Dynamism of household carbon emissions (HCEs) from rural and urban regions of northern and southern China

China contributes 23 % of global carbon emissions, of which 26 % originate from the household sector. Due to vast variations in both climatic conditions and the affordability and accessibility of fuels, household carbon emissions (HCEs) differ significantly across China. This study compares HCEs (per person) from urban and rural regions in northern China with their counterparts in southern China. Annual macroeconomic data for the study period 2005 to 2012 were obtained from Chinese government sources, whereas the direct HCEs for different types of fossil fuels were obtained using the IPCC reference approach, and indirect HCEs were calculated by input-output analysis. Results suggest that HCEs from urban areas are higher than those from rural areas. Regardless of the regions, there is a similarity in per person HCEs in urban areas, but the rural areas of northern China had significantly higher HCEs than those from southern China. The reasons for the similarity between urban areas and differences between rural areas and the percentage share of direct and indirect HCEs from different sources are discussed. Similarly, the reasons and solutions to why decarbonising policies are working in urban areas but not in rural areas are discussed.

Measurement uncertainties in quantifying aeolian mass flux: evidence from wind tunnel and field site data

Aeolian sediment traps are widely used to estimate the total volume of wind-driven sediment transport, but also to study the vertical mass distribution of a saltating sand cloud. The reliability of sediment flux estimations from such measurements are dependent upon the specific configuration of the measurement compartments and the analysis approach used. In this study, we analyse the uncertainty of these measurements by investigating the vertical cumulative distribution and relative sediment flux derived from both wind tunnel and field studies. Vertical flux data was examined using existing data in combination with a newly acquired dataset; comprising meteorological data and sediment fluxes from six different events, using three customized catchers at Ameland beaches in northern Netherlands. Fast-temporal data collected in a wind tunnel shows that the median transport height has a scattered pattern between impact and fluid threshold, that increases linearly with shear velocities above the fluid threshold. For finer sediment, a larger proportion was transported closer to the surface compared to coarser sediment fractions. It was also shown that errors originating from the distribution of sampling compartments, specifically the location of the lowest sediment trap relative to the surface, can be identified using the relative sediment flux. In the field, surface conditions such as surface moisture, surface crusts or frozen surfaces have a more pronounced but localized effect than shear velocity. Uncertainty in aeolian mass flux estimates can be reduced by placing multiple compartments in closer proximity to the surface.

Spatio-temporal variability in accretion and erosion of coastal foredunes in the Netherlands: regional climate and local topography

Depending on the amount of aeolian sediment input and dune erosion, dune size and morphology change over time. Since coastal foredunes play an important role in the Dutch coastal defence, it is important to have good insight in the main factors that control these changes. In this paper the temporal variations in foredune erosion and accretion were studied in relation to proxies for aeolian transport potential and storminess using yearly elevation measurements from 1965 to 2012 for six sections of the Dutch coast. Longshore differences in the relative impacts of erosion and accretion were examined in relation to local beach width. The results show that temporal variability in foredune accretion and erosion is highest in narrow beach sections. Here, dune erosion alternates with accretion, with variability displaying strong correlations with yearly values of storminess (maximum sea levels). In wider beach sections, dune erosion is less frequent, with lower temporal variability and stronger correlations with time series of transport potential. In erosion dominated years, eroded volumes decrease from narrow to wider beaches. When accretion dominates, dune-volume changes are relatively constant alongshore. Dune erosion is therefore suggested to control spatial variability in dune-volume changes. On a scale of decades, the volume of foredunes tends to increase more on wider beaches. However, where widths exceed 200 to 300 m, this trend is no longer observed.

An assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from the Australian vegetables industry

Recently, partly due to the increasing carbon consciousness in the electorates and partly due to the imminent introduction of the Australian Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), estimating carbon footprints is becoming increasingly necessary in agriculture. By taking data from several sources, this study estimates the national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from a variety of farm inputs, for the 23 key vegetables crops grown in Australia. For the 121,122 ha of land occupied by vegetable farms, there are 1.1 MtCO(2)e GHG emissions or 9.2 tCO(2)e ha(-1). In total, 65% of total GHG emissions from the vegetable industry are due to electricity use for irrigation and post-harvest on-farm activities, 17% from soil N(2)O emissions due to N fertiliser use, 10% from agrochemicals, 7% through fossils fuels and 1% from on-farm machinery. The top four vegetables (by area), potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes and broccoli account for 29.1%, 7.9%, 5.9% and 7.2% of total GHG emissions from vegetables, respectively. However, the ratio of GHG emissions between the highest and lowest-emitting crops per hectare and per tonne, are different. Therefore, care must be exercised in carbon footprint labelling vegetable products to ensure that the labels reflect carbon emissions on a per tonnage basis.

Radiofrequency Ablation in Breast Cancer

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of breast tumors is characterized by variable efficiency. Cell viability is principally evaluated by NADH-diaphorase and Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining techniques.Methods: Twenty patients with breast cancer, 20.7 ± 9.14mm in diameter, underwent RFA of the tumor and of the margin of surrounding breast tissue. RFA was based on the radiofrequency impedance-switching algorithm. The algorithm was based on an internally cooled probe, which carried out algorithm-guided deposition of heat in a pulse-cycle fashion and under continuous monitoring of the desiccation status of the ablated site to avoid tissue charring (until its impedance level reached 30Ω above the baseline level or a maximum time interval (tmax) was reached). A minimum time interval of 5 seconds was set as the duration of time that the electrode must be off. If the cycles of power application occurred too rapidly, the power was diverted to the 150Ω resistance load for the remainder of the 5-second interval. Surgical resection was the next step. Sixteen patients underwent quardzantectomy (five with axillary lymph node dissection) and four unilateral total mastectomy. In fifteen patients SLNB was searched and identified (ten negative, four positive and one failure). The ablated tumor tissue was histologically examined and Ki67 immunohistological staining was applied to evaluate cellular proliferation, invasion and survival.Results: The mean time of operation was 119.47 ± 23.35minutes.The mean time of RFA was 12 - 15minutes. One patient had a post-operative complication (trauma infection). All twenty patients had a positive Ki67 immunohistochemical staining mean value of 28.79 ± 21.42, before RFA. The post-RFA Ki67 expression was zero in sixteen patients. In three patients no residual tumor cells were found and in one patient the Ki67 expression was under five percent. Recurrence developed in zero patients, to date (follow up time: 22.5 ± 2.3 months).Conclusion: Ki67 evaluation is a targeting indicator of viability of malignant cells after lesion RFA of breast tumors. RFA is able to provide satisfactory local control in breast cancer.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 2106.

Piggery: from environmental pollution to a climate change solution

Pig farms are a vital component of rural economies in Australia. However, disposal of effluent leads to many environmental problems. This case study of the Berrybank Farm piggery waste management system in Victoria estimates greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits from three different activities. Analysis reveals that the capturing and combusting of methane from piggery effluent could save between 4859 and 5840 tCO2e yr(-1) of GHG emissions. Similarly, using methane for replacing fuels for electricity generation could save another 800 tCO2e yr(-1)of GHGs. Likewise, by utilizing the biogas wastes to replace inorganic fertilizers there could be a further saving of 1193 to 1375 tCO2e yr(-1) of GHG, depending on the type of fertilizers the waste replaces. Therefore, a well-managed piggery farm with 15,000 pigs could save 6,852 to 8,015 tCO2e yr(-1), which equates to the carbon sequestrated from 6,800 to 8,000 spotted gum trees (age=35 year) in their above plus below-ground biomass. Implementation of similar project in suitable areas in Australia could have significant environmental and financial benefits.

Cranial nerve dysfunction following carotid endarterectomy

BACKGROUND

Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is the most common surgical procedure performed for the treatment of symptomatic carotid stenosis greater than 70%. Among the recognised complications, such as stroke and myocardial infarction, is injury to cranial nerves.

METHODS

We report the incidence and follow-up of cranial nerve injury in 269 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy between January 1994 and December 1997 at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.

RESULTS

Fifteen cranial nerve injuries were documented (5.6%). Seven patients (2.6%) had unilateral vocal cord paralysis, nine (3.3%) hypoglossal palsy, two (0.7%) glossopharyngeal nerve injury and one (0.4%) facial nerve palsy (marginal mandibular nerve). All patients showed improvement within a few weeks and none had residual disability at the last follow-up (two weeks to 14 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients manifesting symptoms of cranial nerve dysfunction should undergo a thorough otolaryngological evaluation and long-term follow-up. Most cranial nerve injuries are transient and result from trauma during dissection, retraction or carotid clamping. Knowledge of cranial nerve anatomy is essential if the surgeon is to avoid such injuries.

Comparison between two fat emulsions: Intralipid 30 cent vs intralipid 10 cent in critically ill patients

Fat emulsions, Intralipid 30% and Intralipid 10% were compared in terms of the resulting plasma levels of different lipid components and clinical tolerance in critically-ill patients with multi-injuries. Sixteen critically-ill patients with severe systemic inflammatory response were randomly assigned to two groups, each one comprised of eight patients. Each group was administered the same quantity of fat/Kg/day either Intralipid 30% or Intralipid 10%. The infusion lasted 12|h daily for 6 days. During the infusion of the fat emulsion, a lower median plasma concentration of triglycerides, phospolipids and free cholesterol was observed in patients who received Intralipid 30% compared with those who received Intralipid 10%. The above observations were sustained 4 h after the termination of the infusion. Free fatty acids had a higher mean plasma concentration in the group of patients who received Intralipid 30%. There were no differences between the two groups as far as the median plasma concentration of cholesterol and lipoproteins (LDL, HDL, VLDL) are concerned. On the contrary, there was an increase in LpX in the Intralipid 10% group. From the above findings, we draw the conclusion that Intralipid 30% revealed better profiles of different lipid components than Intralipid 10% in critically-ill patients. The new emulsion of higher concentration in triglyceride was proved clinically safe and its use is suggested for critically-ill patients who require total parenteral nutrition.

The effect of parenteral indomethacin on T-lymphocyte subpopulations and cytokine production in patients under major surgical operations

Major surgical trauma has been considered as a cause of immunosuppression mainly through the production of prostaglandin E2 from activated monocytes/macrophages. In the present study we investigated the effect of parenteral indomethacin--a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor--on T-lymphocyte subsets and cytokine production in patients under major operations. We studied 20 patients undergoing major surgical procedures, 10 of whom were randomly treated pre- and post-operatively with indomethacin (group 2) and 10 were not (group 2). We measured total T-cells, T-helper, T-suppressor, T-helper/T-suppressor (Th/Ts) cell ratio, NK-cells and interleukin (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor production by endotoxin- or phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, before operation and at days 1, 3 and 7 postoperatively. We detected a significant increase in Th/Ts cell ratio and an improvement in delayed type hypersensitivity response in the treated group at day 3. We believe that the above immunomodulating effect of in vivo cyclo-oxygenase inhibition may be beneficial in patients under major surgical procedures with a high susceptibility to postoperative infections.