Sources of Emissions in the Sintering and Blast Furnace Plant

The main technological operations for producing the sinter used for preparing the hot metal in the furnace are: preparation and transport of raw materials used for producing the sinter (transport, storage, crushing, sorting ore and coke); sintering the raw materials during the sintering tape preparation (cooling, smashing, sorting) and transport of the sinter

Structural Aspects of Antifriction Properties Brass

a + β' brass types with antifriction properties belong to the category of hightensile brass, alloys which besides Cu and Zn also contain certain alloying materials introduced in order to obtain some special characteristics. It is known that these elements change the limits of the equilibrium diagram, widening or narrowing the phase existence areas

The impact of the standard diet, supplemented with glucans extracted from Claviceps purpurea, on some productive parameters in broiler chickens

We have studied the impact of the standard diet, supplemented with glucans extracted from Claviceps purpurea, on some productive parameters. The experiment was performed on 30 broiler chickens, beginning at the age of 25 days. Chickens were bred under semi-intensive conditions, being randomly distributed in three equal groups, according to their body weight. They were fed with specific commercial food, balanced in nutrient principles; each day, the glucanic extracts were added at doses of 20 mg/kg body weight for the group E1 and 40 mg/kg body weight for the group E2. The extracts were mixed with food, after being diluted in 10% distilled water. At the end of the experiment, the control group has reached a weight gain of 644 g. The group E1 (with 20 mg glucanic extract/kg) has reached a weight gain of 696 g, which represented a significant difference in comparison with the control group (+ 52 g). The group E 2 (with 40 mg glucanic extract/kg) has reached a weight gain of 728 g, which was also a significant difference as compared to the control group (+ 84 g). The specific fodder consumption was of 2.11 kg fodder/kg body weight at the group E2, slightly higher at the group E1, representing 2.21 kg fodder/kg body weight, the fodder consumption for the control group being of 2.40 kg fodder / kg body weight, significantly higher than that for groups E1 and E2. The haematological, biochemical blood and histological exams of the internal organs have registered parameters within the physiological limits, without significant differences between the control group and the experimental ones

Alzheimer’s Disease Pharmacotherapy in Relation to Cholinergic System Involvement

Alzheimer’s disease, a major and increasing global health challenge, is an irreversible, progressive form of dementia, associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning. The etiology of this disease is not completely understood, and no safe and effective anti-Alzheimer’s disease drug to prevent, stop, or reverse its evolution is currently available. Current pharmacotherapy concentrated on drugs that aimed to improve the cerebral acetylcholine levels by facilitating cholinergic neurotransmission through inhibiting cholinesterase. These compounds, recognized as cholinesterase inhibitors, offer a viable target across key sign domains of Alzheimer’s disease, but have a modest influence on improving the progression of this condition. In this paper, we sought to highlight the current understanding of the cholinergic system involvement in Alzheimer’s disease progression in relation to the recent status of the available cholinesterase inhibitors as effective therapeutics

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists in Inflammation, Diabetes Mellitus, and Obesity

Recently, research has greatly expanded the knowledge of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and its involvement in several therapeutic applications. Cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) are present in nearly every mammalian tissue, performing a vital role in different physiological processes (neuronal development, immune modulation, energy homeostasis). The ECS has an essential role in metabolic control and lipid signaling, making it a potential target for managing conditions such as obesity and diabetes. Its malfunction is closely linked to these pathological conditions. Additionally, the immunomodulatory function of the ECS presents a promising avenue for developing new treatments for various types of acute and chronic inflammatory conditions. Preclinical investigations using peripherally restricted CBR antagonists that do not cross the BBB have shown promise for the treatment of obesity and metabolic diseases, highlighting the importance of continuing efforts to discover novel molecules with superior safety profiles. The purpose of this review is to examine the roles of CB1R and CB2Rs, as well as their antagonists, in relation to the above-mentioned disorders

Effect of ochratoxin A on the intestinal mucosa and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues in broiler chickens

The immunotoxic effect of ochratoxin A (OTA) on the intestinal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue and its cytotoxic action on the intestinal epithelium were studied in broiler chickens experimentally treated with the toxin. From the 7th day of life, 80 male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly divided into four groups of 20 birds each. The three experimental groups (E1-3) were treated with OTA for 28 days (E1: 50 μg/kg body weight [bw]/day; E2: 20 μg/kg bw/day; E3: 1 μg/kg bw/day) and the fourth group served as control. Histological examination of the intestinal mucosa and immunohistochemical staining for identification of CD4+, CD8+, TCR1 and TCR2 lymphocytes in the duodenum, jejunum and ileocaecal junction were performed, and CD4+/CD8+ and TCR1/TCR2 ratios were calculated. OTA toxicity resulted in decreased body weight gain, poorer feed conversion ratio, lower leukocyte and lymphocyte count, and altered intestinal mucosa architecture. After 14 days of exposure to OTA, immunohistochemistry showed a significant reduction of the lymphocyte population in the intestinal epithelium and the lamina propria. After 28 days of exposure, an increase in the CD4+ and CD8+ values in both the duodenum and jejunum of chickens in Groups E1 and E2 was observed, but the TCR1 and TCR2 lymphocyte counts showed a significant reduction. No significant changes were observed in Group E3. The results indicate that OTA induced a decrease in leukocyte and lymphocyte counts and was cytotoxic to the intestinal epithelium and the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, altering the intestinal barrier and increasing susceptibility to various associated diseases

A model predictive control approach for the Pantograph-Catenary positioning system

ISBN 978-1-61499-104-5The paper deals with the predictive control synthesis for a Pantograph-Catenary (PAC) system. The main difficulty of the control design resides in the time-varying characteristics of the dynamics modeled by a chain of spring-mass elements

Land use and Behavioral Patterns of Brown Bears in the South-Eastern Romanian Carpathian Mountains: A Case Study of Relocated and Rehabilitated Individuals

AbstractAlthough brown bears are not drastically threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation at the present, the socioeconomic development in Romania is proceeding rapidly and already came along with noticeable changes in landscape. Human-bear conflicts though exist for decades, requiring proper management and related research findings. We analyzed the habitat use on landscape level of 8 GPS-collared bears between 2008 and 2011. According to the type of human intervention we grouped our study animals into four classes: (1) non-relocated, nonrehabilitated; (2) relocated, non-rehabilitated; (3) non-relocated, rehabilitated; (4) relocated, rehabilitated. We tried to respond if bear types exhibit varied responses to landscape level habitat use by examining home range sizes and occurrence in the proximity of human settlements, defined as High Potential Conflict Areas (HPCA). We tested the effect of age and sex on presence versus absence and on the time spent in this buffer area. Home rang sizes calculated with the minimum convex polygon varied substantially among bears and types but less for the 95% kernel estimators. Between 50.9% and 94.7% of all bear locations were in forest areas and shrubland. Agricultural fields were frequented moderately, urban areas were practically avoided. But bear presence remarkably increased within the HPCA, in bear type 1 up to 70%. There was no significant difference between relocated and rehabilitated bears (type 2 and 3), both being more present outside the buffer area. Bears of type 4 behaved wary and approached urban areas less frequently. Females tend to stay further away from human activities, whereas males did not have a special preference. Adults frequented more often and remained longer inside the buffer zone than subadults, which were four rehabilitated animals out of total five

The effects of antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) administration on the contractility of the arterial preparations in rats compared with pets

Vasopressin known as antidiuretic hormone is responsible for regulating plasma osmolality and volume. It acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain to control circadian rhythm, thermoregulation, and adrenocorticotrophic hormone release. The therapeutic use of vasopressin has become increasingly important in the critical care environment in the management of cranial diabetes insipidus, bleeding abnormalities, oesophageal variceal haemorrhage, asystolic cardiac arrest, and septic shock. The present study aims toward identifying similarities and differences between the resistance arteries belonging from various mammal species that are most involved in veterinary practice: rats, cats and dogs. Smooth muscle has been studied as circular preparations from rat aorta, cat and dog coronary gastric aorta. Force generation has been studied using isometric transducers while stimulation of preparations was made pharmacologically at various doses. Results were expressed as percentage of inhibition or stimulation of the control contraction. Force generation, frequency and amplitude of spontaneous contraction have been recorded. Administration in isolated preparations where made using desmopressin acetate (Ferring) as vials of 4 mg/ml. The preparation is a synthetic analogue of the natural hormone 8-arginine-vasopressin, as arginine-vasopressine-monoacetatetrihydrate. Dosages varied from 10-12M to10-8M. Several methods have been tried for normalizing maximal isometric force developed by smooth muscle from various locations, vessel dimensions and animal species. We have measured in vitro the amount of force generated by arterial rings harvested from the same areas, very rigorously cleaned of adventice and surrounding tissues and the force, expressed as mN was ratioed to the wet weight of the preparations. The results were statistically investigated using the t-test and ANOVA testing. In preparations of rat aorta and splachnic arteries from cat and dog, the vasopressin induced a tonic contraction, with an aspect of descending plateau. In conclusion, vasopressin contraction has several special characteristics concerning its dynamics. The contractile plateau is kept only for about 10-15 minutes, after which it fades, and new administration in a space of approximately 16 minutes does not induce the initially effect (probable tachyphylaxis)