The importance of diffusing capacity as a complementary study to plethysmography in smokers

Rev Port Pneumol. 2007 Nov-Dec;13(6):763-74. [The importance of diffusing capacity as a complementary study to plethysmography in smokers] [Article in Portuguese] Paes Cardoso A, Reis Ferreira JM, Moreira da Silva A. Human Physiology, Porto University, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Santo António Hospital. Abstract This study comprised 194 male and female heavy smokers or ex-smokers (>or= 1 pack-year) aged between 20 and 82, whose symptoms varied. Cases were only selected from patients with normal whole-body plethysmography. Subjects with any significant pathology and occupational risk factors were excluded from the study. Varying degrees of symptoms were found and a range of results from normal plethysmography examination, with abnormal levels of alveolar-capillary transfer, determined by the single-breath method to analyse CO (TLCO and TLCO-VA) coefficients. Using the chi-square test for statistical analysis of the sample revealed a significant variation in sensitivity between both parameters (p=0.0001). Possible limitations of using the single-breath method, of were reduced in this study (ventilatory restriction with Vital Capacity <1.5 litres) by the routine plethysmography results seen. Likewise, the presence of alterations in ventilatory distribution was, in principle, minimised by the absence of TLCsb/TLCplet values below 0.85% CONCLUSIONS: Normal plethysmography results in heavy or ex-smokers are not enough to confirm normal respiratory function, as a large percentage of cases present abnormalities in the alveolar-capillary transfer factor for CO. Alveolar limitation was considered not only anatomically, but also from a functional perspective. PMID: 18183328 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

Implementación de un sistema de escenarios futuros sobre el mapa de usos de suelo de Andalucía.

La Consejería de Medio Ambiente (CMA) ha puesto en marcha un estudio para la generación de cartografía prospectiva de usos de suelo en la Andalucía del siglo XXI. El objeto de este proyecto es explorar y analizar la posible evolución a medio-largo plazo de los usos del suelo y sus implicaciones ambientales, en un contexto de cambio global según diferentes escenarios. Los estudios prospectivos tales como, la construcción de escenarios, permiten iluminar la toma de decisiones. La distribución de los usos de suelo influye en el crecimiento y desarrollo de nuestra sociedad y representa un elemento importante para predecir los impactos ambientales. Actualmente la CMA dispone de una cartografía con los más elevados niveles de detalle y precisión espacial, que cumple los estándares cartográficos internacionales, y que cubre los últimos 50 años en la evolución de los usos del suelo en nuestra región. El poder anticipar, bajo diferentes supuestos de desarrollo socioeconómico, la evolución y la distribución de los usos del suelo en el futuro, supondría avanzar y complementar esta línea de trabajo. La integración de estos factores se ha llevado a cabo mediante autómatas celulares utilizados para modelar los cambios de uso y el desarrollo urbano.The Environmental Ministry of the Andalusian Regional Government has initiated a study to generate prospective mapping of land uses in Andalusia in the XXI century. The goal of this project is to explore and analyze medium to long- term land uses changes and their environmental implications according to different scenarios in the context of global change. Predicting land use change under such scenarios will provide valuable information to decision makers. The distribution of the land uses influences in the growth and development of our society and thus represents a crucial element to predict future environmental impacts. The Environmental Ministry of Andalusia currently has maps available that depict land use changes in the region over the past 50 years and contain the highest level of detail and spatial precision according to international cartographic standards. The power to predict the growth and distribution of future land uses under different assumptions of socioeconomic development will advance and complement this work. The integration of these factors is carried out based on cellular automata applied to model land use changes and urban development

Pressure-induced Phase Transitions In Linh4so4

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Raman spectra of LiNH4SO4 in frequency range from 600 to 1200 cm-1 were measured from atmospheric pressure up to a pressure at 82 kbar. Two distinct phases are identified in the ranges below 13 kbar (phase) and above 35 kbar (phase). In the range between 13 and 35 kbar the spectrum changes qualitatively in a continuous manner, both as a function of time for fixed pressure and as a function of pressure when the latter is rapidly changed. The results suggest a dynamical reorientation of the SO4 2- ions taking place in this pressure interval. © 1988 The American Physical Society.37422622265CAPES; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior; CNPq; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

La identidad del sacerdote. Un estudio en Giovanni Battista Montini [Crónica]

Texto leído en la defensa de la tesis doctoral el 19 de mayo de 2010 en la Facultad de Teología de la Universidad de Navarra, ante el siguiente tribunal: Prof. Lucas Francisco Mateo Seco (Presidente), profra. Elisabeth Reinhardt, prof. Pablo Blanco, prof. Santiago Casas, prof. Fermín Labarga (Secretario)

La identidad del sacerdote. Un estudio en Giovanni Battista Montini

Texto leído en la defensa de la tesis doctoral el 19 de mayo de 2010 en la Facultad de Teología de la Universidad de Navarra, ante el siguiente tribunal: Prof. Lucas Francisco Mateo Seco (Presidente), profra. Elisabeth Reinhardt, prof. Pablo Blanco, prof. Santiago Casas, prof. Fermín Labarga (Secretario)

Desarrollo del sistema de información sobre el litoral y el medio marino de la red de información ambiental de Andalucía (REDIAM)

El Subsistema de Información del Litoral y el Medio Marino (SSLyMM) surge por la necesidad de reconversión de un proyecto, el SIGLA, previamente desarrollado de forma conjunta por la Universidad de Sevilla y las Consejerías de Medio Ambiente y Obras Públicas y que habría de ser transformado en un sistema integrado en la REDIAM que vinculara la información sobre litoral y medio marino con los otros subsistemas que configuran esta red (biodiversidad, clima, humedales, etc.), garantizando la actualización permanente y conjunta de los datos, considerando todos los estándares que fijan las nuevas directrices europeas. Con ello, el subsistema debe alcanzar su objetivo de normalización, metadatado y puesta en explotación de la información espacializada relativa a estos medios, dando así cobertura a la estrategia de Gestión Integrada de Zonas Costeras (GIZC), empleando para ello diversas herramientas SIG, de generación de servicios OGC y de integración en web.The Coastal and Marine Environment Subsystem (SSLyMM) has arise by the need of rationalization from a previous project, the SIGLA, which was developed between the University of Sevilla and the Regional Governments in Environment and Works in Andalusia. The SIGLA must be transformed in an integrated system in the REDIAM (Red de Información Ambiental de Andalucía) capable to link spatial coastal and marine data with others subsystems that shape this network (biodiversity, climatology, wetlands, etc.) guaranteeing a continuous and joint updating, and taking into account the grounds from the last european directives. So, the subsystem must achieve the aim of normalization, metadata production and exploitation relating to spatial information in those environments, giving coverage, in this way, to the ICZM strategy (Integrated Coastal Zone Management). With that purpose, it is putting in practice several SIG tools, OGC services generators and web applications

Mapa guía digital del espacio natural de Doñana: un sistema de difusión y acceso a la información técnica de la Rediam

Dentro de la línea de difusión de información ambiental que imponen directrices europeas, leyes estatales y autonómicas, se ha planteado dar un giro a la clásica producción de los mapas guía de los espacios naturales de Andalucía. Esta nació con el Mapa Guía de Doñana en el año 1989 y ha venido y viene renovándose desde entonces con nuevas versiones. A lo largo de este tiempo, la tecnología y la información disponible han cambiado notablemente, y con objeto de facilitar a los ciudadanos el manejo de la información cartográfica existente de los diferentes Espacios Naturales, se crea un nuevo concepto denominado “Mapas Guía Digitales de Espacios Naturales”. El mapa guía digital de Doñana, se presenta como una amplia guía en formato “libro-disco”, aunando la proximidad de un texto amenizado con fotografías, con una potente herramienta informática que facilita análisis cartográficos, o recorridos virtuales. El texto permite conocer Doñana desde la perspectiva ambiental, y la aplicación informática, a una completa información sobre vegetación, equipamientos, ecosistemas, historia y tradiciones, además de imágenes satélite, ortofotos y fotografías. Por su especial relevancia, la AVIFAUNA ha sido tratada de forma especial integrando en la aplicación una completa guía de campo.In-line dissemination of environmental information that impose European guidelines, state and regional, has been raised to turn the classic guide to production of maps of natural areas of Andalusia.This was created with the Map Guide Doñana in 1989 and has been renewed and comes with new versions since then. Throughout this time, technology and information available have changed dramatically, and in order to provide citizens with the management of topographic data available from different natural areas, establishing a new concept called "Digital Guide Maps of Natural Spaces”. The digital guide map of Doñana, is presented as a comprehensive guide format "book-album", combining the proximity of a text enlivened with photographs, with a powerful analysis tool that facilitates mapping or virtual tours. The text allows Doñana know from an environmental perspective, and computer application, to complete information about vegetation, equipment, ecosystems, history and traditions, in addition to satellite imagery, orthophotos and photographs. Because of its special relevance, BIRDS has been specially treated in the implementation integrating a complete field guide

Tuberculosis in Liver Transplant Recipients: Prophylaxis in an Endemic Area

AbstractBackgroundTuberculosis (TB) has a high prevalence in Brazil. The scenario of liver transplantation (LT) creates challenges: atypical presentation, treatment hepatotoxicity, and increased mortality. The majority of TB cases after transplantation represent reactivation of latent infections; therefore, prophylaxis (PX) plays a major role. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits of PX after LT based on a pretransplantation tuberculin test (TT) in an endemic area.MethodsRetrospective analysis of medical data from 376 adult cirrhotic patients undergoing OLT from 2001 to 2009.ResultsAmong 191 selected patients, 137 (71%) showed a pretransplant TT including 41 (30%) with a TT ≥5 mm. The 17 (40%) of these patients who were prescribed PX did not experience TB. Prophylaxis was discontinued in 5 patients (20%) owing to suspicion of hepatotoxicity (medium serum alanine transaminase 175 U/L). In the group without PX, we diagnosed 1 case of pulmonary TB. The overall prevalence of anergic patients in the cirrhotic phase was 65% and prevalence of TB 1%.ConclusionsThe prevalence of TB was similar to that reported in the literature, but positivity to TT was higher (34% vs 25%), possibly because of the endemicity of the area. There was a lower prevalence of extrapulmonary disease and no mortality. No patient undergoing PX with isoniazid, although incomplete due to suspicion of hepatotoxicity displayed TB. One patient without PX was affected by TB. The drug was effective but not always safe

Identificación y caracterización del paisaje mediante parámetros visuales del relieve. REDIAM

El presente trabajo tiene como fin crear una metodología que permita construir un modelo objetivo, replicable, homogéneo y sistemático, que permita analizar y caracterizar un relieve desde el punto de vista visual, y cuyo resultado constituya un instrumento para la toma de decisiones, basadas en criterios paisajísticos, en la planificación y gestión de recursos naturales.This paper intends to create a methodology for building an objective, replicable, consistent and systematic model for analyzing and characterizing a relief from the visual point of view in order to provide a tool for landscape-based decision making on natural resources planning and management

Brand marks examination. Empirical study of graphic parts in their relation to contrast, recognition, and memorization

Brand Visual Identity is an identification system that, with flexibility, ensures the unity and coherence of visual communication (in multiple media: physical as products, objects, or graphics; architectural and ambiance; audio-visual; digital and virtual). Brand Marks occupy a top place in the good performance of most Brand Visual Identity systems, even when these rely more on imagery and use Brand Marks with less expressiveness. In dynamic Visual Identity systems, the Brand Marks may constitute themselves as systems within the Brand Visual Identity supersystem. This study aims to dissect existing brand marks, focusing on how the graphic components (symbol, logotype) are designed, prioritised, and correlated to achieve differentiation, contrast, recognition, and memorisation. This include an empirical examination based on direct observation and exploration and in survey by questionnaire with a sample of 400 participants, aiming at the definition of design principles to aid the design of Brand Marks and to be considered in the definition of the “map of competitors” tool, which intends to aid in the analysis of multiple visual identities competing in the same market or segment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio