Pre-clinical methods to evaluate photic phenomena in intraocular lenses.

A new system and methodology are introduced to evaluate photic phenomena induced by different intraocular lens (IOL) technologies using a "see-through" IOL analyzer system in phakic subjects. Nineteen phakic subjects looked through the Groningen IOL Telescope type 1 (GIT1) system under different conditions. Four different IOL designs with different clinical levels of photic phenomena were evaluated by the subjects.

Experimental demonstration of the equivalence of entropic uncertainty with wave-particle duality.

Wave-particle duality is one of the most notable and counterintuitive features of quantum mechanics, illustrating that two incompatible observables cannot be measured simultaneously with arbitrary precision. In this work, we experimentally demonstrate the equivalence of wave-particle duality and entropic uncertainty relations using orbital angular momentum (OAM) states of light. Our experiment uses an innovative and reconfigurable platform composed of few-mode optical fibers and photonic lanterns, showcasing the versatility of this technology for quantum information processing.

Functional, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Activity of Edible Flowers.

Edible flowers have been used since ancient times, but their potential for improving human health has not been explored. This study aimed to evaluate the profile of bioactive compounds (organic acids, phenolics, and carotenoids) and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of nine flower varieties with high concentrations of carotenoids or total phenolic compounds. Ninety-three edible flowers were analysed for physicochemical characteristics, total phenolic and carotenoid concentrations, and antioxidant activity (ABTS).

A Contemporary Picture of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Endocarditis: A Nationwide GAMES Cohort Study.

Background: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are an increasingly common cause of infective endocarditis (IE) and lack recent data from large studies.

Objectives: Our aim was to describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of staphylococcal IE in a contemporary nationwide cohort study, while comparing coagulase-negative staphylococcal IE (CoNSIE) to IE from Staphylococcus aureus (SAIE), and among IE caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE), S. lugdunensis (SL), and other CoNS.

Usefulness of sonication in the microbiological diagnosis of cardiovascular implantable electronic device infections: systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression.

Background: Multiple studies have demonstrated the utility of sonication to improve culture yield in patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infections.

Objective: To analyze the usefulness of sonication in the microbiological diagnosis of CIED infections in comparison with traditional cultures.

Methods: Systematic database searches were performed to identify studies that provided enough data concerning both sensitivity and specificity of traditional (non-sonicated) and sonicated cultures from CIED samples.