Effect of different exercise modalities plus a hypocaloric diet on inflammation markers in overweight patients

Summary Background & aims Inflammation markers (IM) have been associated with the development of chronic diseases. This study compares the effects on IM of three exercise programs combined with a hypocaloric diet. Methods 119 overweight participants (73 women, 46 men) aged 18–50 years were randomised into four treatment groups: strength training (S; n = 30), endurance training (E; n = 30), combined S + E (SE; n = 30), and a diet and physical activity recommendations group (D; n = 29). Energy intake, anthropometric variables (AV), training variables (VO2peak, strength index, dynamometric strength index [DSI]) and plasma IM were recorded at baseline and after 22 weeks of treatment. Results 84 participants completed the study. At 22 weeks, all groups showed a significantly reduced energy intake (P < 0.001) and improved AV (P < 0.001). VO2peak significantly increased in all groups (P < 0.01). DSI increased in the exercise groups only (P < 0.05). Plasma leptin fell significantly (P < 0.001) in the S and E groups, but not significantly in the SE group (P = 0.029) (no significant differences between these groups). Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations decreased in all groups when examined together, but not when examined separately. No significant differences were seen in interleukin-6 (IL-6). Conclusions Combining strength or endurance training with a hypocaloric diet improved AV and reduced plasma leptin concentrations. No differences were seen between groups in terms of TNF-α, IL-6 or CRP reduction. This trial was registered at clinical trials.gov as NCT01116856. http://clinicaltrials.gov/.

Novel application for exergy and thermoeconomic analysis of processes simulated with Aspen Plus

A visual basic application for Microsoft® Excel 2007 has been developed as a helpful tool to perform mass, energy, exergy and thermoeconomic (MHBT) calculations during the systematic analysis of energy processes simulated with Aspen Plus®. The application reads an Excel workbook containing three sheets with the matter, work and heat streams results of an Aspen Plus® simulation. The required information from the Aspen Plus® simulation and the algorithm/calculations of the application are described and applied to an Air Separation Unit (ASU). This application helps the designer when MHBT analyses are performed, as it increases the knowledge of the process simulated with Aspen Plus®. It’s a valuable tool not only because of the calculations performed, but also because it creates a new Excel workbook where the results and the formulae written on the cells are fully visible and editable. There is free access to the application and it has no protection allowing changes and improvements to be done.

Accelerating CFD via local POD plus Galerkin projections

Se desarrollan varias técnicas basadas en descomposición ortogonal propia (DOP) local y proyección de tipo Galerkin para acelerar la integración numérica de problemas de evolución, de tipo parabólico, no lineales. Las ideas y métodos que se presentan conllevan un nuevo enfoque para la modelización de tipo DOP, que combina intervalos temporales cortos en que se usa un esquema numérico estándard con otros intervalos temporales en que se utilizan los sistemas de tipo Galerkin que resultan de proyectar las ecuaciones de evolución sobre la variedad lineal generada por los modos DOP, obtenidos a partir de instantáneas calculadas en los intervalos donde actúa el código numérico. La variedad DOP se construye completamente en el primer intervalo, pero solamente se actualiza en los demás intervalos según las dinámicas de la solución, aumentando de este modo la eficiencia del modelo de orden reducido resultante. Además, se aprovechan algunas propiedades asociadas a la dependencia débil de los modos DOP tanto en la variable temporal como en los posibles parámetros de que pueda depender el problema. De esta forma, se aumentan la flexibilidad y la eficiencia computacional del proceso. La aplicación de los métodos resultantes es muy prometedora, tanto en la simulación de transitorios en flujos laminares como en la construcción de diagramas de bifurcación en sistemas dependientes de parámetros. Las ideas y los algoritmos desarrollados en la tesis se ilustran en dos problemas test, la ecuación unidimensional compleja de Ginzburg-Landau y el problema bidimensional no estacionario de la cavidad. Abstract Various ideas and methods involving local proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) and Galerkin projection are presented aiming at accelerating the numerical integration of nonlinear time dependent parabolic problems. The proposed methods come from a new approach to the POD-based model reduction procedures, which combines short runs with a given numerical solver and a reduced order model constructed by expanding the solution of the problem into appropriate POD modes, which span a POD manifold, and Galerkin projecting some evolution equations onto that linear manifold. The POD manifold is completely constructed from the outset, but only updated as time proceeds according to the dynamics, which yields an adaptive and flexible procedure. In addition, some properties concerning the weak dependence of the POD modes on time and possible parameters in the problem are exploited in order to increase the flexibility and efficiency of the low dimensional model computation. Application of the developed techniques to the approximation of transients in laminar fluid flows and the simulation of attractors in bifurcation problems shows very promising results. The test problems considered to illustrate the various ideas and check the performance of the algorithms are the onedimensional complex Ginzburg-Landau equation and the two-dimensional unsteady liddriven cavity problem.

ICTD Work, Plus mFeel : improving communication in resource-poor settings

This issue's Works-In-Progress department has four entries related to the issue's theme, Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICTD). They are “Sustainable ICT in Agricultural Value Chains”, “Measuring Social Inclusion in Primary Schools”, “An Architecture for Green Mobile Computation”, and “Improving Communication in Resource-Poor Settings”. A fifth entry, “mFeel: An Affective Mobile System”, covers the mFeel mobile system, which combines context awareness with affective and cognitive techniques.

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MOIRA-PLUS use in decision making on the long-term management of contaminated freshwater bodies and catchments

In the mid-long-term after a nuclear accident, the contamination of drinking water sources, fish and other aquatic foodstuffs, irrigation supplies and people?s exposure during recreational activities may create considerable public concern, even though dose assessment may in certain situations indicate lesser importance than for other sources, as clearly experienced in the aftermath of past accidents. In such circumstances there are a number of available countermeasure options, ranging from specific chemical treatment of lakes to bans on fish ingestion or on the use of water for crop irrigation. The potential actions can be broadly grouped into four main categories, chemical, biological, physical and social. In some cases a combination of actions may be the optimal strategy and a decision support system (DSS) like MOIRA-PLUS can be of great help to optimise a decision. A further option is of course not to take any remedial actions, although this may also have significant socio-economic repercussions which should be adequately evaluated. MOIRA-PLUS is designed to allow for a reliable assessment of the long-term evolution of the radiological situation and of feasible alternative rehabilitation strategies, including an objective evaluation of their social, economic and ecological impacts in a rational and comprehensive manner. MOIRA-PLUS also features a decision analysis methodology, making use of multi-attribute analysis, which can take into account the preferences and needs of different types of stakeholders. The main functions and elements of the system are described summarily. Also the conclusions from end-user?s experiences with the system are discussed, including exercises involving the organizations responsible for emergency management and the affected services, as well as different local and regional stakeholders. MOIRAPLUS has proven to be a mature system, user friendly and relatively easy to set up. It can help to better decisionmaking by enabling a realistic evaluation of the complete impacts of possible recovery strategies. Also, the interaction with stakeholders has allowed identifying improvements of the system that have been recently implemented.

Passive design strategies and performance of Net Energy Plus Houses

The first step in order to comply with the European Union goals of Near to Zero Energy Buildings is to reduce the energy consumption in buildings. Most of the building consumption is related to the use of active systems to maintain the interior comfort. Passive design strategies contribute to improve the interior comfort conditions, increasing the energy efficiency in buildings and reducing their energy consumption. In this work, an analysis of the passive strategies used in Net Energy Plus Houses has been made. The participating houses of the Solar Decathlon Europe 2012 competition were used as case studies. The passive design strategies of these houses were compared with the annual simulations, and the competition monitored data, especially during the Passive Monitored Period. The analysis included the thermal properties of the building envelope, geometric parameters, ratios and others passive solutions such as Thermal Energy Storage systems, evaporative cooling, night ventilation, solar gains and night sky radiation cooling. The results reflect the impact of passive design strategies on the houses' comfort and efficiency, as well as their influence in helping to achieve the Zero Energy Buildings category.

Systême militaire de la Prusse et principes de la tactique actuelle des troupes les plus perfectionnées : [Texto impreso] extrait de la Monarchie prussienne

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