Successive Generations Research Articles

Genetic stability observed in third-generation progeny trial of Acacia mangium: the importance of genotype by environment interaction assessment in advance generation breeding strategy

The breeding program for Acacia mangium has entered advanced-generation breeding cycles through adopting a recurrent selection system and a sub-lining breeding population. Genetic variation changes along the successive generations could affect its genetic stability on wide ranges of sites. The aim of this study is to observe genetic stability in third-generation progeny trials of A. mangium established at three different sites in Indonesia. Analysis was conducted, including single-site and multi-sites analyses for height, diameter, and stem forking that were grouped into two sets of analysis based on the genetic background of the trial: SET01 for the single sub-line and SET02 for the composite sub-lines. Index selection for multiple-traits was then used to identify the family changing ranks for multiple-traits and genetic gain prediction. The results showed that the recurrent selection system adopted in the breeding strategy for single-site analysis could maintain sufficient genetic variance of A. mangium in the third-generation progeny trial. Family heritability was moderate to high for almost all traits. However, a strong genetic-environment interaction (G × E) exists in multi-sites analysis for the single sub-line population (SET01), indicating a less sufficient genetic variation and a low Type B genetic correlation in anticipating a wider range of environment. On the contrary, compositing selected family from several sub-lines (SET02) could diminish the strength of G × E and increase Type B correlation. Selection and genetic gain prediction could be more effective in multi-sites analysis for SET02, but it was less effective for SET01. The results imply that adopting a recurrent selection system in advanced-generation breeding of A. mangium should consider structuring the breeding population. It could be practiced by compositing selected superior families from several sub-lines into one breeding population to maintain high genetic stability, while increasing genetic diversity and productivity.

Parental and family determinants of the Flynn effect.

Research about the Flynn effect, the secular rise in IQ, is heavily based on conscript data from successive male birth cohorts. This inevitably means that two distinct phenomena are mixed: fertility differences by IQ group ('compositional Flynn effect'), and any difference between parents and children ('within-family Flynn effect'). Both will influence trends in cognitive ability. We focused on the latter phenomenon, exploring changes in cognitive abilities during adolescence within one generation, and between two successive generations within the same family. We identified determinants and outcomes in three linked generations in the Stockholm Multigenerational Study. School and conscript data covered logical/numerical and verbal scores for mothers at age 13, fathers at 13 and 18, and their sons at 18. Raw scores, and change in raw scores, were used as outcomes in linear regressions. Both parents' abilities at 13 were equally important for sons' abilities at 18. Boys from disadvantaged backgrounds caught up with other boys during adolescence. Comparing fathers with sons, there appeared to be a positive Flynn effect in logical/numeric and verbal abilities. This was larger if the father had a working-class background or many siblings. A Flynn effect was only visible in families where the father had low general cognitive ability at 18. We conclude that there is a general improvement in logical/numeric and verbal skills from one generation to the next, primarily based on improvement in disadvantaged families. The Flynn effect in Sweden during the later 20th century appears to represent a narrowing between social categories.

EWOLUCJA PRZEDWOJENNEGO DOMU JEDNORODZINNEGO W SZCZECINIE: ARCHITEKTURA, HISTORIA I METAMORFOZA

The article presents the architectural metamorphosis and changes in land management within the context of single-family housing, with a focus on the twin building structure in the Pogodno neighborhood of Szczecin. The analysis encompasses the evolution of spatial layout and its adaptation to the needs of successive generations of residents. Consideration is given to alterations in the utilization of adjacent spaces, in the context of overarching architectural trends and lifestyles. The study aims to unveil the history of the property, as well as the architectural transformations and land management developments.

Genetic amelioration of fruit and vegetable crops to increase biotic and abiotic stress resistance through CRISPR Genome Editing.

Environmental changes and increasing population are major concerns for crop production and food security as a whole. To address this, researchers had focussed on the improvement of cereals and pulses and have made considerable progress till the beginning of this decade. However, cereals and pulses together, without vegetables and fruits, are inadequate to meet the dietary and nutritional demands of human life. Production of good quality vegetables and fruits is highly challenging owing to their perishable nature and short shelf life as well as abiotic and biotic stresses encountered during pre- and post-harvest. Genetic engineering approaches to produce good quality, to increase shelf life and stress-resistance, and to change the time of flowering and fruit ripening by introducing foreign genes to produce genetically modified crops were quite successful. However, several biosafety concerns, such as the risk of transgene-outcrossing, limited their production, marketing, and consumption. Modern genome editing techniques, like the CRISPR/Cas9 system, provide a perfect solution in this scenario, as it can produce transgene-free genetically edited plants. Hence, these genetically edited plants can easily satisfy the biosafety norms for crop production and consumption. This review highlights the potential of the CRISPR/Cas9 system for the successful generation of abiotic and biotic stress resistance and thereby improving the quality, yield, and overall productivity of vegetables and fruits.

Odkrywanie żydowskiej tożsamości w powojennej Austrii na przykładzie filmu Śpiące psy Hanny Andreasa Grubera

REDISCOVERING JEWISH IDENTITY OF POST-WAR AUSTRIA IN ANDREAS GRUBER’S HANNA’S SLEEPING DOGS
 The trauma of the Holocaust, despite being dismissed for many years, has profoundly shaped the identity of successive generations of Jews. The main character of the film Hanna’s Sleeping Dogs (Hannas schlafende Hunde, 2016, Andreas Gruber) inherits the trauma of the tragic events of World War II, even though she initially remains unaware of her Jewish heritage. Upon discovering the family secret, the nine-year-old Johanna embarks on a journey to unravel her true identity. This task proves challenging in Austria, where anti-Semitism still prevailed in the 1960s, and “the myth of Hitler’s first victim” dominated the public discourse. The article aims to identify the stylistic devices employed in depicting the struggle between memory and (post)memory of tragic events. It also focuses on how Gruber narrates the story of trauma passed down from generation to generation and examines the representation of Jewish figures in his films. In addition, the film is analyzed within a sociocultural context to highlight its relevance to public discussions about Jewish identity in post-war Austria.

(Post)pamięć konstruowana cyfrowo

(POST)MEMORY DIGITALLY CONSTRUCTED: SURVIVORS’ INTERACTIVE BIOGRAPHY – OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS
 The purpose of the article is to provide a critical discussion of the USC Shoah Dimensions in Testimony project initiated and implemented by the USC Shoah Foundation. The article specifically focuses on the opportunities and threats presented by the ongoing dynamic development of the foundation’s project. Drawing on Marianne Hirsch’s concept of postmemory, which explores the spatial and temporal distance that separates successive generations from traumatic events, the article examines whether interactive biographies of survivors can be regarded as objects of postmemory that “preserve” (?) witnesses and their stories for future generations. In addition, the article analyzes how such virtual autobiographical identity narratives allow survivor to externalize their experience and transfer memory to the recipients of their testimonies. Ethical considerations regarding the “use” of near-holographic recordings of survivors are also discussed. Based on the collected research material, the article further explores how memory mediated by these objects affects the perception of past events.

Dissecting the Gaia HR diagram – II. The vertical structure of the star formation history across the solar cylinder

ABSTRACT Starting from the Gaia DR3 HR diagram, we derive the star formation history (SFH) as a function of distance from the Galactic plane within a cylinder centred on the Sun with a 200 pc radius and spanning 1.3 kpc above and below the Galaxy’s midplane. We quantify both the concentration of the more recent star formation in the Galactic plane, and the age-related increase in the scale height of the Galactic disc stellar component, which is well-described by power laws with indices ranging from 1/2 to 2/3. The vertically-integrated star formation rate falls from $(1.147 \pm 0.039)\times 10^{-8}\, \text{M}_\odot \, \text{yr}^{-1} \, \text{pc}^{-2}$ at earlier times down to $(6.2 \pm 3.0) \times 10^{-9}\, \text{M}_\odot \, \text{yr}^{-1} \, \text{pc}^{-2}$ at present times, but we find a significant peak of star formation in the 2–3 Gyr age bin. The total mass of stars formed per unit area over time is $118.7 \pm 6.2\, \text{M}_\odot \, \text{pc}^{-2}$, which is nearly twice the present stellar mass derived from kinematics within 1 kpc from the Galactic plane, implying a high degree of matter recycling in successive generations of stars. The method is then modified by adopting an age-dependent correlation between the SFH across the different slices, which results in less noisy and more symmetrical results without significantly changing the previously mentioned quantities. This appears to be a promising way to improve SFH recovery in external galaxies.

Effects of MAT1-2 Spore Ratios on Fruiting Body Formation and Degeneration in the Heterothallic Fungus Cordyceps militaris.

The medicinal mushroom Cordyceps militaris is widely exploited in traditional medicine and nutraceuticals in Asian countries. However, fruiting body production in C. militaris is facing degeneration through cultivation batches, and the molecular mechanism of this phenomenon remains unclear. This study showed that fruiting body formation in three different C. militaris strains, namely G12, B12, and HQ1, severely declined after three successive culturing generations using the spore isolation method. PCR analyses revealed that these strains exist as heterokaryons and possess both the mating-type loci, MAT1-1 and MAT1-2. Further, monokaryotic isolates carrying MAT1-1 or MAT1-2 were successfully separated from the fruiting bodies of all three heterokaryotic strains. A spore combination of the MAT1-1 monokaryotic isolate and the MAT1-2 monokaryotic isolate promoted fruiting body formation, while the single monokaryotic isolates could not do that themselves. Notably, we found that changes in ratios of the MAT1-2 spores strongly influenced fruiting body formation in these strains. When the ratios of the MAT1-2 spores increased to more than 15 times compared to the MAT1-1 spores, the fruiting body formation decreased sharply. In contrast, when MAT1-1 spores were increased proportionally, fruiting body formation was only slightly reduced. Our study also proposes a new solution to mitigate the degeneration in the heterokaryotic C. militaris strains caused by successive culturing generations.

An Educational Review of Social and Emotional Learning Research in Turkey in the 21st Century

This research aims to examine research on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in Turkey in the 21st century. A qualitative approach was used in the sample of 43 studies conducted in Turkey between January/2001-January/2023, including research articles and theses in SEL. The data was collected through document analysis from the databases of the Turkey National Thesis Center of the Council of Higher Education and Ankara Social Sciences University Library, and the Documentation Department. The data was analyzed by descriptive analysis. Findings proved that SEL measurement tools were developed and adapted as self-reports from primary school to higher education. SEL is correlated with desirable/positive and undesirable/negative traits in children and youth. There are short-term interventions developed and adapted. These programs are effective in improving SEL. As a result, it can be declared that the importance of SEL in raising healthy, successful, and happy generations is accepted in Turkey. However, there is a need for more systematic studies on SEL, both in theory and in practice. First of all, SEL standards should be determined at the national level, considering the cultural sensitivity of the SEL.

Unraveling the potential-dependent structure evolution in CuO for electrocatalytic biomass valorization

Electrocatalytic oxidation of renewable biomass (such as glucose) into high-value-added chemicals provides an effective approach to achieving carbon neutrality. CuO-derived materials are among the most promising electrocatalysts for biomass electrooxidation, but the identification of their active sites under electrochemical conditions remains elusive. Herein, we report a potential-dependent structure evolution over CuO in the glucose oxidation reaction (GOR). Through systematic electrochemical and spectroscopic characterizations, we unveil that CuO undergoes Cu2+/Cu+ and Cu3+/Cu2+ redox processes at increased potentials with successive generation of Cu(OH)2 and CuOOH as the active phases. In addition, these two structures have distinct activities in the GOR, with Cu(OH)2 being favorable for aldehyde oxidation, and CuOOH showed faster kinetics in carbon–carbon cleavage and alcohol/aldehyde oxidation. This work deepens our understanding of the dynamic reconstruction of Cu-based catalysts under electrochemical conditions and may guide rational material design for biomass valorization.

Generating the 1.5 kW mode-tunable fractional vortex beam by a coherent beam combining system.

As an essential component of the vortex beam, the fractional vortex beam has significantly advanced various applications, such as optical imaging, optical communication, and particle manipulation. However, practical applications face a significant challenge as generating high average power fractional vortex beams remains difficult. Here, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated a high average power mode-tunable fractional vortex beam generator based on an internally sensed coherent beam combining (CBC) system. We presented the first, to the best of our knowledge, successful generation of a 1.5 kW continuous wave fractional vortex beam. Moreover, real-time tuning of the topological charge (TC) from -2/3 to +2/3 was easily achieved using the programmable liquid crystals (LCs). More importantly, the fractional vortex beam copier was presented as well, and the generated fractional vortex beam could be easily transformed into a fractional vortex beam array by changing the fill factor of the laser array. This work can pave the path for the practical implementation of high average power structured light beams.

Mechanochemical activation of NHC–CS2 adducts for the generation of N‐heterocyclic carbenes

AbstractStable N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have garnered significant attention in synthetic chemistry due to their versatile applications. In this study, we explored a novel mechanochemical method for the generation of free carbenes, which could be a good complement to traditional approaches that require strong bases or reductants. Ball milling of NHC–CS2 adducts at room temperature successfully resulted in the quantitative formation of free carbenes that can be subsequently trapped by sulfur or selenium. Importantly, heating NHC–CS2 adducts in solution phase did not lead to the successful generation of free carbenes, in agreement with the high activation energy required for NHC–CS2 dissociation. These findings underscore the potential of ball milling as a robust and versatile approach for generating NHCs from stable NHC‐small molecule adducts, and opens new avenues for developing mechanochemical strategies for generating valuable NHC‐derived compounds.

Toxicity of Plastic Additive 1-Hydroxycyclohexyl Phenyl Ketone (1-HCHPK) to Freshwater Microcrustaceans in Natural Water

Various potentially toxic compounds associated with plastic (e.g., plastic additives) can enter the environment during plastic fragmentation and/or weathering. 1-Hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone (1-HCHPK) is a widely used photoinitiator, e.g., in UV-radiation-curable technologies such as 3D-printing, plastic coatings and construction materials. 1-HCHPK may reach aquatic ecosystems via various waste-flows, including leaching from consumer goods. However, knowledge of its potential environmental hazard is scarce. In the present study, we addressed this data gap by assessing the acute and long-term toxicity of 1-HCHPK to freshwater microcrustaceans in environmentally relevant conditions using natural waters. The results showed that the acute toxicity of 1-HCHPK (L(E)C50) to pelagic Thamnocephalus platyurus and Daphnia magna and benthic Heterocypris incongruens ranged between 27 and 55 mg/L. Further, the long-term exposure of D. magna to low levels of 1-HCHPK (0.1 and 1.0 mg/L) did not affect ephippia hatching or organismal fitness, even in three successive daphnid generations. Thus, 1-HCHPK did not pose a hazard to the freshwater microcrustaceans at concentrations < 1 mg/L in the environmentally relevant conditions (i.e., multigenerational life cycle tests conducted in lake water at low chemical exposure concentrations). The tests employed in this study allowed for the environmentally relevant hazard assessment of emerging pollutants such as a plastic additive 1-HCHPK.

Production of highly immunogenic and safe Triton X-100 produced bacterial ghost vaccine against Shigella flexneri 2b serotype

BackgroundBacterial ghost cells (BGCs) are cells were drained of their genetic and cytoplasmic components. This work aimed to develop vaccine candidates against the Shigella flexneri (S. flexneri) 2b serotype using the BGCs approach. For the first time, (S. flexneri) 2b serotype BGCs vaccine was prepared by incubation with Triton X-100 (TX100) for only 12 h. Its safety and immunogenicity were compared to another vaccine produced using a previously used surfactant, namely Tween 80 (TW80). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cellular DNA, protein contents measurements, and ghost cell re-cultivation were used to confirm the successful generation of the BGCs. Immunogenicity was assessed through mice's intraperitoneal (IP) immunization followed by infection with S. flexneri ATCC 12022. Finally, histopathological examination was carried out.ResultsViable colony forming units (CFUs) of S. flexneri were counted from stool samples as well as homogenized colon tissues of the non-immunized challenged group. Immunized mice sera showed a significant increase in serum bactericidal activity of both preparations (TX100 = 40% and TW80 = 56%) compared to the non-immunized challenged group (positive control). The IgG levels of the bacterial ghost-vaccinated groups were four and three times greater for the TX100 and TW80 ghost vaccines, respectively, compared to that of the positive control; both bacterial ghost vaccines (BGVs) were safe and effective, according to the results of the safety check tests and histopathological analysis.ConclusionsWhen comparing the BGVs prepared using TX100 and TW80 methods, the use of TX100 as a new chemical treating agent for BGC production attained robust results in terms of shorter incubation time with the targeted cells and a strong immune response against S. flexneri 2b serotype ATCC 12022 in the IP challenge test. However, a clinical study is needed to confirm the efficacy and total safety of this novel vaccine.

Si3N4-plasmonic ferroelectric MZIR modulator for 112-Gbaud PAM-4 transmission in the O-band.

This paper presents a simulation-based analysis on the performance of plasmonic ferroelectric Mach-Zehnder in a ring (MZIR) versus symmetric Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs) on Si3N4 targeting O-band operation. The detailed investigation reveals the tradeoff between Au and Ag legacy noble metals providing lower modulator losses and CMOS compatible Cu featuring low cost. The numerical models also show that by opting for the MZIR layout there is a reduction in the Vπ x L product of 46% for Ag, 39% for Au and 30% for Cu versus MZMs. Time-domain simulations verify the successful generation of 112 Gbaud PAM-4 Signals from both MZIRs and MZMs for as low as 2 × 1.3 Vpp and 5µm long plasmonic phase shifters (PSs) with MZIRs providing a ΔQ signal improvement over MZMs of 2.9, 2.4, and 1.3 for Ag, Au, and Cu metals respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first theoretical demonstration of such a low-loss, low-voltage, high-speed, and CMOS compatible plasmonic modulator on Si3N4, in the O-band.

Generating Kidney Organoids in Suspension from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells.

Kidney organoids can be generated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) through various approaches. These organoids hold great promise for disease modeling, drug screening, and potential therapeutic applications. This article presents a step-by-step procedure to create kidney organoids from iPSCs, starting from the posterior primitive streak (PS) to the intermediate mesoderm (IM). The approach relies on the APEL 2 medium, which is a defined, animal component-free medium. It is supplemented with a high concentration of WNT agonist (CHIR99021) for a duration of 4 days, followed by fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9)/heparin and a low concentration of CHIR99021 for an additional 3 days. During this process, emphasis is given to selecting the optimal cell density and CHIR99021 concentration at the start of iPSCs, as these factors are critical for successful kidney organoid generation. An important aspect of this protocol is the suspension culture in a low adherent plate, allowing the IM to gradually develop into nephron structures, encompassing glomerular, proximal tubular, and distal tubular structures, all presented in a visually comprehensible format. Overall, this detailed protocol offers an efficient and specific technique to produce kidney organoids from diverse iPSCs, ensuring successful and consistent results.

Fabrication of flexible intracranial aneurysm models using stereolithography 3D printing

Abstract The use of 3D printing technology for medical applications is becoming increasingly popular. Recent stereolithography (SLA)-based printing methods allow the generation of complex structures with a high surface quality. This is particularly useful for applications in the neurovascular field, where sophisticated structures are involved. In this study patient-specific intracranial aneurysm models are extracted based on medical image data und printed as thin-walled vascular phantom models. For this purpose, two commercially available 3D printers are used to print flexible vascular models with three different silicone-like elastic resins (Ultracur3D FL 300, Prusament Flex80 and Formlabs Elastic 50A) of various Shore hardness. Three aneurysm models of different size and complexity are chosen. To evaluate the geometric accuracy of the flexible models, angiographic measurements are performed for an exemplary case and morphological parameters are extracted from the generated 3D models. The printed results demonstrate a successful generation of hollow aneurysm phantoms. There are dependencies regarding the print quality from the model to platform positioning for two materials. The quantitative geometric accuracy analysis shows notable differences between the materials. The extracted morphological parameter values for all materials show a mean decrease compared to the original reference model of aneurysm volume (4.5 %) and maximum diameter (1.0 %) as well as an increase of ostium area (6.0 %) and maximum height (4.9 %). However, Formlabs Elastic 50A in particular exhibits just slight reductions with respect to the reference model, with a mean decrease for all parameters of 5.7 % as well as no dependence on printing position and resulting artifacts. The study investigates the feasibility of using SLA-based 3D printing to generate realistic flexible aneurysm phantoms. In this context, the Formlabs Elastic 50A could be identified as potentially applicable for phantom creation in terms of reproducible quality and geometric validity.

PONDOK PESANTREN TAHFIDZUL QUR'AN DARUL HIJRAH PUTRA DI MARTAPURA

The increase in the number of Islamic boarding schools shows the increasing public interest inchoosing Islamic boarding schools as a place for Islamic education for their children. This is markedby their need for a better quality Islamic education, which is more inclusive, which is relevant to thetimes, and which does not only focus on academic aspects but can also build good character andbehavior in their children so that they can become a good and successful generation. useful forsociety in the future. The concepts and methods used in the design are passive design which placesmore emphasis on the physical design of the building, such as the facade design, the direction thebuilding is facing, the location and size of windows, the building's ventilation system, and the roomlayout. With this method, it is hoped that the Tahfidzul Qur'an Darul Hijrah Putra Islamic BoardingSchool can produce hafidz of the Qur'an who are faithful, pious, have good morals, areknowledgeable, do good deeds, master science and technology, excel, and excel, in accordance withthe vision of the Islamic boarding school itself.

Youth Empowerment in Prevention of Drug Abuse in Muara Badak Ulu Village, Muara Badak District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, East Kalimantan Province

This drug problem is very troubling among teenagers. Where more and more teenagers are involved in drug abuse. Adolescence is a very appropriate target to be used as a strong foundation in preventing the increasingly widespread drug abuse. The aim of this service is to empower teenagers in preventing drug abuse in Muara Badak Ulu Village, Muara Badak District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency. The method used is through lectures and discussions. The results of community service activities for 10 teenagers in Muara Badak Ulu Village, Muara Badak District, are that it is hoped that teenagers can fortify themselves with faith and positive activities so that they can avoid drug abuse and become a successful and happy generation in the future.

Metallic Nanowires Self-Assembled in Quasi-Circular Nanomolds Templated by DNA Origami.

The self-assembly of conducting nanostructures is currently being investigated intensively in order to evaluate the feasibility of creating novel nanoelectronic devices and circuits using such pathways. In particular, methods based on so-called DNA Origami nanostructures have shown great potential in the formation of metallic nanowires. The main challenge of this method is the reproducible generation of very well-connected metallic nanostructures, which may be used as interconnects in future devices. Here, we use a novel design of nanowires with a quasi-circular cross-section as opposed to rectangular or uncontrolled cross-sections in earlier studies. We find indications that the reliability of the fabrication scheme is enhanced and the overall resistance of the wires is comparable to metallic nanostructures generated by electrochemistry or top-down methods. In addition, we observe that some of the nanowires are annealed when passing a current through them, which leads to a clear enhancement for the conductance. We envision that these nanowires provide further steps towards the successful generation of nanoelectronics using self-assembly.