High-tech Projects Research Articles

Water, Energy and the Resource Consumption Puzzle: What about Hydrogen?

If you google “Resource Consumption”, then you will quickly find out that together with World Peace and Poverty this is one of the hottest topics on the global agenda. Interestingly, two of the most essential resources (potable water and clean air) are available basically free of any charge. No surprise then that these resources are becoming scarce. The market, defined as all actors on a given playing field, will not solve this effectively under the current rules of the game. It may solve it when it is too late, i.e. through means that no one will like.Balancing consumption and solving the puzzle drive our policy makers, and their actions tilt the playing field. It is because of their actions in the early ‘90s that we are discussing hydrogen infrastructures at Hydrogen Conferences today. Players and policy makers alike observe the same events that constitute the resource consumption puzzle. If we understand the puzzle better, then we can predict what policies to expect, which ones will stand, and which will not. And also, where adding value to solving the puzzle will be most effective, most needed and easiest, where support will flow to, and where we can most efficiently de-risk our new technologies.From the perspective of a venture capitalist, I will describe some of today's issues which every hydrogen start-up (every business to a larger or smaller extent) should address either directly or indirectly in their business plan:• How does the technology relate to the Resource Consumption Puzzle?• How effective is the business plan on the chosen playing field(s)?• How robust is the proposition under the shale gale?• What about the social sciences?Finally, I will give some examples of high tech projects in developing economies being implemented to the benefit of all involved, robustly supported by public policy makers, and that are de-risking propositions effectively.

Characteristics and techniques of successful high-technology project managers

Despite a plethora of tools, technology and software, successful management of big science and engineering projects remains problematic, with many imperfect project outcomes. While much research focuses on management processes, characteristics of high-tech mega-project managers themselves are less well explored. What are the personal and professional attributes, skills and exemplar initiatives that are ingredients in project success? In this paper literature from the last 30 years is consulted alongside fieldwork results from several current, large, engineering and science projects in Europe and Australia. In particular, high-tech project manager success traits and initiatives are examined and discussed. Beyond personal traits – some obvious, some not – positive correlations of success are apparent around project and team management attributes, including the use of task forces, information management, a mission assurance mindset, and approaches to project complexity. The role of codified knowledge (the PMBOK® Guide) is examined, and suggestions offered for practical application of the study outcomes.

Genomics initiative researches nine high-tech gene projects; Patients recruited for NHS genetic tests; CR UK unites with global groups to work on rare cancers

Genomics initiative researches nine high-tech gene projects; Patients recruited for NHS genetic tests; CR UK unites with global groups to work on rare cancers

Decision Based on Fuzzy Multi-Objective Programming Method of High-Tech Investment Portfolio

The expected rate of earnings and risk of high-tech projects are very fuzzy, and investors hope to get the expected rate of earnings maximization and risk minimization. Therefore, this paper establishes the model of fuzzy multi-objective programming method to select an optimal portfolio scheme. On the one hand, the objectives risk can be scattered, on the other hand investors can get ideal earnings. The example shows that this method to solve problems of portfolio investment decision is feasible and effective.

Collaboration trumps competition in high-tech project teams

The tension between competition and collaboration in teams raises a question how to balance between these two different strategies to enhance the performance of teams. It has been established that both competition and collaboration have a positive impact on team performance. However, given that measures that enhance competition tend to jeopardise collaboration and vice versa, it remains unclear how to balance the two in order to attain an optimal impact on performance. Building on quantitative data from 176 IT projects in Motorola and its affiliates, we analysed the influence of intra-team collaboration and competition on project performance. The results suggest a strong and broad positive influence of intra-team collaboration on project performance; but only a limited influence of intra-team competition. Subsequently, we discuss further implications to forming and managing effective teamwork in IT projects and potentially in other functional areas.

Real Options Literature Review

After 30 years of discussion and research, the academic community has established a complete theoretical system of real options and provided an excellent framework for the use of real options theory in the investment appraisal of high-tech projects. An option is an entitlement without any obligation and it has been used to describe a variety of management decisions in business investment. The description of management is effective and proper. Due to the introduction of real options theory, there has been a major breakthrough in the investment area. Project evaluation is the core content of bank credit risk assessment and business evaluation. The core content never changes from the investment evaluation framework to the credit risk evaluation framework. The project evaluation meets various needs of subject s in different ways. In this paper, the importance of real options is analyzed and the literature is reviewed

A risk evaluation method for the high-tech project investment based on uncertain linguistic variables

There are many uncertain factors in the high-tech project investment. It is necessary to use a scientific evaluation method in the high-tech investment. This paper proposes a risk evaluation method for a high-tech project investment. Firstly, the current situation of the research of a high-tech project investment is discussed. Then an evaluation indicators system is constructed and the evaluation procedure based on an uncertain linguistic weighted C-EOWA (ULWC-EOWA) operator is illuminated. Finally, this evaluation method is used in a practical example.

Investment Risks Assessment on High-tech Projects Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process and BP Neural Network

In view of the existing problems of investment risks assessment on high-tech industry projects such as a lack of systematic, with too much subjectivity and from the point to improve assessment efficiency and effectiveness, the paper combined Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with BP Neural Network to establish a new and suitable risk assessment model of high-tech projects. Firstly, we applied AHP to construct a comprehensive risk assessment index system and screened the assessment indexes according to their weights. On this basis, using MATLAB software with BP Neural Network model, we carried out example simulations and results were analyzed. The results showed that the combination model of Analytic Hierarchy Process with BP Neural Network model (AHP-BPNN) is effective.

A contextual understanding of projects—The importance of space and time

This article analyzes the managing of high-tech projects in complex and dynamic settings. Building on recent developments in organization theory and knowledge management, we focus on the importance ...

How Does Investors' Legal Protection Affect Productivity and Growth?

This paper analyzes the implications of investors' legal protection on aggregate productivity and growth. We have two main results. First, that better investors' legal protection can mitigate agency problems between investors and innovators and therefore expand the range of high-tech projects that can be financed by non-bank investors. Second, investors' legal protection shifts investment resources from less productive (medium-tech) to highly productive (high-tech) projects and therefore enhances economic growth. These results stem from two forces. On one hand, private investors' moral hazard problems (in which entrepreneurs shift investors' resources to their own benefit), and on the other hand innovators' risk of project termination by banks due to wrong signals about projects' probability of success. Our results are consistent with recent empirical studies that show a high correlation between legal investors' protection and the structure of the financial system as well as the economic performance at industry and macroeconomic levels.

Knowledge and Finance in Restructuring: a Look at the Russian Context

This paper discusses the short run advantages of the Russian economy, connected to natural resources on the one hand, and to the scientific and technological culture of the workforce on the other hand. It analyses the utilization of the accumulated financial resources, provided by the sale of natural resources, for investment in industrial and high-tech projects in the sphere of science-intensive production and financial control. A schema of the flexible reconstruction of the existing system of production with the aid of an appropriate credit policy by the Central Bank is proposed.JEL: O16, E58, P2

French experience of public-private sector cooperation in high technologies

Mechanisms of public—private cooperation in science-and-technology modernization are discussed. This cooperation is manifested in the financing by the state of major high-tech projects, aimed at modernizing the economy and sustaining the economic growth, as well as of small-scale and medium innovational enterprises. In 2005, France decided to diversify its innovational mechanisms in response to the report “Toward a New Industrial Policy” by Jean-Louis Beffa, president and CEO of Saint-Gobain. Specialized finance institutions have been founded and 66 “poles de competitivite” (“competitiveness clusters”) assigned, six of which are to implement global-scale projects. France’s experience of public-private cooperation for innovation can be useful for Russia too.

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray crystallographic analysis of human geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase

Abstract Human geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase (GGPS) is an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP) from farnesyldiphosphate and isopentenyldiphosphate. Reconbinant human GGPS was crystallized by the hanging-drop vapor diffusion method. Crystals were grown at 18°C using PEG 4000 as precipitant. Diffraction data were obtained to a resolution of 2.8 A from a single frozen crystal belonging to space group P1, with unit-cell parameters: a = 68.9 A, b = 107.7 A, c = 137.4 A, a = 99.6°, β = 97.6°, γ = 97.8°. * Supported by the National High-Tech Project (Grant No. 2002BA711A12), the National Basic Research Development Programs of China Project (Grant No. G1999075602) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30221003)

Development of novel and sensitive sensors based on microcantilever of atomic force microscope*

Abstract Recently, the development of sensors based on microfabricated cantilevers of atomic force microscope (AFM) has attracted considerable attention from the designers of novel physical, chemical, and biological sensors. Many kinds of sensors have been developed talking the advantages of its high-resolution imaging, force measurement and force sensitivity, such as immunosensor and DNA biosensor and the sensors for detection of intermolecular interaction. This paper reviews the progress made in this field and discusses the signal transfer principles by which the design of the sensor is achived. * Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 20135010), the Major State Basic Research Development Program of china (2002CB513100-10), National High-Tech Project (2003AA302250) and Key project of Hunan Province Technology Plan (0399Y1006).

Tn5-mutagenesis and indentification of atr operon and trpE gene responsible for indole-3-acetic acid synthesis in Azospirillum brasilense Yu62*

Abstract To bring more information about synthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) from Azospirillum brasilense, a Tn5-insertion library of A. brasilense Yu62 was constructed and subjected to screening for IAA producing mutants. Two mutants with decreased IAA levels, named as A3 and A24, were isolated. The sequence analysis of loci tagged showed that the Tn5-1063a was located in the atrA gene encoidng GntR family transcriptional regulator and trpE gene encoding component I of anthranilate synthase respectively. At the same time, atrC were clustered in an operon. Mutagenesis and complementation studies showed that atrA and atrC were involved in IAA synthesis. IAA levels of trpE mutant and wild-type strain could be improved by adding anthranilate into the medium. *Supported by National High-Tech Project (Grant No. 2003AA241170), and the Major State Basic Research Development Programm of China(Grant No. 001CB108904)

Representation and share of part feature information in web-based parts library

Abstract Web-based parts library is important to Collaborative Design, Concurrent Engineering and Supply Chain Management System. Other than the process of product design, the representation and share of parts family information and part feature information are paid more attention in web-based parts library. Based on research of a web-based parts library system, some key technologies are put forward in this paper, which are a web-based part data description norm on data dictionary, a feature-based neutral representation of part geometric information and a hoops-based visualization method of part feature model. All these realize the share of information of parts library in and among enterprises. The above achievements are used in China National 863 High-Tech Project. Besides, the achievements have been embodied in the international standard raised by China National Institute of Standardization and provided the technical foundation to propose the international standards with Chinese independent intellectual property right.

Antibodies induced by multi-epitope vaccine showed inhibitory activity against heterologous influenza A virus (H3N2)*

In this study , recognition of 4 recombinant viral proteins (GST-NHA1) by the antibodies induced by multi-epitope vaccine was testified. Inhibitory activities of these antibodies were also investigated in viro against four heterologous influenzas A viruses (H3N2). Three epitope-specific antibodies purified by affinity chromatography could reduce the plaque formation. Interestingly, the three neutralizing antibodies in combination showed obvious enhancement of inhibitory activity, suggesting that the development of recombinant multi-epitope vaccine might be an effective way against viral mutation. Supported by National High-Tech Project (Grant No. 2003AA219141) and National Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30221003)

Defining a project life-cycle for implementating a high-tech project in rural southern africa - a case study

Bridging the gap between first world practices and third world needs remains a topic for continuous debate, research and experimentation. Although the practices of project management are deemed to be generally and universally applicable, the success rate of projects in the developing world is questionable.

JWA—A Novel Environmental-Responsive Gene, Involved in Estrogen Receptor-Associated Signal Pathway in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Carcinoma Cells

The pyrethroid insecticide fenvalerate and the organophosphorus insecticide phoxim are now the most widely used agents for indoor pest control in China. Fenvalerate was shown to mimic estrogenic activity, whereas phoxim did not induce similar effects. Our previous studies demonstrated that JWA, a novel retinoic acid-inducible and cytoskeleton-associated gene, is also a potential environmental-responsive gene with increased expression to oxidative and heat-shock stresses. In the present study, the influence of both fenvalerate and phoxim was examined on the expression of JWA in MCF-7 (ER+) and MDA-MB-231 (ER−) human breast carcinoma cell lines. Concentrations of 0.01, 1, and 100 μmol/L of fenvalerate or phoxim were selected to treat both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells at 1, 3, and 5 d, respectively. The MTT results only showed that fenvalerate stimulated MCF-7 cell proliferation. Western blot assay was employed to detect the expressions of JWA and heat-shock proteins (hsp27 and hasp70). The results showed that after treatment with fenvalerate, both JWA and hsp70 showed similar expression patterns in the both cell lines; however, all the expression patterns of JWA, hsp27, and hsp70 were evidently reversed between ER+ and ER− cells. In addition, phoxim-treated cells showed a concentration-dependent relationship in JWA expression at all time points. These results suggest that JWA has similar functions with respect to hsp27 and hsp70, and might be a novel signal molecule in estrogen receptor-related signal transduction pathways in mammalian cells.This work was partially supported by the following grants: National Natural Science Foundation of China (30170812), the Foundation of High-tech Key Project, Education Department, Jiangsu Province (JH01-049), the National Key Basic Research and Development Project (973) (grant 2002CB512900), and the Project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (grants 2001-50 and 2000-026).

Pressure Prediction for High‐Temperature and High‐Pressure Formation and Its Application to Drilling in the Northern South China Sea

Abstract There are plentiful potential hydrocarbon resources in the Yinggehai and Qiongdongnan basins in the northern South China Sea. However, the special petrol‐geological condition with high formation temperature and pressure greatly blocked hydrocarbon exploration. The conventional means of drills, including methods in the prediction and monitoring of underground strata pressure, can no longer meet the requirements in this area. The China National Offshore Oil Corporation has allocated one well with a designed depth of 3200 m and pressure coefficient of 2.3 in the Yinggehai Basin (called test well in the paper) in order to find gas reservoirs in middle‐deep section in the Miocene Huangliu and Meishan formations at the depth below 3000 m. Therefore, combined with the “863” national high‐tech project, the authors analyzed the distribution of overpressure in the Yinggehai and Qiongdongnan basins, and set up a series of key technologies and methods to predict and monitor formation pressure, and then apply the results to pressure prediction of the test well. Because of the exact pressure prediction before and during drilling, associated procedure design of casing and their allocation in test well has been ensured to be more rational. This well is successfully drilled to the depth of 3485 m (nearly 300 m deeper than the designed depth) under the formation pressure about 2.3 SG (EMW), which indicate that a new step in the technology of drilling in higher temperature and pressure has been reached in the China National Offshore Oil Corporation.