Genome-wide Polygenic Burden of Rare Deleterious Variants in Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy

Peer reviewe

Multiperspective analysis of erosion tolerance

Erosion tolerance is the most multidisciplinary field of soil erosion research. Scientists have shown lack in ability to adequately analyze the huge list of variables that influence soil loss tolerance definitions. For these the perspectives of erosion made by farmers, environmentalists, society and politicians have to be considered simultaneously. Partial and biased definitions of erosion tolerance may explain not only the polemic nature of the currently suggested values but also, in part, the nonadoption of the desired levels of erosion control. To move towards a solution, considerable changes would have to occur on how this topic is investigated, especially among scientists, who would have to change methods and strategies and extend the perspective of research out of the boundaries of the physical processes and the frontiers of the academy. A more effective integration and communication with the society and farmers, to learn about their perspective of erosion and a multidisciplinary approach, integrating soil, social, economic and environmental sciences are essential for improved erosion tolerance definitions. In the opinion of the authors, soil erosion research is not moving in this direction and a better understanding of erosion tolerance is not to be expected in the near future

Fishing for data in the Ross Sea

The public perceives a certification by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) to mean an environmentally friendly fishery, not one characterized by the \u201cdearth of key data\u201d. Significant data deficiencies lead to conclude that an eco-friendly label for the fishery of Ross Sea Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) is scientifically indefensible. Credible life history data are missing: spawning areas, eggs, and larvae have never been found, spawning intervals are unknown, and most density-dependent aspects of ecological relationships are undetermined. Stock assessment is problematic because severe Antarctic pack ice conditions for more than 9 months a year prevent scientists from effectively using standard models, which require random tagging over time, space, and age classes. The number of fish harvested by illegal, unregulated, and unreported fisheries is likely substantial. Finally, ecosystem effects of removing 50% of spawning biomass of this slow-to-mature species are unlikely to be neutral. The large, adult toothfish targeted by the fishery are a key structural link in the food web of the Ross Sea, currently the most pristine marine area on Earth. Instead of a certification that lacks proper data, a moratorium should be placed on further Ross Sea fishing until the quality of science at least equals that of certified fisheries elsewhere