Heart rate measurements after group exercise

The purposes of this study were to measure the typical delay in obtaining palpated postexercise heart rate (HR) by participants in a group exercise class and to determine if actual exercise HR can be predicted from immediate HR recovery (HRR) measures by examining the linearity of HR decline postexercise, [This is an excerpt from the abstract. For the complete abstract, please see the document.

Regression and Classification for Direction-of-Arrival Estimation with Convolutional Recurrent Neural Networks

We present a novel learning-based approach to estimate the direction-of-arrival (DOA) of a sound source using a convolutional recurrent neural network (CRNN) trained via regression on synthetic data and Cartesian labels. We also describe an improved method to generate synthetic data to train the neural network using state-of-the-art sound propagation algorithms that model specular as well as diffuse reflections of sound. We compare our model against three other CRNNs trained using different formulations of the same problem: classification on categorical labels, and regression on spherical coordinate labels. In practice, our model achieves up to 43% decrease in angular error over prior methods. The use of diffuse reflection results in 34% and 41% reduction in angular prediction errors on LOCATA and SOFA datasets, respectively, over prior methods based on image-source methods. Our method results in an additional 3% error reduction over prior schemes that use classification based networks, and we use 36% fewer network parameters

Comparison of Raw Acceleration from the GENEA and ActiGraph™ GT3X+ Activity Monitors

Purpose: To compare raw acceleration output of the ActiGraph™ GT3X+ and GENEA activity monitors. Methods: A GT3X+ and GENEA were oscillated in an orbital shaker at frequencies ranging from 0.7 to 4.0 Hz (ten 2-min trials/frequency) on a fixed radius of 5.08 cm. Additionally, 10 participants (age = 23.8 ± 5.4 years) wore the GT3X+ and GENEA on the dominant wrist and performed treadmill walking (2.0 and 3.5 mph) and running (5.5 and 7.5 mph) and simulated free-living activities (computer work, cleaning a room, vacuuming and throwing a ball) for 2-min each. A linear mixed model was used to compare the mean triaxial vector magnitude (VM) from the GT3X+ and GENEA at each oscillation frequency. For the human testing protocol, random forest machine-learning technique was used to develop two models using frequency domain (FD) and time domain (TD) features for each monitor. We compared activity type recognition accuracy between the GT3X+ and GENEA when the prediction model was fit using one monitor and then applied to the other. Z-statistics were used to compare the proportion of accurate predictions from the GT3X+ and GENEA for each model. Results: GENEA produced significantly higher (p \u3c 0.05, 3.5 to 6.2%) mean VM than GT3X+ at all frequencies during shaker testing. Training the model using TD input features on the GENEA and applied to GT3X+ data yielded significantly lower (p \u3c 0.05) prediction accuracy. Prediction accuracy was not compromised when interchangeably using FD models between monitors. Conclusions: It may be inappropriate to apply a model developed on the GENEA to predict activity type using GT3X+ data when input features are TD attributes of raw acceleration

Contemporary Approaches and Techniques for the Systems Analyst

A recent survey of methodologies and techniques currently used in organiz.ations for developing information systems indicates significant trends that call for a revision of the Information Systems (IS) Systems Analysis and Design (SA&D) course to define what methodologies, techniques, models, and tools need to be taught. As authors of analysis and design textbooks, we are particularly concerned about these trends, as are all who are involved in information systems educational programs. Each program needs to consider how to incorporate three fundamental changes on the SA&D curriculum - the growing popularity ofobject-oriented techniques, the emergence of the iterative approach, and the increasing adoption of the agile approach. This article discusses these three fundamental changes and references research describing the recent trends. Based on this research and on our experience teaching and writing about analysis and design, we make some recommendations. Given the vast number of topics in analysis and design, it is time to seriously consider including two courses in the IS curriculum that can deal with the breadth of the system related topics in the contemporary environment. In terms of functional requirements and analysis issues, we argue for employing a use case driven approach. We recommend that the SA&D courses use Unified Modeling Language (UML) whenever possible for modeling; however, we note some of the usability problems of UML. We suggest that the time has come to drop the data flow diagram (DFD). We also consider the impacts of the outsourcing trend on the course coverage

Analysis and Design in the IS Curriculum: Taking it to the Next Level

Recent surveys of methodologies and techniques currently used in organizations for developing information systems indicate significant trends that call for a revision of the Information Systems (IS) Systems Analysis and Design (SA&D) course to define what methodologies, techniques, models, and tools need to be taught. Several course-related and environment governed trends seem to impact the coverage, including the growing popularity of object-oriented techniques, the shortening of the life cycle and the emergence of the iterative approach, the increasing adoption of the agile approach, the rising importance of UML, the outsourcing trend leading to global distribution of SA&D work, and the rate of change in the technical and business environments. The scope of the SA&D course has increased. Yet, most MIS degree programs have just one SA&D course. The typical SA&D instructor faces a number of difficult questions when trying to fit the much larger range of topics into a single course. A panel at the Americas Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS) 2007 conference evaluated how the trends impact the coverage of the SA&D course and made recommendations on how these trends can be addressed. Based on the panel discussion, this paper tackles the many challenges of teaching analysis and design in the IS curriculum and taking it to the next level

Prophylactic levofloxacin in cancer chemotherapy: a randomized controlled study

Background: The patients on cancer chemotherapy are at substantial risk of developing febrile episodes, bacteremia and infection related mortalities, yet the prophylactic use of antimicrobials continues to be a controversial issue. Hence, this study was designed to study the effect of antimicrobial prophylaxis in cancer chemotherapy.Methods: The patients receiving the cancer chemotherapy were randomly divided into two groups. Group A patients received cancer chemotherapy and no prophylactic antimicrobials. Group B patients were given prophylactic levofloxacin with each cancer chemotherapy cycle. Patients were evaluated for febrile episodes, documented infections and hospitalizations. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance grade and culture sensitivity reports were also recorded.Results: Demographic profile of patients was comparable in both groups. Absolute neutrophil count at 6 weeks was significantly higher with levofloxacin prophylaxis. Levofloxacin prophylaxis led to 92% reduction in risk of having neutropenia in first cycle, 78% reduction in clinically documented febrile episodes during the first chemotherapy cycle (36 % vs 8%, 95% confidence interval 0.08 to 0.56, p<0.001), 88% reduction in risk of developing infections, 63% reduction in risk of hospitalization and 30% decrease in average cost of treatment per patient per day (₹1269.80±220.32 vs. ₹372.21±99.23, p<0.01) as compared to control group. All documented infections were from gram negative bacteria, E. coli being the commonest.Conclusions: Antimicrobial prophylaxis with levofloxacin is beneficial to patients receiving cancer chemotherapy as it decreases the morbidity, in terms of febrile episodes, neutropenia, infections, hospitalizations and it also reduces the cost of overall treatment

The Inhalation Characteristics of Patients When They Use Different Dry Powder Inhalers

Background: The characteristics of each inhalation maneuver when patients use dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are important, because they control the quality of the emitted dose. Methods: We have measured the inhalation profiles of asthmatic children [CHILD; n=16, mean forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) 79% predicted], asthmatic adults (ADULT; n=53, mean predicted FEV1 72%), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; n=29, mean predicted FEV1 42%) patients when they inhaled through an Aerolizer, Diskus, Turbuhaler, and Easyhaler using their “real-life” DPI inhalation technique. These are low-, medium-, medium/high-, and high-resistance DPIs, respectively. The inhalation flow against time was recorded to provide the peak inhalation flow (PIF; in L/min), the maximum pressure change (ΔP; in kPa), acceleration rates (ACCEL; in kPa/sec), time to maximum inhalation, the length of each inhalation (in sec), and the inhalation volume (IV; in liters) of each inhalation maneuver. Results: PIF, ΔP, and ACCEL values were consistent with the order of the inhaler's resistance. For each device, the inhalation characteristics were in the order ADULT>COPD>CHILD for PIF, ΔP, and ACCEL (p4 L and ΔP >4 kPa. Conclusion: The large variability of these inhalation characteristics and their range highlights that if inhalation profiles were used with compendial in vitro dose emission measurements, then the results would provide useful information about the dose patients inhale during routine use. The inhalation characteristics highlight that adults with asthma have greater inspiratory capacity than patients with COPD, whereas children with asthma have the lowest. The significance of the inhaled volume to empty doses from each device requires investigation

The Key Elements and Drivers of the Defense Acquisition System

Symposium PresentationApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

The Key Elements and Drivers of the Defense Acquisition System

Excerpt from the Proceedings of the Nineteenth Annual Acquisition Research SymposiumA systemic diagram (systemigram) was developed to provide a systems view of the key elements and drivers of the complex defense acquisition system in the United States. An iterative process was used to develop the systemigram, after assessing the basic relationships among key actors and organizations within the system. The diagram provides a high-level overview of the Department of Defense ecosystem as it relates to acquisition, addressing the lack of available high-level visual representations of the overall acquisition system elements and their basic interactions within the literature. Using this diagram, individuals unfamiliar with the defense acquisition system can become better acquainted with it, while those familiar with defense acquisition are provided with a useful artifact to stimulate shared understanding, spark conversations about how to improve acquisition outcomes, and focus on the key inputs, processes, and ultimate goal of military capability.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Shear Viscosity in a Perturbative Quark-Gluon-Plasma

Among the key features of hot and dense QCD matter produced in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions at RHIC is its very low shear viscosity, indicative of the properties of a near-ideal fluid, and a large opacity demonstrated by jet energy loss measurements. In this work, we utilize a microscopic transport model based on the Boltzmann equation with quark and gluon degrees of freedom and cross sections calculated from perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics to simulate an ideal Quark-Gluon-Plasma in full thermal and chemical equilibrium. We then use the Kubo formalism to calculate the shear viscosity to entropy density ratio of the medium as a function of temperature and system composition. One of our key results is that the shear viscosity over entropy-density ratio $\eta/s$ becomes invariant to the chemical composition of the system when plotted as a function of energy-density instead of temperature.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures: version #2 contains some revisions and added references to clarify relationship to previously published wor