Exploring the Interplay between CAD and FreeFem++ as an Energy Decision-Making Tool for Architectural Design

The energy modelling software tools commonly used for architectural purposes do not allow a straightforward real-time implementation within the architectural design programs. In addition, the surrounding exterior spaces of the building, including the inner courtyards, hardly present a specific treatment distinguishing these spaces from the general external temperature in the thermal simulations. This is a clear disadvantage when it comes to streamlining the design process in relation to the whole-building energy optimization. In this context, the present study aims to demonstrate the advantages of the FreeFem++ open source program for performing simulations in architectural environments. These simulations include microclimate tests that describe the interactions between a building architecture and its local exterior. The great potential of this mathematical tool can be realized through its complete system integration within CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software such as SketchUp or AutoCAD. In order to establish the suitability of FreeFem++ for the performance of simulations, the most widely employed energy simulation tools able to consider a proposed architectural geometry in a specific environment are compared. On the basis of this analysis, it can be concluded that FreeFem++ is the only program displaying the best features for the thermal performance simulation of these specific outdoor spaces, excluding the currently unavailable easy interaction with architectural drawing programs. The main contribution of this research is, in fact, the enhancement of FreeFem++ usability by proposing a simple intuitive method for the creation of building geometries and their respective meshing (pre-processing). FreeFem++ is also considered a tool for data analysis (post-processing) able to help engineers and architects with building energy-efficiency-related tasks

Modelling of surface and inner wall temperatures in the analysis of courtyard thermal performances in Mediterranean climates

Courtyards are an effective passive strategy for improving the energy performance of buildings. However, there is a lack of accurate simulation tools for their thermal performance due to their complex thermodynamics. This paper’s contribution is the coupling of a CFD model with a system of differential equations at the walls, governing surface and inner wall temperatures, providing an accurate computation of courtyard thermal performance. On this basis, boundary conditions for the standard Boussinesq equations governing temperatures, wind velocity, and pressure within the courtyard are established. Modelling results are compared with monitored data in two days of different months in a courtyard in Seville (Spain). Simultaneously, simulations carried out by existing software were performed. Resulting data showed more accuracy than existing tools, with a Root Mean Square Error of 1.19 (August) and 1.59 (October), while the corresponding values with ENVI-met were 3.31-3.4, and with Ladybug Tools 2.59-4.49.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MTM2015-64577-C2-1-RMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad MTM2015-64577-C2-2-RMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades RTI2018-093521-B-C31Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades RTI2018-093521-B-C33Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte FPU17/0503

The ribosome assembly gene network is controlled by the feedback regulation of transcription elongation

Ribosome assembly requires the concerted expression of hundreds of genes, which are transcribed by all three nuclear RNA polymerases. Transcription elongation involves dynamic interactions between RNA polymerases and chromatin. We performed a synthetic lethal screening in Saccharomyces cerevisiae with a conditional allele of SPT6, which encodes one of the factors that facilitates this process. Some of these synthetic mutants corresponded to factors that facilitate pre-rRNA processing and ribosome biogenesis. We found that the in vivo depletion of one of these factors, Arb1, activated transcription elongation in the set of genes involved directly in ribosome assembly. Under these depletion conditions, Spt6 was physically targeted to the upregulated genes, where it helped maintain their chromatin integrity and the synthesis of properly stable mRNAs. The mRNA profiles of a large set of ribosome biogenesismutants confirmed the existence of a feedback regulatory network among ribosome assembly genes. The transcriptional response in this network depended on both the specific malfunction and the role of the regulated gene. In accordance with our screening, Spt6 positively contributed to the optimal operation of this global network. On the whole, this work uncovers a feedback control of ribosome biogenesis by fine-tuning transcription elongation in ribosome assembly factor-coding genes.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BFU2013-48643-C3-1-P, BFU2016-77728-C3-1-P, BFU2013-48643-C3- 3-P, BFU2013-42958-PJunta de Andalucía P12-BIO1938MO, P08-CVI-03508Comunidad Valenciana 2015/00

Impact of heightwidth proportions on the thermal comfort of courtyard typology for Spanish climate zones

Currently, international organizations such as UN admonish countries to adopt measures facing climate change effects. In the Paris Agreement (Nations, 2015) on climate change, global warming was limited up to 2°C. From the last climate change summit, held in Katowice (Poland) on December 3rd, 2018, the rules for a correct implementation of the Paris Agreement for 2020 were detailed. It is in this context of collective will to reduce the climate change effects, where courtyard acquires a singular meaning, especially in warm climates as the Spanish on

Análisis de campañas de comunicación social

Sisenes Jornades de Foment de la Investigació de la FCHS (Any 2000-2001

Pulmonary vascular remodeling and prognosis in patients evaluated for heart transplantation: insights from the OCTOPUS-CHF study

[Abstract] Objective: In patients with advanced heart failure, the intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) of subsegmental pulmonary artery measurements is correlated with right heart catheterization parameters. Our aim was to study the prognostic value of pulmonary OCT, right heart catheterization data, and the echocardiographic estimation of pulmonary pressure in patients studied for elective heart transplants. Methods: This research is an observational, prospective, multicenter study involving 90 adults with a one-year follow-up. Results: A total of 10 patients (11.1%) died due to worsening heart failure before heart transplantation, 50 underwent a heart transplant (55.6%), and 9 died in the first year after the transplant. The patients with and without events (mortality or heart failure-induced hospitalization) had similar data regarding echocardiography, right heart catheterization, and pulmonary OCT (with a median estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure of 42.0 mmHg, interquartile range (IQR) of 30.3-50.0 vs. 47.0 mmHg, IQR 34.6-59.5 and p = 0.79, median pulmonary vascular resistance of 2.2 Wood units, IQR 1.3-3.7 vs. 2.0 Wood units, IQR 1.4-3.2 and p = 0.99, and a median pulmonary artery wall thickness of 0.2 ± 0.5 mm vs. 0.2 ± 0.6 mm and p = 0.87). Conclusion: Pulmonary vascular remodeling (evaluated with echocardiography, right heart catheterization, and pulmonary OCT) was not associated with prognosis in a selected sample of adults evaluated for elective heart transplants. Pulmonary OCT is safe and feasible for the evaluation of these patients.Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI18/00254European Regional Development Fund; CB16/11/0050

Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling and Prognosis in Patients Evaluated for Heart Transplantation: Insights from the OCTOPUS-CHF Study

Objective: In patients with advanced heart failure, the intravascular optical coherence tomography (OCT) of subsegmental pulmonary artery measurements is correlated with right heart catheterization parameters. Our aim was to study the prognostic value of pulmonary OCT, right heart catheterization data, and the echocardiographic estimation of pulmonary pressure in patients studied for elective heart transplants. Methods: This research is an observational, prospective, multicenter study involving 90 adults with a one-year follow-up. Results: A total of 10 patients (11.1%) died due to worsening heart failure before heart transplantation, 50 underwent a heart transplant (55.6%), and 9 died in the first year after the transplant. The patients with and without events (mortality or heart failure-induced hospitalization) had similar data regarding echocardiography, right heart catheterization, and pulmonary OCT (with a median estimated pulmonary artery systolic pressure of 42.0 mmHg, interquartile range (IQR) of 30.3-50.0 vs. 47.0 mmHg, IQR 34.6-59.5 and p = 0.79, median pulmonary vascular resistance of 2.2 Wood units, IQR 1.3-3.7 vs. 2.0 Wood units, IQR 1.4-3.2 and p = 0.99, and a median pulmonary artery wall thickness of 0.2 +/- 0.5 mm vs. 0.2 +/- 0.6 mm and p = 0.87). Conclusion: Pulmonary vascular remodeling (evaluated with echocardiography, right heart catheterization, and pulmonary OCT) was not associated with prognosis in a selected sample of adults evaluated for elective heart transplants. Pulmonary OCT is safe and feasible for the evaluation of these patients

Caracterización química de aguas subterráneas en pozos y un distribuidor de agua de Zimapán, Estado de Hidalgo, México

The characterization of the ground waters that supply the general distributor of water of Zimapán city, State of Hidalgo, Mexico and the distributor itself, is carried out in this work. Eleven sampling points have been selected in which 28 physical-chemical parameters of the collected water have been determined during 10 samplings distributed along one year (March of 1999-March of 2000). In general these waters present normal physicalchemical properties and are classified as bicarbonated-calcic and bicarbonated-mixed waters, with low levels  of sulfates, chlorides, sodium and potassium; with very high concentrations of As up to 550 ? g· l-1, exceeding in more than 10 times the norm NOM-127-SSA1-1994 for drinking water (Secretaria de Salud, 1996). The study of temporal variation showed significant seasonal variations with an increase in the concentrations of the total elements during the months of February and March (season of scarce rains) and a decrease in the months of April to July (season of rains), this is probably due to dilution effects caused by pluvial precipitation, which is infiltrated to the phreatic mantle. In addition, the supply wells and the points of sampling of the general distributor were correlated by means of a multi-varied analysis of physical-chemical properties.En este trabajo se llevó a cabo la caracterización de las aguas subterráneas que abastecen al distribuidor general de agua de la ciudad de Zimapán Hidalgo, México y del propio distribuidor. Para ello se seleccionaron 11 puntos de muestreo en los que se determinaron 28 parámetros fisico-químicos de las aguas colectadas durante 10 muestreos distribuidos a lo largo de un año (marzo de 1999-marzo de 2000). De forma general, estas aguas presentaron propiedades fisicoquímicas normales clasificadas como aguas bicarbonatadas-cálcicas y bicarbonatadas-mixtas con bajos niveles de sulfatos, cloruros, sodio y potasio; pero presentaron concentraciones de As muy elevadas de hasta 550 ? g· l-1, superando en más de 10 veces la norma NOM-127-SSA1-1994 para aguas potables (Secretaria de Salud, 1996). En el estudio de variación temporal se observaron cambios significativos de carácter estacional con incremento en las concentraciones de los elementos totales durante los meses de febrero y marzo (temporada de escasas lluvias) y una disminución de los mismos durante el período abril a julio (temporadas de lluvias), ésto último probablemente debido a efectos de la dilución causada por la precipitación pluvial que se infiltra al manto freático, además, se han correlacionado los pozos de suministro y los puntos de muestreo del distribuidor general mediante un análisis multivariado de las propiedades fisicoquímicas

Conceptos y herramientas para transitar hacia la sostenibilidad : avances a 2020

En este contexto institucional, desde las líneas de investigación de sostenibilidad en paisajes urbano-rurales, gestión ambiental sectorial y conflictos socioecológicos, los autores de esta publicación se plantearon el reto de generar una serie de documentos denominada “Conceptos y herramientas para transitar hacia la sostenibilidad” que recoja el conocimiento y la experiencia del Instituto entorno a los cambios transformacionales necesarios a nivel nacional para lograr el establecimiento de unos sistemas socioecológicos sostenibles en el país. En el caso de este primer documento de la serie, se busca recoger los avances conceptuales y las herramientas generadas por el Instituto hasta 2020 para apalancar TSS planteadas.Bogotá D.C