Electroactive Ionic Polymer of Intrinsic Microporosity for High-Performance Capacitive Energy Storage.

Here, we report an ionic polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM) as a high-functioning supercapacitor electrode without the need for conductive additives or binders. The performance of this material is directly related to its large accessible surface area. By comparing electrochemical performance between a porous viologen PIM and a non-porous viologen polymer, we reveal that the high energy and power density are both due to the ability of ions to rapidly access the ionic PIM. In 0.1 M H2SO4 electrolyte, a pseudocapacitve energy of 315 F g-1 is observed, whereas in 0.1 M Na2SO4, a capacitive energy density of 250 F g-1 is obtained. In both cases, this capacity is retained over 10,000 charge-discharge cycles, without the need for stabilizing binders or conductive additives even at moderate loadings (5 mg cm-2). This desirable performance is maintained in a prototype symmetric two-electrode capacitor device, which had >99% Coloumbic efficiency and a <10 mF capacity drop over 2000 cycles. These results demonstrate that ionic PIMs function well as standalone supercapacitor electrodes and suggest ionic PIMs may perform well in other electrochemical devices such as sensors, ion-separation membranes, or displays. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Cerebral autoregulation, spreading depolarization, and implications for targeted therapy in brain injury and ischemia.

Cerebral autoregulation is an intrinsic myogenic response of cerebral vasculature that allows for preservation of stable cerebral blood flow levels in response to changing systemic blood pressure. It is effective across a broad range of blood pressure levels through precapillary vasoconstriction and dilation. Autoregulation is difficult to directly measure and methods to indirectly ascertain cerebral autoregulation status inherently require certain assumptions. Patients with impaired cerebral autoregulation may be at risk of brain ischemia. One of the central mechanisms of ischemia in patients with metabolically compromised states is likely the triggering of spreading depolarization (SD) events and ultimately, terminal (or anoxic) depolarization. Cerebral autoregulation and SD are therefore linked when considering the risk of ischemia. In this scoping review, we will discuss the range of methods to measure cerebral autoregulation, their theoretical strengths and weaknesses, and the available clinical evidence to support their utility. We will then discuss the emerging link between impaired cerebral autoregulation and the occurrence of SD events. Such an approach offers the opportunity to better understand an individual patient's physiology and provide targeted treatments.

Selective Electrochemical Modification and Degradation of Polymers.

We demonstrate that electrochemical-induced decarboxylation enables reliable post-polymerization modification and degradation of polymers. Polymers containing N-(acryloxy)phthalimides were subjected to electrochemical decarboxylation under mild conditions, which led to the formation of transient alkyl radicals. By installing these redox-active units, we systematically modified the pendent groups and chain ends of polyacrylates. This approach enabled the production of poly(ethylene-co-methyl acrylate) and poly(propylene-co-methyl acrylate) copolymers, which are difficult to synthesize by direct polymerization. Spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques reveal these transformations are near-quantitative on several polymer systems. Electrochemical decarboxylation also enables the degradation of all-methacrylate poly(N-(methacryloxy)phthalimide-co-methyl methacrylate) copolymers with a degradation efficiency of >95 %. Chain cleavage is achieved through the decarboxylation of the N-hydroxyphthalimide ester and subsequent ß-scission of the backbone radical. Electrochemistry is thus shown to be a powerful tool in selective polymer transformations and controlled macromolecular degradation.

Vacuum-assisted scalp repositioning: a novel temporizing approach to acute sinking skin flap syndrome. Illustrative cases.

BACKGROUND: This report describes the use of a novel approach to address acute sinking skin flap syndrome (SSFS), a postcraniectomy complication arising from brain dysfunction beneath the skull defect. The authors present a case series of two patients, emphasizing the prospective application of an external plaster cast in tandem with a vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) device (wound VAC) to promptly reposition the scalp and relieve brain compression. OBSERVATIONS: Following intervention, one patient showed immediate neurological improvement, with complete resolution of symptoms within hours. Conversely, the second patient developed nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Computed tomography scans postintervention validated the successful scalp repositioning and mass effect resolution in both instances. This temporary approach proved successful in one patient with moderate symptoms, serving as a bridge to cranioplasty. LESSONS: The integration of an external plaster cast and wound VAC offers a cost-effective and prompt solution for patients with acute SSFS pending cranioplasty. Appropriate patient selection and heightened caution for those with severe symptoms should be exercised.

Baseline Frailty and Discharge to Advanced Care Facilities in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Lumbar Degenerative Disease: A Multicenter Registry Analysis of 7153 Patient Cases Comparing the Risk Analysis Index to the 5-Factor Modified Frailty Index.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of frailty, as measured by the 5-factor modified Frailty Index (mFI-5) and the Risk Analysis Index (RAI), on advanced care facility discharge (FD) in patients who underwent lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative spine disease. METHODS: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (2012-2020) was queried for adults (≥18 years) undergoing lumbar fusion for lumbar degenerative disease. Descriptive statistics and univariate crosstabulation were used to assess baseline demographics, preoperative comorbidities, and postoperative outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to assess the discriminative threshold of the mFI-5 and RAI on FD within this population. RESULTS: The median patient age in this study cohort (N = 7153) was 56 years and FD occurred in 7.3% of cases. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that both the mFI-5 and the RAI accurately predicted FD (C-statistics: mFI-5: 0.627; RAI: 0.746). DeLong's test found that the RAI had superior discrimination when compared to the mFI-5 (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: RAI is a reliable predictor of FD in lumbar degenerative disease patients who underwent lumbar interbody fusion and demonstrated superior discrimination compared to the mFI-5. Identification of patients at risk for FD may facilitate more precise risk stratification to enable better preoperative decision-making and help set more realistic expectations of care.

Pathomechanisms and Treatment Implications for Stroke in COVID-19: A Review of the Literature.

Stroke in patients with COVID-19 has received increasing attention throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic, perhaps due to the substantial disability and mortality that can result when the two conditions co-occur. We reviewed the existing literature and found that the proposed pathomechanism underlying COVID-19-associated ischemic stroke is broadly divided into the following three categories: vasculitis, endothelialitis, and endothelial dysfunction; hypercoagulable state; and cardioembolism secondary to cardiac dysfunction. There has been substantial debate as to whether there is a causal link between stroke and COVID-19. However, the distinct phenotype of COVID-19-associated strokes, with multivessel territory infarcts, higher proportion of large vessel occlusions, and cryptogenic stroke mechanism, that emerged in pooled analytic comparisons with non-COVID-19 strokes is compelling. Further, in this article, we review the various treatment approaches that have emerged as they relate to the proposed pathomechanisms. Finally, we briefly cover the logistical challenges, such as delays in treatment, faced by providers and health systems; the innovative approaches utilized, including the role of tele-stroke; and the future directions in COVID-19-associated stroke research and healthcare delivery.

Biomphalaria glabrata immunity: Post-genome advances.

The freshwater snail, Biomphalaria glabrata, is an important intermediate host in the life cycle for the human parasite Schistosoma mansoni, the causative agent of schistosomiasis. Current treatment and prevention strategies have not led to a significant decrease in disease transmission. However, the genome of B. glabrata was recently sequenced to provide additional resources to further our understanding of snail biology. This review presents an overview of recently published, post-genome studies related to the topic of snail immunity. Many of these reports expand on findings originated from the genome characterization. These novel studies include a complementary gene linkage map, analysis of the genome of the B. glabrata embryonic (Bge) cell line, as well as transcriptomic and proteomic studies looking at snail-parasite interactions and innate immune memory responses towards schistosomes. Also included are biochemical investigations on snail pheromones, neuropeptides, and attractants, as well as studies investigating the frontiers of molluscan epigenetics and cell signaling were also included. Findings support the current hypotheses on snail-parasite strain compatibility, and that snail host resistance to schistosome infection is dependent not only on genetics and expression, but on the ability to form multimeric molecular complexes in a timely and tissue-specific manner. The relevance of cell immunity is reinforced, while the importance of humoral factors, especially for secondary infections, is supported. Overall, these studies reflect an improved understanding on the diversity, specificity, and complexity of molluscan immune systems.

Correction to: Sequence and structural variation in the genome of the Biomphalaria glabrata embryonic (Bge) cell line.

Following publication of the original article [], the authors reported an error in figure 1.

Sequence and structural variation in the genome of the Biomphalaria glabrata embryonic (Bge) cell line.

BACKGROUND: The aquatic pulmonate snail Biomphalaria glabrata is a significant vector and laboratory host for the parasitic flatworm Schistosoma mansoni, an etiological agent for the neglected tropical disease schistosomiasis. Much is known regarding the host-parasite interactions of these two organisms, and the B. glabrata embryonic (Bge) cell line has been an invaluable resource in these studies. The B. glabrata BB02 genome sequence was recently released, but nothing is known of the sequence variation between this reference and the Bge cell genome, which has likely accumulated substantial genetic variation in the ~50 years since its isolation. RESULTS: Here, we report the genome sequence of our laboratory subculture of the Bge cell line (designated Bge3), which we mapped to the B. glabrata BB02 reference genome. Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were predicted and focus was given to those SNVs that are most likely to affect the structure or expression of protein-coding genes. Furthermore, we have highlighted and validated high-impact SNVs in genes that have often been studied using Bge cells as an in vitro model, and other genes that may have contributed to the immortalization of this cell line. We also resolved representative karyotypes for the Bge3 subculture, which revealed a mixed population exhibiting substantial aneuploidy, in line with previous reports from other Bge subcultures. CONCLUSIONS: The Bge3 genome differs from the B. glabrata BB02 reference genome in both sequence and structure, and these are likely to have significant biological effects. The availability of the Bge3 genome sequence, and an awareness of genomic differences with B. glabrata, will inform the design of experiments to understand gene function in this unique in vitro snail cell model. Additionally, this resource will aid in the development of new technologies and molecular approaches that promise to reveal more about this schistosomiasis-transmitting snail vector.