Oral Temperature Research Articles

Microbiological Spectrum of Neutropenic Sepsis in Cancer Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Health Care Centre.

To examine the microbiological profile, sensitivity of organisms, treatment and outcomes of in-patients suffering from febrile neutropenia in a tertiary healthcare centre. Data was obtained from the Electronic Medical Health records in Aster Medcity, Cochin, IND. The study population included adult patients undergoing treatment for hematologic malignancies or solid tumors in the hospital between January 2021 and March 2023. Febrile neutropenia episodes were identified based on (1) absolute neutrophil count ≤1500 mm3, (2) at least a single recorded oral temperature of >38.0∘C (100.4∘F) sustained over a one-hour period. Febrile neutropenia consequences included ICU admission, length of ICU admission, and mortality. Total 115 cases of febrile neutropenia were identified in the time period from January 2021 to March 2023. Organisms were isolated from 43% of all the cultures taken. The most common organism isolated was Klebsiella pneumoniae (32.81%), followed by Escherichia coli (29.69%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.94%). Other organisms that were also isolated were Candida albicans (3.13%), Aeromonas hydrophilia, Acinetobacter baumannii, Burkholderia cepacia, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hemolyticus, Streptococcus spp, and one case of Ralstonia mannitolytica. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) was seen in 33% of isolates and extensive-drug resistance was seen in 19% of isolates. E. coli showed the highest prevalence of antibiotic resistance with 68% growing MDR isolates and 16% growing XDR isolates. ICU stay was required in 34% of patients with a median duration of stay of three days. A mortality rate of 16.52% was seen, with 17.11% in hematological malignancies and 15.38% in solid tumors. This study showed an increasing prevalence of Gram-negative bacterial infection in patients with febrile neutropenia. It also shows a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance in microbes in febrile neutropenia. Larger multi-hospital studies are required to better understand the microbiological profile of febrile neutropenia and identify the developing antimicrobial resistance trends.

Liquid-crystal-based fiber laser sensor for non-invasive gas detection.

This Letter reports a new optical fiber gas sensor for measuring breath acetone. The sensor is based on photonic bandgap (PBG) mode laser emission sensing technology using liquid crystal (LC), which is combined with silica fiber and chiral nematic liquid crystal (CNLC), thus providing an ultra-compact, fast-response and simple-to-produce sensing system with a fast response that can accurately and quantitatively determine the concentration of respiratory acetone within the normal oral temperature range (35-38°C). Since LCs are affected by temperature, we propose a method that eliminates the influence of the temperature to solve the problem of the temperature influence when measuring gas. The detection of acetone leads to splitting of the dual laser peaks, with a linear correlation of 0.99. The sensor has a limit of detection of 65 ppm for acetone vapor and thus is suitable for breath acetone detection in diabetic patients.

Influence of Popular Beverages on the Fracture Resistance of Implant-Supported Bis-Acrylic Resin Provisional Crowns: An In Vitro Study.

Implant-supported provisional restorations are critical for improving the esthetics and shaping of the peri-implant tissue. The mechanical properties of these provisional materials can be influenced by saliva, food, beverages, and interactions between these materials in the oral environment. Therefore, the integrity of provisional restorations should be preserved throughout the treatment period. This study aimed to evaluate the fracture strength of implant-supported polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) provisional restorations made of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing when immersed in different solutions at a controlled temperature of 37 °C for 7 days. Each analog-pillar-crown set was submerged in different liquids: 10 pieces were placed in distilled water then in tea, coffee, red wine, and Coca Cola® for 1 week at a controlled oral temperature of 37 °C. The samples were then subjected to fracture forces. The moment of fracture of the crown was recorded and compared with those of the other samples. Specimens immersed in distilled water (control group) had the highest fracture resistance (mean [M] = 1331.00 ± 296.74 N), while those immersed in tea had the lowest mean resistance to fracture (mean [M] = 967.00 ± 281.86 N). Nutritional deficiency and inappropriate eating habits influence the fracture strength of temporary crowns, thereby rendering them more elastic or less resistant to fractures.

The Risk of Rectal Temperature Measurement in Neutropenia.

Avoiding rectal thermometry is recommended in patients with neutropenic fever. Permeability of the anal mucosa may result in a higher risk of bacteremia in these patients. Still, this recommendation is based on only a few studies. This retrospective study included all individuals admitted to our emergency department during 2014-2017 with afebrile (body temperature <38.3°C) neutropenia (neutrophil count <500 cells/microL) who were over the age of 18. Patients were stratified by the presence or absence of a rectal temperature measurement. The primary outcome was bacteremia during the first five days of index hospitalization; the secondary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The study included 40 patients with rectal temperature measurements and 407 patients whose temperatures were only measured orally. Among patients with oral temperature measurements, 10.6% had bacteremia, compared to 5.1% among patients who had rectal temperature measurements. Rectal temperature measurement was not associated with bacteremia, neither in non-matched (odds ratio [OR] 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.07-1.77) nor in matched cohort analyses (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.04-3.29). In-hospital mortality was also similar between the groups. Patients with neutropenia who had their temperature taken using a rectal thermometer did not experience a higher frequency of events of documented bacteremia or increased in-hospital mortality.

Heat Stress Vulnerability Among Small-Scale Factory Workers and Adaptive Strategies in Ahmedabad: a Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Global warming is likely to affect certain groups such as workers in heat-producing industries. With limited research exploring such an important area, this study aimed to explore the heat stress vulnerability and adaptive strategies of indoor small-scale factory workers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study and a mixed-method approach was used. The study setting was small-scale factory units. The quantitative component included environmental and biological monitoring from six units of steel rolling mills and foundry in the summer and winter seasons. The study was conducted during the period of November-2018 and May 2019. Heat stress was measured among workers using a portable Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) meter. The physiological parameters of workers were also measured. The qualitative component included in-depth interviews of workers and supervisors from eleven units. Results: The maximum temperatures recorded at steel rolling mills and foundry crossed Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) threshold (27.5℃) in summer as well as winter. The mean WBGT at the steel rolling mill recorded 31.5℃. The physiological measurements of workers also crossed the threshold level for heart rate and oral temperature in steel rolling and foundry units. The units had mechanisms to dissipate heat but lack a temperature monitoring mechanism inside the units. The workers wore lighter or fewer clothes as an adaptive measure but uncomfortable PPEs in foundry units were avoided. Conclusion: Heat stress in small-scale industry units was found high and there is a high need to develop specific strategies for such vulnerably high heat-exposed groups.

Continuous temperature monitoring: A systematic review of literature findings.

e13625 Background: Recent studies have determined continuous temperature monitoring (CTM) identifies fever up to 12 hours earlier than intermittent temperature monitoring in patients with neutropenic fever. In 2010, Van Vliet showed CTM enabled the early administration of antibiotics. Verma and colleagues (2021) reported that self-monitored temperature taking was frequently inaccurate. Nessle et al. (2022) observed 2 instances of fever, associated with bloodstream infections, detected by CTM 5 hours and 12 hours earlier than oral temperature. CTM records 8,640 data points in 24 hours versus the current standard of care (SOC), which typically measures up to 6 data points in 24 hours. The increased frequency of data collection presents a comprehensive picture of the patient’s status which enables earlier detection in trends or patterns of fever. As a result, earlier medical evaluation and prompt administration of antibiotics has led to improved patient care and outcomes. Methods: A literature review was executed to determine the validity of evidence available related to CTM utilization in both oncology and other high-risk therapeutic areas. Levels of evidence were assigned based on the design, methodology, validity, and applicability of the studies. Journal impact scores were added to support findings and implementation into real-world practices. A table was created to organize the data, including level of evidence, journal impact score, and study results. Results: This review of the literature included 17 documents related to CTM. Levels of evidence for CTM include 4 documents with Level 1 and 5 documents with Level 2 evidence. The journal impact scores found 6 of the 17 documents to be above 5. Overall, the study results showed a positive correlation between the use of CTM and earlier fever detection. Conclusions: CTM use has grown in recent years; however, there is still a need for randomized controlled trials to observe health economic, and clinical outcomes. CTM allows for earlier detection of fever, improving patient outcomes over SOC in high-risk patients. CTM should be considered a clinical decision tool to enhance current vital sign monitoring, thereby improving neutropenic patient care.

Four kinds of body temperatures and their relationships with thermal perception

Body temperature serves as the principal factor in thermal perception determination. Current thermal comfort researches mainly focused on skin temperature, while other kinds of body temperatures were often ignored. In laboratory with strictly controlled environment, 26 subjects (13 males and 13 females) remained seated for a duration of 130 min in two thermal environments (19 °C and 35 °C), arranged in a particular order; four kinds of body temperatures (skin temperature, oral temperature, auditory canal temperature and breath temperature) and three kinds of thermal perception votes (thermal sensation, thermal comfort and thermal acceptable) were regularly collected. The analysis results showed that, skin temperature and breath temperature significantly changed with ambient temperature (p < 0.001); the difference between average value of core temperature in two conditions was small (≤0.3 °C), but a significant difference was almost observed in auditory canal temperature of males (p = 0.07). Both skin temperature and breath temperature were significantly related with three subjective votes (p < 0.001), meanwhile, the prediction accuracy of breath temperature for thermal perception was in no way inferior to skin temperature. Although oral temperature and auditory canal temperature had partial significant correlations with thermal perception, they were difficult to be carried out in practical application due to their weak explanatory powers (correlation coefficient <0.3). In summary, this research tried to establish correlation laws between body temperatures and thermal perception votes during a temperature step-change experiment, while finding the potential of utilizing breath temperature for thermal perception prediction, which is expected to be further promoted in the future.

Abstract CT170: Initial safety and feasibility results from a first-in-human clinical trial evaluating a novel magnetic hyperthermia approach for the treatment of metastatic solid tumors

Abstract A novel approach for cancer therapy was developed, comprising of magnetic multicore iron oxide nanoparticles (SaNPs) and alternating magnetic field (AMF) application. SaNPs are administered IV to the patient and accumulate in tumors through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. The patient then undergoes regional AMF application (300kHz) that is converted to thermal energy, inducing sub-ablative hyperthermic cancer cell death. Based on extensive pre-clinical testing, treatment was proven safe and biocompatible in animal models without any associated toxicities. Efficacy studies in a murine metastatic cancer model, demonstrated the ability to reduce the number and size of metastatic lesions. Methods: A First-in-Human open label dose escalation study was designed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of treatment in patients (n=18) with advanced metastatic solid tumors. A secondary objective was to evaluate initial efficacy signs. Eligibility criteria included patients with a life expectancy of at least 30 days with measurable disease according to RECIST 1.1. The patients underwent toxicity analysis and MRI scans without contrast media before (baseline), after treatment, and at the end of the follow-up period of 1 month. Vital signs were monitored before, during, and after treatment. Measurements included ECG, oral and body surface temperatures, blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. Results: 3 patients were enrolled in the first cohort that received a single SaNP injection of 10% (first dose level) without AMF. No systemic toxicity was observed. 7 patients were then enrolled and SaNP was administered at the same dose followed by AMF irradiation (first dose level of 40%) of the torso area, conducted for two intervals of 5 min. each. SaNP administration procedures were successful in all cases whereas, 3 patients succeeded to complete the full treatment in accordance to the study protocol. During AMF exposure, the patients were covered with a cooling blanket and temperatures were monitored using fiber-optic sensors. There were no significant temperature deviations beside one patient, where a rise in oral temperature was noted due to the presence of dental implants which heated up. In all patients there were no significant differences in any of the vital signs post-injection nor before or after AMF except for one patient, for whom increased heart rate was observed during irradiation, returning to baseline thereafter. No treatment-related abnormal clinical pathology or urinalysis results were identified. Some fluctuations were observed, attributed to the disease stage. Although tumor response was not expected at the first dose levels, MRI and CT results for one patient showed a reduction in a breast tumor and in another patient, stable disease was reported. Conclusion: SaNP administration either alone or followed by AMF application was not associated with any significant adverse reactions, and no clinical or humoral toxicity was observed at initial doses of 10% SaNP and 40% AMF. Citation Format: Sarah Kraus, Cheri Tal, Boaz Shalev, Moshe Eltanani, Pazit Rukenstein, Shir Arbib, Michal Eck, Raz Khandadash, Shaul Atar, Arnoldo Cyjon, Ofer Shalev. Initial safety and feasibility results from a first-in-human clinical trial evaluating a novel magnetic hyperthermia approach for the treatment of metastatic solid tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 2 (Clinical Trials and Late-Breaking Research); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(8_Suppl):Abstract nr CT170.

The Value of Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer in Measuring Temperatures of Different Body Surfaces: A Clinical Diagnostic Study

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the optimal cutoff value for fever based on temperature measurements of different body surfaces using a non-contact infrared thermometer. Methods: A total of 229 participants were conveniently sampled for this clinical diagnostic study. Oral temperature was measured using a mercury thermometer, while the temperatures of the forehead, neck, and wrists were measured using a non-contact infrared thermometer. The differences and linear relationships between the temperature measurements of different body surfaces and oral temperature were analyzed using statistical methods. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to determine the optimal cutoff values for fever on the forehead, neck, and wrists. Results: The optimal cutoff values for fever on the neck, forehead, and wrists were 37.1°C, 36.9°C, and 36.8°C, respectively, as measured by the non-contact infrared thermometer. Conclusion: The non-contact infrared thermometer is a reliable tool for measuring body surface temperatures. The optimal cutoff values for fever using a non-contact infrared thermometer are 37.1°C for the neck, 36.9°C for the forehead, and 36.8°C for the wrists.

Disinfection and Isotonic Drinks' Influence on Hardness and Color Stability of Ethylene-Vinyl-Acetate Copolymer Mouthguards Used in Martial Arts: An In Vitro Study.

This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the hardness and color change of an ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymer (EVA) material for mouthguards after exposition to different cleaning agent solutions and isotonic drinks. Four hundred samples were prepared and divided into four equinumerous groups (n = 100), in which there were 25 samples from each color of EVA (red, green, blue and white). The hardness, using the digital durometer, and the color coordinates (CIE L*a*b*), using the digital colorimeter, were measured before the first exposition and after 3 months of exposition to spray disinfection and incubation in the oral cavity temperature, or immersion in isotonic drinks. The values of Shore A hardness (HA) and color change (ΔE-calculated by Euclidean distance) were statistically analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, multiple comparison ANOVA/Kruskal-Wallis and appropriate post-hoc tests. Statistically significant changes in color and hardness between the tested groups were demonstrated after the use of agents predestined for disinfecting the surface of mouthguards on the tested samples. There were no statistically significant differences in color and hardness between the groups immersed in isotonic sport drinks potentially consumed by competitors practicing combat sports using mouthguards. Despite the changes in color and hardness after the use of disinfectants, the deviations were minor and limited to specific colors of the EVA plates. The intake of isotonic drinks practically did not change either the color or the hardness of the samples, regardless of the tested color of the EVA plates.

Relationship Between Oral Temperature and Bacteremia in Hospitalized Patients.

Early recognition and treatment of bacteremia can be lifesaving. Fever is a well-known marker of bacteremia, but the predictive value of temperature has not been fully explored. To describe temperature as a predictor of bacteremia and other infections. Retrospective review of electronic health record data. A single healthcare system comprising 13 hospitals in the United States. Adult medical patients admitted in 2017 or 2018 without malignancy or immunosuppression. Maximum temperature, bacteremia, influenza and skin and soft tissue (SSTI) infections based on blood cultures and ICD-10 coding. Of 97,174 patients, 1,518 (1.6%) had bacteremia, 1,392 (1.4%) had influenza, and 3,280 (3.3%) had an SSTI. There was no identifiable temperature threshold that provided adequate sensitivity and specificity for bacteremia. Only 45% of patients with bacteremia had a maximum temperature ≥ 100.4˚F (38˚C). Temperature showed a U-shaped relationship with bacteremia with highest risk above 103˚F (39.4˚C). Positive likelihood ratios for influenza and SSTI also increased with temperature but showed a threshold effect at ≥ 101.0 ˚F (38.3˚C). The effect of temperature was similar but blunted for patients aged ≥ 65years, who frequently lacked fever despite bacteremia. The majority of bacteremic patients had maximum temperatures below 100.4 ˚F (38.0˚C) and positive likelihood ratios for bacteremia increased with high temperatures above the traditional definition of fever. Efforts to predict bacteremia should incorporate temperature as a continuous variable.

Oral sensation and gastrointestinal digestive profiles of bigels tuned by the mass ratio of konjac glucomannan to gelatin in the binary hydrogel matrix

Bigels with tunable oral sensation and controlled gastrointestinal digestive profiles are highly demanded in the food industry. A binary hydrogel consisting of different mass ratio of konjac glucomannan to gelatin (φ) was designed to fabricate bigels with stearic acid oleogel. The impacts of φ on the structural, rheological, tribological, flavor release, and delivery properties of bigels were investigated. Structural transition of bigels from hydrogel-in-oleogel to bi-continuous, and then to oleogel-in-hydrogel type, as φ increased from 0.6 to 0.8, and then to 1.0–1.2. Enhanced storage modulus and yield stress were achieved along with the increased φ, while the structure-recovery properties of bigel decreased with increased φ. Under all the tested φ, the viscoelastic modulus and viscosity decreased significantly at oral temperatures but maintained the gel state, and the friction coefficient increased along with the increased φ under high chewing degree. Flexible control over the swelling, the lipid digestion and the release of lipophilic cargos were also observed, with the total release of free fatty acids and quercetin significantly reduced with the increased φ. This study presents a novel manipulation strategy to control oral sensation and gastrointestinal digestive profiles of bigels via tuning the fraction of konjac glucomannan in the binary hydrogel.

The Effect of Bright Light Intervention on Sleepiness and Oral Temperature of Night Health Care Workers in Hospital: A Clinical Trial Study

The Effect of Bright Light Intervention on Sleepiness and Oral Temperature of Night Health Care Workers in Hospital: A Clinical Trial Study

CLINICAL PROFILE OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY IN ACUTE FEBRILE ILLNESS WITH THROMBOCYTOPENIA

Background:Acute febrile illness is defined as an acute febrile syndrome with oral temperature over 37.5 degree Celsius within last 24 hours and less than 2 weeks of duration with non-specific Symptoms that will not help us to localize to a particular system. Aim:The aim of this study was to- Study the Incidence and Spectrum of acute kidney injury in acute febrile illness with Thrombocytopenia. Materials and Methods:Observational cross sectional study of admitted patients who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria in Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, from admission to discharge. Results:Stage I acute kidney injury accounts for 84 cases, stage II accounts for 14 cases &amp; stage III accounts for 2 cases. Stage I(84%) acute kidney injury is the most common and majority of cases among the various acute febrile illness with thrombocytopenia compared to stage II(14%) and stage III (2%). Conclusion: Most of the cases had stage I acute kidney injury and recovered completely at discharge. Dengue fever is the most common cases in this study Out of 100 patients &gt;90 mL/min/1.73 m2 is seen in 70 patients, &gt;60 mL/min/1.73 m2 is seen in 16 patients, &gt;15 mL/min/1.73 m2 is seen in 13 patients and 1 patient died.

MANAGEMENT OF FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA IN LUNG CANCER

Febrile neutropenia (FN) is defined as an oral temperature of &gt;38.3° C or two consecutive measures &gt; 38° C within 2 hours accompanied by an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of 500/L or a predicted decrease below 500/L in individuals undergoing systemic chemotherapy for cancer. FN is one of the oncological emergencies that can influence cancer patients' outcomes since it can increase morbidity, treatment delays, decreased survival, and expanded costs. The incidence of FN is 3.7-28% in lung cancer patients. Mortality associated with FN episodes is 15%. FN risk factors include chemotherapy regimen, age, comorbidities, mucositis, performance status, and previous FN history. Validated predicted instruments such as The Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) or The Clinical Index of Stable Febrile Neutropenia (CISNE) score could assist in risk assessment of FN and determine advanced management. Effective therapy of FN requires investigation of diagnosis as soon as possible and acknowledging the potential source of infection. The prophylactic granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSF) and anti-microbials successfully reduced mortality due to FN.

Pharmacological effects of methylone and MDMA in humans.

Methylone is one of the most common synthetic cathinones popularized as a substitute for 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, midomafetamine) owing to its similar effects among users. Both psychostimulants exhibit similar chemistry (i.e., methylone is a β-keto analog of MDMA) and mechanisms of action. Currently, the pharmacology of methylone remains scarcely explored in humans. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the acute pharmacological effects of methylone and its abuse potential in humans when compared with that of MDMA following oral administration under controlled conditions. Seventeen participants of both sexes (14 males, 3 females) with a previous history of psychostimulant use completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial. Participants received a single oral dose of 200mg of methylone, 100mg of MDMA, and a placebo. The variables included physiological effects (blood pressure, heart rate, oral temperature, pupil diameter), subjective effects using visual analog scales (VAS), the short form of the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI), the Evaluation of Subjective Effects of Substances with Abuse Potential questionnaire (VESSPA-SSE), and the Sensitivity to Drug Reinforcement Questionnaire (SDRQ), and psychomotor performance (Maddox wing, psychomotor vigilance task). We observed that methylone could significantly increase blood pressure and heart rate and induce pleasurable effects, such as stimulation, euphoria, wellbeing, enhanced empathy, and altered perception. Methylone exhibited an effect profile similar to MDMA, with a faster overall onset and earlier disappearance of subjective effects. These results suggest that abuse potential of methylone is comparable to that of MDMA in humans. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05488171; Identifier: NCT05488171.

Pulse Oximetry Improves COVID-19 Screening Sensitivity by Detecting Asymptomatic and Afebrile Infections in a Case Control Study.

SARS-CoV-2 has spread quickly despite the implementation of various strategies to limit the spread of the disease. Current screening procedures are unable to detect asymptomatic infections. This study reports the prevalence of abnormal vital signs among incarcerated individuals with asymptomatic infections and proposes an enhanced screening algorithm that may detect asymptomatic infections. A case control study used a retrospective electronic chart review of COVID-19 infected people and matched controls housed in one Federal Bureau of Prisons institution. Data were collected on age, body mass index, medical history, temperature, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), and symptoms. Fifty-seven laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infections and 81 confirmed controls were identified. Asymptomatic infections were present in 35/57 people (61%) with a group minimum SpO2 94.4% (standard deviation [SD] 1.4) and a maximum oral temperature of 99.19°F (SD 0.36). An enhanced screening algorithm that uses pulse oximetry yields a sensitivity of 84.2%, 95% confidence interval [72.1-92.5]. Among asymptomatic people, there is a high prevalence of abnormal SpO2 and temperature measurements. A screening algorithm that uses both of these measures can detect asymptomatic infections with a low false positive rate.

Roboswab: A Covid-19 Thermal Imaging Detector Based on Oral and Facial Temperatures

The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been the precursor of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The symptoms of COVID-19 begin with the common cold and then become very severe, such as those of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Currently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is used to detect COVID-19 accurately, but it causes some side effects to the patient when the test is performed. Therefore, the proposed "Roboswab" was developed that uses thermal imaging to measure non-contact facial and oral temperature. This study focuses on the performance of the proposed equipment in measuring facial and oral temperature from various distances. Face detection also involves checking whether the subject is wearing a mask or not. Image processing methods with thermal imaging and robotic manipulators are integrated into a contact-free detector that is inexpensive, accurate, and painless. This research has successfully detected masked or non-masked faces and accurately detected facial temperature. The results showed that the accurate measurement of facial temperature with a mask is 90% with an error of +/- 0.05%, while it was 100% without a mask. On the other hand, the oral temperature was measured with 97% accuracy and an error of less than 5%. The optimal distance of the Roboswab to the face for measuring temperature is an average of 60 cm. The Roboswab tool equipped with masked or non-masked face detection can be used for early detection of COVID-19 without direct contact with patients.

An experimental evaluation on thermal comfort and fatigue of human wearing mascot costumes in summer

Abstract Staffs wearing mascot costumes are quite common in performances and commercial promotions, but the internal thermal environment is usually poor in summer due to the high heat resistance of clothes and low ventilation efficiency, which increase the fatigue and discomfortable level of staffs greatly. In this study, thermal sensation and fatigue of human wearing mascot costumes in summer were explored. The three physiological indicators, including oral temperature, skin temperature and weight loss percentage, were measured, while the subjective indicators including thermal sensation, moisture sensation, air movement sensation, thermal comfort and fatigue level were inquired by a survey questionnaire. The results showed that compared volunteers dressed normal cloths, the average oral and skin temperatures of volunteers wearing mascot costumes was increased by 0.15°C and 0.60°C and their weight loss percentage was increased by 20.5%. Through the 40-minute experiment, the thermal discomfort votes of two groups are 3.22 (higher than ‘very uncomfortable (+3)’) and 1.51 (between ‘a little uncomfortable (+1)’ and ‘uncomfortable (+2)’), respectively, while their fatigue votes are 13.07 and 7.02, respectively. It showed wearing mascot costumes increased thermal discomfort and fatigue greatly.

Oral Temperature and pH Influence Dietary Nitrate Metabolism in Healthy Adults.

This study tested the hypothesis that the increases in salivary and plasma [NO2-] after dietary NO3- supplementation would be greater when oral temperature and pH were independently elevated, and increased further when oral temperature and pH were elevated concurrently. Seven healthy males (mean ± SD, age 23 ± 4 years) ingested 70 mL of beetroot juice concentrate (BR, which provided ~6.2 mmol NO3-) during six separate laboratory visits. In a randomised crossover experimental design, salivary and plasma [NO3-] and [NO2-] were assessed at a neutral oral pH with a low (TLo-pHNorm), intermediate (TMid-pHNorm), and high (THi-pHNorm) oral temperature, and when the oral pH was increased at a low (TLo-pHHi), intermediate (TMid-pHHi), and high (THi-pHHi) oral temperature. Compared with the TMid-pHNorm condition (976 ± 388 µM), the mean salivary [NO2-] 1-3 h post BR ingestion was higher in the TMid-pHHi (1855 ± 423 µM), THi-pHNorm (1371 ± 653 µM), THi-pHHi (1792 ± 741 µM), TLo-pHNorm (1495 ± 502 µM), and TLo-pHHi (2013 ± 662 µM) conditions, with salivary [NO2-] also higher at a given oral temperature when the oral pH was increased (p < 0.05). Plasma [NO2-] was higher 3 h post BR ingestion in the TMid-pHHi, THi-pHHi, and TLo-pHHi conditions, but not the TLo-pHNorm and THi-pHNorm conditions, compared with TMid-pHNorm (p < 0.05). Therefore, despite ingesting the same NO3- dose, the increases in salivary [NO2-] varied depending on the temperature and pH of the oral cavity, while the plasma [NO2-] increased independently of oral temperature, but to a greater extent at a higher oral pH.