bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enantioselectivity in the Enzymatic Dehydration of Malate and Tartrate: Mirror Image Specificities of Structurally Similar Dehydratases
Authors: Bellur Asutosh , Mukherjee Souradip , Sharma Pragya , Jayaraman Vijay , Balaram Hemalatha
Published: June 2023

Malate (2-hydroxysuccinic acid) and tartrate (2,3-dihydroxysuccinic acid) are chiral substrates; the former existing in two enantiomeric forms (R and S) while the latter exists as three stereoisomers (R,R; S,S; and R,S). Dehydration by stereospecific hydrogen abstraction andanti-elimination of the hydroxyl group yield the achiral products fumarate and oxaloacetate, respectively. Class-I fumarate hydratase (FH) and L-tartrate dehydratase (L-TTD) are two highly conserved enzymes belonging to the iron-sulfur cluster hydrolyase family of enzymes that catalyze reactions on specific stereoisomers of malate and tartrate. FH fromMethanocaldococcus jannaschiiaccepts only S-malate and S,S-tartrate as substrates while the structurally similar L-TTD fromEscherichia coliaccepts only R-malate and R,R-tartrate as substrates. Phylogenetic analysis reveals a common evolutionary origin of L-TTDs and two-subunit archaeal FHs suggesting a divergence during evolution that may have led to the switch in substrate stereospecificity preference. Due to the high conservation of their sequences, a molecular basis for switch in stereospecificity is not evident from analysis of crystal structures of FH and predicted structure of L-TTD. The switch in enantiomer preference may be rationalised by invoking conformational plasticity of the amino acids interacting with the substrate, together with substrate reorientation and conformer selection about the C2-C3 bond of the dicarboxylic acid substrates. Although classical models of enzyme-substrate binding are insufficient to explain such a phenomenon, the enantiomer superposition model suggests that a minor reorientation in the active site residues could lead to the switch in substrate stereospecificity.
Neuronal lineage tracing from progenitors in human cortical organoids reveals novel mechanisms of human neuronal production, diversity, and disease
Authors: Bury Luke A. D. , Fu Shuai , Wynshaw-Boris Anthony
Published: June 2023

The contribution of progenitor subtypes to generate the billions of neurons during human cortical neurogenesis is not well understood. We developed the Cortical ORganoid Lineage Tracing (COR-LT) system for human cortical organoids. Differential fluorescent reporter activation in distinct progenitor cells leads to permanent reporter expression, enabling the progenitor cell lineage of neurons to be determined. Surprisingly, nearly all neurons produced in cortical organoids were generated indirectly from intermediate progenitor cells. Additionally, neurons of different progenitor lineages were transcriptionally distinct. Isogenic lines made from an autistic individual with and without a likely pathogenic variant in the CTNNB1 gene demonstrated that the variant substantially altered the proportion of neurons derived from specific progenitor cell lineages, as well as the lineage-specific transcriptional profiles of these neurons, suggesting a pathogenic mechanism for this mutation. These results suggest individual progenitor subtypes play unique roles in generating the diverse neurons of the human cerebral cortex.
Fluctuating selection facilitates the discovery of broadly effective but difficult to reach adaptive outcomes in yeast
Authors: Fasanello Vincent J. , Liu Ping , Fay Justin C. , Botero Carlos A.
Published: June 2023

Evolutionary compromises are thought to be common under fluctuating selection because the mutations that best enable adaptation to one environmental context can often be detrimental in others. Yet, prior experimental work has shown that generalists can sometimes perform as well as specialists in their own environments. Here we use a highly replicated evolutionary experiment (N = 448 asexual lineages of the brewer’s yeast) to show that even though fluctuation between two environmental conditions often induces evolutionary compromises (at least early on), it can also help reveal difficult to reach adaptive outcomes that ultimately improve performance in both environments. Specifically, we begin by showing that yeast adaptation to chemical stress can involve fitness tradeoffs with stress-free environments and that, accordingly, lineages that are repeatedly exposed to occasional stress tend to respond by trading performance for breadth of adaptation. We then show that on rare occasions, fluctuating selection leads to the evolution of no-cost generalists that can even outcompete constant selection specialists in their own environments. We propose that the discovery of these broader and more effective adaptive outcomes under fluctuating selection could be partially facilitated by changes in the adaptive landscape that result from having to deal with fitness tradeoffs across different environmental conditions. Overall, our findings indicate that reconciling the short- and long-term evolutionary consequences of fluctuating selection could significantly improve our understanding of the evolution of specialization and generalism.
When offspring outsmarting parents: Neuronal genes expression in two generations of marine parasitic worm
Authors: Tolstenkov Oleg , Chatzigeorgiou Marios , Gorbushin Alexander
Published: June 2023

Trematodes, or flukes, cause disease in millions of people, impact animal health, and alter the functional organization of biological communities. During the transition from the intramolluscan redia to the free-living cercaria stage in a complex life cycle of trematodes, extensive anatomical and behavioral modifications occur, enabling the cercaria to locate and infect the next host in the complex water environment. However, the functional changes that occur in the nervous system during this shift are not well understood.

We used ade novotranscriptome to characterize the molecular building blocks of the trematode nervous system and identify pathways that may underlie differences in nervous system function between the rediae and cercariae stages of theCryptocotyle lingua, marine trematode species causing problems for fisheries. Our results confirmed the streamlined molecular toolkit of these parasitic trematodes, including the absence of certain key signaling pathways and ion channels. We documented the loss of nitric oxide synthase not only inC. linguabut also in the entire phylum Platyhelminthes. We identified several neuronal genes upregulated in dispersal larvae, including genes involved in synaptic vesicle trafficking, TRPA channels, G-protein coupled receptors, and surprisingly nitric oxide receptors soluble guanylate cyclase. Validation of these findings using neuronal markers andin situhybridization allowed us to hypothesize the protein function in relation to the adaptations and host-finding strategy of the dispersal larva. Our results and established behavior quantification toolkit for cercaria motility provide a foundation for future research on the behavior and physiology of parasitic flatworms, with potential implications for developing antiparasitic measures.

Highlights

We utilized a behavior quantification toolkit and described essential neuronal genes in a handy model species, enabling the study of fluke neurobiology at the systems level.

We characterized and validated neuronal gene expression profiles in cercarial embryos within rediae and swimming host-searching cercariae.

The streamlined molecular toolkit of parasites reveals the absence of important signaling pathways and ion channels in their nervous system.

We documented loss of nitric oxide synthase in flatworms.

The expression pattern of nitric oxide receptors, soluble guanylate cyclases, upregulated in swimming larvae, emphasizes their crucial involvement in the dispersal process.

Two upregulated TRPA channels in cercaria are primarily expressed in cilia and peripheral neurons, emphasizing their importance in host finding.
TheCandida albicansreference strain SC5314 contains a rare, dominant allele of the transcription factor Rob1 that modulates biofilm formation and oral commensalism
Authors: Glazier Virginia E. , Kramara Juraj , Ollinger Tomye , Solis Norma V. , Zarnowski Robert , Wakade Rohan S. , Kim Min-Ju , Weigel Gabriel J. , Liang Shen-Huan , Bennett Richard J. , Wellington Melanie , Andes David R. , Stamnes Mark A. , Filler Scott G. , Krysan Damian J.
Published: June 2023

Candida albicansis a diploid human fungal pathogen that displays significant genomic and phenotypic heterogeneity over a range of virulence traits and in the context of a variety of environmental niches. Here, we show that the effects of Rob1 on biofilm and filamentation virulence traits is dependent on both the specific environmental condition and the clinical strain ofC. albicans. TheC. albicansreference strain SC5314 is aROB1heterozygote with two alleles that differ by a single nucleotide polymorphism at position 946 resulting in a serine or proline containing isoform. An analysis of 224 sequencedC. albicansgenomes indicates that SC5314 is the onlyROB1heterozygote documented to date and that the dominant allele contains a proline at position 946. Remarkably, theROB1alleles are functionally distinct and the rareROB1946Sallele supports increased filamentation in vitro and increased biofilm formation in vitro and in vivo, suggesting it is a phenotypic gain-of-function allele. SC5314 is amongst the most highly filamentous and invasive strains characterized to date. Introduction of theROB1946Sallele into a poorly filamenting clinical isolate increases filamentation and conversion of an SC5314 laboratory strain to aROB1946Shomozygote increases in vitro filamentation and biofilm formation. In a mouse model of oropharyngeal infection, the predominantROB1946Pallele establishes a commensal state while theROB1946Sphenocopies the parent strain and invades into the mucosae. These observations provide an explanation for the distinct phenotypes of SC5314 and highlight the role of heterozygosity as a driver ofC. albicansphenotypic heterogeneity.

Importance

Candida albicansis a commensal fungus that colonizes human oral cavity and gastrointestinal tracts but also causes mucosal as well as invasive disease. The expression of virulence traits inC. albicansclinical isolates is heterogenous and the genetic basis of this heterogeneity is of high interest. TheC. albicansreference strain SC5314 is highly invasive and expresses robust filamentation and biofilm formation relative to many other clinical isolates. Here, we show that SC5314 derivatives are heterozygous for the transcription factor Rob1 and contain an allele with a rare gain-of-function SNP that drives filamentation, biofilm formation, and virulence in a model of oropharyngeal candidiasis. These finding explain, in part, the outlier phenotype of the reference strain and highlight the role of heterozygosity plays in the strain-to-strain variation of diploid fungal pathogens.
Single-cell sequencing of tumor-associated macrophages in aDrosophilamodel
Authors: Khalili Dilan , Mohammed Mubasher , Kunc Martin , Ankarklev Johan , Theopold Ulrich
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Tumor-associated macrophages may act to either limit or promote tumor growth, yet the molecular basis for either path is poorly characterized.

Methods

We use a larvalDrosophilamodel that expresses a dominant-active version of the Rasoncogene (RasV12) to study dysplastic growth during early tumor progression. We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing of macrophage-like hemocytes to characterize these cells in tumor-compared to wild type larvae. Hemocytes included manually extracted tumor-associated-as well as circulating cells.

Results and discussion

We identified 5 distinct hemocyte clusters. In addition to RasV12larvae we included a tumor model where the activation of effector caspases was inhibited, mimicking an apoptosis-resistant setting. Circulating hemocytes from both tumor models differ qualitatively from control wild-type cells – they display an enrichment for genes involved in cell division, which was confirmed using proliferation assays. Split analysis of the tumor models further reveals that proliferation is strongest in the caspase-deficient setting. Similarly, depending on the tumor model, hemocytes that attach to tumors activate different sets of immune effectors – antimicrobial peptides dominate the response against the tumor alone, while caspase inhibition induces a shift toward members of proteolytic cascades. Finally, we provide evidence for transcript transfer between hemocytes and possibly other tissues. Taken together, our data support the usefulness ofDrosophilato study the response against tumors at the organismic level.
The Janelia Atalanta plasmids provide a simple and efficient CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homology directed repair platform forDrosophila
Authors: Stern David L. , Kim Elizabeth , Behrman Emily L.
Published: June 2023

Homology-directed repair (HDR) is a powerful tool for modifying genomes in precise ways to address many biological questions. Use of Clustered Regularly Interspersed Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 induced targeted DNA double-strand breakage has substantially simplified use of homology-directed repair to introduce specific perturbations inDrosophila, but existing platforms for CRISPR-Cas9-mediated HDR inDrosophilainvolve multiple cloning steps and have low efficiency. To simplify cloning of HDR plasmids, we designed a new plasmid platform, the Janelia Atalanta (pJAT) series, that exploits recent advances in dsDNA synthesis to facilitate Gateway cloning of gRNA sequences and homology arms in one step. Surprisingly, the pJAT plasmids yielded considerably higher HDR efficiency (approximately 25%) than we have observed with other approaches. pJAT plasmids work in multipleDrosophilaspecies and exhibited such high efficiency that previously impossible experiments inDrosophila, such as driving targeted chromosomal inversions, were made possible. We provide pJAT plasmids for a range of commonly performed experiments including targeted insertional mutagenesis, insertion of phiC31-mediated attP landing sites, generation of strains carrying a germ-line source of Cas9, and induction of chromosomal rearrangements. We also provide “empty” pJAT plasmids with multiple cloning sites to simplify construction of plasmids with new functionality. The pJAT platform is generic and may facilitate improved efficiency CRISPR-Cas9 HDR in a wide range of model and non-model organisms.
Confined environment facilitates stacked conformations in Holliday Junction
Authors: Agarwal Priya , Kabir Sahil Hasan , Pal Nibedita
Published: June 2023

Holliday Junction (HJ) is an important intermediate for homologous recombination and is involved in DNA break repair. It is a highly dynamic structure and transitions between two stacked isomers through an intermediate open conformer. In a constrained cellular environment, HJ is expected to behave differently than in vitro. This can affect target recognition by junction-binding proteins and their subsequent functions. However, the studies on the effect of the confined environment on HJ is extremely scanty. In this work, by employing fluorescence-based techniques we investigated the effect of confinement on HJ conformation using reverse micelle encapsulation as a model for confined space. We observed that inside reverse micelle, HJ prefers to adopt stacked conformation. Most strikingly, even at lower divalent cation concentrations, the preference for stacked conformation is prevalent over an open conformation. Our finding suggests that such confinement-induced changes in the conformer population might affect the interaction and activity of the HJ-recognizing proteins in the cellular environment.
Unveiling consistency in flexibility: the role of reward and cognitive control in moral decisions
Authors: Xu Xinyi Julia , Yang Guochun , Huang Jiamin , Wang Ruien , Wu Haiyan
Published: June 2023

Moral decisions are multifaceted with two essential aspects, flexibility and consistency. However, the interaction between these two and the underlying mechanisms is rarely studied. Here, we combined mouse-tracking and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) together in a value-based moral decision task, which allows us to quantify accumulative history responses as self-consistency. Using a multi-attribute time-dependent drift-diffusion model (tDDM), we disentangled the role of consistency and self-interest, highlighting the dominant role of cognitive-control-related regions. The drift rate of self-consistency was directly associated with the brain activity responsible for cognitive control, while the relationship between the reward and the activity of the related brain regions was mediated by the mouse-tracking index area under the curve(AUC). Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was revealed as a hub connecting prACC and ventral striatum, whose functional connectivity was correlated with consistency drift rate and reward drift rate respectively. Furthermore, decision flexibility was quantified by choice entropy, which links to mouse tracking indices and the activity of cognitive -control related regions. Together, our study uncovers the interplay between self-consistency and reward in behavior, and highlights the key role of cognitive control in modulating these two attributes, thereby deepening our understanding of consistency and flexibility in moral decisions.
Proteasome-dependent degradation of histone H1 subtypes is mediated by its C-terminal domain
Authors: García-Gomis D , López J , Calderón A , Andrés M , Ponte I , Roque A
Published: June 2023

Histone H1 is involved in chromatin compaction and dynamics. In human cells, the H1 complement is formed by different amounts of somatic H1 subtypes, H1.0-H1.5 and H1X. The amount of each variant depends on the cell type, the cell cycle phase, and the time of development and can be altered in disease. However, the mechanisms regulating H1 protein levels have not been described. We have analyzed the contribution of the proteasome to the degradation of H1 subtypes in human cells using two different inhibitors: MG132 and bortezomib. H1 subtypes accumulate upon treatment with both drugs, indicating that the proteasome is involved in the regulation of H1 protein levels.

Proteasome inhibition caused a global increase in cytoplasmatic H1, with slight changes in the composition of H1 bound to chromatin and chromatin accessibility and no alterations in the nucleosome repeat length. The analysis of the proteasome degradation pathway showed that H1 degradation is ubiquitin-independent, whereas the whole protein and its C-terminal domain can be degraded directly by the 20S proteasome. Our study shows that histone H1 protein levels are under tight regulation preventing its accumulation in the nucleus. We revealed a new regulatory mechanism for histone H1 degradation, where the C-terminal disordered domain is responsible for its targeting and degradation by the 20S proteasome.

Statement

Histone H1 subtypes are a family of proteins involved in the regulation of chromatin structure. This work describes the degradation mechanism controlling the levels of histone H1 subtypes and the region within these proteins involved in the initial recognition. This regulatory mechanism protects the cell nucleus from the damaging effects of its accumulation.
Self-assembly of Grb2 meshworks revealed by Grb2-Gab1497-528complex structure
Authors: Breithaupt Constanze , Gruber Tobias , Mandel Katharina , Lewitzky Marc , Meister Annette , Jochen Balbach , Feller Stephan M. , Stubbs Milton T.
Published: June 2023

The ubiquitously expressed adaptor protein Growth factor receptor bound protein 2 (Grb2) plays an essential role in signal transduction by binding to activated receptor tyrosine kinases through its SH2 domain and to downstream effectors via its N- and C-terminal SH3 domains (nSH3, cSH3). Here we present the first structure of ligand-bound full length Grb2. The crystal structure of Grb2 in complex with a bidentate nSH3-cSH3-binding peptide, derived from the multi-site docking protein Grb2- associated binder-1 (Gab1), provides molecular insight into effector recognition by Grb2 and reveals the assembly of a two-dimensional meshwork, consisting of multimeric filament-like Grb2 chains linked to each other by the bivalent bound Gab1497-528peptide. Dominant contacts between Grb2 molecules in the multimer are provided by an intermolecular SH2/cSH3 domain interface that is also present in the closed dimer of ligand-free Grb2. We further show that Grb2 is able to self-assemble to form phase-separated condensates in solution. The Grb2 SH2 domain phosphotyrosine binding site is freely accessible in the multimeric assembly, and phase separation is fostered by addition of Gab1497- 528, as expected from the crystal structure. Multimeric assembly is also observed using a Grb2 SH2- cSH3 didomain construct, and suppressed using a Grb2 Tyr60Glu mutant, a mimic of thein vivophosphorylated Tyr160 central to the SH2/cSH3 interface, demonstrating that an intact SH2/cSH3 interface is needed for Grb2 assembly in solution.
3‐aminohydantoin derivate as a promising scaffold in dopaminergic neuroprotection and neurorescue in the in vivo and in vitro 6‐hydroxydopamine models of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Mani Sahar , Bouchnak Houda , Pradeloux Solène , Kraiem Jamil , Soulet Denis , Messaoudi Imed
Published: June 2023

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, for which no disease‐modifying treatments are available yet. Thus, developing new neuroprotective drugs with the potential to delay or stop the natural course of the disease is necessary. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of a newly synthesized 3‐aminohydantoin derivative named 3‐amino‐5‐benzylimidazolidine‐2,4‐dione (PHAH). The possible neuroprotective and neurorescue effects of the synthesized compound were tested: (i) in N27 dopaminergic and BV‐2 microglial cell lines treated with 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) and (ii) in the 6‐OHDA rat model of PD. PHAH administration reduced proinflammatory markers, including nitric oxide synthase and interleukin‐1β, in BV‐2 cells activated by lipopolysaccharide. Although PHAH did not restore cell death induced by 6‐OHDA, it was not cytotoxic for dopaminergic cells since cell viability, under the effect of the two concentrations, remained comparable to that of the control cells. Most interestingly, PHAH restored 6‐OHDA‐induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the substantia nigra and striatum and ameliorated 6‐OHDA‐induced oxidative stress in the rat brain. In summary, we have proven that in PD models, PHAH has neuroprotective effects in vivo and anti‐inflammatory effects in vitro; however, these effects remain to be confirmed by carrying out certain specific behavioural tests as well as by exploring other neuroinflammatory markers. The present work also suggests that PHAH is a promising scaffold that can serve as the basis for the design and synthesis of other derivatives that can be potent antiparkinsonian agents.
International threats and support for European security and defence integration: Evidence from 25 countries
Authors: MADER MATTHIAS , GAVRAS KONSTANTIN , HOFMANN STEPHANIE C. , REIFLER JASON , SCHOEN HARALD , THOMSON CATARINA
Published: June 2023

When member states of the European Union face serious international threats, does this serve as a catalyst or obstacle for European integration in the security and defence domain? To gain purchase on this question, this paper examines public opinion from a common instrument fielded in 24 EU member states (and the United Kingdom) with a total sample size of more than 40,000 respondents. We argue that theoretical accounts of perceived threat produce rival hypotheses. Threats might have either uniform or differential effects on different groups of citizens and could lead to either convergence or divergence of public opinion. We show that perceptions of foreign threats are associated with more favourable views on integration in the security and defence domain. Importantly, this association is as strong among Eurosceptics as among Europhiles. The findings presented here are consistent with the view that functional pressures may temporarily convince Eurosceptics to accept integration in the foreign and security domain.
Lithuania: Political Developments and Data in 2022
Authors: JASTRAMSKIS MAŽVYDAS , RAMONAITĖ AINĖ
Published: June 2023

As no elections were held in Lithuania in 2022 and the Cabinet experienced no changes, the article mainly focuses on issues in national politics and institutional adjustments that have affected the conditions for non‐partisan electoral committees to compete in elections and changed the balance of power between mayors and municipal councils. Moreover, the article presents developments in the party system, mainly focusing on the newly established Democratic Party “For Lithuania,” which became one of the most popular political parties in Lithuania immediately after its establishment.
Holding your liquor: Comparison of alcohol‐induced psychomotor impairment in drinkers with and without alcohol use disorder
Authors: Didier Nathan , Vena Ashley , Feather Abigayle R. , Grant Jon E. , King Andrea C.
Published: June 2023

Background

Behavioral tolerance to alcohol underscores the widely accepted notion that individuals who regularly drink alcohol become less sensitive to its impairing effects. However, previous research assessing alcohol‐induced impairment in humans has primarily focused on social drinkers. This has limited our understanding of the nature and extent of behavioral tolerance among heavier drinkers, such as those with alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Methods

Data from three cohorts of the Chicago Social Drinking Project were evaluated to examine the acute effects of alcohol on psychomotor performance across the breath alcohol curve in light drinkers (LDs; n = 86), heavy drinkers (HDs; n = 208), and individuals with AUD (AUDs; n = 103). Before and at several intervals after ingesting either alcohol (0.8 g/kg, peak BrAC = 0.09 g/dL) or placebo in two random‐order laboratory sessions, participants completed a test of fine motor coordination (Grooved Pegboard), a test of perceptual‐motor processing (Digit Symbol Substitution Task), and a self‐reported survey of perceived impairment. Sixty individuals with AUD completed a third session with a very high dose of alcohol (1.2 g/kg, peak BrAC = 0.13 g/dL).

Results

The AUD and HD groups, relative to the LD group, perceived less impairment and demonstrated greater behavioral tolerance to an intoxicating dose of alcohol, exhibited by reduced peak impairment and a quicker return to baseline performance on psychomotor measures. Among individuals with AUD who consumed the very high dose, impairment was more than double that following the usual high dose, and it exceeded the impairment among LDs following the usual high dose.

Conclusions

In this sample of young adult drinkers, relative to the LD group, those with heavier drinking patterns (AUD and HD groups) showed greater behavioral tolerance to 0.8 g/kg alcohol, a dose typically associated with a binge drinking episode. However, when challenged with a very high alcohol dose commensurate with high‐intensity drinking, individuals with AUD showed substantial psychomotor impairment.
Optimal balancing of xylem efficiency and safety explains plant vulnerability to drought
Authors: Franklin Oskar , Fransson Peter , Hofhansl Florian , Jansen Steven , Joshi Jaideep
Published: June 2023

In vast areas of the world, forests and vegetation are water limited and plant survival depends on the ability to avoid catastrophic hydraulic failure. Therefore, it is remarkable that plants take hydraulic risks by operating at water potentials (ψ) that induce partial failure of the water conduits (xylem). Here we present an eco‐evolutionary optimality principle for xylem conduit design that explains this phenomenon based on the hypothesis that conductive efficiency and safety are optimally co‐adapted to the environment. The model explains the relationship between the tolerance to negative water potential (ψ50) and the environmentally dependent minimum ψ (ψmin) across a large number of species, and along the xylem pathway within individuals of two species studied. The wider hydraulic safety margin in gymnosperms compared to angiosperms can be explained as an adaptation to a higher susceptibility to accumulation of embolism. The model provides a novel optimality‐based perspective on the relationship between xylem safety and efficiency.
The phenology and clutch size of UK Blue Tits does not differ with woodland composition
Authors: Branston Claire J. , Whittingham Mark J. , Phillimore Albert B. , Leech Dave , Willis Stephen G.
Published: June 2023

The deciduous tree‐herbivorous caterpillar‐insectivorous bird food chain is a well‐studied system for investigating the impacts of climate change across trophic levels. To date, across Europe, most attention has focused on the impacts of increasing spring temperature on changes to phenology in Oak‐dominated (Quercus spp.) woodlands. Paridae species and Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca are the most studied secondary consumers, all of which demonstrate an advancement in reproductive phenology with increases in spring temperature. Shifts in climate and phenology may also impact on reproductive investment in clutch size, and the effects of climate on phenology and clutch size may vary depending on woodland composition. To date, the effects of among‐habitat variation in phenology and reproductive investment have received little attention. Insectivorous birds inhabiting woodlands that differ in tree composition may differ in the timing of breeding, due to local tree leafing phenology acting as a cue for egg‐laying date and/or clutch size. Moreover, for most insectivorous birds, woodland composition within a territory is likely to be the main determinant of food availability for both adults and chicks. Consequently, if warming springs affect the temporal patterns of food availability differently across different woodland compositions, this may affect the optimal average local phenology for nesting birds. Here, using data from 34 long‐term (mean 15 years) nest monitoring sites across the UK, we investigate the effect of woodland tree composition and temperature on Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus first egg date (FED) and clutch size. We supplemented the nest monitoring data by quantifying woodland composition, at a site level, through modified point counts. We predict that birds breeding in woodlands with greater proportions of late‐leafing species, such as Oak and Ash Fraxinus excelsior, will breed later than those breeding in woodlands with greater proportions of early‐leafing species, such as Birch Betula spp. and Beech Fagus sylvatica. We found no evidence for differences in Blue Tit FED or clutch size in relation to the proportion of any of the tree species investigated, after controlling for temperature and latitude (FED: −3.4 and 2.2, clutch size: −0.4 and − 0.2 eggs for one‐unit increase in temperature and latitude, respectively). In recent decades and across all sites, clutch size has decreased as spring temperatures have increased, a strategy which could allow birds flexibly to adjust their breeding phenology such that nestling demand coincides with peak food availability. The lack of an effect of woodland composition on Blue Tit phenology suggests Blue Tits do not fine‐tune their reproductive phenology to the local tree composition. Whether this lack of evidence for phenological divergence is due to an absence of divergent selection on breeding phenology and clutch size or to gene flow is not clear.
Study on ablation behavior and mechanism of C/SiC composite irradiated by a laser with various parameters
Authors: Yang Yu , Jiang Miao , Chen Xiaotong , Ma Zhuang , Liu Hanyang , Rogachev Alexandr. A. , Tian Weizhi , Liu Xiaoyu , Zhou Zhigang , Wang Dawei , Gao Lihong
Published: June 2023

C/SiC composite has been widely used as a high‐temperature material for engineering components due to its excellent thermal properties. Facing the rapid development and threat of high‐energy laser, study on the ablation resistance under laser irradiation is strongly required. In this work, a continuous high‐energy laser was applied to explore the laser ablation behavior and mechanism of C/SiC composite. From the results, C/SiC composite shows different morphologies when irradiated at various laser power densities for 500 and 700 W/cm2. We divided the ablation area into three regions; the central, transition, and edge regions, where the formation of SiO2, SiO, and the breakage of carbon fiber were observed. The generated highly reflective SiO2 layer reduces the absorption of laser energy, which is beneficial to lower the back‐surface temperature and reduce the damage of composite. In addition, we put forward the ablation physical models and ablation mechanisms irradiated at different power densities. The work provides a basis for the laser ablation resistance of C/SiC composites under different conditions.
Processing of alumina grinding media using scandia as a sintering aid
Authors: Wu Tingting , Zhang Yaqi , Ma Lijie , Wu Bolin
Published: June 2023

Wear resistance is one of the essential properties of grinding media. Good wear resistance is the quality guarantee of preparing high‐purity ultrafine powder. This paper mainly studied the influence rule and enhanced mechanism of Sc2O3on the wear resistance of Al2O3ceramics. The relationship between Sc2O3content and sintering properties, wear resistance, and microstructure of ceramics was studied. According to research findings, Sc2O3could promote the densification of ceramics, improve the morphology of grain boundaries, enhance the binding force of grains, and increase the mechanical property of alumina grain.
Prescription of panoramic radiographs in children using age‐based prevalence of dental anomalies and pathologies
Authors: Mohan Ritu , Puranik Chaitanya P. , Kaci Pickett , Moore Timothy , Katechia Bina , Schulman Gary S. , Tadinada Aditya
Published: June 2023

Background

Panoramic radiographs (PRs) are used in the detection and diagnosis of developmental dental anomalies and pathologies (DDAPs) in children.

Aim

The primary objective of this observational cohort study was to evaluate the age‐based prevalence of DDAP on PRs, whereas the secondary objective was to determine a threshold age for the detection of DDAP to provide supportive evidence for the prescription of PR in paediatric dental practice.

Design

The study examined diagnostic PRs from 581 subjects aged 6 to 19 years. All PRs were reviewed by experienced, calibrated, masked examiners for the identification or presence of anomalies in size, shape, position, structure, and other developmental anomalies and pathologies (ODAP) of the face–neck region in a standardized condition. The data were statistically analyzed for interpretation.

Results

Overall, 74% (n = 411) of the cohort had at least one anomaly (shape anomaly: 12%, number anomaly: 17%, positional anomaly: 28%, structural anomaly: 0%, and ODAP: 63%). The optimal Youden index cutoff for any anomaly was 9 years. Twelve and 15 years also showed predictive ability.

Conclusion

The results suggest that PRs should be prescribed at ages 9, 12, and 15 years for the diagnosis of DDAP.
Global bibliometric mapping of dental development research for the period 2012–2021
Authors: Li Yiting , Tang Li , Zhang Yi , Liao Ga , Zheng Liwei
Published: June 2023

Background

Dental development is a complex long‐term biological process, significant attention should be paid to the dental development and health of this critical time window in childhood for the oral health of the whole life cycle.

Aim

This study aimed to conduct bibliometric studies on the scientific outputs of global dental development research by the CiteSpace software.

Design

The global scientific outputs about dental development between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2021, retrieved from Web of Science Core Collection, CiteSpace, and Microsoft Excel were applied for this bibliometric study.

Results

A total of 3746 reviews and articles were obtained from the Web of Science core database for exploring the basic publication characteristics, hotspots, and frontiers of this research field. The results showed that dental development is gaining more researcher's attention over time. In terms of countries, the USA and China were the major contributors to this research area. At the institutional level, Sichuan University ranked first. Meanwhile, international cooperation across regions was quite active. The Journal of Dental Research has exerted a broad and far‐reaching influence on dental development research in both publications and citations. James P Simmer, Jungwook Kim, Charles E Smith, and Jan CC Hu are among the most influential scholars in this field. Finally, the future hotspots were proposed, covering three directions: dental analysis, tooth development, and post‐translational phosphorylation of histones.

Conclusion

In the past decade, the field of dental development has developed rapidly, and the cooperation between scholars, institutions, and researchers has become increasingly close.
Dreaming a New Future
Authors: Manchala Deenabandhu
Published: June 2023

“Mission from the Margins” is not about the victims but about confronting the forces of marginalization. It is about naming and dismantling cultures and structures that keep the world unjust by legitimizing abuse of human beings and creation. The Ecumenical Conversation “Dreaming a New Future” was an attempt to be enriched by the yearnings for justice, freedom, and life of those who are thus pushed to the margins. It calls the churches to resist the schemes and solutions of those who occupy the centres and instead opt to be signs and symbols of God's reign by partnering with the marginalized in their struggles. As such, “Mission from the Margins” is both a subversive and a creative mission engagement. It insists that our actions of love, reconciliation and unity must critically engage with the dispensers of injustice. This essay proposes Life‐centred affirmations and actions, repatterning “sentness,” partnership for justice as a way toward unity, and the need for the church to be a moral force as signposts for the Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation and Unity.
De‐Religionizing the Missio Dei
Authors: Vedhanayagam VethaKani
Published: June 2023

The message of the World Council of Churches' 11th Assembly invites the global Christian family “to act together” – a call that is based on Christ's love urging us (2 Cor. 5:14) toward reconciliation and unity. This is the missio Dei of the church of all ages. In considering the relevance of this message and call, this article endeavours to hermeneutically problematize (to “de‐religionize”) them through biblical, theological, and missiological lenses in the present global context from the perspective of those who are marginalized, victimized, and in need of this gospel message.
A Jamaican Response to the Call to Act Together
Authors: Vernon Evie
Published: June 2023

This article is an exploration of following the way of Jesus regarding apologies and restitution for slavery. Three stories of good practice from the North American Jesuits, the United Reformed Church, and the Church of England are contrasted with stories of the abuse of children from First Nations people in Canada, poor families in Ireland, and the transportation of allegedly indigent children from Britain to Australia. These accounts are used to examine critically how far the church is following the call of Jesus to care for the vulnerable and identify with the marginalized in interactions with those sexually abused in churches, in engagement with sex workers, and the treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. A poetic reflection from the voice of the man who lived outside his community of the Gadarenes concludes the article.
Human Agency in the Missio Dei and the Problem of Discipleship
Authors: Butler James
Published: June 2023

At the heart of this article is an inquiry into the relationship between human and divine agency in the doctrine of the missio Dei and a critique of the turn to the language of discipleship in looking to articulate this agency. Taking the World Council of Churches’ Commission of World Mission and Evangelism's two recent documents, Together towards Life: Mission and Evangelism in Changing Landscapes (TTL) and the “Arusha Call to Discipleship,” as a case study, this article will seek to articulate an account of human participation in the missio Dei which maintains the emphasis on spirituality in TTL. Through a close reading of TTL and the Arusha Call, the article will demonstrate that the introduction of discipleship language has not solved the issue of agency but rather has changed the account of agency and, as a result, the missiology. By turning to accounts of faithful participation from qualitative research into British Methodism, to John V. Taylor's Go‐between God, and to Pope Francis’ Evangelii gaudium, I will suggest that a better account of human agency in the missio Dei can be developed by emphasizing the pneumatology of TTL and by turning to language of attentiveness, accompaniment, and discernment.
Charles F. Mackenzie, Popery, Guns, and Colonial Conflict
Authors: Houston Peter C.
Published: June 2023

Charles F. Mackenzie was an Anglican archdeacon in the 19th century in the newly formed Diocese of Natal. He was consecrated a missionary bishop for Central Africa in Cape Town in 1861, which was a significant development for the Anglican Church at the time. Mackenzie struggled to read the social landscape, becoming embroiled in colonial conflict. Consequently, congregants, colleagues, and historians have characterized him in markedly different ways, rendering a disputed legacy. This paper brings Mackenzie into conversation with another figure who is not without his own controversy: Martyn Percy. Applying Percy's implicit theological approach provides an important lens with which to view the social complexities, ecclesial conflicts and missional contexts which Mackenzie sought to navigate.
Adaptation in Modern Times
Authors: Dokman Frans
Published: June 2023

Since the beginning of Christian mission, adaptation to local cultures (later called acculturation or inculturation) has been the main factor in mission failure or success. Placide Tempels is considered a pioneer of adaptation in modern times. He was a Flemish Franciscan missionary in Congo from 1933 to 1962 (with two breaks) and is well known for his adaptation to the Bantu worldview. Referring to spiritual and intellectual adaptation, the paper will answer the following questions: Was the adaptation of Placide Tempels successful? If it was or was not, why and in what way? The analysis will be linked to William Biernatzki's theory of root paradigms and meanings. To conclude, a connection will be made to the process of adaptation in international mission organizations today.
Influence of iron oxide substitution on the magnetic interactions in sol–gel‐derived 45S5 bioactive glass–ceramics
Authors: Nitu  , Srinivasan Ananthakrishnan
Published: June 2023

Magnetic interactions in sol–gel‐derived bioactive magnetic glass–ceramics (MGCs) with compositions of (45 − x)SiO2·24.5CaO·24.5Na2O·6P2O5 xFe2O3 (2 ≤ x ≥ 15 wt.%) have been investigated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and temperature‐dependent magnetic susceptibility and magnetization (M–T) techniques. EPR spectra of the MGC samples revealed strong composition dependence in the intensity and linewidth of resonance absorptions at g ≈ 2.0 and g ≈ 4.3. EPR linewidth analysis showed the dominance of dipole–dipole interaction in MGC samples with iron oxide content ≤4 wt.% and a crossover to super‐exchange type interaction in samples with higher iron oxide content. Composition‐dependent magnetic interaction in these MGC could be related to Fe2+ and Fe3+ ion concentrations using high‐temperature magnetic susceptibility studies. Zero‐field cooled and field cooled M–T curves indicate different magnetic behavior for MGC samples with x ≤ 6 and x ≥ 8 wt.% iron oxide. Although the former show weak magnetic behavior, the latter exhibit superparamagnetic behavior which could be correlated with the percentage of magnetic phases present in each sample. These studies reveal composition‐dependent variation in dipolar and super‐exchange type interaction in the samples which could help in assessing these MGC for biomedical applications.
KNN–Eu transparent ferroelectrics: Local structure and luminescent property
Authors: Wu Lingjie , Tan Zhi , Zheng Ting , Wu Jiagang
Published: June 2023

Differ from the rapid development of piezoelectricity in potassium sodium niobate (KNN) ceramics, the progress of photoluminescence in transparent KNN ferroelectric ceramics remains stagnant. Herein, europium (Eu)‐doped KNN ceramics have been prepared to investigate its local structure and optical–electrical multi‐functionality. Both enhanced piezoelectricity in ceramics with a bimodal distribution of grain size and improved luminescent property in ceramics with refined grain size can be achieved by adjusting the content of Eu. The addition of Eu can destroy long‐range ferroelectric orders, leading to the formation of pseudo‐cubic phase and polar nanoregions (PNRs). The highly activated PNRs promoted electric field‐induced domain switching and nearly reversible piezo/ferroelectric properties. First‐principles calculations show that Eu substitution will lead to local inhomogeneous chemical bond environment, affecting the local electric/elastic fields and crystal fields, and then benefiting to the luminescence behavior, including both the intensity and lifetime. We believe that this work can benefit to the development of KNN transparent luminescent ceramics and the light‐emitting devices.
Voltage gradients in transvenous and subcutaneous defibrillation and their risk of myocardial damage
Authors: Belalcazar Andres , Stahl Wyatt , Friedman Daniel J. , Brouwer Tom F. , Knops Reinoud E. , Poole Jeanne E. , Kevin Heist E.
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Transvenous implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) shocks have been associated with cardiac biomarker elevations and are thought in some cases to contribute to adverse clinical outcomes and mortality, possibly from myocardium exposed to excessive shock voltage gradients. Currently, there are only limited data for comparison with subcutaneous ICDs. We sought to compare ventricular myocardium voltage gradients resulting from transvenous (TV) and subcutaneous defibrillator (S‐ICD) shocks to assess their risk of myocardial damage.

Methods

A finite element model was derived from thoracic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Voltage gradients were modeled for an S‐ICD with a left‐sided parasternal coil and a left‐sided TV‐ICD with a mid‐cavity, a septal right ventricle (RV) coil, or a dual coil lead (TV mid, TV septal, TV septal +  superior vena cava [SVC]). High gradients were defined as > 100 V/cm.

Results

The volumes of ventricular myocardium with high gradients > 100 V/cm were 0.02, 2.4, 7.7, and 0 cc for TV mid, TV septal, TV septal + SVC, and S‐ICD, respectively.

Conclusion

Our models suggest that S‐ICD shocks produce more uniform gradients in the myocardium, with less exposure to potentially damaging electrical fields, compared to TV‐ICDs. Dual coil TV leads yield higher gradients, as does closer proximity of the shock coil to the myocardium.