Temporal variations of dyspnea, fatigue, and lung function in chronic lung disease

Background. Research investigating symptom management in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) largely has been undertaken assuming the homeostatic construct, without regard to potential roles of circadian rhythms. Temporal relations among dyspnea, fatigue, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and objective measures of activity/rest have not been reported in COPD. ^ Objectives. The specific aims of this study were to (1) explore the 24-hour patterns of dyspnea, fatigue, and PEFR in subjects with COPD; (2) examine the relations among dyspnea, fatigue, and PEFR in COPD; and (3) examine the relations among objective measures of activity/rest and dyspnea, fatigue, and PEFR in COPD. ^ Methods. The repeated-measures design involved 10 subjects with COPD who self-assessed dyspnea and fatigue by 100 mm visual analog scales, and PEFR by peak flow meter in their home 5 times a day for 8 days. Activity/rest was measured by wrist actigraphy. Single and population mean cosinor analyses and correlations were computed for dyspnea, fatigue, and PEFR; correlations were done among these variables and activity/rest. ^ Results. Circadian rhythms were documented by single cosinor analysis in 40% of the subjects for dyspnea, 60% for fatigue, and 60% for PEFR. The population cosinor analysis of PEFR yielded a significant rhythm (p < .05). The 8-day 24-hour means of dyspnea and fatigue was moderately correlated (r = .48, p < .01). Dyspnea and PEFR, and fatigue and PEFR, were weakly correlated in a negative way (r = −.11, p < .05 and r = −.15, p < .01 respectively). Weak to moderate correlations (r = .12–.34, p < .05) were demonstrated between PEFR and mean activity level measured up to 4 hours before PEFR measurement. ^ Conclusions. The findings suggest that (1) the dyspnea and fatigue experienced by COPD patients are moderately related, (2) there is a weak to modest positive relation between PEFR and activity levels, and (3) temporal variation in lung function may not affect the dyspnea and fatigue experienced by patients with COPD. Further research, examining the relations among dyspnea, fatigue, PEFR, and activity/rest is needed. Replication of this study is suggested with a larger sample size. ^

Concentrations of metals and POPs in liver tissue of wild sea bird chicks from the Norwegian arctic region

Lysosomal membrane stability, lipofuscin (LF), malondialdehyde (MDA), neutral lipid (NL) levels, as well as halogenated organic compounds (HOCs), Cr, Cd, Pb and Fe concentrations were analyzed in liver of black-legged kittiwake (BK), herring gull (HG), and northern fulmar (NF) chicks. There were significant species differences in the levels of NL, LF and lysosomal membrane stability. These parameters were not associated with the respective HOC concentrations. LF accumulation was associated with increasing Cr, Cd and Pb concentrations. HG presented the lowest lysosomal membrane stability and the highest. LF and NL levels, which indicated impaired lysosomes in HG compared to NF and BK. Lipid peroxidation was associated with HOC and Fe2+ levels. Specific HOCs showed positive and significant correlations with MDA levels in HG. The study indicates that contaminant exposure can affect lysosomal and lipid associated parameters in seabird chicks even at low exposure levels. These parameters may be suitable markers of contaminant induced stress in arctic seabirds.

Paleomagnetism and bedding orientations at DSDP Sites 87-582, 87-583 and 87-584

Paleomagnetic measurements of sediment samples provide the magnetostratigraphy at Deep Sea Drilling Sites 582, 583, and 584 in the Nankai Trough and the Japan Trench. Drastic changes in the rate of sediment accumulation are documented by the magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic correlations. The changes in the accumulation rate correspond to the supply of sediments and variations in the accretionary process, which are directly related to the tectonic cycles in the geologic evolution of the Japanese island arc. Faults and folds within the drilled sedimentary sequences are oriented by paleomagnetic declination. Their directions and stress patterns are related to the relative plate motion along the trough and trench. The original remanent magnetization of the sediment was modified and remagnetized in the tectonic process of accretion by physical deformation, faulting, and intrusion of dewatering veinlets.

Bio- and magnetostratigraphic events of ODP holes of the central Kerguelen Plateau

Neogene biostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic data are compiled from Holes 747A, 748B, and 751A drilled on the Southern Kerguelen Plateau during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 120. Neogene sections have excellent to good magnetostratigraphic signatures in many intervals. This, in addition to minimal coring gaps and the occurrence of mixed assemblages of both calcareous and siliceous microfossil assemblages, makes these valuable biostratigraphic reference sections for intra- and extraregional correlations. This paper combines the sequence of biostratigraphic events reported from diatom, radiolarian, planktonic foraminifer, calcareous nannofossil, and silicoflagellate studies of Leg 120 sediments. It correlates microfossil datums with the geomagnetic polarity time scale to test existing age estimates and to refine biostratigraphic age controls for the southern high latitudes. Significant biostratigraphic datums are presented in a series of age-depth plots. Numerous hiatuses are clearly identified through this approach, and the positions of lesser disconformities are suggested. Most Neogene intervals are represented in at least one site, although "regional" unconformities occur in the upper Pliocene, uppermost Miocene/lowermost Pliocene, middle upper Miocene, middle middle Miocene, and at the lower/middle Miocene boundaries. The longest hiatus spanned 6 m.y., with most other hiatuses representing 1 m.y. or less. This paper compiles Leg 120 biostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic data for use in future syntheses of southern high latitude biostratigraphy and presents an age model for Leg 120 Neogene sediments.

Age models and sea-surface paleotemperature reconstruction of sediment cores from the eastern equatorial Atlantic

Based on the faunal record of planktonic foraminifers in three long gravity sediment cores from the eastern equatorial Atlantic, the sea-surface temperature history ove the last 750,000 years was studied at a resolution of 3,000 to 10,000 years. Detailed oxygen-isotope and paleomagnetic stratigraphy helped to identify the following major faunal events: Globorotaloides hexagonus and Globorotalia tumida flexuosa became extinct in the eastern tropical Atlantic at the isotope stage 4/5 boundary, now dated at 68,000 years B.P. The persistent occurrence of the pink variety of Globigerinoides ruber started during the late stage 12 at 410,000 years B.P. CARTUNE-age. This datum may provide an easily detectible faunal stratigraphic marker for the mid-Brunhes Chron. The updated scheme of the Ericson zones helped the recognition of a hiatus at the northwestern slope of the Sierra Leone Basin covering oxygen-isotope stages 10 to 12. Classifying the planktonic foraminifer counts into six faunal assemblages, according to the factor analysis derived model of Pflaumann (1985), the tropical and the tropical-upwelling communities account for 57 % at Site 16415, and 86 % at Site 13519, respectively of the variance of the faunal record. A largely continuous paleotemperature record for both winter and summer seasons was obtained from the top of the Sierra Leone Rise with the winter temperatures ranging between 20 and 25 °C, and the summer ones between 24 and 30 °C. The record of cores from greater water depths is frequently interrupted by samples with no-analogue faunal communities and/or poor preservation. Based on the seasonality signal, during cold periods the termal equator shifted to a geographically mnore asymmetrical northern position. Dissolution altering the faunal communities becomes stronger with greater water depth, the estimated mean minimum loss of specimens increases from 70 % to 80 % between 2,860 and 3,850 water depth although some species will be more susceptible than others. Enhanced dissolution occured during stage 4 but also during cold phases in the warm stage 7 and 9. Correlations between the Foraminiferal Dissolution Index and the estimated sea-surface temperatures are significant. Foraminiferal flux rates, negatively correlated to the flux rates of organic carbon and of diatoms, may be a result of enhanced dissolution during cold stages, destroying still more of the faunal signal than indicated by the calculated minimum loss. The fluctuations of the oxygen-isotope curves and the hibernal sea-surfave temperatures are fairly coherent. During warm oxygen-isotope stages the temperature maxima lag often by 5 to 15 ka behind the respective sotope minima. During cold stages, sea-surface temperature changes are partly out of phase and contain additional fluctuations.

Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic correlation of DSDP Hole 73-519 in the South Atlantic

DSDP Leg 73 sediment cores allow direct calibrations of magnetostratigraphy and biostratigraphy for much of the latest Cretaceous to Cenozoic in the mid-latitude South Atlantic Ocean. A complete record of the Cenozoic was not obtained, however, because strong dissolution, poor core recovery and intense core disturbance have masked the biostratigraphy or magnetostratigraphy over some intervals of all recovered sections. DSDP Leg 73 results show the following correlations: Early/middle Miocene in Chron 16 Oligocene/Miocene within Subchron C6CN Eocene/Oligocene within Subchron C13R Middle/late Eocene top of Chron C17 Early/late Paleocene top of Subchron C27N Cretaceous/Tertiary within Subchron C29R

Deformabilidad de escolleras empleadas en banquetas de cimentación de cajones portuarios

En esta tesis doctoral se presenta una investigación sobre el comportamiento deformacional de las escolleras empleadas en banquetas de cimentación de obras portuarias de cajones. El trabajo aborda el estudio de la deformabilidad de escolleras portuarias combinando (i) investigación mediante ensayos de laboratorio; (ii) análisis del comportamiento in situ de las banquetas de escolleras y (iii) cálculos realizados con modelos numéricos. Se expone en primer lugar la investigación experimental realizada en el Laboratorio de Geotecnia del Centro de Estudios y Experimentación de Obras Públicas (CEDEX) para estudiar la deformabilidad de las escolleras mediante ensayos a gran escala, habida cuenta las grandes dimensiones de las partículas de escollera. Se ha tratado de establecer una metodología de ensayo que reproduzca las solicitaciones de las escolleras colocadas en banquetas de cimentación de obras portuarias. Asimismo, se ha hecho una interpretación exhaustiva de los resultados de los ensayos con el fin de establecer unos valores que caractericen la deformabilidad de las escolleras analizadas. Es posible dar un intervalo de valores de la compresibilidad de las escolleras portuarias que, dada la escasez de literatura existente, constituyen unos valores de referencia. Asimismo, se ha propuesto una metodología para para estimar la deformabilidad de escolleras portuarias in situ. La información disponible ha permitido realizar estudios de la deformabilidad in situ en dos muelles españoles con semejanzas estructurales y constructivas. La interpretación conjunta de los resultados ha sugerido unos valores de deformabilidad in situ. Conviene destacar que la práctica ausencia de rangos de valores de compresibilidad in situ para estos rellenos empleados en obras portuarias pone de manifiesto la importancia de los resultados obtenidos. Evidencias de diferencias de comportamiento de las escolleras empleadas en banquetas de cimentaci ón de cajones portuarios en laboratorio e in situ han sido documentadas. La evaluación conjunta del comportamiento tenso-deformacional de las escolleras en laboratorio e in situ ha estimulado la búsqueda de una correlación entre la compresibilidad de las escolleras en ambos escenarios. Finalmente, se ha elaborado un modelo numérico con la formulación matemática del método sincrético (Perucho (2004, 2008)) que supone una opción interesante para evaluar la deformabilidad de los rellenos granulares. En la práctica, el empleo del modelo sincrético requiere la determinación de unos microparámetros. La disponibilidad de numerosos resultados de laboratorio realizados en las escolleras portuarias ha permitido calibrar el modelo realizado. De esta manera, se dispone de una herramienta de cálculo para evaluar la deformabilidad de los relleno granulares con un método numérico. The focus of this Thesis is to explore the deformational behavior of large rock fill materials used as rock mattress foundations for gravity caissons structures. The determination of the compressibility of large granular media focuses on (i) laboratory testing, (ii) in situ performance analysis of rock mattress foundations for caissons, and (iii) numerical modelling. First, the results of the large-scale laboratory research program, conducted at the Geotechnical Laboratory for the Center for Studies and Experimentation for Public Works (CEDEX), to determine the deformability of large rock fill materials is presented. The testing procedure was specifically designed to reproduce the loading sequence of in situ rubble mound foundations. A thoughtful analysis of the laboratory testing results suggests a range of compressibility for large granular media. The lack of currently available information regarding large rock fill deformability places a certain emphasis on the results of the testing program. Second, the results of this research includes a procedure for evaluating in situ rock fill deformational behavior. Data, collected from monitoring two caisson-type quays in Spain, provides information to study in situ rock mattress foundations. Careful interpretation of in situ data reveals a range of deformability of rock mattress foundations in caisson-type quays. Based upon a review of available literature, assessments on the behavior of rock mattress foundations for caissons using in situ analysis are quite limited. The data from this research are likely to contribute to the knowledge of the in situ behavior of rock mattress foundations for caissons. Additionally, findings indicate an appreciable variation between the laboratory and the in situ behaviour of materials from rock mattress foundations for caissons. Dissimilarities between laboratory and in situ moduli of deformation are examined in detail. Correlations between laboratory and in situ values are made. Finally, numerical modeling, based upon the research of Perucho (2004, 2008), is presented to predict the deformation behavior of large granular media. The determination of microparameters that control macropropierties requires extensive calibration effort. The calibration process was carried out using the results of large-scale laboratory testing available from previous analysis. The presented numerical method is both versatile and attractive as it reasonably predicts the compressibility of large rock fill materials.

Teamwork, motivational profiles and academic performance in computer science engineering

The present work is aimed at discussing several issues related to the teamwork generic competence, motivational profiles and academic performance. In particular, we study the improvement of teamwork attitude, the predominant types of motivation in different contexts and some correlations among these three components of the learning process. The above-mentioned aspects are of great importance. Currently, the professional profile of engineers has a strong teamwork component and the motivational profile of students determines both their tendencies when they come to work as part of a team, as well as their performance at work. Taking these issues into consideration, we suggest four hypotheses: (H1) students improve their teamwork capacity through specific training and carrying out of a set of activities integrated into an active learning process; (H2) students with higher mastery motivation have a better attitude towards teamwork; (H3) students with different types of motivations reach different levels of academic performance; and (H4) students show different motivation profiles in different circumstances: type of courses, teaching methodologies, different times of the learning process. This study was carried out with Computer Science Engineering students from two Spanish universities. The first results point to an improvement in teamwork competence of students if they have previously received specific training in facets of that competence. Other results indicate that there is a correlation between the motivational profiles of students and their perception of teamwork competence. Finally, results point to a clear relationship between some kind of motivation and academic performance. In particular, four kinds of motivation are analyzed and students are classified into two groups according to them. After analyzing several marks obtained in compulsory courses, we perceive that those students that show higher motivation for avoiding failure obtain, in general, worse academic performance.

Nesting In The Clouds: Evaluating And Predicting Sea Turtle Nesting Beach Parameters From Lidar Data

Humans' desire for knowledge regarding animal species and their interactions with the natural world have spurred centuries of studies. The relatively new development of remote sensing systems using satellite or aircraft-borne sensors has opened up a wide field of research, which unfortunately largely remains dependent on coarse-scale image spatial resolution, particularly for habitat modeling. For habitat-specialized species, such data may not be sufficient to successfully capture the nuances of their preferred areas. Of particular concern are those species for which topographic feature attributes are a main limiting factor for habitat use. Coarse spatial resolution data can smooth over details that may be essential for habitat characterization. Three studies focusing on sea turtle nesting beaches were completed to serve as an example of how topography can be a main deciding factor for certain species. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data were used to illustrate that fine spatial scale data can provide information not readily captured by either field work or coarser spatial scale sources. The variables extracted from the LiDAR data could successfully model nesting density for loggerhead (Caretta caretta), green (Chelonia mydas), and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea) sea turtle species using morphological beach characteristics, highlight beach changes over time and their correlations with nesting success, and provide comparisons for nesting density models across large geographic areas. Comparisons between the LiDAR dataset and other digital elevation models (DEMs) confirmed that fine spatial scale data sources provide more similar habitat information than those with coarser spatial scales. Although these studies focused solely on sea turtles, the underlying principles are applicable for many other wildlife species whose range and behavior may be influenced by topographic features.

Freedom of movement of persons - the building block of European growth. CHALLENGE EUROPE Issue 22 - Challenges and new beginnings: Priorities for the EU's new leadership, September 2014.

The European integration project is founded on values and principles which are simple, equal, and advantageous for all. Freedom of movement of persons is one of the main cornerstones of EU success. It is a fundamental, cherished right of EU citizens. Thanks to this liberty, European citizenship is real, concrete and attractive. Moreover, it spurs economic growth and technological development. But because freedom of movement has become an obvious feature of our day-to-day lives, some of us tend to underestimate its consequences. Important recent developments mean that we must renew our commitment to defend this building-block of a Europe whole and free.

State Transformation and the European Integration Project. Lessons from the financial crisis and the Greek paradigm. CEPS Special Report No. 130/February 2016

The financial crisis that erupted in the eurozone not only affected the EU’s financial governance mechanisms, but also the very nature of state sovereignty and balances in the relations of member states; thus, the actual inequalities between the member states hidden behind their institutional equality have deteriorated. This transformation is recorded in the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union and the member states’ constitutional courts, particularly in those at the heart of the crisis, with Greece as the most prominent example. It is the issue of public debt (sovereign debt) of the EU member states that particularly reflects the influence of the crisis on state sovereignty as well as the intensely transnational (intergovernmental) character of European integration, which under these circumstances takes the form of a continuous, tough negotiation. The historical connection between public debt (sovereign debt) and state sovereignty has re-emerged because of the financial crisis. This development has affected not only the European institutions, but also, at the member state level, the actual institutional content of the rule of law (especially judicial review) and the welfare state in its essence, as the great social and political acquis of 20th century Europe. From this perspective, the way that the Greek courts have dealt with the gradual waves of fiscal austerity measures and structural reforms from 2010 to 2015 is characteristic. The effect of the financial crisis on the sovereignty of the member states and on the pace of European integration also has an impact on European foreign and security policy, and the correlations between the political forces at both the national and European level, thus producing even more intense pressures on European social democracy. In light of the experience of the financial crisis, the final question is whether the nation state (given the large real inequalities among the EU member states) currently functions as a brake or as an engine for future European integration.

Thyroid hormones and halogenated organic compounds in black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) and northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)

Thyroid hormones are essential for normal growth and development and disruption of thyroid homeostasis can be critical to young developing individuals. The aim of the present study was to assess plasma concentrations of halogenated organic contaminants (HOCs) in chicks of two seabird species and to investigate possible correlations of HOCs with circulating thyroid hormone (TH) concentrations. Plasma from black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) and northern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) chicks were sampled in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard in 2006. The samples were analyzed for thyroid hormones and a wide range of HOCs (polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hydroxylated (OH-) and methylsulphoned (MeSO-) PCB metabolites, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and perfluorinated compounds (PFCs)). Concentrations of HOCs were generally low in kittiwake and fulmar chicks compared to previous reports. HOC concentrations were five times higher in fulmar chicks compared to in kittiwake chicks. PFCs dominated the summed HOCs concentrations in both species (77% in kittiwakes and 69% in fulmars). Positive associations between total thyroxin (TT4) and PFCs (PFHpS, PFOS, PFNA) were found in both species. Although correlations do not implicate causal relationships per se, the correlations are of concern as disruption of TH homeostasis may cause developmental effects in young birds.