489 research outputs found
Biosociological ethodiversity in the social system
A comprehensive understanding of human sociality needs to embrace the coevolution of genes and culture.
Recent advances in biological research about niche construction by organisms, and the development of the
concepts of social niche and ethodiversity, can be integrated into a common approach to understand this
coevolution, which implies the interaction between sociology and ecology in an integrative framework of
knowledge. In this paper the authors propose such inclusive biosociological and heuristic framework to improve
the understanding of the evolution of social niche construction. In addition, it allows a better understanding of
the concept of sociotype in non-human organisms and explains some aspects of the social or presocial behavior
through the concept of ethodiversity.ACR (who is 1% Inuit according to his genes) was funded by a grant
from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities,
including ERD funds (CGL-2018-096656-B-100). Funding for open access
charge: Universidade de Vigo/CISUG.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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The Community Ecology of Herbivore Regulation in an Agroecosystem: Lessons from Complex Systems
AbstractWhether an ecological community is controlled from above or below remains a popular framework that continues generating interesting research questions and takes on especially important meaning in agroecosystems. We describe the regulation from above of three coffee herbivores, a leaf herbivore (the green coffee scale, Coccus viridis), a seed predator (the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei), and a plant pathogen (the coffee rust disease, caused by Hemelia vastatrix) by various natural enemies, emphasizing the remarkable complexity involved. We emphasize the intersection of this classical question of ecology with the burgeoning field of complex systems, including references to chaos, critical transitions, hysteresis, basin or boundary collision, and spatial self-organization, all aimed at the applied question of pest control in the coffee agroecosystem
High-Density Amplicon Sequencing Identifies Community Spread and Ongoing Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in the Southern United States
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is constantly evolving. Prior studies focused on high-case-density locations, such as the northern and western metropolitan areas of the United States. This study demonstrates continued SARS-CoV-2 evolution in a suburban southern region of the United States by high-density amplicon sequencing of symptomatic cases. 57% of strains carry the spike D614G variant, which is associated with higher genome copy numbers, and its prevalence expands with time. Four strains carry a deletion in a predicted stem loop of the 3β² UTR. The data are consistent with community spread within local populations and the larger continental United States. The data instill confidence in current testing sensitivity and validate βtesting by sequencingβ as an option to uncover cases, particularly nonstandard coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) clinical presentations. This study contributes to the understanding of COVID-19 through an extensive set of genomes from a non-urban setting and informs vaccine design by defining D614G as a dominant and emergent SARS-CoV-2 isolate in the United States
Latitude does not influence cavity entrance orientation of South American avian excavators
In the Northern Hemisphere, several avian cavity excavators (e.g., woodpeckers) orient their cavities increasingly toward the equator as latitude increases (i.e., farther north), and it is proposed that they do so to take advantage of incident solar radiation at their nests. If latitude is a key driver of cavity orientations globally, this pattern should extend to the Southern Hemisphere. Here, we test the prediction that cavities are oriented increasingly northward at higher (i.e., colder) latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere and describe the preferred entrance direction(s) of 1501 cavities excavated by 25 avian species (n = 22 Picidae, 2 Trogonidae, 1 Furnariidae) across 12 terrestrial ecoregions (15Β°S ? 55Β°S) in South America. We used Bayesian projected normal mixed-effects models for circular data to examine the influence of latitude, and potential confounding factors, on cavity orientation. Also, a probability model selection procedure was used to simultaneously examine multiple orientation hypotheses in each ecoregion, to explore underlying cavity-orientation patterns. Contrary to predictions, and patterns from the Northern Hemisphere, birds did not orient their cavities more toward the equator with increasing latitude, suggesting that latitude may not be an important underlying selective force shaping excavation behavior in South America. Moreover, unimodal cavity-entrance orientations were not frequent among the ecoregions analyzed (infour ecoregions), whereas bimodal (in five ecoregions) or uniform (in three ecoregions) werealso common, although many of these patterns were not very sharp. Our results highlight the need to include data from under-studied biotas and regions to improve inferences at macroecology scales. Furthermore, we suggest a re-analysis of Northern Hemisphere cavity orientation patterns using a multimodel approach, and a more comprehensive assessment of the role of environmental factors as drivers of cavity orientation at different spatial scales in both hemispheres.Fil: Ojeda, Valeria Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientΓficas y TΓ©cnicas. Centro CientΓfico TecnolΓ³gico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; ArgentinaFil: Schaaf, Alejandro Alberto. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientΓficas y TΓ©cnicas. Centro CientΓfico TecnolΓ³gico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; ArgentinaFil: Altamirano, Tatiana Edith. University of British Columbia; CanadΓ‘Fil: Bonaparte, Eugenia Bianca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientΓficas y TΓ©cnicas. Centro CientΓfico TecnolΓ³gico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Bragagnolo, Laura Araceli. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Chazarreta, L.. SecretarΓa de Ambiente y Desarrallo Sustentable de la NaciΓ³n; ArgentinaFil: Cockle, Kristina Louise. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientΓficas y TΓ©cnicas. Centro CientΓfico TecnolΓ³gico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Dias, R.. Universidade do BrasΓlia; BrasilFil: Di Sallo, Facundo Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientΓficas y TΓ©cnicas. Centro CientΓfico TecnolΓ³gico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Ibarra, T.. Pontificia Universidad CatΓ³lica de Chile; ChileFil: Ippi, Silvina Graciela. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientΓficas y TΓ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Jauregui, Adrian. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Γrea ZoologΓa; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientΓficas y TΓ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Jimenez, Jaime E.. Universidad de Magallanes; ChileFil: Lammertink, J. Martjan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientΓficas y TΓ©cnicas. Centro CientΓfico TecnolΓ³gico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical - Nodo Posadas | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical. Instituto de BiologΓa Subtropical - Nodo Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, F.. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: NuΓ±ez Montellano, Maria Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientΓficas y TΓ©cnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: de la PeΓ±a, MartΓn. No especifΓca;Fil: Rivera, Luis Osvaldo. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientΓficas y TΓ©cnicas. Centro CientΓfico TecnolΓ³gico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; ArgentinaFil: Vivanco, Constanza Guadalupe. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientΓficas y TΓ©cnicas. Centro CientΓfico TecnolΓ³gico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Ecorregiones Andinas; ArgentinaFil: SantillΓ‘n, Miguel. Museo de Historia Natural de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Soto, G.. Cornell University; Estados UnidosFil: Vergara, P.. Universidad de Santiago de Chile; ChileFil: Politi, Natalia. University of North Texas; Estados Unido
ALMA-IMF. VII. First release of the full spectral line cubes: Core kinematics traced by DCN J=(3-2)
ALMA-IMF is an Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Large
Program designed to measure the core mass function (CMF) of 15 protoclusters
chosen to span their early evolutionary stages. It further aims to understand
their kinematics, chemistry, and the impact of gas inflow, accretion, and
dynamics on the CMF. We present here the first release of the ALMA-IMF line
data cubes (DR1), produced from the combination of two ALMA 12m-array
configurations. The data include 12 spectral windows, with eight at 1.3mm and
four at 3mm. The broad spectral coverage of ALMA-IMF (~6.7 GHz bandwidth
coverage per field) hosts a wealth of simple atomic, molecular, ionised, and
complex organic molecular lines. We describe the line cube calibration done by
ALMA and the subsequent calibration and imaging we performed. We discuss our
choice of calibration parameters and optimisation of the cleaning parameters,
and we demonstrate the utility and necessity of additional processing compared
to the ALMA archive pipeline. As a demonstration of the scientific potential of
these data, we present a first analysis of the DCN (3-2) line. We find that DCN
traces a diversity of morphologies and complex velocity structures, which tend
to be more filamentary and widespread in evolved regions and are more compact
in the young and intermediate-stage protoclusters. Furthermore, we used the DCN
(3-2) emission as a tracer of the gas associated with 595 continuum cores
across the 15 protoclusters, providing the first estimates of the core systemic
velocities and linewidths within the sample. We find that DCN (3-2) is detected
towards a higher percentage of cores in evolved regions than the young and
intermediate-stage protoclusters and is likely a more complete tracer of the
core population in more evolved protoclusters. The full ALMA 12m-array cubes
for the ALMA-IMF Large Program are provided with this DR1 release.Comment: 75 pages (21 main body; 54 appendix), 37 figures. The ALMA-IMF DR1
line release is hosted at https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataverse/alma-im
Nueve jueces entran en diΓ‘logo con nueve hipΓ³tesis acerca de la prueba de los hechos en el contexto penal
This article formulates nine hypotheses concerning the proof of facts in criminal proceedings, which are analysed by nine judges of Chilean criminal Courts (Tribunal de Juicio Oral y de GarantΓa). Seven hypotheses aimed at describing different practices that take place in the courts and two of them concern how judges should act in certain hard cases. The matters are grouped in the following categories: a) scopes of the compromise that judges should have in order to operate with true stories as support of their decisions; b) difficulties that arise as consequence of the epistemic weakness of the evidence available in trials and the possible slants in their interpretation; c) requirements of the evaluation of the proof according to the sana crΓtica; and d) meaning that should have the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. In this way, a dialogue between the system of beliefs of judges and of jurists takes place
Polyester urethane urea (PEUU) functionalization for enhanced anti-thrombotic performance: advancing regenerative cardiovascular devices through innovative surface modifications
Introduction: Thrombogenesis, a major cause of implantable cardiovascular device failure, can be addressed through the use of biodegradable polymers modified with anticoagulating moieties. This study introduces a novel polyester urethane urea (PEUU) functionalized with various anti-platelet deposition molecules for enhanced antiplatelet performance in regenerative cardiovascular devices.Methods: PEUU, synthesized from poly-caprolactone, 1,4-diisocyanatobutane, and putrescine, was chemically oxidized to introduce carboxyl groups, creating PEUU-COOH. This polymer was functionalized in situ with polyethyleneimine, 4-arm polyethylene glycol, seleno-L-cystine, heparin sodium, and fondaparinux. Functionalization was confirmed using Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Bio-compatibility and hemocompatibility were validated through metabolic activity and hemolysis assays. The anti-thrombotic activity was assessed using platelet aggregation, lactate dehydrogenase activation assays, and scanning electron microscopy surface imaging. The whole-blood clotting time quantification assay was employed to evaluate anticoagulation properties.Results: Results demonstrated high biocompatibility and hemocompatibility, with the most potent anti-thrombotic activity observed on pegylated surfaces. However, seleno-L-cystine and fondaparinux exhibited no anti-platelet activity.Discussion: The findings highlight the importance of balancing various factors and addressing challenges associated with different approaches when developing innovative surface modifications for cardiovascular devices
An ex-vivo Human Intestinal Model to Study Entamoeba histolytica Pathogenesis
Amoebiasis (a human intestinal infection affecting 50 million people every year) is caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. To study the molecular mechanisms underlying human colon invasion by E. histolytica, we have set up an ex vivo human colon model to study the early steps in amoebiasis. Using scanning electron microscopy and histological analyses, we have established that E. histolytica caused the removal of the protective mucus coat during the first two hours of incubation, detached the enterocytes, and then penetrated into the lamina propria by following the crypts of LieberkΓΌhn. Significant cell lysis (determined by the release of lactodehydrogenase) and inflammation (marked by the secretion of pro-inflammatory molecules such as interleukin 1 beta, interferon gamma, interleukin 6, interleukin 8 and tumour necrosis factor) were detected after four hours of incubation. Entamoeba dispar (a closely related non-pathogenic amoeba that also colonizes the human colon) was unable to invade colonic mucosa, lyse cells or induce an inflammatory response. We also examined the behaviour of trophozoites in which genes coding for known virulent factors (such as amoebapores, the Gal/GalNAc lectin and the cysteine protease 5 (CP-A5), which have major roles in cell death, adhesion (to target cells or mucus) and mucus degradation, respectively) were silenced, together with the corresponding tissue responses. Our data revealed that the signalling via the heavy chain Hgl2 or via the light chain Lgl1 of the Gal/GalNAc lectin is not essential to penetrate the human colonic mucosa. In addition, our study demonstrates that E. histolytica silenced for CP-A5 does not penetrate the colonic lamina propria and does not induce the host's pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion
Comparison across 12 countries on knowledge, attitude, and behavior scores about medication errors in Intensive Care Units : an international study
OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study
was to explore the degree of agreement of intensive
care unit nurses working on a set of medication
error preventive strategies and to examine
possible predictors of nursesβ knowledge,
attitude and behavior.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational,
international, and cross-sectional study. Iran,
Malta, Spain, Pakistan, Nepal, Qatar, Ecuador,
Australia, Finland, Italy, Egypt, and Jordan were
the countries included in this survey. To collect
data, the Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior in
Medication Errors questionnaire was used. A
descriptive statistical analysis was performed
for the socio-demographic characteristics of the sample and three multiple logistic regressions
were performed.
RESULTS: The international sample consists
of 1383 nurses, of whom 478 (34.6%) were men
and 900 (65.1%) were women and their mean age
was 35.61 years with a range of 19-61. Descriptive
statistics conducted on the international
sample show a medium to high degree of agreement
among participants concerning some preventive
strategies of medication error. In addition,
the results of the present study show a
strong relationship between positive nursesβ attitudes
and correct behaviors and/or adequate
knowledge, as well as between adequate knowledge
and correct behaviors (p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed
to explore the issue of medication error concerning
nursesβ cultural backgrounds, as well as
to assess similarities and disparities among international
nurses.peer-reviewe
Contrasting Transcriptional Responses of a Virulent and an Attenuated Strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infecting Macrophages
Along with the recent identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms in H37Ra when compared to H37Rv, our demonstration of differential expression of PhoP-regulated and ESX-1 region-related genes during macrophage infection further highlights the significance of these genes in the attenuation of H37Ra
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