Network-independent partner selection and the evolution of innovation networks.

Empirical research on strategic alliances has focused on the idea that alliance partners are selected on the basis of social capital considerations. In this paper we emphasize instead the role of complementary knowledge stocks (broadly defined) in partner selection, arguing not only that knowledge complementarity should not be overlooked, but that it may be the true causal force behind alliance formation. To marshal evidence on this point, we design a simple model of partner selection in which firms ally for the purpose of learning and innovating, and in doing so create an industry network. We abstract completely from network-based structural and strategic motives for partner selection and focus instead on the idea that firms’ knowledge bases must “fit” in order for joint leaning and innovation to be possible, and thus for an alliance to be feasible. The striking result is that while containing no social capital considerations, this simple model replicates the firm conduct, network structure, and contingent effects of network position on performance observed and discussed in the empirical literature.

Network-independent partner selection and the evolution of innovation networks

Empirical research on strategic alliances has focused on the idea that alliance partners are selected on the basis of social capital considerations. In this paper we emphasize instead the role of complementary knowledge stocks (broadly defined) in partner selection, arguing not only that knowledge complementarity should not be overlooked, but that is may be the true causal force behind alliance formation. To marshal evidence on this point, we design a simple model of partner selection in which firms ally for the purpose if learning and innovating, and in doing so create an industry network. We abstract completely from network-based structural and strategic motives for partner selection and focus instead on the idea that firms' knowledge bases must "fit" in order for joint learning and innovation to be possible, and thus for an alliance to be feasible. The striking result is what while containing no social capital considerations, the simple model replicates the firm conduct, network structure, and contingent effects of network position on performance observed and discussed in the empirical literature.Network formation and dynamics, Innovation, Knowledge, Alliances

Industrial Clustering and the Returns to Inventive Activity Canadian Biotechnology Firms, 1991-2000

We examine how industrial clustering affects biotechnology firms’ innovativeness, contrasting similar firms not located in clusters or located in clusters that are or are not focused on the firm’s technological specialization. Using detailed firm level data, we find clustered firms are eight times more innovative than geographically remote firms, with largest effects for firms located in clusters strong in their own specialization. For firms located in a cluster strong in their specialization we also find that R&D productivity is enhanced by a firm’s own R&D alliances and also by the R&D alliances of other colocated firms.Biotechnology, industrial clustering, knowledge spillovers, R&D productivity, strategic alliances

Renal citrate metabolism and urinary citrate excretion in the infant rat

Renal citrate metabolism and urinary citrate excretion in the infant rat.BackgroundAlthough hypercalciuria has the same prevalence in children as adults, children rarely develop renal stones. This may be explained by a greater urinary citrate excretion in infants compared with adults. The present study examines the renal excretion of citrate and renal cortical citrate metabolism in infant and adult rats.MethodsAdult male and newly weaned infant rats were acclimated to metabolic cages and fed synthetic diets. Urine was collected after two days, and renal cortical citrate metabolism was assayed.ResultsInfant rats had a lower plasma [HCO3-] and higher plasma [K+] and had a fourfold higher urinary citrate:creatinine ratio and a twofold higher concentration of citrate in their urine compared with adult rats. This higher urinary citrate excretion was not due to a difference in renal proximal tubular Na/citrate cotransporter activity, nor renal cortical citrate synthase or ATP citrate lyase activities in infants as compared with adults. However, infant rat kidneys had significantly lower mitochondrial aconitase (m-aconitase) activity. Renal cortical citrate concentrations were comparable in infant and adult rats. Manipulation of plasma [K+] to adult levels did not affect the higher urinary citrate excretion in infant rats.ConclusionsUrinary citrate excretion in infant rats is greater than in adults but does not parallel tissue [citrate]. Thus, this higher urinary citrate is likely due to maturational differences in the proximal tubule, other than Na/citrate cotransport, that directly affect citrate transport

Renal citrate metabolism and urinary citrate excretion in the infant rat

Renal citrate metabolism and urinary citrate excretion in the infant rat.BackgroundAlthough hypercalciuria has the same prevalence in children as adults, children rarely develop renal stones. This may be explained by a greater urinary citrate excretion in infants compared with adults. The present study examines the renal excretion of citrate and renal cortical citrate metabolism in infant and adult rats.MethodsAdult male and newly weaned infant rats were acclimated to metabolic cages and fed synthetic diets. Urine was collected after two days, and renal cortical citrate metabolism was assayed.ResultsInfant rats had a lower plasma [HCO3-] and higher plasma [K+] and had a fourfold higher urinary citrate:creatinine ratio and a twofold higher concentration of citrate in their urine compared with adult rats. This higher urinary citrate excretion was not due to a difference in renal proximal tubular Na/citrate cotransporter activity, nor renal cortical citrate synthase or ATP citrate lyase activities in infants as compared with adults. However, infant rat kidneys had significantly lower mitochondrial aconitase (m-aconitase) activity. Renal cortical citrate concentrations were comparable in infant and adult rats. Manipulation of plasma [K+] to adult levels did not affect the higher urinary citrate excretion in infant rats.ConclusionsUrinary citrate excretion in infant rats is greater than in adults but does not parallel tissue [citrate]. Thus, this higher urinary citrate is likely due to maturational differences in the proximal tubule, other than Na/citrate cotransport, that directly affect citrate transport

Introduction: Economics Meets Sociology in Strategic Management

Sociolog

Indicators and indexes for urban stormwater management in Brazil : current status and opportunities for evolution

O gerenciamento efetivo das águas pluviais urbanas nos municípios brasileiros enfrenta impasses, como a baixa disponibilidade de dados e capacidade técnica limitada nos órgãos e entidades responsáveis. Uma alternativa para superar parcialmente esses impasses seria um adequado conjunto de indicadores. O objetivo desse trabalho é avaliar os indicadores relacionados às águas pluviais urbanas formulados para a realidade brasileira e identificar os entraves existentes e as oportunidades de evolução. Para tanto, foi realizado levantamento bibliográfico e documental a fim de identificar referências que propuseram indicadores e/ou índices relacionados às águas pluviais urbanas, formulados para a realidade brasileira. Com base nas análises, verificou-se a importância dos dados que compõem determinado indicador serem de fácil obtenção e que o conjunto de indicadores/índice seja de fácil manuseio, sem deixar, porém, de atender ao objetivo. Os dados, a quantidade de indicadores e os pesos dos indicadores variam de acordo com o objetivo que se pretende alcançar com determinado conjunto de indicadores/índice. Para a realidade dos municípios brasileiros, indicadores de processo se apresentam como mais adequados, cabendo esforços para evolução dos mesmos dentro das oportunidades identificadas.The effective management of urban stormwater in the Brazilian municipalities faces deadlocks, such as low availability and limited technical capacity in the responsible agencies and bureaus. An alternative to partially overcome these deadlocks would be an appropriate set of indicators. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the indicators related to urban stormwater formulated for the Brazilian reality and to identify existing barriers and opportunities for evolution. Therefore, a bibliographical survey was carried out in order to identify references that proposed the indicators and/or indexes related to urban stormwater, formulated for the Brazilian reality. Based on the analyses, the importance of the data that composes a given indicator being easily obtainable and that the set of indicators/indexes be easy to handle, without failing, however, to meet the objective, has been verified. The data, the amount of indicators and the value of these indicators vary according to the objective that is intended to be achieved with a given set of indicators/indexes. To the reality of Brazilian municipalities, process indicators are presented as more suitable, and efforts are needed for their evolution within the identified opportunities

Making the next move : how experiential and vicarious learning shape the locations of Chains' acquisitions

Permission obtained via SHERPA/RoMEO. Letter from publisher grants permission to retain article in OPUS.We examine acquisitions by multiunit chain organizations to determine why they acquire a particular target rather than others that are available to them and thus better understand chain growth.Ye