Associations between anthropometric indicators and both refraction and ocular biometrics in a cross-sectional study of Chinese schoolchildren

ObjectiveTo identify associations between anthropometric indicators (height, weight and body mass index (BMI)) and both refraction and ocular biometrics in Chinese schoolchildren in Tianjin, China.DesignCross-sectional study.ParticipantsA total of 482 (86.07%) students (6–15 years old) with no history of ocular or systemic pathologies were enrolled in this study.MethodologyHeight and weight were measured using standardised protocols. Ocular biometrics (axial length (AL), vitreous chamber depth (VCD) and corneal curvature (CC)) were measured by a low-coherence optical reflectometry device. Cycloplegic refraction was measured using autorefraction. The AL/CC ratio and spherical equivalent refraction (SER) were calculated. Myopia was defined as SER ≤−0.50 dioptres (D). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore the associations between anthropometric indicators (height, weight and BMI) and both refraction and ocular biometrics.ResultsThe overall prevalence of myopia was 71.16%. Overall, only height was associated with ALs, VCDs, AL/CC ratios and refractions after controlling for age, gender, parental myopia, family income, reading and writing distance and time spent outdoors. Furthermore, age-specific results demonstrated that height and weight were independently associated with refraction in participants aged 6–8 years and 9–11 years participants. Higher heights in schoolchildren were associated with longer ALs (regression coefficientb=+0.25 for each 10 cm difference in height, p<0.01), deeper VCDs (b=+0.23, p<0.01), higher AL/CC ratios (b=+0.04, p<0.01) and more negative refractions (b=−0.48, p<0.01). Heavier weights were also associated with longer ALs (+0.29 mm, p<0.01), deeper VCDs (+0.29 mm, p<0.01), higher AL/CC ratios (+0.04, p<0.01) and more negative refractions (−0.48 D, p<0.01).ConclusionsHeight and weight remained independently related to refraction and various ocular biometrics during the early adolescent growth period after adequately controlling for covariates, which could support the idea that a shared mechanism may regulate the coordinated growth of body and eye size in children.

Tunable Multimode Filtering of Solid Acoustic Waves in a Three-Component Phononic Crystal Slab

Using of the multiple scattering methods, we characterize the positive and negative multi-refraction and transmission properties of a solid-based phononic crystal composed of coated solid inclusions in view of its applications in tunable multimode filtering. The geometrical parameters are chosen so that a left-handed longitudinal wave mode and a right-handed transverse wave mode, are simultaneously obtained in this three-component phononic crystal. When multimode Gaussian beams are placed transmitting through the phononic crystal slab, both positive and negative refractions are observed. We then study the individual propagation behavior of different modes. The angle dependent transmission beams with different energy distributions are found at the other side of the slab. Transmitted transverse waves coming from different directions incidence finally walk together into four oriented beams. Meanwhile, longitudinal wave incidence with different directions behaves simply as negative refraction in the slab. A far-field longitudinal wave image can be achieved being excited by a longitudinal wave point source. The three-component phononic crystal slab thus can be served as an alternate in tunable multimode filtering devices.

COMPARISONS OF NEGATIVE REFRACTION IN LEFT-HANDED MATERIALS AND PHOTONIC CRYSTALS

Using the equifrequency surfaces (EFS) to describe negative refractions in left-handed materials (LHMs) and photonic crystals (PCs), negative phase and negative group refractive indexes in LHMs were compared with positive phase and negative group refractive indexes in PCs. The refractive indexes in PCs were dependent on frequencies and incident angles of electromagnetic wave, while indexes in LHMs were constant in the left-handed region. Furthermore, the phase compensating effect resulting from the negative phase refractive index was addressed to distinguish the perfect lens made of LHMs from the superlens realized in the all angle negative refraction (AANR) region of PCs.