The Ejffect of Vertical Internal Baffles on Fluidization Hydrodynamics and Grain Drying Characteristics

The effect of vertical internal baffles on the particle mixing and graindrying characteristics in a batch fluidized bed column is investigated. Experimental work wascarried out in a 3m high rectangular fluidized bed dryer of cross sectional area of 0.15 m x 0.61 mat different operating conditions using paddy, a group D particle, as the fluidizing material. Theresults of the study showed that the fluidized bed dryer system with vertical internal baffles gavebetter particle mixing effect in the bed of particles than that without vertical internal baffles.This is due to the fact that the vertical internal baffle act as gas bubble breakers by breaking upthe large gas bubbles into smaller ones. The smaller bubbles cause a more vigorous mixing in the bedof particles before finally erupting at the bed surface. This improves the contacting efficiencyand enhanced the heat and mass transfer of the fluidized bed system. Thus a higher drying rate wasobtained in the falling rate period because the higher contacting efficiency increases theevaporation rate at the particle surface. However, the drying rate in the diffusion region showslittle improvement because the moisture diffusivity does not depend on the contacting efficiency.The fluidized bed dryer with vertical internal baffles could therefore be used in the initial rapiddrying stage in a two stage drying strategy for paddy. The insertion of vertical internal bafflesinto a fluidized bed system improves the processing of Group D particles in a fluidized bed systemespecially if the system is large in scale.

Studies on the Chemical Components of Clematis chinensis

Two novel compounds, clemaphenol A and dihydro-4-hydroxy-5-hyroxymethyl-2(3H)-fura-none were isolated together with eight known compounds, isoferulic acid, b-sitosterol, daucosterol, 5-hy-droxymethyl-2-furancarboxaldehyde, 5-hydroxy-4-oxo-pentanoic acid, palmitic acid, linoleic acid and anemonin from the root of Clematis chinensis Osbeck.

Hydrodynamic characteristics of Wujiangdu Reservoir during the dry season-a case study of a canyon reservoir

With the development of hydropower in the karst area of Southwest China, a series of cascade canyon reservoirs have been formed through the construction of dams. Given that hydrodynamic conditions in canyon reservoirs play a pivotal role in controlling the spatiotemporal distribution of physical and chemical properties of the stored water, hydrodynamic characteristics are of great importance in understanding biogeochemical cycles in those reservoirs. To further this understanding, a field campaign was conducted in the Wujiangdu Reservoir of Guizhou Province. It was found that from the reservoir inlet to the front of the dam, velocity(v) was negativelycorrelated and had a logarithmic relationship with distance along the ship track(s) under dry-season flow conditions[v =-0.104 ln(s) + 0.4756]. Analysis showed that dryseason flow velocity had no significant correlation with water temperature, p H, or dissolved oxygen(DO). However, when velocity decreased to 0.061 m/s, water depth increased abruptly. In addition, DO displayed a sudden drop and the trend in p H changed from increasing to decreasing, while water temperature showed an opposite trend, indicating the existence of a transition zone from the river to the reservoir.

Protective effects of 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

AIM:To examine the effects of 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone(BP-1),a benzophenone derivative used as an ultraviolet light absorbent,on acetaminophen(APAP)induced hepatotoxicity in C57BL/6J mice.METHODS:Mice were administered orally with BP-1 at doses of 200,400 and 800 mg/kg body weight respectively every morning for 4 d before a hepatotoxic dose of APAP(350 mg/kg body weight) was given subcutaneously.Twenty four hours after APAP intoxication,the serum enzyme including serum alaine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) were measured and liver histopathologic changes were examined.RESULTS:BP-1 administration dramatically reduced serum ALT,AST and LDH levels.Liver histopathological examination showed that BP-1 administration antagonized APAP-induced liver pathological damage in a dose-dependent manner.Further tests showed that APAP-induced hepatic lipid peroxidation was reduced significantly by BP-1 pretreatment,and glutathione depletion was ameliorated obviously.CONCLUSION:BP-1 can effectively protect C57BL/6J mice from APAP-induced hepatotoxicity,and reduction of oxidative stress might be part of the protection mechanism.

Effects of plant coverage on shrub fertile islands in the Upper Minjiang River Valley

The patchy distribution of vegetation in dry land results in well-documented "fertile islands". However, the response of shrub fertile islands to plant recovery and the underlying mechanisms, such as the linkage plant and soil properties, remain unknown.We sampled soils from areas with three different plant coverages(25%, 45%, and 75%) and three of their adjacent inter-plants to investigate soil physicochemical and microbial properties in the upper Minjiang River arid valley. The results showed that these factors were influenced by the persistence of plants that contrasted with the inter-plant interspaces. We found fertile islands in under-plant soil that were enhanced with increasing plant coverage, from 25% to 45% and 75%; however, there were no significant differences between 45% and 75% plant coverage apart from the soil clay content and the fungi to bacteria ratio. The soil microbial communities in under-plant soil were strongly influenced by the total soil carbon(TC), soil organic carbon(SOC),and available nitrogen(AN), whereas the microbial communities in inter-plant soil were primarily constrained by the AN and available phosphorous(AP). Moreover, the inter-plant soil properties, including gravimetric soil water content, pH, electrical conductivity(EC), and soil C:N ratio, were also strongly influenced by adjacent vegetation, which suggested that fertile islands may be beneficial for plant recovery in this region.