermophotovoltaic devices and presents novel design opportunities for self-powered nanosystems.

Enteral Nutrition in the Management of Pediatric Intestinal Failure

Intestinal failure is an uncommon but devastating condition whose natural history has dramatically improved over the past two decades (1). Infants with intestinal failure due to severe short bowel syndrome or other diagnoses previously considered incompatible with life are now routinely being saved and cared for in cutting edge, multidisciplinary programs. Enteral nutrition plays a central role in the management of children with intestinal failure. This review provides an overview of enteral nutrition in pediatric intestinal failure, with specific emphasis on recent advances in clinical management, patient outcomes, and emerging therapies.

Intramuscular Administration of Paliperidone Palmitate Extended-Release Injectable Microsuspension Induces a Subclinical Inflammatory Reaction Modulating the Pharmacokinetics in Rats

The present study aims at elucidating the intricate nature of the drug release and absorption following intramuscular (i.m.) injection of sustained-release prodrug nanocrystals/microcrystals. A paliperidone palmitate (PPP) long-acting suspension was characterized with regard to particle size (Dv,50 = 1.09 μm) and morphology prior to i.m. injection in rats. The local disposition was rigorously investigated by means of (immuno)histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy while the concurrent multiphasic pharmacokinetics was linked to the microanatomy. A transient (24 h) trauma-induced inflammation promptly evolved into a subclinical but chronic granulomatous inflammatory reaction initiated by the presence of solid material. The dense inflammatory envelope (CD68(+) macrophages) led to particle agglomeration with subsequent drop in dissolution rate beyond 24 h postinjection. This was associated with a decrease in apparent paliperidone (PP) absorption (near-zero order) until 96 h and a delayed time of occurrence of observed maximum drug plasma concentration (168 h). The infiltrating macrophages phagocytosed large fractions of the depot, thereby influencing the (pro)drug release. Radial angiogenesis (CD31(+)) was observed throughout the inflammatory rim from 72 h onwards and presumably contributed to the sustained systemic PP concentrations by maintaining a sufficient absorptive capacity. No solid-state transitions of the retrieved formulation were recorded with X-ray diffraction analysis. In summary, the initial formulation-driven prodrug (PPP) dissolution and drug (PP) absorption were followed by a complex phase determined by the relative contribution of formulation factors and dynamic physiological variables.

Modelling the impact of foreign direct investment and human capital on economic growth: empirical evidence from the Philippines

This paper empirically investigates the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) and human capital on economic growth in the Philippines. An economic growth model for the Philippines is specified and estimated by a canonical cointegrating technique and employing annual data spanning the period 1965–2010. Our empirical results indicate that FDI is an important vehicle for achieving economic growth in the Philippines, but only when there is sufficient absorptive capacity created by increased human capital and infrastructure development. The other key factors influencing Philippine economic growth are economic growth in its major trading partners, political climate and prevailing economic conditions within the economy. The relative size of government investment is found to crowd-out private investment, thus suggesting the need for government investment to be directed at human capital and infrastructure development as this has the potential to attract FDI and thus achieve sustained economic growth and development in the Philippines.

Intangible assets, absorbing knowledge and its impact on firm performance: theory, measurement and policy implications

The use of intangible assets (IA) is widely recognised as a key driver of enterprise performance. A concept that is closely linked to IA is absorptive capacity, which is defined as the ability to exploit knowledge that is embodied in IA. The main objective of this paper is to explore what is meant by absorptive capacity, before examining the empirical relationship between absorptive capacity and various dimensions of firm performance. The latter is not straightforward because there is no agreed approach to measuring absorptive capacity. The approach taken here is to use data on whether firms sourced knowledge or collaborated externally from the UK Community Innovation Survey. This allows us to show that there is a clear and important link between absorptive capacity and various dimensions of firm performance. In this paper, we aim to contribute to the special issue by focusing on the role mobilising knowledge can play in improving the performance of firms in the private sector, which has a particular resonance in these difficult economic times. Our central message is that for firms to perform better in hard times, they need to mobilise their absorptive capacity. Government must therefore consider whether they should focus their efforts on helping firms directly to increase their own absorptive capacity or on improving the flow of (local) knowledge through supporting networks. Our view is that, while maintaining existing policies that aim to increase connections and encourage collaborations between firms, there should be a greater emphasis on the firm because evidence shows that unless firms have sufficient absorptive capacity, they will not be able to fully internalise the benefits of any knowledge spillovers, no matter how large such spillovers may potentially be.

The Role of Internationalization as a Determinant of Innovation Performance: An Analysis of 42 Countries

This paper analyses the impact of internationalization on the innovation performance of 42 countries. Innovation performance – the dependent variable – is measured by the number of triad patents and PCT applications that originate from a country. The following internationalization variables – independent variables – are used: inward and outward stock of FDI, exports and imports as well as the number of parent companies in a country. Information on patents and the internationalization variables, together with further explanatory variables, including the number of scientific articles in a country, the number of Internet users, the RD or (b) that a country does not have a sufficient absorption capacity to benefit from inflows.

Innovative and Absorptive Capacity of International Knowledge: An Empirical Analysis of Productivity Sources in Latin American Countries

ABSTRACT This article examines two sources of global knowledge spillovers: foreign direct investments (FDI) and trade. Empirical evidence demonstrates that FDI and trade can contribute to overall domestic productivity growth only when the technology gap between domestic and foreign firms is not too large and when a sufficient absorptive capacity is available in domestic firms. In this article we propose the terms R&D and Labor quality to capture the innovative and absorptive capacity of the country. The spillovers effects in productivity are analyzed using a stochastic frontier (SFA) approach. This productivity (in terms of total factor productivity) is decomposed using a generalized Malmquist output-oriented index in order to evaluate the specific effect in technical change (TC), technical efficiency change (TEC), and scale efficiency change (SEC). Using country-level data for 16 Latin American countries for the period 1996–2006, the empirical analysis shows positive productivity spillovers from FDI and trade only when the country has absorptive capacity in terms of R&D. FDI and trade spillovers are found to be positive and significant for scale efficiency change and total productivity factor change.

When do incumbents learn from entrepreneurial ventures?: Corporate venture capital and investing firm innovation rates

In this paper, we focus on the potential innovative benefits to corporate venture capital (CVC), i.e. equity investments in entrepreneurial ventures by incumbent firms. We propose that corporate venture capital programs may be instrumental in harvesting innovations from entrepreneurial ventures and thus an important part of a firm's overall innovation strategy. We hypothesize that these programs are especially effective in weak intellectual property (IP) regimes and when the firm has sufficient absorptive capacity. We analyze a large panel of public firms over a 20-year period and find that increases in corporate venture capital investments are associated with subsequent increases in firm patenting.