Korrosionsverhindernde Additive in ölbeheizten Kesseln

Corrosion-inhibiting additives in oil-fired boilers A really effective inhibitor must have the following properties: It must be free from metallic particles so that no additional deposits occur; it must promote combustion so as to keep the sulphur trioxide content of the combustion gases low even in the presence of a great quantity of excess air; it must be capable of mixing freely with the fuel oil, and must prevent the formation of vanadium pentoxide. These conditions appear to be fulfilled by a pyridine-based additive which has been investigated at the laboratory and under working conditions. The prevention of sulphur trioxide formation is likely to be due to the fact that, during combustion, the additive reacts with the vanadium compounds of the fuel oil, forming lower vanadium oxides. An incidental result obtained during tests under working conditions was a considerable reduction in the iron sulphate deposits. The test results point to two possible applications of this additive, vis. (a) in large boilers while the additional air is reduced, and (b) in small boilers, irrespective of the quantity of excess air.     

2-Fluoro-4-pyridinylmethyl analogues of linopirdine as orally active acetylcholine release-enhancing agents with good efficacy and duration of action

In an effort to improve the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the cognition-enhancer linopirdine (DuP 996), a number of core structure analogues were prepared in which the 4-pyridyl pendant group was systematically replaced with 2-fluoro-4-pyridyl. This strategy resulted in the discovery of several compounds with improved activity in acetylcholine (ACh) release-enhancing assays, in vitro and in vivo. The most effective compound resulting from these studies, 10, 10-bis[(2-fluoro-4-pyridinyl)methyl]-9(10H)-anthracenone (9), is between 10 and 20 times more potent than linopirdine in increasing extracellular hippocampal ACh levels in the rat with a minimum effective dose of 1 mg/kg. In addition to superior potency, 9 possesses an improved pharmacokinetic profile compared to that of linopirdine. The half-life of 9 (2 h) in rats is 4-fold greater than that of linopirdine (0.5 h), and it showed a 6-fold improvement in brain-plasma distribution over linopirdine. On the basis of its pharmacologic, pharmacokinetic, absorption, and distribution properties, 9 (DMP543) has been advanced for clinical evaluation as a potential palliative therapeutic for treatment of Alzheimer's disease.     

Lensectomy in treatment of traumatic cataracts

Results of pars plana lensectomy (36 cases) and ab externo lensectomy (14 cases) were presented. Intra- and postoperative complications, and the advantages of these procedures in traumatic cataracts were discussed. It was established that both procedures improved the visual acuity in the majority of patients although pars plana lensectomy had slightly lower rate of complications.     

A simulation of T-wave alternans vectocardiographic representation performed by changing the ventricular heart cells action potential duration

The presence of T wave alternans (TWA) in the surface ECG signals has been recognized as a marker of electrical instability, and is hypothesized to be related to patients at increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias. In this paper we present a TWA simulation study. The TWA phenomenon was simulated by changing the duration of the ventricular heart cells action potential. The magnitude was calculated in the surface ECG with the use of the time domain method. The spatially concordant TWA, where during one heart beat all ventricular cells display a short-duration action potential and during the next beat they exhibit a long-duration action potential, as well as the discordant TWA, where at least one region is out of phase, was simulated. The vectocardiographic representation was employed. The obtained results showed a high level of T-loop pattern and location disturbances connected to the discordant TWA simulation in contrast to the concordant one. This result may be explained by the spatial heterogeneity of the ventricular repolarization process, which could be higher for the discordant TWA than for the concordant TWA.     

Site modelling methods for detecting hydrologic alteration of flood frequency and flood duration in the floodplain below the carlyle dam,lower Kaskaskia River,Illinois, USA

Reports concerning the influence of dams on river hydrology vary among researchers, interest groups and government agencies. These often contradicting statements may occur because changes in hydrology caused by dams are distinct for each dam and river watershed. The objective of this research was to use site specific techniques to determine if the 1967 installation of the Carlyle Dam, lower Kaskaskia River, Illinois, altered flood frequency and duration within the forested floodplain located below the dam. Results indicated a decrease in flood duration and frequency, and a decrease in annual flood frequency variation at a site 6.4 km below the dam. Pre‐dam versus post‐dam differences in flood frequency and duration at the site 32.2 km below the dam were related to climate rather than dam effects. Although dam impacts are a concern, this research shows that distance downstream from the dam and downstream tributary and watershed characteristics should be considered before assuming that the dam has changed hydrologic parameters for portions of rivers. This research also indicates that areas of the lower Kaskaskia River may still maintain hydrologic ecological integrity, and could be targeted for restoration and adaptive management purposes. Hydrologic modelling combined with river gage and on‐site well measurement techniques presented in this study could provide detailed flood frequency and duration information for land use, sociological and geomorphological questions in focus areas within river floodplains. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.