Patent Citations and the Geography of Knowledge Spillovers: A Reassessment

Jaffe, Trajtenberg and Henderson (Quarterly Journal of Economics, 108(3):577-98, 1993) developed a matching method to study the geography of knowledge spillovers using patent citations, and found that knowledge spillovers are strongly localized. Their method matches each citing patent to a non-citing patent intended to control for the pre-existing geographic concentration of production. We show how the method of selecting the control group may induce spurious evidence of localized spillovers. This paper reassesses their findings using control patents selected under different criteria. Doing so eliminates evidence of strong intranational localization effects at the state and metropolitan levels, but leaves largely unaffected evidence of international localization effects.patent citations, knowledge spillovers, geography

Amide functionalized cyclopentadienyl complexes

The work in this thesis is concerned with the synthesis of amide functionalized cyclopentadienyl ligands and their complexation with Group 4 metals. The synthesis of the ligands C(_5)H(_5)(CH(_2))(_3)N(H)R' (R' = C(_6)H(_11), CH(_2)C(_6)H(_5), CH(CH(_3))C(_6)H(_5)) was investigated and for the ligands C(_5)H(_5)(CH(_5))(_3)N(H)C(_6)H(_11) and C(_5)H(_5)(CH(_2))(_3)N(H)CH(_2)C(_6)H(_5) coordination to a zirconium centre was achieved via homoleptic amide reactions to yield the metal complexes Zr[Ƞ(^5):Ƞ(^1)-C(_5)H(_4)(CH(_2))(_3)NR'](NMe(_2)2) (R' = C(_6)H(_11), CH(_2)C(_6)H(_5)). Preparation of the chiral ligand 2-pyrrolidine methylene cyclopentadiene, C(_5)H(_5)CH(_2)(C(_4)H(_7))NH, was also attempted. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the history, types and applications of functionalized cyclopentadienyl complexes, including a detailed discussion of amide functionalized cyclopentadienyl complexes. Chapter 2 provides a general discussion of the preparation of trimethylene-bridged amide functionalized cyclopentadienyl complexes and describes the results obtained in this work. Chapter 3 describes the experimental procedures utilized in this work

Dietary Influences And Exposure To Cigarette Smoke On Myringotomy Rates Of Infants

Breastfeeding has been identified as a protective measure to defend against infection, while cigarette smoking is linked with increasing the risk of infection. The purpose of this research was to determine if there is a relationship between dietary influences and exposure to cigarette smoke on myringotomy rates of infants. The Betty Neuman Systems Model was the theoretical framework which guided the study. The researcher, using a correlational ex post facto study design, sought an answer to the question: Is there a relationship between dietary influences and exposure to cigarette smoke on myringotomy rates of infants? A convenience sampling of 128 infants two years old or younger who had undergone myringotomy with pressure equalization tube insertion was utilized. A hospital in north Mississippi was the site of the study. The medical records of subjects were reviewed for data collection. Categorical data were analyzed utilizing a chi-square test of independence with a 0.05 level of significance, 95% confidence interval, and one degree of freedom. The critical chi-square value was 3.841. The research test iv statistic of 0.119 did not exceed the critical value. Therefore, no statistically significant relationship was found between dietary influences and exposure to cigarette smoke on myringotomy rates of infants. A serendipitous finding which indicated a significant increase in myringotomy rates in bottle fed infants (78%) was a strong implication for the encouragement of breastfeeding through parental education by the nurse practitioner. Recommendation for further research included conduction of a similar study which incorporated a different research design to allow for prospective data collection

The Escape POD: Utilizing Escape Room Methodologies to Train Public Health Volunteers on Open Point-of-Dispensing Operations

Mobilizing Points-of-Dispensing (PODs) during a mass dispensing of medication event at a local health department will require a large amount of personnel, both staff and volunteers. Training the volunteers prior to this type of event is ideal to ensure that POD operations flow quickly and properly. This project aimed to create an affordable and fun training that engaged volunteers and other interested stakeholders while increasing their knowledge of POD operations. Methodologies used in commercial escape rooms were employed in this training to enhance the participants’ understanding of POD operations. Participants to worked in groups to solve puzzles and challenges in a hands-on atmosphere. The results of this study showed that though a didactic, lecture-type presentation is very efficient at conveying information, adding a hands-on portion to the training encourages engagement for the students. This study can help drive future trainings for local public health departments to include fun, hands-on methods like the escape room concept to further advance the engagement and knowledge of their POD volunteers

A divide-and-conquer algorithm for binary matrix completion

We propose an algorithm for low rank matrix completion for matrices with binary entries which obtains explicit binary factors. Our algorithm, which we call TBMC (\emph{Tiling for Binary Matrix Completion}), gives interpretable output in the form of binary factors which represent a decomposition of the matrix into tiles. Our approach is inspired by a popular algorithm from the data mining community called PROXIMUS: it adopts the same recursive partitioning approach while extending to missing data. The algorithm relies upon rank-one approximations of incomplete binary matrices, and we propose a linear programming (LP) approach for solving this subproblem. We also prove a $2$-approximation result for the LP approach which holds for any level of subsampling and for any subsampling pattern. Our numerical experiments show that TBMC outperforms existing methods on recommender systems arising in the context of real datasets.Comment: 14 pages,4 figure

Pax genes during neural development and their potential role in neuroregeneration

Pax genes encode a family of transcription factors that have long been recognised as obligate contributors to embryonic development of the CNS, with evidence obtained from various animal models illustrating phylogenetically conserved functions. Within the CNS, Pax genes play substantial roles in cellular and regional specification, proliferation, progenitor cell maintenance, anti-apoptosis and neural differentiation. This comprehensive review details the critical functions of those Pax genes involved in pre- and post-natal CNS development, provides possible molecular mechanisms by which Pax genes contribute to proliferation and differentiation of neuronal cells, and explains observed changes in Pax gene expression in response to neurotrauma in the mature animal. Knowledge of the ability of individual Pax genes to specify precise lineages within the CNS is beneficial for cell replacement strategies, particularly in the production of ‘‘designer’’ cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. The manipulation of stem or committed cells so that they express definitive Pax genes may indeed assist in the pursuit of the holy grail of regenerative medicine – that of CNS cell replacement therapies leading to functional repair. We explain here, however, that only the sophisticated and precise use of Pax genes will lead to a successful outcome

Inhaled methoxyflurane and intranasal fentanyl for prehospital management of visceral pain in an Australian ambulance service

Objective This study analysed the analgesic effect and changes in vital signs associated with administration of inhaled Methoxyflurane (MTX) and/or intranasal Fentanyl (INF) for prehospital management of visceral pain. Method A retrospective, observational study reviewing 1024 randomly selected records of patients with presumed visceral pain administered MTX (465), INF (397) or both (162) by the Western Australian Ambulance Service between January 2004 and February 2006. Clinical variables assessed included systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration rate and Glasgow Coma Scale score. Pain was assessed utilising Visual/Verbal Analogue Scale pain scores. Results Overall effects on vital signs appeared favourable 5 min after use and at hospital arrival with either agent alone or in combination. As sole agents, MTX produced the greatest initial pain scores reduction (2.0 (1.7 to 2.2) vs 1.6 (1.4 to 1.8)) (mean (95% CI), and INF provided greater pain reduction by hospital arrival (3.2 (2.9 to 3.5) vs 2.5 (2.1 to 2.9)). While both agents were effective, INF provided a greater pain score reduction for cardiac (3.0 (2.6 to 3.4) vs 2.3 (1.8 to 2.8)), female (3.4 (2.9 to 4.0) v 2.5 (2.0 to 3.0)) and age 75+ patients (3.2 (2.5 to 3.8) vs 1.8 (1.0 to 2.5)). Combined use of agents was not advantageous. Conclusions MTX and INF are effective agents for providing visceral pain analgesia in the prehospital setting. While MTX provided a more rapid onset of pain relief, INF provided superior analgesia after subsequent doses and in female, cardiac and older patients

Do pain-related beliefs influence adherence to multidisciplinary rehabilitation? A systematic review

OBJECTIVES: To understand how pain-related cognitions predict and influence treatment retention and adherence during and after a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. METHODS: Electronic databases including Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, and Scopus were used to search three combinations of keywords: chronic pain, beliefs, and treatment adherence. RESULTS: The search strategy yielded 591 results, with an additional 12 studies identified through reference screening. 81 full-text papers were assessed for eligibility and 10 papers met the inclusion and exclusion criteria for this review. The pain-related beliefs that have been measured in relation to treatment adherence include: pain-specific self-efficacy, perceived disability, catastrophizing, control beliefs, fear-avoidance beliefs, perceived benefits and barriers, as well as other less commonly measured beliefs. The most common pain-related belief investigated in relation to treatment adherence was pain-related self-efficacy. Findings for the pain-related beliefs investigated among the studies were mixed. Collectively, all of the aforementioned pain-related beliefs, excluding control beliefs, were found to influence treatment adherence behaviours. DISCUSSION: The findings suggest that treatment adherence is determined by a combination of pain-related beliefs either supporting or inhibiting chronic pain patients\u27 ability to adhere to treatment recommendations over time. In the studies reviewed, self-efficacy appears to be the most commonly researched predictor of treatment adherence, its effects also influencing other pain-related beliefs. More refined and standardised methodologies, consistent descriptions of pain-related beliefs and methods of measurement will improve our understanding of adherence behaviours