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1 – 10 of 96Lorraine G. Olson and Robert D. Throne
We compare a recently proposed generalized eigensystem approach and anew modified generalized eigensystem approach to more widely used truncatedsingular value decomposition and…
Abstract
We compare a recently proposed generalized eigensystem approach and a new modified generalized eigensystem approach to more widely used truncated singular value decomposition and zero‐order Tikhonov regularization for solving multidimensional elliptic inverse problems. As a test case, we use a finite element representation of a homogeneous eccentric spheres model of the inverse problem of electrocardiography. Special attention is paid to numerical issues of accuracy, convergence, and robustness. While the new generalized eigensystem methods are substantially more demanding computationally, they exhibit improved accuracy and convergence compared with widely used methods and offer substantially better robustness.
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Henna Heinilä, Jarno Riistama, Pekka Heino and Jukka Lekkala
The purpose of this paper is to present the stages for manufacturing a low‐cost miniaturized prototype device, which observes the restrictions of implantable medical devices. The…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the stages for manufacturing a low‐cost miniaturized prototype device, which observes the restrictions of implantable medical devices. The device measures the electrocardiography. The power for the implant is received passively as the same magnetic field as data is transferred to the reader device.
Design/methodology/approach
In this manufacturing technique, only easily attachable commercial available components are used, etching is used to simply produce a low‐cost double‐sided flexible printed circuit board which is converted to 3D by folding.
Findings
The circuit board was folded into the final shape after component attachment and the final result was a compact 3D package within the specifications determined by the electronics designer. The miniaturized prototype device was successfully tested both in vitro and in vivo.
Originality/value
The manufacturing technique of the sensing device can be readily adapted to other devices that need to be miniaturized. The coatings used for electrical insulation and chemical protection and the type of adhesives used for folded packages are easily utilized in similar miniaturization prototypes. By using bare chips, the final product would have been even smaller but for prototyping it is cheaper and faster to use easily acquired and attached components. In the case of mass production, the whole new design, where bare chips with flip chip attachments, integrated passives and/or stacked 3D packages with design considerations such as electrical, thermal and mechanical engineering is justified.
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Okkyung Lee and Yejin Lee
This study aimed to investigate the effects a cushion has on electrophysiological signals and to identify the important design elements required for manufacturing better therapy…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to investigate the effects a cushion has on electrophysiological signals and to identify the important design elements required for manufacturing better therapy cushions.
Design/methodology/approach
Four types of attachment cushions were manufactured by changing the shell fiber (cotton or microfiber) and the interlining (synthetic loose fiber or buckwheat). The products were evaluated by 20 healthy individuals (10 stable cushions and 10 unstable cushions). We examined the participants by electroencephalography (EEG) and electrocardiography (ECG).
Findings
The authors found significant differences in both EEG and ECG between participants with unstable and stable attachment types.
Originality/value
A complex approach to emotional product evaluation was attempted by analyzing differences due to design variables of cushions through subjective evaluation as well as EEG and ECG.
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Karandeep Kaur and Harsh Kumar Verma
Ubiquitous health-care monitoring systems can provide continuous surveillance to a person using various sensors, including wearables and implantable and fabric-woven sensors. By…
Abstract
Purpose
Ubiquitous health-care monitoring systems can provide continuous surveillance to a person using various sensors, including wearables and implantable and fabric-woven sensors. By assessing the state of many physiological characteristics of the patient’s body, continuous monitoring can assist in preparing for the impending emergency. To address this issue, this study aims to propose a health-care system that integrates the treatment of the impending heart, stress and alcohol emergencies. For this purpose, this study uses readings from sensors used for electrocardiography, heart rate, respiration rate, blood alcohol content percentage and blood pressure of a patient’s body.
Design/methodology/approach
For heart status, stress level and alcohol detection, the parametric values obtained from these sensors are preprocessed and further divided into four, five and six phases, respectively. A final integrated emergency stage is derived from the stages that were interpreted to examine at a person’s state of emergency. A thorough analysis of the proposed model is carried out using four classification techniques, including decision trees, support vector machines, k nearest neighbors and ensemble classifiers. For all of the aforementioned detections, four metrics are used to evaluate performance: classification accuracy, precision, recall and fmeasure.
Findings
Eventually, results are validated against the existing health-care systems. The empirical results received reveal that the proposed model outperforms the existing health-care models in the context of metrics above for different detections taken into consideration.
Originality/value
This study proposes a health-care system capable of performing data processing using wearable sensors. It is of great importance for real-time systems. This study assures the originality of the proposed system.
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Gives a bibliographical review of the finite element methods (FEMs) applied in biomedicine from the theoretical as well as practical points of view. The bibliography at the end…
Abstract
Gives a bibliographical review of the finite element methods (FEMs) applied in biomedicine from the theoretical as well as practical points of view. The bibliography at the end of the paper contains 748 references to papers, conference proceedings and theses/dissertations dealing with the finite element analyses and simulations in biomedicine that were published between 1985 and 1999.
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In 2002 the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) audited doctors' compliance with diabetes clinical practice guidelines in public healthcare institutions and attempted to postulate…
Abstract
Purpose
In 2002 the Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) audited doctors' compliance with diabetes clinical practice guidelines in public healthcare institutions and attempted to postulate factors that influenced the degree of conformity. This study aims to address this issue
Design/methodology/approach
A retrospective cross‐sectional chart review of diabetes patient records sampled from hospital specialist outpatient clinics (SOCs) and polyclinics was performed. Childhood, gestational and secondary diabetes cases were excluded. The nine audit parameters used were process measures concerning the assessment of HbA1c, weight, blood pressure, urinary protein, serum creatinine, serum lipids, electrocardiography, retina and feet. Age‐standardised prevalence rate ratios of parameter adherence were calculated. Of the SOC cases, 89 per cent were analysed. Of the polyclinic cases, 94 per cent were analysed.
Findings
Adherence to ECG and foot assessment parameters was poor among SOC cases, while poor adherence to weight and foot assessment parameters was seen in the polyclinics. There was poorer adherence to blood pressure and ECG parameters in the SOCs, but better adherence was seen for weight assessment. Among the SOC cases, Cluster A fared better than Cluster B in ECG monitoring. In the polyclinics, better adherence was seen in Cluster A for urinary protein, serum creatinine, lipids, ECG, retinal and foot assessment parameters.
Originality/value
Based on pre‐existing information on local diabetes care, certain system, physician, patient and guideline factors are postulated to explain clinical practice guideline non‐compliance among doctors.
Shalin S. Shah, Husam Noor, Glenn Tokarski, Nabil Khoury, Kristin B. McCabe, Keisha R. Sandberg, Robert J. Morlock and Peter A. McCullough
The aim was to test the feasibility of using automated data, and evaluate the impact of an emergency cardiac decision unit (CDU) on the overall outcomes of patients seen for chest…
Abstract
The aim was to test the feasibility of using automated data, and evaluate the impact of an emergency cardiac decision unit (CDU) on the overall outcomes of patients seen for chest discomfort. We used a retrospective, quasi‐experimental design to identify patients who had cardiac enzymes measured and an electrocardiogram performed during an ED visit in two six‐month periods, pre‐CDU (1 January‐30 June 1995) and post‐CDU (1 January‐ 30 June 1996). A total of 4,336 patients had outcomes assessed. After opening, 14.8 per cent of all chest pain cases were treated in the CDU. Hospital admission rates were reduced from 81.1 per cent to 66.7 per cent. Length of stay, myocardial infarction rates, and mortality were unchanged. The 14‐day revisit rates increased from 5.3 per cent to 10.3 per cent. We conclude that cardiac decision units decrease hospital admissions but increase ED revisit rates as a consequence of this now frequently used care pathway.
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Leila Jampour, Hadise Hashemi, Forouzan Behrouzian and Sima Jafarirad
In spite of the importance of food intake in weight management and preventing chronic diseases, it remains difficult to predict how anxious people change their eating behaviour in…
Abstract
Purpose
In spite of the importance of food intake in weight management and preventing chronic diseases, it remains difficult to predict how anxious people change their eating behaviour in exposure to bad or good moods. The purpose of the study was to investigate the interaction effect of anxiety and different moods on food intake and blood pressure in healthy women students.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 82 women university students (18-30 years) participated in the study. Subjects completed a valid anxiety questionnaire at baseline to measure trait and state anxiety scores, then they were randomly divided into two groups to watch comedy and drama movies for mood induction. After watching, some snacks were presented, and then energy intake and blood pressure were measured.
Findings
Students who suffered from severe state anxiety, consumed more energy from food when they watched a dramatic movie (p = 0.014). Subjects who suffered from moderate level of state anxiety and watched a dramatic movie experienced more systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared with subjects who suffered from moderate state anxiety but watched the comedy (p = 0.043 and p = 0.041, for systolic and diastolic blood pressure respectively). More diastolic blood pressure was shown among students who watched the drama movie and suffered from a severe level of trait anxiety (p = 0.049).
Research limitations/implications
Electrocardiography and stroke volume measurement were not used.
Originality/value
Our findings showed blood pressure elevation in anxious people when they experienced bad feeling such as sadness, and they also consumed more energy from food. Both of these factors are related to the occurrence of chronic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases.
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