Academic literature on the topic 'Porticus Octaviae'

The Porticus Octaviae was built in the Campus Martius sometime between 33 and 23 BC (Figure 1). There is controversy as to whether it was built by Augustus and dedicated to his sister, or commissioned by Octavia herself. The complex, however, which included a library and senate house was closely associated with Octavia and her son. The Porticus Octaviae fell victim to the fire of ad 80 and was probably restored by Domitian. An inscription on the propylon of the complex records its restoration, also after a fire, by Septimius Severus and Caracalla in AD 203. Little consideration, however, has been given to the importance of the Severan restoration in the context of this emperor's building programme. This article will examine the messages conveyed by the restoration of the Porticus Octaviae in terms of Severus' imperial policy, and in particular his desire to connect himself to the legacy of Augustus.

In seeking the origins of the celebrated portico-framed fora of Imperial Rome, John R. Senseney explores the earliest recognizable example of this architectural type, a lost porticus of the 160s BCE built by the victorious commander Gnaeus Octavius. Adrift toward Empire: The Lost Porticus Octavia in Rome and the Origins of the Imperial Fora adduces ancient testimony to aid our understanding of the purposes and formal appearance of this pivotal monument. While the author suggests that Octavius emulated a Hellenistic model, he does not posit that the patron necessarily sought to associate his triumph with those of his Greek forebears. Those meanings did, however, become attached to the building type by later viewers and the architects who created the Imperial fora. In order to appreciate this phenomenon, the author questions the usefulness of fixed categories like "Hellenistic" and "Roman" and argues for a history sensitive to the fluidic intentions and changing meanings of architecture.

On or shortly after 4 February 43b.c.Cicero delivered theNinth Philippicin an effort to persuade the Senate to honour Ser. Sulpicius Rufus (cos. 51). He argued that Sulpicius, who had died of natural causes while acting as the Senate's envoy, was nevertheless entitled to the same recognition aslegatikilledob rem publicam. In the course of the speech Cicero discussed various historic precedents, including Cn. Octavius (cos. 165) who was assassinated in Syria in 162b.c.while doing the Senate's bidding and was consequently honoured with a statue on the rostra. The statue was still extant in 43b.c.and Cicero reminded his audience that it was now the only memorial to this great family. Cicero's observation has unanimously been interpreted as signifying that the family of the consul of 165b.c.was extinct in February 43b.c.In fact, Cicero actually meant that the statue on the rostra was now the sole surviving monument associated with the family of Cn. Octavius because the other two monuments that had served as a concrete reminder of the family had latterly been destroyed.

1. The physiology and topography of single neuron responses along the isofrequency domain of the middle- and high-frequency portions [characteristic frequencies (CFs) greater than 4 kHz] of the primary auditory cortex (AI) were investigated in the barbiturate-anesthetized cat. Single neurons were recorded at several locations along the extent of isofrequency contours, defined from initial multiple-unit mapping. For each neuron a high-resolution excitatory tuning curve was determined, and for some neurons high-resolution two-tone tuning curves were recorded to measure inhibitory/suppressive areas. 2. A physiologically distinct population of neurons was found in the dorsal part of cat AI. These neurons exhibited two or three distinct excitatory frequency ranges, whereas most neurons in AI responded with excitation to a single narrow frequency range. These were called multipeaked neurons because of the shape of their tuning curves. At frequencies between the excitatory regions, the multipeaked neurons were inhibited or unresponsive. 3. Multipeaked neurons exhibited several distinct threshold minima in their frequency tuning curves. Most of the multipeaked neurons (88%) displayed two frequency minima, whereas the rest exhibited three minima. 4. The frequency separation between threshold minima was less than 1 octave in 71% of the double-peaked neurons recorded. Occasionally, the frequency peaks of these neurons closely corresponded to a response to second and third harmonics without a response to the fundamental frequency. 5. Multipeaked neurons exhibited a wide range of total bandwidths (highest excitatory frequency minus lowest excitatory frequency expressed in octaves). Bandwidths of the isolated peaks within the same neuron were also quite variable. 6. Response latencies to tones with frequencies within each peak of a multipeaked neuron could vary considerably. In 71% (17) of the neurons, tones corresponding to the high-frequency peak (CFh) elicited a longer response latency (greater than 4 ms) than those corresponding to the low-frequency peak (CF1). 7. Inhibitory/suppressive bands, as demonstrated with a two-tone paradigm, were often present between the peaks. Typically, neurons with excitatory peaks of similar response latencies showed an inhibitory band located between the peaks. 8. Ninety percent of the topographically localized multipeaked neurons were in the dorsal part of AI (greater than 1 mm dorsal to the maximum in the sharpness-of-tuning map). Although these neurons were restricted to dorsal AI, only 35% of neurons in this region were multipeaked. 9. Multipeaked neurons could show decreased response latencies and thresholds to two-tone combinations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The Tachinidae of mainland China and Taiwan (generally referred to as China herein for brevity) are catalogued. A total of 1109 valid species are recorded of which 403 species (36%) are recorded as endemic. Distributions within China are given according to the 33 administrative divisions of the country, and distributions outside China are given according to a scheme of geographical divisions developed for this catalogue and most finely divided for the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions. The catalogue is based on examination of the primary literature comprising about 670 references and also includes a small number of records based on unpublished data from specimens examined in collections. Taxa are arranged hierarchically under the categories of subfamily, tribe, genus, subgenus (where recognized), and species. Nomenclatural details are provided for nominal genera and species. This includes synonyms at both levels for taxa described or recorded from China. For valid species, distributions are provided along with complete name-bearing type data for associated names. Additional information is given in the form of notes, numbering more than 300 in the catalogue section and about 50 in the references section. Six genera are newly recorded from China: Calliethilla Shima (Ethillini), Chetoptilia Rondani (Dufouriini), Demoticoides Mesnil (Leskiini), Pseudalsomyia Mesnil (Goniini), Redtenbacheria Schiner (Eutherini), and Rutilia Robineau-Desvoidy (Rutiliini). Fourteen species are newly recorded from China: Actia solida Tachi & Shima, Atylostoma towadensis (Matsumura), Chetoptilia burmanica (Baranov), Demoticoides pallidus Mesnil, Dexiosoma lineatum Mesnil, Feriola longicornis Mesnil, Frontina femorata Shima, Phebellia laxifrons Shima, Prodegeeria gracilis Shima, Prooppia stulta (Zetterstedt), Redtenbacheria insignis Egger, Sumpigaster subcompressa (Walker), Takanomyia frontalis Shima, and Takanomyia rava Shima. Two genera and 23 species are recorded as misidentified from China. New names are proposed for three preoccupied names: Pseudodexilla O’Hara, Shima & Zhang, nomen novum for Pseudodexia Chao, 2002; Admontia longicornalis O’Hara, Shima & Zhang, nomen novum for Admontia longicornis Yang & Chao, 1990; and Erythrocera neolongicornis O’Hara, Shima & Zhang, nomen novum for Pexopsis longicornis Sun & Chao, 1993. New type species fixations are made under the provisions of Article 70.3.2 of ICZN (1999) for 13 generic names: Chetoliga Rondani, Discochaeta Brauer & Bergenstamm, Erycina Mesnil, Eurigaster Macquart, Microvibrissina Villeneuve, Oodigaster Macquart, Plagiopsis Brauer & Bergenstamm, Prooppia Townsend, Ptilopsina Villeneuve, Ptilotachina Brauer & Bergenstamm, Rhinotachina Brauer & Bergenstamm, Schaumia Robineau-Desvoidy, and Setigena Brauer & Bergenstamm. Subgenus Tachina (Servillia Robineau-Desvoidy) is reduced to a synonym of subgenus Tachina (Tachina Meigen). The valid names of two species are reduced to nomina nuda and replaced by other available names with new status as valid names: Siphona (Aphantorhaphopsis) perispoliata (Mesnil) replaces S. (A.) mallochiana (Gardner), and Zenillia terrosa Mesnil replaces Z. grisellina (Gardner). The following 12 new combinations are proposed: Carcelina shangfangshanica (Chao & Liang), Drino (Drino) interfrons (Sun & Chao), Drino (Zygobothria) hirtmacula (Liang & Chao), Erythrocera longicornis (Sun & Chao) (a preoccupied name and replaced with Erythrocera neolongicornis O’Hara, Shima & Zhang, nomen novum), Isosturmia aureipollinosa (Chao & Zhou), Isosturmia setamacula (Chao & Liang), Isosturmia setula (Liang & Chao), Paratrixa flava (Shi), Phryno jilinensis (Sun), Phryno tibialis (Sun), Prosopodopsis ruficornis (Chao), and Takanomyia parafacialis (Sun & Chao). The following 19 new synonymies are proposed: Atylomyia chinensis Zhang & Ge with Tachina parallela Meigen (current name Bessa parallela), Atylomyia minutiungula Zhang & Wang with Ptychomyia remota Aldrich (current name Bessa remota), Carcelia (Carcelia) hainanensis Chao & Liang with Carcelia rasoides Baranov, Carcelia frontalis Baranov with Carcelia caudata Baranov, Carcelia hirtspila Chao & Shi with Carcelia (Parexorista) delicatula Mesnil (current name Carcelia (Euryclea) delicatula), Carcelia septima Baranov with Carcelia octava Baranov, Carcelia (Senometopia) dominantalis Chao & Liang with Carcelia quarta Baranov (current name Senometopia quarta), Carcelia (Senometopia) maculata Chao & Liang with Carcelia octava Baranov, Drino hersei Liang & Chao with Sturmia atropivora RobineauDesvoidy (current name Drino (Zygobothria) atropivora), Eucarcelia nudicauda Mesnil with Carcelia octava Baranov, Isopexopsis Sun & Chao with Takanomyia Mesnil, Mikia nigribasicosta Chao & Zhou withBombyliomyia apicalis Matsumura (current name Mikia apicalis), Parasetigena jilinensis Chao & Mao with Phorocera (Parasetigena) agilis takaoi Mesnil (current name Parasetigena takaoi), Phebellia latisurstyla Chao & Chen with Phebellia latipalpis Shima (current name Prooppia latipalpis), Servillia linabdomenalis Chao with Servillia cheni Chao (current name Tachina (Tachina) cheni), Servillia planiforceps Chao with Tachina sobria Walker, Spiniabdomina Shi with Paratrixa Brauer & Bergenstamm, Tachina kunmingensis Chao & Arnaud with Tachina sobria Walker, and Thecocarcelia tianpingensis Sun & Chao with Drino (Isosturmia) chatterjeeana japonica Mesnil (current name Isosturmia japonica). Musca libatrix Panzer is a nomen protectum and Musca libatrix Scopoli and Musca libatrix Geoffroy are nomina oblita. Similarly, Redtenbacheria insignis Egger is a nomen protectum and Redtenbacheria spectabilis Schiner is a nomen oblitum. Lectotypes are designated for the following 12 nominal species based on name-bearing type material in CNC: Akosempomyia caudata Villeneuve, Blepharipoda schineri Mesnil, Carcelia puberula Mesnil, Compsoptesis phoenix Villeneuve, Ectophasia antennata Villeneuve, Gymnosoma brevicorne Villeneuve, Kosempomyia tibialis Villeneuve, Phasia pusilla Meigen, Tachina fallax pseudofallax Villeneuve, Tachina chaoi Mesnil, Wagneria umbrinervis Villeneuve, and Zambesa claripalpis Villeneuve.China is an expansive country of 9.6 million square kilometers in eastern Asia. It is a land of physical and ecological extremes: southern subtropical and tropical forests, richly diverse southwestern mountains, towering Himalayas, harsh and inhospitable Tibetan Plateau, western Tien Shan range, dry Taklimakan and Goli Deserts, northeastern temperate broadleaf and coniferous forests, and eastern fertile plains and lesser mountains. Along its southern and western borders are portions of four of the world’s 34 “biodiversity hotspots”, places recognized by Conservation International for their high endemicity and threatened habitat. These are the Indo-Burma hotspot, Mountains of Southwest China hotspot (particularly Hengduan Shan), Himalaya hotspot, and Mountains of Central Asia hotspot (represented in China by Tien Shan) (http:// www.biodiversityhotspots.org). These biodiversity hotspots, and other biodiverse places in China, have given rise to an endemic fauna and flora of significant size. In the plant world, for example, the Hengduan Shan is known as the hotbed of Rhododendron evolution with about 230 species. Among the vertebrates are such Chinese endemics as the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), golden monkeys (Rhinopithecus spp.), baiji (Lipotes vexillifer), and brown eared pheasant (Crossoptilon mantchuricum). Less conspicuous, but many times more numerous in species, are the endemic invertebrates that have evolved within present-day China. Biogeographically, China is unique among the countries of the world in lying at the crossroads of the Palaearctic and Oriental Regions. Hence, for most groups of organisms, the species of China consist of a combination of Palaearctic, Oriental, and endemic elements. This is true also of the Tachinidae of China. The Tachinidae are one of the largest families of Diptera with almost 10,000 described species and many thousands of undescribed species (Stireman et al. 2006). The family is correspondingly diverse in China, but because the Chinese tachinid fauna is still in a period of discovery and study, it must be significantly larger than the numbers given here might suggest. We record 1109 species and 257 genera of Tachinidae from mainland China and Taiwan, the former number representing about 11% of the world’s described tachinid species. From mainland China we record 1040 species, which compares to 754 and 832 species recorded from the same area by Chao et al. (1998) and Hua (2006), respectively. Our higher number is partly a reflection of species described from China since those works, or described from elsewhere and recently recognized from China, but a significant number of species were presumably overlooked by Chao et al. (1998) and Hua (2006) in the voluminous literature that exists on Chinese insects. The Chinese tachinid fauna has very few endemic genera and none of significant size, but has 403 species recorded as endemic to China plus Taiwan. This represents 36% of the total tachinid fauna. We record 343 species as endemic to mainland China and 32 species as endemic to Taiwan. The total number of species recorded from Taiwan is 231; some of these species are shared with the Oriental Region but not with mainland China.

Bibliotheca Porticus Octaviae, was one of the three public libraries that have been open in the time of the Augustus. In the work some of the questions that still remain unanswered will be analyzed, Some of those questions are: by whom the library has been built, to who it was dedicated and who made that dedication, and where it was located. In addition, we analyze questions of the library's collection, how it's been improved and enlarged and library's internal organization necessary for the providing of the services.