Patterns and barriers for innovation and R&D cooperation between Argentine and Spanish firms

10 tables, 4 figures, 27 pagesThis paper examines co-operative innovation and research and development (R&D) behaviour between Argentine and Spanish firms. Based on theoretical perspectives from the literature, we surveyed a sample of 540 Argentine and Spanish firms believed to have cooperated for technological innovation. We present empirical evidence based on 104 firms of patterns of cooperation in several processes and out-puts, highlighting firm characteristics, the motives of the collaborating parties, types of partners and R&D and innovation activities, leadership, and obstacles to cooperation. Our results reveal that the determinants of success differ considerably among countries depending on the sector, the firm specific characteristics and funding. These differences have important implications for public policy and instruments to support R&D and innovation activities

Innovation in Early music festivals. domains, strategies and outcomes

This chapter takes an in-depth look at innovation in cultural festivals, in particular in early music festivals, which is a type of festival aimed at a generally local and minority audience. It identifies and analyses types of innovations, the strategies used by early music festivals to innovate and the results of these innovations in the framework of a collaboration with the European Early Music Network, whose members, festival directors, agreed to participate in the survey designed for this purpose. Different types of product, production and pre-production process, marketing and communication innovations are identified but also maintain traditional products and communication channels for their most loyal audience. The analysis shows that early music festivals engage in a range of innovations and employ a meaningful combination of innovation strategies with diverse stakeholders. Innovation efforts have led to several intangible and tangible improvements, including increased prestige and bigger and more diverse audiences. Although some of the innovations identified are common to other cultural festivals, many product innovations depend on musicology research; therefore, similar to other science-based sectors, relationships with researchers are very important

Motives for inter-firm cooperation on R&D and innovation: empirical evidence from Argentine and Spain

Ingenio Working Paper SeriesMotives and determinants supporting inter-firm technological cooperation have been extensively investigated in developed countries but scarcely addressed in developing countries. This paper addresses these issues, investigating empirically several factors influencing the likelihood to cooperate on R&D and innovation between Argentine and Spanish firms, their strategic motives and firms characteristics which influence cooperation. We draw upon data collected through a survey of 104 firms and complementary information gathered from 19 in-depth interviews, combining both qualitative and quantitative methodology. Results of a multinomial regression and the interviews show that the probability to cooperate increases with the firm size and exportation activities and decrease with the firm age whereas, opposite to literature findings, technological intensity of the firm is a non-significant variable. While for Argentine firms the principal motives are cost reduction and the possibilities for improving learning and capabilities, access to new knowledge for technological development and the search for market opportunities are the principal motives for firms located in Spain. Results of interviews also indicates that firm-specific motives and expectations may differ considerably according the activity sector, with relevant implication for norms and regulation policies in each country.N

High-Pressure fractionation of tropical fruits with potential antibacterial activity: M. indica L. and B. Guineensis

The great interest in the potential health benefits of tropical fruits is due to their high content of antioxidants and phytochemicals. Colombia ranks as the second country with the major biodiversity worldwide. B. guineensis (Arecaceae) is a palm that grows in Colombia and Central America. The purple-black fruits of this plant are rich in thermal-stable anthocyanins. M. indica L. (Anacardiaceae) is a great source of phenolic compounds. It has multiple functional properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and anticarcinogenic activities. In this work, high-pressure extraction techniques: supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and enhanced solvent extraction (ESE), and two different fractionation techniques: i) cascade fractionation and ii) sequential fractionation were applied. Fractions were analyzed by means of their phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial activity against different bacterial strains: E. coli, P. mirabilis, S. Aurerus, S. enteritidis, E. aerogenes and P. aeruginosa. The sequential fractionation of B. guineensis pulp consisted in three steps: 1) supercritical CO2, 2) CO2 + 50% ethanol, and 3) CO2/EtOH/H2O (50:25:25). A red fraction rich in phenolic compounds, high antioxidant and antibacterial capacity (inhibition zone ~ 10 mm) was obtained in the last step. A cascade fractionation of M. indica leaves using CO2 + 50% H2O and three separators (S1, S2 and S3) was evaluated. Fractions obtained in S1 and S2 presented antioxidant capacity and antibacterial activity against P. mirabilis, and S2 also against S. Aureus and Salmonella

The unfavorable lipid environment reduced caveolin-1 expression in apical membranes from human preeclamptic placentas

Syncytialization process is associated with a reduction in the number of caveolas, and a decreased of caveolin-1 (Cav-1). Differentiation of syncytiotrophoblast affects the membranes phospholipid composition. Thus, disturbances in these processes are related to pathological conditions such as preeclampsia. Objective To analyse the lipid composition of the apical (MVM) and the basal (BM) membranes of syncytiotrophoblast and its relationship with Cav-1 expression in normal and preeclamptic placentas. Molecular expression of Cav-1 was determined in MVM and BM from normal and preeclamptic placentas and in detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs). Phospholipids were analyzed by thin layer chromatography. Cholesterol was also determined by enzymatic assay. Membrane fluidity was evaluated by electron paramagnetic resonance. Sphingomyelin (SM) molecular species were analyzed and quantified by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Cav-1 was significantly reduced in MVM from preeclamptic placentas. Regarding Cav-1 localization, it was barely detectable in syncytiotrophoblast but it was present in the endothelium. Western blots also showed a significantly decrease of Cav-1 in the apical DRMs from preeclamptic placentas. Lipid analysis showed an increase SM in MVM from preeclamptic placentas without changes in cholesterol. Preeclamptic MVM fluidity decreased significantly and we found an increase in C18:1 fatty acids of SM. We concluded that preeclamptic-MVMs are more rigid than normal ones, possible due to an increment on SM. Moreover, the increase of long and unsaturated SM molecular specie found in these vesicles may disrupt the ability of SM to assemble into lipid rafts in the luminal leaflet of the bilayer, creating an unfavorable environment for Cav-1.Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plat

Experimental conditions for microhabitat selection in terrestrial snails

Habitat selection by terrestrial snails, used as laboratory animals, is an important factor because it can alter growth rates often used as a good biological indicator, moreover of its productive meaning. As support to the studies in this field, different models from election of microhabitat based on the individual selection or derived from other questions as the availability or the accessibility of the habitat or patron of movement of the organism are reviewed. Finally two experimental designs used in invertebrates under laboratorial conditions for preference studies are considered.La selección de hábitat por los caracoles terrestres que se utilizan como animales de experimentación, es importante porque condiciona el crecimiento y éste, además de su importancia productiva, es un buen indicador en muchos estudios. Como apoyo a los estudios en este campo, se revisan diferentes modelos de elección de microhábitat en función de la selección del propio individuo o bien derivados de cuestiones en buena parte ajenas a él como la disponibilidad o accesibilidad del hábitat o el patrón de movimiento del organismo. Finalmente se plantean dos diseños experimentales adecuados para el estudio de preferencia en invertebrados bajo condiciones de laboratorio

Habitat selection in terrestrial snails and its applications to heliciculture

Snails are employed as experimental animals in different scientific fields and their growth is a good biological indicator. Growth is mainly determined at a genetic level, although many factors biotic and abiotic may alter growth rates. One of these factors is habitat selection. Nevertheless the knowledge about the cha-racteristics that determines habitat selection are not considered in the design of installations, management of farms or raising snails. In this way, the aim of this paper is synthesize the different components of habitat that influence habitat choice of terrestrial snails. On the other hand, it proposes premises that would be considered in design of installations.El crecimiento de los caracoles terrestres que, además de como animales productivos, se utilizan como animales de experimentación es considerado un buen indicador biológico. Aunque el crecimiento está genéticamente determinado, muchos factores pueden modificarlo, uno de ellos es la selección de hábitat. Sin embargo, los conocimientos sobre las condiciones que la determinan no se suelen incorporar al diseño de instalaciones, manejo de los criaderos o la producción helicícola. En este trabajo se revisan aquellas condiciones que determinan la selección de microhábitat en caracoles terrestres y se proponen medidas que deberían ser consideradas en el diseño de instalaciones

La cueva de el Sidron (Borines, Piloña, Asturias) : primeros resultados

Se exponen los resultados preliminares de las excavaciones arqueológicas llevadas a cabo en la Cueva de El Sidrón entre 2000 y 2002, de acuerdo con los tres objetivos principales que conciernen al registro fósil humano: las características antropológicas, cómo y cuándo llegaron allí y la relación entre fósiles y cultura. Las primeras conclusiones obtenidas son que los restos humanos pertenecen al Neandertal, que el registro arqueológico corresponde a un tecno-complejo del Paleolítico Medio y que están en posición secundaria.We expose the preliminary results ofthe archaeological excavations developed between 2000-2002 in Sidrón's Cave, according to the three main objectives that concern the human fossil record: the anthropological characteristics, how and when they arrived there and the relation between fossils and culture. We conclude preliminarily that the record belongs to Horno Neanderthalensis, archeological remains to the Middle Paleolithic techno-complex, and they are in a secondary [email protected]

The Atapuerca sites and the Ibeas hominids

The Atapuerca railway Trench and Ibeas sites near Burgos, Spain, are cave fillings that include a series of deposits ranging from below the Matuyama/Bruhnes reversal up to the end of Middle Pleistocene. The lowest fossil-bearing bed in the Trench contains an assemblage of large and small Mammals including Mimomys savini, Pitymys gregaloides, Pliomys episcopalis, Crocuta crocuta, Dama sp. and Megacerini; the uppermost assemblage includes Canis lupus, Lynx spelaea, Panthera (Leo) fossilis, Felis sylvestris, Equus caballus steinheimensis, E.c. germanicus, Pitymys subtenaneus, Microtus arvalis agrestis, Pliomys lenki, and also Panthera toscana, Dicerorhinus bemitoechus, Bison schoetensacki, which are equally present in the lowest level. The biostratigraphic correlation and dates of the sites are briefly discussed, as are the paleoclimatic interpretation of the Trench sequences. Stone artifacts are found in several layers; the earliest occurrences correspond to the upper beds containing Mimomys savini. A set of preserved human occupation floors has been excavated in the top fossil-bearing beds. The stone-tool assemblages of the upper levels are of upper-medial Acheulean to Charentian tradition. The rich bone breccia SH, in the Cueva Mayor-Cueva del Silo, Ibeas de Juarros, is a derived deposit, due to a mud flow that dispersed and carried the skeletons of many carnivores and humans. The taxa represented are: Vrsus deningeri (largely dominant), Panthera (Leo) fossilis, Vulpes vulpes, Homo sapiens var. Several traits of both mandibular and cranial remains are summarized. Preliminary attempts at dating suggest that the Ibeas fossil man is older than the Last Interglacial, or oxygen-isotope stage 5