bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of eccentricity on simultaneous performance in position and movement acuity tasks
Authors: Mäkelä Pia , Rovamo Jyrki , Whitaker David 
Published: July 2002

Visual performance can be made equal across the visual field in various tasks simply by an appropriate change of scale, but the speed at which performance declines towards periphery varies greatly between tasks. E2 denotes the eccentricity at which foveal stimulus size must double in order to maintain performance equivalent to that at the fovea. Two tasks, spatial interval discrimination and displacement detection, were presented at the same location to see how simultaneous processing of these two tasks with different E2 values would influence eccentricity dependence in each task. The subject was to solve only the spatial interval task, only the displacement task, or both tasks simultaneously. Eccentricity dependence in each condition was determined by using the method of partial scaling, where thresholds were estimated at several eccentricities for a series of stimuli, all of which were simply magnified or minified versions of one another.With 500 msec stimulus duration, the individual E2 value was found to be 0.17–0.39° for spatial interval discrimination and 1.0–1.2° for displacement detection. The values remained unaffected whether the subject solved one task or two tasks simultaneously. This finding was confirmed with a 50 msec stimulus duration. As there is no interference between tasks, the mechanisms solving the tasks appear to be functionally dependent, i.e. operating in parallel at all eccentricities.
Tear production and elimination in normal eyes
Authors: Craig J. P. , Hilditch T. E. , Tomlinson A. , Elliott A. 
Published: July 2002

Tear fluid dynamics were investigated in 41 healthy subjects (22 males and 19 females) with an age range of 13 to 75 years, using gamma scintigraphy. A 51 drop of saline containing a radioactive tracer (Tc99m) was instilled into the left conjunctival sac of each subject and the path of the tracer was observed for 15 minutes using a gamma camera. Turnover of the tears was found to follow a biphasic pattern, with an initial high flow rate (3.23 ± 1.97 l/min) corresponding to a reflex component, and a secondary slow rate (0.55 ± 0.31 l/min) corresponding to basal tear flow.There was found to be significant variation in tear drainage characteristics amongst the subjects. It was expected that, in normal subjects, passage of the tracer would not be inhibited as it passed from the conjunctival sac, through the canaliculi, into the lacrimal sac and into the naso‐lacrimal duct. However, an apparent ‘obstruction’ was observed at the level of the top of the naso‐lacrimal duct in many of the subjects. This was found to clear spontaneously at some point during the measurement period in most individuals and, in those in whom spontaneous drainage did not occur, instillation of 151 of saline induced drainage. It appears that the valve of Krause, between the lacrimal sac and the naso‐lacrimal duct, is responsible for retaining fluid within the lacrimal sac in asymptomatic subjects. The stimulus for drainage, in this instance, may be fluid volume within the lacrimal sac. This feature of lacrimal drainage was observed less frequently in older individuals which may be a result of age‐induced laxity of the valve of krause.
Megalocornea: a case report
Authors: Ennis Fergal A. 
Published: July 2002

Megalocornea is a rare, usually bilateral, congenital condition of the cornea which results in an abnormally large corneal diameter (> = 13 mm), often in association with a deep anterior chamber, significant refractive error and abnormal corneal curvature.A literature search through Medline revealed 55 papers referring to this condition, none of which mentioned contact lens fitting. Contact lens text‐books make few references to the condition, those that do stating that scleral lens fitting is the only treatment modality.In this case report, we look at one patient, who we fitted with a high water content soft contact lens. We discuss our approach to fitting this patient, and the possibility of fitting other patients with the same condition.
Characterization of the visual performance with soft daily wear disposable contact lenses
Authors: Pons A. M. , Lorente A. , Albarrán C. , Montés R. , Artigas J. M. 
Published: July 2002

SummaryWe investigate the visual performance associated with adaptation to a daily wear soft contact lens on the human eye. For this purpose, we used four parameters, one of which was an objective parameter, while the rest were subjective parameters. The objective parameter was a single quality parameter, a Merit function (Mf) derived from the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the overall [eye + contact lens] system The subjective parameters were the visual acuity (VA), the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) and the standard adaptation criterion of Terry et al. (1993). The normality criterion for the MTF was determined by evaluating the fluctuations of the Mf over a day in five emmetropic observers. Fluctuations with no statistically significant differences in the merit function (p>0.05) and their standard deviation (8%) defined our standard criterion. The CSF and the VA were similarly measured (for emmetropic observers). The results obtained with emmetropic observers allowed us to establish a standard criterion for the evaluation parameters we propose. When this criterion is applied to daily soft wear disposable contact lenses, their performance proves to be good, since both the objective (MTF) and the subjective parameters (CSF, VA, adaptation criterion) always lie within the range defined by our criterion.
Differences in the accommodation stimulus response curves of adult myopes and emmetropes
Authors: Abbott Meredith L. , Schmid Katrina L. , Strang Niall C. 
Published: July 2002

SummaryWhile the accommodation system has been implicated in myopia development, the nature of this relationship remains obscure. This study investigated the differences in accommodation stimulus response curves between adult myopes and emmetropes. Myopic subjects were classified according to age of onset and stability of their myopia. Accommodation stimulus response curves were measured using three different methods: (i) real targets presented at viewing distances of 4 m to 0.25 m, (ii) a target at 4 m viewed through negative lenses of increasing power, and (iii) a target at 0.25 m viewed through positive lenses of decreasing power. A Canon Autoref R‐1 measured the accommodation responses at 5 levels of demand (increasing from 0 D to 4 D in 1 D steps). We found significant differences between the three methods used to stimulate an accommodation response in all subject groups, for example, accommodation lags at high accommodative demands were greatest for the negative lens series and least for the positive lens series. In addition, while differences between early‐onset myopes, late‐onset myopes and emmetropes were not observed, we did observe differences when myopic subjects were reclassified according to whether their myopia was progressing or stable. A reduced accommodation response to negative lens‐induced accommodative demand was found in progressing myopes but not in stable myopes. These results provide further evidence for the link between myopia progression and inaccurate accommodation. The data also suggest that adult myopes with stable refractive errors show accommodation responses similar to that of emmetropes.
Prevention of form‐deprivation myopia with pirenzepine: a study of drug delivery and distribution
Authors: Cottriall C.L. , McBrien N.A. , Annies R. , Leech E.M. 
Published: July 2002

SummaryThe present study investigated the drug distribution and elimination profiles in ocular tissues of pirenzepine, a selective M1 muscarinic antagonist known to inhibit myopia. Results demonstrate that (1) Intravitreal injections of the M1 selective antagonist pirenzepine were more effective at preventing form‐deprivation myopia than subconjunctival injections. (2) Maximum drug levels were reached within 1  hr for both retina and sclera following intravitreal (28 and 11 nanomole) and subconjunctival (0.25 and 1 nanomole) injection. Intravitreal injection proved a more effective route of drug delivery to all ocular tissues compared to subconjunctival injection. (3) Elimination times of pirenzepine from ocular tissues were much shorter than those reported for blood plasma. (4) Histological examination revealed no evidence of gross toxic effects at doses effective in inhibiting induced axial myopia. In conclusion, pirenzepine was effective at reducing form‐deprivation myopia in a dose‐dependent manner with no evidence of disruption to the retina. However, results were not conclusive as to where pirenzepine may have its site of action in preventing form‐deprivation myopia.
Risk factors for inhalant abuse in juvenile offenders: the case of Mexico
Authors: TAPIA‐CONYER ROBERTO , CRAVIOTO PATRICIA , DE LA ROSA BLANCA , VELEZ CARINA 
Published: July 2002

AbstractDuring the last two decades the abuse of inhalants and other addictive substances has received considerable attention in Mexico. Although substance abuse seems to affect everyone, adolescents seem to be at higher risk, and although researchers have identified the links between substance abuse and delinquency, there is not enough scientific information to explain the reason. A cross‐sectional study was designed to examine the relationship between known risk factors and inhalant abuse among a group of Mexican juvenile offenders. Of the 626 subjects studied, 58% reported use of different drugs, and of them 23% abused inhalants. Gender, low socio‐economic level and labor status were the principal risk factors associated with inhalant abuse. According to attributable risks calculated, and taking into account the methodological limitations of the study, the authors suggest some preventive actions to decrease inhalant abuse in the population studied.
Book Reviews
Authors: GOSSOP MICHAEL 
Published: July 2002

Book reviewed in this article:The Stop Smoking Workbook: your guide to healthy quittingAlcoholics Anonymous as a Mutual‐Help Movement: a study in eight societiesSubstance Use among Children and Adolescents: its nature, extent, and effects from conception to adulthoodAddiction Treatment for Older Adults: evaluation of an innovative client‐centered approachPsychiatric Services for Addicted Patients: a task force report of die American Psychiatric Association
Digital terrestrial television
Authors: Pilati Antonio , Poli Emanuela 
Published: July 2002

SummaryIn Italy, as in much of Europe, the beginning of the new century has brought a crucial period of change to the television system. The change affects technology, strategies and regulation of the medium. This article starts by reconstructing the current situation and the emerging trends at a global level. It then analyses the state of the Italian television industry on the eve of the introduction of digital terrestrial broadcasting, setting out the opportunities and potential developments this opens up.
Online journalism: Information and culture in the Italian technological imaginary
Authors: Sorice Michele 
Published: July 2002

SummaryThe Italian imaginary has been populated in recent years by a swarm of objects with high technological content, from mobile phones to palmtop organizers, from satellite dishes to sophisticated digital audio and video equipment. The computer, by contrast, has remained in the shadows. Although it has been central to the discourse of specialists, it has entered everyday life only very gradually over the last two years. This paradox accounts for the fact that online journalism still lags substantially behind in Italy, despite the fact that the first Internet newspapers appeared several years ago. The first part of this article is descriptive: it analyses the Italian situation in the light of the massive investments made in the online sector. The second part reviews the peculiarities of Italian online journalism, both more innovative than its paper counterpart and at the same time potentially more constrained by advertising. The article concludes with an analysis of the most recent tendencies in the Italian information system. From integration to convergence, technologies and the products of the communications system are producing a new context of use for consumers and may be introducing new social scenarios.
Kazhdan-Lusztig cells and decomposition numbers
Authors: Geck Meinolf 
Published: July 2002

We consider a generic Iwahori–Hecke algebra

H
H

associated with a finite Weyl group. Any specialization of

H
H

gives rise to a corresponding decomposition matrix, and we show that the problem of computing that matrix can be interpreted in terms of Lusztig’s map from

H
H

to the asymptotic algebra

J
J

. This interpretation allows us to prove that the decomposition matrices always have a lower uni-triangular shape; moreover, we determine these matrices explicitly in the so-called defect

1
1

case.
A “Three‐Region” Configuration for Enhanced Electrochemical Kinetics and High‐Areal Capacity Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Hou Ruohan , Zhang Shijie , Zhang Yongshang , Li Neng , Wang Shaobin , Ding Bin , Shao Guosheng , Zhang Peng 
Published: February 2022

AbstractA main hurdle for the commercial application of lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries lies in inadequate loading of sulfur due to a huge volume change over charging–discharging, poor electric conductivity of sulfur and associated sulfides, and the shuttling effect of lithium polysulfides (LiPS). Herein, a universal “three‐region” configuration including: Region I (sulfur source region), Region II (LiPS electrocatalysis region), and Region III (multi‐functional shield) for high‐areal capacity Li–S batteries is proposed. Mechanism of the configuration including the competitive relationship between Region II and Region III based on the Sabatier principle is further confirmed through density functional theory theoretical simulation and a series of in situ experimental methods. Compared with a conventional mechanical mixing electrode structure, it is demonstrated that the orderly integration “three‐region” configuration is able to prevent shuttling of LiPS effectively, which delivers high gravimetric energy density at the sulfur loading of 10.7 mg cm−2. Furthermore, a pouch cell achieves a high capacity of 148.15 mAh at a sulfur loading of 108 mg, which is by far higher than that of most previous batteries and pouch Li–S cells. Impressively, with bending and even partial damage, the pouch cell can still work normally, showing considerable safety.
Phenotypic spectrum of the recurrent TRPM3 p.(Val837Met) substitution in seven individuals with global developmental delay and hypotonia
Authors: Lines Matthew A. , Goldenberg Paula , Wong Ashley , Srivastava Siddharth , Bayat Allan , Hove Hanne , Karstensen Helena Gásdal , Anyane‐Yeboa Kwame , Liao Jun , Jiang Nan , May Alison , Guzman Edwin , Morleo Manuela , D'Arrigo Stefano , Ciaccio Claudia , Pantaleoni Chiara , Castello Raffaele ,   TUDP Study Group, McKee Shane , Ong Jinfon , Zibdeh‐Lough Hana , Tran‐Mau‐Them Frederic , Gerasimenko Anna , Heron Delphine , Keren Boris , Margot Henri , de Sainte Agathe Jean‐Madeleine , Burglen Lydie , Voets Thomas , Vriens Joris , Innes A. Micheil , Dyment David A. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractTRPM3 encodes a transient receptor potential cation channel of the melastatin family, expressed in the central nervous system and in peripheral sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglia. The recurrent substitution in TRPM3: c.2509G>A, p.(Val837Met) has been associated with syndromic intellectual disability and seizures. In this report, we present the clinical and molecular features of seven previously unreported individuals, identified by exome sequencing, with the recurrent p.(Val837Met) variant and global developmental delay. Other shared clinical features included congenital hypotonia, dysmorphic facial features (broad forehead, deep‐set eyes, and down turned mouth), exotropia, and musculoskeletal issues (hip dysplasia, hip dislocation, scoliosis). Seizures were observed in two of seven individuals (febrile seizure in one and generalized tonic–clonic seizures with atonic drops in another), and epileptiform activity was observed in an additional two individuals. This report extends the number of affected individuals to 16 who are heterozygous for the de novo recurrent substitution p.(Val837Met). In contrast with the initial report, epilepsy was not a mandatory feature observed in this series. TRPM3 pathogenic variation should be considered in individuals with global developmental delays, moderate–severe intellectual disability with, or without, childhood‐onset epilepsy.
Platelet function and filamin A expression in two families with novel FLNA gene mutations associated with periventricular nodular heterotopia and panlobular emphysema
Authors: Tanner Laura M. , Kunishima Shinji , Lehtinen Elina , Helin Tuukka , Volmonen Kirsi , Lassila Riitta , Pöyhönen Minna 
Published: February 2022

AbstractPathogenic variants of the X‐linked FLNA gene encoding filamin A protein have been associated with a wide spectrum of symptoms, including the recently described pulmonary phenotype with childhood‐onset panlobular emphysema. We describe three female patients from two families with novel heterozygous FLNA variants c.5837_2del and c.508C > T. Analysis of immunofluorescence of peripheral blood smears and platelet function was performed for all patients. FLNA‐negative platelets were observed, suggesting that these variants result in the loss of a functional protein product. All three patients also had periventricular nodular heterotopia and panlobular emphysema. However, they had considerably milder symptoms and later age of onset than in the previously reported cases. Therefore, patients with pathogenic FLNA variants should be studied actively for lung involvement even in the absence of pronounced respiratory symptoms. Conversely, any patient with unexplained panlobular emphysema should be analyzed for pathogenic FLNA variants. We also suggest that immunofluorescence analysis is a useful tool for investigating the pathogenicity of novel FLNA variants.
Effects of atmosphere and blending ratios on emission characteristics of pollutants from co‐combustion of municipal solid waste and aged refuse
Authors: Li Debo , Feng Yongxin , Chen Zhihao , Chen Zhaoli , He Hanyan , Zhang Yaqi , Du Binyun , Yu Zhaosheng 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe emission of pollutants caused by incineration has imposed a severe burden on the atmospheric environment. In this study, the thermogravimetric thermal analyzer (TGA) was used to study the characteristic behavior of co‐combustion of municipal solid waste (MSW) and aged refuse (AR). And combined with Fourier transform infrared measurement, the emissions of several typical gaseous pollutants (NO, COx, CH4, HCl, HCN, SO2) have been investigated. Also, the release characteristics of heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Ti) during the co‐combustion process were explored using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES). This research found that both the combustion atmosphere and the mixing ratios impacted the experimental results. As the proportion of AR in the blends increased, the ignition index decreased, the burnout temperature rose, but the burnout efficiency increased. The addition of AR inhibited the generation of CO2, CH4, and HCl and promoted the production of NO and CO. Aerobic environment mainly inhibited the release of Cr and Mn. The research results provided important information for the study of pollutant emission characteristics during the co‐combustion of MSW with AR.
The use of virtual laboratory in teaching respiration subject in the Covid‐19 process
Authors: Çıngıl Barış Çiğdem 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAlong with the Covid‐19 pandemic, universities in Turkey as well as all over the world have started to carry out their education activities with the distance education method. In this case, many difficulties were encountered in the application of the Biology course, which is one of the applied courses carried out in the laboratory. Virtual laboratory applications can be preferred especially in teaching abstract subjects that are difficult to understand such as respiration. The teacher can write the process steps and theory related to the experiment to be designed, and the students can follow these process steps and perform the experiment in an interactive way. In this way, students can have a real‐like laboratory experience by following the experimental procedure with laboratory materials step by step.
Associations between alcohol use and peripheral, genetic, and epigenetic markers of oxytocin in a general sample of young and older adults
Authors: Rung Jillian M. , Kidder Quintin A. , Horta Marilyn , Nazarloo H. P. , Carter C. Sue , Berry Meredith S. , Ebner Natalie C. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIntroductionHuman and nonhuman animal research suggests that greater oxytocin (OT) activity is protective against harmful substance use. Most research on this topic is preclinical, with few studies evaluating the association between substance use and individual differences in the human OT system. The present study sought to fill this gap by evaluating the relationship between alcohol use and multiple biological measures of OT activity in an overall low to moderate‐drinking sample.MethodAs part of a larger study, generally healthy young (n = 51) and older (n = 53) adults self‐reported whether they regularly used alcohol and how much alcohol they consumed per week. Participants also provided blood samples from which peripheral OT, and in an age‐heterogeneous subset of participants (n = 56) variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (the OXTR rs53576 polymorphism) and OXTR DNA methylation levels (at cytosine–guanine dinucleotide sites ‐860, ‐924, ‐934), were obtained.ResultsA‐allele carriers of the OXTR rs53579 polymorphism were less likely to regularly consume alcohol. Among regular alcohol consumers, number of alcoholic drinks per week was positively associated with peripheral OT in regression models excluding observations of high influence (postdiagnostic models). Number of alcoholic drinks per week was consistently negatively associated with OXTR DNA methylation at site ‐860; and with OXTR DNA methylation at site ‐924 in postdiagnostic models.ConclusionsThe significant associations between alcohol use and individual differences in OT activity support the involvement of the OT system in alcohol use, which most likely reflect the role of OT when alcohol use is under control of its rewarding properties and/or the acute impacts of alcohol on the OT system. Additional research with markers of OT activity and alcohol use, particularly longitudinal, is needed to clarify the bidirectional effects of OT and alcohol use in moderate to harmful drinking and dependence.