Phenotypic evolution studied by layered stochastic differential equations

Time series of cell size evolution in unicellular marine algae (division Haptophyta; Coccolithus lineage), covering 57 million years, are studied by a system of linear stochastic differential equations of hierarchical structure. The data consists of size measurements of fossilized calcite platelets (coccoliths) that cover the living cell, found in deep-sea sediment cores from six sites in the world oceans and dated to irregular points in time. To accommodate biological theory of populations tracking their fitness optima, and to allow potentially interpretable correlations in time and space, the model framework allows for an upper layer of partially observed site-specific population means, a layer of site-specific theoretical fitness optima and a bottom layer representing environmental and ecological processes. While the modeled process has many components, it is Gaussian and analytically tractable. A total of 710 model specifications within this framework are compared and inference is drawn with respect to model structure, evolutionary speed and the effect of global temperature.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/12-AOAS559 the Annals of Applied Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aoas/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Does the Argument From Evil Assume a Consequentialist Morality?

In this paper, I argue that the some of the most popular and influential formulations of the Argument from Evil (AE) assume a moral perspective that is essentially consequentialist, and would therefore be unacceptable to deontologists. Specifically, I examine formulations of the argument offered by William Rowe and Bruce Russell, both of whom explicitly assert that their formulation of AE is theoretically neutral with respect to consequentialism, and can be read in a way that is unobjectionable to deontologists. I argue that, in fact, this in not the case. Finally, I look at the implications of the consequentialist assumptions of AE for theodicies based on free will

Learning by watching Vernacular Iñupiaq-Inuit design learning as inspiration for design education

In this article , I explore a single case of vernacular clothing design — the practice and learning of design for contemporary Iñupiaq - Inuit clothing made by women from Kaktovik in N orth ern Alaska — and I hope to contribute to a better understanding of design practice and learning in general. Design research has many unexplored areas , and one of these omissions is vernacular design , or folk design. In my opinion, professional and academic design may well have something to learn from vernacular design, although this research is about vernacular learning and about what, why and how the ‘making ’ discipline of clothing design is learned . Th i s study was based on observations of and interviews with seamstresses and research - by - design , which includes authorial participation in designing and sewing in adherence to Iñupiaq tradition . A ll of this was recorded on digital video film. Th e investigatio n of Iñupiaq - Inuit clothing design indicates that watching wa s the most common way of learning , a phenomenon I have chosen to call learning - by - watching , a concept that can be seen as a development of both Schön and Wenger’s theories of learning , as influen ced by John Dewey’s theory of learning - by - doing . This study will be discussed in connection with design education , from kindergarten to professional studies in higher education , in the forth coming research project , Design Literacy , t he purpose of which is to develop theory to improve design education in both compulsory and academic design education. Consequently, to improve design education in general , a th o rough focus on learning - by - watching in communities of practice would make for more reflective practit ioners and more sustainable design practices in the long run

Learning by watching: what we can learn from the Inuit’s design learning

In this paper , I explore a single case of vernacular clothing design — the learning and practice of design for contemporary Iñupiaq - Inuit clothing made by the women of Kaktovik, North Alaska — and I hope to contribute to a better understanding of design practice and learning in general. Design research has many unexplored areas and one of these omissions is vernacular design — or ‘folk’ design. In my opinion, professional and academic design may well have something to learn from vernacular design, although this research is about vernacular learning , didactics about what, why and how to learn within the ‘making discipline’ of clothing design. The study was based on observations, interviews with seamstresses and authorial participation in designing and sewing in conformity with Iñupiaq tradition, and everything was recorded on digital video film. This investigation of Inuit clothing design indicates that learning - by - watching is the most common way of learning. Learning - by - watching is important within learning - by - doing. This concept of learning - by - watching can be seen as a development of both Schön and Wenger’s theories of learning, a concept that will probably be of great importance in further research on the learning process of design , from kindergarten to PhD

An Analysis of Abnormal Development in the Cnbw-16 Stock of Drosophila melanogaster

Developmental abnormalities in the embryonic period resulting from cobalt-60 induced mutations in Drosophila melanogaster are discussed. Embryos of 16 hours of development were studied. Among 32 abnormal embryos found in 52 eggs in this stock (Cnbw-16), eight having a consistent pattern of abnormality were studied. These embryos, designated as Cnbw-16, type a, all show a failure of embryonic shortening and midgut development. Associated abnormalities permit interpretation concerning the nature of normal development in three areas: (1) nerve cord condensation, (2) embryonic shortening, and (3) muscle fiber differentiation. Nerve cord condensation is partial in the absence of embryonic shortening. This indicates that this process is the result of two activities: the mechanical process of embryonic shortening and the process of cell differentiation. Embryonic shortening fails in the presence of partial or complete somatic muscle development. This observation supports the idea that embryonic shortening is independent of the development of the somatic musculature. Muscle differentiation is arrested at several different points. Observations indicate that fusion of myoblasts occurs independently, but that fiber formation depends upon a normal contact with the apodemes

An Analysis of the Developmental Effects of the Embryonic Lethal Mutation X-23 in Drosophila

The developmental abnormalities resulting from a recessive, second chromosome, X-ray induced lethal mutation acting during the embryonic period of Drosophila melanogaster are described. Embryos of 18-22 hours of development were studied. The pattern of abnormalities indicates that the lethal effect was due to a general cessation of development during the period from 9-14 hours. There is a general failure of mid-gut and muscle development. The hypoderm, foregut and hindgut structures appear to have developed normally. In the absence of muscle development, hypodermal differentiation produces deep furrows which distort the structure of the embryo. Variation in the expression of the lethal genotype produces some differences in the morphogenetic movements of this period. Germ band shortening occurs regularly, dorsal closure is sometimes present and head involution is seen in one embryo. These differences are related to the degree of hypodermal differentiation and muscle development which occurs. This is interpreted to mean that the force generated by the thinning and spreading of the hypoderm is responsible for these movements. In the course of normal development this force is controlled by the concurrent differentiation of the musculature