Assessoria de imprensa: diferenças das práticas entre Portugal e Brasil

O presente artigo pretende evidenciar as diferenças existentes nas práticas de assessoria de imprensa no Brasil e em Portugal. Através de cinco entrevistas realizadas com assessores de imprensa, três brasileiros e dois portugueses ligados à área do esporte e da política, o artigo expõe o dilema que existe relativamente aos limites estabelecidos na profissionalização da assessoria, que se evidenciam distintos nestes dois países

Performance evaluation of non-conventional constructions: case study in a temperate climate

The development of new construction solutions is fundamental to enhance the building stock energy performance, and thus promote sustainable development in the building sector. These solutions must be sensitive to both the energy performance and the environmental performance. The aim of the work presented in this paper is the comparison, in terms of energy performance, between heavyweight conventional solutions and mixed-weight non-conventional envelope solutions. These solutions were applied in a test building built at the University of Minho’s Azurém campus. The evaluation was carried out by means of data analysis of in situ measurements, and also the use of energy and daylighting simulation tools. Prior to the simulations, it was necessary to calibrate the model and create a weather file representative of the real weather conditions. From this evaluation, it was possible to assess the potentialities of different construction solutions. The non-conventional solution presented a similar energy performance but a better environmental performance than the conventional solution, due to the use of low embodied energy materials. It was also proved that, with minor modifications, the non-conventional solution can produce a better energy performance than the conventional one, evidencing the potential of application of these solutions

Módulo inovador para a reabilitação energética

A reabilitação energética dos edifícios é uma área com crescente importância para o setor da construção Portuguesa. Tal deve-se a uma conjugação de diversos fatores, desde o estado de degradação e fraco desempenho energético dos mesmos, até à drástica redução do índice de construção nova. Como tal, de modo a adequar o parque habitacional existente às novas necessidades, mas também às mais recentes exigências por parte dos moradores, são fundamentais extensas intervenções de reabilitação no parque habitacional, procurando dotar o mesmo de uma maior eficiência energética, possibilitando assim garantir o conforto térmico dos ocupantes sem um gasto energético excessivo. No entanto, é necessário desenvolver novas soluções de reabilitação para introdução no mercado, as quais devem ser projetadas, não só para aumentar o desempenho térmico da envolvente mas também possuir maior viabilidade económica, serem fáceis de aplicar, garantirem menores tempos de aplicação, assegurarem um controlo de qualidade na sua execução e mostrarem algumas preocupações ambientais na seleção dos materiais. Com estes objetivos em perspetiva, o Laboratório de Física e Tecnologia das Construção da Universidade do Minho desenvolveu uma solução de reabilitação prefabricada para aplicação em fachadas de edifícios existentes otimizada em termos da relação custo / benefício

Portuguese building stock indoor environmental quality “in-situ” assessment

Since the implementation of the Energy Performance of Building Directive, EPBD, in general, and the entrance into force of the respective Portuguese codes, in particular, buildings are requested to have better energy performances. However, during the buildings performance evaluation, energy issues should not be the only concerns since the indoor environmental quality is also as important. Thus, in this paper it is presented an “in-situ” evaluation of the Portuguese building stock regarding several parameters related to indoor environmental quality (IEQ), envelope thermal quality and operating conditions, natural illumination levels, thermal and acoustic comfort and indoor air quality. During the measurement campaign were evaluated several buildings that encompass different types of construction solutions, climatic zones and construction periods. One of the major objectives of this study was to support the development of building solutions that can optimize all the relevant parameters to the IEQ. Another important objective is the dissemination of the results through public entities, such as construction companies and design teams in order to influence the buildings projects to include other parameters than energy during the design process. Even though the measuring campaign is still in progress, there are already some preliminary results that show that, in average, the Portuguese buildings have a poor envelope thermal resistance, untreated thermal bridges, unsuitable natural illumination levels, several problems regarding high concentration of some pollutants like CO2 or VOC and also problems with acoustic discomfort due to an inadequate sound insulation

High energy efficiency retrofit module development

One of the main key sectors where it is vital to reduce the energy consumption, is the existent building stock. The European Union has recognized this issue in 2002 with the entrance into force of the Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings where important measures to limit the buildings primary energy consumption are foreseen. Within this context, it was initiated a new project focusing the development of a new retrofit solution – a prefabricated façade retrofit module. This solution is, to some extent, a by-product of the authors’ participation on the International Energy Agency project IEA ECBCS Annex50 and on the FCT funded project PTDC/ECM/67373/2006. In order to achieve a better support for the design of the solution and for the module thermal optimization, there were applied some computational tools like Google SketchUp® for 3D modelling to test the design options and eQuest® tool for energy performance prediction of several construction options and to assure their accordance with the applicable regulations. At the moment, a prototype is being developed and built in the Test Cells of University of Minho in order to carry out several “in-situ” thermal performance measurements.iiSBE Portugal, Universidade do Minho, Instituto Superior Técnico, cib, UNEP, InCI, STAP, FCT, IRHU, CIN, Soares da Costa, DST, CASAIS, energypark, SECIL, CIMPOR, Turismo de Portugal Algarv

Methodology to enhance the Portuguese thermal regulation accuracy for existing buildings

The goal of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the Portuguese thermal regulation simplified methodology for existing buildings and to assess the influence of different parameters on the building final energy performance evaluation. Simple “in-situ” measurement techniques were carried out to calibrate the input data in this methodology. The results obtained with the simplified methodology, with and without the input data calibration, were compared with the results obtained with the detailed methodology and it was concluded that the “in-situ” calibration could contribute to improve the accuracy of the energy needs estimation and that the simplified methodology results are, in average, 11% higher than the detailed methodology.Department of Energy United States of America, The light house, SUS

Development of prefabricated retrofit module towards nearly zero energy buildings

The building sector is an energy intensive sector, with great potential to reduce energy needs and environmental pollution. Several measures are being taken to increase the energy efficiency and avoid energy consumption in this sector. A recent trend is the nearly zero energy buildings, which was already adopted by some of the latest regulations, such as the 2010 recast of the European Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). However, to reach these goals, especially considering the existing building stock, new retrofit solutions are required, which must be well adapted to the specific building stock needs, and ensure that the building retrofit can achieve the nearly zero energy buildings standards. This paper presents a new prefabricated retrofit module solution for the facades of existing buildings, and also the steps taken to optimise its performance, which includes a judicious choice of materials, 3D modelling, cost–benefit analysis, use of different simulation tools for performance optimisation and prototyping. It is also shown the implementation of the retrofit module within an integrated retrofit approach, whose final goal was to obtain a building with the minimum possible energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.This work was supported by ERDF funds through the Competitiveness Factors Operational Programme - COMPETE and National Funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology [project number FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007189]. The author, Pedro Silva, was supported by FCT and DST, S.A. [grant number SFRH/BDE/15599/2006], which was co-financed by the Human Potential Operational Programme of the European Union POPH - NSRF - Type 4.1 - Advanced Training, shared by the European Social Fund and national funds MCTES

TERT promoter mutations in pancreatic endocrine tumours are rare and mainly found in tumours from patients with hereditary syndromes

One of the hallmarks of cancer is its unlimited replicative potential that needs a compensatory mechanism for the consequential telomere erosion. Telomerase promoter (TERTp) mutations were recently reported as a novel mechanism for telomerase re-activation/expression in order to maintain telomere length. Pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs) were so far recognized to rely mainly on the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) mechanism. It was our objective to study if TERTp mutations were present in pancreatic endocrine tumors (PET) and could represent an alternative mechanism to ALT. TERTp mutations were detected in 7% of the cases studied and were mainly associated to patients harbouring hereditary syndromes. In vitro, using PET-derived cell lines and by luciferase reporter assay, these mutations confer a 2 to 4-fold increase in telomerase transcription activity. These novel alterations are able to recruit ETS transcription factor members, in particular GABP-α and ETV1, to the newly generated binding sites. We report for the first time TERTp mutations in PETs and PET-derived cell lines. Additionally, our data indicate that these mutations serve as an alternative mechanism and in an exclusive manner to ALT, in particular in patients with hereditary syndromes.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia; Norte 2020 – Programa Operacional Regional do Norte project: (“Advancing cancer research: from basic knowledgment to application” - grant: NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000029); Associate Laboratory of the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education: (I3S)

Habitat specificity of a threatened and endemic cliff-dwelling halophyte

Research ArticleCoastal areas and other saline environments are major contributors to regional and global biodiversity patterns. In these environments, rapidly changing gradients require highly specialized plants like halophytes. In European coastal cliff-tops, rocky and sandy seashores, and saltmarshes, typical halophytes from the genus Limonium are commonly found. Among them, the aneuploid tetraploid (2n ¼ 4x ¼ 35, 36, 37) Limonium multiflorum, endemic to the west coast of Portugal, is an interesting case study for investigating the ecology and conservation of a halophyte agamospermic species. Although it is listed in the IUCN red list of threatened species, information on its population size or rarity, as well as its ecology, in some respects is still unknown. Field surveys in the largest known population were performed (Raso cape, Portugal) in order to determine habitat requirements and conservation status. A total of 88 quadrats were monitored, 43 of which contained at least one L. multiflorum individual. For each sampled quadrat, four abiotic and four biotic variables as well as two spatially derived variables were recorded. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis showed narrow habitat specificity for this species which appeared to be intolerant to competition with invasive alien plants. We conclude that in situ conservation in a local ‘hotspot’ of this rare and vulnerable species emerges as a priority in order to ensure that biodiversity is not los