Inconsistency between different measures of sexual selection.

Measuring the intensity of sexual selection is of fundamental importance to the study of sexual dimorphism, population dynamics, and speciation. Several indices, pools of individuals, and fitness proxies are used in the literature, yet their relative performances are strongly debated. Using 12 independent common lizard populations, we manipulated the adult sex ratio, a potentially important determinant of the intensity of sexual selection at a particular time and place. We investigated differences in the intensity of sexual selection, as estimated using three standard indices of sexual selection-the standardized selection gradient (β'), the opportunity of selection (I), and the Bateman gradient (βss)--calculated for different pools of individuals and different fitness proxies. We show that results based on estimates of I were the opposite of those derived from the other indices, whereas results based on estimates of β' were consistent with predictions derived from knowledge about the species' mating system. In addition, our estimates of the strength and direction of sexual selection depended on both the fitness proxy used and the pool of individuals included in the analysis. These observations demonstrate inconsistencies in distinct measures of sexual selection and underscore the need for caution when comparing studies and species.

El lloc teatral i el seu espai escènic: artialització en William Shakespeare (c..1590-1611) : actor, empresari, dramaturg

Pensar en William Shakespeare, apropar-se a una de l'obres què més tinta han fet córrer, se'ns presenta com voler trobar una agulla en un paller. Amb tot, aquest treball de recerca a volgut discernir la dramatúrgia de Shakespeare, des de l'òptica espacial i estètica. El seu marc, a l'Anglaterra renaixentista -ss,XVI-XVII-, és: l'abundosa legislació -important l'Acta promulgada l'any 1572, per la reina Elisabet I-; la tipologia constructiva i formal del Lloc del Teatre, amb la formulació empresarial què se’n deriva; l'altre element, la participació de l'espectador implícit. Conclusivament, com l'artialització shakespeariana s'insereix, podem dir, 'dramatològicament', dins l'historiografia general del teatre.

Feeding and defaecation patterns in Triatoma sordida

Triatoma sordida is a peridomestic Triatominae that could play an important role in the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi, although its vectorial competence is not well known. The aim of this work was to evaluate two aspects of the vectorial competence: the feeding behaviour and defaecation patterns, and to compare them with T. infestans. The feeding and defaecation patterns were studied in adults and fifth instar nymphs of T. sordida fed ad libitum on a restrained pigeon. The results showed how the blood meal size controls excretion behaviour. Blood intake and time to first defaecation showed a significant negative correlation. Adults and nymphs frequently defaecated during the blood meal, reaching the maximum frequency within the first 10 minutes.

Introduction de la quatrième édition française

L' »Ethique » de Bonhoeffer est un ouvrage marquant. Il l'est d'abord à cause de la personnalité de son auteur, résistant antinazi actif dans les complots contre Hitler, condamné et exécuté pour cela par les SS le 23 avril 1945. L' »Ethique » fait comprendre les raisons profondes de cet engagement au coeur du combat politique de l'époque et ce souci d'assumer de façon responsable ce que Bonhoeffer appelle les « réalités avant-dernières » du salut. Il y a plus: l' »Ethique » est devenu un classique de la réflexion éthique chrétienne qui prend au sérieux l'amour de Dieu en Christ pour le monde. Avec sa dimension incontestablement prophétique, Bonhoeffer donnait à cette réflexion la capacité d'entrevoir les défis que notre fin de siècle affronte. Dietrich Bonhoeffer est né en 1906 et mort, exécuté, le 8 avril 1945.

Work, risk and health: differences between immigrants and natives in Spain

We analyze the impact of working and contractual conditions, particularly exposure to job risks, on the probability of acquiring a disability. We postulate a model in which this impact is mediated by the choice of occupation, with a level of risk associated to it. We assume this choice is endogenous, and that it depends on preferences and opportunities in the labour market, both of which may differ between immigrants and natives. To test this hypothesis we use data from the Continuous Sample of Working Lives of the Spanish SS system. It contains individual, job and firm information of over a million workers, including a representative sample of immigrants. We find that risk exposure increases the probability of permanent disability by 5.3%; temporary employment also influences health. Migrant status -with differences among regions of origin- significantly affects both disability and the probability of being employed in a risky occupation. Most groups of immigrants work in riskier jobs, but have lower probability of becoming disabled. Nevertheless, our theoretical hypothesis that disability and risk are jointly determined is not valid for immigrants: i.e. for them working conditions is not a matter of choice in terms of health.

Coronary MR angiography at 3T during diastole and systole

PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of end-systolic imaging on quality of right coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in comparison to diastolic and to study the effect of RR interval variability on image quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The right coronary artery (RCA) of 10 normal volunteers was imaged at 3T using parallel imaging (sensitivity encoding [SENSE]). Navigator-gated three-dimensional (3D) gradient echo was used three times: 1) end-systolic short acquisition (SS): 35-msec window; 2) diastolic short (DS): middiastolic acquisition using 35-msec window; and 3) diastolic long (DL): 75-msec diastolic acquisition window. Vectorcardiogram (VCG) data was used to analyze RR variability. Vessel sharpness, length, and diameter were compared to each other and correlated with RR variability. Blinded qualitative image scores of the images were compared. RESULTS: Quantitative and qualitative parameters were not significantly different and showed no significant correlation with RR variability. CONCLUSION: Imaging the RCA at 3T during the end-systolic rest period using SENSE is possible without significant detrimental effect on image quality. Breaking away from the standard of imaging only during diastole can potentially improve image quality in tachycardic patients or used for simultaneous imaging during both periods in a single scan.

Els delictes contra la seguretat viària: aspectes substantius, processals i criminològics

Les infraccions penals en matèria de seguretat viària constitueixen un dels grups delictius que més interès teòric i pràctic han despertat en la doctrina i la jurisprudència. Per aquest motiu, al llarg de la recerca s'ha dut a terme l'anàlisi dels diferents il·lícits penals des d'una perspectiva interdisciplinar i transversal on no tan sols han tingut cabuda les reflexions teòriques i pràctiques sobre els arts. 379 i ss. CP, sinó també la valoració dels problemes processals i criminològics que són propis d'aquests fets justiciables que es vinculen amb la seguretat viària

Distinction of males of the Lutzomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) species complex by ratios between dimensions and by an artificial neural network (Diptera: Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)

The females of the two species of the Lutzomyia intermedia complex can be easily distinguished, but the males of each species are quite similar. The ratios between the extra-genital and the genital structures of L. neivai are larger than those of L. intermedia s. s., according to ANOVA. An artificial neural network was trained with a set of 300 examples, randomly taken from a sample of 358 individuals. The input vectors consisted of several ratios between some structures of each insect. The model was tested on the remaining 58 insects, 56 of which (96.6%) were correctly identified. This ratio of success can be considered remarkable if one takes into account the difficulty of attaining comparable results using traditional statistical techniques.

South & East Belfast Community Nursing Project - Primary Care Integrated Nursing Model (PDF 524 KB)

South & East Belfast H&SS Trust's final report on Primary Care Integrated Nursing Model. Part of the Department's redesign of community nursing project