Honey flows through fertile valleys : The cognitive and evolutionary foundations of paradise representations

The aim of the study is to explain how paradise beliefs are born from the viewpoint of mental functions of the human mind. The focus is on the observation that paradise beliefs across the world are mutually more similar than dissimilar. By using recent theories and results from the cognitive and evolutionary study of religion as well as from studies of environmental preferences, I suggest that this is because pan-human unconscious motivations, the architecture of mind, and the way the human mind processes information constrain the possible repertoire of paradise beliefs. The study is divided into two parts, theoretical and empirical. The arguments in the theoretical part are tested with data in the empirical part with two data sets. The first data set was collected using an Internet survey. The second data set was derived from literary sources. The first data test the assumption that intuitive conceptions of an environment of dreams generally follow the outlines set by evolved environmental preferences, but that they can be tweaked by modifying the presence of desirable elements. The second data test the assumption that familiarity is a dominant factor determining the content of paradise beliefs. The results of the study show that in addition to the widely studied belief in supernatural agents, belief in supernatural environments wells from the natural functioning of the human mind attesting the view that religious thinking and ideas are natural for human species and are produced by the same mental mechanisms as other cultural information. The results also help us to understand that the mental structures behind the belief in the supernatural have a wider scope than has been previously acknowledged.

Structure, organization, and expression of the alpha prolamin multigenic family bring new insights into the evolutionary relationships among grasses

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Divergent evolutionary processes associated with colonization of offshore islands

Oceanic islands have been a test ground for evolutionary theory, but here, we focus on the possibilities for evolutionary study created by offshore islands. These can be colonized through various means and by a wide range of species, including those with low dispersal capabilities. We use morphology, modern and ancient sequences of cytochrome b (cytb) and microsatellite genotypes to examine colonization history and evolutionary change associated with occupation of the Orkney archipelago by the common vole (Microtus arvalis), a species found in continental Europe but not in Britain. Among possible colonization scenarios, our results are most consistent with human introduction at least 5100 bp (confirmed by radiocarbon dating). We used approximate Bayesian computation of population history to infer the coast of Belgium as the possible source and estimated the evolutionary timescale using a Bayesian coalescent approach. We showed substantial morphological divergence of the island populations, including a size increase presumably driven by selection and reduced microsatellite variation likely reflecting founder events and genetic drift. More surprisingly, our results suggest that a recent and widespread cytb replacement event in the continental source area purged cytb variation there, whereas the ancestral diversity is largely retained in the colonized islands as a genetic ‘ark’. The replacement event in the continental M. arvalis was probably triggered by anthropogenic causes (land-use change). Our studies illustrate that small offshore islands can act as field laboratories for studying various evolutionary processes over relatively short timescales, informing about the mainland source area as well as the island.

Estudo evolutivo da Contabilidade pública no Brasil e as ações do Conselho Federal de Contabilidade diante dos novos rumos da Contabilidade aplicada ao setor público

O objetivo deste trabalho é analisar a evolução da Contabilidade pública no Brasil, com a chegada da família real portuguesa e edição do Alvará Régio, em 1808, até os dias atuais, com a edição das Normas Brasileiras de Contabilidade Técnicas aplicadas ao setor público (NBC TSP) e a convergência, no setor público, das Normas Internacionais de Contabilidade pelo Grupo de estudos da área pública do Conselho Federal de Contabilidade (CFC) com colaboração de entidades públicas e privadas. Por se tratar de um estudo de fatos históricos, optou-se pelo tipo de abordagem qualitativa para alcançar os objetivos desta pesquisa. O método adotado foi a pesquisa bibliográfica, como forma de relatar o estudo histórico da Contabilidade pública e verificar processos do passado, em cada época, e sua influência nos procedimentos contábeis de hoje, facilitando a análise dos fenômenos no ambiente social, entre as condições concomitantes e suas alterações. Os resultados revelam que ações e a união de vários órgãos da administração pública e privada, principalmente do Conselho Federal de Contabilidade, em prol da adoção de um novo padrão na Contabilidade aplicada ao setor público, permitiram enfatizar a Contabilidade como Ciência social, que estuda o patrimônio, compatibilizando as regras contábeis as normas legais.

圆叶牵牛花青素代谢途径的基因型变异与花色变异的进化生物学研究

基因型变异和表型变异的相互关系问题是尚未解决的生物学基本问题之一，而解决这个问题的一个有效方法是研究基因组中功能相关基因的分子进化和表型效应的相互关系。在本研究中我们利用圆叶牵牛花青素代谢途径（该途径合成了与花色形成有关的色素）来研究表型变异和基因型变异的进化关系，希望探讨两个问题：1、代谢途径上基因多态性在不同位点的表现程度如何? 2、在中国种群中传粉者对花色有无选择? 在对第一个问题的研究中调查了中国圆叶牵牛花青素代谢途径部分结构基因和调控基因的多态性。所研究的结构基因为途径的第一个关键酶基因CHS-D基因和较下游的ANS基因、UF3GT基因，以及调控基因W位点。其次是在温室中进行人工自交以获得所研究基因的纯合体。在对第二个问题的研究中，首先调查了野外圆叶牵牛不同花色的传粉者和传粉几率，其次是分析有色花个体与白花个体中的遗传变异程度。目前的研究结果表明CHS-D位点有3个等位基因，其中在中国的西南部地区发现了1个新的、在已报道的7个等位基因以外的等位基因;较下游的结构酶基因ANS位点存在有5个等位基因（在中国新发现3个等位基因）;UF3GT位点目前只发现有2个已报道的等位基因。在中国的圆叶牵牛中，新发现调控基因W位点上一个有功能的等位基因Ipmyb2，它与已报道的等位基因Ipmyb1的差异主要存在于内含子部分，而与发生缺失（1个6bp的缺失和1个19bp的缺失）后无功能的等位基因ipmyb2（该基因造成白花）存在外显子部分的8个碱基的差异。野外传粉观察结果表明，白花个体与有色花个体受到传粉者介导的选择，传粉者偏爱有色花而歧视白花，而且与在美洲不同，在中国圆叶牵牛的主要授粉者为蛾类而不是蜂类，从野外观察统计的结果看蛾类的传粉效率要高于蜂类。以上结果表明：1）花青素代谢途径上酶基因的位点均有一定程度的多态，其中尤以ANS为最高;调控基因ipmyb2的核苷酸缺失造成该基因停止功能，使其纯合子的个体开白色花。2）授粉者所介导的花色表型选择确实在中国种群中发生，有可能进一步增加花色代谢途径上基因位点的遗传变异。

大脑表达 miRNA 在大脑进化中的作用及其遗传机制初步研究

人类区别于其它动物的最本质特征是其拥有其他动物所无法比拟的大脑容量及高 级的认知能力。即使与其近亲－非人灵长类相比，人也拥有比非人灵长类大好几倍的脑 容量和更为发达的认知能力。现在一般认为，人类大脑的形成是适应性选择(达尔文正 选择)的结果。但是到目前为止，对人类起源过程中大脑容量增大及认知能力提高的遗 传学机制却知之甚少。以前的研究表明，几个与大脑发育相关的蛋白质编码基因在人类 起源中受到了正向选择。同时，也有证据表明人类大脑的进化也可能是基因表达调控变 化的结果。因此寻找人与非人灵长类大脑表达基因的调控差异或许能够进一步为人与非 人灵长类为何有如此巨大的差异提供分子生物学水平上的解释。 MicroRNA(miRNA)是一类在转录后水平调控基因表达的不编码蛋白质的小 RNA(长度20－24个碱基)。通过调控靶基因的表达，miRNA参与了众多的生理过程。而 很多大脑表达的miRNA的表达量在大脑发育过程中呈显著的变化，这表明miRNA参与 了大脑的发育调控。由此可知，miRNA对其靶基因调控效率的改变很可能引起大脑发育 调控的改变。 本文通过寻找大脑表达的保守microRNA 及对其靶基因的预测，同时用比较基因组 学的方法发现：有很多microRNA 的靶基因3’UTR 的靶位点中存在人类特异突变位点。 我们推测这些人类特异突变位点可能改变microRNA 对其靶基因的表达调控效应，而调 控效应的改变可能在进化过程中对认知能力的提高发挥重要作用。利用体外报告基因系 统，我们发现有几个预测的靶基因是对应miRNA 的真实靶基因。其中，miR-127 的靶 基因（SEMA3F）3’UTR 的靶位点中所含的一个人类特有的突变增强了miR-127 对 SEMA3F 的调控效率。将该位点突变回复为黑猩猩的位点使得miR-127 对SEMA3F 的 调控效率降低到黑猩猩的水平。这表明miR-127 对SEMA3F 的调控效率的改变确实是 由该人类特异突变位点引起的。我们提供了人类特异突变位点能够引起miR-127 对SEMA3F 的调控效率的改变的体外证据，但是体内的调控模式是否如此尚需进一步的工 作。 总之，本文通过体外试验表明，miRNA靶基因3’UTR的序列变异具有功能效应，它 有可能是人类中枢神经系统在起源和演化中发挥关键作用的重要遗传机制之一。

灵长类认知相关基因-Microcephalin和PACAP 前体基因的分子进化研究

人是生命演化的产物。然而由于具有一个超级大的大脑和高级的认知能力， 人类在自然界中又显得十分与众不同。在灵长类进化过程中，脑容量大小和认知 能力高低可以明显的分成几个等级，由高到低依次为人类、大猿和其它灵长类。 现在一般认为，人类超级大的大脑的形成是适应性选择(达尔文正选择)的结果。 但人类高级认知的起源一直还是个未解之谜。随着分子进化理论和比较基因组学 的发展，人们有可能从分子进化的角度去探讨高级认知的起源问题，并揭示其遗 传学机制。 本文从两个不同的角度入手，通过对认知相关的候选基因的分子进化研究来 探索高级认知起源的遗传学机制。1. 从表型出发，发现microcephalin 基因跟小 脑症相关。我们推测，该基因可能在人类起源过程中发生一些突变，导致脑容量 增大。2. 比较基因组学方法发现垂体腺苷酸环化酶激活肽(PACAP)前体基因在人 类支系中存在正选择。这类受正选择的神经相关基因可能在进化过程中对认知能 力的提高发挥重要作用。 Microcephalin 基因在人脑的发育过程中起重要作用。导致该基因蛋白质翻译 提前终止的突变，会引起人类小脑症，患者脑容量回复到早期原始人的大小。我 们对人群和12 个非人灵长类物种的microcephalin 基因编码区进行测序。所测的 非人灵长类物种包括大猿、小猿、旧大陆猴和新大陆猴。结果显示，microcephalin 基因在人群中具有较高的多态性。在人群中编码区有22 个多态位点，其中有15 个是错义突变位点。中性检验结果显示，microcephalin 基因的高多态性是人类群 体扩张和达尔文正选择共同作用的结果。灵长类各支系的进化分析表明， microcephalin 基因在大猿的起源过程中受到较强的正选择信号。这正好和小猿向 大猿进化过程中大脑容量急剧增大，认知能力大幅度提高的事实相符。单个氨基 酸编码位点检验显示，microcephalin 基因有五个氨基酸位点在灵长类的进化过程中存在正选择信号。这几个位点可能在灵长类进化和人类起源过程中，对脑容量 的增大和认知能力的提高起到了重要的作用。 PACAP 是一个神经系统中高表达的神经肽，与神经发生和神经信号传导有 关。该基因的氨基酸序列在脊椎动物的进化过程中非常保守，表明PACAP 前体 基因在这一进化历程中受到强烈的功能限制。然而比较序列分析显示，自从人与 黑猩猩分歧以后，人类支系中PACAP 前体基因有明显的加速进化。由于存在强 烈的正选择作用，人类支系的氨基酸替换速率是其它哺乳动物支系的至少7 倍。 PACAP 前体基因中有7 个人类特异的氨基酸改变，而这些氨基酸在从鼠类到大 猿的所有物种中都是保守的。蛋白质结构分析结果显示，人类起源过程中，PACAP 前体基因可能编码一个新的神经肽，并在人脑中具有功能。因此，在人类起源过 程中，PACAP 前体基因发生了适应性的改变，可能对人类认知能力的产生起到 了重要作用。这个新神经肽是否存在及其功能还有待于进一步功能实验的验证。 总之，本文通过分子进化分析，发现了两个在灵长类进化过程中对认知能力 的提高起关键作用的基因(Microcephalin 基因、PACAP 前体基因)。Microcephalin 基因，在1400-1800 万年前，从小猿向大猿的进化过程中，可能对脑容量的增大 和认知能力的提高发挥了重要的作用。PACAP 前体基因则在最近的几百万年内， 现代人的起源过程中，对人脑的形成以及人类高级认知能力的产生可能发挥了重 要的作用。

滇金丝猴细菌人工染色体文库构建及Neurotrypsin基因的分子进化研究

本文包括两方面有关灵长类的研究工作。一是构建了一个非人灵长类（滇金丝猴）的人工染色体文库（BAC文库），为进一步研究灵长类的基因组进化奠定了一定的基础，二是对一个认知相关基因neuotrypsin在灵长类中的分子进化进行了详尽的研究，以期从分子进化角度认识该基因在灵长类高级认知功能发展中所起的作用。滇金丝猴（Rhinopithecusbieti），一个处于严重濒危状态的旧大陆猴，中国特产灵长类之一。在系统发育上它占据着旧大陆猴与小猿的中间地位，是研究灵长类进化的一个重要物种。，在本研究中，我们构建了一个滇金丝猴的细菌人工染色体文库（BAC文库）。该文库含有136320个BAC克隆，平均插入片段大小为148kb，小片段（50-100kb）所占的比例为2.74％，非重组克隆仅占2.67％。假定金丝猴与亲缘关系较近的灵长类有着相似的基因组大小，该文库至少有6倍的基因组覆盖率。对随机选取的BAC克隆进行末端测序，我们获得了201个序列标签（STS）。通过荧光原位杂交（FISH）技术，139个经末端测序的BAC克隆被精确定位到滇金丝猴的染色体上。荧光杂交实验还表明了人和金丝猴染色体产存在着高度的同线保守性。在人类基因组数据库中的Blast搜寻的结果显示染色体上的克隆数目与染色体大小呈很好的相关性，表明该文库克隆比较均匀地覆盖了滇金丝猴的基因组。该金丝猴文库及所定位的克隆将会成为非人灵长类的比较基因组研究和大规模基因组测序的一个宝贵的资源。Neurotrypsin是与个主要在脑中表达的，同神经发育和认知功能相关的胞外丝氨酸蛋白酶。它在人体中发生的突变与常染色体上隐性的非综合性精神发育迟缓（MR）紧密相关。我们通过对n个非人灵长类，包括大猿、小猿、旧大陆猴和新大陆猴neurotrypsin的编码区的测序，研究了neurotrypsin在灵长类中的分子进化。结果显示出，在灵长类进化过程中，neurotrypsin保持着由纯化性选择（负沟选择）所致的强烈的功能限制，这暗示着neurotrypsin在灵长类的认知发展中起着关键的功能性作用。进一步的分析表明，纯化性选择实际上只作用于neurotrypsin的介导其结合到其它细胞表面或胞外蛋白质的SRCR功能结构域上。另外，通过灵长类和其它哺乳动物目的比较，我们还发现，在鼠neuotrypsin中，一个人SRCR结构域（外显子2和3）的缺失是由于在鼠科动物中所发生的片段丢失事件所致。

Estudo evolutivo das condições ambientais da região costeira do município de Guamaré - RN

The work concerns on the evolutionary study of the environmental conditions of the coastal area of Guamaré-RN, where was investigated the geo-environmental transformation occourred in this region, whose primordial purpose was to diagnose the changes verified in the temporary space of five decades (1950 to 2001). With the objective of evaluanting the action of the active coastal processes (currents, waves, tides and winds), in order to understand the generating mechanisms of the erosion/sedimentation, evidenced by constant morphologic changes. The adopted methodological procedure consisted of a succession of stages, involving bibliographical and cartographic study, aereal photographs study, digital treatment of images, field work (sample collection, beaches profiles, characterization of the beach environment and morfodynamics), mapping correction and laboratory analyses (granulometry). The evolutionary study of the morphologic features indicated significant variations in the studied period, mainly, in the dunes, sea terraces, variation of the shore line and tidal flat, evidencing the largest transformations in the temporary space between 1988 and 2001. The analyses of the beach profiles showed a sedimentation tendency in the area of the profiles P1, P2 and P3, however in the monitored pediod, it was observed in the referred profiles, erosive and depositionals intervals evidencing a need of more effective monitoring. The results of the granulometric analyses indicate a predominance of mean to coarse sand in the backshore and estirancy area, as in the shoreface, the analyses indicated medium to fine sand. The morfodynamic state, showed that beach of Minhoto is intermediate state, with alternancy to reflective. The areas of larger vulnerability and sensibility are the tidal flat, shore line, barrier island and mobile dunes, that actually is suffering great environmental impact with expansion of the carcinoculture, urban presence and natural impacts (erosion of the shoreline)

Crenças envolvendo o não aprender: um estudo evolutivo sobre a construção do conhecimento social

The construction of social knowledge, under the Piagetian approach, has been the target of recent research in the Brazilian context. From this perspective, this article presents preliminary data from an evolutionary study regarding the ideas of children and adolescents about not learning. Herein we present data obtained from the second methodological tool used in this research: an analysis of a story involving a situation of not learning, applied to 80 students between 06 and 16 years old. The main results indicate that most of the students surveyed tend to blame only themselves for not learning. They justify it by factors such as indifference, indiscipline, among others. Students' beliefs are also analyzed according to levels of understanding of social reality and most students presented a very elementary level of understanding.

A percepção de crianças e adolescentes sobre cenas de violência urbana

The article presents part of an evolutionary study regarding the ideas of children and adolescents on urban violence. The study included 40 subjects aged between 6 and 15; consisting of 10 subjects aged 6, 10 aged 9, 10 aged 12, and 10 aged 15. All subjects were enrolled in two public schools, one located in the interior of São Paulo’s State and the other in greater São Paulo. The subjects underwent three methodological procedures: a clinical interview, the drawing of a picture, and the analysis of a movie. In this paper we present data taken from the movie presentation, a silent cartoon which contained scenes of violence. The results indicate that subjects have difficulty in understanding the phenomenon of violence and its complexity. Subjects associated violence only with the most visible and concrete situations or conflicts, and they cannot identify the different types of violence contained in the drawings. The analysis and the theoretical references are based on the Piagetian perspective on the construction of social knowledge. Pedagogical implications based on evolutionary studies and the comprehension of the processes performed to the understanding of the social reality will be presented in this article, as well.

Psicogênese da Noção de Violência: um estudo evolutivo a partir da perspectiva piagetiana

The paper presents part of an evolutionary study regarding the ideas of children and adolescents on urban violence. The study included 40 subjects aged between 6 and 15; consisting of 10 subjects aged 6; 10 aged 9; 10 aged 12; and 10 aged 15. All subjects were enrolled in two public schools, one located in the interior of São Paulo’s State and the other in greater São Paulo. The subjects underwent three methodological procedures: a clinical interview, the drawing of a picture, and the analysis of a movie. In this paper, we present the data obtained from the application of the clinical interview, specifically those concerning the main theme: “definition of violence.” The results indicate that most subjects have difficulties in understanding and defining the phenomenon of violence and its complexity. They tend to associate it only to the most visible and concrete situations or conflicts, focusing on a basic level of understanding of the social reality. The analysis and the theoretical references are based on the Piagetian perspective about the construction of social knowledge. Pedagogical implications based on the evolutionary psychogenic studies as well as the understanding of the processes covered for the understanding of social reality are also presented in the article.

Towards an evolutionary perspective for human information behavior: An exploratory study

Purpose - Since the beginning of human existence, humankind has sought, organized and used information as it evolved patterns and practices of human information behaviors. However, the field of human information behavior (HIB) has not heretofore pursued an evolutionary understanding of information behavior. The goal of this exploratory study is to provide insight about the information behavior of various individuals from the past to begin the development of an evolutionary perspective for our understanding of HIB. Design/methodology/approach - This paper presents findings from a qualitative analysis of the autobiographies and personal writings of several historical figures, including Napoleon Bonaparte, Charles Darwin, Giacomo Casanova and others. Findings - Analysis of their writings shows that these persons of the past articulated aspects of their HIB's, including information seeking, information organization and information use, providing tangible insights into their information-related thoughts and actions. Practical implications - This paper has implications for expanding the nature of our evolutionary understanding of information behavior and provides a broader context for the HIB research field. Originality/value - This the first paper in the information science field of HIB to study the information behavior of historical figures and begin to develop an evolutionary framework for HIB research. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

A genome-wide association study of Cloninger's temperament scales: implications for the evolutionary genetics of personality

Variation in personality traits is 30-60% attributed to genetic influences. Attempts to unravel these genetic influences at the molecular level have, so far, been inconclusive. We performed the first genome-wide association study of Cloninger's temperament scales in a sample of 5117 individuals, in order to identify common genetic variants underlying variation in personality. Participants' scores on Harm Avoidance, Novelty Seeking, Reward Dependence, and Persistence were tested for association with 1,252,387 genetic markers. We also performed gene-based association tests and biological pathway analyses. No genetic variants that significantly contribute to personality variation were identified, while our sample provides over 90% power to detect variants that explain only 1% of the trait variance. This indicates that individual common genetic variants of this size or greater do not contribute to personality trait variation, which has important implications regarding the genetic architecture of personality and the evolutionary mechanisms by which heritable variation is maintained.

Sustaining cooperation on networks: an analytical study based on evolutionary game theory

We analytically study the role played by the network topology in sustaining cooperation in a society of myopic agents in an evolutionary setting. In our model, each agent plays the Prisoner's Dilemma (PD) game with its neighbors, as specified by a network. Cooperation is the incumbent strategy, whereas defectors are the mutants. Starting with a population of cooperators, some agents are switched to defection. The agents then play the PD game with their neighbors and compute their fitness. After this, an evolutionary rule, or imitation dynamic is used to update the agent strategy. A defector switches back to cooperation if it has a cooperator neighbor with higher fitness. The network is said to sustain cooperation if almost all defectors switch to cooperation. Earlier work on the sustenance of cooperation has largely consisted of simulation studies, and we seek to complement this body of work by providing analytical insight for the same. We find that in order to sustain cooperation, a network should satisfy some properties such as small average diameter, densification, and irregularity. Real-world networks have been empirically shown to exhibit these properties, and are thus candidates for the sustenance of cooperation. We also analyze some specific graphs to determine whether or not they sustain cooperation. In particular, we find that scale-free graphs belonging to a certain family sustain cooperation, whereas Erdos-Renyi random graphs do not. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first analytical attempt to determine which networks sustain cooperation in a population of myopic agents in an evolutionary setting.