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Grant A Justin,1,2 Mohammed Soleimani,3 Sidra Zafar,4 Kasra Cheraqpour,5 Catherine Green,6 Mohammad Moin,7 N Venkatesh Prajna,8 Karl C Golnik,9 Fasika A Woreta4 1Department of Vitreoretinal Surgery, Duke Eye Center, Durham, NC, USA; 2Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA; 3Department of Ocular Trauma and Emergency, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA; 5Department of Eye Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 6Glaucoma Unit, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; 7Department of Ophthalmology, Amee ud Din Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan; 8Department of Cornea and Refractive Eye Services, Aravind Eye Hospital, Madurai, India; 9Department of Ophthalmology, University of Cincinnati, The Cincinnati Eye Institute, Cincinnati, OH, USACorrespondence: Grant A Justin, Department of Vitreoretinal Surgery, Duke Eye Center, Durham, NC, USA, Tel +1 609-468-2468, Email grant.a.justin@gmail.comBackground/Aims: To produce an internationally developed rubric to assess surgical competency in open globe management.Methods: An international expert panel of seven ophthalmologist educators developed a standardized competency-based rubric. The steps to perform an open globe repair were outlined. Based on a modified Dreyfus model, the experts agreed on the steps of surgery and certain global indices. They then assigned descriptors for the competency expected of a novice, beginner, advanced beginner, and competent surgeon. The tool was then vetted by another panel of ten ophthalmologists. The main outcome measure was the final version of the tool as agreed upon by the expert review panel.Results: The steps of open globe repair and key global indices were established. Descriptive wording for each step and global indices for novice, beginner, advanced beginner, and competent surgery were listed. All the expert comments were integrated to establish face and content validity.Conclusion: This standardized rubric to evaluate resident competency should be used globally in training programs to assess open globe repair surgical skills. Using a modified Dreyfus model, four different levels of training competency were defined allowing a non-biased, objective, numerical and simple assessment.Keywords: open globe, resident education, surgical competency

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting optical absorbers for photocatalytic applications have gained significant attention due to their unique physicochemical properties. Using density functional theory simulations, this study explores the M 2 Te 5 (M = Al, In) monolayer, highlighting its potential as a robust optical absorber semiconductor for overall water splitting. Detailed analysis of the structural and electronic characteristics of these materials offers crucial insights into their photocatalytic potential. The study reveals that M 2 Te 5 has an optimal band gap, favorable band edge positions, and high charge carrier mobility and transfer efficiency, essential for effective photocatalytic water splitting. The material also shows sufficient driving forces for the photoexcited carriers, particularly in facilitating the hydrogen evolution reaction under acidic conditions. Additionally, these monolayers exhibit impressive mechanical, dynamical, and thermal stabilities, with notable corrosion-resistant properties of In 2 Te 5 against photoinduced effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regional impact of abrupt glacial climate variability remains poorly constrained for arid southwestern Asia, particularly winter dynamics during Marine Isotope Stage 3, due to limited paleoarchives in the Middle East. Here, we present continuous speleothem records of δ18O and δ13C with robust chronologies for southwestern and central Iran, spanning ∼50–30 ka. Stable‐isotope signals in the two stalagmites are generally uncorrelated and do not exhibit a consistent response to Greenland stadials or interstadials; however, both show a positive δ18O excursion that coincides with Heinrich event 4. We explore the potential mechanisms for intermittent coupling of speleothem δ18O across Iran through isotope‐enabled atmospheric modeling outputs, from which we utilize the spatial δ18O gradient as a proxy for wintertime westerly versus southerly jet strength. Our results suggest that during Heinrich event 4 and several Greenland stadials, stronger westerly winds enhanced Mediterranean moisture contributions to both sites and reduced aridity in southern Iran. Plain Language Summary: Stalagmites are useful archives to reconstruct the climate of the past. In order to shed light on the past climate of western Asia and the response of this region to the rapid climate changes, here we present two stalagmites from central and southwestern Iran that span 50,000 to 30,000 yrs ago. Our findings suggest that during extreme cold events, the moisture originates mostly from the west, whereas out of these extraordinarily cold periods moisture comes mostly from the south. Key Points: Continuous high‐resolution speleothem record of climatic change in southwestern and central Iran between 50 and 30 kaDecoupled responses of stable‐isotope gradients in central and southern Iran to glacial climate variability, except during Heinrich event 4Decreased impact of southerly moisture sources and reinforced westerlies during extreme cold events [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mohammad Soleimani, Morteza Naderan Ocular Trauma and Emergency Department, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranCorrespondence: Mohammad Soleimani; Morteza NaderanOcular Trauma and Emergency Department, Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1336616351, IranTel +98 912 1096496Email Soleimani_md@yahoo.com; morteza.naderan@yahoo.comAbstract: Ocular chemical burns are absolute ophthalmic emergencies and require immediate management to minimize devastating sequelae. Management of alkali and acid burns is started at the scene of the accident by copious irrigation. Treatment is directed at improving epithelial integrity and stromal stability, reduction of undue inflammation, and prevention or timely management of complications. To ascertain the best possible outcome, numerous biological medications and surgical interventions have been merged into conventional therapeutic regimens. These include autologous and umbilical cord serum preparations, platelet-rich plasma, amniotic membrane transplantation, limbal stem-cell transplantation, and anti-angiogenic agents.Keywords: ocular chemical burn, amniotic membrane transplantation, autologous serum, limbal stem cell transplantation

Hosna Gomari,1 Mehdi Forouzandeh Moghadam,1 Masoud Soleimani,2 Mahlegha Ghavami,1 Shabanali Khodashenas31Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; 2Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran; 3Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, IranBackground: Exosomes are natural nanovesicles with unique characteristics, such as long circulating half-life, the intrinsic ability to target tissues, biocompatibility, and minimal or no inherent systemic toxicity. Mesenchymal stem cells produce large amounts of exosomes with regenerative properties and more stability in human plasma. TUBO breast cancer cell lines overexpress rat HER2/neu protein.Methods: Targeted exosomes were isolated from transduced bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Doxorubicin was encapsulated into exosomes by electroporation. Flow cytometry was used to assess the attachment of exosomes to the target cells. The in vitro cytotoxicity effect of targeted doxorubicin-loaded exosomes on TUBO cells was determined using MTT assay. Selective delivery of doxorubicin to tumor tissues was analyzed by measuring the auto-fluorescence of doxorubicin by in vivo imaging system. Moreover, tumor growth inhibition and body weight were monitored following injection of free doxorubicin, and targeted and untargeted doxorubicin-loaded exosomes in a TUBO breast cancer model. Finally, mouse tissues were examined for the presence of intrinsic fluorescence of doxorubicin.Results: Flow cytometry results revealed significant differences in binding of targeted exosomes to HER2-positive (46.05%) and HER2-negative (13.9%) cells. The results of MTT assay showed that cytotoxicity of targeted doxorubicin-loaded exosomes was higher than free doxorubicin at 72 hours. Selective distribution of targeted doxorubicin-loaded exosomes in the target tissues of the murine breast cancer model suggested specific delivery of doxorubicin by targeted exosomes, rather than untargeted exosomes. Free doxorubicin and untargeted doxorubicin-loaded exosomes showed insignificant effects, whereas targeted doxorubicin-loaded exosomes reduced the tumor growth rate.Conclusion: Herein, we report efficient delivery of targeted doxorubicin-loaded exosomes in vitro, corroborated with a significant reduction of murine breast cancer model tumor growth rate.Keywords: exosome, breast cancer, TUBO, targeted therapy, drug delivery

Akram Assali,1 Omid Akhavan,2 Fatemeh Mottaghitalab,1 Mohsen Adeli,3 Rassoul Dinarvand,1 Shayan Razzazan,4 Ehsan Arefian,5 Masoud Soleimani,6 Fatemeh Atyabi1 1Nanotechnology Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran; 3Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie University Berlin, Berlin, Germany; 4Department of Electrical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran; 5Molecular Virology Lab, Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; 6Hematology Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran Introduction: MicroRNA-101 (miR-101) is an intense cancer suppressor with special algorithm to target a wide range of pathways and genes which indicates the ability to regulate apoptosis, cellular stress, metastasis, autophagy, and tumor growth. Silencing of some genes such as Stathmin1 with miR-101 can be interpreted as apoptotic accelerator and autophagy suppressor. It is hypothesized that hybrid microRNA (miRNA) delivery structures based on cationized graphene oxide (GO) could take superiority of targeting and photothermal therapy to suppress the cancer cells.Materials and methods: In this study, GO nanoplatforms were covalently decorated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) and poly-L-arginine (P-L-Arg) that reduced the surface of GO and increased the near infrared absorption ~7.5-fold higher than nonreduced GO.Results: The prepared nanoplatform [GO-PEG-(P-L-Arg)] showed higher miRNA payload and greater internalization and facilitated endosomal scape into the cytoplasm in comparison with GO-PEG. Furthermore, applying P-L-Arg, as a targeting agent, greatly improved the selective transfection of nanoplatform in cancer cells (MCF7, MDA-MB-231) in comparison with immortalized breast cells and fibroblast primary cells. Treating cancer cells with GO-PEG-(P-L-Arg)/miR-101 and incorporating near infrared laser irradiation induced 68% apoptosis and suppressed Stathmin1 protein.Conclusion: The obtained results indicated that GO-PEG-(P-L-Arg) would be a suitable targeted delivery system of miR-101 transfection that could downregulate autophagy and conduct thermal stress to activate apoptotic cascades when combined with photothermal therapy. Keywords: miR-101, cationized graphene oxide, poly-L-arginine, apoptosis, autophagy, photothermal therapy