Novel Modic grading scoring system and its clinical validation: a preliminary investigation.

PURPOSE: To propose a novel Modic grading scoring system and explore the relationship between the Modic grading score and disc degeneration, disc herniation, disc height, and clinical symptom scores. METHOD: In total, 194 patients were included in the study. The new Modic grading scoring system included four indicators: invaded vertebral height, invaded endplate length, endplate morphology, and grade of endplate defects. The severity of Modic changes was visually quantified by numerical scores, and the kappa value was used to verify the interobserver and intraobserver reliability. Spearman correlation analysis was used to explore the relationship between the Modic grading score and intervertebral disc degeneration, disc herniation, disc height, and clinical symptom scores. RESULTS: The interobserver and intraobserver reliability showed substantial to almost perfect agreement in the new Modic grading scoring system. The Modic grading score was positively correlated with intervertebral disc degeneration (r = 0.757, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with the intervertebral disc height index (r = - 0.231, p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the Modic grading scoring system and disc herniation (r = 0.369, p = 0.249). Additionally, there was no significant correlation between the Modic grading score and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (r = - 0.349, p = 0.25), Oswestry Disability Index score (r = 0.246, p = 0.11), or visual analogue scale score (r = 0.315, p = 0.35). CONCLUSION: The new Modic grading scoring system had good interobserver and intraobserver reliability. The Modic grading score was positively correlated with intervertebral disc degeneration and negatively correlated with the intervertebral disc height.

A Dynamic Energy Budget Model for Kuruma Shrimp Penaeus japonicus: Parameterization and Application in Integrated Marine Pond Aquaculture.

Individual growth models can form the basis of population dynamics assessment and ecosystem model construction. In order to provide a basic module for an ecosystem model of an integrated marine aquaculture pond, an individual growth model was constructed for kuruma shrimp (Penaeus japonicus) based on dynamic energy budget (DEB) theory. The model was first parameterized based on a covariation method using the Add-my-Pet (AmP) procedure. The parametric estimation model underestimated the ultimate abdominal length for female shrimp, and the predicted values of other zero-variate parameters were generally consistent with observed values. The relative errors of the predicted and observed values of the univariate data set within three geographical regions showed acceptable goodness of fit. Parameter estimation achieved an overall goodness of fit with a mean relative error of 0.048 and a symmetric mean squared error of 0.066. A DEB model was constructed using the estimated parameters, and the goodness-of-fit indicators (R square, mean bias and absolute and relative root mean square error) showed that the model was able to reproduce the growth of kuruma shrimp in terms of total length and wet weight with high accuracy. The results provide data to support the subsequent development of integrated aquaculture management at the ecosystem level.

Growth performance and ecological services evaluation of razor clams based on dynamic energy budget model.

Bivalve shellfish aquaculture has been proposed to abate eutrophication and increase carbon sink in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture ecosystems. An individual growth model for razor clams Sinonovacula constricta in an integrated aquaculture pond of Portunus trituberculatus- Penaeus japonicus- S. constricta was constructed based on dynamic energy budget (DEB) theory after parameter measurement and model validation. Goodness-of-fit indices (R-squared, mean difference, and absolute and relative root mean square error) showed that the DEB model accurately reproduced razor clam growth. The growth performance evaluation of razor clams under different environmental conditions showed that warming climate and food shortages inhibited the razor clam growth. The quantification results of ecological service showed that individual razor clam have the potential for nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) removal and CO2 fixation, but exhibit a source of CO2 in individual month. The possible applications and contribution of this aquaculture model in China are also discussed, and the assessment results can provide important support for the low carbon bivalve integrated aquaculture.

[Spectrum Research on Rheology of High Rank Coal].

Aiming to discuss the change characteristic of macromolecular structures of high rank coal in different rheological conditions, the high rank undeformed coal from southern Qinshui basin and the coal after variable temperature and variable pressure rheology experiments were investigated and analyzed in detail through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and laser Raman spectra analysis. The result shows that the texture and composition of different types of rheological coals under different temperature and pressure exhibit significant differences. Experiments of variable temperature and pressure of high rank coal (temperature: 300-400 °C, confining pressure: 50-100 MPa, strain: less than 10% and strain rate: 10(-4)-10(-7) · s(-1) will distort their macromolecular structures and recombine the chemistry structures. When the temperature is 300 °C or 350 °C, the high rank coal generates brittle or brittle-ductile rheology easily, mechanical energy transforms to heat energy, some branches and functional groups with weaker bond energy break and fall off, which split as dissociative micromolecule, with stress degradation as principal role, and stress polycondensation occurs with aromatic, texture increasing. When the temperature is up to 400 °C, ductile rheology of the high rank coal occurs with the secondary defects increasing, mechanical energy transforms to strain energy which helps the early shedding small molecules be embedded or adsorbed in the defect or on the surface of macromolecular preferentially and change the aliphatic and aromatic structures. It is affected by stress degradation and polycondensation progress, and the latter is dominated. The confining pressure and water injection of coal do not have much effect on the macromolecular structure obviously.