Abstract: The invention provides synthetic methods for the preparation of cantharidin and analogs thereof. In one aspect, the invention provides an improved Diels-Alder cycloaddition to generate a key intermediate en route to cantharidin and analogs thereof. In certain embodiments, the new Diels-Alder reaction involves reacting Compound (2) in the presence of furan, and in the absence of acid or increased pressure, in an aprotic polar solvent with slight warming, to yield Compound (1) in favorable yield and exo-endo ratio. In another aspect, the invention also provides a new Diels-Alder reaction between compounds of Formula (III) and furan to yield compounds of Formula (IV), which can then be transformed into cantharidin or analogs thereof. In yet another aspect, the invention describes a new palladium-mediated carbonylation providing another key intermediate en route to cantharidin and analogs thereof. In addition to synthetic methods, present invention also provides compounds (i.e.

Abstract: A user interface for evaluating interview candidates. A user interface, including a first interview card is displayed. The first interview card includes information about a first interviewee and the first interviewee's response to a first interview question. User input indicative of a direction is received. The user input is either indicative of a direction in a first plane or indicative of a direction in a second plane. When the user input is in a direction in the first plane, a second interview card is displayed including information about a second interviewee and the second interviewee's response to the first question. When the user input is in a direction in the second plane, a third interview card is displayed including information about the first interviewee and the first interviewee's response to a second question.

Abstract: Selecting interview questions to be posed to an interviewee. A method includes receiving user input. The user input selects an interview evaluation system from among a number of different interview evaluation systems. Each interview evaluation system in the number of different interview evaluation systems includes functionality for at least one of scoring interview interactions or rating interviewees. At least two or more of the interview evaluation systems from among the number of different interview evaluation systems include different functionality for scoring interview interactions or rating interviewees. Based on the user input selecting an interview evaluation system, a set of interview queries from among a plurality of pre-defined interview queries are automatically selected. The selected set of interview queries are provided for use in an interview of an interviewee.

Abstract: Improved orbit/covariance estimation and analysis (OCEAN) system and method are presented utilizing ground station observations collected from satellites passing overhead to estimate the positions, velocities, and other parameters of multiple satellites using weighted least squares (WLS) batch and/or Kalman filter smoothing (KFS) estimation algorithms to estimate each parameter, with or without a priori knowledge of the errors involved with each observed parameter.

Abstract: A clamping sleeve (12) for joining a pressure hose (14) with a metal braided sheathing with a fitting (10) comprises a tubular metal base member (40) with a first end which faces the fitting (10) and an opposite inlet end. At least in the area of the inlet end, the base member (40) is provided with a hollow cylindrical plastic insert (42) which extends at least to the inlet end of the plastic insert (40) the inner diameter of which in its axially inner end portion with respect to the base member corresponds at least approximately to the inner diameter of the base member (40) in a portion axially adjacent to the plastic insert (42). In the axially outer end portion of the plastic insert (42) the inner diameter of same continuously increases towards the axially outer end in order to prevent notch effects.