Search Results (145)

The crown conveys a rich tapestry of history and deep cultural resonances among the Yoruba people of South-western Nigeria, beyond its representation as an emblem of leadership, royalty, and nobility. This article explores layers of the meaning of crown in the Yoruba personal naming system. It relies on an ethnopragmatic theory to analyse the cultural significance and symbolic impact of crown-related names among the Yoruba. Drawing on a qualitative research approach using participant observation and semi-structured interviews with 25 participants who were purposively sampled in Ikeja, Lagos State, we argue that crown-related names are not mere identifiers or person reference labels, but they provide cultural insights and reflections on the foundation of authority and continuity, and carry the aspirational principles of the Yoruba traditional structure. The names symbolise personal journey; reinforce the hierarchical structure of the Yoruba society; and highlight the people’s deep connection to their ancestral lineage. This study concludes that crown-related names encapsulate the values, beliefs, and social structures of the Yoruba society, serving as enduring markers of dynastic identity and cultural values. In this way, crown-related names represent badges of honour that validate their bearers’ self-worth and dignity. Full article

This article examines how the Park Chung Hee regime reshaped the public memory of the Neo-Confucian philosopher Yi I (penname Yulgok, 1536–1584) by recasting him as a model of patriotic nationalism. Beginning with the inauguration of the Yulgok Festival in 1962, Yi I was no longer commemorated solely as a scholar of the Chosŏn dynasty; instead, the regime portrayed him as a patriotic sage who advocated for military preparedness. Drawing on archival materials (presidential speeches, heritage management reports, newspaper articles), this study reconstructs the policy discourse surrounding Yulgok and traces the state-driven mechanisms that reframed his public image. The analysis shows that Yulgok’s image became embedded in political rituals, monumentalized in public spaces, circulated in everyday life through currency iconography, and materialized in physical heritage sites transformed to embody a purified, idealized vision of the past. Together, these initiatives positioned the state as the custodian of Yulgok’s memory, aligning his image with the ideological priorities of the militarist state. Full article

This study examines the perceptions and experiences of Indigenous Kankuamo women in northern Colombia regarding their sexual and reproductive rights (SRR), exploring how cultural traditions and public policies shape their exercise. The main objective was to understand the tensions between ancestral values, community leadership, and internationally recognized rights. A mixed-methods approach (qualitative–quantitative) was employed, based on semi-structured interviews conducted with 30 women. The instrument included closed Likert-type questions and open-ended items addressing perceptions, cultural practices, access to health services, and government programs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, and content analysis through thematic development. The findings revealed a strong correlation between trust in health services, accessibility, cultural compatibility, and the frequency of adolescent pregnancies. Divided perceptions regarding the role of community leaders were identified, along with a recurring demand for education and awareness-raising on sexuality and rights. Participants also noted limitations in state programs, mainly due to their limited cultural relevance. Kankuamo women face ongoing tensions between cultural preservation and sexual autonomy. Strengthening education, inclusive leadership, and policies with an ethnic and gender perspective is recommended to ensure the full exercise of their SRR. Full article

This study presents a molecular phylogenetic analysis based on four DNA regions (plastid matK, trnL-trnF, and rps16 and nuclear ribosomal ITS) for Ctenanthe, Saranthe and Stromanthe, encompassing nearly 70% of species in these genera. Given this extensive sampling, we assess the monophyly of these genera and evaluate whether key morphological traits can serve as diagnostic characters (synapomorphies). For the first time, we included Stromanthe bahiensis, an unusual species that differs from all congeneric species in its elongate petioles and relatively long, pendulous, hirsute synflorescences. Our findings reveal S. bahiensis as sister to the rest of the group. The evolution of key morphological traits (organization of the aerial shoot system, rachis flexuosity, spathe compactness and cymule type) were estimated to be complex, with none exhibiting consistent diagnostic utility. Given that these traits were among the main reasons S. bahiensis was described under Stromanthe, our ancestral state reconstruction, coupled with its phylogenetic position, justifies recognition of a new genus, Dolichopoda. Our findings suggest that morphological evolution in the group may have been shaped by convergence, parallelisms and reversals, which may partially explain the high morphological overlap observed among genera. This realignment not only resolves phylogenetic inconsistencies but also facilitates more accurate biogeographic and ecological inferences. Additionally, we transfer Ctenanthe dasycarpa to Stromanthe to make Ctenanthe and Stromanthe mutually monophyletic. Full article

Metabolic diseases such as obesity and related conditions have an inflammatory basis. Genetic and nutritional factors can influence the development of these diseases by altering the inflammatory state. This study aimed to analyse how the rs659366 (G/A) polymorphism in the UCP2 gene interacts with dietary capsaicin (CAP) consumption and affects inflammatory markers in Mexican adults. A cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted in 212 adult patients. The UCP2 rs659366 polymorphism was genotyped using an allelic discrimination assay. Dietary CAP intake was measured with a validated food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed for interaction analyses. The ancestral allele G accounted for 40.2% and the risk allele A accounted for 59.8% of samples. There was a significant interaction between CAP intake and the UCP2 rs659366 polymorphism for the inflammatory marker NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) (p < 0.05). Among subjects with the G allele, higher CAP intake was associated with higher NLR scores (p < 0.001). Patients with the G allele of the UCP2 rs659366 polymorphism experienced increased inflammation with higher CAP intake. This finding highlights the need for future studies in personalised nutrition and could expand knowledge about the effects of CAP on obesity and inflammation. Full article

Background: The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic were characterized by high transmission rates and mortality, compounded by the emergence of multiple SARS-CoV-2 lineages, including Variants of Concern (VOCs). This study investigates the phylodynamic and spatio-temporal trends of VOCs during the peak of the pandemic in Nigeria. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from three major VOCs circulating in Nigeria, B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.617.2 (Delta), and B.1.1.529 (Omicron), were analyzed using tools such as Nextclade, R Studio v 4.2.3, and BEAST X v 10.5.0. The spatial distribution, evolutionary history, viral ancestral introductions, and geographic dispersal patterns were characterized. Results: Three major lineages following WHO nomenclature were identified: Alpha, Delta, and Omicron. The Delta variant exhibited the widest geographic spread, detected in 14 states, while the Alpha variant was the least distributed, identified in only eight states but present across most epidemiological weeks studied. Evolutionary rates varied slightly, with Alpha exhibiting the slowest rate (2.66 × 10⁻⁴ substitutions/site/year). Viral population analyses showed distinct patterns: Omicron sustained elevated population growth over time, while Delta declined after initial expansion. The earliest Times to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) were consistent with the earliest outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 globally. Geographic transmission analysis indicated a predominant coastal-to-inland spread for all variants, with Omicron showing the most diffuse dispersal, highlighting commercial routes as significant drivers of viral diffusion. Conclusion: The SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Nigeria was characterized by multiple variant introductions and a dominant coastal-to-inland spread, emphasizing that despite lockdown measures, commercial trade routes played a critical role in viral dissemination. These findings provide insights into pandemic control strategies and future outbreak preparedness. Full article

The degree of informational redundancy is often examined in genetic studies but not yet detailed for taxa conceived as minimally monophyletic groups (microgenus). Evolutionary processes in microgenera were reviewed, detailing critical sets of traits, the novon, the immediate ancestron, and the ancestron. Calculations were made from known intra-genus character state changes for maximum entropy, Shannon entropy, and entropic redundancy. Additional evaluations of contrived data sets were intended to evaluate the range of informational variation in small, medium, and large numbers of species and traits. Results indicate that measures of Shannon information and redundancy are rather similar in all but microgenera with the smallest number of species and traits per species. Hypothetically, this similarity is due to the fairly constant balance between numbers of newly evolved traits and traits monothetically redundant because all are shared with all species in the genus. This balance may be explained by a selective construct or emergent property that balances innovation leading to the colonization of new niches and conservation of proven ancestral traits for survival sympatricially and peripatrically in the particular challenges of the ancestor’s niche. The entropic redundancy calculations indicate that 0.20 to 0.30 of the information in a microgenus serves as flexibility in survival adaptation at the genus level. Full article

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a leading cause of pneumonia in young children in Mexico and worldwide. To investigate RSV dynamics in Mexico, we conducted a multicenter study from August 2021 to July 2023 in six hospitals across five States, analyzing respiratory samples from children under five years with pneumonia. Multiplex RT-PCR identified 203 RSV-positive cases, of which 123 were RSV-B and 80 RSV-A. Interestingly, 77% of the collected samples showed evidence of coinfection with other respiratory pathogens, with rhinovirus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae being the most common. Also, RSV-B dominated in 2021–2022, whereas RSV-A prevailed in 2022–2023, mirroring trends observed in the United States. Sequences of the genes encoding G and F proteins showed that RSV-A lineages were more diverse, with A.D.1, A.D.1.8, and A.D.5.2 being frequently detected. In contrast, nearly all RSV-B sequences belonged to lineage B.D.E.1. Finally, ancestral state inference suggests repeated introductions from the USA and other North American countries, with limited evidence of sustained local circulation. These findings show different trends in RSV circulation between two consecutive seasons and the importance of genomic surveillance to monitor RSV diversity, evaluate vaccine impact, and inform public health strategies in Mexico’s evolving post-pandemic respiratory virus landscape. Full article

Mamba (Dendroaspis species) snakebites are critical medical emergencies across sub-Saharan Africa. Envenomings can result in the rapid onset of complex neurotoxic symptoms, often leading to high rates of mortality without timely intervention with antivenom. The ancestral state of mambas is the green coloured, forest dwelling type, with the tan/grey coloured, savannah dwelling D. polylepis (Black Mamba) representing a derived state both ecologically and morphologically. However, it has not been tested whether these changes are paralleled by changes in venom biochemistry or if there are differential molecular evolutionary patterns. To fill these knowledge gaps, this study evaluated the neurotoxic effects of all Dendroaspis species venoms using the chick biventer cervicis nerve-muscle preparation, assessed the neutralizing efficacy of three antivenoms commercially available in Africa, and reconstructed the molecular evolutionary history of the toxin types to ascertain whether some were unique to particular species. All Dendroaspis venoms demonstrated potent flaccid-paralysis due to postsynaptic neurotoxicity. The only exception was D. angusticeps venom, which conversely exhibited spastic-paralysis due to presynaptic/synaptic neurotoxicity characterised by potentiation of acetylcholine presynaptic release and sustained synaptic activity of this neurotransmitter. Antivenom efficacy varied significantly. All three antivenoms neutralized to some degree the flaccid-paralysis postsynaptic effects for all species, with D. viridis venom being the best neutralized, and this pattern extended to all the antivenoms. However, neutralisation of flaccid-paralysis postsynaptic effects unmasked spastic-paralysis presynaptic/synaptic neurotoxicity within non-angusticeps venoms. Spastic-paralysis presynaptic effects were poorly neutralized for all species by all antivenoms, consistent with prior clinical reports of poor neutralisation of spastic-paralytic effects. Geographic variation in D. polylepis venom was evident for the relative neutralisation of both spastic-paralysis presynaptic/synaptic and flaccid-paralysis postsynaptic/synaptic neurotoxic pathophysiological effects, with differential neutralization capabilities noted between the Kenyan and South African populations studied. Molecular phylogenetic analyses confirmed spastic-paralysis and flaccid- paralysis toxins to be a trait that emerged in the Dendroaspis last common ancestor, with all species sharing all toxin types. Therefore, differences in venoms’ pathophysiological actions between species are due to differential expression of toxin isoforms rather than the evolution of species-specific novel toxins. Our findings highlight the synergistic nature of flaccid-paralysis postsynaptic and spastic-paralysis presynaptic/synaptic toxins, while contributing significant clinical and evolutionary knowledge of Dendroaspis venoms. These data are crucial for the continued development of more effective therapeutic interventions to improve clinical outcomes and for evidence-based design of clinical management strategies for the envenomed patient. Full article

The 4th and 5th centuries marked a pivotal phase in the development of the Goguryeo regime. Its tomb murals epitomize the visual strategies of state-building, serving to establish a “sacred theater” of power. Taking Tomb No. 4 of the Wukui complex as a case in point, the murals reveal localized adaptations of the Fuxi–Nüwa imagery, blending the Central Plains’ sun-deity worship with Goguryeo’s ancestral mythology through the symbol of the sun-centered Three-Legged Crow, thereby legitimizing the sacred lineage of royal authority. The function of the Four Symbols (Sishen) imagery evolved from mere directional markers into guardians of sovereignty, reflecting deeper cultural transformations. The diachronic evolution of mural themes traces the trajectory of political change: in the 4th century, murals centered on wrestling and banqueting scenes, reinforcing ethnic identity and consolidating tribal alliances through ritualized displays of strength and hierarchical banquet etiquette. By the 5th century, the themes shifted to hunting, processions, and Buddhist rituals, where military metaphors and ceremonial norms underscored the rise of a centralized bureaucratic system and the imperatives of territorial expansion. Through three interlocking mechanisms—symbolic reconfiguration, spatial narrative, and sensory manipulation—Goguryeo tomb murals constructed a closed value system linking worldly authority to posthumous order, serving as material testimony to the enduring “covenant between humans and deities.” Full article

Cranial kinesis in Neornithes is enabled by a complex system of bones, muscles, ligaments, and joints, allowing variable degrees of movement between the upper jaw and the neurocranium. Particularly, cranial prokinesis—mobility of the upper jaw relative to the neurocranium—is the most widespread form. It has been stated that Phorusrhacidae (Aves, Cariamiformes) were incapable of performing cranial kinesis. To assess potential functional differences within the clade, all known cranial flexion zones were analyzed and compared with the kinetic systems of extant Neornithes. In Psilopterinae and Mesembriornithinae, fusion of the ventral palatal flexion zones indicates a rigid, immobile palate. In larger taxa such as Patagornithinae and Phorusrhacinae, the pronounced thickening and fusion of the craniofacial flexion zone confirms the loss of prokinetic capabilities. The functional implications of such akinesis include simplification of food processing and a significant increase in bite force, which correlates with the predatory skills of the group. In a phylogenetic framework, phorusrhacids evolved from a kinetic ancestral condition, representing the only truly akinetic group among Neornithes. Full article

Tenrecs are heterothermic burrowing mammals, which are capable of withstanding extreme environmental stressors, including during hibernation. Their phylogenetic position as reminiscent of an ancestral placental mammal makes tenrecs a unique model for evolutionarily conserved traits, with potential translatability to human physiology and pathobiology, including adaptations to extreme environments. In this study, we compared tenrec plasma for post-translational protein citrullination profiles (citrullinomes) and extracellular vesicle (EV) characteristics, including selected microRNA cargoes (miR-21, miR-155, miR-206, miR-210), between baseline active and hibernating states at low (12 °C) and high (28 °C) ambient temperatures. Our findings show considerable changes in citrullinome plasma profiles and associated Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analysis linked to physiological and inflammatory processes, comparing hibernating and active states, also differing between the two ambient temperature groups. We furthermore identified modified EV profiles with respect to stress-related (miR-21, miR-155), hypoxia (miR-210) and metabolic/muscle related (miR-206) microRNA cargoes, which showed significant differences between active and hibernating animals, also comparing the two ambient temperature groups. Our findings show novel roles for post-translational protein citrullination in regulating immune and metabolic associated pathways in the tenrec, and highlight EV profiles, based on microRNA cargoes, as indicators for stress and metabolic responses in active versus hibernating states, including at different temperatures. Collectively our data highlights the tenrec as an evolutionary model for regulating pathobiological responses in extreme environments and may have translatable potential for human physiology and pathologies. Full article

This study explores the application of three fermented plant materials—wheat, acorns, and sorghum—in couscous preparation, as well as their impact on its properties. A survey was conducted in some localities in Algeria. The aim is to reproduce the diagrams for the manufacture of different types of couscous incorporated with fermented materials and to evaluate the pasting properties, culinary qualities, and microstructure of each type of couscous produced. The survey identified four couscous formulations made with durum wheat semolina: couscous 1 (4% sorghum, 4% wheat, 8% acorns), couscous 2 (8% acorns), couscous 3 (0.8% sorghum, 6% acorns), and couscous 4 (4% wheat, 4% acorns). A comparative study of the four types of couscous showed significant differences in their physicochemical and microstructural properties. Formulations C3 and C4 showed the best functional performance among all the couscous samples studied. In terms of the swelling index, measured at 25 °C and 95 °C, C3 reached 131.11% and 165.55%, respectively, while C4 recorded 124.9% and 157.0%. Furthermore, these two formulations had the highest viscosity values: initial viscosity of 25 mPas (C3) and 27 mPas (C4), maximum viscosity of 31 mPas (C3) and 30 mPas (C4), and final viscosity of 49 mPas (C3) and 46 mPas (C4). Analysis of the cooking loss revealed higher values for couscous 1 and 2. The microstructure of couscous 2 revealed the presence of native starch particles, open porosity, and a state of partial gelatinization. The study revealed that formulations C3 and C4 significantly (p < 0.05) impact couscous structure by enhancing functionality while preserving quality. It also maintained ancestral knowledge and offered valuable insights for future industrial applications. Full article

Avian reovirus (ARV) has emerged as an important pathogen in turkeys, causing economic losses through tenosynovitis, necrotizing hepatitis, immunosuppression, and enteric disease. Despite its ubiquity, the evolutionary history of ARV cross-species transmission among chickens, turkeys, and wild birds remains poorly understood, hindering effective control and surveillance. This study investigates ARV temporal phylogenetics with an emphasis on interspecies transmission in turkeys. Whole genome sequences (WGSs) from seventy-seven turkey cases and one quail case at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, along with 74–136 segment sequences per gene from GenBank (1970–2023), were analyzed. Temporal phylogenetic analyses identified chickens as the ancestral host, with spillover into turkeys beginning in the mid-20th century, followed by stable transmission within turkey populations. Migration analyses revealed predominantly unidirectional transmission from chickens to turkeys. WGS analyses showed high variability in the M2 and σC-encoding region of the S1 segment, suggesting selective pressure on outer capsid proteins. M2, S1 σC, and L3 had the highest substitution rates, implicating their role in adaptation and antigenic diversity. These findings highlight the complexity of ARV evolution across hosts and underscore the need for robust genotyping schemes and surveillance strategies to mitigate outbreaks in poultry. Full article

While ethnography has held an essential place in the study of Indigenous rock imagery (i.e., petroglyphs and pictographs) in the United States for the past century and a half, rarely are Tribes and other descendant communities involved throughout the entire research program—from conception to publication. This contrasts with recent developments within more traditional “dirt” archaeology, where over the past 30 years, Tribes have assumed greater roles in decision-making, fieldwork, artifact curation, data management, interpretation of results, and repatriation of ancestral belongings. In concert with these changes, Indigenous archaeology has emerged as a domain of theory and practice wherein archaeological research and cultural heritage management center the voices and interests of Indigenous communities. Collaboration among researchers and Indigenous communities has proven to be an effective means of practicing Indigenous archaeology and advancing its goals, but research into rock imagery all too often still limits Indigenous engagement and knowledge to the interpretation of the imagery. This article highlights a case study in Tribal collaboration from the North American Southwest in the interest of advancing an Indigenous archaeology of rock imagery. Full article