A demographic model for sex ratio evolution and the effects of sex-biased offspring costs

© The Author(s), 2016. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Ecology and Evolution 6 (2016): 1470–1492, doi:10.1002/ece3.1902.The evolution of the primary sex ratio, the proportion of male births in an individual's offspring production strategy, is a frequency-dependent process that selects against the more common sex. Because reproduction is shaped by the entire life cycle, sex ratio theory would benefit from explicitly two-sex models that include some form of life cycle structure. We present a demographic approach to sex ratio evolution that combines adaptive dynamics with nonlinear matrix population models. We also determine the evolutionary and convergence stability of singular strategies using matrix calculus. These methods allow the incorporation of any population structure, including multiple sexes and stages, into evolutionary projections. Using this framework, we compare how four different interpretations of sex-biased offspring costs affect sex ratio evolution. We find that demographic differences affect evolutionary outcomes and that, contrary to prior belief, sex-biased mortality after parental investment can bias the primary sex ratio (but not the corresponding reproductive value ratio). These results differ qualitatively from the widely held conclusions of previous models that neglect demographic structure.National Science Foundation Graduate Research Grant Number: 1122374; NSF Grant Numbers: DEB1145017, DEB1257545; European Research Council Grant Number: 322989; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Academic Programs Offic

Radiation Hard Bandpass Filters for Mid- to Far-IR Planetary Instruments

We present a novel method to fabricate compact metal mesh bandpass filters for use in mid- to far-infrared planetary instruments operating in the 20-600 micron wavelength spectral regime. Our target applications include thermal mapping instruments on ESA's JUICE as well as on a de-scoped JEO. These filters are novel because they are compact, customizable, free-standing copper mesh resonant bandpass filters with micromachined silicon support frames. The filters are well suited for thermal mapping mission to the outer planets and their moons because the filter material is radiation hard. Furthermore, the silicon support frame allows for effective hybridization with sensors made on silicon substrates. Using a Fourier Transform Spectrometer, we have demonstrated high transmittance within the passband as well as good out-of-band rejection [1]. In addition, we have developed a unique method of filter stacking in order to increase the bandwidth and sharpen the roll-off of the filters. This method allows one to reliably control the spacing between filters to within 2 microns. Furthermore, our method allows for reliable control over the relative position and orienta-tion between the shared faces of the filters

Influence of Adult Knee Height, Age at First Birth, Migration, and Current Age on Adult Physical Function of Bangladeshi Mothers and Daughters in the United Kingdom and Bangladesh

Economic and Social Research Council, New Dynamics of Ageing Programme, UK

The Semi-Chiral Quotient, Hyperkahler Manifolds and T-duality

We study the construction of generalized Kahler manifolds, described purely in terms of N=(2,2) semichiral superfields, by a quotient using the semichiral vector multiplet. Despite the presence of a b-field in these models, we show that the quotient of a hyperkahler manifold is hyperkahler, as in the usual hyperkahler quotient. Thus, quotient manifolds with torsion cannot be constructed by this method. Nonetheless, this method does give a new description of hyperkahler manifolds in terms of two-dimensional N=(2,2) gauged non-linear sigma models involving semichiral superfields and the semichiral vector multiplet. We give two examples: Eguchi-Hanson and Taub-NUT. By T-duality, this gives new gauged linear sigma models describing the T-dual of Eguchi-Hanson and NS5-branes. We also clarify some aspects of T-duality relating these models to N=(4,4) models for chiral/twisted-chiral fields and comment briefly on more general quotients that can give rise to torsion and give an example.Comment: 31 page

Superconducting Effects in Optimization of Magnetic Penetration Thermometers for X-ray Microcalorimeters

Like MMCs, MPTs enable high energy microcalorimeters with zero bias power dissipation and potential resolution < 1 eV. MPTs can provide d(phi)/dT as large as 1000 (Phi)(sub 0)/K, with no excess noise, thereby reducing the importance of SQUID noise. Long coherence length in a Type-I superconducting MoAu film offers multiple advantages for efficient flux expulsion in MPT. Region of steepest d(phi)/dT is the Meissner effect in the small device; flux is expelled/penetrates to minimize free energy. Steepness of transition can be engineered with choice of film thickness and coil pitch relative to lambda(sub eff)(0), ratio of T/T(sub c), and bias circuit inductance

M-theory on Spin(7) Manifolds, Fluxes and 3D, N=1 Supergravity

We calculate the most general causal N=1 three-dimensional, gauge invariant action coupled to matter in superspace and derive its component form using Ectoplasmic integration theory. One example of such an action can be obtained by compactifying M-theory on a Spin(7) holonomy manifold taking non-vanishing fluxes into account. We show that the resulting three-dimensional theory is in agreement with the more general construction. The scalar potential resulting from Kaluza-Klein compactification stabilizes all the moduli fields describing deformations of the metric except for the radial modulus. This potential can be written in terms of the superpotential previously discussed in the literature.Comment: 37 pages no figures (LaTeX 2e

Evaluating the Psychometric Quality of Social Skills Measures: A Systematic Review

Introduction - Impairments in social functioning are associated with an array of adverse outcomes. Social skills measures are commonly used by health professionals to assess and plan the treatment of social skills difficulties. There is a need to comprehensively evaluate the quality of psychometric properties reported across these measures to guide assessment and treatment planning. Objective - To conduct a systematic review of the literature on the psychometric properties of social skills and behaviours measures for both children and adults. Methods - A systematic search was performed using four electronic databases: CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase and Pubmed; the Health and Psychosocial Instruments database; and grey literature using PsycExtra and Google Scholar. The psychometric properties of the social skills measures were evaluated against the COSMIN taxonomy of measurement properties using pre-set psychometric criteria. Results - Thirty-Six studies and nine manuals were included to assess the psychometric properties of thirteen social skills measures that met the inclusion criteria. Most measures obtained excellent overall methodological quality scores for internal consistency and reliability. However, eight measures did not report measurement error, nine measures did not report cross-cultural validity and eleven measures did not report criterion validity. Conclusions - The overall quality of the psychometric properties of most measures was satisfactory. The SSBS-2, HCSBS and PKBS-2 were the three measures with the most robust evidence of sound psychometric quality in at least seven of the eight psychometric properties that were appraised. A universal working definition of social functioning as an overarching construct is recommended. There is a need for ongoing research in the area of the psychometric properties of social skills and behaviours instruments

Direct and Inverse Variational Problems on Time Scales: A Survey

We deal with direct and inverse problems of the calculus of variations on arbitrary time scales. Firstly, using the Euler-Lagrange equation and the strengthened Legendre condition, we give a general form for a variational functional to attain a local minimum at a given point of the vector space. Furthermore, we provide a necessary condition for a dynamic integro-differential equation to be an Euler-Lagrange equation (Helmholtz's problem of the calculus of variations on time scales). New and interesting results for the discrete and quantum settings are obtained as particular cases. Finally, we consider very general problems of the calculus of variations given by the composition of a certain scalar function with delta and nabla integrals of a vector valued field.Comment: This is a preprint of a paper whose final and definite form will be published in the Springer Volume 'Modeling, Dynamics, Optimization and Bioeconomics II', Edited by A. A. Pinto and D. Zilberman (Eds.), Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics. Submitted 03/Sept/2014; Accepted, after a revision, 19/Jan/201

The Total Syntheses of JBIR-94 and Two Synthetic Analogs and Their Cytotoxicities Against A549 (CCL-185) Human Small Lung Cancer Cells

We here disclose the total syntheses of the natural polyphenol JBIR-94 and two nonnatural analogs, whose structures are of interest for their bioactivity potential as radical scavengers. Although we initially attempted this by dually acylating both of putrecine’s amine nitrogens in a single pot, our endeavors with this method (which has been successfully reported by other groups) proved ineffectual. We accordingly opted for the lengthier approach of acylating each amine individually, which gratuitously prevailed and also aligns with separate literature precedent. Moreover, we here share our analysis of these target compounds’ cytotoxicities and IC50 values against A549 (CCL-185) human small lung cancer cells