A Framework for Detecting Glaucomatous Progression in the Optic Nerve Head of an Eye Using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Often, the optic nerve head (ONH) glaucomatous damage and ONH changes occur prior to visual field loss and are observable in vivo. Thus, digital image analysis is a promising choice for detecting the onset and/or progression of glaucoma. In this paper, we present a new framework for detecting glaucomatous changes in the ONH of an eye using the method of proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). A baseline topograph subspace was constructed for each eye to describe the structure of the ONH of the eye at a reference/baseline condition using POD. Any glaucomatous changes in the ONH of the eye present during a follow-up exam were estimated by comparing the follow-up ONH topography with its baseline topograph subspace representation. Image correspondence measures of L-1-norm and L-2-norm, correlation, and image Euclidean distance (IMED) were used to quantify the ONH changes. An ONH topographic library built from the Louisiana State University Experimental Glaucoma study was used to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) was used to compare the diagnostic performance of the POD-induced parameters with the parameters of the topographic change analysis (TCA) method. The IMED and L-2-norm parameters in the POD framework provided the highest AUC of 0.94 at 10 degrees. field of imaging and 0.91 at 15 degrees. field of imaging compared to the TCA parameters with an AUC of 0.86 and 0.88, respectively. The proposed POD framework captures the instrument measurement variability and inherent structure variability and shows promise for improving our ability to detect glaucomatous change over time in glaucoma management.

Dispersion of the stress-optic coefficient in glasses

The stress-optic coefficient (n3/2)(q11-q12) has been determined for a series of 18 optical glasses of different compositions in the wavelength range 5700-3200 Å. The coefficients are negative for all the glasses except for a high-lead-content glass of density 6·7 and refractive index 1·89. The numerical value of the coefficient decreases as one proceeds to the ultraviolet. This behaviour is just the opposite of what is observed in fused silica. By applying Mueller's theory, the strain polarizability constant and its dispersion have been evaluated.

Optic-phonon-magnetoplasmons at the interface of two polar semiconductors semiconductors

An interface between two polar semiconductors can support a whole new family of seven type of optic-phonon magnetoplasmons. Six of these arise due to nonequivalence property of propagation introduced by the magnetic field in Voigt configuration and one mainly due to finite plasma density ratio at the interface.

A Novel Opto Electro Mechanical Interrogation System for Measuring Wavelength Shifts in Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) Sensors

Here, we describe a novel FBG interrogation system in which FBGs are used as both sensing and reference elements. The reference FBGs is bonded to a mechanical flexure system having a linear amplification of 1:3.5, which is actuated using a piezo-actuator by applying a 0-150V ramp. The lengths of the reference gratings decide the maximum strain that can be applied to the reference grating, which in turn decides that strain range which can be interrogated. The main advantages of the present system are the on-line measurement of the wavelength shifts, small size, good sensitivity, multiplexing capability and low cost.

Optic phonon-magnetoplasmon surface oscillations in polar semiconductors

An interface between two polar semiconductors in parallel magnetic field geometry can support at most four types of surface oscillations; the actual number (less-than-or-equals, slant4), however, depends on the strength of the magnetic field. The interface effects on these relevant ranges of magnetic field are analysed in detail.

Transient response of nonlinear magneto-optic rotation in a paraffin-coated Rb vapor cell

We study resonant nonlinear magneto-optic rotation (NMOR) in a paraffin-coated Rb vapor cell as the magnetic field is swept. At low sweep rates, the nonlinear rotation appears as a narrow resonance signal with a linewidth of about ``300 mu G''(2 pi x 420 Hz). At high sweep rates, the signal shows transient response with an oscillatory decay. The decay time constant is of order 100 ms. The behavior is different for transitions starting from the lower or the upper hyperfine level of the ground state because of optical pumping effects.

Energy harvesting using ionic electro-active polymer thin films with Ag-based electrodes

In this paper we employ the phenomenon of bending deformation induced transport of cations via the polymer chains in the thickness direction of an electro-active polymer (EAP)-metal composite thin film for mechanical energy harvesting. While EAPs have been applied in the past in actuators and artificial muscles, promising applications of such materials in hydrodynamic and vibratory energy harvesting are reported in this paper. For this, functionalization of EAPs with metal electrodes is the key factor in improving the energy harvesting efficiency. Unlike Pt-based electrodes, Ag-based electrodes have been deposited on an EAP membrane made of Nafion. The developed ionic metal polymer composite (IPMC) membrane is subjected to a dynamic bending load, hydrodynamically, and evaluated for the voltage generated against an external electrical load. An increase of a few orders of magnitude has been observed in the harvested energy density and power density in air, deionized water and in electrolyte solutions with varying concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) as compared to Pt-based IPMC performances reported in the published literature. This will have potential applications in hydrodynamic and residual environmental energy harvesting to power sensors and actuators based on micro-andn nano-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS) for biomedical,maerospace and oceanic applications.

Simulation of wavelength/time multiple-pulses-per-row fiber-optic CDMA network

Passive wavelength/time fiber-optic code division multiple access (WIT FO-CDMA) network is a viable option for highspeed access networks. Constructions of 2-D codes, suitable for incoherent WIT FO-CDMA, have been proposed to reduce the time spread of the 1-D sequences. The 2-D constructions can be broadly classified as 1) hybrid codes and 2) matrix codes. In our earlier work [141, we had proposed a new family of wavelength/time multiple-pulses-per-row (W/T MPR) matrix codes which have good cardinality, spectral efficiency and at the same time have the lowest off-peak autocorrelation and cross-correlation values equal to unity. In this paper we propose an architecture for a WIT MPR FO-CDAM network designed using the presently available devices and technology. A complete FO-CDMA network of ten users is simulated, for various number of simultaneous users and shown that 0 --> 1 errors can occur only when the number of interfering users is at least equal to the threshold value.

Dispersion of the stress-optic coefficient in glasses

The stress-optic coefficient (n3/2)(q11-q12) has been determined for a series of 18 optical glasses of different compositions in the wavelength range 5700-3200 Å. The coefficients are negative for all the glasses except for a high-lead-content glass of density 6·7 and refractive index 1·89. The numerical value of the coefficient decreases as one proceeds to the ultraviolet. This behaviour is just the opposite of what is observed in fused silica. By applying Mueller's theory, the strain polarizability constant and its dispersion have been evaluated.

Electro-Oxidation of Borohydride on Rhodium, Iridium, and Rhodium-Iridium Bimetallic Nanoparticles with Implications to Direct Borohydride Fuel Cells

Electrochemical oxidation of borohydride is studied on nanosized rhodium, iridium, and bimetallic rhodium-iridium catalysts supported onto Vulcan XC72R carbon. The catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in conjunction with cyclic voltammetry and polarization studies. The studies reveal that a 20 wt % bimetallic Rh-Ir catalyst supported onto carbon (Rh-Ir/C) is quite effective for the oxidation of borohydride. Direct borohydride fuel cell with Rh-Ir/C as the anode catalyst and Pt/C as the cathode catalyst exhibits a peak power density of 270 mW/cm(2) at a load current density of 290 mA/cm(2) as against 200 mW/cm(2) at 225 mA/cm(2) for Rh/C and 140 mW/cm(2) at 165 mA/cm(2) for Ir/C while operating at 80 degrees C. The synergistic catalytic activity for the bimetallic Rh-Ir nanoparticles toward borohydride oxidation is corroborated by density-functional theory calculations using electron-localization function. (C) 2010 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI:10.1149/1.3442372] All rights reserved.

Dephosphorisation of Iron–Chrome Alloy with Ca–CaF2 Melt during Electro Slag Refining

Calcium-calcium fluoride melt was used to remove phosphorus from the ferro-chrome alloy (64.5 wt% Cr, 0.15 wt% P) during electro slag refining process. The effect of atmosphere and deoxidisers, viz. Al, Fe–Mo and misch metal were also studied during dephosphorisation reaction. The thermodynamic properties of Ca–CaF2 melt is calculated from a known phase diagram and these results are discussed in relation with the dephosphorisation reaction.

A dragonfly inspired flapping wing actuated by electro active polymers

An energy-based variational approach is used for structural dynamic modeling of the IPMC (Ionic Polymer Metal Composites) flapping wing. Dynamic characteristics of the wing are analyzed using numerical simulations. Starting with the initial design, critical parameters which have influence on the performance of the wing are identified through parametric studies. An optimization study is performed to obtain improved flapping actuation of the IPMC wing. It is shown that the optimization algorithm leads to a flapping wing with dimensions similar to the dragonfly Aeshna Multicolor wing. An unsteady aerodynamic model based on modified strip theory is used to obtain the aerodynamic forces. It is found that the IPMC wing generates sufficient lift to support its own weight and carry a small payload. It is therefore a potential candidate for flapping wing of micro air vehicles.

Characterization of a large-area PVDF thin film for electro-mechanical and ultrasonic sensing applications

Large-area PVDF thin films have been prepared and characterized for quasi-static and high frequency dynamic strain sensing applications. These films are prepared using hot press method and the piezoelectric phase (beta-phase) has been achieved by thermo-mechanical treatment and poling under DC field. The fabricated films have been characterized for quasi-static strain sensing and the linear strain-voltage relationship obtained is promising. In order to evaluate the ultrasonic sensing properties, a PZT wafer has been used to launch Lamb waves in a metal beam on which the PVDF film sensor is bonded at a distance. The voltage signals obtained from the PVDF films have been compared with another PZT wafer sensor placed on the opposite surface of the beam as a reference signal. Due to higher stiffness and higher thickness of the PZT wafer sensors, certain resonance patterns significantly degrade the sensor sensitivity curves. Whereas, the present results show that the large-area PVDF sensors can be superior with the signal amplitude comparable to that of PZT sensors and with no resonance-induced effect, which is due to low mechanical impedance, smaller thickness and larger area of the PVDF film. Moreover, the developed PVDF sensors are able to capture both A(0) and S-0 modes of Lamb wave, whereas the PZT sensors captures only A(0) mode in the same scale of voltage output. This shows promises in using large-area PVDF films with various surface patterns on structures for distributed sensing and structural health monitoring under quasi-static, vibration and ultrasonic situations. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.