111 research outputs found
Development of an IoT-based and cloud-based disease prediction and diagnosis system for healthcare using machine learning algorithms
Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the practice of designing and modeling objects connected to the Internet through computer networks. In the past few years, IoT-based health care programs have provided multidimensional features and services in real time. These programs provide hospitalization for millions of people to receive regular health updates for a healthier life. Induction of IoT devices in the healthcare environment have revitalized multiple features of these applications. In this paper, a disease diagnosis system is designed based on the Internet of Things. In this system, first, the patient's courtesy signals are recorded by wearable sensors. These signals are then transmitted to a server in the network environment. This article also presents a new hybrid decision making approach for diagnosis. In this method, a feature set of patient signals is initially created. Then these features go unnoticed on the basis of a learning model. A diagnosis is then performed using a neural fuzzy model. In order to evaluate this system, a specific diagnosis of a specific disease, such as a diagnosis of a patient's normal and unnatural pulse, or the diagnosis of diabetic problems, will be simulated
Recognizing emotional state of user based on learning method and conceptual memories
With the increased use of computers, electronic devices and human interaction with computer in the broad spectrum of human life, the role of controlling emotions and increasing positive emotional states becomes more prominent. If a user's negative emotions increase, his/her efficiency will decrease greatly as well. Research has shown that colors are to be considered as one of the most influential basic functions in sight, identification, interpretation, perception and senses. It can be said that colors have impact on individuals' emotional states and can change them. In this paper, by learning the reactions of users with different personality types against each color, communication between the user's emotional states and personality and colors were modeled for the variable "emotional control". For the sake of learning, we used a memory-based system with the user’s interface color changing in accordance with the positive and negative experiences of users with different personalities. The end result of comparison of the testing methods demonstrated the superiority of memory-based learning in all three parameters of emotional control, enhancement of positive emotional states and reduction of negative emotional states. Moreover, the accuracy of memory- based learning method was almost 70 percent
Spectrophotometric Determination of Salbutamol Sulphate and Isoxsuprine Hydrochloride in Pharmaceutical Formulations
امكن تطوير طريقة يسيرة وحساسة لتقدير كبريتات السالبيوتامول وايزوكسوبرين هيدروكلوريد بشكلهما النقي وفي مستحضراتهما الصيدلانية, استندت الطريقة على مبدأ اكسدة المركبين الدوائيين بزيادة محسوبة من العامل المؤكسد N- بروموسكسينميد في وسط حامض الهيدروكلوريك وادخال غير المتفاعل من العامل المؤكسد في تفاعل اكسدة صبغة ايفانز الزرقاء المضافة بكمية ثابتة مؤديا الى قصر لونها الازرق وقياس المتبقي من الصبغة عند الطول الموجي 600 نانوميتر, اذ وجد ان امتصاص الصبغه المتبقية يزداد خطيا مع زيادة تركيز المركبين الدوائيين ضمن مدى التراكيز 1-12 و 1-11 مايكروغرام/مللتر بامتصاصية مولارية 4.21×410 و 2.58×410 لتر .مول-1.سم-1 لكل من كبريتات السالبيوتامول وايزوكسوبرين هيدروكلوريد على التوالي. طبقت الطريقة بنجاح على المستحضرات الصيدلانية للمركبين الدوائيين وكانت نتائجها متوافقة مع نتائج طريقة الاضافة القياسية مما يدل على ان الطريقة ذات دقة وصلاحية تطبيق تحليلي جيدة.A simple, sensitive and accurate spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of salbutamol sulphate (SAB) and isoxsuprine hydrochloride (ISX) in pure and pharmaceutical dosage. The method involved oxidation of (SAB) and (ISX) with a known excess of N-bromosuccinamid in acidic medium, and subsequent occupation of unreacted oxidant in decolorization of Evans blue dye (EB). This, in the presence of SAB or ISX was rectilinear over the ranges 1.0-12.0, 1.0-11.0 µg/mL, with molar absorptivity 4.21×104 and 2.58×104 l.mol-1.cm-1 respectively. The developed method had been successfully applied for the determination of the studied drugs in their pharmaceutical dosage resulting in a good agreement with certified value and standard addition procedure
Spatial planning, urban governance and the economic context: The case of 'Mehr' housing plan, Iran
With the increasing concentration of population and economic activities in metropolitan regions, dwelling shortages and housing quality have become critical issues in urban management. Town plans considering social, economic, political, and cultural features of local communities have been developed with the aim of supporting housing, especially in emerging economies. In Iran, the 'Mehr Housing' Plan has been considered as one of the most relevant strategies for social housing since the 2000s. However, the acceptance of 'Mehr Housing' plans at the community scale has been rather low, reflecting the fact that it is a top-down, non-participatory policy. The present study investigates the most important factors affecting social acceptance of 'Mehr Housing' plans by interviewing 45 experts through a structured questionnaire that evaluated multiple analyses' dimensions of housing and urban planning in Iran. Results showed that six dimensions (physical, institutional-managerial, economic, socio-cultural, legal, and locational) had contributed to social dissatisfaction with 'Mehr Housing' local initiatives. In particular, socio-cultural and legal dimensions were demonstrated to have a large impact on local communities' dissatisfaction
Non-syndromic cleft palate: Association analysis on three gene polymorphisms of the folate pathway in Asian and Italian populations
Periconceptional folic acid supplementation can reduce the risk of inborn malformations, including orofacial clefts. Polymorphisms of MTHFR, TCN2, and CBS folate-related genes seem to modulate the risk of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) in some populations. CL/P and cleft palate only (CPO) are different malformations that share several features and possibly etiological causes. In the present investigation, we conducted a family-based, candidate gene association study of non-syndromic CPO. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms, namely, rs1801133 of MTHFR, rs1801198 of TCN2, and rs4920037 of CBS, were investigated in a sample that included 129 Italian and 65 Asian families. No evidence of association between the three genotyped polymorphisms and CPO was found in the Italian and Asian cases, indeed the transmission disequilibrium test did not detect any asymmetry of transmission of alleles. This investigation, although with some limitation, further supports that CL/P and CPO diverge in their genetic background
The effect of two speech and language approaches on speech problems in people with Parkinson’s disease: the PD COMM RCT
Background
Speech impairments are common with Parkinson’s disease (reported prevalence 68%), increasing conversational demands, reliance on family and social withdrawal.
Objective(s)
The PD COMM trial compared the clinical and cost-effectiveness of two speech and language therapy approaches: Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD and National Health Service speech and language therapy for the treatment of speech or voice problems in people with Parkinson’s disease to no speech and language therapy (control) and against each other.
Design
PD COMM is a phase III, multicentre, three-arm, unblinded, randomised controlled trial. Participants were randomised in a 1 : 1 : 1 ratio to control, National Health Service speech and language therapy or Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD via a central computer-generated programme, using a minimisation procedure with a random element, to ensure allocation concealment. Mixed-methods process and health economic evaluations were conducted.
Setting
United Kingdom outpatient and home settings.
Participants
People with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease, with self-reported or carer-reported speech or voice problems. We excluded people with dementia, laryngeal pathology and those within 24 months of previous speech and language therapy.
Interventions
The Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD intervention included maximum effort drills and high-effort speech production tasks delivered over four 50-minute therapist-led personalised sessions per week, for 4 weeks with prescribed daily home practice. National Health Service speech and language therapy content and dosage reflected local non-Lee Silverman Voice Treatment speech and language therapy practices, usually 1 hour, once weekly, for 6 weeks. Trained, experienced speech and language therapists or assistants provided interventions. The control was no speech and language therapy until the trial was completed.
Main outcome measures
Primary outcome: Voice Handicap Index total score at 3 months. Secondary outcomes: Voice Handicap Index subscales, Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire-39; Questionnaire on Acquired Speech Disorders; EuroQol-5D-5L; ICEpop Capabilities Measure for Older Adults; Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire – Carers; resource utilisation; and adverse events. Assessments were completed pre-randomisation and at 3, 6 and 12 months post randomisation.
Results
Three hundred and eighty-eight participants were randomised to Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD (n = 130), National Health Service speech and language therapy (n = 129) and control (n = 129). The impact of voice problems at 3 months after randomisation was lower for Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD participants than control [−8.0 (99% confidence interval: −13.3, −2.6); p = 0.001]. There was no evidence of improvement for those with access to National Health Service speech and language therapy when compared to control [1.7 (99% confidence interval: −3.8, 7.1); p = 0.4]. Participants randomised to Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD reported a lower impact of their voice problems than participants randomised to National Health Service speech and language therapy [99% confidence interval: −9.6 (−14.9, −4.4); p < 0.0001]. There were no reports of serious adverse events. Staff were confident with the trial interventions; a range of patient and therapist enablers of implementing Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD were identified. The economic evaluation results suggested Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD was more expensive and more effective than control or National Health Service speech and language therapy but was not cost-effective with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of £197,772 per quality-adjusted life-year gained and £77,017 per quality-adjusted life-year gained, respectively.
Limitations
The number of participants recruited to the trial did not meet the pre-specified power.
Conclusions
People that had access to Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD described a significantly greater reduction in the impact of their Parkinson’s disease-related speech problems 3 months after randomisation compared to people that had no speech and language therapy. There was no evidence of a difference between National Health Service speech and language therapy and those that received no speech and language therapy. Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD resulted in a significantly lower impact of voice problems compared to National Health Service speech and language therapy 3 months after randomisation which was still present after 12 months; however, Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD was not found to be cost-effective.
Future work
Implementing Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD in the National Health Service and identifying alternatives to Lee Silverman Voice Treatment LOUD for those who cannot tolerate it. Investigation of less costly alternative options for Lee Silverman Voice Treatment delivery require investigation, with economic evaluation using a preference-based outcome measure that captures improvement in communication
Conservation status of marine biodiversity of the Western Indian Ocean
The Western Indian Ocean is comprised of productive and highly diverse marine ecosystems that are rich sources of food security, livelihoods, and natural wonder. The ecological services that species provide are vital to the productivity of these ecosystems and healthy biodiversity is essential for the continued support of economies and local users. The stability of these valuable resources, however, is being eroded by growing threats to marine life from overexploitation, habitat degradation and climate change, all of which are causing serious reductions in marine ecosystem services and the ability of these ecosystems to support human communities. Quantifying the impacts of these threats and understanding the conservation status of the region’s marine biodiversity is a critical step in applying informed management and conservation measures to mitigate loss and retain the ecological value of these systems. This report highlights trends in research needs for species in the region, including priorities for fundamental biological and ecological research and quantifying trends in the populations of species. The assessments and analyses submitted in this report should inform conservation decision-making processes and will be valuable to policymakers, natural resource managers, environmental planners and NGOs
Comparison of Quantitative Conformer Analyses by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Raman Optical Activity Spectra for Model Dipeptides
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