Cultural and Socioeconomic Determinants of Invention: A Multicountry, Multiperiod Analysis

This article examines the influence of culture and socioeconomic variables on national invention

Non-Competition Agreements and Research Productivity in the Biotechnology Industry

This paper examines the impact of the state-level legal structure, namely the legal support for non-competition agreements, on research productivity. Specifically, we study how California’s unique lack of non-competition agreement laws influences product develop when controlling for local munificence and firm-level technological capability. Our results indicate that California’s unique legal structure is negatively associated with research productivity as measured by the number of products in development at the time a biotechnology firm goes public. Further, firm size moderates this relationship such that the effect is stronger for smaller biotechnology firms

Finite Element and Probabilistic Analysis of Soft Tissue Structures of the Human Lumbar Spine

Human lumbar spine mechanics are influenced by soft tissue structures. Understanding and properly modeling these structures can help determine pathology, treatment, and implant design and performance. Finite element models of the L4-L5 level of the lumbar spine are often used, which include a representation of the intervertebral disc and spinal ligaments. Validation of these models are typically based on torque rotation data from a single subject or the models use average properties reported in literature. However, experimental testing reports variation up to 40% in ligament stiffness and even greater variability for annulus fibrosis properties. Probabilistic approaches enable consideration of the impact of intersubject variability on model outputs. However, they often require lengthy computation times. The first objective of this dissertation was to develop a methodology to better calibrate constitutive models of the disc using displacement data of intradiscal points across the mid-transverse plane of an L4-L5 lumbar spine disc in addition to kinematics. It was hypothesized that this will result in a more accurate constitutive model. The second objective was to develop a comprehensive probabilistic representation to characterize variability in the parameters describing the soft tissue structures and to develop efficient Monte Carlo simulations methods of a finite element model of the L4-L5 functional spinal unit. The data used to calibrate constitutive models at intradiscal points across the disc was collected from compression, extension, flexion, and lateral bending. Optimization was used to calibrate the model parameters. Constitutive model types and the number of zones were compared. The best combination was a linear elastic constitutive model representing the nucleus pulposis and a Holzapfel-Gasser-Ogden model representing the annulus fibrosis divided into anterior, right lateral, left lateral, and posterior zones. The probabilistic representation of the ligaments and disc was determined based on direct mechanical test data as found in the literature. A single stiffness parameter was defined to characterize each ligament, with the anterior longitudinal ligament being the stiffest, while the posterior longitudinal ligament and interspinous ligament had the greatest coefficient of variation of 0.65 and 0.64, respectively. The posterior portion of the annulus fibrosis had the greatest stiffness and greatest variation up to 300% in circumferential loading. This probabilistic representation was used to evaluate the Sobol and descriptive variance reduction sampling methods, which were assessed for efficiency and accuracy in comparison to traditional random Monte Carlo sampling. Comparisons were based on output torque-rotation curves at the 10th and 90th percentile for flexion, extension, axial rotation, and lateral bending. The descriptive sampling technique best matched the random sampling technique, at the extremes of rotation, with a 3.6% mean difference. This was achieved with a 10X reduction in the number of iterations and computation time. Applications of a more accurately calibrated constitutive model of the NP and AF could be the development of nucleus replacement materials that more closely match the natural NP and prediction of activities which could cause disc herniation. The resulting probabilistic representation can be utilized to include intersubject variability in biomechanics evaluations. The improvements in efficiency of Monte Carlo simulations enable intersubject variability to be considered in a variety of biomechanical evaluations, including design-phase screening of orthopedic implants

Discriminant analysis of principal components and pedigree assessment of genetic diversity and population structure in a tetraploid potato panel using SNPs

The reported narrow genetic base of cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) can be expanded by the introgression of many related species with large genetic diversity. The analysis of the genetic structure of a potato population is important to broaden the genetic base of breeding programs by the identification of different genetic pools. A panel composed by 231 diverse genotypes was characterized using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers of the Illumina Infinium Potato SNP Array V2 to identify population structure and assess genetic diversity using discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and pedigree analysis. Results revealed the presence of five clusters within the populations differentiated principally by ploidy, taxonomy, origin and breeding program. The information obtained in this work could be readily used as a guide for parental introduction in new breeding programs that want to maximize variability by combination of contrasting variability sources such as those presented here.Fil: Deperi, Sofía Irene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Tagliotti, Martin Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Bedogni, María Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; ArgentinaFil: Manrique Carpintero, Norma C.. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Coombs, Joseph. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Zhang, Ruofang. Inner Mongolia University; ChinaFil: Douches, David. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Huarte, Marcelo Atilio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentin

Use of easy measurable phenotypic traits as a complementary approach to evaluate the population structure and diversity in a high heterozygous panel of tetraploid clones and cultivars

Diversity in crops is fundamental for plant breeding efforts. An accurate assessment of genetic diversity, using molecular markers, such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), must be able to reveal the structure of the population under study. A characterization of population structure using easy measurable phenotypic traits could be a preliminary and low-cost approach to elucidate the genetic structure of a population. A potato population of 183 genotypes was evaluated using 4859 high-quality SNPs and 19 phenotypic traits commonly recorded in potato breeding programs. A Bayesian approach, Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) and diversity estimator, as well as multivariate analysis based on phenotypic traits, were adopted to assess the population structure. Results: Analysis based on molecular markers showed groups linked to the phylogenetic relationship among the germplasm as well as the link with the breeding program that provided the material. Diversity estimators consistently structured the population according to a priori group estimation. The phenotypic traits only discriminated main groups with contrasting characteristics, as different subspecies, ploidy level or membership in a breeding program, but were not able to discriminate within groups. A joint molecular and phenotypic characterization analysis discriminated groups based on phenotypic classification, taxonomic category, provenance source of genotypes and genetic background. Conclusions: This paper shows the significant level of diversity existing in a parental population of potato as well as the putative phylogenetic relationships among the genotypes. The use of easily measurable phenotypic traits among highly contrasting genotypes could be a reasonable approach to estimate population structure in the initial phases of a potato breeding program.Fil: Tagliotti, Martin Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; ArgentinaFil: Deperi, Sofía Irene. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Bedogni, María Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; ArgentinaFil: Zhang, Ruofang. Inner Mongolia University; ChileFil: Manrique Carpintero, Norma C.. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Coombs, Joseph. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Douches, David. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Huarte, Marcelo Atilio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentin

A survey of weather information possessed by thirty-two pupils randomly selected from sixth and eleventh grades and from special classes

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

A double law of comparative judgment for the analysis of preferential choice and similarities data

By virtue of certain modifications in the Law of Comparative Judgment, equations are developed which ( i ) permit the construction of a joint scale of individuals and items, as in the case of attitude measurement, directly from their pair-comparison preferences, and ( ii ) take into account the variable of laterality which is significant for the construction of group preference scales.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/45709/1/11336_2005_Article_BF02289712.pd

Field Assessment of AtCBF1 Transgenic Potato Lines (Solanum tuberosum) for Drought Tolerance

Abstract Drought prone areas have been increasing around the world and it is expected that these areas will continue to expand and become more severe due to climate change. Increasing the drought stress tolerance of cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) could aid in feeding the growing global population. The Arabidopsis CBF1 gene (AtCBF1), which has been shown to increase drought tolerance in other plants, was transformed into a cultivated potato line under the control of the stress inducible promoter COR15a. The expression of the AtCBF1 transgene was verified by RT-PCR and the transformed lines were evaluated in field trials to assess agronomic performance under sub-optimal water management. Despite expression of the AtCBF1 gene, none of the transgenic lines out-performed the control cultivar under drought-stressed conditions. Abiotic stress responsive genes from cultivated potato and wild related species may yield more promising results thus CBF1 genes from S. tuberosum and S. commersonii will be transformed into the potato cultivar Desiree and will be field tested for drought tolerance. Resumen Las áreas con riesgo de sequía se han estado incrementando alrededor del mundo y se espera que estas superficies continuarán en expansión volviéndose más severas debido al cambio climático. El aumento a la tolerancia al agobio hídrico de la papa cultivada (Solanum tuberosum) pudiera ayudar en la alimentación de la población global en crecimiento. El gen de Arabidopsis CBF1 (AtCBF1) que se ha demostrado que aumenta la tolerancia a la sequía en otras plantas, se introdujo en una línea de papa cultivada bajo el control del promotor de inducción de agobio COR15a. La expresión del transgen AtCBF1 se verificó mediante RT-PCR y se evaluaron las líneas transformadas en ensayos de campo para analizar el comportamiento agronómico bajo manejo subóptimo de agua. A pesar de la expresión del gen AtCBF1, ninguna de las líneas transgénicas superó en comportamiento a la variedad testigo bajo condiciones de agobio hídrico. Genes de respuesta de agobio abiótico de papa cultivada y de especies silvestres relacionadas pudieran rendir resultados más promisorios, de manera que los genes CBF1 de S. tuberosum y S. commersonii serán incorporados a la variedad de papa Desiree y serán probados en el campo para tolerancia a sequía