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BACKGROUND: Autologous bone grafts, sourced from the iliac crest, are the gold standard for bone substitution in spine surgery. However, harvesting autografts increases the risk of postoperative complications. Bone allografts are another popular source of graft material, but their use is rapidly surpassing their availability. There has been considerable interest in manufactured bone graft substitutes, commonly referred to as osteobiologics, which mimic the properties of autologous bone and may be osteoconductive, osteoinductive, osteogenic, or a combination. OBJECTIVE: Osteobiologics have been developed to mimic the properties of autologous bone, but their high cost and variable effectiveness raise questions about their value. This article explores the challenges and opportunities associated with the use of osteobiologics used to aid in bone healing in spinal fusion surgery within a value-based care framework. Spinal fusion treatments such as bone morphogenetic proteins, platelet-rich plasma, autologous conditioned serum, demineralized bone matrix, biomaterial scaffolds, stem cells, and cellular bone matrices are compared. SUMMARY: Bone morphogenetic proteins are highly effective but often associated with serious risks; platelet-rich plasma shows promising results but lacks standardization in research protocols. Autologous conditioned serum is inconclusive and cost-effective, while demineralized bone matrix has variable effectiveness and limited data to use in anterior spinal fusions. Biomaterial scaffolds have limited application in the anterior spine but demonstrate high efficacy when it comes to spinal fusion. Stem cells demonstrate improved postsurgical outcomes but have low yield from bone marrow and potential risks associated with genetic engineering and cell therapy. Cellular bone matrices show promising results and have high fusion rates, yet there is currently no US Food and Drug Adminstration requirement for preclinical or clinical data before commercial usage. Although osteobiologics have considerable potential, their high price and uncertain efficiency raise questions concerning their usefulness in spinal fusion surgery. To ensure better patient outcomes, extensive research is needed to explore their utilization within a value-based care framework.

Clinical orthopedics continuously aims to improve methods for bone formation. Clinical applications where bone formation is necessary include critical long bone defects in orthopedic trauma or tumor patients. Though some biomaterials combined with autologous stem cells significantly improve bone repair, critical-size damages are still challenged with the suitable implantation of biomaterials and donor cell survival. Extracellular matrix (ECM) is the fundamental structure in tissues that can nest and nourish resident cells as well as support specific functions of the tissue type. ECM also plays a role in cell signaling to promote bone growth, healing and turnover. In the last decade, the use of bone-derived ECMs or ECM-similar biomaterials have been widely investigated, including decellularized and demineralized bone ECM. In this article, we reviewed the current productions and applications of decellularized and demineralized bone matrices. We also introduce the current study of whole limb decellularization and recellularization. Article highlights The extracellular matrix (ECM) of bone has promoted bone growth, healing and turnover, and maintains its strength through the inorganic matrix. Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) is the allograft bone with only the organic compounds of ECM and decellularized bone matrix (dECM) is allograft or xenograft bone with removed nuclear material but maintenance of the native ECM components. Both are studied in clinical orthopedics. Basic science of DBM Optimizing the amounts of collagen and hydroxyapatite in DBM can maximize hypoxia-inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a) mediated angiogenesis and stromal cell-derived factor-1a (SDF-1a) mediated recruitment of MSCs to sites of bone injury in bone healing. Cortical bone demineralization is completed by immersing the sample in acid and making bone matrix growth factors (BMP-2, BMP-7) bioavailable. Decellularization of bone involves physical, chemical and/or enzymatic techniques to strip bone of cellular components and leave behind noncellular ECM. Clinical applications of DBM DBM has been successfully used in multiple spine surgeries, in the treatment of bone cysts, long bone nonunions and small foot bone defects. DBM has been studied in relation to tibial lengthening revealing enhanced consolidation. Use of decellularized whole limbs The decellularization of entire limbs has been investigated as potential graft material. A proof-of-concept study has demonstrated the decellularization of an entire upper extremity of a human cadaver, including bone tissue. Conclusion DBM is commonly used to treat recipient bone defects but is less mechanically stable due to the loss of hydroxyapatite. dECM retains the ECM structure and should be explored further in the future. Future implications dECM should be used in human trials. Recellularization of decellularized entire limbs should be further explored in animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep Chlorophyll Maxima (DCMs) are ubiquitous in low‐latitude oceans, and of recognized biogeochemical and ecological importance. DCMs have been observed in the Southern Ocean, initially from ships and recently from profiling robotic floats, but with less understanding of their onset, duration, underlying drivers, or whether they are associated with enhanced biomass features. We report the characteristics of a DCM and a Deep Biomass Maximum (DBM) in the Inter‐Polar‐Frontal‐Zone (IPFZ) south of Australia derived from CTD profiles, shipboard‐incubated samples, a towbody, and a BGC‐ARGO float. The DCM and DBM were ∼20 m thick and co‐located with the nutricline, in the vicinity of a subsurface ammonium maximum characteristic of the IPFZ, but ∼100 m shallower than the ferricline. Towbody transects demonstrated that the co‐located DCM/DBM was broadly present across the IPFZ. Large healthy diatoms, with low iron requirements, resided within the DCM/DBM, and fixed up to 20 mmol C m−2 d−1. The BGC‐ARGO float revealed that DCM/DBM persisted for >3 months. We propose a dual environmental mechanism to drive DCM/DBM formation and persistence within the IPFZ: sustained supply of both recycled iron within the subsurface ammonium maxima, and upward silicate transport from depth. DCM/DBM cell‐specific growth rates were considerably slower than those in the overlying mixed layer, implying that phytoplankton losses such as herbivory are also reduced, possibly because of heavily silicified diatom frustules. The light‐limited seasonal termination of the observed DCM/DBM did not result in a "diatom dump", rather ongoing diatom downward export occurred throughout its multi‐month persistence. Plain Language Summary: Deep Chlorophyll and Deep Biomass Maxima are typically observed in the low latitude oceans where they contribute to regional ecology and biogeochemistry. They are cryptic features not observable from satellites. They are being more frequently observed in the Southern Ocean due to increased deployment of robotic profilers. The mechanisms that lead to their formation are not well understood in the Southern Ocean. Little is known about their seasonality or biogeochemical role. We use multiple observational platforms to address these issues. Key Points: Coupled Deep Chlorophyll Maxima (DCM) and Deep Biomass Maxima (DBM) subsurface features in the polar Southern Ocean are formed while mixed layer chlorophyll is not depletedThese subsurface features are dominated by large diatoms, and persist for around 3 months before declining due to low light conditionsDCM/DBMs photosynthetically fix low levels of carbon but their longevity results in a substantial amount of carbon export to depth [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Although several studies have reported successful fusion rates after oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) using allografts or dimerized bone matrix (DBM) instead of autografts, whether OLIF can achieve satisfactory solid fusion without the use of autografts remains unclear. This study investigated the real fusion rates after OLIF using allografts and DBM, which were evaluated using both dynamic radiographs and computed tomography scans. Methods We enrolled 79 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive OLIF followed by percutaneous pedicle screw fixation. All patients were treated with OLIF between L2 and L5 and underwent radiographic and clinical follow-ups at 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery. Radiographic assessment of fusion was performed using the modified BrantigaSteffee-Fraser (mBSF) scale, which was categorized as follows: grades I (radiographic pseudoarthrosis), II (indeterminate fusion), and III (solid radiographic fusion). Other radiologic and clinical outcomes were evaluated using the following parameters: vertebral slippage distance, disc height, subsidence, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and visual analogue scale (VAS). Results Clinical outcomes demonstrated significant improvements in the VAS scores for back pain, leg pain, and ODI after surgery. Subsidence was present in 34 cases (35.4%) at 12 months postoperatively, which increased to 47.9% and reached 50.0% at 1.5 years and 2 years after surgery, respectively. The solid fusion rate after OLIF was 32.3% at 1 year, increased to 58.3% at 1.5 years, and reached 72.9% at 2 years. Radiographic pseudoarthrosis was 24.0% at 1 year, which decreased to 6.3% at 1.5 years and 3.1% at 2 years. Conclusion OLIF is a safe and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases. The mBSF scale, which simultaneously evaluates both dynamic angles and bone bridge formation, offers great reliability for the radiological assessment of fusion. Moreover, OLIF using allografts and DBM, which is performed on one or 2 levels at L2–5, can achieve satisfactory fusion rates within 2 years after surgery.

BackgroundBone graft extenders are being used more in spine surgery as a substitute for iliac crest bone graft. However, potential conflict of interest could impact average fusion rates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether fusion rates reported in the literature were different in papers evaluating bone graft substitutes and extenders when there was potential conflict of interest versus no potential conflict of interest.MethodsPubmed was searched for studies evaluating fusion rates when bone graft extenders including demineralized bone matrix, hydroxyapatite, and tricalcium sulfate were used. Studies were screened for one or two level fusions and for degenerative spinal conditions. The average fusion rates of subgroups were compared using unpaired Student's t-tests.Results1928 studies were evaluated. 86 studies were included in the study. The fusion rates varied from 4 to 100%. There were 24 studies with a potential conflict of interest and 62 studies with no conflict of interest. The average fusion rate of all the studies was 84.63% with standard deviation of 18.33%. The average fusion rates of those studies with conflict of interest was 80.93% versus 86.06% without conflict of interest. This was not statistically significant (p>0.07). The average fusion rate of studies evaluated by CT scan was 79.8% versus 87.9% without CT. The average fusion rate of studies that employed an independent reviewer to evaluate the fusion was 82.61% versus 85.63% for studies with no independent reviewer.ConclusionThere is a great variability in the reported fusion rates of bone graft extenders. Counter to expectations, average fusion rates were lower in the studies where there was a potential conflict of interest. The use of CT scans and an independent reviewer seem to account for the lower reported fusion rates, and may be a means of negating the potential conflicts of interest in fusion studies.Level of evidence2.

Abstract Although the prevalence of undernutrition among women of reproductive age has declined in Bangladesh, the increase in the prevalence of overnutrition remains a major challenge. To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2.2, it is important to identify the drivers of the double burden of malnutrition on women in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2017–2018 was used to model the relationship between the double burden of malnutrition among women and the risk factors using a logistic regression model under the classical and Bayesian frameworks and performed the comparison between the regression models based on the narrowest confidence interval. Regarding the Bayesian application, the Metropolis‐Hastings algorithm with two types of prior information (historical and noninformative prior) was used to simulate parameter estimates from the posterior distributions. The Boruta algorithm was used to determine the significant predictors. Almost half of reproductive aged women experienced a form of malnutrition (12% were underweight, 26.1% were overweight, and 6.8% were obese). In terms of the narrowest interval estimate, it was found that Bayesian logistic regression with informative priors performs better than the noninformative priors and the classical logistic regression model. Women who were older, highly educated, from rich families, unemployed, and from urban residences were more likely to experience the double burden of malnutrition. This study recommended using the historical prior as the informative prior rather than the flat/noninformative prior to estimating the parameter uncertainty if historical data are available. The double burden of malnutrition among women is a major public health challenge in Bangladesh. This study was to determine the impact of effective risk factors on the double burden of malnutrition among women by applying the Bayesian framework. Using both informative and noninformative priors, “historical prior” was proposed as informative prior information. The main strength is that the proposed prior (historical prior) provided improved estimation as compared to the flat prior distribution.

Day by day, biped robots' usage is increasing enormously in all industrial and non-industrial applications due to their ability to move in any unstructured environment compared to wheeled robots. Keeping this in mind, worldwide, many researchers are working on various aspects of biped robots, such as gait generation, dynamic balance margin, and the design of controllers. The main aim of this review article is to discuss the main challenges encountered in the biped gait generation and design of various controllers while moving on different terrain conditions such as flat, ascending and descending slopes or stairs, avoiding obstacles/ditches, uneven terrain, and an unknown environment. As per the authors' knowledge, no single study has been carried out in one place related to the gait generation and design of controllers for each joint of the biped robot on various terrains. This review will help researchers working in this field better understand the concepts of gait generation, dynamic balance margin, and the design of controllers while moving on various terrains. Moreover, the current article will also cover the different soft computing techniques used to tune the gains of the controllers. In this article, the authors have reviewed a vast compilation of research work on the gait generation of the biped robot on various terrains. Further, the authors have proposed taxonomies on various design issues identified while generating the gait in different aspects. The authors reviewed approximately 296 articles and discovered that all researchers attempted to generate the dynamically balanced biped gait on various terrains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of tradeoffs/synergies among ecosystem services (ESs) is highly significant for land-use planning and regional ecosystem optimization. Land-use change and topographic factors have important implications for ESs. Strengthening the comparative analysis of the capacity of ESs provided by different land-use types in specific regions, studying the topographic gradient effects of ecosystem service trade-offs/synergies with slope changes, and identifying the dominate trade-off/synergy relationship among ESs will help us to carry out ecosystem regulation according to local conditions through land-use layout optimization at a fine scale. Our research site was located in the Dabie Mountains of western Anhui Province, China (DBM), where, based on the InVEST software, R language, self-organizing maps (SOM), and GeoDA, the temporal and spatial variations of five typical ESs, including food supply, soil retention, water yield, carbon storage, and biodiversity maintenance from 2005 to 2020, were analyzed, and spatial distributions of the different ESs clusters were also recognized by using the SOM method. Moreover, the impacts of land-use type and slope on ESs, and the characteristics of trade-offs/synergies among the five ESs, were discussed. Results showed, firstly, that the total values of ESs showed a changing trend of "three increases and two decreases" from 2005 to 2020. Among the ESs, food supply, soil retention and water yield showed upward trends, with annual growth rates of 2.83%, 6.50% and 2.98%, respectively, whereas carbon storage and biodiversity maintenance showed downward trends, with annual decline rates of 0.03% and 0.07%, respectively. Second, the results showed that the Moran's I index of the total ESs was 0.3995 in 2005 and 0.4305 in 2020, respectively, indicating that they had significant spatial clustering characteristics. The Low-Low clustering regions with reduced changes were mainly in the central and northern parts of the study area, whereas the High-High clustering regions with increased changes were found distributed mainly in the south of the study area. Thirdly, it was found that cropland and woodland were the main contributors to the total amounts of ESs, but the supply capacity of ESs per unit area of woodland was the largest, constituting nearly 1/3 of the total supply capacity of the ESs. Last, the slope effect on trade-offs and synergies was significant between typical ecosystem service pairs in the study area; trade-offs were the main relationships between the pairs of ESs in the study area, which accounted for nearly 60% of all types of trade-offs/synergies during the 15 years. In addition, the spatial distributions of the trade-offs/synergies between ESs pairs were visualized clearly, and the six ES bundles were identified by using the SOM method at the township administrative scale. The identification of ecosystem service bundles is of great significance for the division of ecological functional zones and ecological regulation in the DBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital bottom models are commonly used in many fields of human activity, such as navigation, harbor and offshore technologies, or environmental studies. In many cases, they are the basis for further analysis. They are prepared based on bathymetric measurements, which in many cases have the form of large datasets. Therefore, various interpolation methods are used for calculating these models. In this paper, we present the analysis in which we compared selected methods for bottom surface modeling with a particular focus on geostatistical methods. The aim was to compare five variants of Kriging and three deterministic methods. The research was performed with real data acquired with the use of an autonomous surface vehicle. The collected bathymetric data were reduced (from about 5 million points to about 500 points) and analyzed. A ranking approach was proposed to perform a complex and comprehensive analysis integrating typically used error statistics—mean absolute error, standard deviation and root mean square error. This approach allowed the inclusion of various views on methods of assessment while integrating various metrics and factors. The results show that geostatistical methods perform very well. The best results were achieved with the modifications of classical Kriging methods, which are disjunctive Kriging and empirical Bayesian Kriging. For these two methods, good statistics were calculated compared to other methods (for example, the mean absolute error for disjunctive Kriging was 0.23 m, while for universal Kriging and simple Kriging, it was 0.26 m and 0.25 m, respectively). However, it is worth mentioning that interpolation based on radial basis function in some cases is comparable to Kriging in its performance. The proposed ranking approach was proven to be useful and can be utilized in the future for choosing and comparing DBMs, mostly in mapping and analyzing seabed changes, for example in dredging operations. The research will be used during the implementation of the new multidimensional and multitemporal coastal zone monitoring system using autonomous, unmanned floating platforms. The prototype of this system is at the design stage and is expected to be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the prevalence of undernutrition among women of reproductive age has declined in Bangladesh, the increase in the prevalence of overnutrition remains a major challenge. To achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2.2, it is important to identify the drivers of the double burden of malnutrition on women in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey, 2017–2018 was used to model the relationship between the double burden of malnutrition among women and the risk factors using a logistic regression model under the classical and Bayesian frameworks and performed the comparison between the regression models based on the narrowest confidence interval. Regarding the Bayesian application, the Metropolis‐Hastings algorithm with two types of prior information (historical and noninformative prior) was used to simulate parameter estimates from the posterior distributions. The Boruta algorithm was used to determine the significant predictors. Almost half of reproductive aged women experienced a form of malnutrition (12% were underweight, 26.1% were overweight, and 6.8% were obese). In terms of the narrowest interval estimate, it was found that Bayesian logistic regression with informative priors performs better than the noninformative priors and the classical logistic regression model. Women who were older, highly educated, from rich families, unemployed, and from urban residences were more likely to experience the double burden of malnutrition. This study recommended using the historical prior as the informative prior rather than the flat/noninformative prior to estimating the parameter uncertainty if historical data are available. The double burden of malnutrition among women is a major public health challenge in Bangladesh. This study was to determine the impact of effective risk factors on the double burden of malnutrition among women by applying the Bayesian framework. Using both informative and noninformative priors, "historical prior" was proposed as informative prior information. The main strength is that the proposed prior (historical prior) provided improved estimation as compared to the flat prior distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union has started a progressive decarbonization pathway with the aim to become carbon neutral by 2050. Energy-intensive industries (EEIs) are expected to play an important role in this transition as they represent 24% of the final energy consumption. To stay competitive as EEI, a clear and consistent long-term strategy is required. In the magnesia sector, an essential portion of CO2 emissions result from solid fossil fuels (MgCO3, pet coke) during the production process. This study concerns the partial substitution of fossil fuels with biomass to reduce carbon emissions. An experimental campaign is conducted by implementing a new low-NOx burner at the magnesia plant of Grecian Magnesite (GM). Life cycle assessment (LCA) is performed to quantify the carbon reduction potential of various biomass mixtures. The experimental analysis revealed that even with a 100% pet coke feed of the new NOx burner, NOx emissions are decreased by 41%, while the emissions of CO and SOx increase slightly. By applying a biomass/pet coke mixture as fuel input, where 50% of the required energy input results from biomass, a further 21% of NOx emission reduction is achieved. In this case, SOx and CO emissions are additionally reduced by 50% and 13%, respectively. LCA results confirmed the sustainable impact of applying biomass. Carbon emissions could be significantly decreased by 32.5% for CCM products to 1.51 ton of CO2eq and by 38.2% for DBM products to 1.64 ton of CO2eq per ton of MgO in a best case scenario. Since the calcination of MgCO3 releases an essential and unavoidable amount of CO2 naturally bound in the mineral, biomass usage as a fuel is a promising way to become sustainable and resilient against future increased CO2 prices.

At present, the commonly used allogeneic bone powder in the clinic can be divided into nondemineralized bone matrix and demineralized bone matrix (DBM). Commonly used demineralizers include acids and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). There may be some diversities between them. Also, the size of the bone particle can affects its cell compatibility and osteogenic ability. We produced different particle sizes i.e., < 75, 75–100, 100–315, 315–450, 450–650, and 650-1000 μm, and treated in three ways (nondemineralized, demineralized by EDTA, and demineralized by HCl). Scanning electron microscopy showed that the surface of the samples in each group was relatively smooth without obvious differences. The results of specific surface area and porosity analysis showed that they were significantly higher in demineralized bone powder than in nondemineralized bone powder, however, there was no significant difference between the two decalcification methods. The content of hydroxyproline in nondemineralized bone powder and EDTA-demineralized bone powder had no statistical difference, while HCl-demineralization had statistical significance compared with the former two, and the content increased with the decrease of particle size. The protein and BMP-2 extracted from HCl demineralized bone powder were significantly higher than that from nondemineralized bone powder and EDTA demineralized bone powder, and there were differences among different particle sizes. These results suggested the importance of demineralization mode and particle size of the allogenic bone powder and provided guidance for the choice of the most appropriate particle size and demineralization mode to be used in tissue bioengineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging is accompanied by macro-structural alterations in the brain that may relate to age-associated cognitive decline. Animal studies could allow us to study this relationship, but so far it remains unclear whether their structural aging patterns correspond to those in humans. Therefore, by applying magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and deformation-based morphometry (DBM), we longitudinally screened the brains of male RccHan:WIST rats for structural changes across their average lifespan. By combining dedicated region of interest (ROI) and voxel-wise approaches, we observed an increase in their global brain volume that was superimposed by divergent local morphologic alterations, with the largest aging effects in early and middle life. We detected a modality-dependent vulnerability to shrinkage across the visual, auditory, and somato-sensory cortical areas, whereas the piriform cortex showed partial resistance. Furthermore, shrinkage emerged in the amygdala, subiculum, and flocculus as well as in frontal, parietal, and motor cortical areas. Strikingly, we noticed the preservation of ectorhinal, entorhinal, retrosplenial, and cingulate cortical regions, which all represent higher-order brain areas and extraordinarily grew with increasing age. We think that the findings of this study will further advance aging research and may contribute to the establishment of interventional approaches to preserve cognitive health in advanced age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field experiments were conducted at two different geographical regions viz., tropical region (Naraseepuram village, Coimbatore) and temperate region (Kookal village, Kotagiri, The Nilgiris) in summer and winter season's to assess the bioefficacy of insecticides used against Diamondbackmoth (DBM), Plutella xylostella and their potential impact on natural enemies in cauliflower. The results revealed that the diamide insecticides like cyantraniliprole 10.26 OD @ 60 g a.i ha-1, chlorantraniliprole 18.50 SC @ 10 g a.i ha-1 and flubendiamide 20 WG @ 18.24 g a.i ha-1 registered more than 95 percent population reduction over untreated control followed by emamectin benzoate 5 SG @ 10 g a.i ha-1 and thiodicarb 75 WP @ 750 g a.i ha-1. Quinalphos 25 EC @ 500 g a.i ha-1 and chlorpyriphos 20 EC @ 400 g a.i ha-1 were observed as least effective among the treated insecticides. The diamide insecticides recorded considerably less toxic effect on the natural enemies, especially spiders and coccinellids. Population reduction of natural enemies was noticed immediately after insecticide spray but it gradually increased and was recorded on par with the control population. Hence, cyantraniliprole 10.26 OD @ 60 g a.i ha-1, chlorantraniliprole 18.50 SC @ 10 g a.i ha-1 and flubendiamide 20 WG @ 18.24 g a.i ha-1 can be used as potential component in the integrated pest management against DBM in cole crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union has started a progressive decarbonization pathway with the aim to become carbon neutral by 2050. Energy-intensive industries (EEIs) are expected to play an important role in this transition as they represent 24% of the final energy consumption. To stay competitive as EEI, a clear and consistent long-term strategy is required. In the magnesia sector, an essential portion of CO2 emissions result from solid fossil fuels (MgCO3, pet coke) during the production process. This study concerns the partial substitution of fossil fuels with biomass to reduce carbon emissions. An experimental campaign is conducted by implementing a new low-NOx burner at the magnesia plant of Grecian Magnesite (GM). Life cycle assessment (LCA) is performed to quantify the carbon reduction potential of various biomass mixtures. The experimental analysis revealed that even with a 100% pet coke feed of the new NOx burner, NOx emissions are decreased by 41%, while the emissions of CO and SOx increase slightly. By applying a biomass/pet coke mixture as fuel input, where 50% of the required energy input results from biomass, a further 21% of NOx emission reduction is achieved. In this case, SOx and CO emissions are additionally reduced by 50% and 13%, respectively. LCA results confirmed the sustainable impact of applying biomass. Carbon emissions could be significantly decreased by 32.5% for CCM products to 1.51 ton of CO2eq and by 38.2% for DBM products to 1.64 ton of CO2eq per ton of MgO in a best case scenario. Since the calcination of MgCO3 releases an essential and unavoidable amount of CO2 naturally bound in the mineral, biomass usage as a fuel is a promising way to become sustainable and resilient against future increased CO2 prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geodetic velocity (GV) has many applications in tectonic motion determination and geodynamic studies. Due to the high cost of global navigation satellite system stations, deep learning methods have been investigated to estimate GV. In this research, four methods of convolutional neural networks (CNNs), deep Boltzmann machines, deep belief net and recurrent neural networks have been applied. The GV of 42 global positioning system stations is entered the deep learning methods. The outputs of the four methods have successfully passed the normality test. The results show that the CNN method has a lower goodness of fit and root mean square error (RMSE). CNN can learn different dependencies and extract features. Key Points: The Geodetic velocity of 42 global positioning system stations is used to enter the deep learning methodsThe results show that the convolutional neural network (CNN) method has a lower goodness of fit and root mean square error (RMSE)CNN can learn different dependencies and extract features [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of tradeoffs/synergies among ecosystem services (ESs) is highly significant for land-use planning and regional ecosystem optimization. Land-use change and topographic factors have important implications for ESs. Strengthening the comparative analysis of the capacity of ESs provided by different land-use types in specific regions, studying the topographic gradient effects of ecosystem service trade-offs/synergies with slope changes, and identifying the dominate trade-off/synergy relationship among ESs will help us to carry out ecosystem regulation according to local conditions through land-use layout optimization at a fine scale. Our research site was located in the Dabie Mountains of western Anhui Province, China (DBM), where, based on the InVEST software, R language, self-organizing maps (SOM), and GeoDA, the temporal and spatial variations of five typical ESs, including food supply, soil retention, water yield, carbon storage, and biodiversity maintenance from 2005 to 2020, were analyzed, and spatial distributions of the different ESs clusters were also recognized by using the SOM method. Moreover, the impacts of land-use type and slope on ESs, and the characteristics of trade-offs/synergies among the five ESs, were discussed. Results showed, firstly, that the total values of ESs showed a changing trend of “three increases and two decreases” from 2005 to 2020. Among the ESs, food supply, soil retention and water yield showed upward trends, with annual growth rates of 2.83%, 6.50% and 2.98%, respectively, whereas carbon storage and biodiversity maintenance showed downward trends, with annual decline rates of 0.03% and 0.07%, respectively. Second, the results showed that the Moran’s I index of the total ESs was 0.3995 in 2005 and 0.4305 in 2020, respectively, indicating that they had significant spatial clustering characteristics. The Low-Low clustering regions with reduced changes were mainly in the central and northern parts of the study area, whereas the High-High clustering regions with increased changes were found distributed mainly in the south of the study area. Thirdly, it was found that cropland and woodland were the main contributors to the total amounts of ESs, but the supply capacity of ESs per unit area of woodland was the largest, constituting nearly 1/3 of the total supply capacity of the ESs. Last, the slope effect on trade-offs and synergies was significant between typical ecosystem service pairs in the study area; trade-offs were the main relationships between the pairs of ESs in the study area, which accounted for nearly 60% of all types of trade-offs/synergies during the 15 years. In addition, the spatial distributions of the trade-offs/synergies between ESs pairs were visualized clearly, and the six ES bundles were identified by using the SOM method at the township administrative scale. The identification of ecosystem service bundles is of great significance for the division of ecological functional zones and ecological regulation in the DBM.

Digital bottom models are commonly used in many fields of human activity, such as navigation, harbor and offshore technologies, or environmental studies. In many cases, they are the basis for further analysis. They are prepared based on bathymetric measurements, which in many cases have the form of large datasets. Therefore, various interpolation methods are used for calculating these models. In this paper, we present the analysis in which we compared selected methods for bottom surface modeling with a particular focus on geostatistical methods. The aim was to compare five variants of Kriging and three deterministic methods. The research was performed with real data acquired with the use of an autonomous surface vehicle. The collected bathymetric data were reduced (from about 5 million points to about 500 points) and analyzed. A ranking approach was proposed to perform a complex and comprehensive analysis integrating typically used error statistics—mean absolute error, standard deviation and root mean square error. This approach allowed the inclusion of various views on methods of assessment while integrating various metrics and factors. The results show that geostatistical methods perform very well. The best results were achieved with the modifications of classical Kriging methods, which are disjunctive Kriging and empirical Bayesian Kriging. For these two methods, good statistics were calculated compared to other methods (for example, the mean absolute error for disjunctive Kriging was 0.23 m, while for universal Kriging and simple Kriging, it was 0.26 m and 0.25 m, respectively). However, it is worth mentioning that interpolation based on radial basis function in some cases is comparable to Kriging in its performance. The proposed ranking approach was proven to be useful and can be utilized in the future for choosing and comparing DBMs, mostly in mapping and analyzing seabed changes, for example in dredging operations. The research will be used during the implementation of the new multidimensional and multitemporal coastal zone monitoring system using autonomous, unmanned floating platforms. The prototype of this system is at the design stage and is expected to be implemented.

Objective: This article aims to review the epidemiology, etio-pathogenesis and updates in clinical diagnostics and management of unicameral bone cysts (UBC). Methods: A computerized literature search using Cochrane database of systematic reviews, EMBASE and PubMed was performed. MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms used in searches included the following sub-headings: "unicameral bone cyst", "epidemiology", "etiology", "pathogenesis", "diagnosis", "management" and "surgery". Studies were analyzed based on clinical relevance for the practicing orthopedic surgeon. Results: UBC accounts for 3% of all bone tumors and is asymptomatic in most cases. Nearly 85% of cases occur in children and adolescents, with more than 90% involving the proximal humerus and proximal femur. Despite multiple theories proposed, the exact etiology is still unclear. Diagnosis is straightforward, with radiographs and MRI aiding in it. While non-surgical treatment is recommended in most cases, in those warranting surgery, combined minimal-invasive techniques involving decompression of cyst and stabilization have gained importance in recent times. Conclusion: There is variation in the diagnosis and treatment of UBCs among surgeons. Due to the vast heterogeneity of reported studies, no one method is the ideal standard of care. As most UBCs tend to resolve by skeletal maturity, clinicians need to balance the likelihood of successful treatment with morbidity associated with procedures and the risks of developing a pathological fracture. Study Design: Review Article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global patterns of brain injury correlate with motor, cognitive, and language outcomes in survivors of neonatal encephalopathy (NE). However, it is still unclear whether local changes in brain structure predict specific deficits. We therefore examined whether differences in brain structure at 6 months of age are associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes in this population. We enrolled 32 children with NE, performed structural brain MR imaging at 6 months, and assessed neurodevelopmental outcomes at 30 months. All subjects underwent T1-weighted imaging at 3 T using a 3D IR-SPGR sequence. Images were normalized in intensity and nonlinearly registered to a template constructed specifically for this population, creating a deformation field map. We then used deformation based morphometry (DBM) to correlate variation in the local volume of gray and white matter with composite scores on the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III) at 30 months. Our general linear model included gestational age, sex, birth weight, and treatment with hypothermia as covariates. Regional brain volume was significantly associated with language scores, particularly in perisylvian cortical regions including the left supramarginal gyrus, posterior superior and middle temporal gyri, and right insula, as well as inferior frontoparietal subcortical white matter. We did not find significant correlations between regional brain volume and motor or cognitive scale scores. We conclude that, in children with a history of NE, local changes in the volume of perisylvian gray and white matter at 6 months are correlated with language outcome at 30 months. Quantitative measures of brain volume on early MRI may help identify infants at risk for poor language outcomes.

Background: Bone graft extenders are being used more in spine surgery as a substitute for iliac crest bone graft. However, potential conflict of interest could impact average fusion rates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether fusion rates reported in the literature were different in papers evaluating bone graft substitutes and extenders when there was potential conflict of interest versus no potential conflict of interest. Methods: Pubmed was searched for studies evaluating fusion rates when bone graft extenders including demineralized bone matrix, hydroxyapatite, and tricalcium sulfate were used. Studies were screened for one or two level fusions and for degenerative spinal conditions. The average fusion rates of subgroups were compared using unpaired Student's t-tests. Results: 1928 studies were evaluated. 86 studies were included in the study. The fusion rates varied from 4 to 100%. There were 24 studies with a potential conflict of interest and 62 studies with no conflict of interest. The average fusion rate of all the studies was 84.63% with standard deviation of 18.33%. The average fusion rates of those studies with conflict of interest was 80.93% versus 86.06% without conflict of interest. This was not statistically significant (p>0.07). The average fusion rate of studies evaluated by CT scan was 79.8% versus 87.9% without CT. The average fusion rate of studies that employed an independent reviewer to evaluate the fusion was 82.61% versus 85.63% for studies with no independent reviewer. Conclusion: There is a great variability in the reported fusion rates of bone graft extenders. Counter to expectations, average fusion rates were lower in the studies where there was a potential conflict of interest. The use of CT scans and an independent reviewer seem to account for the lower reported fusion rates, and may be a means of negating the potential conflicts of interest in fusion studies. Level of Evidence: 2

The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella, is an oligophagous pest of cruciferous crops worldwide. Host plants of the DBM possess epicuticular wax, but thick wax is unfavorable to the selection of oviposition sites for female DBMs. How the DBM responds to host plant wax regarding oviposition site selection is largely unknown. The glucosinolates and wax levels in the cotyledons and true leaves of Chinese kale are different, which makes this plant an ideal host for exploring the oviposition behavior of the DBM. We found that although the true leaves contained more glucosinolates and waxy powder than cotyledons of healthy Chinese kale, DBM females preferred to lay eggs on the cotyledons over true leaves. However, the number of eggs laid on true leaves increased significantly when the waxy powder was artificially removed. Furthermore, the hatched larvae greatly preferred to feed and performed better on true leaves. In light of the current results, we propose that DBM females are hindered from laying eggs on the true leaves of Chinese kale by the outer layer of leaf wax powder. However, DBM females and larvae can adapt to the waxy host plant through adaptations: i.e., DBM females first lay eggs on the cotyledons where less wax exists, the hatched larvae then crawl to and spin silk nets on true leaves; the silk nets help subsequent DBM females overcome the obstacle of the wax and oviposit successfully on true leaves. These findings highlight new insights into plant–insect interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.) is the most destructive insect pest of cruciferous crops throughout the world. The use of trap crops, pheromones, botanicals, bio-agents and safer insecticides for pest control promises to be an important integrated approach in the management of DBM and other lepidopteran pests which helps to solve major environmental and human health problems. A study was designed and carried out at Ramanagara and Bengaluru Rural district during 2017-18 and 2018-19 to understand the effectiveness of IPM module, recommended practices and farmers' practice in cabbage fields.The results revealed that 15 days prior to cabbage transplanting, sowing of Indian mustard (2 rows after 25 rows of cabbage) attracted DBM moths for oviposition, 7 days after transplanting (DAT), installation of WOTA-T traps @ 5 Nos./acre helped in monitoring and mass trapping of DBM moths. The spraying of botanicals, bioagents and safer insecticides as per the schedule, viz. neem soap (10 g/l) after 15 DAT, Spinosad 2.5 SC (1.25 ml/l) after 18 DAT, Emamectin benzoate 5SG (0.5 gm/l) after 21 DAT, Bt (Dipel) (1 g/l) after 35 DAT, Chlorfenapyr 10 SC (1.5 ml/l) after 50 DAT, Spinosad 2.5 SC (1.25 ml/l) after 65 DAT and Emamectin benzoate 5 SG (0.5 gm/l) after 80 DAT, effectively reduced the damage caused by DBM in cabbage fields. The pest incidence in IPM module was negligible resulted in fetching higher yields, quality heads and better returns compared to farmers' practice. Farmers can adopt IPM module as an alternative to insecticides as it is ecologically safe, economically viable and socially well acceptable.

In Lepidoptera, it is known that larval and pupal testes enlarge in volume and then decrease in size over various phases of the pupal stage. After adult emergence, testis shrinkage continues. In the present study, the effects of temperature, age and stage on testis development were investigated in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). Laboratory experiments indicated that in the adult stage, testis shrank markedly with age and with increasing temperatures, when males were reared at 15, 20, 25 or 30 °C during the larval and pupal stages and then transferred to other temperatures. When kept at 15, 20, 25 or 30 °C throughout their entire life (larva, pupa and adult), the higher the temperature, the smaller the testis volume at any given adult age, indicating that larval and/or pupal rearing temperatures also affected testis development. Field experiments carried out in Tokyo showed that testis volume in wild adult males of diamondback moth was quite varied, suggesting that this population had both young and old males at each survey time. The lower the larval and pupal rearing temperature, the larger the adult, as measured by forewing length. Since larger adults tended to have larger testis at adult emergence, adult testis volume should be compensated based on the forewing length. Mating reduced the testis size. Our results suggest that adult age of diamondback moths in wild populations can be estimated roughly from the data on testis volume, temperature and forewing length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the seismic design research of underground structures in loess areas is lagging behind compared with practical engineering requirements. The selection of seismic calculation methods and parameters does not consider the influences of the special geological conditions in various regions, so their usefulness is limited. Based on the above problems, a modified displacement-based method (DBM) was proposed and its application was compared with the most commonly used methods of analysis (force-based design method, displacement-based design method, detailed equivalent static analysis numerical method, and the full dynamic time-history method). The results were also validated by considering data from shaking table tests conducted on a case study involving the underground Feitian Road subway station in Xi'an. The results show that compared with DBM, the average accuracy of the modified DBM technique is improved by 41.65%. The modified DBM offers good accuracy, simplicity in its model, a rapid analysis time, and easy convergence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fracture non-union results in serious morbidity for patients and a financial burden on healthcare services. Fracture healing is a complex process that involves many chemical signalling molecules and cells. This complexity means there are many stages at which the healing pathway can theoretically be influenced by biologic adjuvants. Biologic adjuvants can be either osteoconductive, osteoinductive or osteogenic. Many laboratory studies have shown success in manipulating the signalling pathways involved in fracture healing. The majority of biologics serve to increase the presence of certain cytokines to stimulate bone forming cells; some agents involve effecting the delivery of early progenitor cells. There have been clinical trials involving multiple biologics, usually in the treatment of tibial non-unions. The clinical trials have shown very limited evidence to support the use of adjuvants in clinical practice. There is a consistent problem translating encouraging laboratory results into similar clinical results with the majority of agents, therefore there remains a lack of clinical evidence to support their use in everyday trauma practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fracture surgery, large bone defects and non-unions often require bone transplantation, and alternatives to autograft bone substitutes in the form of allografts from bone banks and the derivate demineralised bone matrix (DBM) are widely used. With a focus on efficacy, clinical evidence, safety, cost, and patient acceptance, this review evaluated the difference between allogeneic allograft or DBM as a bone substitute in trauma surgery. The efficacy in supporting bone healing from allograft and DBM is highly influenced by donor characteristics and graft processing. Mechanical stability is achieved from a structural graft. Based on the existing literature it is difficult to identify where DBM is useful in trauma surgery, and the level of evidence for the relevant use of allograft bone in trauma is low. The risk of transmitting diseases is negligible, and the lowest risk is from DBM due to the extensive processing procedures. A cost comparison showed that DBM is significantly more expensive. The experiences of dental patients have shown that many patients do not want to receive allografts as a bone substitute. It is not possible to definitively conclude whether it makes a difference if allograft or DBM is used in trauma surgery. It is ultimately the surgeon's individual choice, but this article may be useful in providing considerations before a decision is made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo determinar el ciclo biológico de Plutella xylostella (DBM), criada en brócoli var. Calabrese y coliflor var. Bola de nieve en condiciones de laboratorio con un promedio de 76.1 ° F y 65% RH. El apareamiento de las polillas se realizó en recipientes plásticos de un litro y las posturas se incubaron dentro de vasos de polipropileno de 200 ml, ambos cubiertos con redes. Para proporcionar suministro adecuado a las larvas, las plantas se cultivaron a cubierto para evitar la infestación de plagas. Se utilizaron hojas frescas para alimentar a las larvas hasta la pupación. Los resultados se analizaron con la prueba estadística no paramétrica de Kruskal-Wallis.Se obtuvieron los siguientes parámetros biológicos, criados con hojas de brócoli y coliflor respectivamente: período de incubación 3 días; período larvario 9,76 y 9,69 días; período de pupa 5,1 y 5,3 días; ciclo biológico 19,5 y 19. 9 días y 175 y 187 huevos según la capacidad de oviposición de las hembras apareadas. Estos resultados no muestran diferencias estadísticas significativas del ciclo biológico de la polilla entre las dos plantas hospedantes.

Access to reliable and accurate bathymetric data is fundamental to many marine activities. This paper proposes a merge-normalization (MN) method that is suitable for multisource bathymetric data fusion in deep ocean areas, to solve the problem of difficult to integrate high-precision digital bathymetric model (DBM) for complex sources and various resolutions of global deep ocean bathymetric data. Then we apply it to the DBM construction of the Mariana Trench. The method combines multibeam, single-beam, and electronic navigational chart data with Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) dataset by using the workflow of merging and normalizing, which can fill the data gaps while preserving topographic details in high-resolution bathymetric data. Compared with the widely used General Bathymetric Chart of the Oceans (GEBCO) dataset, the Mariana Trench dataset constructed in this study demonstrated improved accuracy, resolution, and topographic detail, highlighting the value of the application of the method and of its development potential.

At present, the seismic design research of underground structures in loess areas is lagging behind compared with practical engineering requirements. The selection of seismic calculation methods and parameters does not consider the influences of the special geological conditions in various regions, so their usefulness is limited. Based on the above problems, a modified displacement-based method (DBM) was proposed and its application was compared with the most commonly used methods of analysis (force-based design method, displacement-based design method, detailed equivalent static analysis numerical method, and the full dynamic time-history method). The results were also validated by considering data from shaking table tests conducted on a case study involving the underground Feitian Road subway station in Xi’an. The results show that compared with DBM, the average accuracy of the modified DBM technique is improved by 41.65%. The modified DBM offers good accuracy, simplicity in its model, a rapid analysis time, and easy convergence.

Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) is a decalcified allo/xenograft retaining collagen and noncollagenous proteins, which has been extensively used because of its osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties. Calcium sulfate (CaSO4, CS) is a synthetic bone substitute used in bone healing with biocompatible, nontoxic, bioabsorbable, osteoconductive, and good mechanical characteristics. This study aims to prepare a DBM/CS composite bone graft material in a moldable putty form without compromising the peculiar properties of DBM and CS. For this purpose, firstly, porcine femur was defatted using chloroform/methanol and extracted by acid for demineralization, then freeze-dried and milled/sieved to obtain DBM powder. Secondly, the α-form and β-form of calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CaSO4·0.5H2O, CSH) were produced by heating gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O). The morphology and particle sizes of α- and β-CSH were obtained by SEM, and their chemical properties were confirmed by EDS, FTIR and XRD. Furthermore, the DBM-based graft was mixed with α- or β-CSH at a ratio of 9:1, and glycerol/4% HPMC was added as a carrier to produce a putty. DBM/CSH putty possesses a low washout rate, good mechanical strength and biocompatibility. In conclusion, we believe that the moldable DBM/CSH composite putty developed in this study could be a promising substitute for the currently available bone grafts, and might have practical application in the orthopedics field as a potential bone void filler.

Summary: Over the past decades, electric power systems (EPSs) have undergone an evolution from an ordinary bulk structure to intelligent flexible systems by way of advanced electronics and control technologies. Moreover, EPS has become a more complex, unstable and nonlinear structure with the integration of distributed energy resources in comparison with traditional power grids. Unlike classical approaches, physical methods, statistical approaches and computer calculation techniques are commonly used to solve EPS problems. Artificial intelligent (AI) techniques have especially been used recently in many fields. Deep neural networks have become increasingly attractive as an AI approach due to their robustness and flexibility in handling nonlinear complex relationships on large scale data sets. Major deep learning concepts addressing some problems in EPS have been reviewed in the present study by a comprehensive literature survey. The practices of deep learning and its combinations are well organized with up‐to‐date references in various fields such as load forecasting, wind and solar power forecasting, power quality disturbances detection and classifications, fault detection power system equipment, energy security, energy management and energy optimization. Furthermore, the difficulties encountered in implementation and the future trends of this method in EPS are discussed subject to the findings of current studies. It concludes that deep learning has a huge application potential on EPS, due to smart technologies integration that will increase considerably in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High dimensionality and lack of labeled samples are the difficulties in feature extraction for hyperspectral image (HSI) processing. In this letter, a deep-learning-based feature extraction method is proposed. First, the guided filter is used to preprocess the original HSI data. The result data contain the joint spectral and spatial information of the objects. Second, the local receptive field and weight sharing are introduced into deep Boltzmann machine(DBM) to establish a novel feature extractor, called local-global DBM (LGDBM). The LGDBM has two advantages: 1) it can learn both the local and global features of the high-dimensional input data and 2) it has much fewer parameters than the DBM. Therefore, only a few labeled samples are needed for training, and the local and global spectral–spatial features are extracted intrinsically. A group of classification experiments are performed to evaluate the advantages of the feature extraction method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eu3+–β‐diketonate complexes are used, for example, in solid‐state lighting (SSL) or light‐converting molecular devices. However, their low emission quantum efficiency due to water molecules coordinated to Eu3+ and low photostability are still problems to be addressed. To overcome such challenges, we synthesized Eu3+ tetrakis complexes based on [Q][Eu(tfaa)4] and [Q][Eu(dbm)4] (Q1 = C26H56N+, Q2 = C19H42N+, and Q3 = C17H38N+), replacing the water molecules in the tris stoichiometry. The tetrakis β‐diketonates showed desirable thermal stability for SSL and, under excitation at 390 nm, they displayed the characteristic Eu3+ emission in the red spectral region. The quantum efficiencies of the dbm complexes achieved values as high as 51%, while the tfaa complexes exhibited lower quantum efficiencies (28–33%), but which were superior to those reported for the tris complexes. The structures were evaluated using the Sparkle/PM7 model and comparing the theoretical and the experimental Judd–Ofelt parameters. [Q1][Eu(dbm)4] was used to coat a near‐UV light‐emitting diode (LED), producing a red‐emitting LED prototype that featured the characteristic emission spectrum of [Q1][Eu(dbm)4]. The emission intensity of this prototype decreased only 7% after 30 h, confirming its high photostability, which is a notable result considering Eu3+ complexes, making it a potential candidate for SSL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although several studies have reported successful fusion rates after oblique lumbar interbody fusion (OLIF) using allografts or dimerized bone matrix (DBM) instead of autografts, whether OLIF can achieve satisfactory solid fusion without the use of autografts remains unclear. This study investigated the real fusion rates after OLIF using allografts and DBM, which were evaluated using both dynamic radiographs and computed tomography scans., Methods: We enrolled 79 consecutive patients who underwent minimally invasive OLIF followed by percutaneous pedicle screw fixation. All patients were treated with OLIF between L2 and L5 and underwent radiographic and clinical follow-ups at 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery. Radiographic assessment of fusion was performed using the modified BrantigaSteffee-Fraser (mBSF) scale, which was categorized as follows: grades I (radiographic pseudoarthrosis), II (indeterminate fusion), and III (solid radiographic fusion). Other radiologic and clinical outcomes were evaluated using the following parameters: vertebral slippage distance, disc height, subsidence, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and visual analogue scale (VAS)., Results: Clinical outcomes demonstrated significant improvements in the VAS scores for back pain, leg pain, and ODI after surgery. Subsidence was present in 34 cases (35.4%) at 12 months postoperatively, which increased to 47.9% and reached 50.0% at 1.5 years and 2 years after surgery, respectively. The solid fusion rate after OLIF was 32.3% at 1 year, increased to 58.3% at 1.5 years, and reached 72.9% at 2 years. Radiographic pseudoarthrosis was 24.0% at 1 year, which decreased to 6.3% at 1.5 years and 3.1% at 2 years., Conclusion: OLIF is a safe and effective surgical procedure for the treatment of degenerative lumbar diseases. The mBSF scale, which simultaneously evaluates both dynamic angles and bone bridge formation, offers great reliability for the radiological assessment of fusion. Moreover, OLIF using allografts and DBM, which is performed on one or 2 levels at L2-5, can achieve satisfactory fusion rates within 2 years after surgery.