A Reconfigurable Readout Integrated Circuit for Heterogeneous Display-Based Multi-Sensor Systems

This paper presents a reconfigurable multi-sensor interface and its readout integrated circuit (ROIC) for display-based multi-sensor systems, which builds up multi-sensor functions by utilizing touch screen panels. In addition to inherent touch detection, physiological and environmental sensor interfaces are incorporated. The reconfigurable feature is effectively implemented by proposing two basis readout topologies of amplifier-based and oscillator-based circuits. For noise-immune design against various noises from inherent human-touch operations, an alternate-sampling error-correction scheme is proposed and integrated inside the ROIC, achieving a 12-bit resolution of successive approximation register (SAR) of analog-to-digital conversion without additional calibrations. A ROIC prototype that includes the whole proposed functions and data converters was fabricated in a 0.18 ??m complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process, and its feasibility was experimentally verified to support multiple heterogeneous sensing functions of touch, electrocardiogram, body impedance, and environmental sensors.ope

Estimation of axial curvature of anterior sclera: correlation between axial length and anterior scleral curvature as affected by angle kappa

Background: Though the development and fitting of scleral contact lenses are expanding steadily, there is no simple method to provide scleral metrics for scleral contact lens fitting yet. The aim of this study was to establish formulae for estimation of the axial radius of curvature (ARC) of the anterior sclera using ocular biometric parameters that can be easily obtained with conventional devices. Methods: A semi-automated stitching method and a computational analysis tool for calculating ARC were developed by using the ImageJ and MATLAB software. The ARC of all the ocular surface points were analyzed from the composite horizontal cross-sectional images of the right eyes of 24 volunteers; these measurements were obtained using anterior segment optical coherence tomography for a previous study (AS-OCT; Visante). Ocular biometric parameters were obtained from the same volunteers with slit-scanning topography and partial coherence interferometry. Correlation analysis was performed between the ARC at 8 mm to the axis line (ARC[8]) and other ocular parameters (including age). With ARC obtained on several nasal and temporal points (7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 mm from the axis line), univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to develop a model for estimating ARC with the help of ocular biometric parameters. Results: Axial length, spherical equivalent, and angle kappa showed correlations with temporal ARC[8] (tARC[8]; Pearson’s r = 0.653, −0.579, and −0.341; P = 0.001, 0.015, and 0.015, respectively). White-to-white corneal diameter (WTW) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) showed correlation with nasal ARC[8] (nARC[8]; Pearson’s r = −0.492 and −0.461; P = 0.015 and 0.023, respectively). The formulae for estimating scleral curvatures (tARC, nARC, and average ARC) were developed as a function of axial length, ACD, WTW, and distance from the axis line, with good determinant power (72 − 80 %; SPSS ver. 22.0). Angle kappa showed strong correlation with axial length (Pearson’s r = −0.813, P <0.001), and the different correlation patterns of nasal and temporal ARC with axial length can be explained by the ocular surface deviation represented by angle kappa. Conclusions: Axial length, ACD, and WTW are useful parameters for estimating the ARC of the anterior sclera, which is important for the haptic design of scleral contact lenses. Angle kappa affects the discrepancies between the nasal and temporal scleral curvature.Korea (South). Ministry of Health & Welfare (Projects A084496 and A120018

An Optimization of Composition Ratio among Triple-Filled Atoms in In

Bulk nanostructured materials are important as energy materials. Among thermoelectric materials, the skutterudite system of CoSb3 is a representative material of bulk nanostructured materials. Filling a skutterudite structure with atoms that have different localized frequencies (also known as triple filling) was reported to be effective for lowering thermal conductivity. Among studies representing superior power factors, In-filled skutterudite systems showed higher Seebeck coefficients. This study sought to optimize the composition ratio among the triple-filled atoms in an In0.3-x-yBaxCeyCo4Sb12 system. The composition dependence of the thermoelectric properties was investigated for specimens with different ratios among the three kinds of filler atoms in the In0.3-x-yBaxCeyCo4Sb12 system. In addition, the process variables were carefully optimized for filled skutterudite systems to obtain a maximum ZT value

The Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training on Blood Lipid Profiles, Fibrinolytic Activities, and Nitric Oxide Levels in High-fat-diet induced Rats

Although exercise training has been utilized to improve vascular function in animals and humans, the impact of moderate intensity exercise training on fibrinolytic activities and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability has not been well documented. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine the impact of moderate intensity aerobic exercise training on fat mass, blood lipid profiles, fibrinolytic activity, and NO levels in high-fat-diet induced rats. The body weight, fat mass, blood lipid profiles, fibrinolytic activity, and nitrite/nitrate were measured pre- and postexercise (10 weeks) training. The body weight and fat mass reduced significantly in the exercise (EX) group compared to the control (CON) group. Blood lipid profiles and low-density lipoprotein were unchanged in the EX group compared to the CON group. However, triglyceride and free fatty acid were significantly lower in the EX group compared to the CON group, and high-density lipoprotein was significantly greater in the EX group compared to the CON group. In addition, fibrinolytic activity and nitrite/nitrate were significantly greater in the EX compared to the CON group. These results suggest that 10 weeks of the moderated intensity aerobic exercise training improves blood lipid profiles, fibrinolytic activity, and the nitrite/nitrate ratio, which may improve vascular health and reduce obesity-related cardiovascular disease risks in high-fat- diet induced rats

Experience of Comamonas Acidovorans Keratitis with Delayed Onset and Treatment Response in Immunocompromised Cornea

summary:We make some comments on the problem of how the Henstock-Kurzweil integral extends the McShane integral for vector-valued functions from the descriptive point of view