Category Archives: Evolution

The species of turtle involved in the study is Apalone spinifera, a species of freshwater turtles native to North America. But the researchers say their findings shed light on the evolutionary role of sex chromosome dosage compensation in many species. Credit: Nicole Valenzuela

A new study led by an Iowa State University scientist sheds light on how organisms have evolved to address imbalances in sex chromosomes.

The study looks at a species of softshell turtle, but the results could help to illuminate an important evolutionary process in many species, said Nicole Valenzuela, professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology and lead author of the study.

Many organisms determine their sex by a pair of specialized chromosomes that appear in virtually every cell of an organisms body. A matched pair of chromosomes results in one sex, while a mismatched pair results in another sex. For instance, in humans and many other species, sex chromosomes are referred to as X and Y. Typically, two X chromosomes result in a female while XY chromosomes result in males. These chromosomes also contain the genetic codes for the production of essential proteins, and the disproportion in chromosomes in XY individuals caused by them carrying only a single X for every pair of non-sex chromosomes (called autosomes) can lead to an imbalance in the production of proteins. The study sheds light on how organisms have evolved to address such imbalances through a process called sex chromosome dosage compensation, or SCDC.

The study focused on a species of softshell turtle known as Apalone spinifera, which are among the largest of freshwater turtles and inhabit a large portion of North America, including Iowa. But the research could help scientists understand the process in other organisms as well. The study also could generate better understanding of how disease can arise if the SCDC process doesnt function correctly.

Understanding the diversity of SCDC mechanisms in nature, how they happen and evolve, informs more broadly on how animals and humans compensate for gene dose imbalance, and why the failure to properly compensate for these differences leads to disease states, Valenzuela said.

The study was published this week in the peer-reviewed scientific journalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.

What is sex chromosome dosage compensation?

Sex chromosome dosage compensation comes into play for individuals who have mismatched sex chromosomes. In the case of the softshell turtles included in the study, the sex chromosomes are referred to as Z and W, and its the females of the species who have mismatched, or ZW, chromosomes. That mismatch means they lack a second copy of the Z chromosome, unlike their male counterparts who have two Z chromosomes.

The Z chromosomes contain instructions for some of the proteins normally functioning cells should produce, and having only a single copy of a chromosome can result in a reduced amount of proteins produced, because protein production is often affected by the number of gene copies. More copies means more protein production. Thus, unevenness in the number of copies of genes that work together can lead to developmental, physiological or other disorders. But SCDC mechanisms work to upregulate, or increase the level, of protein production from genes in the single Z (or X) chromosomes. The importance of maintaining a proper balance is made evident by diseases caused by abnormal numbers of sex chromosomes, including Klinefelter syndrome and Turner syndrome in humans, and Valenzuela said these processes have evolutionary and health implications in many other organisms as well.

Valenzuela and her co-authors sampled softshell turtles at various stages of development, including embryos, young hatchlings and adults, and analyzed various tissues to determine which genes were activated. The researchers then compared the activity of genes from sex chromosomes and from autosomes, broken down by male and female turtles.

The study represents not only the first such study to analyze sex chromosome dosage compensation in turtles, but the findings also show that remarkably, temperature appears to affect the SCDC process in the turtles. Valenzuela has studied temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), or the way environmental temperatures influence whether a turtle embryo develops into a male or female in species that lack sex chromosomes, in previous research. But because softshell turtles lost this ancestral TSD system, this thermal sensitivity in the SCDC came as a surprise, she said. And the way in which softshell turtles carry out SCDC is also unusual and complex.

The study found that both sexes of softshell turtles double the activity of the Zs in early embryonic development, which fixes the expression imbalance in ZW females (twice Z expression now matches autosomal expression). But this same response creates an imbalance in males (Z expression now doubles autosomal expression). At later embryonic stages, male Z expression decreases, and this effect is more pronounced at cooler than at warmer incubation temperatures, according to the study. Valenzuela said the new study is likely the first to show that temperature can impact SCDC not just in turtles, or in animals, but as broadly as in eukaryotes, or organisms in which genetic material is contained in a cell nucleus. Eukaryotic species include a huge range of organisms, including animals, plants and fungi.

Reference: 25 July 2021, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.

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How Organisms Have Evolved To Address Imbalances in Sex Chromosomes - SciTechDaily

The Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising has teamed up with the American Federation of Arts on an exhibition that explores the evolution of sporting fashion.

Called Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960, the exhibition explores how womens sporting attire has changed over a 160-year period and the progression of technology that came with making sportswear. The show, inspired by a 1940s scarf that was inscribed with the phrase Outdoorgirl, features illustrations of women engaged in 13 different sporting activities. The exhibition was brought to life through the use of authentic activewear pieces from labels including Champion, Chanel, Balenciaga and more that were current during that specific time. The exhibit is meticulously curated to show the progression of sporting fashion with new ideas, technologies, social growth and more that ultimately represent the new woman of each decade.

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The exhibition debuted this month at The Frick Pittsburgh and will travel to seven institutions across the country through 2024.

Speaking with FIDM curator Kevin Jones, FN was able to learn in intimate detail about the curation process, how gender roles come into play in the sporting fashion world and more. Jones affirmed, however, that this project is not meant to compare women from different time periods, but to showcase how they were all modern women.

Archery in the 1820s. - Credit: Courtesy of FIDM

Courtesy of FIDM

Its easy to think of todays activewear as liberal or updated, but Jones said that What is liberal in one era is not necessarily considered liberal later on. Every woman in this project was the modern woman.

The exhibition also answers the question as to how colors play a part in womens outdoor fashion and how that has changed today. We start our project in 1800 because of the availability of garments that have survived and so we see that in the 19th century the color theory of what is meant for boys and girls was the reverse of what we think today, said Jones. Girls were actually dressed in blue and boys wore more pink. Pink was considered a lighter shade of red, which was an aggressive color whereas blue was soft to the eyes and often associated with the Virgin Mary.

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Cheerleading with Spalding sweater int he 1900s. - Credit: Courtesy of FIDM

Courtesy of FIDM

Baseball in the 1930s. - Credit: Courtesy of FIDM

Courtesy of FIDM

Jones noted that there is a shift that happened in the 1920s and 1930s where boys began to wear blue and girls were sporting pink. He also reveals that when it comes to sporting fashion, colors were also determined by the activity.

If a woman was out hunting you, of course, wear colors that blended into your surroundings, but with golf, you could have bright greens, Saturday reds. All throughout sporting fashion, weve got tons of color combinations, he said.

Furthermore, colors in activewear were also determined by what colors were fashionable at the time.

You think of the 1870s and thats when synthetic dyes became very popular, said Jones. This was really avant-garde, as that was a modern technology because, before that, it was natural dyes.

The exhibition also explores the craze surrounding the idea of sporting attire worn by women who werent athletes. (Today, we see that as celebrities wear biker shorts to grab coffee).

Swimming in the 1950s. - Credit: Courtesy of FIDM

Courtesy of FIDM

Jones said that wearing activewear in a more lifestyle manner emerged at universities for women in the 1890s, where they were only around each other and could wear what they wanted when it came to playing sports.

There were no men around; it was a lot more liberal for the women in what they could wear on the court. Its not that women were dressing down, they were just in a much more relaxed atmosphere, Jones explained.

Jones shared that this idea of dressing more casually carried into the 1920s, when it came to beachwear. Its not exactly what we think of when we say athleisure today, but its the genesis. It started with beachwear as women wore pants more, he said.

Traveling boots from 1865. - Credit: Courtesy of FIDM

Courtesy of FIDM

As stated in the name, the exhibition documents fashion from 1800 to 1960, but that doesnt mean that sporting fashion has ended.

[Sporting fashion] doesnt stop. What happened is that we found that everything that a woman needed when it comes to sportswear has been designed. We have women playing lacrosse, basketball, hockey, cycling and spectating. Women are doing it all and theyve got the garments to do so, Jones said.

He added, These are not dead clothes. [Weve] noticed through the process that good design is good design, and while they may have been used differently in the past, they are still of use today as the entire world has become a sportswear world.

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FIDM Explores the Evolution of Sportswear With New Exhibit Sporting Fashion: Outdoor Girls 1800 to 1960 - Yahoo Lifestyle

IRVINE, Calif., July 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kareo 2021 State of the Independent Practice report,a semi-annual survey that has become a principal source of information on the under-studied independent healthcare arena, reveals a far more optimistic, dynamic and growth-oriented prediction for small to mid-sized practices than could have been foreseen at the beginning of 2020. Download the report here.

The survey data discovered:

According to the report, this positive outlook can be attributed to multiple factors, many of them involving technology.

Dan Rodrigues, founder and CEO of Kareo, the leading provider of cloud-based clinical and practice management software for independent practices, stated, "Early in 2020, independent practices, like all small businesses, were suffering with declining visits and revenues and in many cases, being forced to close their doors for weeks or often months. A pulse survey conducted by Kareo in June 2020 found that 75% of independent practice respondents reported a decline in patient volumes, threatening this critical segment of the healthcare industry."

Rodrigues continued, "However, contrary to expectations, independent practices actually ended the year on an upswing. The data revealed that a renewed focus on the needs of their patients and a rapid, nimble adoption of technology solutions is what allowed practices to maintain and even enhance their patient relationships. The most significant of these technologies was telehealth."

Prior to the pandemic, telehealth was a slowly adopted technology that many providers felt was a "nice-to-have" someday. In fact:

This dramatic adoption of telehealth was received mostly positively by independent healthcare providers, but also by their patients who were required to learn to use telehealth platforms to receive care and saw the benefit of the technology as a result.

While delivering care is always a high priority for independent practices, as shown in 2019 when 50% of participants cited it as their primary focus, in the 2021 report, that number has grown to 71%. This suggests that practitioners have a reinforced understanding of their role in patients' lives and health, perhaps prompted by the pandemic, as well as an increasing recognition of the consumerization of healthcare. As patients have assumed greater responsibility for their own healthcare costs, often due to an increased use of high deductible health plans, they have also exerted more active choice in finding providers that meet their expectations.

For more information about how providers feel about using technology in their practices in 2021 and other interesting insights from Kareo's recent survey, download the Kareo 2021 State of the Independent Practice report here.

About KareoKareois the only cloud-based and complete medical technology platform purpose-built to meet the unique needs of independent practices and the billing companiesthat serve them. Today Kareo helps more than 75,000 providers across all 50 states run a more efficient and profitable practice, while setting them up to deliver outstanding patient care. With oices across the country, Kareo's mission is to help independent practices and the billing companies that support them succeed in an ever-changing healthcare market. More information can be found atwww.kareo.com.

Contact: Lindsay Thompson Strategies[emailprotected]714-656-0141Cell: 949-280-5854

SOURCE Kareo

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Kareo Survey Shows the Evolution of Independent Healthcare Practices Using Technology and Their Outlook for the Future - PRNewswire

Boston Dynamics has come a long way from their introduction of BigDog.

When you think of robots, you most definitely think of Boston Dynamics. The firm has throughout the years produced more and more robots that can do everything from washing the dishes to doing gymnastics.

Their initial models featured some setbacks like BigDog, which was deemed too loud for combat use.But with each new development, they became more and more adept at making more practical robots.

Cheetah and WildCat were running robots based on canines, as their names indicate. In 2009, Boston Dynamics introduced PETMAN, the firms first humanoid robot developed to test the performance of protective military gear against chemical warfare agents.

But Boston Dynamics would only really progress with the arrival of the now-famous Spot in 2015.

Spot can climb terrains, avoid obstacles, see 360-degrees, and perform several programmed tasks. Recently, Spot was even given an arm enabling it to do a variety of tasks, such as picking up fragile objects, opening doors, and even doing the laundry.

Then there was Altlas that came with stereo vision and range sensors that allow it to navigate and manipulate objects, Handle, a combination of wheels and legs, and Strech, a commercial version of Handle designed to move boxes in a warehouse.

In June, Hyundai officially acquired Boston Dynamics. What will this change mean for robotics? We explore the answer and more in our video.

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The Impressive Evolution of Boston Dynamics Robots - Interesting Engineering

Jane Fonda is no stranger to a red carpet. Having been in the limelight since the early 1960s, her style has evolved from swinging mini-skirts to flowing sequinned gowns, with plenty of eye-catching jewels along the way.

A regular on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet, the actress, 83, is known for her penchant for a floor-length, fitted gown, in a rainbow of colours, including pink, yellow, red, green and white. Although she has a handful of favourite designers, including Balmain, Versace and Valentino, she has also sported designs by the likes of Badgley Mischka, Marchesa, Elie Saab and Brandon Maxwell in the past.

Click through the gallery above to chart Jane Fonda's style journey since 1962.

More recently, Fonda is known for her star turn in sitcom series Grace and Frankie; the mid-noughties comedy, Monster-in-Law, in which she starred alongside Jennifer Lopez; and her earlier work, including Barbarella. She has also been in the news throughout her career for her activism, backing a number of causes, including human rights, environmental and gender rights causes.

Fonda has also made an environmental statement through fashion, vowing to never buy another garment of clothing.

True to her word, for the 2020 Academy Awards, she chose to repeat a rich red beaded gown by Lebanese designer Elie Saab, which she first wore six years earlier on the 2014 Cannes Film Festival red carpet. For the Oscars, she paired the look with a red coat, which she later wore to a climate change protest at the US Capitol.

You see this coat? I needed something red and I went out and found this coat on sale. This is the last article of clothing that I will ever buy, she told a crowd during the protest in March 2020. When I talk to people about, We dont really need to keep shopping. We shouldnt look to shopping for our identity. We dont need more stuff, then I have to walk the walk too, so Im not buying any more clothes.

Updated: July 26th 2021, 5:19 AM

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

RESULTS - ELITE MEN

1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:032. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:093. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:254. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:345. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:406. Joao Silva (POR) 57:457. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:568. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:579. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:5810. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

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Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Director:Paul WeitzStars: Kevin Hart3/5 stars

Our legal consultants

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Our legal consultants

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Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position:legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position:legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position:legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position:legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position:legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position:legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position:legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position:legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position:legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position:legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position:legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position:legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Our legal consultants

Name:Hassan Mohsen Elhais

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Jane Fonda's style evolution in 47 photos: from red carpets to protests - The National

Photo: Parthenon, by George E. Koronaios, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Editors note: Is a series, Casey Luskin is reviewingSapiens,by Yuval Noah Harari. Look here forPart 1andPart 2.

In myprevious postreviewing historian Yuval Noah Hararis 2015 bookSapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, I ended by noting his staunchly materialistic outlook specifically where he wrote, There are no gods in the universe, no nations, no money, no human rights, no laws, and no justice outside the common imagination of human beings. (p. 28) This is not just a piece of inconsequential trivia about his worldview it forms the basis of many other crucial claims in the book.

For example, Harari assumes that religion evolved by natural processes and in no way reflects some kind of design or revelation from a God. In fact, one of his central arguments is that religion evolved when humanity produced myths which fostered group cooperation and survival. Harari spends a lot of time developing this argument. Here are some key excerpts from the book:

Legends, myths, gods and religions appeared for the first time with the Cognitive Revolution. Many animals and human species could previously say, Careful! A lion! Thanks to the Cognitive Revolution,Homo sapiensacquired the ability to say, The lion is the guardian spirit of our tribe. This ability to speak about fictions is the most unique feature of Sapiens language.

[F]iction has enabled us not merely to imagine things, but to do so collectively. We can weave common myths such as the biblical creation story, the Dreamtime myths of Aboriginal Australians, and the nationalist myths of modern states. Such myths give Sapiens the unprecedented ability to cooperate flexibly in large numbers.

How didHomo sapiensmanage to cross this critical threshold, eventually founding cities comprising tens of thousands of inhabitants and empires ruling hundreds of millions? The secret was probably the appearance of fiction. Large numbers of strangers can cooperate successfully by believing in common myths. Any large-scale human cooperation whether a modern state, a medieval church, an ancient city or an archaic tribe is rooted in common myths that exist only in peoples collective imagination. Churches are rooted in common religious myths. Two Catholics who have never met can nevertheless go together on crusade or pool funds to build a hospital because they both believe that God was incarnated in human flesh and allowed Himself to be crucified to redeem our sins. States are rooted in common national myths.

Despite the lack of such biological instincts, during the foraging era, hundreds of strangers were able to cooperate thanks to their shared myths.

Myths, it transpired, are stronger than anyone could have imagined. When the Agricultural Revolution opened opportunities for the creation of crowded cities and mighty empires, people invented stories about great gods, motherlands and joint stock companies to provide the needed social links. While human evolution was crawling at its usual snails pace, the human imagination was building astounding networks of mass cooperation, unlike any other ever seen on earth.

Thus if Harari is correct, then religion was not designed, but is a behavior which evolved naturally because it fostered shared myths which allowed societies to better cooperate, increasing their chances of survival. This view grows out of his no gods in the universe perspective because it implies that religion was not revealed to humanity, but rather evolved.

Harari is undoubtedly correct that shared beliefs or myths, as he pejoratively calls them facilitate group cooperation, and this fosters survival. But this is anobservationabout shared beliefs, myths, and religion, not anexplanationfor them. And it is quite easy for a design-based model to account for these observations in a manner that requires no unguided evolution. Heres what it might look like:

Perhaps shared myths that foster friendship, fellowship, and cooperation among human beings were not the result of random evolution or pure chance (as Harari describes our cognitive evolution), but rather reflect the intended state of human society as it was designed by a benevolent creator. If this is the case, then large-scale human cooperation, as Harari puts it, might be the intentional result of large-scale shared religious beliefs in a society a useful emergent property that was intended by a designer for a society that doesnt lose its religious cohesion. In other words, these benefits may be viewednotas the accidental byproduct of evolution but as intended for a society that pursues shared spirituality.

Harari is by no means the first to propose cooperation and group selection as an explanation for the origin of religion. But do these evolutionary accounts really account for the phenomenon? Not so much.

Religion is much more than group cooperation. For many religions its all aboutprayer, sacrifice, and total personal devotion to a deity. How do you explain that in evolutionary terms? How many followers of a religion have died i.e., became evolutionary dead ends for their beliefs? Which selfish genes drive young males into monasteries to avoid sexual relationships and pray? How does it help society put food on the table if your religion demands sacrificing large numbers of field animals to a deity? What about requiring that the rich and the poor donate wealth to build temples rather than grain houses does that foster the growth of large societies? And what about that commandment about taking a weekly day off, with no fire or work, to worship God? That was never very good for cooperation and productivity. How about the religious ascetic who taught his followers to sell their possessions, give to the poor, and then chose to die at the hands of his worst enemies, believing that his own death would save them? How didheget such a big following?

Im asking these questions in evolutionary terms: how do these behaviors help believers survive and reproduce? Sure you can find tangential benefits that are unexpected byproducts, but generally speaking, for the evolutionist these things are difficult to explain. That is why Hararis repeated assurances about how religion exists to build group cohesion is simplistic and woefully insufficient to account for many of the most common characteristics of religion.

Next, ReviewingSapiens: Getting the Origin of Religion Backwards

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Did Religion Evolve, or Was It Designed, to Foster Cooperation? - Discovery Institute

Theres no minimizing the pain the foodservice industry endured for the last year and a half, but the pandemic paved the way for innovation and changes in how we select, buy, package, deliver, cook, and consume food.

Despite the challenges of 2020, were hopeful for the restaurant world, says Jill Overdorf, director of business development for Naturipe Farms, LLC BB #:165382 in Salinas, CA, especially after witnessing many of their creative and innovative efforts.

While its been sad to see so many small business owners suffer, says Emily Kohlhas, director of marketing for wholesaler John Vena, Inc. BB #:104221 in Philadelphia, theres been a lot of magic, too. Initially, demand shot up for basic items with a long shelf life like potatoes, onions, and apples, but declined for high-value specialties like microgreens and baby vegetables. Its been a tough year for growers who focus on those products.

As wholesale partners, weve done our best to find markets for our specialty growers. Retailers have started to get back into specialty as consumers recreate their favorite restaurant meals at home. Specialty has been slower to revive in foodservice, with chefs still focusing on using as few items as possible across their menus to minimize the risk of shrink.

Ultimately, Kohlhas continues, flavor and healthfulness are the best things the produce department has going for it. While we see produce or produce-adjacent categories topping many food trend lists, the numbers suggest fruit and vegetable consumption in the United States is stagnant. If were going to change this in the future, the narrative has to be about flavor and health.

As we emerge from the challenges of the pandemic, Im optimistic, says Don Goforth, marketing director of Family Tree Farms Marketing, LLC BB #:169364 in Reedley, CA.

Better yet, he sees momentum in more fresh produce being incorporated into meals at home.

Once restaurants are fully open, fresh produce and healthy diets will stay. No ones been happy about what we all had to go through, but there is a silver liningwell probably come through as a better society, eating better, and with better health habits.

This is an excerpt from the cover story of the July/August 2021 issue of Produce Blueprints Magazine. Click here to read the whole issue.

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The Evolution of Dining: The post-pandemic future Produce Blue Book - Produce Blue Book

The bike industry is on an ever-marching procession of new cycling tech and innovation. Much of this progression is good, and ultimately makes our bikes more capable and fun to ride, but thats not always the case. Our recent look at tech dead-ends is evidence of that.

However, bike brands do often get it right, and this is perhaps nowhere more apparent than with cross-country bikes, which now look drastically different to what we rode only ten years ago.

In what might be a case of chicken or egg, cross-country mountain bike racing has become more technical and faster the testing Izu course at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is testament to that while the bikes have become more capable and, well, a darn sight quicker too.

Almost every aspect of cross-country mountain bikes has changed over the last decade, from longer and slacker MTB geometry that can hack it on technical downhills and rock sections while still being lightning quick uphill, to bars that are as wide as those on some of the best enduro mountain bikes.

The technical 2020 Tokyo Olympic course shows how XC tracks have evolved. Takashi Aoyama / Getty Images

We cant say were disappointed. These changes have made cross-country even more fun to ride and to watch, as well as in part paving the way for downcountry bikes, which combine the best bits of XC and trail bikes.

So, with all this in mind, here are six ways cross-country bikes have changed, and why this is a good thing for everyone who rides them. If you want to know more about XC bikes, make sure you check out our buyers guide to the best cross-country bikes.

Jaroslav Kulhavy won gold at the 2012 Olympic Games on a 29er. Velo / Getty Images

Perhaps the most striking place XC bikes have changed is the size of their wheels, with the top cross-country mountain bikes all using 29in wheels.

Cast your eyes back 10 years, and while many riders were starting to realise the benefits of 29ers, many were still doggedly sticking to the smaller, and up until then, standard size of 26 inches.

Now, this would also have been down to sponsorship requirements. If your sponsor didnt make a 29er, then you couldnt ride one even if you wanted to. But regardless, many riders were happy to stick with what they knew.

And, they had good reason. It took a while for the bike industry to get the geometry and componentry of 29ers right. Wheels could be flimsy and handling could leave a little to be desired, so its no wonder some riders were sceptical.

However, in 2011, Czech Republics Jaroslav Kulhavy was the first-ever rider to win a cross-country World Cup on a 29in bike. He then went on to win the 2012 London Olympic cross-country gold medal aboard a 29er (a Specialized S-Works Epic). From that point, 29in wheels gradually became the standard for XC racing.

Fast-forward to the present and most riders will agree on the benefits of 29in wheels for XC racing. They can roll faster, give greater traction and increase comfort.

SRAM launched the original XX1 one-by drivetrain in 2012. James Huang / Immediate Media

Another huge change among cross-country bikes and mountain bikes as a whole is the advent of mountain bike groupsets with one-by gearing, where there is one chainring at the front, paired with a wide-range cassette at the back, often with a small 10-tooth sprocket at one end and a huge 50-tooth sprocket at the other.

You dont have to go too far back to see cross-country bikes with triple chainsets at the front. One member of the BikeRadar team remembers their first cross-country bike, a Scott Scale, coming with a triple chainset in 2012.

Triple and double chainsets may have given riders a good gear range and neat spacing for a perfect cadence, but they were also trickier to maintain and keep in good working order.

Mountain bike cassettes are now huge. Alex Evans

Just like any innovation, many riders werent so sure when SRAM released its XX1 one-by gearing in 2012, as conventional wisdom dictated that 11 gears wouldnt really cut it on a cross-country course.

But gradually, pros and amateurs alike began to realise the benefits of one-by. The gearing system was easier to install, easier to maintain and could save weight, while also keeping your bike looking clean. It also enabled bike manufacturers to build better full-suspension bikes, as the lack of a front derailleur freed up space for the rear suspension.

The jumps between gear ratios may have been a bit bigger, but it turns out nobody minded or in fact needed the tight spacing a double or triple chainset afforded.

Go to any cross-country race today and we suspect itll be one-by gearing on every bike, and thats only a good thing in our eyes.

The latest XC bikes are designed to be at home on a wide range of terrain. Dustin Satloff / Getty Images

Geometry is a great example of how bike tech has kept up and progressed with the demands of the discipline. As cross-country racing has become gnarlier and more technical, brands have evolved by making their bikes better for descending, while still maintaining climbing performance.

A prime example of modern cross-country bike geometry is the latest Specialized Epic, which encapsulates how many cross-country rigs have evolved.

The Epic is perfectly suited to the high-speed and technical demands of modern-day cross country. It has a relatively slack 67.5-degree head angle, along with 470mm of reach in a size large and a steep(ish) 75.5-degree seat angle. All good things when it comes to pedalling and descending fast.

Reflecting the development of XC, the BMC Twostroke has very contemporary geometry. Jrmie Reuiller / BMC

The 2012 Epic looks outdated when compared to its modern-day counterpart. The 70.5-degree head angle would have made the bike sharp in the turns, but it would also make it less confidence-inspiring on the descents.

The reach is also shorter at 438mm, and the seat angle is a little slacker at 74 degrees. That slacker seat angle may have made it harder to get an efficient position for pedalling over the bottom bracket.

Equally, the new Cannondale Scalpel is another XC bike that has seen its geometry evolve. The head angle is 1.5 degrees slacker than the previous model, while the seat angle is one degree steeper.

Its worth noting that were painting in broad strokes here. There are lots of other figures and factors that influence how a cross-country bike handles beyond the geometry numbers weve quoted here, but its undeniable that modern XC geometry has evolved, making these bikes less shy when it comes to downhill riding.

Youre unlikely to see 2in tyres like those Kulhavy used at the 2012 Olympics on todays XC bikes. Carl de Souza / Getty Images

We suspect any riders racing the 2021 Olympics would be pretty upset if you told them they would have to race on narrow rubber. But rewind nine years and skinny tyres were pretty common, with 2012 champion Kulhavys S-Works Epic coming with 2in tyres.

Over the last decade, the wider tyre trend has played out across the whole of the cycling spectrum, from road riding to XC, and now the best mountain bike tyres are all pretty beefy.

The conventional wisdom used to be that narrower tyres would roll faster and save you a bit of weight. Both are important in a cross-country race, but while a narrower tyre may save you some grams, a wider tyre will be better in almost every other way.

Wider tyres are now commonplace across a range of cycling disciplines and that includes XC. Alex Whitehead / SWPix.com

Theyre able to roll faster, will provide more grip, offer more comfort, and can reduce the chances of an untimely puncture. All good things for the budding cross-country racer.

Theres still some debate over which tyre is actually fastest, and theres probably no definitive answer to that question. But for now it looks like most riders go for either a 2.3in or 2.4in tyre for XC racing.

Weve even done our own experiments into tyre width, exploring the fastest tyre size for mountain biking and the fastest tyre volume for cross country. If youre tinkering with tyre size yourself, make sure you also read our guide to MTB tyre pressure.

Cannondale specs its latest Scalpel with a 760mm-wide handlebar unthinkable a decade ago. Russell Burton / Immediate Media

As someone once said in a film about spiders, with great power comes great responsibility, and this is true of the modern cross-country bike.

Your optimised tyres, geometry and wheel size have given you the opportunity to travel faster than ever. But you need to be able to control that power and for that, youre going to require wider handlebars.

Once again, you dont have to go too far back to see bikes coming with handlebars narrower than 700mm. Look even further back and they even start to go under 600mm.

In this age of wide bars, you might wonder why would anyone ride such narrow widths? Well, the speeds were often slower back then, and the downhills less technical. Plus, its just what people always used, so why change?

Wider handlebars offer greater control. Dustin Satloff / Getty Images

Fortunately for all of us, as speeds have gone up, so has the width of our handlebars, with many XC bikes coming stock with either a 740mm or 760mm bar, unthinkable a decade ago.

A bit like wider tyres, wider handlebars have become the standard across the whole mountain biking spectrum. They allow you more control on technical sections and can improve bike fit, plus some riders think the extra width helps open up their chest for breathing.

Either way, its another example of how tech has moved on in the last 10 or 15 years.

Victor Koretzky won the mens elite race of the 2021 Albstadt World Cup on an Orbea Alba hardtail but were now used to seeing full-suspension bikes at top-level races. Christian Kaspar-Bartke / Getty Images

Suspension has come on leaps and bounds over the last decade or so. From Foxs electric lockout, to lighter and plusher shocks, theres no doubt the bikes of today are much more at home on steep or technical terrain.

Those improvements in suspension technology, along with the fact that courses are more technical than ever, mean youre more likely to see a full-suspension bike at a top-level XC race than a hardtail.

Hardtails were well-suited to the courses we used to see in cross-country a decade or more ago. Thats all changed now. While Albstadt is one of the less technical courses on the current World Cup circuit, and poses the question of whether to choose a hardtail or full-suspension bike (Victor Koretzy won the 2021 mens elite race on a hardtail but Loana Lecomte claimed the womens race on full-suspension), most riders now opt for suspension at both ends for most races.

Dont get us wrong, theres still a place for lightning-fast hardtails in XC the BMC Twostroke, launched last year, is evidence of a progressive cross-country hardtail but full-suspension bikes now rule the roost.

The 2022 Scott Spark, to be ridden by Nino Schurter and Kate Courtney at the Tokyo Olympic Games, has 120mm of travel front and rear.

Travel is getting more progressive, too. Take the new Scott Spark RC the bike of choice for Nino Schurter and Kate Courtney. It has 120mm of travel at both the front and rear, when were much more used to seeing 100mm.

Where else have we seen evolution in suspension tech? Take Specializeds patented Brain suspension. The design works using an inertial valve, which automatically locks the suspension out for you on smooth terrain. Hit a bump, and the valve quickly opens up the suspension again. In principle, its a brilliant idea, but in practice, early iterations gave the Brain a somewhat marmite following.

The biggest complaint was the large clunk, or knock, that riders felt when the valve opened up again. You also couldnt adjust the sensitivity of the Brain on the fly, which was no good if you were riding on varied terrain.

However, just like everything on this list, Specialized have incrementally improved the Brain over the years. It can now be adjusted on the fly, and the knock, while still being there, is much softer than previous generations.

Ultimately, the evolution of suspension is a prime example of how todays XC bikes are designed to be more capable and versatile than ever.

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Evolution of the XC bike | 6 ways XC bikes have changed for the better - BikeRadar.com

Konami's cult Pro Evolution Soccer series is trying a new tactic in its endless duel against FIFA. To stand out from its bigger rival, the soccer franchise is adopting a new name, eFootball, and going free-to-play on consoles, PC and mobile.

Clearly, this isn't a one-off. Konami has rebuilt the game using Unreal engine as part of the shift to providing a digital service. The biggest change to gameplay is the new "motion matching" technology designed to make player animations more realistic. Gamers will choose from different movements in real-time during matches. Seeing as the original Pro Evo's gameplay is what helped to distinguish it from FIFA, motion matching could prove a make or break feature.

As you'd expect from an F2P title, eFootball will regularly receive new updates after its launch this fall. Konami will have to tread with care, however. Free-to-play games have attracted the ire of players and regulators alike due to their exploitative nature, best summed up by loot boxes that cost real money to obtain. The last thing the storied developer wants is to sully Pro Evo's name. Maybe, that's why it's changing it.

But, the news will probably raise alarm bells for fans. Konami said that only "local matches" featuring FC Barcelona, Juventus, FC Bayern, Manchester United "and others" will be available for free at launch. While, certain game modes will later be sold as optional DLC, "giving players the freedom to build an experience" that matches their interests. It's a major risk that Konami is banking on to restore the franchise as a regular feature in dorms and living rooms around the world.

The game will land in early fall with cross-generation matchmaking between current and last-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Later in the fall, you can expect a managerial-style team building mode, online leagues, and a match pass system that rewards you with items and players. At the same time, cross-platform play will be introduced between consoles and PC. The winter will see the release of mobile controller support, full cross-play including mobile and the launch of professional and amateur eSports tournaments.

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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Pro Evolution Soccer will become 'eFootball' in free-to-play shift - Engadget

About 15 years ago, were you balancing truck tires?

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Didnt think so. Today, that should be a different story.

Todays trucks have traded leaf springs for air ride springs and rigid-mounted cabs for air-cushioned cabs. Going 70 mph down the interstate in adjustable air ride seats is the norm. Cruise control, lane departure and heads-up displays on trucks are commonplace.

All of these items and more have made a smooth ride essential for top-line trucks. And, a smoother ride is just a balance away.

Decades ago, trucks used Dayton- or spoke-style rims, which rarely needed to be balanced. Then, Budd wheels came into play.

These types of wheels were centered on the truck and its hub with lug nuts and can be installed perfectly true on the truck rather easily. With Budd-style wheels, trucks rode on tall stacks of heavy leaf springs and didnt go above 55 mph down the freeway. They also carried smaller loads.

In the 60s and 70s, balancing beads or pouches were added to steer tires to help offset imbalance for driver comfort.

Fast forward to today, and driver comfort and the longevity of tires is more important than ever before. With tires being the second largest cost for fleets, their maintenance is key to a successful tire program. Thats where balancing comes in.

Most commercial tire dealers have customers that demand high-quality rides. This, plus the professionalism of truck drivers today, the evolution of Class-8 trucks and the price of tires has all pushed the demand for balancing.

And, fleets arent just balancing steer tires; theyre also balancing drive tires, since it adds to the tires longevity and reduces stress on the trucks suspension. Any part of a trucks suspension, from the kingpins to the Pitman arms and even wheel bearings, can be affected by out-of-balance forces.

Tire dealers should equip their shops with a good heavy-duty balancer with a proper Budd centering kit. Having proper steel truck wheel weights in a minimum of half-ounce increments is also essential. A tool to center the wheels on the truck helps to ensure the wheel assembly is mounted properly. For example, pins that thread onto the hub at the 12, four and eight oclock positions will center the assembly on the truck.

As a rule of thumb, any time a tire or wheel is serviced, it should be balanced. All wheel positions should be balanced for the best possible ride and comfort. If a vibration presents itself at speed, the tires should be balanced again to keep them in top shape.

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The Evolution of Heavy-Duty Balancing & its Necessity Today - Tire Review