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In the present study, the impact of the laminar flame speed correlation on the prediction of the combustion process and performance of a gasoline engine is investigated using a 1D numerical approach. The model predictions are compared with experimental data available for full- and part-load operations of a small-size naturally aspirated Spark-Ignition (SI) engine, equipped with an external EGR circuit. A 1D model of the whole engine is developed in the GT-Power™ environment and is integrated with refined sub-models of the in-cylinder processes. In particular, the combustion is modelled using the fractal approach, where the burning rate is directly related to the laminar flame speed. In this work, three laminar flame speed correlations are assessed, including both experimentally- and numerically-derived formulations, the latter resulting from the fitting of laminar flame speeds computed by a chemical kinetic solver. Each correlation is implemented within the combustion sub-model, which is properly tuned to reproduce the experimental performance of the engine at full load. Then, the reliability of the considered flame speed formulations is proved at part-loads, even under external EGR operations.

Postdialytic rebound (PDR) of plasma solutes is a relevant drawback of intermittent hemodialysis, but its pathophysiological process remains undefined. We assessed the independent effects of efficiency and length of dialytic session on PDR of urea, phosphate, and potassium.Uremic patients were evaluated at the beginning and end of dialysis and after 180 minutes in 2 randomized crossover studies. In study 1, we compared the effect of standard versus higher efficiency acetate-free biofiltration (AFB) while maintaining the same duration of 4 hours. In study 2, we compared the effect of 3- versus 5-hour AFB sessions while maintaining similar efficiency.In study 1, greater Kt/V (1.49 +/- 0.20 versus 1.22 +/- 0.15; P0.0001) was coupled with significant increases in both absolute removal and PDR of urea and phosphate (PDR of urea, +45% versus +29%; PDR of phosphate, +79% versus +52%), but not of potassium. Similarly, in study 2, shortening the AFB session while maintaining similar absolute removal and Kt/V (1.28 +/- 0.09 versus 1.31 +/- 0.09) significantly increased PDR of urea and phosphate (PDR of urea, +32% versus +19%; PDR of phosphate, +63% versus +36%), but not of potassium. In both studies, greater PDRs of urea and phosphate were associated with estimated greater removal of these solutes per hour.The rate of removal of phosphate and urea is a critical determinant of their PDR; conversely, potassium is not influenced by removal rate, likely because of its marked cell compartmentalization.

Maximal suppression of renin-angiotensin system in nonproliferative glomerulonephritis. Background Elimination of residual proteinuria is the novel target in renoprotrection; nevertheless, whether a greater suppression of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) effectively improves the antiproteinuric response in patients with moderate proteinuria remains ill-defined. Methods We evaluated the effects of maximizing RAS suppression on quantitative and qualitative proteinuria in ten patients with stable nonnephrotic proteinuria (2.55 ± 0.94 g/24 hours) due to primary nonproliferative glomerulonephritis (NPGN), and normal values of creatinine clearance (103 ± 17 mL/min). The study was divided in three consecutive phases: ( 1 ) four subsequent 1-month periods of ramipril at the dose of 2.5, 5.0, 10, and 20 mg/day; ( 2 ) 2 months of ramipril 20 mg/day + irbesartan 300 mg/day; and ( 3 ) 2 months of irbesartan 300 mg/day alone. Results Maximizing RAS suppression was not coupled with any major effect on renal function and blood pressure; conversely, a significant decrement in hemoglobin levels, of 0.8 g/dL on average, was observed during up-titration of ramipril dose. The 2.5 mg dose of ramipril significantly decreased proteinuria by 29%. Similar changes were detected after irbesartan alone (-28%). The antiproteinuric effect was not improved either by the higher ramipril doses (-30% after the 20 mg dose) or after combined treatment (-33%). The reduction of proteinuria led to amelioration of the markers of tubular damage, as testified by the significant decrement of α 1 microglobulin (α 1 m) excretion and of the tubular component of proteinuria at sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Conclusion In nonnephrotic NPGN patients, standard doses of either ramipril or irbesartan lead to significant reduction of residual proteinuria and amelioration of the qualitative features suggestive of tubular damage. The enhancement of RAS suppression up to the maximal degree does not improve the antiproteinuric response and is coupled with a decrement of hemoglobin levels.