Epithelial removal appears to be an essential step prior to performing CXL, as an intact epithelium appears to block penetration of riboflavin in the anterior corneal stroma.

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Purpose Contact lens–induced discomfort (CLD) remains a primary factor in discontinuation or prevention of contact lens wear. Thus, we investigated the role of ocular surface immune cells in subjects with CLD. Methods Habitual contact lens (CL) wearers with CLD ( n = 19; 38 eyes) and without CLD ( n = 21; 42 eyes) as determined by the Contact Lens Dry Eye Questionnaire-8 was included in a trial. Enrolled subjects used either of the two types of CL (designated as CL-A or CL-D). Ocular surface cells from the bulbar conjunctiva were obtained by impression cytology. The collected cells were phenotyped using fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies specific for leukocytes (CD45 + ), neutrophils (CD66b +,High,Low ), macrophages (CD163 + ), T cells (CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD8 + ), natural killer (NK) cells (CD56 +, High, Low ), natural killer T (NKT) cells (CD3 + CD56 + ), and gamma delta T (γδT) cells (CD3 + γδTCR + ) by flow cytometry. Further, corneal dendritic cell density (cDCD) was also determined using in vivo confocal microscopy. Results Significantly higher proportions of CD45 + cells were observed in subjects with CLD compared to those without CLD. The percentages of CD66b Total,Low , CD163 + , pan T cells, CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, CD56 Total,High,Low (NK) cells, and NKT cells, as well as the CD4/CD8 ratio, were significantly higher in CLD subjects. The proportion of T cells (CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio, NKT cells) and macrophages exhibited a direct association with discomfort score. The percentages of CD45 + , CD66b Total,Low , CD163 + , CD3 + , CD56 Total,High,Low , and NKT cells and cDCD were significantly higher in CLD subjects wearing CL-D. The percentages of CD66b High , CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, NKT cells, and CD4/CD8 ratio were significantly higher in CLD subjects wearing CL-A. Conclusions Increased proportions of ocular surface immune cells are observed in CLD, and the lens type could impact the immune cells associated with CLD. Translational Relevance The association between the proportion of altered ocular surface immune cell subsets and contact lens–induced discomfort underpins the importance of considering immune-related aspects ...

Nowadays, wireless systems require compact multi band antennas that can dynamically change some of its fundamental parameters such as frequency band, polarization and radiation pattern. The novelty of the proposed work lies in using two conducting strips that are perpendicular to each other. The longer strip resonates at 2.4 GHz and the shorter strip resonates at 3.5 GHz. The length and width of the Ground plane is made equal to length of the main arm and length of the side arm respectively. The results are obtained by simulating the antenna structure using simulation tool Ansoft HFSS v15.0. The Simulated antenna Gains were 6.2364 dBi and 7.1758 dBi for frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 3.5 GHz respectively. The antenna dimensions are 50 × 25 × 1.6 mm 3 on a 1.6 mm thick FR-4 substrate.

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