Altered thalamotemporal structural connectivity is associated with autistic traits in children with ASD.

Background: Thalamocortical functional and structural connectivity alterations may contribute to clinical phenotype of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As previous studies focused mainly on thalamofrontal connections in ASD, we comprehensively investigated the thalamic functional networks and white matter pathways projecting also to temporal, parietal, occipital lobes and their associations with core and co-occurring conditions of this population.

Methods: A total of 38 children (19 with ASD) underwent magnetic resonance imaging and behavioral assessment.

[Management of patients with treatment-resistant neovascular age-related macular degeneration].

Purpose: This study evaluates the efficacy of intravitreal injections (IVI) of faricimab in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and retinal pigment epithelium detachment (RPED) resistant to other anti-VEGF agents.

Material And Methods: The study included 61 patients (61 eyes) with nAMD previously treated with aflibercept and/or brolucizumab IVIs. Three groups were formed: group 1 received aflibercept IVI (32 eyes), group 2 received brolucizumab IVI (14 eyes), and group 3 received aflibercept followed by brolucizumab IVI (15 eyes).

Enhancement of Water Uptake in Composite Superabsorbents Based on Carboxymethyl Cellulose Through Porogen Incorporation and Lyophilization.

Carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt (CMC)-based superabsorbents are promising materials for the development of agricultural matrices aimed at water management and slow-release fertilizer production. However, an increase in the CMC content tends to reduce their water-absorbing capacity. This study aims to develop a cost-effective method for producing eco-friendly superabsorbents with enhanced water-absorbing capacity by incorporating a porogen and employing lyophilization.

Polarization squeezing in chalcogenide fibers.

We experimentally demonstrate the generation of polarization-squeezed light in a short piece of solid-core chalcogenide (ChG) (AsS) fiber via the Kerr effect for femtosecond pulses at 1.56 µm. Directly measured squeezing of -2.

Novel Hybrid Catalysts of Cysteine Proteases Enhanced by Chitosan and Carboxymethyl Chitosan Micro- and Nanoparticles.

Micro- and nanoparticles of chitosan and carboxymethyl chitosan were synthesized, both with and without ascorbic acid. Methods were developed to form complexes between these micro- and nanoparticles and plant proteases-ficin, papain, and bromelain. It was demonstrated that the activity of cysteine protease complexes with carboxymethyl chitosan micro- and nanoparticles was higher compared to those with chitosan micro- and nanoparticles.