Visual Changes Research Articles

Heatmap Evaluation of Facial Hydration Using a Novel Python Program.

Evaluating cleansers and moisturizers provides important information to guide clinicians in the recommendation of these products. This project was performed to visualize skin hydration via heatmap after the use of a gentle skin cleanser (GSC) and moisturizing lotion (ML). Half-face, intra-individual open-label study in healthy volunteers. Cleanser was administered in a single application that was then wiped off the face. Moisturizing lotion was applied at least once-daily for one week. Hydration measurements were made at 30 pre-defined points on half of the face, at baseline, and 30 minutes post-application; an additional assessment at week 1 was made for the moisturizing lotion. Heatmaps were generated using Python programming software to interpolate hydration values to colors that were then superimposed onto the volunteer's facial image.  Results: Five subjects completed the cleanser assessments, and 5 subjects completed the 30-minute evaluation for the lotion, with 4 completing the week 1 assessment. There was a visible shift in skin hydration post-GSC application from values approximately in the 12-42 AU (arbitrary unit) range to 30-60 AU at 30 minutes. Similarly, there was a shift in hydration from baseline to 30 minutes that continued to increase through week 1 of ML use. This innovative heatmap data generation showed a clear, visual change in hydration over time. There was a visible shift in hydration values from baseline to 30 minutes after application of cleanser; hydration also improved after use of moisturizing lotion at 30 minutes and increased after week 1 application.  J Drugs Dermatol. 2024;23(6):463-465.     doi:10.36849/JDD.8221.

Photorefractive Keratectomy and Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis on 6-Month Space Missions.

BACKGROUND: This article documents the stability of photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in two astronauts during 6-mo missions to the International Space Station.CASE REPORTS: Ocular examinations including visual acuity, cycloplegic refraction, slit lamp examination, corneal topography, central corneal thickness, optical biometry (axial length/keratometry), applanation tonometry, and dilated fundus examination were performed on each astronaut before and after their missions, and in-flight visual acuity testing was done on flight day 30, 90, and R-30 (30 d before return). They were also questioned regarding visual changes during flight.DISCUSSION: We documented stable vision in both PRK and LASIK astronauts during liftoff, entry into microgravity, 6 mo on the International Space Station, descent, and landing. Our results suggest that both PRK and LASIK are stable and well tolerated during long-duration spaceflight.Gibson CR, Mader TH, Lipsky W, Schallhorn SC, Tarver WJ, Suresh R, Hauge TN, Brunstetter TJ. Photorefractive keratectomy and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis on 6-month space missions. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(5):278-281.

Composite Eu@Cd-CP as a fluorescent probe for the detection of some food additives

A transition metal coordination polymer (CP), [Cd(Hdpcp)]n (Cd-CP) was prepared based on 3-(2,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-6-carboxypyridine ligand (H3dpcp), and then its composite Eu@Cd-CP was synthesized by the post-modification through loading Eu3+ ions on Cd-CP. Eu@Cd-CP has outstanding fluorescence stability in aqueous solution with a wide range of pH. Furthermore, Eu@Cd-CP can distinguish sodium salicylate (SS) and sodium dehydroacetate (SA) in some food additives by quenching the characteristic fluorescence of Eu3+ ion. Eu@Cd-CP is the first known CP-based fluorescent probe for selective detection of SS and SA. In addition, the fluorescence mechanisms of discerning above analytes by Eu@Cd-CP have been thoroughly evaluated. It has found that synergistic effect of the dynamic process, photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process, energy absorption competition, and formation of Eu-O bonding interactions in sensing SA lead to the fluorescence quenching of Eu@Cd-CP. The fluorescence response mechanism of Eu@Cd-CP with SA is ascribed to the combination of the dynamic process, PET process, and energy absorption competition. A series of portable devices based on Eu@Cd-CP including fluorescence test strips, lamp beads, and composite films were developed to discern SS and SA via visual changes in luminescence color. This composite material can be potentially used as a multifunctional fluorescent probe for practical applications.

Digital therapeutics using virtual reality-based visual perceptual learning for visual field defects in stroke: A double-blind randomized trial.

Visual field defects (VFDs) represent a debilitating poststroke complication, characterized by unseen parts of the visual field. Visual perceptual learning (VPL), involving repetitive visual training in blind visual fields, may effectively restore visual field sensitivity in cortical blindness. This current multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial investigated the efficacy and safety of VPL-based digital therapeutics (Nunap Vision [NV]) for treating poststroke VFDs. Stroke outpatients with VFDs (>6 months after stroke onset) were randomized into NV (defective field training) or Nunap Vision-Control (NV-C, central field training) groups. Both interventions provided visual perceptual training, consisting of orientation, rotation, and depth discrimination, through a virtual reality head-mounted display device 5 days a week for 12 weeks. The two groups received VFD assessments using Humphrey visual field (HVF) tests at baseline and 12-week follow-up. The final analysis included those completed the study (NV, n=40; NV-C, n=35). Efficacy measures included improved visual area (sensitivity ≥6dB) and changes in the HVF scores during the 12-week period. With a high compliance rate, NV and NV-C training improved the visual areas in the defective hemifield (>72 degrees2) and the whole field (>108 degrees2), which are clinically meaningful improvements despite no significant between-group differences. According to within-group analyses, mean total deviation scores in the defective hemifield improved after NV training (p=.03) but not after NV-C training (p=.12). The current trial suggests that VPL-based digital therapeutics may induce clinically meaningful visual improvements in patients with poststroke VFDs. Yet, between-group differences in therapeutic efficacy were not found as NV-C training exhibited unexpected improvement comparable to NV training, possibly due to learning transfer effects.

Knock out of ELAVL1 affects steroid synthesis in adrenocortical carcinoma cell line NCI-H295R and leads to a less malignant phenotype

Introduction: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy of the adrenal gland. With a 5-year-survival rate below 50% and no curative treatment options in advanced stages new therapeutic options in ACC are needed. Analyzing the ACC cohort of the cancer genome atlas we found a significant negative correlation of the expression level of a gene called Embryonic Lethal Abnormal Vision Like 1 (ELAVL1) and ACC patient survival. ELAVL1 has been described to be unfavorable in a lot of different tumor entities, but its function in ACC progression is still unknown. Methods: To evaluate the function of ELAVL1 in ACC progression we performed a CRISPR/Cas9 mediated knock out (KO) of the ELAVL1 gene in the ACC cell line NCI-H295R. The KO was confirmed on DNA level via Sanger sequencing and on protein level via immunofluorescence and western blot. Transcriptome changes were analyzed by next generation RNA sequencing (NGS). To characterize changes in cell function we performed soft agar colony forming assays and evaluated changes in steroid production via mass spectrometry. Results: Via CRISPR/Cas9 we knocked out ELAVL1 in NCI-H295R cells. NGS data showed 6926 significantly deregulated genes in ELAVL1-KO cells compared to control cells. There was an upregulation of 3468 genes, while 3458 genes showed a lower expression in ELAVL1 KO cells. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses showed a significant upregulation of 29 genes associated with aldosterone synthesis and a significant downregulation of 87 genes associated with pathways in cancer. Analyzing cell function via soft agar colony forming assays an impaired colony forming ability in ELAVL1 KO cells was seen. Furthermore, we could prove significant changes in steroid production. ELAVL1 KO led to an inhibition of androgen and glucocorticoid synthesis and an enhancement in mineralocorticoid synthesis. These changes could not only be proven by measuring steroid concentrations in cell culture supernatants, but also by NGS showing a downregulation of the genes CYP17A1 and CYP11B1 and an upregulation of CYP21A2 and CYP11B2. Conclusion: Our study showed that ELAVL1 affects the regulation of around 7000 genes in the ACC cell line NCI-H295R. Especially the inhibition of glucocorticoid synthesis shows that ELAVL1 may be a new target for therapeutic approaches in ACC treatment since hypercortisolism is one of the main symptoms in ACC and a negative prognostic factor for patient survival. The authors have nothing to disclose. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Nanofiber-reinforced self-healing polysaccharide-based hydrogel dressings for pH discoloration monitoring and treatment of infected wounds

The escalating global health concern arises from chronic wounds induced by bacterial infections, posing a significant threat to individuals. Consequently, an imperative exist for the development of hydrogel dressings to facilitate prompt wound monitoring and efficacious wound management. To this end, pH-sensitive bromothymol blue (BTB) and pH-responsive drug tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) were introduced into the polysaccharide-based hydrogel to realize the integration of wound monitoring and controlled treatment. Polysaccharide-based hydrogels were formed via a Schiff base reaction by cross-linking carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) on an oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) skeleton. BTB was used as a pH indicator to monitor wound infection through visual color changes visually. TH could be dynamically released through the pH response of the Schiff base bond to provide effective treatment and long-term antibacterial activity for chronically infected wounds. In addition, introducing polylactic acid nanofibers (PLA) enhanced the mechanical properties of hydrogels. The multifunctional hydrogel has excellent mechanical, self-healing, injectable, antibacterial properties and biocompatibility. Furthermore, the multifaceted hydrogel dressing under consideration exhibits noteworthy capabilities in fostering the healing process of chronically infected wounds. Consequently, the research contributes novel perspectives towards the advancement of intelligent and expeditious bacterial infection monitoring and dynamic treatment platforms.

Reliable ratiometric colorimetric monitoring of dopamine in practice based on the catalytic signal amplification of nano CeO2/CuO modified carboxylated chitosan

To reliably monitor dopamine (DA), a common neurotransmitter, a kind of nano CeO2/CuO modified carboxylated chitosan nanozyme (CeO2/CuO@CC) was constructed under microwave-assisted conditions. The proposed CeO2/CuO@CC exhibited superior synergistic- enhancement oxidase-like activity, with high specific surface area and superior stability. It could accelerate the oxidization of colorless 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) into blue oxTMB in the air. What’s more, the presence of trace DA could exclusively change the enzyme-like activity of CeO2/CuO@CC, accompanied with visual color changes from blue to colorless. Under the optimized conditions, there expressed double ratiometric linear relationships between lg(A652/A285)/lg(A370/A285) and cDA, with a large linear range between 6.0 × 10−9 and 1.0 × 10−5 M of DA. When applied for visual detection of DA in real samples, the detection limit was low to 2.0 × 10−9 M with RSD % less than 4.14 %. The mechanisms for enhanced oxidase-mimic activity of CeO2/CuO@CC and its selective detection of DA were proposed. This work will offer an insight to design efficient nanozyme for visual detection of bio-analytes in practice.

Chromogenic Detection of the Organophosphorus Nerve Agent Simulant DCP Mediated by Rhodium(II,II) Paddlewheel Complexes.

Organophosphorus nerve agents (OPNAs) pose a great threat to humanity. Possessing extreme toxicity, rapid lethality, and an unassuming appearance, these chemical warfare agents must be quickly and selectively identified so that treatment can be administered to those affected. Chromogenic detection is the most convenient form of OPNA detection, but current methods suffer from false positives. Here, nitrogenous base adducts of dirhodium(II,II) acetate were synthesized and used as chromogenic detectors of diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP), an OPNA simulant. UV-vis spectrophotometry was used to evaluate the sensitivity and selectivity of the complexes in the detection of DCP. Visual limits of detection (LOD) for DCP were as low as 1.5 mM DCP, while UV-vis-based LODs were as low as 0.113 μM. The dirhodium(II,II) complexes were also tested with several potential interferents, none of which produced a visual color change that could be mistaken for OPNA response. Ultimately, the Rh2(OAc)4(1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene)2 complex showed the best combination of detection capability and interferent resistance. These results, when taken together, show that dirhodium(II,II) paddlewheel complexes with nitrogenous base adducts can produce instant, selective, and sensitive detection of DCP. It is our aim to further explore and apply this new motif to produce even more capable OPNA sensors.

An alternative surgical technique for removal of multiple uveal cysts in a dog: A case report.

Uveal cysts have been reported to cause vision changes in dogs. The objective of this article is to report removing multiple uveal cysts from both eyes of a canine patient using a previously unreported methodology. A bimanual irrigation and aspiration procedure is reported here as an alternative method for managing multiple anterior segment iris cysts in the dog. The results of the surgery were mild postoperative inflammation that resolved within 1 week and no other complications were encountered. Overall, the authors conclude that the procedure was a less invasive alternative to the traditional approaches for removal of multiple uveal cysts including laser rupture of cysts, direct aspiration or removal using coaxial irrigation and aspiration through a standard clear corneal approach to the anterior chamber with or without the aid of viscoelastic floatation. The procedure eliminated the need for sutures, marked activity restrictions, or an Elizabethan collar postoperatively. This is the first report of bimanual irrigation and aspiration for multiple uveal cyst removal in dogs.

E023 Intimomedial mucoid degeneration. A rare vascular disease mimicking giant cell arteritis presentation

Abstract Background/Aims The accuracy of giant cell arteritis (GCA) diagnosis has greatly improved in recent years with increasing use of fast track clinics and vascular ultrasound. The “halo” sign is recognised as confirmation of a positive test and is considered virtually pathognomonic of GCA in the setting of a correlating clinical presentation. There are caveats to this and “false halos” have been reported associated with arterial thickening seen in other conditions including atherosclerosis and lymphoma. In this case a focal area of arterial wall thickening mimicking a halo on ultrasound was due to a rare vascular condition called intimomedial mucoid degeneration. Methods A 63 year old female presented via the direct assessment unit to the fast track GCA service. She reported an 8 week history of a tender right forehead lump and a 3 week history of associated new headache with marked tenderness at the site of the lump. The headache was severe and had become persistent. Mild shoulder stiffness was present. No jaw claudication. Blurring while wearing glasses noted but no definite visual change. CRP 2mg/L, ESR at usual baseline of 30mm/hr. Other indices normal. On examination: No shoulder restriction. No visual field deficit. Palpable pulsatile area of artery right side of forehead that was exquisitely tender with less marked tenderness of the artery adjacent to this. No symptoms on left side. GCA probability score (GCAPS) 10 indicating intermediate probability of GCA. Results Temporal artery ultrasound performed using GE Logiq e and 10-22mHz probe. Left side imaged entirely normally. Right side symptomatic area imaged as a focal asymmetric thickened area of frontal branch artery measuring 1.5mm maximally in compression. The frontal branch artery imaged normally proximal and distal to this as did the right common superficial and parietal branches. Features were unusual however she was commenced on prednisolone 40mg daily pending further investigations. Eye assessment detected no ischaemic concerns. She returned for reassessment after 4 days. There was some symptomatic improvement however the tender lump persisted. A second opinion on the ultrasound was sought from the interventional radiologist, who felt the focal area may be a lymph node, with thickened artery adjacent. Surgical exploration and temporal artery biopsy was subsequently performed. Conclusion Histology showed there was actually mucoid change with eccentric thickening of the artery with aneurysmal change in keeping with the rare diagnosis of intimomedial mucoid degeneration. This is a very rare condition which causes predisposition to arterial aneurysm formation, and typically presents with acute pain of the artery involved. This lady had developed an aneurysm which was excised at the time of the biopsy, relieving her symptoms. This case is a reminder to pursue additional investigations and tissue diagnosis in the setting of unusual clinical and imaging findings. Disclosure S. Black: None. M. Wray: None. H. Stewart: None. E. Durkan: None. V. Serafimov: None. P. Davey: None. L. Smith: None.

Spatially confining copper atom in flowerlike-CoFe hydroxides for smartphone-based ratiometric colorimetric dual-mode detection of nitrite

Great progress in nanozyme catalysis for distinct catalytic reactions have been made. However, more current nanozyme-induced sensing platforms are depended on oxidase-like nanozymes with multienzymatic catalytic behavior, which can affect the determination accuracy and reliability. Designing high active and stable advanced nanozymes for enzyme-like catalysis remains a huge challenge for analytic chemistry. Herein, a three-atom site catalyst of CoFeCu hydroxide nanozyme is rationally prepared for constructing sensing platform by utilizing oxidase-like catalytic activity. The CoFeCu nanozyme can mimic the behavior of oxidase by trigging O2 into O2·− via its highly dispersed metal active sites, which exhibits good oxidase-like activities with of 2.22 mM and of 3.69 × 10−8 M·s−1 toward 3, 3′, 5, 5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). Specifically, the elaborate doping of low content Cu leads to higher catalytic activity and adequate detection sensitivity. Interestingly, with the addition of nitrite, a redox and diazotized reaction can be induced to generate visual color change from blue to yellow, resulting in the nitrite level-related ratio variation for the absorbance intensity at 665 and 450 nm. Besides, to the realize the demand of point-of-care monitor of nitrite, a portable sensor was built containing a dark box by a UV lamp and an intelligent smartphone. In the colorimetry-smartphone modes, the linear ranges of nitrite are 1–290, and 3.3–250 μM, with related detection limits of 0.9, and 2.96 μM, respectively. This strategy was further used to detect nitrite in river water with outstanding results with the dual mode. Therefore, the proposed dual-mode detection approach provides promising potential for self-house monitor of nitrite, which will greatly improve the analysis efficiency and large-scale determination in human life quality.

Does Eye Color Affect Vision Acuity in a Variety of Light Conditions?

Eye color is a physical characteristic that varies from person-to-person. Due to a range ofpigmentation of the iris, people with different eye colors tend to see the world differently. For those with lighter eyes, it may be more difficult to see clearly in environments with certain light conditions or intensities. Throughout a person’s life, they encounter several different forms of light ranging from natural sunlight to artificial lighting. In my research, I investigated whether a person’s eye color influences their vision in artificial lighting compared to natural lighting.Preliminary results show that light did influence visual acuity. However, there was no correlation between eye color and light influenced vision changes. To assess vision, participants were asked to cover each eye and read a Snellen eye chart. This was completed a total of four times. Using two separate eye charts, participants were tested at ten and twenty feet away from the charts. Each test was presented in a room with only artificial light, and outside of the building in natural light. This information can help individuals ensure that the change in vision, if any, caused by different kinds of light does not negatively influence their everyday life. In extreme situations those with eyes more sensitive to certain types of light could cause harm to themselves or others around them. Having this information about oneself is helpful to all people, not just those with a history of eye issues.

Aflibercept vs. dexamethasone implant for recalcitrant diabetic macular edema in pseudophakic eyes - 1-year outcomes from a quazi-randomized study in India.

To assess the safety and efficacy of intravitreal Aflibercept (IVA) versus dexamethasone (DEX) implant for treating recalcitrant diabetic macular edema (DME) in pseudophakic eyes at 1-year follow-up. Retrospective comparative case series. Data of all patients diagnosed with DME between January 2019 and December 2021, who underwent 4-monthly doses of intravitreal ranibizumab but had persistent DME [central macular thickness (CMT) within 10% of baseline value] were extracted from a computerized database. Of these, only pseudophakic eyes that underwent either IVA or DEX implant and had at least 1-year follow-up were included for analysis. DEX implant was preferred before December 2020 and IVA after this time point. In the IVA group, patients were followed up every month while DEX were followed at least every 3 months. Reinjections were considered when vision dropped by at least 1 Snellen's line or CMT increased by at least 10% from the previous visit in both groups. Comparison of change in vision and CMT at 1-year follow-up in DEX versus IVA groups. Eighty-four eyes of 84 patients aged 54.4 + 4.4 years were included, 39 (46%) received DEX and 45 (54%) received IVA. Groups were comparable for baseline vision and CMT. Vision improved equally in both groups from 0.83 + 0.15 logMAR to 0.52 + 0.10 logMAR at 3 months ( P < 0.01) and then stabilized till 1 year. However, eyes in the IVA group were 6.5 times more likely (Odds ratio = 6.45, 95% CI = 1.3 - 31.9) to achieve >3-line improvement in vision. The CMT reduction was also comparable between groups (-169 + 51 in DEX vs. -174 + 49 in IVA, P = 0.67). More eyes in the IVA group required >3 injections (91% vs. 69% in DEX, P = 0.01). The IOP was significantly higher at 6 and 9 months in the DEX group and 5 eyes (13%) required IOP lowering medications. In pseudophakic eyes with recalcitrant DME not responding to ranibizumab, switching to IVA or DEX implant results in equal visual improvement and CMT reduction. Though >3-line improvement occurs more frequently with IVA, this comes at the expense of a greater number of injections and follow-up visits.

Physical Compatibility Between Intravenous Magnesium Sulfate and Potassium or Sodium Phosphate in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Objective:To evaluate the physical compatibility between intravenous magnesium sulfate and potassium and sodium phosphate, a common electrolyte intravenous supplementation in pediatric intensive care units. Study design: Magnesium sulfate was mixed separately with potassium phosphate and sodium phosphate at ratios of 1:1, 1:4, and 4:1. Binary mixtures were prepared, in triplicate and under sterile conditions, by permuting the order of addition. The undiluted pure drugs were used as controls for possible sequence effects. Visual changes, turbidity, and pH were assessed immediately after mixing (baseline) and at 4 and 24 hours. Two observers performed visual changes by naked-eye visual inspection in order to search visible haze, particulate matter, gas formation, or color change. Turbidity was measured by nephelometry and incompatibility was defined as an increase of ≥0.5 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) from baseline. pH was measured using a portable pH meter and incompatibility was defined as a variation of >1 pH unit during the observation period. Results: None of the admixtures exhibited visual changes or significant variations in turbidity (increases of ≥0.5 in nephelometric turbidity units) or pH (changes of >1 unit) during the observation period and neither compared with baseline. Conclusion: In this study, no visual changes were observed, and turbidity and pH evaluated by instrumental methods remained within acceptable limits and showed no significant variations from baseline, therefore no physical incompatibility between magnesium sulfate and potassium or sodium phosphate was found.

Selective and Effective Sensing of Cyanide Ion with no Interference in Water by Phenothiazine-indolium Fused Optical Sensor.

The sensor with electron donor phenothiazine-2-carbaldehyde and electron acceptor indolium carboxylic acid, is developed with an intramolecular charge transfer transition between them. The synthesized molecule senses cyanide ion in water. The cyanide ion reacts with the molecule via nucleophilic addition in the indolium ring with a noticeable purple to colorless change in the solution observed. Also with the cyanide ion interaction, the sensor exhibits change in UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectra. While the other ion does not show spectral and visual changes when interacts with the sensor molecule. Also the interference study reveals that the molecule is highly selective towards cyanide ion. Different source of water samples confirms the CN- ion sensing efficiency of the molecule. 1:1 interaction between the molecule PTI and cyanide ion is confirmed from the results of Jobs plot, 1H NMR and HRMS. Paper strips were prepared and this can act as a simple tool to sense cyanide ion in various water samples.

Schiff base functionalized dialdehyde starch for enhanced removal of Cu (II): Preparation, performances, DFT calculations

Dialdehyde starch modified by 2-hydrazinopyridine (HYD-DAS) based on the reaction of dialdehyde starch (DAS) and 2-hydrazinopyridine was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR spectra, element analysis and SEM. HYD-DAS can efficiently adsorb Cu (II) ion to demonstrate visual color changes from yellow to dark brown in aqueous solutions. The influence on HYD-DAS to Cu (II) adsorption including pH value of solution, isotherm, kinetics, thermodynamics and possible mechanism had also been examined. Batch experiments indicate that HYD-DAS's to Cu (II) adsorption reaches equilibrium within 250 min, and its adsorption capacity and rate are 195.75 mg/g and 98.63 %, respectively. Moreover, HYD-DAS to Cu (II) adsorption remains robust and underscoring after five cycles to exhibit good selectivity and reusability. Kinetics studies suggest the absorption process follows a quasi-second-order with isotherms aligning to the Langmuir monolayer model, and thermodynamics reveals that it is a spontaneous endothermic nature of adsorption. Based on the analyses of XPS and DFT calculations, a possible mechanism for HYD-DAS to Cu (II) adsorption is that Cu (II) combined with nitrogen atoms from Schiff base and hydrazine pyridine ring in HYD-DAS.

Map Reading and Analysis with GPT-4V(ision)

In late 2023, the image-reading capability added to a Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) framework provided the opportunity to potentially revolutionize the way we view and understand geographic maps, the core component of cartography, geography, and spatial data science. In this study, we explore reading and analyzing maps with the latest version of GPT-4-vision-preview (GPT-4V), to fully evaluate its advantages and disadvantages in comparison with human eye-based visual inspections. We found that GPT-4V is able to properly retrieve information from various types of maps in different scales and spatiotemporal resolutions. GPT-4V can also perform basic map analysis, such as identifying visual changes before and after a natural disaster. It has the potential to replace human efforts by examining batches of maps, accurately extracting information from maps, and linking observed patterns with its pre-trained large dataset. However, it is encumbered by limitations such as diminished accuracy in visual content extraction and a lack of validation. This paper sets an example of effectively using GPT-4V for map reading and analytical tasks, which is a promising application for large multimodal models, large language models, and artificial intelligence.

Tomato seed mucilage-whey protein isolate coating enriched with shallot essential oil: Effect on quality changes of the trout fish fillet during cold storage

The current study assessed the effect of tomato seed mucilage (TSM) active coating on rainbow trout's physical, chemical, visual, and microbial characteristics during cold storage. This research also investigated the effect of replacing TSM with whey protein isolate (WPI) and adding shallot essential oil (SEO) at varying concentrations (0%, 1%, and 2%). Ultimately, the correlation between the characteristics and their modeling was examined by applying zero order, first order, and Weibull kinetic models. According to the findings, the application of TSM-WPI coating, particularly when combined with SEO, and substituting 50% of TSM with WPI resulted in a significantly reduction (p˂0.05) in the rate of alterations in weight loss (WL), textural attributes (Hardness, Chewiness, Springiness, Cohesiveness, and Gumminess), pH, TBA, TVB-N, visual characteristics (L*, and ΔE), as well as total viable count (TVC) and psychrotrophic bacteria count (PTC). Furthermore, a significant decrease (p˂0.05) in the rate of changes for all qualitative variables was observed when the ratio of WPI to TSM and SEO concentration were increased. Generally, the coating consisting of 50% TSM and 50% WPI containing 2% SEO exhibited the most effective performance in delaying unfavorable quality changes. Pearson's analysis indicated a notable correlation between the physical, color, chemical, and microbial characteristics. The kinetic models successfully and accurately predicted the physical, chemical, and visual changes in trout fillets during storage with various treatments. The Weibull model performed the best.

Assessment of the Microbiological Quality and Effect of Public Health of Ready-to-Eat Salad Samples in Isparta.

Salmonella spp. and Citrobacter spp. are among the microorganisms causing important foodborne outbreaks. In this study, it was tried to determine the presence and rate of Salmonella spp. and Citrobacter spp. in salad samples collected from certain regions of province of Isparta in Türkiye. A total of 50 salad samples were analyzed. Classical culture technique was used for microbiological analysis of salad samples. Suspected isolates obtained were identified using the VITEK-2 system. Although no negative visual changes were observed in the salad samples used in the study, it was determined that the number of Gram-negative microorganisms was very high and six salad samples were not suitable for public health. In 50 salad samples, 2% Salmonella and 4% Citrobacter freundii were detected. In addition, it was determined that the Salmonella strain isolated from the salad sample was resistant to three different antibiotics and Citrobacter was resistant to two different antibiotics. Salmonella spp. and Citrobacter spp. are considered very dangerous to public health because they are associated with foodborne outbreaks and can develop antibiotic resistance very quickly. Salad producers should try to reduce the possibility of microbial contamination by using different technologies.

The structure-function relationship between multifocal pupil perimetry and retinal nerve fibre layer in glaucoma.

Multifocal pupillographic objective perimetry (mfPOP) is a novel method for assessing functional change in diseases like glaucoma. Previous research has suggested that, in contrast to the pretectally-mediated melanopsin response of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, mfPOP responses to transient onset stimuli involve the extrastriate cortex, and thus the main visual pathway. We therefore investigate the correlation between peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness and glaucomatous visual field changes detected using mfPOP. Parallel analyses are undertaken using white on white standard automated perimetry (SAP) for comparison. Twenty-five glaucoma patients and 24 normal subjects were tested using SAP, 3 mfPOP variants, and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Arcuate clusters of the SAP and mfPOP deviations were weighted according to their contribution to published arcuate divisions of the retinal nerve fibre layer. Structure-function correlation coefficients (r) were computed between pRNFL clock-hour sector thickness measurements, and the local visual field sensitivities from both SAP and mfPOP. The strongest correlation was observed in the superior-superotemporal disc sector in patients with worst eye SAP MD < -12dB: r = 0.93 for the mfPOP LumBal test (p < 0.001). Correlations across all disc-sectors were strongest in these same patients in both SAP and mfPOP: SAP r = 0.54, mfPOP LumBal r = 0.55 (p < 0.001). In patients with SAP MD ≥ -6dB in both eyes, SAP correlations across all sectors were higher than mfPOP; mfPOP correlations however, were higher than SAP in more advanced disease, and in normal subjects. For both methods the largest correlations with pRNFL thickness corresponded to the inferior nasal field of more severely damaged eyes. Head-to-head comparison of mfPOP and SAP showed similar structure-function relationships. This agrees with our recent reports that mfPOP primarily stimulates the cortical drive to the pupils.