Genetic identification of two putative world record Michigan salmonids resolves stakeholder and manager questions

The ability of fishery managers to quickly and effectively answer stakeholder questions using the best available science is crucial for successful management. The 2009 capture of a potential world record brown trout (Salmo trutta) and the 2010 capture of a potential world record land-locked Atlantic salmon (S. salar) in Michigan required managers to acquire genetic verification of the species identity. Given the variety of hatchery strains used to maintain Great Lakes fisheries for brown trout and in the absence of physical markings, managers also were interested to determine the strain of origin for information on assessing performance. DNA barcoding techniques using sequences from the mitochondrial (mt) DNA cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene and frequency-based analysis of species-specific microsatellite genotypes provided data to establish the species of both fish. The putative brown trout was confirmed to be a new world record specimen. Using individual assignment tests based on maximum likelihood estimators informed by multi-locus microsatellite genotypes, we determined the fish to be from the Seeforellen hatchery strain (p < 0.01). Analysis of the COI gene in the putative Atlantic salmon resulted in assignment as a brown trout. The presence of only brown trout alleles at all six microsatellite loci examined revealed that the individual was not an inter-specific hybrid. Given sufficient genetic divergence exists among species, populations, or hatchery strains, the combination of mtDNA barcoding and microsatellite genetic analysis can provide accurate and rapid identification to address stakeholder and management questions.     

Representing statics as forces in equilibrium.

Resting objects can be described according to the physical forces operating on them, forces that are balanced in static scenes. We hypothesized that the perception of static scenes and objects might involve a representation of underlying dynamics. In our first experiments, subjects were shown a picture of a plant resting upon a table or hanging from a hook, followed by a picture of the plant in the same position without the supporting table or hook. Subjects attempted to remember the position of the plant and were then shown a third display, in which the plant was in the same position or was slightly above or slightly below the original position. Memory for the position of the previously supported object was distorted in the direction consistent with what would happen if the plant was to lose its source of support in real life. In Experiment 2 we found no memory asymmetry when the plant was initially displayed without support. We replicated the results of Experiments 1 and 2 with a new stimulus set and modified procedure in Experiment 3. In our fourth study we experimented with a slightly different stable situation: a spring with a box on top of it. We found that subjects misremembered the spring as either more compressed or less compressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Posturally related variations in the hand preferences of the ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata variegata).

The hand preferences of 5 semi-free-ranging black-and-white ruffed lemurs were assessed by using three distinct testing procedures. Testing conditions varied in the extent to which they required animals to make a whole body postural adjustment prior to making a reach. Minimal bodily adjustment was necessary for free foraging, whereas discrete food presentations on land (DFP-land) and in a moat (DFP-moat) promoted a gross reorientation of the animal's entire body. In the DFP-moat condition 4 animals exhibited exclusive use of the left hand, and only 1 of 515 reaches was made with the right hand. Similarly, all 5 animals showed a pronounced left-hand preference in the DFP-land condition. The free-foraging condition revealed a hand preference for only 1 of the 5 subjects, and that preference was weak in comparison with those measured in the other two test conditions. These findings indicate that whole body postural adjustments critically influenced the expression of hand preference and should be taken into consideration in future studies of primate hand preferences. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Some notes on putting formal specifications to productive use

These notes are personal reflections, stemming from attempts to understand the sources of problems and successes in the application of work on formal specifications. Our intent is to provoke thought about the nature and value of work in the area; not to provide a set of well-tested results. Rather than focusing on yet another specification language, we have tried to take a broad view of the role of formal specifications in the program development process.     

Genetic relationships and gene flow between resident and migratory brook trout in the Salmon Trout River

Genetic differentiation among brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) of different life history forms and populations can result from reproductive isolation imposed by natural or anthropogenically derived barriers to gene flow, behavioral incompatibilities, or differential exposure to environmental cues. We used multi-locus microsatellite genotypes and likelihood and Bayesian-based analyses to characterize the degree of genetic differentiation and evidence of introgression among stream resident brook trout above a natural barrier, and putative stream residents and adfluvial (coaster) brook trout from below the barrier in the Salmon Trout River (STR); the sole tributary along the southern shore of Lake Superior known to be inhabited by a viable remnant population of coaster brook trout. Two genetically differentiated populations were identified, generally associated with individuals inhabiting sections of the STR above and below the falls. No evidence of differentiation was found between a priori classified resident and coaster brook trout from below the falls. Gene flow from individuals above the falls was detected based on evidence of interbreeding between upper river individuals and coasters below the falls. We collected only a relatively small number of individuals that we a priori classified as being stream residents below the falls, and these individuals had a high probability of having ancestry originating from the population above the barrier, which suggests that the stream-resident life history may be exceptionally rare or absent in the lower Salmon Trout River.     

"He Will Crush You Like an Academic Ninja!": Exploring Teacher Ratings on Ratemyprofessors.com

This study examined the hypothesis that the desire for an online infidelity act is formed on the basis of both personality-related factors and relationship-related factors, similarly to "real life" infidelity. Two hundred participants who maintain a relationship in "real life" were recruited through web advertisements, and filled in online questionnaires regarding their dyadic satisfaction (DAS-7), self-disclosure (JSDQ), narcissism (NPI), and their Internet relationship expectations (IRI). Results indicated that the predictors of Internet relationship expectations are the experience of having an Internet relationship, higher tendencies of manipulation and exhibitionism, lower self-disclosure and lower dyadic cohesion. However, dyadic and sexual satisfaction do not predict higher expectations of an Internet relationship, in contrast to real life relationships. These findings demonstrate the difference between online and "real life" infidelity and emphasize the need for further research on the link between personality dynamics and online infidelity. Additional theoretical and clinical implications deriving from the results are discussed.     

The induced affect response: 10-week-old infants' responses to three emotion expressions.

Responses to mothers' presentations of happy, sad, and angry faces were studied in a sample of 12 infants, 6 boys and 6 girls at age 10 weeks?±?5 days. Each infant's mother displayed noncontingent, practiced facial and vocal expressions of the 3 emotions. Each expression occurred 4 times, with a 20-s head-turn-away between presentations. The orders of presentation were randomly assigned within sex of infant. Mothers' and infants' facial behaviors were coded using the Maximally Discriminative Facial Movement Coding System. The data indicated that (a) the infants discriminated each emotion, (b) apparent matching responses may occur under some conditions but not all, and (c) these apparent matching responses were only a part of nonrandom behavior patterns indicating induced emotional or affective responses of infants to mothers' expressions. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Aspect-oriented model-driven skeleton code generation: A graph-based transformation approach

Model-driven code generation has been investigated in traditional and object-oriented design paradigms; significant progress has been made. It offers many advantages including the rapid development of high quality code. Errors are reduced and the consistency between the design and the code is retained, in comparison with a purely manual approach. Here, a model-driven code generation approach based on graph transformations for aspect-oriented development is proposed. The approach has two main transformation activities. The first activity transforms a visual (graphical) model of the design into a formal, text-based notation that can be readily processed. The graphical model is created by the software designer and uses a UML profile for aspect-oriented software (i.e., FDAF) to represent aspects and their components. XML is the target notation for this step; the transformation uses the XML meta-model to ensure that the output complies with the language. The second activity transforms the XML model into AspectJ source code. The transformation uses the AspectJ meta-model to ensure the output complies with the language. The transformations from the extended UML model to XML and from XML to AspectJ code are fully automated. The transformation algorithms are based on graph transformations; tool support has been developed. Key technical issues in the approach are discussed, including performance, the amount of code generated, correctness, and adaptability, in addition to a comparison of the proposal with existing alternative approaches. The approach has been validated on three example systems: a banking system, classroom scheduling system, and an insurance system. The banking system example is presented in the paper.