Measuring the Floor Area of Buildings. Problems of Consistency and a Solution

Measuring the floor area of a building may seem a straightforward activity, but it is not. What to be included and what to be considered vary in virtually every country, and definitions such as GFA (gross floor area), NRA (net rentable area), etc. are also misleading as they are not consistent. In an era in which international actors contribute for projects in all major cities, having a consistent system to measure the floor area of a building is of the utmost importance. Consistent measurements allow not just for easier and better design, but also for the comparison of buildings, as the floor area is the nominator of all parameters of sustainability, energy consumption, construction cost, occupancy ratios, cleaning fees, etc

The Environmental Justice Dimensions of Climate Change

Nations around the world are considering strategies to mitigate the severe impacts of climate change predicted to occur in the twenty-first century. Many countries, however, lack the wealth, technology, and government institutions to effectively cope with climate change. This study investigates the varying degrees to which developing and developed nations will be exposed to changes in three key variables: temperature, precipitation, and runoff. We use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysis to compare current and future climate model predictions on a country level. We then compare our calculations of climate change exposure for each nation to several metrics of political and economic well-being. Our results indicate that the impacts of changes in precipitation and runoff are distributed relatively equally between developed and developing nations. In contrast, we confirm research suggesting that developing nations will be affected far more severely by changes in temperature than developed nations. Our results also suggest that this unequal impact will persist throughout the twenty-first century. Our analysis further indicates that the most significant temperature changes will occur in politically unstable countries, creating an additional motivation for developed countries to actively engage with developing nations on climate mitigation strategies

Exceptional atmospheric events resilience of the curtain wall

The paper presents the results of a research conducted on codes and standards adopted internationally for the design, construction and testing of hurricane- and tornado-resistant façades. These façades are built using technologies that pass tests in order to verify the resistance of both the frame and the glazed surface to the impacts caused by wind-borne debris during these extreme meteorological events. The aim of the research is the identification of the best practices that have been adopted, in order to increase the resilience of building envelopes to this weather phenomenon, evaluating the possible applicability of adopting the principles to the specific needs of the European and Italian market

La resilienza del curtain wall ad eventi atmosferici eccezionali

The paper presents the results of a research conducted on codes and standards adopted internationally for the design, construction and testing of hur- ricane- and tornado-resistant fa\ue7ades. These fa\ue7ades are built using technologies that pass tests in order to verify the resist- ance of both the frame and the glazed sur- face to the impacts caused by wind-borne debris during these extreme meteorologi- cal events. The aim of the research is the identification of the best practices that have been adopted, in order to increase the resilience of building envelopes to this weather phenomenon, evaluating the pos- sible applicability of adopting the principles to the specific needs of the European and Italian market

The Single-Case Reporting Guideline In BEhavioural Interventions (SCRIBE) 2016 statement

We developed a reporting guideline to provide authors with guidance about what should be reported when writing a paper for publication in a scientific journal using a particular type of research design: the single-case experimental design. This report describes the methods used to develop the Single-Case Reporting guideline In BEhavioural interventions (SCRIBE) 2016. As a result of 2 online surveys and a 2-day meeting of experts, the SCRIBE 2016 checklist was developed, which is a set of 26 items that authors need to address when writing about single-case research. This article complements the more detailed SCRIBE 2016 Explanation and Elaboration article (Tate et al., 2016) that provides a rationale for each of the items and examples of adequate reporting from the literature. Both these resources will assist authors to prepare reports of single-case research with clarity, completeness, accuracy, and transparency. They will also provide journal reviewers and editors with a practical checklist against which such reports may be critically evaluated. We recommend that the SCRIBE 2016 is used by authors preparing manuscripts describing single-case research for publication, as well as journal reviewers and editors who are evaluating such manuscripts.Funding for the SCRIBE project was provided by the Lifetime Care and Support Authority of New South Wales, Australia. The funding body was not involved in the conduct, interpretation or writing of this work. We acknowledge the contribution of the responders to the Delphi surveys, as well as administrative assistance provided by Kali Godbee and Donna Wakim at the SCRIBE consensus meeting. Lyndsey Nickels was funded by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship (FT120100102) and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders (CE110001021). For further discussion on this topic, please visit the Archives of Scientific Psychology online public forum at http://arcblog.apa.org. (Lifetime Care and Support Authority of New South Wales, Australia; FT120100102 - Australian Research Council Future Fellowship; CE110001021 - Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Cognition and Its Disorders)Published versio

Uso de fertilizantes organominerais fosfatados no cultivo da alface e de milho em sucessão / Use of phosphate organomineral fertilizers in the cultivation of lettuce and corn in succession

A alface (Lactuca sativa L.) é uma das hortaliças folhosas mais consumidas no Brasil e no mundo. Apresenta um crescimento rápido sendo muito exigente em nutrientes, o que requer um manejo da nutrição adequado. Novas tecnologias surgiram, com objetivo de aumentar a produtividade e a eficiência das adubações nas culturas. Os fertilizantes organominerais fornecem os nutrientes de maneira gradual, diminuindo os custos e evitando perdas para o ambiente. Desta forma, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o uso dos fertilizantes fosfatados organominerais na produção, qualidade e crescimento pós-colheita da alface, e seu efeito residual na cultura do milho plantado em sucessão. O experimento foi realizado sob cultivo protegido, em canteiros, na UFVJM/Diamantina-MG. Utilizou-se do delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. O solo foi classificado como um Neossolo quartzarênico e os tratamentos foram compostos por fertilizantes organomineral peletizado, organomineral farelado, MAP protegido por polímero, superfosfato simples e a testemunha (sem adubação). Foi utilizada a cultivar Veneranda (Feltrin, ®) e cada parcela foi composta por doze plantas com espaçamento de 30 cm x 30 cm. Aos 60 dias após o transplantio da alface avaliou-se: variáveis de crescimento, fisiológicas e o teor de P foliar. Após o cultivo da alface realizou-se a semeadura de um híbrido de milho com 5 sementes por metro linear, formando uma fileira por parcela. Após 120 dias à semeadura foi analisado a produção do milho. Os fertilizantes organominerais peletizado e farelado promoveram o maior crescimento e acúmulo de matéria fresca e seca de parte aérea e raiz nas plantas de alface, bem como maior teor de clorofila A. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas para o teor de fósforo nas folhas, clorofila B, perda de massa fresca e perda de água das plantas de alface. Para a avaliação da produção na cultura do milho plantado em sucessão, os tratamentos com fertilizantes organomineral peletizado e farelado apresentaram as maiores médias para as variáveis do peso das espigas, peso dos grãos e produtividade. Não foi observada diferença significativa para a massa de 100 grãos.  Pode-se concluir que os fertilizantes organominerais proporcionaram efeitos positivos para a produção das plantas de alface e para o milho plantado em sucessão, se mostrando como uma boa alternativa ao uso dos fertilizantes minerais devido ao seu efeito residual no solo

The relative importance of forest cover and patch-level drivers for phyllostomid bat communities in the Amazonian Savannas

Context: Analyze the multiple dimensions of biodiversity under a local and landscape lens in natural habitats, such as Amazonian savannas, is fundamental for the conservation of species and ecosystems. Objectives: We aim to explore how landscape forest cover and patch-level variables affect the patterns of species abundance, functional traits, and taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic α-diversity of Phyllostomid bats in forest patches of the Savannas of Amapá, in both the wet and dry seasons. Methods: We used mist nets to survey bats in 26 forest patches. We also quantified forest cover in buffers of 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500 m around each patch, and tree height, basal area, canopy cover, and vegetation clutter in the understorey at the patch level. We used hierarchical partitioning to relate the different indices with our predictor variables. Results: Taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity in the wet season increased with the proportion of forest cover in the 2500 m buffer. Vegetation clutter was negatively related to taxonomic and functional diversity in the wet season. In the dry season, average tree height positively affected taxonomic and functional diversity. Patch-level variables were more important than forest cover in explaining the average functional traits in both seasons. Conclusion: We found seasonal variation in the relationships between components of bat diversity and different drivers. Since both forest cover in the landscape and patch-level variables are important for Phyllostomid bat diversity, conservation plans should consider forest conservation at the landscape level and maintenance of forest patch qualityOpen Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. Part of the data used in this study was supported by Neotropical Grassland Conservancy (01098803-5), National Geographic Society (EC59186R-19 and NGS-83254R-20), Bat Conservation International (2434131) and Ruford Foundation (25585-1

Complementary and alternative medicine use and cost in functional bowel disorders: a six month prospective study in a large HMO

Abstract Background Functional Bowel Disorders (FBD) are chronic disorders that are difficult to treat and manage. Many patients and doctors are dissatisfied with the level of improvement in symptoms that can be achieved with standard medical care which may lead them to seek alternatives for care. There are currently no data on the types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) used for FBDs other than Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or on the economic costs of CAM treatments. The aim of this study is to determine prevalence, types and costs of CAM in IBS, functional diarrhea, functional constipation, and functional abdominal pain. Methods 1012 Patients with FBD were recruited through a health care maintenance organization and followed for 6 months. Questionnaires were used to ascertain: Utilization and expenditures on CAM, symptom severity (IBS-SS), quality of life (IBS-QoL), psychological distress (BSI) and perceived treatment effectiveness. Costs for conventional medical care were extracted from administrative claims. Results CAM was used by 35% of patients, at a median yearly cost of $200. The most common CAM types were ginger, massage therapy and yoga. CAM use was associated with female gender, higher education, and anxiety. Satisfaction with physician care and perceived effectiveness of prescription medication were not associated with CAM use. Physician referral to a CAM provider was uncommon but the majority of patients receiving this recommendation followed their physician's advice. Conclusion CAM is used by one-third of FBD patients. CAM use does not seem to be driven by dissatisfaction with conventional care. Physicians should discuss CAM use and effectiveness with their patients and refer patients if appropriate

Clinical impairment in premanifest and early Huntington's disease is associated with regionally specific atrophy.

TRACK-HD is a multicentre longitudinal observational study investigating the use of clinical assessments and 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging as potential biomarkers for future therapeutic trials in Huntington's disease (HD). The cross-sectional data from this large well-characterized dataset provide the opportunity to improve our knowledge of how the underlying neuropathology of HD may contribute to the clinical manifestations of the disease across the spectrum of premanifest (PreHD) and early HD. Two hundred and thirty nine gene-positive subjects (120 PreHD and 119 early HD) from the TRACK-HD study were included. Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM), grey and white matter volumes were correlated with performance in four domains: quantitative motor (tongue force, metronome tapping, and gait); oculomotor [anti-saccade error rate (ASE)]; cognition (negative emotion recognition, spot the change and the University of Pennsylvania smell identification test) and neuropsychiatric measures (apathy, affect and irritability). After adjusting for estimated disease severity, regionally specific associations between structural loss and task performance were found (familywise error corrected, P < 0.05); impairment in tongue force, metronome tapping and ASE were all associated with striatal loss. Additionally, tongue force deficits and ASE were associated with volume reduction in the occipital lobe. Impaired recognition of negative emotions was associated with volumetric reductions in the precuneus and cuneus. Our study reveals specific associations between atrophy and decline in a range of clinical modalities, demonstrating the utility of VBM correlation analysis for investigating these relationships in HD

Retreatment for hepatitis C virus direct-acting antiviral therapy virological failure in primary and tertiary settings: The REACH-C cohort

Virological failure occurs in a small proportion of people treated for hepatitis C virus (HCV) with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies. This study assessed retreatment for virological failure in a large real-world cohort. REACH-C is an Australian observational study (n = 10,843) evaluating treatment outcomes of sequential DAA initiations across 33 health services between March 2016 to June 2019. Virological failure retreatment data were collected until October 2020. Of 408 people with virological failure (81% male; median age 53; 38% cirrhosis; 56% genotype 3), 213 (54%) were retreated once; 15 were retreated twice. A range of genotype specific and pangenotypic DAAs were used to retreat virological failure in primary (n = 56) and tertiary (n = 157) settings. Following sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir availability in 2019, the proportion retreated in primary care increased from 21% to 40% and median time to retreatment initiation declined from 294 to 152 days. Per protocol (PP) sustained virological response (SVR12) was similar for people retreated in primary and tertiary settings (80% vs 81%; p = 1.000). In regression analysis, sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir (vs. other regimens) significantly decreased likelihood of second virological failure (PP SVR12 88% vs. 77%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.29; 95%CI 0.11–0.81); cirrhosis increased likelihood (PP SVR12 69% vs. 91%; AOR 4.26; 95%CI 1.64–11.09). Indigenous Australians had lower likelihood of retreatment initiation (AOR 0.36; 95%CI 0.15–0.81). Treatment setting and prescriber type were not associated with retreatment initiation or outcome. Virological failure can be effectively retreated in primary care. Expanded access to simplified retreatment regimens through decentralized models may increase retreatment uptake and reduce HCV-related mortality