Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for detecting abnormalities in a characteristic of an eye using eye-imaging methods are presented. A plurality of images of the eye are received over time. Each image includes a plurality of pixels, which can be partitioned into blocks of pixels with varying sizes, called pixel partitions. A value is determined for each pixel partition, e.g., an average of the pixel values. A pixel partition set may be identified, which includes a pixel partition from each image, corresponding to a common region of a patient's eye. A regression model is computed for each pixel partition set using the values determined for each pixel partition. The regression model computes a rate of change of the retinal nerve fiber thickness at individual pixel partitions over time. An abnormality may be identified by comparing the rates of change of the model and the expected age-related rate of change.

Abstract: An automated system for delivery of seeds or other therapeutic or diagnostic capsules to internal organs of the patient's body for radiation brachytherapy includes a needling mechanism, a 2DOF robot, an ultrasound probe driver, a 5DOF passive platform, and an easy lock cart. The needling mechanism implants radioisotope seeds by its cannula and stylet driven by two moving stages pushed by DC motors with ball screw transmission. Force sensors are included for detecting insertion forces and bending force. In another embodiment, the needle is rotated for insertion into the patient and can also be used for tissue removal for biopsy. The two embodiments are usable together or separately.

Abstract: A medical instrument holding apparatus includes a shaft slidably engaged into a housing and movable into and out of the housing, the housing includes a guiding member engaged with the shaft for guiding and limiting the shaft to slide relative to the housing only and for preventing the shaft from being rotated relative to the housing, a locking device is engaged onto the shaft and includes a positioning member for engaging with an anchoring member of the shaft and for locking the shaft and the housing together, and one or more fasteners are engaged with the housing and the locking device for securing the shaft and the housing together with the locking device.

Abstract: A display device for a user to observe a stereo image through a pair of polarization glasses includes a projector, a switchable polarizer, and a sensor. The projector sequentially displays a first image, a first middle image, a second image, and a second middle image on a projection screen. The switchable polarizer is located between the projector and the projection screen and is switchable between a first mode and a second mode, so that each of the first and second images has a first or second polarization after passing through the switchable polarizer in the first or second mode and is then projected onto the projection screen. The sensor is coupled to the switchable polarizer and senses the images on the projection screen. When the sensor senses the first middle image or the second middle image, the switchable polarizer switches between the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: An internal circulation ball screw includes a threaded shaft, a nut having a receiving space, a circulation member mounted to the receiving space and having a first circulation groove and a second circulation groove, and a plurality of rolling members running between the threaded shaft and the nut. The first circulation groove defines a first front section, a first rear section, and a first curved section communicating with the first front section and the first rear section separately. The second circulation groove defines a second front section, a second rear section, and a second curved section communicating with the second front section and the second rear section separately. The first and second curved sections define a predetermined included angle with respect to the threaded shaft radially. Therefore, the wall between the circulation channels is uniform to enhance the durability of the ball screw.

Abstract: A pixel structure includes a scan line, a first insulation layer, a data line, a pixel electrode, a second insulation layer, and a common electrode. The scan line and the first insulation layer are disposed on a first substrate and the first insulation layer covers the scan line. The data line and the pixel electrode are disposed on the first insulation layer. The second insulation layer covers the data line and the pixel electrode and has a first opening located between the data line and the pixel electrode. The common electrode is disposed on the second insulation layer and has slits exposing a portion of the pixel electrode. The common electrode covers the data line and has a first extending portion filled in the first opening such that the first extending portion of the common electrode is located between the data line and the pixel electrode.

Abstract: A rod system includes two rods each with a head and a shaft, two elastic members each fitted around one shaft against one head, and a case defining a first inner portion, a second inner portion, and a third inner portion in communication with the first and the second inner portions. A first rod with a first elastic member is seated in the first inner portion so the first elastic member abuts the bottom of first inner portion and the first head protrudes into the third inner portion. A second rod and a second elastic member is seated in the second portion so the second elastic member abuts the bottom of the second inner portion and the second head protrudes into the third inner portion and abuts the first head.

Abstract: A pixel structure includes a scan line, a first insulation layer, a data line, a pixel electrode, a second insulation layer, and a common electrode. The scan line and the first insulation layer are disposed on a first substrate and the first insulation layer covers the scan line. The data line and the pixel electrode are disposed on the first insulation layer. The second insulation layer covers the data line and the pixel electrode and has a first opening located between the data line and the pixel electrode. The common electrode is disposed on the second insulation layer and has slits exposing a portion of the pixel electrode. The common electrode covers the data line and has a first extending portion filled in the first opening such that the first extending portion of the common electrode is located between the data line and the pixel electrode.

Abstract: A system for erecting a drilling rig mast includes a substructure having an open area that is defined therein by two laterally spaced-apart substructure sides and a first mast section that is adapted to be positioned at least partially within the open area of the substructure after the first mast section has been removably connected to the substructure. The system further includes, among other things, a second mast section that is adapted to be removably connected to the first mast section the said first mast section has been removably connected to the substructure, and a mast connection apparatus that is adapted to removably connect the second mast section to the first mast section when an upper end of the first mast section is raised relative to a lower end of the second mast section.

Abstract: An ESD protection circuit including a substrate of a first conductivity type, an annular well region of a second conductivity type, two first regions of the first conductivity type and at least one transistor of the second conductivity type is provided. The annular well region is disposed in the substrate. The first regions are disposed in the substrate and surrounded by the annular well region. The at least one transistor is disposed on the substrate between the first regions and including a source, a gate, and a drain. The annular well region and the drain are coupled to a first voltage source. The source and one of the first regions are coupled to a second voltage source, and the other of the first regions is coupled to a substrate triggering circuit.

Abstract: A method for 3D imaging of a biologic object (1) in an optical tomography system where a subcellular structure of a biological object (1) is labeled by introducing at least one nanoparticle-biomarker. The labeled biological object (1) is moved relatively to a microscope objective (62) to present varying angles of view and the labeled biological object (1) is illuminated with radiation having wavelengths between 150 nm and 900 nm. Radiation transmitted through the labeled biological object (1) and the microscope objective (62) within at least one wavelength bands is sensed with a color camera, or with a set of at least four monochrome cameras. A plurality of cross-sectional images of the biological object (1) from the sensed radiation is formed and reconstructed to make a 3D image of the labeled biological object (1).

Abstract: A motion guide device includes a ball nut attached onto a shaft and having helical grooves for forming a ball guiding raceway between the ball nut and the elongated shaft and for receiving ball bearing elements, a circulating device attached to the ball nut and having a pathway communicative with the raceway for forming an endless ball guiding passage between the ball nut and the elongated shaft and the circulating device and for engaging with bearing elements, and a retaining device includes a shorter chain for engaging into the helical grooves or raceway of the screw shaft and the ball nut, and a longer chain for engaging into the pathway of the circulating device.

Abstract: A channel map generation method includes: performing a power spectrum density detection on a plurality of channels in a frequency band, to generate a first channel map; and performing a first smoothing operation on the first channel map by a first window size to generate a second channel map. The first smoothing operation includes: grouping channels of the first channel map into a plurality of channel groups according to the first window size; and according to the number of good channels or bad channels in each of the channel group, deciding to retain channel determinations in the first channel map of the channel group, or re-designating all the channels of the channel group, so as to generate the second channel map.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for strip casting 550 MPa-grade high strength atmospheric corrosion-resistant steel strip, comprising the following steps: 1) smelting, where the chemical composition of a molten steel is that: C is between 0.03-0.08%, Si?0.4%, Mn is between 0.6-1.5%, P is between 0.07-0.22%, S?0.01%, N?0.012%, Cu is between 0.25-0.8%, Cr is between 0.3-0.8%, and Ni is between 0.12-0.4%, additionally, also comprised is at least one micro-alloying element among Nb, V, Ti, and Mo, where Nb is between 0.01-0.08%, V is between 0.01-0.08%, Ti is between 0.01-0.08%, and Mo is between 0.1-0.4%, and where the remainder is Fe and unavoidable impurities; 2) strip casting, where a 1-5 mm-thick cast strip is casted directly; 3) cooling the strip, where the cooling rate is greater than 20° C./s; 4) online hot rolling the cast strip, where the hot rolling temperature is between 1050-1250° C.

Abstract: A liquid crystal lens includes a plurality of first stripe-shaped electrodes, a plurality of second stripe-shaped electrodes, and a plurality of third stripe-shaped electrodes. Each first stripe-shaped electrode is disposed between any two of the second stripe-shaped electrodes that are adjacent to each other, and each second stripe-shaped electrode and each first stripe-shaped electrode are arranged along a first direction alternately. The third stripe-shaped electrodes are arranged along a second direction sequentially and interlaced with the first stripe-shaped electrodes and the second stripe-shaped electrodes. Any two of the second stripe-shaped electrodes and two opposite sides of each third stripe-shaped electrode perpendicular to the second direction define a lens region.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for strip casting 700 MPa-grade high strength atmospheric corrosion-resistant steel, comprising the following steps: 1) smelting, where the chemical composition of a molten steel in terms of weight percentage is that C is between 0.03-0.1%, Si?0.4%, Mn is between 0.75-2.0%, P is between 0.07-0.22%, S?0.01%, N?0.012%, Cu is between 0.25-0.8%, Cr is between 0.3-0.8%, and Ni is between 0.12-0.4%, additionally, also comprised is at least one micro-alloying element among Nb, V, Ti, and Mo, where Nb is between 0.01-0.1%, V is between 0.01-0.1%, Ti is between 0.01-0.1%, and Mo is between 0.1-0.5%, and where the remainder is Fe and unavoidable impurities; 2) strip casting, where a 1-5 mm-thick cast strip is casted directly; 3) cooling the cast strip, where the cooling rate is greater than 20° C./s; 4) online hot rolling the cast strip, where the hot rolling temperature is between 1050-1250° C.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing thin strip continuously cast 700 Mpa grade high strength weather-resistant steel, the method comprising the following steps: 1) casting a 1-5 mm thick cast strip in a double roller continuous casting machine, the cast strip comprising the following chemical compositions by weight percent: C 0.03-0.1%, Si?0.4%, Mn 0.75-2.0%, P 0.07-0.22%, S?0.01%, N?0.012%, and Cu 0.25-0.8%, further comprising more than one of Nb, V, Ti and Mo: Nb 0.01-0.1%, V 0.01-0.1%, Ti 0.01-0.1%, and Mo 0.1-0.5%, and the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities; 2) cooling the cast strip at a rate greater than 20° C./s; 3) hot rolling the cast strip under a temperature of 1050-1250° C. at a reduction rate of 20-50% and a deformation rate greater than 20 s-1; then conducting austenite online recrystallization, the thickness of the hot rolled strip being 0.5-3.0 mm; 4) cooling at a rate of 10-80° C./s; and 5) rolling up under a temperature of 500-650° C.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rig assembly and for erecting a mast of a rig and such systems with roller apparatus to facilitate movement of a mast section from a mover. In a first embodiment, the method includes erecting a rig mast section on a substructure, the substructure including a first substructure box spaced-apart from a second substructure box, the first substructure box comprising a first upper box above a first lower box and the second substructure box comprising a second upper box above a second lower box.

Abstract: Ultrasound-induced blood stasis has been observed for more than thirty years. Most of the literature has been focused on the health risks associated with this phenomenon and methods employed to prevent stasis from occurring during ultrasound imaging. To date, experimental observations have been either in vitro or invasive. The current work demonstrates ultrasound-induced blood stasis in murine tumor and nontumor tissue, observed through noninvasive measurements of optical spectroscopy, and discusses possible diagnostic uses for this previously undesirable effect of ultrasound.

Abstract: Techniques are generally described related to a method and system for treating an injury with a bone screw. One example bone screw may be configured to fracture at a pre-selected frangible location so that the point of failure is not in an inaccessible location, e.g., deeply embedded below the surface of a treated bone. The bone screw may further include a material disposed over the frangible location that is designed to temporarily strengthen the screw and selected to be absorbed by the body over a period of time after installation of the screw in the bone. One example bone screw may include an unthreaded portion that is configured to facilitate removal of an embedded screw fragment from a bone in the event that the screw fails in vivo.