Open-source software for generating electrocardiogram signals

ECGSYN, a dynamical model that faithfully reproduces the main features of the human electrocardiogram (ECG), including heart rate variability, RR intervals and QT intervals is presented. Details of the underlying algorithm and an open-source software implementation in Matlab, C and Java are described. An example of how this model will facilitate comparisons of signal processing techniques is provided.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

HIV positive status disclosure to sexual partner among women attending ART clinic at Hawassa University Referral Hospital, SNNPR, Ethiopia

Background: Disclosure of HIV positive status has key role in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. Reports of non-disclosure and negative outcome of disclosure are common. Thus, disclosure of HIV positive status is a theme that demands investigation.Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude and outcome of HIV positive status disclosure to sexual partner among women living with HIV/AIDS and attending Hawassa University Referral Hospital, South Nations and Nationalities Peoples Region (SNNPR) during a period of March to April 2008.Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted at Hawassa University  Referral Hospital. Single population proportion formula was used to determine sample size. Using a structured and pre-tested questionnaire, data on disclosure were collected through interview. After explaining purpose of the survey, data collection was continued until the required sample was obtained. Then, data were entered using EPI info version 2002 statistical package and cross checked for reliability. Using SPSS 12.1 for windows statistical package, analysis was done. Results: Overall 85.7% of the women had disclosed their HIV positive status to sexual partner. Main barriers of disclosure reported by non-disclosed subjects were; fear of abandonment, fear of break-up in relationship and fear of stigma. More than 59% of the women with regular sexual partner faced negative partner reaction after disclosure. Compared with married women, those women who were in a cohabiting relationship were less likely to disclose their HIV status to sexual partners (AOR 0.16; 95% CI 0.04, 0.60); women who did not know HIV status of their sexualpartners were less likely to disclose their HIV positive status than their counter parts (AOR 0.02; 95% CI 0.00, 0.08) and women who had been on ART for more than one year were more likely to disclose their HIV positive status than the reference groups (AOR 8.62; 95% CI 1.35, 55.22).Conclusion: HIV positive status disclosure to sexual partner in this study was higher than what was reported in other studies in Ethiopia, for Mettu and Gore (69%) but slightly lower than the report from Jimma (94.5%) and Addis Ababa (92%). Negative partner reaction following disclosure was higher. Effectively addressing issues of disclosure was recommended to encourage disclosure and cope with negative reactions after disclosure in People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Besides, currently existing Information Education Communication (IEC) interventions on HIV/AIDS should be strengthened, to reduce negative partner reaction following disclosure. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2010;24(1):9-14

Extraction of electromagnetic neutron form factors through inclusive and exclusive polarized electron scattering on polarized 3He target

Inclusive 3He(e,e') and exclusive 3He(e,e'n) processes with polarized electrons and 3He have been theoretically analyzed and values for the magnetic and electric neutron form factors have been extracted. In both cases the form factor values agree well with the ones extracted from processes on the deuteron. Our results are based on Faddeev solutions, modern NN forces and partially on the incorporation of mesonic exchange currents.Comment: 28 pages, 29 Postscript figure

On the Nucleon Distribution Amplitude: The Heterotic Solution

We present a new nucleon distribution amplitude which amalgamates features of the Chernyak-Ogloblin-Zhitnitsky model with those of the Gari-Stefanis model. This "heterotic" solution provides the possibility to have asymptotically a small ratio \hbox{$\vert G_{M}^{n}\vert/G_{M}^{p}\le 0.1$}, while fulfilling most of the sum-rule requirements up to the third order. Using this nucleon distribution amplitude we calculate the electromagnetic and weak nucleon form factors, the transition form factor $\gamma p \Delta^{+}$ and the decay widths of the charmonium levels $^3S_{1}$, $^3P_{1}$, and $^3P_{2}$ into $p\bar p$. The agreement with the available data is remarkable in all cases.Comment: 15 pages, RUB-TPII-21/92 Preprin

Review of "Biomedical Informatics; Computer Applications in Health Care and Biomedicine" by Edward H. Shortliffe and James J. Cimino

This article is an invited review of the third edition of "Biomedical Informatics; Computer Applications in Health Care and Biomedicine", one of thirty-six volumes in Springer's 'Health Informatics Series', edited by E. Shortliffe and J. Cimino. This book spans most of the current methods and issues in health informatics, ranging through subjects as varied as data acquisition and storage, standards, natural language processing, imaging, electronic health records, decision support, teaching methods and ethics. The book is aimed at 'healthcare professionals', and is certainly appropriate for the non-technical informatics user. However, this book is also excellent background reading for the technical engineer who may be interested in the possible problems that confront the users in this field

La comunidad algal epilítica en hábitat de rabión en un arroyo serrano

In flowing water habitats areas of turbulent erosion, oxygenated waters and heterogeneity can be distinguished, which are called riffles. The objective of this study was to determine the composition and structure of the epilithic algal community in riffle habitat of Arroyo Achiras (Córdoba, Argentina). Two sampling sites were selected along the longitudinal gradient, one in mountainous zone (A) and another one in piedmont (B). In 2005 and 2006 epilithic samples were collected during periods of low and high waters and physico-chemical and hydraulic variables were measured. At each site algal abundance and frequency were determined. Similarity index, taxonomic richness, species diversity (Shannon) and evenness were calculated. Differences between both zones were analyzed by two-way ANOVAs. A total of 175 taxa were determined. The greatest similarity (67%) was observed between high and low water hydrological periods at site B. Ochrophyta dominated over the other algal divisions. The highest algal density was recorded at site B during the period of low water. Significant differences between sites and hydrological periods were observed in all biological parameters, except for abundance.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Approach to Perturbative Results in the N-Delta Transition

We show that constraints from perturbative QCD calculations play a role in the nucleon to Delta(1232) electromagnetic transition even at moderate momentum transfer scales. The pQCD constraints, tied to real photoproduction data and unseparated resonance response functions, lead to explicit forms for the helicity amplitudes wherein the E2/M1 ratio remains small at moderately large momentum transfer.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, ReVTe

Investigation of the Neutron Form Factors by Inclusive Quasi-Elastic Scattering of Polarized Electrons off Polarized 3^{3}He: A Theoretical Overview

The theory of quasi-elastic inclusive scattering of polarized leptons off polarized $^3$He is critically reviewed and the origin of different expressions for the polarized nuclear response function appearing in the literature is explained. The sensitivity of the longitudinal asymmetry upon the neutron form factors is thoroughly investigated and the role played by the polarization angle for minimizing the proton contribution is illustrated.Comment: Phys. Rev C in press; 9 figs. (available upon request

La comunidad algal epilítica en hábitat de rabión en un arroyo serrano

In flowing water habitats areas of turbulent erosion, oxygenated waters and heterogeneity can be distinguished, which are called riffles. The objective of this study was to determine the composition and structure of the epilithic algal community in riffle habitat of Arroyo Achiras (Córdoba, Argentina). Two sampling sites were selected along the longitudinal gradient, one in mountainous zone (A) and another one in piedmont (B). In 2005 and 2006 epilithic samples were collected during periods of low and high waters and physico-chemical and hydraulic variables were measured. At each site algal abundance and frequency were determined. Similarity index, taxonomic richness, species diversity (Shannon) and evenness were calculated. Differences between both zones were analyzed by two-way ANOVAs. A total of 175 taxa were determined. The greatest similarity (67%) was observed between high and low water hydrological periods at site B. Ochrophyta dominated over the other algal divisions. The highest algal density was recorded at site B during the period of low water. Significant differences between sites and hydrological periods were observed in all biological parameters, except for abundance.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse