Rain infiltration mechanisms in ventilated facades: literature review, case studies, understanding common practice flaws

Ventilated facades are contemporary construction systems, which present a number of benefits in comparison to a traditional facade (unventilated or vented air cavity). Nevertheless, there is a gap in the understanding of its watertightness performance. It is commonly accepted by manufacturers and building practitioners as a rule of thumb that ventilated facade systems are designed to deflect the largest part of the rainwater that impinges on them and only a minimal part infiltrates through the open joints of the cladding. This residual amount of water is supposed to be drained at the bottom, temporarily stored in materials, or dry out to the interior, or to the exterior by means of the chimney effect inside the air cavity. In this way, the air gap of ventilated façades as well as being a capillary break for rainwater, acts as a channel for drainage of the infiltrated rainwater. However, some authors have already reported some pathological lesions on ventilated facades (stains and soiling damages due to biological colonization, problems with wind pressures due to the use of linear connections between panels and substructure, etc.) This paper presents a broad literature review on the response to rainwater of ventilated facades and typical pathologies. Next to that, an analysis of the main guidelines relating to the construction of ventilated facades is conducted. Finally, rainwater infiltration problems from real buildings with ventilated facade systems have been collected in a field study of 20 buildings. From this field study, four study-cases have been selected and thoroughly analysed, first measuring the components of the ventilated façade fixing system in order to draw their constructive detail, second working out on its water management and third, relating the water management to the damages observed in the visual inspections

Integración de datos de termografía de infrarrojos y otras técnicas no destructivas en detección de humedades y sales

La humedad es una de las principales preocupaciones en relación con la conservación del patrimonio arquitectónico. La humedad cataliza reacciones químicas y favorece el crecimiento biológico. Además, el agua puede estar cargada en sales, que se transportan en solución y pueden generar daños por cristalización e hidratación - deshidratación. La humedad en muros y otras estructuras solo se puede medir directamente con metodos "gravimétricos". Estos métodos, necesitan la extracción de una pequeña muestra, por lo que, a vees, en el contexto de propiedades patrimoniales, es conveniente considerar el uso de Técnicas no Destructivas, como los sensores eléctricos o la termografía de infrarrojos para la determinación de los focos de humedad. Estos métodos necesitan una interpretación pues hay otros factores como el contenido de sales o la porosidad que afectan a sus lecturas. En este trabajo se presenta un experimento de laboratorio en el que se estudian materiales pétreos con distintas porosidades saturados en agua y, en un caso, con sales mediante Medidores de Humedad Portátiles y Termografía de Infrarrojos durante el proceso de evaporación. Esto se realiza como paso previo para establecer un protocolo de utilización conjunta de sensores eléctricos y termografía de infrarrojos para la evaluación de humedades en elementos patrimoniales reales

Industria agroalimentaria, género y desarrollo rural : un análisis comparativo desde la geografía /

Consultable des del TDXTítol obtingut de la portada digitalitzadaLa presente Tesis Doctoral tiene el objetivo primordial de analizar el problema de la reestructuración rural desde una perspectiva geográfica y de género, destacando la participación y el protagonismo de las mujeres en la búsqueda de estrategias de desarrollo rural y sus diferencias regionales. La aportación más interesante de esta Tesis Doctoral, sin embargo, es la indagación en la participación activa de las mujeres en la industria agroalimentaria, una actividad económica y productiva que es, al mismo tiempo, tradicional e innovadora en las áreas rurales. Su interés y especificidad, además, se extrapola al hecho de que esta línea de análisis nos permite analizar la participación directa de las mujeres en el mercado laboral (y por tanto en la esfera pública de la sociedad) así como sus sinergias con las dinámicas de la esfera doméstica facilitando, de esta manera, el análisis detallado de las causas, formas y consecuencias de género del trabajo de las mujeres en las áreas rurales.The main objective of this Doctoral Thesis is the analysis of the problem of rural restructuring from a geographical and gender perspective. Emphasis is placed on the involvement of and leading roles given to women in the quest for regionally differentiated strategies for rural development. The most significant contribution of this thesis is, however, the research on women's active role in the food processing industries, an economic and productive activity in rural areas with both traditional and innovatory aspects. The originality and, therefore, interest of the topic lies in the fact that this type of analysis makes it possible to analyse the direct contribution of women to the labour market (and thus in society's public sphere) and their synergies with the dynamics of the domestic sphere. It also contributes to the detailed analysis of the causes, patterns and consequences of gender in women's work in rural areas

Coupling electrical resistivity methods and GIS to evaluate the effect of historic building features on wetting dynamics during wind-driven rain spells

Moisture is one of the most important factors causing building stone decay and rain penetration is one of the leading factors. Particularly, wind-driven rain spells, which are becoming increasingly common and seasonal as a result of climate change. Historic buildings' sometimes intricate design features can be a factor multiplying meteorological anisotropy, either shielding walls or increasing the surface that is affected by wind-driven rain spells. This paper aims to identify the effect of pilasters and tower buttresses on the wetting dynamics of a listed 9th Century historic building during a rain spell by means of electrical resistivity methods coupled with GIS mapping, paying special attention to how data representation and map algebra can improve the interpretation of several data sets of non-destructive testing. Results show how building features can modify deeply moisture dynamics and maximise local anisotropy. In the present case, a compound of an external tower buttress and an internal pilaster decreases moisture ingress through ground infiltration while increasing moisture retention into the wall due to its larger mass. This, in turn, multiplies the incidence of moisture-related processes inside the building. The presented data also highlight the usefulness of mapping over time (4D mapping) and of GIS to improve interpretations through map algebraThis research was supported by Top Heritage (P2018/NMT-4372) programme from the Regional Government of Madrid (Spain) and Grants “PIC2020–116896RB-C21”, “PIC2020–116896RB-C22” funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/50110001103

Mortalidad y factores sociales del cáncer de próstata para la gestión de políticas públicas. Veracruz, México

Introducción: las elevadas tasas de mortalidad por cáncer de próstata en Veracruz indican la necesidad de gestionar políticas públicas equitativas para su control. Por ello, es necesario analizar las tendencias de mortalidad y los factores sociales relacionados con la salud de la población.Métodos: cálculo de las tasas de mortalidad a nivel nacional y estatal por edad, y en Veracruz, por regiones económicas; en relación con su grado de rezago social.Resultados: La tasa de mortalidad por cáncer de próstata en Veracruz es mayor que la tasa nacional. Dentro del estado, la región del Papaloapan presentó la mayor mortalidad, y un grado de rezago social medio

EpiGe: A machine-learning strategy for rapid classification of medulloblastoma using PCR-based methyl-genotyping

Molecular classification of medulloblastoma is critical for the treatment of this brain tumor. Array-based DNA methylation profiling has emerged as a powerful approach for brain tumor classification. However, this technology is currently not widely available. We present a machine-learning decision support system (DSS) that enables the classification of the principal molecular groups—WNT, SHH, and non-WNT/non-SHH—directly from quantitative PCR (qPCR) data. We propose a framework where the developed DSS appears as a user-friendly web-application—EpiGe-App—that enables automated interpretation of qPCR methylation data and subsequent molecular group prediction. The basis of our classification strategy is a previously validated six-cytosine signature with subgroup-specific methylation profiles. This reduced set of markers enabled us to develop a methyl-genotyping assay capable of determining the methylation status of cytosines using qPCR instruments. This study provides a comprehensive approach for rapid classification of clinically relevant medulloblastoma groups, using readily accessible equipment and an easy-to-use web-application.The study was supported by Associations of Parents and Families of Children with Cancer and by funding of the Spanish Ministry of for Science, Innovation and University (grant PI20/00519; PI CL) and the Foundation La Marató TV3 (grant 201921-30; PI CL). We acknowledge the multidisciplinary team who helped in the molecular analyses and care of patients, and the BioBank Hospital Sant Joan de Déu of the Spanish BioBank Network for sample procurement. We also acknowledge Marta Fortuny for communication strategy advice and Eduard Puig for legal assistance and data protection regulations. Authors acknowledge the SJD Fundraising Team.Peer ReviewedArticle signat per 23 autors/es: Soledad Gómez-González, Joshua Llano, Marta Garcia, Alicia Garrido-Garcia, Mariona Suñol, Isadora Lemos, Sara Perez-Jaume, Noelia Salvador, Nagore Gene-Olaciregui, Raquel Arnau Galán, Vicente Santa-María, Marta Perez-Somarriba, Alicia Castañeda, José Hinojosa, Ursula Winter, Francisco Barbosa Moreira, Fabiana Lubieniecki, Valeria Vazquez, Jaume Mora, Ofelia Cruz, Andrés Morales La Madrid, Alexandre Perera, Cinzia Lavarino.Postprint (published version

Caveolin-1 is down-regulated in alveolar habdomyosarcomas and negatively regulates tumor growth

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood and adolescence. Despite advances in therapy, patients with histological variant of rhabdomyosarcoma known as alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) have a 5-year survival of less than 30%. Caveolin-1 (CAV1), encoding the structural component of cellular caveolae, is a suggested tumor suppressor gene involved in cell signaling. In the present study we report that compared to other forms of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) CAV1 expression is either undetectable or very low in ARMS cell lines and tumor samples. DNA methylation analysis of the promoter region and azacytidine-induced re-expression suggest the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the silencing of CAV1. Reintroduction of CAV1 in three of these cell lines impairs their clonogenic capacity and promotes features of muscular differentiation. In vitro, CAV1-expressing cells show high expression of Caveolin-3 (CAV3), a muscular differentiation marker. Blockade of MAPK signaling is also observed. In vivo, CAV1-expressing xenografts show growth delay, features of muscular differentiation and increased cell death. In summary, our results suggest that CAV1 could function as a potent tumor suppressor in ARMS tumors. Inhibition of CAV1 function therefore, could contribute to aberrant cell proliferation, leading to ARMS development

Identification and Characterization of Microsporidia from Fecal Samples of HIV-Positive Patients from Lagos, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Microsporidia are obligate intracellular parasites that infect a broad range of vertebrates and invertebrates. They have been increasingly recognized as human pathogens in AIDS patients, mainly associated with a life-threatening chronic diarrhea and systemic disease. However, to date the global epidemiology of human microsporidiosis is poorly understood, and recent data suggest that the incidence of these pathogens is much higher than previously reported and may represent a neglected etiological agent of more common diseases indeed in immunocompetent individuals. To contribute to the knowledge of microsporidia molecular epidemiology in HIV-positive patients in Nigeria, the authors tested stool samples proceeding from patients with and without diarrhea. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Stool samples from 193 HIV-positive patients with and without diarrhea (67 and 126 respectively) from Lagos (Nigeria) were investigated for the presence of microsporidia and Cryptosporidium using Weber's Chromotrope-based stain, Kinyoun stain, IFAT and PCR. The Weber stain showed 45 fecal samples (23.3%) with characteristic microsporidia spores, and a significant association of microsporidia with diarrhea was observed (O.R. = 18.2; CI: 95%). A similar result was obtained using Kinyoun stain, showing 44 (31,8%) positive samples with structures morphologically compatible with Cryptosporidium sp, 14 (31.8%) of them with infection mixed with microsporidia. The characterization of microsporidia species by IFAT and PCR allowed identification of Enterocytozoon bieneusi, Encephalitozoon intestinalis and E. cuniculi in 5, 2 and 1 samples respectively. The partial sequencing of the ITS region of the rRNA genes showed that the three isolates of E.bieneusi studied are included in Group I, one of which bears the genotype B. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: To our knowledge, this is the first report of microsporidia characterization in fecal samples from HIV-positive patients from Lagos, Nigeria. These results focus attention on the need to include microsporidial diagnosis in the management of HIV/AIDS infection in Nigeria, at the very least when other more common pathogens have not been detected

Anti-Spike antibodies 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine booster dose in patients on hemodialysis: the prospective SENCOVAC study

Background: Patients on hemodialysis are at high-risk for complications derived from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The present analysis evaluated the impact of a booster vaccine dose and breakthrough severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections on humoral immunity 3 months after the booster dose. Methods: This is a multicentric and prospective study assessing immunoglobulin G anti-Spike antibodies 6 and 9 months after initial SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in patients on hemodialysis that had also received a booster dose before the 6-month assessment (early booster) or between the 6- and 9-month assessments (late booster). The impact of breakthrough infections, type of vaccine, time from the booster and clinical variables were assessed. Results: A total of 711 patients [67% male, median age (range) 67 (20-89) years] were included. Of these, 545 (77%) received an early booster and the rest a late booster. At 6 months, 64 (9%) patients had negative anti-Spike antibody titers (3% of early booster and 29% of late booster patients, P =. 001). At 9 months, 91% of patients with 6-month negative response had seroconverted and there were no differences in residual prevalence of negative humoral response between early and late booster patients (0.9% vs 0.6%, P =. 693). During follow-up, 35 patients (5%) developed breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. Antibody titers at 9 months were independently associated with mRNA-1273 booster (P =. 001), lower time from booster (P =. 043) and past breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection (P <. 001). Conclusions: In hemodialysis patients, higher titers of anti-Spike antibodies at 9 months were associated with mRNA-1273 booster, lower time from booster and past breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infectionThe present project has been supported by Fresenius Medical Care, Diaverum, Vifor Pharma, Vircell, Fundación Renal Iñigo Álvarez de Toledo and ISCIII FEDER funds RICORS2040 (RD21/0005