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The advantage of a cross-nation R&D cooperative project for businesses is that such a project can integrate and combine the technological capabilities of different countries through global linking, so that they can exchange, learn, and transform knowledge, thus enhancing the quality of innovative products or technologies as well as speeding up their adoption. This study explores the impact of different patterns of knowledge combination on cross-nation R&D cooperation. We focus on four cross-nation cooperative projects. A total of eight observational cases were the subjects of our research. We propose that knowledge combination can be classified into two patterns: knowledge fusion and knowledge reconfiguration. Cross-nation R&D cooperation tends to be the pattern of knowledge diffusion in the initial stage. With the increase of mutual interaction, the degree of knowledge fusion will increase gradually. Finally, cross-nation R&D cooperation will generate a significant influence on the subsequent research projects by increasing the depth of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an empirical study exploring the effects of intellectual capital and Dynamic Capabilities (DC) on Innovative Performance (IP) of organisations. Data were collected from a survey of 100 Taiwan companies related to the electronic and Information Technology (IT) industries. Hypotheses were tested using hierarchical regression analysis. Results show that Structural Capital (SC) and Relationship Capital (RC) fully mediate the effects of Human Capital (HC) on IF. Moreover, DC have a direct effect on IP. Dynamic capabilities, on the other hand, enhance the positive effect of RC on IF. The implication of the study is that managers should build and cultivate the firm's dynamic capabilities, because of its significant main and moderating effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus L.) seedlings cultured in sandy media were treated with Hoagland nutrition solution with different concentrations of Cd(NO(3))(2) from 0 to 400 micromol/L. After 50 days' treatment, Cd accumulation, activities of peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7), superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), catalase (CAT, EC 1.11.1.6) were measured and electrophoretograms of POD isoenzymes were analyzed. The accumulation of Cd in seedlings increased from Cd 50-100 micromol/L, after which further increases in Cd concentration resulted in only small increases in accumulation of Cd in seedlings. MDA content was markedly higher than control values indicating the enhanced membrane lipid peroxidation in roots and leaves. POD activities in leaf and root extracts increased with an increase of Cd concentration from 0 to 50 and 100 micromol/L and then decreased with further increases to 200 and 400 micromol/L. Under moderate Cd level of 50-200 micromol/L, SOD activities in leaf and root extracts increased whereas with a higher Cd level of 400 micromol/L marked inhibitions in enzyme activities were observed. With increase in Cd concentration marked elevations in CAT activities in leaves and roots were observed. Results of electrophoresis show that the alteration of POD isoenzyme was noticeable to Cd and an additional POD isoenzyme LP10 appeared. It is suggested that POD isoenzyme of Jerusalem artichoke seedlings could be used as bioindicator for soil contamination by Cd.