PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

UC doctoral student presents research at international conference

2010-11-05
(Press-News.org) Clement Loo, a University of Cincinnati doctoral student in the philosophy program, was one of the featured researchers at the biennial meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association Nov. 4-6 in Montreal, Quebec. The association promotes research, teaching and free discussion of issues in the philosophy of science.

Loo presented research themed around a Nov. 4 session on biology, evolution and selection. His paper was titled, "Invasive Species and Evaluating the Relative Significance of the Shifting Balance Theory."

The paper focused on the R.A. Fisher and Sewall Wright debate on evolutionary theory, arguing in favor of adopting Wright's Shifting Balance Theory over Fisher's theory of selection in exploring how invasive species thrive and overtake native, established populations.

"I was taking a class on invasive species, and one issue that was brought up over and over was that invasive species tend to be in small, fragmented populations, which should suggest that they would be subject to inbreeding effects," says Loo. "Considering those effects, they should have a very hard time establishing populations. But they seem to quite quickly overcome these inbreeding effects and out-compete the native species," says Loo.

Wright's three-phased model of evolution, The Shifting Balance Theory, suggested that "through migration or simply growth and expansion into common ranges, random mating is restored in isolated populations (such as invasive species)," Loo states in the paper. Research focused merely on Fisherian gradual mass selection in large populations fails to recognize the more nuanced processes underlying the evolution of invasiveness, says Loo.

To make his case, Loo examined previous research on 80 invasive species covering plants, birds, reptiles, mammals, insects and other species.

### Loo is a doctoral candidate in the Philosophy Department's science track, a program requiring interdisciplinary study in the sciences. His dissertation research explores various strategies for the assessment of ecosystem sustainability.

Loo says his interdisciplinary study has ranged from biology and environmental studies to design.

A native of Alberta, Canada, Loo earned bachelor's degrees in psychology and philosophy from the University of Calgary, as well as his master's degree in philosophy, before pursuing his doctoral degree at UC.

The UC Philosophy Department in the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences offers a full range of courses in the history of philosophy and contemporary philosophical problems.

END



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

National Science Foundation launches "Innovation Nation"

2010-11-05
The National Science Foundation (NSF) today released the first in a series of video programs called Innovation Nation, hosted by veteran science and technology correspondent Miles O'Brien and currently airing nationally on the the Science Channel. Innovation Nation is a quick look at what happens when genius meets possibility: stories about some of the NSF-funded inventions and research shaping our world. The 26-part video series is produced by CBS News Productions, in partnership with the National Science Foundation and Discovery Science. Each episode is one minute ...

Food-allergy fears drive overly restrictive diets

2010-11-05
Many children, especially those with eczema, are unnecessarily avoiding foods based on incomplete information about potential food-allergies, according to researchers at National Jewish Health. The food avoidance poses a nutritional risk for these children, and is often based primarily on data from blood tests known as serum immunoassays. Many factors, including patient and family history, physical examination, and blood and skin tests, should be used when evaluating potential food allergies. The oral food challenge, in which patients consume the suspected allergenic food, ...

MU grad student simulates 100 years of farming to measure agriculture's impact on land and water quality

2010-11-05
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Estimating the long-term impact of agriculture on land is tricky when you don't have much information about what a field was like before it was farmed. Some fields in Missouri started producing crops more than a century ago—long before anyone kept detailed records about the physical and chemical properties of the soil in a field. Researchers can't go back in time to revisit old fields in their pristine state, but a University of Missouri graduate student did perhaps the next best thing, using a detailed computer model to simulate, year-by-year, the effects ...

Authors After Dark Reveal Nominations for Annual Bookie Award

2010-11-05
The motto of the organization is "Because Readers Rule Romance". Ballots were distributed to all attendees of the event, which included readers, bloggers and authors. Romance writers in 41 categories were nominated for their prestigous Bookie Award for 2010. My latest paranormal/shifter Where The Rain Is Made was nominated under "Best E-book Novel". You can find out more about Authors After Dark when voting opens in November here: About Where The Rain Is Made After a decadent-looking savage captures Francesca DuVall and her brother Marsh, she spends every waking ...

Lanner Group and HospitaLogix Announce Hospital Design and Process Improvement Consulting Partnership; Major Savings Already Achieved at Chicago's Rush University Medical Center Campus Update Program

2010-11-05
Lanner Group, the process improvement solution and simulation software provider, and HospitaLogix, the healthcare logistics and operations planning specialist, have agreed a new consultancy partnership following a joint collaboration on a project for Chicago's Rush University Medical Center. As part of the Rush's $1 billion Campus Transformation, the Lanner Group / HospitaLogix project included the development of a consulting methodology that led to the program making major savings and performance improvement. The new methodology is based on expertise in healthcare, ...

Internet Business Group (IBG) Celebrates New Grand Opening Of Las Vegas Office

2010-11-05
Internet Business Group (IBG) is pleased to announce that it will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Las Vegas area offices from 5:30PM to 7:30PM on November 5, 2010. Notable leaders of the Las Vegas business community are expected to attend this catered event. IBG is Las Vegas' largest full service Internet Marketing and Reputation Management firm. IBG works with its clients to create a dynamic and evolving marketing message and executes it across multiple platforms giving a broad reach. IBG represents political campaigns, hotels, nightclubs, rehabilitation ...

Brats Launch Bratcon (The Brat Connection) Radio Show

2010-11-05
No, not the kind of brats born into monied families with a silver spoon in their mouth and always whining about something! We're talking about "Military Brats" - the sons and daughters of current and former service members and other federal government employees who were and are currently posted at military or government installations in the U.S. and around the world. American BRATS, an acronym borrowed from the British (British Regimental Attached Traveler), were first created following World War II. The rebuilding of Europe and Japan required large concentrations of ...

DIG Coaching Practice presents ADHD: The Problem with Goal, Objective, Result-Based Outcomes on Attention Talk Radio with host Jeff Copper, attention coach

2010-11-05
DIG Coaching Practice presents Attention Talk Radio with host and attention coach, Jeff Copper, on the topic of ADHD: The Problem with Goal, Objective, and Result-Based Outcomes. The program takes a look at outcomes and the challenges they present to those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Jeff Copper, founder of DIG Coaching Practice, is one of the world's few attention coaches and helps businesses, individuals, and those with attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) pay attention to the right thing. He obtained his master of business administration ...

What's the Best Way to Heal a Broken Heart? Throw a Fundraiser for the Local Food Pantry, of Course!

2010-11-05
For over 150 years, the people of Greenpoint Church have faithfully served their community in Greenpoint, Brooklyn in many ways such as affordable housing, dinner/food pantry and encouraging the arts. They have also opened their doors to community organizations such as t is utilized by several community groups including the Greenpoint Williamsburg Youth Soccer League, Alcoholics Anonymousand Nar-Anon. One parishioner, grateful for the many services of the church has provided over the years, decided to turn a time of heartache into one of rejoicing and giving. When her ...

Kensington Master Builders Launches Canada's First BuiltGreen Show Home Audio Tour

2010-11-05
Kensington Master Builders, an award winning Edmonton custom home builder announced today that it will showcase its latest industry leading green show home with audio tours in English and Hindi and plans to add French and Mandarin translations soon. As Canada's first luxury home builder to provide audio guides for show home tours, Kensington Master Builders is showcasing its craftsmanship and eco-friendly, energy-efficient technology with audio tours that highlight its innovative BuiltGreen home building features and techniques. Kensington creates custom homes that ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

University of Tennessee, Lockheed Martin expand Master Research Agreement

Testing thousands of RNA enzymes helps find first ‘twister ribozyme’ in mammals

Groundbreaking study provides new evidence of when Earth was slushy

International survey of more than 1600 biomedical researchers on the perceived causes of irreproducibility of research results

Integrating data from different experimental approaches into one model is challenging – this study presents a community-based, full-scale in silico model of the rat hippocampal CA1 region that integra

SwRI awarded grant to characterize Las Moras Springs watershed

Water overuse in MATOPIBA could mean failure to meet up to 40% of local demand for crop irrigation

An extra year of education does not protect against brain aging

Researchers from Uppsala and Magdeburg obtain an ERC Synergy Grant to advance cancer immunotherapy

Deaf male mosquitoes don’t mate

Recognizing traumatic brain injury as a chronic condition fosters better care over the survivor’s lifetime

SwRI’s Dr. James Walker receives Distinguished Scientist Award from Hypervelocity Impact Society

A mother’s health problems pose a risk to her children

Ensuring a bright future for diamond electronics and sensors

The American Pediatric Society selects Dr. Maria Trent as the Recipient of the 2025 David G. Nichols Health Equity Award

The first 3D view of the formation and evolution of globular clusters

Towards a hydrogen-powered future: highly sensitive hydrogen detection system

Scanning synaptic receptors: A game-changer for understanding psychiatric disorders

High-quality nanomechanical resonators with built-in piezoelectricity

ERC Synergy Grants for 57 teams tackling major scientific challenges

Nordic research team receives €13 million to explore medieval book culture 

The origin of writing in Mesopotamia is tied to designs engraved on ancient cylinder seals

Explaining science through dance

Pioneering neuroendocrinologist's century of discovery launches major scientific tribute series

Gendered bilingualism in post-colonial Korea

Structural safety monitoring of buildings with color variations

Bio-based fibers could pose greater threat to the environment than conventional plastics

Bacteria breakthrough could accelerate mosquito control schemes

Argonne to help drive AI revolution in astronomy with new institute led by Northwestern University

Medicaid funding for addiction treatment hasn’t curbed overdose deaths

[Press-News.org] UC doctoral student presents research at international conference