Bone grafting for periprosthetic bone cysts following total ankle arthroplasty.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to assess the success rate and functional outcomes of bone grafting for periprosthetic bone cysts following total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). Additionally, we evaluated the rate of graft incorporation and identified associated predisposing factors using CT scan. Methods: We reviewed a total of 37 ankles (34 patients) that had undergone bone grafting for periprosthetic bone cysts. A CT scan was performed one year after bone grafting to check the status of graft incorporation. For accurate analysis of cyst volumes and their postoperative changes, 3D-reconstructed CT scan processed with 3D software was used. For functional outcomes, variables such as the Ankle Osteoarthritis Scale score and the visual analogue scale for pain were measured. Results: Out of 37 ankles, graft incorporation was successful in 30 cases. Among the remaining seven cases, four (10.8%) exhibited cyst re-progression, so secondary bone grafting was needed. After secondary bone grafting, no further progression has been noted, resulting in an overall 91.9% success rate (34 of 37) at a mean follow-up period of 47.5 months (24 to 120). The remaining three cases (8.1%) showed implant loosening, so tibiotalocalcaneal arthrodesis was performed. Functional outcomes were also improved after bone grafting in all variables at the latest follow-up (p < 0.05). The mean incorporation rate of the grafts according to the location of the cysts was 84.8% (55.2% to 96.1%) at the medial malleolus, 65.1% (27.6% to 97.1%) at the tibia, and 81.2% (42.8% to 98.7%) at the talus. Smoking was identified as a significant predisposing factor adversely affecting graft incorporation (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Bone grafting for periprosthetic bone cysts following primary TAA is a reliable procedure with a satisfactory success rate and functional outcomes. Regular follow-up, including CT scan, is important for the detection of cyst re-progression to prevent implant loosening after bone grafting.

RPA interacts with Rad52 to promote meiotic crossover and noncrossover recombination.

Meiotic recombination is initiated by programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs). Studies in Saccharomyces cerevisiae have shown that, following rapid resection to generate 3' single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) tails, one DSB end engages a homolog partner chromatid and is extended by DNA synthesis, whereas the other end remains associated with its sister. Then, after regulated differentiation into crossover- and noncrossover-fated types, the second DSB end participates in the reaction by strand annealing with the extended first end, along both pathways. This second-end capture is dependent on Rad52, presumably via its known capacity to anneal two ssDNAs. Here, using physical analysis of DNA recombination, we demonstrate that this process is dependent on direct interaction of Rad52 with the ssDNA binding protein, replication protein A (RPA). Furthermore, the absence of this Rad52-RPA joint activity results in a cytologically-prominent RPA spike, which emerges from the homolog axes at sites of crossovers during the pachytene stage of the meiotic prophase. Our findings suggest that this spike represents the DSB end of a broken chromatid caused by either the displaced leading DSB end or the second DSB end, which has been unable to engage with the partner homolog-associated ssDNA. These and other results imply a close correspondence between Rad52-RPA roles in meiotic recombination and mitotic DSB repair.

Development of a novel PLDLA/ß-TCP composite-based biodegradable anterior cervical plate and screw system.

We investigated the effectiveness and safety of a new composite-based biodegradable anterior cervical plate/screw (ACPS) system for the anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) fixation. A biocomposite in combination with 30 wt% ß-tricalcium phosphate (ß-TCP; a biodegradable ceramic having osteoconductive ability) and 70 wt% poly-l/d-lactide copolymer (PLDLA; a biodegradable polymer) was developed and used in the ACPS device, comprising one plate and four screws for fixation. Based on a literature review, a clinically required period of performance maintenance was set as 16 weeks, and to verify the performance for a period of 16 weeks or more, the test was conducted for 26 weeks. Following ISO 13781:2017 testing protocols, an in vitro degradation test was performed to verify the performance and evaluate the decomposition characteristics of the biodegradable ACPS system. Using an animal model as a preclinical investigation, the prepared ACPS device was implanted into five mongrel dogs weighing over 30 kg to evaluate the detachment prevention effect of the ACPS system on polyether ether ketone (PEEK) cage after ACDF. By week 26, the molecular weight was decreased by 45.35% for the plate and 52.56% for the screw; the bending strength of the plate was decreased by approximately 26.2% when compared with the initial stage. The torsional yield strength and pullout strength of the screw was increased by 52.31% and 5.3%, respectively by week 2 and then subsequently decreased until week 26. No detachment or dislocation of the inserted PEEK cage was observed for 26 weeks in vivo study. These findings recommend that the ACPS system might be a promising biodegradable tool for the fixation of interbody implants and supporting the fusion in an ACDF model. Furthermore, additional clinical trials are planned for the future.

Evaluation of the effect of particulate matter on construction accidents using relative probability.

PM10 is known to have a great adverse effect on the human body. However, there is a lack of research analyzing the impact of PM10 on the occurrence of accidents. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to analyze the correlation between PM10 and accidents in the construction industry and to present a new concentration group to manage accidents caused by PM10 in the construction industry. This study was conducted in the following four stages. (i) collection of data, (ii) classification of data, (iii) relative probability analysis, and (iv) modified PM10 group classification. The main results of this study are as follows. When the frequency analysis of the traditional method was conducted, 3,721 accidents occurred at a PM10 concentration of 32 µg/m3. However, as a result of the relative probability analysis presented in this study, it was confirmed that the relative accident probability increased as the PM10 concentration increased. In addition, the current PM10 concentration is presented by the WHO in six groups from a health perspective. However, in this study, the newly proposed PM10 group was classified into three groups from the perspective of the probability of construction accidents. The group proposed in this study is not from a health perspective but a group for managing construction site accidents. The contribution of this study was to confirm that PM10 also affects accidents occurring at construction sites, and the impact of PM10 on accidents was quantitatively analyzed through the relative probability analysis presented in this study.

Comparisons of PM2.5 mitigation with stand characteristics between evergreen Korean pine plantations and deciduous broad-leaved forests in the Republic of Korea.

Owing to industrialization and urbanization in recent decades, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the atmosphere has become a major environmental problem worldwide. This environmental issue pushed the use of forests as air filtering tools. However, there is a lack of continuous and long-term forest management to efficiently mitigate PM2.5. In this study, we assessed the potential of different forest types to control air pollution by measuring the seasonal PM2.5 concentrations inside and outside the forest for one year. In addition, the PM2.5 reduction efficiencies (PMREs) of two forest types were compared, and their relationship with stand characteristics was analyzed. The results showed that the average PMRE inside the forests was approximately 18.2%; the seasonal PMRE was highest in winter (approximately 28.1%) and lowest in summer (approximately 9.6%). The average PMRE of the Taehwa deciduous broad-leaved forest (TDF) (approximately 18.8%) was significantly higher than that of the Taehwa coniferous forest (TCF) (approximately 17.5%) (P < 0.001); differences were also observed seasonally. The PMRE in the TCF was higher in spring and summer (P < 0.001), while that in the TDF was higher in autumn and winter (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the PMRE in the TDF was negatively correlated with stand density (P = 0.003) and positively correlated with the average diameter at breast height (DBH) (P = 0.028). However, the PMRE in the TCF did not significantly correlate with stand characteristics. As such, the results of this study revealed the differences in PM2.5 mitigation according to stand characteristics, which should be considered in urban forest management.

Mitochondrial Toxic Effects of Antiepileptic Drug Valproic Acid on Mouse Kidney Stem Cells.

Valproic acid (VPA) is a histone deacetylase inhibitor that is used mainly as an antiepileptic and anticonvulsant drug. The side effects of VPA usually appears as hepatic injury and various metabolic disorders. On the other hand, it is rarely reported to cause kidney injury. Despite the many studies on the influence of VPA exposure on the kidneys, the specific mechanism remains unclear. This study examined the changes after VPA treatment to the mouse kidney stem cells (mKSCs). VPA triggers an increase in mitochondrial ROS, but there was no change in either mitochondrial membrane potential or the mitochondrial DNA copy number in mKSCs. The VPA treatment increased the mitochondrial complex III but decreased complex V significantly compared to the DMSO treatment as a control. The inflammatory marker (IL-6) and the expression of the apoptosis markers (Caspase 3) and were increased by VPA. In particular, the expression of the podocyte injury markers (CD2AP) was increased significantly. In conclusion, VPA exposure has adverse effects on mouse kidney stem cells.

Surgical Excision for Refractory Ischiogluteal Bursitis: A Consecutive Case Series of 21 Patients.

Purpose: A response to conservative treatment is usually obtained in cases of ischiogluteal bursitis. However, the time required to achieve relief of symptoms can vary from days to weeks, and there is a high recurrence rate, thus invasive treatment in addition to conservative treatment can occasionally be effective. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine surgical excision in cases of refractory ischiogluteal bursitis and to evaluate patients' progression and outcome. Materials and Methods: A review of 21 patients who underwent surgical excision for treatment of ischiogluteal bursitis between February 2009 and July 2020 was conducted. Of these patients, seven patients were male, and 14 patients were female. Injection of steroid and local anesthetic into the ischial bursa was administered at outpatient clinics in all patients, who and they were refractory to conservative treatment, including aspiration and prescription drugs. Therefore, surgery was considered necessary. Excisions were performed by two orthopedic specialists using a direct vertical incision on the ischial area. A review of each patient was performed after excision, and quantification of the outcomes recorded using clinical scoring systems was performed. Results: The results of radiologic evaluation showed that the mean lesion size was 6.2 cm×4.5 cm×3.6 cm. The average disease course after excision was 21.6 days (range, 15-48 days). Measurement of clinical scores, including the visual analog scale and Harris hip scores, was performed during periodic visits, with scores of 0.7 (range, 0-2) and 98.1 (range, 96-100) at one postoperative month, respectively. Conclusion: Surgical excision, with an expectation of favorable results, could be considered for treatment of ischiogluteal bursitis that is refractory to therapeutic injections, aspirations, and medical prescriptions, particularly in moderate-to-severe cases.

Value of computed tomography Hounsfield units in predicting pedicle screw loosening in the thoracic spine.

We evaluated the feasibility of using the Hounsfield unit (HU) value of the vertebral body to predict screw loosening in the thoracic spine. Consecutive patients who underwent thoracic spinal fusion surgery (from 2014 to 2020) were retrospectively identified. Patients with pedicle screw loosening in the upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) on postoperative computed tomography were included in the "loosening" group. The control group comprised an equal number of age-, sex-, and UIV-matched patients without screw loosening. Preoperative HU values at the UIV and lumbar T-scores were compared between the groups; receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed for HU values and T-scores to predict screw loosening, and the best cutoff values were determined. The same statistical analyses were performed for each subgroup, i.e., upper (T1-T4) and lower (T9-T12) thoracic levels. Forty-six patients each were included in the loosening and control groups. A significant between-group difference of HU values was noted for the lower thoracic UIV (loosening = 99.3, control = 126.3; p = 0.02) but not for the upper thoracic UIV (loosening = 171.8, control = 146.0, p = 0.70). T-scores did not differ between the groups for the lower (p = 0.14) and upper (p = 0.56) thoracic UIV. For the lower thoracic UIV, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.660 for HUs (p = 0.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.541-0.766) and 0.601 (p = 0.13; 95% CI 0.480-0.713) for T-scores. The optimal cutoff value for HUs was 126.3. Using this cutoff, HU values showed a better positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy compared to T-scores in predicting screw loosening.

Effect of Postoperative Femoral Neck Shaft Angle on Femoral Head Sphericity Following Proximal Femoral Osteotomy in Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease.

BACKGROUND: Herein, we aimed to examine the relationship between the postoperative neck shaft angle (NSA) and the Stulberg outcome at skeletal maturity in patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) who underwent proximal femoral varus osteotomy (PFVO) and to determine the optimal angle of varization. METHODS: In this retrospective study, we analyzed the data of 90 patients aged older than 6 years at the time of diagnosis with LCPD who underwent PFVO at our institution between 1979 and 2014. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the effects of variables on the sphericity of the femoral head at skeletal maturity, including the age at onset, sex, stage at operation, extent of epiphyseal involvement and epiphyseal collapse, presence of specific epiphyseal, metaphyseal, and acetabular changes, and postoperative NSA. The sphericity of the femoral head on the final plain follow-up radiographs of the hip joint at skeletal maturity was assessed using the Stulberg classification. Cases of spherical femoral head (Stulberg I or II) were rated as good, whereas those of ovoid or flat femoral head (Stulberg III, IV, or V) were rated as bad. RESULTS: The mean age at diagnosis was 7.93 (range, 6.0-12.33) years. The average follow-up period was 10.11 (range, 5.25-22.92) years. The pre and postoperative mean NSAs were 137.31±6.86 degrees (range, 115.7-158 degrees) and 115.7±9.83 degrees (range, 88.6-137.6 degrees), respectively. The age at diagnosis, lateral pillar classification, and postoperative NSA were found to be closely related to the sphericity of the femoral head at skeletal maturity. Patients with a postoperative NSA of <105 degree or more than 125 degree were less likely to have a spherical femoral head. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that patients with a postoperative NSA between 105 and 125 degrees were more likely to have a spherical femoral head. When performing PFVO in patients with LCPD, reasonable varus angulation of PFVO should be taken into consideration for the success of the operation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III retrospective cohort study.

In-situ neutron diffraction study of lattice deformation behaviour of commercially pure titanium at cryogenic temperature.

Titanium has a significant potential for the cryogenic industrial fields such as aerospace and liquefied gas storage and transportation due to its excellent low temperature properties. To develop and advance the technologies in cryogenic industries, it is required to fully understand the underlying deformation mechanisms of Ti under the extreme cryogenic environment. Here, we report a study of the lattice behaviour in grain families of Grade 2 CP-Ti during in-situ neutron diffraction test in tension at temperatures of 15-298 K. Combined with the neutron diffraction intensity analysis, EBSD measurements revealed that the twinning activity was more active at lower temperature, and the behaviour was complicated with decreasing temperature. The deviation of linearity in the lattice strains was caused by the load-redistribution between plastically soft and hard grain families, resulting in the three-stage hardening behaviour. The lattice strain behaviour further deviated from linearity with decreasing temperature, leading to the transition of plastically soft-to-hard or hard-to-soft characteristic of particular grain families at cryogenic temperature. The improvement of ductility can be attributed to the increased twinning activity and a significant change of lattice deformation behaviour at cryogenic temperature.

Bone formation effect of highly concentrated tricalcium phosphate biocomposite screws in a rabbit osteoporosis model.

The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of highly concentrated tricalcium phosphate (TCP) biocomposite screws on local bone formation in a rabbit model of osteoporosis induced by bilateral ovariohysterectomy (OHE). Fourteen 24-week-old female New Zealand rabbits (weight, 3-3.5 kg) were divided into two groups: (1) OHE and biodegradable poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) without ß-TCP plate or screw insertion (OHE/Bio ScRew [BSR]) group and (2) OHE and biocomposite PLGA with highly concentrated ß-TCP plate and screw insertion (OHE/highly concentrated ß-triCalcium phosphate [HCCP]). Both groups underwent bilateral OHE and had two different types of screws and plates inserted at the proximal tibia. Bilateral tibiae were extracted at 25 weeks post-OHE. The extracted tibiae were scanned with ex vivo microcomputed tomography (micro-CT). Parameters including bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular bone volume (BV/TV), trabecular number (Tb.N), trabecular thickness (Tb. Th), and trabecular separation (Tb. Sp) were evaluated after staining the tibial samples with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome. We then performed pathological assessments. Micro-CT images revealed improved new bone formation near the implant in the OHE/HCCP group with higher values of BMD, BV/TV, and Tb.N but lower values of Tb. Th and Tb. Sp than the OHE/BSR group. Analyses of H&E and Masson's trichrome staining showed better new bone formation around the implant in the OHE/HCCP group than in the OHE/BSR group. The use of highly concentrated TCP biocomposite screw and plate might improve local bone formation and facilitate osteoconductivity in an osteoporotic rabbit model.

Canopy height affects the allocation of photosynthetic carbon and nitrogen in two deciduous tree species under elevated CO2.

Down-regulation of leaf N and Rubisco under elevated CO2 (eCO2) are accompanied by increased non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) due to the sink-source imbalance. Here, to investigate whether the canopy position affects the down-regulation of Rubisco, we measured leaf N, NSC and N allocation in two species with different heights at maturity [Fraxinus rhynchophylla (6.8 ± 0.3 m) and Sorbus alnifolia (3.6 ± 0.2 m)] from 2017 to 2019. Since 2009, both species were grown at three different CO2 concentrations in open-top chambers: ambient CO2 (400 ppm; aCO2); ambient CO2 × 1.4 (560 ppm; eCO21.4); and ambient CO2 × 1.8 (720 ppm; eCO21.8). Leaf N per unit mass (Nmass) decreased under eCO2, except under eCO21.8 in S. alnifolia and coincided with increased NSC. NSC increased under eCO2 in F. rhynchophylla, but the increment of NSC was greater in the upper canopy of S. alnifolia. Conversely, Rubisco content per unit area was reduced under eCO2 in S. alnifolia and there was no interaction between CO2 and canopy position. In contrast, the reduction of Rubisco content per unit area was greater in the upper canopy of F. rhynchophylla, with a significant interaction between CO2 and canopy position. Rubisco was negatively correlated with NSC only in the upper canopy of F. rhynchophylla, and at the same NSC, Rubisco was lower under eCO2 than under aCO2. Contrary to Rubisco, chlorophyll increased under eCO2 in both species, although there was no interaction between CO2 and canopy position. Finally, photosynthetic N content (Rubisco + chlorophyll + PSII) was reduced and consistent with down-regulation of Rubisco. Therefore, the observed Nmass reduction under eCO2 was associated with dilution due to NSC accumulation. Moreover, down-regulation of Rubisco under eCO2 was more sensitive to NSC accumulation in the upper canopy. Our findings emphasize the need for the modification of the canopy level model in the context of climate change.

Effects of Maternal Exposure to Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane on the Alternations in Offspring Behaviors in Mice.

D5, a member of the cyclic siloxane family, is widely used in personal care products such as shampoo, cosmetics, and deodorant and as an industrial intermediate. D5 can mainly be absorbed orally or through inhalation. Through these routes, people are exposed to D5 daily. However, the risk of prenatal exposure to D5 has not been fully elucidated. In this study, the effect of D5 on neural development was established through behavioral tests on offspring mice. The result confirmed that the maternal administration of 12 mg/kg of D5 showed depression in tail suspension and decreased performance in the forced swimming test as well as an increase in repetitive activity in both the marble-burying test and grooming test compared to the vehicle group. Furthermore, the 12 mg/kg group showed a decrease in cognitive ability and social behavior in the three-chamber test. In the novel object recognition test, memory impairment and a lack of exploring ability were found in the 12 mg/kg group. In conclusion, it is suggested that maternal D5 exposure has developmental neurotoxicity and can cause behavioral disorders in the offspring of mice. Thus, the usage of D5 needs to be considered carefully.

Point Prevalence and Associated Factors of Hip Displacement in Pediatric Patients With Mitochondrial Disease.

Objective: Mitochondrial disease is a multisystem disorder resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction. Although musculoskeletal system is vulnerable to mitochondrial dysfunction, little information is available on orthopedic issues such as hip displacement and scoliosis in patients with mitochondrial disease. We aimed to examine the point prevalence of hip displacement and investigate the associated factors in patients with mitochondrial disease. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and plain radiographs of patients diagnosed with mitochondrial disease between January 2006 and January 2019 at a single institution. Data, including patient age, sex, follow-up duration, syndromic diagnosis, and gross motor function were collected. Migration percentage was measured on the radiographs. The clinical and radiologic variables were compared between patients classified according to the presence of hip displacement and motor function level. Results: We included 225 patients (135 men, 90 women). The mean age at the latest follow-up was 11.1 years, and the mean follow-up duration was 7.0 years. Hip displacement was noted in 70 (31.1%) patients. The proportion of patients with Leigh disease (p = 0.007) and the ratio of non-ambulators (p < 0.001) were higher among patients with hip displacement. The proportion of patients with Leigh disease was higher in the non-ambulators than the ambulators. Conclusion: One-third of patients with mitochondrial disease developed hip displacement. Hip displacement was more common in non-ambulators or patients with hypertonia. Careful and serial monitoring for hip problems is required for non-ambulatory patients with mitochondrial disease who have increased muscle tone.

Down-regulation of photosynthesis and its relationship with changes in leaf N allocation and N availability after long-term exposure to elevated CO2 concentration.

Down-regulation of photosynthesis under elevated CO2 (eCO2) concentrations could be attributed to the depletion of nitrogen (N) availability after long-term exposure to eCO2 (progressive nitrogen limitation, PNL) or leaf N dilutions due to excessive accumulation of nonstructural carbohydrates. To determine the mechanism underlying this down-regulation, we investigated N availability, photosynthetic characteristics, and N allocation in leaves of Pinus densiflora (shade-intolerant species, evergreen tree), Fraxinus rhynchophylla (intermediate shade-tolerant species, deciduous tree), and Sorbus alnifolia (shade-tolerant species, deciduous tree). The three species were grown under three different CO2 concentrations in open-top chambers, i.e., ambient 400 ppm (aCO2); ambient × 1.4, 560 ppm (eCO21.4); and ambient × 1.8, 720 ppm (eCO21.8), for 11 years. Unlike previous studies that addressed PNL, after 11 years of eCO2 exposure, N availability remained higher under eCO21.8, and chlorophyll and photosynthetic N use efficiency increased under eCO2. In the case of nonstructural carbohydrates, starch and soluble sugar showed significant increases under eCO2. The maximum carboxylation rate, leaf N per mass (Nmass), and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) were low under eCO21.8. The ratio of RuBP regeneration to the carboxylation rate as well as that of chlorophyll N to Rubisco N increased with CO2 concentrations. Based on the reduction in Nmass (not in Narea) that was diluted by increase in nonstructural carbohydrate, down-regulation of photosynthesis was found to be caused by the dilution rather than PNL. The greatest increases in chlorophyll under eCO2 were observed in S. alnifolia, which was the most shade-tolerant species. This study could help provide more detailed, mechanistically based processes to explain the down-regulation of photosynthesis by considering two hypotheses together and showed N allocation seems to be flexible against changes in CO2 concentration.

The synaptonemal complex central region modulates crossover pathways and feedback control of meiotic double-strand break formation.

The synaptonemal complex (SC) is a proteinaceous structure that mediates homolog engagement and genetic recombination during meiosis. In budding yeast, Zip-Mer-Msh (ZMM) proteins promote crossover (CO) formation and initiate SC formation. During SC elongation, the SUMOylated SC component Ecm11 and the Ecm11-interacting protein Gmc2 facilitate the polymerization of Zip1, an SC central region component. Through physical recombination, cytological, and genetic analyses, we found that ecm11 and gmc2 mutants exhibit chromosome-specific defects in meiotic recombination. CO frequencies on a short chromosome (chromosome III) were reduced, whereas CO and non-crossover frequencies on a long chromosome (chromosome VII) were elevated. Further, in ecm11 and gmc2 mutants, more double-strand breaks (DSBs) were formed on a long chromosome during late prophase I, implying that the Ecm11-Gmc2 (EG) complex is involved in the homeostatic regulation of DSB formation. The EG complex may participate in joint molecule (JM) processing and/or double-Holliday junction resolution for ZMM-dependent CO-designated recombination. Absence of the EG complex ameliorated the JM-processing defect in zmm mutants, suggesting a role for the EG complex in suppressing ZMM-independent recombination. Our results suggest that the SC central region functions as a compartment for sequestering recombination-associated proteins to regulate meiosis specificity during recombination.

Exploring Fatalities and Injuries in Construction by Considering Thermal Comfort Using Uncertainty and Relative Importance Analysis.

Fatal injury and accidents in the construction industry occur under the influence of outdoor weather conditions such as temperature, humidity and wind speed in all four seasons. Previous research in this area has focused on hot and cold weather conditions: hot weather causes heat rash, heat cramps and heat fainting, while cold weather causes fatigue, lumbago, and cold finger sensations. However, other weather conditions are also associated with, and cause, fatal injury and accidents. Accordingly, this study analyzes injury and fatal accidents in the construction industry based on the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) as it pertains to thermal comfort using an uncertainty analysis. Furthermore, using a neural network, relative importance is analyzed considering injury and fatal accidents. This study is conducted in five steps: (i) Establishment of the database, (ii) Classification of accident types and weather conditions, (iii) Calculation of thermal comfort, (iv) Analysis of injury and fatal accidents based on thermal comfort, and (v) Calculation of the relative importance of thermal comfort during injury and fatal accidents. Via the research process, 5317 fatal incidents and 207,802 injuries are analyzed according to 18 accident types in all seasons. It was found that 'falls', were the most frequent fatal incident and injury (2804 fatal incidents and 71,017 injuries), with most of these occurring during the autumn season. The probabilities of injury and fatal accidents in the 'fall' category are 86.01% and 85.60%, respectively, in the outside comfort ranges. The contribution of this study can provide data for a database on safety management considering weather conditions.

Evaluation of morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits for assessing drought resistance in eleven tree species.

The frequency and severity of drought are expected to increase due to climate change; therefore, selection of tree species for afforestation should consider drought resistance of the species for maximum survival and conservation of natural habitats. In this study, three soil moisture regimes: control (100% precipitation), mild drought (40% reduction in precipitation), and severe drought (80% reduction in precipitation) were applied to six gymnosperm and five angiosperm species for two consecutive years. We quantified the drought resistance index based on the root collar diameter and assessed the correlation between species drought resistance and other morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits by regression analysis. The prolonged drought stress altered the morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits, but the responses were species-specific. The species with high drought resistance had high leaf mass per area (LMA), photosynthetic rate (Pn), and midday leaf water potential (ΨMD), and low carbon isotopic discrimination (δ13C), flavonoid and polyphenol content, superoxide dismutase and DPPH radical scavenging activity. The highly drought-resistant species had a relatively less decrease in leaf size, Pn, and predawn leaf water potential (ΨPD), and less increase in δ13C, abscisic acid and sucrose content, and LMA compared to the control. The interannual variation in drought resistance (∆Rd) was positively correlated with the species hydroscopic slope (isohydric and anisohydric). Korean pine was highly resistant, sawtooth oak, hinoki cypress, East Asian white birch, East Asian ash, and mono maple were highly susceptible, and Korean red pine, Japanese larch, Sargent cherry, needle fir, and black pine were moderate in drought resistance under long-term drought. These findings will help species selection for afforestation programs and establishment of sustainable forests, especially of drought-tolerant species, under increased frequency and intensity of spring and summer droughts.

The added prognostic value of radiological phenotype combined with clinical features and molecular subtype in anaplastic gliomas.

PURPOSE: To determine whether radiological phenotype can improve the predictive performance of the risk model based on molecular subtype and clinical risk factors in anaplastic glioma patients. METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by our institutional review board with waiver of informed consent. MR images of 86 patients with pathologically diagnosed anaplastic glioma (WHO grade III) between January 2007 and February 2016 were analyzed according to the Visually Accessible Rembrandt Images (VASARI) features set. Significant imaging findings were selected to generate a radiological risk score (RRS) for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression model. The prognostic value of RRS was evaluated with multivariate Cox regression including molecular subtype and clinical risk factors. The C-indices of multivariate models with and without RRS were compared by bootstrapping. RESULTS: Eight VASARI features contributed to RRS for OS and six contributed to PFS. Multifocality or multicentricity was the most influential feature, followed by restricted diffusion. RRS was significantly associated with OS and PFS (P < .001), as well as age and molecular subtype. The multivariate model with RRS demonstrated a significantly higher predictive performance than the model without (C-index difference: 0.074, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.031, 0.148 for OS; C-index difference: 0.054, 95% CI: 0.014, 0.123 for PFS). CONCLUSION: RRS derived from VASARI features was an independent predictor of survival in patients with anaplastic gliomas. The addition of RRS significantly improved the predictive performance of the molecular feature based model.

Relationships of Lower Lung Fibrosis, Pleural Disease, and Lung Mass with Occupational, Household, Neighborhood, and Slate Roof-Dense Area Residential Asbestos Exposure.

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between various asbestos exposure routes and asbestos-related disorders (ARDs). The study population comprised 11,186 residents of a metropolitan city who lived near asbestos factories, shipyards, or in slate roof-dense areas. ARDs were determined from chest X-rays indicating lower lung fibrosis (LFF), pleural disease (PD), and lung masses (LMs). Of the subjects, 11.2%, 10.4%, 67.2% and 8.3% were exposed to asbestos via occupational, household, neighborhood, and slate roof routes, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) of PD from household exposure (i.e., living with asbestos-producing workers) was 1.9 (95% confidence interval: 0.9⁻4.2), and those of LLF and PD from neighborhood exposure, or residing near asbestos factories) for <19 or >20 years, or near a mine, were 4.1 (2.8⁻5.8) and 4.8 (3.4⁻6.7), 8.3 (5.5⁻12.3) and 8.0 (5.5⁻11.6), and 4.8 (2.7⁻8.5) and 9.0 (5.6⁻14.4), respectively. The ORs of LLF, PD, and LM among those residing in slate-dense areas were 5.5 (3.3⁻9.0), 8.8 (5.6⁻13.8), and 20.5 (10.4⁻40.4), respectively. Substantial proportions of citizens residing in industrialized cities have potentially been exposed to asbestos, and various exposure routes are associated with the development of ARDs. Given the limitations of this study, including potential confounders such as socioeconomic status, further research is needed.