scholarly journals Bird song, ecology and speciation

2002 ◽  
Vol 357 (1420) ◽  
pp. 493-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Slabbekoorn ◽  
Thomas B. Smith

The study of bird song dialects was once considered the most promising approach for investigating the role of behaviour in reproductive divergence and speciation. However, after a series of studies yielding conflicting results, research in the field slowed significantly. Recent findings, on how ecological factors may lead to divergence in both song and morphology, necessitate a re–examination. We focus primarily on species with learned song, examine conflicting results in the literature and propose some potential new directions for future studies. We believe an integrative approach, including an examination of the role of ecology in divergent selection, is essential for gaining insight into the role of song in the evolution of assortative mating. Habitat–dependent selection on both song and fitness–related characteristics can lead to parallel divergence in these traits. Song may, therefore, provide females with acoustic cues to find males that are most fit for a particular habitat. In analysing the role of song learning in reproductive divergence, we focus on post–dispersal plasticity in a conceptual framework. We argue that song learning may initially constrain reproductive divergence, while in the later stages of population divergence it may promote speciation.

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lihui Chen ◽  
Jie Li ◽  
Wu Zhu ◽  
Yehong Kuang ◽  
Tao Liu ◽  
...  

Psoriasis affects the health of myriad populations around the world. The pathogenesis is multifactorial, and the exact driving factor remains unclear. This condition arises from the interaction between hyperproliferative keratinocytes and infiltrating immune cells, with poor prognosis and high recurrence. Better clinical treatments remain to be explored. There is much evidence that alterations in the skin and intestinal microbiome play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and restoration of the microbiome is a promising preventive and therapeutic strategy for psoriasis. Herein, we have reviewed recent studies on the psoriasis-related microbiome in an attempt to confidently identify the “core” microbiome of psoriasis patients, understand the role of microbiome in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and explore new therapeutic strategies for psoriasis through microbial intervention.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 74-93
Author(s):  
Elena Shtromberg ◽  
C. Ondine Chavoya

This interview features seven academic curators involved in organizing exhibitions and catalogues associated with the recent Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA initiative, which took place in fall 2017 throughout Southern California. Roberto Conduru, Tatiana Flores, Andrea Giunta, Colin Gunckel, Bill Kelley Jr., Aleca Le Blanc, and Chon Noriega describe their approaches to research and exhibitions on Latin American and Latinx art and recall how they became involved in PST: LA/LA. Several explain how teaching informed the exhibitions they organized and their approaches to the catalogue and related texts. Their responses provide insight into the role of curatorial work in art historical research and in forging new directions in scholarship, drawing attention to the intellectual labor involved in curatorial projects. Curators’ scholarly contributions as exhibition catalogue authors and editors exert lasting impacts in the fields of Latin American and Latinx art. RESUMEN Una entrevista con siete conservadores académicos que participaron en la organización de exposiciones y catálogos asociados con la reciente iniciativa Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA (PST: LA/LA), que se realizó en el otoño de 2017 a lo largo del sur de California. Los conservadores Roberto Conduru, Tatiana Flores, Andrea Giunta, Colin Gunckel, Bill Kelley Jr., Aleca Le Blanc y Chon Noriega hablan de su aproximación a la investigación y las exposiciones sobre el arte latinoamericano y latinx y de cómo llegaron a participar en PST: LA/LA. Varios conservadores explican cómo el trabajo docente dio forma a las exposiciones que organizaron e influyó en sus aproximaciones al catálogo y los textos relacionados. Las respuestas dan información sobre el papel del trabajo de los conservadores en la investigación de la historia del arte y en la creación de nuevos caminos en materia académica para llamar la atención sobre el trabajo intelectual involucrado en los proyectos llevados a cabo por los conservadores. Las contribuciones académicas que hacen los conservadores en calidad de autores y editores de catálogos de exposiciones permiten anticipar un impacto duradero en los campos del arte latinoamericano y latinx. RESUMO Uma entrevista com sete curadores acadêmicos envolvidos em organizar exposições e catálogos associados à recente iniciativa Pacific Standard Time: LA/LA (PST: LA/LA), que ocorreu no outono de 2017 no sul da Califórnia. Os curadores Roberto Conduru, Tatiana Flores, Andrea Giunta, Colin Gunckel, Bill Kelley Jr., Aleca Le Blanc e Chon Noriega descrevem sua abordagem à pesquisa e a exibições sobre arte latino-americana e latinx e discutem como se envolveram no PST: LA/LA. Diversos curadores explicam como a prática do ensino informou as exposições que organizaram e influenciou suas abordagens ao catálogo e a textos relacionados. As respostas provêm uma visão sobre o papel do trabalho curatorial na pesquisa histórica da arte e no sentido de forjar novos rumos no campo acadêmico, chamando a atenção para o trabalho intelectual envolvido nos projetos curatoriais. As contribuições acadêmicas de curadores como autores e editores de catálogos de exposições sinalizam impactos duradouros para os campos da arte latino-americana e latinx.


FEBS Letters ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 562 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 118-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vesna Katavic ◽  
Dennis L. Barton ◽  
E.Michael Giblin ◽  
Darwin W. Reed ◽  
Arvind Kumar ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Folasayo Enoch Olalere

In this chapter, the author examines the levels of a cognitive process (visceral, behavioural, and reflection design) in experience-centred design and their applicability in developing effective products. The study further explores the role of computer-aided tools (CAD) in engaging users as the fundamental participants in the creative process. This was achieved by developing two products digitally (CAD models) based on Norman's three design levels, and evaluated using a semantic differential scale to test the emotive response towards the designs. The findings show that CAD is a viable tool for gaining insight into users' perceptions towards a design idea. Also, the results revealed that the process of supporting or sustaining cultural values through design also enhances the affective quality (reflective level) of the design.


1989 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 862-867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milan Remko

For gaining insight into the interactions of local anaesthetics with phospholipids, ab initio molecular orbital calculations were performed using trimethylamine and phosphate as model substances. The (OH)2OPO-···H+N(CH3)3 interaction was found comparable in strength to the (OH)2OPO-···M+ (M = Na, K) interaction and considerably stronger than the (OH)2OMPO···H2O interaction. This suggests that a major role of local anaesthetics may consist in their disturbing the P-O···H2O hydrogen bonds. Such interference may be one of the possible types of interaction between local anaesthetics and the biophase, leading to a measurable pharmacological effect.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo C. Hernández-Romero ◽  
Carla Gutiérrez-Rodríguez ◽  
Carolina Valdespino ◽  
David A. Prieto-Torres

2004 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 224-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Beecher ◽  
John M. Burt

Author(s):  
Hua-yang Fan ◽  
Zhuo-li Zhu ◽  
Hong-chun Xian ◽  
Hao-fan Wang ◽  
Bing-jun Chen ◽  
...  

Podophyllotoxin (PTOX) is a biologically active compound derived from the podophyllum plant, and both it and its derivatives possess excellent antitumor activity. The PTOX derivatives etoposide (VP-16) and teniposide (VM-26) have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cancer treatment, but are far from perfect. Hence, numerous PTOX derivatives have been developed to address the major limitations of PTOX, such as systemic toxicity, drug resistance, and low bioavailability. Regarding their anticancer mechanism, extensive studies have revealed that PTOX derivatives can induce cell cycle G2/M arrest and DNA/RNA breaks by targeting tubulin and topoisomerase II, respectively. However, few studies are dedicated to exploring the interactions between PTOX derivatives and downstream cancer-related signaling pathways, which is reasonably important for gaining insight into the role of PTOX. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of PTOX derivatives in the biological behavior of tumors and potential molecular signaling pathways, aiming to help researchers design and develop better PTOX derivatives.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-32
Author(s):  
Michael Welch

Just as the political divisions in the North of Ireland are subject to ongoing critique, so too is its culture that maintains what scholars recognize as contested heritage. Ethno-political symbols, such as flags and murals, not only point to certain identities but also mark their territory. Whereas those emblems have been the subject of extensive research, political posters remain an overlooked source of rich iconography. This article fills that void by examining a collection of posters on display at the Irish Republican History Museum in West Belfast. The posters, in their original incarnation, emboldened the streetscapes of urban zones during “the Troubles”—a euphemism used to depict sectarian violence from the 1960s to the 1990s. In their afterlife, those posters have been preserved as material artefacts consumed by political tourists interested in gaining insight into the dissonance of heritage. Semiotics—the study of signs—provides a theoretical paradigm for this interpretation of the posters and their meaning. Moreover, Juri Lotman’s notion of the semiosphere (semiotic space) adds a deeper layer of analysis by directing critical attention to the role of the boundary where the performance of signs is most intense.


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