Measurement Sites Research Articles

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.

Are Radiographic Changes in the Mandibular Canal Associated With Bone Mineral Density?

Osteoporosis, highly prevalent among postmenopausal women, significantly reduces bone density and increases the risk of fractures. Cortical bone, which constitutes the largest calcium deposit in the human skeleton, is primarily affected in various conditions, including osteoporosis. Due to its visibility in panoramic radiography, the cortical area of the mandibular canal could be valuable in assessing decreases in bone mineral density (BMD). The study aimed to characterize and compare changes in the cortices of the mandibular canal between normal, osteopenic, and osteoporotic postmenopausal women. Our cross-sectional study analyzed postmenopausal patients. We included only patients with panoramic radiographs with good quality and who underwent osteoporosis risk assessment by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BMD was measured by DXA at 3 sites (spine, femur, and forearm) and used to classify the patients into normal, osteopenic, or osteoporotic. This classification remained consistent across all measurement sites. The main outcome variable was BMD of the mandibular canal cortices measured using black pixel intensity. Demographic covariates, including age, weight, height, and BMD, were assessed. One-way analysis of variance between groups considering a P<.05. The relationship between covariates and dependent variables was assessed using the Pearson correlation test. The sample comprised 52 postmenopausal women aged more than 40 years (mean age 61±10years), 26 (50%) normal, 18 (35%) osteopenic, and 8 (15%) osteoporotic. Significant differences were observed in the percentage of black pixels in the mandibular ramus between the groups. In this region, the average percentage of black pixels was 3.19% (± 0.65) for the normal group, 2.78% (±0.65) for the osteopenia group, and 2.35% (± 0.65) for the osteoporosis group (P=.015). No significant differences were found in other mandibular regions. Our findings demonstrate an association between BMD assessed in the mandibular canal cortex and the presence of osteoporosis as determined by DXA. While the observed differences in black pixel percentages in the mandibular ramus are minor, they are statistically significant, suggesting that panoramic radiography may serve as an adjunctive tool for osteoporosis screening.

Refining Planetary Boundary Layer Height Retrievals From Micropulse‐Lidar at Multiple ARM Sites Around the World

AbstractKnowledge of the planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) is crucial for various applications in atmospheric and environmental sciences. Lidar measurements are frequently used to monitor the evolution of the PBLH, providing more frequent observations than traditional radiosonde‐based methods. However, lidar‐derived PBLH estimates have substantial uncertainties, contingent upon the retrieval algorithm used. In addressing this, we applied the Different Thermo‐Dynamic Stabilities (DTDS) algorithm to establish a PBLH data set at five separate Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement sites across the globe. Both the PBLH methodology and the products are subject to rigorous assessments in terms of their uncertainties and constraints, juxtaposing them with other products. The DTDS‐derived product consistently aligns with radiosonde PBLH estimates, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.77 across all sites. This study delves into a detailed examination of the strengths and limitations of PBLH data sets with respect to both radiosonde‐derived and other lidar‐based estimates of the PBLH by exploring their respective errors and uncertainties. It is found that varying techniques and definitions can lead to diverse PBLH retrievals due to the inherent intricacy and variability of the boundary layer. Our DTDS‐derived PBLH data set outperforms existing products derived from ceilometer data, offering a more precise representation of the PBLH. This extensive data set paves the way for advanced studies and an improved understanding of boundary‐layer dynamics, with valuable applications in weather forecasting, climate modeling, and environmental studies.

Geospatial analysis for environmental noise mapping: A land use regression approach in a metropolitan city

Environmental noise can lead to adverse health outcomes. Understanding the spatial variability of environmental noise is crucial for mitigating potential health risks and developing influential urban strategies for reducing noise levels. This study aimed to measure noise levels and develop a land use regression (LUR) model to determine the spatial variability of environmental noise in Shiraz, Iran. A grid-based technique was used to establish 191 noise measurement sites (summer) across the city to generate the LUR model based on two noise metrics: Lden and Lnight. Leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) and 38 additional measurement sites (winter) were used for the LUR model assessment. The mean values of Lden and Lnight during summer were 68.20 (±8.05) and 58.95 (±9.55), respectively, while during winter, the corresponding values were 69.46 (±5.46) and 58.81 (±6.79). The LUR models explained 67% and 65% of the spatial variability in Lden and Lnight, respectively. LOOCV analysis demonstrated R2 values of 0.64 and 0.61. Moreover, findings indicated mean absolute error (MAE) values of 3.96 dB(A) for Lden and 4.74 dB(A) for Lnight. Validation based on an additional set of 38 measurement sites revealed R2 values of 0.62 for both Lden and Lnight, with MAE of 2.78 and 3.31, respectively. In addition, the adjusted R2 values were 0.54 and 0.53. The results indicated no significant temporal variations between summer and winter. The results revealed that road-related variables significantly influenced noise levels. Moreover, the results indicated that Lden and Lnight levels were higher than the World Health Organization recommendations for exposure to road traffic noise. The results of our study showed that the LUR modeling approach based on geographical predictors is an effective tool for assessing changes in ambient noise levels in other cities in Iran and around the globe.

Soil respiration across a variety of tree-covered urban green spaces in Helsinki, Finland

Abstract. As an increasing share of the human population is being clustered in cities, urban areas have swiftly become the epicentres of anthropogenic carbon (C) emissions. Understanding different parts of the biogenic C cycle in urban ecosystems is needed in order to assess the potential to enhance their C stocks as a cost-efficient means to balance the C emissions and mitigate climate change. Here, we conducted a field measurement campaign over three consecutive growing seasons to examine soil respiration carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks at four measurement sites in Helsinki, representing different types of tree-covered urban green space commonly found in northern European cities. We expected to find variation in the main drivers of soil respiration – soil temperature, soil moisture, and SOC – as a result of the heterogeneity of urban landscape and that this variation would be reflected in the measured soil respiration rates. In the end, we could see fairly constant statistically significant differences between the sites in terms of soil temperature but only sporadic and seemingly momentary differences in soil moisture and soil respiration. There were also statistically significant differences in SOC stocks: the highest SOC stock was found in inactively managed deciduous urban forest and the lowest under managed streetside lawn with common linden trees. We studied the impacts of the urban heat island (UHI) effect and irrigation on heterotrophic soil respiration with process-based model simulations and found that the variation created by the UHI is relatively minor compared to the increase associated with active irrigation, especially during dry summers. We conclude that, within our study area, the observed variation in soil temperature alone was not enough to cause variation in soil respiration rates between the studied green space types, perhaps because the soil moisture conditions were uniform. Thus, irrigation could potentially be a key factor in altering the soil respiration dynamics in urban green space both within the urban area and in comparison to non-urban ecosystems.

Retrogradation inhibition and intragranular distribution in cooked rice by addition of α-glucosidase (AG) and branching enzyme (BE)

The effect of inhibiting retrogradation and changes in chain length distribution by AG and BE, which are texture-modifying enzymes, has been clarified. To ascertain in which part of the rice grain retrogradation occurs and which enzymes is most effective, the degree of retrogradation in each part of the rice grain was measured from the surface to the core of the same rice grain using a synchrotron radiation X-ray beam with a beam size of 100 μm. Retrogradation was effectively suppressed at all measurement sites by enzyme addition, although the effect of enzymes was greater at the surface. Rice grain sections were stained with iodine and eosin. A starch layer that does not easily form a complex with iodine was observed inside the protein layer at the surface of cooked rice. A starch layer with a long molecular chain that forms complexes with iodine was observed inside the rice grain.

Recommendations for Updating Fever and Inflammation of Unknown Origin From a Modified Delphi Consensus Panel.

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) and inflammation of unknown origin (IUO) are syndromes commonly used as medical diagnoses. Since the existing literature has a mixture of diagnostic approaches, developing consensus-based recommendations would be helpful for clinicians, researchers, and patients. A modified Delphi process was performed from October 2022 to July 2023, involving 4 rounds of online surveys and 2 live video conferences. The panel comprised international experts recruited based on peer-reviewed published publications and studies. Among 50 invited experts, 26 (52.0%) agreed to participate. Twenty-three panelists completed round 1 of the survey, 21 completed rounds 2 and 3, 20 completed round 4, and 7 participated in round 5 live video discussions. Of the participants, 18 (78.3%) were academic-based clinicians and researchers, 5 (21.7%) practiced in a community-based hospital, and 6 (26.1%) were female. Consensus was reached on 5 themes: (1) incorporating epidemiologic factors, such as geographic location and travel history; (2) updated criteria for classifying FUO or IUO; (3) initial evaluation approaches; (4) a classification system for diagnoses; and (5) recommendations for judicious limitation of empiric therapies. Experts strongly disagreed with using 2-deoxy-2-[18F] fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography as part of the diagnostic criteria for FUO. There were mixed opinions about the importance of the temperature measurement site, the 3-week minimum illness criterion, the need for a standard definition of relapsing fevers, and the use of similar evaluation strategies for FUO and IUO. These Delphi-generated consensus-based recommendations offer potential improvements compared with earlier definitions and a guide for clinical practice and future research.

Mapping bedrock topography and detecting blind faults using the fundamental resonance of microtremor: a case study of the Pohang Basin, southeastern Korea

SUMMARY The Pohang Basin sustained the most extensive seismic damage in the history of instrumental recording in Korea due to the 2017 Mw 5.5 earthquake. The pattern of damage shows marked differences from a radial distribution, suggesting important contributions by local site effects. Our understanding of these site effects and their role in generating seismic damage within the study area remains incomplete, which indicates the need for a thorough exploration of subsurface information, including the thickness of soil to bedrock and basin geometry, in the Pohang Basin. We measured the depth to bedrock in the Pohang Basin using dense ambient noise measurements conducted at 698 sites. We propose a model of basin geometry based on depths and dominant frequencies derived from the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) of microtremor at 698 sites. Most microseismic measurements exhibit one or more clear HVSR peak(s), implying one or more strong impedance contrast(s), which are presumed to represent the interface between the basement and overlying basin-fill sediments at each measurement site. The ambient seismic noise induces resonance at frequencies as low as 0.32 Hz. The relationship between resonance frequency and bedrock depth was derived using data from 27 boreholes to convert the dominant frequencies measured at stations adjacent to the boreholes into corresponding depths to the strong impedance contrast. The relationship was then applied to the dominant frequencies to estimate the depth to bedrock over the whole study area. Maps of resonance frequency and the corresponding depth to bedrock for the study area show that the greatest depths to bedrock are in the coastal area. The maps also reveal lower fundamental frequencies in the area west of the Gokgang Fault. The results indicate a more complex basin structure than previously proposed based on a limited number of direct borehole observations and surface geology. The maps and associated profiles across different parts of the study area show pronounced changes in bedrock depth near inferred blind faults proposed in previous studies, suggesting that maps of bedrock depth based on the HVSR method can be used to infer previously unknown features, including concealed or blind faults that are not observed at the surface.

TcPO2 changes are more pronounced than SpO2 changes during simulated altitude changes in a hypobaric oxygen chamber: a nonrandomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Hypoxia is a significant risk factor of hypertension. However, no studies have used transcutaneous tissue partial pressure of oxygen (TcPO2) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (TcPCO2) monitors to measure the respective partial pressures in healthy individuals. Oxygen saturation (SpO2) is often used for traditional monitoring of vital signs. This study investigated the changes in TcPO2 and SpO2 values during rapid changes in altitude. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (registration no. NCT06076057). Methods Healthy adult volunteers were instructed to sit vertically in a hypobaric oxygen chamber, which ascended from 0 m to 2500 m at a uniform speed within 10 min. The Danish Radiometer TCM4 was used to measure TcPO2 and TcPCO2 with the ventral side of the upper arm as the measurement site. The Shenzhen Kerokan P0D-1 W pulse oximeter was used to measure heart rate and SpO2, with values recorded once every 500 m. Results Altogether, 49 healthy volunteers were recruited between March 2023 and August 2023. With increasing altitude, TcPO2 and SpO2 decreased significantly (P &lt; 0.01). During the ascent from 0 m, TcPO2 began to change statistically at 500 m (P &lt; 0.05), whereas SpO2 began to change statistically at 1000 m (P &lt; 0.05). At the same altitude, the difference in TcPO2 was greater than the difference in SpO2. At 1000 m, there were statistically significant changes in TcPO2 and SpO2 (P &lt; 0.001). At altitudes &gt;500 m, statistical significance was identified between TcPO2 in both sexes (P &lt; 0.05). Statistical significance in TcPCO2 and heart rate was observed at the different elevations (P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion In acutely changing low-pressure hypoxic environments, TcPO2 changed more dramatically than SpO2.