Geometric control condition for the wave equation with a time-dependent observation domain

We characterize the observability property (and, by duality, the controllability and the stabilization) of the wave equation on a Riemannian manifold $\Omega,$ with or without boundary, where the observation (or control) domain is time-varying. We provide a condition ensuring observability, in terms of propagating bicharacteristics. This condition extends the well-known geometric control condition established for fixed observation domains. As one of the consequences, we prove that it is always possible to find a time-dependent observation domain of arbitrarily small measure for which the observability property holds. From a practical point of view, this means that it is possible to reconstruct the solutions of the wave equation with only few sensors (in the Lebesgue measure sense), at the price of moving the sensors in the domain in an adequate way.We provide several illustrating examples, in which the observationdomain is the rigid displacement in $\Omega$ of a fixed domain, withspeed $v,$ showing that the observability property depends both on $v$and on the wave speed. Despite the apparent simplicity of some of ourexamples, the observability property can depend on nontrivial arithmeticconsiderations

Beyond Restoration. Valorization of the Public. Monumental Heritage Asset The Istituto degli Innocenti and the MUDI Project

While protection of our collective monumental heritage is a value and an objective we pass along to future generations, at the same time it must be conceived of a commitment to making these assets available to citizens of the present time. This means applying the disciplines of preservation and restoration and at the same time going beyond with a cultural approach that interprets the monumental asset as a fabbrica; that is, as a place of ongoing design activity: a workshop for a work in progress. This approach necessitates programs for valorization and productive investments that operate in full respect of the assets themselves while employing the innovative tools available for ensuring that the asset as a whole produces income. This is the framework for the MUDI project in Florence

Management of an Oral Ingestion of Transdermal Fentanyl Patches: A Case Report and Literature Review

Purpose. Fentanyl is available as a transdermal system for the treatment of chronic pain in opioid-tolerant patients; however, it carries a black box warning due to both the potency of the product and the potential for abuse. In this report, we describe a case of transbuccal and gastrointestinal ingestion of fentanyl patches and the management of such ingestion. Summary. A 32-year-old man was brought to the emergency department (ED) via emergency medical services for toxic ingestion and suicide attempt. The patient chewed and ingested two illegally purchased transdermal fentanyl patches. In the ED, the patient was obtunded, dizzy and drowsy. Initial vital signs showed the patient to be afebrile and normotensive with a heart rate of 63, respiratory rate of 16, and oxygen saturation of 100% on 2 liters nasal cannula after administration of 2 milligrams of intravenous naloxone. The patient was treated with whole bowel irrigation and continuous intravenous naloxone infusion for approximately 48 hours without complications. Conclusion. Despite numerous case reports describing oral ingestion of fentanyl patches, information on the management of such intoxication is lacking. We report successful management of such a case utilizing whole bowel irrigation along with intravenous push and continuous infusion naloxone

Mixed finite element approximation for a coupled petroleum reservoir model

In this paper, we are interested in the modelling and the finite element approximation of a petroleum reservoir, in axisymmetric form. The flow in the porous medium is governed by the Darcy-Forchheimer equation coupled with a rather exhaustive energy equation. The semi-discretized problem is put under a mixed variational formulation, whose approximation is achieved by means of conservative Raviart-Thomas elements for the fluxes and of piecewise constant elements for the pressure and the temperature. The discrete problem thus obtained is well-posed and a posteriori error estimates are also established. Numerical tests are presented validating the developed code

Central Application of Aliskiren, a Renin Inhibitor, Improves Outcome After Experimental Stroke Independent of Its Blood Pressure Lowering Effect

Epidemiological studies suggest that pharmacological reduction of systemic hypertension lowers incidence and severity of stroke. However, whether the reduction of blood pressure per se or the compounds used to reduce hypertension are responsible for this effect received little attention. In the current study we therefore aimed to investigate whether Aliskiren, a renin-inhibitor used to treat arterial hypertension, may improve outcome in a mouse model of ischemic stroke when applied centrally and in a dose not affecting blood pressure. Male C57BL/6 mice received 0.6, 2.0, or 6.0 mu g Aliskiren or vehicle by intracerebroventricular injection as a pre-treatment and were then subjected to 60 min of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo). Infarct volume, brain edema formation, mortality, antioxidant effects, and functional outcome were assessed up to seven days after MCAo. Central administration of Aliskiren (0.6 or 2.0 mu g) had no effect on systemic blood pressure but significantly reduced infarct volume and brain edema formation, blunted mortality, and improved neurological outcome up to 1 week after MCAo. Due to the central and prophylactic administration of the compound, we cannot make any conclusions about the potency of Aliskiren for acute stroke treatment, however, our study clearly demonstrates, that in addition to lowering blood pressure Aliskiren seems to have a direct neuroprotective effect. Hence, renin-inhibitors may be an effective addition to prophylactic treatment regimens in stroke patients

Complete Genome Sequence of Mesorhizobium ciceri Strain CC1192, an Efficient Nitrogen-Fixing Microsymbiont of Cicer arietinum.

We report the complete genome sequence of Mesorhizobium ciceri strain CC1192, an efficient nitrogen-fixing microsymbiont of Cicer arietinum (chickpea). The genome consists of 6.94 Mb distributed between a single chromosome (6.29 Mb) and a plasmid (0.65 Mb)