Narrowing the Universe: A Machine Learning Approach to Patent Clearance

Companies cannot reliably predict which patents are likely to be asserted against them. If they could, they would be better able to quantify and mitigate their own patent infringement risk. We used machine learning methods, informed by legal scholars’ understanding of relevant patent traits, to improve on prior attempts to predict litigation. We built primarily on Colleen Chien’s Predicting Patent Litigation. Chien used traits from a patent’s legal history and developed a method of prediction based on the traits acquired before litigation, but not after. She demonstrated that the traits acquired before litigation are useful predictors. Evaluating Chien’s approach, we determined that her logistic regression model was generalizable—that is, not overfit to her training sample—though it does not perform as well on real datasets as her matched-pairs evaluation suggested. We found that year-over-year changes in patenting and litigation will hinder real-world prediction with this approach, but only modestly. Building a much larger dataset of newer patents, and selecting machine learning models tailored to the task, we improved on Chien’s results. Our random forest model had a 7.8% greater area under the precision-recall curve, and it could allow a company to narrow its patent clearance search to a set of patents up to 34% smaller, compared to Chien’s logistic regression approach. We report our results on a random sample of patents using standardized metrics, providing a baseline for future work predicting patent litigation

DO INVESTORS EARN POSITIVE ABNORMAL RETURNS FROM INVESTING IN CHINESE FIRMS LISTED ON THE SINGAPORE EXCHANGE?

Master'sMASTER OF SCIENCE (BUSINESS

Composting paper and grass clippings with anaerobically treated palm oil mill effluent

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the composting performance of anaerobically treated palm oil mill effluent (AnPOME) mixed with paper and grass clippings. Methods Composting was conducted using a laboratory scale system for 40 days. Several parameters were determined: temperature, mass reduction, pH, electrical conductivity, colour, zeta potential, phytotoxicity and final compost nutrients. Results The moisture content and compost mass were reduced by 24 and 18 %, respectively. Both final compost pH value and electrical conductivity were found to increase in value. Colour (measured as PtCo) was not suitable as a maturity indicator. The negative zeta potential values decreased from −12.25 to −21.80 mV. The phytotoxicity of the compost mixture was found to decrease in value during the process and the final nutrient value of the compost indicates its suitability as a soil conditioner. Conclusions From this study, we conclude that the addition of paper and grass clippings can be a potential substrate to be composted with anaerobically treated palm oil mill effluent (AnPOME). The final compost produced is suitable for soil conditioner

Exploring the Use of Hospital and Community Mental Health Services among Newly Resettled Refugees

Importance: Resettled refugees in high-income countries represent a vulnerable population. It is known that refugees have high rates of trauma-related mental health issues; however, ad hoc research has generally revealed low rates of health services use among refugees. Such research usually samples a population at a single point in time and is based on targeted surveys. Because refugee populations change over time, such research becomes expensive and time-consuming for agencies interested in routinely publishing statistics of mental health services use among refugees. The linking of large administrative data sets to establish rates of use of mental health services among resettled refugees is a flexible and relatively inexpensive approach. Objective: To use data linkage to establish rates of mental health services use among resettled refugees relative to the general population. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study implemented data linkage from the Refugee Health Nurse Program for 10050 refugees who resettled in Sydney, Australia, from October 23, 2012, to June 8, 2017, with data concerning use of community mental health services and mental health hospitalization from New South Wales Health databases. Data were analyzed between June 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures: Rates of service contacts with community mental health services among the resettled refugees were compared with those of the general population by age, sex, and the most common International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, diagnosis codes. Length of community mental health service sessions and rates of mental health hospitalizations were also compared. Results: Among the 255 resettled refugees who had contacts with community mental health care services and were not missing data (median age, 35 [range, 4-80] years; 117 [64%] male and 138 [54%] female), 153 (60%) were born in Iraq and 156 (61%) were Arabic speaking. This population was less likely to use mental health services than the general population and had shorter community mental health consultations. The rate of contacts with community mental health services for depressive disorders among the resettled refugee population was 40% (95% CI, 33%-46%) lower than that among the general population. Rates of same-day hospitalization per 10000 person-years were not significantly different between the refugee population (4 [95% CI, 2-8]) and the general Australian population (7 [95% CI, 7-7]). However, the refugee population was 17% (95% CI, 6%-29%) more likely than the general Australian population to interact with the community mental health system for severe stress- and adjustment disorder-related diagnoses. Conclusions and Relevance: These findings suggest that refugees who have resettled in Australia tend to use fewer mental health services than the general population except for services devoted to stress- and adjustment disorder-related diagnoses. These findings also suggest that it is possible to successfully leverage data linkage to study patterns of mental health services use among resettled refugees.</p

Neutrophil extracellular traps in stored canine red blood cell units

BackgroundNeutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), webs of DNA and citrullinated histones extruded from activated neutrophils cause transfusion‐related acute lung injury. Supernatants of stored red blood cell (RBC) units might promote NETosis in neutrophils from the units or from transfusion recipients.Hypotheses(1) NETs form during storage of canine RBC, (2) leukoreduction (LR) before storage of RBC reduces NETosis, and (3) supernatant from stored, nonleukoreduced (NLR) RBC units induces NETosis in healthy canine neutrophils modeling transfusion recipients.AnimalsSix healthy purpose‐bred research dogs were utilized for blood donation.MethodsProspective controlled study. RBC units were collected from each dog, aseptically divided into 2 equal subunits, 1 of which was leukoreduced, and stored for 42 days. Stored units were sampled biweekly for quantification of NET markers citrullinated histone H3 (Western blot) and cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) (DNA dye binding). Unit supernatants were applied ex vivo to canine neutrophils and extracellular DNA release representing NETosis was assessed.ResultsMarkers of NETs increased during RBC storage (cfDNA P < .0001 and citrullinated H3 P = .0002) and were higher in NLR than LR units (day 42 LR cfDNA 0.34 ± 0.82 ng/mL vs day 42 NLR 1361.07 ± 741.00 ng/mL, P < .0001; day 42 LR citrullinated H3 0.19 ± 0.13 AU vs NLR 0.57 ± 0.34 AU, P = .007). Isolated neutrophils did not form NETs when exposed to stored canine RBC supernatant.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceNETosis occurs in stored canine NLR RBC units, and is attenuated by LR before storage. NETs might be mediators of transfusion reactions.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162806/3/jvim15876-sup-0001-supinfo.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162806/2/jvim15876_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162806/1/jvim15876.pd

Recovery of oil from palm oil mill effluent using polypropylene micro/nanofiber

Residual palm oil that goes into the river untreated can become detrimental to the environment. Residual oil discharge during milling process into palm oil mill effluent (POME) is unavoidable. About 1 wt% of residual oil in POME causes major problems to the mills, in terms of environment, wastewater treatment and economy losses. This paper reports the recovery of residual oil from POME by adsorption on polypropylene micro/nanofiber (PP-MNF) and desorption of oil by hands pressing, and oil extraction from the PP-MNF using solvent and supercritical-CO2 extraction techniques. The characterization of the PP-MNF and the quality of oil extracted were analyzed using analytical instruments. The reusability of the PP-MNF was also investigated. The experimental results showed the adsorption capacity of the PP-MNF was 28.65 g of oil/g of PP-MNF on average using refined palm oil, whilst recovery of oil from POME was 10.93 g of oil/g of PP-MNF. The extraction yield of oil from PP-MNF using hand pressing was 89.62%. The extraction of residual oil from the pressed PP-MNF showed comparable yield between solvent and supercritical CO2 techniques. The quality of recovered oil was similar with the quality of the crude oil, and no trace of polypropylene contamination was detected in the oil recovered. The PP-MNF showed no significant physical change after the extraction process. In conclusion, the PP-MNF has great potential to be used commercially in residual oil recovery from POME

The support person\u27s preferences and perspectives of physical activity programs for older adults with cognitive impairment

Objectives: Physical activity (PA) is beneficial for older adults\u27 cognition. There is limited research investigating perspectives of support persons (SPs) of next-of-kins (NOKs) with cognitive impairment. This exploratory study aimed to investigate perspectives of SPs of older adults with Alzheimer\u27s Dementia (AD) or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Methods: A telephone survey of 213 SPs of NOKs from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle Flagship Study of Ageing (AIBL) was undertaken to quantitatively assess SPs\u27 beliefs and knowledge about PA benefits, current PA level of their NOK, and PA program preferences. The contribution of age, gender, diagnosis and mental health symptoms was assessed using multiple logistic regression analyses. Results: Many SPs were aware of PA benefits for memory (64%) and believed it would help their NOK (72%). Older SP age was associated with less awareness of benefits (p = 0.016). SPs caring for male NOKs were more likely to believe that PA would be helpful than those caring for female NOKs (p = 0.049). NOK AD diagnosis (rather than MCI) (p = 0.014), older age (p = 0.005) and female gender (p = 0.043) were associated with lower PA levels. SPs were mixed regarding preference for their NOKs to participate in individual (45%) or group (54%) PA. Many SPs wanted to participate in PA with their NOK (63%). Conclusions: The results highlight that SPs have high levels of awareness of the cognitive benefits of PA, and describe their preferences regarding PA programs. The findings provide new information to inform targeted public health messaging, PA prescribers and providers, and future research directions

Loss-of-function mutations in Lysyl-tRNA synthetase cause various leukoencephalopathy phenotypes

Objective: To expand the clinical spectrum of lysyl-tRNA synthetase (KARS) gene–related diseases, which so far includes Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, congenital visual impairment and microcephaly, and nonsyndromic hearing impairment. Methods: Whole-exome sequencing was performed on index patients from 4 unrelated families with leukoencephalopathy. Candidate pathogenic variants and their cosegregation were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Effects of mutations on KARS protein function were examined by aminoacylation assays and yeast complementation assays. Results: Common clinical features of the patients in this study included impaired cognitive ability, seizure, hypotonia, ataxia, and abnormal brain imaging, suggesting that the CNS involvement is the main clinical presentation. Six previously unreported and 1 known KARS mutations were identified and cosegregated in these families. Two patients are compound heterozygous for missense mutations, 1 patient is homozygous for a missense mutation, and 1 patient harbored an insertion mutation and a missense mutation. Functional and structural analyses revealed that these mutations impair aminoacylation activity of lysyl-tRNA synthetase, indicating that de- fective KARS function is responsible for the phenotypes in these individuals. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that patients with loss-of-function KARS mutations can manifest CNS disorders, thus broadening the phenotypic spectrum associated with KARS-related disease

Esterification of residual palm oil using solid acid catalyst derived from rice husk

In this study, carbon-silica based acid catalysts derived from rice husks (RH) were successfully synthesised using microwave (MW) technology. The results showed that MW sulphonation produced Sulphur (S) content of 17.2–18.5 times higher than in raw RH. Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) showed peak at 1035 cm−1 which corresponded to O˭S˭O stretching of sulphonic (-SO3H) group. XRD showed sulfonated RH catalysts (SRHCs) have amorphous structure, and through SEM, broadening of the RH voids and also formation of pores is observed. RH600 had the highest surface area of 14.52 m2/g. SRHCs showed high catalytic activity for esterification of oleic acid with methanol with RH600 had the highest initial formation rate (6.33 mmol L−1 min−1) and yield (97%). The reusability of the catalyst showed gradually dropped yield of product for every recycle, which might be due to leaching of –SO3H. Finally, esterification of oil recovered from palm oil mill effluent (POME) with methanol achieved a conversion of 87.3% free fatty acids (FFA) into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)

Novel mutations expand the clinical spectrum of DYNC1H1-associated spinal muscular atrophy

OBJECTIVE To expand the clinical phenotype of autosomal dominant congenital spinal muscular atrophy with lower extremity predominance (SMA-LED) due to mutations in the dynein, cytoplasmic 1, heavy chain 1 (DYNC1H1) gene. METHODS Patients with a phenotype suggestive of a motor, non-length-dependent neuronopathy predominantly affecting the lower limbs were identified at participating neuromuscular centers and referred for targeted sequencing of DYNC1H1. RESULTS We report a cohort of 30 cases of SMA-LED from 16 families, carrying mutations in the tail and motor domains of DYNC1H1, including 10 novel mutations. These patients are characterized by congenital or childhood-onset lower limb wasting and weakness frequently associated with cognitive impairment. The clinical severity is variable, ranging from generalized arthrogryposis and inability to ambulate to exclusive and mild lower limb weakness. In many individuals with cognitive impairment (9/30 had cognitive impairment) who underwent brain MRI, there was an underlying structural malformation resulting in polymicrogyric appearance. The lower limb muscle MRI shows a distinctive pattern suggestive of denervation characterized by sparing and relative hypertrophy of the adductor longus and semitendinosus muscles at the thigh level, and diffuse involvement with relative sparing of the anterior-medial muscles at the calf level. Proximal muscle histopathology did not always show classic neurogenic features. CONCLUSION Our report expands the clinical spectrum of DYNC1H1-related SMA-LED to include generalized arthrogryposis. In addition, we report that the neurogenic peripheral pathology and the CNS neuronal migration defects are often associated, reinforcing the importance of DYNC1H1 in both central and peripheral neuronal functions