Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patent Quality Control : A Comparison of U . S . Patent Reexaminations and European Patent Oppositions

We report the results of the first comparative study of the determinants and effects of patent oppositions in Europe and of reexaminations on corresponding patents issued in the United States. The analysis is based on a data set consisting of matched European Patent Office (EPO) and U.S. patents. Our analysis focuses on two broad technology categories—biotechnology and pharmaceuticals and computer hardware and software including semiconductors. Within these fields, we collected data on all EPO patents for which oppositions were filed at the EPO. We also constructed a random sample of EPO patents with no opposition in these technologies. We matched these EPO patents with the “equivalent” U.S. patents covering the same invention in the United States. Using the matched sample of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and EPO patents, we compared the determinants of opposition and of reexamination. Our results indicate that valuable patents are more likely to be challenged in both jurisdictions, but the rate of opposition at the EPO is more than thirty times higher than the rate of reexamination at the USPTO. Moreover, opposition leads to a revocation of the patent in about 35 percent of the cases and to a restriction of the patent right in another 33 percent of the cases. Reexamination results in a cancellation of the patent right in only 10 percent of all cases. We also find that reexamination is frequently initiated by the patentholders themselves.
Posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in battle-injured soldiers.

OBJECTIVE This study examined rates, predictors, and course of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression among seriously injured soldiers during and following hospitalization. METHOD The patients were 613 U.S. soldiers hospitalized following serious combat injury. Standardized screening instruments were administered 1, 4, and 7 months following injury; 243 soldiers completed all three assessments. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of risk factors were performed. PTSD was assessed with the PTSD Checklist; depression was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire. Combat exposure, deployment length, and severity of physical problems were also assessed. RESULTS At 1 month, 4.2% of the soldiers had probable PTSD and 4.4% had depression; at 4 months, 12.2% had PTSD and 8.9% had depression; at 7 months, 12.0% had PTSD and 9.3% had depression. In the longitudinal cohort, 78.8% of those positive for PTSD or depression at 7 months screened negative for both conditions at 1 month. High levels of physical problems at 1 month were significantly predictive of PTSD (odds ratio=9.1) and depression at 7 months (odds ratio=5.7) when the analysis controlled for demographic variables, combat exposure, and duration of deployment. Physical problem severity at 1 month was also associated with PTSD and depression severity at 7 months after control for 1-month PTSD and depression severity, demographic variables, combat exposure, and deployment length. CONCLUSIONS Early severity of physical problems was strongly associated with later PTSD or depression. The majority of soldiers with PTSD or depression at 7 months did not meet criteria for either condition at 1 month.
Development of stratum intermedium and its role as a Sonic hedgehog‐signaling structure during odontogenesis

Stratum intermedium is a transient and subtle epithelial structure closely associated with inner dental epithelium in tooth germs. Little is known about its development and roles. To facilitate analysis, we used bovine tooth germs, predicting that they may contain a more conspicuous stratum intermedium. Indeed, early bell stage bovine tooth germs already displayed an obvious stratum intermedium with a typical multilayered organization and flanking the enamel knot. Strikingly, with further development, the cuspally located stratum intermedium underwent thinning and involution, whereas a multilayered stratum intermedium formed at successive sites along the cusp‐to‐cervix axis of odontogenesis. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed that stratum intermedium produces the signaling molecule Sonic hedgehog (Shh). Maximal Shh expression was invariably seen in its thickest multilayered portions. Shh was also produced by inner dental epithelium; expression was not constant but varied with development and cytodifferentiation of ameloblasts along the cusp‐to‐cervix axis. Interestingly, maximal Shh expression in inner dental epithelium did not coincide with that in stratum intermedium. Both stratum intermedium and inner dental epithelium expressed the Shh receptor Patched2 (Ptch2), an indication of autocrine signaling loops. Shh protein, but not RNA, was present in underlying dental mesenchyme, probably resulting from gradual diffusion from epithelial layers and reflecting paracrine loops of action. To analyze the regulation of Shh expression, epithelial and mesenchymal layers were separated and maintained in organ culture. Shh expression decreased over time, but was maintained in unoperated specimens. Our data show for the first time that stratum intermedium is a highly regulated and Shh‐expressing structure. Given its dynamic and apparently interactive properties, stratum intermedium may help orchestrate progression of odontogenesis from cusp to cervix. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Crowdsensing-based smartphone use guide for battery life extension

With the increasing popularity of smartphones, battery life is among the most crucial issues for mobile users. This paper presents a crowdsensing-based use guide to extend the lifetime of smartphones. The system answers a question raised by phone usage: Why is my phone battery draining quickly compared to others phones despite running the same applications? The proposed system pinpoints the major causes of battery drain in terms of both hardware and software aspects. In relation to the hardware aspect, the system quantifies degree of battery aging as a ratio metric; an estimate of 50% indicates that the battery is at half of full capacity, meaning that battery usage time is approximately half that of a new battery. The system automatically profiles battery age based on charging duration data collected by crowdsensing. In its software aspect, the system guides phone configuration to extend application usage times. The system mines large-scale usage data to infer the major energy holes in a user's phone usage. The scheme works autonomously without user intervention and does not require any external equipment. Extensive evaluation with 3,000 users demonstrated that the proposed scheme successfully extends battery life for typical mobile users.
Changes in Headache After Treatment of Mandibular Dysfunction

To analyse the effect of treatment of mandibular dysfunction on headache, 35 patients with migraine, 20 patients with combination headache and 36 patients with muscle contraction headache were studied in a clinical double-blind trial. Patients in the treatment group received occlusal adjustment and those in the placebo group mock occlusal adjustment. After eight months and four months, respectively, the neurologist evaluated the treatment outcome. The frequency of headache was reduced in 79% and the intensity in 53% of patients suffering from muscle contraction headache or combination headache in whom the adjustment of the dental occlusion had been successfully accomplished. The difference from the placebo group was statistically significant. The decrease in headache frequency as calculated from the headache diaries correlated with the decrease in the index of clinical signs of mandibular dysfunction.
What drives the binding of minor groove-directed ligands to DNA hairpins?

Understanding the molecular basis of ligand–DNA-binding events, and its application to the rational design of novel drugs, requires knowledge of the structural features and forces that drive the corresponding recognition processes. Existing structural evidence on DNA complexation with classical minor groove-directed ligands and the corresponding studies of binding energetics have suggested that this type of binding can be described as a rigid-body association. In contrast, we show here that the binding-coupled conformational changes may be crucial for the interpretation of DNA (hairpin) association with a classical minor groove binder (netropsin). We found that, although the hairpin form is the only accessible state of ligand-free DNA, its association with the ligand may lead to its transition into a duplex conformation. It appears that formation of the fully ligated duplex from the ligand-free hairpin, occurring via two pathways, is enthalpically driven and accompanied by a significant contribution of the hydrophobic effect. Our thermodynamic and structure-based analysis, together with corresponding theoretical studies, shows that none of the predicted binding steps can be considered as a rigid-body association. In this light we anticipate our thermodynamic approach to be the basis of more sophisticated nucleic acid recognition mechanisms, which take into account the dynamic nature of both the nucleic acid and the ligand molecule.
Current Concepts and Occurrence of Epithelial Odontogenic Tumors: I. Ameloblastoma and Adenomatoid Odontogenic Tumor

Ameloblastomas and adenomatoid odontogenic tumors (AOTs) are common epithelial tumors of odontogenic origin. Ameloblastomas are clinico-pathologically classified into solid/multicystic, unicystic, desmoplastic, and peripheral types, and also divided into follicular, plexiform, acanthomatous, granular types, etc., based on their histological features. Craniopharyngiomas, derived from the remnants of Rathke's pouch or a misplaced enamel organ, are also comparable to the odontogenic tumors. The malignant transformation of ameloblastomas results in the formation of ameloblastic carcinomas and malignant ameloblastomas depending on cytological dysplasia and metastasis, respectively. AOTs are classified into follicular, extrafollicular, and peripheral types. Ameloblastomas are common, have an aggressive behavior and recurrent course, and are rarely metastatic, while AOTs are hamartomatous benign lesions derived from the complex system of the dental lamina or its remnants. With advances in the elucidation of molecular signaling mechanisms in cells, the cytodifferentiation of epithelial tumor cells in ameloblastomas and AOTs can be identified using different biomarkers. Therefore, it is suggested that comprehensive pathological observation including molecular genetic information can provide a more reliable differential diagnosis for the propagation and prognosis of ameloblastomas and AOTs. This study aimed to review the current concepts of ameloblastomas and AOTs and to discuss their clinico-pathological features relevant to tumorigenesis and prognosis.
Mobile Learning Environment System (MLES): The Case of Android-based Learning Application on Undergraduates' Learning

Of late, mobile technology has introduced new, novel environment that can be capitalized to further enrich the teaching and learning process in classrooms. Taking cognizance of this promising setting, a study was undertaken to investigate the impact of such an environment enabled by android platform on the learning process among undergraduates of Sultan Idris Education University, Malaysia; in particular, this paper discusses critical aspects of the design and implementation of the android learning system. Data were collected through a survey involving 56 respondents, and these data were analyzed by using SPSS 12.0. Findings showed that the respondents were very receptive to the interactivity, accessibility, and convenience of the system, but they were quite frustrated with the occasional interruptions due to internet connectivity problems. Overall, the mobile learning system can be utilized as an inexpensive but potent learning tool that complements undergraduates' learning process.
Social acceptance of humanoid robots in Japan: A survey for development of the frankenstein syndorome questionnaire

This research explores the concept of “The Frankenstein Syndrome” in order to develop a psychological tool for measuring acceptance of humanoid robots, as well as expectations and anxieties toward these technologies. It also aims to explore factors that influences this acceptance, such as the effects of age and experiences with robots. The tool developed is tentatively named “The Frankenstein Syndrome Questionnaire”, a questionnaire to measure acceptance of humanoids in humans. A preliminary survey conducted in Japan suggested that: 1) the elder population has positive expectations for the specific applications of humanoid robots in their daily lives and view the developers of these technologies more favourably, in comparison with the younger population; 2) these expectations can be made more positive through having experiences of real humanoid robots or experiences of the robots via media information; 3) such experiences of humanoid robots do not seem to affect general anxiety toward the robots in the younger population, but they do decrease the anxiety in the elder population; 4) experiences of humanoid robots increase apprehension toward risks the robots entail in the society in the younger population, although they do not affect such apprehension in the elder population. The paper discusses about implications from the results.
Ratings of affective and interpersonal tendencies differ for grandiose and vulnerable narcissism: A replication and extension of Gore and Widiger (2016).

OBJECTIVE Theoretical conceptions of narcissism have long been characterized by two seemingly opposing poles: grandiosity and vulnerability. The goal of the current study was to investigate the extent to which traits associated with one profile are perceived to co-occur with the other within an individual. METHOD Lay raters (N = 862; 56% female; 80% Caucasian; Mage = 37) recruited from Amazon's MTurk were assigned to one of four conditions in which they rated how often a series of narcissistic traits were displayed by a prototypical grandiose narcissist, a vulnerable narcissist, a close friend, or themselves. Vulnerable narcissism items were specifically worded to assess internalizing- versus externalizing-based emotional responses. RESULTS Results suggest that grandiosely narcissistic individuals are seen as responding angrily to ego-threatening situations, whereas vulnerably narcissistic individuals are seen as responding with a broader array of negative emotions, including anger, sadness, and shame. In contrast, vulnerably narcissistic individuals were not rated as consistently demonstrating behaviors, attitudes, or cognitions associated with grandiose narcissism. CONCLUSIONS Grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic individuals both exhibit anger in response to ego threat, but sadness/shame responses are more characteristic of vulnerable narcissism.
SK-216, an Inhibitor of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1, Limits Tumor Progression and Angiogenesis

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which can be produced by host and tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment, is intimately involved in tumor progression. In the present study, to pursue the possibility that PAI-1 could be a therapeutic target in the management of malignancy, SK-216, a specific PAI-1 inhibitor, was orally administered to wild-type mice that were subcutaneously implanted or intravenously injected with either PAI-1–secreting Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) or PAI-1–nonsecreting B16 melanoma cells. The systemic administration of SK-216 was found to reduce the size of subcutaneous tumors and the extent of metastases, regardless of PAI-1 secretion levels from the tumor cells. SK-216 also reduced the extent of angiogenesis in the tumors and inhibited VEGF-induced migration and tube formation by human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. Then, to determine whether host or tumor PAI-1 was more crucial in tumor progression and angiogenesis, PAI-1–deficient or wild-type mice were subcutaneously implanted or intravenously injected with LLC or PAI-1 knockdown LLC cells. Tumor progression was shown to be controlled by the presence of host PAI-1 and not affected by the PAI-1 levels in the tumors. Similarly, host PAI-1 played a more crucial role in tumor angiogenesis than did tumor PAI-1. These observations suggest that regardless of the PAI-1 levels in the tumor, the systemic administration of SK-216 exerts an antitumor effect through its interaction with host PAI-1. This antitumor effect might be mediated by the antiangiogenic properties of SK-216. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(11); 2378–88. ©2013 AACR.
Changes in genetic architecture during relaxation in Drosophila melanogaster selected on divergent virgin life span

Artificial selection experiments often confer important information on the genetic correlations constraining the evolution of life history. After artificial selection has ceased however, selection pressures in the culture environment can change the correlation matrix again. Here, we reinvestigate direct and correlated responses in a set of lines of Drosophila melanogaster that were selected on virgin life span and for which selection has been relaxed for 10 years. The decrease in progeny production in long‐lived lines, a strong indication of antagonistic pleiotropy, had disappeared during relaxation. This was associated with a higher cost of reproduction to long‐lived flies in mated, but not in virgin life span. These data strongly suggest that genetic mechanisms of mated and virgin life span determination are partly independent. Furthermore, data on body weight, developmental time and viability indicated deleterious effects of longevity selection in either direction, giving rise to a nonlinear relationship with life span for these characters. In order to reclaim original patterns, we founded a new set of derived lines by resuming selection in mixed replicate lines of the original set. Although selection was successful, most patterns in correlated characters remained, showing that these new patterns are resistant to new episodes of selection.
Understanding the Spatiotemporal Links Between Meteorological and Hydrological Droughts From a Three‐Dimensional Perspective

Investigating the spatiotemporal link among different drought types is of great significance for understanding the causative mechanism of droughts. In this study, we propose a new approach for connecting meteorological and hydrological drought events by considering their overlaps in drought persistence time and spatial coverage in three dimensions (i.e., latitude, longitude, and time). The variable infiltration capacity model with daily hydrometeorological observations in and around the Yellow River basin for the period of 1961–2012 is used to derive the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index and standardized runoff index. Results show that minor meteorological drought events with short durations and small areas generally are not prone to cause a hydrological drought, especially in winter for the source region, leading to failure matches between the two drought types. By contrast, meteorological droughts of large magnitudes are more likely to influence a hydrological drought in different ways. In three dimensions, the transformation from meteorological to hydrological droughts is characterized by lengthened duration, lagged response time, and attenuated drought severity, which is in accordance with previous studies. Moreover, the drought area also decreases during this process. The increase in potential evapotranspiration from February to April after 1998 is the reason for the attenuation of drought area. The enlarged evaporative demand from potential evapotranspiration aggravates the atmospheric dry condition and promotes the development of meteorological drought but does not necessarily cause a hydrological drought.
Acetyl-lysine Binding Site of Bromodomain-Containing Protein 4 (BRD4) Interacts with Diverse Kinase Inhibitors

Members of the bromodomain and extra terminal (BET) family of proteins are essential for the recognition of acetylated lysine (KAc) residues in histones and have emerged as promising drug targets in cancer, inflammation, and contraception research. In co-crystallization screening campaigns using the first bromodomain of BRD4 (BRD4-1) against kinase inhibitor libraries, we identified and characterized 14 kinase inhibitors (10 distinct chemical scaffolds) as ligands of the KAc binding site. Among these, the PLK1 inhibitor BI2536 and the JAK2 inhibitor TG101209 displayed strongest inhibitory potential against BRD4 (IC50 = 25 nM and 130 nM, respectively) and high selectivity for BET bromodomains. Comparative structural analysis revealed markedly different binding modes of kinase hinge-binding scaffolds in the KAc binding site, suggesting that BET proteins are potential off-targets of diverse kinase inhibitors. Combined, these findings provide a new structural framework for the rational design of next-generation BET-selective and dual-activity BET-kinase inhibitors.
Periprocedural outcomes and early safety with the use of the Pipeline Flex Embolization Device with Shield Technology for unruptured intracranial aneurysms: preliminary results from a prospective clinical study

Background and purpose The Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) has become a routine first-line option for treatment of intracranial aneurysms (IAs). We assessed the early safety and technical success of a new version of PED, Pipeline Flex Embolization Device with Shield Technology (Pipeline Shield), which has the same design and configuration but has been modified to include a surface synthetic biocompatible polymer. Materials and methods The Pipeline Flex Embolization Device with Shield Technology (PFLEX) study is a prospective, single-arm, multicenter study for the treatment of unruptured IAs using Pipeline Shield. The primary study endpoints included the occurrence of major stroke in the territory supplied by the treated artery or neurologic death at 1 year post-procedure. Secondary endpoints included the rate of Pipeline Shield-related or procedure-related serious or non-serious adverse events. Analyses were conducted to evaluate early safety findings in the 30-day post-procedure period as well as technical procedural success outcomes. Results Fifty patients with 50 unruptured target IAs were enrolled. Mean aneurysm diameter was 8.82±6.15 mm. Thirty-eight aneurysms (76%) were small (<10 mm). Device deployment was technically successful with 98% of devices. Complete wall apposition was achieved immediately post-procedure in 48 cases (96%). No major strokes or neurologic deaths were reported in the 30-day post-procedure period. Conclusions The results of this first experience with the new Pipeline Flex corroborate the early safety of the device. Mid-term and long-term follow-up examinations will provide data on safety outcomes at the 6-month and 1-year follow-up periods. Clinical trial registration NCT02390037.