University of Canterbury

About: University of Canterbury is a education organization based out in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Large Hadron Collider. The organization has 11100 authors who have published 29846 publications receiving 893232 citations. The organization is also known as: Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha & Canterbury College.

A Descriptive Model of the Offense Chain for Child Molesters

Abstract: A grounded theory approach was taken to the qualitative analysis of the descriptions of thoughts and feelings provided by 26 incarcerated child molesters while describing their most recent or typical offense. The resulting descriptive model comprised nine stages, with three contributing factors that describe the sequence of cognitive and behavioral events that form an offense chain. The model incorporates offender type, offense type, and offers a description of the possible interactions between the various stages and factors. The model was then applied to the offense descriptions of an independent sample of 12 incarcerated child molesters in order to ascertain its cross-sample validity and the reliability of classification. The results suggest that the model has provisional validity and adequate interrater reliability. The theoretical, research, and clinical implications of the descriptive model are then discussed.

The Evolution of Heterostyly

Abstract: Charles Darwin was fascinated by the phenomenon of heterostyly. He described (1862, 1877) how he first thought that pin and thrum plants of Primula species represented female and male sexes respectively, but found that they were both functionally hermaphroditic. He demonstrated the infertility of self-pollinations and crosses between plants of the same form, and concluded that the two forms, although hermaphrodites, are “related to each other like males and females… [because plants of each form]… must unite with one of the other form” (Darwin 1862)3.

Estimating biocontrol agent impact with matrix models: carduus nutans in new zealand

Abstract: We demonstrate the use of matrix models to assess the impact of biological control and other pest management strategies with a case study of Carduus nutans (nodding thistle) in New Zealand. Modeling can facilitate the choice of the best control agents, improve evaluation of biocontrol attempts, and assist in the design of integrated pest management plans. Field data for ∼8000 mapped C. nutans plants at two sites in New Zealand were used to develop size-structured matrix models. The matrix models confirm that both populations of C. nutans were increasing in number, as is expected of a noxious weed in its invasion phase. Elasticity analysis indicated that seed/seedling and small-plant/seed transitions were more crucial to population growth than rosette survival rates. However, simulations of attack by the biocontrol agent Rhinocyllus conicus (nodding thistle receptacle weevil) showed that seed losses of ∼69% would be required to make the populations decrease in size, far more than the observed losses of 30–...

Adaptation by a parasitic trematode to local populations of its snail host.

Abstract: In each of two reciprocal cross-infection experiments, a digenetic trematode (Microphallus sp.) was found to be significantly more infective to snails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) from its local host populations. This gives strong evidence for local adaptation by the parasite and indicates that there is a genetic basis to the host-parasite interaction. It is suggested that the parasite should be able to track common snail genotypes within populations and, therefore, that it could be at least partially responsible for the persistence of sexual subpopulations of the snail in those populations that have both obligately sexual and obligately parthenogenetic females.

Averageness, Exaggeration, and Facial Attractiveness

Abstract: Langlois and her colleagues reported in this journal that composite faces are more attractive than the component faces used to create them, and conjectured that averageness is attractive (Langlois & Roggman, 1990, Langlois, Roggman, & Musselman, 1994) However, extremes may also be attractive (Perrett, May, & Yoshikawa, 1994) We investigated the effect of averageness (proximity to a norm or average face) on attractiveness using a computerized caricature generator to vary averageness Attractiveness increased with averageness (Experiment 1) and was negatively correlated with distinctiveness, a subjective measure of the converse of averageness (Expertments 1 and 2) Extremes (caricatures) were not attractive Line-drawing composites, which avoid some of the problems associated with gray-level composites, were significantly more attractive and less distinctive (more average) than individual faces (Experiment 2) These results support the claim that averageness is attractive