The First Genome from the Basal Monocot Family Has Been Misnamed: Taxonomic Identity of Acorus tatarinowii (Acoraceae), a Source of Numerous Chemical Compounds of Pharmaceutical Importance

The basalmost monocot genus Acorus is well-known for its use in traditional oriental medicine. It comprises the groups of A. calamus and A. gramineus. A recent study recognized three species in the latter group, A. gramineus, A. macrospadiceus, and A. tatarinowii. The material currently known as A. tatarinowii has been extensively studied as a source of various chemical compounds and for producing the first published genome of Acorus, which is important for understanding the origin and evolution of monocots. Using the data from morphology, anatomy, and biogeography, we argue that the type material of A. tatarinowii does not match the interpretation of the species name as adopted in the current literature and herbarium collections (to a taxon of the A. gramineus group from Southeast Asia) but rather belongs to the A. calamus group. Moreover, the name A. macrospadiceus also cannot be used because it was invalidly published. Under a narrow species concept, other appropriate species names should be found or proposed for the plants currently named A. tatarinowii and A. macrospadiceus. However, we discourage the use of a narrow species concept in the A. gramineus group as insufficiently justified and suggest recognizing a single polymorphic species, A. gramineus s.l., at least until a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the group is available. Apart from the presentation of our revised taxonomic framework, we update the geographical distributions of Acorus species in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand

The impact of transesophageal echocardiography based protocol for management of adults in the sitting position on the incidence of clinically significant venous air embolism

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) – based protocol for management of adults in the sitting position during elective neurosurgical interventions on the incidence of clinically significant venous air embolism (VAE). Material and Methods ― The study involved 155 adult neurosurgery patients (70 in prospective group and 85 in retrospective group). Surgery in both groups was done in the sitting position. In the prospective group TEE-based protocol was used. Retrospective group served as control. The primary endpoint was considered to be a decrease in the frequency of clinically significant VAE in the prospective group in comparison with the retrospective one. In the prospective group, VAE with Tuebingen grade 3-5 was considered clinically significant. The PFO incidence and severity and the effect of the number of episodes of VAE per case on its maximum severity during surgery were also analyzed. Any complication in the postoperative period believed to be associated with the position of the patient on the table during the surgery was recorded. Results ― The incidence of the clinically significant VAE in the retrospective group was 23.5% (95% CI 15-34) and was 16.4% higher than the frequency in the prospective group (chi-square=7.6197, df=1, p=0.005). 50% (95% CI 38-62) of patients in prospective group developed VAE during surgery. In 16 cases, the number of episodes was more than one. The number of episodes of VAE in the observation was reliably associated with the maximum severity of VAE during the observation (Z=4.11; p<0.001). A moderate strength relationship was determined between them (SomersDelta=0.43; 95% CI 0.17-0.7). Not a single case of paradoxical air embolism was detected in a series of observations. None of the patients has got a neurological deficit or cardiopulmonary complications associated with the position on the surgical table in the postoperative period. Pneumocephalus was found in 100% of cases on head computed tomography, which, however, did not need surgical treatment. PFO in the prospective group was detected in 62% (95% CI 52-73) of patients. In 25% (95% CI 16-35), shunting was significant. A large PFO without Valsalva maneuver was detected in 12.5% (95% CI 6-21) of cases. Conclusion ― The use of the TEE-based protocol for the management of adult patients in a sitting position during elective neurosurgical interventions can reduce the incidence of clinically significant VAE

The First Genome from the Basal Monocot Family Has Been Misnamed: Taxonomic Identity of <i>Acorus tatarinowii</i> (Acoraceae), a Source of Numerous Chemical Compounds of Pharmaceutical Importance

The basalmost monocot genus Acorus is well-known for its use in traditional oriental medicine. It comprises the groups of A. calamus and A. gramineus. A recent study recognized three species in the latter group, A. gramineus, A. macrospadiceus, and A. tatarinowii. The material currently known as A. tatarinowii has been extensively studied as a source of various chemical compounds and for producing the first published genome of Acorus, which is important for understanding the origin and evolution of monocots. Using the data from morphology, anatomy, and biogeography, we argue that the type material of A. tatarinowii does not match the interpretation of the species name as adopted in the current literature and herbarium collections (to a taxon of the A. gramineus group from Southeast Asia) but rather belongs to the A. calamus group. Moreover, the name A. macrospadiceus also cannot be used because it was invalidly published. Under a narrow species concept, other appropriate species names should be found or proposed for the plants currently named A. tatarinowii and A. macrospadiceus. However, we discourage the use of a narrow species concept in the A. gramineus group as insufficiently justified and suggest recognizing a single polymorphic species, A. gramineus s.l., at least until a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the group is available. Apart from the presentation of our revised taxonomic framework, we update the geographical distributions of Acorus species in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand

The First Genome from the Basal Monocot Family Has Been Misnamed: Taxonomic Identity of Acorus tatarinowii (Acoraceae), a Source of Numerous Chemical Compounds of Pharmaceutical Importance

The basalmost monocot genus Acorus is well-known for its use in traditional oriental medicine. It comprises the groups of A. calamus and A. gramineus. A recent study recognized three species in the latter group, A. gramineus, A. macrospadiceus, and A. tatarinowii. The material currently known as A. tatarinowii has been extensively studied as a source of various chemical compounds and for producing the first published genome of Acorus, which is important for understanding the origin and evolution of monocots. Using the data from morphology, anatomy, and biogeography, we argue that the type material of A. tatarinowii does not match the interpretation of the species name as adopted in the current literature and herbarium collections (to a taxon of the A. gramineus group from Southeast Asia) but rather belongs to the A. calamus group. Moreover, the name A. macrospadiceus also cannot be used because it was invalidly published. Under a narrow species concept, other appropriate species names should be found or proposed for the plants currently named A. tatarinowii and A. macrospadiceus. However, we discourage the use of a narrow species concept in the A.&nbsp;gramineus group as insufficiently justified and suggest recognizing a single polymorphic species, A. gramineus s.l., at least until a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the group is available. Apart from the presentation of our revised taxonomic framework, we update the geographical distributions of Acorus species in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand

Magnetically intercalated multilayer silicene

Silicene, a Si-based analogue of graphene, is predicted to exhibit topological electronic phases with exotic properties capable to revolutionize electronics. In particular, the silicene structure is highly advantageous for spintronics. However, lack of synthetic routes to free-standing and magnetically functionalized silicene compounds prevents experimental corroboration of the predictions. Here we synthesize EuSi2, multilayer silicene intercalated with inherently magnetic Eu atoms, on SrSi2/Si(001) templates. The resulting films are formed by crystallites of two mutually orthogonal orientations. The structure is firmly established with electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The compound EuSi2 exhibits non-trivial magnetic and transport properties. The data are compared with those for EuSi2 films grown on SrSi2/Si(111) templates

Magnetically intercalated multilayer silicene

Silicene, a Si-based analogue of graphene, is predicted to exhibit topological electronic phases with exotic properties capable to revolutionize electronics. In particular, the silicene structure is highly advantageous for spintronics. However, lack of synthetic routes to free-standing and magnetically functionalized silicene compounds prevents experimental corroboration of the predictions. Here we synthesize EuSi2, multilayer silicene intercalated with inherently magnetic Eu atoms, on SrSi2/Si(001) templates. The resulting films are formed by crystallites of two mutually orthogonal orientations. The structure is firmly established with electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The compound EuSi2 exhibits non-trivial magnetic and transport properties. The data are compared with those for EuSi2 films grown on SrSi2/Si(111) templates