BackgroundMedical Infrared Imaging (MII) is an investigative method that can be potentially used in emergency care to non-invasively detect thermal signatures associated with change in blood flow. We have developed a protocol for the use of MII in the Emergency Department (ED) and shown that it is feasible. To derive initial data for sample size calculations, we performed an exploratory study in patients with fever and sepsis.MethodsThe Leicester MII protocol was used to image the temperature patterns along the arm among three patient groups (control, fever and sepsis) of a total 56 patients. Anatomical markers were used to divide this gradient into upper arm, forearm, hand and finger regions. Variations in measurements within and between these regions were described.ResultsThe thermal gradient down the arm was successfully extracted in all patients. The distribution of values in each region of the arm was described in control, fever and sepsis patients. There was a significant gradient between upper arm and finger in controls (2.75, p < 0.0001), but no gradient in fever (p = 0.944) or sepsis (p = 0.710). This was reflected in the finger/arm difference, which was of -2.74°C (±3.50) in controls, -0.39C (±2.48) in fever, and -1.80°C (±3.09) in sepsis.ConclusionsThis study found different thermal gradients along the arm in control and febrile groups, and defined the degree of individual variation. It is likely that the difference between upper arm temperature and finger temperature (representing the temperature gradient down the arm) may be more useful than absolute measurements in future studies.
In industrial process control, fluid level control is one of the most basic aspects. Many control methods such as on-off, linear and PID (Proportional Integral Derivative) were developed time by time and used for precise controlling of fluid level. Due to flaws of PID controller in non-linear type processes such as inertial lag, time delay and time varying etc., there is a need of alternative design methodology that can be applied in both linear and non-linear systems and it can be execute with fuzzy concept. By using fuzzy logic, designer can realize lower development cost, superior feature and better end product. In this paper, level of fluid in tank is control by using fuzzy logic concept. For this purpose, a simulation system of fuzzy logic controller for fluid level control is designed using simulation packages of MATLAB software such as Fuzzy Logic Toolbox and Simulink. The designed fuzzy logic controller first takes information about inflow and outflow of fluid in tank than maintain the level of fluid in tank by controlling its output valve. In this paper, a controller is designed on five rules using two-input and one-output parameters. At the end, simulation results of fuzzy logic based controller are compared with classical PID controller and it shows that fuzzy logic controller has better stability, fast response and small overshoot.
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