QCD and strongly coupled gauge theories : challenges and perspectives

We highlight the progress, current status, and open challenges of QCD-driven physics, in theory and in experiment. We discuss how the strong interaction is intimately connected to a broad sweep of physical problems, in settings ranging from astrophysics and cosmology to strongly coupled, complex systems in particle and condensed-matter physics, as well as to searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. We also discuss how success in describing the strong interaction impacts other fields, and, in turn, how such subjects can impact studies of the strong interaction. In the course of the work we offer a perspective on the many research streams which flow into and out of QCD, as well as a vision for future developments.Peer reviewe

Long-term visual and retinopathy outcomes in a predominately type 2 diabetic patient population undergoing early vitrectomy and endolaser for severe vitreous haemorrhage

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term visual outcome of type 2 diabetic patients receiving early vitrectomy and endolaser for severe vitreous haemorrhage (VH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective case note review of 88 eyes (69 type 2 diabetics and 19 type 1 diabetics) of 80 patients who underwent vitrectomy and endolaser within 6 months of VH. Post-operative and most recent VA, in addition to long-term retinopathy grading, were analysed. A subset of patients fulfilling the criteria for the Diabetic Retinopathy Vitrectomy Study was compared with this study. RESULTS: Mean pre-operative visual acuity (VA) in the type 2 group was 0.64 logMAR, with 1 eye showing perception light (PL), 10 eyes detecting hand movements (HMs), and 7 eyes counting fingers (CFs). At the 2-week post-operative visit, the mean VA had improved to 0.46 logMAR, with two eyes showing PL, two eyes detecting HM, and one eye CF (P=0.0002); at the last review, mean VA score was 0.36 logMAR, with three eyes showing PL and four eyes detecting HM (P=0.0008). Mean pre-operative VA in the type 1 group was 0.47 logMAR, with one eye showing PL, one eye detecting HM, and two eyes CF. At the 2-week post-operative visit, the mean VA had improved to 0.37 logMAR, with one eye showing PL (P=0.002), and at the latest review, the mean VA was 0.20 logMAR (P=0.027). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that type 2 DM patients can observe improvement in VA and stabilisation of their proliferative retinopathy after early vitrectomy and endolaser for vitreous haemorrahage, which is maintained after long-term follow-up