From age-sets to friendship networks in contemporary sociology : The continuity of soda among the Boorana of East Africa

This paper re-assesses a comparative sociology of kinship and friendship in East Africa with a particular focus on the Boorana Oromo of Kenya. It argues that the study of kinship dominated the developments of a comparative sociology during colonial times and that the post-colonial influences of war, the market and globalization have increased the role of the individual. As a result a comparative sociology of African kinship needs to be understood in relation to comparative sociological studies of friendship in East Africa, particularly associated with the sociology of education.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Incremental Art: A Neural Network System for Recognition by Incremental Feature Extraction

Abstract Incremental ART extends adaptive resonance theory (ART) by incorporating mechanisms for efficient recognition through incremental feature extraction. The system achieves efficient confident prediction through the controlled acquisition of only those features necessary to discriminate an input pattern. These capabilities are achieved through three modifications to the fuzzy ART system: (1) A partial feature vector complement coding rule extends fuzzy ART logic to allow recognition based on partial feature vectors. (2) The addition of a F2 decision criterion to measure ART predictive confidence. (3) An incremental feature extraction layer computes the next feature to extract based on a measure of predictive value. Our system is demonstrated on a face recognition problem but has general applicability as a machine vision solution and as model for studying scanning patterns.Office of Naval Research (N00014-92-J-4015, N00014-92-J-1309, N00014-91-4100); Air Force Office of Scientific Research (90-0083); National Science Foundation (IRI 90-00530

A Fast BCS/FCS Algorithm for Image Segmentation

A fast and efficient segmentation algorithm based on the Boundary Contour System/Feature Contour System (BCS/FCS) of Grossberg and Mingolla [3] is presented. This implementation is based on the FFT algorithm and the parallelism of the system.Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (63l462); Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (AFOSR 90-0083); Office of Naval Research (N00014-92-J-l309

An Active Pattern Recognition Architecture for Mobile Robots

An active, attentionally-modulated recognition architecture is proposed for object recognition and scene analysis. The proposed architecture forms part of navigation and trajectory planning modules for mobile robots. Key characteristics of the system include movement planning and execution based on environmental factors and internal goal definitions. Real-time implementation of the system is based on space-variant representation of the visual field, as well as an optimal visual processing scheme utilizing separate and parallel channels for the extraction of boundaries and stimulus qualities. A spatial and temporal grouping module (VWM) allows for scene scanning, multi-object segmentation, and featural/object priming. VWM is used to modulate a tn~ectory formation module capable of redirecting the focus of spatial attention. Finally, an object recognition module based on adaptive resonance theory is interfaced through VWM to the visual processing module. The system is capable of using information from different modalities to disambiguate sensory input.Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (90-0083); Office of Naval Research (N00014-92-J-1309); Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (63462

Navite: A Neural Network System For Sensory-Based Robot Navigation

A neural network system, NAVITE, for incremental trajectory generation and obstacle avoidance is presented. Unlike other approaches, the system is effective in unstructured environments. Multimodal inforrnation from visual and range data is used for obstacle detection and to eliminate uncertainty in the measurements. Optimal paths are computed without explicitly optimizing cost functions, therefore reducing computational expenses. Simulations of a planar mobile robot (including the dynamic characteristics of the plant) in obstacle-free and object avoidance trajectories are presented. The system can be extended to incorporate global map information into the local decision-making process.Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (AFOSR 90-0083); Office of Naval Research (N00014-92-J-l309); Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (63l462

Genomic history of the origin and domestication of common bean unveils its closest sister species

Background: Modern civilization depends on only a few plant species for its nourishment. These crops were derived via several thousands of years of human selection that transformed wild ancestors into high-yielding domesticated descendants. Among cultivated plants, common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important grain legume. Yet, our understanding of the origins and concurrent shaping of the genome of this crop plant is limited. Results: We sequenced the genomes of 29 accessions representing 12 Phaseolus species. Single nucleotide polymorphism-based phylogenomic analyses, using both the nuclear and chloroplast genomes, allowed us to detect a speciation event, a finding further supported by metabolite profiling. In addition, we identified ~1200 protein coding genes (PCGs) and ~100 long non-coding RNAs with domestication-associated haplotypes. Finally, we describe asymmetric introgression events occurring among common bean subpopulations in Mesoamerica and across hemispheres. Conclusions: We uncover an unpredicted speciation event in the tropical Andes that gave rise to a sibling species, formerly considered the "wild ancestor" of P. vulgaris, which diverged before the split of the Mesoamerican and Andean P. vulgaris gene pools. Further, we identify haplotypes strongly associated with genes underlying the emergence of domestication traits. Our findings also reveal the capacity of a predominantly autogamous plant to outcross and fix loci from different populations, even from distant species, which led to the acquisition by domesticated beans of adaptive traits from wild relatives. The occurrence of such adaptive introgressions should be exploited to accelerate breeding programs in the near future.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Estallido social en Chile y procesos de patrimonialización: un paradigma de resignificación de las memorias

En los últimos años, a nivel mundial y local, asistimos a un cambio profundo del paradigma respecto de lo que tradicionalmente hemos asumido como manifestación del patrimonio. En parte, esta transformación conceptual y metodológica se debe a la emergencia de los procesos de patrimonialización, motivados por conflictos sociales que operan en contra de los discursos institucionalizados del patrimonio. De ello resultan resignificaciones de las historias y las memorias en el territorio, la ciudad y la arquitectura, asociadas a nuevas categorías de patrimonio que es necesario atender. El presente trabajo aborda este nuevo paradigma, tomando como caso el denominado “estallido social”, que afecta a Chile desde el 18 de octubre de 2019 y que se extiende hasta la actualidad. Más allá de percibirse como un fenómeno destructivo, que inicialmente apunta a aspectos de carácter sociopolítico, la presencia del conflicto en la sociedad nacional señala una aguda crítica al sistema de representación del patrimonio. En su trayectoria espacio-temporal surgen nuevas prácticas socio-espaciales que satisfacen las expectativas de memoria de las comunidades respecto de una realidad en transformación. El artículo pretende aportar al ámbito de la arquitectura y el ambiente construido, en cuanto permite reflexionar sobre la transformación de los significados y valores de los patrimonios que emergen en la realidad cotidiana de nuestras ciudades. Mediante una metodología descriptiva, basada en documentos de prensa recientes, se abordan algunas situaciones emblemáticas del problema, manifestadas en las áreas urbanas consolidadas de La Serena, Valparaíso, Santiago, Concepción, Temuco y Punta Arenas. En ellas, las operaciones de patrimonialización visibilizan los contrastes entre los discursos del Estado y los producidos por organizaciones sociales, la resignificación de elementos del patrimonio tradicional y la emergencia de la ciudad como espacio de negociación de las memorias. De lo anterior, se infiere la renovación de los valores y atributos tradicionalmente asignados a los monumentos, ya sea en su condición objetual, arquitectónica o urbana, así como también se detecta la potencialidad del patrimonio, como canalizador de diálogo, convivencia y cohesión en el continuo debate por las historias y las memorias en conflicto.Nos últimos anos, global e localmente, assistimos a uma mudança profunda no paradigma relativo àquilo que tradicionalmente assumimos como uma manifestação do patrimônio. Em parte, esta transformação conceptual e metodológica deve-se à emergência de processos de patrimonialização, motivados por conflitos sociais que operam contra os discursos institucionalizados do patrimônio. Isto resulta em ressignificações das histórias e memórias no território, na cidade e na arquitetura, associadas a novas categorias do patrimônio que precisam de ser abordadas. Este trabalho aborda esse novo paradigma, tomando como caso de estudo a chamada "explosão social" (estallido social, em espanhol), que tem afetado o Chile desde 18 de outubro de 2019 e que continua até o os dias de hoje. Muito além de uma visão dessa “explosão” como um fenômeno destrutivo, que aponta inicialmente a aspectos de natureza sociopolítica, a presença do conflito na sociedade nacional é um indicador de uma forte crítica ao sistema de representação do patrimônio. Em sua trajetória espaço-temporal, surgem novas práticas sócio-espaciais que satisfazem as expectativas de memória das comunidades com respeito a uma realidade em transformação. O artigo pretende contribuir para o campo da arquitetura e do ambiente construído, na medida em que nos permite refletir sobre a transformação dos significados e valores dos patrimônios que emergem na realidade quotidiana das nossas cidades. Por meio de uma metodologia descritiva, baseada em documentos de imprensa recentes, são abordadas algumas situações emblemáticas do problema, manifestadas nas zonas urbanas consolidadas de La Serena, Valparaíso, Santiago, Concepción, Temuco e Punta Arenas. Nelas, as operações de patrimonialização tornam visíveis os contrastes entre os discursos do Estado e os produzidos pelas organizações sociais, a ressignificação de elementos do patrimônio tradicional e a emergência da cidade como espaço de negociação de memórias. De tudo isto, infere-se a renovação dos valores e atributos tradicionalmente atribuídos aos monumentos, seja na sua condição objetal, arquitetônica ou urbana, bem como a potencialidade do patrimônio como canal de diálogo, convívio e coesão no debate contínuo das histórias e memórias em conflito.In recent years, both globally and locally, a profound change in the paradigm has been seen with respect to what has been traditionally accepted as a manifestation of heritage. In part, this conceptual and methodological transformation is due to the emergence of patrimonialization processes, driven by social conflicts that go against the institutionalized discourses of heritage. This results in resignifications of the stories and memories in the territory, the city and the architecture, associated with new categories of heritage that need to be addressed. This work is about this new paradigm, taking as a case the so-called ‘social uprising, which has affected Chile since October 18th, 2019. Beyond being perceived as a destructive phenomenon, which initially targets aspects of a socio-political nature, the presence of the conflict in Chilean society points to a sharp criticism of the heritage representation system. In its spatio-temporal trajectory, new socio-spatial practices arise that satisfy the memory expectations of the communities regarding a transforming reality. The article aims to contribute to the field of architecture and the built environment, insofar as it allows reflecting on the transformation of meanings and values of heritage that emerges in the daily reality of our cities. Using a descriptive methodology, based on recent media documents, some emblematic situations of the problem are addressed, manifested in the consolidated urban areas of La Serena, Valparaíso, Santiago, Concepción, Temuco, and Punta Arenas. In them, the patrimonialization operations make visible the contrasts between the discourses of the State and those produced by social organizations, the resignification of elements of traditional heritage and the emergence of the city as a space for negotiation of memories. From all this, the renewal of the values and attributes, traditionally assigned to monuments, is inferred, whether in their objectual, architectural or urban condition, as well as the potentiality of heritage, as a channel for dialogue, coexistence, and cohesion in the ongoing debate about conflicting stories and memories

Genome and transcriptome analysis of the Mesoamerican common bean and the role of gene duplications in establishing tissue and temporal specialization of genes

Background: Legumes are the third largest family of angiosperms and the second most important crop class. Legume genomes have been shaped by extensive large-scale gene duplications, including an approximately 58 million year old whole genome duplication shared by most crop legumes. Results: We report the genome and the transcription atlas of coding and non-coding genes of a Mesoamerican genotype of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., BAT93). Using a comprehensive phylogenomics analysis, we assessed the past and recent evolution of common bean, and traced the diversification of patterns of gene expression following duplication. We find that successive rounds of gene duplications in legumes have shaped tissue and developmental expression, leading to increased levels of specialization in larger gene families. We also find that many long non-coding RNAs are preferentially expressed in germ-line-related tissues (pods and seeds), suggesting that they play a significant role in fruit development. Our results also suggest that most bean-specific gene family expansions, including resistance gene clusters, predate the split of the Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools. Conclusions: The genome and transcriptome data herein generated for a Mesoamerican genotype represent a counterpart to the genomic resources already available for the Andean gene pool. Altogether, this information will allow the genetic dissection of the characters involved in the domestication and adaptation of the crop, and their further implementation in breeding strategies for this important crop.La lista completa de autores que integran el documento puede consultarse en el archivo.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Genomic history of the origin and domestication of common bean unveils its closest sister species

Background: Modern civilization depends on only a few plant species for its nourishment. These crops were derived via several thousands of years of human selection that transformed wild ancestors into high-yielding domesticated descendants. Among cultivated plants, common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is the most important grain legume. Yet, our understanding of the origins and concurrent shaping of the genome of this crop plant is limited. Results: We sequenced the genomes of 29 accessions representing 12 Phaseolus species. Single nucleotide polymorphism-based phylogenomic analyses, using both the nuclear and chloroplast genomes, allowed us to detect a speciation event, a finding further supported by metabolite profiling. In addition, we identified ~1200 protein coding genes (PCGs) and ~100 long non-coding RNAs with domestication-associated haplotypes. Finally, we describe asymmetric introgression events occurring among common bean subpopulations in Mesoamerica and across hemispheres. Conclusions: We uncover an unpredicted speciation event in the tropical Andes that gave rise to a sibling species, formerly considered the "wild ancestor" of P. vulgaris, which diverged before the split of the Mesoamerican and Andean P. vulgaris gene pools. Further, we identify haplotypes strongly associated with genes underlying the emergence of domestication traits. Our findings also reveal the capacity of a predominantly autogamous plant to outcross and fix loci from different populations, even from distant species, which led to the acquisition by domesticated beans of adaptive traits from wild relatives. The occurrence of such adaptive introgressions should be exploited to accelerate breeding programs in the near future.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula

Genome and transcriptome analysis of the Mesoamerican common bean and the role of gene duplications in establishing tissue and temporal specialization of genes

Background: Legumes are the third largest family of angiosperms and the second most important crop class. Legume genomes have been shaped by extensive large-scale gene duplications, including an approximately 58 million year old whole genome duplication shared by most crop legumes. Results: We report the genome and the transcription atlas of coding and non-coding genes of a Mesoamerican genotype of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L., BAT93). Using a comprehensive phylogenomics analysis, we assessed the past and recent evolution of common bean, and traced the diversification of patterns of gene expression following duplication. We find that successive rounds of gene duplications in legumes have shaped tissue and developmental expression, leading to increased levels of specialization in larger gene families. We also find that many long non-coding RNAs are preferentially expressed in germ-line-related tissues (pods and seeds), suggesting that they play a significant role in fruit development. Our results also suggest that most bean-specific gene family expansions, including resistance gene clusters, predate the split of the Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools. Conclusions: The genome and transcriptome data herein generated for a Mesoamerican genotype represent a counterpart to the genomic resources already available for the Andean gene pool. Altogether, this information will allow the genetic dissection of the characters involved in the domestication and adaptation of the crop, and their further implementation in breeding strategies for this important crop.La lista completa de autores que integran el documento puede consultarse en el archivo.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasInstituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecula