Position Of Holders Research Articles

Website Blocking: Evolution or Revolution? 10 Years of Copyright Enforcement by Private Third Parties

Copyright enforcement by private third parties – does it work uniformly across the EU? Since the inception of Napster, home copying of digital files has taken flight. The first providers of software or infrastructure for the illegal exchange of files were held contributory or vicariously liable for copyright infringement. In response, they quickly diluted the chain of liability to such an extent that neither the software producers, nor the service providers could be held liable. Moving further down the communication chain, the rights holders are now requiring Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that provide access to end customers to help them with the enforcement of their rights. This article discusses case law regarding the enforcement of copyright by Internet Access Providers throughout Europe. At first glance, copyright enforcement has been harmonised by means of a number of directives, and article 8(3) of the Copyright Directive (2001/29/EC) regulates that EU Member States must ensure the position of rights holders with regard to injunctions against ISPs. Problem solved? Case law from Denmark, Ireland, Belgium, Norway, England, The Netherlands, Austria and the Court of Justice of the EU was studied. In addition, the legal practice in Germany was examined. The period of time covered by case law is from 2003 to 2013; the case law gives insight into the differences that still exist after implementation of the directive.

SU-E-T-391: Assessment and Elimination of the Angular Dependence of the Response of the NanoDot OSLD System in MV Beams

Purpose: Assess the angular dependence of the nanoDot OSLD system in MV X-ray beams at depths and mitigate this dependence for measurements in phantoms. Methods: Measurements for 6 MV photons at 3 cm and 10 cm depth and Monte Carlo simulations were performed. Two special holders were designed which allow a nanoDot dosimeter to be rotated around the center of its sensitive volume (5 mm diameter disk). The first holder positions the dosimeter disk perpendicular to the beam (en-face). It then rotates until the disk is parallel with the beam (edge on). This is referred to as Setup 1. The second holder positions the disk parallel to the beam (edge on) for all angles (Setup 2). Monte Carlo simulations using GEANT4 considered detector and housing in detail based on microCT data. Results: An average drop in response by 1.4±0.7% (measurement) and 2.1±0.3% (Monte Carlo) for the 90° orientation compared to 0° was found for Setup 1. Monte Carlo simulations also showed a strong dependence of the effect on the composition of the sensitive layer. Assuming 100% active material (Al??O??) results in a 7% drop in response for 90° compared to 0°. Assuming the layer to be completely water, results in a flat response (within simulation uncertainty of about 1%). For Setup 2, measurements and Monte Carlo simulations found the angular dependence of the dosimeter to be below 1% and within the measurement uncertainty. Conclusion: The nanoDot dosimeter system exhibits a small angular dependence off approximately 2%. Changing the orientation of the dosimeter so that a coplanar beam arrangement always hits the detector material edge on reduces the angular dependence to within the measurement uncertainty of about 1%. This makes the dosimeter more attractive for phantom based clinical measurements and audits with multiple coplanar beams. The Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service is a joint initiative between the Australian Department of Health and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency.

The diminishing signaling value of patents between early rounds of venture capital financing

A long stream of research has documented the positive effects that patents bring about to emerging firms in high technology industries. The general consensus is that patents contribute to firm growth because they confer monopolistic market rights, offer protection from competitors, increase the negotiating position of patent holders and other benefits. What has received relatively less attention in the literature is whether patents act as a signal that attracts investors such as venture capital firms. The handful of studies that have addressed that question has not analyzed whether the signaling function of patents decreases after the initial attraction of venture capital, as information asymmetries between investors and target firms reduce. In this study we hypothesize that patent activity has a signaling value that diminishes once information asymmetries between investors and funded firms lessen. To study our proposition we draw upon a longitudinal dataset of more than 580 U.S.-based biotechnology firms to empirically demonstrate that biotechnology firms that have submitted patent applications substantially increase the level of funding they receive for their first round of financing. In line with a reduction of information asymmetries once the initial investment has materialized, patent applications and granted patents have no effect on the growth of venture capital funds raised during the second round of financing. We conclude the study with a discussion of avenues for new research, implications for policy makers that consider the usefulness of the current patent system and with insights that can be employed by managers of firms in knowledge intensive areas such as biotechnology.

Debt Maturity and the Liquidity of Secondary Debt Markets

We develop an equilibrium model of debt maturity choice of firms, in the presence of fixed issuance costs in primary debt markets, and an illiquid over-the-counter secondary debt market with search frictions. Liquidity in this market is related to the ratio of buyers to sellers, which is determined in equilibrium via the free entry of buyers. Short maturities improve the bargaining position of debt holders who sell in the secondary market and hence reduce the interest rate that firms need to offer on debt. Long maturities reduce re-issuance costs. The optimally chosen maturity trades off both considerations. Firms individually do not internalize that choosing a longer maturity increases the expected gains from trade in the secondary market, which attracts more buyers, and hence also facilitates the sale of debt issued by other firms. As a result, the laissez-faire equilibrium exhibits inefficiently short maturity choices.

TH‐C‐220‐09: High Resolution Image‐Guided Irradiation of Murine Brain Tumors Using the Gamma Knife Perfexion Treatment Unit

Purpose: To provide a method of accurate, submillimeter image‐guidance for the targeting of small brain tumors in an array of 5 mice when irradiating with the Gamma Knife Perfexion treatment unit. Small‐animal models provide a useful platform for studying the effects of radioprotectors and radiosensitizers on normal brain tissue and tumors. Efficient irradiation of an array of up to 5 mice in a single programmed sequence, using the Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion (GKPfx) treatment unit, is an ongoing technique at our institution. One challenge in the process is to accurately guide the 4‐ mm‐diameter radiation beamsˈ focus of the GKPfx treatment unit to irradiate only a small region of interest (ROI) that includes the hippocampus. This can be accomplished through image guidance using a high‐field, high‐resolution small‐animal MR imager and transforming the ROI image coordinates to Leksell stereotactic treatment coordinates. Materials and Methods: Uniquely‐tagged mice were individually‐scanned using a small‐animal MR imager. Prior to scanning, each mouse was carefully positioned and immobilized with ear bars and a bite bar using a specially designed mouse holder module, which has three, CT‐ and MR‐ viewable, fiducials embedded within it. The fiducials provide a 3‐D frame of reference to transform ROI image coordinates to Leksell stereotactic coordinates. A Matlab script displays the image set, provides a tool to locate fiducials and other ROIs in image coordinates, computes the coordinate system transforms and saves results in an Excel worksheet. Transform computation uses Hornˈs quaternion‐based method. Results: The previously described method shows accuracy of less than 1.0 mm, when imaging resolution is 0.3 mm in X and Y and 1.0mm in Z. Computation for one mouse holder position takes less than 2 s on 1.8GHz Centrino Duo PC.Conclusions: This image‐guided technique provides for fast and accurate MR/CT localized radiation targeting of mouse brain.

A novel method for accurate needle-tip identification in trans-rectal ultrasound-based high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy

Purpose In real-time trans-rectal ultrasound (TRUS)-based high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy, the accurate identification of needle-tip position is critical for treatment planning and delivery. Currently, needle-tip identification on ultrasound images can be subject to large uncertainty and errors because of ultrasound image quality and imaging artifacts. To address this problem, we developed a method based on physical measurements with simple and practical implementation to improve the accuracy and robustness of needle-tip identification. Methods and Materials Our method uses measurements of the residual needle length and an off-line pre-established coordinate transformation factor, to calculate the needle-tip position on the TRUS images. The transformation factor was established through a one-time systematic set of measurements of the probe and template holder positions, applicable to all patients. To compare the accuracy and robustness of the proposed method and the conventional method (ultrasound detection), based on the gold-standard X-ray fluoroscopy, extensive measurements were conducted in water and gel phantoms. Results In water phantom, our method showed an average tip-detection accuracy of 0.7 mm compared with 1.6 mm of the conventional method. In gel phantom (more realistic and tissue-like), our method maintained its level of accuracy while the uncertainty of the conventional method was 3.4 mm on average with maximum values of over 10 mm because of imaging artifacts. Conclusions A novel method based on simple physical measurements was developed to accurately detect the needle-tip position for TRUS-based high-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy. The method demonstrated much improved accuracy and robustness over the conventional method.

Towards micro-assembly of hybrid MOEMS components on a reconfigurable silicon free-space micro-optical bench

The 3D integration of hybrid chips is a viable approach for the micro-optical technologies to reduce the costs of assembly and packaging. In this paper a technology platform for the hybrid integration of MOEMS components on a reconfigurable silicon free-space micro-optical bench (FS-MOB) is presented. In this approach a desired optical component (e.g. micromirror, microlens) is integrated with a removable and adjustable silicon holder which can be manipulated, aligned and fixed in the precisely etched rail of the silicon baseplate by use of a robotic micro-assembly station. An active-based gripping system allows modification of the holder position on the baseplate with nanometre precision. The fabrication processes of the micromachined parts of the micro-optical bench, based on bulk micromachining of standard silicon wafer and SOI wafer, are described. The successful assembly of the holders, equipped with a micromirror and a refractive glass ball microlens, on the baseplate rail is demonstrated.

Competition in Information and Computer Technology Markets: Intellectual Property Licensing and s 51(3) of the Trade Practices Act 1974

Intellectual property licensing presents competition lawyers and regulators with something of a puzzle. The practice is both pervasive and necessary and yet will often take forms which on their face appear to run foul of the sometimes broadly expressed prohibitions through which most jurisdictions enact their competition policy. While most of these prohibitions have long been tamed into rules of reason, they can, as currently in Australia still induce panic (a panic largely borne of confusion) in right holders and licensees who confront them for the first time. Panic rises to even higher levels when intellectual property owners are threatened with the sudden removal of the statutory shield which up until now has protected most (but significantly not all) of their dealings with licensees from the attention of regulators and competitors. Feeling more than usually exposed by this proposed legislative disarmament are suppliers of computer software and other forms of information and communications technology, accustomed as they have been to the steady expansion of legal protection (the lifting of parallel importation restrictions being one of the rare examples of retreat) rather than the contraction they wrongly assume to be imminent unless fended off by intensive lobbying. How justified are these fears? For the most part, not very. Only where the Trade Practices Act 1974 imposes per se liability do the lobbyists have a case and here the proposed changes improve the position of right holders rather than the contrary. Indeed if there is a criticism to be made of the suggestions of the Intellectual Property and Competition Law Review Committee's (the 'Ergas Committee') in its Review of Intellectual Property Legislation under the Competition Principles Agreement and the government's response to them ('Government Response') is that the changes are prompted by long standing problems with the whole of Part IV itself (still under review at the time of writing).

An instrument for in-situ stress measurement in thin films during growth

An improved stress-measuring technique based on the cantilever bending principle is presented. Any thermal shift of the sample holder position that results in errors in the stress data is minimised by evaluating the difference in the deflection of two laser beams. The film thickness is calculated from the reflected laser intensity, or from ellipsometry data recorded simultaneously during film growth. Without using a lock-in technique or image processing, the resolution in the bending force per unit width is 0.02 N/m for a 50-μm thick cantilever. The system represents an easy, versatile and cheap technique to measure intrinsic and thermal stresses in thin films. The system has been employed to record the instantaneous stress during the ion beam-assisted deposition of BN films, and the global stress during the ion-induced amorphisation of silicon.

Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of the Operating Characteristics of a Helmholtz Type Pulse Combustor due to Changes in the Inlet Geometry

The inlet geometry of the combustion chamber of a Helmholtz type pulse combustor was changed by altering the position of a stagnation plate, or flame holder, near the inlet. Three different flame holder positions were studied. The operating characteristics in terms of time resolved pressure and heat release, time averaged tail pipe temperature and concentrations of O2 and NOx in the outlet decoupler were investigated. These quantities were measured and also simulated in a model based upon the LES concept. The effect of different flame holder positions on the operating characteristics is discussed. The simulation model was found able to satisfactorily describe the combustion processes for all three cases, although the results indicate that some sub models need further improvement.

Influence of screen and copy holder positions on head posture, muscle activity and user judgement

A study was conducted on eight subjects, in order to investigate the influence of head posture with regards to the screen and copy holder position, the activity of cervical muscles and the subjective judgement given by the subjects. A total of eleven different positions (exercises) of screen and copy holder were investigated. Four different screen positions were examined in the upright (middle) sitting posture and three different screen positions were investigated in the backward sitting posture. In addition, four different positions of the copy holder were examined in the upright sitting posture. Head posture and muscle activity were continuously measured in each exercise for a duration of 5 min. At the end of each exercise, the subjects were asked how they judged the position of the screen and/or the copy holder in comparison with other positions. The results show that preference is to be given to a screen position in which the vision axis is horizontal or inclined slightly downwards. The copy holder should be arranged at one side of the screen.

INFLUENCES OF THE SEWING CONDITIONS OF THE LOCK-STITCH SEWING MACHINE FOR INDUSTRIAL USE ON THE NEEDLE THREAD TENSION

The influences of the setting conditions, i. e. sewing machine speed, drawing tension of bobbin thread and stitch length, of the lock-stitch sewing machine for industrial use on the needle thread tension have been investigated under the standard sewing condition of seam balance about 100 percent.Needle thread tension have been measured by the home made stress detector put on between the frame thread guide and the needle bar thread guide of the sewing machine, and stress was changed to the electric signal, amplified by the strain amplifier and recorded by the electro-magnetic oscirograph. It was found the following matters. The needle tension varied remarkably and some tension peaks occurred during one revolution of sewing machine motion. They were distinguished four, the first was peak groups (named “peak A”), the second was the tension passed through the contact point between the rotating hook bobbin case holder and the rotating hook bobbin case holder position bracket (peak B), the third was the tension when the thread was drawn up the thread take-up lever (peak C) and the fourth was peak D. Peak B did not appear at slow speed sewing, but the tension increased as the sewing speed increased and was often larger than peak C at high speed. Peak B appeared in the region of 25-35 degrees of turning angle of arm shaft, and the value of the turning angle of the arm shaft had a tendency to increase with machine speed increasing. As bobbin thread tension increased, peak C increased linearly and peak B decreased. As the stitch length increased, peak C increased, but its increasing ratio was not proportional to increase of the stitch length.

Disengagement of Needle Thread from Rotating Hook, Effects of Its Timing on Tightening Tension, Industrial Single-Needle Lokstitch Sewing Machine

This paper aims to investigate experimentally the disengagement of needle thread from rotating hook in an industrial single-needle lockstitch sewing machine with respect to tightening tension.For this purpose, the disengagement of the thread from rotating hook was photographically observed, and the resultant changes in needle thread tension were recorded simultaneously. A rotating hook, manufactured by Hirose Manufacturing Co., Ltd., model HSL-B was used, which was provided with a rotating hook section jib. Sewing speed was 2, 250spm, and the sewing threads used were cotton, and filament threads of polyester and nylon.The experimental investigation above revealed that the timing of the disengagement of needle thread from rotating hook is affected by the elongation properties of the sewing threads.If the cotton thread low in elongation was used, the needle thread first slips out of the jib and thereafter slips out of the 'rotating hook bobbin case holder position bracket'. This is because when the needle thread becomes tight the rotating hook is beyond the correct angular position. The needle thread behavior therefore is abnormal. In this case, it is estimated that if the shortage of needle thread slack can not be compensated by the thread take-up spring or by thread elongation, the thread is frequently drawn out of the tension disc to result in an insufficient tightening tension.When polyester or nylon threads higher in elongation than cotton are used disengagement of needle thread from the rotating hook is normal since the needle thread first slips out of the bracket and thereafter slips out of the jib. When the disengagement occurs in this order the timing of disengagement has no effect on the tightening tension.

A new sampler for airborne pollen: The rotoslide

As experiments have shown that pollen capture by the standard Durham sampler is determined by several factors in addition to the concentration of pollen in the air, a study was conducted to determine what type of sampler would be the most acceptable replacement. Many types of samplers, including deposition surfaces, stationary and rotating impactors, suction, and filter devices, were tested in a wind tunnel and in the field under various meteorological conditions. Considerations of accuracy of sample, use under varying weather conditions, simplicity of operation, case of counting, conversion of catch to a volumetric basis, and cost led to the development of the rotoslide, a rotating impactor which takes samples of pollen and other spores on the edge of standard glass microscope slides. Staining and other preparation of samples for study are similar to the methods in routine use. A special inexpensive holder positions the slides under a microscope. Identification and counting are done at 100× or at higher magnifications if desired. The rotoslide sampler is essentially independent of wind speed and direction and has a collection efficiency of approximately 64 per cent for particles in the size range of pollen. It samples approximately 60 L. per minute, but for long-period samples it may be operated intermittently to prevent overloading.

The State and Seigniorial Authority in Early German History

EVEN in our days the ownership of land brings with it political advantages of many sorts. In earlier times this was much more the case; indeed, landed property was then often the very basis for the exercise of political rights. Especially was this true when lands accumulated in a single hand, and when therefore many people outside of the circle of family and household had fallen into a relation of dependence toward the owner and thus relations of seigniorial authority (Grundherrschaft) had been formed. It is well known what comprehensive rights the lords of the land possessed in the period before the extinction of feudal and patrimonial powers, in the era of absolutism as well as in that of organization by estates of the realm: rights attaching to a particular property and rights dependent on the holder's position by birth; the power of a superior over his inferiors, often joined to a right of participation in the central government of the land. It is not the purpose of this study to follow these relations in their development, in their individual variations and in their generally uniform progress. It is rather my purpose to throw light on a few phases of the relations of seigniorial authority toward the state in the earlier periods of German history-phases which have a bearing on much-discussed and fundamentally important questions: with the question of the origin of the town and of territorial sovereignty. For with the town problem and that of the growth of sovereignty is bound up the question whether seigniorial authority had a part in this development, and if so, in what measure; whether manorial law (Hofrecht), a species of law developed in the seigniorial estates, was the basis of municipal law; whether the methods employed by the larger seigniorial domains passed over into those of the administration of cities and of territories; in short what, if any, were the relations of the older organization of seigniorial authority to the institutions of town and territorial government; to those institutions which became the foundation of the whole devel-