The impact of public research contracts on scientific productivity

We analyse a competitive research-oriented public programme established in Spain, the Ramon y Cajal Programme, intended to offer contracts in public research centres to high-quality researchers. We study the effects of the programme on the ex post scientific productivity of its recipients, relative to non-granted applicants with comparable curricula at the time of application. The full sample results demonstrate that the programme has a positive and significant effect on the scientific productivity of the recipients, as measured both by the amount of published contribution and by the impact of their publications. Consequently, receiving a contract affects the quantity, but also increases the quality, of the contract recipients’ publications.     

Financing technology transfer: assessment of university-oriented proof-of-concept programmes

This study analyses the characteristics of the proof-of-concept (POC) programmes initiated by university and public research organisations in Europe, as a mechanism to address funding gaps and improve the transfer of research-based inventions to markets. We contribute to the literature on investment readiness of new ventures and on financing technology transfer by assessing the structure of such funding instruments and identifying critical success factors for their design and implementation. The analyses rely on seven in-depth case studies of university-oriented POCs in Europe.     

The next step—Space stations

The establishment of permanently manned orbital space stations has emerged as the next major goal in man's exploitation of space. This paper reviews the present status of space station programmes, and examines what forms the utilization of a research and manufacturing facility in earth orbit could take. Uncertainty over the expected returns from space stations now being developed for the 1990s, has raised the question of how the enormous investments involved can be justified. The commitment of large financial resources towards this single goal may have important policy implications for other areas of space development, as well as for issues of international cooperation and commercialization.     

Low-Tech, innovation and state aid: the Austrian case

This paper analyses innovation patterns of Austrian Low- and Medium Tech (LMT-) SMEs and how these companies are supported by public policy. It adds evidence to the claim that Low-Tech SMEs are actually more innovative than commonly thought and that supporting these industries might yield positive effects. The Austrian innovation system is diversified, yet programmes that aim at LMT innovations are scarce. LMT SMEs are surprisingly innovative, but rarely use available support measures, indicating that these measures may be too High-Tech-oriented. Relatively high additionality effects and impacts can be achieved, if innovative LMT projects are fostered.

Meta‐Analysis of Coefficient Alpha: A Reliability Generalization Study

Increasing precision of measurement is a goal of scientific advancement, but Nunnally's (1978) .70 benchmark for coefficient alpha (alpha) has remained the omnibus test for reliability for nearly 40 years. This likely arises due to there only being scattered empirical evidence of the degree to which the field has met or surpassed this standard. Using meta‐analytic techniques known as reliability generalization (RG), we cumulate alphas across 36 commonly used individual differences, attitudes, and behaviours from 1675 independent samples (N = 991,588). Our primary finding is that alphas almost always exceed .70 and generally fall above .80. In addition, we identified factors that moderate alpha including the specific measure used, the number of scale items, and the rater. The study provides baseline alphas that can be used for research planning and design; it also offers best practices for RG and notes the benefits of RG for understanding systematic fluctuations in reliability.     

The Network‐Performance Relationship in Knowledge‐Intensive Contexts—A Meta‐Analysis and Cross‐Level Comparison

This study examines the generalizability of the network‐performance relationship across individual and group levels, focusing on knowledge‐intensive contexts. Drawing on a meta‐analytical approach, we synthesize the results of 102 empirical studies to test whether network characteristics such as centrality, brokerage, and tie strength similarly influence the job performance of individuals and groups. Results show that while there are no differences in the direction of the network‐performance relationship across levels, there are substantial differences in magnitude. Individual performance profits more strongly from a high number of direct connections, whereas groups reap higher benefits from brokerage positions. Additional analyses reveal that the network measurement method, tie content, and performance criteria function as moderators of the network performance relationship, but their influence is consistent neither across network characteristics nor across levels. By meta‐analytically comparing and contrasting the network‐performance relationship for individuals and groups, we contribute to multilevel research on networks and organizations. Particularly, we move toward the development of a multilevel homology theory of networks. Implications for theory, practice, and future research are discussed. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

基于深度学习的少样本研究综述

基于大数据的深度学习算法越来越完善,然而如何解决训练样本数非常少的情况,是目前神经网络研究领域中一个非常重要且极具挑战的问题。首先,介绍了少样本问题的定义;接着将现有的少样本学习方法分为数据增强、度量学习和元学习三类,分别从方法所用模型、数据集以及相应的实验结果进行分析;最后,总结了现有方法的不足,探讨了未来少样本研究的方向。     

The many dimensions of historic preservation value: national and local designation,internal and external policy effects

This analysis examines the internal and external policy effects of national and local register programmes for historic preservation. Robust hedonic pricing models are crucial to informing policy proposals and understanding how property markets relate to urban heritage. Estimating a repeat-sales hedonic model with neighbourhood trends and spatial mixed models, novel to this literature, offers a marked improvement in terms of jointly identifying internal and external policy effects, comparing national and local designations, separating policy from heritage effects and estimating models robust to spatial dependence and trends in hedonic prices. Historic designation variables, while often individually insignificant in the model, are always jointly significant in explaining varying appreciation rates. Local districts exhibit no consistent price impacts across the models. Being located inside a national district confers a price premium that increases over time in the preferred model specification, while prices fall in national districts’ buffers after designation. The sensitivity of results to model specification raises questions about alternative approaches to spatial dependence in the data in the urban historic preservation context. Evidence of the influence of historic district designation on property turnover and renovation investments is also examined.     

关于空间军事系统研讨厅开发若干问题思考

空间军事系统综合集成研讨厅的开发研究是一项非常复杂的系统工程,本文通过对其方法论、系统结构、开发理念以及技术方面等进行了思考与探讨。认为在方法论上应理解与把握“物理-事理-人理（WSR）”方法论和“螺旋式推进（SPIRPO）”方法论,在系统结构上需采用“分布网络关联式的大系统结构”,树立CWME的研讨环境开发理念。文章重点研究了Agent技术与数据挖掘在空间军事系统综合集成研讨厅的开发中的应用,并得到相应的结论。