What is the Effect of Foreign Direct Investment on the Host Economy? An Analysis For Developed Countries with a Focus on Canada

Numéro de référence interne originel : a1.1 g 111

Textile-based wearable sensors for assisting sports performance

There is a need for wearable sensors to assess physiological signals and body kinematics during exercise. Such sensors need to be straightforward to use, and ideally the complete system integrated fully within a garment. This would allow wearers to monitor their progress as they undergo an exercise training programme without the need to attach external devices. This takes physiological monitoring into a more natural setting. By developing textile sensors the intelligence is integrated into a sports garment in an innocuous manner. A number of textile based sensors are presented here that have been integrated into garments for various sports applications

Educational change and ICT: an exploration of priorities 2 and 3 of the DfES e-strategy in schools and colleges: the current landscape and implementation issues

Landscape review of integrated online support for learners and collaborative approaches to personalised learning activities

A wearable electrochemical sensor for the real-time measurement of sweat sodium concentration

We report a new method for the real-time quantitative analysis of sodium in human sweat, consolidating sweat collection and analysis in a single, integrated, wearable platform. This temporal data opens up new possibilities in the study of human physiology, broadly applicable from assessing high performance athletes to monitoring Cystic Fibrosis (CF) sufferers. Our compact Sodium Sensor Belt (SSB) consists of a sodium selective Ion Selective Electrode (ISE) integrated into a platform that can be interfaced with the human body during exercise. No skin cleaning regime or sweat storage technology is required as the sweat is continually wicked from the skin to a sensing surface and from there to a storage area via a fabric pump. Our results suggest that after an initial equilibration period, a steady-state sodium plateau concentration was reached. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) was used as a reference method, and this has confirmed the accuracy of the new continuous monitoring approach. The steady-state concentrations observed were found to fall within ranges previously found in the literature, which further validates the approach. Daily calibration repeatability (n 1⁄4 4) was +/- 3.0% RSD and over a three month period reproducibility was +/- 12.1% RSD (n 1⁄4 56). As a further application, we attempted to monitor the sweat of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) sufferers using the same device. We observed high sodium concentrations symptomatic of CF ($60 mM Na+) for two CF patients, with no conclusive results for the remaining patients due to their limited exercising capability, and high viscosity/low volume of sweat produced

Aggregating multiple body sensors for analysis in sports

Real time monitoring of the wellness of sportspersons, during their sporting activity and training, is important in order to maximise performance during the sporting event itself and during training, as well as being important for the health of the sportsperson overall. We have combined a suite of common, off-the-shelf sensors with specialist body sensing technology we are developing ourselves and constructed a software system for recording, analysing and presenting sensed data gathered from a single player during a sporting activity, a football match. We gather readings for heart rate, galvanic skin response, motion, heat flux, respiration, and location (GPS) using on-body sensors, while simultaneously tracking player activity using a combination of a playercam video and pitch-wide video recording. We have aggregated all this sensed data into a single overview of player performance and activity which can be reviewed, post-event. We are currently working on integrating other non-invasive methods for real-time on-body monitoring of sweat electrolytes and pH via a textile-based sweat sampling and analysis platform. Our work is heading in two directions; firstly from post-event data aggregation to real-time monitoring, and secondly, to convert raw sensor readings into performance indicators that are meaningful to practitioners in the field

Textile sensors to measure sweat pH and sweat-rate during exercise

Sweat analysis can provide a valuable insight into a person’s well-being. Here we present wearable textile-based sensors that can provide real-time information regarding sweat activity. A pH sensitive dye incorporated into a fabric fluidic system is used to determine sweat pH. To detect the onset of sweat activity a sweat rate sensor is incorporated into a textile substrate. The sensors are integrated into a waistband and controlled by a central unit with wireless connectivity. The use of such sensors for sweat analysis may provide valuable physiological information for applications in sports performance and also in healthcare

Educational change and ICT: an exploration of priorities 2 & 3 of the DfES eStrategy in schools and colleges

An analysis of the issues surrounding the implementation of the DfES eStrategy (Harnessing Technology) in schools and colleges. Examines issues linked with learning platforms (VLEs) and Management Information Systems (MIS), collaboration, support for learners, mobile devices, curriculum, pedagogy, assessment (including e-portfolios), digital resources, access, complexity and change, people, buy in, leadership, shared understandings (vision), procurement

Bio-sensing textile based patch with integrated optical detection system for sweat monitoring

Sensors, which can be integrated into clothing and used to measure biochemical changes in body fluids, such as sweat, constitute a major advancement in the area of wearable sensors. Initial applications for such technology exist in personal health and sports performance monitoring. However, sample collection is a complicated matter as analysis must be done in real-time in order to obtain a useful examination of its composition. This work outlines the development of a textile-based fluid handling platform which uses a passive pump to gather sweat and move it through a pre-defined channel for analysis. The system is tested both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, a pH sensor, which depends on the use of a pH sensitive dye and paired emitter-detector LEDs to measure colour changes, has been developed. In vitro and on-body trials have shown that the sensor has the potential to record real-time variations in sweat during exercise

Wearable technology for bio-chemical analysis of body fluids during exercise

This paper details the development of a textile based fluid handling system with integrated wireless biochemical sensors. Such research represents a new advancement in the area of wearable technologies. The system contains pH, sodium and conductivity sensors. It has been demonstrated during on-body trials that the pH sensor has close agreement with measurements obtained using a reference pH probe. Initial investigations into the sodium and conductivity sensors have shown their suitability for integration into the wearable system. It is thought that applications exist in personal health and sports performance and training

First reported detection of the mobile colistin resistance genes, mcr-8 and mcr-9, in the Irish environment

The emergence and dissemination of mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes across the globe poses a significant threat to public health, as colistin remains one of the last line treatment options for multi-drug resistant infections. Environmental samples (157 water and 157 wastewater) were collected in Ireland between 2018 and 2020. Samples collected were assessed for the presence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria using Brilliance ESBL, Brilliance CRE, mSuperCARBA and McConkey agar containing a ciprofloxacin disc. All water and integrated constructed wetland influent and effluent samples were filtered and enriched in buffered peptone water prior to culture, while wastewater samples were cultured directly. Isolates collected were identified via MALDI-TOF, were tested for susceptibility to 16 antimicrobials, including colistin, and subsequently underwent whole genome sequencing. Overall, eight mcr positive Enterobacterales (one mcr-8 and seven mcr-9) were recovered from six samples (freshwater (n = 2), healthcare facility wastewater (n = 2), wastewater treatment plant influent (n = 1) and integrated constructed wetland influent (piggery farm waste) (n = 1)). While the mcr-8 positive K. pneumoniae displayed resistance to colistin, all seven mcr-9 harbouring Enterobacterales remained susceptible. All isolates demonstrated multi-drug resistance and through whole genome sequencing analysis, were found to harbour a wide variety of antimicrobial resistance genes i.e., 30 ± 4.1 (10-61), including the carbapenemases, blaOXA-48 (n = 2) and blaNDM-1 (n = 1), which were harboured by three of the isolates. The mcr genes were located on IncHI2, IncFIIK and IncI1-like plasmids. The findings of this study highlight potential sources and reservoirs of mcr genes in the environment and illustrate the need for further research to gain a better understanding of the role the environment plays in the persistence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance