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Biomedical subjects

C W Thorpe

Publications and source records attributed to C W Thorpe.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Towards a quantitative description of asthmatic cough sounds.

This study describes a method of quantitatively characterizing cough sounds using digital signal processing techniques. Differences between asthmatic and non-asthmatic cough sounds are presented. Coughs from 12 asthmatic and 5 non-asthmatic subjects were analysed. Cough sounds and flows were digitized, at a sampling rate of 5 kHz, before and after a free-running exercise test. Individual coughs were divided into two or three phases, corresponding to the initial glottal opening burst, the quieter middle phase, and (sometimes) the final closing burst. Standard signal processing techniques were then invoked to characterize the spectral and temporal shapes of the first two phases. Factor analysis indicated that the spectral shapes of the two phases are independent, with each being largely described by the degree of "peakedness" in the spectrum, and by the balance of energy between low and high frequencies. Both the duration of the initial burst and zero-crossing rates of the cough waveform (which indicates the "spectral balance") during each of the first two phases were smaller for asthmatic than for non-asthmatic coughs. Fewer asthmatic coughs contained a final burst. Discriminant analysis between the two groups gave classification error rates of 20-30%. The peak flow recorded during the cough was significantly smaller for asthmatics, and correlated very well with the peak flow recorded during forced expiration. Thus, significant differences exist between asthmatic and non-asthmatic cough sounds. An effective representation of the temporal structure of the cough sound is required to successfully characterize the cough.

Asthma, Exercise-Induced↗
PubMed1991

A microcomputer-based interactive cough sound analysis system.

The occurrence and nature of cough sounds, especially those occurring in asthma in young children, is of considerable interest to workers in paediatrics and general practice. To facilitate our research into the characteristics of such sounds, we have developed a microcomputer-based analysis system, which we call COFF. In this paper we discuss the design and implementation of the system, emphasising its user-friendly, interactive features, and the manner in which it efficiently manages the large amounts of data that research into sounds incurs. We illustrate the operation of the system with examples of spectrograms computed from cough sounds recorded simultaneously at the mouth and through the chest wall.

Asthma↗
PubMed1991

Intrinsic echolocation capability of Hector's dolphin, Cephalorhynchus hectori.

A sonar system's echolocation capabilities can be inferred from the ambiguity distribution (defined here in terms of the conventional signal response function) of each of its transmitted signals. Several records of sounds emitted by Hector's dolphin are analyzed. The computed ambiguity distributions indicate that the sonar clicks of Hector's dolphins should be capable of resolving the ranges of targets as close together as 2 cm apart, but that target velocities cannot be resolved to any useful degree from a single echo.

Acoustics↗
PubMed1990

A portable system for the spectral analysis of cough sounds in asthma.

A practical and portable method is described to analyze the sound spectra of coughs. The system is based upon a personal computer and simultaneously collects the sounds of cough heard both at the mouth and through the chest wall together with the airflow at the mouth produced during the cough. Subsequent analysis produce spectrographs of the cough sound linked to the corresponding airflow. The system will be used initially to examine the effects of exercise on the sound of cough in asthma. Further study of cough spectra in this way may be useful in the management of asthma either diagnostically or in the assessment of therapeutic interventions.

Asthma↗
PubMed1989

Cough sound analysis: a new tool for the diagnosis of asthma?

A method of computerized cough sound analysis is described. The sounds of nocturnal and post-exercise coughs from a child with asthma were compared with those from a child without asthma. The spectrographic patterns of voluntary cough at rest from the two children were similar. The pattern seen after exercise from the asthmatic child was different from the resting cough but similar to that seen during recorded nocturnal cough. In contrast the post-exercise cough from the non-asthmatic child was similar to the cough seen at rest. Refinement of this method of cough sound analysis may be useful in the diagnosis of asthma in young children.

Asthma↗
PubMed1978

Determination of zearalenone in corn by high pressure liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection.

A method is reported for determining zearalenone in corn at levels as low as 10 ng/g. Samples are extracted with chloroform-water and cleaned up by liquid-liquid chromatography, and the zearalenone is detected by a fluorescence detector after separation by reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Recoveries of zearalenone added to corn at levels from 10 to 200 ng/g averaged greater than 89%. In addition, a confirmation procedure is described which involves sequential HPLC analysis of the sample and a zearalenone standard, using 4 different excitation wavelengths and comparing fluorescence responses obtained. This method was successfully applied to the analysis of 11 samples of cornmeal; zearalenone was detected in 9 of the samples at levels from 11 to 69 ng/g.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mycotoxin methodology.

The development of methods with high specificity and low limits of determination, as well as screening methods that are convenient for detection and rough quantitation of mycotoxins, has proceeded at an accelerating rate over the past few years. Of particular interest has been the widespread application of high performance liquid chromatographic and immunoassay techniques in mycotoxin methodology. An overview of the latest developments in mycotoxin methodology is presented with emphasis on the need for attention to sampling and sample preparation, the basic principles supporting the analytical methodology, the need for techniques to confirm analyte identification, and the requirement for high-quality reference materials.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Thin layer chromatographic method for determination of deoxynivalenol in wheat: collaborative study.

A collaborative study of a rapid method for the determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) in winter wheat was successfully completed. The method involves sample extraction with acetonitrile-water (84 + 16), cleanup using a disposable column of charcoal, Celite, and alumina, and detection by thin layer chromatography after spraying with an aluminum chloride solution. Each of the 15 collaborators analyzed 12 samples, 2 of which were naturally contaminated, and 10 to which DON was added, in duplicate, at levels of 0, 50, 100, 300, and 1000 ng/g. Average recoveries of DON ranged from 78 to 96% with repeatabilities of 30-64% and reproducibilities of 33-87%. The results of the study show that false positives were not a problem and that all of the analysts could detect DON at the 300 ng/g level or higher. The method has been adopted official first action.

Chromatography, Thin Layer↗