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People age at different rates and the available evidence suggests that the rate of aging is partly inherited from previous generations. This heterogeneity in aging is evident already in midlife, but to what extent aging is associated with the timing of events earlier in life is not fully known. Here we aim to shed light on this topic by investigating the trade-off between reproduction and aging postulated by evolutionary theories of aging. Drawing on the inheritance of aging we use parental age at death as a proxy for aging-rates in the offspring, and study how age at first birth depends on this variable. We use data from an almost complete Swedish birth cohort comprising 92,359 individuals. Accelerated failure time models are used to estimate the association between parental age at death and age at first birth while adjusting for parental occupational class, educational attainment, and income. Longer parental lifespans were consistently associated with older age at first births, both in men and women. Our findings suggest that aging-related processes may be interrelated with the processes underlying the timing of reproduction and are in general agreement with evolutionary theories of aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial populations typically show a large degree of intra-population diversity. This diversity is intertwined with the structure of the population. Here, we discuss endogenous and exogenous drivers of population structure in microbes and how the population structure can affect evolutionary dynamics and vice versa. Endogenous structure, which can be genetic or demographic, is driven by the ecology and evolutionary dynamics within the population. Exogenous structure is typically driven by the spatial and temporal properties of the environment. A particular interesting case arises when also this exogenous structure experiences feedbacks from the microbial population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are strong parallels between the evolutionary origin of species within populations of organisms and new concepts for the origin of cancers within cell populations in the tissues of the body. The analogy is that cancers can be regarded as a new somatic species developing within the host organism. In both cases, understanding the processes involved requires a multi-scale analysis, including higher-level control of genetic and epigenetic changes. A key to developing successful therapeutic strategies will be to identify the processes that control heterogeneity in tissues. These include processes outside the currently dominant theory of evolution, i.e. the Modern Synthesis. Specifically, organisms can partially direct both genetic and epigenetic changes through the harnessing of chance. The loci and rates of mutation and of genome reorganisation are forms of targeted functional reorganisation of genomes. They are more likely to result in functional reorganisations compared to the slow accumulation of point mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The relatively low level of physical violence between men is an evolutionary puzzle. • I use evolutionary game theory to model the evolution of male competitiveness. • Male-male competition determines both reproductive and productive resources. • I identify necessary conditions for high levels of male competitiveness to evolve. Since a man's reproductive success depends on his ability to outcompete other men, male competitiveness may be expected to have been exposed to strong selective pressure throughout human history. Accordingly, the relatively low level of physical violence observed between men has been viewed as a puzzle. What could have limited the eagerness of men to out-compete each other? I study the evolution of male competitiveness in a model where men compete for both reproductive and productive resources. I show that high levels of male competitiveness are then consistent with evolution by natural selection if (a) the ecology is generous enough for men to supply little or no food to their children, (b) competing is not too costly in terms of productive resources, and (c) relatedness among males is low enough. While the main analysis takes women to passively accept the husband that emerges from the male-male competition, the results are qualitatively robust to allowing for female mate choice following the male-male competition game. Possible implications for our understanding of the evolution of marriage systems are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The paper presents a theoretical model for analysing change in employment relations. • Innovation is a chief vector of change in industrial relations systems. • Change in the web of rules on employment relations entails a negotiated process. • Employment relations adjustment is key to establish a new techno-economic paradigm. • The path of employment regulation in a single nation is an idiosyncratic process. This paper presents a theoretical model for understanding the co-evolution process between technologies and employment relations institutions. We have named this framework the Evolutionary Industrial Relations System (e-IRS) after both the original concept of an Industrial Relations System (IRS) by Dunlop and the evolutionary theory. The basic ideas of Dunlop's IRS are maintained: actors interacting in contexts, mediated by a shared ideology, to set up a web of rules that regulate employment relations. However, to surpass some of its main limitations, this model is substantially modified according to the evolutionary contributions about: firm behaviour, innovation and institutions. Innovation is seen as the main drive of change in employment relations institutions. The outcome of this process is unique for each country, because any change in employment regulation has to be negotiated between its respective firms, workers and government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper develops a critique of and a (partial) solution to Say's Law Marxism, defined as the employment of Say's Law within the Marxist framework. The critique is based on the notion that expectations and effective demand are constitutive of labor values and prices of production. Socially necessary labor cannot be determined solely from the supply side. The (partial) solution to Say's Law Marxism rests on the development of an evolutionary model that integrates the principle of effective demand in the short run and the formation of prices of production in the long run. The equalization of profit rates in the long run and the formation of prices of production as attractors of market prices depend upon the realization of profits in the short run and, therefore, are subject to the principle of effective demand. The model employs replicator dynamics from evolutionary game theory to formalize competition at the firm level. The replicator equations also formalize the adoption of new production techniques and the nonlinear feedback effects between individual decisions and unintended macroeconomic outcomes. • Model integrates the principle of effective demand and prices of production • Expected demand determines the realization of surplus value and profit • Effective demand determines labor values and long-run market prices • Model draws from Marx, Kalecki, Keynes, and evolutionary game theory • Replicator equations formalize competition, capital mobility, and technical change [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the fact that Charles Darwin spent several months in Australia in the final year of his Beagle voyage that circumnavigated the globe, most studies that deal with Darwin's life or his discovery of evolution spend little time discussing his Australian period, if it is mentioned at all. His time there is largely deemed to have produced little of significance in comparison to his visits to other places such as the Galápagos Islands, which has long been mythologized as providing the key sources of observable data that ultimately led Darwin to develop his evolutionary speculations. In recent years, however, Darwin's period in Australia has received more attention, most notably a series of studies detailing the observations and connections Darwin made while in New South Wales, Tasmania, and King George Sound. While much of this literature has provided an important corrective to previous Darwin scholarship that had largely ignored Darwin's period in Australia, it has also worked to perpetuate a romantic and heroic view of scientific discovery by suggesting that Darwin's key "evolutionary revelation" was made not in the Galápagos Islands but in the Blue Mountains, a claim that has been recently made in print and online. This paper therefore examines the historical literature on Darwin Down Under, focussing in particular on this recent romantic turn that seeks to situate Australia as the key site of inspiration for Darwin's theory of evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer research has recently benefitted from the integration of evolutionary theory to study somatic genome evolution during tumor development. Here, we explore how investigating mechanistic principles of chromosomal instability during both species and somatic evolution can reciprocally inform each field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The actions of intelligent agents, such as chatbots, recommender systems, and virtual assistants are typically not fully transparent to the user. Consequently, users take the risk that such agents act in ways opposed to the users' preferences or goals. It is often argued that people use trust as a cognitive shortcut to reduce the complexity of such interactions. Here we formalise this by using the methods of evolutionary game theory to study the viability of trust-based strategies in repeated games. These are reciprocal strategies that cooperate as long as the other player is observed to be cooperating. Unlike classic reciprocal strategies, once mutual cooperation has been observed for a threshold number of rounds they stop checking their co-player's behaviour every round, and instead only check it with some probability. By doing so, they reduce the opportunity cost of verifying whether the action of their co-player was actually cooperative. We demonstrate that these trust-based strategies can outcompete strategies that are always conditional, such as Tit-for-Tat, when the opportunity cost is non-negligible. We argue that this cost is likely to be greater when the interaction is between people and intelligent agents, because of the reduced transparency of the agent. Consequently, we expect people to use trust-based strategies more frequently in interactions with intelligent agents. Our results provide new, important insights into the design of mechanisms for facilitating interactions between humans and intelligent agents, where trust is an essential factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speciation is frequently initiated but rarely completed, a phenomenon hypothesized to arise due to the failure of nascent lineages to persist. Although a failure to persist often has ecological causes, key gaps exist between ecological and evolutionary theories that, if filled, would clarify when and why speciation succeeds or fails. Here, we apply ecological coexistence theory to show how the alignment between different forms of niche opportunity and niche use shape the initiation, progression, and completion of speciation. Niche evolution may drive coexistence or competitive exclusion, and an ability to coexist ecologically may help or hinder speciation. Our perspective allows progress towards unifying the origin and maintenance of species diversity across the tree of life. Speciation is the process by which new species are formed, shaped by ecological conditions within which lineages live and evolve. We argue that the distribution of available resources within and among regions dictates if and how speciation will be initiated, as well as whether newly formed lineages will persist ecologically. Lineages may diverge to use different resource types, but whether divergence confers niche differentiation or a competitive asymmetry depends on resource availability in the location of secondary contact. Coexistence may sometimes help and sometimes halt speciation, depending on its timing relative to reproductive isolation, and may frequently fail due to stochastic extinction. Speciation modes emerge as a consequence of how different forms of ecological opportunity shape microevolutionary processes, giving rise to new persistent species at different rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Evolutionary game theory is used to study the dynamic behaviors in WEEE recycling. • Fund Relief Policy can motivate the producers' green innovation behavior. • Fund Relief Policy can to some extent alleviate the government financial pressure. In an effort to regulate waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) recycling, the Chinese government has issued China-WEEE regulations and a fund policy. In accordance with the 2012 fund policy, the government collects funds from producers and subsidizes recycling enterprises. However, this policy has encountered difficulties. The 2016 White Paper on WEEE Recycling, Treatment and Reuse states that while the funds collected from producers were 2.61 billion Yuan, the subsidies provided to recycling enterprises were 4.714 billion Yuan, which is a gap of 2.104 billion Yuan. In addition, this policy did not incentivize producers to invest in WEEE recycling. Our paper aims to answering the following questions: (1) What is the impact of the current WEEE processing fund policy? (2) How can producers' green innovation in WEEE recycling be promoted? We use evolutionary game theory to investigate the strategies used by producers and recyclers and explore their evolutionary behaviors under two policies: the 2012 fund policy (the current policy) and the Fund Relief Policy (a newly designed policy). The results indicate that the Fund Relief Policy can motivate producers' green innovation behavior, improve the profitability of recyclers, and alleviate the financial pressure on government to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All organisms have a stress response system to cope with environmental threats, yet its precise form varies hugely within and across individuals, populations, and species. While the physiological mechanisms are increasingly understood, how stress responses have evolved remains elusive. Here, we show that important insights can be gained from models that incorporate physiological mechanisms within an evolutionary optimality analysis (the 'evo-mecho' approach). Our approach reveals environmental predictability and physiological constraints as key factors shaping stress response evolution, generating testable predictions about variation across species and contexts. We call for an integrated research programme combining theory, experimental evolution, and comparative analysis to advance scientific understanding of how this core physiological system has evolved. Extensive experimental and comparative studies provide a solid understanding of the physiological basis of the stress response system and its variation across and within species. However, lagging behind this is a formal theoretical framework to help unify the wealth of existing verbal hypotheses linking stress response mechanisms and fitness, and to explain how such a response system has evolved. We propose an evo-mecho approach, combining optimality models and evolutionary simulations with empirical evidence about the underlying physiology, to show how mechanistic constraints and the predictability of environmental risks shape the stress response. A deeper understanding of stress response evolution will require mechanistically informed evolutionary models, phylogenetically controlled comparative analyses, and experimental evolution studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolutionary ecological theory suggests that selection arising from interactions with conspecifics, such as sexual and kin selection, may result in evolution of intraspecific conflicts and evolutionary 'tragedy of the commons'. Here, we propose that such an evolution of conspecific conflicts may affect population dynamics in a way that enhances species coexistence. Empirical evidence and theoretical models suggest that more abundant species is more susceptible to invasion of 'selfish' individuals that increase their own reproductive success at the expense of population growth (intraspecific adaptation load). The density-dependent intraspecific adaptation load gives rise to a self-regulation mechanism at the population level, and stabilizes species coexistence at the community level by negative frequency-dependence. Community ecology has suggested that adaptation to environmental conditions (resources and other species) can affect species coexistence. There has been little discussion on how adaptation to intraspecific interactions (sexual and social conflict) affects community dynamics despite its importance in evolutionary ecology. We propose that adaptation to intraspecific conflicts, which often leads to evolution of selfish traits occurring at the expense of population growth (intraspecific adaptation load), can promote species coexistence. It stems from the density-dependent nature of intraspecific adaptation load; it tends to be larger in a larger population and serves as a self-regulating mechanism, which results in negative frequency-dependent growth in community dynamics. We discuss methods for empirically studying intraspecific adaptation load to better link community and evolutionary ecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Evolutionary theory clarifies the link between social stress and mental disorders. • Social stressors interfere with the achievement of biological goals. • The severity of the stressor correlates with the importance of the biological goal. • There is a natural hierarchy of biological goals. • Life history strategies impact stress sensitivity and stress generation. The literature on social stress and psychiatric disorders is biased toward proximate explanations. While it is important to know how the mechanisms implicated in social stress operate, we also need to learn why selection has retained those mechanisms. This review analyzes debated questions from the perspective of Darwinian psychiatry: What is a stressful event? Why are certain types of stressful events particularly potent? Why don't stressful events fall randomly from the sky? Why does life stage modulate the impact of stressful events? Why are some people more resilient or vulnerable to stressful events? Why are there sex differences in stress sensitivity? Are specific stressful events linked to specific disorders? An evolutionary perspective can increase and broaden our understanding of why exposure to different types of social stress triggers the onset of psychiatric disorders. The application of evolutionary concepts not only clarifies and contextualizes how certain social experiences are implicated in the etiology of psychiatric disorders; it can also steer researchers toward novel hypotheses not anticipated by traditional models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbiology has unraveled rich evidence of ongoing reticulate evolutionary processes and complex interactions both within and between cells. These phenomena feature real biological networks, which can logically be analyzed using network-based tools. It is thus not surprising that network sciences, a field independent from evolutionary biology and microbiology, have recently pervasively infused their methods into both fields. Importantly, network tools bring forward observations enhancing the understanding of three core evolutionary concepts: variation, fitness, and heredity. Consequently, our work shows how network sciences can enhance evolutionary theory by explaining the evolution by natural selection of a broad diversity of units of selection, while updating the popular figure of Darwin's tree of life with a comprehensive sketch of the networks of evolution. Network sciences are introducing network-based models into all relevant biological fields, notably in microbiology and evolutionary biology. The three core principles of evolution – variation, heredity, and differential fitness – crystalized in the 1970s, still serve as a conceptual benchmark for the theory of evolution by natural selection. Network-based inquiries in microbiology tap into the complexity of the systems of interactions that underscore the evolutionary dynamics of cellular life, thereby augmenting our understanding of the three core principles of evolution. Conversely, the improved understanding of evolutionary dynamics provided by networks informs microbiology in various ways. The network-based understanding of evolution is often considered as anti-Darwinian in spirit, a claim that can be debunked using microbiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider Evolution Strategies (ESs) operating only with isotropic Gaussian mutations on positive quadratic objective functions, and investigate the covariance matrix when constructed out of selected individuals by truncation. We prove that the covariance matrix over (1 , λ) -selected decision vectors becomes proportional to the inverse of the landscape Hessian as the population-size λ increases. This confirms a classical hypothesis that statistical learning of the landscape is an inherent characteristic of standard ESs, and that this distinguishing capability stems only from the usage of isotropic Gaussian mutations and rank-based selection. Even though the model under consideration does not precisely conform with practically encountered scenarios, it plays a role of a theoretical foundation for learning capabilities within ESs. We also provide broad numerical validation for the proven results, and present empirical evidence for its generalization to (μ , λ) -selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the main lines of evidence (molecular, cellular and whole organism) published since the 1970s demonstrating Lamarckian Inheritance in animals, plants and microorganisms viz. the transgenerational inheritance of environmentally-induced acquired characteristics. The studies in animals demonstrate the genetic permeability of the soma-germline Weismann Barrier. The widespread nature of environmentally-directed inheritance phenomena reviewed here contradicts a key pillar of neo-Darwinism which affirms the rigidity of the Weismann Barrier. These developments suggest that neo-Darwinian evolutionary theory is in need of significant revision. We argue that Lamarckian inheritance strategies involving environmentally-induced rapid directional genetic adaptations make biological sense in the context of cosmic Panspermia allowing the efficient spread of living systems and genetic innovation throughout the Universe. The Hoyle-Wickramasinghe Panspermia paradigm also developed since the 1970s, unlike strictly geocentric neo-Darwinism provides a cogent biological rationale for the actual widespread existence of Lamarckian modes of inheritance - it provides its raison d'être. Under a terrestrially confined neo-Darwinian viewpoint such an association may have been thought spurious in the past. Our aim is to outline the conceptual links between rapid Lamarckian-based evolutionary hypermutation processes dependent on reverse transcription-coupled mechanisms among others and the effective cosmic spread of living systems. For example, a viable, or cryo-preserved, living system travelling through space in a protective matrix will need of necessity to rapidly adapt and proliferate on landing in a new cosmic niche. Lamarckian mechanisms thus come to the fore and supersede the slow (blind and random) genetic processes expected under a traditional neo-Darwinian evolutionary paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gaia hypothesis in a strong and frequently criticized form assumes that global homeostatic mechanisms have evolved by natural selection favoring the maintenance of conditions suitable for life. Traditional neoDarwinists hold this to be impossible in theory. But the hypothesis does make sense if one treats the clade that comprises the biological component of Gaia as an individual and allows differential persistence – as well as differential reproduction – to be an outcome of evolution by natural selection. Recent developments in theoretical and experimental evolutionary biology may justify both maneuvers. The Gaia hypothesis – the notion that this earth has homeostatic feedbacks evolved as adaptations through natural selection – is not easily squared with traditional Darwinian thinking. Alternative formulations consider that differential persistence (as well as differential reproduction) is a legitimately Darwinian mechanism or outcome of evolution by natural selection. Thinking this way points to new directions in philosophical and empirical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments show that irradiation-induced recrystallization speeds up the swelling kinetics in U-10 wt% Mo fuels. However, recrystallization mechanisms and the effect of initial grain microstructures on recrystallization kinetics are still unclear. In this work a Monte Carlo model coupling the rate theory of defect evolution has been developed to study the irradiation-induced recrystallization. The rate theory is used to describe the spatial evolution of gas bubbles, interstitials and interstitial loops; First-Passage Kinetic Monte Carlo (FPKMC) approach is used to describe the fast and strongly anisotropic migration of interstitials, and a Cellular Automata method is used to model the formation of recrystallized grains. With the assumption that recrystallization may occur when the local interstitial loop density is larger than a given critical value, simulation results reveal that 1) recrystallized grains first nucleate on grain boundaries and the recrystallization zone front moves to the center of original coarse grains in the UMo matrix, and 2) recrystallization starts earlier in coarse polycrystalline structures, while the overall recrystallization kinetics decreases with increasing grain size. These results agree with experimental observations. The comparison of recrystallization kinetics obtained from experiments and modeling suggests that the interstitial loop accumulation leads to the recrystallization and the interstitial loop growth is suppressed inside coarse grains due to the over-pressured intra-granular gas bubbles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• One-population evolutionary game is proposed to analyze manufacturers' strategies. • Manufacturers should choose to adopt corporate social responsibility (CSR) or not. • The effect of CSR effort on pricing decisions and payoff functions are analyzed. • CSR strategy is evolutionarily stable and as a better strategy will be evolved. • Socially concerned manufacturer takes chance on increasing its selling price. With the growing consciousness of social sustainability, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a serious challenge to manufacturers. This paper analytically analyzes pricing strategy and long-term behavior of socially concerned manufacturers through a one-population evolutionary game theory. Considering two main strategies, i.e., non-CSR and CSR, we investigate what strategy will eventually be the best strategy for the manufacturers and which strategy will eventually be chosen by the majority of the manufacturers. Besides, analytical sensitivity analyses and managerial insights are derived which reveal that a socially concerned manufacturer can offer a higher price for its products compared to a profit-maximizing manufacturer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Model-informed drug discovery and development (MID3) is poised to facilitate a major evolution in the way drugs R&D is conducted. • Employing computational models aids study design and interpretation and in some cases replaces actual experiments. • MID3 covers related approaches: physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK), quantitative systems pharmacology/toxicology (QSP/T). • The true power of these techniques comes from their ability to integrate relevant in vitro , in vivo and ex vivo data. • It allows to predict drug potency, efficacy and safety to aid translation from nonclinical and clinical systems into the real-world situation of patients. Model-informed drug discovery and development (MID3) is an umbrella term under which sit several computational approaches: quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP), quantitative systems toxicology (QST) and physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK). QSP models are built using mechanistic knowledge of the pharmacological pathway focusing on the putative mechanism of drug efficacy; whereas QST models focus on safety and toxicity issues and the molecular pathways and networks that drive these adverse effects. These can be mediated through exaggerated on-target or off-target pharmacology, immunogenicity or the physiochemical nature of the compound. PBPK models provide a mechanistic description of individual organs and tissues to allow the prediction of the intra- and extra-cellular concentration of the parent drug and metabolites under different conditions. Information on biophase concentration enables the prediction of a drug effect in different organs and assessment of the potential for drug–drug interactions. Together, these modelling approaches can inform the exposure–response relationship and hence support hypothesis generation and testing, compound selection, hazard identification and risk assessment through to clinical proof of concept (POC) and beyond to the market. Used in combination, physiologically based pharmacokinetics, quantitative systems pharmacology and quantitative systems toxicology have the potential to improve prediction of the effective drug concentration and the associated beneficial and adverse effects, improving the chances of success in biopharma R&D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of phytochemical diversity and biosynthetic pathways in plants can be evaluated from a phylogenetic and environmental perspective. Pilocarpus Vahl (Rutaceae) , an economically important medicinal plant in the family Rutaceae, has a great diversity of imidazole alkaloids and coumarins. In this study, we used phylogenetic comparative methods to determine whether there is a phylogenetic signal for chemical traits across the genus Pilocarpus; this included ancestral reconstructions of continuous and discrete chemical traits. Bioclimatic variables found to be associated with the distribution of this genus were used to perform O LS regressions between chemical traits and bioclimatic variables. Next, these regression models were evaluated to test whether bioclimatic traits could significantly predict compound concentrations. Our study found that in terms of compound concentration, variation is most significantly associated with adaptive environmental convergence rather than phylogenetic relationships. The best predictive model of chemical traits was the OLS regression that modeled the relationship between coumarin and precipitation in the coldest quarter. However, we also found one chemical trait was dependent on phylogenetic history and bioclimatic factors. These findings emphasize that consideration of both environmental and phylogenetic factors is essential to tease out the intricate processes in the evolution of chemical diversity in plants. These methods can benefit fields such as conservation management, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Image 1 • There is an inverse relationship between coumarin and alkaloid diversity on the phylogeny. • Phylogenetic signal (discrete/continuous) was detected for compounds in Pilocarpus. • The impact of bioclimatic factors and shared phylogenetic history was compound specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How did early Anatomically Modern Human (Homo sapiens sapiens) appear on earth and then spread rapidly across the globe to the present day? There are two main stages of Homo sapiens' evolution: (1) the archaic Homo sapiens lived since their initial appearance up to 150,000 years ago, and (2) anatomically modern Homo sapiens from 150,000 years ago to the present. The multiregional model argues there was a gradual and continuous evolutionary process from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens in every region of Africa and Eurasia. In contrast the "Out of Africa" evolutionary model, known as the "replacement" theory argued that the genetic roots of Homo sapiens were around 150,000 to 100,000 years ago originated from one place in Africa, and spread out in different directions, flourished, and replaced local archaic populations. This paper will discuss the presence of early anatomically modern human remains in Southeast Asia including Indonesia from around the second half of the Upper Pleistocene including Wajak man, Lida Ajer and Punung remains, also Flores hominin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global emergence of vector-borne and zoonotic diseases presents a rapidly growing 'wicked' problem. We outline the need for a transdisciplinary research program that is grounded in ecological and evolutionary theory but integrates fundamentally with research perspectives spanning the health, social, and natural sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Population balance modelling allows capturing the dynamics of double emulsions. • Breakage and coalescence kernels are adapted to double emulsions. • The escape rate of the internal micro-droplets is driven by breakage. • The leakage rate coefficient is dependent on the salt fraction and osmotic pressure. Abstract Double emulsions are widely spread in a number of applications, such as food, cosmetics and pharmaceutics. They are usually prepared in two steps, comprising the preparation of a first emulsion that is in a second step introduced in an external continuous phase. A number of phenomena may occur during the second step including breakage, coalescence, and escape that is aimed to be reduced to keep high the encapsulation efficiency. Suitable models of these phenomena are proposed in this work and incorporated into a population balance model (PBM) to allow predicting the evolution of the droplet size distribution (DSD) of the external macro-droplets as well as the release rate. During the considered short preparation time and the slow molecular diffusion of the encapsulated salt, the release rate was assumed to be mainly governed by the leakage of internal droplets, i.e. their release due to the breakage of the macro-droplets. The proposed leakage model is thus described as a function of the breakage rate of the macro-droplets. The model parameters involved in the different sub-models of the PBMs (breakup and coalescence kernels, leakage) were identified in experiments of W/O/W double emulsions prepared using a rotor stator. Then, the model was validated under various key process conditions, such as the internal water fractions (10–40%) and stirring rate. The dependence of the leakage parameter on the concentration of salt was also investigated. The macro-DSD was measured by Laser diffraction while the leakage rate was monitored by conductivity measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Although certain policy approaches are prominent in specific stages of economic development, each stage is characterised by a mix of policies. • While sectoral and microeconomic policies prevail at early and advanced stages respectively, both are present to varying extents in all stages. • The function of each policy approach within the policy mix varies depending on the stage of development. • The paper compares structural, allocative and evolutionary theories to interpret the economic policy at different stages of development. Strategies of economic development differ widely in terms of approaches to State intervention. However, across countries, certain policies tend to prevail at specific stages of development. For example, the Italian and South Korean cases, analysed in this paper, suggest the prevalence of sectoral policies at early stages, followed by a reorientation towards microeconomic policies at later stages. The paper interprets this trend through the viewpoints of three theoretical perspectives: structural, allocative and evolutionary. The historical and theoretical analysis of the paper shows that, even if each stage of development is characterised by the prominence of a specific policy over others, a mix of policies is pursued at each stage. In addition, the functions of each policy approach vary depending on the stage. This finding highlights unexpected linkages between theory and policy, and the need to consider different theoretical perspectives to understand the multifaceted character of economic policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stomata are dynamic pores in the impermeable cuticle that coats the aerial parts of vascular plants, allowing the entry of CO 2 for photosynthesis and controlling water loss. They are composed of two guard cells that can swell or shrink due to an increase or decrease in their osmotic pressure, respectively. Swelling opens the stomata and shrinking closes the stomata. For more than a century, scientists have been working to uncover the nature of the osmolytes that modulate osmotic pressure in guard cells. Recent discoveries have undermined long-standing theories in this area, reversing the understood roles of sugars and demonstrating the evolution of scientific theories. Here, we describe the evolution of guard-cell osmoregulation theories with an emphasis on the role of sugars. For many years, it was believed that sugars obtained from guard-cell starch degradation act as osmolytes that open stomata. Numerous studies have tried to validate the starch-sugar hypothesis by correlating guard-cell starch content, sugar content, and stomatal aperture. The discovery in the 1940s that ions are the primary osmolytes that open stomata led to a temporary decline in the popularity of the sugar theory. However, in the 1990s, a modified sugar theory based on correlations between sugar content and stomatal aperture became popular. Since 2013, functional studies have revealed that sugars do not act as guard-cell osmolytes but rather are sensed by hexokinase (a sugar-sensing enzyme) within guard cells to close stomata. Sugar production involves significant loss of water through the stomata and the closure of stomata by sugars coordinates sugar production with water loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Evolutionary theories propose that socially anxious individuals are especially sensitive to social-rank signals, presumably at the expense of the attunement to signals of affiliation. Despite this theoretical claim, few empirical attempts examined the association between social anxiety (SA) and sensitivity to specific features of social-rank and affiliation. This study aims to fill this gap.Method: Participants (N = 67) completed two tasks in which two emotionally neutral computer-generated male faces of the same character were presented side-by-side. In the Social-Rank-Sensitivity Task, the faces within each pair differed in their level of dominance and, in the Affiliation-Sensitivity Task, the faces differed in their level of trustworthiness. The participants' task was to decide which of the two faces looked more dominant or friendly.Results: There were no differences in accuracy between high- and low-SA participants in the Affiliation-Sensitivity Task. In contrast, high-SA participants were more accurate than low-SA participants in the Social-Rank-Sensitivity Task. No group differences were found in decision latencies in either task.Limitations: Limitations of the study are that a non-clinical sample was used and that only computer-generated male faces were considered.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that SA is related to an enhanced ability to discriminate faces based on social-rank features. Examining sensitivity to facial cues signaling social-rank and affiliation may help to specify the nature of social threat sensitivity in SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A new definition of "safety" is given from the view of the interaction between activities and environment. • The safety structure consisting of the atomic activity factor, atomic environment factor and the interaction between the two is developed. • The new definition of hazard based on the safety structure and its active identification method is proposed. • The guiding ideology for establishing dynamic risk measurement and prediction models of safety events is given. • The three-stage echelon active safety control mechanism for safety events is established. Abstract In order to reveal the essence of "safety", to realize the active identification of hazard and the active prevention and control of accidents, the safety structure theory (SST) is established in this paper. A new definition of "safety" is given from the view of the interaction between activities and environment. And the definition of the instability domain of safety events is given based on the definition of connotation in logic. According to the factor space theory (FST), factors are used to express activities and environment, then the environment factors space cane (EFSC) is developed to "bearing" the states of environment and safety events, and the atomic activity factor space (AAFS) is developed to "bearing" the states of activities. The mapping from EFSC × AAFS to EFSC is established to describe the interaction between the atomic activity factor (AAF) and atomic environment factor (AEF), then the safety structure consisting of AAF, AEF, and the interaction between the two is developed. The evolution mechanism and evolution process of safety issues are analyzed according to the changes of states of safety structures and the relationships between the states of simple environment factors (SEFs) and instability domain of safety events. Then the definition of hazard based on safety structures and the active identification method are given, and the guiding ideology for establishing dynamic risk measurement and prediction models of safety events is given. According to the risk assessment and prediction, a three-stage echelon active safety control mechanism for safety events consisting of advanced feedforward control, feedforward control and feedback control is established. SST is a new safety science theory, which can provide a new analysis method for revealing the essence of "safety" and the evolution mechanism of safety issues, and open up a new way for the development of active safety control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A basic premise of economics is that more secure property rights reduce conflict and provide an incentive for individuals to increase the productivity of their land. This premise underlies recent theories that food production and more secure property rights, by necessity, co-evolve. The argument goes like this: Dense and predicable resources provide an incentive for more secure property rights and more secure property rights provide an incentive for individuals to modify ecosystems in ways that increase the production of food. Here, we evaluate the effect of property rights on food production among ethnographically recorded hunter-gatherers. In particular, we use path models to evaluate a recent theory for the evolution of ownership rights and ecosystem management in forager-resource systems called the Niche Construction Model of Economic Defense. We conclude that ownership has a positive effect on food production strategies that require reduced coordination between individuals (such as planting and tending patches), but potentially has a negative effect on other food production strategies such as landscape burning. Further, the coefficient of variation in rainfall and population density consistently have positive effects on the presence of food production. We discuss the implications of our results for explaining different trajectories of hunter-gatherer intensification in the archaeological record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • CdS@TCP core-shell nanorods were prepared by a facile in-situ synthesis. • CdS@TCP exhibited high surface area and intimate interfacial contact. • CdS@TCP-4 showed the highest H 2 evolution rate of 104.51 mmol h−1 g−1. • The core-shell composite promoted the separation of photogenerated charge carriers. Abstract Triptycene covalent polymer (TCP) was fabricated with CdS nanorod to form a novel core-shell nanorod CdS@TCP via a facile in-situ synthesis. A 7 nm thick shell composed of amorphous TCP was homogeneously anchored on the surface of CdS-NR by a self-assembly process, yielding a one-dimensional heterostructure. Characterizations exhibit that CdS@TCP with high surface area can provide abundant surface active sites and intimate contact interfaces for absorbing H 2 O molecules. The CdS@TCP core-shell nanocomposite as a non-noble metal photocatalyst shows significantly enhanced photocatalytic H 2 production activity and excellent photostability. The CdS@TCP-4 indicates the highest photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate of 104.51 mmol h−1 g−1, which is approximately 16.2 times than that of pure CdS-NR. Besides, the photoelectrochemical performances of CdS@TCP are measured by using transient photocurrent response, EIS Nyquist plots, open circuit potential as well as Mott-Schottky plots. The improved visible light photocatalytic H 2 evolution performance of CdS@TCP is due to its large surface area, and the formation of intimate coaxial heterojunction with n-n type, which can broaden light absorption range, boost the transfer of photoexcited charge carriers, and suppress the photocorrosion of CdS-NR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The trap-level-tunable Se-doped CdS QDs were fabricated for the first time. • Se-doping elevated Fermi level position of CdS, leading to the capture of electrons. • Se-doping promoted the production of more photo-generated electrons and holes. • CdS 0.9 Se 0.1 exhibited the photocatalytic H 2 evolution rate of 29.12 mmol h−1 g−1. • The AQE over CdS 0.9 Se 0.1 reached 27.1% at 400 nm without co-catalyst. Abstract Element doping has been extensively employed to modulate the physicochemical properties of semiconductors. In this work, Se-doped CdS quantum dots (QDs) with varied Se doping level are fabricated via a solvothermal procedure. Due to the introduction of Se, the Fermi level position of CdS is elevated to a higher position, leading to the effective capture of photogenerated electrons by the trapping sites, which greatly inhibits the recombination of electron-hole pairs and thus prolong the charge carriers' lifetime. Furthermore, due to the introduction of Se, the density of charge carriers in CdS is significantly enhanced, which is conducive to the production of more photo-generated electrons and holes. It is because of the two favorable factors that the photocatalytic performance of the resultant CdS 0.9 Se 0.1 QDs is greatly improved with a remarkable hydrogen evolution rate of 29.12 mmol h−1 g−1 under simulated solar irradiation (320–780 nm) without any co-catalysts, which is 23.5 times that of the pristine CdS QDs under the same conditions. Moreover, the apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) over CdS 0.9 Se 0.1 QDs reaches 27.1% at 400 nm without co-catalyst addition. This work confirms the feasibility of suppressing the recombination of electron-hole pairs by adjusting the capture level with impurity doping for exploring highly efficient photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutational input is the ultimate source of genetic variation, but mutations are not thought to affect the direction of adaptive evolution. Recently, critics of standard evolutionary theory have questioned the random and non-directional nature of mutations, claiming that the mutational process can be adaptive in its own right. We discuss here mutation bias in adaptive evolution. We find little support for mutation bias as an independent force in adaptive evolution, although it can interact with selection under conditions of small population size and when standing genetic variation is limited, entirely consistent with standard evolutionary theory. We further emphasize that natural selection can shape the phenotypic effects of mutations, giving the false impression that directed mutations are driving adaptive evolution. Standard evolutionary theory recognizes only one force (natural selection) that can lead to directional evolutionary change towards increased organismal adaptation. Critics of standard evolutionary theory have argued that mutational bias is an alternative evolutionary process or cause that can increase organismal adaptation independently of natural selection. We review the theoretical and empirical literature on mutation bias and identify the conditions under which it is likely to be important in adaptive evolution. Mutation bias is unlikely to play an important role in adaptive evolution, except under conditions of small population sizes and low amounts of standing genetic variation. Even if novel mutations are random with respect to organismal needs and are mostly deleterious, selection on the phenotypic expression of novel mutations (developmental bias) may cause alignment between mutational variation and the direction of increased fitness and macroevolutionary divergence, creating an illusory impression of adaptive directionality of novel mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Probabilistic-based micromechanical modeling of polymers is considered. • Polymers with bi-stable molecules embedded in the chains network are studied. • Molecule conformation change switching is triggered by chemical or mechanical stimuli. • Mechanics of swelling is accounted for in the model. • A continuum model is obtained from the micromechanical approach. Abstract Active structural systems and materials, typically used to develop sensors or actuators, are those capable of responding to external stimuli with some physical detectable reactions. The triggering stimuli can be of various nature, ranging from temperature, pH, light, mechanical stress, etc. In this context, responsive materials have the capability to react at the molecular level, showing some changes in their microstructure that can be detected and measured at the meso- or macro-scale level. This ability can be obtained in polymers and polymer-like materials through the introduction in their network of switchable molecules, characterized by two geometrically distinct stable states, where the switch from one to the other can be seen as an instability phenomenon. In this research, we present a continuum mechanical model, developed starting from the micromechanics of the polymer network joined to molecules whose switching instability is induced by mechanical or chemical actions. The theoretical framework is presented by considering the general case of poly-disperse polymers and some final examples are given and discussed. The proposed model can be used as a tool for the development and design of smart responsive systems, applicable across a wide range of length scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Epidemic models have previously been employed to better understand the spread of internet content, such as individual viral videos. Motivated by geographical differences between viewing populations, as well as by multiple viral videos which are linked or related in some way, we propose a multi-group susceptible–exposed–infected–recovered–susceptible (SEIRS) delay differential equation epidemic model for the popularity evolution of viral videos. The model accounts for the multi-group environment via (in general, heterogeneous) networks of single-group SEIRS equations. Existence and stability conditions for disease-free and endemic equilibrium states are obtained, while numerical simulations demonstrate the emergence of non-symmetric endemic equilibrium states across the network — in the case of heterogeneous parameters. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of our modeling approach, we compare solutions to our model with data obtained from coupled YouTube videos. Our results demonstrate that the inclusion of coupling between such videos allows for better agreement with data than considering each video in isolation. Such results suggest that the multi-group epidemic modeling approach including time delays and coupling between videos is a useful tool for understanding the dynamics of viral videos which are connected in some manner. While the proposed network SEIRS differential delay equation epidemic model was applied to viral video data, it may be applicable to a wide variety of internet content and, more generally, may be used to model information propagation within and between communities under the assumption of time delays in information propagation. Highlights • We formulate a network delay differential equation model of linked viral videos. • Time-delay describes temporary immunity of individuals after repeated viewing. • Edges in the network model represent links between individual videos. • The approach allows for an understanding of the popularity evolution of linked videos. • Model fit to YouTube music video data with reasonable agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Light power spectra are introduced as a new tool for relative light yield (LY) determinations. Light event spectra have commonly been used for this purpose. Theoretical background supporting this change is provided. It is shown that the derivative of a light power spectrum can provide a reliable LY measurement at levels as low as 2% of those for high-yield liquid scintillators. Applications to light evolution in the PPO+LAB system and to water-based liquid scintillators are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The thermal cycling stability of martensitic transformation in (Ti 54 Ni 34 Cu 12) 100-x Nb x (x = 0, 6 and 10 at.%) was investigated. The results show that doping Nb into Ti 54 Ni 34 Cu 12 enhances the thermal cycling stability of the material. After 400 thermal cycles, the shift of martensitic transformation start temperature of Ti 54 Ni 34 Cu 12 and (Ti 54 Ni 34 Cu 12) 90 Nb 10 alloys are 1.5 °C and 0.1 °C, respectively. This improvement can be ascribed to the fact that the proper doping of Nb does not significantly reduce the value of λ 2 , whereas improves the other cofactor conditions (CC2 and CC3) and the yield strength. Highlights • Proper doping of Nb in Ti 54 Ni 34 Cu 12 alloy enhances the thermal cycling stability of martensitic transformation. • After 400 thermal cycles, M s of (Ti 54 Ni 34 Cu 12) 90 Nb 10 alloy change 0.1 °C. • Doping Nb in Ti 54 Ni 34 Cu 12 alloy improves the cofactor conditions and the yield strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Impact behavior of bio-inspired helicoidal laminates with non-linear rotation angle. • Proposing three types of non-linear helicoidal configurations. • An effective model to predict damage development of fiber, matrix and delamination. • Revealing damage of helical fiber, matrix cracking path and enhancing mechanism. Abstract Through evolutionary process, special biological structures (e.g. micro- or macro-scale helicoidal laminated structures) are formed naturally to resist natural enemies. With some bionic inspirations, anti-impact design of composite laminates applied for aerospace, vehicle, etc. can be stimulated by helicoidal biological structures. In the work, the Non-Linear Rotation Angle (NLRA) based bio-inspired helicoidal layups are designed to enhance the impact resistance capacity of composite laminate. Four types of helicoidal configurations are proposed including Quasi-isotropic (QI), Helicoidal-Recursive (HR), Helicoidal-Exponential (HE) and Helicoidal-Semicircular (HS). The failure behaviors of material are investigated with the progressive damage model. Damage development of fiber, matrix and delamination interface is conducted with stress-based failure criteria, fracture energy criteria and stiffness degradation method. The impact damage behaviors of carbon/epoxy composite laminates with QI and NLRA helicoidal layups are studied and compared. Further, effects of coefficients in each layup formula are discussed. Numerical results show that predicted load-time curve and damage modes for QI correlate well with experimental results. It is revealed that both the maximum resistance load and threshold load for the initial matrix damage and delamination increase with the increase of each coefficient. As compared with QI layup, HR and HE layups with large rotation angles can improve the capacity of impact resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is the 2018 Political Geography invited lecture. I discuss the geographical component to early state formation and its impact on theories of human nature. Ever since Rousseau accused Hobbes of taking post-state passions as constitutive of human nature and projecting them onto pre-state peoples, the question of whether or not early state formation produced qualitative changes in human emotional and cognitive structures has been debated in anthropology and philosophy. The work of James C Scott, especially in The Art of Not Being Governed and Against the Grain has emphasized the geographical component of early state formation and the concomitant and often futile attempts of states to stop flight from states as in the proverbial "run for the hills!" I will put Scott's work in dialogue with the philosophical work of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, as well as with new anthropological theories of human evolution, including the Human Self-Domestication thesis of Brian Hare, and the obligate collaborative foraging thesis of Michael Tomasello. At stake will be attempts to account for prosocial egalitarian sentiments and their conflict with hierarchical states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective This study compared the prevalence of sudden deafness (SD) in children to investigate the evolution of pediatric SD during the past two decades. Methods From 1996 to 2005, totaling 358 SD patients were experienced. Of them, 25 patients (7%) aged <15 years were assigned to Group A. In contrast, 5 patients (2%) aged <15 years of 242 SD patients encountered during the period 2006–2015 were assigned to Group B. All patients underwent audiovestibular function testing. Results The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination reached to 95% vaccination rate in Taiwan after 1994. As 1994 (MMR vaccination years) + 11 (mean age of pediatric SD) equals 2005, this study found that declining prevalence of pediatric SD was from 7% (1996–2005) to 2% (2006–2015) at our hospital, consistent with declining annual cases of SD in Taiwan during the past decades. A significantly higher abnormality rate of mean hearing level (93%) than abnormal caloric responses (20%) was identified indicating that pediatric SD predominately affected the cochlear partition. Conclusion The prevalence of pediatric SD cases has significantly declined during the past 20 years, probably due to global vaccination policy. Other causal factors such as growing numbers of hospital and advancement in radiological diagnostic technique may also contribute to the declining prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]