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The aim of this study, which was conducted in field conditions on three localities in Serbia during two years, was to investigate the influence of the application of various types of fertilizers on the essential oil content in caraway, anise and coriander fruits. The influence of four organic fertilizers was investigated: two microbiological fertilizers (Slavol and Bactofil B-10), two specific organic fertilizers (Royal Ofert biohumus and vermicompost). Also, the chemical fertilizer was used and there was a control plot without any fertilization. From the results, it can be concluded that the application of different fertilizers has an influence on essential oil content only in case of anise fruits. The application of Royal Ofert biohumus shows the best results, after which follows chemical fertilizer. The use of these two types of fertilizers significantly increased the essential oil content in the anise fruits in comparison with other tested treatments. Although differences in the essential oil content of caraway and coriander were not significant, the two above mentioned fertilizers and vermicompost show the best results.

Introduction: Inherent variations between inter-center data can undermine the robustness of segmentation models when applied at a specific center (dataset shift). We investigated whether specialized center-specific models are more effective compared to generalist models based on multi-center data, and how center-specific data could enhance the performance of generalist models within a particular center using a fine-tuning transfer learning approach. For this purpose, we studied the dataset shift at center level and conducted a comparative analysis to assess the impact of data source on glioblastoma segmentation models., Methods & Materials: The three key components of dataset shift were studied: prior probability shift-variations in tumor size or tissue distribution among centers; covariate shift-inter-center MRI alterations; and concept shift-different criteria for tumor segmentation. BraTS 2021 dataset was used, which includes 1251 cases from 23 centers. Thereafter, 155 deep-learning models were developed and compared, including 1) generalist models trained with multi-center data, 2) specialized models using only center-specific data, and 3) fine-tuned generalist models using center-specific data., Results: The three key components of dataset shift were characterized. The amount of covariate shift was substantial, indicating large variations in MR imaging between different centers. Glioblastoma segmentation models tend to perform best when using data from the application center. Generalist models, trained with over 700 samples, achieved a median Dice score of 88.98%. Specialized models surpassed this with 200 cases, while fine-tuned models outperformed with 50 cases., Conclusions: The influence of dataset shift on model performance is evident. Fine-tuned and specialized models, utilizing data from the evaluated center, outperform generalist models, which rely on data from other centers. These approaches could encourage medical centers to develop customized models for their local use, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of glioblastoma segmentation in a context where dataset shift is inevitable., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Significance: Digital holographic microscopy (DHM) is a label-free microscopy technique that provides time-resolved quantitative phase imaging (QPI) by measuring the optical path delay of light induced by transparent biological samples. DHM has been utilized for various biomedical applications, such as cancer research and sperm cell assessment, as well as for in vitro drug or toxicity testing. Its lensless version, digital lensless holographic microscopy (DLHM), is an emerging technology that offers size-reduced, lightweight, and cost-effective imaging systems. These features make DLHM applicable, for example, in limited resource laboratories, remote areas, and point-of-care applications., Aim: In addition to the abovementioned advantages, in-line arrangements for DLHM also include the limitation of the twin-image presence, which can restrict accurate QPI. We therefore propose a compact lensless common-path interferometric off-axis approach that is capable of quantitative imaging of fast-moving biological specimens, such as living cells in flow., Approach: We suggest lensless spatially multiplexed interferometric microscopy (LESSMIM) as a lens-free variant of the previously reported spatially multiplexed interferometric microscopy (SMIM) concept. LESSMIM comprises a common-path interferometric architecture that is based on a single diffraction grating to achieve digital off-axis holography. From a series of single-shot off-axis holograms, twin-image free and time-resolved QPI is achieved by commonly used methods for Fourier filtering-based reconstruction, aberration compensation, and numerical propagation., Results: Initially, the LESSMIM concept is experimentally demonstrated by results from a resolution test chart and investigations on temporal stability. Then, the accuracy of QPI and capabilities for imaging of living adherent cell cultures is characterized. Finally, utilizing a microfluidic channel, the cytometry of suspended cells in flow is evaluated., Conclusions: LESSMIM overcomes several limitations of in-line DLHM and provides fast time-resolved QPI in a compact optical arrangement. In summary, LESSMIM represents a promising technique with potential biomedical applications for fast imaging such as in imaging flow cytometry or sperm cell analysis., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Permanent engravings on contact lenses provide information about the manufacturing process and lens positioning when they are placed on the eye. The inspection of their morphological characteristics is important, since they can affect the user's comfort and deposit adhesion. Therefore, an inverted wavefront holoscope (a lensless microscope based on Gabor's principle of in-line digital holography) is explored for the characterization of the permanent marks of soft contact lenses. The device, based on an in-line transmission configuration, uses a partially coherent laser source to illuminate the soft contact lens placed in a cuvette filled with a saline solution for lens preservation. Holograms were recorded on a digital sensor and reconstructed by back propagation to the image plane based on the angular spectrum method. In addition, a phase-retrieval algorithm was used to enhance the quality of the recovered images. The instrument was experimentally validated through a calibration process in terms of spatial resolution and thickness estimation, showing values that perfectly agree with those that were theoretically expected. Finally, phase maps of different engravings for three commercial soft contact lenses were successfully reconstructed, validating the inverted wavefront holoscope as a potential instrument for the characterization of the permanent marks of soft contact lenses. To improve the final image quality of reconstructions, the geometry of lenses should be considered to avoid induced aberration effects.

Background: The vascular heterogeneity of glioblastomas (GB) remains an important area of research, since tumor progression and patient prognosis are closely tied to this feature. With this study, we aim to identify gene expression profiles associated with MRI-defined tumor vascularity and to investigate its relationship with patient prognosis., Methods: The study employed MRI parameters calculated with DSC Perfusion Quantification of ONCOhabitats glioma analysis software and RNA-seq data from the TCGA-GBM project dataset. In our study, we had a total of 147 RNA-seq samples, which 15 of them also had MRI parameter information. We analyzed the gene expression profiles associated with MRI-defined tumor vascularity using differential gene expression analysis and performed Log-rank tests to assess the correlation between the identified genes and patient prognosis., Results: The findings of our research reveal a set of 21 overexpressed genes associated with the high vascularity pattern. Notably, several of these overexpressed genes have been previously implicated in worse prognosis based on existing literature. Our log-rank test further validates that the collective upregulation of these genes is indeed correlated with an unfavorable prognosis. This set of genes includes a variety of molecules, such as cytokines, receptors, ligands, and other molecules with diverse functions., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the set of 21 overexpressed genes in the High Vascularity group could potentially serve as prognostic markers for GB patients. These results highlight the importance of further investigating the relationship between the molecules such as cytokines or receptors underlying the vascularity in GB and its observation through MRI and developing targeted therapies for this aggressive disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Digital in-line holographic microscopy (DIHM) enables efficient and cost-effective computational quantitative phase imaging with a large field of view, making it valuable for studying cell motility, migration, and bio-microfluidics. However, the quality of DIHM reconstructions is compromised by twin-image noise, posing a significant challenge. Conventional methods for mitigating this noise involve complex hardware setups or time-consuming algorithms with often limited effectiveness. In this work, we propose UTIRnet, a deep learning solution for fast, robust, and universally applicable twin-image suppression, trained exclusively on numerically generated datasets. The availability of open-source UTIRnet codes facilitates its implementation in various DIHM systems without the need for extensive experimental training data. Notably, our network ensures the consistency of reconstruction results with input holograms, imparting a physics-based foundation and enhancing reliability compared to conventional deep learning approaches. Experimental verification was conducted among others on live neural glial cell culture migration sensing, which is crucial for neurodegenerative disease research.

Purpose: The scientific community has established Javal's rule as a model linking refractive (RA) and keratometric (KA) astigmatism since its appearance more than 100 years ago. The aim was to improve the accuracy of this relationship according to subject's age by applying the power vector analysis. Posterior corneal curvature has also been studied., Methods: The IOLMaster 700 optical biometer was used to measure the corneal thickness and the radius of curvature of the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces. Refractive error was determined by a non-cycloplegic subjective refraction process with trial lenses. Linear regression analyses were applied using J 0 and J 45 power vector components. An evaluation was carried out according to the subject's age resulting into eight regression relationships for each astigmatic vector component for each relationship., Results: A total of 2254 right eyes from 2254 healthy subjects were evaluated. A trend towards against-the-rule astigmatism (ATR) was found with aging, both for refractive astigmatism (RA) and keratometric astigmatism (KA), with 95.2% of subjects under 20 years old having with-the-rule (WTR) KA, and only 22.8% above 79 years old. The following regression equations were found between RA and KA: [Formula: see text] = 0.73 × [Formula: see text] - 0.18 (R = 0.78) and [Formula: see text] = 0.70 × [Formula: see text] + 0.04 (R = 0.69) and between RA and total corneal astigmatism (TCA): [Formula: see text] = 0.73 × [Formula: see text] + 0.13 (R=0.78) and [Formula: see text] = 0.70 × [Formula: see text] - 0.06 (R = 0.68) for the whole sample, but with sensible differences among age groups, both in the slope and in the intercept., Conclusion: Ignoring the age of the subject when using Javal's rule could lead to an error in the final cylinder calculation that would increase in high astigmatisms. Applying this new power vector approach based on subject's age could improve the accuracy of the astigmatism prediction., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: To implement a pure power vector method for monocular subjective refraction using a regular phoropter with the only modification being the inclusion of a Stokes lens. The proposed methodology was tested with three different Stokes lenses, and the results were compared with conventional clinical refraction procedures., Methods: Power vector subjective refraction was performed by attaching a Stokes lens to the Risley prism holder. Stokes lenses allow for pure astigmatic compensation in the form of the J 0 , J 45 components while the spherical lenses in the phoropter allow determination of the spherical component in the form of M (spherical equivalent). The proposed routine is presented step-by-step using three Stokes lenses having different astigmatic powers., Results: Monocular subjective refraction was performed on 26 healthy subjects with a mean age of 44 ± 16 years, mean spherical equivalent of -0.56 D (range -5.50 to +2.38 D) and refractive astigmatism ≤1.50 D. No differences were found between the results obtained with the conventional technique versus the vector-based procedure for the spherical equivalent (p = 0.28) or astigmatic components (p = 0.34). In addition, visual acuity (VA) was equivalent through the refractions measured with the conventional and vector procedures (p = 0.12). Repeatability coefficients for J 0 and J 45 with the new vector methodology were <0.38 D., Conclusions: The proposed routine could be helpful for cases where it is difficult to get a valid starting point for conventional refraction (e.g., irregular corneas and media opacities), for testing facilities with limited resources/equipment and/or for motivated clinicians who wish to know about alternative methods of refractive error determination., (© 2023 The Authors. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of College of Optometrists.)

This publisher's note contains corrections to Opt. Lett.48, 876 (2023)10.1364/OL.478674.

Background: A new keratometric routine that employs power vector management for manual keratometers is described. This study evaluates the agreement of the new proposed keratometric technique with the classical one., Research Design and Methods: The applicability of a new keratometric routine was verified using Helmholtz's and Javal's keratometers. Results were obtained by two different and well-trained examiners over two different samples, one including 65 and the other 74 eyes, respectively. Both conventional keratometry and the newly proposed routine (named vecto-keratometry) were used in each eye to obtain the results. The clinical agreement between the methods was evaluated using Bland-Altman and Passing-Bablok analysis., Results: For Helmholtz's keratometer, Bland-Altman plots showed good agreement between methods for both astigmatic components being J 0  = 0.04 ± 0.20 D and J 45  = -0.07 ± 0.17 D. For Javal's keratometer, Passing-Bablok regression test determined regression line for J 0 difference as y 0  = 1.03, confidence interval: [0.98, 1.10] and regression line for J 45 difference as y 45  = 0.97, confidence interval: [0.83, 1.12]., Conclusions: Vecto-keratometry provides accurate clinical results. It has been demonstrated that there are no significant differences between methods in any of the power vector astigmatic components; thus, both methods can be applied interchangeably.

Background and Aims: Alexithymia and psychological symptomatology have been closely associated with gambling disorder (GD). However, sex differences remain underexplored. This study aims, firstly, to explore the differences between groups (GD and no-GD) and sexes (women vs. men) in alexithymia and psychological symptomatology (depression, anxiety and hostility). Secondly, the relationship between alexithymia and psychological symptomatology was analysed by gambling and sex groups. Thirdly, it examines the moderation role of sex and gambling in the relationship between alexithymia and each psychological symptom., Method: The sample was composed of 80 people with GD diagnosis and 80 without GD (40 women and 40 men in each group)., Results: The results showed that alexithymia is positively related to depression, anxiety and hostility, with significantly higher scores in people with GD. Moderation analyses showed a threefold interaction, in which higher alexithymia was related to higher depression for men with GD but not for GD-women. However, in women with GD, depression levels are higher than in people without GD and tend to be more stable over time, despite the lack of effect of alexithymia., Conclusions: These results provide evidence indicating that dysfunctional psychological symptomatology affects people with GD to a greater extent than people without GD, but also that the aetiology and effect of underlying vulnerability factors on gambling is different according to sex. The need of prevention and treatment programmes that consider different psychological aspects depending on sex is reinforced., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors declare nor conflicts of interest neither financial interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Phase imaging microscopy under Gabor regime has been recently reported as an extremely simple, low cost and compact way to update a standard bright-field microscope with coherent sensing capabilities. By inserting coherent illumination in the microscope embodiment and producing a small defocus distance of the sample at the input plane, the digital sensor records an in-line Gabor hologram of the target sample, which is then numerically post-processed to finally achieve the sample's quantitative phase information. However, the retrieved phase distribution is affected by the two well-known drawbacks when dealing with Gabor's regime, that is, coherent noise and twin image disturbances. Here, we present a single-shot technique based on wavelength multiplexing for mitigating these two effects. A multi-illumination laser source (including 3 diode lasers) illuminates the sample and a color digital sensor (conventional RGB color camera) is used to record the wavelength-multiplexed Gabor hologram in a single exposure. The technique is completed by presenting a novel algorithm based on a modified Gerchberg-Saxton kernel to finally retrieve an enhanced quantitative phase image of the sample, enhanced in terms of coherent noise removal and twin image minimization. Experimental validations are performed in a regular Olympus BX-60 upright microscope using a 20X 0.46NA objective lens and considering static (resolution test targets) and dynamic (living spermatozoa) phase samples., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The combination of different imaging modalities into single imaging platforms has a strong potential in biomedical sciences as it permits the analysis of complementary properties of the target sample. Here, we report on an extremely simple, cost-effective, and compact microscope platform for achieving simultaneous fluorescence and quantitative phase imaging modes with the capability of working in a single snapshot. It is based on the use of a single illumination wavelength to both excite the sample's fluorescence and provide coherent illumination for phase imaging. After passing the microscope layout, the two imaging paths are separated using a bandpass filter, and the two imaging modes are simultaneously obtained using two digital cameras. We first present calibration and analysis of both fluorescence and phase imaging modalities working independently and, later on, experimental validation for the proposed common-path dual-mode imaging platform considering static (resolution test targets, fluorescent micro-beads, and water-suspended lab-made cultures) as well as dynamic (flowing fluorescent beads, human sperm cells, and live specimens from lab-made cultures) samples.

Lensless holographic microscopy (LHM) comes out as a promising label-free technique since it supplies high-quality imaging and adaptive magnification in a lens-free, compact and cost-effective way. Compact sizes and reduced prices of LHMs make them a perfect instrument for point-of-care diagnosis and increase their usability in limited-resource laboratories, remote areas, and poor countries. LHM can provide excellent intensity and phase imaging when the twin image is removed. In that sense, multi-illumination single-holographic-exposure lensless Fresnel (MISHELF) microscopy appears as a single-shot and phase-retrieved imaging technique employing multiple illumination/detection channels and a fast-iterative phase-retrieval algorithm. In this contribution, we review MISHELF microscopy through the description of the principles, the analysis of the performance, the presentation of the microscope prototypes and the inclusion of the main biomedical applications reported so far.

Viral infections activate the innate immune response and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines. They also alter oxidative stress markers, which potentially can have an involvement in the pathogenesis of the disease. The aim of this research was to study the role of the oxidative stress process assessed through lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) on the severity of COVID-19 measured by oxygen saturation (SaO 2 ) and the putative interaction with inflammation. The investigation enrolled 1808 patients (mean age of 68 and 60% male) with COVID-19 from the HM Hospitals database. To explore interactions, a regression model and mediation analyses were performed. The patients with lower SaO 2 presented lymphopenia and higher values of neutrophils-to-lymphocytes ratio and on the anisocytosis coefficient. The regression model showed an interaction between LDH and anisocytosis, suggesting that high levels of LDH (>544 U/L) and an anisocytosis coefficient higher than 10% can impact SaO 2 in COVID-19 patients. Moreover, analysis revealed that LDH mediated 41% ( p value = 0.001) of the effect of anisocytosis on SaO 2 in this cohort. This investigation revealed that the oxidative stress marker LDH and the interaction with anisocytosis have an important role in the severity of COVID-19 infection and should be considered for the management and treatment of the oxidative phenomena concerning this within a precision medicine strategy.

Obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular events are non-communicable diseases (NCDs) directly related to lifestyle and life quality. Rises on NCDs rates are leading to increases in early deaths concerning metabolic morbidities. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been described as a subjective perception about the influence of health and personal features on human well-being. This study aimed to characterize phenotypic and lifestyle roles on the occurrence of metabolic diseases and determine the potential mutual interactions and with HRQoL. Data from an online adult population (NUTRiMDEA study, n = 17,332) were used to estimate an adapted Obesogenic Score (ObS), while logistic regression analyses were fitted in order to examine relevant factors related to the prevalence of different metabolic diseases including HRQoL. Sex and age showed significant differences depending on lifestyle and metabolic health ( p < 0.05). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and physical activity showed a mutual interaction concerning ObS ( p < 0.001), as well with metabolic health ( p = 0.044). Furthermore, metabolic diseases showed own features related to sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics in this population. Metabolic syndrome components may be differently influenced by diverse lifestyle or socioeconomic factors which in turn affect the perceived HRQoL. These outcomes should be taken into account individually for a precision medicine and public health purposes.

Background: Choline and betaine intakes have been related to cardiovascular health., Objectives: We aimed to explore the relation between 1-y changes in dietary intake of choline or betaine and 1-y changes in cardiometabolic and renal function traits within the frame of the PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea)-Plus trial., Methods: We used baseline and 1-y follow-up data from 5613 participants (48.2% female and 51.8% male; mean ± SD age: 65.01 ± 4.91 y) to assess cardiometabolic traits, and 3367 participants to assess renal function, of the Spanish PREDIMED-Plus trial. Participants met ≥3 criteria of metabolic syndrome and had overweight or obesity [BMI (in kg/m2) ≥27 and ≤40]. These criteria were similar to those of the PREDIMED parent study. Dietary intakes of choline and betaine were estimated from the FFQ., Results: The greatest 1-y increase in dietary choline or betaine intake (quartile 4) was associated with improved serum glucose concentrations (-3.39 and -2.72 mg/dL for choline and betaine, respectively) and HbA1c levels (-0.10% for quartile 4 of either choline or betaine intake increase). Other significant changes associated with the greatest increase in choline or betaine intake were reduced body weight (-2.93 and -2.78 kg, respectively), BMI (-1.05 and -0.99, respectively), waist circumference (-3.37 and -3.26 cm, respectively), total cholesterol (-4.74 and -4.52 mg/dL, respectively), and LDL cholesterol (-4.30 and -4.16 mg/dL, respectively). Urine creatinine was reduced in quartile 4 of 1-y increase in choline or betaine intake (-5.42 and -5.74 mg/dL, respectively)., Conclusions: Increases in dietary choline or betaine intakes were longitudinally related to improvements in cardiometabolic parameters. Markers of renal function were also slightly improved, and they require further investigation.This trial was registered at https://www.isrctn.com/ as ISRCTN89898870., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Quantitative phase microscopy (QPM) is often based on recording an object-reference interference pattern and its further phase demodulation. We propose pseudo Hilbert phase microscopy (PHPM) where we combine pseudo thermal light source illumination and Hilbert spiral transform (HST) phase demodulation to achieve hybrid hardware-software-driven noise robustness and an increase in resolution of single-shot coherent QPM. Those advantageous features stem from physically altering the laser spatial coherence and numerically restoring spectrally overlapped object spatial frequencies. The capabilities of PHPM are demonstrated by analyzing calibrated phase targets and live HeLa cells in comparison with laser illumination and phase demodulation via temporal phase shifting (TPS) and Fourier transform (FT) techniques. The performed studies verified the unique ability of PHPM to combine single-shot imaging, noise minimization, and preservation of phase details.

Atherosclerosis is a hallmark of cardiovascular disease, and lifestyle strongly impacts its onset and progression. Nutrients have been shown to regulate the miR-17/92 cluster, with a role in endothelial function and atherosclerosis. Choline, betaine, and L-carnitine, found in animal foods, are metabolized into trimethylamine (TMA) by the gut microbiota. TMA is then oxidized to TMAO, which has been associated with atherosclerosis. Our aim was to investigate whether TMAO modulates the expression of the miR-17/92 cluster, along with the impact of this modulation on the expression of target genes related to atherosclerosis and inflammation. We treated HepG-2 cells, THP-1 cells, murine liver organoids, and human peripheral mononuclear cells with 6 µM of TMAO at different timepoints. TMAO increased the expression of all analyzed members of the cluster, except for miR-20a-5p in murine liver organoids and primary human macrophages. Genes and protein levels of SERPINE1 and IL-12A increased. Both have been associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CDVD) and are indirectly modulated by the miR-17-92 cluster. We concluded that TMAO modulates the expression of the miR-17/92 cluster and that such modulation could promote inflammation through IL-12A and blood clotting through SERPINE1 expression, which could ultimately promote atherosclerosis and CVD.

Fasting exerts beneficial effects in mice and humans, including protection from chemotherapy toxicity. To explore the involved mechanisms, we collect blood from humans and mice before and after 36 or 24 hours of fasting, respectively, and measure lipid composition of erythrocyte membranes, circulating micro RNAs (miRNAs), and RNA expression at peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Fasting coordinately affects the proportion of polyunsaturated versus saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids at the erythrocyte membrane; and reduces the expression of insulin signaling-related genes in PBMCs. When fasted for 24 hours before and 24 hours after administration of oxaliplatin or doxorubicin, mice show a strong protection from toxicity in several tissues. Erythrocyte membrane lipids and PBMC gene expression define two separate groups of individuals that accurately predict a differential protection from chemotherapy toxicity, with important clinical implications. Our results reveal a mechanism of fasting associated with lipid homeostasis, and provide biomarkers of fasting to predict fasting-mediated protection from chemotherapy toxicity., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is one of the most important medical problems around the world. Identification of patient´s singular characteristic could help to reduce the clinical impact and facilitate individualized management. This study aimed to categorize MetS patients using phenotypical and clinical variables habitually collected during health check-ups of individuals considered to have high cardiovascular risk. The selected markers to categorize MetS participants included anthropometric variables as well as clinical data, biochemical parameters and prescribed pharmacological treatment. An exploratory factor analysis was carried out with a subsequent hierarchical cluster analysis using the z-scores from factor analysis. The first step identified three different factors. The first was determined by hypercholesterolemia and associated treatments, the second factor exhibited glycemic disorders and accompanying treatments and the third factor was characterized by hepatic enzymes. Subsequently four clusters of patients were identified, where cluster 1 was characterized by glucose disorders and treatments, cluster 2 presented mild MetS, cluster 3 presented exacerbated levels of hepatic enzymes and cluster 4 highlighted cholesterol and its associated treatments Interestingly, the liver status related cluster was characterized by higher protein consumption and cluster 4 with low polyunsaturated fatty acid intake. This research emphasized the potential clinical relevance of hepatic impairments in addition to MetS traditional characterization for precision and personalized management of MetS patients., Competing Interests: JS-S reports grants from CIBEROBN, ISCIII (Spain), during the conduct of the study; non-financial support from Nut and Dried Fruit Foundation, personal fees from Instituto Danone Spain, other from Danone S.A., other from Font Vella Lanjaron, personal fees and grants from Eroski Distributors, grants from Nut and Dried Fruit Foundation, grants from Eroski Distributors, personal fees from Nut and Dried Fruit Foundation, outside the submitted work. ER reports grants, personal fees, non-financial support and other from California Walnut Commission, grants, personal fees, non-financial support and other from Alexion, personal fees, non-financial support and other from Ferrer International, personal fees from Amarin, personal fees, non-financial support and other from Danone, outside the submitted work. JL-M reports personal fees and non-financial support from AMGEN, personal fees and non-financial support from SANOFI, personal fees from MSD, personal fees from Laboratorios Dr. Esteve, personal fees from NOVO-NORDISK outside the submitted work., (Copyright © 2022 Micó, San-Cristobal, Martín, Martínez-González, Salas-Salvadó, Corella, Fitó, Alonso-Gómez, Wärnberg, Vioque, Romaguera, López-Miranda, Estruch, Tinahones, Lapetra, Serra-Majem, Bueno-Cavanillas, Tur, Martín Sánchez, Pintó, Delgado-Rodríguez, Matía, Vidal, Vázquez, García-Arellano, Pertusa-Martinez, Chaplin, Garcia-Rios, Muñoz Bravo, Schröder, Babio, Sorli, Gonzalez, Martinez-Urbistondo, Toledo, Bullón, Ruiz-Canela, Portillo, Macías-González, Perez-Diaz-del-Campo, García-Gavilán, Daimiel and Martínez.)

Building on Gabor seminal principle, digital in-line holographic microscopy provides efficient means for space-time investigations of large volumes of interest. Thus, it has a pivotal impact on particle tracking that is crucial in advancing various branches of science and technology, e.g., microfluidics and biophysical processes examination (cell motility, migration, interplay etc.). Well-established algorithms often rely on heavily regularized inverse problem modelling and encounter limitations in terms of tracking accuracy, hologram signal-to-noise ratio, accessible object volume, particle concentration and computational burden. This work demonstrates the DarkTrack algorithm-a new approach to versatile, fast, precise, and robust 4D holographic tracking based on deterministic computationally rendered high-contrast dark fields. Its unique capabilities are quantitatively corroborated employing a novel numerical engine for simulating Gabor holographic recording of time-variant volumes filled with predefined dynamic particles. Our solution accounts for multiple scattering and thus it is poised to secure an important gap in holographic particle tracking technology and allow for ground-truth-driven benchmarking and quantitative assessment of tracking algorithms. Proof-of-concept experimental evaluation of DarkTrack is presented via analyzing live spermatozoa. Software supporting both novel numerical holographic engine and DarkTrack algorithm is made open access, which opens new possibilities and sets the stage for democratization of robust holographic 4D particle examination., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The use of routine laboratory biomarkers plays a key role in decision making in the clinical practice of COVID-19, allowing the development of clinical screening tools for personalized treatments. This study performed a short-term longitudinal cluster from patients with COVID-19 based on biochemical measurements for the first 72 h after hospitalization. Clinical and biochemical variables from 1039 confirmed COVID-19 patients framed on the “COVID Data Save Lives” were grouped in 24-h blocks to perform a longitudinal k-means clustering algorithm to the trajectories. The final solution of the three clusters showed a strong association with different clinical severity outcomes (OR for death: Cluster A reference, Cluster B 12.83 CI: 6.11−30.54, and Cluster C 14.29 CI: 6.66−34.43; OR for ventilation: Cluster-B 2.22 CI: 1.64−3.01, and Cluster-C 1.71 CI: 1.08−2.76), improving the AUC of the models in terms of age, sex, oxygen concentration, and the Charlson Comorbidities Index (0.810 vs. 0.871 with p < 0.001 and 0.749 vs. 0.807 with p < 0.001, respectively). Patient diagnoses and prognoses remarkably diverged between the three clusters obtained, evidencing that data-driven technologies devised for the screening, analysis, prediction, and tracking of patients play a key role in the application of individualized management of the COVID-19 pandemics.

Focimeters, especially manual versions, are the most used ophthalmic devices for dioptric power measurement in optometric clinical care. In the particular case of progressive addition lenses (PALs), they are used to determine far/near vision correction powers, but the user/clinician needs to know at which part of the PAL the measurement must be taken. For this reason, PALs have permanent engravings acting as reference marks to define the far/near vision areas for every PAL design. However, for several reasons these engravings are often difficult to localize and identify, making an accurate dioptric power determination difficult. In this Letter, we present an adaptation of the Gabor holographic principle to a manual focimeter and describe the methodology for the correct localization, visualization, and marking process of the reference engravings in PALs. Experimental results considering different types of PALs are included and the main limitations of the technique are also discussed.

Stokes lenses are variable power astigmatic lenses comprising of, in its standard version, two pure cylindrical lenses of equal but contrary power that rotate in opposite directions. Here, we present an optical device with variable and continuous astigmatic power which is based on a modified Stokes lens where two sphero-cylindrical lenses (in the form of pure astigmatic lenses) are combined in the classical way but merged with another fixed pure astigmatic lens for improving the capabilities of the resulting optical device concerning the expansion of the astigmatic range without worsening the dioptric power step resolution. The performance of this device is theoretically analyzed in virtue of the power vectors formalism including a three-dimensional (3-D) representation of the generated dioptric power as a function of both the meridian and the rotation angle between the cylinder's axes. In addition, we have assembled a lab-made prototype of the proposed modified Stokes lens and validated its theoretical behavior by dioptric power measurements with an automatic focimeter. As conventional Stokes lenses, the applications of this new optical device range from astigmatism compensation in optical instruments to measurement of refractive error in subjective routines with the previously commented improved capabilities.