Purificación Galindo

Modelling innovation support systems for regional development – analysis of cluster structures in innovation in Portugal

The present article offers a concise theoretical conceptualization and operational analysis of the contribution of innovation to regional development. The latter concepts are closely related to geographical proximity, knowledge diffusion and filters and clustering. Institutional innovation profiles and regional patterns of innovation are two mutually linked, novel conceptual elements in this article. Next to a theoretical framing, the article employs the regional innovation systems concept as a vehicle to analyse institutional innovation profiles. Our case study addresses three Portuguese regions and their institutions, included in a web-based inventory of innovation agencies which offered the foundation for an extensive database. This data-set was analysed by means of a recently developed principal coordinates analysis followed by a Logistic Biplot approach (leading to a Voronoi mapping) to design a systemic typology of innovation structures where each institution is individually represented. There appears to be a significant difference in the regional innovation patterns resulting from the diverse institutional innovation profiles concerned. These profiles appear to be region specific. Our conclusion highlights the main advantages in the use of the method used for policy-makers and business companies.

Clinical and immunological findings in large B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia

In order to define the characteristics of B-CLL cases in which the predominant cell population is composed of large lymphocytes, we studied 97 patients with B-CLL, comparing the cell morphological features with the clinical and biological findings and the immunological phenotype of the proliferating cells. Multivariant analysis showed that there were three significantly different morphological groups: Typical CLL, large lymphocyte CLL (LLL), and CLL with prolymphocytes (CLL/PL). The LLL group showed a greater incidence of lymphadenopathies (P less than 0.05) and higher percentages of both mu + delta + cells (P less than 0.01) and Fmc/7+ cells (P less than 0.001) than in typical CLL. The main differences between LLL and CLL/PL were the peripheral blood lymphocyte count and the percentage of Fmc/7+ cells (P less than 0.002)--both higher in the CLL/PL group--and the percentage of mouse rosette-forming cells (P less than 0.01)--lower in CLL/PL. Further studies including functional assays and survival analyses could contribute to elucidating whether these groups are different entities or a single disease with marked heterogeneity.

Comparison of two color-difference formulas using the Bland-Altman approach based on natural tooth color space.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM Several formulas to measure color differences have been proposed to improve the correlation between color measurements and visual perception. Despite the progress obtained, equating between formulas is complex, rendering the exchange of information in scientific papers difficult. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the results provided by classic CIELab (ΔEab∗) and the CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) formulas in the natural tooth color space using the Bland and Altman limits of agreement, to use this relationship to establish the equivalences between the tooth color thresholds of acceptability and perceptibility of both formulas, and to evaluate whether the relationship between ΔEab∗ and ΔE00 is modified depending on the axis on which the changes occur. MATERIAL AND METHODS The L∗, a∗, and b∗ means coordinates in the 26 shade tabs of the Toothguide 3D Master were used, and color differences were calculated in 325 pairs of shade tabs using the CIELab (ΔE∗ab) and CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) color difference formulas. The results obtained with these formulas were compared, and the limits of agreement after a logarithmic transformation of the data were obtained. RESULTS The linear relationship between both formulas was ΔE00 =0.66ΔE∗ab. The results obtained with the CIELab formula were between 1.15 (95% confidence interval 1.11 to 1.18) and 2.09 (95% confidence interval 2.03 to 2.15) times higher than those obtained with the CIEDE2000 formula. CONCLUSIONS In the natural tooth color space, the scale factor between CIEDE2000 and CIELab values changes from 0.46 to 0.90, such that providing an accurate scale factor between both values is difficult. Furthermore, the ΔE00/ΔE∗ab ratio increases with the increase in ΔL∗ and the decrease in Δb∗. The pairs for which the ratio is highest are those in which the difference in color is mainly due to changes in lightness, whereas the pairs for which the ratio is the smallest are those in which the difference in color is mainly due to changes on the blue-yellow axis.

How Corporations Deal with Reporting Sustainability: Assessment Using the Multicriteria Logistic Biplot Approach

This paper suggests a new methodology capable of accessing in detail the contribution of companies to countries’ sustainability related to economic performance. The concept of sustainability has been brought up in several debates, leading to a clearer understanding of its progress in recent decades. The most adequate indicators to achieve a unique value to define sustainability have been identified. However, specific behaviors of economic agents such as exist in particularly large organizations, have rarely been exposed and evaluated regarding their positive or negative contribution to the increase of sustainability throughout the world. This paper proposes an integrated approach incorporating an evaluation of the positive and negative contributions to sustainability by means of a logistic biplot application. This allows the creation of a summarized index that combines all single sustainability indicators. These synthetic indices allow the positioning of each of the companies in a geometric representation for an original exploration of the sustainability paradigm. The supplied method permits accessing and evaluating information concerning specific behaviors of economic agents such as big companies. In our paper, we have followed the engagements towards sustainability of big corporations, individually or as groups, across the different activity sectors in Portugal and Spain.

The Firms behind the Regions: Analysis of Regional Innovation Performance in Portugal by External Logistic Biplots

The strategic choices regarding innovation and research and development (R&D) policy in Portugal have, over the past two decades, produced various positive benefits, in which the regions of Lisbon and Algarve, in particular, have taken the lead. These are the only regions in Portugal which converge towards the European average growth rate with respect to gross production, investment and employment creation. It is now timely to evaluate firms’ contributions to national and regional growth, their obstacles, and impacts. After a conceptualization of innovation policy in Portugal, the present paper treats innovation as a major criterion for the policy evaluation process referred to above. Our empirical investigation aims to explain the innovation performance of Portuguese firms throughout the country, and to explore those determinants of innovation which are region-specific. Therefore, the analysis addresses a set of firms’ achievement patterns, by focusing on ways in which institutions interact in the process of innovation at the regional level. In our modelling study, we employ a new methodology, viz. the external logistic biplot method, which is applied to an extensive sample of innovative institutions in Portugal. Variables identified as crucial determinants in earlier studies are used to describe regional institutional profiles. Such profiles exhibit a great variety of ways in which these determinants are able to promote regional innovation. The creation of a Gradient of Capacity to Dynamically Innovate associated with each firm enables an analysis of the innovation gradient of each region in Portugal. Our paper presents and investigates these findings, and offers some policy lessons.

Bone marrow histopathologic patterns and immunologic phenotype in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia

SummaryThe present work analyzes the clinicobiological and immunological characteristics — the latter hitherto unexplored — of the different bone marrow histopathological patterns of the B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL). In addition, we studied whether any or some of these parameters were able to predict the probability of a particular pattern of bone marrow involvement appearing. Of the 100 B-CLL cases studied 41 had a diffuse pattern and 59 were non-diffuse — interstitial 27, nodular 11 and mixed 21 —. Neither clinical nor immunological differences were observed among the distinct non-diffuse patterns. The patients in the diffuse group displayed an increased incidence of µ+ isotype and a higher proportion of HLA-DR and HAN-PC1 positive cells while, conversely, reactivity with the FMC8 McAb was lower. In addition, patients with a diffuse pattern of BM involvement displayed features of a more extensive disease: a higher incidence of adenopathies (p<0.05), hepatomegaly (p<0.01), splenomegaly (p<0.01), anaemia (p<0.01) and thrombopenia (p<0.01) as well as higher levels of peripheral blood lymphocytosis (p<0.05) and a higher percentage of BM lymphocytic infiltration (p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that thrombopenia and splenomegaly were the two most important features in predicting the probability of a diffuse pattern.

Exploratory and prospective model of stent restenosis after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention using MultivariateGaussian Subspatial Regression

A new methodology, “Multivariate Gaussian Subspatial Regression” (MGSR), has been applied to randomized clinical trial data collected from percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients. This model allows multiple variable combinations to be explained and predicted in a dynamic way by combining Gaussian Processes and Factorial Techniques virtues. We built our model from 3 different quantitative coronary angiographic core-lab measures of the same lesion from 2 separate angiograms (at baseline before PCI, at baseline immediately after PCI and at 12 months follow-up). Using this new method, we were able to predict acute gain and late loss with certainty by mapping the predictions over a factorial plane. This representation allows physicians to better interpret the behavior of hypothetical patients and measured variables. MGSR makes it possible to detect patients at risk of coronary stent restenosis or patients in whom ruling out the disease; avoiding unnecessary, costly and possibly risky treatments; in a graphical way. In addition, we can forecast missed values regardless of the variables. Once the MGSR model is fitted, it can easily correct itself when more dependent variables are included. MGSR software is freely available online at https://github.com/victorvicpal/MGSR.

Clinical and biochemical correlates of male hypogonadism in type 2 diabetes

The origin of hypogonadism, a condition including both symptoms and biochemical criteria of androgen deficiency, in type 2 diabetes is poorly known. In a cross‐sectional study of 267 unselected patients, we analyzed the potential correlation of several clinical and biochemical variables as well as chronic micro‐ and macrovascular diabetic complications with hypogonadism. Hypogonadism was present in 46 patients (17.2%) using a cutoff of total testosterone 10.4 nmol/L and in 31 (11.6%) with a cutoff of 8 nmol/L. Among these patients, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism was the most prevalent form (82.6%). Compared to eugonadal subjects, hypogonadal men had significantly lower glomerular filtration rate (67.1 ± 23.4 vs. 78.4 ± 24.6 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.005) and higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease (43.5% vs. 20.4%, p = 0.002), abnormal liver function tests (26.7% vs. 12%, p = 0.019), and psychiatric treatment (23.9% vs. 10.4%, p = 0.025). Total testosterone levels correlated inversely with age (R = −0.164, p = 0.007), fasting blood glucose (R = −0.127, p = 0.037), and triglycerides (R = −0.134, p = 0.029) and directly with glomerular filtration rate (R = 0.148, p = 0.015). Calculated free testosterone and bioavailable testosterone correlated directly with hemoglobin (R = 0.171, p = 0.015 and R = 0.234, p = 0.001, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjusting for relevant confounding variables, showed that age >60 years (OR = 3.58, CI 95% = 1.48–8.69, p = 0.005), body mass index >27 kg/m2 (OR = 2.85, CI 95% = 1.14–7.11, p = 0.025), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 2.16, CI 95% = 1.05–4.41, p = 0.035), glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (OR = 2.51, CI 95% = 1.19–5.29, p = 0.015), and abnormal liver function tests (OR = 3.57, CI 95% = 1.48–8.60, p = 0.005) were independently associated with male hypogonadism. Although older age, body mass index, and hypertriglyceridemia have been previously related to hypogonadism, our results describe that chronic kidney disease and abnormal liver function tests are independently correlated with hypogonadism in type 2 diabetic men.

Modelling R&D and Innovation Support Systems – Analysis of Regional Cluster Structures in Innovation in Portugal

This paper offers a new methodology to identify R&D and innovation clusters, on the basis of a regional analysis of innovation support systems in Portugal. Using a web-based inventory of R&D and innovation agencies, an extensive data base is created. This data set is next analyzed by means of Principal Coordinates Analysis followed by a Logistic Biplot approach (leading to Voronoi mappings) in order to design a systematic typology of innovation clusters in the main regions in Portugal. A striking result is the significant difference in innovation systems at regional level in Portugal. The paper is concluded with policy recommendations.