The coevolution of industries and national institutions: Theory and evidence

A survey across space and time reveals that leading firms operating in global industries often cluster in one or a few countries. The paper argues that nations differ in how successful they are in a particular industry because coevolutionary processes linking a particular industry and national institutions powerfully shape the path of an industry.s development. Across a wide range of contexts, scientific progress and industrial leadership reinforce each other in spirals of cumulative national advantage. A historical case study of synthetic dyes from 1857 to 1914 provides a dramatic example of how these positive feedback processes gave German organic chemistry and German dye firms a dominant position in the world. Over time, the relative strength of a nation in a particular industry and the capability of the country in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline display a strong positive correlation. Additional shorter case studies of agriculture, packaged software, and biotechnology support this induced hypothesis. We argue that the exchange of personnel between industry and academic institutions, the formation of commercial ties between them, lobbying on each other.s behalf and direct support from state agencies constitute causal mechanisms that can explain why successful firms often cluster in particular countries. -- Die führenden Unternehmen eines Industriezweiges konzentrieren sich, obwohl sie auf einem internationalen oder globalen Markt agieren, oft nur in einer eng begrenzten Anzahl von Ländern . oder in nur einem Land. Auf der Grundlage verschiedener Fallstudien werden in diesem Artikel spezifische Verknüpfungen von Industrie und national geprägter Wissenschaftslandschaft aufgezeigt, die in einem Prozess enger gegenseitiger Einflussnahme zu einer jeweils herausragenden . dominanten . wirtschaftlichen Position führten. Die Untersuchung der internationalen Dominanz Deutschlands auf dem Gebiet der Herstellung synthetischer Farbstoffe vor dem Ersten Weltkrieg zeigt eine starke positive Wechselwirkung zwischen der Forschung auf dem Gebiet der organischen Chemie und der Marktstellung der farbstoffproduzierenden Unternehmen. Der Aufstieg bedeutender Unternehmen wie Bayer, BASF und Hoechst steht dabei über personellen Austausch, kommerzielle Beziehungen und gemeinsames Lobbying in so enger Verbindung zu den relevanten akademischen Institutionen und ihrer Entwicklung, daß von einem koevolutionären Prozess gesprochen werden kann. Eine derartige positive Korrelation und ein daraus entstehender spezifischer Vorteil wird durch die Betrachtung des Marktes für Computer-Software oder des derzeit vieldiskutierten Bereichs der Biotechnologie untermauert.Industry evolution,national institution,science-industry interface

The productivity effects of worker replacement in young firms

Existing management research has so far dealt with the consequences of labor turnover for established firms, but has not addressed its effect on young entrepreneurial businesses. In this paper I assess, both theoretically and empirically, the productivity effects of worker replacement in young firms. Worker replacement isolates labor turnover due to employee replacement as a separate category of turnover and has been shown to positively affect the productivity of established firms in previous research. Using a large and representative sam- ple of German start-ups, I show that worker replacement has negative effects on young firms’ productivity that remain even when controlling for moderating factors. These effects are even more negative when the founder does not have prior managerial experience

Ferrate ion, FeO42-, as a Cl2 and MnO4- replacement in water purification

A method has been devised by which solid samples of K2FeO4 can be stabilized with respect to decomposition through a double-mixed salt with inexpensive K2SO4. This solid solution is stable over a wide range of compositions and can be prepared directly by electrolysis in a continuous process. The mechanism of stabilization of solutions of FeO2- by IO4- has been studied and it is found to prevent solid oligomers of Fe(III) from forming which are the major catalytic species. This occurs through complexation to form a symmetrical ion which has been isolated and its crystal structure determined. There is a direct correlation between the time of complete removal of IO4- and the start of the catalytic path. It is concluded that the kinetics of decomposition in the presence of metalion complexes is a function of trace impurities in the solvent and that "clean" kinetics cannot be observed. The reaction of CH2O, HCOO-, and N02- with FeO4^2- were studied and the rates shown to be first order in substrate and oxidant, increasing with acidity and are consistent with a 2e- slow step followed by a rapid reaction or reactions. The third oxygen in N03- (from N02- oxidation) comes from Fe04^2- as shown by O^18 measurements. Enhancement of the rates of NH3 reaction were found with traces of oxidizable metal ions. But the products of the reaction were many and the mechanism is not certain. A study of the formation of [Fe{ophen)3]^+2 during CH2O oxidation by FeO4^2- in the presence of ophen shows that it definately forms but we were not able to establish that Fe(II) was generated from Fe(IV).Project # G-1235-05 Agreement # 14-08-0001-G-1235-0

The preparation and oxidative properties of ferrate ion (FeO4^2-). Studies directed toward its use as a water purifying agent. Phase-1.

The use of FeO4^2- in the treatment of deep-well and Missouri River water has been evaluated with respect to many variables. It is found that the addition of FeO4^2- effectively reduces the amounts of iron, manganese, cadmium, mercury, lead, cobalt, nickel, arsenic, and boron to values less than the detectable quantities with our instrumentation. This is done with less than 50 ppm of added Na2FeO4. The presence of river silt has no effect and the reagent is effective above a pH of 7. In more acidic water some base such as CaO must be added to prevent the spontaneous FeO4^ 2- decomposition but less than is presently being used in plants around the country. For iron removal, 1-2 ppm FeO4^2- removes iron to less than .02 ppm giving an easily filterable precipitate. Any excess FeO4^2- decomposes in 15-20 minutes (depending on temperature and acidity) precipitating Fe(OH)3 and giving O2 to the system. No residual reagent remains. Many organic substances are oxidized to CO2 and N2 ultimately while H2S goes to S8 and NO2 to NO3 and NH3 to a series of products. FeO4^2- is extremely deadly to many river water bacteria as well as to selected strains of laboratory bacteria. It approaches the effectiveness of OCl (Cl2) in the tests so far conducted. (1-5 ppm) FeO4^2- removes essentially all the test bacteria in laboratory studies. Test virus are also highly susceptible to its action and the damage is permanent. It has the further advantage of leaving no residue or residual action after a short reaction period and filtration. The time of contact need be only short, one minute or less for it to be effective at 5-25 degrees C. The preparation of Na2FeO4 can be carried out by electrolyzing scrap iron in 50 percent NaOH solution giving about 50 percent theoretical conversion to the ion. The by-product is H2 which has many industrial uses. Thus there is reason to believe that Na2FeO4 can be prepared cheaply, shipped as a stable concentrated NaOH solution and metered as a liquid into water purification streams. This study has shown that Na2FeO4 is extremely effective for removing transition metal ions and other foreign ions as well as killing bacteria and clarifying well water and river water. It may be the final treatment of choice when industrial production of the reagent is accomplished.Project # B-091-MO (B-109-MO is phase 2) Agreement # 14-31-0001-390

The coevolution of industries and national institutions: theory and evidence

"A survey across space and time reveals that leading firms operating in global industries often cluster in one or a few countries. The paper argues that nations differ in how successful they are in a particular industry because coevolutionary processes linking a particular industry and national institutions powerfully shape the path of an industry.s development. Across a wide range of contexts, scientific progress and industrial leadership reinforce each other in spirals of cumulative national advantage. A historical case study of synthetic dyes from 1857 to 1914 provides a dramatic example of how these positive feedback processes gave German organic chemistry and German dye firms a dominant position in the world. Over time, the relative strength of a nation in a particular industry and the capability of the country in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline display a strong positive correlation. Additional shorter case studies of agriculture, packaged software, and biotechnology support this induced hypothesis. We argue that the exchange of personnel between industry and academic institutions, the formation of commercial ties between them, lobbying on each other's behalf and direct support from state agencies constitute causal mechanisms that can explain why successful firms often cluster in particular countries." (author's abstract)"Die führenden Unternehmen eines Industriezweiges konzentrieren sich, obwohl sie auf einem internationalen oder globalen Markt agieren, oft nur in einer eng begrenzten Anzahl von Ländern - oder in nur einem Land. Auf der Grundlage verschiedener Fallstudien werden in diesem Artikel spezifische Verknüpfungen von Industrie und national geprägter Wissenschaftslandschaft aufgezeigt, die in einem Prozess enger gegenseitiger Einflussnahme zu einer jeweils herausragenden - dominanten - wirtschaftlichen Position führten. Die Untersuchung der internationalen Dominanz Deutschlands auf dem Gebiet der Herstellung synthetischer Farbstoffe vor dem Ersten Weltkrieg zeigt eine starke positive Wechselwirkung zwischen der Forschung auf dem Gebiet der organischen Chemie und der Marktstellung der farbstoffproduzierenden Unternehmen. Der Aufstieg bedeutender Unternehmen wie Bayer, BASF und Hoechst steht dabei über personellen Austausch, kommerzielle Beziehungen und gemeinsames Lobbying in so enger Verbindung zu den relevanten akademischen Institutionen und ihrer Entwicklung, daß von einem koevolutionären Prozess gesprochen werden kann. Eine derartige positive Korrelation und ein daraus entstehender spezifischer Vorteil wird durch die Betrachtung des Marktes für Computer-Software oder des derzeit vieldiskutierten Bereichs der Biotechnologie untermauert." (Autorenreferat

Enhancing spammer detection in online social networks with trust-based metrics.

As online social networks acquire larger user bases, they also become more interesting targets for spammers. Spam can take very different forms on social Web sites and cannot always be detected by analyzing textual content. However, the platform\u27s social nature also offers new ways of approaching the spam problem. In this work the possibilities of analyzing a user\u27s direct neighbors in the social graph to improve spammer detection are explored. Special features of social Web sites and their implicit trust relations are utilized to create an enhanced attribute set that categorizes users on the Twitter microblogging platform as spammers or legitimate users

Preparation and oxidative properties of ferrate ion (FeO42-). Studies directed toward its use as a water purifying agent

Students supported: 2 Master's StudentsThe use of FeO4^2- in the treatment of deep-well and Missouri River water has been evaluated with respect to many variables. It is found that the addition of FeO4^2- effectively reduces the amounts of iron, manganese, cadmium, mercury, lead, cobalt, nickel, arsenic, and boron to values less than the detectable quantities with our instrumentation. This is done with less than 50 ppm of added Na2FeO4. The presence of river silt has no effect and the reagent is effective above a pH of 7. In more acidic water some base such as CaO must be added but less than is presently being used in plants around the country. For iron removal, 1-2 ppm FeO4^2- removes iron to less than .02 ppm with an easily filterable precipitate.Project # A-050-MO Agreement # 14-31-0001-352

From Few to Many: Observing the Formation of a Fermi Sea One Atom at a Time

Knowing when a physical system has reached sufficient size for its macroscopic properties to be well described by many-body theory is difficult. We investigate the crossover from few to many-body physics by studying quasi one-dimensional systems of ultracold atoms consisting of a single impurity interacting with an increasing number of identical fermions. We measure the interaction energy of such a system as a function of the number of majority atoms for different strengths of the interparticle interaction. As we increase the number of majority atoms one by one we observe the fast convergence of the normalized interaction energy towards a many-body limit calculated for a single impurity immersed in a Fermi sea of majority particles.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure