In this work, in situ measurements of the radio frequency electromagnetic field exposure have been conducted for an indoor massive MIMO 5G base station operating at 26–28 GHz. Measurements were performed at six different positions (at distances between 9.94 and 14.32 m from the base station), of which four were in line-of-sight and two were in non-line-of-sight. A comparison was performed between the measurements conducted with an omnidirectional probe and with a horn antenna, for scenarios with and without a user equipment used to actively create an antenna traffic beam from the base station towards the measurement location. A maximum exposure of 171.9 mW/m2 was measured at a distance of 9.94 m from the base station. This is below 2% of the ICNIRP reference level. Moreover, the feasibility to measure the power per resource element of the Synchronization Signal Block - which can be used to extrapolate the maximum exposure level - with a conventional spectrum analyzer was shown by comparison with a network decoder.
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Floating urbanization is a promising solution to reduce the vulnerability of cities against climate change, population growth or land scarcity. Although this type of construction introduces changes to aquatic systems, there is a lack of research studies addressing potential impacts. Water quality data collected under/near floating structures were compared with the corresponding parameters measured at the same depth at open water locations by (i) performing scans with underwater drones equipped with in situ sensors and video cameras and (ii) fixing two sets of continuous measuring in situ sensors for a period of several days/months at both positions. A total of 18 locations with different types of floating structures were considered in this study. Results show small differences in the measured parameters, such as lower dissolved oxygen concentrations or higher temperature measured underneath the floating structures. The magnitudes of these differences seem to be linked with the characteristics and type of water system. Given the wide variety and types of water bodies considered in this study, results suggest that water quality is not critically affected by the presence of the floating houses. Underwater images of biofouling and filter feeders illustrate the lively ecosystems that can emerge shortly after the construction of floating buildings.
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Background:Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are common in affected individuals and can be challenging for (in)formal caregivers. Therefore, they are also referred to as challenging behaviors (CBs). Sensor technology measuring context and behavior can be assistive to effectively manage CBs in an objective fashion. Sensors can help support healthcare professionals, such as nurses, by enabling remote monitoring and alarming on early-stage behavioral changes associated with CBs. This might/ will improve the quality of life (QoL) for both caregivers and clients living in a nursing homes (NH).In the project “MOnitoring Onbegrepen Gedrag bij Dementie met sensortechnologie” (MOOD-Sense), we aim to develop such a monitoring system. Our research focuses on two questions 1) How to develop and implement a monitoring system within the context of nursing homes with parameters on environment, physiology, and behavior, identify and process relevant precursors of challenging behavior with this monitoring system and 2) gain insight in which behaviors are challenging according to nurses and how they are described. This will be represented in an ontology such that sensor data can be translated into the same conceptual information.Methods:The first research question will be examined with a set of experiments in the field (in NH) with an iterative approach. Insights from previous experiments on usability and added value of sensors will be used to improve successive experiments. During each experiment, multiple participants (clients with dementia and CBs) are monitored with both ambient and wearable sensors. For the second research question a qualitative approach is employed, using focus groups (FG) and consensus methods. These FGs will be held amongst nursing staff who are involved in daily care tasks for people with dementia. Subsequently, consensus methods are used to align behavioral descriptors/labels.Results:early findings will be presented at the symposiumDiscussion:Within this project we expect to find precursors of challenging behavior in a personalized fashion based on nurse’s expert knowledge and sensor data. In order to develop a monitoring system that can be embedded within NH’s, real-time alarming, in-situ behavior recognition and trustworthiness are part of our technological requirements. Just-in-time interventions may then be deployed to prevent behavior escalation or the persistence of undesirable situations.
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Nano and micro polymeric particles (NMPs) are a point of concern by environmentalists and toxicologist for the past years. Their presence has been detected in many environmental bodies and even in more recently human blood as well. One of the most common paths these particles take to enter living organisms is via water consumption. However, despite the efforts of different academic and other knowledge groups, there is no consensus about standards methods which can be used to qualifying and quantifying these particles, especially the submicrometric ones. Many different techniques have been proposed like field flow fractionation (FFF) followed by multi angle laser scattering (MALS), pyrolysis-GC and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Additionally, the sampling collection and preparation is also considered a difficult step, as such particles are mostly present in very low concentration. Nanocatcher proposes the use of submerged drones as a sampling collection tool to monitor the presence of submicrometric polymeric particles in water bodies. The sample collections will be done using special membrane systems specially designed for the drone. After collected, the samples will be analysed using FFF+MALS, SEM and Py-GC. If proven successful, the use of submerged drones can strongly facilitate sampling and mapping of submicrometric polymeric particles in water bodies and will provide an extensive and comprehensive map of the presence of these particles in such environment.
Vezelversterkte kunststoffen (composieten) worden in veeleisende toepassingen gebruikt, zoals in tanks voor chemicaliën of als lichtgewicht constructie-delen in vliegtuigen. Voor deze toepassingen zijn de composieten optimaal ontworpen en getest, maar ze worden met het oog op veiligheid gedurende het gebruik ook regelmatig geïnspecteerd, vaak met ultrasone analyse. Het permanent kunnen monitoren van het vervormingsgedrag van het materiaal levert een voordeel op voor zowel de veiligheid als de kosten. Zo kunnen onregelmatigheden die optreden direct worden gesignaleerd. Een intensief inspectieprogramma wordt zo verlaagd in frequentie. Met high-performance rek-sensoren op een composietproduct wordt het vervormingsgedrag gemeten en met datacommunicatie kunnen dan gegevens continue worden doorgestuurd voor beoordeling elders. Zo ontstaat een ‘smart composite structure’ waarbij permanente monitoring van composiet mogelijk is. Echter kennis ontbreekt nog over de correlatie tussen vervormingsgedrag en resultaten van een ultrasone analyse. Verder is nog niet bekend hoe de high-performance rek-sensoren functioneren over een langere tijd bij heersende bedrijfsinvloeden zoals vochtinwerking, temperatuurfluctuaties en lokale belastingen. Het project richt zich op het onderzoeken van de haalbaarheid van rek-sensortechniek die geschikt is voor het langdurig continu monitoren van het vervormingsgedrag van composieten in bedrijfssituaties. Daarbij moet binnen dit project een antwoord komen wat de voorspellende waarde is van deze monitoring t.b.v. optimaliseren van in-situ preventieve inspecties met ultrasone analyses. Daarnaast moet het onderzoek tijdens dit 1-jarige onderzoek een eerste inzicht geven op het functioneren van de high-performance rek-sensoren en de elektronica in de heersende omstandigheden over langere tijd. Het Lectoraat Kunststoftechnologie verzorgt de projectleiding en het onderzoek. Het lectoraat heeft expertise op het gebied van high-performance rek-sensoren voor vervormingsmeting op composieten. De deelnemende partners hebben belang bij de resultaten van het project. Daarnaast brengen zij specifieke expertise in die met de kennis bij het lectoraat kan leiden tot succesvolle resultaten in het onderzoek.
