Design and Implementation of FPGA Based Bipolar Stepper Motor Controller for Linear Slide Application

Stepper motor is a common linear actuator in automation. This motor is used in the design of one axis automated cutter motion control with a linear slide. The cutter required a high precision motion and location control to avoid miss-cut condition. With the advantage of parallelism of FPGA, a precise stepper motor control signal is generated to drive the stepper motor. Concurrent logic circuit in FPGA calculated the distance and direction of motion in synchronize mode. Trapezoidal velocity profile and motion control are implemented using finite state machine (FSM) in FPGA. The distance resolution per step achieved in this study is 15.88µm for 8-microstep configuration. The FPGA stepper motor controller consumes only 1 % logic source on Altera DE2 FPGA board

Utility of combining PIVKA-II and AFP in the surveillance and monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Asia-Pacific region

Even though the combined use of ultrasound (US) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is recommended for the surveillance of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the utilization of AFP has its challenges, including accuracy dependent on its cut-off levels, degree of liver necroinflammation, and etiology of liver disease. Though various studies have demonstrated the utility of protein induced by vitamin K absence II (PIVKA-II) in surveillance, treatment monitoring, and predicting recurrence, it is still not recommended as a routine biomarker test. A panel of 17 experts from Asia-Pacific, gathered to discuss and reach a consensus on the clinical usefulness and value of PIVKA-II for the surveillance and treatment monitoring of HCC, based on six predetermined statements. The experts agreed that PIVKA-II was valuable in the detection of HCC in AFP-negative patients, and could potentially benefit detection of early HCC in combination with AFP. PIVKA-II is clinically useful for monitoring curative and intra-arterial locoregional treatments, outcomes, and recurrence, and could potentially predict microvascular invasion risk and facilitate patient selection for liver transplant. However, combining PIVKA-II with US and AFP for HCC surveillance, including small HCC, still requires more evidence, whilst its role in detecting AFP-negative HCC will potentially increase as more patients are treated for hepatitis-related HCC. PIVKA-II in combination with AFP and US has a clinical role in the Asia-Pacific region for surveillance. However, implementation of PIVKA-II in the region will have some challenges, such as requiring standardization of cut-off values, its cost-effectiveness and improving awareness among healthcare providers

FPGA Implementation of Real Time String Colour Detection

A Machine vision for string detection is useful technologies which benefit to the industries such as food production. It reduces the risk that can harmful to our health and it can do work more accurate and efficient. The algorithm used is a colour detection which determines the colour of string and background subtraction for filter process by using the threshold range values. The target of detection focuses on plastic string with two different colours; pink and yellow strings. The threshold values used in hardware detection are ranged from 158 to 175 and 3 to 35 for pink and yellow string colours, respectively. The result shows that an object tied with strings is able to be detected and captured by using this system. Overall, this project is successfully developed and achieved the goal for real time detecting a string which is implemented on FPGA

Proprioceptive sensing system for therapy assessment using cotton fabric-based biomedical microelectromechanical system

Demands for better control of the operating conditions used in human motion tracking and medical applications have led to the need for better means of detecting different types of proprioceptive activity patterns. The purpose of this paper is to propose the development of a proprioceptive sensor for applications in medical system and therapy assessment using cotton fabric-based flexible microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). To demonstrate the application of this sensor, a system has been developed in order to detect different finger flexion movements on a finger joint. The procedure for the development of MEMS proprioceptive sensor fabricated using cotton fabric as the structural material is described. Cotton fabric is chosen as the structural material because it is inexpensive, simple to fabricate, readily available for mass production, lightweight, and conforms to any arbitrary surface. It is also sustainable and environmentally friendly. The fabric is stamped with varied volume of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) ink to generate different conductive pattern. The working principle of this textile-based sensor is based on piezoresistivity effect generated by the deposited AgNPs on the hierarchical structure of cotton fabric substrate. Based on this fact, this sensor can give sensing information about different finger flexure movements according to the resistance change of the AgNPs. This sensor can be used as a rehabilitation device, e.g., data glove or even a communication device for the disabled to control appliances

Inducible RasGEF1B circular RNA is a positive regulator of ICAM-1 in the TLR4/LPS pathway

<p>Circular RNAs (circRNAs) constitute a large class of RNA species formed by the back-splicing of co-linear exons, often within protein-coding transcripts. Despite much progress in the field, it remains elusive whether the majority of circRNAs are merely aberrant splicing by-products with unknown functions, or their production is spatially and temporally regulated to carry out specific biological functions. To date, the majority of circRNAs have been cataloged in resting cells. Here, we identify an LPS-inducible circRNA: <i>mcircRasGEF1B</i>, which is predominantly localized in cytoplasm, shows cell-type specific expression, and has a human homolog with similar properties, <i>hcircRasGEF1B</i>. We show that knockdown of the expression of <i>mcircRasGEF1B</i> reduces LPS-induced <i>ICAM-1</i> expression. Additionally, we demonstrate that <i>mcircRasGEF1B</i> regulates the stability of mature <i>ICAM-1</i> mRNAs. These findings expand the inventory of functionally characterized circRNAs with a novel RNA species that may play a critical role in fine-tuning immune responses and protecting cells against microbial infection.</p

Digital inequalities in health information seeking behaviors and experiences in the age of web 2.0: A population-based study in Hong Kong.

BackgroundInequalities in health information seeking behaviors (HISBs) using mass media and internet websites (web 1.0) are well documented. Little is known about web 2.0 such as social networking sites (SNS) and instant messaging (IM) and experiences of HISBs.MethodsWe surveyed representative Hong Kong Chinese adults (N = 10143, 54.9% female; 72.3% aged 25-64 years) on frequency of HISBs using traditional sources, internet websites, SNS (e.g., Facebook, Twitter), and IM (e.g., WhatsApp, WeChat) and experiences measured using Information Seeking Experience Scale. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) for HISBs and experiences by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were yielded using multivariable Poisson regression with robust variance estimators. aPRs for experiences by HISBs using internet websites, SNS, and IM adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related characteristics were also yielded.ResultsBeing female, higher educational attainment, not smoking, and being physically active were associated with HISBs using any source (all PConclusionsWe identified correlates of web-based health information seeking and experiences in Hong Kong Chinese adults. Providing greater access to and improved information environment of web 2.0 to the target groups may help address digital inequalities

Analysis of bleb morphology after trabeculectomy with Visante anterior segment optical coherence tomography

BACKGROUND: To describe the use of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) in imaging intrableb morphology after trabeculectomy. METHODS: 14 post‐trabeculectomy eyes from 11 primary open angle glaucoma and 3 primary angle closure glaucoma subjects were studied. The blebs were classified with reference to slit lamp morphology and bleb function. They included diffuse filtering (n = 7), cystic (n = 2), encapsulated (n = 2) and flattened (n = 3) bleb types. One eye in each patient was imaged with the Visante anterior segment OCT. A vertical scan line of 10 mm consisting of 512 A‐scans was positioned at the centre of the bleb. The images were then analysed by built‐in software. Intrableb morphologies and structures, including bleb wall thickness, subconjunctival fluid collections, suprascleral fluid space, scleral flap thickness, intrableb intensity (low, medium or high) and the route under the scleral flap were characterised and measured. RESULTS: Diffuse filtering blebs were found by subconjunctival fluid collections. Suprascleral fluid space and the route under the scleral flap were identified in four of the seven cases. Cystic blebs were composed of a large hyporeflective space with multiloculated fluid collections covered by a thin layer of conjunctiva. Encapsulated blebs had a thick bleb wall with high reflectivity and an enclosed fluid filled space. Flattened blebs demonstrated high scleral reflectivity and no bleb elevation. CONCLUSIONS: Visante anterior segment OCT can be used for bleb imaging. The different patterns of intrableb morphology identified by OCT were related to slit lamp appearance and bleb function. This information may be useful to study the different surgical outcomes and the process of wound healing in trabeculectomised eyes