Pulse oximetry theory and calibration for low saturations

Pulse oximetry is a widely used technique in biomedical optics, but currently available pulse oximeters rely on empirical calibration approaches, which perform poorly at low saturations. We present an exact solution for pulse oximetry and show how this can be used as the basis for the development of a semiempirical calibration approach that may be useful, especially at low saturations and variable probe geometries. This new approach was experimentally tested against traditional empirical calibration techniques on transmission pulse oximetry for monitoring of fetal sheep using a minimally invasive spiral probe. The results open the way for the development of more accurate pulse oximetry.     

Variability of mesopause temperature derived from two independent methods using meteor radar and its comparison with SABER and EOS MLS and a collocated multi-wavelength dayglow photometer over an equatorial station,Thumba (8.5° N, 76.5° E)

Two independent methods for deriving mesopause temperature using meteor radar installed at an equatorial station, Thumba (8.5° N, 76.5° E), are discussed in this article. This meteor radar-derived mesopause temperature is then compared with two different types of spaceborne measurement, namely (i) Sounding the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry (SABER) and (ii) the Earth Observing System Microwave Limb Sounder (EOS MLS), and a collocated multi-wavelength dayglow photometer (DGPM). The meteor radar-derived temperature is in fairly good agreement with all the three measurement techniques, with an uncertainty of ±10°. This study focuses on a detailed evaluation and inter-comparison of mesopause temperature derived from different measurement techniques. An attempt is also made to compare the suitability of these observations to study planetary waves and other oscillation activities in the mesospheric region.     

Synthesis and characterisation of novel biopolymer stabilised organic Pt‐nanocomposite: assessment of its antioxidant and antitumour properties

Green synthesis of organic Pt‐nanocomposite was accomplished using carboplatin as a precursor and novel biopolymer – gum kondagogu (GK) as a reducing agent. The synthesised GK stabilised organic Pt‐nanocomposite (GKCPt NC) was characterised by different analytical techniques such as ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, nanoparticle analyser, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray analysis, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer. The XRD pattern established the amorphous nature of GKCPt NC. TEM analysis revealed the homogeneous, monodisperse and spherical nature, with Pt metal size of 3.08 ± 0.62 nm. The binding energy at 71.2 and 74.6 eV show the presence of metallic platinum, Pt(0) confirmed by XPS studies. Further, in vitro radical scavenging and antitumour activity of GKCPt NC have been investigated. In comparison to GK and carboplatin, GKCPt NC showed superior 1, 1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyle activity of 87.82%, whereas 2, 2‐azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzthinzoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) activity was 38.50%, respectively. In vitro studies of the antitumour property of GK, GKCPt NC and carboplatin were evaluated by potato disc tumour bioassay model. The efficacy of synthesised GKCPt NC concentration (IC₅₀) on tumour inhibition was found to be 2.04‐fold lower as compared to carboplatin. Overall, the synthesised GKCPt NC shows both antitumour and antioxidant properties when compared to the original drug – carboplatin and might have promising applications in cancer therapy.Inspec keywords: nanoparticles, tumours, ultraviolet spectra, drugs, free radical reactions, X‐ray photoelectron spectra, platinum, nanocomposites, X‐ray diffraction, visible spectra, X‐ray chemical analysis, nanofabrication, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, cancer, polymer structure, filled polymers, Fourier transform infrared spectra, binding energy, drug delivery systems, nanomedicineOther keywords: antioxidant properties, green synthesis, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray analysis, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometry, antitumour activity, carboplatin precursor, biopolymer gum kondagogu stabilised organic Pt‐nanocomposite, reducing agent, different analytical techniques, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, homogeneous particles, binding energy, in vitro radical scavenging, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyle activity, 2, 2‐azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzthinzoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) activity, tumour inhibition, Pt     

A Low Power Photoemission Source for Electrons on Liquid Helium

Electrons on the surface of liquid helium are a widely studied system that may also provide a promising method to implement a quantum computer. One experimental challenge in these studies is to generate electrons on the helium surface in a reliable manner without heating the cryo-system. An electron source relying on photoemission from a zinc film has been previously described using a high power continuous light source that heated the low temperature system. This work has been reproduced more compactly by using a low power pulsed lamp that avoids any heating. About 5×10³ electrons are collected on 1 cm² of helium surface for every pulse of light. A time-resolved experiment suggests that electrons are either emitted over or tunnel through the 1 eV barrier formed by the thin superfluid helium film on the zinc surface. No evidence of trapping or bubble formation is seen.     

A computational method for regularized long wave equation

Quintic spline technique and splitting method have been used to develop a new-finite difference method to solve regularized long wave (RLW) equation. The convergence and the stability of the proposed method are discussed. Then, it is used to model solitary wave motion and undular bore development by solving two test examples.     

Mueller-matrix Ellipsometry on Electroformed Rough Surfaces

Abstract

Automated Mueller-matrix ellipsometry was used to investigate the optical properties of electroformed standard rough surfaces as a function of r.m.s. surface roughness heights and angle of incidence. The r.m.s. roughness of the specimens examined varied from 50 to 12 500 nm. Six different surface finishes and 22 different specimens were examined and Mueller matrices were obtained at angles of incidence that varied from 30 to 80°. Measurements were conducted at a wavelength of 633 nm with the use of a division-of-amplitude photopolarimeter capable of simultaneously measuring all four Stokes parameters of arbitrarily polarized light. Values of ψ and Δ, the ellipsometric parameters, were derived from the measured Mueller matrices. The results demonstrate firstly the monotonic variations in the derived values of Δ with surface roughness for fixed angles of incidence, which include a ‘resonance’ effect for specimens with r.m.s. roughness heights close to the wavelength of light, secondly a systematic variation of ψ with the angle of incidence for different specimen roughness values and a reversal in these trends beyond the pseudo-Brewster angle, thirdly a monotonic variation in Δ values with the angle of incidence for different roughness values, fourthly relatively large variations in ψ values for roughness values close to the wavelength of light and fifthly relatively little change in ψ and Δ values for roughness values that greatly exceeded the wavelength of light.     

Parameter Estimation in Water Distribution Networks

Estimation of pipe roughness coefficients is an important task to be carried out before any water distribution network model is used for online applications such as monitoring and control. In this study, a combined state and parameter estimation model for water distribution networks is presented. Typically, estimation of roughness coefficient for each individual pipe is not possible due to non-availability of sufficient number of measurements. In order to address this problem, a formal procedure based on K-means clustering algorithm is proposed for grouping the pipes which are likely to have the same roughness characteristics. Also, graph-theoretic concepts are used to reduce the dimensionality of the problem and thereby achieve significant computational efficiency. The performance of the proposed model is demonstrated on a realistic urban water distribution network.     

CSCC for the mean and standard deviation of non-normally distributed life test data

In this paper Cumulative Sum Control Charts (CSCC) have been constructed for the mean and standard deviation of non-normally distributed life test data. The parameters of the V-mask have been determined and finally the expression for the Average Run Length is derived.     

Room-temperature metal stamping by microfluidics

We show the possibility to fabricate highly controlled metal micropatterns on a variety of substrates, such as semiconducting or metallic materials, exploiting a combination of spontaneous galvanic displacement reactions with microfluidics. The process is reliable and quite versatile and allows the fabrication of complex patterns of different metals on a number of substrates in few minutes on a conventional laboratory bench.     

The Contribution of Vessel Volume Change and Blood Resistivity Change to the Electrical Impedance Pulse

An impedance pulse, recorded noninvasively, has contributions due to both the change in blood volume of the arteries and to the change in the blood resistivity. Other researchers have tried to quantify the relative contributions and have either underestimated or overestimated the contributions since they did not simulate the physiological conditions. We have used an in vitro flow circulation system to more closely simulate the physiological conditions and quantify the two contributions. We find that the blood resistivity change contribution is strong enough (21.5 percent of the arterial volume change contribution) to change the morphology of the impedance pulse. There is, however, a phase difference between the two contributions. As a result of this, the blood resistivity change contribution to the height of the impedance pulse will be less than 5.5 percent.