Enhancing market-oriented R&D planning by integrated market and patent portfolios

Marketing and R&D strategies need to be aligned to increase the return from investment in new technologies. Various portfolio techniques have been widely used to support strategic planning. A new portfolio approach integrating market and technology portfolios to support market-oriented R&D planning is developed. The integrated portfolio is based on objective market and patent data and empirical evidence that the respective portfolio dimensions impact a company’s business performance. This contributes significantly to the relevance of the proposed integrated portfolio approach for strategic planning. It is tested in a practical application in the chemical industry. Based on these experiences, a set of recommendations for the effective use of the integrated portfolio for market-orientated strategic R&D planning is derived

Improved performance of PACE 2 with modified collection system in combination with probe competition assay for detecti

The Gen-Probe PACE 2 assay (GP) in combination with a modified collection system was compared with cell culture (CC) for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urethral specimens from males. Analysis of discordant results was performed by PCR. The modifications, i.e., application of a more rigid swab type and a 50% reduction in the amount of transport medium, were made to improve the sensitivity of the assay. By using the modified GP on 302 urethral specimens from males, a sensitivity of 89.5% and a specificity of 100% were determined. In addition, performance of a probe competition assay on all GP samples with a result > 0.6 and < 1.0 times the cutoff factor (gray zone) detected three more true-positive samples. The sensitivity of GP in combination with the probe competition assay increased to 94.9%, with a specificity of 100%. This was identical to the performance of CC. The modified GP offers a very sensitive and specific alternative to CC

Evaluation of Clearview and Magic Lite tests, polymerase chain reaction, and cell culture for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urogenital specimens

The Clearview Chlamydia test (CV; Unipath Ltd., Bedford, United Kingdom), the Magic Lite Chlamydia test (ML; CIBA Corning, Medfield, Mass.), a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and cell culture (CC) were evaluated for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in urogenital specimens. Specimens were collected from 283 men and 724 women visiting the outpatient clinic for Sexually Transmitted Diseases at the University Hospital Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. ML, PCR, and CC were all performed on the same sample to prevent swab-to-swab variability. CV was performed on a separate sample. Analysis of discordant results was performed by application of the following confirmatory assays: first, PCR on th

Insulating fcc YH3-ô stabilized by MgH2

We study the structural, optical, and electrical properties of MgzY1-z switchable mirrors upon hydrogenation. It is found that the alloys disproportionate into essentially pure YH3-δ and MgH2 with the crystal structure of YH3-δ dependent on the Mg concentration z. For 0~0.1 only cubic YH3-δ is present. Interestingly, cubic YH3-δ is expanded compared to YH2, in disagreement with theoretical predictions. From optical and electrical measurements we conclude that cubic YH3-δ is a transparent insulator with properties similar to hexagonal YH3-δ. Our results are inconsistent with calculations predicting fcc YH3-δ to be metallic, but they are in good agreement with recent GW calculations on both hcp and fcc YH3. Finally, we find an increase in the effective band gap of the hydrided MgzY1-z alloys with increasing z. Possibly this is due to quantum confinement effects in the small YH3 clusters

3D heterotic string theory: new approach and extremal solutions

We develop a new formalism for the bosonic sector of low-energy heterotic string theory toroidally compactified to three dimensions. This formalism is based on the use of some single non-quadratic real matrix potential which transforms linearly under the action of subgroup of the three-dimensional charging symmetries. We formulate a new charging symmetry invariant approach for the symmetry generation and straightforward construction of asymptotically flat solutions. Finally, using the developed approach and the established formal analogy between the heterotic and Einstein-Maxwell theories, we construct a general class of the heterotic string theory extremal solutions of the Israel-Wilson-Perjes type. This class is asymptotically flat and charging symmetry complete; it includes the extremal solutions constructed before and possesses the non-trivial bosonic string theory limit.Comment: 20 pages in Late

The trade off between diversity and quality for multi-objective workforce scheduling

In this paper we investigate and compare multi-objective and weighted single objective approaches to a real world workforce scheduling problem. For this difficult problem we consider the trade off in solution quality versus population diversity, for different sets of fixed objective weights. Our real-world workforce scheduling problem consists of assigning resources with the appropriate skills to geographically dispersed task locations while satisfying time window constraints. The problem is NP-Hard and contains the Resource Constrained Project Scheduling Problem (RCPSP) as a sub problem. We investigate a genetic algorithm and serial schedule generation scheme together with various multi-objective approaches. We show that multi-objective genetic algorithms can create solutions whose fitness is within 2% of genetic algorithms using weighted sum objectives even though the multi-objective approaches know nothing of the weights. The result is highly significant for complex real-world problems where objective weights are seldom known in advance since it suggests that a multi-objective approach can generate a solution close to the user preferred one without having knowledge of user preferences

Aggregation and Representation in the European Parliament Party Groups

While members of the European Parliament are elected in national constituencies, their votes are determined by the aggregation of MEPs in multinational party groups. The uncoordinated aggregation of national party programmes in multinational EP party groups challenges theories of representation based on national parties and parliaments. This article provides a theoretical means of understanding representation by linking the aggregation of dozens of national party programmes in different EP party groups to the aggregation of groups to produce the parliamentary majority needed to enact policies. Drawing on an original data source of national party programmes, the EU Profiler, the article shows that the EP majorities created by aggregating MEP votes in party groups are best explained by cartel theories. These give priority to strengthening the EP’s collective capacity to enact policies rather than voting in accord with the programmes they were nationally elected to represent

Phonon spectrum and soft-mode behavior of MgCNi_3

Temperature dependent inelastic neutron-scattering measurements of the generalized phonon density-of-states for superconducting MgCNi_3, T_c=8 K, give evidence for a soft-mode behavior of low-frequency Ni phonon modes. Results are compared with ab initio density functional calculations which suggest an incipient lattice instability of the stoichiometric compound with respect to Ni vibrations orthogonal to the Ni-C bond direction.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Analogue modelling of basin inversion: a review and future perspectives

Basin inversion involves the reversal of subsidence in a basin due to compressional tectonic forces, leading to uplift of the basin's sedimentary infill. Detailed knowledge of basin inversion is of great importance for scientific, societal, and economic reasons, spurring continued research efforts to better understand the processes involved. Analogue tectonic modelling forms a key part of these efforts, and analogue modellers have conducted numerous studies of basin inversion. In this review paper we recap the advances in our knowledge of basin inversion processes acquired through analogue modelling studies, providing an up-to-date summary of the state of analogue modelling of basin inversion. We describe the different definitions of basin inversion that are being applied by researchers, why basin inversion has been historically an important research topic and what the general mechanics involved in basin inversion are. We subsequently treat the wide range of different experimental approaches used for basin inversion modelling, with attention to the various materials, set-ups, and techniques used for model monitoring and analysing the model results. Our new systematic overviews of generalized model results reveal the diversity of these results, which depend greatly on the chosen set-up, model layering and (oblique) kinematics of inversion, and 3D along-strike structural and kinematic variations in the system. We show how analogue modelling results are in good agreement with numerical models, and how these results help researchers to better understand natural examples of basin inversion. In addition to reviewing the past efforts in the field of analogue modelling, we also shed light on future modelling challenges and identify a number of opportunities for follow-up research. These include the testing of force boundary conditions, adding geological processes such as sedimentation, transport, and erosion; applying state-of-the-art modelling and quantification techniques; and establishing best modelling practices. We also suggest expanding the scope of basin inversion modelling beyond the traditional upper crustal "North Sea style " of inversion, which may contribute to the ongoing search for clean energy resources. It follows that basin inversion modelling can bring valuable new insights, providing a great incentive to continue our efforts in this field. We therefore hope that this review paper will form an inspiration for future analogue modelling studies of basin inversion

High Magnetic Field Microwave Conductivity of 2D Electrons in an Array of Antidots

We measure the high magnetic field ($B$) microwave conductivity, Re$\sigma_{xx}$, of a high mobility 2D electron system containing an antidot array. Re$\sigma_{xx}$ vs frequency ($f$) increases strongly in the regime of the fractional quantum Hall effect series, with Landau filling $1/3<\nu<2/3$. At microwave $f$, Re$\sigma_{xx}$ vs $B$ exhibits a broad peak centered around $\nu=1/2$. On the peak, the 10 GHz Re$\sigma_{xx}$ can exceed its dc-limit value by a factor of 5. This enhanced microwave conductivity is unobservable for temperature $T \gtrsim 0.5$ K, and grows more pronounced as $T$ is decreased. The effect may be due to excitations supported by the antidot edges, but different from the well-known edge magnetoplasmons.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, revtex