Thesis (S.M.)--Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology; and, (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 60-61). / The decline in Pharmaceutical R&D productivity has been attributed to high clinical failure rates suggesting that targets, leads and clinical candidates may be of lower quality in recent years. Senior R&D management generally believes that a greater integration of drug discovery and development will improve the selection and optimization of clinical candidates. I demonstrate the different nature of discovery and development with discovery tasks seen as more uncertain, having more reciprocal work flows and more under the control of management than development tasks. Discovery and development personnel have different characteristics and motivations, with discovery staff having greater creative skills and development staff greater planning skill. Following a congruence approach to organization design these differences imply that a complete merging of discovery and development functions would lead to poor fit between organizational design elements. This leaves an ongoing requirement for integrative systems which can preserve the important characteristic of discovery and development functions yet provide knowledge integration at key decision points to improve the quality of clinical candidates. A wide range of integrating mechanisms was found to be in use with an emphasis on cross functional teams. Information Technology was viewed as necessary infrastructure but not an important component of knowledge integration. No strong links were found between pipeline maturity and the integrative mechanism deployed. I speculate that company R&D performance could be better matched to internal and external circumstances by a more active approach to managing integrative systems. I propose a conceptual model of integrative systems to guide a more dynamic management approach / (cont.) to organizational design of R&D and suggest further work to formalize the model through an agent based simulation. / by Peter J.A. Smith. / S.M.M.O.T. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology; and, (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, Technology and Policy Program, 2004. / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 72). / This thesis is part of a larger body of research being undertaken by Dr. Fiona Murray and colleagues examining value creation and sharing between and among the three principal players in the commercialization of academic biomedical research: universities, biotech firms, and big pharma. The Recombinant Capital database provided access to contracts for biomedical technology licensed from academe to biotech, and also subsequent contracts that included that same technology from biotech to big pharma. These two contracts comprise a contract "pair". Importantly, these contract "pairs" were unredacted, that is., all parts of the contracts, including the commercial terms, were available. This thesis will lay the foundation for later work by examining the contracts between university and biotech, from the University's point of view. The goal is to identify factors that give the university more power in a pricing negotiation, and that predict higher economic value for the contract. The Specific Aim is to determine if certain University factors have a significant effect on predicting the economic value of the university-biotech licensing agreement. Four groups of readily quantifiable factors that contain attributes that might add power to the University in its pricing negotiation with the Biotech firm were identified: Institutional factors, Single Inventor factors, Aggregate factors, and Invention factors. The hypothesis is that at least one of these factors will have a significant effect on predicting the value of the licensing agreement, as determined using ordinary- and multiple-linear regression models. In formulistic terms, the null- and test-hypotheses are: (HO) no factor has a significant effect on predicting economic value, and (HI) at least one / (cont.) one factor has a significant effect on predicting economic value. A multiple regression model of the factors as explanatory variables for the economic value of the license revealed that two independent university factors significantly predict economic value of the contract. These combined factors account for 64% of the variance of the dependent variable (in excess of control), and have coefficients that are significant (p < 0.001). The results are discussed in the context of its importance to university technology transfer officers, biotech firms and venture capitalists. / by Richard George Wehby. / S.M.

Thesis (S.M.)--Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology; and, (S.M.M.O.T.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, Management of Technology Program, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references. / The promise of personalized medicine lies in its potential to fundamentally change healthcare. In the past, pharmaceuticals were prescribed on a "one size fits all" basis-patients with certain disease phenotypes were given what were thought to be appropriate drugs. There is growing evidence however that the effectiveness of these drugs may differ by individual and by sub-group; presumably due to fundamental genetic differences in disease and metabolic pathways. Drugs like Herceptin, Gleevec and Iressa are part of an emerging trend in the biopharmaceutical arena of drugs that are accompanied by genetic diagnostic tests and prescribed only for patients with genotypes in which the agents are most effective. / by Chad D. Holland. / S.M.M.O.T. / S.M.

Thesis: Ph. D., Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, 1987 / Includes bibliographies. / by Robert M. Cothren, Jr. / Ph. D. / Ph. D. Harvard University--MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, 2000. / Some research performed with the Harvard-M.I.T. Division of Health Sciences and Technology. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-140). / Functional MRI (fMRI) detects the signal associated with neuronal activation, and has been widely used to map brain functions. Locations of neuronal activation are localized and distributed throughout the brain, however, conventional encoding methods based on k-space acquisition have limited spatial selectivity. To improve it, we propose an adaptive fMRI method using non-Fourier, spatially selective RF encoding. This method follows a strategy of zooming into the locations of activation by progressively eliminating the regions that do not show any apparent activation. In this thesis, the conceptual design and implementation of adaptive fMRI are pursued under the hypothesis that the method may provide a more efficient means to localize functional activities with increased spatial or temporal resolution. The difference between functional detection and mapping is defined, and the multi- resolution approach for functional detection is examined using theoretical models simulating variations in both in-plane and through-plane resolution. We justify the multi-resolution approach experimentally using BOLD CNR as a quantitative measure and compare results to those obtained using theoretical models. We conclude that there is an optimal spatial resolution to obtain maximum detection; when the resolution matches the size of the functional activation. We demonstrated on a conventional 1.5-Tesla system that RF encoding provides a simple means for monitoring irregularly distributed slices throughout the brain without encoding the whole volume. We also show the potential for increased signal-to-noise ratio with Hadamard encoding as well as reduction of the in-flow effect with unique design of excitation pulses. / (cont.) RF encoding was further applied in the implementation of real-time adaptive fMRI method, where we can zoom into the user-defined regions interactively. In order to do so, real-time pulse prescription and data processing capabilities were combined with RF encoding. Our specific implementation consisted of five scan stages tailored to identify the volume of interest, and to increase temporal resolution (from 7.2 to 3.2 seconds) and spatial resolution (from 10 mm to 2.5-mm slice thickness). We successfully demonstrated the principle of the multi- resolution adaptive fMRI method in volunteers performing simple sensorimotor paradigms for simultaneous activation of primary motor as well as cerebellar areas. / by Seung-Schik Yoo. / Ph.D.

Le transcendantalisme est un mouvement religieux, philosophique, littéraire et social qui peut être envisagé comme le pendant américain du romantisme européen. Cette « nouvelle philosophie », pour reprendre l’expression des commentateurs de l’époque, a soulevé l’indignation de nombreux pasteurs et théologiens orthodoxes. Pourtant, la réaction contre le transcendantalisme n’a fait l’objet d’aucune étude systématique ou substantielle. Les historiens du mouvement s’étant essentiellement concentrés sur la description et l’analyse des idées transcendantalistes dans leur contexte théologique et intellectuel, les réactions indignées contre la nouvelle philosophie ont été reléguées au rang de faire-valoir et les argumentaires des quelques contempteurs connus du transcendantalisme ont souvent été tronqués ou simplifiés. Notre étude doit permettre de faire émerger, dans toute sa complexité, la critique conservatrice longtemps négligée par la recherche universitaire. Ce travail interroge également le rapport des idées théologiques et philosophiques propres au transcendantalisme avec leur contexte sociopolitique afin de mieux comprendre les peurs des conservateurs de tous bords qui voyaient dans la nouvelle philosophie une menace à la fois pour le christianisme mais aussi, plus généralement, pour l’ordre intellectuel et social établi. Le travail sur les déterminants de la controverse, axé sur les deux dénominations les plus actives durant la polémique, vise quant à lui, d’une part, à tracer les contours des mentalités des critiques du transcendantalisme et à expliquer les motivations les poussant à intervenir dans la polémique transcendantaliste. / Transcendentalism is a religious, philosophical, literary and social movement which can be viewed as the American counterpart of the European Romantic Movement. This “new philosophy”, to use the expression of the contemporary commentators, outraged many orthodox pastors and theologians. However, the reaction against transcendentalism has never really been the object of any substantial and systematic study. Indeed, historians of the movement have concentrated almost exclusively on the description and analysis of the transcendentalists’ ideas in their theological and intellectual context. Consequently, indignant reactions against the new philosophy have been used mainly as a counterpoint to the transcendentalists’ radical new ideas and the few known opponents of transcendentalism have been quoted only in their most intolerant and strident moments.This study puts the conservatives’ criticisms, which have long been neglected by academic research, center stage. It also questions the link between the transcendentalists’ theological and philosophical ideas and their sociopolitical context so as to better understand conservative fears that the new philosophy might be a threat not only to Christianity but, more generally, to the established intellectual and social order. As for the work on the determinants of the controversy, which is focused on the two denominations most active during the dispute, it aims at tracing the contours of the conservatives’ mentalities and at explaining the motivations driving them to participate in the transcendentalist controversy.

[pt] A capacidade de negociar efetivamente é considerada uma competência crítica na administração moderna (Ertel, 2000). A negociação é parte constante do dia a dia de qualquer ser humano e sua importância é ainda maior para o administrador, pois este utiliza a negociação nos mais variados aspectos e das mais variadas formas em seu dia a dia profissional. Aos estudantes e praticantes da administração brasileiros que desejem se aprofundar nas teorias e práticas de negociação, desenvolvidas dentro ou fora do país, restam poucos caminhos: a busca do auto conhecimento através de artigos e livros, cursos particulares dentro e fora do Brasil ou cursos em Universidades estrangeiras. Sendo assim, o objetivo principal deste trabalho é descobrir como negociadores estratégicos brasileiros praticam a negociação, englobando seus pontos positivos e negativos, além de tentar descobrir como estes negociadores encaram a negociação no Brasil e como essa prática se relaciona com a teoria de negociação. Este estudo buscará responder a algumas das seguintes perguntas, vistas sob o ponto de vista de grandes negociadores brasileiros: que relação tem a prática da negociação no Brasil com as teorias de negociação mais conhecidas? Será que as mesmas técnicas e táticas desenvolvidas e utilizadas nos Estados Unidos são utilizadas no Brasil? Esta pesquisa partiu da idéia de que seria interessante, numa tentativa de aumentar a efetividade do negociador brasileiro e baseado na falta de estudos desenvolvidos localmente, entender como alguns grandes negociadores nacionais praticam a negociação, o que gostam de usar e encontrar do outro lado da mesa, assim como o que não gostam. / [en] The ability to negotiate effectively is one the most crucial ones in today`s business environment (Ertel, 2000). During his day to day a professional businessman or businesswoman will probably use negotiation on almost all aspects of any business. To the Brazilian professionals or students interested in deepening their knowledge of negotiation techniques there are only few paths available: self study, private courses both in and out of Brazil or negotiation courses in foreign Universities. That is one of the reasons why the main objective of this study is to shed some light on Brazilian strategic negotiators and their style, and also to try to find out what these negotiators think are the best and worst aspects of negotiating with Brazilians and foreigners. This work will try to answer the following questions, seen from the eyes of great Brazilian negotiators: what does the theory of negotiation used in Brazil have to do with the well-known international negotiation theories? Are the same techniques developed, mainly, in the United States used in Brazilian negotiations? One of the main ideas for this work is that, due to the lack of locally developed theories, it will be interesting to see how great Brazilian negotiators practice negotiation, what does their style have to do with well known theories and what do they like and dislike on a negotiation.

Dans le cadre de l'essor des Etats-Unis comme puissance mondiale, nous étudions dans quelle mesure leur croissanceintellectuelle est favorisée par les transferts d'étudiants dans les deux sens ou d'institutions françaises en Amérique. Parmicelles-ci, une attention toute particulière est donnée à l'Ecole Libre des Sciences Politiques de Paris, dont nous avons dépouilléles archives, recensé les élèves américains depuis sa création jusqu'à la fin de notre période en 1932. Nous montronsl'importance de certains élèves, et étudions les établissements auxquels elle donne naissance en Amérique. Nous expliquons letransfert aux Etats-Unis du Musée Social de Paris. Nous tenons compte des réseaux d'historiens, de géographes,d'économistes, de sociologues et d'autres universitaires français et américains. Nous analysons les étudiants, y compris ceuxprovenant de programmes créés par James Hyde et Albert Kahn, où l'Université Harvard tient une place de choix. Ladétermination de la France à attirer les étudiants étrangers est au détriment de l'Allemagne où la plupart des grandsuniversitaires américains étaient formés. Nous étudions donc à travers une biographie intellectuelle de Jean Jules Jusserand,ambassadeur de France aux Etats-Unis pendant 22 ans, la guerre d'influence que les intellectuels allemands et français selivrent en Amérique, avant et pendant la Grande Guerre. / Within the context of the expansion of the United States as a world power, we study the extent to which their intellectualdevelopment is enhanced by bidirectional exchanges of students or transfers from French institutions to America. Amongthose, we take in in-depth look at the Ecole Libre des Sciences Politiques in Paris. Having combed its archives, we could list theAmerican students there, from its founding to the end of our period of study in 1932. We point out the importance of somestudents and study the schools it gave birth to in America. We explain the transfer from the Musée Social or Paris to the U.S..We take into account the networking between French and American historians, geographers, economists, sociologists andother university scholars. We analyze exchange students, including those from programs created by James Hyde and AlbertKahn, with a particular emphasis on Harvard University. France is determined to attract foreign students at the expense ofGermany where the majority of the best American scholars were trained. Therefore, by way of an intellectual biography of JeanJules Jusserand, French ambassador to the U.S. for 22 years, we study the war of influence on American soil between Frenchand German intellectuals, before and during World War I.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--M.I.T., Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology Program in Medical Engineering and Medical Physics, 1985. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIECNE. / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references. / by David William Carley. / Ph.D.