Energy efficiency of social housing existing buildings – a portuguese case study

The European energy performance building regulations, Directive 2002/91/EC - Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) of the European Parliament and Council, require that new buildings present minimum standards of energy efficiency. Accordingly the Portuguese regulations require that new buildings comply with minimum requirements on the energy performance and must have an energy performance certification through witch an energy efficiency label is attributed to the housing. It also require that existing buildings must have an efficiency energy label when submitted to a commercial transaction or to a deep rehabilitation. To achieve this goal the study of energy performance of existing buildings must be done. As many essentials elements to determine the U-factor and other thermal parameters are unknown, Portugal developed a simplified methodology to achieve the thermal performance of existing buildings. The aim of this paper is to present the study of the energy performance of a set of social dwellings that were constructed during the decade of 80, constructed before the former building thermal comfort specifications came into force. During the study the referred methodology was applied and conclusions of the energy efficiency label obtained were put out as the encountered difficulties. The study also compares the results obtained by the simplified methodology and by the detailed methodology that is required by Portuguese building thermal comfort specifications

The importance of geotechnical knowledge of terrains: Beja municipality, Alentejo, Portugal

The municipality of Beja, in Alentejo (Portugal), is presented as a case in which the insufficient knowledge of the geological and geotechnical characteristics of terrains contributes to serious problems in the establishment of building platforms. In Beja three main geotechnical units can be defined: fills, residual soils from gabbro-diorite weathering and gabbro-diorite bedrock. The knowledge of location, thickness and geotechnical properties of all these formations will contribute to the accurate engineering design and construction work, and also to support urban planning and therefore to minimize geological risk by avoiding zones with thick problematic soils as shown with a case study

O PAPEL DO FARMACÊUTICO PARA O MELHOR ENQUADRAMENTO DA SEGURANÇA DE SIBUTRAMINA PARA O CONTROLE DE OBESIDADE DE INFANTOJUVENIL

It is a consensus that obesity in childhood and adolescence has increased significantly in recent decades, making it a worrying case in global health. Obesity is a pathology of the group of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) which can be defined as a disease characterized by excessive increase in fat (TARDIDO; FALCÃO, 2006). Pharmacological therapy is recommended as an adjunct tool for obese or overweight patients who may be associated with life-threatening comorbidities. Anti-obesity drugs generally act by decreasing appetite, inhibiting fat absorption or increasing energy consumption and thermogenesis, and also on neurotransmission systems. Among the drugs used as slimming, we can highlight: Sibutramine, Sertraline and Fluoxetine. This article aims to understand the role of the pharmacist, given the situation of their client-patient in the use of sibutramine, thus contributing to a better control and dosage of appetite, bringing satisfactory results to combat obesity. The benefits of using pharmacological agents are to promote increased patient adherence to nutritional and behavioral changes, in addition to weight loss and improved life. For that, a descriptive research with a qualitative approach of literature review was used.Existe un consenso de que la obesidad en la infancia y la adolescencia ha aumentado significativamente en las últimas décadas, lo que la convierte en un caso preocupante en la salud global. La obesidad es una patología del grupo de las Enfermedades Crónicas No Transmisibles (ENT) que se puede definir como una enfermedad caracterizada por un aumento excesivo de grasa. La terapia farmacológica se recomienda como una herramienta complementaria para pacientes obesos o con sobrepeso, que pueden estar asociados con comorbilidades potencialmente mortales. Los medicamentos contra la obesidad generalmente actúan disminuyendo el apetito, inhibiendo la absorción de grasas o aumentando el consumo de energía y la termogénesis, y también sobre los sistemas de neurotransmisión. Entre los fármacos utilizados como adelgazantes, podemos destacar: Sibutramina, Sertralina y Fluoxetina. Este artículo tiene como objetivo comprender el papel del farmacéutico, dada la situación de su cliente-paciente en el uso de la sibutramina, contribuyendo así a un mejor control y dosificación del apetito, aportando resultados satisfactorios para combatir la obesidad. Los beneficios del uso de agentes farmacológicos son promover una mayor adherencia del paciente a los cambios nutricionales y de comportamiento, además de la pérdida de peso y una mejor vida. Para eso, se utilizó una investigación descriptiva con un enfoque cualitativo de revisión de la literatura.É consenso que a obesidade na infância e adolescência vem aumentando de forma significativa nas últimas décadas, tornando-se um caso preocupante na saúde mundial. A obesidade é uma patologia do grupo de Doenças Crônicas não Transmissíveis (DCNT) que pode ser definida como uma doença caraterizada pelo aumento excessivo de gordura. A terapia farmacológica é recomendada como uma ferramenta adjuvante para pacientes obesos ou que apresentam sobrepeso, que podem estar associadas com comorbidades que colocam suas vidas em risco. Os fármacos antiobesidade geralmente atuam diminuindo o apetite, inibindo absorção de gordura ou aumentando o consumo de energia e termogênese, e também em sistemas de neurotransmissão. Dentre os medicamentos utilizados como emagrecedores, podemos destacar: Sibutramina, Sertralina e a Fluoxetina. O presente artigo tem como objetivo conhecer o papel do farmacêutico, diante da situação do seu cliente-paciente no uso da sibutramina, contribuindo, assim, para um melhor controle e dosagem do apetite, trazendo resultados satisfatórios para o combate à obesidade. Os benefícios da utilização de agentes farmacológicos consistem em promover um aumento da aderência dos pacientes a mudanças nutricionais e comportamentais, além da perda de peso e melhoria de vida. Para tanto, foi utilizada uma pesquisa descritiva com abordagem qualitativa de revisão de literatura

Utilização de imagens de satélite para detecção do aumento da área urbanizada do município de Camboriú - SC

The municipality of Camboriú is located in the state of Santa Catarina, close to the city of Balneário Camboriú, which in turn is densely urbanized. Since urbanization implies the movement of inhabitants from the rural area to the urban area, it is necessary to study the increase in the urban area, as well as its spatialization, in order to be able to base the decision making regarding the public policies in order to promote sustainable development. Thus, with the use of remote sensing, images from the Landsat 5 and 8 satellite, referring to the years 2000 to 2019, were classified and analyzed in terms of the evolution of the urban area of Camboriú-SC. As a result, it was obtained that there was an increase in the urban area, in order to spatialize the growth presented by the IBGE census in the studied period.El municipio de Camboriú está ubicado en el estado de Santa Catarina, cerca de la ciudad de Balneário Camboriú, que a su vez está densamente urbanizada. Dado que la urbanización implica el movimiento de habitantes del área rural al área urbana, es necesario estudiar el aumento del área urbana, así como su espacialización, para poder basar la toma de decisiones con respecto al Políticas públicas para promover el desarrollo sostenible. Así, con el uso de la teledetección, las imágenes del satélite Landsat 5 y 8, referidas a los años 2000 a 2019, se clasificaron y analizaron en términos de la evolución del área urbana de Camboriú-SC. Como resultado, se obtuvo que hubo un aumento en el área urbana, con el fin de espacializar el crecimiento presentado por el censo del IBGE en el período estudiado.O município de Camboriú está localizado no Estado de Santa Catarina, próximo à cidade de Balneário Camboriú, que por sua vez é densamente urbanizada. Uma vez que a urbanização implica no movimento de saída dos habitantes da zona rural para a zona urbana, faz-se necessário o estudo do aumento da mancha urbana, bem como a sua espacialização, de forma a poder fundamentar a tomada de decisão a respeito das políticas públicas, com o intuito de promover o desenvolvimento sustentável. Desta forma, com a utilização do sensoriamento remoto, imagens do satélite Landsat 5 e 8, referentes aos anos de 2000 a 2019, foram classificadas e analisadas em termos da evolução da mancha urbana do município de Camboriú-SC. Como resultado, foi obtido que houve o aumento da mancha urbana, de forma a espacializar o crescimento apresentado pelo censo do IBGE no período de tempo estudado

Exploring the Involvement of the Alternative Respiratory Pathway in Pisum sativum L. Seed Germination

Proceeding PaperOrganic agriculture, recognized as a more sustainable agricultural system, strongly de-pends on the use of highly resilient genotypes. Resilient seeds, with increased tolerance to germinate and provide vigorous seedlings under environmental stresses, currently represent one of the most important agronomical traits. Seed germination involves the activation of several metabolic path-ways, including cellular respiration. Alternative oxidase (AOX), a key enzyme in the alternative respiratory pathway, plays a crucial role in regulating cell reprogramming by controlling metabolic transitions related to the cellular redox state and the variable carbon balance. The involvement of the alternative respiratory pathway during germination was explored by analysis of PsAOX gene/protein expression. Seeds of four Pisum sativum L. cultivars (‘Respect-1′, ‘S134′, ‘G78′ and ‘S91′) were imbibed in sterile tap water for 16 h and metabolic parameters measured by calorespirometry (heat and CO2 emission rates) in a Multi-Cell Differential Scanning Calorimeter in isothermal mode at 25 °C. The involvement of PsAOX was evaluated by transcript quantification (PsAOX1, PsAOX2a, and PsAOX2b) through RT-qPCR, and by of analysing the PsAOX expression through Western blot. The results demonstrate that the cv. ‘S91′, characterized by a low germination rate, exhibited the lowest metabolic heat and CO2 emission rate. However, contrary to expectations, PsAOX transcript accumulation and PsAOX protein expression were significantly higher for ‘S91′ than for the other cultivars. These results indicate that higher levels of AOX (transcript and protein) could be linked to lower metabolic rates for embryo growth when seed germination is compromisedinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Retrospective study of traumatic phimosis in horses and treatment with penis shortening surgery circumcision (1982-2007)

Traumatismos no pênis e prepúcio de garanhões são causas comuns de infertilidade nos equinos e entre elas destaca-se a fimose, que, neste estudo retrospectivo, realizado em 367 propriedades rurais, foram encontrados 49 casos da enfermidade, sendo 43 casos de origem traumática e com 12 óbitos. A técnica de circuncisão com encurtamento do pênis foi utilizada para a correção da enfermidade em 20 animais, distribuídos em dois grupos de acordo com o protocolo anestésico utilizado. Todos os equinos apresentaram como complicação pós-operatória edema em vários graus, porém diminuindo significativamente em 95% dos animais após o sétimo dia. Assim, concluiu-se que a técnica de circuncisão com encurtamento peniano constitui-se em alternativa viável e eficiente no tratamento de fimose traumática em equinos. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTPenis and prepuce injuries of stallions are common causes of infertility in horses and among them, paraphimosis is featured. This retrospective study was conducted in 367 rural properties and 49 cases were found; 43 of them were traumatic with 12 deaths. The technique of circumcision with shortening of the penis was used for the correction of the disease in 20 animals. They were divided into two groups according to the anesthetic protocol used. All horses had post-operative complications such as edema in various degrees, which decreased significantly in 95% of animals after the seventh day. Thus, it was concluded that the technique of circumcision with penis shortening is an effective alternative in the treatment of traumatic paraphimosis in horses

Eccentric strength assessment of hamstring muscles with new technologies: a systematic review of current methods and clinical implications

Background: Given the severe economic and performance implications of hamstring injuries, there are different attempts to identify their risk factors for subsequently developing injury prevention strategies to reduce the risk of these injuries. One of the strategies reported in the scientific literature is the application of interventions with eccentric exercises. To verify the effectiveness of these interventions, different eccentric strength measurements have been used with low-cost devices as alternatives to the widespread used isokinetic dynamometers and the technically limited handheld dynamometers. Therefore, the purpose of the present systematic review was to summarize the findings of the scientific literature related to the evaluation of eccentric strength of hamstring muscles with these new technologies. Methods: Systematic searches through the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, from inception up to April 2020, were conducted for peer reviewed articles written in English, reporting eccentric strength of hamstrings assessed by devices, different to isokinetic and handheld dynamometers, in athletes. Results: Seventeen studies were finally included in the review with 4 different devices used and 18 parameters identified. The pooled sample consisted of 2893 participants (97% male and 3% female: 22 ± 4 years). The parameters most used were peak force (highest and average), peak torque (average and highest), and between-limb imbalance (left-to-right limb ratio). There is inconsistency regarding the association between eccentric hamstrings strength and both injury risk and athletic performance. There is no standardized definition or standardization of the calculation of the used parameters. Conclusions: The current evidence is insufficient to recommend a practical guide for sports professionals to use these new technologies in their daily routine, due to the need for standardized definitions and calculations. Furthermore, more studies with female athletes are warranted. Despite these limitations, the eccentric strength of hamstring muscles assessed by different devices may be recommended for monitoring the neuromuscular status of athletes

Management of severe diarrhea in an AIDS patient with inflammatory bowel disease with Short Bowel Syndrome

Introduction: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can lead to a loss of lymphoid tissue through the intestinal mucosa, making the intestine susceptible to infections and inflammation. As a result, the patient may present with Crohn's Disease (CD), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS) results from loss of bowel absorption capacity after extensive bowel resection and is associated with several complications. Objective: To report the case of a patient presenting with acute chronic diarrhea, of probable multifactorial etiology, secondary to HIV, CD, and SBS. Methods: The information contained in this report was obtained through a review of the medical record and a review of the literature. Case Report: This is the report of E. F. C, male, 49 years old, who was admitted to the ICU of Hospital Ernesto Dornelles, in Porto Alegre, from 12/04/2020 to 01/07/2021, with HIV, CD, and SBS. The patient was admitted complaining of diarrhea that had started 15 days ago, which had worsened in the last 7 days, with loss of appetite, vomiting episodes, and mental confusion. Using empirical Lamivudine, Zidovudine, Tenofovir, Ciprofloxacin and Metronidazole, Methotrexate and Prednisone. On physical examination, he was sleepy, afebrile, with a normotensive abdomen, severe dehydration, and edema 3+/4+. From anthropometry, the measured weight of 50 kg, reported height of 1.70 m, and BMI of 17 kg/m2. On laboratory tests, he had severe pancytopenia and electrolyte disturbances. Although the cause of diarrhea was not clarified, bowel rest and the use of glutamine and enteral symbiotic were chosen, while treating HIV and CD, to improve enterocyte nutrition and reduce bacterial translocation capable of causing septic conditions. Despite this, diarrhea was untreatable, mean greater than 1,000 ml/day, with indication, but without the possibility of total parenteral nutrition, due to thrombocytopenia. On 12/06, E. F. C was in poor general condition, anasarca, tachycardic, hypotensive, treating septicemia caused by Candida tropicalis. On 12/07, he presented no spontaneous breathing, absence of central pulses and pupillary reflexes, opted not to institute invasive measures, and died. Final Considerations: The report highlights the need to cover IBD and opportunistic infections in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea in AIDS patients with CD and SBS. It also demonstrates the challenge of nurturing the patient who does not have conditions for enteral and/or parenteral nutrition, with a high risk of malnutrition due to the catabolism of such pathologies

Nutritional support in a patient with Cytomegalovirus (CMV) enterocolitis in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Introduction: Several diseases of the gastrointestinal tract should be taken into account in patients with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) since diarrhea negatively affects the patient's quality of life. Given this condition, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) enterocolitis may present with fever, weight loss, intermittent diarrhea, and hematochezia. Objective: This study aimed to report the effect of enteral supplementation with L-glutamine and oligomeric enteral nutritional therapy (ENT) formula in patients with cytomegalovirus, and with refractory diarrhea associated with wasting HIV syndrome. Methods: The information contained in this report was obtained through a review of the medical record and a review of the literature. Results: This is the report of S. S. A, a female, 27 years old, who was admitted to Hospital Ernesto Dornelles, in Porto Alegre, from 11/15/2020 to 12/30/2020, diagnosed with HIV for a month, without undergoing treatment. The patient was hospitalized due to worsening abdominal pain starting 2 days ago, with diarrhea and mental confusion. On physical examination, she presented pain in the lower abdominal region. From anthropometry, the measured weight of 67kg, the self-reported height of 1.67m, and BMI of 24kg/m2. On 11/17, she presented PCR-CMV positive for CMV and underwent laparotomy for pneumoperitoneum with endarterectomy due to perforation of the distal ileum. In use of ganciclovir for CMV. On December 2, the upper digestive endoscopy with biopsy showed an esophagus with the Z-line located close to the diaphragmatic clamping, with esophageal mucosa with extensive, friable, serpiginous ulcers, being a valuable diagnosis in CMV enterocolitis. From 12/04 to 12/08, she used exclusive enteral L-glutamine 20g/day. On 12/09, she started an oligomeric formula via the low-flow enteral route with progression to the caloric and protein targets. On 12/30, the patient had improved diarrhea, with a depressible and painless abdomen, and had been discharged. Final Considerations: In the present report, it was obtained a beneficial effect with the nutritional intervention using L-glutamine and enteral oligomeric formula in the treatment of diarrhea. Thus, the improvement in the condition in just 5 days can be explained by the rhythm of the enterocyte cell cycle, which occurs in an average period of 3 days, and it is possible that the 4 day period of nutritional intervention is sufficient to increase endogenous levels of L-glutamine

Eccentric Strength Assessment of Hamstring Muscles with New Technologies: a Systematic Review of Current Methods and Clinical Implications

[EN] Background: Given the severe economic and performance implications of hamstring injuries, there are different attempts to identify their risk factors for subsequently developing injury prevention strategies to reduce the risk of these injuries. One of the strategies reported in the scientific literature is the application of interventions with eccentric exercises. To verify the effectiveness of these interventions, different eccentric strength measurements have been used with low-cost devices as alternatives to the widespread used isokinetic dynamometers and the technically limited handheld dynamometers. Therefore, the purpose of the present systematic review was to summarize the findings of the scientific literature related to the evaluation of eccentric strength of hamstring muscles with these new technologies. Methods: Systematic searches through the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, from inception up to April 2020, were conducted for peer reviewed articles written in English, reporting eccentric strength of hamstrings assessed by devices, different to isokinetic and handheld dynamometers, in athletes. Results: Seventeen studies were finally included in the review with 4 different devices used and 18 parameters identified. The pooled sample consisted of 2893 participants (97% male and 3% female: 22 ± 4 years). The parameters most used were peak force (highest and average), peak torque (average and highest), and between- limb imbalance (left-to-right limb ratio). There is inconsistency regarding the association between eccentric hamstrings strength and both injury risk and athletic performance. There is no standardized definition or standardization of the calculation of the used parameters. Conclusions: The current evidence is insufficient to recommend a practical guide for sports professionals to use these new technologies in their daily routine, due to the need for standardized definitions and calculations. Furthermore, more studies with female athletes are warranted. Despite these limitations, the eccentric strength of hamstring muscles assessed by different devices may be recommended for monitoring the neuromuscular status of athlete