scholarly journals A Smart Wireless Ear-Worn Device for Cardiovascular and Sweat Parameter Monitoring During Physical Exercise: Design and Performance Results

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 1616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Gil ◽  
Salzitsa Anastasova ◽  
Guang Yang

Wearable biomedical technology has gained much support lately as devices have become more affordable to the general public and they can easily interact with mobile phones and other platforms. The feasibility and accuracy of the data generated by these devices so as to replace the standard medical methods in use today is still under scrutiny. In this paper, we present an ear-worn device to measure cardiovascular and sweat parameters during physical exercise. ECG bipolar recordings capture the electric potential around both ears, whereas sweat rate is estimated by the impedance method over one segment of tissue closer to the left ear, complemented by the measurement of the lactate and pH levels using amperiometric and potentiometric sensors, respectively. Together with head acceleration, the acquired data is sent to a mobile phone via BLE, enabling extended periods of signal recording. Results obtained by the device have shown a SNR level of 18 dB for the ECG signal recorded around the ears, a THD value of −20.46 dB for the excitation signal involved in impedance measurements, sweat conductivity of 0.08 S/m at 1 kHz and sensitivities of 50 mV/pH and 0.8 μA/mM for the pH and lactate acquisition channels, respectively. Testing of the device was performed in human subjects during indoors cycling with characteristic level changes.

2018 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 6058-2018
Author(s):  
IWONA JANCZAREK ◽  
WITOLD KĘDZIERSKI ◽  
IZABELA WILK ◽  
KARINA BRZOZOWSKA ◽  
MONIKA ZASTRZEŻYŃSKA

This paper analyses the hypothesis that there is a link between the psychophysical traits of horses trained for racing and the level of cortisol in the saliva and performance results in competitions. Based on this hypothesis, the objective of the study was to analyse the correlation between the evaluations of the psychosomatic status and the concentration of cortisol and performance parameters in racing horses. The study was carried out with 30 Purebred Arabian horses (15 stallions and 15 mares), aged 34–38 months. On the initial day of the experiment, the horses were kept in the area of the Służewiec Racetrack where they had arrived 3–4 months earlier. The horses were examined once, 2–3 days before the planned start of the first race. The examination was carried out during a daily training session. The visual and behavioural scores for the psychosomatic status of the horse were scaled from 1 to 5 and assigned by a trainer three times. The first assessment took place directly after physical exercise, the second 15 minutes following physical exercise, while the third one was 45 minutes after physical exercise. The following features were included: the manner of perspiration and some organoleptic characteristics of sweat, abdominal movements, gaze, head position and body movements during handling. The saliva for cortisol concentration measurements was sampled three times at time points coinciding with the observation of the psychosomatic status of the horses. The concentration of cortisol was determined with the immune-enzymatic method. In addition, an analysis of the selected performance parameters was conducted. The multivariate analysis of variance for repeated measurements, t-Tukey’s test and Spearman's rank correlations were performed. It was demonstrated that the assessment of the psychosomatic status in Purebred Arabian horses may be applied based only on an analysis of some parameters determined directly after physical exercise or during the first minutes of resting (regeneration). These elements mainly include the manner of sweating and various organoleptic features of the sweat. It was also emphasized that non-observable body movements, calming down during handling, and regular abdominal movements are beneficial for stallions..


2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anaïs Thibault Landry ◽  
Marylène Gagné ◽  
Jacques Forest ◽  
Sylvie Guerrero ◽  
Michel Séguin ◽  
...  

Abstract. To this day, researchers are debating the adequacy of using financial incentives to bolster performance in work settings. Our goal was to contribute to current understanding by considering the moderating role of distributive justice in the relation between financial incentives, motivation, and performance. Based on self-determination theory, we hypothesized that when bonuses are fairly distributed, using financial incentives makes employees feel more competent and autonomous, which in turn fosters greater autonomous motivation and lower controlled motivation, and better work performance. Results from path analyses in three samples supported our hypotheses, suggesting that the effect of financial incentives is contextual, and that compensation plans using financial incentives and bonuses can be effective when properly managed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3866
Author(s):  
Joana Costa ◽  
Ana Rita Neves ◽  
João Reis

Open innovation is proved to be determinant in the rationalization of sustainable innovation ecosystems. Firms, universities, governments, user communities and the overall environment are called to contribute to this dynamic process. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of open innovation on firms’ performance and to empirically assess whether university-industry collaborations are complementary or substitutes for this activity. Primary data were collected from a survey encompassing 908 firms, and then combined with performance indicators from SABI (Spanish and Portuguese business information). Econometric estimations were run to evaluate the role of open innovation and university-industry collaboration in the firm innovative propensity and performance. Results highlight the importance of diversity in collaborations with the academia and inbound open innovation strategy as enhancers of firm performance. The two activities reinforce each other. By testing the impact of open innovation practices on company performance, the need for heterogeneity in terms of contact type and university is also demonstrated. Findings cast light on the need to reformulate existing policy packages, reinforcing the ties with academia as well as the promotion of open innovation strategies. The connection to the innovation ecosystem needs to be further encouraged as well as the promotion of persistent connections with the knowledge sources in an open and multilateral framework.


2005 ◽  
Vol 20 (16) ◽  
pp. 3811-3814
Author(s):  
◽  
PAUL LUJAN

A new silicon detector was designed by the CDF collaboration for Run IIb of the Tevatron at Fermilab. The main building block of the new detector is a "supermodule" or "stave", an innovative, compact and lightweight structure of several readout hybrids and sensors with a bus cable running directly underneath the sensors to carry power, data, and control signals to and from the hybrids. The hybrids use a new, radiation-hard readout chip, the SVX4 chip. A number of SVX4 chips, readout hybrids, sensors, and supermodules were produced and tested in preproduction. The performance (including radiation-hardness) and yield of these components met or exceeded all design goals. The detector design goals, solutions, and performance results are presented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengshu Xie ◽  
Shaurya Jauhari ◽  
Antonio Mora

Abstract Background Gene Set Analysis (GSA) is arguably the method of choice for the functional interpretation of omics results. The following paper explores the popularity and the performance of all the GSA methodologies and software published during the 20 years since its inception. "Popularity" is estimated according to each paper's citation counts, while "performance" is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the validation strategies used by papers in the field, as well as the consolidated results from the existing benchmark studies. Results Regarding popularity, data is collected into an online open database ("GSARefDB") which allows browsing bibliographic and method-descriptive information from 503 GSA paper references; regarding performance, we introduce a repository of jupyter workflows and shiny apps for automated benchmarking of GSA methods (“GSA-BenchmarKING”). After comparing popularity versus performance, results show discrepancies between the most popular and the best performing GSA methods. Conclusions The above-mentioned results call our attention towards the nature of the tool selection procedures followed by researchers and raise doubts regarding the quality of the functional interpretation of biological datasets in current biomedical studies. Suggestions for the future of the functional interpretation field are made, including strategies for education and discussion of GSA tools, better validation and benchmarking practices, reproducibility, and functional re-analysis of previously reported data.


2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 865-885
Author(s):  
Leonid B. SOBOLEV

Subject. The article continues the discussion about the method of training aircraft engineers to work in the military and civil segments of aviation and rocket-and-space industry. Objectives. The purpose is to improve the training of Russian engineers to work in the competitive market environment, on the basis of the analysis of experience in training the aviation engineers in leading foreign technical universities. Methods. The study rests on the comparative analysis of implementation of major projects in the military and civil segments of aviation in the U.S. and Russia, as well as programs for training aircraft engineers in both countries. Results. The analysis shows that the duration of modern large military aviation projects in both countries is the same (the comparison of cost is impossible, due to information protection in Russia), while in the civil segment of the aviation industry, Russia's lagging behind is significant both in terms of the duration of projects and performance results. One of the reasons is in the poor training of aircraft engineers to work in the competitive environment. Conclusions. It is crucial to reform Russian aviation universities in terms of conformity to global trends in multidisciplinarity and differentiation of financing and research base.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1500-1514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Kolokotronis ◽  
Alexandros Katsiotis ◽  
Nicholas Kalouptsidis

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (S325) ◽  
pp. 10-16
Author(s):  
Tomoaki Ishiyama

AbstractWe describe the implementation and performance results of our massively parallel MPI†/OpenMP‡ hybrid TreePM code for large-scale cosmological N-body simulations. For domain decomposition, a recursive multi-section algorithm is used and the size of domains are automatically set so that the total calculation time is the same for all processes. We developed a highly-tuned gravity kernel for short-range forces, and a novel communication algorithm for long-range forces. For two trillion particles benchmark simulation, the average performance on the fullsystem of K computer (82,944 nodes, the total number of core is 663,552) is 5.8 Pflops, which corresponds to 55% of the peak speed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Estevan ◽  
Octavio Álvarez ◽  
Coral Falcó ◽  
Isabel Castillo

Development of self-efficacy scales allows the analysis of athletes’ perceptions and examination of the relationship between perception and performance. The aim of this paper was to: (1) develop a specific self-efficacy scale in a taekwondo task, the roundhouse kick, and (2) analyse the sport performance and its relationship with two self-efficacy scales (specific and general) outcomes according to the athletes’ gender.<strong> </strong>Forty-three taekwondo athletes (33 male and 10 female) participated in this study. The Physical (PSE) and Specific (RKSES) self-efficacy scales were administered. Performance data (impact force and total response time) were acquired by athletes kicking twice to an instrumented target. Results showed that the specific self-efficacy scale has high reliability and is able to predict sport performance in males and females. Males had higher self-efficacy scores and also higher performance results than females. Females’ taekwondo psychological training should be focus on improving their self-efficacy perception in order to increase their performance in the roundhouse kick. This specific self-efficacy scale for the taekwondo roundhouse kick offers empirical information to coaches, sport psychologists and researchers that allow them to predict athletes’ sport performance in the roundhouse kick.


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