“NET ZERO BUILDINGS” – APLICAÇÃO DO CONCEITO A UM EDIFÍCIO EXISTENTE

Os edifícios de balanço energético nulo (NZEB - Net-Zero Energy Building) e/ou quase nulo (nZEB), têm vindo a ganhar crescente atenção desde a publicação da diretiva europeia 2010/31/EU [15]. Em Portugal, com a introdução do Decreto-Lei n.º118/2013, dá o primeiro passo para os edifícios com necessidades quase nulas de energia. Os novos edifícios licenciados após 31 dezembro de 2020, ou após 31 de dezembro de 2018 no caso de edifícios públicos, serão edifícios com necessidades quase nulas de energia. O objetivo do trabalho descrito neste artigo consiste na aplicação do conceito ”Net Zero Energy Building”, ao edifício existente do Instituto Superior Politécnico Gaya (ISPGaya), em Vila Nova de Gaia, com o intuito de analisar a viabilidade de otimização de energia e a metodologia deste conceito ao edifício, com recurso a ferramentas de simulação. Neste trabalho efetuámos uma simulação energética do edifício, através do DesignBuilder®, que servirá como termo de comparação para outras simulações. Serão delineadas as especificações a implementar no edifício por forma a ser considerado Net Zero Energy Building, com alterações na simulação do mesmo de acordo com as novas especificações. Por último, será feita a comparação técnica, financeira e ambiental da solução NZEB encontrada. Através das várias simulações energéticas ao edifício, conclui-se que é possível baixar as necessidades energéticas do edifício através de medidas de eficiência energética, em especial na iluminação e que os resultados obtidos, apesar de ser viável a implementação do conceito Net Zero Energy Building, traduzem um esforço financeiro e algumas condicionantes para a sua concretização

Estimating Engel curves: a new way to improve the SILC-HBS matching process using GLM methods

Microdata are required to evaluate the distributive impact of the taxation system as a whole (direct and indirect taxes) on individuals or households. However, in European Union countries this information is usually distributed into two separate surveys: the Household Budget Surveys (HBS), including total household expenditure and its composition, and EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC), including detailed information about households'' income and direct (but not indirect) taxes paid. We present a parametric statistical matching procedure to merge both surveys. For the first stage of matching, we propose estimating total household expenditure in HBS (Engel curves) using a GLM estimator, instead of the traditionally used OLS method. It is a better alternative, insofar as it can deal with the heteroskedasticity problem of the OLS estimates, while making it unnecessary to retransform the regressors estimated in logarithms. To evaluate these advantages of the GLM estimator, we conducted a computational Monte Carlo simulation. In addition, when an error term is added to the deterministic imputation of expenditure in the EU-SILC, we propose replacing the usual Normal distribution of the error with a Chi-square type, which allows a better approximation to the original expenditures variance in the HBS. An empirical analysis is provided using Spanish surveys for years 2012–2016. In addition, we extend the empirical analysis to the rest of the European Union countries, using the surveys provided by Eurostat (EU-SILC, 2011; HBS, 2010)

The proteins DLK1 and DLK2 modulate NOTCH1-dependent proliferation and oncogenic potential of human SK-MEL-2 melanoma cells

AbstractNOTCH receptors regulate cell proliferation and survival in several types of cancer cells. Depending on the cellular context, NOTCH1 can function as an oncogene or as a tumor suppressor gene. DLK1 is also involved in the regulation of cell growth and cancer, but nothing is known about the role of DLK2 in these processes. Recently, the proteins DLK1 and DLK2 have been reported to interact with NOTCH1 and to inhibit NOTCH1 activation and signaling in different cell lines. In this work, we focused on the role of DLK proteins in the control of melanoma cell growth, where NOTCH1 is known to exert an oncogenic effect. We found that human DLK proteins inhibit NOTCH signaling in SK-MEL-2 metastatic melanoma cells. Moreover, the proliferation rate of these cells was dependent upon the level of NOTCH activation and signaling as regulated by DLK proteins. In particular, high levels of NOTCH inhibition resulted in a decrease, whereas lower levels of NOTCH inhibition led to an increase in melanoma cell proliferation rates, both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, our data revealed additive NOTCH-mediated effects of DLK proteins and the γ-secretase inhibitor DAPT on cell proliferation. The data presented in this work suggest that a fine regulation of NOTCH signaling plays an important role in the control of metastatic melanoma cell proliferation. Our results open the way to new research on the role of DLK proteins as potential therapeutic tools for the treatment of human melanoma

Enteral stents: Complications and their management

The treatment of malignant colonic and gastric outlet obstruction with self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) is an established technique that can be performed by radiologic or a combination of radiologic and endoscopic guidance. The procedure is very effective to relieve the obstructive symptoms of advanced malignancies, with important clinical benefits and significant improvement in quality of life for the patients. Despite much advancement in the designs of SEMS, enteral stent placement is still associated with some significant early and late complications. Stent dysfunction mainly caused by tumor ingrowth/over growth, and stent migration when covered stent are used, are relatively common complications and many times require reinterventions

Productivity growth and international openness : evidence from Latin American countries 1980-2006

In this study we examine productivity growth and their relationship with international openness in Latin American countries over the period 1980¿2006. Overall results on productivity indicate a stagnation process for the entire period 1986¿2006. The decomposition of productivity into catching up and technical change reveals that the first have a stagnation process and the latter worsening. Analyzing the relationship between productivity growth and international openness we find different patterns for both methodologies parametric (Arellano¿Bond estimator) and nonparametric (GAM) and for both measures of international openness merchandise trade (% of GDP) and (export+imports)/GDP. In particular in a parametric way, although the shape is curvilinear for both models the relationship is positive inverted U¿shaped in the first case and Ushaped in second

Productivity growth and international openness : evidence from Latin American countries 1980-2006

In this study we examine productivity growth and their relationship with international openness in Latin American countries over the period 1980¿2006. Overall results on productivity indicate a stagnation process for the entire period 1986¿2006. The decomposition of productivity into catching up and technical change reveals that the first have a stagnation process and the latter worsening. Analyzing the relationship between productivity growth and international openness we find different patterns for both methodologies parametric (Arellano¿Bond estimator) and nonparametric (GAM) and for both measures of international openness merchandise trade (% of GDP) and (export+imports)/GDP. In particular in a parametric way, although the shape is curvilinear for both models the relationship is positive inverted U¿shaped in the first case and Ushaped in second

Simulación computacional con elementos finitos y redes neuronales de problemas multifísicos. Aplicación al cocinado de carne

Este Trabajo Fin de Grado se enmarca en un proyecto de colaboración entre la Universidad de Zaragoza y la empresa B/S/H España. Con el objetivo del desarrollo de una metodología computacional capaz de sentar las bases del cocinado autónomo.En primer lugar, se describe la física que rige el cocinado de carne y se realiza una breve introducción del aprendizaje profundo y las redes neuronales. Una buena forma de comprobar, a priori, el potencial y validez de las redes neuronales, es resolviendo una serie de ejemplos de aplicación relacionados cada uno, con las físicas que intervienen en el cocinado de carne: Mecánica estructural, Transferencia de calor y Transferencia de masa. Para ello se han simulado dichos problemas en un software de elementos finitos, obteniendo una población de resultados utilizados para entrenar a las redes neuronales y que estas sean capaces de predecir estos resultados, en tiempo real y con exactitud.En segundo lugar, se ha abordado la simulación del cocinado de carne utilizando los resultados de modelos 1D y 3D para entrenar redes neuronales que permitan obtener predicciones disminuyendo el coste computacional. En este caso se han considerado como variables de salida la distribución de la temperatura y de la pérdida de masa del alimento. Un aspecto que se ha tenido en cuenta para valorar la metodología propuesta, reside en las principales características de las redes neuronales como: variables de entrada, número de capas ocultas o tamaño de la población de entrenamiento. En este trabajo se ha realizado un estudio detallado de la influencia de estas características.Por último, se han comparado las predicciones obtenidas mediante las redes neuronales con los resultados obtenidos en el software de elementos finitos, con el objetivo de comprobar la validez de las redes neuronales en la aplicación al cocinado de carne.<br /

Characterization of a proximal Sp1 response element in the mouse Dlk2 gene promoter

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>DLK2 is an EGF-like membrane protein, closely related to DLK1, which is involved in adipogenesis. Both proteins interact with the NOTCH1 receptor and are able to modulate its activation. The expression of the gene <it>Dlk2 </it>is coordinated with that of <it>Dlk1 </it>in several tissues and cell lines. Unlike <it>Dlk1</it>, the mouse <it>Dlk2 </it>gene and its locus at chromosome 17 are not fully characterized.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The goal of this work was the characterization of <it>Dlk2 </it>mRNA, as well as the analysis of the mechanisms that control its basal transcription. First, we analyzed the <it>Dlk2 </it>transcripts expressed by several mouse cells lines and tissues, and mapped the transcription start site by 5' Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends. <it>In silico </it>analysis revealed that <it>Dlk2 </it>possesses a TATA-less promoter containing minimal promoter elements associated with a CpG island, and sequences for Inr and DPE elements. Besides, it possesses six GC-boxes, considered as consensus sites for the transcription factor Sp1. Indeed, we report that Sp1 directly binds to the <it>Dlk2 </it>promoter, activates its transcription, and regulates its level of expression.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results provide the first characterization of <it>Dlk2 </it>transcripts, map the location of the <it>Dlk2 </it>core promoter, and show the role of Sp1 as a key regulator of <it>Dlk2 </it>transcription, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the expression of the <it>Dlk2 </it>gene.</p