While radiance field representations have achieved remarkable success in photo-realistic novel view synthesis with densely captured images, their performance sharply degrades under sparse input conditions, resulting in floater artifacts and missing regions caused by its inherent shape-radiance ambiguities and lack of informative observations, respectively. To address these challenges, we propose a few-shot 3DGS framework that leverages scene-adapted generative priors gated by multi-view geometric consistency to enhance the reconstruction quality for both interpolated and extrapolated views given limited observing viewpoints. Built upon coarse 3D Gaussians initiated via multi-view stereo, the core of our approach lies in lightweight personalized adaptation of a pretrained inpainting model from only the sparse input images, requiring no task-specific paired training data. During scene reconstruction, the current 3DGS reconstruction itself localizes unreliable virtual-view regions through multi-view warping consistency, where our personalized inpainting model is selectively invoked, and the repaired views are iteratively integrated to enrich the training corpus of Gaussian Splatting, progressively expanding the observing coverage and intensifying multi-view constraints. Extensive experimental results on three popular benchmark datasets including Tanks and Temples, MVImgNet and MipNeRF-360 demonstrate that our method, without using any specialized external training assets, dramatically improves the rendering quality of sparse-view novel view synthesis with a single consumer-grade GPU.

Background: Small-sided games (SSGs) are widely used in soccer training to develop physical, physiological, and technical-tactical capacities under game-representative conditions. Although task constraints have been investigated individually, evidence integrating their effects across major categories remains limited. This systematic review synthesized the effects of six task-constraint domains on SSG demands in association football. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Scopus. Forty studies published between 2015 and 2025 met the eligibility criteria and were categorized into six task-constraint domains: pitch size or area per player (n = 13), player number (n = 8), goalkeeper inclusion (n = 6), goal type (n = 5), numerical imbalance and floater players (n = 8), and transition games (n = 6). The review protocol was prospectively registered in PROSPERO. Results: Larger pitch areas consistently increased high-speed running but were insufficient to reproduce match-level sprint demands. Goalkeeper exclusion increased physiological intensity, particularly in smaller formats, whereas mini-goals reduced external locomotor load while maintaining comparable internal responses. Numerical disadvantage increased sprinting and high-intensity running demands for outnumbered players, while floaters experienced substantially lower physical loads than regular players. Transition games elicited the greatest locomotor demands, exceeding match values for high-speed running and sprinting across several playing positions. Conclusions: No single SSG format adequately addresses all match-relevant physical demands. Accordingly, practitioners should systematically manipulate and combine task constraints in accordance with specific training objectives. These findings provide evidence-informed guidance for optimizing SSG design to elicit targeted physical, physiological, and technical-tactical adaptations.

Background and Objectives: The aim was to investigate the external load of different types of floaters and regular players in small-sided games (SSG) with different relative pitch sizes to inform the return-to-play process. Methods: Twenty-four professional soccer players from a Greek top-tier soccer club played SSG as regular players, internal floaters, and external floaters. Global-positioning units were utilized to investigate total distance (TD), as well as high-intensity running distances (HID), which was further divided into HID1 (15.0-19.9 km/h and HID2 (20.0-24.9 km/h). High-intensity running (HIR) was analyzed by distance and number of efforts (HIRnb) greater than 19.8 km/h. Velocity zones were categorized into zones such as 10.8-14.4 km/h (Zone3), 14.5-19.8 km/h (Zone4), 19.9-24.9 km/h (Zone5), >25 km/h (Zone6). Sprint metrics included number of sprints (Sprint/Nm) and sprint distance (Sprint/Dist). Acceleration bands were defined as high >4 m/s[2] (ACC4), moderate 3-3.9 m/s[2] (ACC3), and low 0-2.9 m/s[2] (ACC2); and decelerations were defined as high <-4 m/s[2] (DEC4), moderate -3.9-3 m/s[2] (DEC3), and low -2.9-0 (DEC2 m/s[2]). All data were reported as relative value (standardized over a 1 min playing period). Results: Regular players showed the highest value, followed by internal floaters and external floaters for all variables, except for Zone5 distance. The majority of variables differed significantly between the regular players and the internal floaters except for TD, distance in Zone3 and Zone6, and number of ACC3, ACC4, and DEC4. ACC4 was the only variable found to be not significantly different between the regular players and the external floaters. In games with both floater types, internal floaters showed significantly higher values in all variables except for HIR, Zone6 distance, Sprint/Dist, Sprint/Nm, ACC3, ACC4, and DEC4. The comparison of external load variables between internal and external floaters when each player type was playing against regular players only revealed significantly higher values for all variables except for Sprint/Dist, Sprint/Nm, Zone6 distance, ACC3, and ACC4 for the internal floaters. Regression analyses were provided for all player types in the appropriated game format (RP with IF, RP with EF, RP with IF and EF). Conclusions: The on-field return-to-play process for individual players in the final stages incorporating SSG with different relative pitch sizes benefits from the utilization of different types of floaters. Increasing external load is ensured through starting with external floaters followed by internal floaters easing into the final role, the regular player role.

Volume visualization is an important tool in exploring and understanding 3D medical data. Though the recent 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) offers great potential for realtime high-quality medical volume visualization, directly applying 3DGS to visualize medical volume data often overlooks important anatomical structures, especially for vascular structures that are vital in disease detection and surgical planning. This paper presents a new framework called Label-aware Gaussian Splatting (LAGS) to leverage the inherent structural information of medical volumes and optimize the Gaussian representations, especially for fine-grained details of medical volume data. First, we introduce a new label attribute for Gaussian points and propose fine label initialization to enhance subsequent Gaussian training. Then, we devise a Label-aware Rasterizer (LAR) consisting of dual branches of differentiable rasterizers to jointly optimize photorealistic and structural representations. Next, we develop Label-aware Densification (LAD) to adaptively supplement Gaussians in regions with inferior structural representation. The above modules work synergistically during Gaussian training to encourage accurate reconstruction of delicate anatomical structures. We generate a dataset called MedVol-GS including medical scenes from various volumes and evaluate our method on it. Experiments show that LAGS outperforms existing NeRF and GS-based methods in rendering quality, with over 3 dB improvement in PSNR on average. Qualitative results reveal that our method has advantages in reconstructing intricate geometric structures even with occlusion and preventing floaters in nonlabeled areas. In addition, we enable real-time interaction at 72 FPS with labeled structures of reconstructed Gaussians in mixed reality (MR) for intuitive observation. A user study demonstrates that LAGS significantly improves medical volume visualization quality and experience for both clinicians and engineers in MR environments.

Post-streptococcal uveitis syndrome (PSUS) is a rare immune-mediated condition typically affecting children and young adults following group A Streptococcus infection. We describe a 53-year-old woman who developed bilateral panuveitis following documented streptococcal pharyngitis, representing one of the oldest reported cases of PSUS. The patient presented with photophobia, blurred vision and floaters, with examination revealing bilateral anterior segment inflammation, cystoid macular oedema, optic disc oedema and retinal vasculitis. Elevated anti-streptolysin O titres and characteristic multimodal imaging findings supported the diagnosis. Treatment with topical and systemic corticosteroids led to complete resolution over 8 months, with sustained remission at 22-month follow-up. This case demonstrates that PSUS should remain in the differential diagnosis of uveitis regardless of patient age when there is a clear temporal association with recent streptococcal infection.

IPosterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is one of the most prevalent age-related occurrences in the posterior segment. PVD is defined as the separation of the posterior vitreous cortex (posterior hyaloid) from the internal limiting membrane of the retina and the neurosensory layer of the retina. PVD was first described histopathologically by Müller in 1856 and clinically by Brière in 1875, but the condition was not thoroughly explored until 1914. Vitreous humor is a gel-like substance that is present between the lens and the retina. The composition of vitreous humor includes water (98%), type II collagen, and hyaluronic acid. The vitreous humor is surrounded by a translucent membrane known as the hyaloid membrane. The vitreous is completely attached to the retina in the early period of life. Vitreoretinal adhesion is heterogeneous; the attachment is physiologically stronger at the vitreous base, surrounding retinal arteries, at the optic disc margin, and at the macula. Adhesion gradients are significant because PVD-related traction is concentrated at focal anchoring points. PVD is typically a gradual process that begins with partial paramacular and peripheral separation and may require years to achieve complete detachment, with perifoveal and finally peripapillary release occurring later. Acute PVD may involve horseshoe tears (due to prolonged traction), operculated breaks, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), and bleeding when arteries are implicated. The natural history of PVD is typically asymptomatic and uncomplicated; however, a clinically significant minority of patients exhibit acute symptoms, including floaters (myodesopsia) and flashes (photopsia), indicative of vitreous opacities and tractional stimulation of the retina. Floaters are small, cobweb-shaped particles emerging from a compact collagen matrix of the posterior vitreous cortex. A rapid increase in floaters with sudden-onset photopsia (flashes) requires immediate ophthalmic care. In exam preparation, clinicians should note that a Weiss ring signifies peripapillary detachment, but the finding does not necessarily confirm that the entire posterior hyaloid is detached from the retina. Acute symptomatic PVD represents one of the most common causes of urgent ophthalmic consultation for flashes and floaters in older adults. Although most cases are uncomplicated, the possibility of retinal tear or RRD necessitates prompt recognition and timely retinal examination. Failure to identify early retinal breaks may result in irreversible vision loss, emphasizing the importance of appropriate triage and interprofessional coordination in emergency and outpatient ophthalmic settings. PVD is increasingly recognized as part of a dynamic spectrum of vitreomacular interface disorders rather than an isolated age-related event. Incomplete or anomalous separation of the posterior hyaloid may generate persistent traction at the macula or optic nerve head, contributing to vitreomacular traction (VMT) syndrome, epiretinal membrane formation, full-thickness macular hole development, and traction-related vascular complications. Advances in spectral-domain and swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT) have substantially improved understanding of the sequential stages of vitreous separation and their relationship to retinal pathology. OCT permits high-resolution visualization of the vitreoretinal interface and can identify partial PVD, persistent vitreomacular adhesion, shallow perifoveal detachment, and tractional macular abnormalities that may not be evident on routine biomicroscopy. These imaging advances have refined diagnostic classification systems and improved understanding of the natural history of vitreous separation. Wide-angle OCT montage imaging has further shown that vitreous separation is a decades-long process that may begin as early as the third decade of life, starting in the paramacular and peripheral retina rather than at the perifovea, and progressing to perifoveal, peripapillary, and finally complete separation with advancing age. Vitreoschisis, a split within the posterior vitreous cortex, is present at the initiation of PVD in more than 40% of otherwise healthy eyes, which explains why a layer of residual cortical vitreous may remain on the retinal surface even when the separation appears clinically complete. This residual cortex is the substrate for later epiretinal membrane formation and for the persistence of vitreoretinal traction after an apparently uncomplicated PVD. Extensive real-world datasets indicate that complications frequently occur in eyes exhibiting acute PVD, warranting thorough follow-up techniques. In a multicenter analysis of a retina-specialist database, roughly 25% of eyes experienced at least 1 complication (vitreous hemorrhage, retinal break, or retinal detachment) during the early clinical course, with a significant proportion of retinal breaks or detachments identified after the initial visit rather than at presentation. Complementary evidence from a comprehensive care setting indicates clinically significant rates of retinal tears and RRD in acute symptomatic presentations, with risk substantially influenced by patient history and examination characteristics, including vitreous pigment, vitreous hemorrhage, high myopia, lattice degeneration, and diminished presenting acuity. Partial PVD and persistent vitreomacular adhesion can lead to VMT, epiretinal membrane formation, and macular holes. In contrast, more complete separation may alleviate traction but may still result in symptomatic floaters due to collagen aggregation and vitreous opacities. These findings support guideline-based recommendations that prioritize immediate dilated examination and risk-adjusted re-examination over mere reassurance.

BACKGROUND Onchocerca lupi is a zoonotic filarial nematode that primarily infects canids. Human infection is rare and typically involves the eye or subcutaneous tissue. O. lupi infection should be considered in cases of unresolved uveitis or neurological symptoms. We report a diagnostically challenging case of human ocular O. lupi infection with possible neurological involvement. CASE REPORT A 24-year-old man from Jakarta, Indonesia, presented with a 1-month history of blurred vision, floaters, left ocular discomfort, and intermittent headaches. He did not respond to initial treatment for uveitis. Further examination revealed a mobile, thread-like, whitish worm in the left vitreous. Pars plana vitrectomy enabled removal of an intravitreal worm morphologically most consistent with adult male O. lupi, although definitive species-level confirmation was not possible in the absence of molecular testing. The patient's ocular inflammation resolved postoperatively, but his visual acuity remained poor. Due to persistent headaches, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed; a T1-hypointense and T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR)-hyperintense white matter lesion was evident in the left parietal lobe. The lesion persisted on 9-month follow-up MRI, and its etiology was uncertain; a causal relationship with the parasitic infection could not be established. CONCLUSIONS We describe the first reported case of intravitreal O. lupi infection with a concurrent cerebral MRI lesion. This infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unresolved uveitis in endemic areas to facilitate timely diagnosis and help prevent irreversible visual damage.

In populations with low genetic diversity, the capacity to adapt to environmental change is limited. While epigenetic mechanisms can generate phenotypic plasticity, their role in mediating adaptive life-history transitions in the wild is largely unknown. Here, we show that in adult Namibian cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus), a species with remarkably low genetic diversity, the transition from a floater to a male holding a territory is associated with widespread DNA methylation changes, with a predominance of hypermethylation in territorial males. Using paired blood samples collected from the same individuals before and after becoming territorial, we identified differentially methylated genes which function in pathways related to anatomical and head development, brain development and neurodevelopment, cAMP biosynthesis and ion channel transport, consistent with the observed phenotypic shifts in morphology, spatial movement and aggressive behaviour. These findings suggest that DNA methylation mediates this life-history transition at the molecular level. More broadly, they provide rare evidence that epigenetic regulation is relevant in phenotypic diversity within species with low genetic diversity, potentially supporting adaptive potential at the population level.

Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is considered a key event in the pathogenesis of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD), and horseshoe retinal tears are generally associated with vitreoretinal traction during PVD evolution. We report the longitudinal progression of horseshoe retinal tear-associated RRD without clinically evident complete PVD. A 64-year-old nonmyopic man presented to a general ophthalmology clinic with floaters and preserved visual acuity. Retrospective review of baseline ultrawidefield (UWF) imaging demonstrated a horseshoe retinal tear with localized macula-on temporal RRD extending to within approximately 2.5 disc diameters of the fovea, which had not been recognized initially. Posterior-pole optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed posterior hyaloid attachment at the macula and optic nerve head, without clinically evident complete PVD. However, posterior-pole OCT could not exclude localized peripheral vitreous separation or focal vitreoretinal adhesion adjacent to the tear. Approximately 6 months later, the patient presented with acute visual deterioration, and the detachment had progressed to a bullous macula-off RRD arising from the same tear. PVD was induced during pars plana vitrectomy. This case documents longitudinal progression of localized horseshoe retinal tear-associated RRD without clinically evident complete PVD. Although the underlying mechanism remains inferential, the clinical course is compatible with focal peripheral traction occurring before complete PVD becomes clinically evident. In symptomatic patients, preserved central visual acuity, unremarkable posterior-pole findings, and absence of clinically evident complete PVD should not lower concern for peripheral vitreoretinal traction, retinal breaks, or RRD. Meticulous peripheral retinal examination and intentional review of the temporal retina on UWF imaging remain essential.