Properties of Red-Mud-Modified Basic Magnesium Sulfate Cement.

This study aimed to decipher the influence of red mud on the mechanical properties, pore structure, and microstructure of basic magnesium sulfate cements (BMSCs). The results showed that BMSC prepared with an appropriate addition of red mud exhibited improved mechanical properties and yielded the highest compressive strength of 94.54 MPa after curing for 28 days.

[Ecological environment quality of the Shanxi section of the Yellow River Basin under different development scenarios].

Shanxi Province holds an important strategic position in the overall ecological pattern of the Yellow River Basin. To investigate the changes of the ecological environment in the Shanxi section of the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2020, we selected MODIS remote sensing image data to determine the remote sensing ecological index (RSEI) based on the principal component analysis of greenness, humidity, dryness, and heat. Then, we analyzed the spatial and temporal variations of ecological quality in this region to explore the influencing factors.

A Novel Method of Synthesizing Polymeric Aluminum Ferric Sulfate Flocculant and Preparing Red Mud-Based Ceramsite.

A synthetic flocculant of aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) extracted from red mud (RM) has been widely used in sewage treatment, while the remaining RM residue has been ignored. This study aimed to synthesize polymeric aluminum ferric sulfate (PAFS) flocculant from RM by acid leaching and then use the acidified RM residue to produce an acid RM-based ceramsite (ARMC) by mixing bentonite, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, and starch. Our results showed that sintering, reaction temperature, HSO concentration, reaction time, and liquid-to-solid ratio had an obvious effect on the leaching of Al and Fe in RM, which was a necessary prerequisite for the efficient PAFS flocculants.

[Blind area and layout optimization of parks based on the spatial supply-demand evaluation in Taiyuan City, China].

It is of great practical significance to identify service blind area, scientifically select park construction areas, and clarify the priority of parks' construction based on the co-ordination of supply-demand evaluation. With the urban parks within the Taiyuan Ring Expressway as the research subjects, we estimated the accessibility range and the service pressure of each park by using the application programming interface of Gaode map route planning and point of interest data to characterize their supply and demand levels. We identified the service blind areas of parks by overlay analysis, and used the location-allocation (LA) model to purposefully supply park green space.

[Clinical application and effectiveness of patellar tunnel locator in medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction surgery].

Objective: To evaluate the operability and effectiveness of a self-developed patellar bone canal locator (hereinafter referred to as "locator") in the reconstruction of the medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL).

Methods: A total of 38 patients with recurrent patellar dislocation who met the selection criteria admitted between January 2022 and December 2022 were randomly divided into study group (the patellar canal was established with a locator during MPFL reconstruction) and control group (no locator was used in MPFL reconstruction), with 19 cases in each group. There was no significant difference in baseline data between the two groups ( >0.

The Concentrations, Sources, Ecological, and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Roadside Soils of Six Cities in Shanxi Province, China.

Roadside soils are regarded as a reservoir for heavy metal pollution, which potentially leads to ecosystem deterioration as well as serious hazard to human health. A comprehensive investigation was conducted for the levels, relationship with soil properties, and potential sources of heavy metals (Hg, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cr) in roadside soils in six cities (Changzhi, Jincheng, Yuncheng, Linfen, Xinzhou, Datong) of Shanxi Province; and the corresponding ecological risk and human health risk associated with the concentrations of heavy metals were addressed. Heavy metal concentrations of 112 roadside soil samples in the surveyed cities were, in decreasing order, Zn, Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, and Hg, which were higher than corresponding background values.

[Epidemiological and clinical characteristics analysis of 681 cases of thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures].

Objective: To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with thoracolumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP).

Methods: The clinical and imaging data of 681 patients with thoracolumbar OVCF treated with PVP between January 2017 and December 2021 were collected. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the patients with thoracolumbar OVCF in single center were summarized from the aspects of demographic distribution (mainly including gender, age), fracture characteristic analysis [including pathological segments, bone mineral density, and body mass index (BMI)], and operation related results (including the distribution of unilateral and bilateral puncture and bone cement injection, postoperative effectiveness analysis and refracture).

Selective retention of particulate matter by nine plant species in central Shanxi Province, China.

Plant leaves can accumulate particulate matter (PM) from the air, thus mitigating air pollution. Nine plant species from the central part of Shanxi Province, China, were investigated to characterize differences in their PM retention capacity and the grain sizes of the collected PM. Styphnolobium japonicum, Syringa oblata, and Cerasus serrulata demonstrated strong retention capacity for PM particles of diverse size fractions.

Permanently Avoiding Steam on Camera for Arthroscopy by a Simple Device.

Steam on the camera may happen in any arthroscopic procedure, especially in shoulder arthroscopy. Although multiple techniques and devices have been applied to avoid steam, it still cannot be prevented completely. We designed a simple device to terminate this problem by protecting against the ingress of water.

MiR-29a and MiR-140 Protect Chondrocytes against the Anti-Proliferation and Cell Matrix Signaling Changes by IL-1β.

As a degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis (OA) constitutes a major cause of disability that seriously affects the quality of life of a large population of people worldwide. However, effective treatment that can successfully reverse OA progression is lacking until now. The present study aimed to determine whether two small non-coding RNAs miR-29a and miR-140, which are significantly down-regulated in OA, can be applied together as potential therapeutic targets for OA treatment.

Characteristics and indications of hydrogen and oxygen isotopes distribution in lake ice body.

Stable isotopes have been used to identify the characteristics of precipitation, evaporation, basin hydrology, and residence times. However, lakes in the cold regions are usually covered by ice for 5-6 months. To get a better understanding of stable isotopes characteristics and indications in lake ice bodies, ice and water were sampled during the icebound season in both the ice and water bodies in Dali Lake, and deuterium, oxygen-18 total nitrogen (TN), and the major ions were analyzed.

[Bioavailability of dissolved organic nitrogen components in the lake sediment to alage].

Samples in the sediments of Wuliangsuhai and Erhai Lake were selected, and the technologies of XAD-8 resins separation and three dimensional fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (3DEEM) spectra were applied, in order to study the bioavailability of dissolved organic nitrogen components to alage under the room cultivation. The obtained results showed that: (1) Average loss of DON and DOC from sediments was below 5% after dividing DON into different groups, which means the technology of XAD- 8 resins separation could be used in the study of DON components in the lake sediment. (2) Through 3DEEM analysis, hydrophilic and hydrophobic DON was dominated by protein-like and humic-like materials in the lake sediment, respectively.