Fish Swarm Optimized Deep Hopfield Neural Network-Assisted HCI System for Augmentative Communication Using a Visual Feedback System

In this context, the uses of computers, the Human-computer interface (HCI) system, can assist interaction on-demand services. HCI method facilitates ventilated patients to interact with computers about their needs using their brain’s electrical activity. To accomplish this, an HCI framework is developed in this research to facilitate visual feedback system (VFS) using an augmentative communication approach. Augmentative communication (AC.) or icon-based services are incorporated with a portable monitor placed in front of a patient; they can look at the screen to select (ask) their appropriate needs-related icons. The services have been achieved by capturing and processing patients’ electromagnetic brain activates during the icon selection by their eye flickering moment recording using wearable Electroencephalogram (EEG). The flickering icons on the screen conveying an appropriate message to the monitoring unit computer, and the monitoring unit can respond to the patient’s request using VFS. The HCI system is comprised of the following methodologies to achieve augmentative communication-based services such as EEG signals acquisition, filtering, partition-based feature extraction, and fusion and fish swarm optimized Deep Hopfield neural network FSODHNN based classifier. The evolution results of the VSF based HCI framework are demonstrated successfully. It obtained the highest accuracy of 99.11%, specificity of 99.05%, the sensitivity of 99.09%, and the lowest RMSE of 0.98, MSE of 0.92 in icon identification/selection.

Characteristics of the nocturnal desaturation waveform pattern of SpO2 in COPD patients: an observational study

Background Nocturnal desaturation is common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and impacts disease exacerbation and prognosis. In our previous study, we developed a diagnostic algorithm to classify nocturnal desaturation from SpO2 waveform patterns based on data from patients receiving home oxygen therapy. In this study, we aimed to investigate nocturnal desaturation in patients with COPD based on SpO2 waveform patterns and the associations between the waveforms and clinical data. Methods We investigated patients diagnosed with COPD and measured SpO2 and nasal airflow with a type 4 portable long-term recordable pulse oximeter. Then, we classified the SpO2 waveforms with the algorithm and compared the clinical data. Results One hundred fifty-three patients (136 male and 17 female) were analysed. One hundred twenty-eight of the 153 (83.7%) patients had nocturnal desaturation, with an intermittent pattern (70.6%), sustained pattern (13.1%) and periodic pattern (68.0%). Intriguingly, desaturation with an intermittent pattern was associated with the apnoea-hypopnea index obtained with the portable monitor, and desaturation with a sustained pattern was associated with the cumulative percentage of time at a SpO2 below 90%. Conclusions We found that nocturnal desaturation was frequently observed in patients with COPD and could be classified into 3 types of waveform patterns.

Measurements of Local Sources of Particulates with a Portable Monitor along the Coast of an Insular City

The air quality of modern cities is considered an important factor for the quality of life of humans and therefore is being safeguarded by various international organizations, concentrating on the mass concentration of particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10, 2.5 and 1 μm. However, the different physical and anthropogenic processes and activities within the city contribute to the rise of fine (<1 μm) and coarse (>1 μm) particles, directly impacting human health and the environment. In order to monitor certain natural and anthropogenic events, suspecting their significant contribution to PM concentrations, seven different events taking place on the coastal front of the city of Limassol (Cyprus) were on-site monitored using a portable PM instrument; these included both natural (e.g., dust event) and anthropogenic (e.g., cement factory, meat festival, tall building construction, tire factory, traffic jam, dust road) emissions taking place in spring and summer periods. The violations of the limits that were noticed were attributed mainly to the various anthropogenic activities taking place on-site, revealing once more the need for further research and continuous monitoring of air quality.

Comparative evaluation of the glucose level in dogs and cats obtained by portable glucometer and colorimetric automated method

Glucose is an essential carbohydrate for the good functioning of the organism and in normal conditions it is able to maintain the glucose in adequate levels. The glucose can be measured by the portable glucometer or by the laboratory method, which is considered the standard methodology, but with disadvantages such as cost and the necessary amount of blood. The portable glucometer shows itself to be an applicable option because it is less expensive and faster. This prospective clinical study aimed to compare and evaluate the efficiency between the OneTouch UltraMini® portable monitor and the automated colorimetric method for measuring the blood glucose concentration of 48 dogs and 20 cats. The results obtained from the mean of the portable monitor and laboratory method were 87.54 mg/dL and 94.47 mg/dL for dogs, and 85.95 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL for cats, respectively. It could be concluded that the comparison between the methods showed that the portable meter represents an excellent option for measuring blood glucose in dogs and cats.

1128 Sleep Apnea and Periodic Limb Movements are Highly Prevalent in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Introduction The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related fatigue is multi-factorial, including neurogenic, inflammatory, endocrine, metabolic, mood, as well as sleep disorder-related mechanisms. The confounding effect of sleep disorders on the association between fatigue and neurodegenerative changes in the brain has not been investigated. Our objectives were to assess the prevalence of sleep apnea and periodic limb movements in the framework of a prospective study which investigates the neurogenic causation of treatment-resistant fatigue in MS. Methods MS patients enrolled in a National MS Society-funded prospective study (grant identifier RG-1501-03141) underwent a one-night at-home sleep test (HST) using a NOX T3 portable monitor. HST recordings were scored by a registered polysomnographic technologist. Respiratory Event (REI) and Periodic Limb Movement (PLMI) Indices were calculated for each patient. Results Out of 36 patients, 7 (20%) had mild (REI=5-14), 1 (3%) had moderate (REI=15-29), and 1 (3%) had severe sleep-disordered breathing (REI≥30). Fourteen (42%) of the patients had mild (PLMI=5-24), 4 (11%) had moderate (PLMI=25-49), and 7 (19%) had severe periodic limb movements (PLMI≥50). Overall, 81% of the patients had at least mild sleep-disordered breathing and/or periodic limb movements. Conclusion Sleep abnormalities (i.e., sleep apnea and periodic limb movements) are highly prevalent in patients with MS. We plan to compare the MRI exams of subgroups of MS patients with fatigue, to test the hypothesis that fronto-striatal circuitry is more affected by lesions in patients without sleep apnea compared to those with sleep apnea. Support This investigation was supported by a grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (grant identifier RG-1501-03141). The home sleep test equipment was provided by a DURIP grant from the Office of Naval Research (grant N00014-15-1-2917).

Validation of the NoSAS Score for the Screening of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in a Sleep Clinic

Background. There is a growing number of patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) referred to sleep clinics. Therefore, a simple but useful screening tool is urgent. The NoSAS score, containing only five items, has been developed and validated in population-based studies. Aim. To evaluate the performance of the NoSAS score for the screening of SDB patients from a sleep clinic in China, and to compare the predictive value of the NoSAS score with the STOP-Bang questionnaire. Methods. We enrolled consecutive patients from a sleep clinic who had undergone apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) testing by type III portable monitor device at the hospital and completed the STOP-Bang questionnaire. The NoSAS score was assessed by reviewing medical records. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of both screening tools were calculated at different AHI cutoffs to compare the performance of SDB screening. Results. Of the 596 eligible patients (397 males and 199 female), 514 were diagnosed with SDB. When predicting overall (AHI ≥ 5), moderate-to-severe (AHI ≥ 15), and severe (AHI ≥ 30) SDB, the sensitivity and specificity of the NoSAS score were 71.2, 80.4, and 83.1% and 62.4, 49.3, and 40.7%, respectively. At all AHI cutoffs, the AUC ranged from 0.688 to 0.715 for the NoSAS score and from 0.663 to 0.693 for the STOP-Bang questionnaire. The NoSAS score had the largest AUC (0.715, 95% CI: 0.655–0.775) of diagnosing SDB at AHI cutoff of ≥5 events/h. NoSAS performed better in discriminating moderate-to-severe SDB than STOP-Bang with a marginally significantly higher AUC (0.697 vs. 0.663, P=0.046). Conclusion. The NoSAS score had good performance on the discrimination of SDB patients in sleep clinic and can be utilized as an effective screening tool in clinical practice.

Stretching is Superior to Brisk Walking for Reducing Blood Pressure in People With High–Normal Blood Pressure or Stage I Hypertension

Background: Aerobic exercise is recommended for reducing blood pressure; however, recent studies indicate that stretching may also be effective. The authors compared 8 weeks of stretching versus walking exercise in men and women with high–normal blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension (ie, 130/85–159/99 mm Hg). Methods: Forty men and women (61.6 y) were randomized to a stretching or brisk walking exercise program (30 min/d, 5 d/wk for 8 wk). Blood pressure was assessed during sitting and supine positions and for 24 hours using a portable monitor before and after the training programs. Results: The stretching program elicited greater reductions than the walking program (P < .05) for sitting systolic (146 [9] to 140 [12] vs 139 [9] to 142 [12] mm Hg), supine diastolic (85 [7] to 78 [8] vs 81 [7] to 82 [7] mm Hg), and nighttime diastolic (67 [8] to 65 [10] vs 68 [8] to 73 [12] mm Hg) blood pressures. The stretching program elicited greater reductions than the walking program (P < .05) for mean arterial pressure assessed in sitting (108 [7] to 103 [6] vs 105 [6] vs 105 [8] mm Hg), supine (102 [9] to 96 [9] vs 99 [6] to 99 [7] mm Hg), and at night (86 [9] to 83 [10] vs 88 [9] to 93 [12] mm Hg). Conclusions: An 8-week stretching program was superior to brisk walking for reducing blood pressure in individuals with high–normal blood pressure or stage 1 hypertension.