The Use of Community Standards by the Child Online Protection Act to Determine If Material Is Harmful to Minors Is Not Unconstitutional: \u3cem\u3eAshcroft v. American Civil Liberties Union\u3c/em\u3e

The Supreme Court of the United States held that the Child Online Protection Act\u27s use of community standards to determine if material is harmful to minors does not violate the First Amendment. Ashcroft v. American Civil Liberties Union et al., 122 S. Ct. 1700 (2002

Deformation lines in Arctic sea ice: intersection angle distribution and mechanical properties

Despite its relevance for the Arctic climate and ecosystem, modeling sea-ice deformation, i.e., the opening, shearing, and ridging of sea ice, along linear kinematic features (LKFs) remains challenging, as the mechanical properties of sea ice are not yet fully understood. The intersection angles between LKFs provide valuable information on the internal mechanical properties, as they are linked to them. Currently, the LKFs emerging from sea-ice rheological models do not reproduce the observed LKF intersection angles, pointing to a gap in the model physics. We aim to obtain an intersection angle distribution (IAD) from observational data to serve as a reference for high-resolution sea-ice models and to infer the mechanical properties of the sea-ice cover. We use the sea-ice vorticity to discriminate between acute and obtuse LKF intersection angles within two sea-ice deformation datasets: the RADARSAT Geophysical Processor System (RGPS) and a new dataset from the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) drift experiment. Acute angles dominate the IAD, with single peaks at 48∘±2 and 45∘±7. The IAD agrees well between both datasets, despite the difference in scale, time period, and geographical location. The divergence and shear rates of the LKFs also have the same distribution. The dilatancy angle (the ratio of shear and divergence) is not correlated with the intersection angle. Using the IAD, we infer two important mechanical properties of the sea ice: we found an internal angle of friction in sea ice of μI=0.66±0.02 and μI=0.75±0.05. The shape of the yield curve or the plastic potential derived from the observed IAD resembles a teardrop or a Mohr–Coulomb shape. With these new insights, sea-ice rheologies used in models can be adapted or redesigned to improve the representation of sea-ice deformation.</p

Der Einfluss der Dienstleistungsqualität auf die Einkaufsstättentreue : ein empirischer Vergleich zwischen Deutschland und Spanien

Durch eine zunehmende Internationalisierung verschiedenster Handelsunternehmen gewinnen auch Erkenntnisse über kulturspezifische Phänomene des Konsumentenverhaltens im Handelskontext mehr und mehr an Relevanz. Die vorliegende Studie widmet sich der Bedeutung der Dimensionen der Dienstleistungsqualität im Lebensmitteleinzelhandel und deren Einfluss auf die Einkaufsstättentreue in Deutschland und Spanien. Zu diesem Zweck wurden Konsumenten in Deutschland und Spanien zu ihrer Wahrnehmung der Dienstleistungsqualität in Supermärkten befragt. Mittels exploratorischer und konfirmatorischer Faktorenanalyse wurde eine für beide Länder identische Drei-Faktoren-Struktur der Dienstleistungsqualität im Lebensmitteleinzelhandel generiert. Die Ergebnisse der Mehrgruppen-Kausalanalyse weisen auf wichtige Unterschiede zwischen den Ländern hin. Während spanische Konsumenten mehr auf die persönliche Interaktion und das physische Umfeld als auf ein frisches und breites Warensortiment Wert legen, steht für Deutsche die Auswahl und Frische des Angebotes an erster Stelle, gefolgt von der persönlichen Interaktion. Der Convenience des physischen Umfeldes kommt nur geringe Relevanz im Hinblick auf die Erklärung der Gesamtzufriedenheit und der Einkaufsstättentreue zu. In beiden Ländern stellt jedoch die Preiswahrnehmung die wichtigste Determinante von Zufriedenheit und Treue dar

Meta-analysis of stomatitis in clinical studies of everolimus: incidence and relationship with efficacy.

BackgroundEverolimus, an oral mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, is used to treat solid tumors and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Stomatitis, an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth, is a common adverse event associated with mTOR inhibitors, including everolimus. We conducted a meta-analysis of data from seven randomized, double-blind phase 3 clinical trials of everolimus to determine the clinical impact of stomatitis on efficacy and safety.Patients and methodsData were pooled from the safety sets of solid tumor [breast cancer (BOLERO-2 and BOLERO-3), renal cell carcinoma (RECORD-1), carcinoid tumors (RADIANT-2), and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (RADIANT-3)] and TSC studies (EXIST-1 and EXIST-2). Data from solid tumor trials and TSC trials were analyzed separately.ResultsThe rate of stomatitis was 67% in the solid tumor trials (973/1455 patients) and 70% in the TSC trials (110/157 patients). Most stomatitis events were grade 1/2, with grade 3/4 events reported in only 9% (solid tumor trials) and 8% (TSC trials) of patients. Low TSC patient numbers prevented an in-depth evaluation of stomatitis and response. In the solid tumor trials, most first stomatitis episodes (89%; n = 870) were observed within 8 weeks of starting everolimus. Patients with stomatitis occurring within 8 weeks of everolimus initiation had longer progression-free survival (PFS) than everolimus-treated patients without stomatitis in BOLERO-2 {8.5 versus 6.9 months, respectively; hazard ratio (HR), 0.78 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.62-1.00]} and RADIANT-3 [13.9 versus 8.3 months, respectively; HR, 0.70 (95% CI, 0.48-1.04)]. A similar trend was observed in RECORD-1 [HR, 0.90 (95% CI, 0.66-1.22)] and RADIANT-2 [HR, 0.87 (95% CI, 0.61-1.22)] but not in BOLERO-3 [HR, 1.01 (95% CI, 0.75-1.36)].ConclusionsStomatitis did not adversely affect PFS, supporting the administration of everolimus in accordance with standard management guidelines

The PCA Lens-Finder: application to CFHTLS

We present the results of a new search for galaxy-scale strong lensing systems in CFHTLS Wide. Our lens-finding technique involves a preselection of potential lens galaxies, applying simple cuts in size and magnitude. We then perform a Principal Component Analysis of the galaxy images, ensuring a clean removal of the light profile. Lensed features are searched for in the residual images using the clustering topometric algorithm DBSCAN. We find 1098 lens candidates that we inspect visually, leading to a cleaned sample of 109 new lens candidates. Using realistic image simulations we estimate the completeness of our sample and show that it is independent of source surface brightness, Einstein ring size (image separation) or lens redshift. We compare the properties of our sample to previous lens searches in CFHTLS. Including the present search, the total number of lenses found in CFHTLS amounts to 678, which corresponds to ~4 lenses per square degree down to i=24.8. This is equivalent to ~ 60.000 lenses in total in a survey as wide as Euclid, but at the CFHTLS resolution and depth.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication on A&

Dynamics of intracellular metabolite pools in MDCK suspension cells during growth and influenza virus infection

Influenza virus infections are responsible for millions of flu cases with hundred thousands of deaths worldwide [1]. Additionally, pandemic outbreaks of aggressive influenza virus strains are very dangerous both for livestock and human population. Seasonal vaccination campaigns are in place to reduce infections, especially among young, old or immunodeficient individuals, generating a huge demand of 500 million (2015) vaccine doses every year [2]. Besides egg-based vaccine manufacturing, production platforms based on animal cell culture increasingly contribute to an overall growing market. Thus, the use of suspension MDCK cells (MDCKsus) cultivated in chemically defined medium emerges as a modern vaccine manufacturing platform. In order to improve overall productivity and reduce costs, process analysis, process optimization, and process intensification strategies are necessary. In particular, a better understanding of the effect of virus replication on cell growth, cell morphology and cell metabolism is crucial for developing production processes. In this study, the effect of a synchronous influenza A virus infection on cell growth and central carbon metabolism was investigated. Additionally, intracellular virus replication dynamics of influenza were analyzed and correlated to metabolic pool dynamics. For analysis of intracellular metabolites, an established HPLC-MS method was used to identify and quantify extracted metabolites [3]. A mathematical model, established for adherent MDCK cells, was modified to describe cell growth, consumption and production of main extracellular metabolites [4] as well as dynamics of intracellular metabolite pools of glycolysis and TCA. Our results showed fast infection (\u3c 2 h) of the whole MDCKsus population under the used infection conditions. Intracellular infection was very similar to the already reported dynamics in adherent MDCK cells [5]. Virus particles were released six hours post infection (hpi) for 30 h, with an overall yield of 10,000 virus particles per cell. Despite massively impaired cell growth at 6 hpi, the concentrations of extracellular metabolites did not differ significantly from mock-infected cells used as a control. The majority of intracellular TCA metabolites also followed a similar dynamics. For glycolysis, however, metabolite pools of lower glycolysis decreased rapidly after infection, whereas glucose-6-P and fructose-6-P pools where maintained at a similar level as controls. Overall it seems that influenza infected MDCK cells show primarily an alteration in the glycolysis pathway, channeling metabolites not to the lower part of glycolysis but to the pentose phosphate pathway. Energy metabolism (ATP pools and energy charge) and TCA pools seemed not be affected by virus infection. Quantitative data for mock-infected cells are described by the mathematical model. Work is in progress to explain the dynamics observed in infected cells. [1] Influenza (seasonal) fact sheet (Nov 2016). WHO [online] www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs211/en/ [2] Palache A. et al., Vaccine 35 (2017): 4681–4686. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.07.053 [3] Ritter J.B. et al., Journal of Chrom B, 843 (2006): 216–226. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2006.06.004 [4] Rehberg M. et al., PLoS Comput Biol 10.10 (2014): e1003885. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003885 [5] Frensing T. et al., Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 100 (2016): 7181–7192. doi: 10.1007/s00253-016-7542-

“Let’s take back control”: Brexit and the Debate on Sovereignty

During the Brexit referendum campaign, much emphasis was placed by “Leave” supporters on the lost parliamentary sovereignty which none could restore unless the United Kingdom exited the European Union. Parliamentary sovereignty is an elusive concept which must be carefully addressed in order to debunk a number of false allegations. Ultimately, the unexpected results of the referendum raise more constitutional issues than they solve, and most of them revolve yet again around the concept of sovereignty. Who is empowered to take major decisions in the UK? Who has the capacities, if not the legitimacy, to trigger Article 50 to commence the withdrawal negotiations? In the end, amongst all available options for the UK to maintain links with the EU, how much, if any, of its sovereignty will really be restored?Durant la campagne du référendum sur le Brexit, les tenants d’une sortie du Royaume-Uni insistèrent sur la souveraineté parlementaire perdue du parlement de Westminster, que seule une sortie de l’Union européenne pourrait restaurer. La souveraineté parlementaire est un concept vague et incertain qui doit être étudié avec soin afin de mettre à mal certaines fausses allégations. Au bout du compte, le résultat inattendu du référendum génère davantage de questions qu’il n’en résout, et la plupart d’entre elles sont liées au concept de souveraineté. Qui a le pouvoir de prendre des décisions majeures au Royaume-Uni ? Qui a le droit, sinon la légitimité, de déclencher l’article 50 afin de démarrer le processus de sortie de l’Union européenne ? Et finalement, parmi les options disponibles pour que le Royaume-Uni maintienne certains liens avec l’Europe, quelle part de sa souveraineté lui sera vraiment restituée

Wie bewältigen Lehrer interkulturelle Konflikte in der Schule? Eine Wirksamkeitsanalyse im Kontext des multiaxialen Coping-Modells

Die Erziehungswissenschaftlerin Petra Buchwald und der Psychologe Tobias Ringeisen verwenden in ihrem Beitrag Hofstedes vierdimensionales Kulturmodell als Ausgangspunkt zur Darstellung kultureller Einflüsse im Denken und Fühlen von Lehrenden und Schülern, um auf dieser Basis Bewältigungsstrategien von Lehrenden im interkulturellen Kontext zu untersuchen.In times of globalisation, dealing with intercultural conflicts has become a major challenge for teachers at school. However, existing research has been limited to an explorative analysis of conflict categories and associated coping behaviour, without addressing the complexity of multinational education settings (Ringeisen et al. 2006, Ringeisen et al. 2007a). In response, the current study examined quality and efficacy of intercultural coping within a theoretical framework, the multiaxial coping model (Hobfoll 1989, Hobfoll 1998). Based on qualitative content analysis of 132 semi-structured interviews with teachers, all reported coping behaviours could be classified within the model. Roughly half were identified as "cautious action", followed by assertiveness (16%) and indirect action (10%). Sex differences were most prominent on the prosocial-antisocial dimension, with women engaging in more prosocial (cautious action and social joining) and men in more self-centered social strategies (antisocial action, aggressive action and seeking social support). Reported efficacy was highest for the three most frequent strategies, as well as for antisocial and aggressive action. In essence, the current study provides first evidence that the multiaxial coping model may serve as a helpful framework not only to theoretically classify coping efforts with regard to intercultural stressors at schools, but also to understand their efficacy in relation to the cultural profile of the sample of interest. Eine Wirksamkeitsanalyse im Kontext des multiaxialen Coping-Modells