Este trabalho descreve o projeto, a construção e a avaliação de um digitalizador de sinais controlado por microprocessador, desenvolvido para ser utilizado em Tomografia por Ressonância Magnética Nuclear, TORM. O digitalizador apresenta dois canais de entrada com digitalização simultânea em 256, 512 ou 1024 palavras por canal e com taxa de amostragem máxima de 22,7 Khz. A resolução é de 12 bits com conversão analógico/digital por aproximação sucessiva. Não há controles manuais o que exige um computador hospedeiro para o ajuste de parâmetros via interface de comunicação paralela destinada para este fim. Opcionalmente pode-se utilizar uma interface serial do tipo RS232C-EIA operando com velocidade máxima de 9600 bauds. O equipamento efetua o processamento local da média acumulativa do sinal, técnica empregada para melhorar a relação sinal/ruído no caso de ruído aleatório. Um circuito dedicado à monitoração permite que se visualize em monitor X-Y tanto o sinal como a sua média. No caso da média, por ela ser acumulativa, há um ajuste automático de escala / This work describes the design, construction and evaluation of a microprocessor controlled digitizer developed to be used in Magnetic Resonance Tomography or Imaging, MRI. The digitizer presents two input channels with simultaneous digitalization in 256, 512 or 1024 words per channel with a sample rate up to 22.7 Khz. A resolution of 12 bits is obtained with successive approximation A/D conversion. There are no manual controls. So a host computer is needed to adjust the parameters through a parallel communication interface available for this purpose. Optionally, a RS232-EIA type serial interface may be used, operating at speeds up to 9600 bauds. Signal average can be processed locally by the equipment. This technique is used to improve the signal to noise ratio in case of random noise. A dedicated circuit permits the visualization of the signal and or its average on an x-y monitor. To monitor cumulative averaged data an automatic scale adjustment is provided

Propõe-se um sistema para processamento em um mini computador, de sinais elétricos da cóclea gravados em fita magnética. As gravações são efetuadas nos hospitais, utilizando-se aparelhos de simples manuseio e de baixo custo. Obtém-se dados que auxiliarão no diagnóstico de patologias do órgão da audição. Os instrumentos existentes para a realização da eletrococleografia são da manipulação complexa além de terem alto custo. O sistema proposto simplifica muito a operação do equipamento empregado nos hospitais, obtendo-se uma redução do custo global do exame. No hospital, deve-se ter um circuito de controle, um gravador, um amplificador e um gerador de estímulos. No centro de computação deve-se ter um mini computador, outro gravador, filtros e uma interface de controle. Foram desenvolvidos no trabalho: o circuito de controle, os filtros, a interface de controle e todos os programas responsáveis pelo processamento. Atualmente, a eletrococleografia em todo o Brasil é realizada em apenas alguns centros hospitalares, devido aos fatores custo e complexidade de manuseio. Em vista dos bons resultados obtidos e do baixo custo do sistema proposto, conclui-se que, com o nosso método, poder-se-ia difundir a eletrococleografia para um grande número de centros hospitalares. / A system is proposed that uses a minicomputer for the processing of electrical potentials from the cochlea. These signals are previously recorded on magnetic tape at hospitals, using simple and inexpensive equipment. The results obtained by the processing provide valuable data for the diagnosis of hearing disorders. The available equipment for electrocochleography at the present time is rather complicated to use and very expensive. The proposed system eases the operation and has a low cost. At the hospital, one must have a control circuit, a tape recorder, an amplifier and a sound stimulator. At the computing center one needs a minicomputer, another tape recorder, filters and a control interface. In this work were developed: the control circuit, the filters, the control interface and all programs used in the processing of the data. Nowadays, the use of electrocochleography in Brazil is limited to a few medical centers, due to the cost and complexity of the equipment. It is hoped that the simpler system proposed here will contribute to a wider use of electrocochleography.

Este trabalho descreve o projeto, a construção e a avaliação de um digitalizador de sinais controlado por microprocessador, desenvolvido para ser utilizado em Tomografia por Ressonância Magnética Nuclear, TORM. O digitalizador apresenta dois canais de entrada com digitalização simultânea em 256, 512 ou 1024 palavras por canal e com taxa de amostragem máxima de 22,7 Khz. A resolução é de 12 bits com conversão analógico/digital por aproximação sucessiva. Não há controles manuais o que exige um computador hospedeiro para o ajuste de parâmetros via interface de comunicação paralela destinada para este fim. Opcionalmente pode-se utilizar uma interface serial do tipo RS232C-EIA operando com velocidade máxima de 9600 bauds. O equipamento efetua o processamento local da média acumulativa do sinal, técnica empregada para melhorar a relação sinal/ruído no caso de ruído aleatório. Um circuito dedicado à monitoração permite que se visualize em monitor X-Y tanto o sinal como a sua média. No caso da média, por ela ser acumulativa, há um ajuste automático de escala / This work describes the design, construction and evaluation of a microprocessor controlled digitizer developed to be used in Magnetic Resonance Tomography or Imaging, MRI. The digitizer presents two input channels with simultaneous digitalization in 256, 512 or 1024 words per channel with a sample rate up to 22.7 Khz. A resolution of 12 bits is obtained with successive approximation A/D conversion. There are no manual controls. So a host computer is needed to adjust the parameters through a parallel communication interface available for this purpose. Optionally, a RS232-EIA type serial interface may be used, operating at speeds up to 9600 bauds. Signal average can be processed locally by the equipment. This technique is used to improve the signal to noise ratio in case of random noise. A dedicated circuit permits the visualization of the signal and or its average on an x-y monitor. To monitor cumulative averaged data an automatic scale adjustment is provided

Propõe-se um sistema para processamento em um mini computador, de sinais elétricos da cóclea gravados em fita magnética. As gravações são efetuadas nos hospitais, utilizando-se aparelhos de simples manuseio e de baixo custo. Obtém-se dados que auxiliarão no diagnóstico de patologias do órgão da audição. Os instrumentos existentes para a realização da eletrococleografia são da manipulação complexa além de terem alto custo. O sistema proposto simplifica muito a operação do equipamento empregado nos hospitais, obtendo-se uma redução do custo global do exame. No hospital, deve-se ter um circuito de controle, um gravador, um amplificador e um gerador de estímulos. No centro de computação deve-se ter um mini computador, outro gravador, filtros e uma interface de controle. Foram desenvolvidos no trabalho: o circuito de controle, os filtros, a interface de controle e todos os programas responsáveis pelo processamento. Atualmente, a eletrococleografia em todo o Brasil é realizada em apenas alguns centros hospitalares, devido aos fatores custo e complexidade de manuseio. Em vista dos bons resultados obtidos e do baixo custo do sistema proposto, conclui-se que, com o nosso método, poder-se-ia difundir a eletrococleografia para um grande número de centros hospitalares. / A system is proposed that uses a minicomputer for the processing of electrical potentials from the cochlea. These signals are previously recorded on magnetic tape at hospitals, using simple and inexpensive equipment. The results obtained by the processing provide valuable data for the diagnosis of hearing disorders. The available equipment for electrocochleography at the present time is rather complicated to use and very expensive. The proposed system eases the operation and has a low cost. At the hospital, one must have a control circuit, a tape recorder, an amplifier and a sound stimulator. At the computing center one needs a minicomputer, another tape recorder, filters and a control interface. In this work were developed: the control circuit, the filters, the control interface and all programs used in the processing of the data. Nowadays, the use of electrocochleography in Brazil is limited to a few medical centers, due to the cost and complexity of the equipment. It is hoped that the simpler system proposed here will contribute to a wider use of electrocochleography.

I have developed a multiagent system platform that provides a valuable complement to the alternative research methods. The platform facilitates the development of heterogeneous agents in complex environments. The first application of the multiagent system is to the study of sealed-bid auctions with two-dimensional value signals from pure private to pure common value. I find that several auction outcomes are significantly nonlinear across the two-dimensional value signals. As the common value percent increases, profit, revenue, and efficiency all decrease monotonically, but they decrease in different ways. Finally, I find that forcing revelation by the auction winner of the true common value may have beneficial revenue effects when the common-value percent is high and there is a high degree of uncertainty about the common value. The second application of the multiagent system is to the study of English auctions with two-dimensional value signals using agents that learn a signal-averaging factor. I find that signal averaging increases nonlinearly as the common value percent increases, decreases with the number of bidders, and decreases at high common value percents when the common value signal is more uncertain. Using signal averaging, agents increase their profit when the value is more uncertain. The most obvious effect of signal averaging is on reducing the percentage of auctions won by bidders with the highest common value signal. The third application of the multiagent system is to the study of the optimal payment rule in Treasury auctions using Canadian rules. The model encompasses the when-issued, auction, and secondary markets, as well as constraints for primary dealers. I find that the Spanish payment rule is revenue inferior to the Discriminatory payment rule across all market price spreads, but the Average rule is revenue superior. For most market-price spreads, Uniform payment results in less revenue than Discriminatory, but there are many cases in which Vickrey payment produces more revenue.

I have developed a multiagent system platform that provides a valuable complement to the alternative research methods. The platform facilitates the development of heterogeneous agents in complex environments. The first application of the multiagent system is to the study of sealed-bid auctions with two-dimensional value signals from pure private to pure common value. I find that several auction outcomes are significantly nonlinear across the two-dimensional value signals. As the common value percent increases, profit, revenue, and efficiency all decrease monotonically, but they decrease in different ways. Finally, I find that forcing revelation by the auction winner of the true common value may have beneficial revenue effects when the common-value percent is high and there is a high degree of uncertainty about the common value. The second application of the multiagent system is to the study of English auctions with two-dimensional value signals using agents that learn a signal-averaging factor. I find that signal averaging increases nonlinearly as the common value percent increases, decreases with the number of bidders, and decreases at high common value percents when the common value signal is more uncertain. Using signal averaging, agents increase their profit when the value is more uncertain. The most obvious effect of signal averaging is on reducing the percentage of auctions won by bidders with the highest common value signal. The third application of the multiagent system is to the study of the optimal payment rule in Treasury auctions using Canadian rules. The model encompasses the when-issued, auction, and secondary markets, as well as constraints for primary dealers. I find that the Spanish payment rule is revenue inferior to the Discriminatory payment rule across all market price spreads, but the Average rule is revenue superior. For most market-price spreads, Uniform payment results in less revenue than Discriminatory, but there are many cases in which Vickrey payment produces more revenue.

I have developed a multiagent system platform that provides a valuable complement to the alternative research methods. The platform facilitates the development of heterogeneous agents in complex environments. The first application of the multiagent system is to the study of sealed-bid auctions with two-dimensional value signals from pure private to pure common value. I find that several auction outcomes are significantly nonlinear across the two-dimensional value signals. As the common value percent increases, profit, revenue, and efficiency all decrease monotonically, but they decrease in different ways. Finally, I find that forcing revelation by the auction winner of the true common value may have beneficial revenue effects when the common-value percent is high and there is a high degree of uncertainty about the common value. The second application of the multiagent system is to the study of English auctions with two-dimensional value signals using agents that learn a signal-averaging factor. I find that signal averaging increases nonlinearly as the common value percent increases, decreases with the number of bidders, and decreases at high common value percents when the common value signal is more uncertain. Using signal averaging, agents increase their profit when the value is more uncertain. The most obvious effect of signal averaging is on reducing the percentage of auctions won by bidders with the highest common value signal. The third application of the multiagent system is to the study of the optimal payment rule in Treasury auctions using Canadian rules. The model encompasses the when-issued, auction, and secondary markets, as well as constraints for primary dealers. I find that the Spanish payment rule is revenue inferior to the Discriminatory payment rule across all market price spreads, but the Average rule is revenue superior. For most market-price spreads, Uniform payment results in less revenue than Discriminatory, but there are many cases in which Vickrey payment produces more revenue.

The main aim of this thesis is to introduce issue of averaging of biological signals. The first part of the thesis deals with the principles of individual averaging methods (constant, floating and exponential window) and describes their basic features. Moreover, the principle of filtered residue, detection of QRS complex, and stretching/shrinking the length of RR-interval to the standardized length are explicated. In the second part of the thesis the outcomes of practically realized (Matlab and GUI) methods of averaging (by final signal-to-noise ratio) are evaluated. Signals from MIT-BIH database are used.

The main objectives of this thesis are to study theory of signal averaging, filtered residue method and methods of stretching/shrinking signal. It will also test the functionality of those methods. Thesis contains theoretical analysis, explanation of principles and testing of behaving of used methods.

Tato magisterská práce se zabývá analýzou vysokofrekvenčních složek záznamu EKG z pohledu mechano-elektrické vazby u izolovaného králičího srdce. První částí této práce je literární rešerše na zadané téma zahrnující informace o vzniku a šíření akčního potenciálu na chemické i elektrické úrovní i mechano-elektrické zpětné vazbě. Dále práce obsahuje kapitolu zabývající se tématikou průměrování signálu jako techniky ke zvýšení poměru signál-šum při analýze vysokofrekvenčních složek. V praktické části práce jsou získané poznatky aplikovány na dlouhé záznamy EKG z izolovaných králičích srdcí. Zahrnut je popis perfuzního systému podle Neelyho a jeho užití při experimentech. V realizaci byla data z 15 izolovaných králičích srdcí podrobeno analýze zkoumající přítomnost reakce systému na změnu vstupních parametrů (afterloadu a preploadu) v případě tlakově objemových dat. Výsledky byly vztaženy ke stejně získaným hodnotám z HF ECG. Dohromady tvoří popis mechano-elektriké reakce srdce na hemodynamické podněty. Výsledky byly statistisky testovány a vyhodnoceny.