High-time resolution PM source apportionment assisted by spectrum-based characteristics analysis.

Characteristics extraction and anomaly analysis based on frequency spectrum can provide crucial support for source apportionment of PM pollution. In this study, an effective source apportionment framework combining the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT)- and Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT)-based spectral analyses and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor model is developed for spectrum characteristics extraction and source contribution assessment. The developed framework is applied to Beijing during the winter heating period with 1-h time resolution.

Inverse identification of pollution source release information for surface river chemical spills using a hybrid optimization model.

To evaluate the liability of the spilled contaminant and to design comprehensive emergency response schemes, it is essential to estimate the contaminant source characteristic and identify where, when and how much the spilled contaminant is injected into a surface river. In this study, an effective pollution source inverse method is developed to reconstruct the release history of the injection location, time, and quantity, and provide appropriate emergency response schemes for dealing with surface river environmental pollution. The pollution source inverse method IGSAA is developed by an integration of genetic algorithm (IGA) and simulated annealing algorithm (SAA) in order to guarantee both the global searching ability and convergence speed.

Clinical Efficacy of Patch in Patients With Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Multicenter Non-Inferiority Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is imposing substantial burdens on individuals and society with the aging population. Cortex Daphnes patch is widely used for symptomatic knee OA in China with a satisfying clinical efficacy; however, there is scant clinical evidence supporting its use. To evaluate its efficacy, we conducted a multicenter, non-inferiority, randomized, parallel-group study comparing Cortex Daphnes patch with topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with knee OA (NCT02770950).

Coexistence of Crohn's disease and systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report and literature review.

Lupus enteritis and Crohn's disease are two common immune diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract. There are many similar clinical manifestations, therefore it is very difficult to distinguish between them. The digestive system is involved anywhere from 8 to 40% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and up to 53% of these go on to develop lupus enteritis.

Emergency material location-allocation planning using a risk-based integration methodology for river chemical spills.

It is critical for emergency material preparedness in the pre-accident phase to provide location-allocation planning and improve rescue capacity in an effective emergency response time due to increasing frequency of river chemical spills. In this study, an effective two-stage evaluation and selection framework is developed integrating fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method and multi-objective optimization model to obtain the optimal emergency material location-allocation (EMLA) scheme for coping with river chemical spills. In the evaluation stage, the emergency material warehouse alternatives are evaluated by a fuzzy TOPSIS method based on environmental risk assessment.

Successful treatment of adult-onset still disease caused by pulmonary infection-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: A case report.

Background: Adult-onset still disease (AOSD) and hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) are two inflammatory diseases with very similar clinical manifestations. HPS is one of the most serious complications of AOSD and its risk of death is very high. It is difficult to identify HPS early in patients with AOSD, but early identification and proper treatment directly affects the prognosis.

A data-driven model for real-time water quality prediction and early warning by an integration method.

Due to increasingly serious deterioration of surface water quality, effective water quality prediction technique for real-time early warning is essential to guarantee the emergency response ability in advance for sustainable water management. In this study, an effective data-driven model for surface water quality prediction is developed to analyze the inherent water quality variation tendencies and provide real-time early warnings according to the historical observation data. The developed data-driven model is integrated by an improved genetic algorithm (IGA) for selecting optimal initial weight parameters of neural a network and a back-propagation neural network (BPNN) for adjusting appropriate connection architectures of neural network.

Emergency material allocation with time-varying supply-demand based on dynamic optimization method for river chemical spills.

Aiming to minimize the damage caused by river chemical spills, efficient emergency material allocation is critical for an actual emergency rescue decision-making in a quick response. In this study, an emergency material allocation framework based on time-varying supply-demand constraint is developed to allocate emergency material, minimize the emergency response time, and satisfy the dynamic emergency material requirements in post-accident phases dealing with river chemical spills. In this study, the theoretically critical emergency response time is firstly obtained for the emergency material allocation system to select a series of appropriate emergency material warehouses as potential supportive centers.

Emergency material allocation and scheduling for the application to chemical contingency spills under multiple scenarios.

In the emergency management relevant to chemical contingency spills, efficiency emergency rescue can be deeply influenced by a reasonable assignment of the available emergency materials to the related risk sources. In this study, an emergency material scheduling model (EMSM) with time-effective and cost-effective objectives is developed to coordinate both allocation and scheduling of the emergency materials. Meanwhile, an improved genetic algorithm (IGA) which includes a revision operation for EMSM is proposed to identify the emergency material scheduling schemes.

A two-stage optimization model for emergency material reserve layout planning under uncertainty in response to environmental accidents.

In the emergency management relevant to pollution accidents, efficiency emergency rescues can be deeply influenced by a reasonable assignment of the available emergency materials to the related risk sources. In this study, a two-stage optimization framework is developed for emergency material reserve layout planning under uncertainty to identify material warehouse locations and emergency material reserve schemes in pre-accident phase coping with potential environmental accidents. This framework is based on an integration of Hierarchical clustering analysis - improved center of gravity (HCA-ICG) model and material warehouse location - emergency material allocation (MWL-EMA) model.

Calcification of bilateral ureters: a novel association with systemic lupus erythematosus.

A 16-year-old female patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with abdominal pain and oliguria, after one month of hospital treatment with methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed the calcification of bilateral superior segmental ureteral wall. Computed tomography urography revealed stenosis of bilateral ureters.

Effects of cold-damp and hot-damp environment on VEGF and IL-1 expression in joint cartilage cells in adjuvant arthritis in rats.

Objective: To study the effects of environmental factors on the degree of injury and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) in cartilage cells of the joint in a rat model of adjuvant arthritis (AA).

Methods: SD rats aged 10 months were randomly divided into 4 groups that varied by temperature and humidity housing conditions and induction of AA: a control group, a model group, a cold-damp group, and a hot-damp group. All groups except the control group were induced with AA.