Larger Total Area Research Articles

Environmental Impact of Wind Farms

The aim of this article is to analyse the global environmental impact of wind farms, i.e., the effects on human health and the local ecosystem. Compared to conventional energy sources, wind turbines emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases, which helps to mitigate global warming. During the life cycle of a wind farm, 86% of CO2 emissions are generated by the extraction of raw materials and the manufacture of wind turbine components. The water consumption of wind farms is extremely low. In the operational phase, it is 4 L/MWh, and in the life cycle, one water footprint is only 670 L/MWh. However, wind farms occupy a relatively large total area of 0.345 ± 0.224 km2/MW of installed capacity on average. For this reason, wind farms will occupy more than 10% of the land area in some EU countries by 2030. The impact of wind farms on human health is mainly reflected in noise and shadow flicker, which can cause insomnia, headaches and various other problems. Ice flying off the rotor blades is not mentioned as a problem. On a positive note, the use of wind turbines instead of conventionally operated power plants helps to reduce the emission of particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM 2.5), which are a major problem for human health. In addition, the non-carcinogenic toxicity potential of wind turbines for humans over the entire life cycle is one of the lowest for energy plants. Wind farms can have a relatively large impact on the ecological system and biodiversity. The destruction of animal migration routes and habitats, the death of birds and bats in collisions with wind farms and the negative effects of wind farm noise on wildlife are examples of these impacts. The installation of a wind turbine at sea generates a lot of noise, which can have a significant impact on some marine animals. For this reason, planners should include noise mitigation measures when selecting the site for the future wind farm. The end of a wind turbine’s service life is not a major environmental issue. Most components of a wind turbine can be easily recycled and the biggest challenge is the rotor blades due to the composite materials used.

Cross-sectional size, shape, and estimated strength of the tibia, fibula and second metatarsal in female collegiate-level cross-country runners and soccer players

Bone stress injuries (BSIs) frequently occur in the leg and foot long bones of female distance runners. A potential means of preventing BSIs is to participate in multidirectional sports when younger to build a more robust skeleton. The current cross-sectional study compared differences in tibia, fibula, and second metatarsal diaphysis size, shape, and strength between female collegiate-level athletes specialized in cross-country running (RUN, n = 16) and soccer (SOC, n = 16). Assessments were performed using high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography and outcomes corrected for measures at the radius diaphysis to control for selection bias and systemic differences between groups. The tibia in SOC had a 7.5 % larger total area than RUN, with a 29.4 % greater minimum second moment of area (IMIN) and 8.2 % greater estimated failure load (all p ≤ 0.02). Tibial values in SOC exceeded reference data indicating positive adaptation. In contrast, values in RUN were similar to reference data suggesting running induced limited tibial adaptation. RUN did have a larger ratio between their maximum second moment of area (IMAX) and IMIN than both SOC and reference values. This suggests the unidirectional loading associated with running altered tibial shape with material distributed more in the anteroposterior (IMAX) direction as opposed to the mediolateral (IMIN) direction. Comparatively, SOC had a similar IMAX/IMIN ratio to reference data suggesting the larger tibia in SOC resulted from multiplane adaptation. In addition to enhanced size and strength of their tibia, SOC had enhanced structure and strength of their fibula and second metatarsal. At both sites, polar moment of inertia was approximately 25 % larger in SOC compared to RUN (all p = 0.03). These data support calls for young female athletes to delay specialization in running and participate in multidirectional sports, like soccer, to build a more robust skeleton that is potentially more protected against BSIs.

Mesoporous manganese oxide/multiwalled carbon nanotubes as a base material for the 99mTc/99Mo generator: Development, characterization, and implementation study

The uptake capacity of Mo on the active MnO2 nanoparticles was determined in a previous study, and it was found to be 7 mg/g. This value is appropriate for 99Mo, which is more complex to separate due to its production using the 235U fission reaction with a high specific activity. Currently, multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) linked to mesoporous MnO2 are being prepared and studied as a novel sorbent for the 99Mo produced with a low specific activity by thermal neutron activation of natural molybdenum consisting of 92M0, 94Mo, 95Mo, 96Mo, 97Mo, 98Mo, and 100Mo, based on the 98Mo(n,γ) reaction to prepare the 99Mo/99mTc generator with a high uptake capacity for Mo. FTIR spectroscopy, EDX-mapping, XRD, particle size analysis, FESEM, and TEM analysis were used to characterize the novel mesoporous MnO2/MWCNT sorbent with a large total pore area 193.3 m2/g and porosity about 52%. Several factors influencing the sorption of 99Mo and 99mTc onto the mesoporous MnO2/MWCNTs were studied, including the distribution coefficient (Kd), contact time, temperature, and sorbent/solute ratio, etc. The Mo uptake capacities on the novel sorbent were 133 and 115 mg Mo/g, respectively. A preliminary study on the prepared new sorbent for the 99Mo/99mTc generator was performed, and the elution yield of 99mTc was found to be 82.55% with low 99Mo breakthrough. The radiochemical, radionuclide, and chemical purity of the eluted 99mTc were checked to ensure that it was free of impurities.

Evaluation of Particulate Matter Deposition Efficiency and Air Quality Improvement by Vertical Shrub and Climber Walls

Fine particulate matter poses a significant health risk indoors, making indoor air quality improvement crucial. Vertical greenery systems offer a promising solution, but selecting suitable plant species remains a challenge. This study evaluated the PM deposition and air quality impact of six ornamental plants (climbers and shrubs) in a controlled chamber. Almost all plants reduced CO2 by 20%, while PM deposition varied by species, with Petunia hybrid being the most efficient. Total leaf area showed the strong correlated with PM deposition. These findings confirm the potential of ornamental plants, particularly those with large total leaf area, for PM reduction in vertical greenery systems. Further research with a wider range of plants and advanced characterization techniques is needed to refine our understanding and develop practical guidelines for their effective use in indoor air purification.

Urban Complexity and the Dynamic Evolution of Urban Land Functions in Yiwu City: A Micro-Analysis with Multi-Source Big Data

The diversification of business forms leads to functional and spatial complexity in cities. The efficient determination of the complexity of an urban system is the basis for the scientific monitoring of the multi-functional aggregation within cities. Previous studies on the urban spatial structure were limited by the difficulty of collecting micro-data and the high time cost, and they focused on the macro-spatial structure, lacking fine-grained investigations of the micro-spatial structure. Additionally, high-resolution remote sensing images, which mainly rely on the textural characteristics of the spectrum of ground objects, cannot detect the social and economic functions of ground objects. Thus, it is difficult to meet the actual needs of urban planning and management. The purpose of this paper is to automatically identify the spatial heterogeneity and temporal variation of urban land use functions in the context of complex urban systems. The TF-IDF (term frequency–inverse document frequency) algorithm, a machine learning classification algorithm, and other methods are applied to identify the urban functions and distribution characteristics of the main urban area based on the POI (point of interest) data and urban form data. The results show the following: (1) From 2012 to 2022, all types of land use in Yiwu city grew at different rates, with logistics and warehousing space growing the fastest, which is in line with Yiwu’s goal of building a national logistics center for trade and services. (2) The residential area has a spatial structure with a dense central circle and a scattered periphery extending from northeast to southwest and from east to west. (3) The commercial service sector shows clear spatial differentiation between the core and the periphery. The commercial functional areas of Niansanli, Houzhai, and Chengxi, where the number of commercial POIs is relatively small, are located at the intersection of the administrative subdistricts near the city center, indicating that the commercial economic activities of the downtown subdistrict have a certain spillover effect on adjacent subdistricts. (4) The public facilities of each subdistrict are generally located in the core of each subdistrict, which ensures better convenience and accessibility. (5) Industrial land with a large total area that is scattered and mixed with urban residential land gradually tends to be centralized, forming an industrial belt around the city. This study comprehensively considers the aggregation relationship between urban buildings and land use and improves the accuracy of land identification and functional zoning.

Diabetes Risk Factors and Bone Microarchitecture as Assessed by High-Resolution Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography in Adults With Long-standing Type 1 Diabetes.

To determine whether type 1 diabetes and its complications are associated with bone geometry and microarchitecture. This cross-sectional study was embedded in a long-term observational study. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) scans of the distal radius and distal and diaphyseal tibia were performed in a subset of 183 participants with type 1 diabetes from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial/Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (DCCT/EDIC) study and 94 control participants without diabetes. HbA1c, skin advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and diabetes-related complications were assessed in EDIC participants with >30 years of follow-up. Compared with control participants (aged 60 ± 8 years, 65% female), EDIC participants (aged 60 ± 7 years, diabetes duration 38 ± 5 years, 51% female) had lower total bone mineral density (BMD) at the distal radius (-7.9% [95% CI -15.2%, -0.6%]; P = 0.030) and distal tibia (-11.3% [95% CI -18.5%, -4.2%]; P = 0.001); larger total area at all sites (distal radius 4.7% [95% CI 0.5%, 8.8%; P = 0.030]; distal tibia 5.9% [95% CI 2.1%, 9.8%; P = 0.003]; diaphyseal tibia 3.4% [95% CI 0.8%, 6.1%; P = 0.011]); and poorer radius trabecular and cortical microarchitecture. Estimated failure load was similar between the two groups. Among EDIC participants, higher HbA1c, AGE levels, and macroalbuminuria were associated with lower total BMD. Macroalbuminuria was associated with larger total area and lower cortical thickness at the distal radius. Higher HbA1c and AGE levels and lower glomerular filtration rate, peripheral neuropathy, and retinopathy were associated with deficits in trabecular microarchitecture. Type 1 diabetes is associated with lower BMD, larger bone area, and poorer trabecular microarchitecture. Among participants with type 1 diabetes, suboptimal glycemic control, AGE accumulation, and microvascular complications are associated with deficits in bone microarchitecture and lower BMD.

Natural Wood-Derived Macroporous Cellulose for Highly Efficient and Ultrafast Elimination of Double-Stranded RNA from In Vitro-Transcribed mRNA.

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a major impurity that can induce innate immune responses and cause adverse drug reactions. Removing dsRNA is an essential and non-trivial process in manufacturing mRNA. Current methods for dsRNA elimination use either high-performance liquid chromatography or microcrystalline cellulose, rendering the process complex, expensive, toxic, and/or time-consuming. This study introduces a highly efficient and ultrafast method for dsRNA elimination using natural wood-derived macroporous cellulose (WMC). With a naturally formed large total pore area and low tortuosity, WMC removes up to 98% dsRNA within 5min. This significantly shortens the time for mRNA purification and improves purification efficiency. WMC can also be filled into chromatographic columns of different sizes and integrates with fast-protein liquid chromatography for large-scale mRNA purification to meet the requirements of mRNA manufacture. This study further shows that WMC purification improves the enhanced green fluorescent protein mRNA expression efficiency by over 28% and significantly reduces cytokine secretion and innate immune responses in the cells. Successfully applying WMC provides an ultrafast and efficient platform for mRNA purification, enabling large-scale production with significant cost reduction.

Distribution of Aquatic Macrophytes in the Littoral of Lake Bohinj (Slovenia)

In alpine Lake Bohinj, which is an LTER site and a part of the national park, the occurrence and depth distribution of submerged and emerged aquatic macrophytes were analyzed. Nine submerged and one emergent macrophyte taxa were found in the lake: Myriophyllum spicatum, Chara virgata, Chara aspera, Potamogeton lucens, Potamogeton alpinus, Potamogeton crispus, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Potamogeton pusillus, Ranunculus circinatus with the synonym Batrachium foeniculaceum and the emergent species Phragmites australis. The depth of the vegetation zones was measured using a depth meter and their coordinates were recorded using a GNSS antenna with RTK receiver. These data were used along with a DEM of lake depths to accurately map the potential zone of macrophyte growth, which was based on the depths of macrophyte distribution. The potential zone of macrophyte growth consisted of 28 different transects and covered 240.14 ha of the lake. The macrophytes covered 5.55 ha. The most common and abundant species was M. spicatum. A significant difference in macrophyte cover was found between the south and north shores of the lake, with the south shore having more patches with a larger total area. A clear difference in macrophyte cover was also noted between the main inflow and outflow of the lake. The presence of macrophytes and their diversity varied in different parts of the lake due to differences in slope, depth and type of substrates.

Impact of stent-retriever tip design on distal embolization during mechanical thrombectomy: a randomized in vitro evaluation

BackgroundRepeated number of passes, clot fragmentation, and distal embolization during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) lead to worse clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke. This study aimed to assess the recanalization and...

Influence of arable land location incorporating its roughness on blue-sky albedo variation

This paper quantifies the albedo variation in global bare, arable land, as one of the components of the Earth's land surface, that occurs over relatively short periods of the year but over a large total area. The study focused on the impact of the location of the land's dominant soil units, incorporating their roughness in their diurnal albedo (α) variation on the shortest (SDOY) and longest (LDOY) days of the year, and on their mean diurnal albedo (αd) values throughout the year under clear-sky conditions. Specialized software was used to generate the aforementioned soil albedo values on the basis of soil reflectance spectra stored in a soil database. It was assumed that the air-dried soil surfaces being tested would present extremely different roughness states: very high, corresponding to those shaped by a plow (Pd), and very low, corresponding to a smoothing harrow (Hs). It was found that the farther the surfaces were from the equator, the higher the minimum α values would be on the SDOY, and the lower they would be on the LDOY. It was determined that the relative difference (AVαd) between the highest and lowest values of αd for the studied surfaces located within the latitude range of ±15° would be close to 0%. For latitudes within ±20°–±30°, the AVαd values would be 6 and 5% for surfaces shaped by Pd and Hs, respectively. For those at about 65°, AVαd values would even reach 63% and 54%, respectively. The α values of soil surfaces generated from many thousands of reflectance spectra collected in soil databases around the world, and taking into account their roughness, may be used in the future to model Earth's climate changes.

Sb2X3 (X = S, Se) nanowires/graphene aerogel monoliths for effective photodegradation of dye/drug under visible light irradiation

The visible-light-responsive photocatalysts with high efficiency have been attracting tremendous focus in environmental remediation. Herein, three-dimensional (3D) Sb2X3 (X = S, Se) nanowires/graphene aerogel (Sb2X3/GA) monoliths were prepared by a facile hydrothermal route. The as-prepared Sb2X3/GA monoliths show the shape of a cylinder with a hierarchical porous structure. FESEM and porosimetry analyses revealed that the monoliths have high porosity, large total pore area as well as large pore volume. Sb2X3/GA demonstrated excellent photodegradation performance for the representative anionic/cationic dyes (methyl orange, rhodamine B, and crystal violet) and antibiotic drug (tetracycline hydrochloride) under 120 min of visible light irradiation. The degradation efficiencies of Sb2X3/GA were found to be 92.6–99.8% for the above-mentioned dye/drug, which were much larger than that of the pristine Sb2X3 nanowires. The enhanced photodegradation activity could be ascribed to the synergistic effect between the Sb2X3 nanowires and graphene aerogel, which was confirmed by the results of the photoluminescence and electrochemical impedance spectra. These findings provide an innovative strategy for designing 3D visible-light-responsive photocatalysts for water purification.

A Sub-THz High-Order Mode Backward Wave Oscillator Driven by Pseudospark Sourced Multiple Sheet Electron Beams

A novel concept of combining the advantages of pseudospark (PS)-sourced electron beam (high beam current density), multiple-sheet-electron-beams (large total beam cross-sectional area), and high-order mode (HOM) slow wave structure (SWS) (high power capacity) to produce high-power terahertz signals is presented in this article. As an example, a sub-terahertz backward wave oscillator (BEO) driven by PS-sourced dual-sheet-electron-beams is designed. Measured results of the interaction circuit, including transmission/reflection coefficients and the dispersion relation, were in good agreement with simulation predictions. Beam-wave interaction simulations having considered the plasma effect and conductor loss predicted stable output signals with radiation power of 167.4–255.4 W over a tunable bandwidth of 234.4–241.0 GHz.

Mitigating Extreme Summer Heat Waves with the Optimal Water-Cooling Island Effect Based on Remote Sensing Data from Shanghai, China.

Due to the progress in global warming, the frequency, duration and intensity of climate extremes are increasing. As one of these extremes, heat waves influence the well-being of human beings and increase societies’ energy consumption. The Water-Cooling Island (WCI) effect of urban water bodies (UWBs) is important in urban heat wave mitigation. In this paper, the impact of WCI, especially the landscape pattern of the surrounding area, was explored. The results indicate that water bodies with a larger total area and simpler shape have a longer cooling effect. In the areas surrounding UWBs, a lower percentage or discrete distribution of impervious surfaces or green land provide a longer cooling effect. The amplitude of WCI is mainly decided by the impervious surface in the surrounding areas. A lower percentage or discrete distribution of impervious surfaces or green land leads to a smaller-amplitude WCI. The gradient is impacted by the shape of the UWB and surrounding green land. A complex shape and discrete distribution of green land lead to a higher gradient of WCI. The linear regress model was significant in terms of WCI range and gradient, while the model of WCI amplitude was not significant. This indicates that WCI is directly decided by impact factors through gradient and range. The conclusions provide a methodology for WCI prediction and optimization, which is important when mitigating summer heat waves.

Chemopreventive Effects of Delta-tocotrienol (δTE) in a Mouse Model Bearing Key Genetic Mutations Resembling Sporadic Colorectal Cancer

ObjectivesColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the United States and worldwide. Since there is no effective treatment of late-stage cancer, chemoprevention is an important strategy to reduce cancer motality. Most CRCs occur sporadically and are caused by somatic gene mutations. Nearly 80% of sporadic CRC patients have alteration in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and about 40–50% have oncogenic mutation in Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homologue (KRAS), which fosters uncontrolled cell proliferation. Delta-tocotrienol (δTE) is a natural vitamin E form, and has been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. However, the anti-cancer effect of δTE has not been tested in a preclinical model that resembles sporadic CRC. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of dietary supplementation of δTE on tumorigenesis in a genetically-engineered mouse model resembling sporadic CRC. MethodsWe bred AKC mice which were created by tissue specific inactivation of Apc and oncogenic activation of mutant Kras in the large intestine. In study 1, 5-week-old mice were given control (AIN-93G) or 0.04% δTE/γTE (8/1, v/v) in AIN-93G diet for 10 weeks and their impact on the survival rate was analyzed. In study 2, to further examine chemopreventive effect of δTE, 4.5-week-old mice were given either control or 0.04% δTE/γTE (8/1, v/v) in AIN-93G diet for 4 weeks, and the effect on tumor development and relevant endpoints were evaluated. ResultsIn study 1, dietary supplementation of δTE/γTE increased the survival of the AKC mice compared with the control diet group (95 ± 4.8 Vs. 76.5 ± 5.0 days, Mean ± SE, p < 0.05). In study 2, δTE/γTE supplementation for four weeks significantly reduced the number of large tumors and total tumor area. These anticancer effects were associated with lowered level of interleukin (IL)-1β in the colon tissue when compared with the control group. Pathway analyses of RNA-seq data showed that δTE/γTE supplement had significant impact on lipid metabolism and enhanced negative regulator of RAS/MAPK pathway. ConclusionsDietary supplementation of δTE/γTE is promising chemoprevention against sporadic colorectal tumor development. Funding SourcesThe authors gratefully acknowledge the support of USDA Hatch fund, Research Awards from the Purdue Center for Cancer Research, and NIH grant.

Function Replacement Decision-Making for Parking Space Renewal Based on Association Rules Mining

Parking lots are typical urban spaces with a large total area and scattered distribution. With the development of smart cars and shared driving, parking demand is likely to decline. Thus, the reuse of existing parking spaces presents important opportunities and challenges in the process of the digital transformation of future cities. One of the key issues in the sustainable renewal of parking spaces is to make scientific decisions regarding the replacement of functions. Based on relevant data from the urban area of Hangzhou, this study analyzes the spatial co-location relationships between parking spaces and other urban points of interest (POIs). By mining the function association patterns, this research aims to establish a decision-making support model for the function replacement of parking spaces. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) based on charge, size, and affiliation, parking lots can be divided into eight categories; (2) parking lots of different charges, sizes, and affiliations differ in their spatial co-location relationships with POIs; and (3) most parking lots are suitable for catering services, followed by companies and commercial residences. The innovations of this research lie in providing scientific references for the renewal of urban fragmented spaces by mining urban function association rules at the microscale.

Teriparatide with Octacalcium Phosphate Collagen Composite Stimulates Osteogenic Factors.

Octacalcium phosphate and collagen composite (OCPcol) promotes osteogenic differentiation and angiogenesis, thereby enhancing bone regeneration. Although a newly developed freeze-dried composite of OCPcol and teriparatide (OCPcolTPTD) reinforced bone regeneration more than OCPcol, the mechanism of bone regeneration remains unresolved. In this study, disks containing OCPcolTPTD, OCPcol, or β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) col were inserted into rodents with calvarial bone defects, before euthanasia 4 weeks later. Immunohistochemical and histochemical analyses were performed on bone samples to evaluate bone matrix development, angiogenesis, and osteoclast and osteoblast localization. In the OCPcolTPTD and OCPcol groups, bone regeneration was observed at the surface of calvarial dura mater and around acidophilic granular cells with abundant collagenous fiber-containing cells. Furthermore, the newly formed bone in the OCPcolTPTD group showed a larger total area and individual separated area than the other groups. Various osteogenic proteins were detected in the regenerated bone and peri-bone tissues by histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Although the expression of several osteogenic biomarkers in the OCPcolTPTD group after 4 weeks of implantation was significantly lower than that in the OCPcol group, new bone formation by OCPcolTPTD in the center of the defect, where bone regeneration is difficult, tended to be superior to that by OCPcol. These results suggest that OCPcolTPTD enhanced bone regeneration more evenly and homogenously than OCPcol. Impact statement Our study suggests that octacalcium phosphate and collagen (OCPcol) together with a TPTD enhances bone regeneration in rodents with calvarial bone defects. Furthermore, we believe that composite of OCPcol and teriparatide (OCPcolTPTD) could be developed into novel clinical technique for the regeneration or repair of bone.

Region of Interest Densitometry Analysis of Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Dehiscence on Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography.

PurposeTo evaluate a region of interest (ROI) method of analyzing anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) corneal densitometry (CD) in the setting of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) dehiscence.MethodsRetrospective chart review of eyes that underwent (1) DMEK for Fuchs dystrophy (2) between 2018 to 2020 with (3) a partial DMEK dehiscence on AS-OCT, (4) involvement of only one side of the graft, (5) high-quality corneal AS-OCT scan, and (6) location of dehiscence within the central 5.5 mm of the cornea. Image analysis of the ROIs with ImageJ compared the total edematous area, mean stromal CD, and ratio of anterior-to-posterior (A/P) stromal CD for regions of DMEK dehiscence compared to the contralateral side with an attached DMEK graft. Control regions (with no dehiscence) and postdehiscence resolution images were also analyzed.ResultsSeventy sectors of the 21 images from 21 eyes with DMEK dehiscence were included. Compared to the contralateral side, regions of DMEK dehiscence had larger total areas (P < 0.0001), lower mean stromal CD (P = 0.0003), and higher A/P stromal CD (P < 0.0001). All control regions and postdehiscence resolution images did not show any significant differences compared to the contralateral sides.ConclusionsThis technique to analyze multiple ROIs on AS-OCT can be useful to evaluate CD of specific regions of corneal pathology. Lower mean stromal CD and higher A/P stromal CD may specify corneal edema.Translational RelevanceAnalyzing CD via multiple specific ROIs may be more suitable than measuring the CD of the full cornea and has broader applications extending to other corneal pathologies.

Analysis of risk factors of early enteral nutrition intolerance in extremely severe burn patients

Objective: To explore the risk factors of early enteral nutrition intolerance in extremely severe burn patients. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed. From January 2018 to December 2020, seventy-six adult patients with extremely severe burns who met the inclusion criteria were admitted to Hwa Mei Hospital of University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, including 55 males and 21 females, aged (45±11) years with burns of 62% (52%, 82%) total body surface area. Depending on the patient's tolerance to early enteral nutrition, they were divided into tolerance group (47 patients) and intolerance group (29 patients), and their clinical data were statistically analyzed, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), underlying disease, total burn area, full-thickness burn area, abbreviated burn severity index (ABSI) score, implementation of mechanical ventilation on the day of admission, stable shock state, vomiting before feeding. The following data were recorded including the onset time, duration length, and frequency of enteral nutrition intolerance of patients in intolerance group, and the number of operations, the length of hospitalization, the occurrence of sepsis within 2 weeks after injury, the outcome, as well as the serum hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), albumin, fasting blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) on post burn day (PBD) 1, 5, 9, and 13 of patients in the two groups. Data were statistically analyzed with independent sample t test, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test to screen the related factors of early enteral nutrition intolerance of the patients. Binary univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the independent risk factors of early enteral nutrition intolerance of the patients. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in age, sex, BMI, and percentage of underlying disease of patients between the two groups (P>0.05). The total burn area, full-thickness burn area, ABSI score, mechanical ventilation percentage on the day of admission, percentage of unstable shock period, percentage of vomiting before feeding of patients in intolerance group were significantly higher than those in tolerance group (Z=-4.559, -3.378, -4.067, χ2=18.375, 23.319, 8.339, P<0.01). In intolerance group, the onset time of intolerance was (9±4) d after injury, and the duration length was 4 (2, 6) d, with a total of 46 times occurred. Compared with tolerance group, the percentage of sepsis and mortality of patients in intolerance group were significantly higher within 2 weeks after injury (χ2=16.571, 12.665, P<0.01). The number of operation and length of hospitalization of patients in the two groups were similar (P>0.05); however the length of hospitalization of patients in the intolerance group was significantly more than that in tolerance group after excluding the death cases (Z=-2.266, P<0.05). On PBD 1, the level of fasting blood glucose and AST of patients in intolerance group were significantly higher than those in tolerance group (t=3.070, Z=-3.070, P<0.01). On PBD 5, the levels of hs-CRP, albumin, fasting blood-glucose, ALT, AST, and γ-GT of patients in the two groups were similar (P>0.05). On PBD 9, the level of hs-CRP of patients in intolerance group was significantly higher than that in tolerance group (t=2.836, P<0.01), and the levels of ALT and γ-GT of patients in intolerance group were significantly lower than those in tolerance group (Z=-3.932, -2.052, P<0.05 or P<0.01). On PBD 13, the level of hs-CRP of patients in intolerance group was significantly higher than that in tolerance group (t=3.794, P<0.01), and the levels of fasting blood glucose, ALT, and γ-GT of patients in intolerance group were significantly lower than those in tolerance group (t=-2.176, Z=-2.945, -2.250, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Binary univariate logistic regression analysis showed that total burn area, full-thickness burn area, ABSI score, implementation of mechanical ventilation on the day of admission, unstable shock period, vomiting before feeding, and fasting blood-glucose on PBD 1 of patients were related to early enteral nutrition intolerance (odds ratio=1.086, 1.052, 1.775, 9.167, 12.797, 10.125, 1.249, 95% confidence interval=1.045-1.129, 1.019-1.085, 1.320-2.387, 3.132-26.829, 4.199-39.000, 2.003-51.172, 1.066-1.464, P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the large total burn area, unstable shock period, vomiting before feeding, and high fasting blood-glucose on PBD 1 of patients were the independent risk factors of early enteral nutrition intolerance in patients (odds ratio=1.073, 6.390, 9.004, 1.246, 95% confidence interval=1.021-1.128, 1.527-26.734, 1.134-71.496, 1.007-1.540, P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions: The percentage of early enteral nutrition intolerance is very high in extremely severe burn patients, which is closely related to poor prognosis. Large total burn area, vomiting before feeding, unstable shock phase, high fasting glucose on PBD 1 of patients are the independent risk factors for early enteral nutrition intolerance in extremely severe burn patients. The benefits and risks should be carefully evaluated before starting enteral nutrition in such patients, and early enteral nutrition should not be blindly pursued.

Comparison of the Particulate Matter Removal Capacity of 11 Herbaceous Landscape Plants

Background and objective Particulate matter (PM) has a fatal effect on health. There have been many studies on the use of plants such as trees and shrubs as eco-friendly and sustainable biofilter for the removal of PM. In forming more green space, ground cover plants play an important role in multi-layered planting. This study was conducted to investigate the ability of plants to reduce PM, targeting Korean native ground cover plants with high availability in urban green spaces. Methods For 4 species of Asteraceae, 4 species of Liliaceae, and 3 species of Rosaceae, one species of plants at a time were placed in an acrylic chamber (800 × 800 × 1000 mm, L × W × H) modeling an indoor space. After the injection of PM, the amount of PM remaining in the chamber over time was investigated. Results For all three types of PM (PM10, PM2.5, PM1), significant difference occurred in the amount of PM remaining between plant species after 1 hour in the Liliaceae chamber, 3 hours in the Asteraceae chamber, and 5 hours in the Rosaceae chamber. With Liliaceae, the leaf area and the amount of PM remaining in the chamber showed a negative (−) correlation. With the Asteraceae and Rosaceae, there was a weak negative correlation between the leaf area and the amount of PM remaining in the chamber. Conclusion When using ground cover plants as a biofilter to remove PM, it is considered effective to select a species with a large total leaf area, especially for Liliaceae.

Insufficient blood supply of fovea capitis femoris, a risk factor of femoral head osteonecrosis

BackgroundA defective nutrient foramen in the fovea capitis femoris was hypothesized to reflect the blood circulation pattern of the femoral head, leading to insufficient blood supply and causing osteonecrosis of the femoral head.MethodsNormal and necrotic femoral head specimens were collected. The necrotic femoral head group was divided into a non-traumatic and traumatic subgroup. 3D scanning was applied to read the number, the diameter, and the total cross-sectional area of the nutrient foramina in the fovea capitis femoris. Chi-squared tests and independent t-tests were used to detect any differences in the categorical and continuous demographic variables. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for non-traumatic and traumatic osteonecrosis in different characteristic comparisons.ResultsA total of 249 femoral head specimens were collected, including 100 normal femoral heads and 149 necrotic femoral heads. The necrotic femoral head group revealed a significantly higher percentage of no nutrient foramen (p < 0.001), a smaller total area of nutrient foramina (p < 0.001), a smaller mean area of nutrient foramina (p = 0.014), a lower maximum diameter of the nutrient foramen (p < 0.001), and a lower minimum diameter of the nutrient foramen (p < 0.001) than the normal femoral head group. The logistic regression model demonstrated an increasing number of nutrient foramina (crude OR, 0.51; p < 0.001), a larger total area of nutrient foramina (crude OR, 0.58; p < 0.001), a larger mean area of nutrient foramina (crude OR, 0.52; p = 0.023), a greater maximum diameter of the nutrient foramen (crude OR, 0.26; p < 0.001), and greater minimum diameter of the nutrient foramen (crude OR, 0.20; p < 0.001) significantly associated with reduced odds of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). The necrotic femoral head group was further divided into 118 non-traumatic and 31 traumatic necrotic subgroups, and no significant difference was observed in any characteristics between them.ConclusionsCharacteristics of the nutrient foramen in the fovea capitis femoris showed a significant defect of necrotic than normal femoral heads, and significantly reduced odds were associated with the higher abundance of the nutrient foramen in ONFH. Therefore, the condition of the nutrient foramen might be the indicator of ONFH.