Wrist-to-Tibia/Shoe Inertial Measurement Results Translation Using Neural Networks

Most of the established gait evaluation methods use inertial sensors mounted in the lower limb area (tibias, ankles, shoes). Such sensor placement gives good results in laboratory conditions but is hard to apply in everyday scenarios due to the sensors' fragility and the user's comfort. The paper presents an algorithm that enables translation of the inertial signal measurements (acceleration and angular velocity) registered with a wrist-worn sensor to signals, which would be obtained if the sensor was worn on a tibia or a shoe. Four different neural network architectures are considered for that purpose: Dense and CNN autoencoders, a CNN-LSTM hybrid, and a U-Net-based model. The performed experiments have shown that the CNN autoencoder and U-Net can be successfully applied for inertial signal translation purposes. Estimating gait parameters based on the translated signals yielded similar results to those obtained based on shoe-sensor signals.

UWB/BLE Tracking System for Elderly People Monitoring

Localization systems are the source of data that allows to evaluate elderly person's behaviour, to draw conclusions concerning his or her health status and wellbeing, and to detect emergency situations. The article contains a description of a system intended for elderly people tracking. Two novel solutions have been implemented in the system: a hybrid localization algorithm and a method for wireless anchor nodes synchronization. The algorithm fuses results of time difference of arrival and received signal strength measurements in ultrawideband (UWB) and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio interfaces, respectively. The system allows to change the intensity of UWB packets transmission to adapt localization accuracy and energy usage to current needs and applications. In order to simplify the system installation, communication between elements of the system infrastructure instead of wire interfaces is performed over wireless ones. The new wireless synchronization method proposed in the article consists in retransmission of UWB synchronization packets by selected anchor nodes. It allows for extension of the system coverage, which is limited by the short range of UWB transmission. The proposed solution was experimentally verified. The synchronization method was tested in a laboratory, and the whole system's performance was investigated in a typical flat. Exemplary results of the tests performed with older adult participation in their own homes are also included.

UWB Monitoring System for AAL Applications

Independent living of elderly persons in their homes requires support that can be provided with modern assistive technologies. Monitoring of elderly persons behaviour delivers valuable information that can be used for diagnosis and detection of health problems as well as triggering alerts in emergency situations. The paper includes a description of the ultra wideband system developed within Networked InfrasTructure for Innovative home Care Solutions (NITICS) Active and Assisted Living (AAL) project. The system can be used as a component of AAL platforms. It delivers data on users localization and has a fall detector functionality. The system also provides access to raw measurement results from Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors embedded in the device worn by the monitored person. These data can be used in solutions intended for elderly person’s behaviour investigation. The system was investigated under laboratory conditions as well as in home environment. The detailed system description and results of performed tests are included in the article.

Stimulation of lipid peroxidation and heme oxygenase activity with inhibition of cytochrome P-450 mono-oxygenase in the liver of rats repeatedly exposed to cadmium

Exposure of rats to 0.1 and 0.5 mg Cd/kg subcutaneously (s.c.) thrice weekly for 5 weeks resulted in an accumulation of cadmium in the liver in concentrations of 40 and 95 micrograms/g tissue, respectively, and a microsomal burden of Cd amounting to approx. 2-3% of the retained cadmium. The cytoplasm contained about 80% of the cadmium. At an exposure dose of 0.1 mg Cd/kg, stimulation of lipid peroxidation by 22% and inhibition of ALA synthetase by 16% in the liver were observed. The higher exposure of 0.5 mg Cd/kg caused an inhibition of microsomal monooxygenase with depression of cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5 by 20% (over 2-fold prolongation of hexobarbital sleeping time and statistically significant decrease of activity of aniline p-hydroxylase). The loss of cytochrome P-450 probably was due to an intensified lipid peroxidation and induction of heme oxygenase (30% and 60% over control, respectively). Sequestration of cadmium by cytoplasm (metallothionein) does not protect microsomes against cadmium accumulation and specific biochemical disturbances.

Effect of long-term inhalation exposure to cadmium oxide fumes on cardiac muscle ultrastructure in rats

The ultrastructure of the cardiac muscle of rats exposed 5 h daily, 5 days a week to cadmium oxide (CdO) fumes at a concentration of 0.16 mg Cd/m3 for 3 and 6 months and at a concentration of 1 mg Cd/m3 for 3 and 4 months has been evaluated. The structure of muscle cells, arterioles and capillaries remained unchanged. There were distinct alterations of the intercalated disc structure dependent upon the level and time of exposure. The damage to intercalated discs varied from the enlargement of the fissure between membranes (within unspecialized segments) to disruption of the complex junctions.

Effect of different conditions of acute exposure to carbon monoxide on the cerebral high-energy phosphates and ultrastructure of brain mitochondria in rats

Rats were exposed to carbon monoxide (CO) in different conditions: 4 min at 1.3% CO, 40 min at 0.5% CO or 12 h at 0.13--0.15% CO. After 4 min exposure to 1.3% CO the brain content of ATP and PC was substantially reduced; after 40 min exposure to 0.5% CO the cerebral ATP level was slightly increased, whereas the content of both ATP and PC in the brain of rats exposed to CO for 12 h was significantly higher than in the controls. The decrease in the brain level of ATP and PC after 4 min exposure to 1.3% CO was accompanied by ultrastructural changes of mitochondria. No evident differences in the level of cerebral high-energy phosphates were found between rats intoxicated with CO and rats subjected to experimental hypoxemia.

Experimental studies on the chronic toxic effects of vinyl chloride in rats

Male rats were exposed to vinyl chloride at the concentrations of 50, 500, and 20 000 ppm, 5 hours daily, 5 days a week for 10 months. Morphological lesions in the liver and the testes detected by light and electron microscope and depression in body weight increase intensified with the duration of exposure. Increased relative weights of some organs and slight hematological and biochemical changes in blood during the course of the experiment were also observed. Some toxic effects including morphological liver injuries arose at the smallest exposure level, i. e., 50 ppm. Assuming 50 ppm as the threshold concentration for rats, the 5 ppm level has been estimated as the safe exposure limit in industry in relation to systemic effects of vinyl chloride.