The present research is focused on an experimental investigation to evaluate the mechanical, durability, and thermal performance of compressed earth blocks (CEBs) produced in Portugal. CEBs were analysed in terms of electrical resistivity, ultrasonic pulse velocity, compressive strength, total water absorption, water absorption by capillarity, accelerated erosion test, and thermal transmittance evaluated in a guarded hotbox setup apparatus. Overall, the results showed that compressed earth blocks presented good mechanical and durability properties. Still, they had some issues in terms of porosity due to the particle size distribution of soil used for their production. The compressive strength value obtained was 9 MPa, which is considerably higher than the minimum requirements for compressed earth blocks. Moreover, they presented a heat transfer coefficient of 2.66 W/(m2·K). This heat transfer coefficient means that this type of masonry unit cannot be used in the building envelope without an additional thermal insulation layer but shows that they are suitable to be used in partition walls. Although CEBs have promising characteristics when compared to conventional bricks, results also showed that their proprieties could even be improved if optimisation of the soil mixture is implemented.
OBJECTIVE To compare skin folds in the dominant and nondominant halves of the body in a group (A) of 20 individuals with cerebral palsy and spastic hemiplegia and a group (B) of 30 normal volunteers. METHOD Body mass, height and skin folds were measured, and the percentage of body fat was estimated by adipose tissue measurement and densitometry. The mean age in group (A) was 24.6 ± 5.6 years (ranging from 16.1 to 38.1 years). The mean age in group (B) was 25.3 ± 3.8 years (ranging from 19.0 to 34.11 years). RESULTS Statistically significant differences were observed between the dominant and nondominant halves of the body for biceps, triceps, thoracic, suprailiac, thigh and midcalf skin folds in group A; the biceps, subscapular, midaxillary, suprailiac, abdominal, thigh and midcalf skin folds in group B; and the percentage fat obtained by adipose tissue measurement in both groups. Statistically significant differences were observed for the triceps skin fold when the dominant halves of the body in groups A and B were compared. Statistically significant differences were also observed for the biceps, triceps, thigh and midcalf skin folds as well as the adipose tissue measurements between the dominant and nondominant halves of the body in the two groups. The percentage fat as estimated by densitometry was significantly correlated with the adipose tissue measurement. CONCLUSION There were statistically significant differences between the skin folds in the dominant and nondominant halves of the body, both in group A and in group B (greater in group A). There was a statistically significant correlation in the percentage fat as estimated by densitometry and as measured by adipose tissue in groups A and B.
Crianças com lesão do neurônio motor superior possuem déficits funcionais desafiadores. As alterações de marcha são conseqüências da espasticidade, padrão primitivo locomotor, pobre controle motor central e controle debilitado da propriocepção. O objetivo do presente estudo é mostrar os benefícios da eletroestimulação no padrão da marcha do paciente com paralisia cerebral através do laboratório de marcha e teste ergoespirométrico. Método: Paciente do grupo de Neuro-Ortopedia do IOT HC-FMUSP, sexo feminino, 24 anos, estudante, portadora de paralisia cerebral do tipo diplégico espástico, deambuladora comunitária e pés eqüinos flexíveis. Equipamento de análise de marcha: HAWK, Motion Analysis Corporation. Analisador metabólico CPX-D, Medgraphics, EUA. Estimulador elétrico modelo EEF-4, Lynx Tecnologia. Frequência de estímulo de 20Hz, ON/OFF 5s/10s, 40min, 3X/semana por 1,5 meses nos compartimentos anterior e lateral das pernas. Resultado: dorsiflexão fase de balanço pé direito e esquerdo anterior ao estímulo: 2,12º e -0,17º, respectivamente. Após 1,5 meses do término do protocolo: dorsiflexão pé direito=7,54º, dorsiflexão pé esquerdo=5,31º. Ergoespirometria: Aumento do tempo de tolerância ao exercício (TT) em 194%, PO2 em 50%, VO2 em 17% e economia energética relativa a 22% da FC. Conclusão: a estimulação elétrica da perna pode ser responsável por alterações na cinemática não só do tornozelo, mas de todo o membro inferior, influenciando o padrão da marcha e a condição cardiopulmonar do paciente com paralisia cerebral.
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