Kidnapping Terrorists: Extraterritorial Forcible Abductions in the Global War on Terrorism

For those who have an interest in targeting, neutralizing, detaining, and adjudicating terrorists amidst the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), few tools are more poorly understood than the acquisition and subsequent movement of the alleged terrorists. Rendition is that process by which the body of an individual is taken from State A to State B. It may occur in either a “regular” or an “irregular” form. Regular rendition occurs when the individual is moved pursuant to the express terms and procedures of a given extradition treaty. Irregular rendition, on the other hand, is principally comprised of the rare instances in which an individual is moved in lieu of, outside of, or in spite of an extradition treaty. These irregular forms of rendition can generally be classified into four categories: (a) Luring/Trickery, (b) Deportation as de facto Extradition, (c) Forcible Abductions for Prosecution, and (d) 3rd Party Interrogative Renditions. Although many of the irregular rendition models have strong similarities in law, each has its own unique twists. The following thesis aims to draw further upon the legal authorities relative to two of these irregular rendition models and provide a legal and political framework for their use within the analytical context of the GWOT. Comprised of two distinct monographs, this thesis project first addresses state-sponsored forcible abductions as they are utilized within the criminal field for prosecution and then moves to review their use within the intelligence arena for the purposes of interrogation. Where extraterritorial forcible abductions have been lawfully used by members of the law enforcement community since the late nineteenth century, the shift in paradigm toward their use for interrogations carried out by a third party under the Clinton Administration is more questionable both politically and jurisprudentially

Search for gravitational wave bursts in LIGO's third science run

We report on a search for gravitational wave bursts in data from the three LIGO interferometric detectors during their third science run. The search targets subsecond bursts in the frequency range 100-1100 Hz for which no waveform model is assumed, and has a sensitivity in terms of the root-sum-square (rss) strain amplitude of hrss ~ 10^{-20} / sqrt(Hz). No gravitational wave signals were detected in the 8 days of analyzed data.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures. Amaldi-6 conference proceedings to be published in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Searching for a Stochastic Background of Gravitational Waves with LIGO

The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory (LIGO) has performed the fourth science run, S4, with significantly improved interferometer sensitivities with respect to previous runs. Using data acquired during this science run, we place a limit on the amplitude of a stochastic background of gravitational waves. For a frequency independent spectrum, the new limit is $\Omega_{\rm GW} < 6.5 \times 10^{-5}$. This is currently the most sensitive result in the frequency range 51-150 Hz, with a factor of 13 improvement over the previous LIGO result. We discuss complementarity of the new result with other constraints on a stochastic background of gravitational waves, and we investigate implications of the new result for different models of this background.Comment: 37 pages, 16 figure

Effects of HLA single chain trimer design on peptide presentation and stability

MHC class I “single-chain trimer” molecules, coupling MHC heavy chain, β2-microglobulin, and a specific peptide into a single polypeptide chain, are widely used in research. To more fully understand caveats associated with this design that may affect its use for basic and translational studies, we evaluated a set of engineered single-chain trimers with combinations of stabilizing mutations across eight different classical and non-classical human class I alleles with 44 different peptides, including a novel human/murine chimeric design. While, overall, single-chain trimers accurately recapitulate native molecules, care was needed in selecting designs for studying peptides longer or shorter than 9-mers, as single-chain trimer design could affect peptide conformation. In the process, we observed that predictions of peptide binding were often discordant with experiment and that yields and stabilities varied widely with construct design. We also developed novel reagents to improve the crystallizability of these proteins and confirmed novel modes of peptide presentation

An aminostratigraphy for the British Quaternary based on Bithynia opercula

Aminostratigraphies of Quaternary non-marine deposits in Europe have been previously based on the racemization of a single amino acid in aragonitic shells from land and freshwater molluscs. The value of analysing multiple amino acids from the opercula of the freshwater gastropod Bithynia, which are composed of calcite, has been demonstrated. The protocol used for the isolation of intra-crystalline proteins from shells has been applied to these calcitic opercula, which have been shown to more closely approximate a closed system for indigenous protein residues. Original amino acids are even preserved in bithyniid opercula from the Eocene, showing persistence of indigenous organics for over 30 million years. Geochronological data from opercula are superior to those from shells in two respects: first, in showing less natural variability, and second, in the far better preservation of the intra-crystalline proteins, possibly resulting from the greater stability of calcite. These features allow greater temporal resolution and an extension of the dating range beyond the early Middle Pleistocene. Here we provide full details of the analyses for 480 samples from 100 horizons (75 sites), ranging from Late Pliocene to modern. These show that the dating technique is applicable to the entire Quaternary. Data are provided from all the stratotypes from British stages to have yielded opercula, which are shown to be clearly separable using this revised method. Further checks on the data are provided by reference to other type-sites for different stages (including some not formally defined). Additional tests are provided by sites with independent geochronology, or which can be associated with a terrace stratigraphy or biostratigraphy. This new aminostratigraphy for the non-marine Quaternary deposits of southern Britain provides a framework for understanding the regional geological and archaeological record. Comparison with reference to sites yielding independent geochronology, in combination with other lines of evidence, allows tentative correlation with the marine oxygen isotope record

The case for strategic international alliances to harness nutritional genomics for public and personal health

Nutrigenomics is the study of how constituents of the diet interact with genes, and their products, to alter phenotype and, conversely, how genes and their products metabolise these constituents into nutrients, antinutrients, and bioactive compounds. Results from molecular and genetic epidemiological studies indicate that dietary unbalance can alter gene-nutrient interactions in ways that increase the risk of developing chronic disease. The interplay of human genetic variation and environmental factors will make identifying causative genes and nutrients a formidable, but not intractable, challenge. We provide specific recommendations for how to best meet this challenge and discuss the need for new methodologies and the use of comprehensive analyses of nutrient-genotype interactions involving large and diverse populations. The objective of the present paper is to stimulate discourse and collaboration among nutrigenomic researchers and stakeholders, a process that will lead to an increase in global health and wellness by reducing health disparities in developed and developing countrie

Mineral status of California beef cattle

Optimal mineral nutrition is required for cattle reproduction, immune function, and structural development. Formal evaluation of the current mineral status of California beef cattle is currently lacking. In 2017, a survey was initiated that evaluated a panel of 10 different minerals in 14 counties across California. Samples were collected from 555 cattle at 50 different ranches. Region of the state significantly affected herd mineral status. Herd use of supplements was also significant, and increased most blood levels of the mineral(s) targeted for supplementation. Forage source was idiosyncratic on its effect of mineral status. Previous blood survey data showed selenium to be widely deficient in California cattle in the 1970s and 1980s, but in this case, it was generally adequate in all areas of California. This indicates a good producer understanding of where supplementation is needed. Copper deficiency was more widespread in the southern region when compared with further north. Zinc deficiency was seen ubiquitously statewide, with 36% of animals being deficient. Manganese has been largely ignored in California. This study is the first known documentation of manganese levels in the state. Sampling found 92% of cattle fell below critical manganese levels. However, further research to better define manganese critical levels is probably warranted. The status of other minerals is presented

Horizons in nutritional science : The case for strategic international alliances to harness nutritional genomics for public and personal health.

Nutrigenomics is the study of how constituents of the diet interact with genes, and their products, to alter phenotype and, conversely, how genes and their products metabolise these constituents into nutrients, antinutrients, and bioactive compounds. Results from molecular and genetic epidemiological studies indicate that dietary unbalance can alter gene–nutrient interactions in ways that increase the risk of developing chronic disease. The interplay of human genetic variation and environmental factors will make identifying causative genes and nutrients a formidable, but not intractable, challenge. We provide specific recommendations for how to best meet this challenge and discuss the need for new methodologies and the use of comprehensive analyses of nutrient–genotype interactions involving large and diverse populations. The objective of the present paper is to stimulate discourse and collaboration among nutrigenomic researchers and stakeholders, a process that will lead to an increase in global health and wellness by reducing health disparities in developed and developing countries

Effects of HLA single chain trimer design on peptide presentation and stability.

MHC class