The A-theoretic Farrell–Jones conjecture for virtually solvable groups

We prove the A -theoretic Farrell–Jones conjecture for virtually solvable groups. As a corollary, we obtain that the conjecture holds for S -arithmetic groups and lattices in almost connected Lie groups

Cryogenic liquid level measuring probe

Universal probe, which contains a unique frequency discriminator, measures the static and dynamic levels of cryogenic liquids in a hydrogen bubble chamber. The probe allows boiling conditions or other turbulence to be observed throughout all the transition stages

Search For Oxygen in Cool DQ White Dwarf Atmospheres

We report new infrared spectroscopic observations of cool DQ white dwarfs by using Coolspec on the 2.7m Harlan-Smith Telescope. DQs have helium-rich atmospheres with traces of molecular carbon thought to be the result of convective dredge-up from their C/O interiors. Recent model calculations predict that oxygen should also be present in DQ atmospheres in detectable amounts. Our synthetic spectra calculations for He-rich white dwarfs with traces of C and O indicate that CO should be easily detected in the cool DQ atmospheres if present in the expected amounts. Determination of the oxygen abundance in the atmosphere will reveal the C/O ratio at the core/envelope boundary, constraining the important and uncertain ^{12}C(alpha,gamma)^{16}O reaction rate.Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures, to appear in proceedings of the 13th European Workshop on White Dwarf

Star Formation and Relaxation in 379 Nearby Galaxy Clusters

We investigate the relationship between star formation (SF) and level of relaxation in a sample of 379 galaxy clusters at z < 0.2. We use data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to measure cluster membership and level of relaxation, and to select star-forming galaxies based on mid-infrared emission detected with the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer. For galaxies with absolute magnitudes M_r < -19.5, we find an inverse correlation between SF fraction and cluster relaxation: as a cluster becomes less relaxed, its SF fraction increases. Furthermore, in general, the subtracted SF fraction in all unrelaxed clusters (0.117 +/- 0.003) is higher than that in all relaxed clusters (0.097 +/- 0.005). We verify the validity of our SF calculation methods and membership criteria through analysis of previous work. Our results agree with previous findings that a weak correlation exists between cluster SF and dynamical state, possibly because unrelaxed clusters are less evolved relative to relaxed clusters.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Making Sense of KSR and Other Recent Patent Cases

The recent Supreme Court review of KSR International Inc. v. Teleflex Inc., eBay Inc. v. MercExchange LLC, and Microsoft Corp. v. AT&T Corp. manifests the Court’s current interest in the patent jurisprudence of the Fed-eral Circuit. Now it is evident that the Court has a level of concern sufficient to guarantee the possibility of grant of certiorari—whereas formerly a case could rarely generate sufficient interest for review. For long-range impor-tance in patent law, KSR stands alone as the single most important Supreme Court patent decision on the bread and butter standard of “obviousness” in the more than forty years since the 1966 Graham v. John Deere. KSR will remain the leading interpretation of the Graham standard for quite some time

Post-Quanta, Post-Sale Patentee Controls, 7 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 682 (2008)

In Quanta Computer, Inc. v. LG Electronics, Inc., the Supreme Court recalibrated the balance between the rights of a patentee to contractually control the post-sale transfer and the use of patented goods. Specifically, the Court extended the doctrine of patent exhaustion to cover the exhaustion of patents not recited in the license, as well as the practice of technology that does not infringe any patent, but which can only be used in a manner by customers that would infringe a patent. While Quanta arose out of facts concerning computer technology, the implications of this decision will be widespread, permeating diverse fields like biotechnology, including the future of the patent-protected seed industry. Above all, Quanta, the latest of several Supreme Court responses to Federal Circuit judicial activism, should serve as warning to the patent community that it is far better to have the Federal Circuit shape the patent law than to have occasional guidance from the Court