A project model for the FreeBSD Project

This thesis provides a baseline on which a methodology for the FreeBSD Project can be built. The three results of this thesis are: - A descriptive "project model" for the FreeBSD Project - A set of "quality goals" for the project model - A "comparison" between the quality goals and the project model, giving us the quality of the project model The project model is based on project documents, interviews, mail archives and the experience of the author in working with the project. The quality goals are based on this as well as supporting litterature. The discussion of project issues is backed by a strong repertoire of theory in the field of software engineering. The main findings of this thesis are: - The FreeBSD Project scores well on most of the defined quality goals - There are issues regarding the project organisation that needs to be adresse

Respiratory symptoms, lung function, and fraction of exhaled nitric oxide before and after assignment in a desert environment : a cohort study

BACKGROUND: Inhalation of small particulate matter (PM 2.5) may be associated with development of respiratory disease. Increased respiratory symptoms have been reported among military staff after service in countries with recurrent desert storms. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate whether an assignment in a desert environment and exposure to desert storms are associated with negative effects on respiratory health. METHODS: In two cohorts of Swedish soldiers serving in Mali as part of the United Nations stabilization forces, examination with spirometry, determination of fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and a questionnaire including participant characteristics, symptoms, and exposure was performed before and after service. Ambient air sampling was conducted on-site. Paired t-test was used to compare pre- and post-variables on lung function data, FeNO and symptom level. RESULTS: Most indoor and outdoor air measurements of dust and silica were within the Swedish occupational exposure limit for PM2.5 and silica (<0.10-2.7 mg/m3 and <0.002-0.40 mg/m3, respectively) as well as for respirable dust and silica (0.056-0.078 mg/m3and 0.0033-0.025 mg/m3, respectively). In the subgroup of participants with reported exposure to desert storms during the stay in Mali, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) was significantly lower after exposure than before the mission (mean litres (SD) 4.21 ± 0.66 vs 4.33 ± 0.72, p = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Exposure to a desert storm was associated with a decrease in FEV1. Exposure to small particulate matter may contribute to the development of respiratory disease and thus spirometry should be performed after occupational exposure to desert storms

Respiratory symptoms among Swedish soldiers after military service abroad: association with time spent in a desert environment

Introduction: The aim of this paper was to study whether Swedish soldiers who have served abroad had a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms than the general population and, if this was the case, also to study whether this was associated with time spent in a desert environment. Methods:The prevalence of respiratory symptoms among 1,080 veterans from Kosovo and Afghanistan was compared with that in almost 27,000 subjects from a general population sample, using propensity score matching and logistic regression. Results:The prevalence of wheeze (16.3 vs. 12.3%), wheeze without a cold (11.1 vs. 8.0%), nocturnal coughing (26.6 vs. 20.1%) and chronic bronchitis (12.3 vs. 6.8%) was significantly higher among soldiers than controls (p < 0.05). A dose-response-related association was found between time spent in a desert environment and wheeze, wheeze with breathlessness and wheeze when not having a cold. Having been exposed to desert storms was related to nocturnal cough and chronic bronchitis. Conclusion:Swedish soldiers who had served abroad had a higher prevalence of wheeze and cough than a control group from the general population. The association between being exposed to a desert environment and respiratory symptoms indicates that further protective measures should be introduced for military personnel serving in a desert environment

Sleep disturbances among Swedish soldiers after military service abroad

Aims Since 1956, more than 100,000 Swedish soldiers have served abroad on various international missions. The aim of this paper was to determine whether there was a connection between military service abroad and sleep disorders among Swedish soldiers. Methods The prevalence of sleep disturbances among 1,080 veterans from Kosovo and Afghanistan was compared with almost 27,000 Swedes from a general population sample, using propensity score matching and logistic regression. The sleep disturbances studied were habitual snoring, difficulty inducing sleep (DIS), difficulty maintaining sleep (DMS), early morning awakenings (EMA), and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Insomnia was defined as having at least one of DIS, DMS, or EMA. The covariates used in the matching and adjustments were age, gender, smoking habits, BMI, education, ever having had asthma, moist snuff, and exercise habits. Results The veterans had a significantly lower prevalence of insomnia (26.2% versus 30.4%) and EDS (22.7% versus 29.4%) compared with a matched group from the reference population, using propensity score matching. Analyses with logistic regression showed that belonging to the military population was related to a lower risk of having DMS (adjusted OR (95% CI) 0.77 (0.64-0.91)), insomnia (OR 0.82 (0.71-0.95)), and EDS (OR 0.74 (0.63-0.86)), whereas no significant difference was found for snoring, DIS, and EMA. Conclusion Swedish veterans have fewer problems with insomnia and daytime sleepiness than the general Swedish population. The explanation of our findings may be the selection processes involved in becoming a soldier and when sampling personnel for military assignments abroad

Occupational Dust Exposure as a Risk Factor for Developing Lung Function Impairment

Objective  Dust exposure is high in several industries. We investigated associations of exposure in paper mills, wood pellet plants, and iron foundries with lung function impairment. Methods  Respirable silica, inhalable paper dust, or inhalable wood dust were collected as personal samples and spirometry was performed. Multiple linear regression analyzed associations with FEV1%pred and FVC%pred. Results  Wood pellet workers with high exposure to inhalable dust had lower FEV1%pred (95% CI) (−9.4 [−16 to −2.6]) and FVC%pred (−9.8 [−15 to −4.0]) compared with lowest exposure level. Workers at paper mills and foundries had no dose-dependent association but lower FEV1%pred and FVC%pred than in workers at wood pellets plants. Conclusions  Increased exposure to inhalable wood dust is associated with decreased lung function. Foundry and paper mill workers have generally lower lung function than wood pellet workers. Spirometry should be considered in workers in industries with airborne particulate matter pollution