Inter-annual variations in the floristic and population structure of an herbaceous community of "caatinga" vegetation in Pernambuco, Brazil

The influence of climatic variations on the herbaceous component of the "caatinga" vegetation was examined in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. A total of 105 1 × 1 m-plots were established, of which 35 were in a level micro-habitat, 35 in a riparian micro-habitat, and 35 in a stony microhabitat. During two consecutive years all herbaceous plants in these plots were counted, measured (height and diameter), and collected for identification. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index and the equitability were calculated for each year, as well as the density, frequency, dominance, total basal area and importance index for each species. The total annual pluviometric was 819.5 and 448.8 mm in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The herbaceous flora in the study area was composed of 71 species, of which 58 were sampled in the plots. The families with the greatest species richness were Malvaceae (8 species), Euphorbiaceae (7), Poaceae (6), Convolvulaceae (4), Fabaceae (4), and Portulacaceae (4). The diversity indices were 2.66 and 3.01 nats ind-1 in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The density, frequency, dominance and importance value of herbaceous populations, as well as, the height and diameter of plants were low in the dryer year. The riparian group was the most isolated of the microhabitats examined, both in terms of its floristic and its population structure. Annual seasonal climatic variations greatly modified these populations structure during the course of this study, emphasizing the fact that long-term studies are needed in order to better understand the dynamics of the herbaceous component of the "caatinga" vegetation.

An Update on Inter-Country Differences in Recovery and Utilization of Recycled Paper

The use of recovered paper as raw material in the paper and board industry has increased heavily during recent decades. At the same time, growing environmental awareness has raised the interest in recycling and a more sustainable way of living, at least in high-income countries. This paper combines these topics and explores how economic, demographic and environmental factors have affected the recovery and utilization of recycled paper between 1992 and 2010 in a sample of 70 countries. This study updates and extends the previous research on the topic using panel data and panel data estimation methods. The results confirm the roles of economic determinants but also indicate that concern for the environment impacts the recovery of recycled paper particularly in high-income countries. Moreover, the motives for recycling appear to depend on the income level of a country, which is something that future policies should consider.

Territorium Archangelopolin inter Petroburgum et Vologdam.

[N. 1:1400000].

Concordia eaque inter fratres praecipuè rara

Variantti A.

Comparatio, inter Iphigeniam in Aulide, Euripidis et Racinii 1

Arkit: 1 arkintunnukseton lehti, A-B4 C2. - S. [2] tyhjä.

Comparatio, inter Iphigeniam in Aulide, Euripidis et Racinii 2

Arkit: 1 arkintunnukseton lehti, C3-C4 D-E4. - S. [2] ja [40] tyhjä.

De detegendo capite inter orandum & prophetandum ex I. Cor. XI.v.4

Invokaatio: Σ.Θ.

Comparatio inter eclogam Virgilii quartam et Calpurnii primam

Dedikaatio: Carl Rehbinder.

De communicatione caloris inter fluida commixta examinans

Dedikaatio: Carolus Fridericus Mennander, Nicolaus Hedeen, Johannes Gottleben, Henric Soenck, Pehr Sonck, Abraham Sonck, Johan Rahgo, Margareta Hoeckert född Turowia.

Semi-automatic measurement of visual verticality perception in humans reveals a new category of visual field dependency

Previous assessment of verticality by means of rod and rod and frame tests indicated that human subjects can be more (field dependent) or less (field independent) influenced by a frame placed around a tilted rod. In the present study we propose a new approach to these tests. The judgment of visual verticality (rod test) was evaluated in 50 young subjects (28 males, ranging in age from 20 to 27 years) by randomly projecting a luminous rod tilted between -18 and +18° (negative values indicating left tilts) onto a tangent screen. In the rod and frame test the rod was displayed within a luminous fixed frame tilted at +18 or -18°. Subjects were instructed to verbally indicate the rod’s inclination direction (forced choice). Visual dependency was estimated by means of a Visual Index calculated from rod and rod and frame test values. Based on this index, volunteers were classified as field dependent, intermediate and field independent. A fourth category was created within the field-independent subjects for whom the amount of correct guesses in the rod and frame test exceeded that of the rod test, thus indicating improved performance when a surrounding frame was present. In conclusion, the combined use of subjective visual vertical and the rod and frame test provides a specific and reliable form of evaluation of verticality in healthy subjects and might be of use to probe changes in brain function after central or peripheral lesions.

Aphorismi morales, nexum inter legem & officium in statu ordinario et extraordinario brevissime delineantes

Invokaatio: D.D.

De convenientia inter dogmata Nicolai Machiavelli et vitam Oliverii Cromvelli 1

Variantti B.