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Cloud-induced photovoltaic variability can affect grid stability and power quality, especially in electricity systems with high penetration levels. The availability of irradiance field forecasts in the scale of seconds and meters is fundamental for an adequate control of photovoltaic systems in order to minimize their impact on distribution networks. Irradiance sensor networks have proved to be efficient tools for supporting these forecasts, but the costs of monitoring systems with the required specifications are economically justified only for large plants and research purposes. This study deals with the design and test of a wireless irradiance sensor network as an adaptable operational solution for photovoltaic systems capable of meeting the measurement specifications necessary for capturing the clouds passage. The network was based on WiFi, comprised 16 pyranometers, and proved to be stable at sampling periods up to 25 ms, providing detailed spatial representations of the irradiance field and its evolution. As a result, the developed network was capable of achieving comparable specifications to research wired irradiance monitoring network with the advantages in costs and flexibility of the wireless technology, thus constituting a valuable tool for supporting nowcasting systems for photovoltaic management and control.

Pain reports have become increasingly common and problematic in thalassemia. As patients are living longer,there is a growing need to study pain and to explore its impact on patient lives. The Brief Pain Inventory(BPI) was used quarterly to assess pain and pain interference in patients with thalassemia in North America.The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were used to assess quality of life, anxiety and depression. Of the 252 participants, 56% reported pain at least once over the course of this study, with 32% reporting severe pain (≥7/10); 16% reported pain at all four visits. Increased pain severity significantly interfered with daily life (P< 0.001; regression analysis) and participants with more sites of pain showed an increase in the amount of daily activities affected by pain(P50.001). Participants reporting more visits with pain reported a significantly higher impact on affective and physical function (P< 0.001). Physical quality of life decreased with increasing numbers of visits with pain (P< 0.001). Those who reported one or more sites of pain showed increased symptoms of both depression(P< 0.001) and anxiety (P50.003). Participants reporting at least two visits with pain had higher symptoms of anxiety (P50.002) and those with at least three visits reported higher symptoms of depression(P50.003). Pain is prevalent in thalassemia and is often a chronic condition that interferes with life. The study highlights the significance of pain in thalassemia and its impact, which should be considered in future research and treatments.

Pain is not a symptom generally associated with thalassaemia. However, providers have noted increasing patient reports of pain, creating an impetus for this prospective, observational assessment of pain in thalassaemia patients. The primary study goals were to assess pain prevalence, severity, location, and potential risk factors. This was a multicentre, prospective study of thalassaemia patients receiving care at 12 Thalassaemia Clinical Research Network sites. Pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory. Two hundred and fifty-two thalassaemia patients ranging in age from 12 to 71 years (mean 28.8) were enrolled. Sixty-four per cent reported experiencing pain during the last 4 weeks, 22% of whom reported pain on a daily basis. Ordinal regression analysis of pain ratings demonstrated significant (P < 0.001) correlation of increased age with increased pain, irrespective of diagnosis, transfusion status, gender, bone density, chelator type or iron overload. Eighty-one per cent reported having pain for 1 year or longer and 31% reported pain for five or more years. Pain is a major cause of morbidity and an unrecognized problem for patients with thalassaemia. Age is the strongest predictor of frequency and severity. Little else is known about the aetiology and predictors of this pain syndrome., (© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.)

Aim: To assess the feasibility of collecting electronic pain data from thalassaemia patients, based on its acceptability and convenience to the participants and study team., Methods: Participants in the Thalassemia Clinical Research Network Assessment of Pain Survey Study completed the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) quarterly by paper or phone interview. Participants in a substudy completed the BPI Short Form daily over three non-consecutive transfusion cycles through an automated telephone system., Results: The consent rate for the main study was 93%, with 93% retention. The substudy had 75% retention, with more than 75% of scheduled calls completed. Regular monitoring of enrollment, missed calls, data quality, and the performance of the subcontractor for the automated system was crucial to fulfillment of the study goals., Conclusions: Use of electronic data collection for patient-reported outcomes was convenient for both patients and study personnel but required human interactions beyond the automated system to maximise data quantity and quality.