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The purpose of this study is to explore how socioemotional wealth and generational stage relate to family firm innovation. A dual-analytical approach is employed that incorporates both linear methods, such as regression analysis, and configurational methods, such as fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). The comparison of the findings from a sample of 277 small and privately-owned family businesses in the US uncovers the respective strengths and weaknesses of each methodological approach. Such comparison contributes to the literature by demonstrating the detailed and more nuanced insights that configurational analysis can provide, thereby offering a better understanding of the complex dynamics among drivers of family firm innovation. Keywords: fsQCA, socioemotional wealth, firm innovation, Family firm innovation has been a focal point of scholarly interest in recent years. Through innovation, family firms manage to survive across generations (Kellermanns and Eddleston, 2006), adapt to changing [...]

The aim of the study was the examination of the relationships among gymnasts’ training age, body mass index (BMI), balance control during the execution of handstand, standing scale forward, and stork standing in relevé position, and their performance in competition settings. Forty young competitive gymnasts (20 males; age: 12.20 ± 1.98 years, and 20 females; age: 12.33 ± 2.07 years, mean ± SD) participated in this study. A portable digital platform for posturography was used to measure maximal pressure, center of pressure (CoP) sway area, CoP linear distance displacement and CoP velocity. The resulting data were analyzed using an integrated software module (Foot Checker, version 4.0). The results confirm the reliability of the measurements. Strong positive correlations were found between gymnasts' performance in the gymnastics competition, and their training age and BMI, with relationships also identified between performance and variables related to balance control. Regression analysis revealed that gymnasts' training age, BMI, and balance control in performing the assessed gymnastics skills had predictive significance in determining their performance in the competition, taking into account differences between age groups. Despite the limitations of the study, the results represent a valuable contribution to the literature by expanding knowledge about predicting gymnastics performance in competition. Furthermore, the results provide evidence for the identification of talent in gymnasts, offer coaches insights to improve training efficiency, and provide recommendations for future research in this area.

OBJECTIVES:. It is suggested that sepsis may be classified into four clinical phenotypes, using an algorithm employing 29 admission parameters. We applied a simplified phenotyping algorithm among patients with bacterial sepsis and severe COVID-19 and assessed characteristics and outcomes of the derived phenotypes. DESIGN:. Retrospective analysis of data from prospective clinical studies. SETTING:. Greek ICUs and Internal Medicine departments. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS:. We analyzed 1498 patients, 620 with bacterial sepsis and 878 with severe COVID-19. We implemented a six-parameter algorithm (creatinine, lactate, aspartate transaminase, bilirubin, C-reactive protein, and international normalized ratio) to classify patients with bacterial sepsis intro previously defined phenotypes. Patients with severe COVID-19, included in two open-label immunotherapy trials were subsequently classified. Heterogeneity of treatment effect of anakinra was assessed. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:. The algorithm validated the presence of the four phenotypes across the cohort of bacterial sepsis and the individual studies included in this cohort. Phenotype α represented younger patients with low risk of death, β was associated with high comorbidity burden, and δ with the highest mortality. Phenotype assignment was independently associated with outcome, even after adjustment for Charlson Comorbidity Index. Phenotype distribution and outcomes in severe COVID-19 followed a similar pattern. CONCLUSIONS:. A simplified algorithm successfully identified previously derived phenotypes of bacterial sepsis, which were predictive of outcome. This classification may apply to patients with severe COVID-19 with prognostic implications.

The need to strengthen the existing reinforced concrete (RC) elements is becoming increasingly crucial for modern cities as they strive to develop resilient and sustainable structures and infrastructures. In recent years, various solutions have been proposed to limit the undesirable effects of corrosion in RC elements. While C-FRP has shown promise in corrosion-prone environments, its use in structural applications is limited by cost, bonding, and anchorage challenges with concrete. To address these, the present research investigates the structural performance of RC beams reinforced with C-FRP bars under static loading using Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) with an Electro-Mechanical Impedance (EMI) system employing Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) piezoelectric transducers which are applied to detect damage development and enhance the protection of RC elements and overall, RC structures. This study underscores the potential of C-FRP bars for durable tensile reinforcement in RC structures, particularly in hybrid designs that leverage steel for compression strength. The study focuses on critical factors such as stiffness, maximum load capacity, deflection at each loading stage, and the development of crack widths, all analyzed through voltage responses recorded by the PZT sensors. Particular emphasis is placed on the bond conditions and anchorage lengths of the tensile C-FRP bars, exploring how local confinement conditions along the anchorage length influence the overall behavior of the beams.

A new method to evaluate the maximum seismic story velocities for steel buildings is examined here. It is well known that story velocities are vital parameters for the design of steel structures with supplementary dampers. It has been recognized that nonlinear time history analysis is required to achieve an accurate evaluation of actual velocities, but this approach seems to be complicated and time-consuming for practical engineers. For this reason, this paper investigates the inelastic velocity ratio, which can be defined as the ratio of the maximum inelastic velocity to the maximum elastic one for steel buildings. The knowledge of this ratio, a unique factor for the whole structure, can be used to evaluate the maximum inelastic story velocities directly from the elastic counterparts. The proposed study is general and can be used in both ordinary steel structures as well as steel structures with supplemental damping devices. Widespread parametric studies are executed to achieve simple yet effective expressions for inelastic velocity ratios.

This paper presents an extensive comparison between public and private natural gas-fired units in managing the unit commitment problem in the context of the Greek electricity market. Using a unique hourly dataset from 2015-2019, our approach utilizes risk-weighted performance metrics--Cash Flows at Risk (CFaR) and Risk Weighted Return (RWR)--to analyze performance across the public and private units. Empirical findings indicate that publicly owned natural gas-fired units outperform privately owned natural gas-fired units in terms of operational efficiency, however the efficiency of privately owned natural gas-fired units is growing at a faster pace and is expected to surpass the efficiency of public units within 2 or 3 years. Keywords: Electricity market modeling, Combined cycle gas turbines, Unit commitment problem, Risk weighted return, 1. INTRODUCTION In the context of the ongoing 'Energy Transition' and decarbonization, natural gas is widely considered as the bridging fuel for the transition from conventional to renewable energy forms [...]

AIMS: The optimal method of revascularization for patients with left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) is controversial. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) has traditionally been considered the gold standard therapy, and recent randomized trials comparing CABG with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug-eluting stents (DES) have reported conflicting outcomes. We, therefore, performed a systematic review and updated meta-analysis comparing CABG to PCI with DES for the treatment of LMCAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: We systematically identified all randomized trials comparing PCI with DES vs. CABG in patients with LMCAD. The primary efficacy endpoint was all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints included cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and unplanned revascularization. All analyses were by intention-to-treat. There were five eligible trials in which 4612 patients were randomized. The weighted mean follow-up duration was 67.1 months. There were no significant differences between PCI and CABG for the risk of all-cause mortality [relative risk (RR) 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81-1.32; P = 0.779] or cardiac death (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.79-1.34; P = 0.817). There were also no significant differences in the risk of stroke (RR 0.74, 95% CI 0.35-1.50; P = 0.400) or MI (RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.96-1.56; P = 0.110). Percutaneous coronary intervention was associated with an increased risk of unplanned revascularization (RR 1.73, 95% CI 1.49-2.02; P

The need to strengthen the existing reinforced concrete (RC) elements is becoming increasingly crucial for modern cities as they strive to develop resilient and sustainable structures and infrastructures. In recent years, various solutions have been proposed to limit the undesirable effects of corrosion in RC elements. While C-FRP has shown promise in corrosion-prone environments, its use in structural applications is limited by cost, bonding, and anchorage challenges with concrete. To address these, the present research investigates the structural performance of RC beams reinforced with C-FRP bars under static loading using Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) with an Electro-Mechanical Impedance (EMI) system employing Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) piezoelectric transducers which are applied to detect damage development and enhance the protection of RC elements and overall, RC structures. This study underscores the potential of C-FRP bars for durable tensile reinforcement in RC structures, particularly in hybrid designs that leverage steel for compression strength. The study focuses on critical factors such as stiffness, maximum load capacity, deflection at each loading stage, and the development of crack widths, all analyzed through voltage responses recorded by the PZT sensors. Particular emphasis is placed on the bond conditions and anchorage lengths of the tensile C-FRP bars, exploring how local confinement conditions along the anchorage length influence the overall behavior of the beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vacuum thermal dealloying is a recently developed technique and was newly introduced to produce nanoporous metals, due to its intriguing advantages, i.e., preventing oxidation and producing no chemical waste, etc. Here, we report on the fabrication of nanoporous stainless steel films by vacuum thermal dealloying of sputtered stainless steel–magnesium precursor films. It was found that crack-free nanoporous stainless steel films can be successfully attained under a broad temperature range of 450–600 °C, with a dealloying time of 0.5–2 h. The resulting structure and ligaments were temperature- and time-dependent, and moreover, the condition of “600 °C + 2 h” generated the most homogeneous structure. Moreover, small amounts of residual Mg were found at pore sites in the resultant structures, suggesting that the dealloying was not fully complete.

Copyright of Science of Gymnastics Journal is the property of Science of Gymnastics Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis (OA), is a common synovial condition observed in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Despite its high prevalence and significant impact on the quality of life of MS individuals, there is a gap in the current literature regarding the prevalence of OA in this population and its relation to MS pathology. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the prevalence of OA in the MS population and explore potential associations with demographic and MS-specific characteristics. Methods: Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search of the MEDLINE PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases was conducted. Results: Fifteen studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The aggregated prevalence of OA in the MS population was 27% (95% CI: 15–40%), with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 99.9%). Sensitivity analysis, excluding one study, showed a prevalence of 21% (95% CI: 16–28%). The risk ratio of OA in MS versus controls was 1.07 (95% CI: 0.84–1.37), indicating no significant difference. Meta-regression revealed no associations between OA prevalence and age or disease duration in MS patients. Conclusions: This study reports a 21–27% prevalence of OA in people with MS. Understanding the implications of OA in pain and mobility domains, as well as the challenges in distinguishing OA symptoms from MS manifestations, underscores the need for further research to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanisms and interactions between these conditions. Additional studies are warranted to enhance clinical management and improve outcomes for individuals with MS and co-existing OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigated the impact of instrumental music training on reading comprehension, working memory, and executive function in elementary school children in Greece. A series of studies suggested the possibility of a cognitive advantage from instrumental music training. For the purpose of the present study 80, elementary school children were evaluated. The experimental group consisted of 40 students in 5th grade with at least 5 years of music training and the control group consisted of 40 children who did not have any music training. The two groups were examined in working memory measurements of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for children (WISC-III; Digit and Forward Digit Recall), in Stoop Test, which is an executive function evaluation and reading comprehension test. The reading ability of both group participants was evaluated with the standardized test in the Greek population Test-A. Children with instrumental music training registered higher performances in reading comprehension tests and all cognitive measurements reflecting a possible cognitive advantage compared to participants without music training. The present results attempt to shed light on the possible link between instrumental music training on cognitive abilities and reading comprehension.

Maltreatment by coaches is a significant issue for all athletes, and particularly female athletes. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether psychological and physical maltreatment by coaches could affect social physique anxiety, body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness in former Greek female athletes. Two hundred and fifty former athletes participated in the study, former athletes in rrhythmic gymnastics (RG) and other sports (OS). They completed self-reported questionnaires assessing maltreatment (psychological, physical) by coaches, social physique anxiety, body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness. Results revealed that RG reported both higher psychological and physical maltreatment than others, but there were no differences in body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness and social physique anxiety. Although there were significant relations between maltreatment and body dissatisfaction, and drive for thinness, it was predictive for other sports athletes and not RG athletes. These findings can potentially help all types of sports become a context that promotes female athletes’ health rather than undermines it.