* Dichoptic video game play improved acuity and stereopsis in amblyopic adults. * A control 'supervised patching' group showed no improvement. * Contrast sensitivity and reading speed also improved for the game group. * This approach may have promise for the treatment of adult amblyopia.
J. R Maund, Arcavi, I. , Ergon, M. , Eldridge, J. J, Georgy, C. , Cenko, S. B, Horesh, A. , Izzard, R. G, ו Stancliffe, R. J. 2015. “Did The Progenitor Of Sn 2011Dh Have A Binary Companion?$^★$”. \Mnras, 454, Pp. 2580-2585. doi:10.1093/mnras/stv2098.
The dielec. behavior of the insulin-loaded HII mesophase (contg. GMO-TAG-water-glycerol-insulin) was studied using two empty ref. systems (GMO-TAG-water and GMO-TAG-water-glycerol) at a frequency range of 10-2-106 Hz, and a temp. range of 290-333 K. Three clearly defined relaxation processes were obsd. and assigned to the reorientation of GMO polar heads, the tangential movement of counterions at the interface, and the movements of TAGs through the lipid tail. Upon addn. of glycerol, a heterogeneous inner structure was formed within the HII cylinders: the water-glycerol core surrounded by a water rigid layer. Upon heating, two crit. points were detected referring to the dehydration of the GMO heads (at 304 K, similar to the water-filled HII system) and to energetic modifications (at 316 K), resulting in breaking of the water layer allowing on-demand controlled release. Insulin incorporation combined the features of both ref. HII systems. Yet, unlike the empty HII systems, insulin perturbed the GMO-water interface while decreasing the movement of the GMO headgroup, and reducing T0 (296 K). No interactions were formed between the dipole of each counterion at the interface region and the matrix (the GMO), fitting the Debye process. Dynamic behavior was obsd., pointing to mobility between the hexagonal rods themselves, enabling controlled release from the HII carrier. [on SciFinder(R)]
{STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), fluvoxamine and citalopram, that markedly differ in their level of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 inhibition, on the laboratory response to clopidogrel, a prodrug requiring metabolism by the CYP system, and especially CYP2C19, to produce its active form. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, crossover trial. SETTING: Clinical research unit of an academic medical center. SUBJECTS: Fifteen healthy male volunteers. INTERVENTION: All subjects received clopidogrel as a 300-mg loading dose on day 1, followed by 75 mg/day on days 2 and 3. Platelet function was tested at baseline and then after clopidogrel treatment on day 3. After a washout period of 2 weeks, subjects were randomly assigned in a double-blind manner to receive either citalopram 20 mg/day or fluvoxamine 100 mg/day for 7 days. On day 5, platelet function was tested while receiving the SSRI treatment alone; then, a 300-mg clopidogrel loading dose was administered, followed by clopidogrel 75 mg/day on days 6 and 7. Platelet function was then reassessed on day 7 while receiving the combination of the SSRI and clopidogrel. The treatment protocol was then repeated after a washout period of 2 weeks in all subjects with the other SSRI. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The antiplatelet effects of fluvoxamine and citalopram and their interactions with clopidogrel were assessed. The response to these three drugs was assessed by light transmittance aggregometry and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein phosphorylation, reporting P2Y12 receptor reactivity. Both fluvoxamine and citalopram tended to reduce adenosine diphosphate-induced aggregation: 80.8 ± 3.4% at baseline, 67.3 ± 6.3% while receiving citalopram, and 65.8 ± 6.4% while receiving fluvoxamine. All subjects had a good laboratory response to clopidogrel, with a mean aggregation of 23.5 ± 3.2% and a mean platelet reactivity index of 47.7 ± 3.9% (p<0.001 compared with baseline for both methods). Laboratory response to clopidogrel was significantly attenuated in the presence of fluvoxamine compared with the response in the presence of citalopram as tested both by aggregometry (32.3 ± 4.2% vs 23.4 ± 3%
Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals are outstanding donors in energy transfer processes due to their unique size and shape dependent optical properties, their exceptional photostability, and chemical processability. We examine the dimensionality effect in energy transfer between single heterostructure nanocrystals of spherical and rod shape, serving as donors, and multiple dye molecules attached to their surface acting as acceptors. Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) to individual dyes attached to the surface of a single nanocrystal is identified via step-like changes in both acceptor and donor emission, enabling to calculate the efficiency of energy transfer and distance of each acceptor individually. This offers a unique tool to study the surface chemistry of various nanocrystals. The dimensionality of the nanocrystals is reflected by the acceptors distribution, which enables to study the inner geometry of these heterostructures, such as the location of the seed and shell thickness. Additionally, the nanocrystals serve as an optical antenna that enhances the excitation and emission of the dye molecules through the FRET interaction. These measurements enable to gain deeper understanding of the energy transfer process between semiconductor nanocrystals of various geometries and dye molecules and promote its utilization for extremely sensitive sensing applications at the single molecule level.
Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals are outstanding donors in energy transfer processes due to their unique size and shape dependent optical properties, their exceptional photostability, and chemical processability. We examine the dimensionality effect in energy transfer between single heterostructure nanocrystals of spherical and rod shape, serving as donors, and multiple dye molecules attached to their surface acting as acceptors. Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET) to individual dyes attached to the surface of a single nanocrystal is identified via step-like changes in both acceptor and donor emission, enabling to calculate the efficiency of energy transfer and distance of each acceptor individually. This offers a unique tool to study the surface chemistry of various nanocrystals. The dimensionality of the nanocrystals is reflected by the acceptors distribution, which enables to study the inner geometry of these heterostructures, such as the location of the seed and shell thickness. Additionally, the nanocrystals serve as an optical antenna that enhances the excitation and emission of the dye molecules through the FRET interaction. These measurements enable to gain deeper understanding of the energy transfer process between semiconductor nanocrystals of various geometries and dye molecules and promote its utilization for extremely sensitive sensing applications at the single molecule level.
Extreme ultraviolet (XUV) attosecond pulses, generated by a process known as laser-induced electron recollision, are a key ingredient for attosecond metrology, providing a tool to precisely initiate and probe sub-femtosecond dynamics in the microcosms of atoms, molecules and solids[1]. However, with the current technology, extending attosecond metrology to scrutinize the dynamics of the inner-shell electrons is a challenge, that is because of the lower efficiency in generating the required soft x-ray \hbar\omega>300 eV attosecond bursts and the lower absorption cross-sections in this spectral range. A way around this problem is to use the recolliding electron to directly initiate the desired inner-shell process, instead of using the currently low flux x-ray attosecond sources.Such an excitation process occurs in a sub-femtosecond timescale, and may provide the necessary "pump" step in a pump-probe experiment[2]. Here we used a few cycle infrared \lambda_0 1800nm source[3] and observed direct evidences for inner-shell excitations through the laser-induced electron recollision process. It is the first step toward time-resolved core-hole studies in the keV energy range with sub-femtosecond time resolution.
Topographic maps and their continuity constitute a fundamental principle of brain organization. In the somatosensory system, whole-body sensory impairment may be reflected either in cortical signal reduction or disorganization of the somatotopic map, such as disturbed continuity. Here we investigated the role of continuity in pathological states. We studied whole-body cortical representations in response to continuous sensory stimulation under functional MRI (fMRI) in two unique patient populations—patients with cervical sensory Brown-Séquard syndrome (injury to one side of the spinal cord) and patients before and after surgical repair of cervical disk protrusion—enabling us to compare whole-body representations in the same study subjects. We quantified the spatial gradient of cortical activation and evaluated the divergence from a continuous pattern. Gradient continuity was found to be disturbed at the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and the supplementary motor area (SMA), in both patient populations: contralateral to the disturbed body side in the Brown-Séquard group and before repair in the surgical group, which was further improved after intervention. Results corresponding to the nondisturbed body side and after surgical repair were comparable with control subjects. No difference was found in the fMRI signal power between the different conditions in the two groups, as well as with respect to control subjects. These results suggest that decreased sensation in our patients is related to gradient discontinuity rather than signal reduction. Gradient continuity may be crucial for somatotopic and other topographical organization, and its disruption may characterize pathological processing.
