A Phylogenetic Analysis of the African Plant Genus Palisota (family Commelinaceae) based on Chloroplast DNA Sequences

The plant genus Palisota (family Commelinaceae, or spiderwort family) consists of approximately 20 species and is distributed throughout the forests of tropical Africa. The genus exhibits several unusual morphological characteristics, and as a result has been difficult to classify based on morphology. Molecular phylogenetic studies have placed it near the base of Commelinaceae, but the exact placement of Palisota within the family is not clear. As the African continent has become more arid in recent geological times, the forests have receded, reducing the habitat for Palisota species and potentially impacting speciation and extinction rates within the genus. The goal of this study is to sequence the chloroplast-encoded gene rbcL in several additional species of Palisota and its relatives in order to: 1) determine the phylogenetic relationship of the genus with respect to other members of Commelinaceae; 2) evaluate phylogenentic relationships among species of Palisota; and 3) infer relative speciation/extinction rates within the genus. Additionally, we are exploring the use of other molecular regions for phylogenetic analysis with the genus

After Faith, Hope, and Love: The Unique Divergence of Asceticism by Gregory the Great and Maximus the Confessor

In the late sixth and early seventh centuries, asceticism continued as a frequent expression of Christian devotion. Despite communications between the Eastern and Western Churches and a common patristic foundation, theology in the East and West during this time diverged on the results of asceticism. This paper explores this divergence by examining two theologians, Gregory the Great and Maximus the Confessor. Current scholarship has examined Gregory the Great and Maximus the Confessor on their own, yet the dialogue between each tradition and its implications remains understudied. Thus, this study contextualizes Gregory the Great’s On the Song of Songs and Maximus the Confessor’s Letter 2: On Love. Though both agreed on asceticism’s importance, they described its outcome differently. Gregory viewed asceticism’s result as a fuller, but imperfect, knowledge of God, while Maximus saw human deification as its result. While both authors used similar theological traditions, certain theologians, like Pseudo-Dionysus and Augustine, were only used by one author or the other. Because of Maximus’ doctrine of deification, holy men could be revered in the East. Yet, Gregory saw man as imperfect until after death; thus, it was more acceptable to revere relics in the West. Ultimately, grasping this divergence helps explain the Holy Man in the East and West

Increasing the Prevalence of Risky Play In Preschool and Kindergarten Classrooms in the United States

Risky play is a thrilling form of play that has the potential for some injury and is a biologically innate need within all children that provides a variety of physical, mental, and emotional benefits to children. Currently however, preschool and kindergarten classrooms in the United States offer little to no opportunities for risky play in early childhood settings. The main factor that influences the amount of risky play happening in early childhood classrooms is teacher attitudes related to risky play; if teachers have a negative attitude about risky play, less risky play is allowed in their classroom setting. This project examines three themes that are influential in striving to increase educator positive attitudes related to risky play in preschool and kindergarten classrooms within the United States. These themes have been used to create a professional development program for educators, which through consistent and accurate implementation will aim to increase educator positive attitudes toward risky play and therefore the amount of risky play happening in preschool and kindergarten classrooms

Molecular Mechanisms of Learning, Memory and Aging

Aging, or rather, how to avoid it, has intrigued mankind from the earliest times. It has been a quest comparable to the alchemists’ search for a way to turn lead into gold. Just as the alchemists spawned chemistry the quest for the fountain of youth has led to a large body of research into aging. Among the many theories on the nature of aging the oxidative stress hypothesis is the most plausible one. This theory states that the lifelong accumulation of oxidative damage to biological macromolecules such as proteins, DNA and lipids is the mechanism underlying aging. Considering that DNA contains all the information needed to build and maintain a cell, it is surmised that (oxidative) damage to DNA is the predominant contributor to aging. In support of this idea are the accelerated segmental aging phenotypes of humans and mice with defects in DNA repair mechanisms

The Breyer Case of the Court of Justice of the European Union: IP Addresses and the Personal Data Definition

The Breyer case of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) primarily concerns the question whether a website visitor’s dynamic IP address constitutes personal data for a website publisher, when another party (an internet access provider) can tie a name to that IP address. In essence, the Court finds that an IP address constitutes personal data for the website publisher, if that publisher has the legal means to obtain, from the visitor’s internet access provider, additional information that enables the publisher to identify that visitor. In this case note, I summarise the facts and the judgment, and add a few comments