Achieving Urban Stormwater Mitigation Goals on Different Land Parcels with a Capacity Trading Approach

Building Green Infrastructures (GIs) to reduce stormwater runoff has been recognized as an effective approach to mitigate the negative impact of urban sprawl. Due to the significant differences in urban land use, some Land Parcels (LPs) may have difficulty in building enough GIs to meet stormwater mitigation goals. In this paper, we proposed a Capacity Trading (CT) approach that allows some LPs to trade their extra runoff retention capacities with LPs that have building difficulties, so that they can jointly reach the overall mitigation goal together. The rationale behind CT is that, to avoid potential penalties, it may be more economical for some LPs to ‘buy’ credit rather than to ‘build’ GIs. A case study was used to demonstrate CT operations for two trading scales: (1) CT within neighboring LPs (i.e., CT-1), and (2) CT within 20 m-radius LPs (i.e., CT-2). A GI implementation baseline intensity was set up firstly by treating the whole study area as one entity to reach a specified stormwater runoff control target; individual LPs were then examined for their GI building capacities, which may be deficit or surplus against the target. Results showed that the number and area of deficit LPs were reduced significantly through either CT scales; the number of deficit LPs was reduced from 139 to 97 with CT-1 and 78 with CT-2, and the deficit area was reduced from 649 ha to 558 with CT-1 and 478 ha with CT-2, respectively. The proposed method assumes LPs as the basic planning unit and encourages some stakeholders to maximize their GI building potential to compensate for those with disadvantages. The economic incentives for conducting CT among different LPs in urban area can help achieve stormwater mitigation goals more economically and flexibly. Some coordination among LPs in GI implementation is necessary, which presents both opportunities and challenges for city management

Alternating levels versus all levels mini-plate fixation in open door cervical laminoplasty for treatment of degenerative cervical myelopathy

Objectiveː To investigate clinical and radiological results of alternating levels compared with all levels mini-plate fixation in open door cervical laminoplasty for treatment of degenerative cervical myelopathy. METHODSː From January 2011 to April 2014, 64 patients sustained degenerative cervical myelopathy, who underwent cervical laminoplasty with alternating levels (31 patients in group A) or all levels plate fixation (33 patients in group B) were included in this retrospectively study. Clinical and radiological results were calculated.  RESULTSːThe mean cost for group B was higher than group A(P < 0.05). No statistical difference was found in the mean operation time, blood loss, axial symptoms，C5 palsy, improvement in JOA and NDI score between group A and B. Open angle in mini-plate fixed levels was significantly more than that in suture fixed levels(P < 0.05). No statistical difference was found in drift back of spinal cord, APD, Pavlov's ratio, CCI and ROM between mini-plate fixed levels and suture fixed levels.CONCLUSIONSː Open door laminoplasty at alternating levels mini-plate fixation is an economical surgical method and can obtain similar satisfactory clinical and radiological results compared to all levels mini-plate fixation. 

Hydrogel-based treatments for spinal cord injuries

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by damage resulting in dysfunction of the spinal cord. Hydrogels are common biomaterials that play an important role in the treatment of SCI. Hydrogels are biocompatible, and some have electrical conductivity that are compatible with spinal cord tissues. Hydrogels have a high drug-carrying capacity, allowing them to be used for SCI treatment through the loading of various types of active substances, drugs, or cells. We first discuss the basic anatomy and physiology of the human spinal cord and briefly discuss SCI and its treatment. Then, we describe different treatment strategies for SCI. We further discuss the crosslinking methods and classification of hydrogels and detail hydrogel biomaterials prepared using different processing methods for the treatment of SCI. Finally, we analyze the future applications and limitations of hydrogels for SCI. The development of biomaterials opens up new possibilities and options for the treatment of SCI. Thus, our findings will inspire scholars in related fields and promote the development of hydrogel therapy for SCI

Accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior patterns, brain structure, and cognitive function in dementia-free older adults : a population-based study

Background: Sedentary behavior is associated with cognitive impairment, but the neuropathological mechanisms underlying their associations are poorly understood. Objective: To investigate the associations of accelerometer-measured sedentary behavior patterns with brain structure and cognition, and further to explore the potential mechanisms. Methods: This community-based study included 2,019 older adults (age≥60 years, 59% women) without dementia derived from participants in the baseline examination of MIND-China (2018-2020). We assessed sedentary parameters using an accelerometer and cognitive function using a neuropsychological test battery. Structural brain markers were assessed on the structural brain MRI scans in a subsample (n = 1,009). Data were analyzed using the general linear, isotemporal substitution, and mediation models. Results: In the total sample (n = 2,019), adjusting for multiple covariates and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity, longer mean sedentary bout duration was linearly related with lower z-scores of global cognition, verbal fluency, and memory (ptrend < 0.05), whereas greater total sedentary time was linearly associated with lower z-scores of global cognition, verbal fluency, and memory only among individuals with long sedentary time (>10 h/day) (ptrend < 0.05); Breaking up sedentary time with same amount of light-intensity physical activity was significantly associated with higher verbal fluency and memory z-scores (p < 0.05). In the MRI subsample (n = 1,009), separately entering structural brain MRI markers into the mediation models substantially attenuated the associations of mean sedentary bout duration with global cognition, verbal fluency, and memory z-scores. Conclusion: Prolonged uninterrupted sedentary time is associated with poor global cognition, memory, and verbal fluency among rural older adults, and structural brain markers could partially mediate the association

Health status and risk profiles for brain aging of rural‐dwelling older adults : Data from the interdisciplinary baseline assessments in MIND‐China

Introduction: Multidomain intervention approaches have emerged as a potential strategy to reduce dementia risk. We sought to describe the baseline assessment approaches, health conditions, and risk profiles for brain aging of participants in the randomized controlled Multimodal INterventions to delay Dementia and disability in rural China (MIND-China). Methods: MIND-China engaged residents who were &gt;= 60 years of age and living in rural communities in the western Shandong province. In March to September 2018, all participants underwent the core module assessments via face-to-face interviews, clinical examinations, neuropsychological testings, and laboratory tests. Specific modules of examination were performed for sub-samples, including brain magnetic resonance imaging scans, genetic and blood biochemical markers, actigraphy testing, cardiopulmonary coupling analysis for sleep quality and disturbances, audiometric testing, and optical coherence tomography examination. We performed descriptive analysis. Results: In total, 5765 participants (74.9% of all eligible residents) undertook the baseline assessments. The mean age was 70.9 years (standard deviation, 5.9), 57.2% were women, 40.6% were illiterate, and 88.3% were farmers. The overall prevalence of common chronic diseases was 67.2% for hypertension, 23.4% for dyslipidemia, 23.5% for heart disease, 14.4% for diabetes mellitus, and 5.4% for dementia. The prevalence rates of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, heart disease, depressive symptoms, and dementia were higher in women than in men (P &lt; .05). Overall, 87.1% of the participants had at least two of the 15 chronic diseases (89.3% in women vs 84.2% in men, P &lt; .001). Participants examined for the specific modules were younger, more likely to be women, and more educated than those not examined. Discussion: Comprehensive baseline assessments of participants in MIND-China provide extremely valuable data sources for interdisciplinary research into the complex relationships of aging, health, brain aging, and functional consequences among older adults living in the rural communities. Highlights: MIND-China is a multimodal intervention study among rural residents &gt;= 60 years of age. At baseline, 5765 participants undertook the interdisciplinary assessments. The baseline assessments consisted of core module and specific modules. Specific modules included brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), blood biomarkers, ActiGraph, cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC), pure-tone audiometry (PTA), and optical coherence tomography (OCT).Funding agencies:National Key R&amp;D Program of China 2017YFC1310100National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 82171175 82011530139  Academic Promotion Program of Shandong First Medical University 2019QL020Taishan Scholar Program of Shandong Province, ChinaEU Joint Programme-Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND)</p