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PURPOSE: Optical development of the zebrafish eye relies on the movement of the highly refractive lens nucleus from an anterior to a central location in the optical axis during development. We have shown that this mechanism in turn depends on the function of Aquaporin 0a (Aqp0a), a multifunctional and extremely abundant protein in lens fiber cell membranes. Here, we probe the specific cellular functions necessary for rescuing lens nucleus centralization defects in aqp0a-/- null mutants by stable overexpression of an Aqp0 orthologue from a killifish, MIPfun. METHODS: We test in vivo requirements for lens transparency and nucleus centralization of MIPfun for auto-adhesion, water permeability (Pf), and Pf sensitivity to regulation by Ca2+ or pH by overexpression of MIPfun mutants previously shown to have defects in these functions in vitro or in silico. RESULTS: Water permeability of MIPfun is essential for rescuing lens transparency and nucleus centralization defects, whereas auto-adhesion is not. Furthermore, water permeability regulation by Ca2+ and pH appear residue-dependent, because some Ca2+-insensitive mutants fail to rescue, and pH-insensitive mutants only partially rescue defects. MIPfun lacking Pf sensitivity to both, Ca2+ and pH, also fails to rescue lens nucleus centralization. CONCLUSION: This study shows that regulation of water permeability by Aqp0 plays a key role in the centralization of the zebrafish lens nucleus, providing the first direct evidence for water transport in this aspect of optical development.

PURPOSE: Contact lens wear induces corneal parainflammation involving increased immune cell numbers after 24 hours (CD11c+, Lyz2+, γδ-T cells) and six days (Ly6G+ cells) wear. We investigated the time course of onset and resolution of these responses. METHODS: LysMcre or C57BL/6J mice were fitted with a contact lens (four to 48 hours). Contralateral eyes did not wear lenses. After lens removal, Lyz2+, MHC-II+ or Ly6G+ cells were examined by quantitative imaging. RT-qPCR determined cytokine gene expression. RESULTS: Lens wear for 24 hours increased corneal Lyz2+ cells versus contralateral eyes approximately two-fold. Corneas remained free of visible pathology. The Lyz2+ response was not observed after four or 12 hours wear, nor after 12 hours wear plus 12 hours no wear. Lens removal after 24 hours wear further increased Lyz2+ cells (∼48% after one day), which persisted for four days, returning to baseline by seven days. Lyz2+ cells in contralateral eyes remained at baseline. MHC-II+ cells showed a similar response but without increasing after lens removal. Lens wear for 48 hours showed reduced Lyz2+ cells versus 24 hours wear with one day discontinuation, correlating with reduced IL-1β and IL-18 gene expression. Lens wear for 24 hours did not induce Ly6G+ responses six days after removal. CONCLUSIONS: Lens-induced corneal parainflammation involving Lyz2+ cells requires 24 hours wear but persists after lens discontinuation, requiring seven days for reversal. Lens wear for 48 hours may suppress initial Lyz2+ cell and cytokine responses. The significance of parainflammation during and after lens wear remains to be determined.

Background: To describe the refractive outcomes of eyes with high regular corneal astigmatism undergoing age-related cataract surgery. Methods: Astigmatic patients who underwent cataract surgery with implantation of high-power XY1AT HOYA® toric lenses (IOLs) (≥ T5) between March 2020 and June 2022 were included. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the type of Total Corneal Astigmatism (TCA) used for the toric IOL calculation: group 1 = TCATK− 700 (TCA measured by the Iol Master 700®) and group 2 = TCAAK− 700 (TCA estimated from the anterior keratometry of the Iol Master 700® and using the Abulafia-Koch regression). The best-uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected (CDVA) distance visual acuity, subjective spherical equivalent (SSEq) and subjective residual cylinder (SRC) were assessed at 1 month. The predictability (centroid [CEPA] and mean absolute error in predicted astigmatism [MAEPA]) of the 2 TCA assessment methods was analyzed. Results: 96 eyes of 74 patients were included. In the whole cohort, the UDVA was 0.14 ± 0.19 logMAR, the CDVA was 0.04 ± 0.07 logMAR. Postoperative SSEq was − 0.24 ± 0.53D. Postoperative SRC was − 0.48 ± 0.56D. The UDVA, SSEq and SRC did not significantly differ between groups. The MAEPA was significantly better with TCAAK−700 compared to TCATK−700: 0.58 ± 0.52D versus 0.65 ± 0.55D (p = 0.01). No significant difference was observed for the CEPA (p(x) = 0.09, p(y) = 0.19). Conclusions: XY1AT HOYA® toric IOLs are a very good alternative even in case of high toricity. Residual astigmatism predictability is high, it would be better with TCAAK− 700. This data should be confirmed with a larger sample of patients. Key messages: What is known: • Toric intraocular lenses allow achieving a significant gain in UCVA in astigmatic patients. • The value of anterior corneal astigmatism correlates with that of posterior corneal astigmatism. What is new: • Residual astigmatism in eyes with high astigmatism implanted with the Vivinex® toric intraocular lens is comparable to that of eyes with intermediate astigmatism using the current digital alignment technology. • The use of the Abulafia-Koch regression allows achieving a greater predictability of postoperative refractive outcomes with the Vivinex intraocular lens compared to the direct measurement of total astigmatism using the Swept-Source OCT technology in high-toricity cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of presbyopia and nuclear cataracts (NUC) is reported to be higher in tropical areas than that in other regions, suggesting a potential influence of high temperatures on lens health. Transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels play a crucial role in detecting ambient temperatures across various species, with TRPV1 and TRPV4 expressed in lens epithelial cells. In this study, we investigated whether ambient temperatures affect TRPV1 and TRPV4 activity in the lens, potentially contributing to the development of presbyopia and NUC. We conducted experiments using cultured human lens epithelial cell lines under different temperature conditions. Our results revealed that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 pathways, downstream molecules of TRPV1, were activated, while Src family kinase, a downstream molecule of TRPV4, was inhibited at 37.5 °C culture compared to 35.0 °C. Confocal microscope images demonstrated higher expression of TRPV1 in 3D-structured cells under high-temperature culture conditions. Additionally, in organ culture lenses, higher elasticity was observed at elevated temperatures compared to that at lower temperatures. These results suggest that high ambient temperatures may induce lens sclerosis via TRPV1 activation, potentially contributing to the development of presbyopia and NUC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the biomechanical properties of the lens and lens capsule is important for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of age‐related cataracts and presbyopia. In this study, we developed an optical coherent elastography technique to assess the elasticity of the lens and lens capsule in the human eye. With age, the mean Young's modulus of the lens increased from 12.28 ± 0.87 kPa to 18.59 ± 1.45 kPa, and the lens capsule increased from 6.33 ± 0.36 kPa to 13.33 ± 0.74 kPa. The results showed that the Young's modulus of the lens capsule and lens increased with age, with the Young's modulus of the lens significantly higher than that of the lens capsule. This study reports the assessment of the elasticity of the human lens and lens capsule by the OCE technique, indicating that it may provide a potential clinical tool for advancing research on diseases affecting the lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to compare the levels of intrinsic protein disorder within the human lens and zonule proteomes and investigate the role of aging as a potential influencing factor on disorder levels. A cross-sectional proteomic analysis was employed, utilizing a dataset of 1466 proteins derived from the lens and zonule proteomes previously published by Wang et al. and De Maria et al. Bioinformatics tools, including a composition profiler and a rapid intrinsic disorder analysis online tool, were used to conduct a comparative analysis of protein disorder. Statistical tests such as ANOVA, Tukey's HSD, and chi-squared tests were applied to evaluate differences between groups. The study revealed distinct amino acid compositions for each proteome, showing a direct correlation between aging and increased protein disorder in the zonular proteomes, whereas the lens proteomes exhibited the opposite trend. Findings suggest that age-related changes in intrinsic protein disorder within the lens and zonule proteomes may be linked to structural transformations in these tissues. Understanding how protein disorder evolves with age could enhance knowledge of the molecular basis for age-related conditions such as cataracts and pseudoexfoliation, potentially leading to better therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Materials and Methods Results Conclusion This study aims to inform about the clinical image, diagnostic possibilities, and treatment options for cats and dogs diagnosed with ocular encephalitozoonosis.Medical records of 7 dogs and 75 cats with ocular encephalitozoonosis presented at the Clinical Unit of Ophthalmology of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna between 08/2006 and 02/2022 have been compiled. Diagnosis was based on the presence of cataracts and positive antibody titer against Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Patient history, details on the characteristics of the cataracts, level of antibody titers, and the treatment regimen were summarized, as are the results of histological stainings of surgical samples to determine the presence of Encephalitozoon cuniculi, as well as PCR analyses to identify its sub‐strains.Our analysis of the clinical data shows that focal cortical anterior cataracts often associated with anterior uveitis and lesions in the fundus are the most prevalent manifestation of ocular encephalitozoonosis in cats and dogs.Serological testing and PCR analysis of lens material are the most important diagnostic tools. Timely phacoemulsification with adjuvant anti‐inflammatory and antiparasitic medication is the most promising therapy for Encephalitozoon cuniculi‐induced cataracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies have made it possible to reduce the design and prototyping costs to a minimum especially for a low-productivity material like titanium. Titanium alloys are commonly and widely used alloys in the aerospace and biomedical sector due to their advantageous material properties. This paper is an evaluation study of factors affecting the productivity characteristics of Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4 V) using face milling. Some of the productivity challenges associated with titanium such as rapid tool wear, poor surface finish, and high-power consumption are explored in this paper. All materials processed using AM face the same critical problem that the manufactured part requires a post machining since AM produces relatively poor surface finish. Machining trials are conducted using the combinations of machining parameters such as spindle speed of 800 and 1600 rev/min; feed rate of 50 and 100 mm/min; and a constant depth of cut of 1 mm, respectively. Titanium being a poor thermal conductivity material, the effect of coolant was investigated using wet/dry machining. Data related to the productivity factors and material behavior under a milling trial was recorded and analyzed. The obtained data from the trials include productivity factors such as Metal Removal Rate (MRR), power consumed, and the surface finish for each plate/trial. The power consumed in dry milling was observed to be lower than that in wet milling which is contrary to the observations from conventional wet milling. The paper concludes the trends observed for LENS titanium are opposed to the trends in conventional machining such as increasing cutting speed will result in lower cutting force and power consumed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs), which include various petroleum products, are a significant source of groundwater contamination globally. Once introduced into the subsurface, these contaminants tend to accumulate in the vadose zone, causing chronic soil and water pollution. The vadose zone often contains lens-shaped bodies with diverse properties that can significantly influence the migration and distribution of LNAPLs. Understanding the interaction between LNAPLs and these lens-shaped bodies is crucial for developing effective environmental management and remediation strategies. Prior research has primarily focused on LNAPL behavior in homogeneous media, with less emphasis on the impact of heterogeneous conditions introduced by lens-shaped bodies. To investigate the impact of lens-shaped structures on the migration of LNAPLs and to assess the specific effects of different types of lens-shaped structures on the distribution characteristics of LNAPL migration, this study simulates the LNAPL leakage process using an indoor two-dimensional sandbox. Three distinct test groups were conducted: one with no lens-shaped aquifer, one with a low-permeability lens, and one with a high-permeability lens. This study employs a combination of oil front curve mapping and high-density resistivity imaging techniques to systematically evaluate how the presence of lens-shaped structures affects the migration behavior, distribution patterns, and corresponding resistivity anomalies of LNAPLs. The results indicate that the migration rate and distribution characteristics of LNAPLs are influenced by the presence of a lens in the gas band of the envelope. The maximum vertical migration distances of the LNAPL are as follows: high-permeability lens (45 cm), no lens-shaped aquifer (40 cm), and low-permeability lens (35 cm). Horizontally, the maximum migration distances of the LNAPL to the upper part of the lens body decreases in the order of low-permeability lens, high-permeability lens, and no lens-shaped aquifer. The low-permeability lens impedes the vertical migration of the LNAPL, significantly affecting its migration path. It creates a flow around effect, hindering the downward migration of the LNAPL. In contrast, the high-permeability lens has a weaker retention effect and creates preferential flow paths, promoting the downward migration of the LNAPL. Under conditions with no lens-shaped aquifer and a high-permeability lens, the region of positive resistivity change rate is symmetrical around the axis where the injection point is located. Future research should explore the impact of various LNAPL types, lens geometries, and water table fluctuations on migration patterns. Incorporating numerical simulations could provide deeper insights into the mechanisms controlling LNAPL migration in heterogeneous subsurface environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landmark discovery of eye defects caused by Pax6 gene mutations in humans, rodents, and even fruit flies combined with Pax6 gene expression studies in various phyla, led to the master control gene hypothesis postulating that the gene is required almost universally for animal visual system development. However, this assumption has not been broadly tested in genetically trackable organisms such as vertebrates. Here, to determine the functional role of the fish orthologue of mammalian Pax6 in eye development we analyzed mutants in medaka Pax6.1 gene generated by genome editing. We found that transcription factors implicated in vertebrate lens development (Prox1a, MafB, c-Maf, FoxE3) failed to initiate expression in the presumptive lens tissue of Pax6.1 mutant fish resulting in aphakia, a phenotype observed previously in Pax6 mutant mice. Surprisingly, the overall differentiation potential of Pax6.1-deficient retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) is not severely compromised, and the only cell types affected by the absence of Pax6.1 transcription factor are retinal ganglion cells. This is in stark contrast to the situation in mice where the Pax6 gene is required cell-autonomously for the expansion of RPCs, and the differentiation of all retina cell types. Our results provide novel insight into the conserved and divergent roles of Pax6 gene orthologues in vertebrate eye development indicating that the lens-specific role is more evolutionarily conserved than the role in retina differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gradient refractive index (GRIN) lenses have been widely used for many applications. However, the traditional manufacturing methods of GRIN lenses are very time-consuming and only suitable for macro-scale operations. In addition, those methods do not have the ability to produce other GRIN optical components with complex refractive index profiles like aspheric or freeform components. We report here an approach to produce GRIN micro-optical components in chalcogenide glass based on a direct laser writing technique. Using this approach, we are able to locally modulate the refractive index of the glass subtrates and create an arbitrary refractive index profile. To prove the flexibility of the method for the production of GRIN micro-optics, we fabricated GRIN micro-lenses and a micro-Fresnel axicon (Fraxicon). The optical properties of micro-lenses can be controlled by varying the writing parameters or the substrate thickness. As a result, the working distance of the micro-lenses can extend from 0 to more than 1000 μ m. Also, the micro-Fraxicon exhibits the ability to convert a Gaussian beam to a Bessel-like beam which concentrates the mid-infrared light into an approximately 1200 μ m long confinement zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and age-related cataracts are the result of environmental insults that largely lead to oxidative stress imposed on a genetic background that determines susceptibility to these stresses. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify GWAS, targeted association studies, and TWAS that identified genes associated with age-related cataract. Additional genes associated with age-related cataracts were identified through the CAT-MAP online database. Pathway analysis was performed using Qiagen Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and pathways related to oxidative stress were analyzed using the same program. Results: A large number of genes have been identified as causes of both Mendelian and complex cataracts. Of these, 10 genes related to oxidative stress were identified, and all were associated with age-related cataracts. These genes fall into seven canonical pathways primarily related to glutathione metabolism and other pathways related to detoxifying reactive oxygen species. Conclusions: While a relatively small number of antioxidant related genes were identified as being associated with cataracts, they allow the identification of redox pathways important for lens metabolism and homeostasis. These are largely related to glutathione and its metabolism, other pathways for detoxification of reactive oxygen species, and the transcriptional systems that control their expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Summary To understand why certain plants have been domesticated into crops, we need to recognize that the environmental conditions plants experience in wild populations are totally different from those of agricultural fields. In this study, we investigated whether the characteristics that promote growth and survival in these different environments may have influenced domestication. Our results revealed that ancestral crops were selected because they developed better than other plants in dense single‐species stands, with selection for increased yield likely occurring after domestication. These insights shed light on the origins of agriculture and offer valuable guidance for future crop breeding efforts. In spite of a large history of research, it is still unclear which functional traits may have mediated plant domestication. Solving this problem requires consideration of the ecological and demographic disparities between natural plant populations and cultivated fields. Since population density tends to be higher in the latter, we hypothesized that traits facilitating growth and survival in dense, monospecific populations might have been relevant for initial domestication. We investigated whether functional traits that respond to population density varied across three different domestication stages: undomesticated crop wild relatives, natural populations of crop progenitors, and landraces. To do this, we compared traits influencing competition (lodging; growth rate), resource acquisition (plant height; total aerial and root biomass) and yield (fruit number) in three annual legume crops—lentil, grasspea, and vetch—grown without resource limitation at three different densities. Our results showed clear differences among species, likely reflective of the distinct uses of the crops and their domestication pathways. Nevertheless, undomesticated relatives consistently differed from crop progenitors and landraces, producing smaller, slower‐growing plants that were more prostrate and allocated less biomass to roots. The effect of selection under domestication on these vegetative traits appeared to be largely negligible. Conversely, landraces produced more fruits. We conclude that early agriculturalists selected for domestication wild legumes that performed well in dense monocultures and were more effective in resource capture. Later domestication and breeding efforts likely had more significant effects on reproductive traits, such as fruit and seed production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case describes the clinical features of a ferret with unilateral immature nuclear cataract that was treated using phacoemulsification with subsequent lens regeneration requiring an additional surgical procedure. A 1-year-old, female-spayed, client-owned ferret was referred for evaluation because of a 1-month history of progressive unilateral ocular opacity in the left eye and infrequent ipsilateral blepharospasm. On ophthalmic examination, the ferret had an immature nuclear cataract of the left eye with no other abnormal findings. An ocular ultrasound, electroretinogram, and unilateral phacoemulsification were scheduled 2 months after initial evaluation. At that time, mild pancortical cataract progression was identified with no additional new abnormalities. Apart from the cataract of the left eye, ultrasonography was within normal limits. Under preanesthetic medications, the electroretinogram revealed unremarkable b-wave amplitudes. Phacoemulsification was performed without complications. Histologic evaluation of the lens material did not reveal a specific etiology for cataractogenesis. Vision was restored in the operated eye, but blepharospasm recurred 4.5-months postoperatively. Ophthalmic examination revealed lens regrowth and anterior uveitis in the operated eye. Two-months of medical management improved uveitis and restored comfort. Lentoid irrigation and aspiration were performed routinely 6-months after the 1st surgery. At the latest recheck, no new lens material was identified. This case suggests that phacoemulsification is feasible in ferrets, with a good visual outcome in the short term. However, we observed lens regrowth that required lentoid irrigation and aspiration. Further studies are needed to investigate the prevalence of postsurgical lens regeneration as well as vision and comfort outcomes in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Türkiye Klinikleri Journal of Ophthalmology is the property of Turkiye Klinikleri and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

One of the most prevalent disorders that cause blindness worldwide is cataract, and its essence is the visual disorder caused by the opacity of the lens. The significant degree of variation in cataracts and the fact that a variety of factors can impact a patient's lens transparency make it especially crucial to investigate the pathogenesis of cataracts at the molecular level. It has been found that more than 60 genes are linked to the formation of cataracts, and the construction of a transgenic mouse model of cataract similar to the selection of human lens clouding due to a variety of causes has become an important means of studying the pathogenesis of cataract. Therefore, the research on the application of transgenic mice to the molecular pathogenesis of cataracts will be the main topic of this review of the literature.

Cataract is a common eye disease caused by metabolic disorders of the lens, which can lead to visual impairment or blindness. Its occurrence and development are affected by various factors, among which age is the most important factor. At present, drug therapy only has a delaying effect on early cataracts, but surgical treatment is still needed for cataracts that affect vision in the middle and late stages. Therefore, it is crucial to establish an experimental cataract model and explore appropriate drugs for preventing and treating cataracts. D-galactose has been widely used in the study of aging animal models, and is often used in the models of diabetes cataract and age-related cataract. This article elaborates on the pathogenesis, modeling methods, and evaluation criteria for successful modeling of D-galactose-induced cataract models, in order to guide experimental researches related to cataract prevention and treatment.

Aya Ikeda, Asami Shimokawa, Kazuhiro Harada, Tomoko Tsukahara-Kawamura, Jane Huang, Hiroaki Ozaki, Eiichi Uchio Department of Ophthalmology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, Fukuoka, JapanCorrespondence: Eiichi Uchio, Department of Ophthalmology, Fukuoka University School of Medicine, 7-45-1 Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan, Tel +81 92 801 1011, Fax +81 92 865 4445, Email euchio@fukuoka-u.ac.jpBackground: We have previously studied the physiological and mechanical responses of the eye to blunt trauma in various situations using finite element analysis (FEA). In this study, we evaluated the volume kinetics of an airbag impact on the eye using FEA to sequentially determine the volume change rates of intraocular segments at various airbag deployment velocities.Methods: The human eye model we created was used in simulations with the FEA program PAM-GENERISTM (Nihon ESI, Tokyo, Japan). Different airbag deployment velocities, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 m/s, were applied in the forward direction. The volume of the deformed eye impacted by the airbag was calculated as the integrated value of all meshes in each segment, and the decrease rate was calculated as the ratio of the decreased volume of each segment at particular timepoints to the value before the airbag impact.Results: The minimum volume of the anterior chamber was 63%, 69% and 50% at 50, 60 and 70 m/s airbag impact velocity, respectively, showing a curve with a sharp decline followed by gradual recovery. In contrast to the anterior chamber, the volume of the lens recovered promptly, reaching 80– 90% at the end of observation, except for the case of 60 m/s. Following the decrease, the volume increased to more than that of baseline at 60 m/s. The rate of volume change of the vitreous was distributed in a narrow range, 99.2– 100.4%.Conclusion: In this study, we found a large, prolonged decrease of volume in the anterior chamber, a similar large decrease followed by prompt recovery of volume in the lens, and a time-lag in the volume decrease between these tissues. These novel findings may provide an important insight into the pathophysiological mechanism of airbag ocular injuries through this further evaluation, employing a refined FEA model representing cuboidal deformation, to develop a more safe airbag system.Keywords: airbag, ocular trauma, computer simulation, lens, anterior chamber, vitreous body, finite element analysis, volume

Abstract Application of stable isotopically labelled (SIL) molecules in Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MALDI-MSI) over a series of time points allows the temporal and spatial dynamics of biochemical reactions to be tracked in a biological system. However, these large kinetic MSI datasets and the inherent variability of biological replicates presents significant challenges to the rapid analysis of the data. In addition, manual annotation of downstream SIL metabolites involves human input to carefully analyse the data based on prior knowledge and personal expertise. To overcome these challenges to the analysis of spatiotemporal MALDI-MSI data and improve the efficiency of SIL metabolite identification, a bioinformatics pipeline has been developed and demonstrated by analysing normal bovine lens glucose metabolism as a model system. The pipeline consists of spatial alignment to mitigate the impact of sample variability and ensure spatial comparability of the temporal data, dimensionality reduction to rapidly map regional metabolic distinctions within the tissue, and metabolite annotation coupled with pathway enrichment modules to summarise and display the metabolic pathways induced by the treatment. This pipeline will be valuable for the spatial metabolomics community to analyse kinetic MALDI-MSI datasets, enabling rapid characterisation of spatio-temporal metabolic patterns from tissues of interest.

In his beautiful book, Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge, the eminent biologist Edward O Wilson, advocates the need for integration and reconciliation across the sciences. He defines consilience as “literally a ‘jumping together' of knowledge with a linking of facts … to create a common groundwork of explanation”. It is the premise of this paper that as much as basic biomedical research is in need of data generation using the latest available techniques– unifying available knowledge is just as critical. This involves the necessity to resolve contradictory findings, reduce silos, and acknowledge complexity. We take the cornea and the lens as case studies of our premise. Specifically, in this perspective, we discuss the conflicting and fragmented information on protein aggregation, oxidative damage, and fibrosis. These are fields of study that are integrally tied to anterior segment research. Our goal is to highlight the vital need for Wilson's consilience and unity of knowledge which in turn should lead to enhanced rigor and reproducibility, and most importantly, to greater understanding and not simply knowing.

The rapid development of silicon photonics inspired the emergence of on‐chip geometric optics. As one of the most crucial elements, waveguide‐lenses have attracted much attention. Nevertheless, waveguide‐lenses often suffer from large chromatism due to the strong waveguide dispersion, especially for the cases with multiple guided‐modes. In this paper, achromatic waveguide‐lenses available for multimode photonics are proposed and are further utilized for realizing multimode spot size converters (MSSCs) as an example. The present MSSC shows low excess losses < 0.4 dB and low inter‐mode crosstalks <−14 dB within an ultra‐broad bandwidth of 1450–1650 nm, which is realized for the first time by comprising a positive waveguide‐lens and a negative waveguide‐lens. In addition, the present MSSC is applied successfully for realizing high‐performance multimode waveguide corner‐bends. To the best of the knowledge, the proposed MSSC is the unique one with an ultra‐compact footprint and the largest bandwidth for low crosstalks as well as low losses, indicating that on‐chip geometric optics potentially provides a new perspective for on‐chip light manipulation desired in various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the clinical findings in a wolf litter with nutritional cataracts and determine the treatment outcomes after phacoemulsification. Procedure: Bilateral nutritional cataracts were diagnosed in four hand‐fed 10‐week‐old wolves (Canis lupus). The information collected included signalment, physical and ophthalmic examination findings, ocular ultrasonography and electroretinography results, and postoperative outcomes. Results: All four wolves were rejected from the dam and hand raised with a commercial artificial milk replacer from 5 days of age until weaning at 6 weeks of age. At initial presentation, bilateral cataracts were observed in all patients (8/8 eyes), with vision deficits in three of the four wolves. The main ophthalmic anomalies were mature cataracts with lens‐induced uveitis (3/8 eyes, two wolves), immature cataracts (1/8 eyes, one wolf), and perinuclear and posterior cortical/subcapsular lens opacities (4/8 eyes, three wolves). Three of the four wolves (six eyes) underwent bilateral one‐handed phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. At the last examination 2 months following surgery, all operated eyes (6/6) were visual, Elschnig pearl proliferation was present in 2/6 eyes, and mild posterior capsular opacification was observed in 6/6 eyes. In the nonoperated wolf, the cataracts remained stable and did not affect the visual axis of either eye. Conclusions: This is the first description of phacoemulsification surgery in wolves. Phacoemulsification is a viable treatment option for captive wolves with nutritional cataracts. Special attention should be paid to hand‐raised cubs to ensure that adequate amino acid levels are present in artificial milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Autostereoscopic displays have become increasingly common, but their impact on ocular dimensions remains unknown. We sought to identify changes in the crystalline lens dimensions induced by autostereoscopic three‐dimensional (3D) viewing. Methods: Forty young adults (age: 22.6 ± 2.0 years, male/female: 15/25) were consecutively enrolled and randomly divided into two groups (3D and two‐dimensional [2D] viewing groups) to watch a 30‐min movie clip displayed in 3D or 2D mode on a tablet computer. The lens thickness (LT), diameter, curvature, decentration and tilt were measured with anterior segment optical coherence tomography under both non‐accommodating (static) and accommodating conditions. Results: In the static condition, the LT decreased by 0.03 ± 0.03 mm (p < 0.001) and the anterior radius of curvature (ARC) increased by 0.49 ± 0.59 mm (p = 0.001) post‐3D viewing. In contrast, following 2D viewing, the ARC decreased by 0.23 ± 0.25 mm (p = 0.001). Additionally, the increase in the steep ARC post‐3D viewing was greater in high‐myopic eyes than low to moderate myopic eyes (p = 0.04). When comparing the accommodative with the static (non‐accommodative) condition, for 3D viewing the lens decentration decreased (−0.03 ± 0.05 mm, p = 0.02); while for 2D viewing, the posterior curvature radius (−0.14 ± 0.20 mm, p = 0.006) and diameter (−0.13 ± 0.20 mm, p = 0.01) decreased. Conclusions: Viewing with the autostereoscopic 3D tablet could temporally decrease the thickness and curvature of the lens under non‐accommodating conditions. However, its long‐term effect requires further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Equine Veterinary Journal is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Application of stable isotopically labelled (SIL) molecules in Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MALDI-MSI) over a series of time points allows the temporal and spatial dynamics of biochemical reactions to be tracked in a biological system. However, these large kinetic MSI datasets and the inherent variability of biological replicates presents significant challenges to the rapid analysis of the data. In addition, manual annotation of downstream SIL metabolites involves human input to carefully analyse the data based on prior knowledge and personal expertise. To overcome these challenges to the analysis of spatiotemporal MALDI-MSI data and improve the efficiency of SIL metabolite identification, a bioinformatics pipeline has been developed and demonstrated by analysing normal bovine lens glucose metabolism as a model system. The pipeline consists of spatial alignment to mitigate the impact of sample variability and ensure spatial comparability of the temporal data, dimensionality reduction to rapidly map regional metabolic distinctions within the tissue, and metabolite annotation coupled with pathway enrichment modules to summarise and display the metabolic pathways induced by the treatment. This pipeline will be valuable for the spatial metabolomics community to analyse kinetic MALDI-MSI datasets, enabling rapid characterisation of spatio-temporal metabolic patterns from tissues of interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polystyrene (PS) has not been much used as an optical material due to the considerably high birefringence of PS. For the extensive use of PS in the imaging-lens systems, lower birefringence should be attained for the enhancement of the resolution. Previously, we have developed PS with extremely low birefringence (LB-PS) even when the molecular chain orientation of PS occurred. It indicates that PS may now become an effective material with excellent properties for optical lenses. In this paper, we compared the birefringence of our developed LB-PS with ones of commercial optical polymers that are most commonly utilized in imaging-lens systems. It was confirmed that the birefringence of LB-PS was comparable or even better than that of the commercial ones with high resolution. By designing an imaging-lens system, it was also confirmed that employing PS with the Abbe number of 31.5 could be highly effective in compensating for chromatic aberration as well as obtaining high optical resolution. Moreover, the resolution performance of several lens systems was calculated, analyzed, and compared by considering the birefringence of cyclo-olefin polymer (COP), normal PS, and LB-PS. It was found that LB-PS could maintain high resolution, while normal PS with high birefringence exhibited significant decrease in resolution. It was also found that LB-PS generated higher resolution than COP. All these results revealed that LB-PS could be an excellent optical material to compensate for the chromatic aberration of lens systems, leading to the enhancement of the actual resolution performance. It was, therefore, expected that LB-PS could contribute to improving the resolution performance of smartphone cameras and security cameras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) has a high intracellular millimolar concentration (ca. 2.4 mM) throughout the phylogenetic spectrum of eukaryotes, archaea, and prokaryotes. In addition, the function of ATP as a hydrotrope in the prevention of protein aggregation and maintenance of protein solubilization is essential to cellular, tissue, and organ homeostasis. The 31P spectral modulus (PSM) is a measure of the health status of cell, tissue, and organ systems, as well as of ATP, and it is based on in vivo 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (31P NMR) spectra. The PSM is calculated by dividing the area of the 31P NMR integral curve representing the high-energy phosphates by that of the low-energy phosphates. Unlike the difficulties encountered in measuring organophosphates such as ATP or any other phosphorylated metabolites in a conventional 31P NMR spectrum or in processed tissue samples, in vivo PSM measurements are possible with NMR surface-coil technology. The PSM does not rely on the resolution of individual metabolite signals but uses the total area derived from each of the NMR integral curves of the above-described spectral regions. Calculation is based on a simple ratio of the high- and low-energy phosphate bands, which are conveniently arranged in the high- and low-field portions of the 31P NMR spectrum. In practice, there is essentially no signal overlap between these two regions, with the dividing point being ca. −3 δ. ATP is the principal contributor to the maintenance of an elevated PSM that is typically observed in healthy systems. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that (1) in general, the higher the metabolic activity, the higher the 31P spectral modulus, and (2) the modulus calculation does not require highly resolved 31P spectral signals and thus can even be used with reduced signal-to-noise spectra such as those detected as a result of in vivo analyses or those that may be obtained during a clinical MRI examination. With increasing metabolic stress or maturation of metabolic disease in cells, tissues, or organ systems, the PSM index declines; alternatively, with decreasing stress or resolution of disease states, the PSM increases. The PSM can serve to monitor normal homeostasis as a diagnostic tool and may be used to monitor disease processes with and without interventional treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding 50% vitreous humor to the media surrounding lens explants induces fiber cell differentiation and a significant immune/inflammatory response. While Fgfr loss blocks differentiation in lens epithelial explants, this blockage is partially reversed by deleting Pten. To investigate the functions of the Fgfrs and Pten during lens fiber cell differentiation, we utilized a lens epithelial explant system and conducted RNA sequencing on vitreous humor-exposed explants lacking Fgfrs, or Pten or both Fgfrs and Pten. We found that Fgfr loss impairs both vitreous-induced differentiation and inflammation while the additional loss of Pten restores these responses. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis suggested that PDGFR-signaling in FGFR-deficient explants is required to mediate the rescue of vitreous-induced fiber differentiation in explants lacking both Fgfrs and Pten. The blockage of β-crystallin induction in explants lacking both Fgfrs and Pten in the presence of a PDGFR inhibitor supports this hypothesis. Our findings demonstrate that a wide array of genes associated with fiber cell differentiation are downstream of FGFR-signaling and that the vitreous-induced immune responses also depend on FGFR-signaling. Our data also demonstrate that many of the vitreous-induced gene-expression changes in Fgfr-deficient explants are rescued in explants lacking both Fgfrs and Pten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ocular lens is an important determinant of overall vision quality whose refractive and transparent properties change throughout life. The lens operates an internal microcirculation system that generates circulating fluxes of ions, water and nutrients that maintain the transparency and refractive properties of the lens. This flow of water generates a substantial hydrostatic pressure gradient which is regulated by a dual feedback system that uses the mechanosensitive channels TRPV1 and TRPV4 to sense decreases and increases, respectively, in the pressure gradient. This regulation of water flow (pressure) and hence overall lens water content, sets the two key parameters, lens geometry and the gradient of refractive index, which determine the refractive properties of the lens. Here we focus on the roles played by the aquaporin family of water channels in mediating lens water fluxes, with a specific focus on AQP5 as a regulated water channel in the lens. We show that in addition to regulating the activity of ion transporters, which generate local osmotic gradients that drive lens water flow, the TRPV1/4‐mediated dual feedback system also modulates the membrane trafficking of AQP5 in the anterior influx pathway and equatorial efflux zone of the lens. Since both lens pressure and AQP5‐mediated water permeability (PH2O${P_{{{\mathrm{H}}_{\mathrm{2}}}{\mathrm{O}}}}$) can be altered by changes in the tension applied to the lens surface via modulating ciliary muscle contraction we propose extrinsic modulation of lens water flow as a potential mechanism to alter the refractive properties of the lens to ensure light remains focused on the retina throughout life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bats have the ability to fly without eye application in the darkness. In this study, we aimed to characterize the functional and structural acclimations of the lenses of two common bats with a various lifestyle in the Egyptian environment: the insectivorous bat (IB) (Pipistrellus kuhlii) and Egyptian fruit bat (FB) (Rousettus aegyptiacus). From each species, seven lenses were extracted from adult eyes. The scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and light microscopic examination of the lens were carried out. FB lenses were made up primarily of fiber cells and sheets, which were encapsulated by a thin collagenous capsule and covered by single epithelial layer anteriorly. On the other hand, the IB lens had two poles and was visibly oval shaped. Both lenses had epithelial cells of the same cuboidal form that were subjected to continuous division and differentiation into new fiber cells at the center. SEM revealed that the normal FB lens had regularly organized shells of fiber cells of intact lens fibers which were connected by membrane interdigitations with different shapes mainly ball‐and‐socket junctions through the superficial cortical fiber cells. The IB lens was composed of parallel, evenly spaced fibers with various types of interdigitations between fibers that can be seen and increased close to the middle region revealing tiny bumps along the scrubby portions and sockets and balls in the center of the wide portions. Near the center of both lenses, there were large interlocking paddles with little and lengthy protrusions along their short sides. In conclusion, our study discovered several ultrastructural and structural variations among the investigated species. The detection of specialized membrane interdigitations with different shapes protruding from the lens fiber sheets is considered the most characteristic of the FB lens. Research Highlights: FB lens has more organized sheets of fibers parallel to each other than IB lens.Different shapes of interdigitations protruded from the FB lens have been detected.Interlocking paddles, balls, and sockets with tongue‐like fiber flabs are characteristic to FB lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent paper in Southern Forests , Jaganathan and co-workers indicated that the low constant-temperature drying method (LCTDM) (103°C for 17 h) is satisfactory for determining moisture content (MC) in seeds with physical dormancy (PY). Would this recommendation apply to Acacia , a large genus (1000+ species) with a seed coat so strong that seeds in the soil can maintain high viability for many decades? MC was assessed, using the LCTDM, in six Australian Acacia species by comparing intact seeds with those cut in half. Halved seeds of all species lost moisture rapidly and their mass had largely stabilised after about 2–3 h. Intact seeds had a wide variation in moisture-loss patterns. In some species, the testa was morphologically unchanged after 24 h at 103°C and this was associated with a relatively slow moisture loss. In other species, the testa had completely shattered after 8 h, leading to a rapid moisture loss. If the LCTDM is used to determine MC in Acacia species, it is advisable to employ a technique that substantially disrupts the testa. Moisture content (MC) is an important property of seeds, associated with many aspects of physiological seed quality. Acacias have very hard seed coats, which means that seeds can survive for decades in the soil, but in standard methods of determining MC (e.g. heating in an oven at 103°C for 17 h), the moisture in the seed might not be able to escape. The standard method can work for some Acacia species; however, to ensure accurate results, seeds should be halved before going into the oven. Image by Geoff Burrows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria serve a wide range of functions within cells, most notably via their production of ATP. Although their morphology is commonly described as bean-like, mitochondria often form interconnected networks within cells that exhibit dynamic restructuring through a variety of physical changes. Further, though relationships between form and function in biology are well established, the extant toolkit for understanding mitochondrial morphology is limited. Here, we emphasize new and established methods for quantitatively describing mitochondrial networks, ranging from unweighted graph-theoretic representations to multi-scale approaches from applied topology, in particular persistent homology. We also show fundamental relationships between mitochondrial networks, mathematics, and physics, using ideas of graph planarity and statistical mechanics to better understand the full possible morphological space of mitochondrial network structures. Lastly, we provide suggestions for how examination of mitochondrial network form through the language of mathematics can inform biological understanding, and vice versa.

We study the intricate interplay between ecological and evolutionary processes through the lens of the prisoners dilemma game. But while previous studies on cooperation amongst selfish individuals often assume instantaneous interactions, we take into consideration delays to investigate how these might affect the causes underlying prosocial behavior. Through analytical calculations and numerical simulations, we demonstrate that delays can lead to oscillations, and by incorporating also the ecological variable of altruistic free space and the evolutionary strategy of punishment, we explore how these factors impact population and community dynamics. Depending on the parameter values and the initial fraction of each strategy, the studied eco-evolutionary model can mimic a cyclic dominance system and even exhibit chaotic behavior, thereby highlighting the importance of complex dynamics for the effective management and conservation of ecological communities. Our research thus contributes to the broader understanding of group decision-making and the emergence of moral behavior in multidimensional social systems.

Landmark discovery of eye defects caused by Pax6 gene mutations in humans, rodents, and even fruit flies combined with Pax6 gene expression studies in various phyla, led to the master control gene hypothesis postulating that the gene is required almost universally for animal visual system development. However, this assumption has not been broadly tested in genetically trackable organisms such as vertebrates. Here, to determine the functional role of the fish orthologue of mammalian Pax6 in eye development we analyzed mutants in medaka Pax6.1 gene generated by genome editing. We found that transcription factors implicated in vertebrate lens development (Prox1a, MafB, c-Maf, FoxE3) failed to initiate expression in the presumptive lens tissue of Pax6.1 mutant fish resulting in aphakia, a phenotype observed previously in Pax6 mutant mice. Surprisingly, the overall differentiation potential of Pax6.1-deficient retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) is not severely compromised, and the only cell types affected by the absence of Pax6.1 transcription factor are retinal ganglion cells. This is in stark contrast to the situation in mice where the Pax6 gene is required cell-autonomously for the expansion of RPCs, and the differentiation of all retina cell types. Our results provide novel insight into the conserved and divergent roles of Pax6 gene orthologues in vertebrate eye development indicating that the lens-specific role is more evolutionarily conserved than the role in retina differentiation.

Lens transparency is determined by both cellular and subcellular levels of its organization. Abnormalities of its size, uniformity of shape and correct arrangement of the fibers lead to the scattering of light falling on the lens. At the same time, its normal transparent proteins turn into a cloudy, coagulated, insoluble form, and undergo denaturation. Therefore, the preservation of lens transparency is possible only with a certain chemical composition, achieved by a strict balance of all metabolism links. There are many different hypotheses about the disease etiology. It is known that intraocular fluid has a low content of proteins and an increased concentration of chloride-, lactate-, ascorbatanions in its composition, in contrast to blood plasma. It cannot be ruled out that this is due to the selective permeability of the blood–ocular barrier, which consists of non-pigmented epithelial cells of the ciliary body. In addition, the modification of molecular composition and constitutional imbalance in the intraocular fluid often causes of pathological processes development in the anterior segment of the eye. The blood-ocular barrier makes the eye an immune-privileged organ. However, many diseases, surgical interventions and eye injuries can lead to blood-ocular barrier damage. This causes to inflammatory effector cells and molecules inducing a cascade of reactions, which in turn results in irreversible fibrotic changes in the lens substance. In this regard, it becomes necessary to search for new reliable methods of determining the level of certain biochemical agents in intraocular structures, as well as establishing reference values for strategically important biomarkers of cataract development. This review presents modern views on biochemical markers imbalance in the anterior chamber aqueous humor and the lens, which contributes to its substance opacity.

The priority directions of the state policy of the Russian Federation are medical and preventive measures related to the physical and social improvement of the country’s population. These measures are aimed at improving the quality and effectiveness of medical rehabilitation activities and at reducing the morbidity and disability of various groups of patients. Clouding of the lens (cataract) is very different in terms of time of occurrence, localization, flow and is always accompanied by weakening of vision. Existing theories explain the pathogenesis of cataracts by the general state of the body (dysfunction of the glands of internal secretion, hidden tetany, violation of the functions of the autonomic nervous system, main exchange, etc.), unfavorable heredity, negative external influences, etc.The results of various studies strongly show that Quinax (azapentacen 5,12-dihydroazapentacene sodium disulfonate), 0.015 %, is an anticataract agent on all layers of the lens. In 2023, PROFIT-PHARM (PROFIT-PHARM LLC) developed domestic Quinax eye drops. It is necessary to conduct a study of their clinical effectiveness in patients with various types of cataracts, as well as to prevent its occurrence.

An 8-year-old female pre-metamorphic axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) was examined for a suspected anterior lens luxation. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy revealed two lens-like structures in the anterior chamber of the right eye (OD), each with cataractous change. Ultrasound biomicroscopy and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed without sedation, and revealed small lenticular structures each with distinct nuclei and cortices. Although a distinct connection of the two lenticular structures could not be definitively ruled out, the structures appeared separate. Each of the lenticular structures was closely associated with its respective iris leaflet. This report demonstrates application of advanced imaging for diagnostic use in axolotl ophthalmology, showing that imaging of the lens can be performed without sedation, topical anesthetic, nor contact gel with high diagnostic quality. Although two distinct lenses were diagnosed with no historical evidence of trauma, the small sizes of each lenticular structure, with no detectable connection between them, are suggestive of a possible regenerative abnormality. This report opens discussion for the regenerative capabilities of the pre-metamorphic adult axolotl and possible implementations of their use in regenerative medicine research for the development of future therapies.

Background/objectivesWe provide global averages and standard deviations for ocular biometry-axial length (AL), corneal radius of curvature (CR), anterior chamber depth (ACD), lens thickness (LT), white to white (WTW), and central corneal thickness (CT). We hope a better understanding of normal and abnormal values will help clinicians gain further insight into their surgical outcomes, especially for off-target eyes.Subjects/methodsWe searched the MEDLINE database using keywords "axial length, corneal power, anterior chamber depth, lens thickness, white to white, and corneal thickness." We included studies that reported averages and standard deviations on eye biometry for at least 1300 eyes. Global weighted averages and standard deviations were calculated using the Cochrane method.ResultsFourteen studies were included, originating from Asia (Japan, Singapore, Myanmar, Iran, South Korea, China), Europe (Germany, United Kingdom, Portugal), Australia, and North America (United States). Global ocular biometry metrics were: AL-23.49 mm ± 1.35 mm, CR-7.69 mm ± 0.28 mm, ACD-3.10 mm ± 0.47 mm, WTW-11.80 mm ± 0.42 mm, LT-4.37 mm ± 0.43 mm, and CT-544 μm ± 38 μm. Total eyes per value ranged from 19,538 to 90,814.ConclusionsWe report global ocular biometry averages and standard deviations. No eyes were from studies in Africa or South America, highlighting the need to publish eye biometry data from these continents. We hope that promoting a deeper understanding of biometry values will help clinicians gain insight into surgical outcomes and drive innovations in lens calculations.

Network Hamiltonian models (NHMs) are a framework for topological coarse-graining of protein-protein interactions, in which each node corresponds to a protein, and edges are drawn between nodes representing proteins that are noncovalently bound. Here, this framework is applied to aggregates of γD-crystallin, a structural protein of the eye lens implicated in cataract disease. The NHMs in this study are generated from atomistic simulations of equilibrium distributions of wild-type and the cataract-causing variant W42R in solution, performed by Wong, E. K.; Prytkova, V.; Freites, J. A.; Butts, C. T.; Tobias, D. J. Molecular Mechanism of Aggregation of the Cataract-Related γD-Crystallin W42R Variant from Multiscale Atomistic Simulations. Biochemistry2019, 58 (35), 3691-3699. Network models are shown to successfully reproduce the aggregate size and structure observed in the atomistic simulation, and provide information about the transient protein-protein interactions therein. The system size is scaled from the original 375 monomers to a system of 10000 monomers, revealing a lowering of the upper tail of the aggregate size distribution of the W42R variant. Extrapolation to higher and lower concentrations is also performed. These results provide an example of the utility of NHMs for coarse-grained simulation of protein systems, as well as their ability to scale to large system sizes and high concentrations, reducing computational costs while retaining topological information about the system.

Background: Reports comparing field lens doses between helical scans with a 40-mm detector width and axial scans with a 160-mm detector width using different computed tomography (CT) scanners are currently scarce. Objective: To compare scatter doses for lenses between a helical scan with a 40-mm detector width and an axial scan with a 160-mm detector width when using different CT scanners in the context of pediatric chest examinations. Materials and methods: Two different CT machines were used: Revolution CT (GE Healthcare, Waukesha, WI) with a 256-row, 0.625-mm multidetector; and Aquilion ONE GENESIS Edition (Canon Medical Systems, Otawara, Japan) with a 320-row, 0.5-mm multidetector. Three pediatric anthropomorphic phantoms were used, with optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) placed on the left and right lenses. The scatter dose values measured by the OSLDs were compared between a helical scan with a 40-mm detector width and an axial scan with a 160-mm detector width during pediatric chest CT examinations. Results: Median equivalent doses for the helical and axial scans were 0.12 and 0.12 mSv/mGy for the newborn, 0.17 and 0.16 mSv/mGy for the 1-year-old, and 0.18 and 0.15 mSv/mGy for the 5-year-old, respectively, when using the Revolution CT. With the Revolution CT, no significant differences were observed in the scatter doses between helical and axial scans in the newborn and 1-year-old phantoms. However, the lens scatter dose for the helical scan was approximately 20–35% higher than that for the axial scan in the 5-year-old phantom (P<0.01). The median equivalent doses of eye lenses for the helical and axial scans were 0.12 and 0.07 mSv/mGy for the newborn, 0.07 and 0.05 mSv/mGy for the 1-year-old, and 0.14 and 0.12 mSv/mGy for the 5-year-old, respectively, when using the Aquilion ONE. With the Aquilion ONE, lens scatter doses for the helical scan were approximately 70%, 40%, and 30% higher in the newborn, 1-year-old, and 5-year-old phantoms, respectively, than those for the axial scan (P<0.01). Conclusions: When using the Aquilion ONE, lens scatter doses for the helical scan were significantly higher in all three phantoms than those for the axial scan. In contrast, when using the Revolution CT, the lens scatter dose for the helical scan was significantly higher in the 5-year-old phantom than that for the axial scan. These results suggest that although scattered doses may vary with respect to the CT scanner and body size, they are generally lower in the case of axial scans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThere are many types of lenses in tailings ponds that have important influences on stability. Lens types of more than 150 tailings dams were analyzed in China’s severely cold regions, cold regions, hot summers and cold winters (the civil building thermal design code (GB50176-2016)). The mechanism of lens formation is discussed in this paper. Triaxial tests of tailings were carried out with fine mud tailing lenses, notched lenses, ice lenses and soft plastic soil lenses. Moreover, a three-dimensional triaxial test model with a flexible boundary is constructed to study the influence of different lenses on the mechanical properties of the tailings. The lens can change the failure mode of the tailings. These faults can change the dilatancy failure of tailings to failure along the “lens-tailings” interface. With increasing confining pressure, the ability of the lens to weaken the strength of the tailings increases. At 500 kPa, the strengths of the samples with fine mud tailing lenses, notched lenses, ice lenses and soft plastic soil lenses are 95.28%, 88.79%, 76.99% and 5.49%, respectively, of those of the sample without lenses. In addition to soft plastic soil lenses, other lenses provide space to accommodate the deformation of tailings, thereby reducing the bulk strain of tailings. The conclusions of this study can provide theoretical support for studying the failure mode of tailings dams under the influence of lenses and improving the local stability of tailings ponds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat generated from the bulb of an automotive lamp is transferred to the lamp reflector and lens through a heat-transfer mechanism. If the heat transferred to the reflector and lens exceeds the heat resistance limit of the materials used in their production, the materials deform. Therefore, lamp designers must design lamps within a limited range. If the lamp fails the heat resistance test after the design and pilot model production, the design process must be restarted. Redesigning requires significant time and costs. Therefore, a temperature-prediction algorithm for a single-function lamp during the initial design stage was developed in a previous study. In this study, a multifunction temperature-prediction algorithm with two or more heat sources was developed to predict the temperature of lamps of various shapes. The focus length based on the parabolic shape of the bulb installation surface and corner slope values near the lens were used to reflect the actual shape of the lamp. The introduction of the effective area improved the accuracy of the temperature prediction for the upper surface, which was strongly influenced by convection. The performance of the developed algorithm was evaluated by comparison with the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results of an actual lamp model. Consequently, it was confirmed that the newly developed best prediction algorithm can be effectively applied to new automotive lamp designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate some boundary value problems for the Cauchy–Riemann equations in the lens domain M. We apply the parqueting-reflection method for the domain to achieve the points of the complex plane. Then the Schwarz representation formula is constructed by the C-auchy–Pompeiu formula and an explicit solution for the Schwarz boundary value problem for the inhomogeneous Cauchy–Riemann equation on the domain is presented. We also discuss about the condition of solvability and by using the Schwarz boundary value problem, the homogeneous Ne-umann and the inhomogeneous Dirichlet boundary value problems are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clouding of the transparent eye lens, or cataract(s), is a leading cause of visual impairment that requires surgical replacement with a synthetic intraocular lens to effectively restore clear vision. Most frequently, cataract is acquired with aging as a multifactorial or complex trait. Cataract may also be inherited as a classic Mendelian trait—often with an early or pediatric onset—with or without other ocular and/or systemic features. Since the early 1990s, over 85 genes and loci have been genetically associated with inherited and/or age-related forms of cataract. While many of these underlying genes—including those for lens crystallins, connexins, and transcription factors—recapitulate signature features of lens development and differentiation, an increasing cohort of unpredicted genes, including those involved in cell-signaling, membrane remodeling, and autophagy, has emerged—providing new insights regarding lens homeostasis and aging. This review provides a brief history of gene discovery for inherited and age-related forms of cataract compiled in the Cat-Map database and highlights potential gene-based therapeutic approaches to delay, reverse, or even prevent cataract formation that may help to reduce the increasing demand for cataract surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro LED displays are widely acknowledged as forthcoming display innovations. However, due to the micro LED device size reductions, the light extraction efficiency of micro LED devices will be compromised. This paper extends the EQE equation and implement a LEE secondary optics (the secondary optics of light extraction efficiency) factor. The paper also presents few directions to enhance the normal angle light intensity for micro LED displays. Our sample preparations have confirmed that a white glue layer can bring about an improvement of over 100%, and a lens with a protection layer can also boost the normal angle light intensity by 45%. Considering the overall display performance including surface reflection, we simulated a condition that can improve the normal angle light intensity by over 70% in micro LED displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]