The timing of divergence between hominins and the bonobo-chimpanzee clade has been at the core of palaeoanthropological debate for over a century. The earliest molecular studies indicated divergence times ranging from 5 Ma to as recently as 1.3 Ma. This study critically reviews the trends of time estimates published between 1967 and 2023, and analyses how these are supported or rejected by the current molecular and fossil records. We compiled 202 divergence estimates and defined three distinct thresholds based on fossil evidence at 4.4 Ma (Australopithecus anamensis and Ardipithecus ramidus), 6.2 Ma (Orrorin tugenensis and Ardipithecus kadabba), and 7.2 Ma (Sahelanthropus tchadensis). We then used these thresholds to filter out molecular estimates that are too young to fit the fossil record. Overall, the data suggests a divergence event within the late Miocene, with each threshold pushing it further back, 8.63-6.38, 10.33-7.81, and 10.95-8.81 Ma, respectively. We use a quadratic regression to demonstrate that estimates have been slowly shifting from ~ 6 Ma to ~ 8.5 Ma over the past 56 years. A Bayesian meta-analysis of genomic estimates filtered by our most consensual threshold (i.e., assuming Australopithecus belongs to Hominini) indicates that the split must have occurred early in the late Miocene, most likely before 7 Ma (~ 99.5% posterior probability) with a pooled effect of 8.69-7.28 Ma. We conclude that, despite an initial bias towards younger estimates, the molecular timing for the last common ancestor (LCA) of Pan-Homo has been progressively approaching the intervals suggested by the current fossil record.

Real-time monitoring and dynamic modulation of biological signals are crucial for understanding and reprogramming complex biological processes. However, modular sensing and actuation systems that respond to diverse signals remain largely unexplored. Here, we engineer a generalized biosensing and signaling reprogramming platform, circular RNA-protein circuit-mediated cargo release (CRMCR), enabling fast detection and precise rewiring of biological signals in a multicellular system. CRMCR is designed based on target signal-activated expression of a circular RNA scaffold, which mediates complementation of a split protease and facilitates the release of the reporter protein retained in the endoplasmic reticulum for signal production. We demonstrate that this platform allows detection of different biological signals including immunosuppressive factors, cytokines, and tumor-associated growth factors, with high sensitivity and fast response. Moreover, this design is further engineered as a reprogramming platform, allowing dynamic sensing and autonomous modulation of T cell activity in a multicellular system. This multifunctional platform provides a new direction for scalable detection and modulation of signals in a variety of biological scenarios.

PurposeTo evaluate the clinical outcomes and safety of the Nishida muscle transposition procedure performed without tenotomy or muscle splitting in patients with severe paralytic horizontal or vertical strabismus.MethodsThis retrospective case series included 16 patients with complete paralytic strabismus who underwent Nishida transposition between January 2020 and September 2021. Eleven patients had abducens nerve palsy and five had vertical paralytic strabismus (elevation or infraduction deficiency). The procedure involved scleral fixation of adjacent rectus muscles closer to the paralyzed muscle without tendon disinsertion, preserving anterior ciliary circulation and allowing simultaneous antagonist recession when indicated. Outcomes included ocular alignment in primary position, ocular motility, binocular single vision, and postoperative complications over a follow-up period of 5-15 months.ResultsIn abducens nerve palsy, combined transposition with medial rectus recession-performed using a standardized protocol based on preoperative deviation (6 mm for ≥80 prism diopters [PD] and 5 mm for <80 PD)-achieved a mean correction of 69.2 ± 12.8 PD, whereas isolated transposition resulted in a correction of 29 PD. In vertical paralytic strabismus, the mean correction was 38 ± 19.8 PD. All patients demonstrated improved duction beyond the midline postoperatively. Eight patients achieved binocular single vision in primary position and four with compensatory head posture. No anterior segment ischemia, induced secondary deviations, or other major complications were observed.ConclusionsThe Nishida procedure provides effective and safe correction of severe paralytic strabismus while preserving muscle insertions and anterior ciliary circulation. Its compatibility with simultaneous antagonist recession makes it a valuable single-stage approach for large-angle paralytic deviations.

We generalize and unify Bleaney's theory and related inverse-temperature expansions of magnetic properties of paramagnetic species. Our approach is valid for different properties, including NMR chemical shifts beyond the point-dipole approximation, and for both transition-metal and lanthanide complexes. We derive an analytical equation for the 1/T3 term. Furthermore, we implement higher-order terms numerically to investigate the convergence behavior of 1/T expansions. For transition-metal complexes, the second-order and third-order expansions provide quantitatively accurate results for most commonly encountered zero-field splittings. For an isostructural series of lanthanide complexes, the newly derived third-order term substantially improves the accuracy of calculated susceptibility anisotropies compared with Bleaney's second-order theory.

The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a major ocean current system, could transition to a weak state. Despite severe associated climate impacts, assessing the AMOC's response under global warming and its proximity to possible critical thresholds remains difficult. To understand future Earth system stability, a global dynamical view is needed beyond the local stability analysis associated with classical early-warning methods. Using an intermediate-complexity climate model, we explore the stability landscape of the AMOC for different atmospheric CO2 concentrations. We explicitly compute the edge state (or Melancholia state), a chaotic saddle on the basin boundary separating the strong and weak AMOC attractors found in the model. Despite being unstable, the edge state can govern the transient climate for centuries, supporting centennial AMOC oscillations driven by atmosphere-ice-ocean interactions in the North Atlantic. At increased CO2 levels projected for the near future, we reveal a boundary crisis where the current AMOC attractor disappears by colliding with the edge state. Under crisis overshoot, long chaotic transients owing to a 'ghost state' lead to ensemble splitting under time-varying forcing. Rooted in dynamical systems theory, our results offer an explanation of large ensemble variance and apparent 'stochastic bifurcations' observed in earth system models under intermediate forcing scenarios. This article is part of the theme issue 'Critical transitions and intelligent control in complex systems'.

The non-relativistic spin-momentum locking in altermagnets gives rise to a time-reversal-odd spin Hall effect, known as the altermagnetic spin-splitting effect (ASSE). Although ASSE was first reported in RuO2, subsequent experiments have yielded inconsistent results, leaving its spin transport mechanism unclear. Here, we systematically investigate how strain, crystal orientation, and the Hubbard U parameter influence the magnetic ground state and spin Hall response of RuO2. Guided by recent experimental observations, we find that U is likely smaller than the value required to induce intrinsic magnetism, suggesting that bulk RuO2 and (001)/(101) RuO2 thin films grown on TiO2 are non-magnetic in the absence of extrinsic effects. In contrast, (100) and (110) films exhibit strain-induced altermagnetic spin splitting, leading to a strong ASSE even without Hubbard U corrections. These results reconcile previous experimental discrepancies and provide design guidelines for RuO2-based spintronic devices.

This letter to editor would emphasise the position about topic fluoride into a choorte of children between 0-6 years of age after media messages, personal conviction by social media appeared in the last year about adverse fluoride effects in the topical application. After the preview letter to editor about the negative effects of water added with fluoride when had been highlighted that the hypothetical harmful effect of fluoride on intellectual quotient IQ of children is mainly an USA question because in Europe water is not fluoridated except for little areas of european's countries. Topic fluoride is safe and is a most strategy to carious lesion development if used in the correct modalities. No adverse effect of topic fluoride is possible to adress for yuong adult (> 18 yo) and 6 years old children. In that situation is suggest from paediatric scientific academy and ministerial guide lines to use the maximun concentration of fluoride permitted from European law and World Health Organisation WHO indications into toothpaste and mouthrinse (1500 ppm) for at home for oral hygiene. For children of age lower than 6 years old attention must be payed also for topic fluoride because an excess and not precise measurement of plasmatic fluoride may expose the children to dental fluorosis disease. In particullary the age from 0-2 years old is the most critically because during this stage some of the most important permanent teeth such first molars and incisor perform the mineralisation of protein matrix secreted by ameloblast during amelogenisis. Dose (rise o pea size) and toothpaste fluoride concentration (1000 ppm) are suggested from European Accademy of Paediatric Dentistry EAPD into a policy document and is highligted supervison of parents during at home children oral hygiene to avoid accidental ingestion of toothpate [Toumba et al., 2019]. Parents, Dentist and Paediatric must be pay attention about fluoride concentration of human use potable water and water to prepare the children food whilst there's not information about fluoride concentration into the child food. We just know that fish, tea and potatos peel are rich in fluoride. Avoid the final water rinse after toothbrush with fluoride toothpate is favourable as UK's National Health Service suggest to extend the contact time between fluoride and the dental enamel in order to form Fluoroapatite F-Ap more acid resistent than Hydroxiapatite HAp. We are talking about split the excess of foam at the end of toothbrushing and is very unlikely that this procedures could increase the fluoride concentration in the children lower 6 years old and expose those to dental fluorosis risk [Parakaw et al., 2024].

The E2F family gene is one of the most important G1-S checkpoint regulatory transcription factors to monitor and regulate the accurate DNA replication and progression of the cell cycle in eukaryotes. Expression of this gene in multiple environmental factors has been reported in diversified plant species. However, characterization and investigation of the putative influential role of this family gene in Brassica species were not reported. In addition to expression profiling and mRNA target analysis, we have comprehensively identified and characterized 14 BrE2F/DP transcription factors from the data in available databases of Brassica rapa and compared them with five other species. Six pairs of segmentally duplicated BrE2F/DP paralogous genes were identified in this study, with Ka/Ks values of < 1.0. The findings indicated their evolution through segmental duplication across the chromosome after the Brassica splits from Arabidopsis and functional similarities with Brassica oleracea proteins. Most of the stress-responsive microRNA (miRNA) targeted BrE2F/DP5, BrE2F/DP12, BrE2F/DP1, and BrE2F/DP8. Cis-element composition and diversified functional expressions indicated their involvement in biological pathways for adaptation under multiple stress resistances, including cell cycle progression during growth and development. The findings provided comprehensive information on the multifunctional roles of the E2F/DP family in Brassica spp., importantly, biotic and abiotic stress resistance.

Complex soft tissue defects in children require reconstructive solutions that are stable, adaptable, and compatible with long-term growth. The free anterolateral thigh flap offers several advantages in this setting because it can be tailored according to the defect, either as a durable resurfacing flap or as a source of vascularized tissue volume. We report two pediatric cases managed with a free anterolateral thigh flap for different reconstructive purposes. The first patient was an eight-year-old boy with a painful and unstable post-traumatic scar of the right heel after a road traffic accident and previous split-thickness skin grafting. After complete scar excision, reconstruction was performed using an ipsilateral fasciocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap. At two-year follow-up, the flap remained stable, painless, and free of ulceration; the visual analog scale pain score decreased from 6/10 preoperatively to 0/10, and the patient resumed school activities, walked independently with definitive adapted footwear, and required no secondary debulking procedure. The second patient was a seven-year-old boy with xeroderma pigmentosum who presented with a large nasal squamous cell carcinoma extending to the upper lip and pre-nasal cheek region. After tumor excision with 1 cm lateral margins, resection through a healthy deep plane, and bilateral cervical lymph node dissection, reconstruction was achieved using a free fasciocutaneous anterolateral thigh flap harvested from the left thigh. The cervical lymph node dissection was negative, and no adjuvant radiotherapy was administered after multidisciplinary tumor board discussion because complete excision had been achieved and the benefit-risk balance was considered unfavorable in the context of xeroderma pigmentosum. At one-year clinical follow-up, there was no evidence of recurrence. These two cases illustrate how the free anterolateral thigh flap may address different pediatric reconstructive needs, ranging from durable heel coverage to vascularized filling of a central facial cavity after oncologic resection.