Femtosecond Laser Induced Refractive Index Change in Acrylic Polymers used to Create a Modification of the Optical Performance of an Existing Intraocular Lens

A femtosecond laser-based hydrophilicity change was developed to alter the refractive index of acrylic polymeric materials. The combination of the precise modulation of the refractive index change in magnitude and position allows the creation of a phase-wrapped, gradient lens inside an implanted intraocular lens (IOL). Preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative factors can impact the visual outcome of a patient after cataract surgery. About 25.7% of cataract patients have postoperative spherical error of more than 0.5D [1]. Additionally, 37.8% of cataract patients have a residual astigmatism of at least 1 D [2]. These considerations indicate that a large number of patients would benefit from a post cataract surgery adjustment method. The refractive index shaping (RIS) process is designed to turn standard monofocal and multifocal IOLs into adjustable lenses which in theory could be modified multiple times to adjust the post-cataract patient’s vision without requiring invasive surgeries. After a lengthy optimization phase this procedure was successfully used to alter existing IOLs in-vitro and in-vivo in a rabbit model. Additional studies were performed to investigate and validate the effect of the process on IOL quality, light transmission and biocompatibility

The Crossroads of Interprofessionalism: Four Avenues of Collaboration at the Wegmans School of Pharmacy

Objective: The utilization of interprofessional education and collaborative practice delivers optimal health services and improves patient outcomes. Training future healthcare providers in an integrated environment promotes a “collaborative practice-ready” workforce. The aim of this study was to identify ongoing specific interprofessional collaborative projects and promote their awareness among faculty at the St. John Fisher College Wegmans School of Pharmacy. Methods: Faculty members were surveyed to identify the ongoing interprofessional collaborative initiatives among pharmacy faculty. Results: A total of four collaborative practices were identified among faculty: ambulatory care, assisted-living, didactic, and assessment. The ambulatory care setting at an osteoporosis clinic provides patient-centered care with a clinical component. Each patient with a new diagnosis or change in medication therapy receives education/counseling from a pharmacist, a registered nurse for medication administration and a physician for a physical exam. In the assisted-living setting, pharmacy and nursing students are paired to conduct a high-level health assessment in their respective disciplines. Didactic interprofessional efforts are being conducted to create a flexible and comprehensive pain education curriculum. Physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, chiropractors, and oriental medicine practitioners will develop the curriculum. The pain module will be adaptable for interprofessional education activities. Finally, recognizing the similarities in accreditation standards for communication and professionalism, the School of Pharmacy and the NY Chiropractic School are sharing strategies and rubrics for assessing these outcomes. Implications: The survey revealed a broader range of interprofessional collaborations than was originally suspected. The school will continue to foster and support interprofessional education and collaborative practice

Transfer Hydrogenation Employing Ethylene Diamine Bisborane in Water and Pd- and Ru-Nanoparticles in Ionic Liquids

Herein we demonstrate the use of ethylenediamine bisborane (EDAB) as a suitable hydrogen source for transfer hydrogenation reactions on C-C double bonds mediated by metal nanoparticles. Moreover, EDAB also acts as a reducing agent for carbonyl functionalities in water under metal-free conditions

The Role of Ionic Liquids in Hydrogen Storage

Ionic liquid (IL) based H-2 storage for H-2 generation from NH3BH3 derivatives is shown. These systems promote H-2 generation at low temperature, with good reaction rates and high total H-2 yields. The effects of ILs and the H-2 yield in correlation with the basicity, the cations of the ILs, and the role of carbenes are discussed. Furthermore, mechanistic findings on the dehydrogenation are described. IL material blends are competitive with conventional H-2 storage materials with experimental efficiencies of at least 6.5 wt% H-2