Cultural evolutionary theory and human behavioural ecology offer different, but compatible approaches to understanding human demographic behaviour. For much of their 30 history, these approaches have ...been deployed in parallel, with few explicit attempts to integrate them empirically. In this paper, we test hypotheses drawn from both approaches to explore how reproductive behaviour responds to cultural changes among Mosuo agriculturalists of China. Specifically, we focus on how age at last birth (ALB) varies in association with temporal shifts in fertility policies, spatial variation and kinship ecologies. We interpret temporal declines in ALB as plausibly consistent with demographic front-loading of reproduction in light of fertility constraints and later ages at last birth in matrilineal populations relative to patrilineal ones as consistent with greater household cooperation for reproductive purposes in the former. We find little evidence suggesting specific transmission pathways for the spread of norms regulating ALB, but emphasize that the rapid pace of change strongly suggests that learning processes were involved in the general decline in ALB over time. The different predictions of models we employ belie their considerable overlap and the potential for a synthetic approach to generate more refined tests of evolutionary hypotheses of demographic behaviour.
This article is part of the theme issue ‘Bridging cultural gaps: interdisciplinary studies in human cultural evolution’.
Cultural evolutionary theory and human behavioural ecology offer different, but compatible approaches to understanding human demographic behaviour. For much of their 30 history, these approaches have ...been deployed in parallel, with few explicit attempts to integrate them empirically. In this paper, we test hypotheses drawn from both approaches to explore how reproductive behaviour responds to cultural changes among Mosuo agriculturalists of China. Specifically, we focus on how age at last birth (ALB) varies in association with temporal shifts in fertility policies, spatial variation and kinship ecologies. We interpret temporal declines in ALB as plausibly consistent with demographic front-loading of reproduction in light of fertility constraints and later ages at last birth in matrilineal populations relative to patrilineal ones as consistent with greater household cooperation for reproductive purposes in the former. We find little evidence suggesting specific transmission pathways for the spread of norms regulating ALB, but emphasize that the rapid pace of change strongly suggests that learning processes were involved in the general decline in ALB over time. The different predictions of models we employ belie their considerable overlap and the potential for a synthetic approach to generate more refined tests of evolutionary hypotheses of demographic behaviour. This article is part of the theme issue 'Bridging cultural gaps: interdisciplinary studies in human cultural evolution'.
Abstract
Copper is the intended canister material for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel in Sweden. At repository depth the groundwater may contain dissolved sulfide. The main goal for this work is ...to study the tendency for stress corrosion of copper in sulfide solutions and examine the influence of various experimental parameters on stress corrosion. Slow strain rate testing was performed on copper test rods in solutions with 1.0 mM sulfide. The pH was kept near neutral with phosphate or borate buffer. The test matrix included variations in temperature, strain rate, and duration of the tests as well as salt and buffer concentrations. Cross‐sections of the specimens after testing were investigated using scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy detector. Stress–strain curves do not reveal any signs of stress corrosion. However, intergranular corrosion in the shape of crack and pit‐like features developed in all tests with 1.0 mM sulfide. The length of the deepest features in all these tests was of the same order of magnitude (10–20 µm). The suggested mechanism proposes that crack‐like features originate at the surface of the copper metal from the oxidation of grain boundaries that behave as slightly less noble.
This guideline describes prolonged extracorporeal life support (ECLS) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), applicable to Pediatric respiratory failure. These guidelines describe useful and ...safe practice, prepared by ELSO and based on extensive experience and are considered consensus guidelines. These guidelines are not intended to define standard of care and are revised at regular intervals as new information, devices, medications, and techniques become available.
The Cas1 protein is essential for the functioning of CRISPR-Cas adaptive systems. However, despite the high prevalence of CRISPR-Cas systems in thermophilic microorganisms, few studies have ...investigated the occurrence and diversity of Cas1 across hot spring microbial communities. Phylogenomic analysis of 2,150 Cas1 sequences recovered from 48 metagenomes representing hot springs (42-80°C, pH 6-9) from three continents, revealed similar ecological diversity of Cas1 and 16S rRNA associated with geographic location. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of the Cas1 sequences exposed a broad taxonomic distribution in thermophilic bacteria, with new clades of Cas1 homologs branching at the root of the tree or at the root of known clades harboring reference Cas1 types. Additionally, a new family of casposases was identified from hot springs, which further completes the evolutionary landscape of the Cas1 superfamily. This ecological study contributes new Cas1 sequences from known and novel locations worldwide, mainly focusing on under-sampled hot spring microbial mat taxa. Results herein show that circumneutral hot springs are environments harboring high diversity and novelty related to adaptive immunity systems.
Attitudes towards the acceptability of intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) contribute to an increased risk of IPVAW perpetration, and these attitudes are common among IPVAW offenders. ...Research suggests that IPVAW offenders present cognitive deficits related to information processing. Little is known, however, about how these deficits are related to the acceptability of IPVAW. The main aim of this study was to explore the relationship between specific cognitive deficits (i.e., deficits in attention switching, set-shifting, and emotion decoding abilities) and the acceptability of IPVAW in a sample of 84 IPVAW offenders. Results revealed that IPVAW offenders with deficits in attention switching, set-shifting, and emotion decoding abilities demonstrated greater acceptability of IPVAW, and these relationships remained significant after controlling for socio-demographic variables (i.e., age and educational level) and drug consumption. These results highlight the role of cognitive processes in maintaining attitudes of acceptability of IPVAW. Thus, the findings may guide professionals in developing specific intervention programs focused on improving cognitive abilities, in order to reduce the acceptability of IPVAW.
While most research on family business longevity focuses on how internal corporate governance issue impact resilience, the aim of this article is to foreground the relevance of external environmental ...factors, and to do so in an internationally comparative perspective. By historically comparing the largest family businesses in Germany and Spain in the twentieth century, we find that they differ significantly in age and ask how external factors help us better understand these variances. After analysing the institutional framework of the two countries during the second part of the 20th century, we explore the strategic responses developed in reaction to that framework by four of the largest family businesses in the two countries. With this, we strive to capture the interdependent nature of internal decision-making processes and external environmental changes, ultimately arguing for a more holistic understanding of family business resilience over time.
Abstract
Remediation of nitrate pollution of Earth’s rivers and aquifers is hampered by cumulative biogeochemical processes and nitrogen sources. Isotopes (
δ
15
N,
δ
18
O) help unravel ...spatiotemporal nitrogen(N)-cycling of aquatic nitrate (NO
3
−
). We synthesized nitrate isotope data (
n
= ~5200) for global rivers and shallow aquifers for common patterns and processes. Rivers had lower median NO
3
−
(0.3 ± 0.2 mg L
−1
,
n
= 2902) compared to aquifers (5.5 ± 5.1 mg L
−1
,
n
= 2291) and slightly lower
δ
15
N values (+7.1 ± 3.8‰,
n
= 2902 vs +7.7 ± 4.5‰,
n
= 2291), but were indistinguishable in
δ
18
O (+2.3 ± 6.2‰,
n
= 2790 vs +2.3 ± 5.4‰,
n
= 2235). The isotope composition of NO
3
−
was correlated with water temperature revealing enhanced N-cascading in warmer climates. Seasonal analyses revealed higher
δ
15
N and
δ
18
O values in wintertime, suggesting waste-related N-source signals are better preserved in the cold seasons. Isotopic assays of nitrate biogeochemical transformations are key to understanding nitrate pollution and to inform beneficial agricultural and land management strategies.
Current recommendations regarding the use of surgical left atrial appendage (LAA) closure to prevent thromboembolisms lack high-level evidence. Patients undergoing open-heart surgery often have ...several cardiovascular risk factors and a high occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF)—with a high recurrence rate—and are thus at a high risk of stroke. Therefore, we hypothesized that concomitant LAA closure during open-heart surgery will reduce mid-term risk of stroke independently of preoperative AF status and CHA2DS2-VASc score.
This protocol describes a randomized multicenter trial. Consecutive participants ≥18 years scheduled for first-time planned open-heart surgery from cardiac surgery centers in Denmark, Spain, and Sweden are included. Both patients with a previous diagnosis of paroxysmal or chronic AF, as well as those without AF, are eligible to participate, irrespective of their CHA2DS2-VASc score. Patients already planned for ablation or LAA closure during surgery, with current endocarditis, or where follow-up is not possible are considered noneligible. Patients are stratified by site, surgery type, and preoperative or planned oral anticoagulation treatment. Subsequently, patients are randomized 1:1 to either concomitant LAA closure or standard care (ie, open LAA). The primary outcome is stroke, including transient ischemic attack, as assigned by 2 independent neurologists blinded to the treatment allocation. To recognize a 60% relative risk reduction of the primary outcome with LAA closure, 1,500 patients are randomized and followed for 2 years (significance level of 0.05 and power of 90%).
The LAACS-2 trial is likely to impact the LAA closure approach in most patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Trial registration: NCT03724318.
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Colombia is one of the largest pesticide consumers in South America. These products have a variety of negative consequences on the health of rural populations, especially neurocognitive disorders in ...children. In this work, the prenatal and postnatal exposure to pesticides was evaluated and the association between the cognitive capacity of school-age children in rural areas of the city of Bogotá, Colombia, investigated. Separate multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate associations of pesticide exposure measures and WISC-IV scales, adjusted for child sex, maternal educational attainment, growth retardation, and effect modification explored by sex, using a cross products term of 232 children between the ages of 7 and 10. It was found that among all children, pesticide exposure at school was associated with a worse working memory index (ß = −3.40; 95%CI; −6.6; −0.2) and a worst verbal comprehension index (ß = −3.2; 95%CI; −6.5; −0.2). Among girls, pesticide use at home was associated with a worse processing speed index (ß = −5.1; 95% CI; −10.1; −0.20) but not among boys (ß = 1.73; 95% CI; −2.6; 6.9). This revealed an association between the prenatal and postnatal exposure reported and some IQ sub-indices of children aged between 7 and 10 years residing in the rural areas of Usme and Sumapaz in the city of Bogotá, Colombia.
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•A high proportion of children pesticide exposure around housing and schools.•Exposure at school was associated with the decline in two indexes of the IQ.•Among girls, household pesticide use was associated with poorer processing speed.
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