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PloS One 2024The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether viewing an immersive 3D movie with large disparities in a cinema resulted in improved visual acuity (VA),...
PURPOSE
The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether viewing an immersive 3D movie with large disparities in a cinema resulted in improved visual acuity (VA), stereoscopic depth perception (ST), and improved eye alignment in residual amblyopic children and children without amblyopia.
METHODS
A total of 24 children aged between 5 and 12 years with a history of anisometropic and/or strabismic amblyopia, that had been previously treated and who currently have residual amblyopia (N = 14), and in children with typical development without amblyopia (N = 10) viewed the movie in 3D Sing 2 in a cinema for 110 minutes. Visual acuity, stereoacuity and ocular deviation were assessed before viewing the movie, and three months later. Stereoacuity and ocular deviation were also measured immediately after viewing the movie.
RESULTS
We observed an improvement in visual acuity in the non-dominant (amblyopic) eye 3 months after viewing the movie in the amblyopic group (P<0.001). Stereopsis improved immediately after viewing the movie (P = 0.02), and after 3 months by ≈ 40% (P = 0.01). Moreover, improvements in stereopsis were also observed in children without amblyopia (P = 0.04). No significant changes in ocular deviation were observed in either group.
CONCLUSIONS
These pilot results suggest that brief exposure to large disparities by viewing a 3D movie in a cinema can help to improve stereopsis and visual acuity in children aged 5‒12 years with previously treated amblyopia, and provide a rationale for a randomized clinical trial.
Topics: Humans; Amblyopia; Child; Pilot Projects; Visual Acuity; Female; Male; Child, Preschool; Depth Perception; Motion Pictures
PubMed: 38917142
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305401 -
Updates in Surgery Jun 2024Living liver donation (LLD) has been suggested as a potential solution to reduce the waitlist mortality for liver transplantation (LT) recipients by facilitating living...
Living liver donation (LLD) has been suggested as a potential solution to reduce the waitlist mortality for liver transplantation (LT) recipients by facilitating living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Ensuring both donor and recipient safety is a critical aspect of LDLT. An accurate understanding of the complexity and extend of safety outcomes of the donor is imperative to maintain the high-quality standard this medical program requires. This review seeks to outline safety outcome parameters of interest for donors. Early postoperative mortality is very low with no significant differences comparing left lobe to right lobe LLD. Complications most commonly are biliary (leakage or strictures), bleeding, respiratory or pulmonary, gastrointestinal or infectious. Return to full-time work and quality of life are essential parameters in the mid and long term. As evidence continues to accumulate, outcomes may evolve with the expansion of minimal invasive surgery practice and currently laparoscopic approach is recommended in large experienced centers. By offering safer operations that require fewer incisions or liver resections, living liver donations can be further encouraged, and the perception of the procedure can be improved. Rational consideration of the safety of the donor and in-depth discussion and evaluation with the patient is of utmost importance.
PubMed: 38916620
DOI: 10.1007/s13304-024-01881-9 -
AIDS Patient Care and STDs Jun 2024In the United States, the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has led to a substantial decrease in HIV prevalence and incidence. However, some populations, including...
In the United States, the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has led to a substantial decrease in HIV prevalence and incidence. However, some populations, including young men who have sex with men (YMSM) of color, continue to be disproportionately impacted, highlighting the need for tailored interventions addressing barriers to adequate PrEP access. In collaboration with partner clinics, we recruited 19 PrEP clients and 19 PrEP providers ( = 35) to participate in hour-long in-depth interviews. Although client interviews explored personal experiences with stigma, barriers, and motivators to PrEP and information preferences, provider interviews explored providers' perceived stigma in their clinic, perceived barriers and motivators to meeting clients' PrEP needs, and rapport building with clients. Most participants were affiliated with one of the southern partner clinics. Clients and providers noted similar determinants to PrEP access, uptake, and adherence. Both recognized the impact of personal barriers such as routine adjustments and perception of need, as well as institutional barriers such as transportation and financial difficulties. Clients emphasized the role of the client-provider relationship as part of contributing to willingness to disclose information such as HIV status and sexual practices. Providers noted the importance of sexual health and LGBTQ+ topics in their training. Despite limited geographical scope and the sensitive nature of HIV-related topics, this study has several implications. PrEP clinics may benefit from hiring providers who share identities and experiences with YMSM clients of color and operating with a flexible schedule. Medical provider training should include comprehensive sexual health and LGBTQ+ competencies to reduce bias in care.
PubMed: 38916119
DOI: 10.1089/apc.2024.0083 -
Journal of Sports Sciences Jun 2024This study examined coping and pain responses using a behavioural inhibition (BIS) - behavioural activation (BAS) framework in 489 student athletes (M(age) = 20,...
This study examined coping and pain responses using a behavioural inhibition (BIS) - behavioural activation (BAS) framework in 489 student athletes (M(age) = 20, SD = 4; 69% female). Two samples of athletes (226 pain-free athletes and 232 athletes with current pain) completed surveys assessing BIS- and BAS-related cognitions, emotions, and behaviours. Distinct groupings of BAS-related variables were identified in both samples, evidenced by significant positive correlations within BAS-related variables (positive affect, pain openness, approach thoughts and behaviours). Most BIS-related variables (depression, anxiety, harm beliefs, pain catastrophizing and avoidance behaviours) were also correlated in the sample of athletes with pain; however, this was not observed in pain-free athletes. In athletes with pain, BIS-related variables were significantly associated with pain variables, with this association stronger than that found for BAS-related variables. Regression analyses highlighted the pivotal role of pain catastrophizing as a predictor of pain unpleasantness and intensity. Findings shed light on the factors shaping athletes' coping, pain perception and decisions as to whether to pause or push through. Future investigations to explore these dynamics in more depth may aid in the development of targeted interventions that enhance athletes' ability to cope and to manage pain more effectively.
PubMed: 38910462
DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2370154 -
Neuropsychologia Jun 2024Utilizing the high temporal resolution of event-related potentials (ERPs), we compared the time course of processing incongruent color versus 3D-depth information....
Utilizing the high temporal resolution of event-related potentials (ERPs), we compared the time course of processing incongruent color versus 3D-depth information. Participants were asked to judge whether the food color (color condition) or 3D structure (3D-depth condition) was congruent or incongruent with their previous knowledge and experience. The behavioral results showed that the reaction times in the congruent 3D-depth condition were slower than those in the congruent color condition. The reaction times in the incongruent 3D-depth condition were slower than those in the incongruent color condition. The ERP results showed that incongruent color stimuli induced a larger N270, larger P300, and smaller N400 components in the fronto-central region than the congruent color stimuli. Incongruent 3D-depth stimuli induced a smaller N1 in the occipital region, larger P300 and smaller N400 in the parietal-occipital region than congruent 3D-depth stimuli. The time-frequency analysis found that incongruent color stimuli induced a larger theta band (360-580 ms) activation in the fronto-central region than congruent color stimuli. Incongruent 3D-depth stimuli induced larger alpha and beta bands (240-350 ms) activation in the parietal region than congruent 3D-depth stimuli. Our results suggest that the human brain deals with violating general color or depth knowledge in different time courses. We speculate that the depth perception conflict was dominated by solving the problem with visual processing, whereas the color perception conflict was dominated by solving the problem with semantic violation.
PubMed: 38908477
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2024.108941 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Because of the absence of visual perception, visually impaired individuals encounter various difficulties in their daily lives. This paper proposes a visual aid system...
Because of the absence of visual perception, visually impaired individuals encounter various difficulties in their daily lives. This paper proposes a visual aid system designed specifically for visually impaired individuals, aiming to assist and guide them in grasping target objects within a tabletop environment. The system employs a visual perception module that incorporates a semantic visual SLAM algorithm, achieved through the fusion of ORB-SLAM2 and YOLO V5s, enabling the construction of a semantic map of the environment. In the human-machine cooperation module, a depth camera is integrated into a wearable device worn on the hand, while a vibration array feedback device conveys directional information of the target to visually impaired individuals for tactile interaction. To enhance the system's versatility, a Dobot Magician manipulator is also employed to aid visually impaired individuals in grasping tasks. The performance of the semantic visual SLAM algorithm in terms of localization and semantic mapping was thoroughly tested. Additionally, several experiments were conducted to simulate visually impaired individuals' interactions in grasping target objects, effectively verifying the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed system. Overall, this system demonstrates its capability to assist and guide visually impaired individuals in perceiving and acquiring target objects.
Topics: Humans; Wearable Electronic Devices; Visually Impaired Persons; Algorithms; Hand Strength; Self-Help Devices; Visual Perception; Semantics; Male
PubMed: 38894383
DOI: 10.3390/s24113593 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The Rich spatial and angular information in light field images enables accurate depth estimation, which is a crucial aspect of environmental perception. However, the...
The Rich spatial and angular information in light field images enables accurate depth estimation, which is a crucial aspect of environmental perception. However, the abundance of light field information also leads to high computational costs and memory pressure. Typically, selectively pruning some light field information can significantly improve computational efficiency but at the expense of reduced depth estimation accuracy in the pruned model, especially in low-texture regions and occluded areas where angular diversity is reduced. In this study, we propose a lightweight disparity estimation model that balances speed and accuracy and enhances depth estimation accuracy in textureless regions. We combined cost matching methods based on absolute difference and correlation to construct cost volumes, improving both accuracy and robustness. Additionally, we developed a multi-scale disparity cost fusion architecture, employing 3D convolutions and a UNet-like structure to handle matching costs at different depth scales. This method effectively integrates information across scales, utilizing the UNet structure for efficient fusion and completion of cost volumes, thus yielding more precise depth maps. Extensive testing shows that our method achieves computational efficiency on par with the most efficient existing methods, yet with double the accuracy. Moreover, our approach achieves comparable accuracy to the current highest-accuracy methods but with an order of magnitude improvement in computational performance.
PubMed: 38894371
DOI: 10.3390/s24113583 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Pose estimation of metal parts plays a vital role in industrial grasping areas. It is challenging to obtain complete point clouds of metal parts because of their...
Pose estimation of metal parts plays a vital role in industrial grasping areas. It is challenging to obtain complete point clouds of metal parts because of their reflective properties. This study introduces an approach for recovering the 6D pose of CAD-known metal parts from images captured by a single RGB camera. The proposed strategy only requires RGB images without depth information. The core idea of the proposed method is to use multiple views to estimate the metal parts' pose. First, the pose of metal parts is estimated in the first view. Second, ray casting is employed to simulate additional views with the corresponding status of the metal parts, enabling the calculation of the camera's next best viewpoint. The camera, mounted on a robotic arm, is then moved to this calculated position. Third, this study integrates the known camera transformations with the poses estimated from different viewpoints to refine the final scene. The results of this work demonstrate that the proposed method effectively estimates the pose of shiny metal parts.
PubMed: 38894199
DOI: 10.3390/s24113408 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Copy number variations (CNVs) critically influence individual genetic diversity and phenotypic traits. In this study, we employed whole-genome resequencing technology to...
Copy number variations (CNVs) critically influence individual genetic diversity and phenotypic traits. In this study, we employed whole-genome resequencing technology to conduct an in-depth analysis of 50 pigs from five local swine populations [Rongchang pig (RC), Wuzhishan pig (WZS), Tibetan pig (T), Yorkshire (YL) and Landrace (LR)], aiming to assess their genetic potential and explore their prospects in the field of animal model applications. We identified a total of 96,466 CNVs, which were subsequently integrated into 7112 non-redundant CNVRs, encompassing 1.3% of the swine genome. Functional enrichment analysis of the genes within these CNVRs revealed significant associations with sensory perception, energy metabolism, and neural-related pathways. Further selective scan analyses of the local pig breeds RC, T, WZS, along with YL and LR, uncovered that for the RC variety, the genes and were found to be closely related to fat metabolism and cardiovascular health. In the T breed, the genes and were associated with immune response and connective tissue characteristics. As for the WZS breed, the genes and were primarily linked to fat storage and anti-inflammatory responses. In summary, this research underscores the pivotal role of CNVs in fostering the diversity and adaptive evolution of pig breeds while also offering valuable insights for further exploration of the advantageous genetic traits inherent to China's local pig breeds. This facilitates the creation of experimental animal models tailored to the specific characteristics of these breeds, contributing to the advancement of livestock and biomedical research.
Topics: Animals; DNA Copy Number Variations; Swine; Whole Genome Sequencing; China; Breeding; Genetic Variation; Genome; Evolution, Molecular
PubMed: 38892031
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115843 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024In plant models such as , phosphatidic acid (PA), a key molecule of lipid signaling, was shown not only to be involved in stress responses, but also in plant development...
In plant models such as , phosphatidic acid (PA), a key molecule of lipid signaling, was shown not only to be involved in stress responses, but also in plant development and nutrition. In this article, we highlight lipid signaling existing in crop species. Based on open access databases, we update the list of sequences encoding phospholipases D, phosphoinositide-dependent phospholipases C, and diacylglycerol-kinases, enzymes that lead to the production of PA. We show that structural features of these enzymes from model plants are conserved in equivalent proteins from selected crop species. We then present an in-depth discussion of the structural characteristics of these proteins before focusing on PA binding proteins. For the purpose of this article, we consider RESPIRATORY BURST OXIDASE HOMOLOGUEs (RBOHs), the most documented PA target proteins. Finally, we present pioneering experiments that show, by different approaches such as monitoring of gene expression, use of pharmacological agents, ectopic over-expression of genes, and the creation of silenced mutants, that lipid signaling plays major roles in crop species. Finally, we present major open questions that require attention since we have only a perception of the peak of the iceberg when it comes to the exciting field of phospholipid signaling in plants.
PubMed: 38891340
DOI: 10.3390/plants13111532