A central premise of the science of comparative affect is that we can best learn about the causes and consequences of affect by comparing affective phenomena across a variety of species, including... Show moreA central premise of the science of comparative affect is that we can best learn about the causes and consequences of affect by comparing affective phenomena across a variety of species, including humans. We take as a given that affect is widely shared across animals, but a key challenge is to accurately represent each species' affective experience. A common approach in the comparative study of behavior and cognition is to develop standardized experimental paradigms that can be used across species, with the assumption that if the same task is being used, we can directly compare behavioral responses. This experimental approach rests on two underlying assumptions: first, that different species' perception of and affective response to these paradigms are the same; and second, that behavioral and physiological (including endocrine and neural) responses to these paradigms are homologous; if either of these assumptions is not true, then the comparison becomes much less straightforward. Our goal in the present paper is to summarize the dominant paradigms that have been used for such comparative research, with a particular focus on paradigms common in the cooperation literature, and to critically discuss dominant assumptions about what affective states these tasks can or should measure. We then consider the advantages and drawbacks of this experimental method, and consider alternatives that may improve our understanding. We hope that this will help scholars recognize and avoid pitfalls inherent in studying affect, and stimulate them to create novel, ecologically relevant paradigms for examining affect across the animal kingdom. Show less
Many mating signals consist of multimodal components that need decoding by several sensory modalities on the receiver’s side. For methodological and conceptual reasons, the communicative functions... Show moreMany mating signals consist of multimodal components that need decoding by several sensory modalities on the receiver’s side. For methodological and conceptual reasons, the communicative functions of these signals are often investigated only one at a time. Likewise, variation of single signal traits are frequently correlated by researchers with senders’ quality or receivers’ behavioural responses. Consequently, the two classic and still dominating hypotheses regarding the communicative meaning of multimodal mating signals postulate that different components either serve as back-up messages or provide multiple meanings. Here we discuss how this conceptual dichotomy might have hampered a more integrative, perception encompassing understanding of multimodal communication: neither the multiple message nor the back-up signal hypotheses address the possibility that multimodal signals are integrated neurally into one percept. Therefore when studying multimodal mating signals, we should be aware that multimodal signals can give rise to multimodal percepts, meaning that receivers can gain access to additional information inherent to only combined signal components (‘the whole is something different than the sum of its parts’). We review the evidence for the importance of multimodal percepts and outline potential avenues for discovery of multimodal percepts in animal communication. Show less
Armisen, D.; Rajakumar, R.; Friedrich, M.; Benoit, J.B.; Robertson, H.M.; Panfilio, K.A.; ... ; Khila, A. 2018
Balsaminaceae is a diverse plant family characterized by a huge floral morphological diversity. Its classification has changed many times throughout the taxonomic history of the group, owing to... Show moreBalsaminaceae is a diverse plant family characterized by a huge floral morphological diversity. Its classification has changed many times throughout the taxonomic history of the group, owing to the emphasis on particular diagnostic characters. This suggests that patterns of character evolution are labile and do not contain much phylogenetic signal. This appears particularly prevalent among floral characters, suggesting that floral evolution and pollination ecology may be important drivers of diversification in the family. Further complications in taxonomy arise from the fact that one of the two genera of the family, Impatiens, has a very large number of species, and that it is distributed across several continents. This has led to a lack of taxonomic effort, especially those regions where very few studies have been done, despite large species diversity. In this thesis, I filled particular gaps in knowledge of Balsaminaceae, focusing on issues related to the Southeast Asian region, including the taxonomic revision of this family in Myanmar (Chapter 2-4), molecular phylogeny and morphological character evolution of Impatiens sect. Semeiocardium (Chapter 5), comparative pollination biology of 7 sympatric Impatiens species in Thailand (Chapter 6), and evolution of corolla symmetry and pollination system of this family (Chapter 7). Show less
Radio observations provide a unique view of black holes in the Universe. This thesis presents low frequency radio images and uses the radio sources in those images to study the evolution of black... Show moreRadio observations provide a unique view of black holes in the Universe. This thesis presents low frequency radio images and uses the radio sources in those images to study the evolution of black holes and galaxies through the age of the Universe. Show less
Until a few years ago, only two human polyomaviruses (JC and BK) were known to infect humans and cause severe illness in immunocompromised hosts. Since 2007, at least eleven new polyomaviruses... Show moreUntil a few years ago, only two human polyomaviruses (JC and BK) were known to infect humans and cause severe illness in immunocompromised hosts. Since 2007, at least eleven new polyomaviruses became known that infect humans. Among them is the polyomavirus associated with trichodysplasia spinulosa (TSPyV). In Chapter 1 of this dissertation, the main focus is on the recent developments in studying the newly identified human polyomaviruses until mid-2014. This introductory chapter sets the stage for further investigation into TSPyV infection, pathogenesis, evolution and host adaptation, which is detailed in Chapter 2. To study causality between TSPyV infection and TS disease, in Chapter 3, the prevalence, load and localization of this virus is described. In Chapter 4, the cellular mechanisms behind disruption of cellular proliferation and TS spicule formation by TSPyV Large T-antigen is investigated. By In-silico analysis, in Chapter 5, the identification of a polyomavirus evolution and adaptation mechanism called COCO-VA is highlighted. Subsequently, in Chapter 6, TSPyV genome sequences are tested to gain more insight into this COCO-VA mechanism. Finally, in Chapter 7, the findings described in this dissertation are discussed with regard to several TSPyV aspects, and compared to existing knowledge about polyomaviruses in a broader context. Show less
The evolution of ageing is a field flush with misconceptions, misunderstandings, and hiatuses. In this thesis I address the most important misunderstanding and misconceptions, and develop new... Show moreThe evolution of ageing is a field flush with misconceptions, misunderstandings, and hiatuses. In this thesis I address the most important misunderstanding and misconceptions, and develop new theory to fill the gaps. This work directly leads to the restatement of the central question in the evolutionary theory of ageing. Rather than evaluating evolutionary forces in models that are at best weakly rooted in (patho-) physiological mechanisms, usually phrased in terms of __age-specific genes__ that are not further specified, as is the current practice, the most pressing question becomes why an organism cannot, or does not, do in itself what it is perfectly capable of doing outside itself in the form of reproduction, namely producing a perfectly healthy __young__ organism. Evolutionary forces cannot answer this question. If anything, this is a mechanistic question. I suggest investigating __the evolution of unretainability__: why and how has our form of life evolved, in which it is mechanistically impossible to bring ageing to a halt, and what are the responsible mechanistic constraints? Show less
Diplomatiek onderhandelen is een moeilijk te begrijpen en te beheersen proces. Toch is het onderhandelen tussen staten en in internationale organisaties van levensbelang voor het functioneren van... Show moreDiplomatiek onderhandelen is een moeilijk te begrijpen en te beheersen proces. Toch is het onderhandelen tussen staten en in internationale organisaties van levensbelang voor het functioneren van het internationale bestel. Het Handvest van de Verenigde Naties noemt onderhandelen dan ook als het eerste instrument bij het vreedzaam oplossen van conflicten. De wetenschap is nog altijd op zoek naar methoden om de uitkomst van een onderhandeling te verklaren uit de processen waaruit zij is voortgekomen. Dit proefschrift benadert het diplomatiek onderhandelingsproces van verschillende kanten en tracht daarmee aan de hand van gevalstudies in verleden en heden de essentie en de evolutie van het proces beter in beeld te krijgen. Een goed begrip daarvan zal, zo wordt gehoopt, bijdragen tot een effectiever gebruik van het diplomatieke geven en nemen, om daarmee geweldsgebruik terug te dringen. Dat neemt niet weg dat onderhandelen een belangenstrijd blijft, het is een vorm van oorlog met vreedzame middelen. Kernpunt van dit boek is de stelling dat onderhandelen tussen staten pas een werkelijk alternatief voor oorlogvoering kan zijn, als het kan worden gevoerd binnen een kader van regels en procedures om het onderhandelingsproces in goede banen te leiden en gebrek aan vertrouwen tussen partijen te verminderen. Daarin ligt het belang van internationale regimes die de concrete vorm kunnen aannemen van internationale organisaties, met de potentie de uitvoering van genomen besluiten af te dwingen. Uit de voortdurende pogingen de internationale betrekkingen beter te organiseren blijkt dat de diplomatie allang tot dit inzicht is gekomen. Het blijkt echter al even duidelijk uit het falen van onderhandelingen als middel tot conflictbeheersing in gebieden waar een overkoepelende onderhandelingsstructuur ontbreekt, zoals nu in het Midden-Oosten. Diplomatic Negotiation is difficult to grasp, both in practice and in theory. Yet it is important to get to grips with this process, as negotiations between states and in international organizations are the lifeblood of the international body politic. The Charter of the United Nations, for obvious reasons, ranks negotiation as the foremost instrument in the peaceful settlement of inter-state conflicts. Scholars of international relations, however, are still searching for methodologies and theories to explain the outcomes of negotiations by the processes that produce them. This doctoral dissertation approaches the process of diplomatic negotiation from different angles, while applying a multi-faceted qualitative analysis of case studies from the past and present. It is hoped that a better understanding of negotiation as one of the main tools of diplomacy will help to enhance the effectiveness of this process as an alternative to warfare. Still, negotiation is basically a struggle in the promotion and defence of state interests. It is war by peaceful means. The central proposition of this book is that negotiations between states can only be a viable replacement of the use of violence if they are conducted within a framework of international regimes that set the rules and procedures for negotiation behaviour and mitigate lack of trust. International regimes may take the shape of international organizations, which can force countries to live up to their agreements. Diplomats and political leaders have come to recognize this, as the evolution of diplomacy in the last 400 years testifies. Diplomatic negotiation may be taken as a ceaseless series of attempts to bring more order to the international system. The current demise of the negotiation processes in the Middle East thus demonstrates the failure of the international community to build overarching negotiation structures. Show less
The purpose of this thesis is to articulate a theological metaethic which accepts the nature of ethics as understood under the rubric of evolutionary theory. It will be argued that such a... Show moreThe purpose of this thesis is to articulate a theological metaethic which accepts the nature of ethics as understood under the rubric of evolutionary theory. It will be argued that such a theological methaethic can be interpreted as hopeful and optimistic given the apparent evolution of the moral from the amoral. The relationship between theology and evolutionary theory is presented here not as dichotomic but as dialectic – this is not to suggest that the two fields are mutually communicative, but rather that both can contribute to a cohesive, overarching worldview. In this respect, this thesis threads together the theological presupposition of a God of values with the naturalistic and material presuppositions of the modern scientific worldview (being cognizant of the fact that science may not necessarily be presented with these presuppositions). This dialectic occurs between two different but intertwined levels. One is the level of ethical systems; in this work, a particular understanding of Western Christian ethics. This level is framed by another, broader level of metaethics; in this thesis, an overarching understanding of the character of ethics will emerge from reflections on evolutionary theory and its naturalistic context. This will be a naturalistic view, though one which is understood to fit within a theological framework. Show less
The northwest corner of South America harbours a region of spectacular and mysterious landscapes called Pantepui. Due to its ancient age and fragmented topography Pantepui has been assumed to be an... Show moreThe northwest corner of South America harbours a region of spectacular and mysterious landscapes called Pantepui. Due to its ancient age and fragmented topography Pantepui has been assumed to be an ideal nursery of speciation, and tepuis (table mountains) have been seen as potential inland counterparts to oceanic islands. Tepuis are often called __islands in the sky__ and their summits seem indeed ideal candidates to harbour relict species, isolated from the rest of the world for millions of years. However our knowledge about the origin and diversification of the Pantepui biota is at least as fragmentary as the tepui physiography itself. This led some authors to consider the origin of local biodiversity and endemism a still-unresolved evolutionary enigma. This work aims to (1) better understand the species diversity, the evolutionary history, the dynamics of biotic interchanges between tepui summits, and the patterns of endemism of the fauna in the Pantepui region, using morphological analyses and molecular phylogenies of six amphibian and reptile taxa; (2) provide new insights in the timing of the geomorphological evolution of the tepuis in the light of amphibian and reptile species diversification inferred from molecular phylogeny reconstructions and estimates of divergence time. Show less
Natural zebra finch song contains heterogeneity in the relative distribution of element types across 13 populations worldwide, but compared between individuals it contains relatively little... Show moreNatural zebra finch song contains heterogeneity in the relative distribution of element types across 13 populations worldwide, but compared between individuals it contains relatively little structural constraints or rules in the order of elements. In contrast, from a perception point of view, zebra finches are able to detect differences in song structure and are able to learn rules to generalize these regularities to new element types in some instances, a hallmark of human language. This ability might seem conflicting with the absences of clear structural rules in their own natural songs, but it might be that these rule learning/detection mechanisms operate in a more general cognitive context, which has also been suggested for some mechanisms found in human artificial language learning. Show less
The evolution of Acehnese kingship is examined against the background of its relations with European traders and the tradingports in the region of the Malacca Straits. There are two defining... Show moreThe evolution of Acehnese kingship is examined against the background of its relations with European traders and the tradingports in the region of the Malacca Straits. There are two defining moments in the history of Aceh: first the arrival of the Portuguese in Malacca in 1511 which gave impetus to Aceh's rise as a local power. The dispelling of the Portuguese from Malacca was the constante in Aceh's policy. The second moment was the arrival of the northern Europen traders from 1599 onwards.European presence in the Straits and beyond profoundly impacted on the region's development.Fusion and fission were part of the changing geo-political scene of the period of this study.Aceh's dominance in politics and trade was the marked feature of the period 1599-1641. A military partnership with the Dutch,later the VOC,was a marked feature of the period examined. Although the two partners failed to meet their obligations and they quarrelled,ther relations continued. The conquest of Malacca in 1641 by the VOC happened without the actual help of Aceh. Aceh's powerful role diminished. Show less
Evolution and Interaction are two processes in Computer Science that are used in many algorithms to create, shape, find and optimize solutions to real world problems. Evolution has been very... Show moreEvolution and Interaction are two processes in Computer Science that are used in many algorithms to create, shape, find and optimize solutions to real world problems. Evolution has been very successfully applied as a pow-erful tool to solve complex search problems in fields ranging from physics, chemistry and biology all the way to commercial application such as aircraft fuselage design and civil engineering grading plans. Defining interaction is a big part of algorithm design. Not only defining the inputs and outputs of an algorithm but for a complex algorithm the interactions inside of an al- gorithm are as important. This thesis will concentrate on where Evolution overlaps Interaction. It will show how evolution can be used to evolve in- teraction, how the interaction inside an evolutionary algorithm impacts its performance and how an evolutionary algorithm can interact with humans. By touching on these three forms of overlap this thesis tries to give insight into the world of evolution and interaction Show less
Human fitness is critically reliant on the immune system to provide protection against pathogens. We argue that a pro-inflammatory response is crucial for defense against pathogens and that it is... Show moreHuman fitness is critically reliant on the immune system to provide protection against pathogens. We argue that a pro-inflammatory response is crucial for defense against pathogens and that it is very likely that infectious pressure has resulted in selective survival for genetic variants encoding for higher pro-inflammatory responsiveness. In industrialized populations many chronic diseases have been associated with an imbalance in pro- and anti-inflammatory responsiveness. We argue that from an evolutionary perspective, these chronic diseases in later life could be explained by genetic adaptations to survive a harsh environment. In order to study the role of the innate immune response in life-history regulation in a pathogen-rich environment, we set out a study in Northern Ghana. In a population living under adverse conditions we studied the role of the inflammatory response in survival and fertility. In Chapter 1 a general introduction was given on the research hypotheses and an overview of aims and description of the study population and methods. The general frame-work of the study was explained in depth in Chapter 2. Here we hypothesized that human life-history regulation in our evolutionary past, or under adverse conditions can largely be explained by selections that operated in the innate immune response. We proposed that fertility is associated with an anti-inflammatory response, whereas survival in a pathogen-rich environment is dependent on a strong pro-inflammatory response. We hypothesize that populations living under adverse conditions have been selected for a pro-inflammatory innate immune response. Also we argue that fitness in itself is a conflict between pro- and anti-inflammatory responsiveness where concessions have to be made to allow reproduction as well as defense. Furthermore we argue that evolutionary programming of the inflammatory response might underlie age-related diseases as observed in populations living under affluent conditions. It is arbitrary how to measure an innate immune response ex vivo, that reflects a general response mode irrespective the type of pathogen involved. In Chapter 3 a method is described to test innate tendency of immune activation. The assay is also validated. Given the fact that bacteria and other pathogens normally use several TLRs together to induce an immune response, we argue that mixed stimulation of both TLR2 and TLR4 receptors gives a broader view of an immune response than with the usual assay on a single TLR-agonist. Compared to variability of cytokine production in the Netherlands, we show that ex vivo IL10 production is comparable. Therefore we suggest that in Ghana IL10 is highly genetically regulated. TNF_, on the other hand, is more prone to variation in general, but especially in Ghana and might be more dependent on environmental modulation. In Chapter 4 we compared age-related cytokine production in adverse and affluent conditions. When measured cross-sectionally, IL10 production decreases with age in the Netherlands and in Ghana. TNF_ production decreases with age in the Netherlands, but remained equal over all age-categories in Ghana or, dependent on the stimulation, increased with age. We conclude that the decline in innate cytokine responses is an intrinsic ageing phenomenon, while pathogen exposure and/or selective survival may drive pro-inflammatory responses under adverse living conditions. As TLR2 and TLR4 are important recognition receptors for a large set of pathogens, it might be that variation in these receptors results in different induction of innate immune responses and selective survival. In Chapter 5 we report that at the end of the TLR4 gene there was variation that associated with higher ex vivo LPS-induced IL10 production. None of the variants in TLR2 or TLR4 however were associated with P. falciparum infection or survival. As the prevalence of malaria was high in this area, we conclude that it is likely that in contrast to other studies, these genetic variants do not play a role in disease state and outcome of infection. Another pathogen receptor is PTX3. It is not only involved in recognition of pathogens, but also in the formation of the extracellular matrix of the oocyte. Therefore it might be crucial for female fertility. In Chapter 6 we assess whether genetic variation in PTX3 production is associated with life-time reproductive success. We found genetic variants in PTX3 that associated with higher PTX3 production capacity ex vivo and increased fertility and vice versa. We found no evidence for selective survival of genetic variants. We conclude that PTX3 is important for human fertility, whereas no concessions were made with regard to survival. In Chapter 7 we asses the role of IL10 in survival. We report on genetic variation in the IL10 gene that associated with lower IL10 and higher TNF_ production. Carriers of these genetic variants had a higher survival chance when living under adverse conditions. However, survival chances of these variants decreased when people had access to clean drinking water. We conclude to have found evidence that adverse environmental conditions favor selection for a pro-inflammatory response pattern. Show less
Bodegom, David van; Rozing, Maarten; May, Linda; Kuningas, Maris; Thomese, Fleur; Meij, Hans; Westendorp, Rudi 2010
In a recent issue of this journal, Herndon [1] discussed the grandmother hypothesis and its implications for studies on cognitive ageing. According to this hypothesis, the long post-reproductive... Show moreIn a recent issue of this journal, Herndon [1] discussed the grandmother hypothesis and its implications for studies on cognitive ageing. According to this hypothesis, the long post-reproductive life span in human females is an adaptive mechanism that evolved to maximize female fitness by investing resources in the care of their grandchildren rather than by continuing to reproduce themselves. From this, Herndon deduces that special cognitive robustness to be maintained until after the age of menopause must have coevolved because grandmothers can only exert the beneficial effect if their cognitive abilities remain intact. He therefore pleas to compare cognitive ageing in humans with other primates, especially chimpanzees, because they lack a long post-reproductive life span and would therefore not have evolved this cognitive robustness. Here, we question the important role of grandmothers in our evolutionary past, first because of the different family structures during this time and second because of the low number of females that actually lived to experience a post-reproductive lifespan. We also show that in a population that reflects our evolutionary past, grandmothers do not have an important role for child survival. Finally, we react on the implications for the study of cognitive ageing as put forward by Herndon. Show less
