Towards a natural classification of the subtribe Philonthina (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini): a phylogenetic analysis of the Neotropical genera

Philonthina, the largest subtribe of the rove beetle tribe Staphylinini, is a hyperdiverse group in the Neotropical Region, accounting for about half of the genera of the subtribe. Despite such diversity, Neotropical Philonthina have never been analysed phylogenetically, deterring formulation of a modern classification of the Staphylinini. A cladistic analysis of Neotropical Philonthina was performed based on 110 morphological characters and 77 terminal taxa. Representatives of Philonthina from other regions and other main lineages of Staphylinini, Arrowinini and Platyprosopini were included to test their relationships with Neotropical Philonthina. The major results are the monophyly of 11 of the 17 endemic Neotropical genera of Philonthina, the placement of Holisus Erichson (Hyptiomina) into this clade showing a sister group relationship to myrmecophile genera, and the position of Erichsonius Fauvel outside of Philonthina within Staphylinini. Six of the current seven species of Endeius Coiffait & Saiz group with Neotropical species of Philonthus Stephens. The separation of Gondwana about 65 my and major landscape modifications in the vast interior of northern South America during the past 25 my is proposed to explain the evolution of the endemic Neotropical genera of Philonthina. The following taxonomic changes are proposed: Erichsonius Fauvel, 1874 now placed as incertae sedis in Staphylinini; Endeius Coiffait & Saiz, 1968, n.syn. of Philonthus Stephens, 1929 and Endeius nitidipennis (Solier, 1849) placed as incertae sedis in Philonthina. The following new combinations are proposed: Philonthus franzi (Saiz, 1971), comb.n., Philonthus loensis (Coiffait & Saiz, 1968), comb.n., Philonthus lugubris (Saiz, 1971), comb.n., Philonthus ovaliceps (Coiffait, 1981), comb.n., Philonthus punctipennis (Solier, 1849), comb.res. and Philonthus subpunctipennis (Coiffait & Saiz, 1968), comb.n. Philonthus herberti, n.nov., is proposed for Philonthus franzi Schillhammer, 1998, which is a junior secondary homonym of Philonthus franzi (Saiz, 1971).Fil: Chani Posse, Mariana Raquel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Aridas; Argentin

Factors Affecting job satisfaction of employees in Pakistani banking sector

The job satisfaction has got tremendous attention in organizational research. The focus of this study is to determine the impact of various human resource management practices like job autonomy, team work environment and leadership behavior on job satisfaction. It also investigates the major determinants of job satisfaction in Pakistani banking sector. This study further evaluates the level of difference in job satisfaction among male and female employees. The sample of the study consisted of 450 employees working in different banks of Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Lahore through the questionnaire, of which 295 were returned and processed. SPSS was used to analyze the data, using Independent Sample T Test, Correlation and regression analysis. There is a positive and significant link between job satisfaction and human recourse management practices like team work environment, job autonomy and behavior of leadership. From the findings of the study, it is also inferred that male and female workers have significantly different level of job satisfaction.Human resource management practices, job satisfaction, employees, banking sector

Poverty, inflation and economic growth: empirical evidence from Pakistan

This study aims to investigate the role of economic growth and inflation in explaining the prevalence of poverty in Pakistan. ARDL bound testing approach to co-integration confirms the existence of long run relationship among the variables of poverty, economic growth, inflation, investment and trade openness over the period of 1972-2008. Empirical results show that economic growth and investment have negative and inflation has positive impact on poverty. The effect of trade openness on poverty is insignificant in this study. The short run analysis reveals that economic growth has negative and inflation has positive impact on poverty whereas the role of investment and trade openness in poverty reduction in short run is not significant.Poverty, Inflation, Economic Grovvth, Pakistan, Macroeconomic Policy, Welfare, Trade Openness

High-concentration Er:YAG single-crystal fibers grown by laser-heated pedestal growth technique

High-concentration Er:YAG single-crystal fibers have been grown using the laser-heated pedestal growth technique. Instability in the melt and concomitant opacity of fibers were observed at source concentrations higher than 15 mol.%. Spectroscopic examination shows that broadening of the linewidth of the I<sub>13/2</sub>4→I<sub>15/2</sub>4 transition is strongly dependent on Er<sup>3+</sup> concentration

Systematics and phylogeny of the adean genera Leptopeltus Bernhauer and Leptopeltoides gen. nov. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), with biogeographical notes

The genus Leptopeltus Bernhauer, 1906 (Staphylininae: Staphylinini), distributed from western Venezuela to northwestern Argentina, is revised using characters of external morphology and male and female genitalia. Leptopeltus comprises five species, of which two are described as new: L. carchiensis and L. weyrauchi. Other valid species of the genus are: Leptopeltus flavipennis (Erichson), L. montivagans Bernhauer and L. netolitzkyi Bernhauer. Lectotypes are designated for Leptopeltus flavipennis (Erichson) and L. netolitzkyi Bernhauer. Leptopeltoides gen. nov., from western Colombia and Ecuador, is described for the following four new species: Le. chingazensis, Le. columbiensis, Le. ecuatoriensis and Le. napoensis. Both genera are revised herein, with keys for identification, diagnoses, descriptions, illustrations, a cladogram, and distributional maps. The cladistic analysis shows that Leptopeltus and Leptopeltoides are both monophyletic genera and sister groups and they belong to a natural group of Neotropical genera of Philonthina (Staphylinini).Fil: Chani Posse, Mariana Raquel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Investigaciones de Zonas Aridas; ArgentinaFil: Asenjo, Angélico. Universidade Federal do Paraná. Departamento de Zoología; Brasi

Linearization of dual-input Doherty power amplifiers

This paper studies the linearity of dual-input Doherty power amplifiers. We propose a linearization scheme that uses a combination of an efficiency-optimized static splitter and a vector-switched digital predistorter. The performance of the proposed linearization scheme is evaluated on a dual-input Doherty power amplifier operating at 2.0 GHz with 42 dBm peak output power. Experimental results show that the proposed linearization scheme achieves a normalized mean square error of-43.7 dB and an adjacent channel power ratio of-55.8 dBc with a power added efficiency of 42.4%

Composition of a bird community at La Angostura Reser voir, Tafí del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina

Los estudios de las comunidades de aves contribuyen al conocimiento del rol que los humedales pueden cumplir en la conservación de la biodiversidad dentro de los biomas en los que están ubicados. Se realizaron censos de transecta de faja y se calcularon abundancia relativa, frecuencia e índice de importancia relativa. En los 121 censos realizados, se registraron 43.243 individuos, pertenecientes a 68 especies, más 10 especies observadas fuera de censo, distribuidas en 27 familias y 12 ordenes. Las especies con mayores valores en los índices calculados fueron Anas georgica, Fulica ardesiaca, Fulica armillata, Anas flavirostris, Phalacrocorax brasilianus y Vanellus chilensis. Se registraron cuatro nuevas especies de distribución altoandinas (Fulica ardesiaca, Oxyura ferruginea, Anas puna y Plegadis ridgwayi) y la nidificación de cuatro Fulica spp. en forma simultánea. Además se señala por primera vez la nidificación de Coscoroba coscoroba para esta altitud.Studies on bird communities help understand the role wetlands may play in the conservation of biodiversity of the biomes they’re located in. One-hundred-and-twenty-one transect census were performed. Relative abundance, frequency and index of relative impor tance were calculated. We recorded 43,243 specimens, belonging to 68 species, from 27 families and 12 orders. The species with the greatest index values were Anas georgica, Fulica ardesiaca, Fulica armillata, Anas flavirostris, Phalacrocorax brasilianus y Vanellus chilensis. Four new species from the high Andes wetlands were recorded (Fulica ardesiaca, Oxyura ferruginea, Anas puna y Plegadis ridgwayi), and the simultaneous nidificación of four Fulica spp. was observed. Nidification for Coscoroba coscoroba is reported for the first time at this altitude.Fil: Echevarria, Ada Lilian. Fundación Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Marano, Claudia Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Chani, Jose Maria. Universidad Nacional de Chilecito; ArgentinaFil: Cocimano, Maria Constanza. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Zoología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentin

New distribution records for the American Coot (Fulica ardesiaca), the Puna Teal (Anas puna), the Andean Ruddy Duck (Oxyura ferruginea), and the Puna Ibis (Plegadis ridgwayi), in the Angostura Dam, Tafí del Valle, Tucumán, Argentina

Distribution records for four species of birds are reported from studies carried out between 2004 and 2005 at La Angostura Dam (26º55'S, 65º41'W). The species are known to inhabit lakes, lagoons, pools, marshes and streams, generally above 3000 m. Here they are found at a lower elevation, circa 2000 m. They are Fulica ardesiaca (American Coot), present all year, with high abundance and continuous nest building records; Anas puna (Puna Teal), observed in the area during winter; Oxyura ferruginea (Andean Ruddy Duck), present throughout the year, with greater abundance in winter, and Plegadis ridgwayi (Puna Ibis), with a few individuals observed in summer, autumn and winter.Distribution records for four species of birds are reported from studies carried out between 2004 and 2005 at La Angostura Dam (26o55'S, 65o41'W). The species are known to inhabit lakes, lagoons, pools, marshes and streams, generally above 3000 m. Here they are found at a lower elevation, circa 2000 m. They are Fulica ardesiaca (American Coot), present all year, with high abundance and continuous nest building records; Anas puna (Puna Teal), observed in the area during winter; Oxyura ferruginea (Andean Ruddy Duck), present throughout the year, with greater abundance in winter, and Plegadis ridgwayi (Puna Ibis), with a few individuals obser ved in summer, autumn and winter.Fil: Echevarria, Ada Lilian. Fundación Miguel Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Chani, Jose Maria. Universidad Nacional de Chilecito; ArgentinaFil: Marano, Claudia Fabiana. Fundación Miguel Lillo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; ArgentinaFil: Cocimano, Maria Constanza. Fundación Miguel Lillo. Dirección de Zoología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentin

Smartphone-based safety planning and self-monitoring for suicidal patients: Rationale and study protocol of the CASPAR (Continuous Assessment for Suicide Prevention And Research) study

Background: It remains difficult to predict and prevent suicidal behaviour, despite growing understanding of the aetiology of suicidality. Clinical guidelines recommend that health care professionals develop a safety plan in collaboration with their high-risk patients, to lower the imminent risk of suicidal behaviour. Mobile health applications provide new opportunities for safety planning, and enable daily self-monitoring of suicide-related symptoms that may enhance safety planning. This paper presents the rationale and protocol of the Continuous Assessment for Suicide Prevention And Research (CASPAR) study. The aim of the study is two-fold: to evaluate the feasibility of mobile safety planning and daily mobile self-monitoring in routine care treatment for suicidal patients, and to conduct fundamental research on suicidal processes. Methods: The study is an adaptive single cohort design among 80 adult outpatients or day-care patients, with the main diagnosis of major depressive disorder or dysthymia, who have an increased risk for suicidal behaviours. There are three measurement points, at baseline, at 1 and 3 months after baseline. Patients are instructed to use their mobile safety plan when necessary and monitor their suicidal symptoms daily. Both these apps will be used in treatment with their clinician. Conclusion: The results from this study will provide insight into the feasibility of mobile safety planning and self-monitoring in treatment of suicidal patients. Furthermore, knowledge of the suicidal process will be enhanced, especially regarding the transition from suicidal ideation to behaviour