Modulation of dendritic spine development and plasticity by BDNF and vesicular trafficking: fundamental roles in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with mental retardation and autism

The process of axonal and dendritic development establishes the synaptic circuitry of the central nervous system (CNS) and is the result of interactions between intrinsic molecular factors and the external environment. One growth factor that has a compelling function in neuronal development is the neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF participates in axonal and dendritic differentiation during embryonic stages of neuronal development, as well as in the formation and maturation of dendritic spines during postnatal development. Recent studies have also implicated vesicular trafficking of BDNF via secretory vesicles, and both secretory and endosomal trafficking of vesicles containing synaptic proteins, such as neurotransmitter and neurotrophin receptors, in the regulation of axonal and dendritic differentiation, and in dendritic spine morphogenesis. Several genes that are either mutated or deregulated in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with mental retardation have now been identified, and several mouse models of these disorders have been generated and characterized. Interestingly, abnormalities in dendritic and synaptic structure are consistently observed in human neurodevelopmental disorders associated with mental retardation, and in mouse models of these disorders as well. Abnormalities in dendritic and synaptic differentiation are thought to underlie altered synaptic function and network connectivity, thus contributing to the clinical outcome. Here, we review the roles of BDNF and vesicular trafficking in axonal and dendritic differentiation in the context of dendritic and axonal morphological impairments commonly observed in neurodevelopmental disorders associated with mental retardation

Improved Approximation Algorithms for Maximum Lifetime Problems in Wireless Networks

A wireless ad-hoc network is a collection of transceivers positioned in the plane. Each transceiver is equipped with a limited battery charge. The battery charge is then reduced after each transmission, depending on the transmission distance. One of the major problems in wireless network design is to route network traffic efficiently so as to maximize the network lifetime, i.e., the number of successful transmissions. In this paper we consider Rooted Maximum Lifetime Broadcast/Convergecast problems in wireless settings. The instance consists of a directed graph G = (V, E) with edge-weights {w(e) : e ∈ E}, node capacities {b(v) : v ∈ V}, and a root r. The goal is to find a maximum size collection {T1,..., Tk} of Broadcast/Convergecast trees rooted at r so that ∑k i=1 w(δTi(v)) ≤ b(v), where δT (v) is the set of edges leaving v in T. In the Single Topology version all the Broadcast/Convergecast trees Ti are identical. We present a number of polynomial time algorithms giving constant ratio approximation for various broadcast and convergecast problems, improving previously known result of Ω(⌊1 / log n⌋)-approximation by [6]. We also consider a generalized Rooted Maximum Lifetime Mixedcast problem, where we are also given an integer γ ≥ 0, and the goal is to find the maximum integer k so that k Broadcast and γk Convergecast rounds can be performed.

The Judicial Discretion of Justice Aharon Barak

This paper was presented at the 2011 Legal Scholarship Symposium

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The Israelite site of Kuntillet Ajrud in northern Sinai contains unique drawings and inscriptions in ancient Hebrew and Phoenician. It is a single-phase site dated archaeologically to ca. 800 BCE. We considered this site a good test case for comparing archaeological with 14C datings. The dates are in agreement, confirming that 14C dating is useful in dating Iron-Age II sites.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Radiocarbon archives are made available by Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform February 202

14C Dating of an Israelite Biblical Site at Kuntillet Ajrud (Horvat Teman)

The Israelite site of Kuntillet Ajrud in northern Sinai contains unique drawings and inscriptions in ancient Hebrew and Phoenician. It is a single-phase site dated archaeologically to ca. 800 BCE. We considered this site a good test case for comparing archaeological with 14C datings. The dates are in agreement, confirming that 14C dating is useful in dating Iron-Age II sites.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Radiocarbon archives are made available by Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform February 202