Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for assessing respiratory viral infections, the method includes preparing one or more precision-cut human bronchial tissues; exposing a cilia-rich epithelium within the precision-cut human bronchial tissues to establish an ex vivo model of human bronchus for viral infections; assessing infectivity, tropism, and pathogenesis of one or more respiratory viruses in the ex vivo model; and providing a semi-quantitative and normalized approach to supplement data from the ex vivo model of human bronchus for pandemic risk assessment of the one or more respiratory viruses. The present invention involves micro-dissection of bronchial tissues to expose the cilia-rich epithelium for ex vivo virus infection, along with a semi-quantitative approach for analyzing virus tropism and replication competence.

Abstract: A reactor (107) for pyrolysis of carbonizable plastic and rubber materials is disclosed including at least an earlier stage reaction chamber (401) and a later stage reaction chamber (105), in which the earlier stage reaction chamber receives the materials for pyrolysis, and the later stage reaction chamber receives treated materials from the earlier stage reaction chamber for subsequent pyrolysis, and the reactor (107) includes a three-way valve (407) for directing the gaseous pyrolysis products from the later stage reaction chamber to one of three pathways, each to a different destination.

Abstract: A reactor (107) for pyrolysis of carbonizable plastic and rubber materials is disclosed including at least an earlier stage reaction chamber (401) and a later stage reaction chamber (105), in which the earlier stage reaction chamber receives the materials for pyrolysis, and the later stage reaction chamber receives treated materials from the earlier stage reaction chamber for subsequent pyrolysis, and the reactor (107) includes a three-way valve (407) for directing the gaseous pyrolysis products from the later stage reaction chamber to one of three pathways, each to a different destination.

Abstract: A fluidized-bed reactor has a plurality of heat-removing pipes and at least one temperature detection section disposed in a fluidized-bed forming portion. The heat-removing pipes are connected with coolant-feeding pipes and coolant-draining pipes at the outside of the reactor at least one of the heat-removing pipes is supplied with a first coolant at a stationary velocity and at least one of the other heat-removing pipes is supplied with a second coolant at a variable velocity. A temperature controlling method is disclosed for a fluidized-bed reactor in which heat is removed by using these heat-removing pipes in the fluidized-bed reactor.