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R E S U M O A Educação Ambiental (EA) e a Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica (AAE) são instrumentos da Gestão Ambiental que contribuem para a transformação de valores sociais e paradigmas insustentáveis. Estas duas ferramentas possuem similaridades que podem ser otimizadas em processos de gestão e auxiliar o poder público e a iniciativa privada na tomada de decisão. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão da literatura para traçar as principais conexões entre estes dois instrumentos visando identificar oportunidades de aplicação e aperfeiçoamento. Para isso, realizou-se uma análise e discussão sobre alguns artigos científicos que versam sobre o tema. Os resultados mostram que a Educação Ambiental (EA) e a Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica (AAE) são processos que podem ocorrer simultaneamente, principalmente quando há participação social efetiva. Além disso, frisa-se a importância da abordagem ecossistêmica nestas duas dimensões. Como considerações finais, destaca-se o potencial da realização de processos mais ativos e substanciais de Educação Ambiental (EA) durante etapas da Avaliação Ambiental Estratégica (AAE) e pesquisas para monitoramento e melhoria contínua. Palavras-Chaves: Meio Ambiente; Conservação; Participação Social; Planejamento Estratégico; Gestão Integrada.

E S U M O A Educa����o Ambiental (EA) �� uma importante ferramenta para a modifica����o de h��bitos e cren��as danosas ao meio ambiente, podendo ser utilizada como elemento minimizador de crimes ambientais, e como meio para conserva����o e concilia����o ambiental na avalia����o de impactos e Licenciamento Ambiental (LA) e outros importantes instrumentos da Pol��tica Nacional de Meio Ambiente (PNMA). Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi discutir e investigar o potencial da EA na transforma����o de a����es delet��rias ao equil��brio ecol��gico em oportunidades para o desenvolvimento sustent��vel e promo����o da participa����o social, com ��tica e responsabilidade. A metodologia utilizada fundamentou-se na an��lise da Pol��tica Nacional de Educa����o Ambiental, na Pol��tica Nacional de Meio Ambiente, na Constitui����o Federal de 1988 e no estudo cr��tico de artigos cient��ficos que versam sobre o tema. Desta forma, foi poss��vel verificar que desafios associados �� reincid��ncia de crimes ambientais e elementos dificultadores dos processos de LA podem limitar o desenvolvimento sustent��vel, ao passo que, a EA pode ser uma ferramenta promissora para lidar com tal problem��tica. Assim, foi poss��vel destacar a import��ncia da EA para o desenvolvimento sustent��vel e a necessidade do engajamento comunit��rio no contexto abordado. Palavras-Chaves: Crimes Ambientais; Instrumentos de Gest��o; Participa����o Social; ��tica; Conserva����o.

This work presents the development of two-dimensional numerical models based on the “additional heat source” and the “effective heat capacity” methods to simulate the thermal behaviour of a microencapsulated phase change material (PCM) - Micronal® DS 5001 X. A purely diffusive, transient model was used, where conduction is the only heat transfer mechanism during phase change. Different ways are evaluated to specify the variation of the equivalent heat capacity with temperature during the solid-liquid phase change: triangular and rectangular profiles, and also the experimentally measured specific heat as a function of temperature. The formulation of the triangular profile was based on previous studies of the authors, where a deficit of total stored/released energy was observed although predicting reasonably well the phenomena kinetics. This time, a new, consistent triangular profile method is used and its application can be generalized to different materials, by a single adjustment to the thermophysical characteristics of the PCM. This new formulation, designated as “triangular adjusted profile”, proved to be the most effective method, showing the best agreement with the previous experimental data obtained by the authors. The microencapsulated PCM is used to fill the rectangular cavities of an aluminium made thermal energy storage (TES) unit. Three different configurations of the TES unit were evaluated, in order to assess the influence of the number of aluminium fins in the PCM bulk. The melting/solidification time and the energy stored/released by the PCM were also evaluated for the different configurations. In general, the numerical results achieved are in good agreement with the experimental data previously obtained by the authors.

This paper provides an overview of the ongoing research project "PCMs4Buildings - Systems with PCM-filled rectangular cavities for the storage of solar thermal energy for buildings". The main goal of this project is to develop a holistic approach for the experimental and numerical evaluation of the thermal behaviour of new thermal energy storage (TES) systems with rectangular cavities filled with phase change materials (PCMs) for building applications. The project also intends to define full-scale prototypes to be numerically and experimentally optimized. "PCMs4Buildings" is a challenging project involving researchers from different scientific backgrounds, namely civil, mechanical and chemical engineering and two institutions: the Association for the Development of Industrial Aerodynamics (ADAI) and the University of Coimbra (UC). It also involves three research units, the Associate Laboratory of Energy, Transports and Aeronautics (LAETA), the Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE) and the Chemical Process Engineering and Forest Products Research Centre (CIEPQPF).

HIV drug resistance is a multifactorial phenomenon and constitutes a major concern as it results in therapy failure. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of an amino acid insertion identified at position 33 of the protease gene, derived from samples from three patients under lopinavir therapy, on viral fitness and protease inhibitor (PI) resistance. Successive samples were available from one of the patients for genotypic and phenotypic testing in order to investigate the role of this insertion. The patient had been pretreated with various antiretroviral drugs and showed poor virological response from the point of the acquisition of the mutation onward. The insertion was acquired in the context of a number of other PI mutations and was stable following acquisition. Phenotypic testing revealed reduced susceptibility to various PIs and a reduction of the replicative capacity (RC) of the virus. In the presence of the insertion alone, a decrease of the RC was observed, which seemed to be compensated by the presence of other mutations. The L33ins might have a potential role in PI resistance pathways but further investigation in a larger number of clinical samples is required in order to elucidate this resistance mechanism.

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 infection is most commonly reported in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East; however, prevalence is increasing worldwide through immigration. HCV genotype 4 accounts for 20% of all infections, but clinical trial data for treatment remain limited. We assessed the combination of two direct-acting antivirals, ombitasvir (NS5A inhibitor) and paritaprevir (NS3/4A protease inhibitor; co-dosed with ritonavir) plus ribavirin in patients with HCV genotype 4 infection and compensated cirrhosis. Methods In this multicentre, randomised, open-label phase 3 trial (AGATE-I), treatment-naive and interferon or pegylated interferon and ribavirin treatment-experienced patients with HCV genotype 4 infection and compensated cirrhosis were recruited from academic, public, and private hospitals in Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, and the USA. Key eligibility criteria were age 18 years or older, with chronic HCV infection assessed by the presence of anti-HCV antibodies or HCV RNA. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive 25 mg ombitasvir, 150 mg paritaprevir, and 100 mg ritonavir once daily, with weight-based ribavirin dosed twice daily for either 12 weeks or 16 weeks. Randomisation was stratified by HCV treatment history (treatment-experienced vs treatment-naive patients) and further stratified by type of non-response to previous HCV treatment (null responders, partial responders, or relapsers) for treatment-experienced patients. Treatments were assigned by an interactive response technology system with computer-generated randomisation lists prepared by personnel from the study's funding sponsor who were not involved with the conduct of the study or with data analysis. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a sustained virological response (HCV RNA

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 accounts for about 13% of global HCV infections. Because interferon-containing treatments for genotype 4 infection have low efficacy and poor tolerability, an unmet need exists for effective all-oral regimens. We examined the efficacy and safety of an all-oral interferon-free regimen of ombitasvir, an NS5A inhibitor, and paritaprevir (ABT-450), an NS3/4A protease inhibitor dosed with ritonavir (ombitasvir plus paritaprevir plus ritonavir), given with or without ribavirin. Methods In this multicentre ongoing phase 2b, randomised, open-label combination trial (PEARL-I), patients were recruited from academic, public, and private hospitals and clinics in France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain, Turkey, and the USA. Eligible participants were aged 18-70 years with non-cirrhotic, chronic HCV genotype 4 infection (documented >= 6 months before screening) and plasma HCV RNA levels higher than 10 000 IU/mL. Previously untreated (treatment-naive) patients were randomly assigned (1: 1) by computer-generated randomisation lists to receive once-daily ombitasvir (25 mg) plus paritaprevir (150 mg) plus ritonavir (100 mg) with or without weight-based ribavirin for 12 weeks. Previously treated (treatment-experienced) patients who had received pegylated interferon plus ribavirin all received the ribavirin-containing regimen. The primary endpoint was a sustained virological response (HCV RNA

Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV alter the immune system, and coinfected (HIV-TB) individuals usually show deregulations in lymphocyte’s immune functions. We previously observed an increased frequency of “unconventional” Treg (uTreg, CD4+CD25−FoxP3+) during HIV-TB. Therefore, we aimed to explore the phenotype and function of uTreg and conventional Treg subsets (cTreg, CD4+CD25+FoxP3+) among HIV-TB (n=34) patients and healthy donors (HD, n=30). We evaluated the expression of CD39, PD1, GITR and maturation status by flow cytometry in cTreg and uTreg. Also, IL-10, TGF-β, IFN-γ production and suppressive capacity were analyzed in cocultures of Tregs and effector lymphocytes. We found diminished expression of CD39 and higher levels of PD-1 on uTreg compared to cTreg in both HIV-TB (p0.05). In addition, uTreg and cTreg showed differences in maturation status both in HIV-TB and HD groups (p0.05). Interestingly, both HIV-TB and HD showed higher production of IFN-γ only in uTreg population (p

HIV drug resistance is a multifactorial phenomenon and constitutes a major concern as it results in therapy failure. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of an amino acid insertion identified at position 33 of the protease gene, derived from samples from three patients under lopinavir therapy, on viral fitness and protease inhibitor (PI) resistance. Successive samples were available from one of the patients for genotypic and phenotypic testing in order to investigate the role of this insertion. The patient had been pretreated with various antiretroviral drugs and showed poor virological response from the point of the acquisition of the mutation onward. The insertion was acquired in the context of a number of other PI mutations and was stable following acquisition. Phenotypic testing revealed reduced susceptibility to various PIs and a reduction of the replicative capacity (RC) of the virus. In the presence of the insertion alone, a decrease of the RC was observed, which seemed to be compensated by the presence of other mutations. The L33ins might have a potential role in PI resistance pathways but further investigation in a larger number of clinical samples is required in order to elucidate this resistance mechanism. © 2011, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.