Category Archives: Evolution

A 1.4 million-year-old fragment of fossilized skull could provide a new understanding of how the human face developed, a team of paleontologists has said.

The fossil, a piece of jawbone belonging to an ancient ancestor of homo sapiens and possibly the oldest archaic human fossil found in Europe, was found in the Atapuerca Mountains in northern Spain on June 30.

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The fragment discovered by a doctoral student, according to the Atapuerca Foundation, a non-profit that runs the site is thought to be older than the remains of a species named homo antecessor, or pioneer man, that was found in a nearby cave at Atapuerca in 1997 and was thought to be 850,000 years old.

Experts believe the new find announced on Friday is related to a fragment of jawbone which was found a few feet away at the same site in 2007 that dates back 1.2 million years, but was not classified as any particular species due to a lack of evidence.

"The first days of the month of July 2022 will be part of the history of the field of human evolution," the Atapuerca Foundation said in a statement.

After much cleaning and analyzing, the team concluded that the fossil, found at a site called Sima del Elefante, or elephant chasm, corresponds to a human upper jaw and belonged to an archaic human among the first hominins to travel to Europe from Africa.

"The excavations at [level 7] of the Sima del Elefante cave site have surprised us with an exceptional find. It is the partial face of a human being, whose age may be around 1.4 million years," the statement said.

Excavations in Atapuerca were started by caving enthusiasts in the the 1950s, before systematic digs in the 1970s found a series of key fossils. The team still excavating the area now consists of nearly 300 experts from 22 countries across 30 scientific disciplines.

The findings have yet to be published in any peer-reviewed format.

There is an ongoing debate among scientists over when in evolutionary history the modern face emerged.

"We will have a unique opportunity to advance in the answer to this question," the foundation said.

Further work is being done to analyze stone and plant matter, to get a better understanding of the climate in which the first European settlers lived.

The Atapuerca project seeks to answer controversial questions surrounding the study of hominins a group including humans and our extinct ancestors such as how and when early human forebears moved from Africa to colonize Eurasia.

Homo sapiens are the last surviving members of the human lineage, homo, which dates back about 2 million years. But there were once several and about 400,000 to 500,000 years ago some of them split from groups living in Africa and came to Eurasia where they developed characteristics associated with our short, stocky cousins, the Neanderthals.

Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

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Scientists say they may have found a fossilized jaw bone belonging to the oldest human ancestor in Europe - NBC News

One question that branches across every generation of Pokmon is the need for fans to ask if there is a new evolution for Eevee being added, something that has popped back up ahead of Scarlet and Violets release.

This is not only because Eevee has been one of the most popular Pokmon since it was introduced in Kanto, but also because it has received multiple new forms outside of the original three it started with in generation on.

From Espeon and Umbreon in Johto to simply Sylveon in Kalos, Eeveelutions have been known to span generations. And, even though The Pokmon Company and Game Freak have turned Eevee and its evolutions into even more of a marketing focal point in recent years, we still havent had a new one added since X and Y released in 2013.

Game Freak never really confirms just what Pokmon will be present in each new generation until marketing for the games really kicks off, hence why in the second SV trailer we only saw a handful of new Pokmon introduced alongside the starters. And, now that leaks and rumors are so prevalent surrounding each Pokmon release, it is hard to truly know what is real until an official reveal is made or the games actually launch.

For SV, one reputable leaker that has been around since Sun and Moon on Chinese forums claims that there will not be a new Eeveelution in the upcoming games. They didnt specify exactly where the information came from, but they did specifically say that Sylveon remains the newest evolution for Eevee.

Because this information isnt coming from an official source, there is still a chance that it isnt true and Eevee will get its fabled ninth Eeveelution alongside generation ninebut this does put a slight damper on the hopes of those Eevee-faithful.

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Will there be a new Eevee evolution in Pokmon Scarlet and Violet? - Dot Esports

Over the last 10 years I have written several times about the attributes of our North American native, Echinacea purpurea, or what we commonly refer to as a coneflower. These tough perennials mix well with Ornamental Grasses, Sedums, Lavender, Black-eyed Susan Daisies and really, just about any summer blooming perennial that likes a hot, dry, location. And while they have been a staple on most gardens, traditionally they only came in purple or white. That is, until breeders crossed them with a yellow flowering species and that is when all hell broke loose, in mostly a good way of course.

In the early days of Echinacea breeding there were many new introductions that proved to be less than reliable for northwest gardeners. Our wet soils and relatively mild winters could cause them to rot and not return in spring. Also, some of those early introductions were too tall and spindly and would tend to flop over in a summer rain. I cant begin to tell you how many new selections I have managed to kill over the last 10 years this is an unfortunate side effect of having severe plant lust, but one that I am happy to endure. Fortunately, most of the newer offerings are much more compact and sturdier and only grow to 18 to 24 inches tall and as wide, so they make a nice compact clump.

These days in garden centers, you can find cone flowers in warm shades from yellow to orange to red and all the tropical variations in between, not to mention fun double forms. Some of the original introductions like the Meadowbrite and Big Sky series have been replaced with newer forms such as the Sombrero series. There are literally dozens of choices to be had on garden center benches this time of year and they are all worth making space for in your garden. The most recent ones to catch my attention are from the Evolution Series and they are being grown by one of our favorite suppliers, Monrovia Growers. Here are their descriptions of the color options they are producing for this summer.

Evolution Colorific An enchanting green cone at the center of every bloom, framed by dense petals in a lovely palette of pink hues. Lush foliage and sturdy, upright stems create a beautiful backdrop for the continuous profusion of blooms from late spring through fall. Stunning in beds, borders and containers

Evolution Embers Sparks Bright, sunny blooms for easy color from late spring through fall. Semi-double, golden yellow petals surround showy center cones. A cutting garden essential, perfect for containers or mixed perennial borders. Allow dried flower heads to remain on plants for wintering songbirds.

Evolution Fever This one sports large red blooms on a tidy, well-branching plant that makes it ideal for adding bold color to mixed borders, containers, and cutting gardens.

Evolution Fiesta A riot of color with spicy coral-pink flowers that age to softer shades. New flowers emerge throughout summer, providing a lively display.

Evolution Yellow Falls Lemon yellow petals arch downward from showy center cones. A cutting garden essential, and perfect for containers or borders.

Look for these new introductions (not all may be available) along with multiple other choices from other growers. And remember to plant them in full sun and good drainage where they should return year after year and provide you with generous bouquets of flowers all summer long. Keep on gardening, summer is perfect for adding more plants to the garden!

Steve Smith represents Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville and can be reached at sunnysidenursery@msn.com.

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'Evolution' coneflowers just keep getting better | Communities | northcountyoutlook.com - North County Outlook

Study population and song recordings

All animal procedures were carefully reviewed by the Williams College IACUC (WH-D), the Bowdoin College Research and Oversight Committee (200918), and the University of Guelph Animal Care Committee (08R601), and were carried out as specified by the Canadian Wildlife Service (banding permit 10789D).

We studied Savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) at the Bowdoin Scientific Station on Kent Island, New Brunswick, Canada (44.5818N, 66.7547W). Since 1988, individuals nesting within a 10ha study area in the middle of the island (3070 pairs each year; part of a larger population of 350500 males breeding on Kent Island and two adjacent islands) have been colour-banded to facilitate visual identification, and complete demographic information is available for birds on the study site (though not for the entire population) for the years 19892004 and 20092013. Because of strong natal and breeding philopatry51, birds hatched on the study site itself represent 4080% of adult breeders in that area, and because of the systematic banding program, ages are known. Each year adds a new generation to the population, with yearlings making up approximately half of the adult breeding males. The birds banded and recorded on the study site are estimated to make up 1020% of the Savannah sparrow population on Kent Island and two nearby islands.

Details of the recording methods used in this study (covering the years 1980, 1982, 1988-9, 1993-8, and 200313) can be found elsewhere36,49. Using digitally generated sound spectrograms (using SoundEdit Pro and Audacity), birds were scored as having either a) high note cluster=a final introductory segment interval including at least two different note types, or b) a click train=one or more introductory segment intervals including at least two clicks and no other note types, or c) both features36 (see Supplementary Fig.1 for a full description of note types). Although a small proportion of birds (mean=8.3%) did not include either feature in their songs (such birds either had no feature in the introductory segment intervals or one non-click note type in the final interval), we did not include this option in the model and omitted these birds from summaries of the data. We did not include data after the breeding year 2013 because of we began an experimental field tutoring study in the summer of 201364.

We used a dynamic, discrete time model which allowed us to focus our analysis to specific time points within the year that are related to song learning (the beginning and end of the breeding season). These were: (1) the returnof older birds between breeding seasons, (2) the recruitment of young birds singing newly crystallized songs in the spring, and (3) reproduction, resulting in the addition of juveniles during the summer breeding season.

Because survival data were not available for every year during the time span we studied, we captured the variation in survival rates observed in the field57 by using a binomial distribution centered on the average historical survival rate for each age class (addressing the possibility that cultural drift resulting from random differences in survival rates was responsible for the shift in song features). The model incorporates stochasticity to capture the variation in population dynamics and return rates by assigning parameter values for survival and return rates from empirically generated probability distributions.

We did not include spatial distribution of song variants in the model; although spatial patterns can be important for the dynamics of language loss58, territories with birds singing click trains and high note clusters were intermixed and no spatial structure was apparent (Fig.3).

The model assumes that males choose which features to incorporate into the introductory sections of their songs during song development. Individuals fall into one of six mutually exclusive classes of male Savannah sparrows. The classes are defined by (1) the birds developmental stage in the song learning process: juvenile (J, the first year, when the song is plastic) or adult (A, after the first spring, when the song is crystallized), and (2) the variant or variants sung as part of the birds introduction (high note clusters, click trains, or both). Denoting note high note clusters with X and click trains with C, the adult classes are therefore AX, AC, and AXC, and the juvenile classes are JX, JC, and JXC. The sum of the individuals in these classes is the total male population.

We used two times during each year late spring and late summer to correspond to stages in song development (Fig.5). At a given time t, when breeding is underway in the late spring, the male population consists entirely of adults singing crystallized song, and therefore each juvenile class is empty. At the end of the summer, the population of males has been augmented by juveniles, which are initially assigned to the same variant class as their fathers. To capture these dynamics, we define an intermediate time step, denoted ti. Time t+1 then corresponds to the following breeding season (late spring), when juvenile males hatched the previous year have completed song development, crystallized their songs, and joined the adult class.

We used two age classes (J=juvenile and A=adult) and three classes of introductions (C=click trains, X=high note clusters, and XC=both). In the late spring of a given year (time=t), only adult males are present. In late summer, those adults have bred and both they and juvenile males are present; at this intermediate time (ti) each male is initially allocated the same introduction type as his father (solid lines). Then, as song development progresses and juvenile males can be influenced by other tutors, they may retain their initial introduction type or switch to either of the other two types (dashed lines) before they crystallize their songs late in the following spring (time=t+1), and join the breeding cohort, which also includes adult males from the previous year who returned to breed again.

In the late summer the male population increases with the addition of juveniles hatched that year, some of which will return to join the singing population the following year; survivors will return to breed within a few hundred meters of where they hatched51. To fit the observed historical decline in the Kent Island population57, the total number of returning juveniles, r (including both those hatched on site and those immigrating from nearby populations at time), follows a Poisson distribution where m=33.6 .182x and x is the number of years since 1980 (this function results in a decline of 5 males per decade; the initial number on the study site used in the model, 70, was extrapolated from historical data). The size of each returning juvenile class at time ti then takes the form:

$${{{{{{rm{JY}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}^{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}} sim {{{{{rm{Poisson}}}}}}left(mright)frac{{{{{{rm{A}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{Y}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{A}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{A}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{AX}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}}$$

(1)

for each Y {X, C, XC}.

After the following winter, the proportion of surviving adults at time t+1 follows a binomial distribution where the mean survival rate s=0.48 is derived from historical data. Therefore, each adult class takes the form:

$${{{{{rm{A}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{Y}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}+1} sim {{{{{rm{Binomial}}}}}}left({{{{{rm{AY}}}}}},{{{{{rm{s}}}}}}right)* {{{{{rm{A}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{Y}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}$$

(2)

At the beginning of the next breeding season, juveniles complete song learning64, choosing which variant to crystallize as part of the song, and enter an adult song class; thus all of the juvenile classes disappear at t+1. Which adult class juveniles join depends on separate learning functions for each of the two variants, X for the high note cluster and C for the click train. The function takes values between 0 and 1 and gives the probability of crystallizing a song form during the transition from natal year to breeding, depending upon the frequency-dependent bias and selection parameters (see below). These functions define the proportion of features that appear in the next generation as compared to that of the previous generation. Therefore we have:

$${{{{{rm{A}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}+1}={left({{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}right)}^{2}{{{{{rm{J}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}+{left(1-{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}right)}^{2}{{{{{rm{J}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}+{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}left(1-{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}right){{{{{rm{JX}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{A}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}$$

(3)

$${{{{{rm{A}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}+1}={left(1-{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}right)}^{2}{{{{{rm{J}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}+{left({{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}right)}^{2}{{{{{rm{J}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}+left(1-{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}right){{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}{{{{{rm{JX}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{A}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}$$

(4)

$${{{{{rm{A}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{XC}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}+1}=2{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}left(1-{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}right){{{{{rm{J}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}+2{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}left(1-{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}right){{{{{rm{J}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}+({{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}left(1-{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}right)left(1-{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}right){{{{{rm{JX}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}})+{{{{{rm{A}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{XC}}}}}}}_{{{{{{{rm{t}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{i}}}}}}}}$$

(5)

The sum of probabilities defining all of song crystallization outcomes for the songs of fathers with song type X is:

$${left({{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}right)}^{2}+{left(1-{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}right)}^{2}+2{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}left(1-{{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}right)=1$$

(6)

To define how young males song learning is influenced by the songs they hear, we used learning curves based on type III Holling response curves59 which provide a means to numerically capture functional responses. In our model, the type III curve models the response of juvenile to the song form of adults in the population based on two variables: (1) frequency-dependent bias that favors one form based on its prevalence within the adult population, and (2) selection that favors a particular form of the song.

The learning curves, x for the high note cluster and c for the click train, are modified forms of the type III Holling response curve):

$${{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{x}}}}}}}=frac{{x}^{{{{{{rm{beta }}}}}}}/{{{{{rm{sigma }}}}}}}{{(1-x)}^{{{{{{rm{beta }}}}}}}+({x}^{{{{{{rm{beta }}}}}}}/{{{{{rm{sigma }}}}}})}$$

(7)

and

$${{{upphi }}}_{{{{{{rm{c}}}}}}}=frac{{{{{{rm{sigma }}}}}},{c}^{{{{{{rm{beta }}}}}}}}{{(1-c)}^{{{{{{rm{beta }}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{sigma }}}}}}{{c}}^{{{{{{rm{beta }}}}}}}}$$

(8)

where x is the proportion of the high note cluster within the population, c is the proportion of the click train within the population, is frequency-dependent bias (favoring learning the novel or retaining the common variant), and is selection on the novel variant (a preference for learning the variant that is not dependent on frequency of the variant and includes factors such as prestige bias, success bias, status, and content bias). Note that the two learning curves do not have identical equations, because selection is not frequency-dependent. In these equations, >1 corresponds to conformist selection, and when <1 the rare form is favored. Values of >1 correspond to selection for a novel variant and values of <1 correspond to selection against a novel variant. The parameters and allow us to test the relative roles of frequency-dependent bias and cultural selection, as well as various combinations of the two by using a single function giving the probability that social learning will result in a juvenile male crystallizing a particular song variant.

Males that sang both high note clusters and click trains (the AXC class) could be interpreted in one of two ways within this framework:

Two-trait: by counting each variant individually, so that a bird singing both variants is counted twice in calculations of variant frequencies (once for high note clusters, and once for click trains), while a bird singing one form is counted only once. In this scenario, frequencies were calculated as (time subscripts omitted for clarity):

$${{{{{{rm{P}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}=frac{{{{{{rm{AC}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{AXC}}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{AC}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{AX}}}}}}+2{{{{{rm{AXC}}}}}}}$$

(9)

and

$${{{{{{rm{P}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}=frac{{{{{{rm{AX}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{AXC}}}}}}}{{{{{{rm{AC}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{AX}}}}}}+2{{{{{rm{AXC}}}}}}}$$

(10)

Blended trait: each bird was counted once (birds that sang a single variant were weighted twice as much as those that sang both traits). In this scenario, frequencies were calculated as:

$${{{{{{rm{P}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{C}}}}}}}=frac{2{{{{{rm{AC}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{AXC}}}}}}}{2({{{{{rm{AC}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{AX}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{AXC}}}}}})}$$

(11)

and

$${{{{{{rm{P}}}}}}}_{{{{{{rm{X}}}}}}}=frac{2{{{{{rm{AX}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{AXC}}}}}}}{2({{{{{rm{AC}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{AX}}}}}}+{{{{{rm{AXC}}}}}})}$$

(12)

As most males singing click trains in the 1980s and early 1990s also sang a high note cluster, we assumed that the innovators songs included both forms. We know that click trains first appeared in the population between 1983 and 1987, as they were absent in 1982 recordings and present in 1988 recordings. Prior to 1983, all adults sang high note clusters and so belonged to the AX class. We modeled the appearance of click trains in the population with the term in, which represented the number of innovators (which we modeled as entering the population in class AXC, see the next section), and was added in any year from 1983 to 1987. To maintain populations at consistent levels, we subtracted the number of innovators from the AX class in the year the innovation was introduced.

First, we assumed that interstitial notes, whether high note clusters, click trains, or both, represented a single trait. We tested this assumption by running the model with either (1) the blended trait or (2) treating click trains and high note clusters as two distinct traits (see Supplementary Table2 and Supplementary Fig.2); the blended trait model fit the data better.

We know from the corpus of recordings that click trains were not observed in 1980 or 1982, when high note clusters were the prevalent form. Click trains were first recorded in 1988. Because we do not have recordings for the period spanning 1983 to 1987, each of these years is potentially the time of the initial introduction. We used the earliest possible year, 1983, as the default, because we observed potential precursors of the click train in 1982 songs. We also modeled the appearance of initial innovations for the years 1984 through 1987 (Supplementary Table3 and Supplementary Fig.3).

The number of innovators (individuals that sang the click train in the first year it appeared on the study site) is unknown. We chose a default value of 2 males (2.9% of the study population of 70) for two reasons. First, innovations we have observed in other segments of Savannah sparrow songs initially appeared in the songs of 2or 3 individuals. Second, this mutation rate, =0.029 per song per year, is in the range found in previous work on the introduction of innovations in learned songs: 0.001 to 0.035 per year in U.K. chaffinches85, and ~ 0.057 in New Zealand chaffinches86 This value is also in the middle of the range used to model human cultural evolution (0.004 to 0.128)87. We varied the number of innovators from 1 to 8 (=0.014 to =0114) to assess the effect of this parameter on the models results (see Supplementary Table4 and Supplementary Fig.4).

Our models thus used, as default values, two innovators, appearing in 1983, that sang both click trains and high note clusters as a blended trait, and we tested the effects on the modeling results by varying these default values.

The model was implemented in the R88 package POMP89 (Partially Observed Markov Processes), using embedded C code. We performed a grid search over a range of the parameters and (from 0.5 to 2.0 in 0.05 steps for each parameter if not otherwise stated) and calculated the estimated the log likelihood for each parameter combination. We used an initial burn-in of 50 years prior to the first year for which we compared the model to existing data (1980). We repeated this analysis for each set of initial conditions (year the innovation was introduced, and blended vs. two-trait categorization for birds that sang both high note clusters and click trains). We visualized the model space with heat map plots prepared using MatLab, and identified the maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Using the best fit parameters (those that corresponded to the MLE), we then ran the model again 50 times to generate average and 95% CI trajectories for frequencies of song variants and plotted them in the same manner as the observed field data.

We tested the responses of Savannah sparrows on their territories in early July of 2011 (when most pairs were feeding young or beginning a second clutch) to song segments with click trains that included different numbers of clicks. None of the songs of 39 birds recorded on the study site in 2011 included high note clusters. The mean number of clicks within click trains was 3.93, ranging from 0 (3 birds) to 7 (3 birds), with a mode of 4 clicks in a train (n=16). All of the subjects of the playback study would have had the opportunity to hear click trains ranging from 0 to 7 clicks, but would not have been familiar with high note clusters. Because comparisons of responses to songs with click trains and high note clusters would have been confounded by the issue of familiarity, we only tested subjects responses to the number of clicks in a train. (A test of the efficacy of click trains and high note clusters in hand-reared birds that had not been exposed to either form might address the question of how preferences may be shaped by social learning).

The stimuli were constructed from high-quality recordings of introductory sections from the songs of 12 different males to produce different 12 stimulus sets, to avoid pseudoreplication. The introductory sections of the twelve songs were originally composed of 58 introductory notes, between which were 13 click trains that included 37 clicks. Each of these introductory segments was extracted and then digitally altered (using Audacity, audacityteam.org) to produce a set of four different stimuli that included 0, 2, 4, or 7 clicks in each click train. The introductory notes, the temporal spacing of the introductory notes and the length of the entire introductory segment was the same for each stimulus within a set. Clicks were added to a train by duplicating existing clicks and adjusting them to be evenly spaced within the interval between introductory notes. Clicks were removed by replacing clicks at the end of a train with silence. Since introductory notes are substantially longer (mean=67ms) than clicks (mean=2ms), a change of one click in a click train stimulus represented a change of, on average, 0.91% in the signal duration (taking into account that adding one click to a train meant adding one click to all instances of that train within a stimulus). Introductory notes are also substantially louder than clicks, and so the overall change in the sound intensity within different stimuli was very small. To the human ear, longer click trains make the intervals between the louder, longer introductory notes sound somewhat raspier than shorter click trains, but the difference is subtle.

Each of 25 male subjects was tested with all four stimuli from one set. Each trial started with a primer, a stimulus consisting of introductory notes without interstitial notes55. Two minutes after the birds response ended, the first test stimulus was presented for two minutes (at 12second intervals). The next stimuli were presented in succession, with a delay of two minutes after the birds response ended for each stimulus. Stimuli were presented in a randomized order, and each stimulus set was used at least twice. The response duration and behaviours of males (crouching with head feathers flattened close to the skull, aggressive displays48 and vocalizations90) were noted. We used duration, measured as time from the end of the stimulus presentation until the male ceased responding (defined as moving 20m or more away from the speaker, or singing a full and loud song, or engaging in feeding or preening behaviour), as our primary measure of male response55. Because the strength of the response varied across birds, we normalized response durations for each individual bird in Fig.4c. To correct for a rightward skew in the distribution, we log-transformed the raw response duration measure and assessed the relationship between response duration and number of clicks (F1,73=10.97, P<0.005), using a generalized mixed-effects model implemented with the lme4 package91 in R which included the identity of the subject (F24,73=3.84, P<0.000001) as well as the trial order (F1,73=0.012, P>0.9) as random effects. We did not record songs produced during stimulus playback; we observed an average of 0.6 songs per trial, which would not have provided a large enough sample size for analysis.

Females did not always respond to the playback stimuli. When they did respond (in 11 of 25 trials) their responses differed from those of males: females typically stood erect rather than crouching, elevated their crest feathers instead of flattening them, and were never observed to give aggressive wing flutters or vocalizations but rather hopped towards the speaker while peering about alertly. Because female responses to other song stimuli presented in previous studies used the postures and behaviours typical of male aggressive responses, we interpret the approach with an erect posture and crest as having a different valence: investigative/approach rather than aggressive. We noted both which stimuli the females approached and which stimulus they first approached and evaluated the effects of click number with a Chi-squared test.

Further information on research design is available in theNature Research Reporting Summary linked to this article.

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Cumulative cultural evolution and mechanisms for cultural selection in wild bird songs - Nature.com

For more than a century, couture has been emblematic of the triumph of craftsmanship and fashion. It represents the fusion of fashion the modern entity that combines novelty and synergy with personal and social needs and craftsmanship the arts of dressmaking, tailoring, and crafts constituent to apparel and accessories.

With a minuscule client base (approximately 4,000 worldwide) and an exclusive allocation of industry tickets for runway presentations, the practice can seem entirely fanciful and out of reach. In truth, the art of couture is a tightly controlled, invite-only application, governed by Paris Fdration de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (FHCM) with widespread influence on the fashion industry at large. But despite being the most extravagant, glamorous and expensive form of fashion, haute couture has seen a rapid decline in interest in the last seventy years.

In 2021 alone, interest in Couture has steadily declined by 13 per cent (according to Google Search data). In fact, only four of the top ten search queries related to Haute Couture are for actual collections: Chanel, Dior, Fendi, and Valentino. The idea of glamour itself has undoubtedly evolved with modernity.

Whereas glamour and luxury previously meant gowns, hand-made and embroidered with thousands of pearls, luxury today can be seen in the form of t-shirts, sneakers, and comically tiny handbags. So, rather than needing hundreds of thousands of dollars for a custom piece, consumers can buy into the luxury dream with a US$400 t-shirt. So how does haute couture fit into todays modern, technology-filled, inclusive-prioritised fashion landscape?

While the phrase is thrown around liberally, the term haute couture has been building on its roots since the late 17th century. As France became synonymous with richly produced and innovative luxury silk textiles, the relationship between aristocratic and upper-class women and their personal dressmakers began to grow; and so too did the haute couture system.

Founded in 1868, the FHCM preserves the exacting standards of French fashion culture by presiding over Paris Womens and Mens Fashion Weeks, as well as endorsing and nurturing designers who exhibit a quality of craftsmanship that meets the level required to show on the official Haute Couture schedule.

Today, members are selected by the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute couture. To qualify as an official Haute Couture house, members must design made-to-order clothes for private clients, with more than one fitting, using an atelier that employs at least fifteen full-time staff. They must also have twenty full-time technical workers in one of their workshops.

Coutures elitist appeal is born from its exclusivity. It is a singular moment, made of peculiar rituals. The clothes are jewel-like creations reserved for an exclusive coterie of women, whose names are religiously kept secret by the maisons. Its purchasing process is shrouded in private showings with only a select circle allowed to enjoy a seat and marvel at the exquisite creations. In a world that is increasingly digital and manufactured and thus infinitely replicable couture is as traditional as it can possibly get.

However, in todays fast-paced, fast-fashion oriented world where such a small percentage of the population has the wealth to buy Haute Couture its slow decline was imminent. Combine that with the rise of independent designers and the rising appreciation for more independent and exclusive designers, haute couture is prone to becoming the next big fashion faux pas.

There is nothing democratic about couture and proudly so. Its barely touched by the fever of visibility which has made fashion the religion of our time. Couture is based on values that are totally out of time and in a world that goes fast, it is extremely slow. While the rest of the world embraces a visual language that is fluid and endlessly morphing, couture celebrates traditional codes, rituals and clearly defined gender divisions. In this sense, couture will never be truly modern.

Yet, in recent seasons, weve seen designers embrace modernisation and explore the definition of couture. Markets, trends, and clients are constantly evolving, along with their spending habits, says Tamara Ralph, designer of couture label, Ralph & Russo. Over the years, weve witnessed emerging markets taking an interest in couture, and younger generations also taking notice. There has been a real resurgence in an appreciation for true craftsmanship, spanning all backgrounds and ages. She adds. A representative from couture label Maisonn Rabih Kayrouz told Vogue France in 2018 that their millennial clientele has grown to make up a quarter of the companys business.

In 2022, no longer is the craft restrained to stunning hand-stitched gowns covered in handmade sequins. Though prices are still cost-prohibitive for many, todays haute couture designers are catering to a younger plugged-in generation by embracing more youthful designs, and understanding the the impact that intricate couture work can carry on Instagram. For example, Schiaparellis pendant-covered designs from Spring 2020 have gone viral. By the same measure, the mesmerising, nature-inspired styles of Iris Van Herpen have attracted a new era of stars. Her unique aesthetic dominated the 2022 Met Gala by custom designing pieces for Bjrk, Teyana Taylor, and Winnie Harlow.

And as designers look to court a younger generation of consumers, theyre no longer laser-focused on gowns, and instead have expanded into less formal looks, focusing on artistic intention and ways to mix heritage and creativity. As seen in the recent Fall 2022 Haute Couture shows, the fusion of Demnas harsh yet poetic sensibility and the sculptural and severe codes set by Cristobal Balenciaga offers us a glimpse of what modern couture means while at Schiaparelli, designer Daniel Roseberry fused heritage and creativity through his own insouciant fixation for breasts and nipples with plenty of iconic references from Christian Lacroix and Jean Paul Gaultier.

Beyond the design shifts spurred by consumer demand, designers are modernising this niche fashion category by crossing into other areas of cultural interest like technology and art. We start seeing haute couture more as an art form and a way for designers to share their viewpoints and core beliefs. Diors Maria Grazia Chiuri addressed the current moment by taking inspiration from the work of Olesia Trofymenko, a Ukrainian artist whose favourite motif, the Tree Of Life, is a folkloric symbol of humanist hope inn cultures all over the world. Another example is Diors Spring 2020 couture collection, where creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri collaborated with the legendary feminist artist Judy Chicago. The show included an immersive space featuring banners emblazoned with questions around the shows concept, What If Women Ruled The World?

Coutures offering of distinction in design and technique remains a compelling force, one even more potent when much other quality has atrophied. It remains a discipline of ultimate imagination, unaccountable to cost, with the paradox of being the fashion most cognizant of its ideal clients. It is, as it began, a dream of quality in an era of industry and its succession. Haute couture persists in providing us with a paragon of the most beautiful clothing that can be envisioned and made in any time and it is an industry that will only go onwards and upwards with time.

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The Evolution of Haute Couture In The Modern Age - LUXUO

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) continue to alter the management of breast cancer, including fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki (Enhertu) in patients with HER2-positive and HER2-low disease, according to Vered Stearns, MD, FASCO. She added that trials, such as the pivotal phase 3 DESTINY-Breast04 trial (NCT03734029) in patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low breast cancer, have been practice changing in the utilization of trastuzumab deruxtecan.1

I look forward to further discussing with pathologists and other colleagues how to refine the evaluation of HER2 status within tumors. However, suffice to say that [there are] important new therapeutics for patients with HER2[-low disease], providing significant, substantial progression-free survival [PFS] and overall survival [OS] benefits, Stearns said in an interview with OncLive following an Institutional Perspectives in Cancer webinar on breast cancer.

In the interview, Stearns, who chaired the event, discussed how DESTINY-Breast04 has shifted the treatment paradigm for patients with HER2-low breast cancer, the exploration of treatment combinations being optimized in breast cancer, and the expansion of the treatment paradigm in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Stearns is the director of the Womens Malignancies Disease Group and a professor of oncology at Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Stearns: Breast cancer is a common malignancy in the United States and in Western societies, and most women are diagnosed with early stages of HER2-positive disease. In the past few years and decades, weve refined our treatment algorithms based on broad categories that include patients who have hormone receptor [HR]positive breast cancer vs HER2-positive breast cancer vs TNBC, which do not have the estrogen, progesterone, or HER2 receptors. But recent findings have allowed us to refine even more specific treatments for individual patients. Those include defining risk, based on genomic profiles; the presence of germline mutations, such as having a BRCA mutation; and immune-related biomarkers, which are still emerging.

In addition to our broad categories, we have had findings [in recent years] from large studies that provided us with additional information to [create] more individualized approaches to care for patients, such as genomic profiles to determine a need for chemotherapy in addition to endocrine therapy in patients with HR-positive breast cancer, or the use of new medications for patients based on germline mutations, such as BRCA mutations and immune biomarkers.

I addressed some of the main changes in our practice that occurred in recent years. First, I talked about endocrine manipulations, [which are] the most common adjuvant treatment in early-stage breast cancer. Traditionally, we have used 5 years of tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, or, in premenopausal women, ovarian suppression. Duration of treatment is a topic that continues to be discussed [to see if we can] refine the approach. One of the things Im excited about is the ability to include biomarkers that will allow us to understand with more certainty who needs prolonged treatment vs 5 years or less or even no endocrine therapy.

We also discussed incorporating the CDK4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib [Verzenio] in high-risk patients with early-stage, HR-positive breast cancer, based on the phase 3 monarchE trial [NCT03155997]. This study demonstrated that patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative, early-stage breast cancer with a high risk of recurrence and a KI-67 score of 20% or more may be good candidates for the addition of abemaciclib to endocrine therapy, [which the FDA approved as a combination in October 2021].

I also talked a bit about neoadjuvant therapy and how the use of either chemotherapy with immunotherapy, such as pembrolizumab [Keytruda] in TNBC, or with antiHER2 agents in HER2-positive disease can allow us to refine the need for additional treatment in patients. For example, if a patient receives a standard treatment in a neoadjuvant setting and has a complete resolution of their cancer or pathological complete response [pCR], they may not require a change or additional treatment following local therapy. But if theres significant residual disease, we can use the data to maybe provide more therapy or alter the treatment plan.

If there is residual disease, one approach is to provide capecitabine [as maintenance therapy], based on the phase 3 CREATE-X trial [UMIN000000843].

In patients who receive the regimen from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 trial [NCT03036488] consisting of pembrolizumab plus paclitaxel/carboplatin, followed by pembrolizumab with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide, [if they] have good resolution of their cancer, specifically a pCR, the question is whether they need to continue pembrolizumab beyond surgery. That is still an open question and a subject of new clinical trials.

Importantly, the FDA approved [neoadjuvant] pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy [followed by adjuvant single-agent pembrolizumab] for high-risk, early-stage TNBC. The benefit of this treatment that has been observed was irrespective of nodal status.

Regarding patients with stage II/III clinical breast cancer thats HER2-positive, [we have considered] neoadjuvant chemotherapy and an antiHER2 therapy. Our most common regimen has been docetaxel/carboplatin with trastuzumab [Herceptin] and pertuzumab [Perjeta]. If a patient has a pCR, they continue with trastuzumab and pertuzumab. If there is not a pCR, it is important to transition the patients to ado-trastuzumab emtansine [T-DM1; Kadcyla]. Patients who have small, node-negative breast cancer, in those that are estrogen receptor [ER]positive, my approach is still to consider surgery first, because some of these patients may be able to benefit from less treatment, such as adjuvant paclitaxel and trastuzumab, or docetaxel/carboplatin plus trastuzumab.

The phase 3 OlympiA trial [NCT02032823], which reported in 2021 and was updated more recently in 2022, has changed the landscape of treatment for patients with early-stage breast cancer who carry a BRCA mutation.

In the study, patients have received prior standard-of-care therapy, including chemotherapy and local therapy, were randomized to receive maintenance olaparib [Lynparza] or placebo for 1 year. The study investigators reported significant improvement in [disease]-free survival. More recently, with a median follow up of 3.5 years, there was a significant OS benefit [with olaparib]. I have been incorporating this treatment for my patients who meet the criteria of this study.

My colleague discussed updates related to the treatment of patients with metastatic HR-positive breast cancer, and there have been numerous recent advances. However, one of the topics that we remain excited about is the incorporation of oral SERDs into treatment of this disease entity. In particular, the phase 3 EMERALD trial [NCT03778931] was reported recently in which patients received either investigators choice of endocrine treatment vs the oral SERD elacestrant [RAD-1901].

Importantly, recent presentations have demonstrated that the oral SERD was associated with significant improvement in PFS, and this improvement was seen in all patients, particularly in patients with tumors harboring an ESR1 mutation. This is an agent being reviewed now by the FDA and one I hope can be added to our treatment portfolio soon.

ADCs have emerged and continued to have a role in our clinic. In particular, trastuzumab deruxtecan has been used primarily in our patients who have HER2-positive breast cancer, initially as a third-line and beyond therapy. But, more recently, based on DESTINY-Breast03, [it has been used as] a second-line therapy.

Results from DESTINY-Breast04 were presented at the 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.2 The data showed that trastuzumab deruxtecan provided significant benefits to patients, which we today designate as having tumors with HER2-low disease.

My colleague gave us an update regarding the role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic TNBC. Im excited, as we do have a pembrolizumab approval with chemotherapy, demonstrating PFS and OS benefit in patients who have PD-L1positive metastatic TNBC. Moreover, pembrolizumab can be combined with paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel [Abraxane], or gemcitabine. Data are in the first-line setting.

Pembrolizumab has also produced [activity as] monotherapy in patients that have MSI [microsatellite instability]high disease or a high tumor mutation burden. Moving forward, we will learn about additional immune checkpoint inhibitors that may be providing benefits to patients in this setting and for patients with other tumor subtypes. Im also hopeful that we can refine the biomarkers that will provide predictions of benefit to these and emerging immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Breast cancer continues to be a common diagnosis in Western society. Many patients will have early disease, and with multidisciplinary treatment and some of the new approaches that were discussed here, most will survive their cancer. Our job is to optimize the treatment for individual patients to reduce potential morbidity and long-term adverse effects [AEs] to our patients for them to live well beyond their initial diagnosis.

Patients with metastatic disease also have many options today. Those treatment options provide them improved PFS and OS benefits. Again, our job is to try and determine other ways to improve their life with cancer and to minimize potential AEs. Im excited about new treatment approaches, and for some of the emerging treatments and biomarkers that will help us refine treatment.

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Stearns Elaborates on the Evolution of ADCs in HER2+ and HER2-Low Breast Cancer - OncLive

Events have changed dramatically over the past few decades, and so has how businesses communicated with each other. As the digital age progress, business events evolve to fill the steady gap between businesses and consumers. From in-person networking events to online conferences and everything in between, there are now more ways than ever to meet your business goals. In-person events are definitely the one that holds prime importance.

But with changing times, these types of events are certainly not what we businesses might have experienced in past years. Here is how In-person events are reshaping:

1. Design

Event planners think about how to make in-person business events more engaging and focused. One way to do this is by focusing on the design of the event. As in-person events have made a dramatic comeback, event organizers and brand representatives tend to incorporate more striking branding solutions such as large-scale light box signs and large branded displays.

For example, its possible to use projectors and screens at an event that have been set up ahead of time. They could be used to share something new with the attendees during the event. They could also be used as a tool for interactivity so attendees would be able to engage with one another through a screen.

2. Technology

The internet has drastically changed the way we do business. In the past, if you wanted to network or meet with potential clients, you had to do it in person. Now, several online tools allow you to connect with people all over the world without ever having to leave your home. While this is convenient, its not always the best way to build relationships. Theres something about meeting face-to-face that cant be replicated online.

Building lasting connections require an emotional connection. You want someone to remember you as more than just a name on a computer screen and being able to touch them physically helps establish this connection. Thats why in-person events still exist and theyre growing in popularity. These events create an opportunity for companies to show off their work, which may lead them to land new customers or leads. They also give attendees a chance to make connections in person.

3. Environment

In-person business events have been around for centuries, and their purpose has always been to bring people together to network and learn. But as the world has changed, so too have these events. Today, they are more focused on generating leads and sales, and many are even hosted online. Heres a look at the evolution of in-person business events.

The original point of an in-person event was networking with others to form relationships and share knowledge. Over time, this transitioned into purely social gatherings without any real networking occurring. They became more like parties than a place to build connections. If youre looking to generate new leads or increase your chances of closing a sale, in-person events can still be extremely valuable. Youll want to make sure youre putting the emphasis back on building relationships instead of just having fun.

4. Communication

The way businesses communicate has changed drastically over the years. In the past, face-to-face meetings and events were the primary way to network and build relationships. While this is still an important part of doing business, the rise of technology has led to a new era of communication.

Now, businesses can connect and their customers through a variety of online channels. With social media, email marketing, live chats, video conferencing, etc., there are more ways than ever before for people in different parts of the world to collaborate on projects. Its even possible now for team members located across the country or around the world to have conversations in real-time by talking into their smartphones.

5. Networking

A Networking Event is a face-to-face opportunity to meet new prospects, see familiar faces, and connect with people you may not have seen in a while. People attend to network, share best practices and give presentations. These events are great for learning about trends, getting feedback on your products or services, or connecting with old friends.

Some companies host networking events for their employees and others use them as part of their marketing strategy to invite the right people. There are many types of networking events like happy hours, mixers, seminars, conferences, etc. You can find out what type of event it is by reading its description. Its always a good idea to do some research before attending an event and read up on who will be there and what they do so that you can get more out of your experience.

6. Audience Interaction

Business events have changed a lot over the years, and one of the biggest changes has been the way that audiences interact with them. These days, audiences expect to be able to interact with business events in a variety of ways. They want to be able to ask questions, give feedback, and even participate in some of the activities.

This level of interaction can be a challenge for event planners, but its also an opportunity to engage your audience and make your event more memorable. You may need to change how your present information at the event or find other ways for people to interact with each other.

The solution for this is to consider using eye-catching, relevant signage that resonates with attendees as they enter a conference. It has several functions and can help brands leave a strong, lasting impression on their customers. Signage is no longer just for recognition; it has turned into a strong brand identity. Learn how to brand your business with effective signage mediums.

As more businesses are becoming aware of how powerful face-to-face meetings can be, theyre also using their budgets to create more opportunities for their employees to meet in person. This has led to a sharp increase in interest in enterprise meeting planning software and conference room management systems.

With so many options available, its easy to see why these technologies have become so popular. What has once been considered an expensive luxury is now a standard feature for many businesses, helping them take advantage of all that an in-person event has to offer. Give them what they want by making your next event one that combines old-fashioned hospitality with modern innovation.

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The Evolution of In-Person Business Events - SpaceCoastDaily.com

Michigan State Universitys renowned Long-Term Evolution Experiment a remarkable 34-year biological drama in flasks, with bacteria competing for resources and fighting for dominance is itself evolving.

The bacterias main stage frozen vials containing some 75,000 generations has been moved from MSUs Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building to Texas. Richard Lenski, its scientific founder and gamemaster, is passing its care and feeding on to a former Michigan State postdoctoral researcher.

Yet the bookends of news articles in high-profile international science magazines this month signal that MSUs future with the LTEE is less about glowing obituaries and more about chapters still being written.

Lenski wryly documented the migration of his microbial colleagues on his @RELenski Twitter account: Bon voyage, #LTEE! Enjoy your new locale, even if your Erlenmeyer flask homes and DM25 diets are exactly the same as you've been evolving in and adapting to for the last 75,000 generations! Now keep on evolving, my friends bacteria and humans alike!

The experiment was started in 1988 by Lenski, the John Hannah Distinguished Professor of Microbial Ecology in the MSU College of Natural Science. He began with 12 populations of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteriaidentical ancestral strains placed into identical environmentsto see how similarly or differently they would evolve. For years he and his team fed them and protected their tiny universes from disruptions. In return, the bacteria reproduced quickly, allowing evolutionary-minded scientists to ask questions about evolution that would take many human lifetimes to provide.

For the full story, visit natsci.edu

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Evolution-in-a-flask experiment moves, but not the science - MSUToday

In 1928, George Whitney placed ice cream between oatmeal cookies and dipped the entire dessert into melted chocolate (via The Original It's It). Nearly two decades later, Jerry Newberg sold sandwiches of vanilla ice cream and chocolate wafers at baseball games (per News Nation Now). This set the foundation for more delicious creations.Richard LaMotta made the "chipwich" in 1978, which, according to The Original Chipwich, was the first time ice cream found a home between chocolate-chip cookies.

Since then, modifications to the frozen sandwich have spanned the globe. In Vietnam, for example, ice cream is scooped onto pieces of bread and topped with peanuts (via Street Food and Travel). Bastani-e nooni, the Persian ice cream sandwich, places pistachio, rose, and saffron ice cream between vanilla wafers (perAtlas Obscura).BRIT + CO has tracked down all sorts of other modifications: ice cream folded into what looks like small pies and sandwiches made with churros. (For more inspiration, check out our Ice Tea Creamand Choco Taco-Inspiredrecipes). It's clear the ice cream sandwich train left the station long ago, and there's no telling where it might go next.

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The Historic Evolution Of The Ice Cream Sandwich - Tasting Table

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The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price was among the worst performers on the ASX 200 during the 2022 financial year.

The gold miners shares lost 47% of their value during the 12 months.

Interestingly, the majority of this decline came in the final month of the financial year following the release of an abject update.

Investors were selling down the Evolution share price in June after the company revealed that it expects to record a decline in production in FY 2022 with higher than expected costs.

Evolution is forecasting total production of 640,000 ounces with an all-in sustaining cost (AISC) of approximately $1,250 an ounce.

This compares to 680,788 ounces and an AISC of $1,215 an ounce a year earlier.

This update didnt go down well with analysts at Credit Suisse. In response, the broker reiterated its underperform rating and slashed its price target by 28% to $2.70.

Elsewhere, analysts at Citi responded by retaining their neutral recommendation (now with a high risk rating) and cutting their price target by 28% to $3.30.

Citi appears to believe the companys outlook is extremely cloudy and isnt expecting any cash generation for a few years.

Citi explained:

Theres a lot to unpack after todays higher-cost, lower ounce outlook including read-through to the rest of our coverage. In Nov21, EVN had expected to do +900koz in FY24 @ A$1050/oz vs todays 800koz @ $1240/oz. Weve cut our TP from $4.60/sh to $3.30/sh trimming EBITDA by almost 20% next year.

After todays +21% sell off vs XGD -7%, EVN is now trading on ~0.90x P/NAV. EVNs usually hefty valuation premium is gone. On our gold deck and including debt repayments, were not expecting EVN to make any cash until FY25, and that hinges on Red Lake. We thus assign a High Risk rating; without conviction on the Red Lake turnaround, Mungari plus our sideways tracking gold price its hard to be more positive here.

All in all, it looks set to be a tough few years for the company. In light of this, it isnt overly surprising to have seen the Evolution share price fall so hard over the last 12 months.

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Why did the Evolution share price crash 47% in FY22? - The Motley Fool Australia