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Archivos Espanoles de Urologia Jan 2022Usefulness and Acceptability of a Smart pH Meter and Mobile Medical App as a Monitoring Tool in Patients with Urolithiasis: Short-term Prospective Study.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Usefulness and Acceptability of a Smart pH Meter and Mobile Medical App as a Monitoring Tool in Patients with Urolithiasis: Short-term Prospective Study.
OBJECTIVE
An accurate strategy for regularly measuring urine pH is the use of portable electronic pH meters. This study evaluated the usefulness and acceptability of the smart Lit-Control® pH Meter connected with a companion mobile medical application (myLit-Control(R) App) used by patients with urolithiasis for home monitoring of urine pH. We also examined adherence and compliance rates, and users´ satisfaction levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective study conducted in 10 centers from Spain. Adult patients with a history of urolithiasis were recruited and instructed to carry out a pH measurement with the pH meter three times per day for two weeks. User tasks included turning on the device, registration and on boarding processes in the App, sync the device and the App, and data dumping. At the end of the trial, we evaluated the level of adherence and usage compliance. Participants' perceptions about the usefulness, acceptability, and satisfaction with the device/App were collected through the Computer System Usability Questionnaire (CSUQ) and subjective surveys. RESULTS: Participants were 27 men and 10 women. The mean age of participants was 48.7 (SD = 10.4) years, ranging from 25 to 66. The predominant type of stone was calcium oxalate. The mean pH of all readings was 5.83 (SD = 0.41). Seventy-three (73%) patients met the "good adherence" criterion (not being more than 2 days without recording any pH value). The compliance (actual vs. theoretical readings) was 87.6%. Participants rated the usability of the App 5.4 and above (on a 7-point scale) in all the items of CSUQ. Satisfaction was high, as indicated by the mean score of 6.0 in item 16. In the subjective questionnaire (0 to 3 scale), nearly all mean values were above 2. Patients scored their probability to recommend the App with an average of 8.2 on a 0 to 10 scale.
CONCLUSION
The new smart Lit-Control® pH Meter and the accompanying medical App were deemed useful and acceptable by urolithiasis patients as a portable tool for urine pH monitoring at home. The usage compliance rates were high and the satisfaction with the products was good.
Topics: Adult; Calcium Oxalate; Female; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Middle Aged; Mobile Applications; Prospective Studies; Urolithiasis
PubMed: 35173078
DOI: No ID Found -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2022Power system facility calibration is a compulsory task that requires in-site operations. In this work, we propose a remote calibration device that incorporates edge...
Power system facility calibration is a compulsory task that requires in-site operations. In this work, we propose a remote calibration device that incorporates edge intelligence so that the required calibration can be accomplished with little human intervention. Our device entails a wireless serial port module, a Bluetooth module, a video acquisition module, a text recognition module, and a message transmission module. First, the wireless serial port is used to communicate with edge node, the Bluetooth is used to search for nearby Bluetooth devices to obtain their state information and the video is used to monitor the calibration process in the calibration lab. Second, to improve the intelligence, we propose a smart meter reading method in our device that is based on artificial intelligence to obtain information about calibration meters. We use a mini camera to capture images of calibration meters, then we adopt the Efficient and Accurate Scene Text Detector (EAST) to complete text detection, finally we built the Convolutional Recurrent Neural Network (CRNN) to complete the recognition of the meter data. Finally, the message transmission module is used to transmit the recognized data to the database through Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP). Our device solves the problem that some calibration meters cannot return information, thereby improving the remote calibration intelligence.
Topics: Artificial Intelligence; Calibration; Humans; Intelligence; Monitoring, Physiologic; Neural Networks, Computer
PubMed: 35009864
DOI: 10.3390/s22010322 -
ENeuro 2022Music induces people to coordinate with one another. Here, we conduct two experiments to examine the underlying mechanism of the interbrain synchronization (IBS) that is...
Music induces people to coordinate with one another. Here, we conduct two experiments to examine the underlying mechanism of the interbrain synchronization (IBS) that is induced by interpersonal coordination when people are exposed to musical beat and meter. In experiment 1, brain signals at the frontal cortex were recorded simultaneously from two participants of a dyad by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning, while each tapped their fingers to aural feedback from their partner (coordination task) or from themselves (independence task) with and without the musical meter. The results showed enhanced IBS at the left-middle frontal cortex in case of the coordination task with musical beat and meter. The IBS was significantly correlated with the participants performance in terms of coordination. In experiment 2, we further examined the IBS while the participants coordinated their behaviors in various metrical contexts, such as strong and weak meters (i.e., high/low loudness of acoustically accenting beats). The results showed that strong meters elicited higher IBS at the middle frontal cortex than weak meters. These findings reveal that the musical beat and meter can affect brain-to-brain coupling in action coordination between people, and provide insights into the interbrain mechanism underlying the effects of music on cooperation.
Topics: Humans; Brain; Diencephalon; Interpersonal Relations; Music; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
PubMed: 36280287
DOI: 10.1523/ENEURO.0504-21.2022 -
Arthritis Care & Research Apr 2021Little is known regarding what difference in functional performance measures is significant in individuals with chronic medical disease. Our objective was to examine the...
OBJECTIVE
Little is known regarding what difference in functional performance measures is significant in individuals with chronic medical disease. Our objective was to examine the important differences in gait speed in adults with radiographic knee osteoarthritis.
METHODS
Functional performance was measured by gait speed using 20-meter and 400-meter walk tests performed at a self-selected usual pace among adults with radiographic knee osteoarthritis participating in the Osteoarthritis Initiative at baseline and 2 years later. Both distribution-based methods and anchor-based methods were used to calculate the important differences in gait speed. Anchor-based methods used the chair stand rate and self-reported function to estimate gait speed differences related to physical function.
RESULTS
We included 2,527 participants with radiographic knee osteoarthritis. Distribution-based important difference estimates for the 20-meter walk ranged from 4.1 to 6.4 meters/minute and 400-meter walk estimates ranged from 2.9 to 6.5 meters/minute. Prevalent (cross-sectional) anchor-based estimates for the 20-meter walk ranged from 5.4 to 6.9 meters/minute and for the 400-meter walk ranged from 3.0 to 6.9 meters/minute. Longitudinal anchor-based estimates were deemed unreliable. Combining distribution-based with prevalent anchor-based methods showed that an important gait speed difference for the 20-meter walk is between 4.1 and 6.9 meters/minute and for the 400-meter walk is between 2.9 and 6.9 meters/minute.
CONCLUSION
Our results found that the important difference in gait speed for the 20-meter walk and the 400-meter walk is consistent with important difference estimates for older adult populations. These findings can provide benchmarks for assessing and understanding functional performance outcomes when comparing exposure groups and can be used in designing future studies targeting adults with radiographic knee osteoarthritis.
Topics: Aged; Female; Functional Status; Gait Analysis; Humans; Knee Joint; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Predictive Value of Tests; Prospective Studies; Time Factors; United States; Walking Speed
PubMed: 32004424
DOI: 10.1002/acr.24159 -
Pediatric Research Mar 2021Transcutaneous bilirubinometry is a widely used screening method for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Deviation of the transcutaneous bilirubin concentration (TcB) from the...
BACKGROUND
Transcutaneous bilirubinometry is a widely used screening method for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Deviation of the transcutaneous bilirubin concentration (TcB) from the total serum bilirubin concentration (TSB) is often ascribed to biological variation between patients, but variations between TcB meters may also have a role. This study aims to provide a systematic evaluation of the inter-device reproducibility of TcB meters.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirteen commercially available TcB meters (JM-105 and JM-103) were evaluated in vitro on phantoms that optically mimic neonatal skin. The mimicked TcB was varied within the clinical range (0.5-181.3 μmol/L).
RESULTS
Absolute differences between TcB meter outcomes increased with the measured TcB, from a difference of 5.0 μmol/L (TcB = 0.5 μmol/L phantom) up to 65.0 μmol/L (TcB = 181.3 μmol/L phantom).
CONCLUSION
The inter-device reproducibility of the examined TcB meters is substantial and exceeds the specified accuracy of the device (±25.5 μmol/L), as well as the clinically used TcB safety margins (>50 µmol/L below phototherapy threshold). Healthcare providers should be well aware of this additional uncertainty in the TcB determination, especially when multiple TcB meters are employed in the same clinic. We strongly advise using a single TcB meter per patient to evaluate the TcB over time.
IMPACT
Key message: The inter-device reproducibility of TcB meters is substantial and exceeds the clinically used TcB safety margins. What this study adds to existing literature: The inter-device reproducibility of transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) meters has not been reported in the existing literature. This in vitro study systematically evaluates this inter-device reproducibility.
IMPACT
This study aids in a better interpretation of the measured TcB value from a patient and is of particular importance during patient monitoring when using multiple TcB meters within the same clinical department. We strongly advise using a single TcB meter per patient to evaluate the TcB over time.
Topics: Bilirubin; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Equipment Design; Humans; Hyperbilirubinemia, Neonatal; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Infant, Premature; Monitoring, Physiologic; Neonatal Screening; Phantoms, Imaging; Reproducibility of Results; Skin Physiological Phenomena
PubMed: 32919392
DOI: 10.1038/s41390-020-01118-6 -
Nature Feb 2022The sensing of gravity has emerged as a tool in geophysics applications such as engineering and climate research, including the monitoring of temporal variations in...
The sensing of gravity has emerged as a tool in geophysics applications such as engineering and climate research, including the monitoring of temporal variations in aquifers and geodesy. However, it is impractical to use gravity cartography to resolve metre-scale underground features because of the long measurement times needed for the removal of vibrational noise. Here we overcome this limitation by realizing a practical quantum gravity gradient sensor. Our design suppresses the effects of micro-seismic and laser noise, thermal and magnetic field variations, and instrument tilt. The instrument achieves a statistical uncertainty of 20 E (1 E = 10 s) and is used to perform a 0.5-metre-spatial-resolution survey across an 8.5-metre-long line, detecting a 2-metre tunnel with a signal-to-noise ratio of 8. Using a Bayesian inference method, we determine the centre to ±0.19 metres horizontally and the centre depth as (1.89 -0.59/+2.3) metres. The removal of vibrational noise enables improvements in instrument performance to directly translate into reduced measurement time in mapping. The sensor parameters are compatible with applications in mapping aquifers and evaluating impacts on the water table, archaeology, determination of soil properties and water content, and reducing the risk of unforeseen ground conditions in the construction of critical energy, transport and utilities infrastructure, providing a new window into the underground.
PubMed: 35197616
DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-04315-3 -
The Journal of Infectious Diseases May 2022Cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported in more than 200 countries. Thousands of health workers have been infected, and outbreaks have occurred... (Review)
Review
Cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported in more than 200 countries. Thousands of health workers have been infected, and outbreaks have occurred in hospitals, aged care facilities, and prisons. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued guidelines for contact and droplet precautions for healthcare workers caring for suspected COVID-19 patients, whereas the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has initially recommended airborne precautions. The 1- to 2-meter (≈3-6 feet) rule of spatial separation is central to droplet precautions and assumes that large droplets do not travel further than 2 meters (≈6 feet). We aimed to review the evidence for horizontal distance traveled by droplets and the guidelines issued by the WHO, CDC, and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control on respiratory protection for COVID-19. We found that the evidence base for current guidelines is sparse, and the available data do not support the 1- to 2-meter (≈3-6 feet) rule of spatial separation. Of 10 studies on horizontal droplet distance, 8 showed droplets travel more than 2 meters (≈6 feet), in some cases up to 8 meters (≈26 feet). Several studies of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) support aerosol transmission, and 1 study documented virus at a distance of 4 meters (≈13 feet) from the patient. Moreover, evidence suggests that infections cannot neatly be separated into the dichotomy of droplet versus airborne transmission routes. Available studies also show that SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in the air, and remain viable 3 hours after aerosolization. The weight of combined evidence supports airborne precautions for the occupational health and safety of health workers treating patients with COVID-19.
Topics: Aerosols; Aged; COVID-19; Health Personnel; Humans; Infection Control; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 32301491
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa189 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022Many tasks that require a large workforce are automated. In many areas of the world, the consumption of utilities, such as electricity, gas and water, is monitored by...
Many tasks that require a large workforce are automated. In many areas of the world, the consumption of utilities, such as electricity, gas and water, is monitored by meters that need to be read by humans. The reading of such meters requires the presence of an employee or a representative of the utility provider. Automatic meter reading is crucial in the implementation of smart grids. For this reason, with the aim to boost the implementation of the smart grid paradigm, in this paper, we propose a method aimed to automatically read digits from a dial meter. In detail, the proposed method aims to localise the dial meter from an image, to detect the digits and to classify the digits. Deep learning is exploited, and, in particular, the YOLOv5s model is considered for the localisation of digits and for their recognition. An experimental real-world case study is presented to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method for automatic digit localisation recognition from dial meters.
Topics: Humans; Computer Systems; Electricity
PubMed: 36616673
DOI: 10.3390/s23010075 -
PloS One 2022Past work has suggested that perception of object distances in natural scenes depends on the environmental surroundings, even when the physical object distance remains...
Past work has suggested that perception of object distances in natural scenes depends on the environmental surroundings, even when the physical object distance remains constant. The cue bases for such effects remain unclear and are difficult to study systematically in real-world settings, given the challenges in manipulating large environmental features reliably and efficiently. Here, we used rendered scenes and crowdsourced data collection to address these challenges. In 4 experiments involving 452 participants, we investigated the effect of room width and depth on egocentric distance judgments. Targets were placed at distances of 2-37 meters in rendered rooms that varied in width (1.5-40 meters) and depth (6-40 meters). We found large and reliable effects of room width: Average judgments for the farthest targets in a 40-meter-wide room were between 16-33% larger than for the same target distances seen in a 1.5-meter-wide hallway. Egocentric distance cues and focal length were constant across room widths, highlighting the role of environmental context in judging distances in natural scenes. Obscuring the fine-grained ground texture, per se, is not primarily responsible for the width effect, nor does linear perspective play a strong role. However, distance judgments tended to decrease when doors and/or walls obscured more distant regions of the scene. We discuss how environmental features may be used to calibrate relative distance cues for egocentric distance judgments.
Topics: Cues; Distance Perception; Environment; Female; Humans; Judgment; Male
PubMed: 35143537
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263497 -
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Jan 2023Water quality monitoring allows communities to achieve sustainable management of water resources, which is crucial for life-supporting processes. Water quality is...
Water quality monitoring allows communities to achieve sustainable management of water resources, which is crucial for life-supporting processes. Water quality is determined by measuring chemical, physical, and biological parameters, requiring sophisticated meters and trained specialists to perform the measurement. However, in low-income communities, water quality is determined by using human senses-smell, color, and taste-since meter acquisition is limited by costs and most people do not know how to monitor water quality. Therefore, accessible technology is necessary to empower communities to have a sustainable lifestyle. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of PortAqua, a 2-parameter water quality meter (WQM), to promote training on water quality measurement. Using basic electronic components, PortAqua is capable of measuring pH with an error of 0.4, and conductivity with an error of 33% at 85 µS cm, and 8.7% at 1413 µS cm. To demonstrate its preliminary effectiveness as a WQM and its science communication capabilities, the meter has been used in a hands-on workshop with undergraduate and graduate students. During the workshop, attendees participated in a short lecture about water quality measurement techniques and local regulations. Then, they collected water samples from a local source, measured the samples using PortAqua, and discussed the results based on the concepts and regulations. The workshop's effectiveness was evaluated through pre- and post-assessments which revealed increased knowledge of water quality regulations, measurement, and parameters at the end of the activity.
Topics: Humans; Water Quality; Environmental Monitoring; Students; Communication
PubMed: 36705766
DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10804-3