Livability of Urban Public Spaces in Northern Swedish Cities : The Case of Umeå

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Stimulation of the Na+/H+ exchanger in human endothelial cells activated by granulocyte- and granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor. Evidence for a role in proliferation and migration.

It has been shown that human endothelial cells (HEC) are stimulated to migrate and proliferate by granulocyte (G)- and granulocyte-macrophage (GM)-colony-stimulating factor (CSF) (Bussolino, F., Wang, J. M., Defilipii, P. Turrini, F., Sanavio, F., Edgell, C.-J. S., Aglietta, M., Arese, P., and Mantovani, A. (1989) Nature 337, 471-473). The rapid intracellular events initiated by these cytokines on binding to their receptors on HEC are not defined. Addition of G- or GM-CSF to HEC produced a rapid activation of Na+/H+ exchanger resulting in an increase in intracellular pH (pHi). Both cytokines induced an alkaline displacement in the pHi dependence of the exchanger without affecting the affinity for external Na+ (Nao) and the rate of exchanger. Ethylisopropylamiloride, a selective inhibitor of the Na+/H+ exchanger, inhibited the intracellular alkalinization, the migration, and proliferation induced by G- and GM-CSF. The data indicate that G- and GM-CSF initiate a rapid exchange of Na+ and H+ by means of the Na+/H+ exchanger and that this ethylisopropylamiloride-sensitive ions flux is important to the biological effects of these cytokines on HEC

A possible role for nitric oxide in modulating the functional cyclosporine toxicity by arginine

A possible role for nitric oxide in modulating the functional cyclosporine toxicity by arginine. The renal damage consequent to cyclosporine A (CsA) administration ranges from hemodynamic alterations to irreversible chronic lesions. The initial vasoconstriction depends upon the imbalance between the various modulators of the renal vascular tone, among which the most powerful are endothelins and nitric oxide (NO). CsA could play a crucial role by inhibiting the Ca++/calmodulin-mediated activation of the constitutive NO synthase (NOS) isoform, which converts L-arginine (L-Arg) into NO and citrulline, with a 1:1 stoichiometry. To investigate the possibility of modulating CsA nephrotoxicity with L-Arg we studied six groups (G) of Lewis rats treated with daily gavage up to eight weeks: G1, CsA 40 mg/kg; G2, G1 plus L-Arg 300 mg/kg; G3, G2 plus the competitive inhibitor of NOS, NG-nitro-L-Arg (L-NNA); G4, L-Arg alone; G5, L-NNA alone; and G6, controls receiving vehicle alone. After eight weeks L-Arg treated rats were protected against the toxic effects of CsA [creatinine (Cr) values, G2, 0.62 ± 0.05 mg/dl vs. G1, 0.99 ± 0.16 mg/dl, P < 0.001; proteinuria (P), G2, 7.2 ± 1.02 mg/day vs. G1, 15.1 ± 1.9 mg/day, P < 0.01]. The administration of L-NNA abolished the protective effect of L-Arg (G3, Cr 1.23 ± 0.16 mg/dl; P 16.9 = 2.3; P < 0.02 and P < 0.005, respectively vs. G2). The levels of Cr in G2 rats were superimposable to control groups. The NOS activity, evaluated by measuring [3H]citrulline formation from [3H]L-Arg in kidney homogenates, was blocked by L-NNA in G5 (0.019 ± 0.009 pmol/min/mg proteins vs. G6 0.047 ± 0.002, P < 0.01). NOS activity was significantly increased versus controls in G1 (0.110 ± 0.032, P < 0.01) and G2 (0.088 ± 0.009, P < 0.02), while L-NNA reversed this phenomenon (G3, 0.052 ± 0.03). The expression of mRNA encoding for cNOS and iNOS was only slightly increased in CsA-treated rats. We suggest that CsA treatment increases NOS activity in the kidney by a mechanism which does not require a de novo synthesis of the enzyme. Such an increase, that may be devoted to counterbalance the vasoconstrictive effects of the drug, is unable to reduce the toxic effect of CsA in the absence of exogenous L-Arg. Administration of L-Arg is likely to reduce CsA nephrotoxicity by accomplishing the higher request of activated NOS for its substrate, thus potentiating NO synthesis in the kidney.

La cátedra Diseño Industrial 2 B trabajó sobre dispositivos domésticos para desinfección en contexto de la pandemia del COVID-19

TRABAJOS: PROYECTO: Pul.sa / AUTORES: Pilar Peralta y Bautista Mugnaini PROYECTO: Numo / AUTORES: Tamara Toledo y Ramiro Ríos PROYECTO: Zenely / AUTORES: Sergio Olmedo y Manuel Reartes PROYECTO: Torretas de Ozono / AUTORES: Pedro Juan Delgado Bratti y Daniel Shen PROYECTO: ANCO / AUTORES: Belén Sol Quinteros y Bruno Mediavilla PROYECTO: Fructífero / AUTORES: Romina Escudero y Santiago Bognano PROYECTO: Acom / AUTORES: Ariadna Cevasco y M. Laura Gonzalez PROYECTO: NOZ / AUTORES: Camila Rapaline & Tomás Rodriguez BravoLa cátedra Diseño Industrial 2 B trabajó sobre dispositivos domésticos para desinfección en contexto de la pandemia del COVID-19 Compartimos los proyectos realizados por estudiantes de la cátedra Diseño Industrial 2B, que durante la primera parte del año, trabajaron sobre dispositivos domésticos para desinfección en contexto de la pandemia del COVID-19. Desde la Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño (Universidad Nacional de Córdoba) se iniciaron diferentes acciones para adaptar los contenidos de las carreras y atender a las diferentes necesidades sociales en el contexto de emergencia sanitaria. En ese sentido, la cátedra Diseño Industrial 2B se propuso situar la problemática de trabajo en las condiciones generadas por la pandemia del COVID-19, a partir de las cuales se generan cambios en la vida cotidiana, que afectan las actividades y llevan a incorporar nuevos hábitos y formas de relacionarse. La cátedra propuso a sus estudiantes pensar sistemas portátiles para el ámbito doméstico que permitieran la desinfección de elementos y pertenencias en el ingreso al domicilio. El trabajo práctico propuesto, abordó la complejidad de un producto-máquina desde su comprensión como sistema, con piezas intercambiables y/o combinables que posibilitan diferentes instancias de funcionamiento, abarcando la variablidad de escalas, tanto de relación manual como corporal, en cuanto a la observación de actividades, posturas y situaciones de uso.Fil: Oliva, Silvia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Cátedra Diseño Industrial; Argentina.Fil: de la Fuente, Federico. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Cátedra Diseño Industrial; Argentina.Fil: Speroni, Diego. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Cátedra Diseño Industrial; Argentina.Fil: Franco, Belén. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Cátedra Diseño Industrial; Argentina.Fil: Cagliero, Leonardo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Cátedra Diseño Industrial; Argentina.Fil: Parra, Javier. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Cátedra Diseño Industrial; Argentina.Fil: Talmon, Gaspar. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Cátedra Diseño Industrial; Argentina.Fil: Gili, Agustina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Cátedra Diseño Industrial; Argentina.Fil: Costamagna, Camila. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Cátedra Diseño Industrial; Argentina.Fil: Vélez, Simón. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Cátedra Diseño Industrial; Argentina.Fil: Giménez, Lucas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño. Cátedra Diseño Industrial; Argentina

Contrasting styles of (U)HP rock exhumation along the Cenozoic Adria-Europe plate boundary (Western Alps, Calabria, Corsica)

Since the first discovery of ultrahigh pressure (UHP) rocks 30 years ago in the Western Alps, the mechanisms for exhumation of (U)HP terranes worldwide are still debated. In the western Mediterranean, the presently accepted model of synconvergent exhumation (e.g., the channel-flow model) is in conflict with parts of the geologic record. We synthesize regional geologic data and present alternative exhumation mechanisms that consider the role of divergence within subduction zones. These mechanisms, i.e., (i) the motion of the upper plate away from the trench and (ii) the rollback of the lower plate, are discussed in detail with particular reference to the Cenozoic Adria-Europe plate boundary, and along three different transects (Western Alps, Calabria-Sardinia, and Corsica-Northern Apennines). In the Western Alps, (U)HP rocks were exhumed from the greatest depth at the rear of the accretionary wedge during motion of the upper plate away from the trench. Exhumation was extremely fast, and associated with very low geothermal gradients. In Calabria, HP rocks were exhumed from shallower depths and at lower rates during rollback of the Adriatic plate, with repeated exhumation pulses progressively younging toward the foreland. Both mechanisms were active to create boundary divergence along the Corsica-Northern Apennines transect, where European southeastward subduction was progressively replaced along strike by Adriatic northwestward subduction. The tectonic scenario depicted for the Western Alps trench during Eocene exhumation of (U)HP rocks correlates well with present-day eastern Papua New Guinea, which is presented as a modern analog of the Paleogene Adria-Europe plate boundary

Livability of Urban Public Spaces in Northern Swedish Cities : The Case of Umeå

This study explores how winter conditions are taken into accountin urban planning in the city of Umea in northern Sweden. Snow and harsh winter conditions are to some extent considered inurban planning in most northern towns in Sweden. Besides that, snow and ice could also be elements in the city attracting people and contribute to the design of public spaces. Current plans and interviews with planners were complemented with participatory observations. The results show that public spaces designed for both winter and summer seasons are preferred

Diagnostics and Prognostics-Oriented Modeling of an NGSR Fuel Processor for Application in SOFC Systems

Diagnostics and prognostics of natural gas steam reforming (NGSR) reactors are of utmost importance for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems, where a fuel processor fault can cause damage to the SOFC stack. Most common faults are due to carbon deposition. We investigate this phenomenon through a model based on microscopic mass, energy and momentum balances of a tubular NGSR reactor. The model includes a detailed local reaction kinetics specific for Ni-based catalysts, and is integrated numerically using a finite element method (FEM) implemented through COMSOL Multiphysics 5.2. Results obtained from the simulation of a laboratory scale reactor are validated on the basis of literature data. Furthermore, the model is applied to an NGSR fuel processor designed for an 1.1 kW SOFC system. The model allows to identify the area where carbon deposition is expected to occur, which is a key feature in view of developing specific diagnostic and prognostic tools. The simulation results demonstrate that safety criteria based on the feedstock steam to carbon (S/C) ratio can be misleading in a number of operating conditions

Contact metamorphism in Middle Ordovician arc rocks (SW Sardinia, Italy): new paleogeographic contraints

In the early Cambrian Bithia Formation in the Variscan foreland of Sardinia, a Middle Ordovician granitic intrusion (478\u2013457 Ma) is hosted by marly metasedimentary rocks that were affected by high-temperature (HT) metamorphism. A detailed structural\u2013petrographical transect was conducted through the granitic intrusion and its host rocks. Field data and relationships between HT/low-pressure (LP) mineral assemblages in the metasedimentary rocks (Grt + Wo + Ves in carbonate lenses and And in pelite) demonstrate that the study area was affected by a polyphase HT overprint (I: T = 520\u2013620\ub0C at XCO2 = 0.1, P: 0.2\u20130.4 GPa; and II: T = 600\u2013670\ub0C at XCO2 = 0.1, P = 0.2\u20130.4 GPa) that pre-dates the Variscan tectonic, metamorphic, and igneous phases. In the Canig\uf2 or Canigou Massif (Eastern Pyrenees), the Somail Massif (Montagne Noire), and the Ruitor Massif (Internal Massifs, NW Alps), Middle Ordovician orthogneiss with relict igneous textures are deciphered despite being overprinted by Variscan amphibolite-to-granulite-facies metamorphism and subsequent Alpine low-grade metamorphism. Comparisons of associated igneous and metasedimentary rocks in the Sardinia foreland with the High-Grade Metamorphic Complex in the Variscan Axial Zone and the Canigou Massif indicate a convergent Middle Ordovician evolution that was overprinted by HT Variscan metamorphism