(Table 1) Characteristics of South Pole personnel according to forced expiratory flow (FEF25-75) response to altitude

The impact of acute altitude exposure on pulmonary function is variable. A large inter-individual variability in the changes in forced expiratory flows (FEFs) is reported with acute exposure to altitude, which is suggested to represent an interaction between several factors influencing bronchial tone such as changes in gas density, catecholamine stimulation, and mild interstitial edema. This study examined the association between FEF variability, acute mountain sickness (AMS) and various blood markers affecting bronchial tone (endothelin-1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), catecholamines, angiotensin II) in 102 individuals rapidly transported to the South Pole (2835 m). The mean FEF between 25 and 75% (FEF25-75) and blood markers were recorded at sea level and after the second night at altitude. AMS was assessed using Lake Louise questionnaires. FEF25-75 increased by an average of 12% with changes ranging from -26 to +59% from sea level to altitude. On the second day, AMS incidence was 36% and was higher in individuals with increases in FEF25-75 (41 vs. 22%, P = 0.05). Ascent to altitude induced an increase in endothelin-1 levels, with greater levels observed in individuals with decreased FEF25-75. Epinephrine levels increased with ascent to altitude and the response was six times larger in individuals with decreased FEF25-75. Greater levels of endothelin-1 in individuals with decreased FEF25-75 suggest a response consistent with pulmonary hypertension and/or mild interstitial edema, while epinephrine may be upregulated in these individuals to clear lung fluid through stimulation of beta2-adrenergic receptors.

Securing Medical Personnel: Case Studies of Two Source Countries and Two Destination Countries

A shortage of medical personnel has become a critical problem for developing countries attempting to expand the provision of medical services for the poor. In order to highlight the driving forces determining the international allocation of medical personnel, the cases of four countries, namely the Philippines and South Africa as source countries and Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom as destination countries, are examined. The paper concludes that changes in demand generated in major destination countries determine the international allocation of medical personnel at least in the short run. Major destination countries often alter their policies on how many medical staff they can accept, and from where, while source countries are required to make appropriate responses to the changes in demand.

The determinants of the quality of Sales-Marketing Interface in a Multinational Customer Brand Focused Company: The Latin American Branches

Customer evolution and changes in consumers, determine the fact that the quality of the interface between marketing and sales may represent a true competitive advantage for the firm. Building on multidimensional theoretical and empirical models developed in Europe and on social network analysis, the organizational interface between the marketing and sales departments of a multinational high-growth company with operations in Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay is studied. Both, attitudinal and social network measures of information exchange are used to make operational the nature and quality of the interface and its impact on performance. Results show the existence of a positive relationship of formalization, joint planning, teamwork, trust and information transfer on interface quality, as well as a positive relationship between interface quality and business performance. We conclude that efficient design and organizational management of the exchange network are essential for the successful performance of consumer goods companies that seek to develop distinctive capabilities to adapt to markets that experience vertiginous changes

An intelligent sales assistant for configurable products

Some of the recent proposals of web-based applications are oriented to provide advanced search services through virtual shops. Within this context, this paper proposes an advanced type of software application that simulates how a sales assistant dialogues with a consumer to dynamically configure a product according to particular needs. The paper presents the general knowl- edge model that uses artificial intelligence and knowledge-based techniques to simulate the configuration process. Finally, the paper illustrates the description with an example of an application in the field of photography equipment.

Estudio de la penetración de cloruros en dos puentes sometidos a uso intenso de sales fundentes: estudio del hormigón in situ

El uso intenso de sales fundentes en zonas de helada puede reducir la vida útil de los puentes por la penetración acelerada de cloruros. Se ha realizado la inspección de dos puentes construidos hace más de 20 y 50 años, respectivamente, y situados en zonas que requieren un uso intenso de sales fundentes durante el invierno. Se han extraído probetas testigo de algunos elementos estructurales de los puentes y sobre ellas se realizaron ensayos de caracterización mecánica y de durabilidad. De los resultados obtenidos, se determinaron los tipos de daño en el hormigón provocados por la exposición de las estructuras a los ciclos de hielo-deshielo durante su vida en servicio y se obtuvieron diferentes perfiles de ingreso de cloruros originados por los mecanismos de transporte y determinados por la distribución porosa del material y por las condiciones de exposición de los elementos de hormigón estudiados. Los resultados obtenidos se comparan con los proporcionados por un modelo de difusión de cloruros.

Relacion sucinta de la feliz consagracion del ... Señor D. Assensio Sales, ... Obispo de Barcelona : celebrada en la Iglesia Cathedral ... de Segorbe ...

Pie de imp. tomado de Colofón

M.I.S. señor, el doctor Agustin Sales ... suplicante pone en consideracion de V.S. los titulos ... por los quales suplica à V.S. se sirva conceder al dicho el empleo vacante de Coronista de la presente ciudad i Reino ...

Tít. tomado de comienzo del texto

M.I.S. Señor. El Dr. Agustin Sales Presbitero, Chronista de V.S. i Opositor a la Catedra vacante de Hebreo suplicante, expone a V.S. los meritos siguientes por los quales ... confia que le atenderá V.S. en la provision de ella ...

Tít. tomado de principio de texto

M.I.S. El Dr. Agustin Sales ... opositor à la Prebenda de Vicario de Coro, que esta vacante en este Real Colegio de Corpus Christi, suplicante, expone à la consideracion de V.S. los meritos siguientes por los quales confia ...

En la h. consta: "Al Real Colegio de Corpus Christi : representado en sus mui Ilustres Señores Retor, y Perpetuos. El Dotor Agustin Sales, Presbitero, Chronista de Valencia. Suplicante"

Introduccion a la vida devota de San Francisco de Sales ...

Contiene: Tabla de los capitulos, p. [7]-[9]

Dissertacion Historica I : que excluye la existencia de monges Basilios en el antiguo Venerable Santuario de el Santo Sepulcro de Valencia contra las noticias falsas ... del Dr. Agustín Sales, en el cap. IV de las Memorias del mismo Santo Sepulcro

Contiene: Dissertacion historica II: que demuystra aver cursado el Patriarca Santo Domingo los estudios de artes, y de theologia en la ciudad de Palencia ... Obispado, y escritos de Idacio Galiciano el Historico ...

Increasing the Intelligence of Virtual Sales Assistants through Knowledge Modeling Techniques

Shopping agents are web-based applications that help consumers to find appropriate products in the context of e-commerce. In this paper we argue about the utility of advanced model-based techniques that recently have been proposed in the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Knowledge Engineering, in order to increase the level of support provided by this type of applications. We illustrate this approach with a virtual sales assistant that dynamically configures a product according to the needs and preferences of customers.