How the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act Sought to Harmonize United States Patent Priority with the World, A Comparison with the European Patent Convention

This Note examines the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act to determine if Congress in fact achieved its goal of harmonizing the United States patent priority system with the rest of the world, when compared to the European Patent Convention. In doing so, it argues that while the United States did intend to better harmonize the geographic scope of prior art references, it failed to clarify the implications of changing the grace period for inventors to commercially exploit their inventions prior to filing. It also added language regarding prior art references that is wholly absent from the European Patent Convention

INTENSITY SELECTION AND REGULATION USING THE OMNI SCALE OF PERCEIVED EXERTION DURING INTERMITTENT EXERCISE

The primary purpose of this investigation was to determine if college age males and females (18 to 25 year old) can self-regulate exercise intensity during a 20 minute intermittent bout of aerobic exercise on the treadmill using the OMNI RPE scale. All subjects completed an estimation trial (EST) graded exercise test using the Bruce protocol to measure heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO2), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) every minute until exhaustion. Using data from the EST, target RPEs corresponding to 50% and 70% of VO2R were determined via regression analysis. A production trial (PROD) was then performed in which subjects titrated speed and grade on the treadmill to elicit the target RPEs corresponding to 50% and 70% of VO2R in counterbalance order. At an RPE corresponding to 50% of VO2R, HR and VO2 were significantly higher in the PROD compared to the EST for counterbalance order I (70% - 50%) (p less .001). However, there was no significant difference in HR and VO2 between the EST and PROD for counterbalance order II (50% - 70%) (p greater .05). When subjects exercised at an RPE corresponding to 70% of VO2R, the HR was significantly higher in the PROD compared to the EST for counterbalance order I (70% - 50%), (p less .05). However, there was no significant difference in HR between the EST and PROD trials for counterbalance order II (50% - 70%), (p greater.05). At an RPE corresponding to 70% of VO2R, there was no significant difference in the VO2 between the EST and PROD trials (p greater .05). Subjects were also able to perceptually differentiate between the two target RPEs corresponding to 50% and 70% of VO2R as indicated by the significant difference in HR (p less .05) and VO2 (p less .05) between the two prescribed PROD RPE intensities. The present investigation indicates that subjects were able to use RPE to self-regulate exercise intensity during 20 min of exercise at varying intensity when starting the exercise bout at the RPE corresponding to 50% of VO2R

Electric Vehicles in New Zealand - Policy, Regulation and Technical Standards for Emerging Vehicle Technology

The need for a technical standard for the conversion of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles to electric drive has been identified by government regulators in New Zealand (NZ). The aim of this project was to review the technical and inspection requirements that would allow Electric Vehicle (EV) conversions of passenger vehicles of gross weight < 3500 kg (Class MA), to be safely designed, built, sold, and operated in NZ. A detailed description of the spectrum of EV technology is given. A literature review of NZ and international transport regulations and technical standards has shown many requirements affecting EVs. A risk analysis showed that most EV technological risks related to electrical, battery and braking safety are controlled by implementing a reduction in risk event likelihood, rather than a reduction in risk event severity. This indicates that risk controls need to be reliable in order to be effective. A detailed review of EV electrical systems, Lithium Ion (Li-ion) battery systems and regenerative braking technology is also carried out. With the use of battery chemistries and designs which minimise the risk of failures, coupled with adequate safeguards in the form of redundant protection and well designed component management systems, EV converters can achieve safe and high performance conversions

The Environmental Kuznets Curve Under a New framework: Role of Social Capital in Water Pollution

We advance a case for an inclusion of social capital in the environmental Kuznets curve analysis using highly disaggregated data on water pollution in Louisiana. A social capital index and other variables are used in parametric and spatial panel regression models to explain water pollution dynamics.Environmental Economics and Policy,

School Accountability in Louisiana (Bulletin #887)

A detailed picture of school accountability across Louisiana\u27s regions and school districts.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/agcenter_bulletins/1008/thumbnail.jp

Does Social Capital Have a Role in Environmental Kuznets Curve? Spatial Panel Regression Approach

We advance a case for an inclusion of social capital in the environmental Kuznets curve analysis using highly disaggregated data on water pollution in Louisiana. A social capital index and other variables are used in parametric and spatial panel regression models to explain water pollution dynamics.social capital, principal component analysis, environmental Kuznets curve, spatial regression, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Designing Accountability Assessments for Teaching

We argue (1) that the domains of externally mandated tests should be transparent to teachers, (2) that test maps can be used to communicate with teachers, and (3) that the most effective test maps express domains in terms of combinations of what students know and can do. We propose a device called a heuristic as the lowest level of specificity in a test map, and criteria to achieve a balance between too much specificity and too much generality in heuristics. Although we focus primarily on summative assessments, we also discuss how a state may use related, teacher-developed formative assessments to foster information-rich classroom environments. Other than item bank structure and sampling, our suggestions would have little impact on how tests are developed or scored, but we believe they would have a large impact on how they are described and used, and ultimately on their effectiveness as agents of instructional reform

Cajuns (Research Report #118)

This review discusses the experiences of Cajuns in the region. Acadians, or Cajuns, are a unique group of people who now reside primarily in 22 parishes in south Louisiana and are often characterized by their unique culture.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/agcenter_researchreports/1000/thumbnail.jp

African Americans (Research Report #121)

From the early 18th century to now, African-Americans have lived in Louisiana and the other Gulf states and played an integral role in shaping the linguistic and cultural traditions of the region. The seventh in the series discusses the experiences of African-Americans in the region.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/agcenter_researchreports/1006/thumbnail.jp

Asians (Research Report #117)

This is the third in a series of reviews. This review discusses the experiences of other Asians (not Vietnamese) in the region. Given the significant number of Vietnamese immigrants living in the southeastern United States, a vast body of literature in the social sciences has described, explored and explained the presence of Vietnamese immigrants living along the Gulf of Mexico.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/agcenter_researchreports/1004/thumbnail.jp