Monitoring and detection of agitation in dementia: towards real-time and big-data solutions

The changing demographic profile of the population has potentially challenging social, geopolitical, and financial consequences for individuals, families, the wider society, and governments globally. The demographic change will result in a rapidly growing elderly population with healthcare implications which importantly include Alzheimer type conditions (a leading cause of dementia). Dementia requires long term care to manage the negative behavioral symptoms which are primarily exhibited in terms of agitation and aggression as the condition develops. This paper considers the nature of dementia along with the issues and challenges implicit in its management. The Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) are introduced with factors (precursors) to the onset of agitation and aggression. Independent living is considered, health monitoring and implementation in context-aware decision-support systems is discussed with consideration of data analytics. Implicit in health monitoring are technical and ethical constraints, we briefly consider these constraints with the ability to generalize to a range of medical conditions. We postulate that health monitoring offers exciting potential opportunities however the challenges lie in the effective realization of independent assisted living while meeting the ethical challenges, achieving this remains an open research question remains.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Pneumatic motion control systems for modular robots

This thesis describes a research study in the design, implementation, evaluation and commercialisation of pneumatic motion control systems for modular robots. The research programme was conducted as part of a collaborative study, sponsored by the Science and Engineering Research Council, between Loughborough University and Martonair (UK) Limited. Microprocessor based motion control strategies have been used to produce low cost pneumatic servo-drives which can be used for 'point-to-point' positioning of payloads. Software based realtime control strategies have evolved which accomplish servo-controlled positioning while compensating for drive system non-linearities and time delays. The application of novel compensation techniques has resulted in a significant improvement in both the static and dynamic performance of the drive. A theoretical foundation is presented based on a linearised model of a pneumatic actuator, servo-valve, and load system. The thesis describes the design and evolution of microprocessor based hardware and software for motion control of pneumatic drives. A British Standards based test-facility has allowed control strategies to be evaluated with reference to standard performance criteria. It is demonstrated in this research study that the dynamic and static performance characteristics of a pneumatic motion control system can be dramatically improved by applying appropriate software based realtime control strategies. This makes the application of computer controlled pneumatic servos in manufacturing very attractive with cost performance ratios which match or better alternative drive technologies. The research study has led to commercial products (marketed by Martonair Ltd), in which realtime control algorithms implementing these control strategy designs are executed within a microprocessor based motion controller

The Escape of Ionizing Photons from the Galaxy

The Magellanic Stream and several high velocity clouds have now been detected in optical line emission. The observed emission measures and kinematics are most plausibly explained by photoionization due to hot, young stars in the Galactic disk. The highly favorable orientation of the Stream allows an unambiguous determination of the fraction of ionizing photons, F_esc, which escape the disk. We have modelled the production and transport of ionizing photons through an opaque interstellar medium. Normalization to the Stream detections requires F_esc = 6%, in reasonable agreement with the flux required to ionize the Reynolds layer. Neither shock heating nor emission within a hot Galactic corona can be important in producing the observed H-alpha emission. If such a large escape fraction is typical of L_* galaxies, star-forming systems dominate the extragalactic ionizing background. Within the context of this model, both the three-dimensional orientation of the Stream and the distances to high-velocity clouds can be determined by sensitive H-alpha observations.Comment: 4 pages; LaTeX2e, emulateapj.sty, apjfonts.sty; 4 encapsulated PS figures. For correct labels, may need to print Fig. 3 separately due to psfig limitation. Astrophysical Journal (Letters), accepte

'NoSQL' and electronic patient record systems: opportunities and challenges

(c) 2014 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other users, including reprinting/ republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted components of this work in other works.Research into electronic health record systems can be traced back over four decades however the penetration of records which incorporate more than simply basic information into healthcare organizations is relatively limited. There is a great (and largely unsatisfied) demand for effective health record systems, such systems are very difficult to build with data generally stored in highly distributed states in a diverse range of formats as unstructured data with access and updating achieved over online systems. Internet application design must reflect three trends in the computing landscape: (1) growing numbers of users applications must support (along with growing user performance expectations), (2) growth in the volume and range and diversity in the data that developers accommodate, and (3) and the rise of Cloud Computing (which relies on a distributed three-tier Internet architecture). The traditional approach to data storage has generally employed Relational Database Systems however to address the evolving paradigm interest has been shown in alternative database systems including 'NoSQL' technologies which are gaining traction in Internet based enterprise systems. This paper considers the requirements of distributed health record systems in online applications and database systems. The analysis supports the conclusion that 'NoSQL' database systems provide a potentially useful approach to the implementation of HR systems in online applications.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Semantic valence modeling: emotion recognition and affective states in context-aware systems

(c) 2014 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other users, including reprinting/ republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted components of this work in other works.Defining and describing a context requires knowledge (contextual information), while research is addressing a wider range of potential contextual information in a diverse range of domains the diversity of potential contextual information has not been effectively addressed. This paper considers the implementation of context and identifies emotion (more accurately emotional response) as a factor in the personalization of services as under-represented in the literature. We propose semantic valence modeling implemented in fuzzy rule-based systems as a potential solution to the implementation of emotional responses in context-aware systems. It is concluded that the effective implementation of emotional responses based on the posited approach will improve the accuracy of personalized service provision and additionally offers the potential to improve the levels of computational intelligence in context-aware domains and systems.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Collaboration through Patient Data Access and sharing in the cloud

(c) 2014 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other users, including reprinting/ republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted components of this work in other works.There have been many socio-political and technological developments in the area of Electronic Patient Records (EPR). The technological aspects include EPR implemented using Online Transaction Processing (OTP) using Internet and Internet based systems, more recently via Cloud- Based systems (CBS) exploiting Cloud Service Models (CSM). Additionally, there are many socio-political considerations comprising: (1) political moves, including UK Government policy, which aims to deliver for patients 27/7 online access to their patient record, (2) considerations around ethical issues and informed permission and acceptance by the public and non-governmental organizations (NGO), (3) technological considerations about identification of suitable CBS and data structures in distributed systems characterized by unstructured data and, finally (4) sharing and collaboration as means of increasing efficiency, security, privacy, etc. In all, the aim is to provide professionals in medical domain with advanced platforms to not only access but also most importantly to share and collaborate at a wide scale level (e.g. National level). Addressing these aspects of EPR requires collaboration between all stakeholders in EPR, this paper considers these and concludes that such collaboration is essential if EPR are ever to become a reality.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Leading Groups To Create Healthy Culture Through Accomplishing Tasks Aligned To Strategy

This study examined the link between the consistency of self-evaluation versus peer-evaluation of managers’ skills and the level of relational stress in an organization and was based on two models: (a) the Competing Values Framework (CVF), which measures different management skills of individuals in an organization, and (b) the Healthy versus Toxic Organization Model, which focuses on the stress level in partnerships.  The researchers hypothesized that the lower the stress in the organization, the more consistent the results will be between self-evaluation and peer-evaluation. In an empirical analysis, the researchers found that the relationship was most visible in the area of managers’ facilitator skills. With strong facilitator skills, managers can lead their organizations effectively and stay focused on maintaining strategic alignment. The study also examined how management skills could be most effective in developing a healthy work culture

Emerging technologies for monitoring behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia

(c) 2014 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other users, including reprinting/ republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted components of this work in other works.Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are complex array of symptoms that have devastating impact on patients, carers and their loved ones. In this paper we argue that with the combined use of pervasive computing and big data, we could make significant progress in the diagnosis of the causes of BPSD, monitoring response to treatment and helping in the prevention of these symptoms. We review the available technologies, such as Cloud computing and context aware systems, and how they could help in managing and hopefully preventing the Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Quality of Runoff from Plots Treated with Municipal Sludge and Horse Bedding

Land application of horse stall bedding and municipal sludge can increase runoff concentrations of nutrients, organic matter, and bacteria as well as steroidal hormones such as estrogen. Concentrations of materials in runoff from sites treated with animal manure can be reduced by aluminum sulfate, or alum [Al2(SO4)3•14H2O] treatment. The objectives of this study were to assess plots treated with horse stall bedding or municipal sludge for: (a) runoff quality [concentrations of nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), orthophosphate-phosphorus (PO4-P), fecal coliform (FC), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 17- β estradiol (17 β-E, a form of estrogen)]; (b) changes in runoff quality caused by alum treatment; and (c) time variations in concentrations of the analysis parameters. Horse bedding and municipal sludge were applied to twelve 2.4 × 6.1 m fescue plots (six each for the bedding and sludge). Three of the bedding-treated and three of the sludge-treated plots were also treated with alum. Simulated rainfall (64 mm/h) was applied to the 12 treated plots and to three control (no treatment) plots. The data were analyzed as originating from separate completely randomized, one-way designs with three replications of each treatment. The first design had treatment levels of bedding, bedding and sludge, and control, while the second design had treatment levels of sludge, sludge and alum, and control. The control data were common to both designs. The first 0.5 h runoff was sampled and analyzed for the parameters described above. Analysis parameter concentrations for the waste treated plots were generally lower than those previously reported for runoff after organic treatments. In some cases, concentrations were no different from the controls. Mass losses of all parameters were low and agronomically insignificant. Alum addition decreased runoff PO4-P concentrations and increased NO3-N concentrations but had no effect on concentrations of other parameters. A significant effect of alum addition on 17 β-E and COD concentrations was anticipated on the basis of previous studies; its absence might have been due to inadequate mixing or interval between addition and simulated rainfall. Relationships between concentration and collection time followed two patterns: (a) highest concentrations occurring during the first sample (two minutes following runoff initiation; NO3-N, COD, FC and 17 β-E) and (b) delay in peak concentration until four minutes following runoff initiation (NH3-N and PO4-P). The detection of different general relationships between concentration and time suggests that different mechanisms are dominant in transport of the parameters analyzed

Vegetative Filter Strip Design for Grassed Areas Treated with Animal Manures

Vegetative filter strips (VFS) are a low-cost management option that have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing runoff transport of fertilizer constituents applied to grassed areas (pasture or meadow). Runoff quality studies involving fertilizers applied to grassed areas suggest that VFS can be designed by assuming that (1) only infiltration is responsible for pollutant removal, (2) the first post-application runoff event is most important from a water quality perspective (enabling a design event approach), and (3) no pollutant build-up that degrades VFS performance will occur. The purpose of this study was to develop a VFS design algorithm for grassed areas that uses available information on the water quality dynamics of these systems to simplify the design process to the greatest degree practical. The design algorithm consists of the SCS (1972) Curve Number method for runoff estimation and the Overcash et al. (1981) equation for predicting concentrations of pollutants exiting a VFS as a function of VFS and runoff parameters. The procedure can be used to determine the VFS length required to meet either an allowable pollutant runoff concentration or allowable pollutant mass transport. As an alternative, the process can be used to determine VFS length required to achieve given relative reductions in incoming pollutant runoff concentrations and mass transport. This algorithm can be used quickly and with minimal data to determine the VFS length requirement necessary to provide any desired degree of effectiveness given inputs such as incoming pollutant runoff concentration, background pollutant runoff concentration, soil hydrologic properties, and design storm parameters. Charts are presented that eliminate the need for computations in selected cases