scholarly journals Age-related variability in buccal dental-microwear in Middle and Upper Pleistocene human populations

2011 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Pérez ◽  
Alejandro Romero ◽  
Alejandro Pérez-Pérez
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Dental Microwear ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Homo Heidelbergensis ◽  
Upper Pleistocene ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Enamel Structure

Age-related variability in buccal dental-microwear in Middle and Upper Pleistocene human populationsInfants are thought to present a different buccal microwear pattern than adults and these, therefore, are generally analyzed separately. However, El-Zaatari & Hublin [2009] showed that occlusal texture in Neandertal and modern human juvenile populations did not differ from their elders. The microwear patterns of a sample of 193 teeth, corresponding to 61 individuals ofHomo heidelbergensis, H. neanderthalensisand anatomically modern humans (AMH), were analyzed revealing that AMH infants up to 14 years old differ from older individuals in having fewer scratch densities, whereas the Neandertals have a much more variable microwear pattern. Age-at-death and dental age since emergence showed similar though somewhat diverging results, especially in the infant and subadult samples. Differences observed between the Neandertals and modern humans could be reflecting differential wearing patterns or distinct enamel structure and resistance to hard food items consumption. Interpopulation differences in striation densities were not apparent in either subadult or adult individuals, only adult Neandertals (26-45 yrs. old) showed fewer striations than the younger age groups. The AMH sample revealed a gradual cumulative pattern of striation density with age, suggestive of a non-abrupt change in diet.

scholarly journals Age-related mortality in 61,993 confirmed COVID-19 cases over three epidemic waves in Aragon, Spain. Implications for vaccination programmes

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261061
Author(s):  
Diego Casas-Deza ◽  
Vanesa Bernal-Monterde ◽  
Angel Nicolás Aranda-Alonso ◽  
Enrique Montil-Miguel ◽  
Ana Belen Julián-Gomara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Age Groups ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Progressive Increase ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Rapid Progression ◽  
Targeted Prevention ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Age Related

Background Risk for severe COVID-19 increases with age. Different vaccination strategies are currently being considered, including those aimed at slowing down transmission and those aimed at providing direct protection to those most at risk. Methods The objectives of the current study were i) to assess age-related incidence and survival between PCR-diagnosed COVID-19 cases (n = 61,993) in the Autonomous Community of Aragon from March to November 2020, and ii) to characterize age differences regarding the course of the disease in hospitalized patients in a tertiary university hospital. Results We found a similar incidence of COVID-19 in individuals between 10 and 79 years. Incidence increased in those over 80 years possibly because of the elevated transmission within the nursing homes. We observed a profound disparity among age groups; case fatality rates (CFRs) were near 0 in cases younger than 39 years throughout different waves. In contrast, there was an age-dependent and progressive increase in the CFRs, especially during the first pandemic wave. SARS-CoV-2 infection caused a more severe and rapid progression in older patients. The elderly required faster hospitalization, presented more serious symptoms on admission, and had a worse clinical course. Hospitalized older individuals, even without comorbidities, had an increased mortality risk directly associated with their age. Lastly, the existence of comorbidities dramatically increased the CFRs in the elderly, especially in males. Conclusion The elevated incidence of COVID-19 and the vulnerability of the elderly call for their prioritization in vaccination and targeted prevention measures specifically focused on this aged population.

scholarly journals The early Aurignacian dispersal of modern humans into westernmost Eurasia

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (41) ◽  
pp. 25414-25422
Author(s):  
Jonathan A. Haws ◽  
Michael M. Benedetti ◽  
Sahra Talamo ◽  
Nuno Bicho ◽  
João Cascalheira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Southern Europe ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Present Evidence ◽  
Western Margin ◽  
Human Presence ◽  
Human Dispersal ◽  
Central Portugal

Documenting the first appearance of modern humans in a given region is key to understanding the dispersal process and the replacement or assimilation of indigenous human populations such as the Neanderthals. The Iberian Peninsula was the last refuge of Neanderthal populations as modern humans advanced across Eurasia. Here we present evidence of an early Aurignacian occupation at Lapa do Picareiro in central Portugal. Diagnostic artifacts were found in a sealed stratigraphic layer dated 41.1 to 38.1 ka cal BP, documenting a modern human presence on the western margin of Iberia ∼5,000 years earlier than previously known. The data indicate a rapid modern human dispersal across southern Europe, reaching the westernmost edge where Neanderthals were thought to persist. The results support the notion of a mosaic process of modern human dispersal and replacement of indigenous Neanderthal populations.

scholarly journals Automated Speech Recognition Systems and Older Adults: A Literature Review and Synthesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren Werner ◽  
Gaojian Huang ◽  
Brandon J. Pitts
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Automated Speech Recognition ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
Physical Changes

The number of older adults is growing significantly worldwide. At the same time, technological developments are rapidly evolving, and older populations are expected to interact more frequently with such sophisticated systems. Automated speech recognition (ASR) systems is an example of one technology that is increasingly present in daily life. However, age-related physical changes may alter speech production and limit the effectiveness of ASR systems for older individuals. The goal of this paper was to summarize the current knowledge on ASR systems and older adults. The PRISMA method was employed and 17 studies were compared on the basis of word error rate (WER). Overall, WER was found to be influenced by age, gender, and the number of speech samples used to train ASR systems. This work has implications for the development of future human-machine technologies that will be used by a wide range of age groups.

scholarly journals Archaic mitochondrial DNA inserts in modern day nuclear genomes

BMC Genomics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bücking ◽  
Murray P Cox ◽  
Georgi Hudjashov ◽  
Lauri Saag ◽  
Herawati Sudoyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
High Coverage ◽  
Nuclear Genomes

Abstract Background Traces of interbreeding of Neanderthals and Denisovans with modern humans in the form of archaic DNA have been detected in the genomes of present-day human populations outside sub-Saharan Africa. Up to now, only nuclear archaic DNA has been detected in modern humans; we therefore attempted to identify archaic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) residing in modern human nuclear genomes as nuclear inserts of mitochondrial DNA (NUMTs). Results We analysed 221 high-coverage genomes from Oceania and Indonesia using an approach which identifies reads that map both to the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. We then classified reads according to the source of the mtDNA, and found one NUMT of Denisovan mtDNA origin, present in 15 analysed genomes; analysis of the flanking region suggests that this insertion is more likely to have happened in a Denisovan individual and introgressed into modern humans with the Denisovan nuclear DNA, rather than in a descendant of a Denisovan female and a modern human male. Conclusions Here we present our pipeline for detecting introgressed NUMTs in next generation sequencing data that can be used on genomes sequenced in the future. Further discovery of such archaic NUMTs in modern humans can be used to detect interbreeding between archaic and modern humans and can reveal new insights into the nature of such interbreeding events.

scholarly journals Model-based detection and analysis of introgressed Neanderthal ancestry in modern humans

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Steinrücken ◽  
Jeffrey P. Spence ◽  
John A. Kamm ◽  
Emilia Wieczorek ◽  
Yun S. Song
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Material ◽  
Genetic Load ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Weak Selection ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
High Coverage ◽  
Model Based ◽  
And Migration

AbstractGenetic evidence has revealed that the ancestors of modern human populations outside of Africa and their hominin sister groups, notably the Neanderthals, exchanged genetic material in the past. The distribution of these introgressed sequence-tracts along modern-day human genomes provides insight into the ancient structure and migration patterns of these archaic populations. Furthermore, it facilitates studying the selective processes that lead to the accumulation or depletion of introgressed genetic variation. Recent studies have developed methods to localize these introgressed regions, reporting long regions that are depleted of Neanderthal introgression and enriched in genes, suggesting negative selection against the Neanderthal variants. On the other hand, enriched Neanderthal ancestry in hair- and skin-related genes suggests that some introgressed variants facilitated adaptation to new environments. Here, we present a model-based method called diCal-admix and apply it to detect tracts of Neanderthal introgression in modern humans. We demonstrate its efficiency and accuracy through extensive simulations. We use our method to detect introgressed regions in modern human individuals from the 1000 Genomes Project, using a high coverage genome from a Neanderthal individual from the Altai mountains as reference. Our introgression detection results and findings concerning their functional implications are largely concordant with previous studies, and are consistent with weak selection against Neanderthal ancestry. We find some evidence that selection against Neanderthal ancestry was due to higher genetic load in Neanderthals, resulting from small effective population size, rather than Dobzhansky-Müller incompatibilities. Finally, we investigate the role of the X-chromosome in the divergence between Neanderthals and modern humans.

scholarly journals Archaic mitochondrial DNA inserts in modern day nuclear genomes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bücking ◽  
Murray P Cox ◽  
Georgi Hudjashov ◽  
Lauri Saag ◽  
Herawati Sudoyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
High Coverage ◽  
Nuclear Genomes ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Abstract Background: Traces of interbreeding of Neanderthals and Denisovans with modern humans in the form of archaic DNA have been detected in the genomes of present-day human populations outside sub-Sahara Africa. Up to now, only nuclear archaic DNA has been detected in modern humans; we therefore attempted to identify archaic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) residing in modern human nuclear genomes as nuclear inserts of mitochondrial DNA (NUMTs). Results: We analysed 221 high-coverage genomes from Oceania and Indonesia using an approach which identifies reads that map both to the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. We then classified reads according to the source of the mtDNA, and found one NUMT of Denisovan mtDNA origin; analysis of the flanking region suggests that this insertion is more likely to have happened in a Denisovan individual and introgressed into modern humans with the Denisovan nuclear DNA, rather than in a descendant of a Denisovan female and a modern human male. Conclusions: Here we present our pipeline for detecting introgressed NUMTs in next generation sequencing data that can be used on genomes sequenced in the future. Further discovery of such archaic NUMTs in modern humans can be used to detect interbreeding between archaic and modern humans and can reveal new insights into the nature of such interbreeding events.

scholarly journals Something old, something borrowed: Admixture and adaptation in human evolution

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Dannemann ◽  
Fernando Racimo
Keyword(s):  
Human Evolution ◽  
Ancient Dna ◽  
Gene Pool ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Functional Assays ◽  
Over Time

Almost a decade ago, the sequencing of ancient DNA from archaic humans - Neanderthals and Denisovans - revealed that modern and archaic humans interbred at least twice during the Pleistocene. The field of human paleogenomics has now turned its attention towards understanding the nature of this genetic legacy in the gene pool of present-day humans. What exactly did modern humans obtain from interbreeding with Neanderthals and Denisovans? Were introgressed genetic material beneficial, neutral or maladaptive? Can differences in phenotypes among present-day human populations be explained by archaic human introgression? These questions are of prime importance for our understanding of recent human evolution, but will require careful computational modeling and extensive functional assays before they can be answered in full. Here, we review the recent literature characterizing introgressed DNA and the likely biological consequences for their modern human carriers. We focus particularly on archaic human haplotypes that were beneficial to modern humans as they expanded across the globe, and on ways to understand how populations harboring these haplotypes evolved over time.

scholarly journals Something old, something borrowed: Admixture and adaptation in human evolution

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Dannemann ◽  
Fernando Racimo
Keyword(s):  
Human Evolution ◽  
Ancient Dna ◽  
Gene Pool ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
Functional Assays ◽  
Over Time

Almost a decade ago, the sequencing of ancient DNA from archaic humans - Neanderthals and Denisovans - revealed that modern and archaic humans interbred at least twice during the Pleistocene. The field of human paleogenomics has now turned its attention towards understanding the nature of this genetic legacy in the gene pool of present-day humans. What exactly did modern humans obtain from interbreeding with Neanderthals and Denisovans? Were introgressed genetic material beneficial, neutral or maladaptive? Can differences in phenotypes among present-day human populations be explained by archaic human introgression? These questions are of prime importance for our understanding of recent human evolution, but will require careful computational modeling and extensive functional assays before they can be answered in full. Here, we review the recent literature characterizing introgressed DNA and the likely biological consequences for their modern human carriers. We focus particularly on archaic human haplotypes that were beneficial to modern humans as they expanded across the globe, and on ways to understand how populations harboring these haplotypes evolved over time.

scholarly journals Archaic mitochondrial DNA inserts in modern day nuclear genomes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bücking ◽  
Murray P Cox ◽  
Georgi Hudjashov ◽  
Lauri Saag ◽  
Herawati Sudoyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
High Coverage ◽  
Nuclear Genomes ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Abstract Background Traces of interbreeding of Neanderthals and Denisovans with modern humans in the form of archaic DNA have been detected in the genomes of present-day human populations outside sub-Sahara Africa. Up to now, only nuclear archaic DNA has been detected in modern humans; we therefore attempted to identify archaic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) residing in modern human nuclear genomes as nuclear inserts of mitochondrial DNA (NUMTs). Results We analysed 221 high-coverage genomes from Oceania and Indonesia using an approach which identifies reads that map both to the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. We then classified reads according to the source of the mtDNA, and found one NUMT of Denisovan mtDNA origin; analysis of the flanking region suggests that this insertion is more likely to have happened in a Denisovan individual and introgressed into modern humans with the Denisovan nuclear DNA, rather than in a descendant of a Denisovan female and a modern human male. Conclusions Here we present our pipeline for detecting introgressed NUMTs in next generation sequencing data that can be used on genomes sequenced in the future. Further discovery of such archaic NUMTs in modern humans can be used to detect interbreeding between archaic and modern humans and can reveal new insights into the nature of such interbreeding events.

scholarly journals Archaic mitochondrial DNA inserts in modern day nuclear genomes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bücking ◽  
Murray P Cox ◽  
Georgi Hudjashov ◽  
Lauri Saag ◽  
Herawati Sudoyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Modern Human ◽  
Next Generation Sequencing Data ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Modern Humans ◽  
High Coverage ◽  
Nuclear Genomes ◽  
Generation Sequencing

Abstract Background: Traces of interbreeding of Neanderthals and Denisovans with modern humans in the form of archaic DNA have been detected in the genomes of present-day human populations outside sub-Sahara Africa. Up to now, only nuclear archaic DNA has been detected in modern humans; we therefore attempted to identify archaic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) residing in modern human nuclear genomes as nuclear inserts of mitochondrial DNA (NUMTs). Results: We analysed 221 high-coverage genomes from Oceania and Indonesia using an approach which identifies reads that map both to the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. We then classified reads according to the source of the mtDNA, and found one NUMT of Denisovan mtDNA origin; analysis of the flanking region suggests that this insertion is more likely to have happened in a Denisovan individual and introgressed into modern humans with the Denisovan nuclear DNA, rather than in a descendant of a Denisovan female and a modern human male. Conclusions: Here we present our pipeline for detecting introgressed NUMTs in next generation sequencing data that can be used on genomes sequenced in the future. Further discovery of such archaic NUMTs in modern humans can be used to detect interbreeding between archaic and modern humans and can reveal new insights into the nature of such interbreeding events.

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