Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Développement de la R.P.P'

Con questo elaborato si è eseguito lo studio di fattibilità di un banco didattico per il Corso di Laurea magistrale in Ingegneria meccanica - indirizzo Meccanica per l’automazione. Le specifiche per la progettazione del banco sono state dettate dall’esigenza di realizzare un meccanismo a più gradi di libertà controllato tramite opportuna scheda elettronica con l’obiettivo di avere un modello sperimentale sul quale approfondire alcuni aspetti di modellazione cinematica e dinamica, nonchè testare differenti strategie di controllo. Si è quindi pensato ad un braccio robotico a due gradi di libertà mobile in un piano verticale, controllato attraverso l’attuazione di una coppia rotoidale e di una prismatica, per la manipolazione di oggetti afferrati per mezzo di una ventosa ad attuazione pneumatica. Definita in prima istanza l’architettura di massima del sistema, grazie a opportuni calcoli di dimensionamento sono stati effettuati la scelta dei componenti commerciali ed il progetto delle parti da costruire. Si è quindi proposto un modello CAD in ambiente SolidWorks che ha permesso, fra l’altro, di definire le proprietà inerziali dei membri mobili. Queste ultime sono state sfruttate per eseguire simulazioni cinetostatiche con il software multibody Adams. Grazie ai risultati così ottenuti, è stato possibile eseguire il dimensionamento degli attuatori (motori brushless e relative trasmissioni) e la conseguente scelta a catalogo. Una volta selezionati gli azionamenti e gli altri componenti commerciali, si sono definiti i disegni costruttivi dei componenti da realizzare ad hoc ed è stata avviata la fase di approvvigionamento del materiale. Un possibile sviluppo del banco prova prevede l’introduzione di un’ulteriore coppia rotoidale attuata (da interporre con asse verticale fra il telaio e l’attuale primo membro), per ottenere un manipolatore dotato di moto spaziale.

Peintre neo-classique, directeur du south kensington museum puis de la national gallery, president de l'academie royale et enfin theoricien de l'esthetique, e. J. Poynter etait, du fait de la multiplicite de ses fonctions et de ses talents, un membre influent dans le milieu artistique de la seconde moitie du xixeme siecle. Mettant l'accent sur le role de la tradition, une bonne education et une predisposition naturelle pour les arts, ses preceptes se manifestent de facon tres claire dans sa propre peinture, ou rigueur intellectuelle et imagination prolifique se melent pour aboutir a une oeuvre d'art telle que les maitres italiens du quattrocento pouvaient la concevoir. Par ailleurs, il developpe l'idee de fonctionnalisme dans la beaute des objets, soulignant que cette derniere n'existe pas a l'etat brut, mais se faconne grace au travail conjugue du corps et de l'esprit. L'art est donc le receptable des qualites superieures de l'homme, et aussi le lien entre son caractere fini, parce qu'il est mortel, et infini du fait de la perennite de l'oeuvre creee<br>A neo-classical painter, director of the south kensington museum and then of the national gallery, president of the royam academy and art theorist, e. J. Poynter was, because of the multiplicity of his functions and gifts, an infleuntial member in the artistic field during the second half of the nineteenth century. Putting the emphasis on the part played by tradition, a good education and a natural bent towards arts, his precepts are made obvious in the pictures he painted thankd to the fine mingling of both his intellectual exactness and his bright imagination, and thay come to a masterpiece such as concieved by the italian masters of the quattrocento. In other respects, he develops the idea of functionalism in the beauty of objects and underlines that the latter does not exist as such but is shaped thanks to the combined efforts of the body and the mind. Thus, art is the repository of the noblest qualities of man, as well as the link between his finite character because he is mortal, and his infinite one because of the perenniality of the created work

Nous avons étudié la diffusion élastique et inélastique de protons sur le noyau 22O. La réaction a été réalisée au GANIL en cinématique inverse. Le faisceau secondaire de 22O d'énergie 46. 6 MeV/A et d'intensité ~1000 pps bombardait une cible de (CH2)n. Le proton de recul a été détecté dans l'ensemble silicium à pistes MUST. Les distributions angulaires des états fondamental et 21+ ont été mesurées. Nous avons utilisé deux approches pour les analyser. La première approche, phénoménologique, utilise la paramétrisation de Becchetti&amp;Greenlees et CH89 pour construire le potentiel optique d'interaction proton-noyau. Elle a fournit la valeur du paramètre de déformation de 22O - bp,p'=0. 23±0. 04 qui est plus basse que celle du noyau 20O. Le rapport Mn/Mp=1. 46±0. 50 a été déduit. Dans la deuxième approche, microscopique, le potentiel optique est calculé par folding et par la méthode JLM à partir des densités et des densités de transitions HFB et QRPA respectivement. Le rapport Mn/Mp=2. 5±1. 0 a été obtenu. Contrairement au noyau 20O, le comportement de 22O, rappelle celui des noyaux doublement magiques et suggère donc une forte fermeture de couche à N=14. L'étude des noyaux exotiques par réactions directes a motivé le développement et la construction d'un nouveau multi-détecteur MUST II, dédié à la détection de particules chargées légères. Dans ce travail nous avons présenté le cahier des charges de l'étage CsI(Tl) et les testes des quatre détecteurs CsI, construits par la société SCIONIX<br>Elastic and inelastic proton scattering on the unstable nuclei 22O was measured in inverse kinematics at the GANIL facility. A secondary beam of 22O at 46. 6 MeV/A with intensity of ~1000 pps, impinged on a (CH2)n target. Recoiling protons were detected in the silicon strip array MUST. We measured the angular distributions of the ground and 21+ states of 22O. Phenomenological and microscopic analysis of the data were performed. The phenomenological analysis using a global potential parameterisation of Becchetti&amp;Greenlees and CH89 yields a value of the deformation parameter bp,p' =0. 23±0. 04 for 22O, much lower than that of 20O. The ratio of neutron and proton matrix element Mn/Mp is found equal to 1. 46±0. 50. The microscopic analysis used of densities and transition densities calculated within HFB and QRPA models respectively. Optical potential were obtained through both folding and JLM procedures. A ratio Mn/Mp=2. 5±1. 0 is deduced. Contrary of 20O, 22O behaviours like a doubly magic nucleus, suggesting a pronounced sub-shell closure at N=14. To develop the study of direct reactions induced by radioactive beams, we have developed and built, a new multi-detector MUST II devoted to light charged particle detection. In this work we established the requirements for the CsI(Tl) detector stage, and test four CsI detector prototypes, constructed by the SCIONIX company

L'objectif de cette these est d'etudier la valeur inconsciente de l'element liquide dans "a la recherche du temps perdu" (r. T. P. ) de marcel proust, en partant du theme de l'aquarium. Cette recherche repose sur une approche psychanalytique d'un texte litteraire et se refere a la methode mise au point par le professeur jean belleminnoel. L'aquarium de la r. T. P. Est un espace imaginaire, transparent, clos d'une maniere generale, mais pas systematiquement ferme. Il est empli d'une eau artificielle soit douce, soit marine, dans laquelle baigne un echantillonnage de population amphibie d'origine diverse, terrestre, marine et mythologique. Cet aquarium secrete une atmosphere humide et brillante et exhale une sensation d'azur profond, de fraicheur et de plaisir. L'image de l'aquarium se trouve sous-jacente a un certain nombre de lieux cles ou se deroule la r. T. P. Elle apparait comme profondement liee au theme de la nourriture et de la femme. En fait l'aquarium est la structure qui revele la vie intime du narrateur et grace a laquelle peut s'exprimer le conflit cache que represente le desir de sa mere et l'inaccessibilite de celle-ci. A cet egard il n'a pas que l'attrait d'un univers lumineux, mais s'ouvre sur des profondeurs inquietantes. Solution de compromis, l'aquarium en definitive symbolise l'echec dont le constat est peut-etre le ressort determinant qui amene le narrateur a entreprendre son oeuvre ecrite<br>The objective of this thesis is the study of the unconscious value of the liquid element in marcel proust's "a la recherche du temps perdu" (rtp), starting with the theme of the aquarium. This research stands on a psychanalytic approach to a litterary text and refers to the method invented by professor jean bellemin-noel. The rtp's aquarium is an imaginary space, transparent, closed in a general way but not systematically shut in. It is filled with artificial water, either fresh or marine, in which bathes a simpling of an amphibian population of varied origins : terrestrial, marine, or mythological. This aquarium secretes a damp and sparkling atmosphere, and exhales a sensation of deep azure, coolness and pleasure. The image of the aquarium happens to be subjacent to several key spots where the rtp takes place. The rtp appears to be deeply tied up to the themes of nourishment and of women. As a matter of fact, the aquarium is the structure that reveals the narrator's intimate life and with which his hidden conflict between the desire for his mother and her inacessibility can be expressed. In this respect, it not only has the appeal of a luminous universe but also opens on to disquieting depths. A solution of compromise, the aquarium is in short, the symbol of the failure whose ascertainty may be the decisive resort that leads the narrator to undertake his written work

Nous avons étudié la diffusion élastique et inélastique de protons sur le noyau $^(22)$O. La réaction a été réalisée au GANIL en cinématique inverse. Le faisceau secondaire de$ ^(22)$O d'énergie 46.6 MeV/A et d'intensité ~1000 pps bombardait une cible de (CH_2)n. Le proton de recul a été détecté dans l'ensemble silicium à pistes MUST. Les distributions angulaires des états fondamental et 2_1^+ ont été mesurées. Nous avons utilisé deux approches pour les analyser. La première approche, phénoménologique, utilise la paramétrisation de Becchetti et Greenlees et CH89 pour construire le potentiel optique d'interaction proton-noyau. Elle a fourni la valeur du paramètre de déformation de ^(22)O - Béta_(p,p)'=0.23±0.04 qui est plus basse que celle du noyau ^(20)O. Le rapport M_n/M_p=1.46±0.50 a été déduit. Dans la deuxième approche, microscopique, le potentiel optique est calculé par folding et par la méthode JLM à partir des densités et des densités de transitions HFB et QRPA respectivement. Le rapport M_n/M_p=2.5±1.0 a été obtenu. Contrairement au noyau ^(20)O, le comportement de^(22)O, rappelle celui des noyaux doublement magiques et suggère donc une forte fermeture de couche à N=14. L'étude des noyaux exotiques par réactions directes a motivé le développement et la construction d'un nouveau multi-détecteur MUST II, dédié à la détection de particules chargées légères. Dans ce travail nous avons présenté le cahier des charges de l'étage CsI(Tl) et les tests des quatre détecteurs CsI, construits par la société SCIONIX.

Indium Phosphide epitactic layers grown by MOCVD and lightly doped with Zn and Mg (p-type) have been studied by Hall effect measurements and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS). The Zn-doped samples showed a uniform distribution of the acceptor concentration as a function of depth. Mg doped samples showed strong Mg concentration gradients, with substantial diffusion into the substrate. An electrical transport model has been developed for each of the previous cases. These models provided excellent agreement with experiment. The uniformly Zn-doped samples have been used for a detailed study of hopping conduction. Excellent quantitative agreement can be reached between theory and experiment both in the variable range hopping regime and in the nearest neighbor hopping regime. The saturation of the latter regime has been observed, and a model has been found in qualitative agreement with it. An interpretation of the low temperature data on the basis of the presence of a Coulomb gap in the impurity band density of states is not appropriate.

Le cameroun est un pays de l'afrique centrale. Independant en 1960, rencontre des problemes socio-economiques d'un etat moderne. Ses structures sociales traditionnelles pratiquent une economie de subsistance et ignorent l'entreprise. Pourtant la survie des nations repose sur la performance economique des entreprises. L'etat du cameroun a contribue a la formation de grandes societes para-publiques avec les investisseurs etrangers. Apres deux decennies, l'echec de l'experience. Ce modele de developpement n'a pas permis le decollage economique attendu. L'entreprise camerounaise a manque d'une zone de liberte autorisant la competition. Le clan et la tribu l'ont etouffee. L'administration publique et une gestion complaisante ont empeche l'initiative. Le cameroun oriente son developpement sur la p. M. E. Cette option lui reclame de nouvelles voies de promotion et d'encadrement de l'economie, de la science et de la culture. Aux promoteurs nationaux desormais de parvenir a maitriser les principes de l'organisation de la gestion. On doit assigner les objectifs de competitivite et de performance. A cette p. M. E. , il faut integrer l'entreprise comme partenaire dans ce milieu communautaire. Favoriser ainsi le developpement du cameroun<br>Cameroon is a country of central africa. Independent since 1960, cameroon faces the social and economic problems of a modern state. Its traditional social structures conserve an economy of subsistence. Business undertaking is unknown. However, the survival of nations depends upon the economical performance of enterprises undertaking. The state of cameroon has contributed to the making up of great para-public societies which need foreign investments. After two decades, this experience is a bright failure. This development model has not permitted the economic take off expected. The cameroonian business undertaking missed the area of freedom authorising the competition. The clan and the tribe have suffocated the business undertaking. The public administration and over obliging management have prevented the initiative. Cameroon orientates its development on little and middle enterprises. This option asks for new ways of promoting and training the economy, the science and the culture. From now on, the national promoters should master the principles of organization and management. One must allot the aims of competitivity and performance to the little and middle enterprises. One should integrate the business undertaking as partner into the community environment in order to favour in this way the self development of cameroon

La mia tesi analizzerà l'impatto che la R&S ha sulla responsabilità sociale delle aziende. L'analisi si rifà alla teoria basata sulla risorse (resource-based view) perché riconosce esplicitamente l'importanza delle risorse immateriali. Sia le attività di R & S che quelle di CSR possono creare risorse che portano alla formazione di un vantaggio competitivo. Inoltre, l'impiego di tali attività può migliorare il benessere della comunità e soddisfare le aspettative degli stakeholder.

This dissertation is about public research and development (R&D) subsidies to support private firms doing innovative activities and quantitative impact evaluation of the policy on total factor productivity (TFP) change and additional R&D effort. Public R&D subsidization as a public R&D policy, beside different types of public interventions, has been widely used by governments to stimulate private R&D. These policies aim to fill the gap between the private and social rates of returns by encouraging business enterprises to spend on additional R&D, produce more innovation output and inventions, or change their innovative behavior. These changes can be carried out either individually or in collaboration with other entities. One ultimate goal of R&D policy is increasing the total factor productivity and relative performance both at firm and aggregate levels. This study deals with direct place-based public R&D subsidies and empirically measures the effects of this type of public incentives on productivity growth and R&D input additionality. In order to evaluate the policy effect, a quasi-experimental counterfactual setting for subsidized (treated) and non-subsidized (non-treated) firms can be framed thank to the characteristics and mechanism of the local R&D program in the Province of Trento in Italy. The average treatment effect of the policy on target variables is measured for subsidized units (Average treatment effect on treated: ATET) and for the whole population of the firms (Average treatment effect: ATE), using techniques capable of tackling the problems of endogeneity and selection bias which arise in empirical evaluation studies. Propensity score matching (PSM) and structural modeling methodologies are used to measure the effects of the R&D subsidies on target variables, TFP change and additional R&D expenditure, respectively. The former approach is non-parametric and does not assume a functional form for the effect of policy on R&D and productivity change, while the latter models the optimizing behavior of the firm (agent) and the public agency, searching for an equilibrium in a pre-determined game theoretical framework. Although the PSM method takes advantage of no pre-defined structure assumption, however and in contrary, the structural model with simultaneous equations, takes into account the effect of unobservables on subsidized firms’ selection procedure, beside R&D spillovers effect. In order to design the evaluation framework to estimate ATE and ATET on the target variable of interest (TFP change), we have built a firm-level panel dataset (maximum 5 years of information) constructed by combination and merge of datasets related to public (provincial) R&D policy, firms’ characteristics, firms’ R&D activities and TFP change measures. The time span of the dataset allows us to capture the effects in both short-term and long run, consequently tracing the short and long term effects of the R&D program. This helps us to consider the usual longer effect lag an innovation policy entails, specifically on a target variable such as productivity and a treatment such as innovation incentive, which the effects may take time to be realized in comparison with other types of outcomes and investment policies. The dataset represents the outcome of a long process of combining and merging various datasets related to firms’ financial statements and balance sheet (AIDA: Italian company information and business intelligence) and APIAE’s R&D policy information provided by ISPAT. TFP change and its decompositions, technical efficiency change and technological frontier change are realized using Malmquist Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. DEA takes a system approach towards the firm as decision making unit (DMU) and only applies the input(s) and output(s) measures to calculate the relative (in)efficiency of the firms. Malmquist method based on index theory, captures the (in)efficiency change and the technological frontier movement within a time interval. TFP change measures are calculated by CRS output-oriented DEA dual model using a new package introduced in STATA software and merged into the reference dataset described previously. To sum up, after the formation and construction of dataset by combining and merging different datasets, treatment effect analysis is carried out using PSM nearest neighbor and kernel estimators. The balancing property satisfaction on pre-treatment observable factors (age and size in our setting) is primarily investigated and propensity distribution graphs have been also provided. Taking into account the dataset features, R&D subsidies effect is measured for manufacturing and ICT industries (using 4 techniques to measure both ATE and ATET), beside low-medium technology and high-tech industries classifications (Both ATE and ATET). Moreover, the subsidies effect on TFP measures have also been measured for different categories of selection procedures. Results show heterogenous and mixed effect of R&D subsidies based on different settings of evaluation (sectors and selection categories), targeted outcome, PSM method (different PSM algorithms for nearest neighbor and kernel) and time of the effect (short-term or long run). The complete results have been discussed in detail in the related sections in chapter three. To address the effect of unobservable factors, beside spillover effect on R&D subsidies allocation and the effect on outcome, a structural model is estimated using a cross-sectional dataset. The dataset is formed by merging R&D policy-related (linked to Provincial Law LP 6/99 enforced by provincial agency for the promotion of economic activities :APIAE) dataset and firms’ determinants provided by ISPAT (Statistical institute of Province of Trento).This approach complements the drawbacks due to estimation using PSM methodology. However, the pre-defined functional form for equations is a limitation of this approach. The structural model applied includes application decision, selection (subsidies allocation) and R&D investment equations to be turned into econometric equations for empirical estimation. The context and dataset features allow for different empirical modifications with respect to the benchmark model applied. The results determine the effect of firm (project) characteristics on all stages of the subsidization game. Size, age, exporting status, board size and sector are main factors being investigated. The results show not only there is no additional R&D expenditure, but also some crowding out of subsidies occurs. The base model is determined in such a format which makes it possible to evaluate the spillover effect and spillover rate of R&D spending as well. The results show that on average half (50%) of each euro spent on R&D spill overs. The results shed light on the effects and impacts of a place-based R&D policy on TFP change ,R&D additionality and spillovers, while suggesting policy implications to the local public authorities. Furthermore, the design and process of impact evaluation using two different complementary approaches in a new context on a different target variable (TFP change in addition to classical input additionality variable) can be referred and applied in any policy evaluation related studies. In the following, chapter one deals with the theoretical and empirical reasons for the existence of different public R&D policies based on Schumpeterian growth theory, spillovers effect and tackling market failure. It further provides a review of R&D and innovative activity indices at different levels of analysis (regional, national and international) and reviews the literature of empirical innovation policy evaluation studies related to the effect of R&D policy on additionality. The review concerns both micro and macro perspectives in approaching public R&D policy and the impact of the policy on additionalities and TFP growth. Studies in R&D policy usually concern either the macro growth accounting approach and measure the effect of R&D policies on aggregate growth indices regardless of pointing out to micro foundation effects leading to the aggregate level changes or they only focus on the micro-econometric firm-level evaluation without addressing the relationship between firms’ additional R&D activities and the economic growth. Moreover, the R&D activities expenditure and growth indices at international, EU, national (Italy) and regional (Trento Province) have also been briefly pointed out and tracked over time, to realize the practical importance of R&D incentives. In order to introduce and spot the areas this research addresses, the traditional market failure and the logic and reasons behind public R&D policies (aimed at increasing positive externalities and R&D spillovers) and subsequently different innovation policy instruments and their interaction with firms’ R&D decision making have been reviewed. This provides a comprehensive perspective over the importance and the forms of R&D policies. Chapter two primarily discusses about the effect of R&D subsidies on TFP change. The discussion addresses the relationship between R&D and total factor productivity (TFP) as a channel which subsidies may affect TFP. In addition, other channels and interactions which can explain the effect of R&D subsidies on TFP change and the components of TFP change, will be investigated and discussed. Afterwards, in line with the review of the previous chapter, the empirical literature of studies dealing with evaluation of the effect of R&D subsidies on TFP (as a different outcome variable from additionality variables discussed in the previous chapter) will be reviewed. This theoretical background helps us to shape the R&D policy evaluation framework to investigate the direct casual impact of R&D subsidization policy on target outcomes including TFP change (Chapter 3) and R&D expenditure (Chapter 4). Finally, taking into account the evaluation framework, we hypothesize the research questions based on the theoretical concepts and literature review discussed through the previous and current chapters. Chapter three measures the effect of the provincial R&D subsidies on technical efficiency and technological frontier change as the decomposing elements of productivity change. It empirically measures the impact of R&D subsidies on productivity change using counterfactual treatment effect analysis. Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) based on the non-parametric method of Data Envelopment Analysis (CRS output-oriented dual DEA model) is applied to measure the productivity change and the disentangled elements of productivity change. The chapter has contributed to the literature in some different aspects. The main focus of this chapter is measuring the effects of R&D subsidies on decomposing elements of TFP, technical efficiency and technological frontier change. In the whole literature, there is only one other similar work in which the effects of R&D subsidies on TFP decomposed components have been assessed. There are few other papers in which they measure the impact of other type of investment subsidies (mainly capital subsidies) on targeted variables of TFP decompositions. However, they all use a parametric approach to measure the TFP components in contrary to non-parametric Malmquist DEA method applied in our study making no predefined assumption about the production function. The subsidies effect evaluation is implemented using both PSM nearest neighbor and kernel methods (to check the robustness) to measure the average treatment effect of R&D subsidies on subsidized (treated) and all (the population) firms labeled as ATET (average treatment effect on treated) and ATE (Average treatment effect), respectively. The analysis is mainly carried out in manufacturing and ICT sectors as two main sectors in which R&D incentives allocations occur. The elaboration on classification of firms in different main industries based on ATECO 2007 system of firms’ economic activity coding has been carried out. It has also been defined and described in detail how 6-digit industry code is categorized into sectors. Another important feature of this study different with a considerable share of empirical literature, is construction of a panel dataset on subsidies allocation and firms’ characteristics which allows us to capture the effect of the policy both in short term and long run (maximum of 5 years). Moreover, the effect of the evaluation based on two different types of selection and allocation procedures (automatic, evaluative (combined with negotiation method) is implemented. The limitations of this chapter imposed by the methodology used, are excluding the effect of unobservable factors on selection process and not taking into account the spillovers effect. Consequently, Chapter’s four structural modeling puts effort to overcome these restrictions and suggest a complementary approach. Chapter four empirically estimates an equilibrium oriented structural game model to investigate the relationship between firms’ characteristics with application cost (application decision equation), spillover rate (subsidization equation) and R&D investment (investment equation). The chapter reviews, modifies and estimates a structural model describing the mechanism through which the R&D subsidization policy influences R&D activity and the R&D spillover rate. The empirical contribution of this chapter is proposing a simplified model of a reference 4-staged game model with a Nash Bayesian Equilibrium (NBE), based on the contextual setting of the region under study and data availability. The advantage of using this structural model is the ability to assume spillovers effect. This optimization approach relaxes the incapability of evaluation approach used in Chapter three to assume the presence of spillover effect due to the violation of Stable Unit Treatment Value Assumption (SUTVA). Moreover, chapter four takes into account the effect of unobservables on selection procedure and targeted variable, while in chapter three the unobservables are assumed uncorrelated with selection (subsidy) variable and the outcome. Nevertheless, opposed to structural modelling, the method used in chapter three does not assume any parametric form to evaluate the impact. Hence, chapter three and chapter four complement each other in measuring the impact of R&D policy on targeted variables. The empirical evaluations and results of both final chapters are explained and concluded in the related essays. Moreover, the features and contribution of chapters will be restated in the abstract at the beginning of each chapter.

In this thesis we study the so-called ``big Heegner points'' introduced and first studied by Ben Howard. By construction these are global cohomology classes, with values in the Galois representation associated to a twisted Hida family, interpolating in weight 2 the twisted Kummer images of CM points.In the first part, we relate the higher weight specializations of the big Heegner point of conductor one to the p-adic etale Abel-Jacobi images of Heegner cycles. This is based on a new p-adic limit formula of Gross-Zagier type obtained in the recent work [BDP] of Bertolini-Darmon-Prasanna, a formula that we extend to a setting allowing arbitrary ramification at p. As a first consequence of the aforementioned relation, we deduce an interpolation of the p-adic Gross-Zagier formula of Nekovar over a Hida family.In the second part, we extend some of these formulas in the anticyclotomic direction, and find that the p-adic L-function introduced in [BDP] can be obtained as the image of a compatible sequence of big Heegner points of p-power conductor via a generalization of the Coleman power series map. By an application of Kolyvagin's method of Euler systems, we then exploit this alternate construction of the p-adic L-function to establish certain new cases of the Bloch-Kato conjecture for theRankin-Selberg convolution of a cusp form with a theta series of higher weight, and deduce one divisibility in the associated anticyclotomic Iwasawa main conjecture.<br>Cette thèse est consacrée aux "points de Heegner en famille" introduits par Ben Howard. Par définition, ce sont des classes de cohomologie globales à valeurs dans la représentation Galoisienne associée à une famille de Hida, interpolant en poids 2 les images de points CM par l'application de Kummer. La première partie de cette thèse relie les spècialisations de la classe de Howard en poids k>2 aux images de certains cycles de Heegner par l'application d'Abel-Jacobi p-adique. Notre démonstration de cette relation repose sur une formule de Gross-Zagier p-adique obtenue dans les travaux récents [BDP] de Bertolini-Darmon-Prasanna, et que nous étendons ici à un cadre permettant de travailler avec des formes modulaires de niveau divisible par p. On déduit de nos résultats une interpolation de la formule de Gross-Zagier p-adique de Nekovar sur une famille de Hida. La deuxième partie étend la définition de la classe de Howard "le long de la droite anticyclotomique", pour obtenir une classe de cohohomologie à deux variables. On montre que la fonction L p-adique de Hida-Rankin, telle que décrite dans [BDP], est l'image de cette classe par une généralisation de l'isomorphisme de Coleman. La méthode des systèmes d'Euler de Kolyvagin, telle que réinventée par Kato et Perrin-Riou, permet d'en déduire certains nouveaux cas de la conjecture de Bloch-Kato pour la convolution de Rankin-Selberg d'une forme parabolique avec une série thêta de poids supérieur, et une divisibilité dans la conjecture principale de la théorie d'Iwasawa associée à cette famille de motifs.

In response to the globalizing queerness argument and the cultural specificity argument in queer cultural studies, this thesis examines the emerging modern queer identity and culture in the contemporary People’s Republic of China (PRC) in an intercultural context. Recognizing Chinese queer culture as an unstable, transforming and complex collection of congruent and/or contesting meanings, not only originated in China but also traveling across cultures, this thesis aims to exorcise the reified images of Chinese queers, or tongzhi, to contribute to the understanding of a dynamic construction of Chinese queerness at the turn of a new century, and to lend insight on the complicity of the elements at play in this construction by analyzing the underground films with queer content made in the PRC.

La premiere partie des travaux est consacree a la caracterisation de ceramiques d'oxyde de zinc non stchiometrique constituant de base des varistances. Le spectre obtenu presente une raie dont la position est conforme a celle decrite dans la litterature et est caracteristique de la non stchiometrie de l'oxyde. La forme de raie, dissymetrique, indique la presence dans le reseau cristallin de l'oxyde de zinc d'electrons de conduction liberes par l'ionisation des defauts. L'analyse numerique de cette forme de raie montre qu'elle est bien decrite par la theorie de dyson. La raie observee doit etre attribuee aux electrons de conduction et non aux defauts eux-memes. L'auteur met en evidence l'importance du parametre taille des grains dans les varistances. Dans une seconde partie, sont decrits les resultats d'une etude realisee sur des echantillons d'oxyde de zinc et de bismuth dope successivement par l'oxyde de cobalt de manganese, de cuivre et de chrome. La methode de fabrication et les concentrations des differents oxydes sont conformes a celles utilisees lors de la fabrication du composant varistance. L'auteur montre d'abord que l'oxyde de zinc est un excellent reseau hote. La resonance paramagnetique electronique donne des informations sur la valence et la position dans le reseau hote des ions introduits par le dopage. Des correlations entre ces resultats et des mesures electriques ont permis dans chaque cas envisage d'expliquer l'effet du dopage sur la forme de la caracteristique electrique

L'objectif de cette étude est de comprendre la localisation des entreprises européennes et chinoises dans le cadre de la mondialisation. La recherche est fondée sur trois parties principales : a) l'apport théorique aux échanges commerciaux, à l'IDE et à la mondialisation ; b)les déterminants principaux de délocalisation et localisation entre entreprises européennes et chinoises ; c) les activités des entreprises délocalisées et les conséquences provoquées dans les pays d'accueil et les pays d'origine. Les entreprises européennes, délocalisées et localisées en Chine sont généralement attirées par les avantages de ce pays que sont le faible coût de main-d'oeuvre et une immense demande intérieure. Les entreprises chinoises, elles, s'intéressent à racheter les entreprises européennes puisqu'elles peuvent maîtriser rapidement la technologie avancée, les grandes marques et le réseau de la distribution. La Chine a bénéficié de l'implantation des entreprises européennes, mais elle a rencontré également des problèmes sérieux. Dans les pays européens, la délocalisation des entreprises vers la Chine est à l'origine de problèmes importants comme la baisse des emplois industriels. L'arrivée des entreprises chinoises ne jouera pas un rôle important en matière de création des emplois et de réduction du déficit du côté de l'Union. Les défis et les obstacles rencontrés dans les pays d'accueil peuvent donc amener les entreprises à réfléchir sur leurs stratégies de localisation<br>The objective of this work is to understand the localization of the European and the Chinese enterprises within the framework of globalization; The research is founded on three principal parts : a) the theoretical contribution with trade, IDE and globalization ; b) the principal determinants of offsourcing and localization between the European and the Chinese enterprises ; c) the activities of the enterprises localized and the consequences caused in the host countries and the countries of origin. The european enterprises, localized in China are generally attracted by the comparative advantages of this country like the low cost of labour and an immense domestic demand. The Chinese enterprises are interested to purchase the European enterprises since they could quickly control the leading-edge technology, the famous brands and the distribution network. China profited a lot from the localization of the European enterprises (the progression of technology), but it also encounters serious problems (the shortage of the raw materials). In the european countries, the localization of the enterprises in the foreign countries caused some problems such as the fall of industrial employment. Moreover, the arrival of the chinese enterprises cannot play an important role as regards creation of employment and reduction of the deficit on the side of the European Union. In conclusion, the challenges and the obstacles met in the host countries can leave the European and the Chinese enterprises to think about their strategies of localization

Il existe dans les pays en développement une "non-concurrence" économique liée à l'ordre social et à la mentalité. Cette non-concurrence est une cause et non un corollaire du dirigisme dans ces pays. Une éventuelle déréglementation n'y aura pour effet que l'aggravation de l'insécurité juridique puisque les marchés y sont sous-réglementés (éthique), sur-réglementés (restrictions) et mal réglementés (inadaptation). L'évolution de la concurrence passant d'une phase latérale (ou de dépassement) à une phase frontale (ou d'éviction), le principe d'homothétie concurrentielle devrait guider la réglementation dans ces pays pour aboutir à la régulation, mais même les politiques de régulation semble connaître des limites fonctionnelles dans ces sociétés fragiles<br>Because of their traditions and way of life, LDC's have a non-competitive vision of the economy. That is the origin (not the consequence) of their interventionist policies. So deregulation would not be relevant to stabilize the market processes there. In fact, there is an evolution of economic from "lateral" competition to "frontal" competition (crowding-out aims), and law has to be adapted to each step. But even so, stabilisation policies know many functional failures in LDC's

The study aims at providing a framework conceptualizing patenting activities under the condition of intellectual property rights fragmentation. Such a framework has to deal with the interrelated problems of technological complexity in the modern patent landscape. In that respect, ex-post licensing agreements have been incorporated into the analysis. More precisely, by consolidating the right to use patents required for commercialization of a product, private market solutions, such as cross-licensing agreements and patent pools help firms to overcome problems triggered by the intellectual property rights fragmentation. Thereby, private bargaining between parties as such cannot be isolated from the legal framework. A result of this analysis is that policies ignoring market solutions and only focusing on static gains can mitigate the dynamic efficiency gains as induced by the patent system. The evidence found in this thesis supports the opinion that legal reforms that aim to decrease the degree of patent protection or to lift it all together can hamper the functioning of the current system.

The study aims at providing a framework conceptualizing patenting activities under the condition of intellectual property rights fragmentation. Such a framework has to deal with the interrelated problems of technological complexity in the modern patent landscape. In that respect, ex-post licensing agreements have been incorporated into the analysis. More precisely, by consolidating the right to use patents required for commercialization of a product, private market solutions, such as cross-licensing agreements and patent pools help firms to overcome problems triggered by the intellectual property rights fragmentation. Thereby, private bargaining between parties as such cannot be isolated from the legal framework. A result of this analysis is that policies ignoring market solutions and only focusing on static gains can mitigate the dynamic efficiency gains as induced by the patent system. The evidence found in this thesis supports the opinion that legal reforms that aim to decrease the degree of patent protection or to lift it all together can hamper the functioning of the current system.

The cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) are very attractive biocatalysts because of their ability to regio- and stereo-selectively catalyze the insertion of a single atom of molecular oxygen into inactivated C-H bonds. There are many drawbacks, however, limiting the use of these enzymes in organic synthesis, including the need for expensive cofactors, low stability, and low tolerance to organic solvents. The goal of this thesis was to overcome some of these drawbacks for human CYP2D6. This isoform was selected because of its broad substrate promiscuity and high importance in drug metabolism.<br>We have tested inexpensive chemicals to replace the natural cofactors of CYP2D6, NADPH and cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR). The results showed that cumene hydroperoxide and tert-butyl hydroperoxide can successfully substitute CPR and NAD(P)H with retained regio- and stereo-selectivity. Moreover, with these surrogates, product formation and initial rates are increased by as much as two fold compared to the use of the natural cofactors.<br>It is widely accepted that even small proportions of organic solvents in the buffer can deactivate most enzymes including P450s. Our studies on the biocatalysis of CYP2D6 in organic solvent/buffer emulsions showed that under the optimized conditions, as much as 76% of the enzyme activity was retained. Product formation in biphasic solvent systems is comparable whether the natural redox partner and cofactor are used, or a surrogate. In addition, a correlation was observed between the log P and the suitability of a solvent for enzymatic activity, with higher log P resulting in higher enzymatic activity. These results were obtained with dextromethorphan (DXM), a water soluble substrate. A very hydrophobic substrate, 7-benzyloxy-4-N,N-diethylaminomethyl-coumarin (BDAC), was also tested successfully to demonstrate the utility of this method.<br>Lyophilization is usually required to remove water before using enzymes in nearly anhydrous solvents. This physical process is harmful to P450 enzyme activity. We therefore tested numerous sugars as lyoprotectant during lyophilization. Addition of trehalose or sucrose before lyophilization allowed the retention of 80% of the CYP2D6 activity, compared to 40% remaining activity in its absence. CYP2D6 co-lyophilized with trehalose was next tested in selected hydrophobic organic solvents in the absence of water. The enzymatic activity was found to strongly depend on the hydrophobicity of the solvent. Interestingly, the enzyme showed higher catalytic ability in n-decane or n-dodecane than in the standard buffer. This was unexpected considering that the activity of most enzymes was reported to decrease to 10% or less in nearly anhydrous organic solvents.<br>The last objective of this thesis was to improve the stability and/or activity of CYP2D6. Use of DNA self-assemblies to encapsulate P450 enzymes was envisaged to potentially increase their stability. Indeed, DNA assemblies have many advantages compared to traditional solid supports reported for enzymes. Our preliminary results showed that CYP2D6 templated the formation of cyclic DNA dimeric and tetrameric over polymeric self-assemblies. Characterization of the CYP2D6 activity in the presence of the DNA self-assemblies revealed no loss of activity or stability.

L'objectif de ce travail a ete de rechercher les facteurs de perennite des pme/pmi de la region nord-pas de calais a travers des strategies de developpement et de communication. Un sondage realise aupres de 387 pme/pmi regionales a permis de mieux connaitre ce corpus. L'age moyen des pme/pmi francaises est de 16 ans. Nous estimons qu'elles sont perennes au-dela. Pour facili♭ ter la creation, l'implantation et la duree de vie des entreprises de nombreuses aides a la creation et au soutien ont ete mises en places par les pouvoirs publics qui visaient en fait a sauver l'emploi, a travers les fonds europeens et les fonds nationaux. Les elements constitutifs du developpement des pme/pmi sont la recherche & developpement, l'innovation, la veille technologique, le dyna♭ misme lie a l'utilisationdes systemes d'information et, la maitrise de la communication qui est une dynamique transversale et multidimensionnelle. L'innovation est presentee comme une necessite absolue pour la competitivite des entreprises francaises. La vie des entreprises depend egalement de la motivation et du savoir de hommes qui les composent. Les organisations produisant des biens et des services recelent un enormepotentiel d'energie, d'idees, de creativite et de volonte d'accomplissement. Elles voient aussi se repeter un fabuleux gaspillage de ces energies, la gestion strategique etant encore en phase preparadigmatique. Ce qui faciliterait le plus la perennite des pme/pmi sont des activites de recherche et developpement, et, la creation de produits reellement nouveaux. A l'egard de la creativite et de la communication, plus que les structures, ce sont les formations et les mentalites qui doivent evoluer.

Soit p un nombre premier. Les résultats de cette thèse s'inscrivent dans le cadre du programme de Langlands p-adique. Lorsque V est une représentation p-adique de dimension 2 du groupe Gal(\bar{Qp}/Qp), on sait lui associer une représentation p-adique continue B(V) de GL₂(Qp). Si F est une extension finie non triviale de Qp, la question d'associer des représentations p-adiques de GL₂(F) aux représentations p-adiques de dimension 2 de Gal(\bar{Qp}/F) dans l'esprit d'une correspondance locale à la Langlands s'annonce beaucoup plus délicate. Dans ce texte, nous considérons des espaces de Banach p-adiques, munis d'une action linéaire continue de GL₂(F), qui sont des complétions unitaires universelles de certaines représentations localement Qp-analytiques de GL₂(F). Celles-ci sont susceptibles de jouer un rôle important dans une éventuelle correspondance de Langlands locale p-adique pour GL₂(F). Le résultat principal de cette thèse est démontré dans le Chapitre 3 et généralise des résultats antérieurs de Berger et Breuil. Il consiste en une description explicite de ces complétés unitaires universels à l'aide des fonctions continues sur F d'un certain type. Pour ce faire, nous introduisons dans le Chapitre 2 des espaces de Banach de fonctions de classe C^r, où r est un nombre rationnel positif, et leurs espaces duaux de distributions d'ordre r. Nous construisons une base de Banach et nous donnons un critère de prolongement des formes linéaires définies sur un espace de fonctions localement Qp-polynomiales en distributions d'ordre r. Ce faisant, nous généralisons des résultats classiques dus à Amice-Vélu et Vishik. Dans le Chapitre 4, nous exhibons des cas de non nullité pour les complétions unitaires universelles considérées par construction explicite de réseaux invariants. Cela donne de nouveaux cas de la conjecture proposée par Breuil et Schneider sur l'équivalence entre l'existence de normes invariantes sur certaines représentations localement algébriques de GL_d(F) et l'existence de certaines représentations de de Rham de Gal(\bar{Qp}/F).

La creation et la gestion des entreprises publiques relevent d'une decision des pouvoirs publics. Dans ce contexte, une analyse purement economique ne permet pas d'expliquer completement ces decisions et leur impact sur les performances de ces entreprises. L'analyse economique de la politique fournit des grilles de lecture beaucoup plus adaptees pour la comprehension des mecanismes a l'origine de la creation et de la gestion des entreprises publiques, et pour une meilleure appreciation de leurs performances. En d'autres termes, l'objectif de l'utilisation des entreprises publiques est la realisation de l'efficacite politique (succes dans la simulation et dans la dissimulation) plutot que l'efficacite economique (au sens de pareto). Dans le court et moyen termes c'est l'environnement politique qui determine le fonctionnement et les performances des entreprises publiques. Toutefois, dans la longue periode, ce sont les variables economiques qui deviennent determinantes. Dans les p. V. D. , ou la frontiere entre les dimensions politique, economique et sociale est difficile a tracer, l'analyse economique de la politique permet de comprendre aussi bien le processus de nationalisation que la politique de privatisation entrepris par les gouvernements : ils s'expliquent tous les deux par le souci qu'ont ces gouvernements de creer un soutien et une stabilite politiques. Et dans ce processus, la bureaucratie joue un role crucial. La politique de privatisation des entreprises publiques ne permet pas toute seule d'apporter une solution aux faibles performances de ces structures. Cette politique doit etre menee dans un secteur public restructure, ou les mecanismes d'incitation ont un role important a jouer, et ou les actions des gouvernements sont guidees par le seul objectif d'utilisation et d'allocation efficaces des rares ressources dont ils disposent<br>Create and manage public enterprises is a political decision. In that sense, a pure economic analysis is not enough to understand the consequences of those decisions on public enterprises performances. Public choice theory is more relevant to analyse the decisions making process in public enterprises and to appreciate their performances. In other words, public enterprises are created in order to reach political efficiency (succes in simulation and in duplicity) in spite off economic one (in the sense of pareto). In short and medium terms, political environment determine the working and the performances of public enterprises. But, in the long period, economic variables become more relevant. In ldc's, where it is difficult to draw the border between political, social and economic dimensions, public choice analysis shows that the nationalization process end privatization policy are both explained by of governments to create political support and stability. Bureaucracy plays a great role in achieving those goals. Privatization policy can't solve alone the low performances in public enterprises. This policy has to take place into a restructured public sector, where incentive shemes have to play a great role, and where governments actions are guided by the goal of efficient use and allocation of their scare resources

We try generalizing the description of the supersingular locus of the moduli space of polarized abelian surfaces with real multiplication by OL (see [1]) in the case where p is inert in OL . We present evidence to support a conjectural mass formula for superspecial points and a counting formula for such points, generalizing a classical result of Deuring on supersingular elliptic curves. This result would provide a geometric interpretation of a special case of the Jacquet-Langlands correspondence. The remaining portion of the thesis is preliminary work with a view toward arithmetical applications of the supersingular locus of Hilbert modular surfaces mod p: Hilbert modular forms, modular forms mod p, etc.

In the past decade, p-type ZnO material has been investigated extensively. Its properties offer the potential for broad applications including the development of ultraviolet light emitting devices. Although n-type ZnO material is well known and studied for decades, the fabrication method and properties of p-type ZnO material are still to date not clearly understood.<br>In this report, reproducible p-type ZnO thin films sputtered on glass substrates are reported. On the same substrate, p-type ZnO film is local and surrounded by n-type ZnO regions. The thickness of the films is typically three microns after several hours of deposition by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering technique. Both p-type ZnO and n-type thin films are characterized by optical and electrical measurements at room temperature.<br>The crystal structure of p-type ZnO is examined by X-ray diffraction patterns. The X-ray diffraction patterns show that the material is polycrystalline and has (100) and (101) preferred orientation. Photoluminescence spectra of ZnO help to identify the energy levels in the material and spectra analysis reveals the presence of defects and dopants in the material. For p-type ZnO, the resistivity, the hole concentration and hole mobility are found to be 148.8 O-cm, 4.34 x 1018/cm3 and 1.72 x 10-2 cm2/V-sec respectively.

Using fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran filled inside-out vesicles derived from 4$ sp prime$,4-diisothiocyano-2$ sp prime$,2-disulfonic stilbene treated human red blood cells, we investigated the mechanistic basis for the decrease in the Na:Rb(K) stoichiometry of the Na,K-ATPase observed when the cytoplasmic sodium concentration is decreased below 0.4 mM (Blostein, R., 1983, J. Biol. Chem. 258: 12228-12232). First, we considered the possibility of H$ sp{+}$ replacing Na$ sp{+}$ and/or K$ sp{+}$. It was found that in the absence of Na$ sp{+}$, a decrease in pH from 7.4 to 6.0 effected an increase in ATPase activity $( upsilon)$, an increase in phosphoenzyme intermediate (EP) and a strophanthidin-sensitive ATP-dependent H/K exchange. Conversely, in the absence of K$ sp{+}$, a decrease in pH from 7.4 to 6.0 effected an increase in $ upsilon$, a decrease in EP and a strophanthidin-sensitive ATP-dependent Na/H exchange. These results suggest that protons can substitute for sodium and potassium in the sodium pump reaction. Second, it was shown that under conditions where H$ sp{+}$ do not replace Na$ sp{+}$ or K$ sp{+}$, the membrane potential $( Delta Psi)$ effected by the sodium pump is cytoplasmic side-negative at (Na$ sb{ rm cyt}$) $>$ 1 mM and extracellular side-negative at (Na$ sb{ rm cyt}$) 7.8. Our results are consistent with the notion that protons, sodium and potassium ions are transported by a similar mechanism in P-type ATPases.

Le parasite Plasmodium falciparum, responsable des formes graves du paludisme chez l'homme, est transmis par Anopheles gambiae, son principal vecteur en Afrique sub-saharienne. Les nouvelles stratégies de lutte contre la maladie visent à limiter ou à interrompre le développement du parasite chez le moustique vecteur, et il est donc nécessaire d'améliorer notre compréhension des interactions entre le vecteur, son environnement et le parasite. L'objectif de ce projet de thèse a été de caractériser la flore microbienne du vecteur An. gambiae en conditions naturelles de transmission, d'étudier le rôle des principales espèces bactériennes colonisant l'estomac du moustique sur le développement de P. falciparum et de mesurer l'influence des bactéries sur la réponse immunitaire des moustiques femelles et leur capacité à transmettre le parasite. Pour mener à bien ce projet, nous avons collecté des populations de moustiques sauvages au Cameroun pour la caractérisation de la flore microbienne, nous avons ensuite exposé des moustiques de la colonie de laboratoire Ngousso à des cultures bactériennes puis infecté ces moustiques avec des isolats naturels de P. falciparum. Notre étude a montré que les souches bactériennes naturelles de l'intestin du moustique Serratia, Pseudomonas et Escherichia réduisaient la prévalence et l'intensité de l'infection et que le degré d'inhibition variait selon les taxons bactériens et les porteurs de gamétocytes. L'analyse des flores bactériennes des différents épithéliums de l'insecte par pyroséquençage a révélé des similarités entre la flore intestinale et celles retrouvées dans les ovaires et les glandes salivaires pour un même moustique. Les analyses d'expression suggèrent que la régulation de l'expression des gènes l'immunité par les bactéries intestinales pourrait participer à la modulation de la réponse antiplasmodiale. Les mécanismes impliqués dans les interactions bactéries-Plasmodium-vecteur sont complexes et multifactorielle et la modélisation de l'ensemble des interactions qui permettent à P. falciparum d'accomplir son cycle chez le moustique vecteur sera nécessaire pour envisager de nouvelles méthodes de lutte efficaces et durables<br>Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the severe form of malaria, is transmitted by Anopheles gambiae, its major vector in sub-Saharan Africa. Novel strategies for malaria control envision interrupting the sporogonic development in An. gambiae, then it is important to better understand vector*environment*parasite interactions that underlie parasite transmission. The aim of this project was to characterize the microbial flora of An. gambiae in natural conditions, to study the role of the main bacterial strains on sporogonic development using natural isolates of parasites and to measure the influence of bacterial exposure on the mosquito immunity and its successive ability to transmit P. falciparum. To carry out this project, we used wild mosquito populations from Cameroon to characterize the mosquito microbial flora, next we challenged female mosquitoes of the Ngousso colony to bacterial strains and then infected the mosquitoes with natural isolates of P. falciparum. Our study showed that Serratia, Pseudomonas and Escherichia isolated from the mosquito midgut reduced infection prevalence and intensity and that the effect of the bacterial exposure on parasite infection levels varied between bacterial strains and gametocyte carriers. The analysis of the 454 sequencing of the different mosquito epithelia revealed intriguing similarities between bacterial communities in the midgut, ovaries and salivary glands of a single mosquito. Expression analyses suggested that immune gene regulation by midgut bacteria could help the mosquitoes to mount an effective antiplasmodial response. Mechanisms involved bacteria-Plasmodium-vector interactions are complex and rely on multiple factors. Deeper investigations on these interactions that allow P. falciparum to complete its cycle in the mosquito vector will be necessary for modeling parasite transmission in the field and for developing new methods for effective malaria control

In this work we prove the existence of nonnegative solution for variations the following nonlinear elliptic problem of (p; q)-laplacian type: pu qu = h(x; u) x 2 RN; where 1 < q p < N; mu := div(jrujm2ru) is the m-Laplacian operator and and the nonlinearity h : RN R ! R is a function satisfying some hypotheses.<br>Neste trabalho, provamos a exist^encia de uma solução nãoo negativa e não trivial para variações do seguinte problema elíptico do tipo (p; q)-Laplaciano: pu qu = h(x; u) x 2 RN; em que 1 < q p < N; mu := div(jrujm2ru) é o operador m-Laplaciano e h : RN R ! R e uma func~ao n~ao linear satisfazendo hipóteses descritas ao longo do trabalho.

This dissertation is about public research and development (R&D) subsidies to support private firms doing innovative activities and quantitative impact evaluation of the policy on total factor productivity (TFP) change and additional R&D effort. Public R&D subsidization as a public R&D policy, beside different types of public interventions, has been widely used by governments to stimulate private R&D. These policies aim to fill the gap between the private and social rates of returns by encouraging business enterprises to spend on additional R&D, produce more innovation output and inventions, or change their innovative behavior. These changes can be carried out either individually or in collaboration with other entities. One ultimate goal of R&D policy is increasing the total factor productivity and relative performance both at firm and aggregate levels. This study deals with direct place-based public R&D subsidies and empirically measures the effects of this type of public incentives on productivity growth and R&D input additionality. In order to evaluate the policy effect, a quasi-experimental counterfactual setting for subsidized (treated) and non-subsidized (non-treated) firms can be framed thank to the characteristics and mechanism of the local R&D program in the Province of Trento in Italy. The average treatment effect of the policy on target variables is measured for subsidized units (Average treatment effect on treated: ATET) and for the whole population of the firms (Average treatment effect: ATE), using techniques capable of tackling the problems of endogeneity and selection bias which arise in empirical evaluation studies. Propensity score matching (PSM) and structural modeling methodologies are used to measure the effects of the R&D subsidies on target variables, TFP change and additional R&D expenditure, respectively. The former approach is non-parametric and does not assume a functional form for the effect of policy on R&D and productivity change, while the latter models the optimizing behavior of the firm (agent) and the public agency, searching for an equilibrium in a pre-determined game theoretical framework. Although the PSM method takes advantage of no pre-defined structure assumption, however and in contrary, the structural model with simultaneous equations, takes into account the effect of unobservables on subsidized firms’ selection procedure, beside R&D spillovers effect. In order to design the evaluation framework to estimate ATE and ATET on the target variable of interest (TFP change), we have built a firm-level panel dataset (maximum 5 years of information) constructed by combination and merge of datasets related to public (provincial) R&D policy, firms’ characteristics, firms’ R&D activities and TFP change measures. The time span of the dataset allows us to capture the effects in both short-term and long run, consequently tracing the short and long term effects of the R&D program. This helps us to consider the usual longer effect lag an innovation policy entails, specifically on a target variable such as productivity and a treatment such as innovation incentive, which the effects may take time to be realized in comparison with other types of outcomes and investment policies. The dataset represents the outcome of a long process of combining and merging various datasets related to firms’ financial statements and balance sheet (AIDA: Italian company information and business intelligence) and APIAE’s R&D policy information provided by ISPAT. TFP change and its decompositions, technical efficiency change and technological frontier change are realized using Malmquist Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. DEA takes a system approach towards the firm as decision making unit (DMU) and only applies the input(s) and output(s) measures to calculate the relative (in)efficiency of the firms. Malmquist method based on index theory, captures the (in)efficiency change and the technological frontier movement within a time interval. TFP change measures are calculated by CRS output-oriented DEA dual model using a new package introduced in STATA software and merged into the reference dataset described previously. To sum up, after the formation and construction of dataset by combining and merging different datasets, treatment effect analysis is carried out using PSM nearest neighbor and kernel estimators. The balancing property satisfaction on pre-treatment observable factors (age and size in our setting) is primarily investigated and propensity distribution graphs have been also provided. Taking into account the dataset features, R&D subsidies effect is measured for manufacturing and ICT industries (using 4 techniques to measure both ATE and ATET), beside low-medium technology and high-tech industries classifications (Both ATE and ATET). Moreover, the subsidies effect on TFP measures have also been measured for different categories of selection procedures. Results show heterogenous and mixed effect of R&D subsidies based on different settings of evaluation (sectors and selection categories), targeted outcome, PSM method (different PSM algorithms for nearest neighbor and kernel) and time of the effect (short-term or long run). The complete results have been discussed in detail in the related sections in chapter three. To address the effect of unobservable factors, beside spillover effect on R&D subsidies allocation and the effect on outcome, a structural model is estimated using a cross-sectional dataset. The dataset is formed by merging R&D policy-related (linked to Provincial Law LP 6/99 enforced by provincial agency for the promotion of economic activities :APIAE) dataset and firms’ determinants provided by ISPAT (Statistical institute of Province of Trento).This approach complements the drawbacks due to estimation using PSM methodology. However, the pre-defined functional form for equations is a limitation of this approach. The structural model applied includes application decision, selection (subsidies allocation) and R&D investment equations to be turned into econometric equations for empirical estimation. The context and dataset features allow for different empirical modifications with respect to the benchmark model applied. The results determine the effect of firm (project) characteristics on all stages of the subsidization game. Size, age, exporting status, board size and sector are main factors being investigated. The results show not only there is no additional R&D expenditure, but also some crowding out of subsidies occurs. The base model is determined in such a format which makes it possible to evaluate the spillover effect and spillover rate of R&D spending as well. The results show that on average half (50%) of each euro spent on R&D spill overs. The results shed light on the effects and impacts of a place-based R&D policy on TFP change ,R&D additionality and spillovers, while suggesting policy implications to the local public authorities. Furthermore, the design and process of impact evaluation using two different complementary approaches in a new context on a different target variable (TFP change in addition to classical input additionality variable) can be referred and applied in any policy evaluation related studies. In the following, chapter one deals with the theoretical and empirical reasons for the existence of different public R&D policies based on Schumpeterian growth theory, spillovers effect and tackling market failure. It further provides a review of R&D and innovative activity indices at different levels of analysis (regional, national and international) and reviews the literature of empirical innovation policy evaluation studies related to the effect of R&D policy on additionality. The review concerns both micro and macro perspectives in approaching public R&D policy and the impact of the policy on additionalities and TFP growth. Studies in R&D policy usually concern either the macro growth accounting approach and measure the effect of R&D policies on aggregate growth indices regardless of pointing out to micro foundation effects leading to the aggregate level changes or they only focus on the micro-econometric firm-level evaluation without addressing the relationship between firms’ additional R&D activities and the economic growth. Moreover, the R&D activities expenditure and growth indices at international, EU, national (Italy) and regional (Trento Province) have also been briefly pointed out and tracked over time, to realize the practical importance of R&D incentives. In order to introduce and spot the areas this research addresses, the traditional market failure and the logic and reasons behind public R&D policies (aimed at increasing positive externalities and R&D spillovers) and subsequently different innovation policy instruments and their interaction with firms’ R&D decision making have been reviewed. This provides a comprehensive perspective over the importance and the forms of R&D policies. Chapter two primarily discusses about the effect of R&D subsidies on TFP change. The discussion addresses the relationship between R&D and total factor productivity (TFP) as a channel which subsidies may affect TFP. In addition, other channels and interactions which can explain the effect of R&D subsidies on TFP change and the components of TFP change, will be investigated and discussed. Afterwards, in line with the review of the previous chapter, the empirical literature of studies dealing with evaluation of the effect of R&D subsidies on TFP (as a different outcome variable from additionality variables discussed in the previous chapter) will be reviewed. This theoretical background helps us to shape the R&D policy evaluation framework to investigate the direct casual impact of R&D subsidization policy on target outcomes including TFP change (Chapter 3) and R&D expenditure (Chapter 4). Finally, taking into account the evaluation framework, we hypothesize the research questions based on the theoretical concepts and literature review discussed through the previous and current chapters. Chapter three measures the effect of the provincial R&D subsidies on technical efficiency and technological frontier change as the decomposing elements of productivity change. It empirically measures the impact of R&D subsidies on productivity change using counterfactual treatment effect analysis. Malmquist Productivity Index (MPI) based on the non-parametric method of Data Envelopment Analysis (CRS output-oriented dual DEA model) is applied to measure the productivity change and the disentangled elements of productivity change. The chapter has contributed to the literature in some different aspects. The main focus of this chapter is measuring the effects of R&D subsidies on decomposing elements of TFP, technical efficiency and technological frontier change. In the whole literature, there is only one other similar work in which the effects of R&D subsidies on TFP decomposed components have been assessed. There are few other papers in which they measure the impact of other type of investment subsidies (mainly capital subsidies) on targeted variables of TFP decompositions. However, they all use a parametric approach to measure the TFP components in contrary to non-parametric Malmquist DEA method applied in our study making no predefined assumption about the production function. The subsidies effect evaluation is implemented using both PSM nearest neighbor and kernel methods (to check the robustness) to measure the average treatment effect of R&D subsidies on subsidized (treated) and all (the population) firms labeled as ATET (average treatment effect on treated) and ATE (Average treatment effect), respectively. The analysis is mainly carried out in manufacturing and ICT sectors as two main sectors in which R&D incentives allocations occur. The elaboration on classification of firms in different main industries based on ATECO 2007 system of firms’ economic activity coding has been carried out. It has also been defined and described in detail how 6-digit industry code is categorized into sectors. Another important feature of this study different with a considerable share of empirical literature, is construction of a panel dataset on subsidies allocation and firms’ characteristics which allows us to capture the effect of the policy both in short term and long run (maximum of 5 years). Moreover, the effect of the evaluation based on two different types of selection and allocation procedures (automatic, evaluative (combined with negotiation method) is implemented. The limitations of this chapter imposed by the methodology used, are excluding the effect of unobservable factors on selection process and not taking into account the spillovers effect. Consequently, Chapter’s four structural modeling puts effort to overcome these restrictions and suggest a complementary approach. Chapter four empirically estimates an equilibrium oriented structural game model to investigate the relationship between firms’ characteristics with application cost (application decision equation), spillover rate (subsidization equation) and R&D investment (investment equation). The chapter reviews, modifies and estimates a structural model describing the mechanism through which the R&D subsidization policy influences R&D activity and the R&D spillover rate. The empirical contribution of this chapter is proposing a simplified model of a reference 4-staged game model with a Nash Bayesian Equilibrium (NBE), based on the contextual setting of the region under study and data availability. The advantage of using this structural model is the ability to assume spillovers effect. This optimization approach relaxes the incapability of evaluation approach used in Chapter three to assume the presence of spillover effect due to the violation of Stable Unit Treatment Value Assumption (SUTVA). Moreover, chapter four takes into account the effect of unobservables on selection procedure and targeted variable, while in chapter three the unobservables are assumed uncorrelated with selection (subsidy) variable and the outcome. Nevertheless, opposed to structural modelling, the method used in chapter three does not assume any parametric form to evaluate the impact. Hence, chapter three and chapter four complement each other in measuring the impact of R&D policy on targeted variables. The empirical evaluations and results of both final chapters are explained and concluded in the related essays. Moreover, the features and contribution of chapters will be restated in the abstract at the beginning of each chapter.

The metabolism of drugs and foreign compounds is a major influence on their pharmacological and toxicological effects. The haemoprotein cyt. P-450 exists as a multi-isozyme family which functions in the metabolism of a wide variety of foreign compounds. Biochemical information concerning the structure and catalytic function of cyt. P-450 isozymes from man is less extensive than from animal species. In this study several microsomal proteins including four cyt. P-450 isozymes, NADPH-cyt. P-450 reductase, epoxide hydrolase and other unidentified proteins were purified from adult human liver; the methodologies previously employed to isolate cyt. P-450 isozymes were improved and now allow better resolution and recovery of human cyt. P-450. Comparison of the physical and chromatographic properties of the cyt. P-450 isozymes isolated (cyt. P-450 7:3 cyt. P-4507:4 and cyt. P-4507:5) indicated that they were very similar and probably identical. N-terminal amino acid sequence and immunochemical data demonstrated that these isozymes probably belong to the steroid-inducible gene family. Further characterisation of cyt. P-4507:3 indicated that it is a major inducible isozyme in man and that it metabolises the calcium entry blocker nifedipine but not a structurally similar drug nicardipine.