Revisiting the Roles of the University in Regional Economic Development: A Triangulation of Data

There is a general understanding that university plays a crucial role in regional development under the current age of knowledge economy. At the same time, we have observed a fair number of counter‐evidentiary studies, demonstrating several regions that do not thrive despite strong research universities or other patterns of development in the absence of research universities. However, they are based on case studies of individual universities or regions, and the findings currently cannot be generalized. Another set of studies that have challenged the effect of universities at the nationwide scale and demonstrated its disproportionately small impact of universities, but their scope is limited to spin‐offs, patents, and license activities. In this article, we propose to investigate this subject more systematically by triangulating three methods: 1) national‐scale regression models with Business Dynamics Statistics and National Establishment Time Series data, 2) a regional survey of IT and life science firms in four so‐called “second tier regions,” and 3) a microeconomic firm‐level analysis based on interviews with founders of technology intensive firms. Furthermore, we test the roles of university beyond those explicit, direct measures of spin‐offs and patents by analyzing the firm formation rate and firm growth rate at the regional level, as well as the sources of growth at the company level. All results point in the same direction: The research function of the university has been overstated, and the teaching function of the university has been underappreciated. These findings provide profound implications for the policy of regional development.     

Studies on a fluorescent insect growth regulator metabolite complex with house-fly microsomal cytochrome P-450

The fluorescent insect growth regulator 5[[[5-(dimethylamino)-1-naphthalenyl]amino]-1,3-benzodioxole (DNSAB) forms a metabolite complex with house-fly microsomal cytochrome P-450. Formation of the metabolite complex is dependent on the presence of NADPH and O₂; NADH supports the reaction at a reduced rate. The presence of antibodies to house-fly cytochrome c (P-450) reductase in reaction mixtures inhibits the complex formation, indicating that the reductase is necessary for transfer of electrons from NADPH to cytochrome P-450 to complete the reaction. In the oxidized form, the metabolite complex has a single absorbance maximum at 431 nm, whereas the reduced form has two absorbance maxima at 426 (major) and 455 nm (minor). The pH of the media affects the extinction of the 426- and 455-nm Soret bands; increased pH decreases the extinction of the 426-nm band and increases the extinction of 455-nm band. Formation of the DNSAB metabolite-cytochrome P-450 complex decreases the amount of CO-reactive cytochrome P-450 by 24%. The metabolite complex is not dissociable by treatment with ferricyanide or by using centrifugation techniques. Dissociation is accomplished by addition of DNSAB to the oxidized metabolite complex. Kinetic analysis of the complex formation gives apparent K_m and V_max values at 2.55 ± 1.0 μM and 1.1 ± 0.4 × 10^?2 ΔA min^?1 nmol^?1 cytochrome P-450, respectively. Addition of juvenile hormone [(E,E)-cis-methyl-10,11-epoxy-7-ethyl-3,11-dimethyl-2,6-tridecadienoate; JH] to the reaction medium competitively inhibits the formation of the metabolite complex giving an inhibition constant of 16 μM. DNSAB synergized the lethal effects of JH against Aedes aegypti larvae threefold; however, JH did not synergize DNSAB. These data suggest that DNSAB may acquire its hormonal qualities by complexing a species of cytochrome P-450 that metabolizes JH, thereby prolonging the in vivo lifetime of this hormone.     

Pacemaker implantation in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo) with third-degree atrioventricular block.

A 7.5-year-old castrated male ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was diagnosed with third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block. A monopolar epicardial pacemaker system was implanted, resulting in a regular, paced cardiac rhythm with third-degree AV block at 140 beats per minute. Over the next 2 months, the ferret developed anorexia, interstitial pneumonia, intermittent diarrhea, and hind-limb weakness and had a slow and progressive recovery. The ferret developed clinical signs of congestive heart failure 4 months after the surgery, resulting in its death 3 weeks later. Necropsy results attributed the death to cardiac failure due to extensive myocardial mineralization. To the authors' knowledge this is the first published report of surgical report of surgical pacemaker implantation in a ferret.     

Agreement among surgical pathologists evaluating routine histologic sections of digits amputated from cats and dogs.

Agreement among pathologists interpreting histologic specimens is an area of interest within human pathology, but little work in this area has been reported in the veterinary literature. Agreement among pathologists evaluating routine histologic sections of amputated digits from cats and dogs submitted to multiple diagnostic centers was examined. Histologic sections from surgical specimens were reviewed in a blinded fashion by two pathologists, and a comparison to the original diagnosis, as stated in the diagnostic report, was recorded. A total of 513 cases were reviewed, and complete agreement was reached in 409 (79.7%). Of the 104 instances of disagreement, 77 (74.0%) were considered to be of clinical significance. The diagnosis of keratoacanthoma was disagreed with in 19 of 21 diagnoses (90.4%). No other individual diagnosis was similarly disputed. The overall level of disagreement is large and is similar to that reported in human pathology and suggests that further study of this issue would be useful in veterinary pathology.     

Effects of Exogenous Glutathione on the Quality of Chilled Bull Semen

Glutathione (GSH) at concentrations of 0.0 (control), 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mM was added to chilled bull semen to determine its effects on the keeping quality of semen used for artificial insemination (AI). The semen was preserved with egg yolk citrate extender. All samples were stored at 4-8 degrees C for 5 days. Sperm motility and proportion of abnormal acrosome were assessed daily. Sperm motility was significantly (p < 0.01) higher in the semen treated with 0.5 mM glutathione than in untreated semen on each day. The optimum sperm motility (>or=50%) for AI was retained significantly (p < 0.01) for 3 days in 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mM glutathione treated semen, whereas in 0.3 mM glutathione-treated semen, sperm motility was 46.8% for 3 days. Acrosomal damage was significantly (p < 0.01) reduced after addition of 0.5 mM GSH in the preserved semen. Bull semen can be preserved in chilled condition for 5 days with 0.5 mM GSH with sperm motility above 40% and 12% acrosome abnormality.