The role of intellectual property rights in information and communication technologies

The paper starts by recapitulating the basic arguments provided by economic theory to explain the existence of the patent system. The paper then concentrates on the three important ICT industries viz., telecommunication equipment, computer hardware and semiconductor industries. The issues covered in the discussion on these industries are the technological characteristics; market structure and technology transfer experiences of selected developing countries. Even though there are some differences in these industries, what come out clearly are some similarities. These similarities pertain to concentration by firm as well as country; rapid technological changes; existence of scale economies; rising minimum efficient levels of production; entry barriers to the industries both financial and technological etc. Bresnahan, Stern and Trajtenbert [1997] show that in the computer PC market brand name and being on technological frontier help the firm in appropriating inventions. Taylor and Silberston [1973] observe that in electronics while patents by themselves are not important method of appropriation, it encourages firms to accumulate patents so that they can have an advantage in cross-licensing agreements. This finding was reiterated by Hall and Ham [1999] for semiconductor industry. They name this phenomenon "patent portfolio race". The paper briefly touches upon the issues pertaining to Internet and the problems it raises for copyright; protection of computer software and the discussion on a sui generis protection for databases. The paper concludes that the role of IPRs in ICT seems to be marginal and as prices are falling it does not seem to be attracting negative attention.Intellectual property rights, patents, information and communication technologies

The Role of Intellectual Property Rights in Information and Communication Technologies

The paper starts by recapitulating the basic arguments provided by economic theory to explain the existence of the patent system. The paper then concentrates on the three important ICT industries viz., telecommunication equipment, computer hardware and semiconductor industries. The issues covered in the discussion on these industries are the technological characteristics; market structure and technology transfer experiences of selected developing countries. Even though there are some differences in these industries, what come out clearly are some similarities. These similarities pertain to concentration by firm as well as country; rapid technological changes; existence of scale economies; rising minimum efficient levels of production; entry barriers to the industries both financial and technological etc. Bresnahan, Stern and Trajtenbert [1997] show that in the computer PC market brand name and being on technological frontier help the firm in appropriating inventions. Taylor and Silberston [1973] observe that in electronics while patents by themselves are not important method of appropriation, it encourages firms to accumulate patents so that they can have an advantage in cross-licensing agreements. This finding was reiterated by Hall and Ham [1999] for semiconductor industry. They name this phenomenon patent portfolio race. The paper briefly touches upon the issues pertaining to Internet and the problems it raises for copyright; protection of computer software and the discussion on a sui generis protection for databases. The paper concludes that the role of IPRs in ICT seems to be marginal and as prices are falling it does not seem to be attracting negative attention.intellectual property rights, Patents, information and communication technologies.

Adropin: An endocrine link between the biological clock and cholesterol homeostasis

This article explores two translation models circling around the key issue “equivalence” in translation studies. They are the Jerome Model and the Horace Model. They differentiate from each other in the aspects of the translating priorities and purposes, etc. Moreover, through illustrative examples, the article points out there are intrinsic relationship between the two models, so appropriate application and combination of the two models will not only solve the problem of “equivalence”, but also build up a bridge between source language culture and target language culture

Analyzing the Catalytic Mechanism of the Fe-Type Nitrile Hydratase from \u3cem\u3eComamonas testosteroni\u3c/em\u3e Ni1

In order to gain insight into the catalytic mechanism of Fe-type nitrile hydratases (NHase), the pH and temperature dependence of the kinetic parameters kcat, Km, and kcat/Km along with the solvent isotope effect were examined for the Fe-type NHase from Comamonas testosteroni Ni1 (CtNHase). CtNHase was found to exhibit a bell-shaped curve for plots of relative activity vs pH over pH values 4−10 for the hydration of acrylonitrile and was found to display maximal activity at pH ∼7.2. Fits of these data provided a pKES1 value of 6.1 ± 0.1, a pKES2 value of 9.1 ± 0.2 (k′cat = 10.1 ± 0.3 s−1), a pKE1 value of 6.2 ± 0.1, and a pKE2 value of 9.2 ± 0.1 (k′cat/K′m of 2.0 ± 0.2 s−1 mM−1). Proton inventory studies indicate that two protons are transferred in the rate-limiting step of the reaction at pH 7.2. Since CtNHase is stable to 25 °C, an Arrhenius plot was constructed by plotting ln(kcat) vs 1/T, providing an Ea of 33.3 ± 1.5 kJ/mol. ΔH° of ionization values were also determined, thus helping to identify the ionizing groups exhibiting the pKES1 and pKES2 values. Based on ΔH°ion data, pKES1 is assigned to βTyr68 while pKES2 is assigned to βArg52, βArg157, or αSer116 (NHases are α2β2 heterotetramers). Given the strong similarities in the kinetic data obtained for both Co- and Fe-type NHase enzymes, both types of NHase enzymes likely hydrate nitriles in a similar fashion

Complementarity of perturbations driving insulator-to-metal transition in a charge ordered manganite

Modulation of charge carrier dynamics and hence electrical conductivity of solids by photoexcitation has been a rich field of research with numerous applications. Similarly, electric and magnetic field assisted enhancement of conductivity are of fundamental importance and technological use. Hole doped manganites of the type (A$_{1-x}$B$_{x})$MnO$_{3}$, where A and B are rare and alkaline earth metals respectively have the distinction of showing all three effects. Here we establish the complementarity of the electric, magnetic and photon fields in driving an insulator-metal transition in epitaxial thin films of La$_{0.175}$Pr$_{0.45}$Ca$_{0.375}$MnO$_{3}$ whose electrical ground state is insulating. Both pulsed and CW lasers cause a giant photon flux dependent enhancement of conductivity. It is further observed that electric and magnetic fields trigger the persistent enhancement of conductivity whose magnitude can be accentuated by application of these fields in parallel.Comment: 17 pages 6 figure

Inter-State Imbalances in Essential Services : Some Perspectives

This paper analyzes the inter-state imbalances in three major sectors of the economy, namely, education, health and family welfare, and water supply and sanitation for fifteen major states. It uses two principal indicators namely the per capita GSDP (reflecting the disparity in fiscal capacity in various states) and per capita government expenditures on priority sectors, reflecting how fiscal capacities are translated into differences in government fiscal intervention in providing services. The study shows that the GSDP of six major states - Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan grew only at below 5 percent during the study period 1993-94 to 2005-06. While Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh grew at 5-6 percent, the remaining states at 6-7 percent. The ratio of maximum (Punjab) to minimum (Bihar) per capita GSDP rose from 3.17 in 1993-94 to 5.37 in 2000-01 and thereafter fluctuated between 3.64 to 3.90. The ratio of maximum (Kerala) to minimum (Bihar) per capita expenditure on education fell from 2.52 to 2.22. In the case of health, the ratio of maximum (Punjab) and minimum (Bihar) widened from 2.11 to 3.59 and in the case of water and sanitation, the ratio of maximum (Tamil Nadu) and minimum (Bihar) increased dramatically from 5.75 to 15.8 during the study period.Inter-State imbalances, health, education, family welfare

On the vibration of beams or rods carrying an arbitrary number of concentrated masses

Determining eigenvalues of free vibration of beams carrying concentrated mas