Ocular hypertension in myopia: analysis of contrast sensitivity

Purpose: we evaluated the evolution of contrast sensitivity reduction in patients affected by ocular hypertension and glaucoma, with low to moderate myopia. We also evaluated the relationship between contrast sensitivity and mean deviation of visual field. Material and methods: 158 patients (316 eyes), aged between 38 and 57 years old, were enrolled and divided into 4 groups: emmetropes, myopes, myopes with ocular hypertension (IOP≥21 ±2 mmHg), myopes with glaucoma. All patients underwent anamnestic and complete eye evaluation, tonometric curves with Goldmann’s applanation tonometer, cup/disc ratio evaluation, gonioscopy by Goldmann’s three-mirrors lens, automated perimetry (Humphrey 30-2 full-threshold test) and contrast sensitivity evaluation by Pelli-Robson charts. A contrast sensitivity under 1,8 Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (LogMAR) was considered abnormal. Results: contrast sensitivity was reduced in the group of myopes with ocular hypertension (1,788 LogMAR) and in the group of myopes with glaucoma (1,743 LogMAR), while it was preserved in the group of myopes (2,069 LogMAR) and in the group of emmetropes (1,990 LogMAR). We also found a strong correlation between contrast sensitivity reduction and mean deviation of visual fields in myopes with glaucoma (coefficient relation = 0.86) and in myopes with ocular hypertension (coefficient relation = 0.78). Conclusions: the contrast sensitivity assessment performed by the Pelli-Robson test should be performed in all patients with middle-grade myopia, ocular hypertension and optic disc suspected for glaucoma, as it may be useful in the early diagnosis of the disease. Introduction Contrast can be defined as the ability of the eye to discriminate differences in luminance between the stimulus and the background. The sensitivity to contrast is represented by the inverse of the minimal contrast necessary to make an object visible; the lower the contrast the greater the sensitivity, and the other way around. Contrast sensitivity is a fundamental aspect of vision together with visual acuity: the latter defines the smallest spatial detail that the subject manages to discriminate under optimal conditions, but it only provides information about the size of the stimulus that the eye is capable to perceive; instead, the evaluation of contrast sensitivity provides information not obtainable with only the measurement of visual acuity, as it establishes the minimum difference in luminance that must be present between the stimulus and its background so that the retina is adequately stimulated to perceive the stimulus itself. The clinical methods of examining contrast sensitivity (lattices, luminance gradients, variable-contrast optotypic tables and lowcontrast optotypic tables) relate the two parameters on which the ability to distinctly perceive an object depends, namely the different luminance degree of the two adjacent areas and the spatial frequency, which is linked to the size of the object. The measurement of contrast sensitivity becomes valuable in the diagnosis and follow up of some important eye conditions such as glaucoma. Studies show that contrast sensitivity can be related to data obtained with the visual perimetry, especially with the perimetric damage of the central area and of the optic nerve head

The boundary Riemann solver coming from the real vanishing viscosity approximation

We study a family of initial boundary value problems associated to mixed hyperbolic-parabolic systems: v^{\epsilon} _t + A (v^{\epsilon}, \epsilon v^{\epsilon}_x ) v^{\epsilon}_x = \epsilon B (v^{\epsilon} ) v^{\epsilon}_{xx} The conservative case is, in particular, included in the previous formulation. We suppose that the solutions $v^{\epsilon}$ to these problems converge to a unique limit. Also, it is assumed smallness of the total variation and other technical hypotheses and it is provided a complete characterization of the limit. The most interesting points are the following two. First, the boundary characteristic case is considered, i.e. one eigenvalue of $A$ can be $0$. Second, we take into account the possibility that $B$ is not invertible. To deal with this case, we take as hypotheses conditions that were introduced by Kawashima and Shizuta relying on physically meaningful examples. We also introduce a new condition of block linear degeneracy. We prove that, if it is not satisfied, then pathological behaviours may occur.Comment: 84 pages, 6 figures. Text changes in Sections 1 and 3.2.3. Added Section 3.1.2. Minor changes in other section

SBV regularity for Hamilton-Jacobi equations with Hamiltonian depending on (t,x)

In this paper we prove the special bounded variation regularity of the gradient of a viscosity solution of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation partial derivative(t)u + H(t, x, D(x)u) = 0 in Omega subset of [0, T] x R-n under the hypothesis of uniform convexity of the Hamiltonian H in the last variable. This result extends the result of Bianchini, De Lellis, and Robyr obtained for a Hamiltonian H = H(D(x)u) which depends only on the spatial gradient of the solution

New X-ray observations of the old nova CP Puppis and of the more recent nova V351 Pup

We present X-ray observations of the field containing Nova Puppis 1942 (CP Pup) and Nova Puppis 1991 (V351 Pup), done with ASCA in 1998, and with XMM-Newton in 2005. The X-ray and UV luminosity of CP Pup seem to have remained approximately constant since the last X-ray observations of the 1980'ies, while the optical luminosity has decreased. The X-ray properties of this nova are explained by a high mass white dwarf accreting at low rate, in agreement with the nova theory given the large amplitude and other characteristics of the 1942 outburst. Assuming a distance of 1600 pc, the X-ray luminosity of CP Pup is L=2.2 x 10(33) erg/s in the 0.15-10 keV range covered with EPIC, compatible with a magnetic system. The RGS grating spectrum shows a few prominent emission lines, and it is fitted with a cooling flow with mass accretion rate mdot <= 1.6 x 10(-10) msol/year. We detected also the O VII complex at 21.6-21.8 A that does not arise in the cooling flow. Most likely this feature originates in a wind or in the nova shell. The RGS and EPIC spectra are fitted only with thermal models with a very high shock temperature, T>60 keV, indicating a white dwarf with M>1.1 M(sun). The X-ray flux is modulated with the spectroscopic period of 1.47 hours detected in the optical. Since CP Pup is not an eclipsing system, this is better understood if magnetic accretion occurs: we discuss this possibility and its implications in detail. V351 Pup (N Pup 1991) was detected with XMM-Newton, but not with ASCA. It is a faint, non-super-soft X-ray source with luminosity L(x) =~ 3 x 10(31) erg/s, a factor of 50 less than measured with ROSAT in 1993.Comment: in press on the Astrophysical Journa

SBV-like regularity for Hamilton-Jacobi equations with a convex Hamiltonian

In this paper we consider a viscosity solution u of the Hamilton-Jacobi equation partial derivative(t)u + H(D(x)u) = 0 in Omega subset of [0,T] x R-n. where H is smooth and convex. We prove that when d(t,center dot) := H-p(D(x)u(t,center dot)), H-p := del H is BV for all t epsilon [0, T] and suitable hypotheses on the Lagrangian L hold, the Radon measure divd(t,center dot) can have Cantor part only for a countable number of t's in [0,T]. This result extends a result of Robyr for genuinely nonlinear scalar balance laws and a result of Bianchini, De Lellis and Robyr for uniformly convex Hamiltonians

Educação ambiental e o trabalho com valores nas reflexões de professores participantes de um curso de formação continuada

A educação ambiental tem sido considerada de fundamental importância para superação da crise ambiental contemporânea, esta resultante de um complexo de relações envolvendo o atual modelo econômico, a ciência e a tecnologia. Nessa proposta destaca-se sua dimensão valorativa, essencial para um trabalho mais abrangente. A pesquisa apresentada, desenvolvida a partir de uma abordagem qualitativa, analisa neste trabalho as reflexões de um grupo de professores da rede pública de ensino de um estado brasileiro, participantes de um curso de formação continuada sobre a educação ambiental e o trabalho com valores. A análise dos dados coletados através da filmagem dos encontros indica algumas das dificuldades encontradas pelos professores ao lidar com o tema, aspectos que devem ser considerados nos programas de formação docente relativos a essa temática

Low-Cost Uas Photogrammetry for Road Infrastructures' Inspection

Abstract. All over the world, road infrastructures are getting closer to their life cycle and need to be constantly inspected: a consistent number of bridges are structurally deficient, and the risk of collapse can no longer be excluded. In contrast with the past, the interest in structure durability has recently grown rapidly. In order to make bridges durable, it is necessary to carry out ordinary maintenance, preceded by inspection activities, which can be traditionally divided in two categories: destructive and non-destructive (NDT). All the NDT inspections (visual, IR thermography, GPR) can be conducted by using UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems), a technology that makes bridges inspections quicker, cheaper, objective and repeatable. This study presents the visual inspection and survey of two bridges by using a UAS DJI Mavic 2 Pro, equipped with a 20Mpixel Hasselblad camera that records 60fps 4K video and a 10bit radiometric resolution. Starting from the acquired data, a 3D model of each structure was built by using Structure from Motion (SfM) principles and software. To validate the two models, each of them characterized by a centimetric accuracy, the UAS camera generated cloud of points and was co-registered with the point cloud of a terrestrial laser-scanner using Ground Control Points (GCPs). To make this, CloudCompare comparison software was used; the plugin M3C2 automatically calculates the distance between the points of two compared clouds. Finally, some general rules concerning the UAS main characteristics for inspection of bridges and software for data processing are proposed

LISA: Mars and the limits of life

We describe the results of the first tests made on LISA, a simulator of planetary environments designed and built in Padua, dedicated to the study of the limit of bacterial life on the planet Mars. Tests on the cryogenic circuit, on the UV illumination and on bacterial coltures at room temperature that shall be used as references are described.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Mem. SAIt, in pres