Analysis of the effect of dust barriers on particulate matter dispersion from a construction site using CFD simulation

Urban construction activities generate particulate matter (PM), which poses a severe threat to urban residents' quality of life. The complex topography of urban areas and turbulent air flow make it difficult to predict PM dispersion and establish control measures. This study predicted PM dispersion from construction sites to urban areas under four wind directions using CFD simulations and determined optimal dust barrier heights for reducing PM exposure. This study showed that PM exposure on residents depends on wind directions in the urban area up to 2.3 times, still a flexible approach to determine optimal barrier heights based on stakeholder preferences was effective in all wind directions. Accurate PM dispersion predictions and control measures are crucial for improving urban air quality and residents' well-being.

An effective alerting strategy to facilitate occupants' perception of indoor air quality: By alarming concentration of indoor air pollution

Previous studies have proven that it is hard for occupants to perceive concentration of indoor air pollution (IAP) and resulting indoor air quality (IAQ) on their own. Therefore, a method is needed to encourage them to turn their attention to actual IAP, in this context, alerting is thus suggested. However, previous studies pose limitations in that they failed to analyze the effects of alerting concentration of IAP on occupants' IAQ perception. To fill the research gap, this study sought to explore a proper strategy to help occupants have a clearer perception of IAQ. A one-month observational experiment was conducted on nine subjects under three scenarios with different alerting strategies. In addition, the visual distance estimation method was used to quantitatively analyze similar tendencies between the subject's perceived IAQ and concentration of IAP for each scenario. The experimental results confirmed that when an alerting notification was not sent, the occupants could not clearly perceive IAQ as the visual distance was the highest at 0.332. On the other hand, when the alerting notification whether the concentration of IAP exceeded the standard or not was sent, the occupants could perceive IAQ relatively clearly as the visual distance was reduced to 0.291 and 0.236. In conclusion, not only installing a monitoring device but also establishing proper alerting strategies on the concentration of IAP is essential to facilitate occupants' IAQ perception and protect occupants' health.

[Analysis of safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder carcinoma]

Objective: To examine the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic surgery for gallbladder carcinoma. Methods: The data of 197 gallbladder carcinoma patients admitted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2012 and September 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 86 males and 111 females,with age of (64.4±9.8)years(range:35 to 89 years). Patients were divided into laparoscopic group(n=53) and open group(n=144) according to different surgical methods. The general information of the two groups were matched by propensity score matching,and the clinical data and prognosis were compared between the two groups. Categorical variables were analyzed using χ2 test or Fisher's exact test,as appropriate. Continuous variables with and without normal distribution were analyzed using t-test and Mann-Whitney U test,respectively. Kaplan-Meier curves with Log-rank test were used to analyze the cumulative survival rates. Results: Forty-eight pairs of patients were matched successfully. There was no difference in general information,cholecystolithiasis,partial hepatectomy,and tumor stage between two groups(all P>0.05). The laparoscopic group had shorter operation time(t=-3.987,P<0.01),less bleeding(Z=-4.862,P<0.01),shorter total(Z=-5.009,P<0.01) and postoperative(Z=-5.412,P<0.01) hospital stay. Seventeen patients had postoperative complications. According to the Clavien-Dindo system,there were 4,11,1,and 1 patient with grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,Ⅲa,and Ⅲb,respectively. All complications were improved after active treatment. After a median follow-up of 24(36) months(range:3 to 130 months),56 patients(58.3%) survived without tumor,7 patients(7.3%) survived with tumor,and 33 patients(34.4%) died. According to the Kaplan-Meier curves,there was no significant difference between laparoscopic and open groups in disease free(χ2=0.399,P=0.528) and overall(χ2=0.672,P=0.412) survival rates. Conclusions: The laparoscopic surgery is safe and effective in selected patients with gallbladder carcinoma. It can reduce surgical trauma and enhance patient recovery without increasing complication. Its prognosis is similar to that of open surgery.

Learning Curve for Flow Diversion of Posterior Circulation Aneurysms: A Long-Term International Multicenter Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Flow diversion has gradually become a standard treatment for intracranial aneurysms of the anterior circulation. Recently, the off-label use of the flow diverters to treat posterior circulation aneurysms has also increased despite initial concerns of rupture and the suboptimal results. This study aimed to explore the change in complication rates and treatment outcomes across time for posterior circulation aneurysms treated using flow diversion and to further evaluate the mechanisms and variables that could potentially explain the change and outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review using a standardized data set at multiple international academic institutions was performed to identify patients with ruptured and unruptured posterior circulation aneurysms treated with flow diversion during a decade spanning January 2011 to January 2020. This period was then categorized into 4 intervals.

RESULTS

A total of 378 procedures were performed during the study period. Across time, there was an increasing tendency to treat more vertebral artery and fewer large vertebrobasilar aneurysms (P = .05). Moreover, interventionalists have been increasingly using fewer overlapping flow diverters per aneurysm (P = .07). There was a trend toward a decrease in the rate of thromboembolic complications from 15.8% in 2011-13 to 8.9% in 2018-19 (P = .34).

CONCLUSIONS

This multicenter experience revealed a trend toward treating fewer basilar aneurysms, smaller aneurysms, and increased usage of a single flow diverter, leading to a decrease in the rate of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications.

Analysis of ways to reduce potential health risk from ultrafine and fine particles emitted from 3D printers in the makerspace

Due to the growing maker culture, maker spaces using multiple fused deposition modeling (FDM)-3D printers have spread around the world. However, the 3D printing process is known to cause the release of ultrafine and fine particles, which may have adverse health effects on occupants. Therefore, this experiment-based study was conducted on FDM-3D printers placed in an actual makerspace by the following three scenarios: the number of operating FDM-3D printers, ventilation, and measurement location to compare the concentrations of ultrafine and fine particles. In addition, the deposited dose in alveolar region for ultrafine and fine particles was predicted using a respiratory deposition model to analyze the potential health risk on occupants. As a result, the scenario-based comparison revealed that if the number of operating 3D printers is reduced by less than half, the potential health risk can be decreased by 34.1%, proper ventilation can reduce potential health risk by 55.5%, and working away from the 3D printer can also reduce potential health risk by up to 27.5%. This study analyzed the potential health risk of multiple FDM-3D printers on users in an actual makerspace, and proposed various improvement measures to reduce the potential health risk of ultrafine and fine particles.

[Digitalized analysis of the gingival and bone morphology in the maxillary anterior teeth in patient with posterior dental implant]

Objective: To explore and analyze the correlation between labial gingival morphology and alveolar bone morphology of maxillary anterior teeth in patients with posterior dental implant, so as to provide reference basis for restoration design and esthetic reconstruction of anterior teeth. Methods: Sixty-four patients [24 males, 40 females (25.6±3.3) years old] who planned to receive posterior dental implant restoration were recruited randomly with the inclusion and exclusion criteria in Department of Prosthodontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University from May 2020 to May 2021. According to the visibility of periodontal probe through gingival margin, the subjects were divided into thin and thick gingival biotypes, including 29 cases of thin biotype and 35 cases of thick biotype. The 3Shape software was used to perform oral scanning, and cone beam CT (CBCT) was taken for each patient. Geomagic and Mimics software were used to measure and record the labial crown width and length, gingival papilla height, gingival angle, bone papilla height and bone margin angle of maxillary anterior teeth. Results: The crown width length ratios of maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors and canines were 0.85±0.08, 0.80±0.08 and 0.86±0.09 (F=10.71, P<0.01). The height of gingival papilla between maxillary central incisors, between central incisors and lateral incisors, between lateral incisors and canines were (3.93±0.86), (3.47±0.84) and (3.38±0.91) mm respectively (F=7.44, P<0.01), and the height of corresponding bone papilla were (3.44±0.88), (3.12±0.75) and (2.72±0.63) mm respectively (F=14.26, P<0.01). The gingival margin angles of maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors and canines were 88.3°±7.7°, 84.7°±8.9° and 81.2°±6.6° (F=13.15, P<0.01), and the bone margin angles were 103.2°±13.1°, 99.5°±11.2° and 110.6°±13.0° (F=13.25, P<0.01). The crown width length ratio (0.81±0.08), gingival margin angle (82.2°±7.4°) and bone margin angle (99.4°±12.9°) of thin gingival subjects were significantly lower than those of thick gingival subjects (0.85±0.09, 86.5°±8.6°, 108.5°±11.4°) (t=-2.79, 3.63, 5.20, P<0.01). The height of gingival papilla [(3.93±0.81) mm] and bone papilla [(3.43±0.80) mm] in thin gingival subjects were significantly lower than those in thick gingival subjects [(3.34±0.84) and (2.85±0.71) mm, respectively] (t=-4.89, -5.36, P<0.01). The height of labial gingival papilla of upper anterior teeth was positively correlated with that of bone papilla in all patients (r=0.66, P<0.01); the ratio of crown width to length of upper anterior teeth was positively correlated with the angle of bone margin (r=0.42, P<0.01); the height of anterior gingival papilla was negatively correlated with the angle of bone margin (r=-0.58, P<0.01), and the height of bone papilla was negatively correlated with the angle of bone margin (r=-0.82, P<0.01). Conclusions: The crown shape, gingival shape and alveolar bone shape of maxillary anterior teeth were different in different tooth positions. Patients with different periodontal phenotypes had different crown width length ratio, gingival papilla height, bone papilla height, gingival margin angle, and bone margin angle.

[Application of enhanced recovery after surgery in perioperative management of patients with gallbladder carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in perioperative management of patients with gallbladder carcinoma. Methods: The data of the patients with gallbladder carcinoma admitted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between January 2017 and December 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 69 males(42.1%) and 95 females(57.9%),with age of (64.0±10.3) years(range:37 to 89 years). Patients were divided into ERAS group(n=53) and normal group(n=111) according to whether they were treated with ERAS measures during the perioperative period.The basic characteristics of the two groups were matched by propensity score matching,and then the perioperative information was compared between the two groups. Categorical variables were presented as absolute numbers or frequencies. Differences between study groups were analyzed using χ² test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, or Mann-Whitney U test, as appropriate. Results: Each group had 45 patients after propensity score matching with well-balanced basic characteristics. There was no difference in basic characteristics, operation time,bleeding,complication,and hospitalization expenses between two groups(all P>0.05). Compared with the normal group,time of ambulation (M(IQR)) (1(1) day vs. 2(2) days;Z=-3.839,P<0.01),postoperative anal exhaust time (2(1) days vs. 3(1) days;Z=-3.013,P=0.003),feeding time(2(1) days vs. 2(1) days;Z=-3.647,P<0.01),postoperative (5(2) days vs. 7(4) days;Z=-3.984,P<0.01) and total(8(4) days vs. 13(6) days;Z=-3.605,P<0.01) hospitalization time were shorter in ERAS group. Postoperative complications occurred in 12 patients. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification,6,4,and 2 patients were classified as grade Ⅰ,Ⅱ,and Ⅲa,respectively. Conclusion: The ERAS measures is safe and effective for perioperative management of patients with gallbladder carcinoma, enhancing patient recovery and shortening hospitalization time without increasing complication or hospitalization cost.

[Digital analysis of the correlation between gingival thickness and alveolar bone thickness in the maxillary anterior teeth region]

Objective: To measure the labial gingival thickness and bone lamella thickness in the maxillary anterior area using digital method, and to analyze the correlation between the two, so as to provide a reference for esthetic restoration and implantation treatment of the upper anterior area. Methods: Fifty-seven patients [23 males, 34 females, (25.8±4.5) years old] who planned to receive posterior dental implant restoration were recruited randomly with the inclusion and exclusion criteria in Department of Prosthodontics, School of Stomatology, The Fourth Military Medical University from May 2020 to October 2020. The 3Shape software was used to perform oral scanning, and cone beam CT (CBCT) was taken for each patient. The image data was fitted and registered by the 3Shape software. The gingival thickness at 2 mm below the gingival margin, bone thickness and gingival thickness at 2 and, 4 mm below the crest of the labial alveolar crest in maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors and canines, were measured. Results: The gingival thickness at 2 mm below the gingival margin of maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors and canines was (1.42±0.21), (1.19±0.17) and (1.23±0.20) mm respectively (F=12.47, P<0.001). The gingival thickness at 2 mm below gingival margin and 4 mm below crest of residual ridge in the male patients were (1.31±0.21) and (0.67±0.22) mm, and those in the female patients were (1.26±0.22) and (0.58±0.19) mm respectively, and there were statistically significant differences in the gingival thickness between the "2 mm below gingival margin" group and the "4 mm below crest of residual ridge" group (t=2.01 and 3.97, P<0.05). There was a positive correlation between gingival thickness and alveolar bone thickness at 2 mm and 4 mm below the crest of residual ridge in maxillary anterior region, and the correlation coefficients (r) were 0.387 and 0.344 respectively (P<0.05). Conclusions: Gingival thickness of maxillary anterior area is related to the tooth position and gender. The gingival thickness of men is greater than that of women.The gingival thickness at 2 and 4 mm below the crest of the alveolar crest is positively correlated with the thickness of the alveolar bone.

Emotional impact, task performance and task load of green walls exposure in a virtual environment

As the time spent indoors increases significantly due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, creating an indoor environment to promote the health of occupants has become critical. Although green walls efficiently realize a healthy indoor environment, few studies have analyzed their impact on occupants based on the visual element of green walls. This study measures the emotional impact, task performance, and task load of the subjects according to four virtual experiments (a non-green wall, a freestanding green wall, two freestanding green walls, and a full-sized green wall). The results of the four experiments are as follows: (i) The visual elements of the green wall had an emotional impact on the occupants, which was verified through the Friedman test; (ii) the effect of the visual elements of the green wall on the task performance of the occupants was not verified by the one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA); and (iii) the task load of the occupants influenced their task performance, which was verified by the repeated-measures ANOVA. This study can help determine the optimal type and area of green walls by considering their impact on the occupants as well as on the economic and constructional aspects of the indoor space.

Changes in energy consumption according to building use type under COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea

An unprecedented global lockdown has been implemented for controlling the spread of COVID-19 in many countries. These actions are reducing the number of coronics, but with the prolonged COVID-19 outbreak, the restrictions on the activities of people are having a significant impact on all industries. Accordingly, this study aimed to statistically analyze changes in building energy consumption under the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, as well as identify the relationship between COVID-19 and building energy consumption according to the building use type. As a result, the average rate of changes in electricity and gas energy consumption decreased -4.46% and -10.35%, respectively, compared to the previous year. The energy consumption in most facilities has tended to decrease while energy consumption in residential facilities increased during COVID-19. The rate of change in building energy consumption had a significantly positive correlation with COVID-19 related factors in various facilities (e.g., neighborhood, religious, educational, and research facilities). Significant findings of this study that social distancing by the COVID-19 outbreak, has changed energy consumption according to building use type indicates the need for new energy systems to effectively manage the energy demand at the community level in the Post COVID-19 era.

Comparison of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and paclitaxel plus carboplatin-based chemotherapy as first line treatment for patients with ovarian cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

We reviewed studies comparing survival outcomes such as overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), and toxicity profile between patients treated with Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin (PLD) combination and those treated with paclitaxel combination for ovarian cancer. We conducted systematic searches in various databases including Medline, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar from inception until August 2019. We used the Cochrane risk of bias tool to assess the quality of published trials. We carried out a meta-analysis with random-effects model and reported pooled Hazard ratios (HR) or Risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). In total, we analysed 7 studies including 3,676 participants. All the studies were randomized controlled trials, while majority of studies had low bias risks. We did not find significant evidence for any of these outcomes except progression free survival (favoured PLD combination therapy pooled HR=0.87; 95% CI: 0.77-0.98). Worst grade toxicities like allergy (pooled RR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.06-3.24) and neurotoxicity (pooled RR: 5.59; 95% CI: 1.43-21.84) were significantly higher among patients receiving paclitaxel combination therapy when compared to patients receiving PLD combination therapy. To summarize, PLD combination therapy is non-inferior to paclitaxel combination therapy in the management of ovarian cancer with respect to survival outcomes and worst grade toxicity profile. However, clinical recommendations cannot be made, as the evidence is not conclusive or significant enough.

Towards environmental sustainability in the local community: Future insights for managing the hazardous pollutants at construction sites

Although various technologies are being developed in the construction industry, management technologies for achieving environmental sustainability in the local community are still lacking. As such, this study suggests future insights for the development of an automated intelligent environment management system for the promotion of environmental sustainability in the local community, through a systematic review of 1,707 relevant literature. The systematic review was conducted in two steps: (i) quantitative review: keyword co-occurrence and trend analysis; and (ii) qualitative review: a review on monitoring, evaluation, and improvement technologies. As a result, the research level related to the local-level pollutants (noise, vibration, and dust) was found to be quantitatively insufficient, and the limitations of the existing technologies for these pollutants were presented. Eventually, to overcome these limitations, new technologies and application strategies that can be applied to construction sites as future research roadmap to effectively manage the hazardous pollutants were proposed. Furthermore, an intelligent management system should be developed, and the management of environmental complaints is also necessary for environmental sustainability at the local level in the construction industry. As a fundamental study, this study could become a benchmark for future researches dealing with environmental sustainability and hazardous pollutants in the construction industry.

Development of a real-time automated monitoring system for managing the hazardous environmental pollutants at the construction site

The management of noise, vibration, and dust, which are hazardous pollutants from construction sites, is essential to minimize the health damage of the nearby residents and the economic damage of construction companies due to pollutants from construction sites. For the effective management of hazardous pollutants, their emissions from construction sites must be identified immediately and accurately. Therefore, this study developed a real-time automated monitoring system named "MOnitoring for Noise, Vibration, and Dust (MONVID)" for comprehensively measuring the hazardous environmental pollutants and managing them in real-time. Toward this end, the optimal design of MONVID was planned and customized considering mobility, usability, and economy. Also, for the field application of the developed MONVID, its feasibility was verified by comparing its techno-economic performance with that of the conventional measurement system through experiments. Based on the results of the experiment and performance evaluation, it was concluded that MONVID is a feasible and economical construction pollutant measurement system with reliable technical performance and improved mobility and usability compared to the conventional measurement system. This study has significant contributions to the development of the first platform (including hardware, sensor network, and software) for the integrated real-time automated monitoring of the environmental performance of construction sites.

Extended anharmonic collapse of phonon dispersions in SnS and SnSe

The lattice dynamics and high-temperature structural transition in SnS and SnSe are investigated via inelastic neutron scattering, high-resolution Raman spectroscopy and anharmonic first-principles simulations. We uncover a spectacular, extreme softening and reconstruction of an entire manifold of low-energy acoustic and optic branches across a structural transition, reflecting strong directionality in bonding strength and anharmonicity. Further, our results solve a prior controversy by revealing the soft-mode mechanism of the phase transition that impacts thermal transport and thermoelectric efficiency. Our simulations of anharmonic phonon renormalization go beyond low-order perturbation theory and capture these striking effects, showing that the large phonon shifts directly affect the thermal conductivity by altering both the phonon scattering phase space and the group velocities. These results provide a detailed microscopic understanding of phase stability and thermal transport in technologically important materials, providing further insights on ways to control phonon propagation in thermoelectrics, photovoltaics, and other materials requiring thermal management.

Coexistence and Interaction of Spinons and Magnons in an Antiferromagnet with Alternating Antiferromagnetic and Ferromagnetic Quantum Spin Chains

In conventional quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnets with quantum spins, magnetic excitations are carried by either magnons or spinons in different energy regimes: they do not coexist independently, nor could they interact with each other. In this Letter, by combining inelastic neutron scattering, quantum Monte Carlo simulations, and random phase approximation calculations, we report the discovery and discuss the physics of the coexistence of magnons and spinons and their interactions in Botallackite-Cu_{2}(OH)_{3}Br. This is a unique quantum antiferromagnet consisting of alternating ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 chains with weak interchain couplings. Our study presents a new paradigm where one can study the interaction between two different types of magnetic quasiparticles: magnons and spinons.

Research on ketamine in mediating autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis of astrocytes in cerebral cortex of rats through NF-κB pathway

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of ketamine on autophagy and apoptosis of astrocytes in the cerebral cortex of rats, and determine whether nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway is involved in the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis of astrocytes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 36 male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (Group C: intraperitoneal injection of equal amount of normal saline), glutamic acid group (Group G: intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg glutamic acid) and glutamic acid + ketamine group (Group GK: intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg glutamic acid and then injection of 5 mg/kg ketamine after 30 min). The cerebral cortex of rats in each group was taken after successive administration for 5 d. The number of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells in the cerebral cortex of rats in each group was detected via immunofluorescence. The number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells (apoptotic cells) in the cerebral cortex was detected via TUNEL staining. The levels of inflammatory factors were detected using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Moreover, the expressions of autophagy-related proteins and apoptosis-related proteins in the cerebral cortex were detected via Western blotting, and the expressions of IκB-a and NF-κBp65 were also detected.

RESULTS

The results of immunofluorescence showed that the number of GFAP-positive cells in the cerebral cortex of rats in Group G was significantly increased compared with that in Group C (p<0.01), and it was significantly decreased in Group GK compared with that in Group G (p<0.01). The results of TUNEL staining revealed that the number of TUNEL-positive cells in the cerebral cortex in Group G was significantly larger than that in Group C, and it was significantly smaller in Group GK than that in Group G (p<0.01). Results of ELISA demonstrated that compared with those in Group C, the contents of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) in Group G were significantly increased (p<0.01), but the content of IL-10 was significantly decreased (p<0.01). Compared with those in Group G, the contents of IL-6 and TNF-a in Group GK were significantly decreased (p<0.01), but the level of IL-10 was statistically elevated (p<0.01). Compared with those in Group C, the levels of LC3 II/I and cleaved caspase-3 in the cerebral cortex in Group G were significantly increased (p<0.01), but the p62 level and B-cell lymphoma-2/Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bcl-2/Bax) ratio were significantly decreased (p<0.01). In Group GK, the levels of LC3 II/I and cleaved caspase-3 were reduced, but the p62 level and Bcl-2/Bax ratio were increased. The expressions of IκB-α and NF-κBp65 in Group G were significantly decreased compared with those in Group C (p<0.01), and they were significantly higher in Group GK than those in Group G (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Ketamine can reduce the glutamic acid-induced activation of astrocytes in the cerebral cortex, inhibit the autophagy and alleviate the apoptosis of astrocytes, the process of which is mediated by the NF-κB pathway, which provides the new molecular basis of ketamine in protecting astrocytes.

Multi-criteria decision support system of the photovoltaic and solar thermal energy systems using the multi-objective optimization algorithm

When the photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal energy (STE) systems, which share the rooftop area, are installed in the same building, a trade-off problem occurs in terms of the energy, economic, and environmental aspects, and thus, steps need to solve this problem. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a multi-criteria decision support system of the PV and STE systems using the multi-objective optimization algorithm. This system was developed in the following six steps: (i) database establishment; (ii) designing the variables of the PV and STE systems; (iii) development of the analysis engine of the PV and STE systems; (iv) environmental and economic assessment from the life cycle perspective; (v) integrated multi-objective optimization (iMOO) with a genetic algorithm; and (vi) establishment of a multi-criteria decision support system. To verify the robustness and reliability of the developed model, an analysis of "D" City Hall and "I" Airport as target facilities was performed. The optimal PV and STE systems that consider the energy, economic, and environmental aspects at the same time were determined with respect to the 1.23 × 10¹⁵ and 1.05 × 10¹⁶ installation scenarios, respectively, in terms of effectiveness. The iMOO scores of the existing PV and STE systems installed in "D" City Hall and "I" Airport were 0.358 and 0.346, respectively, whereas those of the optimal solutions were 0.249 and 0.280, showing score improvements. In terms of efficiency, the times required for determining the optimal solutions were 20 and 30 min, respectively. The developed model makes the final decision-maker to find the optimal solution in introducing the PV and STE systems in the early design phase at the same time.

The effects of filters for an intelligent air pollutant control system considering natural ventilation and the occupants

Experimental analysis was conducted on the indoor air pollutant concentration using natural ventilation and filters. The study targeted two office rooms each of which was occupied by four people, and with the same outdoor environments. A non-woven fabric filter (room A) and an electrostatic filter (room B) were installed on the window frame, and the indoor air pollutant concentration and indoor climate factors were monitored based on the number of occupants and the occupants' activities. The results are as follows: (i) when the number of occupants in each room increased from 0.03-0.06 to 1.53-1.63, room A showed a 60% average PM₁₀ concentration increase while room B showed an opposite result (10% average PM₁₀ concentration decrease), meaning the electrostatic filter's lower resistance to flow contributed to better ventilation and also decreased the influence of the occupants on the indoor air pollutant concentration. A low correlation (0.323-0.350) between the CO₂ concentration and the occupants in room B also proved these results; (ii) while the average PM₁₀ concentration in room A was 9 μg/m³ higher than that in room B, the average PM_2.5 concentration in room A was higher by only 0.2 μg/m³, which showing that much of the generated or resuspended indoor particulate matter was PM₁₀; and (iii) due to the more frequent heat transfer from outdoors to indoors, room B consumed 23% more heating energy. The results of this study are expected to be used as bases for the establishment of an appropriate management strategy that considers the indoor air pollutant concentration caused by the number of occupants and occupants' activities by combining natural ventilation and filters.

Field-induced magnetic phase transitions and memory effect in bilayer ruthenate Ca3Ru2O7 with Fe substitution

Bilayer ruthenate Ca3(Ru1-x Fe x )2O7 (x  =  0.05) exhibits an incommensurate magnetic soliton lattice driven by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. Here we report complex field-induced magnetic phase transitions and memory effect in this system via single-crystal neutron diffraction and magnetotransport measurements. We observe first-order incommensurate-to-commensurate magnetic transitions upon applying the magnetic field both along and perpendicular to the propagation axis of the incommensurate spin structure. Furthermore, we find that the metastable states formed upon decreasing the magnetic field depend on the temperature and the applied field orientation. We suggest that the observed field-induced metastability may be ascribable to the quenched kinetics at low temperature.

On the effects of glasses on the SAR in human head resulting from wireless eyewear devices at phone call state

This paper evaluates the effects of glasses on the specific absorption rates (SAR) in the human head resulting from wireless eyewear device at phone call state. We mainly concentrate on the SAR in the eyes since their sensitivity to electromagnetic fields (EMF). We find wearing glasses obviously alters the distribution and magnitude of the SAR. The maximal SAR in the ocular tissues with glasses is even 6 times more than that without glasses. Wearing glasses also induce the new hotspot in the eyes which may cause the biggest SAR increment in the ocular tissues. Moreover, calculated results indicate that the maximal SAR is sensitive to the size of glasses and radiation frequency. Because of this, we believe wearing glasses may possibly increase the risk of health hazard to eyes of wireless eyewear device user. These calculated results could be a valuable reference for the glasses designer to reduce the SAR in the eyes.

Impact of viral hepatitis aetiology on survival outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma: A large multicentre cohort study

While HBV and HCV are risk factors for HCC, uncertainty exists as to whether these viral infections have prognostic significance in HCC. Thus, we compared the overall survival of patients with HBV, HCV and nonviral HCC, and evaluated whether the presence of HBV and HCV predicts patient outcomes. We conducted a multicentre study of HCC cases diagnosed at six Melbourne tertiary hospitals between Jan 2000-Dec 2014. Patient demographics, liver disease and tumour characteristics and patient outcomes were obtained from hospital databases, computer records and the Victorian Death Registry. Survival outcomes were compared between HBV, HCV and nonviral hepatitis cases and predictors of survival determined using Cox proportional hazards regression. There were 1436 new HCC cases identified including 776 due to viral hepatitis (HBV 235, HCV 511, HBV-HCV 30) and 660 from nonviral causes. The median survival of HBV, HCV and nonviral HCC patients was 59.1, 28.4 and 20.9 months, respectively (P<.0001). On multivariate analysis, independent risk factors for survival included HCC aetiology, gender, BCLC stage, serum AFP, total number and size of lesions, and serum creatinine and albumin. After adjusting for these and method of detection, HBV remained an independent predictor of improved overall survival when compared to both nonviral (HR 0.60%, 95% CI 0.35-0.98; P=.03) and HCV-related HCC (HR 0.51%, 95% CI 0.30-0.85; P=.01). In this large multicentre study, HBV is independently associated with improved overall survival compared with HCV and nonviral-related HCC. Further studies are needed to determine the underlying factor(s) responsible.

OXTR and ZEB1 expression before and after progesterone dosing in pregnant women with threatened premature labor

OBJECTIVE

To investigate changes in the peripheral blood mRNA levels of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) before and after progesterone dosing in pregnant women with threatened premature labor.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Blood samples were collected from 30 healthy pregnant women with 28- to 33+6-week gestational age and singleton pregnancy (group A) and from 30 pregnant women with singleton pregnancy and threatened premature labor before and 48 hours after progesterone dosing (groups B and C, respectively) for quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) assay to assess the OXTR and ZEB1 mRNA levels.

RESULTS

The OXTR mRNA level was higher in the group B than in the groups A and C, and the ZEB1 mRNA level was lower in the group B than in the groups A and C. Notably, no significant difference was found in the mRNA level of OXTR or ZEB1 between group A and group C.

CONCLUSIONS

The peripheral blood mRNA level of OXTR was increased, and that of ZEB1 was decreased in pregnant women with threatened premature labor. Progesterone helped to maintain pregnancy by readjusting the mRNA levels of OXTR and ZEB1.

A NASBA on microgel-tethered molecular-beacon microarray for real-time microbial molecular diagnostics

Gel-tethered molecular beacons coupled with NASBA RNA amplification enable real-time microbial detection and differentiation in a bloodstream infection model.

Comparison of 3 Different Types of Spinal Arteriovenous Shunts below the Conus in Clinical Presentation, Radiologic Findings, and Outcomes

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Spinal arteriovenous shunts below the conus constitute 3 types of lesions, which have previously been mainly described in case reports, given their rarity, and are sometimes misdiagnosed. The purpose of this study was to describe the features of each type and compare these types as to epidemiologic features, clinical and radiologic presentations, treatment, and outcomes in a consecutive series of 48 cases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The prospectively collected data bases of 2 referral centers for spinal vascular lesions were retrospectively reviewed. Spinal arteriovenous shunts below the conus were defined as all dural and intradural shunts below the conus medullaris. Clinical features, radiologic findings, treatment results, and clinical outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS

There were filum terminale arteriovenous fistulas in 11 patients (22.9%), radicular arteriovenous shunts in 7 patients (14.6%), and spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas in 30 patients (62.5%). Radicular arteriovenous shunts presented at a younger age (P = .017) and with a higher incidence of back pain symptoms (P = .037). A tethered spinal cord was found in 54.5% of patients with filum terminale arteriovenous fistulas and 23.3% of patients with spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas. After treatment, the angiographic complete obliteration rate was 89.4% and spinal function was improved significantly (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Three groups of spinal arteriovenous shunts below the conus can be differentiated according to clinical and radiologic features. Filum terminale arteriovenous fistulas are frequently associated with dysraphic malformations, which may suggest a particular embryologic origin.

Erratum to: 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine: Brussels, Belgium. 15-18 March 2016

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13054-016-1208-6.].

Magnetic Reversal of Electric Polarization with Fixed Chirality of Magnetic Structure in a Chiral-Lattice Helimagnet MnSb_{2}O_{6}

The correlation between magnetic and dielectric properties has been investigated for the single crystal of the chiral triangular-lattice helimagnet MnSb_{2}O_{6}. We found that the spin-spiral plane in the ground state has a considerable tilting from the (110) plane and that the sign of the spin-spiral tilting angle is coupled to the clockwise or counterclockwise manner of spin rotation and accordingly to the sign of magnetically induced electric polarization. This leads to unique magnetoelectric responses such as the magnetic-field-induced selection of a single ferroelectric domain as well as the reversal of electric polarization just by a slight tilting of the magnetic field direction, where the chiral nature of the crystal structure plays a crucial role through the coupling of the chirality between the crystal and magnetic structures. Our results demonstrate that crystallographic chirality can be an abundant source of novel magnetoelectric functions with coupled internal degrees of freedom.

Colossal Magnetoresistance in a Mott Insulator via Magnetic Field-Driven Insulator-Metal Transition

We present a new type of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) arising from an anomalous collapse of the Mott insulating state via a modest magnetic field in a bilayer ruthenate, Ti-doped Ca_{3}Ru_{2}O_{7}. Such an insulator-metal transition is accompanied by changes in both lattice and magnetic structures. Our findings have important implications because a magnetic field usually stabilizes the insulating ground state in a Mott-Hubbard system, thus calling for a deeper theoretical study to reexamine the magnetic field tuning of Mott systems with magnetic and electronic instabilities and spin-lattice-charge coupling. This study further provides a model approach to search for CMR systems other than manganites, such as Mott insulators in the vicinity of the boundary between competing phases.

Evaluation of the efficacy of atosiban in pregnant women with threatened preterm labor associated with assisted reproductive technology

OBJECTIVE

The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of atosiban in treating women with threatened preterm labor who had become pregnant through assisted reproductive technology (ART) and the corresponding pregnancy outcomes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Seventy pregnant women with threatened preterm labor after ART were randomly divided into two groups, with 35 cases in the atosiban group and 35 in the ritodrine group. The post-treatment effects and the corresponding pregnancy outcomes were observed.

RESULTS

The efficacy of extending gestational age by 48 hours was significantly higher in the atosiban group than in the ritodrine group (p<0.05), whereas the efficacy of extending gestational  age by seven days was the same in the two groups (p>0.05). There was no significant difference between the atosiban and ritodrine groups in the average gestational age at birth (p<0.05). The occurrence of side effects in the pregnant women was higher in the ritodrine group than in the atosiban group (p<0.05), although the prevalence of abnormal fetal heart rate was not significantly different (p>0.05). Both the perinatal mortality rate and the prevalence of neonatal asphyxia were significantly lower in the atosiban group than in the ritodrine group (p<0.05). When the medication was applied at a gestational age of fewer than 28 weeks, the perinatal mortality rate and the prevalence of neonatal pneumonia were significantly lower in the atosiban group compared with the ritodrine group (p<0.05). When the first drug administration was at a gestational age of 28 weeks or later, the need for neonatal pediatric treatment was significantly reduced in the atosiban group relative to the ritodrine group. Independent of when the drug administration was initiated, there were no significant differences between the atosiban and ritodrine groups in the occurrences of neonatal asphyxia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), neonatal brain injury, or neonatal sepsis (p>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Administration of atosiban has a comparatively better effect than that of ritodrine on pregnant women who underwent ART and is safe and effective at preventing immediate preterm birth. Atosiban is significantly better than ritodrine at reducing the rates of perinatal mortality and neonatal pneumonia, and the perinatal outcomes for those who began to use atosiban at a gestational age of fewer than 28 weeks were even better.

Modified total arch replacement using a four-branched arch graft for acute type A aortic dissection with minimal brain and spinal cord ischemic time

AIM

This study aimed to evaluate the results of modified surgical strategies of total arch replacement using a four-branched arch graft, stented elephant trunk, and innovative organ protection method for acute type A aortic dissection.

METHODS

Between August 2011 and December 2011, 21 patients with acute type A aortic dissection underwent modified total arch replacement using the four-branched arch graft technique. All 21 patients had emergency surgery. Five patients had undergone previous aortic or cardiac surgery. The operations were stented elephant trunk implantation in 17 patients, ascending aorta replacement in 21 patients, coronary artery bypass grafting in four patients, Bentall operation in two patients, and aortic valve replacement in one patient. Twenty-one operations were performed under deep hypothermic extracorporeal circulation, modified selective cerebral perfusion, and end-organ and spinal cord protection for arch reconstruction.

RESULTS

There was two in-hospital deaths (9.5%). No persisting neurologic deficits or paraplegia occurred in 21 patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass time was 177.9±37.8 minutes. Myocardial ischemic time was 110.3±29.3 minutes. ICU time was 8.8±6.9 days and in-hospital duration was 28.7±13.7 days. Ventilation time varied from 9 hours to 21 days. A tracheotomy was necessary in four patients. Mean follow-up was 7.3±1.7 months and all patients are still alive.

CONCLUSION

Modified total arch replacement using a four-branched arch graft with stented elephant trunk and innovative organ protection is a useful and safe alternative technique for the treatment of acute type A aortic dissection and the results are encouraging.

Inhibitory effects of piperonylic acid on the excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and luminal stenosis

PURPOSE

Combining in vivo and in vitro experiments, we explored the function and mechanism of piperonylic acid inhibiteing excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, and intimal hyperplasia and luminal stenosis after blood vessel injury.

METHODS

A model of rat thoracic aorta restenosis after balloon injury was constructed, intragastrically administered with piperonylic acid. 21 days later, their thoracic aortas were subjected tests of morphology, SM-α-actin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and expression levels of P21 and P27 by HE staining, immunohistochemistry, and computer image analysis.

RESULTS

The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by fetal calf serum was active, and the expressions of P21 and P27 were low. Piperonylic acid obviously promoted the protein expressions of P21 and P27 while inhibiting proliferation and DNA synthesis. After the injury of rat thoracic aorta, the cells moved towards the intima and proliferated excessively, leading to evident neogenesis of intima and luminal stenosis. The SM-α-actin immunohistochemistry confirms that the intima contained abundant smooth muscle cells and that the expression of PCNA was high while the expression of P21 and P27 was low. The intervention of piperonylic acid significantly facilitated the gene expressions of P21 and P27, lowered the PCNA expression, and inhibited the formation of intima and the reconstruction of pathological vessels, thus remarkably suppressing luminal stenosis.

CONCLUSION

Piperonylic acid can inhibit the excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and the lumen narrowing after injury of blood vessels, the mechanism of which is associated with the promoted gene expressions of cell cycle key regulators P21 and P27 (Tab. 4, Fig. 4, Ref. 22).

[Comparison of angiography-guided and fractional flow reserve-guided management strategy of percutaneous coronary intervention for intermediate coronary lesions]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the consistency of angiography-guided and fractional flow reserve (FFR)-guided management strategy for intermediate coronary lesions.

METHODS

The patients whose coronary intermediate lesions were assessed by measuring FFR from November 2012 to August 2014. The stenosis percentage and value of FFR during the procedure were collected. All the image data were collected and four experienced interventional cardiologists were invited to assess the target lesions and make a management strategy independently. The consistency of angiography-guided and fractional flow reserve-guided management strategy were analyzed.

RESULTS

In the study, 151 patients were included, of whom, 70.2% were male, the average age was (62.7±9.6) years, 169 vessels were assessed by measuring FFR, 1 being left main, 116 left anterior descending, 27 left circumflex branch, and 25 right coronary artery. There were some correlationship between the stenosis percentage judged by four interventional cardiologists and the stenosis percentage judged during the procedure (r=0.29-0.38, P<0.001), but the difference was significant. When 0.80 was used as FFR threshold value, the consistency rates of angiography-guided management strategy decision made by the four cardiologists with fractional flow reserve-guided management strategy were 72.78%, 71.60%, 75.15%, and 72.78%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Angiography-guided management strategy decision is unreliable, FFR is recommended for management strategy decision for intermediate coronary lesions.

Synthesis and characterization of sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)s containing mesonaphthobifluorene for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell

The novel sulfonated poly(ether sulfone)s containing mesonaphthobifluorene (MNF) moiety were synthesized and characterized their properties. The prepared polymers have highly conjugated aromatic structure due to the MNF group which is an allotrope of carbon and one atom thick planar sheets of sp2-bonded carbon atoms. Poly(ether sulfone)s bearing tetraphenylethylene on polymer backbone were synthesized by polycondensation and followed intra-cyclization from tetraphenylethylene to form MNF by Friedel-craft reaction with Lewis acid (FeCl3). The sulfonation was performed selectively on MNF units with conc. sulfuric acid. The structural properties of the sulfonated polymers were investigated by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The membranes were studied by ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, and proton conductivity. The synthesized polymer electrolyte membranes showed better thermal and dimensional stabilities owing to the inducted highly conjugated aromatic structure in the polymer backbone. The water uptake of the synthesized membranes ranged from 23-52%, compared with 32.13% for Nafion 211 at 80 degrees C. The synthesized membranes exhibited proton conductivities (80 degrees C, RH 90%) of 74.6-100.4 mS/cm, compared with 102.7 mS/cm for Nafion 211.

Activation of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor inhibits tumourigenicity and metastasis of human pancreatic cancer cells via PI3K/Akt pathway

AIMS

It has been reported that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agents are associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer in patients with type 2 diabetes. Reports have indicated that GLP-1 promotes pancreatic metaplasia and premalignant lesions. The aims of this study were to determine the effects of GLP-1-based therapy on pancreatic cancer cells.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry was used to investigate GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) expression in 30 human pancreatic cancer tissues. We also analysed associated clinicopathological data and each patient's prognosis. Two human pancreatic cancer cell lines were used to evaluate the in vitro effects of the GLP-1R agonist liraglutide on cell growth, migration and invasion. Mouse xenograft models of human pancreatic cancer were established to evaluate the effects of liraglutide in vivo.

RESULTS

Human pancreatic cancer tissues showed lower levels or a lack of GLP-1R expression when compared with levels in the tumour-adjacent pancreatic tissues. Negative GLP-1R expression occurred more frequently in advanced tumours with larger diameters and lymphatic metastasis, and was associated with a poor prognosis. GLP-1R activation with liraglutide inhibited tumourigenicity and metastasis of human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Akt activation was dose-dependently inhibited by liraglutide, and the PI3K inhibitors, LY294002 and wortmannin, displayed similar suppressive effects to liraglutide in human pancreatic cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS

GLP-1R activation has an antitumour effect on human pancreatic cancers via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway. This finding suggests that GLP-1-based therapies may be beneficial, rather than harmful, in treating type 2 diabetic patients with pancreatic cancer.