Biomedical Engineering: Applications, Basis and Communications

Copolymers of 3-hydroxyvalerate (HV) and 3-hydroxyhexanoate (HHx) membranes are a new family of biomaterials for tissue engineering applications. The object of this study is to investigate the behavior of rat tooth germ cells on various 3-hydroxyl-butyrate-co-3-hydroxy-hexanoate (PHBHHx) membranes. In this study, PHBHHx membranes from three thin-film processes were used. PHBHHx membranes with different surface morphologies were prepared by phase inversion, electrospinning, and hot pressing. The morphologies of the PHBHHx membranes were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Tooth germ cells were isolated from four-day-old Wistar rats. The cellular adhesion, proliferation and viability were determined by SEM, BrdU (5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine) and MTT (3-[4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; Thiazolyl blue) assay. In addition, the adherent behavior of tooth germ cells on various surface structures of PHBHHx was observed under a fluorescence microscope after staining of the cytoskeletal filamentous actin of the cells. It was found that cell compatibility of the PHBHHx membranes made from the phase inversion method (p-PHBHHx) was better than that of the other PHBHHx membranes. The results also revealed that tooth germ cells cultured on the PHBHHx membranes with porous surface structure were well spread relative to those on the fibrous structure of PHBHHx membranes. Therefore, PHBHHx membranes with a porous surface structure can encourage either cell adhesion or cell proliferation. PHBHHx membranes with a porous morphology satisfy biomaterial requirements for a scaffold for tooth regeneration.

In this research, we employ the technology of computer vision to recognize traffic light. We manipulate the color information of traffic light under HSI color space. And then, adding motor tracking technology, we can trap the traffic light which is subjected to a region of interest (ROI) to the center area of monitor. Meanwhile, we assign different frequency (peach) according to red light or green light to inform the people what state the light is.

We develop the algorithm at PC with MATLAB. Then, we port the whole system to DSP platform TI TMS320 DM642 EVM. The result is that in the condition of non-complex environment, the system can distinguish the red light from green light, and also can output audio signal by means of speaker.

In 1998, the enterovirus (EV) infections outbreak in Taiwan caused 78 fatalities. Since then, EV infections have continuously posed a threat to the public. Among the 64 serotypes of enteroviruses known to infect human, the enterovirus 71(EV71) is suspected to be the major cause for severe cases. In this study, we estimate the recombination point of enterovirus 71 vp1 by using the method of Likelihood Analysis of Recombination in DNA. The datasets of enterovirus 71 DNA sequences are available in GenBank. After careful cross validation, eight candidate sequences are chosen to advance analysis, including 2734TAI98, TW227298, 1423SIN98 and other five DNA sequences as well. Then, the construction of the phylogeny trees (neighbor-joining trees will be used in this paper) would support for recombination in EV71 virus. In these two methods, the breakpoint was found to be in similar position, demonstrating that a single recombination event occurred prior to the divergence of these two strains.

The complexity of physiologic signals may carry hidden dynamical structures that are related to their underlying mechanisms. Based on rank order statistics of symbolic sequences, we applied this method to heart rate variability (HRV) in surgical intensive care units (SICU) in order to determine a nonrandomness index to help doctors diagnose patients more rapidly in a SICU in the future. Twenty one patients with 47 cases undergoing different types of neurosurgery were studied as group A. From this group, electrocardiograph (ECG) signals were collected. They lasting around 60 min for 29 cases selected from 16 patients with brain injury, 12 cases selected from 2 patients with septicemia, and 6 cases selected from 3 patients with mechanical ventilator. Ten college student volunteers as group B also provided ECG signals lasting around 60 min. Finally, ten randomized surrogate signals generated from a computer as group C were used as baseline for comparison with healthy volunteers and pathologic states in the SICU. The nonrandomness indexes of groups A, B, and C were 0.160 ± 0.100, 0.237 ± 0.051, and 0.030 ± 0.003, respectively. It was found that this index of patients in the SICU was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than healthy volunteers and significantly higher (P < 0.05) than randomized surrogate signals. These results demonstrate that the nonrandomness index based on rank order statistics concept can clearly distinguish pathologic states in SICU from the healthy group and the randomized surrogate signals.

The paper proposes a gray relational analysis based learning algorithm, called gray relational algorithm, for the recognition of ECG beats. Without analyzing relations between the input ECG beat and every beat in the database for the recognition, several training beats are chosen for learning from an ECG waveform database with patient diagnosis information, and then the learning result is used to analyze the test ECGs. The resulting similarity measurement is further identified as the diagnosis of the test ECG. This algorithm is capable of reducing the computational procedure of gray relational analysis as it is directly used for the analysis. The experiment shows that the proposed method can achieve a good classification result.

In this research, we developed an intelligent, computer-assisted training system for pedicle screw implantation in spinal surgery. Base on the biplane X-ray imaging of a pre-drilled saw bone of lumbosacral spine, spatial coordinate correlations between the physical saw bone and the 3D digitizer built an off-line training environment. A senior spine surgeon prepares the pre-drilled position as a standard and the trainee uses the 3D digitizer to approach the referential standard. The techniques developed in this system involve X-ray imaging rectification, registration, image processing, imaging dilation and erosion, bi-plane calibration, and spatial geometric transformation, which will be a pioneer study of further clinical applications. The position accuracy of the guiding system is within 1 mm, and angular accuracy is within 1.5°, which may meet the basic surgical requirements for lumbosacral spine. Eventually, the developed training device was applied to several orthopedics surgeons to collect and analyze the angulation test results.

This paper presents the analysis and comparisons of the short time Fourier transform (STFT) and the continuous wavelet transform techniques (CWT) to the four sounds analysis (S1, S2, S3 and S4). It is found that the spectrogram short-time Fourier transform (STFT), cannot perfectly detect the internals components of these sounds that the continuous wavelet transform. However, the short time Fourier transform can provide correctly the extent of time and frequency of these four sounds. Thus, the STFT and the CWT techniques provide more features and characteristics of the sounds that will hemp physicians to obtain qualitative and quantitative measurements of the time-frequency characteristics.

This paper reflects on the ergonomical criteria for a humane working atmosphere in industrial buildings while respecting and paying close attention to the physical, mental, and stressful demands of the work environment. It describes effective construction codes and standards of practice and their importance in ensuring a safe environment for working people. Also addressed are the objectives for a productive work environment and its organization. The paper considers the significance of a proper working environment, sufficient training in regards to weather exposure, the use of dangerous working materials, the use of proper ventilation, climate, and lighting to ensure that the productivity of the enterprise is met with common goals shared between employer and employee. The connection between the legal foundation and the design of industrial construction is the focus of this paper. It shows that the planning and executive persons are obliged to observe the relevant construction laws and regulations including standards and codes of practice focusing on the health and safety of the worker. Additionally discussed are the possible solutions and consequences for development in the production, constructional and ergonomical fields of design.