QUANTIFYING THE COST OF SUBSTANDARD PATENTS: SOME PRELIMINARY EVIDENCE

The purpose of patent policy is to balance the incentive to invent against the ability of the economy to utilize and incorporate new inventions and innovations. Substandard patents that upset this balance impose deadweight losses and other costs on the economy. In this paper, we examine some of the deadweight losses that result from granting substandard patents in the United States. Under plausible assumptions, we find that the economic losses resulting from the grant of substandard patents can reach $21 billion per year by deterring valid research with an additional deadweight loss from litigation and administrative costs of$4.5 billion annually. This brings the total deadweight loss created by our dented patent system to be at least $25.5 billion annually. These estimates may be viewed as conservative because they do not take into account other economic costs from our existing patent system, such as the consumer welfare losses from granting monopoly rents to patent holders that have not, in the end, invented a novel product, or the full social value of the innovations lost

Identity and belonging in social learning groups : the importance of distinguishing social, operational and knowledge-related identity congruence

Collaborative learning has much to offer but not all learners participate fully and peer groups can be exclusive. The paper examines how belonging or 'congruence' in learning groups is related to identities of gender, age, ethnicity and socio-economic status. A study of student experiences of collaborative learning on three different blended learning courses illustrated how learners negotiate identity congruence with peer groups to belong and engage. An analytical framework that distinguishes social, operational and knowledge-related identity congruence has emerged. Contrary to received wisdom, the social aspect appears least important for learner engagement while knowledge-related identity congruence is fundamental. Some of the consequences of identity incongruence, particularly concerning gender and maturity, are discussed and the paper points towards the pedagogies which might enable identities of group members to shift so that collaborative learning can flourish

Tunable Semiconducting Polymer Nanoparticles with INDT-Based Conjugated Polymers for Photoacoustic Molecular Imaging.

Photoacoustic imaging combines both excellent spatial resolution with high contrast and specificity, without the need for patients to be exposed to ionizing radiation. This makes it ideal for the study of physiological changes occurring during tumorigenesis and cardiovascular disease. In order to fully exploit the potential of this technique, new exogenous contrast agents with strong absorbance in the near-infrared range, good stability and biocompatibility, are required. In this paper, we report the formulation and characterization of a novel series of endogenous contrast agents for photoacoustic imaging in vivo. These contrast agents are based on a recently reported series of indigoid π-conjugated organic semiconductors, coformulated with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, to give semiconducting polymer nanoparticles of about 150 nm diameter. These nanoparticles exhibited excellent absorption in the near-infrared region, with good photoacoustic signal generation efficiencies, high photostability, and extinction coefficients of up to three times higher than those previously reported. The absorption maximum is conveniently located in the spectral region of low absorption of chromophores within human tissue. Using the most promising semiconducting polymer nanoparticle, we have demonstrated wavelength-dependent differential contrast between vasculature and the nanoparticles, which can be used to unambiguously discriminate the presence of the contrast agent in vivo

Sulfa or Sulfone Prophylaxis and Geographic Region Predict Mutations in the Pneumocystis carinii Dihydropteroate Synthase Gene

To determine factors associated with mutations in the Pneumocystis carinii dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene, a prospective study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with confirmed P. carinii pneumonia was conducted in Atlanta, Seattle, and San Francisco. Clinical information was obtained from patient interview and chart abstraction. DHPS genotype was determined from DNA sequencing. Overall, 76 (68.5%) of 111 patients had a mutant DHPS genotype, including 22 (81.5%) of 27 patients from San Francisco. In multivariate analysis, sulfa or sulfone prophylaxis and study site were independent predictors of a mutant genotype. Fourteen (53.8%) of 26 patients who were newly diagnosed with HIV infection and had never taken prophylaxis had a mutant genotype. The significance of geographic location as a risk factor for mutant genotype and the high proportion of mutant genotypes among persons never prescribed prophylaxis, including those newly diagnosed with HIV infection, provide indirect evidence that these mutations are transmitted from person to person either directly or through a common environmental source

Sign patterns for chemical reaction networks

Most differential equations found in chemical reaction networks (CRNs) have the form $dx/dt=f(x)= Sv(x)$, where $x$ lies in the nonnegative orthant, where $S$ is a real matrix (the stoichiometric matrix) and $v$ is a column vector consisting of real-valued functions having a special relationship to $S$. Our main interest will be in the Jacobian matrix, $f'(x)$, of $f(x)$, in particular in whether or not each entry $f'(x)_{ij}$ has the same sign for all $x$ in the orthant, i.e., the Jacobian respects a sign pattern. In other words species $x_j$ always acts on species $x_i$ in an inhibitory way or its action is always excitatory. In Helton, Klep, Gomez we gave necessary and sufficient conditions on the species-reaction graph naturally associated to $S$ which guarantee that the Jacobian of the associated CRN has a sign pattern. In this paper, given $S$ we give a construction which adds certain rows and columns to $S$, thereby producing a stoichiometric matrix $\widehat S$ corresponding to a new CRN with some added species and reactions. The Jacobian for this CRN based on $\hat S$ has a sign pattern. The equilibria for the $S$ and the $\hat S$ based CRN are in exact one to one correspondence with each equilibrium $e$ for the original CRN gotten from an equilibrium $\hat e$ for the new CRN by removing its added species. In our construction of a new CRN we are allowed to choose rate constants for the added reactions and if we choose them large enough the equilibrium $\hat e$ is locally asymptotically stable if and only if the equilibrium $e$ is locally asymptotically stable. Further properties of the construction are shown, such as those pertaining to conserved quantities and to how the deficiencies of the two CRNs compare.Comment: 23 page

A radio catalog of Galactic HII regions for applications from decimeter to millimeter wavelengths

By collecting the information from 24 previously published lists and catalogs, we produce a comprehensive catalog (Master Catalog) of 1442 Galactic HII regions. For each object, we quote the original fluxes and diameters as well as the available information on radio line velocities, line widths and line temperatures and the errors on these quantitities. References to the original works are also reported. By exploiting all these data we produce a Synthetic Catalog of fluxes and diameters (with corresponding errors) at 2.7 GHz. This choice is motivated by the extensive, although not complete, information available at this frequency, widely spread among many different catalogs, and by its relevance for both detailed studies on Galactic HII regions and the extrapolation up to millimetric wavelengths. The catalog can be used for detailed studies of Galactic HII regions and, by extrapolation, for investigations of HII regions up to millimetric wavelengths. In particular, we discuss the study of the effects of microwave emission from HII regions on the new generation of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) experiments. We present simulations of the detection of HII regions in the high resolution CMB survey, and briefly analize some of the typical applications of our catalog to the evaluation of CMB anisotropy experiments such as calibration, beam reconstruction and straylight effects. The Master Catalog and the Synthetic Catalog are available via ftp at: cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr. This work is related to Planck-LFI activities.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

The effect of orientation of the acetabular component on outcome following total hip arthroplasty with small diameter hard-on-soft bearings

We assessed the orientation of the acetabular component in 1070 primary total hip arthroplasties with hard-on-soft, small diameter bearings, aiming to determine the size and site of the target zone that optimises outcome. Outcome measures included complications, dislocations, revisions and ΔOHS (the difference between the Oxford Hip Scores pre-operatively and five years post-operatively). A wide scatter of orientation was observed (2sd 15°). Placing the component within Lewinnek’s zone was not associated withimproved outcome. Of the different zone sizes tested (± 5°, ± 10° and ± 15°), only ± 15° was associated with a decreased rate of dislocation. The dislocation rate with acetabular components inside an inclination/anteversion zone of 40°/15° ± 15° was four times lower than those outside. The only zone size associated with statistically significant and clinically important improvement in OHS was ± 5°. The best outcomes (ΔOHS &gt; 26) were achieved with a 45°/25° ± 5° zone. This study demonstrated that with traditional technology surgeons can only reliably achieve a target zone of ±15°. As the optimal zone to diminish the risk of dislocation is also ±15°, surgeons should be able to achieve this. This is the first study to demonstrate that optimal orientation of the acetabular component improves the functional outcome. However, the target zone is small (± 5°) and cannot, with current technology, be consistently achieved. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:164–72. </jats:p

A simple intravenous glucose tolerance test for assessment of insulin sensitivity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of the study was to find a simple intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) that can be used to estimate insulin sensitivity.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 20 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 51 years (mean, 28) comparisons were made between kinetic parameters derived from a 12-sample, 75-min IVGTT and the M_bw(glucose uptake) obtained during a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic glucose clamp. Plasma glucose was used to calculate the volume of distribution (<it>V</it>_d) and the clearance (<it>CL</it>) of the injected glucose bolus. The plasma insulin response was quantified by the area under the curve (AUC_ins). Uptake of glucose during the clamp was corrected for body weight (M_bw).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was a 7-fold variation in M_bw. Algorithms based on the slope of the glucose-elimination curve (<it>CL/V</it>_d) in combination with AUC_insobtained during the IVGTT showed statistically significant correlations with M_bw, the linearity being r²= 0.63-0.83. The best algorithms were associated with a 25-75^thprediction error ranging from -10% to +10%. Sampling could be shortened to 30-40 min without loss of linearity or precision.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Simple measures of glucose and insulin kinetics during an IVGTT can predict between 2/3 and 4/5 of the insulin sensitivity.</p

Ultrasensitive plano-concave optical microresonators for ultrasound sensing

Highly sensitive broadband ultrasound detectors are needed to expand the capabilities of biomedical ultrasound, photoacoustic imaging and industrial ultrasonic non-destructive testing techniques. Here, a generic optical ultrasound sensing concept based on a novel plano-concave polymer microresonator is described. This achieves strong optical confinement (Q-factors > 105) resulting in very high sensitivity with excellent broadband acoustic frequency response and wide directivity. The concept is highly scalable in terms of bandwidth and sensitivity. To illustrate this, a family of microresonator sensors with broadband acoustic responses up to 40 MHz and noise-equivalent pressures as low as 1.6 mPa per √Hz have been fabricated and comprehensively characterized in terms of their acoustic performance. In addition, their practical application to high-resolution photoacoustic and ultrasound imaging is demonstrated. The favourable acoustic performance and design flexibility of the technology offers new opportunities to advance biomedical and industrial ultrasound-based techniques

A New Name for Pneumocystis from Humans and New Perspectives on the Host-Pathogen Relationship

The disease known as Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is a major cause of illness and death in persons with impaired immune systems. While the genus Pneumocystis has been known to science for nearly a century, understanding of its members remained rudimentary until DNA analysis showed its extensive diversity. Pneumocystis organisms from different host species have very different DNA sequences, indicating multiple species. In recognition of its genetic and functional distinctness, the organism that causes human PCP is now named Pneumocystis jiroveci Frenkel 1999. Changing the organism’s name does not preclude the use of the acronym PCP because it can be read “Pneumocystis pneumonia.” DNA varies in samples of P. jiroveci, a feature that allows reexamination of the relationships between host and pathogen. Instead of lifelong latency, transient colonization may be the rule