Early indications for pars plana vitrectomy in idiopathic macular holes

Soluble Fc gamma-binding components were detected in gingival fluid from periodontal lesions by incubation with biotinylated human Fc gamma fragments. Fc gamma III receptor was identified by incubation of gingival fluid with monoclonal antibody. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western transfer showed that most of the Fc gamma-binding components had minimal mobility in a 4-15% gradient gel under nonreducing conditions. Under reducing conditions, the main band of Fc gamma-binding components in gingival fluid migrated corresponding to protein A of 49 kDa. The pattern of Fc gamma-binding components was similar in serum and gingival fluid except for the observation in gingival fluid of Fc gamma-binding components migrating like standard proteins of 19 to 20 kDa, a size that corresponds to the polypeptide part of Fc gamma II receptor and Fc gamma III receptor.     

A new analytical model for temperature predictions

A new analytical model for predicting surface air temperature as well as (solar-derived) heat energy variations is described. This model, which can be used for global or regional heat/temperature predictions, is much simpler than general circulation models (GCMs) and requires relatively less computer power to the extent that it can be implemented on a simple personal computer. The usefulness and accuracy of the new model are ascertained through sample predictions made for equatorial regions from 1982 to 2009. The new model offers a cheaper alternative for implementing global and regional predictions which have been almost exclusively done through GCMs. Fortunately, this cheaper alternative is easily affordable even by individual departments/universities in developing countries which have been unable to implement locally any of the current GCMs due to the latter's high computer power demand and intricacy.     

Concomitant eyeblink and heart rate classical conditioning in young, middle-aged, and elderly human subjects.

Pavlovian heart rate (HR) and eyeblink (EB) conditioning were assessed in 4 groups of Ss who differed in age: young?=?19–33 yrs, young middle-aged?=?35–48 yrs, old middle-aged?=?50–63 yrs, and old?=?66–78 yrs. A 100-msec corneal airpuff was the unconditioned stimulus/stimuli (UCS) and a 600-msec tone was the CS. A nonassociative control group received explicitly unpaired tone and airpuff presentations. All Ss were studied for 2 100-trial sessions separated by approximately 7 days. An impairment in acquisition of both the EB and HR responses occurred in the old and middle-age Ss, but all age groups showed significantly greater conditioning than did the control group. Slight increases in performance resulted from a 2nd session of training. These findings suggest and age-related impairment in a general associative process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quinn McNemar (1900–1986).

Quinn McNemar, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Statistics, and Education at Stanford University, with his primary base in the Department of Psychology, died on July 3, 1986. Born on February 20, 1900, he was 86 at the time of his death. He had retired at the age of 65 after long years of service at Stanford and spent an additional five years as Professor of Psychology and Education at the University of Texas, Austin. He then returned to reside again in Palo Alto until his death. His widow, Olga, who had a PhD in psychology from Columbia University, was long associated with him in his professional work and survived him after their marriage of 55 years. His status as a psychologist was recognized by his election to the presidency of the American Psychological Association to serve in the year 1963-1964. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

AIDS and the eyes

The eye is affected in 50-75% of adult AIDS patients. This rate of ocular involvement is much higher than that in symptom-free HIV-seropositive patients, and seems to increase in incidence with severity of disease. These observations indicate that regular screening of HIV-positive patients is warranted to allow early identification of potential vision and life threatening disease.     

Fuzzy neural network with fuzzy signals and weights

We discuss the direct fuzzification of a standard layered, feedforward, neural network where the signals and weights are fuzzy sets. A fuzzified delta rule is presented for learning. Three applications are given including fuzzy expert systems, fuzzy hierarchical analysis, and fuzzy systems modeling. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The Conversion of a Zimbabwean Processing Plant from Manual to Smart Operation

<正>The automation of several key processes in a factory in Zimbabwe is described.The plant is a producer of bolts and nails for the southern Africa region.Being built in the 1950s,the equipment was intended for manual operation.To improve efficiency and reduce overhead costs, this project was commissioned to add electronic intelligence to some of the processing equipment.In particular the conversion of forging furnaces to computer control and the intelligent implementation of heat-treatment processes are described.Results of the project in economic and quality terms are presented.     

Use of the Semipermeable Membrane Device (Spmd) to Sample Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Pollution In A Lotic System

Abstract

Relative concentrations of aqueous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were investigated in an urban creek. Samples were obtained at five sites within a 600-m segment of the creek that is critical habitat for an endangered species of fish. the sampling technique entailed immersion of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) in the water for intervals as long as 64 d. SPMDs are passive, in situ, mtegrative samplers of bioavailable (truly dissolved) PAH and other hydrophobic organic contaminants. Two point sources of PAH to the 600-m segment of the creek were differentiated. Aqueous concentrations were found to wane dramatically over the relatively short section of the creek between the point sources. All samples were almost devoid of alkyl-substituted PAH, indicating that the ultimate sources were probably of pyrogenic nature.     

The thermal response of the polyether soft segment chain conformation in a polyurethane block copolymer measured by small-angle neutron scattering

The conformation of the soft segment chains in a pair of polyether polyurethanes was studied as a function of temperature using small angle neutron scattering. The samples were synthesized from 3 moles of methylene bis(p-phenyl isocyanate), 2 moles of butanediol, and one mole of a poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) blend. The PTMO blend was composed of 0.325 moles of deuterated PTMO (d-PTMO) and 0.675 moles of hydrogenous PTMO. This degree of deuterolabelling was chosen so that there would be no interphase scattering in the final sample; only intrachain scattering from the labelled soft segments comprised the coherent part of the total scattering. At room temperature, the average soft segment was found to be in an extended conformation. As the temperature was raised from room temperature, the radius of gyration of the soft segments decreased. This was attributed to the stress exerted by the extended soft segments on the adjoining hard segments increasing as the temperature was increased. The increased stress causes some of the hard segments to pull out of the hard domain into the soft phase, thereby allowing the soft segments adjacent to the extracted hard segment to relax to a more compact conformation. As the temperature was increased above 160°C, the soft segment radius of gyration increased slightly. This behaviour is ascribed to an increased degree of mixing between the phases. The presence of substantial amounts of hard segment material in the soft phase causes the increase in the soft segment R_g due to the greater compatibility between the soft and hard segments in the soft phase at these elevated temperatures. This effect is similar to a homopolymer being swollen by a small amount of a good solvent, where the chain conformation is a random coil, but the radius of gyration is larger than that measured for the pure material.     

Innovative, gemini-type molecular defoamer technology for improved coating aesthetics

The use of conventional surfactants and defoamers in waterborne coatings can often create an undesirable cycle, whereby each imparts a negative effect that requires the other to solve. Molecular defoamers represent a novel class of defoamers that break foam on a molecular level, which is unlike conventional defoamers that utilize macroscopic physical incompatibility within a coating formulation. This is accomplished by the ability of the molecular defoamer to adsorb at the air-water interface of a foam bubble and, thereby, displace some of the molecular defoamer to adsorb at the air-water interface of a foam bubble and, thereby, displace some of the surfactants that stabilize the foam. Based on a fundamental understanding of the effects of basic adsorption parameters, innovative nonsilicone molecular defoamers were developed that provide long-term foam control, effectively reduce both surface tension and foam in a variety of emulsion polymers, and decrease significantly the level of defects in waterborne coating applications. A synergistic performance benefit was obtained when these molecular defoamers were used in combination in an acrylic, industrial maintenance formulation. Presented at the 82nd Annual Meeting of the Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology, October 27–29, 2004, in Chicago, IL.