Familiarity Discrimination of Radar Pulses

The ARTMAP-FD neural network performs both identification (placing test patterns in classes encountered during training) and familiarity discrimination (judging whether a test pattern belongs to any of the classes encountered during training). The performance of ARTMAP-FD is tested on radar pulse data obtained in the field, and compared to that of the nearest-neighbor-based NEN algorithm and to a k > 1 extension of NEN

Buffered Reset Leads to Improved Compression in Fuzzy ARTMAP Classification of Radar Range Profiles

Fuzzy ARTMAP has to date been applied to a variety of automatic target recognition tasks, including radar range profile classification. In simulations of this task, it has demonstrated significant compression compared to k-nearest-neighbor classifiers. During supervised learning, match tracking search allocates memory based on the degree of similarity between newly encountered and previously encountered inputs, regardless of their prior predictive success. Here we invesetigate techniques that buffer reset based on a category's previous predictive success and thereby substantially improve the compression achieved with minimal loss of accuracy.Office of Naval Research (N00014-95-1-0657, N00014-95-1-0409, N00014-96-1-0659

Threshold Determination for ARTMAP-FD Familiarity Discrimination

The ARTMAP-FD neural network performs both identification (placing test patterns in classes encountered during training) and familiarity discrimination (judging whether a test pattern belongs to any of the classes encountered during training). ARTMAP-FD quantifies the familiarity of a test pattern by computing a measure of the degree to which the pattern's components lie within the ranges of values of training patterns grouped in the same cluster. This familiarity measure is compared to a threshold which can be varied to generate a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Methods for selecting optimal values for the threshold are evaluated. The performance of validation-set methods is compared with that of methods which track the development of the network's discrimination capability during training. The techniques are applied to databases of simulated radar range profiles.Advanced Research Projects Agency; Office of Naval Research (N00011-95-1-0657, N00011-95-0109, NOOOB-96-0659); National Science Foundation (IRI-94-01659

Mitochondrial fusion and Bid-mediated mitochondrial apoptosis are perturbed by alcohol with distinct dependence on its metabolism

Environmental stressors like ethanol (EtOH) commonly target mitochondria to influence the cell’s fate. Recent literature supports that chronic EtOH exposure suppresses mitochondrial dynamics, central to quality control, and sensitizes mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening to promote cell death. EtOH-induced tissue injury is primarily attributed to its toxic metabolic products but alcoholism also impairs tissues that poorly metabolize EtOH. We embarked on studies to determine the respective roles of EtOH and its metabolites in mitochondrial fusion and tBid-induced mitochondrial apoptosis. We used HepG2 cells that do not metabolize EtOH and its engineered clone that expresses EtOH-metabolizing Cytochrome P450 E2 and alcohol dehydrogenase (VL-17A cells). We found that fusion impairment by prolonged EtOH exposure was prominent in VL-17A cells, probably owing to reactive oxygen species increase in the mitochondrial matrix. There was no change in fusion protein abundance, mitochondrial membrane potential or Ca2+ uptake. By contrast, prolonged EtOH exposure promoted tBid-induced outer mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and cell death only in HepG2 cells, owing to enhanced Bak oligomerization. Thus, mitochondrial fusion inhibition by EtOH is dependent on its metabolites, whereas sensitization to tBid-induced death is mediated by EtOH itself. This difference is of pathophysiological relevance because of the tissue-specific differences in EtOH metabolism. © 2018, The Author(s)

Effects of the Transportation and Climate Initiative Program in Maine: A Study of Rural and Urban Households

As climate awareness continues to grow, many states are taking matters into their own hands. In 2005, a collection of states established the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to curb emissions in the power sector. Using RGGI as a springboard, the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) was formed five years later to mitigate emissions in the transporta­tion sector. In Maine, the transportation sector is responsible for 53% of the state’s carbon dioxide emissions, making it an important target for emission reductions. This policy brief is a summary of our research examining the differential effects of the TCI-P on rural and urban households in Maine

An Initial Analysis of a Long-Term Ketogenic Diet’s Impact on Motor Behavior, Brain Purine Systems, and Nigral Dopamine Neurons in a New Genetic Rodent Model of Parkinson’s Disease

A growing body of research suggests that dopaminergic cell death seen in Parkinson’s disease is caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. Oxidative stress, with subsequent generation of reactive oxygen species, is the hallmark biochemical product of mitochondrial dysfunction. The ketogenic diet has been found to enhance mitochondrial energy production, protect against reactive oxygen species-generated cell death, and increase adenosine, a purine that modulates dopamine activity. The current study evaluates the effects of a long-term (5-month) ketogenic diet on behavioral, neurochemical, and neuroanatomical measures in PINK1-KO rats, a new animal model of Parkinson’s disease. Both wild-type and PINK1-KO animals fed a ketogenic diet exhibited significantly higher blood beta-hydroxybutyrate levels. PINK1-KO animals fed a normal diet experienced a decrease in stride length and an increase in stride frequency over time which was absent in PINK1-KO animals fed a ketogenic diet. Animals fed the ketogenic diet had decreased tissue content of both adenosine and inosine in the nucleus accumbens, posterior caudate, hippocampus, and substantia nigra. Finally, immunohistochemical staining for tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells in the substantia nigra suggest a ketogenic diet-induced protection of dopaminergic cell death. The results of the present study indicate that a long-term ketogenic diet may positively impact both motor and neuroanatomical correlates and alter neurochemical systems in a genetic rodent model of Parkinson’s disease

An Initial Analysis of a Long-Term Ketogenic Diet’s Impact on Motor Behavior, Brain Purine Systems, and Nigral Dopamine Neurons in a New Genetic Rodent Model of Parkinson’s Disease

A growing body of research suggests that dopaminergic cell death seen in Parkinson’s disease is caused by mitochondrial dysfunction. Oxidative stress, with subsequent generation of reactive oxygen species, is the hallmark biochemical product of mitochondrial dysfunction. The ketogenic diet has been found to enhance mitochondrial energy production, protect against reactive oxygen species-generated cell death, and increase adenosine, a purine that modulates dopamine activity. The current study evaluates the effects of a long-term (5-month) ketogenic diet on behavioral, neurochemical, and neuroanatomical measures in PINK1-KO rats, a new animal model of Parkinson’s disease. Both wild-type and PINK1-KO animals fed a ketogenic diet exhibited significantly higher blood beta-hydroxybutyrate levels. PINK1-KO animals fed a normal diet experienced a decrease in stride length and an increase in stride frequency over time which was absent in PINK1-KO animals fed a ketogenic diet. Animals fed the ketogenic diet had decreased tissue content of both adenosine and inosine in the nucleus accumbens, posterior caudate, hippocampus, and substantia nigra. Finally, immunohistochemical staining for tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells in the substantia nigra suggest a ketogenic diet-induced protection of dopaminergic cell death. The results of the present study indicate that a long-term ketogenic diet may positively impact both motor and neuroanatomical correlates and alter neurochemical systems in a genetic rodent model of Parkinson’s disease

Sexual Assault Trends and Sex Offender Recidivism in Maine (2010)

Concern about sex offenders and their behavior is understandably a topic of great public interest. Numerous public policy proposals target the management of sex offenders in prisons and in communities post‐release. Recent examples of such proposals include, but are not limited to, enhanced sanctions for convicted and repeat sex offenders, civil commitment for predatory sex offenders, the development of sex offender registries, and the use of advanced technology to monitor sex offenders and residency restrictions.1 Unfortunately, the quality and extent of the body of knowledge concerning sex offender behavior has not kept pace with either the sophistication or potential cost of some of these proposed policies. The purpose of this report is to shed light on trends in sex offending and the recidivism of sex offenders in Maine, by replicating the methods of Bureau of Justice Statistics special report, Recidivism of Sex Offenders Released from Prison in 1994. That study followed prisoners released from prison in 15 states during 1994 over a three year period, examining their patterns of incarceration. This report seeks to replicate, to the degree possible, the analysis and resulting data tables for sex offenders released from Maine’s state prisons over a five year period, from 2004‐2008. This report also examines sex offenders admitted to probation from 2004‐2007. The rationale for this inclusion is that offenders under community correctional supervision are a population of special interest, and that determining the progress of a group which had been subjected to supervision in the community might also have important policy implications. Each group was followed for a period of three years to identify re incarcerations

Analisis Perbandingan Waktu Perjalanan dan Biaya antara Kendaraan Pribadi dan Transjakarta menggunakan Metode PCI (Studi Kasus : TJ Koridor IX Pinang Ranti-Pluit)

Selection of the use of transportation modes to travel from origin to destination is influenced by various factors. Factors that must be considered include travel time, vehicle operating costs (VOK), and the value of travel time. The purpose of this study is to determine which model will be chosen by the user to travel and discusses the comparative analysis of travel time and cost of public transportation modes, namely Transjakarta and private cars. This research was conducted in DKI Jakarta, precisely in the Transjakarta corridor IX Pinang Ranti-Pluit. Measurement of travel time is done by riding each mode with the same route and time. Secondary data as calculation material was obtained from agencies related to this research. This study analyzes Vehicle Operational Costs (VOK) using the Pacific Consultants International (PCI) method. The results showed that during peak hours, the use of Transjakarta was more effective in terms of time because the travel time required was 11 minutes faster than in private vehicles. Then for the costs incurred, it is also more efficient to use Transjakarta at the cost of Rp. 3,500 per trip. Meanwhile, using a private vehicle of Rp. 14,784 per person with a passenger car capacity of 7 people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a provision for a passenger car capacity limit of 4 people. So the cost of using a private vehicle per person can reach Rp. 25,871.ABSTRAKPemilihan penggunaan moda transportasi untuk melakukan perjalanan dari asal ke tujuan dipengaruhi oleh berbagai macam faktor. Faktor yang diperhatikan antara lain waktu tempuh, Biaya Operasional Kendaraan (BOK) dan nilai waktu perjalanan. Untuk memperkirakan mode apa yang akan dipilih oleh masyarakat untuk bepergian, penelitian ini membahas tentang analisis perbandingan waktu tempuh dan biaya moda transportasi umum yaitu transjakarta dan mobil pribadi.  Penelitian ini berlokasi di provinsi DKI Jakarta tepatnya pada koridor IX transjakarta Pinang Ranti-Pluit. Pengukuran waktu perjalanan dilakukan dengan cara menaiki masing-masing moda dengan rute dan waktu yang sama. Data sekunder sebagai bahan perhitungan, diperoleh dari instansi yang terkait dengan penelitian ini. Analisis Biaya Operasional Kendaraan (BOK) dalam penelitian ini menggunakan Metode Pacific Consultants International (PCI) Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pada jam sibuk penggunaan Transjakarta lebih efektif secara waktu karena waktu tempuh yang diperlukan lebih cepat 11 menit dibandingkan dengan kendaraan pribadi. Kemudian untuk biaya yang dikeluarkan juga lebih efisien menggunakan Transjakarta dengan biaya sebesar Rp 3.500 sekali perjalanan. Sedangkan jika dibandingkan dengan menggunakan kendaraan pribadi sebesar Rp 14.784 perorang dengan kapasitas mobil penumpang sebanyak 7 orang. Pada masa pandemic covid-19, terdapat ketentuan batas kapasitas mobil penumpang sebanyak 4 orang. Sehingga biaya menggunakan kendaraan pribadi perorangnya dapat mencapai Rp. 25.871