A Dichoptic Optokinetic Nystagmus Paradigm for Interocular Suppression Quantification in Intermittent Exotropia

Purposes: To investigate the effectiveness of a dichoptic optokinetic nystagmus (dOKN) test to objectively quantify interocular suppression in intermittent exotropia (IXT) patients during the states of orthotropia and exodeviation.Methods: The OKN motion in subjects (15 controls and 59 IXT subjects) who viewed dichoptic oppositely moving gratings with different contrast ratios was monitored and recorded by an eye tracker. Interocular suppression in control subjects was induced using neutral density (ND) filters. The OKN direction ratios were fitted to examine the changes of interocular suppression in subjects under different viewing states. Two established interocular suppression tests (phase and motion) were conducted for a comparative study.Results: The dOKN test, which requires a minimal response from subjects, could accurately quantify the interocular suppression in both IXT and control subjects, which is in line with the established interocular suppression tests. Overall, although comparative, the strength of interocular suppression detected by the dOKN test (0.171 ± 0.088) was stronger than those of the phase (0.293 ± 0.081) and the motion tests (0.212 ± 0.068) in the control subjects with 1.5 ND filters. In IXT patients, when their eyes kept aligned, the dOKN test (0.58 ± 0.09) measured deeper visual suppression compared with the phase (0.73 ± 0.17) or the motion test (0.65 ± 0.14). Interestingly, strong interocular suppression (dOKN: 0.15 ± 0.12) was observed in IXT subjects during the periods of exodeviation, irrespective of their binocular visual function as measured by synoptophore.Conclusion: The dOKN test provides efficient and objective quantification of interocular suppression in IXT, and demonstrates how it fluctuates under different eye positions.

Uncertainty quantification of the DTM2020 thermosphere model

Aims The semi-empirical Drag Temperature Models (DTM) calculate the Earth's upper atmosphere's temperature, density, and composition. They were applied mainly for spacecraft orbit computation. We developed an uncertainty tool that we implemented in the DTM2020 thermosphere model. The model is assessed and compared with the recently HASDM neutral density released publicly in 2020. Methods The total neutral density dataset covers all high-resolution CHAMP, GRACE, GOCE, and SWARM data spanning almost two solar cycles. We constructed the uncertainty model using statistical binning analysis and least-square fitting techniques, allowing the development of a global sigma error model to function the main variabilities driving the thermosphere state. The model is represented mathematically by a nonlinear manifold approximation in a 6-D space parameter. Results The results reveal that the altitude parameter presents the most notable error range during quiet and moderate magnetic activity ( [[EQUATION]] ). However, the most considerable uncertainty appears during severe or extreme geomagnetic activities. The comparison with density data provided by the SET HASDM database highlights some coherent features on the mechanisms occurring in the thermosphere. Moreover, it confirms the tool's relevance to provide a qualitative database of neutral densities uncertainties values deduced from the DTM2020 model.

Seasonal Evolution of Cape Darnley Bottom Water Revealed by Mooring Measurements

This study examines the seasonal evolution of Cape Darnley Bottom Water (CDBW), using the results of mooring and hydrographic measurements in the slope region off Cape Darnley in 2008–2009 and 2013–2014. Newly formed CDBW began reaching the western and nearshore part of the slope region off Cape Darnley in April, spread to the offshore and eastern part in May, and reached the easternmost part in September. The potential temperature and salinity decreased and the neutral density increased when newly formed CDBW reached mooring sites. Potential temperature-salinity properties of CDBW changed over time and location. The salinity of the source water of CDBW estimated from potential temperature-salinity diagrams started to increase at a nearshore mooring in late April, which is about 2 months after the onset of sea-ice production, and continued to increase during the ice production season. It is most probable that the accumulation of brine in the Cape Darnley polynya produces the seasonal variation of potential temperature-salinity properties of CDBW. Two types of CDBW were identified. Cold and less saline CDBW and warm and saline CDBW were present in Wild and Daly Canyons, respectively. This indicates that the salinity of the source water of CDBW increased in the westward direction. CDBW exhibited short-term variability induced by baroclinic instability.

State price density estimation with an application to the recovery theorem

This article introduces a model to estimate the risk-neutral density of stock prices derived from option prices. To estimate a complete risk-neutral density, current estimation techniques use a single mathematical model to interpolate option prices on two dimensions: strike price and time-to-maturity. Instead, this model uses B-splines with at-the-money knots for the strike price interpolation and a mixed lognormal function that depends on the option expiration horizon for the time-to-maturity interpolation. The results of this “hybrid” methodology are significantly better than other risk-neutral density extrapolation methods when applied to the recovery theorem.