Instantaneous Frequency Estimation of Discrete Time Signals

The classical concept of instantaneous frequency, obtained by differentiating the instantaneous phase is one of the most used approaches. Nonlinear signals usually have nonlinear and nonstationary behavior. Revealing hidden properties of time discrete signals could be important in understanding specific phenomena or processes. This paper uses simulated signals to prove the utility of instantaneous frequency estimation in dedicated signal processing. The procedure is based on empirical mode decomposition of the signal into monocomponents. The Hilbert transform of these monocomponents reveals they instantaneous frequencies. There are certain mathematical requirements and limitations for signals that the proposed procedure could perform proper instantaneous frequency estimation. The used signals are artificial and the procedure is carried out in MATLAB

Wavelet packet transform based ECG signal filtering implemented in reconfigurable hardware structure

This work describes an implementation of a digital signal processing module for filtering ECG signals in a reconfigurable hardware structure (FPGA). The filtering structure, a Wavelet Packet decomposition based decomposition is implemented in Simulink with Xilinx blocksets. The used structure is a Diligent’s Xilinx University Program Virtex-II Pro Development System. The integrated Xilinx ISE software provides automatic generation of HDL code directly from the System Generator blocks that is then mapped to the Xilinx FPGA. This code is synthesized and implemented in a Xilinx FPGA in order to perform a hardware co-simulation. In order to evaluate the filtering procedure signal to noise ratio and root mean squared error are measured

TIME SERIES ANALYSIS USING ENTROPY METRICS

Entropy metrics are valuable tools for use in systems science and engineering. Both of domains are assumed to work with signals, to perform testing and evaluation tasks through specific signals. Entropy metrics indicate the degree of order/disorder in any given system, so they are capable to distinguish deterministic features from noise or chaos. The motivation of this paper is to present the main components and actual developments in entropy metrics used to analyze discrete time signals. The entropy metrics and measurements developed in this work try to find regularity in discrete time series in order to inspect them or predict future events

Half Bridge Inductive Heater

Induction heating performs contactless, efficient and fast heating of conductive materials, therefore became one of the preferred heating procedure in industrial, domestic and medical applications. During induction heating the high-frequency alternating currents that heat the material are induced by means of electromagnetic induction. The material to be heated is placed inside the time-varying magnetic field generated by applying a highfrequency alternating current to an induction coil. The alternating electromagnetic field induces eddy currents in the workpiece, resulting resistive losses, which then heat the material. This paper describes the design of a power electronic converter circuit for induction heating equipment and presents the obtained results. The realized circuit is a low power half bridge resonant inverter which uses power MOS transistors and adequate driver circuits

Screening for Cognitive Dysfunction Helped to Unmask Silent Cerebrovascular Disease in a Hypertensive Diabetic Patient — Case Report

The current guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension recommend screening for cognitive impairment in all hypertensive patients as part of the clinical assessment. However, the implementation of this recommendation in clinical practice is still unsatisfactory. We present the case of an elderly hypertensive female patient in order to highlight the importance of screening for cognitive impairment. A patient with a history of poorly controlled hypertension for the last 12 years and recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus is admitted complaining of asthenia, dizziness, visual acuity impairment, and difficulty to remember recent information. Cardiovascular imaging showed 70% internal carotid artery stenosis in a neurologically asymptomatic patient. Cognitive testing showed mild cognitive impairment. Retinal imaging identified stage III hypertensive retinopathy accompanied by irreversible end-organ damage due to microvascular changes. At this point brain MRI was performed, which identified both macro- and microvascular brain lesions in the periventricular white matter and sequelae of a former ischemic stroke in the territory of the left posterior cerebral artery. Cognitive testing helped to unmask silent cerebrovascular disease in an otherwise oligosymptomatic hypertensive diabetic patient. Cognitive function testing should be introduced in routine clinical practice in order to help unmask silent cerebrovascular disease

MANAGEMENTUL PARACLINIC PRIVIND STATUSUL METABOLIC LA PACIENȚII DIAGNOSTICAȚI CU DIABET ZAHARAT DE TIP 1 ȘI 2TIP 2

Inflammatory processes, mineral imbalances and appearance of certain pathological compounds in urine are common phenomena in diabetes mellitus. We studied two groups of diabetic patients (inpatients and ambulatory specialty outpatients) during the first six months of 2017. Laboratory parameters concerning inflammation, mineral balance and urine analysis were evaluated, respectively we analyzed the scheme of treatment in case of inpatients. Based on our results we can affirm that in 25.51% of the studied diabetics the presence of an inflammatory process could be found. In 26.53% mineral imbalances could be observed, and in 69.69% we detected the presence of certain pathological compounds in urine, most often glycosuria. Significantly higher incidence of pathological compounds in urine could be observed in inpatients compared to outpatients. The vast majority of inpatients were treated with insuline (88.65%), oral antidiabetic therapy, especially metformin, being predominant in outpatients. In conclusion, we can state that in only 29.08% of the studied diabetic patients the laboratory analyses show lack of any inflammatory process, absence of glycosuria, respectively scarceness of mineral imbalance. Keywords: diabetes mellitus, glucose, neuropathy, hyperglycaemia Procesul inflamator, dezechilibrele minerale și apariția unor compuși patologici în urină sunt fenomene des întâlnite în diabetul zaharat. Am studiat două loturi de pacienți diabetici (internați și din ambulatoriuL de specialitate) în primele șase luni ale anului 2017. Am evaluat parametrii de laborator referitor la inflamație, la echilibrul mineral și sumarul de urină, respectiv în cazul celor spitalizați am analizat și schema de tratament a pacienților. Pe baza rezultatelor obținute putem afirma că la 25,51 % dintre diabeticii studiați s-a putut constata prezența unui proces inflamator. La 26,53% s-au putut observa dezechilibre minerale, iar la 69,69% am constatat prezența unor compuși patologici în urină, cel mai des glucozuria. S-a putut observa incidența semnificativ mai mare a glucozuriei la pacienții internați față de cei din ambulatoriu. Marea majoritate a pacienților spitalizați au fost tratați cu insulină (88,65%), terapia cu antidiabetice orale predominând la subiecții din ambulatoriu, mai ales preparatele conținând metformin. În concluzie, putem afirma că doar la un procentaj de 29,08% dintre pacienții diabetici studiați analizele de laborator arată lipsa unui proces inflamator, absența glucozuriei și cetonuriei, respectiv lipsa unui dezechilibru mineral. Cuvinte cheie: diabet zaharat, glucozurie, neuropatie, hiperglicemi

Dental Students’ Tobacco Smoking Habits, Second-hand Smoke Exposure, and Training in Cessation Counselling at the University of Medicine Pharmacy Sciences and Technology of Târgu Mureș

Objectives: To describe tobacco smoking habits, attitudes, second-hand smoke exposure, and training in cessation counselling at the University of Medicine Pharmacy, Sciences and Technology of Târgu-Mureș (UMPSTTM), as baseline data for the first Romanian university to implement a Smoke Free University Project

Relationship between Nutrition, Lifestyle Habits and Laboratory Parameters in Hypertensive Patients with/without Cognitive Dysfunction

(1) Background: Cognitive dysfunction is a major concern in hypertensive patients. Lifestyle habits and nutrition influence laboratory parameters, with an impact on clinical course. The objective of the study was to evaluate nutrition and lifestyle habits in hypertensive patients with/without cognitive dysfunction and establish correlations to laboratory parameters. Material and Methods: 50 patients admitted to the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Clinic in Târgu Mureș were enrolled in this study between March–June 2021. We evaluated their cognitive function, and they filled in a questionnaire about lifestyle and nutrition. Biochemical blood tests were performed using a Konelab Prime 60i analyzer. IBM-SPSS22 and GraphPad InStat3 were used for statistics. Results: Mean age of hypertensive patients (n = 50) was 70.42 ± 4.82 (SD) years, half of them had cognitive dysfunction. Zinc deficiency was present in 74% of the subjects. The subgroup with cognitive dysfunction had significantly higher BMI (p = 0.009) and microalbuminuria (p = 0.0479), as well as significantly lower magnesium intake (p = 0.032) and cholesterol intake (p = 0.022), compared to those with normal cognitive status. Conclusions: Nutrition is in a close relationship with laboratory parameters; significant differences (microalbuminuria, cholesterol intake, BMI, etc.) are present between hypertensive patients with/without cognitive dysfunction. A healthy diet is important for the maintenance of metabolic balance, the achievement of optimal body weight, and the prevention of complications