Mechanisms of rapid sympatric speciation by sex reversal and sexual selection in cichlid fish

Mechanisms of speciation in cichlid fish were investigated by analyzing population genetic models of sexual selection on sex-determining genes associated with color polymorphisms. The models are based on a combination of laboratory experiments and field observations on the ecology, male and female mating behavior, and inheritance of sex-determination and color polymorphisms. The models explain why sex-reversal genes that change males into females tend to be X-linked and associated with novel colors, using the hypothesis of restricted recombination on the sex chromosomes, as suggested by previous theory on the evolution of recombination. The models reveal multiple pathways for rapid sympatric speciation through the origin of novel color morphs with strong assortative mating that incorporate both sex-reversal and suppressor genes. Despite the lack of geographic isolation or ecological differentiation, the new species coexists with the ancestral species either temporarily or indefinitely. These results may help to explain different patterns and rates of speciation among groups of cichlids, in particular the explosive diversification of rock-dwelling haplochromine cichlids.

INTEGRATIVE BIOMARKER IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION USING HIGH THROUGHPUT ASSAYS

It is well accepted that tumorigenesis is a multi-step procedure involving aberrant functioning of genes regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, genome stability, angiogenesis and motility. To obtain a full understanding of tumorigenesis, it is necessary to collect information on all aspects of cell activity. Recent advances in high throughput technologies allow biologists to generate massive amounts of data, more than might have been imagined decades ago. These advances have made it possible to launch comprehensive projects such as (TCGA) and (ICGC) which systematically characterize the molecular fingerprints of cancer cells using gene expression, methylation, copy number, microRNA and SNP microarrays as well as next generation sequencing assays interrogating somatic mutation, insertion, deletion, translocation and structural rearrangements. Given the massive amount of data, a major challenge is to integrate information from multiple sources and formulate testable hypotheses. This thesis focuses on developing methodologies for integrative analyses of genomic assays profiled on the same set of samples. We have developed several novel methods for integrative biomarker identification and cancer classification. We introduce a regression-based approach to identify biomarkers predictive to therapy response or survival by integrating multiple assays including gene expression, methylation and copy number data through penalized regression. To identify key cancer-specific genes accounting for multiple mechanisms of regulation, we have developed the integIRTy software that provides robust and reliable inferences about gene alteration by automatically adjusting for sample heterogeneity as well as technical artifacts using Item Response Theory. To cope with the increasing need for accurate cancer diagnosis and individualized therapy, we have developed a robust and powerful algorithm called SIBER to systematically identify bimodally expressed genes using next generation RNAseq data. We have shown that prediction models built from these bimodal genes have the same accuracy as models built from all genes. Further, prediction models with dichotomized gene expression measurements based on their bimodal shapes still perform well. The effectiveness of outcome prediction using discretized signals paves the road for more accurate and interpretable cancer classification by integrating signals from multiple sources.

Randomness and degrees of irregularity.

The fundamental question "Are sequential data random?" arises in myriad contexts, often with severe data length constraints. Furthermore, there is frequently a critical need to delineate nonrandom sequences in terms of closeness to randomness--e.g., to evaluate the efficacy of therapy in medicine. We address both these issues from a computable framework via a quantification of regularity. ApEn (approximate entropy), defining maximal randomness for sequences of arbitrary length, indicating the applicability to sequences as short as N = 5 points. An infinite sequence formulation of randomness is introduced that retains the operational (and computable) features of the finite case. In the infinite sequence setting, we indicate how the "foundational" definition of independence in probability theory, and the definition of normality in number theory, reduce to limit theorems without rates of convergence, from which we utilize ApEn to address rates of convergence (of a deficit from maximal randomness), refining the aforementioned concepts in a computationally essential manner. Representative applications among many are indicated to assess (i) random number generation output; (ii) well-shuffled arrangements; and (iii) (the quality of) bootstrap replicates.

Historia de la natación en la ciudad de La Plata

El presente texto hace referencia a mis estudios de tesina de grado los cuales me encuentro realizando para la Licenciatura Universitaria en Educación Física (LUEF) en el Departamento de Educación Física de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FaHCE) de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). Mientras transcurría el período de cursadas en el Profesorado Universitario en Educación Física (PUEF), más específicamente desde el ingreso a la carrera, he observado el problema de que los alumnos que cursan los ejes Natación 1 y 2 en las asignaturas Educación Física 2 y 3 en el segundo y tercer año del plan de estudios vigente (2000) comparado con otro plan mas antiguo (1984), gran número de cursantes desaprueban las comisiones existentes; entonces es que me pregunté: ¿cuál es el problema por el que tantos alumnos desaprueban estos ejes? En base a eso he decidido investigar sobre dicho tema, para conocer si el problema son los alumnos, los docentes, los contenidos, la teoría-práctica, los métodos de enseñanza, los saberes previos, la evaluación, etc. , es decir, los aspectos pedagógicos y didácticos en general. En función de lo desarrollado anteriormente considero que en mi tesis de grado, no podía faltar un capítulo de la historia de la Natación en la Ciudad de La Plata. Dicho capítulo es el primero de la tesina, en el cual describo en un recorrido socio-histórico la creación de la ciudad de La Plata, detallo cómo y por qué han surgido los primeros clubes deportivos con sus respectivos natatorios en la ciudad. Particularizo sobre la creación de la UNLP y cómo ha llegado el PUEF a incorporarse en la FaHCE. Y por último, relato la incorporación del el eje Natación en el plan de estudios como así mismo en las asignaturas Educación Física 2 y 3. Describir el contexto socio- histórico cultural es importante para poder comprender el motivo y las circunstancias de la incorporación de la natación en el PUEF. Metodológicamente me inclinaré por una investigación cualitativa y cuantitativa donde la recolección de datos será realizada por medio de encuestas, entrevistas y observaciones de campo. Así mismo, otro tipo de fuentes como planes de estudio, leyes o legislación, material bibliográfico, serán analizados. Para finalizar, intentaré triangular los datos relevados en el trabajo de campo con el objeto de arribar a conclusiones posibles y dar respuesta a mi interrogante

Historia de la natación en la ciudad de La Plata

El presente texto hace referencia a mis estudios de tesina de grado los cuales me encuentro realizando para la Licenciatura Universitaria en Educación Física (LUEF) en el Departamento de Educación Física de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FaHCE) de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). Mientras transcurría el período de cursadas en el Profesorado Universitario en Educación Física (PUEF), más específicamente desde el ingreso a la carrera, he observado el problema de que los alumnos que cursan los ejes Natación 1 y 2 en las asignaturas Educación Física 2 y 3 en el segundo y tercer año del plan de estudios vigente (2000) comparado con otro plan mas antiguo (1984), gran número de cursantes desaprueban las comisiones existentes; entonces es que me pregunté: ¿cuál es el problema por el que tantos alumnos desaprueban estos ejes? En base a eso he decidido investigar sobre dicho tema, para conocer si el problema son los alumnos, los docentes, los contenidos, la teoría-práctica, los métodos de enseñanza, los saberes previos, la evaluación, etc. , es decir, los aspectos pedagógicos y didácticos en general. En función de lo desarrollado anteriormente considero que en mi tesis de grado, no podía faltar un capítulo de la historia de la Natación en la Ciudad de La Plata. Dicho capítulo es el primero de la tesina, en el cual describo en un recorrido socio-histórico la creación de la ciudad de La Plata, detallo cómo y por qué han surgido los primeros clubes deportivos con sus respectivos natatorios en la ciudad. Particularizo sobre la creación de la UNLP y cómo ha llegado el PUEF a incorporarse en la FaHCE. Y por último, relato la incorporación del el eje Natación en el plan de estudios como así mismo en las asignaturas Educación Física 2 y 3. Describir el contexto socio- histórico cultural es importante para poder comprender el motivo y las circunstancias de la incorporación de la natación en el PUEF. Metodológicamente me inclinaré por una investigación cualitativa y cuantitativa donde la recolección de datos será realizada por medio de encuestas, entrevistas y observaciones de campo. Así mismo, otro tipo de fuentes como planes de estudio, leyes o legislación, material bibliográfico, serán analizados. Para finalizar, intentaré triangular los datos relevados en el trabajo de campo con el objeto de arribar a conclusiones posibles y dar respuesta a mi interrogante

Three new Mersenne primes, and a conjecture /

Bibliography: leaf 6.

The real number system,

Mode of access: Internet.

The structure of arithmetic and algebra.

Mode of access: Internet.

Historia de la natación en la ciudad de La Plata

El presente texto hace referencia a mis estudios de tesina de grado los cuales me encuentro realizando para la Licenciatura Universitaria en Educación Física (LUEF) en el Departamento de Educación Física de la Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FaHCE) de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). Mientras transcurría el período de cursadas en el Profesorado Universitario en Educación Física (PUEF), más específicamente desde el ingreso a la carrera, he observado el problema de que los alumnos que cursan los ejes Natación 1 y 2 en las asignaturas Educación Física 2 y 3 en el segundo y tercer año del plan de estudios vigente (2000) comparado con otro plan mas antiguo (1984), gran número de cursantes desaprueban las comisiones existentes; entonces es que me pregunté: ¿cuál es el problema por el que tantos alumnos desaprueban estos ejes? En base a eso he decidido investigar sobre dicho tema, para conocer si el problema son los alumnos, los docentes, los contenidos, la teoría-práctica, los métodos de enseñanza, los saberes previos, la evaluación, etc. , es decir, los aspectos pedagógicos y didácticos en general. En función de lo desarrollado anteriormente considero que en mi tesis de grado, no podía faltar un capítulo de la historia de la Natación en la Ciudad de La Plata. Dicho capítulo es el primero de la tesina, en el cual describo en un recorrido socio-histórico la creación de la ciudad de La Plata, detallo cómo y por qué han surgido los primeros clubes deportivos con sus respectivos natatorios en la ciudad. Particularizo sobre la creación de la UNLP y cómo ha llegado el PUEF a incorporarse en la FaHCE. Y por último, relato la incorporación del el eje Natación en el plan de estudios como así mismo en las asignaturas Educación Física 2 y 3. Describir el contexto socio- histórico cultural es importante para poder comprender el motivo y las circunstancias de la incorporación de la natación en el PUEF. Metodológicamente me inclinaré por una investigación cualitativa y cuantitativa donde la recolección de datos será realizada por medio de encuestas, entrevistas y observaciones de campo. Así mismo, otro tipo de fuentes como planes de estudio, leyes o legislación, material bibliográfico, serán analizados. Para finalizar, intentaré triangular los datos relevados en el trabajo de campo con el objeto de arribar a conclusiones posibles y dar respuesta a mi interrogante

Blind detection of PAM and QAM in fading channels

This correspondence considers block detection for blind wireless digital transmission. At high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), block detection errors are primarily due to the received sequence having multiple possible decoded sequences with the same likelihood. We derive analytic expressions for the probability of detection ambiguity written in terms of a Dedekind zeta function, in the zero noise case with large constellations. Expressions are also provided for finite constellations, which can be evaluated efficiently, independent of the block length. Simulations demonstrate that the analytically derived error floors exist at high SNR.

Powers and Logarithms

There are applied power mappings in algebras with logarithms induced by a given linear operator D in order to study particular properties of powers of logarithms. Main results of this paper will be concerned with the case when an algebra under consideration is commutative and has a unit and the operator D satisfies the Leibniz condition, i.e. D(xy) = xDy + yDx for x, y ∈ dom D. Note that in the Number Theory there are well-known several formulae expressed by means of some combinations of powers of logarithmic and antilogarithmic mappings or powers of logarithms and antilogarithms (cf. for instance, the survey of Schinzel S[1].

Interaction of Kelvin waves and nonlocality of energy transfer in superfluids

We argue that the physics of interacting Kelvin Waves (KWs) is highly nontrivial and cannot be understood on the basis of pure dimensional reasoning. A consistent theory of KW turbulence in superfluids should be based upon explicit knowledge of their interactions. To achieve this, we present a detailed calculation and comprehensive analysis of the interaction coefficients for KW turbuelence, thereby, resolving previous mistakes stemming from unaccounted contributions. As a first application of this analysis, we derive a local nonlinear (partial differential) equation. This equation is much simpler for analysis and numerical simulations of KWs than the Biot-Savart equation, and in contrast to the completely integrable local induction approximation (in which the energy exchange between KWs is absent), describes the nonlinear dynamics of KWs. Second, we show that the previously suggested Kozik-Svistunov energy spectrum for KWs, which has often been used in the analysis of experimental and numerical data in superfluid turbulence, is irrelevant, because it is based upon an erroneous assumption of the locality of the energy transfer through scales. Moreover, we demonstrate the weak nonlocality of the inverse cascade spectrum with a constant particle-number flux and find resulting logarithmic corrections to this spectrum.

Investigation of generation -recombination noise and related processes in aluminum gallium arsenide TEGFETs and Hall structures with quantum wells

Experimental and theoretical studies regarding noise processes in various kinds of AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures with a quantum well are reported. The measurement processes, involving a Fast Fourier Transform and analog wave analyzer in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 1 MHz, a computerized data storage and processing system, and cryostat in the temperature range from 78 K to 300 K are described in detail. The current noise spectra are obtained with the “three-point method”, using a Quan-Tech and avalanche noise source for calibration. ^ The properties of both GaAs and AlGaAs materials and field effect transistors, based on the two-dimensional electron gas in the interface quantum well, are discussed. Extensive measurements are performed in three types of heterostructures, viz., Hall structures with a large spacer layer, modulation-doped non-gated FETs, and more standard gated FETs; all structures are grown by MBE techniques. ^ The Hall structures show Lorentzian generation-recombination noise spectra with near temperature independent relaxation times. This noise is attributed to g-r processes in the 2D electron gas. For the TEGFET structures, we observe several Lorentzian g-r noise components which have strongly temperature dependent relaxation times. This noise is attributed to trapping processes in the doped AlGaAs layer. The trap level energies are determined from an Arrhenius plot of log (τT2) versus 1/T as well as from the plateau values. The theory to interpret these measurements and to extract the defect level data is reviewed and further developed. Good agreement with the data is found for all reported devices. ^

Size and variability of crop productivity both impacted by CO2 enrichment and warming-A case study of 4 year field experiment in a Chinese paddy

Acknowledgement Construction and maintenance of the experiment system was funded by the state Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest “Climate Change Impacts on Crop Production and Mitigation” under a grant number 200903003. This work was financially supported by Ministry of Science and Technology of China under a grant number 2012BAC19B01 and Department of Science and Technology of Jiangsu province under a grant number BK20150684. The international cooperation was funded by “111 project” (B12009) and the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD). The contribution of Pete Smith was funded by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) under UK-China Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Network (SAIN). The contribution of Timothy Filley was also funded by the state foreign expert agency under a project of Foreign High-end expert program. The authors thank Jiangsu Tianniang Agro-Technology Company Ltd. for the assistance in maintaining the experiment system.

The Political Economy of Climate Adaptation and Environmental Health: The Case of Ethiopia

The environment affects our health, livelihoods, and the social and political institutions within which we interact. Indeed, nearly a quarter of the global disease burden is attributed to environmental factors, and many of these factors are exacerbated by global climate change. Thus, the central research question of this dissertation is: How do people cope with and adapt to uncertainty, complexity, and change of environmental and health conditions? Specifically, I ask how institutional factors, risk aversion, and behaviors affect environmental health outcomes. I further assess the role of social capital in climate adaptation, and specifically compare individual and collective adaptation. I then analyze how policy develops accounting for both adaptation to the effects of climate and mitigation of climate-changing emissions. In order to empirically test the relationships between these variables at multiple levels, I combine multiple methods, including semi-structured interviews, surveys, and field experiments, along with health and water quality data. This dissertation uses the case of Ethiopia, Africa’s second-most populous nation, which has a large rural population and is considered very vulnerable to climate change. My fieldwork included interviews and institutional data collection at the national level, and a three-year study (2012-2014) of approximately 400 households in 20 villages in the Ethiopian Rift Valley. I evaluate the theoretical relationships between households, communities, and government in the process of adaptation to environmental stresses. Through my analyses, I demonstrate that water source choice varies by individual risk aversion and institutional context, which ultimately has implications for environmental health outcomes. I show that qualitative measures of trust predict cooperation in adaptation, consistent with social capital theory, but that measures of trust are negatively related with private adaptation by the individual. Finally, I describe how Ethiopia had some unique characteristics, significantly reinforced by international actors, that led to the development of an extensive climate policy, and yet with some challenges remaining for implementation. These results suggest a potential for adaptation through the interactions among individuals, communities, and government in the search for transformative processes when confronting environmental threats and climate change.