scholarly journals Phylogeography of hepatitis B: The role of Portugal in the early dissemination of HBV worldwide

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rute Marcelino ◽  
Ifeanyi J Ezeonwumelu ◽  
Andre Janeiro ◽  
Paula Mimoso ◽  
Sonia Matos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Hbv Genotype ◽  
Hbv Genotypes ◽  
Molecular Clock Model ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
History Of ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Relaxed Molecular Clock ◽  
Nucleotide Substitution Model

In Portugal, the genetic diversity, origin of HBV, and the Portuguese role in the dissemination of HBV worldwide were never investigated. In this work, we studied the epidemic history and transmission dynamics of HBV genotypes that are endemic in Portugal. HBV pol gene was sequenced from 130 patients followed in Lisbon. HBV genotype A (HBV/A) was the most prevalent (n=54, 41.5%), followed by D [HBV/D; (n=44, 33.8%)], and E [HBV/E; (n=32, 24.6%)]. Spatio-temporal evolutionary dynamics was reconstructed in BEAST using a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, with a GTR nucleotide substitution model, an uncorrelated lognormal relaxed molecular clock model, a Bayesian skyline plot, and a continuous diffusion model. HBV/D4 was the first subgenotype to be introduced in Portugal around 1857 (HPD 95% 1699-1931) followed by HBV/D3 and A2 a few decades later. HBV/E and HBV/A1 were introduced in Portugal later, almost simultaneously. Our results also indicate a very important role of Portugal in the exportation of HBV/D4 and A2 to Brazil and Cape Verde, respectively, at the beginning of the XX century. This work clarifies the epidemiological history of HBV in Portugal and shows that Portugal had an important role in the global spread of this virus.

scholarly journals A Laurasian origin for a pantropical bird radiation is supported by genomic and fossil data (Aves: Coraciiformes)

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1910) ◽  
pp. 20190122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenna M. McCullough ◽  
Robert G. Moyle ◽  
Brian T. Smith ◽  
Michael J. Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Species Tree ◽  
Old World ◽  
Avian Order ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Fossil Data ◽  
Old World Tropics ◽  
New Framework

The evolution of pantropically distributed clades has puzzled palaeo- and neontologists for decades regarding the different hypotheses about where they originated. In this study, we explored how a pantropical distribution arose in a diverse clade with a rich fossil history: the avian order Coraciiformes. This group has played a central role in the debate of the biogeographical history of Neoaves. However, the order lacked a coherent species tree to inform study of its evolutionary dynamics. Here, we present the first complete species tree of Coraciiformes, produced with 4858 ultraconserved elements, which supports two clades: (1) Old World-restricted bee-eaters, rollers and ground-rollers; and (2) New World todies and motmots, and cosmopolitan kingfishers. Our results indicated two pulses of diversification: (1) major lineages of Coraciiformes arose in Laurasia approximately 57 Ma, followed by independent dispersals into equatorial regions, possibly due to tracking tropical habitat into the lower latitudes—the Coracii (Coraciidae + Brachypteraciidae) into the Afrotropics, bee-eaters throughout the Old World tropics, and kingfishers into the Australasian tropics; and (2) diversification of genera in the tropics during the Miocene and Pliocene. Our study supports the important role of Laurasia as the geographical origin of a major pantropical lineage and provides a new framework for comparative analyses in this charismatic bird radiation.

Australasian orchid diversification in time and space: molecular phylogenetic insights from the beard orchids (Calochilus, Diurideae)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Nargar ◽  
Sarah Molina ◽  
Natascha Wagner ◽  
Lars Nauheimer ◽  
Claire Micheneau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Likelihood ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Clock Model ◽  
Infrageneric Classification ◽  
Ancestral Area ◽  
Molecular Clock Model ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Vegetative Characters ◽  
Relaxed Molecular Clock

Phylogenetic relationships in Calochilus (~30 species) were inferred based on a supermatrix of 81 loci including 22 species. To examine the spatio-temporal evolution of Calochilus, divergence-time estimations were conducted within a Bayesian framework using an uncorrelated relaxed molecular-clock model, followed by maximum-likelihood ancestral-range reconstructions comparing four biogeographic models. To trace the evolution of key floral and vegetative characters, maximum-likelihood ancestral-character reconstructions were carried out. The stem age of Calochilus was dated to ~12.0 million years ago in the mid-Miocene. Divergence of Calochilus into a tropical and a temperate clade was inferred to have occurred ~7.6 million years ago in the late Miocene. Northern Australia was reconstructed as the ancestral area of the tropical clade and the Euronotian region for the temperate clade. Range expansions from Australia to other Australasian regions, such as New Zealand and New Guinea, were inferred to have occurred only in recent geological times, commencing in the Pleistocene. The infrageneric classification for Calochilus was revised, erecting two subgenera, subgenus Calochilus and subgenus Tropichilus subgen. nov. Section Calochilus Szlach. was recircumscribed, and sect. Abrochilus sect. nov., and section Placochilus sect. nov. were erected. Identification keys to subgenera and sections and a taxonomic synopsis of the genus are provided.

Visualization of Criminal Activity in an Urban Population

2011 ◽  
pp. 35-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Bruer ◽  
Joshua J. Hursey ◽  
Arvind Verma
Keyword(s):  
Associated Factors ◽  
Police Department ◽  
Criminal Activity ◽  
Dynamic Activity ◽  
History Of ◽  
Multidimensional Complex ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Intuitive View ◽  
Temporal Dimensions

Crime is a multidimensional, complex, and dynamic activity. In order to understand its nature one has to comprehend not only its spatio-temporal dimensions, but also the nature of crime, the victim-offender relationship, role of guardians and history of similar previous incidents. This is a formidable task due to the limitations of present visualization methods. Both for the police department and criminal justice researcher the need to visualize a vast amount of data is a prerequisite to the task of dealing with the crime phenomenon. This chapter presents an interactive visualization intended to present the viewer with an accurate and intuitive view of the criminal activity in a cityscape. The technique employs many different visualization elements, which taken together presents a useful methodology that can be used to visualize many of the associated factors of crime. The chapter also presents the software technique and discusses points for future investigation.

scholarly journals Predator coevolution and prey trait variability determine species coexistence

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1902) ◽  
pp. 20190245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Scheuerl ◽  
Johannes Cairns ◽  
Lutz Becks ◽  
Teppo Hiltunen
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Species Coexistence ◽  
Ecological Interactions ◽  
Trait Variation ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Evolutionary Trajectories ◽  
Ecological Mechanisms

Predation is one of the key ecological mechanisms allowing species coexistence and influencing biological diversity. However, ecological processes are subject to contemporary evolutionary change, and the degree to which predation affects diversity ultimately depends on the interplay between evolution and ecology. Furthermore, ecological interactions that influence species coexistence can be altered by reciprocal coevolution especially in the case of antagonistic interactions such as predation or parasitism. Here we used an experimental evolution approach to test for the role of initial trait variation in the prey population and coevolutionary history of the predator in the ecological dynamics of a two-species bacterial community predated by a ciliate. We found that initial trait variation both at the bacterial and ciliate level enhanced species coexistence, and that subsequent trait evolutionary trajectories depended on the initial genetic diversity present in the population. Our findings provide further support to the notion that the ecology-centric view of diversity maintenance must be reinvestigated in light of recent findings in the field of eco-evolutionary dynamics.

scholarly journals Genetic diversity and relatedness in aquaculture and marina populations of the invasive tunicate Didemnum vexillum in the British Isles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Prentice ◽  
S. R. Vye ◽  
S. R. Jenkins ◽  
P. W. Shaw ◽  
J. E. Ironside
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Population Structure ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Didemnum Vexillum ◽  
Global Spread ◽  
History Of ◽  
Complex Life History ◽  
Source Populations ◽  
Successful Invader

AbstractIntroductions of invasive, non-native species in the marine environment are increasing as human activity within coastal areas rises. Genetic datasets are useful tools to identify source populations, track routes of invasions, and illuminate the role of genetic variation in the establishment and subsequent spread of novel introductions. Here, a microsatellite dataset is used to estimate the genetic diversity and population structure of 7 introduced Didemnum vexillum populations in Britain and Ireland, 4 of which are associated with aquaculture and 3 with marinas. Genetic differentiation observed between these populations indicates human-mediated transport as the main mechanism underlying the population structure of D. vexillum in Britain and Ireland. In addition to elucidating patterns of population structure we found that aquaculture sites showed significantly higher genetic diversity (measured as allelic richness) in comparison to the marina sites. We discuss these findings in relation to the history of each invasion, the complex life history of D. vexillum, and available evidence of the relative invasiveness of these populations. Our results show numerous interesting patterns which highlight further research avenues to elucidate the complex factors underlying the global spread of this successful invader.

Elaborating the role of reflection and individual differences in the study of folk-economic beliefs

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Arceneaux
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Behavioral Responses ◽  
History Of ◽  
Economic Beliefs

AbstractIntuitions guide decision-making, and looking to the evolutionary history of humans illuminates why some behavioral responses are more intuitive than others. Yet a place remains for cognitive processes to second-guess intuitive responses – that is, to be reflective – and individual differences abound in automatic, intuitive processing as well.

The role of a family history of adenocarcinomas in patients with Barrett oesophagus

2001 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. A442-A442
Author(s):  
P TSIBOURIS ◽  
M HENDRICKSE ◽  
P ISAACS
Keyword(s):  
Family History ◽  
History Of ◽  
Barrett Oesophagus

Protective Factors and Suicidality in Members of Arab Kindred

Crisis ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sami Hamdan ◽  
Nadine Melhem ◽  
Israel Orbach ◽  
Ilana Farbstein ◽  
Mohammad El-Haib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Protective Factors ◽  
Suicidal Behavior ◽  
Composite International Diagnostic Interview ◽  
Diagnostic Interview ◽  
Suicidal Risk ◽  
Arab Population ◽  
Psychiatric Interview ◽  
History Of

Background: Relatively little is known about the role of protective factors in an Arab population in the presence of suicidal risk factors. Aims: To examine the role of protective factors in a subsample of in large Arab Kindred participants in the presence of suicidal risk factors. Methods: We assessed protective and risk factors in a sample of 64 participants (16 suicidal and 48 nonsuicidal) between 15 and 55 years of age, using a comprehensive structured psychiatric interview, the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), self-reported depression, anxiety, hopelessness, impulsivity, hostility, and suicidal behavior in first-degree and second-relatives. We also used the Religiosity Questionnaire and suicide attitude (SUIATT) and multidimensional perceived support scale. Results: Suicidal as opposed to nonsuicidal participants were more likely to have a lifetime history of major depressive disorder (MDD) (68.8% vs. 22.9% χ2 = 11.17, p = .001), an anxiety disorder (87.5% vs. 22.9, χ2 = 21.02, p < .001), or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (25% vs. 0.0%, Fisher’s, p = .003). Individuals who are otherwise at high risk for suicidality have a much lower risk when they experience higher perceived social support (3.31 ± 1.36 vs. 4.96 ± 1.40, t = 4.10, df = 62, p < .001), and they have the view that suicide is somehow unacceptable (1.83 ± .10 vs. 1.89 ± .07, t = 2.76, df = 60, p = .008). Conclusions: Taken together with other studies, these data suggest that the augmentation of protective factors could play a very important role in the prevention of incidental and recurrent suicidal behavior in Arab populations, where suicidal behavior in increasing rapidly.

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