Subthreshold Micropulse Laser (577 nm) Therapy with an Individual Approach for Power Titration in Patients with Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (Pilot Study).

Purpose: To study the safety and effectiveness of subthreshold micropulse (SML) 577 nm laser therapy with an individual power titration in treating patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC).

Methods: The study was a prospective, single-centre observation of 30 patients (30 eyes) with chronic CSC. All patients with chronic CSC were treated with a 577 nm micropulse laser.

Application of smartphone-based infrared thermography devices for ocular surface thermal imaging.

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a well-known imaging technique that provides a non-invasive displaying of the ocular surface temperature distribution. Currently, compact smartphone-based IRT devices, as well as special software for processing thermal images, have become available. The study aimed to determine the possible use of smartphone-based IRT devices for real-time ocular surface thermal imaging.

Highly Hydrophilic TiO Nanoparticles as Stabilizers of Pickering Emulsions with Photosensitive Lipophilic Compounds: Synthesis and Application.

Pickering emulsions are a very promising system for encapsulating and photoprotecting active ingredients. The highest photoprotection efficiency can be achieved when bare TiO nanoparticles are used as stabilizers. However, the main problem when using highly hydrophilic TiO nanoparticles is their inability to adsorb at the oil-water interface.

The effect of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and glycated haemoglobin on the management of diabetic neovascular glaucoma.

The study hypothesizes that some patients with diabetic neovascular glaucoma (NVG) do not fully respond to transscleral (TSC) cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) due to significant inflammation and insufficient glucose control. The study aimed to determine the effect of baseline blood levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) on the management of patients with diabetic NVG by TSC CPC. This open prospective study included 70 diabetic patients (75 eyes; aged Ме 63.

Enhanced microstructure and mechanical properties of ZrN-reinforced AlSi10Mg aluminum matrix composite.

Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs), incorporating Zirconium Nitride (ZrN) as reinforcing additives, demonstrate immense promise for applications in aerospace, automotive, and power generation due to their unique combination of low density, superior mechanical properties, and excellent thermal/electrical conductivity. This study explores the influence of ZrN reinforcement on the microstructure and mechanical properties of AlSi10Mg metal-matrix composites. Utilizing high-energy ball milling (HEBM) and spark-plasma sintering (SPS), ZrN/AlSi10Mg composites were synthesized, achieving nearly full density with uniform ZrN distribution, while phase and chemical transformations were not observed in the bulk composites.

In vitro evaluation of doxorubicin release from diopside particles on MG-63 and HF spheroids as a 3D model of tumor and healthy tissues.

Local drug delivery systems based on bioceramics ensure safe and effective treatment of bone defects and anticancer therapy. A promising drug delivery scaffold material for bone treatment applications is diopside (CaMgSiO) which is bioactive, degradable, and possesses drug-release ability. Currently, in vitro assessment of drug release from biomaterials is performed mostly on a 2D cell monolayer.

Differential Impact of Biomechanical Constraints on Control Signal Dimensionality for Gravity Support Versus Propulsion.

Neural control of movement has to overcome the problem of redundancy in the multidimensional musculoskeletal system. The problem can be solved by reducing the dimensionality of the control space of motor commands, i.e.

A Numerical Model Supports the Evolutionary Advantage of Recombination Plasticity in Shifting Environments.

AbstractNumerous empirical studies have witnessed an increase in meiotic recombination rate in response to physiological stress imposed by unfavorable environmental conditions. Thus, inherited plasticity in recombination rate is hypothesized to be evolutionarily advantageous in changing environments. Previous theoretical models proceeded from the assumption that organisms increase their recombination rate when the environment becomes more stressful and demonstrated the evolutionary advantage of such a form of plasticity.

Selective laser melting of low-alloyed titanium based alloy with a large solidification range.

In this work, thermodynamic calculations for α + β Type Ti-Fe-Cu-Sn alloy were carried out by the Thermo-Calc software. Powders from this alloy were obtained by plasma sputtering and used for subsequent 3D printing of experimental samples. The effect of various selective laser melting (SLM) parameters on porosity and hot cracking susceptibility as well as the electrochemical characteristics of the alloy have been studied.

Setup for the Quantitative Assessment of Motion and Muscle Activity During a Virtual Modified Box and Block Test.

The ability to move allows us to interact with the world. When this ability is impaired, it can significantly reduce one's quality of life and independence and may lead to complications. The importance of remote patient evaluation and rehabilitation has recently grown due to limited access to in-person services.

Modeling the evolution of recombination plasticity: A prospective review.

Meiotic recombination is one of the main sources of genetic variation, a fundamental factor in the evolutionary adaptation of sexual eukaryotes. Yet, the role of variation in recombination rate and other recombination features remains underexplored. In this review, we focus on the sensitivity of recombination rates to different extrinsic and intrinsic factors.

Machine learning for spatial stratification of progressive cardiovascular dysfunction in a murine model of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) has been utilized to evaluate independent spatial alterations in the diabetic heart, but the progressive manifestation of regional and segmental cardiac dysfunction in the type 2 diabetic (T2DM) heart remains understudied. Therefore, the objective of this study was to elucidate if machine learning could be utilized to reliably describe patterns of the progressive regional and segmental dysfunction that are associated with the development of cardiac contractile dysfunction in the T2DM heart. Non-invasive conventional echocardiography and STE datasets were utilized to segregate mice into two pre-determined groups, wild-type and Db/Db, at 5, 12, 20, and 25 weeks.

Vitreoretinal Surgery with Temperature Management: A Preliminary Study in Rabbits.

The present study aimed to evaluate the structure of the rabbit retina after vitreoretinal surgery using prolonged irrigation with solutions of different temperatures. Thirty-six rabbits (72 eyes) were included in this study and randomly divided into 3 equal groups according to the temperature of the intraocular irrigating fluid they received during vitrectomy. Vitreoretinal surgery was performed with a 5°C irrigation solution in group 1 (12 rabbits, 24 eyes), a 22°C irrigation solution in group 2 (12 rabbits, 24 eyes), and a 36°C irrigation solution in group 3 (12 rabbits, 24 eyes).

Device Development for Ocular Surface Temperature and Heat Flux Density Measurement.

Purpose: Currently, much attention is paid to measuring the temperature of the ocular surface in various ophthalmic diseases. However, for a comprehensive assessment of heat transfer of the eye, it is advisable to measure both the ocular surface temperature and the heat flux (HF) density. This will expand our knowledge of the physiology of the eye and create new possibilities for diagnosing ocular pathology.

Effect of -BN Support on Photoluminescence of ZnO Nanoparticles: Experimental and Theoretical Insight.

Herein we report a simple and easily scalable method for fabricating ZnO/-BN composites with tunable photoluminescence (PL) characteristics. The -BN support significantly enhances the ultraviolet (UV) emission of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), which is explained by the ZnO/-BN interaction and the change in the electronic structure of the ZnO surface. When -BN NPs are replaced with -BN microparticles, the PL in the UV region increases, which is accompanied by a decrease in visible light emission.

Dissection of Structural Reorganization of Wheat 5B Chromosome Associated With Interspecies Recombination Suppression.

Chromosomal rearrangements that lead to recombination suppression can have a significant impact on speciation, and they are also important for breeding. The regions of recombination suppression in wheat chromosome 5B were identified based on comparisons of the 5B map of a cross between the Chinese Spring (CS) variety of hexaploid wheat and CS-5Bdic (genotype CS with 5B substituted with its homologue from tetraploid ) with several 5B maps of tetraploid and hexaploid wheat. In total, two regions were selected in which recombination suppression occurred in cross CS × CS-5Bdic when compared with other maps: one on the short arm, 5BS_RS, limited by markers BS00009810/BS00022336, and the second on the long arm, 5BL_RS, between markers Ra_c10633_2155 and BS00087043.

Molecular evidence for adaptive evolution of drought tolerance in wild cereals.

The considerable drought tolerance of wild cereal crop progenitors has diminished during domestication in the pursuit of higher productivity. Regaining this trait in cereal crops is essential for global food security but requires novel genetic insight. Here, we assessed the molecular evidence for natural variation of drought tolerance in wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum), wild emmer wheat (Triticum dicoccoides), and Brachypodium species collected from dry and moist habitats at Evolution Canyon, Israel (ECI).

Genome-Wide Association Study in Bread Wheat Identifies Genomic Regions Associated with Grain Yield and Quality under Contrasting Water Availability.

The objectives of this study were to identify genetic loci in the bread wheat genome that would influence yield stability and quality under water stress, and to identify accessions that can be recommended for cultivation in dry and hot regions. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a panel of 232 wheat accessions spanning diverse ecogeographic regions. Plants were evaluated in the Israeli Northern Negev, under two environments: water-limited (D; 250 mm) and well-watered (W; 450 mm) conditions; they were genotyped with ~71,500 SNPs derived from exome capture sequencing.

Investigation of Thermal Properties of Zr-Based Metallic Glass-Polymer Composite with the Addition of Silane.

Composites based on ZrCuNiAl/PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) with silane were prepared by ball milling with subsequent thermal pressing. Silanization was performed in the alcoholic solution with metallic glass powder. Different composites, 30/70 and 50/50 with silane, were prepared.

Photodynamic Therapy with Chlorin e6 Derivative for Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy (Pilot Study).

To evaluate the use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with chlorin e6 (Ce6) derivative in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Participants in this interventional, single-center clinical pilot study included 39 patients (39 eyes) with chronic CSC. Primary objectives were to assess safety and change in decimal best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) during the 12-month follow-up.

Intraocular tumours imaging with transpalpebral near-infrared LED transillumination: Pilot study.

Purpose: To determine the possible use of near-infrared(NIR) light-emitting-diode (LED) radiation for imaging intraocular tumours by transpalpebral transillumination.

Methods: This study was a pilot, open-label, prospective and non-interventional. Thirty patients (30 eyes; age 30-72 years) with uveal melanomas located in the iris, ciliary body, or choroid were under our observation.

Erratum: Rybnikov et al. Selection for Plastic, Pathogen-Inducible Recombination in a Red Queen Model with Diploid Antagonists. 2021, , 898.

In the original article, there was a mistake published in Figure 3 [...

Selection for Plastic, Pathogen-Inducible Recombination in a Red Queen Model with Diploid Antagonists.

Antagonistic interactions and co-evolution between a host and its parasite are known to cause oscillations in the population genetic structure of both species (Red Queen dynamics). Potentially, such oscillations may select for increased sex and recombination in the host, although theoretical models suggest that this happens under rather restricted values of selection intensity, epistasis, and other parameters. Here, we explore a model in which the diploid parasite succeeds to infect the diploid host only if their phenotypes at the interaction-mediating loci match.