Dynamical community structure of populations evolving on genotype networks

Neutral evolutionary dynamics of replicators occurs on large and heterogeneous networks of genotypes. These networks, formed by all genotypes that yield the same phenotype, have a complex architecture that conditions the molecular composition of populations and their movements on genome spaces. Here we consider as an example the case of populations evolving on RNA secondary structure neutral networks and study the community structure of the network revealed through dynamical properties of the population at equilibrium and during adaptive transients. We unveil a rich hierarchical community structure that, eventually, can be traced back to the non-trivial relationship between RNA secondary structure and sequence composition. We demonstrate that usual measures of modularity that only take into account the static, topological structure of networks, cannot identify the community structure disclosed by population dynamics.This study has been supported by project FIS2011-27569 from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity.Publicad

Translational Retinal Research and Therapies.

The following review summarizes the state of the art in representative aspects of gene therapy/translational medicine and evolves from a symposium held at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania on November 16, 2017 honoring Dr. Gustavo Aguirre, recipient of ARVO's 2017 Proctor Medal. Focusing on the retina, speakers highlighted current work on moving therapies for inherited retinal degenerative diseases from the laboratory bench to the clinic

On the networked architecture of genotype spaces and its critical effects on molecular evolution

Evolutionary dynamics is often viewed as a subtle process of change accumulation that causes a divergence among organisms and their genomes. However, this interpretation is an inheritance of a gradualistic view that has been challenged at the macroevolutionary, ecological and molecular level. Actually, when the complex architecture of genotype spaces is taken into account, the evolutionary dynamics of molecular populations becomes intrinsically non-uniform, sharing deep qualitative and quantitative similarities with slowly driven physical systems: nonlinear responses analogous to critical transitions, sudden state changes or hysteresis, among others. Furthermore, the phenotypic plasticity inherent to genotypes transforms classical fitness landscapes into multiscapes where adaptation in response to an environmental change may be very fast. The quantitative nature of adaptive molecular processes is deeply dependent on a network-of-networks multilayered structure of the map from genotype to function that we begin to unveil.This work has been supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and FEDER funds of the EU through grants ViralESS (FIS2014-57686-P) and VARIANCE (FIS2015-64349-P). J.A. is supported through grant no. SEV-2013-0347. P.C. is supported through the European Union's YEI funds

Epistasis between cultural traits causes paradigm shifts in cultural evolution

Every now and then the cultural paradigm of a society changes. While current models of cultural shifts usually require a major exogenous or endogenous change, we propose that the mechanism underlying many paradigm shifts may just be an emergent feature of the inherent congruence among different cultural traits. We implement this idea through a population dynamics model in which individuals are defined by a vector of cultural traits that changes mainly through cultural contagion, biased by a 'cultural fitness' landscape, between contemporary individuals. Cultural traits reinforce or hinder each other (through a form of cultural epistasis) to prevent cognitive dissonance. Our main result is that abrupt paradigm shifts occur, in response to weak changes in the landscape, only in the presence of epistasis between cultural traits, and regardless of whether horizontal transmission is biased by homophily. A relevant consequence of this dynamics is the irreversible nature of paradigm shifts: the old paradigm cannot be restored even if the external changes are undone. Our model puts the phenomenon of paradigm shifts in cultural evolution in the same category as catastrophic shifts in ecology or phase transitions in physics, where minute causes lead to major collective changes.This work was supported by the Spanish projects VARIANCE (FIS2015-64349-P, MINECO/FEDER, UE), BASIC (FIS2018-098186-B-100, MICINN/FEDER, UE), MiMevo (FIS2017-89773-P, MINECO/FEDER, UE) and SEV-2013-0347 (MINECO).Publicad

Microparticle movements in optical funnels and pods

Three-dimensional microparticle movements induced by laser beams with a funnel-and tubular pod-like structure, in the neighbourhood of the focal plane of an optical trapping setup, are experimentally studied. The funnel and pod beams constructed as coherent superpositions of helical Laguerre-Gaussian modes are synthesized by a computer generated hologram using a phase-only spatial light modulator. Particle tracking is achieved by in-line holography method which allows an accurate position measurement. It is experimentally demonstrated that the trapped particle follows different trajectories depending on the orbital angular momentum density of the beam. In particular applying the proposed pod beam the particle rotates in opposite directions during its movement in the optical trap. Possible applications of these single-beam traps for volumetric optical particle manipulation are discussed. © 2011 Optical Society of America.The financial support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under projects TEC2008-04105, TEC2009-5545-E/TEC are acknowledged. J. A. Rodrigo and A. M. Caravaca-Aguirre gratefully thank a “Juan de la Cierva” grant and fellowship from “Obra Social Ibercaja (Beca Ibercaja de Investigación 2010)”, respectively. The authors appreciate valuable comments from J. R. Arias-González.Peer Reviewe

Entropic contribution to phenotype fitness

All possible phenotypes are not equally accessible to evolving populations. In fact, only phenotypes of large size, i.e. those resulting from many different genotypes, are found in populations of sequences, presumably because they are easier to discover and maintain. Genotypes that map to these phenotypes usually form mostly connected genotype networks that percolate the space of sequences, thus guaranteeing access to a large set of alternative phenotypes. Within a given environment, where specific phenotypic traits become relevant for adaptation, the replicative ability of a phenotype and its overall fitness (in competition experiments with alternative phenotypes) can be estimated. Two primary questions arise: how do phenotype size, reproductive capability and topology of the genotype network affect the fitness of a phenotype? And, assuming that evolution is only able to access large phenotypes, what is the range of unattainable fitness values? In order to address these questions, we quantify the adaptive advantage of phenotypes of varying size and spectral radius in a two-peak landscape. We derive analytical relationships between the three variables (size, topology, and replicative ability) which are then tested through analysis of genotype-phenotype maps and simulations of population dynamics on such maps. Finally, we analytically show that the fraction of attainable phenotypes decreases with the length of the genotype, though its absolute number increases. The fact that most phenotypes are not visible to evolution very likely forbids the attainment of the highest peak in the landscape. Nevertheless, our results indicate that the relative fitness loss due to this limited accessibility is largely inconsequential for adaptation.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figures, uses iopart.cls, iopart10.clo, iopart12.clo, iopams.sty, setstack.st

Vortex guide under a Lorentz force.

In the present work we study the effect that the metallic quality of the contacts by which an external current is applied, has onthe magnetic properties of a superconducting sample. We analyze the magnetization, magnetic susceptibility, Cooper pair density as appliedmagnetic field function. The contacts are simulated using th

Upper Miocene deposits at the southern margin of the Guadalquivir Foreland Basin (central Betic Cordillera, S. Spain). Implications for the closure timing of the Atlantic-Mediterranean connections

Acknowledgments We acknowledge the comments and suggestions made by two re- viewers, which have improved the quality of the paper. We thank Jodi Eckart for her help correcting the English text. Dr Sánchez-Almazo helped with the SEM analyses and photographs of foraminifers. This paper has been supported by the research project PGC2018–099391-B- 100 of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Competitividad, and the research group RMN190 of the Junta de Andalucía.Mixed siliciclastic-carbonate deposits accumulated in several satellite sub-basins at the southern margin of the Guadalquivir Basin, the foreland basin of the Betic Cordillera (S. Spain). The prevailing coarse-grained sediments and deposition in shallow-water settings make it difficult to establish the precise age of the complete successions. For this reason, in previous studies, these deposits were attributed to the late Tortonian, although a Messinian age was not totally ruled out. The age of the upper Miocene deposits in the central part of the Guadalquivir Basin is here re-evaluated based on the analysis of several sections distributed in different areas: Antequera, Iznájar-Cuevas de San Marcos, Teba, and Bobadilla Estación. According to planktonic foraminifer and nannoplankton assemblages, the marine sedimentary infill of this sector of the southern margin of the Guadalquivir Basin is late Tortonian-early Messinian (late Miocene) in age. The occurrence of marine deposits characterized by the dominance of Globorotalia miotumida group, dextrally-coiled G. scitula, and the presence of G. margaritae, Globigerina multiloba, Discoaster quinqueramus, Amaurolithus primus, A. amplificus, and Reticulofenestra rotaria at the northern end of the Guadalhorce Corridor, the last active gateway in the Betic Cordillera connecting the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, indicates that it remained open until the early Messinian.Research project PGC2018–099391-B- 100 of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y CompetitividadResearch group RMN190 of the Junta de Andalucí

Evaluation of the nutritional quality of Chaetoceros muelleri Schütt (Chaetocerotales: Chaetocerotaceae) and Isochrysis sp. (Isochrysidales: isochrysidaceae) grown outdoors for the larval development of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) (Decapoda: Penaeidae)

The biomass, proximal composition and fatty acid profile of Isochrysis sp., Chaetoceros muelleri and their mixture, grown under greenhouse conditions, were evaluated. The nutritional value of both species supplied as the monoalgal (Chaetoceros muelleri: Diet I, and Isochrysis sp. Diet II) and mixed diet (Diet III) for larval Litopenaeus vannamei was also assessed on the basis of the development and biochemical composition of the larvae. The highest protein levels were obtained in Diets I and II (40% and 35%, respectively). No significant differences in larval survival were found among the diets; however, larvae fed on Diet II had the lowest mean larval length

Salud, Enfermedad y Terapéutica Popular en la Ribera Alta

pp. 324Con el presente volumen, dedicado a varios aspectos de la medicina popular en la Ribera Alta, pretendemos continuar la línea iniciada con Salut, malaltia i terapéutica popular als pobles riberencs de l'Albufera. Aunque a lo largo de los distintos capítulos aparecen concepciones diferentes de "medicina popular", en general la definimos como la cultura médica popular de las sociedades urbanas y con cultura escrita en las que tiene que convivir con otros sistemas médicos arcaicos, científicos clásicos o modernos. Como cultura o subcultura incluye patrones de conducta, valores y criterios, ideas y visión de las cosas, vocabulario propios, creencias, etc. relacionados con la salud, las enfermedades y la lucha contra las mismas del llamado pueblo médico o miembros de una sociedad sin posiciones médicas determinadas. No hay que reducirla a los estratos socio económicos inferiores ni confundirla con la vertiente médica del folclore tradicional. En cada sociedad es el resultado de la asimilación de elementos procedentes de las culturas con las que ha convivido a lo largo de su historia, desde hace milenios hasta el más inmediato presente.Este libro se ha publicado con los fondos del proyecto de investigación Medicina moderna, medicina popular y «otras medicinas» en la Comunidad Valenciana. Estudio de los valores, conductas y actitudes de la población, de la Institució Valenciana d'Estudis i Investigació (IVEI)- Introducción CAPITULO PRIMERO - La geografía y los recursos sanitarios, por María Luz López Terrada - Características geográficas de la Ribera Alta - Geografía física - Geografía humana - Los recursos sanitarios - Referencias bibliográficas CAPITULO SEGUNDO - La enfermedad y su prevención, por María José Báguena Cervellera - La enfermedad en el siglo XVIII - Peste: la última visita - Las tercianas y el cultivo del arroz - Otras enfermedades - La enfermedad en el siglo XIX - El cólera y la vacunación anticolérica de Ferrán - La viruela y la difusión de la vacunación antivariólica - El control de la tuberculosis - Otras enfermedades - Conclusiones - Referencias bibliográficas CAPITULO TERCERO - La salud y la enfermedad en la Ribera Alta, por Carla P. Aguirre Marco - Las condiciones de la salud y la enfermedad en la Comunidad Valenciana - La mortalidad - Las diez primeras causas de muerte en la Comunidad Valenciana y en la Ribera Alta - Sobremortalidad y mortalidad prematura evitable en la Ribera Alta - La morbilidad - Las enfermedades atendidas en asistencia primaria en 1984 - La Comunidad Valenciana - La Ribera Alta - Las enfermedades atendidas en asistencia primaria en la actualidad - El caso particular de Carcagente - La Ribera Alta - Las enfermedades de declaración obligatoria - La Ribera Alta en relación con la Comunidad Valenciana - Evolución de la morbilidad, 1984-1992 - La vivencia de la enfermedad: el estado de salud y los principales problemas morbosos que declaran los valencianos - Los principales problemas sanitarios según los profesionales - La percepción de los profesionales de la sanidad pública: diez prioridades sanitarias de la Comunidad Valenciana y sus provincias en 1989 - Prioridades de actuación sanitaria en la Comunidad Valenciana y en la Ribera Alta (1988) según el estudio de la morbilidad atendida en Asistencia Primaria en 1983-84 - La salud, la enfermedad y la medicina en la Ribera Alta - Referencias bibliogáficas CAPITULO CUARTO - El uso popular de las plantas medicinales en la Ribera Alta, por José L. Fresquet Febrer y José A. Tronchoni - Introducción - Las plantas utilizadas - Usos populares de las plantas medicinales - Estudios farmacológicos de las plantas medicinales de uso popular - Referencias bibliográficas - Inventario por familias de las especies de plantas medicinales utilizadas en la comarca de la Ribera Alta del Xúquer CAPITULO QUINTO - Las prácticas mágico-religiosas y los curanderos en la medicina popular de la Ribera Alta, por José L. Fresquet Febrer - La práctica mágica como sistema de acción - La tradición cultural. Adquisición de la identidad social de curandero - El sistema social - El sistema de prácticas del curanderismo - Enfermedades causadas por agentes humanos - Enfermedades de causa natural - Elementos que proceden de la medicina científica - La aparición de elementos de otras procedencias - Los aspectos mágicos - El origen de los rasgos - Referencias bibliográficasPeer reviewedFecha 2014-02-19.--Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500.--Unidad técnica IHMC.--Archivo depósito IHMC.--Solo se permite el uso con fines educativos y de investigació