45 research outputs found

    Casting versus flexible intramedullary nailing in displaced forearm shaft fractures in children aged 7-12 years: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

    Get PDF
    Introduction The forearm is the most common fracture location in children, with an increasing incidence. Displaced forearm shaft fractures have traditionally been treated with closed reduction and cast immobilisation. Diaphyseal fractures in children have poor remodelling capacity. Malunion can cause permanent cosmetic and functional disability. Internal fixation with flexible intramedullary nails has gained increasing popularity, without evidence of a better outcome compared with closed reduction and cast immobilisation.Method and analysis This is a multicentre, randomised superiority trial comparing closed reduction and cast immobilisation to flexible intramedullary nails in children aged 7-12 years with >10 degrees of angulation and/or >10 mm of shortening in displaced both bone forearm shaft fractures (AO-paediatric classification: 22D/2.1-5.2). A total of 78 patients with minimum 2 years of expected growth left are randomised in 1:1 ratio to either treatment group. The study has a parallel non-randomised patient preference arm. Both treatments are performed under general anaesthesia. In the cast group a long arm cast is applied for 6 weeks. The flexible intramedullary nail group is immobilised in a collar and cuff sling for 4 weeks. Data are collected at baseline and at each follow-up until 1 year.Primary outcome is (1) PROMIS paediatric upper extremity and (2) forearm pronation-supination range of motion at 1-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes are Quick DASH, Paediatric Pain Questionnaire, Cosmetic Visual Analogue Scale, wrist and elbow range of motion as well as any complications and costs of treatment. We hypothesise that flexible intramedullary nailing results in a superior outcome.Ethics and dissemination We have received ethical board approval (number: 78/1801/2020) and permissions to conduct the study from all five participating university hospitals. Informed consent is obtained from the parent(s). Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications

    Towards a concentration closure of sub-6 nm aerosol particles and sub-3 nm atmospheric clusters

    Get PDF
    Atmospheric clusters play a key role in atmospheric new particle formation and they are a sensitive indicator for atmospheric chemistry. Both the formation and loss of atmospheric clusters include a complex set of interlinked physical and chemical processes, and therefore their dynamics is highly non-linear. Here we derive a set of simple equations to estimate the atmospheric cluster concentrations in size ranges of 1.5–2 nm and 2–3 nm as well as 3–6 nm aerosol particles. We compared the estimated concentrations with measured ones both in a boreal forest site (the SMEAR II station in Hyytiälä, Finland) and in an urban site (the AHL/BUCT station in Beijing, China). We made this comparison first for 3–6 nm particles, since in this size range observations are more reliable than at smaller sizes, and then repeated it for the 2–3 nm size range. Finally, we estimated cluster concentrations in the 1.5–2 nm size range. Our main finding is that the present observations are able to detect a major fraction of existing atmospheric clusters.Atmospheric clusters play a key role in atmospheric new particle formation and they are a sensitive indicator for atmospheric chemistry. Both the formation and loss of atmospheric clusters include a complex set of interlinked physical and chemical processes, and therefore their dynamics is highly non-linear. Here we derive a set of simple equations to estimate the atmospheric cluster concentrations in size ranges of 1.5–2 nm and 2–3 nm as well as 3–6 nm aerosol particles. We compared the estimated concentrations with measured ones both in a boreal forest site (the SMEAR II station in Hyytiälä, Finland) and in an urban site (the AHL/BUCT station in Beijing, China). We made this comparison first for 3–6 nm particles, since in this size range observations are more reliable than at smaller sizes, and then repeated it for the 2–3 nm size range. Finally, we estimated cluster concentrations in the 1.5–2 nm size range. Our main finding is that the present observations are able to detect a major fraction of existing atmospheric clusters.Peer reviewe

    Influence of temperature on the molecular composition of ions and charged clusters during pure biogenic nucleation

    Get PDF
    It was recently shown by the CERN CLOUD experiment that biogenic highly oxygenated molecules (HOMs) form particles under atmospheric conditions in the absence of sulfuric acid, where ions enhance the nucleation rate by 1-2 orders of magnitude. The biogenic HOMs were produced from ozonolysis of alpha-pinene at 5 degrees C. Here we extend this study to compare the molecular composition of positive and negative HOM clusters measured with atmospheric pressure interface time-of-flight mass spectrometers (APi-TOFs), at three different temperatures (25, 5 and -25 degrees C). Most negative HOM clusters include a nitrate (NO3-) ion, and the spectra are similar to those seen in the nighttime boreal forest. On the other hand, most positive HOM clusters include an ammonium (NH4+) 4) ion, and the spectra are characterized by mass bands that differ in their molecular weight by similar to 20 C atoms, corresponding to HOM dimers. At lower temperatures the average oxygen to carbon (O : C) ratio of the HOM clusters decreases for both polarities, reflecting an overall reduction of HOM formation with decreasing temperature. This indicates a decrease in the rate of autoxidation with temperature due to a rather high activation energy as has previously been determined by quantum chemical calculations. Furthermore, at the lowest temperature (-25 degrees C), the presence of C-30 clusters shows that HOM monomers start to contribute to the nucleation of positive clusters. These experimental findings are supported by quantum chemical calculations of the binding energies of representative neutral and charged clusters.Peer reviewe

    Role of sesquiterpenes in biogenic new particle formation

    Get PDF
    Biogenic vapors form new particles in the atmosphere, affecting global climate. The contributions of monoterpenes and isoprene to new particle formation (NPF) have been extensively studied. However, sesquiterpenes have received little attention despite a potentially important role due to their high molecular weight. Via chamber experiments performed under atmospheric conditions, we report biogenic NPF resulting from the oxidation of pure mixtures of β-caryophyllene, α-pinene, and isoprene, which produces oxygenated compounds over a wide range of volatilities. We find that a class of vapors termed ultralow-volatility organic compounds (ULVOCs) are highly efficient nucleators and quantitatively determine NPF efficiency. When compared with a mixture of isoprene and monoterpene alone, adding only 2% sesquiterpene increases the ULVOC yield and doubles the formation rate. Thus, sesquiterpene emissions need to be included in assessments of global aerosol concentrations in pristine climates where biogenic NPF is expected to be a major source of cloud condensation nuclei

    Molecular understanding of the suppression of new-particle formation by isoprene

    Get PDF
    Nucleation of atmospheric vapours produces more than half of global cloud condensation nuclei and so has an important influence on climate. Recent studies show that monoterpene (C10H16) oxidation yields highly oxygenated products that can nucleate with or without sulfuric acid. Monoterpenes are emitted mainly by trees, frequently together with isoprene (C5H8), which has the highest global emission of all organic vapours. Previous studies have shown that isoprene suppresses new-particle formation from monoterpenes, but the cause of this suppression is under debate. Here, in experiments performed under atmospheric conditions in the CERN CLOUD chamber, we show that isoprene reduces the yield of highly oxygenated dimers with 19 or 20 carbon atoms - which drive particle nucleation and early growth - while increasing the production of dimers with 14 or 15 carbon atoms. The dimers (termed C-20 and C-15, respectively) are produced by termination reactions between pairs of peroxy radicals (RO2 center dot) arising from monoterpenes or isoprene. Compared with pure monoterpene conditions, isoprene reduces nucleation rates at 1.7 nm (depending on the isoprene = monoterpene ratio) and approximately halves particle growth rates between 1.3 and 3.2 nm. However, above 3.2 nm, C-15 dimers contribute to secondary organic aerosol, and the growth rates are unaffected by isoprene. We further show that increased hydroxyl radical (OH center dot) reduces particle formation in our chemical system rather than enhances it as previously proposed, since it increases isoprene-derived RO2 center dot radicals that reduce C-20 formation. RO2 center dot termination emerges as the critical step that determines the highly oxygenated organic molecule (HOM) distribution and the corresponding nucleation capability. Species that reduce the C-20 yield, such as NO, HO2 and as we show isoprene, can thus effectively reduce biogenic nucleation and early growth. Therefore the formation rate of organic aerosol in a particular region of the atmosphere under study will vary according to the precise ambient conditions.Peer reviewe
    corecore