On the Functional Significance of the P1 and N1 Effects to Illusory Figures in the Notch Mode of Presentation

The processing of Kanizsa figures have classically been studied by flashing the full “pacmen” inducers at stimulus onset. A recent study, however, has shown that it is advantageous to present illusory figures in the “notch” mode of presentation, that is by leaving the round inducers on screen at all times and by removing the inward-oriented notches delineating the illusory figure at stimulus onset. Indeed, using the notch mode of presentation, novel P1and N1 effects have been found when comparing visual potentials (VEPs) evoked by an illusory figure and the VEPs to a control figure whose onset corresponds to the removal of outward-oriented notches, which prevents their integration into one delineated form. In Experiment 1, we replicated these findings, the illusory figure was found to evoke a larger P1 and a smaller N1 than its control. In Experiment 2, real grey squares were placed over the notches so that one condition, that with inward-oriented notches, shows a large central grey square and the other condition, that with outward-oriented notches, shows four unconnected smaller grey squares. In response to these “real” figures, no P1 effect was found but a N1 effect comparable to the one obtained with illusory figures was observed. Taken together, these results suggest that the P1 effect observed with illusory figures is likely specific to the processing of the illusory features of the figures. Conversely, the fact that the N1 effect was also obtained with real figures indicates that this effect may be due to more global processes related to depth segmentation or surface/object perception

The anomalous magnetic moment of the muon in the Standard Model

194 pages, 103 figures, bib files for the citation references are available from: https://muon-gm2-theory.illinois.eduWe review the present status of the Standard Model calculation of the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. This is performed in a perturbative expansion in the fine-structure constant $\alpha$ and is broken down into pure QED, electroweak, and hadronic contributions. The pure QED contribution is by far the largest and has been evaluated up to and including $\mathcal{O}(\alpha^5)$ with negligible numerical uncertainty. The electroweak contribution is suppressed by $(m_\mu/M_W)^2$ and only shows up at the level of the seventh significant digit. It has been evaluated up to two loops and is known to better than one percent. Hadronic contributions are the most difficult to calculate and are responsible for almost all of the theoretical uncertainty. The leading hadronic contribution appears at $\mathcal{O}(\alpha^2)$ and is due to hadronic vacuum polarization, whereas at $\mathcal{O}(\alpha^3)$ the hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution appears. Given the low characteristic scale of this observable, these contributions have to be calculated with nonperturbative methods, in particular, dispersion relations and the lattice approach to QCD. The largest part of this review is dedicated to a detailed account of recent efforts to improve the calculation of these two contributions with either a data-driven, dispersive approach, or a first-principle, lattice-QCD approach. The final result reads $a_\mu^\text{SM}=116\,591\,810(43)\times 10^{-11}$ and is smaller than the Brookhaven measurement by 3.7$\sigma$. The experimental uncertainty will soon be reduced by up to a factor four by the new experiment currently running at Fermilab, and also by the future J-PARC experiment. This and the prospects to further reduce the theoretical uncertainty in the near future-which are also discussed here-make this quantity one of the most promising places to look for evidence of new physics

Trifocal intraocular lens implantation in eyes with previous corneal refractive surgery for myopia and hyperopia.

Purpose: To evaluate the visual and refractive outcomes of trifocal intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in eyes previously treated with myopic and hyperopic corneal refractive laser surgery. Setting: Clinica Baviera-AIER-Eye group, Spain. Design: Retrospective comparative case series. Methods: The series was divided into 2 groups according to the type of corneal laser refraction (myopic and hyperopic). The main visual and refractive outcome measures included corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and uncorrected distance and near visual acuity, safety, efficacy, and predictability. The secondary outcome measures were percentage of enhancement and Nd:YAG capsulotomy and influence of prelaser magnitude of myopia and hyperopia on the outcome of trifocal IOL implantation. Results: The sample comprised 868 eyes (543 patients): myopic, n = 319 eyes (36.7%); and hyperopic, n = 549 eyes (63.2%). Three months postoperatively, visual outcomes were poorer in the hyperopic group than those in the myopic group for mean CDVA (0.06 ± 0.05 vs 0.04 ± 0.04, P < .01) and safety (21% vs 12% of CDVA line loss, P < .05) outcomes. However, precision outcomes were worse in the myopic group than those in the hyperopic group, with amean spherical equivalent of 0.38 ± 0.3 vs 0.17 ± 0.3 (P < .01). Stratification by magnitude of primary laser treatment revealed poorer visual and safety results in the high hyperopia subgroup (>+3.0 diopters [D]) and poorer precision in the high myopia subgroup (< 5.0 D). Conclusions: Trifocal IOL implantation after photorefractive surgery in eyes previously treated with myopic ablation achieved good visual outcomes but less predictability in the high myopia subgroup. However, eyes with a previous hyperopic corneal ablation achieved excellent precision but worse visual and safety outcomes in the high hyperopia subgroup.pre-print601 K

Choroidal Thickness Is a Biomarker Associated With Response to Treatment in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Objective Choroidal thickness (CT) has been evaluated as a marker of systemic inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This study evaluates the CT of AS patients before and after 6 months of biological treatment. Methods This longitudinal multicenter study evaluated CT in 44 AS patients. The correlations between CT and C-reactive protein (CRP) with disease activity indices were calculated. The concordance between CT and CRP was determined. We assessed factors associated with response to treatment. Clinically important improvement was defined as a decrease in Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score of 1.1 points or greater. Results Forty-four eyes in patients aged 18 to 65 years were included. Mean CT values were significantly higher at baseline than after 6 months of treatment (baseline: 355.28 ± 80.46 μm; 6 months: 341.26 ± 81.06 μm; p < 0.001). There was a 95% concordance between CT and CRP at baseline and 6 months. Clinically important improvement was associated with lower baseline CT and age as independent factors (odds ratios, 0.97 [95% confidence interval, 0.91–0.93; p = 0.009] and 0.81 [95% confidence interval, 0.7–0.95; p = 0.005]), with baseline CT of less than 374 μm (sensitivity 78%, specificity 78%, area under the curve 0.70, likelihood ratio 3.6). Conclusions Choroidal thickness decreased significantly after 6 months of biological treatment in all treatment groups. Choroidal thickness and CRP had a 95% concordance. A high CT was associated with a risk of biological treatment failure. Choroidal thickness can be considered a useful biomarker of inflammation and a factor associated with response to treatment in AS.Sin financiación3.4 Q3 JCR 20220.539 Q2 SJR 2023No data IDR 202

Choroidal thickness is a biomarker and can predict the response to treatment in ankylosing spondylitis

Background: Choroidal thickness (CT) has been proposed and evaluated as a potential marker of systemic inflammation associated with inflammatory diseases as Ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Patients with active AS have a thicker choroid than healthy subjects, regardless of eye inflammation. The evolution of choroid after treatment is poorly known. Objectives: This study evaluates the CT of patients with severe AS disease activity before and after six months of biological therapy. Methods: This prospective multicenter study evaluates the CT in 44 patients with high AS disease activity, naïve for biological treatment, and no history of eye inflammation before and after six months of biological therapy, aged from 18 to 65 years. The correlations between the CT and C-reactive protein (CRP) with the disease activity indices and scales as Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), night pain and Patient Global Assessment (PGA) were calculated at baseline and after six months of biological therapy. The concordance between the CT and CRP was determined. Finally, we assessed potential predictors of response to treatment. Clinically important improvement was defined as a decrease in ASDAS score ≥ 1.1 points. Results: Globally, 44 eyes of 44 patients aged between 18-65 years were included in the study, 12 (27%) women. The biological treatments prescribed were: Adalimumab 13 (29.5%), Certolizumab 9 (20.5%), Secukinumab 10 (20%), Etanercept 8 (18%), Infliximab 3 (6.8%), and Golimumab 1 (2.2%). Mean CT values were significantly higher at baseline than after six months of treatment (baseline 355.28±80.46 µm; 6 months, 341.26±81.06 µm) (p<0.001). CT decreased both in patients on biological treatment without effect in eye (Secukinumab and Etanecept; p=0.024) and in patients on treatment with effect in eye (other; p=0.005). Also, CRP, BASDAI, night pain and PGA decreased after six months of treatment ((p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001). We found a 95% concordance between CT and CRP at baseline and 6 months. Multivariable analysis showed that clinically important improvement was associated with higher CT and age as independent factors (OR 0.97, CI95% 0.91-0.93; p=0.009, and OR 0.81, CI95% 0.7-0.95; p=0.005). Clinically important improvement was associated with basal CT >374 µm (sensitivity 78 %, [CI 95% 60-90], specificity 78% [CI 95% 52-92], area under the curve of ROC, 0.70, likelihood ratio 3.6). Conclusion: CT decreased significantly after six months of biological treatment. CT and CPR had a 95% concordance. A high CT is associated with risk of failure to biological treatment. CT can be considered as a useful biomarker of inflammation and predictor of response to treatment in AS.Sin financiación19.103 JCR(2020)Q1, 2/34 Rheumatology;6.333 SJR (2020) Q1, 6/254 Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Miscellaneous)No data IDR 2020UE