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The increasing popularity of wearable devices in recent years means that a diverse range of physiological and functional data can now be captured continuously for applications in sports, wellbeing, and healthcare. This wealth of information requires efficient methods of classification and analysis where deep learning is a promising technique for large-scale data analytics. Whilst deep learning has been successful in implementations that utilize high performance computing platforms, its use on low-power wearable devices is limited by resource constraints. In this paper, we propose a deep learning methodology, which combines features learnt from inertial sensor data together with complementary information from a set of shallow features to enable accurate and real-time activity classification. The design of this combined method aims to overcome some of the limitations present in a typical deep learning framework where on-node computation is required. To optimize the proposed method for real-time on-node computation, spectral domain pre-processing is used before the data is passed onto the deep learning framework. The classification accuracy of our proposed deep learning approach is evaluated against state-of-the-art methods using both laboratory and real world activity datasets. Our results show the validity of the approach on different human activity datasets, outperforming other methods, including the two methods used within our combined pipeline. We also demonstrate that the computation times for the proposed method are consistent with the constraints of real-time on-node processing on smartphones and a wearable sensor platform.

Understanding the solid biomechanics of the human body is important to the study of structure and function of the body, which can have a range of applications in health care, sport, well-being, and workflow analysis. Conventional laboratory-based biomechanical analysis systems and observation-based tests are designed only to capture brief snapshots of the mechanics of movement. With recent developments in wearable sensing technologies, biomechanical analysis can be conducted in less-constrained environments, thus allowing continuous monitoring and analysis beyond laboratory settings. In this paper, we review the current research in wearable sensing technologies for biomechanical analysis, focusing on sensing and analytics that enable continuous, long-term monitoring of kinematics and kinetics in a free-living environment. The main technical challenges, including measurement drift, external interferences, nonlinear sensor properties, sensor placement, and muscle variations, that can affect the accuracy and robustness of existing methods and different methods for reducing the impact of these sources of errors are described in this paper. Recent developments in motion estimation in kinematics, mobile force sensing in kinematics, sensor reduction for electromyography, and the future direction of sensing for biomechanics are also discussed.

Horizontal gaze palsy associated with progressive scoliosis (HGPS) is a rare autosomal recessive condition that has been recently mapped to a 30-cM region on chromosome 11q23-25. In this report, we describe a consanguineous family in which three of five sibs are affected with HGPS. In two of the affected sibs, there was significant cognitive delay in addition to congenital horizontal gaze palsy and childhood onset scoliosis. In all three affected sibs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans revealed brainstem hypoplasia, a finding that has recently been associated with HGPS. Clinical examination of the family showed no significant dysmorphic features, while karyotyping, EMG, nerve conduction, and muscle biopsies were unrevealing. Homozygosity mapping was performed to narrow the disease locus on 11q23-25. A recombination event was observed in one affected sib between markers D11S1345 and D11S4464, which further refined the region to a 9-cM interval. Since the MRI results provide support for the theory that maldevelopment of neurons in the abducens nuclei and caudal longitudinal fascicle is the cause for HGPS, we speculate on the existence of a gene in this 9-cM interval on chromosome 11q23, which is critical for brainstem development.

Rising use of advance directives has made surrogate decision making both easier and harder. In many cases, these directives help guide decision making for patients who have lost decision-making capacity. In some cases, however, directives may conflict with what physicians or surrogates view as what is in the patient's best interest. These conflicts can place substantial emotional and moral burdens on physicians and surrogates, and there is little practical guidance for how to address them. We propose a 5-question framework for untangling the conflict between advance directives and best interests of a patient with a surrogate decision maker: (1) Is the clinical situation an emergency? (2) In view of the patient's values and goals, how likely is it that the benefits of the intervention will outweigh the burdens? (3) How well does the advance directive fit the situation at hand? (4) How much leeway did the patient provide the surrogate for overriding the advance directive? (5) How well does the surrogate represent the patient's best interests? We use 2 clinical cases with contrasting outcomes to demonstrate how this framework can help resolve common dilemmas.

28th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 2711-2717, Transient decay occurs between two steady states through operating points of a Bulk-Heterojunction Organic Solar Cell (BHJ-OSC) based on blend of poly (3-hexylthiophene-2, 5-diyl) (P3HT) as electron-donor and a soluble derivative of fullerene called [6, 6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as electron-acceptor under various monochromatic wavelength of irradiation of the spectrum visible is investigated. Basically, since the phenomenological parameters such as the organic photoactive layer thickness, the electron lifetime, the electron diffusion length, and the electron mobility are deemed paramount important for the electron generation and collection at the cathode electrode their dependence effects upon the transient decay of the excess minority of electrons are reported. Likewise, both the influence of the electrons recombination at the interfaces of the electrodes and the bimolecular recombination within the bulk of P3HT:PCBM is also especially paid attention.

28th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 2704-2710, Analytical and numerical analysis of Bulk-Heterojunction Organic Photovoltaic Cell (BHJ-OPV) based on blend of poly (3-hexylthiophene - 2, 5-diyl) (P3HT) as electron-donor and a soluble derivative of fullerene called [6, 6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as electron-acceptor is reported. The T-matrix method is applied to the BHJ-OPV to determine the dependence of the holes recombination at the actives interfaces of the blend layer of P3HT:PCBM upon the holes density of distribution and the photocurrent output density. In this approach the competition role of the holes recombination, the monochromatic wavelength of the incoming irradiation of the spectrum of the visible and the photoactive layer thickness wb assuming to either interfaces a hole recombination velocity is also paid attention.

27th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition; 2930-2937, The transient decay occurs between two steady states through operating points of bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic cell (BHJ-OPV) based on blend of poly (3-hexylthiophene-2, 5-diyl) (P3HT) as electron donor and a soluble derivative of fullerene called [6, 6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as electron acceptor is analysed. The dependence of the excess minority density of holes photogenerated in bulk of P3HT: PCBM, upon various parameters such as electrons diffusion length (Ln), monochromatic light wavelength of the spectrum visible and the blend (P3HT: PCBM) layer thickness wb is investigated. Attention is especially paid, one to the influence of the holes recombination: a Srp , g Srp and c Srp at the different interfaces of the photoactive layer and another to the bimolecular recombination coefficientg p .

Rapid urbanization has created numerous health risks in developing countries, but the exact impact on many diseases in function of living conditions is unclear. For insight into this complex relationship, a study on diarrheal diseases was carried out to obtain knowledge about the distribution of health risks in an urban setting. An epidemiological survey with a combined longitudinal and transverse design was conducted in Rufisque, Senegal, from April 2002 to March 2003 in a sample including households with children less than 5-years-old living in four areas presenting different levels of hygiene. Results showed a high overall incidence of diarrhea (6.5 episodes/child/year) but there were major discrepancies between the four study areas in direct relation with level of hygiene. The annual incidence per child was lower in the low-cost housing project (fair hygiene, 3.4 episodes) than in the Castors area (poor hygiene, 6.8 episodes), Diokoul Wague area (very poor hygiene, 7.3 episodes) and Goufe Aldiana area (no hygiene, 8.4 episodes). The study showed only a slight seasonal effect on diarrheal disease in the different areas. However, the differences observed between areas during the cold and hot dry seasons were considerably attenuated in the rainy season. This variability in the incidence rate that underlines the diversity of urban living conditions depends on a variety of risk factors (such as age and number of children) that may interact, although hygiene level remains critical. For issues usually given priority at the national level, multiplying studies aimed at fine analysis of factors underlying disease transmission is useful since this approach can improve understanding of public health policy in city environments characterized by the complex conditions (density and diversity) created by urbanization.

The aim of this thesis was to study the activation of hemostasis and inflammation, in patients undergoing off-pump (OPCAB) and on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and the relationship of coagulation and inflammation to clinical outcome. We hypothesized that activation of hemostasis and C-reactive protein (CRP) would be more pronounced in patients undergoing CABG using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and that this would be associated with increased morbidity. In particular, neurocognitive dysfunction may be less pronounced in patients undergoing OPCAB procedures. Therefore, we did a number of studies in which we investigated several aspects of hemostasis in patients undergoing on- and off-pump CABG. Moreover, the influence of CRP as a marker of inflammation was studied as others have already demonstrated that CRP levels may be associated with increased morbidity after cardiac surgery. In 40 patients, randomly assigned to off-pump and on-pump CABG, we observed that CABG surgery with CPB was associated with increased thrombin generation and fibrinolytic activity in the immediate postoperative period. However, patients in the OPCAB-group demonstrated a delayed postoperative response that became equal in magnitude to the CPB group in the later (20-96 hours) postoperative period. Although early postoperative activation of hemostasis was more pronounced after on-pump CABG, we did not find any association with clinical outcome in the initial group and in a larger group of 73 CABG patients. Therefore, the clinical impact of CPB-related activation of coagulation remains to be determined. In contrast to our hypothesis, a significant association between early postoperative activation of hemostasis and the incidence of early postoperative cognitive decline was observed in 60 OPCAB patients. D-dimer levels and prothrombin fragments 1.2 at two hours after the off-pump procedure were strongly associated with early cognitive decline on postoperative day 4. Several mechanisms may be responsible for this apparent paradox. One contributing factor may be the fact that institution of CPB can obviously reduce the hypercoagulable state resulting from surgical trauma. In 60 on- and off-pump patients, we could demonstrate that von Willebrand Factor (VWF) release is increased after both procedures. However, VWF activity is significantly lower in the on-pump group. Shear stress-induced proteolysis due to the use of CPB may be one important factor responsible for this phenomenon. In the Octopus Study, the majority of the OPCAB patients received thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) in combination with general anesthesia. Postoperative activation of hemostasis may be affected by the use of TEA. We conducted a trial where we studied the effects of several LA on Tromboxane A2-induced platelet aggregation in an in vitro model. However, the LA tested had only limited ability to inhibit that Tromboxane A2-induced platelet aggregation. We were unable to demonstrate a significant interaction between CPB-induced activation of hemostasis, the inflammatory response to surgery and CPB and parameters of clinical outcome. We indeed observed an association between baseline CRP levels, a marker for chronic inflammation, and postoperative atrial fibrillation after both on-pump and off-pump CABG. Apparently, the relationship between postoperative CRP activation and the incidence of atrial fibrillation is not CPB-dependent.

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