3,170 research outputs found
Patent Invalidity and the Seventh Amendment: Is the Jury Out?
Patent invalidity is a defense commonly raised in actions for patent infringement when the defending alleged infringing party asserts the patent either is invalid or he or she is not liable for infringement. Today, a jury hears more than 50 percent of patent cases. This comment examines the constitutional issues related to the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial, in the context of patent invalidity. The author argues that patent invalidity cases should not be afforded a jury trial because the action is arguably equitable rather than legal in nature, and the question of patent invalidity should be considered a pure matter of law reserved solely for the court
Effects of Forage Chicory (\u3cem\u3eCichorium Intybus\u3c/em\u3e) On Farmed Deer Growth and Internal Parasitism
Internal parasitism (particularly lungworm - Dictyocaulus sp) significantly limits post-weaning growth of deer. Endoparasite control using anthelmintics may be unsustainable, due to the increasing risk of anthelmintic resistance and the risk or perception of chemical residues in animal products. Chicory has a high feeding value and contains sesquiterpene lactones and low levels of condensed tannins, both with anti-parasitic activity (Molan et al., 2003). Grazing chicory during autumn may reduce the requirement for anthelmintic treatment of young deer compared with grazing ryegrass-based pasture (Hoskin et al., 1999). The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of withholding anthelmintic treatment of young deer grazing grass-based pasture or chicory on autumn growth and internal parasitism
A First Estimate Of The X-Ray Binary Frequency As A Function Of Star Cluster Mass In A Single Galactic System
We use the previously-identified 15 infrared star-cluster counterparts to
X-ray point sources in the interacting galaxies NGC 4038/4039 (the Antennae) to
study the relationship between total cluster mass and X-ray binary number. This
significant population of X-Ray/IR associations allows us to perform, for the
first time, a statistical study of X-ray point sources and their environments.
We define a quantity, \eta, relating the fraction of X-ray sources per unit
mass as a function of cluster mass in the Antennae. We compute cluster mass by
fitting spectral evolutionary models to K_s luminosity. Considering that this
method depends on cluster age, we use four different age distributions to
explore the effects of cluster age on the value of \eta and find it varies by
less than a factor of four. We find a mean value of \eta for these different
distributions of \eta = 1.7 x 10^-8 M_\sun^-1 with \sigma_\eta = 1.2 x 10^-8
M_\sun^-1. Performing a \chi^2 test, we demonstrate \eta could exhibit a
positive slope, but that it depends on the assumed distribution in cluster
ages. While the estimated uncertainties in \eta are factors of a few, we
believe this is the first estimate made of this quantity to ``order of
magnitude'' accuracy. We also compare our findings to theoretical models of
open and globular cluster evolution, incorporating the X-ray binary fraction
per cluster.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figures, accepted by Ap
BRYNTRN: A baryon transport model
The development of an interaction data base and a numerical solution to the transport of baryons through an arbitrary shield material based on a straight ahead approximation of the Boltzmann equation are described. The code is most accurate for continuous energy boundary values, but gives reasonable results for discrete spectra at the boundary using even a relatively coarse energy grid (30 points) and large spatial increments (1 cm in H2O). The resulting computer code is self-contained, efficient and ready to use. The code requires only a very small fraction of the computer resources required for Monte Carlo codes
Hypoxia-responsive microRNAs and trans-acting small interfering RNAs in Arabidopsis
Low-oxygen (hypoxia) stress associated with natural phenomena such as waterlogging, results in widespread transcriptome changes and a metabolic switch from aerobic respiration to anaerobic fermentation. High-throughput sequencing of small RNA libraries obtained from hypoxia-treated and control root tissue identified a total of 65 unique microRNA (miRNA) sequences from 46 families, and 14 trans-acting small interfering RNA (tasiRNA) from three families. Hypoxia resulted in changes to the abundance of 46 miRNAs from 19 families, and all three tasiRNA families. Chemical inhibition of mitochondrial respiration caused similar changes in expression in a majority of the hypoxia-responsive small RNAs analysed. Our data indicate that miRNAs and tasiRNAs play a role in gene regulation and possibly developmental responses to hypoxia, and that a major signal for these responses is likely to be dependent on mitochondrial function
Infrared Observations of the Candidate LBV 1806-20 & Nearby Cluster Stars
We report near-infrared photometry, spectroscopy, and speckle imaging of the
hot, luminous star we identify as candidate LBV 1806-20. We also present
photometry and spectroscopy of 3 nearby stars, which are members of the same
star cluster containing LBV 1806-20 and SGR 1806-20. The spectroscopy and
photometry show that LBV 1806-20 is similar in many respects to the luminous
``Pistol Star'', albeit with some important differences. They also provide
estimates of the effective temperature and reddening of LBV 1806-20, and
confirm distance estimates, leading to a best estimate for the luminosity of
this star of . The nearby cluster stars have
spectral types and inferred absolute magnitudes which confirm the distance (and
thus luminosity) estimate for LBV 1806-20. If we drop kinematic measurements of
the distance ( kpc), we have a lower limit on the distance
of kpc, and on the luminosity of , based on
the cluster stars. If we drop both the kinematic and cluster star indicators
for distance, an ammonia absorption feature sets yet another lower limit to the
distance of kpc, with a corresponding luminosity estimate of for the candidate LBV 1806-20. Furthermore, based on very high
angular-resolution speckle images, we determine that LBV 1806-20 is not a
cluster of stars, but is rather a single star or binary system. Simple
arguments based on the Eddington luminosity lead to an estimate of the total
mass of LBV 1806-20 (single or binary) exceeding . We discuss
the possible uncertainties in these results, and their implications for the
star formation history of this cluster.Comment: 36 pages, including 8 figures (Figures 1 and 7 in JPG format due to
space); Accepted for publication in Ap
Polymeric complexes and fragments of albumin in normal human plasma
Nitrocellulose blots of normal human plasma proteins separated by sodium dodecyi sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were examined for polymeric complexes and fragments of albumin using an immunoperoxidase-labelled mouse monoclonal anti-human albumin antibody. Under reducing conditions, no polymeric complexes were seen. Under non-reducing conditions, polymeric complexes were detected at the following molecular weights: 210000, 168000, 147000, 132000, and 110000. These probably represent both homo- and heteropolymers of albumin. Fresh plasma samples were also analyzed by S-200 chromatography with the same results indicating that detection of polymeric complexes was not an artifact of the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique. In quantitative terms, polymeric complexes constituted 0.3-2.8% of the total albumin present. Fragments of albumin were also seen in normal human plasma with molecular weights of 45000, 28000 and 19000. These fragments probably represent breakdown products of albumin in normal blood, and they constituted less than 2% of the total albumin present.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24635/1/0000046.pd
Differential Effects of Thiopeptide and Orthosomycin Antibiotics on Translational GTPases
SummaryThe ribosome is a major target in the bacterial cell for antibiotics. Here, we dissect the effects that the thiopeptide antibiotics thiostrepton (ThS) and micrococcin (MiC) as well as the orthosomycin antibiotic evernimicin (Evn) have on translational GTPases. We demonstrate that, like ThS, MiC is a translocation inhibitor, and that the activation by MiC of the ribosome-dependent GTPase activity of EF-G is dependent on the presence of the ribosomal proteins L7/L12 as well as the G′ subdomain of EF-G. In contrast, Evn does not inhibit translocation but is a potent inhibitor of back-translocation as well as IF2-dependent 70S-initiation complex formation. Collectively, these results shed insight not only into fundamental aspects of translation but also into the unappreciated specificities of these classes of translational inhibitors
Heterogeneity of human melanoma-associated antigens defined by monoclonal antibodies and conventional xenoantisera
Immunochemical analysis of cultured human melanoma cell detergent extracts and spent culture medium with conventional xenoantisera and monoclonal antibodies identified four types of 94,000 (94K) dalton molecules and two types of high-molecular-weight melanoma-associated antigens by the following characteristics: (1) association with other components, (2) mobility in SDS-PAGE under reducing and nonreducing conditions, (3) antigenicity, and (4) presence in spent culture medium. Conventional xenoantisera were found to contain antibody populations to antigenically distinct structures, some of which have similar apparent molecular weights. Immunodepletion studies showed that the antigenic determinant detected by the monoclonal antibody 225.28S to a high-molecular-weight melanoma-associated antigen was expressed on a subpopulation of the antigens defined by the conventional xenoantiserum #8995. These data prove that antibodies reactive with antigens of similar molecular weight cannot be assumed to identify the same structures, and indicate that tumor-associated antigens may be heterogeneous in the expression of antigenic determinants defined by monoclonal antibodies.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46848/1/262_2004_Article_BF00200204.pd
New Rotation Periods in the Open Cluster NGC 1039 (M 34), and a Derivation of its Gyrochronology Age
Employing photometric rotation periods for solar-type stars in NGC 1039 [M
34], a young, nearby open cluster, we use its mass-dependent rotation period
distribution to derive the cluster's age in a distance independent way, i.e.,
the so-called gyrochronology method. We present an analysis of 55 new rotation
periods,using light curves derived from differential photometry, for solar type
stars in M 34. We also exploit the results of a recently-completed,
standardized, homogeneous BVIc CCD survey of the cluster in order to establish
photometric cluster membership and assign B-V colours to each photometric
variable. We describe a methodology for establishing the gyrochronology age for
an ensemble of solar-type stars. Empirical relations between rotation period,
photometric colour and stellar age (gyrochronology) are used to determine the
age of M 34. Based on its position in a colour-period diagram, each M 34 member
is designated as being either a solid-body rotator (interface or I-star), a
differentially rotating star (convective or C-star) or an object which is in
some transitory state in between the two (gap or g-star). Fitting the period
and photometric colour of each I-sequence star in the cluster, we derive the
cluster's mean gyrochronology age.
47/55 of the photometric variables lie along the loci of the cluster main
sequence in V/B-V and V/V-I space. We are further able to confirm kinematic
membership of the cluster for half of the periodic variables [21/55], employing
results from an on-going radial velocity survey of the cluster. For each
cluster member identified as an I-sequence object in the colour-period diagram,
we derive its individual gyrochronology age, where the mean gyro age of M 34 is
found to be 193 +/- 9 Myr, formally consistent (within the errors) with that
derived using several distance-dependent, photometric isochrone methods (250
+/- 67 Myr).Comment: accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic
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