Effects of outbreeding depression on meristics and bilateral asymmetry in hybrids of spatially separated populations of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2005Different populations of a species distributed over diverse conditions adapt to their local environments to improve their ability to survive or reproduce. Intraspecific hybridization can alter the locally adapted population, resulting in reduced fitness, causing outbreeding depression. Manifestations of outbreeding depression in Pacific salmon include decreases in survival, fitness, and/or fitness-related traits. Many animals have paired morphological structures, resulting from canalization during development, which promote the animal's fitness; more symmetrical individuals often have faster growth, higher fecundity, or better survival. Meristic traits, such as the number of gill rakers in fish, can be easily determined. This study examined the potential effects of outbreeding depression on morphological meristic characteristics. Variation in fish size and meristic counts of returning F₁ and F₂ hybrids of spatially separated populations of pink salmon was compared to those of controls. There was no evidence for increased fluctuating asymmetry in hybrids. Directional asymmetry was significant for branchiostegals and pectoral fin ray counts. No single character consistently had sire or interaction effects except gill rakers; the few significant effects probably result from maternal environment effects. Canalization of bilateral asymmetry seems to be relatively unaffected by outbreeding depression

Nonequilibrium Temperature and Thermometry in Heat-Conducting Phi-4 Models

We analyze temperature and thermometry for simple nonequilibrium heat-conducting models. We show in detail, for both two- and three-dimensional systems, that the ideal gas thermometer corresponds to the concept of a local instantaneous mechanical kinetic temperature. For the Phi-4 models investigated here the mechanical temperature closely approximates the local thermodynamic equilibrium temperature. There is a significant difference between kinetic temperature and the nonlocal configurational temperature. Neither obeys the predictions of extended irreversible thermodynamics. Overall, we find that kinetic temperature, as modeled and imposed by the Nos\'e-Hoover thermostats developed in 1984, provides the simplest means for simulating, analyzing, and understanding nonequilibrium heat flows.Comment: 20 pages with six figures, revised following review at Physical Review

Well-Posed Two-Temperature Constitutive Equations for Stable Dense Fluid Shockwaves using Molecular Dynamics and Generalizations of Navier-Stokes-Fourier Continuum Mechanics

Guided by molecular dynamics simulations, we generalize the Navier-Stokes-Fourier constitutive equations and the continuum motion equations to include both transverse and longitudinal temperatures. To do so we partition the contributions of the heat transfer, the work done, and the heat flux vector between the longitudinal and transverse temperatures. With shockwave boundary conditions time-dependent solutions of these equations converge to give stationary shockwave profiles. The profiles include anisotropic temperature and can be fitted to molecular dynamics results, demonstrating the utility and simplicity of a two-temperature description of far-from-equilibrium states.Comment: 19 pages with 10 figures, revised following review at Physical Review E and with additional figure/discussion, for presentation at the International Summer School and Conference "Advanced Problems in Mechanics" [Saint Petersburg, Russia] 1-5 July 2010

An automatic lightning detection and photographic system

Conventional 35-mm camera is activated by an electronic signal every time lightning strikes in general vicinity. Electronic circuit detects lightning by means of antenna which picks up atmospheric radio disturbances. Camera is equipped with fish-eye lense, automatic shutter advance, and small 24-hour clock to indicate time when exposures are made

Exploring Oncology Nurses Attitudes Towards Suicide in Cancer Patients

Oncology nurses are recognized experts in the care of patients with cancer. As such, oncology nurses excel at the management of symptoms related to both the disease itself, as well as treatment, affecting the lives of patients experiencing cancer. These symptoms include physical, social, and psychological components

Effect of individual on group therapies in aphasia

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityCurrently, two treatment orientations exist in remediation of aphasia: an impairment-based approach and a socially oriented approach. Both are theoretically driven and strive to improve communication in aphasia, yet rarely are they administered in a collaborative, integrated manner. Based on a review of these orientations, it was hypothesized that chronic patients with aphasia (PWA) would benefit from treatment that is grounded in both philosophies. Additionally, there is evidence that greater intensity of treatment leads to better outcomes and that interdisciplinary treatment might be beneficial. There are currently no studies of the effects of intensive, short duration, interdisciplinary treatments of PWA that use both impairment-based and socially oriented approaches. The present research evaluated the benefits of such a treatment program. In Study 1, 14 PWA were provided with 30 hours of interdisciplinary treatment a week for four weeks in both individual and group formats. Strong levels of change were observed post treatment, and targeted areas of language function continued to improve at three months post treatment suggesting lasting results from treatment. In Study 2, we examined the effectiveness of training verbs in a combined treatment model (individual + group) compared to those trained for the same duration in only individual or group paradigms a new cohmt of 12 PWA. No significant effect was seen for verbs trained in one condition over another; however, all verbs demonstrated significant improvements as a result of treatment. Strong treatment effects were seen for the group on generalized measures of noun and verb naming as well as the number of complete sentences produced in constrained picture description tasks. Moderate changes in functional communication and quality of life measures also were seen as a result of this treatment. Overall, the findings demonstrate significant linguistic and psychosocial changes as a result of intensive, short duration, interdisciplinary treatment of chronic PWA. This may have clinical implications. There was no benefit of an integrated approach over impairment-based or socially oriented approaches alone. The failure of the integrated approach to achieve better results may be due to the uncontrolled use of target items in the socially oriented approach in all conditions