Long-term Continuous Monitoring Research Articles

Sustainable farming practices enhance bacterial diversity and nutrient levels in sorghum rhizosphere soil

This research employs metagenomic analysis to explore bacterial diversity in sorghum rhizosphere soil in response to various sustainable farming practices and their impact on soil fertility. The field experiment with cotton-sorghum cropping system was conducted since 2020 and from 3rd cycle sorghum experiment, the soils were collected and subjected to metagenomics and nutrients availability analysis. We evaluated the impact of different farming approaches: Natural Farming (NF), Organic Farming (OF), integrated crop management (ICM), along with a control (No input farming). The results underscores the prevalence of Proteobacteria phylum across all farming practices, while Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes showed increased presence due to altered soil management and nutrient availability changes. Genus-level analysis revealed shifts in dominant genera, including Acinetobacter, Sphingomonas, Bacillus, and Candidatus nitrososphaera, across different farming practices. Post-harvest soil analysis indicated varied nutrient levels, with ICM showing enhanced nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium availability. ICM, utilizing a balanced mix of organic and inorganic fertilizers, promoted sorghum growth, yielding higher plant height and total dry matter compared to OF and NF, which performed similarly. The study emphasizes the efficacy of a balanced approach like ICM for improving crop production and soil nutrient availability. However, all diversified farming practices exhibited high soil biological diversity compared to the control, highlighting the necessity for continuous long-term soil monitoring across different farming practices to stabilize soil microbiomes, ensure nutrient availability, and support sustainable crop production.

Remote Gait Analysis Using Ultra-Wideband Radar Technology Based on Joint Range-Doppler-Time Representation.

In recent years, radar technology has been extensively utilized in contactless human behavior monitoring systems. The unique capabilities of ultra-wideband (UWB) radars compared to conventional radar technologies, due to time-of-flight measurements, present new untapped opportunities for in-depth monitoring of human movement during overground locomotion. This study aims to investigate the deployability of UWB radars in accurately capturing the gait patterns of healthy individuals with no known walking impairments. A novel algorithm was developed that can extract ten clinical spatiotemporal gait features using the Doppler information captured from three monostatic UWB radar sensors during a 6-meter walking task. Key gait events are detected from lower-extremity movements based on the joint range-Doppler-time representation of recorded radar data. The estimated gait parameters were validated against a gold-standard optical motion tracking system using 12 healthy volunteers. On average, nine gait parameters can be consistently estimated with 90-98% accuracy, while capturing 94.5% of participants' gait variability and 90.8% of inter-limb symmetry. Correlation and Bland-Altman analysis revealed a strong correlation between radar-based parameters and the ground-truth values, with average discrepancies consistently close to 0. Results prove that radar sensing can provide accurate biomarkers to supplement clinical human gait analysis, with quality similar to gold standard assessment. Radars can potentially allow a transition from expensive and cumbersome lab-based gait analysis tools toward a completely unobtrusive and affordable solution for in-home deployment, enabling continuous long-term monitoring of individuals for research and healthcare applications.

A light-addressable potentiometric sensor-based extracellular calcium dynamic monitoring and imaging platform for cellular calcium channel drug evaluation

Disruption and dysregulation of cellular calcium channel function can lead to diseases such as ischemic stroke, heart failure, and arrhythmias. Corresponding calcium channel drugs typically require preliminary efficacy evaluations using in vitro models such as cells and simulated tissues before clinical testing. However, traditional detection and evaluation methods often encounter challenges in long-term continuous monitoring and lack calcium specificity. In this study, a dynamic monitoring system based on ion-sensitive membranes for light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) was developed to meet the demand for monitoring changes in extracellular calcium ion (Ca2+) concentration in live cells. The effects of Ca2+ channel agonists and blockers on 2D and 3D HL-1 cells were investigated, with changes in extracellular Ca2+ concentration reflecting cellular calcium metabolism, facilitating drug evaluation. Additionally, calcium imaging technology with optical addressing capability complemented the LAPS system's ability to perceive 3D cell morphology, enhancing its drug evaluation capabilities. This work provides a novel, label-free, specific, and stable technique for monitoring cellular calcium metabolism. It achieves both continuous monitoring at single points and custom sensing area calcium imaging, holding significant implications for drug screening and disease treatment related to human calcium homeostasis.

Global Perspectives on Mycotoxin Reference Materials (Part I): Insights from Multi-Supplier Comparison Study Including Aflatoxin B1, Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone.

We conducted a comprehensive examination of liquid mycotoxin reference standards. A total of 30 different standards were tested, each containing 10 samples of three distinct substances: Aflatoxin B1, Deoxynivalenol, and Zearalenone. The standards were sourced from 10 different global market leading manufacturers. To facilitate comparison, all the standard sets were adjusted to the same concentration level. The standards were analyzed using the techniques LC-MS/MS, HPLC-DAD, and LC-HRMS to assess their quality attributes. Regarding the validation of the reference values, it was observed that 30% of the suppliers provided reference standards that were either below the lower acceptance limit or above the higher acceptance limit, confirmed by both the LC-MS/MS and HPLC-DAD methods. Furthermore, a total of 12 impurities were found in the DON standards, 10 in the AFB1 standards, and 8 in the ZON standards, distributed across all the suppliers. Therefore, this study suggests relevant adjustments to the ISO 17034 standard, proposing that the purity of a raw material should be uniformly based on q-NMR analysis, as most manufacturers state the purity of their certificates is determined using HPLC-UV or LC-MS/MS. Liquid standards with a shelf life of ≤1 year should not exceed an uncertainty of 3%. Standards that have a longer shelf life should not have more than 5% uncertainty. This study also emphasizes the importance of stability. The standards should undergo continuous long-term monitoring; otherwise, products may exhibit a target value of only 80%, as seen in one instance. It is also recommended to include proof of HPLC and LC-MS/MS analyses on the certificate of each released batch of a final product.

Revisiting WASP-19b’s Orbital Evolution: New TESS Data and Apsidal Precession Analysis

Due to the ongoing debate of whether WASP19b is experiencing orbital decay or apsidal precession, I reexamine the orbital evolution of the hot Jupiter WASP-19b using new TESS data from sectors 09, 36, 62, and 63. My comprehensive analysis of transit and occultation timing variations compares models of constant period, orbital decay, and apsidal precession. Results show no significant preference between orbital decay and apsidal precession models. I find a period change rate of −1.40 ± 0.54 ms yr−1, slower than some previous studies but consistent with others. My apsidal precession analysis yields an eccentricity of 0.00178 and a precession rate of 0.036 deg day−1, differing from recent literature. These findings underscore the complexity of WASP-19b’s orbital dynamics and the need for continued long-term monitoring.

Decadal variation and temporal stability of the macrobenthic community in the Bohai Sea, China

Biodiversity in the Bohai Sea is threatened by climate change and human activities. An analysis based on decadal macrobenthic community data was conducted to assess the ecological health. These findings revealed the temporal and spatial variations in species composition and biodiversity, which were primarily influenced by depth, temperature and dissolved oxygen content. The community structure in 2014 exhibited a 70 % dissimilarity compared to other years, and biodiversity was lower in 2014. The dominant species showed a trend towards miniaturization. Abundance-biomass comparison curves indicated that community disturbance improved by implementing various policies. Overall, communities in the Bohai Sea remained stable, except in the Bohai Strait (BH), where synchronous fluctuations with an increasing trend were observed. Enhancing biodiversity and addressing the risks associated with losing single species are essential for maintaining community stability. The community also displayed synchronous tendencies in Laizhou Bay, emphasizing the need for continued long-term monitoring.

Accelerometer-aided millimeter-wave radar interferometry for uninterrupted bridge displacement estimation considering intermittent radar target occlusion

Monitoring bridge displacement is necessary to detect early signs of damage, prevent catastrophic failures, and maintain public confidence in the safety of critical transportation infrastructure. Radar interferometry is attractive for long-term continuous monitoring of bridge displacements, given its resilience to weather and lighting conditions. However, intermittent radar target occlusions caused by moving vehicles beneath bridges pose challenges during extended continuous monitoring periods. In this study, accelerometer-aided millimeter-wave radar interferometry was explored with an explicit consideration of intermittent radar target occlusion. Radar and accelerometer measurements were first recorded over a short period. Multiple good targets were selected among all radar-detected targets, and their direction-converting factors were estimated using short-period measurements. Subsequently, bridge displacement was continuously estimated by overcoming intermittent radar target occlusions. A displacement reconstruction algorithm was proposed for target occlusion periods, and a multitarget-based phase-unwrapping algorithm was proposed to remove the displacement drift caused by radar target occlusion. The proposed technique was experimentally validated through laboratory tests on a 10-meter-long bridge structure and field tests on two different spans of a footbridge. The technique accurately estimated displacements with overall errors below 0.1 mm, allowing it to be widely applied to bridges with millimeter-scale displacements.

High-Strength, Antiswelling Directional Layered PVA/MXene Hydrogel for Wearable Devices and Underwater Sensing.

Hydrogel sensors are widely utilized in soft robotics and tissue engineering due to their excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, in high-water environments, traditional hydrogels can experience significant swelling, leading to decreased mechanical and electrical performance, potentially losing shape, and sensing capabilities. This study addresses these challenges by leveraging the Hofmeister effect, coupled with directional freezing and salting-out techniques, to develop a layered, high-strength, tough, and antiswelling PVA/MXene hydrogel. In particular, the salting-out process enhances the self-entanglement of PVA, resulting in an S-PM hydrogel with a tensile strength of up to 2.87MPa. Furthermore, the S-PM hydrogel retains its structure and strength after 7 d of swelling, with only a 6% change in resistance. Importantly, its sensing performance is improved postswelling, a capability rarely achievable in traditional hydrogels. Moreover, the S-PM hydrogel demonstrates faster response times and more stable resistance change rates in underwater tests, making it crucial for long-term continuous monitoring in challenging aquatic environments, ensuring sustained operation and monitoring.

Role of new generation implantable loop recorders in managing undiagnosed pediatric cardiac symptoms

Pediatric cardiac symptoms such as palpitations, syncope, or seizure-like episodes pose diagnostic challenges for general pediatricians. These symptoms, though often benign, may reveal underlying arrhythmias or inherited cardiac conditions (ICCs), affecting the quality of life and limiting activity participation. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness and safety of implantable loop recorders (ILRs) in diagnosing and managing arrhythmias in pediatric patients. A retrospective cohort study conducted over an 8-year period from January 2016 to December 2023 in a single pediatric cardiology center. A cohort of 155 pediatric patients (median age 11.4 years) who underwent ILR implantation were selected based on symptoms such as palpitations, chest pain, or syncope, and those with previously recorded arrhythmias or high-risk ICCs. The primary outcomes were the diagnostic yield of ILRs for arrhythmias and subsequent changes in patient management. Diagnostic yield was defined as the detection of relevant arrhythmias, such as pauses of 3 s or longer, high-degree AV block, sinus node dysfunction, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, or inappropriate sinus tachycardia. The median follow-up period was 2.3 years (845 days). Diagnostic arrhythmias were recorded in 60% of patients with symptom-activated transmissions and 80% of device-activated transmissions. Sinus pauses (37.5%) and VT (30%) were the most common arrhythmias detected. In patients with syncope (n = 76), 30% had relevant arrhythmias. In the palpitations group (n = 20), 35% had relevant arrhythmias. Approximately 80% of patients with ILR-diagnosed arrhythmias underwent targeted management, including medication changes and additional procedures. No significant complications were observed; minor complications occurred in 2.5% of patients.Conclusions: New generation ILRs are effective and safe for diagnosing and managing pediatric arrhythmias, providing significant reassurance to patients and families. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of ILRs on quality of life and sports participation in high-risk young patients.What is Known:• Pediatric Cardiac Symptoms: Symptoms like palpitations, syncope, and seizure-like episodes in pediatric patients pose significant diagnostic challenges.• Diagnostic Tools: Traditional diagnostic tools such as ECG, Holter monitors, and external loop recorders often have low diagnostic yields due to the sporadic nature of symptoms.• Implantable Loop Recorders (ILRs): ILRs have been shown to improve the diagnostic yield for arrhythmias in adults and provide long-term rhythm monitoring.What is New:• Effectiveness in Pediatrics: This study demonstrates that new generation ILRs significantly enhance the diagnostic yield for arrhythmias in pediatric patients with undiagnosed cardiac symptoms.• Safety and Efficacy: The study confirms that ILRs are both safe and effective in the pediatric population, with minimal complications and high diagnostic accuracy.• Targeted Management: Findings show that ILR-diagnosed arrhythmias lead to targeted management changes in approximately 80% of cases, including medication adjustments and additional procedures.• Long-term Monitoring: ILRs provide continuous long-term monitoring, offering reassurance to patients and families, and potentially improving quality of life and participation in activities for high-risk young patients.

Water Quality Monitoring: All-Solid-State 3D-Printed Sensors for Phosphate Detection in River Water

INTRODUCTION High phosphate ( PO4 3- or P) levels in surface water cause eutrophication, which negatively impacts aquatic life and causes an economic loss of ~$2.2 billion per year. Currently, no low-cost sensors exist for long-term continuous monitoring of phosphate in water. Existing meters (HANNA colorimeter, and HORIBA) can detect P-levels but can neither perform continuous monitoring nor detect low concentrations. A paper-based colorimeter sensor for phosphate detection was demonstrated [1], however, this sensor takes a longer time to test. A Fabry−Perot phosphate sensor was introduced [2], but it is not a field-deployable sensor. Although many sensors have been developed to detect P-level [3 - 5], these sensors cannot detect a low concentration of P-level. This is an important concern as river water has a P-level below 1 ppm. As such, the applicability of existing devices in practical scenarios is not suitable for reliable measurement.Thus, we are motivated to develop lithography-free, low-cost, and solid-state 3D-printed sensors for the ultra-sensitive detection of phosphate in river water. Our 3D-printed sensors are innovative compared to traditional fabrication techniques in the literature. We have characterized, calibrated, validated, and analyzed river samples and the results are superior to existing state-of-the-art P-sensors. Our 3D-printed P sensors showed an analytical sensitivity of 0.001 ppm of PO4 3- in river water within a detection range of 0 – 10 ppm and a detection time not exceeding 30 seconds. DEVICE FABRICATION First, we made a 3D design (CAD model) of the sensor (Fig. 1a). The sensor has one working electrode (WE) and a reference electrode (RE) having diameters of 8 and 3 mm, respectively. The CAD model was then exported to the 3D printer software, and the software was programmed based on the desired material and parameters. Fig.1b illustrates the 3D printing setup. The material used for the printing was high-temperature resin (an epoxy polymer). The resulting sensor structure was removed from the printing build platform, washed in an isopropyl alcohol bath, and dried. The sensor was then cured by treating it with UV light at 80 °C. A 100 nm-thick layer of gold (Au) was then coated on the sensor with a Kapton shadow mask and using an electron-beam evaporator. Then the RE was coated with an Ag/AgCl ink and dried at 80 °C for 2 hours. Fig.1d depicts the fabricated sensor with its Au electrode upon which poly(3-octylthiophene) (POT) and phosphate ion-selective membrane (p-ISM) were prepared and drop-coated on the WE in layers. Fig.1c summarizes the detection principle for phosphate ion exchange at different electrode layers. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Fig.1e shows the sensor characterization based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The charge transfer resistance (RCT) of the EIS curve was evaluated using its semicircle diameter. The RCT observed for the Au, POT/Au, and ISM/POT/Au electrodes were 263.67, 652.64, and 893.13 Ω, respectively. The p-ISM coating suppressed the electrochemical current in the ISM/POT/Au electrode due to the negatively charged buffer solution containing ferro/ferricyanide. Further, the 3D-printed sensor was calibrated using known standard solutions and the potential between the WE and RE decreased while we increased the phosphate concentration (Fig.1f – g). The sensor showed a slope of 37.4 mV/dec and an analytical sensitivity of 0.001 ppm. We believe that the high sensitivity of our sensor is due to the large surface area of our 3D-printed sensor structure which has wrinkled polymer surfaces that enhance more PO4 3- ion exchange. Our sensor also showed an excellent selectivity (Fig.1h) with various interfering ions.Real water samples were collected from five locations at the Rappahannock River in eastern Virginia, USA. Fig.1i shows the open circuit potentiometry (OCP) for all five river water samples. Fig.1j shows the comparison between our sensor readings and those of a commercial phosphate meter (purchased from Hanna Instruments Inc.). Here, we observed a close relation between the two readings while our sensor showed a higher sensitivity, suggesting the usefulness of our sensor in practical scenarios. Our sensor achieved excellent detection of low concentrations of P-levels in river water. In the future, our 3D-printed sensors will be deployed into river water for continuous monitoring of the P-levels in the Rappahannock River. REFERENCES [1] V. Choudhary and L. Philip, Microchemical Journal, 2021,171, p. 106809.[2] J. Zhu et al., ACS Sens, 2020, 5:5, pp. 1381–1388.[3] R. V Manurung, et al., IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng, 2019, 620:1, p. 012093.[4] M. Sarwar, J. Leichner, G. M. Naja, and C.-Z. Li, Microsyst Nanoeng, 2019, 5:1, p. 56.[5] M. M. Grand et al., Front. Mar. Sci., 2017, 4:255, doi: 10.3389/fmars.2017.00255. Figure 1

Long-Term Monitoring of Macroinvertebrate Community Assemblages and Species Composition on the Coast of Dokdo, East Sea of Korea

Dokdo Island’s diverse marine ecosystem requires long-term monitoring to understand the effects of rapid environmental changes, such as global warming, on macrobenthos species and communities. Current studies are often short-term and limited, highlighting the need for extended research to predict future changes to ecosystems. This study analyzed the environmental variables influencing macrobenthos through long-term monitoring. In total, 511 species (spp./23.4 m2) were identified with an abundance of 1709.9 individuals/m2 and a diversity of 2.9. Since 2020, there has been a decline in both the number of species and diversity, attributed to changes in sediment composition, particularly an increase in gravel and sand. The dominant species include the crustacean Abludomelita denticulata (17.6%), the polychaete Haplosyllis spongiphila (6.8%), the bivalve Glycymeris munda (5.6%), the polychaete Opisthodonta uraga (5.3%), and the bivalve Limatula japonica (3.8%). The macrobenthos community differs each year, as the dominant species G. munda has decreased in abundance since 2022 and L. japonica since 2021. Depth and gravel sediment strongly correlated with community variation. Site-specific analysis also showed significant differences, with depth, bottom temperature, and sediment composition as the influencing factors. These species thrive in cold water but their abundance declines with an increase in temperature. Continuous long-term monitoring is essential to understand and protect the Dokdo ecosystem amid rapid environmental changes. Long-term monitoring studies have revealed more species than have short-term studies, showing annual and site-specific environmental changes, including sediment erosion and bottom temperature increases. These changes have affected macrobenthos diversity, abundance, and community composition, necessitating ongoing research to determine the persistence of these trends and to protect the ecosystem.

Data Processing of Bridge IoT Monitoring Based on Task Scheduling of Cloud Service Listening Signal

For the long-term continuous monitoring of bridge-related indicators, it is necessary to arrange relatively perfect acquisition equipment on the bridge, which can feedback various information parameters of the bridge. However, there are many parameters to feedback the bridge information, which leads to the complex and overstaffed structure of the monitoring system. Furthermore, the huge amount of data collected and the complex calculation process also increase the difficulty of the operation of the monitoring system. In this regard, we should choose more scientific and reasonable indicators, lightweight data structure, stable data transmission, and analysis programs to improve the accuracy of continuous monitoring. To establish a stable and efficient bridge monitoring system, we use the distance coefficient-effective independent algorithm to optimize. Then, we calculate the relevant information of the strain environment with the help of a neural network model, strengthen the training of deep learning through the YOLOv5s model, and improve the task scheduling strategy of attention concentration. Through that, we solve the problem of embedded systems with relatively low computing power. Different weights are assigned to each fused feature map, and the nodes at the highest level and the lowest level are deleted so that a concise and efficient lightweight network model is constructed. Multiple iterations are performed to achieve deeper feature fusion. Therefore, the complexity of the model is effectively reduced, and the monitoring performance can be effectively improved. Finally, through the experimental analysis, it is proved that compared with the traditional fusion model, the number of parameters of the improved fusion network structure in bridge health monitoring is reduced by 7.37%. The detection speed is increased by 18.2%. The amount of computation is reduced by 42.92%, and the average detection accuracy is required to reach 95.33%. It is verified that the proposed method can effectively improve the accuracy and risk control ability of the detection data by learning from the samples with small labels. It also has great practical significance and market value for the design and optimization of the bridge health monitoring system, which is suitable for the monitoring data of large-scale construction projects.

Sanitary Problems and Trace Metals Bioaccumulation during Drip Irrigation with Treated Wastewater in Okra

Water scarcity, mainly in arid and semi-arid zones, has encouraged efforts to adopt non-conventional waters for food production and agricultural development. Treated Wastewater (TWW) is one of the most continuously produced, accessible, and inexpensive water resources, with great potential for use in irrigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the combined effect of drip irrigation methods (surface vs. subsurface at 15 cm depth) and water quality (borehole water vs. treated wastewater) on soil water content, morphological and physiological traits, and nutrient content in the plant and fruit of okra grown in the Nabeul region of north-west Tunisia, a semi-arid zone. The results indicated that Okra yield was significantly affected by water quality rather than irrigation technique. Irrigation with TWW significantly increased the Okra plant height; leaf number; total fruit/m²; final yield and leaf area compared with borehole water. Nutrient levels (Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn) in Okra plant parts (root, stem, leaf, and fruit) were also significantly increased with TWW in subsurface drip irrigation. Apart from these increased parameters were related to better soil moisture and increased available nutrients in the root zone. In terms of bioaccumulation, apart from Ni, the elements analyzed (Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Co, Cd) in plant and fruits showed higher values in treated wastewater than in borehole water with fruit values exceeding the toxicity threshold for Cd and Pb. Furthermore, the increase in the content of trace metal elements analyzed in the fruit following irrigation with TWW did not affect the human Health Risk Index (HRI), which remained below 1 for all treatments. Furthermore, with regard to bacterial and fungal contamination of fruit, we note that although these parameters are significantly higher in Irrigation with TWW, they remain below the toxicity thresholds. Thus, the long-term effect and continuous monitoring of the water and fruit quality in wastewater-irrigated areas to take remedial actions for sustainable agriculture development and protect ecosystems are recommended.

Predicting the Dynamic Behaviour of a Concrete Dam using Statistical and Machine Learning Models

Operational Modal Analysis is a reliable methodology for the assessment of civil engineering structures, allowing for the accurate definition of their dynamic behavior. Additionally, since it does not require the use of artificial excitation, it becomes a cost-effective choice for the performance of singular tests, as well as a consistent option for the long-term continuous monitoring of structures. Nevertheless, the modal characteristics of structures are affected by environmental and operational conditions, concealing the variations that could emerge due to abnormal behavior. With respect to concrete dams, factors such as temperature and the level of water in the reservoir exert a pronounced influence in the evolution of natural frequencies, increasing data variability and camouflaging the behavior that would be discerned under stable conditions. In this context, the current study seeks to examine the ability of statistical and machine learning tools to mitigate the effects of external conditions on the modal properties of concrete dams, specifically natural frequencies. To achieve this objective, the efficiency of methods incorporating measurements of variables impacting the structure, such as Multiple Linear Regressions and Neural Networks, is compared to that of tools not needing these inputs, as is the case of Principal Components Analysis and the Minimum Mean Square Error estimator. Experimental data obtained during the continuous dynamic monitoring of a concrete dam in Portugal is used as a case study.

Wearable ion-selective sensors with rapid conditioning and extended stability achieved through modulation of water and ion transport

Solid-contact (SC) ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) are often employed in wearables for electrolytes detection owing to their simplicity and ease of miniaturization. However, to mitigate their inherently unstable open circuit potential signal, ISEs require long hours of conditioning and frequent calibration prior to and during operation, limiting their practicality in wearable applications. Inspired by strategies to address water crossover and flooding in polyelectrolyte fuel cells, we demonstrated a SCISE with minimal conditioning time and long-term stability by modulating the rate-limiting step between mass transfer of water and hydrated ions and redox kinetics in the conducting polymer (CP). Our strategy comprised a wearable ISE with a superhydrophobic CP, PEDOT:TFPB, which reduced water and ion fluxes within the ISE, resulting in a stable and less-swollen CP and diminished water layer formation while maintaining CP's high capacitance. Our PEDOT:TFPB based ISEs functioned after a short conditioning time of 30 min and exhibited extended stability with a reduced signal deviation of only 0.16 % per hour (0.02 mV h−1) during 48 h of continuous measurement. Through systematic studies, we showed that ISE performance could be further tuned by tailoring the thickness of the ion-selective membrane as well as the hydrophobicity and polymerization charges of the CP. Without the need for recurrent calibration, our ISEs sustain high accuracy and prolonged stability upon integration into a wearable format for on-body perspiration analysis. Our strategy allows wearable ion-selective sensors with minimal maintenance at the user-end for long-term continuous monitoring, unveiling their potential in sports, healthcare, and diagnosis fields.

Assessing Patterns of CGM use and Metrics of Glycemic Control in T1D and T2D Patients in the Veterans Healthcare System: Integrating CGM Device Data with EHR Data.

To integrate long-term daily continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device data with electronic health records (EHR) for type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System to assess real-world patterns of CGM use and the reliability of EHR-based CGM information. This observational study used Dexcom CGM device data linked with EHR (from 2015-2020) for a large national cohort of diabetes patients. We tracked the initiation and consistency of CGM use, assessed concordance of CGM use and measures of glucose control between CGM device data and EHR records, and examined results by age, ethnicity, and diabetes type. The time from pharmacy release of CGM to patients to initiation of uploading CGM data to Dexcom servers averaged three weeks but demonstrated wide variation among individuals; importantly, this delay decreased markedly over the later years. The average daily wear time of CGM exceeded 22 hours over nearly three years of follow-up. Patterns of CGM use were generally consistent across age, race/ethnicity groups and diabetes type. There was strong concordance between EHR-based estimates of CGM use and Dexcom CGM wear time and between estimates of glucose control from both sources. The study demonstrates our ability to reliably integrate CGM devices and EHR data to provide valuable insights into CGM use patterns. The results indicate in the real-world environment that CGM is worn consistently over many years for both type 1 and type 2 patients within the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System and is similar across major race/ethnicity and age groups.

Treefrog-Inspired Flexible Electrode with High Permeability, Stable Adhesion, and Robust Durability.

Long-term continuous monitoring (LTCM) of physiological electrical signals is an effective means for detecting several cardiovascular diseases. However, the integrated challenges of stable adhesion, low impedance, and robust durability under different skin conditions significantly hinder the application of flexible electrodes in LTCM. This paper proposes a structured electrode inspired by the treefrog web, comprising dispersed pillars at the bottom and asymmetric cone holes at the top. Attachment structures with a dispersed pillar improve the contact stability (adhesion increases 2.79/13.16 times in dry/wet conditions compared to an electrode without structure). Improved permeable duct structure provides high permeability (12 times compared to cotton). Due to high adhesion and permeability, the electrode's durability is 40 times larger than commercial Ag/AgCl electrodes. The treefrog web-like electrode has great advantages in permeability, adhesion, and durability, resulting in prospects for application in physiological electrical signal detection and a new design idea for LTCM wearable dry electrodes.

Geomorphological processes following the construction of an offshore artificial island in the radial sand ridges of the South Yellow Sea

Offshore artificial islands represent a novel way to develop and utilize marine space resources. Previous research has focused on predicting erosion and deposition distributions following the islands construction, utilizing laboratory experiments and numerical simulations. However, the absence of long-term continuous monitoring has hindered systematic studies on the geomorphological processes of these islands. A 20-years of underwater terrain monitoring scheme was conducted before and after construction of the Rudong Artificial Island in Jiangsu Province, China. The results were combined with on-site observations of tidal currents, suspended sediment concentrations, and surficial sediment to investigate the evolution of the water channel–sand ridge system and the development process of local scour around the artificial island. The results indicated that after the construction of the artificial island, its surrounding water channels showed an overall evolution trend of the north channel shifting towards the north, the middle channel widening and moving south, and the south channel extending westward and southward. Scour has been observed at the four corners of the artificial island, with the peak depths of 7.3 m, 5.6 m, 13.7 m, and 12.2 m at the southwest, northwest, northeast, and southeast corners respectively. The scour in the southwest and northwest corners reached an equilibrium within five years. However, in the southeast corner, continuous erosion of the shoal on the southeast side of the artificial island enhanced the local hydrodynamic force, leading to further scour development. The large-scale scour in the northeast corner was mainly caused by changes in the local flow field following the construction of water intake pipelines and their protection projects. These geomorphological changes are the joint results of the natural evolution of the radial sand ridges and local erosion and deposition from engineering construction. Currently, the sandbanks surrounding the island are still undergoing dynamic evolution following engineering construction, and local scour around the island has not yet reached equilibrium.

Clinical comparison of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) or silver-modified atraumatic restorative technique (SMART) on hypomineralised permanent molars with initial carious lesions: 3-year results of a prospective, randomised trial

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of utilizing silver diamine fluoride + potassium iodide (SDF + KI) treatment and Silver-Modified Atraumatic Restorative Technique (SMART/SDF + KI + Glass Ionomer Cement) over a three-year period on hypomineralised permanent molars with initial carious lesions. Methods112 hypomineralised permanent molars with ICDAS 1 or 2 lesions were selected in 48 children. The teeth were randomized into SDF + KI and SMART (SDF + KI + GIC) groups (n = 56 teeth/group) in a split-mouth design. Hypersensitivity and caries development were evaluated in both groups. Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale (SCASS) was used for evaluation of hypersensitivity, and the modified USPHS criteria were utilised for clinical assessments of SMART sealants at 1,6,12,18,24 and 36 months. Fisher's Exact test, Kaplan-Meier Survival Curves, Log-rank test, Mann Whitney U test, and Friedman test was performed for the statistical analysis. ResultsThe caries preventive effect was 100 %, 67.9 % and 65.4 % for SDF + KI-treated teeth; and 100 %, 97.6 % and 94.7 % for SMART(SDF + KI + GIC)-treated teeth at 12, 24 and 36 months, respectively. The mean survival probabilities for caries-preventive effect were significantly lower in SDF + KI-treated teeth (31.01 months) than SMART-treated teeth (35.61 months), (p < 0.001). Twenty-six molars with initial hypersensitivity due to hypomineralization demonstrated a significant reduction at all evaluation periods compared to baseline SCASS scores (p < 0.001). Additionally, there was no significant difference in hypersensitivity scores between the groups during the re-call periods, and none of the teeth exhibited hypersensitivity at the 18-month and beyond evaluations. ConclusionsDuring the three-year assessment, both groups demonstrated effectiveness in reducing sensitivity in hypomineralised molars. However, SMART (SDF + KI + GIC) sealants offered better protection against tooth decay over time, despite experiencing gradual retention loss. Clinical significanceBoth SMART (SDF + KI + GIC) sealants and SDF + KI proved effective in alleviating hypersensitivity in hypomineralised molars for up to three years. SMART (SDF + KI + GIC) sealants showed greater caries-preventive effect compared to SDF + KI. However, continuous long-term monitoring is crucial due to the gradual decline in retention of SMART (SDF + KI + GIC) sealants. ClinicalTrials registration numberNCT03862014.

Continuing evaluation of atrial fibrillation detection after cryptogenic stroke: one-year findings from a multi-center study with confirm Rx ICM

Abstract Background The detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) after a cryptogenic stroke (CS) carries crucial therapeutic implications. While clinical trials have meticulously explored the incidence of AF in CS patients, real-world data on this topic remain relatively sparse. In this study, we aimed to assess the incidence of AF among patients with cryptogenic stroke, who underwent the implantation of an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM). The abstract reports the interim results from the CS sub-study of the Smart Registry. Methods A prospective, single-arm, multi-center registry was conducted to identify AF in patients with cryptogenic stroke using the Confirm R ICM. Inclusion criteria comprised participants aged 40 years or older who had experienced cryptogenic strokes within a 90-day window. Prior to enrollment, comprehensive diagnostic assessments were performed to meticulously rule out all potential sources of embolism, in accordance with the minimal standards of the American and European Guidelines. At each follow-up visit, expert electrophysiologists reviewed and adjudicated ICM detected AF episodes. The primary endpoint was the cumulative incidence of true device-detected AF (lasting more than 30 seconds) at 6 months. Kaplan-Meier curves were employed to assess the cumulative incidence of true device-detected AF through 12 months. Results In our study, 117 patients were enrolled across 19 global sites from September 2021 to August 31, 2023. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a 21.3% probability (confidence interval (CI): 14.5%, 30.7%) of true AF episodes lasting more than 30 seconds at 6 months, increasing to 31.0% (CI: 22.0%, 42.5%) at 12 months. Similar results were observed in episodes lasting over 120 seconds at both 6 months (20.7%) and 12 months (30.5%). In average, 14.4 true AF episodes per patient were detected per year. The median time from implantation to AF detection (&amp;gt; 30 seconds) was 31.5 days (interquartile range, 7 to 191). Conclusion Our ongoing study illustrates the effectiveness of the Confirm Rx ICM in detecting atrial fibrillation after cryptogenic stroke. These results confirm the diagnostics value of long-term continuous AF monitoring in cryptogenic stroke patients.