Biogeographic analysis of the woody plants of the Southern Appalachians: Implications for the origins of a regional flora.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: We investigated the origins of 252 Southern Appalachian woody species representing 158 clades to analyze larger patterns of biogeographic connectivity around the northern hemisphere. We tested biogeographic hypotheses regarding the timing of species disjunctions to eastern Asia and among areas of North America. METHODS: We delimited species into biogeographically informative clades, compiled sister-area data, and generated graphic representations of area connections across clades. We calculated taxon diversity within clades and plotted divergence times. KEY RESULTS: Of the total taxon diversity, 45% were distributed among 25 North American endemic clades. Sister taxa within eastern North America and eastern Asia were proportionally equal in frequency, accounting for over 50% of the sister-area connections. At increasing phylogenetic depth, connections to the Old World dominated. Divergence times for 65 clades with intercontinental disjunctions were continuous, whereas 11 intracontinental disjunctions to western North America and nine to eastern Mexico were temporally congruent. CONCLUSIONS: Over one third of the clades have likely undergone speciation within the region of eastern North America. The biogeographic pattern for the region is asymmetric, consisting of mostly mixed-aged, low-diversity clades connecting to the Old World, and a minority of New World clades. Divergence time data suggest that climate change in the Late Miocene to Early Pliocene generated disjunct patterns within North America. Continuous splitting times during the last 45 million years support the hypothesis that widespread distributions formed repeatedly during favorable periods, with serial cooling trends producing pseudocongruent area disjunctions between eastern North America and eastern Asia.

Numerical solutions of certain nonlinear models in European options on a distributed computing environment

Financial modelling in the area of option pricing involves the understanding of the correlations between asset and movements of buy/sell in order to reduce risk in investment. Such activities depend on financial analysis tools being available to the trader with which he can make rapid and systematic evaluation of buy/sell contracts. In turn, analysis tools rely on fast numerical algorithms for the solution of financial mathematical models. There are many different financial activities apart from shares buy/sell activities. The main aim of this chapter is to discuss a distributed algorithm for the numerical solution of a European option. Both linear and non-linear cases are considered. The algorithm is based on the concept of the Laplace transform and its numerical inverse. The scalability of the algorithm is examined. Numerical tests are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm for financial analysis. Time dependent functions for volatility and interest rates are also discussed. Applications of the algorithm to non-linear Black-Scholes equation where the volatility and the interest rate are functions of the option value are included. Some qualitative results of the convergence behaviour of the algorithm is examined. This chapter also examines the various computational issues of the Laplace transformation method in terms of distributed computing. The idea of using a two-level temporal mesh in order to achieve distributed computation along the temporal axis is introduced. Finally, the chapter ends with some conclusions.

��� Humanitarian Competition: An Intellectual History in Perspective���.

Competition has become the mantra for survival in a globalised world where meaningful existence is fraught with demands, which go beyond the material to the immaterial ���byte-size���. This has been exemplified by our obsession with illusions of immediate fame and fortune. This paper contextualises and extends the debate about the role of competition in general. Here the four major myths of competition are explored and deconstructed, from a Darwinian perspective to a more demonstrably engaged perspective on ���capabilities��� (Sen, 1999). The second section deals particularly with the key debates, theories that influenced Tsunesaburo Makiguchi���s seminal ideas of ���humanitarian competition��� in 1903. The final part of the paper seeks to decipher the relevance of the key ideas of ���humanitarian competition��� as proposed by Dr Daisaku Ikeda in his 2009 peace proposal. Here the transition from competition to cooperation is explored by tying together the key principles of global coexistence enunciated by both Makiguchi and Ikeda in the context of expanding spiritual influence by the forces of culture, morality and virtue. To engage with humanitarian competition calls for a major shift from hard power to soft power, from subordination to one of engagement. In other words this concept advances the Buddhist principle of peaceful co-existence, or Panchsheel, as a norm for human behaviour of love, kindness, sacrifice and peace through cooperation, where equality and mutual benefit are critical. Humanitarian competition provides the essential framework to establish a new world order as highlighted by both Makiguchi and Ikeda.

Apparent tolerance of turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac is extremely toxic to Old World Gyps vultures (median lethal dose -0.1-0.2 mg/kg), evoking visceral gout, renal necrosis, and mortality within a few days of exposure. Unintentional secondary poisoning of vultures that fed upon carcasses of diclofenac-treated livestock decimated populations in the Indian subcontinent. Because of the widespread use of diclofenac and other cyclooxygenase-2 inhibiting drugs, a toxicological study was undertaken in turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) as an initial step in examining sensitivity of New World scavenging birds. Two trials were conducted entailing oral gavage of diclofenac at doses ranging from 0.08 to 25 mg/kg body weight. Birds were observed for 7 d, blood samples were collected for plasma chemistry (predose and 12, 24, and 48 h and 7 d postdose), and select individuals were necropsied. Diclofenac failed to evoke overt signs of toxicity, visceral gout, renal necrosis, or elevate plasma uric acid at concentrations greater than 100 times the estimated median lethal dose reported for Gyps vultures. For turkey vultures receiving 8 or 25 mg/kg, the plasma half-life of diclofenac was estimated to be 6 h, and it was apparently cleared after several days as no residues were detectable in liver or kidney at necropsy. Differential sensitivity among avian species is a hallmark of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, and despite the tolerance of turkey vultures to diclofenac, additional studies in related scavenging species seem warranted.

Cross-Cultural Intelligence (CQ): its impact on British Expatriates Adjustment in International Construction Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the facets of cultural intelligence (CQ) (cognitive, meta-cognitive, motivational and behavioural) and the dimensions of cross-cultural adjustment (interaction, general and work adjustment).<br/><br/>Design/methodology/approach: Interviews and questionnaire survey were carried out with British expatriates from the architectural, engineering and construction sector. A total of 191 respondents, with experience from 29 different countries, actively participated in this research. Structural equation model was subsequently developed to investigate the relationship between elements of CQ and cross-cultural adjustment.<br/><br/>Findings: Results of structural equation modelling revealed that collectively all the four aspects of CQ have significant influence on general, interaction and work adjustment, particularly motivational and cognitive CQ. Cognitive CQ which empowers the expatriates with in-depth knowledge about different cultures was a significant predictor of interaction and work adjustment, whereas, motivational CQ is a significant predictor for general and work adjustment. However, no support was gathered for meta-cognitive and behavioural aspects of CQ.<br/><br/>Practical implications: Globally, construction companies and projects are entering an era of increased internationalisation which has prompted the migration/promotion of British construction professionals to different parts of the world for their specialised capabilities and skills. Thus, it is of utmost importance that these professionals adjust to their new world of varied culture and still be productive in their work.<br/><br/>Originality/value: An understanding of these essential factors can actually help British construction organisations to select and mentor individuals and to provide necessary training for successful international assignments.

A multivariate analysis of beta diversity across organisms and environments

<p>We examined variability in hierarchical beta diversity across ecosystems, geographical gradients, and organism groups using multivariate spatial mixed modeling analysis of two independent data sets. The larger data set comprised reported ratios of regional species richness (RSR) to local species richness (LSR) and the second data set consisted of RSR: LSR ratios derived from nested species-area relationships. There was a negative, albeit relatively weak, relationship between beta diversity and latitude. We found only relatively subtle differences in beta diversity among the realms, yet beta diversity was lower in marine systems than in terrestrial or freshwater realms. Beta diversity varied significantly among organisms' major characteristics such as body mass, trophic position, and dispersal type in the larger data set. Organisms that disperse via seeds had highest beta diversity, and passively dispersed organisms showed the lowest beta diversity. Furthermore, autotrophs had lower beta diversity than organisms higher up the food web; omnivores and carnivores had consistently higher beta diversity. This is evidence that beta diversity is simultaneously controlled by extrinsic factors related to geography and environment, and by intrinsic factors related to organism characteristics.</p>

Are there latitudinal gradients in species turnover?

<p>Aim To examine the effect on the observed relationship betw een spatial turnover and latitude of both the measure of beta diversity used and the method of analysis.</p><p>Location The empirical analyses presented herein are for the New World.</p><p>Methods We take the spatial distributions of the owls of the New World as an exemplar data set to investigate the patterns of beta diversity across latitudes revealed by different analytical methods. To illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of alternative measures of beta diversity and different analytical approaches, we also use a simple random distribution model, focusing in particular on the influence of richness gradients and landmass geometry.</p><p>Results Our simple spatial model of turnover demonstrates that different combinations of analytical approach and measure of beta diversity can give rise to strikingly different relationships between turnover and latitude. The analyses of the bird data for the owls of the New World demonstrate that this observation extends to real data.</p><p>Conclusions For the particular assemblage considered, we present strong evidence that species richness declines at higher latitudes, and there is also some evidence that species turnover is greater nearer the equator, despite conceptual and practical difficulties involved in analysing spatial patterns of species turnover. We suggest some ways of overcoming these difficulties.</p>

The geographical structure of British bird distributions:diversity, spatial turnover and scale

<p>1. Using data on the spatial distribution of the British avifauna, we address three basic questions about the spatial structure of assemblages: (i) Is there a relationship between species richness (alpha diversity) and spatial turnover of species (beta diversity)? (ii) Do high richness locations have fewer species in common with neighbouring areas than low richness locations?, and (iii) Are any such relationships contingent on spatial scale (resolution or quadrat area), and do they reflect the operation of a particular kind of species-area relationship (SAR)?</p><p>2. For all measures of spatial turnover, we found a negative relationship with species richness. This held across all scales, with the exception of turnover measured as beta (sim).</p><p>3. Higher richness areas were found to have more species in common with neighbouring areas.</p><p>4. The logarithmic SAR fitted better than the power SAR overall, and fitted significantly better in areas with low richness and high turnover.</p><p>5. Spatial patterns of both turnover and richness vary with scale. The finest scale richness pattern (10 km) and the coarse scale richness pattern (90 km) are statistically unrelated. The same is true of the turnover patterns.</p><p>6. With coarsening scale, locations of the most species-rich quadrats move north. This observed sensitivity of richness 'hotspot' location to spatial scale has implications for conservation biology, e.g. the location of a reserve selected on the basis of maximum richness may change considerably with reserve size or scale of analysis.</p><p>7. Average turnover measured using indices declined with coarsening scale, but the average number of species gained or lost between neighbouring quadrats was essentially scale invariant at 10-13 species, despite mean richness rising from 80 to 146 species (across an 81-fold area increase). We show that this kind of scale invariance is consistent with the logarithmic SAR.</p>

A fauna do Novo Mundo e o dealbar da alimenta����o cient��fica na Europa

As preocupa����es m��dicas com o equil��brio alimentar remontam �� Antiguidade, mas apenas a partir do s��culo XVII o assunto come��ou a ser questionado de modo mais cient��fico e preciso. Dois m��dicos holandeses de renome, Lu��s Nunes (1553-1645) e Willem Piso (1611-1678), estudaram esta quest��o e legaram-nos tratados de inquestion��vel relev��ncia historiogr��fica. Destacamos, em particular, Ichtyophagia sive de piscium esu commentarius (���Ictiofagia ou coment��rio sobre uma alimenta����o pisc��vora���, Antu��rpia, 1616) e De Indiae utriusque re naturali et medica. Libri quatuordecim (���Sobre a ��ndia e sua hist��ria natural e m��dica���, Amesterd��o, 1658). A defesa de uma dieta que inclua o consumo de peixe �� transversal aos dois textos, pois ambos fundam um discurso inaugural em defesa de h��bitos alimentares equilibrados numa ��poca de profundas mudan��as hist��ricas e culturais impostas pelo contacto com as realidades do ex��tico Novo Mundo. Esta influ��ncia �� sobretudo evidente na obra de Piso, especialmente nas suas descri����es de esp��cies de peixes end��micas do Brasil.

Concep����o de uma aplica����o m��vel no ��mbito da ecologia e sustentabilidade ambiental

Trabalho de projeto apresentado �� Escola Superior de Comunica����o Social como parte dos requisitos para obten����o de grau de mestre em Audiovisual e Multim��dia.

RESTAVEC ��� from haitian slave child to middle-class american

Trabalho de Projeto apresentado ao Instituto de Contabilidade e Administra����o do Porto para a obten����o do grau de Mestre em Tradu����o e Interpreta����o Especializadas, sob orienta����o da Doutora Clara Sarmento

Imp��rios Digitais: dos Choques Culturais Anglo-Portugueses aos Jogos de V��deo de Estrat��gia

�� medida que o mundo Ocidental se apresenta cada vez mais subjugado ao primado da tecnologia (Forman, 2007:1), a possibilidade de ignorar o crescente impacte da Ludologia vai-se gradualmente inviabilizando. Atrav��s da adop����o de uma perspectiva anglo-portuguesa, a presente disserta����o focar-se-�� no amplamente popular jogo de v��deo Sid Meier���s Civilization V: Brave New World (2013). Ao (re)interpretar as rela����es luso-brit��nicas no espa��o de tempo compreendido entre 1890 (Ultimatum brit��nico) e 1910 (implanta����o da Primeira Rep��blica Portuguesa), a presente disserta����o tem em vista n��o s�� estudar a imprensa peri��dica portuguesa e inglesa, mas tamb��m demonstrar o modo como o jogo de v��deo em quest��o permite ao jogador desconstruir o ���prepotente��� dom��nio brit��nico sobre o ���little Portugal���. Neste contexto, atribuir-se-�� um lugar de destaque ao evolucionismo de Herbert Spencer. Profundamente respeitado por toda a Europa, durante a segunda metade do s��culo XIX e princ��pios do s��culo XX, o pensamento spenceriano revelou-se fundamental para compreender, por um lado, e em toda a sua extens��o, o discurso jornal��stico de finais do s��culo XIX e in��cios do XX, e, por outro, a narrativa e a est��tica do jogo Sid Meier���s Civilization V: Brave New World. De um modo geral, a presente an��lise visa, acima de tudo, questionar o cariz p��s-colonial do jogo de v��deo sob observa����o e, simultaneamente, a sua capacidade de desafiar, de forma subversiva, o que pode ser tido como uma arrogante soberania brit��nica sobre um Portugal militar, econ��mica e politicamente indefeso.

The specificity of TRIM5 alpha-mediated restriction is influenced by its coiled-coil domain.

Retroviruses are both powerful evolutionary forces and dangerous threats to genome integrity. As such, they have imposed strong selective pressure on their hosts, notably triggering the emergence of restriction factors, such as TRIM5 alpha, that act as potent barriers to their cross-species transmission. TRIM5 alpha orthologues from different primates have distinct retroviral restriction patterns, largely dictated by the sequence of their C-terminal PRYSPRY domain, which binds the capsid protein of incoming virions. Here, by combining genetic and functional analyses of human and squirrel monkey TRIM5 alpha, we demonstrate that the coiled-coil domain of this protein, thus far essentially known for mediating oligomerization, also conditions the spectrum of antiretroviral activity. Furthermore, we identify three coiled-coil residues responsible for this effect, one of which has been under positive selection during primate evolution, notably in New World monkeys. These results indicate that the PRYSPRY and coiled-coil domains cooperate to determine the specificity of TRIM5 alpha-mediated capture of retroviral capsids, shedding new light on this complex event.