APLICAÇÕES DE BIM E DESIGN PARAMÉTRICO PARA EFICIÊNCIA ENERGÉTICA DAS EDIFICAÇÕES: UMA ANÁLISE DE APLICAÇÕES PRÁTICAS

The buildings’ sector accounts for a large share of energy consumption on a global scale. This scenario generates the need to design and construct more efficient buildings and also requires new policies and incentives. The greatest opportunities for integrating energy efficiency strategies in construction occur at the design stage, in which decisions that will have significant impacts on the building’s life cycle are taken. Therefore, the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is considered, as well as parametric design: new design technologies that allow the analysis of multiple scenarios to support the decisions during the design stage. The purpose of this study is to provide, through a literature analysis, an overview about practical applications of BIM and parametric design for buildings’ energy efficiency in a recent research scenario. Studies were categorized according to their main approach and the main software used. In addition, benefits provided by the use of the technologies adopted were highlighted. Keywords: BIM, parametric design, energy efficiency. O setor das edificações representa uma grande parcela do consumo energético em escala global. Esse cenário gera a necessidade de projetar e construir edificações mais eficientes energeticamente, além de exigir novas políticas e incentivos. As maiores oportunidades para integrar estratégias de eficiência na construção ocorrem na etapa de projeto, na qual concentram-se as decisões que terão impactos significativos no ciclo de vida da edificação. Para tal, considera-se o uso de Building Information Modeling (BIM), ou modelagem da informação da construção, e do design paramétrico: novas tecnologias de projeto que possibilitam a análise de múltiplos cenários para apoiar as decisões ainda na etapa de projeto. O objetivo deste estudo é proporcionar, por meio de uma análise da literatura, uma visão geral sobre aplicações práticas de BIM e design paramétrico para a eficiência energética de edificações em um cenário recente da pesquisa. Foram analisados estudos que utilizaram BIM e design paramétrico para a eficiência energética, tanto de modo isolado como associado. Os artigos foram categorizados de acordo com sua abordagem principal e principais softwares utilizados. Além disso, foram destacados benefícios encontrados no uso das tecnologias adotadas. Palavras-chave: BIM, design paramétrico, eficiência energética

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and aging: epidemiology to management

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common in the elderly, in whom it carries a more substantial burden of hepatic (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) and extra-hepatic manifestations and complications (cardiovascular disease, extrahepatic neoplasms) than in younger age groups. Therefore, proper identification and management of this condition is a major task for clinical geriatricians and geriatric hepatologists. In this paper, the epidemiology and pathophysiology of this condition are reviewed, and a full discussion of the link between NAFLD and the aspects that are peculiar to elderly individuals is provided; these aspects include frailty, multimorbidity, polypharmacy and dementia. The proper treatment strategy will have to consider the peculiarities of geriatric patients, so a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory. Non-pharmacological treatment (diet and physical exercise) has to be tailored individually considering the physical limitations of most elderly people and the need for an adequate caloric supply. Similarly, the choice of drug treatment must carefully balance the benefits and risks in terms of adverse events and pharmacological interactions in the common context of both multiple health conditions and polypharmacy. In conclusion, further epidemiological and pathophysiological insight is warranted. More accurate understanding of the molecular mechanisms of geriatric NAFLD will help in identifying the most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic approach for individual elderly patients

Webinar

En esta conferencia la profesora Andrea Mussi (PhD) junto con algunos integrantes del grupo de Núcleo de Innovación y Tecnología en Arquitectura y Urbanismo, NITAU del IMED, nos expondrán los resultados de su investigación en el desarrollo de herramientas de programación para proyectos, mediante herramientas personalizables centradas en la integración de la información, así como la elaboraron de instrumentos destinados a verificación de los requisitos de desempeño en un software BIM.Departamento de Arquitectura y Diseño - IME

Characterization, displacement pattern and perception of users of the bicycle sharing system "Passo Fundo Goes by Bicycle"

Faced with the cities problems generated by the excess of cars there is a growing need for new strategies for urban displacement. In this context, shared bikes are gaining popularity in cities around the world. The City Hall of Passo Fundo/RS recently implemented a system "Passo Fundo Goes by Bicycle” aiming to increase the city sustainability. This work aims to characterize the users of the system and know the displacement patterns, besides this goal, it seeks to understand their perspective about the service offered, identifying their motivations and difficulties. The methodology used was the use of Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) techniques, with application of questionnaires in 100 users. The results brought important discoveries, such as the significant substitution of motorized means by bycicle and the necessity to expand the bike lane existing in the city. The final considerations identify "Passo Fundo Goes by Bicycle " as an important contributor to local sustainability

Age-associated alterations in cholesterol homeostasis: evidence from a cross-sectional study in a Northern Italy population.

BACKGROUND: The modifications of cholesterol metabolism associated with aging are ill-defined. The objective of this study was to define age-associated alterations of the different metabolic pathways controlling cholesterol homeostasis by analyzing circulating sterols. METHODS: We analyzed serum samples collected from 201 adult (75 male, 126 female) subjects within the epidemiological MICOL study (Multicentrica Italiana Colelitiasi). The age range was 38-79 years; 103 had evidence of gallstones. The concentrations of the different sterols, recognized as markers of the main pathways of cholesterol homeostasis, were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, including lathosterol (synthesis), campesterol and sitosterol (absorption), and 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (degradation to bile acids). RESULTS: A significant direct correlation was detected between age and cholesterol levels (r =0.34, P<0.01). The lathosterol/cholesterol ratio was lower in older age quartiles (P<0.05 by analysis of variance), with an inverse correlation between the lathosterol/cholesterol ratio and age (r=-0.32, P<0.01). Such correlation was particularly evident in females. The campesterol/cholesterol and sitosterol/cholesterol ratios were inversely correlated with aging in control, but not in gallstone patients. The levels of 7α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one were not correlated with age. CONCLUSION: These data show a reduction of cholesterol synthesis with aging which is associated with increased circulating cholesterol levels. The finding might be related to a reduced metabolic need for cholesterol in advancing age, leading to a downregulation of the main mechanisms of cholesterol intake in the liver. A different age-related behavior was observed in gallstone-free versus gallstone patients regarding cholesterol absorption. The possible implications in terms of the pharmacological management of hypercholesterolemia in the elderly remain to be defined

Genotoxicity Revaluation of Three Commercial Nitroheterocyclic Drugs: Nifurtimox, Benznidazole, and Metronidazole

Nitroheterocyclic compounds are widely used as therapeutic agents against a variety of protozoan and bacterial infections. However, the literature on these compounds, suspected of being carcinogens, is widely controversial. In this study, cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of three drugs, Nifurtimox (NFX), Benznidazole (BNZ), and Metronidazole (MTZ) was re-evaluated by different assays. Only NFX reduces survival rate in actively proliferating cells. The compounds are more active for base-pair substitution than frameshift induction in Salmonella; NFX and BNZ are more mutagenic than MTZ; they are widely dependent from nitroreduction whereas microsomal fraction S9 weakly affects the mutagenic potential. Comet assay detects BNZ- and NFX-induced DNA damage at doses in the range of therapeutically treated patient plasma concentration; BNZ seems to mainly act through ROS generation whereas a dose-dependent mechanism of DNA damaging is suggested for NFX. The lack of effects on mammalian cells for MTZ is confirmed also in MN assay whereas MN induction is observed for NFX and BNZ. The effects of MTZ, that shows comparatively low reduction potential, seem to be strictly dependent on anaerobic/hypoxic conditions. Both NFX and BNZ may not only lead to cellular damage of the infective agent but also interact with the DNA of mammalian cells

Decreased levels of metalloproteinase-9 and angiogenic factors in skin lesions of patients with psoriatic arthritis after therapy with anti-TNF-α

BACKGROUND: Inflammation represents an early and key event in the development of both the cutaneous psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Compelling evidences indicate that the production of TNF-α plays a central role in psoriasis by sustaining the inflammatory process in the skin as well as in the joints. Among the multiple effects produced by TNF-α on keratinocytes, the induction of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a collagenase implicated in joint inflammatory arthritis which acts as an angiogenesis promoting factor, might represent a key mechanism in the pathogenesis of the disease. Aims of the present study were to investigate a) the role of MMP-9 in the development of psoriasis by assessing the presence of MMP-9 in lesional skin and in sera of psoriatic patients; b) the association of MMP-9 with the activity of the disease; c) the relationship between MMP-9 and TNF-α production. METHODS: Eleven psoriatic patients, clinically presenting joint symptoms associated to the cutaneous disease, were included in a therapeutic protocol based on the administration of anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody (Infliximab). Sera and skin biopsies were collected before treatment and after 6 weeks of therapy. Tissues were kept in short term cultures and production soluble mediators such as TNF-α, MMP-9, MMP-2, VEGF and E-Selectin, which include angiogenic molecules associated to the development of plaque psoriasis, were measured in the culture supernatants by immunoenzymatic assays (ng/ml or pg/ml per mg of tissue). MMP-9 concentrations were also measured in the sera. The cutaneous activity of disease was evaluated by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). RESULTS: Clinical and laboratory assessment indicated that all but one patients had a significant improvement of the PASI score after three months of therapy. The clinical amelioration was associated to a significant decrease of MMP-9 (P = 0.017), TNF-α (P = 0.005) and E-selectin (P = 0.018) levels, spontaneously released by lesional biopsies before and after therapy. In addition, significant correlations were found between the PASI measurements and TNF-α (r(2 )= 0.33, P = 0.005), MMP-9 (r(2 )= 0.25, P = 0.017), E-selectin (r(2 )= 0.24, P = 0.018) production. MMP-9 levels were significantly correlated with those of TNF-α (r(2 )= 0.30, P = 0.008). A significant decrease of MMP-9 in the sera, associated to the clinical improvement was also found. CONCLUSION: Our findings show the existence of a direct relationship between MMP-9 and TNF-α production strongly suggesting that MMP-9 may play a key role in the skin inflammatory process in psoriasis

Ayuno Intermitente: ¿mito o realidad?

El ayuno intermitente, constituye un cambio de paradigma en la nutrición tradicional. A través de las redes sociales y las plataformas de generación de contenido se ha “viralizado” diferentes conceptos sobre sus beneficios y debilidades, de las cuales, la mayor parte, no poseen referencias científicas. Así es, que el objetivo es proporcionar información sobre el ayuno intermitente y su impacto en el metabolismo a través del análisis de las publicaciones científicas actuales. Para nuestro análisis se realizó una revisión bibliográfica sistemática de artículos seleccionados de las bases de datos: Scielo, PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library y Researchgate y se utilizaron las palabras clave: “fasting”, “intermittent fasting”, “intermittent energy restriction” y “time-restricted feeding”. Los protocolos de AI son variados, pero siguen o son modificaciones de uno de dos patrones de ayuno/alimentación. Con estas estrategias dietéticas, se altera el patrón de restricción de energía y/o el momento de la ingesta de alimentos con el propósito de obtener beneficios metabólicos. De este modo se evaluaron investigaciones en modelos animales y estudios en humanos, de los cuales se reportaron cambios en biomarcadores metabólicos, como glucemia, perfil lipídico y hormonas asociadas al metabolismo de los mismo, reducción en la expresión de genes proinflamatorios, mejores resultados en el control del peso y la salud metabólica. Así es, que los estudios sugieren efectos beneficiosos sobre el peso corporal, los biomarcadores metabólicos, sobre procesos degenerativos y envejecimiento. Pero, se requieren protocolos bien establecidos de ciclos ayuno/alimentación a largo plazo, para poder determinar lo comprobado en estudios determinados

Study of SREBP1 and SERBP2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells fron hypercholesterolemic rabbits

Recientemente, nuestro equipo logró aislar una bacteria de la especie Pseudobutyrivibrio xylanivorans (cepa 2) a partir del contenido ruminal de cabras Criollas. En esta cepa, se identificaron los genes que codifican para xilanasas involucradas en la degradación de la fibra vegeta

El consumo de yerba mate y sus efectos sobre el descenso de peso y el perfil lipídico

El interés sobre la influencia del mate sobre la salud humana es relativamente reciente, los estudios experimentales sobre el mate en seres humanos son aún escasos. Por ello el objetivo del presente proyecto fue analizar la influencia del consumo de yerba mate sobre el descenso de peso y el perfil lipídico en una muestra de mujeres de la Provincia de Mendoza sometidas a un plan alimentario