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Symbiosexuality, the individual experience of attraction to people in relationships, has not been examined as a lived experience. Lack of recognition and examination of symbiosexuality is surprising when one considers studies of romantic and sexual desires and behaviors associated with more than two people. Also evident in the existence of the sexual identity label known as the unicorn and easily found in essays, memoirs, and dating apps, this attraction proves salient. Further, we find evidence of symbiosexuality outside Western discourses on desire and sexuality. Dominant conceptions and assumptions about sexuality and desire including mononormativity, respectability politics within polyamorous communities, and current conceptions of desire within western discourse contribute to symbiosexual invisibility. This invisibility harms several sexual minority groups, especially women and gender minorities within these groups. The purpose of this review is to describe and provide evidence of the phenomenon of symbiosexuality. Through a queer-feminist lens, I argue that recognition of symbiosexuality will fill a knowledge gap in the field of sexuality studies on the nature and shape of human sexual attractions and may be validating and/or empowering to those experiencing these types of attractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent attention to the non-monogamous identity known as the "unicorn" has increased the visibility of a poorly understood sexual minority. Conflicting definitions in popular media, heightened social stigma, and reports of inequitable, and even abusive, relationship dynamics justify attention to unicorns. With very few academic studies to date on unicorn identity, an exploratory study was conducted to address a gap in sexuality research. Discourse analysis of an online polyamorous community offered a definition of unicorns and revealed that those interested in unicorn dynamics are treated as an "out-group" in polyamorous spaces. Further, evidence of community gatekeeping revealed that unicorns threaten polyamorous identity security and trigger identity negotiations that may be impeding queer feminist efforts to undo relational and sexual hierarchies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

FinTech Unicorns are startups in the financial services technology sector valued at over $1 billion (Investopedia April 2023). Since the early 2000s, the emergence of these FinTech Unicorns has captured the attention of investors and industry experts worldwide. These companies have revolutionized the industry and transformed traditional financial services through their innovative technologies, disruptive business models, and impact on the digital transformation of the industry. These innovative companies are known for their cutting-edge technologies, disruptive business models, and impact on traditional financial services to effect digital transformation. This research paper aims to comprehensively analyze these FinTech Unicorns’ growth and market sustainability, drawing from various sources such as industry reports, research papers, financial disclosures, and journal publications. In addition, this study aims to explore the geographic concentration of FinTech Unicorns and the factors contributing to their growth in certain regions, such as Silicon Valley, New York, and London. It also aims to examine the regulatory and economic environment, the availability of talent and capital, the strength of the local startup ecosystem, and the concentration of financial services institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much from George and W.B. Yeats's channelling sessions left little or no trace in A Vision yet provided important material for the poet. The Daimon, an antagonist spiritual counterpart, though unclear in A Vision, was a vital concept to Yeats, and could be symbolised in bird or animal form; similarly, the dove and swan that appear in the annunciations to Mary and Leda embody the daimonic on a macrocosmic scale. Another daimonic beast at both individual and world level is the unicorn; one related to the new religious age is the sphinx, which embodies a complex conjunction of ideas, including the reawakening of ancient ways of thought. The Daimon brings crisis to human life, and the daimonic beasts are associated with crisis in world history, the irruption of the irrational divine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Espacios is the property of Talleres de Impresos Oma and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

India has established itself as the third-largest global startup ecosystem, with thriving start-ups. Despite commanding high valuations, startups across diverse sectors are grappling with challenges in achieving profitability. Increasing concerns about job security and the potential for additional layoffs in the absence of an improved funding environment are causing apprehension among talent, even within larger startups. The research intends to analyse the Indian startup ecosystem, analyse and compare the profitability of chosen Unicorns and Decacorns in both listed and unlisted categories, and understand the employee perception of working in startups. An analytical research design is followed. To understand employee perception, a survey facilitated through a structured questionnaire has been conducted among 100 employees of startups situated in Karnataka and Kerala, regions distinguished for their highly supportive ecosystems. Analysis depicted a discrepancy in profitability suggesting that Decacorns, with their startup status, robust valuations, and soaring operating revenue, have yet to establish themselves as consistently profitable entities. Findings from the employee survey highlight that learning opportunities and accelerated career growth stand out as motivating factors for choosing employment in startups. Conversely, the downsides include concerns about change, job insecurity, and workload. The comprehension of stock options at the knowledge level was evident, potentially serving as a stirring factor for startups to incorporate into their employee benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lasia spinosa or Unicorn plant is an important tropical spinous rhizomatous herb. This plant is one of the native species of Assam used as vegetable and in Ayurvedic medicines. There are two distinct morphological types of Lasia spinosa: Morphotype-I i.e.having dissected laminal and hastate form and Morphotype- II i.e. dissected laminal form. The current study revealed that the physical and anatomical parameters assent with the genetic diversity revealed through molecular data analysis. The vein type, however, was discovered to be jumbled craspedodromous and semi-craspedodromous of Lasia spinosa morphotypes (I, II), respectively. Least variance was discovered in the morphological forms observing the leaf vein architecture. There are small changes in the petioles' and roots' internal architecture between the two morphotypes. To do a phylogenetic analysis between the two morphotypes of Lasia spinosa, the ISSR-PCR product revealed approximately 56% of polymorphisms (i.e32 out of 57 bands which are distinct to each other). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It takes years to build a brand which can boast of a valuation of more than a Billion Dollar. But the business acumen of some of the entrepreneurs of today's time have taken their respective start-ups to such heights that they could achieve what others only dream of- a Billion Dollar valuation. The story of any Unicorn is always fascinating because a Unicorn is much more than just the valuation. It is the disruptive idea, vision, strategy and the sustainable goal of the team that makes the start-up a "Unicorn". This paper aims at gaining an insight into the marketing and funding strategies of four Indian Start-Ups viz. CRED, Meesho, BharatPe and Nykaa. The founders of these start-ups chose revenue over valuation and focused on building a brand that eventually turned into a "Unicorn". The findings of this paper revealed some path breaking marketing and funding strategies like influencer marketing, omnichannel marketing et al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the literary and visual symbolism in Armand Point's The Princess and the Unicorn. Point composed several versions of this mysterious legend in pastel, enamel, and bas-relief. Under the artistic influences of the medieval tapestry of the Lady and the Unicorn , the French painter Gustave Moreau, and the Italian Renaissance painter Alessandro Botticelli, Point unveils a spiritual creation that in its form, content, and medium seeks to evoke the 'soul' in a work of art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Nasleđe is the property of University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Philology & Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Using the SCOPUS database and VOSviewer, this paper aims to analyze the bibliographic information on three keywords (entrepreneurial intention (EI), human flourishing (HF), and unicorns) to identify relevant areas for current and future research on entrepreneurship by applying a bibliometric and content review approach to 2434 documents for the BMA (business, management, and accounting) and EEF (economics, econometrics, and finance) subject areas to construct and visualize bibliometric networks on the basis of co-citation and co-authorship relations in these items. The main findings of this study are as follows: (1) the number of documents published in the European Union on EI (600) almost doubles those published on this topic in the United States (354); the United States leads the number of papers (113) published on HF, and the number of documents published on Unicorns by BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) countries (22) almost equals the number of documents published on this issue in the United States (25); (2) research on EI during the core years of the COVID-19 pandemic (2019–2022) is of growing interest linked to entrepreneurship education and psychological traits; (3) ethics-related entrepreneurial behavior has historically supported current HF-related research; (4) entrepreneurial ecosystems, leadership, and innovation are critical success factors for born globals to be unicorns; (5) there is a geographic disparity (Spain, India, and the US) in the most cited authors for EI, HF, and unicorns, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of the Biblical exegesis research, and specifically the Old Testament books, especially interesting from the aspect of cultural-animalistic research is the “biblical bestiary”. Among the myriad of known and less known creatures of the Biblical animal world, a special attention draw the animals “lost” in translations, the traces of which we find in inaccurate readings and unfamiliarity with the species, that is, with the myth they come from. In this paper we will focus on the Old Testament wisdom book the Book of Job and a short textual extract from the “Job’s bestiary”. The segment refers to the “lost” animals which have for centuries caused significant difficulties in translation of these paragraphs, because they have not been known to the translators. Following the guidelines of thought about the lost animals in translation, our attention is directed towards two mythical animals, phoenix and unicorn, as well as to their (non)appearance in the Book of Job with a special reflection on the Croatian Glagolitic translation skills used in translating those paragraphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research aimed to identify the causes for the increase in the number of unicorn start-ups by analyzing the geographical and sectoral factors in two main online databases. The United States, with a traditionally strong innovation ecosystem, is leading the way in creating successful start-ups, but China, India and some European countries are also showing considerable results. The number of unicorns, referring to privately held start-ups worth more than $1 billion, is significantly influenced by qualitative factors (ecosystem development) and the size of the economy (nominal GDP). Therefore, small economies (like Israel) can only be included in the top 10 unicorn countries if their ecosystem is especially developed. The global pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation in several sectors. Fintech, e-commerce, internet, software and AI services are areas where unicorns have been able to achieve significant value growth. Introducing the attributes of these start-ups can be an inspiration for students in economics courses and can serve as illustrative examples in the related curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), ranging from asymptomatic conditions to severe/fatal lung injury and multi-organ failure. Growing evidence shows that the nasopharyngeal microbiota composition may predict the severity of respiratory infections and may play a role in the protection from viral entry and the regulation of the immune response to the infection. In the present study, we have characterized the nasopharyngeal bacterial microbiota (BNM) composition and have performed factor analysis in a group of 54 asymptomatic/paucisymptomatic subjects who tested positive for nasopharyngeal swab SARS-CoV-2 RNA and/or showed anti-RBD-IgG positive serology at the enrolment. We investigated whether BNM was associated with SARSCoV-2 RNA positivity and serum anti-RBD-IgG antibody development/maintenance 20-28 weeks after the enrolment. Shannon's entropy a-diversity index [odds ratio (OR) = 5.75, p = 0.0107] and the BNM Factor1 (OR = 2.64, p = 0.0370) were positively associated with serum anti-RBD-IgG antibody maintenance. The present results suggest that BNM composition may influence the immunological memory against SARS-CoV-2 infections. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the link between BNM and specific IgG antibody maintenance. Further studies are needed to unveil the mechanisms through which the BNM influences the adaptive immune response against viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tiempos Modernos is the property of Tiempos Modernos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Studia Universitatis Babes-Bolyai, Philologia is the property of Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Startups play a substantial role in the economic growth of a nation, by introducing new technologies, ground-breaking innovation, creating jobs, etc. A couple of decades back, it was extremely difficult to start a business, but today new businesses pop up every day, all around the world. Recognizing the importance of a startup, governments across the globe are doing their best to provide an atmosphere where startups can bloom. Despite its importance and all the support, the startup failure rate is at 90%; about 10% of startups fail in the first year and 70% fail in two to five years. The startup boom saw the emergence of alternative sources of funding like Venture Capitalist, Angel Investors, etc. These investors (Venture Capitalist, Angel Investors, etc.) played a crucial role in startup success by providing easy access to funds which is a critical and scarce resource for any founder. Traditionally business success is linked with sustainable profitability but in the startup world most used method to define success is valuation. Based on CB Insights research, as of January 2022, there are more than 900 unicorns (startup with a valuation of over $1 billion) around the world and of these unicorns less than 10% are profitable. It's difficult to explain/comprehend how startups' which are neither profitable nor foresee profitability in near future are valued higher than traditional business with stable profitability. Current valuation methods have impacted the startup ecosystem. Today, founders start their business with exit in mind, the focus of founders is on growth/scale rather than profitability. There is a school of thought that believes that such valuations will soon result in the bursting of the startup bubble just like the dotcom bubble seen in late 1990s. The focus of this paper is to investigate the techniques used by investors for startup valuation and how these techniques are impacting the startup ecosystem and its founders. The paper looks at all stages of the investment cycle, from seed to IPO or takeover and understands the process of valuation at each stage and how it impacts all stakeholders in the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We classify the almost regular weakly stretch non-Randers-type (α, β)-metrics with vanishing S-curvature. In the class of regular metrics, they reduce to Berwald ones. Here, we demonstrate that when an almost regular weakly stretch non-Randers-type (α, β)-metric with vanishing S-curvature is not Berwaldian, then it is a weakly generalized unicorn. This yields an extension of Zou-Cheng and Chen-Liu's theorems. Finally, we show that any projective non-Randers β-change of a unicorn is a unicorn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims The ovule is a synapomorphy of all seed plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms); however, there are some striking differences in ovules among the major seed plant lineages, such as the number of integuments or the orientation of the ovule. The genetics involved in ovule development have been well studied in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana , which has two integuments and anatropous orientation. This study is approached from what is known in arabidopsis, focusing on the expression patterns of homologues of four genes known to be key for the proper development of the integuments in arabidopsis: AINTEGUMENTA (ANT), BELL1 , (BEL1), KANADIs (KANs) and UNICORN (UCN). Methods We used histology to describe the morphoanatomical development from ovules to seeds in Gnetum gnemon. We carried out spatiotemporal expression analyses in G. gnemon , a gymnosperm, which has a unique ovule morphology with an integument covering the nucellus, two additional envelopes where the outermost becomes fleshy as the seed matures, and an orthotropous orientation. Key Results Our anatomical and developmental descriptions provide a framework for expression analyses in the ovule of G. gnemon. Our expression results show that although ANT , KAN and UCN homologues are expressed in the inner integument, their spatiotemporal patterns differ from those found in angiosperms. Furthermore, all homologues studied here are expressed in the nucellus, revealing major differences in seed plants. Finally, no expression of the studied homologues was detected in the outer envelopes. Conclusions Altogether, these analyses provide significant comparative data that allows us to better understand the functional evolution of these gene lineages, providing a compelling framework for evolutionary and developmental studies of seeds. Our findings suggest that these genes were most likely recruited from the sporangium development network and became restricted to the integuments of angiosperm ovules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the metaphor of "unicorn," we identify the scientific papers and technical patents characterized by the informetric feature of very high citations in the first ten years after publishing, which may provide a new pattern to understand very high impact works in science and technology. When we set CT as the total citations of papers or patents in the first ten years after publication, with CT≥ 5,000 for scientific "unicorn" and CT≥ 500 for technical "unicorn," we have an absolute standard for identifying scientific and technical "unicorn" publications. We identify 165 scientific "unicorns" in 14,301,875 WoS papers and 224 technical "unicorns" in 13,728,950 DII patents during 2001–2012. About 50% of "unicorns" belong to biomedicine, in which selected cases are individually discussed. The rare "unicorns" increase following linear model, the fitting data show 95% confidence with the RMSE of scientific "unicorn" is 0.2127 while the RMSE of technical "unicorn" is 0.0923. A "unicorn" is a pure quantitative consideration without concerning its quality, and "potential unicorns" as CT≤5,000 for papers and CT≤500 for patents are left in future studies. Scientific and technical "unicorns" provide a new pattern to understand high-impact works in science and technology. The "unicorn" pattern supplies a concise approach to identify very high-impact scientific papers and technical patents. The "unicorn" pattern supplies a concise approach to identify very high impact scientific papers and technical patents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum computing holds the potential to deliver great economic prosperity to the European Union (EU). However, the creation of successful business in the field is challenging owing to the required extensive investments into postdoctoral-level workforce and sophisticated infrastructure without an existing market that can financially support these operations. This commentary paper reviews the recent efforts taken in the EU to foster the quantum-computing ecosystem together with its current status. Importantly, we propose concrete actions for the EU to take to enable future growth of this field towards the desired goals. In particular, we suggest ways to enable the creation of EU-based quantum-computing unicorns which may act as key crystallization points of quantum technology and its commercialization. These unicorns may provide stability to the otherwise scattered ecosystem, thus pushing forward global policies enabling the global spread of EU innovations and technologies. The unicorns may act as a conduit, through which the EU-based quantum ecosystem can stand out from similar ecosystems based in Asia and the United States. Such strong companies are required because of the level of investment currently required in the marketplace. This paper suggests methodologies and best practices that can enhance the probability of the creation of the unicorns. Furthermore, we explore future scenarios, in which the unicorns can operate from the EU and to support the EU quantum ecosystem. This exploration is conducted focusing on the steps to be taken and on the impact the companies may have in our opinion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2016 the unicorn has become one of the trendiest subjects in several sectors: from fashion to accessories, to food, as is proved by the launch of drinks such as “unicorn’s milk”. Yet, what does the unicorn represent in contemporary imagery? In order to answer such a question, this research traces the history of the symbolism of the unicorn, so as to understand how its representation and meaning have changed. Ever since ancient times the Greeks had attributed thaumaturgical powers to the unicorn; in particular, its horn was considered a universal antidote to any poison, whereas the unicorn itself became a symbol of purity. The presence of the figure of the unicorn in Psalm 91 brings the animal close to Christianity. In the Middle Ages the unicorn was often depicted in the illuminated Bibles and was also used in the decorations of the main buildings of the time, usually next to a virgin as an allegory of chastity. For this reason, it became a symbol of chaste love and marital fidelity. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the powder of the unicorn horn was still considered an antidote to poison and even an aphrodisiac. Only in the Victorian Age did the unicorn begin to people children’s stories, losing the sexual meaning and being associated with the rainbow for the first time. The connection between the unicorn and the rainbow has led to the present use of the animal as an emblem of LGBT+ community. Nowadays the unicorn embodies the concepts of rarity and magic. It is even worth noting how the term “unicorn” has also become part of the economic language. The instagrammability of the unicorn has made the animal even more popular, making it, in the social media era, the symbol of uniqueness and differentiation from the mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article is dedicated to the cultural narratives of Brexit, through in-depth and implemented research on the axis of ideas recognized in the European agenda for culture as a form of European soft power, the defining dimensions of European cultural diplomacy and the process of rethinking the unity in diversity under the pressures of exit. To the previously mentioned structure we will add a series of indices that will perform as patterns of a qualitative analysis of a selection of interviews/ conferences with political personalities representing the power poles on the European continent which are relevant to the equation of the studied issue: Boris Johnson (current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom) and Theresa May (former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom); Emmanuel Macron (President of France) and Angela Merkel (Chancellor of Germany). The formulated hypotheses will be verified through an interview with professor Ian Browne, an intellectual who represents a part of the British university stream (Cambridge and St. Andrews University), a researcher whose studies and interviews focus mainly on Brexit, Neo-Liberalism, religious discourse or cultural heritage, therefore a well-informed personality in guiding and highlighting what becomes -- here -- a central element of the research: the relationship between Brexit and the soft power synergy of the European Union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of ventures with a market value of one billion USD or more has considerably increased during the last decade. Driven by new technologies and business models, these ventures became an integral part of our daily life. Particularly, the number of unicorns based in China and other regions outside the US raised during recent years whereas the phenomenon was initially limited to the US region. Existing research has mainly focused on descriptive approaches to examine the rise of these ventures but lacks knowledge on the drivers of this phenomenon. We address these research gaps and investigate the underlying factors that foster the emergence of such high-valued ventures. Our results present several economic environmental as well as investor-related factors that impact the likelihood for a venture to achieve a market valuation of more than one billion USD. Subsequently, we derive theoretical and practical implications that may foster the future emergence of new high-valued ventures, covering regulatory, investor- and venture-specific aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of large, medium, and small fruit sizes on fruit quality, shelf life, and microbial activity in cherry tomatoes. Large (31.28 mm), medium (28.52 mm), and small (24.16 mm) tomatoes were harvested at light red maturity in Gangwon Province in the Republic of Korea. The quality of the tomatoes was measured at harvest time. Following harvest, the tomatoes were stored at 5; they were kept in boxes, acting as controls, or packed with a 20,000 cc oxygen transmission rate (OTR), acting as modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) to measure postharvest quality. The large tomatoes showed lower rates of respiration and ethylene production compared to the other sizes. The rate of fresh weight loss was the highest in the small tomatoes. A prolonged shelf life was observed in the large tomatoes. The rate of fungal incidence was lower in the large tomatoes compared with the medium and small ones. On the final day of storage, the large tomatoes retained the highest level of firmness and the concentrations of titratable acidity and vitamin C. However, the small tomatoes contained the highest level of soluble solids among the different sizes. Bacterial and fungal counts were the lowest in the large tomatoes. Based on the above results, large tomatoes may be better than smaller tomatoes for exporting over long distances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into the healthcare innovation arena suggests that this should be an important EU policy priority that can significantly benefit the economy, society and citizens, including patients. Deepening and widening of Europe's SMEs' growth and activities is part of the EU objectives as set out by the European Commission in its Communications "Small Business Act" for Europe [1] and "Small Business, Big World" [2]. However, innovative healthcare SMEs have struggled to get traction despite the sector being worth more than EUR 250 billion. The 1991 Maastricht Treaty gave the Union new competences in public health and more scope for cross-border cooperation in this area [3]. Nevertheless, health initiatives here have tripped over each other, due to the fact that the delivery of healthcare is a national competence [4]. As such, EU healthcare-driven policy has never truly found its footing as a singular policy area despite the fact that a tenth of the EU's GDP is spent on healthcare and more than 17 million people are employed in Europe in this sector [5]. Taking into account the necessity of bringing innovation into healthcare, and the willingness of SMEs to undertake the risk to be at the forefront of it, there is a need for a renewed effort to support SMEs so as to provide solutions for citizens and patients throughout the bloc in different healthcare settings [6]. This policy paper brings together two separate strands of analysis: firstly, a policy review of the main challenges and opportunities; secondly, a proposal for policy recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Atti della Società dei Naturalisti e Matematici di Modena is the property of Societa dei Naturalisti e Matematici di Modena and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The relationship between Jorge Luis Borges and deconstruction has been much investigated, yet rarely has this research addressed the fact that both projects share the conviction that neither language nor text exist. Obviously, neither discourse denies that language and text are there. Yet they are not, here, presences: they are not objects before a subject, hence beings, not even imaginary beings. Departing from a close reading of Jacques Derrida's insistence that "language does not exist, no one has ever encountered it," this article scrutinizes the way in which this "non-existence" opens a path for a rethinking of history, literary history, Latin American aesthetics, and Latin American cultural studies. Also offered are novel interpretations of Borges's "Funes, His Memory," "Kafka and His Precursors," and The Book of Imaginary Beings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe unicorn paths in the arc graph and show that they form 1-slim triangles and are invariant under taking subpaths. We deduce that all arc graphs are 7-hyperbolic. Considering the same paths in the arc and curve graph, this also shows that all curve graphs are 17-hyperbolic, including closed surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Perinola is the property of Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Navarra, S.A. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tissue morphogenesis requires extensive intercellular communication. Plant organs are composites of distinct radial cell layers. A typical layer, such as the epidermis, is propagated by stereotypic anticlinal cell divisions. It is presently unclear what mechanisms coordinate cell divisions relative to the plane of a layer, resulting in planar growth and maintenance of the layer structure. Failure in the regulation of coordinated growth across a tissue may result in spatially restricted abnormal growth and the formation of a tumor-like protrusion. Therefore, one way to approach planar growth control is to look for genetic mutants that exhibit localized tumor-like outgrowths. Interestingly, plants appear to have evolved quite robust genetic mechanisms that govern these aspects of tissue morphogenesis. Here we provide a short summary of the current knowledge about the genetics of tumor formation in plants and relate it to the known control of coordinated cell behavior within a tissue layer. We further portray the integuments of Arabidopsis thaliana as an excellent model system to study the regulation of planar growth. The value of examining this process in integuments was established by the recent identification of the Arabidopsis AGC VIII kinase UNICORN as a novel growth suppressor involved in the regulation of planar growth and the inhibition of localized ectopic growth in integuments and other floral organs. An emerging insight is that misregulation of central determinants of adaxial-abaxial tissue polarity can lead to the formation of spatially restricted multicellular outgrowths in several tissues. Thus, there may exist a link between the mechanisms regulating adaxial-abaxial tissue polarity and planar growth in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coordination of growth within a tissue layer is of critical importance for tissue morphogenesis. For example, cells within the epidermis undergo stereotypic cell divisions that are oriented along the plane of the layer (planar growth), thereby propagating the layered epidermal structure. Little is known about the developmental control that regulates such planar growth in plants. Recent evidence suggested that the Arabidopsis AGC VIII protein kinase UNICORN (UCN) maintains planar growth by suppressing the formation of ectopic multicellular protrusions in several floral tissues including integuments. In the current model UCN controls this process during integument development by directly interacting with the ABERRANT TESTA SHAPE (ATS) protein, a member of the KANADI (KAN) family of transcription factors, thereby repressing its activity. Here we report on the further characterization of the UCN mechanism. Results: Phenotypic analysis of flowers of ucn-1 plants impaired in floral homeotic gene activity revealed that any of the four floral whorls could produce organs carrying ucn-1 protrusions. The ectopic outgrowths of ucn integuments did not accumulate detectable signals of the auxin and cytokinin reporters DR5rev::GFP and ARR5::GUS, respectively. Furthermore, wild-type and ucn-1 seedlings showed similarly strong callus formation upon in vitro culture on callus-inducing medium. We also show that ovules of ucn-1 plants carrying the dominant ats allele sk21-D exhibited more pronounced protrusion formation. Finally ovules of ucn-1 ett-1 double mutants and ucn-1 ett-1 arf4-1 triple mutants displayed an additive phenotype. Conclusions: These data deepen the molecular insight into the UCN-mediated control of planar growth during integument development. The presented evidence indicates that UCN downstream signaling does not involve the control of auxin or cytokinin homeostasis. The results also reveal that UCN interacts with ATS independently of an ATS/ ETT complex required for integument initiation and they further emphasize the necessity to balance UCN and ATS proteins during maintenance of planar growth in integuments. Keywords: Arabidopsis, Auxin, ABERRANT TESTA SHAPE, AGC protein kinase, AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 4, Cell division, Cytokinin, ETTIN, Growth regulation, KANADI, Planar growth, Ovule, Signal transduction, UNICORN [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Over the last decade, there has been a rapid growth in the application of quantitative genetic techniques to evolutionary studies of natural populations. Whereas this work yields enormous insight into evolutionary processes in the wild, the use of modelling techniques and strategies adopted from animal breeders means that estimates of trait heritabilities ( h2) are highly vulnerable to misinterpretation. Specifically, when estimated using animal models, h2 will not generally be comparable across studies and must be interpreted as being conditioned on any fixed effects included in the model. Failure to realize the model dependency of published h2 estimates will give a very misleading, and in most cases upwardly biased, impression of the potential for trait evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New technological advancements have significantly influenced the development of integrated library systems (ILS). Selecting such an integrated library system, either as an introduction or a replacement, is a complicated process that requires careful planning. However, this selection process becomes even more complicated given the fluidity of the vendor market and the continuous enhancements to integrated library systems. A more recent issue for debate in the selection process is that of 'buying' or 'building'. The purpose of this paper is to identify, via a review of the literature, the factors that influence the selection of on ILS and the implementation of the migration process. In the context of this review of the literature, this paper discusses the migration of three institutions in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, namely ESAL, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and the eThewini Municipal Library, to such systems. All three institutions have migrated from a common product in Urica to a common vendor and product in SIRSI's Unicorn. Each followed its own strategy of selection and implementation. A growing trend is the move away from purchasing a system 'off the shelf' to building a system, using open access software, that meets the needs of a particular LIS environment. The authors make the recommendation that there should be an investigation into the possibility of developing a South African ILS product that would ensure the retention of financial resources within the country, the creation of job opportunities for local communities and the generation of local know-how and expertise in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The appearance and the significance of heuristically developed bonding models are compared with the phenomenon of unicorns in mythical saga. It is argued that classical bonding models played an essential role for the development of the chemical science providing the language which is spoken in the territory of chemistry. The advent and the further development of quantum chemistry demands some restrictions and boundary conditions for classical chemical bonding models, which will continue to be integral parts of chemistry. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]