Les théories évolutives du vieillissement et la théorie du «disposable soma» en particulier ont été la base théorique d'une avance récente de recherche sur le vieillissement animal. Pourtant, leur hypothèse centrale sur la physiologie de l'entretien et de la réparation cellulaires n'a pas été testée empiriquement. Dans cette thèse, j'ai analysé la physiologie du vieillissement de Escherichia coli sous restriction de carbone, en tant que système modèle pour valider empiriquement les théories évolutives du vieillissement. Les outils microfluidiques sont utilisés pour isoler de larges populations de cellules isolées de E. coli et pour obtenir une restriction carbonée homogène. Malgré le partage de la même génétique et des conditions environnementales, les cellules individuelles de la population présentent des variations significatives de la durée de vie et de cause de décès. Les distributions de durée de vie présentent des caractéristiques typiques du processus de vieillissement, souvent observées en études démographiques animales et humaines. Le taux de vieillissement peut être modifié par des mutations de la réponse générale au stress. Comme la longévité induite par la restriction calorique, la réponse générale au stress prolonge la durée de vie d'E.coli en atténuant l'effet du vieillissement au détriment des besoins immédiats des cellules. Un modèle quantitatif de ce compromis physiologique est construit et correctement prédit des observations expérimentales. En conclusion, je confirme la théorie du «disposable soma» du vieillissement avec les détails physiologiques du vieillissement de E.coli en famine. / The evolutionary theories of aging and the disposable soma theory in particular, have been the theoretical basis for a recent surge of animal aging research. Yet their central assumption about the physiology of cellular maintenance and repair has not been empirically tested. In this thesis, I analysed the physiology of E.coli aging under carbon starvation, as a model system to empirically validate evolutionary theories of aging. Microfluidic tools are used to isolate large populations of isogenic single E.coli cells, and to achieve homogenous carbon starvation. Despite sharing the same genetical background and environmental conditions, individual cells in the population exhibit significant variations in lifespans and causes of death. Distributions of lifespans exhibit typical features of the aging process, often seen in animal and human demographic studies. The rate of aging can be altered by mutations of the general stress response pathway. Resembling caloric restriction induced longevity, the general stress response pathway extends starvation lifespans of E.coli by attenuating the effect of aging at the expense of immediate needs of the cells. A quantitative model of this physiological trade-off is constructed and correctly predicted experimental observations. As a conclusion, I substantiate the disposable soma theory of aging with the physiological details of E.coli aging in starvation.

Prehistoric cultures are often studied by intrasite artifact variation and quantity without much consideration of how prehistoric populations interacted locally and regionally. Archaeologists can identify and study patterns associated with activities within a specified radius in order to gain an understanding of cultural operations. Identifying a social framework for a prehistoric society allows the investigation of group organization such as status differentiation, shared rituals, and the construction and maintenance of earthworks and living areas. That facilities were constructed for specialized use within a community is evidenced by the presence of earthworks and mounds at many sites (Lewis et al. 1998:16-17). Less well understood is how community patterns reflect social organization. The purpose of this thesis is to better document the number and distribution of structures at Lyon’s Bluff, a Mississippian to Protohistoric-period mound site in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. The focus will be on the last part of the occupation at the site, i.e., on materials recovered from the plowzone. A method employing molluscan remains and sedimentological evidence is used that allows for the delineation of structure locales using plowzone samples. Additional evidence is provided by artifact distributions and geophysical (magnetic gradiometer) data.

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This paper explores Ted Chiang's novella "Seventy-Two Letters" and the way in which it combines genres, scientific and historical ideas in an effort to examine topics about life and creation. The combinations result in an intriguing representation of a history which is then made different and where Chiang can creatively challenge past ideas. Research by Foucault and Gillian Beer yielded insight into how historic and scientific concepts from biology in the nineteenth century became a culture's dominant understanding of life. Lakoff and Johnson argue that concepts are metaphorical in nature and Chiang skillfully incorporates metaphors to examine the creative force of language in the story. Darwin's theory of evolution is used as a conceptual framework and incorporated with older and outdated theories like preformation and recapitulation to speculate about how life can be created. The resulting effect is a layered and complex story that engages the readers' critical awareness of fictional and factual worlds alike.

Biologische Evolutionstheorie erklärt die sukzessive Veränderung von Arten durch Vererbung und wurde erstmalig von Charles Darwin umfassend formuliert. Die Rezeption durch die Genderforschung umfasst diskursanalytische Studien und die Methodenkritik feministischer Biowissenschaftler_innen. Konkrete Bezugspunkte stellen dabei die sexuelle Selektion, naturalisierende Thesen der Soziobiologie und der evolutionären Psychologie sowie die Rolle des Essentialismus in der Evolutionstheorie Darwins dar.

Studi condotti sulla crisi finanziaria del 2007-09 e la recessione economica hanno evidenziato l’inadeguatezza delle teorie predominanti e la loro inefficacia nel proporre adeguate soluzioni di policy. La presenza di moneta bancaria nell’economia e di un sistema finanziario caratterizzato da innovazione finanziaria e speculazione modificano profondamente la natura stessa del processo di credit creation. Una nuova prospettiva sulla relazione tra finanza e crescita economica necessita essere sviluppata cercando di colmare le lacune esistenti tra New Growth Theory e Evolutionary Theory, come J.A. Schumpeter (1934) e altri studiosi hanno evidenziato. I fattori strutturali sono alla base della persistente instabilita` finanziaria nell’economia. Questo studio tenta di spiegare l’ipotesi che sta alla base dell’intera analisi circa il passaggio avutosi nell'impianto strutturale dell'economia da un virtuous cycle ad un bad cycle, e dimostrare l’esistenza di cio` che definiamo wealth trap, la quale e` ipotizzata essere conseguenza di un sistema finanziario tecnologicamente avanzato, ma non socialmente avanzato. Un modello non lineare ad Agenti (AMB) chiamato BFSE (Based-line Financial System Economy) mostra , tramite la sperimentazione sul modello ICEACE(Erlingsson et al., 2011), evidenze sulla centralita` del sistema finanziario e dell’esistenza del bad cycle. Una discussione sulle macroprudential policies e le politiche strutturali e` introdotta. / Studies of the 2007-09 credit crisis and the resulting recession have revealed the inadequacy of the predominant theoretical frameworks and their failure to propose adequate policy solutions. The presence in the economy of bank money and a financial system characterized by financial innovation and speculation changes the nature of credit creation. As J.A. Schumpeter (1934) and others scholars have recognized, a new perspective on the financial-growth relationship needs to be developed by filling the gaps in New Growth Theory and Evolutionary Theory - two Sons of Schumpeter - and in some way combining them. Structural factors are at the bottom of the persistence of the financial instability in the economy. The goal of this research is to explain the main hypothesis of the historical passage of the economy from a virtuous to a bad cycle and to show the existence of the wealth trap, which is a consequence of a high-technologically advanced financial system within the economic system. A non-linear ABM (Agent Based Model) called BFSE provides, through experimentation using ICEACE model (Erlingsson et al., 2011), interesting evidences of the centrality of the financial system and the bad cycle. Macroprudential and structural policies are introduced.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Parting from Schumpeter s determinants of investment, an Evolutionary Theory is developed and with a base on the gene, identifying elements that encode routines and develop skills, establishing control, copying and imitation. Scientific technological knowledge, thus generated, can be created or replicated locally, creating what is called a "cluster of knowledge", leading to a dynamic Local Base of Innovation. A Federal Institution (FI) has two complementary roles: training human resources and accumulating techno-scientific knowledge to contribute to the implementation of a local socio-economy. These functions require a pattern of financing, which on the internal side, are derived by the application of "models of partition of OCC (Other Expenses and Capital)" by MEC / SESu determined by the Student-Equivalent Model, that is insufficient to take account the expansion plans of IFES. On the other hand, IFES seek external support to complement funding limitations via Projects, Programs, Parliamentary Amendments, among others, as was the case with UFS. To give consistency to our analysis, the case of the UFS was investigated, by historically analyzing results of approximately 10 years based on critical variables and parameters that make up the Student-Equivalent Model. We detected, despite the rapid growth of these variables, that elements of external and extra-budgetary partnerships were essential, illustrated by the examples of the NUPEG-SE and REUNI. The patterns of internal funding, allied by external partnerships, helped pave the way to consolidate UFS in its role as the Base of Local Innovation. / A partir dos determinantes Schumpeterianos do Investimento, desenvolvemos a Teoria Evolucionária e, com base no gene, apontamos os elementos que codificam a rotina e desenvolvem habilidades, estabelecendo o controle, a cópia e a imitação. O conhecimento científico-tecnológico, assim gerado, pode ser criado ou replicado localmente, originando o chamado cluster de conhecimento , dinamizando uma Base Local de Inovação. Uma Instituição Federal de Esnsino Superior (IFES) cumpre dois papéis complementares: formar recursos humanos e aportar conhecimentos tecnicocientíficos para a implementação de uma socioeconomia local. Essas funções exigem um padrão de financiamento que, pelo lado interno, resultam na aplicação de modelos de partição de OCC (Outros Custeios e Capital) pelo MEC/ SESu, sendo determinante o Aluno Equivalente ao se mostrar insuficiente para dar conta das pretensões de expansão das IFES . Por outro lado, as IFES buscam apoio externo e complementares para as suas carências de financiamento, mediante projetos, programas, emendas parlamentares, entre outras, como foi o caso da UFS. Para dar consistência à nossa análise aprofundamos o caso da UFS, recuperando historicamente, numa trajetória aproximada de 10 anos, as variáveis críticas e os parâmetros que compõem o Modelo Aluno-Equivalente. Detectamos, apesar do vigor de crescimento, que foram essenciais os elementos de parcerias externas e extra-orçamentárias, como o NUPEG-SE e o REUNI. Os padrões de financiamento interno, aliado às parcerias permitiram pavimentar o papel da UFS, para consolidação da Base Local de Inovação.

Biologische Evolutionstheorie erklärt die sukzessive Veränderung von Arten durch Vererbung und wurde erstmalig von Charles Darwin umfassend formuliert. Die Rezeption durch die Genderforschung umfasst diskursanalytische Studien und die Methodenkritik feministischer Biowissenschaftler_innen. Konkrete Bezugspunkte stellen dabei die sexuelle Selektion, naturalisierende Thesen der Soziobiologie und der evolutionären Psychologie sowie die Rolle des Essentialismus in der Evolutionstheorie Darwins dar.

This thesis is an exploratory look into the use of mindfulness practice on in-depth nature experiences to determine if the practice has benefit to the participant, their outdoor experience, and overall connectedness with nature. An original research project examined three groups of adolescents from St. Michaels University School Outdoor Education program in Victoria, BC, Canada, as they hiked the Juan de Fuca trail. Two of the three groups undertook a simple mindfulness protocol to explore the outcomes. Based on participant-observation and interviews, mindfulness practice was determined to be a useful practice towards alleviating stress and anxiety associated with aspects of in-depth outdoor experiences, such as morning preparations. Participants who practiced mindfulness on the trip asked fewer questions about the future and remained present more often than those who did not practice mindfulness. A further finding was that there are aspects of mindfulness inherent in in-depth nature experiences, such as sitting around a fire. These inherent mindfulness moments should be encouraged as they provide benefit to trip experiences, and potentially towards greater connectedness with nature. Overall, this qualitative study suggests that mindfulness is a useful tool for the benefit of human well-being and nature connection. However, more research is needed to further identify the magnitude and mechanisms of the benefit. / Graduate