The research presented in this paper serves to provide a tool to autonomously screen for cardiovascular disease in the rural areas of Africa. With this tool, cardiovascular disease can potentially be detected in its initial stages, which is essential for effective treatment. The autonomous auscultation system proposed here utilizes recorded heart sounds and electrocardiogram signals to automatically distinguish between normal and abnormal heart conditions. Patients that are identified as abnormal by the system can then be referred to a specialist consultant, which will save a lot of unnecessary referrals. In this study, heart sound and electrocardiogram signals were recorded with the prototype precordial electro-phonocardiogram device, as part of a clinical study to screen patients for cardiovascular disease. These volunteers consisted of 28 patients with a diagnosed cardiovascular disease and, for control purposes, 34 persons diagnosed with healthy hearts. The proposed system employs wavelets to first denoise the recorded signals, which is then followed by segmentation of heart sounds. Frequency spectrum information was extracted as diagnostic features from the heart sounds by means of ensemble empirical mode decomposition and auto regressive modelling. The respective features were then classified with an ensemble artificial neural network. The performance of the autonomous auscultation system used in concert with the precordial electro-phonocardiogram prototype showed a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 88%. These results demonstrate the potential benefit of the precordial electro-phonocardiogram device and the developed autonomous auscultation software as a screening tool in a rural healthcare environment where large numbers of patients are often cared for by a small number of inexperienced medical personnel.
"A holistic view of the use of corporate culture conveyed by internal marketing for enhancing stability, sustainability and consistency in service quality" A holistic view of the use of corporate culture conveyed by internal marketing for enhancing stability, sustainability and consistency in service quality Abstract While businesses worldwide are aiming increasingly on the sustainability in various business areas, customer service is by nature not consistent and stable, because it is delivered by human beings and, therefore, subject to their imperfections and influences on them. This can result in unstable, unsustainable and unpredictable service delivery. This article describes the corporate culture/service quality conceptualization as a basis for overcoming this by embedding and implementing the stability and sustainability of corporate culture to enhance the stability and sustainability of quality of service. This conceptual study demonstrates that a well-planned and maintained corporate culture, based on quality service delivery goals, is able to do exactly that under the initiative of the leadership. Although there are many articles referring to service quality, very few of them succeed in bringing sufficient aspects into account to be able to form a holistic image of enhancing stability, sustainability and consistency in service quality. Existing models and approaches were combined in a holistic conceptual approach.
The aim of this paper is to establish Internet marketing challenges of SMEs in the Tshwane area. It seems that the benefits of Internet marketing seem to be ignored by most SMEs however but unfortunately, Internet marketing challenges prevent SME owners from using these tools effectively. A survey study method of research design has been selected for the research. The sample for the study comprised 200 SMEs in the Tshwane area. Internet marketing usage in SMEs and the impact thereof is viewed as an essential part of modern day organisational operations for SMEs to promote their business both domestically and globally. ‘Unauthorised access to sensitive or proprietary information and limited verification of authorship of messages’ is mentioned as the largest challenges. The conducted research recommends that Internet marketing can be cost effective if the SMEs make use of their social networks and use best practises that enable them to get their adverts or posts shared across social networks. The conducted research also recommends that SMEs with limited resources start with social media and YouTube as a marketing tool, as the learning curve is low and cost involved almost nil. This paper conclude that Tshwane SMEs are using both Internet marketing and traditional marketing to promote their businesses.
Diversity in unity -Voices from the past, the focus on Belhar and the on-going quest for unity "When the reconciliation in Christ becomes visible it will be a sermon that echoes around the world" P. F. Theron (Die Kerkbode, 23 June 1982) ABStrAct This contribution focuses on the on-going ecclesiological quest by the Dutch reformed church (Drc) family to become a visible, living and practicing diversity in unity. It highlights remarkably clear and foundational theological contributions with regard to this matter, by trustworthy voices from inside (e.g. individuals like Botha, Durand, Jonker as well as by several church meetings and synods) and outside (e.g. theologians like J calvin and K Barth) the Drc Family, in opposition to wrong ecclesiological convictions and practice. In relation to this the core focus of the confession of Belhar on the church as visible and as diversity in unity, is emphasised as foundational to the character of the church of christ. Guiding perspectives on this fundamental truth are also drawn from important contributions by Dirkie Smit, in particular from his thoughts on the ecclesiology in the confession of Belhar.
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