Reliability of third-order moment parameterization for models of turbulent boundary layer over gentle topography

An analysis is made of the transport equation of Reynolds shear stress, written in a streamline coordinate system, starting from the fields of first- and secondorder moments of wind velocity, measured in a terrain-following system over gentle topography, in order to verify the usual parameterizations of third-order moments. The equation is split into two parts: the first contains the terms which can be calculated directly from measurements, the second involves the pressure-velocity correlation considering the terms of rapid distortion, curvature and return to isotropy and the transport of triple velocity-correlation modelled assuming a flux-gradient approximation. Moreover, the error estimates associated with both parts have been computed using a Monte Carlo technique which takes into account the experimental errors. This analysis is performed on wind tunnel data over a gently shaped two-dimensional valley and hill. The comparison between the measured and modelled parts is good near the surface, whereas, at higher levels, where the pertubations induced by the topography are significant, there are large zones generally characterized by streamlines with concave curvature in which the flux-gradient approximation used to compute the triple product correlation cannot be applied

Sharp estimates for solutions to elliptic problems with mixed boundary conditions

We show, using symmetrization techniques, that it is possible to prove a comparison principle (we are mainly focused on $L^1$ comparison) between solutions to an elliptic partial differential equation on a smooth bounded set $\Omega$ with a rather general boundary condition, and solutions to a suitable related problem defined on a ball having the same volume as $\Omega$. This includes for instance mixed problems where Dirichlet boundary conditions are prescribed on part of the boundary, while Robin boundary conditions are prescribed on its complement

Existence of minimizers for eigenvalues of the Dirichlet-Laplacian with a drift

This paper deals with the eigenvalue problem for the operator L=-δ-x{dot operator}∇ with Dirichlet boundary conditions. We are interested in proving the existence of a set minimizing any eigenvalue λk of L under a suitable measure constraint suggested by the structure of the operator. More precisely we prove that for any c>0 and k∈N the following minimization problemmin<>{λk(Ω):Ωquasi-openset,∫Ωe|x|2/2dx≤c} has a solution

Effect of a multifactorial fall-and-fracture risk assessment and management program on gait and balance performances and disability in hospitalized older adults: a controlled study

Summary: This controlled intervention study in hospitalized oldest old adults showed that a multifactorial fall-and-fracture risk assessment and management program, applied in a dedicated geriatric hospital unit, was effective in improving fall-related physical and functional performances and the level of independence in activities of daily living in high-risk patients. Introduction: Hospitalization affords a major opportunity for interdisciplinary cooperation to manage fall-and-fracture risk factors in older adults. This study aimed at assessing the effects on physical performances and the level of independence in activities of daily living (ADL) of a multifactorial fall-and-fracture risk assessment and management program applied in a geriatric hospital setting. Methods: A controlled intervention study was conducted among 122 geriatric inpatients (mean ± SD age, 84 ± 7years) admitted with a fall-related diagnosis. Among them, 92 were admitted to a dedicated unit and enrolled into a multifactorial intervention program, including intensive targeted exercise. Thirty patients who received standard usual care in a general geriatric unit formed the control group. Primary outcomes included gait and balance performances and the level of independence in ADL measured 12 ± 6days apart. Secondary outcomes included length of stay, incidence of in-hospital falls, hospital readmission, and mortality rates. Results: Compared to the usual care group, the intervention group had significant improvements in Timed Up and Go (adjusted mean difference [AMD] = −3.7s; 95% CI = −6.8 to −0.7; P = 0.017), Tinetti (AMD = −1.4; 95% CI = −2.1 to −0.8; P < 0.001), and Functional Independence Measure (AMD = 6.5; 95%CI = 0.7-12.3; P = 0.027) test performances, as well as in several gait parameters (P < 0.05). Furthermore, this program favorably impacted adverse outcomes including hospital readmission (hazard ratio = 0.3; 95% CI = 0.1-0.9; P = 0.02). Conclusions: A multifactorial fall-and-fracture risk-based intervention program, applied in a dedicated geriatric hospital unit, was effective and more beneficial than usual care in improving physical parameters related to the risk of fall and disability among high-risk oldest old patient

Effect of dietary antioxidant supplementation on rabbit performance, meat quality and oxidative stability of muscles

[EN] The aim of this study was to cast light on the effects of EconomasE™ (EcoE), a patented pre-mixture of nutritional additives consisting mainly of organic selenium (0.15 or 0.30 mg/kg feed; Se) combined with vitamin C (5 and 10 mg/kg feed; VC), compared to DL-α-tocopherol acetate (100 or 200 mg/kg feed; VE) dietary supplementation on rabbit performance and meat quality. In fact, the role of Se supplementation in the rabbit diet has not yet been elucidated in the literature and, more specifically, there are no studies on the possible synergistic action between organic Se compared with VE on lipids, fatty acids (FA) and the oxidative stability of two glycolytic muscles, longissimus lumborum (LL) and biceps femoris (BF). Two hundred and seventy New Zealand White rabbits were divided into five dietary groups of 54 rabbits each: 1) control (basal diet = BD; CTRL); 2) VE100 (BD + VE100 mg/kg); 3) VE200 (BD + VE200 mg/kg); 4) EcoE100 (BD + EcoE100 mg/kg); and 5) EcoE200 (BD + EcoE200 mg/kg). Neither of the antioxidant treatments affected growth performance, carcass traits or meat characteristics. Lipid and fatty acid contents were similar in LL and BF and not influenced by the dietary treatment. Meat oxidative stability was strongly improved by both antioxidants. These findings indicate that both EcoE and VE greatly improved the oxidative stability of LL and BF muscles at the dosage rates which, from an economic point of view, would normally be included in the formulation of feeds for rabbits.This study is part of a multidisciplinary research project funded by the Department of Veterinary Medical Science (University of Bologna, Italy). 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Alterations of bone microstructure and strength in end-stage renal failure

Summary: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients have a high risk of fractures. We evaluated bone microstructure and finite-element analysis-estimated strength and stiffness in patients with ESRD by high-resolution peripheral computed tomography. We observed an alteration of cortical and trabecular bone microstructure and of bone strength and stiffness in ESRD patients. Introduction: Fragility fractures are common in ESRD patients on dialysis. Alterations of bone microstructure contribute to skeletal fragility, independently of areal bone mineral density. Methods: We compared microstructure and finite-element analysis estimates of strength and stiffness by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) in 33 ESRD patients on dialysis (17 females and 16 males; mean age, 47.0 ± 12.6years) and 33 age-matched healthy controls. Results: Dialyzed women had lower radius and tibia cortical density with higher radius cortical porosity and lower tibia cortical thickness, compared to controls. Radius trabecular number was lower with higher heterogeneity of the trabecular network. Male patients displayed only a lower radius cortical density. Radius and tibia cortical thickness correlated negatively with bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP). Microstructure did not correlate with parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Cortical porosity correlated positively with "Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes” working group PTH level categories (r = 0.36, p < 0.04). BMI correlated positively with trabecular number (r = 0.4, p < 0.02) and negatively with trabecular spacing (r = −0.37, p < 0.03) and trabecular network heterogeneity (r = −0.4, p < 0.02). Biomechanics positively correlated with BMI and negatively with BALP. Conclusion: Cortical and trabecular bone microstructure and calculated bone strength are altered in ESRD patients, predominantly in women. Bone microstructure and biomechanical assessment by HR-pQCT may be of major clinical relevance in the evaluation of bone fragility in ESRD patient

Characterization of metabolic profiles and lipopolysaccharide effects on porcine vascular wall mesenchymal stem cells

The link between metabolic remodeling and stem cell fate is still unclear. To explore this topic, the metabolic profile of porcine vascular wall mesenchymal stem cells (pVW-MSCs) was investigated. At the first and second cell passages, pVW-MSCs exploit both glycolysis and cellular respiration to synthesize adenosine triphosphate (ATP), but in the subsequent (third to eighth) passages they do not show any mitochondrial ATP turnover. Interestingly, when the first passage pVW-MSCs are exposed to 0.1 or 10 μg/ml lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) for 4 hr, even if ATP synthesis is prevented, the spare respiratory capacity is retained and the glycolytic capacity is unaffected. In contrast, the exposure of pVW-MSCs at the fifth passage to 10 μg/ml LPS stimulates mitochondrial ATP synthesis. Flow cytometry rules out any reactive oxygen species (ROS) involvement in the LPS effects, thus suggesting that the pVW-MSC metabolic pattern is modulated by culture conditions via ROS-independent mechanisms