The role of R&D technology in asymmetric research joint ventures

We characterize asymmetric equilibria in two-stage process innovation games and show that they are prevalent in the different models of R&D technology considered in the literature. Indeed, cooperation in R&D may be accompanied by high concentration in the product market. We show that while such an increase may be profitable, it may be socially inefficient.

Unitary R-matrices for topological quantum computing

The main problem with current approaches to quantum computing is the difficulty of establishing and maintaining entanglement. A Topological Quantum Computer (TQC) aims to overcome this by using different physical processes that are topological in nature and which are less susceptible to disturbance by the environment. In a (2+1)-dimensional system, pseudoparticles called anyons have statistics that fall somewhere between bosons and fermions. The exchange of two anyons, an effect called braiding from knot theory, can occur in two different ways. The quantum states corresponding to the two elementary braids constitute a two-state system allowing the definition of a computational basis. Quantum gates can be built up from patterns of braids and for quantum computing it is essential that the operator describing the braiding-the R-matrix-be described by a unitary operator. The physics of anyonic systems is governed by quantum groups, in particular the quasi-triangular Hopf algebras obtained from finite groups by the application of the Drinfeld quantum double construction. Their representation theory has been described in detail by Gould and Tsohantjis, and in this review article we relate the work of Gould to TQC schemes, particularly that of Kauffman.

In vivo biological performance of a novel highly bioactive glass-ceramic (Biosilicate (R)): A biomechanical and histomorphometric study in rat tibial defects

This study aimed to investigate bone responses to a novel bioactive fully crystallized glass-ceramic of the quaternary system P(2)O(5)-Na(2)O-CaO-SiO(2) (Biosilicates (R)). Although a previous study demonstrated positive effects of Biosilicate (R) on in vitro bone-like matrix formation, its in vivo effect was not studied yet. Male Wistar rats (n = 40) with tibial defects were used. Four experimental groups were designed to compare this novel biomaterial with a gold standard bioactive material (Bioglass (R) 45S5), unfilled defects and intact controls. A three-point bending test was performed 20 days after the surgical procedure, as well as the histomorphometric analysis in two regions of interest: cortical bone and medullary canal where the particulate biomaterial was implanted. The biomechanical test revealed a significant increase in the maximum load at failure and stiffness in the Biosilicate group (R) (vs. control defects), whose values were similar to uninjured bones. There were no differences in the cortical bone parameters in groups with bone defects, but a great deal of woven bone was present surrounding Biosilicate (R) and Bioglass (R) 45S5 particulate. Although both bioactive materials supported significant higher bone formation; Biosilicate (R) was superior to Bioglass (R) 45S5 in some histomorphometric parameters (bone volume and number of osteoblasts). Regarding bone resorption, Biosilicate (R) group showed significant higher number of osteoclasts per unit of tissue area than defect and intact controls, despite of the non-significant difference in the osteoclastic surface as percentage of bone surface. This study reveals that the fully crystallized Biosilicate (R) has good bone-forming and bone-bonding properties. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater 978: 139-147, 2011.

Clinical results after coronary stenting with the Genous (TM) Bio-engineered R stent (TM): 12-month outcomes of the e-HEALING (Healthy Endothelial Accelerated Lining Inhibits Neointimal Growth) worldwide registry

Aims: e-HEALING is a worldwide, internet-based registry designed to capture post marketing clinical data on the use of the Genous (TM) EPC capturing R stent (TM). Rapid restoration of a healthy endothelial layer after stent placement by capturing circulating endothelial progenitor cells may reduce both stent thrombosis (ST) and in-stent-restenosis. Methods and results: We planned a 5,000 patient registry with >= 1 lesion suitable for stenting. The 12-month primary outcome was target vessel failure (TVF), defined as target vessel-related cardiac death or myocardial infarction (MI) and target vessel revascularisation. Secondary outcomes were the composite of cardiac death, MI or target lesion revascularisation (TLR), and individual outcomes including ST. A total of 4,939 patients received >= 1 Genous stent between 2005 and 2007. Baseline characteristics showed a median age of 63 years, 79% males, 25% diabetics, and 37% with prior MI. A total of 49% of lesions treated were ACC/AHA type B2 or C; 1.1 stents per lesion were used. At 12 months, TVF occurred in 8.4% and the composite of cardiac death, MI or TLR in 7.9%. Twelve-month TLR and ST were 5.7% and 1.1%, respectively. Conclusions: Coronary stenting with the Genous results in good clinical outcomes, and low incidences of repeat revascularisation and ST.

Prostate cryoablation: Prospective analysis comparing high- and low-risk prostate cancer outcomes

Aim: To evaluate percutaneous cryotherapy as a primary treatment option for prostate cancer, comparing different risk groups. Patients and Methods: Forty-seven prostate cryoablation procedures were performed on 44 patients. Patients median age was 70.9, and average pretreatment PSA of 13.8 ng/dl. Patients were divided into low-risk (13 patients), high-risk (24 patients) and radiation failure patients (7 patients). The follow-up period ranged from 18 to 60 months (median 41 months). Results: In the low-risk group, we found after 12 and 24 months of follow-up, 92 and 86% of patients free of PSA relapse (PSA < 1 ng/ml), respectively. In the high-risk group, the PSA failure was 39 and 52.9%. For the radiation failure group, 86 and 71.4% of patients had PSA below 1 ng/dl. At 48 months of follow-up, 80% of the low-risk patients, 42.8% of the high-risk group and 71.4% of the radiation failure group were free of PSA relapse. The complication rates were low, with 13% of urinary incontinence and no cases of rectal injury. Conclusion: Prostate cryoablation is a viable and promising minimally invasive alternative for localized or locally advanced prostate cancer patients. Copyright (c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Transurethral injection therapy with carbon-coated beads (Durasphere (R)) for treatment of recurrent pyelonephritis in kidney transplant patients with vesico-ureteral reflux to the allograft

Introduction and objectives: Recurrent transplant pyelonephritis (RTP) secondary to vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR) to the transplant kidney (KTx) remains a significant cause of infectious complications with impact on patient and graft outcomes. Our objective was to verify the safety and efficacy of transurethral injection of Durasphere (R) to relieve RTP secondary to VUR after renal transplantation. Patients and methods: Between June 2004 and July 2008, eight patients with RTP (defined as two or more episodes of pyelonephritis after transplantation) and VUR to the KTx were treated with subureteral injections of Durasphere (R). The mean age at surgery was 38.8 +/- 13.8 yr (23-65). The patients were followed regularly every six months. The mean interval between the KTx and the treatment was 76 +/- 74.1 (10-238 months). The mean follow-up was 22.3 +/- 16.1 months (8-57 months). Results: Six patients (75%) were free of pyelonephritis during a mean period of follow-up of 23.2 +/- 17.1 months (8-57 months). Two of them had no VUR and four cases presented with G II VUR (pre-operative G IV three cases and one case G III). In one case, symptomatic recurrent cystitis made a second treatment necessary. This patient remained free of infections for three yr after the first treatment and for 18 months after the second treatment. Of the remaining two patients, one had six episodes of RTP before treatment in a period of three yr and only two episodes after treatment in two yr of follow-up. The last case had a new episode of pyelonephritis five months after treatment. Conclusions: Transurethral injection therapy with Durasphere (R) is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment option for KTx patients with recurrent RTP. A second treatment seems to be necessary in some cases.

Twisted quantum affine superalgebra U-q[sl(2/2)((2))], U-q[osp(2/2)] invariant R-matrices and a new integrable electronic model

We describe the twisted affine superalgebra sl(2\2)((2)) and its quantized version U-q[sl(2\2)((2))]. We investigate the tensor product representation of the four-dimensional grade star representation for the fixed-point sub superalgebra U-q[osp(2\2)]. We work out the tensor product decomposition explicitly and find that the decomposition is not completely reducible. Associated with this four-dimensional grade star representation we derive two U-q[osp(2\2)] invariant R-matrices: one of them corresponds to U-q [sl(2\2)(2)] and the other to U-q [osp(2\2)((1))]. Using the R-matrix for U-q[sl(2\2)((2))], we construct a new U-q[osp(2\2)] invariant strongly correlated electronic model, which is integrable in one dimension. Interestingly this model reduces in the q = 1 limit, to the one proposed by Essler et al which has a larger sl(2\2) symmetry.

Diminished CD4+/CD25+T cell and increased IFN-gamma levels occur in dogs vaccinated with Leishmune (R) in an endemic area for visceral leishmaniasis

The Leishmune (R) vaccine has been used in endemic areas to prevent canine visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil, but cytokine production induced by vaccination has rarely been investigated in dogs. This study aimed to evaluate the immune response of dogs vaccinated with Leishmune FML vaccine (Fort Dodge) against total antigen of Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi (TAg) and FML. Twenty healthy dogs from Aracatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil, an endemic leishmaniasis area, received three consecutive subcutaneous injection of Leishmune vaccine at 21-day intervals. PBMC were isolated before and 10 days after completing vaccination and lymphoproliferative response and antibody production against FML or total promastigote antigen were tested. Cytokines IFN-gamma, IL-4 and TNF-alpha were measured in culture supernatant and CD4+/CD25+ and CD8+/CD25+ T cell presence was determined. Analysis of the data indicated that the vaccine conferred humoral responses (100%) against both antigens and cellular immunity to FML (85%) and total antigen (80%), the supernatant of cultured cells stimulated with TAg and FML showed an increase in IFN-gamma (P < 0.05), and the vaccine reduced CD4+/CD25+ T cell presence compared to that observed before vaccination. These responses may constitute part of the immune mechanism induced by Leishmune. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Early diagnostic and endoscopic dilatation for the treatment of acquired upper airway stenosis after intubation in children

Background: Upper airway stenosis (UAS) after endotracheal intubation is a common problem in children. Most literature refers to a surgical treatment for these lesions. Laryngotracheal reconstruction and cricotracheal resection are used for low- and high-grade stenosis, but decannulation is not always possible immediately after surgery. Purpose: The aim of this study was to verify the feasibility and results of endoscopic dilatations for treatment of subglottic stenosis. Method: The study encompassed a 12-year retrospective analysis of patients treated for UAS in a tertiary center. All children were symptomatic at the time of the endoscopic diagnosis. The stenosis was graded according to the Myer-Cotton criteria. Endoscopic dilatation was initiated immediately after the diagnosis. Children with grade IV stenosis underwent surgery. Results: Children with tracheal stenosis and no involvement of the subglottic area did not respond to endoscopic dilatations and underwent surgery. There were 45 children with grade I stenosis, 12 with grade II, 7 with grade III, and 4 with grade IV lesions. Patients with grade I, II, and III stenosis were a] I treated by endoscopic dilatations alone and were decannulated when asymptomatic. The average time for decannulation was 18.90 +/- 26.07 months for grade 1, 32.5 +/- 27.08 months for grade 11, and 27.57 +/- 20.60 months for grade III stenosis (P < .01, for grade II vs grade III). Conclusion: Grade I, II, and III subglottic stenoses can be safely managed by early endoscopic dilatations with a high rate of success and low rate of morbidity but require a significantly long period of treatment. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Cross-cultural Adaptation, Reliability and Validity of the DAFS-R in a Sample of Brazilian Older Adults

The Direct Assessment of Functional Status-Revised (DAFS-R) is an instrument developed to objectively measure functional capacities required for independent living. The objective of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the DAFS-R for Brazilian Portuguese (DAFS-BR) and to evaluate its reliability and validity. The DAFS-BR was administered to 89 older patients classified previously as normal controls, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer`s disease (AD). The results indicated good internal consistency (Cronbach`s alpha = 0.78) in the total sample. The DAFS-BR showed high interobserver reliability (0.996; p < .001) as well as test-retest stability over 1-week interval (0.995; p < .001). Correlation between the DAFS-BR total score and the Informant Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly (IQCODE) was moderate and significant (r = -.65, p < .001) in the total sample, whereas it did not reach statistical significance within each diagnostic group. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses suggested that DAFS-BR has good sensitivity and specificity to identify MCI and AD. Results suggest that DAFS-BR can document degrees of severity of functional impairment among Brazilian older adults.

Comparative study of Botox (R) injection treatment for upper eyelid retraction with 6-month follow-up in patients with thyroid eye disease in the congestive or fibrotic stage

Aim To compare morphometric data of the eyelid fissure and the levator muscle function (LF) before and up to 6 months after transcutaneous injection with five units of Botox (R) in patients with upper lid retraction (ULR) from congestive or fibrotic thyroid eye disease (TED). Methods Twenty-four patients with ULR from TED were submitted to transcutaneous injection of 5 units (0.1 ml) of Botox in one eye only. Patients were divided into two groups: 12 with congestive-stage TED (CG), and 12 with fibrotic-stage TED (FG). Bilateral lid fissure measurements using digital imaging and computer-aided analysis were taken at baseline and at regular intervals 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after unilateral Botox injection. Mean values taken at different follow-up points were compared for the two groups. Results Most patients experienced marked improvement in ULR, with a mean reduction of 3.81 mm in FG and 3.05 mm in CG. The upper eyelid margin reflex distance, fissure height and total area of exposed interpalpebral fissure were significantly smaller during 1 month in CG and during 3 months in FG. Reduction in LF and in the difference between lateral and medial lid fissure measurements was observed in both groups. The treatment lasted significantly longer in FG than in CG. Conclusions A single 5-unit Botox injection improved ULR, reduced LF and produced an adequate lid contour in patients with congestive or fibrotic TED. The effect lasts longer in patients with fibrotic orbitopathy than in patients with congestive orbitopathy.

The influence of Flutter (R) VRP1 components on mucus transport of patients with bronchiectasis

Background: The Flutter (R) VRP1 combines high frequency oscillation and positive expiratory pressure (PEP). Objective: To separately evaluate the effect of the Flutter (R) VRP1 components (high frequency oscillation and PEP) on mucus transportability in patients with bronchiectasis. Methods: Eighteen patients with bronchiectasis received sessions with the Flutter (R) VRP1 or PEP for 30 min daily in a randomized, crossover study. The treatment duration was four weeks with one of the therapies, one week of a ""wash-out"" period and followed by four more weeks with the other treatment. Weekly secretion samples were collected and evaluated for mucociliary relative transport velocity (RTV), displacement in a simulated cough machine (SCM) and contact angle measurement (CAM). For the proposed comparisons, a linear regression model was used with mixed effects with a significance level of 5%. Results: The Flutter (R) VRP1 treatment resulted in greater displacement in SCM and lower CAM when comparing results from the first (9.6 +/- 3.4 cm and 29.4 +/- 5.7 degrees, respectively) and fourth weeks of treatment (12.44 +/- 10.5 cm and 23.28 +/- 6.2, respectively; p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the RTV between the treatment weeks for either the Flutter (R) VRP1 or PEP. Conclusion: The use of the Flutter (R) VRP1 for four weeks is capable of altering the respiratory secretion transport properties, and this alteration is related to the high frequency oscillation component. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Right adolescent idiopathic thoracic curve (Lenke 1 A and B): does cost of instrumentation and implant density improve radiographic and cosmetic parameters?

In adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) there has been a shift towards increasing the number of implants and pedicle screws, which has not been proven to improve cosmetic correction. To evaluate if increasing cost of instrumentation correlates with cosmetic correction using clinical photographs. 58 Lenke 1A and B cases from a multicenter AIS database with at least 3 months follow-up of clinical photographs were used for analysis. Cosmetic parameters on PA and forward bending photographs included angular measurements of trunk shift, shoulder balance, rib hump, and ratio measurements of waist line asymmetry. Pre-op and follow-up X-rays were measured for coronal and sagittal deformity parameters. Cost density was calculated by dividing the total cost of instrumentation by the number of vertebrae being fused. Linear regression and spearman`s correlation were used to correlate cost density to X-ray and photo outcomes. Three independent observers verified radiographic and cosmetic parameters for inter/interobserver variability analysis. Average pre-op Cobb angle and instrumented correction were 54A degrees (SD 12.5) and 59% (SD 25) respectively. The average number of vertebrae fused was 10 (SD 1.9). The total cost of spinal instrumentation ranged from $6,769 to $21,274 (Mean $12,662, SD $3,858). There was a weak positive and statistically significant correlation between Cobb angle correction and cost density (r = 0.33, p = 0.01), and no correlation between Cobb angle correction of the uninstrumented lumbar spine and cost density (r = 0.15, p = 0.26). There was no significant correlation between all sagittal X-ray measurements or any of the photo parameters and cost density. There was good to excellent inter/intraobserver variability of all photographic parameters based on the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 0.74-0.98). Our method used to measure cosmesis had good to excellent inter/intraobserver variability, and may be an effective tool to objectively assess cosmesis from photographs. Since increasing cost density only improves mildly the Cobb angle correction of the main thoracic curve and not the correction of the uninstrumented spine or any of the cosmetic parameters, one should consider the cost of increasing implant density in Lenke 1A and B curves. In the area of rationalization of health care expenses, this study demonstrates that increasing the number of implants does not improve any relevant cosmetic or radiographic outcomes.