Physical Activity Recognition and Identification System

Background: It is well-established that physical activity is beneficial to health. It is less known how the characteristics of physical activity impact health independently of total amount. This is due to the inability to measure these characteristics in an objective way that can be applied to large population groups. Accelerometry allows for objective monitoring of physical activity but is currently unable to identify type of physical activity accurately. Methods: This thesis details the creation of an activity classifier that can identify type from accelerometer data. The current research in activity classification was reviewed and methodological challenges were identified. The main challenge was the inability of classifiers to generalize to unseen data. Creating methods to mitigate this lack of generalisation represents the bulk of this thesis. Using the review, a classification pipeline was synthesised, representing the sequence of steps that all activity classifiers use. 1. Determination of device location and setting (Chapter 4) 2. Pre-processing (Chapter 5) 3. Segmenting into windows (Chapters 6) 4. Extracting features (Chapters 7,8) 5. Creating the classifier (Chapter 9) 6. Post-processing (Chapter 5) For each of these steps, methods were created and tested that allowed for a high level of generalisability without sacrificing overall performance. Results: The work in this thesis results in an activity classifier that had a good ability to generalize to unseen data. The classifier achieved an F1-score of 0.916 and 0.826 on data similar to its training data, which is statistically equivalent to the performance of current state of the art models (0.898, 0.765). On data dissimilar to its training data, the classifier achieved a significantly higher performance than current state of the art methods (0.759, 0.897 versus 0.352, 0.415). This shows that the classifier created in this work has a significantly greater ability to generalise to unseen data than current methods. Conclusion: This thesis details the creation of an activity classifier that allows for an improved ability to generalize to unseen data, thus allowing for identification of type from acceleration data. This should allow for more detailed investigation into the specific health effects of type in large population studies utilising accelerometers

Creating customer value and the use of the product life cycle to generate strategic options for maturing low-cost service-retail markets -A case study on The Spirit Group value pub food retail concept"Two for One"

This is a case study on a low-cost service retail concept known as "Two for One" a pub-food chain owned by The Spirit Group. The thesis aims to explore the nature and characteristics of the product life cycle for low-cost service retailers with the objective to establish strategic options. The nature of low-cost propositions is that price is the main strategic driver to compete for growth and market share. However in maturing markets where competition is high and margins are low, retailers seek alternative sources of differentiation. This study is important for two reasons: firstly, the literature on the product life cycle spans over 50 years, yet it does not study service retail markets-focusing instead on manufacturing or fast moving consumer goods. Secondly, not only is service retail a key area of modern business studies, but that there is a growing emergence of the low-cost provider in sectors such as short-haul flights (Easyjet); Multiple Grocers (Tesco); on-line retailers (Amazon) and pub-companies (J D Wetherspoons and TWO FOR ONE). The concept of building superior customer value and growing customer loyalty are two themes for strategy that are explored in detail. These concepts are relatively new (being studying in the last 10-20 years) and there is a broad spectrum of opinion in the literature. However, the case study reviews the enablers of customer satisfaction and loyalty using four extensive customer surveys, from a sample base of over 6000 consumers. Strategic options are considered in light of both the product lifecycle of the case study and the customer value and loyalty findings. The main conclusions of the study are: Product life cycle can be used as a basic management tool, provided its used at all levels of market, product form, class and brand and if external forces are considered Retail market life cycles are subject to complex and dynamic forces influenced by multi-site nature of retail. Low-cost service retail adds a further dynamic to life cycle performance. Strategy selection is therefore dependent on establishing the life cycle stages of multiple sites and considering factors as well as price to provide differential advantage. The pub-food market is now showing early signs of maturing which will result in pressure on margins and further market consolidation. Customer value can also be defined as a function of �¢â�¬��price, quality, service and environment. There is evidence of links between customer satisfaction, operational competency, site investment and profits. Investment in customer loyalty strategies is low in pub retailing, providing low returns on investment. Customer loyalty strategies should focus instead on low-tech approaches to understanding customer needs, matching them with appropriate offers and communicating the offer to the target customer. Analysis of customer complaints show that service and quality of products are key dissatisfiers, suggesting that a zero defections policy is the first step to improving customer loyalty

Creating customer value and the use of the product life cycle to generate strategic options for maturing low-cost service-retail markets -A case study on The Spirit Group value pub food retail concept"Two for One"

This is a case study on a low-cost service retail concept known as "Two for One" a pub-food chain owned by The Spirit Group. The thesis aims to explore the nature and characteristics of the product life cycle for low-cost service retailers with the objective to establish strategic options. The nature of low-cost propositions is that price is the main strategic driver to compete for growth and market share. However in maturing markets where competition is high and margins are low, retailers seek alternative sources of differentiation. This study is important for two reasons: firstly, the literature on the product life cycle spans over 50 years, yet it does not study service retail markets-focusing instead on manufacturing or fast moving consumer goods. Secondly, not only is service retail a key area of modern business studies, but that there is a growing emergence of the low-cost provider in sectors such as short-haul flights (Easyjet); Multiple Grocers (Tesco); on-line retailers (Amazon) and pub-companies (J D Wetherspoons and TWO FOR ONE). The concept of building superior customer value and growing customer loyalty are two themes for strategy that are explored in detail. These concepts are relatively new (being studying in the last 10-20 years) and there is a broad spectrum of opinion in the literature. However, the case study reviews the enablers of customer satisfaction and loyalty using four extensive customer surveys, from a sample base of over 6000 consumers. Strategic options are considered in light of both the product lifecycle of the case study and the customer value and loyalty findings. The main conclusions of the study are: Product life cycle can be used as a basic management tool, provided its used at all levels of market, product form, class and brand and if external forces are considered Retail market life cycles are subject to complex and dynamic forces influenced by multi-site nature of retail. Low-cost service retail adds a further dynamic to life cycle performance. Strategy selection is therefore dependent on establishing the life cycle stages of multiple sites and considering factors as well as price to provide differential advantage. The pub-food market is now showing early signs of maturing which will result in pressure on margins and further market consolidation. Customer value can also be defined as a function of �¢â�¬��price, quality, service and environment. There is evidence of links between customer satisfaction, operational competency, site investment and profits. Investment in customer loyalty strategies is low in pub retailing, providing low returns on investment. Customer loyalty strategies should focus instead on low-tech approaches to understanding customer needs, matching them with appropriate offers and communicating the offer to the target customer. Analysis of customer complaints show that service and quality of products are key dissatisfiers, suggesting that a zero defections policy is the first step to improving customer loyalty

In vivo evaluation of different formulation strategies for sustained release injectables of a poorly soluble HIV protease inhibitor

At present no scientific rationale exists for selecting a particular enabling strategy to formulate a poorly water-soluble drug, although this is crucial as it will influence the in vivo performance of the resulting formulation. This study provides an insight into this complicated decision making process for a poorly soluble human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitor based upon in vivo test results. A formulation strategy based on the molecular dispersion of this active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) into a biphasic matrix consisting of water-insoluble poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and water-soluble polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was evaluated. The long-term in vivo performance of this strategy was compared to that of other solubility enhancing approaches by evaluating the exposure in male Beagle dogs. Solid dispersions, based on a PLGA/PVP matrix, were compared to solid dispersions in a pure water-insoluble PLGA matrix. Additionally these solid dispersion strategies were compared to the strategy of particle size reduction by means of an API microsuspension. The in vivo performance of the various formulations over a period of 28 days after intramuscular injection was evaluated by the observed initial burst release, plasma concentration-time profiles, time at which maximum plasma levels were reached (tmax,obs) and the estimated bioavailability. Compared to the other formulation strategies assessed, it was concluded that the addition of PVP in a PLGA matrix resulted in vivo in a more sustained release as well as a higher amount of drug released from the polymeric matrix. This was explained based on the structure of these binary PLGA/PVP matrices where the pore network originating from rapidly dissolving PVP plays a crucial role. Moreover, the results suggest that the release of this type of formulations could be delayed by increasing the amount of PLGA in the formulation

Ability of Group IVB metallocene polyethers containing dienestrol to arrest the growth of selected cancer cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Monomeric Group IVB (Ti, Zr and Hf) metallocenes represent a new class of antitumor compounds. There is literature on the general biological activities of some organotin compounds. Unfortunately, there is little information with respect to the molecular level activity of these organotin compounds. We recently started focusing on the anti-cancer activity of organotin polymers that we had made for other purposes and as part of our platinum anti-cancer effort.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>For this study, we synthesized a new series of metallocene-containing compounds coupling the metallocene unit with dienestrol, a synthetic, nonsteroidal estrogen. This is part of our effort to couple known moieties that offer antitumor activity with biologically active units hoping to increase the biological activity of the combination. The materials were confirmed to be polymeric using light scattering photometry and the structural repeat unit was verified employing matrix assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy results.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The polymers demonstrated the ability to suppress the growth of a series of tumor cell lines originating from breast, colon, prostrate, and lung cancers at concentrations generally lower than those required for inhibition of cell growth by the commonly used antitumor drug cisplatin.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These drugs show great promise in vitro against a number of cancer cell lines and due to their polymeric nature will most likely be less toxic than currently used metal-containing drugs such as cisplatin. These drugs also offer several addition positive aspects. First, the reactants are commercially available so that additional synthetic steps are not needed. Second, synthesis of the polymer is rapid, occurring within about 15 seconds. Third, the interfacial synthetic system is already industrially employed in the synthesis of aromatic nylons and polycarbonates. Thus, the ability to synthesize large amounts of the drugs is straight forward.</p

Electronic structure, linear, nonlinear optical susceptibilities and birefringence of CuInX2 (X = S, Se, Te) chalcopyrite-structure compounds

The electronic structure, linear and nonlinear optical properties have been calculated for CuInX2 (X=S, Se, Te) chalcopyrite-structure single crystals using the state-of-the-art full potential linear augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method. We present results for band structure, density of states, and imaginary part of the frequency-dependent linear and nonlinear optical susceptibilities. We find that these crystals are semiconductors with direct band gaps. We have calculated the birefringence of these crystals. The birefringence is negative for CuInS2 and CuInSe2 while it is positive for CuInTe2 in agreement with the experimental data. Calculations are reported for the frequency-dependent complex second-order non-linear optical susceptibilities . The intra-band and inter-band contributions to the second harmonic generation increase when we replace S by Se and decrease when we replace Se by Te. We find that smaller energy band gap compounds have larger values of in agreement with the experimental data and previous theoretical calculations.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figure

Polymer-biopolymer interactions : applications in gene delivery

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Saving Lives through visual health communication: a multidisciplinary team approach.

INTRODUCTION Saving Lives is a public health awareness charity that aims to educate the UK public about HIV and encourage testing for the virus. In May 2011 Saving Lives contacted the Medical Illustration department at Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust to discuss the idea of working together to develop a national HIV awareness campaign. METHODS A number of local sporting celebrities were invited to a studio photography session. All the sports stars and celebrities were photographed on a Mamiya 645 AFDII camera, with PhaseOne P30 + digital back, using prime 35 mm, 55 mm and 80 mm lenses. During the photography sessions, the team's film maker captured video footage of the subjects being photographed. Once the final avengers' graphical composition had been created, it was applied to the posters, billboards and public transport signs for the campaign. RESULTS In the three-month period following the campaign launch, survey research was carried out, the initial data being recorded by a questionnaire which was provided to each of the 1800 patients attending the Heartlands Hospital sexual health clinic for HIV testing. CONCLUSION Following the launch of the initial campaign, the Saving Lives team continues to produce material to assist in the promotion of the charity and its message. Its success has led to it becoming an on-going long-term project, and to date the team have photographed and filmed 33 sporting stars and visited numerous sporting institutes