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This article explores the surface architecture formation on layered A3B6 semiconductors, such as In4Se3, InSe, and InTe, focusing on kinetics of surface roughness parameters, such as RMS, skewness and kurtosis, and power spectral density (PSD) under indium deposition studied through large-scale 1 × 1 µm2 and 150 × 150 nm2 scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images analysis. Our findings reveal common kinetics of surface parameters across different crystals, suggesting fundamental similarities in their interface kinetics. Particularly, PSD analysis elucidates the role of low-frequency spatial structures, underscoring their significance in surface roughness kinetics to some extent independent of the specific layered crystal surface structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The (100) surface of In4Se3 layered crystal was obtained in situ, ions sputtered and exposed to UHV for hours. The UPS spectra for these surfaces, atomically clean, and after the mentioned treatments, were recorded and analyzed to obtain electronic spectra of In4Se3 (100) surface. The first-principles calculations were performed by DFT-GGA method, and for the In4Se3 underestimated (0.21 eV) band gap was attained. The calculated total density of states of In4Se3 in general coincides with a UPS spectrum for an atomically clean cleaved surface. Thus the study of the band structure of (100) In4Se3 cleavage surfaces after the ion sputtering or exposure to UHV for more than several hours is uninformative, and such effects on the sample should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The studies of In nanosystem formation on (100) surface of In4Se3 were conducted applying analysis of STM data from 1 × 1µm2 areas considering the distribution of image pixels' height depending on the In deposition degree and kinetics of root mean square, skewness, kurtosis parameters. We have shown the possibility of highly-oriented 1D indium nanostructures' growth with the Volmer-Weber growth mode on In4Se3 (100) surface applied as template. The optimal conditions to obtain the most oriented nano wire like nanostructures is thermal-induced Volmer–Weber growth in successive cycles of indium deposition – heating with activation of the solid state dewetting process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sb2Te3 layered chalcogenide crystal's (0001) surface was applied for self-organizing of deposited indium nanostructures' arrays while solid state dewetting procedure. Sb2Te3 samples were characterized by XRD, XPS, LEED and STM/STS. STM shows that shape and spatial arrangement of indium induced 0 D nanostructures are consistent with the surface lattice symmetry. The fractal analysis of STM images of the (0001) Sb2Te3 and (0001) InSe surfaces, which are similar in symmetry, shows that distribution in size of indium nanostructures are almost the same under commensurate experimental conditions. The STS reveals correlation between indium coverage and quantity of DOS within energy gap of Sb2Te3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engaging meaningfully in the Fulbright Mentor Talks Program under supervision of the Fulbright Office in Kyiv was critical to improve both abilities to communicate with American Studies auditorium in Ukraine and also to boost this field as a prospective in our University`s teaching system. Mentors` main approach was focused on using by participants of content and thematic analyses for every topical discussion. Generalized feedback about the whole course from the students definitely refers to the necessity of more profound understanding of historical background of any events and developments in the USA of present-day. As a broad conclusion we assumed that Ukrainian educational system in the dimension of the humanities lacks of teaching programs which resonate to current needs of Ukrainian (foreign) policy-making institutions such as American Studies. And the experience from participation in the Mentor Program Course can be used to deliver of more contextual and practically oriented knowledge for students, with a focus on maximising acceptability and feasibility.

On May 22 of this year Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Oleh Petrovich Mashevskyi , co-founder and deputy chairman of the editorial board of the American History and Politics Journal Head of the Department of Modern and Contemporary History of Foreign Countries at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, member of the board of NGO «Ukrainian Association for American Studies», «Scientific Society for the History of Diplomacy and International Relations», commemorated his golden anniversary. In his lecturing practices, which includes normative and special author’s courses such as : «New History of Western Europe and North America», «History of International Relations», «History of the British Empire», «Western policy towards Ukraine in the XVIII century – the first half of the XX century», «Western countries and Ukraine in the 1990s – early XXI century» etc. he successfully combines his profound knowledge of Foreign as well as Ukrainian History. His current research interests include the issues of international relations in the XIX century – the first quarter of the XX century, the second half of the XXth – early XXI century, the policy of Western countries towards Ukraine in 1914 – 1923, Ukrainian-American relations, the history of the Hetman Ukrainian State in 1918 and the British Empire, the history of Napoleonic France and the history of Canada and the United States. In 2010, Oleh P. Mashevsky defended his doctoral thesis «Black Sea Straits in the policy of international unions (70’s of the XIX century – 1918)» and became one of the youngest Doctor of History in Ukraine. Obtaining PhD degree preceded the publication of comprehensive monograph by the researcher on the same topic. In sum Oleh Petrovich is one of the most active authors of the Faculty of History of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv: the number of his publications surpassed 200 scientific papers. Under his supervision post-graduate students and affiliated reserchers of the department (Rina Banti, Victoria Sadykova, Valerii Cherniaiev, Ilona Lukach, Vitalii Liulka, Viacheslav Masnyi) defended their dissertations. He was an doctoral dissertation advisor of the Head of the Department of Art History Petro Kotliarov and Associate Professor of the Department of Modern and Contemporary History of Foreign Countries Taras Hryshchenko. In 2015, he headed the Department of Modern and Contemporary History of Foreign Countries. Since then, the new educational programs «American Studies and European Studies» and «Oriental Studies» for bachelor’s and master’s degree were launched. Annually they are listed as one of the top-ranking educational programs in the field of humanities at the university attracting large number of enrolled students. Thanks in large part to his highly apperiated efforts the department publishes two academic journals – «American History and Politics» and «European Historical Studies», which are among the most cited in Ukraine in its field.

Both at the level of political ideology and in the practical sphere, the American strategy of China’s engagement was a part of a global construction of a new architecture of the world order, based on the liberal-democratic political values but at the same time in line with American leadership. The engagement was in many ways reminiscent of Obama’s strategy of «reset» in relations with Russia, especially in terms of achieving qualitative domestic political changes through dialogue and cooperation. However, the conceptualization of the Trump’s administration China’ policy approaches led to some radical revisions of the American philosophy of international cooperation were made. The objectives of the proposed paper aligned with answering the following research questions: What was wrong with the U.S. engagement strategy toward China evolved over the past decades? What are the implications of the U.S. China policy for Taiwan as well as the world at large (comparing with impact on U.S. policy towards Russia and its regional behavior regarding to Ukraine)? Will engagement be restarted or drastically reevaluated? The methods we employed to do the research: comparative case study that is widely using in International Security studies analyzing issue within a situation or framework. Another method of qualitative methodology approach is a thematic analysis method. The scientific novelty. Assuming that the model of cooperative engagement has largely exhausted itself in terms of the strategic objectives of each party we also emphasize that the model has led to the erosion of the possibility of critical US influence on key regions of the world. Conclusions. It is somewhat paradoxical that a result of US cooperative approaches has brought about greater vulnerability of US formal and informal allies. Chinese and Russian foreign policy strategies have not changed significantly, and have attached even more on the main objects of a kind of historical revenge – Taiwan and Ukraine. Chinese and Russian foreign policy values in terms of waning «Western influences» have grown into offensive political realism. Which, in particular, was generated of sensitivity to the growing US influence in the post-bipolar world.

The article is devoted to the main milestones of the formation of the scientific and teaching career of a famous ukrainian historian in the field of international affairs, specialist in the variety problems of modern USA, doctor of history, long-time head of the Department of Modern and Contemporary History of Foreign Countries of the Faculty of History of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv – Borys Mykhailovych Honchar (1945–2015). He continued the tradition of the scientific school of historians of international relations, which was formed at the Department of New and Modern history of the developed capitalist countries in the second half of the twentieth century. In its origins stood P. Udovychenko, V. Tarasenko, V. Biletskyi and others. The main place in his scientific work was occupied by works on the history of the US foreign policy in last third of XXth – beginning of XXIth century. His first publications and theoretical thesis (1974) were devoted to the analysis of US Mediterranean policy under the administration of R. Nixon. Borys Honchar was one of the first in national historical science, who systematically examined the impact of regional conflicts on the Soviet-American confrontation during the Cold War. His doctoral thesis (1994), a monograph and more than 20 scientific articles were devoted to this topic. However, his scientific interests were much broader. His research work has been extensive in the history of international relations before and during the First World War, including in the context of the American attitude to the «conflict in Europe». In particular, the course of his lectures was devoted to this topic, which he delivered to students of History faculty for 40 years. The students’ positive feedback was also about his course in lectures on the history of American-Russian relations. Notable place in B. Gonchar’s scholarly work has taken various aspects of the UN’s activities, including its peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, and the US influence on its work. The scholar has paid great attention to the work on numerous articles on international and American topics for the «Ukrainian Soviet Encyclopedia» and «Ukrainian Diplomatic Encyclopedia». In general, most publications on American studies or international relations, published in Ukraine in the 1990s and 2000s, were in his co-authorship or review.

The proposed article surveys the key elements of US engagement China strategy as a model of China`s involvement in the world relations system within the framework of the global strategy of functioning of the world order. Such a conceptual attitude largely resonates with US strategic plans after the end of World War II, when China was also expected to enter the “World Orchestra” of states as part of it. The authors of the China`s engagement strategy also took into account the fact that the means of pressure, sanctions and other forms of pressure have historically been exhausted and have not led to desired changes in the internal Chinese affairs. As a constructivist ideology, engagement was the only possible way of bilateral interactions. Various forms of communication with Chinese society would provide political and value accommodation of liberal concepts in and prevent from rising any form of revisionism and anti-Americanism. Engagement of China strategy has played a historic role. However, regarding far-reaching goals, China’s foreign policy behavior and domestic policy, especially during the Xi Jinping period, on the contrary, have begun to develop in the opposite scenario to Washington’s expectations. Starting approx. from 2008 China has been demonstrating more assertive and global oriented foreign policy strategy. The Engagement as a form of constructive liberal model of interrelation where both side are able to reach an (business kind) agreement dashed hopes of many US policy-makers. As a result, the debates unleashed in image related to more pragmatic attitudes towards China. And coming to power in the United States of the D. Trump`s administration was also under circumstances of reassessment of the US efforts to transform China into a “responsible shareholder.” And at present we observe the first conflict knot in the current US – China relations – trade war. Anyway, and this case proved it, yet, the new paradigm of Chinese policy cannot, due to many factors, reject the positives elements of an engagement strategy.

The treadle pump is a low speed foot operated single acting double cylinder piston pump for low lift irrigation. A scientific methodology is demonstrated for the evaluation of a metal treadle pump manufactured in Kenya to present pump performance data for the benefit of users. The experimental data indicated that the treadle pump cannot pull water from any source more than 7 m below the pump. Results showed an inverse relationship between discharge and delivery head with discharge varying from 1.3 l/sec to 0.8 l/sec for lm to 6m delivery head respectively. The maximum overall efficiency of the treadle pump was found to be 89.7% at a static suction head of 2.5 m. Treadle pumps are suitable, ergonomic and economical for supplying water for drinking and small-scale irrigation in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At first glance the basis of the Initiative “One Belt – One Road” voiced by Chinese leader Xi Jinping is composed of geo-economics’ vectors. Cooperation within the framework of the two silk routes will be complemented by social and political dynamics. Although the initiative encompasses three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe, its development is of global significance and can be a fundamental factor of changes in the world order, where the influence of the US and the West can be called system-forming. The author of the article tries to prove that the positive development of the Initiative may become a paradigm of world development that is not rather competitive but in many ways complementary with the Western one. Implementing the Initiative China, by means of this project, can prove the productivity of its own values of progress. The visions of US Global Strategy and the Grand China Strategy under D. Trump’s administration remain uncertain. The isolationist and protectionist values of the American president can further undermine the credibility and effectiveness of the international institutions, projects and programs under the auspices by the United States. Washington will be forced to build somehow a concrete model of approach to the Initiative, as it affects the regions and countries that are sensitive to American interests. Moreover the Initiative shapes a soft alternative source of financial and investment assistance and is aimed at creating fundamentally new mechanisms and formats of international cooperation.

An abstract of the article " Stem cell based delivery of interferon-beta enhances the therapeutic effect in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis," by T. K. Makar, D. Trisler, C. T. Bever and S. Dhib-Jalbut is presented.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of difficult airway alerts in a major tertiary centre., Objective: To investigate the completeness, utility and efficacy of difficult airway alerts and their impact on future airway management episodes., Design, Data Sources and Methods: Patients who had a "difficult airway" entry on electronic medical records (EMR) from 2011 to 2021 were included. Each alert was analyzed by a team of anesthetists with expertise in difficult airway management for its quality, appropriateness, and impact on future airway management episodes. Alert quality was defined as to whether the content of the alert contained pertinent information for emergent airway management. Alert appropriateness was defined as to whether the experts would be unhappy to perform a rapid sequence induction and intubation, if required, following review of all available documentation., Results: 141 patients were included for this study, with a mean age of 58.6 +/- 15.3 years. Ninety-three (66%) alerts were created by medical staff, of which 52 were recorded by consultant anesthetists. 117 alerts (83%) were deemed to be appropriate by the airway expert team, but only 40 alerts (28%) were found to have sufficient quality to be helpful in emergent airway management. Sixty-five patients (47%) had at least one subsequent airway management episode, of which 35 patients (56%) underwent a change of management following alert creation. We proceeded to modify 103 alerts (73%) to improve their quality to aid future encounters., Conclusion: Difficult Airway encounters are an uncommon event in anesthesia, but clear, comprehensive and effectively communicated documentation is required to minimize the risk in future encounters. In our institution, while most difficult airway alerts were appropriate, we found significant heterogeneity in the quality of this documentation, which limits the clinical utility of the alert system. We have taken measures to improve local processes of difficult airway documentation and considered the implications of our project for the broader airway management community., Trial Registration: Not applicable., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at https://atm.amegroups.com/article/view/10.21037/atm-24-43/coif). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Background: Anaemia following major surgery may be associated with unplanned readmission to hospital. However, the severity-response relationship between the degree of anaemia at discharge and the risk of unplanned readmission is poorly defined. We aimed to describe the severity-response relationship between haemoglobin concentration at the time of discharge and the risk of unplanned readmission in a cohort of patients undergoing different types of major surgery., Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study in a single tertiary health service, including all patients who underwent major surgery (orthopaedic, abdominal, cardiac or thoracic) between 1 May 2011 and 1 February 2022. The primary outcome was unplanned readmission to hospital in the 90 days following discharge after the index surgical procedure. These complex, non-linear relationships were modelled with restricted cubic splines., Results: We identified 22,134 patients and included 14,635 in the primary analysis, of whom 1804 (12%) experienced at least one unplanned readmission. The odds of unplanned readmission rose when the discharge haemoglobin concentration was < 100 g.l -1 (p < 0.001). On subgroup analysis, the haemoglobin threshold below which odds of readmission began to increase appeared to be higher in patients undergoing emergency surgery (110 g.l -1 ; p < 0.001) compared with elective surgery. Declining discharge haemoglobin concentration was associated with increased odds ratios (95%CI) of unplanned readmission in patients undergoing orthopaedic (1.08 (1.01-1.15), p = 0.03), abdominal (1.13 (1.07-1.19), p < 0.001) and thoracic (1.12 (1.01-1.24), p = 0.03) procedures, but not cardiac surgery (1.09 (0.99-1.19), p = 0.07)., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a haemoglobin concentration < 100 g.l -1 following elective procedures and < 110 g.l -1 following emergency procedures, at the time of hospital discharge after major surgery, was associated with unplanned readmission. Future interventional trials that aim to treat postoperative anaemia and reduce unplanned readmission should include patients with discharge haemoglobin below these thresholds., (© 2024 The Authors. Anaesthesia published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Association of Anaesthetists.)

Background: An optimal pharmacological strategy for fast-track cardiac anesthesia (FTCA) is unclear. This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of an FTCA program using methadone and non-opioid adjuvant infusions (magnesium, ketamine, lidocaine, and dexmedetomidine) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting., Methods: This retrospective, multicenter observational study was conducted across private and public teaching sectors. We studied patients managed by a fast-track protocol or via usual care according to clinician preference. The primary outcome was the total mechanical ventilation time in hours adjusted for hospital, body mass index, category of surgical urgency, cardiopulmonary bypass time and EuroSCORE II. Secondary outcomes included successful extubation within four postoperative hours, postoperative pain scores, postoperative opioid requirements, and the development of postoperative complications., Results: We included 87 patients in the fast-track group and 88 patients in the usual care group. Fast-track patients had a 35% reduction in total ventilation hours compared with usual care patients (p = 0.007). Thirty-five (40.2%) fast-track patients were extubated within four hours compared to 10 (11.4%) usual-care patients (odds ratio: 5.2 [95% CI: 2.39-11.08; p < 0.001]). Over 24 h, fast-track patients had less severe pain (p < 0.001) and required less intravenous morphine equivalent (22.00 mg [15.75:32.50] vs. 38.75 mg [20.50:81.75]; p < 0.001). There were no significant differences observed in postoperative complications or length of hospital stay between the groups., Conclusion: Implementing an FTCA protocol using methadone, dexmedetomidine, magnesium, ketamine, lignocaine, and remifentanil together with protocolized weaning from a mechanical ventilation protocol is associated with significantly reduced time to tracheal extubation, improved postoperative analgesia, and reduced opioid use without any adverse safety events. A prospective randomized trial is warranted to further investigate the combined effects of these medications in reducing complications and length of stay in FTCA., Trials Registration: The study protocol was registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ( https://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12623000060640.aspx , retrospectively registered on 17/01/2023)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A survey sent to fellows of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) aimed to document issues affecting gender equity in the anaesthesia workplace. A response rate of 38% was achieved, with women representing a greater proportion of respondents (64.2%). On average women worked fewer hours than men and spent a larger percentage of time in public practice; however, satisfaction rates were similar between genders. There was a gender pay gap which could not be explained by the number of hours worked or years since achieving fellowship. The rates of bullying and harassment were high among all genders and have not changed in 20 years since the first gender equity survey by Strange Khursandi in 1998. Women perceived that they were more likely to be discriminated against particularly in the presence of other sources of discrimination, and highlighted the importance of the need for diversity and inclusion in anaesthetic workplaces. Furthermore, women reported higher rates of caregiving and unpaid domestic responsibilities, confirming that anaesthetists are not immune to the factors affecting broader society despite our professional status. The overall effect was summarised by half of female respondents reporting that they felt their gender was a barrier to a career in anaesthesia. While unable to be included in statistics due to low numbers, non-binary gendered anaesthetists responded and must be included in all future work. The inequities documented here are evidence that ANZCA's gender equity subcommittee must continue promoting and implementing policies in workplaces across Australia and New Zealand., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Over 38 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS, and more than half of them are affected by HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Such disorders are characterized by chronic neuroinflammation, neurotoxicity, and central nervous system deterioration, which lead to short- or long-term memory loss, cognitive impairment, and motor skill deficits that may show gender disparities. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Our previous study suggested that HIV-1 infection and viral protein R (Vpr) upregulate the SUR1-TRPM4 channel associated with neuroinflammation, which may contribute to HAND. The present study aimed to explore this relationship in a mouse model of HAND. This study employed the HIV transgenic Tg26 mouse model, comparing Tg26 mice with wildtype mice in various cognitive behavioral and memory tests, including locomotor activity tests, recognition memory tests, and spatial learning and memory tests. The study found that Tg26 mice exhibited impaired cognitive skills and reduced learning abilities compared to wildtype mice, particularly in spatial memory. Interestingly, male Tg26 mice displayed significant differences in spatial memory losses ( p < 0.001), while no significant differences were identified in female mice. Consistent with our early results, SUR1-TRPM4 channels were upregulated in Tg26 mice along with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and aquaporin 4 (AQP4), consistent with reactive astrocytosis and neuroinflammation. Corresponding reductions in neurosynaptic responses, as indicated by downregulation of Synapsin-1 (SYN1) and Synaptophysin (SYP), suggested synaptopathy as a possible mechanism underlying cognitive and motor skill deficits. In conclusion, our study suggests a possible relationship between SUR1-TRPM4-mediated neuroinflammation and synaptopathy with impairments of learning and memory in mice with HAND. These findings could help to develop new therapeutic strategies for individuals living with HAND.

Introduction: Continually rising life expectancy and a shift towards an ageing population are resulting in an increasing population of nonagenarians. By 2030, the global population of nonagenarians is expected to exceed 30 million. The incidence of symptomatic cardiac disease is reported to occur in 25% of those aged over 75 years. Therefore, the number of nonagenarians undergoing cardiac surgery is also expected to increase. A linear relationship between advanced age and surgical risk has previously been demonstrated; however, it is not yet known whether this knowledge extends to the perioperative course and mortality of nonagenarians undergoing cardiac surgery. This scoping review aims to review the literature, assess whether a deficiency exists in the published literature and potentially identify knowledge gaps to guide future efforts to improve the understanding of nonagenarians undergoing cardiac surgery., Methods and Analysis: Following the relevant aspects of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Review guidelines, electronic databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library will be systematically searched, with additional reference tracking of eligible studies. Studies reporting the outcomes of nonagenarians undergoing open cardiac surgery or minimally invasive cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass will be included. Screening and data extraction will be performed by two reviewers independently. The data will be analysed and summarised descriptively with a narrative approach. Qualitative data that capture quality-of-life outcomes will be subjected to thematic analysis where feasible. Additionally, reporting results will highlight similarities and differences in nonagenarian selection for surgery., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethics approval was not required. The findings will be disseminated through professional networks, conference presentations and publications in scientific journals., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Despite increasing attention in the cardiac anesthesiology literature, continuous measurement of right ventricular pressure using a pulmonary artery catheter has not been described in orthotopic liver transplantation, despite similarities in the anesthetic approach to the two populations. We describe our preliminary experience with this technique in orthotopic liver transplantation, and by combining various derived measures with trans-esophageal echocardiography, make some early observations regarding the response of these measures of right ventricular function during the procedure., Methods: In this case series, ten patients (five men and five women) undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation in our institution had their surgeries performed while monitored with a pulmonary artery catheter with continuous right ventricular port transduction and trans-esophageal echocardiography. We recorded various right ventricular waveform (early-to-end diastolic pressure difference, right ventricular outflow tract gradient, right ventricular dP/dT and right ventricular end-diastolic pressure) and echocardiographic (right ventricular fractional area change, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, right ventricular lateral wall strain) and described their change relative to baseline at timepoints five minutes before and after portal vein reperfusion, immediately after hepatic artery reperfusion and on abdominal closure., Results: Except for tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion at five minutes prior to reperfusion (mean -0.8 cm; 95% CI-1.4, -0.3; p = 0.007), no echocardiographic metric was statistically significantly different at any timepoint relative to baseline. In contrast, changes in right ventricular outflow tract gradient and right ventricular dP/dt were highly significant at multiple timepoints, generally peaking immediately before or after reperfusion before reducing, but not returning to baseline in the neohepatic phase. Nine of 10 participants in this series demonstrated a degree of dynamic right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, which met criteria for hemodynamic significance (> 25 mmHg) in two participants. These changes were not materially affected by cardiac index., Conclusions: Dynamic right ventricular outflow tract obstruction of varying severity appears common in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. These results are hypothesis generating and will form the basis of future prospective research., Competing Interests: We have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: The institution for which Lachlan F. Miles works has received financial support from Edwards LifeSciences, although he himself is not the recipient of any grants or funding. Cristhian Potes is an employee of Edwards LifeSciences. Laurence Weinberg is a member of the speaker bureau for Edwards LifeSciences and Masimo and has received financial support from both organizations. André Y. Denault reports grants from Edwards LifeSciences outside the submitted work. He is a member of the speaker bureau and a key opinion leader for CAE Healthcare and Masimo. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. No other authors have any conflicts of interest to report.

Powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) are a high level of respiratory personal protective equipment. Like all mechanical devices, they are vulnerable to failure. The precise physiological consequences of failure in live subjects have not previously been reported. We conducted an observational safety study simulating PAPR failure in a group of nine healthy volunteers, wearing loose-fitting hoods, who were observed for a period of ten minutes, or until they requested the experiment be aborted, with continuous monitoring of gas exchange. Relative to baseline, participants demonstrated median reductions in peripheral oxygen saturation of 3.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) -4% to -2%; P  = 0.0039) and fraction of inspired oxygen of 0.045 (95% CI -0.05 to -0.04; P  = 0.0039), and median increases in inspired partial pressure of carbon dioxide of 27 mmHg (95% CI 23.5-32 mmHg; P  = 0.0039), end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide of 11 mmHg (95% CI 7-16 mmHg; P  = 0.0039) and minute ventilation of 30 l/min (95% CI 19.4-35.9 l/min; P  = 0.0039). Median collateral entrainment of room air into the hood was 17.6 l/min (interquartile range 12.3-27.0 l/min). All subjects reported thermal discomfort, with two (22.2%) requesting early termination of the experiment. Whilst the degree of rebreathing in this experiment was not sufficient to cause dangerous physiological derangement, the degree of reported thermal discomfort combined with the consequences of entrainment of possibly contaminated air into the hood, pose a risk to wearers in the event of failure.

Successful treatment of HIV-infected patients with combinational antiretroviral therapies (cART) can now prolong patients' lives to nearly normal life spans. However, the new challenge faced by many of those HIV-infected patients is chronic neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity that often leads to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). However, the mechanism of neuropathogenesis underlying HAND, especially in those who are under cART, is not well understood. HAND is typically characterized by HIV-mediated glial neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity. However, the severity of HAND does not always correlate with HIV-1 viral load but, rather, with the extent of glial activation, suggesting that other HIV-associated factors might contribute to HAND. HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr) could be one of those viral factors because of its association with neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity. The objective of this study was to delineate the specific roles of HIV-1 infection and Vpr in the activation of neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity, and the possible relationships with the Sur1-Trpm4 channel that contributes to neuroinflammation and neuronal death. Here, we show that HIV-1 expression correlates with activation of proinflammatory markers (TLR4, TNF-α, and NF-κB) and the Sur1-Trpm4 channel in astrocytes of HIV-infected postmortem human and transgenic Tg26 mouse brain tissues. We further show that Vpr alone activates the same set of proinflammatory markers and Sur1 in a glioblastoma SNB19 cell line that is accompanied by apoptosis. The Sur1 inhibitor glibenclamide significantly reduced Vpr-induced apoptosis. Together, our data suggest that HIV-1 Vpr-induced proinflammatory response and apoptosis are mediated at least in part through the Sur1-Trpm4 channel in astrocytes. IMPORTANCE Effective antiretroviral therapies can now prolong patients' lives to nearly normal life span. The current challenge faced by many HIV-infected patients is chronic neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity that contributes to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). We show here that the expression of HIV-1 infection and Vpr correlates with the activation of proinflammatory markers (Toll-like receptor 4 [TLR4], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], and NF-κB) and the sulfonylurea receptor 1 (Sur1)-transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (Trpm4) channel in astrocytes of brain tissues. We further show that an FDA-approved Sur1 inhibitory drug called glibenclamide significantly ameliorates apoptotic astrocytic cell death caused by HIV-1 Vpr, which could potentially open the possibility of repurposing glibenclamide for treating HAND., (Copyright © 2020 Li et al.)

Background: Adult bone marrow contains stem cells that replenish the myeloid and lymphoid lineages. A subset of human and mouse CD34 + bone marrow stem cells can be propagated in culture to autonomously express embryonic stem cell genes and embryonic germ layer lineage genes. The current study was undertaken to determine whether these CD34 + stem cells could be obtained from human blood, whether gene expression could be modulated by culture conditions and whether the cells produce insulin., Methods: Human peripheral blood buffy coat cells and mobilized CD34 + cells from human blood and from blood from C57Bl/6 J mice were cultured in hybridoma medium or neural stem cell induction medium supplemented with interleukin (IL)-3, IL-6, and stem cell factor (SCF). Changes in mRNA and protein expression were assessed by Western blot analysis and by immunohistochemistry. Mass spectrometry was used to assess insulin production., Results: We were able to culture CD34 + cells expressing embryonic stem cell and embryonic germ layer lineage genes from adult human peripheral blood after standard mobilization procedures and from mouse peripheral blood. Gene expression could be modulated by culture conditions, and the cells produced insulin in culture., Conclusion: These results suggest a practical method for obtaining large numbers of CD34 + cells from humans to allow studies on their potential to differentiate into other cell types.

Oligodendroglia are cells of the central nervous system (CNS) that form myelin sheath, which insulates neuronal axons. Neuropathologies of the CNS include dysmyelination of axons in multiple sclerosis and CNS trauma. Cell replacement is a promising but largely untested therapy for dysmyelination. Shiverer mouse, a genetic mutant that does not synthesize full-length myelin basic protein (MBP), a critical prerequisite protein in CNS myelin sheath formation, provides an unequivocal model for determining the potential of stem cells to become oligodendroglia. We demonstrate that adult wild-type mouse bone marrow stem cells can express MBP and ensheath axons when transplanted into Shiverer brain., (Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Transplantation of neural stem cells for replacing neurons after neurodegeneration requires that the transplanted stem cells accurately reestablish the lost neural circuits in order to restore function. Retinal ganglion cell axons project to visual centers of the brain forming circuits in precise topographic order. In chick, dorsal retinal neurons project to ventral optic tectum, ventral neurons to dorsal tectum, anterior neurons to posterior tectum and posterior neurons to anterior tectum; forming a continuous point-to-point map of retinal cell position in the tectal projection. We found that when stem cells derived from ventral retina were implanted in dorsal host retina, the stem cells that became ganglion cells projected to dorsal tectum, appropriate for their site of origin in retina but not appropriate for their site of implant in retina. This led us to ask if retinal progenitors exhibit topographic markers of cell position in retina. Indeed, retinal neural progenitors express topographic markers: dorsal stem cells expressed more Ephrin B2 than ventral stem cells and, conversely, ventral stem cells expressed more Pax-2 and Ventroptin than dorsal stem cells. The fact that neural progenitors express topographic markers has pertinent implications in using neural stem cells in cell replacement therapy for replacing projecting neurons that express topographic order, e.g., analogous neurons of the visual, auditory, somatosensory and motor systems., (Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and adult somatic cells, induced to pluripotency (iPSCs), can differentiate into multiple cell lineages. We previously reported that adult mammalian bone marrow contains a sub-population of CD34+ cells that express genes of ESCs and genes required to generate iPSCs. They also express lineage genes of the three embryonic germ layers. Are these CD34+ cells multipotent? Here, CD34+ bone marrow stem cells from adult male ROSA mice, which carry two markers: the β-galactosidase gene and the male Y chromosome, were transplanted into blastocysts of wildtype mice. Each female ROSA chimera generated had a distinct pattern of male-derived organs expressing β-galactosidase; e.g., ectodermal brain, dorsal root ganglia and skin; mesodermal heart, bone and bone marrow; and endodermal pancreas, intestine, and liver. Thus, adult mammals carry cells that appear to exhibit a developmental potential reminiscent of ESCs and iPSCs suggesting they could be used for cell replacement therapy., (Copyright © 2012 Académie des sciences. Published by Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this research is to investigate the role of the occupational risks in the development of pain syndromes of the locomotor system in workers employed in basic workplaces at aluminum potrooms, basing on the periodic health screenings data. It has been determined that working under the conditions of toxical fluorides-related exposure and athletic overexertion increases the risk of the upper arm pain syndrome development 4.3 fold. The maximum relative risk (108.2) has been revealed in the workers of such kind of professions having the length of employment upper 20 years and suffering simultaneously from cervical osteochondrosis and pulmonary diseases.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family, is protective in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. However, BDNF has a short half-life and its efficacy in the CNS when delivered peripherally is limited due to the blood-brain barrier. In the present study, bone marrow cells were used as vehicles to deliver the BDNF gene into the CNS. Marrow cells obtained from 6 to 8 week-old SJL/J mice were transduced with BDNF expressing pro-virus. RT-PCR analysis revealed that BDNF mRNA was expressed in transduced but not in non-transduced marrow cells. Additionally, virus transduced marrow cells expressed the BDNF protein (296+/-1.2 unit/ml). BDNF-transduced marrow cells were then transplanted into irradiated mice through the tail vein. Three months post-transplantation, significant increases in BDNF as well as glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD(67)) mRNA were detected in the brains of BDNF transplanted mice compared to untransplanted animals, indicating biological activity of the BDNF transgene. Thus, bone marrow cells can be used as vehicles to deliver the BDNF gene into the brain with implications for the treatment of neurological diseases.

The specific activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase (mu subtype) were significantly lower in the brains of mice with type II diabetes than in the brains of control mice. On the other hand, the specific activity of glutathione peroxidase was unaltered. The concentration of vitamin E, but not that of total glutathione and ascorbate, was increased in the brains of the type II diabetic mice. The relative amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (as determined with soybean lipoxygenase) was increased in whole brains and crude synaptosomal membranes of the type II diabetic mice. Endogenous levels of thiobarbituric acid-positive material were decreased in both whole brain homogenates and crude synaptosomal membranes of the db/db mice. Susceptibility of lipids within whole brain homogenates and crude synaptosomal membranes of mice with type II diabetes to peroxidation with iron/ascorbate was also markedly decreased compared with that of controls. Vitamin E is known to quench lipid peroxidation. Therefore, decreased lipid peroxidation in the type II mouse brain may be due to increased vitamin E content.

Glutathione and "total" carnitine (i.e., free carnitine plus acid-soluble carnitine esters) were measured in an affected (superior frontal gyrus; SFG) and unaffected (cerebellum: CBL) region of Alzheimer disease (AD) and control brains. Average glutathione content in AD SFG (n = 13) and AD CBL (n = 7) (7.9 +/- 2.1 and 11.9 +/- 4.0 nmol/mg protein, respectively (mean +/- S.D.)) was similar to that in control SFG (n = 13) and CBL (n = 6) (7.7 +/- 2.0 and 11.6 +/- 2.6 nmol/mg protein, respectively). However, glutathione increased significantly with age in AD brain (p = 0.003) but not in control brain. Average total carnitine in AD SFG (84 +/- 47 pmol/mg protein; n = 10) and AD CBL (108 +/- 86 pmol/mg protein; n = 7) was not significantly different from that in the corresponding regions of control brain (148 +/- 97 (n = 10) and 144 +/- 107 (n = 6) pmol/mg protein, respectively). However, a significant decline of total carnitine with age in both regions was noted for AD brain, but not for control brain. Carnitine acetyltransferase activity in the AD SFG (n = 13) was not significantly different from that of control SFG (n = 13) (1.83 +/- 1.05 and 2.04 +/- 0.82 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively). However, carnitine acetyltransferase activity of AD CBL (n = 7) was significantly lower than that of control CBL (n = 6) (1.33 +/- 0.88 versus 2.26 +/- 0.66 nmol/min/mg protein; p = 0.05).

CBL/57 strain db/db mice exhibit type II (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes. The affected mice are markedly hyperinsulinemic, hyperglycemic, and hypercholesterolemic, and their serum K+ levels are decreased. The brains of the diabetic mice are significantly smaller than those of their lean, control littermates, but the protein concentration is normal. The low brain weight is accompanied by a loss of major fatty acid components within the whole brain, nerve endings, and mitochondrial membranes. Cholesterol levels are low in whole brain but are not significantly different from normal in the synaptosomal membranes. The phospholipid concentration is significantly decreased in whole brain homogenates, crude synaptosomal membranes, and crude mitochondrial membranes of the diabetic mice. In addition, the specific activities of membrane-bound synaptosomal acetylcholinesterase, Na+,K(+)-ATPase, and Mg(2+)-ATPase are decreased in crude synaptosomal membranes of the diabetic mice. The specific activities of carnitine palmitoyltransferase I and carnitine acetyltransferase are significantly increased in the crude mitochondrial fraction isolated from the brains of the type II diabetic mice, whereas the specific activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is decreased. The specific activities of two other mitochondrial enzymes--monoamine oxidase B and citrate synthase--and a cytosolic enzyme--lactate dehydrogenase--are unaltered. The ability to synthesize cyclic AMP is markedly decreased in the brains of the diabetic mice. The concentrations of carnitine and of the amino acids, glutamate, aspartate, glutamine, and serine are unaltered, whereas glycine levels are significantly elevated in the brains of the db/db mice. The data suggest that in vivo the brains of the diabetic mice exhibit a decreased capacity for glucose oxidation and increased capacity for fatty acid oxidation. This hypothesis is supported by the finding that cerebral mitochondria isolated from the db/db mice oxidize [1-14C]palmitate to 14CO2 at a rate almost twice that of control mitochondria. The present findings emphasize the potentially serious alteration of brain metabolism in uncontrolled type II diabetes.

Glutamine transaminase K and omega-amidase activities are present in the chick brain and in the brains of adult mice, rats, and humans. However, the activity of glutamine transaminase K in adult mouse brain is relatively low. In the chick embryo, cerebral glutamine transaminase K activity is low between embryonic days 5 and 17, but by day 23 (day of hatching) activity rises dramatically (> 15-fold). Cerebral omega-amidase activity is relatively high at embryonic day 5 but lower between days 5 and 17; at embryonic day 23 the activity rises to a maximum. Both glutamine transaminase K and omega-amidase are present in cultured chick, rat, and mouse astrocytes and neurons. For each species, the activity of glutamine transaminase K is higher in the astrocytes than in the neurons. The activity of omega-amidase is about the same in the cultured chick astrocytes and neurons but significantly higher in rat astrocytes than in rat neurons. The data suggest that the rise in brain glutamine transaminase K activity in the chick embryo at hatching correlates with maturation of astrocytes. Glutamine transaminase K may be involved in glutamine cycling in astrocytes. Glutamine transaminase K appears to be a major cysteine S-conjugate beta-lyase of the brain and may play a role in the neurotoxicity associated with exposure to dichloroacetylene and perhaps to other toxins.

GSH, GSSG, vitamin E, and ascorbate were measured in 14-day cultures of chick astrocytes and neurons and compared with levels in the forebrains of chick embryos of comparable age. Activities of enzymes involved in GSH metabolism were also measured. These included gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, GSH synthetase, gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferase, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, glutathione transferase (GST), GSH peroxidase, and GSSG reductase. The concentration of lipid-soluble vitamin E in the cultured neurons was found to be comparable with that in the forebrain. On the other hand, the concentration of vitamin E in the astrocytes was significantly greater in the cultured astrocytes than in the neurons, suggesting that the astrocytes are able to accumulate exogenous vitamin E more extensively than neurons. The concentrations of major fatty acids were higher in the cell membranes of cultured neurons than those in the astrocytes. Ascorbate was not detected in cultured cells although the chick forebrains contained appreciable levels of this antioxidant. GSH, total glutathione (i.e., GSH and GSSG), and GST activity were much higher in cultured astrocytes than in neurons. gamma-Glutamylcysteine synthetase activity was higher in the cultured astrocytes than in the cultured neurons. GSH reductase and GSH peroxidase activities were roughly comparable in cultured astrocytes and neurons. The high levels of GSH and GST in cultured astrocytes appears to reflect the situation in vivo. The data suggest that astrocytes are resistant to reactive oxygen species (and potentially toxic xenobiotics) and may play a protective role in the brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Using a consistent, reproducible and reliable cortical focal ischemia in rat (permanent unilateral occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery & the ipsilateral common carotid artery [MCAo + CCAo] with a 1 h temporary occlusion of the contralateral CCA), the levels of four major membrane fatty acids (palmitic, C16:0; stearic, C18:0; Oleic, C18:1 and arachidonic, C20:4) were analyzed at 3, 36 and 72 h, and 2 and 4 wk following ischemia to determine the critical point of irreversibility of the cellular plasma membrane disorganization in primary ischemic (Area 1, parietal cortex) and peri-ischemic (Area 2, tempero-occipital cortex) areas. The cortical focal ischemia resulted in time dependent differential loss in four of these major membrane fatty acids. The quantitative differences among primary and peri-ischemic areas reflected the different degree of ischemic injury inflicted to these regions. Acute treatment with ganglioside GM1 protected the further losses of all of these fatty acids and differentially restored their levels in these various injury sites over periods of time. The changes in levels of these membrane fatty acids indicate that the primary ischemic area suffers an irreversible injury and peri-ischemic area suffers reversible injury. After acute treatment (< 2 h) with ganglioside GM1, a partial recovery was observed in primary ischemic area and complete recovery was observed in peri-ischemic areas. These studies support the hypothesis that, ischemia leads to a irreversible plasma membrane disorganization which underlies the eventual cell death, and protection and restoration of these membrane changes by drugs, such as ganglioside GM1 leads to neuroprotection against ischemic injury.