Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T10:40:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RAFAEL GOMES LOIOLA.pdf: 2193685 bytes, checksum: 77fe8f4c3a881108732f58c6013d52b5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-09 / The demand forecasting is of essential importance for business environments, in a way to serve as a decision making supporting tool during the development of companies strategic planning. This work strived to compare statistics with artificial intelligence methods applied to provisioning on demand issues using temporal series through Box-Jenkins and Artificial Neural Networks Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) methods. Studies were performed to identify and define the main demand forecasting methods. Subsequently, the selected prediction methods for the analysis of the three most relevant products of a metalworking industry were applied in the period 2012 to 2014. The four last periods were used only for performance validation of both methods, through the analysis of forecast errors. Softwares R, Matlab and SPSS supported the data deployment, modeling and analysis. From those models, a step ahead provisioning of sales of a metal mechanic industry was performed, followed by the comparison of the errors of each method based on root mean squared error, RMSE, and mean absolute percentage error, MAPE, to identify the most satisfactory and adequate provisioning method. The results indicated that the performance of the forecasts using the statistical method of Box-Jenkins in Products 1 and 3 were higher than the application of the MLP neural network models. While, for Product 2 the method of neural networks achieved better results. In the statistics analysis, one could verify that the series present some behavior patterns associated to seasonality and oscillations, being possible to observe that both methods show satisfactory results for each data characteristics of the temporal series. / A previsão de demanda é de essencial importância em ambientes organizacionais, de forma a servir como ferramenta de apoio a tomada de decisão durante o desenvolvimento do planejamento estratégico das empresas. Este trabalho teve como principal objetivo comparar modelos estatísticos e de inteligência artificial para problemas de previsão de demanda utilizando séries temporais por meio dos métodos de Box-Jenkins e rede neural artificial Multilayer Perceptron (MLP). Realizou-se o estudo para identificação e definição dos principais métodos de previsão de demanda. Posteriormente, aplicaram-se os métodos de previsão selecionados para a análise dos três produtos mais relevantes de uma indústria metal mecânica, no período de 2012 até 2014. Os quatro últimos períodos da série foram utilizados apenas para validação de desempenho de ambos os métodos propostos através das análises dos erros de previsão. Os softwares R, Matlab e SPSS apoiaram a aplicação, modelagem e análise dos dados. A partir dos modelos, realizou-se a previsão um passo a frente das vendas de uma indústria metal mecânica e posteriormente fez-se o comparativo de seus resultados através das medidas de erros referentes à raiz quadrada do erro quadrático médio, RMSE, e o erro percentual absoluto médio, MAPE, para identificar o modelo mais satisfatório e adequado para a predição. Os resultados indicaram que o desempenho das previsões utilizando o método estatístico de Box-Jenkins nos Produtos 1 e 3 foram superiores à aplicação dos modelos de rede neural MLP. Enquanto que para o Produto 2, o método de redes neurais alcançou melhores resultados. Nas análises estatísticas verificou-se que as séries apresentam padrões de comportamento referente à sazonalidade e oscilações, sendo possível observar que ambos os métodos apresentam resultados satisfatórios para cada característica de dados das séries temporais estudadas.

Chez Arabidopsis thaliana, le silencing transcriptionnel est associé notamment aux modifications post-traductionnelles des queues des histones et à la méthylation des cytosines en contexte CG, CHG et CHH (où H peut être indifféremment T, A ou C). Plusieurs voies indépendantes conduisent à la méthylation de l’ADN en tout contexte via les méthyltransférases. A contrario, ROS1, une ADN déméthylase, « élague » les profils de méthylation et prévient ainsi d’une hyperméthylation du génome. Or, de façon intéressante, plusieurs mutants impliqués dans les voies de méthylation de l’ADN voient l’expression du gène ROS1 diminuer, ce qui trahit l’existence d’une boucle de rétrocontrôle négative entre les voies de méthylation et de déméthylation de l’ADN. Nous avons donc réalisé un crible génétique afin d’identifier un régulateur de l’expression de ROS1. Pour cela, nous avons utilisé une lignée pROS1:GUS constituée du gène rapporteur de la glucuronidase sous contrôle du promoteur de ROS1. Dans le fond mutant nrpd1a-4, le gène de ROS1 et de la glucuronidase sont sous-exprimés. Le crible consiste alors à identifier un mutant qui relâche l’expression de la glucuronidase et de ROS1 dans le fond mutant nrpd1a-4. Six mutants présentent une expression de la glucuronidase plus forte que le témoin pROS1:GUS dans le fond nrpd1a-4. Cependant, contrairement à ce qui était attendu, l’expression de ROS1 endogène est plus basse encore que chez pROS1:GUS dans le fond nrpd1a-4.Face à ses résultats, nous avons alors réorienté la thèse vers l’étude d’une voie de contournement du silencing des éléments répétés. En effet, lorsque l’on applique un stress thermique de 37°C durant 24h, l’on observe un relâchement du silencing de ces derniers. Toutefois, aucune modification épigénétique connue ne semble être impliquée. Pour étudier ce phénomène, nous disposons d’une lignée L5 qui, dans des conditions normales de culture, voit son transgène soumis aux mécanismes de silencing. Parce que la construction L5 comprend plusieurs répétitions de la glucuronidase sous contrôle du promoteur 35S, elle est alors assimilée à n’importe quel autre élément répété et, à ce titre, se retrouve être également exprimée après stress thermique. L’équipe a alors réalisé un crible sur cette lignée et a mis en évidence 3-1S, un mutant qui est déficient dans le relâchement du silencing à 37°C. Dans un premier temps, nous avons mis en évidence que le phénotype de 3-1S est dû à une mutation de RH35, une hélicase ARN à boîte DEAD. D’autre part, nos résultats montrent que le gène RH35 est exprimé plus fortement à 37°C et sa protéine présente, en outre, une relocalisation dans ces conditions de stress. RH35 serait, en fait, impliquée de manière plus globale dans le métabolisme des ARN en réponse au stress thermique et jouerait également un rôle dans la réponse au stress thermique et salin. / In Arabidopsis thaliana, transcriptional silencing is associated with histone tail post-translational modifications and cytosine modifications in CG, CHG and CHH contexts (where H can be indifferently T, A or C). Numerous independent pathways lead to DNA methylation in all contexts through méthyltransférases. Conversely, the DNA demethylase ROS1 “prunes” methylation profiles and prevents genome hypermethylation. Interestingly, several mutants which are involved in DNA methylation pathways present a decrease in ROS1 gene expression, what reveals the existence of a negative feedback loop between DNA methylation and demethylation pathways. A genetic screening was carried out in order to find a ROS1 regulator. To do this, pROS1:GUS line, which carries the glucuronidase reporter gene under ROS1 promoter, was used. In the nrpd1a-4 mutant, ROS1 and glucuronidase genes are underexpressed. The screen consisted to find a mutant which release glucuronidase and ROS1 gene expression in nrpd1a-4 mutant background. Six mutants presented a higher expression of the glucuronidase than the pROS1:GUS control in nrpd1a-4 background. However, unlike what it was expected, endogene ROS1 expression is even lower than what we have for pROS1:GUS in nrpd1a-4 background.In view of these results, the thesis was redirected toward the study of the silencing circumvention pathway of the repeated elements. Indeed, when heat stress at 37°C during 24h is applied, a release of silencing is observed for repeated elements. Nevertheless, no known epigenetic modifications seem to be involved. To study this phenomenon, we used a L5 line. Its transgene is silenced in standard conditions. Because L5 construct is composed by several glucuronidase repetitions under 35S promoter, it is considered as any other repeated elements and, for this reason, it is also expressed after heat stress. The team performed a genetic screen on this line and found 3-1S, a mutant which is deficient in the release of silencing at 37°C. On the one hand, we demonstrated that 3-1S phenotype is due to a mutation in RH35 DEAD box RNA helicase. On the other hand, our results revealed that RH35 gene is expressed at 37°C and its protein is relocated in heat stress conditions. In fact, RH35 would be involved more globally in RNA metabolism and would play a role in heat and salt stress.

Titre du projet: Recherche de marqueurs moléculaires précoces de l’anomalie florale mantled du palmier à huile Objectifs : - identifier des marqueurs d’expression de la variation somaclonale mantled par comparaison entre les transcriptomes conformes et variants.- valider la capacité de discrimination des marqueurs sélectionnés lors des stades précoces du processus in vitro. Stratégie et Méthode: Analyse transcriptomique de l’inflorescence normale de palmier à huile et construction d’un transcriptome de référence. Technique : RNAseq, séquençage Illumina.Identification des séquences et voies de régulation d’intérêt. Technique: analyse bioinformatique des données de séquençage.Comparaison entre les trancriptomes issus d’inflorescences normales vs. mantled par re-séquençage de banques obtenues ) partir de différents génotypes clonaux. Technique : Illumina.Identification des séquences présentant de manière cohérente des profils d’expression dépendant du phénotype. Technique : analyse bioinformatique des données de séquençage, analyse statistique des profils d’expression. Validation des marqueurs candidats sur des paires de régénérants normal/mantled issus de lignées clonales variées, ainsi que sur des cultures in vitro à différents stades du processus de régénération. Technique : PCR quantitative (q-PCR). / Project title : Search for early molecular markers of the mantled floral variation of oil palmObjectives : - identifying expression markers of the mantled somaclonal variation through the comparison between the true-to-type and the variant transcriptome. - assessing the discriminating power of the selected markers at early stages of the in vitro process.Strategy and Methods : Transcriptomic analysis of the normal oil palm inflorescence, construction of a reference transcriptome. Technique : RNAseq, Illumina sequencing.Identification of sequences and pathways of interest. Technique : bioinformatic analysis of sequencing data.Comparison between the normal and the mantled inflorescence transcriptome through the re-sequencing of libraries generated from several different clonal lines. Technique : Illumina. Identification of sequences displaying consistently a phenotype-dependent differential expression pattern. Technique : bioinformatic analysis of sequencing data, statistical analysis of expression patterns. Validation of candidate markers on normal/mantled regenerant palm pairs from different clonal lines and on normal-/mantled-derived in vitro cultures at various stages of the industrial regeneration process. Technique : quantitative PCR (q-PCR).

Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum et Plasmodium falciparum sont des parasites protozoaires intracellulaires obligatoires, respectivement responsables de la toxoplasmose, de la néosporose et du paludisme. Les différents traitements mis en œuvre reposent sur une association médicamenteuse. Cependant, des échecs thérapeutiques et des résistances aux traitements ont été décrits. Notre travail a porté sur l’identification de molécules actives isolées par Chomatographie de Partage Centrifuge (CPC) à partir d’extraits d’écorces d’Anogeissus leiocarpus, un arbre d’Afrique de l’ouest connu pour son activité antipaludique, et de dix arbres de la région Champagne-Ardenne. Nous nous sommes penchés, dans un premier temps, sur l’activité antiparasitaire des fractions obtenues à partir d’extrait d’écorce d’A. leiocarpus. La trachélospérogénine E et l’extrait global sans tanin se sont révélés actifs, notamment en inhibant l’invasion des cellules hôtes par T. gondii. Cet extrait a également préservé la survie des souris atteintes de toxoplasmose chronique. Les mêmes composés naturels ont eu un effet contre N. caninum et P. falciparum. Dans une seconde partie, 30 extraits d’écorces de dix arbres de la région Champagne-Ardenne ont été testés sur T. gondii et N. caninum. Les composés responsables de l’activité antiparasitaire présents chez Alnus glutinosa semblent être la bétuline et ses dérivés. Dans la dernière partie, nous nous sommes intéressés à l’activité de 400 molécules de synthèse de la Pathogen Box. Huit d’entre elles ont eu un effet significatif contre T. gondii, dont trois avec une sélectivité importante. Des expérimentations sont toutefois à réaliser pour N. caninum. / Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum and Plasmodium falciparum are mandatory intracellular protozoan parasites and are responsible for toxoplasmosis, neosporosis and malaria, respectively. The different treatments used are based on drug combination. However therapeutic failures and drug resistances have been described. Our work focused on the identification of active compounds isolated by Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) from crude barks extracts from Anogeissus leiocarpus, a West African tree known for its antimalarial activity, and ten trees from the Champagne-Ardenne region. First we studied the activity of the fractions obtained from the crude bark extract from A. leiocarpus. Trachelosperogenin E and the global extract without tannin showed a good activity by inhibiting host cell invasion by T. gondii. The latter was able to preserve mice survival toward chronic toxoplasmosis. These extracts were also active on N. caninum and P. falciparum. In a second part 30 crude barks extracts from ten trees located in the Champagne-Ardenne region were screened on T. gondii and N. caninum. Compounds responsible for the antiparasitic activity found in Alnus glutinosa were especially betulin and its derivatives. In the last part of this study we focused on the antiparasitic activity of 400 synthetic molecules from the Pathogen Box. Eight out of them were significantly efficient against T. gondii, among which three showed an important selectivity. Further experiments must be completed in the case of N. caninum.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / RESUMO O presente trabalho propÃs investigar a tecnologia de eletrocoagulaÃÃo (EC) para o tratamento de efluente tÃxtil utilizando corrente contÃnua pulsada (CCP) e eletrodos de aÃo inoxidÃvel 304. O efluente utilizado foi coletado em uma indÃstria tÃxtil fabricante de redes localizada no municÃpio de Jaguaruana-CE. A Metodologia de SuperfÃcie de Resposta Box-Behnken foi utilizada para analisar e otimizar as condiÃÃes operacionais, visando a mÃxima remoÃÃo de cor, turbidez e demanda quÃmica de oxigÃnio (DQO) do efluente tÃxtil. Os experimentos foram realizados com um volume reacional de 2,6 L, em modo batelada. A cinÃtica de degradaÃÃo de DQO foi estudada atravÃs do ajuste de regressÃo nÃo linear, obedecendo ao modelo de cinÃtica de segunda ordem. Diante dos resultados obtidos a configuraÃÃo Ãtima considerada foi: velocidade de agitaÃÃo=200 rpm, frequÃncia dos pulsos elÃtricos=1000 Hz e espaÃamento entre os eletrodos=1 mm, em 50 minutos de EC. Nestas condiÃÃes foram obtidas remoÃÃes de cor, turbidez e DQO, respectivamente de 98,94%, 85,87% e 81,23%, adequando o valor de DQO ao padrÃo de lanÃamento exigido pela Portaria n 154/2002 da SuperintendÃncia Estadual do Meio Ambiente (SEMACE). Em adiÃÃo, verificou-se que o processo de EC tambÃm foi eficaz para a reduÃÃo de sÃlidos suspensos totais, nitrogÃnio total, sulfato e sulfeto, como tambÃm para a reduÃÃo da toxicidade aguda frente à Lactuca sativa, elevando os valores do Ãndice de Crescimento Relativo (ICR) e Ãndice de GerminaÃÃo (IG) inicialmente registrados para o efluente bruto. A concentraÃÃo de Ãons cloreto nÃo decresceu durante a EC, apresentando-se como um aspecto favorÃvel para a reutilizaÃÃo do efluente tratado no prÃprio processo produtivo tÃxtil, o qual demanda uma elevada concentraÃÃo de cloreto de sÃdio (NaCl). / The present work proposed to investigate the electrocoagulation technology (EC) for the treatment of textile effluent using pulsed direct current (CCP) and stainless steel electrodes 304. The effluent used was collected in a textile manufacturer networks in the municipality of Jaguaruana -CE. The Response Surface Methodology Box-Behnken was used to analyze and optimize the operating conditions, aimed at maximum removal of color, turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the textile effluent. The experiments were performed with a reaction volume of 2.6 L in batch mode. The COD degradation kinetics was studied using non-linear regression fit, according to the second order kinetics model. Based on these results the optimal configuration was considered: agitation speed = 200 rpm, frequency of electrical pulses = 1000 Hz and spacing between electrodes = 1 mm, in 50 minutes of EC. Under these conditions color removals were obtained, turbidity and COD, respectively 98.94%, 85.87% and 81.23%, adjusting the COD value to discharge standard required by Ordinance No. 154/2002 of the State Superintendent of Half Environment (SEMACE). In addition, it was found that the CS process is also effective for reduction of total suspended solids, total nitrogen, sulfide and sulfate, as well as for the reduction of acute toxicity Lactuca sativa forward, raising the value of the Growth Index Relative (ICR) and germination index (GI) initially recorded for the raw wastewater. The concentration of chloride ions has not decreased during the EC, presenting itself as a favorable aspect for the reuse of treated effluent in own textile production process, which demands a high concentration of sodium chloride (NaCl).

Universidade Federal do Cearà / Neste estudo, pretende-se determinar um modelo de previsÃo mensal de curto prazo para a receita de ISSQN de Teresina. Para evidenciar este propÃsito servirÃo de suporte matemÃtico os modelos VAR e Box-Jenkins, a partir de sÃries histÃricas concernentes ao perÃodo de janeiro de 2002 a dezembro de 2006. ApÃs a estimaÃÃo dos modelos, propÃe-se um diagnÃstico para mensurar a capacidade inicialmente preditiva. Dentre os modelos manipulados temos o SARIMA (12,1,1)(0,0,12) o qual antecipadamente demonstrou ser mais robusto em relaÃÃo ao modelo VAR. Oportunamente à discussÃo de outras nuances internas ou à margem do trabalho, conclui-se que, o modelo com sÃries temporais, em funÃÃo de sua capacidade preditiva, pode se transformar em um instrumental consistente com vistas ao incremento da arrecadaÃÃo do ISSQN da Prefeitura de Teresina. / In this study, It is intended to determine a short-run monthly forecasting model for the ISSQN of Teresina city. In order for this purpose to be clear, the models VAR and Box-Jenkins will be of mathematical support, from historical series concerning the period of January 2002 to December 2006. After the estimation of the models, it is proposed a diagnosis to measure the initially predictive capacity. Among the models manipulated, we have SARIMA (12,1,1)(0,0,12), which has resulted most robust in advance concerning the VAR model. Propitiously to other internal or marginal nuances to the study, it is concluded, preliminarily, that the time series model due to its predictive capacity can become a consistent instrument targeting at the augment of the ISSQN collecting of Teresina City Administration.

Le champignon filamenteux, Podospora anserina, possède deux types sexuels, mat+ et mat-, caractérisés chacun par une séquence spécifique. La séquence mat+ contient un seul gène FPR1; la séquence mat- contient trois gènes : FMR1, SMR1 et SMR2. La fonction moléculaire de SMR1 est inconnue, les autres gènes codent des facteurs de transcription qui contrôlent la fécondation (reconnaissance intercellulaire), et le passage d’un syncytium à un hyphe spécialisé binucléé contenant un noyau mat+ et un noyau mat- (reconnaissance internucléaire). Il n’y a pas eu d’analyse exhaustive des gènes impliqués dans la reconnaissance intercellulaire et le mécanisme de la reconnaissance internucléaire est encore inconnu. Afin de déterminer les cibles de FPR1 et FMR1, et les différents mécanismes impliqués, nous avons utilisé une approche microarray. Le profil transcriptomique des souches mat+ et mat- compétentes pour la fécondation a permis d’identifier 157 gènes cibles, et l’analyse transcriptomique des souches mutantes fpr1- et fmr1- a révélé que ces cibles peuvent être soit réprimées, soit activées par FMR1 ou FPR1, ou être sous le contrôle de ces deux facteurs. Ces expériences ont aussi détecté l’existence de 10 gènes activés ou réprimés au même niveau dans mat+ et mat-. La délétion de 32 gènes choisis parmi ces 167 gènes cibles n’a permis de mettre en évidence que deux gènes impliqués dans la fécondation. Les comparaisons des gènes cibles des facteurs de transcription MAT de Gibberella moniliformis et Sordaria macrospora avec ceux de P. anserina révèlent un nombre significatif de gènes cibles communs entre ces espèces, mais ces gènes ont des profils transcriptomiques différents, soulevant la question du rôle de ces gènes cibles. La recherche des gènes cibles de FPR1, FMR1 et SMR2 impliqués dans la reconnaissance internuléaire a été effectuée en comparant le transcriptome des périthèces issus de deux croisements, l’un n’exprimant que les gènes spécifiques mat+, l’autre que les gènes spécifiques mat-. Les résultats ont été interprétés selon le modèle d’identité nucléaire et le modèle de ségrégation aléatoire. Le premier modèle a conduit à l’identification de 27 gènes cibles, tandis que 154 gènes cibles ont été identifiés en appliquant le deuxième modèle. Au total 46 souches mutantes ont été construites. Cependant aucune délétion n’a affecté le développement sexué. En parallèle de ces expériences transcriptomiques, nous avons invalidé tous les gènes à HMG-box de P. anserina. Les résultats montrent que ces derniers ont un rôle très important dans le développement sexué, particulièrement Pa_1_13940 qui code un régulateur des gènes des types sexuels, le premier identifié chez les Pezizomycotina. / The filamentous fungus, Podospora anserina, has two mating-type idiomorphs, mat+ and mat-. The mat+ sequence contains one gene FPR1, while mat- contains three genes: FMR1, SMR1 and SMR2. The molecular function of SMR1 is unknown, FPR1, FMR1 and SMR2 encode transcriptional regulators which control the fertilization (intercellular recognition) and the transition from a syncytium to a specialized dikaryotic hypha which contains one mat+ and one mat- nucleus (internuclear recognition). No exhaustive analysis is available for the genes involved in the intercellular recognition, while the mechanism of the internuclear recognition is unknown. In order to understand the mechanism of these events and to identify the target genes of mating-type transcription factors, we used a microarray approach. The transcriptomic profiles of the mat+ and mat- strains that are competent for fertilization revealed 157 differentially transcribed genes, and transcriptomic analysis of fmr1- and fpr1- mutant strains was used to determine the regulatory actions exerted by FMR1 and FPR1 on these differentially transcribed genes. All possible combinations of transcription repression and/or activation by FMR1 and/or FPR1 were observed. Furthermore, 10 additional mating-type target genes were identified that were up- or down-regulated to the same level in mat+ and mat- strains. Of the 167 genes identified, 32 genes were selected for deletion, which resulted in the identification of two genes essential for the sexual cycle. A comparison with similar data set from the two ascomycetes, Gibberella moniliformis and Sordaria macrospora, reveals significant numbers of orthologous pairs, although transcriptional profiles were not conserved between species, questioning the function of these target genes. Internuclear recognition was investigated by the transcriptomic analysis of perithecia from two crosses expressing mat+ and mat- genes, respectively. The tow internuclear recognition models: nuclear identity and random segregation, were used to interpret our results. According to the former model, 27 target genes have been identified, while 154 target genes were identified with the latter model. A total of 46 mutant strains were constructed. However, these strains showed no defects in sexual development. Besides this microarray experiences, we have invalidated all HMG-box genes of P. anserina. The results show that the HMG-box genes have a very important role in sexual development, especially Pa_1_13940 which encodes the first identified regulator of Pezizomycotinan mating-type genes.

Cette thèse étudie empiriquement les marchés de brevets. Le Chapitre 1 étudie les transferts internationaux de propriété de brevets, par rapport aux régimes de "patent box". Ces régimes fiscaux offrent un taux de taxation réduit sur les revenus liés aux brevets. L'approche empirique du Chapitre 1 met en lumière une utilisation fiscale des marchés de brevets, et analyse ce comportement en tenant compte des caractéristiques et de la flexibilité des politiques fiscales. Le Chapitre 2 s'intéresse aux transferts de brevets essentiels à des normes, qui donnent à leurs propriétaires un large pouvoir de marché et de négociation. Ce chapitre montre l'existence et étudie deux marchés distincts pour les brevets essentiels: le marché pré-déclaration, sur lequel les entreprises échangent de nouvelles technologies, et le marché post-déclaration, sur lequel elles échangent des brevets déjà déclarés comme essentiels. Le Chapitre 3 examine l'effet de la distance géographique entre les parties contractantes sur le timing de l'accord de licence. L'analyse contrôle pour d'autres facteurs affectant le timing du contrat, et montre l'existence d'une caractéristique locale qui nuit aux arguments d'efficacité liés aux marchés de technologie. Le Chapitre 4 développe une méthode systématique pour l'analyse à grande échelle des transferts de propriété de brevets utilisant les registres européens. Cette méthode est appliquée pour effectuer une première analyse économique dans le domaine des technologies médicales. / This thesis empirically studies markets for patents.Chapter 1 investigates the international transfers of patent ownership with respect to patent box regimes, which provide advantageous tax schemes for revenues derived from patents. It provides empirical evidence on the use of markets for patents with respect to taxes, and analyses this behaviour regarding the features and the flexibility of fiscal policies.Chapter 2 studies the transfers of Standard-Essential Patents (SEPs), which give their owners large market and bargaining power. It provides empirical evidence on the existence and characteristics of two distinct markets for SEPs: the pre-declaration market, on which firms trade early technologies, and the post-declaration market, on which firms exchange already declared SEPs.Chapter 3 examines the effect of geographical distance between the contracting parties on the timing of the licensing deal. It controls for confounding factors and provides evidence on the existence of a local characteristic undermining the efficiency arguments related to markets for technology.Chapter 4 develops a systematic method for the large-scale analysis of the transfers of patent rights using European registers. It applies this method to derive novel economic evidence on the field of medical technologies.

Die Elektronisierung der Finanzmärkte ist in den letzten Jahren weit vorangeschritten. Praktisch jede Börse verfügt über ein elektronisches Handelssystem. In diesem Kontext beschreibt der Begriff Algorithmic Trading ein Phänomen, bei dem Computerprogramme den Menschen im Wertpapierhandel ersetzen. Sie helfen dabei Investmententscheidungen zu treffen oder Transaktionen durchzuführen. Algorithmic Trading selbst ist dabei nur eine unter vielen Innovationen, welche die Entwicklung des Börsenhandels geprägt haben. Hier sind z.B. die Erfindung der Telegraphie, des Telefons, des FAX oder der elektronische Wertpapierabwicklung zu nennen. Die Frage ist heute nicht mehr, ob Computerprogramme im Börsenhandel eingesetzt werden. Sondern die Frage ist, wo die Grenze zwischen vollautomatischem Börsenhandel (durch Computer) und manuellem Börsenhandel (von Menschen) verläuft. Bei der Erforschung von Algorithmic Trading wird die Wissenschaft mit dem Problem konfrontiert, dass keinerlei Informationen über diese Computerprogramme zugänglich sind. Die Idee dieser Dissertation bestand darin, dieses Problem zu umgehen und Informationen über Algorithmic Trading indirekt aus der Analyse von (Fonds-)Renditen zu extrahieren. Johannes Gomolka untersucht daher die Forschungsfrage, ob sich Aussagen über computergesteuerten Wertpapierhandel (kurz: Algorithmic Trading) aus der Analyse von (Fonds-)Renditen ziehen lassen. Zur Beantwortung dieser Forschungsfrage formuliert der Autor eine neue Definition von Algorithmic Trading und unterscheidet mit Buy-Side und Sell-Side Algorithmic Trading zwei grundlegende Funktionen der Computerprogramme (die Entscheidungs- und die Transaktionsunterstützung). Für seine empirische Untersuchung greift Gomolka auf das Multifaktorenmodell zur Style-Analyse von Fung und Hsieh (1997) zurück. Mit Hilfe dieses Modells ist es möglich, die Zeitreihen von Fondsrenditen in interpretierbare Grundbestandteile zu zerlegen und den einzelnen Regressionsfaktoren eine inhaltliche Bedeutung zuzuordnen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Dissertation zeigen, dass man mit Hilfe der Style-Analyse Aussagen über Algorithmic Trading aus der Analyse von (Fonds-)Renditen machen kann. Die Aussagen sind jedoch keiner technischen Natur, sondern auf die Analyse von Handelsstrategien (Investment-Styles) begrenzt. / During the last decade the electronic trading on the stock exchanges advanced rapidly. Today almost every exchange is running an electronic trading system. In this context the term algorithmic trading describes a phenomenon, where computer programs are replacing the human trader, when making investment decisions or facilitating transactions. Algorithmic trading itself stands in a row of many other innovations that helped to develop the financial markets technologically (see for example telegraphy, the telephone, FAX or electronic settlement). Today the question is not, whether computer programs are used or not. The question arising is rather, where the border between automatic, computer driven and human trading can be drawn. Conducting research on algorithmic trading confronts scientists always with the problem of limited availability of information. The idea of this dissertation is to circumnavigate this problem and to extract information indirectly from an analysis of a time series of (fund)-returns data. The research question here is: Is it possible to draw conclusions about algorithmic trading from an analysis of (funds-)return data? To answer this question, the author develops a complete definition of algorithmic trading. He differentiates between Buy-Side and Sell-Side algorithmic trading, depending on the functions of the computer programs (supporting investment-decisions or transaction management). Further, the author applies the multifactor model of the style analysis, formely introduced by Fung and Hsieh (1997). The multifactor model allows to separate fund returns into regression factors that can be attributed to different reasons. The results of this dissertation do show that it is possible to draw conclusions about algorithmic trading out of the analysis of funds returns. Yet these conclusions cannot be of technical nature. They rather have to be attributed to investment strategies (investment styles).

Ghana faces a macroeconomic problem of inflation for a long period of time. The problem in somehow slows the economic growth in this country. As we all know, inflation is one of the major economic challenges facing most countries in the world especially those in African including Ghana. Therefore, forecasting inflation rates in Ghana becomes very important for its government to design economic strategies or effective monetary policies to combat any unexpected high inflation in this country. This paper studies seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model to forecast inflation rates in Ghana. Using monthly inflation data from July 1991 to December 2009, we find that ARIMA (1,1,1)(0,0,1)12 can represent the data behavior of inflation rate in Ghana well. Based on the selected model, we forecast seven (7) months inflation rates of Ghana outside the sample period (i.e. from January 2010 to July 2010). The observed inflation rate from January to April which was published by Ghana Statistical Service Department fall within the 95% confidence interval obtained from the designed model. The forecasted results show a decreasing pattern and a turning point of Ghana inflation in the month of July.