Design and Implementation of an Algorithm for Cardiac Pathologies Detection on Mobile Phone

The development and the design of telemedicine services have taken a great consideration and care in the domain of wireless communication nowadays. The set of these researches is concerned with old people and lack of infrastructures of reception for those who are at risk or tend to have deterioration in their health condition. Thus, several works of research contributed to develop telemedicine services. They notably focus on the conception and the development of communication architectures between the actors of these systems, monitoring and the development of human??s quality is based on the storage of the collected data at home and analytical tools, and processing of these large quantities of data. Therefore, it is useful to detect and prevent the occurrence of critical situations of a remote person, the transmission of the messages and alarms to concerned actors to be ready to intervene in a case of emergency. Many works and systems undertaken in this field carry out the complete analysis and synthesis of signals on large servers (great capacities, better resolutions??). Moreover, these systems would have required large means and a large infrastructure in their deployment (installation, configuration??), which generates the disadvantage of the excessive expenditure. In this paper, we suggest to introduce and implement this complete treatment for revealing critical situations and pathologies on a simple mobile phone by respecting theirs constraints. The principal objective is to permit a taking off for medical and social dependant people as aged ones, handicapped, in order to the adaptation with their environment domestically and make up their incapacities. In this case, it is indispensable to make a diagnostic in a real time and well manage the patient??s computerized data between the various medical actors with the permanent security insurance of highly risky patients. Furthermore, the need to make a speed diagnostic of patients and to detect their health state, their parameters (medical information) of analyses with efficacy, allows us to gain time while monitoring the cardiac patient. It concerns the implementation of services on mobile terminals for transferring medical information and results of ECG analysis (calculated parameters) in a real time with ensuring the mobility, the permanent security and the reliability insurance in covered zone by the mobile network, PLMN (GSM/GPRS??). Our attention has been focused on the choice of a relevant work. It concerns an application on a mobile terminal (MIDlet) for detecting some cardiac pathologies and monitoring patient in a non-hospital setting. This paper recalls a complete architecture of an economic wireless transmission system with the implementation of an effective algorithm, adapted to the mobile terminal, allowing to the doctor to have the results of the ECG analysis. Thus, the stakes of setting up such systems are numerous, so much for patients, medical staff and the society in general.     

An evaluation of several fusion algorithms for anti-tank landmine detection and discrimination

Many algorithms have been proposed for detecting anti-tank landmines and discriminating between mines and clutter objects using data generated by a ground penetrating radar (GPR) sensor. Our extensive testing of some of these algorithms has indicated that their performances are strongly dependent upon a variety of factors that are correlated with geographical and environmental conditions. It is typically the case that one algorithm may perform well in one setting and not so well in another. Thus, fusion methods that take advantage of the stronger algorithms for a given setting without suffering from the effects of weaker algorithms in the same setting are needed to improve the robustness of the detection system. In this paper, we discuss, test, and compare seven different fusion methods: Bayesian, distance-based, Dempster-Shafer, Borda count, decision template, Choquet integral, and context-dependent fusion. We present the results of a cross validation experiment that uses a diverse data set together with results of eight detection and discrimination algorithms. These algorithms are the top ranked algorithms after extensive testing. The data set was acquired from multiple collections from four outdoor sites at different locations using the NIITEK GPR system. This collection covers over 41,807 m² of ground and includes 1593 anti-tank mine encounters.     

Adaptive quantized target tracking in wireless sensor networks

This paper addresses target tracking in wireless sensor networks (WSN) where the observed system is assumed to evolve according to a probabilistic state space model. We propose to improve the use of the variational filtering (VF) by optimally quantizing the data collected by the sensors. Recently, VF has been proved to be suitable to the communication constraints of WSN. Its efficiency relies on the fact that the online update of the filtering distribution and its compression are executed simultaneously. However, this problem has been used only for binary sensor networks neglecting the transmission energy consumption in a WSN and the information relevance of sensor measurements. Our proposed method is intended to jointly estimate the target position and optimize the quantization level under fixed and variable transmitting power. At each sampling instant, the adaptive method provides not only the estimate of the target position by using the VF but gives also the optimal number of quantization bits per observation. The adaptive quantization is achieved by minimizing the predicted Cramér–Rao bound if the transmitting power is constant for all sensors, and optimizing the power scheduling under distortion constraint if this power is variable. The computation of the predicted Cramér–Rao bound is based on the target position predictive distribution provided by the VF algorithm. The proposed adaptive quantization scheme suggests that the sensors with bad channels or poor observation qualities should decrease their quantization resolutions or simply become inactive in order to save energy.     

Spirostane and cholestane glycosides from the bulbs of Allium nigrum L

A phytochemical investigation of the fresh bulbs of Allium nigrum L. led to the isolation of new spirostane-type glycosides as two inseparable isomer mixtures, nigrosides A1/A2 (1a/1b) and nigrosides B1/B2 (2a/2b), two new cholestane-type glycosides, nigrosides C and D (3 and 4), together with the known compounds, 25(R,S)-5α-spirostan-2α,3β,6β-trio1-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-galactopyranoside (5a/5b) and 25(R,S)-5α-spirostan-2α,3β,6β-trio1 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-O-[4-O-(3S)-3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-d-galactopyranoside (6a/6b), isolated from this plant for the first time. All structures were elucidated mainly by spectroscopic analysis (1D and 2D NMR experiments, FABMS, HRESIMS) and by comparison with literature data. Cytotoxicity of the isolated compounds was assessed against human colon carcinoma (HT-29 and HCT 116) cell lines. Compounds 5a/5b and 6a/6b were found to be the most active with IC₅₀ values 1.09 and 2.82 μM against HT-29 and 1.59 and 3.45 μM against HCT 116, respectively.     

Compatibilization of poly(methyl methacrylate) and cellulose nanocrystals through co-continuous phase to enhance the thermomechanical properties

The present study focuses on enhancing the thermomechanical properties of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), a transparent and biocompatible polymer known for its high strength but limited toughness. The approach involves the development of PMMA/cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) composites. To improve the interfacial compatibility between PMMA and CNCs, a two-step process is employed. Initially, the CNCs undergo oxidation using sodium periodate, followed by the introduction of amino groups through reductive amination. The aminated CNCs are then covalently bonded to PMMA via an amidation reaction using the “grafting onto” approach. Subsequently, the grafted CNCs are incorporated into the PMMA matrix using the solvent casting method. The resulting composites are extruded into filaments. Elemental composition analysis confirms CNC modification, revealing the presence of 1.6% nitrogen. The modified CNCs exhibit a higher degradation temperature than unmodified CNCs, showing a 50°C increase. The composites' dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) reveals a 20% improvement in storage modulus (E′) upon incorporating 1.5% of the grafted CNCs into the PMMA matrix. This enhancement is attributed to the formation of co-continuous phases in the composite structure.     

A direct algebraic method for eigensolution sensitivity computation of damped asymmetric systems

In general, the derivative of an eigenvector of a vibrating symmetric system is the solution of a singular problem. Further complications are encountered in dealing with asymmetric damped systems for which the left and right eigenvectors and their derivatives become distinct and complex. Several approaches have been proposed to overcome this singularity such as Nelson's method and the modal method. In the present work, a new approach is presented for calculating simultaneously the derivatives of the eigenvalues and their associated derivatives of the left and right eigenvectors for asymmetric damped systems. With the proposed method, the exact eigenderivatives can be obtained by solving a first‐order linear algebraic system of equations. The method is applied on a 104 DOF ventilator–rotor system, which is used as an example of an asymmetric damped system with distinct eigenvalues. The diameter of the shaft has been chosen as the design parameter. The comparison of the computational time shows that the proposed method is more efficient than both Nelson's approach and the modal method. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Design of concurrent error detectable current-mode A/D converters for real-time applications

Analog MOS circuits are becoming increasingly sophisticated in terms of checking and correcting themselves. Self-correcting, self-compensating, or self-calibrating techniques eliminate errors traditionally associated with analog circuits. For real-time applications, however, it is rather difficult to achieve validation of the data generated from analog-to-digital (A/D) converters in the presence of faulty switching element(s). Conventionally, the validation is accomplished by using a high resolution and high accuracy D/A converter and a window comparator; i.e., the validation must highly depend on the reliability of both the D/A converter and the window comparator. In this paper, a novel current-mode A/D converter design with concurrent error detection (CED) capability is presented. The A/D converter does not need well-matched components and high-gain amplifiers. Results show that the proposed design can detect all the transient faults and most of the permanent faults. The proposed design allows users to easily switch to the normal operation mode where CED capability is not used, without causing any performance degradation.     

Cover Picture: Fabrication of Elastomeric Wires by Selective Electroless Metallization of Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (Adv. Mater. 1/2008)

Tricia Carmichael and co‐workers employ a simple, low‐cost method for the fabrication of patterned metal films on elastomeric poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) substrates, as described on p. 59. The metal/PDMS composites are electrically conductive and mechanically flexible, making them suitable for use in the fabrication of lightweight, flexible devices such as wearable electronics, biocompatible sensors, and artificial nerves, skins, and muscles. Copper wires on PDMS remain conductive when subjected to linear strains of up to 52 %. The utility of these wires is demonstrated by using them as laminated top contacts in an organic light‐emitting device.     

A new computationally efficient hybrid fdtLM–WCIP method

This article presents a new hybrid technique which combines two different numerical methods in the frequency domain, namely the Frequency Domain Transmission Line Matrix ( fdtLM) and the Wave Concept Iterative Process, to analyse three-dimensional (3D) microwave structures. As a result, a considerable reduction of the computation time and required computer memory is achieved compared with the classic fdtLM. The good agreement between simulation results and experimental published data validates the present analysis approach.     

Photocatalytic Reactors Dedicated to the Degradation of Hazardous Organic Pollutants: Kinetics,Mechanistic Aspects,and Design – A Review

In recent years, heterogeneous photocatalysis has emerged as a new effective, powerful, clean, and safe decontamination technology for the treatment of organic pollutants and the transformation of hazardous chemicals into different forms. This review focuses on the recent development of various conventional technologies of reactors designated for the photodegradation of hazardous organic pollutants with their limitations. This phenomenon is strongly influenced by reaction conditions such as temperature of reaction, pH, light intensity and wavelength, pollutant concentration, photocatalyst quantity, relative humidity (RH), and other parameters. The catalyst photoactivity depends on the structural characteristics of the semiconductor, its morphology, and its particles size.

This paper presents the progression of photocatalytic reactors for synthetic dyes degradation with special consideration to the use of supported photocatalyst and nanostructured titanium supported over volcanic ashes, owing to the major advantage of an easy separation of the catalyst when compared to homogenous system, namely suspended catalyst. In addition, special attention was paid to the literature dealing with the promotion of light efficiency by testing various light sources.