Abstract
Inflammation is a common symptom in joint disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA) and implant aseptic loosening (AL). The sympathetic nervous system is well known to play a critical role in regulating inflammatory conditions, and imbalanced sympathetic activity has been observed in rheumatoid arthritis. In AL it is not clear whether the sympathetic nervous system is altered. In this study we evaluated the systemic and local profile of neuroimmune molecules involved in the interplay between the sympathetic nervous system and the periprosthetic inflammation in hip AL. Our results showed that periprosthetic inflammation does not trigger a systemic response of the sympathetic nervous system, but is mirrored rather by the impairment of the sympathetic activity locally in the hip joint. Moreover, macrophages were identified as key players in the local regulation of inflammation by the sympathetic nervous system in a process that is implant debris-dependent and entails the reduction of both adrenergic and Neuropetide Y (NPY)-ergic activity. Additionally, our results showed a downregulation of semaphorin 3A (SEMA3A) that may be part of the mechanism sustaining the periprosthetic inflammation. Overall, the local sympathetic nervous system emerges as a putative target to mitigate the inflammatory response to debris release and extending the lifespan of orthopedic implants.

Abstract
In the last decades, the weight of renewable energies sources (RES-E) in the electricity generation mix of most European countries has considerably increased, constituting an important contribution to the transition towards a low-carbon economy. Until very recently, RES-E were supported by favorable investment mechanisms specially designed to endorse investment in RES-E. More recently, as RES-E are becoming increasingly more competitive (especially wind and solar photovoltaic), RES-E are starting to be remunerated according to market mechanisms. This has generated a lively debate on the economic pros and cons of dispatching RES-E in the market. This paper contributes to this debate by developing a game theoretical model in the context of which we analyze how the inclusion of RES-E in the electricity wholesale market affects equilibrium outcomes under demand and supply uncertainty. Then, we examine how the inclusion of RES-E in the electricity wholesale market impacts firms' incentives to invest in conventional energy sources, characterizing the optimal investment under demand and supply uncertainty. We find that, when RES-E capacity and asymmetry in firms' marginal production costs are sufficiently high, RES-E producers may strategically reduce the market price, in order to evict the less efficient conventional source in that period. Although, in the short-run, this strategy may actually favor energy consumers (since prices are lower), the expectations of inactivity periods (regardless of whether they arise for strategic or market reasons) may negatively affect investment in back-up capacity, possibly leading to an increase in future prices (since less back-up capacity is available). Finally, we provide an analytical characterization of optimal investment levels in conventional energy sources under demand and supply uncertainty.

Abstract

Abstract
It is common knowledge that history repeats itself! Maybe not literally, but patterns of behaviour likely dependent of the human nature, are probably prone to repeat themselves. So, one may wonder if looking back could help us prepare for a better future. Moreover, by looking back at the history of people and societies, we should all be able to have a better understanding of why things happen the way they do. This seldom happens, and when it does, it is happening within very limited circle of the society such as scholars and some politician circles, rarely overflowing to the whole society.The point is that, what we see today is not very different from what has happened in the past. Let us go back to November 13, 1460, the day Prince Henry the Navigator, passed away in Sagres, leaving Portugal with an enormous debt. Despite that fact, Prince Henry was the “guiding force behind Portugal’s assimilation of nautical knowledge and its vast extension of maritime exploration for nearly four decades” (Kock, 2003, p.59). It is interesting that by that time intellectual property was already being managed. (...)

Abstract
In the last issue of 2015, the editorial was titled “Winter is coming: The dawn of Innovation?“ As almost 2 years have gone by, this topic was revisited. So why not wonder how innovation was going around this same time of the year? In trying to answer this question, a visit to Google© Trends revealed an interesting and possibly unexpected chart that is illustrated in figure 1. (...)

Abstract
The beginning of the innovation process also known as Front End of Innovation (FEI) is an important contributor to the successful development of new products and the business success. The present study aims at giving an overview of how the FEI concept has been handled over the years, by identifying the focus of the research conducted in this domain knowledge. To this end, this study unfolds an encompassing perspective by developing an analysis of existing publications against two FEI Reference Models. This analysis comprised of the compilation, selection, and review of the content of 169 publications concerning the Front End of Innovation. The period of analysis covered all years until 2015. Evidence shows that this topic has received greater attention in the recent years both regarding depth and the number of publications. However, there are still pending gaps in the literature that are highlighted in this paper. The topics addressing organisational issues were the ones that received more attention.