Milk and milk-derived peptides combat against hypertension and vascular dysfunction : a review

Epidemiological studies have revealed that consumption of milk and fermented dairy products is inversely associated with elevated blood pressure and with many of the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome. Previously, calcium was thought to be behind this phenomenon, but during the last 20 years, convincing evidence emerging from experimental, epidemiological and intervention studies has highlighted the important role of the small peptides formed during fermentation processes. This review provides an overview of the potential blood pressure lowering components present in dairy products with a special focus on casein-derived tripeptides.Peer reviewe

NEW LIGHT-WEIGHT STEREOSOPIC SPECTROMETRIC AIRBORNE IMAGING TECHNOLOGY FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION ENVIRONMENTAL REMOTE SENSING – CASE STUDIES IN WATER QUALITY MAPPING

A new Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) based light-weight spectrometric camera provides new possibilities for environmental remote sensing applications. The sensor collects spectral data cubes with adjustable spectral properties in a rectangular image format, and so stereoscopic data can be obtained by gathering images in block structures with overlapping images. The FPI camera thus enables stereoscopic, spectrometric remote sensing applications with light-weight, low-cost airborne imaging systems. Our objective is to investigate the processing and use of this new imaging technology in a water quality mapping. We carried out imaging campaigns over a small lake in summer and autumn 2012 using a light-weight unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV) and a small manned airborne vehicle (MAV). We present the preliminary results of these campaigns

Hypotensive effect and endothelium-dependent vascular action of leaves of Alpinia purpurata (Vieill) K. Schum

The aims of this study were to evaluate the chemical profile, vascular reactivity, and acute hypotensive effect (AHE) of the ethanolic extract of leaves of Alpinia purpurata (Vieill) K. Schum (EEAP). Its chemical profile was evaluated using HPLC-UV, ICP-OES, and colorimetric quantification of total flavonoids and polyphenols. The vascular reactivity of the extract was determined using the mesenteric bed isolated from WKY. AHE dose-response curves were obtained for both EEAP and inorganic material isolated from AP (IAP) in WKY and SHR animals. Cytotoxic and mutagenic safety levels were determined by the micronucleus test. Rutin-like flavonoids were quantified in the EEAP (1.8 ± 0.03%), and the total flavonoid and polyphenol ratios were 4.1 ± 1.8% and 5.1 ± 0.3%, respectively. We observed that the vasodilation action of EEAP was partially mediated by nitric oxide (·NO). The IAP showed the presence of calcium (137.76 ± 4.08 μg mg-1). The EEAP and IAP showed an AHE in WKY and SHR animals. EEAP did not have cytotoxic effects or cause chromosomic alterations. The AHE shown by EEAP could result from its endothelium-dependent vascular action. Rutin-like flavonoids, among other polyphenols, could contribute to these biological activities, and the calcium present in EEAP could act in a synergistic way

Study of the aerodynamic sampling effects of a holographic cloud droplet instrument

Abstract Computational fluid dynamics and particle tracing simulations are presented for a cloud droplet sensor. Airspeeds and streamlines around the sensor are calculated at several wind speeds and their effect on the droplet sampling are examined. Particle tracing is used to study the effect of different wind speeds and droplet sizes on the sampling of the cloud droplets. Simulated droplet concentrations are confirmed by comparing them with measured wind tunnel data. Results demonstrate clear sampling effects that are functions of both wind speed and droplet size. Optimal compromise between maximal measurement volume and sampling effects is found and a simple approximation for sensor’s sampling bias is presented. The results show that CFD simulations can give valuable information about the sampling of droplets in an ideal environment with known droplet concentrations. Even in a wind tunnel, the true test conditions are often impossible to accurately determine. Thus by simulating the sampling effects in different conditions, the sensor can be calibrated for a wide range of naturally occurring cloud conditions

The effect of drop shape, sensing volume and raindrop size statistics to the scattered field on 300 GHz

Abstract Scattering and attenuation properties of rain using various drop models are calculated using Mie theory, the T-matrix method and numerical technique respectively. Ellipsoidal and oblate drops use the axis ratio of raindrops reported in literature. Scattering are presented both for small volumes containing a single drop and for large volumes with multiple drops in which the statistics of drop size distribution need to be taken into account. The angular dependence of scattering, absorption and scattering cross sections and polarization ratios are investigated. For single scattering the angular dependence and cross sections of nonspherical drops differed from those of a spherical drop. Differences between ellipsoid and oblate drops were minimal. Drop shape affected the polarization mostly at 40–140 degree detection angles. The averaged linear attenuation and rain induced cross channel signal were studied. Attenuation was close to the ITU-R.838 model and in the same order of magnitude as the attenuation due to atmospheric moisture. The cross channel signal was calculated as a function of rain rate and transmitter/receiver angle. Vertical polarization was observed to produce a higher cross channel signal than horizontal polarization. It was concluded that drop shape is not an important factor at 300 GHz due to small drops dominating the scattering signal. Overall, the results showed that in single scattering, the ellipsoid is a good approximation for raindrops and that for large volumes, a spherical drop approximation and a Mie solution may be sufficient at frequencies of 300 GHz and higher

Predicting scattering properties of fiber suspensions using Mie theory and probabilistic cross-sectional diameter of fibers

Abstract Scattering of visible light by micrometer-scale natural wood fibers is usually treated by assuming fibers to be perfect long cylindrical scatterers. In industrial processes, however, fibers experience deformations and are far from ideal cylinders. Variation in fiber morphology affects their scattering properties and it poses a challenge for reliable process measurements. In this paper, we have studied experimentally scattering of both deformed natural and ideal artificial non-absorbing fibers in aqueous suspension and their response to mass concentration of fibers. Experimental results are compared with the predictions of the Mie theory which is combined with cross-sectional diameter probability distribution of fibers. It is shown that the diameter distribution of the fibers together with Mie theory provides results that agree with experiments in case of both natural and ideal fibers