Human Evolution Research Articles

Rethinking Sociality in Language Evolution: Enlanguagement as a Catalyst for Shifts in Developmental Pathways

Abstract A significant body of research on the roots of human language highlights the crucial role played by changes in ancestral sociality. Recent studies have revived the hypothesis of human self-domestication, arguing that it provides new insights into the development of human sociality, cultural evolution, and symbolic communication. While the concept of domestication offers an intriguing interpretation of the co-evolution of body, cognition, and behavior, its application to human evolution is controversial. This paper explores an alternative perspective, suggesting that the enlanguagement of interactions may have acted as a catalyst for evolutionary change. We propose that the consolidation of enlanguaged practices, underpinned by the amplification of social dispositions, set in motion an evolutionary spiral. We explore how this process may have reshaped ancestral developmental trajectories and niches, ultimately culminating in the distinctive mode of life that characterizes our species.

Comparison of Speech Defects in Different Types of Malocclusion.

Introduction Speech has a great impact on human evolution, allowing for the widespread knowledge and advancement of tools. Difficulty in pronouncing one or more sounds is the most common speech impairment. Speech defects are more commonly associated with class III malocclusion patients (difficulty in pronouncing 's' and 't' sounds), the second in line is class II malocclusion (difficulty in pronouncing 's' and 'z' sounds), and speech distortions are least affected in class I malocclusion (difficulty in pronouncing 's' and 'Sh').Most patients with dentofacial disharmonies and speech distortions need orthodontic care and orthognathic surgery to resolve their issues with mastication, aesthetics, and speech. Aims and objectives To compare and assess speech difficulties in different types of malocclusion. Materials and methods The study was conducted over 160 subjects for three and half months. All of them were evaluated for speech defects before they received orthodontic treatment. The main basis of this study is according to Angle's classification of malocclusion. The subjects were segregated according to Angle's classification of malocclusion. Malocclusion traits that are included in this study are Angle's class I, Angle's class II division I and division II, and Angle's class III. Results According to the results, out of 160 subjects, labio-dental speech defectsare observed in 8% where n=13of the study participants, linguodental speech defects are observed in 2%where n=3, lingua-alveolar speech defects are present in 54% where n=86, and bilabial speech defects are observed in 2% where n=3 of the study participants. Here 'n' represents the frequency of the subjects. Severe speech defects are seen in Angle's class III malocclusion. Results according to the type of malocclusion include: labio-dental speech defects are seen in 37.5% in class I, 25% in class II division I, 0% in class II division II, and 37.5% in class III. Linguodental speech defects are seen in class III malocclusion subjects only. Lingua-alveolar sounds are seen in 27.8% of class I, 29.6% of class II division I, 1.9% of class II division II, and 40.7% of class III. Bilabial speech defects are only seen in class II division I subjects. According to the results, only lingua-alveolar speech defects are statistically significant, and more severe speech defects were observed in class III malocclusion. Conclusion Speech plays an important role in affecting the quality of life of people. Different types of malocclusion traits are associated with different types of speech defects.

Challenges and tasks of the philosophy of physical culture and sports, sports science in modern socio-political conditions

The scientific problem lies in the discrepancy between the self-reflective Western and Eastern traditions of the philosophy of sport and the very real sports process and sports science, and, by and large, the classical understanding of the scope and content of the concept of philosophy as such. The relevance of the study lies in the need to eliminate or «remove» this discrepancy, which at three levels openly complicates the development of the philosophy of sport: firstly, as a philosophy in the classical sense of the word; secondly, as a scientific philosophy; and thirdly, as a scientific philosophy of sports and sports science, and not existential, irrational, hermeneutic and other ideas and experiences about philosophizing thoughts about something vaguely reminiscent of them. The purpose of the study is to construct and briefly justify a classification of the scientific philosophy of sports and sports science from the standpoint of classical philosophy and a dialectical-materialistic worldview, as well as to indicate a short list of its main tasks in the current situation of aggravated military-political confrontation between Russia, East and West. The methodology and organization of the study are based on a comprehensive historical, philosophical and scientific theoretical and comparative analysis, including general scientific operations of grouping, systematization, abstraction, idealization and logical operations of defining and dividing concepts, induction, deduction, analogy, determining truth, proof and refutation, constructing a hypothesis. Research results and conclusions. Gradually but steadily growing since the beginning of the 21st century, global changes in the modern socio-political picture of the world are increasingly clearly and rapidly entailing equally significant changes in education and science (including specialized ones). This article presents a system for constructing the philosophy of sport and sports science, which provides a solution to the full range of modern problems of philosophical analysis and scientific research of sport as: • social phenomenon and institution; • cultural and civilizational mechanism of social evolution of humanity; • a mechanism for preserving and improving a person in his inherent parameters of a social and psychophysiological being; • an outpost for preventing the processes of human deanthropolization. It is easy to notice that this system of constructing the philosophy of sport and sports science in many aspects and in terms of system-forming factors differs significantly from its predecessors, at the same time serving as the basis for their scientific and philosophical criticism — criticism that substantiates the urgent need for a radical restructuring of the entire edifice of the philosophy of physical culture and sports, based on from the modern socio-political challenges addressed to her.

Interpreting Humani Generis: The Evolution Controversy in the Melbourne Catholic Press, 1960–61*

From mid‐1960 to early 1961, the Melbourne Catholic weekly newspaper The Advocate carried an extended controversy on evolutionary science and its compatibility with the teachings of the Church. An intra‐denominational debate among Catholic scientists, clergy and laymen, the controversy was shaped by the theological framework of Pope Pius XII's encyclical Humani Generis (1950), which included the first ever papal statement on evolution. As a grassroots debate in which official Catholic policy as outlined in the encyclical was open to interpretation by competing interests, the controversy serves as an index of the ambiguities of Humani Generis, and of the uncertainties of wider Church policy at the time, regarding evolutionary science and human evolution in particular. The article considers the Advocate controversy and its immediate aftermath within the context of Humani Generis's strictures on human evolution, and within the longer history of Catholic responses to and engagement with evolutionary science.

Transparent Concrete: A Brief Review

Abstract: World is actively engaged in the creation of unique materials and technologies since the dawn of human civilization. Humans are different from other animals in that we want to live easier, more sophisticated lives. Concrete is nothing short of a miracle for human evolution in this era of constant advancement. One of those cutting-edge varieties of concrete is transparent concrete, which not only dispels the stereotype of concrete as a lifeless, colorless substance but also contributes to energy conservation, one of the main issues facing the modern world. Concrete that transmits light, sometimes referred to as translucent concrete. Due to incorporated light optical elements, the material has light-transmissive qualities. The concrete block allows light to pass through it from one end to the other. Therefore, in order to get maximal light penetration, fibers must travel through the entire object. Natural light in buildings is obstructed by the construction of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings. The use of artificial light has significantly increased as a result of this issue.

Is American Horror Scarier? The Difference Between Chinese and American Horror Games

Fear is a result of human evolution to warn with the highest speed when faced with danger. With the continuous development of the entertainment industry, more and more horror games have entered the public's vision and been loved by everyone because they give people a sense of adventure and excitement. By comparing the horror games released by China and the United States in recent decades, this paper will study the differences and sources of Chinese horror and American horror as well as the development trend and suggestions of the two under the influence of cross-cultural communication in the future. The study concludes that in the current era of multicultural exchange, game producers and other creative professionals must strike a balance between maintaining the uniqueness of their work and embracing different cultural influences, in a way that not only promotes appreciation and understanding of various cultures but also creates innovative and engaging work.

Representations of Women’s Power and Divinity in the Myths of Tai Peoples

This article examines female characters in the myths of the Tai peoples which represent power and divinity of women in the Tai’s societies. Twenty myths of the Tai peoples both in literary and oral traditions were the subjects of the study. The findings revealed the four main representations of women as 1) creator and the earliest human ancestor; 2) food producer and nurturer; 3) cultural leader; and 4) medium between the human world and the divine world. These representations reflect the Tai peoples’ society and culture. Women were represented as 1) the divines, having supernatural power, powerful beings; 2) abundance of food, creators of life, caretakers; and 3) supporters and followers of Buddhism. The female characters in the Tai myths symbolized faithful Buddhists and strong supporters of the religion. The findings also emphasize significance of the myths as a cultural tool for a better understanding of cultural women’s roles.

The complete sequence and comparative analysis of ape sex chromosomes

Apes possess two sex chromosomes—the male-specific Y chromosome and the X chromosome, which is present in both males and females. The Y chromosome is crucial for male reproduction, with deletions being linked to infertility1. The X chromosome is vital for reproduction and cognition2. Variation in mating patterns and brain function among apes suggests corresponding differences in their sex chromosomes. However, owing to their repetitive nature and incomplete reference assemblies, ape sex chromosomes have been challenging to study. Here, using the methodology developed for the telomere-to-telomere (T2T) human genome, we produced gapless assemblies of the X and Y chromosomes for five great apes (bonobo (Pan paniscus), chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla), Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii)) and a lesser ape (the siamang gibbon (Symphalangus syndactylus)), and untangled the intricacies of their evolution. Compared with the X chromosomes, the ape Y chromosomes vary greatly in size and have low alignability and high levels of structural rearrangements—owing to the accumulation of lineage-specific ampliconic regions, palindromes, transposable elements and satellites. Many Y chromosome genes expand in multi-copy families and some evolve under purifying selection. Thus, the Y chromosome exhibits dynamic evolution, whereas the X chromosome is more stable. Mapping short-read sequencing data to these assemblies revealed diversity and selection patterns on sex chromosomes of more than 100 individual great apes. These reference assemblies are expected to inform human evolution and conservation genetics of non-human apes, all of which are endangered species.

Long-read sequencing for 29 immune cell subsets reveals disease-linked isoforms

Alternative splicing events are a major causal mechanism for complex traits, but they have been understudied due to the limitation of short-read sequencing. Here, we generate a full-length isoform annotation of human immune cells from an individual by long-read sequencing for 29 cell subsets. This contains a number of unannotated transcripts and isoforms such as a read-through transcript of TOMM40-APOE in the Alzheimer’s disease locus. We profile characteristics of isoforms and show that repetitive elements significantly explain the diversity of unannotated isoforms, providing insight into the human genome evolution. In addition, some of the isoforms are expressed in a cell-type specific manner, whose alternative 3’-UTRs usage contributes to their specificity. Further, we identify disease-associated isoforms by isoform switch analysis and by integration of several quantitative trait loci analyses with genome-wide association study data. Our findings will promote the elucidation of the mechanism of complex diseases via alternative splicing.

Severe Avian Influenza A H5N1 Clade 2.3.4.4b Virus Infection in a Human with Continuation of SARS-CoV-2 Viral RNAs

Background. Since 2020, global attention has heightened towards epidemics caused by avian influenza A H5N1 virus of clade 2.3.4.4b in birds and mammals. This study presents the epidemiological history, clinical manifestations, and prognosis of a unique case infected with avian influenza A H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, along with the continuation of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNAs, in Eastern China. Methods. We collected and analysed the patient’s clinical, epidemiological, and virological data. Both sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were subjected to real-time RT-PCR to test for respiratory pathogens of interests, including SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus. Influenza virus isolation and propagation were performed on embryonated eggs. Serological tests were used to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Phylogenetic analysis was constructed to explore viral evolution and origin of A/H5N1 virus. Results. A 53-year-old female farmer with chronic bronchiectasis was hospitalized with severe pneumonia. Real-time RT-PCR revealed the presence of avian influenza A H5N1 and SARS-CoV-2 in BALF and sputum samples. Sequence analyses classified the human isolate as clade 2.3.4.4b of avian influenza A H5N1. The amino acid motif GlnSerGly at residues 226–228 of the haemagglutinin protein indicated avian-like receptor binding preference. Epidemiological investigation established that the patient had exposure to sick or dead poultry 3 days before illness onset, while no cases of human-to-human H5N1 virus transmission were identified in 31 close contacts. Conclusion. We presented that the clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 avian influenza virus has the potential to cross-infect humans with serious symptoms, especially in individuals already affected by COVID-19. It is indeed crucial to closely monitor the virus’s evolution in both avian populations and humans. Continued research and surveillance efforts are vital to monitor any potential changes in the virus, as well as to inform public health policies and interventions.

Evolutionary–developmental (evo-devo) dynamics of hominin brain size

Brain size tripled in the human lineage over four million years, but why this occurred remains uncertain. Here, to study what caused this brain expansion, I mathematically model the evolutionary and developmental (evo-devo) dynamics of hominin brain size. The model recovers (1) the evolution of brain and body sizes of seven hominin species starting from brain and body sizes of the australopithecine scale, (2) the evolution of the hominin brain–body allometry and (3) major patterns of human development and evolution. I show that the brain expansion recovered is not caused by direct selection for brain size but by its genetic correlation with developmentally late preovulatory ovarian follicles. This correlation is generated over development if individuals experience a challenging ecology and seemingly cumulative culture, among other conditions. These findings show that the evolution of exceptionally adaptive traits may not be primarily caused by selection for them but by developmental constraints that divert selection.

Exploring teacher self-efficacy in human evolution instruction following a dynamic hands-on professional development workshop

Exploring teacher self-efficacy in human evolution instruction following a dynamic hands-on professional development workshop

Discovering Alu element's role in the tale of tail loss: One giant leap for human evolution

Discovering Alu element's role in the tale of tail loss: One giant leap for human evolution

Revisiting the hypothesis of ideophones as windows to language evolution

Abstract Ideophones stand out as promising constructions to be considered as linguistic “fossils”. Allegedly, this is due to some of their distinctive features, including their sound-symbolic nature, ample use of reduplication, reliance on the simplest combinatorial processes, attachment to emotional content, and presumed bootstrapping effects on language acquisition. These features might exhibit some continuity with primate communication systems, including the co-occurrence with gestures. Because the nature and complexity of ideophones in modern languages can vary significantly from culture to culture, in this paper, we focus on their links with cross-modality, and ultimately, on how they are processed by the brain and how our brain evolved. We embed our analysis in the framework of the human self-domestication hypothesis, according to which human evolution was characterized by a gradual decrease in reactive aggression, which had an impact on our cognitive and behavioural features. Our framework implicates the cortico-striatal brain networks, whose enhanced connectivity is a mechanism for both the suppression of reactive aggression, and for cross-modality and language processing more generally. In conclusion, even though present-day ideophones can certainly show many new complexities, some of their most basic features can be reconstructed as approximations of early (but not archaic), creative uses of language.

THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN THE ROMANIAN RURAL AREA. DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS IN THE POST ACCESSION PERIOD

Known for its role in the development of a country, in people’s behavior and way of thinking, education holds an important position in the society. In other words, education is the basis for supporting culture, individual training, and also for the evolution of humanity. In Romania, the educational system has experienced important structural changes, both at national and local (regional) level. The structural changes have been manifested with different intensities by areas of residence, by urban and rural areas respectively. In this context, the present approach aims to carry out a diagnosis analysis of the education system in the Romanian rural area in the post-accession period.

Edge chipping patterns in posterior teeth of hominins and apes

Chip scars in fossil teeth are a lasting evidence that bears on human evolution. Chip dimensions in posterior teeth of hominins, apes and white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) are measured from published occlusal images. The results are plotted as D/Dm vs. h/Dm, where h, D and Dm denote indent distance, chip width and mean tooth crown diameter. The hominin species follow a similar pattern where D/Dm monotonically increases up to h/Dm ≈ 0.3. The behavior for the apes is characterized by two phases. In the first, h/Dm monotonically increases up to h/Dm ≈ 0.26 while in the second (h/Dm ≈ 0.26 to 0.42), D/Dm experiences a drastic change in behavior. The interpretation of chip morphology is assisted by results from controlled spherical indentation tests on extracted human molars. This study shows that in addition to the commonly recognized chipping due to cusp loading, a chip may also initiate from the inner wall of the tooth's central fossa. Accordingly, it is suggested that the chipping in hominins generally initiates from a (worn) cusp while that in apes involves cusp loading up to h/Dm ≈ 0.26 and fossa loading thereafter. The behavior for T. pecari is much similar to that of the apes. The fossa chipping is facilitated by a consumption of hard, large-size diet (e.g., plants, roots, barks and nuts) and presence of broad central fossa, conditions that are met in apes. Finally, a simple expression for the critical chipping force Pch due to fossa loading is developed.

Prediction of CO2 emissions using machine learning

Carbon dioxide (CO2) contributes significantly to climate change as a greenhouse gas. The Earth's atmosphere is naturally kept warm enough to support life by greenhouse gases which trap heat in the atmosphere. However, human activity has significantly increased the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere because of deforestation and the use of fossil fuels. One of the key concerns with human evolution that fuels global climate change is carbon dioxide (CO2). It is released as fuels burn and as a result, people worldwide are gradually becoming more conscious of environmental issues. Effective policy formulation requires an investigation of the factors influencing CO2 emissions, yet tiny datasets and traditional research methodologies have hampered prior investigations. This research uses three prediction models to estimate CO2 trapping efficiency among CO2 emissions, energy use and GDP: Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF). The machine learning (ML) techniques used in this work have demonstrated strong performance with multiple linear regressions, support vector machines and random forest models with mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and root mean square error (RMSE). The investigation has proposed a technique for approximating CO2 emissions and the results indicate that Support Vector Machine (SVM) can attain the highest degree of precision. The outcome could be a useful model for the decision support system to enhance an appropriate course of action for reducing CO2 emissions worldwide.

Implementasi Teknologi Komunikasi Data Menggunakan Open System Interconnection (OSI) Untuk Berkirim Pesan Antar Perangkat

Currently, the development of communication networks has influenced how humans communicate and exchange information. Data communications technology reflects the rapid evolution in the way humans communicate and exchange information. Data communication is the process of exchanging information between two or more devices via a transmission medium, such as cables, radio waves, or other network infrastructure. The goal of data communications is to transfer data from one location to another quickly, efficiently, and accurately. The method used is to look for references from several internet sources such as Google. The OSI model has 7 layers, namely Application Layer, Presentation layer, Session Layer, Transport layer, Network layer, data link layer, physical layer

Relationships between genomic dissipation and de novo SNP evolution.

Patterns of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in eukaryotic DNA are traditionally attributed to selective pressure, drift, identity descent, or related factors-without accounting for ways in which bias during de novo SNP formation, itself, might contribute. A functional and phenotypic analysis based on evolutionary resilience of DNA points to decreased numbers of non-synonymous SNPs in human and other genomes, with a predominant component of SNP depletion in the human gene pool caused by robust preferences during de novo SNP formation (rather than selective constraint). Ramifications of these findings are broad, belie a number of concepts regarding human evolution, and point to a novel interpretation of evolving DNA across diverse species.

Filial Piety, Longevity and the Start of Humanity

Abstract When human ancestors preferred to eat less and did not want to abandon their old parents in the mountains, they did something that violated the previous natural laws; that is, after the task of giving birth and raising children, they should no longer waste valuable resources. However, this brought unexpected results. Older parents can take care of their grandchildren, making families with grandmothers have more children than families without grandmothers. Therefore, filial piety may be the main reason why human beings stand out from the apes. Doing things without utilitarian motives but that may have lasting utilitarian results and recognizing the relationship between the results and the behaviors) is an important characteristic of this kind of filial piety that occurs and persists. Culture is something that transcends today’s utilitarianism, is willing to pay for the value of emotion, aesthetics and morality, and, ultimately, has utilitarian results. This trait has always been accompanied by human development as a human cultural gene.