Federal Research Laboratories Research Articles

LABORATORY CONCORDANCE STUDY FOR THE MOLECULAR DETECTION OF MYCOPLASMA OVIPNEUMONIAE.

As part of a respiratory pathogen survey of Alaska wildlife, we conducted a concordance study to assess Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae detection among three different PCR assays using a total of 346 nasal swabs sampled from four species (Dall's sheep, Ovis dalli dalli; mountain goats, Oreamnos americanus; caribou, Rangifer tarandus granti; and moose, Alces alces gigas), and two taxonomic subfamilies (Bovidae subfamily Caprinae and Cervidae subfamily Capreolinae). A federal research laboratory performed two PCR assays (LM40 and intergenic spacer region [IGS]), and a state diagnostic laboratory performed the third (universal Mycoplasma [UM]). Overall concordance was good, ranging from 93% to 99%, which was probably a result of low detection rate of M. ovipneumoniae. Due to differences in positive agreement, the quality of concordance between LM40 and both IGS and UM was considered fair. However, the quality of concordance between IGS and UM was excellent. All three PCR methods detected M. ovipneumoniae in a non-Caprinae species (caribou), and the LM40-PCR assay also detected M. ovipneumoniae in additional Caprinae species. The LM40-PCR assay detected M. ovipneumoniae in a larger number of samples than did the other two assays (IGS, UM). Because of potential differences in detection rates, it is critical to consider test parameters when evaluating a host population for the presence of M. ovipneumoniae.

Scientific publications at U.S. federal research laboratories

In this paper, we focus on scientific publications as an innovative output from the research efforts at U.S. federal laboratories. The data used relate to Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs). The relationship between R&D expenditures at these federal laboratories and their peer-reviewed scientific publications allows us to make inferences about the return to public-sector R&D. We examine two complementary statistical models. From the first model, we find that a 10% increase in constant dollar public-sector R&D is associated with between a 15.5 and 21.5% increase in scientific publications. From the second model, we find that the annual rate of return generated by an additional $1 million of R&D-based knowledge stock varies across the FFRDCs, averaging about 93 additional scientific publications, with the statistically significant values ranging from about 1 to as many as about 400 additional scientific publications.

The impact of university focused technology transfer policies on regional innovation and entrepreneurship

Within the technology transfer field, there have been numerous empirical studies taking US data and context that have examined the impact and effect of government legislation aimed at supporting effective technology transfer, particularly from universities and federal research laboratories to the market. However, there is a paucity of such studies in other geographical domains. Existing studies have further not focused on examining the simultaneous effects on entrepreneurial and innovative outcomes of university focused technology transfer policies. We address these research gaps by examining the effects of a far-reaching legislation change in Germany, reforming the old ‘professor’s privilege’ (Hochschullehrerprivileg). The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether regional entrepreneurial and innovative outcomes have been affected by this legislative change in intellectual property rights of inventions made by scientists. Our results suggest that this legislative change did have an initial positive effect on universities as measured by start-ups and patents. The effect yet changed over time, leading to some unintended consequences. Our paper argues that policy makers and legislators need to give consideration to the replication of policy and legislative instruments from other contexts along with the criteria that are used to measure success.

The good and the bad of poisonous plants: an introduction to the USDA-ARS Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory.

This article provides an overview of the Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory (PPRL), about the unique services and activities of the PPRL and the potential assistance that they can provide to plant poisoning incidences. The PPRL is a federal research laboratory. It is part of the Agricultural Research Service, the in-house research arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The mission of the PPRL is to identify toxic plants and their toxic compounds, determine how the plants poison animals, and develop diagnostic and prognostic procedures for poisoned animals. Furthermore, the PPRL's mission is to identify the conditions under which poisoning occurs and develop management strategies and treatments to reduce losses. Information obtained through research efforts at the PPRL is mostly used by the livestock industry, natural resource managers, veterinarians, chemists, plant and animal scientists, extension personnel, and other state and federal agencies. PPRL currently has 9 scientists and 17 support staff, representing various disciplines consisting of toxicology, reproductive toxicology, veterinary medicine, chemistry, animal science, range science, and plant physiology. This team of scientists provides an interdisciplinary approach to applied and basic research to develop solutions to plant intoxications. While the mission of the PPRL primarily impacts the livestock industry, spinoff benefits such as development of animal models, isolation and characterization of novel compounds, elucidation of biological and molecular mechanisms of action, national and international collaborations, and outreach efforts are significant to biomedical researchers. The staff at the PPRL has extensive knowledge regarding a number of poisonous plants. Although the focus of their knowledge is on plants that affect livestock, oftentimes, these plants are also poisonous to humans, and thus, similar principles could apply for cases of human poisonings. Consequently, the information provided herein could be of benefit to healthcare providers for human cases as well.

Transition States

Transition States

The need for research in forensic science

Since the first episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” aired in 2000, numerous television shows with forensic science themes have appeared, including two further additions to the CSI franchise (CSI: Miami and CSI: NY). These shows remain popular today and continue to rank in the top 20 ratings for network primetime series. With this popularity, the so-called “CSI Effect” has evolved, in which jurors have higher, and sometimes unrealistic, expectations of the evidence presented at trial. For example, in a survey conducted by Shelton et al., 46% of prospective jurors expected scientific evidence in every criminal case, and 22% expected DNA evidence in every criminal case [1]. The recent National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report “Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward” provides a more realistic assessment of forensic science today [2]. The report highlights current deficiencies and limitations in the community and makes recommendations to secure the future of forensic science. To improve the field for the future, the development of new technologies and procedures is recommended, with the NAS calling for “more and better research” to ensure that practices are “strongly rooted in science”. With this special issue on forensic analysis, we aim to highlight emerging research in forensic chemistry. The selection of papers is broad in scope, covering not only new technologies for the analysis of trace evidence but also the application of chemometric procedures for data analysis and interpretation. The papers included are only a sample of the novel and exciting research that is currently being conducted in various academic, state, and federal research laboratories, aiming to enhance current techniques and methodologies for the analysis and interpretation of forensic evidence. We hope this special issue illustrates that the NAS recommendation of “more and better research” is currently in progress. With additional funding and resources, such research may be further developed and eventually incorporated into crime laboratories for routine analysis. We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all our contributors; this special issue would certainly not have been possible without them.

Regulating innovative crop technologies in Canada: the case of regulating genetically modified crops

The advent of genetically modified crops in the late 1980s triggered a regulatory response to the relatively new field of plant genetic engineering. Over a 7-year period, a new regulatory framework was created, based on scientific principles that focused on risk mitigation. The process was transparent and deliberately sought the input of those involved in crop development from non-governmental organizations, industry, academia and federal research laboratories. The resulting regulations have now been in place for over a decade, and the resilience of the risk-mitigating regulations is evident as there has been no documented case of damage to either environment or human health.

The Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching Radar: A Collaboration to Enhance Research and Teaching

A group of scientists from three universities across two different states and from one federal research laboratory joined together to build and deploy two mobile C-band Doppler weather radars to enhance research and promote meteorological education. This 5-yr project led to the development of the Shared Mobile Atmospheric Research and Teaching (SMART) radar coalition that built the first mobile C-band Doppler weather radar in the United States and also successfully deployed the first mobile C-band dual-Doppler network in a landfalling hurricane. This accomplishment marked the beginning of an era in which high temporal and spatial resolution precipitation and dual-Doppler wind data over mesoscale (~100 km) regions can be acquired from mobile ground-based platforms during extreme heavy rain and high-wind events. In this paper, we discuss the rationale for building the mobile observing systems, highlight some of the challenges that were encountered in creating a unique multiagency coalition, provide examples of how the SMART radars have contributed to research and education, and discuss future plans for continued development and management of the radar facility, including how others may use the radars for their own research and teaching programs. The capability of the SMART radars to measure winds in nonprecipitating environments, to capture rapidly evolving, short-lived, small-scale tornadic circulations, and to sample mesoscale regions with high spatial resolution over broad regions of heavy rainfall is demonstrated. Repeated successful intercepts provide evidence that these radars are capable of being used to study a wide range of atmospheric phenomena.

Scientists and Public Outreach: Participation, Motivations, and Impediments

Public funding agencies are increasingly requiring “broader impact” components in research grants. Concurrently, national educational leaders are calling for scientists to partner with educators to reform science education. Through the use of survey and interview data, our study examined the participation of researchers, faculty members, and graduate students from federal research laboratories and a Research I university, who were involved in K-12 and public outreach activities.We found that scientists were often recruited into K-12 outreach activities by local departmental liaisons, colleagues, or professors. Scientists most frequently gave presentations, tutored, and organized or judged science fairs. Outreach participation varied by career stage, job type, and gender. The strongest motivating factors were a desire to contribute and enjoying their outreach experiences. For graduate students and researchers, a third motivating factor was the chance to improve their teaching and communication skills. Scientists of all types, however, viewed outreach as a form of volunteer work that was auxiliary to their other responsibilities. Time constraints due to other, higher priorities, the lower value placed on outreach by departments, and a lack of detailed information about outreach opportunities were significant barriers to participation. Even so, only a few scientists viewed their outreach experiences negatively, mostly due to classroom management, logistical, or organizational problems, or a lack of outreach skills.

Sponsored research and the public's right to know

AbstractTechnology transfer provides various protections and incentives for universities and federal research laboratories to develop and profit from their discoveries. However, the government, academic and private sectors may have conflicting, yet interrelated, values, interests, and practices when it comes to the gathering, recording, reporting, use, interpretation, and ownership of research data. The increasing commercialization of biomedical research has blurred some of these seeming divisions, and individuals and institutions occasionally find themselves succumbing to the financial pressures generated by their sponsors. This article discusses the ethical duty towards the public, and patients particularly, to present research results as accurately and objectively as possible, including in the specific context of human embryonic stem cell research. Drug Dev Res 63:103–111, 2004. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

From ideas to market applications: dynamics of knowledge transfer and the role of champions

Technology transfer is a significant effort of the federal government and the intent of this effort is to transfer technologies developed in federal laboratories to the private sector for commercial use. The Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer is a clearing-house for technologies developed through federal research laboratories. In addition, universities and other institutions use various mechanisms for transferring the technologies or knowledge to the private sector for civilian use. In this paper, the transfer of experimental and conceptual knowledge from research environment to civilian sector, covering aspects of engineering and social science is emphasized. The engineering examples deal with alleviating the nitrate pollution of rural domestic wells (a conceptual knowledge) and phytoremediation of hazardous wastes (an experimental knowledge). The social science examples deal with a culture assimilator for improving race relations (a conceptual knowledge) and a multimedia assimilator for global managers (an experimental knowledge). In each case, mechanisms and shortcomings involved in transfer-ring the knowledge for civilian use are demonstrated. We present a framework for knowledge transfer, and discuss the role of champions in knowledge transfer. We take the position that, though the attributes of the technology itself are important, knowledge transfer does require champions.

Climate Workshop urges interdisciplinary paleo simulations, analyses

In the past decade, climate research has made considerable progress in understanding and modeling climate on timescales of years to decades. At the same time, increasingly more proxies of climatic variables have been detected. Significant progress has been achieved in aligning this evidence in time.A workshop earlier this year on the state of the art of climate variability studies called for utilizing coupled atmosphere‐ocean general circulation models (GCMs) for simulating and analyzing paleoclimatic variability. A fresh attempt is warranted to systematically combine the skills of climate modelers, climate diagnosticians, and paleoclimatologists, agreed participants at the workshop, “Climate Variability on Multidecadal to Millennial Timescales,” sponsored jointly by the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute KNMI and the German Federal Research Laboratory GKSS.

A practical R&D project-selection scoring tool

An improved scoring tool for research and development (R&D) project evaluation and selection is presented that ranks project alternatives based on the criteria of relevance, risk, reasonableness, and return. The scoring algorithm explicitly incorporates tradeoffs among the evaluation criteria and calculates a relative measure of project value by taking into account the fact that value is a function of both merit and cost. Implementation of the selection method in a federal research laboratory is discussed. A comprehensive overview of the R&D project selection literature is included.

Public research and industrial innovations in Germany

This paper deals with the effects of publicly funded research at universities, polytechnics and federal research laboratories on industrial innovations in Germany. We discuss the characteristics of companies that benefit from the findings of public research institutions. In questioning 2300 companies, we found that less than one-tenth of product- or process-innovating firms introduced innovations between 1993 and 1995 that would not have been developed without public research. These new products amount to approximately 5% of all new product sales. Universities are cited by firms with publicly supported innovations as the most important source, although publicly financed laboratories get almost as many citations. Big science laboratories are almost invisible, suggesting that their technology transfer to industrial firms still lacks effectiveness. Firms also tend to cite research institutions that are located close to the firm. But contrary to the widely held opinion that proximity to public research institutions does promote collaboration between firms and public research and increase the amount of received knowledge spillovers, we found no higher probability of publicly supported innovations for firms in Germany that are located near universities or polytechnics. However, the firm's own R&D activities instead support the ability to absorb the findings of public research and turn them into innovations. Additionally, firms with high R&D intensities cite remote public research institutes more frequently than less R&D-intensive firms, suggesting that in Germany, high-technology does not depend on co-location of public and private research.

A State Telecommunications Architecture for Technology Transfer

This paper examines start-up operations of a videotex information service to transfer technical data from state and federal research laboratories to business and industry, state agencies, county government, and community groups. The study evaluates the demand for information, service operations, factors affecting adoption of the service including promotional and training efforts, and resource integration across cooperative state and national agencies.

Summer Research Appointments at Federal Research Laboratories

Summer Research Appointments at Federal Research Laboratories

Technology transfer: Research to commercial product

One of the most admired aspects of U.S. technology has been the ability to assimilate and commercialize new science and technology. In light of the rising international competition, there has been new emphasis placed on the commercialization of U.S. science and technology developed in the federal laboratories and universities and indpendent research laboratories. While federal research and development remains the focus of the majority of these laboratories, an additional goal is to facilitate the exploitation of the discoveries, patents, and copyrights developed at the laboratories.The transfer of technology to industrial partners and users is a complex task for a federal laboratory. Since the interaction with industry, as well as market knowledge and assessment of the needs of business users are beyond the charter of a federal research laboratory or university, new organizational mechanisms are required in order to obtain full commercial value from the laboratories' efforts. A study was instituted to examine selected organizational and policy arrangements for achieving the optimum commercial value from the science and technology research at federal or independent research and development laboratories or university laboratories sponsored and funded by the U.S. Government.

Summer Research Appointments at Federal Research Laboratories

Summer Research Appointments at Federal Research Laboratories

GALE

A cooperative research project to study winter cyclonic development on the east coast of the United States is being planned by an informal consortium of universities and federal research laboratories. Known by the acronym GALE (Genesis of Atlantic Lows Experiment), the project is designed to provide detailed information on the role of air‐sea interaction, boundary layer, and mesoscale processes in cyclogenesis and frontogenesis off the Carolina coast.Rapid cyclogenesis off the Carolina coast often leads to severe weather in the heavily populated northeast corridor. Recent examples include the Presidents' Day snowstorm of February 18–19, 1979, which deposited 60 cm of snow on the Middle Atlantic States; the April 6–7, 1982, snowstorm and windstorm in which more than 50 people lost their lives; and the February 11–12, 1983, blizzard that paralyzed the northeast with record‐breaking snowfall and freezing rain that caused 70 deaths. It is hoped that the detailed studies to be carried out in GALE will help improve the forecasting of such east coast cyclones.

A technology network for economic development

A technology delivery system designed to provide small and medium-sized businesses with improved access to technological resources for enhancing their productivity and competitiveness has been tested under controlled conditions in the southeastern United States. The demonstration project involved federal research laboratories, state universities, National Information Service and Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and technology users in the private sector. The results of the 18 month project are reported and assessed to identify the conditions for the establishment of a national technology network for small and medium sized firms.