Comparative evaluations of sustainability, durability and resilience of external envelopes for environmentally efficient buildings

The building sector is affected by a significant confusion between the concepts of sustainability and energetic efficiency: indeed, both the paradigms have the aim of safeguarding the planet, but the strategies to enact them certainly follow two different paths, often in contrast between them. The design of building envelopes has definite performance requirements, according to the current framework, but in any case the technological choices to fulfil them are not univocally determined. As an example, the objective of obtaining building envelopes with low transmittance can be reached by a huge number of typologies of solutions and materials, but of course the possible evaluations in terms of sustainability may in some cases show results that overturn the energetic assessment. Also, considering the strict relation that exists between durability (also in terms of resilience) and sustainability, it can be concluded that the most correct tendency for materials and products can be – more in general – defined as environmental efficiency, the so-called eco-compatibility. Taking moves from the scientific literature on products and materials, both from the point of view of sustainability, and from that of durability and resilience, this work proposes a number of comparative evaluations that analyse the main systems and components of the external envelopes: built-up roofs and roof systems, opaque and transparent walls, ground floor slabs, doors and windows. LCA analyses, durability assessments and considerations on resilience carried out on the abovementioned systems and components provide very interesting results to guide designers towards more conscious choices, aimed to integrate the different (and sometimes contradictory) aspects that allow to realize energetically and environmentally efficient building

Feasibility Study on the Production of Sustainable Mortars Packaged with Recycled AAC Aggregates

Building sustainability is one of the current global goals due to the variety and the quantity of the resources consumed in all the construction phases. Mortars – for masonry and plasters applications – are one of the most "produced" and high-impact composite building materials, since they are used both in traditional and modern constructions. Moreover, the production processes of binders and aggregates used to package mortars require the consumption of energy and resources and lead to the management of a huge amount of waste. In order to reduce the environmental weight of the mortars, the scientific world has been focusing, over the last years, on the substitution of natural aggregates with lightweight-recycled ones. Several studies have shown that this substitution improves some performances (thermal insulation and vapour permeability) and decreases other ones (compressive and flexural strength) as a result of the mortars density reduction. Moreover, the variability of recycled-aggregates materials (ceramic, plastic, concrete) and of the composition of mortars allows many different possibilities. However, little is known about the effective convenience of the market placement of these products. The aim of this study is to measure the environmental and economic sustainability of mortars made with natural hydraulic lime and a partial substitution of the natural sand with recycled aggregates from the production waste of Autoclaved Aerated Concrete bricks. These mortars were physically and mechanically characterized in a previous research phase and they were classified according to UNI EN 998-1 and 2. In particular, mortars with 25% by weight of AAC at most were suitable for masonry applications. The present study investigates the synergic possibility of packaging pre-mixes with recycled AAC aggregates in establishments where AAC is produced, moving from the unconventional perspective of the manufacturer. At first, LCA analyses are performed on these scenarios, in order to prove the strong decrease in the environmental impact of both production phases – AAC production, where waste is reduced, and mortar packaging, where the use of natural aggregates is limited – then the research moves to the analysis of the economic sustainability of the implementation of this production line. For this purpose, two cases are considered: an AAC manufacturer who does not produce pre-mixes, and an AAC manufacturer who produces pre-mixes, but does not own machineries to recycle Autoclaved Aerated Concrete bricks. Following a cost analysis related to the introduction of the production line of pre-mixes with recycled AAC in the two cases, hypotheses of market prices for this product are formulated in order to assess its economic sustainability, by performing a market analysis, and verifying the compatibility of the payback periods that derive from the related investments

Deciduoid mesothelioma of the thorax: A comprehensive review of the scientific literature.

AbstractObjectiveDeciduoid mesothelioma is a rare variant of malignant epithelioid mesothelioma. It often involves the peritoneum, but also thoracic cases have been reported. The aim of the present review is to describe the demographic, clinical, radiological, and pathological features of such a rare variant of thoracic mesothelioma, and the state of the art regarding the therapeutic approaches currently available.Data sourceEnglish‐language articles published from 1985 to June 2016, and related to thoracic deciduoid mesothelioma cases were retrieved using the Pubmed database.Study selectionThe search terms were "mesothelioma," "thoracic mesothelioma," "epithelial mesothelioma," "pleural mesothelioma," and "deciduoid mesothelioma."ResultsForty‐four cases included in 16 articles, published in the period under investigation, were analyzed in detail.ConclusionsThe mean age of the patients was 63 years, and the male to female ratio 1.7:1. Approximately 58% had exposure to asbestos, and 73% had a smoking history; familiarity was rarely reported. The most common anatomical site of origin was the right pleura, and the most frequent clinical manifestations were chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and weight loss. Thoracic X‐ray and computed tomography were the imaging techniques most employed for diagnosis and surgical planning. The pathological diagnosis was obtained by examination of surgical or biopsy specimens in most cases. The best treatment strategy of deciduoid mesothelioma is a matter of debate; nevertheless a multidisciplinary approach is currently the best option for the choice of the adequate therapeutic scheme

Neoangiogênese de retalhos cutâneos em ratos tratados com óleo de copaíba

The aim of this work was to evaluate morphometric aspects of subdermic skin flap neoangiogenesis in rats treated with a 10% copaiba (Copaifera langsdorffii) oil ointment. The experiment design was a completely randomized, with three pharmacological resources. Ten replicates were used for each resource, and each animal was considered one experimental unit. Thirty Wistar rats were submitted to subdermic dorsal skin flap elevation and distributed into three groups: absolute control group, in which the animals did not receive any treatment; control group, in which the animals received topical treatment only with vehicle (glycerin and petroleum jelly), and treated group, in which the animals were treated daily with a 10% copaiba oil ointment. The rats were treated and observed for eight days after surgery. On the eighth day, the skin flap underwent a macroscopic analysis and fragments were collected from its cranial, medial and caudal portions for histopathological analysis. The morphometric analysis showed significant difference for proliferation of newly formed vessels in the middle and caudal portions of the skin flap in the treated group. Copaiba oil showed efficiency in the increase of neoangiogenesis of subdermic skin flaps in rats.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar morfometricamente a neoangiogênese de retalhos cutâneos subdérmicos em ratos tratados com óleo de copaíba (Copaifera langsdorffii) em pomada a 10%. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, composto por três recursos farmacológicos. Foram utilizadas dez repetições para cada recurso, e cada animal foi considerado uma unidade experimental. Trinta ratos Wistar foram submetidos à elevação do retalho cutâneo dorsal subdérmico e distribuídos em três grupos: grupo controle absoluto, no qual os animais não receberam nenhum tratamento; grupo controle, no qual os animais receberam tratamento tópico diário com pomada com apenas veículo (glicerina e vaselina); e grupo tratado, no qual os animais foram tratados diariamente com óleo de copaíba em pomada a 10%. Os ratos foram tratados e observados por oito dias após o ato operatório. No oitavo dia de pós-operatório, realizou-se a análise macroscópica do retalho e foram coletados fragmentos das porções cranial, média e caudal do retalho cutâneo para análise histopatológica. A análise morfométrica mostrou diferença significativa para o número de novos vasos sanguíneos nas partes média e caudal do retalho cutâneo no grupo tratado. O óleo de copaíba mostra-se eficiente no aumento da neoangiogênese em retalhos cutâneos subdérmicos de ratos

Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape

Wildlife must adapt to human presence to survive in the Anthropocene, so it is critical to understand species responses to humans in different contexts. We used camera trapping as a lens to view mammal responses to changes in human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across 163 species sampled in 102 projects around the world, changes in the amount and timing of animal activity varied widely. Under higher human activity, mammals were less active in undeveloped areas but unexpectedly more active in developed areas while exhibiting greater nocturnality. Carnivores were most sensitive, showing the strongest decreases in activity and greatest increases in nocturnality. Wildlife managers must consider how habituation and uneven sensitivity across species may cause fundamental differences in human–wildlife interactions along gradients of human influence.Peer reviewe

Colorectal Cancer Stage at Diagnosis Before vs During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

IMPORTANCE Delays in screening programs and the reluctance of patients to seek medical attention because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 could be associated with the risk of more advanced colorectal cancers at diagnosis. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with more advanced oncologic stage and change in clinical presentation for patients with colorectal cancer. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective, multicenter cohort study included all 17 938 adult patients who underwent surgery for colorectal cancer from March 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021 (pandemic period), and from January 1, 2018, to February 29, 2020 (prepandemic period), in 81 participating centers in Italy, including tertiary centers and community hospitals. Follow-up was 30 days from surgery. EXPOSURES Any type of surgical procedure for colorectal cancer, including explorative surgery, palliative procedures, and atypical or segmental resections. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was advanced stage of colorectal cancer at diagnosis. Secondary outcomes were distant metastasis, T4 stage, aggressive biology (defined as cancer with at least 1 of the following characteristics: signet ring cells, mucinous tumor, budding, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, and lymphangitis), stenotic lesion, emergency surgery, and palliative surgery. The independent association between the pandemic period and the outcomes was assessed using multivariate random-effects logistic regression, with hospital as the cluster variable. RESULTS A total of 17 938 patients (10 007 men [55.8%]; mean [SD] age, 70.6 [12.2] years) underwent surgery for colorectal cancer: 7796 (43.5%) during the pandemic period and 10 142 (56.5%) during the prepandemic period. Logistic regression indicated that the pandemic period was significantly associated with an increased rate of advanced-stage colorectal cancer (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95%CI, 1.01-1.13; P = .03), aggressive biology (OR, 1.32; 95%CI, 1.15-1.53; P < .001), and stenotic lesions (OR, 1.15; 95%CI, 1.01-1.31; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study suggests a significant association between the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the risk of a more advanced oncologic stage at diagnosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer and might indicate a potential reduction of survival for these patients

Analisi LCA e LCC per la programmazione di interventi sostenibili per il patrimonio architettonico

The objective of the research is to deepen the importance of the use of the Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost methodologies as decision support tools in the planning phase of interventions on the building heritage, in order to identify and plan sustainable choices for the renovation of the built. An initial theoretical treatment analyzes the concept of sustainable development starting from the analysis of the current environmental policies of the European Union; Life Cycle Thinking is a sustainable approach that allows you to move from the traditional design process to a global vision of the production system, which includes all the impacts that the product has in its life cycle.It often happens that sustainability is reduced to the energy aspect only, leading to identifying the existing building heritage as a source of energy waste and consequently of pollution. From this point of view we often come to adopt extreme resolutions ranging from invasive redevelopment interventions, to abandonment or demolition and subsequent reconstruction. But in reality these choices, oversizing the load of the interventions, can determine a greater impact given the high waste of environmental and economic resources. On the contrary, the preservation of existing buildings can lead to less negative consequences, especially if addressed in a sustainable way. The second part of the work consists in the use of LCA and LCC methodologies to evaluate and compare the environmental and economic profile of two different intervention strategies on a hypothetical 50 m² concrete slab roof, interested in extrados from an advanced state aging of the waterproofing coat and the intrados from mold and moisture spots caused by condensation surface. The results of the analyzes provide several interesting indications of an environmental and economic character, useful for the conscious adoption of design choices oriented to the sustainability of the entire life cycle of the building element.L’obiettivo della ricerca è di approfondire l’importanze dell’uso delle metodologie di Life Cycle Assessment e Life Cycle Cost come strumenti di supporto alle decisioni nella fase di progettazione degli interventi sul patrimonio edilizio, al fine di individuare e progettare scelte sostenibili per il rinnovamento del costruito. Una trattazione teorica iniziale analizza il concetto di sviluppo sostenibile a partire dall’analisi delle politiche ambientali correnti dell’Unione Europea; il Life Cycle Thinking è un approccio sostenibile che consente di muoversi dal processo di progettazione tradizionale verso una visione globale del sistema di produzione, che include tutti gli impatti che il prodotto ha nel suo ciclo di vita.Accade spesso che il concetto di sostenibilità sia ridotto al solo aspetto energetico, inducendo ad identificare il patrimonio edilizio esistente come una fonte di spreco di energia e conseguentemente di inquinamento. Da questo punto di vista, si vanno spesso ad adottare soluzioni estreme che variano dagli interventi invasivi di riqualificazione, all’abbandono o alla demolizione con la conseguente ricostruzione. In realtà queste scelte, sovradimensionando il carico degli interventi, possono determinare un impatto maggiore visto l’alto consumo di risorse ambientali ed economiche. Al contrario, la conservazione di edifici esistenti può guidare a conseguenze meno negative, soprattutto se indirizzate in modo sostenibile.La seconda parte dell’indagine consiste nell’uso di metodologie LCC e LCA per valutare e comparare il profilo ambientale e economico di due diverse strategie di intervento su un’ipotetica lastra di tetto in calcestruzzo di 50 m2, interessata sull’estradosso da uno stadio avanzato di invecchiamento degli strati di impermeabilizzazione, e all'intradosso da zone di muffa e di umidità provocate da condensazione superficiale. I risultati dell’analisi forniscono parecchie indicazioni interessanti di carattere ambientale ed economico, utili per l’adozione cosciente di scelte progettuali orientate alla sostenibilità dell’intero ciclo di vita dell’edificio

VALUTAZIONE SPERIMENTALE DEL CONTRIBUTO DI ELEMENTI DI RIVESTIMENTO ALLA DURABILITÀ DEL CALCESTRUZZO

La valutazione della durata dei componenti edilizi rappresenta un argomento di significativo interesse per la comunità scientifica internazionale nell’ambito del settore della produzione edilizia. La necessità di procedere alla determinazione della durata, per gli elementi costituenti un edificio, induce ad effettuare uno studio attento delle variabili che influiscono sul loro comportamento nel tempo. In quest’ottica, la stima della durata costituisce un aspetto rilevante, così come lo è il complesso insieme di attività, sperimentali e non, necessarie a determinarne il valore. Lo sviluppo e la continua immissione sul mercato di prodotti da costruzione di nuova concezione, determinano, in particolare, l’esigenza di apprezzarne le aspettative di durata nel tempo. Gli studi effettuati in questo settore di ricerca finora hanno affrontato la questione in maniera compiuta relativamente ad un vasto panorama di componenti edilizi e di sistemi, non ultimi i materiali per impieghi strutturali, quali il calcestruzzo. Tuttavia, a seguito di un’attenta analisi dello stato dell’arte, è emerso che, vista la carenza di studi scientifici specifici, è opportuno approfondire gli studi relativi alla durabilità degli elementi strutturali in calcestruzzo armato sottoposti a interventi di consolidamento con tecnologie e materiali innovativi, quali ad esempio l’incamiciatura con calcestruzzo autocompattante. Un’altra carenza è rappresentata senz’altro dalla difficoltà, allo stato attuale, di determinare il contributo fornito dai rivestimenti alla durabilità dei summenzionati elementi in calcestruzzo; si è ritenuto interessante, ad esempio, stimare in che misura la presenza di un intonaco di rivestimento di un pilastro in calcestruzzo possa incidere sulla durata del pilastro stesso. L’approccio che si è adottato per fornire risposta alle problematiche evidenziate ha visto uno studio del panorama delle soluzioni tecnologiche esistenti con l’individuazione di quelle maggiormente utilizzate, e l’applicazione ai casi in oggetto delle esperienze di sperimentazione maturate, mediante una fase di indagini in laboratorio per la simulazione delle condizioni di esercizio. Tale approccio ha chiaramente reso necessaria l’acquisizione di una serie di informazioni relative alla contestualizzazione degli elementi costruttivi, sia dal punto di vista della collocazione geografica che della composizione. La successiva fase di realizzazione delle prove di laboratorio è stata inoltre preceduta dalla riproduzione materiale degli elementi che costituiscono l’oggetto della sperimentazione, dalla definizione dei modelli di simulazione, nonché dalla definizione delle condizioni di esposizione da adottare e dei cicli di sollecitazione da applicare. Nello specifico, i programmi di prova sono costituiti da cicli di invecchiamento accelerato e di carbonatazione accelerata, completati dalle necessarie prove chimiche (fenolftaleina), termografiche e spettrofotometriche, per la lettura e per l’analisi dei risultati ottenuti

Criteria for monitoring in mixed models maintenance of building estate

The relevance of the control and/or monitoring of the buildings is now emphasized by both the existing legislation and by the increasingly advanced equipment for diagnosis. However, poorly developed integration still exists between the scope of interventions and that of controls, which are usually seen as two separate worlds and lack the necessary interrelationships. In the maintenance plan, which is part of the executive project, two documents entirely without reciprocal links coexist: the sub-program of the controls and the sub-program of the interventions. The application of most popular software shows that these two documents sometimes produce even paradoxical situations, precisely because of the lack of interaction. Therefore a methodology with the aim of highlighting how to achieve a far greater effectiveness of the maintenance plan will be exposed. It won’t be neglected, moreover, that the preventive maintenance strategy that is more suited to the buildings is the condition-based one, founded - precisely - on a rigorous planning of the activities of the component performance monitoring

HYPOTHESIS FOR AN APPLICATION OF THE FACTOR METHOD TO REINFORCED CONCRETE

The research is collocated in the general field of the studies on life cycle management for building components and especially on the durability of reinforced concrete. In particular, in reference to Factor Method, introduced in norm ISO 15686 for the ESL prediction, the objective of this study is to suggest a methodology aimed to the reduction of subjectivity in the determination of the multiplying factor for this specific component. Factor Method currently represents the instrument that is probably used the most for the estimation of the life cycle of building components, also thanks to its adaptability and simplicity. Yet, the most frequent critics that are moved against this method are indeed tied – in addition to those against the criteria for RSL determination – to the excessive subjectivity for the appreciation of multiplying factors. In view of mandatory and voluntary legislation of the last years (referring, for example to UNI-EN 206-1 and to UNI 11104 which derived from it, or to D.M. 14/01/2008 and to EC2:2005) which contributed to provide useful elements of comparative and absolute evaluation, but also on the spur of some suggestions that were formulated during recent years in the worldwide scientific scene, the research suggests – in the aim of evaluating service life for structures in reinforced concrete – in its first part the definition of a set of values of reference (among which the values to use for the specific case can be chosen) corresponding to the parameters that are considered to have influence on each multiplying factor. Then, in the second part, in order to simplify the assignment of the scores to the users, the conditions of unitary value for each parameter have been identified, considering the results of direct observations carried out on the field in the last decades. Eventually, starting from unitary values, a complete grid of values has been defined, containing the values to attribute to worsening and improving conditions. The results obtained in the research can represent for designers a possibility of application of Factor Method without risks of oscillation between too distant and subjective values, due to the uncertainty in adopting more appropriate scores