Extracts of the steam volatiles of cooked potatoes and of a dehydrated, granular potato product have been prepared. High-boiling fatty acids preponderated and were removed prior to concentration and examination of the resulting essences by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-odour assessment. Thirtyfive components were identified in potato essences and 20 in a potato granule essence. Chemical and retention data indicated that 2-methoxy-3-ethylpyrazine' was present in potato volatiles and mass spectral evidence was obtained of its presence in potato sprout essence. Synthetic work confirmed the known characteristic raw potato odour of 2-methoxy-3-ethylpyrazine and demonstrated that isomers do not possess it. Lack of volatiles rather than off-flavour is believed to account for the differences between the flavour of cooked potatoes and of the potato product examined.
An understanding of how companies acquire external knowledge is important for any organisation which participates in technology transfer partnerships. The process of external knowledge acquisition within the development function of the pharmaceutical industry is described. Six pharmaceutical companies participated in this study. Group depth interviews were conducted with . scientists from a wide range of disciplines and at different levels of seniority within their companies. Senior managers and information officers were interviewed individually. The findings indicated that, although this industry is a leader in formalised information services and commercial database usage, even here significant barriers t o the acquisition of scientific and technological knowledge exist. In several of the companies examined the process of information acquisition is not addressed strategically and implemented at laboratory level.
A survey was carried out of a large number of UK-based small and medium-sized enterprises to assess their use of, and attitudes towards, patents and patent information. Use of patent information is closely linked to use of the patent system for protection purposes. There appears to be little correlation between attitudes towards patents and patent information and educational background or with the type of industry the company was active in. The use of intermediaries, such as patent agents, to carry out patent searches appears at times to create as many barriers as it over-comes. The general approach of Patent Offices, that failure to use patent information is dangerous and that the way to overcome this is to make patent information easier or cheaper to use, may be misguided. The situation appears to be more complex. Small and medium-sized enterprises should not be treated as a single homogeneous group and, arguably, such companies do use patent information in the most appropriate way.
In-depth interviews were carried out in 23 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to explore issues regarding their use or non-use of the patent system and patent information. A semi-structured interview approach was adopted. Among the issues explored were: (i) the level of research and development and propensity to innovate, (ii) patenting behaviour and appropriability, (iii) the way patent information is obtained and expectations of patent information, (iv) the reasons for patent information being used and (v) the impact of the Internet on these issues. A classification to differentiate segments of the SME patent information market is proposed. The three segments are called 'inept' or 'irrelevant', 'unaware' and 'aware'. The latter group can be further broken down into six types: avoiders, offloaders, defenders, learners, checkers and professionals. The paper concludes that approaches to SMEs' use of patent information hitherto has been too simplistic. A strategy for increasing patent use information among the different segments is recommended. 50 1 2
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