Indoor Home Research Articles

Architecture of green sensor mobile cloud computing

This study presents an architecture of green sensor mobile cloud computing which integrates sensor network and mobile network with cloud computing. In the proposed scheme, the sensor data are transmitted to the cloud through a mobile device. To develop the proposed architecture both the indoor and outdoor region are considered. For indoor region light weight access point and home node base station are used by the mobile device for sensor data transmission to the cloud, whereas for outdoor region macrocell and microcell base stations are used. Simulation results present that using home node base station the power consumption at indoor region can be reduced by ∼10% than the light weight access point, and using microcell base station at outdoor region the power consumption can be reduced by ∼30% than the macrocell base station. Hence, using home node base station and microcell base station green sensor mobile cloud computing can be obtained at indoor and outdoor regions, respectively. In this study, an experimental analysis of the proposed architecture is also performed.

How New Zealanders distribute their daily time between home indoors, home outdoors and out of home

ABSTRACTUnlike most developed countries, until now no time-use microenvironment studies have been undertaken in New Zealand. International studies show that on average 60%–70% of each day is spent at home indoors in all countries. Time-use differences usually relate to day type, season, gender, age and job type. Although house indoor environments have fewer pollutants than other microenvironments, spending much time in this one microenvironment can easily lead to greater exposure while some indoor spaces like kitchens are proven to produce higher levels of pollutants compared to other rooms. Consequently, this study undertaken in summer has focused on time-use in three microenvironments: house indoors; house outdoors; and out of home, with a more detailed look at the time different members of selected household types spend in the various rooms of their house. Results show that New Zealanders spend on average 69.7% of each day at home indoors. Like other countries, time-use at home indoors in New Zealand is affected by gender, age, job type and day type (weekday or weekend). The average summer time-use at home outdoors is only 0.55 hours/day which is very little for a country with a temperate climate and a large proportion of houses with private gardens. In fact, New Zealand time-use microenvironment patterns seem to follow similar patterns to those of most developed countries.

Temporal Trends of Insecticide Concentrations in Carpet Dust in California from 2001 to 2006

Active ingredients in residential and agricultural insecticides have changed over time, due in part to regulatory restrictions. Few studies have evaluated how changes in active ingredients have impacted insecticide levels measured in homes. We measured concentrations of insecticides in one carpet-dust sample from each of 434 homes in California from 2001 to 2006. Analytes included four insecticides sold for indoor home use during our study period (carbaryl, cypermethrin, permethrin, and propoxur) and four that are no longer sold for indoor use including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethylene (DDT, removed from the market in 1972), chlordane (1988), chlorpyrifos (2001), and diazinon (2004). We considered other potential determinants of concentrations of insecticides in carpet dust, such as home and garden use, occupational exposure, and nearby agricultural applications. We calculated the percentage change in the concentration of each insecticide per year, adjusting for significant determinants. In adjusted models, concentrations of insecticides in carpet dust decreased for three of four insecticides no longer sold for residential use: chlordane (-15% per year), chlorpyrifos (-31%), diazinon (-48%), and propoxur (-34%), which is currently sold for residential use but with increased restrictions since 1997. Concentrations of other insecticides sold for indoor use (carbaryl, cypermethrin, and permethrin) and DDT did not change over time in our study population.

Improved LEACH algorithm for smart home controller

An improved LEACH algorithm was proposed for the fading feature in the smart home indoor wireless sensor node channel transmission. The algorithm allocated Area ID number according to the location of the nodes, selected the cluster head combined with the remaining energy of the nodes, and realized the partition clusters. The practicability of the simulation result was assured with the energy consumption model of the loss model for three-order polynomial logarithm distance path. The reliability of data transmission was assured through transmitting the data from different channels with TD-FDMA technology according to the Area ID number of the nodes. Matlab was used for the performance analysis of algorithm, and the simulation result showed that when compared with LEACH, the death time of the nodes was more concentrated, which can balance the energy consumption of the network nodes. The time for the appearance of monitoring blind spots was short. The network life cycle was extended, and the sensor node was more economical and efficient.

‘Silver’ trauma: predicting mortality in elderly major trauma based on place of injury

Background Elderly trauma now accounts for more than 20% of UK major trauma [1]. Clearly, elderly trauma patients are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality, but outcome can be difficult to predict. Current evidence is limited to correlations between poor outcome and complex, difficult-to-calculate pre-morbid frailty indices [2]. A simple, evidence-based prognostic marker is needed to guide early management. We hypothesised that elderly patients suffering severe injury at home indoors are frailer, and therefore more likely to succumb to their injuries, than those injured outdoors.

Household Air Pollution From Burning Wood Is Associated With Altered Cardiac Hemodynamics And Function Among Women In Western Kenya: Results From The Kenya Hap Echo Study

Introduction: Household air pollution (HAP) from incomplete combustion of solid fuels is responsible for =4 million deaths annually, mostly due to cardiopulmonary disease. Limited data describe the associations between HAP and echocardiographic markers of cardiac structure and function. Thus, we assessed the cross-sectional association of median 24­hour home indoor measures of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) with echocardiographic characteristics among women. Methods: We analyzed baseline data of 44 women (mean age: 34.5 years, SD: 6.4) enrolled in a prospective cookstove replacement study in a rural Kenyan community. Home echocardiographic assessment included chamber size, ventricular function, hemodynamics, and myocardial strain. Linear regression models were used to estimate the cross­sectional association between tertiles of HAP measures and continuous echocardiographic outcomes, while adjusting for age, body mass index, and level of education. Results: All women used wood as cooking fuel. CO levels ranged from 3 to 89 ppm while PM2.5 levels ranged from 7 to 1475 µg/m3. CO was associated with higher pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (2.8 mmHg (95% CI: 0.1, 5.4) for tertile 3 vs 1; Ptrend=0.047) and lower left ventricular ejection fraction ( -6.2% (95% CI: -9.9, -2.5) for tertile 3 vs 1; Ptrend

Home environment and indoor air pollution exposure in an African birth cohort study

BackgroundHousehold indoor air pollution (IAP) is a global health problem and a risk factor for childhood respiratory disease; the leading cause of mortality in African children. This study aimed to describe the home environment and measure IAP in the Drakenstein Child Health Study (DCHS), an African birth cohort. MethodsAn antenatal home visit to assess the home environment and measure IAP (particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) was done on pregnant women enrolled to the DCHS, in a low-socioeconomic, peri-urban South African community. Urine cotinine measured maternal tobacco smoking and exposure. Dwellings were categorised according to 6 household dimensions. Univariate and multivariate analysis explored associations between home environment, seasons and IAP levels measured. Results633 home visits were completed, with IAP measured in 90% of homes. Almost a third of participants were of the lowest socio-economic status and the majority of homes (65%) lacked 2 or more of the dwelling category dimensions. Most households had electricity (92%), however, fossil fuels were still used for cooking (19%) and heating (15%) in homes. Antenatal maternal smoking prevalence was 31%; 44% had passive smoke exposure. Of IAP measured, benzene (VOC) was significantly above ambient standards with median 5.6μg/m3 (IQR 2.6–17.1). There were significant associations between the use of fossil fuels for cooking and increased benzene [OR 3.4 (95% CI 2.1–5.4)], carbon monoxide [OR 2.9 (95% CI 1.7–5.0)] and nitrogen dioxide [OR 18.6 (95% CI 3.9–88.9)] levels. A significant seasonal association was found with higher IAP levels in winter. ConclusionIn this low-socioeconomic African community, multiple environmental factors and pollutants, with the potential to affect child health, were identified. Measurement of IAP in a resource-limited setting is feasible. Recognising and quantifying these risk factors is important in effecting public health policy changes.

Platinum in indoor settled dust matter (homes and cars)

This paper presents a method for Pt analysis in indoor (homes and cars) settled dust, used as passive samplers, and the results relative to samples collected in the Sicilian area are used to evaluate the magnitude and distribution of concentrations inside common environments and the possible origins of the considered contaminant. The concentrations of platinum in settled indoor dust were measured by differential pulsed voltammetry (DPV).Concentrations of Pt in homes are in the range from 30 to 1460μgkg−1 d.w. while, in the vehicles from 30 to 1750μgkg−1 d.w. Considering the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), 42% of the settled dust sampled in homes could be classified as extremely contaminated. Only in two cases, the Igeo indicates extremely contaminated and the analyzed settled dust sampled in the cars, about 11% corresponds to practically unpolluted.Considering the Pt concentrations found by us in apartments and cars, it is possible to estimate a daily total uptake of 10 and 4ng respectively. Compared to the dietary PGE intake, which is estimated about μg per day level, or uptake by drinking water, the amount uptake by the indoor dust (homes and cars) may be considered negligible.

Factors influencing time-location patterns and their impact on estimates of exposure: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution (MESA Air).

We assessed time-location patterns and the role of individual- and residential-level characteristics on these patterns within the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and Air Pollution (MESA Air) cohort and also investigated the impact of individual-level time-location patterns on individual-level estimates of exposure to outdoor air pollution. Reported time-location patterns varied significantly by demographic factors such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, income, education, and employment status. On average, Chinese participants reported spending significantly more time indoors and less time outdoors and in transit than White, Black, or Hispanic participants. Using a tiered linear regression approach, we predicted time indoors at home and total time indoors. Our model, developed using forward-selection procedures, explained 43% of the variability in time spent indoors at home, and incorporated demographic, health, lifestyle, and built environment factors. Time-weighted air pollution predictions calculated using recommended time indoors from USEPA overestimated exposures as compared with predictions made with MESA Air participant-specific information. These data fill an important gap in the literature by describing the impact of individual and residential characteristics on time-location patterns and by demonstrating the impact of population-specific data on exposure estimates.

Prevalence of pneumonia and associated factors among indigenous children in Brazil: results from the First National Survey of Indigenous People's Health and Nutrition.

Based on data from a nationally representative sample of indigenous villages in Brazilian indigenous reserves, the study sought to estimate the prevalence of pneumonia and evaluate associated factors among indigenous children under 5 years of age. Sociodemographic, clinical and reported data on child respiratory health from the First National Survey of Indigenous People's Health and Nutrition in Brazil were collected for 6128 children. Prevalence of pneumonia was calculated for independent variables and hierarchical multivariate analyses were performed to assess associations. The overall prevalence proportions of cough, nasal congestion, pneumonia, and pneumonia with fever were 44.4%, 31.0%, 2.63%, and 1.28%, respectively. In the multivariate model, pneumonia was more frequent among children living in the South/Southeast and North regions of Brazil. Children living in larger households or houses with wood or thatch roofing, as well those with low birthweight or stunting, presented higher risk of pneumonia. Pneumonia was less prevalent among children living in houses with wood flooring and those presenting low weight-for-age. The study results demonstrate that pneumonia is an important cause of illness among indigenous children throughout Brazil. The association between pneumonia and household characteristics suggests that indoor home environment is closely related to the respiratory health of indigenous children.

A novel method for estimating the heading angle for a home service robot using a forward-viewing mono-camera and motion sensors

This paper presents a novel method for estimating the heading angle of a home service robot. The images captured from a forward viewing mono-camera, gyroscope data, and wheel encoder data are used as sensory inputs. The data rates of camera, gyroscope, and encoder are 1 Hz, 50 Hz, and 50 Hz, respectively. The camera is slightly tilted by 16.5° to increase the amount of visual information obtained. The context of this study is simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) in an indoor home environment. The ceiling lines, i.e., the intersection between the ceiling and wall, are used as the only landmarks for the heading angle estimation. In our method, since the ceiling lines are used as the sole landmarks, line parameterization and data association problem can be simplified when compared to the general line based methods. In home environment, the ceiling line features can be easily detected regardless of the robot rotation. The developed method can be used to accurately estimate the global heading angle while the robot is in motion. A ceiling line map is also reconstructed. The reconstructed ceiling line map provides intuitively understandable spatial information about the environment using only a few features. The experimental results demonstrate that it is feasible to use the proposed method for an indoor home environment.

Efficiency Evaluation for Femtocell Spectrum Access in LTE-Advanced

Femtocells are considered one of the ultimate solutions for the ever increasing demand in LTE-Advance. Recently, wireless industries have resorted to femtocell networks in order to enhance indoor coverage and quality of service since macro-antennas fail to reach these objectives. In enabling indoor home or enterprise users with mobile broadband solutions, role of femtocells are crucially important. While considering low cost solutions for higher coverage and data rate, femtocells apparently have one of the best potentials for indoor users. Due to the dense self-deployment of femtocells in a limited area, serious inter-femtocell interference (IFI) may cause, which consequently results in severe performance degradation. To mitigate the IFI and utilize spectrum resource more efficiently, this paper proposes a cluster based femtocell deployments along with a capacity based cognitive resource allocation scheme .Three different channel configurations in a hybrid access femtocell network are considered for performance analysis. The results of a performance analysis of the cluster based femtocell configurations in a priority based users’ network are presented.

Vinyl flooring in the home is associated with children's airborne butylbenzyl phthalate and urinary metabolite concentrations.

Prior studies have shown that vinyl flooring as well as the vinyl-softening plasticizers butylbenzyl phthalate (BBzP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) are associated with asthma and airway inflammation. Although DEHP exposure is primarily dietary, whether home vinyl flooring contributes to indoor air and urinary metabolite concentrations for these two phthalates is unclear. Exposures to BBzP and DEHP were examined in a prospective birth cohort of New York City children (n=239) using: (i) visual observation of potential phthalate containing flooring, (ii) a 2-week home indoor air sample, and (iii) concurrent urinary metabolites in a subset (n=193). The category "vinyl or linoleum" flooring was observed in 135 (56%) of monitored rooms; these rooms had statistically significantly higher indoor air geometric mean concentrations of BBzP (23.9 ng/m(3)) than rooms with wood or carpet flooring (10.6 ng/m(3)). Children from homes with "vinyl or linoleum" flooring also had significantly higher urinary BBzP metabolite concentrations than other children. Indoor air BBzP and urinary metabolite concentrations were correlated positively (Spearman's rho 0.40). By contrast, indoor air DEHP was not associated with flooring type nor with its urinary metabolite concentrations. Vinyl flooring in the home may be an important source of children's exposure to BBzP via indoor air.

Coverage Self-Optimization for Randomly Deployed Femtocell Networks

There is an ever increasing demand on wireless communication systems for improved indoor coverage, greater capacity and enhanced user services. Energy efficient, small scale femtocell networks deployed in home, office and other indoor environments are one of the promising means of satisfying these demands. They can provide substantial benefits to both operators and users, such as a reduction in capital expenditures and operational expenditures, easy plug-and-play and optimized indoor coverage. Because of the random deployment behavior by the users, femtocell base stations (FBSs) should have cognitive position awareness, automatic parameter tuning and learning abilities. This will allow for self-optimization of the indoor coverage with the minimal interference to outdoor users. This paper first proves that the optimal coverage radii for FBS exist in typical indoor environments with position awareness enabled technology. Then, a dynamic power allocation technique for FBS is designed and analyzed in this paper by considering the path loss and different wall penetration conditions. To further enable the intelligent coverage self-optimization for randomly deployed indoor FBSs, a novel joint dynamic power allocation and antenna pattern selection scheme using the artificial neural network is proposed. Performance results are presented to illustrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed coverage technique for randomly deployed femtocell networks.

Sob o Signo da Opressão: Textos Visuais de Pré-Adolescentes

We analyze seventeen pictographic representations that express and communicate the violence on (and of) young people, with the following objectives: (1) The knowledge of the teachers of each student, and potential family conflicts and disputes with colleagues; and (2) the design by the authors of a comparative script of the seventeen mixed texts (visual and written). RPEA [16] The participants were two teachers and a group of 12 girls and 5 boys, of the 2nd cycle of basic education, comingfrom urban and suburban of Braga. In the first phase of the interdisciplinary project, the two teachers, one of Portuguese Language and another of Visual Education, discussed with the students the differences between a non-explicit journalistic event and a poetic event, evidenced in the (visual) metaphor, present in the Poem of Violence, by Bertolt Brecht. Artistic productions elucidated gender issues, plenty of feelings and emotions (contempt, fear, guilt, retaliation/revenge, cowardice, laziness, physical discomfort grips, and impotence), prohibitions, and rebelliousness with parents, a teacher and classmates. Young people represented figures running away from home (and threats them), doing wickedness and telling lies. The scenarios were indoor (home, school) and outdoor, urban and countryside. Visually, the young expressed cultural, and religious rituals (a procession and a marriage), with natural, figurative, and symbolic elements (doors closed, sticks in the air, explosions...)

Designing and Making a Movement Infrastructure

Abstract The geometry and symmetry characterizing the regular and semi-regular polyhedra has a major impact in the manmade world of building systems. The geometric properties of polyhedra can be applied not only to the world of design and construction but can also be used to interpret the proportions and movement of the human body. This paper describes a computational methodology to design and build three-dimensional structures for movement practices based on the regular convex polyhedra —also called Platonic solids. A parametric approach is applied to design these structures —here defined as “movement infrastructure”. Contemporary design and fabrication technologies are applied to the theories of movement by Rudolf Laban, which were introduced in the first half of the twentieth century but still have a major influence in the field of dance and human movement analysis. Prototypes have been built assembling parts fabricated using 3D printing technologies and off-the-shelf components. Such a parametric approach can be further applied to design and build a “movement infrastructure” at several scales and made of different materials, varying from private indoor home use to public outdoor settings.

Vascular and lung function related to ultrafine and fine particles exposure assessed by personal and indoor monitoring: a cross-sectional study.

BackgroundExposure to ambient air particulate matter (PM) has been linked to decline in pulmonary function and cardiovascular events possibly through inflammation. Little is known about individual exposure to ultrafine particles (UFP) inside and outside modern homes and associated health-related effects.MethodsAssociations between vascular and lung function, inflammation markers and exposure in terms of particle number concentration (PNC; d = 10-300 nm) were studied in a cross-sectional design with personal and home indoor monitoring in the Western Copenhagen Area, Denmark. During 48-h, PNC and PM2.5 were monitored in living rooms of 60 homes with 81 non-smoking subjects (30-75 years old), 59 of whom carried personal monitors both when at home and away from home. We measured lung function in terms of the FEV1/FVC ratio, microvascular function (MVF) and pulse amplitude by digital artery tonometry, blood pressure and biomarkers of inflammation including C-reactive protein, and leukocyte counts with subdivision in neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes in blood.ResultsPNC from personal and stationary home monitoring showed weak correlation (r = 0.15, p = 0.24). Personal UFP exposure away from home was significantly inversely associated with MVF (1.3% decline per interquartile range, 95% confidence interval: 0.1-2.5%) and pulse amplitude and positively associated with leukocyte and neutrophil counts. The leukocyte and neutrophil counts were also positively and pulse amplitude negatively associated with total personal PNC. Indoor PNC and PM2.5 showed positive association with blood pressure and inverse association with eosinophil counts.ConclusionsThe inverse association between personal exposure away from home and MVF is consistent with adverse health effects of UFP from sources outside the home and might be related to increased inflammation indicated by leukocyte counts, whereas UFP from sources in the home could have less effect.

The effectiveness of a life style modification and peer support home blood pressure monitoring in control of hypertension: protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDeath rates due to hypertension in low and middle income countries are higher compared to high income countries. The present study is designed to combine life style modification and home blood pressure monitoring for control of hypertension in the context of low and middle income countries.MethodsThe study is a two armed, parallel group, un-blinded, cluster randomized controlled trial undertaken within lower income areas in Kuala Lumpur. Two housing complexes will be assigned to the intervention group and the other two housing complexes will be allocated in the control group. Based on power analysis, 320 participants will be recruited. The participants in the intervention group (n = 160) will undergo three main components in the intervention which are the peer support for home blood pressure monitoring, face to face health coaching on healthy diet and demonstration and training for indoor home based exercise activities while the control group will receive a pamphlet containing information on hypertension. The primary outcomes are systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Secondary outcome measures include practice of self-blood pressure monitoring, dietary intake, level of physical activity and physical fitness.DiscussionThe present study will evaluate the effect of lifestyle modification and peer support home blood pressure monitoring on blood pressure control, during a 6 month intervention period. Moreover, the study aims to assess whether these effects can be sustainable more than six months after the intervention has ended.

Associations of Indoor Home Radon Levels with Marcellus Shale Development

Associations of Indoor Home Radon Levels with Marcellus Shale DevelopmentAbstract Number:2487 Joan A. Casey*, Joseph DeWalle, Paul A. Locke, and Brian S. Schwartz Joan A. Casey* Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Joseph DeWalle Geisinger Health System Search for more papers by this author , Paul A. Locke Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , and Brian S. Schwartz Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Geisinger Health System, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author AbstractBackground: Radon causes around 21,000 lung cancer deaths annually in the United States. Most exposure occurs in the home when radon gas infiltrates from rocks and soils through openings. Recent drilling and hydraulic fracturing activity in Pennsylvania may have created new pathways allowing entrainment of radon into homes in a state where many homes already exceed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action level of 4piC/L. Aims: To evaluate associations of proximity to Marcellus shale wells, by stage of development, with home radon levels.Methods: We located Marcellus shale wells and homes with indoor radon level readings using Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection data from 2006-2013. We used multilevel linear regression with a random intercept for home to assess associations of proximity to Marcellus shale in various stages of drilling with home radon levels while accounting for potential confounders (season of year, home type [e.g. duplex, apartment], area of home tested [e.g. basement, first floor], and geologic types).Results: There were 399,163 radon tests in 232,726 homes from 2006-2013. The median radon level was 3.3piC/L (interquartile range, 1.5 to 7.4) and 47% of homes had at least one radon reading over the EPA action level. On average, each home had 1.7 readings. There were 6973 Marcellus wells drilled in 39 of the state’s 67 counties over the study period, with 97% drilled after 2008. We will estimate exposure by the proximity of the closest drilled and stimulated well at the time of radon measurement and by an inverse- squared gravity model that will take into account all drilled and stimulated wells in the study area. Multilevel models will be used to estimate associations between the timing of Marcellus shale drilling and fracturing and concurrent indoor home radon level measurements.Conclusions: This research will inform upon potential radiation exposures due to hydraulic fracturing.

Sick building syndrome, perceived odors, sensation of air dryness and indoor environment in Urumqi, China

In order to evaluate the perceived home indoor air quality, as well as sick building syndrome (SBS) in areas with typical arid continental climate such as Urumqi, northwest of China, a cross-sectional study including 4,260 parents of children (1–8 years) was performed by a questionnaire survey in winter season in 2011. The sensation of air dryness (weekly/sometimes) in the last 3 months had the highest proportion of reports by more than half of the parents (57.4 %), followed by perceived stuffy odor (40.6 %), unpleasant odor (27.0 %), tobacco smoke odor (25.5 %), sensation of humid air (17.9 %), pungent odor (11.7 %) and moldy odor (9.5 %), respectively. The prevalence of SBS symptoms in the same time period was 40.4 % for general symptom, 47.7 % for mucosal symptom and 9.5 % for skin symptom, respectively. There were significant associations between perceived odors/sensation of air dryness and SBS symptoms (ORs range 1.39–1.42). Additionally, the OR values increased with an increase of the OH score (P < 0.05). Dampness, the presence of cockroaches and mosquitoes/flies, prenatal exposure to decoration and close to traffic were all risk factors of SBS symptoms. However, frequently putting bedding to sunshine was potentially a protective factor. In conclusion, adults’ perceptions of odors and sensation of air dryness are related to SBS symptoms and home environmental factors in Urumqi, China.