Compact Genetic Codes as a Search Strategy of Evolutionary Processes

Author(s):  
Marc Toussaint
Parasitology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (4) ◽  
pp. 462-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALEXANDRE BUDRIA ◽  
ULRIKA CANDOLIN

SUMMARYHost-parasite interactions are an integral part of ecosystems that influence both ecological and evolutionary processes. Humans are currently altering environments the world over, often with drastic consequences for host-parasite interactions and the prevalence of parasites. The mechanisms behind the changes are, however, poorly known. Here, we explain how host-parasite interactions depend on two crucial steps – encounter rate and host-parasite compatibility – and how human activities are altering them and thereby host-parasite interactions. By drawing on examples from the literature, we show that changes in the two steps depend on the influence of human activities on a range of factors, such as the density and diversity of hosts and parasites, the search strategy of the parasite, and the avoidance strategy of the host. Thus, to unravel the mechanisms behind human-induced changes in host-parasite interactions, we have to consider the characteristics of all three parts of the interaction: the host, the parasite and the environment. More attention should now be directed to unfold these mechanisms, focusing on effects of environmental change on the factors that determine encounter rate and compatibility. We end with identifying several areas in urgent need of more investigations.


2012 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 237-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moshe Ben-Shoshan

This review summarizes studies discussing vitamin D status in adults and reveals that vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency is highly prevalent in adults and that current fortification and supplementation policies are inadequate. Background and aims: Studies suggest a crucial role for adequate vitamin D status in various health conditions including bone metabolism, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and allergies. However, relatively little is known about poor vitamin D status and unmet needs in adults. This report aims to highlight the contribution of epidemiologic studies (through the identification of health effects and societal burden) to the development of vitamin D fortification and supplementation policies and reveal unmet global challenges in adults. Methods: In order to assess worldwide vitamin D status in adults, the search strategy combined the medical literature database MEDLINE (using PubMed) for the time period between January 1, 1980 and February 28, 2011, using the key words “vitamin D” “deficiency” and “insufficiency”, and included articles in which access to full text was possible and in which healthy adults were assessed according to one of four commonly used vitamin D threshold classifications. Results: This report reveals that vitamin D deficiency occurs in 4.10 % [95 % CI (confidence interval), 3.93 %, 4.27 %] to 55.05 % (54.07 %, 56.03 %) of adults, while insufficiency occurs in 26.07 % (24.82 %, 27.33 %) to 78.50 % (77.85 %, 79.16 %), depending on the classification used. However, lack of overlap in CIs and high value of I2 statistics indicate considerable heterogeneity between studies. Further, certain populations (i. e. dark-skinned individuals, immigrants, and pregnant women) may be at higher risk for poor vitamin D status. Conclusion: Current policies for vitamin D supplementation and fortification are inadequate and new guidelines are required to improve vitamin D status in adults.


2013 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 3326-3330
Author(s):  
Yin-xue ZHANG ◽  
Xue-min TIAN ◽  
Yu-ping CAO

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-118
Author(s):  
Damien D. Nouvel

While Dubai's urban scene is dominated by planned and pre-designed developments, grassroots initiatives have always been present and have helped shape the trajectory of the city's evolution. In one case, an industrial area, Al Quoz, has seen the clustering of art businesses over a relatively short period turning it into a cultural destination. Accounting for most of such clustering, Alserkal Avenue became Dubai's art hot-spot that changed the cultural map of the city. This article describes the rise of Alserkal Avenue, not only as the result of the entrepreneurial action of the proprietors but also as a product of a complex melange of economic, cultural, and urban evolutionary processes that intertwine with the rise of the city itself.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 472-486
Author(s):  
Lucy Beishon ◽  
Kannakorn Intharakham ◽  
David Swienton ◽  
Ronney B. Panerai ◽  
Thompson G. Robinson ◽  
...  

Background: Cognitive Training (CT) has demonstrated some benefits to cognitive and psychosocial function in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and early dementia, but the certainty related to those findings remains unclear. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which CT improves cognitive functioning may help to understand the relationships between CT and cognitive function. The purpose of this review was to identify the evidence for neuroimaging outcomes in studies of CT in MCI and early Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Methods: Medline, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library were searched with a predefined search strategy, which yielded 1778 articles. Studies were suitable for inclusion where a CT program was used in patients with MCI or AD, with a structural or functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) outcome. Studies were assessed for quality using the Downs and Black criteria. Results: Medline, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library were searched with a predefined search strategy, which yielded 1778 articles. Studies were suitable for inclusion where a CT program was used in patients with MCI or AD, with a structural or functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) outcome. Studies were assessed for quality using the Downs and Black criteria. Conclusions: CT resulted in variable functional and structural changes in dementia, and conclusions are limited by heterogeneity and study quality. Larger, more robust studies are required to correlate these findings with clinical benefits from CT.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Hang Wu ◽  
Ching Ju Chiu ◽  
Yen Ju Liou ◽  
Chun Ying Lee ◽  
Susan C. Hu

BACKGROUND There is still no consensus on research terms for smart healthcare worldwide. The study conducted by Lewis 10 years ago showed extending geographic access was the major health purpose of health-related information communication technology (ICT), but today's situation may be different because of the rapid development of smart healthcare. Objective: The main aim of this study is to classify recent smart healthcare interventions. Therefore, this scoping review was conducted as a feasible tool for exploring this domain and summarizing related research findings. OBJECTIVE The main aim of this study is to classify recent smart healthcare interventions. Therefore, this scoping review was conducted as a feasible tool for exploring this domain and summarizing related research findings. METHODS The scoping review relies on the analysis of previous reviews of smart healthcare interventions assessed for their effectiveness in the framework of a systematic review and/or meta-analysis. The search strategy was based on the identification of smart healthcare interventions reported as the proposed keywords. In the analysis, the reviews published from January 2015 to December 2019 were included. RESULTS The number of publications for smart healthcare's systematic reviews has continued to grow in the past five years. The search strategy yielded 210 systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses addressed to target groups of interest. 68.5% of these publications used mobile health as a keyword. According to the classification by Lewis, 37.62% of the literature was applied to extend geographic access. According to the classification by the Joint Commission of Taiwan (JCT), 48.84% of smart healthcare was applied in clinical areas, and 60% of it was applied in outpatient medical services. CONCLUSIONS Smart healthcare interventions are being widely used in clinical settings and for disease management. The research of mobile health has received the most attention among smart healthcare interventions. The main purpose of mobile health was used to extend geographic access to increase medical accessibility in clinical areas. CLINICALTRIAL none


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A. Gandolfo ◽  
◽  
Maria C. Zamaloa

Author(s):  
Andrew Clarke

This introduces the subject, laying out the organisation of the book and emphasising the importance of both simple underlying physical mechanisms and evolutionary variability to thermal ecology. It distinguishes physical mechanism from statistical description, and the importance of evolutionary processes in comparisons across species.


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