Algebraic Discrete Nonlocal (DNL) Absorbing Boundary Condition for the Ship Wave Resistance Problem

An absorbing boundary condition for the ship wave resistance problem is presented. In contrast to the Dawson-like methods, it avoids the use of numerical viscosities in the discretization, so that a centered scheme can be used for the free surface operator. The absorbing boundary condition is “completely absorbing,” in the sense that the solution is independent of the position of the downstream boundary and is derived from straightforward analysis of the resulting constant-coefficients difference equations, assuming that the mesh is 1D-structured (in the longitudinal direction) and requires the eigen-decomposition of a matrix one dimension lower than the system matrix. The use of a centered scheme for the free surface operator allows a full finite element discretization. The drag is computed by a momentum flux balance. This method is more accurate and guarantees positive resistances

Computing ship wave resistance from wave amplitude with a non‐local absorbing boundary condition

A method for computing ship wave resistance from a momentum flux balance is presented. It is based on computing the momentum flux carried by the gravity waves that exit the computational domain through the outlet plane. It can be shown that this method ensures a non‐negative wave‐resistance, in contrast with straightforward integration of the normal pressure forces. However, this calculation should be performed on a transverse plane located far behind the ship. Traditional Dawson‐like methods add a numerical viscosity that dampens the wave pattern so that some amount of momentum flux is lost, and resulting in an error in the momentum balance. The flow field is computed, then, with a centred scheme with absorbing boundary conditions

Emergency decompressive craniectomy after removal of convexity meningiomas

BACKGROUND: Convexity meningiomas are benign brain tumors that are amenable to complete surgical resection and are associated with a low complication rate. The aim of this study was to identify factors that result in acute postoperative neurological worsening after the removal of convexity meningiomas. METHODS: Clinical evaluation and neuroradiological analysis of patients who underwent removal of a supratentorial convexity meningioma were reviewed. Patients were selected when their postoperative course was complicated by acute neurological deterioration requiring decompressive craniectomy. RESULTS: Six patients (mean age: 43.3 years) underwent surgical removal of a supratentorial convexity meningioma. Brain shift (mean: 9.9 mm) was evident on preoperative imaging due to lesions of varying size and perilesional edema. At various times postoperatively, patient consciousness worsened (up to decerebrate posture) with contralateral paresis and pupillary anisocoria. Computed tomography revealed no postoperative hematoma, however, did indicate increased brain edema and ventricular shift (mean: 12 mm). Emergency decompressive craniectomy and brief ventilator assistance were performed in all patients. Ischemia of the ipsilateral posterior cerebral artery occurred in 3 patients and hydrocephalus occurred in 2 patients. Outcome was good in 2, fair in 2, 1 patient had severe disability, and 1 patient died after 8 months. CONCLUSIONS: Brain shift on preoperative imaging is a substantial risk factor for postoperative neurological worsening in young adult patients after the removal of convexity meningiomas. Emergency decompressive craniectomy must be considered because it is effective in most cases. Other than consciousness impairment, there is no reliable clinical landmark to guide the decision to perform decompressive craniectomy; however, brain ischemia may have already occurred

The DNL absorbing boundary condition: applications to wave problems

A general methodology for developing absorbing boundary conditions is presented. For planar surfaces, it is based on a straightforward solution of the system of block difference equations that arise from partial discretization in the directions transversal to the artificial boundary followed by discretization on a constant step 1D grid in the direction normal to the boundary. This leads to an eigenvalue problem of the size of the number of degrees of freedom in the lateral discretization. The eigenvalues are classified as right- or left-going and the absorbing boundary condition consists in imposing a null value for the ingoing modes, leaving free the outgoing ones. Whereas the classification is straightforward for operators with definite sign, like the Laplace operator, a virtual dissipative mechanism has to be added in the mixed case, usually associated with wave propagation phenomena, like the Helmholtz equation. The main advantage of the method is that it can be implemented as a black-box routine, taking as input the coefficients of the linear system, obtained from standard discretization (FEM or FDM) packages and giving on output the absorption matrix. We present the application of the DNL methodology to typical wave problems, like Helmholtz equations and potential flow with free surface (the ship wave resistance and sea-keeping problems)

The DNL absorbing boundary condition: applications to wave problems

A general methodology for developing absorbing boundary conditions is presented. For planar surfaces, it is based on a straightforward solution of the system of block difference equations that arise from partial discretization in the directions transversal to the artificial boundary followed by discretization on a constant step 1D grid in the direction normal to the boundary. This leads to an eigenvalue problem of the size of the number of degrees of freedom in the lateral discretization. The eigenvalues are classified as right- or left-going and the absorbing boundary condition consists in imposing a null value for the ingoing modes, leaving free the outgoing ones. Whereas the classification is straightforward for operators with definite sign, like the Laplace operator, a virtual dissipative mechanism has to be added in the mixed case, usually associated with wave propagation phenomena, like the Helmholtz equation. The main advantage of the method is that it can be implemented as a black-box routine, taking as input the coefficients of the linear system, obtained from standard discretization (FEM or FDM) packages and giving on output the absorption matrix. We present the application of the DNL methodology to typical wave problems, like Helmholtz equations and potential flow with free surface (the ship wave resistance and sea-keeping problems)

A Fully Coupled Particle Method For Quasi Incompressible Fluid-Hypoelastic Structure Interactions

We present a general formulation for the simulation of fluid flows in interation with hypoelastic materials using the particle finite element method (PFEM). The fluid is fully coupled with the structures which can undergo large structural displacements, rotations and deformations. The key feature of the PFEM is the use of an updated Lagrangian description to model the motion of nodes (particles) in both the fluid and the structure domains. A mesh connects the nodes defining the discretized domains where the governing equations, expresed in an integral form, are solved as in the standard FEM. The implemented code is used to solve a number of fluid-structure interaction problems including free-fluid surfaces and breaking waves impacting over hypoelastic structures.Fil: Marti, Julio Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Idelsohn, Sergio Rodolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Limache, Alejandro Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: Calvo, Nestor Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; ArgentinaFil: D'elia, Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química; Argentin

A magnetar powering the ordinary monster GRB 130427A?

We present the analysis of the extraordinarily bright Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) 130427A under the hypothesis that the GRB central engine is an accretion-powered magnetar. In this framework, initially proposed to explain GRBs with precursor activity, the prompt emission is produced by accretion of matter onto a newly-born magnetar, and the observed power is related to the accretion rate. The emission is eventually halted if the centrifugal forces are able to pause accretion. We show that the X-ray and optical afterglow is well explained as the forward shock emission with a jet break plus a contribution from the spin-down of the magnetar. Our modelling does not require any contribution from the reverse shock, that may still influence the afterglow light curve at radio and mm frequencies, or in the optical at early times. We derive the magnetic field ($B\sim 10^{16}$ G) and the spin period ($P\sim 20$ ms) of the magnetar and obtain an independent estimate of the minimum luminosity for accretion. This minimum luminosity results well below the prompt emission luminosity of GRB 130427A, providing a strong consistency check for the scenario where the entire prompt emission is the result of continuous accretion onto the magnetar. This is in agreement with the relatively long spin period of the magnetar. GRB 130427A was a well monitored GRB showing a very standard behavior and, thus, is a well-suited benchmark to show that an accretion-powered magnetar gives a unique view of the properties of long GRBs.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter

TTF-1, a homeodomain-containing transcription factor, participates in the control of body fluid homeostasis by regulating angiotensinogen gene transcription in the rat subfornical organ.

In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that angiotensins synthesized in the brain contribute to regulating body fluid homeostasis. Although angiotensinogen, the unique angiotensin precursor, is produced in the brain, the factors that regulate its gene expression remain unknown. We recently found that TTF-1, a homeodomain-containing transcription factor essential for the development of the fetal diencephalon, is postnatally expressed in discrete areas of the hypothalamus. We now report that the subfornical organ, an important site of angiotensinogen synthesis, is an extra-hypothalamic site of TTF-1 expression. Double in situ hybridization histochemistry demonstrated the presence of TTF-1 mRNA in angiotensinogen-producing cells of the rat subfornical organ. RNase protection assays showed that TTF-1 and angiotensinogen mRNA levels are simultaneously increased in the subfornical organ by water deprivation. The angiotensinogen promoter contains seven presumptive TTF-1 binding motifs, four of which are recognized by the TTF-1 homeodomain. In the C6 glioma cell line, TTF-1 transactivates the angiotensinogen promoter in a dose-dependent manner. This transactivation is abolished by deletion of the TTF-1 binding motif at -125. Intracranial administration of an antisense TTF-1 oligodeoxynucleotide decreased angiotensinogen mRNA in the subfornical organ and dramatically reduced the animal's water intake while increasing urine excretion. Moreover, plasma arginine vasopressin content was decreased by the same treatment. These results demonstrate a novel role for TTF-1 in the regulation of body fluid homeostasis, exerted via the transactivational control of angiotensinogen synthesis in the subfornical organ

Comparison of the effects of continuous positive airway pressure, oral appliance and exercise training in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

OBJECTIVE: There are several treatments for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, such as weight loss, use of an oral appliance and continuous positive airway pressure, that can be used to reduce the signs and symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of a physical training program compared with other treatments. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of physical exercise on subjective and objective sleep parameters, quality of life and mood in obstructive sleep apnea patients and to compare these effects with the effects of continuous positive airway pressure and oral appliance treatments. METHODS: Male patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and body mass indices less than 30 kg/m2 were randomly assigned to three groups: continuous positive airway pressure (n = 9), oral appliance (n = 9) and physical exercise (n = 7). Polysomnographic recordings, blood samples and daytime sleepiness measurements were obtained prior to and after two months of physical exercise or treatment with continuous positive airway pressure or an oral appliance. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01289392 RESULTS: After treatment with continuous positive airway pressure or an oral appliance, the patients presented with a significant reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index. We did not observe changes in the sleep parameters studied in the physical exercise group. However, this group presented reductions in the following parameters: T leukocytes, very-low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides. Two months of exercise training also had a positive impact on subjective daytime sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that isolated physical exercise training was able to modify only subjective daytime sleepiness and some blood measures. Continuous positive airway pressure and oral appliances modified the apnea-hypopnea index.AFIPCEPECEMSACNPqFAPESPUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de PsicobiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de Psicobiologia2009/01031-1 e 98/14303-3SciEL

Thyroid Transcription Factor-1 Facilitates Cerebrospinal Fluid Formation by Regulating Aquaporin-1 Synthesis in the Brain

In the brain, aquaporin-1 (AQP-1), a water channel for high osmotic water permeability, is mainly expressed in the apical membrane of the ventricular choroid plexus and regulates formation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Although the physiology of AQP-1 has been the subject of several publications, much less is known about the trans-acting factors involved in the control of AQP-1 gene expression. Here we report that TTF-1, a homeodomain-containing transcriptional regulator, is coexpressed with AQP-1 in the rat brain choroid plexus and enhances AQP-1 gene transcription by binding to conserved core TTF-1-binding motifs in the 5'-flanking region of the AQP-1 gene. Intracerebroventricular administration of an antisense TTF-1 oligodeoxynucleotide significantly decreased AQP-1 synthesis and reduced CSF formation. In addition, blockade of TTF-1 synthesis increased survival of the animals following acute water intoxication-induced brain edema. These results suggest that TTF-1 is physiologically involved in the transcriptional control of AQP-1, which is required for CSF formation