Estimating Regionalized Planning Costs of Green Infrastructure and Low-Impact Development Stormwater Management Practices: Updates to the US Environmental Protection Agency's National Stormwater Calculator.

Estimating regional costs of green infrastructure (GI) and low-impact development (LID) stormwater management controls is an important issue for many municipalities and water utilities in the United States. The National Stormwater Calculator (NSWC) is a site-scale, planning-level tool. A regional cost estimation methodology was recently added to the NSWC, enabling users to estimate region-specific capital and maintenance costs of commonly used GI controls. This paper discusses the approach used to estimate and regionalize costs in the NSWC.

[Examination of commercial hedgehog feed for its quality (acceptance, digestibility, and nutritional composition)]. / Uberprüfung kommerzieller lgelfutter auf ihre Eignung (Akzeptanz, Verdaulichkeit, Nährstoffzusammensetzung).

Six commercial hedgehog feedstuffs were evaluated (palatability, composition and digestibility of crude nutrients and minerals). 14 healthy adult hedgehogs were fed these products and one self mixed diet based on minced beef and egg. The composition of all commercial diets was very similar. The components used mostly were cereal products but also animals like insects and prawns were seen. Gross energy was between 1.9 and 2.3 MJ/100 g DM. The concentrations of the minerals were partly very low (Ca, P) and in some products the relation between Ca and P was unsuitable. Even with individual differences between the animals the palatability of the self mixed diet was generally higher. Contrary to the self mixed diet the digestibility of crude protein of the commercial feed was moderate (93 vs. 73-77%). Crude fat was highly digestible (80-92%). In spite of a low activity of amylase in pancreas and chyme the digestibility of the nitrogen free extracts was very high (67-86%), probably due to thermal processing of the cereals. Since crude fibre has a negative effect on total digestibility (r = -0.78) its concentration should be under 3% in the whole diet. The average net absorption rates of minerals were: Ca: +/-0%; P: 50%; Mg: 24%; K: 85% and Na: 80%. Based on this knowledge first recommendations for the composition of nutritionally balanced complete feeds are given.

Femur lengthening with a vascularized tibia bone flap.

A vascularized tibial bone flap based on a single nutrient vessel has been previously proposed for use in long-bone reconstruction. While the routine use of the tibia for donor bone tissue is precluded by its essential weight-bearing function, in select cases it provides a useful alternative to standard donor bone sources. Cadaver dissection was performed to confirm the endosteal and periosteal vascular anatomy of the tibia. The presence of a consistent nutrient vessel was confirmed. Selective dye injection demonstrated a dual cortical blood supply based on both the endosteal nutrient vessel and multiple periosteal perforator vessels. Inclusion of both vascular supplies maximizes perfusion of bone and periosteum, thus potentially optimizing bone healing and osseous union. Based on these findings, the vascularized tibial bone flap was applied to a clinical case. A 45-year-old male veteran sustained a right proximal femur fracture in a motor vehicle accident. Multiple attempts at fusion with open reduction, internal fixation, grafting, and nonvascularized fibular onlay strut with cerclage wires were all unsuccessful. The patient presented with a chronic right femur nonunion with painful pseudoarthrosis; frozen knee joint; and an internally rotated, 20.3-cm shortened, nonfunctional lower limb. Femur length proximal to the nonunion was less than 15 cm. A maximum amputation stump length is recommended for optimal prosthetic function. A 15-cm pedicled tibial bone flap based on the posterior tibial endosteal and periosteal vascular supply was reversed and plated to the proximal femur to provide a stump of adequate length to optimize prosthetic fitting and function. The tibia is essential for normal weight-bearing, but in select cases may be sacrificed for use in long-bone reconstruction. Expanded use of tibial vascularized allografts in long-bone reconstruction may be made possible following future development of effective and safe immunosuppressive therapy. Transfer based on the posterior tibial pedicle, which includes the endosteal nutrient vessel as well as the periosteal supply via the tibialis posterior muscle, maximizes bone perfusion. The pedicle is of sufficient length to be used for positioning the tibia in the thigh or for free transfer to distant sites.