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Among the formal objectives stated in the fundamental treaties of the European Union (EU) are the social welfare of its Member States and their ultimate economic convergence. However, since the outbreak of the 2008 economic crisis, differences among EU countries have grown more pronounced, thus questioning the achievement of those goals and prompting the identification of certain less visible phenomena that may indicate spurious convergence. One example is the difficulty of some Members in retaining advances in productivity – a characteristic that Latin American Structuralism and Dependency Theory have associated with an economy’s peripheral position. Here we analyse for the EU-20, between 1995 and 2014, the convergence (or divergence) demonstrated in terms of labour productivity and real wages. Our intention is to determine whether the EU periphery experiences greater difficulties than do the central countries of the EU in retaining productivity gains internally. In short, we articulate a proposal based in the study of Convergence, but from an approach that may be framed as ‘Uneven development’. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The genetic diversity of a population defines its ability to adapt to episodic and fluctuating environmental changes. For species of agricultural value, available genetic diversity also determines their breeding potential and remains fundamental to the development of practices that maintain health and productivity. In this study, we used whole-genome resequencing to investigate genetic diversity within and between naturalized and captively reared populations of Pacific oysters from the US Pacific coast. The analyses included individuals from preserved samples dating to 1998 and 2004, two contemporary naturalized populations, and one domesticated population. Results: Despite high overall heterozygosity, there was extremely low but significant genetic divergence between populations, indicative of high gene flow and/or little variability from founding events. The captive population, which was reared for over 25 years was the most genetically distinct population and exhibited reduced nucleotide diversity, attributable to inbreeding. Individuals from populations that were separated both geographically and temporally did not show detectable genetic differences, illustrating the consequences of human intervention in the form translocation of animals between farms, hatcheries and natural settings. Fifty-nine significant FST outlier sites were identified, the majority of which were present in high proportions of the captive population individuals, and which are possibly associated with domestication. Conclusion: Pacific oysters in the US Pacific coast harbor high genetic heterozygosity which obscures weak population structure. Differences between these Pacific oyster populations could be leveraged for breeding and might be a source of adaptation to new environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the divergence issues in GPS navigation systems caused by inaccuracies in dynamic modeling and explores solutions using the extended Kalman filter (EKF). Since algorithms such as the Kalman filter (KF) and EKF rely on assumed process models that often deviate from real-world conditions, their performance in real-time applications can degrade. This paper introduces fictitious process noise as an effective remedy to mitigate divergence, demonstrating its benefits through covariance estimation and tuning factors to enhance observability and controllability, particularly for continuous differential GPS (DGPS) access. The study evaluates several motion scenarios, including stationary receivers, straight-line trajectories with constant and varying speeds, and turning trajectories. The inclusion of process noise allows the EKF to adapt to changes in direction and speed without explicitly modeling turning or acceleration dynamics. To ensure robustness, the simulations incorporate a variety of scenarios to assess the statistical reliability and real-world performance of the EKF, ensuring the findings are statistically robust and widely applicable. Simulated receivers were used to evaluate the position (P), position–velocity (PV), and position–velocity–acceleration (PVA) models. The results from both the Ordinary Least-Squares (OLS) and EKF simulations show improved vehicle trajectory tracking and demonstrate the EKF's potential for broader navigation system applications. This paper's novel contribution lies in its thorough analysis of the divergence issues in GPS navigation filter designs due to dynamic modeling inaccuracies, providing a systematic approach to addressing these challenges and offering new insights to improve estimation accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to determine the relationship between the processes of economic and social convergence in Polish voivodeships. The correlation between these two processes is still unclear and the mechanisms behind them are not fully discovered. The goal of this article requires determining whether the changes in the level of disproportions in the GDP per capita translate into changes in social cohesion and what is the nature of this relationship. Those issues are still relevant and important due to their cognitive and practical value. In view of the above, using various analysis tools (i.e., the correlation coefficient and regression function), the authors determine whether economic convergence (both β and σ) and social convergence (with the use of the TOPSIS method) is observed in Polish regions in the years 2000–2022. The obtained results allow us to state that in the analyzed period, economic and social divergence processes occurred in Poland. The constantly deepening disproportions seem to be relatively permanent and caused by differences in the demographic potential (including urbanization potential) of individual regions that are difficult to eliminate, as well as by different development trajectories during the period of political transformation after 1989. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Evaluate constitutional differences in chin morphology and volume, and mandibular tooth size, between different facial divergence patterns. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 284 pretreatment cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of growing and non‐growing patients who were stratified into 4 groups based on mandibular plane inclination to cranial base (SN) angle. Linear and angular measurements were made on the lateral CBCT images: mandibular lateral incisor crown (I‐C) total (I‐A) lengths, the distances between point D (centre of symphysis) and both incisor apex (D‐A) and menton (D‐Me) and between cemento‐enamel junction and menton (CEJ‐Me); chin width at the level of the central incisor apex (CWA) and point D (CWD); and the angles of the anterior and posterior symphyseal slopes. The volume of the symphysis was measured using a specialized 3D imaging software. Group differences and associations between parameters were gauged through the three‐way ANOVA analysis. Results: I‐C, I‐A, D‐A, D‐Me and CEJ‐Me were greater in the hyperdivergent group (p <.001). CWA and CWD were wider in the hypodivergent group (p =.003). Volume of the chin and inter‐slope angles were similar in all groups (p >.05). The anterior slope angle decreased with hyperdivegence (p <.005) in opposite pattern to the posterior slope angle (p <.005). Conclusions: Shape differences in mandibular symphysis were observed between opposite divergence patterns. Mandibular incisors were longer with hyperdivergence and shorter with hypodivergence. However, chin volumes were similar across divergence groups. These findings underline the role of genetic and environmental factors that impact facial growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes a planetary laser interferometric seismoacoustic observatory consisting of six stationary unequal arm laser strainmeters. Based on the triangulation method, the fundamentals of direction finding of various infrasound disturbances at any planetary distance have been developed. The authors show that in addition to determining locations of the occurrence of the recorded disturbance, using data from spatially separated laser strainmeters, it is possible to determine the nature of these signals' divergence and, also, the loss of their energy in the propagation medium. The creation of the planetary laser interferometric seismoacoustic observatory, consisting of five stationary single-coordinate laser strainmeters and one two-coordinate laser strainmeter, united into a single measuring network with an accurate time clock TRIMBLE 5700 that is capable of recording displacements on their bases with an accuracy of 10 pm in the frequency range from 0 (conventionally) to 1000 Hz and two auxiliary laser strainmeters, will allow us to determine, at any planetary distance, the primary source of deformation infrasound disturbances with primary amplitudes from 100 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Pummelo (Citrus maxima) is one of the most important citrus crops and have genetically contributed sweet orange, lemon and most citrus cultivars. It has been cultivated for c. 4000 years in China and is also distributed in many Southeast Asian countries. Nevertheless, the origin and dispersal of pummelo remain elusive.We conducted whole‐genome sequencing for 290 pummelo accessions from China and Southeast Asia (SEA). Our findings indicated that pummelo was originated in Yunnan province. The divergence of the China‐SEA accessions occurred c. 2000 years ago and the divergence was likely facilitated through the Maritime Silk Road.We detected the divergence of genomic regions associated with fruit flavor and color, indicating different selection by human activities in different regions. A gene encoding lycopene cyclase 2 (LCYB2) exhibited a high degree of divergence in expression and sequence between red‐flesh and white‐flesh pummelos. A SNP in the coding region of LCYB2 resulted in a reduction in lycopene β‐cyclizing enzyme activity, leading to the accumulation of lycopene and the development of the red‐flesh trait.This study reveals the origin and evolutionary history of pummelo and provides insights into the genomic basis for the divergence of fruit flavor and color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Adaptive introgression involves the acquisition of advantageous genetic variants through hybridisation, which are subsequently favoured by natural selection due to their association with beneficial traits. Here, we analysed speciation patterns of the kleptoparasitic spider, Argyrodes lanyuensis, through genomic analyses and tested for possible genetic evidence of adaptive introgression at the Taiwan–Philippines transition zone. Our study used highly polymorphic SNPs to demonstrate that speciation occurred when the Hualien (on Taiwan Island + Green Island) and Orchid Island + Philippine lineages separated during the early to mid‐Pleistocene. The best colonisation model suggested by approximate Bayesian computation and random forests and biogeographical analyses supported an inference of a bottleneck during speciation, an interpretation reinforced by observation of lower FST values and reduced genetic diversity of the Orchid Island + Philippines lineage. We also found the highest support for the occurrence of introgression on the youngest island (Green Island) of the Taiwan–Philippines transition zone based on the ABBA‐BABA test. Our study highlights the inference of two noteworthy species (Hualien + Green Island and Orchid Island + Philippines) based on our species delimitation tests, with gene flow between Green Island and Orchid Island that indicates introgression. The potential adaptive alleles in Green Island population, which are under balancing selection, provide initial evidence of possible rare case of adaptive introgression. This could represent an evolutionary response to a newly formed niche (or novel geographical context) lying between the tropical climate of the Philippines and the subtropical climate of Hualien, Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean wind plays a fundamental role in the Earth's climate system by transporting heat, moisture, and gases globally while mediating their exchange with the ocean. How, and at what scales these processes occur is an active area of research, and modeling studies suggest that the strongest vertical transport and air‐sea exchanges occur at small scales. This paper introduces results from the S‐MODE campaign, during which a Doppler Scatterometer mapped 2D ocean vector wind on scales between 200 m and 100 km. While in an average sense, DopplerScatt wind data match classical k−5/3 ${k}^{-5/3}$ spectra, atmospheric rolls, convection, and underlying ocean currents all drive unique wind spectra that are inconsistent with the average. Frequent observations of strong atmospheric divergence imply small‐scale vertical transport reaching > ${ >} $10 km/day. These results are not consistent with Kolmogorov and two‐dimensional turbulence theories due to anisotropy and divergence. Plain Language Summary: Using a recently developed measurement technique, we mapped two‐dimensional ocean vector winds at scales about 100 times smaller than in the past, simultaneously with ocean currents. Our observations show that the wind is highly variable spatially, and that interactions between the ocean and atmosphere are ubiquitous. We find that small scale motions drive strong spreading and turning in the atmosphere that imply strong vertical transport, which is important for the transfer of heat and gases between the ocean and atmosphere. These findings do not support some of the most commonly applied theories of atmospheric dynamics. Understanding these dynamics, and properly incorporating them into climate and forecast models, will improve the accuracy of projections. Key Points: Using a Doppler Scatterometer, we mapped 2D ocean winds on scales of 200 m to 100 km. Conditions included rolls, convection, and air‐sea interactionsOur observations display varied wind KE spectral slopes and are inconsistent with classical three‐ and two‐dimensional turbulence modelsWe frequently observed strong atmospheric divergence, implying intense vertical motion at small scales reaching > ${ >} $10 km/day [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of the transportation options available to tourists, in terms of convenience and time, directly impacts the competitiveness of a destination in the tourism sector. The aim of this study is to compare how the indicators of accessibility and connectivity of transportation have evolved across Spain's Autonomous Regions. To achieve this, we used indicators related to the sufficiency and connectivity of air and high-speed train services, as well as land accessibility and connectivity, as provided by Exceltur's Monitur reports. For a dynamic analysis, which is essential in assessing this type of infrastructure, we considered the values of these indicators from the first Monitur report (2010) and the most recent one (2018). Based on these values for the 17 Autonomous Regions of Spain, we identified the regions that have gained relative competitiveness and those that have experienced a relative decline. The dynamic analysis conducted in this study has allowed us to classify the regions according to the evolution of their relative competitiveness. It highlights the key areas that destination managers should focus on to design strategies that enhance their competitive position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV, species Potexvirus pepini) is a potexvirus of economic significance. The pathogen has become a serious threat to tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) worldwide. To gain more insights into the molecular epidemiology and evolution of PepMV, recombination analysis was carried out. Nine chimeric sequences were identified, including one probably involving host‐to‐virus gene flow. Based on the coat protein (CP) gene, PepMV isolates were classified into six genotypes and the phylogeography was reconstructed. Bayesian coalescent analysis applied to the dated genomic sequences suggested that PepMV started to expand in the early 17th century and evolved at a moderate rate. Ancestral state reconstruction supported the South American origin of PepMV. Codon usage bias analysis showed that PepMV genes had influences in addition to compositional constraints. In codon usage, PepMV is fairly similar to S. lycopersicum. Moreover, PepMV recapitulates the host's remarkable suppression of CpG and UpA dinucleotides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the analysis of square contingency tables with the same row and column ordinal classifications, this study proposes an index for measuring the degree of departure from the symmetry model using new cumulative probabilities. The proposed index is constructed based on the Cressie and Read's power divergence, or the weighted average of the Patil and Taillie's diversity index. This study derives a plug-in estimator of the proposed index and an approximate confidence interval for the proposed index. The estimator of the proposed index is expected to reduce the bias more than the estimator of the existing index, even when the sample size is not large. The proposed index is identical to the existing index under the conditional symmetry model. Therefore, assuming the probability structure in which the conditional symmetry model holds, the performances of plug-in estimators of the proposed and existing indexes can be simply compared. Through numerical examples and real data analysis, the usefulness of the proposed index compared to the existing index is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper analyses the regional economic impacts of COVID-19 in Ireland. The results show regional labour market impacts were related to pre-existing economic structures rather than infection rates. Drivers of the employment shock were found to be regional specialisms in tourism focused sectors. Cushions were provided by regional specialisms in agriculture, healthcare and the knowledge intensive service sectors. For more rural regions that appeared more resilient to the labour market shock, cushions were likely provided by employment in slower growth potential sectors. During the recovery phase, these cushions can become anchors contributing to regional divergence. Consequently, some regions less severely impacted by the pandemic shock may, in fact, face more difficult structural challenges in the longer term. The pandemic has thus exacerbated pre-existing structural issues that are likely related to the observed regional economic divergence and findings of regional development traps since the recovery from the previous recessionary period of the 2010s. The broad implication is that that the regional recovery from the pandemic will not be based purely on short term COVID-19 exposure. In general terms, regional policy should look beyond the initial pandemic shocks to the key underlying development issues. A central point here is that there are no quick transformational fixes rather long-term structural imbalances need to be met. The key policy challenge, in the Irish case, is to avoid the trend from the previous economic crisis of regional divergence during the recovery phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Very-low-birth-weight infants (VLBWIs) are at high risk for neurodevelopmental problems after age 3 years. We investigated the association between the developmental quotient (DQ) of VLBWIs and their growth profiles during 6 years after birth. Participants were VLBWIs born at Kokura Medical Center (the first cohort) and Kyushu University Hospital (the second cohort) between 2012 and 2017. Recorded charts were used to collect growth profiles and developmental quotients (DQ) of the participants until age 6 years. In the first cohort (n = 64), the DQ values at age 6 years were correlated with those at age 3 years. VLBWIs with DQ ≥ 85 at age 6 years had a higher body weight and height at age 3 years than those with DQ

The Global Methane Pledge calls for a reduction of methane emissions by at least 30% by 2030. The reduction of methane emissions in the energy sector is critical to achieving this target. Remote sensing plays a crucial role in identifying and quantifying methane superemitters. In the forthcoming years, multiple promising missions carrying imaging spectrometers will be sent into orbit to obtain XCH4 observations with extensive coverage and high resolution. Traditional emission quantification models, such as the Gaussian plume model and some based on chemical transport models, are not optimally suited to the characteristics of new data. In this article, we propose a divergence-theorem-based emission quantification model, named flux integration method based on sinusoidal cosine optimization algorithm to inverse the methane point source emissions, which utilizes XCH4 observations derived from airborne imaging spectrometers to achieve rapid and accurate estimation of methane point source emission rates. This approach overcomes limitations of other methods, such as the inability of Gaussian plume models to recover the integrity of regional concentration enhancements, excessive disruption caused by integrated mass enhancement and divergence integral masking operators, and the requirement for effective wind speed fitting. The extraction of plume regions only causes a perturbation of approximately ±5% in the results, and the R value of this method on real datasets exceeds 0.89. It provides technical support for rapid and accurate monitoring of methane point source emissions on a global scale, aiding in the establishment of routine methane emission monitoring systems based on satellite remote sensing.

This paper analyses the regional economic impacts of COVID-19 in Ireland. The results show regional labour market impacts were related to pre-existing economic structures rather than infection rates. Drivers of the employment shock were found to be regional specialisms in tourism focused sectors. Cushions were provided by regional specialisms in agriculture, healthcare and the knowledge intensive service sectors. For more rural regions that appeared more resilient to the labour market shock, cushions were likely provided by employment in slower growth potential sectors. During the recovery phase, these cushions can become anchors contributing to regional divergence. Consequently, some regions less severely impacted by the pandemic shock may, in fact, face more difficult structural challenges in the longer term. The pandemic has thus exacerbated pre-existing structural issues that are likely related to the observed regional economic divergence and findings of regional development traps since the recovery from the previous recessionary period of the 2010s. The broad implication is that that the regional recovery from the pandemic will not be based purely on short term COVID-19 exposure. In general terms, regional policy should look beyond the initial pandemic shocks to the key underlying development issues. A central point here is that there are no quick transformational fixes rather long-term structural imbalances need to be met. The key policy challenge, in the Irish case, is to avoid the trend from the previous economic crisis of regional divergence during the recovery phase.

Predator-prey interactions have been suggested as drivers of diversity in different lineages, and the presence of anti-predator defences in some clades is linked to higher rates of diversification. Warning signals are some of the most widespread defences in the animal world, and there is evidence of higher diversification rates in aposematic lineages. The mechanisms behind such species richness, however, are still unclear. Here, we test whether lineages that use aposematism as anti-predator defence exhibit higher levels of genetic differentiation between populations, leading to increased opportunities for divergence. We collated from the literature more than 3000 pairwise genetic differentiation values across more than 700 populations from over 60 amphibian species. We find evidence that over short geographical distances, populations of species of aposematic lineages exhibit greater genetic divergence relative to species that are not aposematic. Our results support a scenario where the use of warning signals could restrict gene flow, and suggest that anti-predator defences could impact divergence between populations and potentially have effects at a macro-evolutionary scale.

Establishing the genetic and geographic structure of populations is fundamental, both to understand their evolutionary past and preserve their future. Nevertheless, the patterns of genetic population structure are unknown for most endangered species. This is the case for bonobos (Pan paniscus), which, together with chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), are humans' closest living relatives. Chimpanzees live across equatorial Africa and are classified into four subspecies, 1 with some genetic population substructure even within subspecies. Conversely, bonobos live exclusively in the Democratic Republic of Congo and are considered a homogeneous group with low genetic diversity, 2 despite some population structure inferred from mtDNA. Nevertheless, mtDNA aside, their genetic structure remains unknown, hampering our understanding of the species and conservation efforts. Mapping bonobo genetic diversity in space is, however, challenging because, being endangered, only non-invasive sampling is possible for wild individuals. Here, we jointly analyze the exomes and mtDNA from 20 wild-born bonobos, the whole genomes of 10 captive bonobos, and the mtDNA of 136 wild individuals. We identify three genetically distinct bonobo groups of inferred Central, Western, and Far-Western geographic origin within the bonobo range. We estimate the split time between the central and western populations to be ∼145,000 years ago and genetic differentiation to be in the order of that of the closest chimpanzee subspecies. Furthermore, our estimated long-term N e for Far-West (∼3,000) is among the lowest estimated for any great ape lineage. Our results highlight the need to attend to the bonobo substructure, both in terms of research and conservation. • We discover the presence of three genetically distinct bonobo populations • The deepest estimated split time is ∼145,000 years ago • Genetic divergence among bonobo populations is thus deeper than previously thought • The smallest effective population size is only ∼3,000, suggesting strong isolation Bonobos, an endangered primate, live exclusively in the Congo basin. Their population structure is poorly understood, despite its importance for conservation. Han et al. find evidence of substructure within the species, with substantial genetic differentiation and estimated divergence times as deep as those of the closest chimpanzee subspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Echolocation was a key development in toothed whale evolution, enabling their adaptation and diversification across various environments. Previous bioacoustic and morphological studies suggest that environmental pressures have influenced the evolution of echolocation in toothed whales. This hypothesis demands further investigation, especially regarding the molecular mechanisms involved in the adaptive radiation of toothed whales across multiple habitats. Here we show that the coding sequences of four hearing genes involved in echolocation (CDH23, prestin, TMC1, and CLDN14) have different signatures of molecular evolution among riverine, coastal, and oceanic dolphins, suggesting that the evolutionary constraints of these habitats shaped the underlying genetic diversity of the toothed whale sonar. Results: Our comparative analysis across 37 odontocete species revealed patterns of accelerated evolution within coastal and riverine lineages, supporting the hypothesis that shallow habitats pose specific selective pressures to sonar propagation, which are not found in the deep ocean. All toothed whales with genes evolving under positive selection are shallow coastal species, including three species that have recently diverged from freshwater lineages (Cephalorhynchus commersonii, Sotalia guianensis, and Orcaella heinsohni - CDH23), and three species that operate specialized Narrow Band High Frequency (NBHF) Sonars (Phocoena sinus - prestin, Neophocaena phocaenoides - TMC1 and Cephalorhynchus commersonii - CDH23). For river dolphins and deep-diving toothed whales, we found signatures of positive selection and molecular convergence affecting specific sites on CDH23, TMC1, and prestin. Positively selected sites (PSS) were different in number, identity, and substitution rates (dN/dS) across riverine, coastal, and oceanic toothed whales. Conclusion: Here we shed light on potential molecular mechanisms underlying the diversification of toothed whale echolocation. Our results suggest that toothed whale hearing genes changed under different selective pressures in coastal, riverine, and oceanic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report a strategy enabling triple switchable chemo‐, regio‐, and stereodivergence in newly developed palladium‐catalyzed cycloadditions of allenes. An asymmetric pseudo‐stereodivergent cycloaddition of allenes bearing a primary leaving group at the α‐position, where a dynamic kinetic asymmetric hydroalkoxylation of racemic unactivated allenes was the enantio‐determining step, is realized, providing four stereoisomers [(Z,R), (Z,S), (E,S), and (E,R)] containing a di‐substituted alkene scaffold and a stereogenic center. By tuning reaction conditions, a mechanistically distinctive cycloaddition is uncovered selectively with the same set of substrates. By switching the position of the leaving group of allenes, a cycloaddition involving an intermolecular O‐attack is disclosed. Diverse mechanisms of the cycloaddition reactions of allenes enable rapid access to structurally and stereochemically diverse 3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐1,4‐benzoxazines in high efficiency and selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pine stem rust, the most damaging and widespread forest disease occurring in pine trees in the Northern Hemisphere, is primarily caused by Cronartium species (Pucciniales, Melampsorineae). While the phylogenetic relationships of major Cronartium species have been largely elucidated, there is limited understanding of their species diversity and the evolutionary processes shaping their distribution patterns. In this work, we performed broad sampling and sequencing of Cronartium taxa in China together with additional sequence data and other accessions in NCBI to investigate the diversification and to estimate the divergence time of major evolutionary events in this genus. Molecular dating analysis suggested that the divergence of the genus Cronartium probably was around 91.78 Ma during the Upper Cretaceous. It is believed that Cronartium species may have originated in Asia and North America, with intercontinental dispersals occurring primarily during the Middle Eocene, Middle Miocene, and Pliocene. These dispersal events likely took place through the North Atlantic Land Bridge, the De Geer Route, and the Bering Land Bridge, and subsequently diverged through sporadic dispersal and vicariance events. Furthermore, our analysis of host associations revealed that the diversification of Cronartium species was correlated with their telial‐hosts, and some species may have experienced host jump events, indicating a complex interplay between host specificity and pathogen–host interaction during Cronartium evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competition for mates can play a critical role in determining reproductive success, shaping phenotypic variation within populations, and influencing divergence. Yet, studies of the role of sexual selection in divergence and speciation have focused disproportionately on mate choice. Here, we synthesize the literature on how mate competition may contribute to speciation and integrate concepts from work on sexual selection within populations—mating systems, ecology, and mate choice. Using this synthesis, we generate testable predictions for how mate competition may contribute to divergence. Then, we identify the extent of existing support for these predictions in the literature with a systematic review of the consequences of mate competition for population divergence across a range of evolutionary, ecological, and geographic contexts. We broadly evaluate current evidence, identify gaps in available data and hypotheses that need testing, and outline promising directions for future work. A major finding is that mate competition may commonly facilitate further divergence after initial divergence has occurred, e.g. upon secondary contact and between allopatric populations. Importantly, current hypotheses for how mate competition contributes to divergence do not fully explain observed patterns. While results from many studies fit predictions of negative frequency-dependent selection, agonistic character displacement, and ecological selection, results from ~30% of studies did not fit existing conceptual models. This review identifies future research aims for scenarios in which mate competition is likely important but has been understudied, including how ecological context and interactions between mate choice and mate competition can facilitate or hinder divergence and speciation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mainly Mesoamerican cane toad, Rhinella horribilis , is the northernmost species in the Rhinella marina species group of giant or cane toads, occupying an extensive range west of the Andean Cordillera from Ecuador north to southern Texas. However, a thorough assessment of geographic variation among R. horribilis populations, and of the phylogenetic relationships of the R. marina species complex, indicates previously unsuspected diversity within this species as currently recognized. Specifically, we evaluated whether toad populations from western Ecuador represent an evolutionary lineage distinct from the rest of R. horribilis based on extensive specimen collections and the combined evidence of mtDNA sequence variation, morphological, bioacoustics, and environmental information. Our results revealed that populations west of the Ecuadorian Andes constitute a well-supported, monophyletic clade that is distinctly different genetically, morphologically, acoustically, and ecologically from a sister taxon composed of R. horribilis populations from Central America and from populations ascribable to R. marina s.s. from the Amazon Basin of Ecuador and other countries. The weight of evidence confirms a new species (R. bella sp. nov.), described here, adding to our understanding of biogeographic relationships in this widespread clade of Neotropical toads. The new species name means 'beautiful' in Latin, in contrast to its sister species, ' horribilis '. In addition, we designate a lectotype for Bufo marinus var. fluminensis to avoid ambiguity in the applicability of that name. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To date a vicariant event through the mutualistic relationship of a hylid frog and its bromeliad host found across two isolated mountain ranges as part of an island–continental split and to use this information to calibrate a molecular dating analysis of hylids. Location: South America. Time Period: Pliocene. Major Taxa Studied: Treefrogs, Arboranae. Methods: Pliocene tectonic movements sank a portion of a mountain range that connected present‐day Trinidad (island) and northern Venezuela, eventually isolating populations of the golden tree frog Phytotriades auratus and its host bromeliad Glomeropitcairnia erectiflora on both sides of a saltwater barrier. We estimated the submersion rate timing of the vicariant event, then employed ecological niche modelling to establish the distribution of the frog and its host to the Pliocene. We generated nucleotide sequence data for the hylid on each side of the marine barrier and proposed a biogeographic calibration for the split between populations. Using Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, we evaluated the impact of incorporating this biogeographic calibration on estimates of treefrog divergence times. Results: A relatively continuous, high‐elevation mountain range existed before the Pliocene and the opening of the Gulf of Paria (4.45 ± 0.85 Ma). Phytotriades auratus and G. erectiflora would have been distributed across the Paria and Northern Range mountains as a single population since the Pliocene. Divergence times among treefrogs (Arboranae) were older than those inferred using fossil calibrations alone, with mean age estimates for subfamilies and genera being ~2 and ~1.2 million years older, respectively. Main Conclusions: Our study presents a biogeographic calibration based on a vicariant model that connects the evolution of the populations of a hylid through geology and ecological data. The implementation of this date as a molecular clock calibration reduces the uncertainty in date estimates for the shallower nodes in the phylogeny of Arboranae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of the Isthmus of Panama separated the populations of many marine organisms, which then diverged into new geminate sister species currently living in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. However, we know very little about how such evolutionary divergences of host species have shaped the compositions of their microbiomes. Here, we compared the microbiomes of whole-body and shell-surface samples of geminate species of marine gastropods in the genera Cerithium and Cerithideopsis to those of congeneric outgroups. Our results suggest that the effects of ~3 million years of separation and isolation on microbiome composition varied among host genera and between sample types within the same hosts. In the whole-body samples, microbiome compositions of geminate species pairs tended to be similar, likely due to host filtering, although the strength of this relationship varied among the two groups and across similarity metrics. Shell-surface microbiomes show contrasting patterns, with co-divergence between the host taxa and a small number of microbial clades evident in Cerithideopsis but not Cerithium. These results suggest that (i) isolation of host populations after the rise of the Isthmus of Panama affected microbiomes of geminate hosts in a complex and host-specific manner, and (ii) host-associated microbial taxa respond differently to vicariance events than the hosts themselves. IMPORTANCE While considerable work has been done on evolutionary divergences of marine species in response to the rise of the Isthmus of Panama, which separated two previously connected oceans, how this event shaped the microbiomes of these marine hosts remains poorly known. Using whole-body and shell-surface microbiomes of closely related gastropod species from opposite sides of the Isthmus, we show that divergences of microbial taxa after the formation of the Isthmus are often not concordant with those of their gastropod hosts. Our results show that evolutionary responses of marine gastropod-associated microbiomes to major environmental perturbations are complex and are shaped more by local environments than host evolutionary history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish and shellfish pathogens of the Harveyi clade of the Vibrio genus cause significant losses to aquaculture yields and profits, with some of them also causing infections in humans. The present study aimed to evaluate the presence of Harveyi clade fish and shellfish pathogens and their possible diversification in response to environmental drivers in southeastern USA waters. The presence and abundance of potential pathogens were evaluated via the detection and quantitation of six Harveyi-clade-specific virulence genes (toxR, luxR, srp, vhha, vhh, and vhp; VGs) in environmental DNA with clade-specific primers. The environmental DNA was obtained from water and sediments collected from three Georgia (USA) cultured clam and wild oyster grounds. In sediments, the VG concentrations were, on average, three orders of magnitude higher than those in water. The most and least frequently detected VGs were vhp and toxR, respectively. In water, the VGs split into two groups based on their seasonal trends. The first group, composed of luxR, vhp, vhha, and vhh, peaked in August and remained at lower concentrations throughout the duration of the study. The second group, composed of toxR and srp, peaked in June and disappeared between July and December. The first group revealed a high adaptation of their carriers to an increase in temperature, tolerance to a wide range of pH, and a positive correlation with salinity up to 25 ppt. The second group of VGs demonstrated a lower adaptation of their carriers to temperature and negative correlations with pH, salinity, potential water density, conductivity, and dissolved solids but a positive correlation with turbidity. No such trends were observed in sediments. These data reveal the role of VGs in the adaptability of the Harveyi clade pathogens to environmental parameters, causing their diversification and possibly their stratification into different ecological niches due to changes in water temperature, acidity, salinity, and turbidity. This diversification and stratification may lead to further speciation and the emergence of new pathogens of this clade. Our data urge further monitoring of the presence and diversification of Harveyi clade pathogens in a global warming scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important consequence of the discontinuous distribution of insect populations within their geographic range is phenotypic divergence. Detection of this divergence can be challenging when it occurs through subtle shifts in morphological traits with complex geometries, such as insect wing venation. Here, we used landmark‐based wing geometric morphometrics to investigate the population‐level phenotypic variation of the two subspecies of Glossina morsitans, G. m. centralis Machado and G. m. morsitans Westwood that occur in Zambia. Twelve homologous landmarks digitised on the right wings of 720 specimens collected from four and five sites (80 per site with 1:1 sex ratio) within the G. m. centralis and G. m. morsitans range respectively, were subjected to generalised Procrustes analysis to obtain wing centroid size (CS) and wing shape variables. Linear permutation models and redundancy analysis were then used to compare CS and wing shape between male and female G. morsitans, the two subspecies G. m. centralis and G. m. morsitans, the sexes of each subspecies and between sample locations within each subspecies range, respectively. Significant differences in CS and wing shape were observed between G. morsitans sexes, subspecies and sample locations within each subspecies range. A neighbour‐joining cladogram derived from the analysis of Procrustes distances showed that tsetse within each subspecies range were highly divergent. We conclude that G. morsitans populations in Zambia exhibit significant population‐level variation in fly size and wing shape which suggests high levels of population structuring. The main drivers of this structuring could be random genetic drift in G. m. centralis demes and local adaptation to environmental conditions in G. m. morsitans populations. We therefore recommend molecular studies to estimate the levels of gene flow between these populations and identify possible barriers to genetic flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glacial periods have been considered as inhospitable environments that consist of treeless vegetation at higher latitudes. The fossil record suggests many species survived the Last Glacial Maximum within refugia, usually at lower latitudes. However, phylogeographic studies have given support to the existence of previously unknown high-latitude refugia that were not detected in the fossil record. Here, we test the hypothesis that cold-tolerant trees of Patagonia survived cold periods in microclimatically favourable locales where hybridization occurred between sister taxa. To study local presence through glacial periods in multiple refugia, we used pollen records and genetic information (isozymes, microsatellites, and combined nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequences) of population pairs of Nothofagus antarctica and N. pumilio that belong to the ancient subgenus Nothofagus which can potentially hybridize in nature, along their entire latitudinal range in Patagonia. Studied species share the N. dombeyi type pollen, which was abundant at >20% in the northernmost latitudinal bands (35–43°S), even during the Last Glacial Maximum. Mid- and southern latitudinal records (44–55°S) yielded lower abundances of ~10% that increased after c. 15.0 cal. ka BP. Therefore, fossil pollen evidence suggests a long-lasting local presence of Nothofagus throughout glacial–interglacial cycles but mostly as small populations between 44°S and 51°S. We found species-specific and shared genetic variants, the latter of which attained relatively high frequencies, thus providing evidence of ancestral polymorphisms. Populations of each species were similarly diverse, suggesting survival throughout the latitudinal range. Estimates of coalescent divergence times were broadly synchronous across latitudes, suggesting that regional climates similarly affected populations and species that hybridized through climate cycles, fostering local persistence. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to examine how students generate problems about the concept of series, and how they evaluate and solve these problems. The difficulties experienced by the students while posing problems and their perceptions of the posing-evaluating-solving approach were also explored. In the first stage, 46 second-year university students posed problems for four tasks. In the second stage, which occurred a week after the first stage, the students evaluated their self-generated problems in terms of appropriateness to the tasks. The students who thought that they did not pose problems suitable for the tasks revised or reposed the problems, and then solved them by specifying the convergence or divergence of the series in the problems. The students also considered the impact of problem-posing implementation on their knowledge of the series. Findings showed that students' difficulties led to unsuitable and unsolvable problems. The most prominent difficulties were using sequences instead of series and using convergent series instead of divergent series or vice versa. Moreover, providing the students with opportunities to evaluate and solve their self-generated problems at the end of the second stage was effective for the increase in the number of suitable and solvable problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to bring together a series of ideas/concepts from the work of Isabelle Stengers, Didier Debaise, Jean-Francois Lyotard, Anna Tsing and others in order to apply them to the notion 'after progress,' which has some bearing on the theme of this special issue on degrowth. As Savransky and Lundy (2022) argue, 'the notion of "progress" is arguably the defining idea of modernity'. Whilst this idea of progress has been the object of criticism, its prevalence is still pervasive. But what would living after progress or following a degrowth agenda look like, particularly within contexts of educational policy and practice? After progress perhaps another education is possible. The paper takes on board this suggestion, and rather than viewing education in schools and elsewhere in terms of its current concerns in the West with individual achievement, competition, and standards, we see it as promoting diversity, conviviality, working, thinking, agreeing and disagreeing in common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of the challenges of cohesion at the country and regional levels becomes especially relevant due to EU expansion, the Great Recession, and uneven economic recovery after that. Recent global events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and imposed lockdowns, have further intensified interest in this issue. This study aims to evaluate the disparities in the development of Baltic States' regions using the author's proposed methodology for calculating an aggregate cohesion index. Some important conclusions can be made from the data analysis. A common trend across all countries was the notable economic strength of capital regions, with GDP per capita significantly exceeding national averages. Despite the pandemic's limited impact in 2020, a clear divergence trend emerged in 2021. Additionally, the club convergence between less developed regions was observed, especially in Lithuania and Latvia. In addition, Lithuania uniquely exhibited three distinct groups of regions based on economic development, in comparison with only two groups in Estonia and Latvia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid growth and a vast transition of Chinese livestock industry driven by economic incentives make it become an important contributor on climate change over the last four decades. This study first analyzes the evolving lowcarbon livestock development policies and regulations, then an assessment and explanations of the achievements and non-achievements are provided. The findings reveal that China began to pay attention to low-carbon development policy starting in the early 1990s. However, only after the cyclic and green concept became the main sustainable development policy, China began to move seriously toward low-carbon livestock development. Several policy instruments were introduced, including moderate scale, feed optimization, manure resource utilization, facility and equipment allocation rate, energy conservation and substitution. Overall, achievements were made in introducing such policies. However, due to the large share of standard agriculture and regional resources, and environmental diversity, such policies may have little effect in practice. The divergence between the policies and actual practices are explained, and important policies applicable to all developing countries are also recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, cooperative learning has become one of the most common methods in architectural design education. Despite the many benefits of this approach, some reports indicate the emergence of conflicts within groups, leading to disruptions in teaching or the dissolution of groups Through a literature review, the present study examines the theoretical foundations of "architectural design problem solving" and "cooperative learning" along with the models proposed for these two domains. Subsequently, through a comparative interpretive method, the key features of the two domains are compared, and, by matching the similarities and differences, the capacities and challenges of employing participatory learning in architectural design education are identified. The results of the research show that problem solving consists of two types of cognitive activities: "convergent activities" (including framing, data selection, solution generation, validation and implementation) and "divergent activities" (including problem statement, studies, analysis, and evaluation). The convergent stage helps to define and control the problem/solution space, while the divergent stage assists in expanding and creating diversity in the problem/solution space. The main benefit of employing cooperative learning in architectural design education comes from the divergent stages, where, due to the collective abilities, the group can explore various dimensions of the problem/solution space comprehensively. The main challenge is related to the convergent stage, where individuals may disagree due to the necessity of decision making or consensus in the problem/solution space. In order to achieve a cooperative approach that is aligned with the nature of the design process, precautions should be taken to ensure the convergence of group members. This enables the utilization of the divergent capacities while also managing potential challenges. Selecting an individual for leadership and group management in decision-making in times of conflict and multiplicity, having a framework for decision-making and choices, increasing social and communication skills, and using a combination of compatible and balanced groups in terms of convergence and divergence can provide an opportunity to utilize the capacities of divergence while creating convergence in the group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: A genome-wide analysis had identified 642 ABA core component genes from 20 plant species, which were further categorized into three distinct subfamilies. The gene structures and evolutionary relationships of these genes had been characterized. PP2C_1, PP2C_2, and SnRK2_1 had emerged as key players in mediating the ABA signaling transduction pathway, specifically in rice, in response to abiotic stresses. The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) is essential for growth, development, and stress response, relying on its core components, pyrabactin resistance, pyrabactin resistance-like, and the regulatory component of ABA receptor (PYR/PYL/RCAR), 2C protein phosphatase (PP2C), sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase 2 (SnRK2). However, there’s a lack of research on their structural evolution and functional differentiation across plants. Our study analyzed the phylogenetic, gene structure, homology, and duplication evolution of this complex in 20 plant species. We found conserved patterns in copy number and homology across subfamilies. Segmental and tandem duplications drove the evolution of these genes, while whole-genome duplication (WGD) expanded PYR/PYL/RCAR and PP2C subfamilies, enhancing environmental adaptation. In rice and Arabidopsis, the PYR/PYL/RCAR, PP2C, and SnRK2 genes showed distinct tissue-specific expression and responded to various stresses. Notably, PP2C_1 and PP2C_2 interacted with SnRK2_1 and were crucial for ABA signaling in rice. These findings offered new insights into ABA signaling evolution, interactions, and integration in green plants, benefiting future research in agriculture, evolutionary biology, ecology, and environmental science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper attempts to bring together a series of ideas/concepts from the work of Isabelle Stengers, Didier Debaise, Jean-Francois Lyotard, Anna Tsing and others in order to apply them to the notion ‘after progress,’ which has some bearing on the theme of this special issue on degrowth. As Savransky and Lundy (2022) argue, ‘the notion of “progress” is arguably the defining idea of modernity’. Whilst this idea of progress has been the object of criticism, its prevalence is still pervasive. But what would living after progress or following a degrowth agenda look like, particularly within contexts of educational policy and practice? After progress perhaps another education is possible. The paper takes on board this suggestion, and rather than viewing education in schools and elsewhere in terms of its current concerns in the West with individual achievement, competition, and standards, we see it as promoting diversity, conviviality, working, thinking, agreeing and disagreeing in common.