A lightweight sensing platform for monitoring sleep quality and posture: a simulated validation study

Background The prevalence of self-reported shoulder pain in the UK has been estimated at 16%. This has been linked with significant sleep disturbance. It is possible that this relationship is bidirectional, with both symptoms capable of causing the other. Within the field of sleep monitoring, there is a requirement for a mobile and unobtrusive device capable of monitoring sleep posture and quality. This study investigates the feasibility of a wearable sleep system (WSS) in accurately detecting sleeping posture and physical activity. Methods Sixteen healthy subjects were recruited and fitted with three wearable inertial sensors on the trunk and forearms. Ten participants were entered into a ‘Posture’ protocol; assuming a series of common sleeping postures in a simulated bedroom. Five participants completed an ‘Activity’ protocol, in which a triphasic simulated sleep was performed including awake, sleep and REM phases. A combined sleep posture and activity protocol was then conducted as a ‘Proof of Concept’ model. Data were used to train a posture detection algorithm, and added to activity to predict sleep phase. Classification accuracy of the WSS was measured during the simulations. Results The WSS was found to have an overall accuracy of 99.5% in detection of four major postures, and 92.5% in the detection of eight minor postures. Prediction of sleep phase using activity measurements was accurate in 97.3% of the simulations. The ability of the system to accurately detect both posture and activity enabled the design of a conceptual layout for a user-friendly tablet application. Conclusions The study presents a pervasive wearable sensor platform, which can accurately detect both sleeping posture and activity in non-specialised environments. The extent and accuracy of sleep metrics available advances the current state-of-the-art technology. This has potential diagnostic implications in musculoskeletal pathology and with the addition of alerts may provide therapeutic value in a range of areas including the prevention of pressure sores

Patient education after amputation: Systematic review and experts’ opinions

AbstractObjectiveTo perform a systematic review of the literature regarding amputee self-care, and analyze current experts’ opinions.MethodThe research in Medline and Cochrane Library databases was performed using the keywords “amputee self-care”, “amputee health care”, “amputee education”, and “amputee health management”. The methodological quality of the articles was assessed using four levels of evidence and three guideline grades (A: strong; B: moderate; C: poor).ResultOne prospective randomized controlled study confirm the level of evidence of self-care amputee persons with grade B, which is similar others chronic diseases self-care. Self-care of amputee persons contributes to improve functional status, depressive syndrome, and also health-related quality of life. A review of the patients’ needs and expectations in self-care amputee persons has been established thanks to the presence of qualitative focus group study.ConclusionA multidisciplinary self-care of amputee persons can be recommended. Regarding literature date, the level of evidence of self-care amputee persons is moderate (grade B). Experts groups are currently working on a self-care amputee persons guideline book in order to standardize practicing and programs in the physical medicine and rehabilitation departments

Mechanical strength and cationic dye adsorption ability of metakaolin-based geopolymer spheres

Metakaolin-based geopolymer spheres shaped by three different dripping techniques were investigated in terms of compressive strength and dye adsorption ability. Spheres were produced by injection and solidification in polyethylene glycol (PEG) or liquid nitrogen (ice-templating) and ionotropic gelation (alginate in calcium chloride). Mechanical tests by ISO 18591 evidenced that compressive strength was strictly linked to porosity and composition of the spheres, being 12.9 MPa with 29% of porosity for spheres produced in PEG, 2.1 MPa with a porosity of 64% for spheres shaped in liquid nitrogen and up to 19.6 MPa with a porosity of 59% for hybrid spheres with a skeleton of Ca-alginate. The influence of contact time and initial concentration on a cationic dye (methylene blue) adsorption was studied. Removal efficiency was related to morphology, porosity and specific surface area: after 24 h the percentage of adsorption was 94\u201398% for spheres shaped in liquid nitrogen while below 75% for hybrid spheres and spheres produced in PEG. By adding TiO2 P25 as photocatalytic phase to the hybrid spheres, an increase of removal efficiency of 33% was observed after 90 min under UV irradiation