Europe was toast. Great Britian was broken as an offensive power; the U-Boats in the Atlantic were strangling the British Isles.
Russia was toast. The only reason they stayed afloat, so as to take advantage of "General Winter" was all the assistance they got from the United States. Oil, food, clothing, medicine, weapons.. you name it, Russia got it.
WWII was a manufacturing and supply war, and the United States beat all comers. And still, the Germans were very tough to beat- training and better technology went a long way against materiel.
The U.S. was the deciding factor in WWII. Without the U.S., the European Union would have happened a lot sooner.
I've just gotta throw in my two cents here: I'm perfectly happy with my 1996 Saturn SL2. With 101K miles on it, it gets 32 MPG during my city commute (15 miles each way) and will hit 40 MPG when I drive long distances.
Does anyone have any data over how much insurance companies are saving through decreased medical payouts? (I'm assuming that people are better protected with all the airbags and such.)
Now, if auto manufacturers could only do something about that nut behind the wheel...
Shuttle Columbia was originally equipped with ejector seats, which were subsequently removed after the initial few shakedown flights. I suspect similar plans were made for Buran.
The only cash the company formerly but really known as Caldera is their stock price. If that crashes, so do they.
Don't forget the company-formerly-known-as-Caldera is rumored to have received something over $100 Million from the Microsoft settlement a few years back. (Can any/.ers substantiate this more than I?)
Surely, this money didn't all go into new BMW's and bonuses for secretaries...
There's no way in the world to accurately track chip ownership within the casino. With all those zillions of radio messages hopping around, how are they supposed to determine exactly which pile (or pocket) a chip is in? There's simply no way.
However, I see this as a very good idea to (1) keep chips within the casino where they belong, and (2) help a casino verify that a given chip is actually one of theirs and not a counterfeit.
Encase it in glass and drop it into a deep-sea subduction zone. Let the planet deal with burying it. An added plus is the security of the disposal site, provided for free as long as there is an ocean.
In the case of the WTC, there will never be %100 identification.
First, many victims were simply incinerated. The fires burned through December, and there are thousands of calcified (no biomatter left) bones.
Second, not all relatives stepped forward to provide material to enable genetic identification.
Third, they are still finding remains, so there is more information to be added to the system.
Given the situation, it's amazing that so many have been identified.
The world still needs tools like this (Genetic ID, MFISys) because we still have things like earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, plane crashes and so forth.
The NYC Medical Examiners Office was buried under the WTC mess (no pun intended) when that other plane crashed shortly after takeoff. With the tools already in hand, OCME was able to ID all the plane crash victims in less than 30 days. Not bad at all, considering the case load they already had.
Bob Shaler came to my workplace just a couple days ago and talked about this software and how it helped with the ID process. Great presentation.
MFISys was crucial to juggling all the forensic DNA data generated by Bode, Celera, Myriad and others.
Hats off to the programmers- and the practices- that got this software together so quickly. I'd very much like to see XP accepted by other software houses; this is just another example of how XP can turn out great results in a fraction of the time.
...since the slipstream is stressing the wings. Any analysis of the problem needs to take into account that the leading edges are under significant stress. This is why the SSME's are throttled back during the launch, to reduce the maximum loading on the airframe.
Looking back in time, lawyers, architects, doctors and engineers were all unregulated professions. If you wanted to be one of these things, you apprenticed under a skilled practicioner until he said you were good enough. Sometimes, in ye olden days, there was even less than this.
I believe, after a few expensive losses and lawsuits, we'll see state and federal government pass regulation requiring certification to not only repair, but for programming also. The justification will be 'importance to society' or maybe even 'think of the children'.
Regardless, like many statutes, it'll have good and bad mixed together. Hopefully some wiser \.ers will have some input to keep things on the positive side.
Myriad isn't saying she can't do research. They're saying she can't sequence the gene. All she needs to do is send the samples to Myriad; they'll do the analysis and give her the complete results.
Myriad actually does a good bit of research. Genetic sequencing, by definition, does not miss anything. It is the automated scan of the sequence versus the wild type where things can be missed. Myriad's testing does catch deletions and large rearrangements. Admittedly, this is an add-on made available in the last year, but their internal research showed that these sorts of alterations were rare. Yes, there are quite a few mutations whose effect is unknown. A large percentage of all the mutations Myriad is aware of have an unknown effect in patients. This is the nature of any genetic testing, not a defect of what Myriad does. This does not 'massively complicate' handling of patients and families. They know that they have a mutation and should thus be more vigilant, that is all. If Myriad learns more about one of these unknown mutations, the patient's doctor is notified.
In fact the patents are extremely broad in application and forbid any other institution (hospital, lab, etc) from conducting the test for diagnostic purposes in the clinical setting.
No, the patents are not broad. In fact, it is the specificity of the patents that make them so enforcable. The USPTO consulted with Myriad a few years back when the rules and requirements for genetic patents were redone. The Myriad patents were seen as good examples of this type of patent.
The problem that other institutions have is, there really aren't many ways to sequence DNA. Nature worked out a pretty reliable method, and Myriad has figured out how to mimic the process in the lab. This process is patented. If someone else figures out a new way, they can certainly patent the method- and probably get a nobel prize in the process.
Your point about the Mormon records is completely irrelevant. There are many research groups that understand what is and what isn't a mutation.
Wrong. It is very relevent. First, the location of the BRACA genes were found through geneaological reserach. Second, if you sequence your mother's BRACA genes, you will have no idea what you have other than a long string (20,000) of letters.
Myriad has done significant research to catalog and understand the nearly 2,500 mutations and variants of the BRACA genes. Geneaology records helped Myriad determine what mutations were bad, and the degree thereof, before they went commercial with the test. Current research (done by many places outside of Myriad, BTW) adds to the information.
...the Myriad patent, if enforced completely, would only allow their test to be used.
There really isn't any other way to sequence the gene. And Myriad has recently introduced an enhancement to the test that handles deletions and large rearrangements. Many places complained that this was a big deal, but it has been demonstrated that these sorts of mutations are very rare.
Little known but true, Myriad offers a research testing service on the BRACA genes. The cost is minimal, basically just the cost of doing the test. This fee, BTW, is much less than what it would cost the Curie Institute people to do it themselves. The result is the complete results of the test, including all the screening information. Myriad, for its benefit, gets to add another possible bit of mutation info to its library which in turn benefits patients. Its a good deal that Myriad doesn't publicize much.
The only way to isolate a specific gene in a chomosome is to chemically mark the beginning and end of the gene. The chemistry to do this is extremely specific... and patentable. Thus, patenting the chemistry to isolate and sequence a gene is equivalent to patenting the gene itself. The larger question is, what good does it do for other institutions to have access to this gene? They don't know enough about the variants and mutations to do anything with it anyway.
I'm surprised that so many people misunderstand genetic testing and the nature of Myriad's patent. Have you *read* the patent? If not, shut up. Any 3rd year biology student can test and "see if the gene is there". BTW, every human on the planet has the gene... The trick is (and this is basically what is patented): 1) How to reliably isolate and test the gene. This is a patentable, chemical process. 2) Determine what a healthy 'wildtype' of the gene looks like. 3) Catalog and determine the effect of thousands of mutations and variants of the gene. The last item is where all other institutions fall short. Where do they get this information? How do they determine if a patient of theirs has a mutation, and if so, is it a *dangerous* mutation? One of the reasons Myriad is HQ'd in Utah is to have access to all the Mormon geneaological records; Myriad used these records to set up their initial database of information. Nobody else has the extensive records that Myriad has. I agree, the Patent system is overly broad for genetic applications- it was never intended for this sort of thing. The real solution is to define a seperate category of patent for genes, genetic testing, et al.
Slashdot Mirror
Great. But will it work properly?
You're joking, right?
Europe was toast. Great Britian was broken as an offensive power; the U-Boats in the Atlantic were strangling the British Isles.
Russia was toast. The only reason they stayed afloat, so as to take advantage of "General Winter" was all the assistance they got from the United States. Oil, food, clothing, medicine, weapons.. you name it, Russia got it.
WWII was a manufacturing and supply war, and the United States beat all comers. And still, the
Germans were very tough to beat- training and better technology went a long way against materiel.
The U.S. was the deciding factor in WWII. Without the U.S., the European Union would have happened a lot sooner.
I've just gotta throw in my two cents here: I'm perfectly happy with my 1996 Saturn SL2. With 101K miles on it, it gets 32 MPG during my city commute (15 miles each way) and will hit 40 MPG when I drive long distances.
The 'old' technology works just fine for me.
Sure, I agree, costs to repair cars is going up.
Does anyone have any data over how much insurance companies are saving through decreased medical payouts? (I'm assuming that people are better protected with all the airbags and such.)
Now, if auto manufacturers could only do something about that nut behind the wheel...
I believe you are thinking of the X-43A Scramjet test vehicle.
Shuttle Columbia was originally equipped with ejector seats, which were subsequently removed after the initial few shakedown flights. I suspect similar plans were made for Buran.
I had seen the Register article, but I thought it funny that www.caldera.com and www.calderasystems.com both show SCO's home page.
The only cash the company formerly but really known as Caldera is their stock price. If that crashes, so do they.
/.ers substantiate this more than I?)
Don't forget the company-formerly-known-as-Caldera is rumored to have received something over $100 Million from the Microsoft settlement a few years back. (Can any
Surely, this money didn't all go into new BMW's and bonuses for secretaries...
There's no way in the world to accurately track chip ownership within the casino. With all those zillions of radio messages hopping around, how are they supposed to determine exactly which pile (or pocket) a chip is in? There's simply no way.
However, I see this as a very good idea to (1) keep chips within the casino where they belong, and (2) help a casino verify that a given chip is actually one of theirs and not a counterfeit.
Forget burying it.
Encase it in glass and drop it into a deep-sea subduction zone. Let the planet deal with burying it. An added plus is the security of the disposal site, provided for free as long as there is an ocean.
In the case of the WTC, there will never be %100 identification.
First, many victims were simply incinerated. The fires burned through December, and there are thousands of calcified (no biomatter left) bones.
Second, not all relatives stepped forward to provide material to enable genetic identification.
Third, they are still finding remains, so there is more information to be added to the system.
Given the situation, it's amazing that so many have been identified.
The world still needs tools like this (Genetic ID, MFISys) because we still have things like earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, plane crashes and so forth.
The NYC Medical Examiners Office was buried under the WTC mess (no pun intended) when that other plane crashed shortly after takeoff. With the tools already in hand, OCME was able to ID all the plane crash victims in less than 30 days. Not bad at all, considering the case load they already had.
Bob Shaler came to my workplace just a couple days ago and talked about this software and how it helped with the ID process. Great presentation.
MFISys was crucial to juggling all the forensic DNA data generated by Bode, Celera, Myriad and others.
Hats off to the programmers- and the practices- that got this software together so quickly. I'd very much like to see XP accepted by other software houses; this is just another example of how XP can turn out great results in a fraction of the time.
...since the slipstream is stressing the wings. Any analysis of the problem needs to take into account that the leading edges are under significant stress. This is why the SSME's are throttled back during the launch, to reduce the maximum loading on the airframe.
Looking back in time, lawyers, architects, doctors and engineers were all unregulated professions. If you wanted to be one of these things, you apprenticed under a skilled practicioner until he said you were good enough. Sometimes, in ye olden days, there was even less than this.
I believe, after a few expensive losses and lawsuits, we'll see state and federal government pass regulation requiring certification to not only repair, but for programming also. The justification will be 'importance to society' or maybe even 'think of the children'.
Regardless, like many statutes, it'll have good and bad mixed together. Hopefully some wiser \.ers will have some input to keep things on the positive side.
Myriad isn't saying she can't do research. They're saying she can't sequence the gene. All she needs to do is send the samples to Myriad; they'll do the analysis and give her the complete results.
Myriad actually does a good bit of research.
Genetic sequencing, by definition, does not miss anything. It is the automated scan of the sequence versus the wild type where things can be missed.
Myriad's testing does catch deletions and large rearrangements. Admittedly, this is an add-on made available in the last year, but their internal research showed that these sorts of alterations were rare.
Yes, there are quite a few mutations whose effect is unknown. A large percentage of all the mutations Myriad is aware of have an unknown effect in patients. This is the nature of any genetic testing, not a defect of what Myriad does.
This does not 'massively complicate' handling of patients and families. They know that they have a mutation and should thus be more vigilant, that is all. If Myriad learns more about one of these unknown mutations, the patient's doctor is notified.
In fact the patents are extremely broad in application and forbid any other institution (hospital, lab, etc) from conducting the test for diagnostic purposes in the clinical setting.
No, the patents are not broad. In fact, it is the specificity of the patents that make them so enforcable. The USPTO consulted with Myriad a few years back when the rules and requirements for genetic patents were redone. The Myriad patents were seen as good examples of this type of patent. The problem that other institutions have is, there really aren't many ways to sequence DNA. Nature worked out a pretty reliable method, and Myriad has figured out how to mimic the process in the lab. This process is patented. If someone else figures out a new way, they can certainly patent the method- and probably get a nobel prize in the process.
Your point about the Mormon records is completely irrelevant. There are many research groups that understand what is and what isn't a mutation.
Wrong. It is very relevent. First, the location of the BRACA genes were found through geneaological reserach. Second, if you sequence your mother's BRACA genes, you will have no idea what you have other than a long string (20,000) of letters.
Myriad has done significant research to catalog and understand the nearly 2,500 mutations and variants of the BRACA genes. Geneaology records helped Myriad determine what mutations were bad, and the degree thereof, before they went commercial with the test. Current research (done by many places outside of Myriad, BTW) adds to the information.
There really isn't any other way to sequence the gene. And Myriad has recently introduced an enhancement to the test that handles deletions and large rearrangements. Many places complained that this was a big deal, but it has been demonstrated that these sorts of mutations are very rare.
Little known but true, Myriad offers a research testing service on the BRACA genes. The cost is minimal, basically just the cost of doing the test. This fee, BTW, is much less than what it would cost the Curie Institute people to do it themselves.
The result is the complete results of the test, including all the screening information. Myriad, for its benefit, gets to add another possible bit of mutation info to its library which in turn benefits patients. Its a good deal that Myriad doesn't publicize much.
The only way to isolate a specific gene in a chomosome is to chemically mark the beginning and end of the gene. The chemistry to do this is extremely specific... and patentable. Thus, patenting the chemistry to isolate and sequence a gene is equivalent to patenting the gene itself.
The larger question is, what good does it do for other institutions to have access to this gene? They don't know enough about the variants and mutations to do anything with it anyway.
By accepting the premise of #1, you are supporting Myriad's patent claim.
I'm surprised that so many people misunderstand genetic testing and the nature of Myriad's patent.
Have you *read* the patent? If not, shut up.
Any 3rd year biology student can test and "see if the gene is there". BTW, every human on the planet has the gene...
The trick is (and this is basically what is patented):
1) How to reliably isolate and test the gene. This is a patentable, chemical process.
2) Determine what a healthy 'wildtype' of the gene looks like.
3) Catalog and determine the effect of thousands of mutations and variants of the gene.
The last item is where all other institutions fall short. Where do they get this information? How do they determine if a patient of theirs has a mutation, and if so, is it a *dangerous* mutation?
One of the reasons Myriad is HQ'd in Utah is to have access to all the Mormon geneaological records; Myriad used these records to set up their initial database of information. Nobody else has the extensive records that Myriad has.
I agree, the Patent system is overly broad for genetic applications- it was never intended for this sort of thing. The real solution is to define a seperate category of patent for genes, genetic testing, et al.