Lattice Boltzmann scheme for relativistic fluids

A Lattice Boltzmann formulation for relativistic fluids is presented and numerically verified through quantitative comparison with recent hydrodynamic simulations of relativistic shock-wave propagation in viscous quark-gluon plasmas. This formulation opens up the possibility of exporting the main advantages of Lattice Boltzmann methods to the relativistic context, which seems particularly useful for the simulation of relativistic fluids in complicated geometries.Comment: Submitted to PR

Integrating autonomous Problem Resolution Models with Remedy

This paper briefly defines the concept of Problem Resolution Model and shows possible approaches to the issues which may arise when integrating various PRMs to present a consistent view to the end user, despite of the peculiarities of each physical implementation. Integration refers to various autonomous PRMs having to interact as problems pass from one to another in the resolution flow. This process should be transparent to the user and internally there must be a way to track in which stage of the resolution process any problem is. This means addressing two different issues. On one side PRMs which are to be integrated need to comply with certain interface standards. These standards must ensure that problems exchanged between them can always be traced. On the other side problems owned by different PRMs should be presented to the end user under a homogeneous view. This means having an uniform criteria for automatic notification messages, a single reference point (www) where users can query the status of problems regardless who owns them , etc. Remedy is a specialized development system designed to implement PRMs and it is the current choice of IT Division for such a system. When integrating Remedy based PRMs system there are some difficulties arising which are intrinsic to Remedy's design. In this paper we describe our assessment of those difficulties and their Remedy specific implementational implications

Implementing Problem Resolution Models in Remedy

This paper defines the concept of Problem Resolution Model (PRM) and describes the current implementation made by the User Support unit at CERN. One of the main challenges of User Support services in any High Energy Physics institute/organization is to address solving of the computing-relatedproblems faced by their researchers. The User Support group at CERN is the IT unit in charge of modeling the operations of the Help Desk and acts as asecond level support to some of the support lines whose problems are receptioned at the Help Desk. The motivation behind the use of a PRM is to provide well defined procedures and methods to react in an efficient way to a request for solving a problem,providing advice, information etc. A PRM is materialized on a workflow which has a set of defined states in which a problem can be. Problems move from onestate to another according to actions as decided by the person who is handling them. A PRM can be implemented by a computer application, generallyreferred to as Problem Reporting Management System (PRMS). Through this application problems can be effectively guided through the states of theworkflow by applying actions on them. This automatic handling improves problem resolution times and provides flexible incorporation of the problems inthe workflow (either by email, the helpdesk operator etc.). It also provides registration and accounting of problems including the creation of a knowledgebase, reporting, performance measurement, etc. For such implementation we have used Remedy, which is the current choice of the IT Division at CERN fora PRMS. Remedy is an specialized development system to create PRM applications. We have developed a complete Remedy application to implement theUser Support PRM. Also, we have created complementary tools for reporting, statistics, backups, etc. The aim of this paper is to explain all these concepts and the main issues behind their implementation

Application of magnetically induced hyperthermia on the model protozoan Crithidia fasciculata as a potential therapy against parasitic infections

Magnetic hyperthermia is currently an EU-approved clinical therapy against tumor cells that uses magnetic nanoparticles under a time varying magnetic field (TVMF). The same basic principle seems promising against trypanosomatids causing Chagas disease and sleeping sickness, since therapeutic drugs available display severe side effects and drug-resistant strains. However, no applications of this strategy against protozoan-induced diseases have been reported so far. In the present study, Crithidia fasciculata, a widely used model for therapeutic strategies against pathogenic trypanosomatids, was targeted with Fe_{3}O_{4} magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) in order to remotely provoke cell death using TVMFs. The MNPs with average sizes of d approx. 30 nm were synthesized using a precipitation of FeSO_{4}4 in basic medium. The MNPs were added to Crithidia fasciculata choanomastigotes in exponential phase and incubated overnight. The amount of uploaded MNPs per cell was determined by magnetic measurements. Cell viability using the MTT colorimetric assay and flow cytometry showed that the MNPs were incorporated by the cells with no noticeable cell-toxicity effects. When a TVMF (f = 249 kHz, H = 13 kA/m) was applied to MNP-bearing cells, massive cell death was induced via a non-apoptotic mechanism. No effects were observed by applying a TVMF on control (without loaded MNPs) cells. No macroscopic rise in temperature was observed in the extracellular medium during the experiments. Scanning Electron Microscopy showed morphological changes after TVMF experiments. These data indicate (as a proof of principle) that intracellular hyperthermia is a suitable technology to induce the specific death of protozoan parasites bearing MNPs. These findings expand the possibilities for new therapeutic strategies that combat parasitic infections.Comment: 9 pages, four supplementary video file