# s-evol: closer to gorillas

<< Surprising  results  from  a  new  study  reveal the  heel bone  from  our  fossil relative  is  closer  related  to  gorillas. >>

<< The  new study  that  for  the  first  time  examined  the  internal  anatomy  of a  fossil  human  relative’s  heel  bone,  or  calcaneus,  shows  greater similarities  with  gorillas  than  chimpanzees >>

Wits  University. More  gorilla  than  chimp. 11  Aug 2016.

https://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/research-news/2016/2016-08/more-gorilla-than-chimp.html

Angel Zeininger, Biren A. Patel, et al. Trabecular architecture in the StW 352 fossil hominin calcaneus. Journal of Human Evolution. Volume 97, Aug. 2016, Pages 145–158. doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2016.05.009.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2016.05.009

# s-brain: gut feeling; brain and gut connected by neural networks

<< The study demonstrates that the immune system might be controlled using drugs originally designed to target the nervous system, such as antipsychotics. >>

Duke  University. Targeting  the  gut-brain  connection  can impact  immunity. Drugs  aimed  at  nervous  system  act  on  immune  system  as  well. Public Release 11-Aug-2016 

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-08/du-ttg080916.php

Xiou Cao, Alejandro Aballay. Neural Inhibition of Dopaminergic Signaling Enhances Immunity in a Cell-Non-autonomous Manner. Current Biology, August 2016 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.06.036

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2016.06.036

# s-ageing: the long (and slow) life of Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) ...

<< Greenland  sharks  live  at  least  as  long  as 400  years,  and  they  reach  sexual  maturity at  the  age  of  about  150,  a  new  study reports.  The  results  place  Greenland sharks  as  the  longest-lived  vertebrates  on Earth.  The  Greenland  shark  (Somniosus microcephalus)  is  widely  distributed across  the  North  Atlantic,  with  adults reaching  lengths  of  400  to  500  centimeters (13  to  16  feet).  The  biology  of  the Greenland  shark  is  poorly  understood,  yet their  extremely  slow  growth  rates,  at  about 1  cm per  year,  hint  that  these  fish  benefit from  exceptional  longevity. >>

AAAS. Winner  of  the  longest-lived  vertebrate award  goes  to... Public release 11-Aug-2016

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-08/aaft-wot080816.php

Julius  Nielsen, Rasmus B. Hedeholm, et al.  Eye  lens  radiocarbon  reveals  centuries  of  longevity  in  the  Greenland  shark  (Somniosus microcephalus). Science. 12  Aug  2016: Vol.  353,  Issue  6300,  pp.  702-704 DOI:  10.1126/science.aaf1703.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaf1703

# s-brain: imprinting and recalling inside a single network of brain cells with thin beam of light (as if switching on a TV ) ...

<< a set of neurons trained to fire in unison could be reactivated as much as a day later if just one neuron in the network was stimulated. >>

AA <<  injected the mouse with a virus containing light-sensitive proteins engineered to reach specific brain cells. Once inside a cell, the proteins allowed researchers to remotely activate the neuron with light, as if switching on a TV >>

<< But then I saw the results and said "Holy moly, this whole thing is plastic". We're dealing with a plastic computer that's constantly learning and changing >>  Rafael Yuste.

Researchers Reprogram Network of Brain Cells in Mice With Thin Beam of Light. Neuroscience News. August 11, 2016

http://neurosciencenews.com/optogenetics-brain-plasticity-4832/

Luis Carrillo-Reid, Weijian Yang, et al. Imprinting and recalling cortical ensembles. Science.12 Aug 2016: Vol. 353,  Issue  6300,  pp.  691-694 DOI:  10.1126/science.aaf7560.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/353/6300/691

# s-brain: growing mini human brains (3D midbrain-like organoids) ...

AA << developed a method to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells into a large multicellular organoid-like structure that contains distinct layers of neuronal cells expressing characteristic markers of human midbrain. >>

AA << detected electrically active and functionally mature mDA (midbrain dopaminergic) neurons and dopamine production in 3D midbrain-like organoids (MLOs). In contrast to human mDA neurons generated using 2D methods or MLOs generated from mouse embryonic stem cells, (AA) human MLOs produced neuromelanin-like granules that were structurally similar to those isolated from human substantia nigra tissues. >>

AA <<  MLOs bearing features of the human midbrain may provide a tractable in vitro system to study the human midbrain and its related diseases. >>

Junghyun Jo, Yixin Xiao, et al. Midbrain-like Organoids from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells Contain Functional Dopaminergic and Neuromelanin-Producing Neurons. Cell Stem Cell. Volume 19, Issue 2, p248–257, 4 August 2016. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stem.2016.07.005

http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/abstract/S1934-5909(16)30200-4

also:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/07/160730154504.htm

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/singapore-scientists-grow-mini-brains

# s-behav: bringing chocolate (among Pisaura mirabilis) ...

AA << reinvestigated whether nuptial gifts may function as a shield against female attacks during mating encounters in the spider Pisaura mirabilis and whether female hunger influences the likelihood of cannibalistic attacks. The results showed that pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism was enhanced when males courted without a gift and this was independent of female hunger. >>

Soren Toft, Maria J. Albo. The shield effect: nuptial gifts protect males against pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism. The Royal Society. Biology Letters. Published 18 May 2016.DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2015.1082

http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/12/5/20151082

Susan Milius.To prevent cannibalism, bring chocolate. The romantic gifts of nursery web spiders will work as self-defense.   July 26, 2016 9:00AM

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/prevent-cannibalism-bring-chocolate

FonT: in teoria di sistemi si potrebbe, dopo appropriata analisi delle dinamiche  "sottotraccia",  esportare questo complesso  comportamentale allo scopo di   "modellizzare altrove", vale a dire all'interno di contesti altri ...; in tali casi sarebbe opportuno estendere, dilatare oppure  sostituire il termine  "cannibalism" in funzione delle differenti situazioni testate ...;

more:

about safety waves ... http://flashontrack.blogspot.it/2016/01/rmx-s-behav-bizzarre-paddle-game-about.html

# s-astro: and come out the other side

<< One  of  the  biggest  problems  when  studying  black  holes  is  that  the  laws  of  physics  as  we  know them  cease  to  apply  in  their  deepest  regions.  Large  quantities  of  matter  and  energy  concentrate in  an  infinitely  small  space,  the  gravitational  singularity,  where  space-time  curves  towards  infinity and  all  matter  is  destroyed.  Or  is  it?  A  recent  study  (..)  suggests  that  matter  might  in  fact  survive  its  foray  into these  space  objects  and  come  out  the  other  side. >>

Do  black  holes  have  a  back  door?  R&I World. 9 Aug 2016.

http://ruvid.org/ri-world/black-holes-might-have-a-back-door/

Gonzalo  J  Olmo ,  D  Rubiera-Garcia   and  A  Sanchez-Puente. Impact  of  curvature  divergences  on  physical observers  in  a  wormhole  space–time  with  horizons.  Classical  and  Quantum  Gravity,  Volume  33,  Number  11. Published  28  April  2016.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0264-9381/33/11/115007