Assessment and driving factor of housing vacancies in Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration based on multi-source remote sensing data.

As the urbanization rate in the world has increased rapidly, the housing vacancy problem has become serious and attracting more attention. Calculating and analyzing vacant housing can help reduce the wasteful use of resources. This paper measures the housing vacancy rate and housing vacancy stock in the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration using night-time lighting and land use data. The results show that the average housing vacancy rate in the Shandong Peninsula urban agglomeration rose rapidly from 14.68% in 2000 to 29.71% in 2015 before declining slowly to 29.49% in 2020. Since urban population growth is lower than the housing construction rate, the average annual growth of housing vacancy stock between 2000 and 2020 exceeds 3 million square meters in megacities and is around 1-2 million square meters in large and medium-sized cities. The vacant housing has caused considerable waste of housing resources. The driving factors of the housing vacancy were further analyzed using the LMDI decomposition method. Results indicate that the economic development level is the most significant driving factor of the vacant housing stock. In addition, the value effect of unit floor areas is the major driving factor inhibiting the growth of vacant housing stock, while the decline of unit floor area value is conducive to the reduction of this stock.

Labor market distortion and air pollution: An empirical analysis based on spatial effect modeling.

In China, along with the rapid development of economy, air pollution has become a hot issue of public concern, particularly in many cities. The distortion in the labor factor market can cause air pollution, but the underlying mechanism is not yet clear. To investigate this question, this article examines the effect of labor market distortion on air pollution focusing on SO2 emissions based on data of China's 283 cities during 2003-2015. The main objectives are to examine the direct and spillover effects of labor market distortion on air pollution using panel fixed-effects models, including the spatial Durbin model and the mediated-effects model. Results show that labor market distortion directly aggravates air pollution in cities. Mechanism analysis suggests that labor market distortion incurs air pollution through mechanisms of suppressing technological progress, hindering the upgrading of industrial structure, and reducing the efficiency of energy use. Divided the cities by their locations into those in eastern, central, and western regions, we find that such unfavorable effects are more prominent in eastern and western regions of the country. These findings highlight the impetus of mitigating the distorted labor market to ameliorate air quality and promote sustainable development.

Can the Digital Economy Promote the Upgrading of Urban Environmental Quality?

As the core of economic development, the digital economy plays an essential role in promoting urban environmental quality. In this study, we constructed a comprehensive indicator system using two dimensions, i.e., the internet and digital finance, to measure the development situation of the urban digital economy, and we used principal component analysis to assess it. From the three perspectives of ecological environment state, ecological environment pollution degree, and ecological environment governance ability, the entropy method was used to measure the quality of the urban environment. On the basis of panel data from 275 cities (prefecture-level and above) in China from 2011 to 2019, we empirically analyzed the impact of the digital economy on urban environmental quality using the two-way fixed effect model and spatial Dubin model. The research shows that the digital economy significantly promotes urban environmental quality upgrades. This conclusion still holds when considering endogeneity. This effect is mainly achieved by promoting technological innovation, optimizing the industrial structure, and enhancing market competition. Further research demonstrated that the digital economy does not significantly impact the improvement of environmental quality in small- and medium-sized cities, but has a positive effect on environmental quality upgrading in large cities. The development of the digital economy promoted urban environmental quality upgrading in the region. However, the development of the digital economy has no significant impact on environmental quality upgrading in surrounding areas.

The application of new gastric cancer screening score system for gastric cancer screening and risk assessment of gastric precancerous lesions in China.

Objective: To evaluate the value of new gastric cancer screening score system for risk assessment of gastric precancerous lesions.Methods: A total of 520 patients were enrolled after the examination of endoscopy at Endoscopy Center, Department of Gastroenterology, from June 2018 to December 2021. The patients were divided into three groups according to age, gender, serum helicobacter pylori antibody test, pepsinogen I (PGI), pepsinogen II (PGII), pepsinogen I/II ratio (PGR) and gastrin-17 test results before endoscopy: Group A defined as low-risk group (0-11 points), Group B defined as middle-risk group (12-16 points), Group C defined as high-risk group (17-23 points). The detection rates of gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis in three groups were analyzed. According to the range and degree of atrophy/intestinal metaplasia, patients were divided into five groups on the basis of OLGA/OLGIM staging system. The levels of PG I, PG II and PGR were compared between different groups, and the correlation between new gastric cancer screening score system and OLGA/OLGIM staging system were evaluated. Statistical analysis was accomplished by ANOVA, chi-square test and Gamma coefficient analysis.Results: A total of 520 patients were enrolled. 268 patients were classified into group A,222 patients into group B and 30 patients into group C, respectively. According to the pathological results, 281 cases were non-atrophic gastritis, 230 cases atrophic gastritis and 9 cases gastric cancer. For OLGA staging system, 281 patients were divided into stage-0 group, 121 patients into stage-I group, 72 patients into stage-II group, 33 patients into stage-III group and 13 patients into stage-IV groups. The PGI and PGR level correlated inversely with the rising OLGA stages (F = 3.028, p = .016, F = 6.036, p < .001). For OLGIM staging system, 252 patients were divided into stage-0 group, 137 patients into stage-I group, 80 patients into stage-II group, 36 patients into stage-III group and 15 patients into stage-IV group. The PGR level correlated inversely with the rising OLGIM stages (F = 3.466, p＝.007). The detection rates of gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis in Group C were much higher than other groups. (X2 = 14.727, p < .001; X2 = 51.280, p < .001). Gamma coefficient analysis showed significant correlations between OLGA/OLGIM and the new gastric cancer screening score system (p < .001).Conclusions: The new gastric cancer screening score system is closely linked with histological OLGA/OLGIM staging system in the risk assessment of gastric precancerous lesions. The role of new gastric cancer screening score system in future gastric precancerous lesions screening and high risk population identifying was promising.

Improvements in protective measures in factories with acetylene hydrochlorination and ethylene oxychlorination techniques declined risk assessment levels and affected liver health status.

Acetylene hydrochlorination and ethylene oxychlorination are the two most common methods of producing vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), which has been linked to liver impairment, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and angiosarcoma of the liver (ASL) in occupational settings. However, whether and how these impairments could be effectively improved from workplace root causes has yet to be discovered. This study aimed to evaluate whether improvements in protective measures in groups Y (408 subjects) and Z (349 subjects) could have an influential impact on the alleviation of liver impairment by comparing risk assessment levels under several semi-quantitative models and results from liver ultrasound detection and liver function tests before and after the improvement. Importantly, significant differences in constituent ratio involved in parameters among age, length of employment, weekly exposure time, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and sleeping quality were found between Y and Z before improvement took place in 2020 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001), and population distribution by gender between Y and Z was in a large homogeneity with differences in age and length of employment. CSTE involves ore breaking, acetylene generation, steam stripping, outward processing, and welding maintenance, was disqualified in 2020 compared to OEL, and was said to have declined to meet OEL requirements by 2021. Further, a negative correction of fresh air requirement and ventilation air changing rate with ambient concentration toward hazards in Y was stronger in 2021 than in 2020. Significant differences in risk levels in Y between 2020 and 2021 were found as ore breaking, acetylene generation, steam stripping, outward processing, VCM polymerization, welding, and repairing, decreasing to relatively lower risk levels in 2021 from the original ones in 2020 only under the semi-quantitative comprehensive index model. Abnormal rates toward other hepatic symptoms decreased in the majority of positions after the improvement, as referred to by alterations such as ALT, AST, and GGT. Overall, the effect of improvements on protective measures effectively reduced positions' risk assessment levels through ventilation enhancement and airtight strengthening, which further affected abnormal rates toward other hepatic symptoms, and alterations such as ALT, AST, and GGT were much more significant in Y than effect in Z.

[Occupational risk assessment levels before and after improvement on fueling devices in ammoniation facilities from 2 nuclear plants].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare possible changes of individual health risk levels for ammonia exposed positions from ammoniation facilities in 2 nuclear power plants(X and Y) through occupational risk assessment models(OHRA) before and after devices improvement. METHODS: This study tried to understand the improvement of fueling devices in ammoniation facilities, to identify the ammonia exposed positions and their working content, to collect information on protective measures and personal protective equipment situation through on-sites survey and detailed records of work days. Next, detection on C_(STE) of ammonia at different worksites and C_(TWA) of 10 involved positions were conducted, fresh air requirement and ventilation air changing rates were calculated through wind speed detection or collected directly. Finally, a semi-quantitative comprehensive index model and a quantitative non-carcinogenic model from standard GBZ/T 298-2017 were utilized to assess risk levels before and after improvement. RESULTS: After devices improvement, a series of innovations were observed, followed by:(1) ammonia steal tanks in stacking storage were replaced by metal pressure sealing tanks for reduction of exposure frequency and long time storage. (2) manual filling pattern was totally substituted by automatic filling devices with new installed ventilation systems and alarming apparatus. (3) increasing ventilation effect by doors opening when ammonia was filling. In this regard, conentration levels(C_(STE)) referred to positions of chemical analysis engineers, chemical sampling engineers, nuclear maintenance workers at 3# unit from X, and regular island operators at 1#unit, patrolling operators at 2# unit from Y were declined to qualified levels after improvement from unqualified levels before that, and significant difference of C_(STE )detected before and after improvement were found statistically(Z=10.856, P<0.001). C_(TWA )were all within the qualified ranges before and after improvement for relatively short cumulative exposure time. Moreover, the ventilation air changing rates from related indoor sectors were increased to 13.0 to 30.9 times/h after improvement which indicated a statistical difference as compared to quantitative ranges before started(Z=11.670, P<0.001). Further, a relative negative correlation was observed between C_(STE )and ventilation air changing rates(r=-0.39, P<0.05) while no correlation between them was spotted after improvement(r=-0.051, P>0.05). In addition, most positions like chemical analysis engineers and others changed their risk levels to a lower one from that they used to be after improvement with an observed significant difference(Z=1.345, P<0.05), by contrast, risk levels of positions like nuclear maintenance workers at 3#unit or patrolling operators at 4#unit increased a level or remained the same before and after improvement might be result ed from enhancement of cumulative exposure time. No significant difference among position risk levels under the quantitative non-carcinogenic model was observed(Z=0.447, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The measure of devices improvement indeed decreased the ambient ammonia concentrations at workplaces of ammoniation facilities in X and Y and changed individual risk levels for most involved positions. The semi-quantitative comprehensive index model was more appropriated for self-contrast risk assessment application than quantitative non-carcinogenic model did, especially when improvement occurred.

A baseline study on the distribution characteristics and health risk assessment of cadmium in edible tissues of the swimming crabs (Portunus trituberculatus) from Shanghai, China.

This study analyzed the cadmium accumulation differences in edible tissues of the swimming crabs (Portunus trituberculatus) from Shanghai markets, which were mostly caught in the East China Sea, and the human health risk of cadmium from crabs consumption was evaluated. A total of 78 swimming crabs were collected, and the white meat and brown meat were separated for the cadmium analysis by Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The results revealed that there was difference in cadmium content in brown meat (1.260-16.303 mg/kg) and white meat (0.005-0.542 mg/kg). Furthermore, pollution index (Pi) results showed that only the claw muscle was at low contamination levels, while other edible tissues had varying degrees of contamination. Based on the health risk assessment by estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ) and target cancer risk (TCR), the consumption of the swimming crabs in Shanghai is considered safe, however, the accumulation of cadmium in the brown meat of swimming crabs deserves further attention and evaluation.

Single-Segment Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Nucleus Excision on the Stability of Lumbar Segmental Sagittal Plane.

At present, lumbar disc herniation has become a problem that plagues people's health, life safety, and social and economic development. Among them, the research of lumbar disc nucleus pulposus tissue is the focus of the treatment of lumbar disc diseases. At present, the treatment methods of lumbar disc herniation are divided into conservative treatment and surgical treatment, among which surgical treatment can be divided into open surgery and minimally invasive surgery. Surgical treatment to remove the nucleus pulposus from the disc by fenestration includes conventional ablation of the nucleus pulposus and microscopic lumbar discs. This treatment is effective, but it has a great impact on the stabilization mechanism of the spine, with large soft tissue damage and large blood loss, which can easily cause nerve damage and postdural adhesions. At the same time, single-segment lumbar discectomy has also been gradually applied to the treatment of this disease. Under this, this paper studies single-segment lumbar disc nucleus pulposus resection. The lumbar nucleus resection is performed in a single segment in the physiological load area, which can greatly ensure the stability of the sagittal plane of the lumbar spine. In order to better understand the postoperative rehabilitation and clinical effects of single-segment lumbar discectomy, as well as the changes in the sagittal plane of the lumbar vertebrae before and after the operation, so as to provide a reference for further improving the quality of life of patients, this paper uses questionnaire survey and data analysis methods. According to the results of the questionnaire survey, compared with other operations, single-segment lumbar discectomy is more stable in the sagittal plane of the lumbar spine within the physiological load range, and there is less displacement. The displacement may be caused or influenced by different kinds of factors such as heavy loads or manual labor. In addition, most patients have less abnormal pain after surgery, indicating that the surgery has a certain effect on the treatment of the disease, and there are fewer abnormalities after surgery.

[Effect of occupational hazard factor type of acetylenogen dust on occupational health risk assessment results].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the differences of health hazards between acetylenogen dust as two different occupational hazards of "particles not otherwise regulated" and "calcium carbide". METHODS: A calcium carbide production enterprise in northwest China was selected. The occupational health survey was used to obtain the spatial distribution and population distribution of calcium carbide dust. Occupational health testing was performed to determine the time-weighted average exposure concentration(C_(TWA)) and excursion limits of calcium carbide dust in the workplace and the main exposure positions. The Singapore semi-quantitative risk matrix was used for occupational risk assessment. The "Classification of Occupational Disease Hazards in the Workplace Part 1: Productive Dust"(GBZ/T 229.1-2010) was used for the operation classification. The calcium carbide dust was regarded as two different occupational hazards: "particles not otherwise regulated" and "calcium carbide", the differences of health hazards between which were compared. PC-TWA of calcium carbide was performed at 2.28 mg/m~3. The heat amount of CaC_2 and CaO released after reacting with water was compared by using Hess' s law, and the reaction rates of the two reactions are compared. RESULTS: The concentrations of calcium carbide dust in the workplace of belt inspection position and the calcium carbide crusher was higher(14.3-15.7 mg/m~3), and the concentrations of the driver in the calcium carbide loader was higher(13.8 mg/m~3). The result of the risk assessment show that the health risks of calcium carbide dust in various positions are basically low risk. Only when the type of damage was "calcium carbide", the risk of the driver of calcium carbide loader increase to medium. The operation classification result show that the hazard classification of calcium carbide dust in each post is basically relatively harmless. Only the type of damage was "calcium carbide", the classification of the driver of the calcium carbide crusher loader increased to moderately hazardous operations. As for the "calcium carbide", the operation classification index of calcium carbide were higher than that of "particles not otherwise regulated". CaC_2 reacting with water released more heat than that of equal amount CaO. CONCLUSION: In the current production process of calcium carbide dust, except for the crushing section, its occupational health risk was low, but the health risk level of calcium carbide as "calcium carbide" was higher, indicating that the evaluation of calcium carbide dust as "particles not otherwise regulated" may underestimate its occupational hazard.

Noise exposure assessment of non-coal mining workers in four provinces of China.

Objective: This study aimed to understand the noise exposure of non-coal mines in China to take appropriate controls to protect workers' health. Methods: An assessment of non-coal miners' noise exposures was conducted in four provinces in China. Individual noise exposure levels were measured, and the survey on the hearing protector device (HPD) equipment was administered. Results: 423 noise dosimeter measurements were obtained, including drilling, blasting, ore drawing, transportation, winching, crushing, screening and ball milling, and auxiliary (air pressure, pump, and maintenance). A total of 31.9% of the individual noise levels (LEX,8h) exceeded 85 dB(A), and the median dosages of non-coal miners with high noise exposure were: excavation workers-89.1 dB(A), mill operators-88.7 dB(A), and crusher operators-87.0 dB(A). The noise dose of underground mine workers is higher than that of surface mine workers (P < 0.001). A total of 53.7% of non-coal mining enterprises are not equipped with HPD for workers, mainly small and micro enterprises. Conclusions: High levels of hazardous noise exposure are typical in non-coal mines. Noise exposure data can help to develop more feasible noise controls.

Incidence, Risk Factors, Risk Assessment Model and Compliance of Patients on Anticoagulants for Asymptomatic Venous Thromboembolism in Nononcological Urological Inpatients.

PURPOSE: To study the incidence, risk factors for developing asymptomatic venous thromboembolism and the compliance of patients on anticoagulants for asymptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) in nononcological urological medium-high risk inpatients, and build a risk assessment model (RAM) for early screening for asymptomatic VTE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 573 inpatients admitted to a nononcological urological ward of a tertiary hospital in China from January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019. Data were collected using the electronic medical record system, and patients underwent a follow-up by phone 6 months after discharge. RESULTS: Among the 573 medium-high risk inpatients, 73 (15.4%) were diagnosed with VTE, including 20 (4.2%) symptomatic and 53 (11.2%) asymptomatic. Prior history of VTE, a history of anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents before admission, and D-dimer ≥ 1 were the potential risk factors identified for asymptomatic VTE. Patients with poor awareness of VTE and its dangers, and patients who lived more than 1 hour away from the hospital had a high probability of poor compliance with anticoagulation therapy after discharge. Using D-dimer (1.785 µg/ml), we built a RAM for the early diagnosis of asymptomatic VTE. CONCLUSION: We found that patients with urinary nontumor VTE had low compliance with anticoagulation therapy after discharge. The key factors for determining asymptomatic VTE in nononcological urological inpatients included prior history of VTE, a history of taking anticoagulants or anti-platelet agents before admission, and D-dimer ≥ 1. Furthermore, we found that the threshold of D-dimer should be elevated to 1.785 µg/ml to predict asymptomatic VTE.

[Distribution and Ecological Risk Assessment of PPCPs in Drinking Water Sources of Henan Province].

The occurrence of emerging pollutants pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in aquatic environments has potential adverse effects on aquatic organisms, and the presence of PPCPs in drinking water sources is very likely to cause harm to human health. The PPCPs pollution in five typical drinking water sources in Henan province was investigated. Moreover, the source of pollutants was analyzed and the relevant ecological risks were evaluated. The results showed that the cumulative concentrations of 20 PPCPs at different sampling sites ranged from 24.2 to 317.6 ng·L-1. Caffeine (CFI) was the highest level contaminant, with the concentration up to 186.4 ng·L-1, followed by sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and ofloxacin (OFC), with detected concentrations up to 70.8 ng·L-1 and 24.2 ng·L-1, respectively. The pollution of PPCPs in Heigangkou drinking water sources was higher than those of other drinking water sources. The comparation of the labile indicator CFI and the conservative indicator carbamazepine (CBZ) concentrations implies that the pollutions from the upstream water and around scattered domestic sewage might be responsible for the PPCPs present in these drinking water sources. The risk quotient (RQ) calculation results indicated that the detected PPCPs in 5 drinking water sources have moderate to high risks to algae, while low to moderate risks to invertebrates and fish. Therefore, attention should be paid to relevant pollution control.

Fitness benefits and costs of shelters to the sea urchin Glyptocidaris crenularis.

Understanding the ecological role of shelters is greatly hampered by the scarcity of long-term laboratory experiments on the trade-off between fitness benefits and costs. This lack probably leads to an underestimation of the negative and/or positive effects on behaviors and growth of marine invertebrates in benthic ecosystems. Although our previous study revealed a significant effect on fitness-related traits of Glyptocidaris crenularis after 31 months, the present study extended it and investigated fitness benefits and/or costs of long-term sheltering on sea urchins to over 7 years. The present long-term study suggests that the previously reported reduction in feeding rate probably resulted from a reduction in reflexive feeding motions (Aristotle's lantern reflex) rather than changes in foraging behavior. Actively seeking sheltering behavior was negatively impacted in individuals with continuous access to shelters. However, covering and righting behaviors did not differ in sheltered sea urchins, indicating that these behaviors are maintained to escape from adverse environments regardless of shelter. Body size of sea urchins in the group with shelters was significantly lower than those without shelters after 7 years. Weights of gonads and gut were not significantly different after 7 years despite previous observations of differences after ~2.5 years. The present study provides valuable information on the trade-off between fitness benefits and costs to sea urchins residing in shelters. However, the present study is only a laboratory investigation for one urchin species (G. crenularis) which does not consider the complexity of natural environments. Field studies should be carried out with G. crenularis and other sea urchin species, before a more universal conclusion can be drawn.

Estimation of Health Effects and Economic Losses from Ambient Air Pollution in Undeveloped Areas: Evidence from Guangxi, China.

Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, located in the southwest of China, has rapidly developed since the late 2000s. Similar to other regions, economic development has been accompanied by environmental problems, especially air pollution, which can adversely affect the health of residents in the area. In this study, we estimated the negative health effects of three major ambient pollutants, Particulate Matter with a diameter of 10 µm or less (PM10), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in Guangxi from 2011 to 2016 using a log-linear exposure-response function. We monetarized the economic loss using the value of statistical life (VSL) and the cost of illness (COI) methods. The results show that the total possible short-term all-cause mortality values due to PM10, SO2, and NO2 were 28,396, with the confidence intervals from 14,664 to 42,014 (14,664-42,014), 24,618 (15,480-33,371), and 46,365 (31,158-61,423), respectively. The mortality from the three pollutants was 48,098 (19,972-75,973). The economic loss of the health burden from the three pollutants was 40,555 (24,172-57,585), which was 2.86% (1.70-4.06%) of the regional gross domestic product. The result of the comparative analysis among different cities showed that urbanization, industrialization, and residents' income are important factors in air-pollution-caused health damage and subsequent economic loss. We conclude that the health burden caused by ambient pollutants in developing regions, accompanied by its rapid socio-economic growth, is significant and tighter regulation is needed in the future to alleviate air pollution and mitigate the related health damage.

[Occupational health risk assessment of pure methanol fuel].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the occupational health risk of pure methanol fuel( M100) during the methanol fuel pilot stage. METHODS: The subjects are workers who are exposed to M100 in pilot areas for methanol vehicles, southwest of China. Use field investigation and detection to get the information of production technology, exposure level of methanol and prevention measures and facilities. Use Singapore Occupational Exposure to Harmful Chemicals Semi-Quantitative Method to assess the health risk of the methanol. Use "Classification of occupational hazards at workplace " to classify the occupational hazard of methanol. RESULTS: The main occupational hazard factor existing during the use procedure of M100 is methanol. The concentration of methanol in M100 filling station, methanol automobile repair shop and methanol automobile driver 's cab( up to47. 90 mg/m~3) and main methanol exposure post( up to 10. 25 mg/m~3) are accord with occupational exposure limit. According to the methanol occupational health riskassessment result, the risk of filling worker( R = 2. 4), methanol loade( R = 2. 0) r and maintenance worker( R = 2. 0) are low, and the risk of the driver( R = 1. 4) is negligible risk, which are basically identical with the occupational hazard classification result. CONCLUSION: Under the current production process and protection level, the occupational health risks of M100 can be controlled at low level. The chronic health effects and occupational exposure limit of methanol should be further studied.

Appropriate technologies for upgrading wastewater treatment plants: methods review and case studies in China.

Upgrading existing wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is a more challenging task than constructing new plants. The aim is usually to overcome overloading and to reduce pollution concentrations in the effluent. There are various methods that can be used to upgrade WWTPs. This article reviews some of the methodologies, such as inserting new tanks as additional treatment steps and modifying the WWTP by introducing new technologies. A number of effective technologies are reviewed in terms of their basic concepts, operational conditions, and treatment performances. Examples of WWTPs in China that have been successfully upgraded using these technologies are also highlighted.

[Risk assessment of occupational health effect of coal dust in coal wharf].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the occupational health risk of coal dust in coal wharf, identify the high risk post. METHODS: The research took workers who were exposed to coal dust in two 50- 150 thousands tons coal wharfs around bohai as subjects. The field investigation to get the infoamtion of production technology, distribution of coal dust, free silica content of coal dust, dust prevention measures and facilities, personal protection equipment, occupational health management, etc were used. The coal dust concentration of workplaces and the main positions were detected by filter membrane weighing method. The health risk of the coal dust to the main posts were assessed with the InternationalCouncil on Mining and Metals risk assessment method and occupational hazard risk index method. RESULTS: In the coal wharf, the concentration of coal dust at transferring tower, car dumper, ship loader, and coal storage yard were higher than other workplace, range of concentration: total dust 8. 8-85. 1 mg/m~3, respirable dust 2. 3- 32. 3 mg/m~3。The assessing result of ICMM method was that, 78. 6% of the posts were at "intolerable"level of occupational risk. The risk values of the driver of car dumper( 1500, 5000), the hatch commander( 1500), and the cleaners of coal storage yard( 900) were higher than transfer tower patrol workers( 600), drivers of material piling and taking machine( 450). The assessing result of occupational hazard risk index method was that, the risk degree of total dustand respirable dusttothe driver of car dumper was "severe"and "moderate"( the risk index was 40. 03 and 16. 95, respectively), and the risk degree of the total dust to the cleaners of coal unloading department and coal storage yard were "light"( the risk index was 6. 02 and 8. 70, respectively), with other posts' "no harm ". CONCLUSION: The occupational hazard of coal wharf is focused on the processes of loading and unloading( "severe"and"moderate"), transferring( "light") and reentrainment( "light").

Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy and Efficiency of Categories 4 and 5 of the Second Edition of the BI-RADS Ultrasound Lexicon in Diagnosing Breast Lesions.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of categories 4 and 5 of the second edition of the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) ultrasound (US) lexicon in diagnosing breast lesions. In our retrospective study, 579 lesions in 544 patients were assessed by US as the preliminary diagnosis and classified in subcategories 4a-4c and category 5 based on the second edition of the BI-RADS US lexicon with some obvious changes, such as the redefined margin, new calcification type, associated features and some special cases. Inter-observer agreement was determined. Ultrasound results were compared with the pathologic results for confirmation. Positive predictive values (PPVs) of subcategories 4a-4c were compared with theoretical values using the χ(2) test; the binomial test was used for category 5 lesions. Of the 579 lesions, 212 were confirmed as benign (36.61%), and the remaining 367 lesions were confirmed as borderline/malignant (63.39%). Inter-observer agreement was moderate for subcategories 4a-4c (κ = 0.52), moderate for subcategories 4a-4c and category 5 (κ = 0.56) and substantial for categories 4 and 5 (κ = 0.67). The PPVs for subcategories 4a-4c were 23.74%, 70.67% and 81.25%, respectively. In addition, the total PPV for category 4 was 46.92% (183/390), and the total PPV for category 5 was 97.35% (184/189). Statistical results revealed that the PPVs of subcategories 4a and 4b differed significantly from the theoretical values (p < 0.05); the PPVs of subcategory 4c and category 5 were significantly correlated with the theoretical PPVs (p > 0.05). In conclusion, subcategories 4a and 4b have lower diagnostic efficiency than subcategory 4c and category 5. Inter-observer agreement for subcategories 4a-4c remains to be improved. The most common features of subcategories 4a-4c differ, but overlap. It is recommended that inexperienced doctors in primary hospitals not classify lesions into subcategories in clinical practice.

Assessment of life cycle environmental benefits of an industrial symbiosis cluster in China.

Reusing industrial waste may have impressive potential environmental benefits, especially in terms of the total life cycle, and life cycle assessment (LCA) has been proved to be an effective method to evaluate industrial symbiosis (IS). Circular economy and IS have been developed for decades and have been successful in China. However, very few studies about the environmental benefit assessment of IS applied by LCA in China have been conducted. In the current article, LCA was used to evaluate the environmental benefits and costs of IS, compared with a no-IS scenario for four environmental impact categories. The results showed that four environmental benefits were avoided by the 11 symbiosis performances, namely, 41.6 thousand TJ of primary energy, 4.47 million t CO2e of greenhouse gasses, 19.7 thousand t SO2e of acidification, and 81.1 t PO4(3+)e of eutrophication. Among these IS performances, the comprehensive utilization of red mud produced the most visible benefit. The results also present that energy conservation was the distinctive feature of IS in China.

Methods for assessing the energy-saving efficiency of industrial symbiosis in industrial parks.

The available energy resources are being depleted worldwide. Industrial symbiosis (IS) provides a promising approach for increasing the efficiency of energy utilization, with numerous studies reporting the superiority of this technology. However, studies quantifying the energy-saving efficiency of IS remain insufficient. This paper proposes an index system for the quantitative evaluation of the energy-saving efficiency of IS. Both energy-saving and financial indexes were selected, the former include the IS energy-saving index, the contribution rate of energy saved through IS, fractional energy savings, and cut rate of energy consumption per total output value; and the latter include the IS investment payback period, IS input-output ratio, net present value (NPV), and internal rate of return (IRR) of IS. The proposed methods were applied to a case study on the XF Industrial Park (XF IP), in the city of Liaocheng in Shandong Province of China. Three energy-saving channels using IS were found in the XF IP: (a) utilizing the energy of high-temperature materials among industrial processes, (b) recovering waste heat and steam between different processes, and (c) saving energy by sharing infrastructures. The results showed that the energy efficiency index of IS was 0.326, accounting for 34.6% of the comprehensive energy-saving index in 2011, and the fractional energy-savings were 12.42%. The index of energy consumption per total industrial output value varied from 90.9 tce/MRMB to 51.6 tce/MRMB. Thus, the cut rate of energy consumption per total industrial output value was 43.42%. The average values of the IS input-output ratio was 406.2 RMB/tce, 57.2% lower than the price of standard coal. Static investment payback period in the XF IP was 8.5 months, indicating that the XF IP began to earn profit 8.5 months after the construction of all IS modes. The NVP and IRR of each IS mode in the XF IP were greater than zero, with average values equal to 1,789.96 MRMB and 140.96%, respectively. The computation result for each indicator revealed that IS could lead to the use of energy with high efficiency and lighten the financial burden of enterprises in the XF IP. And the proposed index system may help IPs and EIPs to make strategic decisions when designing IS modes.