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Taking the Paleozoic of the Sichuan and Tarim basins in China as example, the controlling effects of the Earth system evolution and multi-spherical interactions on the formation and enrichment of marine ultra-deep petroleum in China have been elaborated. By discussing the development of "source-reservoir-seal" controlled by the breakup and assembly of supercontinents and regional tectonic movements, and the mechanisms of petroleum generation and accumulation controlled by temperature-pressure system and fault conduit system, Both the South China and Tarim blocks passed through the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) of the low-latitude Hadley Cell twice during their drifts, and formed hydrocarbon source rocks with high quality. It is proposed that deep tectonic activities and surface climate evolution jointly controlled the types and stratigraphic positions of ultra-deep hydrocarbon source rocks, reservoirs, and seals in the Sichuan and Tarim basins, forming multiple petroleum systems in the Ediacaran--Cambrian, Cambrian--Ordovician, Cambrian--Permian and Permian--Triassic strata. The matching degree of source-reservoir-seal, the type of organic matter in source rocks, the deep thermal regime of basin, and the burial-uplift process across tectonic periods collectively control the entire process from the generation to the accumulation of oil and gas. Three types of oil and gas enrichment models are formed, including near-source accumulation in platform marginal zones, distant-source accumulation in high-energy beaches through faults, and three-dimensional accumulation in strike-slip fault zones, which ultimately result in the multi-layered natural gas enrichment in ultra-deep layers of the Sichuan Basin and co-enrichment of oil and gas in the ultra-deep layers of the Tarim Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music is a deeply entrenched human phenomenon. In this article, I argue that its evolutionary origins are intrinsically intertwined with the incremental anatomical, cognitive, social, and technological evolution of the hominin lineage. I propose an account of the evolution of Plio-Pleistocene hominins, focusing on traits that would be later implicated in music making. Such traits can be conceived as comprising the musicality mosaic or the multifaceted foundations of musicality. I then articulate and defend an account of protomusical behaviour, drawing theoretical licence from the social brain framework of Robin Dunbar and colleagues, as well as the evolutionary framework for human culture and cooperation developed by Kim Sterelny. The role of gene-culture co-evolution and niche construction is brought to the fore in articulating the evolutionary account. Finally, I defend the view that music subsequently developed via processes of social learning and cumulative culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently there has been a rise in the application of concepts and methods from biological evolutionary theory to human cultures and societies where the aim is to explain these by describing them as population-level phenomena reducible to individual-level processes. I argue against this type of view by using Mesoudi's Cultural Evolution as a case study. I claim that Mesoudi's ontological assumptions about cultures and societies are dubious and his methodological assumptions inadequate when it comes to addressing cultural and social phenomena. A consequence is that this approach to studying culture is, at the very least, incomplete and of limited application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review essay discusses recent Aristotelian interventions in the philosophy of science and biology, focusing on the recovery of formal and final causes. The essay examines four books that explore these topics, emphasizing the role of mathematics in each. One of the books argues that Aristotelian-Thomistic metaphysics is presupposed by scientific methods and various scientific disciplines. However, the reviewer questions the logical dependence between science and metaphysics proposed by the author and suggests that a different mode of mathematical modeling may offer a more comprehensive approach to understanding morphological change and form. Another book explores the reconciliation of Aristotelianism with emergentist approaches to science, particularly biology. The author argues for a dispositionalist metaphysics and critiques classical and dynamic emergence theories. While the book presents a comprehensive survey of relevant literature and offers a synthesis of ideas, it falls short in addressing conflicts between emergence and hylomorphism. Additionally, another book examines the tension between evolution and hylomorphism, proposing a neo-Aristotelian theory of biological natural kinds essentialism that incorporates dispositionalism. The author challenges the traditional understanding of eidos and explores the role of dispositional properties in ontogenesis and developmental pathways. The article discusses two books that explore the concept of final and formal causality in relation to evolution and biology from an Aristotelian perspective. The first book reconstructs teleology as an environment-sensitive energy that is not directed towards any specific instance or collection of gene expression. The second book aims to restore final [Extracted from the article]

This introduction develops a theoretical framework for understanding authoritarian backsliding against the backdrop of existing historical and European socio-legal scholarship. It introduces a number of key distinctions to better understand socio-legal variance among autocratisation. Specifically, it highlights the distinction between authoritarian backsliding and complete breakdown of judicial independence and human rights Authoritarian backsliding is an aggravated form of rule of law decay, where functioning of key rule of law institutions comes under direct threat and it is mostly observable in the contemporary Central and Eastern European context. This differs from historical instances of authoritarian turn referring to the complete breakdown of judicial independence and human rights, characterised by the politicisation of courts as a mainly historical phenomenon. The differentiation and their socio-legal implications is crucial for developing a roadmap to identify different forms of autocratisation and their different contexts (actors, institutional and political context) that need to be considered when addressing rule of law decay in Europe, both at the national and supranational levels. Ultimately, this general overview also offers the possibility to identify and address latent discontinuities in rule of law development at both the supranational and national levels. Identification of such latent discontinuities is of importance when assessing the risks involved in the introduction of emergency measures to combat perceived threats to the state and the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cells evolved some 4 billion years ago, and since then the integrity of the structural and functional continuity of cellular life has been maintained via highly conserved and ancient processes of cell reproduction and division. The plasma membrane as well as all the cytoplasmic structures are reproduced and inherited uninterruptedly by each of the two daughter cells resulting from every cell division. Although our understanding of the evolutionary emergence of the very first cells is obscured by the extremely long timeline since that revolutionary event, the generally accepted position is that the de novo formation of cells is not possible; all present cells are products of other prior cells. This essential biological principle was first discovered by Robert Remak and then effectively coined as Omnis Cellula e Cellula (every cell of the cell) by Rudolf Virchow: all currently living cells have direct structural and functional connections to the very first cells. Based on our previous theoretical analysis, all cells are endowed with individual sentient cognition that guides their individual agency, behaviour and evolution. There is a vital consequence of this new sentient and cognitive view of cells: when cells assemble as functional tissue ecologies and organs within multicellular organisms, including plants, animals and humans, these cellular aggregates display derivative versions of aggregate tissue‐ and organ‐specific sentience and consciousness. This innovative view of the evolution and physiology of all currently living organisms supports a singular principle: all organismal physiology is based on cellular physiology that extends from unicellular roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally defined as the science of the living, or as the field that beyond anatomical structure and bodily form studies functional organization and behaviour, physiology has long been excluded from evolutionary research. The main reason for this exclusion is that physiology has a presential and futuristic outlook on life, while evolutionary theory is traditionally defined as the study of natural history. In this paper, I re‐evaluate these classic science divisions and situate physiology within the history of the evolutionary sciences, as well as within debates on the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis and the need for a Third Way of Evolution. I then briefly point out how evolutionary physiology in particular contributes to research on function, causation, teleonomy, agency and cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among biologists and philosophers, there is an ongoing debate over the Modern Synthesis and the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis. Some argue that our current evolutionary biology is in need of (at least) some substantial revision or nontrivial extension, while others maintain that the Modern Synthesis remains the foundational framework for evolutionary biology. It has been widely debated whether the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis provides a more promising framework than the Modern Synthesis. The nature and methodological implications of the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis were also examined. This paper offers an integrated historical and philosophical examination of the debate over the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis. It reviews the development of evolutionary biology of the twentieth century. It argues that there are substantial conceptual and theoretical differences between the Modern Synthesis and the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis, but they are not incommensurable paradigms in the Kuhnian sense. It also argues for a functional approach to the debate over these two frameworks of evolutionary theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of efficiently finding the global minimum of multidimensional functions is widely applicable to numerous problems in the modern world. Many algorithms have been proposed to address these problems, among which genetic algorithms and their variants are particularly notable. Their popularity is due to their exceptional performance in solving optimization problems and their adaptability to various types of problems. However, genetic algorithms require significant computational resources and time, prompting the need for parallel techniques. Moving in this research direction, a new global optimization method is presented here that exploits the use of parallel computing techniques in genetic algorithms. This innovative method employs autonomous parallel computing units that periodically share the optimal solutions they discover. Increasing the number of computational threads, coupled with solution exchange techniques, can significantly reduce the number of calls to the objective function, thus saving computational power. Also, a stopping rule is proposed that takes advantage of the parallel computational environment. The proposed method was tested on a broad array of benchmark functions from the relevant literature and compared with other global optimization techniques regarding its efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the domain of legal analysis and its methodologies, emphasising the significance of generalisation in legal systems. It discusses the process of generalisation in relation to legal concepts and the development of ideal concepts that form the foundation of law. The article examines the role of logical induction and its similarities with semantic generalisation, highlighting their importance in legal decision-making. It also critiques the formal-deductive approach in legal practice and advocates for more adaptable models, incorporating fuzzy logic, non-monotonic defeasible reasoning, and artificial intelligence. The potential application of neural networks, specifically deep learning algorithms, in legal theory is also discussed. The article discusses how neural networks encode legal knowledge in their synaptic connections, while the syllogistic model condenses legal information into axioms. The article also highlights how neural networks assimilate novel experiences and exhibit evolutionary progression, unlike the deductive model of law. Additionally, the article examines the historical and theoretical foundations of jurisprudence that align with the basic principles of neural networks. It delves into the statistical analysis of legal phenomena and theories that view legal development as an evolutionary process. The article then explores Friedrich Hayek's theory of law as an autonomous self-organising system and its compatibility with neural network models. It concludes by discussing the implications of Hayek's theory on the role of a lawyer and the precision of neural networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Darwinism and evolutionary theory have a bad track record in political theory, given their entanglements with fin-de-siècle militarist imperialisms, racialized hierarchies, and eugenic reformism. In colonial contexts, however, Darwinism had an entirely different afterlife as anticolonialists marshaled evolutionist frameworks to contest the parameters of colonial rule. This article exhumes just such an evolutionary anticolonialism in the political thought of Aurobindo Ghose, radical firebrand of the early Indian independence movement. I argue that Ghose drew on a nuanced reform Darwinism to criticize British imperialism and advance an alternative grounded in the Indian polity's mutualism. Evolutionism formed a conceptual ecosystem framing his understanding of progress—national, civilizational, and spiritual—and reformulating the temporal and conceptual coordinates of the liberal empire he resisted. The article thus exposes the constructiveness of anticolonial politics, the hybridity of South Asian intellectual history, and the surprising critical potential of Darwinism in colonial settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pope Leo XIII's publication of Aeterni Patris (1879) was a major factor in the great revival of Thomistic thought in the late 19th and the first half of the 20th centuries. Among the authors that took up the challenge implicit in the Pope's document of bringing Aquinas and his thought into the intellectual debates of the times we find two interesting proposals. The first is that of Juan González Arintero, a Spanish Dominican, and the second one is that of Josef Donat, a Jesuit born and raised in the Austrian Empire. Arintero is mostly known in Catholic circles for his influential works on mysticism, but in fact he devoted much of his early work to the subject of evolution, and how it could interact with the Catholic faith in general, and with Thomism in particular. Donat is the author of a Summa Philosophiae Christianae, a collection that was widely read in Catholic seminaries well into the 20th century. In this paper we will focus on the differing ways in which these authors tackled the problems and questions presented by Darwinian evolutionism to the post-Aeterni Patris Thomism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to a 2023 article by Jay Lampert in Deleuze and Guattari Studies, this paper develops the question of what Deleuze and Guattari might make of AlphaGo, the artificial intelligence developed by Google which defeated one of the top human Go players in 2016. It approaches the question in a way that supplements and complements Lampert's analysis, by noting the well-worn analogy between computer programming and evolutionary biology and then cross-referencing it with Deleuze and Guattari's attitude towards the latter in A Thousand Plateaus. The results reinforce Lampert's conclusion that AlphaGo is not 'nomadic', but they show that this is precisely because AlphaGo's algorithms are reminiscent of Darwin's mechanism of natural selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article advocates for a deeper engagement with the organizational structures that shape the governance of research ethics in anthropology. The authors argue that anthropological critiques of bureaucracy often sidestep the kinds of knowledge needed to pursue meaningful institutional change. They show how different regulatory dynamics and organizational arrangements across jurisdictions produce more or less responsive bureaucracies, comparing Institutional Review Boards in the United States with a case study of a European university's Ethics Review Committee. The authors suggest that such organizational understandings of bureaucratic processes can more meaningfully inform their redesign and contribute to developing more appropriately scaled ethics governance. In so doing, ethics review promises greater responsiveness to the particular demands of ethnographic research while remaining legible to regulatory stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the growing cultural significance of Rivendell from "The Hobbit" to "The Lord of the Rings" and its role in the story's progression. Topics include Rivendell's evolution as a cultural stronghold, its influence on the success of the protagonists' missions, and its importance in preserving essential lore and artifacts for the Free Peoples.

The article explores the theorization of temporality offered by French philosopher Gilles Deleuze through the books "Capitalism and Schizophrenia," which he authored with colleague Félix Guattari and "Difference and Repetition." It discussed the involvement of immanent variation of coexistence in temporality, the expression of immanent variation through social formations, and the response of Deleuze to Marxian claims regarding the role of economic production in the evolution of society.

An essay is presented which explores the views and theories of American philosopher and psychologist William James on the philosophy of history. Topics discussed include his defense of the great person theory of history in his 1890 article "The Importance of Individuals," the response of James to the evolutionary philosophy of colleague Herbert Spencer, and the conception of both mental and social evolution which James addressed in his 1890 book "Principles of Psychology."

Purpose: This paper aims to reveal the interdisciplinarity of information science (IS) from the perspective of the evolution of theory application. Design/methodology/approach: Select eight representative IS journals as data sources, extract the theories mentioned in the full texts of the research papers and then measure annual interdisciplinarity of IS by conducting theory co-occurrence network analysis, diversity measure and evolution analysis. Findings: As a young and vibrant discipline, IS has been continuously absorbing and internalizing external theoretical knowledge and thus formed a high degree of interdisciplinarity. With the continuous application of some kernel theories, the interdisciplinarity of IS appears to be decreasing and gradually converging into a few neighboring disciplines. Influenced by big data and artificial intelligence, the research paradigm of IS is shifting from a theory centered one to a technology centered one. Research limitations/implications: This study helps to understand the evolution of the interdisciplinarity of IS in the past 21 years. The main limitation is that the data were collected from eight journals indexed by the Social Sciences Citation Index and a small amount of theories might have been omitted. Originality/value: This study identifies the kernel theories in IS research, measures the interdisciplinarity of IS based on the evolution of the co-occurrence network of theory source disciplines and reveals the paradigm shift being happening in IS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims at documenting and reconstructing the linguistic processes generating and substantiating the use of number systems, numbers in general, elementary arithmetic, and the related concepts and notions among the Kula people from Alor Island, Southeastern Indonesia. The Kula is a Papuan population from the Alor–Pantar Archipelago (Timor area). The name of their language, Kula (or Kola), corresponds to the ethnonym. The language is, currently, endangered and not completely documented. At the level of linguistic features, numeral systems and the terms for numerals from Eastern Alor exhibit, to some extent, unique characteristics, if compared to other languages spoken in other sectors of the island. Therefore, the Kula numbering system is not only significant at the lexicological and lexicographic level, but also represents the essential role of cognitive strategies (e.g., the choice of the base for the numbering systems and the visual representation of counting with the aid of actual 'objects', like hands and fingers) in the coinage of numerical terms among the local speakers. Indeed, the development of numeral systems reflects the evolution of human language and the ability of humans to construct abstract numerical concepts. The way numerals are encoded and expressed in a language can impact the patterns according to which numerical notions are conceptualized and understood. Different numeral systems can indicate variations in cognitive processes involving notions of quantities and measurements. Therefore, the structure and characteristics of a numeral system may affect how numeral concepts are mentally represented and developed. This paper focuses on the number system of the Kula people and the lexical units used by the local speakers to indicate (and to explain) the numbers, with the related concepts, notions, and symbolism. The investigation delves into the degrees of abstraction of the Kula numeral system and tries to ascertain its origins and reconstruct it. Moreover, the article applies to the analysis a comparative approach, which takes into account several Papuan and Austronesian languages from Alor Island and Eastern Timor, with the dual aim of investigating, at a preliminary level, a possible common evolution and/or divergent naming processes in local numbering systems and their historical–linguistic and etymological origins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we study the existence of mild solutions and approximate controllability for non-autonomous impulsive evolution equations with nonlocal conditions in Banach space. The existence of mild solutions and some conditions for approximate controllability of these non-autonomous impulsive evolution equations are given by using the Krasnoselskii's fixed point theorem, the theory of evolution family and the resolvent operator. In particular, the impulsive functions are supposed to be continuous and the nonlocal item is divided into Lipschitz continuous and completely bounded. An example is given as an application of the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why and how we age are 2 intertwined questions that have fascinated scientists for many decades. However, attempts to answer these questions remain compartmentalized, preventing a comprehensive understanding of the aging process. We argue that the current lack of knowledge about the evolution of aging mechanisms is due to a lack of clarity regarding evolutionary theories of aging that explicitly involve physiological processes: the disposable soma theory (DST) and the developmental theory of aging (DTA). In this Essay, we propose a new hierarchical model linking genes to vital rates, enabling us to critically reevaluate the DST and DTA in terms of their relationship to evolutionary genetic theories of aging (mutation accumulation (MA) and antagonistic pleiotropy (AP)). We also demonstrate how these 2 theories can be incorporated in a unified hierarchical framework. The new framework will help to generate testable hypotheses of how the hallmarks of aging are shaped by natural selection. Why and how we age are two intertwined questions that have fascinated scientists for many decades. This Essay proposes a new hierarchical model that links genes to vital rates, enabling a critical re-evaluation of the disposable soma theory and the developmental theory of aging in terms of their relationship to evolutionary genetic theories of aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolutionary history of the cephalopod order Vampyromorpha with its only recent representative, Vampyroteuthis infernalis, the deep-sea vampire squid, is still obscure and a new specimen from the Early Jurassic of Luxembourg, provides new information on the vampyromorph morphology at this period. The new taxon Simoniteuthis michaelyi. gen. n. sp., which is based on a nearly complete gladius with associated head–arm complex, is morphologically intermediate between the families Loligosepiidae and Geopeltidae. Interestingly, the arm crown displays only four arm pairs, although an arm configuration consisting of five arm pairs should be expected in vampyromorph stem lineage representatives. This observation encouraged us to critically review the presumed homology of the filaments of Vampyroteuthis and the lost arm pair in cirrate and incirrate octopods. Moreover, two bony fishes in the mouth region implicated that Simoniteuthis michaelyi n. gen. n. sp. preyed upon them in hostile water depths, a taphonomic phenomenon called distraction sinking. By contrast to modern Vampyroteuthis infernalis, Simoniteuthis michaelyi n. gen. n. sp. roamed and hunted in shallower waters as typical for Mesozoic stem lineage vampyromorphs. According to the current fossil record, a vertical migration into deeper waters (probably associated with a shift in feeding behaviour) occurred at least since the Oligocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Livestream content has been gaining popularity in recent years. Although it has been known that livestream viewing can mitigate the adverse effects of loneliness on individuals' well-being, the specific cognitive-affective processes involved are not given due attention. Situated in the Evolutionary Theory of Loneliness, the current study draws upon a national survey data (n = 911) to demonstrate that one's hypervigilance and their negative emotional state serially mediate the relationship between their feelings of loneliness and their perceived well-being. The frequency of livestream views was also found to be moderating the serial mediation paths and the direct effect between feelings of loneliness on perceived well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 57-year-old female cadaver donated for research contained an accidental bilateral presence of the psoas minor (PMn) muscle. Bilateral PMn is a rare finding but it may be associated with other anatomical variations or abnormalities in the abdomen or pelvis. In some cases, the muscle may be involved in the development of certain medical conditions or may compress nearby structures, leading to symptoms such as pain or discomfort. Overall, bilateral PMn is a relatively uncommon anatomical variation that may be of interest to anatomists or medical professionals. A thorough understanding of this muscle is essential, particularly when making a clinical diagnosis and carrying out procedures in the iliac area. In this case report, we tried to discuss the clinical, embryological, and evolutionary significance of PMn muscle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the compatibility between theistic evolution and Thomistic metaphysics. It critiques the idea proposed by Mariusz Tabaczek, arguing that it is not possible to reconcile the philosophical views of St. Thomas Aquinas with the concept of biological macroevolution. The article explores points of incompatibility presented by Tabaczek and questions whether they are essential to Aquinas's doctrine. It also discusses the problem of the emergence of new species through evolution and evaluates whether Tabaczek's solution provides an explanation for this issue. The author concludes that theistic evolution is not only in conflict with Thomistic metaphysics but also with the Christian faith as interpreted by the Church. [Extracted from the article]

Recently an addition to charles darwin's theory of evolution has received a considerable international publicity, titled: on the roles of function and selection in evolving systems.1 „motion, gravity, electromagnetically charged fields, and the principle of interactions described by the second law of thermodynamics energize universal evolution,” they argue. but it is not quite clear why they did not start from an autopoietic theory that describes complex natural and social subsystems without contradiction? this would have the explanatory power to bridge the gaps in darwin's theory of evolution in a more elegant way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the current research is to identify fast-slow thinking of adolescents and adults, and to identify the significance of the differences in fast -slow thinking of adolescents and adults according to the age variable (14-15, 16-17, 18-19, 20-22, 21-25, 24-23, and 24-25) years, and according to the gender variable. The research sample consisted of 180 adolescents and adults. Moreover, a scale specified for measuring slow and fast thinking, which included thirty items, was prepared to achieve the research objectives. The face validity and stability of the research tool were verified, as the Pearson correlation coefficient reached 0.81. The reliability coefficient reached 0.76 which was calculated by making use of the internal consistency method according to the Cronbach Alpha equation. The study found that the age groups 14-15 years, 16-17 years, and 18-19 years were characterized by a fast-thinking style. Furthermore, adults in the age groups 20-21 years, 22-23 years, and 24-25 years have a slow thinking. Slow thinking takes a developmental path across the ages 14-15 years, 16-17 years, 18-19 years, 20-21 years, 22-23 years, and 24-25 years and a continuous form, which is consistent with cognitive evolutionary theories. There was no effect of gender (male-female) or interaction between age and gender on fast -slow thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on world news briefs. Topics include new discovery showing a well-known image in anthropology circles, the March of Progress depicting evolution as a linear path from apes to humans; and Philip Jagessar's examination of the Linguistic Survey of India (LSI), led by George Grierson from 1896 to 1928, critically analyzes this vast project's effort to classify India's languages.

This article discusses the methodological and ethical challenges posed by the bureaucratization of research ethics in Eastern Europe, particularly as this impacts the practice of anthropology and fieldwork. It reflects on the authors' extensive fieldwork among Czech‐speaking Protestants in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic, highlighting the discrepancy between Western and Eastern European academic norms regarding ethnography. The authors argue that increased formalization and ethical regulation favour more easily bureaucratically managed methodologies, to the detriment of traditional anthropological fieldwork, which is critical for deep cultural understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article critiques the expanding influence of research ethics committees (RECs) on social research, emphasizing their adverse effects on ethnographic methodologies. It argues that the bureaucratization of ethics, emphasizing compliance over contextual understanding, fundamentally misunderstands and impedes the nuanced nature of ethnographic work. Drawing on personal experiences and broader critiques, the article proposes the need for an alternative system that better accommodates the ethical complexities of social research, advocating for a more tailored approach that respects disciplinary methodologies and fosters genuine ethical engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on celebrating Peter Beilharz's 70th birthday, reflecting on his extensive work in Antipodean social theory. It delves into the fixation on place in Australia, the dynamic relationships shaping Antipodean identities, and the evolution of Antipodean modernity through traffic and cosmopolitanism, as highlighted in Beilharz's essays on Bernard Smith's work and Antipodean theory.

Americans since Darwin have projected onto chimpanzees, the primates closest to us in evolutionary history, their anxieties about race, sex, family, and questions regarding the relationship between nature and nurture, questions basic to understanding what it means to be human. The history of scientific discourse and discourse in American popular culture about chimpanzees since the middle of the nineteenth century show patterns responsive to specific American anxieties at moments in history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urban cemetery is the material carrier of citizens' view of life and death, and it also evolves with time as a special part of the urban form. Since the reform of the housing system in the 1990s, China has entered a period of rapid urbanization, and the urban cemeteries has entered a cycle of shock and accelerated transformation. The cemeteries originally located on the urban fringe were gradually surrounded by new built-up areas as the city sprawled, and then most of them inevitably migrated outward under the pressure of urban population explosion and land shortage. Taking Nanjing as an example, this paper presents the morphological evolution of Nanjing's urban cemetery since the early 20th century, discusses the relationship between the evolution of the cemetery and the urban fringe belt, and analyzes the reasons for its evolution. The different types of morphological evolution of Nanjing cemetery are further summarized, revealing the general law and its Chinese particularity. The article concludes with a discussion of the value and significance of morphological research on urban cemeteries in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses some of the possible connections between the principles of modeling in the new mechanical philosophy and the modeling used by Charles S. Peirce in his work on categories and evolutionary theory. The main goal is to show that the theoretical approaches used in the new mechanism can be beneficial for disciplines that are not clearly labelled as either humanities or natural science – for example, biosemiotics – and that this philosophical movement can help close the gap between natural science and the humanities. In individual chapters, this text deals with: the difference between the doctrine of the universal mechanism and the doctrine of the new mechanism, exploring the concept of the category of Thirdness and evolutionary theory in the work of Charles S. Peirce and finally focusing on the similarities between Peirce's work and the approach of the new mechanical philosophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Generelle Morphologie der Organismen (1866), Ernst Haeckel systematised the biological study of morphology along evolutionary lines and proposed that the 'Anthropozoic Age' should be considered the most recent paleontological time period. This article first examines Haeckelʼs early concept of the Anthropozoic Age in relation to his ambiguous use of the words 'Nature' and 'Culture' in his life's work. It then illustrates how his later travel narrative, Indische Reisebriefe (1882), projects notions of the Anthropozoic Age onto landscapes from his journey to British‐governed Ceylon. Haeckel presents two diverging paleontological timescales: a deep and interconnected past of the island's organisms and the currently escalating consequences of human cultivation of the land. Lending different scientific and aesthetic attention to the depiction of the two environmental developments, discrepant images are fused in his hopes and visions of a new and better 'Age of Culture'. The travel report is thus a very early literary response to the scientific concept of living during a time in which humanity dominates the world's environments. From today's perspective, the text raises familiar questions regarding how humans should conceive their own agency in the Anthropocene. At the same time, it highlights the concept's entanglement with contemporary philosophical and socio‐political discourses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The divine command theory holds that morality finds its origin in God or that God is somehow closely connected to morality. Many people across the world hold a related, though different belief that Religious belief is required for proper moral behavior. In this paper, I look at a number of evolutionary and cognitive explanations (supernatural punishment theory, big gods theory, moral dyad, and costly signaling) that purport to explain why people hold beliefs concerning a close connection between God and morality. I assess whether any of these theories provide a reason for epistemic concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Summary: Expressed subtype of paralogous genes in functionally homologous cells sometimes show differences across species, the reasons for which have not been explained. The present study examined hypophysiotropic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in vertebrates to investigate this mechanism. These neurons express either gnrh1 or gnrh3 paralogs, depending on the species, and apparent switching of the expressed paralogs in them occurred at least four times in vertebrate evolution. First, we found redundant expression of gnrh1 and gnrh3 in a single neuron in piranha and hypothesized that it may represent an ancestral GnRH system. Moreover, the gnrh1/gnrh3 enhancer of piranha induced reporter RFP/GFP co-expression in a single hypophysiotropic GnRH neuron in both zebrafish and medaka, whose GnRH neurons only express either gnrh3 or gnrh1. Thus, we propose that redundant expression of gnrh1/3 of relatively recent common ancestors may be the key to apparent switching of the paralog usage among present-day species.

With the increase of global warming, grain producers should consider emission reduction in their production activities to move towards sustainable development. Besides the challenges of environmental sustainability, grain producers in developing countries face budget constraints for promoting their sustainability level. Moreover, sustainability strategies made by grain producers are not stable and are continually changing over time. This study proposes an evolutionary game model to investigate the evolutionary behaviours of a population of financially constrained producers in Iran who gain financial support from one dominant distributor based on their sustainability investment in the long term. This study develops a one-population evolutionary game model to investigate different strategies of producers towards sustainability, considering the time value of money. Moreover, using SimaPro 8.0.3 software, the impacts of non-renewable and renewable electricity consumption on global warming potential are evaluated through life cycle assessment for grain production. Results reveal that using biomass as the source of electricity instead of natural gas in the grain production reduces contribution to global warming potential from 269 kg CO2-eq to 18 kg CO2-eq. This study provides stakeholders who have environmental and social concerns (i.e. grain producers and agricultural production management entities) with insights into keeping their supply chain sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper attempts a comprehensive approach to the biological, cognitive, as well as cultural foundations of theory of mind development. A critical analysis and synthesis of contemporary research findings serves as a basis for revisiting key theoretical accounts regarding the nature and development of this valuable sociocognitive faculty. Are the findings best interpreted within frameworks which consider developmental change and individual differences in the domain-general cognitive abilities (executive functions) that may underlie performance on theory of mind tasks (processing account)? Or is it more fruitful to discuss the development of theory of mind based on domain-specific mechanisms or capacities: an innate, modular mechanism that is underpinned by neurological maturation (modularity theories), or an inborn capacity to form naïve, intuitive theories about the mind, which are then subject to conceptual change as a function of experience (theory theory account), or a mechanism that serves simulations of mental states and related attributions (simulation theories)? Where possible, biological and neurocognitive processes, and experiential influences are discussed in combination. A disentanglement of general cultural influences from more proximal, social or familial effects on theory of mind development is also attempted. The aim is to highlight the value of an integrative, interdisciplinary approach to its study: a biocultural perspective could essentially serve this purpose by shifting attention to the interplay of biological, cognitive, and environmental forces shaping the lifespan dynamics of human theory of mind.

Benatar argues that the absence of cosmic meaning is part of the reason why our lives are so bad that we had better not procreate. The goal of this paper is to argue against this claim from a Kantian point of view. For this goal, I argue first that the fact that human life is a product of blind evolution is not a reason for justifying that our lives are overall bad, mainly on the grounds that the concepts of good and bad make sense only within the logical space of reasons. I also argue that the fact that we can hardly make a significant difference to the universe is not a reason for justifying that our lives are overall bad, either, mainly on the grounds that whether one's life is good or bad can be evaluated primarily in terms of whether one's permissible ends are achieved to a satisfactory extent, and so one's good life does not depend on making a significant difference to the universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bipolar affective illness (bipolar disorder - BD), also known as manic-depressive illness, is characterized by periodic opposite states of mood, activity, and motivation (mania and depression), sometimes of extreme intensity. The development and maintenance of such states in evolution can betoken a possibility of their adaptive character, enabling adaptation to an unfavorable external situation (depression) and a mobilization to using resources when available (mania). In the article, the main focus is put on the evolutionary aspect of "bipolarity" and manic/hypomanic states. Molecular-genetic studies show that in evolution, the genes connected with a predisposition to BD have been conserved. In the paper, the evolutionary adaptive concepts connected with the functioning of Homo sapiens during the middle and late Pleistocene periods were discussed as well as the "mismatch" theories associated with not befitting brain functioning to contemporary conditions. The benefits of mania and hypomania, also in the context of their link to depression were delineated, indicating their relationship to the increase in reproductive success. They result from such features of mania/hypomania as increased exploratory, psychomotor and sexual activity, and prompt risk-taking. The reproductive success can be connected with hyperthymic and cyclothymic temperaments, most frequently occurring in subjects with BD. The hyperthymic temperament often leads to increased social status and a tendency to leadership, and the cyclothymic temperament can increase creativity. Examples of the relationship between manic/hypomanic states and the phenomenon of emigration as well as the advancement of American society are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sustainability Transitions (ST) research has emerged as a promising approach to addressing climate change-led uncertainty. The ST research primarily emerged and concentrated in global north countries, but the global south has witnessed significant development. A gap in the bibliometric analysis of evolution ST research and its geography is addressed. The questions are, how has ST research evolved over the years (1994 to 2021), and how has ST research evolution reflected the dynamics of geographies? The ST literature is examined from the Scopus citation database (from 1994 to 2021). Results suggest that the ST research evolved in the Lag phase (1994 to 2002) and growth phase (2002 to 2021) as an S curve in Science Policy studies. The western geography of Europe is the origin and significant contributor to the location of authors, collaboration, and receiving the highest citation of publications. China, Brazil, India and South Africa are major non-OECD leading countries in ST research. The Dutch ST research has witnessed the highest impact. Most of the journals on ST research are published in the UK, out top 20 journals in the world. The research support and more numbers of researchers have led to the dominance of European countries in ST research. Finally, the study suggests that global sustainability issues necessitate an inclusive and diverse approach to ST research, incorporating knowledge from the global south. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The length of time it takes to experimentally make one-sided choppers, as found in the fossil record, bears a linear relationship to the knapping process of fabricating them. In addition, this temporal frame appears to be related to human heart rates measured as beats per minute, which act as a physiological metronome. We achieved these observations, assuming that any paleolithic one-sided chopper has the information needed to estimate, quantitatively, the number of strikes on it. The experimental data allow us to establish the total timing needed for the standard fabricating of any one-sided chopper. We discuss issues derived from these experimental results, showing the evolution of human neurological abilities from 2.4 million years ago to the Modern period via the duration of time needed for making one chopper to that needed to play a 19th-century music score on a piano. Given that the neuronal and physiological distance between both actions differs by a factor of 6, we propose the concept of "technome" to measure human evolution by using methodological homogeneous metrics applied to these two human technologic objects: the chopper and the piano. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health interventions targeting coughing and spitting during the Tuberculosis and 1918 flu epidemics were largely successful. Specifically, public health officials' messaging framed the behavior of spitting as repulsive and endangering to others, prompting an elicitation of disgust. Anti-spitting campaigns – messaging that focuses on the threat of spit or sputum – have long been common during pandemics and manifested once again to combat the spread of COVID-19. Yet, few scholars have theorized if and how anti-spitting campaigns function to change behavior. One possibility is parasite stress theory, which posits that human behavior is driven by a desire to avoid pathogenic threats like spit. The application of these types of disgust appeals in public health messaging remains understudied and warrants exploration. To test the applicability of the parasite stress theory, our message experiment with US adults (N = 488) examined reactions to anti-spit messages that varied in visual disgust (low and high). For more highly educated respondents, the high disgust appeal directly decreased spitting intentions, and this relationship was stronger for individuals with higher levels of pathogen and moral disgust. Given the importance of public messaging during pandemics, future research should continue to examine the efficacy and theoretical underpinnings of specific disgust appeals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The panda's thumb argument, championed by the late Stephen Jay Gould, stands as one of the most famous polemics for common ancestry. In this essay, I analyze Gould's argument in several steps. First, I attempt to reconstruct the argument in both deductive and likelihood formulations. I contend that both versions of the argument rest on a theological claim—namely, that God would not (likely) create or allow a suboptimal panda's thumb. I then argue that a wide range of people are not rationally obligated to accept this theological claim. Next, I give special attention to the likelihood formulation's emphasis on a contrastive argument for evolution over special creation. I contend that a great number of people are not rationally obligated to accept this formulation either. I next consider and reply to an objection that Gould never intended the panda argument as an apologetic for evolution (and an attack on special creation) but rather as a critique of adaptationism. Finally, I argue that the panda argument conflicts with Gould's broader views about the human mind and the relationship between theology and science. I also note along the way that the shortcomings of the panda argument apply to a number of other arguments for evolutionary theory. To be sure, I do not criticize evolution itself or the comprehensive grounds for it. Instead, my primary aims are to analyze the panda argument and suggest that caution is in order about similar arguments as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]