Review and Analysis of Models for a European Digital Building Logbook

The concept of a Digital Building Logbook (DBL) was first introduced with the European strategy ‘Renovation Wave’. It is considered as one of two fundamental parts of which the Building Renovation Passport is composed: the DBL and a Renovation Roadmap. As the implementation of the DBL is a European priority, this paper reviews the existing literature and analyses the most developed European Digital Building Logbook models. The analysis includes iBRoad, ALDREN, X-tendo, and the Study on the Development of a European Union Framework for Buildings’ Digital Logbook, from the perspective of seven key aspects: References used as a starting point for the model definition; Identification of the relevant stakeholders in the DBL; Identified potential user needs; Proposed structure of indicators; Data sources; Potential functionalities; and Operation and use. The results show that important advancement has been made, although there is still no consensus about crucial subjects, such as the indicators to be collected or how to collect and use them. This is probably due to the fact that the final functionalities (objective and scope) that the logbook should provide are not fully clear. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

El concepto de bienestar animal en el curriculo de Secundaria Obligatoria y en los libros de texto de ciencias

En este arti´culo se presenta un ana´lisis de libros de texto de Educacio´n Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO) realizado para conocer si en ellos se contemplan contenidos relacionados con el bienestar animal. La muestra consta de 12 libros de texto de Biologi´a y Geologi´a de todos los niveles de esta etapa educativa. Se han estudiado tanto los contenidos teo´ricos de los textos como las actividades. Ante la falta del tratamiento especi´fico del bienestar animal, se analizan en este trabajo los contenidos y las actividades que versan sobre el funcionamiento del sistema nervioso en los animales, sobre la proteccio´n de la biodiversidad y sobre la conservacio´n de los ecosistemas y el medio ambiente. En ninguno de los libros analizados se aborda expli´citamente el bienestar animal. No obstante, en algunas de las actividades se exponen y comentan experiencias con animales y su proteccio´n que facilitara´n hacer recapacitar a los estudiantes sobre diferentes aspectos relacionados con el bienestar animal, como las acciones encaminadas a la proteccio´n de los animales, sean estos dome´sticos o salvajes. Nuestra sugerencia final es que los textos incorporen el te´rmino de bienestar animal y que se ampli´e un poco el significado del sistema nervioso relacionando el sufrimiento animal con la forma de responder de los animales a las situaciones provocadas por el ser humano que conllevan maltrato en cualquiera de sus formas. This article presents an analysis of Secondary Education textbooks to know whether they incorporate animal welfare contents. The sample consists in 12 textbooks of Biology and Geology at all levels of secondary education. We have studied both, the theoretical contents of the texts and the activities. In the absence of specific treatment of animal welfare, it is discussed in this paper the content and activities which is related to the nervous system function in animals, the protection of biodiversity and the conservation of ecosystems and the environment. None of the books analyzed is explicitly addressed animal welfare. However, some activities will be presented and discussed about experiences with animals and their care, to retrain students about different aspects related to animal welfare, such as actions aimed to the protection of animals, both domestic or wild. Our final suggestion is incorporation of the term animal welfare in the texts and slightly expands the meaning of the nervous system linking animal suffering with how animals respond to situations involving any abuse caused by humans

Dimensionado de las escaleras protegidas en caso de incendio: un reto para los métodos prescriptivos (El modelo del CTE)

Dimensioning the stairs in case of fire is amongst the most important features in today architecture design. A bigger complexity of the buildings (mixed uses, crowded spaces, occupants with disabilities, tall structures, etc.) is added to new social habits, and the activities traditionally placed on the lowest parts of the buildings tend to occupy the upper floors. This article shows that the prescriptive calculations for the dimensioning of protected stairs are unable to face this challenge because they are based on simplified models, only valid for conventional buildings and distributions. It analizes the Spanish Technical Building Code, showing its weakness, and introduces the necessary performance-based design concepts to understand the problem. It concludes that any complex design must be addressed studying the real movement of the occupants, that can be modelled with the use of computational tools.El dimensionado de las escaleras en caso de incendio se encuentra entre las características más importantes del diseño arquitectónico actual. La mayor complejidad de los edificios (usos mixtos, espacios con alta ocupación, personas con discapacidad, edificios en altura, etc.) se suma a nuevos hábitos sociales, y las actividades que se desarrollaban tradicionalmente en las partes bajas de los edificios, tienden a ocupar los pisos más altos. Este artículo muestra que los cálculos prescriptivos para el dimensionado de las escaleras protegidas son incapaces de enfrentarse a este reto por estar basados en modelos simplificados, solamente válidos para edificios y distribuciones convencionales. Analiza el caso del Código Técnico de la Edificación español, mostrando su debilidad, e introduce los conceptos de diseño prestacional necesarios para entender el problema. Concluye que cualquier diseño complejo debe abordarse estudiando el movimiento real de los ocupantes, que puede ser modelizado con la ayuda de herramientas computacionales

Actitudes hacia las relaciones de pareja en personas con discapacidad: análisis diferencial entre familiares, profesionales y población general

Attitudes toward the sexuality of people with disabilities seem to have evolved positively. However, there are still misconceptions that help to maintain a negative attitude toward the sexuality of these individuals, hindering their psychosexual development. This work analyzes the attitudes towards partner relationships of people with disabilities by their relatives, professionals, and the general population. 252 people participated in the study: 86 family members, 80 professionals and 86 people from the general population. The results show that in all cases family members have shown less tolerance towards partner relationships, while professionals werethe most tolerant. Specifically,statisticallysignificant differences are observed among the three groups in the attitude towards intimate relationships of people with intellectual disabilities (M=33; SD=3.12 in family members, M=71.09; SD=5.13 in professionals and M=63.14; SD=20.87 in the general population), sensory disabilities (M=32.48; SD=3.49 in family members, M=73.3; SD=4.06 in professionals and M=70.79; SD=17.79 in the general population) or physical disabilities (M=34.32; SD=3.02 in family members, M=80.82; SD=4.82 in professionalsand M=66.60; SD=21.15 in general population).Likewise, family members show more unfavorable attitudes when relationships are established both between different sex partners (F=275.08; p= .000) and same sex partners (F=319.92; p= .000), as well as between partners of the same age (F=424.79; p=.000) or of different ages (F=273.1; p=.000). These data emphasize the importance of including attitudinal modules in affective-sexual education programs aimed at family. In this regard, we could not only improve their attitudes but also those attitudes that their children may learn from them, and thus favor an adequate expression and development of sexuality among people with disabilities.Las actitudes hacia la sexualidad de las personas con discapacidad parecen haber evolucionado en positivo. No obstante, todavía existen creencias erróneas que ayudan a mantener una actitud negativa hacia la sexualidad de estas personas dificultando su desarrollo psicosexual. Este trabajo analiza las actitudes hacia las relaciones de pareja de personas con discapacidad que poseen sus familiares, profesionales y población general. En el estudio participaron 252 personas: 86 familiares, 80 profesionales y 86 personas de la población general. Los resultados muestran que en todos los casos los familiares presentan menor tolerancia hacia las relaciones de pareja mientras que los profesionales han sido el grupo más tolerante. Concretamente, se observan diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los tres grupos en la actitud hacia las relaciones de pareja ya sea entre personas con discapacidad intelectual (M=33; DT=3,12 en familiares, M=71,09; DT=5,13 en profesionales y M=63,14; DT=20,87 en población general), sensorial (M=32,48; DT=3,49 en familiares, M=73,3; DT=4,06 en profesionales y M=70,79; DT=17,79 en población general) o física (M=34,32; DT=3,02 en familiares, M=80,82; DT=4,82 en  profesionales y M=66,60; DT=21,15 en población general). Asimismo, los familiares muestran actitudes más desfavorables cuando las relaciones se establecen tanto entre parejas de distinto género (F=275,08; p=,000) como del mismo (F=319,92; p=,000), así como entre parejas de igual edad (F=424,79; p=,000) o diferente (F=273,1; p=,000). Estos datos remarcan la importancia de incluir módulos actitudinales en programas de educación afectivo-sexual dirigidos a los familiares puesto que permitiría no sólo mejorar la actitud de los padres sino también la que han podido aprender sus hijos favoreciendo así una adecuada expresión y desarrollo de su sexualidad

Production of new neutron-rich isotopes of heavy elements in fragmentation reactions of 238^{238}U projectiles at 1 A GeV

The production of heavy neutron-rich nuclei has been investigated using cold fragmentation reactions of $^{238}$U projectiles at relativistic energies. The experiment performed at the high-resolving-power magnetic spectrometer FRS at GSI allowed to identify 45 new heavy neutron-rich nuclei: $^{205}$Pt, $^{207-210}$Au, $^{211-216}$Hg, $^{213-217}$Tl, $^{215-220}$Pb, $^{219-224}$Bi, $^{221-227}$Po, $^{224-229}$At, $^{229-231}$Rn and $^{233}$Fr. The production cross sections of these nuclei were also determined and used to benchmark reaction codes that predict the production of nuclei far from stability.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Effect of dopants on the structure of titanium oxide used as a photocatalyst for the removal of emergent contaminants

Photocatalysts composed of titanium dioxide modified with B, F, N and P have been synthesized, characterized and applied to the degradation of caffeine, diclofenac, ibuprofen and salicylic acid. The modified TiO2 samples were prepared by the sol–gel technique starting from titanium(IV) isopropoxide and using H3BO3, NH4F, N(C2H5OH)3 and H3PO4 as precursors of the modifiers, with the content varying between 0 and 5 wt%. Structural characterization was based on nitrogen physisorption at −196 °C, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), simultaneous thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The structural properties of the modified TiO2 solids were significantly different depending on the nature and amount of modifiers and the calcination temperature. TiO2 in the anatase phase was obtained in all cases and was stable upon calcination at 400 °C. The photocatalytic degradation of caffeine, diclofenac, ibuprofen and salicylic acid by modified TiO2 was investigated under ultraviolet irradiation at 25 °C. The photocatalytic degradation behavior followed the order: caffeine > diclofenac = ibuprofen > salicylic acid. B-doped TiO2 was the most efficient catalyst in the degradation of these selected emerging contaminants

First-line eradication rates comparing two shortened non-bismuth quadruple regimens against Helicobacter pylori: an open-label, randomized, multicentre clinical trial

OBJECTIVES: Helicobacter pylori eradication remains a challenge. Non-bismuth-based quadruple regimens (NBQR) have shown high eradication rates (ER) elsewhere that need to be locally confirmed. The objective of this study was to compare the first-line ER of a hybrid therapy (20 mg of omeprazole twice daily and 1 g of amoxicillin twice daily for 10 days, adding 500 mg of clarithromycin twice daily and 500 mg of metronidazole every 8 h for the last 5 days; OA-OACM) with that of a 10 day concomitant regimen consisting of taking all four drugs twice daily every day (including 500 mg of metronidazole every 12 h; OACM). A 10 day arm with standard triple therapy (OAC; 20 mg of omeprazole/12 h, 1 g of amoxicillin/12 h and 500 mg of clarithromycin/12 h) was included. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred consecutive patients were randomized (1: 2: 2) into one of the three following regimens: (i) OAC (60); (ii) OA-OACM (120); and (iii) OACM (120). Eradication was generally confirmed by a [(13)C]urea breath test at least 4 weeks after the end of treatment. Adverse events and compliance were assessed. EudraCT: 2011-006258-99. RESULTS: ITT cure rates were: OAC, 70.0% (42/60) (95% CI: 58.3-81.7); OA-OACM, 90.8% (109/120) (95% CI: 85.6-96.0); and OACM, 90.0% (107/119) (95% CI: 84.6-95.4). PP rates were: OAC, 72.4% (42/58) (95% CI: 60.8-84.1); OA-OACM, 93.9% (108/115) (95% CI: 89.5-98.3); and OACM, 90.3% (102/113) (95% CI: 84.8-95.8). Both NBQR significantly improved ER compared with OAC (P < 0.01), but no differences were seen between them. Mean compliance was elevated [98.0% (SD = 9.8)] with no differences between groups. There were more adverse events in the quadruple arms (OACM, 65.8%; OA-OACM, 68.6%; OAC, 46.6%; P < 0.05), but no significant differences between groups in terms of severity were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid and concomitant regimens show good ER against H. pylori infection with an acceptable safety profile. They clearly displace OAC as first-line regimen in our area

Dual element (C-Cl) isotope approach to distinguish abiotic reactions of chlorinated methanes by Fe(0) and by Fe(II) on iron minerals at neutral and alkaline pH

A dual element CCl isotopic study was performed for assessing chlorinated methanes (CMs) abiotic transformation reactions mediated by iron minerals and Fe(0) to further distinguish them in natural attenuation monitoring or when applying remediation strategies in polluted sites. Isotope fractionation was investigated during carbon tetrachloride (CT) and chloroform (CF) degradation in anoxic batch experiments with Fe(0), with FeCl2(aq), and with Fe-bearing minerals (magnetite, Mag and pyrite, Py) amended with FeCl2(aq), at two different pH values (7 and 12) representative of field and remediation conditions. At pH 7, only CT batches with Fe(0) and Py underwent degradation and CF accumulation evidenced hydrogenolysis. With Py, thiolytic reduction was revealed by CS2 yield and is a likely reason for different Λ value (Δδ13C/Δδ37Cl) comparing with Fe(0) experiments at pH 7 (2.9 ± 0.5 and 6.1 ± 0.5, respectively). At pH 12, all CT experiments showed degradation to CF, again with significant differences in Λ values between Fe(0) (5.8 ± 0.4) and Fe-bearing minerals (Mag, 2 ± 1, and Py, 3.7 ± 0.9), probably evidencing other parallel pathways (hydrolytic and thiolytic reduction). Variation of pH did not significantly affect the Λ values of CT degradation by Fe(0) nor Py. CF degradation by Fe(0) at pH 12 showed a Λ (8 ± 1) similar to that reported at pH 7 (8 ± 2), suggesting CF hydrogenolysis as the main reaction and that CF alkaline hydrolysis (13.0 ± 0.8) was negligible. Our data establish a base for discerning the predominant or combined pathways of CMs natural attenuation or for assessing the effectiveness of remediation strategies using recycled minerals or Fe(0)

Carbon and chlorine isotope fractionation patterns associated with different engineered chloroform transformation reactions

To use compound-specific isotope analysis for confidently assessing organic contaminant attenuation in the environment, isotope fractionation patterns associated with different transformation mechanisms must first be explored in laboratory experiments. To deliver this information for the common groundwater contaminant chloroform (CF), this study investigated for the first time both carbon and chlorine isotope fractionation for three different engineered reactions: oxidative C-H bond cleavage using heat-activated persulfate, transformation under alkaline conditions (pH ∼ 12) and reductive C-Cl bond cleavage by cast zerovalent iron, Fe(0). Carbon and chlorine isotope fractionation values were −8 ± 1 and −0.44 ± 0.06 for oxidation, −57 ± 5 and −4.4 ± 0.4 for alkaline hydrolysis (pH 11.84 ± 0.03), and −33 ± 11 and −3 ± 1 for dechlorination, respectively. Carbon and chlorine apparent kinetic isotope effects (AKIEs) were in general agreement with expected mechanisms (C-H bond cleavage in oxidation by persulfate, C-Cl bond cleavage in Fe(0)-mediated reductive dechlorination and E1CB elimination mechanism during alkaline hydrolysis) where a secondary AKIECl (1.00045 ± 0.00004) was observed for oxidation. The different dual carbon-chlorine (Δδ13C vs Δδ37Cl) isotope patterns for oxidation by thermally activated persulfate and alkaline hydrolysis (17 ± 2 and 13.0 ± 0.8, respectively) vs reductive dechlorination by Fe(0) (8 ± 2) establish a base to identify and quantify these CF degradation mechanisms in the field