Homeotic Evolution in the Mammalia: Diversification of Therian Axial Seriation and the Morphogenetic Basis of Human Origins

Despite the rising interest in homeotic genes, little has been known about the course and pattern of evolution of homeotic traits across the mammalian radiation. An array of emerging and diversifying homeotic gradients revealed by this study appear to generate new body plans and drive evolution at a large scale.This study identifies and evaluates a set of homeotic gradients across 250 extant and fossil mammalian species and their antecedents over a period of 220 million years. These traits are generally expressed as co-linear gradients along the body axis rather than as distinct segmental identities. Relative position or occurrence sequence vary independently and are subject to polarity reversal and mirroring. Five major gradient modification sets are identified: (1)--quantitative changes of primary segmental identity pattern that appeared at the origin of the tetrapods ; (2)--frame shift relation of costal and vertebral identity which diversifies from the time of amniote origins; (3)--duplication, mirroring, splitting and diversification of the neomorphic laminar process first commencing at the dawn of mammals; (4)--emergence of homologically variable lumbar lateral processes upon commencement of the radiation of therian mammals and ; (5)--inflexions and transpositions of the relative position of the horizontal septum of the body and the neuraxis at the emergence of various orders of therian mammals. Convergent functional changes under homeotic control include laminar articular engagement with septo-neural transposition and ventrally arrayed lumbar transverse process support systems.Clusters of homeotic transformations mark the emergence point of mammals in the Triassic and the radiation of therians in the Cretaceous. A cluster of homeotic changes in the Miocene hominoid Morotopithecus that are still seen in humans supports establishment of a new "hominiform" clade and suggests a homeotic origin for the human upright body plan

Tecido urbano e mercado imobiliário em São Paulo: metodologia de estudo com base na Décima Urbana de 1809

Este artigo apresenta uma metodologia inédita de espacialização da Décima Urbana, primeiro imposto predial estabelecido para as cidades brasileiras. Focaliza o caso de São Paulo, em 1809. Os dados recolhidos na documentação textual foram processados em banco de dados e cartografados na primeira planta cadastral da cidade, elaborada pelo engenheiro Carlos Bresser, entre 1844-1847, e confrontados com a documentação iconográfica dos viajantes e de Militão Augusto de Azevedo, de modo a precisar as informações obtidas. A Décima Urbana de 1809 contém informações sobre a localização dos imóveis, seus proprietários, inquilinos, tipologias (casas térreas, sobrados, lojas), finalidades (uso próprio, aluguel), usos (residencial, comercial, misto) e valor, que hoje nos permitem reconstituir hipoteticamente o velho tecido urbano da cidade de São Paulo e aspectos da dinâmica do seu mercado imobiliário em fins do período colonial.This article presents a new spatialisation methodology for the Décima Urbana, the first property tax established in Brazilian cities. The case of São Paulo in 1809 is studied. The data gathered from textual documentation was processed in a database and cartographed on the first official city plan, elaborated by engineer Carlos Bresser between 1844-1847, and then confronted with the iconographic documentation produced by visiting travellers and by photographer Militão Augusto de Azevedo, so as to cross-reference the information obtained. The Décima Urbana of 1809 contains data about the siting of buildings, their proprietors, tenants, typology (single and two-storey houses, shops), finalities (own use, rent), uses (residential, commercial, mixed) and value. This allows for the present day hypothetical reconstruction of old São Paulo's urban mesh and of aspects of the real estate market dynamics at the end of the colonial period

An Observational Overview of Solar Flares

We present an overview of solar flares and associated phenomena, drawing upon a wide range of observational data primarily from the RHESSI era. Following an introductory discussion and overview of the status of observational capabilities, the article is split into topical sections which deal with different areas of flare phenomena (footpoints and ribbons, coronal sources, relationship to coronal mass ejections) and their interconnections. We also discuss flare soft X-ray spectroscopy and the energetics of the process. The emphasis is to describe the observations from multiple points of view, while bearing in mind the models that link them to each other and to theory. The present theoretical and observational understanding of solar flares is far from complete, so we conclude with a brief discussion of models, and a list of missing but important observations.Comment: This is an article for a monograph on the physics of solar flares, inspired by RHESSI observations. The individual articles are to appear in Space Science Reviews (2011