Gravitational redshift test using Rb clocks of eccentric GPS satellites.

This paper reports a test of gravitational redshift, which is a consequence of the Einstein equivalence principle, using the Rb clocks of GPS Block IIF satellites. The fractional deviation in the gravitational redshift was measured using 6,640 days of data from three Rb clocks onboard GPS Block IIF satellites. The systematic effects related to orbital uncertainty, temperature, and magnetic field were modeled conservatively. The fractional deviation in the gravitational redshift from the general relativity prediction was measured with ( 0.23 ± 1.34 ) × 10 - 3 at one sigma.

Development of a wearable-sensor-based fall detection system.

Fall detection is a major challenge in the public healthcare domain, especially for the elderly as the decline of their physical fitness, and timely and reliable surveillance is necessary to mitigate the negative effects of falls. This paper develops a novel fall detection system based on a wearable device. The system monitors the movements of human body, recognizes a fall from normal daily activities by an effective quaternion algorithm, and automatically sends request for help to the caregivers with the patient's location.

Triangulation of cubic panorama for view synthesis.

An unstructured triangulation approach, new to our knowledge, is proposed to apply triangular meshes for representing and rendering a scene on a cubic panorama (CP). It sophisticatedly converts a complicated three-dimensional triangulation into a simple three-step triangulation. First, a two-dimensional Delaunay triangulation is individually carried out on each face. Second, an improved polygonal triangulation is implemented in the intermediate regions of each of two faces. Third, a cobweblike triangulation is designed for the remaining intermediate regions after unfolding four faces to the top/bottom face. Since the last two steps well solve the boundary problem arising from cube edges, the triangulation with irregular-distribution feature points is implemented in a CP as a whole. The triangular meshes can be warped from multiple reference CPs onto an arbitrary viewpoint by face-to-face homography transformations. The experiments indicate that the proposed triangulation approach provides a good modeling for the scene with photorealistic rendered CPs.

[Thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap for repair of soft tissue defects on the ipsilateral upper limb: a report of 8 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize clinical application result of the thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap for repair of soft tissue defects on the ipsilateral upper limb. METHODS: From September 2003 to May 2007, 8 patients (6 males and 2 females) with soft tissue defects on the ipsilateral upper limb underwent reconstruction with the thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap. The age of patients was from 16- to 45-years-old with an average of 32 years. Of them, the recipient sites of 5 cases were located on the arm region, 3 cases on the forearm. RESULTS: The minor superficial infection of 1 case occurred on the recipient site after operation and the wound gradually healed by daily change dressings. All the flaps had survived completely and the postoperative course was uneventful with satisfactory clinical results. Follow-up period ranged for 9-38 months after operation (mean, 19 months). There was no remarkable donor site morbidity. All cases had good appearance on recipient site. CONCLUSION: The thoracodorsal artery perforator pedicled flap is thin and suitable for repair of soft tissue defect on the ipsilateral upper limb.

[One-stage toenail lengthening: a report of 9 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize clinical application of one-stage toenail lengthening in free second toe transfer for reconstruction of the thumb (finger). METHODS: Nine patients (male 7, female 2) underwent thumb (finger) reconstruction with second toe transfer were treated by one-stage toenail lengthening technique. Eight were the thumb and 1 was the index finger. Patients aged from 18 to 46 years,with an average of 25 years. A rectangle skin was resected at 0.5 cm away from the eponychium, which was 0.2 cm high and as wide as the toenail. Then stripped U shape flap gently towards proximal end and sutured it. During the operation, the injury of the subcutaneous vascular network should be avoided. RESULTS: Superficial infection at donor area happened in 1 case and was healed by changing dressings. All the reconstruction thumbs (fingers) had survived completely. 2 to 3 mm extending of toenail length was obtained and the appearance of thumb (finger) was improved. There was no growth deformation of toenail. After 7 to 24 months follow up (the average time 13 months), the appearance of the nail was good. CONCLUSIONS: One-stage toenail lengthening in free second toe transfer for reconstruction of the thumb (finger), which can obtain a satisfactory appearance of the nail and have no influence on the motion of the reconstruction thumb (finger), is a simple and an effective operative procedure.