@inproceedings{6767, abstract = {In the present paper we give a thorough analysis of two finite difference schemes for the Mean Curvature Motion and its affine variant, the Affine Morphological Scale Space, schemes introduced in the Image Processing framework. This analysis brings in a series of parameters that allow us to compute an accurate discrete evolution of curvature motions. The choice of these parameters is based on intrinsic geometric properties of the evolution equations for linear, radial and elliptical functions. In the last part we present several examples, underlining the main advantages of the algorithms (the removal of pixelization effects and JPEG artifacts) as well as their major drawbacks (absence of contrast invariance and grid dependence). A detailed explanatory report, the ANSI C implementations and an on-line demo can be found at http://www.ipol.im/.}, author = {Mondelli, Marco and Ciomaga, Adina}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the International Student Conference on Pure and Applied Mathematics}, isbn = {978-973-703-602-5}, location = {Iasi, Romania}, pages = {137--156}, publisher = {Editura Universitãtii „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” Iasi}, title = {{On finite difference schemes for curvature motions}}, doi = {10.13140/2.1.1862.4646}, year = {2011}, } @article{7076, abstract = {Iron is a ubiquitous impurity in metamict (radiation-damaged and partially amorphized) materials such as titanite (CaSiTiO5). Using 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy we find that iron in metamict titanite is partitioned between amorphous and crystalline regions based on valence. Trivalent iron exists in the crystalline titanite matrix whereas divalent iron exists almost exclusively in radiation-amorphized regions. We find that the relative abundances of the oxidation states correlate with the volume fraction of amorphous and crystalline regions. Our data also show that oxidation of iron proceeds along with the recrystallization of the amorphized regions. Recrystallization is confirmed to occur over the range 700 °C < T < 925 °C, and no further structural changes are observed at higher temperatures. It is surprising that our Mössbauer measurements show divalent iron to be surrounded by titanite with a high degree of short-range structural order in the amorphized regions. This observation is fundamentally different from other metamict materials such as zircon (ZrSiO4), where amorphized regions show no short-range order.}, author = {Salje, E K H and Safarik, D J and Taylor, R D and Pasternak, M P and Modic, Kimberly A and Groat, L A and Lashley, J C}, issn = {0953-8984}, journal = {Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter}, number = {10}, publisher = {IOP Publishing}, title = {{Determination of iron sites and the amount of amorphization in radiation-damaged titanite (CaSiTiO5)}}, doi = {10.1088/0953-8984/23/10/105402}, volume = {23}, year = {2011}, } @article{7077, abstract = {Pb, Te, Ag and Se, when reacted in a 1:1:x:1 (x = 1.9, 2.0, 2.01) molar ratio, form a two phase composite which consists of a phase which crystallizes in the fcc cubic PbSe structure and a phase that crystallizes in the Ag2Te structure. In this article, we demonstrate that by varying the Ag concentration, we can manipulate which variant of the Ag2Te structure stabilizes at room temperature (monoclinic α-Ag2Te or cubic β-Ag1.9Te) and can consequently manipulate the electrical and thermal transport behavior of the composite and hence the thermoelectric performance. Additionally, we show that Cu-doping results in an overall improvement in thermoelectric performance. Our results suggest that formation of composites is a viable path for achieving a phonon-glass-electron-crystal (PGEC) alloy.}, author = {Capps, J. and Ma, B. and Drye, T. and Nucklos, C. and Lindsey, S. and Rhodes, D. and Zhang, Q. and Modic, Kimberly A and Cawthorne, S. and Drymiotis, F.}, issn = {0925-8388}, journal = {Journal of Alloys and Compounds}, number = {5}, pages = {1544--1549}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{The effect of Ag concentration on the structural, electrical and thermal transport behavior of Pb:Te:Ag:Se mixtures and improvement of thermoelectric performance via Cu doping}}, doi = {10.1016/j.jallcom.2010.10.187}, volume = {509}, year = {2011}, } @article{7313, abstract = {Li-ion batteries have transformed portable electronics and will play a key role in the electrification of transport. However, the highest energy storage possible for Li-ion batteries is insufficient for the long-term needs of society, for example, extended-range electric vehicles. To go beyond the horizon of Li-ion batteries is a formidable challenge; there are few options. Here we consider two: Li–air (O2) and Li–S. The energy that can be stored in Li–air (based on aqueous or non-aqueous electrolytes) and Li–S cells is compared with Li-ion; the operation of the cells is discussed, as are the significant hurdles that will have to be overcome if such batteries are to succeed. Fundamental scientific advances in understanding the reactions occurring in the cells as well as new materials are key to overcoming these obstacles. The potential benefits of Li–air and Li–S justify the continued research effort that will be needed.}, author = {Bruce, Peter G. and Freunberger, Stefan Alexander and Hardwick, Laurence J. and Tarascon, Jean-Marie}, issn = {1476-1122}, journal = {Nature Materials}, number = {1}, pages = {19--29}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Li–O2 and Li–S batteries with high energy storage}}, doi = {10.1038/nmat3191}, volume = {11}, year = {2011}, } @article{7314, abstract = {The electrolyte is one of the greatest challenges facing the development of the non‐aqueous Li–O2 battery. Although ether‐based electrolytes do from Li2O2 on the first discharge, it is shown by various techniques that they also decompose and that decomposition increases while Li2O2 decreases on cycling (see picture). Thus, these electrolytes are not suitable. }, author = {Freunberger, Stefan Alexander and Chen, Yuhui and Drewett, Nicholas E. and Hardwick, Laurence J. and Bardé, Fanny and Bruce, Peter G.}, issn = {1433-7851}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, number = {37}, pages = {8609--8613}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{The Lithium-Oxygen battery with ether-based electrolytes}}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201102357}, volume = {50}, year = {2011}, } @article{7315, abstract = {Spectroscopic data (see picture) provide direct evidence that in non‐aqueous Li+ electrolyte, O2 is reduced to O2−, which then forms LiO2 on the electrode surface which disproportionates to Li2O2. On charging, Li2O2 decomposes directly, in a one‐step reaction to evolve O2 and does not pass through LiO2 as an intermediate. }, author = {Peng, Zhangquan and Freunberger, Stefan Alexander and Hardwick, Laurence J. and Chen, Yuhui and Giordani, Vincent and Bardé, Fanny and Novák, Petr and Graham, Duncan and Tarascon, Jean-Marie and Bruce, Peter G.}, issn = {1433-7851}, journal = {Angewandte Chemie International Edition}, number = {28}, pages = {6351--6355}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{Oxygen reactions in a non-aqueous Li+ electrolyte}}, doi = {10.1002/anie.201100879}, volume = {50}, year = {2011}, } @article{7316, abstract = {The nonaqueous rechargeable lithium–O2 battery containing an alkyl carbonate electrolyte discharges by formation of C3H6(OCO2Li)2, Li2CO3, HCO2Li, CH3CO2Li, CO2, and H2O at the cathode, due to electrolyte decomposition. Charging involves oxidation of C3H6(OCO2Li)2, Li2CO3, HCO2Li, CH3CO2Li accompanied by CO2 and H2O evolution. Mechanisms are proposed for the reactions on discharge and charge. The different pathways for discharge and charge are consistent with the widely observed voltage gap in Li–O2 cells. Oxidation of C3H6(OCO2Li)2 involves terminal carbonate groups leaving behind the OC3H6O moiety that reacts to form a thick gel on the Li anode. Li2CO3, HCO2Li, CH3CO2Li, and C3H6(OCO2Li)2 accumulate in the cathode on cycling correlating with capacity fading and cell failure. The latter is compounded by continuous consumption of the electrolyte on each discharge.}, author = {Freunberger, Stefan Alexander and Chen, Yuhui and Peng, Zhangquan and Griffin, John M. and Hardwick, Laurence J. and Bardé, Fanny and Novák, Petr and Bruce, Peter G.}, issn = {0002-7863}, journal = {Journal of the American Chemical Society}, number = {20}, pages = {8040--8047}, publisher = {ACS}, title = {{Reactions in the rechargeable Lithium–O2 battery with alkyl carbonate electrolytes}}, doi = {10.1021/ja2021747}, volume = {133}, year = {2011}, } @article{7317, abstract = {Lithium-metal oxides with a high formal Li2O content, such as Li5FeO4 (5Li2O•Fe2O3) and a Li2MnO3•LiFeO2 composite ({Li2O•MnO2}•{Li2O•Fe2O3}) have been explored as electrocatalysts for primary and rechargeable Li-O2 cells. Activation occurs predominantly by Li2O removal, either electrochemically or chemically by acid-treatment. Superior electrochemical behavior is obtained if activation occurs by acid-treatment; Li2MnO3•LiFeO2 catalysts provide 2516 mAh/g (carbon) corresponding to 931 mAh/g (electrocatalyst + carbon) during the initial discharge. The reaction is reasonably reversible during the early cycles. The approach has implications for designing electrocatalysts that participate through electrochemical Li2O extraction/reformation reactions, offering exceptionally high capacities.}, author = {Trahey, L. and Johnson, C. S. and Vaughey, J. T. and Kang, S.-H. and Hardwick, L. J. and Freunberger, Stefan Alexander and Bruce, P. G. and Thackeray, M. M.}, issn = {1099-0062}, journal = {Electrochemical and Solid-State Letters}, number = {5}, publisher = {The Electrochemical Society}, title = {{Activated Lithium-Metal-Oxides as catalytic electrodes for Li–O2 cells}}, doi = {10.1149/1.3555366}, volume = {14}, year = {2011}, } @inproceedings{757, abstract = {Synchronous distributed algorithms are easier to design and prove correct than algorithms that tolerate asynchrony. Yet, in the real world, networks experience asynchrony and other timing anomalies. In this paper, we address the question of how to efficiently transform an algorithm that relies on synchronization into an algorithm that tolerates asynchronous executions. We introduce a transformation technique from synchronous algorithms to indulgent algorithms [1], which induces only a constant overhead in terms of time complexity in well-behaved executions. Our technique is based on a new abstraction we call an asynchrony detector, which the participating processes implement collectively. The resulting transformation works for a large class of colorless tasks, including consensus and set agreement. Interestingly, we also show that our technique is relevant for colored tasks, by applying it to the renaming problem, to obtain the first indulgent renaming algorithm.}, author = {Alistarh, Dan-Adrian and Gilbert, Seth and Guerraoui, Rachid and Travers, Corentin}, pages = {41 -- 52}, publisher = {Springer}, title = {{Generating fast indulgent algorithms}}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-17679-1_4}, volume = {6522 LNCS}, year = {2011}, } @inproceedings{759, abstract = {We study the complexity of renaming, a fundamental problem in distributed computing in which a set of processes need to pick distinct names from a given namespace. We prove an individual lower bound of Ω(k) process steps for deterministic renaming into any namespace of size sub-exponential in k, where k is the number of participants. This bound is tight: it draws an exponential separation between deterministic and randomized solutions, and implies new tight bounds for deterministic fetch-and-increment registers, queues and stacks. The proof of the bound is interesting in its own right, for it relies on the first reduction from renaming to another fundamental problem in distributed computing: mutual exclusion. We complement our individual bound with a global lower bound of Ω(k log (k/c)) on the total step complexity of renaming into a namespace of size ck, for any c ≥ 1. This applies to randomized algorithms against a strong adversary, and helps derive new global lower bounds for randomized approximate counter and fetch-and-increment implementations, all tight within logarithmic factors.}, author = {Alistarh, Dan-Adrian and Aspnes, James and Gilbert, Seth and Guerraoui, Rachid}, pages = {718 -- 727}, publisher = {IEEE}, title = {{The complexity of renaming}}, doi = {10.1109/FOCS.2011.66}, year = {2011}, } @inproceedings{760, abstract = {A randomized implementation is given of a test-and-set register with O(log log n) individual step complexity and O(n) total step complexity against an oblivious adversary. The implementation is linearizable and multi-shot, and shows an exponential complexity improvement over previous solutions designed to work against a strong adversary.}, author = {Alistarh, Dan-Adrian and Aspnes, James}, pages = {97 -- 109}, publisher = {Springer}, title = {{Sub-logarithmic test-and-set against a weak adversary}}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-642-24100-0_7}, volume = {6950 LNCS}, year = {2011}, } @inproceedings{761, abstract = {We give two new randomized algorithms for strong renaming, both of which work against an adaptive adversary in asynchronous shared memory. The first uses repeated sampling over a sequence of arrays of decreasing size to assign unique names to each of n processes with step complexity O(log3 n). The second transforms any sorting network into a strong adaptive renaming protocol, with an expected cost equal to the depth of the sorting network. Using an AKS sorting network, this gives a strong adaptive renaming algorithm with step complexity O(log k), where k is the contention in the current execution. We show this to be optimal based on a classic lower bound of Jayanti. We also show that any such strong renaming protocol can be used to build a monotone-consistent counter with logarithmic step complexity (at the cost of adding a max register) or a linearizable fetch-and-increment register (at the cost of increasing the step complexity by a logarithmic factor).}, author = {Alistarh, Dan-Adrian and Aspnes, James and Censor Hillel, Keren and Gilbert, Seth and Zadimoghaddam, Morteza}, pages = {239 -- 248}, publisher = {ACM}, title = {{Optimal-time adaptive strong renaming, with applications to counting}}, doi = {10.1145/1993806.1993850}, year = {2011}, } @inproceedings{9943, abstract = {Segmentation is the process of partitioning digital images into meaningful regions. The analysis of biological high content images often requires segmentation as a first step. We propose ilastik as an easy-to-use tool which allows the user without expertise in image processing to perform segmentation and classification in a unified way. ilastik learns from labels provided by the user through a convenient mouse interface. Based on these labels, ilastik infers a problem specific segmentation. A random forest classifier is used in the learning step, in which each pixel's neighborhood is characterized by a set of generic (nonlinear) features. ilastik supports up to three spatial plus one spectral dimension and makes use of all dimensions in the feature calculation. ilastik provides realtime feedback that enables the user to interactively refine the segmentation result and hence further fine-tune the classifier. An uncertainty measure guides the user to ambiguous regions in the images. Real time performance is achieved by multi-threading which fully exploits the capabilities of modern multi-core machines. Once a classifier has been trained on a set of representative images, it can be exported and used to automatically process a very large number of images (e.g. using the CellProfiler pipeline). ilastik is an open source project and released under the BSD license at www.ilastik.org.}, author = {Sommer, Christoph M and Straehle, Christoph and Köthe, Ullrich and Hamprecht, Fred A.}, booktitle = {2011 IEEE International Symposium on Biomedical Imaging: from Nano to Micro}, isbn = {978-1-4244-4127-3}, issn = {1945-8452}, keywords = {image segmentation, biomedical imaging, three dimensional displays, neurons, retina, observers, image color analysis}, location = {Chicago, Illinois, USA}, publisher = {Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers}, title = {{Ilastik: Interactive learning and segmentation toolkit}}, doi = {10.1109/isbi.2011.5872394}, year = {2011}, } @article{3429, abstract = {Transcription factors are central to sustaining pluripotency, yet little is known about transcription factor dynamics in defining pluripotency in the early mammalian embryo. Here, we establish a fluorescence decay after photoactivation (FDAP) assay to quantitatively study the kinetic behaviour of Oct4, a key transcription factor controlling pre-implantation development in the mouse embryo. FDAP measurements reveal that each cell in a developing embryo shows one of two distinct Oct4 kinetics, before there are any morphologically distinguishable differences or outward signs of lineage patterning. The differences revealed by FDAP are due to differences in the accessibility of Oct4 to its DNA binding sites in the nucleus. Lineage tracing of the cells in the two distinct sub-populations demonstrates that the Oct4 kinetics predict lineages of the early embryo. Cells with slower Oct4 kinetics are more likely to give rise to the pluripotent cell lineage that contributes to the inner cell mass. Those with faster Oct4 kinetics contribute mostly to the extra-embryonic lineage. Our findings identify Oct4 kinetics, rather than differences in total transcription factor expression levels, as a predictive measure of developmental cell lineage patterning in the early mouse embryo.}, author = {Plachta, Nicolas and Bollenbach, Mark Tobias and Pease, Shirley and Fraser, Scott and Pantazis, Periklis}, journal = {Nature Cell Biology}, number = {2}, pages = {117 -- 123}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group}, title = {{Oct4 kinetics predict cell lineage patterning in the early mammalian embryo}}, doi = {10.1038/ncb2154}, volume = {13}, year = {2011}, } @article{3505, abstract = {Cell migration on two-dimensional (2D) substrates follows entirely different rules than cell migration in three-dimensional (3D) environments. This is especially relevant for leukocytes that are able to migrate in the absence of adhesion receptors within the confined geometry of artificial 3D extracellular matrix scaffolds and within the interstitial space in vivo. Here, we describe in detail a simple and economical protocol to visualize dendritic cell migration in 3D collagen scaffolds along chemotactic gradients. This method can be adapted to other cell types and may serve as a physiologically relevant paradigm for the directed locomotion of most amoeboid cells.}, author = {Sixt, Michael K and Lämmermann, Tim}, journal = {Cell Migration}, pages = {149 -- 165}, publisher = {Springer}, title = {{In vitro analysis of chemotactic leukocyte migration in 3D environments}}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-61779-207-6_11}, volume = {769}, year = {2011}, } @inbook{3724, abstract = {Small photochromic molecules are widespread in nature and serve as switches for a plethora of light-controlled processes. In a typical photoreceptor, the different geometries and polarities of the photochrome isomers are tightly coupled to functionally relevant conformational changes in the proteins. The past decade has seen extensive efforts to mimic nature and create proteins controlled by synthetic photochromes in the laboratory. Here, we discuss the role of molecular modeling to gain a structural understanding of photochromes and to design light-controlled peptides and proteins. We address several fundamental questions: What are the molecular structures of photochromes, particularly for metastable isomers that cannot be addressed experimentally? How are the structures of bistable photoisomers coupled to the conformational states of peptides and proteins? Can we design light-controlled proteins rapidly and reliably? After an introduction to the principles of molecular modeling, we answer these questions by examining systems that range from the size of isolated photochromes, to that of peptides and large cell surface receptors, each from its unique computational perspective.}, author = {Harald Janovjak and Isacoff, Ehud Y}, booktitle = {Photosensitive Molecules for the Control of Biological Function}, pages = {233 -- 266}, publisher = {Springer}, title = {{Structure-based design of light-controlled proteins}}, doi = {10.1007/978-1-61779-031-7_13}, volume = {55}, year = {2011}, } @article{3770, abstract = {The pink dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) is widely distributed along the Amazon and Orinoco basins, covering an area of approximately 7 million km2. Previous morphological and genetic studies have proposed the existence of at least two evolutionary significant units: one distributed across the Orinoco and Amazon basins and another confined to the Bolivian Amazon. The presence of barriers in the riverine environment has been suggested to play a significant role in shaping present-day patterns of ecological and genetic structure for this species. In the present study, we examined the phylogeographic structure, lineage divergence time and historical demography using mitochondrial (mt)DNA sequences in different pink dolphin populations distributed in large and small spatial scales, including two neighbouring Brazilian Amazon populations. mtDNA control region (CR) analysis revealed that the Brazilian haplotypes occupy an intermediate position compared to three previously studied geographic locations: the Colombian Amazon, the Colombian Orinoco, and the Bolivian Amazon. On a local scale, we have identified a pattern of maternal isolation between two neighbouring populations from Brazil. Six mtDNA CR haplotypes were identified in Brazil with no sharing between the two populations, as well as specific cytochrome b (cyt b) haplotypes identified in each locality. In addition, we analyzed autosomal microsatellites to investigate male-mediated gene flow and demographic changes within the study area in Brazil. Data analysis of 14 microsatellite loci failed to detect significant population subdivision, suggesting that male-mediated gene flow may maintain homogeneity between these two locations. Moreover, both mtDNA and microsatellite data indicate a major demographic collapse within Brazil in the late Pleistocene. Bayesian skyline plots (BSP) of mtDNA data revealed a stable population for Colombian and Brazilian Amazon lineages through time, whereas a population decline was demonstrated in the Colombian Orinoco lineage. Moreover, BSP and Tajima's D and Fu's Fs tests revealed a recent population expansion exclusively in the Bolivian sample. Finally, we estimated that the diversification of the Inia sp. lineage began in the Late Pliocene (approximately 3.1 Mya) and continued throughout the Pleistocene.}, author = {Hollatz, Claudia and Vilaça, Sibelle and Fernandes Redondo, Rodrigo A and Marmontel, Míriam and Baker, Cyndi and Santos, Fabrício}, journal = {Biological Journal of the Linnean Society}, number = {4}, pages = {812 -- 827}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{The Amazon River system as an ecological barrier driving genetic differentiation of the pink dolphin (Inia geoffrensis)}}, doi = {10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01616.x}, volume = {102}, year = {2011}, } @article{3771, abstract = {The small-sized frugivorous bat Carollia perspicillata is an understory specialist and occurs in a wide range of lowland habitats, tending to be more common in tropical dry or moist forests of South and Central America. Its sister species, Carollia brevicauda, occurs almost exclusively in the Amazon rainforest. A recent phylogeographic study proposed a hypothesis of origin and subsequent diversification for C. perspicillata along the Atlantic coastal forest of Brazil. Additionally, it also found two allopatric clades for C. brevicauda separated by the Amazon Basin. We used cytochrome b gene sequences and a more extensive sampling to test hypotheses related to the origin and diversification of C. perspicillata plus C. brevicauda clade in South America. The results obtained indicate that there are two sympatric evolutionary lineages within each species. In C. perspicillata, one lineage is limited to the Southern Atlantic Forest, whereas the other is widely distributed. Coalescent analysis points to a simultaneous origin for C. perspicillata and C. brevicauda, although no place for the diversification of each species can be firmly suggested. The phylogeographic pattern shown by C. perspicillata is also congruent with the Pleistocene refugia hypothesis as a likely vicariant phenomenon shaping the present distribution of its intraspecific lineages.}, author = {Pavan, Ana and Martins, Felipe and Santos, Fabrício and Ditchfield, Albert and Fernandes Redondo, Rodrigo A}, journal = {Biological Journal of the Linnean Society}, number = {3}, pages = {527 -- 539}, publisher = {Wiley-Blackwell}, title = {{Patterns of diversification in two species of short-tailed bats (Carollia Gray, 1838): the effects of historical fragmentation of Brazilian rainforests.}}, doi = {10.1111/j.1095-8312.2010.01601.x}, volume = {102}, year = {2011}, } @article{3778, author = {Barton, Nicholas H}, journal = {Heredity}, number = {2}, pages = {205 -- 206}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group}, title = {{Estimating linkage disequilibria}}, doi = {10.1038/hdy.2010.67}, volume = {106}, year = {2011}, } @article{3781, abstract = {We bound the difference in length of two curves in terms of their total curvatures and the Fréchet distance. The bound is independent of the dimension of the ambient Euclidean space, it improves upon a bound by Cohen-Steiner and Edelsbrunner, and it generalizes a result by Fáry and Chakerian.}, author = {Fasy, Brittany Terese}, journal = {Acta Sci. Math. (Szeged)}, number = {1-2}, pages = {359 -- 367}, publisher = {Szegedi Tudományegyetem}, title = {{The difference in length of curves in R^n}}, volume = {77}, year = {2011}, }