ARE THERE SYNERGIES OR TRADEOFFS BETWEEN ARTICLES AND PATENTS IN UNIVERSITY AG-BIOTECH RESEARCH

This paper examines the empirical evidence for synergies or tradeoffs associated with the rapid rise of ag-biotech patenting at Land Grant Universities by examining the question of whether journal articles and patents appear to be complementary or competing activities in agricultural biotechnology research. The results show many synergies and none of the expected tradeoffs between the basic research represented in journal articles and the commercial proprietary research represented in patents.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

A Dynamic Count Data Analysis of University Ag-Biotech Patents

This paper examines the factors that account for ag-biotech patenting success among universities using a dynamic count data model. It builds a theoretical and econometric model to capture the inherently dynamic and nonlinear process of technological innovation, wherein a feedback mechanism from previous success partially determines current patent counts. The econometric estimates reveal the importance to ag-biotech patent production of land grant infrastructure, quality faculty, state and institutional funding, patent-oriented technology transfer offices, as well as dynamic feedback effects.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Trends in University Ag-Biotech Patent Production

This work exploits information on U.S. patents to identify trends in university ag-biotech patenting and citation performance. It sets forth some key issues concerning patterns of university ag-biotech patenting and then provides an empirical analysis on the evolving trends. Land Grant Universities account for most U.S. agbiotech patents. The data show a path dependent innovation pattern, in which there also seems to be a culture of patenting that develops at certain universities. Evidence shows that ag-biotech patents are more cited than the average university patent. Inequalities across Land Grant Universities are also evident in the production of agbiotech patents, although perhaps not to a much greater degree than underlying inequalities in funding and research qualities. The paper closes by considering how the evidence offered might be used to advance the public discussion regarding trends in agricultural biotechnology research in the U.S.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

TRENDS IN UNIVERSITY AG-BIOTECH PATENT PRODUCTION

This work exploits information on U.S. patents to identify trends in university ag-biotech patenting and citation performance. It sets forth some key issues concerning patterns of university ag-biotech patenting and then provides an empirical analysis on the evolving trends. Land Grant Universities account for most U.S. ag-biotech patents. The data show a path dependent innovation pattern, in which there also seems to be a culture of patenting that develops at certain universities. Evidence shows that ag-biotech patents are more cited than the average university patent. Inequalities across Land Grant Universities are also evident in the production of ag-biotech patents, although perhaps not to a much greater degree than underlying inequalities in funding and research qualities. The paper closes by considering how the evidence offered might be used to advance the public discussion regarding trends in agricultural biotechnology research in the U.S.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Research and Development at U.S. Research Universities: An Analysis of Scope Economies

This work investigates the presence and sources of economies of scope in R&D at U.S. research universities. The analysis evaluates the tradeoffs and synergies arising between traditional university research outputs (articles and doctorates) and academic patents. We propose a new measure of economies of scope based on a primal representation of the underlying technology. We derive a decomposition of economies of scope which identifies its sources (e.g., complementarity effects and scale effects). Non-parametric estimates of scope economies using R&D input and output data from 92 research universities show significant economies of scope between articles and patents, but modest complementarities.

Research and Development at U.S. Research Universities: An Analysis of Scope Economies

This paper investigates the presence and sources of economies of scope in R&D production at U.S. research universities. The analysis evaluates the tradeoffs or synergies arising between traditional university research outputs (articles and doctorates) and a more recent and burgeoning output: academic patents. Using a shortage function, we propose a decomposition of economies of scope (decomposition which includes complementarity effects and scale effects). R&D input and output data from 92 public and private research universities are used to obtain non-parametric estimates of scope economies. The results show significant variations in economies of scope and sources by size and type of university.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

TECHNICAL CHANGE AND EFFICIENCY AT US LAND GRANT UNIVERSITIES: IS THERE ANY FAT LEFT TO CUT?

This work uses non-parametric efficiency analysis and a unique panel data set to analyze efficiency and technical change at US universities from 1981-1998 with a special emphasis on Land Grant institutions. The analysis demonstrates that Land Grants are on average more efficient than their counterparts. While in the 1980s they had higher levels of technological change, in the 1990s that declined to levels similar to other types of universities. Identifying factors influencing efficiency and technological progress in university production provides key insights into the future of the Land Grant system.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession,

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Inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) by tryptophan containing dipeptides

peer-reviewedTwenty seven Trp containing dipeptides were evaluated for their ability to inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), a key enzyme involved in incretin hormone processing. Novel DPP-IV inhibitors were identified comprising of three potent dipeptides (Trp-Arg, Trp-Lys and Trp-Leu) with half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50 values) 11,000 μM for Trp-Thr and Trp-pThr, respectively. The mode of inhibition of these peptides was studied using Lineweaver and Burk kinetic analysis, which showed both competitive and non-competitive modes of inhibition depending on the peptide sequence. This suggested binding of the peptide inhibitors to different locations on DPP-IV. In silico analysis of the milk proteome revealed that some of the DPP-IV inhibitors identified herein may be released from milk proteins following enzymatic digestion. The results are relevant to understanding the mechanism(s) involved in DPP-IV inhibition by short peptides. This in turn may dictate a more targeted approach for the release of potent peptides from milk proteins with the view of developing biofunctional hydrolysates for the management of type 2 diabetes.ACCEPTEDpeer-reviewe

Massively Parallel Signature Sequencing and Bioinformatics Analysis Identifies Up-Regulation of TGFBI and SOX4 in Human Glioblastoma

BACKGROUND: A comprehensive network-based understanding of molecular pathways abnormally altered in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is essential for developing effective therapeutic approaches for this deadly disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Applying a next generation sequencing technology, massively parallel signature sequencing (MPSS), we identified a total of 4535 genes that are differentially expressed between normal brain and GBM tissue. The expression changes of three up-regulated genes, CHI3L1, CHI3L2, and FOXM1, and two down-regulated genes, neurogranin and L1CAM, were confirmed by quantitative PCR. Pathway analysis revealed that TGF- beta pathway related genes were significantly up-regulated in GBM tumor samples. An integrative pathway analysis of the TGF beta signaling network identified two alternative TGF-beta signaling pathways mediated by SOX4 (sex determining region Y-box 4) and TGFBI (Transforming growth factor beta induced). Quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry staining demonstrated that SOX4 and TGFBI expression is elevated in GBM tissues compared with normal brain tissues at both the RNA and protein levels. In vitro functional studies confirmed that TGFBI and SOX4 expression is increased by TGF-beta stimulation and decreased by a specific inhibitor of TGF-beta receptor 1 kinase. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our MPSS database for GBM and normal brain tissues provides a useful resource for the scientific community. The identification of non-SMAD mediated TGF-beta signaling pathways acting through SOX4 and TGFBI (GENE ID:7045) in GBM indicates that these alternative pathways should be considered, in addition to the canonical SMAD mediated pathway, in the development of new therapeutic strategies targeting TGF-beta signaling in GBM. Finally, the construction of an extended TGF-beta signaling network with overlaid gene expression changes between GBM and normal brain extends our understanding of the biology of GBM