Die Zukunft der Staatsunternehmen in China

The author, president of the Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics at Peking and personally involved in the process of economic restructuring, describes the Status Quo and the future measures concerning privatization in China. Zhongliang represents the official view about how to reform the state-owned Enterprises (SOE). He emphasizes the necessity to reduce the sector of SOEs by privatization of small SOEs and private equity partizipation in large SOEs which were to be transformed into corporations (shareholder companies)

Preparation, characterization and photocatalytic activity of silicon and sulfur codoped mesoporous titanium dioxide photocatalyst

A series of mesoporous titanium dioxide (MTiO2) photocatalysts codoped with silicon and sulfur has been prepared by a template method using tetraethyl orthosilicate, thiourea and tetrabutyl titanate (Ti(OC4H9)4) as precursors and Pluronic P123 as template. The photoabsorbance of the prepared photocatalysts has been measured by UV-vis diffusive reflectance spectroscopy and its microstructure characterized using scanning electron microscopy, diffraction (XRD) and N2 adsorption-desorption measurements. The microcrystal of the codoped photocatalyst consistest of anatase phase and is present in the form of almost spherical particle. The photocatalytic activity has been studied by photodegradation of methyl blue in aqueous solution under UV and visible light irradiation. The results show that the amount of dopants, silicon and sulfur, influence the photoactivity. The photocatalyst codoped with 1 mol% silicon and 2 mol% sulfur exhibites the highest photoactivity. The synergistic effect of silicon and sulfur codoping in improves the photocatalytic activity considerably

Effect of pulsating flow on flow-induced vibrations of circular and square cylinders in the laminar regime

Through fluid-structure interaction simulations, this study assesses the dynamic response characteristics of elastically mounted circular and square cylinders subjected to pulsating inflow conditions, providing valuable insights into the analysis and optimization of these systems. The main focus of the present work is on analyzing the effects of two factors: (i) the ratio of the oscillatory velocity component to the steady velocity component in pulsating flow (flow ratio) and (ii) the ratio of the oscillation frequency of pulsating flow to the natural frequency of the structure (frequency ratio). The simulation results for different parameters of interest are analysed using Fourier analysis and Poincaré maps of time series data, and contour plots of vorticity. For the circular cylinder, it is found that cylinder loses synchronization in lock-in as the flow and frequency ratios are increased. Three distinct vibration patterns of vortex-induced vibration are observed for selected combinations of flow and frequency ratios at a Reynolds number of 110 for circular cylinder. For the galloping of square cylinder at a Reynolds number of 250, it is found that the instability and nonlinearity of vortex shedding become more pronounced as the flow ratio increases

Research advances in drug therapy of endometriosis

Endometriosis is one of the most common benign gynecological disorders in reproductive-aged women. The major symptoms are chronic pelvic pain and infertility. Despite its profound impact on women’s health and quality of life, its pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated, it cannot be cured and the long-term use of drugs yields severe side effects and hinders fertility. This review aims to present the advances in pathogenesis and the newly reported lead compounds and drugs managing endometriosis. This paper investigated Genetic changes, estrogen-dependent inflammation induction, progesterone resistance, imbalance in proliferation and apoptosis, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis and neurogenesis, and tissue remodeling in its pathogenesis; and explored the pharmacological mechanisms, constitutive relationships, and application prospects of each compound in the text. To date, Resveratrol, Bay1316957, and bardoxifene were effective against lesions and pain in controlled animal studies. In clinical trials, Quinagolide showed no statistical difference with the placebo group; the results of phase II clinical trial of the IL-33 antibody have not been announced yet; clinical trial stage III of vilaprisan was suspended due to drug toxicity. Elagolix was approved for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain, but clinical studies of Elagolix for the pretreatment of patients with endometriosis to before In vitro fertilization treatment have not been fulfilled. The results of a clinical study of Linzagolix in patients with moderate to severe endometriosis-related pain have not been disclosed yet. Letrozole improved the fertility of patients with mild endometriosis. For endometriosis patients with infertility, oral GnRH antagonists and aromatase inhibitors are promising drugs, especially Elagolix and Letrozole

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Electroless deposited palladium membranes and nanowires

Hydrogen is considered to be the fuel of the future as it is clean and abundant. Together with the rapidly developing fuel cell technology, it can sustain an environmentally sound and efficient energy supply system. Developing the technologies of palladium-based membrane for hydrogen separation and palladium nanostructured materials for hydrogen sensing and hydrogenation catalysts makes the "hydrogen economy" possible. This is because these technologies will allow for commercially viable production of comparatively cheap and high-quality hydrogen, and safety of its application. Based on the market requirements and interest in the development of a hydrogen economy, the purposes of this thesis are to develop thin palladium membrane for hydrogen separation and to explore an economic method for the synthesis of palladium nanowires in potential engineering applications. The original contributions of this thesis are outlined below:The investigation of deposition progress of a palladium membrane on porous stainless steel substrate illustrates that palladium deposits will form a network structure on pore areas of the substrate surface in the initial stages. A bridge model is presented to describe the formation of a membrane. This model is confirmed from the cross-section of the deposited membranes. Based on the bridge model and the experimental measurements of palladium membranes deposited on the pore area of the substrates, the thickness of a palladium membrane deposited on 0.2 mum grade porous stainless steel substrate can be effectively controlled around 1.5∼2 mum, and the thickness of a palladium membrane deposited on 2 mum grade porous Inconel substrate can be effectively controlled around 7.5∼8 mum. Comparing the thickness and quality of palladium membranes deposited on the same substrates with the data in the literature, the thicknesses of the membranes prepared in this program are lower. The obtained result will be beneficial in the design and manufacture of suitable membranes using the electroless deposition process.In the initial deposition stages, palladium nanoparticles cannot be deposited at the surface of the SiO2 inclusions that appear at the substrate surface. With the extension of deposition time, however, palladium nanoparticles gradually cover the SiO2 inclusions layer by layer due to the advance deposited palladium nanoparticles on the steel substrate surrounding them. The effect of the SiO2 inclusions on palladium deposits cannot be neglected when an ultra-thin membrane having the thickness similar to the size of inclusions is to be built.The chemical reaction between phosphorus (or phosphate) and palladium at high temperature can take place. This reaction causes surface damage of the membranes. If palladium membranes are built on the porous substrates that contain phosphorus or phosphate used in the inorganic binders, they cannot be used over 550°C. This result also implies that palladium membranes cannot be employed on the work environment of phosphorus or phosphates.Palladium nanowires are well arranged by nanoparticles at the rough stainless steel surface. The formation procedures consist of 3 stages. In the initial stage, palladium nanoparticles are aligned in ore direction, then the nanowire is assembled continuously using follow-up palladium deposits, and finally the nanowire is built smoothly and homogeneously. It is also found that palladium nanoparticles generated from the autocatalytic reaction are not wetting with the steel substrate and they are not solid and easily deformed due to the interfacial tension when they connect to each other.Various palladium nanowire arrays possessing the morphologies of single wires, parallel and curved wires, intersections and network structures are illustrated. The results demonstrate that palladium nanowires can be built in a self-assembled manner by palladium nanoparticles in the initial deposition stages. Such self-assembled nanowires may attract engineering applications because electroless deposition process and preparation of a substrate are simple and inexpensive.The diameter of palladium nanowires can be effectively controlled by the concentration of PdCl2 in the plating solution and deposition time. The size of palladium nanoparticles generated from the autocatalytic reaction is directly dependent on the concentration of PdCl2 in the plating solution. The higher the concentration of PdCl2 in the plating solution is, the smaller the deposited palladium nanoparticles are. The experimental results provide a controllable method for the fabrication of palladium nanowire arrays with potential engineering applications