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MoS2 is an attractive sulfur-resistant catalyst for directly converting sulfur-containing syngas to high value-added chemicals. However, the effect of the layered structure on the catalytic activity for CO hydrogenation reactions is far from clear. Herein, MoS2/carbon composite catalysts with 1–8 stacking layers in MoS2 crystallites are synthesized, and the impact of the layer numbers on the catalytic performance is probed for the low-temperature methanation of sulfur-containing syngas. The results indicate that the turnover frequency of CO methanation increases from 2.4 × 10-3 to 3.7 × 10-3 s−1 with decreasing layer numbers of MoS2 crystallites from 8.3 to 1.1. This result is thoroughly explained by the fact that the higher ratio of rim sites in MoS2 crystallites with fewer layer numbers enhances the catalytic activity, which originates from the facilitated activation of CO and H2. These understandings are important for the rational design and development of more efficient MoS2-based catalysts for CO hydrogenation.

Feng-Jiang Li,1 Xin Yuan,2 Cheng Chen,3 Min-Li Zhu,1 Chang-Qing Bai,2 Rui-Juan Wang1 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing, 100101, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Neurology, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Rui-Juan WangDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing, 100101, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 10 66356729-2305Email rjwang0236@163.comChang-Qing BaiDepartment of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100071, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 10 66947359Email changqingbai90@163.comObjective: The present study aims to discuss the clinical characteristics, factors, and treatment methods affecting the prognosis in patients with severe radiation pneumonia (RP).Methods: The radiotherapy status, clinical features, imaging characteristics, laboratory examination results, treatment methods, and prognoses of 34 patients with severe RP treated in our department between January 2011 and July 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. The severe RP grading was based on the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0; patients who scored Grade ≥ 3 were considered to have a severe case of RP.Results: The results of the present study showed that 22 patients had lung cancer, 6 had esophageal cancer, 5 had breast cancer, and 1 had colon cancer with lung metastasis. The total radiation dose was 37.5– 66 Gy, and the overall average dose was 53 Gy; the average dose in the patients who died was 52.9 Gy. A total of 28 patients presented with a cough and sputum as the initial symptom, and 24 presented with wheezing as an accompanying symptom; of the 24 patients, 8 experienced fever, 2 experienced wheezing as the only symptom, 1 had chest pain, and 1 had chest tightness. In 26 patients, the changes were in the radiation field, and in 8 cases, the changes appeared both inside and outside the radiation field. After the use of glucocorticoid methylprednisolone, respiratory support, and anti-infection treatment, 18 patients were cured, 8 showed a condition improvement, and 8 died.Conclusion: The prognosis of severe RP was not significantly correlated with the administered radiation dose; however, lung cancer, a high Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score, and delayed diagnosis were risk factors for patient death. However, a combination of antibiotic therapy, ventilator-assisted respiration, and steroid therapy could improve patient prognosis.Keywords: severe RP, radiotherapy, tumor

We propose a new strategy to make an active and stable Ni-based catalyst which can be operated in a wide range of reaction temperatures. The ordered mesoporous alumina (OMA) with confined Ni in the pore wall (Ni-OMA) was prepared via the one-pot evaporation induced self-assembly method. By using the incipient impregnation method, different amounts of free Ni were loaded over Ni-OMA (Ni/Ni-OMA) at a fixed total NiO content of 15 wt%. Characterization results confirmed the formation of well-structured Ni-OMA, and the ordered structure was still well preserved even after impregnating NiO at a content of as high as 12 wt%. The catalysts were evaluated for the CO methanation as a model reaction under varied conditions. Importantly, the activity and stability of Ni/Ni-OMA for the titled reaction were significantly regulated by simply changing the ratio of the confined to free Ni. Over the optimum catalyst of NiO (2 wt%)/NiO (13 wt%)-OMA, the high activity at a temperature of as low as 300 °C was achieved with the space-time yield of methane over 7.6 g gcat−1 h−1 while a long-term stability for a time-on-stream of 400 h was confirmed without an observable deactivation under the conditions of 600 °C and an extremely high gas hourly space velocity of 120,000 mL g−1 h−1. The results were well explained as the integrated merits of the free Ni for a high dispersion and the confined Ni in OMA for the anti-sintering property.

The solid acid in metal-acid bifunctional catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis plays a crucial role for one-step selective synthesis of liquid fuels such as gasoline or diesel. In this work, the amorphous silica-alumina (ASA) synthesized by a one-step flame spray pyrolysis method (FSP) was demonstrated for the first time as an efficient solid acid for regulating the product distribution of FT synthesis. The 3 wt.% Ru impregnated ASA with different Al/(Al+Si) ratios was comparatively investigated for FT synthesis under typical conditions. The materials were characterized by XRD, STEM, H2-TPR, NH3-TPD, and N2 adsorption/desorption at low temperatures. In comparison with the ASA synthesized by the traditional sol-gel method, the ASA prepared by the FSP method showed clearly increased acidity. As a result, the selectivity of C13+ hydrocarbons was decreased while the selectivity of C5-12 hydrocarbons was increased, the extent of which is clearly dependent on the Al/(Al+Si) ratio of ASA. Moreover, both the carbon-chain length and the composition of olefins, normal and branched alkanes of FT products were easily regulated in a certain extent by simply changing the Al/(Al+Si) ratio of ASA. Thus, the enhanced and easily regulated acidity, rich porous structure, and available large-scale production of the ASA originated from FSP method make it an important solid acid for selective synthesis of liquid fuels via FT route.

Objective To investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism of vitamin D receptor (VDR) genes and osteoporosis in Chinese Northern Han patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Patients with acute exacerbation COPD were enrolled and divided into osteoporosis and non-osteoporosis groups. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of the subjects. UCSC genome browser and haploview 4.2 software were used to screen the tag single nucleotide polymorphism (tagSNPs) of VDR gene. The selected tagSNPs of VDR gene were genotyped by Sequenom MassARRAY SNP platform. Logistic regression was used to analyze the OR values and confidence intervals (CI) of each tagSNP in the codominant, dominant and recessive genetic models, and assess the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms in VDR gene and osteoporosis in COPD patients. Results A total of 379 COPD patients were enrolled. The group of osteoporosis and non-osteoporosis differed significantly in gender, age, alcohol assumption, peripheral platelet counts, serum phosphorus and serum creatinine levels (P

The coimpregnation of the glucose and cobalt nitrate aqueous solution into SiO2 followed by the carbonization in an inert gas was demonstrated for the preparation of the directly reduced Co-xC/SiO2 (x: glucose to SiO2 mass ratio) Fischer–Tropsch (FT) catalysts. The as-prepared Co-xC/SiO2 (x = 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5) without any pretreatment was evaluated for FT synthesis under typical conditions. Significantly, the completely reduced Co-xC/SiO2 were obtained when the x was at or above 1.0, and the maximum normalized FT activity (cobalt-time-yield, CTY) of 3.5 × 10–4 molCO·g–1Co·s–1 over Co-1C/SiO2 was doubled the activity of the high-temperature reduced Co/SiO2. Moreover, light hydrocarbons (C1 ∼ C4) were favorably formed over Co-xC/SiO2, and the product distribution can be regulated via simply changing the ratio of the glucose to SiO2. The simple procedure and the cheap glucose make the directly reduced Co-xC/SiO2 catalysts very promising for the development of a more efficient FT process.

Solid superacid sulfated titania (SO42-/TiO2) was prepared by impregnation of titanium hydroxide with an aqueous solution of (NH4)2SO4, and then calcined at different temperatures. The structural properties of these samples were investigated using XRD, BET, and DSC. Surface acidity of the catalysts were tested by FT-IR, XPS, and NH3-TPD. The SO42-/TiO2calcined at 340 °C showed the strongest acid strength. The catalytic activity of the catalysts was evaluated in the depolymerization of polythene terephthalate (PET) with ethylene glycol (EG) by varying different parameters. Experimental results were correlated to the textural properties and surface acidity. The catalyst SO42-/TiO2calcined at 340 °C exhibited maximum catalytic activity, with the conversion of PET as high as 72.9%, which may be due to the amorphous phase and the strongest acid strength. When the reaction temperature was at 194 °C, the conversion of PET was 100%, and the yield of the bis-2-hydroxyethyl terephthalate (BHET) monomer was 61.7%.

OBJECTIVE To assess the diagnostic value of CT peritoneography for peritoneal complications of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). METHODS CT peritoneography in 11 CAPD patients with clinically suspected dialysis-related complications was prospectively studied. The CAPD patients were all treated in Renji Hospital from 2005 to 2007. CT images were reviewed according to the evidence of peritoneal leaks, hernias, loculate pleural fluid collections, and adhesions. RESULTS Abnormal findings were found in 9 of 11 CAPD cases including inguinal hernias (3 cases), umbilical hernia (1 case), hydrocele (1 case), leaks in catheter tunnel (2 cases), and peritoneal adhesions (2 cases). Parts of them were confirmed by surgical operation. CONCLUSION CT peritoneography is useful for the evaluation of complications related to CAPD, and it offers excellent tissue contrast and multiplanar imaging for assessment of the complications.

Neonatal purulent meningitis is a severe infection responsible for high mortality and disabling sequelae. Escherichia coli is the main pathogen of neonatal purulent meningitis. This study explored the clinical characteristics and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli-induced neonatal meningitis.A retrospective chart review was performed. A total of 31 cases of neonatal purulent meningitis caused by Escherichia coli were identified in the neonatal intensive care unit between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2011. The clinical characteristics and antibiotic sensitivity test results were analyzed.Fever, poor feeding, lethargy and seizure were common clinical signs of neonatal purulent meningitis caused by Escherichia coli. Acute complications mainly included hyponatremia (17 cases), hydrocephalus (8 cases), subdural collection (2 cases), ventriculitis (2 cases) and cerebral infarction (1 case). Thirty neonates (97%) had increased CRP levels. Of the 31 patients, 14 cases were cured and 12 had adverse outcomes (5 patients died during hospitalization). Escherichia coli strains were resistant (50%) to commonly used penicillins and cephalosporins between 2007 and 2011, presenting significantly higher resistance rates than between 2001 and 2006. The detection rate of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing strains between 2007 and 2011 increased significantly compared with between 2001 and 2006 (57% vs 0).The clinical manifestations of neonatal purulent meningitis caused by Escherichia coli are non specific. The outcome is poor. Monitoring of CRP levels is valuable for the early diagnosis of neonatal purulent meningitis. The antimicrobial resistance rates of Escherichia coli are increasing, especially to cephalosporins. The percentage of ESBLs-producing strains is increasing over the years.

To study the changes of anti-Streptococcus pneumonia (SP) status in rats with simulated weightlessness, and therefore to provide theoretical basis for the aerospace medicine.Thirty-two healthy male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups: group A, the tail-suspension and SP group; group B, the tail-suspension without SP group; group C, the unsuspended but SP group; group D, the unsuspended and no SP group, with 8 rats in each. The tail-suspension method, i.e. about 30° head-down tilt, was used for the model of simulated microgravity. On day 4, 0.4 ml of SP suspension [ATCC6303, serotype III(ATCC, bacteria concentration about 9.0×10⁸ CFU/ml)] was instilled by tracheal intubation. Sterile saline was used for the control group. The experiment was ended after 7 days of tail-suspension. Lung pathology, blood test and C-reactive protein level were studied, and the CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) ratios were measured by flow cytometry.The lung pathological changes were much more severe in Group A as compared to those in Group B, C and D. The total number of WBC showed no significant difference among groups (F = 1.57, P = 0.22). But the neutrophil number was higher in Group A [(2.4 ± 0.53)×10⁹/L], B [(2.0 ± 0.31)×10⁹/L] and C [(1.7 ± 0.40)×10⁹/L] as compared to Group D [(1.2 ± 0.15)×10⁹/L], u = 0.0001, P = 0.001; u = 1.0, P = 0.001; u = 8.5, P = 0.013, respectively. The percentage of neutrophils showed a similar difference. The total number of lymphocytes showed no significant difference among groups (F = 0.720, P = 0.548). CRP levels in the SP infection groups were significantly higher than those in the uninfected groups. The ratio of CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) showed no difference among groups (F = 1.225, P = 0.319). Weight loss after the experiment was most severe in Group A (F = 122.067, P0.001).In rats with simulated weightlessness, the anti-infective ability to Streptococcus pneumoniae was reduced, and the inflammatory response was significantly increased, but the anti-infective immunity was compromised.

To describe the clinical characteristics of 3 community outbreaks of the novel influenza A (H1N1), and to compare the treatment effects of the traditional Chinese medicine with or without Oseltamivir.The clinical records of 234 patients in 3 community outbreaks of the novel influenza A (H1N1) infection in June (n = 56), August (n = 96) and October (n = 82) of 2009 were analyzed, and the treatment effects of the traditional Chinese medicine with or without Oseltamivir were evaluated.The baseline characteristics, including age, temperature, indices of blood tests, hepatic and renal functions were distributed evenly between the 2 treatment groups. The overall analysis suggested that there was no significant difference between the 2 treatment groups in the duration of clinical symptoms (P0.05), the duration of fever (P0.05), and the hospitalization days (P0.05). However, an analysis stratified by the temperature (≥ 39°C or39°C) suggested that patients treated by the traditional Chinese medicine with Oseltamivir tended to suffer a shorter duration of fever [40.5 (37.3, 42.0) vs 22.0 (10.5, 30.8) hr, P0.01) ] in the higher temperature group.The traditional Chinese medicine was equivalent to oseltamivir in treating patients with the novel influenza A (H1N1) infection with lower temperature (39°C). Oseltamivir was effective in shortening the duration of fever in patients with temperature higher than 39°C.

To study the clinical characteristics of neonatal sepsis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae and the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains.The clinical data of 42 cases of neonatal sepsis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae from January, 2000 to August, 2009 were retrospectively studied.The clinical presentations were non-specific, including fever or hypothermia, tachypnea, apnea and feeding intolerance. C-reactive protein (CRP) level increased in 95% of the cases. The mortality was 21%. In neonates with early onset sepsis, Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were sensitive to amoxicillin/clavulanic-acid, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoxitin, imipenem, cefoperazone/and sulbactam. In neonates with late onset sepsis, the sensitive antibiotics of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were less, including cefoxitin, piperacillin/tazobactam and imipenem. Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were not sensitive to penicillins and cephalosporins in either neonates with early onset sepsis or late onset sepsis. The extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs)-producing strains were found in 92% of the cases. The neonates with late onset sepsis presented a higher prevalence of ESBLs-producing strains than those with early onset sepsis (100% vs 70%; P0.05).The clinical manifestations of neonatal sepsis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae are usually non-specific. CRP detection is valuable for early diagnosis of sepsis. There are differences in the antibiotic sensitivity of strains between the neonates with early onset and late onset Klebsiella pneumoniae sepsis.

Late onset neonatal septicemia (systemic infection after 72 hours of life) remains a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Early treatment with appropriate antibiotics is critical since infected infants can deteriorate rapidly. The aim of this study was to review the pathogens responsible for late onset neonatal septicemia (LONS) and their antimicrobial susceptibilities in order to guide the initial selection of appropriate antibiotics for infants with suspected LONS.A retrospective chart review of all cases with LONS seen in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2005 was conducted. All cases were selected based on the clinical presentation and at least one positive result of blood culture. The basic clinical characteristics and the results of blood culture and antimicrobial susceptibilities were analyzed.A total of 102 cases with LONS were identified. Among those 102 cases, 80 were community acquired (infants admitted from home and the blood culture was done on admission) and 22 were hospital acquired (infants became sick while in the NICU and the blood culture was done prior to use of antibiotics). The clinical presentations were non-specific. Compared to the infants with community acquired LONS, infants with hospital acquired LONS were usually born more prematurely (mean gestational age 33 +/- 3 vs 39 +/- 2 wks, t = 2.255, P0.01), with lower weight (mean weight 1.79 +/- 0.70 vs 3.23 +/- 0.67 kg, t = 8.818, P0.01) and with younger age (mean age 12 +/- 6 vs 16 +/- 7 days, t = 7.581, P0.05). Of the 102 cases, a total of 103 strains of bacteria were isolated. Among the pathogenic bacteria isolated, the most common were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) (50/103, 48.5%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (16/103, 15.5%). The main pathogens for community acquired LONS were Staphylococcus species and Escherichia coli. The most important pathogen responsible for hospital acquired LONS was Klebsiella pneumoniae. Most (80%) of the Staphylococcus especially CoNS were resistant to common antibiotics such as penicillin, erythromycin and cefazolin. Significant numbers (6/9) of Staphylococcus aureus isolated were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, all of the Staphyloccus isolates were sensitive to vancomycin. Almost all (15/16) of the Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated were multi-drug resistant due to production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). They were sensitive only to a few antibiotics such as carbapenems, aminoglycosides and quinolones. There was also one strain of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Furthermore, there was no a single case of late onset neonatal sepsis due to infection with group B Streptococcus (GBS).The clinical manifestations of late onset neonatal sepsis are usually non-specific. GBS is not a significant pathogen responsible for community acquired LONS in the Wenzhou area. There are increasing numbers of multi-drug resistant bacterial species isolated from the newborn infants with late onset neonatal septicemia, which is most likely due the non-restricted use of antibiotics in the hospitals as well as in the communities. A routine blood culture should be taken from any newborn infant who is suspected of LONS and empirical use of appropriate antibiotics should be initiated as soon as the blood specimen for culture has been drawn. To reduce the occurrence of multi-drug resistant bacteria, the use of antibiotics especially the third generation cephalosporins in neonates should be restricted as much as possible.

A kind or branched NRD guide directional coupler for millimeter wave integrated circuits is presented. An expression for the characteristic hapedance or the NRD guide is derived and the numerical results are obtained. The experinent shows that the directional coupler has good performance.