Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration Research Articles

Headspace Oxygen Concentration Measurement for Pharmaceutical Glass Bottles in Open-Path Optical Environment Using TDLAS/WMS

Accurate measurement of oxygen concentration for pharmaceutical glass bottles is of great significance to ensure the asepsis of medicine and stability of ingredients. With merits of high sensitivity, low cost, noncontact, and real-time response, the wavelength-modulation-based tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS/WMS) technology shows great potential to achieve in-site oxygen concentration detection by the single-line spectrum measurement. This article focuses on headspace oxygen concentration measurement in the open-path optical environment, which is extremely challenging due to the short light path length and random ambient noises. First, a signal reconstruction method is established based on the discrete wavelet packet transform (DWPT), where random noise suppression is implicitly achieved. Then, oxygen concentration is inversed among the data between two adjacent valley values of the demodulated second-harmonic signal by multiple linear regression (MLR), and the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) is imported to enhance the information sparsity of second-harmonic signal matrix and to address the multicollinearity problem. Simulation results prove that our proposed method achieved considerable detection accuracy with the average absolute error of 0.05%. This article also designed a TDLAS/WMS prototype, and the experimental results aiming at glass bottles with different oxygen concentration of 0%, 5%, 10%, and 21% in open-path optical environment indicate our method has achieved an encouraging average absolute error of 0.54% and can survive well when the normalized signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is within 0.85–1. These results promise that the proposed methodology can be widely applied in in-site automatic optic inspection (AOI) instrumentation of headspace oxygen concentration measurement for glass vials.

Oxygen concentration measurement and control of lead-bismuth eutectic in a small, static experimental facility

ABSTRACTOxygen measurement and control system is critical for minimizing corrosion in nuclear systems. Oxygen measurement and control tools use lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) and pure lead as a coolant or as a spallation target. Oxygen can be supplied by either gas phase (H2O or O2) or solid phase (PbO dissolution); thus, oxygen control includes both gas phase and solid phase methods. This article focuses on oxygen concentration measurement and control of lead-bismuth eutectic in a small, static experimental facility. This facility was developed for oxygen sensor calibration and gas/solid phase control systems test programs. The oxygen sensor with Nano Cu/Cu2O closely the Nernstian behavior down to 195°C; the oxygen sensor measurement accuracy satisfied the requirements of subsequent experiments. The gas phase control system (verified according to different type of mass transfer, such as air, H2O, gas injection, and coverage) and the solid phase control system were very successful in small experimental devices. Accurate oxygen concentration control was achieved with both the gas and solid phase control systems.

In Vivo Photoacoustic Lifetime Based Oxygen Imaging with Tumor Targeted G2 Polyacrylamide Nanosonophores.

Lifetime imaging methods using phosphorescence quenching by oxygen for molecular oxygen concentration measurement have been developed and used for noninvasive oxygen monitoring. This study reports photoacoustic (PA) oxygen imaging powered by polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogel nanoparticles (NP) which offer advantages including improved biocompatibility, reduced toxicity, and active tumor targeting. A known oxygen indicator, oxyphor G2, was conjugated with the matrix of the NPs, giving G2-PAA NPs, followed by PEGylation for biocompatibility and F3 surface modification for tumor targeting. Using two lasers providing pump and probe pulses, respectively, PA imaging was performed so as to quantitatively map the oxygen concentration in biological tissues in vivo, including cancer tumors and normal thigh muscles. Furthermore, via the imaging at the pump wavelength and two additional wavelengths, the accumulation of the G2-PAA NPs in the tumors were also determined. The successful imaging experiment accomplished on animal models renders a method for in vivo noninvasive imaging and assessment of hypoxic tumor microenvironments, which is critical for assessing cancer progression, metastasis, and treatment.

Fiber-optic pulseoximeter for local oxygen saturation determination using a Monte Carlo multi-layer model for calibration

Background and objectiveLocal tissue oxygenation determines the relationship between the supply and the demand for oxygen by the tissue and it is an important indicator of the physiological or pathological condition of the tissue. Moreover, some therapeutic methods strongly depend on the oxygen content of the tissue. In photodynamic therapy, when molecular oxygen is present, the irradiation of the photosensitizer with light triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species that kill the target diseased cells within the treated tissue. To ensure the best possible therapy response, the tissue must be well oxygenated; hence, oxygen concentration measurement becomes a decisive factor. In this work, the design, construction and calibration of a module to locally measure the blood oxygen saturation in tissue is presented. MethodsThe system is built using a red (660-nm) and an infrared (940-nm) light emitting diodes as light sources, a photodiode as a detector, and a homemade handheld fiber optic-based reflectance pulse oximetry sensor. In addition, the developed sensor was modeled by means of multilayered Monte Carlo simulations, to study its behavior when used in different thickness and melanin content skin. ResultsFrom the simulation reflectance values, the oxygen saturation calibration curves considering different melanin concentrations and skin thicknesses were obtained for two different skin models, one comprising three skin layers and the second, assuming seven different layers for the skin. A comparison of the performances of the developed pulse oximeter sensor with a commercial one is also presented. ConclusionsA new pulseoximeter for the measurement of local oxygenation in tissue was developed. Its calibration strongly depends on the site of measurement due to the influence of tissue thickness, vascularization, and melanin content. A three-layer skin model is proved to be suitable for the calibration of the pulseoximeter in thin and medium thickness skin.

The estimation of gross oxygen production and community respiration from autonomous time‐series measurements in the oligotrophic ocean

AbstractDiel variations in oxygen concentration have been extensively used to estimate rates of photosynthesis and respiration in productive freshwater and marine ecosystems. Recent improvements in optical oxygen sensors now enable us to use the same approach to estimate metabolic rates in the oligotrophic waters that cover most of the global ocean and for measurements collected by autonomous underwater vehicles. By building on previous methods, we propose a procedure to estimate photosynthesis and respiration from vertically resolved diel measurements of oxygen concentration. This procedure involves isolating the oxygen variation due to biological processes from the variation due to physical processes, and calculating metabolic rates from biogenic oxygen changes using linear least squares analysis. We tested our method on underwater glider observations from the surface layer of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre where we estimated rates of gross oxygen production and community respiration both averaging 1.0 mmol O2 m−3 d−1, consistent with previous estimates from the same environment. Method uncertainty was computed as the standard deviation of the fitted parameters and averaged 0.6 and 0.5 mmol O2 m−3 d−1 for oxygen production and respiration, respectively. The variability of metabolic rates was larger than this uncertainty and we were able to discern covariation in the biological production and consumption of oxygen. The proposed method resolved variability on time scales of approximately 1 week. This resolution can be improved in several ways including by measuring turbulent mixing, increasing the number of measurements in the surface ocean, and adopting a Lagrangian approach during data collection.

Measurement of oxygen concentration for detection of subclinical mastitis.

Subclinical mastitis is a frequent and economically important disease in cattle. Since the milk appears macroscopically normal the diagnosis depends on indirect parameters. In automatic milking systems ideally the measurements have to be automatized and completed during milking process. Oxygen concentration of the milk is a parameter which has not been used widely to date. Oxygen is consumed by cells in the milk, hence an increased number of cells results in decreased oxygen concentration. The main objectives of the study were to study the association of milk oxygen concentration with the number of cells and the electric conductivity and to assess the feasibility of oxygen concentration for detection of subclinical mastitis. The study was performed on five dairy farms using 690 macroscopically normal quarter milk samples. Oxygen concentrations (OC), somatic cell count (SCC) and electric conductivity (EC) were measured. The associations between the parameters were calculated and the diagnostic value of OC for detection of subclinical mastitis was estimated. Significant correlations were found between OC and SCC (rs =-0.28) and between OC and EC (rs = -0.20). SCC of the samples varied between 1,000 and 21,602,000 cells/ml. Out of the 690 milk samples 404 had SCC 200,000 cells/ml (subclinical mastitis). OC decreased whereas EC increased significantly with increasing SCC (P < 0.001). The threshold for OC to diagnose subclinical mastitis was 5.22% (sensitivity 84%, specificity 46%). The area under the curve describing the diagnostic value of OC was 0.72 (confidence interval 0.68-0.76). In conclusion OC has potential to be used as parameter to detect subclinical mastitis in dairy cattle. Currently the application is not suitable for routine use. Further research is necessary to improve measurement technology and diagnostic value of the parameter.

Application of the apatite oxygen paleobarometer (AOP) across the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian transition

Fluorescence signatures of samarium3+ substituted into apatite for calcium2+ have been shown experimentally to correlate with oxygen availability, such substituted apatite being a principal diagenetic mineral emplaced in shallow-water environments during the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian global phosphogenic event coeval with the “Cambrian Explosion of Life.” The occurrence of Sm3+-substituted apatite, encrusting, infilling and permineralizing components of shallow water microbial communities suggested that quantification of these fluorescence signatures might provide a widely applicable mineral-based paleobarometer by which to measure oxygen concentrations in the environment in which such apatite precipitated. To test this hypothesis, fluorescence spectroscopic analyses have been carried out on the Sm3+-substituted apatite of photic-zone microscopic fossils and fossil-associated ooids of near-shore facies of the Ediacaran Doushantuo (South China) and Early Cambrian Chulaktau (South Kazakhstan) Formations, and of the open ocean apatite-biomineralized phytoplanktonic “scale fossils” (Characodictyon) of the mid-Neoproterozoic (Tonian) Fifteenmile Group (Yukon Canada). Results obtained – quantified by the newly devised apatite oxygen paleobarometer metric – indicate a low (<5% O2) oxygen concentration in the depositional environment of the Ediacaran Doushantuo, a similarly low but slightly higher O2 level in the Early Cambrian Chulaktau, and are consistent with a low oxygen concentration in the scale fossil-evidenced mid-Neoproterozoic photic zone of the open marine environment. By documenting the rise of oxygen across the Neoproterozoic-Cambrian transition these results confirm the efficacy of this newly devised technique and suggest its value for future global application.

The Design of Oxygen Concentration and Flowrate in CPAP

Measuring oxygen concentration and measuring the flow of oxygen is a tool used to measure the percentage of oxygen content and oxygen flow rate in CPAP. This tool uses the OCS-03F sensor, with Arduino NANO processors then displayed on the 2X16 character LCD. Measuring the percentage of oxygen content and oxygen flow rate is carried out on CPAP for 5 measurements. The research and manufacture of this module uses the Pre-experimental method with the After Only Design design, which examines the "Oxygen Analyzer", which results in measurements compared to the traced tools to obtain high accuracy values. Based on the results of measurements on the CPAP tool at Dr. Soetomo Surabaya Hospital with oxygen level settings of 21%, 30%, 40%, 50% 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% while setting the oxygen measurement rate 1L/m, 2L /m, 3L/m, 4L/m, 5L/m, 6L/m, 7L//m, 8L/m, 9L/m 10L/m. Each measurement was carried out 5 times. For the measurement of oxygen levels the biggest error value is 5% and the smallest -0,06% while for the measurement of oxygen flow rate the biggest error value is 4% and the smallest is 0%. Based on the results of the analysis of the manufacture of oxygen levels and oxygen flow rates, it can be concluded that the manufacture of oxygen concentration measuring instruments and oxygen flow rate can work well.

New developments in online OUR monitoring and its application to animal cell cultures.

The increasing demand for biopharmaceuticals produced in mammalian cells has driven the industry to enhance the productivity of bioprocesses through intensification of culture process. Fed-batch and perfusion culturing strategies are considered the most attractive choices, but the application of these processes requires the availability of reliable online measuring systems for the estimation of cell density and metabolic activity. This manuscript reviews the methods (and the devices used) for monitoring of the oxygen consumption, also known as oxygen uptake rate (OUR), since it is a straightforward parameter to estimate viable cell density and the physiological state of cells. Furthermore, as oxygen plays an important role in the cell metabolism, OUR has also been very useful to estimate nutrient consumption, especially the carbon (glucose and glutamine) and nitrogen (glutamine) sources. Three different methods for the measurement of OUR have been developed up to date, being the dynamic method the golden standard, even though DO and pH perturbations generated in the culture during each measurement. For this, many efforts have been focused in developing non-invasive methods, such as global mass balance or stationary liquid mass balance. The low oxygen consumption rates by the cells and the high accuracy required for oxygen concentration measurement in the gas streams (inlet and outlet) have limited the applicability of the global mass balance methodology in mammalian cell cultures. In contrast, stationary liquid mass balance has successfully been implemented showing very similar OUR profiles compared with those obtained with the dynamic method. The huge amount of studies published in the last years evidence that OUR have become a reliable alternative for the monitoring and control of high cell density culturing strategies with very high productivities.

Dose variability of supplemental oxygen therapy with open patient interfaces based on in vitro measurements using a physiologically realistic upper airway model

BackgroundSupplemental oxygen therapy is widely used in hospitals and in the home for chronic care. However, there are several fundamental problems with the application of this therapy such that patients are often exposed to arterial oxygen concentrations outside of the intended target range. This paper reports volume-averaged tracheal oxygen concentration measurements (FtO2) from in vitro experiments conducted using a physiologically realistic upper airway model. The goal is to provide data to inform a detailed discussion of the delivered oxygen dose.MethodsA baseline FtO2 dataset using a standard, straight adult nasal cannula was established by varying tidal volume (Vt), breathing frequency (f), and continuous oxygen flow rate (QO2) between the following levels to create a factorial design: Vt = 500, 640, or 800 ml; f = 12, 17, or 22 min− 1; QO2 = 2, 4, or 6 l/min. Further experiments were performed to investigate the influence on FtO2 of variation in inspiratory/expiratory ratio, inclusion of an inspiratory or expiratory pause, patient interface selection (e.g. nasal cannula versus a facemask), and rapid breathing patterns in comparison with the baseline measurements.ResultsOxygen concentration measured at the trachea varied by as much as 60% (i.e. from 30.2 to 48.0% of absolute oxygen concentration) for the same oxygen supply flow rate due to variation in simulated breathing pattern. Among the baseline cases, the chief reasons for variation were 1) the influence of variation in tidal volume leading to variable FiO2 and 2) variation in breathing frequency affecting volume of supplemental oxygen delivered through the breath.ConclusionFor oxygen administration using open patient interfaces there was variability in the concentration and quantity of oxygen delivered to the trachea over the large range of scenarios studied. Of primary importance in evaluating the oxygen dose is knowledge of the breathing parameters that determine the average inhalation flow rate relative to the oxygen flow rate. Otherwise, the oxygen dose cannot be determined.

The Use of CFD for the Design and Development of Innovative Configurations in Regenerative Glass Production Furnaces

The limitation of nitrogen oxides emissions is nowadays a challenge in several engineering fields. Recent European regulations have reduced the maximum NOx emissions and therefore forced the glass production sector to develop emission reduction strategies. Two different systems have been developed within the framework of the European LIFE project and are currently applied to glass regenerative furnaces: the Waste Gas Recirculation (WGR) and the Hybrid Air Staging (HyAS). The above systems are primary NOx reduction strategies because they both operate to control the combustion evolution. Both WGR and HyAS systems have been conceived with the extensive use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models: design strategies for both systems have been developed based on the use of CFD and are currently under use by glass furnace designers. In the present work, the CFD procedures routinely used for the design of the above systems are described. The systems effectiveness, due to the harsh conditions in the industrial installation, can be tested with oxygen concentration measurements inside the regenerators. The oxygen concentration is correlated to the flame evolution and therefore to the nitrogen oxides formation. For the above reason, the models have been validated with experimental data from pilot furnaces using measured values of O2 mole fraction. The CFD procedures are described in the paper together with their application to different configurations.

LDPE/PET laminated films modified with FeO(OH) × H2O, Fe2O3, and ascorbic acid to develop oxygen scavenging system for food packaging

The iron compounds (iron(III) oxide‐hydroxide monohydrate FeO(OH) × H2O, iron(III) oxide Fe2O3, and ascorbic acid) were used as oxygen scavengers modifiers in laminating of polymer films. This oxygen‐scavenging system was coated on preselected films (low density polyethylene [LDPE] and polyethylene terephthalate [PET]) from which the laminates were formed. It presents the new form of composite material packaging that has the function of oxygen scavenging, which could be suitable for food packaging. The scope of the research included studies of morphology of oxygen scavengers by scanning electron microscope and their average particle size distribution measure by particle size analyzer, the effect of type, and concentration of these substances on viscosity of adhesive and seal strength of laminates.The Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of laminates was also performed to observe the potential interaction of functional groups of polyurethane adhesives with oxygen scavenger components. The most important ability of the developed system for oxygen scavenging was confirmed by measuring oxygen concentration (% vol) in a headspace with the prepared laminates. The concentrations of selected oxygen scavengers (4‐6 wt%) and their combinations were studied. The most effective oxygen scavenger system integrated within the PE/PET composite film consists of 6 wt% ascorbic acid and 1 wt% FeO(OH) × H2O, where the oxygen concentration of 1.0 vol% (±0.20 vol%) was obtained after 15 days of storage. It was found that in this system the oxygen scavenging reaction occurs through ascorbate oxidation to dehydroascorbic acid, which is catalyzed by reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ ions.

Effects of dexmedetomidine on NLRP3 inflammasome during acute lung injury induced by blunt chest trauma and hemorrhagic shock-resuscitation in rats

Objective To evaluate the effects of dexmedetomidine on NLRP3 inflammasome during acute lung injury (ALI) induced by blunt chest trauma and hemorrhagic shock-resuscitation in rats. Methods Forty-five SPF healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200-220 g, were divided into 3 groups (n=15 each) using a random number table method: sham operation group (Sham group), ALI group and dexmedetomidine group (Dex group). A rat model of ALI was established by blunt chest trauma and hemorrhagic shock-resuscitation.Dexmedetomidine 5 μg·kg-1·h-1 was infused into the femoral vein after blunt chest trauma in Dex group.Blood samples were collected from the femoral artery at 6 h after blunt chest trauma for measurement of arterial oxygen partial pressure and concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-18 in serum (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The oxygenation index was calculated.The rats were sacrificed and lungs were removed for examination of the pathological changes which were scored and for determination of the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC) in lung tissues (by Western blot) and activities of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in lung tissues (by colorimetry). Results Compared with Sham group, PaO2 and oxygenation index were significantly decreased, the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and ASC was up-regulated, the activities of LDH and MPO were increased, and the concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum were increased in ALI group (P<0.05). Compared with ALI group, PaO2 and oxygenation index were significantly decreased, the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and ASC was down-regulated, the activities of LDH and MPO were decreased, and the concentrations of IL-1β and IL-18 in serum were decreased in ALI group (P<0.05). Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can alleviate blunt chest trauma and hemorrhagic shock-resuscitation induced ALI in rats, and the mechanism is related to inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and reduction of inflammatory response. Key words: Dexmedetomidine; Acute lung injury; NLR family, pyrin domain-containing 3 protein

High fidelity fibre-based physiological sensing deep in tissue

Physiological sensing deep in tissue remains a clinical challenge. Here a flexible miniaturised sensing optrode providing a platform to perform minimally invasive in vivo in situ measurements is reported. Silica microspheres covalently coupled with a high density of ratiometrically configured fluorophores were deposited into etched pits on the distal end of a 150 µm diameter multicore optical fibre. With this platform, photonic measurements of pH and oxygen concentration with high precision in the distal alveolar space of the lung are reported. We demonstrated the phenomenon that high-density deposition of carboxyfluorescein covalently coupled to silica microspheres shows an inverse shift in fluorescence in response to varying pH. This platform delivered fast and accurate measurements (±0.02 pH units and ±0.6 mg/L of oxygen), near instantaneous response time and a flexible architecture for addition of multiple sensors.

Absorption spectroscopy based high-speed oxygen concentration measurements at elevated gas temperatures

A sensor based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) has been developed for concentration measurements in high-temperature (up to 800 K) gas streams; while the sensor measures gas oxygen and water concentration, temperature and pressure, this work focuses on the challenges and solutions to transient oxygen measurement. A 760-nm diode laser was used to probe a pair of oxygen absorption transitions, and a Herriott cell based multi-pass arrangement was utilized to compensate for the extremely weak oxygen absorption as well as the high gas temperature. This multi-pass arrangement provides a 4297.4-mm absorption path length across a 76.2-mm diameter duct, and an O2 detection limit ([O2] where SNR=1) of ca. 0.1%. Laboratory validation of the HITRAN spectral parameters of the chosen absorption transitions was performed over a range of high temperatures and oxygen concentrations relevant to engine-exhaust applications. The insensitivity of the Herriott cell arrangement to vibrations and spatial temperature gradients was demonstrated. Results from applications to single- and multi-cylinder engine exhaust are presented and demonstrate the new sensor’s ability to measure fast intra-cycle gas-property transients, and provide insights relevant to advancing internal-combustion-engine technology.

Atmosphere oxygen cycling through the Proterozoic and Phanerozoic

Variations in atmosphere oxygen and ocean sulfate concentrations through time are regarded as important controls on the cycles of sediment-hosted and volcanic-hosted ore deposits. However, estimates of atmosphere oxygen in the Proterozoic have been frustrated by the lack of a direct measurement method and conflicting evidence from various proposed geochemical proxies. Studies in the 1970s to 1990s suggested a relatively oxygenated atmosphere (> 3 wt% O2) in the Proterozoic. However, since the late 1990s, new proxies and modelling have suggested very much lower levels of oxygen (< 0.02 wt% O2). Focusing on redox-sensitive trace elements, here we combine a dataset of over 3000 LA-ICP-MS trace-element analyses on sedimentary pyrite, standardised against Berner’s Phanerozoic O2 modelling and direct measurement of oxygen concentrations in fluid inclusions in sedimentary halite, to develop the first detailed estimate for atmosphere O2 concentration and secular variation from 2200 Ma to the present. The estimates suggest dynamic cycles of atmosphere oxygen that increased in frequency through time. There were possibly three first-order cycles in the Proterozoic varying from 400 to 600 million years in length and a further five first-order cycles in the Phanerozoic from 60 to 120 million years in length. Our estimates of oxygen concentration are at odds with most previous estimates. We suggest, rather than very low atmosphere oxygen in the Proterozoic, the mean concentration was about 7 wt%, rising to a mean of about 10 wt% in the Phanerozoic, but with significant cyclic variation of up to a maximum concentration of possibly over 30 wt%. We observe that the proposed oxygen cycles correlate with biodiversity cycles and to the timing of major stratiform base-metal deposits in sedimentary basins. For example, minima in atmosphere oxygenation correlate with mass extinction events and stratiform Zn–Pb–Ag deposits, whereas maxima in oxygenation correlate with major evolutionary events, global periods of evaporite formation and the timing of stratiform copper deposits.

Injectable, thermosensitive, fast gelation, bioeliminable, and oxygen sensitive hydrogels

The decrease of tissue oxygen content due to pathological conditions leads to severe cell death and tissue damage. Restoration of tissue oxygen content is the primary treatment goal. To accurately and efficiently assess efficacy of a treatment, minimally invasive, and long-term detection of oxygen concentration in the same tissue location represents a clinically attractive strategy. Among the different oxygen concentration measurement approaches, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) has the potential to accomplish this. Yet there lacks injectable EPR probes that can maintain a consistent concentration at the same tissue location during treatment period to acquire a stable EPR signal, and can finally be eliminated from body without retrieval. Herein, we developed injectable and bioeliminable hydrogel-based polymeric EPR probes that exhibited fast gelation rate, slow weight loss rate, and high oxygen sensitivity. The probe was based on N-Isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), dimethyl-γ-butyrolactone acrylate (DBA), and tetrathiatriarylmethyl (TAM) radical. The injectable probes can be implanted into tissues using a minimally invasive injection approach. The high gelation rate (~10 s) allowed the probes to quickly solidify upon injection to have a high retention in tissues. The polymeric probes overcame the toxicity issue of current small molecule EPR probes. The probes can be gradually hydrolyzed. Upon complete hydrolysis, the probes became water soluble at 37 °C, thus having the potential to be removed from the body by urinary system. The probes showed slow weight loss rate so as to maintain EPR signal intensity for extended periods while retaining in a certain tissue location. The probes remained their high oxygen sensitivity after in vitro hydrolysis and in vivo implantation for 4 weeks. These hydrogel-based EPR probes have attractive properties for in vivo oxygen detection.

Optical Oxygen Sensing with Artificial Intelligence.

Luminescence-based sensors for measuring oxygen concentration are widely used in both industry and research due to the practical advantages and sensitivity of this type of sensing. The measuring principle is the luminescence quenching by oxygen molecules, which results in a change of the luminescence decay time and intensity. In the classical approach, this change is related to an oxygen concentration using the Stern-Volmer equation. This equation, which in most cases is non-linear, is parameterized through device-specific constants. Therefore, to determine these parameters, every sensor needs to be precisely calibrated at one or more known concentrations. This study explored an entirely new artificial intelligence approach and demonstrated the feasibility of oxygen sensing through machine learning. The specifically developed neural network learns very efficiently to relate the input quantities to the oxygen concentration. The results show a mean deviation of the predicted from the measured concentration of 0.5% air, comparable to many commercial and low-cost sensors. Since the network was trained using synthetically generated data, the accuracy of the model predictions is limited by the ability of the generated data to describe the measured data, opening up future possibilities for significant improvement by using a large number of experimental measurements for training. The approach described in this work demonstrates the applicability of artificial intelligence to sensing technology and paves the road for the next generation of sensors.

Mimicking Synaptic Behaviors with Cross-Point Structured TiOx/TiOy-Based Filamentary RRAM for Neuromorphic Applications

This paper presents the fabrication and characterization of the cross-point structure 20 × 20 μm2 RRAM with TiOx/TiOy bi-layer insulator for synaptic application in neuromorphic systems. The measured oxygen concentration of the TiOx/TiOy switching layers of the fabricated devices using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed that the oxygen concentration ratio between TiOx and TiOy is ~ 1.5. After electroforming at ~ 5.62 V, the on/off ratio was ~ 76 at 0.2 V with the DC sweep voltage scheme. Synaptic behaviors including long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) were performed with 50 identical pulses for the implementation of RRAM into neuromorphic systems based on convolutional neural networks. Also, linearly increased (or decreased) 25 pulses were applied to the device so that the conductance changes linearly. The resulting linear LTP and LTD characteristics were mirror-symmetric, which could maximize the accuracy. For Hebbian learning, the device also mimicked the spike-timing-dependent plasticity properties with a conductance change from − 77.79% to 96.07% using a time-division multiplexing approach.

Monitoring deep brain stimulation by measuring regional brain oxygen responses in freely moving mice

BackgroundTranslational studies investigating the effects of deep brain stimulation (DBS) on brain function up to now mainly relied on BOLD responses measured with fMRI. However, fMRI studies in rodents face technical and practical limitations (e.g., immobilization, sedation or anesthesia, spatial and temporal resolution of data). Direct measurement of oxygen concentration in the brain using electrochemical sensors is a promising alternative to the use of fMRI. Here, we tested for the first time if such measurements can be combined with DBS. New methodWe combined bilateral DBS in the internal capsule (IC-DBS) with simultaneous amperometric measurements of oxygen in the medial prefrontal cortex (prelimbic area) and striatum of freely moving mice. Using a two-day within-animal experimental design, we tested the effects of DBS on baseline oxygen concentrations, and on novelty- and restraint-induced increases in oxygen concentration. ResultsBasal oxygen levels were stable across the daily sampling periods. Exposure to novelty and immobilization reproducibly increased oxygen concentrations in both areas. IC-DBS did not significantly alter basal oxygen, but reduced the novelty-induced increase in the striatum. Comparison with existing method(s)Amperometric detection of brain oxygen concentration with high temporal and spatial resolution can be performed in a number of key brain areas to study the effects of DBS in animal models of disease. The method is easily implemented and does not require expensive equipment or complicated data analysis processes. ConclusionsDirect and simultaneous measurement of brain oxygen concentration in multiple brain areas can be used to study the effects of bilateral DBS neuromodulation on brain activity in freely moving mice.