Utilization of sulfur dioxide in organic acids recovery and sulfur trioxide conversion with iron oxide as catalyst

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is a primary air pollutant and its emission is strictly restricted by pertinent regulations. Methodology is to use SO 2 as a raw material to produce valuable chemicals while purifying the flue gas. Two approaches that use SO2 in the flue gas were put forward and examined. In the first approach, SO2 was used to recover acetic acid and lactic acid from the biological process. The second approach converted SO2 to SO3 through oxidation with iron oxide (Fe2O3) as catalyst. The experimental results of acetic and lactic acid recovery showed that both the reaction time and breakthrough time decreased with the increase of reaction temperature and SO2 flow rate. Analysis of the produced acetic and lactic acids demonstrated that the complete conversion of organic calcium salts to corresponding organic acids was not affected by the reaction conditions. The findings of this study indicated that recovering acetic acid and lactic acid with SO2 is both economical and environmentally beneficial. The oxidation of SO 2 was greatly enhanced by either microscale or nanoscale Fe2O 3 according to the experiment results. Nanoscale Fe2O 3 performed much better than its microscale counterpart in catalyzing the SO2 oxidation. The conversion of SO2 was temperature dependent for both types of Fe2O3. The reaction orders with respect to the reactants sulfur dioxide and oxygen were determined when using microscale and nanoscale iron oxides as catalysts. Empirical Arrhenius expressions of the catalytic oxidation of sulfur dioxide oxidation were derived based on rate constants obtained at different temperatures

Effect of the variable gear mesh model in dynamic simulation of a drive train in the wind turbine

To acquire transient response of a drive train, we consider more detailed mathematical model including variable gear mesh. The gear mesh is represented by the Fourier series. In transient analysis, gear’s angular velocity is considered as constant. It makes sense when we consider steady-state. However, the gear mesh is the only part which vary according to angular displacement. It should be considered not only by the Fourier series model but also as a modified system displacement. To establish the gear mesh model, we use a curve fitting theorem. Equations of motion are derived by the Lagrange’s equation, constrained equation and gear relation. The equations are solved by numerical integration method, the Newmark method. Through these processes, we get dynamic results including angular displacement, velocity, acceleration, gear mesh contact forces. Also, the Fourier transform is used to see signals more detailed. At last, we compared the variable gear mesh and constant gear mesh, gave physical meaning, and analyzed cause of the phenomenon

Effect of Dietary Protein Level and Origin on the Redox Status in the Digestive Tract of Mice

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of high protein (soybean protein or casein) on the balance between production of free radicals and antioxidant level in digestive organs of mice. For this purpose, male (C57BL/6J) mice were adapted to experimental diets containing soybean protein or casein with 20% (normal protein diets, NPDs) or 60% (high protein diets, HPDs), and HPDs supplemented with 0.06g/kg cysteamine. After two weeks of feeding, oxidative and antioxidative parameters in duodenum, liver and pancreas were measured. The results show that ingestion of high protein markedly increased contents of superoxide anion and malondialdehyde (MDA), decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and Na+ K+-ATPase, and content of reduced glutathione (GSH) in digestive organs of mice (P<0.05). Levels of oxidative parameters were lower and antioxidant capacity of both enzyme and non-enzyme was higher in mice fed with soybean protein than those fed with casein. In groups fed HPDs supplemented with cysteamine, oxidative stress was mitigated. However, oxidative parameter levels were still higher than those of NPD-fed groups. The present study indicates that ingestion of high protein diets could result in an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant, and thus induce oxidative stress in digestive organs of mice. The oxidative damage was smaller in mice fed with high level of soy protein in comparison with casein

Association of hyperuricemia with metabolic syndrome among university workers: sex and occupational differences

Background: The relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hyperuricemia is not fully understood.Objective: To examine the association of hyperuricemia with MetS and the component of MetS that is mostly influenced by hyperuricemia among university workers.Methods: Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, glucose, lipid profiles, renal function tests were measured in 1198 male and 1075 female (22-60 years old) workers on annual medical examination. Results: Hyperuricemia was 3-fold higher in males (odds ratio, OR, 2.938, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.909-4.522, P&lt;0.01) than females after adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI) and renal function. Overall, individuals with hyperuricemia were 3.9-fold likely to have MetS OR, 3.903; CI (2.439-6.245), P&lt;0.01, and dyslipidemia, 2.5 times (OR, 2.501; 95% CI, 1.776-3.521, P&lt;0.01) after adjustment for age, BMI, sex and renal function. However, no associations were found in individuals with hypertension (OR, 1.427; 95% CI, 0.996-2.205, P=0.052) and hyperglycemia (OR, 1.476; 95% CI, 0.989-2.202, P=0.057). Administrative work positively associated (OR, 1.895; 95% CI, 1.202-2.925, P&lt;0.05) with hyperuricemia in males and not females.Conclusion: Male workers with hyperuricemia, especially those working in administration were at risk of metabolic syndrome. It is important to screen, prevent and treat metabolic syndrome in individuals diagnosed with hyperuricemia at the workplace.Keywords: Hyperuricemia, metabolic syndrome, uric acid, workers

Salvianolic acid B Relieves Oxidative Stress in Glucose Absorption and Utilization of Mice Fed High-Sugar Diet

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) on  oxidative stress in mice administrated with glucose, sucrose and high-sugar diet.Methods: 40 Kunming mice were divided into four groups of 10. After a fast of 12 h, mice were treated by oral infusion respectively with physiological saline, 20 % glucose, 20 % sucrose, and 20 % glucose + 0.002 % Sal B. Blood glucose and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were  determined at 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 h after administration. Another 3 groups of 10 Kunming mice each were fed with normal diet, high-sugar diet (20 % sucrose, HSD) and HSD + 0.002 % Sal B. Four weeks later, the levels of ROS as well as antioxidant enzyme activity were determined.Results: Blood ROS showed the first peak at 0.5 h and a higher peak at 1.5 h after high glucose administration. ROS were mainly produced in liver and pancreas with the utilization of glucose. Sal B administration prevented increase in blood glucose and significantly (p &lt; 0.05) reduced ROS produced in the process of glucose absorption and utilization, especially the latter. Sal B decrease oxidative stress induced by HSD through scavenging ROS associated with increased activity of antioxidant enzymes.Conclusion: This study demonstrates that Sal B can decrease oxidative stress in glucose absorption and utilization in HSD mice. Thus, the findings provide a basis for a potential interventional strategy for protecting against oxidative damage induced by HSD.Keywords: Salvianolic acid B, Blood glucose, Reactive oxygen species, Oxidative stress, Sugar di

Energy Efficiency of Generalized Spatial Modulation Aided Massive MIMO Systems

One of focuses in green communication studies is the energy efficiency (EE) of massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. Although the massive MIMO technology can improve the spectral efficiency (SE) of cellular networks by configuring a large number of antennas at base stations (BSs), the energy consumption of radio frequency (RF) chains increases dramatically. The increment of energy consumption is caused by the increase of RF chain number to match the antenna number in massive MIMO communication systems. To overcome this problem, a generalized spatial modulation (GSM) solution is presented to simultaneously reduce the number of RF chains and maintain the SE of massive MIMO communication systems. A EE model is proposed to estimate the transmission and computation power of massive MIMO communication systems with GSM. Simulation results demonstrate that the EE of massive MIMO communication systems with GSM outperforms the massive MIMO communication systems without GSM. Besides, the computation power consumed by massive MIMO communication systems with GSM is effectively reduced

Association of hyperuricemia with metabolic syndrome among university workers: sex and occupational differences

Background: The relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hyperuricemia is not fully understood. Objective: To examine the association of hyperuricemia with MetS and the component of MetS that is mostly influenced by hyperuricemia among university workers. Methods: Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, glucose, lipid profiles, renal function tests were measured in 1198 male and 1075 female (22-60 years old) workers on annual medical examination. Results: Hyperuricemia was 3-fold higher in males (odds ratio, OR, 2.938, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.909-4.522, P&lt;0.01) than females after adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI) and renal function. Overall, individuals with hyperuricemia were 3.9-fold likely to have MetS OR, 3.903; CI (2.439-6.245), P&lt;0.01, and dyslipidemia, 2.5 times (OR, 2.501; 95% CI, 1.776-3.521, P&lt;0.01) after adjustment for age, BMI, sex and renal function. However, no associations were found in individuals with hypertension (OR, 1.427; 95% CI, 0.996-2.205, P=0.052) and hyperglycemia (OR, 1.476; 95% CI, 0.989-2.202, P=0.057). Administrative work positively associated (OR, 1.895; 95% CI, 1.202-2.925, P&lt;0.05) with hyperuricemia in males and not females. Conclusion: Male workers with hyperuricemia, especially those working in administration were at risk of metabolic syndrome. It is important to screen, prevent and treat metabolic syndrome in individuals diagnosed with hyperuricemia at the workplace