The Industrial Application of Patent Analysis: An Empirical Study

This research investigates the value of patent analysis in an industrial context. An empirical approach is taken to test the benefits and limitations of a series of patent analysis techniques. The technology profiles of a group of competitor companies within the oil/petrochemicals area are mapped to evaluate the analysis techniques. Patent quantity analysis benefits from speed of execution but provides no indication of patent quality. The International Patent Classification (IPC) hierarchy can map a company’s technological diversity but the correlation of IPC categories with industry or product areas may present difficulties in a business-focused analysis. An experiment within the polymer chemistry area suggests there is a positive association between a patent’s citation counts and its commercial significance, as rated by expert grading. This supports the use of patent citation data to compare the quality of companies’ patent portfolios but the time lag to build citation counts may limit its usefulness in practice. Maps of inter-company patent references may indicate technological leadership but the value of other bibliographic-based techniques appears more marginal. A trend of inter-company differences in the volume of the ‘References Cited’ list is observed. If confirmed, this could impact the value of bibliographic-based patent analysis techniques. Patent analysis can assist in a merger evaluation, particularly at the due diligence phase, but it is often of secondary importance to financial and product market information. Several factors that may distort patent statistics are identified. These include inadequate company name consolidation, errors in patent classification and differences in national patent legislation. The study concludes that patent analysis has a valid place in the corporate environment, provided the output is interpreted judiciously

TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY FOR VOLUNTARY AND EVOKED MEASURES OF PEAK TORQUE, ELECTROMECHANICAL DELAY, AND RATE OF TORQUE DEVELOPMENT IN OLDER MEN.

The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability for peak torque (PT), rates of torque development (RTD), and electromechanical delay (EMD) calculated during voluntary and evoked muscle actions in men ages 65 and older. Fifteen older men (mean ± standard deviation (SD) age = 72.3 ± 7.3 years) completed 3 evoked and 3 voluntary isometric muscle actions of the leg extensors during two visits separated by 48 to 72 h. PT and EMD were calculated during voluntary and evoked muscle actions. RTD was quantified as the peak RTD, overall RTD, RTD in time intervals of 0-30 (RTD30), 0-50 (RTD50), 0-100 (RTD100), and 0-200 ms (RTD200) from the onset of torque, and RTD in 10 ms epochs during the first 250 ms after the onset of torque or to peak torque for voluntary and evoked muscle actions. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard errors of measurement (SEMs), and coefficients of variation (CV) were used to quantify the test-retest reliability. Voluntary and evoked PT demonstrated good reliability, whereas EMD can be considered unreliable. The ICCs for voluntary PRTD, RTD30, RTD50, RTD100, RTD200, and overall RTDranged from 0.598-0.799, while for evoked PRTD, RTD30,RTD50, RTD100, and overall RTD, ICCs ranged from 0.943-0.984. Voluntary RTDs in 10 ms epochs had ICCs ranging from 0.179-0.939, while evoked RTD in 10 ms epochs demonstrated ICCs ranging from 0.693-0.975. Except for PRTD and RTD in 10 ms epochs after 50 ms, CVs were higher for voluntary (11-41%) than evoked (7-24%) measures. Systematic decreases occurred from trial one to trial two for several voluntary measures of RTD, while there was only one for the evoked measures of RTD. CONCLUSIONS: There is dissociation in the reliability of voluntary and evoked PT, and RTD, such that the evoked measurements display greater reliability in older men. Voluntary RTDs were most suspect, consistently demonstrating lower ICCs and greater SEMs than evoked RTD. However, if choosing to measure voluntary RTD in older men, the most reliable measurements may be RTD in the first 10 ms, 80-110 ms, or overall RTD. Finally, EMD may be unreliable in older men. Adviser: Joel T. Crame

TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY FOR VOLUNTARY AND EVOKED MEASURES OF PEAK TORQUE, ELECTROMECHANICAL DELAY, AND RATE OF TORQUE DEVELOPMENT IN OLDER MEN.

The purpose of this study was to examine the test-retest reliability for peak torque (PT), rates of torque development (RTD), and electromechanical delay (EMD) calculated during voluntary and evoked muscle actions in men ages 65 and older. Fifteen older men (mean ± standard deviation (SD) age = 72.3 ± 7.3 years) completed 3 evoked and 3 voluntary isometric muscle actions of the leg extensors during two visits separated by 48 to 72 h. PT and EMD were calculated during voluntary and evoked muscle actions. RTD was quantified as the peak RTD, overall RTD, RTD in time intervals of 0-30 (RTD30), 0-50 (RTD50), 0-100 (RTD100), and 0-200 ms (RTD200) from the onset of torque, and RTD in 10 ms epochs during the first 250 ms after the onset of torque or to peak torque for voluntary and evoked muscle actions. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard errors of measurement (SEMs), and coefficients of variation (CV) were used to quantify the test-retest reliability. Voluntary and evoked PT demonstrated good reliability, whereas EMD can be considered unreliable. The ICCs for voluntary PRTD, RTD30, RTD50, RTD100, RTD200, and overall RTDranged from 0.598-0.799, while for evoked PRTD, RTD30,RTD50, RTD100, and overall RTD, ICCs ranged from 0.943-0.984. Voluntary RTDs in 10 ms epochs had ICCs ranging from 0.179-0.939, while evoked RTD in 10 ms epochs demonstrated ICCs ranging from 0.693-0.975. Except for PRTD and RTD in 10 ms epochs after 50 ms, CVs were higher for voluntary (11-41%) than evoked (7-24%) measures. Systematic decreases occurred from trial one to trial two for several voluntary measures of RTD, while there was only one for the evoked measures of RTD. CONCLUSIONS: There is dissociation in the reliability of voluntary and evoked PT, and RTD, such that the evoked measurements display greater reliability in older men. Voluntary RTDs were most suspect, consistently demonstrating lower ICCs and greater SEMs than evoked RTD. However, if choosing to measure voluntary RTD in older men, the most reliable measurements may be RTD in the first 10 ms, 80-110 ms, or overall RTD. Finally, EMD may be unreliable in older men. Adviser: Joel T. Crame

Novel Energy Drink Improves Mood and Raises Blood Pressure, but has No Effect on Cardiac QTc Interval or Rate-Pressure Product in Young Adult Gamers

Novel energy drink formulations have been introduced to the market that are purported to have nootropic effects – including improving mood. Despite their rapidly growing popularity, especially among video gamers, there is minimal evidence supporting their efficacy or establishing their cardiovascular safety profiles. PURPOSE: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial to investigate the effects of acute consumption of a non-caloric, novel energy drink (NED) containing 200 mg caffeine, citicoline, tyrosine, B-vitamins, and carboxylic acids on mood and cardiovascular safety outcomes. We hypothesized that NED would improve mood without significant adverse cardiovascular effects when compared to placebo. METHODS: Forty-five healthy young adults who routinely play video games (37M, 8F; mean ± SD, age = 25 ± 6 y) each completed two experimental study visits in randomized order where they consumed either NED or a placebo matched for volume, calories, taste, appearance, and mouthfeel. Resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and an electrocardiogram (ECG) were obtained from each participant after a 10-min quiescent period prior to and 45 minutes after consumption of NED or placebo. Resting heart rate (RHR) and corrected QT interval length (QTc) were derived from the ECG. Rate-pressure product (RPP) was determined as the product of HR and SBP. Mood was assessed using the Profile of Mood States at post-consumption after BP and ECG assessments. Paired t-tests or signed ranked tests (for non- normally distributed data) were used to examine between-condition differences in mood states, whereas 2 (condition) × 2 (time) ANOVAs were used to examine SBP, DBP, QTc, and RPP. RESULTS: Change scores are presented as mean absolute change ± 95% confidence interval. Relative changes are provided for mood data. Acute NED consumption improved fatigue-inertia (-1.4 ± 1.0 a.u. [+36%]; p = 0.004), vigor-activity (+2.4 ± 1.2 a.u. [+33%]; p \u3c 0.001), and friendliness (+0.7 ± 0.7 a.u. [+7%]; p = 0.04), without adverse effects on tension-anxiety, confusion-bewilderment, or depression-dejection (all p ≥ 0.27). RHR decreased from pre- to post-beverage consumption, and this decrease was greater following NED than placebo consumption (-6.0 ± 2.8 vs. -2.6 ± 1.4 bpm, p = 0.017). SBP (+3.7 ± 2.0 vs. -0.4 ± 2.0 mmHg; p = 0.002) and DBP (+3.7 ± 1.7 vs. -0.04 ± 1.4 mmHg; p = 0.003) increased following NED vs. placebo; however, RPP decreased independent of condition (-386.0 ± 229.0; p = 0.03), and there was no effect of beverage consumption on QTc (p = 0.44). CONCLUSION: Acute NED consumption improved mood states related to vigor, fatigue, and friendliness without affecting tension-anxiety, depression, or confusion in young adult gamers. While NED consumption produced mild increases in SBP and DBP, there were no effects on either QTc or RPP. Thus, overall, NED consumption produces mood-enhancing effects without markedly influencing cardiovascular safety outcomes

Partially fluidized shear granular flows: Continuum theory and MD simulations

The continuum theory of partially fluidized shear granular flows is tested and calibrated using two dimensional soft particle molecular dynamics simulations. The theory is based on the relaxational dynamics of the order parameter that describes the transition between static and flowing regimes of granular material. We define the order parameter as a fraction of static contacts among all contacts between particles. We also propose and verify by direct simulations the constitutive relation based on the splitting of the shear stress tensor into a``fluid part'' proportional to the strain rate tensor, and a remaining ``solid part''. The ratio of these two parts is a function of the order parameter. The rheology of the fluid component agrees well with the kinetic theory of granular fluids even in the dense regime. Based on the hysteretic bifurcation diagram for a thin shear granular layer obtained in simulations, we construct the ``free energy'' for the order parameter. The theory calibrated using numerical experiments with the thin granular layer is applied to the surface-driven stationary two dimensional granular flows in a thick granular layer under gravity.Comment: 20 pages, 19 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Constructing 3D crystal templates for photonic band gap materials using holographic optical tweezers

A simple and robust method is presented for the construction of 3-dimensional crystals from silica and polystyrene microspheres. The crystals are suitable for use as templates in the production of three-dimensional photonic band gap (PBG) materials. Manipulation of the microspheres was achieved using a dynamic holographic assembler (DHA) consisting of computer controlled holographic optical tweezers. Attachment of the microspheres was achieved by adjusting their colloidal interactions during assembly. The method is demonstrated by constructing a variety of 3-dimensional crystals using spheres ranging in size from 3 µm down to 800 nm. A major advantage of the technique is that it may be used to build structures that cannot be made using self-assembly. This is illustrated through the construction of crystals in which line defects have been deliberately included, and by building simple cubic structures

Mean Field Theory of Sandpile Avalanches: from the Intermittent to the Continuous Flow Regime

We model the dynamics of avalanches in granular assemblies in partly filled rotating cylinders using a mean-field approach. We show that, upon varying the cylinder angular velocity $\omega$, the system undergoes a hysteresis cycle between an intermittent and a continuous flow regimes. In the intermittent flow regime, and approaching the transition, the avalanche duration exhibits critical slowing down with a temporal power-law divergence. Upon adding a white noise term, and close to the transition, the distribution of avalanche durations is also a power-law. The hysteresis, as well as the statistics of avalanche durations, are in good qualitative agreement with recent experiments in partly filled rotating cylinders.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX 3.0, postscript figures 1, 3 and 4 appended

Physiological Responses Underlying the Perception of Effort during Moderate and Heavy Intensity Cycle Ergometry

This study examined patterns of responses for physiological and perceptual variables during cycle ergometry at a constant rate of perceived exertion (RPE) within the moderate and heavy exercise intensity domains. Nineteen (mean age 21.3 ± 0.5 years; 43.4 ± 2.0 mL·kg−1·min−1 VO2Peak) moderately trained cyclists performed an incremental test to exhaustion and two 60 min constant RPE rides at the RPE corresponding to the gas exchange threshold (RPEGET) and 15% above the GET (RPEGET+15%). Oxygen consumption (VO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), minute ventilation (VE), breathing frequency (FB), and power output (PO) were monitored throughout the rides. Polynomial regression analyses showed VO2, RER, HR, and VE (correlation = −0.85 to −0.98) tracked the decreases in PO required to maintain a constant RPE. Only FB tracked RPE during the moderate and heavy intensity rides. Repeated measures ANOVAs indicated that VO2 during the 60 min rides at RPEGET was not different (p \u3e 0.05) from VO2 at GET from the incremental test to exhaustion. Thus, monitoring intensity using an RPE associated with the GET is sustainable for up to 60 min of cycling exercise and a common mechanism may mediate FB and the perception of effort during moderate and heavy intensity cycle ergometry

Physiological Responses Underlying the Perception of Effort during Moderate and Heavy Intensity Cycle Ergometry

This study examined patterns of responses for physiological and perceptual variables during cycle ergometry at a constant rate of perceived exertion (RPE) within the moderate and heavy exercise intensity domains. Nineteen (mean age 21.3 ± 0.5 years; 43.4 ± 2.0 mL·kg−1·min−1 VO2Peak) moderately trained cyclists performed an incremental test to exhaustion and two 60 min constant RPE rides at the RPE corresponding to the gas exchange threshold (RPEGET) and 15% above the GET (RPEGET+15%). Oxygen consumption (VO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), minute ventilation (VE), breathing frequency (FB), and power output (PO) were monitored throughout the rides. Polynomial regression analyses showed VO2, RER, HR, and VE (correlation = −0.85 to −0.98) tracked the decreases in PO required to maintain a constant RPE. Only FB tracked RPE during the moderate and heavy intensity rides. Repeated measures ANOVAs indicated that VO2 during the 60 min rides at RPEGET was not different (p \u3e 0.05) from VO2 at GET from the incremental test to exhaustion. Thus, monitoring intensity using an RPE associated with the GET is sustainable for up to 60 min of cycling exercise and a common mechanism may mediate FB and the perception of effort during moderate and heavy intensity cycle ergometry

The effects of grain shape and frustration in a granular column near jamming

We investigate the full phase diagram of a column of grains near jamming, as a function of varying levels of frustration. Frustration is modelled by the effect of two opposing fields on a grain, due respectively to grains above and below it. The resulting four dynamical regimes (ballistic, logarithmic, activated and glassy) are characterised by means of the jamming time of zero-temperature dynamics, and of the statistics of attractors reached by the latter. Shape effects are most pronounced in the cases of strong and weak frustration, and essentially disappear around a mean-field point.Comment: 17 pages, 19 figure