Maureen McCarthy
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Department of Primatology
Deutscher Platz 6
D - 04103 Leipzig, Germany
phone: +49 341 3550 235
e-mail: maureen_mceva.mpgde
Current Research
I am working on a postdoc in the Pan African Programme, a large-scale research project examining the drivers of behavioral diversity in chimpanzee populations. My research focuses on examining variation in social and demographic factors across chimpanzee populations, exploring how ecological factors drive this variation, and in turn, studying how demographic variation affects behavioral diversity in chimpanzees. My primary method for examining these issues involves analyzing camera trap videos from over 40 field sites.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
| 2016 | University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Ph.D., Integrative and Evolutionary Biology Dissertation Title: A Genetic Investigation of Chimpanzee Distribution and Dispersal in the Fragmented Budongo-Bugoma Corridor Landscape, Uganda |
| 2007 | Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA M.S., Experimental Psychology, Specialization: Primate Behavior Thesis Title: Use of Gesture Sequences in Captive Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) Play |
| 2002 | Boston University, Boston, MA B.A., Psychology, Summa Cum Laude with |
Relevant Professional Experience
| 2013–2015 | Guest Researcher |
| 2010, 2011, 2012–2013 | Research Team Leader University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA Led a PhD research team during data collection in Uganda. Trained field assistants and coordinated data collection. |
| 2005, 2006, 2008 | Apprentice Research Team Leader Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute, Ellensburg, WA Developed and led research from inception through completion. Created syllabi for team learning objectives. Trained apprentices on research, chimpanzee husbandry, and safety. Supervised research teams on data collection and analysis. Led weekly research meetings. |
| 2007 | Field Research Assistant |
| 2006–2007 | Animal Technician Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute, Ellensburg, WA Operated hydraulic door system to invite chimpanzees between enclosures. Supervised students on husbandry and care. Supervised daily building maintenance and safety. Made daily decisions concerning the chimpanzees’ diet and enrichment. |
| 2006–2007 | Educational Liaison Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute, Ellensburg, WA Supervised docent volunteers. Educated visitors on chimpanzees. |
| 2006 | Graduate Student Researcher Central Washington University, Biodiversity and Conservation Field School, Huangshan, China Led a study on behavioral sequences between Tibetan macaques and humans at an ecotourist site. Assisted in surveys of amphibian species. |
| 2004–2006 | Graduate Assistant Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA Led research projects. Assisted with instruction on chimpanzee care internship. Trained Earthwatch Institute volunteers on chimpanzee husbandry. |
Teaching Experience
| Adjunct Lecturer | |
| 2009 | Introductory Psychology, Yakima Valley Community College |
| 2008–2009 | Introductory Psychology, Statistics, Laboratory Research in Primatology, and Current Issues in Primatology, Central Washington University |
| Teaching Assistant | |
| 2009–2012 | Origins of Humanity, University of Southern California |
| 2004, 2005 | Intro to Primate Laboratory Procedures, Central Washington |
| 2002 | Psychology of Perception, Boston University |
| Lecturer | |
| 2002, 2004–2009 | Chimposium/Advanced Chimposium education programs, Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute, Ellensburg, WA |
| Guest Course Lecturer | |
| 2016 | Great Ape Conservation lecture, The Leipzig School of Human Origins, Leipzig, Germany |
| 2015 | PanAfrican Programme and Great Ape Conservation lectures, The Leipzig School of Human Origins, Leipzig, Germany |
| 2014 | Great Ape Conservation lecture, The Leipzig School of Human Origins, Leipzig, Germany |
| 2014 | Bridge Seminar, Behavioral Ecology in Primates, University of Leipzig |
| 2014 | Primatology Department Seminar, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany |
| 2012 | The Brain: An Introduction to Neuroscience course, University of Southern California |
| 2008 | Pongid Behavior course, Central Washington University |
| 2004 | Introductory Psychology course, Central Washington University |
| 2003 | Primate Behavioral Adaptations course, Boston University |
| Invited Speaker | |
| 2015 | Human Evolution Lunch Lectures Series, Aarhus University, Denmark |
| 2014 | The Chimpanzee-Human Interface, Symposium at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany |
| 2011 | Primate Awareness Week, Central Washington University |
| 2010 | The Real Life of a Chimpanzee. TEDxTrousdale, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA |
Grants and Fellowships
| 2015 | Ralph and Jean Hovel Fellowship, University of Southern California |
| 2013–2014 | Research Enhancement Fellowship, University of Southern California |
| 2013–2014 | DAAD Research Grant |
| 2013 | James F. Nacey Fellowship, Nacey Maggioncalda Foundation |
| 2012 | American Society of Primatologists Conservation Small Grant |
| 2012 | Primate Conservation, Inc. Grant |
| 2009–2014 | Dornsife Doctoral Fellowship, University of Southern California |
| 2006 | Graduate Student Summer Research Grant, Central Washington University |
| 2006, 2007 | Student Travel Grants, Central Washington University Office of Graduate Studies and Research |
| 2004–2006 | Graduate Assistantship, Central Washington University |
Volunteer Experience
| 2014– Present | Project Advisor |
| 2014 | Symposium Co-Organizer and Moderator The Chimpanzee-Human Interface, Symposium at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany |
| 2010 | Volunteer Educator Jane Goodall Institute, Roots and Shoots Passport to Peace, World Peace Day, Santa Monica, CA |
| 2003–2004 | Project Volunteer |
| 2002 | Summer Apprentice Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute, Ellensburg, WA |
Publications
Articles
Lester, J. D., Vigilant, L., Gratton, P., McCarthy, M. S., Barratt, C. D., Dieguez, P., Agbor, A., Álvarez-Varona, P., Angedakin, S., Ayimisin, A. E., Bailey, E., Bessone, M., Brazzola, G., Chancellor, R., Cohen, H., Danquah, E., Deschner, T., Egbe, V. E., Eno-Nku, M., Goedmakers, A., Granjon, A.-C., Head, J., Hedwig, D., Hernandez-Aguilar, R. A., Jeffery, K. J., Jones, S., Junker, J., Kadam, P., Kaiser, M., Kalan, A. K., Kehoe, L., Kienast, I., Langergraber, K. E., Lapuente, J., Laudisoit, A., Lee, K., Marrocoli, S., Mihindou, V., Morgan, D., Muhanguzi, G., Neil, E., Nicholl, S., Orbell, C., Ormsby, L. J., Pacheco, L., Piel, A., Robbins, M. M., Rundus, A., Sanz, C., Sciaky, L., Siaka, A. M., Städele, V., Stewart, F., Tagg, N., Ton, E., van Schijndel, J., Vyalengerera, M. K., Wessling, E. G., Willie, J., Wittig, R. M., Yuh, Y. G., Yurkiw, K., Zuberbuehler, K., Boesch, C., Kühl, H. S., & Arandjelovic, M. (2021). Recent genetic connectivity and clinal variation in chimpanzees. Communications Biology, 4: 283. |
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McCarthy, M. S., Stephens, C. R., Dieguez, P., Samuni, L., Després-Einspenner, M.-L., Harder, B., Landsmann, A., Lynn, L. K., Maldonado, N., Ročkaiová, Z., Widness, J., Wittig, R. M., Boesch, C., Kühl, H. S., & Arandjelovic, M. (2021). Chimpanzee identification and social network construction through an online citizen science platform. Ecology and Evolution. |
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McCarthy, M., Lester, J. D., Cibot, M., Vigilant, L., & McLennan, M. (2020). Atypically high reproductive skew in a small wild chimpanzee community in a human-dominated landscape. Folia Primatologica, 91(6), 688-696. |
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McCarthy, M., Despres-Einspenner, M.-L., Farine, D. R., Samuni, L., Angedakin, S., Arandjelovic, M., Boesch, C., Dieguez, P., Havercamp, K., Knight, A., Langergraber, K. E., Wittig, R. M., & Kühl, H. S. (2019). Camera traps provide a robust alternative to direct observations for constructing social networks of wild chimpanzees. Animal Behaviour, 157, 227-238. |
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Cibot, M., McCarthy, M. S., Lester, J. D., Vigilant, L., Sabiiti, T., & McLennan, M. R. (2019). Infant carrying by a wild chimpanzee father at Bulindi, Uganda. Primates, 60(4), 333-338. |
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Kalan, A. K., Hohmann, G., Arandjelovic, M., Boesch, C., McCarthy, M., Agbor, A., Angedakin, S., Bailey, E., Wilungula Balongelwa, C., Bessone, M., Bocksberger, G., Coxe, S. J., Deschner, T., Despres-Einspenner, M.-L., Dieguez, P., Fruth, B., Herbinger, I., Granjon, A.-C., Head, J. S., Kablan, Y. A., Langergraber, K. E., Lotana Lokasola, A., Maretti, G., Marrocoli, S., Mbende, M., Moustgaard, J., N’Goran, P. K., Robbins, M. M., van Schijndel, J., Sommer, V., Surbeck, M., Tagg, N., Willie, J., Wittig, R. M., & Kühl, H. S. (2019). Novelty response of wild African apes to camera traps. Current Biology, 29(7), 1211-1217. |
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Kühl, H. S., Boesch, C., Kulik, L., Haas, F., Arandjelovic, M., Dieguez, P., Bocksberger, G., Agbor, A., Angedakin, S., Ayimisin, A. E., Bessone, M., Brazzola, G., Chancellor, R., Cohen, H., Coupland, C., Danquah, E., Deschner, T., Dowd, D., Goedmakers, A., Granjon, A.-C., Head, J. S., Hedwig, D., Hermans, V., Jones, S., Junker, J., Langergraber, K. E., Lapuente, J., Lee, K., Llana, M., Marrocoli, S., Martin, R., McCarthy, M., Meier, A., Morgan, D., Murai, M., Neil, E., Normand, E., Ormsby, L. J., Pacheco, L., Piel, A., Regnaut, S., Rundus, A., Sanz, C., Stewart, F., Tagg, N., Vergnes, V., Welsh, A., Wessling, E. G., Willie, J., Wittig, R. M., Yuh, Y. G., Yuh, Y. G., Yurkiw, K., & Kalan, A. K. (2019). Inclusive chimpanzee conservation—Response. Science, 364(6445), 1040-1041. |
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McCarthy, M., Despres-Einspenner, M.-L., Samuni, L., Mundry, R., Lemoine, S., Preis, A., Wittig, R. M., Boesch, C., & Kühl, H. S. (2018). An assessment of the efficacy of camera traps for studying demographic composition and variation in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). American Journal of Primatology, 80(9): e22904. |
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McCarthy, M. S., Lester, J. D., Langergraber, K. E., Stanford, C. B., & Vigilant, L. (2018). Genetic analysis suggests dispersal among chimpanzees in a fragmented forest landscape in Uganda. American Journal of Primatology, 80(9): e22902. |
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Tagg, N., McCarthy, M., Dieguez, P., Bocksberger, G., Willie, J., Mundry, R., Stewart, F., Arandjelovic, M., Widness, J., Landsmann, A., Agbor, A., Angedakin, S., Ayimisin, A. E., Bessone, M., Brazzola, G., Corogenes, K., Heegde, M. t., Deschner, T., Dilambaka, E., Eno-Nku, M., Eshuis, H., Goedmakers, A., Granjon, A.-C., Head, J. S., Hermans, V., Jones, S., Kadam, P., Kambi, M., Langergraber, K., Lapeyre, V., Lapuente, J., Lee, K., Leinert, V., Maretti, G., Marrocoli, S., Meier, A., Nicholl, S., Normand, E., Ormsby, L. J., Piel, A., Robinson, O., Sommer, V., Tickle, A., Ton, E., van Schijndel, J., Vanleeuwe, H., Vergnes, V., Wessling, E. G., Wittig, R. M., Zuberbuehler, K., Kühl, H. S., & Boesch, C. (2018). Nocturnal activity in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Evidence for flexible sleeping patterns and insights into human evolution. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 166(3), 510-529. |
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McCarthy, M. S., Lester, J. D., & Stanford, C. B. (2017). Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) flexibly use introduced species for nesting and bark feeding in a human-dominated habitat. International Journal of Primatology, 38(2), 321-337. |
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McCarthy, M. S., Lester, J. D., Howe, E. J., Arandjelovic, M., Stanford, C. B., & Vigilant, L. (2015). Genetic censusing identifies an unexpectedly sizeable population of an endangered large mammal in a fragmented forest landscape. BMC Ecology, 21: 15. |
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McCarthy, M. S., Jensvold, M. L. A., & Fouts, D. H. (2013). Use of gesture sequences in captive chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) play. Animal Cognition, 16(3), 471-481. |
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McCarthy, M. S., Matheson, M. D., Lester, J. D., Sheeran, L. K., Li, J.-H., & Wagner, R. S. (2009). Sequences of Tibetan Macaque (Macaca thibetana) and tourist behaviors at Mt. Huangshan, China. Primate Conservation, 24, 145-151. |
Open AccessConference Papers
Sanakoyeu, A., Khalidov, V., McCarthy, M. S., Vedaldi, A., & Neverova, N. (in press). Transferring Dense Pose to proximal animal classes. In CVPR 2020. |
Posters
McCarthy, M. S., & Standord, C. B. (2012). Nest choice by chimpanzees in a fragmented habitat, Uganda: Preliminary findings. Poster presented at 35th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists, Sacramento, CA. |
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McCarthy, M. S., Finch, C. E., & Standord, C. B. (2011). Social dominance predicts long life expectancy in male chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Poster presented at 34th Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists, Austin, TX. |
Meeting Abstracts
Lester, J. D., Vigilant, L., Gratton, P., McCarthy, M., Barratt, C. D., Boesch, C., Kühl, H. S., Dieguez, P., Aebischer, T., Agbor, A., Varona, P. Á., Angedakin, S., Assumang, A. K., Aubertf, F., Ayimisin, A. E., Bailey, E., Barubiyo, D., Bessone, M., Bonnet, M., Brazzola, G., Chancellor, R., Cipoletta, C., Cohen, H., Corogenes, K., Coupland, C., Curran, B., Danquah, E., Deschner, T., Dierks, K., Dilambaka, E., Dowd, D., Dunn, A., Dupain, J., Egbe, V. E., Goedmakers, A., Granjon, A.-C., Hedwig, D., Hermans, V., Imong, I., Jeffery, K. J., Jones, S., Junker, J., Kadam, P., Kaiser, M., Kalan, A. K., Kambere, M., Kambere, M., Kienast, I., Kujirakwinja, D., Langergraber, K. E., Lapeyre, V., Lapuente, J., Larson, B., Lee, K., Leinert, V., Llana, M., Manasseh, E.-N., Maretti, G., Marrocoli, S., Martín, R., Meier, A., Morgan, D., Mulindahabi, F., Murai, M., Neil, E., Nicholl, S., Nixon, S., Niyigaba, P., Normand, E., Orbell, C., Ormsby, L. J., Pacheco, L., Piel, A., Preece, J., Regnaut, S., Robbins, A. M., Sanz, C., Sciaky, L., Sommer, V., Stewart, F., Tagg, N., Telfer, P., Ton, E., van Schijndel, J., Vanleeuwe, H., Vergnes, V., Vyalengerera, M. K., Wessling, E. G., Willie, J., Wittig, R. M., Yuh, Y. G., Yurkiw, K., Zuberbühler, K., & Arandjelovic, M. (2020). Chimpanzee biogeography inferred from genetic diversity and effective migration. Folia Primatologica, 91(3), 264-265. |
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McCarthy, M., Despres-Einspenner, M.-L., Farine, D. R. F., Samuni, L., Angedakin, S., Arandjelovic, M., Boesch, C., Dieguez, P., Havercamp, K., Knight, A., Langegraber, K. E., & Kühl, H. S. (2020). Camera traps offer a robust means for social network analysis in wild chimpanzees. Folia Primatologica, 91(3), 347. |
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Pereira, J., Stephens, C. R., McCarthy, M., Dieguez, P., Kalan, A. K., Maldonado, N., Boesch, C., Kühl, H. S., & Arandjelovic, M. (2018). Chimp&See: An online citizen science platform for large-scale, remote video camera trap annotation of chimpanzee behaviour, demography and individual identification. Folia Primatologica, 89, 208. |
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McCarthy, M. S., Lester, J. D., & Stanford, C. (2015). Survival in the Fragments: Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) exploit new, non-native cultivars for nesting and feeding in a human-dominated landscape, Western Uganda. Folia primatologica, 86(4), 319-320. |
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McCarthy, M. S., Lester, J. D., Langergraber, K. E., Stanford, C. B., & Vigilant, L. (2015). Genetic censusing suggests an unexpectedly large population of chimpanzees in a fragmented forest corridor of western Uganda. In Society for Conservation Biology ( |
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McCarthy, M. S., Finch, C. E., & Stanford, C. B. (2013). Alpha male status predicts long life expectancy in wild chimpanzees. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 150(S56), 193-193. |
Working Papers
Carvalho, J. S., Graham, B., Bocksberger, G., Maisels, F., Williamson, E. A., Wich, S., Sop, T., Amarasekaran, B., Bergl, R. A., Boesch, C., Boesch, H., Brncic, T. M., Buys, B., Chancellor, R., Danquah, E., Doumbé, O. A., Galat-Luong, A., Ganas, J., Gatti, S., Ghiurghi, A., Goedmakers, A., Granier, N., Hakizimana, D., Haurez, B., Head, J. S., Herbinger, I., Hillers, A., Jones, S., Manasseh, E.-N., McCarthy, M., Morgan, B. J., Nixon, S., Nkembi, L., Normand, E., Olson, S. H., Payne, L., Petre, C.-A., Piel, A. K., Pintea, L., Plumptre, A. J., Rundus, A., Serckx, A., Stewart, F. A., Sunderland-Groves, J., Tagg, N., Todd, A., Vosper, A., Wenceslau, J. F. C., Wessling, E. G., Willie, J., & Kühl, H. S. (2020). Predicting range shifts of African apes under global change scenarios. bioRxiv. |
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Barratt, C. D., Lester, J. D., Gratton, P., Onstein, R. E., Kalan, A. K., McCarthy, M., Bocksberger, G., White, L. C., Vigilant, L., Dieguez, P., Abdulai, B., Aebischer, T., Agbor, A., Assumang, A. K., Bailey, E., Bessone, M., Buys, B., Carvalho, J. S., Chancellor, R., Cohen, H., Danquah, E., Deschner, T., Dongmo, Z. N., Doumbé, O. A., Dupain, J., Duvall, C. S., Eno-Nku, M., Etoga, G., Galat-Luong, A., Garriga, R., Gatti, S., Ghiurghi, A., Goedmakers, A., Granjon, A.-C., Hakizimana, D., Haydar, N., Head, J. S., Hedwig, D., Herbinger, I., Hermans, V., Jones, S., Junker, J., Kadam, P., Kambi, M., Kienast, I., Kouakou, C. Y., N’Goran, K. P., Langergraber, K. E., Lapuente, J., Laudisoit, A., Lee, K., Maisels, F., Moore, D., Morgan, B., Morgan, D., Neil, E., Nicholl, S., Nkembi, L., Ntongho, A., Orbell, C., Ormsby, L. J., Pacheco, L., Piel, A. K., Pintea, L., Plumptre, A. J., Rundus, A., Sanz, C., Sommer, V., Sop, T., Stewart, F. A., Sunderland-Groves, J., Tagg, N., Todd, A., Ton, E., van Schijndel, J., VanLeeuwe, H., Vendras, E., Welsh, A., Wenceslau, J. F. C., Wessling, E. G., Willie, J., Wittig, R. M., Yoshihiro, N., Yuh, Y. G., Yurkiw, K., Boesch, C., Arandjelovic, M., & Kühl, H. S. (2020). Late Quaternary habitat suitability models for chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) since the Last Interglacial (120,000 BP). bioRxiv. |
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McCarthy, M. S., Leeds, C. A., Bismanovsky, D., Denton, T., Jensvold, M. L., & Fouts, D. H. (2009). Social structure in three captive chimpanzees (Paper presented at Northwest Anthropological Conference, Newport, OR). |
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McCarthy, M. S., Jensvold, M. L., Fouts, D. H., & Fouts, R. S. (2007). Chimpanzee use of gesture sequences during play (Paper presented at the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Meetings, Denver, CO., April, 12-14, 2007). |
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McCarthy, M. S., Jensvold, M. L., Fouts, D. H., & Fouts, R. S. (2006). Space use in captive chimpanzees (Paper presented at the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Meetings, Park City, UT., April 21, 2006). |
Talks
McCarthy, M. S., Lester, J. D., Langergraber, K. E., Stanford, C. B., & Vigilant, L. (2016). Genetic evidence for typical female-biased dispersal in chimpanzees in a human-dominated habitat, western Uganda. Talk presented at Joint meeting of the International Primatological Society and the American Society of Primatologists. Chicago, IL. 2016-08-21 - 2016-08-27. |
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McCarthy, M. S., Lester, J. D., Arandjelovic, M., Stanford, C., & Vigilant, L. (2015). Genetic censusing suggests unexpectedly sizable numbers of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) living in forest fragments in western Uganda. Talk presented at 14th Conference of the Gesellschaft für Primatologie. Leipzig, Germany. 2015-02-11 - 2015-02-13. |
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McCarthy, M. S., Matheson, M. D., Lester, J. D., Sheeran, L. K., Li, J. H., & Wagner, R. S. (2007). Sequences of Tibetan macaque (Macaca thibetana) behaviors and tourist behaviors at Mt. Huangshan, China. Talk presented at 30th ASP Meeting. Winston-Salem, NC. 2007-06-19 - 2007-06-23. |