Final Measurement of the

This Letter reports one of the most precise measurements to date of the antineutrino spectrum from a purely ^{235}U-fueled reactor, made with the final dataset from the PROSPECT-I detector at the High Flux Isotope Reactor. By extracting information from previously unused detector segments, this analysis effectively doubles the statistics of the previous PROSPECT measurement. The reconstructed energy spectrum is unfolded into antineutrino energy and compared with both the Huber-Mueller model and a spectrum from a commercial reactor burning multiple fuel isotopes. A local excess over the model is observed in the 5-7 MeV energy region. Comparison of the PROSPECT results with those from commercial reactors provides new constraints on the origin of this excess, disfavoring at 2.0 and 3.7 standard deviations the hypotheses that antineutrinos from ^{235}U are solely responsible and noncontributors to the excess observed at commercial reactors, respectively.

Experimental Search for Neutron to Mirror Neutron Oscillations as an Explanation of the Neutron Lifetime Anomaly.

An unexplained >4σ discrepancy persists between "beam" and "bottle" measurements of the neutron lifetime. A new model proposed that conversions of neutrons n into mirror neutrons n^{'}, part of a dark mirror sector, can increase the apparent neutron lifetime by 1% via a small mass splitting Δm between n and n^{'} inside the 4.6 T magnetic field of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Beam Lifetime experiment. A search for neutron conversions in a 6.6 T magnetic field was performed at the Spallation Neutron Source which excludes this explanation for the neutron lifetime discrepancy.

Joint Determination of Reactor Antineutrino Spectra from

A joint determination of the reactor antineutrino spectra resulting from the fission of ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu has been carried out by the Daya Bay and PROSPECT Collaborations. This Letter reports the level of consistency of ^{235}U spectrum measurements from the two experiments and presents new results from a joint analysis of both data sets. The measurements are found to be consistent. The combined analysis reduces the degeneracy between the dominant ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu isotopes and improves the uncertainty of the ^{235}U spectral shape to about 3%. The ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu antineutrino energy spectra are unfolded from the jointly deconvolved reactor spectra using the Wiener-SVD unfolding method, providing a data-based reference for other reactor antineutrino experiments and other applications. This is the first measurement of the ^{235}U and ^{239}Pu spectra based on the combination of experiments at low- and highly enriched uranium reactors.

Joint Measurement of the

The PROSPECT and STEREO collaborations present a combined measurement of the pure ^{235}U antineutrino spectrum, without site specific corrections or detector-dependent effects. The spectral measurements of the two highest precision experiments at research reactors are found to be compatible with χ^{2}/ndf=24.1/21, allowing a joint unfolding of the prompt energy measurements into antineutrino energy. This ν[over ¯]_{e} energy spectrum is provided to the community, and an excess of events relative to the Huber model is found in the 5-6 MeV region. When a Gaussian bump is fitted to the excess, the data-model χ^{2} value is improved, corresponding to a 2.4σ significance.

Measurement of the Antineutrino Spectrum from

This Letter reports the first measurement of the ^{235}U ν[over ¯]_{e} energy spectrum by PROSPECT, the Precision Reactor Oscillation and Spectrum experiment, operating 7.9 m from the 85 MW_{th} highly enriched uranium (HEU) High Flux Isotope Reactor. With a surface-based, segmented detector, PROSPECT has observed 31678±304(stat) ν[over ¯]_{e}-induced inverse beta decays, the largest sample from HEU fission to date, 99% of which are attributed to ^{235}U. Despite broad agreement, comparison of the Huber ^{235}U model to the measured spectrum produces a χ^{2}/ndf=51.4/31, driven primarily by deviations in two localized energy regions. The measured ^{235}U spectrum shape is consistent with a deviation relative to prediction equal in size to that observed at low-enriched uranium power reactors in the ν[over ¯]_{e} energy region of 5-7 MeV.

First Search for Short-Baseline Neutrino Oscillations at HFIR with PROSPECT.

This Letter reports the first scientific results from the observation of antineutrinos emitted by fission products of ^{235}U at the High Flux Isotope Reactor. PROSPECT, the Precision Reactor Oscillation and Spectrum Experiment, consists of a segmented 4 ton ^{6}Li-doped liquid scintillator detector covering a baseline range of 7-9 m from the reactor and operating under less than 1 m water equivalent overburden. Data collected during 33 live days of reactor operation at a nominal power of 85 MW yield a detection of 25 461±283 (stat) inverse beta decays. Observation of reactor antineutrinos can be achieved in PROSPECT at 5σ statistical significance within 2 h of on-surface reactor-on data taking. A reactor model independent analysis of the inverse beta decay prompt energy spectrum as a function of baseline constrains significant portions of the previously allowed sterile neutrino oscillation parameter space at 95% confidence level and disfavors the best fit of the reactor antineutrino anomaly at 2.2σ confidence level.

Immunological crossreactivity between a cloned antigen of Onchocerca volvulus and a component of the retinal pigment epithelium.

Onchocerciasis (river blindness) is a major blinding disease in Africa, Central America, and South America. Loss of vision can be due to corneal change, optic atrophy, or chorioretinal disease. It has been suggested that autoimmunological reactions resulting from crossreactivity between parasite antigens and components of eye tissues contribute to development of ocular pathology. Using sera collected from onchocerciasis patients as a screening reagent, a cDNA clone (Ov39) has been isolated from a lambda gt11 expression library of Onchocerca volvulus. This antigen exhibits immunological crossreactivity with a component of retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE). Antiserum raised against this recombinant peptide immunoprecipitates a 22,000 Mr antigen of adult O. volvulus and recognizes a 44,000 Mr component of bovine RPE by Western blotting. A 44,000 Mr antigen of cultured human RPE metabolically labeled with 35S-methionine can be immunoprecipitated with the same antiserum. An antigen of the same size is recognized by a rabbit antiserum raised against whole O. volvulus extract. Immunocytochemical studies on cryostat sections of the bovine eye using the antirecombinant sera localizes this antigen to the RPE.

Nonfuel Antineutrino Contributions in the High Flux Isotope Reactor.

Reactor neutrino experiments have seen major improvements in precision in recent years. With the experimental uncertainties becoming lower than those from theory, carefully considering all sources of ν ¯ e is important when making theoretical predictions. One source of ν ¯ e that is often neglected arises from the irradiation of the nonfuel materials in reactors. The ν ¯ e rates and energies from these sources vary widely based on the reactor type, configuration, and sampling stage during the reactor cycle and have to be carefully considered for each experiment independently. In this article, we present a formalism for selecting the possible ν ¯ e sources arising from the neutron captures on reactor and target materials. We apply this formalism to the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the ν ¯ e source for the the Precision Reactor Oscillation and Spectrum Measurement (PROSPECT) experiment. Overall, we observe that the nonfuel ν ¯ e contributions from HFIR to PROSPECT amount to 1% above the inverse beta decay threshold with a maximum contribution of 9% in the 1.8-2.0 MeV range. Nonfuel contributions can be particularly high for research reactors like HFIR because of the choice of structural and reflector material in addition to the intentional irradiation of target material for isotope production. We show that typical commercial pressurized water reactors fueled with low-enriched uranium will have significantly smaller nonfuel ν ¯ e contribution.

Causes of severe visual impairment and blindness in Bangladesh: a study of 1935 children.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the anatomical site and underlying aetiology of severe visual impairment and blindness (SVI/BL) in children in Bangladesh. DESIGN: A national case series. METHODS: Children were recruited from all 64 districts in Bangladesh through multiple sources. Causes were determined and categorised using standard World Health Organization methods. RESULTS: 1935 SVI/BL children were recruited. The median age was 132 months, and boys accounted for 63.1% of the sample. The main site of abnormality was lens (32.5%), mainly unoperated cataract, followed by corneal pathology (26.6%) and disorders of the whole eye (13.1%). Lens-related blindness was the leading cause in boys (37.0%) compared with corneal blindness in girls (29.8%). In 593 children, visual loss was due to childhood factors, over 75% being attributed to vitamin A deficiency. Overall 1338 children (69.2%) had avoidable causes. Only 2% of the country's estimated SVI/BL children have access to education and rehabilitation services. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first large-scale study of SVI/BL children in Bangladesh over two-thirds of whom had avoidable causes. Strategies for control are discussed.

Cataract prevalence, cataract surgical coverage and barriers to uptake of cataract surgical services in Pakistan: the Pakistan National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey.

AIM: To estimate the prevalence of visual impairment and blindness caused by cataract, the prevalence of aphakia/pseudophakia, cataract surgical coverage (CSC) and to identify barriers to the uptake of cataract services among adults aged >or=30 years in Pakistan. METHODS: Probability proportional-to-size procedures were used to select a nationally representative sample of adults. Each subject underwent interview, visual acuity measurement, autorefraction, biometry and ophthalmic examination. Those that saw <6/12 in either eye underwent a more intensive examination procedure including corrected visual acuity, slit lamp and dilated fundus examination. CSC was calculated for different levels of visual loss by person and by eye. Individuals with <6/60 in the better eye as a result of cataract were interviewed regarding barriers. RESULTS: 16 507 Adults were examined (95.5% response rate). The crude prevalence of blindness (presenting <3/60 in the better eye) caused by bilateral cataract was 1.75% (95% CI 1.55%, 1.96%). 1317 Participants (633 men; 684 women) had undergone cataract surgery in one or both eyes, giving a crude prevalence of 8.0% (95% CI 7.6%, 8.4%). The CSC (persons) at <3/60, <6/60 and <6/18 were 77.1%, 69.3% and 43.7%, respectively. The CSC (eyes) at <3/60, <6/60 and <6/18 were 61.4%, 52.2% and 40.7%, respectively. Cost of surgery (76.1%) was the main barrier to surgery. CONCLUSION: Approximately 570 000 adults are estimated to be blind (<3/60) as a result of cataract in Pakistan, and 3,560000 eyes have a visual acuity of <6/60 because of cataract. Overall, the national surgical coverage is good but underserved populations have been identified.

Causes of blindness and visual impairment in Pakistan. The Pakistan national blindness and visual impairment survey.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the causes of blindness and visual impairment in adults (> or =30 years old) in Pakistan, and to explore socio-demographic variations in cause. METHODS: A multi-stage, stratified, cluster random sampling survey was used to select a nationally representative sample of adults. Each subject was interviewed, had their visual acuity measured and underwent autorefraction and fundus/optic disc examination. Those with a visual acuity of <6/12 in either eye underwent a more detailed ophthalmic examination. Causes of visual impairment were classified according to the accepted World Health Organization (WHO) methodology. An exploration of demographic variables was conducted using regression modeling. RESULTS: A sample of 16 507 adults (95.5% of those enumerated) was examined. Cataract was the most common cause of blindness (51.5%; defined as <3/60 in the better eye on presentation) followed by corneal opacity (11.8%), uncorrected aphakia (8.6%) and glaucoma (7.1%). Posterior capsular opacification accounted for 3.6% of blindness. Among the moderately visually impaired (<6/18 to > or =6/60), refractive error was the most common cause (43%), followed by cataract (42%). Refractive error as a cause of severe visual impairment/blindness was significantly higher in rural dwellers than in urban dwellers (odds ratio (OR) 3.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 11.7). Significant provincial differences were also identified. Overall we estimate that 85.5% of causes were avoidable and that 904 000 adults in Pakistan have cataract (<6/60) requiring surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive survey provides reliable estimates of the causes of blindness and visual impairment in Pakistan. Despite expanded surgical services, cataract still accounts for over half of the cases of blindness in Pakistan. One in eight blind adults has visual loss from sequelae of cataract surgery. Services for refractive errors need to be further expanded and integrated into eye care services, particularly those serving rural populations.

Perceptual visual dysfunction, physical impairment and quality of life in Bangladeshi children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common cause of motor disability in children and is often accompanied by sensory and/or cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to characterise visual acuity impairment, perceptual visual dysfunction (PVD) and physical disability in a community-based sample of Bangladeshi children with CP and to assess the impact of these factors on the quality of life of the children. METHODS: A key informant study was used to recruit children with CP from Sirajganj district. Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels and visual impairment were assessed by a physiotherapist and an optometrist, respectively. Assessments of visual perception were performed and standardised questionnaires were administered to each child's main carer to elicit indicators of PVD and parent-reported health-related quality of life. A generalised linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the determinants of the quality of life scores. RESULTS: 180 children were recruited. The median age was 8 years (IQR: 6-11 years); 112 (62%) were male; 57 (32%) had visual acuity impairment and 95 (53%) had some parent-reported PVD. In analyses adjusted for age, sex, GMFCS and acuity impairment, visual attention (p<0.001) and recognition/navigation (p<0.001) were associated with total health-related quality of life, and there were similar trends for total PVD score (p=0.006) and visual search (p=0.020). CONCLUSIONS: PVD is an important contributor in reducing quality of life in children with CP, independent of motor disability and acuity impairment. Better characterisation of PVD is important to help design interventions for affected children, which may improve their quality of life.

Genes and environment in refractive error: the twin eye study.

PURPOSE: A classical twin study was performed to examine the relative importance of genes and environment in refractive error. METHODS: Refractive error was examined in 226 monozygotic (MZ) and 280 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs aged 49 to 79 years (mean age, 62.4 years). Using a Humphrey-670 automatic refractor, continuous measures of spherical equivalent, total astigmatism, and corneal astigmatism were recorded. Univariate and bivariate maximum likelihood model fitting was used to estimate genetic and environmental variance components using information from both eyes. RESULTS: For the continuous spectrum of myopia/hyperopia, a model specifying additive genetic and unique environmental factors showed the best fit to the data, yielding a heritability of 84% to 86% (95% confidence interval [CI], 81%-89%). If myopia and hyperopia (< or = -0.5 D and > or = 0.5 D, respectively) were treated as binary traits, the heritability was 90% (95% CI, 81%-95%) for myopia and 89% (95% CI, 81%-94%) for hyperopia. For total and corneal astigmatism, modeling showed dominant genetic effects are important; dominant genetic effects accounted for 47% to 49% of the variance of total astigmatism (95% CI, 37%-55%) and 42% to 61% of corneal astigmatism variance (95% CI, 8%-71%), with additive genetic factors accounting for 1% to 4% and 4% to 18%, respectively (95% CIs, 0%-13% and 0%-60%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Genetic effects are of major importance in myopia/hyperopia; astigmatism appears to be dominantly inherited.

Immunologic cross-reactivity in the pathogenesis of ocular onchocerciasis.

PURPOSE: Onchocerca volvulus, a filarial worm, is a major cause of infectious blindness and inflammatory eye disease. An autoimmune cause for ocular onchocerciasis has been suggested since the identification of a recombinant antigen of O. volvulus that shows immunologic cross-reactivity with a host ocular component of 44,000 M(r). The aim of this study was to establish the distribution of the cross-reactive antigens in both host tissues and the parasite, and to determine if significant autoantibody responses to the host antigen could be detected in infected persons. METHODS: The tissue and organ distribution of the 44,000 M(r) antigen was determined by immunocytochemistry and Western blot analysis. Human autoantibody responses to the ocular antigen were demonstrated by Western blot analysis using sera collected from persons with onchocerciasis, with and without posterior segment pathology, Bancroftian filariasis, and Europeans with no filarial infection. RESULTS: The tissue distribution of the 44,000 M(r) antigen correlates with the sites of pathology in onchocerciasis and antibody reactivity against this antigen could be detected in all persons with onchocerciasis and posterior segment pathology. The antigen is also recognized by sera from persons with Bancroftian filariasis, but not from normal persons. CONCLUSIONS: A role is proposed for immunologic cross-reactivity in the pathogenesis of onchocerciasis and it is suggested that intraocular presentation of the cross-reactive parasite antigen by microfilariae is essential for the development of disease.

The heritability of age-related cortical cataract: the twin eye study.

PURPOSE: A classical twin study was performed to establish the relative importance of genes and environment in cortical cataract. METHODS: Five hundred six pairs of unselected female twin volunteers (226 monozygotic and 280 dizygotic) with a mean age of 62 years (range, 49-79 years) were examined. Cortical cataract was assessed using the slit-lamp-based Oxford Clinical Cataract Classification and Grading System (clinical grading) and the Wilmer Automated Grading System, which analyzed digital retroillumination images of subjects' lenses (digital grading). The worse eye categorized score for each individual was used in maximum likelihood path modeling of the correlations within twin pairs. These correlations were used to determine the underlying liability to cortical cataract. RESULTS: Prevalence of significant cortical cataract (>/=5% of lens area) was similar in monozygotic and dizygotic twins, occurring in 19.4% and 20.6% with the clinical grading system and 24% and 23% using the digital grading system, respectively. Modeling suggested liability to cortical cataract is explained by additive and dominant genes, individual environment, and age. Estimates of the broad sense heritability of cortical cataract were 58% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51%-64%) for the clinical grading system and 53% (95% CI, 45%-60%) for the digital system. Dominant genes were estimated to contribute to 38% (95% CI, 1%-64%) of the genetic effect with the clinical grading and 53% (95% CI, 28%-60%) with the digital grading. Individual environment explained 26% and 37% and age 16% and 11% of cortical cataract variance in clinical and digital gradings, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic effects are important in the development of cortical cataract and involve the action of dominant genes.

Causes of childhood blindness in Sri Lanka: results from children attending six schools for the blind.

AIM: The survey aimed to identify the major treatable or preventable causes of visual loss in children attending blind schools in Sri Lanka so that appropriate control measures can be implemented. METHOD: A total of 226 children with blindness (BL) or severe visual impairment (SVI) attending six schools for the blind were examined and details recorded using the WHO standard reporting form. RESULTS: Cataract was responsible for 17% of BL/SVI and was the commonest 'avoidable' cause of childhood blindness. Bilateral microphthalmos accounted for one quarter of BL/SVI. Vitamin A deficiency was not a significant cause of visual morbidity. CONCLUSION: The pattern of childhood blindness seen in this study is typical of a growing number of south east Asian countries which are developing rapidly. Childhood cataract is a major avoidable cause that can benefit from future intervention strategies.

Low vision in east African blind school students: need for optical low vision services.

AIMS: There is increasing awareness of the needs of children with low vision, particularly in developing countries where programmes of integrated education are being developed. However, appropriate low vision services are usually not available or affordable. The aims of this study were, firstly, to assess the need for spectacles and optical low vision devices in students with low vision in schools for the blind in Kenya and Uganda; secondly, to evaluate inexpensive locally produced low vision devices; and, finally, to evaluate simple methods of identifying those low vision students who could read N5 to N8 print after low vision assessment. METHODS: A total of 230 students were examined (51 school and 16 university students in Uganda and 163 students in Kenya, aged 5-22 years), 147 of whom had a visual acuity of less than 6/18 to perception of light in the better eye at presentation. After refraction seven of the 147 achieved 6/18 or better. Eighty two (58.6%) of the 140 students with low vision (corrected visual acuity in the better eye of less than 6/18 to light perception) had refractive errors of more than 2 dioptres in the better eye, and 38 (27.1%) had more than 2 dioptres of astigmatism. RESULTS: Forty six per cent of students with low vision (n = 64) could read N5-N8 print unaided or with spectacles, as could a further 33% (n = 46) with low vision devices. Low vision devices were indicated in a total of 50 students (35.7%). The locally manufactured devices could meet two thirds of the need. CONCLUSION: A corrected distance acuity of 1/60 or better had a sensitivity of 99.1% and a specificity of 56.7% in predicting the ability to discern N8 print or better. The ability to perform at least two of the three simple tests of functional vision had a sensitivity of 95.5% and a specificity of 63.3% in identifying the students able to discern N8 or better.

Factors affecting pupil size after dilatation: the Twin Eye Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Well dilated pupils make eye surgery easier. A classic twin study was established to examine the relative importance of genes and environment in the variance of pupil size after mydriasis, and to examine the effects of other factors such as age, iris colour, and refractive error. METHODS: 506 twin pairs, 226 monozygotic (MZ) and 280 dizygotic (DZ), aged 49-79 (mean age 62.2 years, SD 5.7) were examined. Dilated pupil size was measured using a standardised grid superimposed over digital retroillumination images taken 50-70 minutes after mydriasis using tropicamide 1% and phenylephrine 10%. Univariate maximum likelihood model fitting was used to estimate genetic and environmental variance components. RESULTS: Dilated pupil size was more highly correlated in MZ compared with DZ twins (intraclass correlation coefficients 0.82 and 0.39 respectively). A model specifying additive genetic and unique environmental factors showed the best fit to the data, yielding a heritability of 78-80%. Individual environmental factors explained 18-19% of the variance in this population. Age only accounted for 2-3% of the variance and refractive error and iris colour did not significantly contribute to the variance. CONCLUSIONS: Pupil size after mydriasis is largely genetically determined, with a heritability of up to 80%.

Visual loss in an onchocerciasis endemic community in Sierra Leone.

The visual acuities of 1625 individuals recruited to a community-based clinical trial of ivermectin in southern Sierra Leone were measured, and the prevalence of visual loss in this rural population where onchocerciasis is hyperendemic was determined. Ocular examination was performed before treatment to establish the cause of visual loss. Using WHO definitions, 1.3% were blind (less than 3/60 in both eyes), 4.3% were visually impaired (between 6/24 and 3/60 in the better eye), and a further 3.4% were uniocularly blind (less than 3/60 in one eye and better than 6/24 in the other). Cataract and onchocerciasis were the major causes of visual loss in this population. More than half of the ocular morbidity was preventable or treatable by public health measures or basic curative medicine. These findings are discussed in the light of the available health and eye care services.

The familial contribution to non-syndromic ocular coloboma in south India.

AIMS: To identify the proportion of familial cases of isolated ocular colobomatous malformations in a case series from south India. METHODS: Children with ocular coloboma without systemic features were recruited from multiple sources in Andhra Pradesh, India. Their families were traced, pedigrees drawn, and family members examined. RESULTS: 56 probands, 25 females (44.6%) and 31 males (57.4%) with a colobomatous malformation were identified. In 12 cases (21.4%) another family member was affected. The risk to siblings was 3.8%. The parents were consanguineous in 25 cases (44.6%). CONCLUSIONS: 21.4% of cases of isolated ocular coloboma in this highly consanguineous population of south India were familial, with both autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive mechanisms likely in different families.