Distribution of gamma-ray elements in Cerro do Jarau impact structure and a proposal of geothermal modeling.

Large meteorite impacts release kinetic energy that induces rock deformation, high temperatures and fluid circulation during the cratering process. To understand the correlation between rock deformation and fluid circulation, it is relevant to investigate post-impact hydrothermal flux and its relation to the local geology. The Cerro do Jarau impact structure is a ~13.5 km diameter impact structure located in southern Brazil and formed on Cretaceous continental flood basalts of the Serra Geral Formation and underlying sedimentary strata. This study collected ground gamma-ray data over the structure and produced K, eTh and eU concentrations, eTh/K ratio and F-factor maps to characterize it in terms of its radiometric signatures and their respective spatial distribution. A general decrease in the concentration of the three elements was observed from the outer-rim towards the center of the crater. The central area is defined by very low radiometric values, with relatively high K values, thus indicating the occurrence of K-bearing rocks. Numerical simulations using the HYDROTHERM 3 code showed the fluid circulation pattern over the impact structure. Data interpretation resulted in a scenery consistent with potential fluid remobilization within the impact structure related to hydrothermal processes in the late stages of the crater formation process.

TFOS Lifestyle Report Executive Summary: A Lifestyle Epidemic - Ocular Surface Disease.

The Tear Film & Ocular Surface Society (TFOS) Workshop entitled 'A Lifestyle Epidemic: Ocular Surface Disease' was a global initiative undertaken to establish the direct and indirect impacts of everyday lifestyle choices and challenges on ocular surface health. This article presents an executive summary of the evidence-based conclusions and recommendations of the 10-part TFOS Lifestyle Workshop report. Lifestyle factors described within the report include contact lenses, cosmetics, digital environment, elective medications and procedures, environmental conditions, lifestyle challenges, nutrition, and societal challenges. For each topic area, the current literature was summarized and appraised in a narrative-style review and the answer to a key topic-specific question was sought using systematic review methodology. The TFOS Lifestyle Workshop report was published in its entirety in the April 2023 and July 2023 issues of The Ocular Surface journal. Links to downloadable versions of the document and supplementary material, including report translations, are available on the TFOS website: http://www.TearFilm.org.

Corneal Endothelial Cell Cultures from Organotypic Preservation of Older Donor Corneas Are Suitable for Advanced Cell Therapy.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the in vitro growth capacity and functionality of human corneal endothelial cells (hCEC) expanded from corneas of elderly (>60 years) donors that were preserved using an organotypic culture method (>15 days, 31°C) and did not meet the clinical criteria for keratoplasty. METHODS: Cell cultures were obtained from prior descemetorhexis (≥10 mm) and a controlled incubation with collagenase type I followed by recombinant trypsin. Cells were seeded on coated plates (fibronectin-albumin-collagen I) and cultures were expanded using the dual supplemented medium approach (maintenance medium and growth medium), in the presence of a 10 µm Rho-associated protein kinase inhibitor (Y-27632). Cell passages were obtained at culture confluency (∼2 weeks). A quantitative colorimetric WST-1 cell growth assay was performed at different time points of the culture. Morphometric analysis (area assessment and circularity), immunocytochemistry (ZO-1, Na+/K+-ATPase α, Ki67), and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) were performed on confluent monolayers. RESULTS: There was no difference between the cell growth profiles of hCEC cultures obtained from corneas older than 60 years, whether preserved cold or cultivated organotypic corneas. Primary cultures were able to maintain a certain cell circularity index (around 0.8) and morphology (hexagonal) similar to corneal endothelial mosaic. The ZO-1 and Na+/K+-ATPase pump markers were highly positive in confluent cell monolayers at 21 days after isolation (passage 0; P0), but significantly decreased in confluent monolayers after the first passage (P1). A weak expression of Ki67 was observed in both P0 and P1 monolayers. The P0 monolayers showed a progressive increase in TEER values between days 6 and 11 and remained stable until day 18 of culture, indicating a state of controlled permeability in monolayers. The P1 monolayers also showed some functional ability but with decreased TEER values compared to monolayers at P0. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that it is possible to obtain functional hCEC cultures in eye banks, using simplified and standardized protocols, from older donor corneas (>60 years of age), previously preserved under organotypic culture conditions. This tissue is more readily available in our setting, due to the profile of the donor population or due to the low endothelial count (<2,000 cells/mm2) of the donated cornea.

Nucleation and Stability of Toron Chains in Non-Centrosymmetric Magnetic Nanowires.

This work analyzes the magnetic configurations of cylindrical nanowires with a bulk Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and easy-plane anisotropy. We show that this system allows the nucleation of a metastable toron chain even when no out-of-plane anisotropy exists in the nanowire's top and bottom surfaces, as usually required. The number of nucleated torons depends on the nanowire length and the strength of an external magnetic field applied to the system. The size of each toron depends on the fundamental magnetic interactions and can be controlled by external stimuli, allowing the use of these magnetic textures as information carriers or nano-oscillator elements. Our results evidence that the topology and structure of the torons yield a wide variety of behaviors, revealing the complex nature of these topological textures, which should present an exciting interaction dynamic, depending on the initial conditions.

TFOS Lifestyle: Impact of elective medications and procedures on the ocular surface.

The word "elective" refers to medications and procedures undertaken by choice or with a lower grade of prioritization. Patients usually use elective medications or undergo elective procedures to treat pathologic conditions or for cosmetic enhancement, impacting their lifestyle positively and, thus, improving their quality of life. However, those interventions can affect the homeostasis of the tear film and ocular surface. Consequently, they generate signs and symptoms that could impair the patient's quality of life. This report describes the impact of elective topical and systemic medications and procedures on the ocular surface and the underlying mechanisms. Moreover, elective procedures performed for ocular diseases, cosmetic enhancement, and non-ophthalmic interventions, such as radiotherapy and bariatric surgery, are discussed. The report also evaluates significant anatomical and biological consequences of non-urgent interventions to the ocular surface, such as neuropathic and neurotrophic keratopathies. Besides that, it provides an overview of the prophylaxis and management of pathological conditions resulting from the studied interventions and suggests areas for future research. The report also contains a systematic review investigating the quality of life among people who have undergone small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). Overall, SMILE refractive surgery seems to cause more vision disturbances than LASIK in the first month post-surgery, but less dry eye symptoms in long-term follow up.

Functional assessment of donated human embryos for the generation of pluripotent embryonic stem cell lines.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Can discarded embryos at blastocyst stage, donated to research because of genetic abnormalities and poor morphological quality, become a reliable source of human embryonic stem cell (HESC) lines? DESIGN: This study was consecutively conducted with 23 discarded embryos that were donated to research between February 2020 and April 2021. All embryos, except one, were morphologically evaluated and underwent trophectoderm biopsy for preimplantation genetic testing using next-generation sequencing (NGS), and then vitrified. After warming, the embryos were placed in appropriate culture conditions for the generation of HESCs, which was functionally assessed with immunofluorescence and flow cytometry for pluripotency capacity and spontaneous in-vitro differentiation. Cytogenetic assessment of the HESC was conducted with multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, and micro array comparative genomic hybridization. RESULTS: From the 23 embryos initially included, 17 survived warming, and 16 of them presented viability. Overall, the embryos presented poor morphological quality after warming. Only the previously untested embryo was capable of generating a new HESC line. Further characterization of this line revealed fully functional, euploid HESCs with preserved pluripotency, becoming a useful resource for research into human development and therapeutic investigation. CONCLUSIONS: None of the donated blastocysts with poor morphological quality in association with genetic abnormalities detected by NGS had the capacity for further in-vitro expansion to originate pluripotent HESC lines. This finding seems to provide extra support to genetic counselling on the suitability of this type of embryo for clinical use.

Effects of galectin-3 protein on UVA-induced damage in retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Several inflammatory molecules have been suggested as biomarkers of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Galectin-3 (Gal-3), which has been shown to have a protective role in corneal injury by promoting epithelial cells adhesion and migration to the extracellular matrix, is also highly expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of patients with AMD. This study evaluated the role of Gal-3 in an in vitro model of UVA-induced RPE damage, as a proof-of-concept. ARPE-19 cells (human RPE cell line), were incubated with Gal-3 at 0.5-2.5 µg/mL concentrations prior to UVA irradiation for 15, 30, and 45 min, which resulted in accumulated doses of 2.5, 5, and 7.5 J/cm2, respectively. After 24 h incubation, MTT and LDH assays, immunofluorescence, and ELISA were performed. UVA irradiation for 15, 30, and 45 min proved to reduce viability in 83%, 46%, and 11%, respectively. Based on the latter results, we chose the intermediate dose (5-J/cm2) for further analysis. Pretreatment with Gal-3 at concentrations > 1.5 µg/mL showed to increase the viability of UVA-irradiated cells (~ 75%) compared to untreated cells (64%). Increased levels of cleaved caspase 3, a marker of cell death, were detected in the ARPE cells after UVA irradiation with or without addition of exogenous Gal-3. The inhibitory effect of Gal-3 on UVA-induced cell damage was characterized by decreased ROS levels and increased p38 activation, as detected by fluorescence analysis. In conclusion, our study suggests a photoprotective effect of Gal-3 on RPE by reducing oxidative stress and increasing p38 activation.

Gamma-ray spectrometry of the Araguainha impact structure, Brazil: Additional insights into element mobilization due to hydrothermal alteration.

We present the analysis of airborne and ground gamma-ray spectrometry signatures of the Araguainha impact structure, located in central Brazil, the largest impact structure in South America with ~ 40 km diameter. The airborne data are total gamma-ray counts per second collected along flight lines spaced 1 km apart. The ground gamma-ray data are concentrations of potassium, uranium, and thorium isotopes calculated from radiations measured in three individual channels. The objectives are to distinguish lithologies within the structure, which have naturally distinctive radiogenic signatures, and identify potential post-impact hydrothermal alteration zones, as indicated by high K concentrations. Based on results obtained by numerical modeling of the crater formation, we infer the locations of potential occurrences of target rocks that may have undergone hydrothermal alteration as a result of the impact. The deviations from the background potassium concentration show significant anomalous K values at the center and in the northwestern crater rim, where high concentrations of U are also observed. The numerical model shows that ideal temperature conditions for hydrothermal fluid circulation were attained right after pos-impact gravitational stabilization.

Oral supplementation with Lithothamnion extract in horses subjected to oligofructose overload intake: effects on systemic inflammation and multiple organ function.

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is a common condition in horses with gastrointestinal disorders. If not prevented or controlled, SIRS promotes multiple organ dysfunctions that may culminate in serious disabilities or even death. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of Lithothamnion supplementation on systemic inflammatory response and organ function variables in horses undergoing oligofructose overload (OFO) intake. Twelve healthy horses were randomly divided into control and treated groups. The treated group received Lithothamnion (100 mg/kg bw PO BID) for 7 days before oligofructose intake (10 g/kg PO). Horses underwent clinical and laboratory evaluation immediately before and 6, 12, 18, and 24 h following administration of oligofructose. Parametric data were subjected to ANOVA in randomized blocks, followed by Tukey, and Student's t-tests for mean comparsions. Non-parametric data were analyzed by the Friedman, Dunn's, and Mann-Whitney tests (P < .05). Systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction was evident in both groups; however, these changes were milder and delayed in the treated group. Supplementation attenuated and delayed the tachycardia, tachypnea, leukocytosis, hyperproteinemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hyperalbuminemia and hyperglycemia in treated horses undergoing OFO. Furthermore, increases in packed cell volume, red blood cells, hemoglobin, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, indirect and direct bilirubin and creatinine were observed only in the control group, remaining unchanged in the treated group. These findings demonstrate the potential of oral supplementation with Lithothamnion to ameliorate systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction in horses at risk of acquiring gastrointestinal disorders.

Sustainable Solutions for Sea Monitoring With Robotic Sailboats: N-Boat and F-Boat Twins.

Strategic management and production of internal energy in autonomous robots is becoming a research topic with growing importance, especially for platforms that target long-endurance missions, with long-range and duration. It is fundamental for autonomous vehicles to have energy self-generation capability to improve energy autonomy, especially in situations where refueling is not viable, such as an autonomous sailboat in ocean traversing. Hence, the development of energy estimation and management solutions is an important research topic to better optimize the use of available energy supply and generation potential. In this work, we revisit the challenges behind the project design and construction for two fully autonomous sailboats and propose a methodology based on the Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM) in order to find the best way to manage the supplementary energy generated by solar panels. To verify the approach, we introduce a case study with our two developed sailboats that have planned payload with electric and electronics, and one of them is equipped with an electrical engine that may eventually help with the sailboat propulsion. Our current results show that it is possible to augment the system confidence level for the potential energy that can be harvested from the environment and the remaining energy stored, optimizing the energy usage of autonomous vehicles and improving their energy robustness.

Bouguer anomaly inversion and hydrocode modeling of the central uplift of the Araguainha impact structure.

Araguainha is a mid-sized complex impact structure formed in sedimentary and underlying basement rocks of the Paraná Basin, Brazil. The structure has strongly deformed sedimentary strata surrounding a granitic core. The central uplift is a region of high geological complexity, comprising different types of sedimentary, igneous (granite) and metamorphic lithologies, plus breccias and impact melt sheets. New ground gravity data was collected to produce a Bouguer anomaly map and to perform a 3-D inversion in order to obtain a 3-D density model of the central uplift. This 3-D density model is consistent with iSALE numerical modeling results, which shows that the rocks in the innermost portion became brecciated and/or melted after undergoing pressure/temperature peaks. The positive anomaly of Furnas and Ponta Grossa formations associated with the numerical model shows that the central uplift is ~16 km wide. Thus, the granite's uplift caused the uplift of the entire stratigraphic package, from its Devonian-aged units to the Permian ones, forming a bull's eye pattern around the granitic core. The results also indicate that Araguainha was formed by a 3 km diameter impactor, and the rocks of the granitic basement rocks were uplifted by ~2 km.

Diabetic Foot Wounds Treated With Human Amniotic Membrane and Low-level Laser Therapy: A Pilot Clinical Study.

BACKGROUND: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and human amniotic membrane (HAM) application have been shown to be viable options for use in wound healing. PURPOSE: This study sought to compare LLLT and HAM to a control treatment (hydrogel, saline, and gauze) in persons with diabetes mellitus (DM) and foot ulcers. METHODS: Using a prospective pilot clinical study design, patients receiving care at a health center that specializes in the treatment of diabetic foot wounds between November 2016 and August 2017 were recruited. Eligible patients had to be 30 to 59 years of age; diagnosed with type 2 DM (postprandial capillary glucose levels between 140 and 350 mg/dL); and have uninfected, granulating stage 2 or 3 foot ulcers measuring less than 7 cm by 3 cm. Immunosuppressed and malnourished patients or those with neoplasms or in critical condition were not eligible to participate. Patients received the control treatment (2 mg hydrogel, saline, and gauze), HAM (patches of thawed HAM, applied with overlapping edges), or LLLT (phototherapy session, 2 mg hydrogel, saline, and gauze) for 28 days. Variables, wound area measurements, Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH) scores, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores were used to assess wound improvement progress and pain on days 7, 14, 21, and 28. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the participant anthropometric and clinical profiles. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to analyze the sample distribution. The Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn's post-test was used to evaluate differences in PUSH and VAS scores and wound size for intergroup analysis, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for the same outcomes in intragroup analysis. The level of significance was 5% (P < .05). RESULTS: Twenty-seven (27) patients participated (mean age, 51.4 years; mean body mass index, 26.5 kg/m2), with 9 patients in each treatment group. No statistically significant differences were noted in clinical or anthropometric variables among the groups, but mean baseline wound areas were different (2.6 cm² for the control, 1.9 cm² for the LLLT, and 5.5 cm² for the HAM groups). Intragroup comparisons showed a significant reduction in PUSH score in the LLT group between days 0 and 21 (8.2 vs 4.9; P < .01) and days 21 to 28 (4.9 vs 3.2; P < .001). In all treatment groups the percent reduction was significantly different between days 7 and 28. No outcomes were significantly different between groups. CONCLUSION: Diabetic foot ulcer wound area as well as PUSH and VAS scores showed more improvement for patients with DM receiving LLLT or HAM than for the control group, but the differences were not significant. Larger studies are needed to compare these treatment modalities.

Spatial analysis and evolution of four air pollutants in England and Wales.

Pollution control is based on an exhaustive knowledge of concentration distributions. This study analyses a detailed database of NO2, O3, PM10 and PM2.5 in England and Wales over the period 2007-2011. Daily and annual means were considered in a 1-km spatial resolution. Histograms revealed a shape like a sawtooth. The interval was wide for NO2 and O3, although with a gap, whilst the particulate matter range was narrow. Spring provided the peak for the O3 annual cycle, whereas minima for the other pollutants were reached in summer. A trend for the annual medians of particulate matter was observed, with a minimum in the period analysed. However, the pattern was uniform for NO2 and O3. Cities appeared as NO2 hot spots and O3 cold spots. Wales stood out as an NO2 clean country, although with high O3 levels. Sources or sinks of particulate matter were not observed, suggesting that more detailed analysis is required. Two NO2 pollution axes were sometimes seen, one in the south from London to Bristol, and the second in the north, from Liverpool to Kingston Upon Hull. No annual spatial pattern was seen for the remaining pollutants beyond the contrast between cities and country sites for O3. Consequently, spatial analysis allows the real impact of pollutant sources be known, although it must be performed with a detailed temporal resolution in order to investigate the extension, quantity, and length of the concentrations calculated.

Individualized Corneal Cross-linking With Riboflavin and UV-A in Ultrathin Corneas: The Sub400 Protocol.

PURPOSE: To determine whether corneal cross-linking (CXL) with individualized fluence ("sub400 protocol") is able to stop keratoconus (KC) progression in ultrathin corneas with 12-month follow-up. DESIGN: Retrospective, interventional case series. METHODS: Thirty-nine eyes with progressive KC and corneal stromal thicknesses from 214 to 398 µm at the time of ultraviolet irradiation were enrolled. After epithelium removal, ultraviolet irradiation was performed at 3 mW/cm2 with irradiation times individually adapted to stromal thickness. Pre- and postoperative examinations included corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), refraction, Scheimpflug, and anterior segment optical coherence tomography imaging up to 12 months after CXL. Outcome measures were arrest of KC progression at 12 months postoperatively and stromal demarcation line (DL) depth. RESULTS: Thirty-five eyes (90%) showed tomographical stability at 12 months after surgery. No eyes showed signs of endothelial decompensation. A significant correlation was found between DL depth and irradiation time (r = +0.448, P = .004) but not between DL depth and change in Kmax (r = -0.215, P = .189). On average, there was a significant change (P < .05) in thinnest stromal thickness (-14.5 ± 21.7 µm), Kmax (-2.06 ± 3.66 D) and densitometry (+2.00 ± 2.07 GSU). No significant changes were found in CDVA (P = .611), sphere (P = .077), or cylinder (P = .915). CONCLUSIONS: The "sub400" individualized fluence CXL protocol standardizes the treatment in ultrathin corneas and halted KC progression with a success rate of 90% at 12 months. The sub400 protocol allows for the treatment of corneas as thin as 214 µm of corneal stroma, markedly extending the treatment range. The DL depth did not predict treatment outcome. Hence, the depth is unlikely related to the extent of CXL-induced corneal stiffening but rather to the extent of CXL-induced microstructural changes and wound healing.

Contribution of Bowman layer to corneal biomechanics.

PURPOSE: To compare the elastic modulus of thin corneal lamellas using 2D stress-strain extensometry in healthy ex vivo human corneal lamellas with or without the presence of Bowman layer. SETTING: Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland; ELZA Institute, Dietikon, Switzerland; Department of Ophthalmology, Philipps University of Marburg, Germany. DESIGN: Prospective experimental laboratory study. METHODS: Healthy human corneas were stripped of Descemet membrane and the endothelium for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty. After epithelium removal, corneas were divided into 2 groups. In Group 1, Bowman layer was ablated with an excimer laser (20 µm thick, 10 mm). In Group 2, Bowman layer was left intact. Then, a lamella was cut from the anterior cornea with an automated microkeratome. Elastic and viscoelastic material properties were analyzed by 2D stress-strain extensometry between 0.03 and 0.70 N. RESULTS: Twenty-six human corneas were analyzed. The mean lamella thickness was 160 ± 37 µm in corneas with Bowman layer and 155 ± 22 µm in corneas without. No statistically significant differences between flaps with and without Bowman layer were observed in the tangential elastic modulus between 5% and 20% strain (11.5 ± 2.9 kPa vs 10.8 ± 3.7 kPa, P > .278). CONCLUSIONS: The presence or absence of Bowman layer did not reveal a measurable difference in corneal stiffness. This may indicate that the removal of Bowman layer during photorefractive keratectomy does not represent a disadvantage to corneal biomechanics.

Ocular Surface Microbiome in Health and Disease.

The ocular surface is exposed continuously to the environment and, as a consequence, to a variety of different microbes. After the results of the Human Microbiome Project became publicly available, international research groups started to focus interest on exploring the ocular surface microbiome and its physiopathological relationship to the eye. For example, numerous research studies the existence of the ocular surface's bacterial flora, typically gathering cultures from healthy patients and finding few variations in the bacterial species. More recently, culture-independent methods, including 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene sequencing, are being used to define the ocular microbiome. These newer methods suggest that the microbial communities have a greater diversity than previously reported. These communities seem to serve an immune-modulating function and maintain relationships with other microbes and organs, even distant ones. This review summarizes the literature exploring the ocular microbiome, both in health and in different diseases.

Assessment of the mechanical forces applied during eye rubbing.

BACKGROUND: To determine the average amount of mechanical forces applied to the lids of keratoconus patients during eye rubbing. METHODS: Fifty-seven patients (41 male, 16 female, average age 34.8 years) with a clinically and topographically diagnosed keratoconus and a history of eye rubbing were prospectively asked to perform their individual eye rubbing movement on a high-precision balance. The type of eye-rubbing movement and the force applied, represented in newtons (N), were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: We detected three different types of eye rubbing. Rubbing with the fingertip was most frequent (51%), followed by rubbing with the knuckle (44%) and rubbing with the fingernail (6%). Each type of eye rubbing showed different average forces, with knuckle type eye rubbing applying significantly more force (9.6 ± 6.3 N) on the lids than fingertip (4.3 ± 3.1 N) and fingernail (2.6 ± 3.3 N) types (p < 0,001 and p = 0,016, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There were major variations in the force exerted on the lids, depending on the type of eye rubbing employed. This data will help determine the forces that need to be applied in future experimental eye rubbing models.

Correcting Campylorrhinus Lateralis in a Foal by Bone Distraction: A Case Report.

Campylorrhinus lateralis, also known as "wry nose," is a congenital malformation that mainly affects Thoroughbreds. These horses have a unilateral deviation of the maxillae that may be to one side or the other side, and it causes airway obstruction and dental malocclusion. The choice of treatment is not necessarily operation; however, the treatment of choice, which aims to repair the maxillae deviation, is surgical to improve the horse's respiratory condition and correct the dental occlusion. There are currently no reports describing the first surgical technique for such deformity described by Valdez et al. The present study describes the case of a 2-month-old foal of the Mangalarga Marchador breed that was diagnosed with wry nose. The foal presented with accentuated maxillae deviation to the right side, malocclusion of the incisor teeth, and respiratory noises. After diagnosis and physical examination, the foal was treated by surgical correction of the deviation. To correct the deviation, the bone distraction technique with unilateral osteotomy of the right maxillae and fixation of the external bone distractor was chosen. After 90 days, the bone distractor was removed; consequently, malocclusion of the incisors was greatly improved, and respiratory noises were eliminated.