Maisy's christmas eve.

Es Nochebuena y Maisy ha invitado a sus amigos a su casa para celebrarla. Cyril y Tallulah están decorando el árbol navideño y Charley ayuda a preparar la cena. Pero ¿dónde esta Eddie?. Sal a la nieve verás dónde se encuentra.

An extreme case of plant-insect co-diversification: figs and fig-pollinating wasps

It is thought that speciation in phytophagous insects is often due to colonization of novel host plants, because radiations of plant and insect lineages are typically asynchronous. Recent phylogenetic comparisons have supported this model of diversification for both insect herbivores and specialized pollinators. An exceptional case where contemporaneous plant insect diversification might be expected is the obligate mutualism between fig trees (Ficus species, Moraceae) and their pollinating wasps (Agaonidae, Hymenoptera). The ubiquity and ecological significance of this mutualism in tropical and subtropical ecosystems has long intrigued biologists, but the systematic challenge posed by >750 interacting species pairs has hindered progress toward understanding its evolutionary history. In particular, taxon sampling and analytical tools have been insufficient for large-scale co-phylogenetic analyses. Here, we sampled nearly 200 interacting pairs of fig and wasp species from across the globe. Two supermatrices were assembled: on average, wasps had sequences from 77% of six genes (5.6kb), figs had sequences from 60% of five genes (5.5 kb), and overall 850 new DNA sequences were generated for this study. We also developed a new analytical tool, Jane 2, for event-based phylogenetic reconciliation analysis of very large data sets. Separate Bayesian phylogenetic analyses for figs and fig wasps under relaxed molecular clock assumptions indicate Cretaceous diversification of crown groups and contemporaneous divergence for nearly half of all fig and pollinator lineages. Event-based co-phylogenetic analyses further support the co-diversification hypothesis. Biogeographic analyses indicate that the presentday distribution of fig and pollinator lineages is consistent with an Eurasian origin and subsequent dispersal, rather than with Gondwanan vicariance. Overall, our findings indicate that the fig-pollinator mutualism represents an extreme case among plant-insect interactions of coordinated dispersal and long-term co-diversification.

Interacting effects of change in climate, human population, land use, and water use on biodiversity and ecosystem services

Human population growth and resource use, mediated by changes in climate, land use, and water use, increasingly impact biodiversity and ecosystem services provision. However, impacts of these drivers on biodiversity and ecosystem services are rarely analyzed simultaneously and remain largely unknown. An emerging question is how science can improve the understanding of change in biodiversity and ecosystem service delivery and of potential feedback mechanisms of adaptive governance. We analyzed past and future change in drivers in south-central Sweden. We used the analysis to identify main research challenges and outline important research tasks. Since the 19th century, our study area has experienced substantial and interlinked changes; a 1.6°C temperature increase, rapid population growth, urbanization, and massive changes in land use and water use. Considerable future changes are also projected until the mid-21st century. However, little is known about the impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services so far, and this in turn hampers future projections of such effects. Therefore, we urge scientists to explore interdisciplinary approaches designed to investigate change in multiple drivers, underlying mechanisms, and interactions over time, including assessment and analysis of matching-scale data from several disciplines. Such a perspective is needed for science to contribute to adaptive governance by constantly improving the understanding of linked change complexities and their impacts.

Craniometaphyseal Dysplasia With Severe Craniofacial Involvement Shows Homozygosity at 6q21-22.1 Locus

Craniotubular dysplasias (CTD) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders of skeletal development, whose clinical and etiological classification is still much debated. One of the most common form is the autosomal dominant craniometaphyseal dysplasia (CMD) which is associated with mutation in the ANKH gene. In the literature a few families are reported with CMD phenotype that suggest an autosomal recessive (AR) pattern of inheritance. A candidate locus at 6q21-22 has been mapped in a large inbred Brazilian family, but the gene of the recessive form is still unknown. Our data on a female patient with CMD phenotype, born from healthy first degree cousins and displaying homozygosity for polymorphic markers at the 6q21-22 locus, further support the existence of an AR CMD, expanding its clinical spectrum to a more severe phenotype. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Who's afraid of designer babies?

Australian scientists in Sydney made medical history by creating a life-saving brother for a child with an incurable genetic disease. Features the case of a Tasmanian couple who, with their help, have this life-saving baby, at their third try. The pioneering IVF treatment, which is legal only in N.S.W., hit the news headlines, sparking an ethical storm. Examines the moral and ethical issues that genetic manipulation raises, including the potential uses and misuses of genetic technology. Raises also the spectre of an extreme form of eugenics, as seen in the World War II Nazi push to create a master race through human genetics. Some view eugenics as another form of PGD. Presents the diverse views of eminent ethicists and the Catholic Church, world wide.

Body dissatisfaction and body change behaviors in Chile : the role of sociocultural factors

With interest in body image and body change behaviors growing around the world, there has been surprisingly little research conducted in Latin America on these issues. In order to gain some understanding of them in this context, this study investigated body image and body change behaviors, and the sociocultural factors that may influence them, among 337 Chilean adolescents aged 12–18 years. Participants completed a questionnaire that assessed BMI, body dissatisfaction, strategies to lose weight and strategies to increase muscle bulk. In addition, perceived pressure from family, peers, and the media to change body shape was evaluated. Results were partially consistent with those reported in Western nations. Girls were found to report greater body dissatisfaction than boys, but no difference was found between males and females in perceived pressure from adults in the family or from older siblings/cousins to lose weight. However, girls experienced higher levels of perceived pressure to lose weight from the media than boys, and boys reported greater perceived pressure from peers to lose weight than girls, and more pressure than girls from all sources to increase muscle bulk. These findings are discussed in relation to research conducted in other contexts, and it is concluded that findings from other locations may not be applied universally.

Decimals and percent - walls, and clocks

The diagrams of fraction-walls, and beyond, may be useful aids for teaching those fascinating topics of fractions, and their cousins decimals and percentages.

Predicting subjective quality of life

This thesis showed that as samples move from a homeostatic position of high-normal subjective quality of life, to normal, to low-normal subjective quality of life, the contributions of personality (extroversion and neuroticism) and perceived control (approach and avoidant control) to the maintenance of subjective quality of life becomes more complicated

Case study demonstration of the family context of anxiety disorders across the lifespan and the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioural interventions

This portfolio aims to explore some of the issues related to the treatment of anxiety disorders in clinical practice by reviewing the literature on anxiety disorders across the lifespan and presenting four clinical case studies of individuals with different anxiety disorders.

Os mecanismos de socialização no relacionamento cliente e fornecedor

Este trabalho aborda o tema da socialização nos relacionamentos inter organizacionais como oportunidade de geração de valor. Atualmente torna-se cada vez mais importante aprimorar o relacionamento entre empresas sob a expectativa de influenciar seu relacionamento e sua performance. Com base nesta percepção, este estudo visa mensurar o impacto dos mecanismos de socialização de compradores para a criação de valor no relacionamento cliente-fornecedor, assim como direcionar algumas oportunidades encontradas na pesquisa anterior sobre os Mecanismos de Socialização. Esta dissertação foi embasada na pesquisa original de Cousins et al. (2006) e contribuiu para o desenvolvimento do tema contando com maior exploração da literatura, atualizações, redefinições de construtos e, conseqüentemente, novas variáveis foram adicionadas à pesquisa. Foi adotado o método de pesquisa Survey e foi desenvolvida via Internet com 91 executivos de Compras e Supply Chain no Brasil entre 2008 e inicio de 2009. A amostra foi analisada utilizando o modelo de equações estruturais e os resultados mostram que os mecanismos de socialização informais possuem impacto significativo na geração de capital relacional, e em contra partida, os mecanismos formais possuem impacto relativamente inferior.

Por que mudar de cidade?: uma análise da satisfação e desejo de mudança de lotação entre peritos da Polícia Federal em Belém e Brasília

Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo verificar até que ponto o grau de satisfação no trabalho dos Peritos Criminais Federais (PCFs) lotados na Região Norte do Brasil está relacionado com o alto índice de remoção destes servidores para outras localidades. Inicialmente foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o tema satisfação no trabalho, incluindo aspectos sobre motivação e as variáveis relacionadas ao tema. Em seguida, em uma primeira etapa, foi aplicada a escala de satisfação no trabalho (EST) proposta por Siqueira (2008), onde são avaliadas cinco dimensões do trabalho: relacionamento com os colegas, relacionamento com a chefia, a natureza do trabalho, o salário e o sistema de promoções dentro da organização. Foram também aplicados questionários para caracterização da amostra e para verificação da intenção de remoção dos peritos para outra unidade. Comparou-se ainda a produção de laudos dos peritos lotados na Região Norte com a produção média do Brasil. A partir dos resultados encontrados, onde se tem a maioria dos Peritos satisfeitos, e com produção média próxima à média do Brasil, porém querendo ser removidos, fez-se necessária a realização de entrevistas em profundidade com amostra reduzida a fim de se entender este fenômeno, a princípio contraditório. As entrevistas foram realizadas, em uma segunda etapa da pesquisa, com peritos lotados em Belém-PA, cidade da região estudada e em Brasília-DF, cidade desejada como futura lotação pela maioria dos peritos que responderam ao questionário da primeira etapa. Os resultados das entrevistas apontam evidências de que a família dos Peritos, aqui entendida como pais, avós, irmãos, primos dentre outros, é a principal razão pela forte intenção de mudança de Unidade de Criminalística, apesar de estarem satisfeitos em seu trabalho. Assim como, é o principal fator apontado para a permanência dos peritos em Brasília, já que nenhum dos entrevistados tem a intenção de ser removido para outro local. Outras razões contribuem, em menor escala para esse desejo, tais como as condições de trabalho, o desenvolvimento da cidade, a segurança na cidade e a qualidade de vida na cidade. Por fim, sugestões colhidas nas entrevistas para melhoria da Criminalística na Polícia Federal são apresentadas, assim como propostas para novas pesquisas.