Optical coherence tomography of macular thickness after cataract surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate macular thickness changes after uneventful cataract surgery using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and compare the findings with those of flare and cell measurements of the anterior chamber. SETTING: Clinique Sourdille, Nantes, France. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 41 eyes having uneventful cataract surgery with a clear corneal small incision and intracapsular fixation of a foldable intraocular lens were evaluated by OCT and laser flare and cell measurements preoperatively and 1, 8 to 12, and 30 to 60 days postoperatively. RESULTS: Some postoperative increase in macular thickness was noted in 11 eyes. This was not related to a higher postoperative flare. Visual consequences were proportional to the macular elevation. CONCLUSION: Clinical and subclinical thickness changes, without breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier, can be detected after cataract surgery. Most of these changes resolve spontaneously, but their mid- and long-term significance is unknown.     

On the formal semantics of IF-like logics

In classical logics, the meaning of a formula is invariant with respect to the renaming of bound variables. This property, normally taken for granted, has been shown not to hold in the case of Independence Friendly (IF) logics. In this paper we argue that this is not an inherent characteristic of these logics but a defect in the way in which the compositional semantics given by Hodges for the regular fragment was generalized to arbitrary formulas. We fix this by proposing an alternative formalization, based on a variation of the classical notion of valuation. Basic metatheoretical results are proven. We present these results for Hodges' slash logic (from which these can be easily transferred to other IF-like logics) and we also consider the flattening operator, for which we give novel game-theoretical semantics.     

Quality assessment of dehydrated red bell pepper using tempering drying cycles

Quality assessment of red bell pepper dices preserved through batch dehydration introducing tempering cycles were performed in this work. The parameters considered were: the percentages of ascorbic acid and final antioxidant activity retention, as well as the influence of calcium chloride on diffusivity and colour values. Although, a similar final moisture content was reached through different red bell pepper dehydration processes, but the one with tempering cycles had better qualities than those without tempering. Ascorbic acid and final antioxidant activity retention showed higher values and so were colour intensities compared to control samples in all cases. In respect to the effective diffusivity coefficients, there was an increment as the calcium chloride concentration increased. As of the treatments with tempering cycles, the best scheme was 15 min drying time and 30 min tempering time at 60 °C.     

Dopamine D3 receptor mutant mice exhibit increased behavioral sensitivity to concurrent stimulation of D1 and D2 receptors

The dopamine D3 receptor is expressed primarily in regions of the brain that are thought to influence motivation and motor functions. To specify in vivo D3 receptor function, we generated mutant mice lacking this receptor. Our analysis indicates that in a novel environment, D3 mutant mice are transiently more active than wild-type mice, an effect not associated with anxiety state. Moreover, D3 mutant mice exhibit enhanced behavioral sensitivity to combined injections of D1 and D2 class receptor agonists, cocaine and amphetamine. However, the combined electrophysiological effects of the same D1 and D2 agonists on single neurons within the nucleus accumbens were not altered by the D3 receptor mutation. We conclude that one function of the D3 receptor is to modulate behaviors by inhibiting the cooperative effects of postsynaptic D1 and other D2 class receptors at systems level.     

MODELLING THE TENSILE FRACTURE BEHAVIOUR OF THE REINFORCING FIBRE YARNS IN CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITES

Abstract— Using experimentally determined data on fibre radius distributions, yarn geometry, matrix and fibre elastic moduli and frictional shear stress at the matrix/fibre interface (obtained by nano-indentation experiments), the failure probability of the composite fibre yarns (after matrix cracking) is estimated. Each fibre is divided into a fixed number of segments above and below the matrix crack. The failure probability on every segment of each fibre is computed using Weibull fibre strength statistics. A fibre is assumed to be broken when the cumulative failure probability for the complete yarn reaches a value of 0.5. The segment and fibre are then selected at "random", according to their individual failure probabilities. After fibre failure, the broken fibre can only carry the frictional load and the load drop is transferred to its neighbours according to their distances to the broken fibre. The remote stress is then modified to match again the cumulative failure probability of 0.5 and a new fibre is broken. This procedure is repeated until all the fibres are broken. In this way, it is possible to obtain the "characteristic" load carried by the yarn and its corresponding elongation. Fibre extraction and pull-out behaviour are also considered. The roles of different load-transfer laws (from global to highly localised) are examined. The model is applied to simulate the fracture tensile behaviour of individual yarns of SiC/SiC ceramic-matrix composites. The results are compared with those obtained from tensile experiments on SiC/SiC individual yarns. The computed fracture morphology, in terms of individual pull-out lengths, is also compared to the actual SEM fractography of a woven SiC/SiC composite.     

Roger Walcott Sperry (1913–1994): Obituary.

Memorializes R. W. Sperry, who was best known for his work on the relationship between the brain and behavior. His research included work on neuronal circuitry, interhemispheric communication through the corpus callosum, and the unique capabilities of each brain hemisphere. During his career, Sperry published almost 300 articles. He received numerous awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association in 1993 and the Nobel Prize in Medicine/Physiology in 1981. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of responses to T-kinin and bradykinin in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat

Responses to T-kinin and bradykinin were compared in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat. Under constant-flow conditions, injection of T-kinin and bradykinin into the perfusion circuit induced similar dose-related decreases in perfusion pressure. Responses to T-kinin and bradykinin were inhibited by the kinin B2 receptor antagonist Hoe-140, but were not altered by the B1 receptor antagonist des-Arg9-[Leu8]-BK, the histamine H1 antagonist pyrilamine, the histamine H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine, or the H3 receptor antagonist thioperamide. Vasodilator responses to T-kinin and bradykinin were attenuated by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N omega Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), but were not altered by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, sodium meclofenamate, or the K+ ATP channel antagonist, U37883A. These data suggest that vasodilator responses to T-kinin and bradykinin are mediated by kinin B2 receptor stimulated release of nitric oxide from the endothelium, but that the activation of kinin B1 receptors, the release of vasodilator prostaglandins, or the opening of K+ ATP channels are not involved in the response to T-kinin in the mesenteric vascular bed of the cat.     

Changes in lipids during different sterilizing conditions in canning albacore (Thunnus alalunga) in oil

The effects on muscle lipid deterioration of initial cooking and of three time/temperature processing combinations after 4 months storage of albacore tuna canned in oil were studied. Conjugated dienes only increased slightly on cooking but thiobarbituric acid index increased and fell on canning; free fatty acids (FFA) increased with some canning. Polyene index and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) content provided higher values with higher temperature, shorter time processing.     

Copper, iron, manganese and zinc levels in turrón from Jijona and Alicante

The aim of this study was to determine the ash and trace element contents (copper, iron, manganese and zinc) of two traditional types of turrón (a typical Spanish Christmas sweet made from almonds, honey, egg white and sugar), popularly known as ‘hard’ or Alicante turrón and ‘soft’ or Jijona turrón. Samples and ‘soft’ or Jijona turrón. Samples. Samples of turrón were incinerated, the ashes dissolved in HCl/HNO₃ and the mineral contents determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Ash samples of Jijona turrón showed greater mineral contents than did Alicante tur and 164g %, respectively) since the former has a greater almond content. Copper and manganese were present in the smallest quantities. They also showed most variation between the types and categories of the turrón investigated, both experimentally and statistically. Mean iron and zinc values were similar in both types of     

Effect of slurry ice on chemical changes related to quality loss during European Hake (Merluccius merluccius) chilled storage

Slurry ice is a biphasic system consisting of small spherical ice crystals surrounded by seawater at subzero temperature. Its employment was evaluated in the present work as a new chilled storage method for whole European Hake (Merluccius merluccius) and compared to traditional flake icing. Different chemical analyses (nucleotide degradation, formaldehyde formation, lipid hydrolysis and oxidation, interaction compound formation, and electrophoretic protein profiles) related to quality changes were analysed and compared to sensory evaluation. An inhibitory effect on quality loss mechanisms was observed for the slurry ice treatment, according to nucleotide degradation (K value), free formaldehyde content, browning development, and sarcoplasmic protein profiles. No differences in lipid hydrolysis and oxidation could be distinguished by a comparison between both icing conditions. The sensory analysis showed a higher shelf-life time for slurry icing than flake icing (12 days and 5 days, respectively). Results confirm the practical advantages of using slurry ice as a chilled storage method.