Ecologists and evolutionary biologists have long recognized that species diversity is unequally distributed among angiosperm lineages. For example, various plant clades found in the Andes have been proposed as examples of rapid radiations, and the Andes are recognized as one of the Earth’s biodiversity “hotspots”. Species within Valerianaceae, found in the South American Andes, appear to be an example of such a rapid radiation. Although much attention has been paid to the phylogeny of the South American species of Valerianaceae, there is still a great deal of uncertainty regarding species relationships. Several subgroups within the Andean Valerians have, either not been included, or poorly sampled in previous phylogenetic analyses. One example of such a group is section Porteria. Knowing the phylogenetic placement of this group would go a long way in our understanding of Andean biogeography, as well as morphological and floral evolution in Valerianaceae. In this study, I increase the sample size of section Porteria beyond what has been previously done. A number of genomic regions were amplified and sequenced for 6 species belonging to the section. Sequences were then aligned to previously published sequence data for homologous regions for other species in Valerianaceae. A “supermatrix” of 146 species was then analyzed using maximum parsimony. Resulting trees recovered a monophyletic section Porteria, however statistical support was weak for this conclusion. Although “supertrees” resulting from the analysis of “supermatrices” may be powerful tools for testing hypotheses concerning the evolution of species, there is still much work to be done on Valerianaceae.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2005-06-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:48:26Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 jesus_cr_me_botfca.pdf: 133340 bytes, checksum: 2ef846e0764b0f283ae46df3c1f9091c (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Para a geração de híbridos comerciais de porte baixo visando à colheita mecanizada em condições de safra é necessário a obtenção de linhagens. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar 111 linhagens de mamona, obtidas da População FCA Planta Baixa selecionadas para porte baixo. O trabalho foi desenvolvido no município de São Manuel - SP na Fazenda Experimental São Manuel, da Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, no Campus de Botucatu - UNESP. Estas linhagens foram avaliadas entre os meses de outubro de 2003 a setembro de 2004 utilizando-se o delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com área útil da parcela de 3,0 m2, espaçamento entre linhas 0,60 m e 0,50 m entre plantas. As 111 linhagens foram divididas em quatro experimentos: 30 linhagens em três experimentos com quatro repetições e 21 linhagens em um experimento com duas repetições. Após o completo desenvolvimento das plantas, avaliou-se a altura de 10 plantas por parcela (m) desde a superfície do solo até o ápice do racemo mais alto, bem como foram tomados dados de peso dos grãos em kg.ha -1, corrigidos por covariância para estande ideal de 10 plantas por parcela e teor de água de 10%. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos à análise de variância. Os quadrados médios não foram significativos a 5% de probabilidade para a característica altura de plantas, indicando que não houve variação genética para este parâmetro. Os quadrados médios das análises de variância para a característica produtividade de grãos foram significativos, indicando existir variabilidade para a característica em nível de 5% de probabilidade. Para a característica altura de plantas, a média das linhagens e amplitude de variação entre os quatro experimentos foi de 1,20 m com amplitude de 0,33 a 1,68 m ou plantas anãs a baixas... / For the generation of commercial hybrids with short height seeking to automated harvest in crop conditions, it's necessary the obtaining of lineages. The present work had as objective to evaluate 111 castor bean lineages, obtained from FCA short height plant population selected for low size. The work was developed in São Manuel municipal district, São Paulo State, in the Experimental Farm belonging to University of Agronomic Sciences, Botucatu Campus - UNESP. These lineages were appraised between October, 2003 and September, 2004, by using randomized complete blocks experimental design, with plot useful area of 3,0 m2, spacing between lines of 0,60 m and 0,50 m between plants. The 111 lineages were divided into four experiments: 30 lineages in three experiments with four replications and 21 lineages in one experiment with two replications. After plants complete development, the height of ten of them was evaluated, in each plot (m), from the soil surface to the apex of the highest bunch, as well as data of grain weight were taken, in kg ha-1, corrected by covariance for ideal stand of 10 plants per plot and water content of 10%. The obtained data were submitted to variance analysis. Medium squares were not significant to 5% of probability for the characteristic plant height, indicating that there was not genetic variation for this parameter. The medium squares from the variance analyses for the characteristic grains yield were significant, indicating the existence of genetic variability for this characteristic with 5% of probability. For the characteristic plant height, the average of the lineages and variation width among the four experiments was about 1,20 m with range from 0,33 to 1,68 m or dwarfish to short plants... (Complete abstract, click eletronic address below)

Notre travail a consisté à rechercher des éléments génétiques nouveaux associés aux souchesde Streptococcus agalactiae (SGB) responsables de méningites néonatales (MNN).L'amplification au hasard des ADN génomiques a identifié 3 fragments prophagiquesassociés aux souches à haut risque de MNN. Trente-six phages ont été isolés à partir desouches invasives et non invasives de SGB. La caractérisation moléculaire a défini sixgroupes moléculaires. L'étude du spectre lytique a montré des particularités pour chacun dessix groupes moléculaires. L'étude des capacités métaboliques de souches de SGB a montréque les souches lysogènes appartenant aux lignées phylogénétiques impliquées dans les MNNet présentent des pertes cataboliques. Les transferts génétiques horizontaux qui marquent lesclones des MNN ne semblent pas jouer un rôle dans la résistance aux macrolides. Desmécanismes de transduction ont joué un rôle important dans l'émergence de lignéesphylogénétiques impliquées dans les MNN. / We tried to identify new genetic elements in the genome of Streptotoccus agalactiae (SGB)strains responsible for neonatal meningitis (MNN). Three prophage-related DNA elementswere identified by randomly amplified polymorphie DNA analysis significantly associatedwith SGB strains presented a high risk of causing MNN. Thirty-six phages were isolated from invasive and non invasive SGB strains. Molecular characterization of phage DNA identified six distantly related molecular groups. The various phage groups had specifie lytic activities.The lysogenic strains belonging to phylogenetic lineages most involved in MNN presented catabolic losses. The horizontal gene transfers that mediate mobile genetic elementsrecognized as markers of highly virulent clones do not seem to be have played a role in theemergence of macrolide resistance. Ali our results indicate that transduction may have play arole in the emergence of phylogenetic lineages implicated in MNN.

L’ineffectivité du droit positif en Afrique est considérée comme l’une des principales causes de son sous-développement et/ou de son mal de développement. A titre d’illustration, la situation de « non-droit » qui prévaut en Côte d’Ivoire en matière matrimoniale apparaît comme l’une des plus édifiantes de cette corrélation entre ordonnancement juridique et développement (lato sensu)En effet, à l’instar de toutes les anciennes colonies françaises du bloc de l’Afrique Occidentale Française, la Côte d’Ivoire hérite du fait juridique (du moins dans son acception positiviste) de la colonisation. Il s’ensuit que, naturellement, le système juridique de l’ensemble de ces jeunes Etats africains trouve son inspiration, par le canal du droit colonial, dans le droit français. Mais la Côte d’Ivoire a adopté une solution différente de celles de la plupart des autres Etats. Les nouveaux gouvernants ivoiriens prirent le parti d’aligner purement et simplement leur droit sur celui de leur ancien colonisateur. Cela se traduisit au civil par l’adoption du Code français de 1804, donné comme un gage de développement et de révolution sociale, au détriment des innombrables coutumes civiles, considérées comme étant inconciliables avec le nouvel ordre constitutionnel et l’édification d’une nation ivoirienne. De cette volonté politique d'assimilation et d’unification juridique, qui se perpétue en Côte d’Ivoire depuis son accession à la souveraineté, naquit un véritable conflit de normes, entre d’une part, un droit étatique, notamment en matière matrimoniale, qui prévaut mais ne s’enracine pas, et d’autre part, des coutumes civiles, dont l’attrait pèse sur la crédibilité du droit officiel. / The inefficiency of the positive law in Africa is considered as one of the underlying reasons of its underdevelopment and/or of its development malaise. The state of lawlessness that prevails in Côte d’Ivoire in marriage-related issues appears to be the case in point, being one of the most instructive and globalizing within the correlations between legal order and development in its widest sense. As a matter of fact, like in all of the former French colonies of French West Africa block, Côte d’Ivoire’s legal (at least, in a positivist sense) system is a product of its colonial past. Therefore, the legal systems in all these young African states are naturally inspired by the French law, through the channel of colonial law. However, Côte d’Ivoire’s solution differs from most of those of its fellow regional states. The new Ivorian government opted for an outright alignment of their law and the legal system with that of the former colonizer. For the civil law, this translated into the adoption of the French Code of 1804, taken for a token of development and social revolution, at the expense of countless civil customs considered to be incompatible with the new constitutional order and nation-building. Out of this political will of assimilation and legal unification - that has been ongoing in Côte d’Ivoire since independence - was born a true conflict of norms. On the one hand, a state law, especially in matrimonial matters, is prevalent but still strives to take root. On the other hand, civil customs that are still attractive bite into the credibility of the official law.

Several cell lineages derived from the mesectoderm occupy and contact axons in the midline of the developing Drosophila CNS. Which of these midline cell lineages contribute to commissural axon morphogenesis? In the absence of the midline cells as in mutant embryos of the single-minded gene, the longitudinal axons collapse at the midline and commissural axons are absent. Despite the similarity in axon tract phenotype, the midline cells in slit mutant embryos survive but are displaced. Correct cytoarchitecture of the midline cells is therefore dependent on the activity of Sli protein which is in turn necessary for commissure formation. In mutant embryos displaying a fused commissure phenotype (rhomboid and Star), the anterior and middle midline glia cells failed to migrate and died by apoptosis after commissure development. In these mutants the number of cells in midline neuronal lineages was reduced before defects in midline glia were apparent. In wildtype embryos approximately 50% of cells in three midline glia lineages died by apoptosis after commissure separation as shown by ultrastructural and enhancer trap analysis. Midline glia lineages died by apoptosis as shown morphologically and by their survival in embryos deficient in the cell death gene reaper. Quantitative analysis revealed variable survival of cells in the anterior, middle and posterior midline glial lineages during embryogenesis suggesting heterogeneity among these cells. The presence of extra anterior, middle and posterior midline glial lineages relative to wildtype numbers in reaper mutant embryos suggested that cell death regulates either midline glial proliferation or cell fate determination during wildtype embryogenesis. Alterations in axon-glia contact correlated with changes in midline glia survival. What happens to apoptotic cells in the Drosophila embryonic central nervous system? A variety of glia in the nervous system were capable of phagocytic activity including midline glia, longitudinal tract glia, nerve root glia and subperineurial glia, revealed by electron microscopy. However, the majority of apoptotic cells in the central nervous system were engulfed by subperineurial glia. In the absence of phagocytic haemocytes in embryos mutant for the Bicaudal-d gene, most apoptotic cells were retained in subperineurial glia at the outer edges of the central nervous system. Apoptotic cells were expelled from the central nervous system of Bicaudal-d mutant embryos suggesting that phagocytic haemocytes participate in the removal of apoptotic cells from the central nervous system but are not essential for this process. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

T. cruzi compreende populações heterogêneas classificadas nas linhagens TCI e TCIIa-e. Neste estudo, foi caracterizado um grande número de isolados de mamíferos e vetores silvestres de diversas origens geográficas, além de isolados humanos da Amazônia. Análises filogenéticas baseadas em SSU rDNA e Cyb foram utilizadas para inferir relações entre linhagens e padrões biogeográficos. Além de análises ITS1 rDNA e RAPD para detectar polimorfismo intraespecífico. TCIIa circula em primatas e é transmitida por Rhodnius, no ecótopo arbóreo da Amazônia brasileira ocasionalmente infectando o homem. TCI é mais prevalente em macacos e no homem na Amazônia onde pode causar doença severa, como demonstramos no Nordeste. No Brasil, morcegos são infectados por três espécies de tripanossomas, incluindo uma nova linhagem de T. cruzi (TCbat). Foram caracterizados T. rangeli de macacos e morcegos. A linhagem TCIIc possui ampla distribuição no Brasil, associada com mamíferos e triatomíneos terrestres. Isolados TCIIa dos USA pertencem a uma linhagem, aparentemente ausente no Brasil. / T. cruzi comprises highly heterogeneous populations classified as TCI and TCIIa-e lineages. This study characterized large wild mammal and vector strains of various geographical origins, and human isolates from Amazonia. Phylogenetic analysis using SSU rDNA and Cyb genes inferred relationships among lineages and their biogeographic patterns. ITS1 rDNA and RAPD detected intraspecific polymorphism. TCIIa circulates in primates in the Brazilian Amazon, transmitted by Rhodnius in arboreal ecotopes sporadically infecting humans. TCI is the most prevalent in the Amazonian primates and humans, and can induce severe Chagas disease as demonstrated in a patient from Northeast Brazil. Bats of several biomes were found infected by three trypanosome species, including a new lineage of T. cruzi denominated TCbat. Isolates from monkeys and bats were also molecularly characterized. The lineage TCIIc showed to be widespread in Brazil, and was associated to terrestrial mammals and triatomines. TCIIa from the USA corresponds to an independent lineage, probably absent in Brazil.

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T14:13:03Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Livia Eidam.pdf: 4492366 bytes, checksum: 6f8d83617df523059e48fdad789c558f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-12 / Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) Bruyns, also known as janauba, belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family and it is the nomenclature accepts for Synadenium grantii Hook. f and Synadenium umbellatum Pax, which are synonymies according to some bibliographical references. It is popularly an employed species for the treatment of several cancer types, being the latex the vegetable part used for this purpose. In way to identify the species correctly, to contribute with the quality control and to correlate scientific studies of evaluation anticancer with the use etnopharmacologic, the proposed objectives were: to explore the morphoanatomy of E. umbellata; to evaluate the toxicity for the cells HeLa, HRT-18 and Jurkat and to proceed the phytochemistry investigation in the search of active substances. For the analysis macro and microscopic, leaves and stems of specimens designated as Synadenium grantii Hook. F (in Ponta Grossa) and Synadenium umbellatum Pax (in Goiânia) were previously fixed fastened in FAA solution. The material was sectioned by hand in the transverse and longitudinal directions. Astra blue and basic fuchsin were employed for staining. The citotoxicity of the latex was studied through biological rehearsals, with methodologies of mitochondrial reduction for MTT, internalization of VN for lysosomes; morphology for May Grunwald and Giemsa; membrane integrity for trypan blue; calculation of IC50; quantification of the content of DNA for DPA and propidium iodide; morphology for acridine orange and flow citometry. The phytochemistry, accomplished by accompaniment of biological rehearsals (biomonitored) results, it was done with the fraction Hex. The results ethnobotanical proved that the two specimens evaluated treat of the same plant which should be correctly denominated Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) Bruyns. These results elucidated the epicuticular wax, paracytic stomata and non-glandular trichomes; as well as laticifers; and they revealed chemical markers as the outstanding presence of the latex; composed lipophilic and phenolics compounds; starch and mucilage. The experimentation in vitro showed that the leukemic cells were firstly more responsive to the latex and later to the fraction Hex. IC50 calculated for the hexane fraction was of 1,87 μg/mL, value this that turns the composed phytocomplex of this fraction a promising antitumoral agents. After comparison with IC50 of non neolpasic cells, it was demonstrated IS of 5,98 and this corroborates the existence of selectivity action in relation to the analyzed cells. For flow citometry stop of cellular progression was verified, with substantial increase of the cells in phase G0/G1 and decrease of these in the phase G2/M. The phytochemistry study could contribute to the isolation of two identified triterpenes for techniques of nuclear magnetic resonance (RMN), being a pentacyclic denominated as germanicol acetate and for the first time isolated of this vegetable species and other tetracyclic designated euphol and already isolated of this Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) Bruyns. / Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) Bruyns, conhecida também por janaúba, pertencente a família Euphorbiaceae e é a nomenclatura aceita para Synadenium grantii Hook. f e Synadenium umbellatum Pax, as quais são sinonímias segundo algumas referências bibliográficas. É uma espécie empregada popularmente para o tratamento de diversos tipos de câncer, sendo o látex a parte vegetal utilizada para este fim. De forma a identificar corretamente a espécie, contribuir com o controle de qualidade e correlacionar estudos científicos de avaliação anticâncer com o uso etnofarmacológico, os objetivos propostos foram: explorar a morfoanatomia de E. umbellata; avaliar a toxicidade para as células HeLa, HRT-18 e Jurkat e proceder a investigação fitoquímica na busca de substâncias ativas. Para a análise macro e microscópica, folhas e caules de espécimes designados como Synadenium grantii Hook. F (em Ponta Grossa) e Synadenium umbellatum Pax (em Goiania) foram previamente fixados em solução FAA. O material foi cortado à mão nos sentidos transversal e longitudinal. Azul de astra e fucsina básica foram utilizados para a coloração. A citotoxicidade do látex foi estudada através de ensaios biológicos, com metodologias de redução mitocondrial por MTT, internalização de VN por lisossomos; morfologia por May Grunwald e Giemsa; integridade de membrana por azul de tripan; cálculo de IC50; quantificação do conteúdo de DNA por DPA e iodeto de propídio; morfologia por alaranjado de acridina e citometria de fluxo. A fitoquímica, realizada por acompanhamento dos resultados dos ensaios biológicos (biomonitorado), foi feita com a fração Hex. Os resultados etnobotânicos comprovaram que as duas espécimes avaliadas tratam da mesma planta a qual deve ser corretamente denominada Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) Bruyns. Estes resultados elucidaram a existência de cêra epicuticular, estômatos paracíticos e tricomas tectores; assim como os tubos laticíferos; e revelaram marcadores químicos como a marcante presença do látex; compostos lipofílicos e fenólicos; amido e mucilagem. A xperimentação in vitro mostrou que as células leucêmicas foram primeiramente mais responsivas ao látex e posteriormente à fração Hex. O IC50 calculado para a fração hexânica foi de 1,87 μg/mL, valor este que torna o fitocomplexo constituidor desta fração um promissor agente antitumoral. Após comparação com o IC50 de células não neoplásicas, foi demonstrado IS de 5,98 e isso corrobora a existência de seletividade de ação em relação às células analisadas. Por citometria de fluxo verificou-se parada de progressão celular, com aumento substancial das células em fase G0/G1 e diminuição destas na fase G2/M. O estudo fitoquímico pôde contribuir para o isolamento de dois triterpenos identificados por técnicas de ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN), sendo um pentacíclico denominado como acetato de germanicol e pela primeira vez isolado desta espécie vegetal e outro tetracíclico designado eufol e já isolado de Euphorbia umbellata (Pax) Bruyns.

Duas linhagens filogenéticas principais (LI e L2) foram definidas em Trypanosoma cruzi, com base em sequências de genes de rDNA e mini-exon e análise por RAPD (Souto et al. 1996). Neste trabalho investigamos a estrutura e atividade dos promotores do cistron ribossômico das duas linhagens de T. cruzi. O promotor da cepa Dm28 (L2) foi clonado e sua seqüência foi comparada com seqüências publicadas da região homóloga de CL (L1) e La Cruz (L2). A identidade entre os dois promotores de L2 foi de 98%, e entre estes e o de L1 foi de 82%. O ponto de início de transcrição foi mapeado, apresentando a mesma localização nas duas linhagens. A atividade dos promotores de L1 e L2 foi determinada em construções plasmidiais contendo o gene reporter da cloranfenicol acetil transferase (CAT). Experimentos de expressão transitória mostraram que o promotor de L1 foi funcional apenas em isolados de L1, enquanto que o promotor de L2 foi funcional em ambas as linhagens. A expressão do promotor de L2 em isolados de L1 foi maior do que a do promotor homólogo. Analisamos ainda a atividade dos dois promotores em um grupo de isolados que apresentam dois tipos de cistrons ribossômicos (grupo 1/2). Neste grupo de cepas observamos que ambos os promotores presentes nas construções são funcionais, embora o promotor de L2 induza maior expressão de CAT. Por outro lado, demonstramos que nestes isolados apenas o cistron ribossômico de tipo 2 é expresso in vivo. Neste trabalho analisamos ainda a eficiência de entrada das construções plasmidiais nas cepas de T. cruzi; caracterizamos a atividade de regiões do promotor de L2 e a eficiência do processo de \"trans-splicing\" para gerar mRNA de CAT contendo a seqüência de mini-exon na extremidade 5\'. / Two major phylogenetic lineages (L1 and L2) have been defined in Trypanosoma cruzi based on rDNA and mini-exon sequences and RAPD analysis (Souto et al., 1996). In the present work we have investigated the structure and activity of ribosomal RNA promoters from the two T. cruzi lineages. The promoter region of Dm28 strain (L2) was cloned and its sequence was compared with the homologous regions from the CL (L1) and La Cruz (L2) strains, whose sequences were previously published. The identity found between promoters of the two L2 strains was 98%, while the identity between L2 and L1 promoters was 82%. The transcription start point mapped in the two Lineages showed the same localization. The activity of L1 and L2 promoters was investigated through the use of plasmid constructs bearing bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) as reporter gene. Experiments of transient expression showed that the L1 promoter drove high CAT activity in L1 isolates, but essentially no activity in L2 strains. On the other hand, L2 promoter was functional in both Lineages. The expression driven by L2 promoter in L1 isolates was higher than that driven by the homologous promoter. We have also analysed the activity of both L1 and L2 promoters in a particular group of T. cruzi isolates (group 1/2) which contains two types of rRNA cistrons. It was observed that both promoters were functional in this group of strains, although L2 promoter drove higher CAT activity. This is an interesting result since we have shown that in group 1/2 isolates only the type 2 rRNA cistron is expressed in vivo. In the present study, we have also analysed the transfection efficiency of the plasmid constructs in T. cruzi strains; the activity of segments of the L2 promoter; and the efficiency of the \"trans-splicing\" process involved in the generation of mature CAT mRNA containing the mini-exon sequence at the 5\' end.

Entre la chute de la dynastie mahdide en 569/1174 et celle de la dynastie tahiride en 923/1517, les espaces sacrés se multiplièrent au Yémen et les pratiques religieuses évoluèrent considérablement, phénomène particulièrement visible dans la région du littoral de la mer Rouge, la Tihama yéménite. À la fin du VIIIe /XIVe siècle, la multiplication des tombes d'hommes bénis et des visites pieuses apparaissent comme une donnée fondamentale de la société tihamie, dans le contexte de l'affaiblissement progressif du sultanat rasulide (626-858/1229-1454), dont l'influence s'étendit du Higaz à Zafar et à la vallée du Hadramawt. Cimetières, mausolées, mosquées, ribat-s, madrasa-s funéraires : une grande partie de ces lieux, porteurs d'un lien fort avec la puissance divine, se constituèrent au cours de cette période et émergèrent graduellement comme des espaces centraux du développement social, politique et culturel de la société tihamie. Cette recherche tente de définir les processus et les étapes de la sacralisation des espaces religieux en Tihama. Elle s'intéresse au rôle social, mémoriel et politique des savants et des lignages bénis, ainsi qu'à leur place dans les rapports d'autorité et de domination, dans le contexte de la multiplication des lieux du sacré et de la fragmentation croissante des identités territoriales. Elle s'appuie sur un corpus de sources narratives en langue arabe d'époque médiévale, et plus particulièrement sur les dictionnaires biographiques et hagiographiques (tabaqat) produits au Yémen au cours du VIe-IXe/ XIIe-XVe siècle. / Between the end of the Mahdid dynasty in Yemen in 569/1174 and the fall of the Tahirid dynasty in 923/1517, sacred spaces multiplied and religious practices changed dramatically, especially in the Red Sea coastal plains of Tihama. By the end of the 8th/14th century, shrines of holy men were scattered across the whole region of this territory controlled by the Rasulid sultanate (626-858/1229-1454), whose influence spread from Higaz to Zafar and the valley of Hadramawt. Cemeteries, mausoleums, mosques, ribat-s and funerary madrasa-s: most of these places conveyed a strong bond with the divine and progressively emerged as central locations in the development of new social, political, religious and cultural behaviours. This research attempts to define the steps in the sacralization of religious spaces in Tihama. It stresses the social, memorial and political role of religious scholars and blessed lineages, and their place in regional relationships of authority and dominance, in a context of gradual multiplication of sacred places and increasing fragmentation of territorial identities. It is based on a large body of medieval narrative sources in Arabic and focus more specifically on the biographical and hagiographic works (tabaqat) produced in the Yemeni context during the 6th-9th /12th -15th centuries.

abstract: This dissertation is a study and translation of the Hereditary Household of the Han Celestial Master (Han tianshi shijia 漢天師世家), a hagiographical account of successive generations of the Zhang family patriarchs of Celestial Masters Daoism (Tianshi dao 天師道) at Dragon and Tiger Mountain (Longhu shan 龍虎山) in Jiangxi province that was compiled in stages between the late fourteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The Zhang family emerged in the late Tang or early Five dynasties period and rose to great prominence and power through the Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties on the basis of the claim of direct and unbroken lineal descent from Zhang Daoling 張道陵 the ancestral Celestial Master whose covenant with the deified Laozi in 142 C.E. is a founding event of the Daoist religion. In this study I trace the lineal history of the Zhang family as presented in the Hereditary Household in chronological parallel to contrasting narratives found in official histories, epigraphy, and the literary record. This approach affords insight into the polemical nature of the text as an assertion of legitimacy and allows for a demonstration of how the work represents an attempt to create in writing an idealized past in order to win prestige in the present. It also affords the opportunity to scour the historical record in an attempt to ascertain a plausible timeframe for the origin of the movement and to explore the relationship of the Hereditary Household to earlier hagiographic works that may have informed it. This study also contextualizes the Hereditary Household in the post-Tang religious climate of China. In that period the establishment of lineal authenticity and institutional charisma through narratives of descent became a widespread tool of legitimation employed by Buddhists, Daoists, and Confucians in hopes of obtaining imperial recognition and patronage. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Religious Studies 2016