Popular post-separation parenting smartphone apps: An evaluation

In recent years a bewildering array of smartphone applications (“apps”) has emerged to support separated parents' communication. Post-separation parenting apps vary in cost and features; they typically comprise a messaging tool, shared calendar, expense tracker and a means to export records for legal purposes. A key challenge for separated parents and family law practitioners alike is knowing which apps or app feature(s) can work well for different family contexts, needs and budgets. The present study sought to evaluate nine popular post-separation parenting apps and their features using small-n Human–Computer Interaction methods. Mediators role-played high conflict ex-couples while completing a set of five common post-separation communication or organizational tasks. A cross-case analysis of ratings was conducted. We found that (a) many of the mediators changed their apparent enthusiasm for co-parenting apps once they had used the apps themselves; (b) all nine apps were rated somewhere between “Poor” to Fair’; and (c) features of some of the best-known apps were not rated as highly as some of the features of more recent, lesser-known apps.     

现代科技在信访举报工作中的运用

随着科学技术的发展和人们效率观念的增强,运用现代信息技术开展信访工作势在必行。时下,用现代科技信息技术开展信访工作存在着"无需作为论"、"无所作为论"、"有限作为论"的认识误区。必须解放思想,更新观念,积极探索运用现代科技开展信访工作的新途径,高度重视计算机技术、信息技术、通信技术在信访举报工作中的运用,不断提升信访举报工作的科技含量,切实提高信访举报工作的效能。     

浅析刑事案件现场勘查的主体

现场勘查是侦破刑事案件的一个重要的环节,是刑事侦查工作的起点和基础。在我国现行的刑事诉讼法中规定了现场勘查的主体是侦查人员。为了提高现场勘查的质量和效率,技术人员也应该成为现场勘查的主体,以发挥侦技结合的优势,同时技术人员和检验鉴定人员应有一个明显的界限,避免自侦自鉴带来的弊端。     

Do specific forms of university-industry knowledge transfer have different impacts on the performance of private enterprises? An empirical analysis based on Swiss firm data

This study investigates the impact of a wide spectrum of Knowledge and Technology Transfer (KTT) activities (educational and research activities, activities related with technical infrastructure, and consulting) on two innovation indicators (a) in the framework of an innovation equation with variables for specific forms of KTT activities as additional determinants of innovation, and (b) based on a matched-pairs analysis for several specific forms of KTT activities. The data used in the study were collected by means of a survey of Swiss enterprises that took place at the beginning of 2005. We found that research and educational activities improve the innovation performance of firms in terms of sales of considerably modified products, research activities in addition also in terms of sales of new products. This could be shown by several methods: the innovation equation approach with instrument variables for specific forms of KTT activities as well as two matching methods.

Why university inventions rarely produce income? Bottlenecks in university technology transfer

As intended, universities have gained ownership to an increased number of inventions from their labs after the enactment of Bayh-Dole act in 1980. But, how well are the universities taking advantage of the provisions of this Act? One aspect of this question is addressed empirically in this study. An analysis of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) periodic Licensing Activity Surveys of 1995–2004 indicated that the annual income generated by licensing university inventions was 1.7% of total research expenditure in 1995 and 2.9% in 2004. Some consider this and the rate of commercialization of university inventions to be too low. A premise of this study is that the slow rate of commercialization of university inventions may be due to the lack of adequate trained staff and inventions processing capacity in University Offices of Technology Transfer (UOTT). This paper describes an empirical study of the non-legal, technical, and legal invention processing capacity of US UOTT and its implications. A survey questionnaire was sent to 99 randomly selected US research universities. Seventy-five percent of the respondents mentioned shortage of staff for non-legal and legal processing of inventions. More than a third of the respondents claimed that, in 2006, they failed to process more than 26% of the inventions due to insufficient processing capacity in the UOTT. The study includes multiple regression models to estimate the effect of staffing on performance variables (i.e., Provisional Applications Filed, Patent [non-provisional] Applications and Licenses Executed) and “Inventions Not Processed” by the UOTTs due to staff/budget shortages. It is argued that, when short of staff and budget, UOTTs will be reduced to devoting their resources to ensuring patent applications are filed and patents are issued at the expense of marketing of inventions. Further, high-tech inventions are difficult to market because, often, there are no ready markets for them, especially if the inventor had no pre-invention contacts with a potential licensee. High-tech inventions originating from university labs may need market space/niche identification, new market creation, and the translation of the lab result into an “investor friendly” business plan; most UOTTs may be significantly short on these skills. Recommendations of this study are: first, an in-depth study of universities that are prolific in licensing inventions (40 or more licenses a year) is necessary to understand the reasons for their success in the context of UOTTs capacity to process inventions. Further, all federal agencies sponsoring university research must earmark a small percentage of each grant exclusively for commercialization purposes at the university. The paper offers multiple options for the effective use of these funds. The paper also offers several avenues for future research.     

我国省域科技投入产出效率的实证分析

科技是经济发展的推动力.为促进我国各地区科技资源的合理配置,必须尽快建立科学合理的科技投入产出效率评价机制.运用数据包络分析方法(DEA),对我国各省域2004-2006年科技投入的总体效率、纯技术效率、规模效率和规模收益进行实证分析,并在此基础上利用改进的DEA模型对各省域的效率进行排序,可以为采取相应的政策措施提供依据,以促进各地区经济持续、均衡和协调发展.     

SNaPshot技术应用于云南省部分人群ABO血型基因分型

目的应用SNa Pshot技术对ABO血型进行基因型检测。方法采集107份已知血型(由血清学获得)的云南无关个体静脉血提取DNA,运用SNa Pshot Multiplex试剂盒对ABO血型基因的第261、297、681、703、802和803核苷酸位置的6个SNP位点进行复合扩增检测,计算相关遗传学参数。结果 107份血样中A、B、O~A、O~G 4个等位基因的频率分别为0.355 1、0.168 2、0.230 0、0.247 6,其中A~G和顺式AB未检出,ABO基因分型结果与血清学检验的结果一致。结论 SNaPshot技术适用于ABO血型基因的分型。     

Soft Power and State–Firm Diplomacy: Congress and IT Corporate Activity in China

In today's globalized political economy, diplomacy between nation-states (state–state diplomacy) now exists alongside state–firm diplomacy, the negotiations between multinational corporations (MNCs) and the countries in which they do business. While the state must be committed to the interests of its MNCs in the interest of domestic state–firm diplomacy (maintaining a supportive business environment), it still has recourse to address failures in corporate diplomacy and to maintain the appearance of dominance on the world stage. This paper examined these strategies through a critical analysis of prepared testimony at the February 2006 congressional hearing regarding the controversial actions of four U.S. IT MNCs (Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, and Cisco) operating in China. I conclude that when the government is constrained from using its hard power on its MNCs, soft power becomes its most effective tool. Image, suggestion, and appearance—soft power—can be considered more important than legislation itself—hard power—and perhaps even the currency of current state–firm relations.     

技术资本化运作的法律思考

以知识、技术配置其它生产要素的知识经济的发展趋势,迫切需要关注技术资本化,同时也需要有良好的法制环境,尤其是资本市场的法制环境,以制度创新来促进技术资本化。论文从技术资本化的内涵、作用、国内外立法与现状等方面展开讨论,并提出了促进技术资本化的政策和措施,以期有助于促进企业提高科技创新能力和竞争能力,对加强我国自主知识产权的保护产生积极作用。