Search

Rapid urbanization, aging infrastructure, and climate change impacts have put a strain on existing stormwater drainage systems. One commonly acknowledged solution to relieve such stress is Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI). Interest in GSI technology has been growing. However, the level of implementation in many areas around the world lags behind the interest level. This study aims to critically review the body of literature from the last decade to determine the main barriers to wide adoption and the offered solutions to overcome them. Based on a review of 92 peer‐reviewed journal articles published between 2012 and 2022, we classify barriers and solutions into six categories: socio‐cultural, financial, institutional and governance, legislative and regulatory, technical, and biophysical. Based on observations and conclusions from the reviewed articles, we recommend the following pillars and considerations for more GSI adoption: increasing awareness and outreach programs; enhancing knowledge and data co‐production and dissemination; acknowledging interdependency and context‐specificity of many of the challenges and solutions; prioritizing integrated and participatory watershed planning; overcoming institutional path‐dependencies; prioritizing innovative solutions; giving specific consideration to maintenance protocols; considering the role of public entities; and actively engaging with communities. This article is categorized under:Engineering Water > Planning WaterWater and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is scarce information about the relationship between periodontal disease and osteoarthritis. This study investigated the effect of surgically induced osteoarthritis on alveolar bone loss in experimental periodontitis in rats. Methods: 12 rats were divided into test and control groups. On day 1, the animals were anaesthetized, and silk ligatures were ligated around 6 maxillary posterior teeth in each animal from both groups. Surgical induction of osteoarthritis was performed on the left knees in the test group. No knee surgeries were performed in the control group. The ligatures were kept in place for 30 days, at which time the animals were euthanatized, and the maxillae and knee joints were harvested and processed for histological analysis. The alveolar bone loss was assessed using a zoom stereomicroscope. Results: The knee joint histologic sections of the control group showed normal joint features, whereas in the test group there were substantial changes typical of osteoarthritis, including wide joint spaces, prominent monocytic infiltration of the synovium, invasion of periarticular bone, and decreased chondrocyte density. Comparison of the bone height between the groups showed a significantly higher bone loss in the test than in the control group The marginal mean bone height, adjusted for covariates and the intraclass correlation between sites, was 1.19 and 0.78 mm in the test and control groups, respectively (p < .0001). Conclusions: Surgically induced osteoarthritis leads to greater alveolar bone loss in the experimental periodontitis model in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) made its first debut in the USA in the late 1980s. The new material rapidly attracted the attention of engineers, developers, and the construction industry due to its inherent excellent physical and mechanical properties as well as the ability to be treated similar to wood during construction. Hebel from Germany followed by Ytong came to the USA in the 1990s to setup the first manufacturing plants there. Although both companies have been well established in Europe and had a long history of technical expertise and innovations, they were faced with the problems of verification and redevelopment of most of their technical information for the U.S. market. This paper provides a review of technical developments in the USA that were undertaken to establish AAC as a new construction material and gain the acceptance of both the engineering community and the construction industry. Technical committee activities, standards, and design documents developed specifically for AAC in the USA, based on intensive research programs at key universities in the USA, are discussed. Despite the technical advances in the USA, several market barriers have slowed the progress of AAC. Thoughts are provided with a brief overview of the current and future of AAC in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Residential and commercial building sectors of the United States consume nearly 40% (or ∼38 quadrillion BTUs) of the nation's total energy demand. Regrettably, conventional forms of energy production have an adverse impact on natural ecosystems and alternative power generation lags in terms of meeting the required capacity. Faced with rising energy costs, diminishing fuel resources, and emerging environmental concerns, the US building industry has begun to address these challenges by adopting sustainable and/or green building practices. Greater durability, reduced maintenance, and reasonable cost premiums are desirable parameters for emerging materials. While autoclaved aerated concrete is well established in other parts of the globe, the US building industry is unaccustomed with its use and application. Computer simulation models represent one of the most reliable methods to test alternative design considerations in that they are cost/time efficient and can evaluate energy consumption with reasonable accuracy. The research (2009–2011) presented in this paper is a comparative evaluation of three shell construction techniques using computer simulations. Thermal, economic, and environmental characteristics of each wall system are evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variable response following ductal ligation of feline salivary glands corresponds to the human condition but contrasts with a predictable atrophy in obstructed salivary glands of rodents popularly used as a model for human salivary problems. The present investigation is concerned with a possible reason for the variable response, namely the preservation of the innervation. Ducts of feline submandibular and sublingual salivary glands were ligated with or without the inclusion of the chorda tympani. Inclusion led to a delayed initial response followed by progressive atrophy until the parenchyma was extremely atrophic, whereas avoidance of the chorda led to the variable response in which variable numbers of acini of a similar form to normal persisted. The results establish the atrophic effect of inclusion of the chorda tympani in ductal ligation and indicate the caution that should be exercised in the extrapolation of the rodent model to the human condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of a novel curcumin derivative ( NCD) versus tadalafil in erectile signalling was assessed. Ten control male rats and 50 diabetic male rats were used and divided into the following: diabetic ( DM), curcumin ( CURC), NCD, tadalafil and NCD combined with tadalafil rat groups. Cavernous tissue gene expression of heme oxygenase-1 ( HO-1), Nrf2, NF- B and p38, enzyme activities of heme oxygenase ( HO) and nitric oxide synthase ( NOS), cGMP and intracavernosal pressure ( ICP)/mean arterial pressure ( MAP) were assessed. Results showed that 12 weeks after induction of diabetes, erectile dysfunction ( ED) was confirmed by the significant decrease in ICP/ MAP, a significant decrease in cGMP, NOS, HO enzyme activities, a significant decrease in HO-1 gene and a significant increase in NF-Ҡβ, p38 genes. Administration of all therapeutic interventions led to a significant increase in ICP/ MAP, cGMP levels, a significant increase in HO-1 and NOS enzymes, a significant increase in HO-1, and Nrf2 gene expression, and a significant decrease in NF-Ҡβ, p38 gene expression. NCD or its combination with tadalafil showed significant superiority and more prolonged duration of action. In conclusion, a tendency was observed that CURC and NCD have high efficacy and more prolonged duration of action in enhancing erectile function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem cell-based therapy targeted at the penile tissue has been lately considered in preclinical studies. This work aimed to assess the effect of intracavernous administration of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in aged rats ( n = 100). They were subjected to single intracavernous injection (ICI) of 1.0 million MSCs, followed up for 3, 4 weeks, 3 and 4 months (each group 25 rats) and compared with both adult and aged controls ( n = 50). In dissected cavernous tissues, cGMP and histopathology were assessed in addition to intracavernous pressure (ICP) measurement in some anaesthetised rats. The results showed that cavernous tissue cGMP was significantly increased in MSCs transplanted rats in all investigated groups compared with the controls. The mean cavernous cGMP levels after 3 and 4 months of MSCs transplantation were significantly increased compared with those after 3 or 4 weeks. Cavernous tissue ICP measurement showed significant increase in MSCs transplanted groups compared with the controls, more in the long-term follow up than in the shorter one. Histopathological examination detected markedly dilated sinusoidal vascular spaces in the long-term follow-up study. It is concluded that stem cell-based therapy is feasible for age-associated erectile dysfunction and could improve erectile signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to assess the efficacy of haeme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) cDNA-liposome complex transfer as a mediator of erectile signalling in aged rats. One hundred and fifty aged white albino rats were equally divided into five groups: controls, rats receiving lipofectamine, rats receiving intracorporeal HO-1 cDNA-lipsome complex, rats receiving HO-1 cDNA-liposome complex plus nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, and rats receiving HO-1 cDNA-liposome complex plus HO inhibitor. Six rats were killed from each group after 12, 24 and 48 h, and after1 and 2 weeks. In dissected cavernous tissues, the following were assessed: HO-1 gene expression, Western blot for HO-1, HO enzyme activity, cGMP and histopathology. The results showed that HO-1 cDNA-liposome complex transfer led to a significant increase in cavernous tissue HO-1 protein, HO-1 gene expression, HO enzyme activity and cGMP up to 1 week. NOS inhibition exhibited no effect on HO-1 gene enhancement of cavernous tissue HO enzyme activity or cGMP, whereas inhibition of HO significantly decreased these parameters. Histopathology of cavernous tissue demonstrated a significant dilatation of helicine arteries in HO-1 cDNA-liposome complex treated group after 48 h compared with the controls. It is concluded that HO-1 cDNA-liposome complex transfer augments cavernous tissue cGMP with subsequent sinusoidal relaxation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A disproportionate increase or decrease in water table in response to minor water input or drainage is observed in shallow water table conditions inside drainage lysimeters. This increase happens because the capillary fringe of the shallow water table reaches up to or near the surface (Wieringermeer effect). The correlations between water table level changes and rainfall, seepage irrigation, drip irrigation, and drainage were analysed. Correlations with rainfall, seepage irrigation, and drainage were high (R² ranged from 0.46 to 0.97). Drip irrigation had low correlations due to the low rates of application (R² ranged from 0.26 to 0.44). Conventional methods of calculating recharge, such as multiplying the specific yield with the water table fluctuations, cannot be used for Wieringermeer effect situations. A method using water balance data and soil moisture at different depths in the lysimeters was developed to estimate recharge and upflux. The recharge results were used to develop the apparent specific yield Sya, which could be used to calculate consequent recharge events from water table fluctuation data. Combining the water table fluctuation relationships developed with the Sya value will allow the prediction of recharge from rainfall and irrigation events without the need for soil moisture equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]