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This prospective single-arm study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a refractive multifocal contact lens for the correction of presbyopia in 22 patients. The participants underwent clinical examinations before and 1 week after wearing a refractive multifocal contact lens (OptaCon ZOOM). The primary endpoints were the corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and distance-corrected near visual acuity (DCNVA). Defocus curve, contrast sensitivity, and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) were analyzed. A slit-lamp examination was performed for safety analysis. Contact lens comfort and patient satisfaction were assessed using a questionnaire. No significant difference in CDVA was observed before and 1 week after refractive multifocal contact lens use (p = 0.127), whereas DCNVA was significantly improved after 1 week (p < 0.001). The contrast sensitivity was not significantly affected at any spatial frequency under mesopic or photopic conditions. OSDI was significantly increased (p = 0.023). The patient-reported satisfaction scores were 96.2, 91.9, and 85.0 out of 100 at far, intermediate, and near distances, respectively. No significant adverse events were observed. Refractive multifocal contact lenses improved near vision while maintaining distance vision in presbyopic patients, without compromising contrast sensitivity. The study results suggest that OptaCon ZOOM can be considered safe and effective for the correction of presbyopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the increasing demands for advanced power sources, present-day lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) must provide a higher energy and power density and better cycling stability than conventional LIBs. This study suggests a promising electrode design solution to this problem using Cu, Co, and Ti scaffolds with a microscale porous structure synthesized via freeze-casting. CoO and TiO layers are uniformly formed on the Co and Ti scaffolds, respectively, through a simple thermal heat-treatment process, and a SnO layer is formed on the Cu scaffold through electroless plating and thermal oxidation. This paper characterizes and evaluates the physical and electrochemical properties of the proposed electrodes using scanning electron microscopy, four-point probe and coin-cell tests to confirm the feasibility of their potential use in LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Confirming the epidural space during epidural anesthesia relies mainly on feel and experience, which are difficult techniques for a trainee to learn. We designed an epidural simulator for trainees to experience loss of resistance (LOR) and various degrees of pressure resistance. Methods: The simulator consists of a Perifix LOR syringe and 1-, 5-, 10- and 50-mL syringes assembled by three-way stopcocks. A total of 89 anesthesiologists evaluated the simulator, given the choice of either the intermittent technique with air or continuous technique with saline. Sudden LOR and applicability of the simulator for training purposes were assessed using the numerical rating score (NRS). Pressure resistance at each lumbar structure was evaluated by the anesthesiologists using the intermittent technique with air. Results: Seventy-four anesthesiologists used the intermittent technique with air and 15 used the continuous technique with saline. The NRSs for sudden LOR and the applicability for training purposes were 8 and 9 (median), respectively. The pressure resistance to a 50-mL syringe was regarded as the epidural space (odds ratio 602.3 for 5-mL syringe and 144.4 for 10-mL syringe) by 89 % of anesthesiologists using air for LOR. Resistance to the 10-mL syringe was most frequently considered as muscle, subcutaneous fat, or the interspinous ligament, while resistance to the 1-mL syringe was considered as the ligamentum flavum (odds ratio 2.3 for 5-mL syringe and 18.6 for 10-mL syringe). Conclusions: Our epidural simulator is a simple, low-cost device that can be easily constructed. It was shown to provide valid haptic feedback as a promising tool for training novice anesthesiologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]