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With the rapid growth of social media (forums, blogs, social networks, etc.) entities like polling organizations, advertising companies, as well as democratic organizations are seeking to discover the opinions of their audiences more than ever. Analyzing such information helps them to perform operations like production monitoring, market forecasting, and civil society demands with high accuracy. Besides these entities, individuals/customers also choose from other users' feedback. The most basic processing that takes place in the field of sentiment analysis is to classify a text into a positive or negative class. Yet, given to wide usage of image-based social media, there have been limited attempts to deduce emotions from images or videos. In this paper, a bimodal sentiment analysis is presented by combining visual and textual information. In the proposed method, the image is sentimentally captioned by an encoder-decoder network, first. To achieve this goal, a sentiment image captioning method has been used to generate positive, negative, or neutral captions for each input image. Then, the generated captions and the user's published text are sent to the relation network and then the final sentiment label is predicted. In this one-shot learning approach, only one image is used to predict a sentiment, without any training. Results show the proposed method can compete with the State-of-the-Art methods in the field of visual sentiment analysis. In this respect, the proposed method achieves 70% accuracy on TWITTER and 75% accuracy on MVSA datasets, which can be regarded as a champion considering that this method is a one-shot approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeMethodResultsConclusionTo report a case of asymmetric melanoma-associated retinopathy (MAR) associated with metastatic melanoma which was thought to be in remission for 6 years. Identification of MAR led to the discovery of recurrent malignancy.A man in his 60s presented with monocular visual disturbances with a large relative afferent pupillary defect, rapidly progressing visual field defect and otherwise normal eye examination. Initial work-up for retrobulbar optic neuropathy was inconclusive. After a few months, similar symptoms developed in his fellow eye and a full-field electroretinogram revealed a reduced b:a wave ratio suspicious for MAR.Visual field defects were present in both eyes at initial examination, but the visual field of one eye progressed rapidly while the fellow eye did not develop symptoms or progress until roughly 3 months later. Visual field defects and symptoms improved following resection of the lymph node with active metastatic disease and serum plasmapheresis.This report highlights a case of MAR with asymmetric objective findings and progression of visual field defects. It also demonstrates the success of plasmapheresis, in combination with treating recurrent metastatic disease, in improving visual function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Between 1962 and 1975, a chlor-alkali plant in Canada discharged approximately 9 metric tons of mercury (Hg) into the Wabigoon River. Over the following decades, biomarkers of Hg exposure of persons from Grassy Narrows First Nation (Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek), located downriver from the discharge, reflected Hg concentrations in fish. Hg exposure is known to target the calcarine fissure, resulting in visual field (VF) loss. Most studies and clinical reports focus solely on peripheral VF loss; little is known about the impact of Hg on the central and paracentral portions. The present study sought to characterize the patterns of VF loss with respect to past and current Hg. Methods: A 28-year hair-Hg (HHg) database, created from a 1970–97 government biomonitoring program, served to select study participants with ≥ 4 year-based HHg measurements (n = 81). Blood-Hg was assessed for current exposure. Light sensitivity thresholds across the VF were analyzed monocularly, using a Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA). Following post-hoc exclusions, based on HFA interpretation indices, 65 participants were retained. Both eyes were combined for analyses (n = 130 eyes). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of HFA plot data was used to identify patterns of VF loss. A series of mixed effects models (MEM) were performed to test the associations for current Hg exposure with respect to HFA interpretation indices and clusters, as well as for longitudinal past Hg exposure. Results: The clustering approach decomposed the light sensitivity deficits into 5 concentric clusters, with greatest loss in the peripheral clusters. No relation was observed between any of the cluster scores and current blood-Hg. VF deficits increased with past Hg exposure. Longitudinal MEM showed that HHg was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with all peripheral, paracentral, and central cluster scores, as well as with HFA interpretation indices. Conclusions: Past Hg exposure in Grassy Narrows First Nation was associated with present day VF loss. The cluster-based location-specific approach identified patterns of VF loss associated with long-term Hg exposure, in both the peripheral and the central areas. The functional implications of this type of visual loss should be investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of computer vision, the application of hand-crafted as well as computer-learning-based methods in the field of image quality assessment has yielded remarkable results. However, in the field of no-reference image distortion, it is still challenging to accurately perceive and determine the quality of an image. To address the difficulties of Image Quality Assessment (IQA) in the field of authentic distorted images, we consider the use of the Swin Transformer (ST) to extract features. To enable the model to focus on both spatial and channel information of features, we design a plug-and-play Global Self-Attention Block (GSAB). At the same time, we introduce a Transformer block in the model to enhance the model's ability to capture long-range dependencies. Finally, we derive the prediction of image quality scores through a Dual-Branching structure. Our method is experimented on four synthetic datasets as well as two authentic datasets, and the results of the experiments are weighted according to the size of the datasets, and the results show that our method outperforms all the current methods and works well in the Generalization ability test, which proves that our method has a good generalization ability. The code will be posted subsequently at https://github.com/yanggege-new/NR-IQA-based-on-global-awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeMethodsResultsConclusionTo present a presumed case of non-paraneoplastic autoimmune retinopathy (nPAIR) following COVID-19 in a healthy woman.A single case was evaluated and followed for 32 months.A healthy 32-year-old woman presented with photopsia and paracentral scotoma (OU) after a recent COVID-19 infection. Past medical history and family history were unremarkable. Her visual acuity was normal (OU). Retinal atrophy, mild disc pallor, and foveal reflex attenuation were observed (OU). Optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans showed outer nuclear layer thinning and ellipsoid zone disruption (OU). The visual field test showed blind spot enlargement and arcuate scotomas (OU). Uveitis workup and underlying malignancy investigations were negative. A diagnosis of nPAIR was presumed. At the time, she refused therapy, and 20 months later, her visual acuity was stable, but there were progressive retinal atrophic changes and visual field constriction. After initiation of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive therapy, flashing lights completely disappeared, her visual field was stabilized without progression, and OCT scans showed partial recovery of ellipsoid zone.SARS-CoV-2 infection may be a trigger for nPAIR in susceptible individuals, but further research is needed to determine this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate effectiveness of using MLT tubes for transoral laser MLS in terms of surgical visualization, complete excision of vocal cord lesions, maintenance of adequate oxygenation and ventilation and the occurrence of any airway related complications. In a retrospective case series study, review of electronic medical records was conducted for 64 patients who underwent transoral laser MLS over an 18-month period. The collected data included vital parameters, mode of ventilation, ET tube details, surgical field of vision, perioperative adverse events and postoperative ventilation requirements. Among the 64 patients, 82.8% of the time, 5 size MLT tubes were used, fixed at mean lengths of 21.6cm in females and 23.07cm in males respectively. A good surgical field of exposure was achieved in 92.2% of patients, with an average FiO2 of 0.29 during laser use and pressure control ventilation mode being the majority choice. 98.4% were extubated on table. The incidence of cuff rupture and bronchospasm was 4.7% and 1.6% respectively with no instances attributable to laser related events. Even though Laser resistant tubes are considered gold standard, MLT tubes can be used by taking adequate precautions to reduce Laser related complications when there is limited availability of laser tubes. Level of evidence Case series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Object detection is an important problem in the field of computer vision, and feature fusion and bounding box regression are indispensable in mainstream object detection approaches. However, some detectors adopt Feature Pyramid Network, which increases training and detection time. In terms of the regression loss function, some recent techniques based on Intersection over Union (IoU) loss have negative effects on bounding box regression. To overcome these shortcomings, we propose Selective Feature Block (SFBlock) and Joint IoU (JIoU) loss in this article. The proposed SFBlock adaptively selects the features extracted from the Backbone and fuses them into a new feature. We add a penalty term of the intersection area between the prediction box and the target box on Generalized IoU (GIoU) loss to solve the problem that GIoU loss degenerates into IoU loss when the prediction box and the target box are surrounded by each other. A large number of ablation experiments and comparative experiments are carried out to prove the effectiveness of the proposed methods on various models and datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the design processes for developing eye training materials for children with low vision (CLV) using computer game applications based on eye movement tracking to enhance their vision skills. The primary aim was to create interactive eye training materials tailored to improve CLV’s vision abilities. Employing a design-based research methodology, the study followed four distinct phases: analysis, development, evaluation and testing, and documentation and reflection. Initially, a game-based eye training program was developed. This program was then tested with CLV to gather relevant data for refining the design of eye-gaze games. Data were meticulously collected from a diverse group of stakeholders, including parents, special education teachers, ophthalmologists, and expert faculty members, using various methods such as interviews, focus group meetings, usability testing, and direct observations. The results provided critical insights into the design processes required to create a practical and usable game-based eye training program for CLV. These findings highlighted that children with low vision could benefit significantly from eye-tracking technology, using it to enhance their scanning, focusing, and tracking skills. Overall, the study suggests that eye-tracking technology offers a promising tool for developing vision-improving interventions for children with low vision, thus contributing valuable knowledge to the field of vision rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nonfunctioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs) are a significant subtype of pituitary tumors, accounting for 30% of all pituitary tumors and 10–20% of intracranial tumors. The primary treatment for NFPAs is resection, but complete resection is often challenging due to the tumor's proximity to critical structures, leading to frequent recurrences. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) has emerged as a viable treatment option for recurrent or residual NFPAs, but its long-term efficacy and safety profile require further investigation. Methods: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and included studies published up to February 2024. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases for studies evaluating SRS for recurrent/residual NFPAs. Inclusion criteria focused on studies reporting outcomes and complications of SRS, while exclusion criteria omitted case reports, case series, and non-English studies. Data extracted included demographic details, dosimetry parameters, and follow-up durations. The risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool, and statistical analyses were performed using single-arm meta-analyses. Results: A total of 24 studies involving 3,781 patients were included. The mean follow-up duration was 60 months. Tumor control was achieved in approximately 92.3% of patients. The risk of developing hypopituitarism post-SRS was 13.62%, while the risk for panhypopituitarism was 2.55%. New visual field deficits occurred in 3.94% of patients. Cranial nerve deficits were rare, with event rates below 1% for CN III, CN V, and CN VI. Conclusion: SRS is effective in managing recurrent or residual NFPAs, achieving high tumor control rates. However, the risk of hypopituitarism remains a significant concern, necessitating regular endocrinological monitoring. While generally safe, the potential for new visual field deficits and other cranial nerve deficits must be considered. SRS remains a valuable treatment option, but clinicians should be aware of its potential complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 6D pose estimation based on RGB-D data holds significant application value in computer vision and related fields. Currently, deep learning methods commonly employ convolutional networks for feature extraction, which are sensitive to keypoints at close distances but overlook information related to keypoints at longer distances. Moreover, in subsequent stages, there is a failure to effectively fuse spatial features (depth channel features) and color texture features (RGB channel features). Consequently, this limitation results in compromised accuracy in existing 6D pose networks based on RGB-D data. To solve this problem, a novel end-to-end 6D pose estimation network is proposed. In the branch of depth data processing network, the global spatial weight is established by using the attention mechanism of mask vector to realize robust extraction of depth features. In the phase of feature fusion, a symmetric fusion module is introduced. In this module, spatial features and color texture features are self-related fused by means of cross-attention mechanism. Experimental evaluations were performed on the LINEMOD and LINEMOD-OCLUSION datasets, and the ADD(-S) scores of our method can reach 95.84% and 47.89%, respectively. Compared to state-of-the-art methods, our method demonstrates superior performance in pose estimation for objects with complex shapes. Moreover, in the presence of occlusion, the pose estimation accuracy of our method for asymmetric objects has been effectively improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restoration of blurred images is a crucial topic in the field of machine vision, with far-reaching implications for enhancing information acquisition quality, improving algorithmic accuracy and enriching image texture. Efforts to mitigate the phenomenon of blur have progressed from statistical approaches to those utilizing deep learning techniques. In this paper, we propose a Generative Adversarial Network (GAN)-based image restoration method to address the limitations of existing techniques in restoring color and detail in motion-blurred images. To reduce the computational complexity of generative adversarial networks and the vanishing gradient during learning, an U-net-based generator is used, and it is configured to emphasize the channel and spatial characteristics of the original information through a proposed CSAR(Channel and Spatial Attention Residual) blocks module rather than a simple concatenate operation. To validate the efficacy of the algorithm, comprehensive comparative experiments have been conducted on the GoPro dataset. Experimental results show that the peak signal-to-noise ratio is improved compared to SRN and MPRNet algorithms with good image restoration ability. Objects detection experiments using Yolo V3 showed that the proposed algorithms can generate deblerring images with higher information quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image content is prioritized in the visual system. Faces are a paradigmatic example, receiving preferential processing along the visual pathway compared to other visual stimuli. Moreover, face prioritization manifests also in behavior. People tend to look at faces more frequently and for longer periods, and saccadic reaction times can be faster when targeting a face as opposed to a phase-scrambled control. However, it is currently not clear at which stage image content affects oculomotor planning and execution. It can be hypothesized that image content directly influences oculomotor signal generation. Alternatively, the image content could exert its influence on oculomotor planning and execution at a later stage, after the image has been processed. Here we aim to disentangle these two alternative hypotheses by measuring the frequency of saccades toward a visual target when the latter is followed by a visual transient in the central visual field. Behaviorally, this paradigm leads to a reduction in saccade frequency that happens about 90 ms after any visual transient event, also known as saccadic "inhibition". In two experiments, we measured occurrence of saccades in visually guided saccades as well as microsaccades during fixation, using face and noise-matched visual stimuli. We observed that while the reduction in saccade occurrence was similar for both stimulus types, face stimuli lead to a prolonged reduction in eye movements. Moreover, saccade kinematics were altered by both stimulus types, showing an amplitude reduction without change in peak velocity for the earliest saccades. Taken together, our experiments imply that face stimuli primarily affect the later stages of the behavioral phenomenon of saccadic "inhibition". We propose that while some stimulus features are processed at an early stage and can quickly influence eye movements, a delayed signal conveying image content information is necessary to further inhibit/delay activity in the oculomotor system to trigger eye movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Intraoperative visual monitoring under general anesthesia is safe and applicable in epilepsy surgery, even in children. • Flash VEP recorded by a cortical strip located in the calcarine cortex provide information on the two different visual quadrants. • Intraoperative visual pathway monitoring in posterior hemispheric quadrant surgery could prevent disabling visual field defects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability of visual evoked potentials (VEP) for intraoperative visual pathway monitoring in epilepsy surgery of the posterior hemispheric quadrant (PHQ) and to correlate it with post-operative visual field status. VEP monitoring was performed in 16 patients (12 females, 7 children). Flash-induced VEP were recorded with strip electrodes from the banks of the calcarine cortex. Latency and amplitude of the first component of VEP (V1-lat, V1-amp) were monitored. Evaluation of the visual field was performed pre- and post-operatively in all patients. All procedures were successfully completed without adverse events. In 10 patients the strip covered both the inferior and superior calcarine banks, while only one bank was sampled in 6 cases (inferior in 4, superior in 2). Considering one of the two calcarine banks, at the end of the resection VEP had disappeared in 4 patients, whereas a decrease >33.3% in 4 and <20% of V1-amp was recorded in 5 and in 4 cases respectively. The percentage of V1-amp reduction was significantly higher for the patients who experienced a post-operative visual field reduction (p < 0.001). Post-operative visual field deficits were found in patients presenting a reduction >33.3% of V1-amp. VEP monitoring is possible and safe in epilepsy surgery under general anesthesia. Intraoperative recording of VEP from the banks of the calcarine cortex allows monitoring the integrity of post-geniculate visual pathways during PHQ resections for epilepsy and it is pivotal to prevent disabling visual field defects, including hemianopia and inferior quadrantanopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of excisional goniotomy with the Kahook Dual Blade (KDB) in the management of various types of glaucoma. Methods: This was a retrospective, noncomparative chart review of 90 eyes of 53 patients with glaucoma that underwent standalone KDB goniotomy (KDB-alone group) or KDB goniotomy with concomitant phacoemulsification (KDB-phaco group) between October 2015 and October 2017. Surgical success was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction by ≥ 20% at the last follow-up with no surgical reinterventions required and a final IOP ≥ 4 mmHg and ≤ 21 mmHg. We also report on changes from baseline in IOP, number of glaucoma medications, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and visual field parameters, for up to 72 months. Results: At 72 months, mean (standard deviation [SD]) IOP was reduced from 17.5 (5.7) to 13.6 (3.0) mmHg (P < 0.0001) in the KDB-phaco group and from 23.3 (5.9) to 15.1 (6.2) mmHg (P = 0.0593) in the KDB-alone group. The mean (SD) number of glaucoma medications was reduced from 1.3 (1.0) to 0.8 (0.9) (P < 0.0001) in the KDB-phaco group and from 1.2 (1.0) to 0.7 (0.8) (P = 0.3409) in the KDB-alone group. During the 72-month follow-up, surgical success was achieved in 24 of the 52 available eyes (46.2%). Four eyes underwent a glaucoma surgical reintervention by 72 months. Conclusions: Excisional goniotomy with the KDB effectively lowered the IOP (by an average of 28.0% from baseline) and maintained or further reduced glaucoma medication burdens (by an average of 30.8% from baseline) under an excellent safety profile, independent of phacoemulsification status. The procedure exhibited favorable success for up to 6 years, providing valuable insights into its long-term efficacy as a glaucoma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe the clinical outcome and late-stage findings of extensive macular atrophy with pseudodrusen-like appearance (EMAP). Retrospective cohort study. Seventy-eight patients (156 eyes) affected by EMAP. We collected data on best-corrected visual acuity, kinetic perimetry, OCT, short-wavelength autofluorescence, and near-infrared autofluorescence findings. Genetic testing for the TIMP3 and C1QTNF5 genes was performed via Sanger sequencing for 58 patients, with no pathogenic variants identified. The primary outcomes were best-corrected visual acuity at the last examination, visual field at the last examination, and incidence rates and time-to-event curves for blindness with the United States Social Security Administration and World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, foveal involvement, and atrophy enlargement beyond the 30° and 55° field of view. Imaging findings at the last examination were secondary outcomes. At the most recent visit, mean age was 70.9 ± 5.2 years. Using United States criteria, 58.1% of the patients were blind, and 25.8% were blind according to WHO criteria. All eyes showed large central scotomas, which were associated with visual field constriction in 22.2% of eyes. We detected focal openings or large dehiscences of Bruch's membrane (BM) in 25.4% of eyes. Near-infrared autofluorescence showed increased visibility of the choroidal vessels beyond the atrophy in 87.2% of eyes. The incidence rates for blindness were 3.95 per 100 patient-years with United States criteria and 1.54 per 100 patient-years according to WHO criteria. The incidence rates were 22.8 per 100 eye-years for foveal involvement, 12.0 per 100 eye-years for atrophy enlargement beyond 30°, and 6.6 per 100 eye-years for atrophy enlargement beyond 55°. The estimates were not influenced by the age at onset. We identified characteristic imaging findings, including BM ruptures, in elder patients with EMAP and calculated incidence rates for different functional and anatomic outcomes. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To describe visual field outcomes in the Primary Tube Versus Trabeculectomy (PTVT) Study. Cohort analysis. A total of 155 eyes (155 subjects) randomly assigned to treatment with tube shunt surgery (n = 84) or trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (n = 71). The PTVT Study was a multicenter randomized clinical trial comparing the safety and efficacy of trabeculectomy and tube shunt surgery in eyes without previous intraocular surgery. Subjects underwent standard automated perimetry (SAP) at baseline and annually for 5 years. Standard automated perimetry tests were deemed reliable if the false-positive rate was ≤ 15%. Tests were excluded if visual acuity was ≤ 20/400 or loss of ≥ 2 Snellen lines from baseline because of a nonglaucomatous etiology. Linear mixed-effects models were used to compare rates of change in SAP mean deviation (MD) between the 2 groups. Intraocular pressure (IOP) control was assessed by percentage of visits with IOP < 18 mmHg and mean IOP. Rate of change in SAP MD during follow-up. A total of 730 SAP tests were evaluated (average of 4.7 tests per eye). The average SAP MD at baseline was –12.8 ± 8.3 decibels (dB) in the tube group and –12.0 ± 8.4 dB in the trabeculectomy group (P = 0.57). The mean rate of change in SAP MD was –0.32 ± 0.39 dB/year in the trabeculectomy group and –0.47 ± 0.43 dB/year in the tube group (P = 0.23). Eyes with mean IOP 14 to 17.5 mmHg had significantly faster rates of SAP MD loss compared with eyes with mean IOP < 14 mmHg (–0.59 ± 0.13 vs. –0.27 ± 0.08 dB/year; P = 0.012), and eyes with only 50% to 75% of visits with IOP < 18 mmHg had faster rates than those with 100% of visits with IOP < 18 mmHg (–0.90 ± 0.16 vs. –0.29 ± 0.08 dB/year; P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis identified older age and worse IOP control as risk factors for faster progression in both treatment groups. No statistically significant difference in mean rates of visual field change was observed between trabeculectomy and tube shunt surgery in the PTVT Study. Worse IOP control was significantly associated with faster rates of SAP MD loss during follow-up. Older patients were also at risk for faster progression. Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer is a serious threat to human life, health and social development. In recent years, nanomicelles, as an emerging drug carrier material, have gradually entered people's field of vision because of their advantages of improving bioavailability, maintaining drug levels, reducing systemic side effects and increasing drug accumulation at target sites. Methods: In this study, B-GPSG nano-micelles were prepared by film dispersion hydration method using brucine as model drug and glycyrrhetinic acid-polyethylene glycol-3-methylene glycol-dithiodipropionic acid-glycerol monostearate polymer as nano-carrier. The preparation process, characterization, drug release in vitro, pharmacokinetics and liver targeting were investigated. Results: The results showed that the range of particle size, polydispersion index and Zeta potential were 102.7 ± 1.09 nm, 0.201 ± 0.02 and −24.5 ± 0.19 mV respectively. The entrapment efficiency and drug loading were 83.79 ± 2.13% and 12.56 ± 0.09%, respectively. The drug release experiments in vitro and pharmacokinetic experiments showed that it had obvious sustained release effect. For pharmacokinetics study, it shows that both the B-GPSG solution group and the B-PSG solution group changed the metabolic kinetic parameters of brucine, but the B-GPSG solution group had a better effect. Compared with the B-PSG solution group, the drug was more prolonged in rats. The half-life in the body and the retention time in the body of B-GPSG are more helpful to improve the bioavailability of the drug and play a long-term effect. The tail vein injection results of mice indicate that B-GPSG can target and accumulate brucine in the liver without affecting other key organs. Cell uptake experiments and tissue distribution experiments in vivo show that glycyrrhetinic acid modified nano-micelles can increase the accumulation of brucine in hepatocytes, has a good liver targeting effect, and can be used as a new preparation for the treatment of liver cancer. Conclusion: The B-SPSG prepared in this experiment can provide a new treatment method and research idea for the treatment of liver cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arachnoid cysts (ACs) are cerebrospinal fluid collections between the two layers of the normal arachnoid membrane. Although they are often asymptomatic with a stationary course, eventual complications may occur. Herein, we report the case of a 9-year-old boy who developed bilateral papilloedema secondary to spontaneous rupture of an AC in the left middle cranial fossa. Although the papilloedema worsened during follow-up, his visual field remained bilaterally stable, supporting the expectant management and obviating the potential morbidity associated with neurosurgical intervention. This case report highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to patients with secondary intracranial hypertension, including serial ophthalmological examinations, which provide a useful guide to surgical decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sketch face recognition has recently gained significant attention in the field of computer vision due to its ability to quickly identify matched pairs of optical and sketch images. This technology has the potential to greatly improve the efficiency of law enforcement agencies in criminal investigations. However, there are still challenges that need to be addressed in sketch face recognition algorithms, such as modal differences and limited sample sizes. To overcome these issues, this study proposes a Residual Serialized Cross Grouping Transformer (RSCGT), which contains a residual serialized module to reduce the computation complexity, a two-layer Cross Grouping Transformer module that is capable of extracting modality-invariant context features, a domain adaptive module to mitigate the impact of modal differences. Additionally, we introduce a meta-learning training strategy to augment the generalization ability of this model. Experimental results demonstrate that the RSCGT achieves high accuracy in sketch face recognition tasks, even with small-scale datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This research aims to: (i) compare the effects of different sidewall entrainment facilities on drivers' visual behavior; (ii) compare the effects of the same sight entrainment facilities on drivers in different lanes; (iii) give recommendations for engineering applications based on the results of the study; Methods: The study designed four different scenes, each with symmetrically designed visual facilities on the both sidewalls of the tunnel, scene a represents a typical urban tunnel in China (horizontal stripes on sidewalls), scene b includes vertical stripes on sidewalls in addition to scene a, scene c introduces an LED-arch based on scene b, and scene d features a rhythmic pattern (Wave pattern on sidewalls). 30 participants, 21 men and 9 women, aged 21–54, drove the four scenes. Eye movement data of participants in each lane for different scenes were collected using an eye-tracking device. Visual performance indicators including fixation duration, number of fixations, saccade duration, and saccade amplitude were utilized to comprehensively evaluate drivers' visual behavior. Factor analysis was employed to analyze the impact of different visual guiding facilities on drivers' visual searching abilities. Results: There is a significant effect of sidewall guiding facilities and lane location on drivers' visual behavior and loading. Across scenes, drivers' visual load is ranked as follows, from highest to lowest: scene a (baseline) > scene b (horizontal stripes added to scene a) > scene c (LED-arch added to scene b) > scene d (Wave pattern). Furthermore, under the same scene, drivers' visual load in each lane is ranked in descending order: Middle lane > Right lane > Left lane. Conclusion: Due to the effect of the tunnel structure on the drivers' visual field, drivers in the left lane have the highest visual load in any scenario compared to the other two lanes, which can be ameliorated but not eliminated. Traditional guiding facilities and decorated pattern both improve the visual behavior and reduce drivers' visual load in urban tunnels, especially in scene c and scene d, but scene d should not be used for the entire length of the tunnel in order to prevent driver distraction. In engineering practice, scene c (LED-arch added to scene b) can be set up in general sections of urban tunnels, and decorated pattern can be added to fatigue reminder regions to alleviate driving fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of machine vision pose measurement algorithms. The paper focuses on the state-of-the-art algorithms and their applications. The paper is structured as follows: the introduction in provides a brief overview of the field of machine vision pose measurement. Describes the commonly used algorithms for machine vision pose measurement. Discusses the factors that affect the accuracy and reliability of machine vision pose measurement algorithms. Summarizes the paper and provides future research directions. The paper highlights the need for more robust and accurate algorithms that can handle varying lighting conditions and occlusion. It also suggests that the integration of machine learning techniques may improve the performance of machine vision pose measurement algorithms. Overall, this review paper provides a comprehensive overview of machine vision pose measurement algorithms, their applications, and the factors that affect their accuracy and reliability. It provides a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners working in the field of computer vision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose Methods Results Conclusions Frequency‐of‐seeing (FoS) curves (psychometric functions) for perimetric stimuli have been widely used in computer simulations of new visual field test procedures. FoS curves for age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) are not available in the literature and are needed for the development of improved microperimetry test procedures, which are of particular interest for use as clinical trial endpoints.Data were refitted from a previous study to generate FoS curves for 20 participants with AMD, each tested at nine locations within the central 10°. Stimulus parameters, background luminance and dB scale were matched to the MAIA‐2 microperimeter, and stimuli were presented in a method of constant stimuli to build up FoS curves over multiple runs. FoS curves were fitted with a modified cumulative Gaussian function. The relationship between sensitivity and slope of fitted FoS curves was modelled by robust linear regression, producing models both with and without an eccentricity parameter.FoS curves were satisfactorily fitted to data from 174 visual field locations in 20 participants (age 65–83 years, 11 female). Each curve was made up of a median of 243 (range 177–297) stimulus presentations over a median of 12 (range 9–32) levels. Median sensitivity was 25.5 dB (range 3.8–31.4 dB). The median slope (SD of fitted function) was 1.6 dB (range 0.5–8.5 dB). As in previous studies of other conditions, the slope of fitted FoS curves increased as sensitivity decreased (p < 0.001).FoS are provided for participants with AMD, as well as models of the relationship between sensitivity and slope. These fitted models and data may be useful for computer simulation studies of microperimetry procedures. Full details of the fitted curves are provided as supporting information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) are typically self-reported ability to perform complex tasks vital for independent living. There is a need for a complementary objective, performance-based approach especially in tracking outcomes in visual rehabilitation for patients with irreversible vision impairment ("low vision"). Our goals are: (1) To describe the validity of timed performance of instrumental activities of daily living (timed IADL or TIADL) tasks in individuals with irreversible vision impairment, by examining its association with visual function (visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual field), (2) To explore the correlation between TIADL and self-reported IADL. Methods: Twenty TIADL tasks were administered to 88 patients (median age 63.3 years, IQR 37.4–78.0) recruited from the UAB Department of Ophthalmology, Callahan Eye Hospital Clinics. An average Z-score incorporating time and accuracy of task completion was constructed. Minor accuracy errors were penalized 1 standard deviation from their calculated Z-score and major accuracy errors were assigned maximum allotted time. Linear regression was used to analyze the association between TIADL score and measured visual acuity (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study, ETDRS chart), contrast sensitivity (Pelli-Robson), and binocular visual field (Esterman) with an unadjusted model and an adjusted model accounting for age, comorbidities, and depression scale (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression, CES-D). Pearson correlation was used to estimate the correlation between TIADL and IADL. Results: Increased time to task completion was associated with decreased visual function. Each decreased line of ETDRS read was associated with an increase of 0.002 (95% CI 0.001, 0.002) Z-score (P < 0.01). A decreased ability to discern each Pelli-Robson letter was associated with an increase of 0.26 (95% CI 0.19, 0.33) Z-score (P < 0.01). For each less Esterman target identified, there was an increase of 0.01 (95% CI 0.003, 0.02) Z-score. Self-reported IADL and TIADL were correlated for reading tasks such as newspapers, nutrients on food can, and microwave timer (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Longer time to perform TIADL is associated with decreased visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and binocular visual field. TIADL and self-reported IADL are significantly correlated for reading tasks providing an accurate, complementary outcome measure in clinical practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi-focus image fusion has wide applications in the field of computer vision. This research work presents a two-fold multi-focus image fusion framework in spatial domain. Firstly, the salient features of the focused regions in multi-focus images are detected using Gaussian curvature filter (GCF) and range filtering. The initial focus detection map is then refined using morphological filters. Experiments have shown that the proposed method is fast and robust when compared with latest multi-focus fusion schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotational invariance is fundamental for robust image recognition systems, ensuring accurate analysis irrespective of image orientation. However, existing systems predominantly reliant on software often encounter challenges such as increased computational demands and compromises between processing speed and accuracy. In this study, we propose leveraging the interconnected floating-gate (FG) structure as an effective hardware-level solution to achieve rotational invariance in image recognition. Our design features a reconfigurable two-dimensional material FG phototransistor array, where each processing unit integrates four sensory devices sharing a common FG. This configuration facilitates uniform distribution of stored charges across the interconnected FG layer, which is typically made of metal, enabling consistent application of a single weight matrix to images across varied rotational conditions. The photoactive material, tungsten diselenide (WSe2), possesses a distinctive bipolar property that facilitates both hole and electron tunneling into the FG layer. This property directly contributes to the efficiency of state transition within the setup and improves its overall adaptability. In this manner, our design achieves stable and predictable outputs in recognizing identical digital numbers regardless of their rotation, while also demonstrating variable performance essential for accurately distinguishing between different digital numbers. This dual capability guarantees both the adaptability and precision required for rotation-invariant image recognition, suggesting that our work may open up a promising venue for exploring advanced hardware designs, such as optimized interconnected FG architectures, tailored for enhancing recognition accuracy and efficiency in the field of intelligent visual systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In various domains, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a valuable tool for simulating specific scenarios and facilitating training within controlled and secure conditions. As peripheral vision plays a crucial role in numerous contexts, it must be duly considered in VR simulations. However, while peripheral vision was examined in VR, comparisons between VR and the real world (RW) are rarely made. Therefore, this study is aimed at comparing RW and VR reaction times (RTs) to peripheral visual stimuli and the field of view (FOV). This comparison is achieved using the peripheral perception‐R (PP‐R) of the Vienna Test System and a programmed virtual replica. The virtual replica underwent additional testing, revealing good reliability for RTs but only moderate to poor for measurements of the participant's FOV. The comparison between the two environments indicates slower RTs to peripheral visual stimuli in VR than in RW. This observed discrepancy is consistent with the results of previous studies investigating RTs to foveal stimuli and can be partially explained by the latencies in the hardware and software configurations used. Nevertheless, the observed correlations between the RTs in both conditions suggest comparable visual processing within the peripheral visual field and affirm the decent replication of the real PP‐R in VR. Overall, the study's results support the usage of VR as a tool for practicing and examining specific scenarios, including peripheral vision. The discrepancies revealed in the RTs between VR and RW emphasize the need to continue examining hardware and software components in VR research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During collective vigilance, it is commonly assumed that individual animals compromise their feeding time to be vigilant against predators, benefiting the entire group. One notable issue with this assumption concerns the unclear nature of predator ‘detection’, particularly in terms of vision. It remains uncertain how a vigilant individual utilizes its high-acuity vision (such as the fovea) to detect a predator cue and subsequently guide individual and collective escape responses. Using fine- scale motion- capture technologies, we tracked the head and body orientations of pigeons (hence reconstructed their visual fields and foveal projections) foraging in a flock during simulated predator attacks. Pigeons used their fovea to inspect predator cues. Earlier foveation on a predator cue was linked to preceding behaviors related to vigilance and feeding, such as head-up or down positions, head- scanning, and food-pecking. Moreover, earlier foveation predicted earlier evasion flights at both the individual and collective levels. However, we also found that relatively long delay between their foveation and escape responses in individuals obscured the relationship between these two responses. While our results largely support the existing assumptions about vigilance, they also underscore the importance of considering vision and addressing the disparity between detection and escape responses in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SfM (structure from motion) photogrammetry is a technique developed in the field of computer vision that enables the generation of three-dimensional (3D) models from a set of overlapping images captured from disparate angles. The application of this technique in the field of cultural heritage, particularly in the context of megalithic monuments, is inherently challenging due to the spatial constraints of these environments and the usual limitations posed by their architectural design, which often results in poor lighting conditions. This article presents an accurate and cost-efficient methodology for the study and documentation of rock art, which has been applied to three megalithic monuments in the Iberian Peninsula: one in Spain and two in Portugal. The three working environments are complex, but the combination of techniques used and improvements such as rendering for the enhancement of engravings and the creation of 3D stop-motion models made it possible to integrate all the information in 3D formats that allow its universal dissemination. This not only preserves the heritage in graphic form but also makes it accessible to the public, both for study and for virtual visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facing the demand for accurate, fast, and natural human–computer interaction in the multi-screen control environment, the traditional exchange method of frequent switching control of multi-screen through mouse, keyboard, and other manual methods has problems of low efficiency, weak flexibility, and poor experience. In this paper, we research multi-screen precision control technology based on eye movement to break through the difficulties of precise recognition of human vision under complex environments and poor stability of vision estimation under frequent switching control of multi-screen. This study explores the technology for controlling multiple screens with high precision by tracking eye movements. It overcomes the challenges associated with reliably discerning human visual focus in intricate settings and the instability of visual assessments during rapid transitions between multiple screens. The experimental results of 1143 eye-movement capture tasks are studied, including the accurate recognition technology of human head posture and pupil gaze direction under complex backgrounds, illumination, and different visual field environments, and the theoretical modeling method of multi-screen precise target interaction based on eye-movement is explored. The expression data will be processed using convolutional neural networks, and the dataset will be trained through Python programming and tested on test samples collected by simulated flight crews in the laboratory with an accuracy rate of more than 85%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single-center prospective cohort study was conducted to investigate whether intraocular pressure (IOP)-related 24-h contact lens sensor (CLS) profile parameters can help predict glaucoma progression in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). CLS measurements (Triggerfish; SENSIMED, Etagnières, Switzerland) at baseline without medication were performed for 24 h in one eye, following diurnal IOP measurements using Goldmann applanation tonometry at 3-h intervals. Glaucoma progression during the follow-up period of ≥ 2 years was determined based on the Guided Progression Analysis of Humphrey visual fields and/or structural progression using fundus photographs. Among 79 patients (mean values: follow-up periods, 48.1 months; age, 51.5 years; baseline IOP, 14.0 mmHg; mean deviation, − 6.04 dB), 23 showed glaucoma progression. A smaller standard deviation of nocturnal ocular pulse amplitude in the CLS profile, a larger range of diurnal IOP at baseline, and the presence of optic disc hemorrhage (DH) during the study period were significant risk factors for glaucoma progression in the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model (hazard ratio, 0.30/mVeq, 1.23/mmHg, and 4.37/presence of DH; P = 0.016, 0.017, and 0.001, respectively). CLS measurements may be useful for assessing the risk of future glaucoma progression in patients with NTG, providing supplementary information to routine IOP measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road pavements undergo various environmental factors such as temperature changes, precipitation, and traffic exposure, which can lead to cracks in asphalt pavements compromising road user safety and necessitating costly repairs. To gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind asphalt pavement cracking, this study proposes the utilization of the electrical resistivity tomography method to measure the electrical resistivity of soil‐supporting road pavements. Electrical resistivity measurements were conducted on soil‐supporting road pavements at various times, both before and during the winter season, in four different road sections. Two of these sections were located on Regional Road N707 in the Ifrane region, while the other two were located on National Road N13 in the Azrou and Timahdite regions. The results of the geophysical campaign provided valuable insights into the impact of the winter season on soil resistance and the formation of cracks in asphalt pavements. To achieve this, electrical tomography was employed to generate 2D images of the electrical resistivity of the soil, which were subsequently compared to asphalt cracking data collected in the field through visual surveys and/or asphalt cores. The 2D analysis of the electrical resistivity images of the road pavements under study revealed a decrease in electrical resistivity values during the winter season. This decrease can be attributed to a combination of factors including asphalt pavement cracking, water infiltration during winter, and soil characteristics supporting the asphalt pavement. These findings offer valuable insights intro targeted maintenance and repair efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presaccadic preview of a peripheral target enhances the efficiency of its postsaccadic processing, termed the extrafoveal preview effect. Peripheral visual performance--and thus the quality of the preview--varies around the visual field, even at isoeccentric locations: It is better along the horizontal than vertical meridian and along the lower than upper vertical meridian. To investigate whether these polar angle asymmetries influence the preview effect, we asked human participants to preview four tilted gratings at the cardinals, until a central cue indicated which one to saccade to. During the saccade, the target orientation either remained or slightly changed (valid/invalid preview). After saccade landing, participants discriminated the orientation of the (briefly presented) second grating. Stimulus contrast was titrated with adaptive staircases to assess visual performance. Expectedly, valid previews increased participants' postsaccadic contrast sensitivity. This preview benefit, however, was inversely related to polar angle perceptual asymmetries; largest at the upper, and smallest at the horizontal meridian. This finding reveals that the visual system compensates for peripheral asymmetries when integrating information across saccades, by selectively assigning higher weights to the less-well perceived preview information. Our study supports the recent line of evidence showing that perceptual dynamics around saccades vary with eye movement direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans explore visual scenes by alternating short fixations with saccades directing the fovea to points of interest. During fixation, the visual system not only examines the foveal stimulus at high resolution, but it also processes the extrafoveal input to plan the next saccade. Although foveal analysis and peripheral selection occur in parallel, little is known about the temporal dynamics of foveal and peripheral processing upon saccade landing, during fixation. Here we investigate whether the ability to localize changes across the visual field differs depending on when the change occurs during fixation, and on whether the change localization involves foveal, extrafoveal processing, or both. Our findings reveal that the ability to localize changes in peripheral areas of the visual field improves as a function of time after fixation onset, whereas localization accuracy for foveal stimuli remains approximately constant. Importantly, this pattern holds regardless of whether individuals monitor only foveal or peripheral stimuli, or both simultaneously. Altogether, these results show that the visual system is more attuned to the foveal input early on during fixation, whereas change localization for peripheral stimuli progressively improves throughout fixation, possibly as a consequence of an increased readiness to plan the next saccade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of 3D scanning technologies and deep learning theories, point cloud-based deep learning networks have gained considerable attention in the fields of 3D vision and computer graphics. Leveraging the rich geometric information present in 3D point clouds, these networks facilitate more accurate feature learning tasks. However, existing networks often suffer from generalization defects caused by variations in pose and inconsistent representations of training data. In this paper, we propose a novel data augmentation framework to overcome these limitations. Our approach utilizes principal component analysis (PCA) to generate four aligned copies of a point cloud. These copies are then input into a multi-channel structure, which is compatible with popular backbones of point cloud-based deep networks. Finally, the outputs of the multi-channel structure are merged to generate rotation-invariant feature learning results. Experimental evaluations demonstrate the efficacy of our framework, showcasing significant improvements in various existing point cloud-based deep learning methods. Notably, our method exhibits enhanced robustness in classification tasks, particularly when dealing with point clouds containing random pose variations and non-uniform densities. Project link: https://github.com/LAB123-tech/PCAlign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Navigation is essential for moving between locations in our daily lives. We investigated the relationship between visual impairment in glaucoma and path-integration-based navigation. Fourteen glaucoma and 15 controls underwent ophthalmological examination (including visual acuity (logMAR), visual field sensitivity (MD: mean deviation from matched reference cohort), and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL)). Both groups navigated physically in virtual reality (VR) environments during daylight and dawn conditions. Briefly, the participants traversed a path marked by three targets, subsequently pointing back to the path's origin. Outcome measures included (i) travel-time, (ii) pointing-time, and (iii) Euclidian-distance error between indicated and starting position. Robust linear regression was conducted between visual function outcomes of the better eye and VR outcome measures. Glaucoma patients showed increase in travel-time (by 8.2 ± 1.7 s; p = 0.002) and in pointing-time (by 5.3 ± 1.6 s; p = 0.016). Predictors were MD for all outcome measures (p < 0.01) and pRNFL for travel-time (p < 0.01). The results suggest that the effect of glaucoma on the elapsed time depends on disease progression, i.e. people with stronger visual impairment need more time. This uncertainty during everyday navigation tasks may adversely affect their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color vision in honeybees is a well-documented perceptual phenomenon including multiple behavioral tests of trichromaticity and color opponency. Data on the combined color/space properties of high order visual neurons in the bee brain is however limited. Here we fill this gap by analyzing the activity of neurons in the anterior optic tract (AOT), a high order brain region suggested to be involved in chromatic processing. The spectral response properties of 72 units were measured using UV, blue and green light stimuli presented in 266 positions of the visual field. The majority of these units comprise combined chromatic-spatial processing properties. We found eight different neuron categories in terms of their spectral, spatial and temporal response properties. Color-opponent neurons, the most abundant neural category in the AOT, present large receptive fields and activity patterns that were typically opponent between UV and blue or green, particularly during the on-tonic response phase. Receptive field shapes and activity patterns of these color processing neurons are more similar between blue and green, than between UV and blue or green. We also identified intricate spatial antagonism and double spectral opponency in some receptive fields of color-opponent units. Stimulation protocols with different color combinations applied to 21 AOT units allowed us to uncover additional levels of spectral antagonism and hidden inhibitory inputs, even in some units that were initially classified as broad-band neurons based in their responses to single spectral lights. The results are discussed in the context of floral color discrimination and celestial spectral gradients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A better understanding of the relationship between eye movements required for reading and central visual field loss may facilitate the design of more effective personalized visual rehabilitation programs to improve access to information and quality of life. To determine the impact of central vision loss due to maculopathy on the oculomotor skills required for reading and tasks of varying complexity, eye-tracking technology was used. Case-control study. Participants were 17 cases (61.7 years (SD = 8.8), 12 females and 5 males) and 17 controls, matched for age and sex. Three computer-based tests were administered, analyzing eye fixations, saccadic movements, and visual search, measured with a 60 Hz eye-tracking device. Central vision loss due to maculopathy increases the number of fixations and saccadic movements, indicating more instability in and out of the region of interest. Visual search required more fixations (16.2 ± 10.2 vs. 6.7 ± 1.9), more saccades (11.7 ± 6.4 vs. 3.3 ± 1.9), longer latency (701.3 ± 191.4 ms vs. 315.9 ± 56.0 ms), and longer time to find the target (113.1 ± 76.6 s vs. 18.5 ± 10.1 s). All comparisons between the two groups showed a statistically significant difference (P< 0.05). The results revealed the significant impact of central vision loss due to maculopathy on reading by increasing patterns of eye fixations, saccadic movements, and visual search strategies, as measured by eye-tracking technology. This technology may have high potential to improve the assessment and rehabilitation of people with maculopathy, and this may become key information for designing personalized interventions to improve the quality of life and autonomy of individuals with central vision loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-verbal communication, especially eye contact, plays a crucial role in human interaction. Integrating eye contact capabilities into robotic behavior presents challenges that require comprehensive interdisciplinary collaboration from the fields of vision science and robotics. This study introduces an innovative methodology to improve the user's perception of the tabletop social robot Haru's direct gaze by explaining how eye and head movements can be managed through simulating visual perception processing. By considering the mechanisms of eye and head movements during visual perception processing, the robot's eye and head gaze behaviors are intended to replicate human gaze movements with Vestibulo-Ocular Movement (VOM) during face-to-face interaction, ultimately enhancing the user's perception of the robot's direct gaze. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Color is an important visual feature that informs behavior, and the retinal basis for color vision has been studied across various vertebrate species. While many studies have investigated how color information is processed in visual brain areas of primate species, we have limited understanding of how it is organized beyond the retina in other species, including most dichromatic mammals. In this study, we systematically characterized how color is represented in the primary visual cortex (V1) of mice. Using large-scale neuronal recordings and a luminance and color noise stimulus, we found that more than a third of neurons in mouse V1 are color-opponent in their receptive field center, while the receptive field surround predominantly captures luminance contrast. Furthermore, we found that color-opponency is especially pronounced in posterior V1 that encodes the sky, matching the statistics of natural scenes experienced by mice. Using unsupervised clustering, we demonstrate that the asymmetry in color representations across cortex can be explained by an uneven distribution of green-On/UV-Off color-opponent response types that are represented in the upper visual field. Finally, a simple model with natural scene-inspired parametric stimuli shows that green-On/UV-Off color-opponent response types may enhance the detection of 'predatory'-like dark UV-objects in noisy daylight scenes. The results from this study highlight the relevance of color processing in the mouse visual system and contribute to our understanding of how color information is organized in the visual hierarchy across species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent subretinal fluid (PSF) after scleral bucking of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment may delay recovery and affect the final visual quality, but with no effective treatment. This study firstly investigated the safety and efficacy of 577 nm yellow subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) on PSF after scleral bucking surgery. This double-masked randomized clinical trial was conducted from December 2020 to October 2022 at Chongqing Aier Eye Hospital. Participants with PSF last for 1 month after scleral bucking surgery with break closed and retina reattachment were recruitment. These participants were treated by 577 nm yellow SML or sham treatment. Funduscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT) volume change, best corrected vision acuity (BCVA) and visual field test were evaluated for six mouths follow-up. A total of 24 participants were randomized into SML group or Sham group equally. Compared with Sham group, the OCT volume within 6 mm of macular fovea was significantly less in SML group 6 months after therapy (P = 0.048). There were no statistically significant differences of OCT volume at 1, 2 and 3 months from baseline between groups. BCVA of ETDRS letters had no statistically significant difference. Pattern Standard Deviation amelioration (P = 0.039) had statistically significance in SML group compared with Sham group. There were no complications in the 2 groups. These preliminary findings suggest that 577 nm yellow SML therapy could accelerate PSF absorption after scleral bucking surgery. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry No. ChiCTR2000037838, 02/09/2020, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=51885. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no denying that the coronavirus pandemic changed our lives. Much has been said, reported, studied and written about its social, economic, political and health implications. What did the pandemic look like? How did and has it influenced urban spatial and material designs along with various mobilities? Drawing on visual ethnographic field data collected from March 2020 to November 2022 in metropolitan Chicago and in Washington, D.C., I examine the materiality, spatiality and visual aspects of the pandemic and the remnants that may have long-term attachments to urban life. To do so, I discuss what I call pandemic spaces – spaces produced through rules, designs, material, and reformulated use in response to and during a pandemic – to show how the COVID-19 pandemic and the concurrent racial justice protests (which happened globally) visually and materially altered urban spaces along short- and long-term trajectories. In doing so, I advance the growing scholarship on the pandemic’s impact and how its infusion in urban spaces requires consideration for urban studies moving forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria are mostly everywhere, some of them affect health safety of human beings, plants and animals all the time. Photocatalytic antibacterial technology has entered people's field of vision due to their high-efficiency and sustainability. In this study, LaCoO 3 precursors were prepared by solvothermal synthesis, and then calcined to obtain self-assembled LaCoO 3 microspheres. Subsequently, LaCoO 3 /Ag 3 PO 4 microspheres were synthesized by in-situ precipitation method. Compared with pure LaCoO 3 microspheres, the introduction of Ag 3 PO 4 nanoparticles can effectively enhance the antibacterial performance of LaCoO 3 /Ag 3 PO 4 nanocomposites. LaCoO 3 /Ag 3 PO 4 nanocomposites' Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were tested to be 0.1 mg mL−1 and 0.15 mg mL−1, respectively. Under visible light irradiation for 20 min, the antibacterial rate of nanocomposites against E. coli and S. aureus was 99.9 % and 98.3 %, correspondingly. This can be attributed to the fact that LaCoO 3 /Ag 3 PO 4 heterojunction significantly improves the responsiveness of visible light, carrier separation and migration efficiency of LaCoO 3 , which promotes the nanocomposite to produce a large number of ROS under visible light. In addition, LaCoO 3 /Ag 3 PO 4 nanocomposites had a strong oxidation effect on glutathione (GSH), resulting in the failure of the antioxidant defense system of bacteria. Also, the release of Ag+ and plasma effect of Ag are also important reasons for the high antibacterial performance of LaCoO 3 /Ag 3 PO 4 nanocomposites. The photoresponse of LaCoO 3 -based nanomaterials under visible light is effectively improved by constructing heterojunctions, the separation efficiency of photogenerated electron-hole pairs is increased, and the carrier transport is accelerated, thus achieving high efficiency and broad spectrum antibacterial effect. This research shows that LaCoO 3 nanocomposites can be used as a prospective photocatalytic antibacterial material, enhances the value of practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have shown that music expertise relates to the hemispheric lateralization of music reading among musicians and non-musicians. However, it remains unclear that how music expertise modulates the hemispheric lateralization of music reading along the music learning trajectory and how music expertise modulates the hemispheric lateralization of reading different musical elements. This study examined how music expertise modulates the hemispheric lateralization of music reading in pitch elements (e.g., pitch, harmony), temporal elements (e.g., rhythm), and expressive elements (e.g., articulation) among musicians, music learners, and non-musicians. Musicians (n = 38), music learners (n = 26), and non-musicians (n = 33) worked on a set of divided visual field sequential matching tasks with four musical elements, i.e., pitch, harmony, rhythm, and articulation, in separate blocks. An eye-tracker was used to ensure participants' central fixation before each trial. Participants judged whether the first and second target stimuli were the same as quickly and accurately as possible. The findings showed that for musicians, no significant differences were observed between the left visual field (LVF) and the right visual field (RVF), suggesting musicians' bilateral representation in music reading. Music learners had an RVF/LH (left hemisphere) advantage over the LVF/RH (right hemisphere), suggesting music learners tended to be more left-lateralized in music reading. In contrast, non-musicians had an LVF/RH advantage over the RVF/LH, suggesting non-musicians tended to be more right-lateralized in music reading. In addition, music expertise correlates with the laterality index (LI) in music reading, suggesting that the better the overall performance in music expertise task, the greater the tendency to be more left-lateralized in music reading. Nonetheless, musicians, music learners, and non-musicians did not show different visual field effects in any individual musical elements respectively, suggesting the cognitive processes involved might share similar lateralization effects among the three groups when only one particular musical element is examined. In general, this study suggests the effect of music training on brain plasticity along the music learning trajectory. It also highlights the possibilities that bilateral or left hemispheric lateralization may serve as an expertise marker for musical reading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To represent 24–2 visual field (VF) losses of individual patients using a hybrid approach of archetypal analysis (AA) and fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective study, we classified characteristic patterns of 24–2 VF using AA and decomposed them with FCM clustering. We predicted the change in mean deviation (MD) through supervised machine learning from decomposition coefficient change. In addition, we compared the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of the decomposition coefficient slopes to detect VF progression using three criteria: MD slope, Visual Field Index slope, and pointwise linear regression analysis. Results: We identified 16 characteristic patterns (archetypes or ATs) of 24–2 VF from 132,938 VFs of 18,033 participants using AA. The hybrid approach using FCM revealed a lower mean squared error and greater correlation coefficient than the AA single approach for predicting MD change (all P ≤ 0.001). Three of 16 AUCs of the FCM decomposition coefficient slopes outperformed the AA decomposition coefficient slopes in detecting VF progression for all three criteria (AT5, superior altitudinal defect; AT10, double arcuate defect; AT13, total loss) (all P ≤ 0.028). Conclusion: A hybrid approach combining AA and FCM to analyze 24–2 VF can visualize VF tests in characteristic patterns and enhance detection of VF progression with lossless decomposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To classify CVI subtypes and compare the added value of an extensive test battery over a limited test battery in subtype classification of cerebral visual impairment (CVI) in children. Methods: Seventy-five children with a clinical diagnosis of CVI (median [IQR] age: 9 [7–12] years) were identified from the medical records. The extensive test battery included visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, ocular alignment, eye movement analysis, visual field analysis, optic nerve head evaluation, and evaluation of visual perception. The limited test battery included visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, ocular alignment, and evaluation of visual perception. Principal component analysis (PCA) followed by cluster analysis was done, for both test batteries separately, to determine the optimum subtype classification for CVI. Results: Fifty-one participants with an extensive test battery with mild to moderate visual impairment were included in the main analysis. This resulted in four CVI subtypes for the extensive test battery (subtle characteristics, higher-level visual function deficits, lower-level visual function deficits, and higher- and lowerlevel visual function deficits) and three CVI subtypes for the limited test battery (subtle characteristics, higher-level visual function deficits, and higher- and lower- level visual function deficits). There were significant differences between the subtypes for 9 out of 10 measures of the extensive and all 4 measures of the limited test battery (p  <  0.05). The subtle characteristics subtype (extensive n  =  19, limited n  =  15) showed near normal lower and higher-level visual functions in both test batteries. The higher-level visual function deficits subtype (extensive n  =  18, limited n  =  24) showed near normal visual acuity combined with significant visual perceptual deficits in both test batteries; accompanied by visual pathways defects and abnormal eye movement behavior in the extensive test battery. The higher- and lower- level visual function deficits subtype (extensive n  =  4, limited n  =  12) showed both higher and lower-level visual function deficits in both test batteries, but application of the extensive test battery revealed additional visual pathways defects and abnormal eye movement behavior. The lower-level visual function deficits CVI subtype (extensive n  =  10) was a new subtype identified by the extensive test battery. This subtype showed lower-level visual function deficits together with abnormal eye movement measures. Conclusion: This data-driven study has provided meaningful CVI subtype classifications based on the outcomes of various key functional and structural measures in CVI diagnosis. Comparison of the extensive test battery to the limited test battery revealed the added value of an extensive test battery in classifying CVI. The outcomes of this study, therefore, have provided a new direction in the area of CVI classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Object tracking is a research focus in the field of computer vision. The method based on correlation filters performs well in object tracking, but artificial feature description of images has certain limitations in the process of feature extraction. Convolutional neural network (CNN) has been widely used in computer vision, natural language processing and other fields, and they can tune the weights of network parameters by learning training samples to extract depth features of images. In order to obtain more robust feature expression of images, CNN is used to extract the features of images in object tracking. Methods: Combining CNN with correlation filters, we propose an object tracking method based on multi-stage features and asymmetric-dilated convolution. The ResNet50 network embedded with asymmetric-dilated convolution block is used as the network of feature extraction and it can respectively output the feature maps from multiple stages of the network for correlation filters to achieve object detection and localization. Results: The proposed method is tested on OTB100 video dataset. The distance precision can reach 85.38% if the distance threshold is set as 20 pixels, and the overlap precision can reach 80.42% if the overlap threshold is set as 50%. Conclusions: The experimental results verify the accuracy of the proposed method which is relatively robust under certain conditions such as complexity background, occlusion and rotational deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One important first-line drug for treating Tuberculosis (TB) is Ethambutol (EMB), which carries a builtin risk of causing optic neuropathy, potentially resulting in permanent visual impairment. The subjective tests currently used in the diagnostic process, such as visual acuity and visual field assessments, may overlook early changes in visual function. The purpose of the present study is to investigate how well Visual Evoked Potentials (VEP) work as an evaluation tool for identifying optic neuropathy. Aim: To assess the utility of VEP in detecting subtle changes in visual function due to EMB-induced optic neuropathy. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study conducted at the Department of Physiology, B.J. Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, over approximately five months (August 2023 to December 2023) involved 62 eyes, with 30 eyes from TB patients undergoing EMB treatment and the rest serving as a control group. VEP recordings were made using a Personal Computers (PC)-based, 2-channel Recorders & Medicare Systems Pvt Ltd Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) Electromyography (EMG) Mark II machine with standard silversilver chloride disc electrodes. VEP recordings were conducted regardless of the treatment period and the analysis focused on the amplitude and latency of the P100 wave, a critical component of VEP. Statistical analysis was carried out using Student's unpaired t-test to compare the results between both groups, with p-values calculated. Results: The mean age of case was 40±17.4 years and controls was 31.12±12.54 years. The study revealed changes in VEP parameters, specifically showing a progressive reduction in P100 amplitude (p-value=0.0001). Conclusion: The present research highlights the potential of VEP as a sensitive and reliable method for assessing EMBinduced optic neuropathy. Incorporating VEP into routine ophthalmologic assessments for patients receiving EMB could improve TB management while reducing the risk of vision loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Visual fields are important for postural stability and ability to manoeuvre around objects. Objective Examine the association between visual field loss and falls requiring hospitalisation in adults aged 50 +. Methods Older adults aged 50+ with and without visual field loss were identified using a fields database obtained from a cross-section of ophthalmologists' practices in Western Australia (WA). Data were linked to the Hospital Morbidity Data Collection and WA Hospital Mortality System to identify participants who experienced falls-related hospitalisations between 1990 and 2019. A generalised linear negative binomial regression model examined the association between falls requiring hospitalisation for those with and without field loss, based on the better eye mean deviation (mild: −2 to –6 dB, moderate: −6.01 dB to –12 dB, severe < −12.01 dB) in the most contemporaneous visual field test (3 years prior or if not available, 2 years after the fall), after adjusting for potential confounders. Results A total of 31 021 unique individuals of whom 6054 (19.5%) experienced 11 818 falls requiring hospitalisation during a median observation time of 14.1 years. Only mean deviation index of <−12.01 dB (severe) was significantly associated with an increased rate of falls requiring hospitalisations by 14% (adjusted IRR 1.14, 95% CI 1.0–1.25) compared with no field loss, after adjusting for potential confounders. Other factors included age, with those aged 80+ having an increased rate (IRR 29.16, 95% CI 21.39–39.84), other comorbid conditions (IRR 1.49, 95% CI 1.38–1.60) and diabetes (IRR 1.25, 95% CI 1.14–1.37). Previous cataract surgery was associated with a decreased rate of falls that required hospitalisations by 13% (IRR 0.87, 95% CI 0.81–0.95) compared with those who did not have cataract surgery. Conclusion The findings highlight the importance of continuous clinical monitoring of visual field loss and injury prevention strategies for older adults with visual field loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated generation of geometric models from point cloud data holds significant importance in the field of computer vision and has expansive applications, such as shape modeling and object recognition. However, prevalent methods exhibit accuracy issues. In this study, we introduce a novel hierarchical neural network that utilizes recursive PointConv operations on nested subdivisions of point sets. This network effectively extracts features, segments point clouds, and accurately identifies and computes parameters of regular geometric primitives with notable resilience to noise. On fine-grained primitive detection, our approach outperforms Supervised Primitive Fitting Network (SPFN) by 18.5% and Cascaded Primitive Fitting Network (CPFN) by 11.2%. Additionally, our approach consistently maintains low absolute errors in parameter prediction across varying noise levels in the point cloud data. Our experiments validate the robustness of our proposed method and establish its superiority relative to other methodologies in the extant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]