Development of a road traffic emission inventory with high spatial-temporal resolution in the world's most densely populated region-Macau.

With rapid economic growth, road transport is contributing substantial adverse effects on urban air quality, especially in densely populated cities with high growth rate of GDP per capita, such as Macau. A high spatial-temporal resolution road traffic emission inventory is essential for assessment of environmental stresses imposed by local vehicle movements. To improve the accuracy and temporal-spatial resolution for emission inventory, through a bottom-up approach, link-based road traffic emission inventory with a spatial resolution of 0.1 km ∗ 0.1 km and a temporal resolution of 1 h for Macau in 2014 was developed by using a traffic model (VISUM), a road traffic emission model (TREM), the Geographic Information System (GIS), and the most up-to-date information available. Results show that the total annual emissions of CO, CO2, PM, NOX, and VOC in 2014 were 14,770, 413,099, 69, 1151, and 2945 tons, respectively. The estimated fuel consumption agreed well also with the statistical fuel consumption in Macau. Meanwhile, analysis of 3 scenarios on changes of road traffic emissions due to the operation of a light railway transit (LRT) system, variation on share of diesel, electric, and gasoline within the vehicle fleet, and replacement of vehicles with ones of Euro 5 and Euro 6 emission standards was carried out. This study provides a solid framework for developing high spatial-temporal resolution emission inventories for other densely populated cities of small area.

The effect of overhead target on the lower limb biomechanics during a vertical drop jump test in elite female athletes.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of an overhead target on the jump height and lower limb biomechanics in all three planes of motion in a vertical drop jump (VDJ) task among elite female handball and football (soccer) players. The hypothesis was that adding an overhead target to the VDJ task improves jump height, increases joint loading, and decreases frontal plane knee control. Five hundred and twenty-three female handball and football players (mean ± SD: 21 ± 4 years, 168 ± 6 cm, 65 ± 8 kg) completed the test. The overhead target increased jumping height by 5.8%. Furthermore, the overhead target led to statistically significant changes in many of the lower limb biomechanical variables examined. However, all the changes in kinematics and kinetics were clinically insignificant, as indicated by the small effect sizes. Strong to moderate positive Spearman's rank correlations were found between the two conditions. Therefore, an overhead target is unlikely to increase the range of responses in biomechanical variables in elite female handball and football athletes.

Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for uterine and post-hysterectomy prolapse: anatomical and functional outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the anatomical and functional outcomes following laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy in a local unit. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: A regional hospital in Hong Kong. PATIENTS: All women who underwent laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy for symptomatic uterine or post-hysterectomy prolapse from January 2003 to December 2008. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anatomical outcomes, functional outcomes including complications. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients were recruited. The success rate in treating apical vaginal wall prolapse was 100%. There were no recurrences of vault prolapse (defined as stage II or higher). Approximately 19% of women had anterior vaginal wall prolapse and 23% had urinary stress incontinence postoperatively; 6% had a second operation because of anterior vaginal wall prolapse. The rates of dyspareunia and constipation were low. The mean hospital stay was 4 (range, 2-11) days. Two patients sustained bladder injuries and one rectal injury resulting in a rectovaginal fistula. For three patients the procedure was converted to a laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy is feasible in our population and has a high success rate for treating apical vaginal wall prolapse. The incidence of complications was acceptable.

Effects of meteorological conditions on PM10 concentrations--a study in Macau.

Review on the annual PM10 concentrations over a 10-year period shows that Macau is subjected to severe fine particulate pollution. Investigations of its variation in monthly and daily time scales with the local meteorological records reveal further details. It is found that a distinct feature of the Asian monsoon climates, the changes of wind direction, mainly controls the general trend of PM10 concentration in a year. The monsoon driven winter north-easterly winds bring upon Macau dry and particle enriched air masses leading to a higher concentration in that period while the summer south-westerly winds transport humid and cleaner air to the region leading to a lower PM10 value. This distinct seasonal feature is further enhanced by the lower rainfall volume and frequency as well as mixing height in winter and their higher counterparts in summer. It is also found that the development of tropical cyclones near Macau could also impose episode like PM10 concentration spikes due to the pre-typhoon induced stagnant air motion followed by the swing of wind direction to the northerly.