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Publications

Publications by João Paulo Cunha

2011

Integration Services to Enable Regional Shared Electronic Health Records

Authors
Oliveira, IC; Cunha, JPS;

Publication
USER CENTRED NETWORKED HEALTH CARE

Abstract
eHealth is expected to integrate a comprehensive set of patient data sources into a coherent continuum, but implementations vary and Portugal is still lacking on electronic patient data sharing. In this work, we present a clinical information hub to aggregate multi-institution patient data and bridge the information silos. This integration platform enables a coherent object model, services-oriented applications development and a trust framework. It has been instantiated in the Rede Telematica de Sa de (www.RTSaude.org) to support a regional Electronic Health Record approach, fed dynamically from production systems at eight partner institutions, providing access to more than 11,000,000 care episodes, relating to over 350,000 citizens. The network has obtained the necessary clearance from the Portuguese data protection agency.

2010

A non-intrusive multi-sensor system for characterizing driver behavior

Authors
Rodrigues, JGP; Vieira, F; Vinhoza, TTV; Barros, J; Silva Cunha, JP;

Publication
13th International IEEE Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, 19-22 September 2010

Abstract
Understanding driver behavior is critical towards ensuring superior levels of safety and environmental sustainability in intelligent transportation systems. Existing solutions for vital sign extraction are generally intrusive in that they affect the comfort of the driver and may consequently lead to biased observations. Moreover, low-complexity devices such as GPS receivers and the multitude of sensors present in the vehicle are yet to be exploited to the full extent of their capabilities. We present a real-life system that combines wearable non-intrusive heart wave monitors with a wireless enabled computing platform capable of gathering and processing the data streams of multiple in-vehicle sources. Observed variables include electrocardiogram, vehicle location, speed, acceleration, fuel consumption, and pedal position, among others. Preliminary results show that the proposed system is well suited not only for characterizing driver behavior but also for identifying and mapping potentially dangerous road segments and intersections. ©2010 IEEE.

2008

On-line control of light intensity in a microalgal bioreactor using a novel automatic system

Authors
Meireles, LA; Guedes, AC; Barbosa, CR; Azevedo, JL; Cunha, JP; Malcata, FX;

Publication
ENZYME AND MICROBIAL TECHNOLOGY

Abstract
The influence of light intensity upon biomass and fatty acid productivity by the microalga Pavlova lutheri was experimentally studied using a novel device. This device was designed to automatically adjust light intensity in a photobioreactor: it takes on-line measurements of biomass concentration, and was successfully tested to implement a feedback control of light based on the growth rate variation. Using said device, batch and semicontinuous cultures of P lutheri were maintained at maximum growth rates and biomass productivities - hence avoiding photoinhibition, and consequent waste of radiant energy. Several cultures were run with said device, and their performances were compared with those of control cultures submitted to constant light intensity; the biomass levels attained, as well as the yields of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids were calculated - and were consistently higher than those of their uncontrolled counterpart.

2002

On-line determination of biomass in a microalga bioreactor using a novel computerized flow injection analysis system

Authors
Meireles, LA; Azevedo, JL; Cunha, JP; Malcata, FX;

Publication
BIOTECHNOLOGY PROGRESS

Abstract
A flow injection analysis (FIA) device has been developed, which is able to assay successfully for biomass in a microalga bioreactor. The device is fully computerized and is operated via diluting small aliquots of the culture followed by measuring optical density (OD); this figure is then accurately correlated with biomass, in terms of both cell number and ash-free dry weight, during the entire culture time. Furthermore, the device is not expensive, is highly versatile, and is easy to operate owing to specifically developed, user-friendly software. The growth rate-and biomass productivity of Pavlova lutheri, cultivated under batch and semicontinuous modes, were monitored. as experiniental testing model.

2011

Towards a movement quantification system capable of automatic evaluation of upper limb motor function after neurological injury

Authors
Bento, VF; Cruz, VT; Ribeiro, DD; Cunha, JPS;

Publication
2011 ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY SOCIETY (EMBC)

Abstract
The paper proposes an integrated system to automatically assess motor function after neurological injury. A portable motion capture system was developed in order to obtain all the relevant three dimensional kinematics of the upper limb movement. These kinematics were analyzed by means of a decision tree classifier which features where inferred from the Functional Ability Score (FAS) of the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT). In addition, the system is able to correctly quantify the performance time of each selected task of the WMFT. In terms of the FAS the system and the clinician show coherent results for 3 out of 5 patients in the first task tested and 4 out of 5 for the second task tested. Regarding performance time, the mean error between the system and the clinician was of 0.216 s for the 25 trials performed (5 patients, 5 tasks each). These results represent an important proof of concept towards a system capable of precisely evaluate upper limb motor function after neurological injury.

2011

Recent studies provide an updated clinical perspective on blue light-filtering IOLs

Authors
Davison, JA; Patel, AS; Cunha, JP; Schwiegerling, J; Muftuoglu, O;

Publication
GRAEFES ARCHIVE FOR CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OPHTHALMOLOGY

Abstract
Recent reviews of blue light-filtering intraocular lenses (IOLs) have stated their potential risks for scotopic vision and circadian photoentrainment. Some authors have challenged the rationale for retinal photoprotection that these IOLs might provide. Our objective is to address these issues by providing an updated clinical perspective based on the results of the most recent studies. This article evaluates the currently available published papers assessing the potential risks and benefits of blue light-filtering IOLs. It summarizes the results of seven clinical and two computational studies on photoreception, and several studies related to retinal photoprotection, all of which were not available in the previous reviews. These results provide a clinical risk/benefit analysis for an updated review for these IOLs. Most clinical studies comparing IOLs with and without the blue light-filtering feature have found no difference in clinical performance for; visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color vision, or glare. For blue light-filtering IOLs, three comparative clinical studies have shown improved contrast sensitivity and glare reduction; but one study, while it showed satisfactory overall color perception, demonstrated some compromise in mesopic comparative blue color discrimination. Comparative results of two recent clinical studies have also shown improved performance for simulated driving under glare conditions and reduced glare disability, better heterochromatic contrast threshold, and faster recovery from photostress for blue light-filtering IOLs. Two computational and five clinical studies found no difference in performance between IOLs with or without blue light-filtration for scotopic vision performance and photo entrainment of the circadian rhythm. The rationale for protection of the pseudophakic retina against phototoxicity is discussed with supporting results of the most recent computational, in-vitro, animal, clinical, and epidemiological investigations. This analysis provides an updated clinical perspective which suggests the selection of blue light-filtering IOLs for patients of any age, but especially for pediatric and presbyopic lens exchange patients with a longer pseudophakic life. Without clinically substantiated potential risks, these patients should experience the benefit of overall better quality of vision, reduced glare disability at least in some conditions, and better protection against retinal phototoxicity and its associated potential risk for AMD.

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