Design and Performance of Test Cells as an Energy Evaluation Model of Facades in a Mediterranean Building Area

Abstract The current European energy policies have an influence on the need to rehabilitate the housing stock in order to meet the objectives of the European Union. Most of this housing stock was built without any type of energy regulation in adverse technical and economic conditions and thus is now energetically obsolete. The major rehabilitation effort required must be approached through actions based on previous quantitative energy knowledge of the existing buildings in order to guarantee the efficiency of energy-retrofitted solutions. This assessment can be carried out through monitoring dwellings conditioned by use patterns; through simulation programs, which do not usually offer faithful representations of energy conditions; or by using test cells, which allow us to evaluate a controlled indoor environment without the influence of users. The objective of this paper is to present the design and performance of test cells as an experimental method for vertical facade analysis in order to tackle the problem of retrofitting residential buildings in a Mediterranean climate, taking into account energy and environment. With this equipment, efficiency and energy savings, as well as illumination and interior air quality, can be simultaneously and comprehensively evaluated

Caracterización de un banco de pruebas para la enseñanza de ecuaciones diferenciales

Se expone la construcción de un banco de pruebas que permite generar información sobre el flujo de partículas sólidas, con la intención de modelar procesos tecnológicos en el curso de ecuaciones diferenciales. El dispositivo permite trabajar a nivel experimental con características de las partículas, características del fluido y condiciones de operación del sistema, a fin de motivar a los alumnos para que obtengan un vínculo entre las funciones matemáticas construidas y su aplicación, elaborando un planteamiento teórico de un modelo de descarga y corroborando los resultados previstos por el modelo con los resultados reales del proceso medidos en físico

Uso de las ecuaciones estructurales en la confirmación de modelos causales haciendo uso del software AMOS versión 19

Un modelo matemático representa cualitativa y/o cuantitativa una parte concreta de la realidad, en el cual se muestran las relaciones predominantes entre sus elementos, sobre los cuales se pueden –y es necesario– realizar previsiones. De acuerdo con Bollen (2002), los fenómenos están influenciados por causas tangibles y elementos no observables (variables latentes). Los Modelos de Ecuaciones Estructurales (SEM, Structural Equation Models), han permitido la contrastación empírica de modelos que incluyen efectos causales entre variables latentes y variables observables; dichos modelos permiten entre otras cosas, la contrastación de teorías a través de la evidencia empírica. El Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio (AFC) es un procedimiento de análisis encuadrado en los modelos de Ecuaciones Estructurales (SEM), cuyo propósito se centra en el estudio de los modelos de medida. En consecuencia, es una estrategia sumamente útil en el ámbito de la prueba de hipótesis y la confirmación de teorías. En el presente trabajo se utilizan modelos de ecuaciones estructurales, concretamente, el análisis factorial confirmatorio, en relación a la validez de las escalas de medida cuando se proponen modelos causales

Dental approach for Apert syndrome in children : a systematic review

Apert Syndrome (AS), or type I acrocephalosyndactyly, is a rare, congenital craniosynostosis condition resulting from missense mutations in the gene encoding fibroblast growth factor receptor 2. It is characterized by three specific clinical features: brachycephalic skull; midface hypoplasia, and limb abnormalities (syndactyly of hands and feet). The disorder exhibits variable presentations in bones, brain, skin, internal organs, and in the oral/maxillofacial region. The aim of the present paper was to show the main results from a systematic review of AS. A search of the literature was performed from April to June 2016 in five electronic databases. Clinical interventional or observational studies, reviews, and case reports were included. The present systematic review was carried out strictly following PRISMA and Cochrane Collaboration criteria. A total of 129 potential references were identified. After reviewing titles and abstracts, 77 of these did not meet the desired criteria and were discarded. The full text of the remaining 52 manuscripts was critically screened. Finally, 35 relevant papers were identified for inclusion in the present systematic review and classified according to topic type. According to the information gathered, dentistry practitioners must be able to supply an early diagnosis through the recognition of AS clinical features and provide correct oral management. Additionally, they should be integrated in a multidisciplinary medical care team in order to improve the quality of life of the affected patients

The MAL protein is crucial for proper membrane condensation at the ciliary base, which is required for primary cilium elongation

The base of the primary cilium contains a zone of condensedmembranes whose importance is not known. Here, we have studiedthe involvement of MAL, a tetraspanning protein that exclusivelypartitions into condensed membrane fractions, in the condensation ofmembranes at the ciliary base and investigated the importance ofthese membranes in primary cilium formation. We show that MALaccumulates at the ciliary base of epithelial MDCK cells. Knockdownof MAL expression resulted in a drastic reduction in the condensationof membranes at the ciliary base, the percentage of ciliated cells andthe length of the cilia, but did not affect the docking of the centrosometo the plasma membrane or produce missorting of proteins to thepericentriolar zone or to the membrane of the remaining cilia. Rab8(for which there are two isoforms, Rab8A and Rab8b), IFT88 andIFT20, which are important components of the machinery of ciliarygrowth, were recruited normally to the ciliary base of MAL-knockdowncells but were unable to elongate the primary cilium correctly. MAL,therefore, is crucial for the proper condensation of membranes at theciliary base, which is required for efficient primary cilium extension

Non-syndromic craniosynostosis in children : scoping review

Craniosynostosis (CS) is a complex condition consisting of the early fusion of one or more cranial sutures in the intrauterine stage. The affected infant exhibits abnormal head shape at time of birth or shortly thereafter. It can be observed in normal individuals (non-syndromic CS or NSCS) or as a part of a multisystem syndrome. The purposes of the present article were to carry out a scoping review on Non-Syndromic CS and to discuss the most important findings retrieved. The steps of this scoping review were as follows: first, to pose a research question; second, to identify relevant studies to answer the research question; third, to select and retrieve the studies; fourth, to chart the critical data, and finally, to collate, summarize, and report the results from the most important articles. Relevant articles published over a 20-year period were identified and retrieved from five Internet databases: PubMed; EMBASE; Cochrane Library; Google Scholar, and EBSCO. Fourteen articles were finally included in the present scoping review. The following four most important clinical issues are discussed: (i) normal cranial development, clinical manifestations, and pathogenesis of NCSC; (ii) clinical evaluation of NCSC; (iii) treatment and post-surgical follow-up; and (iv) additional considerations. NSCS may be present with associated head shapes. Multiple early surgical reconstructive options are currently available for the disorder. Pediatric Dentistry practitioners must be familiarized with this condition and form part of a multi-approach health team as those responsible for the opportune oral health care of the affected child

Early identification of permanent maxillary canine impaction : a radiographic comparative study in a Mexican population

Opportune diagnosis, prediction, and interceptive treatment of permanent maxillary canine (PMC) impaction is fundamental for pediatric dentists and orthodontists. In children and young adolescents, diagnostic information obtained from a panoramic radiograph is valuable for the overview and prediction of a potential PMC ectopic eruption into the oral cavity. The aim of the present study was to calculate and compare the prevalence of impaction of PMC in a Mexican pediatric sample (7 to 13 years old), through the use of the Ericson & Kurol (EK/L) and the Power & Short (PS) measurement analyses performed on panoramic radiographs. This investigation was a cross-sectional study performed on 515 panoramic radiographs, which were evaluated to assess the intraosseous position of right and left PMC, from patients who had attended our clinic between 2010 and 2017. Both analytical methods were applied on the same radiography. Outcomes from both analysis methods were expressed dichotomously (impacted or non-impacted). Thus, prevalence was calculated from each method, and the difference between them was verified through the Pearson?s Chi-square test. No statistical difference could be detected between both prevalence rates (p = 0.475). It was found a significant predilection of the condition to the female sex (p = 0.034). Further, the two radiographic methods employed here were highly concordant each other (kappa = 0.92). Through the EK/L method a PMC prevalence of 5.64% (95% CI = 3.66, 7.62) was obtained, while the PS Method the prevalence was 8.83% (95% CI = 6.38, 11.28). In addition, a significant predilection of canine impaction to the female gender was found

Creencias en salud y percepción de sobrecarga en cuidadores de pacientes con enfermedades oncológicas avanzadas

Fundamento: el cáncer es uno de los problemas más graves de salud en el mundo, dada su incidencia y afectación física y psicológica al individuo y a su familia, especialmente al cuidador primario, que permanece al lado del enfermo sufriendo su padecimiento. Objetivo: determinar las creencias en salud y la percepción de sobrecarga en los cuidadores de pacientes con enfermedades oncológicas en fase avanzada. Métodos: estudio exploratorio de corte transversal, realizado en 2015 en el Municipio de Rodas, provincia Cienfuegos, que incluyó diez cuidadores de pacientes con enfermedades oncológicas en fase avanzada, seleccionados de manera intencional. Se analizaron las variables: edad, sexo, tiempo como cuidador. Se aplicó la escala de sobrecarga del cuidador de Zarit y el modelo de creencias en salud. Resultados: todos los cuidadores eran adultos entre 46 y 55 años, nueve femeninos y uno masculino; desempeñaban el rol en un período de seis meses a un año, con percepción de sobrecarga intensa. Perciben amenaza a su salud a partir de su desempeño e identifican barreras y dificultades en el apoyo espiritual y material proveniente del personal sanitario y la falta de información para ejercer con éxito su papel. Reconocen como beneficios la necesidad de una comunicación clara proveedora de información y la identificación de otro familiar que colabore con el cuidado al paciente a fin de cumplir la máxima de cuidador-cuidado. Conclusiones: los cuidadores de pacientes con enfermedades oncológicas avanzadas se afectan a partir del desempeño de su rol en las dimensiones que componen el modelo de creencias en salud

Methodological proposal for the improvement of the work of subject of study collectives in the Medicine and Dentistry careers

Introduction: The health professional that acts as a teacher and guides the subject's groups must have a methodological training that allows his preparation for the adequacy of the contents, the political and ideological treatment and the implementation of the curriculum strategies, as well as follow up the difficulties found during the teaching learning process. Objective: To design a methodological proposal for the improvement of the work of the subject's groups in the Medicine and Dentistry careers. Materials and Methods: A transversal - descriptive study was carried out with 22 leading professors of the Medicine and Dentistry careers, from the ICBP "Victoria de Girón". The study was divided in three phases. In the first phase the documents that rule the teaching process and the work of the subject's groups were analyzed. A survey was designed to evaluate the knowledge about the work of these groups and also an observation guide. In the second phase a survey was applied for the identification of the learning needs of the leading professors that participate in the study and the observation to the development of these groups. In the third phase a workshop and practical activities were developed in order to solve the learning problems that were identified, as well as to discuss proposals for the improvement of the methodology work in this subsystem. Results: With the observations carry out to the subject's groups and the survey applied to the leading professors, learning needs were identified, the workshop,  practical activity and the methodology proposal, was designed and implemented for the development of these collectives. Conclusions: A methodological proposal was designed for the improvement of the work of the subject’s collectives that attend the disclose necessities, and also homogenize work by systems in association with the rest of the methodological organization sub levels.Keywords: Methodology work, learning needs identification, subject's groups, methodological proposal</p

La Homeopatía: un reto en el tratamiento de la gingivoestomatitis herpética aguda. Homeopaty: A challenge in the treatment of Acute Herpetic gingivostomatitis

Las enfermedades bucales constituyen uno de los problemas de salud más comunes en todo el mundo, siendo la más representativa la Gingivoestomatitis Herpética Aguda (GEHA). Con el objetivo de evaluar la efectividad de los medicamentos homeopáticos en el control de la GEHA, evolución clínica, necesidad de hospitalización y uso de antibióticos, se realizó un estudio descriptivo, prospectivo, longitudinal y correlacional a 504 pacientes de edad pediátrica, divididos en dos grupos, uno el grupo estudio, tratado con medicamentos homeopáticos a baja potencia, y el segundo el grupo control, en el cual se empleó también medicación natural (colutorios de Llantén). El estudio fue realizado de Septiembre de 2004 a Enero 2006. Se empleó como método estadístico la media porcentual, test Chi cuadrado y la prueba de comparación K para proporciones de grupos independientes, teniendo como resultado que el grupo de niños mas afectado fue el de 1-5 años y del sexo masculino. Fue estadísticamente significativa la aparición de ulceraciones, sangramiento y dolor. La evolución con el tratamiento homeopático fue estadísticamente significativa (p>1000 E13), para 1-2 días, obteniéndose al cuarto día el 79.5% de curación. Ninguno de los niños estudiados en el período repitió la enfermedad. La conclusión fundamental fue que la homeopatía es un método muy útil en el tratamiento de la gingivoestomatitis herpética aguda. Palabras clave: Estomatitis herpética / homeopatía / llantén /evolución clínica. ABSTRACT Oral diseases constitute one of the most common health problems world wide, being the most representative Acute Herpetic Gingivostomatitis. Aimed at assessing the effectiveness of homeopathic treatment in the control of this entity, clinical course, necessity of hospital admission and use of antibiotics, a descriptive, prospective, longitudinal and correlational study in 504 pediatric patients was carried out. These patients were divided into two groups: No. 1 study group, treated with low-potency homeopathic medications; No. 2 control group, where natural medications were also used (collutories of plantago major). The study was performed from September 2004 to January 2006, as statistic methods were established percentage mean, Chi square test and comparison K for proportions of independent groups, having as results that the most affected group of children was the group of 1 - 5 years old, prevailing masculine sex. The onset of ulcerations, bleedings and pain was of statistical significanc (p > 1000 E 13), for 1 - 2 days, obtaining at the fourth day 79.5% of curing. None of the children studied during this period repeated the disease. The main conclusion was that homeopathy is a very useful method in the treatment of Acute Herpetic Gingivostomatitis. Key words: HERPETIC STOMATITIS / HOMEOPATH / PLANTAGO MAJOR / CLINICAL COURSE