Derrida on the Convention of Textual Spacing

This paper focuses on various textual elements in prose writing (footnotes, titles, and prefaces) such as they determine, and are determined by, the textual spacing of the page. Far from functioning in the way that the typographical, syntactical spaces between words do, or from replicating the pauses punctuating words in speech, such spacing is singularly and irreducibly textual. Functioning like non-phonetic marks such as parentheses, or expressing relations of hierarchy (as between footnote and text), textual spacing’s manifold functions belie their pristine blankness. I look at this textual spacing of the preface, title, and footnote, as its orthodox and deviational modes of functioning come to light in certain of Derrida’s readings. A second phase of analysis focuses on the unconventional spatial organization of certain of Derrida’s own texts—on his juxtaposition of cited texts in a determinate spatial configuration, and his composing of a book comprising two columns facing one another. To make sense of such gestures in the face of the derision they can occasion, I have recourse not, as one might, to French modernist art’s ostentatious engagement and display of its own material conditions, but to the conventional exploitation of textual space as analyzed in the first section devoted to the spacing of footnotes, prefaces, and so on. I conclude Derrida’s gestures to continue the tradition in which prose writing has innovatively availed of textual space to institute such conventional textual components as footnotes, prefaces, and titles—components integral to the apparatus of “the book” that gives material form to or “realizes” the logos. Derrida’s gestures are thus to be judged, not on the basis of the bemusement we might feel at an instance and mode of textual spacing that falls under no familiar convention, but only vis-à-vis their deconstruction of the text as an exhaustible totality of sense, and their visually attesting to the intertextuality interwoven in any text’s composition

The Global Partnership for Ocean Wave Energy Technology

The Global Partnership for Ocean Wave Energy Technology is a sustainable development multi-stakeholder partnership (MSP) that aims to identify the stakeholders, mechanisms, and funding sources required to develop a zero-emissions technology capable of utility-level electrical power generation from ocean waves. Should deployment of the underlying technology be realized, it has the potential to transform the energy supply of small island developing states (SIDS) and other coastal communities. With the cooperation of SIDS governments to train local people in the skills needed to support the technology, the jobs, and marketable energy products that would result offer the potential for the societal challenge envisioned in the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, supporting resilient societies and economies that can adapt to climate change. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Using the seven-step method to reduce defects in a polymer sheet making process

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 1994, and Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, 1994.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-88).by Michael A. Raftery.M.S

Measuring 3D indoor air velocity via an inexpensive low-power ultrasonic anemometer

The ability to inexpensively monitor indoor air speed and direction on a continuous basis would transform the control of environmental quality and energy use in buildings. Air motion transports energy, ventilation air, and pollutants around building interiors and their occupants, and measured feedback about it could be used in numerous ways to improve building operation. However indoor air movement is rarely monitored because of the expense and fragility of sensors. This paper describes a unique anemometer developed by the authors, that measures 3-dimensional air velocity for indoor environmental applications, leveraging new microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology for ultrasonic range-finding. The anemometer uses a tetrahedral arrangement of four transceivers, the smallest number able to capture a 3-dimensional flow, that provides greater measurement redundancy than in existing anemometry. We describe the theory, hardware, and software of the anemometer, including algorithms that detect and eliminate shielding errors caused by the wakes from anemometer support struts. The anemometer has a resolution and starting threshold of 0.01 m/s, an absolute air speed error of 0.05 m/s at a given orientation with minimal filtering, 3.1° angle- and 0.11 m/s velocity errors over 360° azimuthal rotation, and 3.5° angle- and 0.07 m/s velocity errors over 135° vertical declination. It includes radio connection to internet and is able to operate standalone for multiple years on a standard battery. The anemometer also measures temperature and has a compass and tilt sensor so that flow direction is globally referenced regardless of anemometer orientation. The retail cost of parts is $100 USD, and all parts snap together for ease of assembly

Probabilistic forecasting of maximum human lifespan by 2100 using Bayesian population projections

Background: We consider the problem of quantifying the human lifespan using a statistical approach that probabilistically forecasts the maximum reported age at death (MRAD) through 2100. Objective: We seek to quantify the probability that any person attains various extreme ages, such as those above 120, by the year 2100. Methods: We use the exponential survival model for supercentenarians (people over age 110) of Rootzén and Zholud (2017) but extend the forecasting window, quantify population uncertainty using Bayesian population projections, and incorporate the most recent data from the International Database on Longevity (IDL) to obtain unconditional estimates of the distribution of MRAD this century in a fully Bayesian analysis. Results: We find that the exponential survival model for supercentenarians is consistent with the most recent IDL data and that projections of the population aged 110-114 through 2080 are sensible. We integrate over the posterior distributions of the exponential model parameter and uncertainty in the supercentenarian population projections to estimate an unconditional distribution of MRAD by 2100. Conclusions: Based on the Bayesian analysis, there is a greater than 99Š probability that the current MRAD of 122 will be broken by 2100. We estimate the probabilities that a person lives to at least age 126, 128, or 130 this century, as 89Š, 44Š, and 13Š, respectively. Contribution: We have updated the supercentenarian survival model of Rootzén and Zholud using the most recent IDL data, incorporated Bayesian population projections, and extended the forecasting window to create the first fully Bayesian and unconditional probabilistic projection of MRAD by 2100

A human genome-wide loss-of-function screen identifies effective chikungunya antiviral drugs

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a globally spreading alphavirus against which there is no commercially available vaccine or therapy. Here we use a genome-wide siRNA screen to identify 156 proviral and 41 antiviral host factors affecting CHIKV replication. We analyse the cellular pathways in which human proviral genes are involved and identify druggable targets. Twenty-one small-molecule inhibitors, some of which are FDA approved, targeting six proviral factors or pathways, have high antiviral activity in vitro, with low toxicity. Three identified inhibitors have prophylactic antiviral effects in mouse models of chikungunya infection. Two of them, the calmodulin inhibitor pimozide and the fatty acid synthesis inhibitor TOFA, have a therapeutic effect in vivo when combined. These results demonstrate the value of loss-of-function screening and pathway analysis for the rational identification of small molecules with therapeutic potential and pave the way for the development of new, host-directed, antiviral agents

Examination of the Anaerobic Growth of Campylobacter concisus

Campylobacter concisus is an oral bacterium that is associated with intestinal diseases. C. concisus was previously described as a bacterium that requires H2-enriched microaerobic conditions for growth. The level of H2 in the oral cavity is extremely low, suggesting that C. concisus is unlikely to have a microaerobic growth there. In this study, the anaerobic growth of C. concisus was investigated. The growth of fifty-seven oral C. concisus strains and six enteric C. concisus strains under various atmospheric conditions including anaerobic conditions with and without H2 was examined. The atmospheric conditions were generated using commercially available gas-generation systems. C. concisus putative virulence proteins were identified using mass spectrometry analysis. Under anaerobic conditions, 92% of the oral C. concisus strains (52/57) and all six enteric strains grew without the presence of H2 and the presence of H2 greatly increased C. concisus growth. An oral C. concisus strain was found to express a number of putative virulence proteins and the expression levels of these proteins were not affected by H2. The levels of H2 appeared to affect the optimal growth of C. concisus. This study provides useful information in understanding the natural colonization site and pathogenicity of C. concisus

It’s time to give concussion an operational definition: A 3-step process to diagnose (or rule out) concussion within 48 hours of injury: World Rugby Guideline

World Rugby has introduced an operational definition of concussion into Rugby to better identify and manage concussion and to support injury surveillance studies. This definition acknowledges the variability in clinical concussion presentation by incorporating a three-point in time diagnostic process with the recommended times aligning with the times that team doctor’s normal responsibilities involve team contact. The current content of each assessment is based on SCAT 3 and will continue to be modified as the evidence around concussion diagnosis evolves. This operational definition of concussion also includes the recommendation that any abnormal assessment be considered as being due to concussion. This default can be overruled if the team doctor decides that the abnormal assessment is not related to a concussion. Finally with World Rugby’s operational definition, a concussion following a head injury cannot be excluded until an assessment is completed at 36-48 hours post injury.The authors gratefully acknowledge the support and input of the following members of the IRB HIA working group for their expert recommendations. Roles identified were those at time of working group involvement: Conor McCarthy (Irish RFU Medical Director), Deborah Robinson (New Zealand Rugby Union Team Physician), Rob Nichol (CEO International Rugby Players' Association), Vincenzo Ieracitano (Chairman Medical Commission of Italian FIR), Mike England (Director English RFU Injured Players Foundation), Paul Watson (Medical Director Rugby Canada); Eanna Falvey (Team Physician Irish Rugby Union), Mark Harrington (IRB Training and Medical Manager – World Rugby representative

mclust 5: Clustering, Classification and Density Estimation Using Gaussian Finite Mixture Models

Finite mixture models are being used increasingly to model a wide variety of random phenomena for clustering, classification and density estimation. mclust is a powerful and popular package which allows modelling of data as a Gaussian finite mixture with different covariance structures and different numbers of mixture components, for a variety of purposes of analysis. Recently, version 5 of the package has been made available on CRAN. This updated version adds new covariance structures, dimension reduction capabilities for visualisation, model selection criteria, initialisation strategies for the EM algorithm, and bootstrap-based inference, making it a full-featured R package for data analysis via finite mixture modelling.Science Foundation Irelan