Durability assessment of external thermal insulation composite systems in urban and maritime environments

External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems (ETICS) are multilayer solutions which provide an enhanced thermal performance to the building envelope. However, significant anomalies can be detected on ETICS facades, in some cases shortly after the application of these systems. This study intends to evaluate and compare the durability of six commercially available ETICS after two years of outdoor exposure at both urban and maritime conditions in Portugal. The systems were characterized by means of non-destructive testing (i.e., visual and microscopic assessment, water transport properties, thermal conductivity, surface roughness), thus allowing to evaluate the performance loss throughout natural aging. The bio-susceptibility and aesthetic properties (color and gloss) were also investigated. Results showed that the performance and durability of the complete system is significantly affected by the rendering system formulation. The lime-based specimens obtained the highest rate of mold development after one year of aging in a maritime environment, becoming considerably darker and with lower surface gloss. Fungal analysis of this darkish stained area indicated the presence of mold species of the genera Alternaria, Didymella, Cladosporium and Epicoccum, and yeasts of the genera Vishniacozyma and Cystobasidium. An increase of both capillary water absorption and water vapor permeability was also registered for the aged lime-based specimens. Acrylic-based systems obtained lower capillary water absorption after aging and greater dirt deposition on their surfaces, especially in urban conditions. These systems had also higher color variation and surface gloss decrease and slightly higher mold growth, when compared with those aged in a maritime environment. Finally, no mold growth was detected on the silicate-based specimens after two years of aging. However, these specimens obtained higher capillary water absorption and lower vapor permeability after aging, possibly leading to moisture accumulation within the system. Results contribute towards the development of ETICS with enhanced performance and durability.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Plasma Lipases And Lipid Transfer Proteins Increase Phospholipid But Not Free Cholesterol Transfer From Lipid Emulsion To High Density Lipoproteins

Background: Plasma lipases and lipid transfer proteins are involved in the generation and speciation of high density lipoproteins. In this study we have examined the influence of plasma lipases and lipid transfer protein activities on the transfer of free cholesterol (FC) and phospholipids (PL) from lipid emulsion to human, rat and mouse lipoproteins. The effect of the lipases was verified by incubation of labeled (3H-FC, 14C-PL) triglyceride rich emulsion with human plasma (control, post-heparin and post-heparin plus lipase inhibitor), rat plasma (control and post-heparin) and by the injection of the labeled lipid emulsion into control and heparinized functionally hepatectomized rats. Results: In vitro, the lipase enriched plasma stimulated significantly the transfer of 14C-PL from emulsion to high density lipoprotein (p<0.001) but did not modify the transfer of 3H-FC. In hepatectomized rats, heparin stimulation of intravascular lipolysis increased the plasma removal of 14C-PL and the amount of 14C-PL found in the low density lipoprotein density fraction but not in the high density lipoprotein density fraction. The in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that free cholesterol and phospholipids were transferred from lipid emulsion to plasma lipoproteins independently from each other. The incubation of human plasma, control and control plus monoclonal antibody anti-cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), with 14C-PL emulsion showed that CETP increases 14C-PL transfer to human HDL, since its partial inhibition by the anti-CETP antibody reduced significantly the 14C-PL transfer (p<0.05). However, comparing the nontransgenic (no CETP activity) with the CETP transgenic mouse plasma, no effect of CETP on the 14C-PL distribution in mice lipoproteins was observed. Conclusions: It is concluded that: 1-intravascular lipases stimulate phospholipid transfer protein mediated phospholipid transfer, but not free cholesterol, from triglyceride rich particles to human high density lipoproteins and rat low density lipoproteins and high density lipoproteins; 2-free cholesterol and phospholipids are transferred from triglyceride rich particles to plasma lipoproteins by distinct mechanisms, and 3 - CETP also contributes to phospholipid transfer activity in human plasma but not in transgenic mice plasma, a species which has high levels of the specific phospholipid transfer protein activity.219Backer, G., Bacquer, D., Konitzer, M., Epidemiological aspects of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (1998) Atherosclerosis, 137, pp. S1-S6Stein, O., Stein, Y., Atheroprotective mechanisms of HDL (1999) Atherosclerosis, 144, pp. 285-301Tall, A.R., Plasma lipid transfer proteins (1995) Annu Rev Biochem, 64, pp. 235-257Hesler, B., Tall, A.R., Swenson, T.L., Weech, P.K., Marcel, Y.L., Milne, R.W., Monoclonal antibody to the Mr 74000 cholesterol ester transfer protein neutralize all of the cholesterol ester and triglyceride transfer activities in human plasma (1988) J Biol Chem, 263, pp. 5020-5023Swenson, T.L., Brocia, R.W., Tall, A.R., Plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein has binding sites for neutral lipids and phospholipids (1988) J Biol Chem, 263, pp. 5150-5157Lagrost, L., Athias, A., Gambert, P., Lallemant, C., Comparative study of phospholipid transfer activities mediated by cholesteryl ester transfer protein and phospholipid transfer protein (1994) J Lipid Res, 35, pp. 825-835Tato, F., Vega, G.L., Grundy, S.M., Determinants of plasma HDL-cholesterol in hypertriglyceridemic patients (1997) Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, 17, pp. 56-63Tall, A.R., Forester, L.R., Bongiovanni, G.L., Facilitation of phosphatidylcholine transfer into HDL lipoproteins by an apolipoprotein in the density 1.20-1.26 g/ml fraction of plasma (1983) J Lipid Res, 24, pp. 277-289Albers, J.J., Tollefson, J.H., Chen, C.H., Steinmetz, A., Isolation and characterization of human plasma lipid transfer proteins (1984) Arteriosclerosis, 4, pp. 49-58Guyard-Dangremont, V., Desrumaux, C., Gambert, P., Lallemant, C., Lagrost, L., Phospholipid and cholesteryl ester transfer activities in plasma from 14 vertebrate species. Relation to atherogenesis susceptibility (1998) Comp Biochem Physiol Biochem Mol Biol, 120, pp. 517-525Tall, A.R., Krumholz, S., Olivecrona, T., Deckelbaum, R.J., Plasma phospholipid transfer protein enhances transfer and exchange of phospholipids between VLDL and HDL lipoproteins during lipolysis (1985) J Lipid Res, 26, pp. 842-851Nishida, H.I., Nishida, T., Phospholipid transfer protein mediates transfer of not only phosphatidylcholine but also cholesterol from phosphatidylcholine-cholesterol vesicles to high density lipoproteins (1997) J Biol Chem, 272, pp. 6959-6964Lagrost, L., Desrumaux, C., Masson, D., Deckert, V., Gambert, P., Structure and function of the plasma phospholipid transfer protein (1998) Curr Opin Lipidol, 9, pp. 203-209Albers, J.J., Tu, A.Y., Paigen, B., Chen, H., Cheung, M.C., Marcovina, S.M., Transgenic mice expressing human phospholipid transfer protein have increased HDL/non-HDL cholesterol ratio (1996) Int J Clin Lab Res, 26, pp. 262-267Foger, B., Santamarina-Fojo, S., Shamburek, R.D., Parrot, C.L., Talley, G.D., Brewer Jr., H.B., Plasma phospholipid transfer protein. Adenovirus-mediated overexpression in mice leads to decreased plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) and enhanced hepatic uptake of phospholipids and cholesteryl esters from HDL (1997) J Biol Chem, 272, pp. 27393-27400Redgrave, T.G., Small, D.M., Quantitation of the transfer of surface phospholipid of chylomicrons to the HDL lipoprotein fraction during the catabolism of chylomicrons in the rat (1979) J Clin Invest, 64, pp. 162-171Tall, A.R., Green, P.H., Glickman, R.M., Riley, J.W., Metabolic fate of chylomicron phospholipids and apoproteins in the rat (1979) J Clin Invest, 64, pp. 977-989Tall, A.R., Blum, C.B., Forester, G.P., Nelson, C.A., Changes in the distribution and composition of plasma HDL liproteins after ingestion of fat (1982) J Biol Chem, 257, pp. 198-207Groot, H., Scheek, L.M., Effects of fat ingestion on HDL profiles in human sera (1984) J Lipid Res, 25, pp. 684-692Brunzell, J.D., Familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency and other causes of the chylomicronemia syndrome (1995) Metabolic & Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease, pp. 1913-1932. , Scriver, CR, Beaudet, AL, Sly, WS, ed, McGraw-Hill Inc, New York, 7th edBijvoet, S., Gagne, S.E., Moorjani, S., Gagne, C., Henderson, H.E., Fruchart, J.C., Dallongeville, J., Hayden, M.R., Alterations in plasma lipoproteins and apolipoproteins before the age of 40 in heterozygotes for lipoprotein lipase deficiency (1996) J Lipid Res, 37, pp. 640-650Kuusi, T., Ehnholm, C., Viikari, J., Harkonen, R., Vartiainen, E., Puska, P., Taskinen, M.-R., Postheparin plasma lipoprotein and hepatic lipase are determinants of hypo- and hyperalphalipoproteinemia (1989) J Lipid Res, 30, pp. 1117-1126Liu, S., Jirik, F.R., LeBoeuf, R.C., Henderson, H., Castellani, L.W., Lusis, A.J., Ma, Y., Kirk, E., Alteration of lipid profiles in plasma of transgenic mice expressing human lipoprotein lipase (1994) J Biol Chem, 269, pp. 11417-11424Weinstock, P.H., Bisgaier, C.L., Aalto-Setala, K., Radner, H., Ramakrishnan, R., Levak-Frank, S., Essenburg, A.D., Breslow, J.L., Severe hypertriglyceridemia, reduced high density lipoprotein, and neonatal death in lipoprotein lipase knockout mice. Mild hypertriglyceridemia with impaired very low density lipoprotein clearance in heterozygotes (1995) J Clin Invest, 96, pp. 2555-2568Applebaum-Bowden, D., Kobayashi, J., Kashyap, V.S., Brown, D.R., Berard, A., Meyn, S., Parrott, C., Santamarina-Fojo, S., Hepatic lipase gene therapy in hepatic lipase-deficient mice. Adenovirus-mediated replacement of a lipolytic enzyme to the vascular endothelium (1996) J Clin Invest, 97, pp. 799-805Gillett, M.P., Vieira, E.M., Dimenstein, R., The phospholipase activities present in preheparin mouse plasma are inhibited by antiserum to hepatic lipase (1993) Int J Biochem, 25, pp. 449-453Ha, Y.C., Barter, P.J., Differences in plasma cholesteryl ester transfer activity in sixteen vertebrate species (1982) Comp Biochem Physiol B, 71, pp. 265-269Clee, S.M., Zhang, H., Bissada, N., Miao, L., Ehrenborg, E., Benlian, P., Shen, G.X., Hayden, M.R., Relationship between lipoprotein lipase and HDL lipoprotein cholesterol in mice: Modulation by cholesteryl ester transfer protein and dietary status (1997) J Lipid Res, 38, pp. 2079-2089Oliveira, H.C.F., Hirata, M.H., Redgrave, T.G., Maranhão, R.C., Competition between chylomicrons and their remnants for plasma removal: A study with artificial emulsion models of chylomicrons (1988) Biochim Biophys Acta, 958, pp. 211-217Nakandakare, E.R., Lottenberg, S.A., Oliveira, H.C.F., Bertolami, M.C., Vasconcelos, K.S., Sperotto, G., Quintão, E.C., Simultaneous measurements of chylomicron lipolysis and remnant removal using a doubly labeled artificial lipid emulsion: Studies in normolipidemic and hyperlipidemic subjects (1994) J Lipid Res, 35, pp. 143-152Jiao, S., Cole, T.G., Kitchens, R.T., Pfleger, B., Schonfeld, G., Genetic heterogeneity of lipoproteins in inbred strains of mice: Analysis by gel-permeation chromatography (1990) Metabolism, 39, pp. 155-160Ehnholm, C., Kuusi, T., Preparation, characterization and measurement of hepatic lipase (1986) Methods Enzymol, 129, pp. 716-738Oliveira, H.C.F., Quintão, E.C., 'In vitro' cholesteryl ester bidirectional flow between high-density lipoproteins and triglyceride-rich emulsions: Effects of particle concentration and composition, cholesteryl ester transfer activity and oleic acid (1996) J Biochem Biophys Methods, 32, pp. 45-57Huff, M.W., Miller, D.B., Wolf, B.M., Connelly, P.W., Sawyez, C.G., Uptake of hypertriglyceridemic VLDL and their remnants by HepG2 cells: The role of lipoprotein lipase, hepatic triglyceride lipase, and cell surface proteoglycans (1997) J Lipid Res, 38, pp. 1318-1333Marques-Vidal, P., Jauhiainen, M., Metso, J., Ehnholm, C., Transformation of HDL2 particles by hepatic lipase and phospholipid transfer protein (1997) Atherosclerosis, 133, pp. 87-96Murdoch, S.J., Breckenridge, W.C., Effect of lipid transfer proteins on lipoprotein lipase induced transformation of VLDL and HDL (1996) Biochim Biophys Acta, 1303, pp. 222-232Murdoch, S.J., Breckenridge, W.C., Influence of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic lipase on the transformation of VLDL and HDL during lipolysis of VLDL (1995) Atherosclerosis, 118, pp. 193-212Patsch, J.R., Gotto Jr., A.M., Olivercrona, T., Eisenberg, S., Formation of HDL2-like particles during lipolysis of VLDL in vitro (1978) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 75, pp. 4519-4523Gillett, M.P., Costa, E.M., Owen, J.S., The phospholipase activities present in preheparin mouse plasma are inhibited by antiserum to hepatic lipase (1980) Biochim Biophys Acta, 617, pp. 237-244Peterson, J., Bengtsson-Olivecrona, G., Olivecrona, T., Mouse preheparin plasma contains high levels of hepatic lipase with low affinity for heparin (1986) Biochim Biophys Acta, 87, pp. 865-870O'Meara, N.M., Cabana, V.G., Lukens, J.R., Loharikar, B., Forte, T.M., Polonsky, K.S., Getz, G.S., Heparin-induced lipolysis in hypertriglyceridemic subjects results in the formation of atypical HDL particle (1994) J Lipid Res, 35, pp. 2178-219

II Ciclo de Conferências : Conselho Técnico-Científico: temas atuais em investigação

A obra é constituída pelos resumos das comunicações apresentadas pelos docentes da Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco e são referentes aos projetos de investigação nos quais estão envolvidos.O atual Conselho Técnico-Científico (CTC) da Escola Superior Agrária de Castelo Branco (ESACB) tomou posse em fevereiro de 2012, tendo decidido dar continuidade ao ciclo de conferências iniciado pelo CTC anterior. Os trabalhos de Investigação, Inovação e Experimentação que foram apresentados demonstram não só o dinamismo e a ligação com a comunidade, como também a preocupação na identificação e resolução de problemas, que acrescentem valor aos produtos e processos que se situam no âmbito das competências desta Escola. Sendo este um objetivo prioritário da missão do IPCB/ESA, a divulgação destas conferências permite chegar a um público mais alargado e abrir caminhos para a concretização de novos projetos, que contribuam de forma efetiva para o desenvolvimento e aumento da competitividade da região e do país

Trabalho, terra e geração de renda em três décadas de reflorestamentos no alto Jequitinhonha.

A partir dos anos 1970, as chapadas do Alto Jequitinhonha, localizadas no nordeste de Minas Gerais, até então áreas de uso comum de agricultores familiares, foram plantadas com eucaliptos. O objetivo deste artigo é comparar os efeitos do reflorestamento sobre a estrutura fundiária, valor da produção agrícola e ocupação rural com os efeitos da produção agrícola familiar sobre essas mesmas variáveis na microrregião homogênea de Capelinha, no Alto Jequitinhonha. Tal microrregião foi escolhida para o estudo por ser a área de maior concentração de eucaliptais da região. Foram utilizados dados secundários dos Censos do IBGE para os anos de 1970, 1980, 1985 e 1996, além de dados secundários de pesquisas realizadas sobre a região em questão, incluindo entrevistas com dirigentes de empresas e lideranças sindicais. O artigo conclui que, em trinta anos, o reflorestamento concentrou terras e criou um número reduzido de empregos; a agricultura familiar, ao contrário, teve suas áreas de terras comprimidas e super-exploradas em decorrência da perda das chapadas, mas continuou sendo a principal responsável pela geração de ocupações e rendas na região

Effects Of Therapeutic Approach On The Neonatal Evolution Of Very Low Birth Weight Infants With Patent Ductus Arteriosus

Objective To analyze the effects of treatment approach on the outcomes of newborns (birth weight [BW] < 1,000 g) with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), from the Brazilian Neonatal Research Network (BNRN) on: death, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH III/IV), retinopathy of prematurity requiring surgical (ROPsur), necrotizing enterocolitis requiring surgery (NECsur), and death/BPD.Methods This was a multicentric, cohort study, retrospective data collection, including newborns (BW < 1000 g) with gestational age (GA) < 33 weeks and echocardiographic diagnosis of PDA, from 16 neonatal units of the BNRN from January 1, 2010 to Dec 31, 2011. Newborns who died or were transferred until the third day of life, and those with presence of congenital malformation or infection were excluded. Groups: G1 - conservative approach (without treatment), G2 - pharmacologic (indomethacin or ibuprofen), G3 - surgical ligation (independent of previous treatment). Factors analyzed: antenatal corticosteroid, cesarean section, BW, GA, 5 min. Apgar score < 4, male gender, Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology Perinatal Extension (SNAPPE II), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), late sepsis (LS), mechanical ventilation (MV), surfactant (< 2 h of life), and time of MV. Outcomes: death, O2 dependence at 36 weeks (BPD36wks), IVH III/IV, ROPsur, NECsur, and death/BPD36wks. Statistics: Student's t-test, chi-squared test, or Fisher's exact test; Odds ratio (95% CI); logistic binary regression and backward stepwise multiple regression. Software: MedCalc (Medical Calculator) software, version 12.1.4.0. p-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significantResults 1,097 newborns were selected and 494 newborns were included: G1 - 187 (37.8%), G2 - 205 (41.5%), and G3 - 102 (20.6%). The highest mortality was observed in G1 (51.3%) and the lowest in G3 (14.7%). The highest frequencies of BPD36wks (70.6%) and ROPsur were observed in G3 (23.5%). The lowest occurrence of death/BPD36wks occurred in G2 (58.0%). Pharmacological (OR 0.29; 95% CI: 0.14-0.62) and conservative (OR 0.34; 95% CI: 0.14-0.79) treatments were protective for the outcome death/BPD36wks. Conclusion The conservative approach of PDA was associated to high mortality, the surgical approach to the occurrence of BPD36wks and ROPsur, and the pharmacological treatment was protective for the outcome death/BPD36wks.906616623Clyman, R.I., Mechanisms regulating the ductus arteriosus (2006) Biol Neonate., 89, pp. 330-335Benitz, W.E., Treatment of persistent patent ductus arteriosus in preterm infants: Time to accept the null hypothesis? (2010) J Perinatol., 30, pp. 241-252Redline, R.W., Wilson-Costello, D., Hack, M., Placental and other perinatal risk factors for chronic lung disease in very low birth weight infants (2002) Pediatr Res., 52, pp. 713-719Evans, N., Kluckow, M., Early ductal shunting and intraventricular haemorrhage in ventilated preterm infants (1996) Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed., 75, pp. 183-F186Noerr, B., Current controversies in the understanding of necrotizing enterocolitis Part 1 (2003) Adv Neonatal Care., 3, pp. 107-120Koch, J., Hensley, G., Roy, L., Brown, S., Ramaciotti, C., Rosenfeld, C.R., Prevalence of spontaneous closure of the ductus arteriosus in neonates at a birth weight of 1000 grams or less (2006) Pediatrics., 117, pp. 1113-1121Afiune, J.Y., Singer, J.M., Leone, C.R., Evolução ecocardiográfica de recém-nascidos com persistência do canal arterial (2005) J Pediatr (Rio J)., 81, pp. 454-460Sosenko, I.R., Fajardo, M.F., Claure, N., Bancalari, E., Timing of patent ductus arteriosus treatment and respiratory outcome in premature infants: A double-blind randomized controlled trial (2012) J Pediatr., 160, pp. 929-935. , e1Laughon, M.M., Simmons, M.A., Bose, C.L., Patency of the ductus arteriosus in the premature infant: Is it pathologic? Should it be treated? (2004) Curr Opin Pediatr., 16, pp. 146-151Clyman, R.I., Chorne, N., Patent ductus arteriosus: Evidence for and against treatment (2007) J Pediatr., 150, pp. 216-219Bose, C.L., Laughon, M., Treatment to prevent patency of the ductus arteriosus: Beneficial or harmful? (2006) J Pediatr., 148, pp. 713-714Clyman, R.I., Couto, J., Murphy, G.M., Patent ductus arteriosus: Are current neonatal treatment options better or worse than no treatment at all? (2012) Semin Perinatol., 36, pp. 123-129Alexander, G.R., Himes, J.H., Kaufman, R.B., Mor, J., Kogan, M., A United States national reference for fetal growth (1996) Obstet Gynecol., 87, pp. 163-168Jhaveri, N., Moon-Grady, A., Clyman, R.I., Early surgical ligation versus a conservative approach for management of patent ductus arteriosus that fails to close after indomethacin treatment (2010) J Pediatr., 157. , 381-7, 387.e1Clyman, R., Cassady, G., Kirklin, J.K., Collins, M., Philips, J.B., III, The role of patent ductus arteriosus ligation in bronchopulmonary dysplasia: Reexamining a randomized controlled trial (2009) J Pediatr., 154, pp. 873-876Mirea, L., Sankaran, K., Seshia, M., Ohlsson, A., Allen, A.C., Aziz, K., Treatment of patent ductus arteriosus and neonatal mortality/morbidities: Adjustment for treatment selection bias (2012) J Pediatr., 161, pp. 689-694. , e1Youn, Y., Lee, J.Y., Lee, J.H., Kim, S.Y., Sung, I.K., Lee, J.Y., Impact of patient selection on outcomes of PDA in very low birth weight infants (2013) Early Hum Dev., 89, pp. 175-17