The main point of our hypothesis “coloration undermines camouflage” is that many color patterns in plants undermine the camouflage of invertebrate herbivores, especially insects, thus exposing them to predation and causing them to avoid plant organs with unsuitable coloration, to the benefit of the plants. This is a common case of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” and a visual parallel of the chemical signals that plants emit to call wasps when attacked by caterpillars. Moreover, this is also (...) a common natural version of the well‐known case of industrial melanism, which illustrates the great importance of plant‐based camouflage for herbivorous insects and can serve as an independent test for our hypothesis. We claim that the enormous variations in coloration of leaves, petioles and stems as well as of flowers and fruits undermine the camouflage of invertebrate herbivores, especially insects. We assume that the same principle might operate in certain animal–parasite interactions. Our hypothesis, however, does not contrast or exclude other previous or future explanations of specific types of plant coloration. Traits such as coloration that have more than one type of benefit may be selected for by several agents and evolve more rapidly than ones with a single type of advantage. BioEssays 26:1126–1130, 2004. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (shrink)

This article expands upon the range of options and methods of some of my earlier studies on Euripides and the Old Testament. These studies have sought to discover similar linguistic features and concepts in the texts of Euripides and the Old Testament, and to discuss how Euripidean tragedies can be read as Greek responses to Hebrew anthropological beliefs, more specifically as poetic-philosophical approaches to the anthropo-theological narratives of Genesis 2–4 and related biblical texts. These biblical texts probably transmitted through improvised (...) oral or written Greek translations preceding the Septuagint (LXX), reorganise and transform the meaning of Hebrew expressions. This article presents the basic problems and aspects of a cultural-critical and comparative analysis and illustrates them with shared motifs from Medea, one of the eight Euripidean tragedies named after a female protagonist, and the Old Testament, thus expanding the boundaries of the traditional historic-critical exegesis.Contribution: The article contributes to the investigation of the background of the Septuagint from a cultural critical perspective with special reference to the Euripidean tragedies. (shrink)

A gedanken experiment that distinguishes locally between acceleration of rotation and linear acceleration is described and discussed.

We present theories of gravitation and electric potentials with exponential dependence on the reciprocal distance. In the context of this kind of electric potential we investigate the dynamics of a relativistic electron interacting with a proton.

Volume 16, Issue 4, September 2019, Page 491-493.

The purpose of this article is to discuss some basic problems and methodological steps concerning the encounter between Hebrews and Greeks in the Classical period and its impact on the Hellenistic era. The relationship between the Old Testament and Ancient Greek literature will be examined on the basis of Genesis 2–3 and Alcibiades’s speech in Plato’s Symposium. The following considerations and models of interpretation can arise from the analysis of Alcibiades’s speech compared to M- and LXX-Genesis 2–3: Ancient Greek writers (...) were familiar with Old Testament oral or written traditions through improvised translations. They prepared the way for the LXX and, in their compositions, were in dispute with them although they do not make specific references to the Hebrews and their literature; Hebrew authors knew the works of Ancient Greek authors and used Greek philosophical terminology which they creatively adapted to Semitic models; Both models are possible. One should not rush to any decisions but examine each case individually, in the original language. (shrink)

In some cases discussed below, the present form of the Septuagint is not representative of how Ancient Greek Tragedies were received by the LXX translators, but of how Old Testament traditions in Greek form were received by the tragedians.

We give a relativistic treatment to the dynamics of spherical bodies rotating at very high speed. It is found that most of the mass of a homogeneous spherical quark with Franklin rotation is due to the relativistic increase of the mass.

Volume 16, Issue 4, September 2019, Page 491-493.

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine what, how, and under what circumstances individual-focused interventions improve well-being and decrease burnout for critical care healthcare professionals.MethodThis realist approach, expert opinion interview, was guided by the Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Synthesis: Evolving Standards II guidelines. Semi-structured interviews with critical care experts were conducted to ascertain current and nuanced information on a set of pre-defined individual interventions summarized from a previous umbrella review. The data were appraised, and relationships between context, mechanisms, and outcomes were extracted, (...) which created theory prepositions that refined the initial program theory.ResultsA total of 21 critical care experts were individually interviewed. By understanding the complex interplay between organizational and personal factors that influenced intervention uptake, it was possible to decipher the most likely implementable intervention for critical care healthcare professionals. The expert recommendation suggested that interventions should be evidence-based, accessible, inclusive, and collaborative, and promote knowledge and skill development. Unique mechanisms were also required to achieve the positive effects of the intervention due to the presence of contextual factors within critical care settings. Mechanisms identified in this study included the facilitation of self-awareness, self-regulation, autonomy, collaboration, acceptance, and inclusion.ConclusionThis validation of a theoretical understanding of intervention that addressed well-being and burnout in critical care healthcare professionals by expert opinion demonstrated essential mechanisms and contextual factors to consider when designing and implementing interventions. Future research would benefit by piloting individual interventions and integrating these new theoretical findings to understand better their effectiveness for future translation into the “real-world” setting. (shrink)

In these clear and concise yet comprehensive essays, the author examines over 100 contemporary issues highlighting their timely relevance from the perspective of halacha - Jewish law. Never shy of controversy and flavored with humor - readers are sure to enjoy this fresh outlook on our daily tasks. With over 1000 references to a variety of classical Jewish texts, Dalet Amot is appropriate for laymen and scholars alike and facilitates further exploration of the issues in their original sources.

O presente trabalho tem por finalidade analisar alguns aspectos relacionados à técnica e ao estilo que foram utilizados por Longo Sofista para compor a sua obra prima intitulada Dáfnis e Cloé. Para tal análise serão utilizados alguns excertos do Livro I da obra.

A relatively recent development in Septuagint studies is a focus on the alleged influence of Platonism on the Bible. This article argues that Hellenism did in fact have an impact on Judaism. There are basically two groups of views on this issue. The first is that of the so-called minimalists, who make practically no allowance for freedom by the translators, and the second is that of the so-called maximalists, who believe that translators are relatively independent authors and interpreters. As far (...) as the relationship between Judaism and Platonism is concerned, some scholars think Greek thought, specifically in the form of Platonism, had a determinative influence on Judaism, but others are not convinced. This article opts for a middle of the road point of view. It accepts that Hellenism had a definite impact on Judaism but it was not as extensive as stated by some.Contribution: This research fits into the scope of HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies because it has made a study of the alleged impact of Platonism on Judaism. It finds that this impact is based on speculation, especially, by two authors: Evangelia Dafni and Russell Gmirkin. (shrink)

Pretendemos, com este trabalho, apresentar a prática de uma pedagogia erótica, sob a forma de uma questionável libertinagem, observada mediante um cotejo entre os romances Satíricon, de Petrônio (I séc. d.C) e Dáfnis e Cloé, de Longo ( II-III séc. d.C). Dentro dessa perspectiva, tentaremos enfatizar as inquietações que os indivíduos da sociedade greco-romana, representados em ambos os romances, sofriam frente às normas de conduta sexual que permeavam a sociedade da época. Do mesmo modo, refletiremos acerca de questões como: escravidão, (...) racismo,homoerotismo, virgindade e fidelidade conjugal. Questões, ainda hoje, tabu em nossa sociedade. (shrink)

É relativamente recente a perspectiva revisionista dos intentos filosóficos de Platão. Apesar disso, a ideia de um filósofo preocupado apenas em construir um edifício sistemático e hermético tem se mostrado cada vez menos sustentável, principalmente quando se observam as diversas fontes que apontam para interesses que não se restringem à filosofia, bem como para o desenvolvimento dos aspectos dramáticos presentes no corpus platônico como um todo. A ideia de que a literatura tem uma influência na obra platônica parece clara e (...) um consenso entre os estudiosos, visto as inúmeras referências que Platão faz, por exemplo, à poesia épica nas figuras de Homero e Hesíodo. Mas pouco parece ter sido dito a respeito do inverso: da influência que Platão poderia ter exercido na literatura posterior. Visando lidar com esse obscurecimento, o presente estudo tem como intento primordial identificar e analisar a possível existência de elementos platônicos em dois romances do período imperial grego, a saber, em Quéreas e Calírroe de Cáriton de Afrodísias e em Dáfnis e Cloé de Longo. Em seguida, intenta demonstrar de que modo Platão, ao exercer uma clara influência na literatura posterior, deixou atrás de si não somente o já reconhecido legado filosófico, mas contribuiu substancialmente para o desenvolvimento da atividade literária, efetuando uma síntese complexa entre filosofia e literatura, ao mesmo tempo em que nos leva a questionar a suposta rigidez inflexível que as distinguem. (shrink)

La novela griega, género polifacético de ficción en prosa, que floreció del siglo I al IV d.C., tuvo su continuación en la literatura bizantina. La trascendencia de la novela llegó al Renacimiento con Longo y su Dafnis y Cloe, que influenció obras como la Arcadia de Sanazzaro, en Italia, o la Diana, de Jorge de Montemayor, en España; y tuvo cierto influjo en la Galatea de Cervantes e incluso en El Quijote. También la Arcadia de Sidney es tributaria del tema (...) y la Astrea de Honoré d' Urfé, en Francia, refleja también este efecto. En esta comunicación quiero destacar la influencia de la novela griega en La Tempestad, comedia en cinco actos de Shakespeare, que revela gran afinidad con la novela de amor y aventuras, así como con la novela utópica. The Greek novel, a multifaceted fiction genre in prose, flourished between the first and the fourth Century A.D., had its continuation into the Byzantine literature. The significance of the Greek novels reached the Renaissance with Longus and his Daphnis and Chloe, that influenced Sanazzaro's Arcadia in Italy, or Jorge de Montemayor's Diana, in Spain. It also had a certain influence in Cervantes' Galatea and even in his Quijote. Sidney's Arcadia is also tributary to the theme, such as Honoré d' Urfé's Astrea, in France. In this paper I want to point out the influence of the Greek novel in Shakespeare I will focus in The Tempest, comedy in five acts, that reveals great affinity with the Greek novel of love and adventures of Longus, Xenophon of Ephesus and Achilles Tatius, as well as in the utopian novel. (shrink)

Goodpaster's principle of moral projection is intended to support a program of corporate moral improvement based on an analogy between persons and corporations. In this paper I try to show that the analogy breaks down at a crucial point — namely at the search for amotive for moral improvement. Further, the analogy may foster a tendency to suppose that corporations, like persons, have intrinsic value. I conclude that the analogy does more harm than good for the following reasons: (a) it (...) distracts from the crucial question, which is, how can we motivate people to shape the institutions in which they work into morally better ones? and (b) it may reinforce a morally dangerous tendency to serve corporations for their own sakes. (shrink)

This article acknowledges the fact that historically there are two phases in the emergence of the Septuagint – a Jewish phase and a Christian one. The article deals first with methodological issues. It then offers a historical orientation. In the past some scholars have failed to distinguish between key historical phases: the pre-exilic/exilic (Israelite – 10 tribes), the exilic (the Babylonian exile ‒ 2 tribes) and the post-exilic (Judaean/Jewish). Many scholars are unaware of the full significance of the Hellenistic era, (...) including the Seleucid and Ptolemaic eras and their impact on ‘biblical’ textual material. Others again overestimate the significance of this era; the Greek scholar Evangelia Dafni is an example. Many are uninformed about the Persian era, which includes the Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanian eras, each one of which had an impact on Judaism. An example is the impact of Persian dualism. Another problem is the application of the concept of ‘the Bible ’. The notion of ‘Bible’ applies only after the 16th century Common Era, specifically after the advent of the printing press. Earlier, depending on the context, we had clay tablets (Mesopotamia), vella (Levant-Judah) and papyri (Egypt) to write on. This is followed by a discussion of the Masoretic text and the LXX, including the reasons for the rejection of the LXX by the Jews. This is significant because the LXX was originally a Jewish document. Attempts to re-evaluate the concept of the Bible are discussed. The Septuagint subsequently followed, which leads to the conclusion that the LXX became the first Bible of the Christian church. Contribution: This article fits into the focus of HTS because it argues that the Septuagint is the first Bible of the early church. It also underscores the scope of this Theological periodical, for the Greek Bible is part of its subject matter that is researched. (shrink)