The effect of different materials joint in Vacuum Insulation Panels

During recent years the use of Vacuum Insulation Panels in buildings applications has been improved, because of their both higher performances and lower thickness compared to traditional insulation materials. These performances are due to the interior vacuum degree, which represent also the main problem connected with the applications of this technological solution in buildings constructions: to maintain the vacuum condition the panels are enclosed in an envelope layer, characterized by an higher thermal conductivity. Moreover they have to be assembled to each other or to additional different joint materials in practical building application, generating a thermal bridging effect. The aim of present work is to analyse the critical aspects related to this insulation technology for building application. An experimental campaign through heat flow meter apparatus was carried out with the purpose of assessing the decrease of performance due to the thermal bridges effects considering different joint materials in VIPs assemblies

The effect of different materials joint in Vacuum Insulation Panels

During recent years the use of Vacuum Insulation Panels in buildings applications has been improved, because of their both higher performances and lower thickness compared to traditional insulation materials. These performances are due to the interior vacuum degree, which represent also the main problem connected with the applications of this technological solution in buildings constructions: to maintain the vacuum condition the panels are enclosed in an envelope layer, characterized by an higher thermal conductivity. Moreover they have to be assembled to each other or to additional different joint materials in practical building application, generating a thermal bridging effect. The aim of present work is to analyse the critical aspects related to this insulation technology for building application. An experimental campaign through heat flow meter apparatus was carried out with the purpose of assessing the decrease of performance due to the thermal bridges effects considering different joint materials in VIPs assemblies

The breeding system of Gymnocalycium bruchii(Cactaceae), a ginodioic or dioic species?

La mayoría de las especies Gymnocalycium son hermafroditas, pero en algunos taxones se han observado individuos con flores perfectas y otros presumiblemente con femeninas, indicando que podrían ser ginodioicas o dioicas. No existen investigaciones al respecto, por lo que nos propusimos estudiar la biología reproductiva de G. bruchii, realizando observaciones y mediciones a campo, experimentos de compatibilidad en plantas cultivadas y estudios morfo-anatómicos en laboratorio. Observamos que las flores masculinas forman granos de polen viables, pero, aunque desarrollan normalmente el gineceo, sus óvulos no se fecundan y nunca se forman frutos. Las flores femeninas producen normalmente frutos y semillas, mientras que sus anteras abortan justo antes de su apertura. Nuestros resultados confirman que las plantas se comportan como dioicas y que la diferenciación sexual ocurre tarde en el desarrollo. Además, cada individuo produce solo un tipo floral, indicando un control genético. Las flores masculinas fueron significativamente más grandes, lo que indicaría una competencia por los polinizadores. La tasa de individuos masculinos/femeninos en cultivo fue de 1, pero en el campo fue de 3/7, quizás por limitaciones en los recursos. Concluimos que Gymnocalycium bruchii es dioico. Sus caracteres florales se encuentran determinados genéticamente, pero se completan tarde en el desarrollo. La diversificación en su sistema reproductivo posee importantes implicancias ecológicas y evolutivas.Fil: Aliscioni, Nayla Luján. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Gurvich, Diego Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Lorenzati, M.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: García, S.. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Delbón, Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaXXXVIII Jornadas Argentinas de Botánica: Aunando saberesOro VerdeArgentinaSociedad Argentina de Botánic

Adherence to antibiotic treatment guidelines and outcomes in the hospitalized elderly with different types of pneumonia

Background: Few studies evaluated the clinical outcomes of Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP), Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia (HAP) and Health Care-Associated Pneumonia (HCAP) in relation to the adherence of antibiotic treatment to the guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in hospitalized elderly people (65 years or older). Methods: Data were obtained from REPOSI, a prospective registry held in 87 Italian internal medicine and geriatric wards. Patients with a diagnosis of pneumonia (ICD-9 480-487) or prescribed with an antibiotic for pneumonia as indication were selected. The empirical antibiotic regimen was defined to be adherent to guidelines if concordant with the treatment regimens recommended by IDSA/ATS for CAP, HAP, and HCAP. Outcomes were assessed by logistic regression models. Results: A diagnosis of pneumonia was made in 317 patients. Only 38.8% of them received an empirical antibiotic regimen that was adherent to guidelines. However, no significant association was found between adherence to guidelines and outcomes. Having HAP, older age, and higher CIRS severity index were the main factors associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: The adherence to antibiotic treatment guidelines was poor, particularly for HAP and HCAP, suggesting the need for more adherence to the optimal management of antibiotics in the elderly with pneumonia

A methodological framework for the analysis of the service life of VIPs based envelope components in buildings

Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs) represent one of the most promising solution for building insulation. Nevertheless the VIPs service life may be limited by water vapour as well as gas permeations. The extent of their occurrence is strictly dependent by the severity of temperature and humidity at which VIPs are exposed during their operation. In the context of IEA EBC Annex 65 activities, a common simulation based procedure was introduced to identify potential critical hygrothermal working conditions for VIPs when they are used in different building components. A methodological framework was developed to estimate the yearly profiles of temperature and relative humidity at the boundaries of VIPs considering different indoor and external conditions and envelope configurations. This procedure provided general data suggesting guidelines for the correct design of VIP based building components considering their actual working conditions