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This paper proposes a new design for line-start operation of synchronous reluctance motors. In the past years, synchronous reluctance motors have been studied by many researchers. Due to high efficiency, they have gained increasing interest because in the synchronous operation, there is limited losses in the rotor. On the other hand, line-start operation of the synchronous reluctance motors is an important challenge that can make this type of the motors popular in many applications. However, line-start operation techniques should not considerably affect the steady-state characteristics of the motor. In the proposed design, the arrangement, size and shape of the rotor conductor bars are designed based on the rotor magnetic circuit difference between induction and reluctance synchronous motors. Complete assessment of the motor parameters are examined using finite element analysis. The proposed structure improves the starting characteristics of the motor. Moreover, power factor of the proposed motor is slightly increased in comparison to that of conventional line-start synchronous reluctance motors. The results obviously show effectiveness of the proposed line-start operation strategy for the synchronous reluctance motors. Finally, experimental verification are also included to confirm the finite element analysis results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Purpose: To determine the association between dry eye with higher order aberrations (HOAs) and contrast sensitivity in 60 years old people and over. Methods: This population‐based study was conducted in Tehran, the capital of Iran, using stratified multistage random cluster sampling. All participants underwent complete ocular examination including measurement of uncorrected and best‐corrected visual acuity, refraction, slit‐lamp biomicroscopy. Zywave was used for measuring HOAs aberrations. Contrast sensitivity was measured with best correction visual acuity using the CVS1000 grating charts. Schirmer and tear break‐up time (TBUT) tests were used for evaluating dry eye in participants. Results: After applying exclusion criteria, the data of 397 individuals were analysed. A total of 415 people were invited, of whom 397 (62.8%) were females. The mean age of the participants was 68.32 ± 5.49 years. After adjusting with age and sex, in the multiple regression model that the TBUT test has a direct association with spherical aberration (p = 0.017) and an inverse association with coma, trefoil and the third, fourth and fifth order aberrations (p < 0.05). Schirmer test results also had a positive relationship with spherical aberration (p = 0.046) and an inverse relationship with coma, trefoil and the third, fourth and fifth order aberrations (p < 0.05). Contrast sensitivity had a significant association with Schirmer test result only in spatial frequency of 3CPD. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated the association between dry eyes and HOAs, and that the TBUT and Schirmer test results are of the most important factors in this relationship. Treating dry eye, can improve HOAs and quality of vision in elderly people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to compare pattern visual evoked potential (PVEP) components in dyslexic and normal children. Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study recruited 72 children, including 36 dyslexic and 36 normal participants aged 8-12 years. Visual examinations included measurement of distance visual acuity, refraction, and PVEP components of amplitudes and latencies with two different check sizes of 15 and 60 minutes (min) of arc at two contrast levels of 25% and 100%. Results: Our results demonstrated significant differences between dyslexic and normal children in terms of P100 latency and amplitude of PVEP at 25% contrast, with check sizes of 15 and 60 min of arc. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding P100 latency and amplitude at 100% contrast with check sizes of both 15 and 60 min of arc. Conclusion: Dyslexic participants showed reduced amplitude and prolonged latency in most PVEP components at low-contrast levels. These findings may support the magnocellular deficit hypothesis in dyslexic participants, even though the parvocellular pathway remains intact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of pencil push-up therapy (PPT) versus office-based vision therapy in patients with convergence insufficiency. Materials and Methods: In this study, 60 students from Zahedan University of Medical Sciences with convergence insufficiency were selected. After determining their refractive error (with a retinoscope), near point of convergence (by millimeter ruler), near heterophoria (by alternate prism cover test), and positive fusional vergence at near (by prism bar), subjects were divided into two groups to receive PPT (at least three times a day for 5 minutes each time) or office-based therapy (two times each week for 60 minutes each visit) without home reinforcement. Subjects were re-examined 4 and 8 weeks after initiation of treatment. Statistical analysis was performed with the independent samples t-test and the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Statistical significance was indicated by P < 0.05. Results: The near point of convergence, phoria, and positive fusional vergence were not statistically different between the two groups before treatment (P > 0.05). After 4 and 8 weeks of therapy, only the positive fusional vergence was statistically significantly different between groups (P = 0.001). Results from ANOVA indicated a considerable difference between the two groups in general but the observed difference was related only to positive fusional vergence. Conclusion: PPT and office-based vision therapy are comparable for treatment of convergence insufficiency. While we do not deny the more efficacious nature of office-based therapy, it is not always practical, may be too expensive, and may not be locally available. A home-based therapy offers a cost-effective reasonable alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The aim was to investigate the effect on the measured amplitude of accommodation and repeatability of using the minus lens technique with the target at distance or near. Methods Forty-three students (average age: 21.17 ± 1.50 years, 35 female) had their amplitude of accommodation measured with minus lenses on top of their distance correction in a trial frame with the target at far (6.0 m) or near (0.4 m). The minus lens power was gradually added with steps of 0.25 D. Measurements were taken on two occasions at each distance, which were separated by a time interval of at least 24 hours. Results The measured amplitude at six metres was significantly lower than that with the target at 40 cm, by 1.56 ± 1.17 D (p < 0.001) and this varied between individuals (r = 0.716, intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.439). With either target distance, repeated measurement was highly correlated (r > 0.9) but the agreement was better at 6.0 m (±0.74 D) than at 40 cm (± 0.92 D). Conclusion The measurements of the amplitude of accommodation with the minus lens technique using targets at far or near are not comparable and the difference between the target distances may provide clinically relevant information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the results of Worth 4-dot test (WFDT) performed in dark and light, and at different distances, with fusional control in patients with intermittent exotropia (IXT). Methods: Dark and light WFDT was performed for new IXT subjects at different distances and the results were compared with level of office-based fusional control. Results: Fifty IXT patients including 17 male and 33 female subjects participated in the study. A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed between levels of home and office-based fusional control (P<0.05). A weak correlation was present between the results of WFDT and level of office-based fusional control; the highest agreement (Kappa=0.088) was observed with dark WFDT performed at a distance of 4m. Conclusion: Evaluation of fusional state by far WFDT, especially in a dark room, shows modest correlation with office-based fusional control in IXT patients and can be used as an adjunct to more complex tests such as far stereoacuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the effect of cataract type and severity in eyes with pure types of age-related lens opacities on visual acuity (VA) and contrast sensitivity in the presence and absence of glare conditions. Methods: Sixty patients with senile cataracts aged 40 years or older with no otherocular pathologies were evaluated for VA and contrast sensitivity with and without glare. Lens opacities were classified according to the Lens Opacities Classification System (LOCS) III. VA was measured using the Snellen chart. Contrast sensitivity was measured with the Vector Vision CSV-1000E chart in the presence and absence of glare by calculating the area under log contrast sensitivity (log CS) function (AULCSF). Results: Cataracts were posterior subcapsular in 26 eyes, cortical in 19 eyes and nuclear in 15 eyes. VA significantly decreased with increasing cataract severity and there was significant loss of contrast sensitivity at all spatial frequencies with increasing cataract severity. AULCSF significantly decreased with increasing cataract severity in the presence and absence of glare conditions. Contrast sensitivity was significantly reduced at high spatial frequency (18 cpd) in cortical cataracts in the presence of glare in day light and at low spatial frequency (3 cpd) in night light. Conclusion: Increased cataract severity is strongly associated with a decrease in both VA and AULCSF. Contrast sensitivity scores may offer additional information over standard VA tests in patients with early age-related cataracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steady-state accommodative responses to a wide range of commonly encountered textural and graphic stimuli were investigated in 12 young, visually normal subjects. Details of two experiments are described. In the first experiment, stimuli were varied in terms of size, contrast, spatial frequency, colour and intellectual demand. In the second experiment, only the colour of the targets was systematically altered. In both experiments the stimulus demand was maintained at 3 D, and accommodation was measured subjectively using a Hartinger coincidence optometer. No significant difference in mean accommodative response was observed between the widely differing targets adopted in either experiment. These findings suggest that an overall threshold exists for accommodative stimuli, with supra-threshold targets of low to moderate contrast being capable of initiating and sustaining an appropriate accommodative response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Today, contact lenses have extensive usages. Contact lens places on cornea, so it may induce variation on cornea and these variations can influence the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) by Goldman tonometer. The aim of this research was to study the effect of various contact lenses on measurement of intraocular pressure by Goldman tonometer. Materials and Methods: In this study, 80 subjects aged 18-25 were selected randomly among patients of Al-Zahra ophthalmology center. None of them has any eye pathological problems. Before wearing the lens, intraocular pressure was measured, and then patients were divided into two groups of soft and hard contact lenses. Soft and hard contact lenses were placed on the eye for two hours, and the intraocular pressure was measured again. Results: The mean of IOP before wearing contact lenses and two hours later was 15.96 mmHg and 13.93, s respectively. Paired test showed a significant difference between IOP before and after wearing contact lenses (p=0.001).There was no significant differences in mean of intraocular pressure decline before and after placing the contact lens in both soft and hard lenses. Conclusion: According to this study, the intraocular pressure decreases after wearing contact lenses (CL). This decline may be due to variation in properties of cornea after wearing CL that can also affect IOP measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate corneal biomechanical response parameters in varying degrees of myopia and their correlation with corneal geometrical parameters and axial length. Methods: In this prospective cross-sectional study, 172 eyes of 172 subjects, the severity degree of myopia was categorized into mild, moderate, severe, and extreme myopia. Cycloplegic refraction, corneal tomography using Pentacam HR, corneal biomechanical assessment using Corvis ST and Ocular Response Analyser (ORA), and ocular biometry using IOLMaster 700 were performed for all subjects. A general linear model was used to compare biomechanical parameters in various degrees of myopia, while central corneal thickness (CCT) and biomechanically corrected intraocular pressure (bIOP) were considered as covariates. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate the relationship between corneal biomechanical parameters with spherical equivalent (SE), axial length (AXL), bIOP, mean keratometry (Mean KR), and CCT. Results: Corneal biomechanical parameters assessed by Corvis ST that showed significant differences among the groups were second applanation length (AL2, p = 0.035), highest concavity radius (HCR, p < 0.001), deformation amplitude (DA, p < 0.001), peak distance (PD, p = 0.022), integrated inverse radius (IR, p < 0.001) and DA ratio (DAR, p = 0.004), while there were no significant differences in the means of pressure-derived parameters of ORA between groups. Multiple regression analysis showed all parameters of Corvis ST have significant relationships with level of myopia (SE, AXL, Mean KR), except AL1 and AL2. Significant biomechanical parameters showed progressive reduction in corneal stiffness with increasing myopia (either with greater negative SE or greater AXL), independent of IOP and CCT. Also, corneal hysteresis (CH) or ability to dissipate energy from the ORA decreased with increasing level of myopia. Conclusions: Dynamic corneal response assessed by Corvis ST shows evidence of biomechanical changes consistent with decreasing stiffness with increasing levels of myopia in multiple parameters. The strongest correlations were with highest concavity parameters where the sclera influence is maximal., Competing Interests: CR is a consultant to Oculus Optikgeräte GmbH, Zeimer Ophthalmic Systems AG, and Optimo Medical. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Sedaghat, Momeni-Moghaddam, Azimi, Fakhimi, Ziaei, Danesh, Roberts, Monfared and Jamali.)

Purpose: To compare refractive outcomes, contrast sensitivity, higher-order aberrations (HOAs), and patient satisfaction after photorefractive keratectomy for correction of moderate myopia with two methods: tissue saving versus wavefront optimized., Methods: In this prospective, comparative study, 152 eyes (80 patients) with moderate myopia with and without astigmatism were randomly divided into two groups: the tissue-saving group (Technolas 217z Zyoptix laser; Bausch & Lomb, Rochester, NY) (76 eyes of 39 patients) or the wavefront-optimized group (WaveLight Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser; Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX) (76 eyes of 41 patients). Preoperative and 3-month postoperative refractive outcomes, contrast sensitivity, HOAs, and patient satisfaction were compared between the two groups., Results: The mean spherical equivalent was -4.50 ± 1.02 diopters. No statistically significant differences were detected between the groups in terms of uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity and spherical equivalent preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. No statistically significant differences were seen in the amount of preoperative to postoperative contrast sensitivity changes between the two groups in photopic and mesopic conditions. HOAs and Q factor increased in both groups postoperatively (P = .001), with the tissue-saving method causing more increases in HOAs (P = .007) and Q factor (P = .039). Patient satisfaction was comparable between both groups., Conclusions: Both platforms were effective in correcting moderate myopia with or without astigmatism. No difference in refractive outcome, contrast sensitivity changes, and patient satisfaction between the groups was observed. Postoperatively, the tissue-saving method caused a higher increase in HOAs and Q factor compared to the wavefront-optimized method, which could be due to larger optical zone sizes in the tissue-saving group., (Copyright 2015, SLACK Incorporated.)

Purpose: To compare the results of Worth 4-dot test (WFDT) performed in dark and light, and at different distances, with fusional control in patients with intermittent exotropia (IXT)., Methods: Dark and light WFDT was performed for new IXT subjects at different distances and the results were compared with level of office-based fusional control., Results: Fifty IXT patients including 17 male and 33 female subjects participated in the study. A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed between levels of home and office-based fusional control (P<0.05). A weak correlation was present between the results of WFDT and level of office-based fusional control; the highest agreement (Kappa=0.088) was observed with dark WFDT performed at a distance of 4m., Conclusion: Evaluation of fusional state by far WFDT, especially in a dark room, shows modest correlation with office-based fusional control in IXT patients and can be used as an adjunct to more complex tests such as far stereoacuity.