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Monitoring body temperature and energy expenditure in freely-moving laboratory mice remains a powerful methodology used widely across a variety of disciplines–including circadian biology, sleep research, metabolic phenotyping, and the study of body temperature regulation. Some of the most pronounced changes in body temperature are observed when small heterothermic species reduce their body temperature during daily torpor. Daily torpor is an energy saving strategy characterized by dramatic reductions in body temperature employed by mice and other species when challenged to meet energetic demands. Typical measurements used to describe daily torpor are the measurement of core body temperature and energy expenditure. These approaches can have drawbacks and developing alternatives for these techniques provides options that can be beneficial both from an animal-welfare and study-complexity perspective. First, this paper presents and assesses a method to estimate core body temperature based on measurements of subcutaneous body temperature, and second, a separate approach to better estimate energy expenditure during daily torpor based on core body temperature. Third, the effects of light exposure during the habitual dark phase and sleep deprivation during the light period on body temperature dynamics were tested preliminary in fed and fasted mice. Together, the here-published approaches and datasets can be used in the future to assess body temperature and metabolism in freely-moving laboratory mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart rate variability (HRV) is an indicator of changes in the interval between successive R-waves on the electrocardiogram (ECG), known as R–R intervals (RRI), caused by autonomic nervous system activity. Measurement of RRI is useful in detecting diseases related to autonomic nervous system activity and predicting seizures. This study proposes an improved heart-rate measurement system that combines a highly accurate, compact, and inexpensive patch-type RRI telemeter with a smartphone application that automatically selects the appropriate measurement position without the need of an expert. To evaluate the measurement accuracy, the RRIs of 10 healthy men and 10 healthy women in supine, sitting, standing, and walking (3 km/h) postures were simultaneously measured using the proposed system and a reference ECG measurement system, and the obtained results were compared. Furthermore, the R-wave detection rate was measured, and Bland–Altman analysis was conducted to analyze the measurement accuracy of the proposed system. The results show that the R-wave detection rate and limit-of-agreement were sufficiently accurate for HRV analysis for 68 and 67 out of the total of 80 epochs, respectively. The fabricated system is expected to enhance the ability of non-experts to conduct ECG measurements and will contribute to improve the quality of healthcare through continuous monitoring at home. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grab dredger depth-keeping and flat dredging controller makes the grab have the function of depth-keeping and flat dredging, but it still needs to manually compensate the tidal level change value and manually input data to improve the excavation precision. Through the analysis of the principle of depth-keeping and flat dredging, and combined with the automatic tidal level telemetry device, the tidal level automatic compensation and depth-keeping and flat dredging conditions are put forward to realize the refined dredging function, which is verified by land and water tests. The results show that the tide level data is output real-time data through the telemeter, and the depth automatic correction can be realized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of its advantages of continuous input and output currents, stable transfer function, and high efficiency, the Weinberg converter is used as battery discharge regulator. Its working principle under overlap and nonoverlap modes with stray parameters is analyzed. Then a design method is proposed to optimize the parameters. In order to estimate the heat distribution, the power loss is calculated according to the performance parameters, and then the efficiency trend is achieved toward the output current. In addition, the experimental results verify the optimal design using a 600 W prototype. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents both experimental and analytical investigations on the dynamic behavior of the cage in a ball bearing. For the experimental investigation, a wireless sensor telemeter system was designed and developed to monitor the cage motions. The sensor, which was integrated on the bearing cage, is composed of a commercially available capacitor-inductor (LC) circuit. The LC circuit on the rotating cage was coupled to a transceiver that was stationary and positioned in close proximity to the cage. In order to achieve the objective of the analytical investigation, the explicit finite element method (EFEM) was used to simulate the bearing cage. The EFEM cage model was then combined with the dynamic bearing model to simulate the cage motion during operation. The results from the experimental measurement using the telemeter were then compared with the analytical modeling. The developed telemeter demonstrated the capability of the cage telemeter in detecting various bearing frequencies. These include the cage frequency, shaft frequency, and ball pass frequency on the outer race (BPFO), which was introduced by creating a spall on the bearing outer race. Compared to standard accelerometers that are commonly used to measure vibrations on the bearing housing, the cage telemeter has shown advantages in sensing cage motions and detecting bearing defects regardless of the location of the damage. Analytical simulation using the EFEM cage model correlated well with the experimental results and provided more insight into the bearing cage dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Applications delivered by the internet of things have the potential to increase operational efficiency, reliability and safety. However, a challenge exists to deliver connectivity to industries with remote operations at a cost, battery life and form factor that is able to close the business case for deployment. This is especially true in cases where the system must scale to support large numbers of devices. Typical applications include sensor telemetry, low-value asset tracking, and device monitoring and control. Myriota provides global reach for the internet of things by securely delivering high-value small-data direct to a constellation of low Earth orbit satellites. This paper provides an overview of the Myriota communications architecture, and the process taken to transfer Myriota foundation technology into a highly scalable commercial product and service. Recent results from customer facing pilot deployments are also presented. Highlights • An overview of Myriota's massive scale IoT communications system is provided. • Small form factor and long battery life are combined with direct-to-orbit coverage. • Results from pilot deployments are presented. • The system delivers a cost effective, long life, global IoT service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present documentation is made up of a topographic work towards preparing the project for an AGROTOURISTIC PENSION. This was done at the request of the beneficiary who will complete the work through European funds..The drawn and written pieces were set up in accordance with the no. 50/1991 Law, republished with the subsequent amendments and additions. The building is located in the town of Temeșești, no. 11, Săvârşin Commune, Arad County and is privately owned. The land of 3348 square meters is inscribed in C.F. 301432 Săvârşin target topographic number 301432. The land is located on the upper terrace of the Mures River, a high meadow area, without the danger of flooding. The land is parallel to the street, with a street front of 1645, and access by means of transport like cars of small capacity to minibus level. There is pedestrian access in the area by using the pavement on the property's edge, the green area and the river drainage ditch between the sidewalk and the road. Access inside the building is on the south side of the street over a footbridge with a load of up to 7.5 tons. The Agroturistic Boarding House will be a tourist accommodation complex located in the rural area of Temeșești, which will offer accommodation services through the future construction of the pension, a restaurant where 3 meals based on traditional products obtained from own resources or in the immediate vicinity can be served; and leisure , relaxation and recreation activities in the specially arranged area in the pension yard, car park with a capacity of up to 8 parking spaces arranged at the entrance pension and its precincts. Agropoda will be a family business with separate access to the restaurant for tourists not accommodated in the pension and access ways inside the boarding house for tourists that are billed at the pension. In the hotel area, the access to the rooms will be provided by an access ladder in the attic area, where there will be a number of 6 rooms available, equipped with their own sanitary units and a balcony. The topographical works in their initial stage consisted of the topographical surveys of identification and subsequent drawing of the construction, and in theur final phase, which is the actual object of this work of creating surveys on each floor of the building. For this stage, two distomatetelemeter laser topographical instruments were used , and also specialized graphics software such as AutoCAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many species of bat emit acoustic signals and use information carried by echoes reflecting from nearby objects to navigate and forage. It is widely documented that echolocating bats adjust the features of sonar calls in response to echo feedback; however, it remains unknown whether audiovocal feedback contributes to sonar call design. Audiovocal feedback refers to the monitoring of one's own vocalizations during call production and has been intensively studied in nonecholocating animals. Audiovocal feedback not only is a necessary component of vocal learning but also guides the control of the spectro-temporal structure of vocalizations. Here, we show that audiovocal feedback is directly involved in the echolocating bat's control of sonar call features. As big brown bats tracked targets from a stationary position, we played acoustic jamming signals, simulating calls of another bat, timed to selectively perturb audiovocal feedback or echo feedback. We found that the bats exhibited the largest call-frequency adjustments when the jamming signals occurred during vocal production. By contrast, bats did not show sonar call-frequency adjustments when the jamming signals coincided with the arrival of target echoes. Furthermore, bats rapidly adapted sonar call design in the first vocalization following the jamming signal, revealing a response latency in the range of 66 to 94 ms. Thus, bats, like songbirds and humans, rely on audiovocal feedback to structure sonar signal design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Communication between satellite and ground station requires the antenna to be directly towards satellite for telemetery and telecommand data exchange. Hence, role of satellite tracking is clear. There are various techniques for satellite tracking. In this paper, Doppler technique for tracking LEO satellites from a ground station is discussed. This technique is a precise, beneficial and easy method compared with others. First, Doppler shift is obtained using TLE and equations governing on satellites and their orbit. Then this Doppler shift is compared with an obtained Doppler shift called practical Doppler shift which is obtained via a radio receiver at the ground station. This comparison leads to a tracking error which is removed in control loop by auto tracking process. Hence tracking angles are created with no error leading to a precise satellite tracking. This method acts as software in the loop which performs the act of satellite tracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of examining multiple hierarchical levels when modeling resource use for wildlife has been acknowledged for decades. Multi-level resource selection functions have recently been promoted as a method to synthesize resource use across nested organizational levels into a single predictive surface. Analyzing multiple scales of selection within each hierarchical level further strengthens multi-level resource selection functions. We extend this multi-level, multi-scale framework to modeling resistance for wildlife by combining multi-scale resistance surfaces from two data types, genetic and movement. Resistance estimation has typically been conducted with one of these data types, or compared between the two. However, we contend it is not an either/or issue and that resistance may be better-modeled using a combination of resistance surfaces that represent processes at different hierarchical levels. Resistance surfaces estimated from genetic data characterize temporally broad-scale dispersal and successful breeding over generations, whereas resistance surfaces estimated from movement data represent fine-scale travel and contextualized movement decisions. We used telemetry and genetic data from a long-term study on pumas (Puma concolor) in a highly developed landscape in southern California to develop a multi-level, multi-scale resource selection function and a multi-level, multi-scale resistance surface. We used these multi-level, multi-scale surfaces to identify resource use patches and resistant kernel corridors. Across levels, we found puma avoided urban, agricultural areas, and roads and preferred riparian areas and more rugged terrain. For other landscape features, selection differed among levels, as did the scales of selection for each feature. With these results, we developed a conservation plan for one of the most isolated puma populations in the U.S. Our approach captured a wide spectrum of ecological relationships for a population, resulted in effective conservation planning, and can be readily applied to other wildlife species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telemetry studies that track animals through space and time can lead to advances in scientific understanding that are vital in conservation efforts. For example, telemetry studies of the giant panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca) have shed light on many aspects of panda biology, but small sample sizes in each separate study make it difficult to draw broad conclusions. To overcome this problem we conducted the first synthesis of all 5 panda telemetry studies conducted to date. Using these data we investigated patterns in 6 main topics: home range, space-use interactions, core areas, movement patterns, seasonal migration and natal dispersal. We found that panda home range sizes do not vary between 2 main mountain ranges (Qionglai and Qinling), as was previously believed. Our results also suggest that female pandas increase their movement in the mating season: a behavior typically attributed only to males. We found and summarized telemetry and genetic evidence for female natal dispersal in the giant panda. Our synthesis highlights the need for additional research relating panda behavior to human disturbance factors, and can aid future studies on giant pandas as well as other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed an optical Absolute Distance Meter (ADM) based on the measurement of the phase accumulated by a Radio Frequency wave during its propagation in the air by a laser beam. In this article, the ADM principle will be described and the main results will be presented. In particular, we will emphasize how the choice of an appropriate photodetector can significantly improve the telemeter performances by minimizing the amplitude to phase conversion. Our prototype, tested in the field, has proven its efficiency with a resolution better than 15 μm for a measurement time of 10 ms and distances up to 1.2 km. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Laryngo-pharyngeal mechano-sensitivity (LPMS) is involved in dysphagia, sleep apnea, stroke, irritable larynx syndrome and cough hypersensitivity syndrome among other disorders. These conditions are associated with a wide range of airway reflex abnormalities. However, the current device for exploring LPMS is limited because it assesses only the laryngeal adductor reflex during fiber-optic endoscopic evaluations of swallowing and requires a high degree of expertise to obtain reliable results, introducing intrinsic expert variability and subjectivity.Methods: We designed, developed and validated a new air-pulse laryngo-pharyngeal endoscopic esthesiometer with a built-in laser range-finder (LPEER) based on the evaluation and control of air-pulse variability determinants and on intrinsic observer variability and subjectivity determinants of the distance, angle and site of stimulus impact. The LPEER was designed to be capable of delivering precise and accurate stimuli with a wide range of intensities that can explore most laryngo-pharyngeal reflexes.Results: We initially explored the potential factors affecting the reliability of LPMS tests and included these factors in a multiple linear regression model. The following factors significantly affected the precision and accuracy of the test (P < 0.001): the tube conducting the air-pulses, the supply pressure of the system, the duration of the air-pulses, and the distance and angle between the end of the tube conducting the air-pulses and the site of impact. To control all of these factors, an LPEER consisting of an air-pulse generator and an endoscopic laser range-finder was designed and manufactured. We assessed the precision and accuracy of the LPEER's stimulus and range-finder according to the coefficient of variation (CV) and by looking at the differences between the measured properties and the desired values, and we performed a pilot validation on ten human subjects. The air-pulses and range-finder exhibited good precision and accuracy (CV < 0.06), with differences between the desired and measured properties at <3 % and a range-finder measurement error of <1 mm. The tests in patients demonstrated obtainable and reproducible thresholds for the laryngeal adductor, cough and gag reflexes.Conclusions: The new LPEER was capable of delivering precise and accurate stimuli for exploring laryngo-pharyngeal reflexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thermoacoustic engine is operated within the core of a nuclear reactor to acoustically telemeter coolant temperature (frequency-encoded) and reactor power level (amplitude-encoded) outside the reactor, thus providing the values of these important parameters without external electrical power or wiring. We present data from two hydrophones in the coolant (far from the core) and an accelerometer attached to a structure outside the reactor. These signals have been detected even in the presence of substantial background noise generated by the reactor's fluid pumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adjuvants Systems (AS) containing immunostimulant combinations are used in human vaccines. Safety pharmacology studies evaluated the cardiorespiratory effects of AS in conscious telemetered dogs and in anaesthetised rats. Sixteen telemetered beagle dogs (4/group) received intramuscular injections of saline at Day 0, and one clinical dose of AS01, AS03, AS04 or AS15 at Day 7 (7× the equivalent human dose on a bodyweight basis). Bodyweights were measured through Day 14 and cardiorespiratory parameters and body temperature through 72 h post-treatment. Anaesthetised rats (4/group) received one intravenous injection of AS01, AS03 or AS15 at 1 mL/kg bodyweight (140× the equivalent human dosages), or saline. Cardiorespiratory parameters were measured for 120 min post-dose. In dogs, food consumption and mean bodyweight decreased with AS03, and mean body temperature slightly increased with AS01, AS03 and AS15, but were not considered to be adverse. Cardiovascular effects (a slight, reversible increase in mean heart rate and shortened mean RR/PR/QT-intervals) were observed with AS15. No relevant clinical effects or effects on QRS-complex/QTc-interval durations, arterial pressure or respiratory parameters were observed. In rats, there were no consistent treatment-related effects. Collectively, this suggests that AS01, AS03, AS04 and AS15 are not associated with potentially deleterious effects on ventricular repolarisation, atrio/intra-ventricular conductivities or respiratory functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SO 2 camera systems allow rapid two-dimensional imaging of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) emitted from volcanic vents. Here, we describe the development of an SO 2 camera system specifically designed for semi-permanent field installation and continuous use. The integration of innovative but largely “off-the-shelf” components allowed us to assemble a robust and highly customizable instrument capable of continuous, long-term deployment at Kīlauea Volcano's summit Overlook Crater. Recorded imagery is telemetered to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) where a novel automatic retrieval algorithm derives SO 2 column densities and emission rates in real-time. Imagery and corresponding emission rates displayed in the HVO operations center and on the internal observatory website provide HVO staff with useful information for assessing the volcano's current activity. The ever-growing archive of continuous imagery and high-resolution emission rates in combination with continuous data from other monitoring techniques provides insight into shallow volcanic processes occurring at the Overlook Crater. An exemplary dataset from September 2013 is discussed in which a variation in the efficiency of shallow circulation and convection, the processes that transport volatile-rich magma to the surface of the summit lava lake, appears to have caused two distinctly different phases of lake activity and degassing. This first successful deployment of an SO 2 camera for continuous, real-time volcano monitoring shows how this versatile technique might soon be adapted and applied to monitor SO 2 degassing at other volcanoes around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An implanted telemetry system for experimental animals with or without anaesthesia can be used to continuously monitor physiological parameters. This system is significant not only in the study of organisms but also in the evaluation of drug efficacy, artificial organs, and auxiliary devices. The system is composed of a miniature electronic capsule, a wireless power transmission module, a data-recording device, and a processing module. An electrocardiograph, a temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor are integrated in the miniature electronic capsule, in which the signals are transmitted in vitro by wireless communication after filtering, amplification, and A/D sampling. To overcome the power shortage of batteries, a wireless power transmission module based on electromagnetic induction was designed. The transmitting coil of a rectangular-section solenoid and a 3D receiving coil are proposed according to stability and safety constraints. Experiments show that at least 150 mW of power could pick up on the load in a volume of Φ10.5 mm x 11 mm, with a transmission efficiency of 2.56%. Vivisection experiments verified the feasibility of the integrated radio-telemetry system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the reliability and throughput of the telegram-splitting concept in the presence of inter-system and intra-system interference. Using telegram splitting, the data of one telegram is split into multiple sub-packets, which are then transmitted with temporal spacing. As a result, collisions with other telegrams destroy only some sub-packets that can be recovered using forward error correction. Consequently, the reliability of the data transmission in case of inter- and intra-system interference—a significant problem in license-exempt bands—is highly improved. In this paper, probabilities for the resulting telegram error rate of random media access systems using telegram splitting are derived. Furthermore, the achievable throughput is analyzed. The theoretical considerations in addition to simulation results prove the significant gain of the telegram-splitting concept for telemetry systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper, a quasi-parallel inductive-capacitive (LC) resonance method is proposed to improve the recovery of MIL-STD-1553 Manchester code with several frequency components from attenuated, distorted, and drifted signal for data telemetry in well logging, and corresponding telemetry system is developed. Required resonant frequency and quality factor are derived, and the quasi-parallel LC resonant circuit is established at the receiving end of the logging cable to suppress the low-pass filtering effect caused by the distributed capacitance of the cable and provide balanced pass for all the three frequency components of the Manchester code. The performance of the method for various encoding frequencies and cable lengths at different bit energy to noise density ratios (Eb/No) have been evaluated in the simulation. A 5 km single-core cable used in on-site well logging and various encoding frequencies were employed to verify the proposed telemetry system in the experiment. Results obtained demonstrate that the telemetry system is feasible and effective to improve the code recovery in terms of anti-attenuation, anti-distortion, and anti-drift performances, decrease the bit error rate, and increase the reachable transmission rate and distance greatly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2008, the term Cloud has become one of the most widely used buzzwords in the IT industry. Lots of researchers and practitioners have tried to define Cloud computing from different application perspectives, but there is not a general consensus about its definition. There is for example not much in common between the Cloud definitions focusing on the use of virtual machines and mobile telecommunication networks and those focusing on the automation of service provisioning and configuration. Unlike most open source Cloud computing technologies, we propose a new decentralized platform for provisioning mobile Cloud services requiring no large farms of servers in data centers. Our focus in this work is on presenting the challenges arising in virtualization of a telemetry application and on showing the measurement results of the proposed solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-angiogenic drugs that target Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) signaling pathways caused hypertension as an adverse effect in clinical studies. Since the hypertension may limit the benefit provided for patients, the demand for non-clinical research that predicts the clinical risk of the hypertension has risen greatly. To clarify whether non-clinical research using rats can appropriately estimate the clinical risk of hypertension caused by VEGF signal inhibitors, we investigated the hemodynamic effects and pharmacokinetics (PK) of the VEGF signal inhibitors cediranib (0.1, 3, and 10 mg/kg), sunitinib (5, 10, and 40 mg/kg), and sorafenib (0.1, 1, and 5 mg/kg) in telemetered rats and examined the correlation between the non-clinical and the clinical hypertensive effect. The VEGF signal inhibitors significantly elevated blood pressure (BP) in rats within a few days of the initiation of dosing, and levels recovered after dosing ended. The trend of the hypertension was similar to that in clinical studies. We found that the AUC at which BP significantly increased by approximately 10 mmHg in rats was comparable to the clinical AUC at which moderate to severe hypertension occurred. These results represent correlations between the non-clinical and the clinical hypertensive effect of VEGF signal inhibitors, suggesting that non-clinical research using telemetered rats would be an effective approach to predict the clinical risk of hypertension caused by VEGF signal inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Telemetry units can be used to track inventory levels at customers, helping suppliers get a better idea of when their customers require deliveries. In this article, we examine where to place a limited number of these units. To the best of our knowledge, this question has not been addressed in the literature. For each potential set of customers to have telemetry, our model considers several different realizations of when these customers would need deliveries and evaluates the cost of routing these customers in combination with those customers who do not have telemetry. We iteratively improve the set of customers with telemetry until we find the set with the lowest expected routing cost. In our computational experiments, we examine the performance of our model and the impact of different problem characteristics on the results.Copyright © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 63(3), 260-275 2014 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We outline the development and the application in a field test of the Autonomous Fibre-Optic Rotational Seismograph (AFORS), which utilizes the Sagnac effect for a direct measurement of the seismic-origin rotations of the ground. The main advantage of AFORS is its complete insensitivity to linear motions, as well as a direct measurement of rotational components emitted during seismic events. The presented system contains a special autonomous signal processing unit which optimizes its operation for the measurement of rotation motions, whereas the applied telemetric system based on the Internet allows for an AFORS remote control. The laboratory investigation of such two devices indicated that they keep an accuracy of no less than 5.1 x 10-9 to 5.5 x 10-8 rad/s in the detection frequency band from 0.83~106.15 Hz and protect linear changes of sensitivity in the above bandpass. Some experimental results of an AFORS-1 application for a continuous monitoring of the rotational events in the Książ (Poland) seismological observatory are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a trade-off between the frequency of telemetry locations (fix interval) and battery life when using Global Positioning System (GPS) collars. In general, decreasing the fix interval lowers the effective battery life of the collar. However, the strong relationship between fix interval and movement metrics is often underappreciated. Mean movement rates, maximum movement rates, total distance estimates, and some screening algorithms change dramatically with different fix intervals, particularly for highly mobile animals such as caribou (Rangifer tarandus), and must be interpreted in relation to the fix interval used to collect the data. We used a multi-year, high-resolution data set from GPS collars with 2-hr fix intervals deployed on female caribou of the Teshekpuk Caribou Herd, Alaska, USA, 2006-2011, to examine the effect of fix interval on estimates of movement metrics. By calculating straight-line distances between locations taken at different fix intervals, we examined the rate of change in various metrics of caribou movement as a function of fix interval. We also calculated correction factors for different fix intervals, and examined how they changed seasonally. We fit an equation to the maximum rate of movement of caribou as a function of fix interval and used this equation in a modification of one screening algorithm to assess how it is affected by fix interval. We demonstrate how the maximum speed equation could potentially be used to derive a modified filter for telemetry data from highly mobile animals. Our results highlight the importance of incorporating fix-interval information into comparisons of movement metrics from different herds and time periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]