Government Patent Policy: an Analysis of the Effects of Three Alternative Patent Policies on Technology of Government Inventions

The effects of present and proposed Government patent policies on the process of technology transfer and the commercialization of inventions resulting from Government sponsored research are addressed. The function of the patent system in Government research and the value of patents resulting from government sponsored research are examined. Three alternative patent policies, title in the contractor, title in the Government, and the waiver policy, are examined in terms of their effect on the commercialization of inventions, industrial competitions, disclosure of inventions, participation of research contractors and administrative costs. Efforts to reform the present Government patent policy are also described

Topological lower bounds for the chromatic number: A hierarchy

This paper is a study of ``topological'' lower bounds for the chromatic number of a graph. Such a lower bound was first introduced by Lov\'asz in 1978, in his famous proof of the \emph{Kneser conjecture} via Algebraic Topology. This conjecture stated that the \emph{Kneser graph} \KG_{m,n}, the graph with all $k$-element subsets of $\{1,2,...,n\}$ as vertices and all pairs of disjoint sets as edges, has chromatic number $n-2k+2$. Several other proofs have since been published (by B\'ar\'any, Schrijver, Dolnikov, Sarkaria, Kriz, Greene, and others), all of them based on some version of the Borsuk--Ulam theorem, but otherwise quite different. Each can be extended to yield some lower bound on the chromatic number of an arbitrary graph. (Indeed, we observe that \emph{every} finite graph may be represented as a generalized Kneser graph, to which the above bounds apply.) We show that these bounds are almost linearly ordered by strength, the strongest one being essentially Lov\'asz' original bound in terms of a neighborhood complex. We also present and compare various definitions of a \emph{box complex} of a graph (developing ideas of Alon, Frankl, and Lov\'asz and of \kriz). A suitable box complex is equivalent to Lov\'asz' complex, but the construction is simpler and functorial, mapping graphs with homomorphisms to $\Z_2$-spaces with $\Z_2$-maps.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure. Jahresbericht der DMV, to appea

Spectroscopic study of optically induced ultrafast electron dynamics in gold

Copyright © 2007 The American Physical SocietyUsing a supercontinuum pulse as a probe, we have measured the transient reflectivity spectra of a thin film of gold for different values of the pump-probe time delay. The wavelength lambda(x) at which the measured transient reflectivity changes sign has been found to depend upon the time delay, leading to bipolar time resolved signals. The time dependence of lambda(x) has been shown to be consistent with calculations that take into account the full dependence of the reflectivity upon the electron occupation number, and to contradict qualitatively a model in which the signal is assumed to be directly proportional to the occupation number. The shift of lambda(x) has been found to persist at time delays that are much longer than the time required for the electrons to thermalize. Therefore the bipolar reflectivity signals do not necessarily contain a contribution from nonthermalized electrons, as has been previously assumed

Fluorescence suppression using micro-scale spatially offset Raman spectroscopy

We present a new concept of fluorescence suppression in Raman microscopy based on micro-spatially offset Raman spectroscopy which is applicable to thin stratified turbid (diffusely scattering) matrices permitting the retrieval of the Raman signals of sublayers below intensely fluorescing turbid over-layers. The method is demonstrated to yield good quality Raman spectra with dramatically suppressed fluorescence backgrounds enabling the retrieval of Raman sublayer signals even in situations where conventional Raman microscopy spectra are fully overwhelmed by intense fluorescence. The concept performance was studied theoretically using Monte Carlo simulations indicating the potential of up to an order or two of magnitude suppression of overlayer fluorescence backgrounds relative to the Raman sublayer signals. The technique applicability was conceptually demonstrated on layered samples involving paints, polymers and stones yielding fluorescence suppression factors between 12 to above 430. The technique has potential applications in a number of analytical areas including cultural heritage, archaeology, polymers, food, pharmaceutical, biological, biomedical, forensics and catalytic sciences and quality control in manufacture

Polarised target for Drell-Yan experiment in COMPASS at CERN, part I

In the polarised Drell-Yan experiment at the COMPASS facility in CERN pion beam with momentum of 190 GeV/c and intensity about $10^8$ pions/s interacted with transversely polarised NH$_3$ target. Muon pairs produced in Drel-Yan process were detected. The measurement was done in 2015 as the 1st ever polarised Drell-Yan fixed target experiment. The hydrogen nuclei in the solid-state NH$_3$ were polarised by dynamic nuclear polarisation in 2.5 T field of large-acceptance superconducting magnet. Large helium dilution cryostat was used to cool the target down below 100 mK. Polarisation of hydrogen nuclei reached during the data taking was about 80 %. Two oppositely polarised target cells, each 55 cm long and 4 cm in diameter were used. Overview of COMPASS facility and the polarised target with emphasis on the dilution cryostat and magnet is given. Results of the polarisation measurement in the Drell-Yan run and overviews of the target material, cell and dynamic nuclear polarisation system are given in the part II.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Proceedings of the 22nd International Spin Symposium, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA, 25-30 September 201

A new technique for elucidating β\beta-decay schemes which involve daughter nuclei with very low energy excited states

A new technique of elucidating $\beta$-decay schemes of isotopes with large density of states at low excitation energies has been developed, in which a Broad Energy Germanium (BEGe) detector is used in conjunction with coaxial hyper-pure germanium detectors. The power of this technique has been demonstrated on the example of 183Hg decay. Mass-separated samples of 183Hg were produced by a deposition of the low-energy radioactive-ion beam delivered by the ISOLDE facility at CERN. The excellent energy resolution of the BEGe detector allowed $\gamma$ rays energies to be determined with a precision of a few tens of electronvolts, which was sufficient for the analysis of the Rydberg-Ritz combinations in the level scheme. The timestamped structure of the data was used for unambiguous separation of $\gamma$ rays arising from the decay of 183Hg from those due to the daughter decays

Do evolutionary algorithms indeed require random numbers? Extended study

An inherent part of evolutionary algorithms, that are based on Darwin theory of evolution and Mendel theory of genetic heritage, are random processes. In this participation, we discuss whether are random processes really needed in evolutionary algorithms. We use n periodic deterministic processes instead of random number generators and compare performance of evolutionary algorithms powered by those processes and by pseudo-random number generators. Deterministic processes used in this participation are based on deterministic chaos and are used to generate periodical series with different length. Results presented here are numerical demonstration rather than mathematical proofs. We propose that a certain class of deterministic processes can be used instead of random number generators without lowering of evolutionary algorithms performance. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2013

Picosecond time-resolved resonance Raman observation of the iso-CH2Cl-I and iso-CH2I-Cl photoproducts from the "photoisomerization" reactions of CH 2ICl in the solution phase

A preliminary pecosecond Stokes time-resolved resonance Raman investigation was made of the initial formation and subsequent decay of the photoproduct produced following 267 nm excitaiton of CH 2ClI in acetonitrile solution. A coparision was made between density-functional theroy computations for portable photoproduct species and the results from a femtosecond transient absorption study to Raman spectra. This comparision indicated that the iso-CH 2ClI was aminly produced and associated with the 460 nm transient absorption band.published_or_final_versio

Effect of particle properties of powders on the generation and transmission of raman scattering

Transmission Raman measurements of a 1 mm thick sulfur-containing disk were made at different positions as it was moved through 4 mm of aspirin (150-212 mu m) or microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) of different size ranges (<38, 53-106, and 150-212 mu m). The transmission Raman intensity of the sulfur interlayer at 218 cm(-1) was lower when the disk was placed at the top or bottom of the powder bed, compared to positions within the bed and the difference between the sulfur intensity at the outer and inner positions increased with Avicel particle size. Also, the positional intensity difference was smaller for needle-shaped aspirin than for granular Avicel of the same size. The attenuation coefficients for the propagation of the exciting laser and transmitted Raman photons through the individual powders were the same but decreased as the particle size of Avicel increased; also, the attenuation coefficients for propagation through 150-212 mu m aspirin were almost half of those through similar sized Avicel particles. The study has demonstrated that particulate size and type affect transmitted Raman intensities and, consequently, such factors need to be considered in the analysis of powders, especially if particle properties vary between the samples

Guidelines for the recording and evaluation of pharmaco-EEG data in man: the International Pharmaco-EEG Society (IPEG)

The International Pharmaco-EEG Society (IPEG) presents updated guidelines summarising the requirements for the recording and computerised evaluation of pharmaco-EEG data in man. Since the publication of the first pharmaco-EEG guidelines in 1982, technical and data processing methods have advanced steadily, thus enhancing data quality and expanding the palette of tools available to investigate the action of drugs on the central nervous system (CNS), determine the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of novel therapeutics and evaluate the CNS penetration or toxicity of compounds. However, a review of the literature reveals inconsistent operating procedures from one study to another. While this fact does not invalidate results per se, the lack of standardisation constitutes a regrettable shortcoming, especially in the context of drug development programmes. Moreover, this shortcoming hampers reliable comparisons between outcomes of studies from different laboratories and hence also prevents pooling of data which is a requirement for sufficiently powering the validation of novel analytical algorithms and EEG-based biomarkers. The present updated guidelines reflect the consensus of a global panel of EEG experts and are intended to assist investigators using pharmaco-EEG in clinical research, by providing clear and concise recommendations and thereby enabling standardisation of methodology and facilitating comparability of data across laboratories