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Biothermodynamics of viruses is among the youngest but most rapidly developing scientific disciplines. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it closely followed the results published by molecular biologists. Empirical formulas were published for 50 viruses and thermodynamic properties for multiple viruses and virus variants, including all variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, Ebola virus, Vaccinia and Monkeypox virus. A review of the development of biothermodynamics of viruses during the last several decades and intense development during the last 3 years is described in this paper.

Omicron BA.2.75 may become the next globally dominant strain of COVID-19 in 2022. The BA.2.75 sub-variant has acquired more mutations (9) in spike protein and other genes of SARS-CoV-2 than any other variant. Thus, its chemical composition and thermodynamic properties have changed compared with earlier variants. In this paper, the Gibbs energy of the binding and antigen-receptor binding rate was reported for the BA.2.75 variant. Gibbs energy of the binding of the Omicron BA.2.75 variant is more negative than that of the competing variants BA.2 and BA.5.

SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the group of RNA viruses with a pronounced tendency to mutate. Omicron BA.2.75 is a subvariant believed to be able to suppress the currently dominant BA.5 and cause a new winter wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Omicron BA.2.75 is characterized by a greater infectivity compared to earlier Omicron variants. However, the Gibbs energy of the biosynthesis of virus particles is slightly less negative compared to those of other variants. Thus, the multiplication rate of Omicron BA.2.75 is lower than that of other SARS-CoV-2 variants. This leads to slower accumulation of newly formed virions and less damage to host cells, indicating evolution of SARS-CoV-2 toward decreasing pathogenicity.

This paper reports empirical formulas, enthalpies of formation, molar entropies, Gibbs energies of formation, and molar heat capacities at 25?C and 37?C for human soft tissues. The results show that Gibbs energy, except for certain tissues (adipose), is relatively low compared with the constituent elements, the average value being ?17.57 kJ/C-mol. The average constant pressure heat capacity of hydrated human body soft tissues is 3.24 J/gK in agreement with other data in the literature.

Intercepted photosynthetic energy q is partly converted into usable photosynthetic energy, Δ ps G , with an efficiency μ . A part of Δ ps G is used for biosynthesis Δ bs G , which is represented by the growth reaction in the bottom, where “Bio” denotes newly formed live matter. The remaining energy is the driving force of growth, Δ DF G , used to make growth at a desired rate. The background for the figure was taken from Pixabay ( https://www.pixabay.com/ ), image ID number: 4779065, under Pixabay license. Elemental composition of Gossypium hirsutum L. (cotton), Oryza sativa L. (Asian rice), Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean), Saccharum spp. L. (sugarcane), and Zea mays L. (corn) was used to calculate their empirical formulas (unit carbon formulas) and growth stoichiometry. The empirical formulas were used to find standard enthalpy of formation, standard molar entropy, standard Gibbs energy of formation, and standard molar heat capacity. A comparison was made between thermodynamic properties of live matter of the analyzed plants and other unicellular and multicellular organisms. Moreover, the growth process was analyzed through standard enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs energy of biosynthesis. The average standard Gibbs energy of biosynthesis was found to be +463.0 kJ/C-mol. Thus, photosynthesis provides energy and carbon for plant growth. The average intercepted photosynthetic energy was found to be 15.5 MJ/C-mol for the analyzed plants. However, due to inefficiency, a great fraction of the intercepted photosynthetic energy cannot be used by plants. The average usable photosynthetic energy was found to be –2.3 MJ/C-mol. The average thermodynamic driving force for growth is –1.9 MJ/C-mol. Driving forces of growth of C3 and C4 plants were compared. It was found that C4 plants have a greater driving force of growth than C3 plants, which reflects the greater efficiency of C4 photosynthesis. The relationship between the driving force and growth rates was analyzed by determining phenomenological L coefficients. The determined phenomenological coefficients span two orders of magnitude, depending on plant species and environmental conditions. The L coefficient of P. vulgaris was found to be lower than that of other plants, due to additional energy requirements of nitrogen fixation.

Thousands of dendritic spines on individual neurons process information and mediate plasticity by generating electrical input signals using a sophisticated assembly of transmitter receptors and voltage-sensitive ion channel molecules. Our understanding, however, of the electrical behaviour of spines is limited because it has not been possible to record input signals from these structures with adequate sensitivity and spatiotemporal resolution. Current interpretation of indirect data and speculations based on theoretical considerations are inconclusive. Here we use an electrochromic voltage-sensitive dye which acts as a transmembrane optical voltmeter with a linear scale to directly monitor electrical signals from individual spines on thin basal dendrites. The results show that synapses on these spines are not electrically isolated by the spine neck to a significant extent. Electrically, they behave as if they are located directly on dendrites. Dendritic spines located on individual neurons process information, but our understanding of the electrical behaviour of spines is still limited. Here, the authors use voltage-sensitive dye imaging techniques to monitor electrical signals from thin basal spines and show that synapses are not electrically isolated by the spine neck.

Purpose With the popularization of ChatGPT (Open AI, San Francisco, California, United States) in recent months, understanding the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots in a medical context is important. Our study aims to evaluate Google Gemini and Bard’s (Google, Mountain View, California, United States) knowledge in ophthalmology. Methods In this study, we evaluated Google Gemini and Bard’s performance on EyeQuiz, a platform containing ophthalmology board certification examination practice questions, when used from the United States (US). Accuracy, response length, response time, and provision of explanations were evaluated. Subspecialty-specific performance was noted. A secondary analysis was conducted using Bard from Vietnam, and Gemini from Vietnam, Brazil, and the Netherlands. Results Overall, Google Gemini and Bard both had accuracies of 71% across 150 text-based multiple-choice questions. The secondary analysis revealed an accuracy of 67% using Bard from Vietnam, with 32 questions (21%) answered differently than when using Bard from the US. Moreover, the Vietnam version of Gemini achieved an accuracy of 74%, with 23 (15%) answered differently than the US version of Gemini. While the Brazil (68%) and Netherlands (65%) versions of Gemini performed slightly worse than the US version, differences in performance across the various country-specific versions of Bard and Gemini were not statistically significant. Conclusion Google Gemini and Bard had an acceptable performance in responding to ophthalmology board examination practice questions. Subtle variability was noted in the performance of the chatbots across different countries. The chatbots also tended to provide a confident explanation even when providing an incorrect answer.

Recent evidence from overlaying optical coherence tomography infrared images before the occurrence of RRD and after RRD repair has raised concerns about the sensitivity of FAF imaging in detecting retinal displacement.5 The high false-negative rate of FAF imaging underscores the need for additional imaging modalities.6 Indeed, this infrared homography case series demonstrated that all patients who underwent PPV for RRD had retinal displacement.5 We value the authors' work and suggest that the relatively low rate of retinal displacement post-PPV reported here and in other studies may have resulted from detection limitations associated with FAF imaging.2 Factors such as media opacity, focus, and grading methodology can significantly impact the assessment of retinal displacement on FAF, potentially leading to false negatives. Only then can we adequately assess differences in functional outcomes between patients with and without retinal displacement and better understand how variations in surgical techniques influence outcomes. Andrew Mihalache, MD(C), Temerty School of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Michael Balas, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Marko M. Popovic, MD, MPH, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Stein and Doheny Eye Institutes, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California Aditya Bansal, MD, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky Koby Brosh, MD, MHA, Ophthalmology Department, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel Rajeev H. Muni, MD, MSc Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto; Department of Ophthalmology, St. Michael's Hospital/Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 1.