Performance of a large-scale greenhouse solar dryer integrated with phase change material thermal storage system for drying of chili

ABSTRACT

Large-scale greenhouse solar dryers have been used for drying various products and this type of dryer is usually equipped with LPG burner as auxiliary heater, which creates more operating cost. To overcome this problem, phase change material (PCM) thermal storage was proposed to substitute for the LPG burner. In this work, the performance of a large-scale greenhouse solar dryer integrated with a PCM as a latent heat storage for drying of chili was investigated. Experimental studies were conducted to compare the performance of this dryer with that of another large-scale greenhouse solar dryer without the PCM thermal storage and open sun drying. Chili with an initial moisture content of 74.7% (w.b.) was dried to a final moisture content of 10.0% (w.b.) in 2.5 days, 3.5 days, and 11 days using the solar dryer integrated with the PCM thermal storage, the solar dryer without the PCM thermal storage and the open sun drying, respectively. The performance of the solar dryer integrated with the PCM thermal storage was also evaluated using exergy analysis. The exergy efficiency of the drying room of the solar dryer integrated with the PCM thermal storage and the solar dryer without the PCM thermal storage for drying of chili was found to be 13.1% and 11.4%, respectively and the thermal storage helps to dry chili during adverse weather conditions. The results of exergy analysis implied that the exergy losses from the dryer with the PCM should be reduced.     

Selective effects of fenitrothion on murine splenic T-lymphocyte populations and cytokine/granzyme production

The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro effects of fenitrothion (FNT) on mouse splenic lymphocytes. Here, naïve mice had their spleens harvested and splenocytes isolated. After exposure to FNT for 48 hr: splenocyte viability was measured using a tetrazolium dye assay; cell phenotypes, i.e., B-cells (CD19⁺), T-cells (CD3⁺), and T-cell subsets (CD4⁺ and CD8⁺), were quantified by flow cytometry; and, production of cytokines/granzyme-B was assessed via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The ability for FNT to induce oxidative stress in the cells was evaluated by measuring hydroxyl radical (·OH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) production and changes in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The results showed that FNT significantly inhibited splenocyte proliferation, and decreased production of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon gamma, IL-4, and granzyme B, but had no impact on IL-6 production. FNT also selectively decreased splenic T-cell levels but did not induce changes in CD19⁺ B-cells. Further, within the T-cell populations, percentages of CD3⁺, CD4⁺, and CD8⁺ T-cells (particularly CD8⁺ T-cells) were reduced. Lastly, FNT selectively increased MDA and ·OH production and inhibited SOD and GSH-Px activities in the splenic lymphocytes. These findings suggest that, due to oxidative damage, FNT selectively inhibits splenic T-lymphocyte survival and cytokine/granzyme production in vitro.     

中国全新世气候变化研究进展

全新世气候变化研究是古气候研究的一个重点。中国全新世气候变化的研究也是全球变化研究中重要的一部分。大量的研究工作为恢复中国全新世气候做了重大贡献。中国地形地貌复杂 ,又处在具有复杂时空变率的东亚季风控制范围内 ,这使得不同的研究工作者在一些问题上存在意见分歧。比较统一的意见是 :中国全新世始于约 10 .5kaBP ;在约 9～ 8kaBP左右为一段降温期 ;7～ 4kaBP为一段温暖期 ,通常称之为全新世大暖期 ;大约 3kaBP左右开始降温 ,至近代才又升温 ;约 130 0aA .D .左右进入小冰期 ,到 185 0aA .D .左右结束 ,其间又有几次比较明显的温度振荡。 185 0aA .D .至今为温度的上升期。对于气候变动的驱动因素 ,不同的学者看法不一 ;从长时间尺度看 ,太阳辐射变化是气候变化的主要驱动力。     

固定化细胞技术及应用于废水处理的最新进展

本文简要介绍了用于废水处理的固定化细胞技术及应用此技术进行废水处理的七个领域的最新成就。     

Detection of fetal cells in maternal blood

We report the detection of fetal cells in the maternal circulation by enzymatic amplification of a single copy gene sequence that was fetal-specific. Fetal HLA-A2-positive cells were sorted from maternal HLA-A2-negative cells by flow cytometry and confirmed by demonstration of a fetal-specific HLA-DR4 sequence. However, this sequence could not be detected in unenriched maternal DNA prepared at 28 and 32 weeks' gestation. The sensitivity of detection was 1 HLA-DR4-positive cell in 10⁵ HLA-DR4-negative cells. We conclude that prenatal diagnosis of paternally inherited autosomal-dominant genetic defects may be possible by selective gene amplification of maternal peripheral blood. However, preliminary enrichment for fetal cells may be necessary.     

The time of appearance and disappearance of fetal DNA from the maternal circulation

A single copy Y-chromosome DNA sequence was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the peripheral blood of 30 women who had achieved a pregnancy through an in vitro fertilization (IVF) programme. The time of conception was known precisely and was confirmed by serial ultrasound scans. Conceptions were dated as the number of weeks after fertilization plus 2, to give a time equivalent to the obstetric menstrual dating of the pregnancy (LMP). Y-chromosome-specific DNA was detected in all pregnancies with a male fetus (18/30). The earliest detection was at 4 weeks and 5 days, and the latest at 7 weeks and 1 day. Y-chromosome-specific sequences were no longer detected in any of the male pregnancies 8 weeks after delivery. No Y-chromosome sequences were detected in any of the pregnancies where only female babies were delivered. This demonstrates that fetal DNA appears in the maternal circulation early in the first trimester, that it can be identified in all pregnancies tested by 7 weeks, that it continues to be present throughout pregnancy, and that it has been cleared from the maternal circulation 2 months after parturition. Early non-invasive prenatal diagnosis for aneuploidies and inherited disorders will be possible in all pregnancies if fetal cells can be isolated free from maternal contamination (or identified accurately in the presence of maternal cells) without problems of contamination from previous pregnancies.     

裂变产物170Tm的体内蓄积特性诱发骨髓细胞突变效应研究

对裂变产物~(170)Tm的体内蓄积特性和诱发细胞突变效应的监测结果表明,当机体摄入~(170)Tm后,在短时间内即能迅速进入并滞留于骨组织中,其滞留量占体内各器官组织中的首位呈现高度选择性亲骨特征,在机体摄入~(170)Tm后的不同阶段,骨组织中的累积吸收剂量随着观察时间的延长而增升,其诱发骨髓细胞的染色体畸变率亦相应增高。由~(170)Tm内污染所诱发的染色体结构异常为染色单体型畸变,其中主要为染色单体断裂。随着骨组织中累积吸收剂量的增升,可观察到在一个细胞中同时有两个畸变发生,也诱发个别的染色体易位。     

The oxidation of octanoic acid by cultured amniotic fluid cells: The effect of cell type and passage number

We have measured the rate of oxidation of [1⁻¹⁴C]octanoate in cultured amniotic fluid (AF) cells at various passages and in AF cell lines with different clonal morphology. It is possible that both the passage number and the cell type may influence the outcome of prenatal diagnosis of fatty acid oxidation defects using this technique. We found that there was no significant difference between the three major AF cell types (epithelial, large epithelial, and fibroblast) when analysed at identical passage number but there was a significant reduction in octanoate oxidation in all cell types with increasing passage. For reliable prenatal diagnosis, cell lines of similar low passage number should be used.     

Mosaic trisomy 17 in amniotic fluid cells not confirmed in the newborn

A case of true fetal mosaicism 46,XY/47,XY, + 17 was diagnosed in amniotic fluid cells. After genetic counselling and unsuccessful periumbilical blood sampling the pregnancy continued to term, and a healthy male infant was born. Lymphocytes of the newborn had a normal karyotype. Follow-up of the child at age 18 months showed normal physical and mental development indicating that the trisomic cell line was restricted most probably to the extra fetal tissue.     

鼎湖山臭氧、氮氧化物和太阳可见光辐射相互关系的研究

给出了１９９６年了在广东肇庆鼎湖山自然保护区对太阳可见光 段辐射，地面臭氧、ＮＯ、ＮＯ２浓度的观测结果，对影响地面臭氧、ＮＯ、ＮＯ２的主要因子进行了分析，并得到了较好的结果，晴天条件下，地面臭氧浓度、ＮＯ、ＮＯ２浓度有明显的日变化；阴天条件下，地面臭氧浓度、ＮＯ、ＮＯ２浓度的日变化要复杂一些。