Juniperus navicularis - a study of Portuguese population structure and fitness

Juniperus navicularis Gand. is a dioecious endemic conifer that constitutes the understory of seaside pine forests in Portugal, areas currently threatened by increasing urban expansion. The aim of this study is to assess the conservation status of previously known populations of this species located on its core area of distribution. The study was performed in south-west coast of Portugal. Three populations varying in size and pine density were analyzed. Number of individuals, population density, spatial distribution and individual characteristics of junipers were estimated. Female cone, seed characteristics and seed viability were also evaluated. Results suggest that J. navicularis populations are vulnerable because seminal recruitment is scarce, what may lead to a reduction of genetic variability due solely to vegetative propagation. This vulnerability seems to be strongly determined by climatic constraints toward increasing aridity. Ratio between male and female shrubs did not differ from 1:1 in any population. Deviations from 1:1 between mature and non-mature plants were found in all populations, denoting population ageing. Very low seed viability was observed. A major part of described Juniperus navicularis populations have disappeared through direct habitat loss to urban development, loss of fitness in drier and warmer locations and low seed viability. This study is the first to address J. navicularis conservation, and represents a valuable first step toward this species preservation. 

Transgresión de las identidades tradicionales de género mediante la representación gráfica de mujeres protagonistas para videojuegos desarrollada por niños y niñas

El artículo identifica y analiza el discurso predominante que poseen 12 niños y 7 niñas de 7° y 8° año básico pertenecientes a 4 establecimientos educacionales en la ciudad de Talca en Chile, en torno a la transgresión de las identidades tradicionales de la mujer en los videojuegos. Para ello durante el 1° semestre del año 2014 al interior de un programa de formación de profesores/as en Artes Visuales se implementa una estrategia didáctica centrada en la expresión gráfica denominada “Crea tu propia personaje para videojuego”. Haciendo partícipes a niños y niñas junto a profesionales en formación de una propuesta metodológica basada en la Investigación-Acción enmarcada en las prácticas profesionales. Concluyendo tras el análisis semántico de dibujos y relatos, que las imágenes representativas de la mujer en los videojuegos transgreden las identidades tradicionales de género al interior de un marco androcéntrico predominante.

Plato’s Parmenides and understanding the One in the philosophy of Plotinus: an oversight by Heidegger?

The present article focuses on the study of the exegesis by Plotinus with regard to the meaning of the ineffability of the one provided in Plato’s Parmenides in the first hypothesis. He places this first ineffable one at the very centre of his system, which would have important implications from both an ontological point of view and with regard to understanding the language. The conception of reality that derives from the ineffability of the first principle and the implications for the nature of philosophical language that this postulate raises will be the centre of our reflections. To shed light on the position set down in the Enneads, we will review the key points based on the original texts that deal with this issue and related critical works. We will also look at the contemporary relevance of this position and its ability to go beyond the Heideggerian critique of metaphysics.