Indications and outcomes of strabismus repair in visually mature patients

OBJECTIVE: To identify and examine the indications, outcomes and potential risks of strabismus surgery in visually mature patients. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: University-based referral practice in Edmonton. PATIENTS: A total of 222 patients (115 females and 107 males) aged 9 to 69 (mean 29) years who underwent strabismus surgery for various types of strabismus (as grouped by original diagnosis). All patients were followed for at least 6 weeks postoperatively. OUTCOME MEASURES: Previous surgery and deviation in prism dioptres (delta) (distance and near), sensory status (measured by the Titmus stereotest at near) and the presence of symptoms (diplopia, abnormal head posture or asthenopia), recorded preoperatively, 6 weeks postoperatively and at the last postoperative visit. RESULTS: The patients were followed for an average of 14 months postoperatively. At the last postoperative visit 187 patients (84%) were aligned to within 15 delta of orthotropia. Overall, 116 patients (52%) demonstrated some degree of stereopsis postoperatively, compared with 78 (35%) preoperatively. A total of 116 patients (52%) had symptoms preoperatively, including diplopia, abnormal head posture or asthenopia; 88 (76%) of the 116 had complete resolution of their symptoms. Six patients (4%) without diplopia preoperatively were found to have this symptom postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that most visually mature patients under-going strabismus surgery can expect functional benefits, including improvement of alignment, preservation and occasionally restoration of sensory fusion, and elimination of diplopia, abnormal head posture and asthenopia.     

On the Additivity of Properties and Structural Stability of Misfit Layer Compounds

Differential scanning calorimetry and temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements demonstrate that the misfit layer compounds (SnS)_1.15(TaS₂) and (PbS)_1.14(TaS₂) undergo a few phase transitions between 2 and 700 K. The transitions are interpreted as due to the incommensurability of the suprastructure components. The heat capacity data indicate that the properties of the misfit layer compounds do not obey the additivity rule.     

Epstein-Barr virus uses HLA class II as a cofactor for infection of B lymphocytes

Infection of B lymphocytes by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) requires attachment of virus via binding of viral glycoprotein gp350 to CD21 on the cell surface. Penetration of the cell membrane additionally involves a complex of three glycoproteins, gH, gL, and gp42. Glycoprotein gp42 binds to HLA-DR. Interference with this interaction with a soluble form of gp42, with a monoclonal antibody (MAb) to gp42, or with a MAb to HLA-DR inhibited virus infection. It was not possible to superinfect cells that failed to express HLA-DR unless expression was restored by transfection or creation of hybrid cell lines with complementing deficiencies in expression of HLA class II. HLA class II molecules thus serve as cofactors for infection of human B cells.     

Two-dimensional converse problems for quasilinear thermal conductivity equations

Converse problems on determination of unknown functions which depend on solution of the original problem and the spatial variable are studied.Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 49, No. 6, pp. 1013–1015, December, 1985.     

Effect of plastic deformation on the kinetics of phase transformations in the Cu-47Pd alloy

It has been established that the processes of high-temperature deformation of polycrystalline aluminum can be monotonic or jumplike. A monotonic time dependence of the root-mean-square voltage of acoustic emission observed in such a process corresponds to the monotonic character of deformation accumulation, whereas macroscopic deformation jumps are accompanied by single high-amplitude pulses of acoustic emission correlating with the strain rate in the jumplike portion. The technique has been developed, and activation parameters (activation energy and activation volume) of the high-temperature deformation process have been determined. The character of the dependence of the activation parameters on the mechanical stress and temperature indicates a good correlation of elementary deformation acts in the course of high-temperature deformation.     

Simulation of a subsonic isothermal turbulent submerged jet flowing from an annular nozzle

A simulation of the flow in a jet has been carried out with the use of the Reynolds-averaged, space-filtered Navier-Stokes equations closed by the k-ε model of turbulence and the subgrid RNG model of eddy viscosity. The results of calculations carried out on the basis of the k-ε model and the results of simulation of large vortices are in quantitative and qualitative agreement with the corresponding measurement data, which is evidence in favor of the main laws defining the decay of the gas-dynamic behavior of cold-gas submerged jets and the fluctuations of their parameters. __________ Translated from Inzhenerno-Fizicheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 81, No. 2, pp. 312–320, March–April, 2008.     

A new position-sensitive silicon pixel detector based on bipolar transistors

A new type of detector of ionizing particles and radiations is described. The sensitive region of the detector, which is an array of bipolar transistors, is the collectors of these transistors, in which the primary signal of an ionizing particle is also preamplified. Using circuits of multiemitter transistors, it is very easy to branch the initial signal directly at the detector to several readout buses with equal signal levels in each bus. This possibility allows, in particular, the development of two-coordinate detectors with readout only on one side or detectors with an outputted readout triggering signal (self-triggering systems). Since 2005, several prototypes of such detectors have been produced in Russia. This paper presents their designs, some important elements of the manufacturing process, and the test results.     

Increasing the productivity of a pressing-rolling line by combining the operations of upsetting and spreading on the 49-MN press

Introduction of a technology which involves boring the inside surface of ingot molds has made it possible to reduce the metal consumption coefficient by 20 kg/ton product. The productivity of the pressing-rolling line increased by five wheels after a technology that combines the operations of upsetting and spreading was introduced on a 49-MN press. The line now produces 129 wheels per hour. Stabilization of the weight of the initial semifinished product’ changing of the deformation conditions on the 49-MN press’ and arranging for more regular operation of the pressing-rolling line reduced the number of wheels rejected for scale’ seams’ and defects found by ultrasonic inspection.