Thesis (D. Min.)--Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1987. / Bibliography: leaves 305-310.

The fault phenomena of fluorescent lamps are investigated by observing the operations in the last period of the life cycle. Accordingly, fault detecting and protection circuits are designed. Before coming to the life-end, the lamps can be started up, but are operated abnormally. A ruddy glow may occur at one end of the cathode filaments and an unstable arc may happen to the lamp. Obviously, the light efficiency becomes relatively low. The arc instability eventually results in a totally damaged fluorescent lamp. It is found that both waveforms of the lamp voltage and the lamp current are asymmetrical and have unequal positive and negative peak values. The asymmetry is more significant for the lamp voltage. In addition, a dc component is present in the lamp voltage. Based on these investigated results, the detection and protection circuits are designed for high-frequency electronic ballasts under dimming operations as well at the rated power. The experiments show that the detection and protection circuits can work effectively.

The concept of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) had been used as a patient reported outcome measure in healthcare settings. It has been conceptualised and measured using validated instruments in the Western scientific community. However, in the Saudi literature, the true meaning of this concept is still lacking. The aim of this study is to explore the gap in literature and define the concept of HRQoL, identify its key domains and conceptualise it as perceived specifically by patients with renal failure and undergoing haemodialysis in Saudi Arabia. This PhD included two strands, an empirical qualitative study and a critical analysis of the HRQoL concept and its measurement in the Western as well as the Saudi literature. Using qualitative research methods, the empirical study was conducted in one centre in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia. Twenty two In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted in the Arabic language, recorded, transcribed and translated into English. Thematic analysis was performed to analyse the data as the transcripts were coded, the categories identified and the themes generated. The conceptual analysis of HRQoL was carried out after the review of the Western literature on the quality of life (QoL) conceptual models and the measuring instruments used in renal literature. Systematic review of the Saudi HRQoL literature was performed as well to understand the meaning and methods of measurement of the concept of HRQoL. The conceptual analysis of HRQoL revealed that the concept is poorly defined in the Saudi literature; its measurement was based on instruments that are not culturally-adapted. Hence the findings are subjected to questions of validity and reliability. The QoL conceptual models have been developing in the Western literature as well as measuring instruments for patients with renal failure. However, the adoption of these models or instruments is critical due to social, cultural and religious variations between Saudi Arabia and the Western societies. Seven themes defining HRQoL emerged from the qualitative data; these reflected the subjectivity of the concept. The domains of HRQoL were the physiological, social, psychological, religious and vocational domains. Each of those domains was defined by determinants that affect other domains and the overall HRQoL. These were synthesised into a single definition, which incorporated all five domains. A model of HRQoL of patients undergoing haemodialysis in Saudi Arabia was developed explaining the relationship between the key domains and HRQoL. Healthcare services were discussed as a factor that affects the health status of patients and plays an indirect role in the life quality of this patient group. Hence it was considered as a factor rather than a domain. This study, including the conceptual analysis and the empirical study, illustrates that the concept of HRQoL is highly individual and is affected by the views of individuals living in a specific culture. Additionally, it is affected by the social, cultural and religious backgrounds of those individuals. The conceptualisation of HRQoL in this study was almost similar to the Western conceptualisation, however, the relationships between the key domains of HRQoL and their determinants differed. The social and religious domains were highly influenced by the Arabic culture and the Islamic religion. HRQoL in patients with ESRD in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia has a different meaning and conceptualisation from that seen in comparable Western literature. The assessment of HRQoL of patients with renal failure and on haemodialysis in Saudi Arabia requires a culturally-adapted instrument. This would ensure valid and reliable results that could be used in decision-making and the planning of care.

UNIVERZITA KARLOVA V PRAZE FAKULTA TĚLESNÉ VÝCHOVY A SPORTU The effect of physical activity and nutrition interventions on physical fitness and quality of life during the first year after kidney transplantation Abstract of disertation Zpracovala: Mgr. Klára Švagrová Školitel: Prof. Ing. Václav Bunc, CSc. Školící pracoviště: Laboratoř sportovní motoriky Praha, 2012 ABSTRACT Kidney transplantation is the best known treatment of chronic kidney failure. However, it is often accompanied by a number of health complications. The transplantation itself positively affects both physical fitness and quality of life during the first year after the transplant surgery which are seriously diminished when compared to the healthy population. This improvement can be even enhanced by appropriate physical activity and nutrition interventions otherwise both the physical fitness and quality of life would start declining after the first post-transplant year again. The aim of this study was to confirm a positive effect of a long-term physical activity and nutrition interventions on health-related physical fitness and health-related quality of life in a representative sample of individuals in the first year after the kidney transplantation. At the same time it was fundamental to verify that the experimental trial can be...

UNIVERZITA KARLOVA V PRAZE FAKULTA TĚLESNÉ VÝCHOVY A SPORTU The effect of physical activity and nutrition interventions on physical fitness and quality of life during the first year after kidney transplantation Abstract of disertation Zpracovala: Mgr. Klára Švagrová Školitel: Prof. Ing. Václav Bunc, CSc. Školící pracoviště: Laboratoř sportovní motoriky Praha, 2012 ABSTRACT Kidney transplantation is the best known treatment of chronic kidney failure. However, it is often accompanied by a number of health complications. The transplantation itself positively affects both physical fitness and quality of life during the first year after the transplant surgery which are seriously diminished when compared to the healthy population. This improvement can be even enhanced by appropriate physical activity and nutrition interventions otherwise both the physical fitness and quality of life would start declining after the first post-transplant year again. The aim of this study was to confirm a positive effect of a long-term physical activity and nutrition interventions on health-related physical fitness and health-related quality of life in a representative sample of individuals in the first year after the kidney transplantation. At the same time it was fundamental to verify that the experimental trial can be...