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G Pauwels

Publications and source records attributed to G Pauwels.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Bench- and pilot-scale sludge electrodewatering in a diaphragm filter press.

Electrodewatering is a technique in which pressure dewatering is combined with electrokinetic effects to realize an improved solid/liquid separation and hence increased filter cake dry matter contents. In order to be energy efficient, it is shown that sludge should be dewatered by pressure dewatering to a high extent prior to electric field application, and a sufficient contact time for the electric field must be guaranteed. In order to realize these goals, a bench- and pilot-scale diaphragm filter press suited for electrodewatering were constructed for treatment of sewage and other types of sludges. It was shown that electrodewatering of sludge is a feasible technique, especially for biological sludge types. Other types of sludge are less suited for electrodewatering because of the restricted improvements that can be realized in cake dry matter content and the high electric energy consumption. Furthermore, it was shown in pilot-scale tests that the use of a diaphragm filter press with electrodewatering facilities was very well suited to deliver dry filter cakes of sewage sludge at a moderate energy consumption. Depending on local market prices for investment, operating and sludge disposal costs, this technology may therefore lead to important savings in the sludge management process.

Electrochemistry↗

Effect of coexposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields and an aneugen on human lymphocytes, determined by the cytokinesis block micronucleus assay.

Interference of 50 Hz extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) with the known aneugen vinblastine (VBL) on micronucleus formation was tested with the in vitro cytokinesis block micronucleus assay in human lymphocyte cultures. Isolated lymphocyte cultures were prepared from 18 individuals. Three groups of quadruplicate cultures from six unrelated individuals were exposed to 50 Hz ELF-MF of background (bkg), 80 and 800 microT, respectively, during the complete incubation period (72 h). Twenty-four hours after culture initiation, one replicate culture from each individual within each ELF-MF group was exposed to 0, 5, 10, or 15 ng/ml VBL. The isolated lymphocyte cultures were scored for the presence of micronuclei, the nuclear division index (NDI), and apoptosis. As expected, increased VBL concentration resulted in an increased micronucleus and apoptosis frequency and in a decreased NDI. In the presence of VBL, there was a systematic tendency for increased micronucleus and apoptosis frequency in the ELF-MF exposed groups compared to the bkg group. In the absence of VBL, we observed no statistically significant effect of ELF-MF on micronucleus induction or apoptosis frequency, but the NDI was significantly higher in the 800 microT group compared to the other groups, suggesting an effect of ELF-MF on cell proliferation. An interaction between ELF-MF and VBL on NDI was observed. This interaction reflected the drastic decrease in NDI due to coexposure to VBL.

Adult↗

Suloctidil increases the rat brain cortex microvascular regeneration after a lesion.

A "cavity" lesion made by aspiration in the rat occipital cortex induces a parenchymal and a vascular reaction in its vicinity. The first was mainly characterized by cellular necrosis and gliosis, the second by an increase of the vascular network. In vehicle treated rats, a 50% significant increase of the vascular network was observed around the cavity 4 days after the lesion, in comparison to the uninjured contralateral cortex. The effects of a vasoactive substance, suloctidil, on the vascular reaction was studied in the brain cortex. A single oral dose of suloctidil (30 mg/kg; 2 hours before the sacrifice) gave the same effect as the vehicle group. After 8 days of suloctidil oral administration (30 mg/kg; twice daily: 4 days before lesion and 4 days after) a significant increase (123%) of the vascular network was observed around the cavity. The hypothetical ways by which a chronic treatment of suloctidil induces this increase of the neovascularization observed after cortical lesion are discussed.

Animals↗

The novel neuropsychotropic agent milacemide is a specific enzyme-activated inhibitor of brain monoamine oxidase B.

The novel neuropsychotropic agent milacemide hydrochloride (2-n-pentylaminoacetamide HCl) is a highly selective substrate of the B form of monoamine oxidase (EC 1.4.3.4; MAO). Under the in vitro conditions used in the present study, milacemide acts as an enzyme-activated, partially reversible inhibitor of MAO-B. A reversible inhibition of MAO-A activity is also observed at high concentrations. The inhibitory activity of milacemide is significantly greater for MAO-B. In vivo, after single or repeated oral administration, a specific inhibition of MAO-B is apparent in brain and liver, with a lack of inhibition of the MAO-A activity. In contrast to the irreversible inhibitory action of L-deprenyl, the recovery of MAO-B activity in vivo after milacemide administration is significantly faster, a result suggesting that it is a partially reversible inhibitor. The selective inhibitory effect of milacemide for MAO-B in vivo is confirmed by its potentiation of phenylethylamine-induced stereotyped behavior, whereas vasopressor responses to tyramine were not affected. These observations suggest that milacemide could enhance dopaminergic activity in the brain and could be used as therapy for Parkinson's disease in association with L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine.

Acetamides↗

Localization of high-affinity GABA uptake and GABA content in the rat duodenum during development.

The localization of high-affinity uptake sites for 3H gamma-aminobutyric acid (3H-GABA) was investigated in the rat duodenum during ontogenesis and also at the adult stage (from 15.5 days of fetal life up to 105 days post natum) by means of low- and high-resolution autoradiography. At all stages studied, specific endocrine cell types of the epithelium were labelled and an intense uptake was detected in the nervous tissue, especially in glial cells but also in scarce neurones. When the incubation medium was supplemented with beta-alanine (1 mM), a blocker of the glial uptake for GABA, the labelling persisted only in endocrine cells and in few neurones. The intensity and the frequency of the labelling decreased at later periods compared to the earlier developmental stages. The GABA content of the duodenum as measured by a new ion-exchange column chromatography-HPLC-coupled method was higher in the early postnatal period compared to later stages. These observations suggest that GABA, in addition to being a neurotransmitter, may play an important role during development of the duodenum.

Aging↗

Effect of milacemide, a glycinamide derivative, on the rat brain gamma-aminobutyric acid system.

Milacemide (CP 1552 S, 2-n-pentylaminoacetamide), a drug with anti-epileptic potency, increases the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content specifically in the substantia nigra of rat brain. The effect is dose-related from 25 to 100 mg/kg p.o. The time course shows that at 100 mg/kg p.o. after 2, 3 and 4 hr the substantia nigra GABA content is significantly increased by 28, 33 and 38%, respectively. After 6 hr the GABA contents return to the control value. After repeated oral administration of milacemide a comparable effect to acute administration is obtained. After degeneration of the striato-nigral GABA-ergic pathway, milacemide no longer enhances the content of GABA in the substantia nigra. GABA-transaminase activity measured ex vivo in rat brain homogenate is not influenced by milacemide. On the other hand, the glutamate decarboxylase activity measured ex vivo 3 hr after 100 mg/kg of milacemide is significantly increased by 11% in homogenates of the whole rat brain. The results show that milacemide increases the GABA content in the GABA pool which is associated with the striato-nigral neurons. This increase is not due to GABA-transaminase inhibition but might be the result of an enhanced synthesis, possibly through glutamate decarboxylase activation.

Acetamides↗