Have gender and ethnic disparities in ophthalmology disappeared? Insights from a workforce-based study in Israel (2006-2021).

Background: Workforce diversity in healthcare has been shown to improve the quality of patient care. A paucity of data exists globally on this subject in ophthalmology. The purpose of this study was to analyze nationwide trends in gender-, ethnic- and country of graduation disparities among ophthalmologists in Israel.

The lack of floater perception in eyes with asteroid hyalosis and its direct implications on laser vitreolysis.

Purpose: To present a novel optical model explaining why the vast majority of patients with Asteroid Hyalosis (AH) do not perceive any floaters. This changes our understanding of floater perception and undermines the operation mode of YAG laser vitreolysis.

Methods: Relying on a previously published model of floater perception based on astronomical equations of a solar eclipse, and on ultrasound images of the vitreous in three eyes with AH, we explain why such patients do not perceive floaters in spite of opaque bodies filling their entire vitreous, to the point of, in severe cases of AH, obscuring the fundus view during ophthalmoscopy.

How Does Nature Exposure Affect Adults With Symptoms of Mental Illness? A Meta-Analysis.

Existing research on the effects of nature exposure on the mental health of adults indicates that spending time in nature reduces depressive symptoms and stress, increases quality of life and mood and improves mental health. This meta-analysis aimed to answer the question: what are the effects of nature exposure on the social, mental and physical health of adults with symptoms of mental illness? The meta-analysis included all studies relevant to the study research questions which collected quantitative data on nature exposure using validated instruments for at least two time points on each participant and which were published between 1990 and 2020. Regarding the impact of nature exposure on adults with symptoms of mental illness, analyses showed significant, moderate effect sizes for all studies and smaller, but significant, effect sizes for studies with control groups Analyses also yielded critical information regarding the effect size of the type of nature dosage, nature setting, nature-based activity, key mental health outcomes and other factors.

Phase Transition to Chaos in Complex Ecosystems with Nonreciprocal Species-Resource Interactions.

Nonreciprocal interactions between microscopic constituents can profoundly shape the large-scale properties of complex systems. Here, we investigate the effects of nonreciprocity in the context of theoretical ecology by analyzing a generalization of MacArthur's consumer-resource model with asymmetric interactions between species and resources. Using a mixture of analytic cavity calculations and numerical simulations, we show that such ecosystems generically undergo a phase transition to chaotic dynamics as the amount of nonreciprocity is increased.

Phase transition to chaos in complex ecosystems with non-reciprocal species-resource interactions.

Non-reciprocal interactions between microscopic constituents can profoundly shape the large-scale properties of complex systems. Here, we investigate the effects of non-reciprocity in the context of theoretical ecology by analyzing a generalization of MacArthur's consumer-resource model with asymmetric interactions between species and resources. Using a mixture of analytic cavity calculations and numerical simulations, we show that such ecosystems generically undergo a phase transition to chaotic dynamics as the amount of non-reciprocity is increased.

The Drosophila drop-dead gene is required for eggshell integrity.

The eggshell of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a useful model for understanding the synthesis of a complex extracellular matrix. The eggshell is synthesized during mid-to-late oogenesis by the somatic follicle cells that surround the developing oocyte. We previously reported that female flies mutant for the gene drop-dead (drd) are sterile, but the underlying cause of the sterility remained unknown.

A Case of Significant Transaminitis with Liver Biopsy in a Pregnant Patient with COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has led to a global health crisis. The virus can cause varying severity of liver injury, but the mechanism has not yet been elucidated, especially in pregnancy. We present a morbidly obese 30-year-old woman with COVID-19 at 28 weeks' gestation complicated by significant transaminitis with peak liver enzymes levels of 501/1,313 (aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase).

Geometry of ecological coexistence and niche differentiation.

A fundamental problem in ecology is to understand how competition shapes biodiversity and species coexistence. Historically, one important approach for addressing this question has been to analyze consumer resource models using geometric arguments. This has led to broadly applicable principles such as Tilman's R^{*} and species coexistence cones.

Comparative physiological study of sea cucumbers from eastern waters of United States.

Sea cucumbers, belonging to the phylum Echinodermata, are known to possess valuable bioactive compounds that have medicinal properties. In several countries, such as Korea, China, and Japan, they are cultured in the aquaculture industries for food and medicinal purposes. Research has shown that different species of sea cucumbers each possesses unique medicinal values.

A Proposal for the Use of a Fixed Low-Energy Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty for Open Angle Glaucoma.

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) has been in routine clinical use for over 20 years with millions of patients successfully treated and a low rate of clinically significant complications. The procedure requires the clinician to manually position the laser beam on the trabecular meshwork using a gonioscopy lens and to titrate the SLT laser energy based on the amount of pigmentation in the angle, as well as the observation of small bubbles produced by the laser effect. We propose that SLT energy titration is unnecessary either to achieve intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction or to minimize potential side effects.

Phase transition to chaos in complex ecosystems with non-reciprocal species-resource interactions.

Non-reciprocal interactions between microscopic constituents can profoundly shape the large-scale properties of complex systems. Here, we investigate the effects of non-reciprocity in the context of theoretical ecology by analyzing a generalization of MacArthur's consumer-resource model with asymmetric interactions between species and resources. Using a mixture of analytic cavity calculations and numerical simulations, we show that such ecosystems generically undergo a phase transition to chaotic dynamics as the amount of non-reciprocity is increased.

Do Mental Health Changes in Nature Co-occur with Changes in Heartrate Variability and Executive Functioning? A Systematic Review.

Purpose Of Review: Given the global burden of mental health issues, new solutions are needed to promote mental health. Nature exposure represents a promising option to promote mental health, but the mechanisms are poorly understood. Recent frameworks have argued that changes in mental health in nature are caused by activity changes in the vagus nerve, which connects the heart and the brain, and that these changes also improve executive functioning (EF) abilities.

FundusQ-Net: A regression quality assessment deep learning algorithm for fundus images quality grading.

Objective: Ophthalmological pathologies such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration are major causes of blindness and vision impairment. There is a need for novel decision support tools that can simplify and speed up the diagnosis of these pathologies. A key step in this process is to automatically estimate the quality of the fundus images to make sure these are interpretable by a human operator or a machine learning model.

The Drosophila drop-dead gene is required for eggshell integrity.

The eggshell of the fruit fly is a useful model for understanding the synthesis of a complex extracellular matrix. The eggshell is synthesized during mid-to-late oogenesis by the somatic follicle cells that surround the developing oocyte. We previously reported that female flies mutant for the gene ( ) are sterile, but the underlying cause of the sterility remained unknown.

Geometry of ecological coexistence and niche differentiation.

A fundamental problem in ecology is to understand how competition shapes biodiversity and species coexistence. Historically, one important approach for addressing this question has been to analyze consumer resource models using geometric arguments. This has led to broadly applicable principles such as Tilman's and species coexistence cones.

Geometry of ecological coexistence and niche differentiation.

A fundamental problem in ecology is to understand how competition shapes biodiversity and species coexistence. Historically, one important approach for addressing this question has been to analyze Consumer Resource Models (CRMs) using geometric arguments. This has led to broadly applicable principles such as Tilman's * and species coexistence cones.

The Integrator complex regulates microRNA abundance through RISC loading.

MicroRNA (miRNA) homeostasis is crucial for the posttranscriptional regulation of their target genes during development and in disease states. miRNAs are derived from primary transcripts and are processed from a hairpin precursor intermediary to a mature 22-nucleotide duplex RNA. Loading of the duplex into the Argonaute (AGO) protein family is pivotal to miRNA abundance and its posttranscriptional function.

Ophthalmologic emergency room visits during COVID-19 lockdown-Characterization from Haifa, Israel.

Purpose: To characterize quantitative differences among ophthalmologic emergency room (OER) encounters at Rambam Health Care Campus during a 6-week complete lockdown at the peak of the first COVID-19 wave as compared to a corresponding uneventful period a year earlier.

Methods: A retrospective chart analysis of all OER encounters during the lockdown and non-lockdown period was conducted. Patients were stratified into primary ophthalmological conditions (OER visits) and cases in which ophthalmologic consultations were requested by a non-ophthalmologist (OER consultations).

"Stop & drop"- a modified "stop & chop" phacoemulsification technique for cataract surgery.

Purpose: To introduce a novel technique termed "stop and drop" for creating the first crack in the initial hemi-nucleus, eliminating the need to slip a chopper under the anterior capsular rim during horizontal chopping, hence lowering the risk of capsular or zonular damage.

Methods: Placing a blunt chopper tip on the upper surface of the hemisection proximal to the capsular edge and pressing it downward to initiate a crack in a pinching manoeuvre. Once a crack has formed, the chopper can slide to the side, widening the crack and assisting the phaco needle to pull out the first fragment.

Engineered extracellular vesicles for concurrent Anti-PDL1 immunotherapy and chemotherapy.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) targeting PD-1/PD-L1 have been approved for the treatment of a variety of cancers. However, the efficacy of antibody-based ICIs could be further improved by mitigating anti-drug antibodies, proteolytic cleavage, and on-target off-tumor toxicity. One strategy for accomplishing this is through the use of extracellular vesicles (EVs), cell derived submicron vesicles with many unique properties.

Integrator enforces the fidelity of transcriptional termination at protein-coding genes.

Integrator regulates the 3′-end processing and termination of multiple classes of noncoding RNAs. Depletion of INTS11, the catalytic subunit of Integrator, or ectopic expression of its catalytic dead enzyme impairs the 3′-end processing and termination of a set of protein-coding transcripts termed Integrator-regulated termination (IRT) genes. This defect is manifested by increased RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) readthrough and occupancy of serine-2 phosphorylated RNAPII, de novo trimethylation of lysine-36 on histone H3, and a compensatory elevation of the cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA) complex beyond the canonical polyadenylation sites.

Predicting Post-Cataract Surgery Visual Acuity in Vitrectomized Eyes: The Efficacy and Accuracy of "Lambda" Retinometry.

Background And Objective: Determine the ability of Lambda retinometry to predict post-cataract surgery visual acuity in vitrectomized eyes.

Patients And Methods: Prospective study including 47 cataract surgery candidates with a history of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Lambda retinometry using a hand-held Lambda retinometer and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured preoperatively, and BCVA was reassessed postoperatively.

Substrate Channeling by a Rationally Designed Fusion Protein in a Biocatalytic Cascade.

Substrate channeling, where an intermediate in a multistep reaction is directed toward a reaction center rather than freely diffusing, offers several advantages when employed in catalytic cascades. Here we present a fusion enzyme comprised of an alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase, that is computationally designed to facilitate electrostatic substrate channeling using a cationic linker bridging the two structures. Rosetta protein folding software was utilized to determine an optimal linker placement, added to the truncated termini of the proteins, which is as close as possible to the active sites of the enzymes without disrupting critical catalytic residues.

Direct selective laser trabeculoplasty in open angle glaucoma study design: a multicentre, randomised, controlled, investigator-masked trial (GLAUrious).

Introduction: Laser trabeculoplasty is an effective and widely used treatment for glaucoma. A new laser technology, the Eagle direct selective laser trabeculoplasty (DSLT) device, may provide automated, fast, simple, safe and effective laser treatment for glaucoma in a broader range of clinical settings. This trial aims to test the hypothesis that translimbal DSLT is effective and not inferior to selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in open angle glaucoma (OAG).

RAC1 plays an essential role in estrogen receptor alpha function in breast cancer cells.

The activity of Rho family GTPase protein, RAC1, which plays important normal physiological functions, is dysregulated in multiple cancers. RAC1 is expressed in both estrogen receptor alpha (ER)-positive and ER-negative breast cancer (BC) cells. However, ER-positive BC is more sensitive to RAC1 inhibition.