Bakgrund Djup sedering är associerat med förlängd vårdtid och ett flertal komplikationer för intensivvårdspatienten. Även för ytlig sedering medför komplikationer, stress och lidande. Studier visar på vikten av adekvat sedering, samt att skalor och protokoll används. Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva sederingsnivå, andel optimalt, över- och undersederade patienter, vårdtid i ventilator och vårdtid inom intensivvården för patienter på en svensk intensivvårdsavdelning. Metod Studien, med deskriptiv design, inkluderade konsekutivt sederade, ventilatorbehandlade patienter, 18 år och äldre, på en svensk intensivvårdsavdelning under nio månader. Primära utfallsvariabler var sederingsnivå, utifrån Motor Activity Assessment Scale och andel optimalt, över- och undersederade patienter. Sekundära variabler var vårdtid i ventilator och vårdtid på intensivvårdsavdelningen. Resultat Studien omfattade 34 patienter. Under vårdtid i ventilator med endotrackealtub hade 28  patienterna optimal sedering mer än två tredjedelar av vårdtiden. Medianvärdet för sederingsnivå under vårdtid med endotrackealtub var MAAS 2 (kvartilavstånd 2-2,25) jämfört med medianvärdet för sederingsnivån med trackealkanyl som var MAAS 3 (kvartilavstånd 2-3) (P < 0,001). Trettio patienter (88,2 %) var optimalt sederade med ett MAAS-värde på 2-3 (md) sett till hela vårdtiden. Fyra patienter (11.8 %) var översederade med ett MAAS-värde på 0-1,5 (md). Ingen patient var undersederad sett till hela vårdtiden. Konklusion Studien visar att majoriteten av intensivvårdspatienterna var optimalt sederade under större delen av vårdtiden i ventilator. Endast ett fåtal patienter var översederade och ingen patient var undersederad större delen av vårdtiden. Patienter vårdade med trackealkanyl var ytligare sederade än de med endotrackealtub.

Electromyographic (EMG) signal decomposition is the process of resolving an EMG signal into its component motor unit potential trains (MUPTs). The extracted MUPTs can aid in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders and the study of the neural control of movement, but only if they are valid trains. Before using decomposition results and the motor unit potential (MUP) shape and motor unit (MU) firing pattern information related to each active MU for either clinical or research purposes the fact that the extracted MUPTs are valid needs to be confirmed. The existing MUPT validation methods are either time consuming or related to operator experience and skill. More importantly, they cannot be executed during automatic decomposition of EMG signals to assist with improving decomposition results. To overcome these issues, in this thesis the possibility of developing automatic MUPT validation algorithms has been explored. Several methods based on a combination of feature extraction techniques, cluster validation methods, supervised classification algorithms, and multiple classifier fusion techniques were developed. The developed methods, in general, use either the MU firing pattern or MUP-shape consistency of a MUPT, or both, to estimate its overall validity. The performance of the developed systems was evaluated using a variety of MUPTs obtained from the decomposition of several simulated and real intramuscular EMG signals. Based on the results achieved, the methods that use only shape or only firing pattern information had higher generalization error than the systems that use both types of information. For the classifiers that use MU firing pattern information of a MUPT to determine its validity, the accuracy for invalid trains decreases as the number of missed-classification errors in trains increases. Likewise, for the methods that use MUP-shape information of a MUPT to determine its validity, the classification accuracy for invalid trains decreases as the within-train similarity of the invalid trains increase. Of the systems that use both shape and firing pattern information, those that separately estimate MU firing pattern validity and MUP-shape validity and then estimate the overall validity of a train by fusing these two indices using trainable fusion methods performed better than the single classifier scheme that estimates MUPT validity using a single classifier, especially for the real data used. Overall, the multi-classifier constructed using trainable logistic regression to aggregate base classifier outputs had the best performance with overall accuracy of 99.4% and 98.8% for simulated and real data, respectively. The possibility of formulating an algorithm for automated editing MUPTs contaminated with a high number of false-classification errors (FCEs) during decomposition was also investigated. Ultimately, a robust method was developed for this purpose. Using a supervised classifier and MU firing pattern information provided by each MUPT, the developed algorithm first determines whether a given train is contaminated by a high number of FCEs and needs to be edited. For contaminated MUPTs, the method uses both MU firing pattern and MUP shape information to detect MUPs that were erroneously assigned to the train. Evaluation based on simulated and real MU firing patterns, shows that contaminated MUPTs could be detected with 84% and 81% accuracy for simulated and real data, respectively. For a given contaminated MUPT, the algorithm on average correctly classified around 92.1% of the MUPs of the MUPT. The effectiveness of using the developed MUPT validation systems and the MUPT editing methods during EMG signal decomposition was investigated by integrating these algorithms into a certainty-based EMG signal decomposition algorithm. Overall, the decomposition accuracy for 32 simulated and 30 real EMG signals was improved by 7.5% (from 86.7% to 94.2%) and 3.4% (from 95.7% to 99.1%), respectively. A significant improvement was also achieved in correctly estimating the number of MUPTs represented in a set of detected MUPs. The simulated and real EMG signals used were comprised of 3–11 and 3–15 MUPTs, respectively.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 108-111).

Thesis (M.A. in National Security Affairs)--Naval Postgraduate School, Sept. 2004. / Thesis advisor(s): Donald Abenheim. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (M.A.)--Carleton University, 1992. / Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

<p>Trade openness, market size, transparency, ease of doing business, location advantagesand low levels of corruption and country risk are the main determinants that attractForeign Direct Investment into a host country. FDI inflows in México have increasedremarkably since 1994 when the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) cameinto effect. Using multiple regression analysis in order to measure the impact of FDI onGDP; the Empirical results showed that a one percent increase in FDI leads on average toan increase of 0.08 percent in GDP which clearly reflects a positive but neither animportant nor a substantial impact of FDI on economic growth in México as it would beexpected. Time series data analysis for the period 1980-2007 has been tested for UnitRoot by applying the Dickey-Fuller (DF) test. Each time series after the first differencebecomes stationary and therefore it might be a causal relationship among the variables.However, FDI will not have a real impact on the society unless there is an effective stockof Human Capital capable of learning and absorbing the know-how to work successfullywith the technology that Multinational Corporations bring into the host country with theirinvestment. The challenge for the Mexican Government is to create structural reformssuch as the deregulation of energy and oil sector for private investment that will lead toconstantly higher flows of FDI. In the medium term this will then be reflected in thesociety in terms of poverty reduction and development of its population.</p>

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Duquesne University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-120) and index.

Αντικείμενο της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η εξομοίωση της λειτουργίας ενός επεξεργαστή με διευρυμένο ρεπερτόριο εντολών μέσω του διαδικτύου. Αναλυτικότερα αναπτύχθηκε ένα διαδικτυακό εργαλείο που δέχεται την αλληλουχία των εντολών και στην συνέχεια αφού εκτελέσει έλεγχο αυτών, συμβολομεταφράζει και αποθηκεύει τον κώδικα που προκύπτει στην μνήμη της εφαρμογής. Αφού όλα τα παραπάνω έχουν ολοκληρωθεί και το πρόγραμμα έχει ελεγχθεί και αποθηκευθεί στην μνήμη τότε το γραφικό τμήμα της εφαρμογής αναλαμβάνει να εξομοιώσει την λειτουργία του επεξεργαστή, προβάλλοντας τις τιμές που παίρνουν οι καταχωρητές την κάθε στιγμή καθώς και την αλληλουχία των δεδομένων που μεταφέρονται από και προς αυτούς. / The purpose of this study is to simulate the operation of a processor with an expanded set of instructions through the Internet. In more details, it has been developed an online tool that accepts a sequence of instructions and then do various checks on them, compiles them and stores the code in application’s memory. As long as all this has been completed and the program has been tested and stored in memory, the simulation part of the application starts, in order to simulate the operation of the processor, providing registers with the correct value each time and the sequence of data transferred to and from them.

A água do equipo odontológico pode servir como meio de disseminação de microrganismos, uma vez que é a segunda maior fonte de contaminação na Odontologia. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o nível de contaminação por bactérias aeróbias totais em água de equipos odontolóicos (reservatórios, seringas tríplices e alta rotação) e torneiras de 5 Clínicas Odontológicas da Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto - USP, por meio do método convencional (R2A Agar) e o sistema Petrifilm AC (3M St, Paul, MN, USA). Além disso, determinou-se o nível de contaminação por Pseudomonas spp. (Cetrimide Agar Base), coliformes (Endo Agar) e fungos (Petrifilm YM para bolores e leveduras), como também identificou-se as bactérias com série bioquimica na forma de kit comemial (API 20NE), detectou-se bactérias da boca pela técnica de Checkerboard DNA-DNA Hybridization e analisou-se o biofilme formado nas linhas dágua dos equipos (seringas tríplice e alta rotação), com auxilio de microscópio eletrônico de varredura (MEV). Por outro lado, foram sugeridas recomendações para a manutenção da qualidade microbiológica da água de equipos odontológicos. As comparações estatísticas mostraram que os níveis de contaminação bacteriana das águas de torneiras, bem como dos equipos foram mais elevados pelo método R2A Agar do que pelo sistema Petrifilm AC (p<0,001). Embora, as amostras de água das torneiras utilizadas para preencher os reservatórios dos equipos tivessem pequeno número de bactérias (908UFC/ml) - R2A e (2UFC/ml) Petrifilm AC, as dos 25 equipos apresentaram: reservatórios de 0 a 3.900.000 UFC/ml (média de 211.705 UFC/ml) - R2A Agar, e de 0 a 231.000 UFC/ml (média de 14.065 UFC/ml) Petrifilm AC; seringas tríplices de 0 a 5.200.000 UFC/ml (média de 509.068 UFC/ml) - R2A Agar, e de 0 a 610.000 UFC/ml (média de 30.842 UFC/ml) Petrifilm AC; e alta rotação de 0 a 6.300.000 UFC/ml (média de 862.279 UFC/ml) - R2A Agar, e de 0 a 730.000 UFC/ml (média de 61.817 UFC/ml) Petrifilm AC. As placas Petrifllm AC incubadas a 23°C por 7 dias demonstraram um nível maior de contaminação bacteriana do que aquelas incubadas a 35°C por 48h (p<0,001). De acordo com o método de cultura, Escherichia coli, coliformes totais e Pseudomonas spp. estavam ausentes das amostras de água das torneiras, embora 11 (44%) dos equipos tivessem apresentado E. coli e/ou coliformes totais e em 1 (4%) de alta rotação, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Todavia, segundo o método molecular, 1 (50%) amostra de água de torneira e 36 (48%) de equipos mostraram contaminação por E. coli. Das águas de 10 torneiras e 25 equipos, 1 (10%) e 17 (68%) estavam contaminadas com fungos, respectivamente. As análises com MEV mostraram biofilmes nas linhas d\'água de todos os equipos, constituídos por uma diversidade microbiana embutida em densas e extensas matrizes de substâncias poliméricas extracelulares. As bactérias identificadas por meio do API 20 NE foram Acinetobacter Iwoffii, Brevundimonas vesicularis, Burkholderia cepacia, Moraxella spp., Oligel/a ureo/ytica, Pasteurella spp., P. aeruginosa e Sphingomonas paucimobi/is. Nas águas dos equipos, as bactérias mais prevalentes exclusivas da boca forem Streptococcus gordonii (35/46,7%), Treponema denticola (28/37,3%), e Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans(b) (9/25,6%). Em conclusão, o BIOFILME formado nas linhas d\'água dos equipos funciona como um \"sistema amplificador\" do pequeno número de microrganismos das águas de torneiras, sendo a causa principal dessa alarmante contaminação das águas dos equipos. Assim, recomendações para a manutenção da qualidade microbiológica da água de equipos, bem como a avaliação de fungos deveriam ser acatadas pelos profissionais da Odontologia. / Dental unit water may serve as microorganism dissemination, since it is the second major source of contamination in dentistry. The aim of this research was to assess the contamination level of total aerobic bacteria in water from dental units (reservoirs, air-water syringes and high-speed handpieces) and taps from 5 Dental Clinics at the Faculdade de odontologia de Ribeirão PReto USP using conventional method (R2A Agar) and Petrifilm SYSTEM (3m, St Paul, MN, USA). Moreover, to evaluate the level of contamination by Pseudomonas spp. (Centrimide Agar Base), coliforms (Endo Agar) and fungi (Petrifilm YM for yeasts and molds) as well as to identify the bacteria by means biochemical test in form of kit (API 20NE), to detect mouth microorganisms by Checkerboard DNA-DNA Hybridization technique and to analyze the biofilm formed on dental unit waterlines (air-water syringes and high-speed handpieces) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The levels os bacteria in water from tap and dental unit were higher by R2A Agar than Petrifilm AC (p<0.001). Although, the tap water used to supply the dental unit reservoirs had few bacteria (908CFU/ml) R2A and (2CFU/ml) Petrifilm AC, water from 25 dental units showed: reservoir from 0 to 3,900,000CFU/ml (average of 211,705FCU/ml) R2A Agar, and from 0 to 610,000 CFU/ml (average of 30,842CFU/ml) Petrifilm AC; air water syringes from 0 to 5,200,000CFU/ml (average of 509,068CFU/ml) R2A Agar, and from 0 to 610,000CFU/ml (average of 30,842CFU/ml) Petrifilm AC; and high-speed handpieces from0 to 6,000,000CFU/ml (average of 862,279CFU/ml) R2A Agar, and from and0 to 730,000CFU/ml (average of 61,817CFU/ml) Petrifilm AC. The Petrifil AC plates incubated at 23ºC for 7 days demonstrated a level of bacterial contamination higher than those at 35ºC for 48h (p<0.001). According to culture method, Escherichia coli, total coliforms and Pseudomonas spp. Were not detected in water from taps, but E. coli and/or total coliforms were presented in 11 (44%) high-speed handpiece water. However, according to molecular method, 1 (50%) water sample from a tap and 36 (48%) from dental units showed contamination with E. coli. Water from 10 taps and 25 dental units were contamined with fungi in 1 (10%) and 17 (68%) samples, respectively. The analysis by SEM showed in all dental unit waterlines biofilms constituted of a microbial diversity embedded in dense and extensive matrices of extracellular polymeric substances. The bacteria identified by API 20 NE were Acinetobacter iwoffiii, Brevundimonas vesicularis, Burkholderia cepacia, Morexella spp., Oligella ureolytica, Pasteurella spp., P. aeruginosa and Sphingomonas paulcimobilis. The oral bacteria prevalent in dental unit water samples were Streptococcus gordonii (35/46.7%), Treponema denticola (28/37.3%) and Aggregatibacter actiomycetemcomitansb (9/25.6%). In conclusion, BIOFILM formed in dental nit waterlines serve as an amplifier system of few microorganisms from tap water, being the major cause of high contamination of dental unit water. Besides, recommendations to maintain the microbiological quality of dental units as well as the fungal evaluation should be employed for Dentistry professionals

Fetal growth in utero depends on nutrient and oxygen reaching the fetus through the uterine and placental microcirculations, both undergoing massive expansion during pregnancy. Aberrations of the placental vasculature are associated with Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR), a common pathological outcome of pregnancy; however, the cellular components responsible for vessel formation in the placenta and the uterus remain unknown. Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPC) are a group of morphologically and functionally varied bone marrow derived vasculogenic cell types, divided into two major subsets: (i) Circulating Angiogenic Cells (CACs), which promote vessel formation by interfering with the extracellular matrix and (ii) Endothelial Colony Forming Cells (ECFCs), which provide the source for new endothelium. This role has been demonstrated in pathophysiological studies, but not in normal physiological events in vivo. Fetal ECFCs are more proficient than their adult counterparts, but it is unclear in what specific fetal or maternal physiological situations fetal ECFCs are involved. Based upon these considerations, it was hypothesised that: (i) fetal-derived ECFCs play a role in placental vasculogenesis, (ii) these cells transmigrate the placenta and home to loci of vessel formation in the pregnant uterus, and that (iii) intrinsic alterations in their capabilities are associated with fetal growth restriction during intrauterine life. To support these hypotheses the following experiments were performed;(i) EPCs in blood from pairs of human umbilical arteries and veins were counted by flow cytometry. Numbers of EPCs in these samples showed an arterio-venous gradient suggesting their placental sequestration. Furthermore, ECFCs were isolated from human umbilical blood using established culture techniques. Labelled human fetal ECFCs were transplanted into the circulation of murine fetuses using an ultrasound-guided intra-cardiac injection. Using a fluorescent imager and microscopy these cells were shown to home to the murine placenta and participate in vasculogenesis.(ii) Male mice ubiquitously expressing eGFP were crossbred with native females, and fetal (eGFP-positive) endothelial-like cells integrated into the uterine microvasculature. Human fetal ECFCs injected into murine fetuses were shown to migrate to the maternal uterus and became functionally involved with the microvasculature. In humans, microvessels were isolated from uterine biopsies of mothers with male offspring. Copies of the male specific SRY gene (quantified by RT-QPCR) indicated that cells of fetal origin constituted 12% of the endothelium in these vessels. In cross-sections, hybridisation of the Y-chromosome demonstrated the presence of fetal cells in the maternal endothelium of the human uterus. (iii) Using flow cytometry, fewer EPCs were defined within the peripheral circulation of growth-restricted babies. Functional assays showed that ECFCs derived from these growth-restricted cases had intrinsically impaired proliferation, migration, matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP-2) production, and generated fewer blood vessels in a murine vasculogenic bioassay. These results demonstrated the vasculogenic capacity of human fetal ECFCs in vivo and established them as key players in human placental vasculogenesis and uterine vessel expansion. Notably, these results also showed a link between impaired function of fetal ECFCs and IUGR, which is associated with increased cardiovascular risk of both the fetus as an adult, and mother in later life. From these findings it could be speculated, that intrinsic changes in ECFC-biology may be the causative link between IUGR and fetal and maternal cardiovascular susceptibility. Insight into these processes may contribute to early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of IUGR and associated conditions.