Xen-DS: a novel technique of ab externo Xen implantation augmented with a modified deep sclerectomy for surgical treatment of glaucoma.

PURPOSE: The Xen gel stent is a surgical glaucoma device which creates a subconjunctival filtering bleb, which has demonstrated good intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering and safety. Nonetheless, bleb-related problems have been reported. We present a case series of ab externo Xen procedures augmented with a deep intra-scleral lake, aiming to improve both IOP-lowering and post-operative management. METHODS: A retrospective review of 20 patients who underwent combined Xen gel stent implantation with modified deep sclerectomy at our institution from June to November 2022, with a 6-month follow-up period. We reviewed demographics, past ocular history, visual acuity (VA), IOP, visual fields, glaucoma medication use, complications, and perioperative information. RESULTS: 20 eyes of 20 patients, with a mean age of 67.45 ± 14.38 underwent surgery. Pre-operative initial IOP was 24.5 ± 7.96 mmHg, improving to 11.50 ± 2.96 mmHg at 6 months; a change of -12.89 ± 8.34 mmHg and a mean decrease of 51.13 ± 20.15% (p < 0.0001) Patients were on 3.1 ± 0.72 glaucoma medications pre-operatively, improving to 0.72 ± 1.27 at 6 months (p < 0.0001). Visual field mean deviation was -13.99 ± 9.98 dB pre-operatively and -10.27 ± 9.06 dB at 6 months, with VA of 0.287 ± 0.69 pre-operatively and 0.31 ± 0.76 LogMAR post-operatively. No patients required bleb needling. 2 patients underwent subsequent bleb revision surgery. 2 patients developed choroidal effusions, which were managed conservatively with good visual outcomes. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, we have found the modification of Xen gel stent implant surgery with a modified deep sclerectomy to offer good IOP lowering, with low rates of bleb needling and a good safety profile.

Evolutionarily labile dispersal behavior and discontinuous habitats enhance population differentiation in island versus continentally distributed swallows.

The causes of population divergence in vagile groups remain a paradox in evolutionary biology: dispersive species should be able to colonize new areas, a prerequisite for allopatric speciation, but dispersal also facilitates gene flow, which erodes population differentiation. Strong dispersal ability has been suggested to enhance divergence in patchy habitats and inhibit divergence in continuous landscapes, but empirical support for this hypothesis is lacking. Here we compared patterns of population divergence in a dispersive clade of swallows distributed across both patchy and continuous habitats. The Pacific Swallow (Hirundo tahitica) has an insular distribution throughout Southeast Asia and the Pacific, while its sister species, the Welcome Swallow (H. neoxena), has a continental distribution in Australia. We used whole-genome data to demonstrate strong genetic structure and limited introgression among insular populations, but not among continental populations. Demographic models show that historic changes in habitat connectivity have contributed to population structure within the clade. Swallows appear to exhibit evolutionarily labile dispersal behavior in which they reduce dispersal propensity after island colonization despite retaining strong flight ability. Our data support the hypothesis that fragmented habitats enhance population differentiation in vagile groups, and suggest that labile dispersal behavior is a key mechanism underlying this pattern.

Quaternary, layered, 2D chalcogenide, Mo1-xWxSSe: thickness dependent transport properties.

Highly oriented, single crystalline, quaternary alloy chalcogenide crystal, MoxW1-xS2ySe2(1-y), is synthesized using a high temperature chemical vapor transport technique and its transport properties studied over a wide temperature range. Field effect transistors (FET) with bottom gated configuration are fabricated using Mo0.5W0.5SSe flakes of different thicknesses, from a single layer to bulk. The FET characteristics are thickness tunable, with thin flakes (1-4 layers) exhibiting n-type transport behaviour while ambipolar transfer characteristics are observed for thicker flakes (>90 layers). Ambipolar behavior with the dominance of n-type over p-type transport is noted for devices fabricated with layers between 9 and 90. The devices with flake thickness ∼9 layers exhibit a maximum electron mobility 63 ± 4 cm2V-1s-1and anION/IOFFratio >108. A maximum hole mobility 10.3 ± 0.4 cm2V-1s-1is observed for the devices with flake thickness ∼94 layers withION/IOFFratio >102-103observed for the hole conduction. A maximumION/IOFFfor hole conduction, 104is obtained for the devices fabricated with flakes of thickness ∼7-19 layers. The electron Schottky barrier height values are determined to be ∼23.3 meV and ∼74 meV for 2 layer and 94 layers flakes respectively, as measured using low temperature measurements. This indicates that an increase in hole current with thickness is likely to be due to lowering of the band gap as a function of thickness. Furthermore, the contact resistance (Rct) is evaluated using transmission line model (TLM) and is found to be 14 kohm.µm. These results suggest that quaternary alloys of Mo0.5W0.5SSe are potential candidates for various electronic/optoelectronic devices where properties and performance can be tuned within a single composition.

A COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR THE DETERMINATION OF ABSOLUTE ACTIVITIES IN CONTAMINATIONS AND SKIN DOSES.

At radiological facilities, protocols are in place to guide radiation protection personnel in the event of the radioactive contamination of surfaces. A count rate measurement is performed with a portable contamination survey meter and a sample of the contamination is taken for later analysis and identification of the radionuclides. If the contaminated surface was of a worker's skin, then a skin dose assessment is made. The determination of the absolute activity of the radionuclides of the contamination often rests on the assumed detection efficiency of the survey meter used in the initial counting. This may lead to important underestimation or overestimation of the radionuclides' activities as the detection efficiency of the instrument must depend on the radiation type, the energy and the backscatter characteristics of the surface. This paper reports on a user-friendly computer application that relies on databases of pre-calculated detection efficiencies and skin dose rate conversion factors for the accurate assessment of contamination activities and skin doses. The results of some cases are compared with the available data in the literature.

Geographic variability of hybridization between red-breasted and red-naped sapsuckers.

Hybrid zones reveal the strength of reproductive isolation between populations undergoing speciation and are a key tool in evolutionary biology research. Multiple replicate transects across the same hybrid zone offer insight into the dynamics of hybridization in different environments, clarifying the role of extrinsic forces on the speciation process. Red-breasted and red-naped sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus ruber and Sphyrapicus nuchalis) have a long zone of contact over approximately 1,600 km from central British Columbia, Canada to central California, USA. We used Genotyping-by-Sequencing data from three independent sapsucker hybrid zone transects to compare hybridization dynamics between these species under variable geoclimatic conditions. We generated geographic clines of the genomic data to compare hybrid zone widths and used random forests models and linear regression to assess the relationship between climate and sapsucker ancestry along each transect. Our results show variation in the directionality of backcrossing, often indicative of moving hybrid zones. We note variable cline widths among transects, indicating differences in selection maintaining hybrid zone dynamics. Furthermore, random forests models identified different variables in close association with sapsucker ancestry across each transect. These results indicate a lack of repeatability across replicate transects and a strong influence of the local environment on hybrid zone dynamics.

Population genomics of an emergent tri-species hybrid zone.

Isolating barriers that drive speciation are commonly studied in the context of two-species hybrid zones. There is, however, evidence that more complex introgressive relationships are common in nature. Here, we use field observations and genomic analysis, including the sequencing and assembly of a novel reference genome, to study an emergent hybrid zone involving two colliding hybrid zones of three woodpecker species: red-breasted, red-naped, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus ruber, S. nuchalis, and S. varius). Surveys of the area surrounding Prince George, British Columbia, Canada, show that all three species are sympatric, and Genotyping-by-Sequencing identifies hybrids from each species pair and birds with ancestry from all three species. Observations of phenotypes and genotypes of mated pairs provide evidence for assortative mating, though there is some heterospecific pairing. Hybridization is more extensive in this tri-species hybrid zone than in two di-species hybrid zones. However, there is no evidence of a hybrid swarm and admixture is constrained to contact zones, so we classify this region as a tension zone and invoke selection against hybrids as a likely mechanism maintaining species boundaries. Analysis of sapsucker age classes does not show disadvantages in hybrid survival to adulthood, so we speculate the selection upholding the tension zone may involve hybrid fecundity. Gene flow among all sapsuckers in di-species hybrid zones suggests introgression probably occurred before the formation of this tri-species hybrid zone, and might result from bridge hybridization, vagrancies, or other three-species interactions.

Development and validation of LCMS method for determination of Ethyl Glucuronide (EtG) in urine.

Background: Ethyl glucuronide (EtG) is a phase II metabolite of ethanol and is an upcoming biomarker for recent alcohol intake. Monitoring of alcohol intake in case of alcohol-dependent syndrome is very useful for early intervention and preventing harmful effects. EtG has also been identified as a very useful marker in differentiating antemortem ingestion of alcohol from postmortem production of alcohol. This study was undertaken with an objective of developing a sensitive and specific method for determination of EtG in urine. Methods: Triple quadruple Liquid Chromatography (LC)-Mass Spectrometry (MS) with Electrospray Ionization (ESI) negative mode has been used for developing the multiple reaction monitoring method by using the Polaris 3 C 18-Ether analytical column. A simple sample preparation method was adopted using the Bond Elute Plexa PAX SPE cartridge. The developed method was also tested on actual urine samples from 15 individuals after consumption of 60 and 90 ml of whiskey at different time intervals. Results: A simple method was developed for determination of EtG in urine, with a sensitivity of 100 ppb and a recovery of 75%. Validation of the method on urine samples revealed that EtG could be detected for up to 18 h in individuals who ingested 60 ml of whiskey and up to 24 h in those who ingested 90 ml of whiskey. Conclusion: The simple method was developed for determination of EtG in urine and validated on actual urine samples. This method can now be used in aircraft accident investigation to differentiate postmortem production of alcohol, and the method is also a very useful tool to monitor Alcohol dependent Syndrome (ADS) cases.

Effectiveness of a novel, non-intrusive, continuous-use air decontamination technology to reduce microbial contamination in clinical settings: a multi-centric study.

BACKGROUND: Despite rigorous disinfection and fumigation, healthcare-associated infection (HAI) remains a significant concern in healthcare settings. We have developed a novel airborne-microbicidal technology 'ZeBox' which clears >99.999% of airborne microbial load under controlled laboratory conditions. AIM: To evaluate the clinical performance of ZeBox in reducing airborne and surface microbial load. METHODS: The study was conducted in single-bed and multi-bed intensive care units (ICUs) of two hospitals. Airborne and surface microbial loads were sampled pre and post deployment of ZeBox at pre-determined sites. Statistical significance of the reduction was determined using the Mann-Whitney U-test. FINDINGS: ZeBox brought statistically significant reduction of both airborne and surface bacterial and fungal load. In both hospital ICUs, airborne and surface bacterial load decreased by 90% and 75% on average respectively, providing a low bioburden zone of 10-15 feet diameter around the unit. The reduced microbial level was maintained during ZeBox's operation over several weeks. Most clinical bacterial isolates recovered from one of the hospitals were antibiotic resistant, highlighting ZeBox's ability to eliminate antimicrobial-resistant bacteria among others. CONCLUSION: ZeBox significantly reduces airborne and surface microbial burden in clinical settings. It thereby serves an unmet need for reducing the incidence of HAI.

Determination of serotonin metabolites in urine sample by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry as biomarkers of recent alcohol intake: Implication for aircraft accident investigation.

BACKGROUND: Determination of ethanol levels in aircraft accident victims constitutes an important part of investigation. However, postmortem production of alcohol by microbial fermentation is known to interfere with the results. Distinguishing postmortem produced alcohols from antemortem ingested is very important in interpretation of results. Ratio of 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL) and 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) metabolites of serotonin, has known to provide a convenient, rapid, and reliable solution as antemortem ethanol leads to an elevation in the 5-HTOL/5-HIAA ratio after ingestion of alcohol (5-HTOL/5-HIAA = >15 pm/nm). METHODS: Triple quadruple (QQQ) liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with electrospray ionization positive mode has been used for development of single tube multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method for simultaneous quantification of 5-HTOL and 5-HIAA in urine. Deglucuronidation of 5-HTOL glucuronide in urine by beta-glucuronidase followed by simple sample preparation has been adopted. Examination of the ratio on urine samples from 15 individuals after consumption of 60 and 90 ml of whiskey has been carried out at different time interval. RESULTS: A single method for analysis of both the analytes was developed with sensitivity of 50 ppb and recovery of around 80-90%. Examination of the ratio on urine samples revealed that the ratio was >15 in all groups consuming 60 ml and 90-ml whiskey up to 12 h after alcohol ingestion. CONCLUSION: This is a unique highly sensitive single LC-MS method, which has been developed for simultaneous estimation of both 5-HTOL and 5-HIAA on same instrument for proving antemortem alcohol ingestion with high degree of sensitivity and specificity.

Shared contributions of the head and torso to spatial reference frames across spatial judgments.

Egocentric frames of reference take the body as the point of origin of a spatial coordinate system. Bodies, however, are not points, but extended objects, with distinct parts that can move independently of one another. We recently developed a novel paradigm to probe the use of different body parts in simple spatial judgments, what we called the misalignment paradigm. In this study, we applied the misalignment paradigm in a perspective-taking task to investigate whether the weightings given to different body parts are shared across different spatial judgments involving different spatial axes. Participants saw birds-eye images of a person with their head rotated 45° relative to the torso. On each trial, a ball appeared and participants made judgments either of whether the ball was to the person's left or right, or whether the ball was in front of the person or behind them. By analysing the pattern of responses with respect to both head and torso, we quantified the contribution of each body part to the reference frames underlying each judgment. For both judgment types we found clear contributions of both head and torso, with more weight being given on average to the torso. Individual differences in the use of the two body parts were correlated across judgment types indicating the use of a shared set of weightings used across spatial axes and judgments. Moreover, retesting of participants several months later showed high stability of these weightings, suggesting that they are stable characteristics of people.

Two-Dimensional, Few-Layer MnPS3 for Selective NO2 Gas Sensing under Ambient Conditions.

In this study, two-dimensional few-layer MnPS3 is introduced as a selective and reversible NO2 gas sensor in dry nitrogen (N2) under ambient conditions. The solvent exfoliation technique is utilized to exfoliate bulk MnPS3 into a few layers, which are further assembled as thin films by the vacuum filtration method. The films are subsequently transferred onto a sensing device and used for NO2 sensing. Exfoliated MnPS3 shows excellent sensitivity toward NO2 gas with a low detection limit of a few tens of ppb at 25 °C. A sensitivity of 9530% is obtained at 35 ppm concentration of NO2 with the theoretical limit of detection calculated to be ∼9.5 ppb. The sensor is highly selective toward NO2 gas (with respect to interferents NO, NH3, H2, CO, CO2, C2H2, and O2) and is fully reversible under ambient conditions. The time constant is determined to be in the range of 30-160 s for adsorption and desorption processes. Raman spectroscopy reveals that the mechanism of sensing is based on charge transfer interactions between the sensor and analyte. This study opens up ways to fabricate gas sensors using few-layer metal phosphochalcogenides (MPX3).

An unusual site of metastasis from carcinoma of tongue - metastasis to lumbar vertebrae: A case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Carcinoma of tongue is a common site of oral cancer. It usually occurs at mean age of 61.1 years and is more common in males when compared with females. It commonly spreads directly and through lymphatics to the surrounding structures. It has a low incidence of hematogenous metastasis. Lung is the usual distant metastasis site for carcinoma of tongue and other head and neck cancers. Metastases to vertebrae are rare and very few cases have been reported. CASE DESCRIPTION: We report a rare case of carcinoma of tongue spreading to lumbar vertebrae causing destruction of the body and thecal sac compression. A patient underwent posterior transpedicular approach, tumor decompression, and titanium cage placement. The patient had good relief of symptoms and could be mobilized on first postoperative day. CONCLUSION: Hematogenous spread to the spine is a rare phenomenon but should be kept in mind particularly in advanced stage of oral cancers.

H3K27M, IDH1, and ATRX expression in pediatric GBM and their clinical and prognostic significance.

PURPOSE: Pediatric glioblastoma (pGBM) tumors have been identified as an entity distinct and different from the adult variety of GBM not only with respect to pathogenesis, genetics, and molecular alterations but also in clinical outcomes and overall survival. This study aims to evaluate the immunohistochemical profile of molecular markers in pediatric GBM and correlate them with clinical features and prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 29 pGBMs (age range 3 to 18 years), operated at our institute between 2009 and 2014, and evaluated their clinical and histopathological features along with the immunohistochemical expression of clinically relevant molecular markers: H3K27M, p53, ATRX, and IDH1 (R132H), and correlated their expression with clinical features. We further assessed the prognostic value of these markers in our cohort of patients. RESULTS: The median overall survival (OS) of the cohort was 6.00 ± 0.882 months. The mean overall survival was 7.571 ± 1.118 months which was lower than in most studies. Preoperative Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS), extent of surgical resection, and adjuvant radiotherapy were found to be the clinical factors strongly influencing median survival (p < 0.05). Loss of ATRX expression was predominantly noted in hemispheric tumors (84%), while p53 staining was maximum in thalamic tumors (8 out of 9 cases). H3K27M mutant protein expression was noted in 8/9 thalamic tumors and 5/7 tumors in the brain stem-cerebellar-peduncular region. Patients with tumors showing H3K27M immunopositivity had the worst prognosis with a mean OS of 5 months ± 0.832 months, as against patients with H3K27M-immunonegative tumors, which was 10.143 ± 1.866 months(p = 0.006). Other markers like p53, ATRX, and IDH1 did not influence the prognosis in this patient cohort. ATRX loss of expression was associated with a better OS, with a trend to significance, and such an association has not been reported earlier. CONCLUSIONS: Ours is one among the few studies from India describing the clinical parameters and evaluating the key immunohistochemical markers in pGBM and deriving their prognostic significance. The study reiterates the poor prognostic significance of H3K27M immunopositivity.

The phylogenetic placement of the enigmatic Indian Cormorant, Phalacrocorax fuscicollis (Phalacrocoracidae).

The Indian Cormorant (Phalacrocorax fuscicollis) is a common avian piscivore that occurs throughout the Indian subcontinent and east to southern Vietnam. Its evolutionary relationships, however, have remained obscure, largely because of a lack of material available for either osteological or genetic analysis. Here we show using DNA-sequence data from both nuclear and mitochondrial genes that this species is sister to the allopatric Little Black Cormorant (P. sulcirostris), which occurs from Java in the west through southern Indonesia and New Guinea to Australia and New Zealand in the south. We estimate this split to have happened 2.5-3.2 million years ago, during the late Pliocene. We also report on genetic variation within the mitochondrial control region, which suggests that this part of the genome may be useful in investigating if there is genetic structure across the geographical range of the Indian Cormorant.

Supramolecular Switching of Ion-Transport in Nanochannels.

Noncovalent approaches to achieve smart ion-transport regulation in artificial nanochannels have garnered significant interest in the recent years because of their advantages over conventional covalent routes. Herein, we demonstrate a simple and generic approach to control the surface charge in mesoporous silica nanochannels by employing π-electron-rich charged motifs (pyranine-based donors) to interact with the surface of mesoporous silica modified with π-electron-deficient motifs (viologen-based acceptors) through a range of noncovalent forces, namely, charge-transfer, electrostatic, and hydrophobic interactions. The extent of each of these interactions was independently controlled by molecular design and pH, while employing them in a synergistic or antagonistic fashion to modulate the binding affinity of the charged motifs. This enabled the precise control of the surface charge of the nanochannels to achieve multiple ion-transport states.

Field Effect Transistor Based on Layered NiPS 3.

Layered metal phosphochalcogenides of molecular formula, MPX3 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, etc and X = S, Se) have been emerging as new class of semiconductors towards various catalytic and optoelectronic applications. The low cleavage energy associated with these layered chalcogenides may lead to devices with very thin semiconductor channels. Herein, we report the first successful fabrication of field effect transistor (FET) using layered NiPS3 that reveals n-type semiconducting behavior. Devices using bulk and few-layer NiPS3 with gold contacts show on/off ratios of ~103-105 at 25 °C. The device characteristics reveal an increase in on-state current with decrease in threshold voltage and the Schottky barrier height is extracted to be 112 meV. Density functional theory calculations reveal various parameters that affect electron/hole doping in the layered phosphochalcogenide material.

TASP1 is deleted in an infant with developmental delay, microcephaly, distinctive facial features, and multiple congenital anomalies.

We report a 20p12.1 homozygous deletion including exons 5-10 of the TASP1 gene in an infant with developmental delay, acquired microcephaly, distinctive facial features, and multiple congenital anomalies involving skeletal, cardiac, and renal systems. TASP1 encodes taspase 1 which is responsible for cleaving, thus activating, a number of transcription factors including the mixed lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1). Taspase 1-deficient mice showed early lethality, skeletal abnormalities, and growth failure, which support a potentially causal role of TASP1 deletion in this infant. Furthermore, the infant reported here had many of the features seen in Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome which is caused by MLL1 defects. Such observation further supports that TASP1 is a novel disease-related gene that is associated with a disease phenotype overlapping with Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome as both are caused by defects in the same pathway.

Experience of pallidal deep brain stimulation in dystonia at a tertiary care centre in India: An initial experience.

INTRODUCTION: Dystonia is one of the most prevalent forms of movement disorders and is characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions causing abnormal, often repetitive, movements, postures, or both. Dystonia causes significant morbidity with an adverse impact on the quality of life. When dystonia is medically refractory, causing severe pain and impairment in activities of daily living, deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus interna (GPi) is a potential option to reduce disability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a chart review of patients who underwent DBS for dystonia (from 2009 to 2015) at our tertiary referral centre. A total of ten patients (7 males, 3 females) underwent DBS for non-parkinsonian conditions. The patients were selected after failure of adequate medical management. All the patients had a severe disability with normal cognitive (Mini-Mental State Examination) and psychiatric profile. They also had to have a suitable GPi for DBS based on magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: The mean baseline Burke-Fahn-Marsden dystonia movement score of the 10 patients selected for surgery was 60.3 ± 27.3 (ranging from 19 to 104). On repeated-measures analysis of variance, there was significant difference in the different time points (pre-DBS, post-DBS at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year) F (3, 5) = 7.68, P = 0.026. The data showed that there was a maximum improvement after 1 year of stimulation (pre-DBS vs. 3 months 12.9 ± 1.9 vs 8.8 ± 2.1, P = 0.01; pre-DBS vs. 6 months 12.9 ± 1.9 vs 7.4 ± 1.6, P = 0.04; pre-DBS vs. 1 year, 12.9 ± 1.9 vs. 7 ± 2.4. CONCLUSION: In medically refractory primary or secondary dystonia patients, bilateral GPi DBS can be considered as an option. Patients with disabling symptoms that significantly deteriorate activities of daily life may consider DBS before these symptoms become fixed.

Non-sister Sri Lankan white-eyes (genus Zosterops) are a result of independent colonizations.

Co-occurrence of closely related taxa on islands could be attributed to sympatric speciation or multiple colonization. Sympatric speciation is considered to be rare in small islands, however multiple colonizations are known to be common in both oceanic and continental islands. In this study we investigated the phylogenetic relatedness and means of origin of the two sympatrically co-occurring Zosterops white-eyes, the endemic Zosterops ceylonensis and its widespread regional congener Z. palpebrosus, in the island of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is a continental island in the Indian continental shelf of the Northern Indian Ocean. Our multivariate morphometric analyses confirmed the phenotypic distinctness of the two species. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses with ~2000bp from two mitochondrial (ND2 and ND3) and one nuclear (TGF) gene indicated that they are phylogenetically distinct, and not sister to each other. The two subspecies of the peninsula India; Z. p. egregius of Sri Lanka and India and Z. p. nilgiriensis of Western Ghats (India) clustered within the Z. palpebrosus clade having a common ancestor. In contrast, the divergence of the endemic Z. ceylonensis appears to be much deeper and is basal to the other Zosterops white-eyes. Therefore we conclude that the two Zosterops species originated in the island through independent colonizations from different ancestral lineages, and not through island speciation or multiple colonization from the same continental ancestral population. Despite high endemism, Sri Lankan biodiversity is long considered to be a subset of southern India. This study on a speciose group with high dispersal ability and rapid diversification rate provide evidence for the contribution of multiple colonizations in shaping Sri Lanka's biodiversity. It also highlights the complex biogeographic patterns of the South Asian region, reflected even in highly vagile groups such as birds.

Porous, Hyper-cross-linked, Three-Dimensional Polymer as Stable, High Rate Capability Electrode for Lithium-Ion Battery.

Organic materials containing active carbonyl groups have attracted considerable attention as electrodes in Li-ion batteries due to their reversible redox activity, ability to retain capacity, and, in addition, their ecofriendly nature. Introduction of porosity will help accommodate as well as store small ions and molecules reversibly. In the present work, we introduce a mesoporous triptycene-related, rigid network polymer with high specific surface area as an electrode material for rechargeable Li-ion battery. The designed polymer with a three-dimensional (3D), rigid porous network allows free movement of ions/electrolyte as well as helps in interacting with the active anhydride moieties (containing two carbonyl groups). Considerable intake of Li+ ions giving rise to very high specific capacity of 1100 mA h g-1 at a discharge current of 50 mA g-1 and ∼120 mA h g-1 at a high discharge current of 3 A g-1 are observed with excellent cyclability up to 1000 cycles. This remarkable rate capability, which is one of the highest among the reported organic porous polymers to date, makes the triptycene-related rigid 3D network a very good choice for Li-ion batteries and opens up a new method to design polymer-based electrode materials for metal-ion battery technology.