A decision support system for scenario analysis in energy refurbishment of residential buildings

none3noThe energy efficiency of buildings is a key condition in the implementation of national sustainability policies. Energy efficiency of the built heritage is usually achieved through energy contracts or renovation projects that are based on decisions often taken with limited knowledge and in short time frames. However, the collection of comprehensive and reliable technical information to support the decision process is a long and expensive activity. Approximate assessment methods based on stationary thermal models are usually adopted, often introducing unacceptable uncertainties for economically onerous contracts. Hence, it is important to develop tools that, by capitalizing on the operators’ experience, can provide support for fast and reliable assessments. The paper documents the development of a decision support system prototype for the management of energy refurbishment investments in the residential building sector that assists operators in the energy performance assessment, using a limited set of technical information. The system uses a Case Based paradigm enriched with probabilistic modelling to implement decision support within the corporate’s knowledge management framework.openGiretti Alberto, Corneli Alessandra, Naticchia BerardoGiretti, Alberto; Corneli, Alessandra; Naticchia, Berard

Design and first development of an automated real‐time safety management system for construction sites

This paper reports a feasibility study which addressed the development of a new, advanced system mainly devoted to automatic real‐time health and safety management on construction sites. The preliminary analyses and experiments described in this paper concern two of the most important functionalities which must be included in the system's final release. The first functionality consists in real‐time position‐tracking of workers involved on construction sites and the second ‐ in a software tool for the prevention of non‐authorized access to dangerous zones. This research step is part of a vaster, ongoing research project, addressing the development of a new generation of advanced construction management systems which allow real‐time monitoring and coordination of tasks, automatic health and safety management, on‐site delivery of technical information and the capture of "as‐built" documentation. This paper focuses mainly on the development of a reliable methodology for real‐time monitoring of the position of both workers and equipment in outdoor construction sites by applying Ultra Wide Band (UWB) based technologies. This positioning system was then interfaced with a software tool which performs virtual fencing of pre‐selected, dangerous areas. Guidelines for the design of the receivers' topology will be addressed and the results of measurements recorded on a typical medium‐sized block of flats, during different phases of the construction progress will be summed up. Finally, the preliminary experimental results obtained by the virtual fencing application tool will be presented and used to plan future research objectives. Santrauka Straipsnyje aptartos naujos automatinės darbo ir saugos valdymo sistemos statybos aikštelėje kūrimo galimybės. Aprašytos preliminarios analizės ir eksperimentai – du pagrindiniai veiksniai, kurie turi būti įtraukti į galutinį sistemos variantą. Pirmasis veiksnys susijęs su statybos aikštelės darbininkų padėties realiu laiku nustatymu. Kompiuterine programa ribojamas jų patekimas į pavojingas neleistinas zonas. Šie tyrimai yra didelio besitęsiančio projekto dalis. Projektas susijęs su naujos kartos statybos valdymo sistemos kūrimu. Sistema leis kontroliuoti statybos eigą realiu laiku, užtikrinti automatinį darbų saugos valdymą, techninės informacijos ir dokumentacijos gavimą. Straipsnyje pagrindinis dėmesys sukoncentruotas į patikimos metodikos kūrimą. Taikant šią metodiką ir ultraplačiajuosčio bevielio ryšio (angl. Ultra Wide Band (UWB)) technologiją, galima bus nustatyti darbininkų ir įrangos padėtį atvirose statybos aikštelėse realiu laiku. Ši nustatymo sistema per grafinę terpę yra sujungta su programine įranga, kuri sukuria virtualų aptvarą iš anksto nurodytoms pavojingoms zonoms. Pateiktos imtuvo topologijos projektavimo rekomendacijos. Įvertinti tipinių vidutinio dydžio butų blokų užfiksuotų matavimų rezultatai skirtingais statybos etapais. Pateikti preliminarūs eksperimentiniai rezultatai, gauti įvedus virtualaus aptvėrimo koncepciją. Šie rezultatai bus panaudoti planuojant būsimų tyrimų tikslus

Pervasiveness of Staphylococcus carnosus over Staphylococcus xylosus is affected by the level of acidification within a conventional meat starter culture set-up

Staphylococcus carnosus and Staphylococcus xylosus are commonly used, individually or in combination, within conventional starter cultures for the purposes of colour and flavour development during meat fermentation. Yet, little is known about the relative importance of both species under different processing conditions. The present study aimed at investigating the competitiveness of S. carnosus within a meat starter culture under different acidification profiles. The experimental set-up involved a gradient of decreasing experimental control but increasing realism, ranging from liquid meat fermentation models in a meat simulation medium, over solid mince based meat fermentation models, to fermented sausage production on pilot-scale level. In general, S. carrion's gained a fitness advantage over S. xylosus in the most acidified variants of each set-up. In contrast, increasing persistence of S. xylosus was seen at the mildest acidification profiles, especially when approximating actual meat fermentation practices. Under such conditions, S. carnosus was reduced to co-prevalence in the mince based meat fermentation models and was fully outcompeted on pilot-scale level. The latter was even the case when no S. xylosus starter culture was added, whereby S. carnosus was overpowered by staphylococci that originated from the meat background (mostly S. xylosus strains). The results of the present study suggested that conventional starter cultures behave differently when applied in different technological set-ups or using different recipes, with possible repercussions on fermented meat product quality

Species pervasiveness within the group of coagulase-negative staphylococci associated with meat fermentation is modulated by pH

During spontaneous meat fermentations, Staphylococcus equorum, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Staphylococcus xylosus are generally the most prevailing species within the communities of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). There is an interest to introduce CNS isolates from artisan-style spontaneous meat fermentations as starter cultures in more industrialized processes, as to confer additional quality benefits. However, staphylococcal competitiveness within the meat matrix is affected by the processing conditions, which vary considerably among product types. A major factor of variability relates to the intensity of acidification, driven by the concentration of added carbohydrates. The effect of pH on CNS prevalence was studied in both a mince-based meat fermentation model and in fermented sausages produced on pilot scale. Roughly, from all experiments combined, it appeared that a pH of 5.3 corresponded with a breakpoint for CNS selection. Above this value, a general prevalence by S. xylosus was found, even overruling the addition of starter cultures consisting of S. equorum and S. saprophyticus strains. At pH values below 5.3, S. xylosus was also accompanied by S. equorum (following a mild pH drop) and S. saprophyticus (following a stronger pH drop). Still, addition of starter cultures affected the volatile profile compared to the control batch, even if those starter cultures were not able to dominate during the ripening process. This study nonetheless provides a warning for an overly confident use of specific CNS species as starter cultures, especially when in a given processing context the prevailing conditions do not allow superior growth compared to the CNS from the background microbiota

HNRNPDL-related muscular dystrophy: expanding the clinical, morphological and MRI phenotypes

Autosomal dominant limb girdle muscular dystrophy D3 HNRNPDL-related is a rare dominant myopathy caused by mutations in HNRNPDL. Only three unrelated families have been described worldwide, a Brazilian and a Chinese carrying the mutation c.1132G>A p.(Asp378Asn), and one Uruguayan with the mutation c.1132G>C p. (Asp378His), both mutations occurring in the same codon. The present study enlarges the clinical, morphological and muscle MRI spectrum of AD-HNRNPDL-related myopathies demonstrating the significant particularities of the disease. We describe two new unrelated Argentinean families, carrying the previously reported c.1132G>C p.(Asp378His) HNRNPDL mutation. There was a wide phenotypic spectrum including oligo-symptomatic cases, pure limb girdle muscle involvement or distal lower limb muscle weakness. Scapular winging was the most common finding, observed in all patients. Muscle MRIs of the thigh, at different stages of the disease, showed particular involvement of adductor magnus and vastus besides a constant preservation of the rectus femoris and the adductor longus muscles, defining a novel MRI pattern. Muscle biopsy findings were characterized by the presence of numerous rimmed vacuoles, cytoplasmic bodies, and abundant autophagic material at the histochemistry and ultrastructural levels. HNRNPDL-related LGMD D3 results in a wide range of clinical phenotypes from the classic proximal form of LGMD to a more distal phenotype. Thigh MRI suggests a specific pattern. Codon 378 of HNRNPDL gene can be considered a mutation hotspot for HNRNPDL-related myopathy. Pathologically, the disease can be classified among the autophagic rimmed vacuolar myopathies as with the other multisystem proteinopathies.Peer reviewe

Determinants of intensive insulin therapeutic regimens in patients with type 1 diabetes: data from a nationwide multicenter survey in Brazil

Background: To evaluate the determinants of intensive insulin regimens (ITs) in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).Methods: This multicenter study was conducted between December 2008 and December 2010 in 28 public clinics in 20 Brazilian cities. Data were obtained from 3,591 patients (56.0% female, 57.1% Caucasian). Insulin regimens were classified as follows: group 1, conventional therapy (CT) (intermediate human insulin, one to two injections daily); group 2 (three or more insulin injections of intermediate plus regular human insulin); group 3 (three or more insulin injections of intermediate human insulin plus short-acting insulin analogues); group 4, basal-bolus (one or two insulin injections of long-acting plus short-acting insulin analogues or regular insulin); and group 5, basal-bolus with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). Groups 2 to 5 were considered IT groups.Results: We obtained complete data from 2,961 patients. Combined intermediate plus regular human insulin was the most used therapeutic regimen. CSII was used by 37 (1.2%) patients and IT by 2,669 (90.2%) patients. More patients on IT performed self-monitoring of blood glucose and were treated at the tertiary care level compared to CT patients (p < 0.001). the majority of patients from all groups had HbA1c levels above the target. Overweight or obesity was not associated with insulin regimen. Logistic regression analysis showed that economic status, age, ethnicity, and level of care were associated with IT (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Given the prevalence of intensive treatment for T1D in Brazil, more effective therapeutic strategies are needed for long term-health benefits.Farmanguinhos/Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz/National Health MinistryBrazilian Diabetes SocietyFundacao do Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de JaneiroConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Estado Rio de Janeiro, Unit Diabet, BR-20551030 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilBaurus Diabet Assoc, São Paulo, BrazilFed Univ São Paulo State, Diabet Unit, São Paulo, BrazilFed Univ Hosp Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, BrazilUniv Hosp São Paulo, Diabet Unit, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniv Fed Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilSanta Casa Misericordia, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilSanta Casa Misericordia São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, BrazilHosp Geral de Bonsucesso, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilHosp Univ Clementino Fraga Filho IPPMG, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilUniv Hosp São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilFac Ciencias Med Santa Casa São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Crianca, Hosp Clin, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med Ribeirao Preto, Hosp Clin, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilAmbulatorio Fac Estadual Med Sao Jose Rio Preto, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilEscola Paulista Med, Ctr Diabet, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilClin Endocrinol Santa Casa Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniv Estadual Londrina, Londrina, BrazilUniv Fed Parana, Hosp Clin, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilInst Crianca Com Diabet Rio Grande Sul, Rio Grande Do Sul, RS, BrazilGrp Hosp Conceicao, Inst Crianca Com Diabet, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilHosp Univ Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, BrazilInst Diabet Endocrinol Joinville, Joinville, BrazilHosp Reg Taguatinga, Brasilia, DF, BrazilHosp Geral Goiania, Goiania, Go, BrazilCtr Diabet & Endocrinol Estado Bahia, Goiania, Go, BrazilUniv Fed Maranhao, Sao Luis, BrazilCtr Integrado Diabet & Hipertensao Ceara, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilUniv Fed Sergipe, Aracaju, BrazilHosp Univ Alcides Carneiro, Campina Grande, BrazilHosp Univ Joao de Barros Barreto, Belem, Para, BrazilFed Univ São Paulo State, Diabet Unit, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Hosp São Paulo, Diabet Unit, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Hosp São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilEscola Paulista Med, Ctr Diabet, Ribeirao Preto, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Health-related quality of life in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in the different geographical regions of Brazil : data from the Brazilian Type 1 Diabetes Study Group

Background: In type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) management, enhancing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is as important as good metabolic control and prevention of secondary complications. This study aims to evaluate possible regional differences in HRQoL, demographic features and clinical characteristics of patients with T1DM in Brazil, a country of continental proportions, as well as investigate which variables could influence the HRQoL of these individuals and contribute to these regional disparities. Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study performed by the Brazilian Type 1 Diabetes Study Group (BrazDiab1SG), by analyzing EuroQol scores from 3005 participants with T1DM, in 28 public clinics, among all geographical regions of Brazil. Data on demography, economic status, chronic complications, glycemic control and lipid profile were also collected. Results: We have found that the North-Northeast region presents a higher index in the assessment of the overall health status (EQ-VAS) compared to the Southeast (74.6 ± 30 and 70.4 ± 19, respectively; p < 0.05). In addition, North- Northeast presented a lower frequency of self-reported anxiety-depression compared to all regions of the country (North-Northeast: 1.53 ± 0.6; Southeast: 1.65 ± 0.7; South: 1.72 ± 0.7; Midwest: 1.67 ± 0.7; p < 0.05). These findings could not be entirely explained by the HbA1c levels or the other variables examined. Conclusions: Our study points to the existence of additional factors not yet evaluated that could be determinant in the HRQoL of people with T1DM and contribute to these regional disparities