Endothelium-dependent effect of perindopril and enalaprilat in rat thoracic aorta

AIM: To study the effect of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors perindopril (Per) and enalaprilat (Ena) on the reactivity of the endothelium in normal rats. METHODS: Male rats were treated intragastrically with Per (2 mg.kg-1.d-1) or placebo (n = 18) for 6 wk. Aorta was isolated for experiment. Another set of isolated aortic rings with and without endothelium were incubated with Ena (0.1 mumol.L-1) for 30 min. Responses to acetylcholine, serotonin, phenylephrine, sodium nitroprusside (SN), and nitroglycerin (Nit) were observed. RESULTS: Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine was augmented in aortic rings from rats treated with Per in comparison with control. The IC50 value (95% confidence limits) decreased from 3.8 (0.56-26.1) mumol.L-1 (control group) to 0.98 (0.28-3.41) mumol.L-1 (Per-treated group). The maximal relaxation was augmented from 62 +/- 9% to 78 +/- 10% (P < 0.01). However, the responses to the endothelium-independent vasodilators, SN and Nit, were similar. Serotonin- and phenylephrine-induced contractions were decreased, which were influenced by basal release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). EC50 values was 6.1 (2.6-14.4) nmol.L-1 vs 8.3 (3.6-18.8) nmol.L-1 in comparison with control group and Per-treated group. The maximal contraction was decreased from 2.42 +/- 0.29 g (control group) to 1.96 +/- 0.25 g (treated group) (P < 0.01). Similar results were found in incubation with Ena. CONCLUSION: Ena and Per enhanced the basic release of EDRF from vascular endothelium.     

Structural modelling of coprecipitated VTiO catalysts

A statistical study of the particle shape and size of pure V₂O₅ and TiO₂, and samples of coprecipitated V₂O₅---TiO₂ catalysts with different V/Ti ratios, has been performed. They were also characterized by XRD, EDAX, SEM and XPS. The results showed that pure vanadium pentoxide is compose by large square or needle-shaped particles, while pure titanium dioxide has small and rounded ones. VTiO samples presented an area and shape, depending on the V/Ti ratio.

These results and the spectroscopical characterization conducted to a particle model of the catalysts. Those VOTi samples with high V/Ti ratio would have large V₂O₅ crystals acting as support of a V/TiO₂ solid solution. In contrast, those samples with a low V/Ti ratio, would have the solid solution supporting vanadium pentoxide crystals.     

Magnetic field detection enhancement in an external cavity fiberFabry-Perot sensor

The sensitivity of an extrinsic fiber-optic magnetic field sensor using a gallium doped yttrium iron garnet (Ga:YIG) bulk optic crystal has been significantly improved by incorporating a Fabry-Perot resonator around the crystal     

Recursive simulation models of the semiconductor laser modulationcharacteristics for accurate performance evaluation of coherent opticalCPFSK systems

Modeling of the semiconductor laser nonuniform FM response and residual IM modulation is essential for the computer-aided design of coherent optical communication systems. This paper presents an accurate simulation model, in which the FM and IM responses are represented by recursive digital filters derived directly from measurements. A comparison with previous models of the bibliography reveals the advantages of the current approach. The proposed modeling procedure is applied in the case of a single-electrode DFB laser. This DFB model, in combination with a semi-analytical technique for the evaluation of the error probability, is used to study the influence of the modulation characteristics on the performance of a coherent heterodyne CPFSK system with differential receiver operating at 1 Gb/s. Theoretical and experimental results are in excellent agreement     

A transient induction motor model including saturation and deep bareffect

Transient cage induction motor models for use in inverter-fed drives and controllers are reviewed. A simple transient model is presented that includes rotor deep bar effect and magnetic saturation of the magnetising and rotor leakage flux paths. The improved model requires motor details in the form of simple impedance versus frequency characteristics which can be obtained from a variety of external sources. These can range typically from detailed steady-state finite-element solutions to simple experimental measurements. The model is verified experimentally using a 75 kW, 4 pole vector controlled AC motor drive     

THEORETICAL STUDY OF NONUNIFORM DROPLETS CONCENTRATION DISTRIBUTION ON VENTURI SCRUBBER PERFORMANCE

A new three-dimensional dispersion model has been developed and was used to study particulate removal operations in a venturi type scrubber. The model takes into account the effect of nonuniform droplets concentration distribution on the particulate removal efficiency of the scrubber of Brink and Contant (1958). Experimental data was used to test the results of the mathematical model. The results from the model are in good agreement with the experimental data. After validating the model, it was used to predict the effect of parameters such as liquid to gas flow rate ratio, gas throat velocity, and angle of the divergent section and nozzle diameter on the extent of nonuniformity of drops. Removal efficiency will increase with increasing uniformity of droplets concentration distribution. Thus, any factor that increases removal efficiency increases uniformity and vice versa. The factors affecting uniformity are: droplet diameter, liquid jet penetration length and size of scrubber.     

FLOW OF SAND-WATER MIXTURES AT VELOCITIES BELOW THE DEPOSITION CONDITION

An experimental study of sand-water flow in a horizontal pipeline has been conducted for the regime in which a stationary deposit was present. The particle diameter ranged between 0.2 mm and 0.01 mm and the particles were not flocculated. Axial pressure gradients and delivered concentrations were measured as functions of mean velocity and in-situ concentration.

A three layer model was found to be useful to predict the pipeline behavior at all but the lowest velocities. The Meyer-Peter sediment transport equation was satisfactory for very low velocities with the larger particles.