Coercive domain decomposition algorithms for advection-diffusion equations and systems

Two families of non-overlapping coercive domain decomposition methods are proposed for the numerical approximation of advection dominated advection-diffusion equations and systems. Convergence is proven for both the continuous and the discrete problem. The rate of convergence of the first method is shown to be independent of the number of degrees of freedom. Several numerical results are presented, showing the efficiency and robustness of the proposed iterative algorithms

SWEET - User manual (version 2.0)

SWEET (Shallow Water Equations Evolving in Time) is a code for the solution of the 2D de Saint Venant equations, written in their conservative form. The code adopts a Finite Differences scheme to advance in time, with a fractional step procedure. The space discretization is realized through Finite Elements, with a linear representation of the water elevation and a quadratic representation of the unit- width discharge. In this document, the physical model and the numerical schemes used for solving the resulting equations are extensively described. The accuracy of the scheme is verified in different test cases. The sequential algorithm has been ported in the parallel computing framework by using the domain decomposition approach. The Schwarz algorithm has been added to the scheme for preconditioning the iterative solution of the elliptic equation modeling the dynamics of the elevation of the water level. The performance of the parallel code are evaluated on a large size computational test case. The structure of the code is explained by a description of the role of each sub- routine and by a flowchart of the program. The input and output files are described in detail, as they constitute the user interface of the code. Both input and output files have a simple structure, and any effort has been made to simplify the procedure of the input setup for the parallel code, and to manage the output results. The PVM message passing library has been used to perform the communications in the parallel version of SWEET. A short introduction to PVM is added at the end of the present report. The SWEET package is the results of a joint work between CRS4 and Enel - Polo Idraulico e Strutturale. The authors of this document kindly acknowledge the valuable contributions of Vincenzo Pennati, from Enel - Polo Idraulico e Strutturale, and of Luca Formaggia, Alfio Quarteroni and Alan Scheinine, from CRS4. This manual is an extension and revision of the SWEET User Manual Version 1.0, 1996. The author of the former document, as well as of the largest part of the SWEET code, is Davide Ambrosi, currently at Politecnico di Torino. To him, not only our sincere thank is due, but mainly the recognizance that SWEET is and will remain a work of his

La representación gráfica como instrumento de análisis socio-ambiental de entornos urbanos: aplicación a un estudio longitudinal sobre la «construcción» de espacio público y su impacto social

Documentar la construcción de nuevos espacios urbanos y evaluar los procesos de interacción de las personas con estos nuevos entornos debería ser una práctica habitual para mejorar el desarrollo de la ciudad. El análisis de los procesos que han promovido la creación del espacio público ha sido frecuentemente abordado, al menos por lo que respectaa Barcelona, desde diversos ámbitos académicos: arquitectura, sociología, psicología ambiental, en el mejor de los casos de forma interdisciplinar, sin llegar propiamente a ser una práctica trans-disciplinar.Peer Reviewe

IL-10 plays a pivotal role in anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol in activated microglia cells

The development of agents that can modulate microglial activation has been suggested as one potential strategy for the treatment or prevention of neurodegenerative diseases. Among these agents, resveratrol, with its anti-inflammatory action, has been described to have neuroprotective effects. In this paper we demonstrate that in LPS-stimulated microglia resveratrol pretreatment reduced, in a dose-dependent manner, pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA expression and increased the release of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10. Moreover, resveratrol pretreatment up-regulated the phosphorylated forms of JAK1 and STAT3, as well as suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)3 protein expression in LPS activated cells, demonstrating that the JAK-STAT signaling pathway is involved in the anti-inflammatory effect exerted by resveratrol. By supplementing the cultures with an IL-10 neutralizing antibody (IL-10NA) we obtained the opposite effect. Taken together, these data allow us to conclude that the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory response in microglial cells can be markedly reduced by resveratrol, through IL-10 dependent up-regulation of SOCS3, requiring the JAK-STAT signaling pathway

La representación gráfica como instrumento de análisis socio-ambiental de entornos urbanos: aplicación a un estudio longitudinal sobre la “construcción” de espacio público y su impacto social

Ponència presentada a: Session 8: Dimensiones psicosociales de la arquitectura y el urbanismo / Psycological dimensions of architecture and plannin

Salidas de campo: Las visitas a los lugares como instrumento de la aproximación transdisciplinar

En esta comunicación, se describe la experiencia de salidas de campo que se realiza en el marco del Postgrado 'Análisis e Intervención Social y Ambiental: Entornos urbanos, Comunidad y Sostenibilidad' (UB-UAB). Éstas se circunscriben al entorno urbano y tienen como finalidad, facilitar a los científicos sociales conceptos e instrumentos para profundizar en el conocimiento técnico del entorno construido donde se da la interacción de los fenómenos sociales y ambientales

Hacia una metodología de seguimiento del Trabajo Final de Postgrado: Diseño, aplicación y evaluación

Se presenta la aplicación y evaluación de una metodología de tutorización de los Trabajos Finales de Postgrado cuya finalidad es contribuir a la emprendeduría y la ocupabilidad de los estudiantes. La metodología consistió en la compartimentación de tareas, calendarización y seguimiento continuo de los trabajos. Los resultados muestran una valoración positiva de la actividad por parte de la mayoría del estudiantado, señalando que el tipo de trabajo exigido se ajusta a las tareas profesionales

The Melanocortin MC5R as a New Target for Treatment of High Glucose-Induced Hypertrophy of the Cardiac H9c2 Cells

The study explored the anti-hypertrophic effect of the melanocortin MC5R stimulation in H9c2 cardiac myocytes exposed to high glucose. This has been done by using α-MSH and selective MC5R agonists and assessing the expression of GLUT4 and GLUT1 transporters, miR-133 and urotensin receptor levels as a marker of cardiac hypertrophy. The study shows for the first time an up-regulation of MC5R expression levels in H9c2 cardiomyocytes exposed to high glucose medium (33 mM D-glucose) for 48 h, compared to cells grown in normal glucose medium (5.5 mM D-glucose). Moreover, H9c2 cells exposed to high glucose showed a significant reduction in cell viability (-40%), a significant increase in total protein per cell number (+109%), and an increase of the urotensin receptor expression levels as an evidence of cells hypertrophy. The pharmacological stimulation of MC5R with α-MSH (90 pM)of the high glucose exposed H9c2 cells increased the cell survival (+50,8%) and reduced the total protein per cell number (-28,2%) with respect to high glucose alone, confirming a reduction of the hypertrophic state as per cell area measurement. Similarly, PG-901 (selective agonist, 10-10 M) significantly increased cell viability (+61,0 %) and reduced total protein per cell number (-40,2%), compared to cells exposed to high glucose alone. Interestingly, the MC5R agonist reduced the GLUT1/GLUT4 glucose transporters ratio on the cell membranes exhibited by the hypertrophic H9c2 cells and increased the intracellular PI3K activity, mediated by a decrease of the levels of the miRNA miR-133a. The beneficial effects of MC5R agonism on the cardiac hypertrophy caused by high glucose was also observed also by echocardiographic evaluations of rats made diabetics with streptozotocin (65 mg/kg i.p.). Therefore, the melanocortin MC5R could be a new target for the treatment of high glucose-induced hypertrophy of the cardiac H9c2 cells

Resolvin D1 Modulates the Intracellular VEGF-Related miRNAs of Retinal Photoreceptors Challenged With High Glucose

Stimulation of retinal photoreceptors with elevated glucose concentration (30 mM) for 96 h, served as diabetic retinopathy in vitro model to study Resolvin D1 (50 nM) effects on neovascularization. VEGF and anti-angiogenic miR-20a-3p, miR-20a-5p, miR-106a- 5p, and miR-20b expression was assessed either in photoreceptors exposed to HG or in exosomes released by those cells. High glucose increased VEGF levels and concurrently decreased anti-angiogenic miRNAs content in photoreceptors and exosomes. RvD1 reverted the effects of glucose damage in photoreceptors and exosomal pro-angiogenic potential, tested with the HUVEC angiogenesis assay. By activating FPR2 receptor, RvD1 modulated both the expression of anti-angiogenic miRNA, which decrease VEGF, and the pro-angiogenic potential of exosomes released by primary retinal cells. HUVEC transfection with miR-20a-3p, miR-20a-5p, miR-106a-5p, and miR-20b antagomirs, followed by exposure to exosomes from photoreceptors, confirmed the VEGF-related miRNAs mechanism and the anti-angiogenic effects of RvD1

Cholesterol and Its Metabolites in Tumor Growth: Therapeutic Potential of Statins in Cancer Treatment

Cholesterol is essential for cell function and viability. It is a component of the plasma membrane and lipid rafts and is a precursor for bile acids, steroid hormones, and Vitamin D. As a ligand for estrogen-related receptor alpha (ESRRA), cholesterol becomes a signaling molecule. Furthermore, cholesterol-derived oxysterols activate liver X receptors (LXRs) or estrogen receptors (ERs). Several studies performed in cancer cells reveal that cholesterol synthesis is enhanced compared to normal cells. Additionally, high serum cholesterol levels are associated with increased risk for many cancers, but thus far, clinical trials with 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) have had mixed results. Statins inhibit cholesterol synthesis within cells through the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate and cholesterol synthetic pathway. Many downstream products of mevalonate have a role in cell proliferation, since they are required for maintenance of membrane integrity; signaling, as some proteins to be active must undergo prenylation; protein synthesis, as isopentenyladenine is an essential substrate for the modification of certain tRNAs; and cell-cycle progression. In this review starting from recent acquired findings on the role that cholesterol and its metabolites fulfill in the contest of cancer cells, we discuss the results of studies focused to investigate the use of statins in order to prevent cancer growth and metastasis