High dispersal ability versus migratory traditions: Fine-scale population structure and post-glacial colonisation in bar-tailed godwits.

In migratory animals, high mobility may reduce population structure through increased dispersal and enable adaptive responses to environmental change, whereas rigid migratory routines predict low dispersal, increased structure, and limited flexibility to respond to change. We explore the global population structure and phylogeographic history of the bar-tailed godwit, Limosa lapponica, a migratory shorebird known for making the longest non-stop flights of any landbird. Using nextRAD sequencing of 14,318 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and scenario-testing in an Approximate Bayesian Computation framework, we infer that bar-tailed godwits existed in two main lineages at the last glacial maximum, when much of their present-day breeding range persisted in a vast, unglaciated Siberian-Beringian refugium, followed by admixture of these lineages in the eastern Palearctic. Subsequently, population structure developed at both longitudinal extremes: in the east, a genetic cline exists across latitude in the Alaska breeding range of subspecies L. l. baueri; in the west, one lineage diversified into three extant subspecies L. l. lapponica, taymyrensis, and yamalensis, the former two of which migrate through previously glaciated western Europe. In the global range of this long-distance migrant, we found evidence of both (1) fidelity to rigid behavioural routines promoting fine-scale geographic population structure (in the east) and (2) flexibility to colonise recently available migratory flyways and non-breeding areas (in the west). Our results suggest that cultural traditions in highly mobile vertebrates can override the expected effects of high dispersal ability on population structure, and provide insights for the evolution and flexibility of some of the world's longest migrations.

Vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease associated with pathogenic variants in ABCC6.

Vascular calcification is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Genetic causes of CKD account for 10-20% of adult-onset disease. Vascular calcification is thought to be one of the most important risk factors for increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in CKD patients and is detectable in 80% of patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD). Despite the high prevalence of vascular calcification in CKD, no single gene cause has been described. We hypothesized that variants in vascular calcification genes may contribute to disease pathogenesis in CKD, particularly in families who exhibit a predominant vascular calcification phenotype. We developed a list of eight genes that are hypothesized to play a role in vascular calcification due to their involvement in the ectopic calcification pathway: ABCC6, ALPL, ANK1, ENPP1, NT5E, SLC29A1, SLC20A2, and S100A12. With this, we assessed exome data from 77 CKD patients, who remained unsolved following evaluation for all known monogenic causes of CKD. We also analyzed an independent cohort (Ontario Neurodegenerative Disease Research Initiative (ONDRI), n = 520) who were screened for variants in ABCC6 and compared this to a control cohort of healthy adults (n = 52). We identified two CKD families with heterozygous pathogenic variants (R1141X and A667fs) in ABCC6. We identified 10 participants from the ONDRI cohort with heterozygous pathogenic or likely pathogenic variant in ABCC6. Replication in a healthy control cohort did not reveal any variants. Our study provides preliminary data supporting the hypothesis that ABCC6 may play a role in vascular calcification in CKD. By screening CKD patients for genetic causes early in the diagnostic pathway, patients with genetic causes associated with vascular calcification can potentially be preventatively treated with new therapeutics with aims to decrease mortality.

Three-dimensional modelling of underwater noise produced by a bulk carrier vessel and estimation of its environmental impacta).

This study presents the results of three-dimensional (3D) propagation modeling of noise from a transiting bulk carrier vessel. In the simulated scenario, the surface vessel is moving past a bottom-mounted hydrophone system. Sound levels are estimated in decidecade frequency bands as the vessel transits past the hydrophone, and the simulation results are compared against real measured data. The modelling is performed using the program AMPLE, which is based on the wide-angle mode parabolic equation theory for simulating 3D broadband acoustic fields in a shallow sea. The model is used to investigate the effect of 3D phenomena on the surface vessel sound propagation. It is shown that an inaccuracy of the noise simulation associated with the use of a two-dimensional model can be as high as 7-10 dB for certain distances and for frequency bands over which a major part of the source energy is distributed. An approach to the selection of data-adjusted media parameters based on the Bayesian optimization is suggested, and the influence of the various parameters on the sound levels is discussed.

Sevoflurane multiple Wash In/Wash Out at the end of anesthesia to reduce agitation: A multicenter double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Background: Postoperative agitation is common after non-cardiac surgery. It is associated with postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction, leading to prolonged hospital stay and delayed social readjustment. Prevention and treatment strategies are lacking. We assessed the efficacy of a novel approach, the Wash In/Wash Out procedure, in reducing post-anesthetic agitation. Methods: This multicenter, parallel-group, double-blind randomized controlled trial is enrolling 200 patients undergoing open abdominal surgery. Participants are randomly assigned to either a control group receiving standard recovery methods or an investigational group undergoing the Wash In/Wash Out procedure. In the Wash In/Wash Out procedure group, sevoflurane is stopped and then promptly restarted when the patient shows the first signs of awakening to achieve an end-tidal concentration of 1 minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) for 5 min. This stop-and-restart cycle is performed three times. The trial's primary outcome is the rate of postoperative agitation. Secondary outcomes include rate of postoperative delirium and cognitive dysfunction, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and length of intensive care and hospital stay. Discussion: The OPERA trial investigates the effect of the Wash In/Wash Out procedure to reduce post-anesthetic agitation in non-cardiac surgery. This study could offer a significant contribution to improving patient outcomes and optimizing recovery protocols in surgical settings.

Oxidation Performance of Nano-Layered (AlTiZrHfTa)Nx/SiNx Coatings Deposited by Reactive Magnetron Sputtering.

This work uses the direct current magnetron sputtering (DCMS) of equi-atomic (AlTiZrHfTa) and Si targets in dynamic sweep mode to deposit nano-layered (AlTiZrHfTa)Nx/SiNx refractory high-entropy coatings (RHECs). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) are used to investigate the effect of Si addition on the oxidation behavior of the nano-layered coatings. The Si-free nitride coating exhibits FCC structure and columnar morphology, while the Si-doped nitride coatings present a FCC (AlTiZrHfTa)N/amorphous-SiNx nano-layered architecture. The hardness decreases from 24.3 ± 1.0 GPa to 17.5 ± 1.0 GPa because of the nano-layered architecture, whilst Young's modulus reduces from 188.0 ± 1.0 GPa to roughly 162.4 ± 1.0 GPa. By increasing the thickness of the SiNx nano-layer, kp values decrease significantly from 3.36 × 10-8 g2 cm-4 h-1 to 6.06 × 10-9 g2 cm-4 h-1. The activation energy increases from 90.8 kJ·mol-1 for (AlTiZrHfTa)Nx nitride coating to 126.52 kJ·mol-1 for the (AlTiZrHfTa)Nx/SiNx nano-layered coating. The formation of a FCC (AlTiZrHfTa)-Nx/a-SiNx nano-layered architecture results in the improvement of the resistance to oxidation at high temperature.

Evaluating Neurosurgical Care Perception Across Mexico: Insights from a Nationwide Survey.

BACKGROUND: Most of the scientific and healthcare resources in Mexico are limited to the large major cities. However, many communities with complex socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds have limited access to neurosurgical care. A cross-sectional study aiming to evaluate the population's perception regarding neurosurgical care was conducted. METHODS: A nationwide online survey, conducted starting February 2023, assessed public perception of neurosurgical care. Data analysis was performed based on sociodemographic characteristics such as age, socioeconomic status, religion, and education. Pearson's chi-square and odds ratio were employed for statistical comparisons of categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 508 participants consented to the survey. Younger participants and higher education levels correlated with greater perceived knowledge about neurosurgery (P = <0.001) and higher confidence in neurosurgical healthcare personnel (P = 0.021 and P = 0.022, respectively). Lower educational levels were prone to perceive neurosurgical care as less safe and effective (P = 0.002) and preferred to seek initial alternative/traditional treatments for neurosurgical issues (P = 0.012). A higher income level was associated with a preference for private healthcare over public services P = <0.001). Odds ratio analysis corroborated these findings. Healthcare personnel emerged as the most common source of information for neurosurgical diseases (71.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that sociodemographic factors such as age, education, and income correlate with the population's self-perceived knowledge, trust and beliefs about safety and effectiveness regarding neurosurgical care in Mexico. These findings can be instrumental for developing healthcare policies that address the needs of Mexico's patient population.

Coherent Vibrations Promote Charge-Transfer across a Graphene-Based Interface.

Discerning the impact of the coherent motion of the nuclei on the timing and efficiency of charge transfer at the donor-acceptor interface is essential for designing performance-enhanced optoelectronic devices. Here, we employ an experimental approach using photocurrent detection in coherent multidimensional spectroscopy to excite a donor aromatic macrocycle and collect the charge transferred to a 2D acceptor layer. For this purpose, we prepared a cobalt phthalocyanine-graphene (CoPc-Gr) interface. Unlike blends, the well-ordered architecture achieved through the physical separation of the two layers allows us to unambiguously collect the electrical signal from graphene alone and associate it with a microscopic understanding of the whole process. The CoPc-Gr interface exhibits an ultrafast electron-transfer signal, stemming from an interlayer mechanism. Remarkably, the signal presents an oscillating time evolution modulated by coherent vibrations originating from the laser-excited CoPc states. By performing Fourier analysis on the beatings and correlating it with the Raman features, along with a comprehensive first-principles characterization of the vibrational coupling in the CoPc excited states, we successfully identify both the orbitals and molecular vibrations that promote the charge transfer at the interface.

Triptycene as a scaffold in metallocene catalyzed olefin polymerization.

A set of metallocene olefin polymerization catalysts bearing triptycene moieties in either position 4-5 (complexes Ty1-Ty5) or in position 5-6 (complexes Ty6-Ty8) of the basic dimethylsilyl-bridged bis(indenyl) system has been tested in propene polymerization and in ethene/1-hexene copolymerization. Comparison of the results with QSPR (quantitative structure-property relationship) predictions not parametrized for these exotic ligand variations demonstrates that trends can still be identified by extrapolation. Interestingly, Ty7, upon suitable activation, provides a highly isotactic polypropylene with an exceptional amount of 2,1 regio-errors (8%). The previously developed QSPR type models successfully predicted the low regioselectivity of this catalyst, despite the fact that the catalyst structure differs significantly from the benchmark set.

Synthesis of 5-(Aryl)amino-1,2,3-triazole-containing 2,1,3-Benzothiadiazoles via Azide-Nitrile Cycloaddition Followed by Buchwald-Hartwig Reaction.

An efficient access to the novel 5-(aryl)amino-1,2,3-triazole-containing 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole derivatives has been developed. The method is based on 1,3-dipolar azide-nitrile cycloaddition followed by Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling to afford the corresponding N-aryl and N,N-diaryl substituted 5-amino-1,2,3-triazolyl 2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles under NHC-Pd catalysis. The one-pot diarylative Pd-catalyzed heterocyclization opens the straightforward route to triazole-linked carbazole-benzothiadiazole D-A systems. The optical and electrochemical properties of the compound obtained were investigated to estimate their potential application as emissive layers in OLED devises. The quantum yield of photoluminescence (PLQY) of the synthesized D-A derivatives depends to a large extent on electron-donating strengths of donor (D) component, reaching in some cases the values closed to 100%. Based on the most photoactive derivative and wide bandgap host material mCP, a light-emitting layer of OLED was made. The device showed a maximum brightness of 8000 cd/m2 at an applied voltage of 18 V. The maximum current efficiency of the device reaches a value of 3.29 cd/A.

Non-Coagulant Spinning of High-Strength Fibers from Homopolymer Polyacrylonitrile Synthesized via Anionic Polymerisation.

The rheological properties, spinnability, and thermal-oxidative stabilization of high-molecular-weight linear polyacrylonitrile (PAN) homopolymers (molecular weights Mη = 90-500 kg/mol), synthesized via a novel metal-free anionic polymerization method, were investigated to reduce coagulant use, enable solvent recycling, and increase the carbon yield of the resulting carbon fibers. This approach enabled the application of the mechanotropic (non-coagulating) spinning method for homopolymer PAN solutions in a wide range of molecular weights and demonstrated the possibility of achieving a high degree of fiber orientation and reasonable mechanical properties. Rheological analysis revealed a significant increase in solution elasticity (G') with increasing molecular weight, facilitating the choice of optimal deformation rates for effective chain stretching prior to strain-induced phase separation during the eco-friendly spinning of concentrated solutions without using coagulation baths. The possibility of collecting ~80 wt% of the solvent at the first stage of spinning from the as-spun fibers was shown. Transparent, defect-free fibers with a tensile strength of up to 800 MPa and elongation at break of about 20% were spun. Thermal treatment up to 1500 °C yielded carbon fibers with a carbon residue of ~50 wt%, in contrast to ~35 wt% for industrial radically polymerized PAN carbonized under the same conditions.

Toward New Horizons in Verdazyl-Nitroxide High-Spin Systems: Thermally Robust Tetraradical with Quintet Ground State.

High-spin organic tetraradicals with significant intramolecular exchange interactions have high potential for advanced technological applications and fundamental research, but examples reported to date exhibit limited stability and processability. In this work, we designed the first tetraradical based on an oxoverdazyl core and nitronyl nitroxide radicals and successfully synthesized it using a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of an oxoverdazyl radical bearing three iodo-phenylene moieties with a gold(I) nitronyl nitroxide-2-ide complex in the presence of a recently developed efficient catalytic system. The molecular and crystal structures of the tetraradical were confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The tetraradical possesses good thermal stability with decomposition onset at ∼125 °C in an inert atmosphere; in a toluene solution upon prolonged heating at 90 °C in air, no decomposition was observed. The resulting unique verdazyl-nitroxide conjugate was thoroughly studied using a range of experimental and theoretical techniques, such as SQUID magnetometry of polycrystalline powders, EPR spectroscopy in various matrices, cyclic voltammetry, and high-level quantum chemical calculations. All collected data confirm the high thermal stability of the resulting tetraradical and quintet multiplicity of its ground state, which makes the synthesis of this important paramagnet a new milestone in the field of creating high-spin systems.

Benchmarking Unsupervised Clustering Algorithms for Atomic Force Microscopy Data on Polyhydroxyalkanoate Films.

Surface of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) films of varying monomer compositions are analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and unsupervised machine learning (ML) algorithms to investigate and classify films based on global attributes such as the scan size, film thickness, and monomer type. The experiment provides benchmarked results for 12 of the most widely used clustering algorithms via a hybrid investigation approach while highlighting the impact of using the Fourier transform (FT) on high-dimensional vectorized data for classification on various pools of data. Our findings indicate that the use of a one-dimensional (1D) FT of vectorized data produces the most accurate outcome. The experiment also provides insights into case-by-case investigations of algorithm performances and the impact of various data pools. Lastly, we show an early version of our tool aimed at investigating surfaces using ML approaches and discuss the results of our current experiment to configure future improvements.

Timing of Major Postoperative Bleeding Among Patients Undergoing Surgery.

Importance: Although major bleeding is among the most common and prognostically important perioperative complications, the relative timing of bleeding events is not well established. This information is critical for preventing bleeding complications and for informing the timing of pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. Objective: To determine the timing of postoperative bleeding among patients undergoing surgery for up to 30 days after surgery. Design, Setting, and Participants: This is a secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study. Patients aged 45 years or older who underwent inpatient noncardiac surgery were recruited in 14 countries between 2007 and 2013, with follow-up until December 2014. Data analysis was performed from June to July 2023. Exposure: Noncardiac surgery requiring overnight hospital admission. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome (postoperative major bleeding) was a composite of the timing of the following bleeding outcomes: (1) bleeding leading to transfusion, (2) bleeding leading to a postoperative hemoglobin level less than 7 g/dL, (3) bleeding leading to death, and (4) bleeding associated with reintervention. Each of the components of the composite primary outcome (1-4) and bleeding independently associated with mortality after noncardiac surgery, which was defined as a composite of outcomes 1 to 3, were secondary outcomes. Results: Among 39 813 patients (median [IQR] age, 63.0 [54.8-72.5] years; 19 793 women [49.7%]), there were 5340 major bleeding events (primary outcome) in 4638 patients (11.6%) within the first 30 days after surgery. Of these events, 42.7% (95% CI, 40.9%-44.6%) occurred within 24 hours after surgery, 77.7% (95% CI, 75.8%-79.5%) by postoperative day 7, 88.3% (95% CI, 86.5%-90.2%) by postoperative day 14, and 94.6% (95% CI, 92.7%-96.5%) by postoperative day 21. Within 48 hours of surgery, 56.2% of major bleeding events, 56.2% of bleeding leading to transfusion, 56.1% of bleeding independently associated with mortality after noncardiac surgery, 51.8% of bleeding associated with hemoglobin less than 7 g/dL, and 51.8% of bleeding associated with reintervention had occurred. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, of the major postoperative bleeding events in the first 30 days, more than three-quarters occurred during the first postoperative week. These findings are useful for researchers for the planning future clinical research and for clinicians in prevention of bleeding-related surgical complications and in decision-making regarding starting of pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis after surgery.

Biodegradable calcium carbonate carriers for the topical delivery of clobetasol propionate.

Inflammatory dermatoses represent a global problem with increasing prevalence and recurrence among the world population. Topical glucocorticoids (GCs) are the most commonly used anti-inflammatory drugs in dermatology due to a wide range of their therapeutic actions, which, however, have numerous local and systemic side effects. Hence, there is a growing need to create new delivery systems for GCs, ensuring the drug localization in the pathological site, thus increasing the effectiveness of therapy and lowering the risk of side effects. Here, we propose a novel topical particulate formulation for the GC clobetasol propionate (CP), based on the use of porous calcium carbonate (CaCO3) carriers in the vaterite crystalline form. The designed carriers contain a substantially higher CP amount than conventional dosage forms used in clinics (4.5% w/w vs. 0.05% w/w) and displayed a good biocompatibility and effective cellular uptake when studied in fibroblasts in vitro. Hair follicles represent an important reservoir for the GC accumulation in skin and house the targets for its action. In this study, we demonstrated successful delivery of the CP-loaded carriers (CP-CaCO3) into the hair follicles of rats in vivo using optical coherent tomography (OCT). Importantly, the OCT monitoring revealed the gradual intrafollicular degradation of the carriers within 168 h with the most abundant follicle filling occurring within the first 48 h. Biodegradability makes the proposed system especially promising when searching for new CP formulations with improved safety and release profile. Our findings evidenced the great potential of the CaCO3 carriers in improving the dermal bioavailability of this poorly water-soluble GC.

Vibronic Coupling Drives the Ultrafast Internal Conversion in a Functionalized Free-Base Porphyrin.

Internal conversion (IC) is a common radiationless transition in polyatomic molecules. Theory predicts that molecular vibrations assist IC between excited states, and ultrafast experiments can provide insight into their structure-function relationship. Here we elucidate the dynamics of the vibrational modes driving the IC process within the Q band of a functionalized porphyrin molecule. Through a combination of ultrafast multidimensional spectroscopies and theoretical modeling, we observe a 60 fs Qy-Qx IC and demonstrate that it is driven by the interplay among multiple high-frequency modes. Notably, we identify 1510 cm-1 as the leading tuning mode that brings the porphyrin to an optimal geometry for energy surface crossing. By employing coherent wave packet analysis, we highlight a set of short-lived vibrations (1200-1400 cm-1), promoting the IC within ≈60 fs. Furthermore, we identify one coupling mode (1350 cm-1) that is responsible for vibronic mixing within the Q states. Our findings indicate that porphyrin-core functionalization modulates IC effectively, offering new opportunities in photocatalysis and optoelectronics.

The detrimental effect of biopsy preceding resection in surgically accessible glioblastoma: results from the national cancer database.

PURPOSE: Aggressive resection in surgically-accessible glioblastoma (GBM) correlates with improved survival over less extensive resections. However, the clinical impact of performing a biopsy before definitive resection have not been previously evaluated. METHODS: We analyzed 17,334 GBM patients from the NCDB from 2010-2014. We categorized them into: "upfront resection" and "biopsy followed by resection". The outcomes of interes included OS, 30-day readmission/mortality, 90-day mortality, and length of hospital stay (LOS). The Kaplan-Meier methods and accelerated failure time (AFT) models were applied for survival analysis. Multivariable binary logistic regression were performed to compare differences among groups. Multiple imputation and propensity score matching (PSM) were conducted for validation. RESULTS: "Upfront resection" had superior OS over "biopsy followed by resection" (median OS:12.4 versus 11.1 months, log-rank p = 0.001). Similarly, multivariable AFT models favored "upfront resection" (time ratio[TR]:0.83, 95%CI: 0.75-0.93, p = 0.001). Patients undergoing "upfront gross-total resection (GTR)" had higher OS over "upfront subtotal resection (STR)", "GTR following STR", and "GTR or STR following initial biopsy" (14.4 vs. 10.3, 13.5, 13.3, and 9.1 months;TR: 1.00 [Ref.], 0.75, 0.82, 0.88, and 0.67). Recent years of diagnosis, higher income, facilities located in Southern regions, and treatment at academic facilities were significantly associated with the higher likelihood of undergoing upfront resection. Multivariable regression showed a decreased 30 and 90-day mortality for patients undergoing "upfront resection", 73% and 44%, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-operative biopsies for surgically accessible GBM are associated with worse survival despite subsequent resection compared to patients undergoing upfront resection.

Medical History and Preoperative Coagulation Profile as Predictors of Outcomes in Elective Spinal Surgery: A Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: In patients with unremarkable medical history, comprehensive preoperative hemostasis screening in elective neurosurgery remains debated. Comprehensive medical history has shown to be noninferior to coagulation profile to evaluate surgical outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the predictiveness of preoperative coagulation screening and medical history for surgical outcomes. METHODS: Databases were searched until April 2023 for observational cohort studies that reported preoperative hemostasis screening and clinical history prior to elective neurosurgical procedures. Outcomes of interest included postoperative transfusion, mortality, and complications. Pooled relative risk ratios (RRs) were analyzed using random-effects models. RESULTS: Out of 604 studies, 3 cohort studies met our inclusion criteria, adding a patient population of 83,076. Prolonged partial thromboplastin time (PTT; RR=1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.14, 1.77, P=0.002), elevated international normalized ratio (INR; RR=2.01, 95% CI=1.14, 3.55, P=0.02), low platelet count (RR=1.58, 95% CI=1.34, 1.86, P<0.00001), and positive bleeding history (RR=2.14, 95% CI=1.16, 3.93, P=0.01) were associated with postoperative transfusion risk. High PTT (RR=2.42, 95% CI=1.24, 4.73, P=0.010), High INR (RR=8.15, 95% CI=5.97, 11.13; P<0.00001), low platelet count (RR=4.89, 95% CI=3.73, 6.41, P<0.00001), and bleeding history (RR=7.59, 95% CI=5.84, 9.86, P<0.00001) were predictive of mortality. Prolonged PTT (RR=1.53, 95% CI=1.25, 1.86, P=<0.0001), a high INR (RR=3.41, 95% CI=2.63, 4.42, P=< 0.00001), low platelets (RR=1.63, 95% CI=1.40, 1.90, P=<0.00001), and medical history (RR=2.15, 95% CI=1.71, 2.71, P=<0.00001) were predictive of complications. CONCLUSIONS: Medical history was a noninferior predictor to coagulation profile for postoperative transfusion, mortality, and complications. However, our findings are mostly representative of elective spinal procedures. Cost-effective alternatives should be explored to promote affordable patient care in patients with unremarkable history.

Suspension cell cultures of Panax vietnamensis as a biotechnological source of ginsenosides: growth, cytology, and ginsenoside profile assessment.

Introduction: Panax vietnamensis is a valuable medicinal plant and a source of a broad spectrum of biologically active ginsenosides of different structural groups. Overexploitation and low adaptability to planation cultivation have made this species vulnerable to human pressure and prompted the development of cell cultivation in vitro as a sustainable alternative to harvesting wild plants for their bioactive components. Despite high interest in biotechnological production, little is known about the main factors affecting cell growth and ginsenoside biosynthesis of this species under in vitro conditions. In this study, the potential of cell cultures of P. vietnamensis as a biotechnological source of ginsenosides was was assessed. Methods: Six suspension cell lines that were developed from different sections of a single rhizome through a multi-step culture optimization process and maintained for over 3 years on media with different mineral salt base and varying contents of auxins and cytokinins. These cell lines were evaluated for productivity parameters and cytological characteristics. Ginsenoside profiles were assessed using a combination of the reversed-phase ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Orbitrap-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Orbitrap-MS/MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF-MS). Results: All lines demonstrated good growth with a specific growth rate of 0.1-0.2 day-1, economic coefficient of 0.31-0.70, productivity on dry weight (DW) of 0.30-0.83 gDW (L·day)-1, and maximum biomass accumulation varying from 10 to 22 gDW L-1. Ginsenosides of the protopanaxadiol (Rb1, Rb2/Rb3, malonyl-Rb1, and malonyl-Rb2/Rb3), oleanolic acid (R0 and chikusetsusaponin IV), and ocotillol (vinaginsenoside R1) groups and their isomers were identified in cell biomass extracts. Chikusetsusaponin IV was identified in P. vietnamensis cell culture for the first time. Discussion: These results suggest that suspension cell cultures of Vietnamese ginseng have a high potential for the biotechnological production of biomass containing ginsenosides, particularly of the oleanolic acid and ocotillol groups.

Intraoperative ultrasound for surgical resection of high-grade glioma and glioblastoma: a meta-analysis of 732 patients.

PURPOSE: Here, we conducted a meta-analysis to explore the use of intraoperative ultrasound (iUS)-guided resection in patients diagnosed with high-grade glioma (HGG) or glioblastoma (GBM). Our aim was to determine whether iUS improves clinical outcomes compared to conventional neuronavigation (CNN). METHODS: Databases were searched until April 21, 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational cohort studies that compared surgical outcomes for patients with HGG or GBM with the use of either iUS in addition to standard approach or CNN. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes include volumetric extent of resection (EOR), gross total resection (GTR), and progression-free survival (PFS). Outcomes were analyzed by determining pooled relative risk ratios (RR), mean difference (MD), and standardized mean difference (SMD) using random-effects model. RESULTS: Of the initial 867 articles, only 7 articles specifically met the inclusion criteria (1 RCT and 6 retrospective cohorts). The analysis included 732 patients. Compared to CNN, the use of iUS was associated with higher OS (SMD = 0.26,95%CI=[0.12,0.39]) and GTR (RR = 2.02; 95% CI=[1.31,3.1]) for both HGG and GBM. There was no significant difference in PFS or EOR. CONCLUSION: The use of iUS in surgical resections for HGG and GBM can improve OS and GTR compared to CNN, but it did not affect PFS. These results suggest that iUS reduces mortality associated with HGG and GBM but not the risk of recurrence. These results can provide valuable cost-effective interventions for neurosurgeons in HGG and GBM surgery.

Impact Behavior and Residual Strength of PEEK/CF-Laminated Composites with Various Stacking Sequences.

Carbon fiber-reinforced composites are popular due to their high strength and light weight; thus, the structures demonstrate high performance and specific strength. However, these composites are susceptible to impact damage. The objective of this research was to study the behavior of carbon fiber-reinforced laminates based on a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) matrix with six stacking sequences under static and impact loading. Four-point bending, short-beam bending, drop weight impact, and compression after impact tests were carried out. The results were complemented with digital shearography to estimate the damaged areas. Finite element modeling served to assess the failure mechanisms, such as fiber and matrix failure, in different layers due to tension of compression. Three behavior pattern of layups under drop-weight impact were found: (i)-energy redistribution due to mostly linear behavior (like a trampoline) and thus lower kinetic energy absorption for damage initiation, (ii)-moderate absorption of energy with initiation and propagation of concentrated damage with depressed redistribution of energy in the material, (iii)-moderate energy absorption with good redistribution due to initiation of small, dispersed damage. The results can be used to predict the mechanical behavior of composites with different stacking sequences in materials for proper structural design.