Wearable sensor-based data analysis for neurological disease symptoms evaluation utilising quantitative approach.

The paper describes implementation of an analytical method and conclusions of novel approach to clinical trials monitoring and evaluation. Based on clinical trials observations a set of requirements for validating symptoms of neurological diseases have been formulated, concentrating on the ones which can be registered using wearable sensors. The constructed tool utilizes conventional surveying methods supplemented with biomedical sensor for neurological symptoms recognition and intensity evaluation. Developed mobile system is aimed at clinical trials assistance utilising sensor-based state evaluation. Such quantitative approach is a supplement for patient’s subjective evaluation of health state. This work is a discussion on pros and cons of such process composition and its supplementation with technology. Existing methodology relies on health state evaluation based on iteratively answered questionnaires, which in our understanding cannot be fully controlled and reliable. Utilisation of actigraphy and electromyography provides efficient means of some gestures recognition but most of all PD tremor identification and evaluation of their intensity, therefore can be used for ON/OFF state and dyskinesia identification and evaluation. In order to recognise specific states for PD patients (tremors, bradykinesias, rigidity, mental slowness, etc.) a set of additional techniques have been designed and implemented

Sensor-based supporting mobile system Parkinson disease clinical tests utilising biomedical and RFID technologies

This paper discusses method and tool for assisting clinical tests of pharmaceutical drugs utilising sensors and mobile technologies. Emerging sensor and mobile technologies deliver new opportunities to gather and process medical data. Presented analytical approach implements such observations and delivers new, convenient means for remote patient monitoring. Clinical tests are highly specialised process requiring methodology and tools to support such research. Currently available methods rely mostly on analogue approach (booklets), requiring the clinical test participant to fill in health state daily. Such approach often can be biased by unpunctual, not precise reporting. The mobile device can support this process by automatic scheduling and recording an actual time of reports and most of all it can record the inertial and biometric sensor data during the survey process. Presented analytical method (tremors recognition) and mobile tool offers consistent approach to clinical test assistance transforming and Android smartphone into remote reporting and notification tool. The tool offers additionally features for sensor based diagnostics support for PD tremor recognition as well as specific clonic and tonic symptoms (dedicated for further system extensions towards epilepsy). Capabilities of the system delivers also RFID mechanisms for efficient on-site clinical test authorisation and configuration. This feature simplifies application installation and automatic set-up considering the participant, clinical test configuration, schedule, smartphone and sensor data. Such a composition delivers convenient and reliable tool which can assist patients and medical staff during the process objectifying the clinical tests results and helping to ensure good quality of the data, quickly available and easily accessible

Antibacterial and Biodegradable Polysaccharide-Based Films for Food Packaging Applications: Comparative Study

One of the major objectives of food industry is to develop low-cost biodegradable food packaging films with optimal physicochemical properties, allowing for their large-scale production and providing a variety of applications. To meet the expectations of food industry, we have fabricated a series of solution-cast films based on common biodegradable polysaccharides (starch, chitosan and alginate) to be used in food packaging applications. Selected biopolymers were modified by the addition of glycerol and oxidized sucrose (starch), glycerol (chitosan), and glycerol and calcium chloride (alginate), as well as being used to form blends (starch/chitosan and starch/alginate, respectively). A chestnut extract was used to provide antibacterial properties to the preformed materials. The results of our studies showed that each modification reduced the hydrophilic nature of the polymers, making them more suitable for food packaging applications. In addition, all films exhibited much higher barrier properties to oxygen and carbon dioxide than commercially available films, such as polylactic acid, as well as exhibiting antimicrobial properties against model Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis, respectively), as well as yeast (Candida albicans)