Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18729722 | Method for Controlling a Casting Process, Control System for a Casting Process, Apparatus and Computer Program | July 2024 | May 2025 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18543940 | Continuous caster to cast a metal product | December 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18379903 | MOLD PUMP ENGAGEMENT APPARATUS | October 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 17 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18285426 | HEAD AND LUBRICATED PISTON | October 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 18 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18476909 | LOST FOAM AND SAND CASTING WITH POLYLACTIC ACID-BASED FOAM ARTICLES | September 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 18 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 18475495 | PROCESS FOR EVAPORATIVE CASTING | September 2023 | February 2025 | Abandon | 17 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18547906 | DIE CASTING MOULD AND METHOD FOR USING AND MAINTAINING A DIE CASTING MOULD | August 2023 | December 2024 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18364315 | DIRECT CASTING INTO DROPLET PRINTED MOLDS TO CREATE LOW SURFACE FINISH AM PARTS | August 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 20 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18037783 | METHOD FOR PREPARING NEGATIVE PRESSURE FILM-COVERING FROZEN SAND MOLD | May 2023 | September 2024 | Allow | 16 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18193352 | INTEGRAL CORE BUMPERS | March 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 24 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18115674 | ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATION STIRRING DEVICE OF SEMI-SOLID HIGH PRESSURE CASTING EQUIPMENT | February 2023 | October 2023 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18022211 | DIE MOLDING APPARATUS | February 2023 | January 2025 | Allow | 23 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 18105813 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTENDING SERVICE LIFE OF SHOT CHAMBER FOR DIE CASTING APPLICATION | February 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 19 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18161443 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MAKING A DIE CAST PART HAVING HIGH WEAR RESISTANCE | January 2023 | December 2023 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18012514 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF COOLING MEMBER FOR ROTARY ELECTRIC MACHINE | December 2022 | September 2024 | Abandon | 21 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18001895 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR CRACK REMOVAL | December 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 21 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17973192 | DIE-CASTING MACHINE WITH ENERGY SAVING EVALUATION | October 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17966630 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CASTING WITH MOLD HAVING THERMALLY TAILORED WALL | October 2022 | January 2025 | Allow | 27 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17916138 | DYNAMIC PRODUCTION PLANNING METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING PLANTS | September 2022 | March 2025 | Allow | 30 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17933942 | ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED CHANNELS FOR MOLD DIE CASTINGS | September 2022 | January 2025 | Abandon | 28 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17947769 | DIE CASTING MOLD AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME | September 2022 | September 2024 | Abandon | 24 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17820683 | HYBRID CHILL WITH ENHANCED HEAT TRANSFER | August 2022 | May 2024 | Abandon | 21 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17880749 | ENDLESS ROLLING METHOD BASED ON TEMPERATURE UNIFORMITY CONTROL | August 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 26 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 17797576 | INSTALLATION STRUCTURE FOR DIE CASTING SLEEVE, AND DIE CASTING SLEEVE | August 2022 | July 2023 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17758592 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MOLDING MATERIAL | July 2022 | June 2024 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17837487 | MOLDING SAND SUPPLY DEVICE AND MOLDING SAND INSPECTION SYSTEM | June 2022 | May 2024 | Abandon | 23 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17749724 | HIGH-STRENGTH AND HIGH-THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY NEW MATERIAL COMPOSITE BRAKE DRUM AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREOF | May 2022 | January 2023 | Allow | 8 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17778162 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A SYSTEM OF THE IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY | May 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 28 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17748232 | TWIN INJECTION MOLDING MACHINE INCLUDING TWO INJECTION DEVICES | May 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 28 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17744677 | DEPOSITION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADDITIVE METAL CASTING | May 2022 | June 2025 | Abandon | 37 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17775453 | PREPARATION METHOD FOR ALUMINUM ALLOY CAVITY CASTING FILLED WITH SPECIAL-SHAPED FOAMED ALUMINUM | May 2022 | February 2025 | Allow | 33 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17737608 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CASTING SHELL | May 2022 | October 2023 | Abandon | 17 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17770097 | ALUMINUM CASTING METHOD AND MOLD | April 2022 | February 2025 | Abandon | 34 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17719737 | METHOD TO INCREASE LOCAL COOLING RATE AND IMPROVE MATERIAL PROPERTIES IN A LOW-PRESSURE SAND-CASTING HEAD | April 2022 | February 2024 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17717719 | DIE-CASTING DIE, DIE-CASTING DEVICE AND ULTRA-HIGH SPEED DIE-CASTING METHOD | April 2022 | March 2023 | Allow | 11 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17713540 | CASTING MOLD | April 2022 | June 2025 | Abandon | 39 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17766094 | MOLD DEGASSING DEVICE | April 2022 | March 2024 | Abandon | 24 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17761642 | IN-MOLD SOLIDIFIED SHELL THICKNESS ESTIMATION APPARATUS, IN-MOLD SOLIDIFIED SHELL THICKNESS ESTIMATION METHOD, AND CONTINUOUS STEEL CASTING METHOD | March 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 30 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17639901 | Melt Flow Rate Adjustment System and Method of Multi-Component Radial Functional-Gradient-Material Equipment | March 2022 | July 2023 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17666622 | BATTERY PACK | February 2022 | March 2025 | Allow | 37 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17631656 | Core for a Valve Housing, and Method for Producing the Core | January 2022 | August 2024 | Allow | 30 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17630322 | METHOD FOR CASTING Ti-Al BASED ALLOY | January 2022 | October 2023 | Abandon | 21 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17621501 | Arrangement for Low-Pressure Casting of Refractory Metals | December 2021 | September 2023 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17595959 | ELECTROMAGNETIC VIBRATION STIRRING DEVICE OF SEMI-SOLID HIGH PRESSURE CASTING EQUIPMENT | November 2021 | June 2023 | Abandon | 18 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17528531 | FLUID HEATING FURNACE AND HEATING METHOD | November 2021 | January 2024 | Abandon | 26 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17529089 | Runner device capable of heating the melted material by using selective radiation of electromagnetic waves | November 2021 | July 2023 | Abandon | 19 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17506282 | DIE LOCKING SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME | October 2021 | May 2024 | Allow | 31 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17448418 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CASTING METALLIC MATERIALS | September 2021 | April 2024 | Abandon | 31 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 17479209 | COMBINED CASTING AND ROLLING INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE COMBINED CASTING AND ROLLING INSTALLATION | September 2021 | January 2025 | Allow | 40 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17407884 | CAST STEEL ALLOY COMPONENT HAVING REDUCED FERRITE AND ENHANCED ULTIMATE TENSILE STRENGTH FOR A VEHICLE | August 2021 | May 2024 | Abandon | 33 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17403332 | Pour Cup with Filter Lock | August 2021 | August 2023 | Abandon | 24 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17428457 | CRYSTALLIZER COPPER PLATE AND CONTINUOUS CASTING CRYSTALLIZER | August 2021 | August 2022 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17376307 | COOLING APPARATUS OF DIE CASTING MOLD | July 2021 | July 2023 | Abandon | 24 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17421178 | ELECTROMAGNETIC DEVICE FOR LATERALLY CONTAINING LIQUID METAL IN A CASTING OF METAL PRODUCTS | July 2021 | July 2023 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17305362 | SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR A DIRECT CHILL CASTING COOLING WATER SPRAY PATTERN | July 2021 | February 2023 | Allow | 19 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17367502 | COOLING WATER CHANNEL FOR CASTING MOLD | July 2021 | January 2023 | Allow | 18 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17352935 | Die-Casting Machine and Operating Method | June 2021 | July 2023 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17350886 | MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF CAMSHAFT WITH FUNCTIONAL COMPONENT AS INSERT OF ASSEMBLY AND THE CAMSHAFT OBTAINED WITH IT | June 2021 | June 2024 | Abandon | 36 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17347931 | PLUNGER TIP AND SLIDING METHOD | June 2021 | March 2023 | Abandon | 21 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17299387 | METHOD TO DETERMINE THE CRATER END LOCATION OF A CAST METAL PRODUCT | June 2021 | September 2023 | Allow | 28 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17299143 | ROLLING INGOT MOULD FOR THE CONTINUOUS CASTING OF ALUMINIUM AND ALUMINIUM ALLOYS | June 2021 | April 2022 | Allow | 10 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17283820 | METHOD TO PRODUCE A METAL STRIP, AND PRODUCTION PLANT IMPLEMENTING SAID METHOD | April 2021 | September 2023 | Abandon | 29 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17226019 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING CENTER SEGREGATION AND SURFACE CRACK OF CONTINUOUS CASTING MEDIUM THICK SLAB OF PERITECTIC STEEL | April 2021 | October 2021 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17283131 | SLAB CASTING METHOD | April 2021 | May 2024 | Allow | 38 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17278964 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING CAST STRIP | March 2021 | March 2023 | Allow | 24 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17207704 | BEARING BLOCK UNIT AND USE THEREOF | March 2021 | April 2025 | Allow | 49 | 5 | 0 | No | No |
| 17250888 | CASTING MOULD FOR PRODUCING HELICAL CAST BODIES | March 2021 | September 2024 | Allow | 42 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 17277711 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A HELICAL METAL BODY | March 2021 | December 2024 | Abandon | 45 | 4 | 1 | No | No |
| 17188664 | CRYSTALLIZER FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING AND METHOD FOR ITS PRODUCTION | March 2021 | April 2025 | Abandon | 49 | 5 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17188394 | DIE CASTING SYSTEM AND METHOD | March 2021 | September 2022 | Abandon | 19 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 17163718 | PROFILE CHILL FOR FORMING A CAST DEVICE | February 2021 | October 2022 | Abandon | 21 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17261942 | BACK-SPRAY SYSTEM AND INJECTION PISTON | January 2021 | February 2023 | Abandon | 25 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 17261683 | RECOVERING SAND, BENTONITE AND ORGANICS FROM FOUNDRY SAND WASTE | January 2021 | March 2025 | Allow | 50 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17143444 | MOLDING METHOD | January 2021 | September 2024 | Abandon | 45 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 17137977 | DIE CASTING METHOD AND DIE CASTING DEVICE | December 2020 | March 2022 | Allow | 15 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17134714 | MICRO FIBER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME | December 2020 | August 2023 | Allow | 31 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17256001 | Method for Containing a Slab During Continuous Casting | December 2020 | January 2024 | Allow | 37 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17253258 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A CAST PART FORMED FROM AMORPHOUS OR PARTIALLY AMORPHOUS METAL, AND CAST PART | December 2020 | February 2023 | Allow | 26 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17109254 | PLUNGER TIP, INJECTION DEVICE, AND INJECTION METHOD | December 2020 | December 2021 | Abandon | 13 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16951386 | CORE FOR HOLLOW PRODUCT MANUFACTURE INCLUDING MULTILAYER FILLING MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING HOLLOW PRODUCT USING THE CORE | November 2020 | January 2023 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17098584 | ROTATING INDEXING APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING SAND MOLDS | November 2020 | December 2022 | Abandon | 25 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17054977 | THIN STRIP MANUFACTURE METHOD | November 2020 | November 2022 | Allow | 25 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17075170 | Venting Device For Venting a Casting Mold Having a Saw-Toothed Gap | October 2020 | August 2022 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17048842 | LEVITATION MELTING PROCESS | October 2020 | March 2022 | Allow | 17 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17045971 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HELICAL ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING BODY | October 2020 | September 2024 | Abandon | 48 | 4 | 1 | No | No |
| 17044498 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HANDLING OF CAST PRODUCT | October 2020 | September 2022 | Abandon | 24 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 17043556 | CONTINUOUS CASTING AND ROLLING PLANT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF METALLURGICAL PRODUCTS | September 2020 | May 2022 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17041065 | COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING OXIDIZED MATERIALS FOR SAND CASTING AND METHODS OF PREPARATION AND USE THEREOF | September 2020 | January 2025 | Abandon | 52 | 4 | 1 | No | No |
| 16981359 | AGGREGATE MIXTURE FOR MOLD, MOLD, AND METHOD FOR SHAPING MOLD | September 2020 | May 2024 | Abandon | 44 | 4 | 1 | No | No |
| 17019646 | METHODS FOR CASTING A COMPONENT HAVING A READILY REMOVABLE CASTING CORE | September 2020 | July 2023 | Allow | 34 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16970361 | A SYSTEM FOR ON-LINE MEASURING THE THICKNESS OF A CONTINUOUS CASTING BILLET AND ADJUSTING A ROLLING REDUCTION AMOUNT | August 2020 | August 2023 | Abandon | 36 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 16967541 | METHOD OF PRODUCING CASING | August 2020 | February 2023 | Abandon | 31 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16967609 | CASTING DEVICE | August 2020 | December 2021 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 16932068 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING A LIQUID ALLOY | July 2020 | November 2022 | Abandon | 28 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16926655 | Method and device for Overall Temperature Control Close to the Mould Cavity of Temperature-Controlled Shell-Type Moulds, Using Intercommunicating Media in Polyhedral Spaces | July 2020 | December 2021 | Abandon | 18 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16761998 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A METAL ALLOY BLANK BY CENTRIFUGAL CASTING | May 2020 | June 2022 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 16760288 | MOLD CASTING DEVICE | April 2020 | September 2021 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16861957 | METHOD OF FORMING PARALLEL SPIRAL CHANNELS IN HOUSING TO BE FORMED BY CASTING OR MOLDING PROCESS | April 2020 | July 2023 | Allow | 38 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 16759046 | CONTINUOUS CASTING AND ROLLING APPARATUS AND CONTINUOUS CASTING AND ROLLING METHOD | April 2020 | September 2022 | Abandon | 29 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 16757758 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MOLDING PARTICULARLY OF A METALLIC GLASS | April 2020 | April 2024 | Abandon | 48 | 3 | 1 | No | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner YUEN, JACKY.
With a 3.7% reversal rate, the PTAB affirms the examiner's rejections in the vast majority of cases. This reversal rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals face significant challenges here.
Filing a Notice of Appeal can sometimes lead to allowance even before the appeal is fully briefed or decided by the PTAB. This occurs when the examiner or their supervisor reconsiders the rejection during the mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) after the appeal is filed.
In this dataset, 5.7% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is less effective here than in most other areas.
⚠ Appeals to PTAB face challenges. Ensure your case has strong merit before committing to full Board review.
⚠ Filing a Notice of Appeal shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.
Examiner YUEN, JACKY works in Art Unit 1735 and has examined 554 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 38.1%, this examiner allows applications at a lower rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 34 months.
Examiner YUEN, JACKY's allowance rate of 38.1% places them in the 3% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is less likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.
On average, applications examined by YUEN, JACKY receive 2.62 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 88% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues more office actions than most examiners, which may indicate thorough examination or difficulty in reaching agreement with applicants.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by YUEN, JACKY is 34 months. This places the examiner in the 22% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications take longer to reach final disposition with this examiner compared to most others.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +50.4% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by YUEN, JACKY. This interview benefit is in the 94% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner and should be strongly considered as a prosecution strategy. Per MPEP § 713.10, interviews are available at any time before the Notice of Allowance is mailed or jurisdiction transfers to the PTAB.
When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 13.5% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 4% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show lower effectiveness with this examiner compared to others. Consider whether a continuation application might be more strategic, especially if you need to add new matter or significantly broaden claims.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 14.5% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 9% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner rarely enters after-final amendments compared to other examiners. You should generally plan to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry. Per MPEP § 714.12, primary examiners have discretion in entering after-final amendments, and this examiner exercises that discretion conservatively.
When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 18.2% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 24% percentile among all examiners. Note: Pre-appeal conferences show limited success with this examiner compared to others. While still worth considering, be prepared to proceed with a full appeal brief if the PAC does not result in favorable action.
This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 37.2% of appeals filed. This is in the 4% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 50.0% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner rarely withdraws rejections during the appeal process compared to other examiners. If you file an appeal, be prepared to fully prosecute it to a PTAB decision. Per MPEP § 1207, the examiner will prepare an Examiner's Answer maintaining the rejections.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 52.5% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 65% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show above-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Petitionable matters include restriction requirements (MPEP § 1002.02(c)(2)) and various procedural issues.
Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 1.3% of allowed cases (in the 71% percentile). This examiner makes examiner's amendments more often than average to place applications in condition for allowance (MPEP § 1302.04).
Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 5% percentile). This examiner rarely issues Quayle actions compared to other examiners. Allowances typically come directly without a separate action for formal matters.
Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:
Not Legal Advice: The information provided in this report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with a qualified patent attorney or agent for advice specific to your situation.
No Guarantees: We do not provide any guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the statistics presented above. Patent prosecution statistics are derived from publicly available USPTO data and are subject to data quality limitations, processing errors, and changes in USPTO practices over time.
Limitation of Liability: Under no circumstances will IronCrow AI be liable for any outcome, decision, or action resulting from your reliance on the statistics, analysis, or recommendations presented in this report. Past prosecution patterns do not guarantee future results.
Use at Your Own Risk: While we strive to provide accurate and useful prosecution statistics, you should independently verify any information that is material to your prosecution strategy and use your professional judgment in all patent prosecution matters.