This paper sought to surface visualizations of“older adult selves”(OAS)of junior college students studying development communication after an interaction with older adults in Bagac,Bataan in the Philippines.It was d...This paper sought to surface visualizations of“older adult selves”(OAS)of junior college students studying development communication after an interaction with older adults in Bagac,Bataan in the Philippines.It was done to figure out the ways by which such visualizations could be achieved through institutional efforts within an academic setting.Twenty-three students,mostly females who volunteered to participate in a reflection paper writing activity a week after the youth-older adult interaction,wrote their visions or projections of their life as older adults informed by their social exchanges with older adults in a rural community in the Philippines(Bagac,Bataan).The results indicated that an image of the well-connected older adult was shared across all narratives and it is characterized by youthfulness,openness and flexibility,and sense of accomplishment.Necessary conditions were drawn out from the data to help facilitate the fulfillment of such visions through the possible initiatives of St.Paul University Manila.展开更多
Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a common vascular disease that affects elderly population.Open surgical repair is regarded as the gold standard technique for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm,however,endovaseular an...Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a common vascular disease that affects elderly population.Open surgical repair is regarded as the gold standard technique for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm,however,endovaseular aneurysm repair has rapidly expanded since its first introduction in 1990s.As a less invasive technique,endovascular aneurysm repair has been confirmed to be an effective alternative to open surgical repair,especially in patients with co-morbid conditions.Computed tomography （CT） angiography is currently the preferred imaging modality for both preoperative planning and post-operative follow-up.2D CT images are complemented by a number of 3D reconstructions which enhance the diagnostic applications of CT angiography in both planning and follow-up of endovascular repair.CT has the disadvantage of high cummulative radiation dose,of particular concern in younger patients,since patients require regular imaging follow-ups after endovascular repair,thus,exposing patients to repeated radiation exposure for life.There is a trend to change from CT to ultrasound surveillance of endovascular aneurysm repair.Medical image visualizations demonstrate excellent morphological assessment of aneurysm and stent-grafts,but fail to provide hemodynamic changes caused by the complex stent-graft device that is implanted into the aorta.This article reviews the treatment options of abdominal aortic aneurysm,various image visualization tools,and follow-up procedures with use of different modalities including both imaging and computational fluid dynamics methods.Future directions to improve treatment outcomes in the follow-up of endovascular aneurysm repair are outlined.展开更多
The visualization of dynamic graphs is a challenging task owing to the various properties of the underlying relational data and the additional time-varying property.For sparse and small graphs,the most efficient appro...The visualization of dynamic graphs is a challenging task owing to the various properties of the underlying relational data and the additional time-varying property.For sparse and small graphs,the most efficient approach to such visualization is node-link diagrams,whereas for dense graphs with attached data,adjacency matrices might be the better choice.Because graphs can contain both properties,being globally sparse and locally dense,a combination of several visual metaphors as well as static and dynamic visualizations is beneficial.In this paper,a visually and algorithmically scalable approach that provides views and perspectives on graphs as interactively linked node-link and adjacency matrix visualizations is described.As the novelty of this technique,insights such as clusters or anomalies from one or several combined views can be used to influence the layout or reordering of the other views.Moreover,the importance of nodes and node groups can be detected,computed,and visualized by considering several layout and reordering properties in combination as well as different edge properties for the same set of nodes.As an additional feature set,an automatic identification of groups,clusters,and outliers is provided over time,and based on the visual outcome of the node-link and matrix visualizations,the repertoire of the supported layout and matrix reordering techniques is extended,and more interaction techniques are provided when considering the dynamics of the graph data.Finally,a small user experiment was conducted to investigate the usability of the proposed approach.The usefulness of the proposed tool is illustrated by applying it to a graph dataset,such as e co-authorships,co-citations,and a Comprehensible Perl Archive Network distribution.展开更多
Excessive unplanned urban growth leads to many vulnerabilities and impacts on urban environments to varying degrees. However, the majority of the extant literature focuses on the problems related to location and socio...Excessive unplanned urban growth leads to many vulnerabilities and impacts on urban environments to varying degrees. However, the majority of the extant literature focuses on the problems related to location and socioeconomic conditions, rather than vulnerability processes and related environmental degradation. This paper analyzes the scope of urban vulnerabilities for five rapidly urbanizing and highly-congested cities in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. First, the historic context of the Valley’s uncontrolled urbanization sets the scene. Second, the optic is narrowed to focus upon the geographical features of the resultant urbanized Valley landscape that includes spatial arrangements and of houses, population densities, road networks, vehicular densities, garbage problems, and available open spaces. Additionally, seismic vulnerabilities in the urban areas are also considering in this examination. Third, three-dimensional visualizations of selected urban locations are presented to differentiate between vulnerable and relatively safe locations. The intent of this research is to contribute to the methodological understanding of human/hazards interactions in rapidly urbanizing cities of the Third World, which share similar socioeconomic conditions and environmental con-texts.展开更多
Infill development has been seen as one of the solutions to urban challenges. However, it changes the dynamics and visual appearance of the neighborhood. As infill development usually requires the acceptance of local ...Infill development has been seen as one of the solutions to urban challenges. However, it changes the dynamics and visual appearance of the neighborhood. As infill development usually requires the acceptance of local stakeholders, their perceptions of the resulting intensified housing have a significant role. In this study, customized visualizations illustrating scenarios of infill development were made from the perspective of individual apartments in neighboring residential building. The usefulness of customized visualizations for local stakeholders was studied in the Tammela test area. A 3D virtual model of the existing environment was created. Models depicting the alternative infill buildings were added to the 3D model, which was used to create customized visualizations. These visualizations were utilized in the interviews of local stakeholders. The findings indicate that the customized visualizations help stakeholders conceptualize the impact, and plan and manage the infill development. Visualizations can also be seen as a tool for a resident-driven approach to intensifying housing.展开更多
Understanding which factors affect information visualization transparency continues to be one of the most relevant challenges in current research,especially since trust models how users build on the knowledge and use ...Understanding which factors affect information visualization transparency continues to be one of the most relevant challenges in current research,especially since trust models how users build on the knowledge and use it.This work extends the current body of research by studying the user’s subjective evaluation of the visualization transparency of hierarchical charts through the clarity,coverage,and look and feel dimensions.Additionally,we extend the user profile to better understand whether personality facets manifest a biasing effect on the trust-building process.Our results show that the data encodings do not affect how users perceive visualization transparency while controlling for personality factors.Regarding personality,the propensity to trust affects how they judge the clarity of a hierarchical chart.Our findings provide new insights into the research challenges of measuring trust and understanding the transparency of information visualization.Specifically,we explore how personality factors manifest in this trust-building relationship and user interaction within visualization systems.展开更多
Synaptic plasticity is essential for maintaining neuronal function in the central nervous system and serves as a critical indicator of the effects of neurodegenerative disease.Glaucoma directly impairs retinal ganglio...Synaptic plasticity is essential for maintaining neuronal function in the central nervous system and serves as a critical indicator of the effects of neurodegenerative disease.Glaucoma directly impairs retinal ganglion cells and their axons,leading to axonal transport dysfuntion,subsequently causing secondary damage to anterior or posterior ends of the visual system.Accordingly,recent evidence indicates that glaucoma is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system that causes damage throughout the visual pathway.However,the effects of glaucoma on synaptic plasticity in the primary visual cortex remain unclear.In this study,we established a mouse model of unilateral chronic ocular hypertension by injecting magnetic microbeads into the anterior chamber of one eye.We found that,after 4 weeks of chronic ocular hypertension,the neuronal somas were smaller in the superior colliculus and lateral geniculate body regions of the brain contralateral to the affected eye.This was accompanied by glial cell activation and increased expression of inflammatory factors.After 8 weeks of ocular hypertension,we observed a reduction in the number of excitatory and inhibitory synapses,dendritic spines,and activation of glial cells in the primary visual cortex contralateral to the affected eye.These findings suggest that glaucoma not only directly damages the retina but also induces alterations in synapses and dendritic spines in the primary visual cortex,providing new insights into the pathogenesis of glaucoma.展开更多
AIM:To compare the visual outcomes between bilateral implantation of Tecnis ZXR00 extended depth-of-focus(EDOF)intraocular lenses(IOLs)and mixed implantation of Tecnis ZXR00(EDOF)with Tecnis ZMB00(bifocal)IOLs.METHODS...AIM:To compare the visual outcomes between bilateral implantation of Tecnis ZXR00 extended depth-of-focus(EDOF)intraocular lenses(IOLs)and mixed implantation of Tecnis ZXR00(EDOF)with Tecnis ZMB00(bifocal)IOLs.METHODS:This postoperative cross-sectional study enrolled patients who underwent phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation.Patients were divided into two groups:the bilateral ZXR00 group(ZXR00-only group)and the mixed IOL group(ZXR00+ZMB00 group).Primary outcome measures included uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity(UDVA,CDVA),uncorrected and distance-corrected near visual acuity(UNVA,DCNVA),uncorrected and distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity(UIVA,DCIVA),and defocus curves.Secondary outcome measures were visual quality,spectacle independence,patient satisfaction,photic phenomena,and stereopsis.RESULTS:A total of 47 patients(94 eyes)were included,with 26 patients(11 males,15 females)in the ZXR00-only group(mean age:62.73±7.24y)and 21 patients(7 males,14 females)in the mixed group(mean age:65.71±9.16y).There was no statistically significant difference in age between the two groups(P=0.218).The mixed group showed significantly better binocular DCNVA compared to the ZXR00-only group(P=0.002).Defocus curve analysis revealed that the mixed group exhibited superior performance at−2.5 to−4.0 D but inferior performance at−0.5 and−1.5 D.Near stereoacuity was significantly poorer in the mixed group(Randot:5.589±0.744 vs 6.240±0.394 ln arcsec;Contour:4.966±0.973 vs 5.740±0.833 ln arcsec;both P<0.01).Both groups achieved high levels of spectacle independence and patient satisfaction,with no significant differences in photic phenomena or questionnaire scores.CONCLUSION:Mixed implantation of EDOF and bifocal IOLs improve near visual acuity but may compromise near stereopsis.This approach provides a viable option for patients prioritizing near vision;however,caution is recommended for individuals requiring fine stereoscopic vision for daily or professional tasks.展开更多
The visual system of teleost fish grows continuously,which is a useful model for studying regeneration of the central nervous system.Glial cells are key for this process,but their contribution is still not well define...The visual system of teleost fish grows continuously,which is a useful model for studying regeneration of the central nervous system.Glial cells are key for this process,but their contribution is still not well defined.We followed oligodendrocytes in the visual system of adult zebrafish during regeneration of the optic nerve at 6,24,and 72 hours post-lesion and at 7 and 14 days post-lesion via the sox10:tagRFP transgenic line and confocal microscopy.To understand the changes that these oligodendrocytes undergo during regeneration,we used Sox2 immunohistochemistry,a stem cell marker involved in oligodendrocyte differentiation.We also used the Click-iT™ Plus TUNEL assay to study cell death and a BrdU assay to determine cell proliferation.Before optic nerve crush,sox10:tagRFP oligodendrocytes are located in the retina,in the optic nerve head,and through all the entire optic nerve.Sox2-positive cells are present in the peripheral germinal zone,the mature retina,and the optic nerve.After optic nerve crush,sox10:tagRFP cells disappeared from the optic nerve crush zone,suggesting that they died,although they were not TUNEL positive.Concomitantly,the number of Sox2-positive cells increased around the crushed area,the optic nerve head,and the retina.Then,between 24 hours post-lesion and 14 days post-lesion,double sox10:tagRFP/Sox2-positive cells were detected in the retina,optic nerve head,and whole optic nerve,together with a proliferation response at 72 hours post-lesion.Our results confirm that a degenerating process may occur prior to regeneration.First,sox10:tagRFP oligodendrocytes that surround the degenerated axons stop wrapping them,change their“myelinating oligodendrocyte”morphology to a“nonmyelinating oligodendrocyte”morphology,and die.Then,residual oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the optic nerve and retina proliferate and differentiate for the purpose of remyelination.As new axons arise from the surviving retinal ganglion cells,new sox10:tagRFP oligodendrocytes arise from residual oligodendrocyte progenitor cells to guide,nourish and myelinate them.Thus,oligodendrocytes play an active role in zebrafish axon regeneration and remyelination.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with visual prognosis in patients with open globe injuries(OGIs)treated at Vietnam National Eye Hospital.METHODS:A prospective observational stu...AIM:To evaluate the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with visual prognosis in patients with open globe injuries(OGIs)treated at Vietnam National Eye Hospital.METHODS:A prospective observational study included patients with OGIs treated between June 2023 and June 2024.Data on demographics,injury features,and clinical findings were extracted from medical records.Poor visual outcome was defined as final best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)worse than 20/400 or no light perception.Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent risk factors.RESULTS:Among 509 patients(636 eyes),the mean age was 35.13y(range 20–51y),and 67.6%were male.After treatment,the proportion of eyes achieving≥20/40 increased from 12.6%to 42.1%,while no light perception decreased from 29.1%to 9.4%.Independent predictors of poor visual outcomes included delayed admission[>4h,odds ratio(OR)=3.33,95%confidence intervals(CI):1.76–6.33,P<0.001],Zone III injury(OR=5.90,95%CI:2.85–12.24,P<0.001),wound length>10 mm(OR=2.59,95%CI:1.60–4.18,P<0.001),relative afferent pupillary defect(RAPD,OR=1.65,95%CI:1.03–2.64,P=0.039),endophthalmitis(OR=1.75,95%CI:1.01–3.03,P=0.047),retinal detachment(OR=3.32,95%CI:2.02–5.45,P<0.001),and eyelid lacerations(OR=1.94,95%CI:1.13–3.33,P=0.016)associated with OGIs.Vitreous hemorrhage(OR=0.44,95%CI:0.22–0.89,P=0.023)was associated with better outcomes,and female gender appeared protective.CONCLUSION:Poor visual outcomes remain common after OGIs,despite improve visual acuity in many cases.Several clinical and injury-related factors are strongly associated with prognosis.Early recognition of these predictors can support risk stratification and improve trauma care in similar settings.展开更多
AIM:To assess the visual acuity and visual quality of cataract patients who received femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery(FLACS)and multifocal intraocular lens(MIOL)implantation with an improved polishing techn...AIM:To assess the visual acuity and visual quality of cataract patients who received femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery(FLACS)and multifocal intraocular lens(MIOL)implantation with an improved polishing technique during a 1-year follow-up period.METHODS:This study included 74 eyes from 37 patients,comprising 17 males and 20 females,with a mean age of 51.74±7.80 years.Using a coin toss method,one eye per patient was randomly selected for improved anterior capsular polishing,while the other eye received standard irrigation/aspiration(I/A)polishing.The polishing group consisted of 37 eyes,including 21 right and 16 left eyes,while the control group comprised the contralateral fellow eyes of the same individuals in the polishing group.Visual acuity and quality of the patients were evaluated before surgery and at 1 wk,1,6,and 12 mo after surgery.The OPD-Scan III was utilized to assess high-order aberrations,while the optical quality analysis system(OQAS)was employed to evaluate modulation transfer function(MTF cutoff),Strehl ratio(SR),and objective scatter index(OSI)for the purpose of visual quality assessment.Paired t-tests and repeated measures analysis of variance(ANOVA)were utilized to compare the results,and the SNK-q post hoc test was applied to identify significant differences.RESULTS:The polishing group’s uncorrected distant visual acuity(UDVA)and uncorrected near visual acuity(UNVA)significantly improved 1-week post-surgery(all P<0.05).At 12-months,UDVA,UNVA,and corrected distant visual acuity(CDVA)were better than the control group(P<0.05).The MTF cutoff,SR,OSI,and high-order aberrations in the polishing group also showed significant improvements compared to the control group at 12 mo(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The improved capsular polishing method has been demonstrated to effectively maintain visual acuity and visual quality in patients with MIOL after FLACS within 1 a.展开更多
The intersection of visual impairment and mental health has profound effects on quality of life and warrants attention from healthcare providers,educators,and policymakers.With 20 million children under the age of 14 ...The intersection of visual impairment and mental health has profound effects on quality of life and warrants attention from healthcare providers,educators,and policymakers.With 20 million children under the age of 14 affected globally,older adults also experience significant psychological impact including depression,anxiety,and cognitive impairment.The implications of vision-related challenges extend far beyond mere sight.Depression and anxiety,exacerbated by social isolation and reduced physical activity,underscore the need for comprehensive interventions that address both medical and psychosocial dimensions.By recognizing the profound impact of ocular morbidities like strabismus,myopia,glaucoma,and age-related macular degeneration on mental health and investing in effective treatments and inclusive practices,society can pave the way for a healthier,more equitable future for affected individuals.There is evidence that myopic children experience a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms compared to their normal peers,and interventions like the correction of strabismus can enhance psychological outcome-demonstrating the value of an integrated management approach.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the long-term outcomes in acute primary angle closure(APAC)patients treated with lens extraction(LE)surgery and to identify risk factors for glaucomatous optic neuropathy(GON).METHODS:In this longit...AIM:To investigate the long-term outcomes in acute primary angle closure(APAC)patients treated with lens extraction(LE)surgery and to identify risk factors for glaucomatous optic neuropathy(GON).METHODS:In this longitudinal observational study,detailed medical histories of APAC patients and comprehensive ophthalmic examinations at final followup were collected.Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of blindness.Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to determine risk factors associated with visual outcomes.RESULTS:This study included 39 affected eyes of 31 subjects(26 females)with an average age of 74.1±8.0y.At 6.7±4.2y after APAC attack,2(5.7%)eyes had bestcorrected visual acuity(VA)worse than 3/60.Advanced glaucomatous visual field loss was observed in 15(39.5%)affected eyes and 5(25.0%)fellow eyes.Nine affected eyes(23.7%)had GON,and 11(28.9%)were blind.Six(15.4%)affected eyes and 2(9.1%)fellow eyes had suspicious progression.A significantly higher blindness rate in factory workers compared to office workers.Logistic regression identified that worse VA at attack(OR 10.568,95%CI 1.288-86.695;P=0.028)and worse early postoperative VA(OR 13.214,95%CI 1.157-150.881;P=0.038)were risk factors for blindness.Multivariate regression showed that longer duration of elevated intraocular pressure(P=0.004)and worse early postoperative VA(P=0.009)were associated with worse visual outcomes.CONCLUSION:Despite LE surgery,some APAC patients experience continued visual function deterioration.Lifelong monitoring is necessary.Target pressure and progression rates should be re-evaluated during follow-up.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes,including visual function and overall survival(OS)of patients with ocular adnexal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(OA-DLBCL).METHODS:This retrospecti...AIM:To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes,including visual function and overall survival(OS)of patients with ocular adnexal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(OA-DLBCL).METHODS:This retrospective cohort study enrolled 29 patients diagnosed with OA-DLBCL based on histopathological biopsy between 2006 and 2023.Patients were stratified into two subgroups:primary OA-DLBCL(no prior history of lymphoma)and secondary OA-DLBCL(history of DLBCL at non-ocular adnexal sites).OS was defined as the time interval from OA-DLBCL diagnosis to death from any cause.Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method,and prognostic factors affecting OS were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression with a stepwise selection approach.RESULTS:The cohort included 24 patients with primary OA-DLBCL(13 males,11 females;mean age:61.36±18.29y)and 5 patients with secondary OA-DLBCL(2 males,3 females;mean age:50.94±18.17y).Among the primary OA-DLBCL subgroup,12 patients(50%)presented with advanced disease(Ann Arbor stage IIIE–IV),and 16 patients(66%)were classified as T4 disease according to the tumor-node-metastasis(TNM)staging system.The mean final visual acuity was 1.72±1.10 in the primary group and 0.90±1.18 in the secondary group.The 5-year OS rate for the entire cohort was 27.7%.Multivariate analysis identified five factors significantly associated with poor survival outcomes:epiphora[adjusted hazard ratio(aHR),36.95],atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(aHR,10.08),human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infection(aHR,12.47),M1 stage(aHR,6.99),and secondary OA-DLBCL(aHR,6.03;all P<0.05).The median OS was 1.68y for primary OA-DLBCL and 1.12y for secondary OA-DLBCL.CONCLUSION:A substantial proportion of patients with primary OA-DLBCL present with advanced-stage disease at diagnosis.Epiphora,atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,HIV infection,M1 stage,and secondary OA-DLBCL are independent prognostic factors for poor survival outcomes.These findings emphasize the urgent need for optimized therapeutic strategies and early screening protocols to improve the management of OA-DLBCL,particularly in developing countries.展开更多
Ischemic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness:Ischemic retinopathies including diabetic retinopathy(DR),retinopathy of prematurity,and retinal artery and vein occlusion are major causes of visual impairment.Isc...Ischemic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness:Ischemic retinopathies including diabetic retinopathy(DR),retinopathy of prematurity,and retinal artery and vein occlusion are major causes of visual impairment.Ischemic retinopathy can be acute,such as in central or branch retinal artery occlusion,or chronic,such as with DR(Figure 1).Although the causes of retinopathies are diverse,one pathogenic event shared by these conditions is the myeloid cell response to retinal ischemia(Shahror et al.,2024a).展开更多
Diabetic retinopathy is a prominent cause of blindness in adults,with early retinal ganglion cell loss contributing to visual dysfunction or blindness.In the brain,defects inγ-aminobutyric acid synaptic transmission ...Diabetic retinopathy is a prominent cause of blindness in adults,with early retinal ganglion cell loss contributing to visual dysfunction or blindness.In the brain,defects inγ-aminobutyric acid synaptic transmission are associated with pathophysiological and neurodegenerative disorders,whereas glucagon-like peptide-1 has demonstrated neuroprotective effects.However,it is not yet clear whether diabetes causes alterations in inhibitory input to retinal ganglion cells and whether and how glucagon-like peptide-1 protects against neurodegeneration in the diabetic retina through regulating inhibitory synaptic transmission to retinal ganglion cells.In the present study,we used the patch-clamp technique to recordγ-aminobutyric acid subtype A receptor-mediated miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in retinal ganglion cells from streptozotocin-induced diabetes model rats.We found that early diabetes(4 weeks of hyperglycemia)decreased the frequency of GABAergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in retinal ganglion cells without altering their amplitude,suggesting a reduction in the spontaneous release ofγ-aminobutyric acid to retinal ganglion cells.Topical administration of glucagon-like peptide-1 eyedrops over a period of 2 weeks effectively countered the hyperglycemia-induced downregulation of GABAergic mIPSC frequency,subsequently enhancing the survival of retinal ganglion cells.Concurrently,the protective effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 on retinal ganglion cells in diabetic rats were eliminated by topical administration of exendin-9-39,a specific glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonist,or SR95531,a specific antagonist of theγ-aminobutyric acid subtype A receptor.Furthermore,extracellular perfusion of glucagon-like peptide-1 was found to elevate the frequencies of GABAergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in both ON-and OFF-type retinal ganglion cells.This elevation was shown to be mediated by activation of the phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C/inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor/Ca2+/protein kinase C signaling pathway downstream of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor activation.Moreover,multielectrode array recordings revealed that glucagon-like peptide-1 functionally augmented the photoresponses of ON-type retinal ganglion cells.Optomotor response tests demonstrated that diabetic rats exhibited reductions in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity that were significantly ameliorated by topical administration of glucagon-like peptide-1.These results suggest that glucagon-like peptide-1 facilitates the release ofγ-aminobutyric acid onto retinal ganglion cells through the activation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor,leading to the de-excitation of retinal ganglion cell circuits and the inhibition of excitotoxic processes associated with diabetic retinopathy.Collectively,our findings indicate that theγ-aminobutyric acid system has potential as a therapeutic target for mitigating early-stage diabetic retinopathy.Furthermore,the topical administration of glucagon-like peptide-1 eyedrops represents a non-invasive and effective treatment approach for managing early-stage diabetic retinopathy.展开更多
Recent studies have indicated that foundation models, such as BERT and GPT, excel atadapting to various downstream tasks. This adaptability has made them a dominant force in buildingartificial intelligence (AI) system...Recent studies have indicated that foundation models, such as BERT and GPT, excel atadapting to various downstream tasks. This adaptability has made them a dominant force in buildingartificial intelligence (AI) systems. Moreover, a newresearch paradigm has emerged as visualizationtechniques are incorporated into these models. Thisstudy divides these intersections into two researchareas: visualization for foundation model (VIS4FM)and foundation model for visualization (FM4VIS).In terms of VIS4FM, we explore the primary roleof visualizations in understanding, refining, and evaluating these intricate foundation models. VIS4FMaddresses the pressing need for transparency, explainability, fairness, and robustness. Conversely, in termsof FM4VIS, we highlight how foundation models canbe used to advance the visualization field itself. Theintersection of foundation models with visualizations ispromising but also introduces a set of challenges. Byhighlighting these challenges and promising opportunities, this study aims to provide a starting point forthe continued exploration of this research avenue.展开更多
A better understanding of airflow characteristics in the upper airway(UA) is crucial in investigating obstructive sleep apnea(OSA), particle sedimentation, drug delivery, and many biomedical problems. Direct visualiza...A better understanding of airflow characteristics in the upper airway(UA) is crucial in investigating obstructive sleep apnea(OSA), particle sedimentation, drug delivery, and many biomedical problems. Direct visualization of air flow patterns in in-vitro models with realistic anatomical structures is a big challenge. In this study, we constructed unique half-side transparent physical models of normal UA based on realistic anatomical structures. A smoke-wire method was developed to visualize the air flow in UA models directly. The results revealed that the airflow through the pharynx was laminar but not turbulent under normal inspiration, which suggested that compared with turbulent models, a laminar model should be more suitable in numerical simulations. The flow predicted numerically using the laminar model was consistent with the observations in the physical models. The comparison of the velocity fields predicted numerically using the half-side and complete models confirmed that it was reasonable to investigate the flow behaviors in UA using the half-side model. Using the laminar model, we simulated the flow and evaluated the effects of UA narrowing caused by rostral fluid shift on pharyngeal resistance. The results suggested that fluid shift could play an important role in the formation of hypopnea or OSA during sleep.展开更多
Ultra-scale data analysis has created many new challenges for visualization. For example, in climate research with two-dimensional time-varying data, scientists find it crucial to study the hidden temporal relationshi...Ultra-scale data analysis has created many new challenges for visualization. For example, in climate research with two-dimensional time-varying data, scientists find it crucial to study the hidden temporal relationships from a set of large scale images, whose resolutions are much higher than that of general computer monitors. When scientists can only visualize a small portion （〈 1/1000） of a time step at one time, it is extremely challenging to analyze the temporal features from multiple time steps. As this problem cannot be simply solved with interaction or display technologies, this paper presents a milli-scaling approach by designing downscaling algorithms with significant ratios. Our approach can produce readable-sized images of multiple ultra-scale visualizations, while preserving important data features and temporal relationships. Using the climate visualization as the testing application, we demonstrate that our approach provides a new tool for users to effectively make sense of multiple, arge-format visualizations展开更多
Novel visualization methods and strategies are necessary to cope with the deluge of datasets present in any scientific field to make discoveries and find answers to previously unanswered questions.These methods and st...Novel visualization methods and strategies are necessary to cope with the deluge of datasets present in any scientific field to make discoveries and find answers to previously unanswered questions.These methods and strategies should not only present scientific findings as images in a concise way but also need to be effective and expressive,which often remain untested.Here,we present Versus,a tool to enable easy image quality assessment and image ranking,utilizing a two-alternative forced choice methodology(2AFC)and an efficient ranking algorithm based on a binary search.The tool provides a systematic way of setting up evaluation experiments via the web without the necessity to install any additional software or require any programming skills.Furthermore,Versus can easily interface with crowdsourcing platforms,such as Amazon’s Mechanical Turk,or can be used as a stand-alone system to carry out evaluations with experts.We demonstrate the use of Versus by means of an image evaluation study,aiming to determine if hue,saturation,brightness,and texture are good indicators of uncertainty in three-dimensional protein structures.Drawing from the power of crowdsourcing,we argue that there is demand and also great potential for this tool to become a standard for simple and fast image evaluations,with the aim to test the effectiveness and expressiveness of scientific visualizations.展开更多
文摘This paper sought to surface visualizations of“older adult selves”(OAS)of junior college students studying development communication after an interaction with older adults in Bagac,Bataan in the Philippines.It was done to figure out the ways by which such visualizations could be achieved through institutional efforts within an academic setting.Twenty-three students,mostly females who volunteered to participate in a reflection paper writing activity a week after the youth-older adult interaction,wrote their visions or projections of their life as older adults informed by their social exchanges with older adults in a rural community in the Philippines(Bagac,Bataan).The results indicated that an image of the well-connected older adult was shared across all narratives and it is characterized by youthfulness,openness and flexibility,and sense of accomplishment.Necessary conditions were drawn out from the data to help facilitate the fulfillment of such visions through the possible initiatives of St.Paul University Manila.
文摘Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a common vascular disease that affects elderly population.Open surgical repair is regarded as the gold standard technique for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm,however,endovaseular aneurysm repair has rapidly expanded since its first introduction in 1990s.As a less invasive technique,endovascular aneurysm repair has been confirmed to be an effective alternative to open surgical repair,especially in patients with co-morbid conditions.Computed tomography （CT） angiography is currently the preferred imaging modality for both preoperative planning and post-operative follow-up.2D CT images are complemented by a number of 3D reconstructions which enhance the diagnostic applications of CT angiography in both planning and follow-up of endovascular repair.CT has the disadvantage of high cummulative radiation dose,of particular concern in younger patients,since patients require regular imaging follow-ups after endovascular repair,thus,exposing patients to repeated radiation exposure for life.There is a trend to change from CT to ultrasound surveillance of endovascular aneurysm repair.Medical image visualizations demonstrate excellent morphological assessment of aneurysm and stent-grafts,but fail to provide hemodynamic changes caused by the complex stent-graft device that is implanted into the aorta.This article reviews the treatment options of abdominal aortic aneurysm,various image visualization tools,and follow-up procedures with use of different modalities including both imaging and computational fluid dynamics methods.Future directions to improve treatment outcomes in the follow-up of endovascular aneurysm repair are outlined.
文摘The visualization of dynamic graphs is a challenging task owing to the various properties of the underlying relational data and the additional time-varying property.For sparse and small graphs,the most efficient approach to such visualization is node-link diagrams,whereas for dense graphs with attached data,adjacency matrices might be the better choice.Because graphs can contain both properties,being globally sparse and locally dense,a combination of several visual metaphors as well as static and dynamic visualizations is beneficial.In this paper,a visually and algorithmically scalable approach that provides views and perspectives on graphs as interactively linked node-link and adjacency matrix visualizations is described.As the novelty of this technique,insights such as clusters or anomalies from one or several combined views can be used to influence the layout or reordering of the other views.Moreover,the importance of nodes and node groups can be detected,computed,and visualized by considering several layout and reordering properties in combination as well as different edge properties for the same set of nodes.As an additional feature set,an automatic identification of groups,clusters,and outliers is provided over time,and based on the visual outcome of the node-link and matrix visualizations,the repertoire of the supported layout and matrix reordering techniques is extended,and more interaction techniques are provided when considering the dynamics of the graph data.Finally,a small user experiment was conducted to investigate the usability of the proposed approach.The usefulness of the proposed tool is illustrated by applying it to a graph dataset,such as e co-authorships,co-citations,and a Comprehensible Perl Archive Network distribution.
文摘Excessive unplanned urban growth leads to many vulnerabilities and impacts on urban environments to varying degrees. However, the majority of the extant literature focuses on the problems related to location and socioeconomic conditions, rather than vulnerability processes and related environmental degradation. This paper analyzes the scope of urban vulnerabilities for five rapidly urbanizing and highly-congested cities in the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. First, the historic context of the Valley’s uncontrolled urbanization sets the scene. Second, the optic is narrowed to focus upon the geographical features of the resultant urbanized Valley landscape that includes spatial arrangements and of houses, population densities, road networks, vehicular densities, garbage problems, and available open spaces. Additionally, seismic vulnerabilities in the urban areas are also considering in this examination. Third, three-dimensional visualizations of selected urban locations are presented to differentiate between vulnerable and relatively safe locations. The intent of this research is to contribute to the methodological understanding of human/hazards interactions in rapidly urbanizing cities of the Third World, which share similar socioeconomic conditions and environmental con-texts.
基金The Academy of FinlandThe Centre of Excellence in Laser Scanning Research (CoE-LaSR) (272195)+5 种基金Research on Resident-Driven Infill Development Possibilities—Case Study in Urban Areas in Finland (REPSU) (255390)The Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation “A healthy building”—project (40250/14) The Aalto Energy Efficiency Research Programme (Light Energy—Efficient and Safe Traffic Environments project)The EUE project (2141226) The Aalto University doctoral program
文摘Infill development has been seen as one of the solutions to urban challenges. However, it changes the dynamics and visual appearance of the neighborhood. As infill development usually requires the acceptance of local stakeholders, their perceptions of the resulting intensified housing have a significant role. In this study, customized visualizations illustrating scenarios of infill development were made from the perspective of individual apartments in neighboring residential building. The usefulness of customized visualizations for local stakeholders was studied in the Tammela test area. A 3D virtual model of the existing environment was created. Models depicting the alternative infill buildings were added to the 3D model, which was used to create customized visualizations. These visualizations were utilized in the interviews of local stakeholders. The findings indicate that the customized visualizations help stakeholders conceptualize the impact, and plan and manage the infill development. Visualizations can also be seen as a tool for a resident-driven approach to intensifying housing.
基金reviewed and approved by The Ethics Commit-tee of Instituto Superior TécnicoThe reference number for thisapproval is 22/2021(CE-IST).
文摘Understanding which factors affect information visualization transparency continues to be one of the most relevant challenges in current research,especially since trust models how users build on the knowledge and use it.This work extends the current body of research by studying the user’s subjective evaluation of the visualization transparency of hierarchical charts through the clarity,coverage,and look and feel dimensions.Additionally,we extend the user profile to better understand whether personality facets manifest a biasing effect on the trust-building process.Our results show that the data encodings do not affect how users perceive visualization transparency while controlling for personality factors.Regarding personality,the propensity to trust affects how they judge the clarity of a hierarchical chart.Our findings provide new insights into the research challenges of measuring trust and understanding the transparency of information visualization.Specifically,we explore how personality factors manifest in this trust-building relationship and user interaction within visualization systems.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.82271115(to MY).
文摘Synaptic plasticity is essential for maintaining neuronal function in the central nervous system and serves as a critical indicator of the effects of neurodegenerative disease.Glaucoma directly impairs retinal ganglion cells and their axons,leading to axonal transport dysfuntion,subsequently causing secondary damage to anterior or posterior ends of the visual system.Accordingly,recent evidence indicates that glaucoma is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system that causes damage throughout the visual pathway.However,the effects of glaucoma on synaptic plasticity in the primary visual cortex remain unclear.In this study,we established a mouse model of unilateral chronic ocular hypertension by injecting magnetic microbeads into the anterior chamber of one eye.We found that,after 4 weeks of chronic ocular hypertension,the neuronal somas were smaller in the superior colliculus and lateral geniculate body regions of the brain contralateral to the affected eye.This was accompanied by glial cell activation and increased expression of inflammatory factors.After 8 weeks of ocular hypertension,we observed a reduction in the number of excitatory and inhibitory synapses,dendritic spines,and activation of glial cells in the primary visual cortex contralateral to the affected eye.These findings suggest that glaucoma not only directly damages the retina but also induces alterations in synapses and dendritic spines in the primary visual cortex,providing new insights into the pathogenesis of glaucoma.
文摘AIM:To compare the visual outcomes between bilateral implantation of Tecnis ZXR00 extended depth-of-focus(EDOF)intraocular lenses(IOLs)and mixed implantation of Tecnis ZXR00(EDOF)with Tecnis ZMB00(bifocal)IOLs.METHODS:This postoperative cross-sectional study enrolled patients who underwent phacoemulsification combined with IOL implantation.Patients were divided into two groups:the bilateral ZXR00 group(ZXR00-only group)and the mixed IOL group(ZXR00+ZMB00 group).Primary outcome measures included uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity(UDVA,CDVA),uncorrected and distance-corrected near visual acuity(UNVA,DCNVA),uncorrected and distance-corrected intermediate visual acuity(UIVA,DCIVA),and defocus curves.Secondary outcome measures were visual quality,spectacle independence,patient satisfaction,photic phenomena,and stereopsis.RESULTS:A total of 47 patients(94 eyes)were included,with 26 patients(11 males,15 females)in the ZXR00-only group(mean age:62.73±7.24y)and 21 patients(7 males,14 females)in the mixed group(mean age:65.71±9.16y).There was no statistically significant difference in age between the two groups(P=0.218).The mixed group showed significantly better binocular DCNVA compared to the ZXR00-only group(P=0.002).Defocus curve analysis revealed that the mixed group exhibited superior performance at−2.5 to−4.0 D but inferior performance at−0.5 and−1.5 D.Near stereoacuity was significantly poorer in the mixed group(Randot:5.589±0.744 vs 6.240±0.394 ln arcsec;Contour:4.966±0.973 vs 5.740±0.833 ln arcsec;both P<0.01).Both groups achieved high levels of spectacle independence and patient satisfaction,with no significant differences in photic phenomena or questionnaire scores.CONCLUSION:Mixed implantation of EDOF and bifocal IOLs improve near visual acuity but may compromise near stereopsis.This approach provides a viable option for patients prioritizing near vision;however,caution is recommended for individuals requiring fine stereoscopic vision for daily or professional tasks.
基金supported by the Lanzadera TCUE and C2 program(Universidad de Salamanca)(to ASL)the Spanish National Research Council(CSIC)funded by the Junta de Castilla y León and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund(ERDF“Europe drives our growth”):Internationalization Project“CL-EI-2021-08-IBFG Unit of Excellence”,Grant(PID2022-138478OA-100)funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and,by FEDER,UE(to MGM)+3 种基金Junta de Castilla y León(SA225P23)Gerencia Regional de Salud(2701/A1/2023)(to AV)the Plan Especial Grado Medicina(USAL)(to CPM)a Ramón y Cajal researcher:Grant RYC2021-033684-I funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and,by European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR.
文摘The visual system of teleost fish grows continuously,which is a useful model for studying regeneration of the central nervous system.Glial cells are key for this process,but their contribution is still not well defined.We followed oligodendrocytes in the visual system of adult zebrafish during regeneration of the optic nerve at 6,24,and 72 hours post-lesion and at 7 and 14 days post-lesion via the sox10:tagRFP transgenic line and confocal microscopy.To understand the changes that these oligodendrocytes undergo during regeneration,we used Sox2 immunohistochemistry,a stem cell marker involved in oligodendrocyte differentiation.We also used the Click-iT™ Plus TUNEL assay to study cell death and a BrdU assay to determine cell proliferation.Before optic nerve crush,sox10:tagRFP oligodendrocytes are located in the retina,in the optic nerve head,and through all the entire optic nerve.Sox2-positive cells are present in the peripheral germinal zone,the mature retina,and the optic nerve.After optic nerve crush,sox10:tagRFP cells disappeared from the optic nerve crush zone,suggesting that they died,although they were not TUNEL positive.Concomitantly,the number of Sox2-positive cells increased around the crushed area,the optic nerve head,and the retina.Then,between 24 hours post-lesion and 14 days post-lesion,double sox10:tagRFP/Sox2-positive cells were detected in the retina,optic nerve head,and whole optic nerve,together with a proliferation response at 72 hours post-lesion.Our results confirm that a degenerating process may occur prior to regeneration.First,sox10:tagRFP oligodendrocytes that surround the degenerated axons stop wrapping them,change their“myelinating oligodendrocyte”morphology to a“nonmyelinating oligodendrocyte”morphology,and die.Then,residual oligodendrocyte progenitor cells in the optic nerve and retina proliferate and differentiate for the purpose of remyelination.As new axons arise from the surviving retinal ganglion cells,new sox10:tagRFP oligodendrocytes arise from residual oligodendrocyte progenitor cells to guide,nourish and myelinate them.Thus,oligodendrocytes play an active role in zebrafish axon regeneration and remyelination.
文摘AIM:To evaluate the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with visual prognosis in patients with open globe injuries(OGIs)treated at Vietnam National Eye Hospital.METHODS:A prospective observational study included patients with OGIs treated between June 2023 and June 2024.Data on demographics,injury features,and clinical findings were extracted from medical records.Poor visual outcome was defined as final best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA)worse than 20/400 or no light perception.Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify independent risk factors.RESULTS:Among 509 patients(636 eyes),the mean age was 35.13y(range 20–51y),and 67.6%were male.After treatment,the proportion of eyes achieving≥20/40 increased from 12.6%to 42.1%,while no light perception decreased from 29.1%to 9.4%.Independent predictors of poor visual outcomes included delayed admission[>4h,odds ratio(OR)=3.33,95%confidence intervals(CI):1.76–6.33,P<0.001],Zone III injury(OR=5.90,95%CI:2.85–12.24,P<0.001),wound length>10 mm(OR=2.59,95%CI:1.60–4.18,P<0.001),relative afferent pupillary defect(RAPD,OR=1.65,95%CI:1.03–2.64,P=0.039),endophthalmitis(OR=1.75,95%CI:1.01–3.03,P=0.047),retinal detachment(OR=3.32,95%CI:2.02–5.45,P<0.001),and eyelid lacerations(OR=1.94,95%CI:1.13–3.33,P=0.016)associated with OGIs.Vitreous hemorrhage(OR=0.44,95%CI:0.22–0.89,P=0.023)was associated with better outcomes,and female gender appeared protective.CONCLUSION:Poor visual outcomes remain common after OGIs,despite improve visual acuity in many cases.Several clinical and injury-related factors are strongly associated with prognosis.Early recognition of these predictors can support risk stratification and improve trauma care in similar settings.
文摘AIM:To assess the visual acuity and visual quality of cataract patients who received femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery(FLACS)and multifocal intraocular lens(MIOL)implantation with an improved polishing technique during a 1-year follow-up period.METHODS:This study included 74 eyes from 37 patients,comprising 17 males and 20 females,with a mean age of 51.74±7.80 years.Using a coin toss method,one eye per patient was randomly selected for improved anterior capsular polishing,while the other eye received standard irrigation/aspiration(I/A)polishing.The polishing group consisted of 37 eyes,including 21 right and 16 left eyes,while the control group comprised the contralateral fellow eyes of the same individuals in the polishing group.Visual acuity and quality of the patients were evaluated before surgery and at 1 wk,1,6,and 12 mo after surgery.The OPD-Scan III was utilized to assess high-order aberrations,while the optical quality analysis system(OQAS)was employed to evaluate modulation transfer function(MTF cutoff),Strehl ratio(SR),and objective scatter index(OSI)for the purpose of visual quality assessment.Paired t-tests and repeated measures analysis of variance(ANOVA)were utilized to compare the results,and the SNK-q post hoc test was applied to identify significant differences.RESULTS:The polishing group’s uncorrected distant visual acuity(UDVA)and uncorrected near visual acuity(UNVA)significantly improved 1-week post-surgery(all P<0.05).At 12-months,UDVA,UNVA,and corrected distant visual acuity(CDVA)were better than the control group(P<0.05).The MTF cutoff,SR,OSI,and high-order aberrations in the polishing group also showed significant improvements compared to the control group at 12 mo(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:The improved capsular polishing method has been demonstrated to effectively maintain visual acuity and visual quality in patients with MIOL after FLACS within 1 a.
文摘The intersection of visual impairment and mental health has profound effects on quality of life and warrants attention from healthcare providers,educators,and policymakers.With 20 million children under the age of 14 affected globally,older adults also experience significant psychological impact including depression,anxiety,and cognitive impairment.The implications of vision-related challenges extend far beyond mere sight.Depression and anxiety,exacerbated by social isolation and reduced physical activity,underscore the need for comprehensive interventions that address both medical and psychosocial dimensions.By recognizing the profound impact of ocular morbidities like strabismus,myopia,glaucoma,and age-related macular degeneration on mental health and investing in effective treatments and inclusive practices,society can pave the way for a healthier,more equitable future for affected individuals.There is evidence that myopic children experience a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms compared to their normal peers,and interventions like the correction of strabismus can enhance psychological outcome-demonstrating the value of an integrated management approach.
文摘AIM:To investigate the long-term outcomes in acute primary angle closure(APAC)patients treated with lens extraction(LE)surgery and to identify risk factors for glaucomatous optic neuropathy(GON).METHODS:In this longitudinal observational study,detailed medical histories of APAC patients and comprehensive ophthalmic examinations at final followup were collected.Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of blindness.Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to determine risk factors associated with visual outcomes.RESULTS:This study included 39 affected eyes of 31 subjects(26 females)with an average age of 74.1±8.0y.At 6.7±4.2y after APAC attack,2(5.7%)eyes had bestcorrected visual acuity(VA)worse than 3/60.Advanced glaucomatous visual field loss was observed in 15(39.5%)affected eyes and 5(25.0%)fellow eyes.Nine affected eyes(23.7%)had GON,and 11(28.9%)were blind.Six(15.4%)affected eyes and 2(9.1%)fellow eyes had suspicious progression.A significantly higher blindness rate in factory workers compared to office workers.Logistic regression identified that worse VA at attack(OR 10.568,95%CI 1.288-86.695;P=0.028)and worse early postoperative VA(OR 13.214,95%CI 1.157-150.881;P=0.038)were risk factors for blindness.Multivariate regression showed that longer duration of elevated intraocular pressure(P=0.004)and worse early postoperative VA(P=0.009)were associated with worse visual outcomes.CONCLUSION:Despite LE surgery,some APAC patients experience continued visual function deterioration.Lifelong monitoring is necessary.Target pressure and progression rates should be re-evaluated during follow-up.
基金Supported by the Faculty of Medicine,Prince of Songkla University.Wainipitapong S has received grants from the Faculty of Medicine,Prince of Songkla University。
文摘AIM:To investigate the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes,including visual function and overall survival(OS)of patients with ocular adnexal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma(OA-DLBCL).METHODS:This retrospective cohort study enrolled 29 patients diagnosed with OA-DLBCL based on histopathological biopsy between 2006 and 2023.Patients were stratified into two subgroups:primary OA-DLBCL(no prior history of lymphoma)and secondary OA-DLBCL(history of DLBCL at non-ocular adnexal sites).OS was defined as the time interval from OA-DLBCL diagnosis to death from any cause.Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method,and prognostic factors affecting OS were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression with a stepwise selection approach.RESULTS:The cohort included 24 patients with primary OA-DLBCL(13 males,11 females;mean age:61.36±18.29y)and 5 patients with secondary OA-DLBCL(2 males,3 females;mean age:50.94±18.17y).Among the primary OA-DLBCL subgroup,12 patients(50%)presented with advanced disease(Ann Arbor stage IIIE–IV),and 16 patients(66%)were classified as T4 disease according to the tumor-node-metastasis(TNM)staging system.The mean final visual acuity was 1.72±1.10 in the primary group and 0.90±1.18 in the secondary group.The 5-year OS rate for the entire cohort was 27.7%.Multivariate analysis identified five factors significantly associated with poor survival outcomes:epiphora[adjusted hazard ratio(aHR),36.95],atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(aHR,10.08),human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)infection(aHR,12.47),M1 stage(aHR,6.99),and secondary OA-DLBCL(aHR,6.03;all P<0.05).The median OS was 1.68y for primary OA-DLBCL and 1.12y for secondary OA-DLBCL.CONCLUSION:A substantial proportion of patients with primary OA-DLBCL present with advanced-stage disease at diagnosis.Epiphora,atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,HIV infection,M1 stage,and secondary OA-DLBCL are independent prognostic factors for poor survival outcomes.These findings emphasize the urgent need for optimized therapeutic strategies and early screening protocols to improve the management of OA-DLBCL,particularly in developing countries.
基金supported by the National Institute of Health/National Eye Institute(NIH/NEI)grants(R00 EY029373,R01 EY035658)to AYFKnights Templar Eye Foundation Research Grant to ESIntramural UAMS Hornick and Sturgis grants to AYF and ES respectively。
文摘Ischemic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness:Ischemic retinopathies including diabetic retinopathy(DR),retinopathy of prematurity,and retinal artery and vein occlusion are major causes of visual impairment.Ischemic retinopathy can be acute,such as in central or branch retinal artery occlusion,or chronic,such as with DR(Figure 1).Although the causes of retinopathies are diverse,one pathogenic event shared by these conditions is the myeloid cell response to retinal ischemia(Shahror et al.,2024a).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.32070989(to YMZ),31872766(to YMZ),81790640(to XLY),and 82070993(to SJW)the grant from Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen,No.SZSM202011015(to XLY)。
文摘Diabetic retinopathy is a prominent cause of blindness in adults,with early retinal ganglion cell loss contributing to visual dysfunction or blindness.In the brain,defects inγ-aminobutyric acid synaptic transmission are associated with pathophysiological and neurodegenerative disorders,whereas glucagon-like peptide-1 has demonstrated neuroprotective effects.However,it is not yet clear whether diabetes causes alterations in inhibitory input to retinal ganglion cells and whether and how glucagon-like peptide-1 protects against neurodegeneration in the diabetic retina through regulating inhibitory synaptic transmission to retinal ganglion cells.In the present study,we used the patch-clamp technique to recordγ-aminobutyric acid subtype A receptor-mediated miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in retinal ganglion cells from streptozotocin-induced diabetes model rats.We found that early diabetes(4 weeks of hyperglycemia)decreased the frequency of GABAergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in retinal ganglion cells without altering their amplitude,suggesting a reduction in the spontaneous release ofγ-aminobutyric acid to retinal ganglion cells.Topical administration of glucagon-like peptide-1 eyedrops over a period of 2 weeks effectively countered the hyperglycemia-induced downregulation of GABAergic mIPSC frequency,subsequently enhancing the survival of retinal ganglion cells.Concurrently,the protective effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 on retinal ganglion cells in diabetic rats were eliminated by topical administration of exendin-9-39,a specific glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonist,or SR95531,a specific antagonist of theγ-aminobutyric acid subtype A receptor.Furthermore,extracellular perfusion of glucagon-like peptide-1 was found to elevate the frequencies of GABAergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in both ON-and OFF-type retinal ganglion cells.This elevation was shown to be mediated by activation of the phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C/inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor/Ca2+/protein kinase C signaling pathway downstream of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor activation.Moreover,multielectrode array recordings revealed that glucagon-like peptide-1 functionally augmented the photoresponses of ON-type retinal ganglion cells.Optomotor response tests demonstrated that diabetic rats exhibited reductions in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity that were significantly ameliorated by topical administration of glucagon-like peptide-1.These results suggest that glucagon-like peptide-1 facilitates the release ofγ-aminobutyric acid onto retinal ganglion cells through the activation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor,leading to the de-excitation of retinal ganglion cell circuits and the inhibition of excitotoxic processes associated with diabetic retinopathy.Collectively,our findings indicate that theγ-aminobutyric acid system has potential as a therapeutic target for mitigating early-stage diabetic retinopathy.Furthermore,the topical administration of glucagon-like peptide-1 eyedrops represents a non-invasive and effective treatment approach for managing early-stage diabetic retinopathy.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.U21A20469 and 61936002)the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2020YFB2104100)grants from the Institute Guo Qiang,THUIBCS,and BLBCI.
文摘Recent studies have indicated that foundation models, such as BERT and GPT, excel atadapting to various downstream tasks. This adaptability has made them a dominant force in buildingartificial intelligence (AI) systems. Moreover, a newresearch paradigm has emerged as visualizationtechniques are incorporated into these models. Thisstudy divides these intersections into two researchareas: visualization for foundation model (VIS4FM)and foundation model for visualization (FM4VIS).In terms of VIS4FM, we explore the primary roleof visualizations in understanding, refining, and evaluating these intricate foundation models. VIS4FMaddresses the pressing need for transparency, explainability, fairness, and robustness. Conversely, in termsof FM4VIS, we highlight how foundation models canbe used to advance the visualization field itself. Theintersection of foundation models with visualizations ispromising but also introduces a set of challenges. Byhighlighting these challenges and promising opportunities, this study aims to provide a starting point forthe continued exploration of this research avenue.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (31670959, 81171422)the National Science and Technology Pillar Program of China (2012BAI05B03)+2 种基金the Key Projects in Science and Technology Program of Beijing Municipal Education Commission, China (KZ201210025022)Beijing Postdoctoral Research Foundation (2016ZZ-45)Beijing Key Laboratory of Fundamental Research on Biomechanics in Clinical Application
文摘A better understanding of airflow characteristics in the upper airway(UA) is crucial in investigating obstructive sleep apnea(OSA), particle sedimentation, drug delivery, and many biomedical problems. Direct visualization of air flow patterns in in-vitro models with realistic anatomical structures is a big challenge. In this study, we constructed unique half-side transparent physical models of normal UA based on realistic anatomical structures. A smoke-wire method was developed to visualize the air flow in UA models directly. The results revealed that the airflow through the pharynx was laminar but not turbulent under normal inspiration, which suggested that compared with turbulent models, a laminar model should be more suitable in numerical simulations. The flow predicted numerically using the laminar model was consistent with the observations in the physical models. The comparison of the velocity fields predicted numerically using the half-side and complete models confirmed that it was reasonable to investigate the flow behaviors in UA using the half-side model. Using the laminar model, we simulated the flow and evaluated the effects of UA narrowing caused by rostral fluid shift on pharyngeal resistance. The results suggested that fluid shift could play an important role in the formation of hypopnea or OSA during sleep.
基金Co-authors Zhang and Lu were supported by DHS Center of Excellence-Natural Disasters,Coastal Infrastructure and Emergency Management (DIEM) and DOE (No. DEFG02-06ER25733)Work by co-author Huang was in part funded through the Institute of Ultra-Scale Visualization(http://www.ultravis.org) under the auspices of the SciDAC program within the U.S.Department of Energy (No. DEFC02-06ER25778)
文摘Ultra-scale data analysis has created many new challenges for visualization. For example, in climate research with two-dimensional time-varying data, scientists find it crucial to study the hidden temporal relationships from a set of large scale images, whose resolutions are much higher than that of general computer monitors. When scientists can only visualize a small portion （〈 1/1000） of a time step at one time, it is extremely challenging to analyze the temporal features from multiple time steps. As this problem cannot be simply solved with interaction or display technologies, this paper presents a milli-scaling approach by designing downscaling algorithms with significant ratios. Our approach can produce readable-sized images of multiple ultra-scale visualizations, while preserving important data features and temporal relationships. Using the climate visualization as the testing application, we demonstrate that our approach provides a new tool for users to effectively make sense of multiple, arge-format visualizations
基金This work was supported by CSIRO’s OCE Science Leader programme and Computational and Simulation Sciences platformpartly by the Australian Research Council under Linkage Project LP140100574。
文摘Novel visualization methods and strategies are necessary to cope with the deluge of datasets present in any scientific field to make discoveries and find answers to previously unanswered questions.These methods and strategies should not only present scientific findings as images in a concise way but also need to be effective and expressive,which often remain untested.Here,we present Versus,a tool to enable easy image quality assessment and image ranking,utilizing a two-alternative forced choice methodology(2AFC)and an efficient ranking algorithm based on a binary search.The tool provides a systematic way of setting up evaluation experiments via the web without the necessity to install any additional software or require any programming skills.Furthermore,Versus can easily interface with crowdsourcing platforms,such as Amazon’s Mechanical Turk,or can be used as a stand-alone system to carry out evaluations with experts.We demonstrate the use of Versus by means of an image evaluation study,aiming to determine if hue,saturation,brightness,and texture are good indicators of uncertainty in three-dimensional protein structures.Drawing from the power of crowdsourcing,we argue that there is demand and also great potential for this tool to become a standard for simple and fast image evaluations,with the aim to test the effectiveness and expressiveness of scientific visualizations.
