Science, technology and innovation policy evaluation: An isolated academic and practice field

Trabajo presentado a la EU-SPRI Conference: "Science and Innovation Policy: Dynamics, Challenges, Responsibility and Practice", celebrada en Manchester (UK) del 18 al 20 de junio de 2014.Peer Reviewe

UK synthetic biology centres tasked with addressing public concerns

An extra £40m for synthetic biology research in the UK comes with support to encourage responsible innovation. Social media analysis offers a heads up on new research ideas and potential public concern

Učinci liječenja hidroksiklorokinomplus favipiravirom na klinički tok i biomarkeri u hospitaliziranih pacijenata s COVID-19 i upalom pluća

Background: The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, the most common serious clinical manifestation of the coronavirus infection being pneumonia. Unfortunately, the optimal treatment approach is still uncertain. However, many studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of several medications in the treatment of COVID-19 infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) + favipiravir (FAV) treatment regimen and HCQ alone by comparing the patient’s clinical response and laboratory results on the fifth day of treatment in patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 infection. Patients and methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in Malatya Training and Research Hospital between March 2020 and July 2020. The study included 69 patients with confirmed COVID-19 with pneumonia. The patients were divided into 2 groups, those receiving HCQ alone and those receiving the HCQ + FAV combination. Results: A total of 69 patients were included in the study, and the mean age was 60.09±15.56 years. A statistically significant decrease was observed in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, at the end of the fifth day, in patients who received HCQ + FAV treatment (p=0.002), whereas there was no decrease in CRP levels in patients who received HCQ treatment alone. In addition, an increase in lymphocyte count and a better fever response was observed at the end of the fifth day in patients who received HCQ + FAV (p=0.008). However, there was no statistical difference between both treatment regimens in terms of hospital stay and treatment results (p=0.008, p=0.744, p=0.517). Conclusion: Although the combination of HCQ + FAV treatment was observed to be effective on CRP levels and fever response in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, there was no difference in terms of hospital stay and discharge.Pozadina: Bolest uzrokovana novim koronavirusom 2019 (COVID-19) ima širok spektar kliničkih manifestacija, pri čemu je upala pluća najčešća ozbiljna klinička manifestacija infekcije koronavirusom. Nažalost, optimalni pristup liječenju još uvijek nije jasno utvrđen. Ipak, provedeno je mnogo studija koje su istraživale učinkovitost raznih lijekova u liječenju infekcije COVID-19 virusom. Cilj ove studije bio je utvrditi učinkovitost liječenja kombinacijom hidroksiklorokina (HCQ) i favipiravira (FAV) te liječenja isključivo HCQ-om, uspoređivanjem kliničkog odgovora pacijenata na liječenje i njihovih laboratorijskih rezultata nakon pet dana liječenja u pacijenata hospitaliziranih zbog infekcije virusom COVID-19. Pacijenti i metode: Ova retrospektivna kohortna studija provedena je u Malatya Training and Research Hospital između ožujka 2020. i srpnja 2020. Uključivala je 69 pacijenata s potvrđenom infekcijom virusa COVID-19 sa upalom pluća. Pacijenti su podijeljeni u dvije skupine, od kojih je jedna primala samo HCQ, a druga kombinaciju HCQ + FAV. Rezultati: U studiju je uključeno ukupno 69 pacijenata s prosječnom dobi od 60,09±15,56 godina. Zamijećena je statistički značajno smanjenje u razini C-reaktivnog proteina (CRP) na kraju petog dana liječenja u pacijenata koji su primali HCQ + FAV (p=0,002), a nije bilo smanjenja u razini CRP-a u pacijenata koji su primali samo HCQ. Uz to, u pacijenata koji su primali HCQ + FAV zamijećeno je i povećanje u broju limfocita te bolji odgovor na vrućicu na kraju petog dana liječenja (p=0,008). Ipak, nije bilo statističke razlike između ta dva režima liječenja u odnosu na trajanje hospitalizacije i rezultata liječenja (p=0,008, p=0,744, p=0,517). Zaključak: Iako je kombinacija HCQ + FAV bila učinkovita glede razine CRP-a i odgovora na vrućicu u pacijenata sa upalom pluća uzrokovanom COVID-19 virusom, nije bilo razlike u trajanju hospitalizacije i otpusta iz bolnice

An evolutionary approach to innovation policy evaluation : behavioural additionality and organisational routines

The concept of behavioural additionality, which was originally associated with the question of 'what difference does policy make in the behaviour of the firms it supports?', has increasingly been used by scholars, evaluators and policy-makers not only in the field of evaluation of innovation policies but also within the context of fundamental discussions of policy rationales. A survey of the evaluation literature concludes that the concept lacks a clear definition and theoretical background as it does not have a unit of analysis. An empirical analysis of the current practice of innovation policy evaluation endorses this finding and outlines the uniqueness of behavioural additionality in terms of its evaluation. A survey of policy discussions around the concept reveals that behavioural additionality has been argued as the hallmark of an evolutionary view in respect of innovation policy. However, the thesis suggests that the concept also lacks an appropriate framework of analysis to accomplish this.The thesis argues that behavioural additionality should be redefined by using the concept of organisational routines as the unit of analysis and the evolutionary approach as the framework of analysis. To this end, a theoretical and generic approach that conceives behavioural additionality as the government-influenced evolution of organisational routines at the micro, meso and macro levels is devised. The thesis unfolds how behavioural additionality is created by reinforcing ostensive, performative and artefact aspects of routines within firms. The possibility, rationale and evaluation of behavioural additionality are also discussed. Empirically, the thesis applies a plausibility probe that employs two case studies of Turkish TIDEB and British Collaborative R&D programmes to illustrate the micro level of the approach developed.It is concluded that the proposed approach provides a better theoretical understanding for behavioural additionality, which would increase its impact on policy-making. This new approach also represents a concrete attempt to utilise the framework and unit of analysis of the evolutionary approach in the field of evaluation for the first time.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Soluble CD40 Ligand Levels in Otherwise Healthy Subjects With Impaired Fasting Glucose

Unlike diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance, it is not clear whether the subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) are at increased risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The CD40-CD40 ligand interaction is involved in the mechanism of atherosclerosis. We investigated whether soluble CD40L (sCD40L) as well as high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels are increased in subjects with IFG having no confounding factors for inflammation or atherosclerosis. Twenty four IFG subjects with no additional disorders and 40 appropriate healthy controls were studied. sCD40L and hsCRP levels in the IFG and control groups were similar. Blood pressures, total and LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were also similar, whereas HDL-cholesterol was lower and HOMA-IR indexes were higher in the IFG group. Though the sample size was small, the present data show that sCD40L seems not to alter in subjects with IFG suggesting that it might not be an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis

Review of solar PV policies, interventions and diffusion in East Africa

Previous research on the diffusion of solar PV in Africa has mainly focused on solar home systems (SHS) in individual countries and thus overlooked developments in other PV market segments that have recently emerged. In contrast this paper adopts a regional perspective by reviewing developments in supportive policies, donor programs and diffusion status in all PV market segments in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, as well as identifying the key factors put forward in the literature to explain differences in the diffusion of SHS in these three countries. The paper finds two emerging trends: (i) a movement from donor and government-based support to market-driven diffusion of solar PV; and (ii) a transition from small-scale, off-grid systems towards mini-grids and large-scale, grid-connected solar power plants. The paper points out three generic factors that have contributed to encouraging SHS diffusion in all three countries: (i) the decline in world market prices for PV modules; (ii) the prolonged support from international donors; and (iii) conducive framework conditions provided by national governments. The paper also identifies five key factors that have been elaborated in the literature to explain the higher level of SHS diffusion in Kenya compared to Tanzania and Uganda: (i) a growing middle-class; (ii) geographical conditions; (iii) local sub-component suppliers; (iv) local champions; and (v) business culture. Finally, the paper discusses the lack of attention in the literature given to analysing the amount, nature and timing of donor and government support across countries, processes of learning and upgrading in local PV industries and the interaction between the different explanatory factors

Evaluation of Behavioural Additionality of Innovation Policy

Atlanta Conference on Science and Innovation Policy 2011The concept of behavioural additionality proposes to study analytically what happens inside the firm as a result of the government intervention by asking the question "what difference does policy make in the behaviour of the firms it supports." Despite the concept's increasing popularity and promising potential, the theoretical background of behavioural additionality is still under-developed. This paper aims to provide behavioural additionality with a sound background by asking two intertwined questions: (i) how is behavioural additionality defined in the scholarly literature and evaluation practice, (ii) how is it evaluated (i.e. what kind of methods and approaches are used in its evaluation). By answering these questions, the paper will provide a new approach in understanding behavioural additionality and consequently a framework in evaluating the concept