Background: Pain is a common consequence of Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). While research into pain in SCI is vast, examining musculoskeletal pain (MSKP) and low back pain (LBP) are limited. This thesis aims to investigate these categories of pain in incomplete SCI (iSCI). The experience of pain is known to affect quality of life (QoL) and function. The impact of the experience of pain, particularly of LBP, on both the QoL and function are examined in this research. While research in similar fields is predominantly conducted in single nation populations this research is set out to study three different nations. Method: The following were part of this study: • A systematic literature review on the prevalence on chronic back pain (BP), LBP and MSKP in SCI. • A translation, and preliminary validation, into Greek of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM version III). • A cross-national survey conducted in the USA, UK and Greece. Questionnaires included the short-form McGill Pain questionnaire (SF-MPQ), EQ-5D and the SCIM III. They were collected either online or via post and 219 questionnaires were analysed. Results: The papers included in the systematic literature review were considerably heterogeneous not allowing meta-analysis to be made. 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the total number of participants in the studies were used. Among people with pain the prevalence of chronic MSKP (CMSKP) was 49% (95%CI 44%, 55%), of chronic BP (CBP) was 47% (95%CI 43%, 50%) and chronic LBP (CLBP) was 49% (95%CI 44%, 55%). GR-SCIM III maintains its unidimensionality and has acceptable internal consistency (α=0.78). Concurrent/criterion validity for the two cross-examined subscales were strong for “self-care” (ρ=-0.78) and moderate for “mobility” (ρ=-0.58). Unidimensionality was also confirmed for the English version of SCIM III, which had accepted internal consistency (α=0.79) and strong concurrent/criterion validity for “self-care” (ρ=-0.75) and moderate for “mobility” (ρ=-0.45). The survey results showed that the prevalence of current LBP is 67.9% (95%CI 61%, 73%) and of MSKP is 38.8% (95%CI 32%, 45%). LBP was of moderate intensity and most commonly described as “aching”. People who report pain, LBP or MSKP reported worse QoL. The impact of LBP on QoL was greater than that of pain in general or MSKP. The increased intensity of LBP correlated with worse function. Among the three participating countries, people from the UK had the worst experience of pain and LBP, classified themselves with the worst health status and reported the worst functional independence. Conclusion: This study offers the first systematic review on CLBP, CBP and CMSKP in SCI. It is unique in using SCIM III by self-report and into Greek. The results show that LBP is highly present in iSCI affecting both QoL and function. Both the GR-SCIM III and the SCIM III are reliable for use, however studies are needed to examine further their psychometric properties. The findings of the study fit with features of the currently used patients’ rehabilitation models.

Vi lever i ett datadrivet samhälle där individer och tjänster ständigt loggar, spårar och behandlar information om sina egna eller andras beteenden. Informationsteknologi för datadriven beteendeförändring är centralt inom områdena Personal Informatics, en klass verktyg som hjälper individer att samla och undersöka personligt relevant information i självreflekterande syfte, samt Persuasive Design, som handlar om att känna till de bakomliggande orsakerna om vad som motiverar användare att agera och designa för att uppnå detta. Trots denna gemensamma huvudfokus bedrivs forskning kring områdena delvis separat. På grund av det stora överlappet mellan de två områdena behövs en översikt över vad som anses särskilt viktigt inom både Personal Informatics och Persuasive Design. Därför har vi genomfört en litteraturstudie för att på ett samlat sätt presentera den forskning som finns samt vilka generella lärdomar som belyses av forskare inom området. Resultatet visar mönster och skillnader i den gemensamma basen av litteratur, vilket möjliggör för djupare insikt i området. Vi diskuterar dessa mönster och möjligheter för vidare forskning av de resultat vi fått in samt vilka aspekter som anses särskilt viktiga. / We live in a world where products and services constantly try to affect our behavior. Data driven information technology for achieving behavior change is a central concept in Personal Informatics, a class of tools for assisting individuals in collecting and reviewing personally relevant information in self-reflective purposes, as well as Persuasive Design, which concerns the underlying factors behind motivating users into action and designing to achieve this. Despite these similarities in focus, these areas are partly researched as different fields. Because of the common grounds between the research areas, we believe an overview of the research literature concerning both Personal Informatics and Persuasive Design is important. For this reason we have performed a literature study so that we, in an organized manner, can present the aspects which are studied as well as insights highlighted by scientists in the area. We discuss patterns and possibilities for future research by the results we have collected as well as which aspects are considered especially important.

Given that human development is a complex process involving multiple components and determiningfactors, multidimensional indicators are needed. On the basis of the extensive literatureon the subject, we advance two new indicators: the Matrix of Capabilities and Functioning(MCF), and the Algorithm of Human Development (HDA).The MCF is composed of vectors of capabilities and functionings, based on Sen’s idea of RefinedFunctionings. It is based in a matricial framework, both static and dynamic. The main purposeof constructing this index is to study how different sets of capabilities relate to alternativefunctionings, to produce diverse outcomes.The Human Development Algorithm (HAD) is a multidimensional index concerning the setof goods and services needed to complete a life cycle. The HDA is a socio-economic contextindicator. It is composed of the main «satisfactors» or basic goods and services needed: food,health, education, housing, social security, decent employment and retirement programs, thatmight be available to all throughout of life cycle. This indicator shows the material progressreached by each country or region as well the institutional organization, private and public, andthe degree of social cohesion and solidarity. / Dado que el desarrollo humano es un proceso complejo que tiene múltiples componentes ydeterminantes, es necesario tener indicadores multidimensionales tales como la Matriz de Capacidadesy Desempeños (MCD) y el Algoritmo del Desarrollo Humano (ADH).El MCD está compuesto de vectores de capacidades y de desempeños, basado en la idea de Sensobre desempeños refinados. Está basado en un marco conceptual matricial, tanto estático comodinámico. El propósito principal de la construcción del índice es estudiar cómo diferentes conjuntosde capacidades con desempeños pueden producir distintos resultados.El ADH es un índice multidimensional relacionado con el conjunto de bienes y servicios que senecesitan para completar un ciclo de vida. El ADH es un indicador de contexto socioeconómico.Está compuesto de los principales satisfactores o bienes y servicios básicos que se requieren: alimentos,salud, educación, vivienda, seguridad social, empleo decente y sistema de pensiones, quedeben estar disponibles durante todo el ciclo de vida. Este indicador muestra el progreso materialalcanzado por cada país o región, tanto como la organización institucional pública y privada, yel grado de cohesión social.

Thesis (MMus (Music))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / In the absence of a state-sponsored South African archive that focuses on collecting, ordering, cataloguing and preserving special music collections for research, the Documentation Centre for Music (DOMUS) was established in 2005 as a research project at the University of Stellenbosch. Music research in South Africa is often impeded by inaccessibility of materials, staff shortages at archives and libraries, financial constraints and time-consuming ordering and cataloguing processes. Additionally there is, locally, restricted knowledge of the existence, location and status of relevant primary sources. Accessibility clearly depends on knowing of the existence of materials, as well as the extent to which collections have been ordered and catalogued. An overview of repositories such as the Nasionale Afrikaanse Letterkundige Museum and Navorsingsentrum (NALN), the now defunct National Documentation Centre for Music and the International Library of African Music (ILAM) paints a troubling picture of archival neglect and disintegration. Apart from ILAM, which has a very specific collecting and research focus, this trend was one that ostensibly started in the 1980s and is still continuing. It could be ascribed to a lack of planning and forward thinking under the previous political dispensation, aggravated by policies of transformation and restructuring in the current one. Existing sources supporting research on primary materials are dated and not discipline-specific. Thus this study aims to address issues of inaccessibility of primary music materials by creating a comprehensive and ongoing national electronic database of special music collections in South Africa. It is hoped that this will help to alert researchers to the existence and status of special music collections housed at various levels of South African academic and civil society.

This thesis deals with real-time human activity recognition (eg, running, walking, driving, etc.) using sensors which are available on current mobile devices. The final product of this thesis consists of multiple parts. First, an application for collecting sensor data from mobile devices. Followed by a tool for preprocessing of collected data and creation of a data set. The main part of the thesis is the design of convolutional neural network for activity classification and subsequent use of this network in an Android mobile application. The combination of previous parts creates a comprehensive framework for detection of user activities. Finally, some interesting experiments were made and evaluated (eg, the influence of specific sensors on detection precision).

This thesis deals with creating application Datalogger for PROFIBUS. Describes communications standard Profibus, PLC and PC communication via PROFIBUS, API used for Profibus-PCI card, used programming language and development tool, a description of graphic and software parts of developed application Datalogger and finally describes the testing of developed applications datalogger.