Review
Genetics & Heredity
Katherine H. Drotos, Maxim Zagoskin, Tony Kess, T. Ryan Gregory, Grace A. Wyngaard
Summary: During development, programmed elimination of DNA leads to different DNA sequences and content in somatic cell nuclei compared to germline nuclei, which has a significant impact on genome architecture and stability. Whole-genome sequencing has expanded the understanding of taxa exhibiting this trait and identified the genes and transposable elements involved in certain taxa. This study compares the mechanisms used by various organisms, such as ciliates, nematodes, copepods, and lamprey, to reduce their genome size during development, and proposes tests to understand the evolution and maintenance of this trait. The study also explores the potential functional roles of programmed DNA elimination (PDE) in genomic defense, development regulation, sex determination, co-option, and modulation of nucleotypic effects, emphasizing the importance of studying genome evolution.
TRENDS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joanna Sierpowska, Katherine L. Bryant, Nikki Janssen, Guilherme Blazquez Freches, Manon Romkens, Margot Mangnus, Rogier B. Mars, Vitoria Piai
Summary: This study reveals the anatomical differences in language connectivity between humans and chimpanzees. Compared to chimpanzees, humans have expanded connectivity in the posterior temporal lobe, not only to the ventral frontal cortex but also to the parietal cortex. Conversely, chimpanzees have stronger connectivity between the posterior temporal regions and the ventral white matter. Additionally, humans have unique combinations of connections through different bundles in the anterior temporal lobe, which may underlie the anatomical basis for full-fledged language capacity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Lisa Messeri
Summary: This article explores how perceptual illusions become reliable markers of truth in the context of experimental psychology, highlighting the importance of illusions as epistemological guides. By reconsidering the boundaries between reality and unreality, the research expands the definition of 'the real' and brings hope for human and nonhuman futures.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE
(2021)
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Allan C. L. Fu, Ross H. Sanders
Summary: This study investigated the effects of coaching on the fundamental overarm throwing skill of less-skilled adolescents. The results showed that there was only a modest improvement in motor competency for the less-skilled students. While some kinematic variables and movement patterns improved, motor coordination and performance did not. The study also found that the recommended skill criteria were not developmentally and age-appropriate for early adolescents.
RESEARCH QUARTERLY FOR EXERCISE AND SPORT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Philip D. Gingerich
Summary: Fourteen studies of brain size evolution in Plio-Pleistocene hominins published over the past fifty years demonstrate substantial long-term increase in endocranial volume for the lineage leading to modern humans. Temporal scaling in 100 k.y. time bins identifies four successive phases of stasis and change that are significantly different from random. The tempo and mode of evolutionary time series are related to each other and the appropriate time scale for analysis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Shohei Shibata, Yuki Inaba, Shinsuke Yoshioka, Senshi Fukashiro
Summary: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ball velocity on the kinetic parameters of the fingers. The results showed that as ball velocity increased, wrist torque and work also increased, while metacarpophalangeal (MP) joint torque increased but work remained relatively constant. This suggests that adjusting the torque and work of the wrist and MP joint to appropriate levels can contribute to maintaining a stable ball release.
Article
Neurosciences
Vonne van Polanen, Gavin Buckingham, Marco Davare
Summary: When lifting objects, fingertip forces must be adjusted carefully to the object's weight for smooth and efficient movements. The anterior intraparietal sulcus (aIPS) plays a role in anticipatory grip force scaling to object size, particularly during initial lifting experience. However, aIPS stimulation did not affect size-weight illusion perception, indicating its transient role in sensorimotor predictions related to object size.
JOURNAL OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Xing-Hao Yu, Rong-Rong Cao, Yi-Qun Yang, Fei-Yan Deng, Lin Bo, Shu-Feng Lei
Summary: This study identified novel genetic factors contributing to body surface area (BSA) and found high genetic correlations between BSA and obesity phenotypes and various diseases. The findings enhance our understanding of the genetic determinants for BSA, its relationship with complex traits and diseases, and suggest BSA as a potential obesity trait.
Article
Biology
David Gil
Summary: This paper introduces the Complexity Covariance Hypothesis and the Evolutionary Inference Principle, and examines the covariance of linguistic and cultural/socio-political complexity by surveying tense-aspect-mood (TAM) marking in 868 languages. The findings suggest that languages from small language families tend to have optional TAM marking, while languages from large language families are more likely to exhibit obligatory TAM marking. The presence of obligatory TAM marking is associated with the grammaticalization of thematic-role assignment, reflecting the evolution of predication in human language influenced by the development of agriculture and demographic expansions.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Drew Rendall
Summary: The research on language properties in non-human animals, particularly vervet monkeys, has been presented. It is difficult to find high-level language properties in natural communications, but animals can learn some language elements in artificial language systems.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Simon Kirby, Monica Tamariz
Summary: This study investigates the emergence of the combinatorial structure of language through an agent-based model and population dynamics. The results suggest that the pressures for simplicity and expressivity during cultural transmission lead to the emergence of combinatoriality. Additionally, population dynamics affect the rate of evolution.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Henri Kauhanen, Deepthi Gopal, Tobias Galla, Ricardo Bermudez-Otero
Summary: This study proposes a model-based approach to quantify the speed of linguistic change, analyzing language change as a stochastic process combining vertical descent, spatial interactions, and mutations. A notion of linguistic temperature emerges from this analysis, serving as a dimensionless measure of the propensity of a linguistic feature to undergo change.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Fangfang Chen, Israfil Yalcin, Mingming Zhao, Chutao Chen, Wulf Blankenfeldt, Frank Pessler, Konrad Buessow
Summary: cis-Aconitate decarboxylase (ACOD1, IRG1) converts cis-aconitate to itaconate, an immunomodulatory and antibacterial metabolite. Mouse ACOD1 is about five times more active than human ACOD1, despite both enzymes having identical active site residues. By introducing isoleucine at position 154 in human ACOD1, which is naturally methionine, the activity of human ACOD1 increased. The change in ACOD1 sequence at position 154 during human evolution leads to a significant decrease in activity, possibly providing a selective advantage in diseases like cancer.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Amanda R. Brown, Wim Pouw, Diane Brentari, Susan Goldin-Meadow
Summary: When using hand gestures to describe objects, the illusion magnitude is smaller than when estimating length, and is equivalent to the illusion magnitude in the action task.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Steven Moran, Nicholas A. Lester, Eitan Grossman
Summary: This paper investigates recent changes in speech sound distributions in languages worldwide, particularly exploring the impact of language contact in the past two millennia on today's distributions. The study reveals significant differences between ancient and present-day speech sound distributions, with language contact playing a crucial role in shaping these differences. Furthermore, findings suggest that geographic macro-areas have become more homogenized in terms of speech sound distributions in recent millennia.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Boyi Dai, Mitchell L. Stephenson, Samantha M. Ellis, Michael R. Donohue, Xiaopeng Ning, Qin Zhu
JOURNAL OF APPLIED BIOMECHANICS
(2016)
Article
Psychology
Andrew D. Wilson, Andrew Weightman, Geoffrey P. Bingham, Qin Zhu
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY-HUMAN PERCEPTION AND PERFORMANCE
(2016)
Article
Sport Sciences
Harry Fisher, Mitchell L. Stephenson, Kyle K. Graves, Taylour J. Hinshaw, Derek T. Smith, Qin Zhu, Margaret A. Wilson, Boyi Dai
JOURNAL OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING RESEARCH
(2016)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrew D. Wilson, Qin Zhu, Lawrence Barham, Ian Stanistreet, Geoffrey P. Bingham
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2016)
Article
Sport Sciences
Jieyu Peng, Anmin Li, Qin Zhu
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES
(2018)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Boyi Dai, Ross F. Cook, Elizabeth A. Meyer, Yvonne Sciascia, Taylour J. Hinshaw, Chaoyi Wang, Qin Zhu
SPORTS BIOMECHANICS
(2018)
Article
Neurosciences
Geoffrey P. Bingham, Winona Snapp-Childs, Qin Zhu
HUMAN MOVEMENT SCIENCE
(2018)
Article
Sport Sciences
Boyi Dai, Taylour J. Hinshaw, Tyler A. Trumble, Chaoyi Wang, Xiaopeng Ning, Qin Zhu
RESEARCH IN SPORTS MEDICINE
(2018)
Article
Sport Sciences
Taylour J. Hinshaw, Daniel J. Davis, Jacob S. Layer, Margaret A. Wilson, Qin Zhu, Boyi Dai
JOURNAL OF SPORTS SCIENCES
(2019)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Meghan L. Critchley, Daniel J. Davis, Michaela M. Keener, Jacob S. Layer, Margaret A. Wilson, Qin Zhu, Boyi Dai
SPORTS BIOMECHANICS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yanfang Peng, Qin Zhu, Biye Wang, Jie Ren
Article
Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Danilo Gomes de Arruda, Boyi Dai, Tucker Readdy, Sean McCrea, Qin Zhu
Summary: Previous studies have shown the advantage of external focus of attention for motor learning and performance. However, factors such as motor expertise and individual preference may influence this effect. This study examined the impact of internal and external focus of attention on the motor performance of skilled and novice volleyball players. The results indicated that sequential external focus of attention instructions reduced the accuracy of skilled players but improved the performance of novice players.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Experimental
Shaochen Huang, Breton Van Syoc, Ruonan Yang, Taylor Kuehn, Derek Smith, Qin Zhu
Summary: This study investigated how the consistency between visual and kinesthetic information affects the performance and energy consumption of intrinsic bimanual coordination patterns. Results showed that kinesthetic information was primarily utilized for stability at high frequency, while spatial mapping was beneficial for stability of visually perceived coordination patterns at low frequency.
PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH-PSYCHOLOGISCHE FORSCHUNG
(2021)
Article
Psychology
Qin Zhu, Todd Mirich, Shaochen Huang, Winona Snapp-Childs, Geoffrey P. Bingham
ATTENTION PERCEPTION & PSYCHOPHYSICS
(2017)
Article
Psychology, Experimental
Sushma Alphonsa, Boyi Dai, Tami Benham-Deal, Qin Zhu
PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH-PSYCHOLOGISCHE FORSCHUNG
(2016)