Direct observation of adaptive tracking on ecological timescales in Drosophila

Direct observation of evolution in response to natural environmental change can resolve fundamental questions about adaptation including its pace, temporal dynamics, and underlying phenotypic and genomic architecture. We tracked evolution of fitness-associated phenotypes and allele frequencies genome-wide in ten replicate field populations of Drosophila melanogaster over ten generations from summer to late fall. Adaptation was evident over each sampling interval (1-4 generations) with exceptionally rapid phenotypic adaptation and large allele frequency shifts at many independent loci. The direction and basis of the adaptive response shifted repeatedly over time, consistent with the action of strong and rapidly fluctuating selection. Overall, we find clear phenotypic and genomic evidence of adaptive tracking occurring synchronously with environmental change, demonstrating the temporally dynamic nature of adaptation.One sentence summaryRapid environmental change drives continuous phenotypic and polygenic adaptation demonstrating the temporal dynamism of adaptation.

Innovations of Zakat (Alms) Distribution Practices in Malaysia

Zakat (alms) is one of the Islamic social finance tools, besides waqaf (endowment) that can contribute to the socio-economic development of the Muslims, and society at large (ummah). In Malaysia, the local media have reported complaints from some dissatisfied members of the public on the distribution of zakat to zakat beneficiaries (asnaf). These emerge despite the introduction of numerous innovations by zakat institutions under the administrations of Majlis Agama Islam Negeri (MAIN) or State Islamic Religious Councils (SIRC), in the form of assistance schemes, for the distribution of asnaf in Malaysia. This chapter discusses the concept of innovations in zakat distribution according to three foundations: fatwa muzakarah (Islamic ruling discussion) resolutions, ijtihad (independent interpretation and reasoning by scholars) in handling issues related to zakat distribution, and temporal dynamism of the Shariah. Numerous challenges concerning zakat issues have also highlighted the significant roles of zakat institutions, especially in the eradication of poverty.

Temporal dynamism in country of origin effect

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to enrich country of origin (COO) effect in international marketing theory by adding the understanding of temporal dynamism into COO research. Design/methodology/approach Utilizing a qualitative and interdisciplinary phenomenological approach, this paper analyses historical and contemporary sources triangulated with contemporary primary interview data. The example of how perceptions of Italians about the values typical of the British Sixties varied over time periods is presented. Findings COO perceptions are both malleable and in evolution. Results show that values from earlier peak periods of appeal can be combined and recombined differently over time due to the varying historical and contemporary resonances of COO values. Research limitations/implications This study focuses on COO applied to two product areas, fashion and music, over a limited time period, in a two-country study and so the findings are not fully generalizable, but rather are transferable to similar contexts. Practical implications The fact that COO is neither static nor atemporal facilitates a segmented approach for international marketing managers to review and renew international brands. This enriched COO theory provides a rich and variable resource for developing and revitalizing brands. Originality/value The major contribution of this paper is that temporal dynamism, never before discussed in international marketing theory, renders COO theory more timeless; this addresses some critiques recently made about its relevance and practicality. The second contribution is the original research design that models interdisciplinary scholarship, enabling a thorough historical look at international marketing.

Organizational Identity, Culture, and Image

The concept of organizational identity is often confused with similar concepts such as organizational culture or organizational image. This confusion depends in part on the inconsistent use that scholars have made of these terms in the past. This chapter reviews the literature that has discussed how these concepts differ and how they are interrelated, and proposes an integrative framework that summarizes the most widely accepted definitions. It focuses in particular on research on dynamic interrelations between organizational identity and culture. It argues that apparently contradictory perspectives—conceiving of culture as a referent for identity vs. identity as facilitating contextual understanding for cultural norms—can be reconciled by acknowledging the dual nature of organizational identity as being constituted by social categories and organization-specific features, and the temporal dynamism that characterizes the relationship between culture and identity.

Improvements In The Strategic Use Of The Marketing Matrices Applying Dynamics Parameters Based On Time: A Better Analysis Of Prospect

Matrices are among the main analytical tools used in marketing. The present paper focuses on the possibility to make them consistently explorative of a business prospect, not just in a mechanical way but in a logical and quantitatively probabilistic way. Matrices, being static, appear in contrast with the real meaning of marketing itself (being a verb it is an action). Actually, lack of the matrices is that they do not consider the temporal evolution and offer a very simple and static frame and indeed a snapshot of the business environment. The purpose of the present paper is to understand “to what extent the matrices can be improved to perform dynamic prospective analyses, thanks to specific improvements”: - Complex variables - Cartesian plan and derived curves - Use of the chronotropic quadric-dimensionality through spacetime factor influencing the mechanical results It is considered only the case of the four cells based matrix (and experimentation is pursued via the Ansoff’s one), leaving the nine-cell based matrices to the field of actual limitations and future improvements. The standard format can be implemented by the adoption of new format and complex variables, which are holistic, and through the utilization of a temporal ratio, to show the temporal dynamism and make them suitable for prospective analysis and become a tool of management of the company’s evolution.