Reed as a thermal insulation material: Experimental characterisation of the physical and thermal properties

The building sector plays a significant role in reducing global energy use and carbon emissions. In the European Union (EU), the building stock represents 40% of total energy use and in which cooling and heating systems represent over 50%. Portugal is one of the EU countries where the consequences of energy poverty are most evident due to the families' financial inability to adequately climate their homes. The reasons are several, but they are mainly linked to buildings' poor passive thermal performance, resulting from inadequate adaptation to the climatic context and reduced thermal insulation. Thus, it is necessary to develop solutions to increase buildings’ thermal performance and reduce their potential environmental impact, which arises mainly from the significant use of active systems. In this sense, natural building materials are a promising solution, reducing energy use and carbon emissions related to buildings. This research studies the potential use of reed found in Portugal (Arundo donax) as a thermal insulation material. Its physical characterisation and the influence of geometry configuration on its thermal performance are evaluated. Its durability was studied too. Reed stalks were used to carry out the physical and durability tests. A reed board (150 x 150 mm) was built, and its thermal performance was tested in a hotbox. According to the results, the characteristics of reeds found in Portugal make it suitable to be used as a building material. Furthermore, regardless of the configuration studied, the reeds have a satisfactory thermal performance to be used as thermal insulation, under the requirements defined by Portuguese thermal regulation, Re ≥ 0.30 (m2.oC)/W. There is a trend to the mould growth in the reed, but only under favourable conditions. Additionally, considering the abundance of reed throughout the Portuguese territory, this is an eco-friendly and low-cost option that gathers all requirements to be more used in the construction market

The potential of the reed as a regenerative building material—characterisation of its durability, physical, and thermal performances

Knowing the properties of vernacular materials is crucial to heritage conservation and to develop innovative solutions. Reed, considered to be a carbon-neutral and a carbon dioxide sink material, has been used for centuries for diverse uses. Its high availability and properties made it a popular building material, including in Portuguese vernacular architecture. An experimental investigation was conducted to evaluate the physical performance, thermal performance, and durability of the reed found in Portugal since the characterisation of this material was not found in previous studies. The influence of geometric characteristics and the presence of nodes on these properties were also analysed, and the results showed that they are irrelevant. The studied reeds were found to have an adequate thermal performance to be used as thermal insulation. Their thermal resistance (1.8 m2·°C/W) and thermal conductivity (0.06 W/m·°C) are under the requirements defined by Portuguese regulations on thermal insulation materials. Overall, the physical characteristics (moisture content, density, and retraction) are compatible to its use in the construction. Concerning durability, there was only a trend for mould growth in particular environments. The results provide valuable data to be considered in the development of new construction products based on this natural and renewable material. Additionally, considering the studied samples, the reed found in Portugal has characteristics suitable for use as a building material, especially as a thermal insulation material.FEDER funds through the Competitively and Internationalization Operational Programme (POCI) and by national funds through FCT (the Foundation for Science and Technology) within the scope of the project with the reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029328, reVer

Avaliação da aptidão cardiorrespiratória por meio de protocolo submáximo em idosos com transtorno de humor e doença de Parkinson

CONTEXTO: Evidências demonstram benefícios para a saúde mental com o treinamento aeróbico orientado em percentuais do VO2max, indicando a importância dessa variável para a prática clínica. OBJETIVO: Validar um método para estimar o VO2max por meio de um protocolo submáximo em idosos com diagnóstico clínico de transtorno depressivo maior (DM) e doença de Parkinson (DP). MÉTODOS: A amostra foi composta por 18 pacientes (64,22 ± 9,92 anos; sete pacientes com DM e 11 com DP). Foram realizadas três avaliações: I) estadiamento da doença, II) mensuração direta de VO2max e III) teste de esforço submáximo. Foi realizada regressão linear para verificar a precisão de estimativa do VO2max estabelecido na ergoespirometria pelo VO2max predito no teste submáximo. Também foi analisada a concordância de Bland-Altman entre os procedimentos. RESULTADOS: A análise de regressão mostrou que os valores de VO2max estimados pelo protocolo submáximo associam-se com o VO2max medido, tanto no valor absoluto (R² = 0,65; EPE = 0,26 ; p < 0,001) quanto no relativo (R² = 0,56; EPE = 3,70; p < 0,001). A análise de concordância de Bland-Altman mostrou boa associação entre as duas medidas. CONCLUSÃO: O VO2max predito por meio do protocolo submáximo demonstrou satisfatória validade de critério e simples execução comparado à ergoespirometria.BACKGROUND: Evidence has shown benefits for mental health through aerobic training oriented in percentage of VO2max, indicating the importance of this variable for clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To validate a method for estimating VO2max using a submaximal protocol in elderly patients with clinically diagnosis as major depressive disorder (MDD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: The sample comprised 18 patients (64.22 ± 9.92 years) with MDD (n = 7) and with PD (n = 11). Three evaluations were performed: I) disease staging, II) direct measurement of VO2max and III) submaximal exercise test. Linear regression was performed to verify the accuracy of estimation in VO2max established in ergospirometry and the predicted VO2max from the submaximal test measurement. We also analyzed the correlation between the Bland-Altman procedures. RESULTS: The regression analysis showed that VO2max values estimated by submaximal protocol associated with the VO2max measured, both in absolute values (R² = 0.65; SEE = 0.26; p < 0.001) and the relative (R² = 0.56; SEE = 3.70; p < 0.001). The Bland-Altman plots for analysis of agreement of showed a good correlation between the two measures. DISCUSSION: The VO2max predicted by submaximal protocol demonstrated satisfactory criterion validity and simple execution compared to ergospirometry

Interation protein dietry and uremia on the nutritional status: sudy in young rats

Na insufiCiência renal cronica (IRC) a desnutricao proteico-energetica e um importante determinante da morbidade em adultos, alem de agravar o deficit de crescimento em criancas. A anorexia e as alteracoes do metabolismo de aminoacidos de cadeia ramificada sao uma das causas da desnutricao na IRC. Para investigar a interacao de proteina dietetica e uremia no estado nutricional de ratos jovens e seus controles pair-fed (C),os animais foram alimentados com dieta isocalorica com 8 por cento , 17 por cento e 30 por cento de proteina a base de caseina durante 21 dias. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar machos (n=104) com 21 dias de idade, distribuidos em 6 grupos experimentais. Aos 22 dias de idade, 52 animais foram submetidos a resseccao parcial do rim direito, seguida da nefrectomia total do rim esquerdo apos uma semana, constituindo o grupo com insufiCiência renal cronica (IRC). O restante foi submetido a operacao ficticia constituindo o grupo controle pair-fed (C). O peso corporal e a inGestão de alimentos foram aferidos diariamente, e o comprimento aos O, 7, 14 e 36 dias do experimento Ao final do experimento foi coletado sangue para as seguintes analises: ureia, creatinina, pH e aminoacidos de cadeia ramificada. Os musculos soleus e digitor extensor longus (D.E.L) foram coletados para medir a expressao de RNAm para ubiquitina. A concentracao serica de creatinina nao foi diferente entre os grupos com IRC, mas a concentracao de ureia foi maior no grupo IRC 8 por cento (p<O,O5). O grupo IRC 30 por cento apresentou peso e comprimento maiores quando comparados aos grupos IRC 17 por cento e IRC 8 por cento (P<0,05). Alem disso, o grupo IRC 30 por cento foi o unico que desenvolveu acidose metabolica moderada. O grupo IRC 17 por cento apresentou o maior coeficiente de utilizacao alimentar e proteica com melhora do crescimento. O grupo IRC 30 por cento apresentou menor inGestão calorica. Este grupo tambem apresentou o menor coeficiente de efiCiência proteica. Nos ratos-controle, houve incremento progressivo dos aminoacidos de cadeia ramificada a medida que a quantidade de proteina dietetica foi aumentada. Os grupos IRC 8 por cento e IRC 17 por cento apresentaram as menores concentracoes quando comparados com seus respectivos controles (p<O,O5). A expressao de RNAm para ubiquitina foi duas vezes maior no musculo DEL do IRC 30 por cento em relacao ao seu controle. Nao houve diferenca entre os demais grupos (C8 por cento vs IRC 8 por ...(au)BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertaçõe

Subjective Global Assessment for the Diagnosis of Protein-Energy Wasting in Nondialysis-Dependent Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Objectives: Subjective global assessment (SGA) has been demonstrated to be a reliable method for protein-energy wasting (PEW) evaluation in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on dialysis. Few data are available on PEW evaluation in nondialysis stages of CKD, and the validity of SGA has been scarcely investigated in this population. Herein, we aimed to evaluate in nondialysis-dependent CKD patients (NDD-CKD): (1) the prevalence of PEW by SGA; (2) the most common abnormalities of the SGA components; and (3) the agreement of SGA with the traditional anthropometric parameters.Design and Subjects: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study including 922 NDD-CKD patients referred to the renal dietitians in the period of 2001 to 2012. Nutritional status was assessed by 7-point SGA. Body mass index (BMI), midarm circumference, midarm muscle circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness were available from 494 patients.Results: From the 922 patients, 58.6% were men, mean age was 63.8 +/- 13.6 years, BMI was 27.7 +/- 5.3 kg/m(2). the majority of the patients were in CKD Stages 3 (48.9%) or 4 (40.3%). PEW (SGA <= 5) was present in 11% of the patients and 32% had signs of PEW (SGA 6). in the logistic regression analysis, the presence of comorbidities and worse renal function were independently associated with PEW. Among the SGA components, the most frequent abnormality in patients with PEW was muscle and fat wasting (88.6%). BMI, midarm circumference, midarm muscle circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness were lower across the worse SGA scores, and a moderate to good level of agreement was found between the anthropometric parameters and presence of PEW evaluated by SGA.Conclusions: the prevalence of PEW was 11% in our unselected cohort of NDD-CKD patients. the physical examination component (muscle/fat wasting) was the most frequent alteration found in those patients. When compared with anthropometric parameters, 7-point SGA has shown to be a valid tool to assess PEW in NDD-CKD population. (C) 2014 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc. All rights reserved.Oswaldo Ramos FoundationUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, Dept Med, BR-04039000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Grad Program Nutr, BR-04039000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, Dept Med, BR-04039000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Grad Program Nutr, BR-04039000 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Adherence to ketogenic diet in lifestyle interventions in adults with overweight or obesity and type 2 diabetes: a scoping review

Abstract Background/Objectives Despite the evidence supporting the efficacy of the ketogenic diet (KD) on weight and type 2 diabetes (T2D) management, adherence to the KD is challenging. Additionally, no studies have reported changes in PA among individuals with overweight/obesity and T2D who have followed KD. We mapped out the methods used to assess adherence to the KD and level of physical activity (PA) in lifestyle interventions for weight and T2D management in individuals with overweight/obesity and T2D and compared levels of KD adherence and PA in these interventions. Methods Articles published between January 2005 and March 2022 were searched in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus. Studies that included KD in lifestyle interventions for adults with T2D and overweight/obesity and measured ketone levels were included. Results The eleven included studies comprised eight randomized controlled trials. They mainly used self-reported measures to evaluate adherence to the KD and level of PA. We found studies reported higher carbohydrate intake and lower fat intake than the KD regimen. Great inconsistencies were found among studies on the measurement and reporting of ketone and PA levels. Conclusion Our results demonstrated the need to develop intervention strategies to improve adherence to the KD, as well as the necessity of developing standardized diet and PA assessment tools to establish a stronger evidence base for including KD in lifestyle interventions for weight and T2D management among adults with overweight/obesity and T2D

Impacto da sessão de hemodiálise na força de preensão manual

Resumo Introdução: A força de preensão manual (FPM) é um método simples, confiável e com bom valor preditivo para avaliar a função muscular de pacientes submetidos à hemodiálise (HD). Porém, ainda não existe um consenso a respeito do momento mais apropriado para a aferição da medida, já que o desempenho da FPM pode ser influenciado pelas flutuações hidroeletrolíticas e de pressão arterial que acometem esses pacientes. Objetivo: Investigar o impacto da sessão de diálise sobre a FPM em pacientes submetidos à HD. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 156 pacientes [57,7% homens, idade mediana de 56,5 (42-67) anos, 28,8% diabéticos, IMC médio de 24,75 ± 4,5 kg/m2 e tempo em HD de 38 (19,25-72,75) meses]. Foram realizadas aferições da FPM com um dinamômetro nos minutos iniciais e ao término da sessão de HD. Os valores obtidos foram comparados com um padrão de referência nacional. Dados clínicos, demográficos e laboratoriais foram coletados do prontuário médico. Resultados: Foi observada uma redução significante da FPM após a sessão de HD (28,6 ± 11,4 kg para 27,7 ± 11,7 kg; p < 0,01). A prevalência de pacientes com FPM abaixo do percentil 30 aumentou de 44,9% para 55,1% (p < 0,01). A redução da pressão arterial durante a diálise foi o único fator que se associou com a redução da FPM. Conclusão: Os achados mostram que o processo de HD influencia negativamente a FPM