Zum taxonomischen Rang zweier kritischer Sippen der Gattung Gagea in Mitteleuropa

Innerhalb der Gattung Gagea beanspruchen in Deutschland zwei Fragestellungen die Aufmerksamkeit der Feldbotaniker: Zum einem stellt sich die Frage, ob es in Deutschland neben der Sippe Gagea bohemica ssp. saxatilis (Mert. & W.D.J. Koch) Asch. & Graebn. tatsächlich eine „echte“ östliche Sippe der Art Gagea bohemica (Zauschn.) Schult. & Schult. fil. gibt, die als G. bohemica ssp. bohemica beschrieben wird (Rothmaler 2002). Zum anderen wird nach der in Deutschland seltenen Sippe Gagea pomeranica Ruthe gesucht, die offensichtlich eine Mittelstellung zwischen G. lutea und G. pratensis einnimmt und die von manchen Autoren auch als Hybrid dieser beiden Arten angesehen wird (Rothmaler 2002)

A Survey for EHB Stars in the Galactic Bulge

We present a progress report on an extensive survey to find and characterize all types of blue horizontal-branch stars in the nuclear bulge of the Galaxy. We have obtained wide, shallow imaging in UBV of ~12 square degrees in the bulge, with follow-up spectroscopy for radial velocities and metal abundance determinations. We have discovered a number of metal-rich blue HB stars, whose presence in the bulge is expected by the interpretation of the extragalactic ultraviolet excess. Very deep images have been obtained in UBV and SDSS u along the bulge minor axis, which reveal a significant number of EHB candidates fainter than B = 19, i.e., with the same absolute magnitudes as EHB stars in several globular clusters.Comment: To appear in "Extreme Horizontal Branch Stars and Related Objects", Astrophysics and Space Science, Kluwer Academic Publishers, proceedings of the meeting held in Keele, UK, June 16-20, 200

One Belt, One Road: Explaining the Destination of Chinese Foreign Direct Investment

What explains foreign direct investment (FDI) from China? It has been assumed by many scholars that investment climate matters when selecting a location of FDI. Factors such a level of corruption, quality of government, and strength of political institutions, tend to attract more FDI. Despite this, China’s One Belt, One Road initiative (BRI) is pouring billions of dollars into some of the most politically unstable and corrupt countries in the world. The goal of this paper is to understand why China invests into these corrupt countries, while many other actors do not. I argue that China has the confidence to invest into corrupt counties by using foreign aid as a strategic policy tool to maintain control over their investments. In doing so, China eliminates the negative effects associated with corruption. Generating an economic dependency through development assistance, China is able to secure long-term bargaining power over its FDI by increasing or decreasing aid when need be. To test my argument, I conduct both quantitative and qualitative analyses. Outflows of Chinese FDI were tested against outflows of Chinese foreign aid into 140 countries over the duration of 10 years. I find that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between the foreign aid and FDI variables. As foreign aid increases, so does FDI. Cambodia is also examined as a case study for the purpose of this research. Through qualitative analysis, I find that the positive and statistically significant relationship between FDI and aid holds true in Cambodia

One Team’s Journey with iRubrics

This study explains the process of incorporating electronic grading rubrics into multiple sections of one Digital Literacy course at one online university. Researchers share their experience transitioning from paper rubrics to electronic iRubrics linked directly into each assignment, a process that involved evaluating existing course rubrics, revising them to align with assignments and institutional learning outcomes (ILOs), running pilot courses using the automated iRubrics tool, and training faculty on the use of these new rubrics and the iRubrics tool. The experiences suggest that using iRubrics instead of paper rubrics can significantly increase the efficiency of grading and offer quick access to performance reports based on ILOs and program objectives

Moderate-severe, chronic aphasia: An exploration of the changes in social roles

This study explored the changes in social roles following a stroke from the perspective of three people living with moderate-severe, chronic aphasia. The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with two family members/friends of the people with aphasia. Next, the researchers transcribed the interviews and analyzed them for emergent themes. The researchers used these themes to develop questions and conduct semi-structured interviews with the participants with aphasia—using augmented communication strategies as necessary—to validate, or negate the findings. Although results confirm that a change in social roles is present, some discrepancies exist between family/friends and the people with aphasia

Model-based spacecraft and mission design for the evaluation of technology

In order to meet the future vision of robotic missions, engineers will face intricate mission concepts, new operational approaches, and technologies that have yet to be developed. The concept of smaller, model driven projects helps this transition by including life-cycle cost as part of the decision making process. For example, since planetary exploration missions have cost ceilings and short development periods, heritage flight hardware is utilized. However, conceptual designs that rely solely on heritage technology will result in estimates that may not be truly representative of the actual mission being designed and built. The Laboratory for Spacecraft and Mission Design (LSMD) at the California Institute of Technology is developing integrated concurrent models for mass and cost estimations. The purpose of this project is to quantify the infusion of specific technologies where the data would be useful in guiding technology developments leading up to a mission. This paper introduces the design-to-cost model to determine the implications of various technologies on the spacecraft system in a collaborative engineering environment. In addition, comparisons of the benefits of new or advanced technologies for future deep space missions are examined

Adopting OER Across the University

In this presentation, four faculty members from across disciplines will present their experience adopting open educational resources and open pedagogical practices in their Fall 2019 courses. The presentation will share the benefits and challenges of OER, methods for overcoming challenges, student perceptions of OER, and highlights from each course

Targeting CDK6 and BCL2 Exploits the MYB Addiction of Ph+ Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Phþ ALL) is currently treated with BCR-ABL1 tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in combination with chemotherapy. However, most patients develop resistance to TKI through BCR-ABL1–dependent and –independent mechanisms. Newly developed TKI can target Phþ ALL cells with BCR-ABL1–dependent resistance; however, overcoming BCR-ABL1–independent mechanisms of resistance remains challenging because transcription factors, which are difficult to inhibit, are often involved. We show here that (i) the growth of Phþ ALL cell lines and primary cells is highly dependent on MYB-mediated transcriptional upregulation of CDK6, cyclin D3, and BCL2, and (ii) restoring their expression in MYB-silenced Phþ ALL cells rescues their impaired proliferation and survival. Levels of MYB and CDK6 were highly correlated in adult Phþ ALL (P ¼ 0.00008). Moreover, Phþ ALL cells exhibited a specific requirement for CDK6 but not CDK4 expression, most likely because, in these cells, CDK6 was predominantly localized in the nucleus, whereas CDK4 was almost exclusively cytoplasmic. Consistent with their essential role in Phþ ALL, pharmacologic inhibition of CDK6 and BCL2 markedly suppressed proliferation, colony formation, and survival of Phþ ALL cells ex vivo and in mice. In summary, these findings provide a proof-of-principle, rational strategy to target the MYB addiction of Phþ ALL. © 2017 American Association for Cancer Research

Space Operations Risk Tool

Currently, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) has developed the Space Operations Assessment of Risk (SOAR) tool which was created for USCG Atlantic Area Command (LANTAREA). However, LANTAREA is far more established in its space operations than USCG Pacific Area Command (PACAREA); as a result, the current SOAR tool is better suited for LANTAREA than it is for PACAREA. With the increase of space launches and recoveries in the Pacific Ocean, USCG District 11 wishes to advise space companies and government agencies on risks to mariners associated with potential launch and recovery locations in the Pacific Ocean. We sought to develop a tool that evaluates this risk within the proximity of a proposed area. ArcGIS was used to analyze Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmissions from vessels in the Pacific Ocean between Alaska, California, and Hawai’i from 2015 to 2022. We used the historical vessels’ location data to determine trends for vessel quantity and type. These trends offer a data-driven estimate of the number of vessels and people placed at risk by a proposed space operation. To view this data in a user-friendly manner, we developed a dashboard in which the user selects a location, date range, and radius of the area surrounding the launch or recovery to be analyzed. Our dashboard then returns detailed information about that area including the predicted number of vessels and lives placed at risk. This allows the user to make an informed decision regarding the proposed space operation location to minimize the danger to nearby vessel traffic