Research on Markets for Inventions and Implications for R&D Allocation Strategies

Several streams of literature have examined the phenomenon of “markets for inventions”, that is, the trade of elements of knowledge which are “disembodied” from individuals, organizations, and products. The aims of this paper are to bring together the various streams of research in this area and discuss their major assumptions and limitations, in order to provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the phenomenon, and identify promising paths for future research. We start our review by identifying the object of market exchange—that is, an invention whose knowledge has been codified and disembodied from individuals, organizations, or artifacts. We then identify those factors that enable firms to trade inventions, distinguishing between institutional-, firm-, and industry-level factors. We close our analysis of the extant literature by discussing the implications of markets for inventions for firm behavior and performance. Against this background, we highlight an important avenue for future research. A neglected implication of the development of invention markets is that firms are confronted with a wide variety of technological paths from which to choose, because the opportunity to acquire technologies on the market offers them a greater variety that can their internal R&D departments. However, the streams of research on markets for inventions and on R&D allocation strategies have been surprisingly disconnected so far. Hence, in the final section, we start to establish and explore the link between these literatures, and to identify a research agenda in this domain

Modified Lapidus Procedure with a Single Screw and Staple: A Comparative Analysis

Objective: The primary objective of the study is to review the fusion rate associated with a single screw and staple construct in Lapidus bunionectomy, and to compare the complication rates, fusion outcomes, and radiographic results with those of other common fixation methods. Methods: Eighty-four bunionectomies met study criteria; in 24 cases, a single screw and staple construct was used, while 28 used a screw and locking plate, and 32 used two crossing screws. Although group matching was attempted, a greater body mass index was observed in the screw and locking plate group (p = 0.006). Results: The minimum follow-up was 12 months (mean, 31.4 months), and the primary outcome was fusion rate. Union rates were achieved in 95.8% for the single screw and staple fixation (23/24), 92.8% for the screw and locking plate (26/28), and 93.8% for crossing screws (30/32) without a statistically significant difference (p = 0.474). The single screw and staple group achieved significantly (p = 0.012) earlier radiographic and clinical union, at 11.7 (+ 1.86) weeks, compared to crossing screw (13.2 + 2.39 weeks) and screw and locking plate (13.5 + 1.69 weeks) groups. There were no significant differences in final first intermetatarsal angle (p = 0.403), hallux valgus angle (p = 0.153), or complication rates (p = 0.386) among the fixation methods. Conclusion: Our study shows that a single screw and staple construct is a viable option for Lapidus bunionectomy, demonstrating faster union time and maintained deformity correction with an acceptable complication rate. However, further research is required to validate the advantages and disadvantages of specific surgical implants. Level of evidence: III, retrospective case control stud

Essential Role of Gab1 for Signaling by the C-Met Receptor in Vivo

The docking protein Gab1 binds phosphorylated c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase directly and mediates signals of c-Met in cell culture. Gab1 is phosphorylated by c-Met and by other receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases. Here, we report the functional analysis of Gab1 by targeted mutagenesis in the mouse, and compare the phenotypes of the Gab1 and c-Met mutations. Gab1 is essential for several steps in development: migration of myogenic precursor cells into the limb anlage is impaired in Gab1−/− embryos. As a consequence, extensor muscle groups of the forelimbs are virtually absent, and the flexor muscles reach less far. Fewer hindlimb muscles exist, which are smaller and disorganized. Muscles in the diaphragm, which also originate from migratory precursors, are missing. Moreover, Gab1−/− embryos die in a broad time window between E13.5 and E18.5, and display reduced liver size and placental defects. The labyrinth layer, but not the spongiotrophoblast layer, of the placenta is severely reduced, resulting in impaired communication between maternal and fetal circulation. Thus, extensive similarities between the phenotypes of c-Met and HGF/SF mutant mice exist, and the muscle migration phenotype is even more pronounced in Gab1−/−:c-Met+/− embryos. This is genetic evidence that Gab1 is essential for c-Met signaling in vivo. Analogy exists to signal transmission by insulin receptors, which require IRS1 and IRS2 as specific docking proteins