In Vivo Acquisition of Human Retinal Double-Pass Images during Simulated Intraocular Lens Implantation.

Background: The aim of the study was to capture images that form on the human retina after the simulated implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL). White light was used rather than the commonly used near-infrared light, which is unsuitable for the examination of diffractive IOLs. For this purpose, a special optical setup was developed to investigate the influence of the IOL design on two-dimensional retinal images .

Men's empathy toward children's emotions across the transition to fatherhood.

We investigated whether men's affective and cognitive empathy toward children's emotions changes across the transition to fatherhood. Specifically, we were interested in whether empathy increases with fathering experience. In two preregistered online studies ( = 1,046, primarily from the United Kingdom and the United States), participants' task was to rate their affective responses to emotional pictures of children (affective empathy) and to recognize children's emotions from pictures of the eye area (cognitive empathy).

Excitation-Dependent Anti-Thermal Quenching in Zero-Dimensional Manganese Bromides for Photoluminescence and X-Ray Scintillation.

One of the most significant challenges of luminescent materials is the thermal quenching (TQ) at high temperature. Understanding the correlation between crystal structure variation and photoluminescence (PL) quenching is significant to achieve anti-thermal quenching (anti-TQ) phosphors. Herein, we unveil a universal principle governing switchable TQ and anti-TQ behaviors in zero-dimensional (0D) organic-inorganic hybrid manganese bromides.

Advanced aspects of acetogens.

Acetogens are a diverse group of anaerobic bacteria that are capable of carbon dioxide fixation and have for long fascinated scientists due to their unique metabolic prowess. Historically, acetogens have been recognized for their remarkable ability to grow and to produce acetate from different one-carbon sources, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formate, methanol, and methylated organic compounds. The key metabolic pathway in acetogens responsible for converting these one-carbon sources is ́the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway.

2-Ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate on marine and coastal environments: A comprehensive review of its environmental significance and biological impact.

Marine and coastal environments are constantly subjected to increasing pressures associated with population growth, industrialization development, pollution and higher demand feeding society's consumerism. Among these pressures, there has been an increasing concern towards UV filters occurrence in aquatic ecosystems due to a greater use of personal care products (PCPs). 2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC) is one of the most used UV filters in sunscreen formulations, yet few reports address its effects in biota.

Can the assessment of skin injuries and keel bone damage at the slaughterhouse replace on-farm assessments?

Two major welfare problems in laying hen farming are keel bone damage (KBD) and cannibalism. Their assessment is time-consuming, needs well-trained assessors, and prevalence estimates are often imprecise due to small sample sizes. Here, the bottleneck slaughterhouse comes into focus where large numbers of animals can be inspected.

Automated Parametrization Approach for Coarse-Graining Soil Organic Matter Molecules.

Investigating the molecular structure of soil organic matter (SOM), along with its intramolecular interactions and interactions with other soil components and xenobiotics, is essential due to its ecological importance. However, the complexity and heterogeneity of SOM present significant challenges for systematic studies. While experimental methods are commonly employed, atomistic simulations provide a complementary approach to exploring molecular-level processes.

Sediment contamination in two German estuaries: A biomarker-based toxicity test with the ragworm Hediste diversicolor under intermittent oxygenation.

Toxicity testing is an important tool for risk assessment of sediment contamination in estuaries. However, there has been a predominant focus on fitness parameters as toxic endpoints and on crustaceans as test organisms, while effects at the sub-organismal level and on other benthic taxa have received less attention. Also, interactions between sediment contamination and natural stressors such as oxygen are often neglected in traditional toxicity tests.

Synthesis, Analytical Characterization, and Human CB Receptor Binding Studies of the Chloroindole Analogues of the Synthetic Cannabinoid MDMB-CHMICA.

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are one of the largest groups of new psychoactive substances (NPSs). However, the relationship between their chemical structure and the affinity to human CB receptors (hCB), which mediates their psychotropic activity, is not well understood. Herein, the synthesis of the 2-, 4-, 5-, 6- and 7-chloroindole analogues of the synthetic cannabimimetic MDMB-CHMICA, along with their analytical characterization via ultraviolet-visible (UV/VIS), infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, is described.

Biomechanical Analysis of Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis and Osteoporosis: Vertebral Fracture Risk Evaluation Using Finite Element Modeling with Clinical and Micro-CT Data in an Elderly Donor.

Biomechanical analysis of spinal structures is crucial in the evaluation of injuries, the risk of fracture, and age-related changes. Osteoporotic vertebrae are very fragile and therefore constitute a serious risk, especially in the elderly. At present, clinically relevant decision making in fracture risk assessment is predicated upon finite element analysis (FEA), which utilizes high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans from clinical practice alongside micro-CT scans from laboratory settings.

Comprehensive elemental and physical characterization of vehicle brake wear emissions from two different brake pads following the Global Technical Regulation methodology.

Non-exhaust emissions have gained increasing attention during the last years, with the upcoming EURO 7 regulation defining maximum PM emission factors for tire and brake emissions for the first time. This study, therefore, focusses on broadening the knowledge on chemical composition and physical characteristics of brake dust to define emission factors for heavy metal and organic pollutants. Particles from two pads were analyzed utilizing the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) brake cycle.

Quantitative Macromolecular Modeling Assay of Biopolymer-Based Hydrogels.

The rubber elasticity theory has been lengthily applied to several polymeric hydrogel substances and upgraded from idealistic models to consider imperfections in the polymer network. The theory relies solely on hyperelastic material models in order to provide a description of the elastic polymer network. While this is also applicable to polymer gels, such hydrogels are rather characterized by their water content and visco-elastic mechanical properties.

Novel Biallelic Synonymous Exonic Variant in Affecting mRNA Splicing: Case Report.

Objectives: Chorea-acanthocytosis is an autosomal recessively inherited condition caused by loss-of-function pathogenic variants in . We identified a novel synonymous exonic variant leading to abnormal mRNA splicing in a patient with chorea-acanthocytosis.

Methods: A patient with focal epilepsy developed generalized chorea with orolingual dystonia, cognitive decline, and peripheral neuropathy, consistent with chorea-acanthocytosis.

Enhanced data point importance: Layered significance of variables in multivariate calibration.

Background: The Enhanced Data Point Importance (EDPI) method, a systematic approach for evaluating the importance of data points in multivariate calibration, is introduced. Factor decomposition methods allow for the evaluation of the impact of variables on maintaining the structural pattern of data in the abstract space. Essential data points play a key role in these patterns and the method of Data Point Importance (DPI) aims to evaluate the essential data points in terms of their importance.

YeeE-like bacterial SoxT proteins mediate sulfur import for oxidation and signal transduction.

Many sulfur-oxidizing prokaryotes oxidize sulfur compounds through a combination of initial extracytoplasmic and downstream cytoplasmic reactions. Facultative sulfur oxidizers adjust transcription to sulfur availability. While sulfur-oxidizing enzymes and transcriptional repressors have been extensively studied, sulfur import into the cytoplasm and how regulators sense external sulfur are poorly understood.

Triple inhaled therapy in asthma: Beliefs, behaviours and doubts.

Long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) in association with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) plus long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABA) are recommended by the GINA report as further option in step 4 and first choice in step 5 treatment. Despite consistent evidence of its efficacy and safety, inhaled triple therapy (ITT) is still not largely used in patients with asthma. With the aim to explore belief and behaviours of asthma specialists, an ad hoc survey has been developed by a panel of Interasma Scientific Network (INESnet) experts and subsequently defined by two Delphi rounds among an international group of physicians.

Homogeneous Crystal Nucleation in Poly (butylene succinate--butylene adipate): Challenging the Nuclei-Transfer Step in Tammann's Method.

The kinetics of homogeneous crystal nucleation and the stability of nuclei were analyzed for a random butylene succinate/butylene adipate copolymer (PBSA), employing Tammann's two-stage crystal nuclei development method, with a systematic variation of the condition of nuclei transfer from the nucleation to the growth stage. Nuclei formation is fastest at around 0 °C, which is about 50 K higher than the glass transition temperature and begins after only a few seconds. Due to the high nuclei number, spherulitic growth of lamellae is suppressed.

Biomechanical conditions of subtalar joint arthrodesis with calcaneal locking nail: A probabilistic numerical study.

Introduction: Subtalar joint arthrodesis is primarily indicated for advanced osteoarthritis, hindfoot deformity, and/or instability. During the first 6-10 weeks after surgery, there is an intermediary structurally weaker state before complete bony fusion of the calcaneus and talus occurs. Loading of the foot can lead to mechanical stresses and relative movements in the former joint gap, which can impede the fusion process.