Surveillance of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Sleep (SurPASS): A study protocol of the development and feasibility evaluation of a novel measurement system (Preprint)

BACKGROUND There is increasing recognition of the need for more comprehensive surveillance data, including information on physical activity of all intensities, sedentary behavior, and sleep. However, meeting this need poses significant challenges for current surveillance systems, which are mainly reliant on self-report. OBJECTIVE The primary objective of the SurPASS (Surveillance of Physical Activity Sedentary behavior and Sleep) project is to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a sensor-based system for use in the surveillance of physical activity of all intensities, sedentary behavior, and sleep. METHODS The SurPASS project involves an international, multidisciplinary team of researchers collaborating with an industrial partner. The SurPASS system consists of 1) a thigh-worn accelerometer with Bluetooth connectivity, 2) a smartphone app, 3) an integrated back-end, facilitating the automated upload, analysis, storage, and provision of personalized feedback in a manner compliant with European Union regulations on data privacy, and 4) an administrator web-interface (web-app) to monitor progress. The system development and evaluation will be performed in three phases. These phases will include gathering user input and specifications (Phase 1), the iterative development, evaluation and refinement of the system (Phase 2), and the feasibility evaluation (Phase 3). RESULTS The project started in September 2020, is currently in Phase 2, and will be completed in 2023. CONCLUSIONS If feasible, the SurPASS system could be a catalyst towards large-scale sensor-based surveillance of physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep. It could also be adapted for cohort and interventional research, thus contributing to the generation of evidence for both interventions and public health policies and recommendations.

Feasibility evaluation of using additive technologies in aerospace products

The paper studies the feasibility of using additive technologies in the manufacture of parts of complex shapes for aerospace products. The results of the structural analysis of a part helped find the directions of topological optimization and optimize the part’s design. To confirm the relevance of the design optimization, we carried out static and dynamic strength calculations in the Siemens NX software package. The paper considers technologies for manufacturing the part by 3D metal printing and traditional milling on a numerically controlled machine. In order to obtain initial data for economic calculations, we simulated manufacturing processes in various software systems. To study the feasibility of metal printing technology, we carried out its technical and economic analysis, and found that the production program, technological processing modes and the cost of materials affect the cost of the product.

Smart PZT-Embedded Sensors for Impedance Monitoring in Prestressed Concrete Anchorage

This study investigates the feasibility evaluation of smart PZT-embedded sensors for impedance-based damage monitoring in prestressed concrete (PSC) anchorages. Firstly, the concept of impedance-based damage monitoring for the concrete anchorage is concisely introduced. Secondly, a prototype design of PZT-embedded rebar and aggregate (so-called smart rebar–aggregate) is chosen to sensitively acquire impedance responses-induced local structural damage in anchorage members. Thirdly, an axially loaded concrete cylinder embedded with the smart rebar–aggregate is numerically and experimentally analyzed to investigate their performances of impedance monitoring. Additionally, empirical equations are formulated to represent the relationships between measured impedance signatures and applied compressive stresses. Lastly, an experimental test on a full-scale concrete anchorage embedded with smart rebar–aggregates at various locations is performed to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed method. For a sequence of loading cases, the variation in impedance responses is quantified to evaluate the accuracy of smart rebar–aggregate sensors. The empirical equations formulated based on the axially loaded concrete cylinder are implemented to predict compressive stresses at sensor locations in the PSC anchorage.

An implementation framework and a feasibility evaluation of a clinical decision support system for diabetes management in secondary mental healthcare using CogStack

Background: Improvements to the primary prevention of physical health illnesses like diabetes in the general population have not been mirrored to the same extent in people with serious mental illness (SMI). This work evaluates the technical feasibility of implementing an electronic clinical decision support system (eCDSS) for supporting the management of dysglycaemia and diabetes in patients with serious mental illness in a secondary mental healthcare setting. Methods: A stepwise approach was taken as an overarching and guiding framework for this work. Participatory methods were employed to design and deploy a monitoring and alerting eCDSS. The eCDSS was evaluated for its feasibility. The initial part of the feasibility evaluation was conducted in an outpatient community mental health team. Thereafter, the evaluation of the eCDSS progressed to a more in-depth in silico validation. Results: A digital health intervention that enables monitoring and alerting of at-risk patients based on an approved diabetes management guideline was developed. The eCDSS generated alerts according to expected standards and in line with clinical guideline recommendations. Conclusions: It is feasible to design and deploy a functional monitoring and alerting eCDSS in secondary mental healthcare. Further work is required in order to fully evaluate the integration of the eCDSS into routine clinical workflows. By describing and sharing the steps that were and will be taken from concept to clinical testing, useful insights could be provided to teams that are interested in building similar digital health interventions.

Feasibility evaluation of transtympanic laser stimulation of the cochlea from the outer ear

Infrared laser stimulation has been studied as an alternative approach to auditory prostheses. This study evaluated the feasibility of infrared laser stimulation of the cochlea from the outer ear bypassing the middle ear function. An optic fiber was inserted into the ear canal and a laser was used to irradiate the cochlea through the tympanic membrane in Mongolian gerbil. A pulsed infrared laser (10.1 mJ/cm2) and clicking sound (70 peak-to-peak equivalent sound pressure level) were presented to the animals. The amplitude of the laser-evoked cochlear response was systematically decreased following insertion of a filter between the tympanic membrane and cochlea; however, the auditory-evoked cochlear response did not decrease. The filter was removed and the laser-evoked response returned to around the original level. The amplitude ratio and the relative change in response amplitude before and during filter insertion significantly decreased as the absorbance of the infrared filter increased. These results indicate that laser irradiation could bypass the function of the middle ear and directly activate the cochlea. Therefore, an auditory prosthesis based on laser stimulation represents a possible noninvasive alternative to conventional auditory prostheses requiring surgical implants.

Parents’ perspectives on a smartwatch intervention for children with ADHD: Rapid deployment and feasibility evaluation of a pilot intervention to support distance learning during COVID-19

Distance learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic presented tremendous challenges for many families. Parents were expected to support children’s learning, often while also working from home. Students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are at particularly high risk for setbacks due to difficulties with organization and increased risk of not participating in scheduled online learning. This paper explores how smartwatch technology, including timing notifications, can support children with ADHD during distance learning due to COVID-19. We implemented a 6-week pilot study of a Digital Health Intervention (DHI) with ten families. The DHI included a smartwatch and a smartphone. Google calendars were synchronized across devices to guide children through daily schedules. After the sixth week, we conducted parent interviews to understand the use of smartwatches and the impact on children’s functioning, and we collected physiological data directly from the smartwatch. Our results demonstrated that children successfully adopted the use of the smartwatch, and parents believed the intervention was helpful, especially in supporting the development of organizational skills in their children. Overall, we illustrate how even simple DHIs, such as using smartwatches to promote daily organization and task completion, have the potential to support children and families, particularly during periods of distance learning. We include practical suggestions to help professionals teach children with ADHD to use smartwatches to improve organization and task completion, especially as it applies to supporting remote instruction.