How do Public Laboratories Collaborate with Industry? New Survey Evidence from France.

This paper uses a survey of 130 public laboratories in France to investigate collaborative activities of laboratories with industry. Our statistical analysis shows that knowledge and technology development and transfer occurs most frequently through collaborative and contract research, informal exchanges, conferences, and consortia. The main benefits from the perspective of laboratories are the tangible and intangible inputs received –funds, materials, research suggestions and data. The outputs of collaboration are most often theses and publications along with technological artefacts (new products & processes, software) while patents, licenses and copyrights are less frequent. Collaboration with industry leads laboratories to conduct research in a more timely and reliable way, as well as focused in more applied areas.Economics of Science; Public-Private Research Partnerships; Knowledge and Technology Transfer; University-Industry Collaborations; France;

A Comparison of Frequency Downshift Models of Wave Trains on Deep Water

Frequency downshift (FD) in wave trains on deep water occurs when a measure of the frequency, typically the spectral peak or the spectral mean, decreases as the waves travel down a tank or across the ocean. Many FD models rely on wind or wave breaking. We consider seven models that do not include these effects and compare their predictions with four sets of experiments that also do not include these effects. The models are the (i) nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation (NLS), (ii) dissipative NLS equation (dNLS), (iii) Dysthe equation, (iv) viscous Dysthe equation (vDysthe), (v) Gordon equation (Gordon) (which has a free parameter), (vi) Islas-Schober equation (IS) (which has a free parameter), and (vii) a new model, the dissipative Gramstad-Trulsen (dGT) equation. The dGT equation has no free parameters and addresses some of the difficulties associated with the Dysthe and vDysthe equations. We compare a measure of overall error and the evolution of the spectral amplitudes, mean, and peak. We find: (i) The NLS and Dysthe equations do not accurately predict the measured spectral amplitudes. (ii) The Gordon equation, which is a successful model of FD in optics, does not accurately model FD in water waves, regardless of the choice of free parameter. (iii) The dNLS, vDysthe, dGT, and IS (with optimized free parameter) models all do a reasonable job predicting the measured spectral amplitudes, but none captures all spectral evolutions. (iv) The vDysthe, dGT, and IS (with optimized free parameter) models do the best at predicting the observed evolution of the spectral peak and the spectral mean. (v) The IS model, optimized over its free parameter, has the smallest overall error for three of the four experiments. The vDysthe equation has the smallest overall error in the other experiment

Dairy Food Consumption, Production, and Policy in Japan

We explore and investigate Japanese dairy markets. We first provide an overview of consumer demand and how it evolved after World War II. Using historical data and econometric estimates of Japanese dairy demand, we identify economic, cultural, and demographic forces that have been shaping consumption patterns. Then we summarize the characteristics of Japanese milk production and dairy processing and policies affecting them. We next describe the import regime and trade flows in dairy products. The analysis of the regulatory system of the dairy sector shows how its incentive structure affects the long-term prospects of various segments of the industry. The paper concludes with policy recommendations of how to reform the Japanese dairy sector.

Preaspiration in Sienese Italian & Its Interaction with Stress in /VC:/ Sequences

This paper reports some initial results from our investigation into effects of stress in /VC:/ sequences in Sienese Italian. Our spontaneous speech data show preaspiration in /VC:/ sequences, not previously reported for any variety of Italian. We investigate preaspiration in /VC:/ sequences, and more specifically whether it should be considered a correlate of stress in Sienese Italian, as has been suggested for other languages. In addition we investigate how preaspiration interacts with vowel type, and vowel and consonant duration. We then seek to explain the patterns uncovered

Japanese Consumer Demand for Dairy Products

We econometrically estimate consumer demand for dairy products in Japan using time series data for 1960-2003. We identify economic, cultural, and demographic forces that have been influencing dairy consumption patterns. We use the Almost Ideal (AI) Demand System by Deaton and Muellbauer and its variant, the Semiflexible Almost Ideal (SAI) Demand System developed by Moschini to impose concavity locally by reducing the rank of the Hessian of the expenditure function. We estimate three specifications: a full system comprising of four dairy products (fluid milk, powder milk, cheese, and butter), and an allother-goods aggregate; a subsystem for food made of four dairy goods and an all-other-food aggregate; and a sub-system of the four dairy products. The minimum distance estimator is used to estimate the demand system. We find that expenditure responses are positive, except for butter demand; own-price responses are large in absolute value; and non-price factors are important determinants of Japanese dairy consumption.dairy demand, Japan, demand system, cheese, fluid milk, Demand and Price Analysis, Livestock Production/Industries, Q11, Q17, Q18,

Infrared fluorescence from PAHs in the laboratory

Several celestial objects, including UV rich regions of planetary and reflection nebulae, stars, H II regions, and extragalactic sources, are characterized by the unidentified infrared emission bands (UIR bands). A few years ago, it was proposed that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon species (PAHs) are responsible for most of the UIR bands. This hypothesis is based on a spectrum analysis of the observed features. Comparisons of observed IR spectra with lab absorption spectra of PAHs support the PAH hypothesis. An example spectrum is represented, where the Orion Bar 3.3 micron spectrum is compared with the absorption frequencies of the PAHs Chrysene, Pyrene, and Coronene. The laser excited 3.3 micron emission spectrum is presented from a gas phase PAH (azulen). The infrared fluorescence theory (IRF) is briefly explained, followed by a description of the experimental apparatus, a report of the results, and discussion

Badnavirus sequences identified from Passiflora spp. in Guadeloupe and Australia [Abstract]

Badnaviruses (family Caulimoviridae, genus Badnavirus) have non-enveloped bacilliform particles containing a single copy of a circular dsDNA genome of c. 7.4R7.6 kbp arranged in at least three conserved open reading frames. Badnaviruses are transmitted in a semi-persistent mode by mealybugs and, for some species, also by aphids, scale insects or lacebugs. Several badnaviruses infect economically important tropical crops such as banana, cocoa, pineapple, sugarcane, taro and yam, and have a serious impact on yields. Over the past 10 years, endogenous viral sequences have been discovered and characterized in the genome of numerous crops, including badnavirus sequences in the genome of banana, yam and pineapple. It is expected that in silico analysis of plant genomic sequence data will reveal more endogenous viral sequences. Passiflora spp. from Guadeloupe and Australia were screened for badnavirus sequences by PCR across the conserved reverse transcriptase/RNaseH region of the ORF 3 polyprotein. PCR was performed on purified total DNA, using two sets of degenerate primers. Badnavirus sequences were amplified from Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa, a yellow mutant introduced to Australia and Guadeloupe in the beginning of the XXth century. Badnavirus sequences were also amplified from species P. edulis, P. foetida, P. laurifolia, P. maliformis, P. quadrangularis and P. serrato-digitata, which were introduced in Guadeloupe from South and Central America at the turn of the XXth century. On the contrary, no badnavirus sequences could be amplified from Australian native P. aurantia and P. herbertiana. Phylogenetic analyses show that there is no host speciation of badnavirus sequences in the Passiflora spp. used in this work. They also show that P. edulis samples from Guadeloupe and Australia share highly similar sequences. The nature of these sequences (episomal vs integrated) is currently being explored. Although no badnavirus has been reported yet in Passiflora spp., bacilliform particles could be observed in an Australian P. edulis f. flavicarpa plant showing severe fruit puckering and leaf shoestring symptoms. Nevertheless, all other plants used in this study were asymptomatic. (Texte intégral

Intake of fat-soluble vitamins in the Belgian population : adequacy and contribution of foods, fortified foods and supplements

A key challenge of public health nutrition is to provide the majority of the population with a sufficient level of micronutrients while preventing high-consumers from exceeding the tolerable upper intake level. Data of the 2014 Belgian food consumption survey (n = 3200) were used to assess fat-soluble vitamin (vitamins A, D, E and K) intake from the consumption of foods, fortified foods and supplements. This study revealed inadequate intakes for vitamin A, from all sources, in the entire Belgian population and possible inadequacies for vitamin D. The prevalence of inadequate intake of vitamin A was lowest in children aged 3-6 (6-7%) and highest in adolescents (girls, 26%; boys, 34-37%). Except for women aged 60-64 years, more than 95% of the subjects had vitamin D intake from all sources below the adequate intake (AI) of 15 mu g/day. The risk for inadequate intake of vitamins K and E was low (median > AI). Belgian fortification and supplementation practices are currently inadequate to eradicate suboptimal intakes of vitamins A and D, but increase median vitamin E intake close to the adequate intake. For vitamin A, a small proportion (1-4%) of young children were at risk of exceeding the upper intake level (UL), while for vitamin D, inclusion of supplements slightly increased the risk for excessive intakes (% > UL) in adult women and young children. The results may guide health authorities when developing population health interventions and regulations to ensure adequate intake of fat-soluble vitamins in Belgium

A literature-based comparison of nutrient and contaminant contents between organic and conventional vegetables and potatoes

Purpose - The increasing demand for organic foods is explained mainly by consumers' concerns about the quality and safety of foods and their perception that organically produced foods are healthier and safer than conventional foods. Based on internationally available concentration data of organic and conventional vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, lettuce and spinach) and potatoes, the paper aims to investigate the scientific validity of nutrition claims as "no vegetable/potato has higher amounts of nutrient X than organic vegetables/potatoes" and "no vegetable/potato has lower amounts of contaminant Y than organic vegetables/potatoes". Design/methodology/approach - Detailed nutrient and contaminant databases were developed for organic and conventional vegetables separately. Non-parametric (Mann-Whitney test) methods were used to detect significant differences between both types of vegetables. A chi-square test was used to compare the incidence of pesticide residues in organic and conventional vegetables. Findings - From a nutritional and toxicological point of view, organic vegetables and potato in general are not significantly better than conventional vegetables and potatoes. For some nutrients and contaminants organic vegetables and potatoes score significantly better but for others they score significantly worse. Therefore, it becomes difficult to justify general claims indicating a surplus value of organic over conventional vegetables and potatoes. More data from controlled paired studies are needed to reconsider the use of claims for these organic plant foods in the future. Research limitations/implications - Only a limited number of studies comparing the nutrient and/or contaminant concentration of organic and conventional vegetables are available ("paired studies"). Additionally, the majority of the studies are of moderate or poor quality. The implication is that more of those paired studies are heavily needed. Another limitation of the study is the fact that most pesticide residue data originated from the USA, the EU and Australia. Originality/value - So far only few studies compared both nutrient and contaminant contents between organic and conventional plant foods. This paper covers therefore an important, not well-explored research sub area