Mechanisms of subcutaneous adipose tissue formation in experimental lymphedema model

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Mechanisms of subcutaneous adipose tissue formation in experimental lymphedema model

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Analysis of geothermal temperatures for heat pumps application in Paraná (Brasil)

Geothermal heat pumps are broadly used in developed countries but scarcely in Brazil, in part because there is a lack of Brazilian soil temperature data. The aims of this work are: to present soil temperature measurements and to compare geothermal heat pump system performances with conventional air conditioning systems. Geothermal temperature measurement results are shown for ten Paraná State cities, representing different soil and climate conditions. The measurements were made yearlong with calibrated equipment and digital data acquisition system in di erent measuring stations. Geothermal and ambient temperature data were used for simulations of the coe cient of performance (COP), by means of a working uid pressure-enthalpy diagram based software for vapor-compression cycle. It was veri ed that geothermal temperature measured between January 13 to October 13, 2013, varied from 16 to 24 °C, while room temperature has varied between 2 and 35 °C. Average COP values for conventional system were 3.7 (cooling mode) and 5.0 kW/kW (heating mode), corresponding to 5.9 and 7.9 kW/kW for geothermal system. Hence it was verified an average efficiency gain of 59%with geothermal system utilization in comparison with conventional system.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An Eco-Energetic performance comparison of dehumidification systems in High-Moisture indoor environments

This study discusses the choice of dehumidification systems for high-moisture indoor environments, such as indoor swimming pools, supported by an eco-energetic performance comparison. Initially, the causes of the high relative humidity and condensation in these spaces are reported, as well as the available dehumidification technologies. Two different solutions are described: desiccant wheel dehumidification and re-cooling. The energy demand required by a refrigeration system is lower than the desiccant wheel; however, the former system requires less maintenance and does not require refrigerant fluid. An eco-energetic comparison is performed between the two systems in two countries with different energy matrices (Brazil and USA). In Brazil, the desiccant wheel is the best choice for the past 10 years, with a predicted 351,520 kgCO2 of CO2 emissions, which is 38% lower than the refrigeration system. In the USA, the best option is the refrigeration system (1,463,350 kgCO2), a 12% more efficient option than desiccant wheels. This model can be considered for energy and CO2 emissions assessment, predicting which system has better energy efficiency and lower environmental impact, depending on the refrigerant type, location and environmental conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Analysis of temperatures for geothermal heat pumps application in Paraná

Bombas de calor geotérmicas são muito utilizadas em países desenvolvidos, porém, são pouco utilizadas no Brasil, em parte porque faltam medidas de temperatura do solo brasileiro. Os objetivos deste trabalho são: apresentar medidas de temperatura geotérmica e comparar o desempenho do sistema geotérmico e do sistema convencional de ar condicionado. Apresentam-se resultados da medição de temperatura geotérmica em dez cidades paranaenses, representativas dos diferentes solos e climas. As medições foram realizadas ao longo de um ano, com equipamentos aferidos e sistemas digitais de aquisição de dados nas diferentes estações de medição instaladas. Os dados de temperatura geotérmica e ambiente foram utilizados para simulação do coeficiente de performance (COP), por meio de software de dimensionamento de sistemas em ciclo de refrigeração por compressão de vapor, baseado no diagrama de pressão-entalpia do fluido de rabalho. Verificou-se que a temperatura geotérmica medida entre janeiro e outubro de 2013 variou de 16 a 24 °C, enquanto a temperatura ambiente variou entre 2 e 35 °C. Valores médios de COP para o sistema convencional foram de 3,7 (refrigeração) e 5,0 kW/kW (aquecimento), correspondente a 5,9 e 7,9 para o sistema BCG, o que significa ganho em eficiência de 59% com o uso do sistema geotérmico.Geothermal heat pumps are broadly used in developed countries but scarcely in Brazil, in part because there is a lack of Brazilian soil temperature data. The aims of this work are: to show soil temperature measurements and to compare geothermal heat pumps system performance with conventional air conditioning systems. Geothermal temperature measurement results are shown for ten Paraná State cities, representing different soil and climate conditions. The measurements were made yearlong with calibrated equipment and digital data acquisition system in different measuring stations. Geothermal and ambient temperature data were used for coefficient of performance (COP) simulation, by means of working fluid pressure-enthalpy diagram based software for vapor-compression cycle. It was verified that geothermal temperature measured between Jan/13 to Oct/13 varied from 16 to 24 °C, while ambient temperature has varied between 2 and 35 °C. Average COP values for conventional system were 3.7 (cooling) and 5.0 kW/kW (heating), corresponding to 5.9 and 7.9 kW/kW for geothermal system. Hence it was verified an average efficiency gain of 59% with geothermal system utilization in comparison with conventional system.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Herbicidas alachlor, pendimethalin e trifluralin na nodulação e crescimento inicial de plantas de amendoim

This work had the objective of evaluating the effect of the herbicides alachlor, pendimethalin and trifluralin on the initial growth of peanut plants (Arachis hypogaea L.) under greenhouse conditions for a period of thirty days as well as nodule number and dry weight for sixty days after the sowing period. The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy College of the Federal University ofBahia.The first experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments (control- rate zero; alachlor - 2.90 kg/ha, pendimethalin - 1.00 kg/haand trifluralin - 0.89 kg/ha) and three replieations. For each replication, plastie trays (70 em x 50 em x 10 em) were used with a yellow Latosol as the substrate and peanut seeds of the variety BRS 151-L 7 provided by EMBRAPA-CNPA. A seeond experiment was condueted with plastic pots of 5 kg, the same substrate, same treatments and experimental design with eight replieations. The following parameters were evaluated: seedling emergence, percentage of abnonnal seedlings and dead seeds, plant height, index of seedling emergenee velocity, root and shoot dry weight,number and dry weight of nodules. The results show that herbieides stimulate the initial nodulation of peanut plants, but reduce the pereentage of emergence, shoot dry weight and plant height. Therefore, the herbicides should be recommended with restrietions, for the studied eonditions. . Este trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar o efeito dos herbicidas alachlor, pendimethalin e trifluralin no crescimento inicial de plantas de amendoim (Arachis hypogaea L.) em casa de vegetação, por um período de trinta dias, e o número e massa seca dos nódulos após 60 dias do plantio. O experimento foi conduzido na casa de vegetação do Departamento de Química Agrícola e Solos da Escola de Agronomia da Uni versidade Federal da Bahia. O delineamento experimental do primeiro ensaio foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e três repetições. Os tratamentos utilizados foram: alachlor (2,90 kg ha); pendimethalin (1,00 kg ha), trifluralin (0,89 kg ha) e testemunha. As parcelas foram constituidas de bandejas de plástico de 70 em x 50 em x 10 em, tendo como substrato um solo Latossolo amarelo álico coeso, utilizando-se sementes da variedade BRS 151- L7, oriundas da EMBRAPAlCNPA. No segundo ensaio, a unidade experimental constituiu-se de vasos plásticos de 5 kg com os mesmos tratamentos, substrato e delineamento experimental, com oito repetições. Avaliou-se os seguintes parâmetros: percentagem de emergência, plântulas anormais, sementes mortas, altura da planta, comprimento da raiz, índice de velocidade de emergência, massa seca da parte aérea e da raiz, número e massa seca de nódulos. Os herbicidas testados, apesar de estimularem a nodulação inicial das plantas de amendoim, reduzem a porcentagem de emergência, massa seca da parte aérea e altura das plantas, devendo ser recomendados com restrições nas condições estudadas.

Relationship between acid–base status and inflammation in the critically ill

Abstract\ud \ud Introduction\ud There is a complex interplay between changes in acid–base components and inflammation. This manuscript aims to explore associations between plasma cytokines and chemokines and acid–base status on admission to intensive care.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud We conducted a prospective cohort study in a 13-bed ICU in a tertiary-care center in Brazil. 87 unselected patients admitted to the ICU during a 2-year period were included. We measured multiple inflammatory mediators in plasma using multiplex assays and evaluated the association between mediator concentrations and acid–base variables using a variety of statistical modeling approaches, including generalized linear models, multiadaptive regression splines and principal component analysis.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud We found a positive association between strong ion gap (SIG) and plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)6, 8, 10 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF); whereas albumin was negatively associated with IL6, IL7, IL8, IL10, TNF and interferon (IFN)α. Apparent strong ion difference (SIDa) was negatively associated with IL10 and IL17. A principal component analysis including SAPS 3 indicated that the association between acid–base components and inflammatory status was largely independent of illness severity, with both increased SIG and decreased SIDa (both drivers of acidosis) associated with increased inflammation.\ud \ud \ud Conclusion\ud Acid–base variables (especially increased SIG, decreased albumin and decreased SIDa) on admission to ICU are associated with immunological activation. These findings should encourage new research into the effects of acid–base status on inflammation.Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Pleiotropic effects of ezetimibe/simvastatin vs. high dose simvastatin

Background: In the setting of stable coronary artery disease (CAD), it is not known if the pleiotropic effects of cholesterol reduction differ between combined ezetimibe/simvastatin and high-dose simvastatin alone. Objective: We sought to compare the anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet effects of ezetimibe 10 mg/simvastatin 20 mg (E10/S20) with simvastatin 80 mg (S80). Methods and results: CAD patients (n = 83, 63 +/- 9 years, 57% men) receiving S20, were randomly allocated to receive E10/S20 or S80, for 6 weeks. Lipids, inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, soluble CD40 ligand and oxidized LDL), and platelet aggregation (platelet function analyzer [PFA]-100) changes were determined. Baseline lipids, inflammatory markers and PFA-100 were similar between groups. After treatment, E10/S20 and S80 patients presented, respectively: (1) similar reduction in LDL-C (29 +/- 13% vs. 28 +/- 30%, p = 0.46), apo-B (18 +/- 17% vs. 22 +/- 15%, p = 0.22) and oxidized LDL (15 +/- 33% vs. 18 +/- 47%, p = 0.30); (2) no changes in inflammatory markers; and, (3) a higher increase of the PFA-100 with E10/S20 than with S80 (27 +/- 43% vs. 8 +/- 33%, p = 0.02). Conclusions: These data suggest that among stable CAD patients treated with S20, (1) both E10/S20 and S80 were equally effective in further reducing LDL-C; (2) neither treatment had any further significant anti-inflammatory effects; and (3) E10/S20 was more effective than S80 in inhibiting platelet aggregation. Thus, despite similar lipid lowering and doses 4x less of simvastatin, E10/S20 induced a greater platelet inhibitory effect than S80. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.Astra ZenecaAstraZenecaMerck/Schering PloughMerck/Schering PloughPfizerPfizerSao Paulo Research FoundationSao Paulo Research Foundation [FAPESP/05/57710-3

Septic shock in older people: a prospective cohort study

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Septic shock is the first cause of death in Intensive Care Units. Despite experimental data showing increased inflammatory response of aged animals following infection, the current accepted hypothesis claims that aged patients are immunocompromised, when compared to young individuals.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud Here, we describe a prospective cohort study designed to analyze the immune profile of this population.\ud \ud \ud Conclusion\ud Older people are as immunocompetent as the young individual, regarding the cytokines, chemokines and growth factors response to devastating infection