Patent Scope and Innovation in the Software Industry

Software patents have received a great deal of attention in the academic literature. Unfortunately, most of that attention has been devoted to the problem of whether software is or should be patentable subject matter. With roughly eighty thousand software patents already issued, and the Federal Circuit endorsing patentability without qualification, those questions are for the history books. The more pressing questions now concern the scope to be accorded software patents. In this Article, we examine the implications of some traditional patent law doctrines for innovation in the software industry. We argue that patent law needs some refinement if it is to promote rather than impede the growth of this new market, which is characterized by rapid sequential innovation, reuse and re-combination of components, and strong network effects that privilege interoperable components and products

Physical activity: its implication on attention span and quality of life in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

This study examined the effects of physical activity on the attention span and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children in Singapore. Male participants (N = 12) aged 2-6 years, diagnosed with ASD were randomly assigned to either a physical activity or non-physical activity group. In the physical activity group, participants were administered 8 tri-cycling sessions; both groups of participants were measured for their attention span, and their parents completed the HRQoL questionnaires. Results indicate that as the exercise increases, the physical activity group demonstrated increasingly longer duration of attention span. These results extend the findings that physical activity enhances cognition of ASD children and support its consideration into the early intervention programs

Requirements for the selective degradation of CD4 receptor molecules by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Vpu protein in the endoplasmic reticulum

BACKGROUND: HIV-1 Vpu targets newly synthesized CD4 receptor for rapid degradation by a process reminiscent of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated protein degradation (ERAD). Vpu is thought to act as an adaptor protein, connecting CD4 to the ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome degradative system through an interaction with beta-TrCP, a component of the SCFbeta-TrCP E3 Ub ligase complex. RESULTS: Here, we provide direct evidence indicating that Vpu promotes trans-ubiquitination of CD4 through recruitment of SCFbeta-TrCP in human cells. To examine whether Ub conjugation occurs on the cytosolic tail of CD4, we substituted all four Ub acceptor lysine residues for arginines. Replacement of cytosolic lysine residues reduced but did not prevent Vpu-mediated CD4 degradation and ubiquitination, suggesting that Vpu-mediated CD4 degradation is not entirely dependent on the ubiquitination of cytosolic lysines and as such might also involve ubiquitination of other sites. Cell fractionation studies revealed that Vpu enhanced the levels of ubiquitinated forms of CD4 detected in association with not only the ER membrane but also the cytosol. Interestingly, significant amounts of membrane-associated ubiquitinated CD4 appeared to be fully dislocated since they could be recovered following sodium carbonate salt treatment. Finally, expression of a transdominant negative mutant of the AAA ATPase Cdc48/p97 involved in the extraction of ERAD substrates from the ER membrane inhibited Vpu-mediated CD4 degradation. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results are consistent with a model whereby HIV-1 Vpu targets CD4 for degradation by an ERAD-like process involving most likely poly-ubiquitination of the CD4 cytosolic tail by SCFbeta-TrCP prior to dislocation of receptor molecules across the ER membrane by a process that depends on the AAA ATPase Cdc48/p97.This work was performed by JB in partial fulfillment of her doctoral thesis and was supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (MOP-14228) and from the Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (FRSQ) to EAC. JB is the recipient of a studentship from the FRSQ and EAC holds the Canada Research Chair in Human Retrovirology

Psychologists\u27 understanding of resilience: Implications for the discipline of psychology and psychology practice

Current adoptions of strength-based approaches, as suggested by the positive psychology movement, asks professionals to develop different perspectives on familiar constructs. Given that we have little understanding how psychologists define and work with psychological phenomena, this current study sought to determine how Western Australian registered psychologists understand resilience. The 213 participants were asked to provide definitions and information about their understanding of resilience via an open-ended questionnaire. Demographic questions included the level and year ofqualification(s) and nature of psychological work undertaken. The definitions obtained from the participants were rated against definitions of resilience in the literature. The participants understandings of resilience were also assessed against the constructs believed to underpin resilience, as presented in the resilience literature. Although theconcept of resilience is widely researched and much information is published in psychological journals, participants in this study did not fully articulate the concept and its relevance to strength-based approaches

External and internal noise surveys of London primary schools

Internal and external noise surveys have been carried out around schools in London, UK, to provide information on typical levels and sources to which children are exposed while at school. Noise levels were measured outside 142 schools, in areas away from flightpaths into major airports. 86% of the schools surveyed were exposed to noise from road traffic, the average external noise level outside a school being 57 dB LAeq. Detailed internal noise surveys have been carried out in 140 classrooms in 16 schools, together with classroom observations. It was found that noise levels inside classrooms depend upon the activities in which the children are engaged, with a difference of 20 dB LAeq between the 'quietest' and 'noisiest' activities. The average background noise level in classrooms exceeds the level recommended in current standards. The number of children in the classroom was found to affect noise levels. External noise influenced internal noise levels only when children were engaged in the quietest classroom activities. The effects of the age of the school buildings and types of window upon internal noise were examined but results were inconclusive

Analysis of HIV-1 Vpr determinants responsible for cell growth arrest in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

BACKGROUND: The HIV-1 genome encodes a well-conserved accessory gene product, Vpr, that serves multiple functions in the retroviral life cycle, including the enhancement of viral replication in nondividing macrophages, the induction of G2 cell-cycle arrest, and the modulation of HIV-1-induced apoptosis. We previously reported the genetic selection of a panel of di-tryptophan (W)-containing peptides capable of interacting with HIV-1 Vpr and inhibiting its cytostatic activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Yao, X.-J., J. Lemay, N. Rougeau, M. Clément, S. Kurtz, P. Belhumeur, and E. A. Cohen, J. Biol. Chem. v. 277, p. 48816–48826, 2002). In this study, we performed a mutagenic analysis of Vpr to identify sequence and/or structural determinants implicated in the interaction with di-W-containing peptides and assessed the effect of mutations on Vpr-induced cytostatic activity in S. cerevisiae. RESULTS: Our data clearly shows that integrity of N-terminal α-helix I (17–33) and α-helix III (53–83) is crucial for Vpr interaction with di-W-containing peptides as well as for the protein-induced cytostatic effect in budding yeast. Interestingly, several Vpr mutants, mainly in the N- and C-terminal domains, which were previously reported to be defective for cell-cycle arrest or apoptosis in human cells, still displayed a cytostatic activity in S. cerevisiae and remained sensitive to the inhibitory effect of di-W-containing peptides. CONCLUSIONS: Vpr-induced growth arrest in budding yeast can be effectively inhibited by GST-fused di-W peptide through a specific interaction of di-W peptide with Vpr functional domain, which includes α-helix I (17–33) and α-helix III (53–83). Furthermore, the mechanism(s) underlying Vpr-induced cytostatic effect in budding yeast are likely to be distinct from those implicated in cell-cycle alteration and apoptosis in human cells

Differences in Complication Rates Between Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass and Longitudinal Sleeve Gastrectomy

Introduction: Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) has surpassed Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) as the most commonly performed bariatric operation. Though the beneficial effect of SG on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is less than that of RYGB, it is perceived to have a lower complication rate. The purpose of this study was to quantify the complication rates between of SG and RYGB in a severely obese diabetic population. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study that included all diabetic patients undergoing RYGB and SG at an academic medical center from January 1, 2011 to July 1, 2015. Patients were followed at 6 week, 6 month, 1 year, 2 year, and 3 year postoperatively. Outpatient and emergency visits were identified in the EMR system. Continuous data was analyzed using Student T tests and discrete data was analyzed using Fisher’s Exact Test. We defined early complications as those occurring within 30 days postoperatively, and late complications as those after 30 days. Results: A total of 96 patients underwent RYGB and 89 underwent SG. The groups were concurrent and similar with regards to preoperative demographic factors such as age, gender, Hgb-A1c, HOMA2 parameters, excess body weight, BMI, and diabetic medication use. In terms of early complications, the rate of hemorrhage requiring transfusion was higher in the SG group compared to RYGB (10.1% vs. 3.1%, p=0.073). Postoperative length of stay was lower in the SG group (m=1.7 d vs. m=2 d, p=0.02), but the early readmission rate was also higher in the SG group (7.9% vs. 2.1%, p=0.09). For late postoperative complications, there were 4 anastomotic ulcer perforations and one case of internal hernia in the RYGB group. There were 6 late postoperative reoperations in the RYGB group (6% vs. 0%, p=0.03). In addition, 13 patients underwent 16 total upper endoscopies in the RYGB group (13.5% vs. 0%, p=0.0002). The cumulative rate of early and late interventions was higher in the RYGB group (20% vs. 3.4%, p=0.0005). Conclusions: While the rate of early postoperative complication is similar between SG and RYGB, the need for late intervention is higher after RYGB. The cumulative need for reintervention (early and late) is higher after RYGB. This may explain the shift from Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass to Sleeve Gastrectomy as the most commonly performed bariatric intervention

Comparison of Diabetic Remission Rates following Roux en-Y Gastric Bypass and Longitudinal Sleeve Gastrectomy

Introduction: Bariatric surgery is being increasingly investigated as treatment for Type II Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). As Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG) surpasses Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) as the new standard in bariatric surgery, it is still unknown if its efficacy in achieving remission is comparable to RYGB. This study compared diabetic remission rates between SG and RYGB in order to identify the predictive factors for remission and the mechanisms of achieving remission. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study comparing all diabetic patients undergoing RYGB and SG at an academic medical center from 1/1/11-7/1/15. Patients were followed preoperatively and at 6 week, 6 month, and 1, 2, and 3 year intervals. We defined diabetic remission as HbA1c under 7 without insulin or hypoglycemic use and excess body weight (EBW) as percent over ideal body weight. Data were analyzed using Cox analysis, Fisher’s Exact Tests, and Student T Tests. Results: During the study, 96 patients underwent RYGB and 89 underwent SG. Preoperatively, patients from both groups had similar age, weight, gender, preoperative weight loss, HbA1c at onset and at surgery, oral hypoglycemic use, insulin use, and HOMA2 parameters. At one year postoperatively, patients who underwent RYGB showed a statistically greater postoperative EBW loss (62% vs. 36% p \u3c 0.0001). Kaplan Meier analysis showed a significantly higher rate of remission, (83% vs. 66%) in patients who underwent SG (p=0.02). After using Cox analysis to account for differences in delta BMI (p=0.04), EBW loss (p=0.04), preoperative HOMA2 parameters (p=0.008-0.011), and preoperative factors such as HbA1c and insulin use (p=0.001 for both), there was no change in RYGB’s impact on diabetic remission compared to SG. Conclusion: Our results confirm that RYGB achieves a significantly greater rate of diabetic remission and a significantly higher weight loss than SG. Additionally, the difference in rate of diabetic remission is not explained by weight loss or preoperative predictors of less reversible diabetes (HOMA2 parameters, use of insulin). Identification of the factor(s) responsible for this differential effect on diabetes may afford opportunity for therapeutic intervention