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Dissertation submitted in compliance with the requirements for Masters Degree in Technology in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Technikon Natal, 2000. / The purpose of this study is the development of an affordable computer-based electrocardiogram, heart rate and temperature monitoring system, that would complement those that are available on the market and contribute to the reduction of the shortage of these medical instruments in South African hospitals and clinics. Electrocardiogram (ECG) refers to the graph that results from time versus voltage in a patient's chest. It reflects the rhythmic activity of the heart. For this reason the electrocardiogram has a diagnostic value that can be used by medical personnel to examine the biological (hence, clinical) behavior of the heart. The electrocardiogram can also be used to get the heart rate. This thesis explained how to acquire ECG signals from the patient and also how to achieve a cheaper way of providing galvanic isolation, which is required for sensors that are attached to the human body. It also explains computer interfacing using the parallel port and computer-based processing of these ECG signals to determine the instantaneous value of the heart rate and also to reduce the interference that contaminates these signals. In reducing interference, the performance of traditional IIR notch and adaptive filters, as noise cancelers, has been analyzed and compared. Least Mean Squares (LMS) and Normalized Least Mean Squares (NLMS) algorithms are the two algorithms that were considered in this study for adaptive noise canceling and their performance is evaluated and is compared based on their convergence rate, complexity and noise reduction. / M

CIVINS / CIVINS

Abstract The increasing demand for the chemical monitoring of water qualities emphasises the importance of an efficient and workable laboratory management system to remain profitable and competitive in a fast growing industry. The management of information is therefore becoming increasingly important as the effectiveness and profitability of the water laboratory is largely measured against its management systems and continual improvement programmes. Effective information management forms an important part of laboratory management to ensure that data are updated and remain current. One way of proving its effectiveness, the laboratory must provide proof of a controlled and procedurised documentation system and the availability of updated data and information. The effective control of data and information in the water laboratory by using some kind of information management system is therefore essential. Laboratory managers are becoming aware of the need for an effective, computerised laboratory data and information management system as the entry of data and results into a manual system has several disadvantages. The laboratory manager is increasingly seeking for ways to improve the efficiency of his laboratory and more time must therefore be spent on managing the laboratory, rather than to facilitate the distribution and control of information.

<p>Ciljevi: U kliničkoj praksi se rutinski upotrebljava vizuelna metoda evaluacije TOF testa, koja ne pruža u potpunosti precizne podatke u periodu oporavka neuromi&scaron;ićne blockade. Neophodno je ispitati mogućnost upotrebe specifičnije i preciznije metode u TOF monitoring, kao &scaron;to je kvantitativna TOF metoda. Određivanje razlike između vrednosti T1 i T4 mi&scaron;ićnih kontrakcija, dobijenih kvantitativnom TOF metodom, može biti precizan pokazatelj prisustva neuromi&scaron;ićne blokade na testiranom mi&scaron;iću. Takođe, aplikacijom kvantitativne TOF metode, neophodno je utvrditi da li kod različitih mi&scaron;ića postoji različit period oporavka od prisustva neuromi&scaron;ićne blokade. Upotreba kvantitativne TOF metode, i poređenje T4 / T1 odnosa između različitih mi&scaron;ića, može biti pokazatelj postojanja razlika u oporavku od prisustva neuromi&scaron;ićne blokade. Materijal i metode: U istraživanju je analiziran oporavak od prisustva neromi&scaron;ićne blokade na m.abductor hallucis i m. interosseus dorsalis primus aplikacijom kvantitativnog TOF testa u toku ortopedskih hirur&scaron;kih procedura na kičmenom stubu uz upotrebu intraoperativnog neurofiziolo&scaron;kog monitoring kod 147 bolesnika. T4/T1 odnos je određen na testiranom mi&scaron;iću stopala i &scaron;ake, obavljena je klasifikacija ispitanika u odnosu na dozu neuromi&scaron;ićnog blokatora i proteklo vreme od apilikacije. Poređenjem T4/T1 odnosa između testiranih mi&scaron;ića utvrđene su razlike u oporavku od prisustva neuromi&scaron;ićne blokade. Vizuelnom TOF metodom je vr&scaron;ena procena neuromi&scaron;ićne blokade od strane anesteziologa, stimulacijom n.ulnaris i praćenjem kontrakcije m.adductor pollicis. Rezultati dobijeni vizuelnom TOF metodom su upoređeni sa rezultatima dobijenim kvantitativnom TOF metodom na m. interosseus dorsalis primus. Rezultati: Postoje značajne razlike u T4/T1 odnosu između testiranih mi&scaron;ića na stopalu i &scaron;aci (p&lt;0.05). T4/T1 odnos određen na m.abductor hallucis ima niže vrednosti, odnosno brži oporavak, u odnosu na m. interosseus dorsalis primus (p&lt;0.05). Kvantitativnom TOF metodom dobijeni su pouzdani rezultati o proceni neuromi&scaron;ićne blokade kod svih testiranih bolesnika, dok su vizuelnom TOF metodom dobijeni kod 40 % testiranih bolesnika. Rezultati pokazuju da postoje značajne razlike u pouzdanosti i preciznosti između kvantitativne i vizuelne TOF metode. Zaključak: Kvantitativna TOF metoda je klinički prihvatljiva i pouzdana metoda u proceni prisustva neuromi&scaron;ićne blokade. Razlike u oporavku od neuromi&scaron;ićne blokade uočene kod različitih mi&scaron;ića, ukazuju da je TOF monitoring neophodan na određenoj mi&scaron;ićnoj regiji koja pruža pouzdane i precizne podatke o neuromi&scaron;ićnoj blokadi regije na kojoj se hirur&scaron;ka procedura obavlja. Kvantitativna TOF metoda pruža preciznije podatke o stepenu prisustva neuromi&scaron;ićne blokade u odnosu na vizuelnu subjektivnu TOF metodu.</p> / <p>Purpose: In clinical practice routinely used method of TOF test is visual method of interpretation. This method does not provide completely reliable data in period of spontaneous recovery from neuromuscular blockade. It is necessary to investigate possibility of application of more specific and more accurate method in TOF monitoring, such as quantitative TOF method. Determination of difference between the values of T1 and T4 muscle contraction, obtained by quantitative TOF method, may indicate the presence of neuromuscular blockade on tested muscle. In addition to this, by application of quantitative TOF method, it is necessary to determine is there a difference in period of recovery from neuromuscular blockade between defferent muscles. Comparison of T4/T1 ratios between different muscles may indicate presence of different period of recovery from neuromuscular blockade. Methods: Study analyzed differences between recovery of foot - abductor hallucis muscle and hand - first dorsal interosseous muscle by application of quantitative TOF test on 147 patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery. T1 to T4 decrements on hand and foot TOF were determined and classified into different groups, depending of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) dose and elapsed time after administration. T1 - T4 decrements were compared between hand and foot TOF and differences between muscle recovery were determined. Visual method of TOF test was performed by anesthesiologists, by using peripheral nerve stimulator and stimulating ulnar nerve. Quantitative TOF test was measured on first dorsal interosseous muscle, and compared with visual TOF results obtained on adductor pollicis muscle. Results: There are significant differences between T1 - T4 decrements obtained on tested muscles of hand and foot (p&lt;0.05). T1-T4 decrement determined on abductor hallucis muscle had lower values, respectively more rapid recovery, than first dorsal interosseous muscle (p&lt;0.05). Quantitative method of TOF test had reliable and correct results in all tested subjects, while visual interpretation of TOF method showed accurate results in 40 % of all cases. Results indicated that significant difference was present between quantitative and visual method of TOF interpretation. Conclusions: Difference between observed recovery of hand and foot muscles is indicating that quantitative TOF test should be performed on specific site for which accurate data about the level of neuromuscular blockade is needed. During lumbar spine surgery, in addition to hand TOF, foot TOF should be included as it provides more accurate data needed for neurophysiological intraoperative monitoring. Quantitative TOF method provides more accurate data about level of neuromuscular blockade if compared with subjective visual TOF method.</p>

Distinguishing patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) within the very large proportion with suspected cardiac pain is a diagnostic challenge, especially in individuals without clear symptoms or electrocardiographic features. This thesis presents the development of a patient data fusion system that would ultimately be able to assist with early identification of patients with non-ST-elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome (NSTEACS) in the pre-hospital setting. In order to identify high-risk ACS patients, patients with ST changes need to be identified. A rule-based ST segment analysis technique was developed and validated on two publicly available databases. Even in subjects who are known to have myocardial ischaemia (MI), ST changes are not considered as a basis for a definitive diagnosis of individual episodes of ischaemia. A technique to differentiate between ST changes caused by MI and those caused by non-ischaemic ST changes such as body position changes or conduction changes was also developed. At the outset of this research there was no available database with continuous vital-sign data for recorded during the ambulance transport. A clinical study was set up to collect vitalsign data and ECG during ambulance transport. Additional parameters from the ECG such as heart rate variability that can be used for detecting ACS, particularly NSTEACS, were investigated. High-risk patients may be identified early by appropriate combination of vital-sign data, demographic information and ECG analysis. This thesis contributes to the literature on early identification of NSTEACS patient during the ambulance transportation. Firstly, it differentiate between ischaemic and non-ischaemic ST episodes using non-linear classifiers. pre-hospital data to ensure . Secondly, it investigates the diagnostic and prognostic value of heart rate variability in identifying high-risk NSTEACS patients in a pre-hospital setting. Thirdly, the thesis attempts to show how data fusion of vitalsign data and additional parameters from the ECG can be used to differentiate between noncardiac and NSTEACS patients in a pre-hospital setting. Lastly, the thesis also provides some insight into the data collection process in a pre-hospital setting.

The revaluation of the yuan in July 2005 was described by the Chinese central bank as a change in the currency regime, rather than merely a changed level of the exchange rate. The reform was said to involve a shift away from the fixed exchange rate, a gradual movement towards greater flexibility, and a peg to a basket of currencies. This paper closely examines the post-July Chinese currency regime utilising contemporary ideas in the econometrics of structural change. We find that the yuan has remained pegged to the US dollar, rather than to a basket, and has extremely limited currency flexibility. We find no evidence of structural change in the post-July period, which suggests that there has been no evolution towards greater flexibility. We show a monitoring procedure which will detect future evolution of the currency regime. / Series: Research Report Series / Department of Statistics and Mathematics

Cutting operations are important and commonly used operations in the field of manufacturing. Automated machining is today commonly used in CNC-machines. One common drawback with automated machining is that the tool condition is challenging to predict which leads to a conservative tool replacement times. This leads to a low utilisation of the tool economical lifetime and an unnecessary high number of tool replacements. Methods for indirect continuous monitoring of the tool wear exist but usually require retrofitting of external sensors that can be both costly and also interrupt the machine operation due to the additional wiring. It is therefore of interest to investigate the possibility to use the, often high resolution, sensors already fitted in a CNC-machine to extract valuable data that can indirectly give an estimation of the tool condition. This thesis work has, with attention to the X-, Y- and Z-position sensors, resulted in development of algorithms that show relations between tool wear and data acquired from these sensors. The algorithms operate in the frequency domain to determine changes in the dynamic response over the time of tool degradation.

The problematic of Czech retail is still a discussed topic. In the introduction, retail formats are introduced, their historical development in the Czech market, departures and arrivals of the retailers and expected development in the coming years. The economic and psychological perspective is introduced in the theoretical section related to hypermarkets. A practical analysis presents surveyed retailers, their formation, development and strategy. Also there is a chapter regarding the commercial centers and their importance for the retail market. The practical study focuses on the importance of brands, market position and finding loyal customers. The second part deals with price monitoring and identifying the chain that has consistently the lowest prices on the market. The final aspect of the research focuses on the analysis of customer preferences, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of chain stores, suggestions and recommendations on how to get closer to the customer.

The purposes of this dissertation were to investigate the response of salivary alpha-amylase to a single resistance training session and to a week-long resistance training over-reaching protocol. The major findings of this dissertation are as follows: Study 1 – A single resistance training session consisting of 5 sets of 10 repetitions of squat and bench press at 95 percent of repetition maximum creates a statistically significant increase in salivary alpha-amylase concentrations. Study 2 – Two resistance training sessions consisting of 5 sets of 10 repetitions of squat and bench press at 95 percent of repetition maximum within 5 days does not create a statistically significant change in resting baseline salivary alpha-amylase concentrations. These results are corroborated by not causing statistically significant change in perceived stress, as measured by Total Mood Disturbance, calculated from the Profile Of Mood States questionnaire, nor causing a change in perceived stress calculated from the Daily Analysis of Life Demands for Athletes survey.