Generation of 3D Virtual Geographic Environment Based on Laser Scanning Technique

This paper demonstrates an experiment on the generation of 3D virtual geographic environment on the basis of experimental flight laser scanning data by a set of algorithms and methods that were developed to automatically interpret range images for extracting geo-spatial features and then to reconstruct geo-objects. The algorithms and methods for the interpretation and modeling of laser scanner data include triangulated-irregular-network (TIN)-based range image interpolation; mathematical-morphology (MM)-based range image filtering, feature extraction and range image segmentation, feature generalization and optimization, 3D objects reconstruction and modeling; computer-graphics (CG)-based visualization and animation of geographic virtual reality environment.

A novel approach for extracting pulse rate,respiratory rate and heart rate from photoplethysmogram

Photoplethysmogram(PPG)is a noninvasive method for detecting human cardiovascular pulse wave using optical technology.The PPG containing a lot of physiological information is from the MIMIC database.This paper proposes a combinatorial method of ensemble empirical mode decomposition(EEMD),cepstrum,fast Fourier transform(FFT)and zero-crossing detection to improve the robustness of the estimation of pulse rate(PR),heart rate(HR)and respiratory rate(RR)from the PPG.First,the PPG signal was decomposed into finite intrinsic mode functions(IMF)by EEMD.Because of its adaptive filtering property,the different signals were reconstructed using different IMFs when estimating different physiological parameters.Second,the PR was obtained by zero-crossing detection after rejecting low frequency IMFs containing artifacts.Third,IMFs with frequency between 1.00 Hz to 1.67 Hz(60 beats/min to 100 beats/min)were selected for estimating HR.Then,the frequency band that reflects the heart activity was analyzed by the cepstrum method.Finally,the respiratory signal can be extracted from PPG signal by IMFs with frequency between 0.05 Hz to 0.75 Hz(3 breahts/min to 45 breaths/min).Then the spectrum of signal was obtained by FFT analysis and the RR was estimated by detecting the maximum frequency peak.The algorithm has been tested on MIMIC database obtained from 53 adults.The experiment results show that the physiological parameters extracted by this integrated signal processing method are consistent with the real physiological parameters.And the computation load of this method is small and the precision is high(not larger than 1.17%in error).

Confocal laser endomicroscopy in the “in vivo” histological diagnosis of the gastrointestinal tract

Recent technological advances in miniaturization have allowed for a confocal scanning microscope to be integrated into a conventional flexible endoscope,or into trans-endoscopic probes,a technique now known as confocal endomicroscopy or confocal laser endomicroscopy.This newly-developed technology has enabled endoscopists to collect real-time in vivo histological images or "virtual biopsies" of the gastrointestinal mucosa during endoscopy,and has stimulated significant interest in the application of this technique in clinical gastroenterology.This review aims to evaluate the current data on the technical aspects and the utility of this new technology in clinical gastroenterology and its potential impact in the future,particularly in the screening or surveillance of gastrointestinal neoplasia.

Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Novel Multi-branched Oligomers

We investigate the fluorene-vinylene unit dependent photo-physical properties of multi- branched truxene based oligomers （Tr-OFVn, n=1-4） employing steady-state absorption and emission spectroscopy, transient absorption spectroscopy, two-photon fluorescence, and z-scan technique. The results show that the increasing of fluorene-vinylene unit leads to a red-shift in the spectra of absorption and fluorescence, and shortens the excited state lifetime. Meanwhile, two-photon fluorescence efficiency and two-photon absorption cross section of truxene based oligolners gradually enhance in company with the extension of π- conjugated length. In addition, the values of two-photon absorption cross section modeled on the sum-over-state approach agree well with the experimental ones. The results indicate multi-branched truxene based oligomers bearing organic materials for two-photon applications.

Mitosis and microtubule organizational changes in rice root-tip cells

The pattern of change of the microtubule cytoskele-ton of the root-tip cells of rice during mitosis was studied using immunofluorescence technic and confocal laser scanning microscopy. All the major stages of cell division including preprophase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase were observed. The most significant finding was that in the preprophase cells microtubules radiating from the nuclear surface to the cortex were frequently seen. During development these microtubules became closely associated with the preprophase band and prophase spindle indicating that the microtubules radiating from the nuclear surface, the preprophase band and the prophase spindle were structurally and functionally closely related to each other. Granule-like anchorage sites for the radiating microtubules at the nuclear surface were often seen and the possibility that these granule-like anchorage sites might represent the microtubule organizing centres was discussed.

Active Field Canceling System in Next Generation Nano-Fab

ELF （extremely low frequency） magnetic fields from power-line current influence the yield of CMOS foundry. The poor yield happens because of ELF magnetic fields inducing directly the measurement or process equipment for cutting-edge chips below 28 nm process. The equipments of electron microscopes, including SEM （scanning electron microscope）, TEM （transmission electron microscopy）, STEM （scanning transmission electron microscopy） and EBLS （electron beam lithography system） are very susceptible to ELF magnetic fields emanating from various electrical power sources outside of the building and within next generation CMOS foundry recommends a maximum of 0.3 mG. The active canceling method uses active coils with current sensing field via sensor and inducing man-made electromagnetic field to reduce the stray magnetic field. Unfortunately, the conventional system takes more time to products field because of parasitical capacitance and resistance in long coil. The longer canceling coil the system construct, the more time it takes. Besides, canceling system should spend more time on calibrating non-linear current amplifier through software design. This research designs simpler anti-electro-magnetic system instead of typical frame and develops one turn canceling coil structure to reduce delaying time. Several parallel cells generate field up to 23.81 mG controlled by MPU （micro processor unit）. This system decreases the power-line inducing filed below 0.3 mG.

Latitudinal and climatic distributions of 3D craniofacial features among Holocene populations

The geographical and climatic patterning in craniofacial morphology among recent hominids has been regarded as relatively reliable evidence of environmental adaptation and natural selection,which is largely attributed to thermoregulation.However,the relative influence of genetic and environmental factors on craniofacial features is unclear.Our study employed 3D laser scanning techniques to evaluate the association between geographical(latitude),climatic(annual temperature)factors,and 3D craniofacial measurements in 18 recent populations through bivariate correlation analysis.Significant correlations were found among braincase surface area,zygomatic bone surface area,cranial-facial index(facial surface area relative to braincase surface area)and local temperature,and a clear latitudinal gradient was also found in variation of braincase surface area.No significant correlations were found between zygomatic bone surface area,cranial-facial index and latitude.Our analysis supports the idea that the braincase functions as a radiator and is closely related to direct sunlight.We also suggest that absolute/relative craniofacial surface area varies consistently with predictions derived from Bergmann’s Rule.The mosaic craniofacial traits of American Indians may reflect retention of cold-derived,ancestral features,as well as a response to a slightly warmer climate.Because different craniofacial regions preserve environmental/genetic signatures differentially,caution is suggested when craniofacial anatomy is used for phylogenetic reconstruction and functional-morphological analysis.

Fabrication of hydrophobic structures on coronary stent surface based on direct three-beam laser interference lithography

To solve the problems with coronary stent implantation, coronary artery stent surface was directly modified by three-beam laser interference lithography through imitating the water-repellent surface of lotus leaf, and uniform micro-nano structures with the controllable period were fabricated. The morphological properties and contact angle(CA) of the microstructure were measured by scanning electron microscope(SEM) and CA system. The water repellency of stent was also evaluated by the contact and then separation between the water drop and the stent. The results show that the close-packed concave structure with the period of about 12 μm can be fabricated on the stent surface with special parameters(incident angle of 3°, laser energy density of 2.2 J·cm^(-2) and exposure time of 80 s) by using the three-beam laser at 1 064 nm, and the structure has good water repellency with CA of 120°.

Assessments of tear meniscus height, tear film thickness, and corneal epithelial thickness after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty

Objective： To assess the lower tear meniscus height（LTMH）, central tear film thickness（CTFT）, and central corneal epithelial thickness（CCET） after deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty（DALK）. Methods： This was a retrospective cross-sectional study of 20 patients who had DALK in one eye over a three-month period. LTMH, CTFT, and CCET of the operated eyes and the unoperated fellow eyes were measured using high-definition optical coherence tomography（HD-OCT）. Correlations between three OCT assessments and age, time following surgery, graft size, bed size, and the number of residual sutures were analyzed. Results： Compared to patients with keratoconus, patients with other corneal conditions had significantly higher CCET in the fellow eye（P=0.024）. For all patients, CCET in the operated eye was significantly negatively correlated with the number of residual sutures（R=-0.579, P=0.008）, and was significantly positively correlated with time following surgery（R=0.636, P=0.003）. In the fellow eye, a significant positive correlation was found between age and CCET（R=0.551, P=0.012）, and a significant negative correlation between age and CTFT（R=-0.491, P=0.028）. LTMH was found to be significantly correlated between operated and fellow eyes（R=0.554, P=0.011）. There was no significant correlation between LTMH and age, bed/graft size, time following surgery, or residual sutures（all possible correlations, P0.05）. Conclusions： Patients with keratoconus tend to have a thinner central corneal epithelium. Corneal epithelium keeps regenerating over time after DALK. DALK did not induce a significant change in tear volume compared with the fellow eye. Postoperative tear function might depend on an individual＇s general condition, rather than on age, gender, bed/graft size, time following surgery, or residual sutures.