A discontinuous Galerkin moving mesh method for Hamilton-Jacobi equations

In this paper we consider the numerical solution of first-order Hamilton-Jacobi equations using the combination of a discontinuous Galerkin finite element method and an adaptive $r$-refinement (mesh movement) strategy. Particular attention is given to the choice of an appropriate adaptivity criterion when the solution becomes discontinuous. Numerical examples in one and two dimensions are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the adaptive procedure

Preconditioning by an extended matrix technique for convection-diffusion-reaction equations

In this paper we consider a preconditioning technique for the ill-conditioned systems arising from discretisations of nonsymmetric elliptic boundary value problems. The rectangular preconditioning matrix is constructed via the transfer operators between successive discretization levels of the initial problem. In this way we get an extended, square, singular, consistent, but mesh independent well-conditioned linear system. Numerical experiments are presented for a 2D convection-diffusion-reaction problem

Assessment and analysis of potentially explosive areas in distribution stations, generated by alternative fuels such as LPG, CNG and H2

Rising prices and the desire to reduce pollution by replacing traditional fuels (benzine and diesel) in the transport system require solutions to make this sector more economically efficient. The use of LPG, CNG and H2 implies, from the point of view of explosion risks, additional features compared to conventional filling stations to increase safety and environmental protection. Thus, this paper presents the effects caused by each fuel analysed (LPG, CNG and H2), in the worst case, the initiation case. The analysis performed is based on simulation using ANSYS – Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, and the result is particularly useful for adopting optimal measures to minimise the risk of explosion

Testing the constructive strength of a container arranged as a mobile deposit of explosive materials

Today, due to the diversity of the conditions in which the blasting works are executed, they often require a special organization regarding the transportation and storage of the explosive goods near the blasting field. If for explosive storage arranged for long-term use such as those of the producers, there are detailed regulations regarding the constructive and security requirements that they must meet, for the temporary storage facilities, there are not enough details regarding the constructive requirements that they must comply with. One of the most important aspects taken into account when designing and arranging a mobile explosive depot is the limitation to the maximum of the dynamic action and the throw effect of pieces of material under the pression of an accidental detonation. The paper describes the results obtained after testing a container prototype designed for the storage of explosives. Following the tests performed and the evaluation of the dynamic effects of explosions inside and outside the container as well as the analysis of the measurement regarding the pressure generated by the detonation of explosive charges, it turned out that the construction and detonation behavior of the tested container complies with the purpose and safety requirements for setting up a mobile explosive depot

MODELING AND SIMULATION OF ELECTRIC CARS USING MATLAB - SIMULINK

The desire to reduce pollution and price instability generated by the major share of fossil fuel use requires firm solutions for ecological transition of the economy, which must provide access to clean, safe and affordable energy. An important, seriously affected sector, being a competitive field with consistent limitations, is the transport system, where the use of alternative fuels or the use of electric cars is definitely a solution. The present paper presents an evaluation, through simulation in MATLAB-Simulink, of influence of parameters such as: vehicle frontal area, tire pressure, wind speed, road slope, aerodynamic coefficient and rolling resistance coefficient, in the power and energy balance and aspects that influence the optimal dimensioning of batteries and electric motor

A Live-Attenuated HSV-2 ICP0− Virus Elicits 10 to 100 Times Greater Protection against Genital Herpes than a Glycoprotein D Subunit Vaccine

Glycoprotein D (gD-2) is the entry receptor of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), and is the immunogen in the pharmaceutical industry's lead HSV-2 vaccine candidate. Efforts to prevent genital herpes using gD-2 subunit vaccines have been ongoing for 20 years at a cost in excess of $100 million. To date, gD-2 vaccines have yielded equivocal protection in clinical trials. Therefore, using a small animal model, we sought to determine if a live-attenuated HSV-2 ICP0− virus would elicit better protection against genital herpes than a gD-2 subunit vaccine. Mice immunized with gD-2 and a potent adjuvant (alum+monophosphoryl lipid A) produced high titers of gD-2 antibody. While gD-2-immunized mice possessed significant resistance to HSV-2, only 3 of 45 gD-2-immunized mice survived an overwhelming challenge of the vagina or eyes with wild-type HSV-2 (MS strain). In contrast, 114 of 115 mice immunized with a live HSV-2 ICP0− virus, 0ΔNLS, survived the same HSV-2 MS challenges. Likewise, 0ΔNLS-immunized mice shed an average 125-fold less HSV-2 MS challenge virus per vagina relative to gD-2-immunized mice. In vivo imaging demonstrated that a luciferase-expressing HSV-2 challenge virus failed to establish a detectable infection in 0ΔNLS-immunized mice, whereas the same virus readily infected naïve and gD-2-immunized mice. Collectively, these results suggest that a HSV-2 vaccine might be more likely to prevent genital herpes if it contained a live-attenuated HSV-2 virus rather than a single HSV-2 protein

DMTs and Covid-19 severity in MS: a pooled analysis from Italy and France

We evaluated the effect of DMTs on Covid-19 severity in patients with MS, with a pooled-analysis of two large cohorts from Italy and France. The association of baseline characteristics and DMTs with Covid-19 severity was assessed by multivariate ordinal-logistic models and pooled by a fixed-effect meta-analysis. 1066 patients with MS from Italy and 721 from France were included. In the multivariate model, anti-CD20 therapies were significantly associated (OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.39–3.02, p < 0.001) with Covid-19 severity, whereas interferon indicated a decreased risk (OR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.18–0.99, p = 0.047). This pooled-analysis confirms an increased risk of severe Covid-19 in patients on anti-CD20 therapies and supports the protective role of interferon

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to &lt;90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], &gt;300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of &lt;15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P&lt;0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P&lt;0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years