archives@tulane.edu / A large gap between indigenous and non-indigenous people exist in Guatemala. I propose that this gap exists in part due to the intentional exclusion of indigenous related content, such as indigenous languages and pre-Columbian history, from the national curriculum. Ladinos see Maya and other indigenous groups as inferior mainly because they ignore their customs, languages, and cultures. In order to remediate this issue, the Maya Scripta project developed an online database containing Maya hieroglyphic inscriptions. This brings to the public information usually available only in specialized professional journals and mostly in English. Maya Scripta allows professionals, students, amateurs, and curious to access Maya inscriptions and their translation in Spanish for free and in a friendly and interactive display. This compensates for the lack of information in the school system. A community-engaged project developed with the Regional Museum of Southeastern Petén, Juan Pedro Laporte Molina, in Dolores, Petén, tested this hypothesis. The project consists of three axes: Marketing and Exposure, Exhibition, and Education. Through the first two axes we increased the number of visitors to the museum and improved the overall visit experience. The third and most important axis consisted of pairing with the museum and Universidad del Valle de Guatemala to develop workshops for local students from Dolores using the online platform of Maya Scripta. Through them, they learned about ancient and modern Maya, alongside with how the Maya hieroglyphic writing system works. As students attended more workshops, they increased their knowledge about the Maya and also had a more positive perception, proving the usefulness of Maya Scripta as a teaching tool and the importance of including indigenous related content in the classroom. Surveys also found that the environment where students interact plays an important role in how they understand Maya groups and also on what ethnic filiation students show. The project proved how a community-engaged approach can yield better results for all the parties involved in a collaborative, effective, and successful way. / 1 / Ruben Morales Forte

<p>Sex determination is a critical biological process for all sexually reproducing animals. Despite its significance, evolution has provided a vast array of mechanisms by which sexual phenotype is determined and elaborated even within amniote vertebrates. The most prevalent systems of sex determination in this clade are genetic and temperature dependent sex determination. These two systems are sometimes consistent within large groups of species, such as the mammals who nearly ubiquitously utilize XY genetic sex determination, or they can be much more mixed as in reptiles that use genetic or temperature dependent systems and even both simultaneously. The turtles are a particularly diverse group in the way they determine sex with multiple different genetic and temperature based systems having been described. We investigated the nature of the temperature based sex determination system in Trachemys scripta elegans to ascertain whether it behaved as a purely temperature based system or if some other global source of sex determining information might be apparent within thermal regions insufficient to fully induce male or female development. These experiments found that sex determination in this species is much more complex and early acting than previously thought and that each gonad within an individual has the same sexual fate established enough that it can persist even without further communication between. We established a best practice for the assembly and annotation of de novo whole transcriptomes from T. scripta RNA-seq and utilized the technique to quantify the gene regulatory events that occur across the thermal sensitive period.</p><p>Evidence is entirely lacking on the resolution of TSD when eggs are incubated at the pivitol temperature in which equal numbers or males and females are produces. We have produced a timecourse data set that allowed for the elucidation of the gene expression events that occur at both the MPT and FPT over the course of the thermal sensitive period. Our data suggests that early establishment of a male or female fate is possible when temperature is sufficiently strong enough as at MPT and FPT. We see a strong pattern of mutually antagonistic gene expression patterns emerging early and expanding over time through the end of the period of gonad plasticity. In addition, we have identified a strong pattern of differential expression in the early embryo at stages prior to the formation of the gonad. Even without the known systemic signaling attributed to sex hormones emanating from the gonad, the early embryo has a clear male and female gene expression pattern. We discuss how this early potential masculinization or feminization of the embryo may indicate that the influence of temperature may extend beyond the determination of gonadal sex or even metabolic adjustments and how this challenges the well-defined paradigm in which gonadal sex determines peripheral sexual characteristics.</p> / Dissertation

Dans les bourgs de la Navarre péninsulaire entre le XIIIe et XIVe siècles est apparue une scripta juridique occitane dont l'usage était lié à l'établissement des Francos, population bénéficiant de privilèges particuliers et provenant originellement du nord des Pyrénées. Le développement de cette langue en dehors d'un territoire occitanophone lui a conféré des caractéristiques qui la rendent d'emblée reconnaissable; et si elle conserve des traits la rattachant au languedocien, elle partage des points communs avec d'autres variétés du diasystème, étendu au catalan, ainsi qu'avec le navarro-roman au contact duquel elle a évolué.

Programa de Doctorado: Biotecnología en ciencias de la salud (Biotecnología y Bíomedicina)

The existence of a metaphoric female standing in for poetic style was only plainly discussed in a paper from 1987 concerned with Roman elegiac poetry. This figure is given the title of scripta puella or written woman, since her existence depends solely on the writings of an author. These females often appear to have basis in reality; however there is insufficient evidence to allow them to cross out of the realm of fantasy. The term scripta puella in poetry refers to a perfected poetic form, one the author prefers over all others, and a human form creates the illusion of a mistress. Using this form, usually described in basic terms which create an outline of a woman, a poet easily expresses his inclination towards specific poetic styles and elements. While other scholars recognize the scripta puella in elegiac poetry, little research has been done into other genres. For this thesis, the focus is on the genre called Latin verse satire. The genre contains four recognized authors: Lucilius, Horace, Persius, and Juvenal. In order to prove her existence, each collection of satires is examined in its original language and analyzed with heavy emphasis on recognizing key phrases and attributes of scriptae puellae. Her appearances can be difficult to determine, as some examples will show, yet the existence of scriptae puellae enrich modern understanding of ancient texts. In addition to the four authors, articles and books dealing with women, satire, and women in satire are consulted to aid in explanation and support. With this body of proof, scriptae puellae are shown to exist within the Latin verse satirists' texts; they act as a link between the four authors and as a link to Greek poetry, which has been considered a possible predecessor for satire. This knowledge allows for a better explanation of satire as a genre and opens up the possibilities for further study in other genres which contain women of various forms.

This study was designed to investigate the relationships between spectral properties of cottonwood plantations and defoliation by the cottonwood leaf beetle (CLB), Chrysomela scripta F., as well as to develop and analyze the spatial structure of CLB and associated defoliation using geospatial information technology. Multispectral imagery data from airborne platforms were acquired using three remote sensing systems: (1) GeoVantage remote sensing system with 450 nm, 550 nm, 650 nm and 850 nm wavelengths; (2) RDACS (real time digital airborne camera system) with 540 nm, 675 nm, 695 nm and 840 nm wavelengths; and (3) Kodak DCS420 digital camera with the 500-810 nm wavelengths (red, green and near infrared). In addition, multispectral and hyperspectral radiometric data were collected using spectroradiometer. Analyzing reflectance values for simulated CLB defoliation indicated that the 0% and 25% defoliation could be differentiated from the 75% defoliation in the near infrared (NIR). Utilizing normalized difference vegetation index and a simple vegetation index, 0% and 25% defoliation could also be separated from 50% and 75% defoliation. Reflectance values for natural defoliation by CLB and various ground covers indicated that NIR was the best indicator for distinguishing different ground cover types. Heavy feeding by CLB could be detected but light or no feeding could not be discriminated from each other using these systems mentioned above. Spectral spatial analysis of a first year rising cottonwood plantation indicated that a wave (hole-effect) variogram model could be used to describe the spatial structure at omnidirection. Within the 1.90 - 2.48 m range, there is a significant spatial autocorrelation of reflectance. Spatial structure of adult and larval populations indicated that spatial dependence varied among dates and directions. Spherical and Gaussian functions provided the best statistical fit for CLB adult and larval spatial distributions, which were aggregated. The signature analysis for hyperspectral data indicated that when comparing the 0% defoliation to the 25, 50 and 75% defoliation, maximum reflectance differences were found near 294 nm in the ultraviolet, 550 nm in the visible spectrum and 764 nm in the near infrared spectrum. The highest reflectance sensitivity occurred between 528-557 nm in the visible spectrum. High sensitivities were also found between 730-740 nm and 930-940 nm in the infrared spectrum. Bands from 892-894 nm were best for separating various defoliation levels. This study has first demonstrated the application of remote sensing combined with GPS and geostatistics to CLB defoliation of cottonwood. The defoliation level of cottonwood can be detected and assessed using different remote sensing systems. Spatial models can be used to map CLB population densities and defoliation rates in landscapes. These maps can be used for site specific CLB management.

An increasing amount of attention is devoted to studying the impact of non-native animal species on native species. Among other causes of ecosystem degradation, such as climate change, polution and habitat conversion, biological invasion is considered as one of the main causes of the decrease in biological diversity all over the world. In order to detect possible predation event, tadpoles use not only visual and mechanical stimuli, but also chemical one. The tadpoles respond to the certain chemicals to be a part of predator's secretions. In aquatic systems, chemical cues are a major source of information through which animals are able to assess the current state of their environment to gain information about local predation risk. Prey use chemicals released by predators to mediate a range of behavioural, morphological and life-history antipredator defences. Tadpoles swim significatnly less and also on a less direct trajectory in the presence of chemical cues released by a turtle Trachemys scripta. This article is focused on the influence of mentioned constraints on the dynamics and the time dynamics of the larval growth of Rana temporaria. The influence was judged by the impact on the tadpole's development. We anticipated a behavioral response to the predator, which would lead to various growth reactions during larval growth, the resulting body size after metamorphosis, but also in the development time of larval stage. The results indicate that tadpoles of Rana temporaria changed behaviour in the presence of Trachemys scripta. Tadpoles in the permanent presence of the turtle grew faster, metamorphosed earlier and the resulting size after metamorphosis was smaller than of the tadpoles who developed without presence of the predator. Mentioned reactions may affect the survival and fitness of a metamorphosed individual.

No description available.

La Chanson d’Anseïs de Mes est la quatrième et dernière branche de la Geste des Lorrains. On ne possède actuellement aucune édition complète de cette chanson de geste : la seule que nous ayons est celle d’Herman Green, faite en 1939 sur un manuscrit fautif et sans aucun apparat critique, d’où la nécessité d’une nouvelle édition. Cette édition de la partie inédite permet une série de conclusions qui soulignent l’originalité de ce poème que nous appellerons désormais Anseïs de Gascogne. 1. Cette chanson n’est pas une chanson lorraine, mais picarde ; notre manuscrit présente des traits picards très marqués. L’auteur, linguistiquement un picard, est originaire de cette partie nord de la France qu’il connaît parfaitement. La composition est à situer vers 1255-1260, dans la région picarde qui jouxte la Flandre. 2. Anseïs de Gascogne représente une idéologie nouvelle qui la place à contre courant des autres chansons des Lorrains. Même si elle met en scène les deux lignages ennemis des Bordelais et des Lorrains, l’esprit est totalement différent : Anseïs de Gascogne est une œuvre « engagée » qui vise à la gloire de la Flandre et à l’anéantissement du roi de France et de son royaume, et où les Lorrains sont désavoués. Histoire et fiction se rencontrent dans cette œuvre d’actualité qui clôt une fois pour toutes l’histoire des Lorrains. 3. C’est l’œuvre d’un clerc lettré qui a donné la priorité à l’intelligence et à la culture, avant la prouesse chevaleresque. Cet écrivain de talent a utilisé avec soin toutes les ressources du style épique [laisses, motifs, formules] ; le poème témoigne en outre d’une composition solide, parfaitement structurée et d’une recherche dans l’écriture : peinture réaliste et pittoresque mettant en valeur des personnages bien dessinés, art de suggérer, parfois avec humour, mélange de tragique et de scènes divertissantes qui en font une œuvre d’art. / The Poem of Anseïs of Mes is the fourth and last part of the Geste des Lorrains. There is no complete edition of this epic poem: the only one that exists is the work by Herman Green which was completed in 1939 on an inaccurate manuscript and without any accompanying notes. Therefore a new edition is necessary. The release of the unpublished part would highlight enough evidence of the originality of this poem which will now be called Anseïs of Gascony. 1. This work is not a poem from Lorraine but from Picardy; the manuscript has very pronounced features from Picardy. The author speaks the language and knows perfectly well his native land of Picardy in the north of France. The text can be placed around 1255-1260, in the region of Picardy which is next to Flanders. 2. Anseïs of Gascony represents a new ideology which goes against the prevailing current of the other poems of the Lorrains at the time. Even if it presents the two rival lineages of Bodeaux and Lorraine, the spirit is totally different: Anseïs of Gascony is a "committed" work which aims for the glory of Flanders and the destruction of the king of France and his kingdom and where the people of Lorraine are disowned. History and fiction meet in this topical text which ends once and for all the history of the people of Lorraine. 3. It is the work of a scholarly clerk and gives priority to intelligence and culture, before chivalrous feats. This talented writer carefully used all the resources in writing this epic poem [leads, motifs, formulas]; additionally, this thoroughly researched poem is a well-structured and by all means, a solid piece of work: a realistic picture highlighting characters which are well drawn, the art of suggesting, sometimes with humor, a mixture of tragic and amusing scenes which on the whole form a good work of art.

No description available.