Thermal performance of a passive solar office building in Portugal

This paper presents the thermal performance of a Passive Solar Office Building in Portugal in winter and summer 2006 and 2007. This Building, called Solar XXI, pretends to be an example of passive design both for heating and cooling. It contains a direct gain system assisted by a solar thermal system for winter conditions. In summer a ground cooling system (buried pipes) is used to cool the building, together with night cooling strategies. It also integrate in the vertical south envelope a Photovoltaic System (12 kWp) which provide around 12 MWh per year plus a 6kWp in the car parking, which correspond to around 76% of the electric energy consumption of the building. The integration of the PV system, in the building was done in such a way, that it is possible to recovery the heat production from the PV in order to be used for heating purpose

Solar XXI building PV systems: performance during the first two yeras of operation

The purpose of this paper is to present the results obtained in the first two years of operation of the grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems installed in the named “Solar XXI” building. One PV system, made with multicrystalline silicon modules, has a peak power of 12 kW and was installed on the façade; another system made with amorphous silicon modules has a peak power of 6 kW and was installed in the surrounding park area near the building. From 1st February 2006 until 31 July 2008, the measured daily average, of the building electrical energy consumption, was about 75 kWh and the two PV systems produced in average about 72 % of this energy. The averaged measured Performance Ratio of the systems was about 0.84 for the PV Façade and about 0.76 for the PV in the Park

An Architectural Model for Component Groupware

This paper proposes an architectural model to facilitate the design of component-based groupware systems. This architectural model has been defined based on (1) three pre-defined component types, (2) a refinement strategy that relies on these component types, (3) the identification of layers of collaboration concerns, and (4) rules for the coupling and distribution of the components that implement these concerns. Our architectural model is beneficial for controlling the complexity of the development process, since it gives concrete guidance on the concerns to be considered and decomposition disciplines to be applied in each development step. The paper illustrates the application of this architectural model with an example of an electronic voting system

Soil and productivity mapping of Eucalyptus grandis plantations, using a geographic information system

Detailed environmental land characterization is essential for technical and financial planning, for both the scientific point of view and technological application. This work aimed at the physiographic and pedological characterization and eucalyptus productivity mapping at Itatinga Forest Sciences Experimental Station (southeastern Brazil), using geographic information systems in order to identify possible cause-effect relationships between forest productivity and soil attributes. The digital cartographic dataset was structured as follows: as primary source of data, aerial photograph and field survey were used and, as a secondary source, topographical, geological and land use occupation maps were used. For mapping wood productivity at age six (MAI6, Mean Annual Increment), inventory data of permanent plots (same species, provenance and age) were used, which were obtained from Eucalyptus grandis plantations. Using simple linear correlation and backward stepwise multiple regression analysis, the dependent variable (MAI) was related with physical and chemical characteristics of the soils. Two standards of contour curves were identified, one with close curves, narrow and surrounding the drainage network, in the steeper and lower altitude areas; the other, with spaced contour lines, in the areas of higher altitude and with plane relief. Six types of soils were characterized as being highly related to the physiographic patterns of the area: loamy sandy to sandy clayey Typic Hapludox (LVAd, 47.5%), clayey Rhodic Hapludox (LVd1, 33.4%), sandy clay Rhodic Hapludox (LVd2, 6%), clayey Rhodic Hapludox (LVdf, 9.1%), Entisols (G, 3.4%) and Fluvents soil (RY, 0.6%). There were large variations in wood productivity in the Eucalyptus grandis plantations, characterized in six classes, ranging from 26 to 52 m(3) ha(-1) yr(-1). These productivity changes were strictly related to soil mapping units. Through multiple regression analysis, we found that clay and organic matter contents were the attributes which most strongly explained the productivity differences

The influence of semantic and phonological factors on syntactic decisions: An event-related brain potential study

During language production and comprehension, information about a word's syntactic properties is sometimes needed. While the decision about the grammatical gender of a word requires access to syntactic knowledge, it has also been hypothesized that semantic (i.e., biological gender) or phonological information (i.e., sound regularities) may influence this decision. Event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured while native speakers of German processed written words that were or were not semantically and/or phonologically marked for gender. Behavioral and ERP results showed that participants were faster in making a gender decision when words were semantically and/or phonologically gender marked than when this was not the case, although the phonological effects were less clear. In conclusion, our data provide evidence that even though participants performed a grammatical gender decision, this task can be influenced by semantic and phonological factors

Measurement of the Ge 70 (n,γ) cross section up to 300 keV at the CERN n-TOF facility

©2019 American Physical Society.Neutron capture data on intermediate mass nuclei are of key importance to nucleosynthesis in the weak component of the slow neutron capture processes, which occurs in massive stars. The (n,γ) cross section on Ge70, which is mainly produced in the s process, was measured at the neutron time-of-flight facility n-TOF at CERN. Resonance capture kernels were determined up to 40 keV neutron energy and average cross sections up to 300 keV. Stellar cross sections were calculated from kT=5 keV to kT=100 keV and are in very good agreement with a previous measurement by Walter and Beer (1985) and recent evaluations. Average cross sections are in agreement with Walter and Beer (1985) over most of the neutron energy range covered, while they are systematically smaller for neutron energies above 150 keV. We have calculated isotopic abundances produced in s-process environments in a 25 solar mass star for two initial metallicities (below solar and close to solar). While the low metallicity model reproduces best the solar system germanium isotopic abundances, the close to solar model shows a good global match to solar system abundances in the range of mass numbers A=60-80.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Sialic Acid Glycobiology Unveils Trypanosoma cruzi Trypomastigote Membrane Physiology.

Trypanosoma cruzi, the flagellate protozoan agent of Chagas disease or American trypanosomiasis, is unable to synthesize sialic acids de novo. Mucins and trans-sialidase (TS) are substrate and enzyme, respectively, of the glycobiological system that scavenges sialic acid from the host in a crucial interplay for T. cruzi life cycle. The acquisition of the sialyl residue allows the parasite to avoid lysis by serum factors and to interact with the host cell. A major drawback to studying the sialylation kinetics and turnover of the trypomastigote glycoconjugates is the difficulty to identify and follow the recently acquired sialyl residues. To tackle this issue, we followed an unnatural sugar approach as bioorthogonal chemical reporters, where the use of azidosialyl residues allowed identifying the acquired sugar. Advanced microscopy techniques, together with biochemical methods, were used to study the trypomastigote membrane from its glycobiological perspective. Main sialyl acceptors were identified as mucins by biochemical procedures and protein markers. Together with determining their shedding and turnover rates, we also report that several membrane proteins, including TS and its substrates, both glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins, are separately distributed on parasite surface and contained in different and highly stable membrane microdomains. Notably, labeling for α(1,3)Galactosyl residues only partially colocalize with sialylated mucins, indicating that two species of glycosylated mucins do exist, which are segregated at the parasite surface. Moreover, sialylated mucins were included in lipid-raft-domains, whereas TS molecules are not. The location of the surface-anchored TS resulted too far off as to be capable to sialylate mucins, a role played by the shed TS instead. Phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase-C activity is actually not present in trypomastigotes. Therefore, shedding of TS occurs via microvesicles instead of as a fully soluble form

Role of counter-ion and helper lipid content in the design and properties of nanocarrier systems: a biophysical study in 2D and 3D lipid assemblies

There is a direct correlation between the physicochemical properties of nanocarrier systems and their biological performance, including stability under physiological conditions, cellular internalization and transfection efficiency. Therefore, understanding the biophysical aspects that affect self-assembled nanocarriers is determinant for a rational design of efficient formulations. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of each component on the molecular organization of aggregates formed by the cationic lipids dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide and chloride (DODAB and DODAC) and the neutral lipid monoolein (MO) was made. Specifically, the effects of the helper lipid content (MO) and the role of the counter-ion of the cationic lipids were evaluated in 2D and 3D assemblies by Langmuir surface pressure–molecular area (π–A) isotherms, Brewster Angle Microscopy (BAM), infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), confocal Raman microscopy, and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS). The results show that MO has a different distribution on the DODAC and DODAB bilayers, and a fluidizing effect dependent on the MO content. For low MO molar ratios, the fluidizing effect was more pronounced in DODAC : MO mixtures, indicating a more homogeneous distribution of MO in DODAC than in DODAB bilayers. For high MO molar ratios, packing of membranes was similar for both cationic lipids, and the effect of the counter-ion is attenuated. The distribution of MO in the two cationic systems is closely related with the efficiency of the counter-ions in the screening of the charged group.We acknowledge DAAD/FCT that provided the financial support required to gather the Portuguese and the German coworkers. This work was further supported by FEDER through POFC-COMPETE and by national funds from FCT, through the projects PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2014 (CBMA) and PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2013 (CFUM). Marlene Lúcio acknowledges FCT for the financial support provided by the exploratory project IF/00498/2012. C.R.-A. is grateful to the European Union through the Operational Programme for Cross-border Cooperation: Spain-Portugal under Grant POCTEP 2007-2013 and to European Regional Development Fund for research funding (Innovation in Nanomedicine Project). The authors would also like to acknowledge Irina Berndt and Claudia Botelho

Correção de Sorriso Gengival associado ao uso do concentrados plaquetários: Relato de Caso

Introduction: Gingivectomy and gingivoplasty surgery associated with osteotomy can generally cause an increase in postoperative morbidity, therefore, possibly the use of platelet concentrates such as Platelet and Leukocyte Rich Fibrin (PLRF) can help to reduce this morbidity. Objective: The present report aims to report a case of gingivectomy and gingivoplasty associated with osteotomy and osteoplasty and using PLRF. Case Report: Female patient, 20 years old, melanoderma, non-smoker, without systemic involvement and without previous allergies, was referred to the specialization course in periodontics in northern Brazil with the main complaint of “small teeth” and during the anamnesis and clinical examinations it was observed that he was in the final phase of orthodontic treatment, approximately 1 year and 6 months ago, with aligners in the upper arch and fixed appliance in the lower arch, in addition to short clinical crowns, excessive gingival exposure characterizing a smile gingival and buccal torus. After clinical examinations and adaptation of the patient's environment, blood was collected via venipuncture, 5 tubes with EDTA of blood were removed and taken to centrifuge for 15 minutes at 12,000 rpm. Subsequently, he received bilateral local anesthesia in the infraorbital nerve and with confirmed analgesia, probing and demarcations were carried out with a Williams-type millimeter probe from teeth 15 to 25, then 3 incisions were made (internal bevel; intrasulcular and 90º degrees) to remove the collar, Then, using a 2-4 molt detacher, the flap was lifted for osteotomy and osteoplasty with high rotation. Finally, the 5 PLRF membranes formed after centrifugation were placed in the area to observe their help in the patient's postoperative period. Conclusion: It is concluded from this report that PLRF can help improve the healing of periodontal surgical wounds such as gingivectomy and gingivoplasty but does not affect the aesthetic result.Introducción: La cirugía de gingivectomía y gingivoplastia asociada a osteotomía generalmente puede provocar un aumento de la morbilidad postoperatoria, por lo que posiblemente el uso de concentrados plaquetarios como la Fibrina Rica en Plaquetas y Leucocitos (L-PRF) pueda ayudar a reducir esta morbilidad. Objetivo: El presente informe tiene como objetivo reportar un caso de gingivectomía y gingivoplastia asociada a osteotomía y osteoplastia y utilizando L-PRF. Caso clínico: Paciente femenina, 20 años, melanodermia, no fumadora, sin compromiso sistémico y sin alergias previas, fue remitida al curso de especialización en periodoncia en el norte de Brasil con el síntoma principal de “dientes pequeños” y durante la anamnesis y clínica. En los exámenes se observó que se encontraba en la fase final de tratamiento de ortodoncia, hace aproximadamente 1 año y 6 meses, con alineadores en arcada superior y aparatología fija en arcada inferior, además de coronas clínicas cortas, exposición gingival excesiva que caracteriza una sonrisa. torus gingival y bucal. Luego de los exámenes clínicos y adaptación del ambiente del paciente, se extrajo sangre mediante venopunción, se retiraron 5 tubos con EDTA de sangre y se llevaron a centrifugación durante 15 minutos a 12.000 rpm. Posteriormente recibió anestesia local bilateral en el nervio infraorbitario y con analgesia confirmada se realizaron sondajes y demarcaciones con sonda milimétrica tipo Williams desde los dientes 15 al 25, luego se realizaron 3 incisiones (bisel interno; intrasulcular y 90º grados) para se retira el collar, luego, mediante un desprendedor de 2-4 mudas, se levanta el colgajo para realizar osteotomía y osteoplastia con alta rotación. Finalmente se colocan en la zona las 5 membranas L-PRF formadas tras la centrifugación para observar su ayuda en el postoperatorio del paciente. período. . Conclusión: Se concluye de este informe que L-PRF puede ayudar a mejorar la cicatrización de heridas quirúrgicas periodontales como gingivectomía y gingivoplastia, pero no afecta el resultado estético.Introdução: A cirurgia de gengivectomia e gengivoplastia associada osteotomia, geralmente, poderá causar um aumento da morbidade pós-operatória, a partir disso, possivelmente, o uso de concentrados plaquetários como a Fibrina Rica em Plaquetas e Leucócitos (L-PRF) pode ajudar a diminuir essa morbidade. Objetivo: O presente relato tem como objetivo relatar um caso de gengivectomia e gengivoplastia associada osteotomia e osteoplastia e utilizando L-PRF. Relato de Caso: Paciente sexo feminino, 20 anos, melanoderma, não fumante, sem comprometimento sistêmico e sem quadros prévios de alergia veio encaminhada para o curso de especialização em periodontia do norte do Brasil com a queixa principal de “dentes pequenos” e durante a anamnese e exames clínicos observou-se que estava em fase de finalização do tratamento ortodôntico, a cerca de 1 ano e 6 meses, com alinhadores na arcada superior e aparelho fixo no arco inferior, além de coroas clínicas curtas, exposição excessiva gengival caracterizando um sorriso gengival e tórus vestibular. Após exames clínicos e adequação do meio paciente teve sangue coletado via punção venosa, sendo removido 5 tubos com EDTA de sangue e levados para centrifugar por 15 minutos à 12.000rpm. Posteriormente, recebeu anestesia local bilateral no nervo infraorbitário e com analgesia confirmada foi realizada a sondagem e demarcações com sonda milimetrada tipo Williams dos dentes 15 ao 25, em seguida foram realizadas 3 incisões (Bisel interno; intrasulcular e 90º graus) para remoção do colarinho, em seguida com descolador de molt 2-4 foi feito o levantamento do retalho para osteotomia e osteoplastia com alta rotação, ao final as 5 membranas de L-PRF formadas após a centrifugação foram colocadas na área para observar sua ajuda no pós-operatório da paciente. Conclusão: Conclui-se deste relato que a L-PRF pode ajudar na melhoria da cicatrização de feridas cirúrgicas periodontais como a gengivectomia e gengivoplastia, porém não afetam o resultado estético

Search for direct production of charginos and neutralinos in events with three leptons and missing transverse momentum in √s = 7 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for the direct production of charginos and neutralinos in final states with three electrons or muons and missing transverse momentum is presented. The analysis is based on 4.7 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data delivered by the Large Hadron Collider and recorded with the ATLAS detector. Observations are consistent with Standard Model expectations in three signal regions that are either depleted or enriched in Z-boson decays. Upper limits at 95% confidence level are set in R-parity conserving phenomenological minimal supersymmetric models and in simplified models, significantly extending previous results