Aligning innovation ecosystem strategies with internal R&D

Innovation based on external cooperation is becoming more and more relevant for many firms. We focus primarily on the innovation ecosystem in which firms live in a symbiotic relationship for co-evolvement around a particular technological platform. Literature in this field often focuses on the external strategy, but neglects aligning the ecosystem with the internal R&D strategy. We define three ecosystem types with different engagement models. With help of four case studies we study four different innovation ecosystem strategies. In addition we use an analysis framework ESAO (ecosystem, strategy, architecture, organizing) to discuss alignment between the internal and external perspectives of the firm

Constructing a proton titration curve from ion-step measurements, applied to a membrane with adsorbed protein

A new measuring method is described for obtaining a proton titration curve. The curve is obtained from a microporous composite membrane, consisting of polystyrene beads in an agarose matrix, with lysozyme molecules adsorbed to the bead surface. The membrane is incorporated into a sensor system by deposition on a silicon chip with a pH-sensitive ion-sensitive field effect transistor (ISFET) located in the middle of a Ag/AgCl electrode. The actual measurement is performed by creating a stepwise change in the salt concentration of the bathing electrolyte (the ion step) and measuring the ISFET potential versus the Ag/AgCl electrode. This potential shows a transient change in the ion step, which indicates a transient pH change in the membrane. This procedure is repeated at a series of pH values. Equations are presented to calculate the proton titration curve of the membrane from the amplitude and duration of the measured transients. Measurements show qualitative agreement between the curves obtained and equilibrium titration experiments on the same system

Abstracting object interactions using composition filters

It is generally claimed that object-based models are very suitable for building distributed system architectures since object interactions follow the client-server model. To cope with the complexity of today's distributed systems, however, we think that high-level linguistic mechanisms are needed to effectively structure, abstract and reuse object interactions. For example, the conventional object-oriented model does not provide high-level language mechanisms to model layered system architectures. Moreover, we consider the message passing model of the conventional object-oriented model as being too low-level because it can only specify object interactions that involve two partner objects at a time and its semantics cannot be extended easily. This paper introduces Abstract Communication Types (ACTs), which are objects that abstract interactions among objects. ACTs make it easier to model layered communication architectures, to enforce the invariant behavior among objects, to reduce the complexity of programs by hiding the interaction details in separate modules and to improve reusability through the application of object-oriented principles to ACT classes. We illustrate the concept of ACTs using the composition filters model

Reproducibility of electrical caries measurements: A technical problem?

The currently available instrument for electrical detection of occlusal caries lesions {[}Electronic Caries Monitor (ECM)] uses a site-specific measurement with co-axial air drying. The reproducibility of this method has been reported to be fair to good. It was noticed that the measurement variation of this technique appeared to be non-random. It was the aim of this study to analyse how such a non-random reproducibility pattern arises and whether it could be observed for other operators and ECM models. Analysis of hypothetical measurement pairs showed that the pattern was related to measurements at the high and low end of the measurement range for the instrument. Data sets supplied by other researchers to a varying degree showed signs of a similar non-random pattern. These data sets were acquired at different locations, by different operators and using 3 different ECM models. The frequency distribution of measurements in all cases showed a single or double end-peaked distribution shape. It was concluded that the pattern was a general feature of the measurement method. It was tentatively attributed to several characteristics such as a high value censoring, insufficient probe contact and unpredictable probe contact. A different measurement technique, with an improved probe contact, appears to be advisable. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Sacral (S3) segmental nerve stimulation as a treatment for urge incontinence in patients with detrusor instability: Results of chronic electrical stimulation using an implantable neural prosthesis

Most patients with urge incontinence and idiopathic detrusor instability are initially treated conservatively with bladder retraining, pelvic floor exercises and biofeedback, while in the majority this regimen will be supplemented with anticholinergic drugs. The urinary incontinence guideline panel has summarized the literature on results achieved with various drugs for urge incontinence, and found that oxybutynin and terodiline appeared to be the most effective.[1] Subjective cure rates of up to 44 percent over placebo and decreased urinary incontinence rates in up to 56 percent over placebo were achieved with these drugs.[1] Interestingly, no changes in urodynamic parameters were found in well designed drug trials despite symptomatic improvement.2 and 3 Fortunately, many patients seem to be satisfied with a less than optimal result. Patients who do not achieve an acceptable condition remain a therapeutic problem and alternative procedures, with variable success rates, such as bladder transection, transvesical phenol injection of the pelvic plexus, augmentation ileocystoplasty and even urinary diversion, are being advocated.[4] Unilateral sacral segmental nerve stimulation by a permanent foramen S3 electrode (neuromodulation) offers a nondestructive alternative for those whose condition is refractory to conservative measures. The aim of this treatment modality is to achieve detrusor inhibition by chronic electrical stimulation of afferent somatic sacral nerve fibers via an implanted electrode coupled to a subcutaneously placed pulse generator. The ratio of this treatment modality is based on the existence of spinal inhibitory systems that are capable of interrupting a detrusor contraction. Inhibition can be achieved by electrical stimulation of afferent anorectal branches of the pelvic nerve, afferent sensory fibers in the pudendal nerve and muscle afferents from the limbs.5, 6 and 7 Most of these branches and fibers reach the spinal cord via the dorsal roots of the sacral nerves. Of the sacral nerve roots the S3 root is the most practical for use in chronic electrical stimulation.[8] We evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment modality in patients with urge incontinence due to bladder instability