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Biodiesel is generally obtained by transesterification and esterification of appropriate feedstocks facilitated by a catalyst. It has emerged to be one of the most potential alternatives for the conventional fuels gaining worldwide attention. Heterogeneous catalysts are usually preferred than homogeneous for biodiesel synthesis due to facile separation and insignificant soap formation. However, the separation still possesses difficulty leading to mass transfer hindrance. Therefore, these catalysts can be further modified using magnetic separation techniques to develop magnetically separable catalysts. The magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are notable appealing catalysts due to huge surface area, high activity, amicable functional groups and structures, adaptable properties, conformity in pore size, and facile separation have made them desirable catalyst carriers for biodiesel synthesis. The MNPs are modified via functionalization to construct magnetically recoverable heterogeneous nanocatalysts. Magnetic catalysts can be utilized as a befitting option for biodiesel synthesis as these are environmentally benign, highly reusable and economically viable. The current review article discusses different magnetic solid catalysts such as magnetic base, acid, biocatalysts and bifunctional of acid base catalysts for efficient biodiesel synthesis. The prime focus of this paper rest on the catalytic performances of various magnetically recoverable catalysts, mechanisms and recyclability for biodiesel production processes. The synthesis methods of magnetic heterogeneous base and acid nanocatalysts, magnetic properties, functionalization and their reciprocity on the catalytic activity are reviewed in this article.

Summary: Acute stroke triggers extensive changes to myeloid immune cell populations in the brain that may be targets for limiting brain damage and enhancing repair. Immunomodulatory approaches will be most effective with precise manipulation of discrete myeloid cell phenotypes in time and space. Here, we investigate how stroke alters mononuclear myeloid cell composition and phenotypes at single-cell resolution and key spatial patterns. Our results show that multiple reactive microglial states and monocyte-derived populations contribute to an extensive myeloid cell repertoire in post-stroke brains. We identify important overlaps and distinctions among different cell types/states that involve ontogeny- and spatial-related properties. Notably, brain connectivity with infarcted tissue underpins the pattern of local and remote altered cell accumulation and reactivity. Our discoveries suggest a global but anatomically governed brain myeloid cell response to stroke that comprises diverse phenotypes arising through intrinsic cell ontogeny factors interacting with exposure to spatially organized brain damage and neuro-axonal cues.

Introduction: Neurosurgery is considered a technically demanding specialty; nonetheless, it also requires non-technical skills (NTSs) to reach mastery. Research question: This study seeks to understand how important NTSs are perceived by neurosurgeons across diverse roles and socio-economic backgrounds. The objective is to identify key NTSs and explore their role in surgical precision, teamwork, and collaboration. Material and method: An international survey involving 372 neurosurgeons from various socio-economic and cultural contexts was conducted. The extensive sample and inclusive methodology provide a comprehensive perspective on the perceived importance of NTSs in neurosurgery. Results: The survey results highlight the universal significance of NTSs among neurosurgeons. Attention to detail, humility, and self-awareness are considered essential for surgical precision, effective teamwork, and collaboration. The findings underscore the necessity for integrated training programs that combine NTSs with technical skills. Discussion and conclusion: The study emphasizes the importance of effective training methods such as simulations, mentorship, and role-playing in equipping neurosurgeons to navigate the complexities of their profession. Future research should focus on optimizing teaching methods for NTSs, comparing traditional courses, online modules, and hybrid training programs. Addressing the global disparity in neurosurgical care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, is crucial for improving patient outcomes worldwide.

Cerebrovascular disease is a major contributor to subcortical white matter pathology, vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) and dementia. Although the precise pathophysiological mechanisms remain unclear, it is increasingly evident that microglial responses may be critical to the development and progression of cerebrovascular disease and its cognitive consequences. To investigate this further, we assessed microglial reactivity in white matter regions of human post- mortem tissue with pathologically confirmed cerebrovascular injury. In parallel, we implemented a mouse model of VCI induced by bilateral carotid artery stenosis (BCAS) and determined the impact of genetically deleting the microglial immunoreceptor triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), a key regulator of microglial homeostatic and reactive functions. Using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) we observed increased microglial reactivity and TREM2 expression in our human cohort implicating TREM2 signalling in microglial responses to cerebrovascular. In mice, IHC and flow cytometric analysis revealed Trem2 deficiency blunted microglial reactivity following BCAS (1 month). Transcriptomic analysis of Trem2-/- microglia also demonstrated attenuated induction of gene expression modules associated with inflammation, lysosomal function, lipid processing and metabolic reprogramming following BCAS (data not shown). Importantly, this was associated with greater white matter injury compared to wildtype (WT) counterparts in the absence of overt cognitive changes. Following longer durations of BCAS (6 months), Trem2-/- mice exhibited additional parenchymal and vascular pathologies associated with impairments in spatial learning and memory whilst such changes were largely absent in WT mice. Interestingly, assessment of microglia by IHC demonstrated reduced interaction with white matter cerebrovasculature in Trem2-/- mice. Taken together, these data support a role for microglia in cerebrovascular contributions to cognitive decline and dementia. Therefore, targeting regulators of microglia reactivity may provide means to influence cerebrovascular disease trajectory and associated cognitive changes. While further work is required to delineate the precise function of microglia in this context, our preclinical data suggest TREM2-regulated microglial responses to cerebrovascular insult are important for maintenance of brain health and cognitive resilience. Future work will continue to decipher how TREM2 mediates such resilience with particular focus on interaction with other cell types within the neurogliovascular unit.

The giant honey bee, Apis laboriosa, is native to the central and eastern Himalayas, Hengduan, Arakan, Annamite and adjoining mountain ranges of Southeast Asia. The present work documented forage plants of A. laboriosa in a captive condition outside its natural geographic range for 09 months and tested their choice based on the abundance of the forager bees on flowers. The study was conducted by introducing a combless colony of A. laboriosa in a climate control greenhouse. A total of 68 plant species of 34 families were offered, out of which the foragers accepted the floral rewards from 28 species of 20 plant families. The foragers collected pollens and nectar from 10 and 18 plant species, respectively. A maximum number of foragers visited Mesua ferrea for pollen (16.94 ± 1.25 foragers/flower/hour) and Indigofera sp. for nectar (9.60 ± 1.24 foragers/flower/hour). Tukey's Multiple Comparison test showed significant variation in the abundance of foragers on some plants. Analysis of variance showed no significant difference in the number of foragers at different time intervals of a day except for the nectar plants Cucumis sativus and Indigofera sp. The study also showed that the choice of the foragers was not associated with floral colours and plant family, but possibly dependent on some common cues of the forage plants resulting from convergent evolution. Foraging from plants of low altitudes also indicated that they can forage from plants outside their native geographic range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Introduction Materials and Methods Results Conclusion Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) constitutes 10% of all lymphoma diagnoses and accounts for 5% of lymphoma‐related deaths. Accurate prognostication in HL remains crucial, particularly given that 10%–20% of patients may receive either insufficient or excessive treatment. This study investigates the effect of hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP) score, which is a marker of inflammation status and nutrition, at the time of diagnosis for the patients with HL on prognosis.A total of 147 patients diagnosed with cHL were included in the study, and their data were analyzed retrospectively. The significance of the HALP score and hematological indices [neutrophil‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), lymphocyte‐monocyte ratio (LMR), and platelet‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR)] as predictors of overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) was evaluated.Patients were grouped according to median values for the HALP score and hematological indices. High HALP score (p = 0.034), low NLR (p = 0.033), high LMR (p = 0.003), and low PLR (p = 0.014) were statistically significant in the early‐stage favorable group. DFS and OS were not statistically significant according to the HALP score NLR, LMR, and PLR groups.The need for readily applicable, reliable prognostic markers in cHL, where immunotherapy treatments have led to significantly improved survival outcomes, remains persistent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the areas of use of phenolic compounds, it is important to determine the concentrations at which they show synergistic and antagonistic interactions for their integration into various systems and their correct use. In this study, the synergistic interaction concentration of rosmarinic acid, gallic acid, and caffeic acid was determined by Folin--Ciocalteu and FRAP methods. The central composite design--response surface methodology was used to determine the optimum concentration for synergistic interaction. As a result of the optimization, caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, and gallic acid showed synergistic interaction at 7.87 μM, 6.75 μM and 9.42 μM concentrations for Folin--Ciocalteu method; 8.03 μM, 9.34 μM and 6.00 μM concentration for FRAP method respectively. The capacity of phenolic compounds to prevent the formation of DNA base damage products was evaluated by GC--MS/MS. As a result, the synergistic concentration of three phenolics reduces the DNA damage products at 37.17% (FOLIN) and 40.17% (FRAP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the number of people travelling to altitude increases, the risk of life threatening medical emergencies also increases. It is important that we have effective strategies to minimize the risk of altitude illness. In this study, an attempt was made to investigate the combined effect of non-pharmacological (Intermittent hypoxia training; IHT) and pharmacological (acetazolamide; ACZ) intervention as a prophylactic strategy in order to minimize the risk of high altitude hypoxic related problems using rats as an animal model. Male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to IHT for 4 h consecutively for 5 days at 12% FiO2 under normobaric conditions with and without oral ACZ administration at 25 mg/kg body weight. Validation of the intervention was performed by exposing the rats to extreme hypoxia (EH) at 8% FiO2 to further assess the effect of IHT and ACZ on hypoxic acclimatization. The principal findings of this study is that the combined effect of IHT and ACZ improves the arterial oxygenation by alterations in hemodynamics and in blood gasometry, thereby resulting into an increase in the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood with increase in SpO2 (peripheral oxygen saturation). The present study showed that the combined effect of IHT with ACZ could be refined as a prophylactic measure for better outcomes during altitude ascent and rapid altitude acclimatization rather than IHT or ACZ alone.