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Introduction: A pilot return-to-work program based on the concept of work readiness and three-month job placement with support was developed to enable people with occupational deafness to return to the workforce. Methods: A convenient sample of six male persons with occupational deafness completed the program. A Pretest-Posttest Single Group Design was utilized to measure the program outcome. Two instruments: the Chinese version of SF-36 Health Assessment Questionnaire and the Chinese version of Lam's Assessment of Stage of employment readiness were used to measure the participants' health status and their work readiness respectively. Results: The preliminary findings indicated that the six participants showed improvement in their general health and work readiness. The employment outcome indicated that three of the participants had secured a job and another two participants had attained job offers. Conclusion: This pilot study suggested that a systematic vocational rehabilitation program can facilitate persons with occupational deafness to return to the workforce. Further research using a controlled investigation with larger sample size is recommended for evidence-based practice even though the results of this return-to-work program appear promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the psycho-social factors among injured workers and the influence of their psycho-social profile on the readiness of return to work. Sixty-four subjects with injuries on the upper limbs or lower limbs, low back pain, or cumulative trauma disorder were recruited. The workers' profiles (self-perceived physical health, mental health, and work readiness) together with the impact and types of work injury on the workers' perceived wellness were measured. The regression model of work readiness was constructed to develop a theoretical background for predicting work readiness based on different factors. The results showed that injured workers with chronic injury such as low back pain or cumulative trauma had poorer self-perception of physical health and psycho-social/mental health compared to those with direct trauma. The regression analysis further affirmed that self-perceived pain and physical functioning were significant factors influencing the readiness for returning to work. Workers with low back pain were found to have lower motivation for returning to work. Other factors such as the non-verbal intelligence of the injured workers, their anxiety level, and the support they received from family members were found to have some indirect impact on their ability to return to work, but this was not statistically proven. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and imaging features of a novel surgical technique without endotamponade in repairing complex macular hole (MH)., Methods: Retrospective review of consecutive cases with complex MH underwent pars plana vitrectomy with temporal internal limiting membrane flap, which was stabilized using perfluorocarbon liquid and viscoelastics. At the conclusion of surgery, perfluorocarbon liquid was removed, and no endotamponade agent would be used. Complex MH was defined as a basal linear diameter of ≥400 µm and/or associated with high myopia. Visual acuity, pattern of MH closure on optical coherence tomography, formation of epiretinal membrane, and operative complications were reported., Results: Twenty-four eyes were included, and the mean basal linear diameter was 988.3 µm. MH closure was achieved in 24 (100%), of which, 8 (33%) achieved type 1A closure. The mean postoperative logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution visual acuity improved from 0.93 at baseline to 0.74, 0.51, 0.55, and 0.52 at 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and last follow-up, respectively. Foveal gliosis was observed in 3 eyes (12.5%), and 10 (41.7%) developed nasal epiretinal membrane. One eye developed vitreous hemorrhage, which resolved spontaneously., Conclusion: This novel surgical technique that requires no endotamponade is effective in achieving complex MH closure. A substantial proportion of patients developed epiretinal membrane, and its clinical significance requires further investigation., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Opthalmic Communications Society, Inc.)

Developing strategies to systematically increase the critical current, the threshold current below which the superconductivity exists, is an important goal of materials science. Here, the concept of quantum phase transition is employed to enhance the critical current of a kagome superconductor CsV 3 Sb 5 , which exhibits a charge density wave (CDW) and superconductivity that are both affected by hydrostatic pressure. As the CDW phase is rapidly suppressed under pressure, a large enhancement in the self-field critical current (I c, sf ) is recorded. The observation of a peak-like enhancement of I c, sf at the zero-temperature limit (I c, sf (0)) centered at p* ≈ 20 kbar, the same pressure where the CDW phase transition vanishes, further provides strong evidence of a zero-temperature quantum anomaly in this class of pressure-tuned superconductor. Such a peak in I c, sf (0) resembles the findings in other well-established quantum-critical superconductors, hinting at the presence of enhanced quantum fluctuations associated with the CDW phase in CsV 3 Sb 5 ., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Surface reconstruction plays a pivotal role in enhancing the activity of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), particularly in terms of the structural transformation from metal oxides to (oxy)hydroxides. Herein, a novel (oxy)hydroxide (FeCoNiCuMoOOH) with high entropy is developed by the electrochemical reconstitution of corresponding oxide (FeCoNiCuMoO x ). Significantly, the FeCoNiCuMoOOH exhibits much higher OER electrocatalytic activity and durability with an overpotential as low as 201 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm -2 , and with a Tafel slope of 39.4 mV dec -1 . The FeCoNiCuMoOOH/NF presents high stability when testing under a constant current at 100 mA cm -2 within 1000 h. The surface reconstruction is a process of dissolution-reprecipitation of Cu and Mo species and co-hydroxylation of five metal species, which ultimately leads to the formation of FeCoNiCuMoOOH from FeCoNiCuMoOx. This study holds great significance in the realm of designing high-entropy (oxy)hydroxides catalysts with exceptional activity and stability for OER., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The kagome metal CsV[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text] is an ideal platform to study the interplay between topology and electron correlation. To understand the fermiology of CsV[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text], intensive quantum oscillation (QO) studies at ambient pressure have been conducted. However, due to the Fermi surface reconstruction by the complicated charge density wave (CDW) order, the QO spectrum is exceedingly complex, hindering a complete understanding of the fermiology. Here, we directly map the Fermi surface of the pristine CsV[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text] by measuring Shubnikov-de Haas QOs up to 29 T under pressure, where the CDW order is completely suppressed. The QO spectrum of the pristine CsV[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text] is significantly simpler than the one in the CDW phase, and the detected oscillation frequencies agree well with our density functional theory calculations. In particular, a frequency as large as 8,200 T is detected. Pressure-dependent QO studies further reveal a weak but noticeable enhancement of the quasiparticle effective masses on approaching the critical pressure where the CDW order disappears, hinting at the presence of quantum fluctuations. Our high-pressure QO results reveal the large, unreconstructed Fermi surface of CsV[Formula: see text]Sb[Formula: see text], paving the way to understanding the parent state of this intriguing metal in which the electrons can be organized into different ordered states., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:The authors declare no competing interest.

Background/aims: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) combined with OCT angiography (OCTA) for myopic myopic macular neovascularisation (MNV) activity., Methods: Both eyes of patients with myopic MNV diagnosed with fluorescein angiography (FA), SD OCT and OCTA were assessed by unmasked investigators. The images were deidentified and randomised before graded by masked investigators, who determined the presence of active myopic MNV by using SD OCT together with OCTA without FA and by FA alone, respectively. The findings of masked investigators were compared with unmasked investigators., Results: 213 eyes of 110 patients comprising 499 imaging episodes were eligible for grading. For diagnosing new-onset myopic MNV without FA, combined use of SD OCT and OCTA had a sensitivity of 0.94, specificity of 0.84 and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.92. FA had a sensitivity of 0.52 (p<0.01), specificity of 0.80 (p=0.38) and AUC of 0.66 (p<0.01). For recurrent myopic MNV, the combination of SD OCT and OCTA had a sensitivity of 0.98, specificity of 0.78 and AUC of 0.88. FA had a sensitivity of 0.50 (p=0.04), specificity of 0.76 (p=0.85) and AUC of 0.63 (p=0.01). Myopic traction maculopathy was more frequently associated with recurrent myopic MNV (p<0.01)., Conclusion: SD OCT with dense volumetric scan was highly sensitive for diagnosing myopic MNV. The addition of OCTA improved the diagnostic specificity without FA. Monitoring of the longitudinal changes on SD OCT and judicious use of FA is a reliable surveillance strategy for myopic MNV., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare the outcome of submacular hemorrhage (SMH) displacement using pneumatic displacement with intravitreal expansile gas versus pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with subretinal injection of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent, and air as primary surgery., Methods: Retrospective interventional case series of 63 patients who underwent surgical displacement of SMH secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) or polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) from May 1, 2015, to October 31, 2022. Medical records were reviewed for diagnosis, logMAR visual acuity (VA), central subfield thickness (CST), and postoperative displacement rates and complications up to 12 months after operation., Results: The diagnosis was nAMD in 24 (38.1%) and PCV in 39 (61.9%) eyes. There were 40 (63.5%) eyes in the pneumatic displacement group (38 received C3F8, 2 received SF6) and 23 (36.5%) eyes in the subretinal cocktail injection. Mean baseline VA was 1.46 and 1.62, respectively (p = 0.404). The subretinal injection group had more extensive SMH (p = 0.005), thicker CST (1,006.6 μm vs. 780.2 μm, p = 0.012), and longer interval between symptom and operation (10.65 vs. 5.53 days, p &lt; 0.001). The mean postoperative VA at 6 months was 0.67 and 0.91 (p = 0.180) for pneumatic displacement and subretinal injection groups, respectively, though VA was significantly better in the pneumatic group at 12-month visit (0.64 vs. 1.03, p = 0.040). At least 10 mean change in VA were &gt;10 letters gain in both groups up to 12 months. Postoperative CST reduction was greater (625.1 μm vs. 326.5 μm, p = 0.008) and complete foveal displacement (87.0% vs. 37.5%), p &lt; 0.001, odds ratio [OR] = 11.1) and displacement to arcade or beyond (52.5% vs. 17.5%, p = 0.009, OR = 5.15) were more frequent in the subretinal injection group. Two patients with failed pneumatic displacement were successfully treated with subretinal cocktail injection as a second operation., Conclusion: Surgical displacement of SMH leads to clinically meaningful improvement in VA. PPV with subretinal cocktail injection is more effective than pneumatic displacement in displacing SMH with similar safety profile despite longer interval before operation, higher CST, and more extensive SMH at baseline. Retinal surgeons could consider this novel technique in cases with thick and extensive SMH or as a rescue secondary operation in selected cases., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Purpose: To report a novel technique for refixation of the dislocated CZ70BD intraocular lens., Methods: Posterior vitrectomy is performed with a 23-gauge or 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy system with chandelier illumination. One needle of a double-arm 9-0 prolene needle is passed through the sclera 1.5 mm postlimbus. The needle is retrieved through the corneal paracentesis using a 27-G needle, and the suture is then cut. The suture end is passed through the eyelet of the dislocated CZ70BD intraocular lens inside the vitreous cavity. This is aided with a pair of 27-G MaxGrip forceps, which is inserted through a 27-G sclerostomy site at the intended scleral outlet. After passing the suture through the eyelet, the suture is pulled out at the 27-G sclerostomy site and a knot is tied and rotated. Similar procedure is performed for the second haptic if necessary., Results: Seven eyes were successfully operated on using this technique with a mean follow-up of 12.4 months. There was significant improvement in the best-corrected visual acuity after the operation ( P = 0.016). Postoperative intraocular lens centration and alignment were satisfactory. One patient developed macula-on retinal detachment 1 month after the operation, which was successfully repaired without loss in the best-corrected visual acuity., Conclusion: The described novel technique is effective for refixation of dislocated CZ70BD intraocular lens.

Purpose: To report two cases of bilateral retinal vasculitis in adolescents following COVID-19 vaccination., Study Design: Case report., Results:  We report the first two cases of retinal vasculitis in adolescents following COVID-19 vaccinations. Both patients received recent second-dose COVID-19 vaccinations (7 weeks and 4 weeks respectively), and presented with bilateral retinal vasculitis and vitritis. Investigations did not reveal other causes of retinal vasculitis. Both patients' retinal vasculitis settled with a short course of oral prednisolone., Conclusion: Although rare, the temporal association between vaccination, bilateral eye involvement, and the absence of alternative infective or inflammatory causes, makes this a plausible etiology. mRNA vaccinations may cause an autoimmune reaction via host antigenic mimicry, and systemic vasculitis has previously been described. We believe that a short interval between COVID-19 vaccination doses might be a risk factor for the development of retinal vasculitis in adolescents, and clinicians should be aware to elicit vaccination history.

Given the potential risk to the ecosystem, attention has increased in recent decades to the contamination of the aquatic environment by microplastics (MPs). Due to the limitations of conventional analysis methods of MPs, little is known about the size distribution and abundance of a full-size MPs from 1 μm to 5 mm. The present study quantified MPs with size ranges of 50 μm - 5 mm and 1-50 μm in the coastal marine waters from twelve locations in Hong Kong using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry respectively, during the end of wet (September 2021) and dry (March 2022) seasons. The average abundance of MPs with size ranges of 50 μm - 5 mm and 1-50 μm from twelve sampling locations marine surface waters were found ranging from 27 to 104 particles L -1 and 43,675-387,901 particles L -1 in the wet season respectively, and 13-36 particles L -1 and 23,178-338,604 particles L -1 in the dry season respectively. Significant temporal and spatial variations of small MPs abundance might be observed at the sampling locations, which were contributed by the influences of the estuary of Pearl River, sewage discharge points, land structure, and other anthropogenic activities. Based on the MPs abundance information, ecological risk assessment was conducted and revealed that the small MPs (< 10 μm) in coastal marine surface waters may pose potential health risks to aquatic organisms. Additional risk assessments are needed in order to determine whether or not the MPs exposure would cause health risks to the public., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: This study aims to compare the performance of the 25+® UltraVit® 5000 cuts per minute (cpm) vitrectomy probe versus the 25+ ® Ultravit 10,000 cpm® beveled tip, dual drive vitrectomy probe., Method: In this prospective randomised controlled clinical trial, 52 eyes of 52 consecutive patients were randomized into either the 10,000 cpm (25 patients) or 5000 cpm vitrectomy group (27 patients). Patients were evaluated preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively on the first day, and at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months. The main outcome measures were vitrectomy time, and secondary endpoints were time to induction of posterior vitreous detachment, intraoperative complications, and number of instruments used., Results: The vitrectomy time was shorter in the 10,000 cpm group (413.7 s) compared to the 5000 cpm group (463.4 s), although there was no significant difference (p = 0.5999). One patient had an iatrogenic retinal break in the 10,000 cpm group while two patients had an iatrogenic retinal break in the 5000 cpm group. The time for posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) induction and the number of instruments used were not significantly different between the two groups., Conclusion: The difference in vitrectomy times between the 10,000 cpm vitrectomy probe and the 5000 cpm cutter were not statistically significant. This may suggest that other factors affect efficiency rather than the limitations of equipment., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Frequent antivascular endothelial growth factor injections in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) often lead to poor compliance and suboptimal outcomes. A longer-acting agent has been a pressing unmet need until recently. Brolucizumab, an antivascular endothelial growth factor agent, is a single-chain antibody fragment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 8, 2019, for treating nAMD. It delivers more molecules at equivalent volumes of aflibercept, thus achieving a longer-lasting effect. We reviewed literature published in English between January 2016 and October 2022 from MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane database, Embase, and Google scholar using the keywords: "Brolucizumab, real-world data, intraocular inflammation (IOI), safety, and efficacy". Brolucizumab showed reduced injection frequency, better anatomic outcomes, and noninferior vision gains compared with aflibercept in HAWK and HARRIER studies. However, post hoc studies on brolucizumab revealed a higher-than-expected incidence of IOI, leading to the early termination of 3 studies: MERLIN, RAPTOR, and RAVEN for nAMD, branch retinal vein occlusion, and central retinal vein occlusion, respectively. Contrastingly real-world data showed encouraging outcomes in terms of fewer IOI cases. The subsequent amendment of the treatment protocol resulted in reduced IOI. Thereafter US FDA approved its use in diabetic macular edema on June 1, 2022. Based on major studies and real-world data, this review shows that brolucizumab is effective for treating naive and refractory nAMD. The risk of IOI is acceptable and manageable, but proper preinjection screening and high-vigilance care of IOI are needed. More studies are warranted to evaluate further the incidence, best prevention, and treatment measures for IOI., Competing Interests: J.C.: Consultant/speaker—Salutaris, Erasca, Novartis, Allergan, AcuViz, Ocular Therapeutics, OD-OS. S.M.H.: Consultant/speaker—EyePoint Pharmaceuticals, Allergan, Alimera Sciences, Novartis, Biogen, Bausch & Lomb and Regeneron. C.M.G.C.: speaker/consultant for and grants from—Bayer, Novartis, Roche, Allergan, Topcon, Zeiss, Boehringer Ingelheim; supported by the National Medical Research Council Singapore Open Fund Large Collaborative Grant (NMRC/LCG/004/2018). The remaining authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology.)

Upcycling of waste polyolefin plastics still meets with economic and technological challenges in practice. In this work, the catalytic hydrogenolysis-isomerization of nondegradable polyolefin plastic waste to high-value gasoline, diesel, and light lubricants with highly branched chain is achieved over a bifunctional Rh/Nb 2 O 5 catalyst under relatively mild conditions. Owing to the high efficiency of metallic Rh active sites, the dehydrogenation/hydrogenation of long carbon chains of polyolefins is enhanced. With the assistance of strong Brønsted acidity of Nb 2 O 5 , the cleavage of C-C bonds, skeletal rearrangements, as well as the β-scission of alkylcarbenium ions occurs, which boosts the one-step solvent-free catalytic hydrogenolysis and isomerization of polyolefins. In addition, the preliminary economic analysis shows that this technology is economical, feasible, and has great potential in accelerating the transition to a circular plastics economy for sustainable development., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The kagome metal CsV 3 Sb 5 features an unusual competition between the charge-density-wave (CDW) order and superconductivity. Evidence for time reversal symmetry breaking (TRSB) inside the CDW phase has been accumulating. Hence, the superconductivity in CsV 3 Sb 5 emerges from a TRSB normal state, potentially resulting in an exotic superconducting state. To reveal the pairing symmetry, we first investigate the effect of nonmagnetic impurity. Our results show that the superconducting critical temperature is insensitive to disorder, pointing to conventional s -wave superconductivity. Moreover, our measurements of the self-field critical current ( I c , sf ), which is related to the London penetration depth, also confirm conventional s -wave superconductivity with strong coupling. Finally, we measure I c , sf where the CDW order is removed by pressure and superconductivity emerges from the pristine normal state. Our results show that s -wave gap symmetry is retained, providing strong evidence for the presence of conventional s -wave superconductivity in CsV 3 Sb 5 irrespective of the presence of the TRSB.

Purpose: To describe the clinical and optical coherence tomography (OCT) features of two cases with bilateral diffuse retinal infiltrates as the only presenting feature of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) on initial diagnosis and upon relapse., Methods: We reported two patients with CML, one at initial diagnosis and one in remission who presented with bilateral subacute visual impairment. Fundal examination revealed bilateral symmetrical leukostatic appearance with increased vascular tortuosity, diffuse retinal infiltrates with size up to 6 disk diameters, retinal hemorrhages, and Roth's spots. OCT showed multiple intra-retinal hyper-reflective foci corresponding to intra-retinal hemorrhages, and outer retinal hyper-reflective foci in area corresponding to retinal infiltrate. The different retinal layers were relatively preserved and distinguishable., Results: White cell count (WCC) were elevated in both patients ranging from 544 to 810 × 10 9 /L. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of CML in the patient without prior diagnosis and relapse of CML in another patient. Cytogenetic test detected Abelson murine leukemia (ABL) - breakpoint cluster region (BCR) fusion transcript in both cases. Both patients were started on oral imatinib, subsequently WCC returned to within normal values in both cases. Vision and OCT abnormalities improved and reduction in retinal hemorrhages and infiltrates were observed in follow up., Conclusion: This report highlights the important role of ophthalmologists and detailed fundus examination in making a prompt diagnosis of leukemia in patients with visual complaints. Appropriate systemic investigation and hematologist referrals for prompt treatment of CML may improve survival rate and preserve vision.

A method for facile synthesis of nanostructured catalysts supported on carbon nanotubes with atomically dispersed cobalt and nitrogen dopant is presented herein. The novel strategy is based on a facile one-pot pyrolysis treatment of cobalt (II) acetylacetonate and nitrogen-rich organic precursors under Ar atmosphere at 800 °C, resulting in the formation of Co- and N- co-doped carbon nanotube with earthworm-like morphology. The obtained catalyst was found to have a high density of defect sites, as confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. Here, cobalt (II) nanoparticles were stabilized on the atomically dispersed cobalt- and nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes. The catalyst was confirmed to be effective in the catalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane, in which the turnover frequency was 5.87 mol H2·molCo -1 ·min -1, and the specific hydrogen generation rate was determined to be 2447 mL H2·gCo -1 ·min -1 . A synergistic function between the Co nanoparticle and the doped carbon nanotubes was proposed for the first time in the catalytic hydrolysis of ammonia borane reaction under a mild condition. The resulting hydrogen production with its high energy density and minimal refueling time could be suitable for future development as energy sources for mobile and stationary applications such as road trucks and forklifts in transport and logistics.

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) compared with multimodal imaging for choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) eyes and to determine the features that predicted CNV., Design: Prospective cross-sectional study., Methods: Consecutive CSC patients were recruited from retina clinic. The reference standard for CNV was determined by interpretation of multimodal imaging with OCTA, structural OCT line scan, fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), ultra-widefield fundus photography and fundus autofluorescence (FAF). Two independent masked graders examined OCTA without FA and ICGA to diagnose CNV. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with CNV., Results: CNV was detected in 69 eyes in 64 out of 277 CSC patients according to reference standard. The two masked graders who examined OCTA had sensitivity of 81.2% (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 71.9%-90.4%) and 78.3% (95% CI, 68.5%-88.0%), specificity of 97.3% (95% CI, 95.9%-98.8%) and 96.2% (95% CI, 94.5%-98.0%), positive predictive values of 82.4% (95% CI, 73.3%-91.4%) and 76.1% (95% CI, 66.1%-86.0%), and negative predictive values of 97.1% (95% CI, 95.6%-98.7%) and 96.7% (95% CI, 95.0%-98.3%). Their mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.88 with good agreement (Kappa coefficient 0.80 [95% CI, 0.72-0.89]). Flat irregular pigment epithelial detachment on structural OCT, neovascular network on OCTA and ill-defined late leakage on FA significantly correlated with CNV in CSC from multiple regression (P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P = 0.005, respectively)., Conclusions: There is discordance between OCTA and multimodal imaging in diagnosing CNV in CSC. This study demonstrated the caveats in OCTA interpretation, such as small extrafoveal lesions and retinal pigment epithelial alterations. Comprehensive interpretation of OCTA with dye angiography and structural OCT is recommended., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aim: To review international guidelines and to share our infection control experience during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic at a tertiary eye centre in Hong Kong., Methods: Infection control guidelines and recommendations from international ophthalmological bodies are reviewed and discussed. The measures at our hospital were drawn up as per international and local health authorities' guidelines and implemented with the collaboration of doctors, nurses and administrative staff., Results: The aims of our infection control measures are to 1) minimize cross-infection within the hospital; 2) protect and support hospital staff; 3) ensure environmental control. To minimize the risk of cross-infection, outpatient attendance and elective surgery have been reduced by 40%, and general anesthesia procedures were reduced by 90%. Patients entering the hospital are screened for fever, travel history, contact and cluster history, and COVID-19 related symptoms. To protect and support hospital staff, we ensure provision of adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and provide clear guidelines on the level of PPE needed, depending on the clinical situation. Other protective measures include provision of work uniforms, easy access to alcohol-based hand rub, opening new lunch areas, implementation of self-monitoring and self-reporting systems, and communication via online education and updates. Finally, environmental control is achieved by ensuring regular disinfection of the hospital premise, enhancing ventilation, and usage of disposable ophthalmic instruments., Conclusion: Our multi-pronged approach to infection control is, so far, successful in minimizing infection risks, while allowing the maintenance of essential ophthalmic services., (International Journal of Ophthalmology Press.)

This study evaluates the techno-economic feasibility of sophorolipid (SL) production process that co-utilizes food waste, glucose and oleic acid as substrates. Two variables are considered in terms of (a) Plant construction: Purchasing equipment either from the US or Mainland China and (b) Production: to produce SL crystals (about 97% active) or a concentrated SL liquid/syrup (about 78% active). Hence, four scenarios are generated: Scenario I: equipment made in the USA + SL crystals; Scenario II: equipment made in the USA + SL syrup; Scenario III: equipment made in China + SL crystals; Scenario IV: equipment made in China + SL syrup. It is found that all scenarios are economically feasible and Scenario I has the highest net profit. Scenario III has the highest internal rate of return, net present value and the shortest payback period at a 7% discount rate. Finally, comparison of food waste-related techno-economic studies was conducted., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Sulfation of the amino acid residues of proteins is a significant post-translational modification, the functions of which are yet to be fully understood. Current sulfation methods are limited mainly to O-tyrosine (sY), which requires negatively charged species around the desired amino acid residue and a specific sulfotransferase enzyme. Alternatively, for solid-phase peptide synthesis, a de novo protected sY is required. Therefore, synthetic routes that go beyond O-sulfation are required. We have developed a novel route to N-sulfamation and can dial-in/out O-sulfation (without S-sulfurothiolation), mimicking the initiation step of the ping-pong sulfation mechanism identified in structural biology. This rapid, low-temperature and non-racemising method is applicable to a range of amines, amides, amino acids, and peptide sequences., (© 2019 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

It is imminent to develop renewable resources to replace fossil-derived energies as fossil resources are on the brink of exhaustion. Lignin is one of the major components of lignocellulosic biomass, which is a natural amorphous three-dimensional polymer with abundant C-O bonds and aromatic structure. Hence, valorization of lignin into high value-added liquid fuels and chemicals is regarded as a promising strategy to mitigate fossil resource shortages. Solid acid catalysts are extensively studied due to environmentally friendly in terms of the ease of separation, recovery and reduced amount of wastes. Hence, this review focuses on summarizing the recent progress of catalytic valorization of lignin over different kinds of solid acid catalysts including zeolites, heteropolyacids, metal oxides, amorphous SiO 2 -Al 2 O 3 , metal phosphates, and Lewis acid. Based on reviewing of current progress of lignin conversion, the challenges and future prospects are emphasized., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

With the intensive development of lignocellulosic biorefineries to produce fuels and chemicals from biomass-derived carbohydrates, lignin was generated at a large quantity every year. Therefore, lignin has received increasing attention as an abundant aromatics resource in terms of research and development efforts for value-added chemicals production. In this review, studies about lignin degradation especially the crucial enzymes involved and the reaction mechanism were substantially discussed, which provided the molecular basis of lignin biodegradation. Then, the latest improvements in lignin valorization by biological methods were summarized and case studies about value-added compounds from lignin were introduced. Afterwards, challenges, opportunities and prospects regarding biorefinery of lignin were presented., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We herein present a method for the synthesis of HNbWO6, HNbMoO6, HTaWO6 solid acid nanosheet modified Pt/CNTs. By varying the weight of various solid acid nanosheets, a series of Pt/xHMNO6/CNTs with different solid acid compositions (x = 5, 20 wt%; M = Nb, Ta; N = Mo, W) have been prepared by carbon nanotube pretreatment, protonic exchange, solid acid exfoliation, aggregation and finally Pt particles impregnation. The Pt/xHMNO6/CNTs are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and NH3-temperature programmed desorption. The study revealed that HNbWO6 nanosheets were attached on CNTs, with some edges of the nanosheets being bent in shape. The acid strength of the supported Pt catalysts increases in the following order: Pt/CNTs < Pt/5HNbWO6/CNTs < Pt/20HNbMoO6/CNTs < Pt/20HNbWO6/CNTs < Pt/20HTaWO6/CNTs. In addition, the catalytic hydroconversion of lignin-derived model compound: diphenyl ether using the synthesized Pt/20HNbWO6 catalyst has been investigated.

Organic solid wastes (OSWs) should be regarded as valuable resources rather than dead-end landfill waste that causes public health and odor concerns. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an ideal approach for managing organic solid waste issues and involves using a group of anaerobic microorganisms to transform OSWs into useful products. In this review, over 100 publications related to AD of OSWs have been compiled, discussed, and analyzed. A comprehensive analysis of the environmental and safety impacts of AD, its key environmental factors, co-digestion, and pretreatment, as well as the AD of OSWs by various anaerobic microbes uncovered by high throughput sequencing-based approaches, is presented. The purpose of this review is to provide an outline of the current knowledge of AD processes from a multi-angle perspective. A comprehensive understanding of AD of OSWs and genome-enabled biology development could be helpful for providing up-to-date knowledge of AD, developing it, overcoming its drawbacks and, ultimately, improving global waste control for more efficient environmental management. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.)

In this study, hydrothermal synthesis of sea urchin-like NiCo 2 O 4 was successfully demonstrated by a versatile charge-driven self-assembly strategy using positively charged poly(diallydimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) molecules. Physical characterizations implied that sea urchin-like microspheres of ~ 2.5 μm in size were formed by self-assembly of numerous nanoneedles with a typical dimension of ~ 100 nm in diameter. Electrochemical performance study confirmed that sea urchin-like NiCo 2 O 4 exhibited high reversible capacity of 663 mAh g -1 after 100 cycles at current density of 100 mA g -1 . Rate capability indicated that average capacities of 1085, 1048, 926, 642, 261, and 86 mAh g -1 could be achieved at 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000 mA g -1 , respectively. The excellent electrochemical performances were ascribed to the unique micro/nanostructure of sea urchin-like NiCo 2 O 4 , tailored by positively charged PDDA molecules. The proposed strategy has great potentials in the development of binary transition metal oxides with micro/nanostructures for electrochemical energy storage applications.

It is a challenge within the field of biomimetics to recreate the properties of light-harvesting antennae found in plants and photosynthetic bacteria. Attempts to recreate these biological structures typically rely on the alignment of fluorescent moieties via attachment to an inert linear scaffold, e.g. DNA, RNA or amyloid fibrils, to enable Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between attached chromophores. While there has been some success in this approach, refinement of the alignment of the chromophores is often limited, which may limit the efficiency of energy transfer achieved. Here we demonstrate how linear dichroism spectroscopy may be used to ascertain the overall alignment of chromophores bound to the M13 bacteriophage, a model linear scaffold, and demonstrate how this may be used to distinguish between lack of FRET efficiency due to chromophore separation, and chromophore misalignment. This approach will allow the refinement of artificial light-harvesting antennae in a directed fashion.

We demonstrate a method for the synthesis of NixNb1-xO catalysts with sponge-like and fold-like nanostructures. By varying the Nb:Ni ratio, a series of NixNb1-xO nanoparticles with different atomic compositions (x = 0.03, 0.08, 0.15, and 0.20) have been prepared by chemical precipitation. These NixNb1-xO catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The study revealed the sponge-like and fold-like appearance of Ni0.97Nb0.03O and Ni0.92Nb0.08O on the NiO surface, and the larger surface area of these NixNb1-xO catalysts, compared with the bulk NiO. Maximum surface area of 173 m 2 /g can be obtained for Ni0.92Nb0.08O catalysts. In addition, the catalytic hydroconversion of lignin-derived compounds using the synthesized Ni0.92Nb0.08O catalysts have been investigated.

Effective utilization of coal bed methane is very significant for energy utilization and environment protection. Catalytic combustion of methane is a promising way to eliminate trace amounts of oxygen in the coal bed methane and the key to this technology is the development of high-efficiency catalysts. Herein, we report a series of Ce 1-x La x O 2-δ (x = 0-0.8) monolithic catalysts for the catalytic combustion of methane, which are prepared by citric acid method. The structural characterization shows that the substitution of La enhance the oxygen vacancy concentration and reducibility of the supports and promote the migration of the surface oxygen, as a result improve the catalytic activity of CeO 2 . M-Ce 0.8 La 0.2 O 2-δ (monolithic catalyst, Ce 0.8 La 0.2 O 2-δ coated on cordierite honeycomb) exhibits outstanding activity for methane combustion, and the temperature for 10 and 90% methane conversion are 495 and 580 °C, respectively. Additionally, Ce 0.8 La 0.2 O 2-δ monolithic catalyst presents excellent stability at high temperature. These Ce 1-x La x O 2-δ monolithic materials with a small amount of La incorporation therefore show promises as highly efficient solid solution catalysts for lean-oxygen methane combustion. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Objective: To compare the effects of rTMS combined with sensory cueing, rTMS alone, and conventional rehabilitation on unilateral neglect, hemiplegic arm functions and performance of activities of daily living., Design: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial., Setting: A convalescent hospital., Subjects: Sixty inpatients with left unilateral neglect after stroke., Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to three groups: rTMS combined with sensory cueing, rTMS, and conventional rehabilitation alone. rTMS at 1 Hz was applied over P5 of the contralesional hemisphere while vibration cueing was emitted using a wristwatch device on the hemiplegic arm, five days per week for two weeks. The first two groups received the same dosage of conventional rehabilitation on top of their experimental interventions. Blinded assessments were administered at baseline, 2 weeks postintervention, and 6 weeks follow-up., Main Measures: Neglect and arm motor performance., Results: Both rTMS combined with sensory cueing (99.6±33.0) and rTMS alone (88.2±28.7) significantly reduced unilateral neglect than conventional rehabilitation (72.7±33.1) when measured using the conventional subtests of the Behavioural Inattention Test, but the combination was better than rTMS alone. Hemiplegic arm functions and activities of daily living improved in all patients across the three groups but no significant differences were found between the groups., Conclusion: The combination of inhibitory P5-rTMS with sensory cueing was better than either rTMS or conventional rehabilitation alone in producing a stronger and long-lasting improvement in unilateral neglect, but the improvement was not associated with improved arm function or independence in activities of daily living.

Introduction: A large proportion of patients diagnosed with diabetic maculopathy using fundus photography and hence referred to specialist clinics following the current screening guidelines adopted in Hong Kong and United Kingdom are found to be false-positive, implying that they did not have macular oedema. This study aimed to evaluate the false-positive rate of diabetic maculopathy screening using the objective optical coherence tomography scan., Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study. Consecutive diabetic patients from the Hong Kong West Cluster Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme with fundus photographs graded R1M1 were recruited between October 2011 and June 2013. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging was performed. Central macular thickness of ≥300 μm and/or the presence of optical coherence tomography signs of diabetic macular oedema were used to define the presence of diabetic macular oedema. Patients with conditions other than diabetes that might affect macular thickness were excluded. The mean central macular thickness in various subgroups of R1M1 patients was calculated and the proportion of subjects with central macular thickness of ≥300 μm was used to assess the false-positive rate of this screening strategy., Results: A total of 491 patients were recruited during the study period. Of the 352 who were eligible for analysis, 44.0%, 17.0%, and 38.9% were graded as M1 due to the presence of foveal 'haemorrhages', 'exudates', or 'haemorrhages and exudates', respectively. The mean (±standard deviation) central macular thickness was 265.1±55.4 μm. Only 13.4% (95% confidence interval, 9.8%-17.0%) of eyes had a central macular thickness of ≥300 μm, and 42.9% (95% confidence interval, 37.7%-48.1%) of eyes had at least one optical coherence tomography sign of diabetic macular oedema. For patients with retinal haemorrhages only, 9.0% (95% confidence interval, 4.5%-13.5%) had a central macular thickness of ≥300 μm; 23.2% (95% confidence interval, 16.6%-29.9%) had at least one optical coherence tomography sign of diabetic macular oedema. The false-positive rate of the current screening strategy for diabetic macular oedema was 86.6%., Conclusion: The high false-positive rate of the current diabetic macular oedema screening adopted by the United Kingdom and Hong Kong may lead to unnecessary psychological stress for patients and place a financial burden on the health care system. A better way of screening is urgently needed. Performing additional spectral-domain optical coherence tomography scans on selected patients fulfils this need.

Purpose: To evaluate quantitatively the choroidal vascularity in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients compared to healthy controls., Methods: All eyes underwent swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT), and choroidal images were binarized into blood vessels lumen and stroma. The choroidal vascular index (CVI) was defined as the ratio of luminal area (LA) over total choroidal area of the subfoveal region with a width of 1500 μm., Results: The study included 73 patients with neovascular AMD or PCV with mean ± standard deviation (SD) age of 71.8 ± 9.3 years, which was older than the mean age of 65.1 ± 10.8 years of 72 healthy eyes from control group (p < 0.01). The 44 PCV eyes had significantly higher mean SFCT of 214.23 ± 95.21 μm than neovascular AMD eyes (172.74 ± 96.48 μm, p = 0.03) and greater luminal area (0.23 ± 0.09 mm 2 vs. 0.19 ± 0.08 mm 2 , p = 0.05). After adjusting for age, axial length, and gender in multivariate regression analysis, the SFCT of PCV and neovascular AMD eyes were not significantly different from healthy eyes (195.55 ± 93.11 μm), but the CVI of both PCV (64.94 ± 5.43%, p = 0.01) and neovascular AMD (62.54 ± 5.57%, p = <0.01) were significantly lower than control (68.53 ± 5.91%)., Conclusion: Despite physiological changes of choroidal vasculature due to aging, the choroidal morphology is different in PCV, neovascular AMD and healthy eyes, which has implication on disease pathogenesis.

This systematic review with a meta-analysis of studies was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of robotic training (RT) and conventional training (CT) in improving the motor recovery of paretic upper limbs in stroke patients. Numerous electronic databases were searched from January 2000 to May 2016. Finally, 13 randomized-controlled trials fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the three meta-analyses. The first meta-analysis carried out for those studies using RT for stroke patients indicated a significant improvement in the RT groups. The second meta-analysis suggested that the upper limb function (measured by Fugl-Meyer test) was significantly improved when RT was used with CT compared with CT alone. The third meta-analysis noted a significant difference in motor recovery between the CT-only and RT groups (RT only or RT combined with CT) in the chronic stages of stroke, but not in the acute or subacute stages. However, the RT group also showed a higher Fugl-Meyer score in patients at both the acute and the subacute stage. RT appeared to have positive outcomes to enhance motor recovery of the paralyzed upper limb. Robotic devices were believed to provide more assistance to patients to help support the weight of the upper limb; thus, active movement training can begin in the early rehabilitation stage. These novel devices may also help those chronic patients to achieve better rehabilitation goals. As a summary, RT could be used in addition to CT to help both therapists and patients in the management of the paralyzed upper limb.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to classify exudative maculopathy by the presence of pachyvessels on en face swept-source optical coherence tomography (SSOCT)., Methods: Consecutive patients with signs of exudative maculopathy underwent SSOCT, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), ultra-widefield fundus color photography, and autofluorescence examinations. Images were analyzed in a masked fashion by two sets of four examiners in different sessions: (1) the presence of pachyvessels in en face OCT and (2) features of exudative maculopathy in conventional imaging modalities. Quantitative data obtained were subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI), which was the ratio of choroidal vessels lumen area to a specified choroidal area from binarized cross-sectional OCT scans., Results: Pachyvessels was observed in 38 (52.1%) of 73 eyes. The pachyvessels group was associated with younger age (69.1 ± 9.4 years, odds ratio [OR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] = 0.90-0.97, P = 0.04), presence of polypoidal lesions (OR = 3.27, 95% CI = 1.24-8.62, P = 0.01), increased SFCT (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.02-1.14, P < 0.01), and increased CVI (65.4 ± 5.3, OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02-1.23, P = 0.01). In multivariate regression, CVI significantly correlated with pachyvessels (OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.03-1.55, P = 0.04)., Conclusions: Exudative maculopathy could be classified based on differences in choroidal vasculature morphology. Current results implied that choroidal hemodynamics may be relevant to variable natural history and treatment response in neovascular AMD and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Purpose. To summarise the surgical advances and evolution of small gauge vitrectomy and discuss its principles and application in modern vitreoretinal surgery. The advent of microincisional vitrectomy systems (MIVS) has created a paradigm shift away from twenty-gauge vitrectomy systems, which have been the gold standard in the surgical management of vitreoretinal diseases for over thirty years. Advances in biomedical engineering and surgical techniques have overcome the technical hurdles of shifting to smaller gauge instrumentation and sutureless surgery, improving surgical capabilities and expanding the indications for MIVS.

Background: Burn injury may be associated with long-term rehabilitation and disability, while research studies on the functional performance after injuries, quality of life (QOL), and abilities to return to work of burn patients are limited. These outcomes are related not just to the degree and nature of injuries, but also to the socio-economical background of the society. This study aimed to identify the factors which might affect burn patients' abilities to reintegrate back to the society based on a sample in mainland China., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to collect data of demographic characteristics, medical data about burn injuries, physical and psychological status, and self-perceived QOL at the initial phase and upon discharge from a rehabilitation hospital, timing of rehabilitation, and duration of rehabilitation intervention. Four hundred fifteen patients with burn injuries were recruited in the study. Multiple linear regression and logistic regression were used to obtain a model to predict the functional abilities and the perceived QOL at discharge and their changes during rehabilitation, as well as the post-injury work status within 6 months after discharge., Results: The functional performance at discharge and its change were significantly predicted by the functional abilities and QOL at the admission, duration of treatment, timing of rehabilitation, payer source, and total body surface area burned. The perceived QOL at discharge and its change were significantly predicted by the baseline QOL at admission and duration of treatment. The significant predictors of work status within 6 months post-discharge included age, education, payer source, total body surface area burned, perceived QOL, and bodily pain at admission., Conclusions: The present study identified a number of factors affecting the rehabilitation outcomes of people with burn injuries. Identification of these predictors may help clinicians assess the rehabilitation potential of burn survivors and assist in resource allocation. Policy makers should ensure that resources are adequate to improve the outcomes based on these factors.

Purpose: To assess the effects of mobility training on severe burn patients in the Burn Intensive Care Unit (BICU)., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Severe burn patients with equal to or more than 50% Total Body Surface Area (TBSA) burns who received early rehabilitation in the BICU were included in this study. Based on the different early rehabilitation strategies during the two periods, patients admitted to the BICU from January 2011 to April 2013 were identified as the passive training cohort (n=49) while patients admitted to the BICU from May 2013 to December 2013 were identified as the mobility training cohort (n=24). Data on length of BICU stay, length of hospital stay, length of rehabilitation in the BICU, ventilator dependent days, strict bed rest time, range of motion (ROM), the Barthel Index (BI) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were collected., Results: Compared with the passive training cohort, patients in the mobility training cohort had significantly shorter length of BICU stay (p=0.002), length of hospital stay (p=0.010), strict bed rest time (p<0.001) and length of rehabilitation in the BICU (p=0.026) with improved ROM of shoulder, wrist, hip, knee and ankle joints., Conclusions: Mobility training in the BICU was shown to be feasible and effective in achieving better outcomes than passive training for severe burn patients., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To investigate long-term efficacy and prognostic factors of half-dose photodynamic therapy (PDT) in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR)., Design: Retrospective multicenter interventional case series., Methods: Patients with chronic CSCR undergoing half-dose PDT between 2005 and 2011 were reviewed. Main outcome measures included resolution of serous retinal detachment (SRD) with single PDT, change in best-corrected visual acuities (BCVAs), and recurrence rate of CSCR at 36 months after PDT. Prognostic factors of visual outcome and recurrence of CSCR after PDT were identified with multivariate regression analysis., Results: A total of 136 eyes of 123 patients were followed up for 57.7 ± 16.2 months. At 36 months after PDT, 132 eyes (97.1%) achieved complete resolution of SRD with single PDT and 4 eyes (2.9%) had CSCR recurrence. The mean logMAR BCVA improved from 0.36 ± 0.29 (Snellen equivalent 20/46; range: 0.1-1.2) at baseline to 0.15 ± 0.23 at 36 months (Snellen equivalent 20/28; range: 0.1-1.5; P < .001) and 0.16 ± 0.24 (Snellen equivalent: 20/29; range: 0.1-1.5; P < .001) at final follow-up. Forty-four eyes (32.4%) had ≥3 lines of BCVA gain while 5 eyes (3.7%) had ≥3 lines of BCVA loss at 36 months after PDT. Nine eyes (6.6%) developed CSCR recurrence at final follow-up. Baseline BCVA was significantly associated with the BCVA (P = .009) and the improvement in BCVA (P < .001) at final follow-up. History of bilateral CSCR was significantly associated with CSCR recurrence at final follow-up (P = .036; odds ratio = 15.84, 95% confidence interval = 1.20-208.32). Eight eyes (5.9%) had complications related to PDT., Conclusions: Chronic CSCR patients treated with half-dose PDT can achieve long-term stable visual acuity and resolution of SRD. Patients with chronic CSCR are recommended to undergo half-dose PDT before they have significant visual deterioration. Patients with bilateral CSCR are more likely to develop CSCR recurrence after half-dose PDT., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)