bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of sleep disturbance in reduced accuracy on a divided attention task among patients with fibromyalgia
Authors: Wilson Jenna M. , Meints Samantha M. , Edwards Robert R. , Yamin Jolin B. , Moore David J.
Published: January 2024

Introduction:

Patients with fibromyalgia show impaired cognitive performance compared with healthy, pain-free controls. Sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression are highly prevalent among patients with fibromyalgia, and each is associated with impaired cognitive performance. Yet, limited work has explored whether psychosocial factors contribute to group differences in cognitive performance.

Objectives:

This secondary data analysis investigated differences in cognitive performance between patients with fibromyalgia and healthy controls, and whether psychosocial factors accounted for these differences.

Methods:

Adults with fibromyalgia (N = 24) and healthy, pain-free controls (N = 26) completed 2 cognitive tasks and the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression short forms. Independent samples t tests were used to test for differences in cognitive performance between patients with fibromyalgia and healthy controls. Pearson correlations were conducted to examine associations between psychosocial factors and cognitive performance. Psychosocial factors significantly related to cognitive performance were explored as potential mediators of group differences in cognitive performance.

Results:

Patients with fibromyalgia demonstrated poorer accuracy for divided attention compared with healthy controls, and sleep disturbance mediated this group difference. On the attentional switching task, healthy controls showed a greater switch-cost for accuracy compared with patients with fibromyalgia, but there was no group difference in reaction time. Anxiety and depression were not related to cognitive performance.

Conclusion:

We found that patients with fibromyalgia reported greater sleep disturbance and, in turn, had poorer accuracy on the divided attention task. Sleep disturbance is modifiable with behavioral interventions, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, and may be a target for improving sleep quality and cognitive performance among patients with fibromyalgia.
Redefining sensitization could be a sensitive issue
Authors: Fillingim Roger B.
Published: January 2024

Commentary on: van den Broeke EN, Crombez G, Vlaeyen JWS. Reconceptualizing sensitization in pain: back to basics. PAIN Reports 2024;9:e1125.
Home Is Not Always Where the Sleep Is: Effect of Home Call on Sleep, Burnout, and Surgeon Well-Being
Authors: Coleman Jamie J , Robinson Caitlin K , von Hippel William , Lawless Ryan A , McMasters Kelly M , Cohen Mitchell J
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND:

In-house calls contribute to loss of sleep and surgeon burnout. Although acknowledged to have an opportunity cost, home call is often considered less onerous, with minimal effects on sleep and burnout. We hypothesized home call would result in impaired sleep and increased burnout in acute care surgeons.

STUDY DESIGN:

Data from 224 acute care surgeons were collected for 6 months. Participants wore a physiological tracking device and responded to daily surveys. The Maslach Burnout Inventory was administered at the beginning and end of the study. Within-participant analyses were conducted to compare sleep, feelings of restedness, and burnout as a function of home call.

RESULTS:

One hundred seventy-one surgeons took 3,313 home calls, 52.5% were associated with getting called and 38.5% resulted in a return to the hospital. Home call without calls was associated with 3 minutes of sleep loss (p < 0.01), home call with 1 or more call resulted in a further 14 minutes of sleep loss (p < 0.0001), and home call with a return to the hospital led to an additional 70 minutes of sleep loss (p < 0.0001). All variations of home call resulted in decreased feelings of restedness (p < 0.0001) and increased feelings of daily burnout (p < 0.0001, Fig. 1).

CONCLUSIONS:

Home call is deleterious to sleep and burnout. Even home call without calls or returns to the hospital is associated with burnout. Internal assessments locally should incorporate frequency of calls and returns to the hospital when creating call schedules. Repeated nights of home call can result in cumulative sleep debt, with adverse effects on health and well-being.
Device-measured stationary behaviour and cardiovascular and orthostatic circulatory disease incidence: a population cohort study of 83,013 adults
Authors: Ahmadi Matthew N. , Coenen Pieter , Straker Leon , Stamatakis Emmanuel
Published: January 2024

Importance

Previous studies have indicated that standing maybe beneficially associated with surrogate metabolic markers, while more time spent sitting has an adverse association. Studies assessing the dose-response associations of standing, sitting, and composite stationary behaviour time with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and orthostatic circulatory disease are scarce and show an unclear picture.

Objective

To examine associations of daily sitting, standing, and stationary time with CVD and orthostatic circulatory disease incidence

Methods

We used accelerometer data from 83,013 adults (mean age±SD= 61.3±7.8; Female=55.6%) from the UK Biobank to assess daily time spent sitting and standing. Major CVD was defined as coronary heart disease, heart failure, and stroke. Orthostatic circulatory disease was defined as orthostatic hypotension, varicose vein, chronic venous insufficiency, and venous ulcers.

Results

During 6.9 (±0.9) years of follow-up 6,829 CVD and 2,042 orthostatic circulatory disease events occurred. When stationary time exceeded 12 hrs/day orthostatic circulatory disease risk was higher by an average HR [95% CI] of 0.22 [0.16, 0.29] per hour. Every additional hour above 10 hrs/day of sitting was associated with a 0.26 [0.18, 0.36] higher risk. Standing more than 2 hrs/day was associated with an 0.11 [0.05, 0.18] higher risk for every additional 30 min/day. For major CVD, when stationary time exceeded 12 hrs/day, risk was higher by an average of 0.13 [0.10, 0.16] per hour. Sitting time was associated with a 0.15 [0.11, 0.19] higher risk per extra hour. Time spent standing was not associated with major CVD risk.

Conclusions

Time spent standing was not associated with CVD risk but was associated with higher orthostatic circulatory disease risk. Time spent sitting above 10 hours/day was associated with both higher orthostatic circulatory disease and major CVD risk. The deleterious associations of overall stationary time were primarily driven by sitting. Collectively, our findings indicate increasing standing time as a prescription may not lower major CVD risk and may lead to higher orthostatic circulatory disease risk.
Beam physics design of a superconducting linac
Authors: Wang Zhi-Jun , Liu Shu-Hui , Chen Wei-Long , Dou Wei-Ping , Qin Yuan-Shuai , He Yuan , Jia Yong-zhi , Feng Chi , Yi Man , Chu Yi-Meng , Jia Duan-Yang , Huang Jun-Ren , Zhao Hong-Wei
Published: January 2024

The China initiative Accelerator-Driven subcritical System (CiADS) project aims to design and build the world’s first accelerator-driven subcritical system demonstration facility. The facility will attain 2.5 MW thermal power in 2026 to realize accelerator-target-reactor coupling experiments. As the first approved accelerator-driven subcritical system facility, the CiADS driver linac will adopt cutting-edge accelerator technologies to achieve the challenging goals of high beam power and high reliability. The accelerator will operate in cw mode to produce a 500 MeV, 5 mA proton beam. To meet the extremely high demands on beam availability, the linac design lays strong emphasis on beam loss control and increased fault tolerance via a novel fault-compensation method. The accelerator complex consists of a room temperature front-end section, a main linac that employs superconducting accelerator technologies, and a high-energy beam transport line. The beam-loss-oriented beam dynamics design of the driver linac complex is presented in the paper.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Optimizing the spin Hall effect in Pt-based binary alloys
Authors: McHugh Oliver L. W. , Gradhand Martin , Stewart Derek A.
Published: January 2024

We present multicode calculations for the spin Hall effect in binary Pt-based alloys, where we explore the viability of alloying the archetype spin Hall material Pt with a large set of metals [Al, Ag, Au, Cu, Hf (hcp), Hf (fcc), Ir, Pd] in order to optimize the charge to spin current conversion for practical applications. To capture intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms in material-specific calculations, we employ different first-principles codes based on density functional theory in the framework of Green's-function-based multiple scattering approaches. Capturing the transport properties within the relativistic and fully quantum mechanical Kubo-Bastin formalism as well as the semiclassical Boltzmann approach allows for a better understanding of the microscopic physics as well as a larger set of reliable data for the key transport parameters. If available, we compare our results to experimental data, where we generally find good agreement. As we access the full concentration range, we are able to identify the optimal doping regime, which will depend on the binary alloy but generally falls within a region of 60–90 at.% of Pt. When including the unavoidable experimental residual resistivities, the maximum spin Hall angle that we identified is 13% in Al0.2Pt0.8 and Hf0.1Pt0.9, which is comparable to the best spin Hall angles experimentally found in good metal systems. The longitudinal resistivities in this regime go beyond 70µΩ cm, which is compatible with metallic-based magnetic random access memory devices.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Particle-resolved study of the onset of turbulence
Authors: Joshi E. , Thoma M. H. , Schwabe M.
Published: January 2024

The transition from laminar to turbulent flow is an immensely important topic that is still being studied. Here we show that complex plasmas, i.e., microparticles immersed in a low temperature plasma, make it possible to study the particle-resolved onset of turbulence under the influence of damping, a feat not possible with conventional systems. We performed three-dimensional (3D) molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of complex plasmas flowing past an obstacle and observed 3D turbulence in the wake and forewake region of this obstacle. We found that we could reliably trigger the onset of turbulence by changing key parameters such as the flow speed and particle charge, which can be controlled in experiments, and show that the transition to turbulence follows the conventional pathway involving the intermittent emergence of turbulent puffs. The power spectra for fully developed turbulence in our simulations followed the −5/3 power law of Kolmogorovian turbulence in both time and space. We demonstrate that turbulence in simulations with damping occurs after the formation of shock fronts, such as bow shocks and Mach cones. By reducing the strength of damping in the simulations, we could trigger a transition to turbulence in an undamped system. This work opens the pathway to detailed experimental and simulation studies of the onset of turbulence on the level of the carriers of the turbulent interactions, i.e., the microparticles.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Compressed Gate Characterization for Quantum Devices with Time-Correlated Noise
Authors: Gullans M.J. , Caranti M. , Mills A.R. , Petta J.R.
Published: January 2024

As quantum devices make steady progress towards intermediate scale and fault-tolerant quantum computing, it is essential to develop rigorous and efficient measurement protocols that account for known sources of noise. Most existing quantum characterization protocols such as gate-set tomography and randomized benchmarking assume the noise acting on the qubits is Markovian. However, this assumption is often not valid, as for the case of 1/f charge noise or hyperfine nuclear spin noise. Here, we present a general framework for quantum process tomography (QPT) in the presence of time-correlated noise. We further introduce fidelity benchmarks that quantify the relative strength of different sources of Markovian and non-Markovian noise. As an application of our method, we perform a comparative theoretical and experimental analysis of silicon spin qubits. We first develop a detailed noise model that accounts for the dominant sources of noise and validate the model against experimental data. Applying our framework for time-correlated QPT, we find that the number of independent parameters needed to characterize one- and two-qubit gates can be compressed by 10× and 100×, respectively, when compared to the fully generic case. These compressions reduce the amount of tomographic measurements needed in experiment, while also significantly speeding up numerical simulations of noisy quantum circuit dynamics compared to time-dependent Hamiltonian simulation. Using this compressed noise model, we find good agreement between our theoretically predicted process fidelities and two-qubit interleaved randomized benchmarking fidelities of 99.8% measured in recent experiments on silicon spin qubits. More broadly, our formalism can be directly extended to develop efficient and scalable tuning protocols for high-fidelity control of large arrays of quantum devices with non-Markovian noise.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
4D BIM integrated optimization of construction steel bar procurement plan for limited storage capacity
Authors: Khondoker Md. Tareq Hossain , Hossain Md. Mehrab , Saha Ayan
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Due to its longer length compared to other construction materials and distinctive stacking patterns, obtaining construction steel bars in congested construction sites with limited storage capacity becomes challenging. Lack of storage space in crowded places prompts the need for building steel bar storage choice optimization. Therefore, this study aims to optimize the construction steel bar procurement plan by providing when and how much rebar to order and how to stack different sizes of rebar considering limited storage capacity.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel approach has been presented in this paper by integrating 4D building information modelling (BIM) and mixed-integer linear programming (MILP). This technique uses BIM to retrieve material quantities, including rebar, during the design phase. Following that, activities are scheduled depending on the duration determined by crew productivity data and material quantity. Then, based on the prior price, the price of each unit of rebar is projected for the duration of construction using the exponential smoothing method. After that, the MILP approach is used to generate an optimal steel bar procurement plan for limited storage space following the scheduled rebar-related operations.

Findings

The developed strategy minimizes overall procurement costs and ensures the storage of rebar as per standard guidelines. An optimal rebar procurement and storage plan to construct a six-storied RC frame has been presented in this paper as a demonstrative example to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Originality/value

This work partially satisfies a long-sought research need for establishing a comprehensive construction steel bar procurement system, making it a very useful source of information for practitioners and researchers. The proposed method can be used to minimize a key performance limitation that the conventional rebar procurement practice for crowded building sites may experience.
UDS-SLAM: real-time robust visual SLAM based on semantic segmentation in dynamic scenes
Authors: Liu Jun , Dong Junyuan , Hu Mingming , Lu Xu
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Existing Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithms have been relatively well developed. However, when in complex dynamic environments, the movement of the dynamic points on the dynamic objects in the image in the mapping can have an impact on the observation of the system, and thus there will be biases and errors in the position estimation and the creation of map points. The aim of this paper is to achieve more accurate accuracy in SLAM algorithms compared to traditional methods through semantic approaches.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the semantic segmentation of dynamic objects is realized based on U-Net semantic segmentation network, followed by motion consistency detection through motion detection method to determine whether the segmented objects are moving in the current scene or not, and combined with the motion compensation method to eliminate dynamic points and compensate for the current local image, so as to make the system robust.

Findings

Experiments comparing the effect of detecting dynamic points and removing outliers are conducted on a dynamic data set of Technische Universität München, and the results show that the absolute trajectory accuracy of this paper's method is significantly improved compared with ORB-SLAM3 and DS-SLAM.

Originality/value

In this paper, in the semantic segmentation network part, the segmentation mask is combined with the method of dynamic point detection, elimination and compensation, which reduces the influence of dynamic objects, thus effectively improving the accuracy of localization in dynamic environments.
Supply chain resilience capabilities in automotive and other industries: a mixed method approach
Authors: Manuj Ila , Herburger Michael , Adana Saban
Published: January 2024

Purpose

While, supply chain resilience (SCRES) continues to be a dominant topic in both academic and business literature and has gained more attention recently, there is limited knowledge on SCRES capabilities specific to business functions. The purpose of this paper is to identify and investigate capabilities shared between supply, operations and logistics that are most important for SCRES.

Design/methodology/approach

To address this gap, the authors followed a multi-method research approach. First, the authors used the grounded theory method to generate a theoretical framework based on interviews with 51 managers from five companies in automotive SCs. Next, the authors empirically validated the framework using a survey of 340 SC professionals from the manufacturing industry.

Findings

Five significant capabilities emerged from the qualitative study; all were significant in empirical validation. This research advances the knowledge of SCRES as it informs managerial decision-making by identifying capabilities common to supply, logistics and operations that impact SCRES.

Originality/value

This research advances the knowledge of SCRES as it informs managerial decision-making by identifying capabilities common to supply, logistics and operations that impact SCRES. In addition, the findings of this research help managers better allocate resources among significant capabilities.
Enhancing project manager communication soft skills and risk management practices in Libyan oil and gas construction projects: the role of experience
Authors: Elkbuli Mohamed , Azmy Nurhidayah , Lee Chia Kuang
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Although there has been an increase in the application of a variety of robust technologies and systems, the oil and gas sector relies on project managers’ soft skills for success because of their vital role. Therefore, this study aims to explore the profound influence of project managers’ soft communication skills on successful risk management within Libya’s oil and gas projects.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of relevant literature and a quantitative approach through the administration of a questionnaire were used to determine factors impacting risk management implementation related to managerial communication skills. A total of 246 valid responses were received from the oil and gas companies in Tripoli, Libya. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to examine the direct and moderating relationship drawn by the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings suggest that managerial soft skills may be used to improve continuous risk management processes and intra-project communication. It was found that the experience is strengthening the positive relationship between written communication soft skills and project risk management implementation among Libyan oil and gas construction projects.

Originality/value

This study defines project managers’ soft communication skills and analyzes project managers’ soft communication skills with the role of experience as a moderator. This paper presents a valuable contribution by offering original insights tailored explicitly to the Libyan context. The information presented in this paper is relevant to project managers operating within the oil and gas industry. It also offers a novel approach to risk management in the Libyan oil and gas industry that can improve project efficiency and effectiveness.
Collaborative innovation, strategic agility, & absorptive capacity adoption in SMEs: the moderating effects of customer knowledge management capability
Authors: Mata Mário Nuno , Moleiro Martins José , Inácio Pedro Leite
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between collaborative innovation and the financial performance of information technology (IT) firms through the mediating role of strategic agility and absorptive capacity. Customer knowledge management capability (CKMC) is also explored as a potential moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 300 respondents working in different small to medium IT enterprises operating in different cities around Portugal. The simple random sampling method was used for data collection, and Smart partial least squares-structural equation modeling (Smart PLS-SEM version 3.2.8) was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that collaborative innovation contributes significantly to the financial performance of IT firms in Portugal. The results also indicate that absorptive capacity and strategic agility both positively and significantly affect the relationship between collaborative innovation and firms’ financial performance. However, while the moderating role of CKMC has a positive and significant effect on the relation between collaborative innovation and strategic agility, CKMC insignificantly moderates the relation between collaborative innovation and absorptive capacity.

Originality/value

Few studies have explicitly connected collaborative innovation with firms’ financial performance; this study attempts to fill that gap. Moreover, this research investigates the mediating role of strategic agility and absorptive capacity in the relationship between collaborative innovation and financial performance. Finally, by discussing the moderating effect of CKMC, which leads to enhanced financial performance, this study proposes that when complex and unpredictable situations occur, managers should focus on customer-oriented strategies and innovation at the same time to outpace their competitors.
One therapy to protect them all: Controlling diabetic eye disease in anterior and posterior segment via mitophagy‐activating drugs
Authors: Wood Heather , Anderson Aidan , Wimalachandra Dulani , Bouzinab Kaouthar , Rudzinska Paula , Alfahad Nada , Ganley Ian , Wallace Graham , Rauz Saaeha , Hill Lisa , Hombrebueno Jose
Published: January 2024

Aims/Purpose: The accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic eye disease through the impairment of mitochondrial quality control (MQC). This study aimed to investigate whether mitophagy‐activating drugs can alleviate pathology in the anterior and posterior ocular tissues of type‐1 diabetic mice.

Methods: Mitophagy was evaluated in corneal and retinal tissues from diabetic mitophagy reporter mice (mitoQC‐Ins2Akita). The therapeutic potential of targeting mitophagy was evaluated by treating diabetic Ins2Akita mice with PIA‐01 (a PINK1‐independent mitophagy activator). Treatment was delivered orally between 4 and 8 months of diabetes. Ocular degenerative changes were evaluated by scotopic electroretinography (ERG), along with immunohistochemical analysis of retinal neurons and corneal cytoarchitecture.

Results: Indicative of deteriorated MQC, mitophagy and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) positive mitochondrial nucleoids (which contain mtDNA) significantly decreased in the cornea and retina by 8 months of diabetes. Oral delivery of PIA‐01 restored TFAM+ mitochondrial nucleoids, leading to improved visual outcomes in Ins2Akita mice. In the retina, this was reflected by improved ERG responses (e.g. increased scotopic a‐wave and b‐wave amplitudes), while also protecting retinal neurons, including cone‐photoreceptors, synaptic structures, amacrine cells and retinal ganglion cells. This protection extended to the anterior segment, where PIA‐01 rescued corneal cytoarchitecture (basal epithelium and stroma) in diabetic mice.

Conclusions: Diabetes progresses with deterioration of MQC in anterior and posterior ocular tissues. Rescuing MQC via mitophagy‐activating drugs may allow for multisystem therapies to control diabetic eye disease.
PINK1‐mitophagy activator (PA‐01) overcomes mitochondrial hyperfusion conferring retinal neuroprotection in type‐1 diabetes
Authors: Anderson Aidan , Alfahad Nada , Mudiyanselage Dulani , Bouzinab Kaouthar , Rudzinska Paula , Wood Heather , Ganley Ian G. , Rauz Saaeha , Curtis Tim M. , Wallace Graham , Romero Jose M.
Published: January 2024

Aims/Purpose: We hypothesize that exacerbated mitochondrial fusion abrogates mitophagy in diabetic retinopathy [DR]. Our aim was to rescue this process pharmacologically to prevent vision loss in a mouse model of type‐1 diabetes.

Methods: We generated a drug screening platform mimicking mitochondrial hyperfusion in DR. To this end, retinal Müller cells (mouse primary and MIO‐M1 cell line) were antagonized for mitochondrial fission using a Drp1 inhibitor peptide under elevated glucose (30.5 mM) conditions. Pharmacological ‘hits’ rescuing mitophagy in conditions of diabetes‐induced hyperfusion were assessed for their capability to improve mitochondrial health (membrane potential [ΔΨm]) and bioenergetics (Seahorse). The bio‐activity of lead compounds were corroborated in vivo using diabetic mitophagy reporter mice (Mito‐QC Ins2Akita), while effectiveness to alleviate retinal degeneration was evaluated via electroretinography (ERG), retinal thickness (SD‐OCT) and morphometric analysis of retinal neurons.

Results: Among all drugs screened, we identified PA‐01 (a PINK1‐mitophagy activator) as capable of safely rescuing mitophagy under conditions of diabetes‐induced mitochondrial hyperfusion. Accordingly, PA‐01 rescued mitochondrial health (ΔΨm) and bioenergetics in Müller glia cultures, by optimizing metabolic flux (basal‐ and ATP‐linked respiration). The bio‐activity of PA‐01 was demonstrated in vivo, where long‐term oral administration rescued mitochondrial hyperfusion and mitophagy in the diabetic retina, while further preventing neurodegeneration. This was reflected in i) improved scotopic ERG responses (increased a‐wave and b‐wave amplitudes), ii) improved SD‐OCT retinal thickness and iii) neuroprotection to photoreceptors, synaptic terminals and amacrine cells.

Conclusions: Exacerbated mitochondrial fusion contributes to DR pathology by inhibiting mitophagy in Müller glia. Rescuing this process pharmacologically holds promising therapeutic potential to alleviate vision loss in DR.
Optimizing diagnostic success for vitreoretinal lymphoma
Authors: Saba Toni , Succar Channelle , Madigan Michele , Cherepanoff Svetlana , Fung Adrian , Hunyor Alex , Sewell William
Published: January 2024

Aims/Purpose: To determine the diagnostic yield and pathological entities in a retrospective cohort of diagnostic vitrectomy patients.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of diagnostic vitrectomy samples submitted to a tertial referral hospital pathology laboratory was identified by database search. The specimen submission protocol for this cohort consisted of two components: (i) intraoperative preparation of a neat vitreous aspirate as well as submission of the casette washings in RPMI and (ii) laboratory triage of each sample for microbiology culture, flow cytometry, cytological assessment and cell block preparation.

Results: A total of 133 diagnostic vitrectomy samples were submitted between November 2015 and January 2022 (mean age 74 years, 0.8 M:F). A diagnostic report resulted in 132 (99.2%) of cases. Benign diagnoses (infectious and non‐infectious vitritis, degenerative or reactive changes, haemorrhage) were found in 88 of the cases (66.1%), while 20 cases (15%) were malignant. Of the malignant diagnoses, 18 (13.5%) were vitreoretinal lymphoma (17 diffuse large B cells; 1 T cell) by cytology and flow cytometry. The other two malignant diagnoses consisted of metastatic adenocarcinoma and metastatic cutaneous melanoma. 24 cases (18%) were classified as atypical, consisting of a lymphocytosis without demonstrable clonality by flow cytometry.

Conclusions: This intraoperative and laboratory protocol maximizes the sample for all diagnostic tests required to discern infectious, inflammatory and malignant causes of increased vitreous cellularity. Importantly, the protocol allows for immunophenotyping of vitreoretinal lymphoma by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry to WHO classification standards, essential for treatment and surveillance decision‐making.
Direct measurement of the ciliary sulcus diameter using optical coherence tomography: Inter‐rater variability
Authors: Eppig Timo , Seer Manuel , Abad Antonio Martinez , Galvis Virgilio , Tello Alejandro , Schütz Saskia , Rombach Michiel , Alió Jorge L.
Published: January 2024

Aims/Purpose: To develop a method for measuring the exact dimensions of the ciliary sulcus in order to improve the predictability of accommodative intraocular lens sizing.

Methods: Patients scheduled for cataract surgery have been pre‐operatively examined with the anterior segment optical coherence tomographer (AS‐OCT) CASIA2 (Tomey, Nagoya, Japan). Optimized scan protocols were defined to improve the image quality of the ciliary structures. The horizontal scan from 0° to 180° was taken to represent the space where a sulcus‐fixated accommodative intraocular lens (IOL), whose diameter must agree with that of the ciliary sulcus, may be placed. The images were corrected for the optical distortion induced by the cornea's refraction. The sulcus‐to‐sulcus (STS) size as well as the depth of the sulcus plane (SPD) was measured using the integrated software calliper by two independent raters. Inter‐rater variability and correlation were evaluated. In addition, STS measurements were compared to other ocular diameter measures, such as angle‐to‐angle (ATA) and anterior chamber width (ACW). Data were analysed by means of correlation coefficient R2 and Bland–Altmann analysis.

Results: 55 eyes of 28 patients were included in the study. The optimized scan protocols improved overall image quality and subjective visibility of ciliary anatomy compared to the default protocol. STS ranged from 10.66 mm to 12.89 mm, ACW from 10.76 mm to 12.74 mm and ATA from 10.69 to 12.46 mm. SPD ranged from 3.73 mm to 5.0 mm, while ATA depth was between 2.74 mm and 3.95 mm. Readings of both raters were highly correlated (R2 > 0.98). Manual readings of STS correlated poorly with automated ACW and ATA measurements (R2 < 0.66). The mean difference was 0.018 mm for STS and −0.011 mm for SPD. The levels of agreement were within [−0.109; +0.145] mm for STS and [−0.112; +0.091] mm for SPD.

Conclusions: Despite the absorption of light by the iris pigment, the infrared light from the AS‐OCT is able to penetrate the posterior chamber to some degree. Therefore, the new AS‐OCT method for sulcus‐to‐sulcus and ciliary dimensions measurements seems to be feasible, reliable and is less bothersome for the patients compared to ultrasound bio‐microscopy. This approach could be useful for sulcus fixated accommodative IOLs and for sizing determination of posterior chamber phakic IOLs.
Extended depth of focus versus trifocal for intraocular lens implantation: An updated systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Karam Mohammad , AlKhowaiter Nahlaa , Alkhabbaz Ali , AlDubaikhi Ahmad , Alsaif Abdulmalik , Shareef Eiman , Alazaz Rand , Alotaibi Abdulaziz , Koaik Mona , Jabbour Samir
Published: January 2024

Aims/Purpose: To compare the extended depth of focus (EDOF) versus trifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) in patients undergoing IOL implantation.

Methods: An electronic search was conducted as per the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to include studies comparing EDOF versus trifocal IOLs. Refraction and visual acuity were primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes included defocus curves, intraocular aberrations, contrast sensitivity (CS), quality of vision (QoV) questionnaire score, haloes and glare, spectacle independence and patient satisfaction.

Results: A total of 22 studies enrolling 2200 eyes were identified. Trifocal IOL showed a significant improvement in sphere (mean difference [MD] = −0.23; p = 0.001) and spherical equivalence (MD = −0.11, p = 0.0001) compared to EDOF IOL. No difference was observed in cylinder (MD = −0.03, p = 0.25) or astigmatism. Trifocal IOL had superior near visual acuity outcomes, namely uncorrected near visual acuity (MD = 0.12, p < 0.00001) and distance‐corrected near visual acuity (MD = 0.12, p = 0.002). Post‐operative corrected distance visual acuity (MD = −0.01, p = 0.01) was significantly improved for the EDOF group, although no difference was noted in post‐operative uncorrected distance visual acuity (MD = 0.00, p = 0.84), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (MD = 0.01, p = 0.68) or distance‐corrected intermediate visual acuity (MD = −0.01, p = 0.39). Defocus curve favoured trifocal IOLs at near vision and EDOF IOLs at intermediate vision. Ocular aberration, CS, haloes (odds ratio = 0.64, p = 0.10), glare and patient satisfaction were not statistically significant between the groups. The trifocal IOL was associated with an improved QoV questionnaire score (MD = 1.24, p = 0.03) and spectacle independence (odds ratio = 0.26, p = 0.02).

Conclusions: Trifocal IOLs improved uncorrected near visual acuity compared to EDOF IOLs. Uncorrected distance and intermediate visual acuity, halos and glare were not statistically different between both groups.
Changes in peripheral visual field perception after intraocular lens implantation
Authors: Van Vught Luc , Luyten Gregorius , Beenakker Jan‐Willem
Published: January 2024

Aims/Purpose: To assess whether the eccentricity of the perception of objects in the peripheral visual field changes when a crystalline lens is replaced by an intraocular lens (IOL).

Methods: The effect of the IOL on the eccentricity at which peripheral objects are perceived was assessed using phakic and pseudophakic versions of the same eye model. Non‐sequential ray tracing simulations were used to determine the relation between the input eccentricity at which an object was positioned in the visual field and the corresponding eccentricity at which the object was perceived by the eye in every eye model. Two different IOL designs were evaluated in the pseudophakic eye model. For each IOL design five different axial positions and seven different intrinsic powers were tested. Subsequently, the results of the pseudophakic eye models were compared to the results of the phakic model.

Results: For central vision, the perceived eccentricity differed less than 1 degree between the phakic and pseudophakic models. For peripheral vision, the light rays were refracted to a more central retinal location in pseudophakic eyes than in phakic eyes, therewith shifting perceived eccentricity. The amount of the perceived shift depended on the IOL design and its axial position. The maximal shift within the evaluated pseudophakic models was 5.4 degrees towards central vision.

Conclusions: IOL implantation has a minor effect on how the central visual field is perceived, but it can alter the eccentricity at which objects in the peripheral visual field are perceived by over 5 degrees. Such a shift in eccentricity can, for instance, affect how peripheral visual complaints, such as negative dysphotopsia, are experienced.
Systemic effects of intracameral epinephrine during cataract surgery
Authors: Diez‐Montero Cecilia , Montero‐Moreno Javier , Iglesias‐Blanco Raquel , Sanchis Maria Eugenia , Urueña Clara Gonzalez , Hernandez‐Fernandez Rosario , Cañibano‐Pérez Elisabet
Published: January 2024

Aims/Purpose: The objective of this study has been to evaluate the systemic safety that the use of intracameral adrenaline in cataract surgery has on blood pressure and heart rate. This study aims to demonstrate that this procedure is safe for the patient.

Methods: A cohort of 777 patients undergoing cataract surgery was studied. Two differentiated groups were prospectively established. Group I with 394 patients included those in whom only mydriatic eye drops were used to achieve adequate operative mydriasis. Group II with 383 patients in whom operative mydriasis was achieved by using the same mydriatic eye drops as in Group I, reinforced by the use of intracameral adrenaline at the beginning of the intervention. The pre‐anaesthetic evaluation was carried out by the anaesthesiology service. Systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure was monitored non‐invasively at 5‐min intervals from the start of surgery using an automatically inflating cuff. The heart rate was recorded at the beginning of the intervention and every 5 min until the end of the surgery. Oxygen saturation was monitored by digital pulse oximetry.

Results: A total of 496 patients presented cardiovascular pathology, being hypertension the most frequent with 417 patients. 65% of the patients with cardiovascular pathology and 54.3% of the hypertense were dilated with intracameral adrenaline, finding no statistically significant differences between being diagnosed with cardiovascular pathology and receiving or not intracameral adrenaline. In all degrees of anaesthetic risk, the number of patients dilated with adrenaline was similar to those dilated with topical mydriatics. There were not significant differences in the variables recorded during surgery between patients treated with intracameral adrenaline and those who were not.

Conclusions: We can conclude that intracameral injection of adrenaline at the beginning of cataract surgery did not statistically increase the risk of side effects on blood pressure or heart rate, when compared to the group of patients who only received pre‐operative topical mydriatics. The use of intracameral adrenaline at the start of phacoemulsification does not imply changes in control actions, drug administration or monitoring by the anaesthesia service.
Hydroxytyrosol as a potential ocular antioxidant
Authors: Just Lucia Bernat , Ta Phuong Linh , Alambiaga‐Caravaca Adrián , Alarma Vicente Rodilla , Morell Francisco Bosch , Castellano Alicia López
Published: January 2024

Aims/Purpose: The influence of antioxidants on ocular processes has gained increasing importance in recent years due to their impact on eye health. One of the most promising antioxidants is hydroxytyrosol (HT), a natural compound found in olive leaves and olive oil. The purpose of this study is to develop an ocular insert containing HT for administration to the eye. The study aims to verify the absence of ocular toxicity of HT and formulate inserts incorporating this antioxidant.

Methods: To evaluate potential ocular irritation, the hen's egg‐chorioallantoic membrane test (HET‐CAM test) was carried out. HT solutions at concentrations of 0.1, 1 and 10 mg/mL were prepared in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) with a pH of 7.4. Solutions of 0.1 N NaOH and 0.9% NaCl were used as positive and negative controls, respectively (1).

Different inserts were formulated using polyvinylalcohol (PVA), hyaluronic acid (HA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as polymers with film‐forming capabilities and propylene glycol (PGL) as a humectant agent. The components were added gradually and stirred until a homogeneous solution was obtained. Finally, the solution was poured into a Petri dish and allowed to dry.

Results: The HET‐CAM test demonstrated that HT solutions exhibited behaviour similar to the negative control (0.9% NaCl) and did not show any signs of irritation in terms of haemorrhage, lysis, or coagulation.

Four formulations were developed with the following compositions: F1: PVA 3%, PVP 1%, HA 0.2%, PGL 2% and HT 0.1%; F2: PVA 2%, PVP 2%, HA 0.2%, PGL 2% and HT 0.1%; F3: PVA 4%, PVP 1%, PGL 2% and HT 0.1%; and F4: PVA 2%, PVP 2%, PGL 2% and HT 0.1%.

Conclusions: Hydroxytyrosol can be considered non‐irritating to the eye, and PVA‐PVP‐HA ocular inserts have been developed. Further studies are necessary to select the appropriate hydroxytyrosol insert for ocular administration.

References

1. Barile FA. Validating and troubleshooting ocular in vitro toxicology tests. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods. 2010;61(2):136–45.
Characterization of the whole Advillin expressing retinal ganglion cell population in the rodent retina
Authors: Salinas‐Navarro Manuel , Sánchez José Antonio Gómez , Bernal‐Garro Jose M. , Vidal‐Sanz Manuel , Avilés‐Trigueros Marcelino
Published: January 2024

Aims/Purpose: We have quantified and examined the topography of the total population of retinal ganglion cells (RGC) expressing Advillin (Advillin+RGCs), an actin‐binding protein expressed in somatic sensory neurons, in the retinas, as well as their projections to the brain, in control adult Advillin‐Cretg/+ mice (Zurborg et al. Mol Pain 2011, 7:66).

Methods: Retinas from adult Advillin‐Cretg/+ Ai14fl/fl C57BL/6J mice (Frutos‐Rincón et al., Int J Mol Sci 2022, 23:2997) expressing tdTomato were prepared as whole‐mounts, labelled with antibodies recognizing Brn3a and melanopsin. The entire Advillin+RGC population was quantified and its retinal distribution analysed by nearest neighbour maps. The brains were serial coronal crysectioned and the axonal Advillin+RGC projections in the brain were anatomically analysed.

Results: Advillin protein was mainly located in the somas and axons of a subset of RGCs. Total number of Advillin+RGCs was 1947 ± 157 (mean ± SD; n = 7), which constitutes 5% of the total RGC population. Approximately 17.5% (340 ± 76) and 0% (3 ± 1) of the Advillin+RGC population co‐expressed Brn3a or melanopsin proteins, respectively. The Advillin+RGC population was distributed across the entire retina, with a higher concentration in the temporal region. The axons of this RGC subpopulation project to the main retinal recipient regions in the brain, such as the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and superior colliculus (SC). However, none of these axons project to the suprachiasmatic nucleus. These data indicates that Advillin+RGCs is not a subpopulation of ipRGCs.

Conclusions: The Advillin protein, which is characteristic of sensory neurons, is also expressed in a specific RGC subpopulation of the adult mouse retina. A small percentage of Advillin+RGCs expressed the Brn3a transcription factor, while none expressed melanopsin. The axons of Advillin+RGCs project to the typical retino‐recipient areas in the brain, excluding the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
Monocytic involvement in the neuroinflammatory response after retinal injury
Authors: Avilés‐Trigueros Marcelino , López‐Olivares Irene , Albero‐Ros Elsa , David Samuel , Vidal‐Sanz Manuel
Published: January 2024

Aims/Purpose: Inflammation and disease lead to the recruitment of blood monocyte‐derived macrophages (MDM) to the central nervous system. The role of MDMs following a neuroinflammatory process after a lesion remains elusive because MDMs that enter the neural parenchyma are difficult to distinguish from microglia. The aim of this study is to elucidate the response of recruited MDMs after selective retinal ganglion cell (RGC) injury.

Methods: Unilateral complete intra‐orbital optic nerve (ON) crush was performed in adult C57BL/6J LysM‐GFP mice carrying the selective marker green fluorescent protein (GFP) in myeloid MDM but not microglia, 1 week after retrograde labelling of RGCs with the neuronal tracer hydroxystilbamidine (OHSt) from the superior colliculi. This injury model allows to investigate how the retinal mononuclear phagocytic system responds to a neurodegenerative process via the phagocytic activity of its main cellular components, resident microglia and recruited MDM, both in the injured retina and its contralateral uninjured fellow retina, at 5‐, 7‐ or 10‐days post‐lesion.

Results: At all‐time points after injury, microglial phagocytic activity was statistically significant in the injured retina compared to the uninjured fellow retina. In comparison to naïve retinas, the number of MDMs increases significantly after injury in both injured and uninjured retinas. In injured retinas the increase is statistically higher. However, only a subset of the recruited MDMs shows phagocytic activity in the injured retinas 10 days after the lesion but not before. In contrast, the population of MDMs in the contralateral uninjured retina shows no signs of phagocytic activity after the lesion.

Conclusions: In the injured retina, recruited MDMs show an initial quiescent stage, with no phagocytic activity compatible with a neuroprotective state, followed by a delayed phase with detrimental behaviour for RGC survival. In the uninjured fellow retinas however, MDMs retain a quiescent stage. It is tempting to suggest that following ON injury, recruited MDMs adopt an initial neuroprotective stage followed by a detrimental phagocytic activity in the injured retina, whereas in the uninjured retina MDMs remain in the initial stage.
Intraocular pressure change during and after core strength isometric exercise
Authors: Lanzl ines , Aghayeva Fidan , Assaf Abdelrahman
Published: January 2024

Purpose: Physical exercise is advocated to achieve and maintain coordinated movements and good posture throughout life. Core strength, involving main muscle groups that support the spine, pelvis, upper and lower limbs, is considered crucial for this objective. An isometric core strength exercise often performed in this regard is the ‘plank’. The plank is taught to individuals of all age groups in fitness centers, online media and even rehabilitation programs. However no intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements during or after plank exercise have been reported so far.

Methods: 21 healthy volunteers aged 25–60 years performed 1‐min plank exercise. IOP was measured in the right eye before the exercise (t0), at 1 min after commencing the plank (t1), 30 s (t2), 1 min (t3) and 5 min after the exercise (t4) using the Tonopen rebound tonometer. To ensure proper breathing the volunteers were engaged in conversation during exercise.

Results: Mean age of the volunteers was 32 years, 57% of them being female. Median IOP before exercise was 15 (12.5–16.5) mmHg. At t1 it increased to 22 (17.5–24.5) mmHg, at t2 the IOP fell to 12 (10.5–15) mmHg, while it was 15 (11–17) mmHg at t3 and 12 (9–16) mmHg at t4, respectively. The IOP significantly increased at 1 min after starting the plank and decreased significantly below the initial value at t2. At 1 min there was no significant difference compared to the pre‐exercise value; however, at 5 min after exercising, the IOP was significantly lower than the initially. Wilcoxon test yielded significant results at time points t1, t2 and t4, with p‐value <0.001 for each time point.

Conclusions: A significant increase in IOP was observed at the end of a 1‐min plank exercise in every volunteer and the entire group. Immediately after the exercise IOP levels dropped below the initial value and even after 5 min did not reach baseline. We suggest that during isometric core strength exercises IOP levels rise significantly, even using proper breathing techniques. The regulatory mechanisms involved in IOP control in healthy eyes seem to face challenges during a ‘normal’ isometric exercise. This finding should be taken into account when recommending isometric core strength exercises, particularly for patients with glaucoma, as their IOP regulatory mechanisms are likely compromised.