用瞬时转速法估算压缩压力的探讨

在分析了反拖工况下曲轴受各力矩的变化规律曲柄转角与瞬时转速之间的相位关系的基础对用瞬时转速法估算柴油机压缩压力进行了探讨,给出了一种用曲轴的瞬时转速数据估算各缸压力的实用方法,在一台四缸直喷式柴油机上的试验结果表明,用该方法由飞轮的瞬时转速检测气缸的最高压缩压力,其标准误差不超过０．０３ＭＰａ,所提出的方法可用于柴油机的监测诊断系统中。     

离心泵内部不稳定流场压力脉动特性分

离心泵内部流场压力脉动是影响机组运行稳定性的关键因素,采用RNG k-ε湍流模型和滑移网格技术研究泵内部非定常流动,得到了不同工况下监测点的压力脉动情况,并对其进行了频域分析.分析结果表明,叶轮与隔舌间的动静干扰是产生压力脉动的主要脉动源,并在整个离心泵流道内传播;且在不同工况下,叶片通过频率均占主导地位,压力面脉动幅值大于吸力面脉动幅值;蜗壳出口同一测面脉动情况近似.     

加压对微囊藻的影响及其生态风险探讨

近年来,利用加压使蓝藻细胞内伪空胞破裂,藻细胞因失去浮力而下沉的原理开发了一些控藻技术,如加压控藻船、深井加压控藻等,已应用于缓解富营养化水体表面的蓝藻水华堆聚问题。但对加压后下沉蓝藻的去向及其可能导致的水质生态风险尚缺乏研究。为探讨加压后微囊藻的生长变化及其对水质的影响,本文研究了加压对微囊藻的伪空胞、细胞形态、群体粒径、光合活性、漂浮率的影响,并比较了未加压和加压微囊藻在有光和无光条件下的生长差异。结果表明,在0.7 MPa、30 s加压条件下,漂浮在水体表面的微囊藻群体在加压后迅速下沉,漂浮率由95%下降至1.99%;藻细胞内的伪空胞破裂,藻细胞变形萎缩,群体粒径变小,光合活性下降,但细胞膜未破损。未加压和加压后的藻样在有光与无光条件下培养的第3天,加压下沉的藻在光照条件下有17.91%重新上浮至水体表面,并且其光合活性逐渐恢复。透射电镜结果显示上浮藻细胞内有伪空胞重新生成;同时反转录PCR结果表明,实验第3天光照加压处理组伪空胞gvpA和gvpC基因表达较其他实验组显著上调,也表明细胞进行了伪空胞合成过程。所有处理组水体中溶解性总氮(Dissolved Total Nitrogen,DTN)含量在前3天无明显变化,但3天之后均不断上升;且加压后水体中DTN含量在无光条件下比有光条件下更高。综上所述,加压控藻技术能使水体表面的水华微囊藻迅速下沉,减少表层水华;但下沉的微囊藻在有光条件下3天内能部分重新上浮,而在无光条件下更易衰亡释放有机物导致水体DTN含量增加。建议宜及时清除加压后下沉的蓝藻,避免蓝藻再次上浮形成水华,防止水质恶化。     

轴流泵多工况压力脉动特性试验

为了掌握不同流量工况下的轴流泵压力脉动特性,在轴流泵叶轮段和导叶段外壁面布置了6个压力脉动监测点,对多个流量工况的压力脉动进行了动态测量,揭示了轴流泵内部不同位置处压力脉动规律。试验结果表明,叶轮进口监测点P1的波形为规则的正弦波形,叶轮内部中间测点P2的压力脉动峰峰值最大,叶轮进口监测点P1压力脉动次之。叶轮进口、叶轮中间和叶轮出口监测点由于受到叶轮内压力梯度的交替变化影响,时域脉动周期与叶片旋转周期一致,在小流量工况下叶轮内部涡流诱导了明显的二次谐波。基于快速傅里叶变换,获得了不同监测点压力脉动频域分布结果,并发现叶轮区域3个压力脉动测点在不同工况的主频均为叶片通过频率(BPF),谐频为叶频的倍数,其幅值呈指数形式衰减。但在导叶进口、导叶中间和导叶出口监测点的压力脉动频域中出现了撞击和回流诱导的低频信号,同时也存在叶轮的主频及其谐频。     

Estimating nocturnal ecosystem respiration from the vertical turbulent flux and change in storage of CO2

Micrometeorological measurements of nighttime ecosystem respiration can be systematically biased when stable atmospheric conditions lead to drainage flows associated with decoupling of air flow above and within plant canopies. The associated horizontal and vertical advective fluxes cannot be measured using instrumentation on the single towers typically used at micrometeorological sites. A common approach to minimize bias is to use a threshold in friction velocity, u_*, to exclude periods when advection is assumed to be important, but this is problematic in situations when in-canopy flows are decoupled from the flow above. Using data from 25 flux stations in a wide variety of forest ecosystems globally, we examine the generality of a novel approach to estimating nocturnal respiration developed by van Gorsel et al. (van Gorsel, E., Leuning, R., Cleugh, H.A., Keith, H., Suni, T., 2007. Nocturnal carbon efflux: reconciliation of eddy covariance and chamber measurements using an alternative to the u_*-threshold filtering technique. Tellus 59B, 397–403, Tellus, 59B, 307-403). The approach is based on the assumption that advection is small relative to the vertical turbulent flux (F_C) and change in storage (F_S) of CO₂ in the few hours after sundown. The sum of F_C and F_S reach a maximum during this period which is used to derive a temperature response function for ecosystem respiration. Measured hourly soil temperatures are then used with this function to estimate respiration R_Rmax. The new approach yielded excellent agreement with (1) independent measurements using respiration chambers, (2) with estimates using ecosystem light-response curves of F_c + F_s extrapolated to zero light, R_LRC, and (3) with a detailed process-based forest ecosystem model, R_cast. At most sites respiration rates estimated using the u_*-filter, R_ust, were smaller than R_Rmax and R_LRC. Agreement of our approach with independent measurements indicates that R_Rmax provides an excellent estimate of nighttime ecosystem respiration.     

Role of exogenous phytohormones on growth and plumbagin accumulation in Plumbago indica hairy roots and conservation of elite root clones via synthetic seeds

The present study describes the role of different exogenous hormones on morphology and plumbagin production in Plumbago indica hairy roots. It was also aimed to conserve elite root clones via synthetic seed technology. Insertion of rolB gene in transformed roots was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction followed by southern blot analysis. Hairy roots were treated with single or in combination of different phytohormones viz. IAA, IBA, 2, 4-D, NAA, BAP, GA₃ and ABA. Cultures incubated with GA₃ (0.5 mg l⁻¹) yielded highest root growth due to formation of profuse lateral branching while NAA (0.5 mg l⁻¹) treatment caused highest plumbagin accumulation. Cultures incubated with 2, 4-D exhibited highest inhibitory effect in terms of both root growth and plumbagin production. All phytohormones were found to be effective at lower concentration. In combinatorial study, GA₃ + NAA (0.5 mg l⁻¹, each) was found optimum for root biomass and plumbagin production at earlier stage of culture. Different combinations of auxins and BAP induced different morphologies ranging from reduction of lateral branching to rapid disorganization of root matrix. The combinations of ABA and selected auxins were not found promising at any of selected concentration. Based on the effect of exogenous hormones on hairy root culture, elite root clones were selected and encapsulated with sodium alginate matrix. Uniform shaped alginate coated synthetic seeds were conserved up to 6 months exhibited high regeneration potential without disturbing plumbagin content.     

Reducing Peak Pressures Under the Saddle Panel at the Level of the 10th to 13th Thoracic Vertebrae May Be Associated With Improved Gait Features,Even When Saddles Are Fitted to Published Guidelines

Saddle–horse interaction is increasingly linked with back pain, performance, and welfare issues. Saddle fit and work quality influence alterations in back shape with exercise at thoracic vertebra 13 level (T13) with exercise. The objectives of experiments were to: determine a repeatable zone and stride point of peak pressure under saddles fitted to industry guidelines; compare peak pressure in this zone and limb kinematics in collected trot between horses own saddles (S) and a saddle designed to reduce pressure at T10–T13 (F); compare thoracolumbar width change after exercise between S and F and with F after 3 months use. Elite dressage (n = 13) horses/riders with no lameness/performance problem had pressure mat data acquired under S, fitted by four qualified saddle fitters, to determine zones of peak pressure. Pressure mat data at T10–T13, forelimb/hindlimb protraction, and carpal/tarsal flexion acquired using simultaneous high-speed motion capture, and difference in thoracolumbar dimensions (T8, T18 at 3, 15 cm) between before and after exercise was compared between S and F. Peak pressures were consistently detected axially around T10–T13 (sensors A4–A7, H4–H7). Peak pressures were significantly less with F than S for each cell and pooled (55%–68% difference. P = .01 to <.0001). Saddle F was associated with 13% greater forelimb and 22.7% hindlimb protraction, 3.5° greater carpal and 4.3° tarsal flexion (P = .02 to .0001), and greater increase in thoracolumbar dimensions after exercise (P = .01 to <.0001). Saddles fitted to published guidelines may still have a nonideal interface with horses. Reducing peak pressures around T10–T13 was associated with improved limb kinematics in trot and greater thoracolumbar expansion after exercise.     

A Pressure Algometer Is a Useful Tool to Objectively Monitor the Effect of Diagnostic Palpation by a Physiotherapist in Warmblood Horses

There is a lack of scientific evidence for objective evaluation of neck and back musculoskeletal sensitivity in horses, although pressure algometry has been described as an objective tool to quantify musculoskeletal responses by mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) values. This study aimed to evaluate the use of pressure algometry for objectively quantifying the effect of diagnostic palpation applied by physiotherapists on the musculoskeletal function of the equine neck and back. The inter-examiner repeatability of animal physiotherapists was tested, and their subjective clinical scores for the vertebral column area were objectively compared with MNT values measured at the same locations to investigate the potential clinical implementation of the pressure algometer in daily equine rehabilitation practice. Six adult Dutch Warmblood riding school mares were randomly assigned to an experimental or a control group. The MNT of all horses was measured on 35 predefined sites on the vertebral column in the morning and in the evening of the same day. In the experimental group (n = 3), neck and back surface “temperature”, “pain”, “muscle tone”, and passive “mobility” were scored through palpation by three certified physiotherapists and related to MNT measurements at the same vertebral column locations. Agreement between the physiotherapists was determined from Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (P < .05). These correlation coefficients showed a significant agreement between the scores of individual physiotherapists and with objective MNT measurements. The three physiotherapists agreed best in their subjective gradings of “pain”, but less for “temperature” and “muscle tone”, and least for “mobility”. There was also a significant difference in MNT between individual horses. The physiotherapeutic diagnostic intervention did not significantly alter the MNT of the experimental group compared with the control group. There was a significant difference, however, between morning (7.4 kg/cm²) and evening (6.9 kg/cm²) MNT-measurements within the combined group (n = 6, P < .05). In conclusion, a pressure algometer proved to be a useful tool to objectively monitor the palpation of individual Warmbloods by individual physiotherapists. The correlation of their scores to the objective MNT measurements elucidated that there were differences on which scale (“pain”, “temperature”, “muscle tone”, “mobility”) they merely relied upon in their palpation. Significant effects of physiotherapeutic diagnostic palpation on MNT, however, were not found. The lower MNT of the horses at the second trial in the evening could be a sensitization of the measurement location because of bruising, a learning effect of the horses, or a diurnal fluctuation. The use of pressure algometry has both a potential to quantify clinical neck and back musculoskeletal sensitivity in horses possibly leading to dysfunction, as well as to objectively evaluate treatment results. Repeated measurements on the same day and on the same location along the vertebral column may influence absolute MNT values. The algometer can be used with success provided that the operator has proper and frequent training.     

Effects of ERK1/2 on pressure overload-induced cardiomyopathy and heart failure in mice

AIM: To explore the changes in extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2) in the hypertrophic myocardium induced by pressure overload at the different time courses and to determine the molecular mechanism in the myocardium from hypertrophy to heart failure. METHODS: C57/BL mice, aged 12 week old, were subjected to sham-operation (SH) or transversing aortic constriction (TAC) to establish left ventricular hypertrophy. Echocardiographic assessments, hemodynamic determination, organ weight measurement, morphological and histological examination were performed at 1, 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks after surgery. Meanwhile mRNA levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC), bcl-2 and bax were measured by RT-PCR, and ERK1/2 levels were detected by Western blotting. The animals in SH group were performed the same tests then sacrificed at 16 weeks. RESULTS: (1) Compared to SH group, LVESd, LVEDd, Awsth, Awdth, Pwsth and Pwdth progressively increased after TAC. Meanwhile, ejection fraction (EF%) significantly decreased at 16th week (P<0.05). LVSP, dp/dtmax and dp/dtmin in TAC group were progressively increased after 4 weeks. From 8-12 weeks these parameters maintained stable and then sharply decreased at 16th week (all P<0.05). However, LVEDP was statistically increased at 8th week. These echocardiographic and hemodynamic changes indicated a development of LVH and eventually progressing towards to heart failure. (2) Histologically, cardiac collagen measured by percentage of Sirius red positive stained area and apoptosis index showed progressive increases from 4 to 16 weeks. (3) Compared to SH group, mRNA levels of ANP was time-dependently increased while α-MHC and Bcl-2 were time-dependently decreased. The ratio of Bcl-2 /Bax was decreased. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 was increased at 4th week, then decreased with age of TAC (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Pressure-overload induced by TAC results in a development of LVH from early concentric hypertrophy to late eccentric hypertrophy, and eventually toward cardiac dysfunction or heart failure. Those changes are associated with increase in cell size and cardiac fibrosis. ERK1/2 signaling pathway may involve in the regulation of myocardial cell apoptosis in hypertrophic and failure heart.