Behavioral Modernity and the Cultural Transmission of Structured Information: The Semantic Axelrod Model

Cultural transmission models are coming to the fore in explaining increases in the Paleolithic toolkit richness and diversity. During the later Paleolithic, technologies increase not only in terms of diversity but also in their complexity and interdependence. As Mesoudi and O'Brien (2008) have shown, selection broadly favors social learning of information that is hierarchical and structured, and multiple studies have demonstrated that teaching within a social learning environment can increase fitness. We believe that teaching also provides the scaffolding for transmission of more complex cultural traits. Here, we introduce an extension of the Axelrod (1997} model of cultural differentiation in which traits have prerequisite relationships, and where social learning is dependent upon the ordering of those prerequisites. We examine the resulting structure of cultural repertoires as learning environments range from largely unstructured imitation, to structured teaching of necessary prerequisites, and we find that in combination with individual learning and innovation, high probabilities of teaching prerequisites leads to richer cultural repertoires. Our results point to ways in which we can build more comprehensive explanations of the archaeological record of the Paleolithic as well as other cases of technological change.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures. Submitted to "Learning Strategies and Cultural Evolution during the Paleolithic", edited by Kenichi Aoki and Alex Mesoudi, and presented at the 79th Annual Meeting of the Society for American Archaeology, Austin TX. Revised 5/14/1

Towards Intelligent Lower Limb Prostheses with Activity Recognition

User’s volitional control of lower limb prostheses is still challenging task despite technological advancements. There is still a need for amputees to impose their will upon the prosthesis to drive in an accurate and interactive fashion. This study represents a brief review on control strategies using different sensor modalities for the purpose of phases/events detection and activity recognition. The preliminary work that is associated with middle-level control shows a simple and reliable method for event detection in real-time using a single inertial measurement unit. The outcome shows promising results

Physicochemical properties and structural characteristics of whole grain Oryza sativa L. with different treatments

[EN] Physicochemical properties and structural characteristics of whole rice flours with different treatments (soaking, germination and extrusion cooking) were studied. Water solubility, water absorption, crystallinity, adsorption isotherms (BET and GAB models), and glass transition temperature of the samples were determined. Water solubility and water absorption were enhanced by extrusion cooking process (3.17 4.98 vs. 24.1 53.76 g/100 g and 2.77 3.05 vs. 4.46 7.04 ml/g, respectively), but crystallinity was decreased (30 33 vs. 4 16%). Adsorption isotherms showed that extruded samples exhibited higher equilibrium moisture content as compared with their corresponding non-extruded samples (5.0 19.2 vs. 4.0 16.1 g water/g solids). There were no changes in glass transition temperature values in the studied moisture range (3.8 16 g/100 g). These results allow the correct use of whole rice flours with different treatments in foods and also contributed to the knowledge of stabilization of the productsThe author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was partially financed by ANPCYT (PICT 1105) and ERASMUS MUNDUS ACTION 2 ARCOIRIS Fellowship.Albarracin, M.; Talens Oliag, P.; Martínez Navarrete, N.; González, RJ.; Drago, SR. (2016). Physicochemical properties and structural characteristics of whole grain Oryza sativa L. with different treatments. Food Science and Technology International. 22(4):1-10. doi:10.1177/1082013215600078S110224Albarracín, M., José González, R., & Drago, S. R. (2015). Soaking and extrusion effects on physicochemical parameters, phytic acid, nutrient content and mineral bio-accessibility of whole rice grain. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 66(2), 210-215. doi:10.3109/09637486.2014.986070Björck, I., & Asp, N.-G. (1983). The effects of extrusion cooking on nutritional value — A literature review. Journal of Food Engineering, 2(4), 281-308. doi:10.1016/0260-8774(83)90016-xBrunauer, S., Deming, L. S., Deming, W. E., & Teller, E. (1940). On a Theory of the van der Waals Adsorption of Gases. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 62(7), 1723-1732. doi:10.1021/ja01864a025Donkor, O. N., Stojanovska, L., Ginn, P., Ashton, J., & Vasiljevic, T. (2012). Germinated grains – Sources of bioactive compounds. Food Chemistry, 135(3), 950-959. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.05.058Gonzalez, R. J., De Greef, D. M., Torres, R. L., Borras, F. S., & Robutti, J. (2004). Effects of endosperm hardness and extrusion temperature on properties of products obtained with grits from two commercial maize cultivars. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 37(2), 193-198. doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2003.07.004Gonzalez, R., Drago, S., Torres, R., & De Greef, D. (2013). Extrusion Cooking of Cereal-Based Products. Contemporary Food Engineering. doi:10.1201/b15246-13González, R. J., Pastor Cavada, E., Vioque Peña, J., Torres, R. L., De Greef, D. M., & Drago, S. R. (2013). Extrusion Conditions and Amylose Content Affect Physicochemical Properties of Extrudates Obtained from Brown Rice Grains. International Journal of Food Science, 2013, 1-8. doi:10.1155/2013/584148Herawat, H., Kusnandar, F., Adawiyah, D. R., Budijanto, S., & Rahman, M. S. (2014). Thermal characteristics and state diagram of extruded instant artificial rice. Thermochimica Acta, 593, 50-57. doi:10.1016/j.tca.2014.08.017Jones, J. M., & Engleson, J. (2010). Whole Grains: Benefits and Challenges. Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, 1(1), 19-40. doi:10.1146/annurev.food.112408.132746Kim, H. Y., Hwang, I. G., Kim, T. M., Woo, K. S., Park, D. S., Kim, J. H., … Jeong, H. S. (2012). Chemical and functional components in different parts of rough rice (Oryza sativa L.) before and after germination. Food Chemistry, 134(1), 288-293. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.02.138Lowry, R. R., & Tinsley, I. J. (1976). Rapid colorimetric determination of free fatty acids. Journal of the American Oil Chemists’ Society, 53(7), 470-472. doi:10.1007/bf02636814Matveev, Y. (2000). The plasticizing effect of water on proteins, polysaccharides and their mixtures. Glassy state of biopolymers, food and seeds. Food Hydrocolloids, 14(5), 425-437. doi:10.1016/s0268-005x(00)00020-5Perdon, A., Siebenmorgen, T. J., & Mauromoustakos, A. (2000). Glassy State Transition and Rice Drying: Development of a Brown Rice State Diagram. Cereal Chemistry Journal, 77(6), 708-713. doi:10.1094/cchem.2000.77.6.708ROOS, Y., & KAREL, M. (1991). Plasticizing Effect of Water on Thermal Behavior and Crystallization of Amorphous Food Models. Journal of Food Science, 56(1), 38-43. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.1991.tb07970.xRuiz-Ruiz, J., Martínez-Ayala, A., Drago, S., González, R., Betancur-Ancona, D., & Chel-Guerrero, L. (2008). Extrusion of a hard-to-cook bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and quality protein maize (Zea mays L.) flour blend. LWT - Food Science and Technology, 41(10), 1799-1807. doi:10.1016/j.lwt.2008.01.005SIU, G. M., & DRAPER, H. H. (1978). A SURVEY OF THE MALONALDEHYDE CONTENT OF RETAIL MEATS AND FISH. Journal of Food Science, 43(4), 1147-1149. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.1978.tb15256.xSun, Z., Yang, W., Siebenmorgen, T., Stelwagen, A., & Cnossen, A. (2002). Thermomechanical Transitions of Rice Kernels. Cereal Chemistry Journal, 79(3), 349-353. doi:10.1094/cchem.2002.79.3.349Timmermann, E. O. (2003). Multilayer sorption parameters: BET or GAB values? Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 220(1-3), 235-260. doi:10.1016/s0927-7757(03)00059-1Tovar, J., Bjoerck, I. M., & Asp, N. G. (1990). Starch content and .alpha.-amylolysis rate in precooked legume flours. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 38(9), 1818-1823. doi:10.1021/jf00099a00

A new species of cosmocercoides (Nematoda; cosmocercidae) and other helminths in leptodactylus latrans (anura; leptodactylidae) from Argentina

Cosmocercoides latrans n. sp. (Cosmocercidae) from the small intestine of Leptodactylus latrans (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from Northeastern Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina is described. The new species can be distinguished from their congeners by a combination of the characters, among which stands out the number of rosette papillae, the lack of gubernaculum and the presence of lateral alae in both sexes. There are over 20 species in the genus Cosmocercoides, and Cosmocercoides latrans n. sp. represents the third species from the Neotropical realm and the second for Argentina. Additionally, seven previously known taxa are reported; Pseudoacanthocephalus cf. lutzi, Catadiscus uruguayensis, Rauschiella palmipedis, Aplectana hylambatis, Cosmocerca parva, Schrankiana sp. and Rhabdias elegans; providing literature records and information on distribution and host-parasite relationships.Fil: Draghi, Regina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Zoología Invertebrados; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Drago, Fabiana Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Zoología Invertebrados; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Lunaschi, Lía Inés. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Zoología Invertebrados; Argentin

Intragenic motifs regulate the transcriptional complexity of Pkhd1/PKHD1

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) results from mutations in the human PKHD1 gene. Both this gene, and its mouse ortholog, Pkhd1, are primarily expressed in renal and biliary ductal structures. The mouse protein product, fibrocystin/polyductin complex (FPC), is a 445-kDa protein encoded by a 67-exon transcript that spans >500 kb of genomic DNA. In the current study, we observed multiple alternatively spliced Pkhd1 transcripts that varied in size and exon composition in embryonic mouse kidney, liver, and placenta samples, as well as among adult mouse pancreas, brain, heart, lung, testes, liver, and kidney. Using reverse transcription PCR and RNASeq, we identified 22 novel Pkhd1 kidney transcripts with unique exon junctions. Various mechanisms of alternative splicing were observed, including exon skipping, use of alternate acceptor/donor splice sites, and inclusion of novel exons. Bioinformatic analyses identified, and exon-trapping minigene experiments validated, consensus binding sites for serine/arginine-rich proteins that modulate alternative splicing. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we examined the functional importance of selected splice enhancers. In addition, we demonstrated that many of the novel transcripts were polysome bound, thus likely translated. Finally, we determined that the human PKHD1 R760H missense variant alters a splice enhancer motif that disrupts exon splicing in vitro and is predicted to truncate the protein. Taken together, these data provide evidence of the complex transcriptional regulation of Pkhd1/PKHD1 and identified motifs that regulate its splicing. Our studies indicate that Pkhd1/PKHD1 transcription is modulated, in part by intragenic factors, suggesting that aberrant PKHD1 splicing represents an unappreciated pathogenic mechanism in ARPKD. Key messages: Multiple mRNA transcripts are generated for Pkhd1 in renal tissues Pkhd1 transcription is modulated by standard splice elements and effectors Mutations in splice motifs may alter splicing to generate nonfunctional peptides

Experimental evolution of sperm competitiveness in a mammal

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>When females mate with multiple partners, sperm from rival males compete to fertilise the ova. Studies of experimental evolution have proven the selective action of sperm competition on male reproductive traits. However, while reproductive traits may evolve in response to sperm competition, this does not necessarily provide evidence that sperm competitive ability responds to selection. Indeed, a study of <it>Drosophila </it>failed to observe divergence in sperm competitive ability of males in lines selected for enhanced sperm offence and defence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Adopting the naturally polygamous house mouse (<it>Mus domesticus</it>) as our vertebrate model, we performed an experimental evolution study and observed genetic divergence in sperm quality; males from the polygamous selection lines produced ejaculates with increased sperm numbers and greater sperm motility compared to males from the monogamous lines. Here, after 12 generations of experimental evolution, we conducted competitive matings between males from lineages evolving under sperm competition and males from lineages subject to relaxed selection. We reduced variation in paternity arising from embryo mortality by genotyping embryos <it>in utero </it>at 14 days gestation. Our microsatellite data revealed a significant paternity bias toward males that evolved under the selective regime of sperm competition.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We provide evidence that the sperm competitiveness phenotype can respond to selection, and show that improved sperm quality translates to greater competitive fertilisation success in house mice.</p

Microbial catabolic activities are naturally selected by metabolic energy harvest rate

The fundamental trade-off between yield and rate of energy harvest per unit of substrate has been largely discussed as a main characteristic for microbial established cooperation or competition. In this study, this point is addressed by developing a generalized model that simulates competition between existing and not experimentally reported microbial catabolic activities defined only based on well-known biochemical pathways. No specific microbial physiological adaptations are considered, growth yield is calculated coupled to catabolism energetics and a common maximum biomass-specific catabolism rate (expressed as electron transfer rate) is assumed for all microbial groups. Under this approach, successful microbial metabolisms are predicted in line with experimental observations under the hypothesis of maximum energy harvest rate. Two microbial ecosystems, typically found in wastewater treatment plants, are simulated, namely: (i) the anaerobic fermentation of glucose and (ii) the oxidation and reduction of nitrogen under aerobic autotrophic (nitrification) and anoxic heterotrophic and autotrophic (denitrification) conditions. The experimentally observed cross feeding in glucose fermentation, through multiple intermediate fermentation pathways, towards ultimately methane and carbon dioxide is predicted. Analogously, two-stage nitrification (by ammonium and nitrite oxidizers) is predicted as prevailing over nitrification in one stage. Conversely, denitrification is predicted in one stage (by denitrifiers) as well as anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation). The model results suggest that these observations are a direct consequence of the different energy yields per electron transferred at the different steps of the pathways. Overall, our results theoretically support the hypothesis that successful microbial catabolic activities are selected by an overall maximum energy harvest rate

Effects of fishery protection on biometry and genetic structure of two target sea cucumber species from the Mediterranean Sea

Sea cucumber fisheries are now occurring in most of the tropical areas of the world, having expanded from its origin in the central Indo-Pacific. Due to the overexploitation of these resources and the increasing demand from Asian countries, new target species from Mediterranean Sea and northeastern Atlantic Ocean are being caught. The fishery effects on biometry and genetic structure of two target species (Holothuria polii and H. tubulosa) from Turkey, were assessed. The heaviest and largest individuals of H. polii were found into the non-fishery area of Kusadasi, also showing the highest genetic diversity. Similar pattern was detected in H. tubulosa, but only the weight was significantly higher in the protected area. However, the observed differences on the fishery effects between species, could be explained considering the different percentage of catches (80% for H. polii and 20% for H. tubulosa)

A review of assessment methods for river hydromorphology

The work leading to this paper has received funding for the EU’s FP7 under Grant Agreement No. 282656 (REFORM

Mapping Dynamic Histone Acetylation Patterns to Gene Expression in Nanog-depleted Murine Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem cells (ESC) have the potential to self-renew indefinitely and to differentiate into any of the three germ layers. The molecular mechanisms for self-renewal, maintenance of pluripotency and lineage specification are poorly understood, but recent results point to a key role for epigenetic mechanisms. In this study, we focus on quantifying the impact of histone 3 acetylation (H3K9,14ac) on gene expression in murine embryonic stem cells. We analyze genome-wide histone acetylation patterns and gene expression profiles measured over the first five days of cell differentiation triggered by silencing Nanog, a key transcription factor in ESC regulation. We explore the temporal and spatial dynamics of histone acetylation data and its correlation with gene expression using supervised and unsupervised statistical models. On a genome-wide scale, changes in acetylation are significantly correlated to changes in mRNA expression and, surprisingly, this coherence increases over time. We quantify the predictive power of histone acetylation for gene expression changes in a balanced cross-validation procedure. In an in-depth study we focus on genes central to the regulatory network of Mouse ESC, including those identified in a recent genome-wide RNAi screen and in the PluriNet, a computationally derived stem cell signature. We find that compared to the rest of the genome, ESC-specific genes show significantly more acetylation signal and a much stronger decrease in acetylation over time, which is often not reflected in an concordant expression change. These results shed light on the complexity of the relationship between histone acetylation and gene expression and are a step forward to dissect the multilayer regulatory mechanisms that determine stem cell fate.Comment: accepted at PLoS Computational Biolog