Effects of irbesartan and perindopril on pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats

AIM: To observe the effects of irbesartan and perindopril on pressure-overload cardiac hypertrophy in rats. METHODS: 40 male adult Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups. One was sham operation group, other four were aortic banding groups. One week after operation, all rats were gavaged with normal saline, perindopril, irbesartan or combination of perindopril and irbesartan. Morphometric determination, calcineurin (CaN) expression, CaN and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca²⁺-ATPase activity were performed at the end of 6 weeks of drug intervention. RESULTS: Left ventricular mass index (LVMI), transverse diameter of myocardical cell (TDM), CaN activity were remarkably decreased after drug intervention and this decrease was most remarkable in the combination group. SR Ca²⁺-ATPase activity increased after drug intervention, especially in the combination group. CaN expression in myocardium were remarkably decreased after drug intervention. LVMI was positively correlated with TDM and CaN, negatively correlated with SR Ca²⁺-ATPase. CONCLUSION: Both irbesartan and perindopril decrease CaN activity, increase SR Ca²⁺-ATPase activity and combination of them has synergic effects on regressing of ventricular hypertrophy.     

Carprofen and buprenorphine prevent hyperalgesia in a model of inflammatory pain in cats

A model of nociceptive threshold determination was developed for evaluation of NSAID analgesia in cats. In a crossover study, eight cats received carprofen (4 mg/kg), buprenorphine (0.01 mg/kg) or saline (0.3 ml) subcutaneously before intradermal kaolin injection on the antebrachium to induce mild inflammation. Pressure thresholds were measured at the injected site using blunt-ended pins advanced by manual inflation of a bladder within a bracelet. Bladder pressure was recorded as threshold (PT) at the behavioural end point. Baseline PT were recorded before kaolin injection (time 0). PT was measured at 2-10 h intervals for 52 h. PT below the lower 95% confidence interval (CI) of baseline values indicated hyperalgesia. After saline, hyperalgesia was detected from 2-6 h, 22-26 h, and at 30 and 36 h. After carprofen, PT remained within the 95% CI. After buprenorphine, PT remained within the 95% CI except at 2h. Carprofen and to some extent buprenorphine, prevented inflammatory hyperalgesia.     

The influence of the width of the saddle tree on the forces and the pressure distribution under the saddle

As there is no statistical evidence that saddle fit influences the load exerted on a horse's back, this study was performed to assess the hypothesis that the width of the tree significantly alters the pressure distribution on the back beneath the saddle. Nineteen sound horses were ridden at walk and trot on a treadmill with three saddles differing only in tree width. Kinetic data were recorded by a sensor mat. A minimum of 14 motion cycles were used in each trial. The saddles were classified into four groups depending on fit. For each horse, the saddle with the lowest overall force (LOF) was determined. Saddles were classified as "too-narrow" if they were one size (2 cm) narrower than the LOF saddle, and "too-wide" if they were one size (2 cm) wider than the LOF saddle. Saddles two sizes wider than LOF saddles were classified as "very-wide". In the group of narrow saddles, the pressure in the caudal third (walk 0.63 N/cm(2)+/-0.10; trot 1.08 N/cm(2)+/-0.26) was significantly higher compared to the LOF saddles (walk 0.50 N/cm(2)+/-0.09; trot 0.86 N/cm(2)+/-0.28). In the middle transversal third, the pressure of the wide saddles (walk 0.73 N/cm(2)+/-0.06; trot 1.52 N/cm(2)+/-0.19) and very-wide saddles (walk 0.77 N/cm(2)+/-0.06; trot 1.57 N/cm(2)+/-0.19) was significantly higher compared to LOF saddles (walk 0.65 N/cm(2)+/-0.10/ 0.63 N/cm(2)+/-0.11; trot 1.33 N/cm(2)+/-0.22/1.27 N/cm(2)+/-0.20). This study demonstrates that the load under poorly fitting saddles is distributed over a smaller area than under properly fitting saddles, leading to potentially harmful pressures peaks.     

A TDR-pressure cell design for measuring the soil-water retention curve

This paper presents a new type of pressure cell associated with a zigzag-shaped time domain reflectometry (TDR) probe for determining the soil-water retention (θ(ψ)) curve of disturbed thin soil samples. The pressure cell, designed for pressures ranging between 0 and −500 kPa, consisted of a zigzag copper rod (150-mm long, 2 mm in diameter) vertically installed in a clear plastic cylinder (60-mm high, 50 mm in internal diameter) with six vertical copper rods (60-mm long, 2 mm in diameter) arranged around the inner wall of the plastic cylinder. The cylinder was closed at the base with a nylon cloth and placed on a porous ceramic disc. The inner rod and the six-rod grille of the cell were connected respectively to the inner and outer conductors of a coaxial cable. The results showed that the correlation between the apparent dielectric constant measured with a standard three-rod TDR probe and the zigzag-shaped TDR probe, both immersed in five different non-conductive fluids, was excellent (R² = 0.99). On the other hand, the volumetric water content measured with the TDR probe of the pressure cell filled up with sand, 2-mm sieved loam and clay-loam soils was highly correlated to the corresponding values calculated from the gravimetric water content and the soil bulk density (R² = 0.97; RMSE = 2.32 × 10⁻²). The parameters of the θ(ψ) curves measured for these three different soils with the TDR-pressure cell were within the range of values found in the literature. The cell was also used to study the θ(ψ) changes of a 2–4-mm sample of loam soil aggregates after a slow and a fast-wetting process. While negligible changes in both the soil structure and θ(ψ) were observed following slow wetting, fast wetting resulted in disintegration of aggregates and drastic changes in the shape of the θ(ψ) curve.     

Calculation models of pressure and position of curved laminated veneer lumber in molds during pressing

Curved laminated veneer lumber (LVL) for use in furniture-making was produced from glue-coated pieces of rotary-cut veneers that were assembled and pressed between molds. Pressure was applied until glue-lines were set and finally held in an assembly of the desired curvature. Pressure was an important factor during pressing of curved LVL. In this study we deduced some equations for designing the shape of molds and calculating the total pressure from the mechanics. The results are summarized as follows: (1) The position angle of every section of curved LVL assembly in molds on the horizontal and the total pressure during pressing can be calculated in relation to the shapes and dimensions of the curved LVL. (2) The pressure distributions in the glue-line measured using pressure-sensitive film were in good agreement with the glue-line unit pressure provided for the experiment and calculation. Therefore, the equations deduced in this study were suitable for calculating the position angle and pressure of curved LVL in molds. (3) The total pressure on curved LVL was greater than the pressure on straight LVL. The total pressure consisted of the pressure on the glue-lines of straight LVL with the same length and width as curved LVL plus the supplementary pressure needed to bend the veneers. (4) The total pressures and position angles of curved LVL in molds were affected by the shape, bent angle, and length of each section of curved LVL.The outline of this study was presented at the 48th annual meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Shizuoka, April 3, 1998     

甘肃省不同生态区耕地压力差异研究

从甘肃省不同生态区入手,采用耕地压力指数模型,对全省耕地压力进行测算,并建立全省耕地压力指数与人均GDP及产业结构的回归模型,比较了各生态区耕地压力的差距。结果表明,甘肃省1978~2006年耕地压力呈先递减后增长的变化趋势,人均GDP呈快速增长的趋势;各生态区除河西区外,中部地区、陇东区、陇南区和甘南区耕地压力均随经济的发展而不断增大,但各生态区耕地压力来源不同;河西区耕地压力的增大也与经济发展相关,但相关度不大,压力主要来源于生态环境的恶化及灾害的发生;最后针对各生态区不同的耕地压力来源,提出了耕地保护的策略。     

内聚力学说不可能成立的依据

利用压力室技术测到的水势是缺乏修正的数值,比实际水势要高出许多,用该方法测定水势,只能反映出水势的大小变化,而不能用其代表木质部内真实的负压。蒸腾使木质部产生的负压最大不会超过-0．1Mpa,木质部内巨大负压的存在缺乏理论依据和直接的实验证据。空穴的必然发生使水柱无法保持连续,故连续水柱不存在。蒸腾状态下木质部水分的移动方式是自上而下分段依次移动的,这一现象与内聚力原理相抵触。蒸腾产生的负压能保持到蒸腾停止后继续使根系吸水。     

燃烧室背压对压力涡流喷嘴喷雾特性的影响

采用高速摄影技术、激光测粒仪和PIV测试技术系统试验研究了燃烧室背压对斯特林发动机压力涡流喷嘴喷雾形成过程、贯穿距离增长规律、喷雾锥角、液滴粒径和喷雾流场的影响。结果表明,燃烧室背压的增加使喷雾形状更加致密,贯穿距离的增加变缓,液滴平均速度增加,索特平均直径增加。当燃烧室背压大于1.0~1.5MPa之间的一个临界值时,其对喷雾锥角没有影响,小于此临界值,燃烧室背压的增加会使喷雾锥角急剧降低。     

Comparative monitoring of temporal and spatial changes in tree water status using the non-invasive leaf patch clamp pressure probe and the pressure bomb

Real-time monitoring of plant water status under field conditions remains difficult to quantify. Here we give evidence that the magnetic-based leaf patch clamp pressure (LPCP) probe is a non-invasive and online-measuring method that can elucidate short- and long-term temporal and spatial dynamics of leaf water status of trees with high precision in real time. Measurements were controlled remotely by telemetry and data transfer to the Internet. Concomitant measurements using the pressure chamber technique (frequently applied for leaf water status monitoring) showed that both techniques yield in principle the same results despite of the high sampling variability of the pressure chamber data. There was a very good correlation between the output pressure signals of the LPCP probe and the balancing pressure values (on average r² = 0.90 ± 0.05; n = 8), i.e. the external pressure at which water appears at the cut end of a leaf under pressure chamber conditions. Simultaneously performed direct measurements of leaf cell turgor pressure using the well-established cell turgor pressure probe technique evidenced that both techniques measure relative changes in leaf turgor pressure. The output pressure signals of the LPCP probe and the balancing pressure values were inversely correlated to turgor pressure. Consistent with this, the balancing pressure values and the cell turgor pressure values could be fitted quite well by the same firm theoretical backing derived recently for the LPCP probe (Zimmermann et al., 2008). This finding suggests that use of the LPCP probe technique in agricultural water management can be built up on the knowledge accumulated on spot leaf or stem water potential measurements.     

不同工作姿态下立式双曲面网板水动力及周围流场特性研究

网板是单拖网中实现网具扩张的重要属具,其稳定状态直接决定拖网网口扩张程度,进而影响渔获效率和经济效益。该研究以立式双曲面网板为研究对象,利用水槽模型试验和数值模拟(Computational fluid dynamics,CFD)探究立式双曲面网板在不同倾斜状态(内、外倾斜,前、后倾斜)和冲角下的水动力性能变化,并对网板周围流场和表面压力进行可视化。结果显示:1)模型试验和数值模拟的网板升力系数均在倾角为0°,冲角为25°时达到最大值,分别为1.69和1.88;而两者的阻力系数均随倾角增大逐渐减小。2)模型试验和数值模拟的升阻比均随倾角增大逐渐减小;当内倾角为5°时,两者的升阻比均达到最大,分别为3.27和3.69。3)压力中心系数Cpb随倾角变化基本保持不变;但当网板处于前倾状态时,Cpc随倾角增大而增加;而网板处于后倾状态时,Cpc随倾角增大逐渐减小。4)CFD结果显示,网板中心面后部旋涡随倾角增大逐渐减小;当网板处于内、外倾状态时,前端流速衰减区随倾角增大逐渐增加;但当网板处于前、后倾状态时,衰减区随倾角增大逐渐减小;网板处于前倾状态时,压力中心随倾角增大逐渐向网板上端翼弦移动,网板处于后倾状态时则出现相反结果。研究结果可为今后研究网板稳定性和合理使用及调整网板提供科学参考。