A Study on the Effects of Unwanted Air Infiltration on Thermal Comfort at an Airport Terminal

The Energy Systems Laboratory at Texas A&M University is currently studying ways to make improvements in thermal comfort at the Terminal E building at DFW airport. Airport terminal building HVAC systems are generally known to consume large amounts of energy to provide an environment that is comfortable for the employees and travelers. Wind direction, the shape and orientation of the building with respect to the prevailing wind can have a deleterious effect on the HVAC system ability to provide the comfort levels that people have become accustomed to in public buildings. Airport terminal buildings, such as the one in this study, built before the current energy awareness that is prevalent today have many problems associated with air infiltration primarily due to openings in the building structure to permit a smooth flow of passengers and luggage toward their destination. Entry ways that allow for easy egress generally use sliding door vestibules that are self closing based on sensors and timers to provide the building user an unimpeded path into and out of the building. During peak traffic periods, these doors are open for relatively long periods of time and can cause significant loss of building pressure. If the shape of the terminal building is such that the gate doors to the aircraft are opposing the egress entryways, air flows can develop within the building that blow across the width of the building, causing drafts that can either be cold or hot based on the outside air temperature. The shape of the building in this study is C-shaped with the opening of the “C” facing toward the West. Weather data will be analyzed along with hot and cold calls within the terminal building to correlate the effect of wind direction on indoor thermal comfort. Unwanted air infiltration flow pathways will be identified using smoke testers and analyzed with efforts to reduce entry into the building envelope

Tuberculosis of the female reproductive tract: 10 years’ experience

Introdução: A tuberculose é um problema emergente de saúde pública e uma causa rara de infeção do trato genital feminino. Objectivo: Apresentar os casos de tuberculose genital do nosso serviço, no que se refere à sintomatologia, fatores de risco, modo de apresentação e diagnóstico, intervenção terapêutica, complicações e coexistência de doença sistémica. Material e Métodos: Estudo retrospetivo descritivo compreendendo todos os casos ocorridos durante 10 anos (2002-2011), num hospital de nível II. Resultados: Identificaram-se seis casos de tuberculose genital. A idade média foi de 39 anos com três doentes na pós-menopausa. Um caso estava associado a infeção por VIH. A principal sintomatologia foi a dor pélvica (cinco pacientes), com apenas um caso assintomático. As doentes apresentaram-se com quadros clínicos sugestivos de doença inflamatória pélvica com abcesso tubo-ovárico, suspeita de lesão endometrial, ascite e endometrite pós-parto. Quatro doentes foram submetidas a intervenção cirúrgica. Conclusões: A ocorrência de tuberculose genital feminina é rara na pós-menopausa; no entanto na nossa série, 50% eram pós-menopáusicas. O espectro clínico e a forma de apresentação da tuberculose genital são variáveis, pelo que é necessário um elevado grau de suspeição para o seu diagnóstico, já que pode mimetizar um quadro clínico agudo e condicionar a fertilidade futura

Um caso de variante folicular do carcinoma papilar da tiróide num teratoma quístico maduro numa mulher jovem

Malignant transformation of a teratoma occurs in 1-2% of cases, with carcinoma of the thyroid being extremely rare. It is usually diagnosed in the postoperative histopathological exam. We describe a case of thyroid carcinoma in a mature cystic teratoma

Histerectomia pós-parto: revisão de 15 anos

Overview and Aims: Postpartum Hysterectomy (PPH) is considered an obstetrical emergency. Profuse bleeding, the most common indication, may jeopardize the puerperal woman. If not controlled by conservative measures, it may require PPH. Its incidence varies between 0.13 to 5.38 per 1000 births. Women with underlying conditions such as placenta previa, fi- broleiomyomas or previous cesarean section (CS) are at increased risk. We evaluated the incidence of PPH, its indications, risk factors and complications. Material and Methods: Retrospective study of PPH conducted at a tertiary care hospital in 15 years (1997-2011). Results: We found 41 cases of PPH (0.6 per 1000 births). Twenty eight occurred after CS (1.34 /1000) and 13 followed vaginal deliveries (0.27/1000), resulting in an odds ratio of 4.94 (2.56 to 9.54, p < 0.001) for CS vs vaginal delivery. Sixteen patients had a previous uterine surgery (CS and/or curettage) and 8 were nulliparous. The most common indication was uterine atony in 18 cases (43.9 %), followed by unspecified hemorrhage in 8 (19.5 %), placenta accreta in 7 (17.1%) and uterine dehiscence/rupture in 4 (9.8%). In 30 cases it was performed a total hysterectomy, being subtotal in the remaining 11 cases. The main complications were the need for red blood cell transfusion (39), disseminated intravascular coagulation (8) and febrile syndrome (6); 21 postpartum women were admitted in Intensive Care Unit. There were no maternal deaths. Pathologic examination of uterus and placenta showed normal postpartum changes in 11 (26.8 %), placenta accreta in 12 (29.3 %), changes consistent with uterine atony in 8 (19.5 %), fibroleiomyomas in 5 (12.2%) and uterine rupture in 3 (7.3%). Conclusions: hysterectomy remains a required procedure in the treatment of postpartum bleeding resistant to conservative management, being uterine atony the most frequent indication with CS accounting for a five times higher risk than vaginal delivery

EquiFACS: the Equine Facial Action Coding System

Although previous studies of horses have investigated their facial expressions in specific contexts, e.g. pain, until now there has been no methodology available that documents all the possible facial movements of the horse and provides a way to record all potential facial configurations. This is essential for an objective description of horse facial expressions across a range of contexts that reflect different emotional states. Facial Action Coding Systems (FACS) provide a systematic methodology of identifying and coding facial expressions on the basis of underlying facial musculature and muscle movement. FACS are anatomically based and document all possible facial movements rather than a configuration of movements associated with a particular situation. Consequently, FACS can be applied as a tool for a wide range of research questions. We developed FACS for the domestic horse (Equus caballus) through anatomical investigation of the underlying musculature and subsequent analysis of naturally occurring behaviour captured on high quality video. Discrete facial movements were identified and described in terms of the underlying muscle contractions, in correspondence with previous FACS systems. The reliability of others to be able to learn this system (EquiFACS) and consistently code behavioural sequences was high—and this included people with no previous experience of horses. A wide range of facial movements were identified, including many that are also seen in primates and other domestic animals (dogs and cats). EquiFACS provides a method that can now be used to document the facial movements associated with different social contexts and thus to address questions relevant to understanding social cognition and comparative psychology, as well as informing current veterinary and animal welfare practices

Bone Densitometry Versus Bone Histomorphometry in Renal Transplanted Patients: A Cross‐Sectional Study

Bone loss leads to increase risk of fractures in renal transplantation. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between bone densitometry (DXA) findings, bone histomorphometry and bone-related molecules 1-year after renal transplantation. We performed a cross-sectional study of de novo renal transplanted patients that agreed to perform a bone biopsy and a DXA examination 1 year after transplantation. All patients underwent a laboratory evaluation, bone biopsy, DXA examination and cardiac CT 1 year after transplantation. 67 patients were included, 16 had a normal examination, and 18 patients were classified as having osteoporosis by DXA. Correlations between bone mineral density and T-scores of total femur and femoral neck were the ones that best correlated with bone volume assessed by a bone biopsy. The sensitivity of DXA for osteoporosis diagnosis was 47.0%, and the specificity was 81.2%. The positive predictive value was 50.0%, and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 80.0%. DXA parameters also correlated with klotho and sclerostin serum levels. In this population, a normal examination excluded the presence of osteoporosis, helping in identifying patients that would not benefit from therapy. Overall, densitometry in total femur and femoral neck correlated well with bone volume measured by bone biopsy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Role of Bone Volume, FGF23 and Sclerostin in Calcifications and Mortality; a Cohort Study in CKD Stage 5 Patients

Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder has been associated with increasing morbid-mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and phenotype of bone disease before transplantation and to correlate FGF23 and sclerostin levels with bone histomorphometry, and study possible associations between FGF23, sclerostin, and bone histomorphometry with cardiovascular disease and mortality. We performed a cross-sectional cohort study of a sample of 84 patients submitted to renal transplant, which were prospectively followed for 12 months. Demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic data were collected, laboratory evaluation, bone biopsy, and X-ray of the pelvis and hands were performed. Patient and graft survival were recorded. We diagnosed low bone turnover in 16 patients (19.5%); high bone turnover in 22 patients (26.8%); osteomalacia in 1 patient (1.2%), and mixed renal osteodystrophy in 3 patients (3.7%). At the end of 12 months, 5 patients had graft failure (5.9%), 4 had a cardiovascular event (4.8%), and 4 died. Age was associated with low remodeling disease, whereas high BALP and phosphorus and low sclerostin with high turnover disease. Sclerostin was a risk factor for isolated low bone volume. High BALP, low phosphorus, and low FGF23 were risk factors for abnormal mineralization. FGF23 appears as an independent factor for severity of vascular calcifications and for cardiovascular events, whereas the presence of valve calcifications was associated with low volume and with turnover deviations. Sclerostin was associated a higher HR for death. Sclerostin and FGF23 seemed to provide higher cardiovascular risk, as well as low bone volume, which associated with extra-osseous calcifications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Teaching sustainability within the context of everyday life: steps toward achieving the sustainable development goals through the EUSTEPs module

In a world characterized by Ecological Overshoot, education can nurture sustainability-minded citizens and future leaders to help accelerate the transition towards a one-planet compatible society. Despite the essential role of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in contributing to a sustainable society, a holistic understanding of how to incorporate sustainability initiatives into HEIs is still lacking. Given the importance of HEIs in societies and considering the number of students, educators, and staff they host every day, ensuring that sustainability is both taught and practiced within campuses becomes fundamental. To this end, a strategic partnership was created in 2019 to set up the ERASMUS+ project EUSTEPs - Enhancing Universities’ Sustainability Teaching and Practices through Ecological Footprint. Among the main outputs of the project is a teaching module for introducing the sustainability concept to students. This module takes a 360-degree approach to teach sustainability, allowing students to endogenously realize the full complexity of sustainability, in an engaging and captivating manner. This paper thus aims to: 1) present the EUSTEPs Module, its pedagogical approach and structure, and the learning outcomes and competencies students are expected to gain; 2) review the outcomes of its first pilot teaching in four European HEIs, and 3) shed light on how this Module contributes to the development of competences and pedagogical approaches for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our findings show that 90% of the students were ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with the Module, rating the Ecological Footprint as the most useful teaching tool among those included in the Module, and appreciated the interactive nature of the proposed teaching. Feedback obtained from students during the pilot teaching contributed to shaping the Module’s final structure and content. The Module – an important interactive sustainability pedagogical tool – is now ready for use with students from different disciplines, thus contributing to progress towards the UN 2030 Agenda, particularly SDG 4, SDG 11, SDG 12, and SDG 13.Project “EUSTEPs: Enhancing Universities’ Sustainability Teaching and Practices through Ecological Footprint,” KA 203, Strategic Partnership in Higher Education 2019–2022, Agreement No. 2019-1-EL01-KA203-062941.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Orchestrating learning activities using the CADMOS learning design tool

This paper gives an overview of CADMOS (CoursewAre Development Methodology for Open instructional Systems), a graphical IMS-LD Level A & B compliant learning design (LD) tool, which promotes the concept of &#x201C;separation of concerns&#x201D; during the design process, via the creation of two models: the conceptual model, which describes the learning activities and the corresponding learning resources, and the flow model, which describes the orchestration of these activities. According to the feedback from an evaluation case study with 36 participants, reported in this paper, CADMOS is a user-friendly tool that allows educational practitioners to design flows of learning activities using a layered approach