scholarly journals Spatial Information in the Emergence of Life

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo I. Cruz-Rosas ◽  
Pedro Miramontes
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Information ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Molecular Shape ◽  
Structured Populations ◽  
Biological Information ◽  
Active System ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Molecular Conformations ◽  
Sequential Information

Information in living systems is part of a complex relationship between the internal organization and functionality of life. In a cell, both genetic-coding sequences and molecular-shape recognition are sources of biological information. For folded polymers, its spatial arrangement contains general references about conditions that shaped them, as imprints, defining the data for spatial (conformational) information. Considering the origin of life problem, prebiotic dynamics of matching and transfer of molecular shapes may emerge as a flow of information in prebiotic assemblages. The property of carrying information in molecular conformations is only displayed at this system organization level. Accordingly, spatial information is a resource for active system responses toward milieu disturbances. Propagation of resilient conformations could be the substrate for structural maintenance through dynamical molecular scaffolding. The above is a basis for adaptive behavior in potentially biogenic systems. Starting from non-structured populations of carrying-information polymers, in the present contribution, we advance toward an entire theoretical framework considering the active role of these polymers to support the emergence of adaptive response in systems that manage conformational information flow. We discuss this scenario as a previous step for the arising of sequential information carried out by genetic polymers.

Africa’s Voice in the Formation, Shaping and Redesign of International Investment Law 

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 455-481
Author(s):  
Makane Moïse Mbengue
Keyword(s):  
Active Role ◽  
International Investment ◽  
African Union ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
International Investment Law ◽  
Investment Law ◽  
Shed Light

Abstract Africa has often been presented as an ‘investment rules taker’, despite its longstanding contribution to the formation and shaping of the international investment regime. The present contribution seeks to analyze why Africa has been perceived as such and attempts to shed light on the active role that African countries have played since their independence in the development of the investment regime and also in the promotion of the ICSID system. The contribution also explores new avenues that are provided through the ‘Africanization’ of international investment law and their impact on the current redesign of the investment regime. It finally suggests options regarding the current negotiations of an Investment Protocol at the level of the African Union and ways to reinforce synergies between ICSID and the African Union.

scholarly journals Gene selection for optimal prediction of cell position in tissues from single-cell transcriptomics data

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (11) ◽  
pp. e202000867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jovan Tanevski ◽  
Thin Nguyen ◽  
Buu Truong ◽  
Nikos Karaiskos ◽  
Mehmet Eren Ahsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Gene Selection ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Spatial Clustering ◽  
Spatial Location ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Fish Embryo ◽  
Hybridization Data ◽  
Silver Standard

Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) technologies are rapidly evolving. Although very informative, in standard scRNAseq experiments, the spatial organization of the cells in the tissue of origin is lost. Conversely, spatial RNA-seq technologies designed to maintain cell localization have limited throughput and gene coverage. Mapping scRNAseq to genes with spatial information increases coverage while providing spatial location. However, methods to perform such mapping have not yet been benchmarked. To fill this gap, we organized the DREAM Single-Cell Transcriptomics challenge focused on the spatial reconstruction of cells from the Drosophila embryo from scRNAseq data, leveraging as silver standard, genes with in situ hybridization data from the Berkeley Drosophila Transcription Network Project reference atlas. The 34 participating teams used diverse algorithms for gene selection and location prediction, while being able to correctly localize clusters of cells. Selection of predictor genes was essential for this task. Predictor genes showed a relatively high expression entropy, high spatial clustering and included prominent developmental genes such as gap and pair-rule genes and tissue markers. Application of the top 10 methods to a zebra fish embryo dataset yielded similar performance and statistical properties of the selected genes than in the Drosophila data. This suggests that methods developed in this challenge are able to extract generalizable properties of genes that are useful to accurately reconstruct the spatial arrangement of cells in tissues.

ALTERAÇÕES ANTROPOGÊNICAS NO CONTEXTO DA COBERTURA VEGETAL DA REGIÃO METROPOLITANA DA GRANDE SÃO LUÍS (RMGSL) – MA

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-32
Author(s):  
Allana Pereira Costa ◽  
Luiz Jorge Bezerra da Silva Dias ◽  
Jessica Suyane Sousa ◽  
Gabriel Macedo Monteiro
Keyword(s):  
Metropolitan Area ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Human Control ◽  
The Past ◽  
San Luis ◽  
History Of ◽  
Urbanization Rate

A Região Metropolitana da Grande São Luís (RMGSL) apresenta diversas formações vegetais oriundas principalmente da área de contato entre os Biomas Amazônico e Cerrado. Essa dinâmica permite a compreensão das formações fitogeográficas a partir dos eventos ocorridos no final do Terciário e Quaternário, que apesar do desafio de relacionar o tempo passado e o tempo atual, demonstra a extrema importância do entendimento relacionado aos conhecimentos acerca da história dessas feições, uma vez que as alterações na estrutura da vegetação e nos demais elementos da natureza são dependentes das condições climatológicas inconstantes nesses períodos, mas, também, essenciais para a interpretação das variadas paisagens naturais presentes na área. No entanto, a biodiversidade desses sistemas ecológicos continua sofrendo significativas alterações. A transformação do espaço e a taxa de urbanização que chega a 63,37% na RMGSL são os principais contribuintes para a supressão da cobertura vegetal, somados aos diversos usos do solo e controle humano. Nessa perspectiva, o presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar a disposição espacial da fitofisionomia da RMGSL e o uso diversificado do solo, por meio do auxílio de imagens de satélites e Informações Espaciais Oficiais.Palavras-chave: Fitogeografia; Região Metropolitana da Grande São Luís; Maranhão.  ABSTRACTThe Metropolitan Region of Greater São Luís (RMGSL) offers several vegetable formations from mainly the area of contact between the Amazon and Cerrado Biomes. This process allows the understanding of vegetationals formations from the events that occurred at the end of the tertiary and Quaternary, that despite the challenge of linking the past and the present time, demonstrates the extreme importance of understanding related the knowledge about the history of these features, since the changes in the structure of vegetation and other elements of nature are dependent on the fickle weather conditions in these periods, but also essential for interpretation of the various physiographic landscapes present in the area. However, the biodiversity of these ecosystems has suffered major changes. The transformation of space and the urbanization rate up to 63.37% in RMGSL are the main contributors to the removal of the vegetation cover, added to various uses of the soil and human control. From this perspective, the present study has as its main objective to analyze the spatial arrangement of the great metropolitan region showed characteristics of St. Louis and the diversified use of the soil, through the aid of satellite imagery and Spatial Information Officers.Keywords: Phytogeography. The Metropolitan Area of Greater São Luís. Maranhão. RESUMENLa región metropolitana de San Luis (RMGSL) presenta varias formaciones vegetales originadas principalmente en el área de contacto entre los biomas amazónicos y Cerrado. Esta dinámica permite la comprensión de las formaciones fitogeográficas a partir de los acontecimientos que se producen al final del terciario y cuaternario, que a pesar del desafío de relacionar el tiempo pasado y el tiempo actual, demuestra la extrema importancia de la comprensión relacionada Conocimiento sobre la historia de estas características, ya que los cambios en la estructura de la vegetación y otros elementos de la naturaleza dependen de las condiciones climáticas constantes en estos períodos, pero también esenciales para la interpretación De los diversos paisajes naturales presentes en la zona. Sin embargo, la biodiversidad de estos sistemas ecológicos sigue sufriendo cambios significativos. La transformación del espacio y la tasa de urbanización que alcanza el 63,37% en el RMGSL son los principales contribuyentes a la supresión de la vegetación, sumada a los diversos usos del suelo y el control humano. Sin embargo, el presente estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la disposición espacial de la fitofisionomía de RMGSL y el uso diversificado del suelo, a través de la asistencia de imágenes satelitales e información espacial oficial.Palabras clave: Fitogeografía; Región Metropolitana del Gran San Luis; Maranhão.

scholarly journals Assessment of island beach erosion due to sea level rise: The case of the Aegean Archipelago (Eastern Mediterranean)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isavela N. Monioudi ◽  
Adonis F. Velegrakis ◽  
Antonis E. Chatzipavlis ◽  
Anastasios Rigos ◽  
Theophanis Karambas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sea Level Rise ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Beach Erosion ◽  
Coastal Protection ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Critical Resource ◽  
Run Up

Abstract. The present contribution constitutes the first comprehensive attempt to (a) record the spatial characteristics of the beaches of the Aegean Archipelago (Greece), a critical resource for both the local and national economy; and (b) provide a rapid assessment of the impacts of the long-term and episodic sea level rise (SLR), under different scenarios. Spatial information and other attributes (e.g. presence of coastal protection works and backshore development) of the beaches of the 58 largest islands of the Archipelago were obtained on the basis of remote-sensed images available in the web. Ranges of SLR-induced beach retreats under different morphological, sedimentological and hydrodynamic forcing and SLR scenarios were estimated, using suitable ensembles of cross-shore (1-D) morphodynamic models. These ranges, combined with empirically-derived estimations of wave run up-induced flooding, were then compared with the recorded maximum beach widths, to provide ranges of retreat/erosion and flooding at the Archipelago scale. The spatial information shows that the Aegean beaches may be particularly vulnerable to mean (MSLR) and episodic SLRs due to: (i) their narrow widths (about 59 % of the beaches have maximum widths

scholarly journals Improving Participation in the German Search for a Nuclear Waste Repository Site: a WebGIS as a Transdisciplinary Approach to Support Dialogue?

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 209-210
Author(s):  
Lucas Schwarz ◽  
Paula Bräuer
Keyword(s):  
Radioactive Waste ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Salt Dome ◽  
Radioactive Waste Disposal ◽  
Transdisciplinary Research ◽  
Nuclear Waste Repository ◽  
Search Process ◽  
Uranium Enrichment

Abstract. The political and social debate on nuclear energy in Germany has been characterized for many decades by a high potential for conflict and dissatisfaction. In particular, the controversies surrounding the Gorleben salt dome achieved international attention and altered the relationship between the population and political decision makers at the local up to international levels. With the Site Selection Act from 2013 (StandAG, first revision 2017) a new approach was selected in order to find a participative, inclusive and transparent search process for the best possible site of a repository for highly radioactive waste in Germany. In connection with this a self-learning process was proclaimed, based on a white (unprejudiced) map, which aimed to give the general public an active role; however, even the first interim report of the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE) and the publication of the multicolored map, in which geologically suitable areas were extensively shown, revealed a massive potential for conflict. Many citizens and activists, who had already protested against the Gorleben salt dome, in this early phase of the process criticized the lack of transparency and opportunities to voice an opinion on possible site regions. In order to counter these criticisms, the possibilities for a web geographic information system (WebGIS) application (interactive map) as an online platform were analyzed (Walkobinger and Tauch, 2018; Brown and Kyttä, 2018). The aim was to virtualy present available geodata (Chwalisz, 2021), which enabled people to contribute to spatial information (geological, superficial) and therefore to achieve an interaction and participation option with respect to the possible site regions. For this, available geodata relevant for the site search process, such as subareas (BGE, 2020), nuclear power stations (active/inactive, research stations etc.), storage facilities (repository, central, intermediate storage etc.), historically relevant sites (sites of protest, uranium-enrichment and preparation plants etc.) and basic data on orientation were used. Based on this, two possibilities for participative interaction were analyzed: (1) the inclusion of spatially located notes that contain own experiences or local knowledge (e.g. reports, concerns, suggestions, own expert opinions) and (2) the initiation of a platform for a spatially located discussion. Against the background of transdisciplinary research, the aim was to evaluate the participative value of this application in an iterative process, in which the research process is supported by an accompanying group from civil society. For this panel we want to present our results from the transdisciplinary research process. In addition to testing the suitability of such a participation mode, we want to analyze where problems arise and which information is necessary or can lead to conflicts (Griffin, 2020). Finally, we want to gain information on how such participation modes influence the quality of the dialogue and how they contribute to an overall perception of a legally acceptable process (Rzeszewski and Kotus, 2019).

scholarly journals Are Rank Orders Mentally Represented by Spatial Arrays?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich von Hecker ◽  
Karl Christoph Klauer
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Models ◽  
Internal Validity ◽  
Distance Effect ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Spatial Effects ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Additional Information ◽  
Rank Orders ◽  
Mental Space ◽  
The One

The present contribution argues that transitive reasoning, as exemplified in paradigms of linear order construction in mental space, is associated with spatial effects. Starting from robust findings from the early 70s, research so far has widely discussed the symbolic distance effect (SDE). This effect shows that after studying pairs of relations, e.g., “A > B,” “B > C,” and “D > E,” participants are more correct, and faster in correct responding, the wider the “distance” between two elements within the chain A > B > C > D > E. The SDE has often been given spatial interpretations, but alternatively, non-spatial models of the effect are also viable on the empirical basis so far, which means the question about spatial contributions to the construction of analog representations of rank orders is still open. We suggest here that laterality effects can add the necessary additional information to support the idea of spatial processes. We introduce anchoring effects in terms of showing response advantages for congruent versus incongruent pairings of presentation location on a screen on the one hand, and the hypothetical spatial arrangement of the order in mental space, on the other hand. We report pertinent findings and discuss anchoring paradigms with respect to their internal validity as well as their being rooted in basic mechanisms of trained reading/writing direction.

scholarly journals Neo-nationalism in the Czech Republic and Its Self-presentation on Social Networks Using the Example of Facebook

Politeja ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (4(61)) ◽  
pp. 111-130
Author(s):  
Nicole Horáková
Keyword(s):  
Czech Republic ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Life Forms ◽  
The Political ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Self Presentation ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
Religious Issues ◽  
Czech Lands

Neo-nationalistic movements, extreme right-wing organisations, and right‑wing parties are booming not only in Europe; they can be found in nearly all western societies, and, in some countries, they form an inherent part of the political system and participate in government, playing an active role in civil society, organising demonstrations and festivals and publicly providing information about their ideas. In doing so they are gaining influence not only on the political scene, but their topics also affect the opinions and debates of the general public. Neo-nationalistic right-wing movements are common in, for example, Germany and France, and especially in the Central European countries of Poland, Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. They consider themselves to be ‘patriots’, whose aim is to ‘protect’ their own national culture and nation as such from foreign life forms and religions. This kind of ‘protection’ refers mainly to cultural, ethnic and religious issues. In my contribution, I deal with two neo-nationalistic movements in the Czech Republic and analyse how they present themselves on social media (Facebook). The main focus of my research are Internet memes, through which I want to show how the organisations fight against multiculturalism and open society. The present contribution is divided into three parts: first I provide a brief historical overview of the development of right-wing extremism in the Czech lands, the second part deals with the current situation regarding neo-nationalistic movements in the Czech Republic, and the last presents my research on Internet memes and attempts at categorising them, aiming not only to show the different types of memes but also to discover the strategies, argumentation and ideas of neonationalistic movements.

Critical role of spatial information from chiral-asymmetric peptides in the earliest occurrence of life

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo I. Cruz-Rosas ◽  
Francisco Riquelme ◽  
Mariel Maldonado ◽  
Germinal Cocho
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Information ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Living System ◽  
Molecular Structures ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Self Organized ◽  
Chiral Asymmetry ◽  
Random Variability ◽  
Definition Of

AbstractThe earliest functional living system on Earth should have been able to reproduce an ordered configuration and a self-organization dynamics. It was capable of resisting a random variability in time and space to keep the functionality. Amino acids (AAs) and nucleobases generated from abiotic reactions as seen in laboratory-based experiments have demonstrated that molecular elements for life can be obtained by predictable physicochemical processes. However, a functional, self-organized living system needs complex molecular interactions to endure. In this paper, we address the transference of spatial information on highly enantiopure polymers as a critical condition to support the dynamics in a self-organized biogenic system. Previous scenarios have considered almost exclusively the information encoded in sequences as the suitable source of prebiotic information. But the spatial information transference has been poorly understood thus far. We provide the supporting statements which predict that the ordered configuration in a biogenic system should be significantly influenced by spatial information, instead of being exclusively generated by sequences of polymers. This theoretical approach takes into consideration that the properties of mutation and inheritance did not develop before definition of the structures that allow the management of information. Rather, we postulate that the molecular structures to store and transfer information must exist at first, in order to retain particular functional ‘meaning’, and subsequently, such information can be ‘inherited’ and eventually modified. Thus, the present contribution follows the theory that life was originated from an unstable prebiotic environment that involves the early spatial information transference based on large chiral asymmetry.

Cyprus as a Contact Zone in the 1st Millennium AD

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 322-331
Author(s):  
John Lund
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Contact Zone ◽  
Geographic Distribution ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Consistent Pattern ◽  
Geographical Proximity ◽  
Loss Of Control ◽  
Present Contribution ◽  
Direct Involvement

Abstract Using Cyprus as a case study, the present contribution applies a diachronic perspective to the notion of contact zones as a means to explore some of the implications of this concept for an island. The geographic distribution of ceramic imports to Cyprus during the 1st millennium reveals a fairly consistent pattern through time, which seems to be more or less similar to what has been suggested for earlier periods in the island’s history. This suggests that the points of contact were determined more by geographical proximity and ease of communication than by human factors. The Cypriots themselves seem to have played a less active role on the overseas markets in the 1st millennium AD than before, and it is tentatively proposed that it might have been the island’s loss of control of her mines in the Hellenistic and Roman Periods that led to a decline in the direct involvement of Cypriots in overseas trade.

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