The general aim of this thesis was to study symptoms, prehospital delay and time trends in long-term survival in men and women with myocardial infarction (MI). The study was based on quantitative and qualitative data collections. Study I was based on The Northern Sweden MONICA Myocardial Infarction Registry, 1989-2003, including 5072 men and 1470 women with a confirmed MI. Symptoms and prehospital delay were described and trends over time according to sex and age were studied. Typical pain was present in 86% of the men and 81% of the women and typical symptoms were more common among younger persons than older persons. Up to the age of 65 no gender differences were seen in the prehospital delay. In the oldest age group (65–74 years) time to hospital was longer than among the younger group, especially among women. Study II was based on individual interviews with 20 men with a first confirmed MI, representing the age range 65-80 years, about their experiences during the prehospital phase. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The interviewed older men described how the symptoms developed from diffuse ill-being, to a cluster of severe symptoms. The men had difficulties to relate to the experienced symptoms, which did not correspond to their expectations about an MI, and about whether they should seek medical care. By using different strategies the participants initially tried to understand, reduce, or treat the symptoms by themselves, with a desire to maintain an ordinary life. As the symptoms evolved to a persistent and alarming chest pain, the men realized the seriousness in the perceived symptoms, that all strategies were inefficacious and they came to the decision to seek medical care. Study III was based on individual interviews with 20 women with a first confirmed MI, representing the age range 65-80 years, about their experiences during the prehospital phase. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The interviewed older women described how the symptoms were perceived as a stepwise evolvement from intangible and bodily sensations to a more distinct, persistent and finally overwhelming chest pain. The women struggled against the symptoms and used different strategies, by downplaying and neglecting the symptoms in order to maintain control over their ordinary lives and maintain the social responsibilities. As the symptoms evolved to a persistent and overwhelming chest pain the women realized the seriousness in the perceived symptoms, they were not able to struggle against them anymore and they came to the decision to seek medical care. Study IV was based on The Northern Sweden MONICA Myocardial Infarction Registry which was linked to The Swedish National Cause of Death Registry for 6762 men and 1868 women, 25 to 64 years of age, with a first MI during 1985-2006. Also deaths before admission to hospital were included. Follow-up ended on August 30, 2008. Between 1985 and 2006 long-term survival after a first MI increased in both men and women. Over the whole 23-year period women showed a 9 percent higher survival then men. This slight difference was due to lower risk for women to die before reaching hospital, and during the last period similar rates of long time survival were noted in men and women. In conclusion there were no major differences between men and women in symptoms, prehospital delay or long-term survival. However, older patients had fewer typical symptoms and longer prehospital delay, especially among women. The prehospital phase was found to be multifaceted with experiences difficult to interpret in both men and women, with a dynamic development of symptoms, conceptions and expectations while the participants strove to maintain the ordinary and familiar life. The symptoms experienced presented a more heterogeneous and complex picture in both men and women than is usually described in the literature. Women under the age of 65 have a slightly higher age-adjusted long-term survival than men. Over a 23-year period long-term survival has improved similarly in both men and women. / Det övergripande syftet med avhandlingen var att beskriva symtom, prehospital fördröjning och långtidsöverlevnad hos män och kvinnor med hjärtinfarkt. Studien baserades på kvantitativa och kvalitativa datainsamlingar. Delstudie I baserades på data från hjärtinfarktregistret vid The Northern Sweden MONICA Study under åren 1989-2003, inkluderande 5072 män och 1470 kvinnor, med fastställd hjärtinfarkt. Symtom och tid från symtomstart till medicinsk vård beskrevs och tidstrender relaterades till kön och ålder. Resultatet visade att typisk smärta förelåg hos 86% av männen och 81% av kvinnorna och att typiska symtom var mer förekommande hos de yngre. Upp till 65 års ålder fanns inga könsskillnader mellan symtomstart och tid till medicinsk vård. I den äldsta åldersgruppen (65-74 år) var tiden till sjukvård längre, främst hos kvinnor. Delstudie II baserades på individuella intervjuer med 20 män, mellan 65 och 80 år som drabbats av sin första hjärtinfarkt, om hur de upplevde den prehospitala fasen. Intervjuerna analyserades med hjälp av kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Männen beskrev hur symtomen utvecklades från ett diffust illabefinnande, till ett kluster av  svåra symtom. De hade svårt att relatera till de upplevda symtomen som inte motsvarade deras föreställningar om hur symtom på hjärtinfarkt tar sig uttryck, och hade svårt att veta om de skulle söka vård. Deltagarna vidtog olika strategier för att försöka förstå, minska eller behandla symtomen på egen hand, i en strävan att få livet att fortgå som vanligt. När symtomen utvecklats till en alarmerande och ihållande bröstsmärta insåg männen  allvarlighetsgraden i symtombilden och att strategierna för att hantera symtomen var verkningslösa och beslutade att söka vård. Delstudie III baserades på individuella intervjuer med 20 kvinnor, med sin första hjärtinfarkt i åldern 65-80 år, för att få en djupare förståelse för hur de upplevde den prehospitala fasen. Intervjuerna analyserades med hjälp av kvalitativ innehållsanalys. De äldre kvinnorna beskrev hur symtomen stegvis utvecklades från ogripbara och kroppsliga förnimmelser, mot en mer distinkt, ihållande och slutligen överväldigande bröstsmärta. Kvinnorna kämpade mot symtomen och använde olika strategier, som att tona ner och negligera symtomen för att behålla kontrollen över livssituationen och upprätthålla det sociala ansvarstagandet. När symtomen utvecklades till en ihållande och överväldigande bröstsmärta insåg kvinnorna allvarlighets­graden i symtombilden, att de inte kunde kämpa mot symtomen längre och beslutade att söka vård. Delstudie IV inkluderade patienter med en första hjärtinfarkt mellan åren 1985 och 2006 validerade i hjärtinfarktregistret vid The Northern Sweden MONICA Study i Norr- och Västerbotten som följdes upp i dödsorsaksregistret tom 30 augusti, 2008. Totalt 6762 män och 1868 kvinnor i åldern 25-64 studerades. Även patienter som avled före sjukhusvård inkluderades. Resultatet visade att mellan 1985 och 2006 förbättrades långtidsöverlevnaden efter en första hjärtinfarkt hos både män och kvinnor. Över hela 23-års perioden hade kvinnor 9 procents högre åldersjusterad överlevnad jämfört med män. Denna skillnad berodde på lägre risk för kvinnor att avlida innan de nådde sjukhuset. Under den sista tidsperioden var långtidsöverlevnad lika hos både män och kvinnor. Sammanfattningsvis visar denna studie inga stora skillnader mellan män och kvinnors symtom, prehospitala fördröjning eller långtidsöverlevnad. Dock hade äldre patienter färre typiska symtom och längre prehospital fördröjning, särskilt hos kvinnor. Den prehospitala fasen var en mångfasetterad och svårtolkad upplevelse hos både män och kvinnor, med en dynamisk utveckling av symtom, föreställningar och förväntningar, samtidigt som deltagarna strävade efter att upprätthålla det vardagliga och välbekanta livet.  Symtomen vid hjärtinfarkten  var en mer heterogen och komplex upplevelse hos både män och kvinnor än vad som vanligtvis beskrivs i litteraturen. Över en 23-års period har långtidsöverlevnaden efter en första hjärtinfarkt förbättrats hos både män och kvinnor. Kvinnor under 65 år har en något högre långtidsöverlevnad jämfört med män.

Disertacijoje apžvelgtos viršutinės galūnės segmentų replantacijų indikacijų, kontraindikacijų, terminologijos bei profilaktinio medikamentų vartojimo tendencijos, siekiant sumažinti kraujagyslinių komplikacijų skaičių po replantacijų. Darbe atlikta didžiausio Lietuvos replantologijos centro Vilniaus universiteto ligoninės Santariškių klinikų Centro filialo Plastinės ir rekonstrukcinės chirurgijos skyriaus 1983–2007 metų viršutinės galūnės segmentų replantacijų, ir jų veiksnių apžvalga bei išnagrinėtos replantacijų skaičiaus mažėjimo priežastys. Taip pat nustatyta nemedikamentinių ir medikamentinių veiksnių reikšmė replantatų prigijimui. Gautais rezultatais paneigta šiuo metu paplitusi nuomonė dėl didelės profilaktiškai vartojamų medikamentų reikšmės replantatų prigijimui. Pasiūlytos rekomendacijos dėl terminų replantologijoje naudojimo. / We overviewed indications and contraindications and their tendencies for upper extremity replantations in our dissertation. This work reviewed and analyzed 1983-2007 years material of upper extremity replantations in the oldest and largest replantation center in Lithuania – VUH Centro Affiliate Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department. We analyzed trends and causes of changing numbers of upper extremity replantations. We assessed clinical and social factors and determined their relationship of replantated upper extremity segments. We determined dependencies between prophylactic use of medications and replants survival ratio during the investigation period. We also analyzed different meanings of replantology terms and offered some guidelines for their proper usage.

We overviewed indications and contraindications and their tendencies for upper extremity replantations in our dissertation. This work reviewed and analyzed 1983-2007 years material of upper extremity replantations in the oldest and largest replantation center in Lithuania – VUH Centro Affiliate Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Department. We analyzed trends and causes of changing numbers of upper extremity replantations. We assessed clinical and social factors and determined their relationship of replantated upper extremity segments. We determined dependencies between prophylactic use of medications and replants survival ratio during the investigation period. We also analyzed different meanings of replantology terms and offered some guidelines for their proper usage. / Disertacijoje apžvelgtos viršutinės galūnės segmentų replantacijų indikacijų, kontraindikacijų, terminologijos bei profilaktinio medikamentų vartojimo tendencijos, siekiant sumažinti kraujagyslinių komplikacijų skaičių po replantacijų. Darbe atlikta didžiausio Lietuvos replantologijos centro Vilniaus universiteto ligoninės Santariškių klinikų Centro filialo Plastinės ir rekonstrukcinės chirurgijos skyriaus 1983–2007 metų viršutinės galūnės segmentų replantacijų, ir jų veiksnių apžvalga bei išnagrinėtos replantacijų skaičiaus mažėjimo priežastys. Taip pat nustatyta nemedikamentinių ir medikamentinių veiksnių reikšmė replantatų prigijimui. Gautais rezultatais paneigta šiuo metu paplitusi nuomonė dėl didelės profilaktiškai vartojamų medikamentų reikšmės replantatų prigijimui. Pasiūlytos rekomendacijos dėl terminų replantologijoje naudojimo.

Paleochannels are a major cause of roof failure in underground coal mines in southeastern Kentucky. Models that predict the location and geometry of paleochannels are essential to assist in mine planning and development. Data from approximately 506 coal exploration drill holes were subjected to second-order trend-surface analysis to identify stacking or offsetting relationships between sandstone bodies in adjacent stratigraphic intervals. The stacking of sandstone bodies within adjacent intervals suggests the presence of synsedimentary faulting. This model suggests that continued movement along the faults created topographic lows attracted paleodrainages and accommodated thick accumulations of sandstone in approximately the same areas through time. Trend-surface residuals analysis successfully located areas of potential synsedimentary faulting within the study area. An additional 7,189 elevation data points for the top of the Newman Limestone, interpreted from oil and gas records, were utilized to locate sub-Pennsylvanian System faults within the study area. The correlation between faults associated with the coal measures identified using second-order trend-surface analysis and faults affecting the Newman Limestone suggests Pennsylvanian synsedimentary faults were preceded by older Paleozoic fault movement. The greater availability of oil and gas subsurface data makes this relationship an important tool for predicting locations of fault-controlled coal measure paleochannels.

LEU pasižymi puikiomis sporto tradicijomis ir per savo gyvavimo laikotarpį yra išugdę ne vieną Lietuvą garsinusį sportininką. Tyrinėjant LEU sporto raidą, masiškumą ir sporto pasiekimus, iškyla mokslinė problema – koks yra sporto mokslo vaidmuo studentų mokymui, užimtumui, saviraiškai ir mokymo programų viešinimui. Tyrimo tikslas – atskleisti, LEU studentų dalyvavimą vidaus varžybose, kaip masinio užimtumo reiškinį, įvertinti jų sportinius pasiekimus Lietuvos ir tarptautiniu lygmeniu bei aptarti jų laimėjimų kaitos tendencijas. Tyrimo uždaviniai: 1. Apibūdinti masinį LEU studentų sportą per 2002 –2013 metus, apibendrinant jų pokyčius bei įvairovę, domėjimąsi renkantis mokymosi dalykus. 2. Atlikti LEU studentų, dalyvavusių įvairaus rango Lietuvos studentų varžybose, rezultatų analizę, bei juos apibendrinti. 3. Įvertinti LEU studentų pasiekimus Europos, pasaulio čempionatuose ir olimpinėse žaidynėse, jų reikšmę universiteto bei Lietuvos prestižui. Tyrimas buvo atliktas 2012 – 2014 mokslo metais Lietuvos edukologijos universitete. Analizei pasirinkti 2002-2013 metai, per kuriuos buvo surengtos LEU (VPU) vidaus varžybos ir masiniai sporto renginiai, aprašyti LEU studentai ir jų veikla, apžvelgti informaciniai-istoriniai sporto biuleteniai. Taip pat ištirtos Lietuvos aukštųjų mokyklų varžybos, kuriose dalyvavo LEU studentai, SELL studentų žaidynės, ir LEU sportininkai. Per tyrimui pasirinktą laikotarpį, LEU studentai dalyvavo dvejose Universiadose, pasaulio... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / LEU is well known for its sport traditions and throughout its existence it prepared many well – known Lithuanian sportsmen. Under investigation of LEUs sports development, the mass of it, sport achievements we come to a scientific issue – what role does it take in teaching, busyness, self-expression and publicity of educational programs. The goal of research – to reveal the activity of LEU students in universities contests as act of mass busyness, to evaluate their sport achievements comparing to local and international level, to discuss the trend of their victory changes. Research tasks: 1. Describe the mass sport in LEU during year of 2002 – 2013, summing up the changes and variety in choosing the educational subjects. 2. Analyze the results of LEU students in various categories of competitions and sum them up. 3. Evaluate the achievements of LEU students in Europe’s, world’s championships and Olympic Games, their importance of universities Lithuania’s prestige. Research took place at Lithuania’s University of educational sciences in 2012 – 2014. The information for analysis was gathered from the event records of 2002-2013. Throughout this period of time there were many mass sport events, students and their activities were archived and informational-historical bulletins of LEU (VPU) were reviewed. Events of Lithuania’s universities, SELL student games where LEU students and sportsmen took place, were investigated. During this period of time LEU students attended two... [to full text]

A large portion of the freshwater in western Canada originates as snowpack from the northern Rocky Mountains. The temperature and precipitation in these areas controls the amount of snow accumulated and stored throughout the winter, and the amount and timing of melt that occurs during the spring freshet. Therefore, a better understanding of past and future changes to the extent of snowpack and timing of melt can modify the timing of peak river flow on a continental scale. Trends in temperature, precipitation, snow accumulation, and snowmelt are examined using the Mann-Kendall non-parametric test on a high resolution gridded climate dataset over western Canada for the period 1950-2010. In addition, projected changes in temperature, precipitation, snow water equivalent, and snowmelt are examined through comparison of the current (1971-2000) and future (2041-2070) time periods incorporating several regional climate models. The temporal and spatial analyses of these key hydroclimatic variables indicate that changes vary greatly over space and time. Results reveal that while both maximum and minimum temperature have increased in the past 60 years, minimum temperature has increased more than maximum temperature and is likely to continue doing so in the future. This trend is particularly evident during the colder months of the year, and at higher elevations, contributing to earlier spring melt. Between 1950 and 2010, precipitation has decreased throughout the colder months of the year and increased in the warmer months, particularly in the northern half of the study area. Future projections show increased precipitation, specifically in the north. Throughout the historical period snow accumulation has experienced decreases across the study area and through all months of the year, except for increases at high elevations. In the coldest months of the year snow accumulation is projected to increase in high elevation and northern areas while decreasing across the rest of study area in the future. Snowmelt results indicate slight increases in mid-winter melt events and an earlier onset of the spring freshet; this change is expected to continue into the future period. This study provides a summary of detected trends and potential future changes in key hydroclimatic variables across western Canada with regard to the effects these changes can have on the spring freshet and streamflow, and thus water resources, throughout the study area. / Graduate / 0368

Periodic monitoring of contaminant levels in fish from the Yukon Territory indicated that organochlorine (OC) contaminants had rapidly declined since the early 1990s. This study examined OC concentrations, including chlordane (sigma-CHL), sigma-DDT, hexachlorocyclohexane (sigma-HCH), toxaphene (sigma-CHB), sigma-PCB and chlorinated benzenes (sigma-CBz) in sentinel fish (species of consistent annual observation and collection) from two Yukon lakes (Kusawa, Quiet), and from the aquatic food web of a focus lake (Lake Laberge) across several temporal points between 1993 and 2003. OC analysis and phytoplankton counts from dated sediment cores as well as climate data were also collected. Population, morphological (length, weight, age), biochemical (lipid content, delta-13C, delta-15N) and OC contaminant data for fish and invertebrates (zooplankton, snails, clams) were reviewed to elucidate the primary causes for these OC declines. Although some spatial differences in contaminant levels exist between the Yukon lakes, OC concentrations were declining for lake trout in all three lakes, with declines also noted for burbot from Lake Laberge. Several other fish species as well as zooplankton from Lake Laberge exhibited decreases in contaminant levels except northern pike, which registered consistently higher levels from 1993 to 2001. There was no evidence to support the hypotheses of changes in fish trophic levels or food sources with the exception of burbot, which marginally decreased, and northern pike, which climbed a half trophic level. Through OC flux analysis in dated sediments, the hypothesis that declines in abiotic deposition affected the contaminant levels in the food web was also negated. The closure of the Lake Laberge commercial fishery resulted in faster fish growth and larger fish populations, which are contributing to biomass dilution of OC concentrations, higher OC biomagnification factors for some species and likely changes in predator-prey interactions as resource competition increases. The large ratio of OC decreases in the lower vs. higher trophic levels of Lake Laberge have increased food web magnification factors (FWMF) for all six OC groups. It is also suspected that above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation in the lower Yukon region over the 1990s may have contributed towards an increase in lake primary production resulting in biomass dilution of contaminants in zooplankton for all three study lakes. Concurrently, shifts in the Lake Laberge zooplankton community, from climate fluctuations or increased fish predation, have gone from an abundance of Cyclops scutifer in 1993 to dominance by Diaptomus pribilofensis in 2001, although sample sites were limited. Characteristics specific to each species (e.g. body size, composition and metabolism) likely play a role in the significant OC declines measured in zooplankton. Fluctuations in population dynamics, species characteristics and OC contaminant concentrations in the Lake Laberge ecosystem may continue for several years to come. Sentinel species such as lake trout, burbot, whitefish, cisco and plankton should continue to be monitored in all three Yukon lakes for future temporal correlations with contaminants or climate change.

A large portion of the freshwater in western Canada originates as snowpack from the northern Rocky Mountains. The temperature and precipitation in these areas controls the amount of snow accumulated and stored throughout the winter, and the amount and timing of melt that occurs during the spring freshet. Therefore, a better understanding of past and future changes to the extent of snowpack and timing of melt can modify the timing of peak river flow on a continental scale. Trends in temperature, precipitation, snow accumulation, and snowmelt are examined using the Mann-Kendall non-parametric test on a high resolution gridded climate dataset over western Canada for the period 1950-2010. In addition, projected changes in temperature, precipitation, snow water equivalent, and snowmelt are examined through comparison of the current (1971-2000) and future (2041-2070) time periods incorporating several regional climate models. The temporal and spatial analyses of these key hydroclimatic variables indicate that changes vary greatly over space and time. Results reveal that while both maximum and minimum temperature have increased in the past 60 years, minimum temperature has increased more than maximum temperature and is likely to continue doing so in the future. This trend is particularly evident during the colder months of the year, and at higher elevations, contributing to earlier spring melt. Between 1950 and 2010, precipitation has decreased throughout the colder months of the year and increased in the warmer months, particularly in the northern half of the study area. Future projections show increased precipitation, specifically in the north. Throughout the historical period snow accumulation has experienced decreases across the study area and through all months of the year, except for increases at high elevations. In the coldest months of the year snow accumulation is projected to increase in high elevation and northern areas while decreasing across the rest of study area in the future. Snowmelt results indicate slight increases in mid-winter melt events and an earlier onset of the spring freshet; this change is expected to continue into the future period. This study provides a summary of detected trends and potential future changes in key hydroclimatic variables across western Canada with regard to the effects these changes can have on the spring freshet and streamflow, and thus water resources, throughout the study area. / Graduate / 0368

The aim of this project is to ascertain whether the data in existing Police recording systems can be used by existing mature data mining techniques in an efficient manner to achieve results that are more accurate than those achieved by Police specialists when analysing crime. The Police Service has no formalised methodology of recording and analysing crime data and it is incumbent on each Force to train and develop appropriate personnel to provide operational analysis. Police data is inconsistent and, frequently, incomplete making the task of formal analysis far more difficult and current analytical practices are semi-manual and time consuming producing results of limited accuracy. These analytical processes would benefit from using data mining techniques within a structured approach as discussed within this thesis. The usage of supervised and unsupervised learning techniques within a structured methodology to mining Police data is evaluated. The research demonstrates that data mining techniques can be successfully used in operational policing. High volume crimes such as burglary that have been committed by one or more known offenders can be classified and the model used to attribute currently undetected crimes to one or more of those known offenders. Burglary crimes that previously had no overt relationship and the identity of the offender is unknown can be clustered with the ability to suggest one or more offenders who may be responsible for committing the crime. The same techniques used in analysing high volume crime can be used to link low volume major crimes such as serious sexual assaults. The recognised benefits include an improvement in the accuracy of results over current semi-manual processes and a reduction in the time taken to achieve those results.

The study is holistic, comprehensive, integrated analysis concerning artistic expression of contemporary architectural trends in Lithuania, influences of different Modern architecture trends and their interactions with each other. / Apibendrinantis ir holistinis tyrimas atskleidžia ir įvardina iki šiol Lietuvos architektūrologijoje netyrinėtas XX a. antros pusės architektūros kryptys atspindinčias nagrinėjamo laikmečio sociokultūrinius ir politinius procesus. Tyrimo medžiaga nustato Lietuvos architektūros meninės raiškos vietą pasauliniame kontekste,tuo pačiu išryškina vietinės architektūros savitumus. Naujai įvardintos kryptys ir tendencijos sukuria teorinį pagrindą tolesniems Lietuvos architektūros meninių procesų aiškinimams.