Enabling Runtime Self-Coordination of Reconfigurable Embedded Smart Cameras in Distributed Networks

Smart camera networks are real-time distributed embedded systems able to perform computer vision using multiple cameras. This new approach is a confluence of four major disciplines (computer vision, image sensors, embedded computing and sensor networks) and has been subject of intensive work in the past decades. The recent advances in computer vision and network communication, and the rapid growing in the field of high-performance computing, especially using reconfigurable devices, have enabled the design of more robust smart camera systems. Despite these advancements, the effectiveness of current networked vision systems (compared to their operating costs) is still disappointing; the main reason being the poor coordination among cameras entities at runtime and the lack of a clear formalism to dynamically capture and address the self-organization problem without relying on human intervention. In this dissertation, we investigate the use of a declarative-based modeling approach for capturing runtime self-coordination. We combine modeling approaches borrowed from logic programming, computer vision techniques, and high-performance computing for the design of an autonomous and cooperative smart camera. We propose a compact modeling approach based on Answer Set Programming for architecture synthesis of a system-on-reconfigurable-chip camera that is able to support the runtime cooperative work and collaboration with other camera nodes in a distributed network setup. Additionally, we propose a declarative approach for modeling runtime camera self-coordination for distributed object tracking in which moving targets are handed over in a distributed manner and recovered in case of node failure

The effect of a preanaesthesia clinic consultation on adult patient anxiety at a tertiary hospital in Kenya: a cohort study

Background: Preoperative anxiety is a common perioperative complication seen in approximately 11-80% of adults undergoing surgery. One of the goals of the preanaesthesia clinic is to allay anxiety. A preanaesthesia clinic evaluation has been shown to reduce anxiety however current studies on anxiety and the preanaesthesia clinic have not quantified this reduction. Objective: To determine the reduction in anxiety in patients evaluated in the clinic versus those evaluated in the ward. Methods: Fifty one adult patients with 28 patients in anaesthesia clinic (AC) group and 23 in the ward (W) group were sequentially recruited from both the surgical, gynaecology and antenatal outpatient clinics and the wards. The patient’s State Trait Anxiety Index (STAI) was taken once the patient was booked for theatre. The patients then had a preanaesthesia evaluation either in the preanaesthesia outpatient clinic (PAC) or in the wards. Another STAI score was taken in the preoperative area in theatre on the day of surgery. The difference in the change of STAI scores in both groups was then analysed. Results: Fifty one adult patients were recruited with 28 in the AC group and 23 in the W group. The majority of patients were female (n=38). Statistically significant difference was seen in the reduction of the anxiety scores between the clinic group 2.143 (C.I=1.384-2.902) and ward group 0.74(C.I=0.17-1.31) with a p value=0.0051.There was also significant difference in reduction in anxiety scores within ward group in the patients with no prior anaesthetic experience having a greater reduction than those with prior anaesthetic experience. There were no other significant differences between the two groups. Conclusion: Patients evaluated in the anaesthesia clinic had a greater reduction in their anxiety but it was not as much as hypothesised which may be due to the multi-factorial nature of preoperative anxiety. A larger multicenter study is recommended to increase generalizability to the population

Dynamic optimal capital growth of diversified investment

We investigate the problem of dynamic optimal capital growth of diversified investment. A general framework that the trader maximize the expected log utility of long-term growth rate of initial wealth was developed. We show that the trader's fortune will exceed any fixed bound when the fraction is chosen less than critical value. But, if the fraction is larger than that value, ruin is almost sure. In order to maximize wealth, we should choose the optimal fraction at each trade. Empirical results with real financial data show the feasible allocation. The larger the fraction and hence the larger the chance of falling below the desired wealth growth path

HIV-Associated pulmonary hypertension: case report

With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy, there has been a significant change in the epidemiology of pulmonary disease in HIV/AIDS. The relative prevalence of non-infectious manifestations is likely to rise. HIV associated pulmonary hypertension (HIV-PH), albeit low prevalence, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Presently, despite having scanty evidence on the management modalities of HIV-PH, evidence extrapolated from idiopathic pulmonary hypertension is being utilised to effectively manage some of these patients. Efforts should therefore be made to screen, diagnose and treat these patients. A case of a thirty year old female with HIV disease and severe pulmonary hypertension is presented

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression among Patients with Epilepsy at Aga Khan University Teaching Hospital Nairobi

Objective: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with depression in patients with epilepsy  at Aga Khan University Hospital; Nairobi.Design: A Cross-Sectional Survey.Setting: Neurology clinic, Aga Khan University Hospital; NairobiSubjects: Eligible patients with epilepsy on follow-up at the neurology clinic were recruited.Intervention: Beck-Depression-Inventory was administered to evaluate presence of depression.Main Outcome Measures: In addition to depression, patients with co-morbid depression were further evaluated for associated factors.Results: Three-hundred-and-twenty-seven patients were evaluated for presence of depression. Fifty-four patients in the study cohort had depression, giving prevalence of depression; based on the  Beck-Depression-Inventory as 16.5 %, (95 % CI 12.7-21.0) There was weak association between mild depression and polytherapy (use of two or more antiepileptic drugs), with OR 2.3, 95%CI 0.9-5.8  however, none between polytherapy and moderate or severe depression. No statistically significant  association was found between depression and duration of epilepsy or number of seizures per month over last three months.Conclusion: The prevalence of depression in patients with epilepsy at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi was 16.5 %( 95% CI 12.7-21.0) and polytherapy was weakly associated with mild depression. Depression among patients with epilepsy warrants clinical attention especially in patients on polytherapy. The risk of AED polytherapy was two-fold greater (OR 2.3, 95%CI 0.9-5.8) in patients with mild  depression compared to patients with epilepsy without depression

An integration of traditional project management principles into Agile software development methodologies.

Master of Commerce in Information Systems & Technology. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2016.A large amount of money and effort has been invested by companies into establishing their project management (PM) environment and processes which follow the classical phased approach where requirements are defined upfront and fixed. However organisations also desire to react more quickly to new global challenges and to the changing business environment. These business requirements then result in the failure of these classical approaches to PM. There is therefore a need to enhance the current PM environment so that it is more adoptive to changes in the business environment. As a result of these changes in the business landscape agile software development methodologies (ASDM) have acquired a lot of popularity in the software development community. This popularity is being driven by their dynamic nature and the notion that user requirements do not have to be fully specified in the initial phases of the development process. This has resulted in the improvement in success levels of information systems (IS) projects that have made use of an ASDM. A shift to ASDM can increase the success rate of IS projects and mitigate some issues that are typical for heavy weight methods. Good examples can be found in the case studies (Balada, 2013; Raithatha, 2007), where agile methods were successfully used in software development projects of all sizes and complexity. However introducing ASDM for large and complex projects particularly in large enterprises can introduce a number of challenges (Thamhain, 2014). While agile principles foster great flexibility and agility in changing environments, they are very difficult to realize in larger projects that require more execution formality and discipline to deal with the specific complexities (Waardenburg & Vliet, 2013). In order to address these problems, the current study investigates the problem of integrating Traditional Project Management (TPM) techniques into the development of large scale IS projects in large enterprises with complex IT landscapes that make use of AM. This study followed a hybrid approach combining both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Data collection entailed semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The sampling strategy that was used was purposive sampling. A phenomenographic approach was used to obtain an insight into the experience of software development (SD) by software practitioners who made use of ASDM. The qualitative data elicited from this phase of the study was analysed thematically to identify aspects of AM that had a pivotal influence on software practitioners’ perspective on ASDM. A substantive component of this phenomenographic incursion was to establish whether there was some form of resonance between ASDM and PM or whether these methodologies were diametrically opposite to one another. The objective of the qualitative component of the study was to obtain sufficient information to enable the development of a model for SD that integrated the principles of PM into ASDM. This phase of the study was followed-up by a quantitative phase that was underpinned by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) in order to ascertain software practitioners’ acceptance of the proposed model (referred to as the Agile-Project Management Model (APMM)) The results of the UTAUT-based acceptance test indicate that the proposed APMM received a high acceptance rate by the software practitioners who constituted the main subjects of the current study

Factors that influence advance directives completion amongst terminally ill patients at a tertiary hospital in Kenya

Background: An advance directive (AD) is a written or verbal document that legally stipulates a person’s health care preference while they are competent to make decisions for themselves and is used to guide decisions on lifesustaining treatment in the event that they become incapacitated. AD can take the form of a living will, a limitation of care document, a do-not-resuscitate order, or an appointment of a surrogate by durable power of attorney. The completion rate of AD varies from region to region, and it is influenced by multiple factors. The objectives of this study were to determine the proportion of terminally ill patients with AD and to identify the factors that influence the completion of AD amongst terminally ill patients at a tertiary hospital in Kenya. Methods: The study was a retrospective survey. All available records of terminally ill patients seen at Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, between July 2010 and December 2015, and that met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Results: In total, 216 records of terminally ill patients were analyzed: 89 records were of patients that had AD and 127 records were of patients that did not have AD. The proportion of terminally ill patients that had completed AD was 41.2%. The factors that were associated with the completion of AD on bivariate analysis were history of ICU admission, history of endotracheal intubation, functional status of the patient, the medical specialty taking care of the patient, patient’s caregiver discussing the AD with the patient, and a palliative specialist review. On multivariate regression analysis, discussion of AD with a caregiver and patient’s functional impairment were the factors with statistically significant association with completion of AD. Conclusions: The proportion of terminally ill patients that had AD in their medical records was significant. However, most terminally ill patients did not have AD. Our data, perhaps the first on the subject in East Africa, suggest that most of the factors associated with AD completion mirrored those seen in other regions of the world. Discussion between patient and their physician and patient’s functional impairment were the factors independently associated with completion of AD. Therefore, physicians need to be aware of the importance of discussions of AD with their patients

A systematic review of the effects of intimate partner violence on HIV-positive pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects more than one in three women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It is associated with both pregnancy and HIV, adversely affecting women in this region. This is the first systematic examination of the effects of IPV on HIV-positive (HIV+) pregnant women in SSA. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature on HIV+ pregnant women experiencing IPV in SSA was carried out. Searches were carried out in PubMed, Web of Science and African Journals Online databases. Articles published between January 2010 and June 2020, in English, were included. Data extraction included details on study locations, study design, study participants and the study outcome variables (depression, IPV, medication adherence, postpartum unsafe sex, and HIV disclosure). RESULTS: Fourteen studies (ten cross-sectional studies, four cohort studies) were included. Results indicate a high prevalence of IPV amongst pregnant women with HIV in SSA (18.0 to 63.1%). The results suggest an association between HIV-positive status and consequences of IPV during pregnancy, particularly mental health effects, such as depression symptoms and suicidal ideation. HIV-related stigma has a key role within the relationship between HIV and IPV during pregnancy. One study described that the presence of IPV reduces adherence to Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) medication. Three studies reported no association between HIV positive status or HIV status disclosure and IPV during pregnancy. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: The systematic review confirms interconnections between IPV and HIV seropositivity amongst pregnant women in SSA. Importantly, stigma, social isolation and poor mental health hinder help-seeking, disclosure, and treatment adherence among HIV+ pregnant women exposed to IPV in SSA. As a result, the potential of community interventions to tackle issues associated with IPV in HIV-positive pregnant women in this area should be explored in research, policy, and practice

Helicobacter pylori eradication: A randomised comparative trial of 7-day versus 14-day triple therapy

Background. Helicobacter pylori is associated with several upper gastrointestinal conditions including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and gastric malignancy. Proton pump inhibitor-based triple therapies are considered the standard regimens for H. pylori eradication, but the optimal duration of therapy is controversial. To prevent infection and complications, local studies should be undertaken to evaluate H. pylori eradication rates in a country.Objectives. We compared 7-day and 14-day regimens to determine the optimum duration of triple therapy for H. pylori eradication.Methods. We undertook a prospective randomised comparative trial of 7-day and 14-day triple therapy regimen for H. pylori eradication at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi; 120 patients with dyspepsia and H. pylori infection were randomised to receive esomeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin for either 7 days (EAC 7) or 14 days (EAC 14). Compliance and side-effects were assessed 2 weeks after the start of therapy and H. pylori eradication was assessed by stool antigen tests 4 weeks after treatment.Results. Both the intention-to-treat (ITT; N=120) and per protocol (PP; N=97) analyses showed no significant differences between the eradication rates of EAC 7 (ITT 76.7%; PP 92%) and EAC 14 (ITT 73.3%; PP 93.6%) (ITT p=0.67; PP p=0.76). Poor compliance was reported in one patient in the EAC 14 group. The incidence of adverse events was comparable in the two groups.Conclusion. One-week and 2-week triple treatments for H. pylori eradication are similar in terms of efficacy, safety and patient compliance.S Afr Med J 2012;102(6):368-371