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OBJECTIVE To investigate the epidemiology, clinical features, treatment and outcome of Noninvasive ventilation (NIV)-treated acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) patients in secondary hospitals of Shanghai. METHOD Relying on Shanghai alliances for respiratory diseases, a retrospective observational study was performed in 34 secondary hospitals of Shanghai. The AECOPD patients treated with NIV and admitted to the respiratory department or respiratory intensive care unit were recruited between December 1, 2016, and November 30, 2017. RESULTS There were 555 patients finally recruited in this study. The age was 75.8 ± 9.6 years old and 380 patients (68.5%) were male. 70.5% of all patients had respiratory acidosis (pH

This study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of volatile oil of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco leaves (VOPF) and the underlying molecular mechanisms by using the non-infectious inflammation rat models and infectious inflammation mouse models. Ear swelling and intraperitoneal capillary permeability in mice, and carrageenan-induced toe swelling and cotton ball-induced granuloma in rats were used to reveal anti-inflammatory effects of VOPF. Moreover, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse model of acute lung injury was used to explore the anti-inflammatory mechanism of VOPF. The results showed that VOPF could significantly inhibit auricular swelling, intraperitoneal capillary permeability in mice, and reduce granuloma swelling and paw swelling in rats. Furthermore, it significantly alleviated the pathological damage of the lung tissue. In addition, VOPF could reduce the contents of IL-1β and TNF-α and increase the content of IL-10 in the serum. It had little effect on the expression of p65 but reduced the phosphorylation level of p65 and IκB in NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, VOPF has anti-inflammatory effects and the mechanisms involve the down-regulation of the phosphorylation levels of p65 and IκB and blockage of the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Openings such as windows and doors are essential components of architectural wall surfaces. It is still a challenge to reconstruct them robustly from unstructured 3D point clouds because of occlusions, noises and non-uniformly distributed points. Current research primarily focuses on meliorating the robustness of detection and pays little attention to the geometric correctness. To improve the reconstruction quality, assumptions on the opening layout are usually applied as rules to support the reconstruction algorithm. The commonly used assumptions, such as the strict grid and symmetry pattern, however, are not suitable in many cases. In this paper, we propose a novel approach, named an inference machine, to identify and use flexible rules in wall opening modelling. Our method first detects and models openings through a data-driven method and then refines the opening boundaries by global and flexible rules. The key is to identify the global flexible rules from the detected openings, composed by various combinations of alignments. As our method is oblivious of the type of architectural layout, it can be applied to both interior wall surfaces and exterior building facades. We demonstrate the flexibility of our approach in both outdoor and indoor scenes with a variety of opening layouts. The qualitative and quantitative evaluation results indicate the potential of the approach to be a general method in opening detection and modelling. However, this data-driven method suffers from the existence of occlusions and non-planar wall surfaces., Remote Sensing, 12 (12), ISSN:2072-4292

Photo-realistic 3D city models that represent the physical and functional state of the city are necessary components of the nation’s digital infrastructure. It facilitates much easier governing, planning, simulation, measuring and prediction, and provides numerous potentials in both scientific and industry applications. LoD3 models contain building roof and façade geometry, as well as the functions of its different components (windows, doors, etc.). Generating accurate and standard 3D city models is a manually tedious, decisively rich and non-straightforward process, and the current practice of is LoD3 city modelling still a manually intensive process. Given the high demand for city-scale model production in the virtual Singapore program, we aim to develop an operable workflow that could produce LoD3 with the lightest possible manual involvement. A multi-data approach is used by integrating different sources of data including oblique imagery, aerial images, airborne/mobile LiDAR, and UAV images, to produce high quality LoD3 models that meet the CityGML standards. The workflow consists of three necessary work packages (WP) that develop techniques in 1) Geometry modelling, 2) Semantic labelling and texture mapping and 3) Integration of procedural modelling and interactive geometric editing. WP1 develops novel image-based and LiDAR based roof topography and façade geometry modelling with automated and semi-automated methods. WP2 applies data fusion techniques with the latest machine learning methods to perform land-cover classification, façade element attribution and texture mapping. WP2 also develops a preliminary proof of concept in change detection. To ensure high fidelity of the resulting models, WP3 develops novel visualization-driven editing procedures that efficiently correct errors of the models and integrate the procedural modelling workflow into the 3D reconstruction of buildings with regular geometric patterns. The major objective of this project is to work towards an operationally feasible approach to generate city-scale LoD3 models, and provide preliminary proof-of-concept on efficient model maintenance, to facilitate the broader mission of the Virtual Singapore program in developing Singapore as a more intelligent and smarter city. In the course of this project we have developed a number of novel approaches and algorithms for data processing. We have demonstrated their functionality with real data from our NUS Campus test field. However, still needed is the integration of the software packages into a fully functional operational system and a robustification of some components.

A series of novel β-carboline-based hydroxamate derivatives 12a-k were designed and synthesized, and their biological activities in a series of in vitro assays were evaluated. Several of these β-carboline derivatives not only showed excellent HDAC1/3/6 inhibitory effects, but also displayed significant antitumor activities against five human cancer cells. The most potent compound 12f demonstrated the highest anticancer potency against cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 0.53–1.56 μM, which was considerably more potent than harmine (IC50 = 46.7–55.3 μM) and also three-to ten-fold lower than that of SAHA (IC50 = 4.48–6.26 μM). Immunoblot analysis revealed that 12f dose-dependently inhibited histone H3 and α-tubulin acetylation, confirming its HDAC inhibitory effects. Moreover, 12f significantly arrested HepG2 cells at G2/M phase through inhibiting cell cycle related protein CDK1 and cyclin B in a concentration dependent manner. Interestingly, 12f also exerted strong anti-metastasis activity by simultaneously reducing the protein level of MMP2 and MMP9 and inhibiting MAPK signaling pathway.

Qixianqingming granules (QXQM) comprise a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula that was developed based on the combination of TCM theory and clinical practice. This formula has been proven to effectively treat asthma. In this study, an analytical procedure using ultraperformance liquid chromatography, coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, was established for the rapid separation and sensitive identification of the chemical components in QXQM and its metabolites in serum of rats. Seventy-two compounds were systematically identified in QXQM, including flavonoids, terpenoids, anthraquinones, phenylethanoid glycosides, stilbenes, alkaloids, and organic acids. Thirteen prototype compounds and 29 metabolites were detected in the serum of rats. The results provided fundamental information for further studying the mechanisms and clinical application of QXQM.

A new meroterpenoid, named terretonin D1 (1), and three known ones, terretonin (2), terretonin A (3), and terretonin D (4), were isolated from marine-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus ML-44. The s...

The study of environmental-oriented total factor energy efficiency considering pollutants as a non-expected output has attracted wide attention, but few studies have included social welfare into the above framework for analyzing China&rsquo, s provincial energy ecological efficiency (EEE). In addition, China&rsquo, s fiscal decentralization and economic competition have created tremendous momentum for economic growth, however, research has been lacking on whether they have improved China&rsquo, s energy utilization, pollution control and social welfare level. To fill these gaps, by applying the 2000&ndash, 2016 panel data from 30 provinces and considering the social welfare condition, we use the slacks-based measure data envelopment analysis (SBM-DEA) method to calculate EEE and build empirical model to test the relation between EEE, fiscal decentralization and economic competition. The results reveal that, firstly, in the last 16 years EEE has been getting worse and the situation of the middle and western areas of China are poorer than in the eastern area, with the middle area still deteriorating further. Secondly, economic competition among local governments aggravates the provincial EEE in China, while the high degree of fiscal decentralization in state governments significantly contributes to improve the EEE, and the co-impact of economic competition on EEE has been negatively strengthened against the background of fiscal decentralization. Thirdly, the influence of economic competition on EEE presents a regional difference, economic competition makes the degree of EEE go down in the east and middle regions, while by contrast, economic competition has helped the EEE level in western regions. The conclusions point out that the temporal trend of EEE in various regions of China, and the economic competition actions adopted by most Chinese local governments to enhance their own financial strength, have not improved energy efficiency and pollution control capability, and has reduced the social welfare of the region. Accordingly, policy proposals are that the Chinese government can adjust the fiscal and tax revenue system and preferential tax system of the central government and local governments and curb competition between provincial jurisdictions.

A new meroterpenoid, named terretonin D1 (1), and three known ones, terretonin (2), terretonin A (3), and terretonin D (4), were isolated from marine-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus ML-44. The structure of 1 was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and the absolute configuration was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis. The anti-inflammation activity of 1–4 was preliminarily tested, and all of them weakly inhibited the nitric oxide (NO) production of RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), with inhibitory rates of 22–34% at 50 μg/mL.

Oxy-fuel combustion can be combined well with moderate or intense low oxygen dilution (MILD) combustion to generate MILD oxy combustion, offering more advantages than standard oxy-fuel combustion. MILD oxy combustion can further reduce NOx and soot emissions, enhance combustion stability, and achieve a more uniform distribution of temperature. This chapter first introduces and reviews the recent progress made in MILD oxy combustion. Then the physical and chemical effects of CO2 addition on MILD oxy combustion are investigated. The burner configuration for MILD oxy combustion is also discussed. Based on the use of the MILD oxy combustion burner, an experimental study of MILD oxy combustion of pulverized coal is subsequently presented. A summary and concluding remarks are provided at the end of the chapter.

In this paper, NiFe 2 O 4 /expanded graphite (EG) composites are successfully prepared by low-temperature combustion synthesis method. The morphology, structure and millimeter wave (MMW) attenuation properties of the NiFe 2 O 4 /EG composites are investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and MMV radar measurement device. The effects of fuel and stoichiometric ratio on the composites are also investigated. The results show that NiFe 2 O 4 /EG composites are uniform and have a good crystallinity. The composites possess better MMW attenuation properties than EG. The 3 and 8 MMW attenuation performances of NiFe 2 O 4 /EG composites are 8.5 dB and 14.6 dB, respectively.

Dome gas lift is the technical difficulties of a large LNG (liquefied natural gas) tanks in the process of construction. The sealing structure is one of the core link in the process of the gas lift. In this paper, the seal structure of large LNG storage tank dome gas lift is studied. A new kind of sealing structure is designed by using gap seal. This paper has carried on the simulation analysis with ANSYS software to verify the feasibility of new type sealing structure. This kind of sealing structure can reduce the friction in the process of gas lift. It also can use the smaller contact area to achieve good sealing effect. The method has important practical value in enhancing the security of gas lift of LNG storage tank dome.