Identification of a gene that causes primary open angle glaucoma

Glaucoma is a major cause of blindness and is characterized by progressive degeneration of the optic nerve and is usually associated with elevated intraocular pressure. Analyses of sequence tagged site (STS) content and haplotype sharing between families affected with chromosome 1q-linked open angle glaucoma (GLC1A) were used to prioritize candidate genes for mutation screening. A gene encoding a trabecular meshwork protein (TIGR) mapped to the narrowest disease interval by STS content and radiation hybrid mapping. Thirteen glaucoma patients were found to have one of three mutations in this gene (3.9 percent of the population studied). One of these mutations was also found in a control individual (0.2 percent). Identification of these mutations will aid in early diagnosis, which is essential for optimal application of existing therapies.     

Philadelphia obtains useful information from its customers about taste and odour quality.

Customers are sensitive to the flavour of water. Customers evaluate drinking water based on their expectations, on experiences with their usual drinking water and on experiences with alternative waters. The Philadelphia Water Department provides one example of success in developing a better understanding of customer perceptions and attitudes about tap water taste and odour. Philadelphia found that customers do communicate in ways that water utilities can understand. Water utilities can enhance that communication and collect useful data. In addition, water utilities can characterise their tap water flavour, track it for changes and correlate changes to customer complaints.     

Personality and the predisposition to engage in risky or problem behaviors during adolescence.

Longitudinal data from a representative sample of 1,978 Black and White adolescents were used to examine the role of personality in multiple risk or problem behaviors. Results indicate that covariation among diverse behaviors (educational underachievement, delinquent behavior, substance use, sexual behavior) can be adequately modeled by a single higher order factor, and that impulsivity and avoidance coping serve as generalized risk factors for involvement in these behaviors. Whereas none of the personality variables examined explained change in problem behaviors once established, avoidance coping prospectively predicted involvement among a subgroup of adolescents with little or no prior involvement. Results suggest that dysfunctional styles of regulating emotions and emotionally driven behaviors are core features of risky or problem behaviors during adolescence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Heat extraction efficiency of a concentric glass tubular evacuated collector

The results of detailed measurements and calculations of the properties of Sydney University/Nitto Kohki evacuated collector tubes have been used to develop a formula for the instantaneous heat extraction efficiency η of a collector panel incorporating the evacuated tubes. The instantaneous efficiency depends on ambient temperature, mean fluid temperature in the collector, solar flux and the design of the manifold used to extract heat from the glass absorber tubes. Manifold design determines the mean temperature difference between absorber tube surface and mean fluid temperature for given operating conditions, and strongly affects the efficiency η of a collector panel. Neither changes in the number of evacuated tubes per unit area of collector, nor variations in solar flux, significantly alter the efficiency decrement Δ η₀ associated with a particular manifold design. Calculated efficiencies agree well with experimental results for collector panels incorporating manifolds of various designs. The formula for efficiency η allows detailed analysis of the relative importance of various energy loss mechanisms in a collector.     

Vision-based obstacle detection for rotorcraft flight

The ability of rotorcraft to fly at low altitude is hindered by the high pilot workload required to avoid obstacles. The development of automation tools that can detect obstacles in the rotorcraft flight path, warn the crew, and interact with the guidance system to avoid detected obstacles would significantly reduce pilot workload and increase safety. This article describes an obstacle detection approach based on feature tracking and recursive range estimation that takes into account the characteristics of rotorcraft flight. The merits and weaknesses of the approach are discussed using image sequences from the laboratory and from flight. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Crack Development in Individually Quick Frozen Cut and Peel Carrots

ABSTRACT:  Crack development during freezing (CDF) is one of the major challenges in individually quick frozen (IQF) cut and peel carrot processing. The effects of processing and freezer storage on crack development were examined on the cut and peel carrot variety, Sugarsnax. Carrot samples were removed from the major processing steps, the trans-slicer, the shaper, the blancher, and the dryer, and examined for crack development by measuring percentage cracked, crack morphology, total soluble solids, moisture levels, and membrane injury index immediately after processing. These parameters were also examined following 20 wk of standard freezer storage for cut and peels. Approximately 2% of nonprocessed carrots were cracked compared to 45% of carrots after the initial trans-slicing stage. As the processing continued, cracking decreased due to the removal of the outer epidermis to 16% of the finished product. This suggests that CDF was initiated at the 1st processing stage. Crack width and depth were 2.3 and 2.6 mm, respectively, at the trans-slicer stage and decreased to 1.1 and 1.8 mm at the end of the line. It was found that CDF was further exacerbated by freezer storage due to inefficient water removal at the dryer stage. Crack width and depth increased to 1.5 and 3.0 mm after 20 wk for freezer storage. Root size also played a role in CDF, suggesting that larger pieces are more susceptible to crack development. Total soluble solid concentrations did not play a role in crack formation during cut and peel processing.