A Beginner’s Guide to the New Population Genomics of Homo sapiens

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 135-151
Author(s):  
Rasmus Grønfeldt Winther ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Modeling ◽  
Personalized Medicine ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Population Genomics ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Contemporary Science ◽  
The World ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Philosophical Debates

It is important to understand the science underlying philosophical debates. In particular, careful reflection is needed on the scientific study of the origins of Homo sapiens, the division of current human populations into ethnicities, populations, or races, and the potential impact of genomics on personalized medicine. Genomic approaches to the origins and divisions of our species are among the most multi-dimensional areas of contemporary science, combining mathematical modeling, computer science, medicine, bioethics, and philosophy of biology. The best evidence suggests that we are a young species, with a cradle in Africa. While prejudice, misunderstanding, and violence grow in many corners of the world, our best genomic science suggests a deep biological connection among all peoples.

Hunter-gatherers on the best-seller list: Steven Pinker and the “Bellicose School's” treatment of forager violence

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 216-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lethal Violence ◽  
Use Of Data ◽  
Hunting And Gathering ◽  
History Of ◽  
Early Farmers ◽  
Philosophical Debates

Purpose – The question of violence in hunter-gatherer society has animated philosophical debates since at least the seventeenth century. Steven Pinker has sought to affirm that civilization, is superior to the state of humanity during its long history of hunting and gathering. The purpose of this paper is to draw upon a series of recent studies that assert a baseline of primordial violence by hunters and gatherers. In challenging this position the author draws on four decades of ethnographic and historical research on hunting and gathering peoples. Design/methodology/approach – At the empirical heart of this question is the evidence pro- and con- for high rates of violent death in pre-farming human populations. The author evaluates the ethnographic and historical evidence for warfare in recorded hunting and gathering societies, and the archaeological evidence for warfare in pre-history prior to the advent of agriculture. Findings – The view of Steven Pinker and others of high rates of lethal violence in hunters and gatherers is not sustained. In contrast to early farmers, their foraging precursors lived more lightly on the land and had other ways of resolving conflict. With little or no fixed property they could easily disperse to diffuse conflict. The evidence points to markedly lower levels of violence for foragers compared to post-Neolithic societies. Research limitations/implications – This conclusion raises serious caveats about the grand evolutionary theory asserted by Steven Pinker, Richard Wrangham and others. Instead of being “killer apes” in the Pleistocene and Holocene, the evidence indicates that early humans lived as relatively peaceful hunter-gathers for some 7,000 generations, from the emergence of Homo sapiens up until the invention of agriculture. Therefore there is a major gap between the purported violence of the chimp-like ancestors and the documented violence of post-Neolithic humanity. Originality/value – This is a critical analysis of published claims by authors who contend that ancient and recent hunter-gatherers typically committed high levels of violent acts. It reveals a number of serious flaws in their arguments and use of data.

Categories for the Working Philosopher

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Modeling ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Category Theory ◽  
Proof Theory ◽  
Scientific Theories ◽  
General Audience ◽  
Seminal Work ◽  
The World

Borrowing from the title of Saunders Mac Lane’s seminal work Categories for the Working Mathematician, this book aims to bring the concepts of category theory to philosophers working in areas ranging from mathematics to proof theory to computer science to ontology, from physics to biology to cognition, from mathematical modeling to the structure of scientific theories to the structure of the world. Moreover, it aims to do this in a way that is accessible to a general audience. Each chapter is written by either a category-theorist or a philosopher working in one of the represented areas, and in a way that is accessible and is intended to build on the concepts already familiar to those philosophers working in these areas.

Medical Diagnosis from a Clinician’s Point of View

1978 ◽  
Vol 17 (01) ◽  
pp. 28-35
Author(s):  
F. T. De Dombal
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
Medical Diagnosis ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Joint Research ◽  
The World

This paper discusses medical diagnosis from the clinicians point of view. The aim of the paper is to identify areas where computer science and information science may be of help to the practising clinician. Collection of data, analysis, and decision-making are discussed in turn. Finally, some specific recommendations are made for further joint research on the basis of experience around the world to date.

The problem of sex in the religions of the Abrahamic tradition

2001 ◽  
pp. 29-36
Author(s):  
N. Nedzelska
Keyword(s):  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Gender Issues ◽  
First Person ◽  
Important Place ◽  
The World ◽  
Religious Systems

The paradox of the existence of the species Homo sapiens is that we do not even know: Who are we? Why are we? Where did you go from? Why? At all times - from antiquity to our time - the philosophers touched on this topic. It takes an important place in all religions of the world. These eternal questions include gender issues. In the religious systems of the religions of the Abrahamic tradition there is no single answer to the question of which sex was the first person. Recently, British scientists have even tried to prove that Eve is 84 thousand years older Adam

International School in Informatics “Junior” for IOI Training

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 187-193
Author(s):  
Marina S. TSVETKOVA ◽  
Vladimir M. KIRYUKHIN
Keyword(s):  
Science Education ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Computer Science ◽  
International School ◽  
International Training ◽  
Internet Resources ◽  
Thirtieth Anniversary ◽  
The World ◽  
Training Event ◽  
School Computer

In 2018 the IOI will celebrate its thirtieth anniversary. Over these three decades, not only the world secondary school Olympiads in informatics community have been formed, which covers more than 80 countries from all continents, but a formation of an united methodological space of the school Informatics started also. This space allows many countries today to develop school computer science education, using the experience of other countries, materials from the IOI conference journal, sites of computer science contests, and other Internet resources. This article describes a model for organizing an international training event for juniors – International School in Informatics “Junior” – ISIJ.

Introduction

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianfranco Pacchioni
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Human Race ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
The Past ◽  
The World ◽  
The Universe ◽  
Radical Transformation

About 10,000 years ago, at the beginning of the agriculturalrevolution, on the whole earth lived between 5 and 8 million hunter-gatherers, all belonging to the Homo sapiens species. Five thousand years later, freed from the primary needs for survival, some belonging to that species enjoyed the privilege of devoting themselves to philosophical speculation and the search for transcendental truths. It was only in the past two hundred years, however, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, that reaping nature’s secrets and answering fundamental questions posed by the Universe have become for many full-time activities, on the way to becoming a real profession. Today the number of scientists across the globe has reached and exceeded 10 million, that is, more than the whole human race 10,000 years ago. If growth continues at the current rate, in 2050 we will have 35 million people committed full-time to scientific research. With what consequences, it remains to be understood. For almost forty years I myself have been concerned with science in a continuing, direct, and passionate way. Today I perceive, along with many colleagues, especially of my generation, that things are evolving and have changed deeply, in ways unimaginable until a few years ago and, in some respects, not without danger. What has happened in the world of science in recent decades is more than likely a mirror of a similar and equally radical transformation taking place in modern society, particularly with the advent ...

Fighting Childhood Pneumonia in Uganda

2017 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Tim Calkins ◽  
Kara Palamountain ◽  
Aniruddha Chatterjee ◽  
Robert Frantz ◽  
Elizabeth Hart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stakeholder Analysis ◽  
List Type ◽  
Patient Journey ◽  
Childhood Pneumonia ◽  
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers ◽  
The World ◽  
Women And Children ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Global Stakeholders ◽  
The U.S

It is January 2014, and the case protagonist, David Milestone (senior advisor at the Center for Accelerating Innovation and Impact at the U.S. Agency for International Development's Global Health Bureau), is preparing for a meeting of global stakeholders and pharmaceutical manufacturers who are interested in reducing mortality caused by childhood pneumonia and are prepared to donate $10 million to support this effort.Milestone's goal is to propose a strategy to address childhood pneumonia in Uganda, toward which the $10 million donation would go. In addition to effectively and sustainably reducing childhood pneumonia deaths, the plan must align the interests of various stakeholders behind the problem. A successful strategy in Uganda could be a model for interventions elsewhere. The United Nations Commission on Lifesaving Commodities for Women and Children recently identified Uganda as a “pathfinder” country, meaning it could serve as the example for other countries wrestling with the same issues. This is a remarkable opportunity to change the lives of children in Uganda—and all around the world.After reading and analyzing the case, students will be able to: Perform a stakeholder analysis Appreciate the challenges involved in improving public health, especially in developing countries Create a patient journey and use it to identify potential impact points

scholarly journals A hidden side of the COVID-19 pandemic in children: the double burden of undernutrition and overnutrition

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Boutaina Zemrani ◽  
Mario Gehri ◽  
Eric Masserey ◽  
Cyril Knob ◽  
Rachel Pellaton
Keyword(s):  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Vulnerable Groups ◽  
Vulnerable Children ◽  
Double Burden ◽  
Poor Countries ◽  
Children's Nutrition ◽  
The World ◽  
Health And Development ◽  
Potential Impact

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has deteriorated key determinants of health and caused major upheavals around the world. Children, although less directly affected by the virus, are paying a heavy price through the indirect effects of the crisis, including poor diet, mental health impact, social isolation, addiction to screens and lack of schooling and health care, particularly among vulnerable groups. This paper is aimed at discussing the potential impact of this pandemic on children’s nutrition and lifestyle. Preliminary data from the literature and from our survey show significant disruptions in nutrition and lifestyle habits of children. While undernutrition is expected to worsen in poor countries, obesity rates could increase in middle- and high-income countries especially among precarious groups widening the gap in health and social inequalities.The real impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children extends well beyond that of a viral infection. This crisis has public health implications that could have life-long consequences on children. It requires effective and targeted measures mainly for vulnerable children and households to guarantee children’s basic rights for optimal nutrition, health and development.

scholarly journals Regulating the Tyrell Corporation: the Emergence of Novel Beings

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-434
Author(s):  
David R Lawrence ◽  
Sarah Morley
Keyword(s):  
Computer Science ◽  
Moral Status ◽  
Homo Sapiens ◽  
Legal Issues ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Epochal Change ◽  
The Law

AbstractEmerging biotechnologies and advances in computer science promise the arrival of novel beings possessed of some degree of moral status, even potentially sentient or sapient life. Such a manifestation will constitute an epochal change, and perhaps threaten Homo sapiens’ status as the only being generally considered worthy of personhood and its contingent protections; as well as being the root of any number of social and legal issues. The law as it stands is not likely to be capable of managing or adapting to this challenge. This paper highlights the likely societal ramifications of novel beings and the gaps in the legislation which is likely to be relied upon to respond to these. In so doing, the authors make a case for the development of new regulatory structures to manage the moral issues surrounding this new technological upheaval.

scholarly journals Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity of Arisaema (Areaceae): a review

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Heena Ali ◽  
Ubaid Yaqoob
Keyword(s):  
Skin Irritation ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Anticancer Activities ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
The World ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Tropical Areas ◽  
Medicinal Properties

Abstract Background The genus Arisaema (Areaceae), popularly known as cobra lilies and jack in pulpit is mainly found in temperate to tropical areas of all continents except South America, Europe and Australia and contain about more than 250 species. Arisaema genus is being used by the different folks of human populations for medicinal as well as food purposes. Arisaema plants are used for the treatment of different types of diseases. There have been several attempts to highlight different aspects of genus Arisaema by describing it in terms of phytochemistry and medicinal uses. The present study is, however, an attempt to put together all the former data available related to the phytochemistry and medicinal uses of genus Arisaema. Main body The phytochemicals of the plant include alkaloids, phenols, terpenes, flavonoids, lectins, saponins, glycosides, triterpenoids, stigmasterols, n-alkanes, n-alkanols sitosterols, campesterol, oxalates, coumarins, tannins etc. Moreover, the properties such as antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, insecticidal, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, nematocidal, antiallergic antitumour and anticancer activities are also shown by the plants belonging to genus Arisaema. Arisaema plants have been traditionally used to treat various ailments such as resolving phlegm, dampness, and to treat asthma, bronchitis, cold, cough, and laryngitis etc. It has been found that there are several species which are toxic by nature. The development of clinical applications of arisaematis rhizomes had been seriously constrained due to its toxic properties like, mouth and lingua pain, even respiration slowing and suffocation, mucous membrane and skin irritation etc. and this toxicity of arisaematis rhizomes is due to raphide components. Conclusions The collection of data available on the phytochemistry of genus Arisaema is not sufficient as further work is required to do on phytochemical and medicinal basis. The data available on phytochemistry and medicinal properties of the plants belonging to genus Arisaema throws light on various species of Arisaema which are medicinally important and have been exploited to treat different types of diseases in the world.

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