Measurement Sites Research Articles

TAMU TRACER: Targeted Mobile Measurements to Isolate the Impacts of Aerosols and Meteorology on Deep Convection

Abstract Difficulty in using observations to isolate the impacts of aerosols from meteorology on deep convection often stems from the inability to resolve the spatiotemporal variations in the environment serving as the storm’s inflow region. During the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Tracking Aerosol Convection interactions Experiment (TRACER) in June–September 2022, a Texas A&M University (TAMU) team conducted a mobile field campaign to characterize the meteorological and aerosol variability in air masses that serve as inflow to convection across the ubiquitous mesoscale boundaries associated with the sea and bay breezes in the Houston, Texas, region. These boundaries propagate inland over the fixed DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) sites. However, convection occurs on either or both the continental or maritime sides or along the boundary. The maritime and continental air masses serving as convection inflow may be quite distinct, with different meteorological and aerosol characteristics that fixed-site measurements cannot simultaneously sample. Thus, a primary objective of TAMU TRACER was to provide mobile measurements similar to those at the fixed sites, but in the opposite air mass across these moving mesoscale boundaries. TAMU TRACER collected radiosonde, lidar, aerosol, cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), and ice nucleating particle (INP) measurements on 29 enhanced operations days covering a variety of maritime, continental, outflow, and prefrontal air masses. This paper summarizes the TAMU TRACER deployment and measurement strategy, instruments, and available datasets and provides sample cases highlighting differences between these mobile measurements and those made at the ARM sites. We also highlight the exceptional TAMU TRACER undergraduate student participation in high-impact learning activities through forecasting and field deployment opportunities.

A machine learning approach for estimating snow depth across the European Alps from Sentinel-1 imagery

Seasonal snow plays a crucial role in society and understanding trends in snow depth and mass is essential for making informed decisions about water resources and adaptation to climate change. However, quantifying snow depth in remote, mountainous areas with complex topography remains a significant challenge. The increasing availability of high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations from active microwave satellites has prompted opportunistic use of the data to retrieve snow depth remotely across large spatial and frequent temporal scales and at a high spatial resolution. Nevertheless, these novel SAR-based snow depth retrieval methods face their own set of limitations, including challenges for shallow snowpacks, high vegetation cover, and wet snow conditions. In response, here we introduce a machine learning approach to enhance SAR-based snow depth estimation over the European Alps. By integrating Sentinel-1 SAR imagery, optical snow cover observations, and topographic, forest cover and snow class information, our machine learning retrieval method more accurately estimates snow depth at independent in-situ measurement sites than current methods. Further, our method provides estimates at 100 m horizontal resolution and is capable of better capturing local-scale topography-driven snow depth variability. Through detailed feature importance analysis, we identify optimal conditions for SAR data utilization, thereby providing insight into future use of C-band SAR for snow depth retrieval.

Sensor-Head Distance and Signal Strength in Whole-Head Magnetoencephalography: Report of 996 Patients With Epilepsy.

Although the sensor-to-head distance is theoretically known to affect the signal strength in magnetoencephalography (MEG), these values have not been reported for a whole-head MEG system in a large population. We measured the distance and signal strength in 996 patients with epilepsy. The MEG sensor array consisted of 102 measurement sites, each of which had two gradiometers and one magnetometer. The sensor-head distance was defined as the minimum distance between each site and a set of digitized scalp points. For the signal strength, we calculated the root-mean-square of the signal values in each sensor over a recording of 4 minutes. For analyses at the individual and sensor levels, these values were averaged over the sensors and patients, respectively. We evaluated the correlation between distance and signal strength at both individual and sensor levels. At the sensor level, we investigated regional differences in these measures. The individual-level analysis showed only a weak negative correlation between the sensor-head distance and the signal strength. The sensor-level analysis demonstrated a considerably negative correlation for both gradiometers and magnetometers. The sensor-head distances showed no significant differences between the regions, whereas the signal strength was higher in the temporal and occipital sensors than in the frontal and parietal sensors. Sensor-head distance was not a definitive factor for determining the magnitude of MEG signals in individuals. Yet, the distance is important for the signal strength at a sensor level. Regional differences in signal strength may need to be considered in the analysis and interpretation of MEG.

Advanced lung imaging with photon-counting detectors: Insights from thermoluminescence dosimetry

Rationale and ObjectivesThis study investigates the dose burden of photon-counting detector (PCD) lung CT with ultra-high-resolution (UHR) and standard mode using organ-based tube current modulation (OBTCM). Materials and MethodsAn anthropomorphic Alderson-Rando phantom was scanned in UHR and standard mode with and without OBTCM on three dose levels (IQ 5, 20, 50). Effective radiation dose was determined by thermoluminescent dosimetry in 13 measurement sites and compared with the calculated effective dose derived from the dose-length product. Image quality was evaluated subjectively by six radiologists using an equidistant 7-point scale and objectively by means of modulation transfer function analysis. ResultsMeasured effective radiation exposure was lower in UHR and OBTCM studies than in standard mode (IQ 5: 0.34–0.36, IQ 20: 1.57–1.70, IQ 50: 3.76–3.99 mSv). Compared with the “calculated effective dose”, the radiation exposure measured with thermoluminescence dosimetry was 131–170% higher. Noise in UHR mode was rated lower than in standard (all p≤0.042) and OBTCM images (all p≤0.028) for all dose levels, while image sharpness was deemed highest for UHR protocols (all p≤0.042). The use of OBTCM had no significant effect on either dimension of subjective image quality (all p≥0.999). Modulation transfer function analysis confirmed the highest spatial frequency in UHR datasets (all p≤0.016). ConclusionIn PCD-CT of the lung, full field-of-view UHR imaging entails no dose disadvantage over standard mode despite superior image quality. OBTCM possesses moderate dose saving potential. Thermoluminescence dosimetry yielded considerably higher effective doses than those calculated from dose-length products.

Knowledge and practices of neonatal intensive care unit nurses concerning hypothermia in preterm infants: Adescriptive cross-sectional study.

To investigate the knowledge level and clinical practice of neonatal intensive care unit nurses on the whole process of hypothermia prevention in preterm infants. A polycentric descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 23 hospitals in Shandong province involving 254 neonatal intensive care unit nurses. An evidence-based knowledge and clinical practice questionnaire on hypothermia prevention in preterm infants and a general information questionnaire were used to collect data. SPSS and EXCEL 24.0 database were used for data statistics and analysis. Nearly one-third of nurses were unclear about the definition of mild hypothermia and heat preservation measures during labour management and resuscitation. Knowledge about the correct rate of amniotic fluid evaporation was low. The higher the hospital level and nurses' education level, professional title, work experience, and position, the higher the knowledge level. The clinical practice of nurses differed in terms of body temperature assessment tools, measurement sites, and measurement frequency for premature infants. Nurses in neonatal intensive care units need to apply evidence-based knowledge and carry out practice interventions to ensure preterm infants' safe transition from the delivery room to the neonatal intensive care unit. There have been few studies evaluating neonatal nurses' knowledge and practices with regards to the preventing hypothermia of premature infants from delivery room to neonatal intensive care unit. The study identifies the deficiencies and problems in temperature management that can be attributed to the knowledge level of nurses. The findings will help improve the current curriculum, teaching strategies, and the nurses' knowledge levels, preventing premature hypothermia in infants. This study adhered to the STROBE statement for observational studies and obtained approval (KYLL-2023LW045) from the ethics committee of The Second Hospital of Shandong University. The other 22 third- and second-level hospitals, as our alliance members, recognized our chairperson status within the alliance and were willing to join our academic activities. Mutual responsibility for ethical filing between alliance units. 254 nurses were recruited from 23 tertiary and secondary public hospitals in Shandong province. No public or patient involvement. Members of the research group used the Questionnaire Star platform to prepare the electronic questionnaire, including obtaining informed consent, taking precautions for questionnaire completion, and using the aforementioned measurement tools. The project research team contacted the head nurses of 23 neonatal intensive care units in Shandong Province. After obtaining consent from the head nurses, they were asked to send the requirements and link of the electronic questionnaire to their WeChat management group. The nurses go through each question and make a choice which has two options of 'agree' or 'disagree.' Based on their answers, nurses were evaluated as having 'mastered' or 'not mastered' each item. Each 'mastered' item (correct answer) was given a score of 4; an item 'not mastered' (incorrect answer) was given a score of 0. The total score ranged from 0 to 100.

Influence of deep stratosphere-to-troposphere transport on atmospheric carbon dioxide and methane at the Mt. Cimone WMO/GAW global station (2165 m a.s.l., Italy): A multi-year (2015–2022) investigation

This work was dedicated to provide a first systematic assessment of the role played by deep stratosphere-to-troposphere transport events (denoted as “stratospheric intrusions–SIs”) in influencing the CO2 and CH4 variability at a high-elevation site in Italy (Monte Cimone, CMN, 2165 m a.s.l.). To select SI events, we used a methodology based on the analysis of the temporal variability of in-situ observed stratospheric tracers (O3, CO and RH), modeled PV along 5-day back-trajectories starting at the measurement site, and satellite measurements of total column ozone (TCO). The analysis of two case studies revealed clear fingerprints of the stratospheric air masses on the atmospheric composition at CMN: CO2 and CH4 decreases were observed in winter, while CO2CH4 increased (decreased) in summer. For 2015–2022, 9.8% of the hourly data were selected as influenced by SI events. The systematic analysis of the SI effect on CO2 confirmed differences between vegetative and non-vegetative seasons: during May–September, air masses from the stratosphere were richer in CO2 (+1.2 ± 0.1 ppm, average ±σ/N). On the other hand, during winter, air masses from higher altitudes were characterised by a lower amount of CO2 (−1.5 ± 0.1 ppm). Furthermore, SI events were usually characterised by an overall decrease in CH4 compared to the remaining data throughout the solar year (with average values ranging from −7.6 to −16.1 ppb as a function of the seasonal period). However, based on the analysis of seasonal anomalies of residuals, it looks that SI events did not play a major role in determining the interannual variability of CO2 and CH4 at CMN.

A Pilot Study of Ultrasound Assessment of Umbilical Cord and Placental Vascular Flow for Cord Accident Stillbirth Prevention.

Our objective was to determine the feasibility and interobserver reliability of umbilical cord and placental arteriolar flow assessment in low-risk pregnancies near term. This was a prospective pilot study in low-risk pregnancies at 36 weeks with anterior placentas. We excluded any with an indication for antenatal testing or delivery before 39 weeks. Each participant underwent two ultrasounds by different examiners, which included arterial and venous velocimetry at three cord sites (fetal, free loop, and placental) in addition to maternal and fetal placental arterioles. The interobserver reliability was quantified using the Pearson correlation coefficient with that of standard clinical parameters serving as a benchmark for interpretation. Among 53 participants scanned at 356/7-371/7 weeks, the mean examination duration was 20.5 ± 4.2 minutes. Ascertainment success was high for measures at the free loop, placental cord insertion, and fetal placental arterioles (range 90.6%-99.1%) and was lower at the fetal cord insertion and maternal spiral arterioles (range 47.2%-87.7%). Interobserver reliability estimates for free-loop systolic/diastolic and pulsatility index ranged from 0.38 to 0.44. Interobserver reliability for experimental parameters varied by measurement site, and all were poor at the fetal insertion and in placental arterioles. Parameters had significant variation across cord sites (range 4.3%-21.7%). In our cohort, flow assessments of the free loop, placental insertion, and placental arterioles are feasible, but interrater reliability varies by measurement type and cord site. Future studies are needed to establish feasibility and reliability in nonanterior placentation and to assess clinical relevance.

Evaluation of gingival thickness obtained from intraoral scanning registration with cone beam computed tomography at different acquisition modes

To investigate the reliability of gingival thickness measurements obtained from the registration of intraoral scans with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) examinations at different acquisition modes. CBCT examinations of 9 porcine hemimandibles were acquired using the OP300 Maxio unit operating at the highest-dose protocol with the smallest voxel size as the reference standard for visualizing the gingival surface. Subsequently, the hemimandibles were surrounded by water to simulate soft tissue attenuation of radiation, and additional CBCT examinations were acquired in 4 modes: Endo, High-resolution, Standard-resolution, and Low-dose. These CBCT datasets were registered with corresponding intraoral scans obtained with the Carestream Dental 3600 intraoral scanning system using the Blue Sky Plan 4 software. Four oral radiologists measured the buccal gingival thickness on cross-sectional reconstructions at 4 measurement sites and 2 distances from the gingival margin in the CBCT reference standard examinations and examinations obtained with water and intraoral scan registration. Multifactorial analysis of variance was used to assess the influence of acquisition mode, measurement site, and distance from the gingival margin on measurements (α = 5%; statistical power = 90%). Buccal gingival thickness measurements obtained via CBCT after registration with intraoral scanning were not significantly influenced by acquisition mode (P = .153) or measurement site (P = .089). Gingival thickness measurements derived from the registration of intraoral scans with CBCT examinations at different acquisition modes appear to be reliable.

Bone Mineral Density in Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

There is an increasing population of childhood cancer survivors (CCS) at risk for treatment-related toxicities, including skeletal morbidities. Bone mineral density (BMD) is a proxy for bone health and reductions are associated with osteoporosis and fractures. To investigate bone health in CCS by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of BMD after completed treatments. We searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science in May 2019 and updated in May 2023. Studies reporting BMD Z-scores measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in CCS after treatment completion. We performed a pooled analysis of studies reporting BMD Z-scores and thereafter we analyzed studies comparing BMD in survivors and healthy controls. All analyses were performed based on the site of BMD measurement. Of 4243 studies, 84 were included (N = 8106). The mean time off-treatment across the studies ranged from 2 months to 24 years. The overall pooled mean Z-score was -0.57 (95% confidence interval [CI] -0.59 to -0.55) in the whole-body, -0.84 (95% CI -0.86 to -0.83) in the lumbar spine, -0.79 (95% CI -0.81 to -0.77) in the femoral neck and -0.14 (95% CI -0.18 to -0.11) in the total hip. When comparing survivors with controls, BMD was significantly lower in survivors at all sites. English publications, study-level meta-analysis. We showed a significant reduction of BMD Z-scores in CCS. Given the increased fracture risk already within -1 SD, these results emphasize the need for BMD surveillance and secondary prevention in CCS.

Environmental Monitoring of Changes in the Flooded Areas of the Marshes and Their Relationship to Water Quality Using GIS Techniques

This study aims to examine the relationship between the flooded areas of the marshes in southern Iraq and their water quality, as well as their relationship with climatic factors such as temperatures and rainfall amounts and their impact on the water discharge into the marshes of southern Iraq in the provinces (Basra, Maysan, and Dhi Qar) through the interpretation of maps with remote sensing tools of the wet cover (water and vegetation), descriptive and quantitative analysis of the flooded areas comparing them with the values of salt concentrations and clarifying the monitoring sites of the water quality and water discharge into the marshes through GIS, as well as the relationship of the wet cover with temperatures, rainfall amounts, and evaporation. The data of this study were obtained from environmental field observation data at climate monitoring stations, incoming water discharge stations, and water quality measurement sites in the three southern governorates. As for the areas of vegetation, the data was obtained through the interpretation of the satellites’ visuals (Sentinel-2 satellite) with a resolution of 15 m using GIS programs through a temporal and spatial comparison of the marshland for April -June-October for ten years (2010-2015-2020) respectively, The results showed that there is a direct relationship between the water quality and the wet cover (vegetation and water) through classification as well as the effect of climatic elements in the marshes.

Evaluation of Hub‐Height Wind Forecasts Over the New York Bight

ABSTRACTAs offshore wind energy development accelerates in the United States, it is important to assess the accuracy of hub‐height wind forecasts from numerical weather prediction models over the ocean. Leveraging approximately 2 years of Doppler lidar observations from buoys in the New York Bight, we evaluate 80‐m wind speed forecasts from two weather models: the High‐Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) atmospheric model and the Global Forecast System (GFS) coupled atmosphere‐ocean model. These models have different horizontal grid spacing, vertical layering, initialization methods, and parameterizations of boundary layer mixing and surface–atmosphere interactions. Despite these differences, the models demonstrate similar and highly skillful short‐term forecasts at three measurement sites. At the Hudson Southwest location that provides a full year of data, their performance is statistically indistinguishable: root mean square error (RMSE) = 2.1 m/s and the Pearson correlation coefficient for 24‐h forecasts of both models, and RMSE = 2.6 m/s and 0.83 for 48‐h forecasts. Twenty‐four‐hour forecasts also exhibit skill in predicting quiescent winds and winds associated with maximum turbine power. By Day 10, GFS forecasts on average have almost no skill. The short‐term forecast skill by the HRRR and GFS does not strongly depend on season or time of day, yet we find some dependence of the models' performance on near‐surface stability. Additionally, 4‐ to 14‐day forecasts by the GFS exhibit lower RMSE during summer relative to other seasons. The high skill of the HRRR and GFS short‐term forecasts establishes confidence in their utility for offshore wind energy maintenance and operation.

Osteoporosis should be evaluated by bone mineral density at the combination of the lumbar spine and ipsilateral femoral neck in female patients with knee osteoarthritis scheduled for knee arthroplasty: A retrospective observational study

BackgroundKnee arthroplasty is a well-established surgery with good clinical outcomes. However, periprosthetic fractures and aseptic loosening negatively impact clinical outcomes, and osteoporosis is one of the causes of such complication. Osteoporosis is usually evaluated by bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and hip using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, the prevalence of this disease in patients with knee osteoarthritis scheduled for knee arthroplasty may be underestimated due to differences in the measurement sites. This study aimed to determine the appropriate measurement site for DXA that would not miss osteoporosis in female patients with knee osteoarthritis undergoing knee arthroplasty. MethodsWe measured bone mineral density preoperatively in the consecutive 50 female patients with knee osteoarthritis scheduled for knee arthroplasty by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at five sites: the lumbar spine, bilateral-total hip, and femoral neck. We then compared the prevalence of osteoporosis among the four combinations of the lumbar spine and single hip site (ipsilateral or contralateral total hip or femoral neck). ResultsOsteoporosis prevalence in the combination of the lumbar spine and ipsilateral or contralateral total hip was 32%, and that in the combination of the lumbar spine and contralateral femoral neck was 44%. Notably, the disease's prevalence in the combination of the lumbar spine and ipsilateral femoral neck was 50%, which was significantly higher than that in the other combinations. ConclusionOsteoporosis should be evaluated by bone mineral density in the combination of the lumbar spine and ipsilateral femoral neck in female patients with knee osteoarthritis scheduled for knee arthroplasty.

Bayesian inversion of HFC-134a emissions in southern China from a new AGAGE site: Results from an observing system simulation experiment

The abundance of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the atmosphere is increasing and is of significant importance to the Earth's system. It is thus crucial to investigate the spatial distribution of HFC emissions. However, inversion modeling, a commonly used approach, is susceptible to errors from a-priori emissions, inversion grids, observations, and other parameters. In this study, we conduct Observing System Simulation Experiment (OSSE) to evaluate the impact of inversion parameters on HFC emission estimates, focusing on HFC-134a at the newly established Xichong (XCG) AGAGE site in Shenzhen, China. We regard the EDGAR (v7) dataset as a reference for “true” emissions and simulate the “true” atmosphere using the GEOS-Chem model. Our OSSE indicates that conducting inversions in the medium-sensitivity region with source-receptor sensitivity larger than 6.0 (nmol mol−1)/(mol m−2 s−1) minimizes the bias between a-posteriori and “true” total emissions to 0.58 %–1.88 %. In the high-sensitivity region, enhancing the spatial resolution of inversion grids lowers this error from −27.07 % to +0.36 %. The accuracy of a-priori spatial distribution crucially influences that of the a-posteriori: the higher correlation coefficient between a-priori and “true” emissions, the better a-posteriori agree with the “true” emissions, as evidenced by a reduced root mean square error (RMSE) of the a-posteriori vs. “true” emissions from 1.44 × 10−9 g m−2 s−1 (GDP-based) to 8.78 × 10−10 g m−2 s−1 (VIIRS-based). Furthermore, selecting regularization parameters and balancing instrumental and a-priori errors are also important. Our OSSE setups allow for parameter testing during the inversion, offering a framework to assess the regional representativeness of future HFC measurement sites.

Trends in osteoporosis prevalence at a tertiary care referral center hospital in Northeastern Thailand: a 20-year analysis (2003-2022).

To investigate the prevalence trends of osteoporosis from 2003 to 2022 using data from the largest tertiary care referral center in Northeastern Thailand. Bone mineral density (BMD) measurements of community-dwelling individuals aged > 45years were reviewed from the medical record database of Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand, between 2003 and 2022. Osteoporosis was defined by a T-score of ≤ - 2.5. For each year, crude and age-standardized prevalence rates for osteoporosis stratified by site of measurement were calculated. Trend analysis was performed using the joinpoint regression method. A total of 36,306 BMD measurements were identified between 2003 and 2022. The crude prevalence of femoral neck (FN) osteoporosis increased from 2.4% to 9.2% in men and from 2.5% to 11.2% in women, while the age-standardized prevalence increased less, from 2.6% to 8.3% in men, and slightly decreased from 8.7% to 7.6% in women. Trend analysis revealed increased crude and age-standardized prevalence rates of FN osteoporosis in men, with an annual percent change (APC) of 4.0 (95%CI: - 4.1 to 14.7) and 2.3 (95%CI: - 4.9 to 10.0), respectively. In women, the crude prevalence increased significantly from 2003 to 2011 (APC: 20.8, 95%CI: 5.8-249.3) and plateaued from 2011 to 2022 (APC: 0.8, 95%CI: - 30.3 to 5.9). The age-standardized prevalence was relatively unchanged (APC: 0.1, 95%CI: - 4.2 to 5.4). We observed a significant increase in the crude prevalence of osteoporosis from 2003 to 2022 among individuals receiving BMD measurements in a tertiary care referral center in Northeastern Thailand. Meanwhile, the age-standardized prevalence increased more gradually.

Prospective observational study of 2 wearable strain sensors for measuring the respiratory rate.

The respiratory rate is an important factor for assessing patient status and detecting changes in the severity of illness. Real-time determination of the respiratory rate will enable early responses to changes in the patient condition. Several methods of wearable devices have enabled remote respiratory rate monitoring. However, gaps persist in large-scale validation, patient-specific calibration, standardization and their usefulness in clinical practice has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of 2 wearable stretch sensors, C-STRECH® which is used in clinical practice and a novel stretchable capacitor in measuring the respiratory rate. The respiratory rate of 20 healthy subjects was measured by a spirometer with the stretch sensor applied to 1 of 5 locations (umbilicus, lateral abdomen, epigastrium, lateral chest, or chest) of their body at rest while they were in a sitting or supine position before or after exercise. The sensors detected the largest amplitudes at the epigastrium and umbilicus compared to other sites of measurement for the sitting and supine positions, respectively. At rest, the respiratory rate of the sensors had an error of 0.06 to 2.39 breaths/minute, whereas after exercise, an error of 1.57 to 3.72 breaths/minute was observed compared to the spirometer. The sensors were able to detect the respiratory rate of healthy volunteers in the sitting and supine positions, but there was a need for improvement in detection after exercise.

Reliability, clinical performance and trending ability of a pulse oximeter and pulse co-oximeter, in monitoring blood oxygenation, at two measurement sites, in immobilised white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)

BackgroundMonitoring blood oxygenation is essential in immobilised rhinoceros, which are susceptible to opioid-induced hypoxaemia. This study assessed the reliability, clinical performance and trending ability of the Nonin PalmSAT 2500 A pulse oximeter’s and the Masimo Radical-7 pulse co-oximeter’s dual-wavelength technology, with their probes placed at two measurement sites, the inner surface of the third-eyelid and the scarified ear pinna of immobilised white rhinoceroses. Eight white rhinoceros were immobilised with etorphine-based drug combinations and given butorphanol after 12 min, and oxygen after 40 min, of recumbency. The Nonin and Masimo devices, with dual-wavelength probes attached to the third-eyelid and ear recorded arterial peripheral oxygen-haemoglobin saturation (SpO2) at pre-determined time points, concurrently with measurements of arterial oxygen-haemoglobin saturation (SaO2), from drawn blood samples, by a benchtop AVOXimeter 4000 co-oximeter (reference method). Reliability of the Nonin and Masimo devices was evaluated using the Bland-Altman and the area root mean squares (ARMS) methods. Clinical performance of the devices was evaluated for their ability to accurately detect clinical hypoxemia using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and measures of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. Trending ability of the devices was assessed by calculating concordance rates from four-quadrant plots.ResultsOnly the Nonin device with transflectance probe attached to the third-eyelid provided reliable SpO2 measurements across the 70 to 100% saturation range (bias − 1%, precision 4%, ARMS 4%). Nonin and Masimo devices with transflectance probes attached to the third-eyelid both had high clinical performance at detecting clinical hypoxaemia [area under the ROC curves (AUC): 0.93 and 0.90, respectively]. However, the Nonin and Masimo devices with transmission probes attached to the ear were unreliable and provided only moderate clinical performance. Both Nonin and Masimo devices, at both measurement sites, had concordance rates lower than the recommended threshold of ≥ 90%, indicating poor trending ability.ConclusionsThe overall assessment of reliability, clinical performance and trending ability indicate that the Nonin device with transflectance probe attached to the third-eyelid is best suited for monitoring of blood oxygenation in immobilised rhinoceros. The immobilisation procedure may have affected cardiovascular function to an extent that it limited the devices’ performance.

Solar Radiation Measurement Tools and Their Impact on In Situ Testing—A Portuguese Case Study

Accurate knowledge of solar radiation data or its estimation is crucial to maximize the benefits derived from the Sun. In this context, many sectors are re-evaluating their investments and plans to increase profit margins in line with sustainable development based on knowledge and estimation of solar radiation. This scenario has drawn the attention of researchers to the estimation and measurement of solar radiation with a low level of error. Various types of models, such as empirical models, time series, artificial intelligence algorithms and hybrid models, for estimating and measuring solar radiation have been continuously developed in the literature. In general, these models require atmospheric, geographical, climatic and historical solar radiation data from a specific region for accurate estimation. Each analysis model has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to estimating solar radiation and, depending on the model, the results for one region may be better or worse than for another. Furthermore, it has been observed that an input parameter that significantly improves the model’s performance in one region can make it difficult to succeed in another. The research gaps, challenges and future directions in terms of solar radiation estimation have substantial impacts, but regardless of the model, in situ measurements and commercially available equipment consistently influence solar radiation calculations and, subsequently, simulations or estimates. This article aims to exemplify, through a case study in a multi-family residential building located in Viana do Castelo, a city in the north of Portugal, the difficulties of capturing the spectrum of radiations that make up the total radiation that reaches the measuring equipment or site. Three pieces of equipment are used—a silicon pyranometer, a thermopile pyranometer and a solar meter—on the same day, in the same place, under the same meteorological conditions and with the same measurement method. It is found that the thermopile pyranometer has superior behavior, as it does not oscillate as much with external factors such as the ambient temperature, which influence the other two pieces of equipment. However, due to the different assumptions of the measurement models, the various components of the measurement site make it difficult to obtain the most accurate and reliable results in most studies. Despite the advantages of each model, measurement models have gained prominence in terms of the ease of use and low operating costs rather than the rigor of their results.

Evaluation of lingual oscillometric blood pressure measurement in anaesthetized pigs

ObjectiveTo evaluate the agreement between measurements of invasive blood pressure (IBP) and oscillometric blood pressure from the tongue (OBPton) using a multiparameter monitor. Study designUnblinded, prospective, experimental study. AnimalsA total of 12 female Large White crossbreed pigs. MethodsPigs undergoing experimental procedures that required arterial cannula placement were recruited. A blood pressure cuff with the closest width to 40% of the circumference of the tongue was placed rostral to the lingual frenulum. Systolic, mean and diastolic IBP and OBPton were measured simultaneously at 5 minute intervals. Agreement between paired measurements was examined using Bland–Altman analysis. Mean bias, precision (standard deviation of mean bias), 95% limits of agreement, correlation coefficients and percentage of measurements within 10 and 20 mmHg of IBP were calculated. ResultsThe total numbers of paired measurements recorded were 124, 126 and 124 for systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressures, respectively. The mean bias, precision and 95% limits of agreement for systolic OBPton were 11.5, 11.5 (–11.1 to 34.2), for mean OBPton 5.6, 5.7 (–5.7 to 16.8) and for diastolic OBPton 7.6, 10.1 (–12.1 to 27.4) mmHg. Correlation coefficients were greater than 0.9 for mean OBPton only. More than 50% of measurements were within 10 mmHg of IBP and 80% of measurements were within 20 mmHg of IBP for mean and diastolic OBPton only. Conclusions and clinical relevanceThe tongue as a cuff site for oscillometric blood pressure measurement is a useful site for measuring mean arterial, but not systolic or diastolic blood pressure in anaesthetized Large White crossbreed pigs. This technique fulfils the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine criteria for measuring mean arterial pressure but not systolic or diastolic arterial pressure.

Thermal mapping: Assessing the optimal sites for temperature measurement in the human body and emerging technologies.

Numerous body locations have been utilized to obtain an accurate body temperature. While some are commonly used, their accuracy, response time, invasiveness varies greatly, and determines their potential clinical and/or research use. This review discusses human body temperature locations, their accuracy, ease of use, advantages, and drawbacks. We explain the concept of core body temperature and which of the locations achieve the best correlation to this temperature. The body locations include axilla, oral cavity, rectum, digestive and urinary tracts, skin, tympanic, nasopharynx, esophagus, and pulmonary artery. The review also discusses the latest temperature technologies, heat-flux technology and telemetric ingestible temperature pills, and the body locations used to validate these devices. Rectal and esophageal measurements are the most frequently used.

Method of field measurement of electromagnetic environment of high speed maglev train

Abstract In order to reduce the complexity of the magnetic field test of maglev trains and improve the accuracy of measurement data, this paper proposes a field measurement method of maglev train radiation emission based on high-speed parallel adaptive filter denoising technology. This measurement method is not limited by special measurement sites, and has the characteristics of high-speed measurement, real-time data processing, and large-capacity data storage. It breaks through the technical bottleneck of the traditional measurement system. The electromagnetic radiation emission of high-speed maglev trains is measured in real-time through multi-antenna synchronous measurement technology, and multi-channel high-speed RF signal measurement and acquisition of external signals are further carried out by blind source separation technology, environmental pre-scanning is carried out, environmental interference characteristics are obtained through feature statistics, and the radiation signal to be measured is estimated by blind source separation algorithm. It helps to achieve the purpose of accurately measuring the electromagnetic radiation emission of high-speed maglev trains. Through field testing, the denoising performance of the method reached 20 dB. Through field testing, the denoising performance of the method reached 20 dB.