Arm Sites Research Articles

Refining Planetary Boundary Layer Height Retrievals From Micropulse‐Lidar at Multiple ARM Sites Around the World

AbstractKnowledge of the planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) is crucial for various applications in atmospheric and environmental sciences. Lidar measurements are frequently used to monitor the evolution of the PBLH, providing more frequent observations than traditional radiosonde‐based methods. However, lidar‐derived PBLH estimates have substantial uncertainties, contingent upon the retrieval algorithm used. In addressing this, we applied the Different Thermo‐Dynamic Stabilities (DTDS) algorithm to establish a PBLH data set at five separate Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement sites across the globe. Both the PBLH methodology and the products are subject to rigorous assessments in terms of their uncertainties and constraints, juxtaposing them with other products. The DTDS‐derived product consistently aligns with radiosonde PBLH estimates, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.77 across all sites. This study delves into a detailed examination of the strengths and limitations of PBLH data sets with respect to both radiosonde‐derived and other lidar‐based estimates of the PBLH by exploring their respective errors and uncertainties. It is found that varying techniques and definitions can lead to diverse PBLH retrievals due to the inherent intricacy and variability of the boundary layer. Our DTDS‐derived PBLH data set outperforms existing products derived from ceilometer data, offering a more precise representation of the PBLH. This extensive data set paves the way for advanced studies and an improved understanding of boundary‐layer dynamics, with valuable applications in weather forecasting, climate modeling, and environmental studies.

The impact of sphygmomanometer placement and cuff placement on blood pressure measurements.

Hypertension is the most significant global risk factor for mortality and morbidity, making standardized blood pressure measurement crucial. To investigate whether the location of blood pressure monitors and the positioning of cuffs yield differing results in blood pressure measurements. Patients admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang College between 1 January 2022 and 30 June 2023 were enrolled in this study and randomly allocated into four groups. These groups were defined based on the positioning of monitoring equipment as follows: varied placements of cuffs on automatic blood pressure monitors, different heights for mercury column blood pressure monitors, varied heights for automatic blood pressure monitors, and different orientations for the cuff airbag tubes on electrocardiogram monitors. Blood pressure was measured and recorded for each group, followed by an analysis of the variations in readings across the different setups. In the first cohort of 763 individuals, mean systolic blood pressure measured at the standard upper arm site was 128.8 ± 10.5 mmHg, compared to 125.3 ± 10.4 mmHg at the elbow fossa. The corresponding diastolic pressures were 79.2 ± 10.7 and 75.0 ± 10.6 mmHg, respectively. The difference in systolic pressure between these positions was significant at 3.48 ± 3.22 mmHg (t₁ = 29.91, p₁ < 0.001) and for diastolic pressure at 4.23 ± 1.31 mmHg (t₂ = 88.98, p₂ < 0.001). For the subsequent groups, involving 253, 312, and 225 individuals, respectively, blood pressure measurements were analyzed and compared across different methods within each group. All p-values exceeded 0.05, indicating no statistically significant differences. Blood pressure values measured at the elbow fossa position using an upper arm-type automatic sphygmomanometer were found to be lower than those measured at the upper arm position, with a difference of 3.48 mmHg for systolic and 4.23 mmHg for diastolic pressures. It is therefore essential to position the cuff correctly, specifically 2-3 cm above the elbow fossa, when utilizing an upper arm-type automatic sphygmomanometer for blood pressure monitoring. Conversely, the placement of the mercury column sphygmomanometer and the automated sphygmomanometer at varying heights had no significant effect on blood pressure readings. Similarly, the orientation of the electrocardiogram's cuffed balloon tube, whether facing upward or downward, did not influence blood pressure measurement outcomes.

Exploration of the Current State of Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Complications and Documentation: A Point Prevalence Study.

Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are the most commonly used invasive devices in acute care hospitals, with nurses being primarily responsible for the insertion and care of these devices. This point prevalence study aimed to describe current PIVC status and nursing documentation in a large, regional health care system and to explore variables associated with PIVC complications. The study was conducted with adult inpatients. There were 665 PIVCs included in the study. Dressings were clean, dry, and intact in 83% of observations; only 2.7% did not have a transparent dressing. Thirty-one percent of PIVCs were inserted in areas of flexion. Median dwell time was 2.39days (± 2.36days), with upper arm sites having the longest dwell time. Overall inter-rater reliability (IRR) for an infiltration or phlebitis score of 0 was high (97.4% and 92%, respectively). However, overall agreement was only 77.16% for infiltration and 40.07% for phlebitis, with significant disagreement as scores increased. Study findings support that there was strong compliance with the Infusion Nurses Society's (INS) Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice vascular access practice recommendations; however, opportunities to improve infiltration/phlebitis assessment and documentation exist.

Drivers of Cloud Condensation Nuclei in the Eastern North Atlantic as Observed at the ARM Site

AbstractSeven years of data collected at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement's Eastern North Atlantic (ENA) site are analyzed to understand the controls of Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) concentrations in the region. Day‐night differences in the aerosol data as segregated by wind direction demonstrate the aerosol observations to be impacted by local emissions when the wind direction (wdir) is between 90° and 310° (measured clockwise from the North where air is coming from). Data collected during marine conditions (wdir &lt;90° or wdir &gt;310°) show the CCN concentrations to be higher in the summer months as compared to the winter months. CCN budget analysis revealed advection and precipitation scavenging being primarily responsible for modulating the CCN concentrations at the site on monthly timescales, with rain rates driving the precipitation scavenging term. High (greater than 75th percentile) and low (lower than 25th percentile) CCN events were identified for each month to characterize the sub‐monthly variability of CCN concentrations. Low CCN events had thicker clouds, stronger rain rates, and lower reanalysis reported free‐tropospheric aerosol pseudo number concentration at the ENA site as compared to the high CCN events. Analysis of satellite data of air‐parcels 48 hr prior to their arrival at the ENA site demonstrated the air parcels during low CCN events to encounter higher cloudiness, stronger rain rates, and higher cloud top heights as compared to the high CCN events. The results presented herein provide key constraints for model evaluation studies and climatological studies conducted at the ENA site.

Associations of Dietary Anthocyanidins Intake with Bone Health in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Bone health and body composition share several common mechanisms like oxidative stress and inflammation. Anthocyanins have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We have reported that anthocyanins are associated with better body composition in children, but the associations with bone health have not been elucidated. We aimed to explore the association of anthocyanins with bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) at multiple sites in children. In this cross-sectional study, 452 Chinese children aged 6-9years were recruited. A validated 79-item food frequency questionnaire was used to collect dietary information. BMC and BMD at multiple sites (whole body; whole body excluding head, WBEH; limbs; arms; legs) were measured by dual-energy X-ray. Higher dietary intake of total anthocyanidins (per one standard deviation increase) was associated with a 1.28-13.6g (1.31-1.60%, compared to median) higher BMC at all sites and a 3.61-6.96mg (0.65-0.90%) higher BMD at the whole body, WBEH, and arm sites after controlling for a number of possible covariates. The results were similar and more pronounced for cyanidin, but not for delphinidin and peonidin. Higher dietary intake of cyanidin (per one standard deviation increase) was associated with a 1.33-15.4g (1.48-1.68%) higher BMC at all sites and a 4.15-7.77mg (0.66-1.00%) higher BMD at all sites except the legs. No statistically significant associations with BMC or BMD were found for dietary intake of delphinidin and peonidin. Higher dietary intake of total anthocyanidins and cyanidins were associated with higher BMC and BMD in Chinese children.

Facilitated Central Pain Mechanisms Across the Menstrual Cycle in Dysmenorrhea and Enlarged Pain Distribution in Women With Longer Pain History

Dysmenorrhea (DYS), or recurrent menstrual pain, is a highly prevalent pain condition among otherwise healthy women. However, the progression of DYS over time and the influence of the menstrual cycle phases need to be better understood. While the location and distribution of pain have been used to assess pain mechanisms in other conditions, they are unexplored in DYS. Thirty otherwise healthy women with severe DYS and 30 healthy control women were recruited into 3 subgroups (n = 10) according to the length of their menstrual history (<5, 5–15, or>15 years since menarche). The intensity and distribution of menstrual pain were recorded. Pressure pain thresholds at abdominal, hip, and arm sites, pressure-induced pain distribution, temporal summation of pain, and pain intensity after pressure cessation over the gluteus medius were assessed at 3 menstrual cycle phases. Compared with the healthy control women, those with DYS showed lower pressure pain thresholds in every site and menstrual cycle phase (P < .05), enlarged pressure-induced pain areas during menstruations (P < .01), and increased temporal summation and pain intensity after pressure cessation in the overall menstrual cycle (P < .05). Additionally, these manifestations were enhanced during the menstrual and premenstrual phases compared to ovulation in women with DYS (P < .01). Women with long-term DYS demonstrated enlarged pressure-induced pain distribution, enlarged menstrual pain areas, and more days with severe menstrual pain compared to the short-term DYS subgroup (P < .01). Pressure-induced and menstrual pain distributions were strongly correlated (P < .001). These findings suggest that severe DYS is a progressive condition underscored by facilitated central pain mechanisms associated with pain recurrence and exacerbation. PerspectiveEnlarged pressure-induced pain areas occur in DYS, associated with the length of the condition and the distribution of menstrual pain. Generalized hyperalgesia is present throughout the entire menstrual cycle and intensifies during premenstrual and menstrual phases.

Mitotic recombinatory evolution in acute leukemia

A cohort of leukemia cases is presented with ancillary testing that includes microarray studies, karyotyping, FISH, and RNA sequencing to illustrate clonal evolution. Common evolution etiology with each case is apparent homologous mitotic recombination (HMR). The cohort includes: four cases of Pre B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) with a single translocation derivative (19)t(1;19)(q23.3;p13.3), an acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) case with a paracentric inversion of 11q13.3q23 in both homologues confirmed as a rare KMT2A-MAML2 gene fusion, and a transplant patient in AML relapse with a t(6;11)(6q27;q23) and evolution to an additional derivative 6 chromosome. The PBX1-TCF3 fusion in the t(1;19) B-ALL subgroup has long been associated with clones that show either the balanced translocation (∼25%) or the unbalanced single derivative 19 (∼75%). Evidence from the CMAs and FISH is consistent with HMR initiating at either the PBX1 translocation breakpoint or at a more proximal long arm site that mediates the evolution to the unbalanced form. This is contrary to the previous assumptions of either nondisjunction duplication of the normal homologue with loss of the translocation derivative 1 or an original trisomy 1 that loses the translocation derivative 1. Relapse from an unrelated transplant donor created unique allele dosage ratios in the microarray of the AML patient with the t(6;11) KMT2A-AFDN fusion. An HMR-based evolution initiation site proximal to the 6q27 AFDN fusion gene is evident in the microarray of chromosome 6, the known oncogenic fusion derivative. The HMR selection driver in both AML cases is very likely associated with the DNA doubling of the oncogenic fusions in 6q and 11q, respectively. Since the oncogenic derivatives in the 1;19 cases are clearly the retained derivative 19, selection for the HMR clonal evolution in 1q is apparently based on the known proliferative advantage of extra copies of 1q in B-ALL and other malignancies. Although selection-based HMR can effectively initiate at any site proximal to a driver gene fusion, it appears that the translocation breaksite is common for many translocations. In addition, evidence from HMR evolution related distal 11q mutations, numerous unbalanced CCND1/IGH translocations, and the double MAML2/KMT2A presented in this study suggest that a recombinatorial "hot spot" exists near the CCND1 gene in many rearrangements or mutations within 11q.

Reverse distal similarity of hapten structure enhancing antibody’s group-specificity: Development of an immunochromatographic strip for tylosin and tilmicosin in milk and water

The most common macrolide veterinary drugs used in animal husbandry are tylosin and tilmicosin. To protect human health, tylosin and tilmicosin residues in animal products and environmental water samples must be monitored on-site. A monoclonal antibody and gold nanoparticle-based lateral flow immunochromatographic strip (LFIS) were used in this study to detect tylosin and tilmicosin simultaneously, allowing for quantitative detection with a portable reader. The four-parameter equation fit produced a standard sigmoid curve under optimized conditions, with IC50 of 17.69 ng/mL and LOD(IC10) of 1.72 ng/mL for tylosin and IC50 of 18.95 ng/mL and LOD(IC10) of 7.07 ng/mL for tilmicosin. Additionally, good linearity results were obtained in the actual concentration range of 3.25–50 ng/mL, with R squares of 0.9946 for tilmicosin and 0.9953 for tylosin. The degree of cross-reactivity with other analogs was less than 0.1%. The average recoveries for tylosin and tilmicosin ranged from 77.5% to 119.7% and from 80% to 126.1% in milk, from 81.1% to 108.0% and from 98.3% to 106.8% in environmental water, respectively. The results could be obtained in 5–8 min. Therefore, the developed lateral flow immunochromatographic strip was met for the rapid detection of tylosin and tilmicosin residues in milk and environmental water samples using group screening. Furthermore, we discovered that the high matching of three dimensional structure at the distal structural fragments of the hapten arm site, as well as the consistency of the frontier orbital distribution, are very critical factors for the analytical performance of antibody against target molecules and should be considered as a universal theoretical guide for hapten design.

The bacteriophage lambda integrase catalytic domain can be modified to act with the regulatory domain as a recombination-competent binary recombinase

Site-specific recombinase Int mediates integration of the bacteriophage λ genome into the E. coli chromosome. Integration occurs once the Int tetramer, assisted by the integration host factor IHF, forms the intasome, a higher order structure, within which Int, a heterobivalent protein, interacts with two non-homologous DNA sequences: the core recombination sites and the accessory arm sites. The binding to these sites is mediated by the catalytic C-terminal domain (CTD) and the regulatory N-terminal domain (NTD) of Int, respectively. Within Int, the NTD can activate or inhibit the recombination activity of the CTD depending on whether the NTD is bound to the arm sites. The CTD alone cannot mediate recombination, and even when the NTD and the CTD are mixed together as individual polypeptides, the NTD cannot trigger recombination in the CTD. In this work, we set to determine what modifications can unlock the recombination activity in the CTD alone and how the CTD can be modified to respond to recombination-triggering signals from the NTD. For this, we performed a series of genetic analyses which showed that a single mutation that stabilizes the CTD on DNA, E174K, allows the CTD to recombine the core DNA sequences. When the NTD is paired with the CTD(E174K) that also bears a short polypeptide from the C-terminus of the NTD, the resulting binary Int can recombine arm-bearing substrates. Our results provide insights into the molecular basis of the regulation of the Int activity and suggest how binary recombinases of the integrase type can be engineered.

Do Arctic mixed-phase clouds sometimes dissipate due to insufficient aerosol? Evidence from comparisons between observations and idealized simulations

Abstract. Mixed-phase clouds are ubiquitous in the Arctic. These clouds can persist for days and dissipate in a matter of hours. It is sometimes unknown what causes this sudden dissipation, but aerosol–cloud interactions may be involved. Arctic aerosol concentrations can be low enough to affect cloud formation and structure, and it has been hypothesized that, in some instances, concentrations can drop below some critical value needed to maintain a cloud. We use observations from a Department of Energy ARM site on the northern slope of Alaska at Oliktok Point (OLI), the Arctic Summer Cloud Ocean Study (ASCOS) field campaign in the high Arctic Ocean, and the Integrated Characterisation of Energy, Clouds, Atmospheric state, and Precipitation at Summit – Aerosol Cloud Experiment (ICECAPS-ACE) project at the NSF (National Science Foundation) Summit Station in Greenland (SMT) to identify one case per site where Arctic boundary layer clouds dissipated coincidentally with a decrease in surface aerosol concentrations. These cases are used to initialize idealized large eddy simulations (LESs) in which aerosol concentrations are held constant until, at a specified time, all aerosols are removed instantaneously – effectively creating an extreme case of aerosol-limited dissipation which represents the fastest a cloud could possibly dissipate via this process. These LESs are compared against the observed data to determine whether cases could, potentially, be dissipating due to insufficient aerosol. The OLI case's observed liquid water path (LWP) dissipated faster than its simulation, indicating that other processes are likely the primary drivers of the dissipation. The ASCOS and SMT observed LWP dissipated at similar rates to their respective simulations, suggesting that aerosol-limited dissipation may be occurring in these instances. We also find that the microphysical response to this extreme aerosol forcing depends greatly on the specific case being simulated. Cases with drizzling liquid layers are simulated to dissipate by accelerating precipitation when aerosol is removed while the case with a non-drizzling liquid layer dissipates quickly, possibly glaciating via the Wegener–Bergeron–Findeisen (WBF) process. The non-drizzling case is also more sensitive to ice-nucleating particle (INP) concentrations than the drizzling cases. Overall, the simulations suggest that aerosol-limited cloud dissipation in the Arctic is plausible and that there are at least two microphysical pathways by which aerosol-limited dissipation can occur.

Comparative Study between Cardiac Monitor &amp; Mercury Sphygmomanometer in Efficiency &amp; Accuracy of Reading at El-mek-Nimer Hospital University-Shendi University-2020

Background: Recording blood pressure is important part of long term epidemiological study which has confirmed the importance of high blood pressure as risk factor in cardiovascular disease the Objectives of this study was to evaluate difference of reading of blood pressure between cardiac monitor And mercury sphygmomanometer from arm site. Method: This was analytical comparative study was conducted in the Sudan, river Nile state, Shendi town, in the Elmek Nimer two devices (mercury, cardiac monitor)&amp;stethoscope were used to measure blood pressure From the upper arm, the data was analyzed by using statistical package of social science (SPSS version 22). Results and Conclusion: The study showed that, cardiac monitor more accurate in measuring blood pressure rather than mercury sphygmomanometer. Recommendation: The study was recommended that: All health team members should be used cardiac monitor rather than mercury sphygmomanometer blood pressure, so that they have to recheck reading of mercury sphygmomanometer blood pressure before it used.

Novel Use of an Internal Distractor for Metacarpal Lengthening.

In patients who have had proximal digit amputation, metacarpal distraction osteogenesis is an option to improve digital length and function. One drawback is that traditional external distraction devices are large and cumbersome; the option of a low-profile internal device is therefore appealing. Internal distractors are commonly used in craniofacial reconstruction, but use in the hand has not been reported. We describe a case series of the novel use of an internal distractor in metacarpal lengthening. In this single-center case series, patients who underwent metacarpal distraction by the senior author using a uniplanar internal distractor were reviewed, and indications, outcomes, and complications were analyzed. There were 5 cases in 4 patients (age range: 7-33 years). Indications were traumatic amputation in 4 cases and congenital hypoplasia in 1. All were successfully distracted, with a mean final length gain of 1.3 cm (range: 1.0-1.7 mm). Mean time from device placement to consolidation was 3.5 months. Complications included activation arm site infection in 2 cases, both occurring after the distraction period, necessitating device removal before full consolidation. In these cases, the device was removed after the distraction period and replaced with a Kirschner wire for stabilization through the consolidation period. Metacarpal distraction was successfully achieved with an internal distraction device. Although infection was common, it occurred after the distraction period and did not preclude length gain. We feel that this low-profile device offers advantages over cumbersome external devices typically used for metacarpal lengthening.

Evaluation of BD Vacutainer Eclipse and BD Vacutainer Ultra-Touch butterfly blood collecting sets in laboratory testing

Abstract Objectives Choosing the right device for blood collection is an issue that is frequently encountered in laboratory medicine. The purpose of this study was to compare the quality of the samples collected in terms of hemolysis index, pain intensity and tube filling rates of the samples drawn with BD Vacutainer® EclipseNeedle and BD Vacutainer Ultra-Touch™ Butterfly Blood Collection Set, which is currently used in laboratories. Methods Blood samples were drawn from the 44 apparently healthy adult individuals from different arm sites by routine phlebotomy into Citrate, SST and EDTA tubes in Karapınar State Hospital. K, P, AST, LDH tests and hemolysis index were analyzed by Mindray BS-800 chemistry analyzer. Complete blood count (CBC) was determined by Mindray BC 6000. Results There was no significant difference in K, P, AST, LDH and CBC values between the devices for hemolysis (p&gt;0.05). No significant difference was found out with respect to visual hemolysis and hemolysis index, tube filling speed and pain intensity between the devices. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that two sets may used for venipuncture blood collection without creating additional hemolysis risk.

Creating reverse flow arteriovenous fistulas with a forearm cannulation target.

Establishing a forearm arteriovenous fistula (AVF) offers preferred cannulation sites and preserves proximal access opportunities. When a radiocephalic AVF at the wrist is not feasible and the upper arm cephalic and median cubital veins are inadequate, an AV graft or more complex access procedure is often required. Creating a retrograde flow forearm AVF (RF-AVF) is a valuable alternative where the mid-forearm median antebrachial or cephalic vein is adequate, offering forearm cannulation zones with AVF outflow through deep and superficial collaterals. We report our technique and results. We retrospectively reviewed our vascular access data base of consecutive patients during an 11-year study period where a RF-AVF established the only available cannulation target in the forearm. In addition to physical examination, all patients had ultrasound vessel mapping. A forearm access was established with a RF-AVF as the only opportunity for cannulation in 48 patients. Ages were 14-86 years (median = 62 years). Forty-four percent female, 63% diabetic, 13% obese, and 29% had previous access operations. Inflow was proximal radial artery in 47 individuals and one proximal ulnar. Nine AVFs (19%) failed at 2-66 months (median 14 months). One RF-AVF was ligated due to arm edema. Follow-up was 2-111 months (median = 23.5 months). Primary and cumulative patency rates were 62% and 91% at 12 months, and 46% and 85% at 24 months. Five patients were lost to follow-up with functioning RF-AVFs (mean 41 months). Twenty-three patients (48%) died during F/U of causes unrelated to access procedures (mean 25 months). Establishing a reverse flow forearm AVF offers a successful autogenous access option in the forearm for selected patients with an inadequate distal radial artery and/or cephalic vein at the wrist, avoiding more complex or staged procedures and preserving upper arm sites for future use. A proximal radial artery inflow procedure is recommended.

FOREARM AND BICEPS CIRCUMFERENTIAL VARIATIONS IN SKIN TISSUE DIELECTRIC CONSTANT AND FIRMNESS

Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) and skin firmness assessed via indentation force (FORCE) help quantify lymphedema and track changes. We sought to determine potential differences in these parameters dependent on arm circumferential locations. Thus, TDC and FORCE were measured in 40 healthy women at medial, anterior and lateral locations on forearm and biceps. In five other women with unilateral lymphedema (68.6±7.6 years), TDC was measured at corresponding circumferential forearm positions. Measurements were done in triplicate using compact noninvasive devices. Results for healthy women (23.8±2.7 years) showed forearm medial TDC values (26.7±2.2) were less than anterior (28.0±2.4) or lateral (28.0±2.5) positions (p<0.001). Lymphedema patients had elevated values but similar medialanterior- lateral patterns (33.7±8.0, 39.8±10.2 and 42.9±10.0). Biceps medial TDC values (24.1±2.2) were also less than either anterior (27.0±2.1) or lateral (28.2±3.3). Contrastingly, medial FORCE values at forearm and biceps were less than at anterior and lateral locations (p<0.001) and increased in the order of medialanterior- lateral on forearm (p<0.001). The present findings provide reference values for both TDC and FORCE of commonly measured arm sites with specificity as to circumferential variations. This observed variation indicates the need for care in locating measurement positions for tracking patients with lymphedema.

Competitive Real-Time Near Infrared (NIR) Vein Finder Imaging Device to Improve Peripheral Subcutaneous Vein Selection in Venipuncture for Clinical Laboratory Testing.

In this study, near-infrared (NIR) technology was utilized to develop a low-cost real-time near infrared (NIR) guiding device for cannulation. A portable device that can be used by medical practitioners and also by students for their skills development training in performing cannulation. Methods. First, is the development of a reflectance type optical vein finder using three (3) light emitting diode (LED) lights with 960 nm wavelength, complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor-infrared (CMOS-IR) sensor camera with 1920 × 1080 UXGA (1080P), IR filter set for the given wavelength, and an open-source image processing software. Second, is the actual in-vitro human testing in two sites: the arm and dorsal hand of 242 subjects. The following parameters were included, such as gender, age, mass index (BMI), and skin tone. In order to maximize the assessment process towards the device, the researchers included the arm circumference. This augmented subcutaneous vein imaging study using the develop vein finder device compared the difference in the captured vein images through visual and digital imaging approaches. The human testing was performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the Trinity University of Asia—Institutional Ethics Review Committee (TUA—IERC). Results. The NIR imaging system of the developed vein finder in this study showed its capability as an efficient guiding device through real-time vein pattern recognition, for both sites. Improved captured vein images were observed, having 100% visibility of vein patterns on the dorsal hand site. Fourteen (5.79%) out of 242 subjects reported non-visible peripheral subcutaneous veins in the arm sites. Conclusions. The developed vein finder device with the NIR technology and reflected light principle with low-energy consumption was efficient for real-time peripheral subcutaneous vein imaging without the application of a tourniquet. This might be utilized as a guiding device in locating the vein for the purpose of cannulation, at a very low cost as compared to the commercially available vein finders. Moreover, it may be used as an instructional device for student training in performing cannulation.

The stratum corneum water content and natural moisturization factor composition evolve with age and depend on body site.

The study objective was to examine if age and chronic environmental exposure affect the water content and the composition of the natural moisturizing factors (NMFs) of the stratum corneum (SC). Forty healthy Caucasian women 18-70 years of age were recruited. Measurements were done on the cheek and on two skin sites on the arm (one relatively protected and one exposed to environmental factors). SC water content and NMF composition were measured by Raman confocal microspectroscopy. The SC water content was gradually reduced with age, reaching statistically significant levels only on the exposed arm site. The SC water content remained higher on the face than on the two arm sites throughout the ages tested. The age-dependent concentration changes of various amino acids were species-specific, potentially indicating different protein sources. Interestingly, on the arm sites, the sum of decreasing amino acid concentrations is compensated by the sum of those increasing, resulting in constant total amino acid content. However, on the face, the total amino acid content statistically increased with age potentially relating to the declining cell turnover rates. The lactate content was higher on the face for all ages and statistically decreased on both arm sites. Both chronological aging and chronic exposure to environmental factors mildly affect SC hydration, while they have variable effects in the concentrations of NMF components. The dynamics of NMF composition may at least partially explain the age-related changes in SC hydration.

An Approach Toward Assessing Head-and-Neck Lymphedema Using Tissue Dielectric Constant Ratios: Method and Normal Reference Values.

Background: There are multiple methods to quantitatively assess limb lymphedema, but quantitative methods to assess external lymphedema in persons with head-and-neck lymphedema are quite limited. Quantification in this difficult condition currently uses multiple time-consuming head, face, and neck metric measurements, the accuracy of which is unclear. Thus, there is an important need for a new approach that is sufficiently convenient yet accurate to quantify head-and-neck lymphedema. The approach adopted was to use tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements that depend on tissue water, at neck and a submental area, and normalize these to TDC values at the forearm as a way to develop subject-independent indices. Methods and Results: TDC was measured in 60 self-reported healthy nonlymphedematous adults (34 female, 18-81 years, 18.5-45.7 Kg/m2) at two neck sites and one arm site bilaterally and at a submental area. Neck-to-arm-index (NAI) and submental-to-arm-index (SAI) ratios were calculated. TDC values (mean ± standard deviation [SD]) for neck, submental, and arm were, respectively, 37.4 ± 6.9, 35.9 ± 7.7, and 30.1 ± 4.6. Mean NAI and SAI values were 1.253 ± 0.222 and 1.214 ± 0.296 respectively. Head-and-neck lymphedema thresholds calculated as mean + 2.5 SD were for NAI and SAI 1.80 and 1.95, respectively. Conclusions: An approach to help quantify and track head-and-neck lymphedema using TDC neck and/or submental values normalized to a person's forearm TDC values indicates threshold values between 1.80 and 1.95. These ratios, denoted as NAI and SAI, are suggested for use to detect and track changes in lymphedema status based on a patient's changing indices associated with lymphedema treatment.

Observations from the one year electric field Study-North Slope of Alaska (OYES-NSA) field campaign, and their implications for observing the distribution of global electrified cloud activity

For over a century, the electric Potential Gradient (PG) of the atmosphere has been measured and studied. The local vertical electric field (Ez) is strongly influenced by the presence of lightning, electrified clouds, rainfall, aerosols, and many others. The One Year Electric Field Study-North Slope of Alaska (OYES-NSA) field campaign was established in the summer of 2017 to measure the vertical electric field at the ARM site in Barrow, Alaska alongside a wide array of supplementary instrumentation, including a Micro-Pulse Lidar and upward facing Ka-band radar. Two years of observations (072017-062019) have shown the possibility to quantify the local effects from aerosols and clouds observed by the Lidar and Radar on the measured EZ. Throughout the manuscript, the physics convention of negative downward fair-weather electric fields is used. Three cases (convective clouds, high concentration of near surface aerosols, and blowing snow) are used to demonstrate the localized effects on the measured EZ. Utilizing the relationships between EZ and backscatter/reflectivity, we have developed a methodology to distinguish samples with local influences. A fair-weather (FW) condition is determined to be associated with a low Lidar backscattering (less than 15 km−1sr−1), in the presence of no significant cloud activity (radar reflectivity less than −10dBZ). The samples satisfying these criteria are found with a 5-min averaged standard deviation of less than 15 V/m, and EZ between −250 V/m to −50 V/m. Using only properties of the EZ measurements allows for the simultaneous comparisons of FW at multiple sites, without the need for supplementary information of local weather conditions. Simultaneous EZ measurements from 8 FW cases are shown between Barrow, AK and Corpus Christi, TX on the timescale of minutes to hours. Similar variation patterns in the FW EZ are shown at both sites, providing evidence of the global nature of the atmospheric electric system. Furthermore, the seasonal-diurnal variability of FW at multiple sites shows similar distributions of the PG.

Principles of Intrinsic Motor Cortex Connectivity in Primates.

The forelimb representation in motor cortex (M1) is an important model system in contemporary neuroscience. Efforts to understand the organization of the M1 forelimb representation in monkeys have focused on inputs and outputs. In contrast, intrinsic M1 connections remain mostly unexplored, which is surprising given that intra-areal connections universally outnumber extrinsic connections. To address this knowledge gap, we first mapped the M1 forelimb representation with intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) in male squirrel monkeys. Next, we determined the connectivity of individual M1 sites with ICMS + intrinsic signal optical imaging (ISOI). Every stimulation site activated a distinctive pattern of patches (∼0.25 to 1.0 mm radius) that we quantified in relation to the motor map. Arm sites activated patches that were mostly in arm zones. Hand sites followed the same principle, but to a lesser extent. The results collectively indicate that preferential connectivity between functionally matched patches is a prominent organizational principle in M1. Connectivity patterns for a given site were conserved across a range of current amplitudes, train durations, pulse frequencies, and microelectrode depths. In addition, we found close correspondence in somatosensory cortex between connectivity that we revealed with ICMS+ISOI and connections known from tracers. ICMS+ISOI is therefore an effective tool for mapping cortical connectivity and is particularly advantageous for sampling large numbers of sites. This feature was instrumental in revealing the spatial specificity of intrinsic M1 connections, which appear to be woven into the somatotopic organization of the forelimb representation. Such a framework invokes the modular organization well-established for sensory cortical areas.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Intrinsic connections are fundamental to the operations of any cortical area. Surprisingly little is known about the organization of intrinsic connections in motor cortex (M1). We addressed this knowledge gap using intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) concurrently with intrinsic signal optical imaging (ISOI). Quantifying the activation patterns from dozens of M1 sites allowed us to uncover a fundamental principle of M1 organization: M1 patches are preferentially connected with functionally matched patches. Relationship between intrinsic connections and neurophysiological map is well-established for sensory cortical areas, but our study is the first to extend this framework to M1. Microstimulation+imaging opened a unique possibility for investigating the connectivity of dozens of tightly spaced M1 sites, which was the linchpin for uncovering organizational principles.