Innovation Leaders, Modest Innovators and Non-innovative SMEs in Slovakia: Key Factors and Barriers of Innovation Activity

AbstractBackground and Purpose:The field of innovation represents for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) a fundamental challenge. If the number of innovative SMEs is to rise, it is necessary to identify key factors determining their innovation activity and eliminate the innovation barriers. The main purpose of the paper is to present the results of primary research focused on identification (evaluation) of key factors and barriers determining innovation activities in Slovak SMEs. The division of SMEs into three groups of enterprises: innovation leaders, modest innovators and non-innovators enables to identify the differences in managers’ perception of the main factors and barriers determining innovation activities in various types of SMEs and to formulate policy implications for Slovak SMEs.Design/Methodology/Approach:Results of the empirical research were processed using MS Excel and the statistical analysis of the data in R3.2.4. statistical system was done. For statistical tests we assumed significance level (α = 0.1).Results:Evaluating the importance of the key factors a majority of enterprises (64.71%) indicated financial resources as the most important factor for the innovations. There is no statistically significant difference in individual (analysed) factors between innovation leaders, non-innovators and innovation followers (modest innovators). The results gained from Fisher exact test (p-value = 0.11) indicated a small difference in evaluating the significance of individual barriers between innovation leaders, non-innovators and modest innovators. Majority of enterprises also see as the main barriers to develop innovation activities bureaucracy and corruption and inappropriate state support of innovation activities.Conclusion:The main implications (conclusion) coming from the research are basic recommendations for state policy makers as well as SME’s managers to foster innovation activities in enterprises. They refer to the areas of financial resources, high-quality human resources, cooperation and participation of SMEs in different networks and clusters, systematic institutional support to SMEs, well-created vision and clearly formulated aims, and willingness of enterprises to innovate. Recommendations are summarised following the results of factor’s and barrier’s evaluation.

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Association of interleukin-17A rs2275913 polymorphism with rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility in Sudanese population

SAGE Open Medicine ◽

10.1177/20503121211020207 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 205031212110202

Author(s):

Rgda Mohamed Osman ◽

Mounkaila Noma ◽

Abdallah Elssir Ahmed ◽

Hanadi Abdelbagi ◽

Rihab Ali Omer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Confidence Interval ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Demographic Data ◽

Control Group ◽

P Value ◽

Case Group ◽

Molecular Technique ◽

Interleukin 17A ◽

Significant Difference

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. This study aimed to determine the association of interleukin-17A-197G/A polymorphism with rheumatoid arthritis in Sudanese patients. Methods: A case–control study was conducted between March and December 2018. Clinical and demographic data of the study participants were collected and analyzed. Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism molecular technique was done to investigate interleukin-17A-197G/A polymorphisms. All statistical tests were considered statistically significant when p < 0.05. Results: The study population included 266 participants aged between 1 and 85 years, with an average of 40 years, classified into 85 (31.2%) cases (mean age 48.5 ± 11.3 years), and 181 (68.8%) controls (mean age 35.3 ± 15.9 years). The interleukin-17A homozygote AA genotype was more frequent among the control group compared to the case group; 95 (52.5%) and 7 (8.2%), respectively. The homozygote GG and the heterozygote AG genotypes were proportionally not different among the cases and control groups; 13 (54.2%) and 11 (45.8%), and 65 (46.4%) and 75 (53.6%), respectively. According to the distribution of interleukin-17A genotypes, a statistically significant difference was observed among cases with the interleukin-17A AA and AG genotypes, p values 0.001 and 0.004, respectively. For the association interleukin-17A genotypes and family history a negatively significant association was reported (95% confidence interval, –0.219, p value = 0.001). There was also a negatively significant association of interleukin-17A genotypes and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (95% confidence interval, −0.141, p value = 0.002). Conclusion: This study is the first study in Sudan established the association between interleukin-17A-197G/A (rs2275913) polymorphisms and susceptibly to rheumatoid arthritis. These findings appeal for further research in Sudan to investigate the exact role of IL-17A in immunopathology and disease severity among Sudanese rheumatoid arthritis

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The Effectiveness of Durante Hemodialysis Packed Red Cells (PRC) Transfusion on Hemoglobin Levels

Jurnal Ners dan Kebidanan (Journal of Ners and Midwifery) ◽

10.26699/jnk.v8i1.art.p013-018 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 013-018

Author(s):

Pria Wahyu Romadhon Girianto ◽

Mega Wahyu Mulyasari

Keyword(s):

Renal Disease ◽

Chronic Renal Disease ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Health Condition ◽

P Value ◽

Test Design ◽

Significance Level ◽

Study Results ◽

Post Test ◽

The One

Renal Disease was a chronic disease that the most attacking people in Indonesia. Damage to this vital organ in the human body greatly affected a person's health condition, one of which was anemia. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Durante hemodialysis PRC transfusions on hemoglobin levels. The method used was Pre-experimental design, with the One group pre-post test design approach. With a sample of 49 patients who underwent regular hemodialysis at RSUD dr. Iskak Tulungagung. Data were obtained by direct observation. Processed by computerized methods with a statistical t-test, the significance level (α) was 0.05. The study results showed that the hemoglobin levels of the pre-Durante hemodialysis PRC transfusion patients were 4-5 mg/dl (53.06%), and the hemoglobin levels of the post-Durante hemodialysis PRC transfusion patients were 6.1-7 mg/dl (34.69%). The results of statistical tests showed that there was an increase in hemoglobin levels in patients who received Durante hemodialysis PRC transfusion by 1.22 mg/dl because p-value = 0.000 < 0.05 (α) means that there was an effect. It could be concluded that the delivery of Durante hemodialysis PRC transfusion could help increase hemoglobin levels. This finding was very helpful for chronic Renal Disease patients undergoing hemodialysis, who have been using erythropoietin preparations because PRC transfusions were cheaper and more effective when compared to using erythropoietin preparations

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Comparative Study of Deep Vein Thrombosis Recanalization Using Doppler Ultrasound in Different Post-Treatment Intervals in Traumatic Patients

ACTA MEDICA IRANICA ◽

10.18502/acta.v60i1.8324 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Nazanin Farshchian ◽

Negin Farshchian ◽

Parisa Bahrami Kamangar

Keyword(s):

Deep Vein Thrombosis ◽

Doppler Ultrasound ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Significance Level ◽

Sonographic Diagnosis ◽

Vein Thrombosis ◽

Significant Difference ◽

High Incidence ◽

Deep Vein ◽

Comparative Examination

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a prevalent vascular disease characterized by pelvic and limb deep vein thrombophlebitis, and it has a high incidence in traumatic patients. Contrary to older studies, recent research has reported that recanalization in DVT is not a slow process. The present study aimed at the comparative examination of DVT recanalization with Doppler ultrasound in different intervals following treatment with heparin or enoxaparin. This prospective study was conducted on all traumatic patients hospitalized in Imam Reza Hospital of Kermanshah, Iran, with the clinical and sonographic diagnosis of DVT in limb veins. Doppler ultrasound was performed two weeks, one month, and three months following treatment in order to examine recanalization. Data were analyzed using statistical tests in SPSS16 at the significance level of <0.05. Based on Doppler ultrasound, a significant difference was found between the degree of recanalization in patients aged <45 years and those aged >45 years, between male and female patients, and between different DVT locations (P<0.05). After three months of treatment with heparin and enoxaparin, the degree of recanalization was increased in DVT. Moreover, it was found that Doppler ultrasound is a useful tool for the diagnosis of recanalization in patients with DVT.

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An Analysis of the Relationship Between Job Satisfaction and Employee Engagement

Economic Themes ◽

10.1515/ethemes-2017-0014 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 55 (2) ◽

pp. 243-262 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Anton Vorina ◽

Miro Simonič ◽

Maria Vlasova

Keyword(s):

Job Satisfaction ◽

Employee Engagement ◽

Business Performance ◽

Modern World ◽

P Value ◽

Significance Level ◽

The Public ◽

Significant Difference ◽

And Gender ◽

The Relationship

AbstractThis paper examines the relationship between employee engagement and job satisfaction. People spend most of their time at work, and their motivation is considered to be an important factor for job performance. Enthusiastic employees, who focus their efforts on achieving their companies′ goals are a key competitive advantage in the modern world. The effect of employee engagement on business performance has been studied by various experts. They found out the similar conclusion: “the more enthusiastic the workers are, the better operating results they achieve for the company”. An occasional sample of 594 respondents who are employed in the public and non-public sector in Slovenia was used for the purpose of this study. The main goal of the research is to determine whether (and how) the employee engagement influences job satisfaction. A written survey was conducted from 4 January 2016 to 14 March 2016. IBM SPSS 20 was used for the statistical analysis. The results confirm that the relationship between employee engagement and job satisfaction is positive and statistically significant (5 % significance level), based on the linear regression F (1, 583) =296.14, p-value = 0.000, R-square = 0.337. The results also show that there is no statistically significant difference between employee engagement and gender and there is no statistically significant difference between job satisfaction and gender.

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Studi Komparasi Penerapan Model Guided Discovery Learning dan Inquiry Learning terhadap Retensi Matematika

Jurnal Ilmiah Universitas Batanghari Jambi ◽

10.33087/jiubj.v19i3.716 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (3) ◽

pp. 524

Author(s):

Lilik Masfiyah ◽

Rufi'i Rufi'i ◽

Harwanto Harwanto

Keyword(s):

Inquiry Learning ◽

Learning Model ◽

Discovery Learning ◽

P Value ◽

Retention Data ◽

Guided Discovery ◽

Significance Level ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Written Test ◽

Academic Year

This study aimed to examine the differences in mathematics retention of grade V Primary school between students who were taught using guided discovery learning model and inquiry learning model. The method in this study was a quasy experimnetal method. The population in this study was all students in grade V at SDN Pongangan and SDN Sukomulyo in 2018/2019 academic year which in total were 202 students. Samples were selected by purposive random sampling. The sample was divided into two group which are experiment 1 and experiment 2. The instrument used to collect mathematics retention data was a written test. The Data was analysed using descriptive statistic analysis and t-test. The results of data analysis at 0,05 significance level and df = 130 showed that t-count (2,276) > t-tabel (1,978) and also p-value (2-tailed) 0,024 < 0,05. So, it mean that there was a significant difference in mathematics retention between students who were taught using guided discovery learning model and inquiry learning model.

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Innovative Method of Using Endoscope in Postoperative Canal Wall Down Mastoid Cavity

Journal of Nepal Medical Association ◽

10.31729/jnma.3628 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (211) ◽

pp. 650-653 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Meera Bista ◽

Nayan Bahadur Mahato ◽

Deepak Regmi

Keyword(s):

Study Data ◽

Mastoid Cavity ◽

P Value ◽

Fisher Exact Test ◽

Wide Field ◽

Canal Wall ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Canal Wall Down ◽

Mastoid Surgery

Introduction: Poor access to the difficult areas in the middle ear and mastoid cavity is considered as the major reason for failure in mastoid surgery. Wide field visibility, visualization of nooks and corners by an endoscope could contribute to better clinical control of the disease in these patients that cannot be accessed by the operating microscope. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study, done in Kathmandu Medical College from January to June 2017. Thirty two patients were included in the study. Data collection was done by convenient sampling. Statistical analysis was done by Chi square test and Fisher Exact test, P value of <0.005 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study revealed that exposure benefit with an endoscope in canal wall down mastoid surgery was significantly better than with a microscope (P value of 0.034). The level of complete clearance and level of difficulty in cleaning with the help of a microscope compared to endoscope did not show a significant difference with P value of 0.288 and 0.652 obtained by Fisher extract test respectively. After microscopic removal of materials from the mastoid cavity, 22 (68.8%) which is more than half of cases had remaining materials in the cavity which was removed by endoscope completely. Conclusions: Outcome will make the ENT surgeons aware of use of endoscopy in post mastoid follow up cases to give better results and make the surgeon much more successful in his/her endeavor to eradicate the disease.

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Analisis Hubungan Paritas Dengan Pengetahuan Ibu Post Sectio Caesaria Tentang Mobilisasi Dini di RSUD dr. Doris Sylvanus Palangka Raya

Proceeding Of Sari Mulia University Midwifery National Seminars ◽

10.33859/psmumns.v0i1.37 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 155-160

Author(s):

Lensi Natalia Tambunan ◽

Lelly Oktarina ◽

Nita Kusuma Lindarsih

Keyword(s):

Statistical Tests ◽

Early Mobilization ◽

Sampling Technique ◽

Primary Data ◽

P Value ◽

Abdominal Muscles ◽

Maternal Knowledge ◽

Excessive Bleeding ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Significant Difference

Latar Belakang: Mobilisasi dini pada ibu nifas bertujuan untuk membantu menguatkan otot-otot perut, sehingga memperbaiki sirkulasi darah ke seluruh tubuh. Hal ini harus dipenuhi ibu selama masa nifas untuk mengembalikan organ-organ reproduksi, terutama untuk ibu yang post sectio caesaria. Mobilisasi pada ibu post sectio caesaria adalah suatu pergerakan, posisi atau adanya kegiatan yang dilakukan ibu setelah beberapa jam melahirkan dengan persalinan Caesar Namun, kenyataannya masih banyak ibu post sectio caesaria yang tidak mau melakukan mobilisasi dini karena merasa takut, malas untuk bergerak, merasa sakit dan lelah. Faktor fisiologis seperti kenaikan suhu tubuh (hipertermi), perdarahan yang berlebihan, nyeri, faktoe emosional seperti terjadinya kecemasan dan factor perkembangan seperti usia dan paritas.Tujuan: Penelitian untuk mengetahui hubungan paritas dengan pengetahuan ibu post Sectio caesaria tentang mobilisasi dini di RSUD Doris Sylvanus Palangka Raya Provinsi Kalimantan Tengah.Metode: Desain penelitian ini bersifat kuantitatif analitik observasional dengan menggunakan jenis desain cross sectional dengan tehnik pengambilan sampel yang digunakan adalah Accidental Sampling. Populasi pada penelitian ini adalah seluruh ibu post sectio caesaria di RSUD dr. Doris Sylvanus Palangka Raya. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan menggunakan data primer.Data dianalisis secara chi square. Hasil: Hasil uji statistik diperoleh P value 0,964, berarti tidak ada perbedaan secara bermakna sehingga dapat disimpulkan tidak ada hubungan antara paritas dengan pengetahuan ibu post sectio caesaria tentang mobilisasi dini.Simpulan: Ibu post sectio caesaria dengan paritas 2 agar tetap diberikan informasi mengenai mobilisasi dini post sectio caesaria agar ibu memiliki pengetahuan yang baik, jika ibu memiliki pengetahuan yang baik mengenai mobilisasi maka ibu akan melaksanakan mobilisasi diniKata Kunci: Paritas, Ibu post sectio caesaria, Mobilisasi Dini. Background: Early mobilization of the postpartum mother aims to help strengthen the abdominal muscles, thereby improving blood circulation throughout. This must be fulfilled by the mother during puerperium to restore the reproductive organs, especially for mothers who are post sectional caesaria. Mobilization of post sectio caesaria mothers is a movement, position or activity carried out by the mother after several hours of childbirth with caesarean delivery. However, in reality there are still many post sectio caesaria mothers who do not want to make early mobilization because they are afraid, lazy to move, feel sick and tiredPhysiological factors such as increased body temperature (hypertension), excessive bleeding, pain, emotional factors such as anxiety and developmental factors such as age and parity. Objective: The study was to find out the relationship between parity and post Sectio caesaria mother's knowledge about early mobilization in Doris Sylvanus Hospital in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan Province.Method: The design of this study was quantitative analytic observational using a cross sectional design with the sampling technique used was accidental sampling. The population in this study were all post sectio caesaria mothers in RSUD dr. Doris Sylvanus Palangka Raya. Data collection was done using primary data. Data was analyzed by chi square.Result: The result of statistical tests obtained p value 0.964 means that there is no significant difference so that it can be concluded there is no relationship between parity and post-caesaria maternal knowledge about early mobilization.Conclusion: Post-caeserean mothers with parity 2 keep informed about early post-caesarean mobilization so that mothers have good knowledge about mobilization, mothers will carry out early mobilization.Keywords: Parity, Maternal Caesarean section, Early Mobilization.

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A profile and treatment outcome of seasonal hyper-acute panuveitis

Nepalese Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.3126/nepjoph.v2i1.3702 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 35-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

E Shrestha

Keyword(s):

Visual Acuity ◽

Medical Treatment ◽

Visual Outcome ◽

P Value ◽

Fisher Exact Test ◽

Mean Values ◽

Exact Test ◽

Pediatric Age Group ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Mean

Introduction: Seasonal hyper-acute panuveitis (SHAPU) is a sight-threatening disease and its management is challenging. Objective: To study the profile and evaluate the visual outcome of the patients of clinicallydiagnosed cases of SHAPU after treatment. Subjects and methods: A retrospective interventional hospital-based study was carried out involving 21 subjects with clinically-diagnosed SHAPU. The data were retrieved from the record section of the hospital and analyzed. The variables studied were demographic pattern, clinical condition, duration of presentation and visual acuity before and after the treatment. Statistics: The data were analyzed using Epi Info version 2000. Percentage prevalence, mean values with standard deviation, relative risk, 95% CI and p value were calculated. P value of < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: Among the 21 cases, the numbers of male and female were 11 (52.4 %) and 10 (46.7 %) respectively. A comparative analysis of gender in children and adults did not show any significant difference (RR=0.47, 95% CI = 0.22 - 1.01, Fisher exact test: p = 0.14). The mean for all ages was 7 ± 12.68 years, while the mean age in pediatric cases was 4.5 ± 3.91 years. Thirteen (61.9%) cases occurred in children below fifteen years. Fifteen (71.4 %) cases reported during September and October. Presenting visual acuity of all cases was less than 3/60. All of them received medical treatment. By the end of the 4th week, seven (33.3 %) patients regained vision to 6/18. Conclusion: SHAPU is more prevalent in pediatric age group. It is equally prevalent among males and females. The visual acuity can improve with early medical treatment. Keywords: SHAPU; panuveitis; steroid; phthisis bulbi DOI: 10.3126/nepjoph.v2i1.3702 Nep J Oph 2010;2(1) 35-38

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CircaCompare: a method to estimate and statistically support differences in mesor, amplitude and phase, between circadian rhythms

Bioinformatics ◽

10.1093/bioinformatics/btz730 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rex Parsons ◽

Richard Parsons ◽

Nicholas Garner ◽

Henrik Oster ◽

Oliver Rawashdeh

Keyword(s):

Wave Function ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

P Value ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Fundamental Interest ◽

Response Variable ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Phase Amplitude

Abstract Motivation A fundamental interest in chronobiology is to compare patterns between groups of rhythmic data. However, many existing methods are ill-equipped to derive statements concerning the statistical significance of differences between rhythms that may be visually apparent. This is attributed to both the form of data used (longitudinal versus cross-sectional) and the limitations of the statistical tests used to draw conclusions. Results To address this problem, we propose that a cosinusoidal curve with a particular parametrization be used to model and compare data of two sets of observations collected over a 24-h period. The novelty of our test is in the parametrization, which allows the explicit estimation of rhythmic parameters [mesor (the rhythm-adjusted mean level of a response variable around which a wave function oscillates), amplitude and phase], and simultaneously testing for statistical significance in all three parameters between two or more groups of datasets. A statistically significant difference between two groups, regarding each of these rhythmic parameters, is indicated by a P-value. The method is evaluated by applying the model to publicly available datasets, and is further exemplified by comparison to the currently recommended method, DODR. The results suggest that the method proposed may be highly sensitive to detect rhythmic differences between groups in phase, amplitude and mesor. Availability and implementation https://github.com/RWParsons/circacompare/

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Clinical outcome for continuous versus intermittent chemotherapy for unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer: Comparative analysis after first-line therapy.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2018.36.4_suppl.825 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (4_suppl) ◽

pp. 825-825

Author(s):

Nadine Abdallah ◽

AMR Mohamed ◽

Hibah Ismail ◽

Wei Chen ◽

Alaa Akhras ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Random Effect ◽

Random Effect Model ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Induction Treatment ◽

P Value ◽

First Line ◽

Free Interval ◽

Significant Difference

825 Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common and second most lethal cancer in the U.S, with almost 50% of patients developing metastatic disease. Although survival of metastatic CRC (mCRC) has improved significantly, current treatment strategies are associated with many adverse effects. With no prospect of cure, goals of treatment should consider both quantity and quality of life. Interruption of chemotherapy after induction can represent a means to achieve this balance. Methods: The primary objective of this meta-analysis is to assess the effect of continuation vs interruption of systemic therapy in terms of survival in patients with unresectable mCRC after first line treatment. Among 15 prospective studies published from 2009-2017, 9 qualified for inclusion. Random-effect model was used for pooled effects within two main categories: continuous chemotherapy vs chemotherapy-free interval after first line induction. Studies with maintenance fluoropyrimidine and/or bevacizumab were excluded. Primary endpoint was median progression free survival (PFS) and secondary endpoint was median overall survival (OS). z statistics were used for comparing subgroups. All statistical tests were two-sided. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: 1366 patients (55% males) were included in the final analysis. Induction treatment was 5-FU or capecitabine-based chemotherapy with either oxaliplatin or irinotecan with or without bevacizumab. After stratifying for induction status, there was no statistically significant difference in median PFS between continuous vs chemotherapy free interval [Median PFS 4.74-month (95% CI 3.87-5.61) vs 3.52 month (95% CI 2.97-4.07), z-test adjusted p value 0.1383]. No significant difference in median OS between both groups [Median OS 16.95-month (95% CI 15.40-18.50) vs 18.35 month (95% CI 15.17-21.54)]. Conclusions: In mCRC patients, the superiority of continuous chemotherapy was not demonstrated. Further studies should shed light on patient and tumor characteristics most likely to benefit from continuous chemotherapy to limit delivery of cytotoxic therapy to this subset of patients.

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