Analog Computer Research

Contains reports on two research projects

To Issue or Not to Issue: Analysis of the Business Method Patent Controvery on the Internet

The author argues that in time business method patents will promote competition and innovation on the Internet. He begins by tracing the history, goals, and criteria of patent law in general, and then discusses the birth of the BMP, reviews a sample of recently issued BMPs, and summarizes the various arguments that undercut and support the advent of the BMP. After reviewing the arguments against Internet-based BMPs, the author asserts that although various and sometimes random, scholarly criticisms can be placed into three broad classifications: quality, efficiency, and consistency. Balancing these arguments, the author argues that although the consistency arguments have merit, they ignore the realities of the Internet business sector

Integrating Cover Crop Mixtures and No-Till for Sustainable Sweet Corn Production in the Northeast

Fall-planted forage radish (Raphanus sativus L. longipinnatus) cover crops have shown successful weed suppression and recycling of fall-captured nutrients. This research evaluated the nutrient cycling and weed suppressive benefits of forage radish cover crop mixtures to develop an integrated system for no-till sweet corn (Zea mays L. var rugosa) production that improves crop yield and soil health. Treatments included forage radish (FR), oats (Avena sativa L.) and forage radish (OFR), a mixture of peas (Pisum sativum subsp arvense L.), oats and forage radish (POFR), and no cover crop control (NCC). Subplots were assigned to nitrogen fertilizer treatments to evaluate N sufficiency and timing: 0 kg N ha-1 as the control, 28 kg N ha-1 at side-dress, and 56 kg N ha-1 with application split between planting and side-dress. Results indicated that POFR and OFR provided improved N cycling and sweet corn yield compared with FR and NCC. Early season N from decomposing cover crop residue was sufficient to eliminate the need for N fertilizer at sweet corn planting, thereby reducing input costs and risks of environmental pollution

Of Forfeiture, Facilitation and Foreign Innocent Owners: Is a Bank Account Containing Parallel Market Funds Fair Game?

Based on sworn testimony that 680 bank accounts in the United States containing nearly $400 million\u27 were the operating accounts of the Medellin cartel, U.S. District Judge William C. O\u27Kelley issued an order temporarily restraining them on April 16, 1990