scholarly journals On the environmental zero-point problem in microevolutionary climate response predictions

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rolf Ergon
Keyword(s):  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Zero Point ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Global Maximum ◽  
Point Problem ◽  
Microevolutionary Change ◽  
Mean Fitness ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Parameter Values

It is well documented that populations adapt to climate change by means of phenotypic plasticity, but few reports on adaptation by means of genetically based microevolution caused by selection. Disentanglement of these separate effects requires that the environmental zero-point is defined, and this should not be done arbitrarily. Together with parameter values, the zero-point can be estimated from environmental, phenotypic and fitness data. A prediction error method for this purpose is described, with the feasibility shown by simulations. An estimated environmental zero-point may have large errors, especially for small populations, but may still be a better choice than use of an initial environmental value in a recorded time series, or the mean value, which is often used. Another alternative may be to use the mean value of a past and stationary stochastic environment, which the population is judged to have been fully adapted to, in the sense that the mean fitness was at a global maximum. An exception is here cases with constant phenotypic plasticity, where the microevolutionary change per generation follows directly from phenotypic and environmental data, independent of the chosen environmental zero-point.

scholarly journals The Anomalous Effects of Biased Mutation

Genetics ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 164 (4) ◽  
pp. 1615-1626
Author(s):  
D Waxman ◽  
J R Peck
Keyword(s):  
Quantitative Genetics ◽  
Quantitative Trait ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Stabilizing Selection ◽  
Nonmonotonic Dependence ◽  
Genetic Constraints ◽  
Unconstrained Model ◽  
Parental Allele ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Parameter Values

Abstract A model is presented in which alleles at a number of loci combine to influence the value of a quantitative trait that is subject to stabilizing selection. Mutations can occur to alleles at the loci under consideration. Some of these mutations will tend to increase the value of the trait, while others will tend to decrease it. In contrast to most previous models, we allow the mean effect of mutations to be nonzero. This means that, on average, mutations can have a bias, such that they tend to either increase or decrease the value of the trait. We find, unsurprisingly, that biased mutation moves the equilibrium mean value of the quantitative trait in the direction of the bias. What is more surprising is the behavior of the deviation of the equilibrium mean value of the trait from its optimal value. This has a nonmonotonic dependence on the degree of bias, so that increasing the degree of bias can actually bring the mean phenotype closer to the optimal phenotype. Furthermore, there is a definite maximum to the extent to which biased mutation can cause a difference between the mean phenotype and the optimum. For plausible parameter values, this maximum-possible difference is small. Typically, quantitative-genetics models assume an unconstrained model of mutation, where the expected difference in effect between a parental allele and a mutant allele is independent of the current state of the parental allele. Our results show that models of this sort can easily lead to biologically implausible consequences when mutations are biased. In particular, unconstrained mutation typically leads to a continual increase or decrease in the mean allelic effects at all trait-controlling loci. Thus at each of these loci, the mean allelic effect eventually becomes extreme. This suggests that some of the models of mutation most commonly used in quantitative genetics should be modified so as to introduce genetic constraints.

scholarly journals The Far-Infrared Properties of the Most Isolated Galaxies

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 (S235) ◽  
pp. 219-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Lisenfeld ◽  
L. Verdes-Montenegro ◽  
J. Sulentic ◽  
S. Leon ◽  
D. Espada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zero Point ◽  
Far Infrared ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Dust Temperature ◽  
Isolated Galaxies ◽  
Optical Images ◽  
Luminous Galaxies ◽  
Interacting Systems ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Binary Galaxy

AbstractWe describe the mid- (MIR) and far- (FIR) infrared properties of a large (~1000) sample of the most isolated galaxies in the local Universe. This sample is intended as a “nurture-free” zero point against which more environmentally influenced samples can be compared. We reprocess IRAS MIR/FIR survey data using the ADDSCAN/SCANPI utility for 1030 out of 1050 galaxies from the Catalogue of Isolated Galaxies (CIG) as part of the AMIGA project. We focus on diagnostics (FIR luminosity LFIR, R = log(LFIR/LB) and IRAS colours) thought to be sensitive to effects of environment or interaction. The distribution of log(LFIR) is sharply peaked from 9.0–10.5 with very few (<2%) galaxies above 10.5. Review of available optical images of the most FIR luminous galaxies finds the majority to be, likely, interacting systems missed in our earlier morphological reevaluation. The optically normalised luminosity diagnostic R = log(LFIR/LB) shows a distribution sharply peaked between 0.0 and −1.0. These results were compared to the magnitude limited CfA sample that was selected without environmental discrimination. This modestly (e.g. compared to cluster, binary galaxy and compact group samples) environmentally affected sample shows significantly higher mean log(LFIR) and R, whereas the mean log(LB) is the same. Our sample shows a strong LFIR vs. LB correlation, with a slope steeper than one (LFIR ∝ L1.41B). Interacting galaxies were found above this correlation, showing an enhancement in LFIR. With respect to the IRAS colours, we found higher F60/F100 value for ellipticals and late-type galaxies than for spirals, indicating a higher dust temperature. The mean value of F60/F100 was found to be lower than for interacting samples from the literature. The results indicate that the FIR emission is a variable enhanced by interaction, and that our sample probably shows the lowest possible mean value. This attests to the utility of our sample for defining a nurture-free zero point. More details can be found in the paper (The AMIGA sample of isolated galaxies, III. IRAS data and infrared diagnositics, U. Lisenfeld et al.) which is accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

scholarly journals Error thresholds and stationary mutant distributions in multi-locus diploid genetics models

1994 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul G. Higgs
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Reproduction ◽  
Fitness Landscape ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Error Threshold ◽  
Sharp Transition ◽  
Epistatic Interactions ◽  
Sexual Population ◽  
Mean Fitness ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Parameter Values

SummaryWe study multi-locus models for the accumulation of disadvantagenous mutant alleles in diploid populations. The theory used is closely related to the quasi-species theory of molecular evolution. The stationary mutant distribution may either be localized close to a peak in the fitness landscape or delocalized throughout sequence space. In some cases there is a sharp transition between these two cases known as an error threshold. We study a multiplicative fitness landscape where the fitness of an individual with j homozygous mutant loci and k heterozygous loci is wjk = (1 − s)j (1 − hs)k. For a sexual population in this landscape there are two types of solution separated by an error threshold. For a parthenogenetic population there may be three types of solution and two error thresholds for some values of h. For a population reproducing by selfing the solution is independent of h, since the frequency of heterozygous individuals is negligible. The mean fitnesses of the populations depend on the reproductive method even for the multiplicative landscape. The sexual may have a higher or lower fitness than the parthenogen, depending on the values of h and u/s. Selfing leads to a higher mean fitness than either sexual reproduction or parthenogenesis. We also study a fitness landscape with epistatic interactions with wjk = exp(− s(2j + k)α). The sexual population has a higher fitness than the parthenogen when α > 1. This confirms previous theories that sexual reproduction is advantageous in cases of synergistic epistasis. The mean fitness of a selfing population was found to be higher than both the sexual and the parthenogen over the range of parameter values studied. We discuss these results in relation to the theory of the evolution of sex. The fitness of the stationary distribution in cases where unfavourable mutations accumulation is one factor which could explain the observed prevalence of sexual reproduction in natural populations, although other factors may be more important in many cases.

scholarly journals Revised Baade–Wesselink Analysis of RR Lyrae Stars

2000 ◽  
Vol 176 ◽  
pp. 176-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Cacciari ◽  
Gisella Clementini1 ◽  
Fiorella Castelli ◽  
Fabrizio Melandri
Keyword(s):  
Radial Velocity ◽  
Zero Point ◽  
Absolute Magnitude ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Rr Lyrae Stars ◽  
Rr Lyrae ◽  
Proper Comparison ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Lyrae Stars

AbstractWe have applied the Baade–Wesselink method to two field RR Lyrae stars, i.e. SW And and RR Cet, and derived their distances and physical parameters. With respect to previous B–W analyses we have applied the following improvements: i) use of all sets of available data, after proper comparison for homogeneity and compatibility; ii) use of the most recent and accurate model atmospheres, with turbulent velocity Vturb = 4 km s−1 and the no-overshooting approximation, and comparison with other treatments of convection; iii) use of the instantaneous gravity along the pulsation cycle rather than the mean value; iv) comparison with modified radial velocity curves according to various assumptions on radial velocity gradients in the atmosphere; and v) careful reanalysis of the temperature scale. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the above items on the B–W results and verify whether any (or a combination) of them can possibly account for the discrepancy of the absolute magnitude zero-point with respect to other independent determinations.

scholarly journals Ramanujan's lattice point problem, prime number theory and other remarks.

1996 ◽  
Vol Volume 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Ramachandra ◽  
A Sankaranarayanan ◽  
K Srinivas
Keyword(s):  
Number Theory ◽  
Lattice Point ◽  
Error Term ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Point Problem ◽  
Lattice Point Problem ◽  
The Third ◽  
Titchmarsh Theorem ◽  
International Audience ◽  
The Mean

International audience This paper gives results on four diverse topics. The first result is that the error term for the number of integers $2^u3^v \le n$ is $O((\log n)^{1-\delta})$ with $\delta=(2^{40}(\log3))^{-1}$, using a theorem of A. Baker and G. W\"ustholz. The second result is an averaged explicit formula \[ \psi(x) = x-\frac{1}{T} \int_{T}^{2T} \left( \sum \limits_{|\gamma| \le \tau} \frac{x^{\rho}}{\rho} \right) \ d\tau + O \left( \frac{\log x}{\log \frac{x}{T}}\cdot \frac{x}{T} \right) \] for $x \gg T \gg 1$. It then follows, by the Riemann hypothesis, that $\psi (x+h)-\psi (x)= h+ O \left ( h \lambda^{1/2} \right )$ if $h=\lambda x^{1/2} \log x$. The third theme tightens the $\log$ powers in the zero density bounds of Ingham and Huxley, and gives corollaries for the mean-value of $\psi (x+h)-\psi (x)-h$. The fourth remark concerns a hypothetical improvement in the constant 2 in the Brun-Titchmarsh theorem, averaged over congruence classes, and its consequence for $L \left ( 1,\chi \right )$.

Long-period modulated superstructures in Pd-12.5 at.%Ce and Pd-15 at.%Ce alloys

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 164-165
Author(s):  
Noriyuki Kuwano ◽  
Masaru Itakura ◽  
Kensuke Oki
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Heavy Elements ◽  
Arc Furnace ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Long Period ◽  
Ultra High Purity ◽  
Heat Treated ◽  
Atomic Scattering ◽  
The Mean

Pd-Ce alloys exhibit various anomalies in physical properties due to mixed valences of Ce, and the anomalies are thought to be strongly related with the crystal structures. Since Pd and Ce are both heavy elements, relative magnitudes of (fcc-fpd) are so small compared with <f> that superlattice reflections, even if any, sometimes cannot be detected in conventional x-ray powder patterns, where fee and fpd are atomic scattering factors of Ce and Pd, and <f> the mean value in the crystal. However, superlattices in Pd-Ce alloys can be analyzed by electron microscopy, thanks to the high detectability of electron diffraction. In this work, we investigated modulated superstructures in alloys with 12.5 and 15.0 at.%Ce.Ingots of Pd-Ce alloys were prepared in an arc furnace under atmosphere of ultra high purity argon. The disc specimens cut out from the ingots were heat-treated in vacuum and electrothinned to electron transparency by a jet method.

Partition Coefficient Ratios and Tumour Perfusion Studied with 85mKr and 133Xe

1987 ◽  
Vol 26 (06) ◽  
pp. 253-257
Author(s):  
M. Mäntylä ◽  
J. Perkkiö ◽  
J. Heikkonen
Keyword(s):  
Partition Coefficient ◽  
Partition Coefficients ◽  
Regional Blood Flow ◽  
Blood Perfusion ◽  
Compartmental Analysis ◽  
Malignant Tumour ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Perfusion Rate ◽  
Biological Variables ◽  
The Mean

The relative partition coefficients of krypton and xenon, and the regional blood flow in 27 superficial malignant tumour nodules in 22 patients with diagnosed tumours were measured using the 85mKr- and 133Xe-clearance method. In order to minimize the effect of biological variables on the measurements the radionuclides were injected simultaneously into the tumour. The distribution of the radiotracers was assumed to be in equilibrium at the beginning of the experiment. The blood perfusion was calculated by fitting a two-exponential function to the measuring points. The mean value of the perfusion rate calculated from the xenon results was 13 ± 10 ml/(100 g-min) [range 3 to 38 ml/(100 g-min)] and from the krypton results 19 ± 11 ml/(100 g-min) [range 5 to 45 ml/(100 g-min)]. These values were obtained, if the partition coefficients are equal to one. The equations obtained by using compartmental analysis were used for the calculation of the relative partition coefficient of krypton and xenon. The partition coefficient of krypton was found to be slightly smaller than that of xenon, which may be due to its smaller molecular weight.

Detection of Soluble Fibrin Monomer Complexes in Blood by Means of Protamine Sulphate Test

1968 ◽  
Vol 20 (01/02) ◽  
pp. 044-049 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Lipiński ◽  
K Worowski
Keyword(s):  
Human Subjects ◽  
Coronary Thrombosis ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Healthy Human ◽  
Protamine Sulphate ◽  
Soluble Fibrin ◽  
Fibrin Monomer ◽  
Dog Plasma ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Precipitable Protein

SummaryIn the present paper described is a simple test for detecting soluble fibrin monomer complexes (SFMC) in blood. The test consists in mixing 1% protamine sulphate with diluted oxalated plasma or serum and reading the optical density at 6190 Å. In experiments with dog plasma, enriched with soluble fibrin complexes, it was shown that OD read in PS test is proportional to the amount of fibrin recovered from the precipitate. It was found that SFMC level in plasma increases in rabbits infused intravenously with thrombin and decreases after injection of plasmin with streptokinase. In both cases PS precipitable protein in serum is elevated indicating enhanced fibrinolysis. In healthy human subjects the mean value of OD readings in plasma and sera were found to be 0.30 and 0.11, while in patients with coronary thrombosis they are 0.64 and 0.05 respectively. The origin of SFMC in circulation under physiological and pathological conditions is discussed.

Detection of Circulating Tissue Factor and Factor VII in a Normal Population

1996 ◽  
Vol 75 (05) ◽  
pp. 772-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sybille Albrecht ◽  
Matthias Kotzsch ◽  
Gabriele Siegert ◽  
Thomas Luther ◽  
Heinz Großmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Factor ◽  
Normal Population ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Factor Vii ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
And Gender

SummaryThe plasma tissue factor (TF) concentration was correlated to factor VII concentration (FVIIag) and factor VII activity (FVIIc) in 498 healthy volunteers ranging in age from 17 to 64 years. Immunoassays using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were developed for the determination of TF and FVIIag in plasma. The mAbs and the test systems were characterized. The mean value of the TF concentration was 172 ± 135 pg/ml. TF showed no age- and gender-related differences. For the total population, FVIIc, determined by a clotting test, was 110 ± 15% and the factor VIlag was 0.77 ± 0.19 μg/ml. FVII activity was significantly increased with age, whereas the concentration demonstrated no correlation to age in this population. FVII concentration is highly correlated with the activity as measured by clotting assay using rabbit thromboplastin. The ratio between FVIIc and FVIIag was not age-dependent, but demonstrated a significant difference between men and women. Between TF and FVII we could not detect a correlation.

Determination of Plasminogen in Clots and Thrombi

1966 ◽  
Vol 16 (01/02) ◽  
pp. 038-050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulla Hedner ◽  
Inga Marie Nilsson ◽  
B Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Mean Value ◽  
Main Mechanism ◽  
Clot Lysis ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Digestion Time ◽  
Normal Volunteers ◽  
Casein Solution ◽  
The Mean

SummaryThe plasminogen content was determined by a casein method in plasma and serum from 20 normal volunteers. The mean plasminogen content was found to be 10.1 ACU (the arbitrary caseinolytic unit defined in such a way that using a 3% casein solution and a digestion time of 20 min. at 37°C, 10 ACU gave an extinction of 0.300). No difference between serum and plasma regarding the plasminogen content was found.Plasminogen was determined in drained and drained plus washed clots prepared from 2 ml plasma. The highest values found in the drained clots were 0.9 ACU/clot and 0.2 ACU/clot in the drained plus washed clots.Plasminogen was also determined in drained and drained plus washed clots prepared from plasma with added purified plasminogen. The plasminogen was recovered in the washing fluid. According to these tests, then, purified added plasminogen is washed out of the clots.The plasminogen content of 20 thrombi obtained post mortem was also determined. The mean value was found to be 0.7 ACU/cm thrombus. Judging from our results, the “intrinsic clot lysis theory” is not the main mechanism of clot dissolution.

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