Introduction: This dissertation aims to explore, in a clinical setting, the effectiveness of pursed lips breathing (PLB), in the management of dyspnoea in stable COPD. Methodology: A mixed methodology that comprised a randomised controlled trial (RCT), a predominantly qualitative follow-up (FU) study and two measurement studies was used. The RCT intervention group was taught PLB at home over 8 weeks. Primary outcome measures were the Self Report Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ-SR) dyspnoea and mastery domains and Endurance Shuttle Walk Test (ESWT). The FU study investigated the long-term experience of PLB in a subset of RCT participants through telephone interview, focus group and observation of PLB technique at home visit. Prior to the RCT a study using limits of agreement (LoA) methodology was conducted to investigate reliability of hand-held spirometric measurement of inspiratory capacity (IC) with a view to using it as an outcome measure. Following the RCT a retrospective analysis of data collected from the ESWT was performed comparing a 1-walk protocol with the published 2-walk protocol. Results: Forty-one patients with COPD were recruited to the RCT (PLB n = 22, control n =19); mean age 68 years (SD 11), mean FEV1% predicted 47% (SD 15.80) and 13 were approached to participate in the FU; 11 of 13 agreed to telephone interview, 5 to attend the focus group and 6 to home visit. The median time since learning PLB was 17 months (6 - 23). The RCT found no statistically significant difference between groups in the primary outcome measures and in retrospect was insufficiently powered. Post hoc analysis found effect sizes for primary outcome measures were: CRQ-SR dyspnoea 0.05, CRQ-SR mastery 0.48 and ESWT 0.44. For secondary outcome measures the PLB group showed a significant (p = 0.02) improvement in oxygen saturation on ESWT. Long-term follow-up found 9 of 11 still used PLB, 8 reported definite benefit. Those using PLB used it for breathlessness with four themes identified: use of PLB with physical activity (8/11), to increase confidence and reduce panic (4/11), as an exercise (3/11), at night (3/11). Discontinuation of PLB (2/11) was due to no benefit. Hand-held spirometric measurement of IC found LoA for same-day IC measurement in healthy volunteers (n = 20) ± 0.630L (95%CI ± 0.255) and over 3 weeks (n = 11) ± 0.560L (95%CI ± 0.326). In COPD, same day LoA (n = 26) were ± 0.582L (95%CI ± 0.169) and over 6 weeks (n = 8) ± 0.486L (95%CI ± 0.302). Retrospective analysis of ESWT data identified that completion rates improved by 17% for the 1-walk protocol but that the ceiling-effect was 12.2% compared to 7.3% for the 2-walk protocol. LoA between protocols when measuring change over time (n = 31) was ±80% (95%CI 25.56); less than the difference described as "somewhat better" (113%) following pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) but greater than the m.c.i.d. of 68%. Conclusions: LoA for IC exceeded the clinically significant reported 0.3L; the protocol tested here was not sufficiently reliable for use as an outcome measure. Analysis of ESWT data showed the 1-walk protocol was adequate for identify change in clinical practice but, for research purposes the 2-walk protocol should be retained. From the RCT learning PLB resulted in reduced physiological stress with respect to oxygen desaturation when performing ESWT compared to the control group. Long-term follow-up showed that, in severe COPD perceived benefits persisted in 62% of patients.

The purpose was to investigate how the retailer ICA could transfer its brand equity when rebranding its low price private label product Euroshopper. The study also had the intention to look at the outcome of the rebranding process through examining how customers’ brand perception and their behavior was influenced by the rebranding. What made it interesting to conduct this study was that there has been a lack in research that considers rebranding and the role of brand equity in such a process. Brand equity is a very important asset for companies, since it creates value for the customers that they use as information base when making decisions. A quantitative survey was conducted and the conclusion from it is that strong brand equity can be transferred to a product that once had a negative image and that perception can be replaced by a stronger brand image.

The miniaturization of electronics in modern times has enabled the possibility of creating a “continuity of care” using small wearable bioelectronic devices. Using wearable devices, such as the Fitbit or Garmin fitness trackers, allows for the exchange of data between devices which can be used to improve the accuracy of data analysis and thus patient health. In this thesis work, three wearable bioelectronic devices are proposed: an EOG-based eye-gaze tracking assistive technology device for the physically disabled to control a computer cursor, a battery-operated miniaturized polysomnograph that can store and transmit data wirelessly to sleep technicians and a trauma-detecting personal locator beacon. The first two system designs are outlined and simulated, followed by the testing of a prototype while the third system is a proposed design that will be reduced to practice at a later date. With continued development needed in the signal processing algorithms, the eye-gaze tracking computer mouse demonstrated capability and repeatable results. The wearable sleep sensor system also demonstrated capability and provided data with high signal-to-noise ratios on most channels before any filtering, allowing for comparable signal quality to conventional polysomnography devices.

Embedded systems are becoming nearly ubiquitous, found in a plurality of devices ranging from everyday cars and dishwashers to sophisticated spy satellites and remote sensing equipment. As the applications for embedded systems increase in number and diversity and continue to pervade our lives, a need arises to secure these systems. Whether the need arises from a desire to protect personal, proprietary, sensitive, or classified information, the security of the embedded system seeks to maintain the confidentiality and integrity of data contained within the system. Research into securing embedded systems is in its nascent stages. The generally accepted methodology of securing embedded systems involves techniques that either modify an embedded system's processor or entail custom ASIC hardware. This thesis presents a novel embedded system architecture for secure software processing that does not involve processor modification, but rather processor augmentation to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of information contained within the embedded system. Specifically, configurable logic placed at the processor periphery provides just-in-time cryptographic transformation of instructions, data, and I/O of a running embedded application. In addition to presenting the embedded secure software platform, this thesis provides a characterization of the data protection architecture of the platform. / Master of Science

La mutagénèse dirigée et la transfection stable dans le modèle cellulaire X-CGD PLB-985 ont été utilisées pour étudier les mécanismes moléculaires du dysfonctionnement de l'oxydase dans 3 cas de CGD-X+ (H303N /P304R, D500G, L505R), 1 cas de X–-CGD (S193F) et le rôle de 2 domaines de Nox2 191TSSTKTIRRS200 et 484DESQANHFAVHHDEEKD500. Les mutations H303N, P304R et D500G inhibent l'assemblage et l'activité de l'oxydase. La mutation L505R diminue partiellement l'affinité de Nox2 pour NADPH et son interaction avec p67phox in vitro. Cependant cet acide aminé n'est impliqué dans la fixation directe du NADPH. La boucle D et la région (484-504) sont essentielles à l'activité oxydase. Seule la région C-terminale est impliquée dans l'assemblage de l'oxydase et le transfert électronique du NADPH vers FAD. La boucle D des Nox1/3/4 est fonctionnelle pour l'activité oxidase de Nox2. Le modèle-3D de la partie C-terminale de Nox2 confirme l'importance de l'hélice-alpha dans l'activation du complexe oxydase.

La NADPH-oxydase phagocytaire, responsable de la production d'anions superoxydes microbicides, résulte de l'assemblage des protéines cytosoliques avec le cytochrome b558 membranaire redox formé de Nox2 et p22phox. Nous avons mis en évidence précédemment que le remplacement de la boucle D de Nox2 par celle de Nox4 (mutant D-loopNox4-Nox2) était à l'origine d'une " super-activité " oxydase. Le présent travail a consisté à élucider les mécanismes moléculaires à l'origine de la super-activité oxydase de ce mutant. Le mutant présente une activité oxydase ex vivo 2 à 8 fois supérieure à celle de cellules PLB-985 WT-Nox2, en réponse aux stimuli solubles et particulaires. Cette suractivité est plus importante en réponse à l'ionomycine et au facteur chimiotactique fMLF, dont les voies d'activation impliquent une augmentation du taux de Ca2+i. Cette suractivité a également été mise en évidence dans un système simplifié in vitro contenant uniquement les protéines purifiées du complexe oxydase et activé par l'acide phosphatidique. L'activité oxydase du mutant ex vivo présente une sensibilité accrue à un influx de calcium. Le cytochrome b558 muté est moins sensible aux événements de phosphorylation dépendant d'ERK1/2 durant l'activation par le fMLF. Ainsi, la suractivité du mutant D-loopNox4-Nox2 pourrait provenir d'une modification de la conformation de Nox2 mutée, favorisant l'état activé du complexe oxydase. De plus, la super-activité du mutant améliore son pouvoir bactéricide vis-à-vis de la souche atténuée P. aeruginosa PAO1. Enfin, nous avons pu mettre en évidence l'existence de deux phases distinctes et interdépendantes dans le processus de bactéricidie de ce microorganisme.

Los límites proyectivos de límites inductivos de espacios de Banach, también llamados espacios (PLB), surgen de forma natural en el análisis matemático. En esta tesis estudiamos espacios (PLB), cuyos bloques de construcción son espacios de Banach de funciones holomorfas definidas por normas supremo ponderadas. El estudio de estos espacios extiende la investigación de Agethen, Bierstedt, Bonet quienes han considerado recientemente espacios (PLB) ponderados de funciones continuas. Desde otra perspectiva, extiende la investigación de límites inductivos ponderados de espacios de Banach de funciones holomorfas, los cuales han sido analizados intensamente por varios autores los últimos años. Nuestro propósito es estudiar las propiedades localmente convexas de los espacios descritos arriba. En particular, investigamos cuando son ultrabornológicos o tonelados. Además, investigamos bajo qué circunstancias se pueden intercambiar el límite proyectivo y el inductivo y por lo tanto el espacio (PLB) coincide con el límite inductivo de espacios de Fréchet definidos por la misma sucesión; espacios de este último tipo has sido investigados por Bierstedt, Bonet. Probamos condiciones necesarias para las propiedades de los espacios antes mencionadas bajo hipótesis muy poco restrictivas. En cuanto a condiciones suficientes usamos métodos homológicos, cuya exploración fue iniciada por Palamodov al final de los sesenta y continuada por Vogt, Wengenroth y otros a lo largo de los últimos 40 años. Presentamos también un criterio para decidir si los espacios son tonelados adaptado a estas situaciones. No obstante, parece ser inevitable descomponer funciones holomorfas para probar cualquier resultado relativo a a las condiciones suficientes. Por lo tanto introducimos varios contextos en los cuales lo último es posible, dentro de estos contextos conseguimos la descomposición de diferentes formas; es decir, por descomposición de polinomios (en el disco y en el espacio), un método conectado con la teoría de proyecciones de Bergman, dos tipos de representaciones del espacio de sucesiones y el método de Hörmander. Bajo algunas hipótesis adicionales (satisfechas, como mostramos, por muchos ejemplos) damos en casi todos los contextos mencionados anteriormente unas caracterizaciones completas de cuándo el espacio es ultrabornológico, cuándo es tonelado y cuándo los límites inductivo y projectivo son intercambiables. Para finalizar nuestra investigación de espacios (PLB) ponderados, presentamos dos resultados que muestran que espacios de este tipo se pueden escribir en algunos casos como el producto tensorial de un espacio de Fréchet y un espacio (DF). El segundo resultado acerca de representaciones de productos tensoriales muestra que algunos espacios de ultradistribuciones (introducidos recientemente por Schmets y Valdivia) resultan ser espacios-(PLB) ponderados de funciones holomorfas. / Wegner, S. (2010). Projective limits of weighted (LB) - spaces of holomorphic functions [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/8480 / Palancia