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Aims: This exploratory pilot study (N = 3 sessions, 793 speech units) used task analysis to refine an early model of the attachment task in attachment‐based family therapy (ABFT). The attachment task aims to repair long‐standing parent–adolescent relational ruptures that inhibit parents from being a resource for adolescents recovering from depression and/or suicidality. Methods: Video recordings of three attachment task sessions with strong adherence to the model were selected for intensive study. Two sessions were rated as successful (i.e., attachment was repaired) and one as unsuccessful (i.e., attachment repair did not occur). Sessions were then coded using Structural Analysis of Social Behavior (SASB). Results: The current SASB analysis provided empirical support for our previous clinical impression that the task involves three parts: (I) adolescent disclosure of attachment rupture, (II) parent disclosure, and (III) a more mutual conversation. SASB also provided insights into more subtle elements of the model. Conclusion: Successful attachment sessions were associated with high parent affiliation and autonomy—both while affirming the adolescent's story and when disclosing their own experience. Unsuccessful task attempts were associated with parental enmeshment and hostile belittling, blaming, and distancing. An enhanced model of ideal parent behaviors during the attachment task is offered, including space for parent disclosure—perhaps even apology—that is both warm and independent, leading to a more mutual parent–adolescent conversation. Clinically, the findings support the importance of the therapist focusing on the process and quality of parent–child interactions to facilitate attachment repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This concluding Part 4 of this series considers distribution of the more general economic value that standardization creates, how rival claimants vie to capture that value, and how the various stakeholders regard (and support or resist) the 2015 IEEE Patent Policys efforts to make an appropriate distribution of that value. Part 4 comments on the arguments stake holders make to justify their claims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, the third in a multipart series, describes and comments on the relief that the courts award in cases involving standard-essential patents (SEPs)—the law that courts have established on how to determine a reasonable royalty—in particular, a royalty on reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms (RAND royalty) for a SEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, the second in a multipart series, discusses Apple’s complaint against Qualcomm—namely, that Qualcomm breached its contract to pay Apple a billion dollars in rebates, and engaged in anticompetitive practices injuring Apple. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This column, the first in a multipart series, discusses the FTC's accusations of standardization skullduggery against Qualcomm. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, we describe an in situ non-destructive technique to identify areas within zircon crystals that have experienced fluid exchange. We show that Raman spectroscopy combined with electron microprobe trace-element analysis can be used to pinpoint areas in altered, complexly zoned, and metamict zircon that record the original magmatic compositions. These techniques are developed on a suite of Paleoproterozoic zircon crystals from the Scourie dike swarm in the Archean gneiss terrane of NW Scotland that are known to be anomalously low in δ18O. We show that zircons from the Scourie dikes record extremely low-δ18O isotopic compositions down to approximately -3‰, which reflect their magmatic values. Zircon populations from the dikes have a range in δ18O from low values (<0‰) up to ~5‰ with no obvious relationship between oxygen isotopic composition and cathodoluminescence. Raman spectra from the zircons show evidence for fluid interaction in some areas of the grains because of partial recrystallization and atypical radiation damage properties. Electron microprobe analysis in the same areas documents high (>1000 ppm) U concentrations and high (>1000 ppm) abundances of non-formula Ca. When the combined Raman and electron microprobe data are used to filter the oxygen isotopic data, the fluid altered areas of the grains show consistently higher δ18O values than the areas without evidence for fluid alteration. The low-δ18O values therefore reflect the original magmatic composition of the grains and indicate that the Scourie dike magmas were low in 18O. We suggest that these non-destructive techniques should be used prior to SIMS analysis of complex zircons to target the least disturbed areas of the grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case: We describe a case of ulcerative midfoot osteomyelitis in a patient with Charcot diabetic neuropathy. After debridement, an extensive osseous defect led to staged reconstruction in an attempt to salvage the foot. We describe the presentation, the treatment, and the technical points of this challenging case. Conclusion: We reconstructed the midfoot defect with use of the induced-membrane Masquelet technique, successfully reestablishing a stable, well-aligned, plantigrade, ulcer-free foot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This column discusses IEEE's recent update to its reasonable and nondiscriminatory (RAND) policy on the licensing of standard-essential patents (SEPs), as well as the Justice Department's announcement that it will not challenge the IEEE proposal. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This column discusses a recent Federal Circuit decision on determining royalties on patents embodied in a standard and subject to a reasonable and nondiscriminatory (RAND) obligation. It also considers possible new approaches to standard-essential patents and standard setting. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This column, the first in a two-part series, looks at the recent Supreme Court case of Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd v. CLS Bank International to examine whether, and in what circumstances, patents can be issued on computer-related innovations and, more broadly, on business methods and software. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Highlights: [•] Oldest zircons of Africa are from the Limpopo Belt in South Africa. [•] They have crystallization ages up to 3.95Ga, and Hf model ages up to 4.51Ga. [•] Most zircons formed after 3.7Ga, and reveal Hf model ages <4.01Ga. [•] Our datasets support the model of a long-lived Hadean mafic protocrust reworked completely at <4.0Ga. [•] The Early Earth was covered by a partially open stagnant lid. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report technical and data treatment methods for making accurate, high-precision measurements of 18 O/16 O in Ca- Mg- Fe garnet utilising the Cameca IMS 1280 multi-collector ion microprobe. Matrix effects were similar to those shown by previous work, whereby Ca abundance is correlated with instrumental mass fractionation ( IMF). After correction for this effect, there appeared to be no significant secondary effect associated with Mg/ Fe2+ for routine operational conditions. In contrast, investigation of the IMF associated with Mn- or Cr-rich garnet showed that these substitutions are significant and require a more complex calibration scheme. The Ca-related calibration applied to low- Cr, low- Mn garnet was reproducible across different sample mounts and under a range of instrument settings and therefore should be applicable to similar instruments of this type. The repeatability of the measurements was often better than ± 0.2‰ (2 s), a precision that is similar to the repeatability of bulk techniques. At this precision, the uncertainties due to spot-to-spot repeatability were at the same magnitude as those associated with matrix corrections (± 0.1-0.3‰) and the uncertainties in reference materials (± 0.1-0.2‰). Therefore, it is necessary to accurately estimate and propagate uncertainties associated with these parameters - in some cases, uncertainties in reference materials or matrix corrections dominate the uncertainty budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An essay is presented regarding the homiletics. It explores the meaning of homiletics, which was perceived as the setting for scripture, theology, communication skills, and liturgy. It discusses the effect on the preaching enterprise of contemporary culture which include the worshipping assembly and its increasing diversity and role in preaching.

Eclogitic diamond formation can be associated with interactions between subducted slabs and ambient mantle. To gain a better understanding of the extent of chemical exchange between slabs and ambient mantle and the mechanisms of coeval diamond formation, we examined 16 diamonds with eclogitic garnet inclusions from the Koidu kimberlite complex in Sierra Leone (West African Craton). We analyzed the 16 garnet inclusions for major element, trace element and oxygen isotope (δ18O) compositions and their host diamonds for carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope compositions. The garnet inclusions have δ18O values ranging from +5.4 to +12.1‰ (median = +11.3‰) and all but two have δ18O values ≥+9.9‰. Such high δ18O values indicate a link to protoliths that had undergone extensive low-temperature alteration by seawater, which occurs in the uppermost basaltic layer of oceanic crust, prior to subduction. Diamonds hosting the high δ18O garnets have a crustal δ13C signature (−29.6 to −19.4‰) paired with δ15N values (−5.6 to +1.3‰, with one outlier at +9.9‰) implying typically only minor 15N enrichment. This apparent decoupling of δ18O and δ13C from δ15N indicates diamond formation in an eclogitic substrate where garnet oxygen isotope compositions are inherited from altered low-pressure protoliths, diamond carbon is principally derived from biogenic carbonate and organic matter, and diamond nitrogen is variably added by an external, mantle-derived fluid that prompted diamond formation. Of the two remaining garnet inclusions, one has mantle-like δ18O (+5.4‰) and a positive Eu anomaly, suggesting derivation from gabbroic protoliths originally located deep in the oceanic crust where significant alteration by seawater did not occur. Based on mantle-like δ13C (−4.7‰) and δ15N (−6.9‰), the associated diamond formed from mantle-derived fluids/melts. Relative to the other Koidu garnet inclusions, the final garnet has a small majorite component (formation pressure ∼8 GPa), high Mg# (79.0), elevated Cr# (0.90), and low δ18O (+6.3‰), suggesting encapsulation during infiltration of slab-derived melts into surrounding asthenospheric peridotite, associated with a high degree of chemical exchange between slab- and mantle-derived components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Episodic fluid expulsion through fractures is widely expected during hydrocarbon generation, yet direct evidence for this process is lacking in the case of organic-rich shales. We investigated the formation of antitaxial, bed-parallel fibrous calcite veins hosted in organic-rich shales of the Eocene Dongying Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China. Our results from detailed, in situ geochemical traverses show that while some symmetric veins exhibit broadly synchronous and steady-state opening, other asymmetric veins consist of two geochemically distinct generations of calcite to either side of the median zone, suggesting asymmetric and asynchronous growth in two discrete episodes during hydrocarbon expulsion. Thus, we argue that each asymmetric vein recording two stages of opening implies that hydrocarbons were expelled from shales episodically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bibliography is presented on the work of and about the anthropologist Ernest S. "Tiger" Burch which includes topics on marriage and divorce among Alaskan Eskimos, by Burch and Joan B. Townsend, Eskimo warfare by Burch and Thomas C. Correll and the Caribou Inuit by Burch and Yvon Csonska.

Ernest S. "Tiger" Burch, Jr., was a prolific author during his 50-year career. The Archives and Polar Regions Collections, University of Alaska Fairbanks now houses his research papers, files, correspondence, and field notes. The Ernest S. Burch, Jr. Collection consists of over 250 archive boxes of materials; however, a finding aid is available. This paper presents an overview of the Burch Collection, the results of three days of research into eight of Burch's research projects, and thoughts on Tiger's contributions to circumpolar research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An obituary for anthropologist and ethnographer Ernest S. "Tiger" Burch, Jr. is presented.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare femoral head placement, rates of reoperation and cephalic implant cut-out of a screw versus a blade for patients over age 60 with low energy trochanteric fractures (AO/OTA 31-A1, A2, and A3) treated either with sliding hip screw or cephalomedullary nail. Methods: After surgeon selection of either hip screw or nail, hip screw patients were randomised to either a DHS (dynamic hip system screw) or DHS blade (dynamic hip system blade), while nail patients were randomised to either a Gamma3 Trochanteric Nail or a PFNA (proximal femoral nail antirotation). This resulted in a screw group (DHS and Gamma nail), and a blade group (DHS blade and PFNA). Outcome measures included tip-apex distance and zone location of the cephalic implant, as well as reoperation and implant cut-out within the first postoperative year. Results: A total of 335 patients were randomised, 172 to a screw and 163 to a blade. There was no significant difference concerning mean tip-apex distance, percentage of patients with a tip-apex distance >25 mm, and patients with a centre-centre position of the cephalic implant. There were 137 patients in the screw group and 132 in the blade group available for follow-up. They did not differ regarding rates of reoperation or cut-out (screw group = 2.9%; blade group = 1.5%). Conclusions: Both a screw and a blade performed equally well in terms of implant placement in the femoral head and outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: “Missing-feature” techniques to improve speech recognition accuracy are based on the blind determination of which cells in a spectrogram-like display of speech are corrupted by the effects of noise or other types of disturbance (and hence are “missing”). In this paper we present three new approaches that improve the speech recognition accuracy obtained using missing-feature techniques. It had been found in previous studies (e.g. ) that Bayesian approaches to missing-feature classification are effective in ameliorating the effects of various types of additive noise. While Seltzer et al. primarily used white noise for training their Bayesian classifier, we have found that this is not the best type of training signal when noise with greater spectral and/or temporal variation is encountered in the testing environment. The first innovation introduced in this paper, referred to as frequency-dependent classification, involves independent classification in each of the various frequency bands in which the incoming speech is analyzed based on parallel sets of frequency-dependent features. The second innovation, referred to as colored-noise generation using multi-band partitioning, involves the use of masking noises with artificially-introduced spectral and temporal variation in training the Bayesian classifier used to determine which spectro-temporal components of incoming speech are corrupted by noise in unknown testing environments. The third innovation consists of an adaptive method to estimate the a priori values of the mask classifier that determines whether a particular time-frequency segment of the test data should be considered to be reliable or not. It is shown that these innovations provide improved speech recognition accuracy on a small vocabulary test when missing-feature restoration is applied to incoming speech that is corrupted by additive noise of an unknown nature, especially at lower signal-to-noise ratios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The gold standard for treating transverse olecranon fractures is tension band fixation. A problem with this technique is migration of the K-wires leading to premature hardware removal. The aim of this study is to compare stability provided by two new techniques designed to eliminate the problem with backing out of K-wires, with that of the recommended tension band technique, performed with a biomechanical in vitro investigation. Our hypothesis was that the two new techniques would provide at least equal stability as the traditional tension band fixation. Methods: Transverse olecranon osteotomies were created in human cadaveric elbows to simulate a type 21-B1.1 fracture. Three groups of 8 specimens were instrumented with: (1) recommended AO tension band technique; (2) modified K-wires with eyelets and tension band; (3) staples across the fracture with tension band. Each elbow was tested in a 90° flexed position. The triceps tendon was sinusoidally loaded by applying two load steps at 500 and 700 N for 4000 cycles each. Relative movements between the fragments were determined. Results: At the end of the first and second load step the displacement of the osteotomy at the posterior ulnar side was significantly less for the staples across the fracture with tension band as compared to both other groups. There were no significant differences between groups 1 and 2. Conclusion: Since clinical results depend partly on stable fixation, it is concluded that using staples in the clinical situation might provide better results than the currently recommended tension band technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An igneous zircon reference material (OG1) was characterised for U-Pb isotopes by ID-TIMS, and utilised to evaluate SIMS (SHRIMP) instrumental mass fractionation (IMF) of radiogenic Pb isotopes (207Pb*/206Pb*). The TIMS 207Pb*/206Pb* reference value for OG1 was 0.29907 ± 0.00011 (95% confidence limit), 3465.4 ± 0.6 Ma. The high 207Pb* (∼ 30 μg g−1), negligible common Pb, and isotopic homogeneity permitted precise (± 1–2‰) 207Pb*/206Pb* measurements within the analytical sessions. External reproducibility of mean 207Pb*/206Pb* ratios between sessions was demonstrated for one instrument, yielding a mean IMF of +0.87 ± 0.49‰. The mean 207Pb*/206Pb* ratios between instruments were dispersed beyond uncertainties, with session IMF values from +3.6 ± 1.7‰ to −2.4 ± 1.3‰, and a grand mean IMF value (twenty-six sessions) of +0.70 ± 0.52‰, indicating a tendency towards elevated 207Pb*/206Pb*. The specific causes of variability in IMF are unclear, but generally reflect subtle differences in analytical conditions. The common practice in SIMS of assuming that IMF for Pb+ is insignificant could result in systematic age biases and underestimated uncertainties, of critical importance for precise correlation of Precambrian events. Nevertheless, a zircon RM such as OG1 can be readily incorporated into routine dating to improve 207Pb*/206Pb* accuracy and external reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The failure of nonsurgical treatment of patients with midfoot and hindfoot deformity secondary to diabetic Charcot arthropathy may lead to a rocker-bottom foot deformity with recurrent or persistent plantar ulceration. We report our experience with realignment and extended fusion with primary use of a medial column screw for this midfoot deformity. Methods: From July 2001 through July 2005, we performed reconstructive surgery on fifteen adults with diabetes mellitus who had a severe neuropathic midfoot deformity consisting of a collapsed plantar arch with a rocker-bottom foot deformity. Thirteen had a nonhealing midfoot plantar ulcer. All underwent realignment and arthrodesis with a medial column screw; some required additional fixation techniques depending on the extent of the deformity. Outcome measures included ulcer and surgical wound-healing, radiographic results, complications, and the need for amputation. Results: The mean duration of clinical follow-up was forty-two months. Fourteen patients were able to walk, and there were no recurrent plantar ulcers. Thirteen patients were able to wear custom-made extra-depth, wide-toed shoes with molded inserts. One patient without prior ulceration had development of a deep infection that necessitated an amputation. Four feet had a nonunion, one of which was symptomatic requiring a revision to obtain union. Conclusions: Surgical reconstruction of a collapsed neuropathic foot deformity is technically demanding, but a successful outcome can result in a plantigrade foot that is free of ulceration and abnormal pressure points and a patient who is able to walk. The procedure described has an acceptable degree of complications although it has a high rate of nonunion. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an algorithm called zero-crossing-based amplitude estimation (ZCAE) that enhances speech by reconstructing the desired signal from a mixture of two signals using continuously-variable weighting factors, based on pre-processing that is motivated by the well-known ability of the human auditory system to resolve spatially-separated signals. Although most conventional methods of signal separation have been based on interaural time differences (ITDs) derived from cross-correlation information, the ZCAE approach provides sound segregation based on estimates of ITD from comparisons of zero-crossings [Kim, Y.-I., An, S.J., Kil, R.M., Park, H.-M., 2005. Sound segregation based on binaural zero-crossings. In: Proc. European Conf. on Speech Communication and Technology (INTERSPEECH-2005), Lisbon, Portugal, pp. 2325–2328]. These ITD estimates are used to determine the relative contribution of the desired source in a mixture and subsequently to reconstruct a closer approximation to the desired signal. The estimation of relative target intensity in a given time-frequency segment is accomplished by analytically deriving a monotonic function that maps the estimated ITD in each time-frequency segment to the putative relative intensity of each source. The ZCAE method is evaluated by comparing the sample standard deviation of ITD estimates derived using cross-correlation and using zero-crossing information, by comparing the speech recognition accuracy that is obtained by applying the proposed methods to speech in the presence of interfering speech sources, and by comparing recognition accuracy obtained using a continuous weighting versus a binary weighting of the target and masker. It is found that better results are obtained when ITDs are estimated using zero-crossing information rather than cross-correlation information, and when continuous weighting functions are used in place of binary weighting of the target and masker in each time-frequency segment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses a 2007 U.S. Supreme Court case involving patent licensing and the sale of microprocessors and chipsets to Quanta by Intel. Intel is a licensee of LG Electronics (LGE) who holds the patent for the microprocessors and chipsets sold to Quanta. The case is in regards to the sale of the patented material by a licensee of the patent holder exhausting the patent rights. LGE tried to sue Quanta, which had purchased microprocessors from Intel and manufactured computers containing them but would not pay royalties. The Supreme Court decided in favor of Quanta's appeal because of how LGE phrased its license to Intel.

The article discusses technological innovations in computer software and the useful arts requirement for patent eligibility. The U.S. Constitution has limitations on the congressional power within the patent field. One of the limitations is termed "useful arts" where patents are passed providing they are useful. Trade, commerce, and poetry are not included in the useful arts but there is no clear definition of what a useful art is. Determining a patent being within the useful arts can be done through researching past passed patents.

The article discusses the patent system and computer software industry advances. In 1850 the question of patentable material was brought to the U.S. Supreme Court by Samuel Morse regarding his patent of the telegraph machine. In the 1970s the patentability of computer software inventions came before the Supreme Court and the Morse case is used for guidance. The process of eligibility for a patent follows the guidelines of the idea or principle being claimed in regards to creating a new implementable device with limitations.

The article discusses the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) which announced that it has filed suit against the Negotiated Data Solutions Limited Liability Corporation (N-Data) and settled the case by entering into a consent order with N-Data. The FTC claimed N-Data was violating section 5 of the FTC Act when it violated a commitment to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) to license NWay Ethernet patents on royalty terms agreed upon with the IEEE. Section five of the FTC Act bans unfair methods of competition and unfair commercial acts and practices, according to the article. Violating this has caused higher prices that were passed on to the consumer.

The article reports on the issuance of the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice of a business review letter for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE), a standard-setting organization in the U.S. The business review letter indicates the agency's enforcement action in connection to the group's intellectual property rights policy. The letter has important implication for companies that develop technology and products in areas like data networking, and presents the department's answer to the conflict between ideas of patentees and standard users regarding reasonable and non-discriminatory (RAND), a term for a type of licensing typically used during standardization processes.

Summary: While the rate of failure following hip fracture surgery for extracapsular hip fractures in the elderly is low, an incidence of implant cutout from the femoral head remains regardless of whether fixation is by sliding hip screw or intramedullary nail. In general, a well-executed osteosynthesis is the best assurance of a good outcome with few complications, and typically a less than ideal placement of the implant in the femoral head is the reason for cut-out and failure of the operation. It is clear that there is no difference in the incidence of complications or functional outcome between a sliding hip screw and an intramedullary nail for pertrochanteric fractures (AO/OTA 31-A1 and A2), while the implant of choice in the elderly for the true intertrochanteric fracture (AO/OTA 31-A3; reverse intertrochanteric) is a nail. However, what is less clear is whether there are newer ideas and/or implant designs that represent true advances in the treatment of extracapsular fractures in the elderly. The following review focuses on just this issue. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article discusses the dismissal of the antitrust lawsuit filed by Broadcom Corp. against Qualcomm Inc. by a federal district court in New Jersey. Broadcom accused the other company of monopolizing the sales of chipsets for mobile phones by falsifying copies of friendly, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms to deceive international setting standards organizations and to integrate Qualcomm's patented technology into the Universal Mobile Telephone System standard. The court considered Qualcomm as an illegal monopolist, however, the appeal courts in other states did not agree with the decision.

Following surgery for musculoskeletal infection, a positive suction drainage culture (SDC) is consistent with persistent sepsis. Our objective was to determine the effect of a negative SDC obtained in subsequent operations on the outcome of a musculoskeletal infection. 99 patients were prospectively enrolled, all treated surgically for musculoskeletal infection utilizing suction drainage and appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Surgery consisted of irrigation, debridement, and prosthetic exchange or implant removal. SDC was considered negative if all bottles resulted in negative cultures. Following SDC results, patients were placed into 1 of 2 treatment groups: 1) Negative SDC, and no new operation; or 2) Positive SDC, and new operation(s) until SDC was negative. Antibiotic therapy ranged from 6–12 weeks (osteomyelitis) to 10–21 d (soft tissue). Both groups were similar with regard to baseline characteristics. Cure was obtained in 91.8% of patients (56/61) in group 1 and 91.6% of patients (22/24) in group 2. Similar results were obtained in patients with an infection in the presence of an implant. In conclusion, a negative SDC following surgery for a musculoskeletal infection is a strong indication of eventual outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) therapy has been proven to be beneficial and efficacious for the treatment of serious ventricular tachyarrhythmias in primary prevention patients. However, primary prevention patients appear to have a lower incidence of ventricular arrhythmias in comparison to secondary prevention patients and consequently likely experience a higher proportion of detections due to supraventricular arrhythmias. Recent trials have demonstrated that strategic and specific programming choices reduce the number of inappropriate shocks and that anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) is an effective alternative to shock therapy for many sustained ventricular arrhythmias. Methods: The Primary Prevention Parameters Evaluation (PREPARE) study is a multi-center cohort study, evaluating the efficacy of a pre-specified strategic profile of VT/VF detection and therapy settings in 700 primary prevention patients in an effort to safely reduce the number of shock therapies delivered. The patients, both with and without cardiac resynchronization therapy, are compared to a well-qualified set (n = 691) of historical controls derived from the MIRACLE ICD and EMPIRIC trials. This manuscript describes the design of the PREPARE study. The study results, to be presented separately, will characterize the efficacy of this programming set (PREPARE) compared with physician-tailored programming (MIRACLE ICD and EMPIRIC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a court case between two companies, NTP Inc. and Research in Motion Ltd. (RIM), regarding patent infringement. The U.S. Court of Appeals for all patent cases took a look at whether operators of transnational electronic systems with some components in the U.S. and some in other countries can be held liable for patent infringement. A transnational system can consist of subsystems, some of which can of necessity be located in one place or at least in one country. It is often possible to obtain patent claims to a subsystem of a given system, where the subsystem is adapted to cooperate or co-act with the system. In NTP Inc.'s case, the defendant was RIM's BlackBerry electronic mail system, which has customers in the U.S. and important parts of the system in Canada. The patentee NTP Inc. had to face a problem that U.S. patent law ordinarily applies only to patent infringement committed within the U.S. NTP Inc. had claims to Internet communication processes, some of whose steps RIM Ltd. carried out in Canada. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office just recently issued patentability guidelines stating that henceforth no patents should issue on electronic signals, because they are intangible. INSET: Claiming subsystems: What the courts allow..

Recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology, aggressive treatment, and early detection of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have changed the clinical, pathologic, and functional outcomes in patients with RA. Early aggressive treatment of RA has now become the norm in clinical practice rather than the use of the traditional pyramid approach of the last half of the twentieth century. Early treatment with monotherapy of traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or biologics, combination traditional DMARD therapy and, especially, combination of biologic therapy and methotrexate, have revolutionized the treatment of RA, producing significant improvement in clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes not seen previously. For the individual patient, we still cannot determine which medication or combination of medications will give the most complete response. There have been a number of recent, well-designed clinical trials that have tried to answer this question. Herein we review the evidence-based medicine that addresses these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Techniques have been developed for ion microprobe Pb-isotope dating of minerals at a lateral scale &#60;5μm using the Cameca NanoSIMS 50. Probe spots 3–5μm in diameter comprising 16keV 16O− ions were utilized in the analyses by magnetic peak-switching of 204Pb+, 206Pb+, 207Pb+, and 208Pb+ in NIST SRM 981 and 982 Pb metals, and ∼1Ga uraninite, xenotime, and zirconolite reference materials. The Pb+ mass resolution (M/ΔM at 1% peak height) was adjusted to ∼5000 to ensure the separation of molecular isobars. Under such conditions, the sensitivity for Pb+ in zircon and zirconolite was 3.0–3.5 and ∼10cps/ppm/nA 16O−, respectively, about one-third the sensitivity obtained with large-geometry ion probes. Instrumental mass fractionation for Pb+ was undetectable for SRM Pb metals and zirconolite, but values of up to 1.2% per atomic mass unit (enhancement of lighter isotopes) were recorded for xenotime and uraninite. As a demonstration of the technique, small zirconolite grains from a Cambrian mafic sill were analyzed in situ using a 3μm diameter probe. A mean 207Pb*/206Pb* age of 504±18Ma was determined, and is considered an accurate measure of the crystallization age. Small-spot geochronology with the NanoSIMS at the present time is practical mainly for high-U mineral chronometers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article provides information about a lawsuit between two chipset manufacturing companies regarding the patent essentials of Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) standard. Broadcom Corp., a manufacturer of semiconductor chipsets for communications applications, has sued Qualcomm Inc., another chipset manufacturer and the owner of patents essential to complying with the standard. Broadcom charges that Qualcomm deceived the U.S. and international standard-setting organizations into incorporating Qualcomm's patented technology into the UMTS standard by making intentionally false representations that it would license its patents on fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory terms. But once these organizations adopted a standard embodying Qualcomm's patented technology, Broadcom alleges, Qualcomm proceeded to demand unfair, unreasonable, and discriminatory terms for patent licenses. The purpose, Broadcom says, was to give Qualcomm monopoly power over the sale of chipsets for mobile telephones conforming to the standard. The UMTS standard has come to dominate the mobile telephone market.

Presents a case of a twenty-six year old patient who was injured after being struck by an automobile while riding her motorbike. Indication of the radiography that the talus was lying on the anterior aspect of the distal part of the tibia; Disruption of the pubic symphysis which was treated with an open reduction of the left knee with partial loss of the lateral femoral condyle; Performance of a reimplantation of the totally extruded talus of the patient.

This article presents information regarding vicarious liability for infringement in the context of manufacturers and disseminators of innovative products. The problem of this demand for the imposition of vicarious or indirect liability is by no means unique to copyright infringement. It is just one instance of the old and general legal problem of how to decide whether one person is justly accountable for the wrongs that another person commits or the so-called accidents that harm another. If the patent has a process claim, say, one for fastening buttons to cloth by means of a novel sewing device, the steps could- and likely would-mention the buttons and cloth as well as the device. So, although the patent is not on the ink, stencil, or button as such, those items are important to carrying out the claimed invention, and the patent can implicate them. The main criterion for active inducement of patent infringement and of contributory patent infringement under existing patent law is intent and purpose to cause infringement. This requires evidence that the bad actor held liable for the actual infringement by someone else, say the user, urged the latter to commit the infringement. INSET: Direct and Indirect Copyright Infringement..

Recounts the experience of college teacher Richard Stern related to retirement and authorship of several novels in the U.S. Decision of the college teacher to retire and write novels; Career history of the college teacher; Views of the college teacher in writing.

This article focuses on Kelly v. Arriba Soft, a legal case in the U.S. Court of Appeals on the West Coast, which challenged search engines and pop-ups under copyright laws. The opinion condemned as illegal what it called "framing" and seemingly condemned as well all hyperlinking to which the linked site did not consent. The losing party, a company operating an image search engine, then called Arriba Soft Corp., seconded by numerous amici curiae, immediately filed papers asking the court to reconsider and refrain from destroying the Internet.

Focuses on unresolved legal questions about patents and standard setting. Purpose of standard setting; Information about patents covered by the standard setting policy of a firm.

Analytical errors calculated for individual spot 206Pb/238U measurements of zircon analyzed using high mass resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (HR-SIMS, e.g., SHRIMP II) were assessed using natural zircon (z6266) and synthetic glass standards (NIST SRM 610). Evidence for U/Pb homogeneity of these materials includes new thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) U–Pb analyses of 22 fragments of z6266 zircon from two laboratories, which are identical within error and yield a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 559.0±0.2 Ma. TIMS U–Pb analyses of the SRM 610 yielded homogeneous 206Pb/238U=0.2566.Errors in HR-SIMS 206Pb/238U measurements are distinguished in increasing hierarchy as within-spot, within-session (internal), and external. Replicate SHRIMP measurements of 208Pb+/206Pb+ and 248[ThO]+/254[UO]+ in SRM 610 demonstrate that within-spot analytical errors are sufficient (i.e., MSWD''s∼1) to account for the dispersion of data. In contrast, it was not possible with SRM 610 to reproduce the 206Pb+/238U[Ox=0,1,2]+ ratios from spot-to-spot within the limits of the within-spot errors, after correcting the data for obvious systematic variations in the discrimination of the Pb and U isotopes. Identical findings were made following replicate 206Pb+/238U[Ox]+ analyses of z6266 zircon. That is, for both glass and zircon standards, there remained on average about ±1% (1σ) unaccounted variation per 206Pb+/238U[Ox]+ analysis (i.e., MSWDs≫1). Thus, unlike for 248[ThO]+/254[UO]+, the within-session errors in 206Pb+/238U[Ox]+ were necessarily higher than the within-spot errors.In contrast to 208Pb+/206Pb+ and 248[ThO]+/254[UO]+, the 206Pb+/238U[Ox]+ ratios in glass and zircon are significantly fractionated relative to accepted values, and it seems probable that this difference underlies the larger within-session errors for 206Pb+/238U[Ox]+. The usual methods (e.g., using 254[UO]+/238U+) to correct for the inherent discrimination are imperfect and sensitive to small differences in analytical conditions between spots. Matrix variations are ruled out, leaving the precise cause(s) of the additional variation in 206Pb+/238U[Ox]+ currently undetermined, and a hindrance to decreasing the uncertainties in spot 206Pb/238U measurements. The minimum within-session error for an individual 206Pb/238U measurement is the standard deviation (dispersion) of the discrimination-corrected 206Pb+/238U[Ox]+ values for a homogeneous reference material (e.g., SRM 610). The external error in 206Pb/238U additionally incorporates the standard deviation of the mean of the discrimination-corrected 206Pb+/238U[Ox]+ for a natural zircon standard. The analysis of 206Pb+/270[UO2]+ offers an improvement over measuring 206Pb+/238U+ because variable discrimination is reduced or eliminated with respect to 254[UO]+/238U+ and counting statistics are superior. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Presents information on an antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against Rambus. Facts of the case; Details on the investigation on Rambus conducted by the U.S. Justice Department; Discussion on the defense of Rambus against the FTC.

Pays tribute to Gerald Gunther, a law professor and legal scholar in the U.S., who died in 2002. Educational and family background; Views on his character.