Characteristics and variability of storm tracks in the north Pacific, Bering Sea, and Alaska

The North Pacific and Bering Sea regions represent loci of cyclogenesis and storm track activity. In this paper climatological properties of extratropical storms in the North Pacific/Bering Sea are presented based upon aggregate statistics of individual storm tracks calculated by means of a feature-tracking algorithm run using NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data from 1948/49 to 2008, provided by the NOAA/Earth System Research Laboratory and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, Climate Diagnostics Center. Storm identification is based on the 850-hPa relative vorticity field (ζ) instead of the often-used mean sea level pressure; ζ is a prognostic field, a good indicator of synoptic-scale dynamics, and is directly related to the wind speed. Emphasis extends beyond winter to provide detailed consideration of all seasons. Results show that the interseasonal variability is not as large during the spring and autumn seasons. Most of the storm variables—genesis, intensity, track density—exhibited a maxima pattern that was oriented along a zonal axis. From season to season this axis underwent a north–south shift and, in some cases, a rotation to the northeast. This was determined to be a result of zonal heating variations and midtropospheric moisture patterns. Barotropic processes have an influence in shaping the downstream end of storm tracks and, together with the blocking influence of the coastal orography of northwest North America, result in high lysis concentrations, effectively making the Gulf of Alaska the “graveyard” of Pacific storms. Summer storms tended to be longest in duration. Temporal trends tended to be weak over the study area. SST did not emerge as a major cyclogenesis control in the Gulf of Alaska

Social cognitive consequences of differences in the emotional grounding of concepts: the role of embodiment

American Psychological Association (PsycINFO Classification Categories and Codes): 2300 Human Experimental Psychology; 2340 Cognitive Processes; 2560 Psychophysiology; 2720 Linguistics & Language & Speech; 3000 Social PsychologyThe present work examines the affective grounding of first-native (L1) and secondlearned (L2) languages, and how they differently impact intra-individual, inter-individual and intergroup processes. In the first chapter we framed our work in the Socially Situated Cognition approach, and proposed the application of its assumptions to linguistic communication. In the second chapter we reviewed literature showing the differences in processing L1-L2, and concluded that these languages are not likely to be grounded in the same way. In the first empirical chapter we examined this assumption in two affective priming experiments. Congruency effects were observed only in L1 for prime/target word pairs, and in L1-L2 for pairs of word/photos (facial expressions). These results suggest different groundings of L1-L2, and that the presence of facial expressions, that facilitate affective simulation processes, may overrule L2 constraints. The second set of three experiments revealed that L2 induces social distance and a more abstract type of processing. Moreover, the social distance induced by L2 was mediated by a more abstract construal-level that is consistent with the disembodied nature of L2. The last set of two experiments indicates that the evaluation of sentences with affective content, presented in L1-L2, depends on their valence and on the group membership of the described targets. Affective simulation (measured with EMG) was more intense in L1, and for the in-group, and differences in simulation of in-group/out-group sentences were enhanced in L2. The last chapter presents a summary of the main findings, their contributions and limitations, and suggests future research directions.O presente trabalho examina a ancoragem afectiva da língua-nativa (L1) e da segunda-língua (L2), e como estas influenciam de forma diferente processos intraindividuais, inter-individuais e intergrupais. No primeiro capítulo enquadramos o trabalho na abordagem da Cognição Social Situada propondo a aplicação das suas premissas à comunicação linguística. No segundo capítulo revemos estudos que mostram diferenças no processamento de L1-L2 concluíndo que, provavelmente, estas línguas não são corporalizadas da mesma maneira. No primeiro capítulo empírico examinamos esta premissa em dois experimentos de primação afectiva. Observámos efeitos de congruência apenas em L1 para pares de palavras primo-alvo, e em L1-L2 para pares de palavras/fotos (expressões faciais). Estes resultados sugerem diferenças na ancoragem afectiva de L1-L2 e que a presença de expressões faciais, facilitadoras de processos de simulação afectiva, anula os constrangimentos impostos por L2. O segundo conjunto de três experimentos revelou que L2 induz distância social e um processamento mais abstracto. Para além disso, a distância social induzida por L2 foi mediada por um construal-level mais abstracto, o que é consistente com a natureza descorporalizada de L2. No último conjunto de dois experimentos observou-se que a avaliação de frases de conteúdo afectivo, apresentadas em L1-L2, depende da sua valência e da pertença grupal dos alvos descritos. A simulação afectiva (medida com EMG) foi mais intensa em L1, e para o in-group, e as diferenças na simulação de frases do in-group/outgroup foram realçadas em L2. O último capítulo apresenta os resultados principais, seus contributos e limitações, e sugestões para investigação futura

Mechanical behavior of nano structures using atomic-scale finite element method (AFEM)

This work presents a detailed description of the formulation and implementation of the Atomistic Finite Element Method AFEM, exemplified in the analysis of one- and two-dimensional atomic domains governed by the Lennard Jones interatomic potential. The methodology to synthesize element stiffness matrices and load vectors, the potential energy modification of the atomistic finite elements (AFE) to account for boundary edge effects, the inclusion of boundary conditions is carefully described. The conceptual relation between the cut-off radius of interatomic potentials and the number of nodes in the AFE is addressed and exemplified for the 1D case. For the 1D case elements with 3, 5 and 7 nodes were addressed. The AFEM has been used to describe the mechanical behavior of one-dimensional atomic arrays as well as two-dimensional lattices of atoms. The examples also included the analysis of pristine domains, as well as domains with missing atoms, defects, or vacancies. Results are compared with classical molecular dynamic simulations (MD) performed using a commercial package. The results have been very encouraging in terms of accuracy and in the computational effort necessary to execute both methodologies, AFEM and MD. The methodology can be expanded to model any domain described by an interatomic energy potential141120462066CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPNão temNão tem2012/17948-4; 2013/23085-1; 2015/00209-2; 2013/08293-

Asymmetric fiscal and monetary policies: a two country model of european integration

We use a 2-country model to analyze fiscal and monetary interactions in a Monetary union.Both countries are integrated and experience spillovers from their partners’ fiscal policies. Wesolve for Monetary Leadership - the Central Bank commits to an inflation target and the fiscalpolicymakers optimize spending - and for Fiscal Leadership - the Central Bank chooses its pre-ferred rate given exogenously defined fiscal policies. High inflation aversion and small outputgaps in one country can generate overspending in their integrated partners. Country weights determined by the Central Bank affect its policy making by overlooking smaller countries

Pulmonary Auscultation using Mobile Devices - Feasibility Study in Respiratory Diseases

A auscultação pulmonar convencional é essencial no controlo das doenças respiratórias. Contudo, a deteção de sons adventícios fora do ambiente hospitalar continua a ser um desafio. Nós estudámos a exequibilidade de realizar auscultação com o microfone incorporado de um smartphone em contexto clínico. Noventa e cinco pacientes (mediana[intervalo interquartil] 16[11-24] anos; 52% mulheres; 42 fibrose quística, 24 asma, 17 outras doenças respiratórias e 12 sem doença respiratória) foram recrutados nos serviços de Pediatria e Pneumologia de um hospital terciário. Os clínicos realizaram auscultação convencional em 4 locais (traqueia, peito anterior direito e bases pulmonares direita e esquerda), documentando quaisquer sons adventícios. A auscultação com o smartphone foi gravada nos mesmos locais. As gravações (n=738) foram classificadas por dois investigadores e o acordo calculado (%; kappa de Cohen(IC95%)). Foram obtidas gravações com qualidade em 88% dos participantes e 69% das gravações (91%; k=0.80(IC95% 0.75-0.85)), com uma proporção de qualidade superior na traqueia (79%) e inferior no grupo da asma (52%). Foram encontrados sons adventícios em apenas 27% dos participantes e 12% das gravações (91%; k=0.57(IC95% 0.46-0.68)), o que poderá ter contribuído para o acordo razoável entre a auscultação convencional e a auscultação com o smartphone (86%; k=0.25(IC95% 0.13-0.37)). Os nossos resultados demonstram que a auscultação com o smartphone foi exequível, mas que é necessária mais investigação para melhorar o seu acordo com a auscultação convencional.Conventional lung auscultation is essential in the management of respiratory diseases. However, detecting adventitious sounds outside medical facilities remains challenging. We assessed the feasibility of lung auscultation using the smartphone's embedded microphone in real-world clinical practice. Ninety-five patients (median[interquartile range] 16[11-24]y; 52% female; 42 cystic fibrosis, 24 asthma, 17 other respiratory diseases and 12 no respiratory diseases) were re-cruited at Pediatrics and Pulmonology departments of a tertiary hospital. Clinicians performed conventional auscultation at 4 locations (trachea, right anterior chest, right and left lung bases), documenting any adventitious sounds. Smartphone auscultation was recorded in the same loca-tions. The recordings (n=738) were classified by two annotators and agreement calculated (%; Cohen's k(95%CI)). Recordings with quality were obtained in 88% of the participants and 69% of the recordings (91%; k=0.80(95%CI 0.75-0.85)), with the quality proportion being higher at the trachea (79%) and lower in the asthma group (52%). Adventitious sounds were present in only 27% of the participants and 12% of the recordings (91%; k=0.57(95%CI 0.46-0.68)), which may have contributed to the fair agreement between conventional and smartphone auscultation (86%; k=0.25(95%CI 0.13-0.37)). Our results show that smartphone auscultation was feasible, but further investigation is required to improve its agreement with conventional auscultation

Effects of a stigma reduction intervention on help-seeking behaviors in university students: A 2019-2021 randomized controlled trial

"Introduction Stigma is one of the most frequently identified help-seeking barriers, but there is a lack of research on the effects of stigma reduction interventions on actual mental health help-seeking behaviors during crucial academic years. This research explores the effects of stigma on university students' mental health care help-seeking behaviors before and during the pandemic. Methods A randomized control trial spanned from 2019 to 2021 at the University of Porto, along five evaluation moments, with students into one control group and two intervention groups—the interventions aimed to reduce depression stigma. Results Among the 702 participants (mean age 18.87, 59.4 % female), the intervention groups significantly increased help-seeking behaviors. In 2020, the intervention groups, having reduced stigma, continued to demonstrate to be more prompt to seek mental health help. In 2021, 22 months, the effects of the intervention on help-seeking were no longer significant; however, participants in the intervention groups showed less severe symptomatology. Conclusion Stigma reduction interventions have a pronounced effect on enhancing help-seeking behaviors among university students, even during times of crisis. This study advocates for prioritizing stigma reduction in academic settings, highlighting its value in promoting mental health access during crucial academic and life challenges."Through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, IP, national funds finance this work under UIDB / 04750/2020. The sponsor had no role in the study design, in the data collection, interpretation of data, writing of the report, or in the decision to submit the paper for publication

Características do trabalho por turnos e a sua influência na saúde mental dos enfermeiros: uma revisão

Nurses play a pivotal role in health care systems. In order to guarantee continuation of care round the clock, shift work is inevitable. The resulting disruption of circadian rhythms, allied with the job demand and stressors inherent to the nursing profession, leads to several adverse effects, both physical and psychological. Working shifts, particularly overnight shifts, can make nurses prone to mental distress and feelings of burnout, depression and/or anxiety. Shift work and its impact on mental health of nurses represent a hazard to patients as these are associated with worse work performance and more errors. This literature narrative review aims to synthesize the existing evidence on how different shift work characteristics can influence nurses' mental health, namely burnout, depression and anxiety. For this purpose, an electronic search on PubMed was conducted, using the following query: ((nurses) AND ((((mental health) OR (depress*)) OR (burnout)) OR (anxiety))) AND (shift). This review focused on the comparison of the aforementioned outcomes on nurses with different types of shifts (e.g. night vs day, fixed vs rotating or similar variations). A total of 32 articles were analyzed, 31 original papers and 1 review article. No confluent conclusions were drawn given the conflicting results reported in different studies. Comparisons between the results obtained in the available published papers were hampered by the fact that there were significant differences in the populations studied, as well as distinct analytical tools employed, namely the use of different questionnaires, which inevitably lead to different conceptualization of the outcomes. Additional hinders include the existence of different types of shift work and the consequent inadequacy of dichotomic analysis of shift vs non-shift work. Despite these limitations and the inconsistent results, the evidence suggests that working night shifts entails a negative influence on nurses' psychological well-being. However, the extent of this negative effect is influenced by many factors that play a role in nurses´ tolerance to shift work. In this context, more research is needed, particularly with large sampled, longitudinal studies, in order to be more conclusive to the influence of the shift work on nurses' mental health.Os enfermeiros desempenham um papel fundamental nos sistemas de saúde. De modo a garantir a continuação dos cuidados ininterruptamente, o trabalho por turnos é inevitável. A consequente disrupção dos ritmos circadianos, aliada à exigência e às dificuldades inerentes à profissão, pode causar diversos efeitos adversos, tanto físicos como psicológicos. Trabalhar por turnos, particularmente noturnos, torna os profissionais de enfermagem mais propensos a desgaste mental, sensação de burnout, depressão e/ou ansiedade. O trabalho por turnos e o seu impacto na saúde mental dos enfermeiros representam um risco para os pacientes, estando associados a um pior desempenho e à ocorrência de mais erros. Esta revisão narrativa da literatura visa sintetizar a evidência científica existente sobre a influência de diferentes características de trabalho por turnos na saúde mental dos enfermeiros, nomeadamente no que toca aos outcomes burnout, depressão e ansiedade. Assim, foi realizada uma pesquisa electrónica na PubMed com a seguinte querry: ((nurses) AND ((((mental health) OR (depress*)) OR (burnout)) OR (anxiety))) AND (shift). Esta revisão centrou-se na comparação dos outcomes supracitados em diferentes tipos de trabalho por turnos (por exemplo noite vs dia, fixo vs rotativo ou variações semelhantes). Um total de 32 artigos foram analisados, dos quais, 31 estudos originais e 1 artigo de revisão. Não foi possível alcançar nenhuma conclusão absoluta, devido aos resultados divergentes nos diversos estudos. A comparação dos resultados foi ainda limitada pelas diferenças nas populações estudadas e nos métodos de análise empregues, nomeadamente diferentes questionários, traduzindo-se inevitavelmente numa conceptualização diferente dos outcomes. Outra limitação à análise da evidência existente deve-se à existência de diferentes tipos de trabalho por turnos, tornando a comparação dicotómica shift vs non-shift work inadequada. Apesar destas limitações e da existência de resultados inconsistentes, a evidência sugere que os turnos noturnos acarretam um impacto negativo no bem-estar psicológico dos enfermeiros. Contudo, este impacto é influenciado por diversos fatores relacionados com a tolerância individual ao trabalho por turnos. Neste contexto, é necessária mais investigação, particularmente estudos longitudinais com populações amostrais maiores, de modo a ser mais conclusivo em relação à influência do trabalho por turnos na saúde mental dos enfermeiros