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Abstract Background The ability to detect the location of free-ranging sea turtles over time is desirable for ecological, conservation, and veterinary studies, but existing detection methods have limited sensitivity or longevity. Externally attached acoustic transmitters have variable, and sometimes short retention times for sea turtles. For several vertebrate taxa, surgically implanted acoustic transmitters have proven to be safe and effective for long-term detection; however, implanted transmitters have not yet been used for turtles. Results In this pilot study, INNOVASEA acoustic transmitters were surgically implanted subcutaneously in the pre-femoral region of fifteen hospitalized loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) that had been rehabilitated after stranding due to cold-stunning. Model V16-4H transmitters (estimated battery longevity = 2435 days) were implanted in turtles measuring ≥ 50 cm straight carapace length (SCL), and model V13-1H transmitters (estimated battery longevity = 1113 days) were implanted in turtles measuring 30–49 cm SCL. Incision healing was monitored over several months prior to release. Twelve turtles’ incisions healed without complication, on average, 55 days after surgery (median 47, range 41–100). Three turtles experienced incision complications, two of which healed after a second surgery, while the third required transmitter removal to promote healing. One of the fourteen implanted transmitters was confirmed to be dysfunctional prior to release, although it had been functional prior to implantation. To date, 100% of turtles released with functional acoustic transmitters (n = 13) have been detected a total of 915 times by 40 individual acoustic receivers off the coasts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, and in southern New England offshore waters. Turtles with transmitters generated 5–235 detections (mean 70, median 43) on 1–13 individual acoustic receivers (mean 5, median 5) for periods of 3–400 days post-release (mean 118, median 87). Total detections and detection durations for these individuals are expected to increase over time due to anticipated transmitter battery longevity. Conclusions This study demonstrates that surgically implanted acoustic transmitters are effective for the detection of free ranging sea turtles, but refinement of surgical methodology is needed in light of the observed complications. Monitoring of healing is critical when evaluating novel surgical techniques in wildlife.

Abstract Passive acoustic telemetry is widely used to study the movements of aquatic animals. However, a holistic, mechanistic modelling framework that permits the reconstruction of fine‐scale movements and emergent patterns of space use from detections at receivers remains lacking. Here, we introduce an integrative modelling framework that recapitulates the movement and detection processes that generate detections to reconstruct fine‐scale movements and patterns of space use. This framework is supported by a new family of algorithms designed for detection and depth observations and can be flexibly extended to incorporate other data types. Using simulation, we illustrate applications of our framework and evaluate algorithm utility and sensitivity in different settings. As a case study, we analyse movement data collected from the Critically Endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius) in Scotland. We show that our methods can be used to reconstruct fine‐scale movement paths, patterns of space use and support habitat preference analyses. For reconstructing patterns of space use, simulations show that the methods are consistently more instructive than the most widely used alternative approach (the mean‐position algorithm), particularly in clustered receiver arrays. For flapper skate, the reconstruction of movements reveals responses to disturbance, fine‐scale spatial partitioning and patterns of space use with significant implications for marine management. We conclude that this framework represents a widely applicable methodological advance with applications to studies of pelagic, demersal and benthic species across multiple spatiotemporal scales.

The monitoring of physiological parameters is a crucial topic in promoting human health and an indispensable approach for assessing physiological status and diagnosing diseases. Particularly, it holds significant value for patients who require long-term monitoring or with underlying cardiovascular disease. To this end, Visual Contactless Physiological Monitoring (VCPM) is capable of using videos recorded by a consumer camera to monitor blood volume pulse (BVP) signal, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation (SpO2) and blood pressure (BP). Recently, deep learning-based pipelines have attracted numerous scholars and achieved unprecedented development. Although VCPM is still an emerging digital medical technology and presents many challenges and opportunities, it has the potential to revolutionize clinical medicine, digital health, telemedicine as well as other areas. The VCPM technology presents a viable solution that can be integrated into these systems for measuring vital parameters during video consultation, owing to its merits of contactless measurement, cost-effectiveness, user-friendly passive monitoring and the sole requirement of an off-the-shelf camera. In fact, the studies of VCPM technologies have been rocketing recently, particularly AI-based approaches, but few are employed in clinical settings. Here we provide a comprehensive overview of the applications, challenges, and prospects of VCPM from the perspective of clinical settings and AI technologies for the first time. The thorough exploration and analysis of clinical scenarios will provide profound guidance for the research and development of VCPM technologies in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote patient monitoring is a critical component of digital medicine, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted its importance. Wearable sensors aimed at noninvasive extraction and transmission of high-fidelity physiological data provide an avenue toward at-home diagnostics and therapeutics; however, the infrastructure requirements for such devices limit their use to areas with well-established connectivity. This accentuates the socioeconomic and geopolitical gap in digital health technology and points toward a need to provide access in areas that have limited resources. Low-power wide area network (LPWAN) protocols, such as LoRa, may provide an avenue toward connectivity in these settings; however, there has been limited work on realizing wearable devices with this functionality because of power and electromagnetic constraints. In this work, we introduce wearables with electromagnetic, electronic, and mechanical features provided by a biosymbiotic platform to realize high-fidelity biosignals transmission of 15 miles without the need for satellite infrastructure. The platform implements wireless power transfer for interaction-free recharging, enabling long-term and uninterrupted use over weeks without the need for the user to interact with the devices. This work presents demonstration of a continuously wearable device with this long-range capability that has the potential to serve resource-constrained and remote areas, providing equitable access to digital health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specialized antennas called wearable antennas for biotelemetry wireless communication are made to be built into or worn on the body to allow wireless communication between devices like heart monitors, medical implants, and other bio-telemetry equipment. These kinds of antennas are usually incredibly small and need to be able to function properly while near a human body. Wearable antennas for wireless biotelemetry communication can be constructed from a range of materials, such as textiles, polymers, and metals. The UHF, ISM, and Medical Implant Communication Service (MICS) bands are among the several wireless communication frequencies in which they are intended to function. These antennas are essential for the wireless transmission of medical data, including vital signs, that are gathered by biotelemetry devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical evidence suggests that marine animals perceive and orient to local distortions in the earth's natural magnetic field. Magnetic fields (MFs) generated by electrified underwater cables may produce similar local distortions in the earth's main field. Concern exists that these distortions may impact migration movements of MF-sensitive animals. The Trans Bay Cable (TBC) is a ± 200-kV, 400-megawatt, 85-km high-voltage direct current transmission line buried through San Francisco Bay (37° 56′ 8.81″ N, 122° 27′ 0.19″ W). Detections of adult green sturgeon implanted with acoustic transmitters were used from six cross-bay receiver arrays from 2006 to 2015 to investigate how inbound and outbound migration movements through lower portions of their route to/from upstream breeding grounds are related to the TBC's energization status (off/on) and other local environmental variables. Here, we assess how these variables impacted transit success, misdirection from the migration route, transit times, and migration path locations within stretches between the Bay's mouth and the start of the Sacramento River. Overall, there was varied evidence for any effect on migration behavior associated with cable status (off/on). A higher percentage of inbound fish successfully transited after the cable was energized, but this effect was nonsignificant in models including temperature. Outbound fish took longer to transit after cable energization. Inbound and outbound migration path locations were not significantly influenced by cable energization, but results suggest a potential subtle relationship between energization and both inbound and outbound paths. Overall, additional migration-based studies are needed to investigate the impact of anthropogenic cables on marine species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Syncope is a common presentation to the emergency department with a wide spectrum of aetiology. The identification of the underlying cause can be diagnostically challenging, as are the choice of investigations and the decision for inpatient versus outpatient disposition. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the aetiology of syncope as documented, the diagnostic yield of inpatient investigations and outcomes for adult patients admitted for syncope. Methods: A single‐centred, retrospective cohort study was conducted in adult patients admitted for syncope within a 2‐year period. A total of 386 patients were identified after exclusion. Information regarding syncope aetiology, investigations and outcomes were established via chart review of electronic records. Results: The most common cause of syncope was neural‐mediated (43%), followed by orthostatic (36.5%) and cardiogenic (20.5%). The investigations performed in order of frequency included: telemetry electrocardiogram (ECG) (75.4%), computed tomography head non‐contrast (58.8%), transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) (20.2%), computed tomography pulmonary angiogram (CTPA) (6.5%), MR brain (3.9%), electroencephalogram (1.3%) and carotid ultrasound (0.3%). Telemetry ECG, TTE and CTPA led to the diagnosis of syncope in a minority of patients only. As a result, 17.5% of patients had a new intervention on discharge, 5.4% were readmitted for syncope and 9.6% of patients died. Conclusions: In the context of the inpatient evaluation of syncope, this study supports the use of telemetry ECG and TTE. Neuroimaging demonstrates a low diagnostic yield for the cause of syncope, but it may have a role to play in excluding other pathologies. Our study does not support the routine use of CTPA, EEG or carotid ultrasound in the evaluation of syncope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the two designs of the compact microstrip patch antennas, exhibiting ultra wideband characteristics are presented. The design offers an overall bandwidth of 4.7 and 5.2 GHz with a return loss of −35dB and −40 dB, respectively. The presented designs of the antennas are targeted for applications in medical telemetry. Geometrical optimizations for the slotted rectangular patch antenna loaded with notches are carried out to enhance the bandwidth over the ultra wideband. Unlike the conventional way, the microstrip patch antenna is optimized by considering an infinite substrate. The effect of finite substrate on the bandwidth of the microstrip patch is investigated leading to better results in terms of simplicity, compact size, and bandwidth. Also, it is perceived that the partial ground plane, which is incorporated, improves the antenna's bandwidth drastically and also the reflection coefficient. The prototype of the two presented designs is formulated by creating notches with three slots naming it to be MPA1, and the other one without slots and with only notches naming it to be MPA2 for observing the relative effect of slots and the partial ground plane on the bandwidth. A very close agreement is confirmed between the simulated and the experimental values of the reflection coefficient and the bandwidth. The maximum percentage bandwidth of 85% is attained in the case of MPA2, while a maximum gain of 2.39 dBi is achieved for MPA1, which offers flexibility to manufacturers for use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Remote monitoring is recommended for patients with implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs), but compared to other cardiac implantable devices, ICMs are less accurate and transmit a higher number of alerts. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of false‐positive (FP) arrhythmic alerts in patients with unexplained syncope who were implanted with ICM and followed by an automatic remote monitoring system. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated all consecutive patients who received a long‐sensing vector ICM for unexplained syncope between January 2019 to September 2021 at our Syncope Unit. The primary endpoint was the incidence of the first FP episode. The secondary endpoints included assessing the incidence of FP episodes for all types of algorhythms and indentifying the reasons for the misdetection of these episodes. Results: Among 105 patients (44.8% males, median age 51 years), 51 (48.6%) transmitted at least one FP alert during a median follow‐up of 301 days. The presence of pre‐ventricular complexes (PVCs) on the resting electrocardiogram was the only clinical characteristic associated with an increased risk of FP alerts (adjusted Hazard ratio [HR] 5.76 [2.66–12.4], p = 0.010). The other significant device‐related variables were a low‐frequency filter at 0.05 Hz versus the default 0.5 Hz (adjusted HR 3.82 [1.38–10.5], p = 0.010) and the R‐wave amplitude (adjusted HR 0.35 [0.13–0.99], p = 0.049). Conclusion: Patients who have PVCs are at higher risk of inappropriate ICM activations. To reduce the occurrence of FP alerts, it may be beneficial to target a large R‐wave amplitude during device insertion and avoid programming a low‐frequency filter at 0.05 Hz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A miniaturized and flexible frequency-selective surface (FSS) has been presented in this article with a unit cell size of 0.049 λc × 0.049 λc where λc is the free space wavelength at the lower cut-off frequency. In order to achieve an ultra-wide (−3 dB) second order pass band of 151.3% with enhanced selectivity factor of 0.887, a cascaded triple layered hybrid resonating structure has been proposed with symmetrical Minkowski island-shaped fractal geometry pair and spiral-shaped middle layer in optimized air gap coupling. Furthermore, 149.8% ultra-wide pass band also ascertains the conformal feature of the proposed structure. In addition to this, the proposed FSS provides the stable angular response for both TE and TM polarization. An equivalent circuit model has been synthesized for accurate frequency response. Finally, a sample prototype has been fabricated to verify the experimental validation. Excellent angular stability under large oblique incident and significant conformal characteristics ensure the compatibility of the proposed structure for electromagnetic stealth in 0.9–1.8 GHz GSM band, 2.10–2.14 GHz wireless medical telemetry band, 2.4–2.5 and 4.9–5.8 GHz WLAN band, 3.4–3.7 and 4.4–4.9 GHz sub-6 GHz 5 G band, and 3.7–4.2 GHz C band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact dual-band, dual-polarized, implantable antenna was designed using the characteristic mode method for operation in the wireless medical telemetry service (WMTS) band (1.4 GHz) and the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band (2.45 GHz). By utilizing slotting techniques and materials with high dielectric constants, the antenna volume was minimized to 47.4 mm3, and circular polarization was gained in the WMTS band by using the characteristic mode method. A three-layer physical model of human tissues was constructed in a simulation, and a biogel and minced pork were used in the measurements. The measured peak gains are −20.85 dBi (1.4 GHz) and −22.15 dBi (2.45 GHz). The measured effective axis ratio bandwidth in the WMTS band is 170 MHz (1.33–1.50 GHz, 12.0%), and the impedance bandwidth in the ISM band is 390 MHz (2.21–2.60 GHz, 16.2%). At 1.4 GHz and 2.45 GHz, the largest 1 g average SAR values are 376 W/Kg and 318 W/Kg, which comply with IEEE C95.1-1999. Moreover, when the communication chain affinity exceeds 20 dB for 1.4 GHz and 2.4 GHz, the transceiver range reaches 8.2 m and 9.7 m. This antenna can be used for implantable wireless telemetry systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The ability to detect the location of free-ranging sea turtles over time is desirable for ecological, conservation, and veterinary studies, but existing detection methods have limited sensitivity or longevity. Externally attached acoustic transmitters have variable, and sometimes short retention times for sea turtles. For several vertebrate taxa, surgically implanted acoustic transmitters have proven to be safe and effective for long-term detection; however, implanted transmitters have not yet been used for turtles. Results: In this pilot study, INNOVASEA acoustic transmitters were surgically implanted subcutaneously in the pre-femoral region of fifteen hospitalized loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) that had been rehabilitated after stranding due to cold-stunning. Model V16-4H transmitters (estimated battery longevity = 2435 days) were implanted in turtles measuring ≥ 50 cm straight carapace length (SCL), and model V13-1H transmitters (estimated battery longevity = 1113 days) were implanted in turtles measuring 30–49 cm SCL. Incision healing was monitored over several months prior to release. Twelve turtles' incisions healed without complication, on average, 55 days after surgery (median 47, range 41–100). Three turtles experienced incision complications, two of which healed after a second surgery, while the third required transmitter removal to promote healing. One of the fourteen implanted transmitters was confirmed to be dysfunctional prior to release, although it had been functional prior to implantation. To date, 100% of turtles released with functional acoustic transmitters (n = 13) have been detected a total of 915 times by 40 individual acoustic receivers off the coasts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, and in southern New England offshore waters. Turtles with transmitters generated 5–235 detections (mean 70, median 43) on 1–13 individual acoustic receivers (mean 5, median 5) for periods of 3–400 days post-release (mean 118, median 87). Total detections and detection durations for these individuals are expected to increase over time due to anticipated transmitter battery longevity. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that surgically implanted acoustic transmitters are effective for the detection of free ranging sea turtles, but refinement of surgical methodology is needed in light of the observed complications. Monitoring of healing is critical when evaluating novel surgical techniques in wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic telemetry (AT) has become ubiquitous in aquatic monitoring and fish biology, conservation, and management. Since the early use of active ultrasonic tracking that required researchers to follow at a distance their species of interest, the field has diversified considerably, with exciting advances in both hydrophone and transmitter technology. Once a highly specialized methodology, however, AT is fast becoming a generalist tool for those wishing to study or conserve fishes, leading to diversifying application by non‐specialists. With this transition in mind, we evaluate exactly what AT has become useful for, discussing how the technological and analytical advances around AT can address important questions within fish biology. In doing so, we highlight the key ecological and applied research areas where AT continues to reveal crucial new insights and, in particular, when combined with complimentary research approaches. We provide a comprehensive breakdown of the state of the art for applications of AT, discussing the ongoing challenges, where its strengths lie, and how future developments may revolutionize fisheries management, behavioral ecology and species protection. Through selected papers we illustrate specific applications across the broad spectrum of fish biology. By bringing together the recent and future developments in this field under categories designed to broadly capture many aspects of fish biology, we hope to offer a useful guide for the non‐specialist practitioner as they attempt to navigate the dizzying array of considerations and ongoing developments within this diverse toolkit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the US 48% of adults have hypertension, with direct costs in excess of $130 billion per year. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) has been discussed as a useful tool in the treatment of hypertension, but few studies evaluate its cost effectiveness or efficacy in minority, lower socio-economic (SES) populations. Our study aims to evaluate the clinical and financial outcomes of RPM in hypertension management in a primarily minority, low-SES population. Methods: In this prospective cohort pilot study, patients with uncontrolled primary hypertension (defined via Joint National Committee 8 guidelines) were randomly selected from a single academically affiliated primary care clinic. Patients were enrolled on a rolling basis for 90 days. Patients were given blood pressure cuffs and transmission hubs and asked to transmit daily blood pressure readings. Patients were called weekly by research assistants and concerns were escalated to the primary care physician. The control group was the remaining 299 uncontrolled hypertensive patients from the same clinic population analyzed via retrospective chart records at the conclusion of the interventional study period. The primary outcome was blood pressure control. Secondary outcomes were relative improvement in systolic pressure and direct costs. Results: A total of 13 patients were enrolled into the RPM intervention; these patients were 54% female, 100% African American, and 77% Medicaid. When assessed via intention-to-treat analysis, patients in the intervention group had non-inferior blood pressure control at 90 days (46% experimental vs 31% control, P =.33) and average change in systolic blood pressure at 90 days (13.5 vs 3.7 mmHg, P =.174) while experiencing a significant reduction in office-based visits at 90 days (1.5 vs 5.9, P <.001) as compared to control. Results on per-protocol analysis also showed non-inferior BP control (63% vs 31%, P =.135). Financially, the program generated margins of $29 per patient at 90 days. Conclusions: Patients in our minority- and Medicaid-predominant cohort achieved noninferior blood pressure control as compared to retrospective control at 90 days and a significant reduction in all-cause clinic visits at 90 days. The program generated little revenue per patient, with main barriers to implementation including patient compliance and payor denial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation of migratory species exhibiting wide‐ranging and multidimensional behaviors is challenged by management efforts that only utilize horizontal movements or produce static spatial–temporal products. For the deep‐diving, critically endangered eastern Pacific leatherback turtle, tools that predict where turtles have high risks of fisheries interactions are urgently needed to prevent further population decline. We incorporated horizontal–vertical movement model results with spatial–temporal kernel density estimates and threat data (gear‐specific fishing) to develop monthly maps of spatial risk. Specifically, we applied multistate hidden Markov models to a biotelemetry data set (n = 28 leatherback tracks, 2004–2007). Tracks with dive information were used to characterize turtle behavior as belonging to 1 of 3 states (transiting, residential with mixed diving, and residential with deep diving). Recent fishing effort data from Global Fishing Watch were integrated with predicted behaviors and monthly space‐use estimates to create maps of relative risk of turtle–fisheries interactions. Drifting (pelagic) longline fishing gear had the highest average monthly fishing effort in the study region, and risk indices showed this gear to also have the greatest potential for high‐risk interactions with turtles in a residential, deep‐diving behavioral state. Monthly relative risk surfaces for all gears and behaviors were added to South Pacific TurtleWatch (SPTW) (https://www.upwell.org/sptw), a dynamic management tool for this leatherback population. These modifications will refine SPTW's capability to provide important predictions of potential high‐risk bycatch areas for turtles undertaking specific behaviors. Our results demonstrate how multidimensional movement data, spatial–temporal density estimates, and threat data can be used to create a unique conservation tool. These methods serve as a framework for incorporating behavior into similar tools for other aquatic, aerial, and terrestrial taxa with multidimensional movement behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Passive acoustic telemetry is widely used to study the movements of aquatic animals. However, a holistic, mechanistic modelling framework that permits the reconstruction of fine‐scale movements and emergent patterns of space use from detections at receivers remains lacking.Here, we introduce an integrative modelling framework that recapitulates the movement and detection processes that generate detections to reconstruct fine‐scale movements and patterns of space use. This framework is supported by a new family of algorithms designed for detection and depth observations and can be flexibly extended to incorporate other data types. Using simulation, we illustrate applications of our framework and evaluate algorithm utility and sensitivity in different settings. As a case study, we analyse movement data collected from the Critically Endangered flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius) in Scotland.We show that our methods can be used to reconstruct fine‐scale movement paths, patterns of space use and support habitat preference analyses. For reconstructing patterns of space use, simulations show that the methods are consistently more instructive than the most widely used alternative approach (the mean‐position algorithm), particularly in clustered receiver arrays. For flapper skate, the reconstruction of movements reveals responses to disturbance, fine‐scale spatial partitioning and patterns of space use with significant implications for marine management.We conclude that this framework represents a widely applicable methodological advance with applications to studies of pelagic, demersal and benthic species across multiple spatiotemporal scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aims: Medication non-adherence is a leading cause of transplant rejection, organ loss, and death; yet no rigorous controlled study to date has shown compelling clinical benefits from an adherence-improving intervention. Non-adherent patients are less likely to participate in trials, and therefore, most studies enroll a majority of adherent patients who do not stand to benefit from the intervention, as they do not have the condition (non-adherence) under investigation. The improving Medication Adherence in adolescent Liver Transplant recipients trial specifically targets non-adherent patients to investigate whether a remote intervention to improve adherence results in reduced incidence of biopsy-confirmed rejection. Methods: Improving Medication Adherence in adolescent Liver Transplant is a randomized single-blind controlled multisite, multinational National Institutes of Health-funded trial involving 13 pediatric transplant centers in the United States and Canada. An innovative, objective adherence biomarker—the Medication Level Variability Index, which is the standard deviation of a series of medication blood levels for each patient, is used to identify non-adherent patients at risk for rejection. The index is computed using electronic health record information for all potentially eligible patients based on repeated reviews of the entire clinic's roster. Identified patients, after consent, are randomized to intervention versus control (treatment as usual) arms. The remote intervention is delivered for 2 years by trained interventionists who reside in various locations in the United States. The primary outcome is the incidence of biopsy-confirmed acute cellular rejection, as confirmed by a majority vote of three pathologists who are masked to the study allocation and clinical information. Discussion: Improving Medication Adherence in adolescent Liver Transplant includes several innovative design elements. The use of a validated, objective adherence index to survey a large cohort of transplant recipients allows the teams to avoid bias inherent in both convenience sampling and referral-based recruitment and enroll only patients whose computed index indicates substantially increased risk of rejection. The remote intervention paradigm helps to engage patients who are by definition hard to engage. The use of an objective, masked medical (rather than behavioral) outcome measure reduces the likelihood of biases related to clinical information and ensures broad acceptance by the field. Finally, monitoring for potential adverse events related to increased medication exposure due to the adherence intervention acknowledges that a successful intervention (increasing adherence) could have detrimental side effects via increased exposure to and potential toxicity of the medication. Such monitoring is almost never attempted in clinical trials evaluating adherence interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Deciding when to depart on long‐distance, sometimes global, movements can be especially important for flying species. Adverse weather conditions can affect energetic flight costs and navigational ability. While departure timings and conditions have been well‐studied for migratory flights to and from the breeding range, few studies have focussed on flights within the non‐breeding season. Yet in some cases, overwintering ranges can be large enough that ecological barriers, and a lack of resting sites en route, may resist movement, especially in unfavorable environmental conditions. Understanding the conditions that will enable or prohibit flights within an overwintering range is particularly relevant in light of climate change, whereby increases in extreme weather events may reduce the connectivity of sites. We tracked 495 (n = 251 in 2019; n = 244 in 2020) overwintering red knots (Calidris canutus islandica) in the Dutch Wadden Sea and investigated how many departed towards the UK (on westward relocation flights), which requires flying over the North Sea. For those that departed, we used a resource selection model to determine the effect of environmental conditions on the timing of relocation flights. Specifically, we investigated the effects of wind, rain, atmospheric pressure, cloud cover, and migratory timing relative to sunset and tidal cycle, which have all been shown to be crucial to migratory departure conditions. Approximately 37% (2019) and 36% (2020) of tagged red knots departed on westward relocation flights, indicating differences between individuals' space use within the overwintering range. Red knots selected for departures between 1 and 2.5 h after sunset, approximately 4 h before high tide, with tailwinds and little cloud cover. However, rainfall and changes in atmospheric pressure appear unimportant. Our study reveals environmental conditions that are important for relocation flights across an ecological barrier, indicating potential consequences of climate change on connectivity.

This paper presents a novel approach to the design of a brain implantable antenna tailored for brain-machine interface (BMI) technology. The design is based on a U-shaped unit-cell metamaterial (MTM), introducing innovative features to enhance performance and address specific challenges associated with BMI applications. The motivation behind the use of the unit-cell structure is to elongate the electric path within the antenna patch, diverging from a reliance on the electrical properties of the MTM. Consequently, the unit cell is connected to an inset-fed transmission line and shorted to the ground. This configuration serves the dual purpose of reducing the size of the antenna and enabling resonance at the 2.442 GHz band within a seven-layer brain phantom. The antenna is designed using a FR-4 substrate (εr = 4.3 and tan δ = 0.025) of 1.5 mm thickness, and it is coated with a biocompatible polyamide material (εr = 4.3 and tan δ = 0.004) of 0.05 mm thickness. The proposed antenna achieves a compact dimension of 20 × 20 × 1.6 mm3 (0.338 × 0.338 × 0.027 λg3) and demonstrates a high bandwidth of 974 MHz with its gain of −14.6 dBi in the 2.442 GHz band. It also exhibits a matched impedance of 49.41-j1.32 Ω in the implantable condition, corresponding to a 50 Ω source impedance. In comparison to a selection of relevant research works, the proposed antenna has a low specific absorption rate (SAR) of 218 W/kg and 68 W/kg at 1g and 10g brain tissue standards, respectively. An antenna prototype has been fabricated and measured for return loss in both free space and in-vivo conditions using sheep's brain. The measurement results are found to be in close agreement with the simulation results for both conditions, showing the practical applicability of the proposed antenna for BMI applications.

Passive acoustic and Argos satellite telemetry are common methods for tracking marine species and are often used similarly to quantify space use. However, data-driven comparisons of these methods and their associated ecological inferences are limited. To address this, we compared temporal durations, spatial resolutions, financial costs and estimates of occurrence and range distributions for each tracking approach using nine juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Bimini, Bahamas. Tracking durations were similar, although acoustic tracking provided higher spatiotemporal resolution than satellite tracking. Occurrence distributions (95%) estimated from satellite telemetry were 12 times larger than those from acoustic telemetry, while satellite range distributions (95%) were 89 times larger. While individuals generally remained within the extent of the acoustic receiver array, gaps in coverage were identified. These gaps, combined with the lower accuracy of satellite telemetry, were likely drivers for the larger satellite distributions. Costs differed between telemetry methods, with acoustic telemetry being less expensive at larger sample sizes with a previously established array. Our results suggest that acoustic and satellite telemetry may not provide similar inferences of individual space use. As such, we provide recommendations to identify telemetry methods appropriate for specific study objectives and provide discussion on the biases of each.

Empirical metabolic rate and oxygen consumption estimates for free-ranging whales have been limited to counting respiratory events at the surface. Because these observations were limited and generally viewed from afar, variability in respiratory properties was unknown and oxygen consumption estimates assumed constant breath-to-breath tidal volume and oxygen uptake. However, evidence suggests that cetaceans in human care vary tidal volume and breathing frequency to meet aerobic demand, which would significantly impact energetic estimates if the findings held in free-ranging species. In this study, we used suction cup-attached video tags positioned posterior to the nares of two humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and four Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) to measure inhalation duration, relative nares expansion, and maximum nares expansion. Inhalation duration and nares expansion varied between and within initial, middle, and terminal breaths of surface sequences between dives. The initial and middle breaths exhibited the least variability and had the shortest durations and smallest nares expansions. In contrast, terminal breaths were highly variable, with the longest inhalation durations and the largest nares expansions. Our results demonstrate breath-to-breath variability in duration and nares expansion, suggesting differential oxygen exchange in each breath during the surface interval. With future validation, inhalation duration or nares area could be used alongside respiratory frequency to improve oxygen consumption estimates by accounting for breath-to-breath variation in wild whales.

The biologger is a widely used tool in biotelemetry for investigating marine fish. However, studies reported that the attachment of biologgers has a negative effect on the target organisms. We assessed the health status of spotted sea bass with attached biologgers by analyzing changes in their serum biochemistry and biomarker gene expression at varying biologger/fish body weight ratios. Especially, the assessment of the health status using biomarker genes offers the rapid evaluation of the condition of an individual. The genes bax, hsp70-2, and Cx32.7, associated with apoptosis, stress, and immunity, were selected as biomarker genes to assess the fish stress levels and overall health. The experimental groups included a control group without the biologger (C) and biologger-equipped groups, each carrying a biologger whose weight was 2.0–3.0% (W2), 5.0–6.0% (W5), and 10.0–12.0% (W10) of the fish body weight. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 1, 7, 14, and 21 post-attachment. The expression of bax, hsp70-2, and Cx32.7 was analyzed in the liver and muscle on day 21. The W10 group showed significantly higher levels of superoxide dismutase on day 1 and of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and glutamic pyruvic transaminase on day 7 than the other groups. On day 21 post-attachment, regardless of the biologger/fish body weight ratio, the liver and muscle tissues from groups W2, W5, and W10 showed significantly higher expression of bax, hsp70-2, and Cx32.7 than those from group C, respectively. However, there was no significant change in blood parameters depending on the weight of the attached biologger on day 21 post-attachment. These results indicate that the spotted sea bass gradually adapted to the attached biologgers of weights up to 10–12% of their body weight under our experimental conditions, providing clues to determine the timing of biologger release for biotelemetry studies.

To reduce head impact exposure (HIE) in youth football, further understanding of the context in which head impacts occur and the associated biomechanics is needed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of contact characteristics on HIE during player versus player contact scenarios in youth football. Head impact data and time-synchronized video were collected from 4 youth football games over 2 seasons in which opposing teams were instrumented with the Head Impact Telemetry (HIT) System. Coded contact characteristics included the player's role in the contact, player speed and body position, contact height, type, and direction, and head contact surface. Head accelerations were compared among the contact characteristics using mixed-effects models. Among 72 instrumented athletes, 446 contact scenarios (n = 557 impacts) with visible opposing instrumented players were identified. When at least one player had a recorded impact, players who were struck tended to have higher rotational acceleration than players in striking positions. When both players had a recorded impact, lighter players and taller players experienced higher mean head accelerations compared with heavier players and shorter players. Understanding the factors influencing HIE during contact events in football may help inform methods to reduce head injury risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the tremendous increase in data traffic carried by wireless communication networks has generated the urgent need for establishing more energy-efficient wireless communication systems. Recent advances in semiconductor and light devices have triggered remarkable research interest to the development of these optical wireless communication (OWC) links. Among them, free-space optical (FSO) links and, more recently, ultraviolet links which operate within the (UV-C) spectral band, have been considered as prime candidates to create both high speed and power effective line-of-sight (LOS) and non-light-of-sight (NLOS) free-air communication links, respectively. Moreover, transdermal optical wireless (TOW) links for telemetry with medical implants minimize the expense of power for the implant. In the current review, a background on the energy efficiency challenges in wireless communication is presented. Each of these OWC technologies is mainly discussed in terms of key energy consumption requirements and major limiting factors that affect their power performance. Energy-efficient modulation formats as well as other powerful techniques for performance enhancement such as diversity and relaying are assessed. The survey is concluded with a discussion regarding their future energy consumption requirements and trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editor's note: This is the next installment in a series on electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation. Nurses in all settings should know the basics, as medications and physiological changes can cause cardiac arrhythmias. Each article will start with a brief case scenario and an ECG strip and then take you step by step through analyzing the heart rhythm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrial fibrillation is a common cause of stroke among older adults and is often first detected during hospitalization, given frequent use of cardiac telemetry. Methods: In a 20% national sample of Medicare fee‐for‐service beneficiaries, we identified patients aged 65‐or‐older newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation while hospitalized in 2016. Our primary outcome was an oral anticoagulant claim within 7‐days of discharge. Multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed relationships between anticoagulation initiation and thromboembolic and bleeding risk scores while controlling for demographics, frailty, comorbidities, and hospitalization characteristics. Results: Among 38,379 older adults newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation while hospitalized (mean age 78.2 [SD 8.4]; 51.8% female; 83.3% white), 36,633 (95.4%) had an indication for anticoagulation and 24.6% (9011) of those initiated an oral anticoagulant following discharge. Higher CHA2DS2‐VASc score was associated with a small increase in oral anticoagulant initiation (predicted probability 20.5% [95% CI, 18.7%–22.3%] for scores <2 and 24.9% [CI, 24.4%–25.4%] for ≥4). Elevated HAS‐BLED score was associated with a small decrease in probability of anticoagulant initiation (25.4% [CI, 24.4%–26.4%] for score <2 and 23.1% [CI, 22.5%–23.8%] for ≥3). Frailty was associated with decreased likelihood of oral anticoagulant initiation (24.7% [CI, 23.2%–26.2%] for non‐frail and 18.1% [CI, 16.6%–19.6%] for moderately‐severely frail). Anticoagulant initiation varied by primary reason for hospitalization, with predicted probability highest among patients with a primary diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (46.1% [CI, 45.0%–47.3%]) and lowest among those with non‐cardiovascular conditions (13.8% [CI, 13.3%–14.3%]) and bleeds (3.6% [CI, 2.4%–4.8%]). Conclusions: Oral anticoagulant initiation is uncommon among older adults newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation during hospitalization, even among patients hospitalized primarily for atrial fibrillation and patients with high thromboembolic risk. Clinicians should discuss risks and benefits of oral anticoagulants with all inpatients found to have atrial fibrillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nursing specialty certification is an organizational, nursing, and professional goal for many stakeholders. Several types of review courses are available to support nurses. A peer-led certification review course was designed and implemented for medical/surgical and telemetry nurses. The peer-led instruction was the crux of empowering nurses to achieve certification. Assessment of the intervention wasmeasured by quantitative data on pass rates. Evaluative information was gathered from the participants. Certification rates increased for applicable units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact sized ingestible antenna is presented at 3.3 GHz for lower ultra-wide band (UWB) wireless capsule endoscope system, by taking the stomach part of human body model presence into consideration. The proposed novel design is based on microstrip feed model and consists of three unique strip lines at center, The tuning of strip lines length and gaps between them achieved the intended frequency band of operation. This unique design helped in reducing the size of the antenna significantly and can maintain the operational band in flexible condition which proves advantage while integrating the antenna inside the capsule. The dimension of the antenna excluding the superstrate are 5.4 mm × 7 mm × 0.36 mm. The size is compact enough to be placed in cap part of capsule to avoid overlapping and coupling losses with surrounding circuitry. Initially the ingestible antenna along with circuitry and capsule were designed and placed inside homogenous stomach box using Ansys HFSS tool for the analysis, later the capsule system is placed inside different parts of the realistic virtual human phantom model and the comparative analysis is presented using the reflection coefficient curves and specific absorption rate (SAR). The SAR analysis is carried as per the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over 1 g volume tissue, and it is 0.74 W/Kg for the proposed ingestible antenna for input power of 1 mW. The proposed antenna maintained its operational band with good impedance matching and S11 below − 10 dB making to robust and insensitive towards the variation of tissues dielectric properties in gastrointestinal tract (GI). The presented coupling strength analysis from endoscopy antenna to outside antenna proved its ability to communicate. The link budget analysis for the GI tissues proved that the margin between the actual link and the required strength is good for up to 5 m distance between the Tx and Rx antennas. Moreover, the fabricated model is measured under minced pork condition and compared analysis between the simulated and measured showed that proposed antenna-maintained impedance matching below − 10 dB in the operational band from almost 2.7 to 3.8 GHz showing significant agreement for without circuit case. The overall measured bandwidth is 1100 MHz, at operating frequency 3.3 GHz the measured return loss is − 18 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to design a compact antenna structure suitable for implantable devices, with a broad frequency range covering various bands such as the Industrial Scientific and Medical band (868–868.6 MHz, 902–928 MHz, 5.725–5.875 GHz), the Wireless Medical Telemetry Service (WMTS) band, a subset of the unlicensed 3.5–4.5 GHz ultra-wideband (UWB) that is free of interference, and various Wi-Fi spectra (3.6 GHz, 4.9 GHz, 5 GHz, 5.9 GHz, 6 GHz). The antenna supports both low and high frequencies for efficient data transfer and is compatible with various communication technologies. The antenna features an asynchronous-meandered radiator, a parasitic patch, and an open-ended square ring-shaped ground plane. The antenna is deployed deep inside the muscle layer of a rectangular phantom below the skin and fat layer at a depth of 7 mm for numerical simulation. Furthermore, the antenna is deployed in a cylindrical phantom and bent to check the suitability for different organs. A prototype of the antenna is created, and its reflection coefficient and radiation patterns are measured in fresh pork tissue. The proposed antenna is considered a suitable candidate for implantable technology compared to other designs reported in the literature. It can be observed that the proposed antenna in this study has the smallest volume (75 mm3) and widest bandwidth (181.8% for 0.86 GHz, 9.58% for 1.43 GHz, and 285.7% for the UWB subset and Wi-Fi). It also has the highest gain (−26 dBi for ISM, −14 dBi for WMTS, and −14.2 dBi for UWB subset and Wi-Fi) compared to other antennas in the literature. In addition, the SAR values for the proposed antenna are well below the safety limits prescribed by IEEE Std C95.1-1999, with SAR values of 0.409 W/Kg for 0.8 GHz, 0.534 W/Kg for 1.43 GHz, 0.529 W/Kg for 3.5 GHz, and 0.665 W/Kg for 5.5 GHz when the applied input power is 10 mW. Overall, the proposed antenna in this study demonstrates superior performance compared to existing tri-band implantable antennas in terms of size, bandwidth, gain, and SAR values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearable temperature sensors offer the potential to overcome several limitations associated with current laboratory- and field-based methods for core temperature assessment; however, their ability to provide accurate data at elevated core temperatures (Tc) has been questioned. Therefore, this investigation aimed to determine the concurrent validity of a wearable temperature sensor (CORE) compared to a reference telemetric temperature pill (BodyCAP) during a team-sport heat training camp prior to the 2020 Olympic Games. Female field hockey players (n = 19) in the Australian national squad completed 4 sessions in hot conditions where their temperature was monitored via CORE and BodyCAP. Concurrent validity of the wearable CORE device was determined with reference to the ingested BodyCAP pill. Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficients determined there was "poor" agreement between devices during all sessions. Mean bias demonstrated that CORE underestimated Tc in all sessions (−0.06°C to −0.34°C), with wide mean 95% confidence intervals (±0.35°C to ±0.56°C). Locally estimated scatterplot smoothing regression lines illustrated a non-linearity of error, with greater underestimation of Tc by the CORE device, as Tc increased. The two devices disagreed more than ±0.3°C for 41-60% of all data samples in each session. Our findings do not support the use of the CORE device as a valid alternative to telemetric temperature pills for Tc assessment, particularly during exercise in hot conditions where elevated Tc are expected. The CORE wearable sensor is not a valid alternative to telemetric temperature pills for Tc assessment, particularly during exercise in hot conditions where elevated Tc are expected. Compared to reference Tc data provided by a validated, ingestible telemetric temperature pill, the CORE device demonstrated "poor" agreement between devices during all sessions in this investigation. There was a non-linear bias which tended to underestimate Tc to a greater extent as Tc increased (but with wide confidence intervals), with 41-60% of all data exceeding a threshold error of ±0.3°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent technological advances in respiratory support and monitoring have dramatically enhanced the utility of long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV). Improved quality of life and prolonged survival have been demonstrated for several common chronic neuromuscular diseases. Many adults with progressive neuromuscular respiratory disease can now comfortably maintain normal ventilation at home to near total respiratory muscle paralysis without needing a tracheostomy. However, current practice in many communities falls short of that potential. Mastery of the new technology calls for detailed awareness of the respiratory cycle; expert knowledge of mechanical devices, facial interfaces, and quantitative monitoring tools for home ventilation; and a willingness to stay current in a rapidly expanding body of clinical research. The depth and breadth of the expertise required to manage home assisted ventilation has given rise to a new focused medical subspecialty in chronic respiratory failure at the interface between pulmonology, critical care, and sleep medicine. For clinicians seeking pragmatic "how to" guidance, this primer presents a comprehensive, physician-directed management approach to long-term NIV of adults with chronic neuromuscular respiratory disease. Bi-level devices, portable ventilators, ventilation modalities, terminology, and monitoring strategies are reviewed in detail. Building on that knowledge base, we present a step-by-step guide to initiation, refinement, and maintenance of home NIV tailored to patient-centered goals of therapy. The quantitative approach recommended incorporates routine monitoring of home ventilation using technologies that have only recently become widely available including cloud-based device telemonitoring and non-invasive measurements of blood gases. Strategies for troubleshooting and problem solving are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 may require manual pronation therapy while receiving mechanical ventilation. In preparation of a pandemic admission surge, nurses with medical-surgical and telemetry experience can be provided just-in-time education to support the care of these patients and other critically ill patients. A description of the assessment, plan, implementation, and evaluation of just-in-time simulation education activities using the ADDIE model assists staff development educators to develop education in similar circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the value of CCKBRfl/fl villin-Cre mice as a mouse model of salt-sensitive hypertension (SSH). METHODS: In the first part, 2-month-old CCKBRfl/fl villin-Cre mice (CKO) and control CCKBRfl/fl mice (WT) were fed with normal diet (0.4% NaCl) or high salt diet (4% NaCl), separately for 6 weeks. In the rescue study, one week of hydrochlorothiazide or saline injection were treated with the CKO mice fed high salt diet. The blood pressure, biochemical indexes, and the expression of small intestinal sodium transporters (NHE3, NKCC1, eNaC) was detected. The organ injury markers (MMP2/MMP9) and the histopathological changes of kidneys were observed, whereas the changes of duodenal sodium absorption were detected by small intestinal perfusion in vivo. RESULTS: The CCKBRfl/fl villin-Cre mice with high salt intake exhibited high blood pressure, increased duodenal sodium absorption and urinary sodium excretion, and with renal injury. The protein expression of NHE3, NKCC1 and eNaC were also significant increase in the intestine of CKO-HS mice. Treatment with hydrochlorothiazide remarkably attenuated the elevated blood pressure by high salt absorption in the CCKBRfl/fl villin-Cre mice, but no significant histopathological changes were observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results support a crucial role of intestinal Cckbr deficiency on SSH development and the diuretic antihypertension effect in CCKBRfl/fl villin-Cre mice. The CCKBRfl/fl villin-Cre mice with the high salt intake may serve as a stable model of salt-sensitive hypertensive induced by sodium overloading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Satellite telemetry is critical for collecting fine-scale temporal and spatial data on individual animals that has broad-scale applicability at population and species levels. There have been significant advances in the remote deployment of satellite telemetry devices on large cetacean species. However, the development of comparable remote attachment methodologies for small cetaceans is still limited. Currently, satellite tag attachment for small cetaceans requires manual capture that increases the risk to the target animal, can be logistically challenging, and cost prohibitive. The goal of this project was to develop a novel tool to remotely attach single-pin satellite telemetry devices to the dorsal fin of individual small cetaceans. Three different spring-loaded designs and one pneumatic version of the remote attachment device were built in an iterative process to identify a successful deployment methodology. Ultimately, as a result of logistical challenges associated with a Category 5 hurricane, the COVID-19 pandemic, and engineering complexities related to dorsal fin morphology and small cetacean behavior, the objective of this project was not met. However, lessons learned from these attempts to develop this new sampling tool have applicability for future researchers in the successful completion of a safe and effective methodology for remote attachment of satellite tags to small cetacean dorsal fins.

Abstract Acoustic telemetry has helped overcome many of the challenges faced when studying the movement ecology of aquatic species, allowing to obtain unprecedented amounts of data. This has made it into one of the most widely used methods nowadays. Many ways to analyse acoustic telemetry data have been made available and deciding on how to analyse the data requires considering the type of research objectives, relevant properties of the data (e.g., resolution, study design, equipment), habits of the study species, researcher experience, among others. To ease this decision process, here we showcase (1) some of the methods used to estimate pseudo-positions and positions from raw acoustic telemetry data, (2) methods to estimate residency and (3) methods to estimate two-dimensional home and occurrence range using geometric or hull-based methods and density-distribution methods, a network-based approach, and three-dimensional methods. We provide examples of some of these were tested using a sample of real data. With this we intend to provide the necessary background for the selection of the method(s) that better fit specific research objectives when using acoustic telemetry.

Abstract Background Movement is central to understanding the ecology of animals. The most robustly definable segments of an individual’s lifetime track are its diel activity routines (DARs). This robustness is due to fixed start and end points set by a 24-h clock that depends on the individual’s quotidian schedule. An analysis of day-to-day variation in the DARs of individuals, their comparisons among individuals, and the questions that can be asked, particularly in the context of lunar and annual cycles, depends on the relocation frequency and spatial accuracy of movement data. Here we present methods for categorizing the geometry of DARs for high frequency (seconds to minutes) movement data. Methods Our method involves an initial categorization of DARs using data pooled across all individuals. We approached this categorization using a Ward clustering algorithm that employs four scalar “whole-path metrics” of trajectory geometry: 1. net displacement (distance between start and end points), 2. maximum displacement from start point, 3. maximum diameter, and 4. maximum width. We illustrate the general approach using reverse-GPS data obtained from 44 barn owls, Tyto alba, in north-eastern Israel. We conducted a principle components analysis (PCA) to obtain a factor, PC1, that essentially captures the scale of movement. We then used a generalized linear mixed model with PC1 as the dependent variable to assess the effects of age and sex on movement. Results We clustered 6230 individual DARs into 7 categories representing different shapes and scale of the owls nightly routines. Five categories based on size and elongation were classified as closed (i.e. returning to the same roost), one as partially open (returning to a nearby roost) and one as fully open (leaving for another region). Our PCA revealed that the DAR scale factor, PC1, accounted for 86.5% of the existing variation. It also showed that PC2 captures the openness of the DAR and accounted for another 8.4% of the variation. We also constructed spatio-temporal distributions of DAR types for individuals and groups of individuals aggregated by age, sex, and seasonal quadrimester, as well as identify some idiosyncratic behavior of individuals within family groups in relation to location. Finally, we showed in two ways that DARs were significantly larger in young than adults and in males than females. Conclusion Our study offers a new method for using high-frequency movement data to classify animal diel movement routines. Insights into the types and distributions of the geometric shape and size of DARs in populations may well prove to be more invaluable for predicting the space-use response of individuals and populations to climate and land-use changes than other currently used movement track methods of analysis.

A scenario of an electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation using monitoring technologies for remote detection of arrhythmias is presented.

Purpose: The core temperature responses during exercise and effects of different cooling strategies on endurance performance under heat stress have been investigated in recreational athletes. This investigation aimed to determine peak rectal temperatures during elite racewalking competitions and to detail any cooling strategies used. Methods: Rectal temperature was measured in 14 heat-adapted elite/preelite race walkers (9 females) via a telemetric capsule across 4 outdoor events, including the 2018 Commonwealth Games (race 1: 20 km, 25°C, 74% relative humidity [RH], n = 2) and 3 International Association of Athletics Federations-sanctioned 10-km events (race 2: 19°C, 34% RH, n = 2; race 3: 29°C, 47% RH, n = 14; and race 4: 23°C, 72% RH, n = 11). All athletes completed race 3, and a subsample completed the other events. Their use of cooling strategies and symptoms of heat illness were determined. Results: Peak rectal temperatures >40°C were observed in all events. The highest rectal temperature observed during an event was 41.2°C. These high rectal temperatures were observed without concomitant heat illness, with the exception of cramping in one athlete during race 1. The rectal temperatures tended to reach a steady state in the second half of the 20-km event, but no steady state was observed in the 10-km events. The athletes used cooling strategies in race 1 only, implementing different combinations of cold-water immersion, ice-slurry ingestion, ice-towel application, ice-vest application, and facial water spraying. Conclusions: Elite/preelite race walkers experience rectal temperatures >40°C during competition despite only moderate-warm conditions, and even when precooling and midcooling strategies are applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To characterize player core temperature (Tc) across a World Rugby Women's Sevens Series tournament day (WRWSS) and determine the efficacy of commonly employed cold-water-immersion (CWI) protocols. Methods: Tc was measured in 12 elite female rugby sevens athletes across 3 games (G1–3) from day 1 of the Sydney WRWSS tournament. Symptoms of exertional heat illness, perceptual scales, CWI details, playing minutes, external-load data (measured by global positioning systems), and wet-bulb globe temperature (range 18.5°C–20.1°C) were also collected. Linear mixed models and magnitude-based inferences were used to assess differences in Tc between periods (G1–3 and warm-ups [WU]). Results: Average Tc was "very likely" lower (effect size; ±90% confidence limit −0.33; ±0.18) in G1 than in G2. Peak Tc was "very likely" (0.71; ±0.28) associated with increased playing time. CWI did not remove the accumulated Tc due to WU and match-play activity (∼1°C–2°C rise in Tc still present compared with Tc at WU onset for players ≥6-min match play). Conclusions: Elite WRWSS athletes experienced high Tc during WU (Tc peak 37.9–39.0°C) and matches (Tc peak 37.9–39.8°C), a magnitude known to reduce intermittent high-intensity physical performance (≥39°C). The CWI protocol resulted in players (≥6-min match play) with ∼1°C to 2°C raised Tc compared with Tc at WU onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine how a cooling vest worn during a warm-up could influence selected performance (countermovement jump [CMJ]), physical (global positioning system [GPS] metrics), and psychophysiological (body temperature and perceptual) variables. Methods: In a randomized, crossover design, 12 elite male World Rugby Sevens Series athletes completed an outdoor (wet bulb globe temperature 23-27°C) match-specific externally valid 30-min warm-up wearing a phase-change cooling vest (VEST) and without (CONTROL), on separate occasions 7 d apart. CMJ was assessed before and after the warm-up, with GPS indices and heart rate monitored during the warm-ups, while core temperature (Tc; ingestible telemetric pill; n = 6) was recorded throughout the experimental period. Measures of thermal sensation (TS) and thermal comfort (TC) was obtained pre-warm-up and post-warm-up, with rating of perceived exertion (RPE) taken post-warm-ups. Results: Athletes in VEST had a lower ΔTc (mean [SD]: VEST=1.3°C [0.1°C]; CONTROL = 2.0°C [0.2°C]) from pre-warm-up to post-warm-up (effect size; ±90% confidence limit: -1.54; ±0.62) and Tc peak (mean [SD]: VEST = 37.8°C [0.3°C]; CONTROL = 38.5°C [0.3°C]) at the end of the warm-up (-1.59; ±0.64) compared with CONTROL. Athletes in VEST demonstrated a decrease in ΔTS (-1.59; ±0.72) and ΔTC (-1.63; ±0.73) pre-warm-up to post-warm-up, with a lower RPE post-warm-up (-1.01; ±0.46) than CONTROL. Changes in CMJ and GPS indices were trivial between conditions (effect size < 0.2). Conclusions: Wearing the vest prior to and during a warm-up can elicit favorable alterations in physiological (Tc) and perceptual (TS, TC, and RPE) warm-up responses, without compromising the utilized warm-up characteristics or physical-performance measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antarctic coastal polynyas are persistent and recurrent regions of open water located between the coast and the drifting pack-ice. In spring, they are the first polar areas to be exposed to light, leading to the development of phytoplankton blooms, making polynyas potential ecological hotspots in sea-ice regions. Knowledge on polynya oceanography and ecology during winter is limited due to their inaccessibility. This study describes i) the first in situ chlorophyll fluorescence signal (a proxy for chlorophyll-a concentration and thus presence of phytoplankton) in polynyas between the end of summer and winter, ii) assesses whether the signal persists through time and iii) identifies its main oceanographic drivers. The dataset comprises 698 profiles of fluorescence, temperature and salinity recorded by southern elephant seals in 2011, 2019-2021 in the Cape-Darnley (CDP;67˚S-69˚E) and Shackleton (SP;66˚S-95˚E) polynyas between February and September. A significant fluorescence signal was observed until April in both polynyas. An additional signal occurring at 130m depth in August within CDP may result from in situ growth of phytoplankton due to potential adaptation to low irradiance or remnant chlorophyll-a that was advected into the polynya. The decrease and deepening of the fluorescence signal from February to August was accompanied by the deepening of the mixed layer depth and a cooling and salinification of the water column in both polynyas. Using Principal Component Analysis as an exploratory tool, we highlighted previously unsuspected drivers of the fluorescence signal within polynyas. CDP shows clear differences in biological and environmental conditions depending on topographic features with higher fluorescence in warmer and saltier waters on the shelf compared with the continental slope. In SP, near the ice-shelf, a significant fluorescence signal in April below the mixed layer (around 130m depth), was associated with fresher and warmer waters. We hypothesize that this signal could result from potential ice-shelf melting from warm water intrusions onto the shelf leading to iron supply necessary to fuel phytoplankton growth. This study supports that Antarctic coastal polynyas may have a key role for polar ecosystems as biologically active areas throughout the season within the sea-ice region despite inter and intra-polynya differences in environmental conditions.

Wireless biotelemetry enables the formation of communication link from living body to an external monitoring device. Isolation of near field electromagnetic (EM) waves from body tissue, and wide bandwidth to avoid frequency detuning in different biological environments are the important parameters of on-body antennas. In this paper, a conformal defected ground patch antenna with artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) is introduced for on-body communication. Initially, a quarter wave wide band antenna with a shorting pin is designed to operate at 2.45 GHz. It resonates effectively on body tissue but most of the near field EM radiations are absorbed by tissue. Poor radiation efficiency of 10% and high specific absorption rate (SAR) value of 7.73 W/Kg were obtained. Thus, to reduce the effect of tissue loading on antenna performance an AMC-based structure is added. Better impedance matching, high efficiency (65%) and directivity (7.3 dBi) is achieved with AMC structure. Furthermore, unidirectional radiation pattern with SAR value of 1.43W/Kg is attained. Wide bandwidth of 600 MHz on phantom enables the antenna to withstand frequency detuning effect due to body postures and movements. Antenna robustness is analysed by bending the structure at different radii along X-axis and Y-axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Gosper curve fractal-based geometry novel Planar Inverted F-antenna (PIFA) antenna has been proposed for implantable biotelemetry applications. The antenna is designed to work inside the human muscle tissue at the MICS band (402–405 MHz). The antenna is composed of two layers of radiating patch stacked together on Rogers RO 3010 substrate with a thickness of 10 mil and a radius of 5 mm. The volumetric size of the proposed antenna is approximately 60 mm3. The initial antenna is designed inside the single layer human muscle tissue and optimized inside the multilayer tissue model. Furthermore, lumped equivalent circuit models, based on Bessel filter function, have been proposed and their results are analogized with the proposed antenna design with an error of 2.1%. The performance of fabricated antenna prototype inside human muscle, mimicking liquid phantom, is matched to a large extent closely to the proposed numerical antenna model that ensures its reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small size of the implantable antenna is the major concern in Implantable Medical Devices. A compact implantable wideband radiator working at the ISM band is proposed for biotelemetry applications. The overall dimension of the proposed radiator is 10 mm ⁎ 15 mm ⁎ 0.8 mm and the thickness includes substrate and superstrate thickness. The Coaxial feeding method is employed here. The inner and outer diameter of the coaxial feed is 1 and 1.5 mm respectively. The design process starts with a creation of rectangular patch of size 10 mm ⁎ 15 mm and the coaxial feed is located at (2.5, 7). Then slot like loops are introduced on a rectangular patch. This compact size is achieved by introducing small loops on a rectangular patch along with triangular cuts at the bottom right and top-left of the patch. The antenna is simulated with a tissue model (Skin, Fat, Muscle, Bone) and measured with a Body Equivalent Fluid (phantom). The −10 dB bandwidth is obtained over 1340 MHz (1.66–3 GHz) and the fractional bandwidth of 54.7% at the ISM band. The simulated gain and radiation efficiency of the radiator are −13.5 dBi and 3.15% respectively. The measured return loss of the proposed antenna is −30.53 dB and the SAR value averaged over 1 g tissue is 302.6 W/kg with 1 W input power. When compared to the previous works mentioned in the literature the proposed antenna displays wider bandwidth, high gain, low SAR and high radiation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical telemetry applications rely heavily on biomedical implanted antennas. These biomedical implanted devices can enhance and monitor patients' daily life circumstances. A low-profile, downsized size implanted antenna operating at 915 MHz in the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band is suggested in this research. The antenna is a simple slotted patch supplied by a 50-impedance coaxial probe. The radiator is made up of two slotted parasitic patches with one square-shaped outer radiator are manufactured on a Roger Droid RT5880 substrate with a standard height of 0.254 mm (εr = 2.2, tanδ = 0.0009). The entire dimension of the given antenna is 11 × 11 × 0.2514 mm with an electrical size of 0.049λg × 0.049λg × 0.0011λg. The antenna spans a bandwidth of 0.82–1.05 GHz when working inside muscle tissues (25.13 percent). The antenna's calculations and experimental findings are quite similar. The computed specific absorption rate (SAR) values inside muscle of above 1 g mass tissue are 7.25 W/kg, according to the data. The stated SAR values are lower than the limit set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). As a result, the proposed small antenna is a strong contender for biological implantable applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]