This thesis deals with a development of application running on mobile devices with Windows Mobile operating system. The main task of this application is observing canvas with running presentation and saving time marks, that inform about slide change or animation. Description of system requirements, system analysis using UML language, solutions on image processing level, decription of implementation in C++ language and application tests results are described in the text. Problems of mobile device software development are also outlined in the document. A great part is dedicated to work with multimedia on Windows Mobile 5.0 system, especially to problems linked with DirectShow technology.

Title: Ventilation - respiratory changes and diffusion of gases in the simulated snow avalanche. Goals: The aim of this study was to investigate different ventilation-respiratory parameters with breathing into the simulated snow avalanche with and without any air pockets. Method: An intervention randomized double blind crossover study was conducted on 12 male students of Military Department at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports of Charles University. The study was realized in the Krkonoše Mountains in the period January 14 - 18th, 2013 at an altitude of 762 m above sea level. Each volunteer underwent two phases of the experiment in a random order: 1st phase "AP"- breathing into the snow with a 1 L air pocket, and 2nd phase "NP"- breathing into the snow with no air pocket. Physiological parameters, especially fractions of O2 and CO2 in the airways and work of breathing (WoB) expressed as Pressure- Time Product (PTP) were recorded continuously. Results: The presence of the air pockets and size has an important role in the survival of buried avalanche victims. The finding of this study is that it is possible to breath in the avalanche snow even with no air pocket (0 L), but breathing under this condition is associated with significantly increased work of breathing. The limiting factor in no...

It is predicted that the market for position-based services is going to reach an annual turnover of billions of dollars in a few years. Besides this, also the game industry is estimated to meet a bright future, and there is a great interest already. This master’s thesis looks at a service that combines these two areas. The result is a position-based game called Mystery that is developed for the handheld computer Compaq iPaq 36-serie, which is well suited for this kind of game. To be able to locate a player we have used Ericsson’s Mobile Positioning System, MPS, which uses GSM positioning. The alternative would have been to use the Global Positioning System, GPS, but then the handheld computer would require extra hardware that is not available on the market yet. The prototype consists of a client and a server application. They are both developed in Java and they are communicating with each other through an http- protocol. One conclusion we have drawn form our work is that the kind of game we have developed requires higher accuracy than is achieved with GSM today, even though it is still possible to play the game. The disadvantage now is that the players have to move long distances, which is most likely if they are going by train, bus etc. A better accuracy would make it possible to shrink the distances so that it would also be remunerative to walk. When a better accuracy can be achieved a new possibility for this kind of game will open up. / <p>Validerat; 20101217 (root)</p>

Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) in Rwanda was promulgated as the best alternative to address the financial barriers for accessibility to health care services for the poor population and the informal sector. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether CBHI reduce Out-of-pocket health expenses for their members as compared to non-members and to what extent CBHI provide financial protection for the poorest population. This research based itself on secondary source of data primarily collected for a prospective quasi-experimental design which evaluated the impact of Performance-Based Financing. The primary study had reported on the Out-Of-Pocket expenses for health by members and non-members of CBHI; residing in a sample of 1961 households; in addition to their demographics and socio-economic characteristics. The findings indicate that insured individuals were about 2.6 times more likely to utilize health care services than respondents without health insurance. It is also worth noting that households with health insurance coverage were less likely to experience a catastrophic health expenditure than households without health insurance (aOR: 0.744; 95% CI:[0.586 - 0.945]), and that the effect of health insurance coverage was higher in people living in poor households than in people living in middle or richer households / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Routing policies for packet-switched communication networks must be able to adapt to changing traffic patterns and topologies. We study the feasibility of implementing an adaptive routing policy using the Q-Learning algorithm which learns sequences of actions from delayed rewards. The Q-Routing algorithm adapts a network's routing policy based on local information alone and converges toward an optimal solution. We demonstrate that Q-Routing is a viable alternative to other adaptive routing methods such as Bellman-Ford. We also study variations of Q-Routing designed to better explore possible routes and to take into consideration limited buffer size and optimize multiple objectives. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING:Die roetering in kommunikasienetwerke moet kan aanpas by veranderings in netwerktopologie en verkeersverspreidings. Ons bestudeer die bruikbaarheid van 'n aanpasbare roeteringsalgoritme gebaseer op die "Q-Learning"-algoritme wat dit moontlik maak om 'n reeks besluite te kan neem gebaseer op vertraagde vergoedings. Die roeteringsalgoritme gebruik slegs nabygelee inligting om roeteringsbesluite te maak en konvergeer na 'n optimale oplossing. Ons demonstreer dat die roeteringsalgoritme 'n goeie alternatief vir aanpasbare roetering is, aangesien dit in baie opsigte beter vaar as die Bellman-Ford algoritme. Ons bestudeer ook variasies van die roeteringsalgoritme wat beter paaie kan ontdek, minder geheue gebruik by netwerkelemente, en wat meer as een doelfunksie kan optimeer.

Rationale Epilepsy is a common, chronic, neurological condition that disproportionately affects individuals living in low- and middle- income countries, including much of sub-Saharan Africa. Epilepsy is treatable, with the majority of individuals who take anti-epileptic drugs experiencing a reduction, or elimination, of seizures. Yet the number of individuals taking and adhering to medication in Africa is low and interventions aimed at improving treatment are lacking. Aims To define the epidemiology of convulsive epilepsy in rural South Africa in terms of incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years; to determine outpatient, out-of-pocket costs resulting from epilepsy treatment; to establish the level of adherence to anti-epileptic drugs amongst people with epilepsy; and, to determine whether the introduction of routine visits to people with epilepsy by community health workers is a cost-effective intervention for improving adherence to anti-epileptic drugs. Methods Nested within the Agincourt Health and Demographic Surveillance System, this work utilized a cohort of individuals diagnosed with convulsive epilepsy in 2008 to determine health care utilization and out-of-pocket costs due to care sought for epilepsy. Additionally, using blood samples from the cohort, anti-epileptic drug adherence was measured and, following the cohort, mortality rates were determined. Using these collected epidemiological parameters, disability-adjusted life years due to convulsive epilepsy were determined. Finally, combining the epidemiological and cost parameters, a community health worker intervention was modeled to determine its incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Key Findings The burden of convulsive epilepsy is lower in rural South Africa than other parts of Africa, likely due to lower levels of known risk factors. Yet the burden, especially in terms of mortality, remains high, as does the treatment gap and health care utilization. Findings from the economic evaluation found the introduction of a community health worker to be highly cost-effective and would likely lower the burden of epilepsy in rural South Africa. Implications Epilepsy contributes to the burden of disease in rural South Africa, with high levels of mortality and a substantial treatment gap. The introduction of a community-health worker is likely to be one cost-effective, community based intervention that would lower the burden of epilepsy by improving adherence to anti-epileptic drugs. Implementing this intervention, based on these findings, is a justified and important next step.

The synthesis of pure tris(6-hydroxymethyl-2-pyridylmethyl)amine (H₃L₁₁) is reported for the first time. New complexes of H₃L₁₁ with copper(II), manganese(II) and iron(III) have been characterised by X-ray crystallography. Linear [Fe₃(L₁₁)₂](ClO₄)₃ reveals the tightest Fe-O-Fe angle (87.6°) and shortest Fe...Fe distance (2.834 Å) presently found for a weakly antiferromagnetically-coupled high spin alkoxide-bridged polyiron(III) system. H₃L₁₁ provides a route to various hydrophobic peralkylated TPA ligand derivatives for creating a hydrophobic pocket for the assembly of iron catalysts for the novel 1-hydroxylation of n-alkanes. New 6-py substituted TPA ligands containing methyl (L₁₅) and n-octyl (L₁₆) ether linkages were synthesised via alkylation. Two further novel 6-py substituted ligands were synthesized incorporating n-hexyl substituents on one (L₂₁) and two (L₂₂) of the py moieties. Here a urea spacer group was used to promote hydrogen–bond assisted heterolytic O-O cleavage (generation of the potent FeV=O oxidant) within the hydroxoperoxoiron(III) precursor. High spin [FeII(L)(CH₃CN)[subscript(x)]](CF₃SO₃)₂ complexes (x = 0–2, L = L₁₅,₁₆,₂₁,₂₂) were characterised in solution by ¹H NMR. The structure of [Fe(L₂₂)](CF₃SO₃)₂ reveals a distorted iron(II) centre bound to four N atoms and two urea carbonyls. Iron(II) complexes of H₃L₁₁, L₁₅,₁₆,₂₁,₂₂ and tris(6-Br)-TPA (L₂₄), were investigated for catalysis of the oxygenation of cyclohexane by H₂O₂. Reaction of the iron(II) complexes with H₂O₂ and [superscript(t)]BuOOH was followed by time-resolved EPR and UV-VIS spectrophotometry. A correlation between the observed catalytic activity and the nature of the FeIII(L)-OOR intermediates generated is apparent. A convenient ‘one-pot’ synthesis of benzene-1,3,5-triamido-tris(l-histidine methyl ester) is reported along with attempts at preparing N,N’-bis(pyridylmethyl)-1,3- diaminopropane-2-carboxylic acid (L₂₅), a new water soluble pyridine-amine ligand. The final demetallation step resulted in ligand hydrolysis to the novel amino acid; 1,3-diaminopropane- 2-carboxylic acid which was characterised as its HCl salt by X-ray crystallography.

This item was digitized as part of the Million Books Project led by Carnegie Mellon University and supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF). Cornell University coordinated the participation of land-grant and agricultural libraries in providing historical agricultural information for the digitization project; the University of Arizona Libraries, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and the Office of Arid Lands Studies collaborated in the selection and provision of material for the digitization project.

A doença periodontal é uma patogenia que afeta as estruturas de suporte dos dentes com formação da bolsa periodontal, e caso não tratada, em estágios mais avançados o periodonto é destruído, ocasionando perda do dente. O tratamento concerne em duas etapas, à remoção mecânica do biofilme e cálculo dentário por raspagem e alisamento radicular e utilização de antimicrobianos. Ainda é comum a utilização de antimicrobiano de ação sistêmica, embora, tenha eficácia reduzida e frequentes efeitos adversos. Em face disto, justifica-se o desenvolvimento de sistemas de liberação sustentada de fármaco intrabolsa periodontal a fim de sanar os inconvenientes da terapia sistêmica. Contudo, aspectos como espaço anatomofisiológico e fluído gengival crevicular intrínsecos à bolsa, são limitações pertinentes durante o desenvolvimento. Portanto, este trabalho teve como objetivo desenvolver sistemas e formulações precursoras de fase líquido cristalina baseados em monolinoleato de glicerila (MLG) e cremophor (CREM) com gelificação in situ em fase líquido cristalina. Por meio de planejamento fatorial 32 foram obtidos 9 sistemas sem adição de fármaco e 9 formulações contendo metronidazol com diferentes razões de MLG/CREM e %H2O. Quando caracterizados por microscopia de luz polarizada e espalhamento de raios-X a baixo ângulo, os sistemas e formulações com menor razão MLG/CREM e conteúdos de água de 5, 10 e 15% apresentaram organização micelar isotrópica. Eles também apresentaram rápida erosão no ensaio de captação de água, inviabilizando sua transição para mesofase. Os sistemas e formulações com média e alta razão MLG/CREM e conteúdos de água de 5, 10 e 15% apresentaram coexistência de fases em transição líquido cristalina. Apresentaram rápida captação de água com transição para fase cúbica. Contudo, com exceção do sistema e formulação com alta razão MGL/CREM e 15% de água, os demais sistemas e formulações, apresentaram propriedades de fluxo ideais para fácil aplicação por seringa acoplada a agulha, e comportamento viscoelástico adequado para promover espalhabilidade e retenção no interior da bolsa. Os sistemas e formulações com média e alta razão de MLG/CREM apresentaram melhor mucoadesão. Dentre as formulações, apenas a com média razão de GML/CREM e 5% de água, apresentou perfil bi-modal de liberação mantendo concentrações de metronidazol acima do MIC por 6 dias, característica desejável para sistemas de liberação intrabolsa periodontal. Portanto, todos os resultados advogam a favor desta formulação como potencial candidata ao emprego clínico como sistema de liberação de fármaco intrabolsa periodontal. / Periodontal disease is a chronic infection that affects the structural supports of the tooth with periodontal pocket formation. If untreated, the periodontium may be destroyed, which can cause the tooth loss in the latest stages of the disease. The treatment for this infection comprises two stages, the mechanical removal of plaque and calculus by scaling and root planing and the use of antimicrobials. It is still common to use systemic antimicrobials, even though it has a reduced efficacy and frequent adverse effects. For the reason, justified the development of systems for sustained release of drug intra-pocket periodontal in order to solve the drawbacks of systemic therapy. The main limitations for the development of these systems are the anatomical and physiological aspects of the periodontal pocket, which includes the limited size and the depth area and the natural irrigate flow of the gingival crevice fluid (GCF). So, this study aimed to develop precursor liquid crystalline systems and formulations based on glyceryl monolinoleate (GML) and cremophor (CREM), with in situ gelation to liquid crystalline phases. Through a 32 factorial design 9 systems without drug and 9 formulations containing metronidazole were obtained. Different ratios of GML / CREM and water percentage were evaluated. When characterized by Small-Angle X-ray Scattering and Polarized Light Microscopy, lower ratio GML / CREM with 5, 10 and 15% H2O produce isotropic micellar organization. They also showed high erosion during water uptake, thus, precluding in situ crystalline transition. Medium and high ratio GML / CREM with 5, 10 and 15% H2O indicated the coexistence of regions in transition to the crystalline phase. They showed characteristic peaks of cubic phases, rapid water uptake, higher viscosity and increased mucoadhesion. Moreover, with the exception of the formulation containing high ratio and high water content, other systems and formulations with medium ratio GML / CREM and 5, 10, 15% of water and high ratio and 5 and 10% of water had flow properties ideal for easy application through needle fitted syringes, viscoelastic behavior appropriate to promote spreadability and might favor retention within the periodontal pocket. However, only the formulation with higher ratio and the lowest water content presented a bimodal release profile of metronidazole, maintaining concentrations above the MIC for 5 days, with the release of 100% of the drug added to the formulation. These are desirable features for delivery systems designed for periodontal pockets. Therefore, all results advocate in favor of the formulation with high ratio of GML / CREM and 5% of water as a potential candidate for clinical use as drug delivery system for the periodontal pocket.

Ce travail de thèse porte sur l'étude du comportement morphodynamique d'une plage de poche, partiellement aménagée, lors des événements de tempête. La plage de Zarautz (Espagne) a été choisie comme site d'étude en raison de son climat de vagues et de sa configuration. La plage est limitée latéralement par des falaises rocheuses. Elle présente un système dunaire sur la partie est et une digue aménagée en promenade sur le reste de la plage. Le climat de houle au large de Zarautz (bouée de Bilbao) est caractérisé par une faible variabilité directionnelle. Dans 95 % des cas, les vagues proviennent de directions comprises entre l'Ouest (O) et le Nord (N). Les conditions de vague à l'approche de la plage de Zarautz sont quasi unidirectionnelles et peuvent présenter une variabilité longitudinale. La variabilité temporelle et spatiale des barres sableuses d'avant côte, a été étudiée à partir de l'analyse d'images vidéo enregistrées quotidiennement sur une période de deux années. Les résultats montrent que d'un point de vue hydrodynamique la plage se comporte la plupart du temps comme une plage ouverte. Toutefois, elle peut également présenter une circulation de type cellulaire au cours des événements de haute énergie. La morphologie de la plage présente une grande variabilité spatiale et temporelle. On remarque également des différences morphologiques notables entre la partie aménagée et la partie est de la plage. Pour étudier la réponse morphologique de la plage à des événements de haute énergie, des relevés topographiques ont été menés avant et après plusieurs tempêtes. Les courants d'arrachement, stables et persistants pendant des conditions énergétiques modérées à fortes peuvent éroder localement la zone intertidale de la plage. Dans des conditions de haute énergie et lors de marées de vives eaux le haut de plage et le cordon dunaire sont érodés. A l'inverse, lors de conditions de haute énergie qui coïncident avec des marées de mortes-eaux, l'évolution de l'estran, de l'arrière-plage et de la dune sont essentiellement contrôlées par les caractéristiques des vagues plutôt que par l'amplitude de la marée. Afin d'analyser et de compléter les résultats obtenus, une étude numérique a été réalisée à partir du code open source XBeach. En raison de l'absence de données de bathymétrie, le modèle d'assimilation de données Beachwizard a été utilisé afin d'estimer la bathymétrie à partir des images collectées par la station vidéo. La possibilité de forcer ce modèle avec des conditions de vagues variables le long de la limite du domaine de calcul a été mise en œuvre. Les résultats montrent que la prise en compte de conditions limites variables améliore la capacité du modèle à estimer la bathymétrie. Les tests de calibration du modèle XBeach révèlent que les résultats peuvent varier considérablement en fonction des paramètres choisis. Toutefois, les résultats du modèle XBeach semblent peu sensibles aux caractéristiques du spectre de vagues utilisé pour forcer le modèle. Une série de simulations ont été réalisées afin d'étudier le cluster de tempêtes de Février 2013 en analysant non seulement l'influence de la chronologie des différentes tempêtes mais aussi du niveau d'eau au cours de cette période. Ces simulations ont permis de mettre en évidence que les mouvements sédimentaires sont dominés par un transfert de sable de la dune vers la zone intertidale sans période de reconstruction de la dune. L'érosion des différentes sections de la plage est fortement corrélée au niveau d'eau. L'érosion de la dune et de l'arrière-plage ne se produit que lorsque les niveaux de marée élevés prévalent alors que la zone intertidale est érodée à marée basse. Il apparaît que l'impact des tempêtes sur la plage est beaucoup plus dépendant du niveau d'eau que de la chronologie des événements énergétiques au cours d'un cluster de tempêtes. / The aim of this study is to understand the response of engineered pocket beaches to storms. To that end, a series of video images, field topographical measurements and depth-averaged (2DH) process-based model have been used. The beach of Zarautz was chosen as a study site due to its wave climate characteristics and beach configuration. It is an embayed beach composed by two well defined regions, a dune system and an engineered section. The offshore wave climate is characterised by a low directional variability. The 95 % of the cases ranges from W to N directions. The high energetic events are seasonally variable. Most of the storms take place during winter and autumn. The wave climate at the beach of Zarautz is almost unidirectional and it presents certain alongshore variability. The temporal and spatial variability of nearshore sandbars, using daily video observations over 2 years was carried out. In general the beach acts as an open beach like circulatory system but it may present cellular and transitional circulation during high energy events. The nearshore sandbars evolution covers a wide range of temporal and spatial variability. Interestingly, the western engineered and more sheltered section of the beach sometimes exhibits a different beach state to that of the eastern section. To study the response of the beach to high energy events, systemically designed topographic surveys were undertaken before and after storm events. The location of the rip currents seems to play a role on the beach erosion. Static and persistent rips during moderate high energy conditions may erode locally the beach intertidal zone. During high energetic conditions and spring tides the beach backshore and dune area is eroded. Dune and backshore sections become important as they act as a buffer, preventing the foreshore erosion. On other hand, during high energetic conditions coinciding with neap tides, the evolution of the foreshore, backshore and dunes might be sensitive to the wave characteristics rather than to the tidal range. The findings obtained from the video images and field measurements were completed by means of the XBeach process based model. Due to the lack of a pre-storm bathymetry the XBeach-Beach Wizard model was used in order to infer the surfzone features. The possibility to force the model with non-uniform alongshore wave conditions was implemented. Results show that this new implementation improves the model skills. The XBeach calibration tests reveal that the results can vary considerably depending on the set of parameters chosen to run the model. Parameters such as short wave run-up, γ, γua, eps and hmin seem to be relevant for the model calibration. A series of storm impact simulations were performed. A chain transport mechanism was found in which the sand is transported from the dunes to the intertidal zone, and never in the other way around. The erosion of the different sections of the beach is highly related to the tidal level rather that to the wave power. The main differences in the beach response between the natural and engineered sections are related to the sand budget. The complete loss of the backshore sand makes the intertidal zone weak to the storms (the chain transport is interrupted). This scenario is only likely to happen at the engineered sector due to the narrow backshore and the absence of a dune system. Some tests were performed in order to relate the 'storm magnitude' to a certain value of beach erosion. These findings point out that, in general, the higher the storm power is, the larger is the beach erosion. However, the wave characteristics that define a given storm play an important role. Furthermore, in some cases a low power storm with high Hs and Tp can produce larger changes on the beach than a large storm with low Hs and Tp.