An automated system for design-rule-based visual inspection of printed circuit boards

The design and the implementation of an automated, design-rule-based, visual printed circuit board (PCB) inspection system are presented. The system employs mathematical-morphology-based image processing algorithms. This system detects PCB defects related to the conducting structures on PCBs by checking a set of geometric design rules. For this purpose, an image segmentation algorithm and a defect detection algorithm are designed. The defect detection algorithm is capable of verifying the minimum conductor spacing, minimum conductor trace width, and the minimum land width requirements on digital binary PCB images. Also, an existing defect detection algorithm is modified for its implementation in the system

Efficacy of lodoxamide eye drops on tear fluid cytology of patients with vernal conjunctivitis.

A double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of lodoxamide tromethamine 0.1% eyedrops in preventing inflammatory cell accumulation in the tear fluid of patients with vernal conjunctivitis. A 1-week baseline period was followed by 4 weeks of treatment with either lodoxamide tromethamine 0.1% ophthalmic solution or placebo in 30 symptomatic subjects with vernal conjunctivitis. Cytological evaluation of tear fluid was performed before and after the treatment. In the lodoxamide-treated group, but not in the placebo-treated group, the number of neutrophils (P = 0.051) and eosinophils (P = 0.020) in the tears significantly decreased at the end of 4 weeks when compared with baseline (Wilcoxon-signed rank test). It was concluded that lodoxamide treatment was significantly more effective than the placebo in terms of reducing inflammatory cells in the tear fluid in vernal conjunctivitis. This objective inhibition of inflammatory cells may be associated with clinical relief.</p

Citogenetičko oštećenje u turskih radnika na koksnim pećima izloženih policikličkim aromatskim ugljikovodicima: povezanost s genskim polimorfizmima CYP1A1, CYP1B1, EPHX1, GSTM1, GSTT1 i GSTP1

The aim of this study was to determine the frequencies of chromosomal aberrations (CA) and cytochalasinblocked micronuclei (CBMN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes from Turkish coke oven workers and the influence of CYP1A1, CYP1B1, EPHX1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 gene polymorphisms on these biomarkers. Cytogenetic analysis showed that occupational exposure significantly increased the CA and CBMN frequencies. Gene polymorphisms, on the other hand, did not affect CA or CBMN in either exposed or control subjects. However, due to the limited sample size, our findings need to be verified in future studies with a larger sample.Cilj je ovog ispitivanja bio utvrditi učestalost kromosomskih aberacija (CA) i mikronukleusa (CBMN) u limfocitima periferne krvi turskih radnika na koksnim pećima te utjecaj genskih polimorfizama CYP1A1, CYP1B1, EPHX1, GSTM1, GSTT1 i GSTP1 na te biopokazatelje. Profesionalna je izloženost ovih radnika značajno povećala učestalost CA i CBMN, ali genski polimorfizmi nisu utjecali na ove parametre bez obzira na to je li se radilo o radnicima ili o kontrolnoj skupini. Međutim, značaj je naših rezultata ograničen zbog malog uzorka te su potrebna daljnja istraživanja s većim uzorkom da ih se potvrdi

Effectiveness of topical taurolidine versus ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and fortified cefazolin in a rabbit Staphylococcus aureus keratitis model

Purpose. Taurolidine is a broad-spectrum, nonantibiotic antimicrobial agent, not previously tested against the common causes of bacterial keratitis. This study, employing an experimental rabbit model of Staphylococcus aureus keratitis, investigated the effectiveness of topical taurolidine in reducing the number of bacteria, and its effectiveness was compared with topical ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and 5% cefazolin. Methods. The right corneas of all rabbits were intrastromally injected with 100 colony-forming units of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC strain 25923. The animals were divided into the following seven groups: Group 1 (6 rabbits) received taurolidine, group 2 (6 rabbits) received ciprofloxacin, group 3 (6 rabbits) received ofloxacin, group 4 (6 rabbits) received cefazolin, group 5 (5 rabbits) received polyvinylpyrrolidone ( vehicle), group 6 (4 rabbits) received sterile water, and group 7 (4 rabbits) was left untreated ( control group). The eyes were topically treated every 30 min with the above-mentioned substances from 4 to 9 h postinjection. One hour after the last drop administration (at 10 h postinjection), signs of inflammation were scored in a masked fashion by slit-lamp examination. Then, their corneas were processed. The number of colony-forming units (cfu) per cornea in all eyes was also determined. Results. All antimicrobial (taurolidine, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and cefazolin) treatments significantly reduced cfu numbers and slit-lamp examination scores compared with untreated eyes, eyes that received the vehicle, or eyes with sterile water (all p values < 0.05). Regarding cfu numbers, although taurolidine therapy was significantly less effective than ciprofloxacin or ofloxacin, there was no significant difference between taurolidine and cefazolin groups. However, taurolidine had similar clinical examination scores with the other antimicrobials, while it had lower scores than the vehicle, sterile water, or untreated eyes. Conclusions. The results obtained in this study suggest that topical taurolidine is an effective, novel ocular chemotherapeutic agent for the therapy of rabbit experimental Staphylococcus aureus keratitis. This drug may be a useful and promising ocular antimicrobial

The effect of anterior transposition of the inferior oblique muscle on eyelid configuration and function

Purpose: To evaluate the alteration of lower lid configuration and function with anterior transposition surgery of the inferior oblique (IO) muscle. Patients and Methods: A prospective clinical trial was conducted on a consecutive series of patients underwent anterior transposition of the IO as a sole operation. All patients received a thorough ophthalmic examination 1 day before and 3 months after surgery. Output parameters were consisted of palpebral fissure, margin reflex distance 1–2, lower lid function, hertel value, and lower lid crease. The differences of the collected data were calculated for statistical significance by using the Wilcoxon test. Results: A total of 19 eyes of 16 consecutive patients were included. The median preoperative grade of IO overaction was 3.5 (ranging from 3 to 4), which decreased to 0 (ranging from 0 to 2) postoperatively (P 0.05). Conclusion: In this study, no significant effect on lower lid configuration and function was observed following IO anterior transposition in which the disinserted muscle was placed posterior to inferior rectus insertion

Experimental study on heat transfer characteristics of closed thermosyphon at different volumes and inclination angles for variable vacuum pressures

In this study, the thermal performance of vacuumed copper pipe has been experimentally investigated by using different volume values of 5 ml, 10 ml, 15 ml, and 20 ml with inclination angles of 45°, 60°, and 90° for variable vacuum pressures. For this purpose, the inner, outer diameter, and length of the vacuumed pipes filled with the distilled water were 26 mm, 28 mm, and 1500 mm, respectively. This copper pipe was vacuumed until the absolute pressure of 6.32 kPa and immersed in a heat source at a constant temperature of 82°C at the beginning of the experiments. The surface temperatures of the vacuumed pipes were measured at twenty different points by using K-type thermocouples in two different data loggers. All calculations were performed as variable saturation temperatures at variable vacuum pressures with changing the time. According to the results, the experimental boiling heat transfer coefficients showed a good agreement with the correlations in the literature. Also, the best thermal resistance was obtained in the vacuumed copper pipe with a water volume of 10 ml at the inclination angle of 90° until the end of the experiment

Evaluation of the effects of pterygium surgery on visual acuity and anterior segment measurements using corneal topography

Purpose: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of pterygium surgery on visual acuity, corneal astigmatism, corneal refraction, and corneal topography and the changes of these parameters in the postoperative period. Material and Methods: Forty eyes of 34 patients presented with only primary pterygium were included in the present study. Patients with features that could affect corneal topography, such as previous ocular trauma or surgery, corneal scarring, keratoconus, dry eye, and contact lens use, were excluded from the study. After excisional pterygium surgery, primary conjunctival closure was performed. Results: The mean baseline visual acuity measured by the Snellen chart in decimal improved from 0.78±0.19 to 0.97±0.54 in the 3rd month of the postoperative period. The mean values of SimK were 43.33±1.54 diopters (D) and 44.27 ± 1.43 D preoperatively and postoperatively (at 3rd month), respectively. The baseline topographic astigmatism was significantly decreased from 1.85 ± 1.77 (0.50-7.00) D to 0.65 ± 0.40 (0.20-1.75) D at 3rd month of postoperative period (P = 0.000). While 77.5 % of the patients had regular astigmatism at baseline, oblique and irregular astigmatism was observed in the early postoperative period, but 65 % of these patients turned back to regular astigmatism in the late postoperative period. Conclusion: Corneal topographic values were stabilized in the first month of the postoperative period. So, the plan of refractive or cataract surgeries may be appropriate after the stabilization of the corneal refractive components following the first month of pterygium surgery. [Med-Science 2020; 9(1.000): 78-81