End-User support for information architecture analysis in interactive web applications

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23768-3_71Proceedings of 13th IFIP TC 13 International Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, September 5-9, 2011, Part IVInformation Architects analyze conceptual models and descriptions concerning non-functional requirements that will be later on used by Analysts and Software Engineers to design software artifacts. However, this flow of information is sometimes difficult to automate due to conceptual knowledge differences in the information processed by each expert. To facilitate this flow, in this paper we propose a CASE tool called InterArch. Our tool bridges the gap between both professionals, and it automatically generates UML diagrams for Analysts from the conceptual diagrams created by the Information Architect.The work reported in this paper is being supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology, project ID: TIN2008-02081/TIN, the Madrid Research Council, project ID: S2009/TIC-1650 and, together with the UAM, project ID: CCG10-UAM/TIC-5772

Semen quality of rasa aragonesa rams carrying the fecxr allele of the BMP15 gene

The FecXR mutation is a variant of the ovine gene BMP15 in the Rasa Aragonesa breed. Information on the physiological importance of carrying the FecX polymorphism in rams is limited. The aim of this study was to compare semen quality, testicle characteristics, and fertility rate of rams that carry the FecXR allele. Rams (n = 15) were either FecXR allele carriers (n = 10) or non-carriers, wild type (++) (n = 5). FecXR rams exhibited higher mass motility (p < 0.05), proportion of rapid sperm (p < 0.05), and a lower proportion of slow sperm (p < 0.0001) than did ++ rams. The presence of the FecXR allele was not associated with mean scrotal circumference or testicular length and diameter, although season had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on these traits. Genotype (p < 0.05) and season (p < 0.01) had a significant effect on mean fertility rate, FecXR rams had a higher proportion of pregnant ewes than did ++ rams (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the FecXR allele produced high-quality semen throughout the year, and corresponded with an improvement in some sperm parameters, particularly, mass motility and the proportion of rapid sperm

DIFFERENTIAL TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ADULT LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLES FROM GULF OF CÁDIZ TO WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA

The aim of this paper was to search for and model spatial and seasonal trends in occurrences (stranding or by-catches) of adult loggerhead turtles in the western Mediterranean area and Gulf of Cádiz (Atlantic) independently of their origin. Adult turtles were only bycaught on longlines from May to August. Adults were stranded in the eastern and western areas of the Strait of Gibraltar threshold throughout the year. In the Gulf of Cádiz (Atlantic), strandings were significantly concentrated in May and June, whereas in the Alboran Sea (Mediterranean), strandings mainly occurred in June and July. The probability of catching a mature loggerhead increases during June and July south of the Balearic Islands. The results suggest that adult loggerhead turtles move (migrate) from the Atlantic area (Gulf of Cádiz) to the Mediterranean (Alboran Sea) from May to June, and subsequently move to the Balearic Sea from June to July. These results are in line with those obtained by previous studies.Postprin

A multiscale data-driven approach for bone tissue biomechanics

The data-driven methodology with application to continuum mechanics relies upon two main pillars: (i) experimental characterization of stress–strain pairs associated to different loading states, and (ii) numerical elaboration of the elasticity equations as an optimization (searching) algorithm using compatibility and equilibrium as constraints. The purpose of this work is to implement a multiscale data-driven approach using experimental data of cortical bone tissue at different scales. First, horse cortical bone samples are biaxially loaded and the strain fields are recorded over a region of interest using a digital image correlation technique. As a result, both microscopic strain fields and macroscopic strain states are obtained by a homogenization procedure, associated to macroscopic stress loading states which are considered uniform along the sample. This experimental outcome is here referred as a multiscale dataset. Second, the proposed multiscale data-driven methodology is implemented and analyzed in an example of application. Results are presented both in the macroscopic and microscopic scales, with the latter considered just as a post-process step in the formulation. The macroscopic results show non-smooth strain and stress patterns as a consequence of the tissue heterogeneity which suggest that a preassumed linear homogeneous orthotropic model may be inaccurate for bone tissue. Microscopic results show fluctuating strain fields – as a consequence of the interaction and evolution of the microconstituents – an order of magnitude higher than the averaged macroscopic solution, which evidences the need of a multiscale approach for the mechanical analysis of cortical bone, since the driving force of many biological bone processes is local at the microstructural level. Finally, the proposed multiscale data-driven technique may also be an adequate strategy for the solution of intractable large size multiscale FE2 computational approaches since the solution at the microscale is obtained as a postprocessing. As a main conclusion, the proposed multiscale data-driven methodology is a useful alternative to overcome limitations in the continuum mechanical study of the bone tissue. This methodology may also be considered as a useful strategy for the analysis of additional biological or technological hierarchical multiscale materials

Polymorphisms of the melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) gene influence the age at first mating in autumn-born ram-lambs and sexual activity of adult rams in spring

The aim of this study was to determine whether polymorphisms of the melatonin receptor 1A (MTNR1A) gene influence the age at first mating in autumn-born ram-lambs and influence the out-of-season sexual activity of adult rams. In experiment 1, 24 Rasa Aragonesa ram-lambs born in September were genotyped for their RsaI and MnlI allelic variants of the MTNR1A gene, and the date of their first mounting with ejaculation after a period of semen collection training was documented. In experiment 2, the reproductive behavior, testicle size, and plasma testosterone concentrations of 18 adult rams (6 rams for each RsaI genotype) were recorded at the beginning (March) and end (May) of the seasonal anestrus. The number of days of training to achieve the first mating with ejaculation in T/T (C/C: 85.17 ± 12.08 C/T: 86.60 ± 18.87; T/T; 26.50 ± 24.50 d; P < 0.05), and G/G ram-lambs (G/G: 51.57 ± 14.99; A/G: 95.58 ± 10.95 d; P < 0.05) was significantly fewer than it was in the other genotypes. Likewise, for the RsaI genotype, 55% of the vulva-sniffing (P < 0.001), 48% of the approaches (P < 0.01), 48% of the mountings (P < 0.05) and 49% total activities (P < 0.001) were performed by T/T rams in March, and 50% of the sexual events in May (P < 0.001). For the Mnll variant, G/G rams performed a significantly (P < 0.001) larger proportion of the vulva-sniffing (41%), approaches (46%) and total activities (40%) in March, and 52% of the vulva-sniffing (P < 0.001), 43%, of the approaches (P < 0.001), 46% of the mountings (P < 0.05), and 47% of the total activities (P < 0.001) in May. Scrotal circumference, testicular volume, and plasma testosterone concentrations did not differ significantly among genotypes. Results confirmed that the polymorphisms of the MTNR1A gene sequence can influence reproductive performance in young and adult rams. Autumn-born ram-lambs that carried the T/T or G/G genotype had an advanced ability to reproduce, and T/T or G/G adult rams exhibited the most intense reproductive behavior. Genotyping might be a useful procedure for identifying the correct and rational use of rams in modern sheep farming

Factors Associated with the Differential Distribution of Cetaceans Linked with Deep Habitats in the Western Mediterranean Sea

Deep-habitat cetaceans are generally difficult to study, leading to a limited knowledge of their population. This paper assesses the differential distribution patterns of three deep-habitat cetaceans (Sperm whale—Physeter macrocephalus, Risso’s dolphin—Grampus griseus & Cuvier’s beaked whale—Ziphius cavirostris). We used data of 842 opportunistic sightings of cetaceans in the western Mediterranean sea. We inferred environmental and spatio-temporal factors that affect their distribution. Binary logistic regression models were generated to compare the presence of deep-habitat cetaceans with the presence of other cetacean species in the dataset. Then, the favourability function was applied, allowing for comparison between all the models. Sperm whale and Risso’s dolphin presence was differentially favoured by the distance to towns in the eastern part of the western Mediterranean sea. The differential distribution of sperm whale was also influenced by the stability of SST, and that of the Risso’s dolphin by lower mean salinity and higher mean Chlorophyll A concentration. When modelling the three deep-habitat cetaceans (including Cuvier’s beaked whale), the variable distance to towns had a negative influence on the presence of any of them more than it did to other cetaceans, being more favourable far from towns, so this issue should be further investigated.Postprint2,92

Evaluation of the contribution of D9S1120 to anthropological studies in Native American populations

The D9S1120 locus exhibits a population-specific allele of 9 repeats (9RA) in all Native American and two Siberian populations currently studied, but it is absent in other worldwide populations. Although this feature has been used in anthropological genetic studies, its impact on the evaluation of the structure and genetic relations among Native American populations has been scarcely assessed. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate the anthropological impact of D9S1120 when it was added to STR population datasets in Mexican Native American groups. We analyzed D9S1120 by PCR and capillary electrophoresis (CE) in 1117 unrelated individuals from 13 native groups from the north and west of Mexico. Additional worldwide populations previously studied with D9S1120 and/or 15 autosomal STRs (Identifier kit) were included for interpopulation analyses. We report statistical results of forensic importance for D9S1120. On average, the modal alleles were the Native American-specific allele 9RA (0.3254) and 16 (0.3362). Genetic distances between Native American and worldwide populations were estimated. When D9S1120 was included in the 15 STR population dataset, we observed improvements for admixture estimation in Mestizo populations and for representing congruent genetic relationships in dendrograms. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) based on D9S1120 confirms that most of the genetic variability in the Mexican population is attributable to their Native American backgrounds, and allows the detection of significant intercontinental differentiation attributed to the exclusive presence of 9RA in America. Our findings demonstrate the contribution of D9S1120 to a better understanding of the genetic relationships and structure among Mexican Native groups.CONACYT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología) (México)Depto. de Biodiversidad, Ecología y EvoluciónFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEinpres

Length–weight relationships of kitefin shark Dalatias licha, and little sleeper shark Somniosus rostratus from the western Mediterranean Sea, and long snouted lancetfish Alepisaurus ferox from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean

This paper provides length-weight relationships (LWR) for three species: long snouted lancetfish Alepisaurus ferox, kitefin shark Dalatias licha and little sleeper shark Somniosus rostratus. Samples were collected occasionally from 2009 to 2013. A total of 49 D. licha and 24 S. rostratus samples from the western Mediterranean Sea, and 211 samples of A. ferox from the eastern North Atlantic Ocean were recorded for LWR. For each species, regression coefficients and parameters “a” and “b” were calculated with 95% confidence interval. The LWR parameter b for all species ranged from 2.889 to 3.5048, with R2 ranging from 0.717 to 0.823.Postprin

Historical and ecological drivers of the spatial pattern of Chondrichthyes species richness in the Mediterranean Sea

Chondrichthyes, which include Elasmobranchii (sharks and batoids) and Holocephali (chimaeras), are a relatively small group in the Mediterranean Sea (89 species) playing a key role in the ecosystems where they are found. At present, many species of this group are threatened as a result of anthropogenic effects, including fishing activity. Knowledge of the spatial distribution of these species is of great importance to understand their ecological role and for the efficient management of their populations, particularly if affected by fisheries. This study aims to analyze the spatial patterns of the distribution of Chondrichthyes species richness in the Mediterranean Sea. Information provided by the studied countries was used to model geographical and ecological variables affecting the Chondrichthyes species richness. The species were distributed in 16 Operational Geographical Units (OGUs), derived from the Geographical Sub-Areas (GSA) adopted by the General Fisheries Commission of the Mediterranean Sea (GFCM). Regression analyses with the species richness as a target variable were adjusted with a set of environmental and geographical variables, being the model that links richness of Chondrichthyes species with distance to the Strait of Gibraltar and number of taxonomic families of bony fishes the one that best explains it. This suggests that both historical and ecological factors affect the current distribution of Chondrichthyes within the Mediterranean Sea.Postprin