Frequency dependent effect of selective biphasic left vagus nerve stimulation on heart rate and arterial pressure

Activation of the parasympathetic pathway leads to negative chronotropic, dromotropic, and inotropic changes of heart function. The ability to selectively stimulate certain superficial compartments of peripheral nerves has been demonstrated previously. The aim of the present study was to find a clinically acceptable selective biphasic vagus nerve stimulation technique, which could allow gradual regulation of heart rate and systemic arterial pressure. In two patients, the left vagus nerve was stimulated with a combination of quasi-trapezoidal cathodic and rectangular anodic current pulses with different stimulation frequencies (10Hz, 20Hz, 30Hz) and increasing current. The heart rate and systemic arterial pressure decreased with increasing current at all different stimulation frequencies (p<0.05). The heart rate and arterial pressure response was more gradual with 10Hz compared to 20Hz/30Hz vagus nerve stimulation (p<0.05). In conclusion, selective vagus nerve stimulation, with a combination of quasi-trapezoidal cathodic and rectangular anodic current pulses at 10Hz, offers gradual heart rate and systolic arterial pressure control

ENZO: A Web Tool for Derivation and Evaluation of Kinetic Models of Enzyme Catalyzed Reactions

We describe a web tool ENZO (Enzyme Kinetics), a graphical interface for building kinetic models of enzyme catalyzed reactions. ENZO automatically generates the corresponding differential equations from a stipulated enzyme reaction scheme. These differential equations are processed by a numerical solver and a regression algorithm which fits the coefficients of differential equations to experimentally observed time course curves. ENZO allows rapid evaluation of rival reaction schemes and can be used for routine tests in enzyme kinetics. It is freely available as a web tool, at http://enzo.cmm.ki.si

Privatisation of healthcare system in the Republic of Slovenia

Zdravstveni sistem v Sloveniji je bil v letih po osamosvojitvi reformiran. Privatizacija zdravstvenega sistema pa predstavlja velik del izvedenih reform. Zdravstvo se je odprlo zasebnim izvajalcem, prav tako je bil privatizaciji podvržen sistem financiranja. V diplomskem delu nas je zanimalo, ali je privatizacija intenzivneje potekala na področju izvajanja ali financiranja zdravstvenih storitev. V nalogi najprej predstavim koncept države blaginje in zdravstvenega sistema na splošno, nato pa podrobneje opisal privatizacijo, tako z vidika razlage pojava, kot tudi z analizo dosedanjega stanja v Sloveniji. V empiričnem delu, ki je obsegal dve metodi, analizo statističnih podatkov in izvedbo treh intervjujev sem dosedanji razvoj povezal s prihodnjim in na podlagi ugotovitev prišel do sklepa, da so težnje k privatizaciji zdravstva prisotne tako na področju financiranja kot tudi na področju izvajanja, vendar pa je teh teženj občutno več na področju izvajanja zdravstvene dejavnosti.In the years following the independence of Slovenia, healthcare system was reformed. Privatisation represents an important aspect of those reforms. The system was opened up for private practiotionres and financing was partly privatised as well. In this thesis, we were interested whether privatisation was the strongest in the providing services or financing. Firstly, welfare state and healthcare systems in general were presented and later on, privatisation of healthcare as such was presented with the emphasis on the privatisation in Slovenia. Empyrical part of the thesis consisted of two methods (analysis of databases and three structured interviews). Both parts of the empyrical analisys suggested, that tendecies towards privatisation are present in both areas - in the providing services and financing. However, tendencies are stronger in the field of providing healthcare services

PROGRAM SOLUTION FOR THE AIR-TIME MARKETING SUPPORT

Diplomska naloga opisuje izgradnjo programa za podporo pri analizi oglasnega prostora v Službi za trženje radijskih in televizijskih programov na RTV Slovenija. V programu so podatki iz obstoječih, nepovezanih sistemov združeni v eno skupno celoto. S tem bomo dobili osnovo za vse analize in preglede, hkrati pa bomo prihranili veliko časa, ki ga bodo lahko zaposleni namenili drugim pomembnim zadevam. Projekt je bil narejen na podlagi analitičnega pristopa k razvoju uporabniških rešitev. Pri tem smo uporabili programsko orodje Microsoft Access 2007. V uvodnem delu je opisana organizacija, ki bo uporabljala program, in predstavljena metodologija dela. V nadaljevanju so opisani podatkovni model, obrazci v programu in rezultat obdelav, to so vsa poročila in analize. Zaključek vsebuje oceno učinkov ter možnost nadaljnjega razvoja programa.The present thesis deals with the construction of a computer program for the air-time marketing analysis support within the Department of Radio and Television Marketing of RTV Slovenija. The program allows the data from the existent unlinked systems to be joined into a common base for the analyses and verifications. This shall save the company a lot of time, which could be redirected to other important spheres of activity. The project was formed based on the analytical approach to the development of user-friendly solutions. Microsoft Access 2007 software was used in the process. The introduction includes description of the organisation which will be using the program. It also presents the selected methodology. Furthermore, the thesis presents a detailed description of data model, data sheets and data processing results, i.e. all reports and analyses. The conclusion includes impact assessment of the program and states the possibility of its further development

Decision model for virtualization platform selection

Temeljni koncepti računalništva v oblaku so v telekomunikacijah že zelo dolgo znani kot abstrakcija infrastrukture, platforme in storitev. Vedno večja razširjenost in splošna dostopnost širokopasovnih povezav ter napredek na področju virtualizacije strojne opreme so temeljni razlogi za razmah računalništva v oblaku. Virtualizacija predstavlja temelj infrastrukture kot storitve (IaaS). Podjetja se odločajo za virtualizacijo, ker želijo kar najbolje izkoristiti strežniško opremo. Odločitev podjetja za virtualizacijsko platformo ni preprosta zaradi različnih ponudnikov in pomanjkanja ustreznega znanja. Magistrsko delo odgovarja na vprašanji, ali je mogoče rešiti problem izbire virtualizacijske platforme z ustreznim odločitvenim modelom in kako. Opisana sta razvoj in kritično ovrednotenje odločitvenega modela za izbiro virtualizacijske platforme. Model je razvit v skladu z metodologijo večparametrskega hierarhičnega modeliranja odločitvenega znanja. Prispevek predstavlja transparentna (ekspertna) artikulacija znanja o izbiri virtualizacijske platforme v obliki ocenitvenega modela.Cloud computing is based on the concept that in telecommunications has long been known as an abstraction of infrastructure, platforms and services. Important reasons for its expansion are growing prevalence of broadband and progress on hardware virtualization. Master\u27s thesis answers the question, whether it is possible and how to solve the problem of choosing virtualization platform with the corresponding decision model. Development and critical evaluation of decision model for selecting virtualization platform selection is described. The model is developed in accordance with the multiparameter hierarchical modeling methodology of the decision-making knowledge. Contribution presents transparent (Expert) articulation of knowledge on the virtualization platform selection in the form of the evaluation model

Alternative Paradigm of Selective Vagus Nerve Stimulation Tested on an Isolated Porcine Vagus Nerve

Alternative paradigm for spatial and fibre-type selective vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) was developed using realistic structural topography and tested in an isolated segment of a porcine cervical left vagus nerve (LVN). A spiral cuff (cuff) containing a matrix of ninety-nine electrodes was developed for selective VNS. A quasitrapezoidal stimulating pulse (stimulus) was applied to the LVN via an appointed group of three electrodes (triplet). The triplet and stimulus were configured to predominantly stimulate the B-fibres, minimizing stimulation of the A-fibres and by-passing the stimulation of the C-fibres. To assess which fibres made the most probable contribution to the neural response (NR) during selective VNS, the distribution of conduction velocity (CV) within the LVN was considered. Experimental testing of the paradigm showed the existence of certain parameters and waveforms of the stimulus, for which the contribution of the A-fibres to the NR was slightly reduced and that of the B-fibres was slightly enlarged. The cuff provided satisfactory fascicle discrimination in selective VNS as well as satisfactory fascicle discrimination during NR recording. However, in the present stage of development, fibre-type VNS remained rather limited