Formation mechanism of calcium hexaluminate

To investigate the formation mechanism of calcium hexaluminate（CaAl_（12）O_（19）, CA_6）, the analytically pure alumina and calcia used as raw materials were mixed in CaO/Al_2O_3 ratio of 12.57：137.43 by mass. The raw materials were ball-milled and shaped into green specimens, and fired at 1300-1600°C. Then, the phase composition and microstructure evolution of the fired specimen were studied, and a first principle calculation was performed. The results show that in the reaction system of CaO and Al_2O_3, a small amount of CA_6 forms at 1300°C, and greater amounts are formed at 1400°C and higher temperatures. The reaction is as follows： CaO ·2Al_2O_3（CA_2） ＋ 4Al_2O_3 → CA_6. The diffusions of Ca^（2＋） in CA_2 towards Al_2O_3 and Al^（3＋） in Al_2O_3 towards CA_2 change the structures in different degrees of difficulty. Compared with the difficulty of structural change and the corresponding lattice energy change, it is deduced that the main formation mechanism is the diffusion of Ca^（2＋） in CA_2 towards Al_2O_3.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome are highly prevalent respiratory conditions. Their coexistence is referred to as the overlap syndrome. They are both related to pulmonary hypertension (PH) development. This study investigated the effects of OSA on PH in patients with COPD and the associated factors. Methods: Consecutive patients with stable COPD were recruited for an observational cross-sectional study from September 2016 to May 2018 at Peking University Third Hospital. In total, 106 patients with COPD were enrolled and performed home portable monitoring and echocardiography. OSA was defined by an apnea hypopnea index (AHI)>10 events/h. Based on OSA absence or presence, patients were divided into the COPD with OSA and COPD without OSA groups. Factors affecting pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and PH were identified using univariate analysis and logistic regression models. Results: In the 106 patients with COPD, the mean age was 69.52 years, 91.5% were men, and the mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV!) percentage of predicted was 56.15%. Fifty-six (52.8%) patients with COPD were diagnosed with OSA, and 24 (22.6%) patients with COPD were diagnosed as PH. Compared with COPD without OSA group, the median PAP in COPD with severe OSA group increased by 5 mmHg (36.00 [26.00-50.00] mmHg vs. 31.00 [24.00-34.00] mmHg, P = 0.036). COPD with percent of night-time spent with oxygen saturation below 90%(T90)> 10% group had higher PAP than COPD with T90 < 1 % group (36.00 [29.00-50.00)] mmHg vs. 29.00 [25.50-34.00] mmHg, F = 7.889, P = 0.007). Univariate analysis revealed age, FEVi% predicted, T90, and Charlson index had statistically significant effects on PH. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant and independent effect of both FEVj% predicted (odds ratio [OR]= 3.46;95% confidence interval [Cl]: 1.15-10.46;P = 0.028) and AHI (OR = 3.20;95% Cl: 1.09-19.35;P = 0.034) on PH. Conclusions: Patients with COPD with OSA are more susceptible to PH, which is associated with declining lung function and increased severity of OSA. Thus, nocturnal hypoxemia and OSA in elderly patients with COPD should be identified and treated.