Beyond good intentions: the role of the building passport for the sustainable conservation of built heritage to behavioural change

Despite the recognised importance of built heritage for sustainable development, and the multiple tools, recommendations, guidelines, and policies developed in recent years to support decision-making, good sustainable conservation practices often fail to be implemented. Challenges faced by practitioners often relate to external factors, and there is a gap in the understanding of the role of the nature of the designer and the behavioural dimension of the challenges in implementation. This research applies the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to verify how a building passport for sustainable conservation (BPSC) impacts design students’ intentions and actual design decisions towards built heritage conservation. This research aims to ascertain the role of the BPSC to affect attitudes, subjective norms, and intentions and ultimately change conservation behaviours. The results show that this tool has a positive contribution to reinforce existing attitudinal beliefs. Still, no significant changes were found in the overall conservation behaviours, suggesting that beliefs hindering implementation may more often be related to aesthetic reasons, creativity and innovation, and program requirements, than with beliefs regarding the sustainable performance of the building. This study demonstrates that using the TPB to analyse design processes in the context of built heritage is an innovative methodological approach that contributes to a deeper understanding of the psychological factors affecting sustainability and built heritage conservation decisions.This research was funded by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), grant number PD/BD/127853/2016. The APC was funded by TU Delft Library

The influence of the pedagogical model on psychological variables in 1st year students from ESTSP-IPP

Introdução – A adaptação ao ensino superior reveste-se de experiências académicas que podem constituir fonte de stress para os estudantes. A implementação de novos modelos pedagógicos, no âmbito do processo de Bolonha, introduz novas variáveis cujo impacto, designadamente em termos de saúde, importa conhecer. Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar as associações entre modelo pedagógico (Problem Based Learning – PBL vs. modelos próximos do tradicional) e variáveis psicológicas (coping, desregulação emocional, sintomas psicossomáticos, perceção de stress e afeto). Metodologia – O estudo tem um design transversal. Foram usados os seguintes questionários online: Brief-COPE, Escala de Dificuldades de Regulação Emocional, Questionário de Manifestações Físicas de Mal-Estar, Escala de Stress Percebido e Escala de Afeto Positivo e Negativo. A amostra é constituída por 183 estudantes do primeiro ano (84% do género feminino) de cursos da Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde do Porto – Instituto Politécnico do Porto (ESTSP-IPP). Resultados – Foram encontradas correlações significativas entre as variáveis demográficas e psicológicas. Considerando diferentes modelos pedagógicos, foram encontradas diferenças significativas nas variáveis psicológicas. Os principais preditores de stress na amostra foram: ser mulher, frequentar uma licenciatura no modelo PBL, ter maiores índices de desregulação emocional, apresentar mais sintomas psicossomáticos, menos afeto positivo e mais afeto negativo. Conclusão – As diferenças encontradas entre modelos pedagógicos são discutidas, possibilitando a reflexão sobre as implicações práticas e sugestões para futuras investigações.Introduction – Adapting to Higher Education is filled with academic experiences that might be stressful for students. The new pedagogical models brought about by the Bologna process put into play new variables that are important to look at, namely in terms of health. This research aims to analyze associations between the pedagogical model (Problem Based Learning vs more traditional approaches) and psychological variables (coping, emotional deregulations, psychosomatic symptoms, perceived stress and affect). Method – This study has a cross-sectional design. The following online questionnaires were used: Brief-COPE, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Manifestations of Physical Discomfort Questionnaire, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. The sample consisted in 183 first-year students (84% female) from School of Allied Health Sciences – Polytechnic Institute of Porto. Results – Significant correlations between demographic and psychological variables were found. Considering different pedagogical models, significant differences in psychological variables were found. The main predictors of stress in the sample were: being female, inclusion in the PBL model, higher indexes of emotional deregulation, more psychosomatic symptoms, lower positive affect and higher negative affect. Conclusion – Differences between pedagogical models are discussed, while reflecting on practical implications and suggestions for future research

Purification and Preliminary Crystallographic Analysis of a New Lys49-PLA2 from B. Jararacussu

BjVIII is a new myotoxic Lys49-PLA2 isolated from Bothrops jararacussu venom that exhibits atypical effects on human platelet aggregation. To better understand the mode of action of BjVIII, crystallographic studies were initiated. Two crystal forms were obtained, both containing two molecules in the asymmetric unit (ASU). Synchrotron radiation diffraction data were collected to 2.0 Å resolution and 1.9 Å resolution for crystals belonging to the space group P212121 (a = 48.4 Å, b = 65.3 Å, c = 84.3 Å) and space group P3121 (a = b = 55.7 Å, c = 127.9 Å), respectively. Refinement is currently in progress and the refined structures are expected to shed light on the unusual platelet aggregation activity observed for BjVIII

Associação entre fatores de risco cardiovascular e capacidade funcional de idosos longevos

Modelo do estudo: Estudo transversal. Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre a presença de fatores de risco cardiovascular (FRC) e a capacidade funcional de idosos longevos. Materiais e Método: A amostra foi composta por 91 idosos com idade entre 80 e 90 anos (83,0±2,3 anos), sendo 60 mulheres (82,9±2,1 anos) e 31 homens (83,2±2,6 anos) residentes na cidade de Presidente Prudente/SP. Os FRC analisados foram: Hipertensão Arterial (HA) e excesso de gordura corporal (total e tronco). A presença de Hipertensão foi verificada por meio do questionário auto-referido baseado no Standard Health Questionnaire(SHQ). A avaliação da gordura corporal foi feita pela absorpiometria de dupla energia de raios-X (DEXA) e a capacidade funcional foi avaliada por meio dos testes funcionais (equilíbrio estático, velocidade usual de caminhada e força de membros inferiores). Para tratamento estatístico realizou-se o teste qui-quadrado, o software utilizado foi SPSS (13.0) e o nível de significância estabelecido foi de 5%. Resultados: Os idosos com a presença de HA e excesso de %GC apresentaram menor desempenho no teste de membros inferiores (83,3% menor e 16,7% maior), p=0,011 comparados aqueles com apenas um FCR. As idosas com a presença de HA e excesso de %GTron também apresentaram menor desempenho no mesmo teste (80,6% menor e 19,4% maior), p=0,018 e no teste de velocidade de caminhada (80,6% menor e 19,4% maior), p=0,034. Conclusão: A HA e o excesso de gordura corporal (total e tronco) agregados são FRC, que estão associados à redução da capacidade funcional de idosos longevos.Study design: cross-sectional study. Objective: To assess the association between the presence of cardiovascular risk factor (CRP) and functional capacity of the oldest old. Methods: The sample 9onsisted of 91 elderly aged 80 and 90 years (83.0 ± 2.5 years) with 60 women (82.2 ± 2.1 years) and 31 men (83.2± 2,6 years) residing in the city of Presidente Prudente - SP. The FRC were analyzed: arterial hypertension(AH) and excess body fat (total and trunk). The presence of hypertension was verified by means of selfreported questionnaire based on the Standard Health Questionnaire (SHQ). Assessment of body was made by absorpiometria dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and functional capacity was assessed by the functional tests (static balance, normal walking speed and force of the lower limbs). For statistical analysis we carried out the chi-square test, the software used was SPSS (13.0) and the significance level was set at 5%. Results. In males, with hypertension and the presence of excess %BF had lower performance in the lower limbs (83.3% lower and 16.7% higher), p = 0.011 compared to those with only a VCF.The elderly women with hypertension and the presence of excess GTron% also had lower performance on the same test (80.6% lower and 19.4% higher), p = 0.018 and the test of walking speed (80.6% lower and 19.4% higher), p = 0.034. Conclusion: Arterial hypertension and excess body fat (total and trunk)aggregated are FRC, which are associated with reduced functional capacity of the oldest old

Analysis of a possible association between oral lichen planus and drug intake. A controlled study

Objectives: To investigate whether daily systemic and/or topical medication contributes to the development of oral lichen planus (OLP) lesions. Study Design: The study involved 110 OLP patients and 76 control subjects, matched by age, race and sex. The analyzed data included medical records, drug intake and topical medication. Criteria for analysis of drug intake included: (1) ATC-code drug classification; (2) number of different drugs used daily in the categories of monopharmacy (1 drug), minor polypharmacy (2 4 drugs), and major polypharmacy (> 5 drugs); and (3) drugs implicated in lichenoid reactions (DILRs). Results: Sixty (54.5%) of the 110 OLP patients reported daily medication (prior to the appearance of the OLP lesion) compared to 52 (68.4%) of the 76 control subjects. No statistical difference was found between the two groups in terms of systemic diseases, number of medicated individuals in the categories of mono- and polypharmacy, nor use of DILRs (P > 0.05). Regarding the clinical forms and site of involvement, a statistically significant difference was only found for the clinical erosive form of OLP, seen more frequently in non-DILR (P = 0.04) and nonmedicated OLP patients (P = 0.02) than in DILR OLP patients. Daily use of topical oral medication was reported by 2 (1.8%) OLP patients and 1 (1.3%) control subject. Conclusions: It seems that the use of systemic medication does not lead to a significant increase in the incidence of OLP lesions. For their part, lichenoid drug reactions are likely to occur only in a very low percentage of patients. © Medicina Oral S. L

Evidence for late Pleistocene volcanism at Santa Maria Island, Azores?

Santa Maria Island constitutes the oldest volcanic island within the Azores Archipelago, with no onshore record of eruptions younger than ≈2.8 Ma. A recent high-resolution multibeam bathymetric survey, however, revealed the presence of a seemingly young submerged wide volcanic edifice at approximately −70/−80 m, on the northeastern sector of the island shelf. The outer flanks of this volcanic edifice are partially eroded by marine erosion, but its general morphology is largely preserved, attesting to its relative youth. The edifice's aspect ratio and crater size are typical of a tuff ring formed by very violent surtseyan to taalian eruptions (with water/magma interaction ratios close to 1), implying extrusion at sea level or in very shallow waters, conditions that are incompatible with the present-day water depth at which this structure occurs. A detailed geomorphological analysis – coupled with a correlation with a modified reference eustatic curve – allowed the formulation and discussion of a formation model for the tuff ring, which involves extrusion during a period immediately preceding a rapid relative sea-level drop, most likely at ≈43 ka. Extrusion during such a period would have allowed for the subaerial consolidation and palagonitization of the tuff ring, increasing its resistance to erosion, before being finally submerged during the Last Glacial Termination. Submersion during the Last Glacial Termination – a period characterised by extremely fast sea-level rise – also helps to explain why this tuff ring was submerged without being completely razed by marine erosion. Our study offers insights on the formation and preservation of tuff rings in coastal environments, and in relation to sea-level oscillations, suggesting that consolidation plays a crucial role in the process. Crucially, our study suggests that Santa Maria's volcanism might have extended well into the very late Pleistocene, raising important hazard implications. Future work is scheduled to confirm this hypothesis, including sampling of the volcanic products by dredging and/or by remote operated vehicle. Our study also emphasises the importance of available high-resolution bathymetric surveys to the formulation of solid volcanic hazard assessments on volcanic islands.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Severe Obesity Shifts Metabolic Thresholds but Does Not Attenuate Aerobic Training Adaptations in Zucker Rats

Severe obesity affects metabolism with potential to influence the lactate and glycemic response to different exercise intensities in untrained and trained rats. Here we evaluated metabolic thresholds and maximal aerobic capacity in rats with severe obesity and lean counterparts at pre- and post-training. Zucker rats (obese: n = 10, lean: n = 10) were submitted to constant treadmill bouts, to determine the maximal lactate steady state, and an incremental treadmill test, to determine the lactate threshold, glycemic threshold and maximal velocity at pre and post 8 weeks of treadmill training. Velocities of the lactate threshold and glycemic threshold agreed with the maximal lactate steady state velocity on most comparisons. The maximal lactate steady state velocity occurred at higher percentage of the maximal velocity in Zucker rats at pre-training than the percentage commonly reported and used for training prescription for other rat strains (i.e., 60%) (obese = 78 +/- 9% and lean = 68 +/- 5%, P 0.05), whereas increase in maximal velocity was greater in the obese group (P < 0.05 vs. lean). In conclusion, lactate threshold, glycemic threshold and maximal lactate steady state occurred at similar exercise intensity in Zucker rats at pre- and post-training. Severe obesity shifted metabolic thresholds to higher exercise intensity at pre-training, but did not attenuate submaximal and maximal aerobic training adaptations.Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Grad Program Translat Med, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Catolica Brasilia, Grad Program Phys Educ & Hlth, Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Nutr, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Nephrol, Sao Paulo, BrazilSao Paulo State Univ, Dept Phys Educ, Human Performance Lab, Rio Claro, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Physiol, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Grad Program Translat Med, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Nephrol, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Physiol, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Antibodies directed to antigens secreted by murine epithelioid macrophages modulate BCG-induced granulomata

The authors have previously shown that epithelioid cells isolated from mice secrete a factor, called macrophage deactivating factor (MDF), that promptly deactivates superoxide release by activated macrophages and neutrophils. In this paper some biological properties of a polyclonal rat antiserum directed to MDF and other substances secreted by these cells are described. The immunoglobulin fraction of this antiserum reacted, by immunocytochemical methods, with epitopes in the cell membrane of macrophages adherent to coverslips subcutaneously implanted for 14 days; but not for 5 days. It also reacted with antigens within and outside cells in BCG-induced granulomas. This antiserum blocked completely the macrophage deactivating activity of epithelioid cell culture supernatants. Anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibody, did not block MDF activity. The administration of the immunoglobulin fraction from immunized rats to C5 deficient mice bearing BCG-induced granulomatas in the footpad, significantly reduced the size of the lesions. A marked necrosis of inflammatory cells and mononuclear cells phagocyting debris of necrotic cells were observed in these lesions

Learning and Well-Being in Educational Practices with Children and Adolescents Undergoing Cancer Treatment

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Light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT) before matches prevents increase in creatine kinase with a light dose response in volleyball players

Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) has been applied over skeletal muscles before intense exercise (muscular pre-conditioning) in order to reduce fatigue and muscle damage (measured by creatine kinase, CK) in clinical trials. However, previous exercise protocols do not exactly simulate the real muscle demand required in sports. For this reason, the aim of this randomized and double-blind placebo-controlled trial was to investigate whether light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT) applied over the quadriceps femoris muscles, hamstrings, and triceps surae of volleyball players before official matches could prevent muscle damage (CK) with a dose response, establishing a therapeutic window. A professional male volleyball team (12 athletes) was enrolled in this study, and LEDT was applied before 4 matches during a national championship. LEDT used an array of 200 light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in 25 clusters of 4 infrared LEDs (850 ± 20 nm; 130 mW) and 25 clusters of 4 red LEDs (630 ± 10 nm; 80 mW). Athletes were randomized to receive one of four different total doses over each muscle group in a double-blind protocol: 105 J (20 s), 210 J (40 s), 315 J (60 s), and placebo (no light for 30 s). CK in blood was assessed 1 h before and 24 h after each match. LEDT at 210 J avoided significant increases in CK (+10 %; P = 0.993) as well as 315 J (+31 %, P = 0.407). Placebo (0 J) allowed a significant increase in CK (+53 %; P = 0.012) as well as LEDT at 105 J (+59 %; P = 0.001). LEDT prevented significant increases of CK in blood in athletes when applied before official matches with a light dose response of 210–315 J, suggesting athletes might consider applying LEDT before competition.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant R01AI050875