Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία περιγράφει τη διαδικασία της μελέτης, του σχεδιασμού και και της υλοποίησης μίας συσκευής ανάγνωσης ηλεκτρονικών βιβλίων (e-book reader). Στόχος μας είναι η κατασκευή ενός ολοκληρωμένου ενσωματωμένου συστήματος υλικού και λογισμικού, το οποίο θα επιτελεί τον παραπάνω ρόλο. Αρχικά, θα περιγράψουμε τον γενικό σχεδιασμό του συστήματος και θα γίνει μία εισαγωγή στο υλικό της αναπτυξιακής πλατφόρμας A13-OlinuXino-MICRO και στην αρχιτεκτονική ARM του επεξεργαστικού της πυρήνα. Στη συνέχεια, θα ασχοληθούμε με τη διασύνδεση της οθόνης της συσκευής στην παραπάνω πλατφόρμα και με το σχεδιασμό του κυκλώματος φορητής τροφοδοσίας του συστήματος. Στο δεύτερο μισό της εργασίας, θα μελετήσουμε το κομμάτι του λογισμικού. Θα δούμε πώς γίνεται να ρυθμίσουμε σωστά ένα αναπτυξιακό περιβάλλον, για τη δημιουργία εκτελέσιμου κώδικα με στόχο υπολογιστικά συστήματα αρχιτεκτονικής ARM. Χρησιμοποιώντας το περιβάλλον αυτό, θα δημιουργήσουμε το λειτουργικό σύστημα της συσκευής μας, το οποίο βασίζεται στον πυρήνα Linux. Τελικώς, γίνεται ο προγραμματισμός της εφαρμογής ανάγνωσης των αρχείων e-book. / This diploma thesis describes the process of researching, designing and assembling an e-book reader device. Our aim is to develop a complete embedded system, using the necessary hardware and software. First of all, there is an introduction to the development platform's hardware (A13-OlinuXino-MICRO) and the ARM architecture of the processing core, in general. Next, a description of the display's interface is taking place, along with the way it is interconnected to the rest of the system's hardware. After that, we focus on the implementation of the portable power supply circuit. In the second half, the research is shifted towards the system's software. The proper way of setting up a cross-compilation development environment, targeting ARM systems, is described. Using this environment, we are going to end up with the operating system of the target platform, which is based on the Linux kernel. Finally, the last thing to consider is the programming process of the e-book reading application.

Η στηθοσκόπηση για την παρακολούθηση της λειτουργίας της καρδιάς αποτελεί ένα από τα κύρια εργαλεία για την παρακολούθηση της υγείας τους τελευταίους δύο αιώνες περίπου. Δυστυχώς όμως παρά τη ραγδαία ανάπτυξη στον τομέα των ενσωματωμένων συστημάτων, καθώς και στην επεξεργασία σημάτων που προέρχονται από τη λειτουργία του καρδιοαναπνευστικού συστήματος, ο έλεγχος της λειτουργίας του τελευταίου παραμένει μια αρκετά χρονοβόρα και υποκειμενική διαδικασία, αφού σε καθημερινή εφαρμογή γίνεται με μη αυτοματοποιημένο τρόπο. Στα πλαίσια αυτής της εργασίας μελετήθηκε η φωνοκαρδιογραφία, της οποίας αντικείμενο αποτελεί η καταγραφή και επεξεργασία των καρδιακών ήχων και αναπτύχθηκε ένα σύστημα παρακολούθησης των ζωτικών ενδείξεων της καρδιάς και των πνευμόνων, όπως αυτές προκύπτουν μέσω του φωνοκαρδιογραφικού σήματος. Η εργασία ξεκίνησε ως μελέτη της λειτουργίας της καρδιάς, της μορφής των καρδιακών σημάτων και μεθόδων παρακολούθησής τους, καθώς και μέθοδοι υλοποίησης τέτοιων συστημάτων. Ακόλουθα μελετήθηκαν η χρήση και οι δυνατότητες των σύγχρονων ενσωματωμένων συστημάτων και μικροελεγκτών και ιδιαίτερα ο μικροελεγκτής ADuC7026 της Analog Devices, που ήταν και ο μικροελεγκτής που χρησιμοποιήθηκε κατά την υλοποίηση. Για την υλοποίηση χρησιμοποιήθηκε προσεγγιστικό σήμα, για τη μοντελοποίηση αυτού που προσλαμβάνεται από έναν αισθητήρα κατά τη λειτουργία του καρδιοαναπνευστικού συστήματος. Για την επεξεργασία του σήματος μελετήθηκαν και χρησιμοποιήθηκαν ψηφιακά φίλτρα πεπερασμένης κρουστικής απόκρισης (FIR). Η υλοποίηση του συστήματος έγινε σε πέντε στάδια. Αρχικά υλοποιήθηκε εφαρμογή για τον έλεγχο της ορθής λειτουργίας του αναπτυξιακού κυκλώματος της Olimex ADuC-P7026. Στη συνέχεια αναπτύχθηκε η τελική εφαρμογή σε τέσσερα διακριτά στάδια. Στο πρώτο οι υπολογισμοί έγιναν με βάση τη μέση τιμή του σήματος εισόδου, για την απομάκρυνση των σταθερών (dc) συνιστωσών του. Στο δεύτερο στάδιο χρησιμοποιήθηκε υψιπερατό FIR φίλτρο για την αποκοπή της σταθερής συνιστώσας. Στο τρίτο στάδιο χρησιμοποιήθηκε ζωνοδιαβατό FIR φίλτρο για την αποκοπή του θορύβου που οφείλεται στις συχνότητες που είναι μεγαλύτερες αυτής του πληροφοριακού σήματος και για την απαλλαγή του σήματος από σταθερές συνιστώσες. Στο τέταρτο στάδιο της εφαρμογής έγινε πλέον δυνατός ο εντοπισμός καρδιακών ήχων. Κατά την ανάπτυξη της εφαρμογής χρησιμοποιήθηκε το περιβάλλον ανάπτυξης εφαρμογών της Keil, μVision 3. Ο προγραμματισμός του μικροελεγκτή έγινε σε γλώσσα προγραμματισμού C. / -

Introduction: Occupational drivers of terrain vehicles are exposed to several risk factors associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in the lower back as well as in the neck and upper limbs. Vibration has been suggested to be a main risk factor. These drivers are exposed to both whole-body vibration (WBV) and hand-arm vibration (HAV). Aim: This study establishes the association between driving terrain vehicles and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the neck and upper limbs as well as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). In addition, this study examines the effect on muscles in the neck and upper limbs of the type of vibration exposure that occurs in occupational driving of terrain vehicles. Methods and results: In Paper I, a cross-sectional questionnaire study on occupational drivers of terrain vehicles, increased Prevalence Odds Ratios (POR) were found for numbness, sensation of cold and white fingers (POR 1.5-3.9) and for MSDs in the neck (POR 2.1-3.9), shoulder (POR 1.8-2.6) and wrist (POR 1.7-2.6). For the shoulders, neck and elbow, there appears to be a pattern of increased odds with increasing exposure time. In Paper II, an experimental study on the trapezius muscle, which included 20 men and 17 women, the mean frequency of the electromyography signal (EMGMNF) decreased significantly more in a three minute sub-maximal contraction without vibration (-3.71Hz and -4.37Hz) compared to with induced vibration (-3.54Hz and -1.48Hz). In Paper III, a higher initial increase of the mean of the root-mean-square of the electromyography signal (EMGRMS) was seen in a three minute sub-maximal contraction with vibration exposure compared to without vibration (0.096% vs. 0.045%). There was a larger mean EMGMNF decrease for NV compared to V in the total three minutes, and a larger decrease also in the first time period was seen for the NV compared to V. A small gender effect was also noticed. In Paper IV, the combination of HAV and WBV was studied in laboratory settings and resulted in a higher trapezius EMGRMS compared to the HAV and WBV separately. Conclusion: Occupational drivers of terrain vehicles are likely to experience symptoms related to HAVS and musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck and upper limbs. Local vibration does not seem to have any negative acute effects on trapezius muscle fatigue. Vibration exposure seems to cause an initial increase in muscle activity in the trapezius that could be related to recruitment on new motor-units. A combination of HAV and WBV causes a larger muscular demand on the trapezius muscle.

In this cross-sectional study, the sensibility, reliability, and validity of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire were assessed in patients who underwent neck dissection for head and neck cancer. A sensibility questionnaire was used to assess face and content validity. Test-retest reliability was tested by re-mailing the questionnaire; validity, by evaluating differences in scores between patients undergoing different types of neck dissections and by correlating DASH scores with Neck Dissection Impairment Index (NDII) scores. The DASH was considered sensible by both patients and surgeons. The DASH was reliable with an intraclass coefficient of 0.91. The DASH showed differences between patients who underwent accessory nerve-sacrifice and nerve-sparing neck dissection. DASH scores strongly correlated with NDII scores. Thus, the DASH is a sensible, reliable, and valid instrument for assessing shoulder impairments and activity limitations following neck dissection.

Darbe atlikta teorinė mokslinės literatūros analizė, kuri susijusi su motyvacija ir rankų kaulų lūžių tema, bei grindžiami tyrimo rezultatai juos lyginant su mokslininkų panašaus pobūdžio tyrimo duomenimis.Iškelta hipotezė kad, ne tik reabilitacijos priemonės bet ir pačio asmens motyvacija pasveikimui lemia greitesni funkcini nepriklausomumą.Tyrimo tikslas: Nustatyti asmenų, patyrusių rankų kaulų lūžius, motyvacijos ir savarankiškumo kaitą taikant reabilitacija.Siekiant išsiaiškinti, kaip asmenys vertina veiklos atlikimą kasdienėje, darbo ir laisvalaikio srityje buvo naudojamas Kanadietiškas veiklos vertinimo testas. Įvertinti asmenų motyvaciją buvo naudotas Pasveikimo padėties valdymo klausimynas. Tiriamieji taipogi buvo apklausti naudojant anketą, kuri buvo paruošta tyrėjo. / The theoretical analysis of scientific literature related to the motivation and the topic of arm fractures was carried out and the results of the research were based comparing them with the similar research data. A hypothesis is formulated that patient’s functional independence is spurred not only by the measures of rehabilitation but also by person's own motivation to get well.The aim of the research is to define the change of motivation and independence of persons who suffered arm fractures while applying rehabilitation. In order to find out how people evaluate the performance of activity in daily life, at work and at leisure, Canadian Performance Evaluation Test has been used. Recovery Locus of Control questionnaire was given in order to evaluate people’s motivation. The respondents were also questioned using a questionnaire that was prepared by the researchers. 100 patients who suffered different types of arm fractures participated in the research. Change of biosocial skills, independence and motivation while applying rehabilitation has been analysed in the empirical part of the paper.

Rheumatoid arthritis is the inflammatory disease of web, which causes progressive inflammation of joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is on the top according to the number of patients who become invalids. The growing number of invalids in Lithuania becomes not only medical problem, but social problem as well. Everything is done to quell the activity of pathological process, its progression and to return and maintain the functions of moving device of the body with the help of prophylaxis, therapy and rehabilitation. The perfect program of treatment is often created for a year or longer period of time to reach good results. Different methods of treatment and their consistency let to reach better results. Physiotherapy is one of the treatments of rheumatoid arthritis, blocking the progress of the disease. The aim of the research – to estimate the effect of physiotherapy on arm functions of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The goals of the research: to estimate the state of health of investigative and control groups of people with rheumatoid arthritis according to Keitel indicators before and after physiotherapy; to estimate the force of hand muscles of people with rheumatoid arthritis before and after physiotherapy; to estimate the effect of physiotherapy on the pain of hand joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis; to estimate the mobility of hand joints of people with rheumatoid arthritis before and after physiotherapy. 40 patients (5 men and 35 women) with the average age 57.6... [to full text]

Virtual reality environments (VEs) are new tools to improve functional recovery in stroke survivors. Elements essential to maximize motor learning, can be optimized in VEs. Study objectives were: (a) to determine whether training in VE with enhanced feedback about movement patterns, leads to greater gains in arm movement quality, motor performance and decreased compensation compared to training in a similarly designed Physical environment (PE); (b) to estimate whether impairments in cognitive functioning affected the changes observed after training. Twelve stroke survivors practiced 72 pointing movements in VE or PE for 10 sessions with enhanced feedback. Kinematic analysis of pointing task, evaluations of arm impairment and function were carried out pre-post training. After training, VE group had increased shoulder flexion (p<0.05), increased shoulder horizontal adduction and decreased compensation, compared to PE group. Use of feedback correlated with fewer deficits in cognitive functioning. Training in VEs may lead to greater gains in movement quality.

The purpose of this study was to establish an influence on static and dynamic postural control in sitting for voluntary arm movement for children with diplegic cerebral palsy. The investigation was fulfilled with control and experimental groups. The control group included ten healthy children and the experimental group included ten children with cerebral palsy. The age of the children was from 10 to 13 years. Subjects had to perform the same task with a single arm for four times. Every time the demands of postural control were increasing – the distance between objects and outward stability was changing. Task performing time was measured and visual estimation of the quality of postural control was done. The study showed that children with cerebral palsy performed the task slower than healthy ones (P < 0.05). The task performance time in the experimental group increased depending on growing distance between objects (p <0.05) and increased depending on decreasing outward stability (p < 0.05). The task’s time in the control group increased only when the distance was increasing between objects (p < 0.05), though when outward stability was decreasing the task’s performance time decreased (p < 0.05). A connection between task’s performance speed in standard conditions and task’s performance speed when the distance between objects was increased (r = 0.8), outward stability was decreased (r = 0.79), the distance between objects was increased and outward stability was decreased (r = 0... [to full text]

The aims of the Lithuanian Health Programme (1998) are to reduce the death rate in patients following stoke, age younger than 65 years old by 15%, and by 10% in patients at age of 65-74 years old, up to year 2010. While trying to enhance the recovery results following the abovementioned disease it is necessary to erect and renew the effective rehabilitation system. The aim is to estimate the effectiveness of The Constrain – Induce Movement Test on arm functions’ recovery of the post - stroke patients. The were two groups of testees, experimental group and control group, each composed of 30 stroke patients. The methods used while writing this study were as follows: the analysis of the used literature sources, and the testing (the evaluation of movements and the Nine Hole Peg Test). The Constrain – Induce Movement Test applied while carrying out this experiment statistically credibly improved the function of the patients’ arms. The average of the evaluation of shoulders arch movements in the control group is 3,13 ± 0,61 points. In the experimental group the average is 4,53 ± 0,97 points. The margin of 1,4 point is statistically reliable (p<0,05). There was also noticed a significant improvement in hand movements in the experimental group. The average of the evaluation of hand movements in the control group is 3,4 ± 0,67 points, while in the experimental group the average is 5,07 ± 0,87 points. The margin is 1,67 points (p<0,05). Analogous results were drawn while estimating... [to full text]

Hearing loss from noise exposure is one of the most common occupational injuries, and exposure to vibrations may increase the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. Earlier cross-sectional and longitudinal studies found an increased risk of noise-induced hearing loss among workers with vibration-induced white fingers (VWF) symptoms compared to workers without such symptoms. It has been suggested that vibrations to the hand stimulate the sympathetic nervous system and cause vasoconstriction in both the exposed hand and the ears and that this contributes to noise-induced hearing loss. The overall aim of this thesis was to examine how hand-arm vibrations (HAV) interact with noise in the development of noise-induced hearing loss. The experimental study in this thesis examined the effects of HAV and noise, both separately and combined, on the temporary threshold shift (TTS) in hearing in 22 healthy male and female subjects. The two longitudinal studies in this thesis were based on a cohort of 189 male workers at a heavy engineering workshop. The first cohort study examined the risk of noise-induced hearing loss from long-term exposure to HAV and noise. The second cohort study examined if workers with VWF had an increased risk of noise-induced hearing loss compared to workers without such symptoms. Finally, the questionnaire study in this thesis examined the occurrence of Raynaud’s phenomenon among 133 men and women with noise-induced hearing loss in relation to exposure to vibrations. In the experimental study, no differences in TTS in hearing were observed after combined exposure to HAV and noise compared to exposure to only noise. In the first cohort study, there was an increased risk of noise-induced hearing loss with increased exposure to HAV in a noisy environment. In the second cohort study, it was found that workers with VWF had an increased risk of noise-induced hearing loss compared to workers without VWF. In the questionnaire study, many men and women with noise-induced hearing loss had used hand-held vibrating machines suggesting that vibrations might contribute to noise-induced hearing loss. A high prevalence of Raynaud’s phenomenon was found among men. This thesis demonstrated that there was a long-term effect on noise-induced hearing loss from combined exposure to noise and HAV, but no short-term effect, and that having Raynaud’s phenomenon may also increase the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. / Många arbetare använder sig av handhållna vibrerande verktyg. Det utsätter dem för höga nivåer av både buller och vibrationer. Människor som utsätts för höga bullernivåer under lång tid kan skada sin hörsel. Risken för hörselnedsättning orsakad av buller kan eventuellt öka om personen samtidigt är utsatt för vibrationer från handhållna vibrerande verktyg. Syftet med avhandlingen var att studera om vibrationer i kombination med buller ökar risken för hörselnedsättning. Avhandlingen består av fyra studier. Den första studien är en experimentell studie med 22 friska deltagare med god hörsel. Denna studie undersökte hur hörseln tillfälligt påverkas av buller och vibrationer, separat och i kombination. Den andra och tredje studien bygger på en population bestående av 189 verkstadsarbetare i Sundsvall som följts regelbundet sedan 1987. Den andra studien undersökte om det finns en ökad risk för hörselnedsättning för arbetare som utsätts för buller och vibrationer under lång tid. Den tredje studien undersökte om arbetare med vita fingrar har en ökad risk för hörselnedsättning än arbetare utan vita fingrar. Vita fingrar är en kärlskada orsakad av vibrationer som gör att fingrarna reagerar onormalt snabbt på kyla. Fingrarna blir vita när blodtillförseln till dem stryps. Den fjärde studien är en enkätstudie med 342 kvinnor och män som har en bekräftad hörselnedsättning orsakad av buller. Studien undersökte hur många ur denna grupp som utsätts för vibrationer samt har vita fingrar. Resultaten från studierna visar att det inte finns någon skillnad i hörselpåverkan från buller och vibrationer i kombination jämfört med enbart buller under kort tid. De som utsätts för vibrationer från handhållna vibrerande verktyg i en bullrig miljö under lång tid har en ökad risk för hörselnedsättning. Arbetare med vita fingrar har en högre risk för hörselnedsättning än de utan. En hög andel av de med hörselnedsättning orsakad av buller använder sig av handhållna vibrerande verktyg. I studien fanns även en hög andel med vita fingrar. Sammanfattningsvis visar resultaten att det finns en långtidseffekt av buller och vibrationer på hörselnedsättning men inte någon korttidseffekt, och att vita fingrar kan påverka risken för hörselnedsättning.