Stimulating role of toxoids-laden liposomes in oral immunization against diphtheria and tetanus infections

Adrenalectomy (ADX) in mice can potentiate several physiological and behavioural responses to nicotine. The present experiments sought to examine this issue in this rat by characterising the influence of ADX upon the locomotor depressant, activating and dopamine-releasing properties of nicotine. Nicotine (0.8-1.2 mg/kg s.c.) dose-dependently depressed locomotor activity, an effect that was potentiated by ADX, while the locomotor activating effects of a smaller dose (0.4 mg/kg) were attenuated by ADX. In both SHAM and ADX rats chronically treated with nicotine for 5 days (daily injections of 0.4 mg/kg s.c.), the locomotor depressant effects of nicotine did not differ from saline-treated controls. Nicotine (0.4 mg/kg s.c.) increased extracellular levels of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. This response was unaffected in rats pretreated with nicotine for 5 days (daily injections of 0.4 mg/kg s.c.). However, both ADX groups of rats showed smaller increases in dopamine following administration of nicotine. The results suggest that depletion of circulating corticosteroids can modulate sensitivity to nicotine in rats. The suppressant effects of ADX on nicotine-induced locomotor activity may be due to its effects on dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens.     

Simulation of combustion in a porous-medium diesel engine

The future internal-combustion (IC) engines should have minimum emissions level under lowest feasible fuel consumption. This aim can be achievable with a homogeneous combustion process in diesel engines. We used a porous medium (PM) to homogenize the combustion process. This research studies simulation of a direct-injection diesel engine, equipped with a chemically inert hemispherical PM. Methane is injected into a hot PM, assuming mounted up the cylinder in head. Combustion with lean mixture occurs inside PM. A numerical model of PM engine was carried out using a modified version of the KIVA-3V code. PM results were evaluated with experimental data of unsteady combustion-wave of methane in a porous tube. The results show the mass fraction of methane, CO, NO and temperature in solid and gas phases of the PM and in-cylinder fluid. Also presented are the effects of injection timing and compression ratio on combustion.

     

Analytical method for prediction of weld line movement during stretch forming of tailor-welded blanks

Tailor-welded blanks (TWBs) consisted of metal sheets with different characteristics welded into a single flat blank prior to pressing in order to achieve the optimal material arrangement and weight reduction for cars, and to increase machine flexibility and process efficiency. The movement of weld line in TWBs is always a challenging issue during manufacturing process. In this research, a new analytical method for prediction of weld line movement in TWBs is developed. A comparison between the analytical results with those obtained from finite element simulation as well as the experimental data indicates good compatibility between the predictions of the developed method in the case of both weld line movement and dome height of TWBs. Furthermore, the developed analytical method can appropriately consider the effect of thickness ratio on both weld line movement and dome height. It was observed that weld line movement increases as thickness ratio enhances.