Glare at Night-Time Driving: Effect of Correlated Color Temperature of Led Lamps.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the effect of correlated color temperature from LED glare sources on driving performance. The evaluation includes assessing the effect of disability glare on visual reaction time and rating discomfort glare using a standardized scale.

Background: LED technology is widely incorporated into various lighting systems; however, the impact of glare from oncoming car headlamps on driving performance at night-time is crucial for road safety.

Identification of epigenetic silencing of the SFRP2 gene in colorectal cancer as a clinical biomarker and molecular significance.

Background: Several studies have suggested secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2) gene as a potential clinical biomarker in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, its diagnostic role remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the significance of SFRP2 methylation levels in a large cohort of biological specimens (including blood, adipose and colonic tissues) from patients with CRC, thereby potentially identifying new biomarker utility.

Enantioselective Catalysis with Pyrrolidinyl Gold(I) Complexes: DFT and NEST Analysis of the Chiral Binding Pocket.

A new generation of chiral gold(I) catalysts based on variations of complexes with JohnPhos-type ligands with a remote -symmetric 2,5-diarylpyrrolidine have been synthesized with different substitutions at the top and bottom aryl rings: from replacing the phosphine by a -heterocyclic carbene (NHC) to increasing the steric hindrance with bis- or tris-biphenylphosphine scaffolds, or by directly attaching the -chiral pyrrolidine in the ortho-position of the dialkylphenyl phosphine. The new chiral gold(I) catalysts have been tested in the intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of arylalkynes with alkenes and in the atroposelective synthesis of 2-arylindoles. Interestingly, simpler catalysts with the -chiral pyrrolidine in the ortho-position of the dialkylphenyl phosphine led to the formation of opposite enantiomers.

Thoracic thrust joint manipulation: An international survey of current practice and knowledge in IFOMPT member countries.

Background: The perceived relative safety of thoracic thrust joint manipulation (TTJM) has contributed to a growth in evidence supporting use in practice. Yet adverse events (AE) have been documented following TTJM. Knowledge of current practice is therefore required to support further research.

Influence of age and spectral power distribution on mesopic visual sensitivity.

The ability of the human visual system to detect stimuli at low illumination levels provides awareness of potential risks. The influence of age and spectral power distribution on mesopic spectral sensitivity is analyzed. Two typical light sources are used, a high-pressure sodium lamp (HPS), with a higher content of long wavelengths, and a metal halide lamp (MH), with a higher content of short wavelengths.

Effect of eccentricity and light level on the timing of light adaptation mechanisms.

We explored the complexity of the light adaptation process, assessing adaptation recovery (Ar) at different eccentricities and light levels. Luminance thresholds were obtained with transient background fields at mesopic and photopic light levels for temporal retinal eccentricities (0°-15°) with test/background stimulus size of 0.5°/1° using a staircase procedure in a two-channel Maxwellian view optical system.

Influence of background size, luminance and eccentricity on different adaptation mechanisms.

Mechanisms of light adaptation have been traditionally explained with reference to psychophysical experimentation. However, the neural substrata involved in those mechanisms remain to be elucidated. Our study analyzed links between psychophysical measurements and retinal physiological evidence with consideration for the phenomena of rod-cone interactions, photon noise, and spatial summation.

Temporal retinal sensitivity in mesopic adaptation.

Purpose: Night driving is a complex visual task with important ramifications for driver and pedestrian safety. It is usually performed under mesopic or scotopic conditions and frequently, in the presence of transient glare sources that can adapt parts of the central retina. The objective of this work was to analyze the time response of adaptation for the central 15° of the retina when part of it is exposed to transient or steady mesopic adapting fields.

Quantitative and functional influence of surround luminance on the letter contrast sensitivity function.

Aim: To determine the influence of surround luminance on the letter contrast sensitivity function.

Method: The binocular contrast sensitivities of 31 young and ocularly healthy individuals were measured with letters of sizes calculated to obtain the targeted fundamental frequencies of 3, 10, 20, and 30 c deg(-1), respectively; with surround luminances from 1 to 1000 cd m(-2), always with a test chart background luminance of 200 cd m(-2).

Results: The letter contrast sensitivity increased with surround luminance up to 100 cd m(-2) and decreased when surround luminance increased from 100 to 1000 cd m(-2).

Conjunctival mucin mRNA expression in contact lens wear.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of the water content in non-ionic hydrogel contact lenses (HCL) on the mRNA levels of human conjunctival mucin genes (MUCs).

Methods: Sixteen healthy subjects with no history of contact lenses wear were selected and randomized into two equal groups. Group 1 subjects wore low water content (38%, Soflens 38) non-ionic HCLs.

Effect of the hematocrit and its correction on the relationship between blood tacrolimus concentrations obtained using the microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) and enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT).

The Abbott microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) and the Dade Behring enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) are the most frequently used methods in the therapeutic drug monitoring of tacrolimus; however, a hematocrit-dependent interference for the MEIA has been described. In 244 whole blood samples from patients with liver (n=152) and kidney (n=92) transplants, the MEIA/EMIT ratio presented a highly significant negative correlation with the hematocrit (r = -0.482, p < 0.

Liquid chromatographic method for the quantification of zearalenone in baby food and animal feed: interlaboratory study.

An interlaboratory trial for determination of zearalenone (ZON) in baby food and animal feed was conducted. The study involved 39 participants in 16 European Union member states, as well as Turkey, Uruguay, and China, representing a cross-section of industry, and official food control and research institutes. The method is based on immunoaffinity column cleanup followed by high-performance liquid chromatography using fluorimetry (HPLC-FI).

Retinal toxic reactions following photopheresis.

Background: Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ECP), also known as photopheresis, is a generally well-tolerated therapeutic, immunomodulatory approach successfully used in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and other diseases produced by T-lymphocytes such as graft vs host disease.

Observations: On 2 separate occasions, a 54-year-old white man with Sézary syndrome developed cutaneous phototoxic reactions and chorioretinitis after being treated with ECP. A pharmacokinetic study showed therapeutic blood levels of 8-methoxypsoralen as long as 18 weeks after therapy had been terminated.

Liquid chromatographic determination of deoxynivalenol in baby food and animal feed: interlaboratory study.

An interlaboratory study was conducted for the determination of deoxynivalenol in baby food and animal feed by high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The study included 14 participants representing a cross section of industry, official food control, and research facilities. Mean recoveries reported ranged from 89% (at 120 microg/kg) to 85% (at 240 microg/kg) for baby food and from 100% (at 200 microg/kg) to 93% (at 400 microg/kg) for animal feed.

Determination of aflatoxin B1 in medical herbs: interlaboratory study.

A method was developed for the determination of aflatoxin B1 in medical herbs (senna pods, botanical name Cassia angustifolia; devil's claw, botanical name Harpagophytum procumbens; and ginger roots, botanical name Zingiber officinale). The method, which was tested in a mini-collaborative study by 4 laboratories, is based on an immunoaffinity cleanup followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography separation and fluorescence detection after post-column derivatization. It allows the quantitation of aflatoxin B1 at levels lower than 2 ng/g.

Liquid chromatographic method for quantitation of patulin at 10 ng/mL in apple-based products intended for infants: interlaboratory study.

An interlaboratory trial for the determination of patulin in apple juice and fruit puree was conducted, involving 17 participants representing a cross section of industry, official food control, and research facilities. Mean recoveries reported ranged from 74 (10 ng/g) to 62% (25 ng/g) for apple juice and from 72 (25 ng/g) to 74% (10 ng/g) for fruit puree. Based on results for spiked samples (blind pairs at 2 levels), as well as naturally contaminated samples (blind pairs at 3 levels), the relative standard deviation for repeatability (RSDr) in juice ranged from 8.