The accurate prediction of the friction angle of clays is crucial for assessing slope stability in engineering applications.This study addresses the importance of estimating the friction angle and presents the develop...The accurate prediction of the friction angle of clays is crucial for assessing slope stability in engineering applications.This study addresses the importance of estimating the friction angle and presents the development of four soft computing models:YJ-FPA-MLPnet,YJ-CRO-MLPnet,YJ-ACOC-MLPnet,and YJCSA-MLPnet.First of all,the Yeo-Johnson(YJ)transformation technique was used to stabilize the variance of data and make it more suitable for parametric statistical models that assume normality and equal variances.This technique is expected to improve the accuracy of friction angle prediction models.The friction angle prediction models then utilized multi-layer perceptron neural networks(MLPnet)and metaheuristic optimization algorithms to further enhance performance,including flower pollination algorithm(FPA),coral reefs optimization(CRO),ant colony optimization continuous(ACOC),and cuckoo search algorithm(CSA).The prediction models without the YJ technique,i.e.FPA-MLPnet,CRO-MLPnet,ACOC-MLPnet,and CSA-MLPnet,were then compared to those with the YJ technique,i.e.YJ-FPA-MLPnet,YJ-CRO-MLPnet,YJ-ACOC-MLPnet,and YJ-CSA-MLPnet.Among these,the YJ-CRO-MLPnet model demonstrated superior reliability,achieving an accuracy of up to 83%in predicting the friction angle of clay in practical engineering scenarios.This improvement is significant,as it represents an increase from 1.3%to approximately 20%compared to the models that did not utilize the YJ transformation technique.展开更多
Objective: The measurement of phase angles is an important monitoring parameter and supplementation with omega-3 could promote benefits by modulating the electrical potential of membranes and increasing body cell mass...Objective: The measurement of phase angles is an important monitoring parameter and supplementation with omega-3 could promote benefits by modulating the electrical potential of membranes and increasing body cell mass. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the phase angle of people living with HIV/AIDS. Methods: In this study, 63 individuals of all genders who were undergoing outpatient follow-up and showed lipodystrophy due to highly active antiretroviral therapy were analyzed. Our sample consisted of two groups, one that received supplementation containing 2550 mg of omega-3/day (1080 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 720 mg of docosahexaenoic acid) for three months (n = 32) and another that underwent nutrition guidance (n = 31). Phase angle and body cell mass were assessed for both groups and compared at the beginning of research (T0) and after our intervention (T1) for each group separately. Results: Phase angle averaged 6.45° ± 1.06 SD. The comparison between T0 and T1 showed a significant increase in phase angle and body cell mass, whereas the guidance group showed a decrease in body cell mass at T1 in relation to T0, with a significant p-value. Variance in phase angle between moments showed significant values between T0 and T1 in the supplementation group for all genders. Conclusion: Omega-3 positively modulated patients phase angle and body cell mass, but we emphasize the need for other studies that can solidify knowledge about supplementation dosage and intervention time.展开更多
Plant architecture is a collection of major agronomic traits that determines rice grain production,and it is mainly influenced by tillering,tiller angle,plant height and panicle morphology(Wang and Li 2006).Tiller ang...Plant architecture is a collection of major agronomic traits that determines rice grain production,and it is mainly influenced by tillering,tiller angle,plant height and panicle morphology(Wang and Li 2006).Tiller angle is one of the critical components that determines rice plant architecture,which in turn influences grain yield mainly due to its large impact on plant density(Wang et al.2022).展开更多
A theoretical analysis of upward deflection and midspan deflection of prestressed bamboo-steel composite beams is presented in this study.The deflection analysis considers the influences of interface slippage and shea...A theoretical analysis of upward deflection and midspan deflection of prestressed bamboo-steel composite beams is presented in this study.The deflection analysis considers the influences of interface slippage and shear deformation.Furthermore,the calculation model for flexural capacity is proposed considering the two stages of loading.The theoretical results are verified with 8 specimens considering different prestressed load levels,load schemes,and prestress schemes.The results indicate that the proposed theoretical analysis provides a feasible prediction of the deflection and bearing capacity of bamboo-steel composite beams.For deflection analysis,the method considering the slippage and shear deformation provides better accuracy.The theoretical method for bearing capacity matches well with the test results,and the relative errors in the serviceability limit state and ultimate limit state are 4.95%and 5.85%,respectively,which meet the accuracy requirements of the engineered application.展开更多
Moirésuperlattices in twisted two-dimensional materials have emerged as ideal platforms for engineering quantum phenomena,which are highly sensitive to twist angles,including both the global value and the spatial...Moirésuperlattices in twisted two-dimensional materials have emerged as ideal platforms for engineering quantum phenomena,which are highly sensitive to twist angles,including both the global value and the spatial inhomogeneity.However,only a few methods provide spatial-resolved information for characterizing local twist angle distribution.展开更多
The recently developed magic-intensity trapping technique of neutral atoms efficiently mitigates the detrimental effect of light shifts on atomic qubits and substantially enhances the coherence time. This technique re...The recently developed magic-intensity trapping technique of neutral atoms efficiently mitigates the detrimental effect of light shifts on atomic qubits and substantially enhances the coherence time. This technique relies on applying a bias magnetic field precisely parallel to the wave vector of a circularly polarized trapping laser field. However, due to the presence of the vector light shift experienced by the trapped atoms, it is challenging to precisely define a parallel magnetic field, especially at a low bias magnetic field strength, for the magic-intensity trapping of85Rb qubits. In this work, we present a method to calibrate the angle between the bias magnetic field and the trapping laser field with the compensating magnetic fields in the other two directions orthogonal to the bias magnetic field direction. Experimentally, with a constantdepth trap and a fixed bias magnetic field, we measure the respective resonant frequencies of the atomic qubits in a linearly polarized trap and a circularly polarized one via the conventional microwave Rabi spectra with different compensating magnetic fields and obtain the corresponding total magnetic fields via the respective resonant frequencies using the Breit–Rabi formula. With known total magnetic fields, the angle is a function of the other two compensating magnetic fields.Finally, the projection value of the angle on either of the directions orthogonal to the bias magnetic field direction can be reduced to 0(4)° by applying specific compensating magnetic fields. The measurement error is mainly attributed to the fluctuation of atomic temperature. Moreover, it also demonstrates that, even for a small angle, the effect is strong enough to cause large decoherence of Rabi oscillation in a magic-intensity trap. Although the compensation method demonstrated here is explored for the magic-intensity trapping technique, it can be applied to a variety of similar precision measurements with trapped neutral atoms.展开更多
The attack angle may greatly affect the hypersonic plasma sheaths around the re-entry vehicle,thereby affecting the transmission characteristics of electromagnetic(EM)waves in the sheaths.In this paper,we propose an i...The attack angle may greatly affect the hypersonic plasma sheaths around the re-entry vehicle,thereby affecting the transmission characteristics of electromagnetic(EM)waves in the sheaths.In this paper,we propose an integrated three-dimensional(3D)model with various attack angles and realistic flying conditions of radio attenuation measurement C-II(RAM C-II)re-entry tasks for analyzing the effect of the attack angle on the transmission characteristics of EM waves in the sheaths.It is shown that the electron density and collision frequency of the sheath on the windward side can be increased by an order of magnitude with the increase of the attack angle.Meanwhile,the thickness of the sheath on the leeward side is increased where the electron density and collision frequency are reduced.The EM waves are mainly reflected on the windward plasma sheath due to the cutoff effect,and the radio-frequency(RF)blackout is mitigated if the antenna is positioned on the leeward side.Thus,by planning the trajectory properly and installing the antenna accordingly during the re-entry,it is possible to provide an approach for mitigation of the RF blackout problem to an extent.展开更多
AIM:To investigate Omicron’s impact on clinical presentation of acute primary angle closure(APAC)in China.METHODS:A consecutive case series with historical controls was conducted at Shenzhen Eye Hospital,the largest ...AIM:To investigate Omicron’s impact on clinical presentation of acute primary angle closure(APAC)in China.METHODS:A consecutive case series with historical controls was conducted at Shenzhen Eye Hospital,the largest specialized hospital in Shenzhen,China.Medical records from a two-month period during the Omicron pandemic(December 1,2022,to January 31,2023)were compared with records from two control groups(12/2018–1/2019 and 12/2021–1/2022)before pandemic.Patients with APAC were included,and the prevalence of APAC and demographic characteristics in Omicron-infected and noninfected patients were compared.RESULTS:Seventy-one(23.43%)out of 303 patients were diagnosed with APAC in the pandemic cohort,which was 2.98 and 2.61 times higher than that in control cohorts(7.87%in 2019,8.96%in 2022,P<0.001).The pandemic cohort has significantly higher Omicron-infected rate(78.87%vs 0 vs 0;P<0.001),lower proportion of glaucoma history(16.90%vs 42.86%vs 41.67%,P=0.005),higher surgical rate(95.77%vs 83.33%vs 78.57%,P=0.024),higher total medical costs and larger pupil diameter(5.63±0.15 vs 4.68±0.15 vs 4.69±0.22 mm,P<0.01).In 83%Omicron-infected patients,ocular symptoms appeared within 3d after systemic symptoms onset.In multivariate analysis,Omicron infection(P<0.001)was the only independent predictor of pupil diameter.CONCLUSION:In the Omicron epidemic in China,there is an increase of prevalence and severity of APAC,particularly focusing on the first 3d following infection.展开更多
Internal solitary waves(ISWs)change the roughness of the sea surface,thus producing dark and bright bands in optical images.However,reasons for changes in imaging characteristics with the solar zenith angle remain unc...Internal solitary waves(ISWs)change the roughness of the sea surface,thus producing dark and bright bands in optical images.However,reasons for changes in imaging characteristics with the solar zenith angle remain unclear.In this paper,the optical imaging pattern of ISWs in sunglint under different zenith angles of the light source is investigated by collecting optical images of ISWs through physical simulation.The experiment involves setting 10 zenith angles of the light source,which are divided into area a the optical images of ISWs in the three areas show dark-bright mode,single bright band,and bright-dark mode,which are consistent with those observed by optical remote sensing.In addition,this study analyzed the percentage of the dark and bright areas of the bands and the change in the relative gray difference and found changes in both areas under different zenith angles of the light source.The MODIS and ASAR images display a similar brightness-darkness distance of the same ISWs.Therefore,the relationship between the brightness-darkness distance and the characteristic half-width of ISWs is determined in accordance with the eKdV theory and the imaging mechanism of ISWs of the SAR image.Overall,the relationship between them in the experiment is almost consistent with the theoretical result.展开更多
A terminal ballistic analysis of the effects of 7.62 mm × 51 AP P80 rounds on inclined high-strength armor steel plates is the focus of the presented study.The findings of an instrumented ballistic testing combin...A terminal ballistic analysis of the effects of 7.62 mm × 51 AP P80 rounds on inclined high-strength armor steel plates is the focus of the presented study.The findings of an instrumented ballistic testing combined with 3D advanced numerical simulations performed using the IMPETUS Afea? software yielded the conclusions.The experimental verification proved that slight differences in the pitch-andyaw angles of a projectile upon an impact caused different damage types to the projectile’s core.The residual velocities predicted numerically were close to the experimental values and the calculated core deviations were in satisfactory agreement with the experimental results.An extended matrix of the core deviation angles with combinations of pitch-and-yaw upon impact angles was subsequently built on the basis of the numerical study.The presented experimental and numerical investigation examined thoroughly the influence of the initial pitch and yaw angles on the after-perforation projectile’s performance.展开更多
Rock shed is an effective protection measure against rockfall.To investigate the influences of falling rock’s shape and impact angle on the impact effect of the cushioned rock shed,a modeling approach for a rock shed...Rock shed is an effective protection measure against rockfall.To investigate the influences of falling rock’s shape and impact angle on the impact effect of the cushioned rock shed,a modeling approach for a rock shed with a cushion layer using PFC-FLAC.The granular cushion is modeled as an aggregate of discrete non-cohesion particles,while the concrete plate and the beam are modeled as zones.The falling rock with different sphericities and impact angles is modeled as a rigid assembly.The numerical model is validated by comparing the simulation results with experimental and numerical results from previous literature.This model is applied to analyze the effects of rock shape and impact angle on the dynamic interaction effects between falling rock and cushioned rock shed,including the impact force,transmitted bottom force,penetration depth,and plate deflection.The numerical results show that the variation in the falling rock’s shape has different effects on the falling rock with different impact angles.These findings could support rock shed design by revealing the limitations of the assumptions in the past research,which may result in unsafe rock sheds for some rockfall cases.展开更多
This article presents a three-dimensional analysis of the impact of the angle of incidence of the magnetic field intensity on the electrical performance (series resistance, shunt resistance) of a bifacial polycrystall...This article presents a three-dimensional analysis of the impact of the angle of incidence of the magnetic field intensity on the electrical performance (series resistance, shunt resistance) of a bifacial polycrystalline silicon solar cell. The cell is illuminated simultaneously from both sides. The continuity equation for the excess minority carriers is solved at the emitter and at the depth of the base respectively. The analytical expressions for photocurrent density, photovoltage, series resistance and shunt resistance were deduced. Using these expressions, the values of the series and shunt resistances were extracted for different values of the angle of incidence of the magnetic field intensity. The study shows that as the angle of incidence increases, the slopes of the minority carrier density for the two modes of operation of the solar cell decrease. This is explained by a drop in the accumulation of carriers in the area close to the junction due to the fact that the Lorentz force is unable to drive the carriers towards the lateral surfaces due to the weak action of the magnetic field, which tends to cancel out as the incidence angle increases, and consequently a drop in the open circuit photovoltage. This, in turn, reduces the Lorentz force. These results predict that the p-n junction of the solar cell will not heat up. The study also showed a decrease in series resistance as the incidence angle of the magnetic field intensity increased from 0 rad to π/2 rad and an increase in shunt resistance as the incidence angle increased. His behaviour of the electrical parameters when the angle of incidence of the field from 0 rad to π/2 rad shows that the decreasing magnetic field vector tends to be collinear with the electron trajectory. This allows them to cross the junction and participate in the external current. The best orientation for the Lorentz force is zero, in which case the carriers can move easily towards the junction.展开更多
In open pit mining,uncontrolled block instabilities have serious social,economic and regulatory consequences,such as casualties,disruption of operation and increased regulation difficulties.For this reason,bench face ...In open pit mining,uncontrolled block instabilities have serious social,economic and regulatory consequences,such as casualties,disruption of operation and increased regulation difficulties.For this reason,bench face angle,as one of the controlling parameters associated with block instabilities,should be carefully designed for sustainable mining.This study introduces a discrete fracture network(DFN)-based probabilistic block theory approach for the fast design of the bench face angle.A major advantage is the explicit incorporation of discontinuity size and spatial distribution in the procedure of key blocks testing.The proposed approach was applied to a granite mine in China.First,DFN models were generated from a multi-step modeling procedure to simulate the complex structural characteristics of pit slopes.Then,a modified key blocks searching method was applied to the slope faces modeled,and a cumulative probability of failure was obtained for each sector.Finally,a bench face angle was determined commensurate with an acceptable risk level of stability.The simulation results have shown that the number of hazardous traces exposed on the slope face can be significantly reduced when the suggested bench face angle is adopted,indicating an extremely low risk of uncontrolled block instabilities.展开更多
The structure of the concave-convex plates has proven to be crucial in optimizing the internal flow characteristics of the electrolyzer for hydrogen production.This paper investigates the impact of the gradual expansi...The structure of the concave-convex plates has proven to be crucial in optimizing the internal flow characteristics of the electrolyzer for hydrogen production.This paper investigates the impact of the gradual expansion angle of the inlet channel on the internal flow field of alkaline electrolyzers.The flow distribution characteristics of concave-convex plates with different inlet angle structures in the electrolytic cell is discussed.Besides,the system with internal heat source is studied.The results indicate that a moderate gradual expansion angle is beneficial for enhancing fluid uniformity.However,an excessively large gradual expansion angle may lead to adverse reflux phenomena,reducing the overall performance of the electrolytic cell.展开更多
It is important to study the effect of hydrate production on the physical and mechanical properties of low-permeability clayey–silty reservoirs for the largescale exploitation of hydrate reservoirs in the South China...It is important to study the effect of hydrate production on the physical and mechanical properties of low-permeability clayey–silty reservoirs for the largescale exploitation of hydrate reservoirs in the South China Sea.In this study,a multiphysical-field coupling model,combined with actual exploration drilling data and the mechanical experimental data of hydrate cores in the laboratory,was established to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of low-permeability reservoirs with different slope angles during 5-year hydrate production by the depressurization method via a horizontal well.The result shows that the permeability of reservoirs severely affects gas production rate,and the maximum gas production amount of a 20-m-long horizontal well can reach186.8 m3/day during the 5-year hydrate production.Reservoirs with smaller slope angles show higher gas production rates.The depressurization propagation and hydrate dissociation mainly develop along the direction parallel to the slope.Besides,the mean effective stress of reservoirs is concentrated in the near-wellbore area with the on-going hydrate production,and gradually decreases with the increase of the slope angle.Different from the effective stress distribution law,the total reservoir settlement amount first decreases and then increases with the increase of the slope angle.The maximum settlement of reservoirs with a 0°slope angle is up to 3.4 m,and the displacement in the near-wellbore area is as high as2.2 m after 5 years of hydrate production.It is concluded that the pore pressure drop region of low-permeability reservoirs in the South China Sea is limited,and various slope angles further lead to differences in effective stress and strain of reservoirs during hydrate production,resulting in severe uneven settlement of reservoirs.展开更多
Loop Heat Pipe(LHP)is an efficient two-phase heat transfer device,which can be used in waste heat recovery,electronics cooling,aerospace and other fields.The wick,the core component of LHP,plays an important role in i...Loop Heat Pipe(LHP)is an efficient two-phase heat transfer device,which can be used in waste heat recovery,electronics cooling,aerospace and other fields.The wick,the core component of LHP,plays an important role in its start-up and operation.In this paper,the wick fabricated by 3D printing technology had uniform and interconnected pores.In the experiment,the position of the parallel vapor removal grooves was always fixed towards the vapor outlet.When the cylindrical wick was placed in the evaporator,the rotation angle relative to its central axis could be changed,thus changing the number and shape of the pores facing the vapor removal grooves.The wick deflection angle represented its change in spatial position relative to the fixed vapor removal grooves.The effect of the wick deflection angles on the heat transfer characteristics of the flat LHP was experimentally investigated.It was found that with the change of deflection angle,the number of pores in the evaporation-oriented zone would also change,which had a significant impact on the start-up process and heat transfer performance of LHP.When the deflection angle was 30°,LHP could start fastest at a low heat load of 20 W and operate stable at a high heat load of 180 W.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of cataract ultrasonic emulsification(PE)combined with atrial angle separation(CSS)for primary angle-closure glaucoma(PACG).Methods:78 patients with PACG admitted to the ho...Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of cataract ultrasonic emulsification(PE)combined with atrial angle separation(CSS)for primary angle-closure glaucoma(PACG).Methods:78 patients with PACG admitted to the hospital between October 2021 and October 2023 were selected and grouped by randomized numerical table;39 cases were counted in the observation group and selected PE combined with CSS surgery;39 cases were counted in the reference group and selected PE combined with trabeculectomy and the total effective rate,the state of the atrial angle,the clinical indexes,the degree of ocular symptoms,and the complication rate were compared.Results:The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the reference group,and the percentage of the wide atrial angle of the atrial angle status was higher than that of the reference group;3 months after the operation,the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution(Log MAR)and intraocular pressure of the observation group was lower than that of the reference group,and the central anterior chamber depth(ACD)was greater than that of the reference group;the scores of the degree of ocular symptoms of the observation group were lower than that of the reference group,and the rate of complication was lower than that of the reference group(P<0.05).Conclusion:PE combined with CSS surgical treatment for PACG patients can improve the efficacy of treatment,improve the state of the patients’atrial angles,and restore the ocular function indexes.It can alleviate the ocular symptoms as soon as possible and has a high surgical safety.展开更多
Introduction: Medical treatment for POAG is continuous and lifelong treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the cost of this treatment and patients’ income and the impact of this rel...Introduction: Medical treatment for POAG is continuous and lifelong treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the cost of this treatment and patients’ income and the impact of this relationship on treatment compliance. Materials and Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study with a descriptive aim covering sociodemographic data, average incomes, and direct and indirect costs of treatment of 57 patients followed for POAG during the period from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016 (5 years). Results: The patients were aged 25 to 77 years (mean = 54.4 years) with a male predominance (sex ratio = 1.5). Retirees were the most represented (26.32%), followed by workers in the informal sector (14.04%) and housewives (12.28%). Patients who had an annual income less than or equal to 900,000 CFA francs (€1370.83) per year represented 56.14% and those who did not have health coverage represented 57.89%. The treatment was monotherapy (64.91%), dual therapy (31.58%) or triple therapy (3.05%) and the average ratio of “annual cost of treatment to annual income” was 0.56 with for maximum 2.23 and 0.02 as minimum. Patients who considered the cost of treatment unbearable for their income represented 78.95%. Conclusion: Prevention of blindness due to glaucoma requires early detection but also the establishment of health coverage mechanisms to improve compliance with medical treatment. In addition, consideration should be given to the development of glaucoma surgery in our country, the indication of which could be the first intention in certain patients, considering for those patients, the geographical and financial accessibility of medical treatment. .展开更多
Background: Goniosynechialysis is a surgical procedure that has been shown to slow the progression of glaucoma in oriental eyes with chronic angle closure glaucoma. This procedure was successful in 80% of cases, and t...Background: Goniosynechialysis is a surgical procedure that has been shown to slow the progression of glaucoma in oriental eyes with chronic angle closure glaucoma. This procedure was successful in 80% of cases, and the peripheral anterior syenchiae did not exist until one year later. Nonetheless, there is little evidence of its efficacy in our context. Our study aims to investigate the efficacy of goniosynechialysis during phacoemulsification in patients with primary angle closure disease and concomitant cataract. Methods: This was an observational, prospective study. The intra-ocular pressure, need for anti-glaucoma drugs, visual acuity, the extent of synechiae, anterior chamber depth, surgical success rate, and other indicators were monitored for at least three months following surgery. Results: This study included 114 patients (118 eyes), 61 with chronic angle closure glaucoma (51.69%), 33 with primary angle closure (27.97%), and 24 with acute attack angle closure (20.34%), who were surgically treated with phacoemulsification and goniosynechialysis (Phaco-GSL). The mean intra-ocular pressure had significantly decreased three months after surgery (pre- vs post-op: 22.04 ± 10.86 vs 15.41 ± 6.06 mmHg, p-value p-value p-value p-value p-value Conclusion: Regardless of the type of glaucoma, combined phacoemulsification-goniosynechialysis is effective in lowering pressure, restoring vision, reducing the need for anti-glaucoma drugs, and preventing the synechial recurrence. Success was higher in eyes with less extensive synechiae. Phaco-GSL is safe and effective in the treatment of primary angle closure diseases with co-existing cataract.展开更多
Background: Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), at 4.2%. The efficacy of medical treatment has been demonstrated and remains one of the treatments of choice for POAG. H...Background: Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), at 4.2%. The efficacy of medical treatment has been demonstrated and remains one of the treatments of choice for POAG. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, its effectiveness has many challenges, due to multiple factors, including cost and access to care. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolutive profile of primary open-angle glaucoma patients. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in two hospitals in western Cameroon. Epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and evolutionary data on intraocular pressure at one year after medical treatment were analyzed. SPSS version 23 software was used for statistical analysis, with a significant p-value set at 5%. Results: A total of 201 patients with POAG were included in the study. The population comprised 100 men and 101 women, with a mean age of 54 ± 12 years. At diagnosis, the mean intraocular pressure was 23.9 ± 8.70 mmHg for the right eye and 25.5 ± 9.57 mmHg for the left eye. The mean cup/disc ratio was 0.64 ± 0.2 [0.2-1] and 0.67 ± 0.19 [02-1] in the right and left eyes, respectively. Monotherapy was the most prescribed treatment [59.2%]. After one year of treatment, intraocular pressure was reduced by 15.5% with beta-blockers, 23.66% with prostaglandins, 19.11% with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, 35, 92% with beta-blockers and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, 25.92% with beta-blockers and prostaglandins, 48.03% with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and prostaglandin agonists, and 38.77% with triple therapy. Taking glaucoma severity into account, a significant reduction in intraocular pressure at one year was observed in all participants [p 0.05]. However, the target pressure was obtained in 47%, 20% and 14% of eyes suffering of mild, moderate, and severe grade of POAG respectively. Conclusion: In the present study, there was a significant reduction in intraocular pressure after one year of medical treatment. However, the reduction in intraocular pressure does not allow the target pressure to be reached in severe forms. Thus, alternatives to the medical treatment of POAG should be discussed early in the present context. .展开更多
文摘The accurate prediction of the friction angle of clays is crucial for assessing slope stability in engineering applications.This study addresses the importance of estimating the friction angle and presents the development of four soft computing models:YJ-FPA-MLPnet,YJ-CRO-MLPnet,YJ-ACOC-MLPnet,and YJCSA-MLPnet.First of all,the Yeo-Johnson(YJ)transformation technique was used to stabilize the variance of data and make it more suitable for parametric statistical models that assume normality and equal variances.This technique is expected to improve the accuracy of friction angle prediction models.The friction angle prediction models then utilized multi-layer perceptron neural networks(MLPnet)and metaheuristic optimization algorithms to further enhance performance,including flower pollination algorithm(FPA),coral reefs optimization(CRO),ant colony optimization continuous(ACOC),and cuckoo search algorithm(CSA).The prediction models without the YJ technique,i.e.FPA-MLPnet,CRO-MLPnet,ACOC-MLPnet,and CSA-MLPnet,were then compared to those with the YJ technique,i.e.YJ-FPA-MLPnet,YJ-CRO-MLPnet,YJ-ACOC-MLPnet,and YJ-CSA-MLPnet.Among these,the YJ-CRO-MLPnet model demonstrated superior reliability,achieving an accuracy of up to 83%in predicting the friction angle of clay in practical engineering scenarios.This improvement is significant,as it represents an increase from 1.3%to approximately 20%compared to the models that did not utilize the YJ transformation technique.
文摘Objective: The measurement of phase angles is an important monitoring parameter and supplementation with omega-3 could promote benefits by modulating the electrical potential of membranes and increasing body cell mass. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the phase angle of people living with HIV/AIDS. Methods: In this study, 63 individuals of all genders who were undergoing outpatient follow-up and showed lipodystrophy due to highly active antiretroviral therapy were analyzed. Our sample consisted of two groups, one that received supplementation containing 2550 mg of omega-3/day (1080 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 720 mg of docosahexaenoic acid) for three months (n = 32) and another that underwent nutrition guidance (n = 31). Phase angle and body cell mass were assessed for both groups and compared at the beginning of research (T0) and after our intervention (T1) for each group separately. Results: Phase angle averaged 6.45° ± 1.06 SD. The comparison between T0 and T1 showed a significant increase in phase angle and body cell mass, whereas the guidance group showed a decrease in body cell mass at T1 in relation to T0, with a significant p-value. Variance in phase angle between moments showed significant values between T0 and T1 in the supplementation group for all genders. Conclusion: Omega-3 positively modulated patients phase angle and body cell mass, but we emphasize the need for other studies that can solidify knowledge about supplementation dosage and intervention time.
基金grants from the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province,China(LTGN23C130001)the Hainan Provincial Joint Project of Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City,China(2021JJLH0045)+1 种基金the State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Breeding-Independent Project,China(2023ZZKT20304)the China Agriculture Research System(CARS-01-14)。
文摘Plant architecture is a collection of major agronomic traits that determines rice grain production,and it is mainly influenced by tillering,tiller angle,plant height and panicle morphology(Wang and Li 2006).Tiller angle is one of the critical components that determines rice plant architecture,which in turn influences grain yield mainly due to its large impact on plant density(Wang et al.2022).
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51978345,52278264).
文摘A theoretical analysis of upward deflection and midspan deflection of prestressed bamboo-steel composite beams is presented in this study.The deflection analysis considers the influences of interface slippage and shear deformation.Furthermore,the calculation model for flexural capacity is proposed considering the two stages of loading.The theoretical results are verified with 8 specimens considering different prestressed load levels,load schemes,and prestress schemes.The results indicate that the proposed theoretical analysis provides a feasible prediction of the deflection and bearing capacity of bamboo-steel composite beams.For deflection analysis,the method considering the slippage and shear deformation provides better accuracy.The theoretical method for bearing capacity matches well with the test results,and the relative errors in the serviceability limit state and ultimate limit state are 4.95%and 5.85%,respectively,which meet the accuracy requirements of the engineered application.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.61888102 and 12374199)the National Key Research&Development Projects of China(Grant Nos.2022YFA1204100,2019YFA0308501,and 2021YFA1401300)+1 种基金the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB33030100)the Innovation Program of Quantum Science and Technology(Grant No.2021ZD0302700)。
文摘Moirésuperlattices in twisted two-dimensional materials have emerged as ideal platforms for engineering quantum phenomena,which are highly sensitive to twist angles,including both the global value and the spatial inhomogeneity.However,only a few methods provide spatial-resolved information for characterizing local twist angle distribution.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12104414,12122412,12104464,and 12104413)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2021M702955).
文摘The recently developed magic-intensity trapping technique of neutral atoms efficiently mitigates the detrimental effect of light shifts on atomic qubits and substantially enhances the coherence time. This technique relies on applying a bias magnetic field precisely parallel to the wave vector of a circularly polarized trapping laser field. However, due to the presence of the vector light shift experienced by the trapped atoms, it is challenging to precisely define a parallel magnetic field, especially at a low bias magnetic field strength, for the magic-intensity trapping of85Rb qubits. In this work, we present a method to calibrate the angle between the bias magnetic field and the trapping laser field with the compensating magnetic fields in the other two directions orthogonal to the bias magnetic field direction. Experimentally, with a constantdepth trap and a fixed bias magnetic field, we measure the respective resonant frequencies of the atomic qubits in a linearly polarized trap and a circularly polarized one via the conventional microwave Rabi spectra with different compensating magnetic fields and obtain the corresponding total magnetic fields via the respective resonant frequencies using the Breit–Rabi formula. With known total magnetic fields, the angle is a function of the other two compensating magnetic fields.Finally, the projection value of the angle on either of the directions orthogonal to the bias magnetic field direction can be reduced to 0(4)° by applying specific compensating magnetic fields. The measurement error is mainly attributed to the fluctuation of atomic temperature. Moreover, it also demonstrates that, even for a small angle, the effect is strong enough to cause large decoherence of Rabi oscillation in a magic-intensity trap. Although the compensation method demonstrated here is explored for the magic-intensity trapping technique, it can be applied to a variety of similar precision measurements with trapped neutral atoms.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.92271202 and 92371105)。
文摘The attack angle may greatly affect the hypersonic plasma sheaths around the re-entry vehicle,thereby affecting the transmission characteristics of electromagnetic(EM)waves in the sheaths.In this paper,we propose an integrated three-dimensional(3D)model with various attack angles and realistic flying conditions of radio attenuation measurement C-II(RAM C-II)re-entry tasks for analyzing the effect of the attack angle on the transmission characteristics of EM waves in the sheaths.It is shown that the electron density and collision frequency of the sheath on the windward side can be increased by an order of magnitude with the increase of the attack angle.Meanwhile,the thickness of the sheath on the leeward side is increased where the electron density and collision frequency are reduced.The EM waves are mainly reflected on the windward plasma sheath due to the cutoff effect,and the radio-frequency(RF)blackout is mitigated if the antenna is positioned on the leeward side.Thus,by planning the trajectory properly and installing the antenna accordingly during the re-entry,it is possible to provide an approach for mitigation of the RF blackout problem to an extent.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.82301223No.82271102)+2 种基金the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2022A1515111155)the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(No.KCXFZ20211020163813019)the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program(No.RCBS20210706092347043).
文摘AIM:To investigate Omicron’s impact on clinical presentation of acute primary angle closure(APAC)in China.METHODS:A consecutive case series with historical controls was conducted at Shenzhen Eye Hospital,the largest specialized hospital in Shenzhen,China.Medical records from a two-month period during the Omicron pandemic(December 1,2022,to January 31,2023)were compared with records from two control groups(12/2018–1/2019 and 12/2021–1/2022)before pandemic.Patients with APAC were included,and the prevalence of APAC and demographic characteristics in Omicron-infected and noninfected patients were compared.RESULTS:Seventy-one(23.43%)out of 303 patients were diagnosed with APAC in the pandemic cohort,which was 2.98 and 2.61 times higher than that in control cohorts(7.87%in 2019,8.96%in 2022,P<0.001).The pandemic cohort has significantly higher Omicron-infected rate(78.87%vs 0 vs 0;P<0.001),lower proportion of glaucoma history(16.90%vs 42.86%vs 41.67%,P=0.005),higher surgical rate(95.77%vs 83.33%vs 78.57%,P=0.024),higher total medical costs and larger pupil diameter(5.63±0.15 vs 4.68±0.15 vs 4.69±0.22 mm,P<0.01).In 83%Omicron-infected patients,ocular symptoms appeared within 3d after systemic symptoms onset.In multivariate analysis,Omicron infection(P<0.001)was the only independent predictor of pupil diameter.CONCLUSION:In the Omicron epidemic in China,there is an increase of prevalence and severity of APAC,particularly focusing on the first 3d following infection.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.61871353 and 42006164)for their support。
文摘Internal solitary waves(ISWs)change the roughness of the sea surface,thus producing dark and bright bands in optical images.However,reasons for changes in imaging characteristics with the solar zenith angle remain unclear.In this paper,the optical imaging pattern of ISWs in sunglint under different zenith angles of the light source is investigated by collecting optical images of ISWs through physical simulation.The experiment involves setting 10 zenith angles of the light source,which are divided into area a the optical images of ISWs in the three areas show dark-bright mode,single bright band,and bright-dark mode,which are consistent with those observed by optical remote sensing.In addition,this study analyzed the percentage of the dark and bright areas of the bands and the change in the relative gray difference and found changes in both areas under different zenith angles of the light source.The MODIS and ASAR images display a similar brightness-darkness distance of the same ISWs.Therefore,the relationship between the brightness-darkness distance and the characteristic half-width of ISWs is determined in accordance with the eKdV theory and the imaging mechanism of ISWs of the SAR image.Overall,the relationship between them in the experiment is almost consistent with the theoretical result.
文摘A terminal ballistic analysis of the effects of 7.62 mm × 51 AP P80 rounds on inclined high-strength armor steel plates is the focus of the presented study.The findings of an instrumented ballistic testing combined with 3D advanced numerical simulations performed using the IMPETUS Afea? software yielded the conclusions.The experimental verification proved that slight differences in the pitch-andyaw angles of a projectile upon an impact caused different damage types to the projectile’s core.The residual velocities predicted numerically were close to the experimental values and the calculated core deviations were in satisfactory agreement with the experimental results.An extended matrix of the core deviation angles with combinations of pitch-and-yaw upon impact angles was subsequently built on the basis of the numerical study.The presented experimental and numerical investigation examined thoroughly the influence of the initial pitch and yaw angles on the after-perforation projectile’s performance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.41941017 and U1702241).
文摘Rock shed is an effective protection measure against rockfall.To investigate the influences of falling rock’s shape and impact angle on the impact effect of the cushioned rock shed,a modeling approach for a rock shed with a cushion layer using PFC-FLAC.The granular cushion is modeled as an aggregate of discrete non-cohesion particles,while the concrete plate and the beam are modeled as zones.The falling rock with different sphericities and impact angles is modeled as a rigid assembly.The numerical model is validated by comparing the simulation results with experimental and numerical results from previous literature.This model is applied to analyze the effects of rock shape and impact angle on the dynamic interaction effects between falling rock and cushioned rock shed,including the impact force,transmitted bottom force,penetration depth,and plate deflection.The numerical results show that the variation in the falling rock’s shape has different effects on the falling rock with different impact angles.These findings could support rock shed design by revealing the limitations of the assumptions in the past research,which may result in unsafe rock sheds for some rockfall cases.
文摘This article presents a three-dimensional analysis of the impact of the angle of incidence of the magnetic field intensity on the electrical performance (series resistance, shunt resistance) of a bifacial polycrystalline silicon solar cell. The cell is illuminated simultaneously from both sides. The continuity equation for the excess minority carriers is solved at the emitter and at the depth of the base respectively. The analytical expressions for photocurrent density, photovoltage, series resistance and shunt resistance were deduced. Using these expressions, the values of the series and shunt resistances were extracted for different values of the angle of incidence of the magnetic field intensity. The study shows that as the angle of incidence increases, the slopes of the minority carrier density for the two modes of operation of the solar cell decrease. This is explained by a drop in the accumulation of carriers in the area close to the junction due to the fact that the Lorentz force is unable to drive the carriers towards the lateral surfaces due to the weak action of the magnetic field, which tends to cancel out as the incidence angle increases, and consequently a drop in the open circuit photovoltage. This, in turn, reduces the Lorentz force. These results predict that the p-n junction of the solar cell will not heat up. The study also showed a decrease in series resistance as the incidence angle of the magnetic field intensity increased from 0 rad to π/2 rad and an increase in shunt resistance as the incidence angle increased. His behaviour of the electrical parameters when the angle of incidence of the field from 0 rad to π/2 rad shows that the decreasing magnetic field vector tends to be collinear with the electron trajectory. This allows them to cross the junction and participate in the external current. The best orientation for the Lorentz force is zero, in which case the carriers can move easily towards the junction.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42102313 and 52104125)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.B240201094).
文摘In open pit mining,uncontrolled block instabilities have serious social,economic and regulatory consequences,such as casualties,disruption of operation and increased regulation difficulties.For this reason,bench face angle,as one of the controlling parameters associated with block instabilities,should be carefully designed for sustainable mining.This study introduces a discrete fracture network(DFN)-based probabilistic block theory approach for the fast design of the bench face angle.A major advantage is the explicit incorporation of discontinuity size and spatial distribution in the procedure of key blocks testing.The proposed approach was applied to a granite mine in China.First,DFN models were generated from a multi-step modeling procedure to simulate the complex structural characteristics of pit slopes.Then,a modified key blocks searching method was applied to the slope faces modeled,and a cumulative probability of failure was obtained for each sector.Finally,a bench face angle was determined commensurate with an acceptable risk level of stability.The simulation results have shown that the number of hazardous traces exposed on the slope face can be significantly reduced when the suggested bench face angle is adopted,indicating an extremely low risk of uncontrolled block instabilities.
基金supported by Science and Technology Projects of Gansu,China(No.22ZD6GA014).
文摘The structure of the concave-convex plates has proven to be crucial in optimizing the internal flow characteristics of the electrolyzer for hydrogen production.This paper investigates the impact of the gradual expansion angle of the inlet channel on the internal flow field of alkaline electrolyzers.The flow distribution characteristics of concave-convex plates with different inlet angle structures in the electrolytic cell is discussed.Besides,the system with internal heat source is studied.The results indicate that a moderate gradual expansion angle is beneficial for enhancing fluid uniformity.However,an excessively large gradual expansion angle may lead to adverse reflux phenomena,reducing the overall performance of the electrolytic cell.
基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,Grant/Award Number:2020M681768Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province,Grant/Award Number:BK20200653+1 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Grant/Award Number:2021GJZPY15National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Number:42106210。
文摘It is important to study the effect of hydrate production on the physical and mechanical properties of low-permeability clayey–silty reservoirs for the largescale exploitation of hydrate reservoirs in the South China Sea.In this study,a multiphysical-field coupling model,combined with actual exploration drilling data and the mechanical experimental data of hydrate cores in the laboratory,was established to investigate the physical and mechanical properties of low-permeability reservoirs with different slope angles during 5-year hydrate production by the depressurization method via a horizontal well.The result shows that the permeability of reservoirs severely affects gas production rate,and the maximum gas production amount of a 20-m-long horizontal well can reach186.8 m3/day during the 5-year hydrate production.Reservoirs with smaller slope angles show higher gas production rates.The depressurization propagation and hydrate dissociation mainly develop along the direction parallel to the slope.Besides,the mean effective stress of reservoirs is concentrated in the near-wellbore area with the on-going hydrate production,and gradually decreases with the increase of the slope angle.Different from the effective stress distribution law,the total reservoir settlement amount first decreases and then increases with the increase of the slope angle.The maximum settlement of reservoirs with a 0°slope angle is up to 3.4 m,and the displacement in the near-wellbore area is as high as2.2 m after 5 years of hydrate production.It is concluded that the pore pressure drop region of low-permeability reservoirs in the South China Sea is limited,and various slope angles further lead to differences in effective stress and strain of reservoirs during hydrate production,resulting in severe uneven settlement of reservoirs.
文摘Loop Heat Pipe(LHP)is an efficient two-phase heat transfer device,which can be used in waste heat recovery,electronics cooling,aerospace and other fields.The wick,the core component of LHP,plays an important role in its start-up and operation.In this paper,the wick fabricated by 3D printing technology had uniform and interconnected pores.In the experiment,the position of the parallel vapor removal grooves was always fixed towards the vapor outlet.When the cylindrical wick was placed in the evaporator,the rotation angle relative to its central axis could be changed,thus changing the number and shape of the pores facing the vapor removal grooves.The wick deflection angle represented its change in spatial position relative to the fixed vapor removal grooves.The effect of the wick deflection angles on the heat transfer characteristics of the flat LHP was experimentally investigated.It was found that with the change of deflection angle,the number of pores in the evaporation-oriented zone would also change,which had a significant impact on the start-up process and heat transfer performance of LHP.When the deflection angle was 30°,LHP could start fastest at a low heat load of 20 W and operate stable at a high heat load of 180 W.
文摘Objective:To evaluate the therapeutic effect of cataract ultrasonic emulsification(PE)combined with atrial angle separation(CSS)for primary angle-closure glaucoma(PACG).Methods:78 patients with PACG admitted to the hospital between October 2021 and October 2023 were selected and grouped by randomized numerical table;39 cases were counted in the observation group and selected PE combined with CSS surgery;39 cases were counted in the reference group and selected PE combined with trabeculectomy and the total effective rate,the state of the atrial angle,the clinical indexes,the degree of ocular symptoms,and the complication rate were compared.Results:The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the reference group,and the percentage of the wide atrial angle of the atrial angle status was higher than that of the reference group;3 months after the operation,the logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution(Log MAR)and intraocular pressure of the observation group was lower than that of the reference group,and the central anterior chamber depth(ACD)was greater than that of the reference group;the scores of the degree of ocular symptoms of the observation group were lower than that of the reference group,and the rate of complication was lower than that of the reference group(P<0.05).Conclusion:PE combined with CSS surgical treatment for PACG patients can improve the efficacy of treatment,improve the state of the patients’atrial angles,and restore the ocular function indexes.It can alleviate the ocular symptoms as soon as possible and has a high surgical safety.
文摘Introduction: Medical treatment for POAG is continuous and lifelong treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the cost of this treatment and patients’ income and the impact of this relationship on treatment compliance. Materials and Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study with a descriptive aim covering sociodemographic data, average incomes, and direct and indirect costs of treatment of 57 patients followed for POAG during the period from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2016 (5 years). Results: The patients were aged 25 to 77 years (mean = 54.4 years) with a male predominance (sex ratio = 1.5). Retirees were the most represented (26.32%), followed by workers in the informal sector (14.04%) and housewives (12.28%). Patients who had an annual income less than or equal to 900,000 CFA francs (€1370.83) per year represented 56.14% and those who did not have health coverage represented 57.89%. The treatment was monotherapy (64.91%), dual therapy (31.58%) or triple therapy (3.05%) and the average ratio of “annual cost of treatment to annual income” was 0.56 with for maximum 2.23 and 0.02 as minimum. Patients who considered the cost of treatment unbearable for their income represented 78.95%. Conclusion: Prevention of blindness due to glaucoma requires early detection but also the establishment of health coverage mechanisms to improve compliance with medical treatment. In addition, consideration should be given to the development of glaucoma surgery in our country, the indication of which could be the first intention in certain patients, considering for those patients, the geographical and financial accessibility of medical treatment. .
文摘Background: Goniosynechialysis is a surgical procedure that has been shown to slow the progression of glaucoma in oriental eyes with chronic angle closure glaucoma. This procedure was successful in 80% of cases, and the peripheral anterior syenchiae did not exist until one year later. Nonetheless, there is little evidence of its efficacy in our context. Our study aims to investigate the efficacy of goniosynechialysis during phacoemulsification in patients with primary angle closure disease and concomitant cataract. Methods: This was an observational, prospective study. The intra-ocular pressure, need for anti-glaucoma drugs, visual acuity, the extent of synechiae, anterior chamber depth, surgical success rate, and other indicators were monitored for at least three months following surgery. Results: This study included 114 patients (118 eyes), 61 with chronic angle closure glaucoma (51.69%), 33 with primary angle closure (27.97%), and 24 with acute attack angle closure (20.34%), who were surgically treated with phacoemulsification and goniosynechialysis (Phaco-GSL). The mean intra-ocular pressure had significantly decreased three months after surgery (pre- vs post-op: 22.04 ± 10.86 vs 15.41 ± 6.06 mmHg, p-value p-value p-value p-value p-value Conclusion: Regardless of the type of glaucoma, combined phacoemulsification-goniosynechialysis is effective in lowering pressure, restoring vision, reducing the need for anti-glaucoma drugs, and preventing the synechial recurrence. Success was higher in eyes with less extensive synechiae. Phaco-GSL is safe and effective in the treatment of primary angle closure diseases with co-existing cataract.
文摘Background: Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), at 4.2%. The efficacy of medical treatment has been demonstrated and remains one of the treatments of choice for POAG. However, in sub-Saharan Africa, its effectiveness has many challenges, due to multiple factors, including cost and access to care. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic and evolutive profile of primary open-angle glaucoma patients. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in two hospitals in western Cameroon. Epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and evolutionary data on intraocular pressure at one year after medical treatment were analyzed. SPSS version 23 software was used for statistical analysis, with a significant p-value set at 5%. Results: A total of 201 patients with POAG were included in the study. The population comprised 100 men and 101 women, with a mean age of 54 ± 12 years. At diagnosis, the mean intraocular pressure was 23.9 ± 8.70 mmHg for the right eye and 25.5 ± 9.57 mmHg for the left eye. The mean cup/disc ratio was 0.64 ± 0.2 [0.2-1] and 0.67 ± 0.19 [02-1] in the right and left eyes, respectively. Monotherapy was the most prescribed treatment [59.2%]. After one year of treatment, intraocular pressure was reduced by 15.5% with beta-blockers, 23.66% with prostaglandins, 19.11% with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, 35, 92% with beta-blockers and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, 25.92% with beta-blockers and prostaglandins, 48.03% with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and prostaglandin agonists, and 38.77% with triple therapy. Taking glaucoma severity into account, a significant reduction in intraocular pressure at one year was observed in all participants [p 0.05]. However, the target pressure was obtained in 47%, 20% and 14% of eyes suffering of mild, moderate, and severe grade of POAG respectively. Conclusion: In the present study, there was a significant reduction in intraocular pressure after one year of medical treatment. However, the reduction in intraocular pressure does not allow the target pressure to be reached in severe forms. Thus, alternatives to the medical treatment of POAG should be discussed early in the present context. .