Article
Ecology
Zachary B. Hancock, Emma S. Lehmberg, Gideon S. Bradburd
Summary: The Modern Synthesis, or Neo-Darwinism, based on the combination of Darwin's natural selection theory and Mendel's genetics research, has been the foundation of evolutionary theory, but has faced criticism since its inception. Critics like Gould argued that natural selection and random mutations alone cannot explain macroevolution, calling for new processes. However, others defended Neo-Darwinism, stating that it is sufficient to explain macroevolutionary patterns and emphasizing the importance of microevolution in the study of macroevolution.
Editorial Material
Oncology
Giovanni Fuca, Francesca Corti, Filippo Pietrantonio
Summary: The timing of disease re-assessment may influence the incidence of pseudoprogression, with early assessments being associated with higher incidence. These dynamics should be considered when interpreting the efficacy of treatment.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2021)
Editorial Material
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Colin N. Waters, Martin J. Head, Jan Zalasiewicz, Francine M. G. McCarthy, Scott L. Wing, Peter K. Haff, Mark Williams, Anthony D. Barnosky, Barbara Fialkiewicz-Koziel, Reinhold Leinfelder, J. R. McNeill, Neil L. Rose, Will Steffen, Colin P. Summerhayes, Michael Wagreich, Zhisheng An, Alejandro Cearreta, Andrew B. Cundy, Ian J. Fairchild, Agnieszka Galuszka, Irka Hajdas, Yongming Han, Juliana A. Ivar do Sul, Catherine Jeandel, Jaia Syvitski, Simon D. Turner, Jens Zinke
Summary: Merritts et al. inaccurately portray Paul Crutzen's Anthropocene concept, misinterpreting it as encompassing all significant anthropogenic impacts, extending back many millennia. Waters et al. introduced the concept of a Great Acceleration Event Array (GAEA) which highlights diverse and complex stratigraphic event markers that are tightly clustered around 1950 CE, providing a clearly recognizable Anthropocene chronostratigraphic base. The 'Anthropocene event' proposed by Merritts et al., following Gibbard et al., confuses the transformative human impact of the chronostratigraphic Anthropocene. Waters et al. recognize an evidence-based Anthropogenic Modification Episode that is more explicitly defined than the interpretive interdisciplinary 'Anthropocene event' of Gibbard et al.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Dorothy Merritts, Lucy E. Edwards, Erle Ellis, Michael Walker, Stanley Finney, Philip Gibbard, Jacquelyn L. Gill, Mark Maslin, Andrew Bauer, Matthew Edgeworth, William Ruddiman
Summary: In response to the definition of the Anthropocene as a geological event, Waters et al. introduces a set of new terminology for the Anthropocene that has little or no support in the geological literature. They argue that the Anthropocene should be understood as a complex and ongoing event composed of various identifiable events.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biology
Abir U. Igamberdiev, Richard Gordon
Summary: The open process of evolution in multicellular organisms is driven by the rearrangement and growth of the differentiation program. The final stable state of a developmental system determines the direction of evolution and is achieved through a series of differentiation events represented as differentiation trees. Electromechanical signals, acting as a morphogenetic code, play a role in gene expression and contribute to the evolutionary process. The incorporation of mitochondria in eukaryotic cells led to active metabolism and the establishment of a differentiation code, fueling evolution. The invention of continuing differentiation distinguishes multicellular eukaryotes from other organisms. Control mechanisms involving differentiation waves and mechanical consequences of cell differentiations are instrumental in morphogenesis and the achievement of functional stable states. Duplications of differentiation tree branches serve as the basis for continuing differentiation and macroevolution.
Article
Environmental Studies
I Maya-Jariego, I. Martinez-Alba, D. Alieva
Summary: This article discusses the negative impact of irresponsible use of social media on individuals and environmental conservation, as well as the suggestion of self-regulation by fishing clubs.
Article
Biology
Dana M. M. Reuter, Samantha S. B. Hopkins, Samantha A. A. Price
Summary: We studied the impact of dietary differences in mammalian omnivores on macroevolutionary and macroecological trends. It was found that most omnivores consume only invertebrate prey and non-fibrous plants, and omnivores that consume invertebrate prey are on average smaller in size. The results suggest that prey type is correlated with body mass, evolutionary history, and diet-related evolutionary transition rates, highlighting the importance of considering the ecological variety in omnivore diets in future research.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Political Science
Annemieke van den Dool, Jialin Li
Summary: This passage discusses the theory of punctuated equilibrium (PET) in the context of government policy. It states that government policy is usually stable but can experience sudden drastic changes due to institutional friction and limited information processing capacity. While most PET studies have focused on democracies, scholars are beginning to apply the theory to authoritarian countries, which have lesser institutional friction but more information restrictions. However, there is a lack of PET studies on autocracies.
POLICY STUDIES JOURNAL
(2023)
Letter
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Jay Kataria, Daniel Rivera, Andrea Grin, David Edward Reed, David Mario Rodrigues
Summary: Biopsies are valuable in assessing nonerosive reflux disease.
NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY
(2023)
Article
Political Science
Christoph Knill, Yves Steinebach
Summary: This paper contributes to the ongoing academic debate on the societal and policy transformations associated with the coronavirus disease pandemic by adopting a systemic perspective on policy change. The study sheds light on the hidden and indirect crisis effects and finds that the pandemic has led to profound shifts in political attention across policy areas in Germany. The research also suggests that there is limited potential for catching up dynamics after the crisis is over, which has long-term and neglected effects on policymaking in modern democracies.
POLICY AND SOCIETY
(2022)
Letter
Biodiversity Conservation
Mahi Puri, Arjun Srivathsa, Krithi K. Karanth, Imran Patel, N. Samba Kumar
Summary: The study used an occupancy framework to explore leopard occurrence and conflict patterns in a shared forest landscape in central India, as well as the role of wild prey in offsetting livestock depredation. The authors responded in detail to concerns raised by Naha et al., refuting their claims and reiterating the accurate interpretation of their findings.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Jon F. Merz
Summary: In their recent paper, Al and colleagues argue that manipulating recruitment methods for increased enrollment can be ethically acceptable. However, this response challenges this notion, arguing that it compromises voluntariness and devalues the ethics of human subjects research.
Article
Education & Educational Research
Patrick R. Lowenthal
Summary: Research shows that video feedback can enhance conversational and affective communication, but instructors and students may prefer text-based feedback.
ETR&D-EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Pablo Duchen, Michael L. Alfaro, Jonathan Rolland, Nicolas Salamin, Daniele Silvestro
Summary: Current phylogenetic comparative methods often assume that phenotypes are inherited identically during speciation, neglecting the fact that species are made up of individuals with their own trait values. This study investigates the impact of asymmetrical trait inheritance on macroevolutionary analyses, highlighting the potential for small jumps in phenotypes to significantly affect model selection and parameter estimation. The findings emphasize the importance of considering intraspecific variability in modeling trait evolution and inheritance during speciation in comparative methods.
SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Katie L. Millette, Vincent Fugere, Chloe Debyser, Ariel Greiner, Frederic J. J. Chain, Andrew Gonzalez
Summary: The authors comment on the limitations of data and methodology in a previous study, but these do not refute their main conclusion of no strong signal of human impacts on COI variation globally.
