Multi-level Template Research Articles

Robust vision detection of pipeline solder joints

PurposeSolder joint inspection plays a critical role in various industries, with a focus on integrated chip (IC) solder joints and metal surface welds. However, the detection of tubular solder joints has received relatively less attention. This paper aims to address the challenges of detecting small targets and complex environments by proposing a robust visual detection method for pipeline solder joints. The method is characterized by its simplicity, cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation.Design/methodology/approachA robust visual detection method based on the characteristics of pipeline solder joints is proposed. With the improved hue, saturation and value (HSV) color space, the method uses a multi-level template matching approach to first segment the pipeline from the background, and then match the endpoint of the pipeline to accurately locate the solder joint. The proposed method leverages the distinctive characteristics of pipeline solder joints and employs an enhanced HSV color space. A multi-level template matching approach is utilized to segment the pipeline from the background and accurately locate the solder joint by matching the pipeline endpoint.FindingsThe experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed solder joint detection method in practical detection tasks. The average precision of pipeline weld joint localization exceeds 95%, while the average recall is greater than 90%. These findings highlight the applicability of the method to pipeline solder joint detection tasks, specifically in the context of production lines for refrigeration equipment.Research limitations/implicationsThe precision of the method is influenced by the placement angle and lighting conditions of the test specimen, which may pose challenges and impact the algorithm's performance. Potential avenues for improvement include exploring deep learning methods, incorporating additional features and contextual information for localization, and utilizing advanced image enhancement techniques to improve image quality.Originality/valueThe proposed pipeline solder joint detection method offers a novel and practical approach. The simplicity, cost-effectiveness and ease of implementation make it an attractive choice for detecting pipeline solder joints in different industrial applications.

Design, fabrication, and evaluation of single- and multi-level 3D-printed non-covering cervical spinal fusion surgery templates.

Cervical spinal fusion surgeries require accurate placement of the pedicle screws. Any misplacement/misalignment of these screws may lead to injuries to the spinal cord, arteries and other organs. Template guides have emerged as accurate and cost-effective tools for the safe and rapid insertions of pedicle screws. Novel patient-specific single- and multi-level non-covering templates for cervical pedicle screw insertions were designed, 3D-printed, and evaluated. CT scans of two patients were acquired to reconstruct their 3D spine model. Two sets of single-level (C3-C7) and multi-level (C4-C6) templates were designed and 3D-printed. Pedicle screws were inserted into the 3D-printed vertebrae by free-hand and guided techniques. For single-level templates, a total of 40 screws (2 patients × 5 vertebrae × 2 methods × 2 screws) and for multi-level templates 24 screws (2 patients × 3 vertebrae × 2 methods × 2 screws) were inserted by an experienced surgeon. Postoperative CT images were acquired to measure the errors of the entry point, 3D angle, as well as axial and sagittal plane angles of the inserted screws as compared to the initial pre-surgery designs. Accuracy of free-hand and guided screw insertions, as well as those of the single- and multi-level guides, were also compared using paired t-tests. Despite the minimal removal of soft tissues, the 3D-printed templates had acceptable stability on the vertebrae during drillings and their utilization led to statistically significant reductions in all error variables. The mean error of entry point decreased from 3.02mm (free-hand) to 0.29mm (guided) using the single-level templates and from 5.7mm to 0.76mm using the multi-level templates. The percentage reduction in mean of other error variables for, respectively, single- and multi-level templates were as follows: axial plane angle: 72% and 87%, sagittal plane angle: 56% and 78%, and 3D angle: 67% and 83%. The error variables for the multi-level templates generally exceeded those of the single-level templates. The use of single- and multi-level templates also considerably reduced the duration of pedicle screw placements. The novel single- and multi-level non-covering templates are valuable tools for the accurate placement of cervical pedicle screws.

Patients' Perspectives Regarding Generator Exchanges of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators.

Shared decision-making is mandated for patients receiving primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Less attention has been paid to generator exchange decisions, although at the time of generator exchange, patients' risk of sudden cardiac death, risk of procedural complications, quality of life, or prognosis may have changed. This study was designed to explore how patients make ICD generator exchange decisions. Emory Healthcare patients with primary prevention ICDs implanted from 2013 to 2021 were recruited to complete in-depth interviews exploring perspectives regarding generator exchanges. Interviews were conducted in 2021. Transcribed interviews were qualitatively coded using multilevel template analytic methods. To investigate benefit thresholds for pursuing generator exchanges, patients were presented standard-gamble type hypothetical scenarios where their ICD battery was depleted but their 5-year risk of sudden cardiac death at that time varied (10%, 5%, and 1%). Fifty patients were interviewed; 18 had a prior generator exchange, 16 had received ICD therapy, and 17 had improved left ventricular ejection fraction. As sudden cardiac death risk decreased from 10% to 5% to 1%, the number of participants willing to undergo a generator exchange decreased from 48 to 42 to 33, respectively. Responses suggest that doctor's recommendations are likely to substantially impact patients' decision-making. Other drivers of decision-making included past experiences with ICD therapy and device implantation, as well as risk aversion. Therapeutic inertia and misconceptions about ICD therapy were common and represent substantive barriers to effective shared decision-making in this context. Strong defaults may exist to continue therapy and exchange ICD generators. Updated risk stratification may facilitate shared decision-making and reduce generator exchanges in very low-risk patients, especially if these interventions are directed toward clinicians. Interventions targeting phenomena such as therapeutic inertia may be more impactful and warrant exploration in randomized trials.

Ultra‐Histocompatible and Electrophysiological‐Adapted PEDOT‐Based Hydrogels Designed for Cardiac Repair

AbstractCurrently, although conducting polymers have exhibited potential electrophysiological modulation, designing bioinspired ultra‐histocompatible conducting polymers remains a long‐standing challenge. Moreover, the water dispersibility, conductivity, and biocompatibility of conducting polymers are incompatible, which restricts their application in tissue engineering. Herein, a multilevel template dispersion strategy is presented to produce poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):(dextran sulfate/carboxymethyl chitosan) (PEDOT:(DSS/CMCS)) with biocompatibility superior to that of commercial poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) without sacrificing processability and conductivity. The PEDOT:(DSS/CMCS) and oxidized dextran solutions form an injectable PEDOT‐based hydrogel (PDCOH) mediated by dynamic covalent imine bonds under mild conditions. The PDCOH has a tissue‐matched modulus and conductivity to adapt to the mechanical environment of dynamic tissue and modulate fibrosis‐induced electrical decoupling. The PDCOH combined with adipose‐derived stem cells demonstrates superior cardiac repair effects over cell suspensions and nonconductive hydrogels, inhibiting ventricular remodeling, reducing fibrous scarring, promoting vascular regeneration, and restoring electrophysiological and pulsatile functions.

Abstract 9500: Patients’ Perspectives Regarding Generator Exchanges of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators

Background: Shared decision-making (SDM) is mandated for patients receiving primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD). Less attention has been paid to ICD generator exchange (GE) decisions. At the time of GE, patients’ risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD), risk of procedural complications, quality of life, or prognosis may have changed. This study was designed to explore how patients view GE decisions. Methods: In-depth interviews about perspectives regarding GE decisions were conducted with patients who had primary prevention ICDs implanted at Emory Healthcare from 2013-2021. Patients were also presented a hypothetical scenario where their ICD battery was depleted but their risk of SCD over 5 years at the time of battery depletion varied (10%, 5%, 1%). Patients were asked about their willingness to undergo GE under each of these conditions. Transcribed interview text was qualitatively coded using a multilevel template analytic method. Results: Fifty patients were interviewed, of whom 19 had a prior GE, 16 had no prior ICD therapies and 14 had improved left ventricular ejection fraction. Overall, even with low SCD risk, patients’ willingness to undergo a GE remained high (Figure). If their doctor recommended deferring GE, 15/49 patients still would not defer a GE. Many patients reported not relying on risk/benefit estimates to make GE decisions. Most also reported deferring the decision to their doctor, and many exhibited significant therapeutic inertia. One patient stated, “since I’m already wired for it⋯wouldn’t make sense to disregard it.” Conclusion: Strong default preferences push patients towards a GE. Risk stratifying patients for SCD at the time of GE may facilitate SDM and may reduce GE in very low-risk patients. However, even at 1% risk of SCD, which would not meet thresholds for ICD therapy, most patients would choose GE. This highlights provision of risk information alone seems unlikely to drive substantially different GE decisions.

CLINICAL APPLICATION OF A DRILL GUIDE TEMPLATE FOR PEDICLE SCREW PLACEMENT IN SEVERE SCOLIOSIS.

ABSTRACTObjective: To evaluate the accuracy and the effect of drill guide template for pedicle screw placement in severe scoliosis.Method: Eight patients with rigid scoliosis were enrolled, five males and three females, ranging from nine to 23 years old. A three-dimensional CT scan of the spine was performed and saved as a DICOM file type. The multi-level template was designed by Mimics software and manufactured according to the part of the most severe deformity. The drill template was placed on the corresponding vertebral surface. Pedicle screws were carefully inserted across the trajectory of the template. Postoperatively, the positions of the pedicle screws were evaluated by CT scan and graded for validation.Results: No spinal cord injury or nerve damage occurred. All patients had satisfactory outcomes. The abnormalities and the measures observed during operation were the same as those found in the preoperative period. The position of the pedicle screws was accurate, according to the postoperative X-ray and CT scan. The rate of scoliosis correction was 60%. Compared with controls, surgery time, blood loss and radiation were significantly lower.Conclusion: With the application of multi-level template, the placement of pedicle screws shows high accuracy in scoliosis with shorter surgical time, less blood loss and less radiation exposure. Level of Evidence III, Retrospective Comparative Study.

Preliminary application of a multi-level 3D printing drill guide template for pedicle screw placement in severe and rigid scoliosis

Accurate implantation of pedicle screw in spinal deformity correction surgeries is always challenging. We have developed a method of pedicle screw placement in severe and rigid scoliosis with a multi-level 3D printing drill guide template. From November 2011 to March 2015, ten patients (4 males and 6 females) with severe and rigid scoliosis (Cobb angle >70° and flexibility <30%)were included. Multi-level template was designed and manufactured according to the part (two or three levels) of the most severe deformity. The drill template was then placed on the corresponding vertebral surface. Then, pedicle screws were carefully inserted along the trajectories. The other screws were placed in free hand. After surgery, the positions of the pedicle screws were evaluated by CT scan and graded for validation. 48 screws were implanted using templates, other 104 screws in free hand, and the accuracies were 93.8 and 78.8%, respectively, with significant difference. The deformity correction ratio was 67.1 and 41.2% in coronal and sagittal plane post-operatively, respectively. The average operation time was 234.0±34.1min, and average blood loss was 557±67.4ml. With the application of multi-level template, the incidence of cortex perforation in severe and rigid scoliosis decreased and this technology is, therefore, potentially applicable in clinical practice.

Fabrication of self-aligned multilevel nanostructures

Multilevel three-dimensional nanostructures are essential in many integrated nanoelectronic and nanophotonic applications. With the continued shrinking of critical device dimensions, extremely precise nanoscale overlay is required between multiple individual levels of these integrated devices. Multilevel nanoimprint lithography has been proposed in the literature as a potential solution to this overlay problem. In this context, self-aligned (perfectly aligned) multilevel templates (SAMT) for multilevel nanoimprint lithography are proposed in this article. By combining nanolithography, atomic layer deposition, and highly selective reactive ion etch, SAMTs can enable the fabrication of sophisticated integrated devices. Four specific self-aligned multilevel fabrication techniques have been demonstrated that result in symmetric multilevel structures, bilaterally symmetric multilevel structures, tubular structures, and asymmetric multilevel structures, all in the sub-100nm scale. When used in conjunction with a nanoimprint lithography process, the SAMTs can enable high-throughput patterning of various nanoelectronic and nanophotonic devices using a single patterning step with perfect alignment and overlay. SAMTs further enable large area patterning, such as wafer-scale patterning and roll-to-roll patterning on flexible substrates, without compromising perfect overlay.

SQLI-Dagger, a Multilevel Template based Algorithm to Detect and Prevent SQL Injection

injection attacks are often found within the dynamic pages of a web application that exploit the security vulnerability of the database layers of an application. In this attack category a specifically crafted SQL command is entered in the form field of a web application instead of the expected information. SQL injection takes advantages of the design flaws in poorly designed web applications to poison SQL statements and bypass the normal methods of accessing the database content .In these types of Injection attempt the database server execute undesirable SQL Code to steal, manipulate or delete the content of a database. The proposed algorithm is implemented on an application which is placed on a proxy server kept between the Database server and a web server. It is working on multi-level template based approach, which is a model based approach to detect the illegal queries before they are executed on the database server. With the support of the query evaluation engine it can detect and block the injected query. Only the benign query is allowed to get the access to the back end database server. An alert message is generated if there is an Injection.

Error rate of multi-level rapid prototyping trajectories for pedicle screw placement in lumbar and sacral spine

ObjectiveFree-hand pedicle screw placement has a high incidence of pedicle perforation which can be reduced with fluoroscopy, navigation or an alternative rapid prototyping drill guide template. In our study the error rate of multi-level templates for pedicle screw placement in lumbar and sacral regions was evaluated. MethodsA case series study was performed on 11 patients. Seventy-two screws were implanted using multilevel drill guide templates manufactured with selective laser sintering. According to the optimal screw direction preoperatively defined, an analysis of screw misplacement was performed. Displacement, deviation and screw length difference were measured. The learning curve was also estimated. ResultsTwelve screws (17%) were placed more than 3.125mm out of its optimal position in the centre of pedicle. The tip of the 16 screws (22%) was misplaced more than 6.25mm out of the predicted optimal position. According to our predefined goal, 19 screws (26%) were implanted inaccurately. In 10 cases the screw length was selected incorrectly: 1 (1%) screw was too long and 9 (13%) were too short. No clinical signs of neurovascular lesion were observed. Learning curve was insignificantly noticeable (P=0.129). ConclusionIn our study, the procedure of manufacturing and applying multi-level drill guide templates has a 26% chance of screw misplacement. However, that rate does not coincide with pedicle perforation incidence and neurovascular injury. These facts along with a comparison to compatible studies make it possible to summarize that multi-level templates are satisfactorily accurate and allow precise screw placement with a clinically irrelevant mistake factor. Therefore templates could potentially represent a useful tool for routine pedicle screw placement.

Scheduling patient appointments via multilevel template: A case study in chemotherapy

This paper studies a multi-criteria optimization problem which appears in the context of booking chemotherapy appointments. The main feature of the model under study is the requirement to book for each patient multiple appointments which should follow a pre-specified multi-day pattern. Each appointment involves several nurse activities which should also follow a pre-specified intra-day pattern. The main objectives are to minimize patients’ waiting times and peaks of nurses’ workload for an outpatient clinic. Our solution approach is based on the concept of a multi-level template schedule which is generated for a set of artificial patients with typical treatment patterns. There are two stages in template generation: the multi-day stage, which fixes appointment dates for all artificial patients, and the intra-day stage, which fixes for each day appointment starting times and patient allocation to nurses. The running schedule is created by considering actual patients one by one as they arrive to the clinic. Booking appointments for each new patient is performed by assigning appropriate dates and times of the template schedule following the prescribed multi-day and intra-day patterns. Additional rescheduling procedure is used to re-optimize intra-day schedules on a treatment day or shortly beforehand. The key stages of the scheduling process are modeled as integer linear programs and solved using CPLEX solver. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through case-based scenarios derived from a real clinic and discuss the advantages that the multi-level template can bring.

A “dry and wet hybrid” lithography technique for multilevel replication templates: Applications to microfluidic neuron culture and two-phase global mixing

A broad range of microfluidic applications, ranging from cell culture to protein crystallization, requires multilevel devices with different heights and feature sizes (from micrometers to millimeters). While state-of-the-art direct-writing techniques have been developed for creating complex three-dimensional shapes, replication molding from a multilevel template is still the preferred method for fast prototyping of microfluidic devices in the laboratory. Here, we report on a "dry and wet hybrid" technique to fabricate multilevel replication molds by combining SU-8 lithography with a dry film resist (Ordyl). We show that the two lithography protocols are chemically compatible with each other. Finally, we demonstrate the hybrid technique in two different microfluidic applications: (1) a neuron culture device with compartmentalization of different elements of a neuron and (2) a two-phase (gas-liquid) global micromixer for fast mixing of a small amount of a viscous liquid into a larger volume of a less viscous liquid.