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This study reported 2-year efficacy and safety of relma-cel in Chinese patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL). In this phase 1 dose-escalating trial, patients received lymphodepleting chemotherapy for 3 days, followed by relma-cel as a single infusion in escalating dose levels (25 × 10

Currently, a great number of studies have been conducted to analyze hydraulic performance of the alternated multi-aquifer aquitard system (MAAS); while, few researches on the hydraulic performance of the strata without aquitard were known in literature. Construction of subways in Nantong, a typical costal city located at the estuary area of the Yangtze River and featuring thick water-rich sandy strata, provided a rare chance for this investigation. Based on a series of pumping tests, the hydrological characteristics of the unique full-profile water-rich sandy strata were examined extensively. Both analytical and numerical methods were adopted to analyze the results further. The results indicate that due to the absence of aquitards, there existed a strong hydraulic connection between the aquifers. Apart from the hydraulic parameters, the hydraulic recharge between aquifers has impact on the hydraulic performance as well when pumping was carried out at different burial depths. On the basis of considering the hydraulic performance of aquifers and the hydraulic connection between them, the optimal pumping scheme for underground construction or domestic water use was discussed. The findings of this study provide an insight into the distinctive full-profile water-rich sandy strata and can help engineers adopt appropriate measures to deal with pumping works under similar geohydrology conditions.

This study aimed to explore the effect of naltrexone on the expression of lipid metabolism-related proteins in liver steatosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress in mice. Thirty inbred mice (C57BL/6J) were divided into three groups: group A (normal control group), group B (model control), and group C (naltrexone group). The male mice in group A were fed a regular diet, and the mice in groups B and C were fed a high-fat diet. Liver steatosis was observed by histopathological sections. Mouse liver (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and triglyceride (TC)) content (glucose regulatory protein (GRP78), endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane protein kinase-1α (IRE-1α), C/EBP source protein (CHOP), cysteine-containing aspartate proteolytic enzyme 12 (caspase-12), B lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and cell death mediator (Bim)) was detected. Compared with group A, bodyweight, fat weight, ALT, TG, and hepatic steatosis were significantly increased in B and C groups ( P < 0.05 ); compared with group B, group C showed a significant decrease in bodyweight, fat weight, ALT, TG, and hepatic steatosis ( P < 0.05 ). Compared with group A, the expression levels of GRP78, IRE-1α, CHOP, caspase-12, and Bim in liver tissue of groups B and C mice were increased. Bcl-2 decreased ( P < 0.05 ). Compared with group B and group C after naltrexone intervention, the expression levels of GRP78, IRE-1α, CHOP, caspase-12, and Bim decreased significantly, and Bcl-2 increased significantly ( P < 0.05 ). Naltrexone can effectively reduce bodyweight and adipose tissue accumulation, reduce liver fat lesions, improve the expression of lipid metabolism-related proteins and endoplasmic reticulum stress, reduce liver lipid synthesis, and protect liver cells.

Traditional anthropogenic impacts such as hunting, using as war-elephant, trading of ivory, paying tribute to the imperial court and so on, were once thought to be directly responsible for the rapid decline of Asian elephants in China. But in Yunnan Province, China, a unique human factor such as the traditional elephant culture of local ethnic minorities, is an important factor in the conservation of Asian elephants. In these areas, we investigated by means of village interviews, field surveys and data collection, the results show that the elephant culture of ethnic minorities has a great impact on people's thoughts and behaviors, these traditional culture and belief (that mean taking elephant as the God, holding elephant as a belief, worshipping elephant and praise it) urges people to actively protect elephants and avoid more human-elephant conflicts. To enhance the public awareness of Asian elephant conservation, the Chinese Government or international environmental organizations should give higher attention and support to these elephant cultures.

Freeze-thaw action, as an atmospheric impact, affects masonry by altering its original microstructures, which causes severe damage by decreasing the compressive strength of the masonry. This process, studied mostly under saturated conditions, in reality usually occurs under unsaturated conditions, which are characterized by more complex modes and have not been studied in depth before. To simulate and investigate processes and basic trends of these modes and examine the post-freeze-thaw compressive behaviors, we place our specimens (including ancient bricks and the mortar created and rebuilt masonry specimens) in an environmental chamber before performing compressive tests. We classify all specimens into eight scenarios, varying the numbers of freeze-thaw cycles and corresponding degrees of saturation. We discuss the impacts of these two factors on the compressive behaviors of the test specimens. Our results suggest that freeze-thaw cycles and degrees of saturation have combined effects on both ancient bricks and the mortar created. Under conditions of low saturation degree, freeze-thaw, as the primary factor, improves the strengths of both materials, although to a limited extent, while under conditions of high saturation degree, the degree of saturation becomes the predominant factor that results in the cracking and even failure of the materials, powered by freeze-thaw processes. Using these two factors (i.e., freeze-thaw action and degree of saturation), we summarize three different stages (or classified groups) in terms of stress-strain curves and crack development in masonry specimens based on the slopes of stress-strain curves and the rates of crack development. After studying all test results, we recommend an optimal saturation degree (approximately 50%) that is considered beneficial for ancient masonry in terms of freeze-thaw resistance.

Industry Foundation Classes(IFC) defines the standard exchange data format of building information model. For making it possible to serve the whole life cycle of structure, it is necessary to parse and save BIM information based on IFC Standard into database. The research is implemented by Java language and MySQL database. The whole project is called IFCParser and consists of three modules: IFC Entity Module, IFCFile Parser Module and Persistence Module. IFCFile Parser Module uses lexical analyzer and syntax analyzer to decompose IFC files based on EXPRESS language into entity classes, which is called the IFC entity. Persistence Module establishes the mapping relationship between Java class and MySQL database, and uses MyBatis framework to save information into relational database.

This paper presents a practical new approach for determining the geometric shape of an ancient pagoda structure and its axial shape along its height. Because of ancient Chinese pagodas’ unique characteristics (multiple eaves, Dougong, and vague edges), it is difficult to select appropriate measurement points. Moreover, the plane size of most ancient Chinese pagodas decreases from the bottom to the top floor. Considering these characteristics, we employed an electronic total station to monitor more than three measurement points of each wall facade of each pagoda floor, fitted plane equations using 3-D coordinates of the monitored measurement points and the least square method, calculated the corner points coordinates of each floor or cross section selected, fitted a circumscribed circle of each floor using the corner point coordinates and spatial axial equations based on the central coordinates, and performed an inclination evaluation of the ancient Chinese pagoda. This approach is practical and can be widely used in other high-rise polygonal buildings that have different plane sizes for each floor.

This paper studies the pore structures of ancient Chinese bricks. Two building groups consisting of seven ancient masonry buildings were examined: the Longmen Temple Group and Songyue Temple Group, both located in central China. The brick ages were examined by carbon-14 isotope measurements, the micro constituents by X-ray fluorescence experiments, and the pore structural characteristics by mercury intrusion porosimetry and saturation coefficient determination. The pore diameter rates of change were measured, calculated and analyzed. From the mercury intrusion porosimetry data, a linear relationship between the volume change of a sample and its age was determined for pores with diameters of 1-5 µm. The environmental vicissitudes caused the volumes of pores whose diameters are less than 1 µm to decrease and those of pores with diameters of 1-5 µm to increase. The change in the void volume as a function of pore size alters the material’s original porosity. Understanding the mechanics of how the pore structure of bricks changes over time sheds light on the relationship between material performance and environmental vicissitudes.

Although certain measurements regarding super-tall buildings constructed using the top-down method have been published, new advances in top-down construction have been developed with the construction of super-tall buildings in China. This paper presents the theory of soil-structure interactions in pile foundations and extends it to the top-down construction method. Based on this theory, the forces and the deformation of the diaphragm wall, slab and soldier piles at various stages of construction can be computed. Two typical tall buildings of 60 and 37 stories with deeply embedded 4-level and 5-level basements located in Shanghai were used as case studies of the vertical displacements of their diaphragm walls and soldier piles, the deflections of the diaphragm walls, the earth pressures, and the rebar stresses during top-down construction. The values measured in the field agree well with the predicted values from soilstructure interactions theory and statistical-empirical formulas. Two additional super-tall buildings of 101 and 121 stories, in which the 4- level and 5-level basements and the main buildings are round, are discussed regarding their unique deformational characteristics. In addition, the diaphragm wall can serve a load-sharing function. These engineering case studies, including the comprehensive predictions of deformation based on field tests and estimates using statistical formulas, can improve tall building design.

The research is focused on influence of freeze-thaw cycles on elastic modulus of historic brick masonry subjected to compressive loading test. In order to assess the relative decrease of the static elastic modulus during compressive test, a series of masonry specimens were manufactured with historic bricks and exposed to different numbers of freeze-thaw cycles. Moreover, strength decay of the masonry is investigated and analysing data obtained during ultrasonic test (non-destructive test). The aim of this step is to obtain the dynamic elastic modulus. The analysis shows that the compressive strength of the specimens after exposure to 35 freeze-thaw cycles was not reduced, but was even somewhat higher than by specimens in normal condition. The ultrasonic paulse velocity (UPV) results showed that the dynamic elastic modulus increases with the number of cycles due to the saturation degree’s gain. Thanks to interpolation of the obtained data it will be possible to improve the knowledge of the Elasticity modulus’ reduction of historic masonry subjected to freeze-thaw cycles and to enhance the thermo-hydro-mechanical model of porous material.

SUMMARY This paper attempts to re-analyze the piled raft foundation in the Shanghai Center Tower as a fully compensated foundation using a hybrid method of superstructure–foundation interaction and other methods. Some cases were used to the applicability of the methods. The deformation analysis is divided into four parts: (a) Part 1: heave due to the weight of the excavated soil, (b) Part 2 : recompression due to the dead load of the structure, (c) Part 3 : recompression due to the live load of the structure and (d) Part 4 : settlement due to the constant load. Load acting on the top of the pile group and load sharing between the raft and the piles are also considered. The results are also compared in detail with the measured ones. In addition, research based on earth pressure theory was conducted to determine how to reduce or control the overturning moment caused by wind. Finally, this paper suggests that the Shanghai Center Tower, which is currently under construction, can have more than 121 stories by improving the design, which will also result in great investment savings. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Since the information diffusion technique was suggested, it has been applied in many fields. However, the experiential window-width used in this technique is too rough. To overcome the shortcoming, this paper suggests an approach to obtain the optimal window-width that can be developed into a powerful tool to promote the study of the information diffusion technique.

This paper presents the comparison between the result s of the Semi-Circular Bending (SCB) test and that of the Indirect Tensile (IDT) tes t in characterizing the tensile strength of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures. Analytical and numerical simulations were employed to interpret the experimental results. IDT test, a standard test method of AASHTO and ASTM, is adopted by most state highway agencies. Despite its broad usage and many advantages, the permanent deformation under the loading strips is undesirable and in some cases unbearable for the evaluation of the cracking potential of asphalt mixes. SCB test could significantly reduce the load ing stripinduced permanent deformation and thus is more suitable IDT for evaluating tensile properties of HMA mixtures. The results from this study indicated that SCB and IDT test were fully comparable and convertible.