cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crustacean Muscle Plasticity: Molecular Mechanisms Determining Mass and Contractile Properties

Two crustacean models for understanding molecular mechanisms of muscle plasticity are reviewed. Metabolic changes underlying muscle protein synthesis and degradation have been examined in the Bermuda land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis. During proecdysis, the claw closer muscle undergoes a programmed atrophy, which results from a highly controlled breakdown of myofibrillar proteins by Ca(2+)-dependent and, possibly, ATP/ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic enzymes. The advantage of this model is that there is neither fiber degeneration nor contractile-type switching, which often occurs in mammalian skeletal muscles. The second model uses American lobster, Homarus americanus, to understand the genetic regulation of fiber-type switching. Fibers in the claw closer muscles undergo a developmentally-regulated transformation as the isomorphic claws of larvae and juveniles differentiate into the heteromorphic cutter and crusher claws of adults. This switching occurs at the boundary between fast- and slow-fiber regions, and thus the transformation of a specific fiber is determined by its position within the muscle. The ability to predict fiber switching can be exploited to isolate and identify putative master regulatory factors that initiate and coordinate the expression of contractile proteins.
RULES FOR CHURCH PROMOTION DECISIONS

This article presents and tests a model that extends our understanding of optimal marketing-mix decision rules for nonprofit organizations (such as churches) that receive donation income, do not charge fixed prices for their services, and rely heavily on volunteer time as a resource for their operations. Such organizations are likely to employ an objective function of output maximization rather than profit maximization. This change in objective function leads to greater promotional spending than would be true of for-profit organizations. The paper also highlights the complexities for optimization raised by the role of paid and volunteer staff in promotional activities.
Stellar occultation of polarized light from circumstellar electrons. 4: Detached binary systems

The finite sizes of stars in detached binary systems are incorporated in the single scattering approximation of Brown, McLean, & Emslie (1978). In the absence of scatterer occultation, the predicted polarimetric variability is found to be represented by a terminating two harmonic time series, as previously found by Brown et al. (1978). When the occultation of scatterers by the light sources is included, additional Fourier harmonics are introduced. Model results are illustrated for a spherically symmetric scattering envelope centered on the primary star, in which it is found that for occultation effects to be identified in polarimetric data requires the separation of the system to be less than 10 times the radius of the primary, and for the primary to be the dominant light source.
Developments in Digital Addressable Lighting Control

In DALI control, a small built-in chip acts as the de-central controller in the ballast. DALI complies with an open source protocol based on standard IEC60929. One small controller controls up to 64 ballasts. Today, manufacturers are adding more devices, such as sensors, blind motor controllers, and switches. Recently, web browser based remote control was developed for the DALI Lighting Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University. This paper reports on first experiences with advanced DALI features.
Purification and biochemical studies of lactate dehydrogenase-X from mouse.

Lactate dehydrogenase-X from testes of several rodent species was purified to homogeneity by an 8-(6-aminohexyl)-amino-AMP-Sepharose affinity column. In the case of mouse, the testicle extracts was first heated to 60° for fifteen minutes before the passage through the affinity column. A biospecific elution with reduced NAD+-pyruvate adduct resulted in a homogeneous preparation of lactate dehydrogenase-X. A similar procedure was also employed for the purification of lactate dehydrogenase-X from hamster, guinea pig and rat. After purification by affinity chromatography, lactate dehydrogenase-X was separated from residual somatic lactate dehydrogenase isozymes by DEAF-Sephadex chromatography. Adenosine, AMP, ADP, and ADP-ribose were shown to be coenzyme-competitive inhibitors of lactate dehydrogenase-X. The effectiveness of binding of these compounds increased with the size of the adenosine derivatives employed. Multiple inhibition analysis suggested that these compounds are interacting with the same region of coenzyme-binding site as shown by the mutual exclusion of one another from binding to the enzyme. The data suggest that the binding of coenzyme to the enzyme occurs through interactions involving the adenosine moiety and pyrophosphate grouping. Fluorescence spectroscopy was employed for the study of the mechanism of action of mouse lactate dehydrogenase-X. Both oxidized and reduced coenzymes induced significant quenching of protein fluorescence. Significant enhancements of NADH fluorescence and protein energy transfer were observed upon the addition of lactate dehydrogenase-X to the coenzyme solution. In the presence of lactate dehydrogenase-X and NAD+, the addition of pyruvate or α-ketovalerate resulted in a time-dependent quenching of protein fluorescence and an increase in absorbance at 325 nm indicating the formation of a ternary complex. The results of this study suggest a similar molecular mechanism for different lactate dehydrogenase isozymes.
Substituent and coordination effects in singlet reactions of 3-diazo-3H-1,2,4-triazoles with substituted benzenes and nitro compounds

Abstract 3-Diazo-3 H -1,2,4-triazoles convert to singlet 3 H -1,2,4-triazol-3-ylidenes which (1) effect directed electrophilic substitutions of benzenes and (2) coordinate with benzenoid substituents and nitro compounds to give decomposition or rearrangement products.
The Moloney leukemia retroviral long terminal repeat trans-activates AP-1-inducible genes and AP-1 transcription factor binding.

Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) is a thymotropic and leukemogenic retrovirus which causes T lymphomas. The long terminal repeat (LTR) of Mo-MuLV affects the regulation of a number of cellular genes, including collagenase IV, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and c-jun genes, all of which contain 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-responsive ele-ment consensus sites within their promoters. We report here that Mo-MuLV stimulates the collagenase IV gene through transcription factor AP-1, and that the expression of a subgenomic portion of Mo-MuLV LTR alone is sufficient for this effect. Transient or stable expression of the viral LTR increases cellular AP-1 DNA binding activity. The collagenase IV 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-responsive element consensus sequence was shown to be required for this trans-activation. Deletions or mutations of this consensus site which abolished AP-1 binding also abolished trans-activation by the LTR. Transient or stable transfection of the viral LTR into cells stimulated c-jun gene expression, suggesting one mechanism whereby the viral LTR may induce cellular AP-1 activity. Thus, the Mo-MuLV LTR, through activation of the transcription factor AP-1, is capable of regulating cellular gene expression, including the induction of proto-oncogenes. This activity may be relevant to the mechanisms whereby retroviruses which do not contain oncogenes induce neoplasia.
Genome Sequence of Candidatus Riesia pediculischaeffi, Endosymbiont of Chimpanzee Lice, and Genomic Comparison of Recently Acquired Endosymbionts from Human and Chimpanzee Lice

The obligate-heritable endosymbionts of insects possess some of the smallest known bacterial genomes. This is likely due to loss of genomic material during symbiosis. The mode and rate of this erosion may change over evolutionary time: faster in newly formed associations and slower in long-established ones. The endosymbionts of human and anthropoid primate lice present a unique opportunity to study genome erosion in newly established (or young) symbionts. This is because we have a detailed phylogenetic history of these endosymbionts with divergence dates for closely related species. This allows for genome evolution to be studied in detail and rates of change to be estimated in a phylogenetic framework. Here, we sequenced the genome of the chimpanzee louse endosymbiont (Candidatus Riesia pediculischaeffi) and compared it with the closely related genome of the human body louse endosymbiont. From this comparison, we found evidence for recent genome erosion leading to gene loss in these endosymbionts. Although gene loss was detected, it was not significantly greater than in older endosymbionts from aphids and ants. Additionally, we searched for genes associated with B-vitamin synthesis in the two louse endosymbiont genomes because these endosymbionts are believed to synthesize essential B vitamins absent in the louse’s diet. All of the expected genes were present, except those involved in thiamin synthesis. We failed to find genes encoding for proteins involved in the biosynthesis of thiamin or any complete exogenous means of salvaging thiamin, suggesting there is an undescribed mechanism for the salvage of thiamin. Finally, genes encoding for the pantothenate de novo biosynthesis pathway were located on a plasmid in both taxa along with a heat shock protein. Movement of these genes onto a plasmid may be functionally and evolutionarily significant, potentially increasing production and guarding against the deleterious effects of mutation. These data add to a growing resource of obligate endosymbiont genomes and to our understanding of the rate and mode of genome erosion in obligate animal-associated bacteria. Ultimately sequencing additional louse p-endosymbiont genomes will provide a model system for studying genome evolution in obligate host associated bacteria.
Stratification Learning: Detecting Mixed Density and Dimensionality in High Dimensional Point Clouds

The study of point cloud data sampled from a stratification, a collection of manifolds with possible different dimensions, is pursued in this paper. We present a technique for simultaneously soft clustering and estimating the mixed dimensionality and density of such structures. The framework is based on a maximum likelihood estimation of a Poisson mixture model. The presentation of the approach is completed with artificial and real examples demonstrating the importance of extending manifold learning to stratification learning.
Color image segmentation with detection of highlights and local illumination induced by inter-reflections

A computational model for color image segmentation is proposed based on the physical properties of sensors, illumination lights, and surface reflectances. For image segmentation to depend only on the change of material surface, variations of surface reflection due to illumination, shading, shadows, and highlights should be discounted from a measured image. The authors use the dichromatic model for dielectric materials and develop a metric space of intensity, hue, and saturation in order to interpret various light-surface interactions better. Using the established model for surface reflection, the authors perform color image segmentation based on the material change with detection of highlights and small interreflections between adjacent objects. A reference plate is used to whiten global illumination. The detected interreflections represent local variation of illumination. >
Creating a gateway that enables large‐scale science coopetition

Summary This paper describes the WeFold gateway that provides a social and technical environment for the first large-scale attempt at collaboration within the context of the Critical Assessment of techniques for protein Structure Prediction (CASP) competition. CASP is a biennial worldwide experiment created 20 years ago to advance the field of protein folding, one of the grand challenges in modern science. The WeFold experiment was started in CASP10 (the 10th CASP) to bring together scientists from different disciplines to brainstorm online, share ideas and codes, and synergistically develop new methodologies. The goal is to positively shake up the field to stimulate breakthrough advances. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Can a Single-Reference Approach Provide a Balanced Description of Ground and Excited States? A Comparison of the Completely Renormalized Equation-of-Motion Coupled-Cluster Method with Multireference Quasidegenerate Perturbation Theory near a Conical Intersection and along a Photodissociation Coordinate in Ammonia

We calculated the two lowest electronically adiabatic potential energy surfaces of ammonia in the region of the conical intersection and at a sequence of geometries along which one of the N−H bonds is broken. We employed both a multireference (MR) method and a single-reference (SR) method. The MR calculations are based on multiconfiguration quasidegenerate perturbation theory (MC-QDPT) with a 6-311+G(3df,3pd) basis set. The SR calculations, carried out with the same basis, employ the completely renormalized equation-of-motion coupled-cluster method with singles and doubles, and a noniterative treatment of triples, denoted CR-EOMCCSD(T). At 91 geometries used for comparison, including geometries near a conical intersection, the surfaces agree to 7% on average.
CT colonography versus colonoscopy for the detection of advanced neoplasia.

A b s t r ac t Background Advanced neoplasia represents the primary target for colorectal-cancer screening and prevention. We compared the diagnostic yield from parallel computed tomographic colonography (CTC) and optical colonoscopy (OC) screening programs. Methods We compared primary CTC screening in 3120 consecutive adults (mean [±SD] age, 57.0±7.2 years) with primary OC screening in 3163 consecutive adults (mean age, 58.1±7.8 years). The main outcome measures included the detection of advanced neoplasia (advanced adenomas and carcinomas) and the total number of harvested polyps. Referral for polypectomy during OC was offered for all CTC-detected polyps of at least 6 mm in size. Patients with one or two small polyps (6 to 9 mm) also were offered the option of CTC surveillance. During primary OC, nearly all detected polyps were removed, regardless of size, according to established practice guidelines. Results During CTC and OC screening, 123 and 121 advanced neoplasms were found, including 14 and 4 invasive cancers, respectively. The referral rate for OC in the primary CTC screening group was 7.9% (246 of 3120 patients). Advanced neoplasia was confirmed in 100 of the 3120 patients in the CTC group (3.2%) and in 107 of the 3163 patients in the OC group (3.4%), not including 158 patients with 193 unresected CTC-detected polyps of 6 to 9 mm who were undergoing surveillance. The total numbers of polyps removed in the CTC and OC groups were 561 and 2434, respectively. There were seven colonic perforations in the OC group and none in the CTC group. Conclusions Primary CTC and OC screening strategies resulted in similar detection rates for advanced neoplasia, although the numbers of polypectomies and complications were considerably smaller in the CTC group. These findings support the use of CTC as a primary screening test before therapeutic OC.
The role of behavior genetics in personality disorder classification: Comment on South and DeYoung (2013).

South and DeYoung (2013, pp. 270–283) provide a valuable and timely contribution to the personality disorder (PD) literature by considering the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM–5) PD proposal in the context of behavior genetic (BG) research. Although BG research has played a critical role in understanding the structure and nature of personality and psychopathology, South and DeYoung point out that the degree to which it has influenced the DSM–5 PDs has not been made explicit by the DSM–5 personality and personality disorders work group (WG). In this context, South and DeYoung articulate how BG research could influence PD classification. Multivariate BG can help identify etiological influences on psychopathology constructs and their covariance, and thus contribute to a more efficient and parsimonious model of mental disorder. Such work will be important for determining the potential uniqueness of PDs in relation to other disorders—an issue South and DeYoung address in detail. For instance, BG methods are particularly useful for identifying endophenotypes that “may ultimately demonstrate more cohesive etiological structures than the current DSM disorders” (South & DeYoung, 2013, p. 279). By leading to a taxonomy that is a closer approximation of nature, BG research could facilitate better ideas about prevention and treatment than are currently available. South and DeYoung (2013) also critique the bases offered by the WG for retaining certain PDs and not others. Their essential argument is that the retention of PD phenotypes should be based on extensive field work and empirical determinations regarding what unique aspects of personality pathology are clinically important. It is difficult to disagree with this point, and indeed Skodol et al. (2011) did review evidence on empirical validity and clinical utility in developing the proposed model. It is not clear exactly what to go on in the absence of definitive empirical evidence on PD classification, but two of the rationales given the most weight by the WG do seem particularly weak. The first involves diagnostic prevalence: More prevalent disorders have a better chance of being retained. Prevalence is a meaningless concept if one accepts the dimensionality 1 of personality pathology and the arbitrariness of diagnostic cut scores. For instance, if one fewer symptom were required for dependent PD in DSM–IV–TR (American Psychiatric
Genetic Optimization and Simulation of a Piezoelectric Pipe-Crawling Inspection Robot

Using the Darwin2k development software, a genetic algorithm (GA) was used to design and optimize a pipe-crawling robot for parameters such as mass, power consumption, and joint extension to further the research of the Miniature Inspection Systems Technology (MIST) team. In an attempt to improve on existing designs, a new robot was developed, the piezo robot. The final proposed design uses piezoelectric expansion actuators to move the robot with a ‘ chimneying’ method employed by mountain climbers and greatly improves on previous designs in load bearing ability, pipe traversing specifications, and field usability. This research shows the advantages of GA assisted design in the field of robotics.
P‐71: Robust‐Stretchable Interconnects for Flexible Display Applications

We report on a robust metallization scheme ideal for interconnects required in flexible display applications. Multi-layered metal interconnects including a granular discontinuous ductile indium layer, have been deposited on a variety of compliant substrates to confirm that there is a minimal change in resistance even when subjected to large mechanical strains and repeated low-strain fatigue loading. Initial analysis of deformed films also suggests there is a possibility for a self-healing process. A finite element analysis (FEA) model of the thin-metal film/polymer substrate structure, also confirms the stretchability of the granular indium islands observed to be bridging the cracked regions in the underlying conductive layers.
Texture Development in Friction Stir Welds

The shear textures that develop in friction stir welds are reviewed and discussed. In all the materials examined, including face centred cubic (fcc), body centred cubic (bcc) and hexagonal close-packed (hcp) materials, friction stir welding produces a predominant shear texture with the close-packed directions aligned with the shear direction (SD) and the close-packed plane normal perpendicular to both the SD and the shear plane normal. This orientation corresponds to the B/ ideal shear texture in fcc materials, the D1 ideal shear texture in bcc materials, and the P1 ideal shear texture in hcp titanium alloys. Titanium friction stir welds fabricated above the β transus temperature can contain evidence of ideal shear texture components from both the bcc D1 (after transformation to the hcp phase according to the Burgers orientation relationship) and the hcp P1 shear textures. Thus, similar shear textures develop in friction stir welds of fcc, bcc and hcp materials.
An assessment of life-history studies for USA and Canadian crayfishes: identifying biases and knowledge gaps to improve conservation and management

AbstractLife-history knowledge is central to basic and applied ecology, but recent reviews show that knowledge of life histories of many freshwater invertebrates is incomplete because of difficulty in conducting such studies or a general decline of interest in natural-history research. We review and summarize published life histories for crayfishes native to the USA and Canada. We document the rate of accumulation of crayfish life-history knowledge and biases and gaps in life-history knowledge by taxonomic group, geography, habitat preference, and conservation status. A total of 78 published studies (59 papers; several included life-history information for multiple species) covering 42 (12%) of the 347 USA and Canadian crayfishes recognized as of 2007 met our criteria for crayfish life-history studies. Life-history studies were lacking for crayfishes of conservation concern and stygobitic or primary burrowing-habitat specialists. Life-history knowledge is relatively complete for low-diversity freshwater e...
Intrusion Detection in Gaussian Distributed Heterogeneous Wireless Sensor Networks

Intrusion detection is one of the fundamental applications in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Some applications require different detection capabilities at different areas in the deployment field. Gaussian distributed WSNs can fulfill such requirements and are widely deployed in practice. In addition, the presence of some high capability sensors leads to performance enhancement in term of intrusion detection probability. This makes it imperative to explore the intrusion detection problem in heterogeneous WSNs. This work is to examine the intrusion detection problem in a heterogeneous Gaussian distributed WSN theoretically and experimentally. A heterogeneous WSN model with distinct types of Gaussian distributed sensors is proposed, where both single-sensing detection and k-sensing detection models are employed. Based on this network model, the intrusion detection probabilities under various application scenarios are theoretically derived and experimentally validated by extensive simulations. This work is to provide guidelines in designing heterogeneous WSNs for intrusion detection.
Trajectory sensitivity based identification of synchronous generator and excitation system parameters

The authors describe the application of a trajectory sensitivity method to the identification of synchronous generator reactances and excitation system time constants. The evaluation of the identification method is performed using different types of disturbances in a single-synchronous-generator, single-line-to-infinite-bus power system. This generator is modeled in great detail to provide an accurate reference model. The robustness and performance of the method are tested by identifying the d and q-axis reactances of a less detailed synchronous machine model. The performance of the identification method is evaluated by comparing time responses and transfer functions of the reference and the identified models using different types of faults. >
Phase-Locked Loop Coherent Combiners for Phased Array Sensor Systems

Phase-locked loops (PLL's) may be used to implement signal combiners which coherently sum multiple signals from an array of sensors. In each combiner channel, the sensor signal is simultaneously downconverted to an intermediate frequency (IF) signal and phase-locked to an appropriately generated reference signal by a "long-loop" PLL. This loop maintains a nominal 90° phase difference between the IF signal and the reference signal irrespective of phase of the channel input (sensor output) signal. The channel IF signals are summed to generate the combiner output signal. The reference signal may be a locally generated sine wave or a delayed version of the combiner output signal. Imperfect phase control and, thus, imperfect signal combining results when noise voltages are associated with the channel signals. In this paper, a lincarized model of a PLL coherent combiner is developed. This model applies when the desired channel signals are equal amplitude and angle modulated; the channel noise voltages are equal level, Gaussian distributed, and independent; and the combiner phase errors are appropriately small. This model is then used to derive equations for the variance of differential phase errors associated with combiner operation and to show the effect of these phase errors on the average power in the combiner output signal. Relevant experimental results from a four-channel combiner are compared with the performance predicted by the linear model.
A 1.1GHz 12μA/Mb-Leakage SRAM Design in 65nm Ultra-Low-Power CMOS with Integrated Leakage Reduction for Mobile Applications

A low-power high-speed SRAM macro is implemented in an ultra-low-power 8M 65nm CMOS for mobile applications. The 1Mb macro features a 0.667μm2 low-leakage memory cell and operates with supply voltage from 0.5V to 1.2V. It operates at a frequency of 1.1 GHz at 1.2V and 250MHz at 0.7V. Leakage is reduced to 12μA/Mb at the data retention voltage of 0.5V. The measured bitcell leakage from the SRAM array is ~2pA/b at retention voltage with integrated leakage reduction schemes.
Racial differences in pelvic morphology among asymptomatic nulliparous women as seen on three-dimensional magnetic resonance images.

Objective Compare pelvic morphology between asymptomatic African-American and white nulliparous women. Study design Resting supine T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained in 12 African-American (AA) and 10 white American (WA) women without pelvic floor dysfunction. Three-dimensional models were reconstructed from the MR images by a masked investigator, and predefined bony and soft tissue pelvic floor parameters were measured and compared. Nonparametric statistics were used, with significance considered at P Results Subjects were similar in age and body mass index. Levator ani volume was significantly greater in the AA versus the WA group (mean = 26.8 vs 19.8 cm 3 , P = .002). The levator-symphysis gap was smaller in the AA (left-18.2, right-18.8 mm) versus the WA group (22.4, 22.6 mm, P = .003, .048) on the left and right. Significant differences were seen in bladder neck position, urethral angle, and the pubic arch angle. Conclusion The increased muscle bulk and closer puborectalis attachment seen among the African-American nulliparous women may impact the development of pelvic floor dysfunction. These findings need further study.
Site-specific analysis of protein S-acylation by resin-assisted capture

Protein S-acylation is a major posttranslational modification whereby a cysteine thiol is converted to a thioester. A prototype is S-palmitoylation (fatty acylation), in which a protein undergoes acylation with a hydrophobic 16 carbon lipid chain. Although this modification is a well-recognized determinant of protein function and localization, current techniques to study cellular S-acylation are cumbersome and/or technically demanding. We recently described a simple and robust methodology to rapidly identify S-nitrosylation sites in proteins via resin-assisted capture (RAC) and provided an initial description of the applicability of the technique to S-acylated proteins (acyl-RAC). Here we expand on the acyl-RAC assay, coupled with mass spectrometry-based proteomics, to characterize both previously reported and novel sites of endogenous S-acylation. Acyl-RAC should therefore find general applicability in studies of both global and individual protein S-acylation in mammalian cells.
Load management in future wideband DS-CDMA systems with non-uniform traffic distribution

A vast importance is being placed worldwide on the development of third-generation mobile systems and wideband code division multiple access (CDMA) is emerging as the dominant choice for future personal communications systems. In a wideband CDMA based cellular network, the mobile arriving to the system will choose the base station with minimum path loss. Though planned with sufficient capacity, uneven traffic load in a cellular system may occur, creating a "hot spot" exceeding the pre-determined capacity and introducing large blocking probability. When non-uniform traffic distribution occurs it is desirable to re-allocate the radio resources to allow all cells to carry the desired amount of traffic. This work shows that it is possible to gain capacity by moving the cell borders and an algorithm for adaptive power planning is proposed that decrease the cell size by changing the output power of the base station with a high traffic load. The algorithm is simulated, using a snapshot model, and it is shown that the algorithm reduces system outage.
Intentions to Use Self-Service Technologies: A Confluence of Multiple Attitudes

The introduction of self-service technologies (SSTs) into the service encounter necessitates research to better understand customers’ attitudes toward service providers and technologies, and their intentions to use technology-based service delivery systems. In this research, the authors develop and empirically test three nested structural models that include a hierarchy of consumer attitudes toward both the interpersonal and the technological aspects of the encounter to better understand their intentions to use SSTs. The findings indicate that intentions to use SST options are driven by multiple, hierarchical attitudes. In addition to the direct effects of attitudes toward specific SSTs and individual employees, the findings confirm that higher order global attitudes toward service technologies influence intentions to use SSTs. Interestingly, the findings indicate that heavy SST users rely more on attitudes toward specific SSTs than do light SST users, who rely more heavily on global attitudes toward SSTs...
No Shelter Here: Rebel Sanctuaries and International Conflict

Rebel groups often operate across national boundaries, increasing tensions between states and the odds of international conflict. Weak states are incapable of evicting rebels and are unwillingly drawn into international conflicts. Rival states support transnational rebels in order to undermine their opponents and substitute direct hostilities with action through proxies. These claims are tested through a quantitative analysis of militarized interstate disputes (MIDs) since 1945. Results support the claim that rebel sanctuaries across borders increase the probability of an international conflict. Other forms of assistance to rebel groups are also associated with increased hostilities.
Recognizing and remembering individuals: online and unsupervised face recognition for humanoid robot

Individual recognition is a widely reported phenomenon in the animal world, where it contributes to successful maternal interaction, parental care, group breeding, cooperation, mate choice, etc. This work addresses the question of how one may implement such social competence in a humanoid robot. We argue that the robot must be able to recognize people and learn about their various characteristics through embodied social interaction. Thus, we proposed an initial implementation of an online and unsupervised face recognition system for Kismet, our sociable robotic platform. We show how specific features of this particular application drove our decision and implementation process, challenged by the difficulty of the face recognition problem, which has so far been explored in the supervised manner. Experimental results are reported to illustrate what was solved and the lessons learned from the current implementation.
Digital geometry processing with topological guarantees

We describe novel approaches to compute reliable solutions for many non-linear geometric problems that arise in geometric modeling, computer graphics and robotics. Specifically, we focus on problems that can be formulated as surface extraction problems. These include Boolean operations and Minkowski sums of polyhedral or higher models as well as reliable polygonization of general implicit surfaces. All these problems reduce to computing a topology preserving isosurface from a volumetric grid, i.e. the zero set of a scalar field. A common way of representing a scalar field is to discretize the continuous scalar field into discrete samples – to compute the value of the scalar field at the vertices of a volumetric grid. We refer to this step as a sampling of the scalar field. The grid is an approximate representation of the scalar field; the accuracy of the approximate representation depends on the rate of sampling – the resolution of the grid. An explicit boundary representation of the implicit surface can be obtained by extracting the zero-level isosurface using Marching Cubes or any of its variants. We refer to these isosurface extraction algorithms collectively as MC-like algorithms. The output of an MC-like algorithm is an approximation – usually a polygonal approximation – of the implicit surface. We refer to this step as reconstruction of the implicit surface.
A general framework for the asymptotic validity of two-stage procedures for selection and multiple comparisons with consistent variance estimators

We consider two-stage procedures for selection and multiple comparisons, where the variance parameter is estimated consistently. We examine conditions under which the procedures are asymptotically valid in a general framework. Our proofs of asymptotic validity require that the estimators at the end of the second stage are asymptotically normal, so we require a random-time-change central limit theorem. We explain how the assumptions hold for comparing means in transient simulations, steady-state simulations and quantile estimation, but the assumptions are also valid for many other problems arising in simulation studies.
Legal medicine 1986

Legal Medicine 1986, Edited by Wecht, C.H. (Praeger Publishers, New York, N.Y, 1986), 320 pages, $47.50.
α-MHC MitoTimer mouse: In vivo mitochondrial turnover model reveals remarkable mitochondrial heterogeneity in the heart

In order to maintain an efficient, energy-producing network in the heart, dysfunctional mitochondria are cleared through the mechanism of autophagy, which is closely linked with mitochondrial biogenesis; these, together with fusion and fission comprise a crucial process known as mitochondrial turnover. Until recently, the lack of molecular tools and methods available to researchers has impeded in vivo investigations of turnover. To investigate the process at the level of a single mitochondrion, our laboratory has developed the MitoTimer protein. Timer is a mutant of DsRed fluorescent protein characterized by transition from green fluorescence to a more stable red conformation over 48 h, and its rate of maturation is stable under physiological conditions. We fused the Timer cDNA with the inner mitochondrial membrane signal sequence and placed it under the control of a cardiac-restricted promoter. This construct was used to create the alpha-MHC-MitoTimer mice. Surprisingly, initial analysis of the hearts from these mice demonstrated a high degree of heterogeneity in the ratio of red-to-green fluorescence of MitoTimer in cardiac tissue. Further, scattered solitary mitochondria within cardiomyocytes display a much higher red-to-green fluorescence (red-shifted) relative to other mitochondria in the cell, implying a block in import of newly synthesized MitoTimer likely due to lower membrane potential. These red-shifted mitochondria may represent older, senescent mitochondria. Concurrently, the cardiomyocytes also contain a subpopulation of mitochondria that display a lower red-to-green fluorescence (green-shifted) relative to other mitochondria, indicative of germinal mitochondria that are actively engaged in import of newly-synthesized mito-targeted proteins. These mitochondria can be isolated and sorted from the heart by flow cytometry for further analysis. Initial studies suggest that these mice represent an elegant tool for the investigation of mitochondrial turnover in the heart.
The verbal morphology and phonology of Asante Twi

This paper presents an analysis of the verbal morphology and associated phonological processes in Asante Twi, a member of the Akan group of languages/dialects spoken in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, which belongs to the Nyo subgroup of the Kwa language family (Lewis 2009). There has been considerable interest in Akan in the theoretical literature, largely due to some peculiarities in the tense/aspect system which will be addressed later in this paper. However, the verbal morphology and phonology have been given relatively little attention. In this paper I show that the verbal morphology exhibits a number of interesting properties including tonal marking of tense/aspect categories – the latter having been largely ignored or misrepresented in the previous literature.
Characterization of Laminar Zones in the Mid-Gestation Primate Brain with Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Histological Methods

Distinct populations of progenitor and postmitotic neural and glial cells are stratified in the fetal primate brain across developmentally transient tissue zones between the ventricular and pial surfaces. These zones were originally identified by light microscopy. However, it has subsequently been shown that various forms of magnetic resonance image (MRI) contrast can be used to distinguish layers of developing neural tissue in ex vivo, as well as in vivo (including in utero) conditions. Here we compare mid-gestation rhesus macaque tissue zones identified using histological techniques to ex vivo as well as in utero MRI performed on the same brains. These data are compared to mid-gestation fetal human brain MRI results, obtained in utero. We observe strong similarity between MRI contrast in vivo and post mortem, which facilitates interpretation of in utero images based on the histological characterization performed here. Additionally, we observe differential correspondence between the various forms of ex vivo MRI contrast and microscopy data, with maps of the water apparent diffusion coefficient providing the closest match to histologically-identified lamina of the nonhuman primate brain. Examination of histology and post mortem MRI helps to provide a better understanding of cytoarchitectrual characteristics that give rise to in utero MRI contrast.
Abstract 331: The Role of Zizimin1 Overexpression in Vascular Morphogenesis

Objectives: The Rho subfamily of small GTPases, including RhoA, Rac1, and Cdc42, regulates diverse cellular functions, including polarity and migration. Our prior studies established an essential role for Cdc42 in vascular network assembly, demonstrating that the genetic inactivation of Cdc42 yields defective vascular morphogenesis due to impaired migration of endothelial precursor cells. We have further shown that protein kinase Ciota and glycogen synthase kinase-3 Beta are downstream effectors of Cdc42 involved in mediating vascular network assembly. The objective of this study was to elucidate the guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that activate Cdc42; specifically, we investigated the role of Zizimin1 and its effects on Cdc42 and vasculogenesis. Methods: We performed affinity pulldown assays using a nucleotide-free Cdc42 G15A mutant that specifically binds to Cdc42 GEFs. Mass spectrometric analysis identified Zizimin1 as a candidate Cdc42 GEF. Results: During vasculogenesis in embryoid bodies (EBs) differentiated from embryonic stem cells, Zizimin1 is highly expressed in aggregated endothelial cell precursors prior to vascular network assembly, mainly localizing to the Golgi apparatus. Surprisingly, stable overexpression of Zizimin1 in EBs resulted in inhibition of blood vessel formation, as evidenced by immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrating loss of vascular network development. Affinity pulldown assay showed that overexpression of Zizimin1 in fact increases Cdc42 activity; however, the activation of Rac1 and RhoA is significantly inhibited. Further, ectopically expressed Zizimin1 was also detected in the Golgi apparatus, co-localizing with Cdc42. Conclusions: Since Rac1 and RhoA signaling has been reported to play an essential role in blood vessel formation, our results suggest that the interplay between Rho GTPases guides vascular network assembly during development. Furthermore, we speculate that Zizimin1 overexpression, leading to overactivation of Cdc42 in the Golgi apparatus, may hinder cell migration. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of embryonic vasculogenesis and also important new information for the design of potential pro- and/or anti- angiogenic therapies.
Time-scale separation on networks: Consensus, tracking, and state-dependent interactions

This paper studies the coupling between dynamics that span multiple time-scales in distributed networked systems. In particular, we consider the evolution of the consensus dynamics interacting with fast nonlinear vehicle dynamics as well as its progress over a state-dependent graphs with slow-varying weight dynamics. Graph-based guarantees are provided that certify the existence of a separation principle across time-scales. Further, we quantify the role of the network's structure in ensuring stability of the composite multi-time-scale system. Graph spectral measures are calculated providing designers a network structure approach to improve performance and/or stability of the coupled system. Examples are presented illustrating the results.
Ethics without immanence: A reply to Michael Lambek

A virtue of the turn called ‘ordinary ethics’ is that it can steer us toward the often tacit and seemingly pervasive presence of ethics in everyday social practice. Yet what is the status of this presence? Is ethics somehow intrinsic to discursive interaction, as suggested by Michael Lambek and by earlier writers ranging from Goffman to Habermas? I argue that ordinary ethics’ notion of ethical immanence poses risks for the anthropology of ethics. This notion indulges an old desire to trace ethics back to its roots, to some purportedly singular, determinate ‘source’ – here, a disciplinary defined object of knowledge like ‘interaction’ or ‘language’. The notion also risks making us complacent with respect to studying the diverse forms of communicative labor by which actors themselves frame and construe behavior as ‘ethical’. And without taking as our guide what actors do, it becomes difficult methodologically for us to distinguish the ethical from non-ethical dimensions of social life in a given context.
DNA Sequence Alignment during Homologous Recombination

Homologous recombination allows for the regulated exchange of genetic information between two different DNA molecules of identical or nearly identical sequence composition, and is a major pathway for the repair of double-stranded DNA breaks. A key facet of homologous recombination is the ability of recombination proteins to perfectly align the damaged DNA with homologous sequence located elsewhere in the genome. This reaction is referred to as the homology search and is akin to the target searches conducted by many different DNA-binding proteins. Here I briefly highlight early investigations into the homology search mechanism, and then describe more recent research. Based on these studies, I summarize a model that includes a combination of intersegmental transfer, short-distance one-dimensional sliding, and length-specific microhomology recognition to efficiently align DNA sequences during the homology search. I also suggest some future directions to help further our understanding of the homology search. Where appropriate, I direct the reader to other recent reviews describing various issues related to homologous recombination.
Carboranes in medicine

The rapidly expanding role of carboranes and metallacarboranes in biomedical applications is outlined, with particular attention focused on the development of carborane-based drugs, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), and carboranes as agents in molecular imaging and radiotherapy. Advances in the design of carborane-bearing pharmacophores, including estrogen, androgen, retinoid, and transthyretin receptor agonists and antagonists, HIV protease inhibitors, anticoagulants, and antitumor agents are described. Various methods are discussed for the delivery of boron to tumors for BNCT via small-molecule and high molecular weight agents, including the use of nucleosides, nucleotides, porphyrins, phthalocynanines, dendrimers, lipoproteins, liposomes, nanoparticles, and nanotubes. Other topics covered include boron neutron capture synvectomy (BNCS), photodynamic therapy, and radiotherapy/radioimaging techniques such as radiohalogenation, radioastatination, and radiometal labeling, and others.
ACTIVITY OF RADIO-TAGGED BLACK-FOOTED FERRETS

Activity of two radio-tagged black-footed ferrets ( Mustela nigripes ) was investigated during October-November 1981 (an adult male monitored for 16 days), and during August-November 1982 (a young female monitored for 101 days). Aboveground activity of the male averaged 2.95 hr/night, 15% of the total time monitored. From 22 September to 5 November, aboveground activity of the female averaged 1.69 hours; 26% of the time she was stationary and 74% of the time she was moving. During August the juvenile female emerged at least once on 93% of the nights. She was least active in November. Both animals were primarily nocturnal (although daylight activity was not uncommon), and timing of nightly activity was similar, peaking from 0100 to 0359.