Imaging of the optic disc and retinal nerve fiber layer: the effects of age, optic disc area, refractive error, and gender.

We cross-sectionally examined the relationship between age, optic disc area, refraction, and gender and optic disc topography and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) measurements, using optical imaging techniques. One eye from each of 155 Caucasian subjects (age range 23.0-80.8 y) without ocular pathology was included. Measurements were obtained by using the Heidelberg Retina Tomography (HRT), the GDx Nerve Fiber Analyzer, and the Optical Coherence Tomograph (OCT). The effects of age were small (R2 < 17%) and were limited to specific HRT, GDx, and OCT parameters. Disc area was significantly associated with most HRT parameters and isolated GDx and OCT parameters. Refraction and gender were not significantly associated with any optic disc or RNFL parameters. Although effects of age on the optic disc and RNFL are small, they should be considered in monitoring ocular disease. Optic disc area should be considered when cross-sectionally evaluating disc topography and, to a lesser extent, RNFL thickness.     

Identification of spherical virus particles in digitized images of entire electron micrographs

Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) has the most potent immunomodulatory activity of all the interferons. This phase II-B study was performed to define time- and dose-dependent immunomodulatory effects mediated by IFN-gamma in a subset of patients with melanoma treated in the dose-seeking therapeutic trial conducted by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group E4687 (13). The effects of IFN-gamma (Genentech, San Francisco, CA) were evaluated for phenotype and function of peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained twice prestudy, and on days 2, 9, and 29 of IFN-gamma therapy for 50 patients. Early significant increases in CD4/CD8 ratio (p = 0.001) were noted, largely due to a rise in CD4+ and fall in CD8+ T-cell populations sustained through day 29 at only the lowest dosage. Increased natural killer cell (NK) activity (p = 0.001 on day 9; p = 0.01 on day 29) was accompanied by durable increases in circulating activated NK cells (CD56+DR+% p = 0.001, day 9; p = 0.001, day 29). After initial depression of CD56+ and CD16+ cells on day 2, the total percent of CD56+ and CD16+ cells increased significantly by day 29. Increases in NK cell activity were maximal at doses > or =0.1 mg. Monocyte CD14+ expression of DQ+ rose early (p = 0.011 and 0.001 on days 2 and 9), accompanied by elevation in CD14+DR+ cells that was less significant. Immunomodulatory effects of IFN-gamma reported in this trial have major implications for interpretation of past and current clinical trials, and the design of future trials. This is the first trial in which IFN-gamma has been shown to have significant effects on the T-cell compartment of the immune system.     

Compatibility of polysaccharide/maleic copolymer blends. IV. Thermal behavior of hydroxypropyl cellulose‐containing blends

The compatibility of the hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) with maleic acid–vinyl acetate copolymer in the solid state was studied by thermogravimetry, thermo‐optical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and optical microscopy. It was established that physical interactions are prevalent in blends with a high content of HPC, whereas chemical interactions predominate in blends with a medium and low content of HPC. By increasing the temperature, the thermochemical reactions are favored. Thermal properties are dependent on the mixing ratio of the components. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 2585–2597, 2003     

Enzymatic degradation of thermoresponsive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) grafted to carboxymethylcellulose copolymers

The enzymatic degradation of poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) grafted to carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) copolymers with a cellulasic preparation (Trichoderma viride) was studied. The enzymatic activity of the cellulasic preparation against CMC and the grafted copolymers was determined by the Petterson–Porath method, while their reduced viscosity variation in the presence of the same preparation was also followed. It has been shown that the enzymatic degradation behavior depends on the copolymer composition and the reaction temperature. Reducing sugars analysis showed that the experimental values for the grafted copolymers were higher than the calculated ones. At 50°C, the enzymatic reaction is completed in about 20 min for the copolymers, whereas for CMC it takes more than 40 min. It can be concluded that their enzymatic degradation is facilitated by the presence of the PNIPAM grafts. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 1383–1386, 2003     

Robust grid‐oriented control of high voltage DC links embedded in an AC transmission system

Several studies have shown that the way to design controllers for the high‐voltage direct current (HVDC) links impacts the transient behavior of the electric system in which the latter are inserted. This can be exploited to improve the performances of the stability of the power system. In this paper, a robust multivariable control design for the converters of an HVDC link is proposed. It is based on the coordination of the control actions of the HVDC converters and the use of a control model. The latter takes into consideration, in addition to the dynamics that mostly impact the stability of the neighbor zone of the HVDC link, several cases of faulted situations modeled as uncertainties. An H_∞ controller allowed us to achieve robustness against such uncertainties. The new controller is tested in comparison with the standard vector control and an optimal linear quadratic controller using the EUROSTAG simulation software (Tractebel Engineering, Brussels, Belgium and Réseau de Transport d'Electricité (RTE) ‐ France) on both academic and realistic large‐scale power systems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Localized Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanowires and Fabrication of High Performance Nanosensors Based on a Single Fe2O3 Nanowire

A composed morphology of iron oxide microstructures covered with very thin nanowires (NWs) with diameter of 15–50 nm has been presented. By oxidizing metallic Fe microparticles at 255 °C for 12 and 24 h, dense iron oxide NW networks bridging prepatterned Au/Cr pads are obtained. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies reveal formation of α‐Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ on the surface and it is confirmed by detailed high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) investigations that NWs are single phase α‐Fe₂O₃ and some domains of single phase Fe₃O₄. Localized synthesis of such nano‐ and microparticles directly on sensor platform/structure at 255 °C for 24 h and reoxidation at 650 °C for 0.2–2 h, yield in highly performance and reliable detection of acetone vapor with fast response and recovery times. First nanosensors on a single α‐Fe₂O₃ nanowire are fabricated and studied showing excellent performances and an increase in acetone response by decrease of their diameter was developed. The facile technological approach enables this nanomaterial as candidate for a range of applications in the field of nanoelectronics such as nanosensors and biomedicine devices, especially for breath analysis in the treatment of diabetes patients.     

Evaluating the impact of AND/OR search on 0-1 integer linear programming

AND/OR search spaces accommodate advanced algorithmic schemes for graphical models which can exploit the structure of the model. We extend and evaluate the depth-first and best-first AND/OR search algorithms to solving 0-1 Integer Linear Programs (0-1 ILP) within this framework. We also include a class of dynamic variable ordering heuristics while exploring an AND/OR search tree for 0-1 ILPs. We demonstrate the effectiveness of these search algorithms on a variety of benchmarks, including real-world combinatorial auctions, random uncapacitated warehouse location problems and MAX-SAT instances.     

The order of convexity of some general integral operators

The main object of the present paper is to discuss some extensions of certain integral operators and to obtain their order of convexity. Several other closely related results are also considered.