Residual-free bubbles for advection-diffusion problems: the general error analysis

We develop the general a priori error analysis of residual-free bubble finite element approximations to linear elliptic convection-dominated diffusion problems subject to homogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition. Optimal-order error bounds are derived in various norms, using piecewise polynomial finite elements of degree greater than or equal to 1

Discontinuous Galerkin methods for first-order hyperbolic problems

In this paper we consider discontinuous Galerkin (DG) finite element approximations of a model scalar linear hyperbolic equation. We show that in order to ensure continuous stabilization of the method it suffices to add a jump-penalty-term to the discretized equation. In particular, the method does not require upwinding in the usual sense. For a specific value of the penalty parameter we recover the classical discontinuous Galerkin method with upwind numerical flux function. More generally, using discontinuous piecewise polynomials of degree $k$, the familiar optimal $\mathcal{O}(h^{k+1/2})$ error estimate is proved for any value of the penalty parameter. As precisely the same jump -term is used for the purposes of stabilizing DG approximations of advection-diffusion operators, the discretization proposed here can simplify the construction of discontinuous Galerkin finite element approximations of advection-diffusion problems. Moreover, the use of the jump-stabilization makes the analysis simpler and more elegant

Famiglie numerose e famiglie atipiche in Italia al censimento del 2001.

By the data of the 2001census of the Italian population we consider the characteristics of the households of at least two people which are not a family unit, the large households of at least six persons and those with some foreign members. These three groups of households are at the margins of the prevailing type consisting of a couple with or without children and therefore, we define them “atypical”. Because of the small size of these groups, they can hardly analysed with data from sample surveys The households of two persons which are not a family are 477 thousand. The most important are those consisting of brothers / sisters (or brothers in law/ sisters in law), followed by those of a parent and a son separated or divorced, then by those consisting of other relatives (mostly grandfather / grandchild or uncle / nephew) and finally those of individuals linked by a bond of affection. The latter are 56 thousands, 38% with people of different sex and the rest with same sex people, half consisting of men only and half of women only. The large households are 370 thousand. They constitute an aggregate heterogeneous with respect to their structure, including also the households without a family, couples without children and other members added and households with many families. They are a different set from that formed by the families with numerous children (for symmetry with at least four children). This one includes 210 thousand families, of which 185 thousand are couples with children and 25 thousand single parents with children

A simple preconditioner for a discontinuous Galerkin method for the Stokes problem

In this paper we construct Discontinuous Galerkin approximations of the Stokes problem where the velocity field is H(div)-conforming. This implies that the velocity solution is divergence-free in the whole domain. This property can be exploited to design a simple and effective preconditioner for the final linear system.Comment: 27 pages, 4 figure

Modeling Subgrid Viscosity for Advection--Diffusion Problems

We analyse the effect of the subgrid viscosity on a finite element discretisation, with piecewise linear elements, of a linear advection-diffusion scalar equation. We point out the importance of a proper tune-up of the viscosity coefficient, and we propose a heuristic method for obtaining reasonable values for it. The extension to more general problems is then hinted in the last section

Recovery and Maintenance Scenarios for the Productive Landascape

The research experience performed by the Reuse, Recovery and Maintenance Laboratory (LRRM) of DiARC refers to PRIN project “The defence of the landscape between conservation and transformation. Economics and beauty for sustainable development”. The researchhas addressed the issue of the rebalancing of the relationship between physical space, established communities, economies. The productive urban landscape of Torre Annunziata, identified as a case study, has been analyzed as a complex and adaptive system. It is the result of processes that have determined, in time, the identity of the territories. The paper illustrates the methodology for interpretation of built environment. The work is aimed to identify the conservative and transformative vocations, to draw project scenarios compatible with Raccomandation of Historic Urban Landscape Unesco, 2011

Full integration of teaching 'Medical Humanities' in the medical curriculum: the challenge of the florence medical school.

Mankind has always longed to preserve and improve health. However, inherent in the practice of medicine lies the possibility of danger. Overlying the problem is the role of the medical profession, the skills it proclaims to profess and its relationship with the patient. Members of the medical profession are often criticized for overriding the wishes of the patient or for acting without informed consent [1]. The role of informed consent is one of the great challenges to the ethics and practice of modern medicine. The aim of this letter is to point out how education in Medical Humanities can enhance physicians' education and facilitate a different approach towards the relationship with the patient. Medicine began by espousing a paternalistic attitude towards medical treatments, which were continued in spite of the patient's disapproval or ignorance. In recent times the concept of informed consent, based on information given to the patient regarding the means of treatment, its benefits and risks, has come to the fore. Very often, however, the patient may not clearly understand the situation, due to the inaccessibility of medical language to the great majority of the population. Furthermore, the great expansion of the Internet and of the media in general has produced an undesired effect: patients very often arrive in the outpatient clinic having already looked for alternative sources of information. This can place strains on the physicianpatient relationship since patients do not possess the medical knowledge needed to evaluate the quality of the information they have already obtained and doctors have difficulties in countering misinformation in their patients. Consequently, it is first necessary to clear away prejudices that can endanger the decision making process; thus physicians must spend more time in reaching increased patient involvement. However, a subjective approach is not enough to obtain the generalized satisfaction of patients: the establishment of a partnership between physician and patient is the winning choice, but it has to face the constant pressure of time. Time is therefore a fundamental key in facilitating the passage from compliance to concordance [2]. The other basic problem is that of language. Medical language has always been the expression of a closed social class: even the Hippocratic oath places emphasis on the fact that medical education is to be directed to the doctor's sons, the sons of his mentor and to the students who are going to swear the medical oath, but to nobody else. Not surprisingly, while other languages for special purposes have become institutionalized only in recent times, medical language was already shaped in the 13th century, confirming the ancient attitude of considering the medical class a privileged entity that acted as a repository of knowledge which could not be shared [3]. The in-depth study of the History of Medicine can be of aid in fully understanding current linguistic medical patterns and, most importantly, in avoiding the repetition of the errors of the past in the patient-physician relationship. A comprehensive awareness of medical ethics and professional deontology includes a correct attitude towards the patient, an attitude that begins from a clear and understandable language. With regard to this, recent deliberations on the medical profession have emphasized that the incorrect use of jargon has widened the distance between doctor and patient, creating a discontinuity between them, while, on the contrary, this distance should be bridged by the avoidance of ambiguous words, complicated expressions and complex concepts. To give some examples: the Salk vaccination for poliomyelitis has been abbreviated in so many ways that any reader may have difficulties in identifying them all; similarly, idiopathic myeloid splenomegaly has 12 synonyms in English, 13 in German and 31 in French [4]. The international classification of diseases, published by the World Health Organization, is ignored by the greater part of the medical community. It is also rejected by some medical schools, that follow their own local traditions of terminology. It is therefore necessary to put some order into medical language, to allow clarity of communication with the general public. Physicians must know how to speak with the patient and not to the patient and therefore they must abandon their jargon and their superior attitude. If their language is to be understood, it must be adapted to the specific needs of the patient. The doctor's code must correspond to that of the patient, particularly with respect to risks and benefits, and this can be the result only of a precise management of the relationship. How may these aims be reached? We think that Medical Humanities can play a fundamental role in the education of physicians. The History of Medicine, that has become a specific academic discipline in many European countries during the 20th century, has endowed itself with a triad of basic principles, which deal with its relevance in helping physicians to acquire clinical and epidemiological knowledge, its role in legitimatizing the rise of professional experts, and its function as a school of ethics, proposing a continuous reflection on the everyday profession and favouring the development of the exercise of criticism

Cantú syndrome: A new case and evolution of clinical conditions during first 2-year follow-up

: Cantú syndrome, or hypertrichotic osteochondrodysplasia, is a rare autosomal dominant disease characterized by congenital hypertrichosis, characteristic dysmorphisms, skeletal abnormalities and cardiomegaly. We report on a 7-year-old girl with congenital generalized hypertrichosis, coarse facial appearance and cardiac involvement, with a de novo heterozygous mutation (c.3461G > A) in the ABCC9 gene. During the annual cardiac follow-up at the age of nine the echocardiogram showed mild left ventricular dilatation in consideration of which she started ramipril treatment. The progression of the clinical manifestations of Cantú syndrome highlights the relevance of an early diagnosis, including genetic analysis, and a multidisciplinary approach with long-term follow-up

An Italian multicentre study on adult atopic dermatitis: persistent versus adult-onset disease.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory skin disease which predominantly affects children. However, AD may persist until adulthood (persistent AD), or directly start in adults (adult-onset AD). AD often shows a non-flexural rash distribution, and atypical morphologic variants in adults and specific diagnostic criteria are lacking. Moreover, adult AD prevalence as well as detailed data which can characterize persistent vs adult-onset subtype are scant. The aim of this study was to investigate on the main features of adult AD particularly highlighting differences between persistent vs adult-onset form. An Italian multicentre observational study was conducted between April 2015-July 2016 through a study-specific digital database. 253 adult AD patients were enrolled. Familiar history of AD was negative in 81.0%. Erythemato-desquamative pattern was the most frequent clinical presentation (74.3%). Flexural surface of upper limbs was most commonly involved (47.8%), followed by eyelid/periocular area (37.9%), hands (37.2%), and neck (32%). Hypertension (7.1%) and thyroiditis (4.3%) were the most frequent comorbidities. A subgroup analysis between persistent (59.7%) vs adult-onset AD patients (40.3%) showed significant results only regarding AD severity (severe disease was more common in persistent group, p < 0.05), itch intensity (higher in adult-onset disease), and comorbidities (hypertension was more frequent in adult-onset group, p < 0.01). Adult AD showed uncommon features such as significant association with negative AD family history and lacking of association with systemic comorbidities respect to general population. No significant differences among persistent vs adult-onset subgroup were registered except for hypertension, itch intensity, and disease severity