CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / The main goal of this work was to evaluate the water quality in the Trussu River valley. The Trussu River drainage an area of 1,590 km2 and it is a tributary of left site of Jaguaribe River. This region located in Iguatu County, CearÃ, Brazil. Drainaged waters are stored at Roberto Costa (Trussu) dam, which deliver water to human consume, livestock and irrigation in the last 20 km of the valley. In this study, a data reduction technique, Principal Componente Analysis (PCA), was used to develop a water quality index. Water samples were carried out every month from sept./2002 to mar./2004 in nine sample stations spread out the Trussu River area. Five of them are sited along the river and other four are located in shallow wells. It was analyzed the following variables: pH, EC, Na+, Ca+2, Mg+2, K+, Cl-, HCO3 -, PO4 -2, NH+ 4, NO3 - , SO4 -2 and SAR. The use of PCA technique has allowed the identification of variables that explain higher percentage of total variance. Also, PCA technique allowed the reduction of the 13 variables to two significant components that explain 83.44% of the total variance. The first one, PC1, (account for 64.10% of the variance) which can initially assigned to water mineralization. The second one, PC2, (account for 19.34% of the variance) is built from variables indicative of man-made effect. In a second step, these parameters were applied to develop a water quality index (WQI). The WQI showed up a good adequacy to evaluate the water quality in Trussu River valley. Also, results pointed up that water quality to shallow well has a high spatial variability. Sampling stations 8 and 9 registered the lowest WQIs and they were inapt to human consume, where WQIs were lowed than 30. Surface waters presented as suitable to human consume during the studied period with WQIs average over to 80. the anthropeic degradation was observed in sampling stations 6 and 7, where WQIs are lower than other stations sited in up land. These results can be explained by a bigger demographic concentration close to stations and the lack of sewer in the region. / O presente trabalho foi desenvolvido com o propÃsito de avaliar a qualidade das Ãguas para aparte baixa da bacia hidrogrÃfica do rio Trussu, localizada no municÃpio de Iguatu-CE. Este rio, que à afluente da margem esquerda do rio Jaguaribe, e drena uma Ãrea de 1590 km2. Suas Ãguas sÃo barradas pelo aÃude Roberto Costa (Trussu), o qual pereniza 20 km de rio com a finalidade de fornecer Ãgua para o consumo humano e a agropecuÃria do vale do Trussu. Neste estudo foi desenvolvido um Ãndice de qualidade de Ãgua, utilizando a tÃcnica de estatÃstica multivariada, denominada anÃlise da componente principal. Os dados empregados neste trabalho foram coletados mensalmente de setembro de 2002 a fevereiro de 2004, em cinco estaÃÃes amostrais distribuÃdas ao longo do trecho perenizado e quatro poÃos rasos prÃximos ao rio Trussu. O estudo de qualidade de Ãgua considerou as seguintes variÃveis fÃsico-quÃmicas: pH, condutividade elÃtrica, cÃlcio, magnÃsio, sÃdio, potÃssio, bicarbonato, fosfato, cloreto, amÃnio, nitrato, sulfato e relaÃÃo de adsorÃÃo de sÃdio. A tÃcnica da anÃlise da componente principal (ACP) foi aplicada com o objetivo de selecionar as variÃveis mais significativas para a variabilidade total dos dados. A ACP proporcionou a reduÃÃo de 13 variÃveis em duas componentes que explicaram 83,44% da variÃncia total. A primeira componente (contendo 64,10% da variÃncia) expressa o processo do intemperismo; podendo ser identificada como uma componente de mineralizaÃÃo das Ãguas do rio Trussu. A segunda componente (19,34% da variÃncia) à alusiva à contaminaÃÃo orgÃnica; indicando uma componente representativa da aÃÃo antrÃpica. Em uma segunda etapa do estudo, estes parÃmetros foram utilizados para desenvolver um Ãndice de qualidade de Ãgua (IQA), para classificar este recurso na regiÃo. O IQA apresentou uma boa adequaÃÃo para avaliar a qualidade das Ãguas no vale do Trussu. Os resultados, tambÃm mostraram uma grande variabilidade espacial na qualidade das Ãguas subterrÃneas, existindo pontos em que a Ãgua à inadequada ao consumo humano (estaÃÃes amostrais 08 e 09), com um IQA inferior a 30. As Ãguas superficiais mostraram-se adequadas ao consumo humano ao longo de todo o perÃodo estudado, apresentando mÃdia de IQA acima de oitenta. A degradaÃÃo antrÃpica da qualidade das Ãguas superficiais pode ser claramente observada nas estaÃÃes amostrais 06 e 07, onde o IQA à inferior Ãs demais estaÃÃes a montante. Esta menor qualidade de Ãgua pode ser atribuÃda à maior concentraÃÃo demogrÃfica da regiÃo e à ausÃncia de saneamento bÃsico.

Submitted by JÚLIO HEBER SILVA (julioheber@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-04-05T17:53:55Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Fernanda Luisa Ramalho - 2017.pdf: 4273290 bytes, checksum: d250babe83ae877a9b9f20921baf52a1 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-04-06T11:10:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Fernanda Luisa Ramalho - 2017.pdf: 4273290 bytes, checksum: d250babe83ae877a9b9f20921baf52a1 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-06T11:10:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Fernanda Luisa Ramalho - 2017.pdf: 4273290 bytes, checksum: d250babe83ae877a9b9f20921baf52a1 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-02-03 / Water is one of the most important resources for the survival and maintenance of all life on earth. With increasing human population, increased consumer demand has been occurred in recent decades and as a result, natural resources, in particular the aquatic ecosystem, are thoroughly explored to attend the various production activities such as industry, agriculture and for use in domestic activities. Depending on the various uses and the possibility of pollution of the aquatic environment, are created several methods for greater control of water quality and protection of the aquatic community and the humans. Thus, the research has the general objective to evaluate the quality of water at Matriz Creek in Cachoeira Alta/GO. To reach the proposed objective, follows as the methodological procedure the use of Resolution CONAMA. 357 2005 for the framework of the water body and the method of analysis of the water quality index - IQA / CETESB. Therefore, we evaluated nine parameters: hydrogen potential (pH), dissolved oxygen (OD), biochemical oxygen demand (DBO), total phosphorus (Pt), total nitrogen (Nt), thermotolerant coliform (CT), turbidity, the total of residual (RT) and temperature (T). According to the data evaluated, it is concluded that the waters of Matriz Creek was evaluated according to the limits of class 1 and class 2 of the current resolution. Remembering that parameter like phosphorus reached the limit of class 3 in some campaigns. Already for the IQA-CETESB, the Matriz Creek has a good quality water, reaching an estimated average in campaigns of 70.25 being viable for human consumption after conventional treatment for public supply. / A água é um dos recursos mais importantes para a sobrevivência e manutenção de toda vida na terra. Com o aumento da população humana, uma maior demanda de consumo vem ocorrendo nas últimas décadas e, como consequência, os recursos naturais, em especial o ecossistema aquático, são exaustivamente explorados para suprir as diversas atividades de produção, como por exemplo, a indústria, a agricultura e as atividades domésticas. Em função dos diversos usos e da possibilidade de poluição do ambiente aquático, são criados vários métodos para um maior controle da qualidade da água e proteção da comunidade aquática e dos seres humanos. Objetivou-se com a pesquisa diagnosticar e avaliar a qualidade das águas do Córrego Matriz, localizado no município de Cachoeira Alta-GO. Os procedimentos metodológicos utilizados seguiram propostas da Resolução CONAMA nº 357, de 2005, para o enquadramento do corpo hídrico e o índice de qualidade da água - IQA/CETESB. Foram avaliados 9 parâmetros: potencial hidrogeniônico (pH), oxigênio dissolvido (OD), demanda bioquímica de oxigênio (DBO), fósforo total (Pt), nitrogênio total (Nt), coliformes termotolerantes (CT), turbidez (Turb), resíduos totais (RT) e temperatura (T). De acordo com os dados avaliados, conclui-se que as águas do Córrego Matriz podem ser enquadradas como de classe 3 da Resolu- ção vigente, devido ao parâmetro de Pt e DBO, portanto, as águas podem ser destinadas ao abastecimento para consumo humano, após tratamento convencional ou avançado. Já pelo IQA-CETESB, o Córrego Matriz conta com uma água de boa qualidade, sendo viável para o consumo humano, após tratamento convencional.

The present work had for objective to verify the relation between growth variability and the interference Dickson Quality Index, to verify the efficiency relation of this /index in the quality indication on seedlings and to identify the behavior of the growth variable during the seedlings development cycle in trays with full and varied competition in Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maid and Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm seedlings, in the forest nursery of the Universidade Federal de Saint Maria, RS. In this way, for both species, was installed a blank experiment in the greenhouse. The data collection for E. grandis had been to the 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 days, after the seedling sprout and for P. elliotti to 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175 days, after the seedling sprout (DAE). Each species were represented for two trays, being that in one of them was analyzed the diameter of the col (DIAM, in mm), the height of the aerial part (ALT, in cm), the leaf number (NF) (only for E. grandis), dry fitomass of leaves (MSF in gram/plant), dry fitomass of the col (MSC gram/plant), dry fitomass of the radicular system (MSR gram/plant); dry fitomass of the aerial part (MSPA gram/plant), gotten for the sum of MSF and MSC; total dry fitomass(MST), gotten for the sum of MSPA and MSR; the relation of the aerial part/radicular system (RPAR), gotten of the relation between MSPA and MSR; and the relation of the aerial part height /diameter of the col (RAD), gotten from the relation between ALT and DIAM, and the Dickson Quality Index (IQD), gotten from an equation involving the morphologic variable, previously cited, except the NF. For this tray, after each data collection was selected a parcel of seedlings for fitomassas attainment. One proceeded the rearrangement from the remaining seedlings, with the intention of verifying the interference that the seedlings would suffer, giving them a bigger luminosity and aeration. To the other tray were analyzed diameter of col DIAM, ALT, NF (for E. grandis), remaining during all the study, the total number of seedlings. Through statistical methods of Regression Analysis, Pearson Correlation and Pathy Analysis different combinations between the morphologic variables had been studied, with DAE and IQD, using as election criterion for the regression mathematical models: the biggest value of the adjusted determination coefficient (R ² aj), minor variation coefficient (CV%) and minor error average standard (Syx). Dry root Fitomass, was the more related variable with the IQD, however its not viable the attainment because its necessary the destruction of the plantt. The diameter of the col was the most propitious variable to indicate seedling quality, based in its bigger degree of Dickson relation Index(IQD). The varialble height just presented efficient to indicate seedling quality when analyzed together the diameter. The IQD was efficient to indicate seedling quality, therefore it was presented sufficiently related with the studied variables for E. grandis and P. elliotti. The variable col diameter was the one that presented greater relation after sprout, when compared with the seedling height, as much in trays with seedlings in full competition how much in varied competition, for both the studied species / O presente trabalho teve por objetivo verificar a relação entre variáveis de crescimento e a interferência que estas exercem sobre o Índice de Qualidade de Dickson, verificar a relação de eficiência deste na indicação da qualidade de mudas e identificar o comportamento das variáveis de crescimento com o passar do ciclo de mudas em bandejas com competição plena e variada em mudas de Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maid e Pinus elliottii var. elliottii - Engelm, no viveiro florestal da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, RS. Nesse sentido, para ambas espécies, se instalou um experimento em branco em casa de vegetação. A coleta dos dados para E. grandis foram aos 60, 75, 90, 105 e 120 dias, após a emergência das mudas e para P. elliottii aos 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175 dias, após emergência das mudas (DAE). Cada espécie era representada por duas bandejas, sendo que em uma delas analisou-se o diâmetro do colo (DIAM, em mm), a altura da parte aérea (ALT, em cm), o número de folhas (NF) (somente para E. grandis), a fitomassa seca de folhas (MSF em grama/planta), fitomassa seca do colo (MSC grama/planta), fitomassa seca do sistema radicular (MSR grama/planta); a fitomassa seca da parte aérea (MSPA grama/planta), obtida pela soma da MSF e MSC; a fitomassa seca total (MST), obtida pela soma do MSPA e MSR; a relação da parte aérea/sistema radicular (RPAR), obtida da relação entre MSPA e MSR; e a relação da altura da parte aérea/diâmetro do coleto (RAD), obtida da relação entre ALT e DIAM, e Índice de Qualidade de Dickson (IQD), obtido a partir de uma equação envolvendo as variáveis morfológicas, anteriormente citadas, com exceção do NF. Para essa bandeja, após cada coleta dos dados selecionou-se uma parcela de mudas para obtenção das fitomassas. Procedeu-se o rearranjo das mudas remanescentes, com o intuito de assim se verificar interferência que as mudas sofreriam, disponibilizando de maior luminosidade e aeração. Para a outra bandeja analisou-se diâmetro do colo DIAM, ALT, NF (para E. grandis), mantendo-se, durante todo o estudo, o número total de mudas. Através de métodos estatísticos como Análise de Regressão, Correlação de Pearson e Análise de Trilha estudaram-se diferentes combinações entre as variáveis morfológicas, com DAE e IQD, usando-se como critérios de seleção para os modelos matemáticos de regressão: o maior valor do coeficiente de determinação ajustado (R²aj), menor coeficiente de variação (CV%) e menor erro padrão médio (Syx). A fitomassa seca de raiz, foi a variável mais relacionada com o IQD, porém não é viável sua obtenção por ser necessária a destruição da muda. O diâmetro do colo foi a variável mais propícia para indicar qualidade de muda, baseado no seu maior grau de relação com Índice de Qualidade de Dickson (IQD). A variável altura só se apresentou eficiente para indicar qualidade de mudas quando analisada juntamente com o diâmetro. O IQD foi eficiente para indicar qualidade de mudas, pois se apresentou bastante relacionado com as variáveis estudadas para E. grandis e P. elliottii. A variável diâmetro do colo foi a que apresentou maior relação com os dias após emergência, quando comparada com a altura da muda, tanto em bandejas com mudas em competição plena quanto em variada, para ambas as espécies estudadas

O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a vida útil da tilápia do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) inteira armazenada em gelo, usando analises sensoriais (Método do Índice de Qualidade), físico-químicas (bases nitrogenadas voláteis totais - BNVT, sustâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico - TBARS, pH, cor, textura e microbiológicas (microrganismos mesófilos e psicrotróficos). Uma equipe de sete provadores foi treinada durante sete sessões para avaliação sensorial de frescor em peixe cru e filés cozidos. Um esquema QIM foi otimizado para tilápia inteira e outro desenvolvido para filés cozidos, com 19 e 12 pontos de demérito, respetivamente. Três lotes de tilápia foram usados e os exemplares foram armazenados durante 13 dias em gelo para avaliar as alterações dos atributos de qualidade (aparência, brânquias, olhos, parede abdominal). A vida útil da tilápia do Nilo armazenada em gelo foi determinada em oito dias com base no critério sensorial dos filés cozidos, e pode ser usada como referencia para predizer o tempo de conservação residual. O índice de qualidade apresentou uma alta correlação linear com o tempo em gelo (IQ = 1,3865 x dias + 0,7922, R2 = 0,96), assim como também todos os atributos de qualidade. As análises sensoriais mostraram ser adequadas e confiáveis para avaliar o grau de frescor da tilápia, porem é recomendado usar no mínimo quatro peixes e mais do que um avaliador. A firmeza diminuiu durante o tempo de conservação em gelo (r = -0,73). Há uma pobre correlação entre os índices físico-químicos e microbiológicos e o tempo em gelo, não sendo considerados parâmetros confiáveis para avaliação das alterações da qualidade da tilápia do Nilo. Porém, peixes com até 13 dias não representam um risco para o consumidor, considerando que não foram ultrapassados os teores limites de BVNT (< 30 mg N/100g) nem de micro-organismos mesófilos viáveis (< 107 UFC/g). / The aim of this study was to determine the shelf-life of whole Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) stored in ice, using sensory analysis (Quality Index Method), physicochemical (total volatile base nitrogen - TVB-N, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances - TBARS, pH, color, texture and microbiological (mesophilic and psychrotrophic). A sensory panel of seven assessors was trained during seven sessions for sensory evaluation of fresh fish and cooked fillets. A QIM scheme was optimized for whole tilapia and other developed for cooked fillets, with 19 and by 12 points of demerit, respectively. Three batches of tilapia were used and the fish were stored on ice during 13 days to evaluate the changes in quality attributes (appearance, gills, eyes, abdomen). The shelf-life of Nile tilapia stored on ice was determined in eight days based on sensory analysis of cooked fillets, and can be used as reference to predict the remaining shelf life. The quality index had a high linear correlation with time on ice (QI = 1.3865 x + 0.7922 days, R2 = 0.96), as well as all quality attributes. Sensory analysis showed to be adequate and reliable for assessing the degree of freshness of tilapia, however it is recommended to use at least 4 fish and more than one assessor. The firmness decreased during the ice shelf life (r = -0.73). There is a poor correlation between the physical, chemical and microbiological indexes and the time stored on ice, whereby they\'re not considered reliable parameters for assessing changes in quality of Nile tilapia. However, fish up to 13 days do not represent a risk for the consumer, considering they were not exceeded the limits of TVB-N levels (< 30 mg N/100 g) and also not the viable mesophilic microorganisms (< 107 CFU / g).

Ensuring access to safe drinking water to protect public health in many communities underserved or unserved by centralized water systems in the US requires regular water quality testing and reporting. Following testing, access to easy-to-comprehend water quality information may be challenging. Households served by water utilities have access to water quality information. However, households depending on unregulated water systems like wells and springs are often unaware of their water quality. Therefore, this study utilized multiple water quality parameters to determine the quality of karst spring water using two Water Quality Index (WQI) methods. In-situ measurements of physico-chemical parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity, conductivity, specific conductance, total dissolved solids, oxidation reduction potential were taken at 50 karst springs in east Tennessee during Summer 2021. Water samples were analyzed for microbial (fecal coliform, and E. coli), nutrients (nitrate and nitrite), and radiological (radon) constituents using standard analytical methods. Springs generally met federal and state water quality safe limits for physicochemical parameters, but 100% of water samples contained fecal coliform and 90% contained E. coli revealing widespread fecal contamination; 60% of springs exceeded radon concentrations of 300 pCi/L. WQI method 1 (Brown et al. 1972) rated 12 % of springs as very poor water quality and 88% as unfit for drinking. WQI method 2 (NSFWQI) rated 4% of the sampled springs as good, 92% as moderate and 4 % as bad. Water treatment procedures for microbial pollution purification are advised before the studied springs are used as a drinking water source.

Karst springs are an essential source of private water supply for about 10% of households in Tennessee. However, these springs, which can be easily polluted, are unregulated. This study, therefore, assesses water quality spatial patterns and water quality rating of roadside springs in northeast Tennessee. Karst spring water samples collected from 50 springs were assessed using EPA Standard methods for pathogens, nutrients, radon, and physicochemical parameters. Springs generally met federal and state standards for physicochemical parameters, 90% of samples contained E. coli, and all samples contained fecal coliform. High E. coli was spatially clustered causing a fecal contamination hot spot on the border of Washington and Sullivan Counties, Tennessee. 60% of springs exceeded radon concentrations of 300 pCi/L. Water quality ratings were very poor or unfit for drinking, with 4% of springs ranked “good”. Therefore, microbial pollution purification procedures are advised before using these springs as a drinking water source.

No description available.

Background: Air pollution has become a serious environmental issue. It is responsible for hundreds of fatalities each year and it poses a serious threat to human health and environment. It leads to global warming, greenhouse effect and it also causes respiratory problems like asthma, lung cancer etc. It is important to predict the quality of the air to regulate air pollution. Air quality index (AQI) is a measure of air quality which describes the level of air pollution. Machine learning algorithms can help in predicting the AQI. Linear regression, LASSO regression, ridge regression, and SVR algorithms were used to forecast the AQI.  Objectives: The main objective of the thesis is to build and train a models using machine learning algorithms and find out the most accurate model in predicting the AQI.  Methods: Literature Review and Experimentation were chosen as methods to answer the research questions. There are a number of research papers written on prediction of AQI and literature review helped us a lot in research and references. Experimentation is also used to find out the most accurate machine learning model in predicting the air quality. In the experimentation phase, four machine learning algorithms were trained with air quality data to create predictive models for fore- casting AQI.  Results: Algorithms like Logistic Regression, Ridge Regression, LASSO Regression, and SVR are selected through literature review. Upon experimentation and training the algorithm with "Air Quality Data in India (2015-2020)" data set has showed that Ridge regression has the least MAE and RMSE and the highest R- square, which shows that it has the highest performance in predicting the AQI.  Conclusions: Four models are built by training with machine learning algorithms like Logistic Regression, Ridge Regression, LASSO Regression, and SVR and "Air Quality Data in India (2015-2020)" data set. After experimentation, it was found that Ridge Regression and LASSO regression has the better performance in the prediction of AQI.

The integrity of wetland ecosystems is largely determined by hydrological functionality, degree of connectivity to like ecosystems, and permeability to external influence. Land use changes in upland areas adjacent to wetland ecosystems may influence hydrology and connectivity while introducing novel biotic and abiotic materials. There is an increasing trend toward the use of remote assessment techniques to determine the degree of impact of external influences on adjacent wetlands. Remote assessment and predictive capabilities are provided by indices such as the Landscape Development Intensity Index (LDI) (Brown and Vivas 2005) which may be beneficial in determining site condition, and which have the added benefit of providing a quantitative gradient of human impact. This study assessed the predictive ability of the LDI in cypress ecosystems, by testing its correlations with plant community metrics including an index of floral quality calculated using coefficients of conservatism (CC)(Cohen et al. 2004), plant species diversity, and fluctuation in community composition assessed by changes in the wetland status and native status of component plant species. LDI was also compared against an independent measure of disturbance which was used to construct an a priori disturbance gradient. Overall, diversity measures showed little correlation with any of the disturbance indices, while CC scores were significantly correlated. Models were constructed in an attempt to explain each of the variables of plant community response to development in the surrounding landscape. The length of time since the development of the land adjacent to the cypress domes was a predictor of plant community response only when included in models with other variables. LDI was the strongest predictor in all models except where increases in land use associated with hydrological changes helped predict or better predicted proportions of exotic and upland species.

The purpose of this research is to expand the understanding of certain properties of electrodes used for electrical bioimpedance measurements. Specifically, this work investigates the acclimation effect of the skin-electrode interface contact impedance. It also attempts to study the relationship between electrode spacing and amplitude of bioimpedance pulsatile signals. It was found that as soon as dry electrodes are placed on the skin, the contact impedance exponentially decreases until it reaches a constant level. The acclimation time, time to reach a constant contact impedance, is dependent of the electrode size and frequency. Increasing the size of the electrode, as well as increasing the frequency, decreases the acclimation time. The acclimation of wet electrodes was also studied, and it was found that changes in contact impedance over time are negligible in comparison to the amount dry electrodes contact impedance change. However, the contact impedance of wet electrodes, instead of decreasing, tends to increase just slightly before reaching a steady state. Electrodes that do not carry current have contact impedance magnitudes similar to those that carried current after 60 minutes. This acclimation effect seems to be driven by the moisture level in the skin-electrode interface. As sweat and moisture build up with time when using dry electrodes, contact impedance decreases; and as the moisture in wet electrodes dries up with time, contact impedance increases. Capturing the small bioimpedance changes due to blood flow in the artery proved to be quite challenging under the circular orientation and with low levels of current injected. Only 5% of all the pulsatile data acquired had high enough quality to have a discernible pulsatile signal present on it. From the analysis of this 5% of data there were not conclusive results with regards the effect of electrode spacing on the pulsatile signal amplitude. However, the placement of the electrodes relative to the artery did seem to play a role on the pulse signal amplitude since the pulse amplitude seemed to peak when the center of the 4 electrodes was close to the artery. Pulsatile signal does not seem to be consistent throughout time; performing the same measurement 50 minutes apart sometimes resulted in the same or very similar measurements and other time the measurements were very different from each other. Despite the inconclusive results, the system for switching and selecting electrodes from an array of multiple electrodes along with the algorithm to determine the quality of the measured pulsatile signal proved to be efficient and serves as a foundation for developing a measurement system that can search and identify the the electrode configuration and placement that results in acquiring high quality signals.