Methodological challenges in the evidence synthesis of health outcomes of digital health technologies [védés előtt]

Medical devices and pharmaceuticals are worlds apart, but healthcare would be impossible without them. Digital biomarkers are the subject of this thesis defined as objective, measurable, physiological, and behavioural parameters collected using wearable, portable, implantable, or digestible digital devices. Since the 1970s, systematic reviews and meta-analyses have dominated medical evidence synthesis. They provide medical decision-making evidence. To avoid biases and maintain methodological quality, the Cochrane Handbook recommends systematic reviews follow certain procedures during study stages. This thesis comprises six hypotheses related to digital biomarkers. The first hypothesis aimed to evaluate the suitability of using tools provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), including ICD-11 (International Classification of Diseases, 11th Revision), ICHI (International Classification of Health Interventions), and ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health), for categorizing populations, interventions, outcomes, and behavioral/physiological data in studies involving digital biomarkers. The results indicated that these tools were not applicable for categorizing digital biomarker studies as a whole. However, further analysis revealed that these tools were suitable for categorizing digital biomarker studies involving non-general populations or populations with specific diseases. The second hypothesis focused on comparing the statistical power of direct and indirect digital biomarkers. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in power between these two types of digital biomarkers (p-value > 0.05). The next three hypotheses compared the characteristics of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of digital biomarker-based interventions with those of non-digital biomarkers or pharmaceuticals. The comparisons were made in terms of methodological quality, quality of evidence, and publication bias. Although all these hypotheses revealed non-significant differences between the two groups (p-values > 0.05), the results showed that both digital biomarkers and non-digital biomarkers or pharmaceuticals systematic reviews did not exhibit high methodological quality or quality of evidence. The Medical Device Regulation (MDR) has significantly improved European medical device regulatory standards, addressing the above concerns and improving clinical evidence. Despite MDR implementation delays, digital health technology evidence requirements are rising. Companies that achieve these higher clinical requirements will survive and obtain access to large interconnected markets, while those that fail may lose their market authorisation. Thus, medical technology enterprises may gain a competitive edge by strategically planning and executing extensive clinical investigations to provide high-quality clinical data. Developing these essential skills needs immediate attention and effort. Digital health investors should actively monitor industry players' evidence quality and clinical trial competence, since these characteristics may significantly increase company risk

Arquitectura para coordenação em tempo-real de múltiplas unidades móveis autónomas

Doutoramento em Engenharia ElectrotécnicaInterest on using teams of mobile robots has been growing, due to their potential to cooperate for diverse purposes, such as rescue, de-mining, surveillance or even games such as robotic soccer. These applications require a real-time middleware and wireless communication protocol that can support an efficient and timely fusion of the perception data from different robots as well as the development of coordinated behaviours. Coordinating several autonomous robots towards achieving a common goal is currently a topic of high interest, which can be found in many application domains. Despite these different application domains, the technical problem of building an infrastructure to support the integration of the distributed perception and subsequent coordinated action is similar. This problem becomes tougher with stronger system dynamics, e.g., when the robots move faster or interact with fast objects, leading to tighter real-time constraints. This thesis work addressed computing architectures and wireless communication protocols to support efficient information sharing and coordination strategies taking into account the real-time nature of robot activities. The thesis makes two main claims. Firstly, we claim that despite the use of a wireless communication protocol that includes arbitration mechanisms, the self-organization of the team communications in a dynamic round that also accounts for variable team membership, effectively reduces collisions within the team, independently of its current composition, significantly improving the quality of the communications. We will validate this claim in terms of packet losses and communication latency. We show how such self-organization of the communications can be achieved in an efficient way with the Reconfigurable and Adaptive TDMA protocol. Secondly, we claim that the development of distributed perception, cooperation and coordinated action for teams of mobile robots can be simplified by using a shared memory middleware that replicates in each cooperating robot all necessary remote data, the Real-Time Database (RTDB) middleware. These remote data copies, which are updated in the background by the selforganizing communications protocol, are extended with age information automatically computed by the middleware and are locally accessible through fast primitives. We validate our claim showing a parsimonious use of the communication medium, improved timing information with respect to the shared data and the simplicity of use and effectiveness of the proposed middleware shown in several use cases, reinforced with a reasonable impact in the Middle Size League of RoboCup.O interesse na utilização de equipas multi-robô tem vindo a crescer, devido ao seu potencial para cooperarem na resolução de vários problemas, tais como salvamento, desminagem, vigilância e até futebol robótico. Estas aplicações requerem uma infraestrutura de comunicação sem fios, em tempo real, suportando a fusão eficiente e atempada dos dados sensoriais de diferentes robôs bem como o desenvolvimento de comportamentos coordenados. A coordenação de vários robôs autónomos com vista a um dado objectivo é actualmente um tópico que suscita grande interesse, e que pode ser encontrado em muitos domínios de aplicação. Apesar das diferenças entre domínios de aplicação, o problema técnico de construir uma infraestrutura para suportar a integração da percepção distribuída e das acções coordenadas é similar. O problema torna-se mais difícil à medida que o dinamismo dos robôs se acentua, por exemplo, no caso de se moverem mais rápido, ou de interagirem com objectos que se movimentam rapidamente, dando origem a restrições de tempo-real mais apertadas. Este trabalho centrou-se no desenvolvimento de arquitecturas computacionais e protocolos de comunicação sem fios para suporte à partilha de informação e à realização de acções coordenadas, levando em consideração as restrições de tempo-real. A tese apresenta duas afirmações principais. Em primeiro lugar, apesar do uso de um protocolo de comunicação sem fios que inclui mecanismos de arbitragem, a auto-organização das comunicações reduz as colisões na equipa, independentemente da sua composição em cada momento. Esta afirmação é validada em termos de perda de pacotes e latência da comunicação. Mostra-se também como a auto-organização das comunicações pode ser atingida através da utilização de um protocolo TDMA reconfigurável e adaptável sem sincronização de relógio. A segunda afirmação propõe a utilização de um sistema de memória partilhada, com replicação nos diferentes robôs, para suportar o desenvolvimento de mecanismos de percepção distribuída, fusão sensorial, cooperação e coordenação numa equipa de robôs. O sistema concreto que foi desenvolvido é designado como Base de Dados de Tempo Real (RTDB). Os dados remotos, que são actualizados de forma transparente pelo sistema de comunicações auto-organizado, são estendidos com a respectiva idade e são disponibilizados localmente a cada robô através de primitivas de acesso eficientes. A RTDB facilita a utilização parcimoniosa da rede e bem como a manutenção de informação temporal rigorosa. A simplicidade da integração da RTDB para diferentes aplicações permitiu a sua efectiva utilização em diferentes projectos, nomeadamente no âmbito do RoboCup

Smart Wireless Sensor Networks

The recent development of communication and sensor technology results in the growth of a new attractive and challenging area - wireless sensor networks (WSNs). A wireless sensor network which consists of a large number of sensor nodes is deployed in environmental fields to serve various applications. Facilitated with the ability of wireless communication and intelligent computation, these nodes become smart sensors which do not only perceive ambient physical parameters but also be able to process information, cooperate with each other and self-organize into the network. These new features assist the sensor nodes as well as the network to operate more efficiently in terms of both data acquisition and energy consumption. Special purposes of the applications require design and operation of WSNs different from conventional networks such as the internet. The network design must take into account of the objectives of specific applications. The nature of deployed environment must be considered. The limited of sensor nodes� resources such as memory, computational ability, communication bandwidth and energy source are the challenges in network design. A smart wireless sensor network must be able to deal with these constraints as well as to guarantee the connectivity, coverage, reliability and security of network's operation for a maximized lifetime. This book discusses various aspects of designing such smart wireless sensor networks. Main topics includes: design methodologies, network protocols and algorithms, quality of service management, coverage optimization, time synchronization and security techniques for sensor networks

Department of Computer Science Activity 1998-2004

This report summarizes much of the research and teaching activity of the Department of Computer Science at Dartmouth College between late 1998 and late 2004. The material for this report was collected as part of the final report for NSF Institutional Infrastructure award EIA-9802068, which funded equipment and technical staff during that six-year period. This equipment and staff supported essentially all of the department\u27s research activity during that period

Neuroergonomics applications of electroencephalography in physical activities : a systematic review

Recent years have seen increased interest in neuroergonomics, which investigates the brain activities of people engaged in diverse physical and cognitive activities at work and in everyday life. The present work extends upon prior assessments of the state of this art. However, here we narrow our focus specifically to studies that use electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain activity, correlates, and effects during physical activity. The review uses systematically selected, openly published works derived from a guided search through peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. Identified studies were then categorized by the type of physical activity and evaluated considering methodological and chronological aspects via statistical and content-based analyses. From the identified works (n = 110), a specific number (n = 38) focused on less mobile muscular activities, while an additional group (n = 22) featured both physical and cognitive tasks. The remainder (n = 50) investigated various physical exercises and sporting activities and thus were here identified as a miscellaneous grouping. Most of the physical activities were isometric exertions, moving parts of upper and lower limbs, or walking and cycling. These primary categories were sub-categorized based on movement patterns, the use of the event-related potentials (ERP) technique, the use of recording methods along with EEG and considering mental effects. Further information on subjects' gender, EEG recording devices, data processing, and artifact correction methods and citations was extracted. Due to the heterogeneous nature of the findings from various studies, statistical analyses were not performed. These were thus included in a descriptive fashion. Finally, contemporary research gaps were pointed out, and future research prospects to address those gaps were discussed

Space station data system analysis/architecture study. Task 2: Options development, DR-5. Volume 3: Programmatic options

Task 2 in the Space Station Data System (SSDS) Analysis/Architecture Study is the development of an information base that will support the conduct of trade studies and provide sufficient data to make design/programmatic decisions. This volume identifies the preferred options in the programmatic category and characterizes these options with respect to performance attributes, constraints, costs, and risks. The programmatic category includes methods used to administrate/manage the development, operation and maintenance of the SSDS. The specific areas discussed include standardization/commonality; systems management; and systems development, including hardware procurement, software development and system integration, test and verification

Space Generic Open Avionics Architecture (SGOAA) reference model technical guide

This report presents a full description of the Space Generic Open Avionics Architecture (SGOAA). The SGOAA consists of a generic system architecture for the entities in spacecraft avionics, a generic processing architecture, and a six class model of interfaces in a hardware/software system. The purpose of the SGOAA is to provide an umbrella set of requirements for applying the generic architecture interface model to the design of specific avionics hardware/software systems. The SGOAA defines a generic set of system interface points to facilitate identification of critical interfaces and establishes the requirements for applying appropriate low level detailed implementation standards to those interface points. The generic core avionics system and processing architecture models provided herein are robustly tailorable to specific system applications and provide a platform upon which the interface model is to be applied

ECLAP 2012 Conference on Information Technologies for Performing Arts, Media Access and Entertainment

It has been a long history of Information Technology innovations within the Cultural Heritage areas. The Performing arts has also been enforced with a number of new innovations which unveil a range of synergies and possibilities. Most of the technologies and innovations produced for digital libraries, media entertainment and education can be exploited in the field of performing arts, with adaptation and repurposing. Performing arts offer many interesting challenges and opportunities for research and innovations and exploitation of cutting edge research results from interdisciplinary areas. For these reasons, the ECLAP 2012 can be regarded as a continuation of past conferences such as AXMEDIS and WEDELMUSIC (both pressed by IEEE and FUP). ECLAP is an European Commission project to create a social network and media access service for performing arts institutions in Europe, to create the e-library of performing arts, exploiting innovative solutions coming from the ICT

Women in Artificial intelligence (AI)

This Special Issue, entitled "Women in Artificial Intelligence" includes 17 papers from leading women scientists. The papers cover a broad scope of research areas within Artificial Intelligence, including machine learning, perception, reasoning or planning, among others. The papers have applications to relevant fields, such as human health, finance, or education. It is worth noting that the Issue includes three papers that deal with different aspects of gender bias in Artificial Intelligence. All the papers have a woman as the first author. We can proudly say that these women are from countries worldwide, such as France, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Australia, Bangladesh, Yemen, Romania, India, Cuba, Bangladesh and Spain. In conclusion, apart from its intrinsic scientific value as a Special Issue, combining interesting research works, this Special Issue intends to increase the invisibility of women in AI, showing where they are, what they do, and how they contribute to developments in Artificial Intelligence from their different places, positions, research branches and application fields. We planned to issue this book on the on Ada Lovelace Day (11/10/2022), a date internationally dedicated to the first computer programmer, a woman who had to fight the gender difficulties of her times, in the XIX century. We also thank the publisher for making this possible, thus allowing for this book to become a part of the international activities dedicated to celebrating the value of women in ICT all over the world. With this book, we want to pay homage to all the women that contributed over the years to the field of AI