scRNA-seq data from the larval Drosophila ventral cord provides a resource for studying motor systems function and development.

The Drosophila larval ventral nerve cord (VNC) shares many similarities with the spinal cord of vertebrates and has emerged as a major model for understanding the development and function of motor systems. Here, we use high-quality scRNA-seq, validated by anatomical identification, to create a comprehensive census of larval VNC cell types. We show that the neural lineages that comprise the adult VNC are already defined, but quiescent, at the larval stage. Using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-enriched populations, we separate all motor neuron bundles and link individual neuron clusters to morphologically characterized known subtypes. We discovered a glutamate receptor subunit required for basal neurotransmission and homeostasis at the larval neuromuscular junction. We describe larval glia and endorse the general view that glia perform consistent activities throughout development. This census represents an extensive resource and a powerful platform for future discoveries of cellular and molecular mechanisms in repair, regeneration, plasticity, homeostasis, and behavioral coordination.

Vocal fingerprinting reveals a substantially smaller global population of the Critically Endangered cao vit gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) than previously thought.

The cao vit gibbon (Nomascus nasutus) is one of the rarest primates on Earth and now only survives in a single forest patch of less than 5000 ha on the Vietnam-China border. Accurate monitoring of the last remaining population is critical to inform ongoing conservation interventions and track conservation success over time. However, traditional methods for monitoring gibbons, involving triangulation of groups from their songs, are inherently subjective and likely subject to considerable measurement errors. To overcome this, we aimed to use 'vocal fingerprinting' to distinguish the different singing males in the population. During the 2021 population survey, we complemented the traditional observations made by survey teams with a concurrent passive acoustic monitoring array. Counts of gibbon group sizes were also assisted with a UAV-mounted thermal camera. After identifying eight family groups in the acoustic data and incorporating long-term data, we estimate that the population was comprised of 74 individuals in 11 family groups, which is 38% smaller than previously thought. We have no evidence that the population has declined-indeed it appears to be growing, with new groups having formed in recent years-and the difference is instead due to double-counting of groups in previous surveys employing the triangulation method. Indeed, using spatially explicit capture-recapture modelling, we uncovered substantial measurement error in the bearings and distances from field teams. We also applied semi- and fully-automatic approaches to clustering the male calls into groups, finding no evidence that we had missed any males with the manual approach. Given the very small size of the population, conservation actions are now even more urgent, in particular habitat restoration to allow the population to expand. Our new population estimate now serves as a more robust basis for informing management actions and tracking conservation success over time.

Selective striatal fast-spiking interneuron inhibition induces cortical seizure.

Whether striatal fast-spiking interneurons are involved in cortical synchronization remains elusive. We performed acute microinjections of a selective FSI-AMPA receptor antagonist into the sensorimotor striatum of non-human primates to verify whether selective FSI inhibition within the sensorimotor striatum could potentially modify cortical excitability, thereby triggering focal seizures. Experiments were performed on three fascicularis monkeys. During each experimental session, low volumes of IEM-1460 (4-8 µL) were injected slowly at 1 µL/min. Spontaneous behavioral changes were classified according to the Racine scale modified for primates. These induced motor behaviors were correlated with electroencephalographic (EEG and EMG) measures. Power spectrum and time-frequency analysis were performed and compared between each period of interest. Pharmacological selective inhibition of striatal fast-spiking INs induced focal motor seizures. Back averaging confirmed that myoclonic activity was closely linked to cortical spikes-and-waves epileptic activity, with a significant increase in cortical EEG power in all studied frequency bands (p < .0001). Thus, striatal FSIs likely play a role in controlling cortical excitability through the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical pathway. They may contribute to the pathophysiology of focal motor epilepsies by modulating the threshold at which focal motor seizures are triggered.

Avian influenza A(H5) virus circulation in live bird markets in Vietnam, 2017-2022.

BACKGROUND: Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) human infections are a global concern, with many A(H5) human cases detected in Vietnam, including a case in October 2022. Using avian influenza virus surveillance from March 2017-September 2022, we described the percent of pooled samples that were positive for avian influenza A, A(H5), A(H5N1), A(H5N6), and A(H5N8) viruses in live bird markets (LBMs) in Vietnam. METHODS: Monthly at each LBM, 30 poultry oropharyngeal swab specimens and five environmental samples were collected. Samples were pooled in groups of five and tested for influenza A, A(H5), A(H5N1), A(H5N6), and A(H5N8) viruses by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Trends in the percent of pooled samples that were positive for avian influenza were summarized by LBM characteristics and time and compared with the number of passively detected avian influenza outbreaks using Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: A total of 25,774 pooled samples were collected through active surveillance at 167 LBMs in 24 provinces; 36.9% of pooled samples were positive for influenza A, 3.6% A(H5), 1.9% A(H5N1), 1.1% A(H5N6), and 0.2% A(H5N8). Influenza A(H5) viruses were identified January-December and at least once in 91.7% of sampled provinces. In 246 A(H5) outbreaks in poultry; 20.3% were influenza A(H5N1), 60.2% A(H5N6), and 19.5% A(H5N8); outbreaks did not correlate with active surveillance. CONCLUSIONS: In Vietnam, influenza A(H5) viruses were detected by active surveillance in LBMs year-round and in most provinces sampled. In addition to outbreak reporting, active surveillance for A(H5) viruses in settings with high potential for animal-to-human spillover can provide situational awareness.

Measuring the impact of an integrated bite case management program on the detection of canine rabies cases in Vietnam.

Introduction: Dog-mediated rabies is enzootic in Vietnam, resulting in at least 70 reported human deaths and 500,000 human rabies exposures annually. In 2016, an integrated bite cases management (IBCM) based surveillance program was developed to improve knowledge of the dog-mediated rabies burden in Phu Tho Province of Vietnam. Methods: The Vietnam Animal Rabies Surveillance Program (VARSP) was established in four stages: (1) Laboratory development, (2) Training of community One Health workers, (3) Paper-based-reporting (VARSP 1.0), and (4) Electronic case reporting (VARSP 2.0). Investigation and diagnostic data collected from March 2016 to December 2019 were compared with historical records of animal rabies cases dating back to January 2012. A risk analysis was conducted to evaluate the probability of a rabies exposure resulting in death after a dog bite, based on data collected over the course of an IBCM investigation. Results: Prior to the implementation of VARSP, between 2012 and 2015, there was an average of one rabies investigation per year, resulting in two confirmed and two probable animal rabies cases. During the 46 months that VARSP was operational (2016 - 2019), 1048 animal investigations were conducted, which identified 79 (8%) laboratory-confirmed rabies cases and 233 (22%) clinically-confirmed(probable) cases. VARSP produced a 78-fold increase in annual animal rabies case detection (one cases detected per year pre-VARSP vs 78 cases per year under VARSP). The risk of succumbing to rabies for bite victims of apparently healthy dogs available for home quarantine, was three deaths for every 10,000 untreated exposures. Discussion: A pilot IBCM model used in Phu Tho Province showed promising results for improving rabies surveillance, with a 26-fold increase in annual case detection after implementation of a One Health model. The risk for a person bitten by an apparently healthy dog to develop rabies in the absence of rabies PEP was very low, which supports the WHO recommendations to delay PEP for this category of bite victims, when trained animal assessors are available and routinely communicate with the medical sector. Recent adoption of an electronic IBCM system is likely to expedite adoption of VARSP 2.0 to other Provinces and improve accuracy of field decisions and data collection.

Optic foramen location on computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify the location of the optic foramen in relation to the anterior sphenoid sinus wall, which is essential information for surgeons in planning and performing endoscopic transnasal surgery. METHODS: Computed tomography scans of 200 orbits from 100 adult patients with no abnormalities were examined. The results included the location of the optic foramen in relation to the anterior sphenoid sinus wall and the distance between them, as well as the distance from the optic foramen and the anterior sphenoid sinus wall to the carotid prominence in the posterior sphenoid sinus. RESULTS: The optic foramen was anterior to the anterior sphenoid sinus wall in 48.5% of orbits, and posterior in the remaining 51.5%. The mean distance from the optic foramen to the anterior sphenoid sinus wall was 3.82 ± 1.25 mm. The mean distances from the optic foramen and the anterior sphenoid sinus wall to the carotid prominence were 7.67 ± 1.73 and 7.95 ± 2.53 mm, respectively. CONCLUSION: The optic foramen was anterior to the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus in approximately half of the orbits examined in this study, and posterior in the remaining half. The mean distance from the optic foramen to the anterior sphenoid sinus wall of the sphenoid sinus was 3.82 ± 1.25 mm.

Outbreak of Sexually Transmitted Nongroupable Neisseria meningitidis-Associated Urethritis, Vietnam.

We report on an outbreak of nongroupable Neisseria meningitidis-associated urethritis, primarily among men who have sex with men in southern Vietnam. Nearly 50% of N. meningitidis isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin. This emerging pathogen should be considered in the differential diagnosis and management of urethritis.

Evaluating a unique enhanced recovery protocol in laparoscopic donor nephrectomy: A single center experience.

INTRODUCTION: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have been associated with a reduction in opioid consumption and a hastening in recovery in abdominal surgery. However, their impact on laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study is to evaluate opioid consumption and other relevant outcome measures before and after implementation of a unique LDN ERAS protocol. METHODS: 244 LDN patients were included in this retrospective cohort study. Forty-six underwent LDN prior to implementation of ERAS, whereas 198 patients received ERAS perioperative care. The primary outcome was daily oral morphine equivalent (OME) consumption averaged over the entire postoperative stay. Due to removal of preoperative oral morphine from the protocol partway through the study period, the ERAS group was further subdivided into morphine recipients and non-recipients for subgroup analysis. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), length of stay, pain scores, and other relevant measures. RESULTS: ERAS donors consumed significantly fewer average daily OMEs than Pre-ERAS donors (21.5 vs. 37.6, respectively; p < .0001). There were no statistically significant differences in OME consumption between morphine recipients and non-recipients. The ERAS group experienced less PONV (44.4% requiring one or more rescue antiemetic postoperatively, vs. 60.9% of Pre-ERAS donors; p = .008). CONCLUSIONS: A protocol pairing lidocaine and ketamine with a comprehensive approach to preoperative PO intake, premedication, intraoperative fluid management and postoperative pain control is associated with reduced opioid consumption in LDN.

Quantitative Nanoscale Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (NanoSIMS) Imaging of Individual Vesicles to Investigate the Relation between Fraction of Chemical Release and Vesicle Size.

We used correlative transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) imaging to quantify the contents of subvesicular compartments, and to measure the partial release fraction of 13 C-dopamine in cellular nanovesicles as a function of size. Three modes of exocytosis comprise full release, kiss-and-run, and partial release. The latter has been subject to scientific debate, despite a growing amount of supporting literature. We tailored culturing procedures to alter vesicle size and definitively show no size correlation with the fraction of partial release. In NanoSIMS images, vesicle content was indicated by the presence of isotopic dopamine, while vesicles which underwent partial release were identified by the presence of an 127 I-labelled drug, to which they were exposed during exocytosis allowing entry into the open vesicle prior to its closing again. Demonstration of similar partial release fractions indicates that this mode of exocytosis is predominant across a wide range of vesicle sizes.

Interactions between Paracetamol and Formaldehyde: Theoretical Investigation and Topological Analysis.

In this work, noncovalent interactions including hydrogen bonds, C···C, N···O, and van der Waals forces between paracetamol and formaldehyde were investigated using the second-order perturbation theory MP2 in conjunction with the correlation consistent basis sets (aug-cc-pVDZ and aug-cc-pVTZ). Two molecular conformations of paracetamol were considered. Seven equilibrium geometries of dimers were found from the result of the interactions with formaldehyde for each conformation of paracetamol. Interaction energies of complexes with both ZPE and BSSE corrections range from -7.0 to -21.7 kJ mol-1. Topological parameters (such as electron density, its Laplacian, and local electron energy density at the bond critical points) of the bonds from atoms in molecules theory were analyzed in detail. The natural bond orbital analysis showed that the stability of complexes was controlled by noncovalent interactions including O-H···O, N-H···O, C-H···O, C-H···N, C-H···H-C, C···C, and N···O. The red- and blue-shifted hydrogen bonds could both be observed in these complexes. The properties of these interactions were also further examined in water using a polarized continuum model. In water, the stability of the complex was slightly reduced as compared to that in the gas phase.

Characterization of Stress Granule Protein Turnover in Neuronal Progenitor Cells Using Correlative STED and NanoSIMS Imaging.

Stress granules (SGs) are stress-induced biomolecular condensates which originate primarily from inactivated RNA translation machinery and translation initiation factors. SG formation is an important defensive mechanism for cell survival, while its dysfunction has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms of SG assembly and disassembly, as well as their impacts on cellular recovery, are not fully understood. More thorough investigations into the molecular dynamics of SG pathways are required to understand the pathophysiological roles of SGs in cellular systems. Here, we characterize the SG and cytoplasmic protein turnover in neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) under stressed and non-stressed conditions using correlative STED and NanoSIMS imaging. We incubate NPCs with isotopically labelled (15N) leucine and stress them with the ER stressor thapsigargin (TG). A correlation of STED and NanoSIMS allows the localization of individual SGs (using STED), and their protein turnover can then be extracted based on the 15N/14N ratio (using NanoSIMS). We found that TG-induced SGs, which are highly dynamic domains, recruit their constituents predominantly from the cytoplasm. Moreover, ER stress impairs the total cellular protein turnover regimen, and this impairment is not restored after the commonly proceeded stress recovery period.

A 36-Year-Old Woman with Acute Liver Failure Following Acetaminophen Overdose, Raised INR of 8.7, and Normal Blood Viscosity Measured by Rotational Thromboelastometry (ROTEM).

BACKGROUND Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is commonly associated with elevated prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR). There is a commensurate decline in pro- and anti-hemostatic factors, and hemostatic function is rebalanced, not reflected in INR. This report presents the case of a 36-year-old woman with FHF following acetaminophen overdose, an increased INR above 8.7, and normal blood viscosity measured by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). CASE REPORT A 36-year-old woman presented with FHF following an acetaminophen overdose. On arrival, she was lethargic but arousable and followed commands. Her King's College Criteria for acetaminophen toxicity was 2 and her MELD score was 36. Her INR was unmeasurably high (>8.7). To evaluate whole-blood coagulation, a ROTEM analysis was performed. All parameters (CT, CFT, alpha-angle, A10, MCF) of the NATEM were within reference range. Despite the normal ROTEM, spontaneous bleeding was a concern. The patient received 5 units of cryoprecipitate and 9 units of FFP prior to a central venous line placement. She was started on molecular adsorbent recirculating system and continuous veno-venous hemodialysis, but died on day 7. CONCLUSIONS Patients with FHF can have normal whole-blood coagulation based on ROTEM even if INR levels are unmeasurably high. Viscoelastic tests such as ROTEM, which assesses whole-blood coagulation properties, are preferrable for coagulation monitoring in these patients. Blood product transfusion to correct coagulation abnormality, like FFP and cryoprecipitate, may be used based on the result of viscoelastic testing over conventional coagulation testing.

Bony Cartilaginous Graft in Unilateral Cleft Lip Rhinoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Cleft rhinoplasty is a challenging form of nasal correction of both esthetic and functional deformities. The septal cartilage in many Asian patients are not sufficient and weak. Does a combination of the septal cartilage and the bony septum have both esthetic and functional benefits to secondary unilateral cleft rhinoplasty? PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty patients with a unilateral cleft lip palate underwent open rhinoplasty from October 2018 to January 2021. After preserving a 10 mm L-strut, the posterior cartilaginous and bony septum were harvested as an integrative unit. The osteocartilaginous graft was used as a caudal septal extension graft and an extended spreader graft. Correcting the asymmetry of the tip and tip projection followed. The intraoperative harvested composite graft was analyzed. Acoustic rhinometry and the 3-dimensional anthropometric measurements of the external nose were assessed before and after surgery. RESULTS: The osteocartilaginous unit was much larger than the cartilaginous part of this unit. The mean nasal tip height and the nasolabial angle increased significantly after surgery. The measurement of cross-sectional areas and volumes by acoustic rhinometry revealed that septorhinoplasty provided a significant increase in the function of both nasal cavities. CONCLUSIONS: This septal bony cartilaginous graft is effective for cleft lip nasal deformity when correcting the deviated septum, creating a supporting frame to correct the nasal tip asymmetry, improving function.

Carriage of Plasmid-Mediated Colistin Resistance-1-Positive Escherichia coli in Humans, Animals, and Environment on Farms in Vietnam.

Plasmid-Mediated Colistin Resistance 1 (mcr-1) was first reported in 2015 and is a great concern to human health. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of mcr-1 and mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli (MCRPEC) and the association in infection status among various reservoirs connected to livestock. The study was conducted in 70 poultry and swine farms in a commune in Ha Nam province, northern Vietnam. Samples were collected from farmers, food animals, domestic animals, and farm environments (flies and wastewater) for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening for mcr-1 gene and species identification of PCR positive isolates. Among 379 obtained mcr-1 positives isolates, Escherichia coli was the major identified, varying from 50% (2/4) in dog feces to 100% (31/31) in humans feces isolates. The prevalence of MCRPEC was 14.4% (20/139), 49.7% (96/193), 31.3% (25/80), 36.7% (40/109), 26.9% (18/67), and 3.9% (2/51) in humans, chickens, pigs, flies, wastewater, and dogs, respectively. The study identified association between MCRPEC infection status in humans and flies (OR = 3.4), between flies and chickens (OR = 5.3), and between flies and pigs (OR = 9.0). Farmers' age and farm livestock unit were also associated factors of MCRPEC infection status in humans (OR = 5.1 and 1.05, respectively). These findings bring new knowledge on antibiotic resistance in livestock setting and important suggestions on potential role of flies in the transmission of mcr-1 resistance gene.

Visualization of Partial Exocytotic Content Release and Chemical Transport into Nanovesicles in Cells.

For decades, "all-or-none" and "kiss-and-run" were thought to be the only major exocytotic release modes in cell-to-cell communication, while the significance of partial release has not yet been widely recognized and accepted owing to the lack of direct evidence for exocytotic partial release. Correlative imaging with transmission electron microscopy and NanoSIMS imaging and a dual stable isotope labeling approach was used to study the cargo status of vesicles before and after exocytosis; demonstrating a measurable loss of transmitter in individual vesicles following stimulation due to partial release. Model secretory cells were incubated with 13C-labeled l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, resulting in the loading of 13C-labeled dopamine into their vesicles. A second label, di-N-desethylamiodarone, having the stable isotope 127I, was introduced during stimulation. A significant drop in the level of 13C-labeled dopamine and a reduction in vesicle size, with an increasing level of 127I-, was observed in vesicles of stimulated cells. Colocalization of 13C and 127I- in several vesicles was observed after stimulation. Thus, chemical visualization shows transient opening of vesicles to the exterior of the cell without full release the dopamine cargo. We present a direct calculation for the fraction of neurotransmitter release from combined imaging data. The average vesicular release is 60% of the total catecholamine. An important observation is that extracellular molecules can be introduced to cells during the partial exocytotic release process. This nonendocytic transport process appears to be a general route of entry that might be exploited pharmacologically.

Photoelectrochemical water oxidation over TiO2 nanotubes modified with MoS2 and g-C3N4.

TiO2 nanotube arrays (TNAs) have been studied for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. However, there are two major barriers of TNAs, including a low photo-response and the fast charge carrier recombination in TNAs, leading to poor photocatalytic efficiency. Through a comparison of MoS2/TNAs and g-C3N4/TNAs, it was found that TNAs modified with MoS2 and g-C3N4 exhibited a current density of, respectively, 210.6 and 139.6 µA·cm-2 at an overpotential of 1.23 V vs RHE, which is 18.2 and 12 times higher than that of pure TNAs under the same conditions. The stability of the MoS2/TNAs heterojunction is higher than that of g-C3N4/TNAs.

Coding-Complete Sequences of Recombinant Lumpy Skin Disease Viruses Collected in 2020 from Four Outbreaks in Northern Vietnam.

Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) causes a severe, systemic, and economically important disease in cattle. Here, we report coding-complete sequences of recombinant LSDVs from four outbreaks in October and November 2020 in northeastern Vietnam.

Dynamic Visualization and Quantification of Single Vesicle Opening and Content by Coupling Vesicle Impact Electrochemical Cytometry with Confocal Microscopy.

In this work, we introduce a novel method for visualization and quantitative measurement of the vesicle opening process by correlation of vesicle impact electrochemical cytometry (VIEC) with confocal microscopy. We have used a fluorophore conjugated to lipids to label the vesicle membrane and manipulate the membrane properties, which appears to make the membrane more susceptible to electroporation. The neurotransmitters inside the vesicles were visualized by use of a fluorescence false neurotransmitter 511 (FFN 511) through accumulation inside the vesicle via the neuronal vesicular monoamine transporter 2 (VMAT 2). Optical and electrochemical measurements of single vesicle electroporation were carried out using an in-house, disk-shaped, gold-modified ITO (Au/ITO) microelectrode device (5 nm thick, 33 µm diameter), which simultaneously acted as an electrode surface for VIEC and an optically transparent surface for confocal microscopy. As a result, the processes of adsorption, electroporation, and opening of single vesicles followed by neurotransmitter release on the Au/ITO surface have been simultaneously visualized and measured. Three opening patterns of single isolated vesicles were frequently observed. Comparing the vesicle opening patterns with their corresponding VIEC spikes, we propose that the behavior of the vesicular membrane on the electrode surface, including the adsorption time, residence time before vesicle opening, and the retention time after vesicle opening, are closely related to the vesicle content and size. Large vesicles with high content tend to adsorb to the electrode faster with higher frequency, followed by a shorter residence time before releasing their content, and their membrane remains on the electrode surface longer compared to the small vesicles with low content. With this approach, we start to unravel the vesicle opening process and to examine the fundamentals of exocytosis, supporting the proposed mechanism of partial or subquantal release in exocytosis.

Perioperative Viscoelastic Assay Use for Monitoring Coagulation Among US Liver Transplantation Centers.

BACKGROUND: Viscoelastic assay has been used in liver transplantation since 1985 and shown to be beneficial in detecting coagulopathy and to guide transfusion. The objective of this study was to review and evaluate the current uses of viscoelastic assay among US liver transplantation programs. METHODS: Anesthesia program directors at all 137 liver transplantation centers in the United States were contacted via email and asked to complete a 21-item survey. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of viscoelastic assay used in the perioperative management of liver transplantation. Secondary outcome measures were institutional demographics, physician training level, and device demographics. RESULTS: Sixty-one of 137 (46%) centers responded. Liver transplantations were performed in the university setting at 48 of the 61 centers (77%), with a modal value of 11 to 50 liver transplantations a year and 74% in adult patients only. Most of the institutions (n = 57, 92%) had access to either rotational thromboelastometry or thrombelastography during liver transplantation. Most centers (n = 54; 87%) also used viscoelastic monitoring routinely (>60% of the time), including 42 (67.7%) that always used viscoelastic assay intraoperatively during liver transplantation. Thirty-five centers (59%) used it preoperatively, and 51 (84%) used it postoperatively. Most viscoelastic assay users (68%) learned how to use it through self-education and 10.5% learned during their fellowship or from a superuser or colleagues. CONCLUSION: Currently, viscoelastic monitoring is widely available and routinely used in most US liver transplantation centers regardless of university or private practice setting, but training in it is limited. Only 21.1% of respondents reported that they received any type of official training in viscoelastic assay interpretation.

Structures, Electronic Properties, and Interactions of Cetyl Alcohol with Cetomacrogol and Water: Insights from Quantum Chemical Calculations and Experimental Investigations.

The complexes of cetyl alcohol, cetomacrogol-1000, and water were successfully synthesized. The complexes were characterized by freeze-drying scanning electron microscopy, small-angle X-ray diffraction (SAXD), and ultra-SAXD. Furthermore, structures, electronic properties (the HOMO-LUMO gap, ionization potential, electron affinity, electronegativity, hardness, softness, dipole moment, and polarizability), and Raman spectra of cetyl alcohol, cetomacrogol-1000, and their binary and ternary complexes with water were also studied using density functional theory. The calculated lengths of hydrophilic heads in the ternary complexes were in good agreement with SAXD data. The results indicated the existence of two types of interlamellar spacings between successive swollen bilayers (approximately 144 and 72 Å) when polyoxyethylene groups of cetomacrogol-1000 molecules were completely hydrated and stretched. Besides, in comparison with the monomers, the ternary complex of cetyl alcohol, cetomacrogol-1000, and water with the molecular ratio of 1:1:1 (cetyl-ceto-H2O-1 complex) had outstanding properties.