Conservation biologists assign population distinctiveness by classifying populations as evolutionarily significant units (ESUs). Historically, this classification has included ecological and genetic data. However, recent ESU concepts, coupled with increasing availability of data on neutral genetic variation, have led to criteria based exclusively on molecular phylogenies. We argue that the earlier definitions of ESUs, which incorporated ecological data and genetic variation of adaptive significance, are more relevant for conservation. Furthermore, this dichotomous summary (ESU or not) of a continuum of population differentiation is not adequate for determining appropriate management actions. We argue for a broader categorization of population distinctiveness based on concepts of ecological and genetic exchangeability ( sensu Templeton).

Considering evolutionary processes in conservation biology.

Despite a major increase in the range and number of software offerings now available to help researchers produce evidence syntheses, there is currently no generic tool for producing figures to display and explore the risk-of-bias assessments that routinely take place as part of systematic review. However, tools such as the R programming environment and Shiny (an R package for building interactive web apps) have made it straightforward to produce new tools to help in producing evidence syntheses. We present a new tool, robvis (Risk-Of-Bias VISualization), available as an R package and web app, which facilitates rapid production of publication-quality risk-of-bias assessment figures. We present a timeline of the tool's development and its key functionality.

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Risk-of-bias VISualization (robvis): An R package and Shiny web app for visualizing risk-of-bias assessments.

In systematic reviews that lack data amenable to meta-analysis, alternative synthesis methods are commonly used, but these methods are rarely reported. This lack of transparency in the methods can cast doubt on the validity of the review findings. The Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) guideline has been developed to guide clear reporting in reviews of interventions in which alternative synthesis methods to meta-analysis of effect estimates are used. This article describes the development of the SWiM guideline for the synthesis of quantitative data of intervention effects and presents the nine SWiM reporting items with accompanying explanations and examples.

https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/368/bmj.l6890.full.pdf

Synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) in systematic reviews: reporting guideline.

Van Eerdewegh P, Little RD, Dupuis J, et al Nature 2002;418:426–430 

To identify novel genetic polymorphisms associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) in asthma

Four hundred sixty white affected sib-pair families from the United States and the United Kingdom with current asthma

A genetic linkage analysis was performed for current asthma and BHR Case-control, transmission disequilibrium, and haplotype analyses were conducted to identify the gene(s) most commonly associated with asthma Novel genes of interest were …

Association of the adam33 gene with asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness

The dramatic advances in DNA technology over the last few years are the stuff of science fiction. It is now not only possible to clone human beings it is happening. For the first time since the creation of the earth four billion years ago, or the emergence of mankind 10 million years ago, people will be able to choose their children's' sex, height, colour, personality traits and intelligence. It will even be possible to create 'superhumans' by mixing human genes with those of other animals for extra strength or longevity. But is this desirable? What are the moral and political consequences? Will it mean anything to talk about 'human nature' any more? Is this the end of human beings? Post Human Society is a passionate analysis of the greatest political and moral problem ever to face the human race.

The Problem with NatureOur Posthuman Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution

Society must respond to the growing demand for cognitive enhancement. That response must start by rejecting the idea that 'enhancement' is a dirty word, argue Henry Greely and colleagues.

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Towards responsible use of cognitive-enhancing drugs by the healthy

This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Independent Review of the Role of Metrics in Research Assessment and Management. The review was chaired by Professor James Wilsdon, supported by an independent and multidisciplinary group of experts in scientometrics, research funding, research policy, publishing, university management and administration. 

This review has gone beyond earlier studies to take a deeper look at potential uses and limitations of research metrics and indicators. It has explored the use of metrics across different disciplines, and assessed their potential contribution to the development of research excellence and impact. It has analysed their role in processes of research assessment, including the next cycle of the Research Excellence Framework (REF). It has considered the changing ways in which universities are using quantitative indicators in their management systems, and the growing power of league tables and rankings. And it has considered the negative or unintended effects of metrics on various aspects of research culture. 

The report starts by tracing the history of metrics in research management and assessment, in the UK and internationally. It looks at the applicability of metrics within different research cultures, compares the peer review system with metric-based alternatives, and considers what balance might be struck between the two. It charts the development of research management systems within institutions, and examines the effects of the growing use of quantitative indicators on different aspects of research culture, including performance management, equality, diversity, interdisciplinarity, and the ‘gaming’ of assessment systems. The review looks at how different funders are using quantitative indicators, and considers their potential role in research and innovation policy. Finally, it examines the role that metrics played in REF2014, and outlines scenarios for their contribution to future exercises.

The metric tide: report of the independent review of the role of metrics in research assessment and management

Having a good mentor early in your career can mean the difference between success and failure in any field. Adrian Lee, Carina Dennis and Philip Campbell look at what makes a good mentor. Now in their third year, the Nature awards for mentoring in science recognize outstanding achievement in scientific mentoring and the fostering of scientific creativity. Nominations for 2007 — for high-achieving mentors in South Africa — are now closed. But in this issue we publish “Nature's guide for mentors”. Drawing from the rich resource provided by the applications for the 2006 awards, the guide is intended for young scientists embarking on a career as a mentor either of their graduate students or of staff in their research team.

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Nature 's guide for mentors

As Editor-in-Chief of the journal Nature, I am concerned by the tendency within acade- mic administrations to focus on a journal's impact factor when judging the worth of scientific contri- butions by researchers, affecting promotions, recruitment and, in some countries, financial bonuses for each paper Our own internal research demonstrates how a high journal impact factor can be the skewed result of many citations of a few papers rather than the average level of the majority, reduc- ing its value as an objective measure of an individual paper Proposed alternative indices have their own drawbacks Many researchers say that their important work has been published in low-impact journals Focusing on the citations of individual papers is a more reliable indicator of an individual's impact A positive development is the increasing ability to track the contributions of individuals by means of author-contribution statements and perhaps, in the future, citability of components of papers rather than the whole There are attempts to escape the hierarchy of high-impact-factor jour- nals by means of undifferentiated databases of peer-reviewed papers such as PLoS One It remains to be seen whether that model will help outstanding work to rise to due recognition regardless of editorial selectivity Although the current system may be effective at measuring merit on national and institutional scales, the most effective and fair analysis of a person's contribution derives from a direct assessment of individual papers, regardless of where they were published

https://www.int-res.com/articles/esep2008/8/e008pp1.pdf

Escape from the impact factor

Reward the creation of analyses for policymakers that are inclusive, rigorous, transparent and accessible, urge Christl A. Donnelly and colleagues. Reward the creation of analyses for policymakers that are inclusive, rigorous, transparent and accessible.

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Philip Campbell

Papers

Towards responsible use of cognitive-enhancing drugs by the healthy

The metric tide: report of the independent review of the role of metrics in research assessment and management

Nature 's guide for mentors

Escape from the impact factor

Four principles to make evidence synthesis more useful for policy