Development of Respiratory Rate Estimation Technique Using Electrocardiogram and Photoplethysmogram for Continuous Health Monitoring

Abnormal vital signs often predict a serious condition of acutely ill hospital patients in 24 hours. The notable fluctuations of respiratory rate (RR) are highly predictive of deteriorations among the vital signs measured. Traditional methods of detecting RR are performed by directly measuring the air flow in or out of the lungs or indirectly measuring the changes of the chest volume. These methods require the use of cumbersome devices, which may interfere with natural breathing, are uncomfortable, have frequently moving artifacts, and are extremely expensive. This study aims to estimate the RR from electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmogram (PPG) signals, which consist of passive and non-invasive acquisition modules. Algorithms have been validated by using PhysioNet’s Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II (MIMIC-II)’s patient datasets. RR estimation provides the value of mean absolute error (MAE) for ECG as 1.25 bpm (MIMIC-II) and 1.05 bpm for the acquired data. MAE for PPG is 1.15 bpm (MIMIC-II) and 0.90 bpm for the acquired data. By using 1-minute windows, this method reveals that the filtering method efficiently extracted respiratory information from the ECG and PPG signals. Smaller MAE for PPG signals results from fewer artifacts due to easy sensor attachment for the PPG because PPG recording requires only one-finger pulse oximeter sensor placement. However, ECG recording requires at least three electrode placements at three positions on the subject’s body surface for a single lead (lead II), thereby increasing the artifacts. A reliable technique has been proposed for RR estimation

Comparison of parameter estimation methods when multicollinearity and outlier exists / Aida Nurasikin Jamil ...[et al.]

Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimator become worse in the presence of multicollinearity and outlier. Here, three methods are suggested to improve the model when multicollinearity and outlier exists, the first one is Jackknife Regression (JR) based on left out method, the second is Ridge Regression (RR) based on the addition of shrinking parameter, and the third is Latent Root Regression (LRR) by adding the latent root and latent vector. In the application, model parameters, standard errors, length of confidence intervals (L.C.I), coefficients of determination ( 2 R ), and mean square error (MSE) of these methods are estimated. Next, the perfomance of these three methods are compared with OLS by using the MSE and 2 R .Based on the analysis, LRR method was the best method compared to other methods since the value of MSE is less and 2 R is higher among others. The LRR was not only the best method when multicollinearity exist, but also was the best when the presence of both multicollinearity and outlie

A 96-well-plate–based method for the estimation of alpha-amylase activity using miniaturises 3,5-DINITROSALICYLIC ACID (DNSA) colorimetric method

The DNSA assay has been widely employed for the in vitro detection and quantification of alpha-amylase inhibitory activity. However, the conventional method is associated with inconsistencies between protocols and requires a large volume of samples and other assay reagents that can compromise accurate quantitation. Therefore, the study aimed to develop a reliable, simple, and rapid analytical method for determining α-amylase activity. The developed method was carried out in 96-well microplates with a total volume of 250 μL and a total assay time of 1 hr, including pre-incubation. The method was validated for linearity, the limit of detection (LOD), the limit of quantitation (LOQ), and precision. A higher coefficient of determination (R2) value was observed for the developed method as compared to the conventional method (0.9983 ± 0.0003 vs 0.9667 ± 0.0383). The coefficient of variation (CV%) of each data point was less than 15%, indicating excellent data precision. The optimum assay conditions were identified at 2 U/mL of enzyme solution and 5% (w/v) starch solution at 50 °C incubation temperature with an IC50 value of 0.026 ± 0.005 mg/mL. It is concluded that the developed method is practical, precise, and accurate for estimating α-amylase inhibitory activity and would provide reproducible results

A 96-well-plate–based method for the estimation of alpha-amylase activity using miniaturises 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNSA) colorimetric method

The DNSA assay has been widely employed for the in vitro detection and quantification of alpha-amylase inhibitory activity. However, the conventional method is associated with inconsistencies between protocols and requires a large volume of samples and other assay reagents that can compromise accurate quantitation. Therefore, the study aimed to develop a reliable, simple, and rapid analytical method for determining α-amylase activity. The developed method was carried out in 96-well microplates with a total volume of 250 μL and a total assay time of 1 hr, including pre-incubation. The method was validated for linearity, the limit of detection (LOD), the limit of quantitation (LOQ), and precision. A higher coefficient of determination (R2) value was observed for the developed method as compared to the conventional method (0.9983 ± 0.0003 vs 0.9667 ± 0.0383). The coefficient of variation (CV%) of each data point was less than 15%, indicating excellent data precision. The optimum assay conditions were identified at 2 U/mL of enzyme solution and 5% (w/v) starch solution at 50 °C incubation temperature with an IC50 value of 0.026 ± 0.005 mg/mL. It is concluded that the developed method is practical, precise, and accurate for estimating α-amylase inhibitory activity and would provide reproducible results

Penglibatan belia dalam isu ketagihan bahan pornografi, kesan dan langkah menangani ketagihan

Isu ketagihan pornografi adalah isu yang tidak boleh dipandang ringan kerana ia semakin berleluasa dalam masyarakat. Ketagihan pornografi boleh meningkatkan jenayah seks luar nikah. Kajian yang dijalankan ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti tahap penglibatan belia dalam isu ketagihan bahan pornografi, kesan penglibatan dan langkah menangani isu ketagihan tersebut. Pendekatan kuantitatif dengan kaedah tinjauan deskriptif digunakan bagi menjawab persoalan kajian. Teknik persampelan yang digunakan ialah persampelan mudah atau convenient sampling yang melibatkan belia universiti dan luar universiti yang bersedia terlibat dalam kajian. Seramai 116 orang responden terlibat dalam kajian ini. Soal selidik diedarkan kepada responden menggunakan platform Google Form. Dapatan menunjukkan bahawa penglibatan belia dalam isu ketagihan bahan pornografi berada pada tahap yang sederhana. Seterusnya dapatan menunjukkan kesan utama daripada ketagihan bahan pornografi boleh menjerumuskan diri kepada jenayah seksual. Selain daripada itu, dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa langkah menangani ketagihan bahan pornografi perlu melibatkan pihak kerajaan, institusi pendidikan, ibubapa, insitusi keagamaan dan masyarakat. Kajian ini memberi implikasi penting agar isu ketagihan bahan pornografi dalam kalangan belia wajar ditangani dengan segera dan secara tegas menerusi penggemblengan usaha daripada pihak yang berkaitan

Implementation of heart rate variability analysis algorithm on FPGA platform

Recently, many studies have attempted to develop portable cardiac monitoring systems that can be used outside of a hospital setting. To achieve this objective, in this paper, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) design and the implementation of an embedded electrocardiography (ECG) system using System-on-Chip (ECG-SoC) technology are proposed. The proposed system performs ECG pre-processing and heart rate variability (HRV) feature extraction that are suitable for remote homecare monitoring and rural health care applications. The development of ECG-SoC consists of four phases: the development of the hardware system, the Nios II-Linux embedded operating system (OS), the ECG-SoC software, and followed by system integration. The results of this study show that the developed ECG-SoC system is capable of compiling a raw ECG dataset, detecting QRS, computing R-R intervals, and displaying the FFT output and power spectrum analysis. The proposed system has the potential to be used in the future as a portable stand alone medical device for heart disease detection and monitoring

Penglibatan belia dalam isu ketagihan bahan pornografi, kesan dan langkah menangani ketagihan

Isu ketagihan pornografi adalah isu yang tidak boleh dipandang ringan kerana ia semakin berleluasa dalam masyarakat. Ketagihan pornografi boleh meningkatkan jenayah seks luar nikah. Kajian yang dijalankan ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti tahap penglibatan belia dalam isu ketagihan bahan pornografi, kesan penglibatan dan langkah menangani isu ketagihan tersebut. Pendekatan kuantitatif dengan kaedah tinjauan deskriptif digunakan bagi menjawab persoalan kajian. Teknik persampelan yang digunakan ialah persampelan mudah atau convenient sampling yang melibatkan belia universiti dan luar universiti yang bersedia terlibat dalam kajian. Seramai 116 orang responden terlibat dalam kajian ini. Soal selidik diedarkan kepada responden menggunakan platform Google Form. Dapatan menunjukkan bahawa penglibatan belia dalam isu ketagihan bahan pornografi berada pada tahap yang sederhana. Seterusnya dapatan menunjukkan kesan utama daripada ketagihan bahan pornografi boleh menjerumuskan diri kepada jenayah seksual. Selain daripada itu, dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa langkah menangani ketagihan bahan pornografi perlu melibatkan pihak kerajaan, institusi pendidikan, ibubapa, insitusi keagamaan dan masyarakat. Kajian ini memberi implikasi penting agar isu ketagihan bahan pornografi dalam kalangan belia wajar ditangani dengan segera dan secara tegas menerusi penggemblengan usaha daripada pihak yang berkaitan

Penglibatan belia dalam isu ketagihan bahan pornografi, kesan dan langkah menangani ketagihan

Isu ketagihan pornografi adalah isu yang tidak boleh dipandang ringan kerana ia semakin berleluasa dalam masyarakat. Ketagihan pornografi boleh meningkatkan jenayah seks luar nikah. Kajian yang dijalankan ini bertujuan untuk mengenalpasti tahap penglibatan belia dalam isu ketagihan bahan pornografi, kesan penglibatan dan langkah menangani isu ketagihan tersebut. Pendekatan kuantitatif dengan kaedah tinjauan deskriptif digunakan bagi menjawab persoalan kajian. Teknik persampelan yang digunakan ialah persampelan mudah atau convenient sampling yang melibatkan belia universiti dan luar universiti yang bersedia terlibat dalam kajian. Seramai 116 orang responden terlibat dalam kajian ini. Soal selidik diedarkan kepada responden menggunakan platform Google Form. Dapatan menunjukkan bahawa penglibatan belia dalam isu ketagihan bahan pornografi berada pada tahap yang sederhana. Seterusnya dapatan menunjukkan kesan utama daripada ketagihan bahan pornografi boleh menjerumuskan diri kepada jenayah seksual. Selain daripada itu, dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa langkah menangani ketagihan bahan pornografi perlu melibatkan pihak kerajaan, institusi pendidikan, ibubapa, insitusi keagamaan dan masyarakat. Kajian ini memberi implikasi penting agar isu ketagihan bahan pornografi dalam kalangan belia wajar ditangani dengan segera dan secara tegas menerusi penggemblengan usaha daripada pihak yang berkaitan