Failed research

Fhnt, D., The User s View of Why IT Projects Fail, Research Note G00124846, Gartner, Inc., 4 Febmary 2(X)5. 

The search for substances which quahfy for proposed applications has always been a driving force for the synthesis and characterization of new compounds. This is especially true in polymer chemistry, where it is the potential of polymers as engineering materials that often stimulates research. Polymeric materials frequently fail to be serviceable in engineering applications for one of the following reasons ... 

Sir Joseph Swan, as a result of his quest for carbon fiber for lamp filaments (2), learned how to denitrate nitrocellulose using ammonium sulfide. In 1885 he exhibited the first textiles made from this new artificial sHk, but with carbon fiber being his main theme he failed to foUow up on the textile possibihties. Meanwhile Count Hilaire de Chardoimet (3) was researching the nitrocellulose route and had perfected his first fibers and textiles in time for the Paris Exhibition in 1889. There he got the necessary financial backing for the first Chardoimet silk factory in Besancon in 1890. His process involved treating mulberry leaves with nitric and sulfuric acids to form cellulose nitrate which could be dissolved in ether and alcohol. This collodion solution could be extmded through holes in a spinneret into warm air where solvent evaporation led to the formation of soHd cellulose nitrate filaments. 

Experienced market researchers planning a strategy that involves acquisition of a specialty chemical company by a commodity chemical producer have to be aware of these differences. Many such acquisitions have failed over the years because the commodity company management failed to recognize or refused to beheve these differences. 

Finally, a researcher must assess how the differing personalities and practices of the company for which the study is being done compare to those of the specialty company. If conflict appears likely, the researcher should discourage the acquisition because it probably will fail to meet its goal. 

The design or substantial modification of a new plant or process, its subsequent constmction, and start-up represent a tremendous investment of time and money. The rewards are great if a significant improvement is realized the risks are also great if a costiy commercial plant fails to produce as expected. To reduce the degree of risk, lengthy and expensive research programs are often undertaken. 

In 1981, Chinese Restaurant Asthma was reported following capsule administration of MSG to several asthmatics (37). However, the researchers failed to account for other allergens to which the subjects could have been exposed and did not utilize the scientific practice of a "control" substance which would have helped to determine if glutamate triggered this response. In a double-blind crossover study, chronic asthmatics were challenged with MSG or a placebo. No decrease in pulmonary function was observed (39). 

Polymer-supported catalysts incorporating organometaUic complexes also behave in much the same way as their soluble analogues (28). Extensive research has been done in attempts to develop supported rhodium complex catalysts for olefin hydroformylation and methanol carbonylation, but the effort has not been commercially successful. The difficulty is that the polymer-supported catalysts are not sufftciendy stable the valuable metal is continuously leached into the product stream (28). Consequendy, the soHd catalysts fail to eliminate the problems of corrosion and catalyst recovery and recycle that are characteristic of solution catalysis. 

Toxicity Amelioration. Cancer researchers traditionally have not focused their attention on the question of toxicity amehoration. This is partiy attributed to the lack of predictive animal models for human toxicities. For example, the preclinical rat model, used as a predictor of myelosuppression, has failed to predict myelosuppression in humans in clinical trials. In addition, reduction of one toxicity may result in the emergence of another, more serious problem. Research efforts to address the problem of toxicity amelioration has progressed in several directions. The three most prominent areas are analogue synthesis, chemoprotection, and dmg targeting. 

Although surface treatments, both physical and chemical, have demonstrated the abiUty to alter specific properties of contact lens surfaces, most treatments fail as a result of alteration of bulk lens properties, instabifity of surface treatment, or poor ocular compatibifity. Research is expected to continue in the characterization and modification of contact lens surfaces. 

The submitters employed alcohol-free potassium ferf-butoxide, purchased from K K Laboratories, without further purification the checkers employed comparable material taken from a freshly opened bottle purchased from MSA Research Corporation. The submitters report that among approximately ten different bottles of commercial potassium terf-butoxide used, only material from one bottle failed to form the tricarbonate in this procedure. The defective material in this one bottle was an extremely fine powder that failed to dissolve when... 

What can be done by predictive methods if the sequence search fails to reveal any homology with a protein of known tertiary structure Is it possible to model a tertiary structure from the amino acid sequence alone There are no methods available today to do this and obtain a model detailed enough to be of any use, for example, in drug design and protein engineering. This is, however, a very active area of research and quite promising results are being obtained in some cases it is possible to predict correctly the type of protein, a, p, or a/p, and even to derive approximations to the correct fold. 

Bridgman had strong views on the importance of empirical research, influenced as little as possible by theory, and this helped him test the influence of numerous variables that lesser mortals failed to heed. He kept clear of quantum mechanics and dislocation theory, for instance. He became deeply ensconced in the philosophy of physics research for instance, he published a famous book on dimensional analysis, and another on the logic of modern physics . When he sought to extrapolate his ideas into the domain of social science, he found himself embroiled in harsh disputes this has happened to a number of eminent scientists, for instance, J.D. Bernal. Walter s book goes into this aspect of Bridgman s life in detail. 

The factors that favour successful industrial innovation have been memorably analysed by a team at the Science Policy Research Unit at Sussex University, in England (Rothwell et al. 1974). In this project (named SAPPHO) 43 pairs of attempted similar innovations one successful in each pair, one a commercial failure - were critically compared, in order to derive valid generalisations. One conclusion was The responsible individuals (i.e., technical innovator, business innovator, chief executive, and - especially - product champion) in the successful attempts are usually more senior and have greater authority than their counterparts who fail . 

The literature of polyimines is extensive [164-173]. A number of researchers have tried to synthesize high molecular weight polymers but failed due to poor solubility in organic solvents. Polyimines are of great interest because of their high thermal stability [174-176], ability to form metal chelates [174-177], and their semiconducting properties [178-181]. Due to insolubility and infusibility, which impeded characterization of the molecular structure, the application of these polymers is very limited and of little commercial importance. 

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